faire la figue 'to laugh at something

34. Vive la ligue, la ligue hère alluded to, and the one always alluded to when the words la ligue are alone used was an association of the catholic party formed by the duke of Guise in 1576. The professed aim of the ligueurs was to défend the catholic religion against the attacks of the protestants, but the true aim was to overthrow. Henry III, and to place one of the Guises on the throne of France. By his renouncing protestantism Henry IV put an end to the league in 1593.

The moral taught in lines 33 and 34 is, to put it very mildly, exceedingly startling.

XVI. LE LION ET LE MOUCHERON, ^sop's fables 254. Line 1. excrément de la terre 'scum of the earth'.