The most Delectable History of Reynard The Fox.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 19, 31 August 1848, Page 4

The most Delectable History of Reynard The Fox.

Chapter VI. How the King sent Tibert the Cat for Reynard the Fox. Then the King called for Sir Tibert the cat, and said to him, "Sir Tibert, you sftfftlt go to Reynard* and Bay to him the second time, and command him to appear, to answ r his offences j for though he be cruel to other beasts, yet to you he is courteous; assure b-m that if be fail at your first lummons, that I will take to severe a course against him and bis posterity,; thßt his example Bhall terrify all offenders." Then said Tibr.t tba cat, "My dear Lord, they were my! foet which thus advised, for there is nothing in me ; that can force him either to come or tarry. I beseech ' your Majesty send one of greater power, I am little and feeble; besides, if noble Sir Bruin, that is so stfonir, and mighty, could not enforce him, what will my weakness avail V* The King replied, M It is your wisdom, Sir Tibert, I employ, and not your strength, and many prevail with art, when violence returns with lost labour." ** Well," said the cat, " since it is your pleasure, it must be accomplished. Heaven make my fortune better than my heart presagelh." Tben Tibert made things in readiness, and went towards Matyardvs, and in his journey he saw fly'ng I towards him one of Saint Martin's birds, to whom the cat crytd aloud, " Hail, gentle bird; I beseech thee turn tuy wings, and fly on my right hand.* 1 But the bird turned the contrary way, and Sew on his left side. Then grew the eat very heavy, for he was wise and skilful in angurisus and knew the sign to be ominous, nevertheless, as manjfjßo,he armed himself with better hope, and went to Malepardus* where he found the fox standing before his castle gates, to whom Tibert Baid. " Health to my fair cousin Reynard, so it is that the King by me summons you to the court, in which if you fi il or defer time, there is nothing more assured unto you than a cruel and a sudden death." The fox answered, " Welcome, dear cousin Tibert. I obey your command, and wi-h my Lord the King infinite days of happiness; only let me entreat you to rest with me to-night, and take such cheer as my simple house affordetb; and to-morrow, as early as you wil, we will go towards the court, for I have no kmsman I trust so dearly as yourself. Here whs with me the oih r day the treacherous knight ur~Bruin\ the bear, who looked upon that tyrannous cruelty, that I would not for the wealth of an empire have hazarded my person with him; but my dear cousin, with you I will go, were there a thousand sicknesses upon me. 1 * Tibert replied, " You speak like a noble gentleman, and methinks it is best now to go forward, fur the moon shines as bright as day.'* " Nay dear cousin," said the fox, " let us take the day before us. so may we encounter with our friends; the night is full of danger and suspicion." " Well," said the cat, " if it be your pleasure, I am content; what shall we ea ?'* Reynard said, " Truly my store is small, the bfst 1 hare is a honey-comb* too pleasant and sweet; what think you of it V* Tibert replied, '* It is meat I Htt'e respect, and seldom eat; I bad rather have one raou-e than all the honey in Europe?** "A mouse,'* said Reynard, " why dear cousin, here dwelleth a priest bard by, who hath a barn by Ms house so full of mice, that I think that half the wains in the parish are not able to bear them." *' O dear Reynard" quoth the cat, " do but lead me thither, and make me your servant for ever.'* *' Why," said the fox, " love you mice so exceedingly ?" ** Beyond expression," quoth the cat; ** why a mouse is beyoud ven'son or the delicotest cate? on princes tables ; therefore conduct mt tbjtber, and command my friendship in any matter* Had you slain my father, mother, and alt my kin, I would clearly forgive you." Chapter VII. How Tibert the cat was deceived by Reynard the /«. Thbk said Reynard, « Sure yo.u do but jpst." •• No, by my life/' said the cat. •* Well then," quoth tbe fox, ** if you be in earnest, J will so work that this night I will fill your belly." " It is not possible," paid tbe cat. "Then follow me/' said the fox, " for I wl'l bring yon to tbe place presently." Thus away they went with all speed to the priest's barn, which was well walled about wiib a mud wall, where but the night before the fox bad broken in, and stolen f om tbe piiest an exceeding fat hen; at which the priest was so rngry, that he had Get a snare or gin before the hole to catch him at his next coming, which the false fi>x knew perfectly, and therefore said to the cat, " Sir Tibtrt, creep in at tb : s hole, and believe it you shall not tarry a minute's space, but you sha'l have more mice than you are able to devour. Hark, you may htsr how they peep. When your belly is full, come Again, and I w.U »My and await for yon here at this bole, ihat to morrow we may go together to the court; bur, good cousin, stay not tao long, for 1 know my wife will hourly expect us." " Then," said the cat, *■ think you I may safely enter in at this hole ? These priests are **se, pnd noble, and couch the*'- danger so close, thst rashness is soan overt >ken'' '* Why, cousin Tibert," said the fox, " I never saw you turn coward b-fore; what, man, fear you a shadow ?" The cat, ashamed at his fear, sprang quickly in at the hole, but was presently caught fast by the neck in the gin, which as soon as the cat felt and perceived, he quickly leaped back fgain, so that the sn-re running close together, he was half strangled, so that he began to struggle, and cry out and exclaim most piteously. Reynard stood before the hole and heard all, at which he infinitely rejoiced, and in great scorn said, ■• Cousin Ttberti love jou mice ? I hope they will be w«dl fed for your sake. Knew the piiest cr Martinet of your feißt'Dg, I know them of so good disposition, they would bliug you sauce quickly. Methink you sing at i \our meat; is that the court fashion? If it be, I , would IsegtM the wolf were coupled with you, that all 1 my friend* might be feasted together.'* But all this while the poor cat was faat, and mewed so piteoußly, that Martinet leaped out of bed, and ciled to his people, •' Arise, tor the thief is taken that had stolen our hens." With these words the priest unfortuuately rose up and awaVed all his house, crying, " The fox is taken, the fox is t'km!" and arising, he gave to JiftfotA his wife an off.-nog caudle to bght, and then i coming first to T.Urt, be imote him with a great

