Wednesday, October 20, 2010

La Fontaine: The Mountain in Labour

A mountain was in travail pang;
The country with her clamour rang.
Out ran the people all, to see,
Supposing that the birth would be
A city, or at least a house.
It was a mouse!

In thinking of this fable,
Of story feign'd and false,
But meaning veritable,
My mind the image calls
Of one who writes, "The war I sing
Which Titans waged against the Thunder-king."
As on the sounding verses ring,
What will be brought to birth?
Why, dearth.


Source: Wright's translation of La Fontaine, Fable 5.10.
Mons Parturiens (2)

Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the Heighway images. Notice that in the illustration there is a nice modern touch: people have money in hand to pay for the latest newspaper!

M0214 Perry520

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