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 on 
poison; and, above all, the brain of a Cat is most 
venomous, by reason whereof memory faileth, and the in- 
fected person falleth into a frenzy. But a Cat doth as 
much harm with her venomous teeth. The hair also of a 
Cat, being eaten unawares, stoppeth the artery and causeth 
