Some Poets' Cats. 347 



Of black boar-cats to attend her, 

 Who scratch at the moon 

 And threaten at noon 

 Of night from heaven to rend her." 



" Old Grimalkin's glaring ej'es/' so often a terror to " wee 

 sleekit cowerin'" mice, are thus at times uncanny for human 

 beings. Envy, " spitting spite," is symbolised as a cat. 



Not that the familiar of the " wise woman " seems to 

 take any very active part in her unkind performances. Her 

 function appears to be that of a tacit accomplice — one who 

 looks on at the wickednesses of the Black Art without 

 actually putting her hand to any particular villainy. She 

 is the sleeping partner of the confederacy. Sometimes, 

 indeed — as in the story where the witch's cat is grateful 

 to the good girl who has given it some ham to eat — the 

 dabbler in occult science is even beneficent. 



In Sicily — where the animal is sacred to St Martha 

 — the cats that walk on the pantiles in the month of 

 February are supposed to be witches, and as such con- 

 sidered worthy of death. Somewhat analogous is our own 

 " March cat," which combines with the eccentricity of the 

 " March hare " a suspicion of necromantic leanings and 

 diabolic conspiracy. 



Relativity, thy name is Cat. It is not easy to imagine 

 Grimalkin in a vacuum, isolated, alone in space. As easy 

 to think of matter without giving it form as to conceive 

 puss without either a hearth, a mouse, or a dog. 



'* Not such thy spirit when insulted, puss, 

 Scampers the garden path, and climbs alert 

 The high espalier, there to dwell and swear, 

 Or, in close corner pent, upheaves her coat, 

 And blust'ring cuffs thee with vindictive claw." 



"Dire foe ofmouse," "Grimalkin to domestic vermin 

 sworn an everlasting foe." Such are the usual "connota- 

 tions," if I may use the word, of tlie cat in verse. She 



