Alcée Fortier.
“The Marriage of Compair Lapin.”
XV.
MARRIAGE OF COMPAIR LAPIN.
Tim, tim! Bois sec. Cré coton! Compair Lapin is a little fellow who knows how to jump!
You all must remember, after they had thrown Compair Lapin into the briers, how quickly he had run away, saying that it was in those very thorns that his mother had made him. Now then, I will tell you that on the same day Miss Léonine went to meet him, and they started travelling. They walked a long time, for at least a month; at last they reached the bank of a river which was very deep. The current was strong, too strong for them to swim over. On the other side of the river there was a pretty place: the trees were green and loaded with all kinds of fruits. Under the trees were flowers of every kind that there is in the world. When a person breathed there, it was as if a bottle of essence had been opened in a room.
Miss Léonine said: “Let us go to live there; besides, we cannot return to my father’s. There, we shall be happy, and no one will bother us; but how shall we do to cross over to the other side?”
“Stop,” said Compair Lapin, “let me think a moment,” and then he began to walk and walk, until he saw a large piece of dry wood which had fallen into the water. “That is what I want,” said he. He cut a tall pole, and then he mounted on the log and told Léonine to follow him. Poor Miss Léonine mounted also, but she was so much afraid that she was trembling dreadfully.
“Hold on well; you will see how we shall pass;” and he pushed with his stick. The log began to go down the current; they were going like lightning, and Lapin kept on paddling. They sailed for half a day before they were able to reach the other side, for the current was so strong that the log was carried along all the time. At last it passed very near the shore. “Jump, jump,” said Compair Lapin, and hardly had he spoken than he was on shore. Miss Léonine finally jumped also, and they found themselves on the other side of the river. They were very glad, and the first thing they did was to eat as much as they could of the good things they found there. Then they took a good rest.
They found a pretty place to pass the night, and the next day, at dawn, they took a good walk. As everything they saw was so fine, they thought they would remain there to live. When they had run away, they had not been able to take any money with them, so they were without a cent. But God had blessed them, for they had come to a place where they did not need much money. They had already been there a good while, and they were quiet and contented, and they thought that they were alone, when one day, they heard, all at once, a noise, a tumult, as if thunder was rolling on the ground.
“What is that, my lord ? Go to see, Compair Lapin.”
“I, no, as if I am foolish to go, and then catch something bad. It is better for me to stay quiet, and, in that way, nothing can happen to me.”
The noise kept on increasing, until they saw approaching a procession of elephants. As they were passing quietly without attacking any one, it gave Compair Lapin a little courage. He went to the chief of the elephants and told him that he asked his permission to remain in his country; he said that he came from the country of King Lion, who had wanted to kill him, and he had run away with his wife.
The elephant replied: “That is good; you may remain here as long as you want, but don’t you bring here other animals who know how to eat one another. As long as you will behave well, I will protect you, and nobody will come to get you here. Come sometimes to see me, and I will try to do something for you.”
Some time after that, Compair Lapin went to see the king of elephants, and the king was so glad when Compair Lapin explained to him how he could make a great deal of money, that he named immediately Compair Lapin captain of his bank and watchman of his property.
When Compair Lapin saw all the money of the king it almost turned his head, and as he had taken the habit of drinking since they had dug in his country a well, of which the water made people drunk, he continued his bad habit whenever he had the chance.
One evening he came home very drunk, and he began quarrelling with his wife. Léonine fell upon him and gave him such a beating that he remained in bed for three weeks. When he got up, he asked his wife to pardon him; he said that he was drunk, and that he would never do it again, and he kissed her. In his heart, however, he could not forgive Léonine. He swore that he would leave her, but before that he was resolved to give her a terrible beating.
One evening when Léonine was sleeping, Compair Lapin took a rope and tied her feet before and behind. In that way he was sure of his business. Then he took a good whip, and he whipped her until she lost consciousness. Then he left her and went on travelling. He wanted to go to a place where they would never hear of him any more, because he was afraid that Léonine would kill him, and he went far.
When Miss Léonine came back to herself, she called, she called; they came to see what was the matter, and they found her well tied up. They cut the ropes, and Léonine started immediately. She left her house, she travelled a long time, until she came to the same river which she had crossed with Compair Lapin upon the log. She did not hesitate, but jumped into the water. The current carried her along, and she managed, after a great many efforts, to cross over to the other side. She was very tired, and she had to take some rest; then she started to return to her father.
When her father saw her, he kissed her and caressed her, but his daughter began to cry, and told him how Compair Lapin had treated her. When King Lion heard that, he was so angry that all who were near him began to tremble.
“Come here, Master Fox; you shall go to the king of elephants, and tell him, that if he does not send Compair Lapin to me as soon as he can, I shall go to his country to kill him and all the elephants, and all the other animals, and everything which is in his country Go quick!”
