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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28508-h.zip b/28508-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..398ec91 --- /dev/null +++ b/28508-h.zip diff --git a/28508-h/28508-h.htm b/28508-h/28508-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07d454e --- /dev/null +++ b/28508-h/28508-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2555 @@ + +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Comical Creatures from Wurtemberg</title> +<meta http-equiv = "Content-Type" content = "text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + +<style type = "text/css"> + +/* standard styles */ + +body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; color: inherit; +background-color: #FEA;} + +pre {color: #000; background-color: #FFF; padding: 1em;} +/* use with colored background or non-standard typesize */ + +div.page {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;} +div.promo {padding: .5em 1em 1em; border: 2px solid #986; +color: inherit; background-color: #FFF;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; +text-align: center;} +hr.mid {width: 40%;} +hr.tiny {width: 20%;} +hr.micro {width: 10%;} + +table.toc a {text-decoration: none;} +a:link {color: #642; background-color: inherit;} +a:visited {color: #A72; background-color: inherit;} + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; +font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; +margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 200%;} +h2 {font-size: 175%;} +h3 {font-size: 150%;} +div.maintext h3 {margin-top: 3em; line-height: 1.5em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +div.maintext h4 {margin-top: 2em;} +h5 {font-size: 100%;} +div.promo h5 {margin-top: 1em;} +h6 {font-size: 85%;} + +p {margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 0em; line-height: 1.2;} + +p.illustration {text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; +margin-bottom: 1em;} +p.caption {text-align: center; font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + +p.center {text-align: center;} + + +/* tables */ + +table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 1em; +margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit;} + +td {vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: .1em 1em .1em 0em;} +table.toc td {padding: .5em 1em;} + +td.number {text-align: right;} + +table.toc p {margin-top: 0em; margin-left: 2em; +text-indent: -2em; line-height: normal;} + + +/* text formatting */ + +.smallcaps {font-variant: small-caps;} +span.firstword {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.smaller {font-size: 88%;} +.smallest {font-size: 75%;} +h3 span.smaller {font-size: 75%;} +h3 span.smallest {font-size: 50%;} + + +/* my additions */ + +/* correction popup */ + +ins.correction {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: thin dotted red;} + +/* page number */ + +span.pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; right: 0; font-size: 88%; +font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: center; +text-indent: 0em;} +span.pagenum.illus:before {content: "[";} +span.pagenum.illus:after {content: "]";} + +/* Transcriber's Note */ + +div.mynote, div.endnote {margin: 2em 1em; padding: .5em 1em 1em; +border: 3px ridge #FCA; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 90%;} + +div.mynote {color: #000; background-color: #EDA;} +div.endnote {color: #000; background-color: #FFF;} + +div.mynote a {text-decoration: none;} + + +</style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Comical Creatures from Wurtemberg, by Unknown + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Comical Creatures from Wurtemberg + Second Edition + +Author: Unknown + +Contributor: Hermann Ploucquet + +Release Date: April 6, 2009 [EBook #28508] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMICAL CREATURES FROM WURTEMBERG *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +University of Florida, The Internet Archive/Children's +Library) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class = "mynote"> +<p><a name = "start" id = "start">This text</a> uses UTF-8 (Unicode) +file encoding. If the apostrophes and quotation marks in this paragraph +appear as garbage, you may have an incompatible browser or unavailable +fonts. First, make sure that your browser’s “character set” or “file +encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change the +default font.</p> + +<p>The frontispiece spanned two pages. The gap represents the gutter, +with size derived from the visible caption.</p> +</div> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/cover.jpg" width = "494" height = "648" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<div class = "page"> +<a name = "page1" id = "page1"> </a> + +<h5>THE</h5> + +<h1>COMICAL CREATURES</h1> + +<h6>FROM</h6> + +<h3>WURTEMBERG.</h3> + +</div> + +<div class = "promo"> +<!-- pg 2 --> + +<h5><i>From the</i> <span class = "smallcaps">Examiner</span>, +<i>August</i> 2<i>d</i>.</h5> + +<p>“The title-page of this agreeable little volume sufficiently commends +its pleasant contents. To whom, old or young, will it not be welcome? +Who has not, young or old, seen, laughed at, revisited, and brought +away, pleasant recollections of the Stuffed Animals from the +Zollverein?</p> + +<p>“It was a good notion, that of perpetuating these clever productions +by means of daguerreotype and wood-engraving. They are very nicely +executed in this volume, and wonderfully like. It is needless to +particularise where all is so graphic and faithful; but let the studious +little rabbit over his arithmetic lesson at p. 32, with that demure +conscience-<ins class = "correction" title = "text unchanged">striken</ins> +pair behind him wincing at the flogging of their idle brother, be +especially admired.</p> + +<p>“We must add that the letterpress is not unworthy of the humour and +fidelity of the illustrations. The various Weasels, Rabbits, and Foxes, +are brought into one little tale; the Wonderful Hare-Hunt into another; +the Tea-Party of Kittens, and the Marten and Tabby, into a third; the +Duel of the Dormice, and the Frogs, form two separate and ingenious +anecdotes; and the story of Reynard the Fox is quaintly related in prose +so far as was necessary to explain the six comical groups of +Ploucquet.</p> + +<p>“We predict a great run at Christmas for the <i>Comical Creatures +from Wurtemberg</i>.”</p> + + +<h5><i>From the</i> <span class = "smallcaps">Morning Chronicle</span>, +<i>August</i> 12<i>th</i>.</h5> + +<p>“The book is a clever and a pleasant memento of the Great Exhibition. +The drawings are careful and clever, and convey a very correct +representation of the original creatures, with all, or nearly all, their +subtlety of expression and aspect. The capital fatuity of the Rabbits +and Hares, the delightful scoundrelism of the Fox, the cunning +shrewdness of the Marten and Weasels, the hoyden visages of the Kittens, +and the cool, slippery demeanour of the Frogs, are all capitally given. +The book may lie on the drawing-room table, or be thumbed in the +nursery; and in the latter case we have little doubt that many an urchin +still in petticoats will in future years associate his most vivid +recollection of the Great Exhibition of 1851 with Mr. Bogue’s +perpetuation of the <i>Comical Creatures from Wurtemberg</i>.”</p> + +</div> +<!-- blank page 3 --> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">4</span> +<a name = "page4" id = "page4"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/frontis_thumb.jpg" width = "542" height = "314" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +THE WONDERFUL HARE-HUNT.</p> + +<!-- blank page 6 --> + +<div class = "page"> + +<span class = "pagenum">7</span> +<a name = "page7" id = "page7"> </a> + +<h5>THE</h5> + +<h1>COMICAL CREATURES</h1> + +<h6>FROM</h6> + +<h2>WURTEMBERG,</h2> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><b>Including the Story of Reynard the Fox.</b></h3> + +<p> </p> + +<h4>WITH TWENTY ILLUSTRATIONS,</h4> + +<h5>DRAWN FROM THE STUFFED ANIMALS CONTRIBUTED BY<br> +HERRMANN PLOUCQUET OF STUTTGART<br> +TO THE GREAT EXHIBITION.</h5> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><b>Second Edition.</b></h4> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>LONDON:</h5> + +<h4>DAVID BOGUE, FLEET STREET.</h4> + +<h5>1851.</h5> + +</div> + +<div class = "maintext"> +<!-- blank page 8 --> +<span class = "pagenum">9</span> +<a name = "page9" id = "page9"> </a> + +<h3><a name = "preface" id = "preface">PREFACE.</a></h3> + +<hr class = "micro"> + +<p><span class = "firstword">To</span> <span class = +"smallcaps">Herrmann Ploucquet</span>, Preserver of Objects of Natural +History at the Royal Museum of Stuttgart,—the capital of the +kingdom of Wurtemberg,—we are indebted for one of the cleverest +and most popular displays in the <span class = "smallcaps">Great +Exhibition</span>. Every one, from her Majesty the Queen down to the +least of the charity-boys, hastens to see the Stuffed Animals from the +Zollverein; every one lingers over them and laughs at them as long as +the crowd will allow; and every one talks of them afterwards with a +smile and a pleasing recollection.</p> + +<p>That these clever productions of Ploucquet’s talent may be long +perpetuated, we have had daguerreotypes of them taken by Mr. Claudet, +and engravings made from them on wood as faithfully like as +possible.</p> + +<p>We must beg our readers to remember that, excepting “Reynard the +Fox,” our sketches have been written to illustrate the drawings, for on +this plea we claim some indulgence; but as we know full well that the +pictures will be the main attraction of the volume, we are not +apprehensive of much criticism.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">10</span> +<a name = "page10" id = "page10"> </a> +<p>The story of “Reynard the Fox” is told briefly in the words of an old +version of this wonderful tale published in England many years ago. In +Germany <i>Reinecke Fuchs</i> is as popular as our “Jack the +Giant-Killer.” Carlyle says, “Among the people it was long a house-book +and universal best companion; it has been lectured on in Universities, +quoted in imperial Council-halls; it lay on the toilets of princes, and +was thumbed to pieces on the bench of the artisan: we hear of grave men +ranking it next to their Bible.”</p> + +<p>Goethe took the story of “Reynard” for the subject of a great poem; +and the famous painter Kaulbach has recently illustrated Goethe’s +version with perhaps the finest series of pictures with which a book was +ever adorned.</p> + +<p>Herrmann Ploucquet has had the good taste to select six of these +designs as models for his works. He has admirably preserved the +expression which the painter gave to the Fox and his dupes, and every +one recognises them with pleasure.</p> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + + +<span class = "pagenum">11</span> +<a name = "page11" id = "page11"> </a> + +<h3><a name = "contents" id = "contents">CONTENTS.</a></h3> + +<hr class = "micro"> + +<table class = "toc" summary = "contents"> +<tr> +<td></td> +<td class = "number smallest">PAGE</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Weasels of Holm-Wood</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#weasels">15</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Wonderful Hare-Hunt</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#harehunt">40</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Duel of the Dormice</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#dormice">45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Six Kittens</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#kittens">49</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Frogs who would a-wooing go</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#frogs">59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Story of Reynard the Fox</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#reynard">63</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<span class = "pagenum">12</span> +<a name = "page12" id = "page12"> </a> +<h3><a name = "illus" id = "illus">ILLUSTRATIONS.</a></h3> + +<hr class = "micro"> + +<table class = "toc" summary = "list of illustrations"> +<tr> +<td><span class = "smallcaps">The Wonderful Hare-Hunt</span> (Double +Plate)</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page4"><i>Frontispiece.</i></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Dame Weasel and her Family</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page14">14</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Attentive Physician</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page17">17</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The <i>very</i> attentive Physician</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page21">21</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Old Marten and Sharp Weasel, Esq.</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page25">25</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Mr. Bantam’s Interview with Old Marten</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page29">29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Longtail teaching the young Rabbits +Arithmetic</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page33">33</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Jack Hare and Grace Marten leading off the +Ball</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page37">37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Duel of the Dormice</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page44">44</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Kittens at Tea—Miss Paulina +singing</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page48">48</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Ensign Squeaker and Miss Rose</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page51">51</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Young Marten bidding farewell to Miss +Paulina</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page55">55</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">The Frogs who would a-wooing go</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page58">58</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Reynard at Home at Malepardus</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page62">62</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Reynard in the likeness of a Hermit</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page65">65</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Sir Tibert delivering the King’s Message</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page71">71</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Reynard brings forward the Hare as his +Witness</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page81">81</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Reynard on his Pilgrimage to Rome</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page85">85</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "smallcaps">Reynard attacketh Laprell the Rabbit</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page91">91</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<!-- blank page 13 --> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">14</span> +<a name = "page14" id = "page14"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg14.jpg" width = "447" height = "601" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +DAME WEASEL AND HER CHILDREN.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">15</span> +<a name = "page15" id = "page15"> </a> + +<h3><a name = "weasels" id = "weasels"><span class = "smallest"> +THE</span></a><br> +WEASELS OF HOLM-WOOD.</h3> + +<hr class = "micro"> + +<h4><a name = "weasels_1" id = "weasels_1">CHAPTER I.</a></h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> a pleasant country where green +meadows lay stretched by the side of a broad river whose banks were +lined with the pollard-willow and tall poplar, there once dwelt a family +of Weasels, known, from their place of residence, as the Weasels of +Holm-wood.</p> + +<p>Holm-wood was a little island covered with underwood, rushes, and +wild flowers. A few aged trees stood by its edge, bathing their +long arms in the stream, and in the hollow trunk of one of these the +Weasels lived.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">16</span> +<a name = "page16" id = "page16"> </a> +<p>Any fine morning you might have seen the mother of this family +carrying her infant in her arms, and followed by her other children, +a girl and two boys, who would amuse themselves by dragging little +wooden horses, playing at soldiers with mock muskets, running against +the wind with little whirligig mills, or frolicking about with a +thousand of the antics of children. Their father, known every where as +Old Weasel, was of a most resolute and unbending disposition; he made +many enemies, and was ever at war with one or other of his neighbours. +The Partridges of Clover-field asserted that he sucked their eggs and +stole their young ones; the Rabbits of the Warren held Old Weasel and +all his family in the deepest abhorrence, and accused them of the +greatest cruelties; but no one complained of them more bitterly than +Dame Partlett of the Farm, who accused the whole tribe of being born +enemies of her race, and said, that were it not that Old Weasel himself +was dreadfully afraid of her neighbour and friend, young Mastiff of +Kennel-wood, she verily believed that she should never know any peace on +earth.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">17</span> +<a name = "page17" id = "page17"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg17.jpg" width = "455" height = "596" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +THE ATTENTIVE PHYSICIAN.</p> + +<!-- blank page 18 --> + +<p>All the world will understand how, with such a character, the Weasels +had but few friends, and that when Miss Weasel grew to be of age, she +should have but few admirers; nevertheless two or three families who +were related to them by blood kept up an occasional acquaintance, and +among them the Ferrets of Hollow-oak were the most intimate. Now it so +happened that one evening, +<span class = "pagenum">19</span> +<a name = "page19" id = "page19"> </a> +when out for a ramble in the woods, a branch of a tree on which +Miss Weasel had mounted in order to get nearer to young Linnet, with +whom she wished to be on intimate terms, broke suddenly off, and the +poor young lady was precipitated to the ground and sadly hurt. Her cries +brought to her assistance her younger brother Tom, who, as soon as he +had helped her home, ran for young Ferret, who had lately begun practice +as a physician. When the good young doctor came, he found Miss Weasel +lying on the sofa, looking very pale and very interesting. He felt her +pulse, looked at her tongue, and soon discovered that the lady was more +frightened than hurt. However, as he had not many patients, he did not +choose to tell all the truth, but prescribing a simple remedy, he +ordered her to keep very quiet, and promised to call again on the next +day. Whether it was that Miss Weasel had been hurt more than her +physician had thought, or whether there were any other inducements, we +cannot say; but young Ferret thought it his duty to call at Holm-wood +every morning, and sometimes twice a day, for at least a month: and if +any one could have seen how frequently he felt Miss Weasel’s pulse, and +how anxiously he studied every expression of her face, he would have set +down Dr. Ferret as a very attentive at least, if not excellent +physician.</p> + +<p>When Miss Weasel became somewhat stronger, this good +<span class = "pagenum">20</span> +<a name = "page20" id = "page20"> </a> +young man would lend his arm for her support during an evening walk, +would bring her birds’ eggs and other delicacies, and in many ways +endeavour to contribute to her restoration to health.</p> + +<p>This went on for some time, till the gossips of the neighbouring +village would smile whenever they saw the doctor wending his way towards +Holm-wood; and Miss Weasel’s two brothers would immediately leave their +lessons, which their sister used to teach them, as soon as ever the +physician appeared in sight.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum illus">21</span> +<a name = "page21" id = "page21"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg21.jpg" width = "456" height = "549" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +THE <i>VERY</i> ATTENTIVE PHYSICIAN.</p> + +<!-- blank page 22 --> + +<span class = "pagenum">23</span> +<a name = "page23" id = "page23"> </a> + +<h4><a name = "weasels_2" id = "weasels_2">CHAPTER II.</a></h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword">The</span> other relations of the Weasels +who were on visiting terms with them were, the Polecats of The Grange, +who came but seldom, and the Martens of Forest-farm, with whom they were +more intimate. Now old Mr. Marten had always intended that his own son +Longtail, who kept a boarding-school for boys near the Warren, should +marry Miss Weasel; and when he heard of the physician’s great attentions +to that young lady, he was very wroth. At first he thought of way-laying +young Ferret in the wood and killing him; but then he recollected that +the Ferrets were a powerful family, who would never rest till they had +been revenged. His next thought was to go to his attorney, Sharp Weasel, +Esq., of Nettle Cottage, and consult with him as to the best means of +thwarting young Ferret’s projects. So the old man took down his pipe and +his account-book, and set off to the attorney.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">24</span> +<a name = "page24" id = "page24"> </a> +<p>Mr. Sharp Weasel was well pleased to see so excellent a client as old +Mr. Marten, and received him with many smiles. The two quickly laid down +a plan of proceedings, and Mr. Marten produced his account-book, and +proved that young Ferret owed him for the following goods sold and +delivered, viz. one young rabbit; item, one wood-pigeon; item, one brace +of partridges; item, one cock-pheasant; item, one duckling; item, one +fat gosling.