The Carter in the Mud

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

The Phaeton of a hay cart
Saw his chariot stuck in the mud. The poor man was far
From any human help. It was in the countryside
Near a certain district of lower Brittany
Called Quimpercorentin.
We know well enough that destiny
Sends people there when it wants them to rage.
God preserve us from the journey!
To come to the Carter stuck in these parts,
There he is cursing and swearing his best.
Fuming in his extreme fury
Now against the holes, then against his horses,
Against his cart, against himself.
He invokes at last the God whose labors
Are so famous in the world:
Hercules, he says to him, help me; if your back
Has carried the round machine,
Your arm can pull me out of here.
His prayer being made, he hears in the cloud
A voice that speaks to him thus:
Hercules wants one to stir oneself,
Then he helps people. Look from where comes
The stumbling block that holds you back.
Remove from around each wheel
This wretched mortar, this cursed mud
That coats them up to the axle.
Take your pick and break for me this stone that harms you.
Fill in for me this rut. Have you done it? – Yes, says the man.
– Well then I will help you, says the voice: take your whip.
– I have taken it. What is this? my cart moves as wished.
Hercules be praised. Then the voice: You see how
Your horses easily pulled themselves out of there.
Help yourself, and Heaven will help you.

Jean de La Fontaine

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