Le Corbeau et le Renard
Jean de la Fontaine Maître corbeau,
sur un arbre perché,
Tenait en son bec un fromage,
Maître renard, par l'odeur alléché,
Lui tint à peu près ce langage:
<<Eh bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau.
Que vous êtes joli! que vous me
semblez beau!
Sans mentir, si votre ramage
Se rapporte à votre plumage,
Vous êtes le phénix des hôtes de ces bois.>>
A ces mots, le corbeau ne sent pas de
joie;
Et pour montrer sa belle voix,
Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tomber sa
proie.
Le renard s'en saisit, et dit: <<Mon
bon monsieur,
Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute.
Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage sans
doute.>>
Le corbeau, honteux et confus,
Jura, mais un peu tard, qu'on ne l'y prendrait
plus. |
The Crow and the Fox
Jean de la Fontaine Master crow,
on a tree perched,
Held in his beak a cheese,
Master fox, by the odor attracted,
Held him with almost this language:
"Well hello, Mister Crow.
You are so pretty! You seem to me
beautiful!
Without lying, if your song
Is comparable to your feathers,
You are the Phoenix of these woods."
At these words, the crow was overcome
with joy;
And to show his beautiful voice,
He opened his mouth wide, and dropped
his prey.
The fox seized it, and said: "My good
mister,
Learn that every flatterer
Lives at the expense of those who listen
to him.
This lesson is well worth a cheese without
doubt."
The crow, ashamed and embarrassed,
Swore, but a little late, that he would
never be taken again. |
