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Hearandattendandlisten;forthisbefellandbehappenedandbecameandwas,OmyBestBeloved,whentheTameanimalswerewild.
TheDogwaswild,andtheHorsewaswild,andtheCowwaswild,andtheSheepwaswild,andthePigwaswild—aswildaswildcouldbe—andtheywalkedintheWetWildWoodsbytheirwildlones.
ButthewildestofallthewildanimalswastheCat.
Hewalkedbyhimself,andallplaceswerealiketohim.
OfcoursetheManwaswildtoo.Hewasdreadfullywild.
Hedidn’tevenbegintobetametillhemettheWoman,andshetoldhimthatshedidnotlikelivinginhiswildways.
ShepickedoutanicedryCave,insteadofaheapofwetleaves,toliedownin;andshestrewedcleansandonthefloor;andshelitanicefireofwoodatthebackoftheCave;andshehungadriedwild-horseskin,tail-down,acrosstheopeningoftheCave;andshesaid,‘Wipeyourfeet,dear,whenyoucomein,andnowwe’llkeephouse.’
Thatnight,BestBeloved,theyatewildsheeproastedonthehotstones,andflavouredwithwildgarlicandwildpepper;andwildduckstuffedwithwildriceandwildfenugreekandwildcoriander;andmarrow-bonesofwildoxen;andwildcherries,andwildgrenadillas.
ThentheManwenttosleepinfrontofthefireeversohappy;buttheWomansatup,combingherhair.
Shetooktheboneoftheshoulderofmutton—thebigfatblade-bone—andshelookedatthewonderfulmarksonit,andshethrewmorewoodonthefire,andshemadeaMagic.
ShemadetheFirstSingingMagicintheworld.
OutintheWetWildWoodsallthewildanimalsgatheredtogetherwheretheycouldseethelightofthefirealongwayoff,andtheywonderedwhatitmeant.
ThenWildHorsestampedwithhiswildfootandsaid,‘OmyFriendsandOmyEnemies,whyhavetheManandtheWomanmadethatgreatlightinthatgreatCave,andwhatharmwillitdous?’
WildDoglifteduphiswildnoseandsmelledthesmellofroastmutton,andsaid,‘Iwillgoupandseeandlook,andsay;forIthinkitisgood.Cat,comewithme.’
‘Nenni!’saidtheCat.‘IamtheCatwhowalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketome.Iwillnotcome.’
‘Thenwecanneverbefriendsagain,’saidWildDog,andhetrottedofftotheCave.
ButwhenhehadgonealittlewaytheCatsaidtohimself,‘Allplacesarealiketome.
WhyshouldInotgotooandseeandlookandcomeawayatmyownliking.’
SoheslippedafterWildDogsoftly,verysoftly,andhidhimselfwherehecouldheareverything.
WhenWildDogreachedthemouthoftheCaveheliftedupthedriedhorse-skinwithhisnoseandsniffedthebeautifulsmelloftheroastmutton,andtheWoman,lookingattheblade-bone,heardhim,andlaughed,andsaid,‘Herecomesthefirst.
WildThingoutoftheWildWoods,whatdoyouwant?’
WildDogsaid,‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemy,whatisthisthatsmellssogoodintheWildWoods?’
ThentheWomanpickeduparoastedmutton-boneandthrewittoWildDog,andsaid,‘WildThingoutoftheWildWoods,tasteandtry.’
WildDoggnawedthebone,anditwasmoredeliciousthananythinghehadevertasted,andhesaid,‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemy,givemeanother.’
TheWomansaid,‘WildThingoutoftheWildWoods,helpmyMantohuntthroughthedayandguardthisCaveatnight,andIwillgiveyouasmanyroastbonesasyouneed.’
‘Ah!’saidtheCat,listening.‘ThisisaverywiseWoman,butsheisnotsowiseasIam.’
WildDogcrawledintotheCaveandlaidhisheadontheWoman’slap,andsaid,‘OmyFriendandWifeofmyFriend,IwillhelpYourMantohuntthroughtheday,andatnightIwillguardyourCave.’
‘Ah!’saidtheCat,listening.‘ThatisaveryfoolishDog.’AndhewentbackthroughtheWetWildWoodswavinghiswildtail,andwalkingbyhiswildlone.Buthenevertoldanybody.