</p> + +<p>For this account young Ferret was next day summoned before Judge Fox, +who, after hearing the case, immediately gave judgment in favour of +plaintiff; and as young Ferret had not sufficient funds to meet this +unexpected demand, he was forthwith arrested and sent to prison.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Marten chuckled and was well pleased at the success of his +stratagem, and was on his way to his son Longtail to tell him of what he +considered the good news, when he met Mr. Bantam of Holm-farm, searching +for his wife and daughters, who had wandered for a walk. Bantam, it was +evident, did not particularly wish for this meeting, for his comb grew +very red, and he strutted off at a quick pace in an opposite direction; +but old Marten ran through some bushes, and caught him just as he was +getting clear of the wood.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">25</span> +<a name = "page25" id = "page25"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg25.jpg" width = "449" height = "580" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +OLD MARTEN AND SHARP WEASEL, ESQ.</p> + +<!-- blank page 26 --> + +<span class = "pagenum">27</span> +<a name = "page27" id = "page27"> </a> +<p>“Good morning, Mr. Bantam,” said he.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, sir,” said Bantam, shaking in every feather.</p> + +<p>“I want you to do me a service, Bantam,” continued old Marten; “but +you must not say one word of what I am going to tell you.”</p> + +<p>Bantam promised this, as indeed he would have any thing else.</p> + +<p>“You must go to Old Weasel of Holm-wood,” whispered Marten, laying +his forepaws on Bantam’s breast to hold him near him, “and find his +daughter. Tell her that young Ferret is a scapegrace and a +good-for-nothing fellow, and that Judge Fox has sent him to prison. Then +tell her that I am very rich, and that my son Longtail is making a +handsome fortune by his school. This is a delicate matter, Bantam: if +you manage cleverly, I will be your friend through life; if you +betray me, mark this.” And the old man clapped his paw on the cutlass he +usually wore by his side.</p> + +<p>Bantam, glad to get out of his clutches on any terms, promised the +strictest compliance, and flew rather than ran back to his farmyard as +soon as he was released. There the first person he saw was his wife, who +had returned, and was wondering what had +<span class = "pagenum">28</span> +<a name = "page28" id = "page28"> </a> +become of him. To her, of course, he told all his strange adventure, and +she, silly thing, went immediately and cackled the whole story to Dame +Goose; who told it to one of the young Goslings, who told it to old Mr. +Drake; he quacked it about so loudly that his wife and children soon +learned it; and in ten minutes there was not one in all Holm-farm who +did not know of this wonderful adventure. As for performing his promise, +we must do Mr. Bantam the credit of saying he never for a moment thought +of being such a silly, for he well knew that the day which saw him enter +Old Weasel’s house would be his last.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum illus">29</span> +<a name = "page29" id = "page29"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg29.jpg" width = "458" height = "594" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +MR. BANTAM’S INTERVIEW WITH OLD MARTEN.</p> + +<!-- blank page 28 --> + +<span class = "pagenum">31</span> +<a name = "page31" id = "page31"> </a> + +<h4><a name = "weasels_3" id = "weasels_3">CHAPTER III.</a></h4> + +<p><span class = "firstword">After</span> old Marten had let Bantam go, +he himself went straight to his son, whom he found engaged in his +professional pursuits. At the moment of his father’s entry, young +Longtail was hearing a class of the young Rabbits, on one of whom he was +inflicting summary chastisement for great neglect and carelessness in +his arithmetic. The poor young fellow was squeaking terribly, and his +three brothers, with tears in their eyes, were trying with all their +might to cast up their sums on their slates, which shook so in their +hands that they could scarce see the figures. Their master left off the +beating when he saw his father, and consequently young Rabbit, for the +first and perhaps only time in his life, was very glad to see the old +man. The class was dismissed; and if you had seen these four youngsters +scamper off, shaking their white tails and jumping half a yard high as +they ran to the +<span class = "pagenum">32</span> +<a name = "page32" id = "page32"> </a> +Warren, you would have thought it was a good thing to have the +light-heartedness of children.</p> + +<p>The Martens, father and son, retired up an oak-tree, at the old man’s +request, to talk over their private affairs. When the son heard of his +father’s plans, and how young Ferret had been arrested, he was struck +dumb with amazement. He had never dreamed that his father would +interfere in such a matter; and if the truth must be told, he was +already engaged to Miss Pussy, the eldest daughter of old Mrs. Hare of +the Ferns.</p> + +<p>However, he knew better than to contradict his father’s intentions +too suddenly, for he felt assured that the old man would cut him off +with a shilling if he were to offend him; so he pretended to acquiesce +in all that was said, and promised compliance in every particular.</p> + +<p>But as soon as his father had bidden him farewell, and had got out of +sight, young Longtail ran as fast as his legs would carry him to the +cavern where the doctor was imprisoned, paid the amount of the debt for +which he had been arrested, and took young Ferret home with him to +consult about their future conduct.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">33</span> +<a name = "page33" id = "page33"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg33.jpg" width = "446" height = "571" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +LONGTAIL TEACHING THE YOUNG RABBITS ARITHMETIC.</p> + +<!-- blank page 34 --> + +<p>It would have amused you, could you have heard all the plans +discussed by these young lovers for their joint benefit; how the +<span class = "pagenum">35</span> +<a name = "page35" id = "page35"> </a> +one talked of his darling Miss Weasel, and the other of his dear Miss +Pussy; how they agreed that in matters of love every thing was +allowable; and how they swore eternal friendship to each other +throughout their lives.</p> + +<p>Two days afterwards it was known all over Holm-wood that the fair +Miss Weasel had eloped with Longtail Marten. Mrs. Goose and the four +Miss Goslings were full of the information for every one they met. It +was the finest piece of scandal they had known for years. “Only think,” +said they, “after all her engagement to young Doctor Ferret, to go and +take up with the schoolmaster; and all, forsooth, because Old Marten is +rich!”</p> + +<p>But scarce had the first news of Miss Weasel’s extraordinary +behaviour run through the farm-yard, than old Bantam was seen hurrying +in, very red in the face from over exertion, and was heard to declare, +that he never knew the like of it, but as sure as he was a living cock, +he had met young Ferret the physician running away with Miss Pussy, the +daughter of old Mrs. Hare of the Ferns. Mrs. Goose turned up the whites +of her eyes and almost fainted. Dame Partlett ran with all speed, that +she might be the first to cackle the intelligence to Mr. Drake; and the +whole island was soon in a ferment at this wonderful piece of +gossip.</p> + +<p>Of course, old Mr. Marten soon heard of all this; and so +<span class = "pagenum">36</span> +<a name = "page36" id = "page36"> </a> +pleased was he that he immediately altered his will, doubling the amount +he had previously given to his dear boy Longtail, and getting so +extremely excited at the “Huntsman and Hounds” on the same afternoon, +that, sad to relate, he was untimely carried off by an effusion of +blood.</p> + +<p>And what think you became of the lovers? Why, the very day all this +commotion happened at Holm-wood the two pair met at their aunt’s, old +Mrs. Stoat’s, of Four-mile Cross, as they had agreed. There the young +fellows, overjoyed at the success of their scheme, changed their fair +partners, and, to complete their happiness, immediately set out for a +tour on the neighbouring Continent.</p> + +<p>There, on fine summer evenings, you might often have seen the doctor +and his beloved quietly strolling by wood-sides and along the banks of +the green meadows, listening intently to the warbling of the tender +birds they loved so much; while young Longtail Marten and his bride, +fonder of more boisterous excitement, devoted themselves to the +pleasures of the chase, scouring rapidly over hill and dale whenever +they heard the huntsman’s loud horn, or the hounds’ deeper notes; and +never so happy as when, after the sports of the day were done, they +finished up with a ball, and danced joyously till the next day’s +dawn.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">37</span> +<a name = "page37" id = "page37"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg37.jpg" width = "436" height = "553" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +JACK HARE AND GRACE MARTEN LEADING OFF THE BALL.</p> + +<!-- blank page 38 --> + +<span class = "pagenum">39</span> +<a name = "page39" id = "page39"> </a> +<p>As for the good folks at Holm-wood, as soon as Mrs. Hare discovered +that her daughter had run away, she sent for her eldest son, Jack Hare, +who lived in a farm close by, and asked him to pursue his sister and +bring her back; but Jack said she was quite old enough to know her own +mind, and that he would have nothing to do with it. When, however, the +old lady learned that her daughter was married to the rich young Marten, +and not to the poor physician, then she was greatly rejoiced, though she +confessed she could not make out why her dear child Pussy should run +away with the doctor and then marry the schoolmaster; but she supposed +it was all right.</p> + +<p>As for Jack, when he heard that old Mr. Marten had died, leaving +great riches behind him, he, to follow the fashion, fell in love with +Grace, the only daughter of the deceased, and only sister of Longtail. +Miss Grace listened favourably to Jack’s suit—for she was very +lonely now her father was dead, and her brother away; and as there was +no papa to consult in their case, they got married quietly at home, and +asked all their neighbours to a ball, when Jack Hare and Grace Marten +(that was) led off the polka in grand style, greatly to the admiration +of all the young folks in the island.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">40</span> +<a name = "page40" id = "page40"> </a> + +<h3><a name = "harehunt" id = "harehunt"> +THE WONDERFUL HARE-HUNT.</a></h3> + +<hr class = "micro"> + +<p><span class = "firstword">Merrily</span> sounded the cock’s shrill +horn, and brightly shone the early morning sun, when a party of young +sportsmen set out to the field, armed with their guns and game-bags. +Four beaters from the neighbouring village attended them, each with a +long stick to rout the hares and rabbits from their hiding-places. Gaily +went they forth, these merry sportsmen and their helpers; light was +their step across the green meadows and up the sandy hill-sides; loud +was their laughter when one of them, trying to jump through a broken +hedge, fell into the neighbouring ditch; great was their mirth when +another’s gun went off and lamed a squirrel in an adjoining tree; and +joyous was the shout with which they scared a frightened rabbit from its +morning meal.</p> + +<p>At last the sportsmen came to the side of a wood, and one of the +beaters reported that just round the corner of the palings he could see +nearly a dozen hares feeding together. A council of war was +summoned; each sportsman looked to the priming of his gun, +<span class = "pagenum">41</span> +<a name = "page41" id = "page41"> </a> +and trod with a more cautious step; each beater bent his head nearly to +the ground, and crept along the grass. A plan of attack was formed; +the beaters stole within the wood to stop the hares that way, while the +sportsmen suddenly appearing on the other side, caused the poor hares, +surrounded as they were, to run into the very jaws of destruction. They +that leaped towards the wood received blows on their heads from the +beaters; they that ran down the hill met Ponto the dog, who pounced on +them open-mouthed; and they that ran upwards were soon sent downwards +again, toppling head over heels, killed by the fire of the enemy. Not a +hare escaped. The gun-bearers took deadly aim, and Ponto and the beaters +prevented their flight.</p> + +<p>While the young sportsmen and their helpers were yet picking up the +hares and rejoicing at their good fortune, the sky became quickly +overcast, black clouds gathered, and a hurricane of wind swept through +the wood, tearing off large branches of the trees. The sportsmen stood +amazed at the suddenness of the storm, but presently their amazement was +changed to fear; for, riding in a bright chariot drawn by six snow-white +swans,—blown swiftly by the wind,—there appeared a lady of +fairy-like beauty. At her command the beautiful birds stayed their +flight, and the chariot rested on the green turf close by the +sportsmen.</p> + +<p>“Young men,” said the lady in a melodious but mournful +<span class = "pagenum">42</span> +<a name = "page42" id = "page42"> </a> +voice, as she pointed to the dead hares, “you have murdered these poor +innocents for your sport: know, I am the fairy called <span class = +"smallcaps">Kindness</span>, and these hares were all of them my +friends. In punishment for your cruelty, you sportsmen shall be changed +into Martens, and you attendants into Weasels. In such shapes you may +pursue your cruel sports; you are not worthy of the forms of men.” And, +waving her wand, the swans bore her instantly out of sight.</p> + +<p>They who live in this country say that every old Michaelmas-day, five +martens and four weasels, with long sticks, may still be seen hunting +hares near this wood; sometimes a dog’s bark is heard and a shrill +whistle, but if any of mankind appear in their sight, the creatures run +quickly away, and hide themselves in the wood.</p> + +<hr class = "tiny"> + + +<!-- blank page 43 --> +<span class = "pagenum illus">44</span> +<a name = "page44" id = "page44"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg44.jpg" width = "449" height = "584" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +THE DUEL OF THE DORMICE.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">45</span> +<a name = "page45" id = "page45"> </a> +<h3><a name = "dormice" id = "dormice">THE DUEL OF THE DORMICE.</a></h3> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Out</span> in the fields, in the hollow of +an old willow-tree, two Dormice slept the whole winter long. They +neither ate nor drank, nor did they so much as raise their heads from +their pillows during all this dreary time. A ray of sunshine, as +the sun passed right over their tree, would perhaps make one of them +stretch out his paws; but as soon as the gleam had passed and left them, +he would curl himself up all the closer in his nest, and go faster +asleep than ever.</p> + +<p>But the sun came one bright spring morning, and shone on the Dormice +so warmly, that they turned round in their bed, stretched their paws, +rubbed their eyes, yawned, and at last woke quite up.</p> + +<p>“It is summer-time at last,” said the elder Dormouse, as he took a +nut from his store of provisions and cracked it, “and we may now leave +our winter’s bed.” “I don’t believe it,” replied the younger. “The +wind blows cold; I shall go to sleep again.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, that’s like your laziness,” rejoined the elder; “sleep on; I’m +off to the wood.” And so saying, he scrambled up the tree, then down the +outside of the trunk, and so into the wide meadows.</p> + +<p>The younger Dormouse went to sleep. He slept for an hour, then he +woke again, and finding his companion gone, he turned to the food and +ate a hearty meal; then he slept again, but the sun had made his bed too +hot: so he presently woke and made another attack on the provisions; and +this he did the whole day long, until, at evening time, all the corn and +nuts which the two Dormice had so diligently collected in the autumn, +were gone. Soon the moon rose, and the young one curled himself for +sleep.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">46</span> +<a name = "page46" id = "page46"> </a> +<p>In the meantime the elder had wandered about the fields; but the +earth was wet, and no corn or fruit was ripe, so at night he returned to +his nest wet and hungry. He ran straight to the store-room for food; but +what was his surprise when he found nothing left but a few barley-corns! +His cries woke his companion, from whom he demanded the provisions; the +younger one muttered that he knew nothing about them, and pretended to +sleep; but the unfortunate adventurer, driven to desperation by hunger, +flew into a rage and struck the other with his claws: a fight +ensued, and the whole neighbourhood was alarmed at the outcry.</p> + +<p>Two Moles who were passing by the foot of the tree, hearing this +dreadful noise, called out to the combatants to stop. The Dormice +fearing it might be some of the Weasels who spoke, were silent +instantly, and then the Moles bade them come out.</p> + +<p>So the Dormice came down to the Moles; and when the Moles found that +the silly creatures were bent on their quarrel, they insisted that the +combat should be with swords. Moreover, they offered to play the part of +seconds, and to dig a grave for the vanquished.</p> + +<p>To all this the Dormice consented; the Moles found an old trap, and +from the iron parts they fashioned rude swords. These they measured, and +gave to the combatants; and then, with their long spades in their hands, +they awaited the issue of the affray. It was fierce and desperate. The +hungry one fought with fury, but he who had had a good feast was the +stronger and the calmer: at last the younger one drove his sword right +through the body of the elder; but the elder at the same moment clove +his opponent’s head asunder, and so they fell dead together. And the +Moles dug a deep hole, and buried both the Dormice in the same +grave.</p> + + +<!-- blank page 47 --> +<span class = "pagenum illus">48</span> +<a name = "page48" id = "page48"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg48.jpg" width = "595" height = "430" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +THE KITTENS AT TEA—MISS PAULINA SINGING.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">49</span> +<a name = "page49" id = "page49"> </a> + +<h3><a name = "kittens" id = "kittens"> +THE SIX KITTENS.</a></h3> + +<hr class = "micro"> + +<p><span class = "firstword">Once</span> upon a time a cat had six +kittens, whom she brought up in the most genteel manner. No one could +say that their education was in any wise neglected, for besides being +taught the ordinary duties of life by their mother, such as +mouse-hunting, fish-stealing, and bird-catching, they received +instructions in the arts of singing, and playing the harp and the piano, +and were taught to waltz and dance the polka with every imaginable +grace. Now when the kittens grew to be of age, it was their custom of an +afternoon to spend some hours at tea and intellectual talk. The youngest +always performed the duties of servant, while one of the elder ones +would entertain the rest by playing airs from the latest opera, or +singing a love-song, the music of which she had herself composed.</p> + +<p>It is true some animals who dwelt close by complained of this music, +and called it by all kinds of ill names; but that is ever the jealous +way of the world: and the kittens frequently performed serenades in +their garden by moonlight, when all who passed by would stay to listen +to their melody.</p> + +<p>But to our tale. It happened that, one fine summer’s afternoon, when +the kittens were all enjoying themselves at tea; when Paulina, the +eldest, was warbling some of her most delightful songs, and Violet, the +second, was entertaining the rest, in an under tone, with a little bit +of scandal about a neighbouring +<span class = "pagenum">50</span> +<a name = "page50" id = "page50"> </a> +Tabby, whom she had seen coming home in a sad condition about five +o’clock in the morning, when she, Miss Violet, was taking her early +walk;—just at this moment there sounded a tap at the door, and +presently in came Diana, the youngest sister, bearing in her hand more +cakes for tea, and in the plate with them a note addressed to Miss +Rose,—the next to Violet in age, and by most people considered the +beauty of the family. Violet took the letter eagerly from Diana; but +when she saw the address, she remarked that it was evidently a +gentleman’s handwriting, and tossing her head somewhat disdainfully, she +handed it to Miss Rose, who blushed very much, and retired with it to +the sofa. Rose opened the note with trembling paws, and a sweet smile +played on her features as she read its contents; then, carefully folding +it up, she observed to her sisters that it was merely an invitation for +a walk, and springing on to the back of the sofa, she jumped through the +open window, and retired to her own summer-house up a fine sycamore-tree +in the garden.</p> + +<p>This incident, as may be imagined, caused a great sensation among the +sisters; and all wondered very much who could have been the writer of +the note that had so evidently pleased Miss Rose. One hoped it was not +from that scapegrace Tom who lived at the Farm-yard; another feared it +might come from young Marten Sable of the Forest; and Violet demanded of +her youngest sister what sort of person it was who had brought the note. +Diana did not know, but believed it was a relation of old Mr. Weasel, +who belonged to the same farm that Tom did. This set them all guessing +again, for it was well known that Tom and Old Weasel did not speak to +each other: and in the end they were all just as wise as in the +beginning.