The Sun.
London, England, 1823-05-02 00:00:00

PO ET It Y.

• KATairEv9ei Aotaat..
ON THE DEATH OF AN AMIABLE CAT,
AN ELEGY ;
COMPOSED FOR MADAME CATALANI.

Felis inter Alias.
Here plant the cypress and funeral yew,
Here all your tears, ye weeping willows shed,
Here, to sad Elegy, your C'atgut screw,
Ye doleful Nine, for Torn, your Tom, is dead !

Not strophe, or antistrophe, I ween,
Shall cramp the dirge, in stiff and measued verse.
No—let your griefs oierflow, like Hippocrene,
And, deep Catastrophe! his fate rehearse.
Sing all his lives—a life for every Muse,
In vain to Ton prolifick nature gave ;
Yet still Pierians, ye may pick and choose,
And with nine epitaphs anoint his grave !

One life alone to man the gods bestow ;
Nor are the Cattle better off for breath ;
Yet Tom, with three tin:vs three, was fore'd to go !
So prodigal the he-Cat.umbs of death.

Kitten that's born of Cat the bucket kicks :
And for a shroud its skin but seldom keeps;
But Tom, with fur uninjur'd, cross'd the Styx,
And snugly in Cathedral comfort sleeps.

For no untimely chance his liver hit ;
Norfell he—fishing in a china jar:
No Catalepsis snatch'd him in a tit
No fierce Cathartick, nor impure Catarrh:

Nor did some rash adventure " do him up,"
Like Ammon's son, with glory drunk, and wine
Nor self-invited, he, with Pluto sup;
Or die like Oro, or like Cataline

Nor was the fatal dart abruptly thrown,
As from a Catapult, with vengeance quick;
Gradual he sunk; and sure some graven stone
Will tell, how true he died a Catbulick.

For, by his wagging tail, his dying swoon,
Prov'd, to his eye, reveal'd celestial blisses
From Virgo chaste, and ancient as the moon ;
Or,—as a paw hr stretch'd,—perhaps from Pisces!

Perhaps some spirit said, or seated to say,
" Come, Tommy, come—l lead to Paradise !
" Here, turn thy whiskers to the milky way—
" Here's all Elysium full of birds and mice !"

But seek we not the vision to disclose,
Or call his secrets from their awful home;
There they alike with Cat and skin repove,
Mute as a mummy in a Catacomb

There, though my own like Cataracts o'es-flow,
For ever sleep in peace those emerald eyes ;
There rest his loves—if love can rest below—
Those loves, old maids were wont to Catechise !

Yet oft as midnight Caterwauls I hear,
'When to the moon their flames thy mates disclose,
Lur'd by my Cat-call to thy hallow'd bier,
Shall mew the Juliet: and the Romeo:.

Due classick rites shall soothe thy purring ghost,—
Nine victim rats,—nine nestlings from the tree
Sopp'd in bohea, both votive Cates and toast,
And meet libations—Cater'd creams, for thee.

Then stalking round thy grave, in sable pall,
While the black torches shed their funeral flames,
On Puss, Grimalkin, Tabby Tom, we'll
Invoking all thy Catalogue of names.

Whate'er the shape thy manes shall assume—
Whether, ennobled, thou a tiger rise.
Or creep, transform'd, a mouse about the room,
Or in some antique nun thy soul disguise.

Whate'er thy lot—now eterniz'd thy name
Shall live embalm'd in monody like
And e'en from Charon thou shalt homage claim.
Thus by my muse endear'd to Proseipine.

AURAL.

'Twixt life and death, how close the Catenation !
Jua like a bond and judgment to a Jew
The payment coupled with the obligation,—
Ilow Categorical the C'atchpole too !

The forfeit up, no bail, alas! alas !
Awhile its Cataplastic aid may lend—
Stern Rhadamanthus serves his Capiat ;
And Caterpillar-like--with worms we end !
CA T-ULLUS.

SONO.—WOMAN'S LOVE. •
Go range the world and search it round,-
Its ev'ry pleasure prove,
And then confess no joy you found,
,•
Like gentle woman's love.
AAlnld velese,rbyelo and untrue
below, save save only this,
Is fleeting
earthly
bliss
But mocks as we pursue.
What's fortune ? ask the sordid slave,
Who craves for health in vain ;
And what are titles ? will they save
Or mitigate a pain !
Ambition's but a glaring light
Which dazzles to betray ;
And he who climbs to learning's height
Must mount a slipplry way.
And who has e'er on man relied,
Nor found an empty heart
Oh, fleeting friendship ! thee I ye tried,
And know how false thou art.
But when joys fade and faithless prove,
And early hopes are past,
Tis then the light of woman's love
Will chzer thee to the last.
Around our path its brains are drawn,
Dispelling gloom and strife ;
It rises with our early dawn,
• And only sets with life.
In youth, is the sun at neon,
That darts its fiery ray ;
And; 0 ! it is the milder moon,
NI hen brighter hours decay.
Then range the world and search it round,
Its ev'ry pleasure prove,
And then confess no joy you found
Like gentle woman's love.

T, A.

CITY DISPENSARY.--YeStPrday the Anni-
versary Festival of this Institution was held At the Old London
Tavern, Rishopsgate-street, when a numerous and respectable
company sat down to &sumptuous dinner; the Loan MAYOR in
the Chair, supported by various persons of distinction. On the
cloth being removed, Nun NoCes Dornine was sung by
Jolley, Tinney, and Fitzwilliam, on which " The King,'
and -tither usual toasts, were given. The Report stated, that
since the establishment of the Institution, in the year 1789,
138,302 patients had been admitted, 136,442 cured or re-
lieved ; 393 discharged for irregularity; 1,497 died. And during
the last year 4,547 have been admitted ; 4,499 cured or relieved;
two discharged for irregularity, and 46 died ; leaving under the
attention of the establishment at present 450 patients. 50,346
have been attended at their own habitations ; and many persons
have been received through accidents, &c. without letters of re-
commendation. The health of the Lord Mayor was drank in the
course of the evening, on which his Lordship returned thanks,
expressing his high opinion of the merits of the Institution, and
pledging himself' to support it.--Several other Gentlemen ex-
pressed themselves in similar terms, and the company after
enjoying themselves with much conviviality, separated at a late
hour.