Master Fox travelled a long time, and arrived at last in the country where Compair Lapin was hidden. But he did not see him; he asked for him, but no one could give him any news of him. Master Fox went to see the king of elephants and told him what King Lion had said. The elephants hate the lions, so the king replied:
“Tell your master that if he wishes me to break his jaw-bone, let him come. I shall not send anything or anybody, and first of all, get away from here quick. If you want good advice, I can tell you that you had better remain in your country. If ever Lion tries to come here, I shall receive him in such a manner that no one of you will ever return home.”
Master Fox did not wait to hear any more; but he had no great desire to go back to his country, for he thought Lion would kill him if he returned without Compair Lapin. He walked as slowly as he could, and all along the road he saw that they were making preparations for war. He thought that perhaps the elephants were going to attack King Lion. He went on his way, and on arriving at a prairie he saw Compair Lapin, who was running in zigzags, sometimes on one side of the road, sometimes on the other. He stopped whenever he met animals and spoke to them, and then he started again as rapidly as before. At last Master Fox and Compair Lapin met, but the latter did not recognize his old friend.
“Where are you going like that, running all the time?”
“Ah!” replied Compair Lapin, “you don’t know the bad news. Lion has declared war against all elephants, and I want to notify all mules, horses, and camels to get out of the way.”
“But you, why are you running so? They are surely not going to make a soldier of you?”
“No, you believe that. Ah, well, with all your cunning you know nothing. When the officers of the king will come to get the horses and mules for the cavalry to go to war, they will say: ‘That’s a fellow with long ears; he is a mule; let us take him.’ Even if I protest, and say that I am a rabbit, they will say: ‘Oh, no! look at his ears; you see that he is a mule’ and I should be caught, enlisted, and forced to march. It seems to me that I know you, but it is such a long time since I have seen you. May God help me, it is Master Fox, my old friend!”
“Yes, yes, it is I, my good fellow. Well! what do you say about all that bad business?”
“All that is for a woman” said Compair Lapin; “we must try, my friend, to have nothing to do with that war” “But what shall we do?” said Master Fox. “They will force us into it.”
“No, you must be King Lion’s adviser, and I will be that of King Elephant, and in that way we shall merely look on and let them fight as much as they want.”
“You know,” said Master Fox, “Léonine has returned to her father; and as you were not married before the church, I believe that Lion is about to marry her to one of his neighbors. Does it not grieve you, Compair Lapin, to think of that?”
“Oh, no; ça zié pas oua tcheur pas fait mal (we feel no sorrow for what we do not see).”
The two cunning fellows conversed a long time, for they were glad to meet after such a long absence. As they were about to part, they saw two dogs, that stood nose to nose, growling fiercely, and then turned around rapidly and began to smell each other everywhere. “You, Master Fox, who know everything, can you tell me why dogs have the bad habit of smelling each other in that way ?”
“I will tell you, Compair Lapin, why they do that. In old, old times, when there was but one god, called Mr. Jupiter, all the dogs considered their lot so hard and unhappy that they sent a delegation to ask Mr. Jupiter to better their condition. When they arrived at the house of the god in heaven, all the dogs were so frightened that they ran away. Only one remained; it was Brisetout, the largest dog of the party. He was not afraid of anything, and he came to Mr. Jupiter, and spoke thus: ‘My nation sent me to see you to ask you whether you think that we are going to watch over our masters all day and all night, bark all the time, and then be kicked right and left and have nothing to eat We are too unhappy, and we want to know if you will allow us once in a while to eat one of the sheep of our masters. We cannot work like this for nothing. What do you say, Mr. Jupiter?’
“‘Wait a moment: I shall give you such a reply that you will never wish to annoy me any more. I am tired of hearing all sorts of complaints.I am tired, do you hear?’
“Then Mr. Jupiter spoke a language that no one could understand, and one of his clerks went out to get something. He told the dog to sit down. Brisetout remained on the last step of the staircase. He thought that Mr. Jupiter was going to give him a good dinner; but the first thing he knew, the clerk returned with another man. They took hold of Brisetout, they tied him well, then they took a tin pan in which they put red pepper and turpentine. They rubbed the dog all over with the mixture; it burnt him so much that he howled and bellowed. When they let him go, Mr. Jupiter told him: ‘You will give my reply to your comrades, and each one that will come to complain will be received in the same manner; you hear?’
“Ah, no,” Brisetout did not hear; he ran straight ahead without knowing where he was going. At last he arrived at a bayou, fell into it, and was drowned.
