The Mountain in Labour

"The Mountain in Labour" is a part of the collection of fables by Jean de La Fontaine. It is a brief tale that uses animals to portray human follies and lessons. In this fable, a mountain is depicted as being in labour, causing great alarm among the people. When it finally gives birth, it only produces a small mouse, serving as a mockery of those who make a great fuss about minor matters, thus conveying the message that one should not create unnecessary panic or hype about trivial issues.

• Fable

								
Mountain in labour announced the new birth
With clamour so loud that the people all thought
'Twould at least bear a city, the largest on earth.
It was merely a Mouse that the incident brought.

When I think of this fable, so false in its fact,
And so true in its moral, it brings to my mind
Those common-place authors who try to attract
Attention by means of the subjects they find.
"I will sing about Jove and the Titans," cries one;
But how often the song comes to nothing, when done!


								Rate this book:0.0 / 0 votes