: 5 6 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



neither harmed the Cat at al, nor much endangered the 

 Monkes ; and the very like is observed of Myce that will 

 play with Serpents. . . . 



" Those which will keepe their Cattes within doores, 

 and from hunting Birds abroad, must cut off their eares, 

 for they cannot endure to have drops of raine distil into 

 them, and therefore keep themselves in harbor. . . . 

 They cannot abide the savour of oyntments, but fall 

 madde thereby; they are sometimes infected with the 

 falling evill, but are cured with Gobiutn." 



THE LION. 



Of the great Cat, the Lion, the ancients give many 

 wonderful stories, some of them not altogether redound- 

 ing to his character for bravery : " A serpent, or snake 

 doth easily kill a lion, where of Ambrosius writeth very 

 elegantly. Exiniia /corn's pulchritudo, per comantcs ceruicis 

 toros excutitur, cum subito a serpcnte os pectore tenus 

 attolitur, itaque Coluber cervum fugit sed Lconcm interficit. 

 The splendant bcautie of a lion in his long curled mane is 

 quickly abated, and allayed, when the serpent doth but lift 

 up his head to his brcst. For such is the ordinance of 

 God, that the Snake, which runneth from a fearefull 

 Hart, should without all feare kill a courageous Lyon ; 

 and the writer of Saint Marcellus life, How much more 

 will he feare a great Dragon, against whom he hath not 

 power to lift up his taile. And Aristotle writeth that the 

 Lyon is afraid of the Swine, and Rasis affirmeth as much 

 of the mouse. 



" The Cocke also both scene and heard for his voice 

 and combe, is a terror to the Lion and Basiliske, and 

 the Lyon runneth from him when he seeth him, espe- 



