mahendra-singh: Sir Crow and the Fox (I; 2, Fables choisies, Jean de La Fontaine) Sir Crow made merry in his tree A festive cheese twixt his beak; Sir Crow made sport for Fox to see And beg hungry leave to speak: « God save your ravenous grace, God save your handsome face, If only your honor’s proper voice Could match your feathered poise And confirm you a melodic god in disguise. » At which Sir Crow first smiles, then sighs, Then clears his crowy throat and tries A slow crawling trill Of avian mal canto till Cheese from beak must spill For poor Fox to gobble up and say: « Sirrah, learn how flatterers prey, We dine on those who lend us ear … An alimentary lesson costs you dear. » Sans cheese sans pride, Sir Crow swears too late: To never swallow flatterers’ foxy bait.   trans. by the artist
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mahendra-singh:

Sir Crow and the Fox

(I; 2, Fables choisies, Jean de La Fontaine)

Sir Crow made merry in his tree

A festive cheese twixt his beak;

Sir Crow made sport for Fox to see

And beg hungry leave to speak:

« God save your ravenous grace,

God save your handsome face,

If only your honor’s proper voice

Could match your feathered poise

And confirm you a melodic god in disguise. »

At which Sir Crow first smiles, then sighs,

Then clears his crowy throat and tries

A slow crawling trill

Of avian mal canto till

Cheese from beak must spill

For poor Fox to gobble up and say:

« Sirrah, learn how flatterers prey,

We dine on those who lend us ear …

An alimentary lesson costs you dear. »

Sans cheese sans pride, Sir Crow swears too late:

To never swallow flatterers’ foxy bait.

 

trans. by the artist