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Abstemius's Fables (Sir Roger L'Estrange)

318. (Abstemius 67) A Cat and Mice.

As a Company of Mice were peeping out of their Holes for Discovery, they spy'd a Cat upon a Shelf; that lay and look'd so demurely, as if there had been neither Life nor Soul in her. Well (says one of the Mice) That's a good natur'd Creature, I'll warrant her; One may read it in her very Looks; and truly I have the greatest mind in the World to make an Acquaintance with her. So said, and so done; but as soon as ever Puss had her within reach, she gave her to understand, that the Face is not always the Index of the Mind.
'Tis a hard Matter for a Man to be Honest and Safe: for his very Charity and good Nature Exposes, if it does not Betray him.