WhentheManwakeduphesaid,‘WhatisWildDogdoinghere?’
AndtheWomansaid,‘HisnameisnotWildDoganymore,buttheFirstFriend,becausehewillbeourfriendforalwaysandalwaysandalways.Takehimwithyouwhenyougohunting.’
NextnighttheWomancutgreatgreenarmfulsoffreshgrassfromthewater-meadows,anddrieditbeforethefire,sothatitsmeltlikenew-mownhay,andshesatatthemouthoftheCaveandplaitedahalteroutofhorse-hide,andshelookedattheshoulderofmutton-bone—atthebigbroadblade-bone—andshemadeaMagic.
ShemadetheSecondSingingMagicintheworld.
OutintheWildWoodsallthewildanimalswonderedwhathadhappenedtoWildDog,andatlastWildHorsestampedwithhisfootandsaid,‘IwillgoandseeandsaywhyWildDoghasnotreturned.Cat,comewithme.’
‘Nenni!’saidtheCat.
‘IamtheCatwhowalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketome.Iwillnotcome.’
ButallthesamehefollowedWildHorsesoftly,verysoftly,andhidhimselfwherehecouldheareverything.
WhentheWomanheardWildHorsetrippingandstumblingonhislongmane,shelaughedandsaid,‘Herecomesthesecond.WildThingoutoftheWildWoodswhatdoyouwant?’
WildHorsesaid,‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemy,whereisWildDog?’
TheWomanlaughed,andpickeduptheblade-boneandlookedatit,andsaid,‘WildThingoutoftheWildWoods,youdidnotcomehereforWildDog,butforthesakeofthisgoodgrass.’
AndWildHorse,trippingandstumblingonhislongmane,said,‘Thatistrue;giveitmetoeat.’
TheWomansaid,‘WildThingoutoftheWildWoods,bendyourwildheadandwearwhatIgiveyou,andyoushalleatthewonderfulgrassthreetimesaday.’
‘Ah,’saidtheCat,listening,‘thisisacleverWoman,butsheisnotsocleverasIam.’
WildHorsebenthiswildhead,andtheWomanslippedtheplaitedhidehalteroverit,andWildHorsebreathedontheWoman’sfeetandsaid,‘OmyMistress,andWifeofmyMaster,Iwillbeyourservantforthesakeofthewonderfulgrass.’
‘Ah,’saidtheCat,listening,‘thatisaveryfoolishHorse.’AndhewentbackthroughtheWetWildWoods,wavinghiswildtailandwalkingbyhiswildlone.Buthenevertoldanybody.
WhentheManandtheDogcamebackfromhunting,theMansaid,‘WhatisWildHorsedoinghere?’
AndtheWomansaid,‘HisnameisnotWildHorseanymore,buttheFirstServant,becausehewillcarryusfromplacetoplaceforalwaysandalwaysandalways.Rideonhisbackwhenyougohunting.
Nextday,holdingherwildheadhighthatherwildhornsshouldnotcatchinthewildtrees,WildCowcameuptotheCave,andtheCatfollowed,andhidhimselfjustthesameasbefore;andeverythinghappenedjustthesameasbefore;andtheCatsaidthesamethingsasbefore,andwhenWildCowhadpromisedtogivehermilktotheWomaneverydayinexchangeforthewonderfulgrass,theCatwentbackthroughtheWetWildWoodswavinghiswildtailandwalkingbyhiswildlone,justthesameasbefore.
Buthenevertoldanybody.
AndwhentheManandtheHorseandtheDogcamehomefromhuntingandaskedthesamequestionssameasbefore,theWomansaid,‘HernameisnotWildCowanymore,buttheGiverofGoodFood.
Shewillgiveusthewarmwhitemilkforalwaysandalwaysandalways,andIwilltakecareofherwhileyouandtheFirstFriendandtheFirstServantgohunting.
NextdaytheCatwaitedtoseeifanyotherWildthingwouldgouptotheCave,butnoonemovedintheWetWildWoods,sotheCatwalkedtherebyhimself;andhesawtheWomanmilkingtheCow,andhesawthelightofthefireintheCave,andhesmeltthesmellofthewarmwhitemilk.
