DWill wrote: There was an 1887 edition illustrated with Gustav Dore prints that is a treat to read. You can see the pictures at http://www.artsycraftsy.com/dore_mariner.html. Maybe we'll just mull it over and have another poem on Wednesday if nobody has a chance to read about the old sailor.

Thanks for the link. I'd love to get my hands on the book. I'm just about done reading the poem -- a little spot of fun for a sick day in bed.

Wow, Robert, what a synopsis! Thanks. The moral seems a little more complicated to me though than merely to love nature. Something like, the one who loves is more in sync with God, who is love. To love His creation is part of being rightly related to Him (prayer being indicative of relating to God). Is that reading too much into those sweet last lines? I admit to not knowing much about the era or author... Thanks again for all your footwork!

If nobody (except saffron) had a chance to read "The Ancient Mariner" (hereafter to be known as "The Graybeard Loon" after Penelope's suggestion), there was less damage because Robert's synopsis was a darn good stand-in.

83. "Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes," by Thomas Gray. I wondered if this poem might be the origin of the famous saying in the last line, but no, it's more ancient than that. This is a witty, mock-heroic poem, but I feel sorry for the kitty.

Twas on a lofty vase's side,
Where China's gayest art had dyed
The azure flowers that blow;
Demurest of the tabby kind,
The pensive Selima, reclined,
Gazed on the lake below.

Her conscious tail her joy declared;
The fair round face, the snowy beard,
The velvet of her paws,
Her coat, that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,
She saw: and purred applause.

Still had she gazed; but 'midst the tide
Two angel forms were seen to glide,
The Genii of the stream;
Their scaly armour's Tyrian hue
Thro' richest purple to the view
Betrayed a golden gleam.

The hapless nymph with wonder saw:
A whisker first and then a claw,
With many an ardent wish,
She stretched in vain to reach the prize.
What female heart can gold despise?
What cat's averse to fish?

Presumptuous maid! with looks intent
Again she stretched, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf between.
(Malignant Fate sat by, and smiled)
The slippery verge her feet beguiled,
She tumbled headlong in.

Eight times emerging from the flood
She mewed to every watery god,
Some speedy aid to send.
No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirred;
Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard.
A favorite has no friend!

From hence, ye beauties, undeceived,
Know, one false step is ne'er retrieved,
And be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts is lawful prize,
Nor all, that glisters, gold.

I enjoyed this poem so much. 3 dings

All that glisters is not gold comes from - The Merchant of Venice, so I think Thomas Gray was referencing that, because I'm sure he'd know the Shakespeare plays by then.

The poor little cat came up eight times - so they must have know the saying that a cat has nine lives, too. I didn't know that went back to the 18th century.

This one was hard to read--I couldn't even watch "Lassie" or "Flipper" as a child because I was afraid something was going to happen to one of the animals. But I'll give it 2 1/2 dings. Penelope, good point about the nine lives! And I'll never be able to read Coleridge again without cracking up about the Greybeard Loon!

That was some weighty gold fish bowl!


"The hapless nymph with wonder saw:
A whisker first and then a claw,
With many an ardent wish,
She stretched in vain to reach the prize."


Doesn't the "She" here read as if it should be the "hapless nymph" but clearly it is the cat.

Clever poem but doesn't really evoke any real feeling in response as once again doesn't seem gold fish are usually in such weighty bowls.

LofS wrote:

Clever poem but doesn't really evoke any real feeling in response as once again doesn't seem gold fish are usually in such weighty bowls.

I was thinking about this, because I'm interested in Domestic History and this poem was written in the 18th century and glass wasn't in such common usage. Then I found this advert for Christies Auction House, and I think this must be the type of bowl referred to in the poem. What do you think LofS?

I know this is completely irrelevant and off topic....but I have enjoyed searching.


http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_ ... ID=4227600

As a collector of china I find that bowl incredibly beautiful but still at only 22.5 inches in diameter would that hold the weight of a full grown cat?

I too am very interested in domestic history and actually everything to do with how people coped with the most basic and common of human needs throughout history. For instance I keep wondering what kind of diapers (nappies) did Sachagawea wear on Jean Baptiste (the infant that accompanied her, and Lewis and Clark oh, and also the baby's father!)

this unforgivably OT

82. "Ask Me No More Where Jove Bestows," by Thomas Carew. Wow! Now that is going to do the trick for the guy, I would certainly think. But I'll defer to the experts.....4 dings from me, though.


ASK me no more where Jove bestows,
When June is past, the fading rose ;
For in your beauty's orient deep
These flowers, as in their causes, sleep.

Ask me no more whither do stray
The golden atoms of the day ;
For in pure love heaven did prepare
Those powders to enrich your hair.

Ask me no more whither doth haste
The nightingale, when May is past ;
For in your sweet dividing throat
She winters, and keeps warm her note.

Ask me no more where those stars 'light,
That downwards fall in dead of night ;
For in your eyes they sit, and there
Fixed become, as in their sphere.

Ask me no more if east or west
The phoenix builds her spicy nest ;
For unto you at last she flies,
And in your fragrant bosom dies.

The last stanza says it all, doesn't it? I love the "spicy nest"! 3 dings from me.