The Cat and Venus


Summary

This story explores the theme of inherent nature versus external transformation. It tells of a cat who, smitten by a young man, pleads with Venus to be turned into a woman. Venus grants her wish, and she becomes a beautiful lady who successfully wins the young man's affection. However, Venus tests whether the cat's fundamental nature has changed along with her outward appearance by releasing a mouse in their room. The cat, driven by instinct, abandons her human demeanor and chases the mouse, prompting Venus to revert her to her original feline form. The narrative illustrates the idea that while appearances can change, one's true nature often remains the same, highlighting the difficulty in changing innate characteristics.

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A Cat fell in love with a handsome young man, and entreated Venus to change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her request and transformed her into a beautiful damsel, so that the youth saw her and loved her, and took her home as his bride. While the two were reclining in their chamber, Venus wishing to discover if the Cat in her change of shape had also altered her habits of life, let down a mouse in the middle of the room. The Cat, quite forgetting her present condition, started up from the couch and pursued the mouse, wishing to eat it. Venus was much disappointed and again caused her to return to her former shape.