PREFACE.

I HAVE been advised by some friends to make these Translations of "La Fontaine's Fables" more generally known by placing them before the public in the shape of a small book, and claiming its indulgence for so doing. Being well aware of my shortcomings in the attempt to convey in English verse the terse simplicity, combined with the epigrammatic wisdom, the whole pervaded with the graceful humour, of my Author, I can only lay this "flattering unction to my soul," that my verses are fairly literal, and the metre, as far as practicable, bears some resemblance to that used by La Fontaine himself. One or two proverbial expressions have to borrow their English equivalents; and apology is necessary for the use of what might be called slang in words like "funks," which,

iv

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE.

however, exactly expresses refusal to act from sense of fear. With these few words I plead for indulgence from my readers; and if I can make more familiar and intelligible to lovers of the language the dear old French fables of our schoolroom days, I shall have attained a great point.

I have been persuaded to add to this book a translation of Victor Hugo's First Series of "Orientales," which is French of a style totally different and more picturesque.