In such wise as he had kept no more Meat than a Pudding, which Pudding Reynard the Fox had taken away from him.

 

Here begins the story of Reynard the Fox

In this history be written the parables
good-learning
and diverse points to be marked

by which points men may learn
to come to the subtle knowledge of such things
as daily be used and had in the counsels 
of lords and prelates
ghostly and worldly

and also among merchants
and other common people

and this book 
is made for need and profit
of all good folk
as far as they 
in reading or hearing of it
shall more understand
and feel the forsaid subtle deceits
that daily be used in the world
not to tempt that man should use them
but that every man should eschew 
and keep him from the subtle false shrews
that they be not deceived

then who will have the very understanding
of this matter
he must oft and many times read in this book
and earnestly and diligently mark well
that he reads
for it is set subtly
like as you shall see in reading it
and not one's to read it
for a man shall not with one's other reading
find the right understanding
nor comprise it well
but ofttimes to read it
shall cause it well to be understood
and for them 
that understand it
it shall be right joyous 
pleasant and profitable

Capitulo i. How the lion, king of all beasts, sent out his command that all beasts should come to his feast and court.

It was about the time of Pentecost 
or Whitsuntide
that the woods commonly be lusty and gladsome
and the trees clad with leaves and blossoms
and the ground with herbs and flowers sweet smelling
and also the fowls and birds singing 
melodiously in their harmony

that the Lion
the noble King of all beasts
would in the holy days of this feast
hold an open court 
during his progress
which he did to know
over all his land

he commanded 
by straight commissions and commandments
that every beast should come thither
in such wise that all the beasts great and small
came to the court 

save Reynard the Fox
for he knew himself faulty and guilty
in many things against many beasts
that thither should come
that he dared not adventure 
to go thither

when the King of all the beasts
had assembled all his court
there was none of them all
but that he had complained sore
on Reynard the Fox

Capitulo ii. The first complaint made: Isegrym the Wolf on Reynard.

Isegrym the Wolf
with his kin and friends came
and stood before the King

and said

high and mighty prince
my lord the King
I beseech you
that through your great might right and mercy
that you will have pity on the great trespass
and the unreasonable misdeeds
that Reynard the Fox
has done to me and to my wife
that is to were he is coming into my house
against the will of my wife
and there he has be-pissed my children
where as they lay in such wise 
as they thereof become blind

whereupon was a day set
and was judged 
that Reynard should come
and have excused him hereof
and have sworn on the holy saints
that he was not guilty thereof

and when the threat of the saints
was brought forth
then had Reynard bethought him otherwise
and went into his hole
as he had nought set thereby

and
dear King
this know well many of the beasts
that now be come hither to your court
and yet has he trespassed me
in many other things
he is not lying 
that could tell all 
that I now leave untold

but the shame and villainy 
that he has done to my wife
that shall I never hide nor suffer it
that he shall make me large amends

Capitulo iij. The complaint of Courtoys the Hound. 

When these words were spoken
so stood there a little hound
and was named Courtoys

and complained to the King
how that in the cold winter
in the hard frost
he had been sore forewinter'd
in such wise as he had kept 
no more meat than a pudding
which pudding
Reynard the Fox
had taken away from him