262 Tlu Book of Cats. 



The Fish the Hooke, the Foule 

 The lymed Twig doth catch, 



The Fie the P'inger, atid the Frog 

 The Bustard doth dispatch. 



" The Squirrill thinking nought, 



That feately cracks the Nut ; 

 The greedie Goshawke wanting pray. 



In dread of Death doth put ; 

 But scorning all these kindes, 



I would become a Cat, 

 To combat with the creeping Mouse, 



And scratch the screeking Rat. 



*' I would be present, aye, 



And at my Ladie's call. 

 To gard her from the fearfull mouse, 



In Parlour and in Hall ; 

 In Kitchen, for his Lyfe, 



He should not shew his hed ; 

 The Peare in Poke should lie untoucht 



When shee were gone to Bed. 



** The Mouse should stand in Feare, 

 So should the squeaking Rat ; 

 All this would I doe if I were 

 Converted to a Cat." 



But I think George must have been very far gone 

 when he wrote that piece of poetry, for I should 

 think that, even with the advantage of nine Hves to 

 lose, a Cat's existence is rather too hazardous ; 

 and, by the way, that reminds me of some instances 



