Always the Fox shall abide the Fox.

 

Capitulo xxxv. How Ysegrym preffered his glove to the Fox for to fight with him.

The Wolf said

I may well forbear your mocks and your scorns
and also your fell venomous words
strong theif that ye are
ye said I was almost dead for hunger
when ye helped me in my need
that is falsely lied
for it was but a bone ye gave me
ye had eaten away all the flesh was thereon
and ye mock me and say I am hungry 
here where I stand
that touches my worship too nigh
what many a spiteful word have ye brought forth
with false lyings
and that I have conspired the King's death
for the treasure ye have said to him is in Hulsterlo
and ye have also my wife shamed and slandered
that ye shall never recover it
and I should ever be disworshipped thereby
if I avenge it not
I have foreborn you long
but now ye shall not escape me
I cannot make hereof great proof
but I say here before my Lord
and before all them that be here
that thou art a false traitor and a murderer
and that shall I prove and make good on they body
within lists in the field
and that body against body
and then shall our strife have an end
and thereto I cast to thee my glove
and take thou it up
I shall have right of thee
of die therefore

Reynard the Fox thought

how come I on this campaign?
we be not both like
I shall not well come stand against this strong thief
all my proof is now come to an end

Capitulo xxxvj. How the Fox took up the glove, and how the King set to them daye and field for to come and do their battle.

Thought the Fox

yet I have good advantage
the claws of his sore feet be of
and his feet be yet sore thereof
when for my sake he was unshoeod
he shall be somewhat the weaker

said the Fox

then who says I am a traitor or a murderer
I say he lies falsely
and that art thou specially
Ysegrym
thou brings me there as I would be
this have I oft desired
lo!
here is my pledge
that all thy words befall
and I shall defend me
and make good thou lies

the King received the pledges
and admitted the battle
and asked borrows of them both
that on the morn
they should come and perform their battle
and do as they ought to do
then the Bear and Cat
were borrows for the Wolf
and for the Fox
were borrows Grymbert the Dasse
and Byteluys

Capitulo xxxvij. How Rukenawe the She-Ape counselled the Fox how he should behave him in the field against the Wolf.

The She-Ape said to the Fox

Reynard
nephew
see that ye take heed in your battle
be cold and wise
your uncle taught me once a prayer 
that is of much virtue to him shall fight
and a great master and a wise clerk
who was abbot of Boudelo
taught it him

he said who says devoutly this prayer fasting
shall not that day be overcome in battle
nor in fighting

therefore
dear nephew
be not afraid
I shall read it over you tomorrow
then may ye be sure enough of the Wolf
it is better to fight than to have thy neck asunder

said the Fox

I thank you
dear aunt
the quarrel I have is rightful
therefore I hope I shall speed well
and that shall greatly be my help

all his lineage abide by him all night
and help him to drive away the time

Dame Rukenawe the She-Ape
his aunt
thought always on his profit and welfare
and she did all his hair
from the head to the tail
be shorn smooth
and she anointed all his body with oil of olives
and then was his body all so slick and slippery
that the Wolf should have no hold on him
and he was round and fat also on his body
and she said to him

dear cousin
ye must now drink much
that tomorrow ye may the better
when ye come to the field
and when need is and time
so shall ye fill your paddle of a tail
and smite the Wolf therewith in his beard
and if ye might hit him therewith in his eyes
then shall ye blind his sight
that should much hinder him
but else
hold always your tail fast between your legs
that he catch you not thereby
and hold down your ears lying flat on your head
that he hold you not thereby
and see wisely to yourself
and at beginning flee from his strokes
and let him spring and run after you
and run before where as most dust is
and stir it with your feet
that it may fly in his eyes
and that shall much hinder his sight
and while he rubs his eyes
take your advantage
and smite him
and bite him there as ye may most hurt him
and always hit him with your tail full in his visage
and that shall make him so woe
he shall not wit where he is
and let him run after you
for to make him weary
yet his feet be sore 
from when ye made him lose his shoes
and though he be great
he has no heart
nephew
certainly this is my counsel

