Aesop’s Fables, THE EAGLE, THE CAT, AND THE WILD SOW

THE EAGLE, THE CAT, AND THE WILD SOW

An Eagle built her nest at the top of a high tree; a Cat with her family occupied a hollow in the trunk half-way down; and a Wild Sow and her young took up their quarters at the foot. They might have got on very well as neighbours had it not been for the evil cunning of the Cat. Climbing up to the Eagle's nest she said to the Eagle, "You and I are in the greatest possible danger. That dreadful creature, the Sow, who is always to be seen grubbing away at the foot of the tree, means to uproot it, that she may devour your family and mine at her ease." Having thus driven the Eagle almost out of her senses with terror, the Cat climbed down the tree, and said to the Sow, "I must warn you against that dreadful bird, the Eagle. She is only waiting her chance to fly down and carry off one of your little pigs when you take them out, to feed her brood with." She succeeded in frightening the Sow as much as the Eagle. Then she returned to her hole in the trunk, from which, feigning to be afraid, she never came forth by day. Only by night did she creep out unseen to procure food for her kittens. The Eagle, meanwhile was afraid to stir from her nest, and the Sow dared not leave her home among the roots: so that in time both they and their families perished of hunger, and their dead bodies supplied the Cat with ample food for her growing family.

THE EAGLE, THE CAT, AND THE WILD SOW L'AIGLE, LE CHAT ET LA TRUIE SAUVAGE

An Eagle built her nest at the top of a high tree; a Cat with her family occupied a hollow in the trunk half-way down; and a Wild Sow and her young took up their quarters at the foot. Un aigle a construit son nid au sommet d'un arbre élevé ; une chatte et sa famille ont occupé un creux dans le tronc à mi-hauteur ; une truie sauvage et ses petits ont pris leurs quartiers au pied de l'arbre. They might have got on very well as neighbours had it not been for the evil cunning of the Cat. Ils auraient pu très bien s'entendre en tant que voisins sans la ruse maléfique du Chat. Climbing up to the Eagle's nest she said to the Eagle, "You and I are in the greatest possible danger. Grimpant dans le nid de l'aigle, elle lui dit : "Toi et moi, nous courons le plus grand danger. That dreadful creature, the Sow, who is always to be seen grubbing away at the foot of the tree, means to uproot it, that she may devour your family and mine at her ease." Cette affreuse créature, la truie, que l'on voit toujours s'affairer au pied de l'arbre, veut le déraciner pour dévorer à son aise votre famille et la mienne". Having thus driven the Eagle almost out of her senses with terror, the Cat climbed down the tree, and said to the Sow, "I must warn you against that dreadful bird, the Eagle. Après avoir ainsi terrorisé l'aigle, le chat descendit de l'arbre et dit à la truie : "Je dois te mettre en garde contre ce terrible oiseau qu'est l'aigle. She is only waiting her chance to fly down and carry off one of your little pigs when you take them out, to feed her brood with." She succeeded in frightening the Sow as much as the Eagle. Then she returned to her hole in the trunk, from which, feigning to be afraid, she never came forth by day. Puis elle retourna dans son trou dans le tronc, d'où, feignant d'avoir peur, elle ne sortait jamais le jour. Only by night did she creep out unseen to procure food for her kittens. Ce n'est que la nuit qu'elle se faufile à l'abri des regards pour se procurer de la nourriture pour ses chatons. The Eagle, meanwhile was afraid to stir from her nest, and the Sow dared not leave her home among the roots: so that in time both they and their families perished of hunger, and their dead bodies supplied the Cat with ample food for her growing family.