La Fontaine's Fables in Books for the Bairns
The Fables of La Fontaine with illustrations by Brinsley Le Fanu were published as number XLV in the series Books for the Bairns. As others they were edited by W. T Stead and financially supported by advertisers who aimed at children and their parents.
After cover presented above three pages of advertisements followed:
- Brown & Polson's Paisley Flour
- Symington's Pea Flour
- Trotman's Baby Carriages and Cars
- Keating's Lozenges (all four on one page)
- Van Houten's Cocoa (full page)
- Bovril (full page)
Next page was reserved for contents
We'll present all fables with titles, illustrations, and maxims (morals). As you probably know La Fontaine used already well-known fables by Aesop and others and rewrote the in verse, adding allusions on actual political or social issues, etc.
The City Rat and the Country Rat
Moral: Peace is preferable to fearful plenty.
The Wolf and the Dog
Moral: Better starve free than be a fat slave.
The Dairy Maid and the Pot of Milk
Moral: Don't count your chicks until they hatch.
The Bear and the Two Companions
Moral: You can't sell the bear skin until you put it on the ground.
The Satyr and the Traveller
Moral: One should avoid those who are inconstant.
The Bat and the Two Weasels
Moral: It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
The Fowler, the Hawk, and the Lark (or, The Bitter Bit)
Moral: Don't expect others to do differently than you.
The Camel and the Floating Sticks
Moral: Some thing look much more important from afar than from close.
The Man and the Wooden God
Moral: People expect religion to give them profit.
The Wolf, the Goat and the Kid
Moral: A hypocrite can usually be found out.
The Lion Going to War
Moral: We all have different talents.
The Wolf Turned Shepherd
Moral: Those who attempt to act in disguise are apt to overdo it.
The Fly and the Ant
Moral: Look at your faults first before searching for them at others.
The Lion and the Gnat
Moral: No matter how you brag, you can be undone.
The Ass Carrying Relics
Moral: They are not wise who give to themselves the credit due to others.
The Lark and her Young Ones with the Owner of a Field
Moral: Best help in self-help.
The Goose with the Golden Eggs
Moral: Having plenty and wanting more can lead to losing all.
The Oyster and the Litigants
Moral: Justice is in the eye of the beholder.
The Monkey and the Cat
Moral: Rulers don't care about others' pains when realizing their ambition.
The Cockerel, the Cat and the Young Mouse
Moral: Don't trust the outward appearances.
The Ass and the Dog
Moral: Clumsy jesting is no joke.
The Heron
Moral: One should not be too demanding when it comes to choosing.
The Animals Sick of Plague
Moral: If you really must be judged, make certain you are judged before a fair judge.
This fable conclude the book. Only three more pages of advertisements follow:
- Fennings' Children's Powders and Lung Healers
- The Allenburys Malted Food
- Cook's Pure Toilet Soaps (all three on the same page)
- Pears Soap (full page)
- Dr. Scott's Pills
- Hartmann's Hygienic Towelettes
- Potter's Datura Asthma Cure (all three on the same page - the back cover page)
If you are ready for more fables, written by different authors and compiled in different collections, visit this list.