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">51</span> +<a name = "page51" id = "page51"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg51.jpg" width = "421" height = "568" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +ENSIGN SQUEAKER AND MISS ROSE.</p> + +<!-- blank page 52 --> + +<span class = "pagenum">53</span> +<a name = "page53" id = "page53"> </a> +<p>About seven o’clock the same evening an attentive observer might have +noticed Miss Rose emerging from her door very quietly, and making the +best of her way to the green fields that bordered the sea-coast close +by. An ill-natured person would have said that Miss Rose had taken +especial pains with her toilet, and that she carried her parasol with a +lack-a-daisical air; but Rose herself, at her last peep in the glass, +had thought that she looked very nicely indeed; and so it would appear +thought Ensign Squeaker (of the Household Pigade), who, with his +regimental sword by his side, and his pocket telescope in his hand, +sauntered along the pathway, <i>merely</i> to enjoy the beauty of the +evening, and inhale the fresh breezes from the ocean. How it happened +that Young Squeaker and Miss Rose met at the corner of the cliff, just +as the village clock struck the half-past seven, no one knows; certain +only it is that they did meet; and that after the interchange of the +usual compliments, Miss Rose accepted Mr. Squeaker’s proffered arm, and +that the pair wandered about by the sea-shore until the moon rose; and +Miss Rose, in great trepidation at finding it so late, desired her +companion to escort her home. Nor is it known what Mr. Squeaker said +when he bade a fond adieu to his dear Rose, nor for how long after Rose +sat in her arbour in the garden and watched the bats flitting across the +moon.</p> + +<p>It was noticed by the sisters that Rose was very quiet all the next +day, and that at times a tear stood in the corner of her eye, which she +would wipe away, sighing. Many were the sly allusions to the note of the +previous afternoon and the long evening walk, and no one tormented poor +Rose with her insinuations more than Paulina, who was for some cause in +a most unusual flow of spirits. After tea, Rose took down her treasured +volume, +<span class = "pagenum">54</span> +<a name = "page54" id = "page54"> </a> +“Pussicat’s Poems,” and retiring to the garden, read the tenderest +parts. Violet, overcome with the fatigue of a recent mouse-hunt, went to +sleep on the sofa; the younger ones busied themselves with their crochet +and net-work; and Miss Paulina, saying she was going to call on a +neighbour, with her best lace-bordered handkerchief in her hand, sallied +forth and took her way towards the forest. Now it so happened that young +Marten Sable was leaning against a tree, tapping his heel with his cane, +and meditating very profoundly at the entrance of the very walk towards +which Paulina bent her steps. He started at her approach, and with a sad +but eager countenance ran to meet her.</p> + +<p>“What has happened, Marten,” cried Paulina, “that you look so +miserable? tell me directly, I implore you;” and placing her hand +on his arm, she looked piteously in his face. Marten hung his head and +seemed overcome with grief; at last he said in a low husky voice, “We +must part, Paulina; but it will be only for a time; my father has +ordered me to set out for Russia to visit his forests there, and, my +darling Paulina,—how can I bear the thought!—it will be six +months before I see you again.” Paulina covered her face with her paws +and wept bitterly; at last rousing herself, she said, “Let us not, +Marten, spend our last evening thus; come, six months will soon pass, +and then—” Here Paulina’s voice dropped, and Marten threw his arms +round her waist and kissed away the tears.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">55</span> +<a name = "page55" id = "page55"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg55.jpg" width = "445" height = "592" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +YOUNG MARTEN BIDDING FAREWELL TO MISS PAULINA.</p> + +<!-- blank page 56 --> + +<p>We know of every word that Marten said to Paulina, and of Paulina’s +every reply, for we had it all from a young hedgehog whose curiosity led +her to listen to their talk; but we think that the hedgehog did wrong to +listen, and so, perhaps, did we to listen +<span class = "pagenum">57</span> +<a name = "page57" id = "page57"> </a> +to the hedgehog, and so we will not tell their secrets; but this, we may +mention, that they wandered up and down the pathways of the forest, now +and then pouncing on a stray field-mouse or a poor sleeping bird, until +the moon shone brightly through the trees. And we know that they parted +at length by the sign-post at the edge of the wood, when Paulina shed +many tears, and Marten, laying his paw upon his heart, vowed ever to be +constant to her, and in all his travels and all his adventures to +remember his sweet Pussy. To have seen how the poor kitten wept when she +went to bed that night, would have grieved a hard-hearted terrier; and +to have seen how melancholy she looked as she wandered about for three +weeks afterwards, would have drawn pity from a ferocious bull-dog.</p> + +<p>One morning, about seven months after the events we have narrated, +there was a great commotion in the house where the kittens dwelt; the +bells rang, the flags were hoisted, and little cannon fired. In the +papers of the next morning we read that Ensign Squeaker of the Household +Pigade carried off the beautiful Miss Rose, and young Marten Sable of +the Forest his fair prize Miss Paulina, both on the same day.</p> + +<p>May they all enjoy much felicity, and may the brides catch plenty of +mice!</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">58</span> +<a name = "page58" id = "page58"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg58.jpg" width = "449" height = "587" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +THE FROGS WHO WOULD A-WOOING GO.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">59</span> +<a name = "page59" id = "page59"> </a> + + +<h3><a name = "frogs" id = "frogs"> +<span class = "smallest">THE</span><br> +FROGS WHO WOULD A-WOOING GO.</a></h3> + +<hr class = "micro"> + +<p><span class = "firstword">Two</span> frogs, who were cousins, were +hopping about together one warm summer’s evening by the side of a +rivulet, when they began talking—just as the men will +talk—about a young lady-frog who lived in a neighbouring marsh. +One extolled the brightness of her eyes, the other praised the beauty of +her complexion, and somehow the two frogs found out that they had both +fallen in love with the same young lady-froggy. When they had made this +discovery they parted rather abruptly, and muttered something, the +meaning of which was not very clear.</p> + +<p>“Bless me,” said Mr. Croaker, the elder and richer of the two, +“I must not let that young scapegrace Jumper get the better of me. +A pretty joke indeed that <i>he</i> should think of the beautiful +Miss Leapfrog, he who is not worth a rap, and is as ugly as a toad.”</p> + +<p>“Who would have thought,” said Jumper to himself, “that that old +curmudgeon Croaker was going to make love to that dear young Miss +Leapfrog? We will soon see whom she likes best.”</p> + +<p>The next morning Croaker dressed himself with unusual neatness; and +that he might appear to better advantage, he went to a barber-frog who +lived in a neighbouring arbour, and asked to be shaved and to have his +wig dressed. The barber had just spread +<span class = "pagenum">60</span> +<a name = "page60" id = "page60"> </a> +his white cloth, had lathered his customer’s chin, and was flourishing a +razor in his face, when what should catch Croaker’s eye through the open +doorway but the figure of his cousin Jumper, smartly dressed, with his +cane under his arm, and a parasol over his head, to keep the sun off his +delicate complexion, walking hastily along the path that led to Miss +Leapfrog’s residence.</p> + +<p>To jump from his chair was Croaker’s first impulse, and, sad to say, +it was his last; for he fell with his throat upon the edge of the +barber’s razor, and in two minutes breathed his last.</p> + +<p>Deep was Miss Leapfrog’s grief, and great was Mr. Jumper’s joy, when +the news of this sad misfortune reached their ears. In the first burst +of her anguish the young lady accused the barber of having murdered her +dear Croaker; but Mr. Jumper hopped about for joy, and vowed that the +barber was the best frog alive. And well he might be joyful, for as +Croaker had died without a will, Jumper inherited all his estates; and +when, after a week’s mourning, the young lady’s grief had somewhat +subsided, the happy Mr. Jumper carried off the beautiful Miss +Leapfrog.</p> + +<p>But alas, how uncertain is happiness either to man or frogs! Two days +afterwards, as Jumper was crossing a brook, a lily-white duck, who +had been concealed by the rushes, flew at him with open beak and gobbled +him up.</p> + +<p>And the poor bride was left to mourn in silent solitude.</p> + +<hr class = "mid"> + +<div class = "page"> + +<span class = "pagenum">61</span> +<a name = "page61" id = "page61"> </a> + +<h3><a name = "reynard" id = "reynard">THE STORY OF REYNARD THE +FOX.</a></h3> + +</div> + +<hr class = "mid"> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">62</span> +<a name = "page62" id = "page62"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg62.jpg" width = "453" height = "575" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +REYNARD AT HOME AT MALEPARDUS.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">63</span> +<a name = "page63" id = "page63"> </a> + +<h3><span class = "smaller">THE STORY</span><br> +<span class = "smallest">OF</span><br> +REYNARD THE FOX.</h3> + +<hr class = "micro"> + +<p><span class = "firstword">About</span> the feast of Whitsuntide, when +the woods were in their lustyhood and gallantry, when every tree was +clothed in the green and white livery of glorious leaves and +sweet-smelling blossoms, when the earth was covered with her fairest +mantle of flowers, and the sweet birds entertained the groves with the +delight of their harmonious songs, the <span class = +"smallcaps">Lion</span>, the Royal King of Beasts, made solemn +proclamation that all quadrupeds whatsoever should attend his court, and +celebrate this great festival.</p> + +<p>Now when the king had assembled all his subjects together, there was +no one absent save Reynard the Fox, against whom many grievous +accusations were laid. First came Isegrim the Wolf, with all his family +and kindred, who, standing before the King complained loudly how that +Reynard had ill-treated his wife and children. Then there came a little +hound named Curtise, who accused the Fox of having stolen his pudding in +the extreme cold winter-time, when he was nigh dying of starvation. But +scarcely had the hound finished his tale, when, with a fiery +countenance, in sprang Tibert the Cat, and accused Curtise of having +stolen this pudding from himself, and declared that Reynard had +righteously taken it away.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">64</span> +<a name = "page64" id = "page64"> </a> +<p>Then rose the Panther: “Do you imagine, Tibert,” quoth he, “that +Reynard ought not to be complained of? The whole world knows that he is +a murderer, a vagabond, and a thief.”</p> + +<p>Then quoth Grimbard the Badger, Reynard’s nephew: “It is a common +proverb, <i>Malice never spake well</i>: what can you say against my +kinsman the fox? All these complaints seem to me to be either absurd or +false. Mine uncle is a gentleman, and cannot endure falsehood. +I affirm that he liveth as a recluse; he chastiseth his body, and +weareth a shirt of hair-cloth. It is above a year since he hath eaten +any flesh; he hath forsaken his castle Malepardus, and abandoned all his +wealth; he lives only upon alms and good men’s charities, doing infinite +penance for his sins; so that he has become pale and lean with praying +and fasting.”</p> + +<p>While Grimbard was still speaking, there came down the hill +Chanticleer the Cock, and with him two hens, who brought with them on a +bier their dead sister Copple, who had just been murdered by Reynard. +Chanticleer smote piteously his feathers, and, kneeling before the King, +spake in this manner:</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">65</span> +<a name = "page65" id = "page65"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg65.jpg" width = "449" height = "572" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +REYNARD IN THE LIKENESS OF A HERMIT.</p> + +<!-- blank page 66 --> + +<p>“Most merciful and my great Lord the King, vouchsafe, I beseech +you, to hear our complaint, and redress the injuries which Reynard the +Fox has done to me and my children. Not longer ago than last April, when +the weather was fair, and I was in the height of my pride and glory, +because of my eight valiant sons and seven fair daughters, who were +strong and fat, and who walked in safety in a yard well-fenced round, +wherein also were several large dogs for their protection, Reynard, that +false and dissembling traitor, came to me in the likeness of a hermit, +and brought me a letter to read, sealed with your Majesty’s seal, in +which I found written, that your Highness had made peace +<span class = "pagenum">67</span> +<a name = "page67" id = "page67"> </a> +throughout all your realm, and that no manner of beast or fowl should do +injury one to another; affirming unto me, that, for his own part, he was +become a monk, vowing to perform a daily penance for his sins; shewing +unto me his beads, his books, and the hair shirt next to his skin; +saying, in humble wise, unto me, ‘Sir Chanticleer, never henceforth be +afraid of me, for I have vowed never more to eat flesh. I am now +waxed old, and would only remember my soul; therefore I take my leave, +for I have yet my noon and my evensong to say.’ Which spake, he +departed, saying his Credo as he went, and laid him down under a +hawthorn. At this I was exceeding glad, that I took no heed, but went +and clucked my children together, and walked without the wall, which I +shall ever rue; for false Reynard, lying under a bush, came creeping +betwixt us and the gate, and suddenly surprised one of my children, +which he trussed up and bore away, to my great sorrow; for, having +tasted the sweetness of our flesh, neither hunter nor hound can protect +or keep him from us. Night and day he waits upon us, with that +greediness, that of fifteen of my children, he hath left me but four +unslaughtered; and yesterday, Copple, my daughter, which here lieth dead +on this bier, was, after her murder, rescued from him. This is my +complaint, and this I leave to your Highness’s mercy to take pity on me, +and the loss of my fair children.”</p> + +<p>Then spake the King: “Sir Grimbard, hear you this of your uncle the +recluse? he hath fasted and prayed well: believe me, if I live a year, +he shall dearly abide it. As for you, Chanticleer, your complaint is +heard, and shall be cured; to your daughter that is dead we will give +the <ins class = "correction" title = "error for ‘rite’?">right</ins> of +burial, and with solemn dirges bring her to the earth, with +worship.”</p> + +<p>After this the King sent for his lords and wisest counsellors, +<span class = "pagenum">68</span> +<a name = "page68" id = "page68"> </a> +to consult how this foul murder of Reynard’s might be punished. And in +the end, it was concluded that Reynard should be sent for, and without +all excuse, he should be commanded to appear before the King, to answer +whatever trespasses should be objected against him; and that this +message should be delivered by Bruin the Bear.</p> + +<p>To all this the King gave consent, and calling the bear before him, +he said, “Sir Bruin, it is our pleasure that you deliver this message; +yet in the delivery thereof have great regard to yourself; for Reynard +is full of policy, and knoweth how to dissemble, flatter, and betray; he +hath a world of snares to entangle you withal, and without great +exercise of judgment, will make a scorn and mock of the best wisdom +breathing.”</p> + +<p>“My Lord,” answered Sir Bruin, “let me alone with Reynard; I am +not such a truant in discretion to become a mock to his knavery;” and +thus, full of jollity, the bear departed.</p> + +<p>The next morning Bruin set out in quest of the fox; and after passing +through a dark forest and over a high mountain, he came to Malepardus, +Reynard’s chiefest and most ancient castle. Reynard was at home, and +pretended to be ill with eating too much honey. When the bear heard +this, he was extremely desirous of knowing where such excellent food +could be obtained; and Reynard promised to take him to a garden where he +should find more honey-combs than ten bears could eat at a meal. But the +treacherous rascal took him to a carpenter’s yard, where lay the trunk +of a huge oak-tree, half-riven asunder, with two great wedges in it, so +that the cleft stood a great way open. “Behold now, dear uncle,” said +the fox, “within this tree is so much honey that it is unmeasurable.” +The bear, in great haste, thrust his nose and fore-paws into the tree; +and immediately Reynard pulled out the two great wedges, and caught +Bruin in so sharp a trap, +<span class = "pagenum">69</span> +<a name = "page69" id = "page69"> </a> +that the poor beast howled with pain. This noise quickly brought out the +carpenter, who, perceiving how matters stood, alarmed the whole village, +who came and belaboured the bear’s sides with sticks and hoes and +pitchforks, until, mad with rage, he tore his bleeding face and paws +from the tree, and rushed blindly into a river that ran close by, +knocking into the water with him many of the villagers, and among them, +Dame Julock, the parson’s wife, for whose sake every one bestirred +himself; and so poor Bruin got safe away. After some delay, the bear +returned to the court, where, in dismal accents, he recounted the sad +trick that Reynard had played him.</p> + +<p>Then said the King, “Now, by my crown, I will take such revenge as +shall make that traitor tremble;” and sending for his counsellors, they +decided that Reynard should be again summoned to court, and that Tibert +the Cat should be the bearer of the message. “It is your wisdom, Sir +Tibert, I employ,” said the great King, “and not your strength: +many prevail with art, when violence returns with lost labour.”</p> + +<p>So Tibert made ready, and set out with the King’s letter to +Malepardus, where he found the fox standing before his castle-gates; to +whom Tibert said, “Health to my fair cousin Reynard; the King, by me, +summons you to the court, in which if you fail, there is nothing more +assured unto you than a cruel and a sudden death.”</p> + +<p>The fox answered, “Welcome, dear cousin Tibert; I obey your +command, and wish my Lord the King infinite days of happiness; only let +me entreat you to rest with me to-night, and take such cheer as my +simple house affordeth, and to-morrow, as early as you will, we will go +towards the court, for I have no kinsman I trust so dearly as +yourself.”</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">70</span> +<a name = "page70" id = "page70"> </a> +<p>Tibert replied, “You speak like a noble gentleman; and me-thinks it +is best now to go forward, for the moon shines as bright as day.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, dear cousin,” said the fox, “let us take the day before us, so +may we encounter with our friends; the night is full of danger.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the cat, “if it be your pleasure, I am content; +what shall we eat?”</p> + +<p>Reynard said, “Truly my store is small; the best I have is a +honey-comb, pleasant and sweet; what think you of it?”</p> + +<p>To which Tibert replieth, “It is meat I little respect, and seldom +eat; I had rather have one mouse than all the honey in Europe.”</p> + +<p>“A mouse!” said Reynard; “why, my dear cousin, here dwelleth a priest +hard by, who hath a barn by his house so full of mice, that I think half +the wagons in the parish are not able to bear them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear Reynard,” quoth the cat, “do but lead me thither, and make +me your servant for ever.”</p> + +<p>“Why,” said the fox, “love you mice so exceedingly?”</p> + +<p>“Beyond expression,” quoth the cat.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">71</span> +<a name = "page71" id = "page71"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg71.jpg" width = "424" height = "564" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +SIR TIBERT DELIVERING THE KING’S MESSAGE.</p> + +<!-- blank page 72 --> + +<p>Then away they went with all speed to the priest’s barn, which was +well walled about with a mud wall, where, but the night before, the fox +had broken in and stolen an exceeding fat hen, at which the priest was +so angry, that he had set a snare before the hole to catch him at his +next coming, which the false fox knew of; and therefore said to the cat, +“Sir Tibert, creep in at this hole, and believe it, you shall not tarry +a minute’s space but you shall have more mice than you are able to +devour; hark, you may hear how they peep. When you have eaten your fill, +come again, and I will stay and await for you here at this hole, that +<span class = "pagenum">73</span> +<a name = "page73" id = "page73"> </a> +to-morrow we may go together to the court; but, good cousin, stay not +too long, for I know my wife will hourly expect us.”</p> + +<p>Then Tibert sprang quickly in at the hole, but was presently caught +fast by the neck in the snare, which as soon as the cat felt, he quickly +leaped back again; and the snare running close together, he was +half-strangled, so that he began to struggle and cry out and exclaim +most piteously.