Some time after that, Mr. Jupiter did not feel well. He thought he would leave heaven and take a little trip to earth. On his way he saw an apple-tree which was covered with beautiful apples. He began to eat some; and while he was eating, a troop of dogs came to bark at him. Mr. Jupiter ordered his stick to give them a good drubbing. The stick began to turn to the right and to the left, and beat the dogs so terribly, that they scattered about in a minute. There remained but one poor dog, who was all mangy. He begged the stick to spare him. Then Stick pushed him before Mr. Jupiter, and said: ‘Master, that dog was so thin that I did not have the courage to beat him.’ ‘It is very well,’ said Mr. Jupiter, ‘let him go; but if ever any dog comes to bark at me again, I shall destroy them all. I don’t want to be bothered by you, I say. You have already sent me a delegation, and I received them so well that I don’t think they will like to come back to see me. Have you already forgotten that?’ The poor lean dog replied: ‘What you say is true, but we never saw again the messenger we sent you; we are still waiting for him’ Mr. Jupiter then said: ‘I will tell you how you can find out the messenger you had sent to me: let all dogs smell one another, and the one which will smell turpentine is the messenger.’
“You see now, Compair Lapin, why dogs smell one another. It was all Mr. Jupiter’s doing. Poor old fellow, he has now lost all his clients, since the pope ordered everybody to leave him, and he has had to close his shop. He left the heaven, and no one knows where he went to hide. You understand, Compair Lapin, people get tired of having always the same thing; so they took another religion, and I think that the one we have now is good.”
“Thank you, thank you, Master Fox, for your good story; and in order to show you that I am your old friend, I will tell you what we can do. As I told you already, we must remain very quiet. As the elephants want to go to attack King Lion in his own country, they will make a bridge for the army to pass. When the bridge will be finished they will go straight ahead, without stopping anywhere, to attack King Lion, for they want to take him by surprise. Don’t you tell that to anybody, you hear.”
Compair Lapin and Master Fox then shook hands, and they parted. Master Fox went on his way, and Compair Lapin went to the king of elephants and asked him to give orders to all the carpenters and blacksmiths in the country to obey him. When all the workmen were assembled, Compair Lapin began to make the bridge, and soon finished it. On the side of the river which was in the country of the elephants, he made at the end of the bridge a large park. These were bars of iron planted in the earth; they were at least ten feet high, and so sharp that a fly could not touch one without being pierced through. Compair Lapin then covered the bars of iron with branches and brambles to make it appear like a patch of briers, in order that they might not know that it was a snare. Than lie took four cows with their calves, and tied them in the very middle of the pit. Then he put in it red pepper, ashes, and tobacco snuff. Then he placed in the trap a great number of tubs of water, in which there was a drug that made people go to sleep right off. After he had finished all this, Compair Lapin said: “Now let King Lion come to attack us.”
Master Fox was still travelling to render an account of his errand to King Lion; but he was so much afraid to return without Compair Lapin, that he concluded that it was better not to return at all. On his way he met a hen; he killed it, and covered an old rag with the blood. He tied his hind paw with the rag, and he began to limp, and jump on three feet. At last he met Bourriquet, to whom he said: “My dear friend, fender me a little service; you see how sick I am. I pray you to go to King Lion, to tell him that I cannot come to see him. The elephants broke my leg because I had come to claim Compair Lapin!”
“Oh, no!” said Bourriquet; “you were always against me with Compair Lapin. Go yourself.”
“That is good” said Master Fox; “c’est pas jis ein fois la bouche besoin manger (I shall have my chance again, you will need me again). If you knew what I have seen and what I know, you would listen to me.”
“Well, tell me all,” said Bourriquet; “and I will go, since you cannot walk.”
“That is all right; listen well. The elephants intend to come to attack King Lion in his country. They are making a bridge to cross the river, and as soon as the bridge will be finished they will come immediately to surprise Lion. If the king understood his business, he would hasten to attack the elephants in their own country, before they come to lift him up before he knows it.”
As soon as Master Fox had finished speaking, Bourriquet galloped away and went to King Lion, to whom he said what Master Fox had related to him. The king was so glad that he ordered some one to give Bourriquet a little hay to eat. Bourriquet was not very much pleased, and he began grumbling. “Don’t you know, Bourriquet,” said the king’s servant, “qué ein choual donnin to doite pas gardé la bride (that you must not look at the bridle of a horse which was given to you).”
“Well,” said Bourriquet, “I had expected a better reward, but I’ll take that anyhow, because ein ti bozo dans la main vaut mié qué plein ti zozos quapé voltigé dans bois (a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush).”
All at once they heard a dreadful noise. It was King Lion, who was starting for the war with all the animals which he could find: tigers, bears, wolves, all King Lion’s subjects were there. As to Master Fox, he had run back to notify Compair Lapin that the enemies were coming.
Miss Léonine was with the army, and her father used to tell her all the time: “I am glad that you came; Compair Lapin will have to pay for all his tricks; you must treat him as he treated you.”
King Lion was at the head of the army, and coming near the bridge he saw Master Fox, who was lying in the road with his leg broken.
