The two cocks
The two roosters (French Les deux coqs ) is the thirteenth fable in the seventh book of the collection of fables, Fables Choisies, Mises En Vers by Jean de La Fontaine . With the fight between two roosters for a hen, mythological battles are described in a burlesque way. With Helena and Troy , for example, the Iliad and the Trojan War are alluded to, with the red-colored Xanthe, the cockfight .
The moral of the fable makes several statements: the woman is the source of many quarrels, while the men, guided by primary instincts, consider themselves heroes. There is no need to take revenge as nature's course does everything by itself. If you win, it is better to be silent, otherwise you risk reversing the situation.
“Two roosters lived quietly; a hen came along
and a war was about to break out.
Cupid, you are to blame: you destroyed Troy,
that fight has begun about you
the one through the Xantus colored with the blood of the gods.
There was persistent anger in the fight between the two roosters.
Soon it was known all around; hurried over to the theater
the people adorned with combs, and some Helena shared with splendid plumage
as a prize you give what you saw as the winner.
The other crept away to complain lonely
shamefully lost honor and lust for love,
what the opponent, proud of having beaten him,
happy before his eyes. Have to do anew every day
the sight inflames his hatred and courage;
he sharpened his beak and flapped his wings
the air and gathers angrily
get together for a new struggle.
Not necessary! The winner sits cheekily on roofs to sunbathe in glory.
A vulture noticed him, and now honor and delights of love are over!
The vulture's claw puts an 'end' to the cheeky action.
Fate's treachery now wanted
mate the survivor of the hen again,
and again he courted her -
for the clapping, what a substance!
For he already had women in droves.
So fate likes to play with us in arrogance:
The victor's fall has often begun with arrogance.
We mistrust luck and be on our guard,
especially if we won a battle! "
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jean de La Fontaine : Fables Choisies, Mises En Vers. Pp. 30–32 , accessed on January 13, 2020 (French).
- ↑ Les deux coqs - Jean de la Fontaine - Les Fables. Retrieved January 13, 2020 .
- ↑ https://digital.blb-karlsruhe.de/blbihd/content/pageview/5201574 p. 42