Project Gutenberg's Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks, by Jean de La Fontaine

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks
From the French of La Fontaine

Author: Jean de La Fontaine

Illustrator: John Rae

Translator: W.T. (William Trowbridge) Larned

Release Date: January 1, 2008 [EBook #24108]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FABLES IN RHYME FOR LITTLE FOLKS ***

FABLES IN RHYME FOR LITTLE FOLKS,

Adapted from the French of La Fontaine.

Written by,
W. T. Larned

Illustrated by,
John Rae.

E-Book Created by Tyler Anderson,
as a birthday present to little
Johnny James Webb, on his first Birthday.
I've arranged the images so they fit the story.

To All Little Americans
With The Hope That
They May Become Better Acquainted
With
Our Friends, The French.

A Preface For Parents

La Fontaine composed the most entertaining Fables ever
written in any language, and made them a model of literary
perfection; yet our translators and compilers have somehow
neglected him. His Fables are lyric poetry of a high order,
and this alone has doubtless been a barrier to a better
acquaintance with his work when transferred to our own
tongue. Done into prose, the Fables are no longer
La Fontaine, but take their place with the many
respectable, dull translations which English readers try to
admire because they are classics--though the soul that
made them such has been separated from the dead body.

It has seemed to me that while the full enjoyment of
La Fontaine must always be reserved for those who can
read him in French, it might be possible at least to convey
something of his originality and blithe spirit through the
medium of light verse. In making the attempt I am fully
aware of my temerity, and the criticism it will invite. To
excuse the one and to meet the other I have taken refuge
in the term "adaptation"--even though the word applies
only in part to my paraphrases. Some of the Fables in
this book are translations in a true sense, and keep
closely to the text. From others I have erased such
political, mythological and literary allusions (in which
La Fontaine abounds) as ar