Such Is...

[poliphilo]

The cat caught a bird- and brought it into the house. He put it down on the carpet and went into a crouch a few inches away, prepared to pounce on it if it moved. I couldn't tell if it was dead or alive, but knelt down and held the cat back while Ailz made an attempt to scoop it up. That brought it back to life and it fluttered into the window embrasure and flattened itself against the wall, half hidden by the curtain.

The rest was easy. I opened the window. It saw its chance and flew away.

"Didst thou ever see a lark in a cage? Such is the soul in the body."