the far-off day when I was ordered to trans- 

 late them into Latin elegiacs I have detested 

 these heartless stanzas. Why, moreover, 

 should Selima's death be used to enforce the 

 lesson (see the last line) that not all that 

 glisters is gold? Selima was not out for gold. 

 She wanted fish, and the dullest dace would 

 have lured her to her fatal fall equally well. 

 Gray should have known better, for he had 

 resided many years at Cambridge, where, as 

 at Oxford, cats are held in high honour and 

 are promoted to great positions. Sir Freder- 

 ick Pollock, who has been Fellow of a College 

 at both Universities, has described how his 

 election to a Fellowship was confirmed by the 

 "Senior Fellow," who 



Arose and sniffed the stranger's shoes 

 With critic nose, as ancients use 

 To judge mankind aright. 



I for 'twas I who tell the tale 

 Conscious of fortune's trembling scale, 



Awaited the decree; 

 42 



