A classic collection of fables by Jean de La Fontaine, rendered in English verse by Walter Thornbury and illustrated by Gustave Doré. Through animals and everyday characters, the poems offer gentle lessons on human nature, folly, and wisdom. It is a pleasure to hear read aloud.
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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
THE FABLES OF LA FONTAINE. TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH VERSE BY WALTER THORNBURY, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY GUSTAVE DORÉ. CASSELL, PETTER, AND GALPIN, LONDON AND NEW YORK. 1886 Jean de la Fontaine CONTENTS As Essay on the Life and Works of Jean de la Fontaine xiii The Life of Æsop, the Phrygian xxxiii Dedication to Monseigneur the Dauphin li Preface lv
To Monseigneur the Dauphin lxiii The Grasshopper and the Ant 3 The Raven and the Fox 5 The Frog that Wished to make Herself as Big as the Ox 7 The Two Mules 11 The Wolf and the Dog 13 The Heifer, the She-goat, and the Lamb, in Partnership with the Lion 16 The Wallet 18 The Swallow and the Little Birds 20 The Town Rat and the Country Rat 27 The Man and his Image 29 The Dragon with many Heads, and the Dragon with many Tails 31 The Wolf and the Lamb 35 The Robbers and the Ass 37 Death and the Woodcutter 39 Simonides rescued by the Gods 43 Death and the Unhappy Man 47 The Wolf turned Shepherd 51 The Child and the Schoolmaster 53 The Pullet and the Pearl 55 The Drones and the Bees 56 The Oak and the Reed 61 Against Those Who are Hard to Please 63 The Council held by the Rats 69 The Wolf Pleading against the Fox before the Ape 71 The Middle-Aged Man and the Two Widows 73 The Fox and the Stork 75 The Lion and the Gnat 79 The Ass Laden with Sponges, and the Ass Laden with Salt 82 The Lion and the Rat 84 The Dove and the Ant 88 The Astrologer Who let Himself Fall into the Well 90 The Hare and the Frogs 95 The Two Bulls and the Frog 97 The Peacock Complaining to Juno 101 The Bat and the Two Weasels 103