Jean de La Fontaine

Fables (Pocket Classics)

Fables (World Classics

حكايات من لافونتين

In patoès d'chaleroèt

Les faufes dè J. Lafontaine

Tales and Novels in Verse

In Verse and Prose

The Loves of Cupid and Psyche

TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF THESE TALES I had resolved not to consent to the printing of these Tales, until after I had joined to them those of Boccaccio, which are those most to my taste; but several persons have advised me to produce at once what I have remaining of these trifles, in order to prevent from cooling the curiosity to see them, which is still in its first ardour. I gave way to this advice without much difficulty, and I have thought well to profit by the occasion. Not only is that permitted me, but it would be vanity on my part to despise such an advantage. It has sufficed me to wish that no one should be imposed upon in my favour, and to follow a road contrary to that of certain persons, who only make friends in order to gain voices in their favour by their means; creatures of the Cabal, very different from that Spaniard who prided himself on being the son of his own works. Although I may still be as much in want of these artifices as any other person, I cannot bring myself to resolve to employ them; however I shall accommodate myself if possible to the taste of the times, instructed as I am by my own experience, that there is nothing which is more necessary. Indeed one cannot say that all seasons are suitable for all classes of books. We have seen the Roundelays, the Metamorphoses, the Crambos, reign one after another. At present, these gallantries are out of date and nobody cares about them: so certain is it that what pleases at one time may not please at another! It only belongs to works of truly solid merit and sovereign beauty, to be well received by all minds and in all ages, without possessing any other passport than the sole merit with which they are filled. As mine are so far distant from such a high degree of perfection, prudence advises that I should keep them in my cabinet unless I choose well my own time for producing them. This is what I have done, or what I have tried to do in this edition, in which I have only added new Tales, because it seemed to me that people were prepared to take pleasure in them. There are some which I have extended, and others which I have abridged, only for the sake of diversifying them and making them less tedious. But I am occupying myself over matters about which perhaps people will take no notice, whilst I have reason to apprehend much more important objections. There are only two principal ones which can be made against me; the one that this book is licentious; the other that it does not sufficiently spare the fair sex. With regard to the first, I say boldly that the nature of what is understood as a tale decided that it should be so, it being an indispensable law according to Horace, or rather according to reason and common sense, that one must conform one's self to the nature of the things about which one writes. Now, that I should be permitted to write about these as so many others have done and with success I do not believe it can be doubted; and people cannot condemn me for so doing, without also condemning Ariosto before me and the Ancients before Ariosto. It may be said that I should have done better to have suppressed certain details, or at least to have disguised them. Nothing was more easy, but it would have weakened the tale and taken away some of its charm: So much circumspection is only necessary in works which promise great discretion from the beginning, either by their subject or by the manner in which they are treated. I confess that it is necessary to keep within certain limits, and that the narrowest are the best; also it must be allowed me that to be too scrupulous would spoil all. He who would wish to reduce Boccaccio to the same modesty as Virgil, would assuredly produce nothing worth having, and would sin against the laws of propriety by setting himself the task to observe them. For in order that one may not make a mistake in matters of verse and prose, extreme modesty and propriety are two very different things. Cicero makes the latter consist in saying what is appropriate one should say, considering the place, the time, and the persons to whom one is speaking. This principle once admitted, it is not a fault of judgment to entertain the people of to-day with Tales which are a little broad. Neither do I sin in that against morality.

