Chapter 1

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A HUNDRED FABLES OF

LA FONTAINE

A HUNDRED FABLES

OF

LA FONTAINE

WITH PICTURES BY PERCY J. BILLINGHURST

LONDON JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD NEW YORK JOHN LANE COMPANY

_SECOND EDITION_

Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh

CONTENTS

A

_Page_ _The Acorn and the Pumpkin_ 128 _The Animals Sick of the Plague_ 200 _The Ape_ 90 _The Ass and his Masters_ 34 _The Ass and the Dog_ 120 _The Ass and the Little Dog_ 18 _The Ass Carrying Relics_ 26 _The Ass Dressed in the Lion's Skin_ 166 _The Ass Loaded with Sponges_ 72

B

_The Bat and the Two Weasels_ 66 _The Battle of the Rats and the Weasels_ 198 _The Bear and the Two Companions_ 194 _The Bird Wounded by an Arrow_ 68

C

_The Camel and the Floating Sticks_ 82 _The Carter in the Mire_ 104 _The Cat and the Fox_ 138 _The Cat and the Two Sparrows_ 150 _The Cock and the Fox_ 76 _The Council held by the Rats_ 62 _The Countryman and the Serpent_ 102 _The Cunning Fox_ 88

D

_Death and the Woodman_ 56 _The Dog and his Master's Dinner_ 110 _The Dog whose Ears were Cropped_ 144 _The Dove and the Ant_ 74 _The Dragon with many Heads_ 54

E

_The Eagle and the Magpie_ 94 _The Eagle and the Owl_ 184 _The Ears of the Hare_ 22 _The Earthen Pot and the Iron Pot_ 192 _Education_ 122

F

_The Fool who Sold Wisdom_ 130 _The Fox, the Flies, and the Hedgehog_ 92 _The Fox, the Monkey, and the Animals_ 98 _The Fox and the Turkeys_ 172 _The Fox, the Wolf, and the Horse_ 170

G

_The Grasshopper and the Ant_ 2

H

_The Hare and the Partridge_ 28 _The Head and the Tail of the Serpent_ 108 _The Heifer, the Goat, and the Sheep_ 48 _The Heron_ 106 _The Hog, the Goat, and the Sheep_ 116 _The Hornets and the Bees_ 58 _The Horse and the Wolf_ 182

J

_The Joker and the Fishes_ 112

L

_The Lion and the Ass Hunting_ 8 _The Lion and the Hunter_ 96 _The Lion and the Gnat_ 70 _The Lion and the Monkey_ 178 _The Lion beaten by the Man_ 78 _The Lioness and the Bear_ 146 _The Lion Going to War_ 30 _The Lion, the Wolf, and the Fox_ 196 _The Lobster and her Daughter_ 162

M

_The Man and his Image_ 52 _The Man and the Wooden God_ 20 _The Man and the Owl_ 148 _The Miser and the Monkey_ 186 _The Monkey and the Cat_ 140 _The Monkey and the Leopard_ 126

N

_Nothing too Much_ 136

O

_The Oak and the Reed_ 60 _The Old Cat and the Young Mouse_ 154 _The Old Man and the Ass_ 32 _The Old Woman and her Servants_ 24 _The Oyster and the Litigants_ 132

P

_Philomet and Progne_ 80 _The Ploughman and his Sons_ 164

Q

_The Quarrel of the Dogs and Cats_ 158

R

_The Rat and the Elephant_ 118 _The Rat and the Oyster_ 114 _The Rat Retired from the World_ 86

S

_The Shepherd and his Dog_ 44 _The Shepherd and his Flock_ 38 _The Shepherd and the Lion_ 180 _The Shepherd and the Sea_ 16 _The Sick Stag_ 156 _The Spider and the Swallow_ 142 _The Stag and the Vine_ 190 _The Sun and the Frogs_ 100 _The Swan and the Cook_ 12

