The most Delectable History of Reynard the far.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 26, 19 October 1848, Page 4

The most Delectable History of Reynard the far.

Chapter XVII. How the King was angry at these complaints, and took counsel for revenge, and how Reynard was forewarned by Grimbard the Brock. The royal King was much moved with anger, when he heard these complaint- both of the coney and the rook, so that his eyes darted out fire amongst the beams of Majesty; his countenance was dreadful and cruel to look on, and the whole court trembled to behold him. In the end he said, " By my crown and the truth I evermore reverence and owe unto the Queen my wife, I will so revenge these outrages committed against my crown and dignity, that goodness shall adore me, and the wicked die with the remembrance; his falsehood and flattery shall no more get belief in me. Is ihis his journey to Rome and the Holy Land ? Are these the fruits of his mail, his stalf, and other ornaments becoming: a devout pilgrim ? Well, he shall find the reward of his treasons ; hut it was not my belief, but the persuasion of my Queen; nor am I the first that hath been deceived by that gender, since many g eat spirits have fallen throngh their enticements." And this said, he commanded alt that were about him, born noble, worthy, and every discreet spirit to assist him with their counsel, and to l*y him down such sure ground for his revenge, tb*t his honour and royalty might be anew revived, and every offender m«de to know and feel the heavy price | for their most unjust actions. Jscgrim the wotf and Bruin the bear, hearing (he King's word,Wtre wonderfully well repaid, and doubud not but now to guin their full revenge against Reynard; yet still they kept silence and spake not a word. ; Insomuch that the K : ns,' being so much moved with [ their dumbness, and noting that none durst freely deliver his opinions, he began to bend his forehead; but the Queen, after solemn reverence, said to the I King, " Mon Sire pour Dieu croyez mie toutes chases on v'ous dira el ne jurez point Ugerement. Sir, \ it is not the part of excellent wisdom to believe or protest in any thing till the matter be made most apparant and pregnant to his knowledge; neither should | both his ears be engaged to any complaint, but one ever reserved to entertain the defence of any accused \ for many times the accuser exceedeth the accused in injury, and therefore Audite alteram partem, to hear I the other party, is the act of perfect justice. For my ; own part, howsoever I have erred, yet I have strong ground for my persuasion ; and whether Reynard be good or bad, yet it stands with your Excellency not to ; proceed against- him but by the true form of your ; laws; for he hath no power to escape you, but must ! obey whatsoever your severity can impose upon him." I When the Queen had thus spoken, Firapell the ; leopard, to second her entreaty, said, " My Lord, the I Queen hath spoken graciously, and I see not wherein | your Majesty can stray from her judgment; therefore ! let him take the due trial of your laws, and being found \ guilty of the trespasses whereof he is accused, let him be summoned, and if he appear not before your feast i be ended, to clear himself, or submit to your mercy, then may your Highness proceed against him as it shall seem best to your pleasure." To this speech Isegrim the wolf replied, " Sir Firafor my own part, I thinlc not any in this assembly will dissent from your counsel, so it may stand with the pleasure of my Lord the King; yet this I dare , maintain, that Reynard shall clear himself of these and a thousand like trespasses which shall be brought against him, yet I have that lodged in my i bosom, which shall approve he hath forfeited his life ; but at this time his absence shal r make me silent, only touching the treasure which he hath informed his M»jeßty to lie at Crekenpit in Htisekloe, there never came a falser information from the mouth of any creature ; for it was a lie made out of malice to wrong me and the bear, and get himself liberty to rob and spoil all that pass by his hou«e as now he doth; but, notwithstanding, I hold it meet that all things be done *s shall seem good to his Majesty, or you, Sir Firapell. Yet tbis believe, that if he had meant to have appeared, he had been here long since, for he had summons giren him by the Kind's messenger." To this the King; answered, " I will have no other course of summoning him, but command all tiiat owe me allegiance, or respect mine honour, that forthwith they make themselves ready for the war; and at the end of six days appear before me with thwir bows, guns, bumbards, pikes, and halberds: some on horseback, sime on foot, for I will besiege Malepardus instantly, and destroy Reynard and his generation from the earth for ever; this, if any dislike, let him turn his back, that I may know him for mine enemy." And they all cried with one voice, '* We are ready to atie >d your Majesty." WUlq Grimbard the brock heard this determination

