O D E

ON THE DEATH OF A

FAVOURITE CAT,

Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes.

'T

WAS on a lofty vafe's fide,

Where China's gayeft art had dy'd

The azure flowers, that blow ;

Demureft of the tabby kind,
The penfive Selima reclin'd,

Gaz'd on the lake below.

Her

Her confcious tail her joy declar'd:

The fair round face, the fnowy beard,

The velvet of her paws,

Her coat, that with the tortoise vies,

Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,
She faw; and purr'd applause.

Still had she gaz'd; but 'midft the tide
Two angel forms were feen to glide,

The Genii of the ftream:

Their fcaly armour's Tyrian hue

Thro' richest purple to the view

Betray'd a golden gleam.

The hapless Nymph with wonder faw,

A whisker firft, and then a claw,

With

With many an ardent wish,

She stretch'd in vain to reach the prize;

What female heart can gold defpise ?

What Cat's averfe to fish!

Prefumptuous Maid! with looks intent
Again the ftretch'd, again fhe bent,
Nor knew the gulf between.

(Malignant fate fat by, and smil'd)
The flipp'ry verge her feet beguil'd)

She tumbled headlong in.

Eight times emerging from the flood

She mew'd to ev'ry wat'ry God,

Some speedy aid to fend.

No Dolphin came,

no Nereid stirr'd :

Nor cruel Tom, nor Sufan heard.

A Fav'rite has no friend!

From

From hence, ye Beauties, undeceiv'd,

Know, one falfe ftep is ne'er retriev'd,

And be with caution bold.

Not all that tempts your wand'ring eyes.
And heedlefs hearts, is lawful prize;
Nor all, that glifters, gold.

ODE

O DE

ON A

DISTANT PROSPECT

OF

ETON COLLEGE.

̓́Ανθρωπος ἱκανὴ πρόφασις εἰς τὸ δυστυχεῖν. MENANDER.