The poem for which we remember Christopher Smart (April 11, 1722 to May 21. 1771) was not made public during his lifetime, not public until 1939, so almost two hundred years. During his lifetime Smart was a well-known figure in English literary life. Samuel Johnson, hearing complaints about how Smart asked strangers in the city streets to stop and pray with him, said he would as soon have Smart's company as that of anyone else. Here are some of the verses of "Jubilate Agno":
...
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God’s light about him both wax and fire.
For the Electrical fire is the spiritual substance, which God sends from heaven to sustain the bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, tho he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.
Thus Christopher Smart details his amazing cat Jeffrey. I should like to clamber intellectually as well as Smart does.
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