[6] This and several others of the fables in the XIIth Book are taken from the "Thèmes" of the Duke de Bourgogne, afterwards published in Robert's "Fables Inédites." These "Thèmes," were the joint composition of Fénélon, his pupil the infant Duke de Bourgogne, and La Fontaine, and were first used in the education of the Duke. Fénélon suggested the story, the pupil put it into prose, and La Fontaine versified it. La Fontaine is eulogistic of the young Duke's "wit" in putting these "Thèmes" into prose in Fable IX., Book XII. [7] _Louis Grand_.--Louis XIV. See note to Epilogue of Book XI. [8] _The Isle of Conference_.--The Pheasants' Isle in the river Bidassoa, which separates France and Spain. It is called the Isle of Conference on account of several of the Conferences, leading to Treaties, &c., between the two countries, having been held there. [9] _The Cyclop gave to Galataea_.--Polyphemus and Galataea: _vide_ Theocritus, _Idyl_ XI. [10] _Amalthaea_.--Another story is that Amalthaea was not a goat, but a nymph of Crete, who fed the infant Jupiter with goat's milk. [11] In the original the last lines differ from those in the version of La Fontaine's "Oeuvres Posthumes," published in 1696, the year after the poet's death. Indeed, variations of text are common to most of the fables of the XIIth Book, on making the same comparison, viz., of the first edition, 1694, and the edition in the "Oeuvres Posthumes." V.--THE OLD CAT AND THE YOUNG MOUSE. To Monseigneur, The Duke De Bourgogne; Who Had Requested Of M. De La Fontaine A Fable Which Should Be Called "The Cat And The Mouse." To please a youthful prince, whom Fame A temple in my writings vows, What fable answers to the name, "The Cat and Mouse?" Shall I in verse the fair present, With softest look but hard intent, Who serves the hearts her charms entice As does the cat its captive mice? Or make my subject Fortune's sport? She treats the friends that make her court, And follow closest her advice, As treats the cat the silly mice. Shall I for theme a king select Who sole, of all her favourites, Commands the goddess's respect? For whom she from her wheel alights. Who, never stay'd by foes a trice, Whene'er they block his way, Can with the strongest play As doth the cat with mice! Insensibly, while casting thus about, Quite anxious for my subject's sake, A theme I meet, and, if I don't mistake, Shall spoil it, too, by spinning out. The prince will treat my muse, for that, As mice are treated by the cat.