l80 The Book of Cats. 



Calumnious Cats, who c\rc\x\:iie faux pas. 



And reputations maul with murderous claws ; 



Shrill Cats, whom fierce domestic brawls delight, 



Cross Cats, who nothing want but teeth to bite ; 



Starch Cats of puritanic aspect sad, 



And learned Cats, who talk their husbands mad ; 



Confounded Cats, who cough, and croak, and cry, 



And maudlin Cats who drink eternally ; 



Fastidious Cats, who pine for costly cates, 



And jealous Cats who catechise their mates ; 



Cat prudes who, when they're ask'd the question, squall, 



And ne'er give answer categorical ; 



Uncleanly Cats, who never pare their nails, 



Cat- gossips, full of Canterbury tales ; 



Cat-grandams, vex'd with asthmas and catarrhs, 



And superstitious Cats, who curse their stars ; 



Cats of each class, craft, calling, and degree, 



Moum Dick's calamitous catastrophe ! 



Yet while I chant the cause of Richard's end, 



Ye sympathising Cats, your tears suspend ! 



Then shed enough to float a dozen whales, 



And use for pocket handkerchiefs your tails I 



Ah ! though thy bust adorn no sculptur'd shrine. 



No vase thy relics rare to fame consign ; 



No rev' rend characters thy rank express. 



Nor hail thee, Dick, ' D.D. nor F.R.S.' 



Though no funereal cypress shade thy tomb. 



For thee the wreaths of Paradise shall bloom ; 



There, while Grimalkin's mew her Richard greets, 



A thousand Cats shall purr on purple seats. 



E'en now I see, descending from his throne, 



Thy venerable Cat, O Whittington ! 



The kindred excellence of Richard hail. 



And wave with joy his gratulating tail ! 



