ELVE : travailler avec des histoires, des contes, des fables. publié le 20/08/2008
The Raven and the Fox
by Aesop
A crow was sitting on a branch of a tree with a piece of cheese in her beak when a Fox observed her and set his wits to work to discover some way of getting the cheese.
Coming and standing under the tree he looked up and said, "What a noble bird I see above me ! Her beauty is without equal, the hue of her plumage exquisite. If only her voice is as sweet as her looks are fair, she ought without doubt to be Queen of the Birds."
The Crow was hugely flattered by this, and just to show the Fox that she could sing she gave a loud caw. Down came the cheese and the Fox, snatching it up, said, "You have a voice, madam, I see : what you want is wits."
Do not trust flatterers.
The Ant and the Grasshopper.
by Aesop
In a field one summer day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content.
An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way ?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter ?" said the Grasshopper ; we have got plenty of food at present."
But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.
Then the Grasshopper knew : It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
The Hare and the Tortoise.
by Aesop
The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals.
"I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me."
The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."
"That is a good joke," said the Hare ; "I could dance round you all the way."
"Keep your boasting till you’ve beaten," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we race ?"
So a course was fixed and a start was made.
The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap.
The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race.
Then said the Tortoise : "Plodding wins the race."
