| LA CIGALE ET LA FOURMI - I.1 | THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER |
| Jean de la Fontaine | trans. Gordon Pirie |
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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." |
A grasshopper, all summer long, Had sung without a care; But when the autumn winds blew strong, She found her shelves were bare: No fly or grub - never a scrap Of victuals stored away, To fill the dreadful hungry gap From Michaelmas to May. So off she went to see the ant, Her busy farming neighbour, Who'd guarded against future want By unremitting labour. "Please let me have a grain or two To see me through till spring. I'll pay you back, with interest too, When next year's harvest's in." The emmet listened with a frown - At best he's not a lender - And looked his neighbour up and down, Unwilling to befriend her. "Tell me, what were you playing at, While summer days were long?" "Why, in the grasses tall I sat, And sang my busy song." "You sang, you say? How very charming! Well, summer days are fled, And since your talents aren't for farming, You'd better dance instead!" |