THE MILK POND OYSTEES. 63 



IV.— THE MILK POND OYSTERS. 



The excellent La Fontaine (that admirable wit, 

 who was a genius without pretending to be so) has 

 penned in one of his Fables one of the finest 

 eulogiums possible upon the oyster. Two lovers 

 of the shell-fish find an oyster on the shore at 

 the same moment, and quarrel about its posses- 

 sion. One of them, at last, makes the following 

 proposition : — 



" Celui qui le premier a pu I'apercevoir 

 En sera le gobeur, I'autre le verra faire. 

 — Si par-la Ton juge I'aifaire, 

 Keprit sou compagnon, j'ai I'ceil bon, Dieu merci ! 

 — Je ne I'ai pas mauvais aussi, 

 Dit I'aiitre ; et je I'ai vue avant vous, sur ma vie ! 

 — Eh bien, vous I'avez vue et moi je I'ai sentie !" 



A judge, named Pierre Dandin, passes by, and 

 they accept him for arbitrator ; but mark the re- 

 sult. Instead of considering which of the two has 

 the best right, the man of law seizes the oyster, 

 opens, and swallows it with the utmost gravity, and 

 then having given — 



" a cbacun une ^caille" 



gives orders 



" Qu'en paix chacun cliez soi s'en aille." 



Certainly an oyster must be an article of great 