staff, and after him many otheri, so that the c»t received many deadly blows, and the anger of Martinet was bo great, that he attack out one of the cat's eye*, which he did to second the P'iest, thinking at one Wo» to dash out the cat's braios. But the oat perceiving his death so near him, in a desperate mood he leaped npon the priest, and scratched and tore him in so dread a manner, that the poor priest fell down in a swoon, so that every roan left the cat to revive the priest; which while they were doing, the fox returned home to Malepardut. for he imagined the cat was past all hope to escape s but the poor cat seeing all her foes hu«y about the pries", she presently began to knaw and bite the cord, till she had sheared it quite asunder in the midst ; which done, she leaped out of ihe hole, and went roaring and stumbling, like the bear, to the King's court. But before he got thither it was fair dav, and Ihe sun being risen, he entered the court the'pitifullest beast that ever was bsheld; for by the fox's craft his body was beaten and bruised, his bones shivered and broken, one of his eyes lost, and his skin rent and mangled. Thi» when the King bsheld, and saw Tibert so pitifully mangled, he grew infinitely angry, and took counsel once more how to revenge the injuries upon the fox. After some consultation, Grimburd the brock. Reynard's sister's son, said to the rest of the Kiug's council, " My good lords, though my nncle were twice as evil aB those complaints make him, yet there is remedy enough against bis mischiefs; therefore it is fit you do him justice as to a man of his rank, which is, he must be the ih'rd time summoned, and then, il he appear not, make him guilty of all that is laid against him." Then the Kin* demanded of the brock whom he thought Attest to summon him, or who would be 80 desperate to li'zard hiß hands, his ears, nay, his life, with so tyrannous and irreli'ious a malefactor r " Truly," answered the brock, "if it please your Majesty, I am that desperate person who dare adventure to carry the messsge to ray most subtle kinsman, if your highness but command me.,' END op chap vit.