THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
There is no point in running; you have to start on time.
The Hare and the Tortoise are a testimony to this.
Let's bet, she said, that you won't reach
As soon as I this goal. - As soon? Are you wise?
The light animal returned.
My friend, you need to purge
With four grains of hellebore.
— Wise or not, I bet again.
So it was done: and of both of them
The stakes were placed near the goal:
Knowing what is not the point,
Nor which judge was agreed upon.
Our Hare had only four steps to take;
I hear of those he does when about to be reached
He walks away from the dogs, sends them away in the Calends,
And makes them walk the moors.
Having, I say, time left to graze,
To sleep, and to listen
Where the wind comes from, it leaves the Turtle
Going on his Senatorial train.
She leaves, she strives;
She hurries slowly.
He, however, despises such a victory,
Holds the wager to little glory,
Believes his honor is at stake
To leave late. He grazes, he rests,
He enjoys doing something else
Than the bet. At the end when he saw
That the other was almost at the end of his career,
He set off like a bolt; but the bursts he made
They were in vain: the Turtle arrived first.
Well! she cried to him, was I not right?
What do you use your speed for?
Me, take it! and what would it be?
If you carried a house?
The Hare and the Tortoise are a testimony to this.
Let's bet, she said, that you won't reach
As soon as I this goal. - As soon? Are you wise?
The light animal returned.
My friend, you need to purge
With four grains of hellebore.
— Wise or not, I bet again.
So it was done: and of both of them
The stakes were placed near the goal:
Knowing what is not the point,
Nor which judge was agreed upon.
Our Hare had only four steps to take;
I hear of those he does when about to be reached
He walks away from the dogs, sends them away in the Calends,
And makes them walk the moors.
Having, I say, time left to graze,
To sleep, and to listen
Where the wind comes from, it leaves the Turtle
Going on his Senatorial train.
She leaves, she strives;
She hurries slowly.
He, however, despises such a victory,
Holds the wager to little glory,
Believes his honor is at stake
To leave late. He grazes, he rests,
He enjoys doing something else
Than the bet. At the end when he saw
That the other was almost at the end of his career,
He set off like a bolt; but the bursts he made
They were in vain: the Turtle arrived first.
Well! she cried to him, was I not right?
What do you use your speed for?
Me, take it! and what would it be?
If you carried a house?