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Mortellement atteint d'une flèche empennée, Un Oiseau déplorait sa triste destinée, Et disait, en souffrant un surcroît de douleur : Faut-il contribuer à son propre malheur ? Cruels humains, vous tirez de nos ailes De quoi faire voler ces machines mortelles. Mais ne vous moquez point, engeance sans pitié : Souvent il vous arrive un sort comme le nôtre. Des enfants de Japet toujours une moitié Fournira des armes à l'autre.
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Confirmed with Œuvres complètes de Jean de La Fontaine, Paris: Didot, 1837, Page 21.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
This text was added to the website: 2010-08-05
Line count: 10
Word count: 68
Mortally struck by a feathered arrow, A bird bewailed her dismal fate, And said, suffering an access of pain, "Must one contribute to one's own misfortune? Cruel humans, you pluck from our wings That which will make your fatal device fly. But do not laugh, you pitiless rabble: You often suffer a fate like ours. Half of Japheth's children will always Furnish weapons to the other half."
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"L'oiseau blessé d'une flèche" = "The Bird Wounded by an Arrow"
"Oiseau blessé d'une flèche" = "Bird Wounded by an Arrow"
Text Authorship:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2025-09-07
Line count: 10
Word count: 67
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