22' cmcdotes of Fontaine. 'July \ v. 



svif a phrase, says la Mote, which esprefses finely the 

 character of a superiour genius, who does not know him- 

 self, for v;ant of examining himself with enough of attenti- 

 on. On reading the fables of this- author, one remarks 

 such a native ease, that we would think they had fallen 

 from his pen, which made madami de la Sahliere cell him 

 T^fabiier, as they call the tree that carriers apples pommier. 

 This superiour woman, with whom he lodged, said one 

 day, after having dismifsed her servants, ' I have only 

 kept with me my three animals, my dog, my cat, and my 

 .Fontaine.' 



Racine and Despreaux called \i\va. x}ntgcodman, although 

 they knew all his worth ia other respects. At a supper • 

 at Moiiere's house, where was also Descoteau.K the famous 

 player on the tlute, the goodinau appeared to dream more 

 than ordinary. Despreaiix and Racine endeavoured in 

 vain to awaker^ him by lively sallies. They even puflied 

 the raillery so far, that Moliere thought they were going 

 bcyoHd bounds \ at leaving the table, he took Descoteaux 

 aside into the embrasure of a window, and talking to him 

 in the freedom of his heart : " It is in vain, said he, that 

 our beaux eaprils make- a bustle, they will not efface the 

 goodmcin^'' 



That poet lived in an extreme indifference with respect 

 to religious, as well as other matters j but having fallen ill 

 he set about reading the New Testament. Charmed with 

 that reading, he said to father Poujet, of the oratoire, his 

 director, ' I afsure you the New Testament is a very 

 good book 5 yes, in truth, it is a very good book •, but 

 there is one article concerning which I am not altogether 

 reconciled, it is that of the eternity of puniihment j I do 

 not comprehend how that eternity can be consistent witS" 

 the gocdnefs of God.' 



