Troublez l'eau: vous y voyez-vous ? Qu'aux effets du cristal nous venons d'opposer. Pour vous mieux contempler, demeurez au désert. Il fut cru; l'on suivit ce conseil salutaire. Ce n'est pas qu'un emploi ne doive être souffert. Ces secours, grâce à Dieu, ne nous manqueront pas : Vous que doivent troubler mille accidents sinistres, Cette leçon sera la fin de ces ouvrages: (1) Mot en usage en poésie. Il exprime plus que le mot pensée. FIN DES FABLES. RECOMMENDATIONS OF SALES'S EDITION OF LA FONTAINE'S FABLES. From the North American Review, April, 1839. THE Fables of La Fontaine have for a long time been a favorite textbook for French classes, and with justice. Their terseness and point, the admirable wit and wisdom by which they are distinguished above all other fables, entitle them fairly to the unexampled popularity they have ever enjoyed. But, at the same time, they abound in idiomatic terms, and classical allusions, which go beyond the knowledge of most young scholars in whose hands they are placed. It was, therefore, highly desirable to have a good and cheap edition prepared, in which difficult passages and remote allusions should be explained; and, as whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well, it was desirable that the task of preparing it should fall upon the very man, whose name stands in the title page. Mr. Sales is as well known among us as the French language itself. Like Nestor of old, μετὰ τριτάτοισιν ανασσει, he continues to be a master among the third generation. By editing this volume he has added another to his already numerous claims upon the respect and thanks of the literary community. From the New York Review, January, 1839. The editor of this new edition of La Fontaine's Fables has been the principal instructor in French and Spanish [in the University at Cambridge,]. ... . from the first organization of the professorship [of Modern Languages] to the present time; and in that period he has published several valuable works to facilitate the acquisition of the languages in which he instructed. This last publication is every way worthy of his reputation as an editor, and it is particularly useful; La Fontaine's Fables being an exceeding pleasant and profitable book for a learner of French, but somewhat difficult to read on account of the frequent idiomatic expressions. This difficulty Mr. Sales has removed by judicious explanatory notes, and also enhanced the value of the volume by prefixing a short account of French versification. From the Boston Daily Advertiser, Nov. 2, 1838. There is no one of the chefs-d'œuvre of French literature, which may be, with more propriety and advantage, put into the hands of the young reader, than this; and the brief explanatory notes, added to it by the intelligent editor, adapt it still more fully to the purpose for which the edition is intended. 2 SALES'S EDITION OF LA FONTAINE'S FABLES. From the National Gazette, Nov. 15, 1838. This classical work has just been issued by Messrs. Munroe and Co., Boston, beautifully printed in a neat volume of 336 pages (and 40 pages besides of introductory matter). It is edited with historical, mythological, and grammatical notes for the use of schools and colleges, by Mr. F. Sales, of Harvard University. We translate these sentences from the editor's preface:- "The common editions of La Fontaine introduced into America from France and the countries adjacent to it are generally so mutilated and incorrect, that many passages, syllables, words, and whole verses are omitted. The orthography is barbarous," &c. The new orthography, adopted in the last edition of the Dictionary of the French Academy, is followed. A partial examination of the Fables thus edited, warrants us in commending the book to the notice of teachers and students. From a letter of George Ticknor, Esq., late Professor of Modern Languages, at the University in Cambridge. I am much indebted to you for a copy of the edition of La Fontaine's Fables, that you have just published. I like it very much. It is, in all respects, neatly and well got up; and the notes seem to me quite admirably suited to their purpose. From a letter of H. W. Longfellow, Esq., Professor of Modern Languages, at the University in Cambridge. It is a very neat edition, and will be of the greatest service to us in our course of instruction. From a letter of Wm. H. Prescott, Esq. As far as I can judge from looking over it cursorily, it seems exactly adapted to its object; and the notes at the bottom of the pages must afford. I should think, just the facilities required by the student for understanding his difficult subject As the text is, no doubt, as correct as that of the other books edited by you, the book will be a valuable addition to elementary literature. Extract from a letter of T. G. Bradford, Esq. It is really good for the eyes to look upon so sightly an edition of La Fontaine; and, as I have myself experienced the evil of being obliged to use impressions from the battered and worn-out plates, I hail with delight the appearance of so neat and accurate an edition of the fascinating old story-teller, who has ever been among my especial favorites. Your annotations, though few, are in my opinion judiciously chosen, and are just what was wanted both for teachers and learners. I really think you deserve the thanks of both those classes of persons, and of all lovers of the dear old bard of the Esopic heroes. |