Français / A2
La Guenon, le Singe et la Noix
Un jeune singe prend une noix. Elle a encore sa peau verte. Il la mord sans l'ouvrir et fait une drôle de tête.
« Ma mère m'a menti ! dit-il. Elle m'a dit que les noix étaient bonnes. Les vieux trompent les jeunes ! »
Il jette la noix.
Un autre singe la ramasse. Il la casse entre deux pierres, enlève ce qui la couvre et la mange.
« Ta mère a raison, dit-il. Les noix sont bonnes, mais il faut les ouvrir. Dans la vie, il faut travailler un peu pour avoir du plaisir. »
English summary · includes the ending
A young female monkey picks a walnut that is still inside its green covering. Instead of opening it, she bites into it and makes a face. Her mother had told her that walnuts tasted good. She now decides that her mother lied and complains that older people deceive the young. She throws the fruit away.
Another monkey picks up the walnut. He quickly cracks it between two stones, removes its covering and eats it. He tells the young monkey that her mother was right: walnuts do taste good, but they must be opened first.
He ends with a lesson about life. Enjoyment requires a little work. The young monkey judged the whole fruit after tasting only the outside, while the second monkey reached the food inside by making an effort. The story ends with his advice, without saying whether she changes her mind.
Adapted for Lejrbål from the credited source.
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