cunning goes before strength
therefore see for youself
and set yourself wisely at defence
that ye and we all may have worship thereof
I would be sorru if ye mishapped
I shall teach you the words
your uncle Mertyn taught me
that ye may overcome your enemy
as I hope you shall do without doubt

therewith she laid her hand upon his head
and said these words

Blaerde Shay Alphenio Kasbue
Gorsons Alsbuifrio

nephew
now be ye sure from all mischief and dread
and I counsel you that ye rest you a little
for it is by the day ye shall be the better disposed
we shall awake you all in time

said the Fox

aunt
I am now glad
God thank you
ye have done to me such good
I can never deserve it fully again
methinks there may nothing hurt me
since ye have said these holy words over me

then went he and laid him down
under a tree in the grass
and slept til the sun was risen
then came the Otter and waked him
and bade him arise
and gave him a good young duck
and said

dear cousin
I have this night made many a leap in the water
ere I could get this young fat duck
I have taken it from a fowler
take and eat it

Reynard said

this is good hansel
if I refused this I were a fool
I thank you cousin
that ye remember me
if I live
I shall reward you

the Fox ate the duck
without sauce or bread
it savoured him well
and went well in
and he drank thereto
iiij. great draughts of water
then went he to the battle ward
and all they that loved him went with him

Capitulo xxxviij. How the Fox  came into the field, and how they fought.

When the King saw Reynard
thus shorn and oiled
he said to him

ey Fox
how well can ye see for yourself?

he wondered thereof
he was a fowl to look on
but the Fox said not one word
but kneeled down low to the earth
unto the King and to the Queen
and striked him forth into the field

the Wolf was there ready 
and spake many a proud word
the rulers and keepers of the field
the Lupaert and the Losse
they brought forth the book
on which swore the Wolf 
that the Fox was a traitor and a murderer
and none might be falser than he was
and that he would prove on his body
and make it good
Reynard the Fox swore
that he lied as a flase knave
and a cursed thief
and that he would do good on his body
when this was done
the governors of the field
bade them do their duty

then roamed they all the field
save Dame Rukenawe the She-Ape
she abode by the Fox
and bade him remember well the words
that she had said to him

she said

see well to
when ye were vii. year old
ye were wise enough to go by night
without lantern or moonshine
where ye wist to win any goods
ye be named among the people
wise and subtle
pain youself to work so ye win the prize
then may ye have ever honour and worship
and all we that be your friends

he answered

my dearest aunt
I know it well
I shall do my best
and think on your counsel
I hope so to do all my lineage
shall have worship thereby
and my enemy's shame and confusion

said she

God grant it you

Capitulo xxxix. How the Fox and the Wolf fought together.

Therewith she went out of the field
and let them two go together
the Wolf trod forth to the Fox in great wroth
and opened his forefeet
and supposed to have taken the Fox in them
but the Fox sprang from him lightly
for he was lighter of foot than he
the Wolf sprang after
and hunted the Fox sore
their friends stood without the lists
and looked upon them
the Wolf strode wider than Reynard did
and oft overtook him
and lift up his foot
and looked to have smitten him
but the Fox saw too
and smote him with his tail 
all in his visage
then looked the Wolf to have been blind
then must he rest for to make clean his eyes

