Pippa has just finished learning the last verse of La Cigale et La Fourmi, a poem about a frivolous Cicada who sings away her summer and an industrious, slightly stingy Ant who won't loan her any food to see her through the winter. Like Aesop's similar-themed fable about the Grasshopper and the Ant, this one has been passed down through the generations. Pippa recites it -- often, anywhere, and for anybody, usually unsolicited -- in machine-gun-fire French. With a perfect accent, bien sûr.
Thanks to one of her many impromptu recitations, we've learned that during World War II, when they wanted to suss out spies pretending to be French, they would sometimes ask them to recite La Cigale et La Fourmi. Not only do you know it like the back of your hand, if you are truly French, but you also recite in a certain, recognizable sing-song rhythm. Gigi has about half of it by heart, thanks to hearing Pippa learn, practice, and recite it so much. So if they ever need to, perhaps someday both of our girls could "pass." Me? Highly unlikely. Anthony? That one's American through and through.
Sidenote: my father says that he had heard during war time they would try to detect spies posing as Americans by asking them detailed questions about professional sports, teams, superbowls, World Series, etc. My dad's not a sports guy, and he always had this fear that he wouldn't be able to prove himself a real American (though he could have named off lots of famous photographers, if only that would've gotten him off the hook).
Here, for your edification, is la poésie. If you're impressed that they learn this as 6 year olds, in first grade, I have to say that I am, too. There are some hard words and tenses in there! And here's a little tip to help you pass as a real Frenchman: When you get to the end, you must say the author's name out loud and proud -- "Jean de la Fontaine"!
Thanks to one of her many impromptu recitations, we've learned that during World War II, when they wanted to suss out spies pretending to be French, they would sometimes ask them to recite La Cigale et La Fourmi. Not only do you know it like the back of your hand, if you are truly French, but you also recite in a certain, recognizable sing-song rhythm. Gigi has about half of it by heart, thanks to hearing Pippa learn, practice, and recite it so much. So if they ever need to, perhaps someday both of our girls could "pass." Me? Highly unlikely. Anthony? That one's American through and through.
Sidenote: my father says that he had heard during war time they would try to detect spies posing as Americans by asking them detailed questions about professional sports, teams, superbowls, World Series, etc. My dad's not a sports guy, and he always had this fear that he wouldn't be able to prove himself a real American (though he could have named off lots of famous photographers, if only that would've gotten him off the hook).
Here, for your edification, is la poésie. If you're impressed that they learn this as 6 year olds, in first grade, I have to say that I am, too. There are some hard words and tenses in there! And here's a little tip to help you pass as a real Frenchman: When you get to the end, you must say the author's name out loud and proud -- "Jean de la Fontaine"!
La Cigale et la Fourmi
La Cigale, ayant chanté
Tout l'été,
Se trouva fort dépourvue
Quand la bise fut venue :
Pas un seul petit morceau
De mouche ou de vermisseau.
Elle alla crier famine
Chez la Fourmi sa voisine,
La priant de lui prêter
Quelque grain pour subsister
Jusqu'à la saison nouvelle.
"Je vous paierai, lui dit-elle,
Avant l'Oût, foi d'animal,
Intérêt et principal. "
La Fourmi n'est pas prêteuse :
C'est là son moindre défaut.
Que faisiez-vous au temps chaud ?
Dit-elle à cette emprunteuse.
- Nuit et jour à tout venant
Je chantais, ne vous déplaise.
- Vous chantiez ? j'en suis fort aise.
Eh bien! dansez maintenant.
Tout l'été,
Se trouva fort dépourvue
Quand la bise fut venue :
Pas un seul petit morceau
De mouche ou de vermisseau.
Elle alla crier famine
Chez la Fourmi sa voisine,
La priant de lui prêter
Quelque grain pour subsister
Jusqu'à la saison nouvelle.
"Je vous paierai, lui dit-elle,
Avant l'Oût, foi d'animal,
Intérêt et principal. "
La Fourmi n'est pas prêteuse :
C'est là son moindre défaut.
Que faisiez-vous au temps chaud ?
Dit-elle à cette emprunteuse.
- Nuit et jour à tout venant
Je chantais, ne vous déplaise.
- Vous chantiez ? j'en suis fort aise.
Eh bien! dansez maintenant.
-Jean de la Fontaine
No comments:
Post a Comment