The Farmer and His Sons – AESOP’S FABLES (productive labor is the only source of wealth)

A farmer, dying, told his sons,

“You’ll have no need to rove.

Beneath my field you’ll find a yield

Far more than treasure-trove.”

The youths, who on the spade and plow

Had looked in high disdain,

With arms that heaved, when fresh-bereaved,

Dug down for golden gain.

No, not a copper did they find,

But on the turned-up soil

The weeds were few; the crops they grew

Were rich as pirates’ spoil.

“Brothers,” said one, “we’ve earned the prize

Of which our father told.

For look! the earth has greater worth

Than any chest of gold!”

Aesop’s Fables, in French: With a Description of Fifty Animals Mentioned Therein and a French and English Dictionary of the Words Contained in the Work (French Edition)