One of the persons whom Rochefoucauld patronised and protected, was th… — Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims — François de La Rochefoucauld

One of the persons whom Rochefoucauld patronised and protected, was the great French fabulist, La Fontaine. This patronage was repaid by La Fontaine giving, in one of his fables, "L'Homme et son Image," an elaborate defence of his patron. After there depicting a man who fancied himself one of the most lovely in the world, and who complained he always found all mirrors untrustworthy, at last discovered his real image reflected in the water. He thus applies his fable:-- "Je parle a tous: et cette erreur extreme, Est un mal que chacun se plait d'entretenir, Notre ame, c'est cet homme amoureux de lui meme, Tant de miroirs, ce sont les sottises d'autrui. Miroirs, de nos defauts les peintres legitimes, Et quant au canal, c'est celui Qui chacun sait, le livre des MAXIMES."

Место: ¶78
Лицензия: Public domain · Источник
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