The Cat and Venus

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.

一匹のネコが美しい若者に恋をして、自分を女の姿に変えてほしいとウェヌスに願った。ウェヌスはその願いを聞き入れ、ネコを美しい娘に変えてやった。若者は娘を見て恋をし、花嫁として家に迎えた。二人が寝室でくつろいでいると、ウェヌスは、ネコが姿を変えたのに合わせて暮らしの習慣も変わったかどうかを確かめようと、部屋の真ん中にネズミを一匹放した。ネコは今の自分の身の上などすっかり忘れて、寝いすから飛び起き、ネズミを食べようと追いかけた。ウェヌスはひどくがっかりして、娘をまた元の姿に戻してしまった。

Nature exceeds nurture.

生まれつきの性質は、育ちにまさる。