Vulgar words in Fables of La Fontaine — a New Edition, with Notes (Page 1)
This book at a glance
|
~ ~ ~ Sentence 472 ~ ~ ~
As well attempt to drain the sea!-- Your chart and compass let them be; All other books put under ban; Burn ARNAULD and his rigid clan-- They're blockheads if we but compare;-- It is no joke,--I tell you, man, A velvet road hath ESCOBAR.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 772 ~ ~ ~
This ass is, by interpretation, Some province poor, or prostrate nation.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,114 ~ ~ ~
[16] A man, whom I shall call an ass-eteer, His sceptre like some Roman emperor bearing, Drove on two coursers of protracted ear, The one, with sponges laden, briskly faring; The other lifting legs As if he trod on eggs, With constant need of goading, And bags of salt for loading.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,118 ~ ~ ~
All three drank deeply: asseteer and ass For boon companions of their load might pass; Which last became so sore a weight, The ass fell down, Belike to drown, His rider risking equal fate.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,143 ~ ~ ~
[19] To an astrologer who fell Plump to the bottom of a well, 'Poor blockhead!' cried a passer-by, 'Not see your feet, and read the sky?'
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,249 ~ ~ ~
This time, the king, t' insure success, Took for his aide-de-camp an ass, A creature of stentorian voice, That felt much honour'd by the choice.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,253 ~ ~ ~
Cried out the much-elated ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,256 ~ ~ ~
If he had dared, the donkey Had shown himself right spunky At this retort, though justly made; For who could suffer boasts to pass So ill-befitting to an ass?
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,286 ~ ~ ~
The people, who had thought a slave an ass, Much wonder'd how it came to pass That one alone should have more sense Than all their men of most pretence.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,310 ~ ~ ~
The most an ass is not the one that rides!"
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,332 ~ ~ ~
"Ass!
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,333 ~ ~ ~
ass!" our man replied; "we're asses three!
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,334 ~ ~ ~
I do avow myself an ass to be; But since my sage advisers can't agree, Their words henceforth shall not be heeded; I'll suit myself."
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,398 ~ ~ ~
The king was really a log, Whose gravity inspired with awe The first that, from his hiding-place Forth venturing, astonish'd, saw The royal blockhead's face.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,693 ~ ~ ~
Their Maker chooses but a few With power of pleasing to imbue; Where wisely leave it we, the mass, Unlike a certain fabled ass, That thought to gain his master's blessing By jumping on him and caressing.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,810 ~ ~ ~
The mule and ass, to bear the treasure, Their service tender'd, full of pleasure; And then the caravan was none the worse, Assisted by the camel and the horse.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 1,834 ~ ~ ~
When, in the far-off past, The fare of gentlemen was mast, And even hats were never felt, Horse, ass, and mule in forests dwelt.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,200 ~ ~ ~
[18] An ass, with relics for his load, Supposed the worship on the road Meant for himself alone, And took on lofty airs, Receiving as his own The incense and the prayers.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,267 ~ ~ ~
'Dismiss,' said one, 'the blockhead asses, And hares, too cowardly and fleet.'
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,285 ~ ~ ~
Sir Bear, sad blockhead, was deceived-- The prostrate man a corpse believed; But, half suspecting some deceit, He feels and snuffs from head to feet, And in the nostrils blows.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,303 ~ ~ ~
[27] Clad in a lion's shaggy hide, An ass spread terror far and wide, And, though himself a coward brute, Put all the world to scampering rout: But, by a piece of evil luck, A portion of an ear outstuck, Which soon reveal'd the error Of all the panic-terror.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,453 ~ ~ ~
[15] A gardener's ass complain'd to Destiny Of being made to rise before the dawn.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,461 ~ ~ ~
Anon it came to pass He was a collier's ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,464 ~ ~ ~
'If on this jackass I must wait, What will become of kings and nations?
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,515 ~ ~ ~
There jogg'd in company an ass and horse; Nought but his harness did the last endorse; The other bore a load that crush'd him down, And begg'd the horse a little help to give, Or otherwise he could not reach the town.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,550 ~ ~ ~
'Ay, sirs, a dunce, a country clown, The greatest blockhead of your town,-- Nay more, an animal, an ass,-- The stupidest that nibbles grass,-- Needs only through my course to pass, And he shall wear the gown With credit, honour, and renown.'
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,554 ~ ~ ~
Ten years must roll, and then the learned ass Should his examination pass, According to the rules Adopted in the schools; If not, his teacher was to tread the air, With halter'd neck, above the public square,-- His rhetoric bound on his back, And on his head the ears of jack.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 2,560 ~ ~ ~
[24] _Steed of the Arcadian breed_.--An ass, as in Fable XVII, Book VIII.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 3,193 ~ ~ ~
A flea some blockhead's shoulder bit, And then his clothes refused to quit.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 3,447 ~ ~ ~
He would not be too delicate, Nor spoil a dinner for a plate, Which, but for that, his favourite dish, Were all that any ass could wish.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 3,533 ~ ~ ~
Outcried the bird of chase, As in the weeds he eyed the skulker's face, 'Why, what a stupid, blockhead race!-- Such witless, brainless fools Might well defy the schools.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 4,058 ~ ~ ~
But let them snuff the smoke of battle, Or even hear the ramrods rattle, Adieu to all their spunk and mettle: Your own example will be vain, And exhortations, to retain The timid cattle.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 4,083 ~ ~ ~
Hear how Descartes--Descartes, whom all applaud, Whom pagans would have made a god, Who holds, in fact, the middle place 'Twixt ours and the celestial race, About as does the plodding ass From man to oyster as you pass-- Hear how this author states the case 'Of all the tribes to being brought By our Creator out of nought, I only have the gift of thought.'
~ ~ ~ Sentence 4,261 ~ ~ ~
For a sheep with the rot, Or scabby, mangy ass, Or some snarling cur, With less meat than fur, On which I've broken fast!
~ ~ ~ Sentence 4,531 ~ ~ ~
To love, such age is little prone; Yet this celestial boy Made love his chief employ, And was beloved wherever known.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 4,613 ~ ~ ~
Meanwhile, all other kinds and tribes As fools and blockheads it describes, With other compliments as cheap.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 4,617 ~ ~ ~
With wit unseemly and profane, He mocks our venerable race-- On each of his who lacketh brain Bestows our ancient surname, ass!
~ ~ ~ Sentence 4,623 ~ ~ ~
"My lord," the other ass replied, "Such talents in yourself reside, Of asses all, the joy and pride."
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,486 ~ ~ ~
Ass and Dog.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,489 ~ ~ ~
Ass and his Masters.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,492 ~ ~ ~
Ass and Horse.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,495 ~ ~ ~
Ass and Lion, hunting.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,498 ~ ~ ~
Ass and Little Dog.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,501 ~ ~ ~
Ass and Old Man.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,504 ~ ~ ~
Ass and Thieves.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,507 ~ ~ ~
Ass bearing Relics.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,509 ~ ~ ~
Ass, Dead, and Two Dogs.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,512 ~ ~ ~
Ass in Lion's Skin.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,514 ~ ~ ~
Ass loaded with Sponges, and the Ass loaded with Salt.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,517 ~ ~ ~
Ass, Miller, and Son.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,701 ~ ~ ~
Dog and Ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 5,716 ~ ~ ~
Dog, Little, and Ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 6,025 ~ ~ ~
Horse and Ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 6,114 ~ ~ ~
Lion and Ass hunting.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 6,217 ~ ~ ~
Miller, Son, and Ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 6,289 ~ ~ ~
Old Man and Ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 6,541 ~ ~ ~
Thieves and Ass.