Product Description
A setting of the La Fontaine poem La cigale et la fourmi with narrator (in French), clarinet, bassoon and piano
(A version with English narrator is also available on this site)
La cigale, ayant chanté tout lété,
se trouva fort dépourvue
Quand la bise fut venue.
Pas un seul petit morceau
De mouche ou de vermisseau.
Elle alla crier famine
Chez la fourmi sa voisine,
La priant de lui prêter
Quelque grain pour subsister
Jusquà la saison nouvelle.
Je vous paierai,
lui dit elle,
avant laoût,
foi danimal,
Intérêt et principal.
La fourmi nest pas prêteuse;
Cest là son moindre défaut.
Que faisiez vous au temps chaud?
Dit elle à cette emprunteuse
Nuit et jour à tout venant
Je chantais,
ne vous déplaise.
Vous chantiez?
jen suis fort aise.
Eh bien!
dansez maintenant.
English translation by S N Solomons
The Grasshopper in drowsy song
Had spent the pleasant summer long,
And found herself without a crumb
When winters icy blast had come.
Not one small morsel could she spy
Of puny worm or measly fly.
So off she went to cry her want
Straight to her neighbour Madame Ant,
Merely asking for a loan
Of bread or grain to eke her own
Until the plenteous time came round.
Ill pay you back, or Ill be bound
By August, word of animal,
Both interest and principal.
The Ants are not a lending lot
Indeed that is their slightest fault.
What were you doing when twas hot?
She asked this impecunious sort.
To all who came, both day and night
I used to sing at every chance.
You used to sing? Thats fine and right!
Well nows the very time to dance!
©S.N.Solomons
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