“Oh! oh!” said Lion, “this is the way they treated you! They shall have to pay for all that.”
“Make haste, ” said Master Fox; “don’t wait till they come to attack you; pass the bridge immediately; that will throw them in confusion.”
The army went on. They all ran to pass over the bridge, King Lion at the head, with his daughter. As soon as they arrived at the place where was the snare, and they saw the cows and their calves, King Lion and his troops killed them and began to eat them. Then they quarrelled among themselves and began to fight. They scattered about the ashes, the red pepper, and the tobacco snuff, and were completely blinded. They fought terribly; they massacred one another; then those that were left drank the water in the tubs. Two hours later they were all sound asleep.
The elephants, which had remained prudently at a distance, hearing no more noise, came to the bridge. They killed all the animals that were left in Lion’s army, and threw their bodies in the river. They flayed King Lion; they took his skin and sewed Bourriquet into it; then they tied some straw, covered with pitch, to Bourriquet’s tail; they put fire to the straw, and they let him go to announce the news in Lion’s country.
When Bourriquet passed on the bridge, he was galloping so fast that one might have thought that it was thunder that was rolling on the bridge, as if it were more than one hundred cart-loads. When Bourriquet arrived in his country his tail was entirely consumed by the fire, but he said that he had lost it in a battle. Although he announced very sad news, no one could help laughing at him: he was so funny without his tail, and so proud of his glorious wound.
As soon as all was over at the bridge, Compair Lapin went to get Master Fox, and took him to the king of the elephants. He presented him to his majesty, and told him that Master Fox was his good friend, and if the king wanted to accept his services, they would both be his very faithful subjects. The king of elephants said to them: “I believe that you are two cunning rascals, and that in my war with King Lion, Master Fox té galpé avec chévreil et chassé avec chien (had been on both sides of the fence); but all right, he may remain here, if he wants. As for you, Compair Lapin, I want you to get married. Here is Miss White Rabbit; she is rich, and will be a good match for you. To-morrow I want to dance at the wedding”
The next day all the people assembled, and celebrated with great splendor the marriage of Compair Lapin with Miss White Rabbit. Master Fox was the first groomsman. Three weeks after the wedding, Mrs. Compair Lapin gave birth to two little ones; one was white and the other as black as soot. Compair Lapin was not pleased, and he went to see the king of elephants.
“Oh! you know nothing,” said the king; “you are married before the church, and I will not grant you a divorce. Besides, I must tell you that in the family of Mrs. Compair Lapin it happens very often that the little ones are black. It is when the ladies are afraid in a dark night; so console yourself, and don’t be troubled.”
Compair Lapin consented to remain with his wife until death should part them, and that is how he married after all his pranks.
As I was there when all that happened, I ran away to relate it to you.
XV.
MARIAZE COMPAIR LAPIN.
— Tim, tim, bois sec, cré coton, Compair Lapin, c’est ti bonhomme qui connin sauté.
Vous zotes doit rappeler, qué après yé té voyé Compair Lapin dans grands zerbes, comme li té chapé raide et comme li dit c’était la même so moman té fait li. Pour lors donc mo va dit vous qué même jou la Mamzelle Léonine couri joinde li et yé parti voyagé. Yé marché longtemps, pendant au moin ein mois, a la fin yé rivé au bord ein la rivière qui té boucou fond; courant la té fort, trop fort pou qué yé té passé li a la nage. L’ote coté la rivière la té ein joli place, nabes yé té vert et chargé tout sortes fruits; en bas nabe yé tout qualité flairs dans moune té la; quand ein moune té respiré c ’est comme si yé té débouché ein fiole lessence dans ein la chambre.
Mamzelle Léonine dit comme ça: — Anon couri vive la, dabord nous pas capabe tournin coté mo popa. La nous va héreux et personne pas allé tracassé nous zotes. Mais comment nous va fait pou traversé lote coté?
— Rété, dit Compair Lapin, laissé moin jonglé ein ti moment, et pi li prend marché, alors li rivé au ras ein gros di bois sec qui té tombé dans dolo. — Ala nous zaffaire, li dit comme ça. Li coupé ein grand perche et pi li monté en haut di bois la et li dit Léonine suive li. Pove Léonine monté aussite et li té apé tremblé a force li té pair.
— Tchombo bien, ta oua comment na passé, et pi li poussé avec so baton. Di bois la prende descende courant et yé filé raide; Lapin apé pagaye, pagaye. Yé navigué ein demi journin avant yé té capabe rivé l’ote coté; courant la té si fort qué di bois té toujou apé couri Li raclé la terre quand li passé au ras lécore. — Sauté, sauté, dit Compair Lapin. Quand li dit ça li même té déja en haut la terre. A la fin Mamzelle Léonine sauté aussite et yé trouvé traversé. Ça fait yé té content et yé commencé manzé plein bon kichoge yé té gagnin la, et pi yé posé bien.
