The Rabbits and the Porcupine
FABLE

At the mouth of a burrow, A porcupine was crying misery:
Rabbits, my good friends, please have pity
On a homeless man, a poor wretch!
Hunted by a hunter, I have lost my way;
I am exhausted, I am cold, I am hungry,
And if your hospitable soul
Wants to assist me in need,
For this night grant me the smallest corner
Of your welcoming den. »
And this voice was only a sob;
Humble and contrite was his expression.
The hearts of the Jean Lapins immediately softened:
Quickly we squeeze together, we trample each other;
We make plenty of room for the poor thing.
Fatal idea!
He was barely in the shack
When the tone changed: "I need," he said, "some down
To rest my soft body."
The down obtained:
"I hear," he said, "that we dine
At once.
For a menu, although I am a gourmet,
I will accept this simple carrot."
And as soon as he had it, he gnawed it,
He had gnawed a whole bunch.
Then, thus restored, the lord lay down,
Stretching himself, bristling the darts of his armor
In order to relax his nerves;
But to cause some serious sting
To the guests of this house, Monseigneur did not care.
Do we pay attention to valets, to serfs?
Should we deprive ourselves of ease because of a breed
Who pretends to kick constantly.
And gets stung stupidly?
Victims, indeed, of their goodwill,
Poor Jean Lapin, until daybreak,
Crammed into a corner of the cave,
Did not dare to move or turn around,
Fearing greatly that he would disembowel them!
Finally, the boldest, early in the morning,
Called to him in a modest tone:
Good morning, master, are you a great lover of thyme?
At dawn, at dew, it is not indigestible
"Yes," said the other, "I am told, without fanfare, to leave!
For that, good advisor, you are free to leave,
I, who find myself well, I stay!"

CHARLES-ALBERT JANOT.