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The Dog and its Shadow
The Dog and its Shadow
A fable from La Fontaine who borrowed it from Aesop, who in turn got the inspiration from Hindu or Arabic tales. The illustration is by Halila and Dimna, Arab artists of the thirteenh century. I have here a copy of La Fontaine’s version and my translation in English.
Mankind is always to no avail
running after some holy grail
most of the time they don’t know
they’re only chasing their own shadow.
.
Aesop once told of a dog
bearing a bone from some hog
as he crossed the river
acting like a mirror
he caught sight of a bigger bone
so he dropped his one
and plunged right in
and came back up with not a thing
Le Chien et son Ombre
de Jean La Fontaine
Chacun se trompe ici-bas.
On voit courir après l’ombre
Tant de fous qu’on n’en sait pas
La plupart du temps le nombre.
Au chien dont parle Ésope il faut les renvoyer.
Ce Chien, voyant sa proie en l’eau représentée,
La quitta pour l’image, et pensa se noyer ;
La rivière devint tout d’un coup agitée.
À toute peine il regagna les bords,
Et n’eut ni l’ombre ni le corps.
