\ M vy-t-J4 W) ^ CompleteHncient in 28 Volumes, crown Classics 8vo, cloth, price 2s. 6d. each. ■FOR ENGLISH‘READERS.

Edited by the R e v . W. LUCAS COLLINS, M.A.

May also be had in 14 Volumes, strongly and neatly bound, with calf or velluin back, £3, 10s.

Contents of the Ser ies :—

Homer : The Iliad. By the Editor. Pliny’s Letters. By A. Church, M.A., Homer : The Odyssey. By the Same. and W. J. Brodribb, M.A. H erodotus. By G. C. Swayne, M.A. Tacitus. By William Bodham Donne. Æschylus. By the Bight Rev. the Lucian. By the Editor. Bishop of Colombo. Plautus and Terence. By the Same. X enophon. By Sir Alexander Grant, Plato. By Clifton W. Collins, M.A. Bart., LL.D. Greek A nthology. By Lord Neaves. Sophocles. By Clifton W. Collins, M.A. Livy. By the Editor. Euripides. By William Bodham Donne. Ovid. By the Rev. A. Church, M.A. Aristophanes. By the Editor. Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius. H esiod and Theognis. By the Rev. By J. Davies, M.A. James Davies, M.A. Demosthenes. By the Rev. W. J. Brod­ Cæsar. By Anthony Trollope. ribb, M.A. Virgil. By the Editor. Aristotle. By Sir A. Grant, Bt., LL.D. Horace. By Sir Theodore Martin, K.C.B. Thucydides. By the Editor. Cicero. By the Editor. Lucretius. By W. H. Mallock, M.A. J uvenal. By Edward Walford, M.A. Pindar. By the Rev. F. D. Morice, M.A.

“ In the advertising catalogues we sometimes see a book labelled as one 1 without which no gentleman’s library can be looked upon as complete.’ It may be said with truth that no popular library or mechanic’s institute will be properly furnished without this series. . . . These handy books to ancient classical literature are at the same time as attractive to the scholar as they ought to be to the English reader. We think, then, that they are destined to attain a wide and enduring cir­ culation, and we are quite sure that they deserve it.”— Westminster Review. “ We gladly avail ourselves of this opportunity to recommend the other volumes of this useful series, most of which are executed with discrimination and ability.” —Quarterly Review. “ A series which has done, and is doing, so much towards spreading among Englishmen intelligent and appreciative views of the chief classical authors.”— Standard. “ It is difficult to estimate too highly the value of such a series as this in giving ‘ English readers ’ an insight, exact as- far as it goes, into those olden times which are so remote and yet to many of us so close.”—Saturday Review.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, Edinburgh and London. IN COURSE OF PUBLICATION. PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS. Edited by Professor K N IG H T, St Andrews. In crown 8vo volumes, with Portraits, price 3s. 6d.

The Volumes published are :— 1. DESCARTES. By Professor Mahaffy, Dublin. 2. BUTLER. By the Rev. W. Lucas Collins, M.A., Honorary Canon of Peterborough. 3. BERKELEY. By Professor Fraser, Edinburgh. 4. FICHTE. By Professor Adamson, Owens College, Manchester.

In preparation :— KANT, . By William Wallace, Merton College, Oxford. HOBBES, By Professor Croom Robertson, London. HUME, . By the Editor. HAMILTON,. By Professor Veitch, Glasgow. BACON,. By Professor Nichol, Glasgow. HEGEL,. By Professor Edward Caird, Glasgow. SPINOZA, . By Dr Martineau, Principal of Manchester New College. VICO, . By Professor Flint, Edinburgh. Succeeding Volumes will include Locke, Leibnitz, Comte, Ac.

New and Cheaper Edition, Revised. A MANUAL OF ENGLISH PROSE LITERATURE. Biographical and Critical. Designed mainly to show Character­ istics of Style. By W IL L IA M M INTO, M .A ., Professor of Logie and English Literature in the University of Aberdeen. Second Edition, crown 8vo, 7s. 6d. “ A masterly manual of English prose literature.” —Standard. “ Will be welcomed by those who are capable of appreciating excellent workman­ ship. It is not rash to say that this work is the first scientific treatment of the subject by an English writer. . . . About the ability as well as the originality of the work there cannot be two opinions. The views pronounced are expressed iu terse, weighty, incisive dicta—sentences to be carried away as a geologist carries away a sample. . . . It is the best English book on the subject.”—Observer. “As a history of English literature, the present work is characterised by several features that are novel. . . . He has conceived a methodical plan for exhaus­ tive criticism, founded on the newest analysis o f the devices and the qualities of style. . . . It is most elaborate and thorough in the conception, and is ex­ pounded with perfect clearness.”—Examiner. “ Mr Minto’s is no common book, but a very careful and well-considered survey of the wide field he traverses—a survey undertaken not without considerable criti­ cal competency and large equipment of knowledge.”—Scotsman.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, Edinburgh and London. Jump; Classics for Citglisb locators

EDITED BY

MES OLIPHANT

LA FONTAINE

AND OTHER FRENCH FABULISTS The Volumes published of this Series contain—

DANTE, ...... By the Editor.

VOLTAIRE, By Major-General Sir E. B. H amley, K.C.M.G.

PASCAL, . By Principal Tulloch.

PETRARCH, . . . By H enry Reeve, C.B.

GOETHE, . By A. H ayward, Q.C.

MOLIÈRE, . By Mrs Oliphant and F. T arver, M.A.

MONTAIGNE, By Rev. \V. Lucas Collins, M.A.

RABELAIS, . . . . By W alter B esant.

CALDERON, By E. J. H asell.

SAINT SIMON, . By Clifton W . Collins, M.A.

CERVANTES, ...... By the Editor.

CORNEILLE a n d RACINE, By H enry M. Trollope.

MADAME DE SÉVIGNE, . By Miss T hackeray (Mrs R ichmond Ritchie).

LA FONTAINE, and other | By Rev. W . Lucas Collins, M.A. F rench Fabulists,

Volumes in preparation—

SCHILLER, . . By James Sime, Author of ‘ Life of Lessing.’

ROUSSEAU,...... By H enry Graham. LA FONTAINE

AND OTHEK FRENCH FABULISTS

BY THE

REV. W. LUCAS COLLIN'S, M.A.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS

EDINBURGH AND LONDON

MDCCCLXXXII

All Rights reserved CONTENTS,

CHAP. "0^ PAGE

I. INTRODUCTORY, ...... 1

i i . l a p o n t a i n e ’ s o r i g i n a l s , 15

III. LIFE OF LA FONTAINE, .... 38

IV. THE F A B L E S ,...... 78

V. LATER FABLE-WRITERS : HOUDARD DE LA

M O T T E , ...... 133

VI. RICHER — DESBILLONS — AUBERT — LE MON-

N IER, ...... 142

VII. FLORIAN, ...... 152

VIII. LE B A I L L Y , ...... 167