A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine
LONDON JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD NEW YORK JOHN LANE COMPANY
Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh
A grasshopper gay Sang the summer away, And found herself poor By the winter's first roar. Of meat or of bread, Not a morsel she had! So a-begging she went, To her neighbour the ant, For the loan of some wheat, Which would serve her to eat, Till the season came round. I will pay you, she saith, On an animal's faith, Double weight in the pound Ere the harvest be bound. The ant is a friend (And here she might mend) Little given to lend. How spent you the summer? Quoth she, looking shame At the borrowing dame. Night and day to each comer I sang, if you please. You sang! I'm at ease; For 'tis plain at a glance, Now, ma'am, you must dance.
Two thieves, pursuing their profession, Had of a donkey got possession, Whereon a strife arose, Which went from words to blows. The question was, to sell, or not to sell; But while our sturdy champions fought it well, Another thief, who chanced to pass, With ready wit rode off the ass.
This ass is, by interpretation, Some province poor, or prostrate nation. The thieves are princes this and that, On spoils and plunder prone to fat,— As those of Austria, Turkey, Hungary. (Instead of two, I've quoted three— Enough of such commodity.) These powers engaged in war all, Some fourth thief stops the quarrel, According all to one key, By riding off the donkey
A wolf, affirming his belief That he had suffer'd by a thief, Brought up his neighbour fox— Of whom it was by all confess'd, His character was not the best— To fill the prisoner's box. As judge between these vermin, A monkey graced the ermine; And truly other gifts of Themis Did scarcely seem his; For while each party plead his cause, Appealing boldly to the laws, And much the question vex'd, Our monkey sat perplex'd. Their words and wrath expended, Their strife at length was ended; When, by their malice taught, The judge this judgment brought: Your characters, my friends, I long have known, As on this trial clearly shown; And hence I fine you both—the grounds at large To state would little profit— You wolf, in short, as bringing groundless charge, You fox, as guilty of it.
Jean de La Fontaine
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A HUNDRED FABLES
OF
LA FONTAINE
WITH PICTURES BY PERCY J. BILLINGHURST
CONTENTS
LA FONTAINE
The Grasshopper and the Ant.
The Thieves and the Ass.
The Wolf Accusing the Fox.
The Lion and the Ass Hunting.
The Wolf turned Shepherd.
The Swan and the Cook.
The Weasel in the Granary.
The Shepherd and the Sea.
The Ass and the Little Dog.
The Man and the Wooden God.
The Ears of the Hare.
The Old Woman and Her Servants.
The Ass Carrying Relics.
The Hare and the Partridge.
The Lion Going to War.
The Old Man and the Ass.
The Ass and his Masters.
The Wax-Candle.
The Shepherd and his Flock.
The Tortoise and the Two Ducks.
The Two Asses.
The Shepherd and his Dog.
The Two Mules.
The Heifer, the Goat, and the Sheep.
The Two Rats, the Fox, and the Egg.
The Man and his Image.
The Dragon with Many Heads.
Death and the Woodman
The Hornets and the Bees.
The Oak and the Reed.
The Council held by the Rats.
The Two Bulls and the Frog.
The Bat and the Two Weasels.
The Bird wounded by an Arrow.
The Lion and the Gnat.
The Ass Loaded with Sponges.
The Dove and the Ant.
The Cock and the Fox.
The Lion beaten by the Man.
Philomel and Progne.
The Camel and the Floating Sticks.
The Wolf, the Goat, and the Kid.
The Rat Retired from the World.
The Cunning Fox.
The Ape.
The Fox, the Flies, and the Hedgehog.
The Eagle and the Magpie.
The Lion and the Hunter.
The Fox, the Monkey, and the Animals
The Sun and the Frogs.
The Countryman and the Serpent.
The Carter in the Mire.
The Heron.
The Head and the Tail of the Serpent.
The Dog And His Master's Dinner.
The Joker and the Fishes.
The Rat and the Oyster.
The Hog, the Goat, and the Sheep.
The Rat and the Elephant.
The Ass and the Dog.
Education.
The Two Dogs and the Dead Ass.
The Monkey and the Leopard.
The Acorn and the Pumpkin.
The Fool who Sold Wisdom.
The Oyster and the Litigants.
The Wolf and the Lean Dog.
Nothing too Much.
The Cat and the Fox.
The Monkey and the Cat.
The Spider and the Swallow.
The Dog whose Ears were Cropped.
The Lioness and the Bear.
The Mice and the Owl.
The Cat and the Two Sparrows.
The Two Goats.
The Old Cat and the Young Mouse.
The Sick Stag
The Quarrel of the Dogs and Cats.
The Wolf and the Fox.
The Lobster and her Daughter.
The Ploughman and his Sons.
The Ass Dressed in the Lion's Skin.
The Woods and the Woodman.
The Fox, the Wolf, and the horse.
The Fox and the Turkeys.
The Wallet.
The Woodman and Mercury.
The Lion and the Monkey.
The Shepherd and the Lion.
The Horse and the Wolf.
The Eagle and the Owl.
The Miser and the Monkey.
The Vultures and the Pigeons.
The Stag and the Vine.
The Earthen Pot and the Iron Pot.
The Bear and the Two Companions.
The Lion, the Wolf, and the Fox
The Battle of the Rats and Weasels.
The Animals Sick of the Plague.