There is none stands so surely, but otherwhile falls or slides.

 

Capitulo xxix. How Dame Rukenawe answered for the Fox to the King.

Dame Rukenawe
the She-Ape
Reynard's aunt
was not well pleased
she was great with the Queen
and well beloved
it happed well for the Fox
that she was there
for she understood all wisdom
and she dared well speak
whenever it need be said
wherever she came 
every each was glad of her

she said

my Lord the King
ye ought not be angry
when ye sit in judgement
for that becomes not your noblesse
a man that sits in judgement
ought to put from him all wrath and anger
a lord ought to have discretion
who sits in justice
I know better the points of law
than some who wear furred gowns
for I have learned many of them
and was made cunning in the law
I had in the Pope's palace of Woerden
a good bed of hay
where other beasts lay on the hard ground
and also when I was there
I was suffered to speak
and was heard before another
because I know so well the law

Seneca writes 
a lord over all does right and law
he charges none whom he has given his safeguard
above the right and law
the law ought not halt for no man
and every man that stands here
would well bethink him 
what he has done and bedriven
in his days
he should the better
have patience and pity
on Reynard

let every man 
know himself
that is my counsel
there is none stands so surely
but otherwhile falls or slides
who never misdid nor sinned
is holy and good
and has no need to amend him
when a man does amiss
and then by counsel amends it
that is humanely 
and so ought he to do
but always to misdo and trespass
and not to amend him
that is evil
and a devilish life

mark then what is written in the gospel
estote misericordes
be ye merciful
yet stands there more
nolite iudicare
et non iudicabimini
damn ye no man
and ye shall not be damned
there stands also
how the Pharisees 
brought a woman taken in adultery
and would have stoned her to death
they asked out Lord
what he said thereto
he said
who of you all is without sin
let him cast the first stone
then abode no man
but left her there standing

methinks it is so here

there be many 
that see a straw in another's eye
that cannot see a balk in his own
there be many that damn others
and himself is worst of all
though one fall oft
and at last arise up and come to mercy
he is not thereof damned
God receives all them that desire his mercy
let no man condemn another
though they wist he has done amiss
yet let them see their own defaults
and then may they themselves correct first
and then Reynard my cousin
should not fare the worst
for his father and his grandfather
have always been in more love and reputation 
in this court
than Isegrym the Wolf or Bruyn the Bear
wwith all their friends and lineage
it has been here before an unlike comparision
the wisdom of Reynard my cousin
and the honour and worship of him
that he has done and the counsel of them
for they know not how the world goes
these false shrews
flatterers and deceivers
arise and wax great 
by the lords
and be enhanced
and the good
true and wise put down
for they have denounced in council truly
and for the honour of the King
I cannot see how this may stand long

then said the King

Dame
if he had done to you such trespass
as he has done to others
it should repent you
is it wonder I hate him?
he breaks always my safeguard
have ye not heard the complaints
here have been showed of him
of murder
of theft and of treason?
have ye such trust in him?
think ye he is thus good and clear
then set him up on the altar 
and worship and pray to him as to a saint
but there is none in all the world
can say any good of him
ye may say much for him
but in the end ye shall find him all nought
he has neither kin nor comrade
no friend who will enterprise to help him
he has so deserved
I have great marvel of you
I heard never of none
that has fellowshipped with him
who ever thanked him
or said any good of him
save you now
but always he has struck them with his tail

the She-Ape answered
and said

my Lord
I love him
and have him in great charity
and also I know a good deed
that he once in your presence did
whereof ye could him great thank
though now it be thus turned
yet shall the heviest weigh most
a man shall love his friend by measure
and not his enemy hate overmuch
steadfastness and constance is fitting
and behoves the lords
howsoever the world turns
men ought not praise too much the day
til evening be come
good counsel is good for him
that will do thereafter

Capitulo xxx. A parable of a man who delivered a serpent from peril of death.

Now two year past
came a man and a serpent
into this court
for to have judgement
which was to you and yours right doubtful

the serpent stood in a hedge
where as he supposed to go through
but he was caught in a snare by the neck
that he might not escape without help
but should have lost his life there
the man came forth by
and the serpent called to him
and cried
and prayed the man
he would help him out of the snare
or else he must there die

the man had pity on him
and said

if thou promise me 
thou will not envenom me
nor do me neither harm nor hurt
I shall help thee out of this peril
the serpent was ready
and swore a great oath
that he now nor never 
do him harm nor hurt
then he unloosed him
and delivered him out of the snare
and went forth together a good while
that the serpent had great hunger
for he had not eaten a great while before
and started after the man
and would have slain him
the man started away
and was afraid
and said

will thou now slay me?
have thou forgotten the oath
thou made me
that thou should noy misdo nor hurt me?

the serpent answered

I may do as I do
for all the world to see
the need of hunger 
may cause a man to break his oath

the man said

if it may be not better
give me so long respite 
til we meet and find 
who may judge the matter by right

the serpent granted thereto

thus they went together 
they found Tyselyn the Raven
and Slyndpere his son
and outlined their suit
Tyseln the Raven judged anon
he should eat the man
he would fain have eaten
for his part
and his son also

the seprent said
to the man

how is it now?
what think ye
have I not won?

