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II.—The Sources and Mediæval Versions of the Peace-Fable

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2020

Extract

Although the Middle Ages usually drew upon Classic tradition in the formation of their fable literature, they at times created new themes whose popularity equalled that of many older rivals. Of no small importance among such stories are those that deal with the false peace declared by a fox in order to deceive a seemingly simple-minded bird. The numerous versions of this fable that have come down to us since the middle of the eleventh century evidence strong interrelation, in spite of individual differences of character, scene, or action. The various forms become so well established by the beginning of the sixteenth century that a history of the fable is sufficiently complete if it comes down to the end of the Middle Ages. It is the object of this article to show what versions of the Peace-Fable existed before the sixteenth century, whence they arose, and what are their relations to one another. The following is a list of the mediaeval versions:—

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1907

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References

The Peace-Fable has received so little critical attention that the list of its bibliography is not extensive. The following are the most important works in which it is treated:Google Scholar
1. Les Sources du Roman de Renart, Sudre, L., pp. 288–94, Paris, 1892.Google Scholar
2. Zeitschrift für romanische Philologie, xv, 147 sq. Here C. Voretzsch treats especially of the relations between the Kiss-Fable and the Peace-Fable.Google Scholar
3. Die Quellen des Esope der Marie de France, Warnke, Karl, pp. 208–10 of the Festgabe für Hermann Suchier, 1900.Google Scholar
4. History of the Aesopic Fable, Jacobs, J., i, p. 267, London, 1889.Google Scholar
5. Fables Inédites, Robert, A. C. M., i, 146, Paris, 1825.Google Scholar
6. Oeuvres de J. de La Fontaine, Regnier, Henri, i, 175, Paris, 1883.Google Scholar
7. A Comparative Study of the Aesopic Fable in Nicole Bozon, Harry, P. W., pp. 5862, Johns Hopkins Dissertation, Baltimore, presented in 1903.Google Scholar
8. On the Sources of the Nonne Prestes Tale, Petersen, Miss K. O., pp. 15 sq., Boston, 1898.Google Scholar
9. Great Russian Animal Tales, Gerber, A., pp. 20, 21, 66.Google Scholar