222 The Common Cat. [Sess. 



little leisure would have been left to such a diplomat and 

 warrior, yet he passed those moments in company with his 

 cats. A story is told of his generosity when cats were con- 

 cerned. Boisrobert had induced Eichelieu to grant a pension 

 of 2 5 livres to an old lady. He pleaded for her cat ; the 

 Cardinal then granted it a pension of 2 livres, and when told 

 that there were 5 kittens, he added laughingly 5 pistoles. 

 Dr Samuel Johnson used to go out himself to buy oysters for 

 his favourite cat, Hodge. Petrarch, Victor Hugo, Gautier, 

 Matthew Arnold, Dumas, Shelley, Cowper, Keats, Gray, and 

 many others, refer lovingly to their favourite cats. Shake- 

 speare makes frequent allusion to cats, but, I am sorry to say, 

 not always in complimentary vein. One has to remember, 

 however, that during his period poor puss was not held in 

 high esteem. 



" I could endure anything before, but a cat," 



Bertram says in " All's Well that Ends Well " (Act IV. sc. 



3); or, 



" In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs, 

 Of no esteem." 



— ("Cymbeline," Act V. sc. 5.) 



Lysander exclaims — 



" Hang off, thou cat, thou burr ! vile thing, let loose." 



— (" Midsummer Night's Dream," Act III. sc. 2.) 



While Komeo declares that 



"... every cat and dog 

 And little mouse, every unworthy thing ..." 



— (" Komeo and Juliet," Act III. sc. 3.) 



But in " The Merchant of Venice " Shylock says — 



" As there is no firm reason to be rendered 

 Why he cannot abide . . . 

 ... a harmless necessary cat." 



—(Act IV. sc. 1.) 



Goethe calls the cat one of the four favoured beasts admitted 

 into Paradise. He says, " This cat purrs about the Lord, and 

 gives affection, since he is ever a holy beast whom the Prophet 

 stroked." Dickens was much attached to all animals, but 