Reynard thought on his advantage
and stood up wind 
scrabbling and casting with his feet the dust
that it flew into the Wolf's eyes full
the Wolf was sore blinded therewith
in suchwise that he must leave the running after him
for the sand cleaved under his eyes
that it smarted so sore
that he must rub and wash it away

then came Reynard in a great anger
and bit him three great wounds 
on his head
with his teeth
and said

what is that
Sir Wolf?
has one there bitten you?
how is it with you?
I will all otherwise on you yet
abide I shall bring you some new thing
ye have stolen many a lamb
and destroyed many a simple beast
and now falsely have appelled me
and brought me in this trouble
all this shall I now avenge on thee
I am chosen to reward thee for thine old sins
for good will no longer suffer thee
in thy great rage and shrewdness
I shall now assail thee
and that shall be good for thy soul
take patiently this penance
for thou shalt live no longer
hell shall be thy purgatory
they life is now in my mercy
but if thou will kneel down 
and ask me forgiveness
and acknowledge thee to be overcome
yet though thou be evil
yet I will spare thee
for my conscience counsels me
I should not gladly slay no man

Isegrym thought with these mocking and spiteful word
to have gone out of his wit
and dared him so muchhe wist not what to say buff nor baff
he was so angry in his heart
the wounds Reynard had given him bled and smarted sore
and he thought how he might best avenge it

with great anger 
he lift up his foot
and smote the Fox on the head
so great a stroke
that he fell to the ground
then started the wolf
and thought to take him
but the Fox was light and wily
and rose lightly up
and met him fiercely
and there began a fell battle
which dured long
the Wolf had great spite on the Fox
as it well seemed
he sprang after him x. times
each after the other
and would fain have him fast
but his skin was so slippery and fat from the oil
that always he escaped from him
o so subtle and quick was the Fox
many times when the wolf thought well to be sure of him
he started then between his legs
and under his belly
and then turned he again
and gave the Wolf a stroke with his tail in his eyes
that Isegrym thought he should have lost his sight
and this did he oftentimes

and always when he had so smitten him
then would he go up wind and raise the dust
that it made his eyes full of stuff

Isegrym was woe begone
and thought he was at a disadvantage
yet was his strength and might much more than the Fox
Reynard had many a sore stroke of him
when he rended him
they gave each other many a stroke and many a bite
when they saw their advantage
and each of them did his best to destroy the other
I would I might see such a battle
that one was wily
and that other was strong
that one fought with strength
and that other with subtlety

the Wolf was angry that the Fox endured so long against him
if his foremost feet had been whole
the Fox had not endured so long
but the sores were so open
that he might not well run
and the Fox might better of and on than he
and also he swung his tail oft under his eyes
and made him that he thought his eyes should go out

at last he said to himself

I will make an end of this battle
how long shall this caitiff endure thus against me
I am so great I should 
if I lay upn him
press him to death
it is to me a great shame
that I spare him so long
men shall mock and point me
with fingers to my shame and rebuke
for I am yet on the worst side
I am sore wounded
I bleed sore
and he drowns me
and cast so much dust and sand in my eyes
that hastily I shall not see
if I suffer him any longer
I will set it in adventure
and seen what shall come thereof

with that 
he smote with his foot Reynard on the head
that he fell down to the ground}and ere he could arise
he caught him in his feet
and lay upon him as he would have pressed him to death

then began the Fox to be afraid
and so were all his friends
when they saw him lie under
and on that other side
all Ysegrym's friends were joyful and glad
the Fox defended himself fast with his claws
as he lay upward with his feet
and gave him many a cut
the Wolf dared not with his feet do him much harm
but with his teeth snatched at him
as he would have bitten him

when the Fox saw he should be bitten
and was in great dread
he smote the Wolf in the head
with his foremost claws
and tore the skin between his brows and ears
and one of his eyes hung out
which did him much pain
he howled
he wept
he cried loud
and made a piteous noise
for the blood ran down as it had been a stream

Capitulo xl. How the Fox being under the Wolf with flattering words glossed him, that the Fox came above him again.

