84 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



in youthe, and leapeth, and riseth on all things that 

 are tofore him ; and is led by a straw, and playeth 

 therewith, and is a righte heavye beaste in age, and 

 full sleepye, and lyeth slyly in waite for Mice ; and 

 is ware where they bene more by smell than by 

 sighte, and hunteth, and riseth on them in privy 

 places. And when he taketh a Mouse, he playeth 

 therewith, and eateth him after the play. He is a 

 cruell beaste when he is wilde, and dwelleth in 

 woods, and hunteth there small beastes as conies 

 and hares." 



There is something in the bald simplicity of the 

 statement, " And when he taketh a Mouse, he play- 

 eth therewith, and eateth him after the play," which 

 makes us wince. Why is the cat's pathway trailed 

 with blood ? We have grown so accustomed to the 

 little tragedy which is being acted over and over 

 again under our roofs, that its grimness fails to 

 move our hearts to pity. Moreover, apart from the 

 fact that the mouse enjoys an evil reputation as an 

 admittedly undesirable tenant, it is not the habit of 

 mankind to concern itself deeply over the suffer- 

 ings of small creatures. An animal must approach 

 nearer to our own bulk to make its pain respectable. 

 Only when Shakespeare uses this trivial incident as 

 an illustration of mortal anguish, do we recognize 

 its horror. 



" Yet, foul night-waking cat, he doth but dally. 

 While in his holdfast foot the weak mouse panteth.'' 



