THE CAT TRIUMPHANT 135 



of condolence, (" Learn, my son, to bear tranquilly 

 the misfortunes of others,") and with the charming 

 verses which have immortalized Selima's memory. 



" It would be a sensible satisfaction to me," he 

 wrote, "before I testify my sorrow, and the sincere 

 part I take in your calamity, to know for certain 

 who it is I lament. I knew Zara and Selima, (Se- 

 lima, was it, or Fatima ?) or rather I knew them 

 both together ; for I cannot justly say which was 

 which. Then as to your 'handsome Cat,' the name 

 you distinguish her by, I am no less at a loss, as 

 well knowing one's handsome cat is always the cat 

 one loves best ; or, if one be alive and one dead, it 

 is usually the latter which is the handsomer. Be- 

 sides, if the point were never so clear, I hope you 

 do not think me so ill-bred or so imprudent as to 

 forfeit all my interest in the survivor. Oh, no ! I 

 would rather seem to mistake, and to imagine to be 

 sure it must be the tabby one that has met with 

 this sad accident." 



The poem which accompanied the letter, and a 

 portion of which was subsequently inscribed upon 

 the pedestal which held the ill-omened bowl, is 

 familiar to all readers of English verse ; but no book 

 upon cats would be complete without it. 



" 'T was on a lofty vase's side, 

 Where China's gayest art had dyed 

 The azure flowers that blow ; 



