Social Commentaries

The Sun and the Frogs

by Jean de La Fontaine 1621–1695

Translated by Walter Thornbury (1886) · From Fables (1668–1694)

Social Commentaries

A Monarch's wedding gave his people up,
The whole day long, to dances and the cup;
But Æsop found their doings in bad taste,
And thought their joy decidedly misplaced.

"The Sun," said he, "once thought about a wife,
And fancied he could shine in married life;
But instantly there came petitions loud
From all the Frogs on earth--a noisy crowd.
'Suppose,' they said, 'the Queen should be prolific,
Our situation will become terrific.
A single sun is quite enough to bear;
The little ones will drive us to despair.
Parched as we are, in sultry summer weather,
The extra heat will roast us altogether.
Let us entreat your mercy on our race;
The river Styx is not a pleasant place!'"

Considering that Frogs are very small,
I think the argument not bad at all.

MLA

La Fontaine, Jean de. “The Sun and the Frogs.” Translated by Walter Thornbury. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/la-fontaine/117/.

Chicago

La Fontaine, Jean de. “The Sun and the Frogs.” Translated by Walter Thornbury. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/la-fontaine/117/.

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