Foun and Yor (the egg of jealousy)
Long ago, Foun and Yor were united by a friendship of rare intensity. Their connection was such that no one ever saw them apart; they seemed to come into existence as two souls born of the same breath.
One day, each of them was given an egg.
Yor, taken with reckless excitement, opened his without delay, cooked it immediately, and ate it in one bite without considering the following days.
Foun, on the other hand, showed restraint. He patiently stored his egg, keeping it safe until the day it opened on its own. To his surprise, great riches sprang forth from the egg: an abundance of fruits, exquisite dishes, and a million other delights. From then on, Foun’s circumstances changed, and his home became prosperous.
But Yor, having witnessed this sudden fortune, felt a darkness born within him: a blind, insidious jealousy that, little by little, changed the nature of their friendship. Unable to overcome this feeling, he began to visit Foun’s home in Foun’s absence, sneaking provisions and eating what didn’t belong to him.
Against all odds, Foun caught him in the act. Outraged by the betrayal, he severely punished Yor, striking him until Yor, overwhelmed and in tears, fled. Wandering the streets, Yor found a rabbit. Moved by Yor’s weakened state, the rabbit asked him: “What misfortune has befallen you to reduce you to such grief?”
Yor responded, hiding his fault, “It’s Foun who beat me, even though I never did him any wrong.”
The rabbit, deceived by this tale, confidently declared, “Take me to him; I will get you justice.”
They gathered in front of Foun’s house. There, Yor began to sing.
O fun é, wa,
Alilɛ kaka mi nă xó,
Hún mɔn nɔn cikɔ nú yɔgbɔ.
From inside the house, Foun responded in a low voice:
Klinlin vounvoun, klinlin voungba.
At those words, the rabbit's courage vanished. Seized by fear, he fled, leaving Yor behind. Without hesitation, Foun struck him again.
Yor, bruised and humiliated, fled again. Along his path, he met a partridge who asked the cause of his cries. Yor gave him the same false tale. The partridge, feigning bravery, told him, “Take me to him; I will get you justice.”
They had barely arrived at Foun’s home when the partridge lost all her confidence and abruptly flew away, leaving Yor alone again with his friend’s anger. Once again, Foun punished him.
At the cost of his pain, Yor learned a truth the elders have passed down from generation to generation: nothing is gained by envying another's fortune. Jealousy degrades the one who gives in to it, while patience and moderation uplift those who know how to wait.