| LA CIGALE ET LA FOURMI | THE CICADA AND THE ANT |
| Jean de la Fontaine | trans. Harry Guest |
La cigale, ayant chanté .............Tout l'été, trouva fort dépourvue Quand la bise fut venue. Pas un seul petit morceau De mouche ou de vermisseau. Elle alla crier famine Chez la fourmi sa voisine, La priant de lui prêter Quelque grain pour subsister Jusqu'à la saison nouvelle. "Je vous paierai," lui dit-elle, "avant l'août, foi d'animal, Intérêt et principal." La fourmi n'est pas prêteuse; C'est là son moindre défaut. "Que faisiez-vous au temps chaud?" Dit-elle à cette emprunteuse. - "Nuit et jour à tout venant Je chantais, ne vous déplaise." - "Vous chantiez? j'en suis fort aise. Eh bien! dansez maintenant." | Cicada having sung in tune .............since June Found that her store of food was low When winter winds began to blow - No morsel left of worm or fly to keep an insect blithe and spry. She called on Neighbour Ant to say Starvation was not far away Imploring her to lend some grain To keep her going till the spring Brought warmer weather once again. "And cross my heart," she said, "I'll bring You back by August all you've lent With interest at five per cent." Now Ant's no lender - it's the first Of all her faults though not the worst. She asked this borrower that she'd done During those months of summer sun. "Both night and day I lost no chance Of singing to all passers-by." "You sang? How nice to hear that! I Suggest it's time you learned to dance." |