The Lobster And Her Daughter, French Fables, La Fontaine

The Lobster And Her Daughter

The wise, sometimes, as lobsters do,

To gain their ends back foremost go.

It is the rower's art; and those

Commanders who mislead their foes,

Do often seem to aim their sight

Just where they don't intend to smite.

My theme, so low, may yet apply

To one whose fame is very high,

Who finds it not the hardest matter

A hundred headed league to scatter.

What he will do, what leave undone,

Are secrets with unbroken seals,

Till victory the truth reveals.

Whatever he would have unknown

Is sought in vain. Decrees of Fate

Forbid to check, at first, the course

Which sweeps at last with torrent force.

One Jove, as ancient fables state,

Exceeds a hundred gods in weight.

So Fate and Louis would seem able

The universe to draw,

Bound captive to their law.

But come we to our fable.

A mother lobster did her daughter chide:

"For shame, my daughter! can't you go ahead?"

"And how go you yourself?" the child replied;

"Can I be but by your example led?

Head foremost should I, singularly, wend,

While all my race pursue the other end."

She spoke with sense: for better or for worse,

Example has a universal force.

To some it opens wisdom's door,

But leads to folly many more.

Yet, as for backing to one's aim,

When properly pursued

The art is doubtless good,

At least in grim Bellona's game.

Jean de La Fontaine

Book 12, Fable 10

The Lobster And Her Daughter, Antique French Fables, Image transfer downloads

The Craft of spies, the tattling art

Large size image transfers are versatile and useful.  The printable collage sheets can be used for so many things.  French feedsack and burlap fabrics are all the rage currently.  Great for DIY economical ways to spruce up your home.

La Fontaine based many of his fables off of Aesop's tales.  La Fontaine also took it a step further and used his fables as characterizations of the French ruling class and religious leaders of his time.  Many of his allusions are lost to us and not known.

J.J. Grandville was another Frenchmen who liked to poke stabs at those in charge and used many of his drawings as politically commentary of his time.  His illustrations are entertaining and full of wit even to this day.

The Eagle and the Magpie

(Recueil 3, Livre 12, Fable 11)

The eagle, through the air a queen,

And one far different, I believe,

In temper, language, thought, and mien,

The magpie, once a prairie crossed.

The by path where they met was drear,

And Madge gave up herself for lost;

But having dined on ample cheer,

The eagle bade her, "Never fear;

You're welcome to my company;

For if the king of gods can be

Full often in need of recreation,

Who rules the world, right well may I,

Who serve him in that high relation:

Amuse me, then, before you fly."

Our cackler, pleased, at quickest rate

Of this and that began to prate.

Not he of whom old Flaccus writes,

The most impertinent of wights,

Or any babbler, for that matter,

Could more incontinently chatter.

At last she offered to make known

A better spy had never flown

All things, whatever she might see,

In travelling from tree to tree.

But, with her offer little pleased

Nay, gathering wrath at being teased,

For such a purpose, never rove,

Replied the impatient bird of Jove.

"Adieu, my cackling friend, adieu;

My court is not the place for you:

Heaven keep it free from such a bore!"

Madge flapped her wings, and said no more.

It's far less easy than it seems

An entrance to the great to gain.

The honour often has cost extremes

Of mortal pain.

The craft of spies, the tattling art,

And looks more gracious than the heart,

Are odious there;

But still, if one would meet success,

Of different parishes the dress

He, like the pie, must wear.

Jean de La Fontaine

Book 12, Fable 11

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The Eagle and The Magpie on ArtFire

The Eagle and The MagPie on Etsy