le corbeau et le renard
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 :
Et 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.
À ces mots le Corbeau ne se 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
Master black crow on a branch perched up high
Held tight in his beak some fine cheese
Master sly fox by its smell tempted nigh
Him tendered these words aimed to please:
Well, good day to you, Mister Crow,
Oh, how handsome you look! With health you seem to glow!
I would claim that should your singing
Match pinions ideal for winging,
You are the Phoenix of all who here reside.
At these words the black crow almost bursts with pride,
And so as to let his voice sound
His beak opens wide – his prey falls to the ground.
The fox grabs it at once and says: Ah, Mister Crow,
Each flatterer, as you should know,
Depends on the ear of him he seeks to please.
This lesson I think you must deem worth a cheese.
The crow, now ashamed and confused
Although a trifle late, swore no more to be used.
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