Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)

A compact collection of short fables and occasional poems that reshape traditional moral tales into witty, accessible sketches. Most pieces employ animals and personified figures to dramatize practical lessons about prudence, vanity, wealth, and social pretense, often closing with a pointed moral. The book is organized as a sequence of brief narratives, interludes of verse, and framing remarks, blending light satire with folkloric charm. Language shifts between playful colloquialism and intentionally archaic poetic turns, while recurring motifs include nature, courtship, and the contrast between outward show and inward worth.