The Mice in Council

143. THE MICE IN COUNCIL. The mice called a general council and having met, after the doors were locked, entered into a free consultation about ways and means how to render their fortunes and estates more secure from the danger of the cat. Many things were offered, and much was debated, pro and con, upon the matter.
At last, a young mouse, in a fine florid speech, concluded upon an expedient, and that the only one, which was to put them for the future entirely out of the power of the enemy; and this was, that the cat should wear a bell about her neck, which upon the least motion, would give the alarm, and be a signal for them to retire into their holes. This speech was received with great applause, and it was even proposed by some, that the mouse who made it should have the thanks of the assembly.
Upon which an old grey mouse, who had sat silent all the while, stood up, and in another speech owned that the contrivance was admirable, and the author of it, without doubt, an ingenious mouse; but he said, he thought it would not be so proper to vote him thanks till he should farther inform them how this bell was to be fastened about the cat's neck, and what mouse would undertake to do it. [more info]

The Council Held by the Rats

142. THE COUNCIL HELD BY THE RATS. Some little Mice, who lived in the walls of a house, met together one night to talk of the wicked Cat and to consider what could be done to get rid of her. The head Mice were Brown-back, Gray-ear, and White-whisker.
"There is no comfort in the house," said Brown-back. "If I but step into the pantry to pick up a few crumbs, down comes the Cat, and I have hardly time to run to my nest again."
"What can we do?" asked Gray-ear. "Shall we all run at her at once and bite her, and frighten her away?"
"No," said White-whisker; "she is so bold we could not frighten her. I have thought of something better than that. Let us hang a bell round her neck. Then, if she moves, the bell will ring, and we shall hear it, and have time to run away."
"O yes! yes!" cried all the mice. "That is a capital idea. We will bell the Cat! Hurrah! hurrah! No more fear of the Cat!" and they danced in glee.
When their glee had subsided a little, Brown-back asked, "But who will hang the bell round her neck?"
No one answered, "Will you?" he asked of White-whisker.
"I don't think I can," replied White-whisker; "I am lame, you know. It needs someone who can move quickly."
"Will you, Grey-ear?" said Brown-back.
"Excuse me," answered Gray-ear; "I have not been well since that time when I was almost caught in the trap."
"Who will bell the Cat, then?" said Brown-back. "If it is to be done, someone must do it."
Not a sound was heard, and one by one the little Mice stole away to their holes, no better off than they were before.
When there is trouble, there is no need of someone to act, as well as someone to advise. [more info]

The Mice in Council

31. THE MICE IN COUNCIL. Some mice were in great fear of a cat. She watched the place so carefully that not one of them dared venture out from his hole in search of food. They were therefore in danger of being starved. In their trouble they called a meeting, and while they were talking the matter over, a conceited young mouse stood up and said, "Dear friends, after much deep thought I have discovered a plan which will save us all. I propose that we tie a bell round the cat's neck so that by its ringing we shall always know when she is near."
Then he sat down amidst great applause. All the mice were delighted with the clever plan. Presently an old mouse, who had not spoken before, said, "I agree that the plan is excellent, and since our young friend has been so clever as to think of it, perhaps he will also tell us how to carry it out. What I want to know is: who is going to bell the cat?" [more info]

The Mice in Council

2.46. THE MICE IN COUNCIL. The Mice called a General Council; and, having met, after the doors were locked, entered into a free consultation about ways and means how to render their fortunes and estates more secure from the danger of the Cat. Many things were offered, and much was debated, pro and con, upon the matter.
At last a young Mouse, in a fine florid speech, concluded upon an expedient, and that the only one, which was to put them, for the future, entirely out of the power of the enemy: and this was, that the Cat should wear a bell about her neck, which upon the least motion would give the alarm, and be a signal for them to retire into their holes. This speech was received with great applause, and it was even proposed by some, that the Mouse who made it should have the thanks of the assembly.
Upon which, an old grave Mouse, who had sat silent all the while, stood up, and in another speech, owned that the contrivance was admirable, and the author of it, without doubt, an ingenious Mouse; but, he said, he thought it would not be so proper to vote him thanks, till he should farther inform them how this bell was to be fastened about the Cat's neck, and what Mouse would undertake to do it.
Not urged by vain ambition's airy dreams,
Or specious wit, does wisdom form her schemes;
Poise well the scales, with due reflection scan
The means proposed, and then adopt a plan. [more info]

