THE CAT= 



The Cat 



I like the simple dignity 

 That hedges round the cat; 



You never see her showing off, 

 She lets the dog do that. 



You never catch her leaping hoops, 

 Nor prancing on the floor 



Upon two legs, when generous 

 Dame Nature gave her four. 



We train the dog to hunt the birds, 

 And beat him when he fails. 



He works all day, and never gets 

 A single taste of quails. 



The cat is wiser far than he, 

 She hunts for birds to eat; 



She does not run her legs off, just 

 To give some man a treat. 



All cats, no matter what their breed, 



Are born aristocrats; 

 They never, like the terriers, make 



A trade of killing rats. 



The cat will rid the house of rats, 

 Because she likes the fun, 



No man can say she's moved to it, 

 Because he wants it done. 

 11 



