He understands well all manner of languages, and the virtue of all manner of herbs.

 

Capitulo xxxj. Which be friends and kin unto Reynard the Fox.

The first child is named Byteluys
who is much cherished
and can make much sport and game
wherefore is given him
the fat trenchers and much other good meat
which comes well to profit
Fulrompe
his brother
and also my third child is a daughter
and is named Hatenette
she can well pick out lice and nits
from men's heads
these three be to each other true
wherefore I love them well

Dame Rukenawe
called them forth and said

welcome
my dear children
come forth and stand by Reynard
your dear nephew

then said she

come forth
all ye that be my kin and Reynard's
and let us pray the King
he will do to Reynard right of the land

then came forth many a beast anon
as the Squirrel
the Stoat
the Polecat
the Marten
the Bever
with his wife Ordegale
the Genet
the Ostrole
the Boussyng
and 
the Ferret
this twain fain eat a pullet
as Reynard
the Otter
and Pantecroet his wife
whom I had almost forgotten
yet were they before
with the Bever
enemies of the Fox
but they dare not gainsay
Dame Rukenawe
for they were afraid of her
she was the wisest of all his kin for counsel
and was most feared
there came also 
more than xx. other 
to stand by Reynard
because of her
there came Dame Atrote
with her ij. sisters
the Weasel
and Hermell the Ass
the Backe
the Water Rat
and many more 
to the number of xl.
which all came and stood
by Reynard the Fox

said Rukenawe

my Lord the King
come and see here
if Reynard have any friends
here may ye see
we be your true subjects
who for you would venture
both life and goods
if ye had need
ye be hardy
mighty and strong
our well-willed friendship
cannot hurt you
let Reynard the Fox be

said the King

nevertheless
ye have somewhat with your words
eased my heart
and made it lighter than it was
alas
lo
here ye may see how he or they
to whom a man trusts most
is oft by him or them deceived
though I should go all the world through
and my life adventure set therefore
I shall wit where these jewels be

with dissimulating
sorrowful speech
said the Fox

hearken ye
all my kin and friends
I shall name you these jewels
what they were
and then may ye say
I have great loss

one of them was a ring of fine gold
and within the ring
next the finger
were written letters 
enamelled with sable and azure
and there were three Hebrew names therein
I could not myself read nor spell them
for I understood not the language
but Master Abrion of Trier
he is a wise man
he understands well all manner of languages
and the virtue of all manner of herbs
and there is no beast so fierce nor strong
but he can damn him
for if he see him once
he shall do as he will
and yet he believes not in God
he is a Jew
the wisest in cunning
and specially he knows the virtue of stones
I showed him once this ring
he said they were the three names
Seth brought out of Paradise
when he brought his father Adam
the oil of mercy
and whomsoever bears on him 
these three names
he shall never be hurt by thunder nor lightning
neither no witchcraft shall have power over him
nor be tempted to do sin
and also he shall never take harm by cold
though he lay three winters long nights in the field
though it snowed
stormed or froze never so sore
so great might have these words
witness Master Abrion

the ring was set with a stone of three colours
one part like red crystal
which shone like as fire had been therein
in suchwise if one would go by night
him behoved no other light
for the shining of the stone
made and gave as great a light 
as it had been midday
another part of the stone
was bright and clear
as it had been burnished
whoso had in his eyes any smart or soreness
or in his body any swelling or headache
or any sickness without forth
if he striked this stone
on the place where the grief is 
he shall anon be whole
or if any man be sick in his body from venom
or ill meat in his stomach
of colic
strangulation
stone
fistula or canker
or any other sickness
save only very death
let him lay this stone in a little water
and let him drink it
and he shall forthwith be whole
and free from his sickness

Alas!

said the Fox

we have good cause 
to lose such a jewel
furthermore
the third colour was green like glass
but there were some sprinkles therein
like purple
the Master told for truth
who bears this stone upon him
should never be hurt by his enemy
and that no man
were he never so strong and hardy
might misdo him
and wherever he fought
he should have victory
were it by night or day
so long he beheld it fasting
and thereto wheresoever he went
and in what fellowship
he should be beloved
though they had hated him before
if he had the ring upon him
they should forget their anger
as soon as they saw him
also
though he were all naked in a field
against a hundred armed men
he should be well-hearted
and escape from them with worship
but he must be a noble gentle man
and have no churlish condition
for then the stone has no might
and because this stone was so precious and good
I thought in myself I was not able nor worthy to bear it
and therefore I sent it to my dear Lord the King
for I know him for the most noble who now lives
and also all out welfare and worship lies on him
and for he should be kept from all dread
need and ungheluck

