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Architecture Churches Elsewhere

Postcard from Lisbon – La Fontaine

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The Monastery of Saint Vincent Outside the Walls in Lisbon has a magnificent collection of 38 azulejos depicting different fables by La Fontaine. This is one of them.
The dog with his master’s dinner round his neck
A dog was carrying his master’s dinner and another dog tried to steal it. When more dogs appeared, attraced by the smell of the food, the dog realised it was too weak to fight them all, but at least wanted to make sure it got its own share. So the dog said, “There is no need for violence, gentlemen. My part is enough for me, you can have the rest”. This is like a city where many people administer public money and use it for their own purposes. If there is someone who is more scrupulous and who raises objections, the others soon make him see how foolish he is.
Le monastère de Saint Vincent Hors les Murs à Lisbonne possède une collection magnifique de 38 azulegos représentant différents fables de La Fontaine. En voici un.
Le chien qui porte à son cou le dîner de son maître
Un chien portait à son cou le dîner de son maître. Un autre chien voulut le lui dérober et d’auters encore accoururent à l’odeur de la nourriture. Notre chien, voyant qu’il était trop faibe contre eux tous, voulut au moins garantir sa part et dit: “Point de violence, Messieurs, ma part me suffit, prenez le reste.”
Je vois en ceci l’image d”une ville où ceux qui administrent les deniers publics s’en mettent plein les poches. Et si quelque scrupuleux fait des objections, on lui fait voir qu’il est un sot et c’est bientôt the premier à prendre.

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