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The Frog and Ox
Title | The Frog and Ox |
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Original Title | La Grenouille qui veut se faire aussi grosse que le Boeuf |
Original Author | Jean de La Fontaine |
Original ID | trans-4037.xml |
Language code | eng |
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.