Le Coche et la Mouche.

 

Dans un chemin montant, sablonneux, malaisé,
Et de tous les côtés au Soleil exposé,
Six forts chevaux tiraient un Coche.
Femmes, Moine, vieillards, tout était descendu.
L'attelage suait, soufflait, était rendu.
Une Mouche survient, et des chevaux s'approche ;
Prétend les animer par son bourdonnement ;
Pique l'un, pique l'autre, et pense à tout moment
Qu'elle fait aller la machine,
S'assied sur le timon, sur le nez du Cocher ;
Aussitôt que le char chemine,
Et qu'elle voit les gens marcher,
Elle s'en attribue uniquement la gloire ;
Va, vient, fait l'empressée ; il semble que ce soit
Un Sergent de bataille allant en chaque endroit
Faire avancer ses gens, et hâter la victoire.
La Mouche en ce commun besoin
Se plaint qu'elle agit seule, et qu'elle a tout le soin ;
Qu'aucun n'aide aux chevaux à se tirer d'affaire.
Le Moine disait son Bréviaire ;
Il prenait bien son temps ! une femme chantait ;
C'était bien de chansons qu'alors il s'agissait !
Dame Mouche s'en va chanter à leurs oreilles,
Et fait cent sottises pareilles.
Après bien du travail le Coche arrive au haut.
Respirons maintenant, dit la Mouche aussitôt :
J'ai tant fait que nos gens sont enfin dans la plaine.
Ca, Messieurs les Chevaux, payez-moi de ma peine.
Ainsi certaines gens, faisant les empressés,
S'introduisent dans les affaires :
Ils font partout les nécessaires,
Et, partout importuns, devraient être chassés.

The Coach and the Fly. (13)

 

Upon a sandy, uphill road,
Which naked in the sunshine glow'd,
Six lusty horses drew a coach.
Dames, monks, and invalids, its load,
On foot, outside, at leisure trode.
The team, all weary, stopp'd and blow'd:
Whereon there did a fly approach,
And, with a vastly business air.
Cheer'd up the horses with his buzz,--
Now pricked them here, now prick'd them there,
As neatly as a jockey does,--
And thought the while--he knew 'twas so--
He made the team and carriage go,--
On carriage-pole sometimes alighting--
Or driver's nose--and biting.
And when the whole did get in motion,
Confirm'd and settled in the notion,
He took, himself, the total glory,--
Flew back and forth in wondrous hurry,
And, as he buzz'd about the cattle,
Seem'd like a sergeant in a battle,
The files and squadrons leading on
To where the victory is won.
Thus charged with all the commonweal,
This single fly began to feel
Responsibility too great,
And cares, a grievous crushing weight;
And made complaint that none would aid
The horses up the tedious hill--
The monk his prayers at leisure said--
Fine time to pray!--the dames, at will,
Were singing songs--not greatly needed!
Thus in their ears he sharply sang,
And notes of indignation ran,--
Notes, after all, not greatly heeded.
Erelong the coach was on the top:
'Now,' said the fly, 'my hearties, stop
And breathe;--I've got you up the hill;
And Messrs. Horses, let me say,
I need not ask you if you will
A proper compensation pay.'

Thus certain ever-bustling noddies
Are seen in every great affair;
Important, swelling, busy-bodies,
And bores 'tis easier to bear
Than chase them from their needless care

.

[13] Aesop; also Phaedrus, III., 6.

La Carrozza e la Mosca.

 

Per una strada lunga, erta, sassosa
e tortuosa, esposta a pieno sole,
sei robusti cavalli ivano a stento,
tirando una Carrozza. La pietosa
gente era scesa, vecchi, donne e frati:
e i cavalli sudati
e trafelati
eran lì lì per cedere,
quando arriva una Mosca, che volando,
punzecchiando, e di qua, di là ronzando,
pensa che tocchi a lei spinger la macchina.
Posa al timone, sulla punta siede
del naso al carrozzier e, quando vede
che la macchina o bene o mal cammina,
si ringalluzza tutta la sciocchina.

Va e viene e si riscalda colla boria
d'un capitan di vaglia,
allor che muove in mezzo a una battaglia
i dispersi soldati alla vittoria.

- E non vi pare indegno, -
pensava quella stolta bestiola, -
che a spingere sia sola,
mentre legge il frataccio in pace santa
il breviario e questa donna canta?
Forse che col cantar si tira il legno? -

Intanto che l'insetto ronza queste
note moleste, il legno arrivò su.
E la Mosca: - Buon Dio, ci siamo alfine
su queste alte colline.
Ehi, signori cavalli, ringraziatemi,
la strada ora va in piano,
non vi rincresca a dar la buonamano -.

Così fanno quei certi faccendoni,
che nelle imprese sembran necessari,
e guastano gli affari - in ogni cosa,
gente importuna, inutile e noiosa.