The Wolf wiped his eyes
the Fox was glad when he saw that
he wrestled so sore
he sprang on his feet
while he rubbed his eyes
the Wolf was not well pleased
therewith all
and smote him ere he escaped
and caught him in his arms
and held him fast
notwithstanding he bled

Renard was woe then
there wrestled they long and sore
the Wolf waxed so angry
he forgot all his smart and pain
and threw the Fox flat under him
which came him evil to pass
for his one hand
by which he defended him
started in the falling to Ysegrym's throat
and then was he afraid to lose his hand

said the Wolf to the Fox

now choose 
whether ye will yield as overcome
or else I shall certainly slay you
the scattering of the dust
thy mocking
not thy defence
nor all thy false wiles
may not now help thee
thou may not escape me
thou have here before 
done me so much harm and shame
and now I have lost my one eye
and thereto so wounded

when Reynard heard 
that it stood so 
that he should choose
to acknowledge him overcome
and yield himself
or else accept death
he thought the choice worth ten mark
and that he must say one or the other
he had anon concluded
what he would say
and began to say to him
with fair words
in thiswise

dear uncle
I will gladly become your man
with all my good
and I will go for you to the holy grave
and shall get pardon
and winning for your cloister
of all the churches that be in the Holy Land
which shall much profit to your soul
and your elders' souls also
I promise there was never
such a proffering proffered to any king
and I shall serve you
like as I should serve our holy father the Pope
I shall hold of you all that I have
and ever be your servant
and forth I shall make all my lineage do in likewise
then shall ye be a lord above all lords
who should then dare do anything against you?
and furthermore
whatsoever I take of fowl or geese
partridge or plover
fish or flesh
or whatsoever it be
thereof shall ye first have the choice
and your wife
and your children
ere any come in my body
thereto I will always abide by you
ye be strong and I am wiley
let us abide together
that one with the counsel
and that other with the deed
then may there nothing misfall us
and we be so nigh kin
each to other
of right should be no anger between us
I would not have fought against you
if I might have escaped
but ye appelled me first to fight
then must I do
that I not do would gladly
and in this battle 
I have been courteous to you
I have not yet showed
the utterest of my might on you
like as I would have done
if ye had been a stranger to me
for the nephew ought to spare the uncle
it is good reason
and it ought so to be
dear uncle
so have I now do
and that may ye mark well
when I ran before you
my heart would not consent thereto
for I might it never
for I have not hurt you
nor done you so much harm
that may hinder you
save only that misshape 
that is fallen on your eye
ach!
therefore I am sorry
and suffer much sorrow in my heart
I would well
dear uncle
it had not happed now
but it had fallen on me
so ye therewith a great advantage
for when ye hereafter shall sleep
ye need not to shut but one window
where another must shut two
my wife and my children
and my lineage shall fall down to your feet
before the King
and before all them ye will desire
and pray you humbly
ye will suffer Reynard your nephew live
and also I shall acknowledge 
oft to have trespassed against you
and what lyings I have lied upon you
how might any lord
have more honour  than I proffer you?
I would for no good
do this to another
therefore I pray you be pleased here withal

I wote well
if ye would
ye might now slay me
but if ye done had
what had ye won?
so must ye ever after this time
keep you rom my friends and lineage
therefore he is wise that can
in his anger
measure himself and not be over hasty
and see well
what may fall or hap afterward to him
what man in his anger can well advise him
certainly he is wise
men find many fools in heat hasten them so much
that after they repent them and then it is too late
but 
dear uncle
I trust ye be too wise so to do
it is better to have prize and honour
rest and peace
and many friends that be ready to help him
than to have shame and hurt
unrest and many enemies lying in wait
to do him harm
also it is little worship to him
that has overcome a man
then to slay him
it is a great shame
not for my life
though I were dead
that were a little hurt

