|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
English > Art > |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eugène Pottier: The sheep's revenge |
|
|
Eugène Pottier (Paris, 4 October 1816 - 6 November 1887). Written in Paris, in 1886. Reproduced in accordance with: Pierre Brochon (Ed.), Eugène Pottier - Oeuvres complètes, Paris, Editions François Maspero, 1966. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The sheep's revengeThe wolves, the most savage wolves, Beware beneath there! Gone down alive to sepulture, Beware beneath there! They rob us..., on us they sic Beware beneath there! It’s high time to defend oneself, Beware beneath there! Yes, the teeth and the scythes are being whetted, Beware beneath there! |
|
La revanche des moutonsLes loups, les loups les plus féroces, Gare là-dessous! Descendus vivants au sépulcre, Gare là-dessous! Eux nous volent..., sur nous on lance Gare là-dessous! Il est bien temps de se défendre, Gare là-dessous! Oui, les dents et les faulx s'aiguisent, Gare là-dessous! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
[1]. Reference to the strike movement launched on 26 January 1886 in the Paleyret wellspring at Decazeville, the deputy director of which, Jules Watrin, died that day defenestrated by the strikers. At a first time, the miners resumed work on 29 January, and then they went afresh on strike on 25 February, pursuing their movement until 14 June. They were victim to severe repression.
[2]. This phrase figures in the fable “Le vieillard et l'âne” [“The Old Man and the Donkey”] by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695, the fables have been written around 1668). The old man lets loose the donkey at the time of a stopover, and then, seeing "the enemy" arriving, flees - alone, since the donkey has exposed to him its point of view in these terms: "And what does it matter to me to whom I belong? Save yourself, and let me pasture. It's our master who is our enemy."
[3]. The song “The Canuts” (dating from 1894) by Aristide Bruant (1851-1925) implicitly links back to that phrase. Indeed, it says: "But our rein will arrive / When your rein will finish: / We will weave the shroud of the old world, / Since the tempest that booms is already heard." It is about the revolt of the silk workers at Lyon (called the canuts), in November 1831. It was subdued on 5 December, by a governmental force counting 20 000 men. A second insurrection of the canuts took place in 1834, as well as a third one in 1848.
[4]. “The Social”, that is to say, “the social republic”. This is a slogan upheld by the labor movement since the February 1848 revolution that had ended up in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the Second Republic (after that of 1792). However, as soon as the month of May, the new power engaged in a reactionary turning point.