The Fables of La Fontaine | Page 2

of these few (and simpler) fables
may be traced in the later and complete edition, the latter shows a
considerable improvement upon the work of his "'prentice hand." The
complete work was published, as we have said, in 1841. It appeared in
an expensive and sumptuous form, and was adorned with the French
artist Grandville's illustrations--which had first appeared only two years
previously in the Paris edition of La Fontaine's Fables, published by
Fournier Ainé. The book was well received both in America and
England, and four other editions were speedily called for. The sixth
edition, published in 1843, was a slightly expurgated one, designed for
schools. The expurgation, however, almost wholly consisted of the
omission bodily of five of the fables, whose places were, as Mr. Wright
stated in his preface, filled by six original fables of his own. From his
"Notice" affixed to this sixth edition, it seems evident that he by no
means relished the task, usually a hateful one, of expurgating his author.
Having, however, been urged to the task by "criticisms both friendly
and unfriendly" (as he says) he did it; and did it wisely, because
sparingly. But in his prefatory words he in a measure protests. He
says:--"In this age, distinguished for almost everything more than
sincerity, there are some people who would seem too delicate and
refined to read their Bibles." And he concludes with the appeal,--"But
the 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,
Whatever game was nice and
good.
This gentleman, with knowing air,
Survey'd the dainty lot
with care,
Pronounced it racy, rich, and rare,
And call'd his wife, to
know her wishes
About its purchase for their dishes.
The lady
thought the creatures prime,
And for their dinner just in time;
So
sweet they were, and delicate,
For dinner she could hardly wait.
But
now there came--could luck be worse?--
Just as the buyer drew his
purse,
A bulky fly, with solemn buzz,
And smelt, as an inspector
does,
This bird and that, and said the meat--
But here his words I
won't repeat--
Was anything but fit to eat.
'Ah!' cried the lady,
'there's a fly
I never knew to tell a lie;
His coat, you see, is
bottle-green;
He knows a thing or two I ween;
My dear, I beg you,
do not buy:
Such game as this may suit the dogs.'
So on our
peddling sportsman jogs,
His soul possess'd of this surmise,
About
some men, as well as flies:
A filthy taint they soonest find
Who are
to relish filth inclined.
THE DOG AND CAT.
A dog and cat, messmates for life,
Were often falling into strife,

Which came to scratching, growls, and snaps,
And spitting in the face,
perhaps.

A neighbour dog once chanced to call
Just at the outset of
their brawl,
And, thinking Tray was cross and cruel,
To snarl so
sharp at Mrs. Mew-well,
Growl'd rather roughly in his ear.
'And
who are you to interfere?'
Exclaim'd the cat, while in his face she
flew;
And, as was wise, he suddenly withdrew.

It seems, in spite of all his snarling,
And hers, that Tray was still her
darling.
THE GOLDEN PITCHER.
A father once, whose sons were two,
For each a gift had much ado.

At last upon this course he fell:
'My sons,' said he, 'within our well

Two treasures lodge, as I am told;
The one a sunken piece of gold,--

A bowl it may be, or a pitcher,--
The other is a thing far richer.

These treasures if you can but find,
Each may be suited to his mind;

For both are precious in their kind.
To gain the one you'll need a
hook;
The other will but cost a look.
But O, of this, I