</p> + +<p>Then the priest, hearing the outcry, alarmed all his servants, crying +out, “The Fox is taken!” and away they all ran to where poor Tibert was +caught in the snare, and, without finding out their mistake, they beat +him most unmercifully, and cruelly wounded one of his eyes. The cat, mad +with pain, suddenly gnawed the cord, and seizing the priest by the legs, +bit him and tore him in such a way that he fell down in a swoon, and +then, as every one ran to help his master, Tibert leaped out of the +hole, and limped as fast as his wounded legs would carry him to the +court, where the King was infinitely angry at the treatment he had +received.</p> + +<p>Then Grimbard the Badger, Reynard’s nephew, fearing it was likely to +go hard with his uncle, offered to go to Malepardus and take the King’s +message to his most subtle kinsman; to which his Majesty graciously +consented. So Grimbard set forth; and when he came to Malepardus, he +found Reynard with Dame Ermelin his wife sporting with their children. +When Grimbard had delivered the King’s letter, Reynard found that it +would be better for him to shew himself at court at once; so bidding an +affectionate farewell to his dear wife and children, he immediately set +out with the badger to go with him before the King. On his way, Reynard, +remembering the heavy crimes he had committed, and fearing that his end +was at hand, desired of the holy Grimbard, who had always led a hermit’s +life, that he would hear +<span class = "pagenum">74</span> +<a name = "page74" id = "page74"> </a> +him confess, and set him a penance for his sins. Grimbard bade him +proceed. And the fox confessed how shamefully he had ill-used the bear, +and the cat, and the wolf, and Chanticleer’s children, and many other +ill-doings during his life; and when he had finished, he knelt before +Grimbard, and said, “Thus have I told you my wickedness; now order my +penance, as shall seem fit in your discretion.”</p> + +<p>Grimbard was both learned and wise; and therefore brake a rod from a +tree, and said, “Uncle, you shall three times strike your body with this +rod, and then lay it down upon the ground, and spring three times over +it without bowing your legs or stumbling; then shall you take it up and +kiss it gently, in sign of meekness and obedience to your penance; which +done, you are absolved of your sins committed up to this day, for I +pronounce unto you clear remission.”</p> + +<p>At this the fox was exceeding glad; and immediately he performed the +penance to Grimbard’s satisfaction. But as they went journeying on, it +happened that they passed by the poultry-yard of a convent; and as one +young cock strayed far from the rest, Reynard leaped at him, and caught +him by the feathers, but the cock escaped.</p> + +<p>“Villain that you are,” said Grimbard, “will you, for a silly pullet, +fall again into your sins?”</p> + +<p>To which Reynard answered, “Pardon me, dear nephew, I had +forgotten myself; but I will ask forgiveness, and mine eye shall no more +wander.”</p> + +<p>However, Grimbard noted that he turned many times to look at the +poultry. But soon afterwards they arrived at the court.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was bruited in the court that Reynard the Fox and +Grimbard his kinsman were arrived there, every one, from +<span class = "pagenum">75</span> +<a name = "page75" id = "page75"> </a> +the highest to the lowest, prepared himself to complain of the fox; at +which Reynard’s heart quaked, but his countenance kept the old look, and +he went as proudly as ever he was wont with his nephew through the high +street, and came as gallantly into the court as if he had been the +King’s son, and as clear from trespass as the most innocent whosoever; +and when he came before the chair of state in which the King sat, he +said, “Heaven give your Majesty glory and renown above all the princes +of the earth.”</p> + +<p>But the King cut him short at these words, and said: “Peace, +traitorous Reynard; think you I can be caught with the music of your +words? no, it hath too oft deceived me; the peace which I commanded and +swore unto, that have you broken.”</p> + +<p>Then Bellin the Ram, and Oleway his wife, and Bruin the Bear, and +Tibert the Cat, and Isegrim the Wolf, and Kyward the Hare, and Bruel the +Goose, and Baldwin the Ass, and Bortle the Bull, and Hamel the Ox, and +Chanticleer the Cock, and Partlett the Hen, and many others, came +forward; and all these with one entire noise cried out against the fox, +and so moved the King with their complaints, that the fox was taken and +arrested.</p> + +<p>Upon this arrest, a parliament was called; and notwithstanding that +he answered every objection severally, and with great art, Reynard was +condemned, and judgment was given that he should be hanged till his body +was dead; at which sentence the fox cast down his head, for all his +jollity was lost, and no flattery nor no words now prevailed.</p> + +<p>Then Isegrim on the one side and Bruin on the other led the poor fox +to the gallows, Tibert running before with the halter. And when they +were come to the place of execution, the King and the Queen, and all the +rest of the nobility, took their places to see the fox die.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">76</span> +<a name = "page76" id = "page76"> </a> +<p>When all things were prepared, the fox said: “Now my heart is heavy, +for death stands in all his horror before me, and I cannot escape. My +dread Lord the King, and you my sovereign Lady the Queen, and you my +lords that stand to behold me die, I beseech you grant me this +charitable boon, that I may unlock my heart before you, and clear my +soul of her burdens, so that hereafter no man may be blamed for me; +which done, my death will be easy.”</p> + +<p>Every creature now took compassion on the fox, and said his request +was small, beseeching the King to grant it, which was done; and then the +fox thus spake: “Help me, Heaven, for I see no man here whom I have not +offended; yet was this evil no natural inclination in me, for in my +youth I was accounted as virtuous as any breathing. This know, +I have played with the lambs all the day long, and taken delight in +their pretty bleating; yet at last in my play I bit one, and the taste +of its blood was so sweet unto me, that I approved the flesh, and both +were so good, that since I could never forbear it. This liquorish humour +drew me into the woods amongst the goats, where hearing the bleating of +the little kids, I slew one of them, and afterwards two more, which +slaughter made me so hardy, that then I fell to murder hens, geese, and +other poultry. And thus my crimes increased by custom, and fury so +possessed me, that all was fish which came to my net. After this, in the +winter season, I met with Isegrim, where, as he lay hid under a +hollow tree, he unfolded unto me how he was my uncle, and laid the +pedigree down so plain, that from that day forth we became fellows and +companions; which knot of friendship I may ever curse, for then began +the flood of our thefts and slaughters. He stole the great things, +I the small; he murdered nobles, I the mean subjects; and in +all our actions his share was still ever the greatest: when he got a ram +or a calf, +<span class = "pagenum">77</span> +<a name = "page77" id = "page77"> </a> +his fury would hardly afford me the horns to pick on; nay, when he had +an ox or a cow, after himself, his wife, and his seven children were +served, nothing remained to me but the bare bones to pick. This I speak +not in that I wanted (for it is well known I have more plate, jewels, +and coin than twenty carts are able to carry), but only to shew his +ingratitude.”</p> + +<p>When the King heard him speak of this infinite treasure and riches, +his heart grew inflamed with a desire thereof; and he said, “Reynard, +where is that treasure you speak of?”</p> + +<p>The fox answered: “My Lord, I shall willingly tell you, for it is +true the wealth was stolen; and had it not been stolen in that manner +which it was, it had cost your highness your life (which Heaven, +I beseech, keep ever in protection).”</p> + +<p>When the Queen heard that dangerous speech, she started, and said: +“What dangers are these you speak of, Reynard? I do command you, +upon your soul’s health, to unfold these doubtful speeches, and to keep +nothing concealed which concerns the life of my dread Lord.”</p> + +<p>Then the fox in these words unfolded to the King and Queen this most +foul treason: “Know, then, my dread sovereign Lord the King, that my +father, by a strange accident, digging in the ground, found out King +Ermerick’s great treasure,—a mass of jewels infinite and +innumerable; of which being possessed, he grew so proud and haughty, +that he held in scorn all the beasts of the wilderness, which before had +been his kinsmen and companions. At last he caused Tibert the Cat to go +into the vast forest of Arden to Bruin the Bear, and to tender to him +his homage and fealty; and to say that if it would please him to be +king, he should come into Flanders, where he would shew him means how to +set the crown upon his head. Bruin was glad of this embassage (for +<span class = "pagenum">78</span> +<a name = "page78" id = "page78"> </a> +he was exceeding ambitious, and had long thirsted for sovereignty), and +thereupon came into Flanders, where my father received him nobly. Then +presently he sent for the wise Grimbard, my nephew, and for Isegrim the +Wolf, and for Tibert the Cat; then these five coming between Gaunt and +the village called Elfe, they held a solemn council for the space of a +whole night, in which, by the assistance of the evil one, and the strong +confidence of my father’s riches, it was there concluded that your +Majesty should be forthwith murdered; which to effect, they took a +solemn oath in this manner: the bear, my father, the badger, and the +cat, laying their hands on Isegrim’s crown, swore, first to make Bruin +their king, and to place him in the chair of estate at Acon, and to set +the imperial diadem on his head; and if by any of your Majesty’s blood +and alliance they should be gainsaid, that then my father with his +treasure should hire those which should utterly chase and root them out +of the forest. Now after this determination held and finished, it +happened that my nephew Grimbard being on a time high flown with wine, +he discovered this dread plot to Dame Slopecade his wife, commanding her +upon her life to keep secret the same; but she, forgetful of her charge, +disclosed it in confession to my wife, as they went a pilgrimage over an +heath, with like conjuration of secrecy. But she, woman-like, contained +it no longer than till she met with me, and gave me a full knowledge of +all that had passed, yet so as by all means I must keep it secret too, +for she had sworn by the three kings of Cologne never to disclose it: +and withal she gave me such assurance by certain tokens, that I right +well found all was true which she had spoken; insomuch that the very +affright thereof made my hair stand upright, and my heart become like +lead, cold and heavy in my bosom.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">79</span> +<a name = "page79" id = "page79"> </a> +<p>“But to proceed from this sorrow, I began to meditate how I might +undo my father’s false conspiracies, who sought to bring a base traitor +and a slave into the throne imperial; for I well perceived, as long as +he held the treasure, there was a possibility of deposing your Majesty. +And this troubled my thought exceedingly, so that I laboured how I might +find out where my father’s treasure was hid; and to that end I watched +and attended night and day in the woods, in the bushes, and in the open +fields; nay in all places wheresoever my father laid his eyes, there was +I ever watching and attending. Now it happened on a time, as I was laid +down flat on the ground, I saw my father come running out of a +hole, and as soon as he was come out, he gazed round about him, to see +if any discovered him; then seeing the coast clear, he stopped the hole +with sand, and made it so even, smooth, and plain, that no curious eye +could discern a difference betwixt it and the other earth; and where the +print of his foot remained, that with his tail he stroked over, and with +his mouth so smoothed, that no man might perceive it: and indeed that +and many other subtilties I learned of him there at that instant. When +he had thus finished, away he went towards the village about his private +affairs. Then went I presently towards the hole, and notwithstanding all +his subtilty, I quickly found it out; and then entered I the cave, +where I found that innumerable quantity of treasure, which cannot be +expressed; which found, I took Ermelin my wife to help me; and we +ceased not, day nor night, with infinite great toil and labour, to carry +and convey away this treasure to another place, much more convenient for +us, where we laid it safe from the search of any creature.</p> + +<p>“Thus by my art only was the treason of Bruin defeated, for which I +now suffer. From hence sprang all my misfortune, as thus: those foul +traitors, Bruin and Isegrim, being of the King’s +<span class = "pagenum">80</span> +<a name = "page80" id = "page80"> </a> +privatest council, and sitting in high and great authority, tread upon +me, poor Reynard, and work my disgrace, notwithstanding, for your +Majesty’s sake, I have lost my natural father. O my dread +Lord, what is he, or who can tender you a better affection, thus to lose +himself to save you?”</p> + +<p>Then the King and Queen, having great hope to get this inestimable +treasure from Reynard, took him from the gibbet; and the King taking a +straw from the ground, pardoned the fox of all his trespasses which +either he or his father had ever committed. If the fox now began to +smile, it was no wonder; the sweetness of life required it: yet he fell +down before the King and Queen, and humbly thanked them for mercy, +protesting that for that favour he would make them the richest princes +in the world.</p> + +<p>Then the King began to inquire where all these treasures were hid, +and Reynard told that he had hid them in a wood called Hustreloe, near a +river named Crekinpit. But when the King said that he had never heard of +such a place, Reynard called forth Kyward the Hare from among the rest +of the beasts, and commanded him to come before the King, charging him, +upon his faith and allegiance which he bore to the King and Queen, to +answer truly to such questions as he should ask him.</p> + +<p>The hare answered, “I will speak truth in all things, though I were +sure to die for the same.”</p> + +<p>Then the fox said, “Know you not where Crekinpit floweth?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the hare, “I have known it any time these dozen years; it +runneth in a wood called Hustreloe, upon a vast and wide +wilderness.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the fox, “you have spoken sufficiently; go to your place +again;” so away went the hare.</p> + +<p>Then said the fox, “My sovereign Lord the King, what say you now to +my relation; am I worthy your belief or no?”</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">81</span> +<a name = "page81" id = "page81"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg81.jpg" width = "450" height = "567" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +REYNARD BRINGS FORWARD THE HARE AS HIS WITNESS.</p> + +<!-- blank page 82 --> + +<span class = "pagenum">83</span> +<a name = "page83" id = "page83"> </a> +<p>The King said, “Yes, Reynard, and I beseech thee excuse my +jealousies; it was my ignorance which did thee evil; therefore forthwith +make preparation that we may go to this pit where the treasure +lieth.”</p> + +<p>But the fox answered that he could not go with his Majesty without +dishonour; for that at present he was under excommunication, and that it +was necessary that he should go to Rome to be absolved, and that from +thence he intended to travel in the Holy Land. “The course you propose +is good,” said the King; “go on and prosper in your intent.”</p> + +<p>Then the King mounted on a rock, and addressing his subjects, told +them how that, for divers reasons best known to himself, he had freely +given pardon to Reynard, who had cast his wickedness behind him, and +would no more be guilty of wrongdoing; and furthermore, he commanded +them all to reverence and honour not only Reynard, but also his wife and +children. At this, Isegrim the Wolf and Bruin the Bear inveighed against +the fox in such an unseemly way, that his Majesty caused them both to be +arrested for high treason. Now when the fox saw this, he begged of the +Queen that he might have so much of the bear’s skin as would make him a +large scrip for his journey; and also the skin of the wolf’s feet for a +pair of shoes, because of the stony ways he would have to pass over. To +this the Queen consented, and Reynard saw his orders executed.</p> + +<p>The next morning Reynard caused his new shoes to be well oiled, and +made them fit his feet as tightly as they had fitted the wolf’s. And the +King commanded Bellin the Ram to say mass before the fox; and when he +had sung mass and used many ceremonies over the fox, he hung about +Reynard’s neck his rosary of beads, and gave him into his hands a +palmer’s staff.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">84</span> +<a name = "page84" id = "page84"> </a> +<p>Then the King took leave of him, and commanded all that were about +him, except the bear and the wolf, to attend Reynard some part of his +journey. Oh! he that had seen how gallant and personable Reynard was, +and how well his staff and his mail became him, as also how fit his +shoes were for his feet, it could not have chosen but have stirred in +him very much laughter. But when they had got onward on their way, the +fox entreated all the beasts to return and pray for him, and only begged +of Bellin the Ram and Kyward the Hare that they would accompany him as +far as Malepardus.</p> + +<p>Thus marched these tree together; and when Reynard was come to the +gates of his own house, he said to Bellin, “Cousin, I will entreat +you to stay here without a little, whilst I and Kyward go in.” Bellin +was well content; and so the fox and the hare went into Malepardus, +where they found Dame Ermelin lying on the ground with her younglings +about her, who had sorrowed exceedingly for the loss and danger of her +husband; but when she saw his return, her joy was ten times doubled. But +beholding his mail, his staff, and his shoes, she grew into great +admiration, and said, “Dear husband, how have you fared?” so he told all +that had passed with him at the King’s court, as well his danger as his +release, and that now he was to go a pilgrimage. As for Kyward, he said +the King had bestowed him upon them, to do with him what they pleased, +affirming that Kyward was the first that had complained of him, for +which, questionless, he vowed to be sharply revenged.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">85</span> +<a name = "page85" id = "page85"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg85.jpg" width = "444" height = "565" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +REYNARD ON HIS PILGRIMAGE TO ROME.</p> + +<!-- blank page 86 --> + +<p>When Kyward heard these words, he was much appalled, and would fain +have fled away; but he could not, for the fox had got between him and +the gate; who presently seized the hare by the neck, at which the hare +cried unto Bellin for help, but could not +<span class = "pagenum">87</span> +<a name = "page87" id = "page87"> </a> +be heard, for the fox in a trice had torn out his throat; which done, +he, his wife, and young ones feasted therewith merrily, eating the +flesh, and drinking to the King’s health.</p> + +<p>All this while stood Bellin the Ram at the gate, and grew exceeding +angry both against the fox and the hare, that they made him wait so +long; and therefore called out aloud for Reynard to come away, which +when Reynard heard, he went forth, and said softly to the ram, “Good +Bellin, be not offended for Kyward is in earnest conference with his +dearest aunt, and entreated me to say unto you, that if you would please +to walk before he would speedily overtake you, for he is light of foot +and speedier than you: nor will his aunt part with him thus suddenly, +for she and her children are much perplexed at my departure.”</p> + +<p>“Ay, but,” quoth Bellin, “methought I heard Kyward cry for help.”</p> + +<p>“How, cry for help? can you imagine he shall receive hurt in my +house? far be such a thought from you; but I will tell you the reason. +As soon as we were come into my house, and that Ermelin my wife +understood of my pilgrimage, presently she fell down in a swoon, which +when Kyward saw, he cried aloud, ‘O Bellin come, help my aunt, she +dies, she dies!’”</p> + +<p>Then said the ram: “In sadness I mistook the cry, and thought the +hare had been in danger.”</p> + +<p>“It was your too much care of him,” said the fox. “But, letting this +discourse pass, you remember, Bellin, that yesterday the King and his +council commanded me that, before I departed from the land, +I should send unto him two letters, which I have made ready, and +will entreat you, my dearest cousin, to bear them to his Majesty.”</p> + +<p>The ram answered: “I would willingly do you the service if +<span class = "pagenum">88</span> +<a name = "page88" id = "page88"> </a> +there be nothing but honourable matter contained in your letters; but I +am unprovided of any thing to carry them in.”</p> + +<p>The fox said: “That is provided for you already, for you shall have +my mail, which you may conveniently hang about your neck; I know +they will be thankfully received of his Majesty, for they contain matter +of great importance.”</p> + +<p>Then Bellin promised to carry them. So the fox returned into his +house, and took the mail, and put therein the head of Kyward, and +brought it to the ram, and gave him a great charge not to look therein +till it was presented to the King, as he did expect the King’s favour; +and that he might further endear himself with his Majesty, he bade the +ram take upon him the inditing of the letters, “which will be so +pleasing to the King, that questionless he will pour upon you many +favours.”</p> + +<p>This said, Bellin took leave of the fox and went toward the court, in +which journey he made such speed, that he came thither before noon, +where he found the King in his palace sitting amongst the nobility.