said Isegrym the Wolf 

ay thief
how fain would thou be loosed and discharged from me
that here I well by thy word
were thou now from me on thy free feet
thou would not set by me like an egg shell
though thou promised to me all the world of fine red gold
I would not let thee escape
I set little by thee
and all thy friends and lineage
all thou has here said is bit lyings and feigned falseness
intent thou thus to deceive me
it is long since I knew thee
I am no nird to be locked nor taken by chaff
I know well enough good corn
o how would thou mock me
if I let thee thus escape?
thou might well have said this to one that knew thee not
but to me
thou lose thy flattering and sweet fluting
for I understand too well thy subtle lying tales
thou have so oft deceived me
that me behoves now to take good heed of thee
thou false stinking knave
thou say thou have spared me in this battle
look hitherward to me
is not my one eye out?
and thereto have thou wounded me 
in xx. places in my head
thou would not suffer me so long to rest
as to take once my breath
I were over much a fool if I should now spare thee
or be mercyful to thee
so many a confusion and shame thou have done me
and that also touches me most of all
thou have disworshipped and slandered Erswyn my wife
whom I love as well as myself
and falsely deceives her
which shall never put of my heart
for as oft as it comes to my mind
all my anger and hate I have to renew

in the meanwhile Ysegrym thus was speaking
the Fox bethought him
how he might help himself
and stick his other hand after between his legs
and grasp the Wolf fast
and he wrung them so sore
that for woe and pain he must cry loud and howl
then the Fox drew his other hand out of his mouth
the Wolf had so much pain and anguish
of the sore wringing that the Fox wrung and kneaded
that he spat blood

Capitulo xij. How Ysegrym the Wolf was overcome, and how the battle was taken up and finished, and how the Fox had the worship.

This pain did him more sorrow and woe than his eye did
that so sore bled
and also it made him fall all in a swwon
for he had so much bled
and also the thrashing
that he suffered made him so faint
that he had lost his might

then Reynard the Fox leaped upon him 
with all his might
and caught him by the legs
and drew him forth through the field
that they all might see it
and he stuck and smote him sore

then were Ysegrym's friends all full of sorrow
and went all weeping unto their lord the King
and prayed him he would cease the battle
and take it up into his hands

the King granted it
and then went the keepers of the field
the Lupaerd and the Losse
and said to the Fox and to the Wolf

our Lord the King
will speak now with you
and will that this battle be ended
he will take it into his hand
he desries ye will give your strife unto him
for if any of you here were slain
it shoild be great shame on both sides
for ye have as much worship of this field
as ye may have

and they said to the Fox

all the beasts give to you the prize
that have seen this battle

the Fox said

thereof I thank them
and what that shall please my Lord to command
that shall I not gainsay
I desire no better
but to have won the field
let my friends come hither to me
I will take advice of them what I shall do

they said
that they thought it good
and also it was reason in weighty matters
a man should take advice of his friends

then came Dame Slopecade
and Grymbert the Dasse her husband
Dame Rukenawe with her ii. sisters
Byteluys and Fulrompe
her two sons
and Hatenet her daughter
the Flittermouse and the Weasel
and there came more than xx.
which would not have come
if the Fox had lost the field
so who wins and comes to his above
he gets great praise and worship
and who is overthrown and has the worse
to him will no man gladly come
there came also to the Fox
the Bever
the Otter
and both their wives
Panthecrote and Ordegale
and the Ostrole
the Marten
the Polecat
the Ferret
the Mouse and the Squirrel
and many more than I can name
and all because he had won the field
yea some that before had complained about him
and were now of his next kin
and they showed him right friendly cheer and countenance
thus fares the world now
who that is rich and high on the wheel
he has many kinsmen and friends
that shall help to bear out his wealth
but who is needy and in pain
or in poverty
finds but few friends and kinsmen
for every man almost eshews his company and way

there was then a great feast
they blew trumpets and piped with shawms
they said all
dear nephew
blessed be God
ye have sped well
we were in great dread and fear
when we saw you lie under

Teynard the Fox thanked all friendly
and received them with great joy and gladness
then he asked of them
what they counselled him
if he should give the field unto the King or no

Dame Slopecade said

ye hardy cousin
ye may with worship well set it in his hands
and trust him well enough

then went they all with the keepers of the field
unto the King
and Reynard the Fox went before them all with trumpets and pipes
and much other minstrelry
the Fox kneeled before the King
the King bade him stand 
and said to him

Reynard
ye be now joyful
ye have kept your day worshipfully
I discharge you
and let you go freely where it pleases you
and the debate between you
I hold it on me
and shall doscuss it by reason and by counsel of noble men
and will ordain thereof 
that shall be whole
and then I shall send for you to come to me
and then
by God's grace
I shall give out the sentence and judgement

Capitulo xlij. An example that the Fox told to the King when he had won the field.