The Devil World

The Devil Tales and Novels, Complete

Fables

This volume in large format (8.5 x 11 inch) encompasses the 12 books of the 240 Fables (plus introductions and epilogues) written by French poet Jean de La Fontaine, first published between 1668 and 1694 and here translated into English with notes and an explanatory preface by Elizur Wright. Of course, La Fontaine's special dedications to the King of France and to some members of the French noblesse, and introductions that accompanied certain fables are here transcribed and translated in full. Each and every of the fables are illustrated with a sketch plus a vignette by famous French artist and engraver Gustave Doré. Also, 89 large plates illustrate the best known fables, including some which were not published in the original Doré's printing of 1867. So this edition reunites all at the same time the exhaustive collection of the Fables of La Fontaine and all illustrations Gustave Doré has ever drawn for it. Most of La Fontaine's fables were in the main adapted from the classical fabulists Aesop, Babrius and Phaedrus. Elizur Wright's translations of the Fables are in prose; so their reading claims a consistent knowledge of the English tongue. Notes by the translator come to explain particular words, allusions and their origins that couldn't be fully understood otherwise, as for their historical and literary contexts whenever it is necessary. We changed the preface by the author Jean de La Fontaine for Elizur Wright's, which tell us more on the true origins and meanings of the fables. The reproductions of the sketches, vignettes and large plates by Gustave Doré have been done on the basis of a selection among the best we found in several original copies, since one may notice variations in contrast from one original printing to another. After we scanned them in high resolution, we fixed the small scratches and various imperfections of printing visible on any original copies, and we reviewed their contrasts so as to restitute their depths often lost due to insufficient inking during the printing process.For the making of this book, we have been all along anxious to publish the best version of the Fables of La Fontaine illustrated by Gustave Doré.

Fables of La Fontaine - Illustrated by Gustave Dore

Tales and Novels of de La Fontaine

A compilation of the beloved 17th century French author's fantastic erotic tales. Clara Tice's etchings are of the sort elegant gentlemen are said to have employed in their gentler seductions: "my dear, why not step into my parlor to view my etchings?" These gaily wicked poems can be compared only to Boccaccio's Decameron or Balzac's Droll Stories. Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) was serious poet, and although objections have been made to his subject matter, cuckolds, lecherous priests and wanton young ladies, his tales are highly readable.

Tales And Novels Of Jean De La Fontaine

The Two Mules (Book I.-No. 4)There were two heavily-laden mules making a journey together. One was carrying oats and the other bore a parcel of silver money collected from the people as a tax upon salt. This, we learn, was a tax which produced much money for the government, but it bore very hard upon the people, who revolted many times against it.The mule that carried the silver was very proud of his burden, and would not have been relieved of it if he could. As he stepped out he took care that the bells upon his harness should jingle well as became a mule of so much importance.Suddenly a band of robbers burst into the road, pounced upon the treasure mule, seized it by the bridle, and stopped it short. Struggling to defend itself the unhappy creature groaned and sighed as it cried: "Is this then the fate that has been in store for me: that I must fall and perish whilst my fellow traveller escapes free from danger?""My friend," exclaimed the mule that carried only the oats, and whom the robbers had not troubled about, "it is not always good to have exalted work to do. Had you been like me, a mere slave to a miller, you would not have been in such a bad way now!"You boasted of being so swift.II THE HARE AND THE PARTRIDGE (Book V.-No. 17)Never mock at other people's misfortune; for you cannot tell how soon you yourself may be unhappy. �sop the sage has given us one or two examples of this truth, and I am going to tell you of a similar one now.A hare and a partridge were living as fellow-citizens very peacefully in a field, when a pack of hounds making an onset obliged the hare to seek refuge. He rushed into his form and succeeded in putting the hounds at fault. But here the scent from his over-heated body betrayed him. Towler, philosophising, concluded that this scent came from his hare, and with admirable zeal routed him out. Then old Trusty, who never is at fault, proclaimed that the hare was gone away. The poor unfortunate creature at last died in his form.The partridge, his companion, thought fit to soothe his last moments with some scoffing remarks upon his fate. "You boasted of being so swift," she said "What has come to your feet, then?"But even as she was chuckling her own turn came. Secure in the belief that her wings would save her whatever happened, she did not reckon upon the cruel talons of the hawk.III THE GARDENER AND HIS LANDLORD (Book IV.-No. 4)A man who had a great fondness for gardening, being half a countryman and half town-bred, possessed in a certain village a fair-sized plot with a field attached, and all enclosed by a quickset hedge. Here sorrel and lettuce grew freely, as well as such flowers as Spanish jasmine and wild thyme, and from these his good wife Margot culled many a posy for her high days and holidays.This happy state of things was soon troubled by the visits of a hare, and to such an extent that the man had to go to his landlord and lodge a complaint. "This wretched animal," he said, "comes here and stuffs himself night and morning, and simply laughs at traps and snares....

The Original Fables of La Fontaine Rendered Into English Prose by Fredk. Colin T

Jean de La Fontaine

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