he grew exceeding sorry, though his sorrow was desperate, and stealing from the rest of the company, he ran with all speed possible to Matepardus, neither sparing bush nor brier, pale nor rail: and as he went he said to himself, " Alas, my dear uncle Repnard, into what hazards art thou drawn, having but one step betwixt thee and death, or at the best thine everlasting banishment ? Well may I grieve for thee, since thou art the top and honour of my house, art wise and politic, and a friend to thy friends, when they stand in need of the counsel, for with thy sweet language thoH canst enchant all creatures ; but all is now bootless."

With fsuch manner of lamentation as these, came Grimbard unto Malepardus, and found his uncle Reynard standing at the castle gates, who had newly gotten two young pigeons as they came creeping out of their nest to try how they could learn to fly. But now beholding his nephew Grimbard, he Btaid, and said, " Welcome, my best beloved nephew, ths only one I esteem above all ray kindred ; surely you ha*e run exceeding fast, for you are wonderfully hot: what news man, how run the squares at the court ?'* *« O," eaid Grimbard, "exceedingly ill with you, for you have j forfeited both your life, honour, and estate. The King is up in arms agaiust you with horsemen, footmen, and soldiers innumerable: besides, heyrim and Bruin are now in more favour with his Majesty than I am with you, therefore it is high time you have great care of yourself, for their envy hath touched you to the qu : ck, they have informed against you, that you are a thief and a murderer; and to second their informations, Laprell the coney, and Corbaut the rook, have made heinous complaints against you, so that but yoar hameful death, I &ee no e-cape or freedom." 41 Tush," said the fox, " my dear nephew, if this be the worst, let us be cheerful and pleasant together, for though the King and all the court would swear my death, yet will Ibe exalted above them all. Well may they prate and jangle, and tire themselves with their counsels; but without the help of my wit and policy, neither the court nor commonwealth have any long continuance. Come then, my best nephew, let us enter into my castle and feast; I have here a pair of fat pigeons for you, which are meat of pure and light digestion. I love not any thing better, they are young and tender, and may be almost swallowed whoie, for their bones are little other than blood. You come, I say, my wife Erm tin will receive you k'ndty; but by all means report not to her of any dangers, for she is of soft and melting temper, and it might strike her into sudden sickness, for women are apt to entertain grief. When we have feasted, I will then to morrow, early in the morning, go with you to the court, and if I can but attain speech with the King, I shall gall some deep enough; only this I desire, dear uephew, at your hands, that you will stand to me, as one friend and kinsman ou°;ht to do to another." '• Daubt me not," said Grimbard, ««for both my life and goods shall be at your service." " I thank you, nephew," said the fox, " and you shall not find me ungrateful." " Sir," said the brock, •• be bold of this that you shall come and make your answer before the lords freely, for none shall dare to arrest or hold you, for that favour the Queen and leopard have purchased from the Kii.g." '» lam glad of that," said ihe fox,«' nor care I then a hair for their worst malice." And this said, they went into Malcpardus. and found Ermelin sitting among her younglings, who presently arose, and received the j brock with all reverence, and he on the other part | saluted her and her children with ail courtesy. Presently the two pigeons were made ready, and they suppcJ together, ca«h talcing their part, though none had so much as they desired. Then said the fox, ** Nephew, how like you my children Rossel and Rtinardine ? I hope they will do honour to our family : they are towardiy, I assure you, for the one lately caught a chicken, and the other hath killed a pullet: they are also good duckers, and can both deceive the lapwing and the mallard. I teil you true, I dare already advtnture them far, only I mean first to instruct them how to escape the gins, and to pretext both the huntsman and his hounds. They are of the right hair, nephew, and like me boih in countenance and quality; they play grinning, entangle soothing, and kill smiling; this is the true nature of the fox, and in this they ate perfect, which is great pride unto me." END OF CHAPTER XVI.