ÉPITAPHE DE LA FONTAINE
by Jean de La Fontaine · from Fables de La Fontaine
Adapted Version
Once there was a man named Jean. He was a very happy man. He was happy in a special way. Jean lived a simple life. He came into the world. He lived his life this way. He did not want many things. He did not want many toys. He did not want new clothes. Jean liked old clothes. He liked simple food. He liked his small home. Jean was always content. He smiled often. He felt peace in his heart. Jean did not change much. He stayed the same. He was happy from the start. He was happy every day. Jean liked quiet times. He liked calm places. He did not ask for more. He had enough. He was a happy man. He felt good inside. He knew what made him happy. Simple things made him happy. He liked the sun. He liked the birds. He liked soft beds. He liked warm blankets. Jean was a kind man. He was a gentle man. He lived a good life. He felt very good. He was a happy soul. This was Jean's way. He lived it well. He lived it with joy. He did not want big houses. He used his money simply. He bought simple food. He had a warm bed. He did not buy many things. Big treasures were not important. He was happy with little. Jean had a special way. He spent his day simply. He had two favorite things. He divided his time. This made him happy. One part was for sleeping. Jean slept soundly. He slept happily. The other part was for nothing. He sat very still. He looked at clouds. He thought happy thoughts. He was content doing nothing. He felt peace inside. Jean lived a happy life. He showed us that being simple and resting can make you very happy too. It is good to be happy with what you have.
Original Story
ÉPITAPHE DE LA FONTAINE
COMPOSÉE PAR LUI-MÊME.
Jean s’en alla comme il étoit venu,
Mangea le fonds avec le revenu,
Tint les trésors chose peu nécessaire.
Quant à son temps, bien sut le dispenser:
Deux parts en fit, dont il souloit passer
L’une à dormir et l’autre à ne rien faire.
NOTES
[1] Poli pour luisant, état du poil chez les chiens bien portants.
[2] Restes de repas.
[3] Portant besace.
[4] Ce mot, qui ne se prend plus qu’en mauvaise part, se disoit alors pour désigner un habitant de la campagne.
[5] L’auteur des Maximes, qui avoient été publiées en 1665, et avoient dès leur apparition obtenu beaucoup de succès.
[6] Maître Aliboron, expression usitée autrefois pour désigner un âne, ou un ignorant. Rabelais, liv. III, chap. xx, appelle un avocat maître Aliborum.
[7] Pour un quatrième voleur.
[8] Voyez ci-après, livre IX, fable IX.
[9] Dans Rabelais, Rodilard ou rongeur de lard.
[10] Pour dire marchoit lentement.
[11] Les alchimistes.
[12] Les feux de joie.
[13] Ses chausses.
[14] Armés de bâtons.
[15] Treuve pour trouve étoit avant La Fontaine très-généralement employé. On le rencontre dans le Misanthrope.
[16] A Monsieur de Maucroix.
[17] L’estomac. (Note de La Fontaine.)
[18] En couche.
[19] Étraites pour étroites.
[20] Ancien mot, pour araignée.
[21] Chère joyeuse, bonne chère.
[22] Mitis, en latin, signifie doux.
[23] Françoise-Marguerite de Sévigné, fille de la célèbre madame de Sévigné; elle épousa M. de Grignan.
[24] Nom de chien.
[25] Ces noms sont empruntés à la Batrachomyomachie ou le Combat des Grenouilles et des Rats, poëme attribué à Homère.
[26] Arion, menacé par les matelots, fut sauvé par un dauphin qui l’avoit entendu chanter.
[27] Port d’Athènes.
[28] Croit tromper.
[29] Esclave.
[30] L’accroissement.
[31] Les bêtes de somme.
[32] Beaux sires loups, n’écoutez pas mère tançant son fils qui crie.
[33] Nichée.
[34] A M. le chevalier de Bouillon.
[35] Boquillon ou bosquillon, qui travaille aux bosquets ou bois, bûcheron.
[36] A la moindre secousse.
[37] Les trois Parques.
[38] Tu me serois assuré. Cette expression vient du jeu de cartes appelé hoc.
[39] On disait alors arboriste comme herboriste.
[40] Marchand de moutons, dans Rabelais. Pantagruel, liv. IV, ch. VIII.
[41] Virtus, courage.
[42] Gabrias (Note de La Fontaine.)
[43] Ou balandran, sorte de manteau.
[44] Qui cause des frais.
[45] Qui couche sur la paille.
[46] La Fontaine a fait du féminin le mot ongle, suivant l’usage de certaines provinces, et en lui conservant le genre du latin ungula.—Maline, pour maligne, est une licence poétique.
[47] Ce grand maître était Louis XIV.
[48] Le fond de cet apologue est tiré d’un ancien conte arabe.
[49] Émute, pour émeute, par licence poétique et pour la rime.
[50] L’accident arrivé après la mort de M. de Boufflers, et que Mme de Sévigné a raconté dans une de ses lettres en date du 26 février 1672, a fourni le sujet de cette fable.
[51] La Fontaine a écrit propette et non proprette.
[52] Sujet emprunté à la Devineresse comédie de Visé et Thomas Corneille.
[53] On voit que La Fontaine emploie successivement les mots devineresse, devineuse et devine, quoique le premier seulement soit français.