Catsaid,‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemy,wheredidWildCowgo?’
TheWomanlaughedandsaid,‘WildThingoutoftheWildWoods,gobacktotheWoodsagain,forIhavebraidedupmyhair,andIhaveputawaythemagicblade-bone,andwehavenomoreneedofeitherfriendsorservantsinourCave.
Catsaid,‘Iamnotafriend,andIamnotaservant.IamtheCatwhowalksbyhimself,andIwishtocomeintoyourcave.’
Womansaid,‘ThenwhydidyounotcomewithFirstFriendonthefirstnight?’
Catgrewveryangryandsaid,‘HasWildDogtoldtalesofme?’
ThentheWomanlaughedandsaid,‘YouaretheCatwhowalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketoyou.
Yourareneitherafriendnoraservant.Youhavesaidityourself.
Goawayandwalkbyyourselfinallplacesalike.’
ThenCatpretendedtobesorryandsaid,‘MustInevercomeintotheCave?MustIneversitbythewarmfire?MustIneverdrinkthewarmwhitemilk?Youareverywiseandverybeautiful.YoushouldnotbecrueleventoaCat.’
Womansaid,‘IknewIwaswise,butIdidnotknowIwasbeautiful.SoIwillmakeabargainwithyou.IfeverIsayonewordinyourpraiseyoumaycomeintotheCave.’
‘Andifyousaytwowordsinmypraise?’saidtheCat.
‘Inevershall,’saidtheWoman,‘butifIsaytwowordsinyourpraise,youmaysitbythefireintheCave.’
‘Andifyousaythreewords?’saidtheCat.
‘Inevershall,’saidtheWoman,‘butifIsaythreewordsinyourpraise,youmaydrinkthewarmwhitemilkthreetimesadayforalwaysandalwaysandalways.’
ThentheCatarchedhisbackandsaid,‘NowlettheCurtainatthemouthoftheCave,andtheFireatthebackoftheCave,andtheMilk-potsthatstandbesidetheFire,rememberwhatmyEnemyandtheWifeofmyEnemyhassaid.’
AndhewentawaythroughtheWetWildWoodswavinghiswildtailandwalkingbyhiswildlone.
ThatnightwhentheManandtheHorseandtheDogcamehomefromhunting,theWomandidnottellthemofthebargainthatshehadmadewiththeCat,becauseshewasafraidthattheymightnotlikeit.
CatwentfarandfarawayandhidhimselfintheWetWildWoodsbyhiswildloneforalongtimetilltheWomanforgotallabouthim.
OnlytheBat—thelittleupside-downBat—thathunginsidetheCave,knewwhereCathid;andeveryeveningBatwouldflytoCatwithnewsofwhatwashappening.
OneeveningBatsaid,‘ThereisaBabyintheCave.Heisnewandpinkandfatandsmall,andtheWomanisveryfondofhim.’
‘Ah,’saidtheCat,listening,‘butwhatistheBabyfondof?’
‘Heisfondofthingsthataresoftandtickle,’saidtheBat.‘Heisfondofwarmthingstoholdinhisarmswhenhegoestosleep.Heisfondofbeingplayedwith.Heisfondofallthosethings.’
‘Ah,’saidtheCat,listening,‘thenmytimehascome.’
NextnightCatwalkedthroughtheWetWildWoodsandhidveryneartheCavetillmorning-time,andManandDogandHorsewenthunting.
TheWomanwasbusycookingthatmorning,andtheBabycriedandinterrupted.
SoshecarriedhimoutsidetheCaveandgavehimahandfulofpebblestoplaywith.ButstilltheBabycried.
ThentheCatputouthispaddypawandpattedtheBabyonthecheek,anditcooed;andtheCatrubbedagainstitsfatkneesandtickleditunderitsfatchinwithhistail.
AndtheBabylaughed;andtheWomanheardhimandsmiled.
ThentheBat—thelittleupside-downbat—thathunginthemouthoftheCavesaid,‘OmyHostessandWifeofmyHostandMotherofmyHost’sSon,aWildThingfromtheWildWoodsismostbeautifullyplayingwithyourBaby.’
‘AblessingonthatWildThingwhoeverhemaybe,’saidtheWoman,straighteningherback,‘forIwasabusywomanthismorningandhehasdonemeaservice.’
