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Perched as a sentinel on a tree branch was
An old Cock, shrewd and crafty.
“Brother,” said a Fox, softening his voice,
“We are no longer at war:
A general peace this time.
I come to announce it to you; come down, let me embrace you.
Do not delay me, I beg you;
I must cover twenty stages today without fail.
You and yours may go about
Your affairs without any fear;
We will serve you there as brothers.
Light the fires this very evening.
And meanwhile come receive
The kiss of brotherly love.
– Friend, replied the Cock, I could never
Learn a sweeter and better news
Than that
Of this peace;
And it is a double joy to me
To have it from you. I see two Greyhounds,
Who, I am sure, are messengers
Sent for this very purpose.
They run fast, and will be upon us in a moment.
I am coming down; we can all kiss one another.
– Farewell, said the Fox, my journey is long to make:
We will rejoice over the success of the affair
Another time. The rogue at once
Takes to his heels, gains the heights,
Displeased with his stratagem;
And our old Cock to himself
Began to laugh at his fear;
For it is a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
Jean de La Fontaine
Translation generated by Poésies 123 with assistance from the deepseek-chat artificial-intelligence model.
Text published on Poésies 123: https://www.poesies123.com/en/fable-the-cock-and-the-fox-jean-de-la-fontaine/