My worthy and dear Lord the King
said the Fox
I am well agreed and paid therewith
but when I came first in your court
there were many that were fell and envious of me
which never had hurt nor cause of scathe by me
but they thought they might best me
and cried they with my enemies against me
and would fain have destroyed me
because they thought the Wolf was better witholden
and greater with you than I was
which am your humble subject
they knew none other thing why not wherefore
they thought not as the wise be wont to do
what the end may happen
my Lord
these be like a great heap of hounds
which I once saw stod at a lord's place upona dunghill
where as they awaited men should bring them meat
then saw they a hound come out of the kitchen
and had taken there a fair rib of beef ere it was given him
and he ran fast away withal
but the cook had espied he went his way
and took a great bowl full of scalding water
and cast it on his hips behind
whereof he thanked nothing the cook
for the hair behind was scalded off
and his ksin seemed as it had been seethed through
nevertheless
he escaped
and kept that he won
and when his fellows
the other hounds
saw him come with this fair rib
they called him
and said to him

o how good a friend is the cook to thee
which has given to thee so good a bone
whereon is so much flesh

said the hound
ye know nothing thereof
ye praise me like as ye see me before with this bone
but ye have not seen me behind
take heed and behold me afterward on my buttocks
and then ye shall know how I have deserved it

and when they had seen him behind on his hips
how his skin and his flesh was all raw and boiled
then growled them all
and were afraid of that seething water
and would not of his fellowship
but fled and ran away from him
and let him there alone

see my Lord
this right have these false beasts
when they be made lords 
and may get their desire
and when they be mighty and feared
then be they extortioners 
and tax and pillage the people
and eat them like they were starving dogs
these be they that bear the bone in their mouth
no man dare have to do with them
but praise all they perpetrate
no man dare say otherwise
but such as shall please him
because they would not be shorn
and some help them forth in their unrightwise deeds
because they would have part
and lick their fingers
and strengthen them in their evil life and works

o dear Lord
how little see they that do thus behind them
what the end shall be
at last they fall from high to low
in great shame and sorrow
and then their works come to knowledge
and be open in suchwise
that no man has pity nor compassion on them 
in their mischief and trouble
and every amn curse them
and say evil by them
to their shame and villainy

many of such have been blamed and shorn
full nigh they had no worship nor profit
but lose their hair as the hound did
that is
their friends
which have helped them cover their misdeeds and extortions
like as the hair covers the skin
and then they have sorrow and shame
for their old trepasses
then eachbody plucks his hand from him and flees
like as the hounds did from him was scalded with the seething water
and let him these extortions in their sorrow and need

my dear Lord the King
I beseech you remember this example for me
it shall not be against your worship nor wisdom
what think ye how may be there such false extortioners
now in these days
yea much worse than a dog
that bears such a bone in his mouth
in towns
in great lords' courts
which with great facing and bracing oppress the poor people
with great wrong
and sell their freedom and privileges
and bear them a hand of things
they never knew nor thought
and all for to get goods for their singular profit
God give them all shame and soon destroy them
whosoever they be that so do

but God be thanked

said the Fox

there may no man indict me
nor my lineage nor kin
of such works
but we shall acquit us
and come in the light
I am not afraid of any
that can say of me anything
I have done
otherwise than a true man
ought to do
always the Fox shall abide the Fox
though all his enemies had sworn the contrary

my dear Lord the King
I love you with my heart
above all other lords
and never for no man
would I turn from you
but abide by you to the utterest
how well it has been otherwise
informed your highness
I have nevertheless always done the best
and forth so will do all my life
that I can or may

Capitulo xliij. How the King forgave the Fox all things, and made him sovereign and greatest over all his lands.

