Snuggling with my nice warm dog on this bitter cold night, after a long time abroad, it is good to be home. It reminds me of the fable by Jean de LaFontaine about the two doves. (It is a fable starring two pigeons in the French version; go figure!)
It is a sad story in some ways, yet it rings true in my life. No matter how long I am gone, Honey Girl always forgives me.
The Fable of the Two Doves
Two doves once cherished for each other
The love that brother has for brother.
But one, of scenes domestic tiring,
To see the foreign world aspiring,
Was fool enough to undertake
A journey long, over land and lake.
“What plan is this?” the other cried;
“Would quit so soon your brother’s side?
This absence is the worst of ills;
Your heart may bear, but me it kills.
Pray, let the dangers, toil, and care,
Of which all travellers tell,
Your courage somewhat quell.
Still, if the season later were
O wait the zephyrs! hasten not
Just now the raven, on his oak,
In hoarser tones than usual spoke.
My heart forebodes the saddest lot,
The falcons, nets Alas, it rains!
My brother, are your wants supplied
Provisions, shelter, pocket guide,
And all that to health pertains?”
These words occasioned some demur
In our imprudent traveller.
But restless curiosity
Prevailed at last; and so said he,
“The matter is not worth a sigh;
Three days, at most, will satisfy,
And then, returning, I shall tell
You all the wonders that befell,
With scenes enchanting and sublime
Shall sweeten all our coming time.
Who sees nothing, has nothing to say.
My travel’s course, from day to day,
Will be the source of great delight.
A store of tales I shall relate,
Say there I lodged at such a date,
And saw there such and such a sight.
You’ll think it all occurred to you.”
On this, both, weeping, bade adieu.
Away the lonely wanderer flew.
A thunder cloud began to lower;
He sought, as shelter from the shower,
The only tree that graced the plain,
Whose leaves ill turned the pelting rain.
The sky once more serene above,
On flew our drenched and dripping dove,
And dried his plumage as he could.
Next, on the borders of a wood,
He spied some scattered grains of wheat,
Which one, he thought, might safely eat;
For there another dove he saw.
He felt the snare around him draw!
This wheat was but a treacherous bait
To lure poor pigeons to their fate.
The snare had been so long in use,
With beak and wings he struggled loose:
Some feathers perished while it stuck;
But, what was worst in point of luck,
A hawk, the cruellest of foes,
Perceived him clearly as he rose,
Off dragging, like a runaway,
A piece of string. The bird of prey
Had bound him, in a moment more,
Much faster than he was before,
But from the clouds an eagle came,
And made the hawk himself his game.
By war of robbers profiting,
The dove for safety plied the wing,
And, lighting on a ruined wall,
Believed his dangers ended all.
A roguish boy had there a sling,
(Age pitiless!
We must confess,)
And, by a most unlucky fling,
Half killed our hapless dove;
Who now, no more in love
With foreign travelling,
And lame in leg and wing,
Straight homeward urged his crippled flight,
Fatigued, but glad, arrived at night,
In truly sad and piteous plight.
The doves rejoined, I leave you all to say,
What pleasure might their pains repay.
Ah, happy lovers, would you roam?
Pray, let it not be far from home.
To each the other ought to be
A world of beauty ever new;
In each the other ought to see
The whole of what is good and true.
…
Jean de La Fontaine
Book 9, Fable 2
Fables, 1668
Daily Joy with Honey Girl 