</p> + +<p>The King wondered when he saw the ram come in with the mail which was +made of the bear’s skin, and said: “Whence comest thou, Bellin, and +where is the fox, that you have that mail about you?”</p> + +<p>Bellin answered: “My dread Lord, I attended the noble fox to his +house, where, after some repose, he desired me to bear certain letters +to your Majesty of infinite great importance, to which I easily +consented. Wherefore he delivered me the letters enclosed in this mail, +which letters I myself indited, and I doubt not but they are such as +will give your highness both contentment and satisfaction.” Presently +the King commanded the letters to be delivered to Bocart, his secretary, +who was an excellent linguist +<span class = "pagenum">89</span> +<a name = "page89" id = "page89"> </a> +and understood all languages, that he might read them publicly; so that +he and Tibert the Cat took the mail from Bellin’s neck, and opening the +same, instead of letters they drew out the head of Kyward the Hare, at +which being amazed, they said: “Wo and alas, what letters call you +these? Believe it, my dread Lord, here is nothing but the head of poor +murdered Kyward.”</p> + +<p>Which the King seeing, he said: “Alas, how unfortunate was I to +believe the traitorous fox!” And with that, being oppressed with anger, +grief, and shame, he held down his head for a good space, and so did the +Queen also. But in the end, shaking his curled locks, he groaned out +such a dreadful noise, that all the beasts of the forest did tremble to +hear it.</p> + +<p>Then the King, full of wrath, commanded the bear and the wolf to be +released from prison, and gave to them and to their heirs for ever +Bellin and all his generation.</p> + +<p>Thus was peace made between the King and these nobles, and Bellin the +Ram was forthwith slain by them; and all these privileges doth the wolf +hold to this hour, nor could ever any reconcilement be made between the +wolf’s and the ram’s kindred. When this peace was thus finished, the +King, for joy thereof, proclaimed a feast to be held for twelve days +after, which was done with all solemnity.</p> + +<p>To this feast came manner all of wild beasts, for it was known +through the whole kingdom, nor was there wanting any pleasure that could +be imagined. Also to this feast resorted abundance of feathered fowl, +and all other creatures that held peace with his Majesty, and no one +missing but the fox only.</p> + +<p>Now after this feast had thus continued in all pomp the space of +eight days, about high noon came Laprell the Rabbit before the King and +Queen, as they sat at dinner, and with a +<span class = "pagenum">90</span> +<a name = "page90" id = "page90"> </a> +heavy and lamentable voice said: “My gracious and great Lord, have pity +upon my misery and attend to my complaint, which is of great violence +which Reynard the Fox would yesterday have committed against me. As I +passed by the castle of Malepardus, supposing to go peaceably towards my +nest, I saw the fox, standing without his gates, attired like a +pilgrim and telling his beads so devoutly, that I saluted him; but he, +returning no answer, stretched forth his right foot, and with his +pilgrim’s staff gave me such a blow on the neck between the head and +shoulders, that I imagined my head had been stricken from my body; but +yet so much memory was left me that I leaped from his claws, though most +grievously hurt and wounded. At this he was wrathful extremely, because +I escaped; only of one of my ears he utterly deprived me, which I +beseech your Majesty in your royal nature to pity, and that this bloody +murderer may not live thus to afflict your poor subjects.”</p> + +<p>The royal King was much moved with anger when he heard this +complaint, so that his eyes darted out fire amongst the beams of +majesty; his countenance was dreadful and cruel to look on, and the +whole court trembled to behold him. In the end he said: “By my crown, +I will so revenge these outrages committed against my dignity, that +goodness shall adore me, and the wicked shall die with the remembrance; +his falsehood and flattery shall no more get belief in me. Is this his +journey to Rome and to the Holy Land? are these the fruits of his mail, +his staff, and other ornaments becoming a devout pilgrim? Well, he shall +find the reward of his treason. I will besiege Malepardus +instantly, and destroy Reynard and his generation from the earth for +ever.”</p> + +<span class = "pagenum illus">91</span> +<a name = "page91" id = "page91"> </a> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/pg91.jpg" width = "447" height = "567" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "caption"> +REYNARD ATTACKETH LAPRELL THE RABBIT.</p> + +<!-- blank page 92 --> + +<p>When Grimbard heard this, he grew exceedingly sorry, and stealing +from the rest, he made all haste to Malepardus, and +<span class = "pagenum">93</span> +<a name = "page93" id = "page93"> </a> +told to his uncle all that had happened. Reynard received him with great +courtesy, and the next morning accompanied him back to court, confessing +on his way many heinous sins, and obtaining absolution from the badger. +The King received him with a severe and stately countenance, and +immediately asked him touching the complaint of Laprell the Rabbit.</p> + +<p>To which Reynard made answer: “Indeed, sire, what Laprell received he +most richly deserved. I gave him a cake when he was hungry; and +when my little son Rossel wanted to share a bit, the rabbit struck him +on the mouth and made his teeth bleed; whereupon my eldest son +Reynardine forthwith leaped upon him, and would have slain him had I not +gone to the rescue.” Then the rabbit, fearing Reynard, stole away out of +court.</p> + +<p>“But,” quoth the King, “I must charge you with another foul treason. +When I had pardoned all your great transgressions, and you had promised +me to go a pilgrimage to the Holy Land; when I had furnished you with +mail, scrip, and all things fitting that holy order; then, in the +greatest despite, you sent me back in the mail, by Bellin the Ram, the +head of Kyward the Hare; a thing so notoriously to my disgrace and +dishonour, that no treason can be fouler.”</p> + +<p>Then spake Reynard to the King, and said, “Alas, my sovereign Lord, +what is that you have said? Is good Kyward the Hare dead? Oh, where is +then Bellin the Ram, or what did he bring to your Majesty at his return? +For it is certain I delivered him three rich and inestimable jewels, +I would not for the wealth of India they should be detained from +you; the chief of them I determined for you my Lord the King, and the +other two for my sovereign Lady the Queen.”</p> + +<p>“But,” said the King, “I received nothing but the head of +<span class = "pagenum">94</span> +<a name = "page94" id = "page94"> </a> +poor murdered Kyward, for which I executed the ram, he having confessed +the deed to be done by his advice and counsel.”</p> + +<p>“Is this true?” said the fox; “then wo is me that ever I was born, +for there are lost the goodliest jewels that ever were in the possession +of any prince living; would I had died when you were thus defrauded, for +I know it will be the death of my wife, nor will she ever henceforth +esteem me.”</p> + +<p>Then Reynard told the King and Queen of the great value of these +inestimable jewels. One was a gold ring, another a comb polished like +unto fine silver, and the third was a glass mirror; and so great were +the virtues of this rare glass that Reynard shed tears to think of the +loss of it. When the fox had told all this, he thus concluded: “If any +one can charge me with crime and prove it by witness, here I stand to +endure the uttermost the law can inflict upon me; but if malice only +slander me without witness, I crave the combat, according to the +law and instance of the court.”</p> + +<p>Then said the King, “Reynard, you say well, nor know I any thing more +of Kyward’s death than the bringing of his head unto me by Bellin the +Ram; therefore of it I here acquit you.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Lord,” said the fox, “I humbly thank you; yet is his death +grievous unto me.”</p> + +<p>But Isegrim the Wolf was not content with this conclusion, and defied +the fox to mortal combat. This challenge the fox accepted; and the next +day was appointed for the meeting.</p> + +<p>When all the ceremonies were done, and none but the combatants were +in the lists, the wolf went toward the fox with infinite rage and fury, +thinking to take him in his fore-feet; but the fox leaped nimbly from +him, and the wolf pursued him, so that there began a tedious chase +between them, on which their friends gazed. The wolf taking larger +strides than the fox, often overtook +<span class = "pagenum">95</span> +<a name = "page95" id = "page95"> </a> +him, and lifted up his feet to strike him; but the fox avoided the blow, +and smote him on the face with his tail, so that the wolf was stricken +almost blind, and was forced to rest while he cleared his eyes; which +advantage when Reynard saw, he scratched up the dust with his feet, and +threw it in the eyes of the wolf. This grieved him worse than the +former, so that he durst follow him no longer, for the dust and sand +sticking in his eyes smarted so sore, that of force he must rub and wash +it away; which Reynard seeing, with all the fury he had he ran upon him, +and with his teeth gave him three sore wounds on his head.</p> + +<p>Then the wolf being enraged, said, “I will make an end of this +combat, for I know my very weight is able to crush him to pieces; and I +lose much of my reputation, to suffer him thus long to contend against +me.” And this said, he struck the fox again so sore a blow on the head +with his foot, that he fell down to the ground; and ere he could recover +himself and arise, the wolf caught him in his feet and threw him under +him, lying upon him in such wise, as if he would have pressed him to +death.</p> + +<p>Then the fox bethought himself how he might best get free; and +thrusting his hand down, he caught the wolf fast by the belly, and he +wrung him so extremely hard thereby, that he made him shriek and howl +out with the anguish, and in the end the wolf fell over and over in a +swoon; then presently Reynard leaped upon him, and drew him about the +lists and dragged him by the legs, and struck, wounded, and bit him in +many places, so that the whole field might take notice thereof.</p> + +<p>Then a great shout was raised, the trumpets were sounded, and every +one cried, “Honour to the fox for this glorious conquest.” Reynard +thanked them all kindly, and received their congratulations with great +joy and gladness. And, the marshals going +<span class = "pagenum">96</span> +<a name = "page96" id = "page96"> </a> +before, they went all to the King, guarding the fox on every side, all +the trumpets, pipes, and minstrelsy sounding before him.</p> + +<p>When Reynard came before the King he fell on his knees, but the King +bade him stand up, and said to him, “Reynard, you may well rejoice, for +you have won much honour this day; therefore here I discharge you, and +set you free to go whither your own will leads you.” So the court broke +up, and every beast returned to his own home.</p> + +<p>With Reynard, all his friends and kinsfolk, to the number of forty, +took their leave also of the King, and went away with the fox, who was +no little glad that he had sped so well, and stood so far in the King’s +favour; for now he had power enough to advance whom he pleased, and pull +down any that envied his fortune.</p> + +<p>After some travel the fox and his friends came to his borough or +castle of Malepardus, where they all, in noble and courteous manner, +took leave of each other, and Reynard did to every one of them great +reverence, and thanked them for the love and honour he had received from +them, protesting evermore to remain their faithful servant, and to send +them in all things wherein his life or goods might be available unto +them; and so they shook hands and departed.</p> + +<p>Then the fox went to Dame Ermelin his wife, who welcomed him with +great tenderness; and to her and her children he related at large all +the wonders which had befallen him at court, and missed no tittle or +circumstance therein. Then grew they proud that his fortune was so +excellent; and the fox spent his days from thenceforth, with his wife +and children, in great joy and content.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr> + +<h6><span class = "smaller"> +ROBSON, LEVEY, AND FRANKLYN, GREAT NEW STREET.</span></h6> +</div> +<!-- end div maintext --> + +<div class = "endnote"> +<p>The two following images have nothing to do with the text, but are +included here for interest. Both are handwritten inscriptions from +copies of the book; the year is probably coincidental.</p> + +<p class = "center">From 1851 edition:</p> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/hw51.png" width = "279" height = "186" +alt = "see caption"></p> + +<p class = "center">From 1861 edition:</p> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/hw61.png" width = "364" height = "138" +alt = "see caption"></p> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Comical Creatures from Wurtemberg, by Unknown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMICAL CREATURES FROM WURTEMBERG *** + +***** This file should be named 28508-h.htm or 28508-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/0/28508/ + +Produced by Louise Hope and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +University of Florida, The Internet Archive/Children's +Library) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Comical Creatures from Wurtemberg + Second Edition + +Author: Unknown + +Contributor: Hermann Ploucquet + +Release Date: April 6, 2009 [EBook #28508] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMICAL CREATURES FROM WURTEMBERG *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +University of Florida, The Internet Archive/Children's +Library) + + + + + + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + +The + +COMICAL CREATURES + +from + +WURTEMBERG. + + + + +_From the EXAMINER, August 2d._ + +"The title-page of this agreeable little volume sufficiently commends +its pleasant contents. To whom, old or young, will it not be welcome? +Who has not, young or old, seen, laughed at, revisited, and brought +away, pleasant recollections of the Stuffed Animals from the Zollverein? + +"It was a good notion, that of perpetuating these clever productions by +means of daguerreotype and wood-engraving. They are very nicely executed +in this volume, and wonderfully like. It is needless to particularise +where all is so graphic and faithful; but let the studious little rabbit +over his arithmetic lesson at p. 32, with that demure conscience-striken +pair behind him wincing at the flogging of their idle brother, be +especially admired. + +"We must add that the letterpress is not unworthy of the humour and +fidelity of the illustrations. The various Weasels, Rabbits, and Foxes, +are brought into one little tale; the Wonderful Hare-Hunt into another; +the Tea-Party of Kittens, and the Marten and Tabby, into a third; the +Duel of the Dormice, and the Frogs, form two separate and ingenious +anecdotes; and the story of Reynard the Fox is quaintly related in prose +so far as was necessary to explain the six comical groups of Ploucquet. + +"We predict a great run at Christmas for the _Comical Creatures from +Wurtemberg_." + + +_From the MORNING CHRONICLE, August 12th._ + +"The book is a clever and a pleasant memento of the Great Exhibition. +The drawings are careful and clever, and convey a very correct +representation of the original creatures, with all, or nearly all, their +subtlety of expression and aspect. The capital fatuity of the Rabbits +and Hares, the delightful scoundrelism of the Fox, the cunning +shrewdness of the Marten and Weasels, the hoyden visages of the Kittens, +and the cool, slippery demeanour of the Frogs, are all capitally given. +The book may lie on the drawing-room table, or be thumbed in the +nursery; and in the latter case we have little doubt that many an urchin +still in petticoats will in future years associate his most vivid +recollection of the Great Exhibition of 1851 with Mr. Bogue's +perpetuation of the _Comical Creatures from Wurtemberg_." + + + + + [Illustration: THE WONDERFUL HARE-HUNT.] + + + + + The + + COMICAL CREATURES + + from + + WURTEMBERG, + + + _Including the Story of Reynard the Fox._ + + + With Twenty Illustrations, + Drawn from the Stuffed Animals contributed by + Herrmann Ploucquet of Stuttgart + to the Great Exhibition. + + + _Second Edition._ + + + London: + DAVID BOGUE, FLEET STREET. + 1851. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +To HERRMANN PLOUCQUET, Preserver of Objects of Natural History +at the Royal Museum of Stuttgart,--the capital of the kingdom of +Wurtemberg,--we are indebted for one of the cleverest and most popular +displays in the GREAT EXHIBITION. Every one, from her Majesty the Queen +down to the least of the charity-boys, hastens to see the Stuffed +Animals from the Zollverein; every one lingers over them and laughs at +them as long as the crowd will allow; and every one talks of them +afterwards with a smile and a pleasing recollection. + +That these clever productions of Ploucquet's talent may be long +perpetuated, we have had daguerreotypes of them taken by Mr. Claudet, +and engravings made from them on wood as faithfully like as possible. + +We must beg our readers to remember that, excepting "Reynard the Fox," +our sketches have been written to illustrate the drawings, for on this +plea we claim some indulgence; but as we know full well that the +pictures will be the main attraction of the volume, we are not +apprehensive of much criticism. + +The story of "Reynard the Fox" is told briefly in the words of an old +version of this wonderful tale published in England many years ago. In +Germany _Reinecke Fuchs_ is as popular as our "Jack the Giant-Killer." +Carlyle says, "Among the people it was long a house-book and universal +best companion; it has been lectured on in Universities, quoted in +imperial Council-halls; it lay on the toilets of princes, and was +thumbed to pieces on the bench of the artisan: we hear of grave men +ranking it next to their Bible." + +Goethe took the story of "Reynard" for the subject of a great poem; and +the famous painter Kaulbach has recently illustrated Goethe's version +with perhaps the finest series of pictures with which a book was ever +adorned. + +Herrmann Ploucquet has had the good taste to select six of these designs +as models for his works. He has admirably preserved the expression which +the painter gave to the Fox and his dupes, and every one recognises them +with pleasure. + + + + +CONTENTS. + PAGE + + The Weasels of Holm-Wood 15 + The Wonderful Hare-Hunt 40 + The Duel of the Dormice 45 + The Six Kittens 49 + The Frogs who would a-wooing go 59 + The Story of Reynard the Fox 63 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + PAGE + + The Wonderful Hare-Hunt (Double Plate) _Frontispiece._ + Dame Weasel and her Family 14 + The Attentive Physician 17 + The _very_ attentive Physician 21 + Old Marten and Sharp Weasel, Esq. 25 + Mr. Bantam's Interview with Old Marten 29 + Longtail teaching the young Rabbits Arithmetic 33 + Jack Hare and Grace Marten leading off the Ball 37 + The Duel of the Dormice 44 + The Kittens at Tea--Miss Paulina singing 48 + Ensign Squeaker and Miss Rose 51 + Young Marten bidding farewell to Miss Paulina 55 + The Frogs who would a-wooing go 58 + Reynard at Home at Malepardus 62 + Reynard in the likeness of a Hermit 65 + Sir Tibert delivering the King's Message 71 + Reynard brings forward the Hare as his Witness 81 + Reynard on his Pilgrimage to Rome 85 + Reynard attacketh Laprell the Rabbit 91 + + + + + [Illustration: DAME WEASEL AND HER CHILDREN.] + +THE + +WEASELS OF HOLM-WOOD. + + +CHAPTER I. + +In a pleasant country where green meadows lay stretched by +the side of a broad river whose banks were lined with the +pollard-willow and tall poplar, there once dwelt a family of +Weasels, known, from their place of residence, as the +Weasels of Holm-wood. + +Holm-wood was a little island covered with underwood, +rushes, and wild flowers. A few aged trees stood by its +edge, bathing their long arms in the stream, and in the +hollow trunk of one of these the Weasels lived. + +Any fine morning you might have seen the mother of this +family carrying her infant in her arms, and followed by her +other children, a girl and two boys, who would amuse +themselves by dragging little wooden horses, playing at +soldiers with mock muskets, running against the wind with +little whirligig mills, or frolicking about with a thousand +of the antics of children. Their father, known every where +as Old Weasel, was of a most resolute and unbending +disposition; he made many enemies, and was ever at war +with one or other of his neighbours. The Partridges of +Clover-field asserted that he sucked their eggs and stole +their young ones; the Rabbits of the Warren held Old Weasel +and all his family in the deepest abhorrence, and accused +them of the greatest cruelties; but no one complained of +them more bitterly than Dame Partlett of the Farm, who +accused the whole tribe of being born enemies of her race, +and said, that were it not that Old Weasel himself was +dreadfully afraid of her neighbour and friend, young Mastiff +of Kennel-wood, she verily believed that she should never +know any peace on earth. + + [Illustration: THE ATTENTIVE PHYSICIAN.] + +All the world will understand how, with such a character, +the Weasels had but few friends, and that when Miss Weasel +grew to be of age, she should have but few admirers; +nevertheless two or three families who were related to them +by blood kept up an occasional acquaintance, and among them +the Ferrets of Hollow-oak were the most intimate. Now it so +happened that one evening, when out for a ramble in the +woods, a branch of a tree on which Miss Weasel had mounted +in order to get nearer to young Linnet, with