 | The poetical works (1829) |  |
TO A COLLEGE CAT.
WRITTEN SOON AFTER THE INSTALLATION AT OXFORD, 1793.
Toll on, toll on, old Bell! I'll neither pray
Nor sleep away the hour. The fire burns bright,
And, bless the maker of this great-arm'd chair,
This is the throne of comfort! I will sit
And study most devoutly: not my Euclid,
For God forbid that I should discompose
That spider's excellent geometry!
I'll study thee, Puss: not to make a picture—
I hate your canvas cats and dogs and fools,
Themes that pollute the pencil! let me see
The Patriot's actions start again to life,
And I will bless the artist who awakes
The throb of emulation. Thou shalt give,
A better lesson Puss! come look at me.
Lift up thine emerald eyes! aye, purr away,
For I am praising thee, I tell thee, Puss,
And Cats as well as Kings love flattery.
For three whole days I heard an old Fur Gown
Beprais'd, that made a Duke a Chancellor:
Trust me, though I can sing most pleasantly
Upon thy well-streak'd coat, to that said Fur
I was not guilty of a single rhyme!
'Twas an old turncoat Fur, that would sit easy
And wrap round any man, so it were tied
With a blue riband.
Nor sleep away the hour. The fire burns bright,
And, bless the maker of this great-arm'd chair,
This is the throne of comfort! I will sit
And study most devoutly: not my Euclid,
For God forbid that I should discompose
That spider's excellent geometry!
I'll study thee, Puss: not to make a picture—
I hate your canvas cats and dogs and fools,
Themes that pollute the pencil! let me see
The Patriot's actions start again to life,
And I will bless the artist who awakes
The throb of emulation. Thou shalt give,
A better lesson Puss! come look at me.
Lift up thine emerald eyes! aye, purr away,
For I am praising thee, I tell thee, Puss,
703
For three whole days I heard an old Fur Gown
Beprais'd, that made a Duke a Chancellor:
Trust me, though I can sing most pleasantly
Upon thy well-streak'd coat, to that said Fur
I was not guilty of a single rhyme!
'Twas an old turncoat Fur, that would sit easy
And wrap round any man, so it were tied
With a blue riband.
What a magic lies
In beauty! thou on this forbidden ground
Mayest range, and when the Fellow looks at thee
Straight he forgets the statute. Swell thy tail
And stretch thy claws, most Democratic beast,
I like thine independence! Treat thee well,
Thou art as playful as young Innocence;
But if we play the Governor, and break
The social compact, God has given thee claws,
And thou hast sense to use them. Oh! that Man
Would copy this thy wisdom! spaniel fool,
He crouches down and licks his tyrant's hand,
And courts oppression. Wiser animal,
I gaze on thee, familiar not enslaved,
And thinking how affection's gentle hand
Leads by a hair the large limb'd Elephant,
With mingled pity and contempt behold
His drivers goad the patient biped beast.
In beauty! thou on this forbidden ground
Mayest range, and when the Fellow looks at thee
Straight he forgets the statute. Swell thy tail
And stretch thy claws, most Democratic beast,
I like thine independence! Treat thee well,
Thou art as playful as young Innocence;
But if we play the Governor, and break
The social compact, God has given thee claws,
And thou hast sense to use them. Oh! that Man
Would copy this thy wisdom! spaniel fool,
He crouches down and licks his tyrant's hand,
And courts oppression. Wiser animal,
I gaze on thee, familiar not enslaved,
And thinking how affection's gentle hand
Leads by a hair the large limb'd Elephant,
With mingled pity and contempt behold
His drivers goad the patient biped beast.
| The poetical works (1829) | |