Fables, Vol. IV
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Authors
Rousset, Alexis
Issue Date
1856
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Abstract
This fourth volume, covering Books XVI-XX, continues the mysteries of the first three. It ends abruptly after 239 rather than after 288, with neither a T of C for Volume IV nor an AI for Volumes I-IV. That AI apparently indicates where illustrations should occur in the four volumes. The same pattern occurs here as elsewhere: though the illustrations are more frequent here than in the two-volume edition, the overlap between the two sets is random. The images for the five fables investigated here do not occur there. In XVI 18 (42), the flower at the edge of the abyss that topples two children is pleasure. At XVIII 3 (110), the wolf steals from the lion; when the lion apprehends him, he lets him go. "A good turn is the noblest revenge." In XIX 6 (163), the bear tells the dog that he has had enough of human selfishness. Their conversation softens him from the human brutishness he has learned. In XIX 10 (174), a lion who has lost in battle tries to become a construction worker with beavers and turns out to be a poor workman. "He who shines at the top level loses his brilliance in the second level." In XIX 19 (196) a fox preacher is found out: when vice leaves us, we flatter ourselves that we are leaving it. In XX 12 (237) we meet the "Ass As Artist": however much he loves music and tries to learn it, an ass cannot learn and finally needs to go to the slaughterhouse: "A braying donkey loses his mouth."
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L. Maison?
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13705 (Access ID)