The Swan and the Cook
Fable de Jean de la Fontaine
 Fables of la Fontaine > Book III > The Swan and the Cook |
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| The pleasures of a poultry yard Were by a swan and gosling shared. The swan was kept there for his looks, The thrifty gosling for the cooks; The first the garden's pride, the latter A greater favourite on the platter. They swam the ditches, side by side, And often in sports aquatic vied, Plunging, splashing far and wide, With rivalry never satisfied. One day the cook, named Thirsty John, Sent for the gosling, took the swan, In haste his throat to cut, And put him in the pot. The bird's complaint resounded In glorious melody; Whereat the cook, astounded His sad mistake to see, Cried, "What! make soup of a musician! Please God, I'll never set such dish on. No, no; I'll never cut a throat That sings so sweet a note." It's thus, whatever peril may alarm us, Sweet words will never harm us. |
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