14 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



wealth of cats, so that no bird ever ventured to nest 

 in its woods ; and from this mysterious region, it 

 was said, adventurous hunters carried away a few 

 little captives to be enslaved by decadent Greece. 

 A more probable and a more romantic tale has been 

 adapted from the Greek by that graceful versifier, 

 and true lover of cats, Graham Tomson. It gives a 

 motive, at once cogent and reasonable, for the im- 

 portation of Pasht's pussies. 



" Arsinoe the fair, the amber-tressed, 



Is mine no more ; 

 Cold as the unsunned snows are is her breast, 



And closed her door. 

 No more her ivory feet and tresses braided 



Make glad mine eyes ; 

 Snapt are my viol strings, my flowers are faded, 



My love-lamp dies. 



" Yet, once, for dewy myrtle-buds and roses, 



All summer long. 

 We searched the twilight-haunted garden closes 



With jest and song. 

 Ay, all is over now, — my heart hath changed 



Its heaven for hell ; 

 And that ill chance which all our love estranged 



In this wise fell : 



'' A little lion, small and dainty sweet, 



(For such there be !) 

 With sea-grey eyes and softly stepping feet. 



She prayed of me. 

 For this, through lands Egyptian far away, 



She bade me pass : 



