Long ago, the great Frith made the world
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He made all the stars
And the world lived among the stars
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Frith made all the animals and birds, and at first, made them all the same
Now, among the animals was El-ahrairah, the prince of rabbits
He had many friends, and they all ate grass together
But after a time, the rabbits wandered everywhere
Multiplying and eating as they went
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Then Frith said to El-ahrairah
"Prince Rabbit, if you cannot control your people, I shall find ways to control them"
But El-ahrairah would not listen and said to Frith
"My people are the strongest in the world"
This angered Frith, so he determined to get the better of El-ahrairah
He gave a present to every animal and bird
Making each one different from the rest
When the fox came, and others, like the dog and cat, the hawk, and weasel
To each of them
Frith gave a fierce desire to hunt and slay the children of El-ahrairah
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Then El-ahrairah knew that Frith was too clever for him, and he was frightened
He had never before seen the black rabbit of death
"My friend", said Frith
"Have you seen El-ahrairah? For I wish to give him a gift"
"Uh, uh, no, I, I, I, I have not seen him"
So, Frith said, "Come out, and I will bless you, instead"
"No, I cannot, I am busy, the fox and weasel are coming"
"If you want to bless me, you'll have to bless my bottom"
"Very well, be it so"
And El-ahrairah's tail grew shining white and flashed like a star
His back legs grew long and powerful
And he tore across the hill, faster than any creature in the world
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"All the world will be your enemy, prince with a thousand enemies
And whenever they catch you, they will kill you
But first, they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with a swift warning
Be cunning and full of tricks, and your people will never be destroyed"