Literary Fables of Yriarte.
by Tomas de Iriarte.
PREFACE.
The Fable has always been a popular mode of conveying certain kinds of instruction. The brief and simple ill.u.s.trations it affords give additional weight and point to moral apothegms or sententious criticisms. Like the feather on the shaft, they serve to increase the force and direct the aim more certainly to the mark. A pertinent fact or an apt fiction breathes, even into a dry and curt axiom, a living and practical interest which opens to it hearts and heads that would otherwise pa.s.s it by with indifference, or revolt from it with impatience. Many of these unpretending allegories have been familiar to us all, in childhood, in a great variety of dresses, and have long formed a standard part of our literature--congenial alike to nursery days and to mature age.
The fables contained in the little collection here translated are not, with one or two exceptions, found among the widely popular and familiar fables to which we have alluded. They were written in a foreign tongue, less generally understood, among us, than some other of the European languages; and they are designed for a special and somewhat abstruse purpose. Both these circ.u.mstances tend to narrow their sphere of circulation; and we presume that they form a book little known to most English readers.
If we do not err in our estimate of them, the Literary Fables of Don Thomas De Yriarte are well worthy of perusal. They are aptly and ingeniously adapted to the truths they seek to inculcate; and they are remarkable for a terse simplicity of form and style, well suited to the objects and character of such productions. The maxims and criticisms they enforce must approve themselves to the mind, both of the professed scholar and the general reader.
The author was born in Teneriffe, A.D. 1750, but was educated and resided at Madrid, where he died in 1791, at the early age, of course, of forty-one years. His uncle, Don Juan De Yriarte, was the chief superintendent of the royal library; and the nephew was educated under his auspices. In his eighteenth year, he commenced his literary career by the writing of dramas, and the translation of plays from the French for the Spanish stage. He spent his life in the duties of sundry offices under the government; yet he very soon a.s.sumed and maintained a high consideration as a scholar and writer. His works, however, were of a character to command but little interest from posterity, with the exception of the fables translated in this little volume.
Of them, Professor Ticknor, from whose learned work on Spanish literature we have collected these details, speaks as follows:--
"Here, he, in some degree, struck out a new path; for he not only invented all his fictions, which no other fabulist, in modern times, had done, but restricted them all, in their moral purpose, to the correction of the faults and follies of men of learning--an application which had not before been thought of. They are written with great care, in no less than forty different measures, and show an extraordinary degree of ingenuity in adapting the attributes and instincts of animals to the instruction, not of mankind at large, as had always been done before, but to that of a separate and small cla.s.s, between whom and the inferior creation the resemblance is rarely obvious. The task was certainly a difficult one. Perhaps, on this account, they are too narrative in their structure, and fail somewhat in the genial spirit which distinguishes Esop and La Fontaine, the greatest masters of Apologue and Fable. But their influence was so needed in the age of bad writing when they appeared, and they are, besides, so graceful in their versification, that they were not only received with great favor at first, but have never lost it since."--_Ticknor"s Hist, of Span.
Literature_, vol. iii., p. 279.
We have endeavored to discharge with fidelity the duty of translation; attempting to preserve the form and spirit of the author, as far as was consistent with giving the work an English dress. With this view, we have aimed to produce a literal and characteristic reflection of the original rather than an expanded and highly-wrought paraphrase. Where we could do so, we have sought to preserve the metre, or a nearly a.n.a.logous one, in order, if possible, to give a clear idea of the Spanish work to the English reader. But this is not practicable in all cases. The peculiar construction of Spanish rhymes, together with the obstinacy with which some words and sentences refuse the stern yoke of our English rules, render the task, always hard, sometimes impossible. The terminal inflections of the Spanish language and its accentuation are widely different from those of the Anglo-Saxon; and so axe the arbitrary arrangements of the rhythm, which are, in the latter, far more exacting and precise. The professed scholar will recognize and make due allowance for such obstacles. To the public at large we shall hope our little book may convey some instruction and amus.e.m.e.nt, in a palatable shape. If so, it may give, to a novel cla.s.s of subjects, somewhat of the well-known interest inspired by the graceful and popular fictions of Esop, Gay and La Fontaine.
