原创 The Master's Eye

A stag having fled into an oxen stable
At first was warned by them
To seek  better shelter elsewhere.
'Brothers,' said he to them, 'do not betray me:
And I shall tell you of the best pastures;
This service could be of useful to you someday,
And you will have no regrets.'
The oxen thereupon agreed to keep his secret.
He hid in a corner sighs, and gathers his courage.
That evening fresh grass and fodder is brought in,
As was done everyday.
The servants come and go a hundred times.
So did the overseer and no one by chance
Saw neither body, nor antlers,
Nor stag even. The forests dweller
Already grateful to the oxen, waits in the stable
For everyone to return to *Ceres' work,
So that he could slip out at a favorable moment.
One of the oxen, chewing his cud, told him: 'All's well;
But wait! Hundred-Eyes hasn't yet made his rounds:
I fear for you when he arrives.
Till then, poor stag, do not brag.'
Thereupon the Master enters and makes his round.
'What is this?'  he scolded his servants.
'I find mighty little grass in these racks.
This litter is old: go up quickly to the lofts.
From now on I want to see your cattle better cared for.
What trouble is it to remove all these spiders?
Do we not know how to put away these yokes and collars?'
While looking all around, he notices a head
Besides the ones he usually saw there.
The stag is found out; each takes a pitchfork
And each in turn jabs the beast.
His tears could not save him from death,
He is taken away, salted and made into many a meal,
Enjoyed by many happy neighbors.

*Phèdre on this subject declared elegantly:
To see  everything, the Master's Eye is best of all,
As for me, I would add, so is the Lover's Eye.

*Cérès. Myth. Roman Goddess of harvests,
identified as Déméter.

*Phedre. in Latin. Caius Julius Phraedrus
or Phaeder, writer of Fables in Latin  (15 BC. J.-C.- 50 AD) 
author of Fables imitating Aesop.

=================================================

L'Oeil du Ma?tre

Un Cerf s'étant sauvé dans une étable à boeufs
Fut d'abord averti par eux
Qu'il cherchat un meilleur asile.
Mes frères, leur dit-il, ne me décelez pas :
Je vous enseignerai les patis les plus gras ;
Ce service vous peut quelque jour être utile,
Et vous n'en aurez point regret.
Les Boeufs à toutes fins promirent le secret.

Il se cache en un coin, respire, et prend courage.
Sur le soir on apporte herbe fra?che et fourrage
Comme l'on faisait tous les jours.
L'on va, l'on vient, les valets font cent tours.
L'Intendant même, et pas un d'aventure
N'aper?ut ni corps, ni ramure,
Ni Cerf enfin. L'habitant des forêts
Rend déjà grace aux Boeufs, attend dans cette étable
Que chacun retournant au travail de Cérès,
Il trouve pour sortir un moment favorable.
L'un des Boeufs ruminant lui dit : Cela va bien ;
Mais quoi ! l'homme aux cent yeux n'a pas fait sa revue.
Je crains fort pour toi sa venue.
Jusque-là, pauvre Cerf, ne te vante de rien.
Là-dessus le Ma?tre entre et vient faire sa ronde.
Qu'est-ce-ci ? dit-il à son monde.
Je trouve bien peu d'herbe en tous ces rateliers.
Cette litière est vieille : allez vite aux greniers.
Je veux voir désormais vos bêtes mieux soignées.
Que co?te-t-il d'?ter toutes ces araignées ?
Ne saurait-on ranger ces jougs et ces colliers ?
En regardant à tout, il voit une autre tête
Que celles qu'il voyait d'ordinaire en ce lieu.
Le Cerf est reconnu ; chacun prend un épieu ;
Chacun donne un coup à la bête.
Ses larmes ne sauraient la sauver du trépas.
Following a distinguished legal career, a man arrived at the Gates of Heaven, accompanied by the Pope, who had the misfortune to expire on the same day. The Pope was greeted first by St. Peter, who escorted him to his quarters. The room was somewhat shabby and small, similar to that found in a low grade Motel 6 type establishment. The lawyer was then taken to his room, which was a palatial suite including a private swimming pool, a garden, and a terrace overlooking the Gates. The attorney was somewhat taken aback, and told St. Peter, "I'm really quite surprised at these rooms, seeing as how the Pope was given such small accommodations." St. Peter replied,wow power leveling "We have over a hundred Popes here, and we're really very bored with them. We've never had a lawyer." How many lawyers does it take to screw in a light bulb? One to climb the ladder, one to shake the ladder, one to sue the ladder company. A blonde, rs2 golda brunette and a redhead were walking along the beach. A seagull flies over and craps all over the blonde. The brunette says in a disgusted voice,wow gold "Hang on the bathroom is just up the hill, I'll go get some toilet paper." After she leaves wow gold cheap the blonde begins to laugh. The redhead says, "What's so funny?" The blonde says, "Well, blondes are supposed to be so dumb and look at her. lotro gold By the time she gets back with that toilet paper that seagull will be miles away!" On l'emporte, on la sale, on en fait maint repas,
Dont maint voisin s'éjouit d'être.
Phèdre sur ce sujet dit fort élégamment :
Il n'est, pour voir, que l'oeil du Ma?tre.
Quant à moi, j'y mettrais encor l'oeil de l'Amant.