Foreword:
This fable represents fallacy of impossible remedies, and source to the idiom, "bell(ing) the cat". It is numbered 613 in the Perry Index (as 613. The Mice take Counsel about the Cat), and also popular as 'Belling The Cat'. Often wrongly confused with different fable of Classical origin 'Cat and Mice' numbered 79 and 115 in Perry Index, this fable was not recorded before the Middle Ages.
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Long ago, all mice of a locality met together in a council.
They were tormented by, and terrified of, a cat in the neighbourhood. And, the mice met in this meeting to counsel and discuss measures that they could take to outwit their common enemy.
The eldest amongst them, who chaired the meeting, reminded everybody how cunning and ferocious the cat, their common enemy, was! And he reminded how the cat would prey on them, when they ventured out in search of food.
"We have lost many of our brothers and sisters due to this cat's continual attacks", he reminded, "Most of us tremble on the very thought of venturing out!"
"If this continues, our entire race will perish, either preyed upon by the cat or by starvation. We cannot allow that to happen. This is the agenda of our meeting", he declared, "We must find a way to outwit this cat!"
One by one, the others joined in.
"We cannot live in peace because of her", said one of them.
"Whenever we try to go into the house, she chases us", said another, "It becomes impossible for us to reach and get food."
Another pointed out, "We are always in danger because we never hear or see her coming. She always sneaks up behind us."
And, one by one, they keep elaborating their problems, or share their horrifying experiences, but none of them has a solution to discuss.
"Enough!", declared the eldest, "We all know these. Instead of dicussing the problem, we need to find a solution. We need to find a way to outwit the cat!"
Everybody in the room sat there in silence. Apparently, none of them had any solution to the cat's terror.
"What can we do?", said one of them, "We are no match for the cat's might."
"We don't need to fight the cat. We can organize ourselves", advised the eldest, "We can venture out in teams, and allocate some of us to keep a lookout ..."
But before he could finish, a young mouse cut in, "I have a better idea. The best, indeed!"
The young mouse described that all they needed to do was tie a bell around the cat's neck. That done, they will be alarmed by the ringing bell, whenever the cat approaches, and they will have time to run to safety and save themselves.
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Immediately, all the mice in the room got excited, in support for this brilliant idea.
"Yes! That is indeed a good idea", one of them stood up to say, "We can always hear her coming!"
Another joined in, "And she will never be able to sneak up behind us. What a brilliant idea!"
"Why didn't we think of this before?", exclaimed another mouse, "So many of our brother and sisters would not have to perish in vain, had we thought of this before!"
All the mice attending the council hailed the young mouse, and started celebrating. They urged the eldest to conclude the council, by declaring the solution, and announce a party to celebrate their victory.
"Calm down, my friends!", requested the eldest, "For we have one small problem that remains. The problem of belling the cat."
"What of it?", one of them shouted excitedly, "We are in problem solving mood today. I say, give us more problems you need solutions for!"
After the eldest calmed everybody in the room, he said, "Ask yourselves: How, and when, would you tie a bell around the cat's neck?"
The room was filled with silence.
Everybody looked at the young mouse for an answer, and the young mouse said, "We will bell the cat when she is asleep, of course!"
"What if she wakes up?", asked the eldest, "It is a suicide mission to make such an attempt."
The eldest enquired aloud, "Who amongst you will volunteer to make such an attempt?"
Once again, the room was filled with silence.
He pointed at one of them, to ask, "You look big and strong. Will you do it?", who quickly refused, "I have kids. I can't take that risk."
He pointed to another, and asked, "You are a brave mouse. Will you do it?", who quickly refused, "No sir, I cannot!"
Finally, he looked at the young mouse, and asked, "You are full of clever ideas. Will you do it?", who quickly refused, "I'd rather not!"
As the mice understood the risk of attempting to bell the cat, one by one, most of them started making excuses to leave the meeting of the council.
Those who remained, sat there in silence, looking at each other, with no wish to volunteer for the life-endangering task.
Everybody agreed that hanging a bell around the cat's neck would be a great thing to do. But, nobody was ready to make any sacrifices, and expected someone else to take the risk.
As the room started clearing, it became obvious that the meeting of the council turned out be inconclusive, and all the initiatives and discussions were in vain.
Before leaving, the eldest smiled at the young mouse, and said, "Well, young mouse! Now, do you see what has happened? Before you suggest a plan, next time, make sure you know how to carry it out."
Moral:
It is easy to propose impossible remedies.
Or,
It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.
Summary:
The mice were terrified of a cat. They lived in a state of terror, and were frightened to venture out. But when they had to venture out in search of food, the cat would sneak up on them, and hurt or kill some of them everyday. Tired of living in such a state of misery, they called for a general council to meet and counsel on ways to outwit their common enemy. During this meeting, it was unanimously agreed that a bell should be attached to the cat's neck, so that the sound of the bell would warn them of the approaching cat. But, nobody volunteered to carry the task of belling the cat, hoping someone else would take the risk.