The moralising wolf
A fable by Voltaire and its English translation by SC
Voltaire was, arguably the greatest French thinker who ever lived. He was a leading figure of the Enlightenment. A philosopher, dramatist, polemicist, scientist, novelist, campaigner, a Renaissance man, he also wrote poetry. He was born François-Marie Arouet, in 1694, and took the name Voltaire.
His erudition and wisdom were known and admired throughout Europe. He was invited to live in Frederick of Prussia’s Rheinsberg Palace, where the monarch became his pupil. He was a crusader against injustice and tyranny. He wrote about civil liberties, against religious dogma. His drama Candide is still performed all over the world, with an opera by Bernstein. One of the most quoted lines: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it, comes from Voltaire.
Le loup moraliste
Un loup, à ce que dit l’histoire,
Voulut donner un jour des leçons à son fils,
Et lui graver dans la mémoire,
Pour être honnête loup, de beaux et bons avis.
« Mon fils, lui disait-il, dans ce désert sauvage,
A l’ombre des forêts vous passez vos jours ;
Vous pourrez cependant avec de petits ours
Goûter les doux plaisirs qu’on permet à votre âge.
Contentez-vous du peu que j’amasse pour vous,
Point de larcin : menez une innocente vie ;
Point de mauvaise compagnie ;
Choisissez pour amis les plus honnêtes loups ;
Ne vous démentez point, soyez toujours le même ;
Ne satisfaites point vos appétits gloutons :
Mon fils, jeûnez plutôt l’avent et le carême,
Que de sucer le sang des malheureux moutons ;
Car enfin, quelle barbarie,
Quels crimes ont commis ces innocents agneaux ?
Au reste, vous savez qu’il y va de la vie :
D’énormes chiens défendent les troupeaux.
Hélas ! Je m’en souviens, un jour votre grand-père
Pour apaiser sa faim entra dans un hameau.
Dès qu’on s’en aperçut : O bête carnassière !
Au loup ! s’écria-t-on ; l’un s’arme d’un hoyau,
L’autre prend une fourche ; et mon père eût beau faire,
Hélas ! Il y laissa sa peau :
De sa témérité ce fut le salaire.
Sois sage à ses dépens, ne suis que la vertu,
Et ne sois point battant, de peur d’être battu.
Si tu m’aimes, déteste un crime que j’abhorre. »
Le petit vit alors dans la gueule du loup
De la laine, et du sang qui dégouttait encore :
Il se mit à rire à ce coup.
« Comment, petit fripon, dit le loup en colère,
Comment, vous riez des avis
Que vous donne ici votre père ?
Tu seras un vaurien, va, je te le prédis :
Quoi ! Se moquer déjà d’un conseil salutaire ! »
L’autre répondit en riant :
« Votre exemple est un bon garant ;
Mon père, je ferai ce que je vous vois faire. »
Tel un prédicateur sortant d’un bon repas
Monte dévotement en chaire,
Et vient, bien fourré, gros et gras,
Prêcher contre la bonne chère.
The moralising wolf
(Translated by S.C)
A certain wolf according to history
Wanted to preach a lesson
To his son
That would be engraved in his memory
On how to be an honest and worthy lupine
“Son,” he said, in this, pitiless clime
In this dark forest where you spend your time
It’s right to share with the little bears
The simple pleasures fit for those of your years.
Be satisfied
With what little I can provide
Commit not larceny,
Lead a life sinless
Avoid bad company
Pick your friends among cubs
From the clubs
Of the blameless
Act sanely, whatever you do,
To yourself be true
Do not be needy
Rein in your instincts greedy
It’s better to fast Advent
And Lent
Rather than suck the blood of unhappy ovines
What barbarity what cruelty
Of what are those little lambs guilty?
Beware of putting your life on the line
These flocks are protected by fierce and massive canines.
Remember what happened to your grandsire
Who to feed his greed once burst into a hamlet
In search of a juicy lamb cutlet
Causing great commotion and greater ire
Everybody was crying wolf, one grabbed a hoe
Another a fork, and my dear old dad , Oh woe!
Fought like hell
But alas to his death he fell
That was the price he paid for his temerity.
Be good, with virtue your lodestar, to honour his memory
Beat not lest thou art beaten
Or eat no lest thou art eaten
If you honour me, hate the crimes I abhor.
The cub saw
In his dad’s maw
Wool dripping with sheep’s gore
He burst out laughing
And cackled some more
“You little rascal,” the wolf said angrily
How dare you make fun of the homily
That your father is preaching?
I fear,
You’ll end up a good-for-nothing
I swear.
How dare you mock such sensible advising?”
The little one answered with more deriding;
“Your words, sire, I’ll set aside
Your example will be an excellent guide
Dear father, I will do what I need to do.”
Like a preacher climbing in his pulpit
With a clear remit
From Deuteronomy
After having gorged
Himself and over-indulged
To sermonize against gluttony
