Folk Tale

The Frog and Ox

Translated From

La Grenouille qui veut se faire aussi grosse que le Boeuf

AuthorJean de La Fontaine
Book TitleFables Choisies
Publication Date1668
LanguageFrench

Other Translations / Adaptations

Text titleLanguageAuthorPublication Date
Der Frosch, der so groß werden wollte wie der StierGerman__
La rana e il bueItalianEmilio De Marchi_
A Rã que queria ser grande como o BoiPortuguese__
Li rinne ki s' vout fé ossu grosse ki l' toreaWalloonFrançois Bailleux_
Ighela idia bezain handi jin nahidenaBasqueJean Baptiste Arxu1848
Sa rana ei su boeSardinianSalvatore Patatu2000
La Granota i el BouCatalan__
AuthorRobert Thomson
LanguageEnglish
OriginFrance

A frog an ox with envy saw, Admired his wondrous size, Staring with both her little eyes. And murmuring at Nature's law, Thought fit for larger bulk to beg, Herself no bigger than an egg ; She laboured, stretched, began to swell, “ Sister, ” she said, “ now mark me well, Is that enough ?—tell me—may I compare ? ” “ No, faith ; ”—“ look flow ? ” “ Not in the least ”—“ then there ? ” “ You don't approach it, sister. ” . . . “ Then here goes !” So swelled the silly thing, and burst amidst her throes. Of just such fools, the world enough affords, Cits buy and build to copy dukes and lords ; Each petty prince a monarch’s pomp assumes, Each count has pages strutting round his rooms.


Text view