Back in 1965 I was a summer student of the Foreign Language League school held at the Universitie de Reims. I was there to gain more knowledge of the French Language, alas that probably did not happen.
Our class was
held in a large hall where classes were conducted in mass.
The one thing I
remember was he had to memorize a French poem, “Le Loup and l’agneau by Jean de
La Fontaine. Sadly as the decades passed the poem was lost in my memory,
however I still recall the opening lines.
La raison du plus fort est toujours la
meilleure
Nous l’allons montrer tout à l’heure.
One translation
might be:
The reason of those best able
to have their way is always the best:
Looking at the
prime meaning is something like this.
“In a debate or conflict, the winner is always the one
who, by nature, is the strongest: whatever the merits of his opponent's
arguments, he will get the better of him and will achieve his ends. This
proverb implies a "natural" law with which justice has little to
do. Its use, most often full of irony,
can reach cynicism. In modern societies, the meaning of "stronger"
must now be understood as "more competent", "richer" or
"more influential". We then move away from the notion of physical
strength.”
My suggestion is
does this thought drive you?
Is this really
the way one should live their life?
Jean de La Fontaine
La raison du plus fort est
toujours la meilleure :
Nous l’allons montrer tout à l’heure.
Un Agneau se désaltérait
Dans le courant d’une onde pure.
Un Loup survient à jeun qui cherchait aventure,
Et que la faim en ces lieux attirait.
Qui te rend si hardi de troubler mon breuvage ?
Dit cet animal plein de rage :
Tu seras châtié de ta témérité.
– Sire, répond l’Agneau, que votre Majesté
Ne se mette pas en colère ;
Mais plutôt qu’elle considère
Que je me vas désaltérant
Dans le courant,
Plus de vingt pas au-dessous d’Elle,
Et que par conséquent, en aucune façon,
Je ne puis troubler sa boisson.
– Tu la troubles, reprit cette bête cruelle,
Et je sais que de moi tu médis l’an passé.
– Comment l’aurais-je fait si je n’étais pas né ?
Reprit l’Agneau, je tette encor ma mère.
– Si ce n’est toi, c’est donc ton frère.
– Je n’en ai point.
– C’est donc quelqu’un des tiens :
Car vous ne m’épargnez guère,
Vous, vos bergers, et vos chiens.
On me l’a dit : il faut que je me venge.
Là-dessus, au fond des forêts
Le Loup l’emporte, et puis le mange,
Sans autre forme de procès.
Jean de La Fontaine
The Wolf and the
Lamb
The
reason of those best able
to
have their way is always the best:
We now show how this is true.
A lamb was quenching its thirst
In the water of a pure stream.
A fasting wolf came by, looking for something;
He was attracted by hunger to this place.
- What makes you so bold as to meddle with my drinking?
Said this animal, very angry.
You will be punished for your boldness.
- Sir, answered the lamb, let Your Majesty
Not put himself into a rage;
But rather, let him consider
That I am taking a drink of water
In the stream
More than twenty steps below him;
And that, consequently, in no way,
Am I troubling his supply.
- You do trouble it, answered the cruel beast.
And I know you said bad things of me last year.
- How could I do that when I wasn't born,
Answered the lamb; I am still at my mother's breast.
- If it wasn't you, then it was your brother.
- I haven't a brother. - It was then someone close to you;
For you have no sympathy for me,
You, your shepherds and your dogs.
I have been told of this: I have to make things even.
Saying this, into the woods
The wolf carries the lamb, and then eats him
Without any other why or wherefore.
