the cat - World eBook Library
the cat - World eBook Library the cat - World eBook Library
The Colubriad Close by the threshold of a door nail'd fast Three kittens sat; each kitten looked aghast. I, passing swift and inattentive by, THE CAT At the three kittens cast a careless eye Not much concerned to know what they did there, Nor deeming kittens worth a poet's care. But presently a loud and furious hiss Caus'd me to stop, and to exclaim, " What's this ? " When lo ! upon the threshold met my view, With head erect, and eyes of fiery hue, A viper, long as Count de Grasse's queue. Forth from his head his forked tongue he throws, Darting it full against a kitten's nose; Who, never having seen in field or house The like, sat still and silent as a mouse Only projecting, with attention due, Her whisker'd face, she asked him, " Who are you ? On to the hall I went, with pace not slow, But swift as lightning, for a long Dutch hoe: With which well arm'd, I hastened to the spot, To find the viper,— but I saw him not. And, turning up the leaves and shrubs around, Found only that he was not to be found. But still the kittens, sitting as before, Sat watching close the bottom of the door. " I hope," said I, " the villain I would kill Has slipt between the door and the door-sill, 154
THE CAT= And if I make despatch and follow hard, No doubt but I shall find him in the yard." For long ere now it should have been rehears'd, 'Twas in the garden that I saw him first. E'en there I found him, there the full-grown cat His head, with velvet paw, did gently pat, As curious as the kittens erst had been To learn what this phenomenon might mean. Fill'd with heroic ardour at the sight, And fearing every moment he might bite, And rob our household of our only cat That was of age to combat with a rat, With outstretch'd hoe I slew him at the door, And taught him never to come there no more. 155 William Cowper.
- Page 114 and 115: Nero THE CAT I own that when Agripp
- Page 116 and 117: THE CAT mew, as if fearing he might
- Page 118 and 119: =THE CAT can see him now, standing
- Page 120 and 121: THE CAT and look into my face, foll
- Page 122 and 123: Tom of Corpus The Junior Fellow's v
- Page 124 and 125: THE CAT Oliver A long series of cat
- Page 126 and 127: Mentu =THE CAT The wild nature in M
- Page 128 and 129: The Shah of Persia -THE CAT Cats of
- Page 130 and 131: THE CAT with his two soft paws —
- Page 132 and 133: A passing scent could keenly wake T
- Page 134 and 135: =THE CAT rival, the mutual fear whi
- Page 136 and 137: mdRmuko Apeak concernina /Cab Inmii
- Page 138 and 139: =THE CAT I only know they make me l
- Page 140 and 141: THE CAT The hand, and person genera
- Page 142 and 143: The Ratcatcher and Cats The rats by
- Page 144 and 145: But let us limit our desires, Nor w
- Page 146 and 147: THE CAT The captain's humanity did
- Page 148 and 149: THE CAT without his mascot, but to
- Page 150 and 151: The Point of View THE CAT " Dog," s
- Page 152 and 153: An Encounter THE CAT One day a frie
- Page 154 and 155: The Retired Cat A poet's cat, sedat
- Page 156 and 157: Awaken'd by the shock, cried Puss,
- Page 158 and 159: Moral. Beware of too sublime a sens
- Page 160 and 161: THE CAT An Outcast My father had a
- Page 162 and 163: A Poet to the Rescue =THE CAT Passi
- Page 166 and 167: Discipline THE CAT A female cat is
- Page 168 and 169: THE CAT On the Death of a Favourite
- Page 170 and 171: yiUkJmmi
- Page 172 and 173: Marigold =THE CAT She moved through
- Page 174 and 175: A Sea Fight THE CAT "Prince," said
- Page 176 and 177: Six little mice sat down to spin, P
- Page 178 and 179: The Cattie Sits in the Kiln-Ring Th
- Page 180 and 181: Grisette Dines Always well behaved
- Page 182: The End. World Public Library Assoc
The Colubriad<br />
Close by <strong>the</strong> threshold of a door nail'd fast<br />
Three kittens sat; each kitten looked aghast.<br />
I, passing swift and inattentive by,<br />
THE CAT<br />
At <strong>the</strong> three kittens cast a careless eye<br />
Not much concerned to know what <strong>the</strong>y did <strong>the</strong>re,<br />
Nor deeming kittens worth a poet's care.<br />
But presently a loud and furious hiss<br />
Caus'd me to stop, and to exclaim, " What's this ? "<br />
When lo ! upon <strong>the</strong> threshold met my view,<br />
With head erect, and eyes of fiery hue,<br />
A viper, long as Count de Grasse's queue.<br />
Forth from his head his forked tongue he throws,<br />
Darting it full against a kitten's nose;<br />
Who, never having seen in field or house<br />
The like, sat still and silent as a mouse<br />
Only projecting, with attention due,<br />
Her whisker'd face, she asked him, " Who are you ?<br />
On to <strong>the</strong> hall I went, with pace not slow,<br />
But swift as lightning, for a long Dutch hoe:<br />
With which well arm'd, I hastened to <strong>the</strong> spot,<br />
To find <strong>the</strong> viper,— but I saw him not.<br />
And, turning up <strong>the</strong> leaves and shrubs around,<br />
Found only that he was not to be found.<br />
But still <strong>the</strong> kittens, sitting as before,<br />
Sat watching close <strong>the</strong> bottom of <strong>the</strong> door.<br />
" I hope," said I, " <strong>the</strong> villain I would kill<br />
Has slipt between <strong>the</strong> door and <strong>the</strong> door-sill,<br />
154