Yé trouvé ein joli place pou passé la nouitte et lendeman bo matin yé prend promené partout. Comme tout ça yé oua té vaillant, yé pensé yé sré resté la pou vive. Quand yé té chapé, yé té pas capabe porté largent avec yé, ça fait yé trouvé yé a sec. Mais Bon Djé té béni yé, yé té vini dans ein place ou yé té pas besoin boucou largent. Yavé déja ein bon boute yé té dans place la, yé té tranquille et content et yé té cré yé tout seul, mais tout d’ein coup yé tende ein tapage, ein remu menage, ein train, comme si tonnerre té apé roulé en haut la terre.
— Qui ça ça, Bon Djé Seigneur, couri gardé, Compair Lapin.
— Moin, non. Comme si mo assez béte pou couri gardé et pététetrapé kichoge mauvais. Vaut mié mo resté tranquille, comme çaarien pas apé rivé moin.
Train la avec di bri la té augmenté toujou. A la fin, yé oua ein procession néléphants qui té apé vini. Comme yé té passé tranquillement sans taquer personne, ça donne Lapin ein pé courage, alors li vancé coté chef néléphants et pi li dit li mandé li la permission resté dans so pays, quéli té sorti dans pays roi Lion, ou yé té oulé tchué li, quéli té bligé chappé avec so fame.
Néléphant la dit li: —Comme ça, c ’est bon, to capabe resté ici tant to oulé, mais pas ménin lote zanimo qui connin manzé yé entre yé. Tant ta comporté bien ma va protégé toi et personne pas allé vini chercher toi icite. Vini oua moin souvent et ma seyé fait kichoge pou toi.
Quéqué temps après ça Compair Lapin couri oua roi néléphant, et lé roi té si content quand Compair Lapin té expliqué comment lé roi té capabe fait boucou largent qué li nommé Lapin tout suite capitaine so la banquéet gardien so bitin.
Quand Compair Lapin oua tout largent li té apé magnin tous les jou, ca proche rende li fou, et comme li té habitoué boi dipi yé té fouillé ein pi dans so pays quédolo la té soulé moune, li continié so vilain nabitude, chaquéfois li té gagnin la chance li té soulé li bien.
Ein soir li té rentré tard bien piqué, li prend babillé avec so fame. Léonine fait ni eine ni dé, li bimin Compair Lapin si tant quéli resté couché pendant trois semaines. Quand li vini gaillard, li mandé so fame pardon, li di li té soul, quécété dernière fois et pi li bo li. Mais dans so tcheur li gagné vous ein ranquine quéli té pas capabe pardonné Léonine. Li fait serment quitté Léonine mais anvant ça li té gagnin donne li ein famé la trempe.
Ça fait ein soir Léonine té apé dromi Compair Lapin prend ein la corde, li marré so pattes devant et derrière, et comme ça li té sir so zaffaire et li prend ein bon fouette et li taillé so femme jisqua li té perde connaissance, et pi li quitté li et li parti voyagé, la ou yé sré jamis tende parlé li, pasqué li té pair Léonine sré tchué li, et li filé loin.
Quand Léonine réveillé li pélé, li pélé, moune vini oua ça té yé et yé trouvé li bien marré. Alors yé démarré li et Léonine parti tout suite. Li quitté so la maison, li voyagé longtemps jisqua li vini coté même rivière li té traversé avec Compair Lapin en haut ein di bois. Li fait ni éin ni dé li sauté dans dolo. Courant la té si fort ça té souteni li bien. A force débatte, nager, nager, li traversé lote coté. Quand li monté en haut la terre li té bien lasse et té gagnin pou posé ein bon boute et pi li parti pou tournin coté so popa.
Quand so popa oua li li bo li et li caressé li, mais so fille prend crié et li di li comment Compair Lapin té traité li. Quand so popa tende ça a force li té colère tout ça yé qui té au ras li prende tremblé.
— Vini icite, Compair Renard, ta couri trouvé lé roi néléphant et ta dit li comme ça si li pas voyé moin Compair Lapin icite plis vite qué li capabe ma va couri dans so pays tchué li et tout lote néléphants et tout ça qui yé dans so pays. Parti tout suite.
Compair Renard voyagé longtemps et a la fin rivé dans pays la ou Compair Lapin té caché. Mais li pas oua li, li mandé pou li mais personne té pas capabe donné so nouvelle. Compair Renard couri trouvé lé roi et li dit li ça so tchenne roi té voyé dit li. Néléphant qui haï Lions réponde: — Va dit to maite si li envi mo cassé so la djole li jis seyé vini. Mo pas apé voyé arien ni personne et commencé par foute to camp. Si to oulé ein bon conseil resté coté toi. Si jamais Lion seyé vini, ma donné li ein lagniappe qué pas eine dans vous zotes gagnin pou tournin dans vous zote pays.
