Un bœuf, un baudet, un cheval,
Se disputaient la préséance.
Un baudet ! direz-vous, tant d’orgueil lui sied mal !
A qui l´orgueil sied-il ? Et qui de nous ne pense
Valoir ceux que le rang, les talents, la naissance
Élèvent au-dessus de nous ?

An ox, a donkey and a horse
argued about who was the noblest.
A donkey! you will say, so much pride suits him badly!
Who deserves pride? And who among us does not think that we value those who exalt in rank, talents, and birth.

e boeuf, d´un ton modeste et doux,
Alléguait ses nombreux services,
Sa force, sa docilité ;
Le coursier sa valeur, ses nobles exercices,
Et l´âne son utilité.

The Ox, with a soft and humble voice
put forward his many skills,
his strength, his obedience, the war horse his courage, his noble arts, and the donkey his usefulness.

Prenons, dit le cheval, les hommes pour arbitres :
En voici venir trois, exposons-leur nos titres.
Si deux sont d´un avis le procès est jugé.
Les trois hommes venus, notre boeuf est chargé
D´être le rapporteur ; il explique l´affaire,
Et demande le jugement.

Let's, suggested the horse, use the humans as referees.

Here come three, let's present our request to them. If two agree, the negotiation is closed. When the three arrived, the ox was asked to present the request. He explains the matter, and asks for a verdict.

Un des juges choisis, maquignon bas-normand
Crie aussitôt : La chose est claire,
Le cheval a gagné. Non pas, mon cher confrère,
Dit le second jugeur, c´était un gros meunier,
L´âne doit marcher le premier ;
Tout autre avis serait d´une injustice extrême.

One of the chosen judges, a horse dealer from Normandy, immediately exclaimed: The matter is clear, the horse won.

Not so, my brother, said the second judge, a rich miller,
it's the donkey that takes precedence, each
Any other opinion would be an extreme injustice.

Oh ! que nenni, dit le troisième,
Fermier de sa paroisse et riche laboureur,
Au boeuf appartient cet honneur.
Quoi ! reprend le coursier, écumant de colère,
Votre avis n´est dicté que par votre intérêt ?
Eh ! mais, dit le Normand, par quoi donc, s´il vous plaît ?
N´est-ce pas le code ordinaire ?

Oh! What nonsense, said the third, a farmer
of his fields and rich ploughmen, it is the ox that deserves this honor. What! answer the war horse, seething with anger, your opinion is conditioned by nothing but your interests?
Slowly, said the Norman, through what else, if I may ask?
Isn't that normal behavior?