LE PAYSAN DU DANUBE
by Jean de La Fontaine · from Fables de La Fontaine
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there was a farmer. He looked a little wild. He had a big beard. His clothes were messy. But inside, he was very, very wise.
The Wise Farmer had a big beard. He looked very hairy. His clothes were goat hair. A plant rope was his belt. He looked wild. He was not scary.
The Wise Farmer came from far away. He was a messenger. He came to Rome. He met the Important Leaders. They were not fair. They took too much.
The farmer began to speak. He asked for help to speak right. He told the Important Leaders. "You take too much," he said. "You make my people sad. This is not fair."
The farmer gave a warning. "Be fair," he said. "If not, good things will stop. Sadness will come. You will be unhappy."
The farmer asked them. "Why do you rule us? Why tell everyone what to do? We lived in peace. Now we are unhappy."
The farmer said, "Other people are kind. They are not greedy. If they had power, they would be fair. They would not be mean."
The bad officials caused much sadness. They made people very unhappy. Their actions were very unfair. This made everyone feel bad. It showed much greed. They took too much.
My people are so sad. They leave their homes. They leave their families. They want to run away. Your bad rules make them leave.
Please send away bad officials. They teach us bad things. They make us mean. They make us unhappy.
I spoke from my heart. My words were strong. I said what is true. Now I will sit down. The farmer sat down. He was quiet.
The Important Leaders were surprised. They were very impressed. The farmer was brave. He was very smart. He spoke so well.
The leaders made a choice. They made the farmer important. They sent away bad officials. They wrote down his words. Others could learn from him. And so, the important leaders learned a big lesson that day. They learned that true wisdom and kindness can come from anyone, even a farmer who looks a bit wild. It is always good to listen to everyone, no matter how they look.
Original Story
LE PAYSAN DU DANUBE.
Il ne faut point juger les gens sur l’apparence.
Le conseil en est bon; mais il n’est pas nouveau.
Jadis l’erreur du souriceau
Me servit à prouver le discours que j’avance;
J’ai, pour le fonder à présent,
Le bon Socrate, Ésope, et certain paysan
Des rives du Danube, homme dont Marc-Aurèle
Nous fait un portrait fort fidèle.
On connoît les premiers: quant à l’autre, voici
Le personnage en raccourci.
Son menton nourrissoit une barbe touffue;
Toute sa personne velue
Représentoit un ours, mais un ours mal léché;
Sous un sourcil épais il avoit l’œil caché;
Le regard de travers, nez tortu, grosse lèvre,
Portoit sayon de poil de chèvre,
Et ceinture de joncs marins.
Cet homme ainsi bâti fut député des villes
Que lave le Danube. Il n’étoit point d’asiles
Où l’avarice des Romains
Ne pénétrât alors, et ne portât les mains.
Le député vint donc, et fit cette harangue:
Romains, et vous, sénat, assis pour m’écouter:
Je supplie avant tout les dieux de m’assister:
Veuillent les immortels, conducteurs de ma langue,
Que je ne dise rien qui doive être repris.
Sans leur aide, il ne peut entrer dans les esprits
Que tout mal et toute injustice:
Faute d’y recourir, on viole leurs lois.
Témoin nous que punit la romaine avarice:
Rome est, par nos forfaits, plus que par ses exploits,
L’instrument de notre supplice.
Craignez, Romains, craignez que le Ciel quelque jour
Ne transporte chez vous les pleurs et la misère;
Et mettant en nos mains, par un juste retour,
Les armes dont se sert sa vengeance sévère,
Il ne vous fasse en sa colère,
Nos esclaves à votre tour.
Et pourquoi sommes-nous les vôtres? Qu’on me die
En quoi vous valez mieux que cent peuples divers.
Quel droit vous a rendus maîtres de l’univers?
Pourquoi venir troubler une innocente vie?
Nous cultivions en paix d’heureux champs; et nos mains
Étoient propres aux arts, ainsi qu’au labourage.
Qu’avez-vous appris aux Germains?
Ils ont l’adresse et le courage:
S’ils avoient eu l’avidité,
Comme vous, et la violence,
Peut-être en votre place ils auroient la puissance,
Et sauroient en user sans inhumanité.
Celle que vos préteurs ont sur nous exercée
N’entre qu’à peine en la pensée.
La majesté de vos autels
Elle-même en est offensée;
Car sachez que les immortels
Ont les regards sur nous. Grâces à vos exemples,
Ils n’ont devant les yeux que des objets d’horreur,
De mépris d’eux et de leurs temples,
D’avarice qui va jusques à la fureur.
Rien ne suffit aux gens qui nous viennent de Rome:
La terre et le travail de l’homme
Font pour les assouvir des efforts superflus.
Retirez-les: on ne veut plus
Cultiver pour eux les campagnes.
Nous quittons les cités, nous fuyons aux montagnes;
Nous laissons nos chères compagnes;
Nous ne conversons plus qu’avec des ours affreux,
Découragés de mettre au jour des malheureux,
Et de peupler pour Rome un pays qu’elle opprime.
Quant à nos enfants déjà nés,
Nous souhaitons de voir leurs jours bientôt bornés:
Vos préteurs au malheur nous font joindre le crime.
Retirez-les; ils ne nous apprendront
Que la mollesse et que le vice;
Les Germains comme eux deviendront
Gens de rapine et d’avarice.
