The most Delectable History of Reynard the Fox.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 20, 7 September 1848, Page 4

The most Delectable History of Reynard the Fox.

Chapter VIII. How Grimbard the brock was sent to bid the Fox to the Court. Then said the King, "Go, Grimbard, for I command you; yet take heed of Reynard, for he is subtle and malicious." The brock thanked his Majesty, and so taking humble leave, went to Malepardus, where he found Reynard and Ermelin nis wife sportmg with their young whelps; then having saluted his uncle and his aunt, he said, *' Take heed, fair uncle, that your absence from the court add uot more mischief to vour cause, than the offence doth deserve ; believe it is high time you appear at the court, since your delay doth beset but more danger and punishment. The complaints against you are infinite, and this is your third time of summons; therefore your wisdom may tell you, that ii you delay but one day further, there is not left to jou or yours a-y hope of mercy; for within three days your castle will be demolished, your kindred made slaves, and yourself exempted for a public example. Therefore, my best uncle, 1 beseech you to recollect your wisdom, and go with me presently to the court, I doubt not but your discretion shall excuse you, for you have passed through many as eminent perils, and made jour foes ashamed, whist the innocence of your cause hatb borne you spotless from the tribunal." Reynard answered, " Nephew, you say true, and I will be advised, and go with you, not to answer offences, but in that I know, the court stands in need of my counsel. The King's mercy I doubt not, if offences were ten times doubled; for I know the CDnrt csnnot stand without me, and that shall his highness understand truly. Though I know I have many enemies, yet it troubles me not; for mine innocence shall awaken their injuries, and they shall know that in high matters ef state and policy Reynard cannot be missing; thby may well harp upon THINGS, BUT THE PITCH AND GROUND MUST COME from my uelation ; it is the envy of others hath made me leave the court, for though I know tbeir shallowness cannot disgrace me, yet may tbeir multitudes oppress me. Nevertheless, nephew, I will go with you to the court, and answer for myself, and not hazard the welfare of my wife and children. The King is too mighty, and though he do me injury, yet I will bear it with patience." This spoke, he turned to his wife and said, " Darae Ermehn, have care of my children, especially Reynikin my youngest son, for he has much of my love, and I hope will follow my steps ; also RossoJ is passing hopeful, and I love them entirely, therefore regard them; and if I escape, doubt not but my love shall requite you." At this leavetaking Ernvlin wept, and her children howled, for their lord and victualler was gone, and Malepirdus left unprovided. Chapter IX. How Reynard shrne him to Grimbard the Brock. When- Reynard and Grimbard had gone a good way on tbeir journey, Reynard stayed and said, " Dear nephew, blame me not if my heart be full of care, for my life is in great hazard, yet to blot out my sins by repentance, and to cast off the burthen, give me leave to shrive myself unto you. I know you are holy, and bav init received penance for my siD, my soul will beat quiet" Grimbard bade him proceed; then said the fox, " Confitebor tibipater " " Nay," said tbn brock, " if you will shrive yourself to me, do it in English, that I may understand you." Then said Reynard, " I have grievously offended against all the beasts that live, and especially mine uncle, Brain the bear, wbum I lately massacred: then T,bcrt the cat, whom I ensnared in a irin. I lisve trespassed agaiuit CAan/i----eICLi aid ihlldrCu. and have devoured many of ihem; my, the King bulb not been quiet of my malice, lur I have slau.lertd him and his Oueeu ; 1 have b;tr*.eJ I,e_ri,n the wolf, and eal.rd biro uncle, tb ;u-b tin pan „f bis blood ran in my veins. I made him a munk of Clma.it, v. here I became also one .1 th. order uuly tu Jo Una open nusehief. I made inn lirnd his ftet tu a bell rope to teach hlui tu ring, but the peal had i,U to have c ■ >! him his life, the men ut ll.e ijri.h b.at an.l woumkd lnul so sore. Af'el tills 1 Uu;tu ~im u catch fish, but In. w a » timidly bcattli

