november 16, 2009
Cat in the bowl
Diktet heter egentlig ikke Cat in the bowl, men det er vel egentlig det dette diktet handler om – en katt som drukner i en gullfisk-bolle. Stakkars pus:(
Jeg trodde at de klassiske diktene for det meste handlet om kjærlighet, natur eller samfunnsproblem, men dette er et utrolig morsomt dikt, selv om det egentlig ender ganske tragisk… Bare se her:
“On the Death of a Favourite Cat Drowned in a tub of Gold Fishes”
by Thomas Gray
| ’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 |
| Through 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 favourite 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. |
Håkon Edvardsen sagt,
januar 6, 2010 kl. 18:48
Hei..
Godt nytt år.Du skjenner ikke meg.Men jeg fikk kontakt med din blogg via din fasinasjon for Thomas Gray ,,Ode on the death of a favourite cat drowned in tub of globe”
Selv er jeg Frimerkesamler og har laget en morsom motivsamling
rundt dette diktet’s motiv.Der bruker jeg alle typer av materiale.Frimerker,telekort,postkort osv.Det siste jeg har fått opplysninger
om at diktet er satt music til.Siste gang jeg var i London var jeg på Hovedbibloteket music avdeling.Det er Engelsk ”writer on music and com-poser”Cecil Forsyth.
Når det gjelder selve diktet.Er det morsomt å lese analysen av diktet.Har Du fått med deg det.Eller har du noe annet som er opplysning håper jeg du sender meg noen ord.