whereupon the Goddess, provoked at her frivolity, straightway turned her into a Cat again. What is bred in the bone, will never out of the flesh.
Venus and the Cat
A Cat having fallen in love with a Young
Man, besought Venus to change her into a girl, in the hope of
gaining his affections. The Goddess, taking compassion on her
weakness, changed her into a fair damsel; and the young man, enamoured
of her beauty, led her home as his bride. As they were sitting
in their chamber, Venus, wishing to knovr whether in changing
her form she had also changed her nature, set down a Mouse before
her. The Girl, forgetful of her new condition, started from her
seat, and pounced upon the Mouse as if she would have eaten it
on the spot