The most Delectable History of Reynard the Fox.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 23, 28 September 1848, Page 4

The most Delectable History of Reynard the Fox.

Chapter XIII. How Reynard the Fox was hon ured of all beasts by the King's commandment. As soon as this coference n was ended, the royal King mounted upon a high throne made ia manner of a scaffold, made of fair iqttared stone, und tfaeu com maaded a general sileuco amongst ell iiib subject*, and

that every one should take Mb place according; to hi s birth, or dignity in office, only the fox was placed between the Kin;; and the Queen. Then said the King, "Hear, * II you nobleman, Ehights, gentlemen, and others of inferior quality. this Rynard, one of the chief and supreme officers of my household, whose offences bad brought him to the last reckoning of h's life, 83 being in the hands of law and justice, b»th this day in requital ef theie injuries, done that noble and worthy service to the State, that bo'li myself and my Queen stand bound to render him our best praee and favour. Therefore know, that for divers tbines best known unto ourselves, we have freely given pardon to all his offences, and restored back to him whatsoever to im was confiscate; therefore, henceforth I com--maHd all of you, upon the pain and hazard of your dearest lives, that yon fail not from this day forward to do all reverence and honour not only to Reynard himself, but also to his wife and children ; whensoever or wheresoever ye Bhall meet them, whether by night or by day; not that any one hereafter be so audacious, bs to trouble mine ears with any more complaint! of him; for his wickedness lie hath cast behind him, and will no more be gu ltf of wrong doing, which to effect I the better, to-morrow very early he taketh bis journey : towards Rome, where f*om the Pope he will purchase a free pardon and indulgence for all his offences, and then on pilgrimage to the Holy Land." This speech, when Tisellin the raven heard, he flew to Bruin, hegrim, and Tibert, and said, «' Wretched creatureß, how are your fortunes changed 1 or how can yon endure to hear these tidings? Why, Reynari is now a courtier, a counsellor, nay, the prime favourite ; h ; s offences are forgiven, and you are all betrayed, and Bold unto bondage." hegrim answered, '* It is impossible, Tiseltin, nor can such a thing he suffered." " Do not deceive yourselves, said the raven, " for it is as true as that now I speak it.'* Tlv n went the wolf and the dear to the King, but the cat staid, and was fo sore affrighted with the news, that to purchase the fox's frinndphip sgain, she would not only have forgiven the evils received, but willingly have iuii into a second hazird. But now Isegrim, with great majesty and pride tracing over the fields, came before the King and Queen, and with moßt bitter and cruel wrds, envied against the fox in such a passionate and impudent manner, that the King being infinitely moved with displeasure, caused the wolf and the bear to be presently arrested upon high treason; which suddenly was done with all violence and fury, and they were hound hand pud foot so fast, that they could neither Btir nor move from the place where they were couched. Now when the fox had thus enthralled and entangled them, he so laboured with the Queen, that he got leave to hive so much of the bear's skin as would make him a large scrip for his journey ; which granted, he wanted nothing but a strong pair of shoes to def«nd his feet f-om the stones in Im trnvel; whereupon he said to the Queen, "Madam, I am your pilgrim, and if it wou'd please your majesty but to take it into your consideration, you shall find that sir I egrim hatha pair of excellent long lasting ones, which would yuu vouchsafe to bestow upon me, I should pray for your Majesty's boul in aU my travel, above any charitable devotion* Also mine aunt. Dame Ereswine, hith two other shoes, which, would your Majesty bestow upon me, I should be most infinitely bound to you, nor should you do to her any wrong, because she goes seldom abroad.*' The Queen replied, "Reynard. I can perceive hnw you can want such shoe?, for your journey is full of lubour and difficulty, both in respect of the strong mountains, and the gravelly ways, and shall have (though it touch life never so nearly) from each of them a pair of shoes to accomplish and finish your journey. Chapter XIV. How Isegrim and kis wife Ereawine had their shoes plucked off, for Reynard to wear to Home. After the fox had made this petition, hegrim was taken, and his shoes pulled off in a most cruel and violent manner, so that all the veins and sinews lay naked; nor durst the poor massacred wolf either complain or resist. After be had been thus tormented, then dame Erestvine was used ir the same minner nn her binder feet, as her husband was on his fore feet; which the fox seeing, said to her in a scornful manner, " Dear aunt, how much era I bound to you that tike all this pains for my sake ! Questionless you shall be a sharer in my pilgrimage, and take part in the pardon I shall bring from beyond the seas by the help of your shoes M Then Erestvine ( hotuh speech were troublesome to her) said 4i Well, sir Reynard, you have your will accomplished, yet Heaven, I hope, will requite the misdoer." This she said, but her husband and the bear lay mute, for their wounds were grievous unto them ; and surely had the cat been there ahio, he had not escaped some extreme punishment. The next morning, very early, Reynard, causing his shoes to bs well oiled, put them on, and made them as fit to his feet as they were to the wolves, and then went to the King and Queen and said, " My dear Lord and Lady, your poor subject voweth before your Majesties, humbly beseeching your highnesses to vouchsafe to deliver me my mail and my staff blessed, according to the custom due unto pilgrims." This said, the King sent for Bellin the ram, and commanded bim to Bay solemn mass before the fox, and to deliver him his staff and his mail; but the ram refused, saying, " My Loid, I dara not, for he hath confesied he is |in the Pope's curse.'' And the King said, " What of that ? Have not our doctors told us, that if a man commit all the sin in the world, yet if he repent himself, be shriven, do penance, and walk as the priest shall instruct him, that all is clearly forgiven hirt ? And both not Reynard done all this ?'* Then enswered Bellm, ** Sir, I am loth to meddle herein, yet if your Majesty will bear me harmless against the bishop of f rendewr, my ordinary, and against the arcbdraron of Loosuynd, and Rapiamus bis official, I will effect your commandment." At this the King grew angry, and said," I scorn to be beholding unto you." But when the ram saw the King offended, he shook far fear, and ran presently to the altar, and sung mass, and used many ceremonies over the fox, who gave little respect unto them, more than the desire he had to enjoy the honour. Nov when Bellin the ram had finished his orisons, he preiently hung about Reynard's neck his mail, which was made of the bear's skin, and put into his right hand a palmer's staff; and thus being furnished of all things, he looked Badly upon the King, as if he had been loth to depart, a ad feigned to weep (though sorrow and he were never farther asunder), only bis worst grief was, that all in that presence were not in the same case that the bear and the wolf were; yet he took his leave of them, and desired every one to pray for him, as he would pray for them; then ofleung to depart (for j knowing his own knavery, he was very desirous to : begone), the King said, " Sir Reynaid, I am sorry we part thus suddenly." Tnen Baid tho {•>*, " There is no remedy, my lord, nor ought I to be slow in ao devout an action.'' Then the King took have, and commanded all that were about him, but the bear nnd the wolf, to attend Rey tard some part of las juur - ney. O he that had set u how gallant aud parson able Rtynard was, end how welt his staff and mail became him, aud abu how fit his shoes wera for big

