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_
TitleThe Cicada and the Ant
Original TitleLa Cigale et la Fourmi
Original AuthorJean de La Fontaine
Original IDtrans-4034.xml
Book AuthorNorman B. Spector
Language codeeng

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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