In former days there was an old woman, who lived in a hut more
confined than the minds of the ignorant, and more dark than the tombs
of misers. Her companion was a cat, from the mirror of whose
imagination the appearance of bread had never been reflected, nor had
she from friends or strangers ever heard its name. It was enough that
she now and then scented a mouse, or observed the print of its feet on
the floor; when, blessed by favouring stars or benignant fortune, one
fell into her claws--
"She became like a beggar who discovers a treasure of gold;
Her cheeks glowed with rapture, and past grief was consumed
by present joy."
This feast would last for a week or more; and while enjoying it she
was wont to exclaim--
"Am I, O God, when I contemplate this, in a dream or awake?
Am I to experience such prosperity after such adversity?"
But as the dwelling of the old woman was in general the mansion of
famine to this cat, she was always complaining, and forming
extravagant and fanciful schemes. One day, when reduced to extreme
weakness, she, with much exertion, reached the top of the hut; when
there she observed a cat stalking on the wall of a neighbour's house,
which, like a fierce tiger, advanced with measured steps, and was so
loaded with flesh that she could hardly raise her feet. The old
woman's friend was amazed to see one of her own species so fat and
sleek, and broke out into the following exclamation:--
"Your stately strides have brought you here at last; pray tell
me from whence you come?
From whence have you arrived with so lovely an appearance?
You look as if from the banquet of the Khan of Khatai.
Where have you acquired such a comeliness? and how came you by
that glorious strength?"
The other answered, "I am the Sultan's crumb-eater. Each morning, when
they spread the convivial table, I attend at the palace, and there
exhibit my address and courage. From among the rich meats and
wheat-cakes I cull a few choice morsels; I then retire and pass my
time till next day in delightful indolence."
The old dame's cat requested to know what rich meat was, and what
taste wheat-cakes had? "As for me," she added, in a melancholy tone,
"during my life I have neither eaten nor seen anything but the old
woman's gruel and the flesh of mice." The other, smiling, said, "This
accounts for the difficulty I find in distinguishing you from a
spider. Your shape and stature is such as must make the whole
generation of cats blush; and we must ever feel ashamed while you
carry so miserable an appearance abroad.
You certainly have the ears and tail of a cat,
But in other respects you are a complete spider.
Were you to see the Sultan's palace, and to smell his delicious
viands, most undoubtedly those withered bones would be restored; you
would receive new life; you would come from behind the curtain of
invisibility into the plane of observation--
When the perfume of his beloved passes over the tomb of a lover,
Is it wonderful that his putrid bones should be re-animated?"
The old woman's cat addressed the other in the most supplicating
manner: "O my sister!" she exclaimed, "have I not the sacred claims of
a neighbour upon you? are we not linked in the ties of kindred? What
prevents your giving a proof of friendship, by taking me with you when
next you visit the palace? Perhaps from your favour plenty may flow to
me, and from your patronage I may attain dignity and honour.
Withdraw not from the friendship of the honourable;
Abandon not the support of the elect."
The heart of the Sultan's crumb-eater was melted by this pathetic
address; she promised her new friend should accompany her on the next
visit to the palace. The latter, overjoyed, went down immediately from
the terrace, and communicated every particular to the old woman, who
addressed her with the following counsel:--
"Be not deceived, my dearest friend, with the worldly language you
have listened to; abandon not your corner of content, for the cup of
the covetous is only to be filled by the dust of the grave, and the
eye of cupidity and hope can only be closed by the needle of mortality
and the thread of fate.
It is content that makes men rich;
Mark this, ye avaricious, who traverse the world:
He neither knows nor pays adoration to his God
Who is dissatisfied with his condition and fortune."
But the expected feast had taken such possession of poor puss's
imagination, that the medicinal counsel of the old woman was thrown
away.
"The good advice of all the world is like wind in a cage,
Or water in a sieve, when bestowed on the headstrong."
To conclude: next day, accompanied by her companion, the half-starved
cat hobbled to the Sultan's palace. Before this unfortunate wretch
came, as it is decreed that the covetous shall be disappointed, an
extraordinary event had occurred, and, owing to her evil destiny, the
water of disappointment was poured on the flame of her immature
ambition. The case was this: a whole legion of cats had the day
before surrounded the feast, and made so much noise that they
disturbed the guests; and in consequence the Sultan had ordered that
some archers armed with bows from Tartary should, on this day, be
concealed, and that whatever cat advanced into the field of valour,
covered with the shield of audacity, should, on eating the first
morsel, be overtaken with their arrows. The old dame's puss was not
aware of this order. The moment the flavour of the viands reached her,
she flew like an eagle to the place of her prey.
Scarcely had the weight of a mouthful been placed in the scale to
balance her hunger, when a heart-dividing arrow pierced her breast.
A stream of blood rushed from the wound.
She fled, in dread of death, after having exclaimed,
"Should I escape from this terrific archer,
I will be satisfied with my mouse and the miserable hut
of my old mistress.
My soul rejects the honey if accompanied by the sting.
Content, with the most frugal fare, is preferable."