The Eagle, perched on an old missile,
held a blue and gold trident in its beak.
The Bear, lured by the smell of gunpowder,
came out of its den, looking outraged:
"Hey! Hello, great bird of the skies,
Always quick to hover over the fires!
How noble your plumage is, how loud your cry resounds,
One would think that peace is born on your shores!
But tell me, this glittering trident,
What are you doing so close to my field?
This jewel, I believe, was carved in my forge,
And its hilt, long ago, marked my sea."
The Eagle, flattered by such a false tone,
wanted to be king, defender, hero.
He shouted loudly, beat his wings...
And the trident fell, a cruel thing. The Bear leaped, took it, and clasped it in his paw,
Roaring: "I take back what was in my haste!"
The Eagle, vexed, called his friends:
The owl*, old Europe, and a few hummingbirds
They all came to chirp: "Let go of this trophy!" Worried, however, they stayed away.
But the Bear, growling, remained camped.
Moral:
"Between the Eagle who promises and the Bear who takes, the Trident bleeds and the owl watches, counting the penalties as others count sheep."
*The owl. Wise, observant, but often motionless and silent, she sees everything... and does not move.
