29. "The Wolf and the Stork": "Le Loup et la Cicogne," III. ix.
30. "The Frogs asking for a King": "Les Grenouilles qui demandent un Roi," III. iv.
31. "The Wolf and the Lamb": "Le Loup et l'Agneau," I. x.
32. "The Lyon grown old": "Le Lion devenu vieux," III. xiv.
33. "The two Physicians": "Les Médecins," V. xii.
34. "Love and Folly": "L'Amour et la Folie," XII. xiv.
35. "A She-Goat, a Sheep and a Sow": "Le Cochon, la Chèvre, et le Mouton," VIII. xii.
36. "The Dog and the Ass": "L'Âne et le Chien," VIII. xvii.
37. "The Fox and Wolf": "Le Loup et le Renard," XI. vi.
The text of _Aesop Dress'd_ here reprinted is that in the Harvard University Library.
_LONDON_: Sold at _Lock's-Head_ adjoyning to _Ludgate_. Price One Shilling.
_The two Dragons_ Page 1 _The Wolf and Dog_ 2 _The Frog_ 4 _The Pumkin And Acorn_ 5 _The Hands, and Feet, and Belly_ 7 _The Countryman and the Knight_ 10 _The Plague among the Beasts_ 14 _The Grashopper and Ant_ 17 _The Milk Woman_ 18 _The Cock, the Cat, and the young Mouse_ 20 _The Cock and Pearl_ 22 _The Lyon's Court_ 23 _The Drunkard and his Wife_ 24 _The Carp_ 25 _The Nightingale and Owl_ 27 _Council held by the Rats_ 34 _The Bat and the two Weasels_ 36 _The two Bitches_ 37 _The Sick Lyon and the Fox_ 38 _The Satyr and the Passenger_ 40 _The Lyon in Love_ 41 _The Angler and the little Carp_ 43 _The Wolves and the Sheep_ 44 _The Wasps and the Bees_ 46 _The Lyon and Knat_ 48 _The Woodcleaver and Mercury_ 50 _The Hare and his Ears_ 52 _The Rat and the Frog_ 53 _The Cat and old Rat_ 56 _The Weasel and the Rat_ 59 _The Wolf and the Stork_ 60 _The Frogs asking for a King_ 62 _The Wolf and Lamb_ 64 _The Lyon grown old_ 65 _The two Physicians _ 66 _Love and Folly_ 67 _A She-Goat, a Sheep, and a Sow_ 69 _The Dog and Ass_ 71
_Prefaces and Cuts are commonly made use of much to the same Purpose; to set off, and to explain. The latter, being too expensive, are pretty well out of date, in an Age, where there are abundance of fine things to be bought besides Books. But the first by wicked Custom, are become so necessary, that a Volume would look as defective without one, as if it wanted the very Title Page. Though it is hard I should be compelled to talk to my Reader, whether I have any thing to say to him or not. Nay, what is worse, every Body thinks a Man should be more lavish here of his Skill and Learning, than anywhere else: Here they would have him shew his Airs, and therefore most Authors adorn their Prefaces, as if they were triumphal Arches; there's nothing empty to be seen about 'em, and from top to bottom they are to be crowded with Emblems and pretty Sayings, judiciously interwoven with Scraps of_ Latin; _though they should borrow 'em from the Parson of the Parish. These, I say, are the Entertainments where they love to glut us with Wit and fine Language; though they starve us for ever after: Which makes some of 'em look like a rich piece of Fillegrew Work over the Door of an empty Parlour. But I am resolved my Portico shall suit with the rest of the House, and, as every thing is plain within, nothing shall be carv'd or gilt without: Besides, I hate formality, Good Reader, and all my Business with you is to let you know, that I have writ some Fables in Verse, after the Familiar Way of a Great Man in_ France, Monsieur de la Fontaine. _I have confin'd my self to strict Numbers, and endeavour'd to make 'em free and natural; if they prove otherwise, I'm sorry for it. Two of the Fables are of my own Invention; but I am so far from loving 'em the better, that I think they are the worst in the Pack: And therefore in good Manners to my self I conceal their Names. Find 'em out, and welcome. I could wish to have furnish'd you with something more worthy your precious time: But as you'll find nothing very Instructive, so there's little to puzzle your Brain. Besides, I desire every Body to read 'em at the same Hours I writ 'em, that's when I had nothing else to do. If any like these Trifles, perhaps I may go on; if not, you shall be troubled with no more of 'em: And so fare ye well_ Reader.