Molitor Filiusque cum Asello Suo

Abstract

I did not suspect the existence of this book and found it by chance on the Foreign Language shelf of the children's section in the library's bookstore. What a find! Goodwin Beach's Latin is fine. I may even try it with my second-semester Beginning Latin students soon. The book follows the same format as the English and French (both also 1962), which I already have. Watch out: the back flyleaf points out that there is also a Spanish version. I wonder where I will find that! In this version, as in the English and French, the donkey is saved while the miller complains that he had pleased no one and almost lost his donkey besides. One remaining mystery for me comes out of the Latin on the front flyleaf: are they saying that they are following the James version changed slightly to have a bit of La Fontaine in it? In fact, they do follow James closely up to the point where James has them lose the ass and travel home alone. La Fontaine does have the jovial ending of the miller saying that he has learned to please himself. And La Fontaine does not make him pay for that learning with the life of the ass. The illustrations include three colors.