I found this ring in my father's treasure
and in the same place I took a glass or mirror
and a comb which my wife would always have
a man might wonder who saw these jewels
I sent these to my Lady the Queen
for I have found her good and gracious to me
this comb might not be much praised
it was made of a clean noble beast named Panthera
who was born between great Indus and earthly Paradise
he is so lusty fair
and of colour that there is no colour under the heaven
but some likeness is in him
thereto he smells so sweet
that the savour of him cures all sickness
and for his beauty and sweet-smelling
all other beasts follow him
for by his sweet savour
they be healed of all sickness

this Panthera has a fair bone
broad and thin
when so is this beast is slain
all the sweet odour rested in the bone
which cannot be broken
nor shall never rot
nor be destroyed by fire
by water nor by smiting
it is so hard
tight and fast
and yet it is light of weight
the sweet odour of it has great might
who that smells it set nought by none other lust in the world
and is eased and freed of all manner diseases and infirmities
and also he is jocund and glad in his heart

this comb is polished
as it were fine silver
and the teeth of it be small and straight
and between the greater teeth and the smaller
is a large field and space
where is carved many an image
subtly made and enamelled with fine gold
the field is checked with sable and silver
enamelled with cybore and azure
and therein is the history 
how Venus
Juno and Pallas
strove for the apple of gold
which each of them would have
which controversy was set upon Paris
that he should give it to the fairest of them three

Paris was that time a herdman
and kept his father's beasts 
and sleep without Troy
when he received the apple
Juno promised him
if he would judge she might have the apple
he should have the most richest of the world
Pallas said
if she might have the apple
she would give him wisdom and strength
and make him so great a lord
he should overcome all his enemies
and whom he would
Venus said
what need thou richness or strength?
art not thou Priam's son
and Hector is thy brother
which have all Asia under their power?
art thou not one of the possessors of great Troy?
if thou will give to me the apple
I shall give the richest tresure of the world
and that shall be the fairest woman
that ever had life on earth
nor never shall none be born fairer than she
then shall thou be richer than rich
and shall climb above all other
for that is the treasure
that no man can praise enough
for honest
fair and good women
can put away many a sorrow from the heart
they be shamefaced and wise
and bring a man to every joy and bliss

Paris heard this Venus
which presented him this great joy and fair lady
and prayed her to name this fair lady
that was so fair
and where she was
Venus said
it is Helen
King Menelaus' wife
of Greece
there lives not a nobler
richer
gentler nor wiser wife
in all the world

Paris 
gave to her the apple
and said she was the fairest

how he got afterward Helen
by the help of Venus
and how he brought her into Troy
and wedded her
the great love and jolly life they had together
was all carved in the field
everything by himself
and the story written

now ye shall hear of the mirror

the glass that stood thereon was of such virtue
that men might see therein all that was done within a mile
of men
of beasts
and of all things that men would desire
to wit and know
and what man looked in the glass
had he any disease
of pricking
or motes
smart or pearls in his eyes
he should be anon healed of it
such great virtue had the glass

is it then wonder
if I be moved and angry
for to lose such manner of jewels
the tree in which this glass stood
was light and fast
and was named Cetyne
it should endure ever
ere it would rot
or worms should hurt it
and therefore King Solomon sealed his temple
with the same word withinforth
men praised it dearer than fine gold
it is like the Tree of Hebenus
of which wood King Crompart made his horse
for love of King Morcadigas' daughter
who was so fair
whom he had wned for to have won

that horse was so made within
that whosoever rode on it
if he would
he should be within less than an hour
a hundred mile thence
and that was well praised
for Cleomedes
the King's son
would not believe that horse of tree
had such might and virtue
he was young and lusty and hardy
and desired to do great deeds of price
for to be renowned in this world
and leap on the Horse of Tree

