appear, for the dedication has no signature, but « Votre tres humble Esbatement moral." But the verses are said, by Heyns, to have been begun in London.

Et toy Poéte François, vray amateur des Musés,
Tu y verras aussi des Heroique vers
En Sonet bien troussez : qui par deux cornemuses
(A Londres entonnez et finiz en Anvers)
Font sauter, a l'ennvy, Oyseaux, bestes, et vers.

Each fable is comprised in a French Sonnet, placed opposite to the plate which represents the subject; and each plate has a French motto above, and one or two texts of Scripture underneath. The book contains 125 Fables, and as many plates, all well designed and well executed. The fables are not all Æsopian, but selected from various authors. Though the sonnets are not very excellent, yet, as the book is, I believe, of rare occurrence, it may be worth while to introduce one as a specimen. I take a fable which I do not recollect to have seen elsewhere. The motto is,

Dissention des Amis les faict proye aur

Estrangers.

DE LA GRENOUILLE ET DE LA SOURI.

De cet aspre conflict des Raines et des Rats,

Qui dura si long temps (dont Homere n’a honte

En ses chants les plus doux d'en reciter la conte)
Il en vint en la paix mesme de grans combats.
Comme une Raine

aprez
voulant

par ces appas
Tirer (pour se vanger) une Souri, fort promte

De luy promettre assez, luy dict qu'elle se conte,
De luy faire en son lieu un magnific repas.

Mais la Raine noia la Souri miserable,
E flottant sur les eaus, um vaultour effroiable,

La ravit, et son hoste, à ses jambes lié.
L'homme meschant qui tasche à nuire ainsi sus terre

(Die tant qu'il voudra, qu'on luy avoit faict guerre) En la fin perira, sans aucune pitié.

The French are extremely fond of turning parratives into sonnets. But there is a curious book, executed by command of Louis xiv., in which the whole of Ovid's Metamorphoses is converted into Rondeaux. Of this truly Frenchified performance a friend of mine has a magnificent copy in quarto, which has all the appearance of being a presentation book, having the arms and crown of France splendidly stamped on the covers, and on the back, Imp. ROYALE, for Imprimerie Royale. The author was no less a personage than the famous Benserade, and the title announces the Royal order, for its splendid publication, at least, if not for the composition.

Metamorphoses d'Ovide en Rondeaux, imprimez, et enrichis de figures, par Ordre de sa Majesté, et dediez à Monseigneur le Dauphin.”

Below,

Below, on a vignette plate, are the Royal Crown, Arms, and Orders. The date 1676.

As the French Rondeau is of all absurd de. vices the most absurd, exceeding in strictness, as well as in quaintness, the sonnet itself, it will be curious to some readers, without doubt, to see how this strange task was executed. I should not omit to say, that for the designs, the Royal painter Le Brun was employed; a letter from whom, to Benserade, on the design of the Frontispiece, stands, first in the book. After that, every thing is Rondeau. There is a double Rondeau to the King, a Dedication to the Dauphin in a Rondeau, a Rondeau for a Preface; the Royal Privilege, and even the Errata are announced in Rondeaux. The latter, as containing a witticism of the author, on the subject of his own very singular work, may serve, perhaps, as a good specimen.

ERRATA

EN RONDEAU.

Dans ce volume, où sont toutes les Fables,
S'il s'est glissé des fautes peu notables,
Ou qui ne soient que de l'impression,
Mauque de soin, et l'aplication,
Un mot pour l'autre, elles sont excusables.

D'autres

D'autres peut-estre, et bien moins suportables,
Comme au bon sens plus préjudiciables,
Mériteroient une correction,

Dans ce volume.

Pour moi, parmy des fautes innombrables
Je n'en connois que deux considerables,
Et dont je fais ma déclaration,
C'est l Enterprise, et l' Exécution,
A mon avis fautes irréparables,

Dans ce volume.

The “ Extrait du Privilege du Roi" is a witricism of a similar kind, and deserves also, perhaps, to be selected from a number of attempts in which the Poet had less scope for his wit.

EXTRAIT

DU PRIVILEGE DU ROI.

EN RONDEAU.,

Il est permis à quelqu'un du Parnasse
Qui de Marot cherche à suivre la trace,
De mettre au jour des Rondeaux qu'il a faits,
Pour estre en vente exposez beaux, ou laids,
Et défendu

que

l'on les contre fasse.

Le Roy plus loin étend la mesme grace,
Tout Acheteur qui du s'embarasse
Peut affecter de les trouver mauvais.

Il est permis

S'aban

S'abandonner au public quelle audace!
A moins que d'estre Virgile, ou le Tasse,
Le milleur est de n'imprimer jamais,
On y hazarde, et l'honneur et les frais;
Mais qui voudra faire le Fat le fasse,

Il est permis.

Here the origin of the Rondeau is referred to Marot, to whom the French doubtless, think it does honour. Though it is easy to conceive with how little advantage Ovid's tales must appear thus travestied, I will give one specimen of them. Among so many it is not easy to choose, but that on the Metamorphosis of Argus makes as good an Epigram, perhaps, as any among them.