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La Grenouille qui veut se faire aussi grosse que le Bœuf
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The Frog Who Would Be as Big as an Ox

A Frog had an Ox in her view;
His bulk, to her, appeared ideal.
She, not even as large, all in all, as an egg hitherto,
Envious, stretched, swelled, strained, in her zeal
To match the beast in overall size,
Saying, "Sister, lend me your eyes.
Is this enough? Am I not yet there, in every feature?"
"Nope." "Then now?" "No way." "There now, as good as first?"
"You’re not anywhere near." The diminutive creature
Inflated still more, till she burst.

The world is full of folk who are as far from being sages.
Every city gent would build chateaux like Louis Quatorze;
Every petty prince names ambassadors,
Every marquis wants to have pages.