Crompart turned a pin 
that he wore on his breast
and anon the horse lift him up
and went out of the hall by the window
and ere one might say his Pater Noster
he was gone more ten mile away
Cleomedes was sore afraid
and supposed never to have turned again
as this story thereof tells more plainly
but how great dread he had
and how far he rode upon that horse made of the Tree of Hebenus
ere he could know the art and craft
how he should turn him
and how joyful he was when he knew it
and how men sorrowed for him
and how he knew all this
and the joy thereof when he came again
all this I pass over for losing of time
but the most part of all came by the virtue of the wood
of which wood the tree the glass stood in was made
and that was without forth of the glass hlaf a foot broad
wherein stood some strange histories
which were of gold
of silver
of yellow
azure and cynope
these six colours were therein wrought in suchwise
as it behoved
and under every history 
the words were graven and enamelled
that every man might understand what each history was

after my judgement
there was never mirror so costly
so lustly nor so pleasant
in the beginning stood there a horse made fat
strong and sore envious upon a hart
which ran in the field so far and swiftly
the horse was angry he ran so far before him
and could not overtake him
he thought he should catch him
and subdue him
though he should suffer much pain therefore
the horse spake then to a herdman in this ise
if thou could take a hart I well can show thee
thou should have great profit thereof
thou should sell dear his horns
his skin and his flesh
the herdman said
how may I come by him?
the horse said
sit upon me
and I shall bear thee
and we shall hunt him til he be taken

the herdman sprang and sat upon the horse
and saw the hart
and he rode after
but the hart was light of foot and swift
and out ran the horse far
they hunted so far after him
that the horse was weary
and said to the herdman that sat on him

now sit off
I will rest me
I am all weary
and give me leave
to go from thee

the herdman said

I have arrested thee
thou may not escape from me
I have a bridle on thy head
and spurs on my heels
thou shalt never have thanks hereof
I shall conquer and subdue thee
had thou sworn the contrary

see how the horse brought himself in thraldom
and was taken in his own net
how may one better be taken 
than by his own proper envy suffer himself
to be taken and ridden
there be many that labour to hurt others
and they themselves be hurt 
and rewarded with the same

there was also made an ass and a hound
who dwelled both with a rich man
the man loved his hound well
for he played oft with him
as folk do with hounds
the hound leaped up and played with his tail
and licked his master about the mouth
this saw Bowdwyn the Ass
and had great spite thereof in his heart
and said to himself

how may this be 
and what may my lord 
see this fowl hound
whom I never see does good nor profit
save springs on him and kisses him
but me whom men out to labour
to bear and draw
and do more in a week than he with his xv.
should do in a whole year
and yet sits he nevertheless by him at the table
and there eats bones
flesh and fat trenchers
and I have nothing but thistles and nettles
and lie at night on the hard earth
and suffer many a scorn
I will no longer suffer this
I will think how I may get my lord's love and friendship
like as the hound does

therewith came the lord
and the ass lift up his tail
and sprang with his forefeet on the lord's shoulders
and brayed
smiled and sang
and with his feet made two greats balls about his ears
and put forth his mouth
and would have kissed the lord's mouth
as he had seen the hound do
then cried the lord
sore afraid

help!
help!
this ass will slay me!

then came his servants with good staves
and smitten and beat the Ass so sore
he thought he should have lost his life
then returned he to his stable
and ate thistles and nettles
and was an ass as he before was

in likewise
who so have envy and spite
of another's welfare
and were served in likewise
it should be well behoveful
therefore it is concluded
that the Ass shall eat thistles and nettles
and bear the sack
though men would do him worship
he cannot understand it
but must use old lewd manners
where asses get lordships
there men see seldom good rule
for they take heed of nothing
but on their singular profit
yet be they taken up and risen great
the more pity is

hearken further
how my father 
and Tybert the Cat
went together
and had sowrn by their truth
that for love nor hate they should not depart
and what they get
they should devide to each half
then on a time
they saw hunters coming over the field
with many hounds
they leaped and ran fast from them
all that they might
as they were afraid for their lives

said the Fox

Tybert
whither shall we now best flee?
the hunters have espied us
know ye any help?

