Aesop's Fables, new versified, from the best English editions in three parts
Abstract
I quote an online description: "Despite the impression given by the title page that this is merely a verse translation from the English of Aesop's Fables there is in fact a large element of original verse. The volume starts with a verse dedication to the Earl of Carlisle, mentioning his embassy to America. Each of the early fables is preceded by a verse addressed to a contemporary figure, for example Thomas Grimston, William Eddis, John Blades, Francis Const, Philip Leslie, Edward Topham, R. B. Sheridan, Charles James Fox etc. This address is usually extensive and sometimes longer the actual Fable itself." Where this quotation writes "addressed," I wonder if the better expression might be "dedicated." This edition is known online but seems quite rare. This copy lacks 209-218, the last two-and-a-half fables. There is a T of C at the beginning. The first part, 41 fables, seem all to have dedicatees. The second part, #42-100, lack them. The fulsome praise of the dedicatees and the "poetic" elaboration of the fables is not our taste today. I am however delighted to have found this unusual fable creation from a bygone era. The title-page continues: "sold by J. Harris, (successor to E. Newbery,) corner of St. Paul's Church-Yard; and E. Williams, No II, Strand, London; also by Rawson and Rodford, Lowgate, Hull; M. Turner, Beverley; J. Etherington, Driffield; G. Sagg, Malton; Turner and Ainsworth, Scarborough; W. A. Henderson, Durham; J. Wolstenholme, Minster-Yard, York; T. Binns, Leeds; W. Sheardown, Dorchester; and all the principal booksellers."