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LA FONTAINE, the celebrated French fabulist, is recorded to have been one of the most absent of men; and Furetiere relates a circumstance, which, if true, is one of the most singular aberrations possible. Fontaine attended the burial

VOL. III.

B

of one of his friends, and, some time afterwards, he called to visit him. At first, he was shocked at the information of his death; but recovering from his surprise, he observed, "It is true enough, for now I recollect I went to his burial."

The generous and witty Madame de la Sabliere furnished him with a commodious apartment in her house; and one day, having discharged all her servants in a pet, declared that she had only retained three animals in her house, which were her dog, her cat, and Fontaine. In this situation he continued twenty years; and a day or two after losing his generous patroness, met his acquaintance, M. d'Hervart: "My dear Fontaine, (said that worthy man to him,) I have heard of your misfortune, and was going to propose your coming to live with me."—" I was going to you," answered Fontaine.

It was difficult to restrain him sometimes when on a particular subject. One day, dining with Moliere and Despreaux, he inveighed against the absurdity of making performers speak aside what is heard by the stage and the whole house. Heated with this idea, he would listen to no argument. "It cannot be denied,"

exclaimed Despreaux, in a loud key, “it cannot be denied, that La Fontaine is a rogue, a great rogue, a villain, a rascal, &c." multiplying his terms of abuse, and increasing the loudness of his voice. Fontaine, without paying any regard to his abuse, went on declaiming. At last the company's roar of laughter recalled him to himself. "What is this roar of laughter about?" said he. "At what!” cried Despreaux, "why, at you, to be sure; you have not heard a word of the abuse which I have been bawling at your ears, yet you are surprised at the folly of supposing a performer not to hear what another actor whispers at the opposite side of the stage."

When the Fables of La Motte appeared, it was fashionable in France to despise them. One evening, at an entertainment given by the Prince de Vendome, several of the first critics of the kingdom made themselves exceedingly merry at the expense of the author. Voltaire happened to be present: "Gentlemen, (said he,) I perfectly agree with you. What a difference there is between the style of La Motte and the style of La Fontaine ! Have you seen the new edition of the latter?" The company answered in the

negative. "Then you have not read that beautiful Fable of his, which was found among the papers of the Duchess of Bouillon.” He accordingly repeated it to them. Every one present was charmed with it. "Here (said he) is the spirit of La Fontaine ;-here is nature in her simplicity. What naïveté-what grace!— Gentlemen, (resumed Voltaire,) you will find this Fable among those of La Motte." Confusion took possession of all but Voltaire, who was happy in exposing the folly of these pretended judges.

It has been observed, that the best writers, and the deepest thinkers, have usually been but indifferent companions. This was the case with La Fontaine; for having once been invited to dine at the house of a person of distinction, for the sake of entertaining the guests, though he ate very heartily, yet not a word could be got from him; and when, rising soon after from the table, on pretence of going to the Academy, he was told he would be too soon, "Oh, then," said he, "I'll take the longest way." Being one day with Boileau, Racine, and other men of eminence, among whom were Ecclesias

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