| | | ’Twas on a lofty vase’s side, |
| | | Where China’s gayest art had dyed |
| | | The azure flowers that blow; |
| | | Demurest of the tabby kind, |
| 5 | | The pensive Selima reclined, |
| | | Gazed on the lake below. |
| | | |
| | | Her conscious tail her joy declared; |
| | | The fair round face, the snowy beard, |
| | | The velvet of her paws, |
| 10 | | Her coat that with the tortoise vies, |
| | | Her ears of jet and emerald eyes, |
| | | She saw; and purred applause. |
| | | |
| | | Still had she gazed; but ’midst the tide |
| | | Two angel forms were seen to glide, |
| 15 | | The genii of the stream: |
| | | Their scaly armour’s Tyrian hue |
| | | Through richest purple to the view |
| | | Betrayed a golden gleam. |
| | | |
| | | The hapless nymph with wonder saw: |
| 20 | | A whisker first and then a claw, |
| | | 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? |
| | | |
| 25 | | 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, |
| 30 | | She tumbled headlong in. |
| | | |
| | | Eight times emerging from the flood |
| | | She mewed to every watry god, |
| | | Some speedy aid to send. |
| | | No dolphin came, no Nereid stirred: |
| 35 | | Nor cruel Tom nor Susan heard. |
| | | A favourite has no friend! |
| | | |
| | | From hence, ye beauties, undeceived, |
| | | Know, one false step is ne’er retrieved, |
| | | And be with caution bold. |
| 40 | | Not all that tempts your wandering eyes |
| | | And heedless hearts is lawful prize; |
| | | Nor all that glisters gold. |
First published 1748.
Contributed by Robert Clark.