Compair Renard pas mandé so restant, li parti mais li té pas boucou envi tourné chez li, li té pair Lion sré tchoué li si li té vini sans Compair Lapin. Li marché plis doucement qué li té capabe et tout di long chemin li oua yé té apé préparé pou fait la guerre. Li pensé qué pététe néléphants té oulé couri taqué lions, li continié so chimin, quand li rivé dans ein la plaine li oua Compair Lapin qui té apé galopé en zigzag, tantot ein coté tantot lote et pi li té rété quand li rencontré zanimo, et pi li parlé avec yé et pi li parti encore aussi raide comme anvant. A la fin yé fini par contré, mais Compair Lapin té pas reconnaite so vié padna.
— Ou tapé couri comme ça, galopé, galopé tout temps?
— Ah, réponde Compair Lapin, vous pas connin mauvais nouvelle qué Lion déclaré ladjerre tous néléphants et ma pé verti tous milets, choals et chameaux yé pou yé fou camp.
— Mais to même qui zaffaire to gagnin pou galopé, yé pas apé prend toi pou fait soldat avec toi?
— Non, to croi ça, réponde Compair Lapin, ah bien, to pas connin arien avec tout to malin. Quand n’officier lé roi a vini chercher choals et milets pou la cavalerie pou fait la djerre yé va dit comme ça: Ala ein bougue grand zoreille, c’est ein milet, anon prend li, et quand même mo réclamé et dit moin c’est ein lapin yé va dit: Oh non, gardé so zoreille, vouzote oua ben c’est ein milet, et mo sra fouti, yé vd enrolé moin et mo va bligé marché. Mais semblé moin mo connin vous, mais si longtemps mo pas oua vous. Bon Djé tendé moin, c’est Renard, mo zami lézotes fois.
— Oui, oui, c’est moin, mo vie. Eh ben, ça vous dit pou tout vilain zaffaire yé?
— Tout ça pou ein femme, dit Compair Lapin, faut nous seyé, mo zami, pas trouvé nouzottes dans yé procès.
— Mais comment na fait, dit Renard, yé va forcé nouzotes la dans.
— Non, dit Compair Lapin, faut to conseillé Lion, mo va conseillé Néléphant, alors comme ça nous va resté gardé et laissé yé batte tant yé oulé.
— To connin, dit Renard, Léonine tournin coté so popa et comme vouzotes té pas marié devant léglise mo croi ben Lion en train marié so fille avec ein dans so voisin; ça pas fait toi la peine, Compair Lapin, tende tout ça?
— Non, ça zié pas oua tcheur pas fait mal.
Dé malin yé causé bon boute, yé té si content, navé si longtemps yé té pas contré. Dans méme moment yé té paré pou parti yé oua dé chien qui tapé grongnin nez a nez et pi yé senti yé même partout.
— Vous, Compair Renard, qui connin tout quichoge, vous capabe dit moin cofaire chien gagnin vilain nhabitude la ?
— Mo va dit vous, Compair Lapin, cofaire yé fait ça. Les otes fois, yéna longtemps, dans temps yé navé jis ein Bon Djé qui té pelé Michié Zipiter, tout chien té trouvé yé sort té malheureux, alors yé voyé ein délégation, ein bande chien pou mandé Bon Djé pou li méliorer yé condition. Quand yé té rivé au ras la maison Michié Zipiter dans ciel tout la restant chien yé té pair, yé parti, jis Brisetout, plis gros chien la bande qui resté. Li té pas pair arien, li vancé au rais Michié Zipiter, et pi li dit comme ça: — Mo nation voyé moin coté vous pou mandé vous, qui maite tout ça yéna en haut la terre, si vous croi na va gardé nous maites yé tout la journin et tout la nouite, jappé tout temps, trappe coups pied, pas mangé arien. Nous trop malheureux et nous oulé connin si nous pas capabe temps en temps manzé moutons nous zotes maites; nous pas capabe travaille comme ça pou arien, ça vous dit, Michié Zipiter?
— Attende ein ti moment, mo va donnin toa ein réponse quéjamin vous zotes a envie vini bété moin encore, mo lasse tende tout sortes plaintes, to tendé.
Alors li parlé ein langage personne té capabe comprende et ein dans so commis sorti pou couri cherché quichoge. Li dit Brisetout assite et chien la resté en haut dernier marche l’escalier. Li té cré Michié Zipiter té gagnin pou régalé li, mais premier quichoge li té connin, commis la tournin avec lote moune, yé prend Brisetout, yé marré li ben, ensuite yé prend ein pote ferblanc yé metté ladans piment avec télébentine et yé frotté chien la partout. A force ça té bourlé li, li hélé, li béglé et pi yé lâché li. Alors Michié Zipiter dit li comme ça: — Va porté ça to camarades et chaquédans vous zotes qua vini plainde, ma va traité yé pareil, to tendé, hein?
