Текст и перевод песни Grégoire - Le lion et le rat

Le lion et le rat

Entre les pattes d′un Lion
Un Rat sortit de terre assez à l'étourdie.
Le Roi des animaux, en cette occasion,
Montra ce qu′il était, et lui donna la vie.
Ce bienfait ne fut pas perdu.
Quelqu'un aurait-il jamais cru
Qu'un Lion d′un Rat eût affaire?
Cependant il advint qu′au sortir des forêts
Le Lion fut pris dans des rets,
Dont ses rugissements ne le purent défaire.
Sire Rat accourut, et fit tant par ses dents
Qu'une maille rongée emporta tout l′ouvrage.
Patience et longueur de temps
Font plus que force ni que rage.

The Lion and the Rat

Between a Lion's paws
A Rat came out of the ground quite recklessly.
The King of the beasts, on this occasion,
Showed what he was, and spared his life.
This good deed was not wasted.
Who would ever have believed
That a Lion would have business with a Rat?
However, it happened that, on leaving the forests
The Lion was caught in some nets,
From which his roars could not free him.
Master Rat came running up, and did so much with his teeth
That a gnawed mesh carried away all the work.
Patience and length of time
Do more than force or rage.