The King said

Reynard
ye be one of them that owes me homage
which I will ye that ye always so do
and also I will that early and late 
ye be of my council
and one of my justices
see well that ye not misdo
not trespass no more
I set you again in all your might and power
like as ye were before
and see that ye further all matters 
to the best right
for when ye set your wit and counsel to virtue and goodness
then men not our court be without your advice and counsel
for here is none that is like to you in sharp and high counsel
nor subtler in finding a remedy for a mischief
and think ye on the example that ye yourself have told
and that ye haunt rightwiseness and be to me true
I will from henceforth work and do by your advice and counsel
he lives not if he misdoes you
but I should sharply avenge and wreak it on him
ye shall over all speak and say my words
and in all my land shall ye be
above all other sovereign and my bailey
that office I give you
ye may well occupy it with worship

all Reynard's friends and lineage
thanked the King highly
the King said

I would do more for your sake than ye think
I pray you all ye remember him that he be true

Dame Rulenawe then said

yes surely my Lord
that shall he ever be
and think ye not the contrary
for if he were otherwise
he were not of our kin nor lineage
and I wold ever missake him
and would ever hinder him to my power

Reynard the Fox thanked the King
with fair courteous words
and said

dear Lord
I am not worthy to have the worship
that ye do to me
I shall think thereon
and be true to you also long as I live
and shall give you as wholesome counsel
as shall be expedient to your good grace
herewith he departed with his friends from the King

now hark how Isegrym the Wolf did

Bruyn the Bear
Tybert the Cat
and Ereswyn and her children
with their lineage
drew the Wolf out of the field
and laid him upon a litter of hay
and covered him warm
and looked to his wounds
which were well xxv.
and there came wise masters and surgeons
which bound them and washed them
he was so sick and feeble
that he has lost his feeling
but they rubbed and writhed him
under his temples and eyes
that he sprang out of his swoon and cried so loud
that all they were afraid
they had thought that he had been wood
but the mistress gave him a drink that comforted his heart
and made him to sleep
they comforted his wife
and told her that their was no death wound
nor peril of his life

then the court brake up
and the beasts departed to their places
and homes that they come from

Capitulo xliij. How the Fox with his friends and lineage departed nobly from the King, and went to his castle Maleperduys.

Reynard the Fox
took his leave honestly of the King and of the Queen
and they bade him he should not tarry long
but shortly return to them again
he answered and said

dear King and Queen
always at your commandment
I shall be ready
if ye need anything
which God forbid
I would always be ready with my body
and my good to help you
and also all my friends and lineage
in likewise shall obey your commandment and desire
ye have highly deserved it
God requite you and give you grace long to live
and I desire your license and leave to go home
to my wife and children
and if your good grace will anything
let me have knowledge of it
and ye shall find me always ready

thus departed the Fox with fair words from the King

now who that could set him in Reynard's craft
and could behave him in flattering and lying as he did
he should
I believe
be heard both with the lords spiritual and temporal
there be many and also the most part
that creep after his way and his hole
the name that was given to him abides always still with him
he has left many of his craft in this world
which always wax and become mighty
for who that will not use Reynard's craft now
is nought worth in the world now in nay estate of might
but if he can creep in Reynard's net
and has been his scholar
then may ye dwell with us
for then knows he well how he may arise
and is set up above of every man

there is in the world much seed left of the Fox
which now over all grows and comes sore up
though they have no red beards
yet there be found more foxes now than ever were here before
the rightwise people be all lost
truth and rightwiseness be exiled for foredriven
and for them be abide with us covetousness and falsehood
hate and envy
these reign now much in every country
for is it in the Pope's court
the Emperor's
the kings' 
dukes' or any other lords'
wheresoever it be
each man labours to put another out of his worship
office and power
for to make himself to climb high with lies
with flattering
with simony
with money
or with strength and force

