He went and showed himself outward wisely, but laughed in his heart.

Capitulo xviij. How the Wolf and the Hare were arrested by the labour of Reynard the Fox. 

Isegrym came proudly over the field
before the King
and he thanked the Queen
and spake 
with a fell mood
ill words on the Fox
in suchwise the King heard
and was wroth
and made the Wolf and the Bear
anon to be arrested

Ye saw never wood-dogs 
do more harm than was done them
they were both fast bounden so sore
that all night 
they might not stair hand nor foot
they might scarcely roar
nor move any joint

now hear how the Fox
forth did

he hated them
he laboured so to the Queen
that he got leave 
for to have as much of the Bear's skin
upon his ridge as a foot long and a foot broad
for to make him thereof a pouch.
then was the Fox ready
if he had four strong shoes

now hear how he
did for to get these shoes

he said to the Queen

madame
I am your pilgrim
here is my uncle
sir Isegrym
that has iiij. strong shoes
which were good for me
if he would let me have 
two of them
I would on the way busily
think on your soul
for it is right 
that a pilgrim should always
think and pray for them
that do him good
thus may ye do your soul good
if ye will
and also
if ye might get of my aunt
dame Eerswyn
also two of her shoes to give to me
she may well do it
for she goes but little out
but abides always at home

said the Queen

then Reynard
you behove well such shoes
ye may not be without them
they shall be good for you
to keep your feet whole 
for to pass with them
many a sharp mountain
and stony rocks
ye may find no better shoes for you
than such as Ysegrym and his wife 
have and wear
they be good and strong
though it should touch their life
each of them shall give you two shoes
for to accomplish with your high pilgrimage

Capitulo xix. How Ysegrym and his wife Ereswyn must suffer her shoes to be plucked out, and how Reynard did on the shoes for to go to Rome with.

Thus has this false pilgrim
gotten from Ysegrym
ij. shoes from his feet
which were peeled back 
from the claws to the sinews
ye saw never so foul
that men roasted lay so still
as Ysegrym did
when his soles were stripped
he stirred not
and yet his feet bled
then whenYsegrym was unshoed
then must dame Eerswyn
his wife
lie down in the grass
with a heavy cheer
and she lost there her hinder soles

then was the Fox glad
and said to his aunt
in scorn

my dear aunt
how much sorrow
have you suffered for my sake
which me sore repents
save this hereof I am glad
for ye be the strongest in faith
of all my kin
therefore I will gladly
wear your shoes
ye shall be partner of my pilgrimage
and a portion of the pardon
I shall with your shoes
fetch over the sea

dame Eerswyn was so distressed
she hardly might speak
nevertheless
this she said

a Reynard
ye now all thus have your will
I pray God wreak vengeance!
Ysegrym and his fellow the Bear
held their peace and were all still
they were evil at ease
for they were bound and sore wounded
had Tybert the Cat been there
he should also somewhat have suffered
in suchwise as he should not escape thence
without hurt and shame

the next day
when the sun arose
Reynard then did grease his shoes
which he had from Ysegrym and Eerswyn his wife
and laced them on
bound them to his feet
and went to the King and to the Queen
and said to them with a glad cheer

noble lord and lady
God give you good morrow!
and I desire of your grace
that I may have pouch and staff blessed
as belongs to a pilgrim

then the King anon
sent for Bellyn the Ram
and when he came 
he said

sir Bellyn
ye shall do mass before Reynard
for he shall go on pilgrimage
and give to him pouch and staff

answered again the Ram
and said

my lord
I dare not do that
for he has said
he is under the Pope's curse

the King said

what thereof?
master Gelys has said to us
if a man has done as many sins
as all the world
and he would those sins forsake
shrive them and receive penance
and do by the priest's counsel
God will forgive them
and be merciful unto him
now will Reynard go over the sea
into the Holy Land
and make him clear of all his sins

then answered Bellyn 
to the King

I will not do little nor much herein
but if ye save me harmless in the spiritual court
before the bishop Prendelor
and before his archdeacon Loosuynde
and before sir Rapiamus
his official

the King began to wax wroth 
and said

I shall not bide you
so much pray you for it

when the Ram saw the King was angry
he was so sore afraid
that he quaked for fear
and went to the altar
and sang in his books
and read such as him thought good
over Reynard
which little set thereby
save that he would have the worship thereof

when Bellyn the Ram had all said his service devoutly
then he hung on the Fox's neck 
a pouch covered with the skin of Bruyn the Bear
and a little staff thereby
then was Reynard ready for his journey

then looked he toward the King
as he been sorrowful to depart
and feigned as he had wept
right as he had sorrowed in his heart
but if he had any sorrow
it was by cause 
all the others that were there
were not in the same plight
as the Wolf and Bear
were brought to by him
nevertheless he stood
and prayed them all to pray for him
like as he would pray for them
the Fox thought that he tarried long
and would fain have departed
for he knew himself guilty

the King said

Reynard
I am sorry ye be so hasty
and will not longer tarry

said Reynard

nay my lord
it is time
for we ought not spare to do well
I pray you give me leave to depart
I must do my pilgrimage

the King said

God be with you!

and commanded all them of the court to go
and convey Reynard on his way
save the Wolf and Bear
which fast lay bound
there was none that dared be sorry therefore
and if ye had seen Reynard how personably
he went with his pouch and staff on his shoulder
and the shoes on his feet
ye should have laughed
he went and showed him outward wisely
but he laughed in his heart
that all they brought him forth
which had a little before with him so wroth
and also the King
which so much hated him
he had made him such a fool
that he brought him to his own entente
he was a pilgrim of deux ace

said the Fox

my lord the King
I pray you to return again
I will not that ye go any further with me
ye might have harm thereby
ye have there two murderers arrested
if they escaped you
ye might be hurt by them
I pray God keep you from misadventure

with these words
he stood up on his afterfeet
and prayed all the beasts
great and small
that would be partners to his pardon
that they should pray for him
they said that they all would remember him

then departed he from the King so heavily
that many of them wept

then said he
to Cywart the Hare and to Bellyn the Ram
merrily

dear friends
shall we now depart?
ye will
and God will
accompany me further
ye two made me never angry
ye be good for to walk with
courteous, friendly
and not complained about by any beast
ye be of good conditions
and spiritual of your living
ye live both as I did
when I was a recluse
if ye have leaves and grass
ye be pleased
ye reach not for bread
for flesh
nor such manner meat

with such flattering words
has Reynard these two flattered
that they went with him til they came
before his house 
Maleperduys