The Monkey and the Cat

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"The Monkey and the Cat" is a fable written by French poet Jean de La Fontaine.

The fable begins:

 Sly Bertrand and Ratto in company sat,
 (The one was a monkey, the other a cat,)
     Co-servants and lodgers:
     More mischievous codgers
 Ne'er mess'd from a platter, since platters were flat.

In this fable, Ratto draws out chestnuts that are roasting on the fire and Bertrand eats them.

[edit] Fable

As fine a dish of mischief as one might hope to see, A monkey and a cat, lived in their master's dwelling In awe of not one soul, whoever it might be. The cat, named Mouser, wasn't one that needed belling, For he would rather steal a cheese than catch a mouse, While Bertrand, the sly monkey, was a snatch-and-grabber. Indeed, if anything was missing in the house They were the guilty ones and not some sneaky neighbor. One day as they lolled by the hearth these rascal brothers Decided that they should acquire Some of the chestnuts they saw roasting in the fire, A deed that, as it profited them and injured others, They found twice as appealing. "Mouser, now's the time, Old pal," said Bertrand, "to use your mastery in crime. Get me those chestnuts. If God had Outfitted me with claws I would of course aspire To pull those chestnuts from the fire, But he did not. So it is up to you, my lad." His words were scarcely out before the monkey saw The cat extend a careful paw And whisk away some ashes, instantly withdraw, Then do the same, repeatedly, To pull the chestnuts out, first one, then two, then three, Which Bertrand ate as this went on. A servant with a broom arrived And, whoosh! the two of them were gone, Though Mouser,we are told, felt ill-used and deprived.

No different are the princes of those smaller lands Who, hoping to please their greater neighbors, Do their hot jobs but for their labors Get nothing more than well singed hands.