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320 the saint who expounds the moral law. Let us ask him."

But the partridge said: "After all, he is our natural enemy. Let us ask him from a distance." So together they began to question him: "O holy moralist, a dispute has arisen between us. Pray give judgment in accordance with the moral law. And whichever of us is found to speak falsely, him you may eat."

"Dear friends," said the cat, "I implore you not to speak thus. My soul abhors every act of cruelty, that street-sign pointing to hell. Surely, you know the Scripture:

The holy first commandment runs—
 * Not harsh, but kindly be—

And therefore lavish mercy on
 * Mosquito, louse, and flea.

Why speak of hurting innocence?
 * For he, with purpose fell

Who injures even noxious beasts,
 * Is plunged in ghastly hell.

"Nay, even those who slay living creatures in the act of sacrifice are befuddled, and their hermeneutic theology is at fault. And if you object to me the passage, 'One should sacrifice with goats,' in that passage the word 'goats' signifies grain that has aged seven years. 'Go, oats'—such is the true exegesis. And then, consider the passage:

If he who cuts down trees or cattle, Or makes a bloody slime in battle,