[54] Raminagrobis et Grippeminaud sont des noms empruntés de Rabelais.
[55] Du temps de La Fontaine, ce mot s’employait encore au féminin dans une acception qui n’admet plus aujourd’hui que le masculin. (Note des Éditeurs.)
[56] La Fontaine a pris le sujet de cette fable dans un fait contemporain.
[57] Charles II, roi d’Angleterre.
[58] Ambassadeur en Angleterre.
[59] Démades.
[60] Lettre d’Hippocrate adressée à Damagète.
[61] Sagette pour flèche, vieux mot, du latin sagitta.
[62] Le saisir dans ses serres: terme de fauconnerie.
[63] La balle: terme du jeu de longue paume.
[64] Hymette étoit une montagne célébrée par les poëtes, située dans l’Attique, et où les Grecs recueilloient d’excellent miel. (Note de La Fontaine.)
[65] Empédocle étoit un philosophe ancien, qui ne pouvant comprendre les merveilles du mont Etna, se jeta dedans par une vanité ridicule, et trouvant l’action belle, de peur d’en perdre le fruit, et que la postérité ne l’ignorât, laissa ses pantoufles au pied du mont. (Note de La Fontaine.)
[66] Sobieski.
[67] Descartes.
[68] Au lieu de respect, pour la rime et par licence poétique.
[69] Au lieu de circonspect, pour la rime et par licence poétique.
[70] La Fontaine a employé ici détroit pour district; ces deux mots sont de formation commune.
[71] Bélisaire étoit un grand capitaine qui, ayant commandé les armées de l’empereur et perdu les bonnes grâces de son maître, tomba dans un tel point de misère, qu’il demandoit l’aumône sur les grands chemins. (Note de La Fontaine.)
[72] L’armée. Vieux mot.
[73] Musicien célèbre.
[74] Élève. Terme de fauconnerie.
[75] Qui porte une longue barbe. Mot emprunté des Italiens.
[76] C’est évidemment pour la rime que La Fontaine a modifié ainsi le mot volatile.
[77] Venelle signifie sentier; et enfiler la venelle, signifie proverbialement s’enfuir.
[78] Terme de vénerie, pour désigner les chiens qui relèvent de défaut les autres chiens.
[79] Genre de chaussures. Expression proverbiale voulant dire qu’il y mourut.
[80] Le mot étrange pris dans le sens d’étranger était déjà vieilli du temps de La Fontaine.
[81] Charles II.
[82] Hortense Mancini, duchesse de Mazarin, née à Rome en 1646, et morte à Chelsey, près de Londres, le 2 juillet 1699.
[83] Mot forgé par l’auteur.
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Story DNA
Moral
A life lived simply, without attachment to material wealth or excessive effort, can still be a complete and fulfilling one.
Plot Summary
Jean de La Fontaine's self-composed epitaph describes a life lived without concern for wealth or strenuous effort. He consumed all his resources and considered treasures unnecessary. His time was divided simply: one half spent sleeping, and the other half doing nothing, reflecting a life of gentle idleness and contentment.
Themes
Emotional Arc
contentment to contentment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Jean de La Fontaine was a renowned French fabulist and poet, known for his satirical and moralistic fables. This epitaph, supposedly self-composed, reflects a persona of gentle idleness and detachment from worldly possessions, which was a characteristic often associated with him.
Plot Beats (4)
- Beat 1: Jean de La Fontaine lived his life as he came into it, without material accumulation.
- Beat 2: He spent all his resources, both principal and income, considering treasures unnecessary.
- Beat 3: He knew well how to manage his time, dividing it into two parts.
- Beat 4: One part of his time he spent sleeping, and the other part doing nothing.
Characters
Jean (La Fontaine)
A man of average height and build, likely with the soft, slightly rounded features of someone who prioritizes comfort and leisure over strenuous activity. His complexion would be fair, perhaps a bit pale from spending much time indoors or in contemplation.
Attire: Simple, comfortable 17th-century French attire. Perhaps a loose-fitting linen shirt, a plain wool doublet in muted tones like grey or brown, and comfortable breeches. He would likely forgo elaborate lace or embroidery, preferring practicality and ease of movement. His shoes would be sturdy, unadorned leather.
Wants: To live a life free from the burdens of wealth and excessive labor, dedicating his time to contemplation, rest, and perhaps the creation of his fables.
Flaw: Extreme indolence and a complete disregard for financial prudence, leading to a lack of material security.
The epitaph is a summary of his life, implying a consistent character arc where he remained true to his nature of valuing leisure and thought over material gain, from beginning to end.
Lazy, unmaterialistic, philosophical, observant, content.
Locations
Jean de La Fontaine's Study/Home
A modest, perhaps slightly disheveled, room in a 17th-century French bourgeois home, likely in Paris or a provincial town. It would feature a writing desk, perhaps a comfortable armchair, and shelves with books, but not necessarily overflowing with extravagant possessions, reflecting his casual attitude towards wealth. The light would be natural, filtering through a window.
Mood: Reflective, slightly melancholic, humble, intellectual, yet unburdened.
This is the implied setting where La Fontaine lived his life, 'eating up capital with income' and dedicating his time to sleep and doing nothing, as he describes in his self-composed epitaph.