Our first French poem!
It’s a fable in verse (you may know the story) by the 17th century poet, Jean de la Fontaine, chosen and introduced by Ms. Johnston:
Jean de La Fontaine (8 July 1621 13 April 1695) is one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. He predominantly wrote fables (at least 240 of them) and he inspired fabulists across Europe. His skill was recognised in his own lifetime and his reputation in France has never faded. His prominent nose and characteristic mop of black hair can be found in the many portraits of him throughout France as well as on medals, coins and postage stamps. Although his poems were originally aimed at adults, many generations of French schoolchildren have learnt his most famous fables off by heart.
This poem, Le corbeau et le renard, is one of La Fontaines most famous and it first appeared in 1668. Its structure is very controlled and the rhyme scheme is strict. Like several of his poems, it is an adaptation of one of Aesops fables. Most of La Fontaines fables are about animals which are personified (eg. the crow is described as ashamed and sick) and the author gives voices to these animals predominantly in order to criticise features of French society under Louis XIV. It is particularly interesting to look at the words that Jean de la Fontaine chooses to rhyme in this poem: the fromage at the beginning of this poem will, in a sense, be exchanged for the langage with which it is paired and, in the context of flattery, the rhyme between écoute and doute is surely not accidental. This fable may appear simple at first, but there is more to unravel than meets the eye. It seems to suggest that flattery pays off is this the case? Moreover, at the end of the poem there is an explicit moral, yes, but it is in the mouth of a fox who has already proved himself to be a liar what do you make of that? Here is a video of it that you can watch – this version is aimed at French schoolchildren.
Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché,
Tenait en son bec un fromage.
Maître Renard, par lodeur 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.
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 sen saisit, et dit : Mon bon Monsieur,
Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui lécoute.
Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage, sans doute.
Le Corbeau, honteux et confus,
Jura, mais un peu tard, quon ne ly prendrait plus.
English Translation:
At the top of a tree perched Master Crow;
In his beak he was holding a cheese.
Drawn by the smell, Master Fox spoke, below.
The words, more or less, were these:
“Hey, now, Sir Crow! Good day, good day!
How very handsome you do look, how grandly distingué!
No lie, if those songs you sing Match the plumage of your wing,
Youre the phoenix of these woods, our choice.
” Hearing this, the Crow was all rapture and wonder.
To show off his handsome voice,
He opened beak wide and let go of his plunder.
The Fox snapped it up and then said, “My Good Sir,
Learn that each flatterer Lives at the cost of those who heed.
This lesson is well worth the cheese, indeed.”
The Crow, ashamed and sick,
Swore, a bit late, not to fall again for that trick.
Trans. Norman Spector
