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"The Hare and many friends" was the final fable in John Gay's first collection of 1727.〔Online text at (Kalliope.org )〕 It concerns the inconstancy of friendship as exemplified by a hare that lives on friendly terms with the farm animals. When the horns of the hunt are heard, it panics and eventually collapses exhausted, begging each of his acquanitances to help him escape. All give him different excuses, the last being a "trotting calf" who bids him "Adieu" as the hunters burst onto the scene. The poem won widespread popularity for some 150 years afterwards but, on a prose version appearing in a collection of Aesop's Fables, Gay's original authorship has gradually become forgotten. ==The fable's history== The story appeared as the final poem in the book of fables written by John Gay at the royal suggestion for the instruction of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland. Soon after its publication in 1727, Gay's hopes of Court preferment were disappointed and the story was put about by his friends that the fable had a personal application. In particular, Jonathan Swift wrote how "Gay, the Hare with many friends, /Twice seven long years at court attends,” only to be let down.〔John Heaneage Jesse, ''Memoirs of the Court of England'', London 1843, (Vol.3, pp.87-90 )〕 Though the fable's correct title is "The Hare ''and'' many friends", this mythologising of the poet's misfortunes contributed to its often being misquoted as "The Hare ''with'' many friends". The mistake was perpetuated by the frequently reprinted biographical notice, originally written by David Erskine Baker for his ''The Companion to the Play-house'' (1764), in which it is so mentioned.〔(Vol.2, unpaginated )〕 The ''Fables'' as a whole went through repeated editions and were "translated into every European language",〔''Frasers Magazine'' 17, 1838 (p.196 )〕 besides a Latin version by Christopher Anstey.〔(''Fabulæ selectæ auctore Johanne Gay latine redditæ'', 1777 )〕 "The Hare and many friends" stood out as a particular favourite and was frequently anthologised in addition. It also became a recitation piece. William Cowper was "reckoned famous" for his childhood performances in the 1730s, not long after the ''Fables'' first appeared.〔Charles Ryskamp, ''William Cowper of the Inner Temple'', Cambridge University 1959, (p.56 )〕 At the other end of the century it is mentioned as an accomplishment of Catherine Moorland, the heroine of Jane Austen's ''Northanger Abbey'', who learned it "as quickly as any girl in England".〔''Jane Austen’s Complete Novels'', (p.603 )〕 The fable's opening lines begin, in the manner of La Fontaine, with a proposition that is to be demonstrated by the story that follows, . ::Friendship, like love, is but a name, 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Hare and many friends」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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