The Council Held by the Rats

02.02: THE COUNCIL HELD BY THE RATS.
Old Rodilard, a certain cat,
Such havoc of the rats had made,
'Twas difficult to find a rat
With nature's debt unpaid.
The few that did remain,
To leave their holes afraid,
From usual food abstain,
Not eating half their fill.
And wonder no one will
That one who made of rats his revel,
With rats pass'd not for cat, but devil.
Now, on a day, this dread rat-eater,
Who had a wife, went out to meet her;
And while he held his caterwauling,
The unkill'd rats, their chapter calling,
Discuss'd the point, in grave debate,
How they might shun impending fate.
Their dean, a prudent rat,
Thought best, and better soon than late,
To bell the fatal cat;
That, when he took his hunting round,
The rats, well caution'd by the sound,
Might hide in safety under ground;
Indeed he knew no other means.
And all the rest
At once confess'd
Their minds were with the dean's.
No better plan, they all believed,
Could possibly have been conceived,
No doubt the thing would work right well,
If any one would hang the bell.
But, one by one, said every rat,
'I'm not so big a fool as that.'
The plan, knock'd up in this respect,
The council closed without effect.
And many a council I have seen,
Or reverend chapter with its dean,
That, thus resolving wisely,
Fell through like this precisely.
To argue or refute
Wise counsellors abound;
The man to execute
Is harder to be found.
[more info]

The Mice in Council

30. THE MICE IN COUNCIL.
Once, in the absence of the Cat,
The Mice in solemn council sat,
Some plan of action to discuss
To curb her practice odious
Of prying into their affairs
And pouncing on them unawares.
After much talk the plan that met
With most approval was to get
A piece of cord and hang thereby
To Pussy's neck, upon the sly,
A bell that would not fail to ring
When Pussy was about to spring,
And so announce her fell intention.
Truly a wonderful invention!
The Mice delightedly agreed;
"Now," said the Chairman, "all we need
Is someone to attach the bell."
At this, an awful silence fell
Upon the meeting; no one spoke.
At length a voice the stillness broke,
"I move, since no one seems to yearn
To bell the Cat, that we adjourn." [more info]

Belling the Cat

67. BELLING THE CAT. Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case. "You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighbourhood."
This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: "That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?" The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the old mouse said: "It is easy to propose impossible remedies." [more info]

The Mice in Council

041. THE MICE IN COUNCIL. The Mice summoned a council to decide how they might best devise means of warning themselves of the approach of their great enemy the Cat. Among the many plans suggested, the one that found most favor was the proposal to tie a bell to the neck of the Cat, so that the Mice, being warned by the sound of the tinkling, might run away and hide themselves in their holes at his approach. But when the Mice further debated who among them should thus “bell the Cat,” there was no one found to do it.
Moral. It is one thing to propose, another to perform. [more info]

The Council Held by the Rats

031. THE COUNCIL HELD BY THE RATS.
Old Rodilard, a certain cat,
Such havoc of the rats had made,
'Twas difficult to find a rat
With nature's debt unpaid.
The few that did remain,
To leave their holes afraid,
From usual food abstain,
Not eating half their fill.
And wonder no one will
That one who made of rats his revel,
With rats pass'd not for cat, but devil.
Now, on a day, this dread rat-eater,
Who had a wife, went out to meet her;
And while he held his caterwauling,
The unkill'd rats, their chapter calling,
Discuss'd the point, in grave debate,
How they might shun impending fate.
Their dean, a prudent rat,
Thought best, and better soon than late,
To bell the fatal cat;
That, when he took his hunting round,
The rats, well caution'd by the sound,
Might hide in safety under ground;
Indeed he knew no other means.
And all the rest
At once confess'd
Their minds were with the dean's.
No better plan, they all believed,
Could possibly have been conceived,
No doubt the thing would work right well,
If any one would hang the bell.
But, one by one, said every rat,
'I'm not so big a fool as that.'
The plan, knock'd up in this respect,
The council closed without effect.
And many a council I have seen,
Or reverend chapter with its dean,
That, thus resolving wisely,
Fell through like this precisely.
To argue or refute
Wise counsellors abound;
The man to execute
Is harder to be found.
[more info]

The Cat and Mice

021. THE CAT AND MICE. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll down to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

Mice in Council

(Perry 613)

50. MICE IN COUNCIL.
Against Cat sat a Council of Mice.
Every Mouse came out prompt with advice,
And a bell on Cat's throat
Would have met a round vote,
Had the bell-hanger not been so nice.
THE BEST POLICY OFTEN TURNS ON AN IF
[more info]

Belling the Cat

BELLING THE CAT. The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:
"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it. [more info]