This is Shelley's poem "A Cat"
Verses On A Cat
A Cat
Author: English Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Supreme Good Like Water·Translation
(The original rhyme scheme is AA BCCB, AA DEED, FF GHHG, II JKKJ, LL MKKM; I am trying to translate each stanza with one rhyme. Any corrections are welcome)
(1)
A cat in distress,
A cat is in distress, < /p>
Nothing more, nor less;
Nothing is big or small;
Good folks, I must faithfully tell ye,
Good folks, I'll tell you the truth,
As I am a sinner,
Even if I am a scoundrel,
It waits for some dinner
To stuff out its own little belly.
Just waiting for lunch to satisfy my hunger.
(2)
You would not easily guess
All kinds of troubles—
All the modes of distress
p>
You often never guess—
Which torture the tenants of earth;
Every household is in pain;
And the various evils,
p>
Unfortunate soul parasitic possession.
Which like so many devils,
There are so many little naughty things,
Attend the poor souls from their birth.
Also Have weird bad habits,
(3)
Some a living require,
Some people want to survive,
And others desire
Someone is greedy for profit—
An old fellow out of the way;
An unusual old guy;
And which is the best
Which one is the best—
I leave to be guessed,
Let you guess,
For I cannot pretend to say .
And I can't hypothesise.
(4)
One wants society,
Some people are keen on socializing,
Another variety,
Some people Just for fun,
Others a tranquil life;
Some people just want a peaceful life;
Some want food,
As long as the food is good,
Others, as good,
Some people are so free and easy,
Only want a wife.
Only want a wife. Hug my wife.
(5)
But this poor little cat
Poor little cat—
Only wanted a rat,
Just a little maw,
To stuff out its own little maw;
To fill my belly;
And it were as good
Some people should have given him a mouse to eat—
Some people had such food,
It would be great if that were the case,
To make them hold their jaw!
To make them stop nagging!
Translation Note: This is Shelley's earliest poem, written in 1800, when he was only eight years old.