whom she wished +to be on intimate terms, broke suddenly off, and the poor +young lady was precipitated to the ground and sadly hurt. +Her cries brought to her assistance her younger brother Tom, +who, as soon as he had helped her home, ran for young +Ferret, who had lately begun practice as a physician. When +the good young doctor came, he found Miss Weasel lying on +the sofa, looking very pale and very interesting. He felt +her pulse, looked at her tongue, and soon discovered that +the lady was more frightened than hurt. However, as he had +not many patients, he did not choose to tell all the truth, +but prescribing a simple remedy, he ordered her to keep very +quiet, and promised to call again on the next day. Whether +it was that Miss Weasel had been hurt more than her +physician had thought, or whether there were any other +inducements, we cannot say; but young Ferret thought it his +duty to call at Holm-wood every morning, and sometimes twice +a day, for at least a month: and if any one could have seen +how frequently he felt Miss Weasel's pulse, and how +anxiously he studied every expression of her face, he would +have set down Dr. Ferret as a very attentive at least, if +not excellent physician. + +When Miss Weasel became somewhat stronger, this good young +man would lend his arm for her support during an evening +walk, would bring her birds' eggs and other delicacies, and +in many ways endeavour to contribute to her restoration to +health. + +This went on for some time, till the gossips of the +neighbouring village would smile whenever they saw the +doctor wending his way towards Holm-wood; and Miss Weasel's +two brothers would immediately leave their lessons, which +their sister used to teach them, as soon as ever the +physician appeared in sight. + + + [Illustration: THE _VERY_ ATTENTIVE PHYSICIAN.] + +CHAPTER II. + +The other relations of the Weasels who were on visiting +terms with them were, the Polecats of The Grange, who came +but seldom, and the Martens of Forest-farm, with whom they +were more intimate. Now old Mr. Marten had always intended +that his own son Longtail, who kept a boarding-school for +boys near the Warren, should marry Miss Weasel; and when he +heard of the physician's great attentions to that young +lady, he was very wroth. At first he thought of way-laying +young Ferret in the wood and killing him; but then he +recollected that the Ferrets were a powerful family, who +would never rest till they had been revenged. His next +thought was to go to his attorney, Sharp Weasel, Esq., of +Nettle Cottage, and consult with him as to the best means of +thwarting young Ferret's projects. So the old man took down +his pipe and his account-book, and set off to the attorney. + +Mr. Sharp Weasel was well pleased to see so excellent a +client as old Mr. Marten, and received him with many smiles. +The two quickly laid down a plan of proceedings, and Mr. +Marten produced his account-book, and proved that young +Ferret owed him for the following goods sold and delivered, +viz. one young rabbit; item, one wood-pigeon; item, one +brace of partridges; item, one cock-pheasant; item, one +duckling; item, one fat gosling. + +For this account young Ferret was next day summoned before +Judge Fox, who, after hearing the case, immediately gave +judgment in favour of plaintiff; and as young Ferret had not +sufficient funds to meet this unexpected demand, he was +forthwith arrested and sent to prison. + +Old Mr. Marten chuckled and was well pleased at the success +of his stratagem, and was on his way to his son Longtail to +tell him of what he considered the good news, when he met +Mr. Bantam of Holm-farm, searching for his wife and +daughters, who had wandered for a walk. Bantam, it was +evident, did not particularly wish for this meeting, for his +comb grew very red, and he strutted off at a quick pace in +an opposite direction; but old Marten ran through some +bushes, and caught him just as he was getting clear of the +wood. + + [Illustration: OLD MARTEN AND SHARP WEASEL, ESQ.] + +"Good morning, Mr. Bantam," said he. + +"Good morning, sir," said Bantam, shaking in every feather. + +"I want you to do me a service, Bantam," continued old +Marten; "but you must not say one word of what I am going to +tell you." + +Bantam promised this, as indeed he would have any thing +else. + +"You must go to Old Weasel of Holm-wood," whispered Marten, +laying his forepaws on Bantam's breast to hold him near him, +"and find his daughter. Tell her that young Ferret is a +scapegrace and a good-for-nothing fellow, and that Judge Fox +has sent him to prison. Then tell her that I am very rich, +and that my son Longtail is making a handsome fortune by his +school. This is a delicate matter, Bantam: if you manage +cleverly, I will be your friend through life; if you betray +me, mark this." And the old man clapped his paw on the +cutlass he usually wore by his side. + +Bantam, glad to get out of his clutches on any terms, +promised the strictest compliance, and flew rather than ran +back to his farmyard as soon as he was released. There the +first person he saw was his wife, who had returned, and was +wondering what had become of him. To her, of course, he told +all his strange adventure, and she, silly thing, went +immediately and cackled the whole story to Dame Goose; who +told it to one of the young Goslings, who told it to old +Mr. Drake; he quacked it about so loudly that his wife and +children soon learned it; and in ten minutes there was not +one in all Holm-farm who did not know of this wonderful +adventure. As for performing his promise, we must do Mr. +Bantam the credit of saying he never for a moment thought of +being such a silly, for he well knew that the day which saw +him enter Old Weasel's house would be his last. + + + [Illustration: MR. BANTAM'S INTERVIEW WITH OLD MARTEN.] + +CHAPTER III. + +After old Marten had let Bantam go, he himself went straight +to his son, whom he found engaged in his professional +pursuits. At the moment of his father's entry, young +Longtail was hearing a class of the young Rabbits, on one of +whom he was inflicting summary chastisement for great +neglect and carelessness in his arithmetic. The poor young +fellow was squeaking terribly, and his three brothers, with +tears in their eyes, were trying with all their might to +cast up their sums on their slates, which shook so in +their hands that they could scarce see the figures. Their +master left off the beating when he saw his father, and +consequently young Rabbit, for the first and perhaps only +time in his life, was very glad to see the old man. The +class was dismissed; and if you had seen these four +youngsters scamper off, shaking their white tails and +jumping half a yard high as they ran to the Warren, +you would have thought it was a good thing to have the +light-heartedness of children. + +The Martens, father and son, retired up an oak-tree, at the +old man's request, to talk over their private affairs. When +the son heard of his father's plans, and how young Ferret +had been arrested, he was struck dumb with amazement. He had +never dreamed that his father would interfere in such a +matter; and if the truth must be told, he was already +engaged to Miss Pussy, the eldest daughter of old Mrs. Hare +of the Ferns. + +However, he knew better than to contradict his father's +intentions too suddenly, for he felt assured that the old +man would cut him off with a shilling if he were to offend +him; so he pretended to acquiesce in all that was said, +and promised compliance in every particular. + +But as soon as his father had bidden him farewell, and +had got out of sight, young Longtail ran as fast as his +legs would carry him to the cavern where the doctor was +imprisoned, paid the amount of the debt for which he had +been arrested, and took young Ferret home with him to +consult about their future conduct. + + [Illustration: LONGTAIL TEACHING THE YOUNG RABBITS + ARITHMETIC.] + +It would have amused you, could you have heard all the plans +discussed by these young lovers for their joint benefit; how +the one talked of his darling Miss Weasel, and the other of +his dear Miss Pussy; how they agreed that in matters of love +every thing was allowable; and how they swore eternal +friendship to each other throughout their lives. + +Two days afterwards it was known all over Holm-wood that the +fair Miss Weasel had eloped with Longtail Marten. Mrs. Goose +and the four Miss Goslings were full of the information for +every one they met. It was the finest piece of scandal they +had known for years. "Only think," said they, "after all her +engagement to young Doctor Ferret, to go and take up with +the schoolmaster; and all, forsooth, because Old Marten is +rich!" + +But scarce had the first news of Miss Weasel's extraordinary +behaviour run through the farm-yard, than old Bantam was +seen hurrying in, very red in the face from over exertion, +and was heard to declare, that he never knew the like of it, +but as sure as he was a living cock, he had met young Ferret +the physician running away with Miss Pussy, the daughter of +old Mrs. Hare of the Ferns. Mrs. Goose turned up the whites +of her eyes and almost fainted. Dame Partlett ran with +all speed, that she might be the first to cackle the +intelligence to Mr. Drake; and the whole island was soon +in a ferment at this wonderful piece of gossip. + +Of course, old Mr. Marten soon heard of all this; and so +pleased was he that he immediately altered his will, +doubling the amount he had previously given to his dear boy +Longtail, and getting so extremely excited at the "Huntsman +and Hounds" on the same afternoon, that, sad to relate, he +was untimely carried off by an effusion of blood. + +And what think you became of the lovers? Why, the very day +all this commotion happened at Holm-wood the two pair met at +their aunt's, old Mrs. Stoat's, of Four-mile Cross, as they +had agreed. There the young fellows, overjoyed at the +success of their scheme, changed their fair partners, and, +to complete their happiness, immediately set out for a tour +on the neighbouring Continent. + +There, on fine summer evenings, you might often have seen +the doctor and his beloved quietly strolling by wood-sides +and along the banks of the green meadows, listening intently +to the warbling of the tender birds they loved so much; +while young Longtail Marten and his bride, fonder of more +boisterous excitement, devoted themselves to the pleasures +of the chase, scouring rapidly over hill and dale whenever +they heard the huntsman's loud horn, or the hounds' deeper +notes; and never so happy as when, after the sports of the +day were done, they finished up with a ball, and danced +joyously till the next day's dawn. + + [Illustration: JACK HARE AND GRACE MARTEN LEADING OFF + THE BALL.] + +As for the good folks at Holm-wood, as soon as Mrs. Hare +discovered that her daughter had run away, she sent for her +eldest son, Jack Hare, who lived in a farm close by, and +asked him to pursue his sister and bring her back; but Jack +said she was quite old enough to know her own mind, and that +he would have nothing to do with it. When, however, the old +lady learned that her daughter was married to the rich young +Marten, and not to the poor physician, then she was greatly +rejoiced, though she confessed she could not make out why +her dear child Pussy should run away with the doctor and +then marry the schoolmaster; but she supposed it was all +right. + +As for Jack, when he heard that old Mr. Marten had died, +leaving great riches behind him, he, to follow the fashion, +fell in love with Grace, the only daughter of the deceased, +and only sister of Longtail. Miss Grace listened favourably +to Jack's suit--for she was very lonely now her father was +dead, and her brother away; and as there was no papa to +consult in their case, they got married quietly at home, +and asked all their neighbours to a ball, when Jack Hare and +Grace Marten (that was) led off the polka in grand style, +greatly to the admiration of all the young folks in the +island. + + + + +THE WONDERFUL HARE-HUNT. + + +Merrily sounded the cock's shrill horn, and brightly shone +the early morning sun, when a party of young sportsmen set +out to the field, armed with their guns and game-bags. Four +beaters from the neighbouring village attended them, each +with a long stick to rout the hares and rabbits from their +hiding-places. Gaily went they forth, these merry sportsmen +and their helpers; light was their step across the green +meadows and up the sandy hill-sides; loud was their laughter +when one of them, trying to jump through a broken hedge, +fell into the neighbouring ditch; great was their mirth when +another's gun went off and lamed a squirrel in an adjoining +tree; and joyous was the shout with which they scared a +frightened rabbit from its morning meal. + +At last the sportsmen came to the side of a wood, and one of +the beaters reported that just round the corner of the +palings he could see nearly a dozen hares feeding together. +A council of war was summoned; each sportsman looked to the +priming of his gun, and trod with a more cautious step; each +beater bent his head nearly to the ground, and crept along +the grass. A plan of attack was formed; the beaters stole +within the wood to stop the hares that way, while the +sportsmen suddenly appearing on the other side, caused the +poor hares, surrounded as they were, to run into the very +jaws of destruction. They that leaped towards the wood +received blows on their heads from the beaters; they that +ran down the hill met Ponto the dog, who pounced on them +open-mouthed; and they that ran upwards were soon sent +downwards again, toppling head over heels, killed by the +fire of the enemy. Not a hare escaped. The gun-bearers took +deadly aim, and Ponto and the beaters prevented their +flight. + +While the young sportsmen and their helpers were yet picking +up the hares and rejoicing at their good fortune, the sky +became quickly overcast, black clouds gathered, and a +hurricane of wind swept through the wood, tearing off large +branches of the trees. The sportsmen stood amazed at the +suddenness of the storm, but presently their amazement was +changed to fear; for, riding in a bright chariot drawn by +six snow-white swans,--blown swiftly by the wind,--there +appeared a lady of fairy-like beauty. At her command the +beautiful birds stayed their flight, and the chariot rested +on the green turf close by the sportsmen. + +"Young men," said the lady in a melodious but mournful +voice, as she pointed to the dead hares, "you have murdered +these poor innocents for your sport: know, I am the fairy +called KINDNESS, and these hares were all of them my +friends. In punishment for your cruelty, you sportsmen shall +be changed into Martens, and you attendants into Weasels. +In such shapes you may pursue your cruel sports; you are not +worthy of the forms of men." And, waving her wand, the swans +bore her instantly out of sight. + +They who live in this country say that every old +Michaelmas-day, five martens and four weasels, with long +sticks, may still be seen hunting hares near this wood; +sometimes a dog's bark is heard and a shrill whistle, but +if any of mankind appear in their sight, the creatures run +quickly away, and hide themselves in the wood. + + + + + [Illustration: THE DUEL OF THE DORMICE.] + +THE DUEL OF THE DORMICE. + + +Out in the fields, in the hollow of an old willow-tree, two +Dormice slept the whole winter long. They neither ate nor +drank, nor did they so much as raise their heads from their +pillows during all this dreary time. A ray of sunshine, as +the sun passed right over their tree, would perhaps make one +of them stretch out his paws; but as soon as the gleam had +passed and left them, he would curl himself up all the +closer in his nest, and go faster asleep than ever. + +But the sun came one bright spring morning, and shone on the +Dormice so warmly, that they turned round in their bed, +stretched their paws, rubbed their eyes, yawned, and at last +woke quite up. + +"It is summer-time at last," said the elder Dormouse, as he +took a nut from his store of provisions and cracked it, "and +we may now leave our winter's bed." "I don't believe it," +replied the younger. "The wind blows cold; I shall go to +sleep again." + +"Ah, that's like your laziness," rejoined the elder; "sleep +on; I'm off to the wood." And so saying, he scrambled up the +tree, then down the outside of the trunk, and so into the +wide meadows. + +The younger Dormouse went to sleep. He slept for an hour, +then he woke again, and finding his companion gone, he +turned to the food and ate a hearty meal; then he slept +again, but the sun had made his bed too hot: so he presently +woke and made another attack on the provisions; and this he +did the whole day long, until, at evening time, all the corn +and nuts which the two Dormice had so diligently collected +in the autumn, were gone. Soon the moon rose, and the young +one curled himself for sleep. + +In the meantime the elder had wandered about the fields; +but the earth was wet, and no corn or fruit was ripe, so at +night he returned to his nest wet and hungry. He ran +straight to the store-room for food; but what was his +surprise when he found nothing left but a few barley-corns! +His cries woke his companion, from whom he demanded the +provisions; the younger one muttered that he knew nothing +about them, and pretended to sleep; but the unfortunate +adventurer, driven to desperation by hunger, flew into a +rage and struck the other with his claws: a fight ensued, +and the whole neighbourhood was alarmed at the outcry. + +Two Moles who were passing by the foot of the tree, hearing +this dreadful noise, called out to the combatants to stop. +The Dormice fearing it might be some of the Weasels who +spoke, were silent instantly, and then the Moles bade them +come out. + +So the Dormice came down to the Moles; and when the Moles +found that the silly creatures were bent on their quarrel, +they insisted that the combat should be with swords. +Moreover, they offered to play the part of seconds, and to +dig a grave for the vanquished. + +To all this the Dormice consented; the Moles found an old +trap, and from the iron parts they fashioned rude swords. +These they measured, and gave to the combatants; and then, +with their long spades in their hands, they awaited the +issue of the affray. It was fierce and desperate. The hungry +one fought with fury, but he who had had a good feast was +the stronger and the calmer: at last the younger one drove +his sword right through the body of the elder; but the elder +at the same moment clove his opponent's head asunder, and so +they fell dead together. And the Moles dug a deep hole, and +buried both the Dormice in the same grave. + + + + + [Illustration: THE KITTENS AT TEA--MISS PAULINA SINGING.] + +THE SIX KITTENS. + + +Once upon a time a cat had six kittens, whom she brought up +in the most genteel manner. No one could say that their +education was in any wise neglected, for besides being +taught the ordinary duties of life by their mother, such as +mouse-hunting, fish-stealing, and bird-catching, they +received instructions in the arts of singing, and playing +the harp and the piano, and were taught to waltz and dance +the polka with every imaginable grace. Now when the kittens +grew to be of age, it was their custom of an afternoon to +spend some hours at tea and intellectual talk. The youngest +always performed the duties of servant, while one of the +elder ones would entertain the rest by playing airs from the +latest opera, or singing a love-song, the music of which she +had herself composed. + +It is true some animals who dwelt close by complained of +this music, and called it by all kinds of ill names; but +that is ever the jealous way of the world: and the kittens +frequently performed serenades in their garden by moonlight, +when all who passed by would stay to listen to their melody. + +But to our tale. It happened that, one fine summer's +afternoon, when the kittens were all enjoying themselves at +tea; when Paulina, the eldest, was warbling some of her most +delightful songs, and Violet, the second, was entertaining +the rest, in an under tone, with a little bit of scandal +about a neighbouring Tabby, whom she had seen coming home in +a sad condition about five o'clock in the morning, when she, +Miss Violet, was taking her early walk;--just at this moment +there sounded a tap at the door, and presently in came +Diana, the youngest sister, bearing in her hand more cakes +for tea, and in the plate with them a note addressed to Miss +Rose,--the next to Violet in age, and by most people +considered the beauty of the family. Violet took the letter +eagerly from Diana; but when she saw the address, she +remarked that it was evidently a gentleman's handwriting, +and tossing her head somewhat disdainfully, she handed it to +Miss Rose, who blushed very much, and retired with it to the +sofa. Rose opened the note with trembling paws, and a sweet +smile played on her features as she read its contents; then, +carefully folding it up, she observed to her sisters that it +was merely an invitation for a walk, and springing on to the +back of the sofa, she jumped through the open window, and +retired to her own summer-house up a fine sycamore-tree in +the garden. + +This incident, as may be imagined, caused a great sensation +among the sisters; and all wondered very much who could have +been the writer of the note that had so evidently pleased +Miss Rose. One hoped it was not from that scapegrace Tom who +lived at the Farm-yard; another feared it might come from +young Marten Sable of the Forest; and Violet demanded of her +youngest sister what sort of person it was who had brought +the note. Diana did not know, but believed it was a relation +of old Mr. Weasel, who belonged to the same farm that Tom +did. This set them all guessing again, for it was well known +that Tom and Old Weasel did not speak to each other: and in +the end they were all just as wise as in the beginning. + + [Illustration: ENSIGN SQUEAKER AND MISS ROSE.] + +About seven o'clock the same evening an attentive observer +might have noticed Miss Rose emerging from her door very +quietly, and making the best of her way to the green fields +that bordered the sea-coast close by. An ill-natured person +would have said that Miss Rose had taken especial pains with +her toilet, and that she carried her parasol with a +lack-a-daisical air; but Rose herself, at her last peep in +the glass, had thought that she looked very nicely indeed; +and so it would appear thought Ensign Squeaker (of the +Household Pigade), who, with his regimental sword by his +side, and his pocket telescope in his hand, sauntered along +the pathway, _merely_ to enjoy the beauty of the evening, +and inhale the fresh breezes from the ocean. How it happened +that Young Squeaker and Miss Rose met at the corner of the +cliff, just as the village clock struck the half-past seven, +no one knows; certain only it is that they did meet; and +that after the interchange of the usual compliments, Miss +Rose accepted Mr. Squeaker's proffered arm, and that the +pair wandered about by the sea-shore until the moon rose; +and Miss Rose, in great trepidation at finding it so late, +desired her companion to escort her home. Nor is it known +what Mr. Squeaker said when he bade a fond adieu to his dear +Rose, nor for how long after Rose sat in her arbour in the +garden and watched the bats flitting across the moon. + +It was noticed by the sisters that Rose was very quiet all +the next day, and that at times a tear stood in the corner +of her eye, which she would wipe away, sighing. Many were +the sly allusions to the note of the previous afternoon and +the long evening walk, and no one tormented poor Rose with +her insinuations more than Paulina, who was for some cause +in a most unusual flow of spirits. After tea, Rose took down +her treasured volume, "Pussicat's Poems," and retiring to +the garden, read the tenderest parts. Violet, overcome with +the fatigue of a recent mouse-hunt, went to sleep on the +sofa; the younger ones busied themselves with their crochet +and net-work; and Miss Paulina, saying she was going to call +on a neighbour, with her best lace-bordered handkerchief in +her hand, sallied forth and took her way towards the forest. +Now it so happened that young Marten Sable was leaning +against a tree, tapping his heel with his cane, and +meditating very profoundly at the entrance of the very walk +towards which Paulina bent her steps. He started at her +approach, and with a sad but eager countenance ran to meet +her. + +"What has happened, Marten," cried Paulina, "that you look +so miserable? tell me directly, I implore you;" and placing +her hand on his arm, she looked piteously in his face. +Marten hung his head and seemed overcome with grief; at last +he said in a low husky voice, "We must part, Paulina; but it +will be only for a time; my father has ordered me to set out +for Russia to visit his forests there, and, my darling +Paulina,--how can I bear the thought!