therefore, and feeleth the stripes at this instant. T led him to steal bacon at a rich priest's house, where he fed so extremely, that not being able to get out where he got in, I raised all the town upon him, and then went where the priest was set at meat, with a fat hen before him; which ben I matched away, so thr.t the priest cried out, ' Kill the fox. for never man saw thing so Strang**, so that the fox should come into my house, and take my meat from before me. This is a boldness beyond knowledge.' And with these words he threw bis knife at me, but he missed me, and I ran away, whilst be pursued me crying, ' Kill the fox, kill the fox/ and after him a world of people, whom I led to the place where hegrim was, end there I let the hen fail, for it was too heavy for me (yet much against my will)i and then springing through a hole, I got into safety. Now as the priest took up the ben, he espied Isrgnm, and then cried out, 'Strike, friends strike, here is the wolf, by no means let him escape/ Then the people ran altogether, with clubs and staves, and with a dreadful noise, giving the poor wolf many a deadly blow, and some throwing stones after him, hit him such mortal blows on the body, that the wolf fell down as if he had been dead, which perceived, they took and dragged him by the heels over stocks and stones, and in the end threw him into a ditch without the village, and there he lay all night, bnt how he got thence I know sot. Another time I led him to a place where I told him there were seven hens and a cock, set on a perch, all and far, and hard by the place stood a fall door, on which we climbed: then I j told him if he would creep in at the door he should find the hens. Then hegrim with much joy went laughing to the door, and entering in a little, and groping about, be said ' Reynard you abuse me, for here m nothing.' Then replied I, * Uncle, they are further, and if yon will have them, you must adventure for them ; thase which used to sit ihere. I myself bad long since.' A,t this the wolf going a little further. I gave him a push forward, so that he fell down in the vault, and hisfall was so great, and made such a nois?, that they which were asleep in the house, awaked and cried, thet something was fallen down at the trap door; whereupon they arose and lighted a candle, and espying him, they beat and wounded him to death. Thus I brought the wolf to many hazards of his life, more than X can now eiiher remember of reckon, which as they rome to my mind, I will reveal to you hereafter. " Thus have I told you my wickedness, now order my pen&nie as shall seem fit in your discretion/' Grimbard was both learned and wise, and therefore brake a rod from a tree, and said,' Nephew, you shall three times strike your body with this rod, and then lay it down upon the ground, and spring three times over it without bowing your legs or stumbling; then shall you take it up and kiss it gently in sign of meekness and obedience to your penance; which done* you are absolved of your sins committed this day, for I pronounce unto you clear remission.*' At this the fox was exceeding glad, and then Grimbard said unto him, : '* See that henceforth, uncle, you do good works, read your Psalter, go to church, fa»t vigils, keep holy days, give alms, and leave your sinful and evil life, your theft, your treason, and then no doubt you shall attain mercy." The fox promised to perform all this, and to they went together towards the court; but a little besides the way as they went, stood a religious house of nuns, where many geese, hens, and capons went with' out the wall; and as they went talking, the fox Ifd Grimbard out of his right way to that place ; and finding the poultry walking without the barn, amongst which was a fat young capon, which strayed a little from his fellows, be suddenly leaped i>t and caught him by the feathers, which flew about bis ears, but the capon escaped, which Grimbard seeing, said, ** Accursed man, what will you do, will you fur a silly pullet fall again into all your sins ? Mischief itself would not de it.'' Tu which Reynard answered, *' Pardnn me, dear nephew, I had forgotten myself, but I will ask forgiven ess, and mine eye shall no more wander;" and then they turned over a little bridge; but the fox still glanced his eye toward the poultry, and could by no means refrain it, for the ill that was bred in hi* bones, still stuck to his flesh, and his mind carried bis eyes that way as long as he could see them : which the brock noticing, said, " Fie. dissembling cousin, why wander your eyes so after the poultry ?" The fox replied, " Nephew, you do me injury so to mistake me. for mine eyes wandered not, but I was saying a paternoster for the souls of all the poultry and geese which I have slain and betrayed, in devotion yi»u hindered ine." " Well/* said Grimbc *rf. M it may be so, but your glances are suspicious." Now by this time thev were come into the way again, and made hasts towards the court, which as soon as the fox saw, his heart quaked for fear; for he knew well the crimes be waß tu answer, for they were infinite and heinous. END OP CHAP. IX.