The Cat Metamorphosed Into a Woman

A bachelor caress’d his cat, A darling, fair, and delicate; So deep in love, he thought her mew The sweetest voice he ever knew. By prayers, and tears, and magic art, The man got Fate to take his part; And, lo! one morning at his side His cat, transform’d, became his bride. In wedded state our man was seen The fool in courtship he had been. No lover e’er was so bewitch’d By any maiden’s charms As was this husband, so enrich’d By hers within his arms. He praised her beauties, this and that, And saw there nothing of the cat. In short, by passion’s aid, he Thought her a perfect lady. ‘Twas night: some carpet-gnawing mice Disturb’d the nuptial joys. Excited by the noise, The bride sprang at them in a trice; The mice were scared and fled. The bride, scarce in her bed, The gnawing heard, and sprang again, – And this time not in vain, For, in this novel form array’d, Of her the mice were less afraid. Through life she loved this mousing course, So great is stubborn nature’s force.