G.H.D.
_Salem, October 25th_, 1854.
INTRODUCTION.
FABLE I.
Long years ago, in far-off land, When every brute beast had a way, What he thought and felt, to say In language all could understand-- The sagacious Elephant observed Among these creatures many a failing, And gross abuses, too, prevailing, Which strenuous reform deserved.
He called them all, from far and near, His strictures on their ways to hear.
With reverence the most profound His long proboscis swept the ground; In careful phrase, well learned by heart, He then discharged the censor"s part-- A thousand silly foibles noted, A thousand vicious actions quoted; Envy, working sore vexation, Ostentatious insolence, Idleness, procrastination, The arrogance of ignorance.
His sound and n.o.ble counsel stirs The hearts of many listeners, Accepting, with due reverence, The dictates of his generous sense.
The guileless Lamb and thrifty Ant, The Bee, frugal and provident, The trusty Setter, and the Dove, Ever faithful to her love, The obedient Horse, the Linnet shy, And the simple b.u.t.terfly.
But, of the audience, a part not small Declared that their offended pride Such language plain could not abide; Not they--no, not at all.
The Tiger and rapacious Wolf, Opening their lank jaws" b.l.o.o.d.y gulf, Against the adviser rave; His vile abuse, among the crowd, The venomous Serpent hissed aloud; While, all around, the whispering tone Of Wasp and Hornet, Fly and Drone, A murmuring echo gave.
The mischievous Balm-cricket leapt From the tumultuous throng; The Locust spread his clanging wing, His greedy conscience felt the sting; The wriggling Caterpillar crept His sneaking way along; The Weasel arched his spiteful back; The Fox kept silence shrewd; The Monkey, sauciest of the pack, Mocked, with grimaces rude.
The stately Elephant looked down Upon the vexed turmoil: "To each and all and yet to none,"-- Spake his calm voice above the broil,-- "These censures I apply; Let him who winces put them on; Who not, hear quietly."
Whoever may my fables read, This truth important let him heed: That to all nations--not to any one-- And to all times, they speak.
The world has shown alike The faults at which they strike In each revolving week.
Then--since the warning finger Points at no destined head-- Who feels the censure linger Must sup on his own bread.
FABLE II.
THE SILKWORM AND SPIDER.
At his coc.o.o.n a busy Silkworm labored; A Spider, who with all her might was spinning Hard by, with laugh malicious, thus bespoke him.
In silly exultation tasks comparing: "What think you of my web, good Master Silkworm?
This very morning I began it, early, And now, mid-day will see the job completed.
Just see how fine and beautiful it is, too!"
Coolly replied the precious fabric"s workman: ""T is true--your labor tells us its own story."
Let those who boast their numerous vapid volumes, Know that "tis quality, not bulk, that"s precious.
What costs small labor is of smaller value.
FABLE III.
THE BEAR, THE MONKEY AND THE HOG.
A Piedmontese a Bear had taught Upon two legs the art of dancing; To earn their bread, the master sought, By showing off his awkward prancing.
Now, Bruin, anxious to excel, Before the Monkey showed his skill.
"How do I dance, friend? Prithee tell."
"Ill," said the Monkey, "very ill."
"I am afraid you look on me,"
Said Bruin, "with a jealous eye.
Now, that I move quite gracefully, And know the step, can you deny?"
A jolly Pig was standing by, And shouted,--"Bravo! n.o.bly done!
A better dancer, sure am I, Was never seen beneath the sun."
He spoke. But Bruin thoughtful stood, And soberly the grunter eyed; At last, in sad and humble mood, To his loud praise he thus replied:
"When Monkey did my dancing slight I did not much the censure heed; But now I see, by your delight, It must be miserable, indeed."