56 SHAKESPEARE'S [CAT. 



saw the Abbey - cat playing with a serpent, which the 

 Physicians understanding presently conceived that the serpent 

 had emptied some of her poison upon the Cat, which 

 brought the same to the monks, and they by stroking and 

 handling the Cat were infected therewith ; and whereas 

 there remained one difficulty, namely, how it came to pass 

 the Cat herself was not poisoned thereby, it was resolved, 

 that forasmuch as the serpent's poison came from him but 

 in play and sport, and not in malice and wrath, that 

 therefore the venom thereof, being lost in play, neither 

 harmed the Cat at all, nor much endangered the monks ; 

 and the very like is observed of mice that will play with 

 serpents. A Cat is much delighted to play with her image 

 in a glass, and if at any time she behold it in water, 

 presently she leapeth down into the water which naturally 

 she doth abhor ; but if she be not quickly pulled forth 

 and dried she dieth thereof, because she is impatient of all 

 wet. Those which will keep their Cats indoors, and from 

 hunting birds abroad, must cut off their ears, for they 

 cannot endure to have drops of rain distil into them, and 

 therefore keep themselves in harbour. They cannot abide 

 the savour of ointments, but fall mad thereby. It is most 

 certain that the breath and savour of Cats consume the 

 radical humour and destroy the lungs, and therefore they 

 which keep their Cats with them in their beds have the 

 air corrupted, and fall into several hectics and consump- 

 tions. There was a certain company of monks much given 

 to nourish and play with Cats, whereby they were so in- 

 fected, that within a short space none of them were able 

 either to say, read, pray or sing in all the monastery. 

 And therefore also they are dangerous in the time of 

 pestilence, for they are not only apt to bring home 

 venomous infection, but to poison a man with very looking 

 upon him ; wherefore there is in some men a natural 

 dislike and abhorring of Cats. The flesh of Cats can 

 seldom be free from poison, by reason of their daily food, 

 eating rats and mice, wrens and other birds which feed 01 

 poison ; and, above all, the brain of a Cat is mo< 

 venomous, by reason whereof memory faileth, and the in- 

 fected person' faileth into a frenzy. But a Cat doth 

 much harm with her venomous teeth. The hair also of 

 Cat, being eaten unawares, stoppeth the artery and cauj 