Ah non, li pas tendé, pasqué Brisetout galopé dret devant li, sans connin ou la couri. A la fin li rivé devant ein bayou, li tombé ladans et li neyé.
Quéqué temps après ça Michié Zipiter té pas senti li bien, li pensé li sré quitté ciel, vini promenin ein pé en haut la terre. Dans so chimin li contré ein pommier qui té chargé avec belle dépommes, li commencé mangé et pendant temps la ein bande chien vini jappé après li. Li commandé so Baton fout yé ein bon trempe et Baton la prend tournin a droite et a gauche. Li bimin tout chiens yé et paillé yé tout, jis ein pove chien gale. Li mandé Baton la pardon, alors Baton la poussé li divant Michié Zipiter et li dit comme ça: — Chien cila té si maigre mo té pas gagnin courage bimin li. — C’est bon, dit Michié Zipiter, laissé li couri, mais si jamais chien vini jappé après moin mo va détruit yé tout. Vous zotes déja voyé ein délégation coté moin et mo traité li bien pou pas li vini encore et vous zotes déja blié ça. Pove chien maigre la dit li: — C’est vrai ça vous dit, mais nous pas jamin oua commissionaire nous té voyé coté vous, napé tende li toujou. Alors Michié Zipiter dit: — Mo va dit toi comment vous zotes sra capabe reconnaite il: si vous zotes senti lein a lote, cila qui senti télébentine, c’est li vous zotes té voyé coté moin.
— Vous oua asteur, Compair Lapin, cofaire chien senti ein a lote, c’est Michié Zipiter qui fait ça. Pove vieux Michié Zipiter li perdi tout so pratiqué pasqué pape ordonnin tout moune quitté li et li té bligé fermé so boutique. Li parti et personne pas connin ou li couri. Vous comprende, Compair Lapin, toujou même quichoge, ein moune fini par dégoaté, alors yé prend ein lote Bon Djé et ein lote religion. Cila nous gagnin asteur mo croi li bon.
— Merci, merci, Compair Renard, et pou prouvé vous nous toujou bon zamis mo va dit vous ça nous capab fait. Comme mo déja dit vous na va resté tranquille. Comme Néléphant yé oulé couri taqué Lion chez li même na va fait en pont pou passé larmée et sitot li va fini na va marché dret sans rété nille part jisqua nous rendi coté Lion. Nous oulé surprende li; pas dit ça personne, vous tendé.
Ye serré la main et yé séparé. Renard prend so chimin et Lapin couri trouvé Roi Néléphant et pi li dit tout charpentier et forgeron dans pays faut yé coaté li. Quand tout zouvrier té réini Compair Lapin commencé fait so pont qui té vite fini. Au boute pont la, coté yé, li fait ein grand parc. C’était barre di fer qui té planté dans la terre disse pieds haut et pi si pointi au boute qué ein démouche té pas capabe posé sans li resté pris; et pi li couvri tout barre di fer avec la liane et tout quichoge qui té vert comme si c’était ein grand talle zéronce, pou yé douté c’était ein la trappe. Alorse li prend quatre lavache avec yé piti veaux et marré yé dans bo milié la. Après ça li mette piment, la cendre et la prise qué li paillé partout dans la trappe la. Li mette aussi plein baille dolo avec ein drogue qui té connin endormi tout souite. — La, Compair Lapin dit, nous paré, laissé Lion vini taqué nous zotes.
Renard té apé voyagé toujou pou couri rende compte so commission, mais li té si pair couri coté Lion sans Compair Lapin qué li pensé li té vaut mié pas couri ditout. Dans so chimin li contré ein poule, li tchué li, li prend so disang et barbouillé ein vie linge. Li marré so patte darriere et li prend boité, sauté en haut trois pattes. A la fin li rencontré Bourriquet et li dit comme ça: — Mo cher zami, rende moin ein ti service, to oua comme mo malade. Tant prie, couri coté Lion et dit li mo pas capabe vini. Yé cassé mo patte coté néléphant pasqué mo té couri réclamé Compair Lapin.
— Oh, non, dit Bourriquet, to té toujou conte moin avec Compair Lapin, couri to méme.
— C’est bon, dit Renard, c’est pas jis ein fois la bouche besoin manger, ta va besoin moin avant longtemps, si to té connin ça mo oua et ça mo connin, to té coaté moin.
— Eh ben, dis moin tout, mo va couri, dabord vous pas capabe marcher. — C’est ben, coaté alors: Néléphant conté vini taqué Lion chez li; pou ça yé fait ein grand pont pou passer et yé va vini tout sauitfc surprende Lion. Si Lion connin quichoge, la fait mié couri taqué néléphant avant yé vini soulever li sans li douté arien.
