THE CAT, 



Postscript to a Rondeau, Addressed by 

 Mme. la Duchesse du Maine to her 

 Favourite Cat 



My pretty Puss, my solace and delight, 



To celebrate thy loveliness aright 



I ought to call to life the bard who sung 



Of Lesbia's sparrow with so sweet a tongue; 



But 'tis in vain to summon here to me 



So famous a dead personage as he, 



And you must take contentedly to-day 



This poor rondeau that Cupid wafts your way. 



Translated by Edmund Gosse. 



70 



