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Such, as Merlin says, thinks to snare another,
Who often snares himself.
I regret that this word is too old today:
It has always seemed to me of extreme energy.
But to come to the design I have taken,
A rat full of fat, plump, and of the best fed,
And who knew neither Advent nor Lent,
On the edge of a marsh was amusing his spirits.
A Frog approaches, and says to him in her language:
Come see me at my home, I will make you a feast.
Sir Rat promised at once:
There was no need for a longer harangue.
She nevertheless alleged the delights of the bath,
The curiosity, the pleasure of the voyage,
A hundred rarities to see along the marsh:
One day he would tell his grandchildren
The beauties of these places, the manners of the inhabitants,
And the government of the public thing
Aquatic.One point only more kept the gallant hindered:
He swam somewhat; but he needed help.
The Frog for that finds a very good remedy:
The Rat was attached to her foot by the paw;
A bit of rush did the trick.
Once in the marsh, our good gossip
Strives to pull her host to the bottom of the water,
Against the law of nations, against the sworn faith;
Claims she will make of him a hot throat and quarry;
(It was, in her opinion, an excellent morsel).
Already in her mind the wench devours him.
He calls the Gods to witness; the treacherous one mocks it.
He resists; she pulls. In this new combat,
A Kite who in the air was gliding, making the round,
Sees from above the poor wretch struggling on the wave.
It swoops down, carries him off, and, by the same means
The Frog and the bond.
All was of it; so much and so well,
That from this double prey
The bird gives himself to heart’s joy,
Having in this way
For supper meat and fish.
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-frog-and-the-rat-jean-de-la-fontaine/