TIL

In the English version of one of the Tintin albums (I think it’s Red Rackham’s Treasure,) there’s a moment where the characters are in a small open boat, and Captain Haddock is cheerfully singing the chorus to “Maid of Amsterdam,” moments before a shark attacks one of their oars. But in the original, Haddock is quoting a bit of poetry, and through google I now know that he’s recalling “Le Lac,” by Alphonse de Lamartine, which is an interesting choice for a character who’s supposed to be a rough English sea-captain.

 

Un soir, t’en souvient-il ? nous voguions en silence;
On n’entendait au loin, sur l’onde et sous les cieux,
Que le bruit des rameurs qui frappaient en cadence
Tes flots harmonieux. (SHARK BITE)

 

https://www.frenchtoday.com/french-poetry-reading/poem-le-lac-lamartine