Fables of La Fontaine — a New Edition, with Notes by Jean de La Fontaine
page 4 of 549 (00%)
page 4 of 549 (00%)
|
unsophisticated lovers of _nature_, who have not had the opportunity
to acquaint themselves with the French language, I have no doubt will thank me for interpreting to them these honest and truthful fictions of the frank old JEAN, and will beg me to proceed no farther in the work of expurgation." The first of the substituted fables of the sixth edition--_The Fly and the Game_, given below--may also be viewed as a protest to the same purpose. As a specimen of Mr. Wright's powers at once as an original poet and an original fabulist, we here print (for the first time in England, we believe) the substituted fables of his sixth edition. We may add, that they appeared in lieu of the following five fables as given in Mr. Wright's complete edition--and in the present edition:--_The Bitch and her Friend, The Mountain in Labour, The Young Widow, The Women and the Secret_, and, _The Husband, the Wife, and the Thief_. It should also be borne in mind that these original fables were inserted in an edition professedly meant for schools rather than for the general public. * * * * * THE FLY AND THE GAME. A knight of powder-horn and shot Once fill'd his bag--as I would not, Unless the feelings of my breast By poverty were sorely press'd-- With birds and squirrels for the spits Of certain gormandizing cits. With merry heart the fellow went Direct to Mr. Centpercent, Who loved, as well was understood, |
|