The Original Fables of La Fontaine | Page 4

each one of us. All the mirrors wherein he saw
himself reflected stand for the faults of other people, in which we really

see our own faults though we hate to recognise them as such. As for the
brook, that, as every one knows, stands for the book of maxims which
the Duke de la Rochefoucauld[1] wrote.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: This fable was dedicated to the Duke de la
Rochefoucauld.]

V
THE ANIMALS SICK OF THE PLAGUE
(BOOK VII.--No. 1)
One of those dread evils which spread terror far and wide, and which
Heaven, in its anger, ordains for the punishment of wickedness upon
earth--a plague in fact; and so dire a one as to make rich in one day that
grim ferryman who takes a coin from all who cross the river Acheron to
the land of the dead--such a plague was once waging war against the
animals. All were attacked, although all did not die. So hopeless was
the case that not one of them attempted to sustain their sinking lives.
Even the sight of food did not rouse them. Wolves and foxes no longer
turned eager and calculating eyes upon their gentle and guileless prey.
The turtle-doves went no more in cooing pairs, but were content to
avoid each other. Love and the joy that comes of love were both at an
end.
At length the lion called a council of all the beasts and addressed them
in these words: "My dear friends, it seems to me that it is for our sins
that Heaven has permitted this misfortune to fall upon us. Would it not
be well if the most blameworthy among us allowed himself to be
offered as a sacrifice to appease the celestial wrath? By so doing he
might secure our recovery. History tells us that this course is usually
pursued in such cases as ours. Let us look into our consciences without
self-deception or condoning. For my own part, I freely admit that in
order to satisfy my gluttony I have devoured an appalling number of
sheep; and yet what had they done to me to deserve such a fate?
Nothing that could be called an offence. Sometimes, indeed, I have
gone so far as to eat the shepherd too! On the whole, I think I had better
render myself for this act of sacrifice; that is, if we agree that it is a
thing necessary to the general good. And yet I think it would be only
fair that every one should declare his sins as well as I; for I could wish

that, in justice, it were the most culpable that should perish."
"Sire," said the fox, "you are really too yielding for a king, and your
scruples show too much delicacy of feeling. Eating sheep indeed! What
of that?--a foolish and rascally tribe! Is that a crime? No! a hundred
times no! On the contrary your noble jaws did but do them great
honour. As for the shepherd, it may be fairly said that all the harm he
got he merited, since he was one of those who fancy they have
dominion over the animal kingdom." Thus spake the fox and every
other flatterer in the assembly applauded him. Nor did any seek to
inquire deeply into the least pardonable offences of the tiger, the bear,
and the other mighty ones. All those of an aggressive nature, right
down to the simple watch-dog, were something like saints in their own
opinions.
When the ass stood forth in his turn he struck a different note: nothing
of fangs and talons and blood. "I remember," he said, "that once in
passing a field belonging to a monastery I was urged by hunger, by
opportunity, by the tenderness of the grass, and perhaps by the evil one
egging me on, to enter and crop just a taste, about as much as the length
of my tongue. I know that I did wrong, having really no right there."
At these words all the assembly turned upon him. The wolf took upon
himself to make a speech proving without doubt that the ass was an
accursed wretch, a mangy brute, who certainly ought to be told off for
sacrifice, since through his wickedness all their misfortunes had come
about. His peccadillo was judged to be a hanging matter. "What! eat the
grass belonging to another? How abominable a crime! Nothing but
death could expiate such an outrage!" And forthwith they proved as
much to the poor ass.
Accordingly as your power is great or small, the judgments of a court
will whiten or blacken your reputation.

VI
THE UNHAPPILY MARRIED MAN
(BOOK VII.--No. 2)
If goodness were always the comrade of beauty I would seek a wife
to-morrow; but as divorce between these two is