there is none thing believed nor known in the court nowadays
but money
the money is better beloved than God
for men do much more therefore
for whosoever brings money shall be well received
and shall have all his desire
is it of lords or of ladies
or any other
that money does much harm
money nrongs many in shame and dread of his life
and brings false witness against true people for to get money
it causes uncleanness of living
lying and lechery

now clerks go to Rome
to Paris
and to many another place
for to learn Reynard's craft
be he clerk
be he layman
everyeach of them treads in the Fox's path
and seeks his hole
the world is of such condition now
that every man seeks himself in all matters

I wote not what end shall come to us hereof
all wise men may sorrow well herefore
I fear that for the great falseness
theft and robbery and murder
that is now used so much and commonly
and also the unshamefaced lechery and adultery
boasted and blown abroad with the vaunting of the same
that without great repentence and penance therefore
that God will take vengeance and punish us sore therefore
whom I humbly beseech
and to whom nothing is hid
that he will give us grace to make amends to him therefore
and that we may rule us to his pleasure

and herewith will I leave
for what have I to write of these misdeeds?
I have enough to do with my own self
and so it were better that I hold my peace and suffer
and the best that I can do for to amend myself now in this time
and so I counsel every man to do here in this present life
and that shall be most our profit
for after this life comes no time
that we may occupy to our advantage for himself
and bear his own burden

Reynard's friends and lineage
to the number of xl.
have taken also their leave of the King
and went all together with the Fox
who was right glad he had so well sped
and he stood so well in the King's grace
he thought he had no shame
but he was so great with the King
he might help and further his friends
and hinder his enemies
and also to do what he would
without he should be blamed if he would be wise

the Fox and his friends 
went so long together 
they came to his burrow 
to Maleperduys
there they all took leave
each of the other
with fair and courteous words
Reynard did to them great reverence
and thanked them all friendly
for their good faith
and also worship 
that they had done and showed him
and profered to each of them his service
if they had need
with body and goods
and herewith they departed
and each of them went to their own houses

the Fox went to Dame Ermelyn his wife
who welcomed him friendly
he told her and his children
all the wonder to him was befallen in the court
and forgot not a word
but told them every deal 
how he escaped
then were they glad their father was so enhanced
and great with the King
and the Fox lived forth on with his wife and children
in great joy and gladness

now
who said to you of the Fox
more or less
ye have heard or read
I hold it for lying
but this ye have heard or read
may ye believe well
and who believes it not
is not therefore out of the right belief
howbeit
there be many
if they had seen it
should have the less doubt of it
for there be many things in the world
which be believed 
though they were never seen
also there be many figures and plays found
that never were done nor happed
but for an example for the people
that they may thereby the better use and follow virtue
and eshew sin and vice

in likewise
may it be by this book
who will read this matter
though it be of japes and bawds
yet he may find therein
many a good wisdom and learning
by which he may come to virtue and worship
there is no good man blamed herein
it is spoken generally
let every man take his own part 
as it belongs and behoves
and he that finds him guilty in any deal or part thereof
let him better and amend him
and he that is good
verily I pray God keep him therein
and if anything be said or written herein
that may grieve or displease any man
blame not me
but the Fox
for they be his words and not mine

praying all them shall see this little treatise
to correct and amend
where they shall find fault
for I have not added nor diminished
but have followed as nigh as I can my copy
which was in Dutch
and by me
William Caxton
translated into this rude and simple English
in the Abbey of Westminster
finished the vj. day of June
the year of our Lord m.cccc.lxxxj. 
and the xxj. year of the reign of King Edward the iiij.

Here ends 
The History of Reynard the Fox.

by me
Paul Summers Young
translated into this rude and simple Modern English
in the Town of Ramsgate
finished the xxvij. day of June
the year of our Lord mm.xxiij.
and the i. year of the reign of King Charles the iij.