21. LE CHÊNE ET LE ROSEAU. LA FONTAINE (1621-1695). Le chêne un jour dit au roseau : Fait rider la face de l'eau Vous oblige à baisser la tête ; Tout vous est aquilon, tout me semble zéphyr. Vous n'auriez pas tant à souffrir, Sur les humides bords des royaumes du vent. Les vents me sont moins qu'à vous redoutables, Résisté sans courber le dos; Mais attendons la fin. Comme il disait ces mots, Du bout de l'horizon accourt avec furie Le plus terrible des enfants Que le nord eût portés jusque-là dans ses flancs. Le vent redouble ses efforts, Et fait si bien qu'il déracine Celui de qui la tête au ciel était voisine, Et dont les pieds touchaient à l'empire des morts. COMPOSITION EXERCISES BASED ON THE FRENCH READER. [It is recommended that the extracts from the Reader should be used as a basis for oral practice, dictation, etc. The exercises here given have not been divided into lessons: such portions may be assigned for this purpose as the teacher deems advisable. The vocabulary required for translating any given exercise is to be found in the extract from the Reader on which it is based.] EXERCISE 1. (Paroles d'un croyant, pp. 395-6.). A. 1. Instead of bending we rise. 2. This plant will dry up and die, if it finds no shelter from the fierce heat of the sun. 3. The wind bends the trees to the ground. 4. If we unite with one another, we shall shelter one another. 5. Let us not think of ourselves alone. 6. What is there that is stronger than covetousness? 7. The swallows gathered round the bird of prey. 8. Fear sat down beside him, and did not leave him. 9. We asked them: "How many were there of you?" 10. They answered: "There were four of us." 11. It is thus, and therefore God commands us not to fall under the oppression of the strong. 12. The weak do not fear, when they love one another. 13. A rock had rolled upon the road. 14. There is no way out, except the road. 15. The man tried to make a way for himself. 16. He saw that his efforts were vain. 17. If we sit down full of sadness, what will become of us? 18. The second traveller did what the first one did. 19. Several others come up, sit down, and bow their heads. 20. If we pray to our Father, He will have pity on us. 21. When we had prayed, we pushed the rock, and it gave way. 22. Life is a journey, and man is a traveller. 23. He meets many troubles on his way. B. The wind strips of its leaves the tree which is alone, and it finds no shelter from the fierce heat of the sun, and the fierce heat of the covetousness of the great dries up the sap which nourishes the man who is alone. Then, let us be united. So long as we think only of ourselves, we have nothing to hope for but oppression. The sparrows succeed in driving off birds of prey, by pursuing them all together. Let us take example from the sparrows. Fear follows him who separates himself from his brethren. All men are equal. God makes neither great nor small. But when covetousness stifles the love of others in those who are stronger in body or mind, they try to subdue their brothers to themselves. God knows that these things are so, and that is why He commands us to love one another, so that we may be united, and may not fall under the oppression of the strong. A man who was travelling in the mountains came to a place where a great rock filled the road completely. The man saw that he could not continue his journey, and he tried to move the rock, but he found himself powerless to move it. He grew weary and said, "What will become of me in this solitude, when the wild beasts come out to seek their prey?" Another traveller came up, and then several others, and none of them being able to move the rock, they prayed to their Father in Heaven that He might have (subj.) pity on them. The Father in Heaven listened to them, and rising up all together, they took away (enlever) the rock and went on their way. God measures the troubles which we meet on our path, and if we travel together, the weight of no rock will ever stop us. EXERCISE II. (Paroles d'un croyant, pp. 397-8.) A. 1. If we should die or fall ill, what would become of you? 2. If this thought never leaves you it will gnaw your heart like a worm. 3. Although the same thought comes to her nest. me, I do not dwell on it. 4. Let us live without anxiety. 5. Those who do not live without anxiety, do not enjoy a moment of repose. 6. Soon the mother came back again to 7. The man was sad and downcast, on account of the orphans in their nest. 8. The poor bird struggled, but the vulture carried it off. 9. What will become of my children, if they lose me? 10. The little birds have only their mother. 11. My children, too, have only me. 12. When he returned to the fields, he wished to see the young ones again. 13. All the little birds were well. 14. If he hides himself, he will see what will happen. 15. He observed what had happened. 16. The food, which was brought back by the mother, was given to all without distinction. 17. If we do not distrust Providence, God will not abandon us. Let us not be anxious. 19. Those who pursue their journey in peace will know the secrets of God's love. 20. If our children are not of an age to provide for their own needs, they will have the Father in Heaven. 18. B. Two men had only their labour to support their wives and their little children. And one of them was troubled, and asked himself (se demander) what would become of his wife and children if he should die. But the other man lived without anxiety, for he said that God knew His creatures, and that He would watch over him and his children. One day when the first man was working in the fields, he saw some birds which were going into and coming out of a clump of trees. He drew near, and saw two nests in which were several young birds without feathers. He returns to his work, but watches the birds as they come and go with food for their young. Now, as the man was working, one of the mother [birds] uttered a piercing cry, for a vulture had seized her as she was returning home with her mouthful of food. At the sight of this, the man felt his soul deeply (bien) disturbed, and said, “What will become now of the little birds?” But the next day, directing his steps towards the clump of trees, he saw that none of the young had suffered. This astonished him. But he soon saw the second mother distributing to all the young ones the food which she had gathered. She had not abandoned the orphans in their distress. Let us not dis trust Providence. God will not forsake His own. We shall never know the secrets of His love. If one father dies before the other, the latter will be a father to all the children. If both die, the children will have their Father in Heaven, and He will provide for all their needs. EXERCISE III. (Le chat botté, pp. 398-401.) A. 1. We did not call the notary. 2. The miller received the mill. 3. Shall we be able to console ourselves for having such a poor share? 4. When he has his bag, and when he has put bran into it, he will go into the brushwood. 5. I have got a pair of boots made for myself. 6. He hung himself up by the feet, and pretended to be dead. 7. He waited for some young rabbit to eat the bran. 8. We were shown up to his apartments. 9. Did you bow to the king? 10. We thank you. 11. Let us go and hide ourselves in the wheat. 12. One day, when we learned that you were to go to the river's banks, we went for a walk. 13. We said, "Follow our advice, and leave it to us." 14. They advised him to bathe in the river. 15. As they were bathing, we happened to pass. 16. She put her head out of the carriage door, and screamed. 17. Order your guards that some one go to his help. 18. The marquis was pulled out of the water. 19. Although the cat cried, "Stop thief," the thieves carried off his master's clothes. 20. Go and get those fine clothes. 21. We had just given him a carriage. 22. They wished us to get into the carriage. 23. We shall not fail to ask them whose meadow it is. 24. That meadow yields well every year. 25. Do you wish to know whose castle this is? We shall say the same thing to those we meet. 27. That is the castle whose master is an ogre. 28. He is the richest man I have ever seen. 29. Tell us what that cat can do. 30. Can the cat change itself into a lion? 31. The ogre became a lion. 32. Boots are no good for walking on tiles. 33. Would you be frightened to see a lion before you? 26. 34. We have been assured that he was afraid, but we cannot believe it. 35. Can the cat assume the form of a rat? 36. |