THE EPITAPH
Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth
A Youth, to Fortune and to Fame unknown;
Fair Science frown’d not on his humble birth,
And Melancholy mark’d him for her own.
Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere;
Heaven did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to Misery all he had, a tear,
He gain’d from Heaven, ’twas all he wish’d, a friend.
No farther seek his merits to disclose,
Or draw his frailties from their dread abode,
(There they alike in trembling hope repose,)
The bosom of his Father and his God.
THE END
1748
ON A FAVOURITE CAT, DROWNED IN A TUB OF GOLD FISHES
by Thomas Gray Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
ON_A_FAVOURITE_CAT
ON A FAVOURITE CAT, DROWNED IN A TUB OF GOLD FISHES
’Twas on a lofty vase’s side,
Where China’s gayest art had dyed
The azure flowers, that blow,
Demurest of the tabby kind
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,
Her coat that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes-
She saw; and purr’d applause.
Still had she gazed, but ’midst the tide
Two angel forms were seen to glide,
The Genii of the stream:
Their scaly armor’s Tyrian hue,
Through richest purple, to the view
Betray’d a golden gleam.
The hapless Nymph with wonder saw:
A whisker first, and then a claw
With many an ardent wish.
She stretch’d, 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 stretch’d, 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 mew’d to every watery God
Some speedy aid to send.
No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirr’d:
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.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts, is lawful prize;
Nor all that glisters, gold.