Thatveryminuteandsecond,BestBeloved,thedriedhorse-skinCurtainthatwasstretchedtail-downatthemouthoftheCavefelldown—whoosh!
—becauseitrememberedthebargainshehadmadewiththeCat,andwhentheWomanwenttopickitup—loandbehold!
—theCatwassittingquitecomfyinsidetheCave.
‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemyandMotherofmyEnemy,’saidtheCat,‘itisI:foryouhavespokenawordinmypraise,andnowIcansitwithintheCaveforalwaysandalwaysandalways.
ButstillIamtheCatwhowalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketome.’
TheWomanwasveryangry,andshutherlipstightandtookupherspinning-wheelandbegantospin.
ButtheBabycriedbecausetheCathadgoneaway,andtheWomancouldnothushit,foritstruggledandkickedandgrewblackintheface.
‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemyandMotherofmyEnemy,’saidtheCat,‘takeastrandofthewirethatyouarespinningandtieittoyourspinning-whorlanddragitalongthefloor,andIwillshowyouamagicthatshallmakeyourBabylaughasloudlyasheisnowcrying.’
‘Iwilldoso,’saidtheWoman,‘becauseIamatmywits’end;butIwillnotthankyouforit.’
Shetiedthethreadtothelittleclayspindlewhorlanddrewitacrossthefloor,andtheCatranafteritandpatteditwithhispawsandrolledheadoverheels,andtosseditbackwardoverhisshoulderandchaseditbetweenhishind-legsandpretendedtoloseit,andpounceddownuponitagain,tilltheBabylaughedasloudlyasithadbeencrying,andscrambledaftertheCatandfrolickedallovertheCavetillitgrewtiredandsettleddowntosleepwiththeCatinitsarms.
‘Now,’saidtheCat,‘IwillsingtheBabyasongthatshallkeephimasleepforanhour.
Andhebegantopurr,loudandlow,lowandloud,tilltheBabyfellfastasleep.
TheWomansmiledasshelookeddownuponthetwoofthemandsaid,‘Thatwaswonderfullydone.
Noquestionbutyouareveryclever,OCat.’
Thatveryminuteandsecond,BestBeloved,thesmokeofthefireatthebackoftheCavecamedownincloudsfromtheroof—puff!
—becauseitrememberedthebargainshehadmadewiththeCat,andwhenithadclearedaway—loandbehold!
—theCatwassittingquitecomfyclosetothefire.
‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemyandMotherofMyEnemy,’saidtheCat,‘itisI,foryouhavespokenasecondwordinmypraise,andnowIcansitbythewarmfireatthebackoftheCaveforalwaysandalwaysandalways.
ButstillIamtheCatwhowalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketome.’
ThentheWomanwasveryveryangry,andletdownherhairandputmorewoodonthefireandbroughtoutthebroadblade-boneoftheshoulderofmuttonandbegantomakeaMagicthatshouldpreventherfromsayingathirdwordinpraiseoftheCat.
ItwasnotaSingingMagic,BestBeloved,itwasaStillMagic;andbyandbytheCavegrewsostillthatalittlewee-weemousecreptoutofacornerandranacrossthefloor.
‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemyandMotherofmyEnemy,’saidtheCat,‘isthatlittlemousepartofyourmagic?’
‘Ouh!Chee!Noindeed!’saidtheWoman,andshedroppedtheblade-boneandjumpeduponthefootstoolinfrontofthefireandbraidedupherhairveryquickforfearthatthemouseshouldrunupit.
‘Ah,’saidtheCat,watching,‘thenthemousewilldomenoharmifIeatit?’
‘No,’saidtheWoman,braidingupherhair,‘eatitquicklyandIwilleverbegratefultoyou.’
Catmadeonejumpandcaughtthelittlemouse,andtheWomansaid,‘Ahundredthanks.EventheFirstFriendisnotquickenoughtocatchlittlemiceasyouhavedone.Youmustbeverywise.’
Thatverymomentandsecond,OBestBeloved,theMilk-potthatstoodbythefirecrackedintwopieces—ffft—becauseitrememberedthebargainshehadmadewiththeCat,andwhentheWomanjumpeddownfromthefootstool—loandbehold!