the man said

how should a robber judge this?
he should avail thereby
and also he is alone
there must be two or three
at least
together
and that they understand the right and law
that done
let sentence be done
I am nevertheless
ill on enough

they agreed
and went forth both together
they found the Bear and the Wolf
to whom they told their matter
and they anon judged
the serpent should slay the man
for the need of hunger 
breaks oath always

the man was in great doubt and fear
the serpent came
cast his venom at him
but the man leapt away from him
in great pain
and said

ye do great wrong
that lie in the way to slay me
ye have no right thereto

the serpent said

is it not enough yet?
it has been twice judged

said the man

yea
by them wont to murder and robbery
all ever they swear and promise
they hold not
but I appeal this matter to the court
before our Lord the King
that thou may not foreask
and what judgement shall be given there
I shall obey and suffer
and never do the contrary

the Bear and the Wolf
said it should be so
and the serpent desired no better
they supposed if it come before you
it should go there as they would
I trust ye be well reminded hereof

came they all to the court before you
and the Wolf's two children came with their father
who were called Empty Belly and Never Full
because they would eat of the man
for they howled for great hunger
wherefore you commanded them 
to avoid your court

the man stood in great dread
and called upon your good grace
and told how the serpent 
would have taken his life from him
who had saved his life
and above his oath and promise
would devour him

the serpent answered

I have not trespassed
I commend me wholly to the King
for I did it to save my life
for need of life
one may break an oath and promise

my Lord
that time were ye and all your counsel
herewith oppressed
for your Noble Grace 
saw the great sorrow of the man
ye would not the man
for his gentleness and kindness
be judged to death
and on that other
since hunger and need to save life
seeks narrowly to be helped
there was none in all the court
could not know the right thereof
there were some would fain the man be helped
I see them here standing
I wote well they said they could not end this matter

then commanded ye
Reynard my nephew
come and say his advise in this matter
that time was he above all others believed
and heard in the court
and ye bade him give according to the best right
and we all shall follow him
for he knew the ground of the law

Reynard said

it is not possible to give a true sentence
after their words
for in here saying be oft lying
but and if I might see the serpent
in the same peril and need he was in
when the man loosed him and unbound
then wist I well what I should say
and who would do otherwise
he should misdo against right

then said ye
my Lord

Reynard
that is well said
we all accord hereto
for no man can say better

then went the man and the serpent
into the place where he found the serpent
Reynard bade the serpent
be set in the snare
in likewise he was
and it was done

then said ye
my Lord

Reynard
how thinks you now?
what judgement shall we give?

said Reynard the Fox

my Lord
now be they both like
as they were before
they have neither won nor lost
see 
my Lord
how I judge for a right
as far as it shall please your Noble Grace
if the man will now loose and unbind the serpent
upon the promise and oath he before made him
he may well do it
but if he think he for anything
should be encumbered or hindered by the serpent
or for need of hunger would break his oath and promise
and let the serpent abide still bound
like as he might have done at the beginning
for he would have broken his oath and promise
whereas he helped him out of such fearful peril
thus think me a rightful judgement
the man shall have his free choice
like as he before had

lo 
my Lord
this judgement thought you good
and all your council
which at that time were by you
and followed the same
and praised Reynard's wisdom
that he had set the man free
thus the Fox wisely kept 
your noble honour and worship
as a true servant is bound to do his lord
where has the Bear or the Wolf
done ever to you so much worship?
they howl and set ablaze
steal and rob
and eat fat morsels
and fill their bellies
and then judge they for right and law
that small thieves who steal hens and chickens
should be hanged
but they themselves steal cattle
oxen and horses
they shall go free
and be lords
and seem as though they were wiser than Solomon
Avicenna or Aristotle
and each will hold himself proud
and praised of great deeds and hardy
but they come on
and are then the first to flee
then must the simple go forth before
and they keep the rearward behind
och my Lord
these and other like to them
be not wise
but they destroy town and castle
land and people

they care not whose house burns
so they may warm them by the coals

they seek all their own avail
and singular profit
but Reynard the Fox
and all his friends and lineage
sorrow and think to prefer
the honour and worship
the property and profit
of their lord
and for wise counsel
which oft more profits here
than pride and boast
this does Reynard
though he has no thanks
at long
it shall be well known
who is best
and does most profit
my Lord
ye say his kin and lineage
draw all afterward from him
and stand not by him
for his falsehood 
and deceivable
and subtle touches
I would another had said
that there shoud then such wrack
be taken thereof
that him might growl 
that ever he saw him
but my Lord
we will forbear you
ye may say your pleasure
and also I say it not by you
were there any that would bedrive
anything against you
with words or with works
him would we so do too
that men should say we had been there
there as fighting is
we be not wont to be afraid

my Lord
by your leave
I may well give you knowledge
of Reynard's friends and kin
there be many of them
that for his sake and love
will venture life and goods
I know myself for one
I am a wife
I should
if he had need
set my life and goods for him
alsi I have three full waxen children
who be hardy and strong
whom I would all together venture 
for his love
rather than I should see him destroyed
yet had I sooner die
than I saw them miscarry before my eyes
so well love I him