my father trusted the promise 
that each made the other
and that he would for no need depart from him

said he

Tybert
I have a sack full of wiles
if we have need
as far as we abide together
we need not fear hunters nor hounds

Tybert began to sigh
and was sore afraid
and said

Reynard
what avails many words?
I know but one wile
and thither must I too

and then climbed he 
upon a high tree
into the top under the leaves
were neither hunter nor hound
might do him harm
and left my father alone
in jeopardy of his life
for the hunters set on him the hounds
all that they could
men blew the horns and cried and hallooed

the fox!
slay him!

when
Tybert the Cat
saw that
he mocked and scorned my father
and said

what
Reynard
cousin
unbind now your sack
where all the wiles be in
it is now time
ye be so wise-called
help yourself
for ye have need

this mock must my father hear 
from him to whom he'd most his trust in
and was almost taken 
and nigh his death
and he ran and fled
with great fear for his life
and let his bag slide off
because he would be lighter
yet all that could not help him
for the hounds were too swift
and should have bitten him
but he had one adventure
that thereby he found an old hole
wherein he crept
and escaped thus the hunters and hounds
thus held this false deceiver Tybert
his faith that he had promised

alas!
how many be there nowadays
that keep not their promise
and set not thereby 
though they break it
and though I hate Tybert herefore
it is wonder?
but I do not certainly
I love my soul too well thereto
nevertheless
if I saw him in adventure
and misfall in his body 
or in his goods
I'm sure it should not much go to my heart
so that another did it
nevertheless
I shall for God's love forgive him
yet is it not so clear out of my heart
but a little ill will to him abides therein
as this comes to my remembrance
and the cause is that the sensuality of my flesh
fights against reason

there stood also in that mirror
the Wolf
how he found once upon a heath
a dead horse slain
but all the flesh was eaten
then went he
and bit great morsels from the bones
that for hunger he took iij. or iiij. at once
and swallowed them
for he was so greedy
one of the bones stuck thwart his mouth
whereof he had great pain
and was in great fear for his life
he sought all about for wise masters and surgeons
and promised great gifts for to be healed of his disease

at last
when he could nowhere find remedies
he came to the Crane 
with his long neck and bill
and prayed him to help him
and he would love and reward him so well
that he should ever be the better
the Crane harked after this great reward
and out his head into his throat
and brought out the bone with his bill
the Wolf started aside with the plucking
and cried out

alas!
thou dost me harm!
but I forgive it thee
do no more so
I would not suffer it of another

the Crane said

Sir Isegrym
go and be merry
for ye be all whole now
give to me 
that ye promised

the Wulf said

will ye hear 
what he says?
I am he 
that has suffered
and have cause to plaint
and he will have good from me
he thanks not me for the kindness
that I did for him
he put his head in my mouth
and I suffered him to draw it out whole
without hurting
and he did to me also harm
and if any here should have a reward
it should be I by right

thus unkind men nowadays
reward them that do them good
when the false and subtle 
arise and become great
then goes worship and profit
all to nought
there be many of right
that ought reward 
and do good to such as help them
in their need
that now find causes
and say they be hurt
and would have amends
where they ought to reward 
and make amends themselves
therefore it is said
and truth it is
who will chide or chastise
see that he be clear himself

all this
and much more than I now can well remember
was made and wrought in this glass
the master that ordained it was a cunning man
and a profound clerk in many sciences
and because these jewels
were too good and precious
for me to keep and have
therefore I sent them to my dear Lord the King
and to the Queen
as presents
where be they now
that give to their lords 
such presents?
the sorrow that my ij. children made
when I sent away the glass was great
for they were wont to look therein
and see themselves how their clothing and array
became them on their bodies

o alas
I knew not that Cywart the Hare
was so nigh his death
when I delivered him the pouch with these jewels!
I wist not to whom I might better have taken them
though it should have cost me my life
than him and Bellyn the Ram
they were two of my best friends
out!
alas!
I cry upon the murderer!
I shall know who it was
though I should run through all the world to seek him
for murder abides not hid
it shall come out
peradventure he is in this company
that knows where Cywart is 
though he tells it not
for many flase shrews
walk with good men
from whom no man can keep him
they know their craft so well
and can well cover their falseness

