The Wolf and the Lean Dog

Fable by Jean De La Fontaine Collection The FablesThemes AnimalsPeriod 17th century

Once a little carp, a tiny fry,
Preached in vain, spoke in vain;
He was put into the frying pan.
I showed that letting go of what one holds in hand,
In hope of some great adventure,
Is pure foolishness.
The Fisherman was right;
The little Carp was not wrong.
Each says what he can to defend his life.
Now I must support
What I then advanced with yet another trait.
A certain Wolf, as foolish as the fisherman was wise,
Finding a Dog outside the village,
Was about to carry him off; the Dog pointed out
His leanness: May it never please your lordship
To take me in such a state;
Wait, my master is marrying off
His only daughter. And you judge
That, being at a wedding, I must, in spite of myself, fatten up.
The Wolf believes him, the Wolf lets him go.
The Wolf, some days later,
Comes back to see if his Dog is not better to take.
But the rascal was at home.
He said to the Wolf through a grating:
Friend, I am coming out. And, if you wish to wait,
The porter of the house and I
Will be with you right away.
This porter of the house was an enormous Dog,
Disposing of Wolves in due form.
The other suspected it. Your servant, porter,
Said he; and off he ran. He was very agile;
But he was not very clever:
This Wolf did not yet know his trade well.

Jean de La Fontaine

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