Title:  The Tales and Novels, v7:  The Falcon and The Little Dog

Author:  Jean de La Fontaine

Release Date:  March, 2004 [EBook #5281] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 14, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg Ebook tales and novels of Fontaine, V7 ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger widger@cecomet.net

[Note:  There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the file for those who may wish to sample the author’s ideas before making an entire meal of them.  D.W.]

The tales and novels
of
J. De La Fontaine

Volume 7.

Contains: 
The Falcon
The Little Dog

The falcon

I recollect, that lately much I blamed,
The sort of lover, avaricious named;
And if in opposites we reason see,
The liberal in paradise should be. 
The rule is just and, with the warmest zeal,
To prove the fact I to the Church appeal.

          InFlorence once there dwelled a gentle youth,
          Who loved a certain beauteous belle with truth;
          O’er all his actions she had full controul;—­
          To please he would have sold his very soul. 
          If she amusements wished, he’d lavish gold,
          Convinced in love or war you should be bold;
          The cash ne’er spare:—­invincible its pow’rs,
          O’erturning walls or doors where’er it show’rs. 
          The precious ore can every thing o’ercome;
          ’Twill silence barking curs:  make servants dumb;
          And these can render eloquent at will:—­
          Excel e’en Tully in persuasive skill;
          In short he’d leave no quarter unsubdued,
          Unless therein the fair he could include.

          Shestood th’ attack howe’er, and Frederick failed;
          His force was vain whenever he assailed;
          Without the least return his wealth he spent: 
          Lands, houses, manors of immense extent,
          Were ev’ry now and then to auction brought;
          To gratify his love was all he thought.

          Therank of ’squire till lately he had claimed;
          Now scarcely was he even mister named;
          Of wealth by Cupid’s stratagems bereft,
          A single farm was all the man had left;
          Friends very few, and such as God alone,
          Could tell if friendship they might not disown;
          The best were led their pity to express;
          ’Twas