Jean de la Fontaine — Le Rat De Ville Et Le Rat Des Champs song lyrics and translation
The page contains the lyrics and English translation of the song "Le Rat De Ville Et Le Rat Des Champs" by Jean de la Fontaine.
Lyrics
Le Rat de ville et le Rat des champs
Autrefois le Rat de ville
Invita le Rat des champs,
D’une façon fort civile,
A des reliefs d’ortolans.
Sur un tapis de Turquie
Le couvert se trouva mis:
Je laisse à penser la vie
Que firent ces deux amis.
Le régal fut fort honnête,
Rien ne manquait au festin;
Mais quelqu’un troubla la fête,
Pendant qu’ils étaient en train.
A la porte de la salle
Ils entendirent du bruit;
Le Rat de ville détale,
Son camarade le suit.
Le bruit cesse, on se retire:
Rats en campagne aussitôt;
Et le Citadin de dire:
Achevons tout notre rôt.
C’est assez, dit le Rustique;
Demain vous viendrez chez moi.
Ce n’est pas que je me pique
De tous vos festins de roi;
Mais rien ne vient m’interrompre;
Je mange tout à loisir.
Adieu donc; fi du plaisir
Que la crainte peut corrompre!
Lyrics translation
The city Rat and the field Rat
Once the city Rat
Invite the rat des champs,
In a very civil way,
Has reliefs of ortolans.
On a carpet from Turkey
The cover was put:
I leave to think about life
What did these two friends do.
The treat was very honest,
Nothing was missing at the feast;
But someone messed up the party,
While they were on the train.
At the door of the Hall
They heard noise;
The city Rat detale,
His comrade follows him.
The noise stops, we retreat:
Rats in the field immediately;
And the city dweller to say:
Let's complete our task.
That's enough, says The Rustic;
Tomorrow you will come to my house.
It's not that I get stung
Of all your king feasts;
But nothing comes to interrupt me;
I eat everything at leisure.
Farewell so; fi of fun
That fear can corrupt!