Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Complete. Jean de la Fontaine

OF WIT

       THE SICK ABBESS

       THE TRUCKERS

       THE CASE OF CONSCIENCE

       THE DEVIL OF POPE-FIG ISLAND

       FERONDE

       THE PSALTER

       KING CANDAULES AND THE DOCTOR OF LAWS

       THE DEVIL IN HELL

       NEIGHBOUR PETER'S MARE

       THE SPECTACLES

       THE BUCKING-TUB

       THE IMPOSSIBLE THING

       THE PICTURE

       THE PACK-SADDLE

       THE EAR-MAKER AND

       THE MOULD-MENDER

       THE RIVER SCAMANDER

       A CONFIDANT WITHOUT KNOWING IT;

       OR THE STRATAGEM

       THE CLYSTER

       THE INDISCREET CONFESSIONS

       THE CONTRACT

       THE QUID PRO QUO;

       OR THE MISTAKES

       THE DRESS-MAKER

       THE GASCON

       THE PITCHER

       TO PROMISE IS ONE THING

       TO KEEP IT, ANOTHER

       THE NIGHTINGALE

       EPITAPH OF LA FONTAINE

       MADE BY HIMSELF

      Original

      LIFE OF

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JEAN DE LA FONTAINE

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      Jean de La Fontaine was born on the 8th of July, 1621, at Chateau-Thierry, and his family held a respectable position there.

      His education was neglected, but he had received that genius which makes amends for all. While still young the tedium of society led him into retirement, from which a taste for independence afterwards withdrew him.

      He had reached the age of twenty-two, when a few sounds from the lyre of Malherbe, heard by accident, awoke in him the muse which slept.

      He soon became acquainted with the best models: Pheedrus, Virgil, Horace and Terence amongst the Latins; Plutarch, Homer and Plato, amongst the Greeks; Rabelais, Marot and d'Urfe, amongst the French; Tasso, Ariosto and Boccaccio, amongst the Italians.

      He married, in compliance with the wishes of his family, a beautiful, witty and chaste woman, who drove him to despair.

      He was sought after and cherished by all distinguished men of letters. But it was two Ladies who kept him from experiencing the pangs of poverty.

      La Fontaine, if there remain anything of thee, and if it be permitted to thee for a moment to soar above all time; see the names of La Sabliere and of Hervard pass with thine to the ages to come!

      The life of La Fontaine was, so to speak, only one of continual distraction. In the midst of society, he was absent from it. Regarded almost as an imbecile by the crowd, this clever author, this amiable man, only permitted himself to be seen at intervals and by friends.

      He had few books and few friends.

      Amongst a large number of works that he has left, everyone knows his fables and his tales, and the circumstances of his life are written in a hundred places.

      He died on the 16th of March, 1695.

      Let us keep silence about his last moments, for fear of irritating those who never forgive.

      His fellow-citizens honour him in his posterity to this day.

      Long after his death, foreigners went to visit the room which he had occupied.

      Once a year, I shall go to visit his tomb.

      On that day, I shall tear up a fable of La Mothe, a tale of Vergier, or several of the best pages of Grecourt.

      He was buried in the cemetery of Saint-Joseph, by the side of Moliere.

      That spot will always be held sacred by poets and people of taste.

THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE

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TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF THESE TALES

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      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