Author: Jean de La Fontaine

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[1]

     A fable flourished with antiquity
     Whose meaning I could never clearly see.
     Kind reader, draw the moral if you're able:
     I give you here the naked fable.
     Fame having bruited that a great commander,
     A son of Jove, a certain Alexander,
     Resolved to leave nought free on this our ball,
     Had to his footstool gravely summon'd all
     Men, quadrupeds, and nullipeds, together
     With all the bird-republics, every feather, - 
     The goddess of the hundred mouths, I say,
     Thus having spread dismay,
     By widely publishing abroad
     This mandate of the demigod,
     The animals, and all that do obey
     Their appetite alone, mistrusted now
     That to another sceptre they must bow.
     Far in the desert met their various races,
     All gathering from their hiding-places.
     Discuss'd was many a notion.
     At last, it was resolved, on motion,
     To pacify the conquering banner,
     By sending homage in, and tribute.
     With both the homage and its manner
     They charged the monkey, as a glib brute;
     And, lest the chap should too much chatter,
     In black on white they wrote the matter.
     Nought but the tribute served to fash,
     As that must needs be paid in cash.
     A prince, who chanced a mine to own,
     At last, obliged them with a loan.
     The mule and ass, to bear the treasure,
     Their service tender'd, full of pleasure;
     And then the caravan was none the worse,
     Assisted by the camel and the horse.
     Forthwith proceeded all the four
     Behind the new ambassador,
     And saw, erelong, within a narrow place,
     Monseigneur Lion's quite unwelcome face.
     'Well met, and all in time,' said he;
     'Myself your fellow traveller will be.
     I wend my tribute by itself to bear;
     And though 'tis light, I well might spare
     The unaccustom'd load.
     Take each a quarter, if you please,
     And I will guard you on the road;
     More free and at my ease - 
     In better plight, you understand,
     To fight with any robber band.'
     A lion to refuse, the fact is,
     Is not a very usual practice:
     So in he comes, for better and for worse;
     Whatever he demands is done,
     And, spite of Jove's heroic son,
     He fattens freely from the public purse.
     While wending on their way,
     They found a spot one day,
     With waters hemm'd, of crystal sheen;
     Its carpet, flower-besprinkled green;
     Where pastured at their ease
     Both flocks of sheep and dainty heifers,
     And play'd the cooling breeze - 
     The native land of all the zephyrs.
     No sooner is the lion there
     Than of some sickness he complains.
     Says he, 'You on your mission fare.
     A fever, with its thirst and pains,
     Dries up my blood, and bakes my brains;
     And I must search some herb,
     Its fatal power to curb.
     For you, there is no time to waste;
     Pay me my money, and make haste.'
     The treasures were unbound,
     And placed upon the ground.
     Then, with a look which testified
     His royal joy, the lion cried,
     'My coins, good heavens, have multiplied!
     And see the young ones of the gold
     As big already as the old!
     The increase belongs to me, no doubt;'
     And eagerly he took it out!
     'Twas little staid beneath the lid;
     The wonder was that any did.
     Confounded were the monkey and his suite.
     And, dumb with fear, betook them to their way,
     And bore complaint to Jove's great son, they say - 
     Complaint without a reason meet;
     For what could he? Though a celestial scion,
     He could but fight, as lion versus lion.

     When corsairs battle, Turk with Turk,
     They're not about their proper work.

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Type of Poem: Fable

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: The poem unfolds as a narrative fable, with a classical tone reminiscent of Aesop's tales. The main themes include power, obedience, deception, and the abuse of authority. The piece is rich in allegory, with animals representing different types of characters or societal roles. The lion, a symbol of power, exploits his status to deceive and dominate, and the other animals' obedience underscores their fear and submission.

The structure of the poem is clear and linear, with a consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme that lend a certain formality to the narrative. This formal structure helps ground the fantastical elements and highlights the universality of the story's moral message. The poet's use of antiquated language and classical references imbues the piece with a sense of timelessness, suggesting that the issues addressed are perennial.

The poem is also notable for its use of imagery and metaphor. For example, the lion's claim of his coins multiplying serves as a metaphor for the abuse of power and the exploitation of others' resources. Similarly, the description of the peaceful pasture that the animals encounter illustrates the deceptive nature of appearances, foreshadowing the lion's betrayal. Overall, the poem offers a poignant critique of power dynamics and the consequences of blind obedience, wrapped in a vivid and engaging animal fable.