feet, it could not have chosen but have stirred in liim very much laughter; yet the fox carried himself outwardly very demurely, however inwardly he smiled at the abuses he had cast amongst them, especially to see hit enemies now his attendants and the King, whom he had most palpably wronged with false lies, aiding to all his vain desires, and accompanying Mm also as if lie had been his companion. But tho for hcino; now onward bis way, he said to the King, " I beseech your Majesty trouble yourself no further, but in respect of your ease, and the danger might happen to your royal person, for yon have arrested two capital traitors, who, if in your absence they should get at liberty, the dangers are infinite which might ensue thereon." And this caid, he stood upon hit hinder feet, and entreated the beasts that were in h s company, and wou'd be partikerß of his pardon, that they would pray for him; which done, he departed from the King with an exceeding end and heavy countenance. Then turning to Kyirard the h*rc, and Bellin tho ram, he said with a smiling countenance, ** My best friend?, shall we part thus aoon ? I know your loves will not leave me yet; with you too I w<n never offended, and your conversations are agreeab.e to my naiure; for you are mild, loving, and courteous; religious, and full of wise counsel, evtu such as myself was when I was first a reclus' If you have a few green leaves, or a little grass yo'i are as well content as with all tlw bread and flesh vp the word, and you are temperate and modest." And thus with a world of such like flattering words he enticed these two, that they were content to go along with Mm. I EN» OP CHAPTER XIV.