T

_The Thieves and the Ass_ 4 _The Tortoise and the Two Ducks_ 40 _The Two Asses_ 42 _The Two Bulls and the Frog_ 64 _The Two Dogs and the Dead Ass_ 124 _The Two Goats_ 152 _The Two Mules_ 46 _The Two Rats, the Fox, and the Egg_ 50

V

_The Vultures and the Pigeons_ 188

W

_The Wallet_ 174 _The Wax-Candle_ 36 _The Weasel in the Granary_ 14 _The Wolf Accusing the Fox_ 6 _The Wolf and the Fox_ 160 _The Wolf and the Lean Dog_ 134 _The Wolf, the Goat, and the Kid_ 84 _The Wolf turned Shepherd_ 10 _The Woodman and Mercury_ 176 _The Woods and the Woodman_ 168

A HUNDRED FABLES OF LA FONTAINE

The Grasshopper and the Ant.

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."

The Thieves and the Ass.

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_

The Wolf Accusing the Fox.

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."

_Come at it right or wrong, the judge opined_ _No other than a villain could be fined_

The Lion and the Ass Hunting.

The king of animals, with royal grace, Would celebrate his birthday in the chase. 'Twas not with bow and arrows, To slay some wretched sparrows; The lion hunts the wild boar of the wood, The antlered deer and stags, the fat and good. This time, the king, t' insure success, Took for his aide-de-camp an ass, A creature of stentorian voice, That felt much honour'd by the choice. The lion hid him in a proper station, And order'd him to bray, for his vocation, Assured that his tempestuous cry The boldest beasts would terrify, And cause them from their lairs to fly. And, sooth, the horrid noise the creature made Did strike the tenants of the wood with dread; And, as they headlong fled, All fell within the lion's ambuscade. "Has not my service glorious Made both of us victorious?" Cried out the much-elated ass. "Yes," said the lion; "bravely bray'd! Had I not known yourself and race, I should have been myself afraid!" The donkey, had he dared, With anger would have flared At this retort, though justly made; For who could suffer boasts to pass So ill-befitting to an ass?

The Wolf turned Shepherd.

A wolf, whose gettings from the flocks Began to be but few, Bethought himself to play the fox In character quite new. A shepherd's hat and coat he took, A cudgel for a crook, Nor e'en the pipe forgot: And more to seem what he was not, Himself upon his hat he wrote, "I'm Willie, shepherd of these sheep." His person thus complete, His crook in upraised feet, The impostor Willie stole upon the keep. The real Willie, on the grass asleep, Slept there, indeed, profoundly, His dog and pipe slept, also soundly; His drowsy sheep around lay. As for the greatest number, Much bless'd the hypocrite their slumber, And hoped to drive away the flock, Could he the shepherd's voice but mock. He thought undoubtedly he could. He tried: the tone in which he spoke, Loud echoing from the wood, The plot and slumber broke; Sheep, dog, and man awoke. The wolf, in sorry plight, In hampering coat bedight, Could neither run nor fight.

_There's always leakage of deceit_ _Which makes it never safe to cheat._ _Whoever is a wolf had better_ _Keep clear of hypocritic fetter._

The Swan and the Cook.

The pleasures of a poultry yard Were by a swan and gosling shared. The swan was kept there for his looks, The thrifty gosling for the cooks; The first the garden's pride, the latter A greater favourite on the platter. They swam the ditches, side by side, And oft in sports aquatic vied, Plunging, splashing far and wide, With rivalry ne'er satisfied. One day the cook, named Thirsty John, Sent for the gosling, took the swan In haste his throat to cut, And put him in the pot. The bird's complaint resounded In glorious melody; Whereat the cook, astounded His sad mistake to see, Cried, "What! make soup of a musician! Please God, I'll never set such dish on. No, no; I'll never cut a throat That sings so sweet a note."

_'Tis thus, whatever peril may alarm us,_ _Sweet words will never harm us._

The Weasel in the Granary.

