2$' anecdotes of Tontaine^ ^Ju/yix. 



of common sense, that, in the ordinary transactions of life, 

 he was scarcely to be distinguilhed from an idiot. The fol- 

 lowing anecdotes of this singular genius, can scarcely prove 

 uninteresting to any one who wiflies to become acquainted 

 ■with the human character. 



Jean de la Fontaine, a French poet, was born at Chateau 

 Thiery in 1621, died at Paris in 1695, aged 74 years. 



Fontaine lived in a sort of apathy, and a decided indiffe- 

 rence for every thing that forms the objects of the pur- 

 'suit of most men. This system of conduct would have 

 done honour to his philosophy, if reflection had occasio- 

 .ned it j but it was in him a gift of nature. He was born 

 gentle and easy, without pride, incapable of hatred, and 

 free from the pafsions which tyrannise over the soul. Happy 

 would society be if it were or.ly composed of men like 

 him ! there would neither be troubles nor divisions. It 

 is true he did not add to the. pleasures of society. Those 

 who saw him, without knowing him, had no other idea of 

 him than of a man who was both disagreeable and very 

 tiresome. He spoke little, and unlefs they spoke of some- 

 ^hing that was to his liking, he remained in a stupid silence, 

 v/hich one would have taken for an indication of idiotism. 

 If he told a tale, he told it ill j and that author who had 

 written stories so natural and so lively, interested nobody 

 when he related one. There aie other examples which 

 prove that with much wit, and a variety of talents, one 

 may not have the talent of conversation. 



A farmer general had invited la Fontaine to dine with 

 him, in the persuasion that an author whose tales all the 

 ■world admired, could not fail to be amusing in society. 

 Fontaine ate, spoke none, and rose very soon, under 

 pretext of going to the academy. They told him it was 

 not yet time. I know it, replied he, to IJhall take the longer 

 time. 



