Christopher Smart is now best known for two poems, “Jubilate Agno” (usually translated “Rejoice in the Lamb”) and the “Song to David” (about the king and psalmist). But, although Smart was an important poet in his own time, the “Song to David” was not very well received and “Jubilate Agno” was not actually published until 1939.
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“Jubilate Agno” is a long poem in a number of sections, each of which gives a reason for rejoicing. “For I will consider my Cat Jeoffrey” is one of the sections. T.S. Eliot thought it the greatest cat poem ever written.
No one seems to know what Jeoffrey looked like, so cat people are free to imagine him in their own ways.
For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
Smart is thought to have written at least substantial parts of this work while confined in a mental hospital. He was confined for three periods in all—supposedly for a “religious mania”—but if he did have a mental disorder it was a mild one. He was committed by his father-in-law, who never got along with him, so the reason for the commitment could have been nothing better than spite.
For having consider'd God and himself he will consider his neighbour.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
Smart was known to accost people in the street and demand that they pray with him. When this was reported to Dr. Johnson his reply was, “I’d as lief pray with Kit Smart as anyone else.” Dr. Johnson was not Smart’s only prominent friend. His circle included Henry Fielding, Oliver Goldsmith, David Garrick, and Charles Burney. Apparently, he had a quirky personality, but a pleasant one, and there were great minds who found him good company.
For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.
………………………………………….
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
There are two versions of the way Smart met Jeoffrey. According to one account. Jeoffrey was a hospital cat when Smart got there. The other story is that Jeoffrey wandered into the hospital when Smart was already there. Either way, they adopted each other. And it was a good thing for both of them. Jeofrey was cared for and Smart had a companion in a place where he seems to have been largely ignored. (Fortunately. Eighteenth-century “treatment” for mental illness could give a modern psychiatrist nightmares.)
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection.
For the latter refuses the charge.
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.
These are a few excerpts. The complete poem is here.
Benjamin Britten set a small part of the poem:
Isn’t it perfectly sane to love a cat? Cat people know this is a rhetorical question.