\tLes vertus devraient \u00eatre s\u0153urs,
\n\tAinsi que les vices sont fr\u00e8res.
\nD\u00e8s que l\u2019un de ceux-ci s\u2019empare de nos c\u0153urs,
\nTous viennent \u00e0 la file ; il ne s\u2019en manque gu\u00e8res :
\n\tJ\u2019entends de ceux qui, n\u2019\u00e9tant pas contraires,
\n\tPeuvent loger sous m\u00eame toit.
\n\u00c0 l\u2019\u00e9gard des vertus, rarement on les voit
\nToutes en un sujet \u00e9minemment plac\u00e9es
\nSe tenir par la main sans \u00eatre dispers\u00e9es.
\nL\u2019un est vaillant, mais prompt ; l\u2019autre est prudent, mais froid.
\nParmi les animaux, le Chien se pique d\u2019\u00eatre
\n\tSoigneux et fid\u00e8le \u00e0 son ma\u00eetre ;
\n\tMais il est sot, il est gourmand :
\nT\u00e9moin ces deux m\u00e2tins qui, dans l\u2019\u00e9loignement,
\nVirent un \u00c2ne mort qui flottait sur les ondes.
\nLe vent de plus en plus l\u2019\u00e9loignait de nos Chiens.
\n\u00ab Ami, dit l\u2019un, tes yeux sont meilleurs que les miens :
\nPorte un peu tes regards sur ces plaines profondes ;
\nJ\u2019y crois voir quelque chose. Est-ce un b\u0153uf, un cheval ?
\n\t\u2013 Eh ! qu\u2019importe quel animal ?
\nDit l\u2019un de ces m\u00e2tins ; voil\u00e0 toujours cur\u00e9e.
\nLe point est de l\u2019avoir ; car le trajet est grand ;
\nEt de plus il nous faut nager contre le vent.
\nBuvons toute cette eau ; notre gorge alt\u00e9r\u00e9e
\nEn viendra bien \u00e0 bout : ce corps demeurera
\n\tBient\u00f4t \u00e0 sec, et ce sera
\n\tProvision pour la semaine. \u00bb
\nVoil\u00e0 mes Chiens \u00e0 boire ; ils perdirent l\u2019haleine,
\n\tEt puis la vie ; ils firent tant
\n\tQu\u2019on les vit crever \u00e0 l\u2019instant.
\nL\u2019homme est ainsi b\u00e2ti : quand un sujet l\u2019enflamme,
\nL\u2019impossibilit\u00e9 dispara\u00eet \u00e0 son \u00e2me.
\nCombien fait-il de v\u0153ux, combien perd-il de pas,
\nS\u2019outrant pour acqu\u00e9rir des biens ou de la gloire !
\n\tSi j\u2019arrondissais mes \u00e9tats !
\nSi je pouvais remplir mes coffres de ducats !
\nSi j\u2019apprenais l\u2019h\u00e9breu, les sciences, l\u2019histoire !
\n\tTout cela, c\u2019est la mer \u00e0 boire ;
\n\tMais rien \u00e0 l\u2019homme ne suffit.
\nPour fournir aux projets que forme un seul esprit,
\nIl faudrait quatre corps ; encore, loin d\u2019y suffire,
\n\u00c0 mi-chemin je crois que tous demeureraient :
\nQuatre Mathusalems bout \u00e0 bout ne pourraient
\n\tMettre \u00e0 fin ce qu\u2019un seul d\u00e9sire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"annee":[166],"poems-book":[142],"poemes-theme":[],"poete":[151],"class_list":["post-1290","poemes","type-poemes","status-publish","hentry","annee-166","poems-book-fables","poete-jean-de-la-fontaine"],"yoast_head":"\n