Description

Quality mounted French poster from 1980s in excellent vintage condition. This famous French fable by Jean De La Fontaine (1668) is entitled: 'La Corbeau et Le Renard', known in English as ‘The Fox and the Crow’. English and French texts below. A fun moral in vanity and flattery. Great present for those interested in singing and performance! Would look good over a piano or in a young person's bedroom. Collection only. Delivery possible to Bray, Dun Laoghaire, Blackrock areas. See photos. Sell €65.
English text:
Master Crow perched on a tree,
Was holding a cheese in his beak.
Master Fox attracted by the smell
Said: 'Well, Hello Mister Crow'!
How pretty you are! How beautiful you seem to me!
I’m not lying, if your voice
Is like your plumage,
You are the phoenix of all the inhabitants of these woods!”
At these words, the Crow is overjoyed.
And in order to show off his beautiful voice,
He opens his beak wide, letting his prey fall.
The Fox grabs it, and says: “My good fellow,
Learn that every flatterer
Lives at the expense of the one who listens to him.
This lesson, without doubt, is well worth a cheese'.
The Crow, ashamed and embarrassed,
Swore, but a little late, that he would not be taken in again.
Original French text:
Maître corbeau, sur un arbre perché,
Tenait en son bec un fromage.
Maître renard, par l’odeur alléché,
Lui tint à peu près ce langage :
«Hé! bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau.
Que vous êtes joli! que vous me semblez beau!
Sans mentir, si votre ramage
Se rapporte à votre plumage,
Vous êtes le phénix des hôtes de ces bois!»
À ces mots, le corbeau ne se sent pas de joie;
Et pour montrer sa belle voix,
Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tomber sa proie.
Le renard s’en saisit, et dit : «Mon bon monsieur,
Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l’écoute.
Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage sans doute.»
Le corbeau honteux et confus,
Jura, mais un peu tard, qu’on ne l’y prendrait plus.