A HUNDRED FABLES OF

A®HUNDRED»FABLES»OF ÆSOP & FROM-THE& -ENGLISH • VERSION ■ OF SIR*ROGER‘LESTRANGE WITH-PICTURES-BY PERCY^BILLINGHURST AND AN -INTRODUCTION • BY KENNETH^GRAHAME

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LONDON JOHN- LANE-THE- BODLEY- HEAD-LIMITED Published November . . i8g8 Reprinted September . . igoz Reprinted June , . , igog Reprinted August. . , ig i6 Reprinted May . . , ig 22

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LIMITED, PLYMOUTH CONTENTS

Fable P age Fable P age I. The Cock and the Jew el . 2 2 7. The Horse and the Ass . 54 2. The Cat and the Cock 4 28. The Birds, the Beasts, and the 3- The IVolf and the Lamb 6 B at ..... 56 4- The Kite, the Frog, and the 29. The Fox and the Wolj . 58 M ouse 8 30. The Stag looking into the Water 60 5- The Lion, the Bear, and the 31. The Snake and the File . 62 Fox 10 32. The Wolves and the Sheep 64 6. The Dog and the Shadow 12 3 3. The Ape and the Fox 6 6 / 7- The Wolf and the Crane 14 34. The Lark and her Toung Ones 68 8. The Boar and the Biss . 16 35. The Stag in the Ox-Stall 70 9- The Country Mouse and the 36. The Fox and the Sick Lion 72 City M ouse 18 37. The Stag and the Horse 74 IO. The Crow and the Mussel 20 38. The Horse and the Loaded Ass 76 11. The Fox and the Crow . 22 39. The Dog and the Wolf . 78 12. The Old Lion 24 40. . 80 13- 26 41. The Eagle and the Fox . 82 i4. The Sick K ite 28 42. The Husbandman and the Stork 84 15* The Swallow and Other Birds 30 43. The Shepherd's Boy 86 16. The Frogs Desiring a King 32 44. The Eagle and the Crow 88 i 7- The Kite and the Pigeons 34 45. The Dog in the Manger . . 90 18. The S ow and the W olf . 36 46. Jupiter and the Camel 92 19. The Old Dog and his Master . 38 47. The Fox and the Hare to Jupiter 94 20. The Hares and Frogs . 40 48. The Peacock's Complaint 96 21. The Dog and the Sheep . 42 49. The Fox and the Goat . 98 22. The Fox and the Stork . 44 50. The Partridge and the Cocks . 100 23* The Fox and the Mask . 46 51. The Tunny and the Dolphin 102 24. The Jackdaw and the Peacocks 48 52. The Fox without a Tail 104 25. The Ox and the F rog SO 53. The Fox and the Bramble 106 26. The Horse and the Lion . 52 54. The Fox and the Crocodile 108 CONTENTS

Fable P age Fable P age 55- Boasting Mule I IO 77• The Nurse and the Wolf J54 56. The Lion in Love I 12 78. The Tortoise and the Eagle 156 57- The Lioness and the Fox II4 79* The Fox and the Frog . 158 58. The Fighting Cocks and the 80. The Mischievous Dog . 160 Eagle .... I l6 81. The Peacock and the Crane .162 59* The Stag and the Fawn . Il8 82. The Fox and the Tiger .164 60. The Wasps and the Honey-Pot 120 83. The Lion and the Four Bulls.166 61. 122 84. 168 62. The Hare and the Tortoise I24 85. The Man and his Goose 170 63-The D og and the Cock upon a 86. The Wanton Calf 172 Journey .... I2Ô 87. The Leopard and the Fox 174 64. The Vine and the Goat . 128 88. The Hawk and the Farmer .176 65. The Ass, the Lion, and the Cock I30 89. The Bear and the Bee-H ives.178 66. The Snake and the Crab . I32 90. The Fatal Marriage 180 67. The Raven and the Swan 13 + 9 1*The Cat and the Mice . 182 -'68. The Ape and the Dolphin I36 92. The Wild Boar and the Fox .184 69. The Fox and the Crab . 138 93- The Porcupine and the Snakes 186 70. The Shepherd and his Sheep I4O 94. The Hawk and the Nightingale 188 7i* The Peacock and the Magpie .I42 95- The Cat and the Fox . 190 72. The Lion, the Ass, and the 96. The W olf the Lamb, and the Fox .... I44 Goat .... 192 73- The K id and the W olf . I46 97* The Cock and the Fox . 194 74- The Geese and the Cranes I48 98. The Fox in the Well . 196 75- The Angler and the Little Fish ISO 99. The Ass Eating Thistles 198 76. The Bull and the Goat . 152 100. The Wolf and the Lion 200 INTRODUCTION.

The fable had its origin , we are given to under­ stand\ in a germ of politeness still lingering in the breasts of the superior, or preaching , portion of humanity, who wished to avoid giving more pain than necessary when pursuing the inevitable task laid upon them by their virtues, o f instructing the inferior and silent portion how to be—w ell, just a little less inferior, if they would only listen patiently to what they were told. It was also frankly admitted by many5 that there were diffi­ culties in getting a frivolous humanity to listen at a ll, unless one took a le a f fr o m the book o f that unprofitable rascal the story-tellert a spinner of webs fo r the sheer irridescence and gossamer-film and sparkle of the dainty thing itself * w ith no designs whatever upon fa t , black flies to be caught and held in its meshes. A nd so, with half a sighf the preacher fell upon the element of fiction , a n d Uniform with this Volume A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine

With io i Illustrations, Title-page, and Cover Design by P. J. Billinghurst Foolscap 4to. T ru th .— “ Is it not the duty of parents to make their children acquainted with La Fontaine? Well, then, no better opportunity of so doing could possibly be afforded them than is given by the new Bodley Head edition. It is a metrical version of the time-honoured favourites, and every fable has a picture filling the page opposite. The child would be hard to please who did not find hours of amusement in the artist’s work alone.” T im es.— “ It is pleasant to turn to a taking edition of La Fontaine’s Fables, with Mr. Billinghurst’s exceedingly clever drawings ; he throws a world of expression into the faces of his beasts.” Pall Mall.—'“ There is some excellent drawing in the hand­ some volume of One Hundred Fables of La Fontaine, for which Mr. Percy Billinghurst has done the pictures. His bold pencil gives expression to original ideas, some of them wrought with skill, and all with a correct eye to effect. For the drawings alone this handsome book should be prized.” Daily Chronicle.— “ Turned out in a style which will fascinate the young, the illustrations by Mr. Billinghurst are -executed in fine taste. His animals are real animals which will delight all who look upon them.” British Weekly.— “ A most elegantly bound collection of well-known fables re-told in rhyme, and illustrated with many fine and masterly drawings.” Bookm an.— “ We have nothing but praise for Mr. Billing­ hurst’s work. . . . We know no pictures of fable-beasts that we like better. The whole arrangement of the book is excellent.” JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD LTD., VIGO ST., W .l.