—theCatwaslappingupthewarmwhitemilkthatlayinoneofthebrokenpieces.
‘OmyEnemyandWifeofmyEnemyandMotherofmyEnemy,saidtheCat,‘itisI;foryouhavespokenthreewordsinmypraise,andnowIcandrinkthewarmwhitemilkthreetimesadayforalwaysandalwaysandalways.
ButstillIamtheCatwhowalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketome.’
ThentheWomanlaughedandsettheCatabowlofthewarmwhitemilkandsaid,‘OCat,youareascleverasaman,butrememberthatyourbargainwasnotmadewiththeManortheDog,andIdonotknowwhattheywilldowhentheycomehome.’
‘Whatisthattome?’saidtheCat.‘IfIhavemyplaceintheCavebythefireandmywarmwhitemilkthreetimesadayIdonotcarewhattheManortheDogcando.’
ThateveningwhentheManandtheDogcameintotheCave,theWomantoldthemallthestoryofthebargainwhiletheCatsatbythefireandsmiled.
ThentheMansaid,‘Yes,buthehasnotmadeabargainwithmeorwithallproperMenafterme.’
Thenhetookoffhistwoleatherbootsandhetookuphislittlestoneaxe(thatmakesthree)andhefetchedapieceofwoodandahatchet(thatisfivealtogether),andhesetthemoutinarowandhesaid,‘Nowwewillmakeourbargain.
IfyoudonotcatchmicewhenyouareintheCaveforalwaysandalwaysandalways,IwillthrowthesefivethingsatyouwheneverIseeyou,andsoshallallproperMendoafterme.’
‘Ah,’saidtheWoman,listening,‘thisisaverycleverCat,butheisnotsocleverasmyMan.’
TheCatcountedthefivethings(andtheylookedveryknobby)andhesaid,‘IwillcatchmicewhenIamintheCaveforalwaysandalwaysandalways;butstillIamtheCatwhowalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketome.’
‘NotwhenIamnear,’saidtheMan.‘IfyouhadnotsaidthatlastIwouldhaveputallthesethingsawayforalwaysandalwaysandalways;butIamnowgoingtothrowmytwobootsandmylittlestoneaxe(thatmakesthree)atyouwheneverImeetyou.
AndsoshallallproperMendoafterme!’
ThentheDogsaid,‘Waitaminute.HehasnotmadeabargainwithmeorwithallproperDogsafterme.’
Andheshowedhisteethandsaid,‘IfyouarenotkindtotheBabywhileIamintheCaveforalwaysandalwaysandalways,IwillhuntyoutillIcatchyou,andwhenIcatchyouIwillbiteyou.
AndsoshallallproperDogsdoafterme.’
‘Ah,’saidtheWoman,listening,‘thisisaverycleverCat,butheisnotsocleverastheDog.’
CatcountedtheDog’steeth(andtheylookedverypointed)andhesaid,‘IwillbekindtotheBabywhileIamintheCave,aslongashedoesnotpullmytailtoohard,foralwaysandalwaysandalways.
ButstillIamtheCatthatwalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketome.’
‘NotwhenIamnear,’saidtheDog.‘IfyouhadnotsaidthatlastIwouldhaveshutmymouthforalwaysandalwaysandalways;butnowIamgoingtohuntyouupatreewheneverImeetyou.
AndsoshallallproperDogsdoafterme.’
ThentheManthrewhistwobootsandhislittlestoneaxe(thatmakesthree)attheCat,andtheCatranoutoftheCaveandtheDogchasedhimupatree;andfromthatdaytothis,BestBeloved,threeproperMenoutoffivewillalwaysthrowthingsataCatwhenevertheymeethim,andallproperDogswillchasehimupatree.
ButtheCatkeepshissideofthebargaintoo.
HewillkillmiceandhewillbekindtoBabieswhenheisinthehouse,justaslongastheydonotpullhistailtoohard.
Butwhenhehasdonethat,andbetweentimes,andwhenthemoongetsupandnightcomes,heistheCatthatwalksbyhimself,andallplacesarealiketohim.
ThenhegoesouttotheWetWildWoodsoruptheWetWildTreesorontheWetWildRoofs,wavinghiswildtailandwalkingbyhiswildlone.
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