×
Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
by Jean de La Fontaine (1621 - 1695)
Translation © by Grant Hicks
Le lion et le rat
Language: French (Français)
Our translations: ENG
Il faut, autant qu'on peut, obliger tout le monde : On a souvent besoin d'un plus petit que soi. De cette vérité deux Fables feront foi, Tant la chose en preuves abonde. Entre les pattes d'un Lion Un Rat sortit de terre assez à l'étourdie. Le Roi des animaux, en cette occasion, Montra ce qu'il était, et lui donna la vie. Ce bienfait ne fut pas perdu. Quelqu'un aurait-il jamais cru Qu'un Lion d'un Rat eût affaire ? Cependant il advint qu'au sortir des forêts Ce Lion fut pris dans des rets, Dont ses rugissements ne le purent défaire. Sire Rat accourut, et fit tant par ses dents Qu'une maille rongée emporta tout l'ouvrage. Patience et longueur de temps Font plus que force ni que rage.
Text Authorship:
- by Jean de La Fontaine (1621 - 1695), "Le lion et le rat", written 1668, appears in Fables [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Paul Bonneau (1918 - 1995), "Le lion et le rat", published 1952 [ medium voice and piano ], from Fables de La Fontaine I, no. 5, Éd. Lido Mélodies [sung text not yet checked]
- by Melchior Alexandre Bruneau (1823 - 1898), "Le lion et le rat", op. 377 no. 9 (1879) [ medium voice and piano or harmonium ], from 25 fables de La Fontaine, no. 9 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Étienne Rey (1832 - 1923), "Le Lion et le Rat", published [1876] [ medium voice and piano ], from Six Fables de La Fontaine et de Florian, 2ème recueil, no. 4, Paris, Éd. Léon Escudier [sung text not yet checked]
- by Guido Spinetti (1850 - 1931), "Le lion et le rat", published 1900 [ voice and piano ], from 5 Fables de La Fontaine, no. 4, Paris: A. Quinzard [sung text not yet checked]
- by Nancy Ellen Telfer (b. 1950), "Le lion et le rat", 1990 [ children's chorus and piano ], from Trois chansons pour enfants, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Grant Hicks) , "The Lion and the Rat", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-03
Line count: 18
Word count: 124
The Lion and the Rat
Language: English after the French (Français)
One should, as much as one can, oblige everyone: One often has need of someone lesser than oneself. Two fables bear witness to this truth, So much does the matter abound in proofs. Between the paws of a lion A rat emerged from the ground quite in a daze. The King of Beasts, on this occasion, Showed his true character, and spared his life. This kindness was not wasted. Would anyone ever have thought That a lion had need of a rat? Nevertheless it happened that when leaving the forest This lion was caught by snares, From which his roaring could not free him. Sir Rat came running, and made such use of his teeth That one gnawed stitch disposed of the whole affair. Patience and length of time Achieve more than force or rage.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Jean de La Fontaine (1621 - 1695), "Le lion et le rat", written 1668, appears in Fables
This text was added to the website: 2025-09-09
Line count: 18
Word count: 135