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Jean de La Fontaine is undoubtedly one of the most famous fabulists<\/i> (one who writes fables) who ever lived. Born in 1621, he was a contemporary of King Louis XIV and was celebrated for his fables involving talking animals and insects. His works have never waned in popularity and have been translated into dozens of languages.<\/p>\n
The following fable is entitled La Cigale et la Fourmi<\/b>, loosely translated The Grasshopper and the Ant<\/b> (Cigale<\/b> is actually a Cicada<\/b>, a large insect found in warmer climates, typically in the south of France).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
La Cigale, ayant chant\u00e9<\/p>\n
The Grasshopper, having sung<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tout l\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9,<\/p>\n
All summer long,<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Se trouva fort d\u00e9pourvue<\/p>\n
Found herself lacking food<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Quand la bise fut venue.<\/p>\n
When the North Wind began its song.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pas un seul petit morceau<\/p>\n
Not a single little piece<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
De mouche ou de vermisseau.<\/p>\n
Of fly or grub.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Elle alla crier famine<\/p>\n
She went complaining of hunger<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Chez la Fourmi sa voisine,<\/p>\n
To the Ant her neighbor,<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
La priant de lui pr\u00eater<\/p>\n
Begging her for a loan<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Quelque grain pour subsister<\/p>\n
Of some grain to survive<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la saison nouvelle.<\/p>\n
Until the new season.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cJe vous paierai,\u201d lui dit-elle,<\/p>\n
\u201cI will pay you,\u201d she said,<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAvant l\u2019ao\u00fbt,\u201d foi d\u2019animal,<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore August,\u201d on an animal\u2019s faith.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cInt\u00e9r\u00eat et principal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInterest and principal.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
La Fourmi n\u2019est pas pr\u00eateuse;<\/p>\n
The Ant was not so inclined.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
C\u2019est l\u00e0 son moindre d\u00e9faut.<\/p>\n
That is one of her lesser faults.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cQue faisiez-vous au temps chaud?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat were you doing all summer?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dit-elle \u00e0 cette emprunteuse.<\/p>\n
Said she to the borrower.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNuit et jour \u00e0 tout venant\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNight and day to each one who came\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cJe chantais, ne vous d\u00e9plaise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI sang, if you please.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cVous chantiez? J\u2019en suis fort aise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were singing? I\u2019m at ease.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Et bien! Dansez maintenant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell then! Now you must dance.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jean de La Fontaine is undoubtedly one of the most famous fabulists (one who writes fables) who ever lived. Born in 1621, he was a contemporary of King Louis XIV and was celebrated for his fables involving talking animals and insects. His works have never waned in popularity and have been translated into dozens of…<\/p>\n