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I am looking for a poem by Guy de Maupassant, that I read decades ago in school. I believe it was the Fox and the crow or the crow and the fox. I have tried and tried to find it on the web, but was hoping someone has the literature it is in. The starting lines are
A crow sat perched upon and oak
and in his beak he held a cheese,
a fox snuffed up the savory breeze,
and thus, in honeyed accent spoke...
I know the poem, but not perfectly. I would love to find it. I would appreciate any help
Hej my friend, if im wrong you are talking for the old fable of aesop of ancient greece,and after adapted from the great french writer Jean De La Fontaine :
The Crow and The Fox
Master Crow sat on a tree,
Holding a cheese in his beak.
Master Fox was attracted by the odour,
And tried to attract him thus.
"Mister Crow, good day to you.
You are a handsome and good looking bird!
In truth, if your song is as beautiful as your plumage,
You are the Phoenix of this forest."
Hearing these words the Crow felt great joy,
And to demonstrate his beautiful voice,
He opened his mouth wide and let drop his prey.
The Fox seized it and said: "My good Sir,
Know that every flatterer,
Lives at the expense of those who take him seriously:
This is a lesson that is worth a cheese no doubt."
The Crow, embarrassed and confused,
Swore, though somewhat later, that he would never be
tricked thus again.
Hi new friend. Your poem is similar to mine. I have see it elsewhere on the web, in that particular form. How ever, that poem I am looking for is the same story, yet different words. I wrote the beginning of the poem, and the author, which I believe penned the poem I am reciting, or trying to rather. I read those words in high school and remember them vividly and also the authors name. However, If i was to print it out with a beautiful font and have it framed, I want it to be precise. That is the only reason I look for the literature with that exact poem, worded exactly how I have started. It just brings back nice feelings of being young and able to remember something!! I appreciate you taking the time of informing me of some things I did NOT know about the works of other poems . I love the help. Thanks again.
I don't know if you're still looking but I input the first words " A crow sat perched upon an oak" into a search engine and found the poem in the version you want online as part of a book called World Literature authored by Rebecca D. Alcantara.