196 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



entering a friend's house, was " restless and un- 

 easy " until he had seen the cat ; or that, when the 

 animal was presented, he became so absorbed in its 

 society as to forget his hostess and her guests. 

 But in his own home, and during his brief years of 

 health, Baudelaire found an exquisite and soothing 

 pleasure in the companionship of 



" Those suave and puissant cats, the household's pride, 

 Who love the sedentary life, and glow of fire." 



He sang their praises in verse as delicate as their 

 gentle footfalls, as brilliant as their half-shut opal 

 eyes, as mysterious as their ineffable and sphinx- 

 like repose, which seems like the repose of centu- 

 ries. He pleaded their cause with the fervour of a 

 lover and the skill of an advocate. Their sweet and 

 subtle charm, " lost on the vulgar," has never been 

 more finely expressed than in the little poem called 

 " Les Chats," which is simpler, even in its fantasies, 

 than Baudelaire's verse is often wont to be. 



" Les amoureux fervents et les savants austeres 

 Aiment egalement, dans leur mure saison, 

 Les chats puissants et doux, orgueil de la maison, 

 Qui comme eux sont frileux, et comme eux sedentaires. 



" Amis de la science et de la volupte, 

 lis cherchent le silence et l'horreur des tenebres ; 

 L'Erebe les eiit pris pour ses coursiers funebres, 

 S'ils pouvaient au servage incliner leur fierte. 



