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The Fox laughed to himself.

 


The Fox said

my lord the King
and noble lady the Queen
God reward you
this great worship ye do to me
I shall think and also thank you for it
in suchwise ye shall be 
the richest King in the world
for there  is none living under the Sun
that I vouchsafe better my treasure on
than on you both

then took the Fox up a straw
and proffered it to the King
and said

my most dear lord
please it you to receive here
the rich treasure
which King Ermeryk had
for I give it unto you
with a free will
and acknowledge it openly

the King received the straw
and threw it merrily from him
with a joyous visage
and thanked much the Fox

the Fox laughed to himself

the King
then hearkened after the counsel
of the Fox
and all that there were
were at his wile

my lord

said he

hearken
and mark well my words
in the west side of Flanders
there stands a wood
and is named Hulsterlo
and a water
that is called Kerekenpyt
lies nearby
this is so great a wilderness
that oft in a whole year
man nor wife come therein
save they that will
and they will not reveal it
there lies this treasure hid
understand well
that the place is called Krekenpyt
for I advise you for the least hurt
that ye and my lady
go both thither
for I know none so true
that I dare on your behalf trust
wherefore go yourself
and when you come to Krekenpyt
ye shall find there two birch trees
standing almost in the pit
my lord
to the birch trees shall ye go
there lies the treasure
in their roots
there must ye scrape
and dig away a little
the moss on the one side
there shall ye find 
many a jewel of gold and silver
and there shall ye find the crown
which King Ermeryk wore in his day
that should Bruyn the Bear have worn
if his will had gone forth
ye shall see many a costly jewel
with rich stones sett in gold work
which cost many a thousand mark
my lord the King
when ye now have all these goods
how oft shall ye say in your heart
and think
O, how true art thou 
Reynard the Fox
who by thy subtle wit
delved and hid here 
this great treasure
God give thee 
good hap and welfare
wherever thou be

the King said

sir Reynard
ye must come
and help us dig up this treasure
I know not the way
I should never find it
I have heard oft named
Paris, London
Aachen and Cologne
as methinks
this treasure lies right
as ye mocked and japed
for ye name Krekenpyt
that is a feigned name

these words were not good 
to the Fox
and he said
in an angry mood

yea, my lord the King
ye be also night
that as from Rome to Maye
think ye I will lead you to Jordan?
nay, I shall bring you out from doubt
and show it you by good witness

he called loud

Cywart the Hare!
come here before the King!

the beasts saw
all thitherward
and wondered what
the King would

the Fox said
to the Hare

Cywart!
are ye cold?
how tremble ye 
and quake so?
be not afraid
and tell my lord
the King here
the truth
I charge you
by the faith and truth
ye owe him
and to my lady
the Queen
such a thing 
as I shall demand 
of you

Cywart said

I shall say the truth
though I should lose my neck therefore
I shall not lie
ye have charged me so sore
if I know it

said the Fox

then say
know ye not where Krekenpyt stands?
is that in your mind?

the Hare said

I know there well xij. years ago
why ask ye?
it stands in a wood named Hulsterlo
upon a warren in the wilderness
I have suffered there much sorrow
for hunger and for cold
ye more than I can tell
Pater Symonet the Friar
was wont to make there false money
wherewith he bore himself out
and all his fellowship
but that was before I had fellowship
with Ryn the Hound
who made me escape many a danger
as he could well tell if he were here
and that I never in my days
trespassed against the King
otherwise that I ought to do by right

Reynard said to him

go again to yonder fellowship
hear ye, Cywart
my lord the King
desires no more to know of you

the Hare turned
and went again to the place
he came from

the Fox said

my lord the King
is it true what I said?

said the King

yea, Reynard
forgive it me
I did evil 
when I believed you not
now Reynard
friend
find the way
ye go with us 
to the place and pit
where the treasure lies










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