Explore "The Raven and the Fox" by Jean de La Fontaine on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Perch'd on a lofty oak, / Sir Raven held a lunch of cheese; / Sir Fox, who smelt it in the breeze, / Thus to the holder spoke: -- / 'Ha! how do you do, Sir Raven? / Well, your coat, sir, is a brave one! / So black and glossy, on my word, sir, / With voice to match, you were a bird, sir, / Well fit to be the Phoenix of these days. ' / Sir Raven, overset with praise, / Must show how musical his croak. / Down fell the luncheon from the oak; / Which snatching up, Sir Fox thus spoke: -- / 'The flatterer, my good sir, / Aye liveth on his listener; / Which lesson, if you please, / Is doubtless worth the cheese. ' / A bit too late, Sir Raven swore / The rogue should never cheat him more.[1]
[1]: Both Aesop and Phaedrus have a version of this fable.