A weasel through a hole contrived to squeeze, (She was recovering from disease,) Which led her to a farmer's hoard. There lodged, her wasted form she cherish'd; Heaven knows the lard and victuals stored That by her gnawing perish'd! Of which the consequence Was sudden corpulence. A week or so was past, When having fully broken fast, A noise she heard, and hurried To find the hole by which she came, And seem'd to find it not the same; So round she ran, most sadly flurried; And, coming back, thrust out her head, Which, sticking there, she said, "This is the hole, there can't be blunder: What makes it now so small, I wonder, Where, but the other day, I pass'd with ease?" A rat her trouble sees, And cries, "But with an emptier belly; You enter'd lean, and lean must sally."

The Shepherd and the Sea.

A shepherd, neighbour to the sea, Lived with his flock contentedly. His fortune, though but small, Was safe within his call. At last some stranded kegs of gold Him tempted, and his flock he sold, Turn'd merchant, and the ocean's waves Bore all his treasure--to its caves. Brought back to keeping sheep once more, But not chief shepherd, as before, When sheep were his that grazed the shore, He who, as Corydon or Thyrsis, Might once have shone in pastoral verses, Bedeck'd with rhyme and metre, Was nothing now but Peter. But time and toil redeem'd in full Those harmless creatures rich in wool; And as the lulling winds, one day, The vessels wafted with a gentle motion, "Want you," he cried, "more money, Madam Ocean? Address yourself to some one else, I pray; You shall not get it out of me! I know too well your treachery."

_This tale's no fiction, but a fact,_ _Which, by experience back'd,_ _Proves that a single penny,_ _At present held, and certain,_ _Is worth five times as many,_ _Of Hope's, beyond the curtain;_

_That one should be content with his condition,_ _And shut his ears to counsels of ambition,_ _More faithless than the wreck-strown sea, and which_ _Doth thousands beggar where it makes one rich,--_ _Inspires the hope of wealth, in glorious forms,_ _And blasts the same with piracy and storms._

The Ass and the Little Dog.

One's native talent from its course Cannot be turned aside by force; But poorly apes the country clown The polish'd manners of the town. Their Maker chooses but a few With power of pleasing to imbue; Where wisely leave it we, the mass, Unlike a certain fabled ass, That thought to gain his master's blessing By jumping on him and caressing. "What!" said the donkey in his heart; "Ought it to be that puppy's part To lead his useless life In full companionship With master and his wife, While I must bear the whip? What doth the cur a kiss to draw? Forsooth, he only gives his paw! If that is all there needs to please, I'll do the thing myself, with ease." Possess'd with this bright notion,-- His master sitting on his chair, At leisure in the open air,-- He ambled up, with awkward motion, And put his talents to the proof; Upraised his bruised and batter'd hoof, And, with an amiable mien, His master patted on the chin, The action gracing with a word-- The fondest bray that e'er was heard! O, such caressing was there ever? Or melody with such a quaver? "Ho! Martin! here! a club, a club bring!" Out cried the master, sore offended. So Martin gave the ass a drubbing,-- And so the comedy was ended.

The Man and the Wooden God.

A pagan kept a god of wood,-- A sort that never hears, Though furnish'd well with ears,-- From which he hoped for wondrous good. The idol cost the board of three; So much enrich'd was he With vows and offerings vain, With bullocks garlanded and slain: No idol ever had, as that, A kitchen quite so full and fat. But all this worship at his shrine Brought not from this same block divine Inheritance, or hidden mine, Or luck at play, or any favour. Nay, more, if any storm whatever Brew'd trouble here or there, The man was sure to have his share, And suffer in his purse, Although the god fared none the worse. At last, by sheer impatience bold, The man a crowbar seizes, His idol breaks in pieces, And finds it richly stuff'd with gold. "How's this? Have I devoutly treated," Says he, "your godship, to be cheated? Now leave my house, and go your way, And search for altars where you may."

The Ears of the Hare.

