The Wolf and the Lamb translated by Marie Ponsot
Fontaine, Jean de la
The Wolf and the Lamb (Fables, 1,10) La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleur. The strongest reasons are the reasons of the strong. It's so-as we'll show before long. A lamb was drinking...
...Then one of your kin...
...Wretch...
...Wolf dragged lamb under the trees And cracked and ate him, blood and bone, With no further formalities...
...Sire," said the lamb, " may it please your High Majesty To be unenraged-and to note That where I stand and wet my throat Is-as you, Sire, may see is true- Downstream from you, Downstream by twenty yards at least, Proof I can't possibly muddy your royal drink From my low stance here at the brink...
...The wolf eyes the lamb hungrily...
...last year I wasn't here," Said the lamb...
...Not I! This year's my first...
...You owe me, one way or the other, You, your shepherd, your dogs, their kin- I must take revenge...
...A lamb was drinking quietly Close to the edge of a clear brook Which was on the path the wolf, when fasting, took...
...Your crimes are known...
...Not you...
...Jean de la Fontaine translated by Marie Ponsot...
...he cried, Cross as two sticks, fit to be tied...
...You DO muddy it-and," said the cruel beast, "What's worse, you told lots of lies about me last year...
...Then it was your brother...
...Such arrogance must be punished, don't you agree...
...I have none...
...I'm still nursing my mother...
...Who's made you so brave you muddy my drink...
Vol. 130 • May 2003 • No. 9
