SPILLED MILK DAY, DON'T CRY OVER (FR 1678)
Categories: Anniversary, Culture & Art, Food & Books
Location: France
Type of Event: Daily Event
Updated: May 06, 2024
Location: France
Type of Event: Daily Event
Updated: May 06, 2024
About Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
Today is the anniversary of the poem written in 1678 by Jean de la Fontaine �La Laiti�re et le Pot au Lait�
It is the origin of the saying �Don�t Cry over Spilled Milk�. Below is the English Translation from the original French.
The Milkmaid and the Pot of Milk, By Jean de La Fontaine
Perrette, on her head having a pot of milk
Well-placed on a little cushion,
Was intending to get without problem to the town.
Dressed lightly and short, she went with long strides,
Having put on that day, so she�d be more agile,
Simple garments and flat shoes.
Our milkmaid so attired
Counted already in her thought
The income from her milk; was using the money;
Bought a hundred eggs; had a triple brood of chickens.
Everything was going well thanks to her diligent care.
�It is, she said, easy for me
To raise chickens about my house.
The fox will be very skillful
If he doesn�t leave me enough to have a pig.
The porker to become fat won�t take much bran;
He was, when I got him, of reasonable weight:
I will have, when I sell him, fine and good money.
And who can stop me from putting in our stable,
Considering the money I will have, a cow and her calf,
Whom I will see leap about among the herd?
Perrette on this thoughts, leaps also, carried away:
The milk falls; goodbye calf, cow, pig, chickens.
The lady of all these goods, leaving with sorry eye
Her fortune hence spread out,
Goes to ask forgiveness to her husband,
With a good chance of getting slapped.
The story was made into a farce:
It was called the Pot of Milk.
It is the origin of the saying �Don�t Cry over Spilled Milk�. Below is the English Translation from the original French.
The Milkmaid and the Pot of Milk, By Jean de La Fontaine
Perrette, on her head having a pot of milk
Well-placed on a little cushion,
Was intending to get without problem to the town.
Dressed lightly and short, she went with long strides,
Having put on that day, so she�d be more agile,
Simple garments and flat shoes.
Our milkmaid so attired
Counted already in her thought
The income from her milk; was using the money;
Bought a hundred eggs; had a triple brood of chickens.
Everything was going well thanks to her diligent care.
�It is, she said, easy for me
To raise chickens about my house.
The fox will be very skillful
If he doesn�t leave me enough to have a pig.
The porker to become fat won�t take much bran;
He was, when I got him, of reasonable weight:
I will have, when I sell him, fine and good money.
And who can stop me from putting in our stable,
Considering the money I will have, a cow and her calf,
Whom I will see leap about among the herd?
Perrette on this thoughts, leaps also, carried away:
The milk falls; goodbye calf, cow, pig, chickens.
The lady of all these goods, leaving with sorry eye
Her fortune hence spread out,
Goes to ask forgiveness to her husband,
With a good chance of getting slapped.
The story was made into a farce:
It was called the Pot of Milk.
PROMOTIONAL DETAILS
Event Sponsor:
Historical Event. No Sponsor. See the Jean d la Fontaine Museum for information on this subject
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