Fable, Jean de La Fontaine,...

Fables, Jean de La Fontaine Book VI, fables 1, 2, 3, 4 THE SHEPHERD AND LION (VI, 1) Fables are not what they at first appear, The simplest animals are teachers here. The naked moral soon the reader tires : Fiction the happy precept best inspires. Such tales should please and wisdom thus convey; To tell for telling's sake is childish play. Many great writers, therefore, of this kind, At once improve and animate the mind They seek no ornament, nor laboured length, And all their words are chosen for their strength. Phœdrus, so brief, was censured on that score, But Æsop wrote with fewer words before. And of a certain Greek (1), who would enhance His merit through laconic elegance, Four fines contain the tale ; but well or ill, I leave to judges of superior skill. Here let us see him with old Æsop meet, Of a like subject both these writers treat. A hunter one, a shepherd t'other brings, I’ve kept to both in winding up of things ; Adding some little touches now and then.: Behold it nearly as from Æsop’pen : A shepherd, missing lambkins from his fold, Resolved to catch the thief so bold, Went to a den, and spread his nets around, Suspecting wolves would be the villains found. He lingered near the spot, and prayed : “ 0 king of gods ! come to my aid ! And let my nets, to my delight, The rascal catch before my sight. Of twenty calves all goodly in their kind, I'll offer thee the fattest I can find ” But straight a dreadful lion from the den Came forth ; recoiling, half alive, he said, “ How little man knows what to ask, or when ! To catch the. robber of my flock I prayed Safe in the nets that I had laid. 0 king of gods ! a calf I offered then, To bring the thief to light ; I offer now an ox to take him from my sight ! ” Thus Æsop wrote, chief author of this text : Let’s try his imitator next. (1) Gabrias THE LION AND HUNTER (VI, 2) A certain braggadocio of the chace Rad lost a hound of an uncommon race, Suspected he had passed some lion's maw, And asked a shepherd whom he saw : “ Give me the thief's address, good friend,” he cried, “ That I may glut my vengeance on his hide.” “ Close by that mountain,” said the shepherd, “ keep ; In paying him the tribute of a sheep Per month, I wander where I please, And thus I live in constant ease.” Whilst they conversed the lion came that way With agile feet ; the braggart in dismay Fled and exclairned “ O Jove ! grant me some hole That I may hide in while my bones are whole !” True courage is to brave the danger near, Nor it to seek, nor shun if it appear. Many who brag their courage for the fight, Give it their heels when it attacks their sight. The Lion and Hunter The Lion and Hunter (Grandville) PHŒBUS AND BOREAS (VI, 3) The Sun and Boreas a traveller met, Well clothed, and careless of the cold or wet. ’Twas early autumn, when the transient skies Render to travellers precautions wise ; When Iris shows her many-coloured bow, That tells them they may shiver or may glow : Uncertain months the Latins termed the season, And cloaks were necessary for that reason. Our man, expecting rain, was wise enough To wear a mantle lined with solid stuff. “ He's furnished,” Boreas said, “ for storms to-day, Without foreseeing, by the way, That if I had but half a mind, No loop nor button he should find, I'd give his mantle to the wind. Phoebus, what do you say ? Methinks, in short, This pastime might afford us real sport.” “ Well,” Phoebus said, “ without more waste of words, Let's wager on the fun this man affords‑ Which first shall give his shoulders to the weather, If he brave you, or me, or both together. Begin ; suffer you to hide my raye.” “ Enough,” said Boreas, “ then withdraw your blaze,” He said, and swelled his cheeks like a balloon ; Blew blasts that seemed to threaten sun and moon, Threw houses down, dashed ships upon the rock, Whirled, whistled, roared, and all around him broke ; And all to strip a traveller of his cloak ! The rider's care throughout the blustering din Was still to keep his body buttoned in. This saved him ; in this way he braved the blast, The more wind blew, the firmer he held fast : The storm but ruffled cape and folds at last. Soon as the wager-hour expired, Phoebus appeared, and Boreas retired. The cheering rays upon the traveller broke, And soon made him throw, sweating, off his cloak. Nor did he scorch him to the last degree. Mildness is better far than rage, we see. JUPITER AND THE FARMER (VI, 4) Of yore Jove had a farm to rent ; To advertise it, Mercury was sent. Buyers appeared and offers made, But not till they the matter weighed. One urged the cost, and said the lands were rude, Another