Chapter XVI: Part II

We pull’d――at least the rowers did,――
How long I cannot say,
But up to Richmond’s pleasant banks
At length we made our way.

“There ran the river pure and bright,
Without a speck or stain;
So once it ran at Westminster,
And so might run again.

“We all revived――began to laugh――
And then went down to dine,
And all bad odours were forgot
In my Lord Mayor’s good wine.

“We eat and drank, and drank and eat
Back in our chairs we leant;
We said it was a jolly world,
And folks should be content.

“We own’d the Thames’s scent was strong,
And said the labouring classes
Who lived beside and drank the tide
Were very stupid asses.

“For why not move, as we had done,
Out of the stench’s way,
And why not drink the sort of lush
That we had drunk that day?

“We eat and drank, we drank and eat,
With toasts and speeches hearty――
When Gog! that Cat’s infernal eyes,
Glared in upon the party.

“In at the cabin window glared,
Like the red fires of――well,
But what was worse, along with her
The creature brought the Smell.

“Into the cabin pour’d the stench,
Suffusing all the air,
And instant every Alderman
Fell down beside his chair.

“And there we sat upon the floor,
Unable for to rise.
While, gazing in malicious sort,
Glared down that Cat’s green eyes.

“And greener grew those fiendly orbs,
(Ay, greener than green fat),――
As, twixt a mew and screech we heard――
_‘Who was it Shot the Cat?’_”