The Life of the Grasshopper 



Dans un bourbier; la fange outrage 

 Le velours de son corps broye. 



Mais la tourmente en rien n'e'tonne 

 Le grillon, qui, dans son abri, 

 Qu'il pleuve, qu'il vente, qu'il tonne, 

 Vit tranquille et chante cri-cri. 



Ah! n'allons pas courir le monde 

 Par mi les plaisirs et les fteurs; 

 L'humble foyer, sa paix profonde 

 Nous epargneront bien des pleurs. 



THE CRICKET 



Among the beasts a tale is told 



How a poor Cricket ventured nigh 



His door to catch the sun's warm gold 

 And saw a radiant Butterfly. 



She passed with tails thrown proudly back 

 And long gay rows of crescents blue, 



Brave yellow stars and bands of black, 

 The lordliest fly that ever flew. 



" Ah, fly away," the hermit said, 



" Daylong among your flowers to roam ; 



" Nor daisies white nor roses red 

 " Will compensate my lowly home." 



True, all too true! There came a storm 

 And caught the other in its flood, 

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