Title:  The Tales and Novels, v17:  The Progress of Wit &c

Author:  Jean de La Fontaine

Release Date:  March, 2004 [EBook #5291] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 21, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg Ebook tales and novels of Fontaine, V17 ***

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 17.

Contains: 
The Progress of Wit
The Sick Abbess
The Truckers

The progress of wit

Diverting in extreme there is a play,
Which oft resumes its fascinating sway;
Delights the sex, or ugly, fair, or sour;
By night or day:—­’tis sweet at any hour. 
The frolick, ev’ry where is known to fame;
Conjecture if you can, and tells its name.

          Thisplay’s chief charm to husbands is unknown;
          ’Tis with the lover it excels alone;
          No lookers-on, as umpires, are required;
          No quarrels rise, though each appears inspired;
          All seem delighted with the pleasing game:—­
          Conjecture if you can, and tell its name.

          Bethis as ’twill, and called whate’er it may;
          No longer trifling with it I shall stay,
          But now disclose a method to transmit
          (As oft we find) to ninnies sense and wit. 
          Till Alice got instruction in this school,
          She was regarded as a silly fool,
          Her exercise appeared to spin and sew:—­
          Not hers indeed, the hands alone would go;
          For sense or wit had in it no concern;
          Whate’er the foolish girl had got to learn,
          No part therein could ever take the mind;
          Her doll, for thought, was just as well designed. 
          The mother would, a hundred times a day,
          Abuse the stupid maid, and to her say
          Go wretched lump and try some wit to gain.

          Thegirl, quite overcome with shame and pain;
          Her neighbours asked to point her out the spot,
          Where useful wit by purchase might be got. 
          The simple question laughter raised around;
          At length they told her, that it might be found
          With father Bonadventure, who’d a stock,
          Which he at times disposed of to his flock.