THE CAT: 



Why, why was pigeon's flesh so nice, 



That thoughtless cats should love it thus? 



Hadst thou but lived on rats and mice, 

 Thou hadst been living still, poor Puss ! 



Cursed be the taste, howe'er refined, 

 That prompts us for such joys to wish; 



And cursed the dainty, where we find 

 Destruction lurking in the dish. 



From the Arabic in Ibn Alalap Alnaharwany. 



43 



