The Friendly Beasts

Les Bêtes Amicales

The Friendly Beasts

Jésus, notre frère, bon et gentil,Jesus, our brother, kind and good,
Est né humblement dans une étable rustique ;Was humbly born in a stable rude;
Et les bêtes amicales autour de lui se tenaient.And the friendly beasts around Him stood.
Jésus, notre frère, bon et gentil.Jesus, our brother, kind and good.

"Moi," dit l'Âne, hirsute et brun,"I," said the Donkey, shaggy and brown,
"J'ai porté sa mère en haut et en bas ;"I carried His mother up hill and down;
J'ai porté sa mère jusqu'à la ville de Bethléem."I carried His mother to Bethlehem town."
"Moi," dit l'Âne, hirsute et brun."I," said the Donkey, shaggy and brown.

"Moi," dit la Vache, toute blanche et rouge,"I," said the Cow, all white and red,
"Je lui ai donné ma mangeoire pour son lit ;"I gave Him my manger for His bed;
Je lui ai donné mon foin pour reposer sa tête."I gave Him my hay to pillow His head."
"Moi," dit la Vache, toute blanche et rouge."I," said the Cow, all white and red.

"Moi," dit le Mouton, avec la corne bouclée,"I," said the Sheep, with the curly horn,
"Je lui ai donné ma laine pour sa couverture chaude ;"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
Il a porté mon manteau le matin de Noël."He wore my coat on Christmas morn."
"Moi," dit le Mouton, avec la corne bouclée."I," said the Sheep, with the curly horn.

"Moi," dit la Colombe, des poutres hautes,"I," said the Dove, from the rafters high,
"Je l'ai bercé pour qu'il ne pleure pas ;"I cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry;
Nous l'avons bercé, mon compagnon et moi."We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I."
"Moi," dit la Colombe, des poutres hautes."I," said the Dove, from the rafters high.

Ainsi chaque bête par un sort joyeux,Thus every beast by some glad spell,
Dans l'obscurité de l'étable était heureuse de direIn the stable dark was glad to tell
Le cadeau qu'il a fait à Emmanuel,Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
Le cadeau qu'il a fait à Emmanuel.The gift he gave Emmanuel.