Alors Bourriquet parti grand galop et quand li rivé coté Lion li dit tout ça Renard té conté li. Lion té si content li dit ein so moune donnin Bourriquet ein pé lapaille pou mangé. Bourriquet té pas content, li babillé ein pé, alors cila qui donne li la paille dit li: — To connin qué ein choal donnin to doite pas gardé la bride.
— Mo té croi, dit Bourriquet, mo sré gagnin meillère récompense, mais ma prend ça toujou, pasqué ein ti zozo dans la main vaut mié que plein ti zozos quapé voltigé dans bois.
Tout dein coup yé tende ein grand boulvari. C’était Lion avec tout so zanimo, tigue, lours, loup et tout ça li té capabe ramassé. Renard té déja tournin pou verti Compair Lapin yété apé vini.
Léonine té dans la bande et a tout moment so popa té apé dit li:
— Mo content to vini, Compair Lapin gagnin pou payer tout so farce, faut to traité li comme li traité toi.
Lion té en téte la bande; quand yé té proche pont la li contré Compair Renard qui té couché dans chimin avec so patte cassé.
— An, an, dit Lion, c’est comme ça yé traité toi, yé gagnin pou payé tout ça
— Couri vite, dit Renard, pas attende yé vini taqué vous zotes, passé pont la tout souite, vous zotes va dérouté yé.
Yé continué yé chimin, yé tout té apé galpé et yé prend pou passé pont, Lion en téte avec so fille. Quand yé vini coté la trappe la et yé oua lavache layé qui té apé béglé, Lion et so la bande mangé yé tout. Ensuite yé prende batte et yé voltigé la cendre et piment et la prise et ça té aveuglé yé. Yé batte, yé massacré yé méme et pi ça yé qui té resté boi dolo la. Dé zère après ça yé tout té apé dromi.
Alors néléphant vini tchué yé et jété yé dans dolo. Yé corché Lion, yé prend so lapeau et coude Bourriquet ladans. Yé metté ein tas la paille avec godron après so la tcheu, et yé metté di fé ladans et pi yé laché li pou couri porté la nouvelle dans pays Lion.
Quand Bourriquet passé en haut pont, a force li galpé vite moune té cré c’était tonnerre qui té apé roulé plis dé cent charretées. Quand Bourriquet rivé dans pays Lion so boute la tcheu té tombé a force li té bourlé, li dit c’était dans ein bataille yé té donne li ein coup sabe. Malgré li té porté ein triste nouvelle yé ri après li pasqué li té trop drole comme ça.
Quand tout ça té fini, Compair Lapin couri trouvé Compair Renard et li ménin li coté Roi Néléphants. Compair Lapin présenté li et dit lé roi quéRenard té ein so bon zamis et li sré content si Roi té accepté li et yé dé sré rende bande services. Roi néléphants dit yé: — Mo croi vous zotes ce dé malin, dans zaffaire nous té gagnin avec Lion mo croi Compair Renard té galpé avec chévreil et chassé avec chien. Enfin c’est bon, li capabe resté icite. Tant qu’a pou toi, Compair Lapin, mo ouié to marié, ala ein Mamzelle Lapin Blanc qui riche, c’est to zaffaire, demain mo oulé la noce la.
Lendemin tout moune té réini et yé célébré la noce Compair Lapin avec Mamzelle Lapin Blanc et Compair Renard té so premier garçon d’honnair. Trois semaines après la noce Madame Compair Lapin gagnin dé piti, ein té blanc, lote té noir comme la souie chiminin. Compair Lapin té pas content, li couri oua Roi néléphant pou dit li ça.
— Ah bah, dit lé Roi, to pas connin arien, to bien marié devant léglise, mo pas capabe donnin toi divorce, et pi mo va dit toi, c’est nhabitude dans famille Madame Compair Lapin gagnin piti qui noira c’est quand madame yé pair la nouitte, ainsi consolé toi.
Ça fait Compair Lapin consenti resté avec so femme jisaua li mouri et c’est comme ça li marié avec tout so frédaine.
Comme mo té la quand tout ça rivé mo vini pou conté vous ça.
Text prepared by:
- Hunter Dison
- Luke Jobe
- ſtephen lambert
- Bruce R. Magee
Source
Fortier, Alcée, trans. “The Marriage of Compair Lapin (Mariaze Compair Lapin).” Louisiana Folk-Tales in French Dialect and English Translation. Ed. Alcee Fortier. Boston: American Folk-Lore Society, 1895. 38-53. Internet Archive. Web. 27 October 2019. <http:// archive.org/ details/ ajs8769. 0001.001. umich.edu>.