78 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



If Moncrif be the first genuine chronicler, the 

 Froissart of cats, La Fontaine, says M. Feuillet de 

 Conches, is their Homer. &quot; He painted them, as 

 he studied them, under all aspects, and with a mas 

 ter s skill.&quot; But that he painted them unkindly is 

 too evident for denial. He borrowed Rodilardus 

 from Rabelais, and turned that feline Samson into 

 a cruel and insatiable tyrant, 



&quot; L Attila, le fleau des rats,&quot; 



who wages day and night a relentless war of ex 

 termination. 



&quot; Et Rodilard passoit, chez la gent miserable, 

 Non pour un chat, mais pour un diable.&quot; 



This &quot; Alexander of cats &quot; is as brave as he is 

 merciless, cowardice has never been a cattish 

 trait, but he is as false and malicious as he is 

 brave. He sows the seeds of dissension between 

 other animals, and laughs in his sleeve at their stu 

 pidity. He refuses pity to the mouseling in these 

 terrible words, &quot; Cats know not how to pardon.&quot; 

 He is a prince of hypocrites, and, like the hermit 

 of the Ganges, affects piety, and the spirit of uni 

 versal brotherhood. When the foolish young rab 

 bit quarrels with the weasel, she consents to abide 

 by the just decision of Raminagrobis, a saintly puss 

 of ascetic habits and incorruptible morals ; a &quot;chate- 

 mite,&quot; who, sighing that he is old and deaf, per- 



