An Old Man and his Ass1 were riding one day
And spied a lush meadow at the side of the way.
The man let go the reins2 and the grizzled* one raced
Out into the lea at a furious pace.
Gamboling, scratching, enjoying the green,
Rubbing his back and eating the spot clean.
Some robbers showed up while the field he cleared.
"Come, let us flee!" said the frightened graybeard.
"Why should I" responded the debauchee.
"Will you not make me carry a double load?"
"Not at all!" said the man as he fled down the road.
"What difference to me who uses the goad3.
Save yourself. I'll graze. You'll run faster.
A beasts enemy is always its master.
And this I say to you in a very Frank* manner.
* Grizzled in the original is Grison, Frank is Francois.
This is, I think, a play on words. Grison is a Canton
in Switzerland which was originally created by the
Franks during the reign4 of Charlemagne (800s A.D.),
Apparently5 there was still some tension between the
two groups (at least in folklore) some centuries later.
==============================================
Le Vieillard et l'Ane
Un Vieillard sur son Ane aperçut en passant
Un Pré plein d'herbe et fleurissant.
Il y lâche sa bête, et le Grison se rue
Au travers de l'herbe menue,
Se vautrant, grattant, et frottant,
Gambadant, chantant et broutant,
Et faisant mainte place nette.
L'ennemi vient sur l'entrefaite :
Fuyons, dit alors le Vieillard.
- Pourquoi ? répondit le paillard.
Me fera-t-on porter double bât, double charge ?
- Non pas, dit le Vieillard, qui prit d'abord le large.
- Et que m'importe donc, dit l'Ane, à qui je sois ?
Sauvez-vous, et me laissez paître :
Notre ennemi, c'est notre Maître :
Je vous le dis en bon François.
The Master's Eye
