JO anecdotes of Fontaine, ^uiyi\. 



taine ; and after having explained the reasons of it to hira 

 in a few words, he drew his sword without waiting the 

 answer of Poignan, who put himself on the defensive. 

 The combat was not long, Poignan disarmed him at the 

 Ikst. Fontaine was satisfied. Poignan conducted him 

 liome, and they were reconciled at breakfast. 



Fontaine had a son whom he kept very fhort time with 

 lu'm. He put him at fourteen years of age into the hands 

 of M. de Harliiy, since first president, and recommended to 

 lum his education, and his fortune. It is said that Fon- 

 taine went one day to a house where this son was, whom 

 he had not seen for a long time. He did not know him, 

 and told the company, however, that he thought he 

 had wit and taste. \M:en he was told it was liis son, 

 he answered calmly : Ah ! I am very glad of it. 



Another anecdote about Fontaine may still serve to 

 prove that every man who applies himself to study through 

 taste, lives in a manner insulated in the midst of the world. 

 Hence these natural and inattentive answers which so of- 

 ten furnilh people of middling talents with pretexts to ri- 

 dicule genius. Fontaine had received an invitation to go 

 to the burial. of a person of his acquaintance. Some time 

 afeerv.ards he went to dine with that same person. The 

 porter told him that his master was dead eight days ago : 

 yJh ! replied he, I did not think that it. had been so long. 



Rtbelais, whom Despreaux called reason in a mask, was 

 always the idol of Fontaine. He was the only author 

 whom he admired vrithout reserve. He was one day at 

 Despr aux's house with Racine, Boileau, and several other 

 persons of distinguilhed merit. They there spoke a good 

 deal about St Augustine, and his works. Fontaine did 

 not join in the conversation, but kept the most stupid like 

 -ilence. At last he awakened, as from a most profound 

 •il^e;^, and aiked, In a very serious m^r.-.w. of the abbe 



