O.Wilde, Preface to 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'

The artist is the creator of beautiful things. (...)
Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.
Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.
They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty.
There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all. (...)

No artist is ever morbid. The artist can express everything. (...)
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril.
Those who read the symbol do so at their peril.
It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.
Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital.
When critics disagree the artist is in accord with himself...


O. Wilde (1854-1900),
Preface to 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'


Showing posts with label Jean de La Fontaine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jean de La Fontaine. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Jean de La Fontaine, Le Loup et la Cicogne

Jean de La Fontaine                                       

1621 – 1695

Poète    (& moraliste, dramaturge,
librettiste et romancier)  français
de la période classique





Jean de la Fontaine  -  Fables
[ LIVRE TROISIÈME ]

 Le Loup et la Cicogne.


IX.
 

Les Loups mangent gloutonnement.
Un Loup donc eſtant de frairie,
Se preſſa, dit-on, tellement,
Qu’il en penſa perdre la vie.
Un os luy demeura bien avant au goſier.
De bonheur pour ce Loup, qui ne pouvoit crier,
    Prés de là paſſe une Cicogne.
    Il luy fait ſigne, elle accourt.
Voila l’Operatrice auſſi-toſt en beſogne.
Elle retira l’os ; puis pour un ſi bon tour
    Elle demanda ſon ſalaire.
    Voſtre ſalaire ? dit le Loup,
    Vous riez, ma bonne comere.
    Quoy, ce n’eſt pas encor beaucoup
D’avoir de mon goſier retiré voſtre cou ?
    Allez, vous eſtes une ingrate ;
    Ne tombez jamais ſous ma patte.


Les loups mangent gloutonnement.
            Un loup donc étant de frairie
            Se pressa, dit-on, tellement
            Qu'il en pensa perdre la vie.
Un os lui demeura bien avant au gosier. 
De bonheur pour ce loup, qui ne pouvait crier, 
            Près de là passe une cigogne. 
            Il lui fait signe; elle accourt. 
Voilà l'opératrice aussitôt en besogne. 
Elle retira l'os; puis, pour un si bon tour, 
            Elle demanda son salaire. 
            «Votre salaire? dit le loup: 
            Vous riez, ma bonne commère!
            Quoi! Ce n'est pas encor beaucoup 
D'avoir de mon gosier retiré votre cou?
            Allez, vous êtes une ingrate;
            Ne tombez jamais sous ma patte.»


 
Pour cette fable,
la Fontaine s'est inspiré d'Ésope "Le loup et le héron",
repris par Phèdre dans "Le loup et la grue".


Jean de La Fontaine, Il Lupo e la Cicogna

Jean de La Fontaine                                        

1621 – 1695

Scrittore e poeta francese,
autore di celebri favole
con intenti moralistici





 
Il Lupo e la Cicogna.


I Lupi sono bestie che, si sa,
mangian sempre con grande avidità.
Un giorno uno di questi in compagnia,
per ghiottornia mangiando a più non posso,
gli cadde in gola un osso.

Con quell’affar confitto in mezzo all’ugola
che strozza la parola,
sarìa morto, se a trarglielo di gola,
una Cicogna pia
col becco non venìa.

Con colpo veramente da cerusico
il Lupo liberò.
Quindi la buona grazia
per sé gli dimandò.

- Tu scherzi, - disse il Lupo, - anzi ringrazia
i morti tuoi parenti,
se il collo t’ho lasciato uscir dai denti.
Vattene, o scellerata,
impara ad esser grata, e prega i santi
di non tornar agli occhi miei davanti -.



 

Jean de La Fontaine, The Wolf and the Stork

Jean de La Fontaine                                            

1621 – 1695

Famous French fabulist and poet








The Wolf and the Stork.
 

The wolves are prone to play the glutton.
One, at a certain feast, 'tis said,
So stuff'd himself with lamb and mutton,
He seem'd but little short of dead.
Deep in his throat a bone stuck fast.
Well for this wolf, who could not speak,
That soon a stork quite near him pass'd.
By signs invited, with her beak
The bone she drew
With slight ado,
And for this skilful surgery
Demanded, modestly, her fee.
'Your fee!' replied the wolf,
In accents rather gruff;
'And is it not enough
Your neck is safe from such a gulf?
Go, for a wretch ingrate,
Nor tempt again your fate!'