Page:Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet and other profitable tales, 1915.djvu/192

 178 command. The laws must maintain this worshipful behest.

"But are you quite sure, my friend," inquired Roussin, "that these evils proceed from the celestial horse that has created us, and not merely from man his inferior creation?"

"Men are the ministers and the angels of the celestial horse," replied Blanchet. "His will is manifest in everything that happens. His will is good. Since he wishes us ill, it must be that ill is good. If therefore the law is to do us good it must make us suffer. And in the Empire of horses we shall be constrained and tortured in every way, by means of edicts, decrees, sentences, judgments and ordinances in order to please the heavenly horse."

"Roussin," added Blanchet, "you must have the head of an ass not to understand that the horse was brought into the world to suffer, and that if he does not suffer he fails to fulfil his destiny and that from happy horses the heavenly horse turns away his face."