It is said that "a cat has nine lives," yet care would wear them all out.
”
中譯:據說貓有九條命,但即使如此,悲傷仍會把牠們搞死。
轉變
現代版本的起源未知。已知實際使用「Curiosity killed the cat」最早的是在1873年詹姆斯·艾倫·梅爾(James Allan Mair)的一本手冊「諺語手冊:英格蘭、蘇格蘭、愛爾蘭、美式、莎士比亞風格、聖經和家庭格言(A handbook of proverbs: English, Scottish, Irish, American, Shakesperean, and scriptural; and family mottoes)」,列在34頁的愛爾蘭諺語上。
約翰·亨德里克斯·柏克德(John Hendricks Bechtel)所著「諺語:警句與短語(Proverbs: Maxims and Phrases)」1902年的版本中,片語「Curiosity killed the cat」是100頁的專題「好奇心(Curiosity)」上的一個單獨條目。
Curiosity can do more things than kill a cat; and if emotions, well recognized as feminine, are inimical to feline life, then jealousy would soon leave the whole world catless. 好奇心不仅仅杀死一只猫;而如果一致公认女性的感情对猫类生命不利的话,妒忌心很快就会使世界上的猫一只不剩。
On the fifth floor of the apartment house at 203 West 130th street lives Miss Mable Godfrey. When she came to the house about seven months ago she brought Blackie, a cat of several years' experience of life.
The cat seldom left the apartment. He was a hearth cat, not a fence cat, and did not dearly love to sing. In other respects he was normal and hence curious.
Last Tuesday afternoon when Miss Godfrey was out Blackie skipped into the grate fireplace in a rear room. He had done this many times before. But he had not climbed up the flue to the chimney. This he did Tuesday. Blackie there remained, perched on the top of the screen separating the apartment flue from the main chimney, crying for assistance. Miss Godfrey, returning, tried to induce her pet to come down. If you are experienced in felinity, you know that Blackie didn't come down.
On Wednesday the cat, curiosity unsatisfied, tried to climb higher—and fell to the first floor. His cries could still be heard by Miss Godfrey; who, to effect Blackie's rescue, communicated with the following departments:
1. Police department.
2. Fire department.
3. Health department.
4. Building department.
5. Washington Heights court.
Among them they lowered a rope to Blackie. But it availed neither the cat nor them anything. Thursday morning, just before noon, a plumber opened the rear wall back of the chimney. Blackie was taken out. His fall had injured his back. Ten minutes later Blackie died.
”
儘管這諺語很早就公開亮相,它在尤金·奧尼爾1920年的劇作「Diff'rent」上還是被錯誤地引用成了「Curiosity killed a cat!」:
“
BENNY—(with a wink) Curiosity killed a cat! Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies.
”
作家史蒂芬·金在他的《鬼店》中,對此諺語做出延伸:「好奇害死貓,但滿足了就沒事(Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought him back)」。