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All these made great rumour and noise.


 

Capitulo xiij. How the Fox came to the court, and how he excused him before the King.

At the first
when it was known in the court
that Reynard the Fox
and Grymbert his cousin
were come to the court
there was none so poor
nor so feeble of kin and friends
but that he made him ready for to complain
on Reynard the Fox

Reynard looked as he had not been afraid
and held him better than he was
for he went forth proudly with his nephew
through the highest street of the court
right as he had been the King's son
and as he had not trespassed to any man
the value of a hair
and went in the middle of the place 
standing before before the noble King
and said

God give you great honour and worship
there was never King that ever had a truer servant
than I have been to your good grace and yet am
nevertheless
dear lord
I know well that there be many in this court
that would destroy me if ye would believe them
but nay
God thank you
it is not fitting to your crown
to believe these false deceivers and liars lightly

to God mote it be complained
how that these false liars and flatterers
nowadays in the lord's court be most heard and believed
the shrews and false deceivers be borne up
for to do to good men
all the harm and scathe they may
our Lord God shall once reward them their hire

the King said

Peace
Reynard
false thief and traitor
how well can ye bring forth fair tales
and all shall not help you a straw
when ye with such flattering words
to be my friend
ye have so oft served me so as ye now shall well know

the peace that I have commanded and sworn
that have ye well held
have ye

Chauntecler
could no longer be still
but cried

alas!
what have I by this peace lost

be still
Chauntecler
hold your mouth
let me answer this foul thief
thou
shrewd fell thief

said the King

thou say thou love me well
that has thou showed well 
on my messengers
these poor fellows
Tybert the Cat and Bruyn the Bear
who yet be all bloody
who chide not
nor so not much
but that shall this day cost thee thy life

in nomine patris, christi, filii

said the Fox

dear lord
and might King
if Bruyn's crown be bloody
what is that to me?
when he are honey at Lantfert's house
in the village
and did him hurt and scathe
there was he beaten therefore
if he had willed
he is so strong of limbs
he might well have be avenged
ere he sprang into the water

then came
Tybert the Cat
whom I received friendly
if he went out without my counsel
for to steal mice in a priest's house
and the priest did him harm
should I pay the price?
then might I say
I were not happy

not so
my liege lord
ye may do what ye will
though my matter be clear and good
ye may seize me
or roast, hang or make me blind
I may not escape you
we stand all under your correction
ye be mighty and strong
I am feeble
and my help is but small
if ye put me to the death
it were a small vengeance

while they thus spake
sprang up Bellyn the Ram
and his aunt Dame Olewey
and said

my lord the King
hear or complaint

Bruyn the Bear
stood up with all lineage 
and his fellows

Tybert the Cat
Isegrym the Wolf
Cywart the Hare
and Panther the Boar
the Camel 
and Brunel the Goose
the Kid and the Goat
Boudewyn the Ass
Borre the Bull
Hamel the Ox
and the Weasel
Chauntecler the Cock
Pertelot 
with all their children

all these made great rumour and noise
and came forth openly before their King
and made the Fox
was taken and arrested



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