Thomas Gray(1716–1771)
Ode (On the Death of a Favorite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes)
On the Death of a Favorite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes
'Twas on a lofty vase's side,
Where China's gayest art had dyed
The azure flowers that blow;bloom
Demurest of the tabby kind,
The pensive Selima reclined,
Gazed on the lake below.
Her conscious tail her joy declared;
T h e fair round face, the snowy beard,
T h e velvet of her paws,
Her coat, that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,black
She saw; and purred applause.
Still had she gazed; but 'midst the tide
Two angel forms were seen to glide,
The genii 0 of the stream:guardian spirits
Their scaly armor's Tyrian hue
Through richest purple to the view
Betrayed a golden gleam.8
T h e hapless nymph with wonder saw:
A whisker first and then a claw,
8. "Tyrian and (in classical reference) "purple cover a considerable spectrum, including crimson. The
fish are seen, through red highlights, as golden.
With many an ardent wish,
She stretched in vain to reach the prize.
What female heart can gold despise
What cat's averse to fish
Presumptuous maid! with looks intent
Again she stretched, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf between.
(Malignant Fate sat by and smiled)
The slippery verge her feet beguiled,
She tumbled headlong in.
Eight times emerging from the flood
She mewed to every watery god,
Some speedy aid to send.
No dolphin came, no Nereid stirred;
Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard;9
A favorite has no friend!
From hence, ye beauties, undeceived,
Know, one false step is ne'er retrieved,
And be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts, is lawful prize;
Nor all that glisters, gold.
1748