Le Corbeau et le renard

Le Corbeau et le renard

Original Text

Representative French Poetry, ed. Victor E. Graham, 2nd edn. (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1965): 20-21. From Fables I, ii, 1668.

2     Tenoit en son bec un fromage;
3Maître renard, par l'odeur alléché,
4     Lui tint à peu près ce langage:
6Que vous êtes joli! que vous me semblez beau!
7     Sans mentir, si votre ramage
11Et, pour montrer sa belle voix,
12Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tomber sa proie.
13Le renard s'en saisit, et dit: "Mon bon monsieur,
14     Apprenez que tout flatteur
15     Vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute.
16Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage sans doute."
17     Le corbeau, honteux et confus,

Notes

1] Maître: a title still given to solicitors and attorneys. Back to Line
5] The particles de, du, or de l' indicate nobility. Back to Line
8] Se rapporte à: Is comparable to. Back to Line
9] The phoenix is a miraculous legendary bird, which was supposed to be reincarnated from its own ashes. Back to Line
10] ne se sent pas de joie: cannot contain himself for joy. Back to Line
18] qu'on ne l'y prendrait plus: that he would not be taken in again. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Victor E. Graham
Data entry: Sharine Leung
RPO Edition
2012
Form
Special Copyright

Second edition copyright © 1965 University of Toronto Press. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, from which written permission must be obtained for any other edition or other means of reproduction.