La Cigale et la Fourmi : You were singing, I'm so glad... Well, dance now! [#4]

More about La Cigale et la Fourmi : You were singing, I'm so glad... Well, dance now! [#4]

"La Cigale et la Fourmi" Collection is made of:

1. Summer
2. Winter Comes
3. Knocking on the ant's door.
4. You were singing, I'm so glad... Well, dance now!
5. The extra ending (at the "SHELTER for LaFontaine's Fools")

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La Cigale, ayant chanté
Tout l'Été,
Se trouva fort dépourvue
Quand la bise fut venue.
Pas un seul petit morceau
De mouche ou de vermisseau.
Elle alla crier famine
Chez la Fourmi sa voisine,
La priant de lui prêter
Quelque grain pour subsister
Jusqu'à la saison nouvelle.
Je vous paierai, lui dit-elle,
Avant l'Oût, foi d'animal,
Intérêt et principal.
La Fourmi n'est pas prêteuse ;
C'est là son moindre défaut.
« Que faisiez-vous au temps chaud ?
Dit-elle à cette emprunteuse.
— Nuit et jour à tout venant
Je chantais, ne vous déplaise.
— Vous chantiez ? j'en suis fort aise.
Eh bien !dansez maintenant. »

The Cicada, having sung
All summer long,
Found herself quite destitute
When winter came.
Not a single little morsel
Of fly or worm.
She went to cry famine
At the Ant's, her neighbor,
Begged her to lend her
A few grains to subsist
Until the new season.
"I will repay you," she told her,
Before August, on my word as an animal,
Interest and principal.
The Ant is not a lender;
That is her least fault.
"What were you doing in the warm weather?"
She said to this borrower.
"Night and day, to all comers,
I was singing, if you please."
"You were singing? I'm very glad to hear it.
Well then! Dance now."