C’est tout ce que j’ai vu dans Rome à mon abord.
N’a-t-on point de présent à faire,
Point de pourpre à donner; c’est en vain qu’on espère
Quelque refuge aux lois: encor leur ministère
A-t-il mille longueurs. Ce discours, un peu fort,
Doit commencer à vous déplaire.
Je finis, punissez de mort
Une plainte un peu trop sincère.
A ces mots, il se couche; et chacun étonné
Admire le grand cœur, le bon sens, l’éloquence
Du sauvage ainsi prosterné.
On le créa patrice; et ce fut la vengeance
Qu’on crut qu’un tel discours méritoit. On choisit
D’autres préteurs; et par écrit
Le sénat demanda ce qu’avoit dit cet homme,
Pour servir de modèle aux parleurs à venir.
On ne sut pas longtemps à Rome
Cette éloquence entretenir.
VIII
Story DNA
Moral
One should not judge people by their appearance, as true wisdom and virtue can be found in unexpected places.
Plot Summary
A rough-looking peasant from the Danube, despite his unkempt appearance, is chosen as a delegate to address the Roman Senate. He delivers a powerful and eloquent speech, condemning the avarice and cruelty of Roman governors and detailing the suffering of his people. His impassioned plea, which includes a warning of divine retribution and a wish for his children's early death to escape oppression, astonishes the senators. Impressed by his wisdom and courage, the Senate makes him a patrician, replaces the corrupt officials, and records his speech as a model for future orators.
Themes
Emotional Arc
prejudice to admiration
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
La Fontaine often used classical settings or characters to deliver universal morals. The story reflects common criticisms of Roman imperial overreach and corruption, even if presented anachronistically.
Plot Beats (13)
- The narrator introduces the theme: do not judge by appearance, referencing the peasant of the Danube.
- The peasant's rough, bear-like physical description is provided, highlighting his unrefined exterior.
- This peasant, a delegate from Danube cities, comes to Rome to speak against the Romans' avarice.
- He begins his speech by invoking the gods for guidance, then immediately condemns Roman avarice as the cause of his people's suffering.
- He warns the Romans that the heavens may one day turn the tables, making them slaves.
- He questions Rome's right to universal dominion and criticizes their disruption of peaceful lives.
- He argues that the Germans, if they had Roman greed, would wield power more humanely.
- He details the extreme suffering caused by Roman praetors, stating that the gods are offended by their actions.
- He explains that his people are abandoning their lands and families, even wishing death upon their children, due to Roman oppression.
- He urges the Romans to withdraw their corrupt officials, who only teach vice.
- He concludes by offering himself for death as punishment for his overly sincere complaint, then lies down.
- The Senate, astonished by his courage, good sense, and eloquence, admires him.
- They make him a patrician, replace the corrupt praetors, and record his speech as a model for future orators.
Characters
Le Paysan du Danube (The Peasant of the Danube)
A man of robust build, appearing somewhat wild and unkempt. His entire person is described as 'hairy,' resembling a 'badly licked bear.' He has a crooked nose and thick lips, with a generally disheveled and rugged appearance.
Attire: He wears a 'sayon' (a type of coarse tunic or cloak) made of goat hair, and a belt woven from sea rushes. This attire is simple, practical, and indicative of a rural, possibly impoverished, existence.
Wants: To expose the corruption and avarice of the Roman praetors and to alleviate the suffering of his people under Roman oppression. He desires justice and peace for his community.
Flaw: His blunt honesty and lack of deference to authority could be seen as a weakness in a political setting, potentially leading to severe punishment.
He begins as an underestimated 'savage' due to his appearance but transforms into a respected figure whose wisdom and eloquence are recognized by the Roman Senate. He earns patrician status, though he may not embrace it fully.
Courageous, eloquent, wise, sincere, and principled. He is not afraid to speak truth to power, even at personal risk.
The Roman Senate
A group of distinguished Roman men, likely of varying ages, dressed in formal Roman attire. They would appear dignified and authoritative.
Attire: Togas of fine white wool, possibly with purple borders (laticlavus) indicating their senatorial rank. They would be seated in a formal assembly.
Wants: To maintain Roman power and order, though they are implicitly shown to be aware of or complicit in the corruption of their praetors. Their motivation shifts to seeking justice and good governance after the peasant's speech.
Flaw: Prone to avarice and corruption through their appointed officials; initially judgmental based on appearance and social status.
They begin as a seemingly indifferent or corrupt body, but through the peasant's speech, they are moved to acknowledge their faults and take corrective action, demonstrating a moment of moral awakening.
Initially arrogant and dismissive of outsiders, but capable of recognizing wisdom and eloquence. They are ultimately swayed by the peasant's speech, demonstrating a capacity for justice, albeit after being challenged.
Locations
The Banks of the Danube
The homeland of the peasant, a region where the Danube river flows, implying fertile fields and possibly forests, now suffering under Roman avarice.
Mood: Initially peaceful and productive, now oppressed and desolate due to Roman exploitation.
The peasant's origin and the setting of the oppression he describes.
The Roman Senate House
A grand, formal assembly hall where the Roman Senate convenes, likely adorned with classical Roman architecture, statues, and rich materials, filled with senators.
Mood: Initially one of power and authority, shifting to astonishment and admiration, then perhaps shame and reflection.
The peasant delivers his powerful, unvarnished speech to the Roman Senate, leading to their astonishment and a change in policy.