Romance of the Rabbit | Page 9

passing through
these meadows which formerly were so inaccessible and so far above
their heads. But the need of gaining Paradise gave them a firm footing
in the sky.
By the paths of the seraphim, along the trellises of light, over the milky
ways where the comet is like a sheaf of grain, Rabbit guided his
companions. Francis had entrusted them to him, and had given him to
them as guide because he knew Rabbit's prudence. And had he not on
many occasions given his master proofs of this quality of discretion
which is the beginning of wisdom? When Francis met him and begged
him to follow, had he not waited until Francis held out a handful of
flowering grass and let him nibble at it? And when all his companions
let themselves die of hunger for love of one another, had not he with
his down-trodden heels continued to gnaw the bitter bark of the trees?
Therefore it seemed that this prudence would not fail him even in
heaven. If they lost their way he would find the right road again. He
would know how not to get lost, and how not to collide with either the
sun or the moon. He would have the skill to avoid the shooting-stars
which are as dangerous as stones thrown from a sling. He would find
the way by the heavenly sign-posts on which were marked the number
of miles that had been left behind, as well as the names of the celestial
hamlets.
The regions traversed by Rabbit and his companions were ravishing

and filled them with ecstasy. This was all the more the case because
contrary to man, they had never suspected the beauties of the sky; they
had been able to look only sidewise and not upward, this being the
exclusive right of the king of animals.
So it came that Short-tail, the Wolf, the Ewe, the Lamb, the Birds, the
Sheep-Dogs, the Spaniel, discovered that the sky was as beautiful as
the earth. And all except Rabbit, who was sometimes troubled by the
problems of direction, enjoyed an unalloyed pleasure in this pilgrimage
toward God. In place of the heavenly fields, which only a short while
ago seemed inaccessible above their heads, the earth now became in its
turn slowly inaccessible beneath their feet. And as they moved further
and further away from it, this earth became a new heavenly canopy for
them. The blue of the oceans formed their clouds of foam, and the
candles of the shops sprinkled like stars the expanse of the night.
Gradually they approached the regions which Francis had promised
them. Already the rose-red clovers of the setting suns and the luminous
fruits of the darkness which were their food grew larger and fuller and
melted in their souls into the sweets of paradise.
The leaves and ardent pulp of the fruits filled their blood with some
strange summer-like power, a palpitating joy which made their hearts
beat faster as they came nearer and nearer the marvels that were to be
theirs.
* * * * *
At last they came to the abode of the beasts, who had attained eternal
bliss. It was the first Paradise, that of the dogs.
For some time already they had heard barking. Bending down toward
the trunk of a decayed oak they saw a mastiff sitting in a hollow as in a
niche. His disdainful and yet placid glance told them that his mind was
disordered. It was the dog of Diogenes, to whom God had accorded
solitude in this tub, hollowed out of a very tree itself. With indifference
he watched the dogs with the spiked collars pass by. Then to their great
astonishment he left his moss-grown kennel for a moment, and, since
his leash had become undone, tied himself fast again using his mouth
as aid. He reëntered his den of wood, and said:
"Here each one takes his pleasure where he finds it."
And, in fact, Rabbit and his companions saw dogs in quest of
imaginary travelers who had lost their way. They dared descent into

deep abysses to find those who had met with accident, bearing to them
the bouillon, meat, and brandy contained in the small casks hanging
from their collars.
Others flung themselves into icy waters, always hoping, but always in
vain, that they might rescue a shipwrecked sailor. When they regained
the shore they were shivering, stunned, yet happy in their futile
devotion, and ready to fling themselves in again.
Others persistently begged for a couple of old bones at the thresholds of
deserted cottages along the road, waiting for kicks, and their eyes were
filled with an inexpressible melancholy.
There was also a scissors-grinder's dog, who with tongue hanging out,
was joyfully turning the wheel-work which made the