| |
| ’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, | 5 |
| 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, | 10 |
| 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: | 15 |
| Their scaly armour’s Tyrian hue | |
| Thro’ richest purple to the view | |
| Betrayed a golden gleam. | |
| |
| The hapless Nymph with wonder saw: | |
| A whisker first and then a claw, | 20 |
| 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 | 25 |
| 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. | 30 |
| |
| 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. | 35 |
| 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 | 40 |
| And heedless hearts, is lawful prize; | |
| Nor all, that glisters, gold. | |
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