Some beast with horns did gore The lion; and that sovereign dread, Resolved to suffer so no more, Straight banish'd from his realm, 'tis said, All sorts of beasts with horns-- Rams, bulls, goats, stags, and unicorns. Such brutes all promptly fled. A hare, the shadow of his ears perceiving, Could hardly help believing That some vile spy for horns would take them, And food for accusation make them. "Adieu," said he, "my neighbour cricket; I take my foreign ticket. My ears, should I stay here, Will turn to horns, I fear; And were they shorter than a bird's, I fear the effect of words." "These horns!" the cricket answer'd; "why, God made them ears who can deny?" "Yes," said the coward, "still they'll make them horns, And horns, perhaps, of unicorns! In vain shall I protest, With all the learning of the schools: My reasons they will send to rest In th' Hospital of Fools."

The Old Woman and Her Servants.

A beldam kept two spinning maids, Who plied so handily their trades, Those spinning sisters down below Were bunglers when compared with these. No care did this old woman know But giving tasks as she might please. No sooner did the god of day His glorious locks enkindle, Than both the wheels began to play, And from each whirling spindle Forth danced the thread right merrily, And back was coil'd unceasingly. Soon as the dawn, I say, its tresses show'd, A graceless cock most punctual crow'd. The beldam roused, more graceless yet, In greasy petticoat bedight, Struck up her farthing light, And then forthwith the bed beset, Where deeply, blessedly did snore Those two maid-servants tired and poor. One oped an eye, an arm one stretch'd, And both their breath most sadly fetch'd, This threat concealing in the sigh-- "That cursed cock shall surely die!" And so he did:--they cut his throat, And put to sleep his rousing note. And yet this murder mended not The cruel hardship of their lot; For now the twain were scarce in bed Before they heard the summons dread. The beldam, full of apprehension Lest oversleep should cause detention, Ran like a goblin through her mansion.

_Thus often, when one thinks_ _To clear himself from ill,_ _His effort only sinks_ _Him in the deeper still._ _The beldam acting for the cock,_ _Was Scylla for Charybdis' rock._

The Ass Carrying Relics.

An ass, with relics for his load, Supposed the worship on the road Meant for himself alone, And took on lofty airs, Receiving as his own The incense and the prayers. Some one, who saw his great mistake, Cried, "Master Donkey, do not make Yourself so big a fool. Not you they worship, but your pack; They praise the idols on your back, And count yourself a paltry tool."

_'Tis thus a brainless magistrate_ _Is honour'd for his robe of state._

The Hare and the Partridge.

A field in common share A partridge and a hare, And live in peaceful state, Till, woeful to relate! The hunters' mingled cry Compels the hare to fly. He hurries to his fort, And spoils almost the sport By faulting every hound That yelps upon the ground. At last his reeking heat Betrays his snug retreat. Old Tray, with philosophic nose, Snuffs carefully, and grows So certain, that he cries, "The hare is here; bow wow!" And veteran Ranger now,-- The dog that never lies,-- "The hare is gone," replies. Alas! poor, wretched hare, Back comes he to his lair, To meet destruction there! The partridge, void of fear, Begins her friend to jeer:-- "You bragg'd of being fleet; How serve you, now, your feet?" Scarce has she ceased to speak,-- The laugh yet in her beak,-- When comes her turn to die, From which she could not fly. She thought her wings, indeed, Enough for every need; But in her laugh and talk, Forgot the cruel hawk!

The Lion Going to War.

The lion had an enterprise in hand; Held a war-council, sent his provost-marshal, And gave the animals a call impartial-- Each, in his way, to serve his high command. The elephant should carry on his back The tools of war, the mighty public pack, And fight in elephantine way and form; The bear should hold himself prepared to storm; The fox all secret stratagems should fix; The monkey should amuse the foe by tricks. "Dismiss," said one, "the blockhead asses, And hares, too cowardly and fleet." "No," said the king; "I use all classes; Without their aid my force were incomplete. The ass shall be our trumpeter, to scare Our enemy. And then the nimble hare Our royal bulletins shall homeward bear."

_A monarch provident and wise_ _Will hold his subjects all of consequence,_ _And know in each what talent lies._ _There's nothing useless to a man of sense._

The Old Man and the Ass.