sappear the mice raise their voice,
Till they like the others skedaddle;
At last in mad frolic we hear _them_ rejoice--
The infusoria rabble.

XII.

Hiddigeigei sees with sorrow
To a close his days are drawing;
Death may come at any moment,
So deep grief his heart is gnawing.

O how gladly I the riches
Of my wisdom would be preaching,
That in joy as well as sorrow
Cats might profit from my teaching.

Ah! the road of life is rugged;
On it rough sharp stones are lying.
Stumbling o'er this path so dreary,
Sprained and bruised we limp on crying.

Life oft useless wounds is giving.
For 'tis full of brawls and knavery;
Vainly many cats have fallen
Victims to an empty bravery.

But for what this constant fretting?
The young cats are laughing ever,
No advice from me accepting--
Only suffering makes them clever.

Let us see what they'll accomplish;
History's teachings are derided:
His sage maxims ne'er to publish,
Hiddigeigei has decided.

XIII.

Growing weaker, breathing harder,
Soon I'll feel Death's shadow o'er me:
Make my grave there in the store-house,
In my former field of glory.

Valiantly all round me slaying
Fought I like a raging lion:
In his armour clad then bury
Of his race the last brave scion.

Yes the last, because the offspring
Win their parents equal never!
They are good but wooden people,
Not so witty nor as clever.

Wooden are they, thinking solely
Of the moment, hollow hearted;
Only few still hold as sacred
The bequests of the departed.

But sometime, when years have passed by,
In my grave I've long been sleeping,
Then will come the angry cat's howl
Nightly down upon you sweeping.

Hiddigeigei's solemn warning
Will you from your slumber waken:
Ever fear the coils of dulness!
Save yourselves, ye God-forsaken!

SONGS OF THE SILENT MAN.

FROM THE CAVE OF THE GNOMES.

I.

Quiet heart! O ponder lonely,
Valiant, by no fears assailed;
Only in calm meditation
Lofty secrets are unve