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Here is yet another fable from the inimitable Jean de La Fontaine. La Lionne et l\u2019Ourse<\/b> (The Lioness and the Bear) examines the discussion between a bear and a lioness who had just lost her cubs. The story may seem a little difficult to decipher, but as with all of La Fontaine\u2019s fables, there is a moral to the story and a lesson to be learned.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind this is not an exact word for word translation of the original French, but the gist of the story remains unchanged.<\/p>\n
M\u00e8re Lionne avait perdu son fan :
\nUn chasseur l\u2019avait pris. La pauvre infortun\u00e9e
\nPoussait un tel rugissement
\nQue toute la for\u00eat \u00e9tait importun\u00e9e.
\nLa nuit ni son obscurit\u00e9,
\nSon silence, et ses autres charmes,
\nDe la reine des bois n\u2019arr\u00eatait les vacarmes :
\nNul animal n\u2019\u00e9tait du sommeil visit\u00e9.
\nL\u2019Ourse enfin lui dit : \u00ab Ma comm\u00e8re,
\nUn mot sans plus : tous les enfants
\nQui sont pass\u00e9s entre vos dents
\nN\u2019avaient-ils ni p\u00e8re ni m\u00e8re ?
\n\u2013 Ils en avaient. \u2013 S\u2019il est ainsi,
\nEt qu\u2019aucun de leur mort n\u2019ait nos t\u00eates rompues,
\nSi tant de m\u00e8res se sont tues,
\nQue ne vous taisez-vous aussi ?
\n\u2013 Moi, me taire ! moi, malheureuse !
\nAh ! j\u2019ai perdu mon fils ? il me faudra tra\u00eener
\nUne vieillesse douloureuse !
\n\u2013 Dites-moi, qui vous force \u00e0 vous y condamner ?
\n\u2013 H\u00e9las ! c\u2019est le Destin qui me hait.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
\u2013 Ces paroles
\nOnt \u00e9t\u00e9 de tout temps en la bouche de tous. \u00bb
\nMis\u00e9rables humains, ceci s\u2019adresse \u00e0 vous.
\nJe n\u2019entends r\u00e9sonner que des plaintes frivoles.
\nQuiconque, en pareil cas se croit ha\u00ef des Cieux,
\nQu\u2019il consid\u00e8re H\u00e9cube, il rendra gr\u00e2ce aux Dieux.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The lioness had lost her young;<\/p>\n
A hunter stole it from the vale;<\/p>\n
The forests and the mountains rung<\/p>\n
Responsive to her hideous wail.<\/p>\n
Nor night, nor charms of sweet repose,<\/p>\n
Could still the loud lament that rose<\/p>\n
From that grim forest queen.<\/p>\n
No animal, as you might think,<\/p>\n
With such a noise could sleep a wink.<\/p>\n
A bear presumed to intervene.<\/p>\n
‘One word, sweet friend,’ quoth she,<\/p>\n
‘And that is all, from me.<\/p>\n
The young that through your teeth have pass’d,<\/p>\n
In file unbroken by a fast,<\/p>\n
Had they nor dam nor sire?’<\/p>\n
‘They had them both.’ ‘Then I desire,<\/p>\n
Since all their deaths caused no such grievous riot,<\/p>\n
While mothers died of grief beneath your fiat,<\/p>\n
To know why you yourself cannot be quiet?’<\/p>\n
‘I quiet!–I!–a wretch bereaved!<\/p>\n
My only son!–such anguish be relieved!<\/p>\n
No, never! All for me below<\/p>\n
Is but a life of tears and woe!’–<\/p>\n
‘But say, why doom yourself to sorrow so?’–<\/p>\n
‘Alas! ’tis Destiny that is my foe.’<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Such language, since the mortal fall,<\/p>\n
Has fallen from the lips of all.<\/p>\n
Ye human wretches, give your heed;<\/p>\n
For your complaints there’s little need.<\/p>\n
Let him who thinks his own the hardest case,<\/p>\n
Some widowed, childless Hecuba behold,<\/p>\n
Herself to toil and shame of slavery sold,<\/p>\n
And he will own the wealth of heavenly grace.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Here is yet another fable from the inimitable Jean de La Fontaine. La Lionne et l\u2019Ourse (The Lioness and the Bear) examines the discussion between a bear and a lioness who had just lost her cubs. The story may seem a little difficult to decipher, but as with all of La Fontaine\u2019s fables, there is…<\/p>\n