Explore "The Two Cocks" by Jean de La Fontaine on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Two cocks in peace were living, when / A war was kindled by a hen. / O love, thou bane of Troy! 'twas thine / The blood of men and gods to shed / Enough to turn the Xanthus red / As old Port wine! / And long the battle doubtful stood: / (I mean the battle of the cocks; ) / They gave each other fearful shocks: / The fame spread o'er the neighbourhood, / And gather'd all the crested brood. / And Helens more than one, of plumage bright, / Led off the victor of that bloody fight. / The vanquish'd, drooping, fled, / Conceal'd his batter'd head, / And in a dark retreat / Bewail'd his sad defeat. / His loss of glory and the prize / His rival now enjoy'd before his eyes. / While this he every day beheld, / His hatred kindled, courage swell'd: / He whet his beak, and flapp'd his wings, / And meditated dreadful things. / Waste rage! His rival flew upon a roof / And crow'd to give his victory proof. -- / A hawk this boasting heard: / Now perish'd all his pride, / As suddenly he died / Beneath that savage bird. / In consequence of this reverse, / The vanquish'd sallied from his hole, / And took the harem, master sole, / For moderate penance not the worse. / Imagine the congratulation, / The proud and stately leading, / Gallanting, coaxing, feeding, / Of wives almost a nation! / 'Tis thus that Fortune loves to flee / The insolent by victory. / We should mistrust her when we beat, / Lest triumph lead us to defeat.[1]
[1]: Aesop.