ESSENTIAL OBSERVATIONS AND DIRECTIONS. As we have adopted in this volume the modern system of Orthography of the Spanish Academy, and this may occasion some perplexity to the Students who use Neuman and Baretti's Dictionary, which is printed according to the ancient orthography, the following rules must be remembered and attended to. 1st. The words that may not be found in the combinations JA, JE, JI, JO, JU, GE, GI, should be looked for in the combinations XA, XE, XI, Xo, xu, and vice versa. 2d. The words that may not be found in the combinations CE, CI, may be looked for in the combinations ZE, ZI, and vice versa, 3d. The words that may not be found in the combinations CUA, CUE, CUI, CUO, will be looked for in the combinations QUA, QUE, QÜI, QUO. 4th. Those that may not be found in the combinations CA, QUE, QUI, will be looked for in the combinations, сHà, CHÊ, CHI. 5th. Those that may not be found in the combinations os, us, will be found in the combinations OBS, UBS. 6th. Those that may not be found in the combinations Esc, EST, will be found in the combinations EXC, EXT. 7th. Those that may not be found in the combination ET, will be found in the combination EPT. 8th. Those that may not be found in the combination TRAS, will be found in the combination TRANS. 9th. Those that may not be found with the suppression of the syllable HA, HE, in the middle of words for the sake of euphony, as in Azúr, for Azahár; Comprendér, for comprehendér, &c, they must look into the Dictionary according to the last manner. 10th. Those that may not be found with the letter i, may be looked for with the letter Y. 11th. Those that may not be found with one N, will be found with double N. 12th. Those that may not be found with the letter B, will be found with the letter v. N. B. In looking for words in the Dictionary, the student should bear in mind that ch, ll, and ñ are distinct characters from c, l, and n, and that the words with these simple letters must be looked thoroughly through, before finding the words commencing with the above compound characters. 1* ADVERTISEMENT. The principal reason which has induced the Editor to undertake this publication, is the incessant complaints of Students that they cannot find certain words and modes of speech in Neuman and Baretti's Dictionary, particularly in the Abridgement, this being most in use on account of its portable size and cheapness. Having taken the necessary pains to ascertain the fact, he has determined to obviate the difficulty by giving, at the end of the Book of Fables, English significations and translations of such words and idioms only as perplex and discourage even some of the best scholars. In this edition is also presented an improved Table, by the Editor, showing the difference between the old and new Spanish orthography, which does not exist in said Abridgement; and which he is sure, by experience, will be an acceptable addition to the facilities already afforded. To render this volume doubly valuable and interesting, there is added to the Fables, the Chef d'œuvre of Moratin. Thus, the Apologues of the best Fabulist, and a specimen of one of the most distinguished Dramatists, since the time of La Fontaine and Molière, will be found united. ADVERTENCIA DEL EDITOR, PUESTA AL FRENTE DE LA PRIMERA IMPRESION DE 1782. Porque empezaban á andar en manos de los curiosos algunas copias diminutas y viciadas de estas Fábulas, me pareció que haria un servicio al público literario en pedírselas á su autor, valiéndome de la amistad que le debo, y en darlas á luz con su beneplácito. No quiero preocupar el juicio de los lectores acerca del mérito de ellas; sí solo prevenir á los ménos versados en nuestra erudicion, que esta es la primera coleccion de Fábulas enteramente originales que se ha publicado en castellano. Y así como para España tienen esta particular recomendacion, tienen otra, aun para las naciones estrangeras: conviene á saber, la novedad de ser todos sus asuntos contraidos á la literatura. Los inventores de Fábulas meramente morales, desde luego han hallado en los brutos propiedades de que hacer cómodas aplicaciones á los defectos humanos en lo que pertenece á las costumbres, porque los animales tienen sus pasiones; pero como estos no leen ni escriben, era mucho mas dificil advertir en ellos particularidades que pudiesen tener relacion ó con los vicios literarios, ó con los preceptos que deben servir de norma á los escritores. La doctrina que sobre uno y otro punto encierran estos Apólogos, va amenizada con la variedad de la versificacion: y para llamar la atencion de los jóvenes que los lean, y se inclinen al arte métrica castellana, se ha añadido al fin de la obra un breve índice de los cuarenta géneros de metro en que está compuesta, empezando por los de catorce sílabas, y acabando por los de cuatro. PRÓLOGO. FÁBULA PRIMERA. EL ELEFANTE Y OTROS ANIMALES. Allá en tiempo de entónces, Y en tierras muy remotas, Cuando hablaban los Brutos Su cierta gerigonza, Notó el sábio Elefante Que entre ellos era moda Incurrir en abusos Dignos de gran reforma. Y á este fin los convoca. Á todos con la trompa; En una arenga Que para aquel intento Estudió de memoria. Abominando estuvo Por mas de un cuarto de hora Mil ridículas faltas, butterfly wolf La simple Mariposa. Pero del auditorio El Tigre, el rapaz Lobo Murmuran por lo bajo, Zumbando en voces roncas, El Zángano, la Abispa, treet El Tábano y la Mosca. Sálense del concurso, Por no escuchar sus glorias, cricket El Cigarron dañino, La Oruga y la Langosta. Lour martin La Garduña se encoge; Disimula la Zorra; mon Y el insolente Mono Hace de todo mofa. Estaba el Elefante Quien mis Fábulas lea Que hubo en el mundo siempre, Y pues no vituperan |