’Twas on a lofty vase’s side, Where China’s gayest art had dy’d The azure flowers, that blow; Demurest of the tabby kind, The pensive Selima, reclin’d, Gaz’d on the lake below. Her conscious tail her joy declar’d; 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 gaz’d; but ’midst the tide Two angel forms were seen to glide[29] The Genii of the stream: Their scaly armour’s Tyrian hue Thro’ 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 smil’d) The slipp’ry verge her feet beguil’d, 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: A Fav’rite 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 wondering eyes, And heedless hearts is lawful prize, Nor all that glistens,[30] gold. THOMAS GRAY. ―――― ODE _On the death of a favourite, who was nearly drowned in the River Thames._ ’Twas in a new-constructed boat, Which Acre’s hero set afloat The Treasury Bench to show, Demurest of the placeman kind, The gentle Castlereagh[31] reclin’d, Gazed on the Thames below His tail, which he so lately turn’d, The face which ne’er with shame had burn’d. His powerful grasp of paws! The coat which he had often chang’d His ears _still_ left, and eyes which rang’d He saw, and smil’d, applause. Still had he gaz’d; but ’midst the tide Some Downshire voters seemed to glide, With aspect sweet and mild: Their lists of freeholds in their hand With names of those they could command, Betray’d this ardent child. The hapless youth with transport saw; A prosing speech, and then a claw, To gain the sturdy race He stretch’d in vain to reach the prize; Nor could _he_ well such fish despise, Who is so fond of _Place_. Presumptuous youth! with looks intent, Again he stretched, again he bent, Nor saw the gulf between: Malignant Fate sat by and smil’d The slippery verge his feet beguil’d, He tumbled headlong in.