“A Cat may look at a king.”
“An old Cat laps as much as a young kitten.”
“When the Cat is away, the mice will play.”
“When candles are out, all Cats are grey.” Otherwise, “Joan is as good as my Lady in the dark.”
“The Cat knows whose lips she licks.”
“Cry you mercy, killed my Cat.” This is spoken to those who play one a trick, and then try to escape punishment by begging pardon.
“By biting and scratching, Cats and Dogs come together.”
“I’ll keep no more Cats than will catch mice;” or no more in family than will earn their living.
“Who shall hang the bell about the Cat’s neck.” The mice at a consultation, how to secure themselves from the Cat, resolved upon hanging a bell about her neck, to give warning when she approached; but when this was resolved on, they were as far off as ever, for who was to do it? John Skelton says:—
“But they are lothe to mel,
And lothe to hang the bel
About the Catte’s neck,
Fro dred to have a checke”