The gods were once disputing whether it was possible
for a living being to change its nature. Jupiter said ‘Yes,’
but Venus said ‘No.’ So, to try the question, Jupiter
turned a Cat into a Maiden, and gave her to a young man
for a wife. The wedding was duly performed and the
young couple sat down to the wedding-feast. ‘See,’ said
Jupiter, to Venus, ‘how becomingly she behaves. Who
could tell that yesterday she was but a Cat? Surely her
nature is changed?’
‘Wait a minute,’ replied Venus, and let loose a mouse
into the room. No sooner did the bride see this than she
jumped up from her seat and tried to pounce upon the
mouse. ‘Ah, you see,’ said Venus,
‘Nature will out.’
Moral Lesson: ‘Nature will out.’
―
Aesop
