Folk Tale

The Cicada and the Ant

Translated From

La Cigale et la Fourmi

AuthorJean de La Fontaine
Book TitleFables Choisies
Publication Date1668
LanguageFrench

Other Translations / Adaptations

Text titleLanguageAuthorPublication Date
De krekel en de mierDutch__
Die Grille und die AmeiseGerman__
La cicala e la formicaItalian__
A cigarra e a formigaPortugueseManuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage _
La cigarra y la hormigaSpanish__
The Grasshopper and the AntEnglishRobert Thomson_
Konik polny i mrówkaPolishWładysław Noskowski_
Sa chigula ei sa frommigulaSardinianSalvatore Patatu2000
Ẓdeč d tweṭṭuftTamazightLounès Amziane_
Gjinkalla dhe MilingonaAlbanian__
Ağustos Böceği İle KarıncaTurkish__
Te perete'i e te rôTahitian__
La Cigala i la FormigaCatalanXavier Benguerel_
A tücsök meg a hangyaHungarianDezső Kosztolányi_
AuthorNorman B. Spector
Book TitleThe complete fables of Jean de la Fontaine
Publication Date1988
ATU280A
LanguageEnglish
OriginFrance

The Cicada, having sung All summer long, Found herself wanting When the north wind came. Not a single morsel Of fly or tiny worm. She went begging for food To her neighbour the Ant, Asking her to lend her Just a few grains to get by Until the next season. "I will pay you back, she said, Before August, animal's honor, Interest and principal." The Ant is no lender: This is the least of her faults. "What were you doing during the warm days? She said to this borrower. --Night and day no matter what I was singing, like it or not. --You were singing? I'm very glad: Very well, start dancing now."


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