--it will be six months +before I see you again." Paulina covered her face with her +paws and wept bitterly; at last rousing herself, she said, +"Let us not, Marten, spend our last evening thus; come, six +months will soon pass, and then--" Here Paulina's voice +dropped, and Marten threw his arms round her waist and +kissed away the tears. + + [Illustration: YOUNG MARTEN BIDDING FAREWELL TO + MISS PAULINA.] + +We know of every word that Marten said to Paulina, and of +Paulina's every reply, for we had it all from a young +hedgehog whose curiosity led her to listen to their talk; +but we think that the hedgehog did wrong to listen, and so, +perhaps, did we to listen to the hedgehog, and so we will +not tell their secrets; but this, we may mention, that they +wandered up and down the pathways of the forest, now and +then pouncing on a stray field-mouse or a poor sleeping +bird, until the moon shone brightly through the trees. And +we know that they parted at length by the sign-post at the +edge of the wood, when Paulina shed many tears, and Marten, +laying his paw upon his heart, vowed ever to be constant to +her, and in all his travels and all his adventures to +remember his sweet Pussy. To have seen how the poor kitten +wept when she went to bed that night, would have grieved a +hard-hearted terrier; and to have seen how melancholy she +looked as she wandered about for three weeks afterwards, +would have drawn pity from a ferocious bull-dog. + +One morning, about seven months after the events we have +narrated, there was a great commotion in the house where the +kittens dwelt; the bells rang, the flags were hoisted, and +little cannon fired. In the papers of the next morning we +read that Ensign Squeaker of the Household Pigade carried +off the beautiful Miss Rose, and young Marten Sable of the +Forest his fair prize Miss Paulina, both on the same day. + +May they all enjoy much felicity, and may the brides catch +plenty of mice! + + + + + [Illustration: THE FROGS WHO WOULD A-WOOING GO.] + +THE + +FROGS WHO WOULD A-WOOING GO. + + +Two frogs, who were cousins, were hopping about together one +warm summer's evening by the side of a rivulet, when they +began talking--just as the men will talk--about a young +lady-frog who lived in a neighbouring marsh. One extolled +the brightness of her eyes, the other praised the beauty +of her complexion, and somehow the two frogs found out +that they had both fallen in love with the same young +lady-froggy. When they had made this discovery they parted +rather abruptly, and muttered something, the meaning of +which was not very clear. + +"Bless me," said Mr. Croaker, the elder and richer of the +two, "I must not let that young scapegrace Jumper get the +better of me. A pretty joke indeed that _he_ should think of +the beautiful Miss Leapfrog, he who is not worth a rap, and +is as ugly as a toad." + +"Who would have thought," said Jumper to himself, "that that +old curmudgeon Croaker was going to make love to that dear +young Miss Leapfrog? We will soon see whom she likes best." + +The next morning Croaker dressed himself with unusual +neatness; and that he might appear to better advantage, he +went to a barber-frog who lived in a neighbouring arbour, +and asked to be shaved and to have his wig dressed. The +barber had just spread his white cloth, had lathered his +customer's chin, and was flourishing a razor in his face, +when what should catch Croaker's eye through the open +doorway but the figure of his cousin Jumper, smartly +dressed, with his cane under his arm, and a parasol over +his head, to keep the sun off his delicate complexion, +walking hastily along the path that led to Miss Leapfrog's +residence. + +To jump from his chair was Croaker's first impulse, and, sad +to say, it was his last; for he fell with his throat upon +the edge of the barber's razor, and in two minutes breathed +his last. + +Deep was Miss Leapfrog's grief, and great was Mr. Jumper's +joy, when the news of this sad misfortune reached their +ears. In the first burst of her anguish the young lady +accused the barber of having murdered her dear Croaker; but +Mr. Jumper hopped about for joy, and vowed that the barber +was the best frog alive. And well he might be joyful, for as +Croaker had died without a will, Jumper inherited all his +estates; and when, after a week's mourning, the young lady's +grief had somewhat subsided, the happy Mr. Jumper carried +off the beautiful Miss Leapfrog. + +But alas, how uncertain is happiness either to man or +frogs! Two days afterwards, as Jumper was crossing a brook, +a lily-white duck, who had been concealed by the rushes, +flew at him with open beak and gobbled him up. + +And the poor bride was left to mourn in silent solitude. + + + + + [Illustration: REYNARD AT HOME AT MALEPARDUS.] + +THE STORY + +OF + +REYNARD THE FOX. + + +About the feast of Whitsuntide, when the woods were in their +lustyhood and gallantry, when every tree was clothed in the +green and white livery of glorious leaves and sweet-smelling +blossoms, when the earth was covered with her fairest mantle +of flowers, and the sweet birds entertained the groves with +the delight of their harmonious songs, the LION, the Royal +King of Beasts, made solemn proclamation that all quadrupeds +whatsoever should attend his court, and celebrate this great +festival. + +Now when the king had assembled all his subjects together, +there was no one absent save Reynard the Fox, against whom +many grievous accusations were laid. First came Isegrim the +Wolf, with all his family and kindred, who, standing before +the King complained loudly how that Reynard had ill-treated +his wife and children. Then there came a little hound named +Curtise, who accused the Fox of having stolen his pudding in +the extreme cold winter-time, when he was nigh dying of +starvation. But scarcely had the hound finished his tale, +when, with a fiery countenance, in sprang Tibert the Cat, +and accused Curtise of having stolen this pudding from +himself, and declared that Reynard had righteously taken it +away. + +Then rose the Panther: "Do you imagine, Tibert," quoth he, +"that Reynard ought not to be complained of? The whole world +knows that he is a murderer, a vagabond, and a thief." + +Then quoth Grimbard the Badger, Reynard's nephew: "It is a +common proverb, _Malice never spake well_: what can you say +against my kinsman the fox? All these complaints seem to me +to be either absurd or false. Mine uncle is a gentleman, +and cannot endure falsehood. I affirm that he liveth as a +recluse; he chastiseth his body, and weareth a shirt of +hair-cloth. It is above a year since he hath eaten any +flesh; he hath forsaken his castle Malepardus, and abandoned +all his wealth; he lives only upon alms and good men's +charities, doing infinite penance for his sins; so that he +has become pale and lean with praying and fasting." + +While Grimbard was still speaking, there came down the hill +Chanticleer the Cock, and with him two hens, who brought +with them on a bier their dead sister Copple, who had just +been murdered by Reynard. Chanticleer smote piteously his +feathers, and, kneeling before the King, spake in this +manner: + + [Illustration: REYNARD IN THE LIKENESS OF A HERMIT.] + +"Most merciful and my great Lord the King, vouchsafe, I +beseech you, to hear our complaint, and redress the injuries +which Reynard the Fox has done to me and my children. Not +longer ago than last April, when the weather was fair, and I +was in the height of my pride and glory, because of my eight +valiant sons and seven fair daughters, who were strong and +fat, and who walked in safety in a yard well-fenced round, +wherein also were several large dogs for their protection, +Reynard, that false and dissembling traitor, came to me in +the likeness of a hermit, and brought me a letter to read, +sealed with your Majesty's seal, in which I found written, +that your Highness had made peace throughout all your realm, +and that no manner of beast or fowl should do injury one to +another; affirming unto me, that, for his own part, he was +become a monk, vowing to perform a daily penance for his +sins; shewing unto me his beads, his books, and the hair +shirt next to his skin; saying, in humble wise, unto me, +'Sir Chanticleer, never henceforth be afraid of me, for I +have vowed never more to eat flesh. I am now waxed old, and +would only remember my soul; therefore I take my leave, for +I have yet my noon and my evensong to say.' Which spake, he +departed, saying his Credo as he went, and laid him down +under a hawthorn. At this I was exceeding glad, that I took +no heed, but went and clucked my children together, and +walked without the wall, which I shall ever rue; for false +Reynard, lying under a bush, came creeping betwixt us and +the gate, and suddenly surprised one of my children, which +he trussed up and bore away, to my great sorrow; for, having +tasted the sweetness of our flesh, neither hunter nor hound +can protect or keep him from us. Night and day he waits upon +us, with that greediness, that of fifteen of my children, he +hath left me but four unslaughtered; and yesterday, Copple, +my daughter, which here lieth dead on this bier, was, after +her murder, rescued from him. This is my complaint, and this +I leave to your Highness's mercy to take pity on me, and the +loss of my fair children." + +Then spake the King: "Sir Grimbard, hear you this of your +uncle the recluse? he hath fasted and prayed well: believe +me, if I live a year, he shall dearly abide it. As for you, +Chanticleer, your complaint is heard, and shall be cured; to +your daughter that is dead we will give the right of burial, +and with solemn dirges bring her to the earth, with +worship." + +After this the King sent for his lords and wisest +counsellors, to consult how this foul murder of Reynard's +might be punished. And in the end, it was concluded that +Reynard should be sent for, and without all excuse, he +should be commanded to appear before the King, to answer +whatever trespasses should be objected against him; and that +this message should be delivered by Bruin the Bear. + +To all this the King gave consent, and calling the bear +before him, he said, "Sir Bruin, it is our pleasure that you +deliver this message; yet in the delivery thereof have great +regard to yourself; for Reynard is full of policy, and +knoweth how to dissemble, flatter, and betray; he hath a +world of snares to entangle you withal, and without great +exercise of judgment, will make a scorn and mock of the best +wisdom breathing." + +"My Lord," answered Sir Bruin, "let me alone with Reynard; +I am not such a truant in discretion to become a mock to his +knavery;" and thus, full of jollity, the bear departed. + +The next morning Bruin set out in quest of the fox; +and after passing through a dark forest and over a high +mountain, he came to Malepardus, Reynard's chiefest and most +ancient castle. Reynard was at home, and pretended to be ill +with eating too much honey. When the bear heard this, he was +extremely desirous of knowing where such excellent food +could be obtained; and Reynard promised to take him to a +garden where he should find more honey-combs than ten bears +could eat at a meal. But the treacherous rascal took him to +a carpenter's yard, where lay the trunk of a huge oak-tree, +half-riven asunder, with two great wedges in it, so that the +cleft stood a great way open. "Behold now, dear uncle," said +the fox, "within this tree is so much honey that it is +unmeasurable." The bear, in great haste, thrust his nose and +fore-paws into the tree; and immediately Reynard pulled out +the two great wedges, and caught Bruin in so sharp a trap, +that the poor beast howled with pain. This noise quickly +brought out the carpenter, who, perceiving how matters +stood, alarmed the whole village, who came and belaboured +the bear's sides with sticks and hoes and pitchforks, until, +mad with rage, he tore his bleeding face and paws from the +tree, and rushed blindly into a river that ran close by, +knocking into the water with him many of the villagers, and +among them, Dame Julock, the parson's wife, for whose sake +every one bestirred himself; and so poor Bruin got safe +away. After some delay, the bear returned to the court, +where, in dismal accents, he recounted the sad trick that +Reynard had played him. + +Then said the King, "Now, by my crown, I will take such +revenge as shall make that traitor tremble;" and sending for +his counsellors, they decided that Reynard should be again +summoned to court, and that Tibert the Cat should be the +bearer of the message. "It is your wisdom, Sir Tibert, I +employ," said the great King, "and not your strength: many +prevail with art, when violence returns with lost labour." + +So Tibert made ready, and set out with the King's letter to +Malepardus, where he found the fox standing before his +castle-gates; to whom Tibert said, "Health to my fair cousin +Reynard; the King, by me, summons you to the court, in which +if you fail, there is nothing more assured unto you than a +cruel and a sudden death." + +The fox answered, "Welcome, dear cousin Tibert; I obey your +command, and wish my Lord the King infinite days of +happiness; only let me entreat you to rest with me to-night, +and take such cheer as my simple house affordeth, and +to-morrow, as early as you will, we will go towards the +court, for I have no kinsman I trust so dearly as yourself." + +Tibert replied, "You speak like a noble gentleman; and +me-thinks it is best now to go forward, for the moon shines +as bright as day." + +"Nay, dear cousin," said the fox, "let us take the day +before us, so may we encounter with our friends; the night +is full of danger." + +"Well," said the cat, "if it be your pleasure, I am content; +what shall we eat?" + +Reynard said, "Truly my store is small; the best I have is a +honey-comb, pleasant and sweet; what think you of it?" + +To which Tibert replieth, "It is meat I little respect, and +seldom eat; I had rather have one mouse than all the honey +in Europe." + +"A mouse!" said Reynard; "why, my dear cousin, here dwelleth +a priest hard by, who hath a barn by his house so full of +mice, that I think half the wagons in the parish are not +able to bear them." + +"Oh, dear Reynard," quoth the cat, "do but lead me thither, +and make me your servant for ever." + +"Why," said the fox, "love you mice so exceedingly?" + +"Beyond expression," quoth the cat. + + [Illustration: SIR TIBERT DELIVERING THE KING'S MESSAGE.] + +Then away they went with all speed to the priest's barn, +which was well walled about with a mud wall, where, but the +night before, the fox had broken in and stolen an exceeding +fat hen, at which the priest was so angry, that he had set a +snare before the hole to catch him at his next coming, which +the false fox knew of; and therefore said to the cat, "Sir +Tibert, creep in at this hole, and believe it, you shall not +tarry a minute's space but you shall have more mice than you +are able to devour; hark, you may hear how they peep. When +you have eaten your fill, come again, and I will stay and +await for you here at this hole, that to-morrow we may go +together to the court; but, good cousin, stay not too long, +for I know my wife will hourly expect us." + +Then Tibert sprang quickly in at the hole, but was presently +caught fast by the neck in the snare, which as soon as the +cat felt, he quickly leaped back again; and the snare +running close together, he was half-strangled, so that he +began to struggle and cry out and exclaim most piteously. + +Then the priest, hearing the outcry, alarmed all his +servants, crying out, "The Fox is taken!" and away they all +ran to where poor Tibert was caught in the snare, and, +without finding out their mistake, they beat him most +unmercifully, and cruelly wounded one of his eyes. The cat, +mad with pain, suddenly gnawed the cord, and seizing the +priest by the legs, bit him and tore him in such a way that +he fell down in a swoon, and then, as every one ran to help +his master, Tibert leaped out of the hole, and limped as +fast as his wounded legs would carry him to the court, where +the King was infinitely angry at the treatment he had +received. + +Then Grimbard the Badger, Reynard's nephew, fearing it +was likely to go hard with his uncle, offered to go to +Malepardus and take the King's message to his most subtle +kinsman; to which his Majesty graciously consented. So +Grimbard set forth; and when he came to Malepardus, he found +Reynard with Dame Ermelin his wife sporting with their +children. When Grimbard had delivered the King's letter, +Reynard found that it would be better for him to shew +himself at court at once; so bidding an affectionate +farewell to his dear wife and children, he immediately set +out with the badger to go with him before the King. On his +way, Reynard, remembering the heavy crimes he had committed, +and fearing that his end was at hand, desired of the holy +Grimbard, who had always led a hermit's life, that he would +hear him confess, and set him a penance for his sins. +Grimbard bade him proceed. And the fox confessed how +shamefully he had ill-used the bear, and the cat, and the +wolf, and Chanticleer's children, and many other ill-doings +during his life; and when he had finished, he knelt before +Grimbard, and said, "Thus have I told you my wickedness; now +order my penance, as shall seem fit in your discretion." + +Grimbard was both learned and wise; and therefore brake a +rod from a tree, and said, "Uncle, you shall three times +strike your body with this rod, and then lay it down upon +the ground, and spring three times over it without bowing +your legs or stumbling; then shall you take it up and kiss +it gently, in sign of meekness and obedience to your +penance; which done, you are absolved of your sins committed +up to this day, for I pronounce unto you clear remission." + +At this the fox was exceeding glad; and immediately he +performed the penance to Grimbard's satisfaction. But as +they went journeying on, it happened that they passed by the +poultry-yard of a convent; and as one young cock strayed far +from the rest, Reynard leaped at him, and caught him by the +feathers, but the cock escaped. + +"Villain that you are," said Grimbard, "will you, for a +silly pullet, fall again into your sins?" + +To which Reynard answered, "Pardon me, dear nephew, I had +forgotten myself; but I will ask forgiveness, and mine eye +shall no more wander." + +However, Grimbard noted that he turned many times to look at +the poultry. But soon afterwards they arrived at the court. + +As soon as it was bruited in the court that Reynard the Fox +and Grimbard his kinsman were arrived there, every one, from +the highest to the lowest, prepared himself to complain +of the fox; at which Reynard's heart quaked, but his +countenance kept the old look, and he went as proudly as +ever he was wont with his nephew through the high street, +and came as gallantly into the court as if he had been the +King's son, and as clear from trespass as the most innocent +whosoever; and when he came before the chair of state in +which the King sat, he said, "Heaven give your Majesty glory +and renown above all the princes of the earth." + +But the King cut him short at these words, and said: "Peace, +traitorous Reynard; think you I can be caught with