Familiarity Dangerous

As in her ancient mistress' lap,
The youthful tabby lay,
They gave each other many a tap,
Alike dispos'd to play.

But strife ensues. Puss waxes warm,
And with protruded claws
Ploughs all the length of Lydia's arm,
Mere wantonness the cause.

At once, resentful of the deed,
She snakes her to the ground
With many a threat, that she shall bleed
With still a deeper wound,

But, Lydia, bid thy fury rest!
It was a venial stroke;
For she, that will with kittens jest,
Should bear a kitten's joke.