but the most wonder that I have
is that my Lord the King 
here says so felly
my father not I did him never good
that thinks me incredible for a king
but they come so many things before him
that he forgets that one with that other
and so fares by me
dear Lord
remember not ye when my Lord your father lived
and ye a youngling of two year were
that my father came from school in Montpellier
where he had five year studied in receipts of medicine
he knew all the tokens of the urine as well as his hand
and also all the herbs and nature of them
which were viscous or laxative
he was a singular master in that science
he might well wear cloth of silk and a gilt girdle

when he came to court
he found the King in a great distress
whereof he was sorry in his heart
for he loved him above all other lords
the King would not forgo him
for when he came all other had leave
to walk where they would
he trusted none so much as him
he said

Reynard
I am sick
and feel me the longer the worse

my father said

my dear Lord
here is a urinal
as soon as I may see it
I shall tell what sickness it is
and also how ye shall be helped

the King did as he counselled him
for he trusted no man better that lived
though so were that 
my father did not as he should have done to you
but that was by counsel of evil and foul beasts
I had wonder thereof but it was a rising for his death

he said

my Lord
if ye will be whole
ye must eat the liver of a wolf of vij. year old
that may ye not leave
or else ye shall die
for your urine shows it plainly

the Wolf stood thereby
and said nought
but the King said to him

Sir Ysegrym
now ye hear well
that I must have your liver if I will be whole

answered the Wolf
and said

nay my Lord
not so
I know well I am not yet five year old
I have heard my mother say so

my father said

what confirms his words?
let him be opened
and I shall know by the liver
if it be good for you or not

and therewith the Wolf
was had to kitchen
and his liver taken out
which the King ate
and was anon all whole 
of all his sickness
then thanks he my father much
and commanded all his household
upon their lives
that after that time
they should call him Master Reynard

he abode still by the King
was was beloved of all things
and must always go by his side
and the King gave him a garland of roses
which he must always wear on his head
but now this is all turned
all the old good things that he did
be forgotten
and these covetous and ravenous shrews
be taken up and set on the high bench
and be heard and made great
and the wise folk be put aback
by which these lords oft lack
and cause them to be in much trouble and sorrow
for when a covetous man of low birth is made a lord
and is much great
then he knows not himself
nor whence he is come
and has no pity on no man's hurt
nor hears no man's request
but if he may have great gifts
all his intent and desire
is to gather goods and be greater
o how many covetous men
be now in lords' courts!
they flatter and cense
and please the prince for their singular avail
but the prince had need of them
or their good they should rather suffer him to die
or fare right hard
ere they would give or lend him
yet had I rather ere the King or the Queen
should fare amiss
that xx. such wolves should lose their lives
it were also the least loss

my Lord
all this befell in your youth
that my father did thus
I fear you have forgotten it
and also I have myself done you reverence
worship and courtesy
unroused be it
though ye now thank me but little
but peradventure ye remembered not
that I shall now say
not to any forgetting of you
for ye be worthy all worship and reverence
that any man can do
that have ye of Almighty God for inheritance
of your noble progenitors
wherefore I your humble subject and servant
am bound to do to you all service
that I can or may

I came on a time walking with the Wolf Isegrym
and we had gotten under us both a swine
and for his loud crying
we bit him to death
and
Sire
ye came from far out of a grove towards us
ye saluted us friendly
and said we were welcome
and that ye and my Lady the Queen
which came after you
had great hunger
and had nothing to eat
and prayed for us to give you part of our winning
Isegrym spake so soft
that a man hardly might hear him
but I spake out
and said

yea my Lord
with a good will
though it were more
we will well that ye have part
and then the Wolf departed
as he was wont to do
he departed and took one half for himself
and he gave you a quarter
for you and the Queen
that other quarter he ate
and bit as hastily as he might
because he would eat it alone
and he gave to me but half the lungs
that I pray God that evil mote he fare

thus shrewd his conditions and nature
ere men should have sung a Credo
ye my Lord had eaten your part
and yet would ye fain had more
for ye were not full
and because he gave you no more
nor proffered you
ye lift up your right foot 
and smote him between the ears
that ye tear his skin over his eyes
and then he might no longer abide
but he bled
howled
and ran away
and left his part there lie
then said ye to him

haste you again hither
and bring to us more
and hereafter see better 
how ye deal and part

then said I

my Lord
if it please you
I will go with him

I wote well what ye said
I went with him
he bled and groaned
as sore as he was
all softly
he dare not cry loud
we went so far
that we brought a calf

and when ye saw us come therewith
ye laughed
for ye were well pleased
ye said to me
that I was sift in hunting

