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Jean de La Fontaine's Poems

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Jean de La Fontaine's Poems Empty Jean de La Fontaine's Poems

Post  Vincent Law Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:47 am

POEM - The Wolf and the Lamb:

"The reason of those best able to have their way is always the best:
We now show how this is true."


A lamb was quenching its thirst
In the water of a pure stream.
A fasting wolf came by, looking for something;
He was attracted by hunger to this place.
—What makes you so bold as to meddle with my drinking?
Said this animal, very angry.
You will be punished for your boldness.
—Sir, answered the lamb, let Your Majesty
Not put himself into a rage;
But rather, let him consider
That I am taking a drink of water
In the stream
More than twenty steps below him;
And that, consequently, in no way,
Am I troubling his supply.
—You do trouble it, answered the cruel beast.
And I know you said bad things of me last year.
—How could I do that when I wasn't born,
Answered the lamb; I am still at my mother's breast.
—If it wasn't you, then it was your brother.
—I haven't a brother.—It was then someone close to you;
For you have no sympathy for me,
You, your shepherds and your dogs.
I have been told of this.I have to make things even.
Saying this, into the woods
The wolf carries the lamb, and then eats him
Without any other why or wherefore.

By Jean de La Fontaine
Translation by Eli Siegel


Jean de La Fontaine's Poems The_wo10
Vincent Law
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Post  Vincent Law Sun Sep 30, 2012 2:23 pm

The Hare and the Tortoise

To win a race, the swiftness of a dart
Availeth not without a timely start.


The hare and tortoise are my witnesses.
Said tortoise to the swiftest thing that is,
"I'll bet that you'll not reach, so soon as I
The tree on yonder hill we spy."
"So soon! Why, madam, are you frantic?"
Replied the creature, with an antic;
"Pray take, your senses to restore,
A grain or two of hellebore."
"Say," said the tortoise, "what you will;
I dare you to the wager still."
'Twas done; the stakes were paid,
And near the goal tree laid?
Of what, is not a question for this place,
Nor who it was that judged the race.
Our hare had scarce five jumps to make,
Of such as he is wont to take,
When, starting just before their beaks
He leaves the hounds at leisure,
Thence till the kalends of the Greeks,
The sterile heath to measure.
Thus having time to browse and doze,
And list which way the zephyr blows,
He makes himself content to wait,
And let the tortoise go her gait
In solemn, senatorial state.
She starts; she moils on, modestly and lowly,
And with a prudent wisdom hastens slowly;
But he, meanwhile, the victory despises,
Thinks lightly of such prizes,
Believes it for his honour
To take late start and gain upon her.
So, feeding, sitting at his ease,
He meditates of what you please,
Till his antagonist he sees
Approach the goal; then starts,
Away like lightning darts:
But vainly does he run;
The race is by the tortoise won.
Cries she, "My senses do I lack?
What boots your boasted swiftness now?
You're beat! and yet, you must allow,
I bore my house upon my back."
Jean De La Fontaine
Translated from French by Elizur Wright

VOCABULARY:
- availeth not: isn't useful
- hellebore: a plant that can cause hallucinations
- till the kalends of the Greeks: until the first of the month
- zephyr: a slight breeze
- moils: labor

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http://www.best-childrens-books.com/hare-and-the-tortoise.html
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