by Jean de La Fontaine (1621 - 1695)
Translation © by Grant Hicks

Le loup et l'agneau
Language: French (Français) 
Our translations:  ENG ENG
La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure :
        Nous l'allons montrer tout à l'heure.

        Un agneau se désaltérait
        Dans le courant d'une onde pure.
Un loup survint à jeun, qui cherchait aventure,
    Et que la faim en ces lieux attirait.
Qui te rend si hardi de troubler mon breuvage ?
        Dit cet animal plein de rage :
Tu seras châtié de ta témérité.
Sire, répond l'agneau, que Votre Majesté
        Ne se mette pas en colère ;
        Mais plutôt qu'elle considère
        Que je me vas désaltérant
                Dans le courant,
        Plus de vingt pas au-dessous d'elle ;
Et que, par conséquent, en aucune façon
        Je ne puis troubler sa boisson.
Tu la troubles ! reprit cette bête cruelle ;
Et je sais que de moi tu médis l'an passé.
Comment l'aurais-je fait, si je n'étais pas né ?
    Reprit l'agneau : je tette encore ma mère. --
        Si ce n'est toi, c'est donc ton frère. --
    Je n'en ai point. -- C'est donc quelqu'un des tiens ;
        Car vous ne m'épargnez guère,
        Vous, vos bergers et vos chiens.
    On me l'a dit : il faut que je me venge.
        Là-dessus, au fond des forêts
        Le loup l'emporte, et puis le mange,
        Sans autre forme de procès.

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (David Jonathan Justman) , "The wolf and the lamb", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Grant Hicks) , "The Wolf and the Lamb", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 29
Word count: 192

The Wolf and the Lamb
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
The argument of the strongest is always the best:
        We will demonstrate this right away.

        A lamb was quenching its thirst
        In the current of a pure stream.
A wolf arrived with an empty stomach, seeking adventure,
    And drawn to that area by hunger.
"What makes you so bold as to foul my drink?"
        Said that animal, full of rage:
"You will be punished for your effrontery."
"Sire," replied the lamb, "let Your Majesty 
        Not be moved to anger,
        But rather let him consider 
        That I came to quench my thirst 
                In the current
        More than twenty paces downstream;
And that as a result there is no way
         That I could foul his drink.
"You are fouling it!" replied that cruel beast,
"And I know that you spoke ill of me last year."
"How could I have done that, if I wasn't yet born?"
    Replied the lamb: "I'm still suckling my mother."
        "If it wasn't you, then it was your brother."
    "I have none." "Then it was someone of yours;
        For you hardly leave me alone,
        You, your shepherds and your dogs.
    I've been told: I must have my revenge."
        Thereupon, deep into the forest
        The wolf took the lamb, and then ate it,
        Without any further disputation.

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.
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This text was added to the website: 2025-09-08
Line count: 29
Word count: 208