The Cat-Maiden
Story by: Aesop
Source: Aesop's Fables
A young man once fell deeply in love with his pet cat. The cat was beautiful, graceful, and affectionate, and the man loved her so much that he wished she could be human so he could marry her.
The man prayed daily to Venus, the goddess of love, begging her to transform his beloved cat into a woman. Venus, moved by the man’s devotion, decided to grant his wish.
In a flash of divine light, the cat was transformed into the most beautiful maiden anyone had ever seen. She had silky hair, graceful movements, and gentle eyes. The man was overjoyed and immediately asked her to marry him.
The wedding was arranged quickly, and it was the most magnificent celebration the village had ever seen. The bride was stunning in her white gown, and everyone marveled at her beauty and elegance.
During the wedding feast, as the bride sat at the head table accepting congratulations, a small mouse scurried across the floor near her feet.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the beautiful bride leaped from her chair and pounced after the mouse, forgetting entirely about her dignified human form.
Venus, who had been watching from above, shook her head in disappointment. With another flash of light, she transformed the maiden back into a cat.
“A cat she was,” Venus declared, “and a cat she shall remain. Outward form may change, but true nature cannot be altered.”
Moral: External transformation cannot change one’s essential nature. What we truly are will always reveal itself, regardless of outward appearances.
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