I see well 
that ye can find well
when ye take it upon you
ye be good to send forth in need
the calf is good and fat
hereof shall ye be the dealer

I said

my Lord
with a good will
the one half 
my Lord
shall be for you
and that other half
for my lady the Queen
the bollocks
liver
lungs and the inward
shall be for your children
the head shall Isegrym the Wolf have
and I will have the feet

then said ye

Reynard
who has taught you to depart so courteously

said I

my Lord
that has done this preist that sits here
with the bloody crown
he lost his skin with the uncourteous departing of the swine
and for his courtesy and ruin
he has both hurt and shame
alas there be many wolves nowadays
that without right and reason destroy and eat
them that they may have the upper hand of
they spare neither flesh nor blood
friend nor enemy
what they can get
that take they
o woe be to that land
and to towns
where the wolves have the upper hand

my Lord
this and many other good things
have I done for you
that I could well tell
if it were not too long
of which now ye remember little
by the words that I hear from you
if ye would all things oversee well
ye would not say as ye do
I have seen the day
that there should no great matter be concluded
in this court
without my advice
albeit that this adventure is now fallen
it might happen yet
that my words shall be heard
and also believed
as well as another's as far as right will
for I desire none other
for if there be any can say and make good
by sufficient witness that I have trespassed
I will abide all the right and law
that may come thereof
and if any say of me anything of which
he can bring no witnesses
let me then be ruled after the law and custom
of this court

the King said

Reynard
ye say reasonably
I know not of Cywart's death more than that
Bellyn the Ram brought his head hither in the pouch
thereof I let you go free
for I have no witness thereof

said Reynard

my dear Lord
God thank you
truly you do well
for his death makes me so sorrowful
that methinks my heart will break in two
o when they departed from me
my heart was so heavy
that methought I should have swooned
I wote well it was a token of the loss
that then was so nigh coming to me

all the most part of them that were there
and heard the Fox's words of the jewels
and how he made his countenance
and stretched himself
had verily supposed it had not been feigned
but that it had been true
they were sorry for his loss and misadventure
and also for his sorrow
the King and the Queen
had both pity on him
and bade him make not too much sorrow
but that he should endeavour him to fetch them
for he had much praised them
that they had great will and desire to have them
and becuase he had made them to understand
that he had sent these jewels to them
though they never had them
yet they thanked him
and prayed him help 
that they might have them

the Fox understood their meaning well
he thought toward them but little good
he said

for all that
God thank you
my Lord and my Lady
that ye so friendly comfort me in my sorrow
I shall not rest night nor day
nor all they that will do anything for me
but run and pray
threaten and ask all the four corners of the world
though I should ever search
til that I know where they be
and I pray you
my Lord the King
that if they were in such place as I could not get them
by prayer
by might nor by request
that ye would assist me 
and abide by me
for it touches yourself
and the good is yours
and also it is your part to do justice on theft and murder
which both be in this case

said the King

Reynard
that shall I not leave when ye know where they be
my help shall be always ready for you

said the Fox

o dear Lord
this is too much presented to me
if I had power and might
I should deserve this from you

now has the Fox
his matter fast and fair
for he has the King in his hand
as he would
him thought that he was in better case
than it was like to have been
he has made so made lyings
that he may go freely where he will
without complaining of any of them all
save of Isegrym
who was to him angry an displeased
and said

o noble King
are ye so much childish
that ye believe this false and subtle shrew
and suffer yourself with false lies thus to be deceived?
of faith it should be long or I should believe him
he is in murder and treason all bewrapped
and he mocks you to your visage
I shall tell him another tale
I am glad that I see now him here
all his lying shall not avail him
ere he depart from me