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A scholar in a medieval room writes with a quill by candlelight, as a white cat stalks a mouse emerging from a wall hole.

A scholar in a medieval room writes with a quill by candlelight, as a white cat stalks a mouse emerging from a wall hole.

Illustration for this poem: Pangur Bán I and Pangur Bán, my cat, each of us pursues his trade. He delights in hunting mice; I delight in hunting words. Better than praise or wealth is the work each loves best. When he fixes his bright eyes on a mouse-hole in the wall, I fix my eyes upon a difficult text, searching out hidden meaning. He springs when his moment comes and seizes his tiny prize. I, when understanding comes, grasp the truth I have pursued. Though our tasks are different, neither envies the other. Day and night we labour on, each enjoying his own skill. His wisdom is in his hunting; mine is in learning and study. So we live together, cat and scholar, each master of his own art. Mehr sehen