the music +of your words? no, it hath too oft deceived me; the peace +which I commanded and swore unto, that have you broken." + +Then Bellin the Ram, and Oleway his wife, and Bruin the +Bear, and Tibert the Cat, and Isegrim the Wolf, and Kyward +the Hare, and Bruel the Goose, and Baldwin the Ass, and +Bortle the Bull, and Hamel the Ox, and Chanticleer the Cock, +and Partlett the Hen, and many others, came forward; and all +these with one entire noise cried out against the fox, and +so moved the King with their complaints, that the fox was +taken and arrested. + +Upon this arrest, a parliament was called; and +notwithstanding that he answered every objection severally, +and with great art, Reynard was condemned, and judgment +was given that he should be hanged till his body was dead; +at which sentence the fox cast down his head, for all +his jollity was lost, and no flattery nor no words now +prevailed. + +Then Isegrim on the one side and Bruin on the other led the +poor fox to the gallows, Tibert running before with the +halter. And when they were come to the place of execution, +the King and the Queen, and all the rest of the nobility, +took their places to see the fox die. + +When all things were prepared, the fox said: "Now my heart +is heavy, for death stands in all his horror before me, +and I cannot escape. My dread Lord the King, and you my +sovereign Lady the Queen, and you my lords that stand to +behold me die, I beseech you grant me this charitable boon, +that I may unlock my heart before you, and clear my soul of +her burdens, so that hereafter no man may be blamed for me; +which done, my death will be easy." + +Every creature now took compassion on the fox, and said his +request was small, beseeching the King to grant it, which +was done; and then the fox thus spake: "Help me, Heaven, +for I see no man here whom I have not offended; yet was this +evil no natural inclination in me, for in my youth I was +accounted as virtuous as any breathing. This know, I have +played with the lambs all the day long, and taken delight in +their pretty bleating; yet at last in my play I bit one, and +the taste of its blood was so sweet unto me, that I approved +the flesh, and both were so good, that since I could never +forbear it. This liquorish humour drew me into the woods +amongst the goats, where hearing the bleating of the little +kids, I slew one of them, and afterwards two more, which +slaughter made me so hardy, that then I fell to murder hens, +geese, and other poultry. And thus my crimes increased by +custom, and fury so possessed me, that all was fish which +came to my net. After this, in the winter season, I met with +Isegrim, where, as he lay hid under a hollow tree, he +unfolded unto me how he was my uncle, and laid the pedigree +down so plain, that from that day forth we became fellows +and companions; which knot of friendship I may ever curse, +for then began the flood of our thefts and slaughters. He +stole the great things, I the small; he murdered nobles, +I the mean subjects; and in all our actions his share was +still ever the greatest: when he got a ram or a calf, his +fury would hardly afford me the horns to pick on; nay, when +he had an ox or a cow, after himself, his wife, and his +seven children were served, nothing remained to me but the +bare bones to pick. This I speak not in that I wanted (for +it is well known I have more plate, jewels, and coin than +twenty carts are able to carry), but only to shew his +ingratitude." + +When the King heard him speak of this infinite treasure and +riches, his heart grew inflamed with a desire thereof; and +he said, "Reynard, where is that treasure you speak of?" + +The fox answered: "My Lord, I shall willingly tell you, for +it is true the wealth was stolen; and had it not been stolen +in that manner which it was, it had cost your highness your +life (which Heaven, I beseech, keep ever in protection)." + +When the Queen heard that dangerous speech, she started, and +said: "What dangers are these you speak of, Reynard? I do +command you, upon your soul's health, to unfold these +doubtful speeches, and to keep nothing concealed which +concerns the life of my dread Lord." + +Then the fox in these words unfolded to the King and Queen +this most foul treason: "Know, then, my dread sovereign Lord +the King, that my father, by a strange accident, digging in +the ground, found out King Ermerick's great treasure,--a +mass of jewels infinite and innumerable; of which being +possessed, he grew so proud and haughty, that he held in +scorn all the beasts of the wilderness, which before had +been his kinsmen and companions. At last he caused Tibert +the Cat to go into the vast forest of Arden to Bruin the +Bear, and to tender to him his homage and fealty; and to say +that if it would please him to be king, he should come into +Flanders, where he would shew him means how to set the crown +upon his head. Bruin was glad of this embassage (for he was +exceeding ambitious, and had long thirsted for sovereignty), +and thereupon came into Flanders, where my father received +him nobly. Then presently he sent for the wise Grimbard, my +nephew, and for Isegrim the Wolf, and for Tibert the Cat; +then these five coming between Gaunt and the village called +Elfe, they held a solemn council for the space of a whole +night, in which, by the assistance of the evil one, and the +strong confidence of my father's riches, it was there +concluded that your Majesty should be forthwith murdered; +which to effect, they took a solemn oath in this manner: the +bear, my father, the badger, and the cat, laying their hands +on Isegrim's crown, swore, first to make Bruin their king, +and to place him in the chair of estate at Acon, and to set +the imperial diadem on his head; and if by any of your +Majesty's blood and alliance they should be gainsaid, that +then my father with his treasure should hire those which +should utterly chase and root them out of the forest. Now +after this determination held and finished, it happened that +my nephew Grimbard being on a time high flown with wine, +he discovered this dread plot to Dame Slopecade his wife, +commanding her upon her life to keep secret the same; but +she, forgetful of her charge, disclosed it in confession to +my wife, as they went a pilgrimage over an heath, with like +conjuration of secrecy. But she, woman-like, contained it no +longer than till she met with me, and gave me a full +knowledge of all that had passed, yet so as by all means +I must keep it secret too, for she had sworn by the three +kings of Cologne never to disclose it: and withal she gave +me such assurance by certain tokens, that I right well found +all was true which she had spoken; insomuch that the very +affright thereof made my hair stand upright, and my heart +become like lead, cold and heavy in my bosom. + +"But to proceed from this sorrow, I began to meditate how +I might undo my father's false conspiracies, who sought to +bring a base traitor and a slave into the throne imperial; +for I well perceived, as long as he held the treasure, there +was a possibility of deposing your Majesty. And this +troubled my thought exceedingly, so that I laboured how I +might find out where my father's treasure was hid; and to +that end I watched and attended night and day in the woods, +in the bushes, and in the open fields; nay in all places +wheresoever my father laid his eyes, there was I ever +watching and attending. Now it happened on a time, as I was +laid down flat on the ground, I saw my father come running +out of a hole, and as soon as he was come out, he gazed +round about him, to see if any discovered him; then seeing +the coast clear, he stopped the hole with sand, and made it +so even, smooth, and plain, that no curious eye could +discern a difference betwixt it and the other earth; and +where the print of his foot remained, that with his tail he +stroked over, and with his mouth so smoothed, that no man +might perceive it: and indeed that and many other subtilties +I learned of him there at that instant. When he had thus +finished, away he went towards the village about his private +affairs. Then went I presently towards the hole, and +notwithstanding all his subtilty, I quickly found it out; +and then entered I the cave, where I found that innumerable +quantity of treasure, which cannot be expressed; which +found, I took Ermelin my wife to help me; and we ceased not, +day nor night, with infinite great toil and labour, to carry +and convey away this treasure to another place, much more +convenient for us, where we laid it safe from the search of +any creature. + +"Thus by my art only was the treason of Bruin defeated, for +which I now suffer. From hence sprang all my misfortune, as +thus: those foul traitors, Bruin and Isegrim, being of the +King's privatest council, and sitting in high and great +authority, tread upon me, poor Reynard, and work my +disgrace, notwithstanding, for your Majesty's sake, I have +lost my natural father. O my dread Lord, what is he, or who +can tender you a better affection, thus to lose himself to +save you?" + +Then the King and Queen, having great hope to get this +inestimable treasure from Reynard, took him from the gibbet; +and the King taking a straw from the ground, pardoned the +fox of all his trespasses which either he or his father had +ever committed. If the fox now began to smile, it was no +wonder; the sweetness of life required it: yet he fell down +before the King and Queen, and humbly thanked them for +mercy, protesting that for that favour he would make them +the richest princes in the world. + +Then the King began to inquire where all these treasures +were hid, and Reynard told that he had hid them in a wood +called Hustreloe, near a river named Crekinpit. But when the +King said that he had never heard of such a place, Reynard +called forth Kyward the Hare from among the rest of the +beasts, and commanded him to come before the King, charging +him, upon his faith and allegiance which he bore to the King +and Queen, to answer truly to such questions as he should +ask him. + +The hare answered, "I will speak truth in all things, though +I were sure to die for the same." + +Then the fox said, "Know you not where Crekinpit floweth?" + +"Yes," said the hare, "I have known it any time these dozen +years; it runneth in a wood called Hustreloe, upon a vast +and wide wilderness." + +"Well," said the fox, "you have spoken sufficiently; go to +your place again;" so away went the hare. + +Then said the fox, "My sovereign Lord the King, what say you +now to my relation; am I worthy your belief or no?" + + [Illustration: REYNARD BRINGS FORWARD THE HARE AS + HIS WITNESS.] + +The King said, "Yes, Reynard, and I beseech thee excuse my +jealousies; it was my ignorance which did thee evil; +therefore forthwith make preparation that we may go to this +pit where the treasure lieth." + +But the fox answered that he could not go with his Majesty +without dishonour; for that at present he was under +excommunication, and that it was necessary that he should go +to Rome to be absolved, and that from thence he intended to +travel in the Holy Land. "The course you propose is good," +said the King; "go on and prosper in your intent." + +Then the King mounted on a rock, and addressing his +subjects, told them how that, for divers reasons best known +to himself, he had freely given pardon to Reynard, who had +cast his wickedness behind him, and would no more be guilty +of wrongdoing; and furthermore, he commanded them all to +reverence and honour not only Reynard, but also his wife and +children. At this, Isegrim the Wolf and Bruin the Bear +inveighed against the fox in such an unseemly way, that his +Majesty caused them both to be arrested for high treason. +Now when the fox saw this, he begged of the Queen that he +might have so much of the bear's skin as would make him a +large scrip for his journey; and also the skin of the wolf's +feet for a pair of shoes, because of the stony ways he would +have to pass over. To this the Queen consented, and Reynard +saw his orders executed. + +The next morning Reynard caused his new shoes to be well +oiled, and made them fit his feet as tightly as they had +fitted the wolf's. And the King commanded Bellin the Ram to +say mass before the fox; and when he had sung mass and used +many ceremonies over the fox, he hung about Reynard's neck +his rosary of beads, and gave him into his hands a palmer's +staff. + +Then the King took leave of him, and commanded all that were +about him, except the bear and the wolf, to attend Reynard +some part of his journey. Oh! he that had seen how gallant +and personable Reynard was, and how well his staff and his +mail became him, as also how fit his shoes were for his +feet, it could not have chosen but have stirred in him very +much laughter. But when they had got onward on their way, +the fox entreated all the beasts to return and pray for him, +and only begged of Bellin the Ram and Kyward the Hare that +they would accompany him as far as Malepardus. + +Thus marched these tree together; and when Reynard was come +to the gates of his own house, he said to Bellin, "Cousin, I +will entreat you to stay here without a little, whilst I and +Kyward go in." Bellin was well content; and so the fox and +the hare went into Malepardus, where they found Dame Ermelin +lying on the ground with her younglings about her, who had +sorrowed exceedingly for the loss and danger of her husband; +but when she saw his return, her joy was ten times doubled. +But beholding his mail, his staff, and his shoes, she grew +into great admiration, and said, "Dear husband, how have you +fared?" so he told all that had passed with him at the +King's court, as well his danger as his release, and that +now he was to go a pilgrimage. As for Kyward, he said the +King had bestowed him upon them, to do with him what they +pleased, affirming that Kyward was the first that had +complained of him, for which, questionless, he vowed to be +sharply revenged. + + [Illustration: REYNARD ON HIS PILGRIMAGE TO ROME.] + +When Kyward heard these words, he was much appalled, and +would fain have fled away; but he could not, for the fox had +got between him and the gate; who presently seized the hare +by the neck, at which the hare cried unto Bellin for help, +but could not be heard, for the fox in a trice had torn out +his throat; which done, he, his wife, and young ones feasted +therewith merrily, eating the flesh, and drinking to the +King's health. + +All this while stood Bellin the Ram at the gate, and grew +exceeding angry both against the fox and the hare, that they +made him wait so long; and therefore called out aloud for +Reynard to come away, which when Reynard heard, he went +forth, and said softly to the ram, "Good Bellin, be not +offended for Kyward is in earnest conference with his +dearest aunt, and entreated me to say unto you, that if you +would please to walk before he would speedily overtake you, +for he is light of foot and speedier than you: nor will his +aunt part with him thus suddenly, for she and her children +are much perplexed at my departure." + +"Ay, but," quoth Bellin, "methought I heard Kyward cry for +help." + +"How, cry for help? can you imagine he shall receive hurt in +my house? far be such a thought from you; but I will tell +you the reason. As soon as we were come into my house, and +that Ermelin my wife understood of my pilgrimage, presently +she fell down in a swoon, which when Kyward saw, he cried +aloud, 'O Bellin come, help my aunt, she dies, she dies!'" + +Then said the ram: "In sadness I mistook the cry, and +thought the hare had been in danger." + +"It was your too much care of him," said the fox. "But, +letting this discourse pass, you remember, Bellin, that +yesterday the King and his council commanded me that, before +I departed from the land, I should send unto him two +letters, which I have made ready, and will entreat you, +my dearest cousin, to bear them to his Majesty." + +The ram answered: "I would willingly do you the service if +there be nothing but honourable matter contained in your +letters; but I am unprovided of any thing to carry them in." + +The fox said: "That is provided for you already, for you +shall have my mail, which you may conveniently hang about +your neck; I know they will be thankfully received of his +Majesty, for they contain matter of great importance." + +Then Bellin promised to carry them. So the fox returned into +his house, and took the mail, and put therein the head of +Kyward, and brought it to the ram, and gave him a great +charge not to look therein till it was presented to the +King, as he did expect the King's favour; and that he might +further endear himself with his Majesty, he bade the ram +take upon him the inditing of the letters, "which will be so +pleasing to the King, that questionless he will pour upon +you many favours." + +This said, Bellin took leave of the fox and went toward the +court, in which journey he made such speed, that he came +thither before noon, where he found the King in his palace +sitting amongst the nobility. + +The King wondered when he saw the ram come in with the mail +which was made of the bear's skin, and said: "Whence comest +thou, Bellin, and where is the fox, that you have that mail +about you?" + +Bellin answered: "My dread Lord, I attended the noble fox +to his house, where, after some repose, he desired me to +bear certain letters to your Majesty of infinite great +importance, to which I easily consented. Wherefore he +delivered me the letters enclosed in this mail, which +letters I myself indited, and I doubt not but they are +such as will give your highness both contentment and +satisfaction." Presently the King commanded the letters to +be delivered to Bocart, his secretary, who was an excellent +linguist and understood all languages, that he might read +them publicly; so that he and Tibert the Cat took the mail +from Bellin's neck, and opening the same, instead of letters +they drew out the head of Kyward the Hare, at which being +amazed, they said: "Wo and alas, what letters call you +these? Believe it, my dread Lord, here is nothing but the +head of poor murdered Kyward." + +Which the King seeing, he said: "Alas, how unfortunate was +I to believe the traitorous fox!" And with that, being +oppressed with anger, grief, and shame, he held down his +head for a good space, and so did the Queen also. But in the +end, shaking his curled locks, he groaned out such a +dreadful noise, that all the beasts of the forest did +tremble to hear it. + +Then the King, full of wrath, commanded the bear and the +wolf to be released from prison, and gave to them and to +their heirs for ever Bellin and all his generation. + +Thus was peace made between the King and these nobles, and +Bellin the Ram was forthwith slain by them; and all these +privileges doth the wolf hold to this hour, nor could ever +any reconcilement be made between the wolf's and the ram's +kindred. When this peace was thus finished, the King, for +joy thereof, proclaimed a feast to be held for twelve days +after, which was done with all solemnity. + +To this feast came manner all of wild beasts, for it was +known through the whole kingdom, nor was there wanting any +pleasure that could be imagined. Also to this feast resorted +abundance of feathered fowl, and all other creatures that +held peace with his Majesty, and no one missing but the fox +only. + +Now after this feast had thus continued in all pomp the +space of eight days, about high noon came Laprell the Rabbit +before the King and Queen, as they sat at dinner, and with a +heavy and lamentable voice said: "My gracious and great +Lord, have pity upon my misery and attend to my complaint, +which is of great violence which Reynard the Fox would +yesterday have committed against me. As I passed by the +castle of Malepardus, supposing to go peaceably towards my +nest, I saw the fox, standing without his gates, attired +like a pilgrim and telling his beads so devoutly, that I +saluted him; but he, returning no answer, stretched forth +his right foot, and with his pilgrim's staff gave me such a +blow on the neck between the head and shoulders, that I +imagined my head had been stricken from my body; but yet so +much memory was left me that I leaped from his claws, though +most grievously hurt and wounded. At this he was wrathful +extremely, because I escaped; only of one of my ears he +utterly deprived me, which I beseech your Majesty in your +royal nature to pity, and that this bloody murderer may not +live thus to afflict your poor subjects." + +The royal King was much moved with anger when he heard this +complaint, so that his eyes darted out fire amongst the +beams of majesty; his countenance was dreadful and cruel to +look on, and the whole court trembled to behold him. In the +end he said: "By my crown, I will so revenge these outrages +committed against my dignity, that goodness shall adore me, +and the wicked shall die with the remembrance; his falsehood +and flattery shall no more get belief in me. Is this his +journey to Rome and to the Holy Land? are these the fruits +of his mail, his staff, and other ornaments becoming a +devout pilgrim? Well, he shall find the reward of his +treason. I will besiege Malepardus instantly, and destroy +Reynard and his generation from the earth for ever." + + [Illustration: REYNARD ATTACKETH LAPRELL THE RABBIT.] + +When Grimbard heard this, he grew exceedingly sorry, and +stealing from the rest, he made all haste to Malepardus, and +told to his uncle all that had happened. Reynard received +him with great courtesy, and the next morning accompanied +him back to court, confessing on his way many heinous sins, +and obtaining absolution from the badger. The King received +him with a severe and stately countenance, and immediately +asked him touching the complaint of Laprell the Rabbit. + +To which Reynard made answer: "Indeed, sire, what Laprell +received he most richly deserved. I gave him a cake when he +was hungry; and when my little son Rossel wanted to share a +bit, the rabbit struck him on the mouth and made his teeth +bleed; whereupon my eldest son Reynardine forthwith leaped +upon him, and would have slain him had I not gone to the +rescue." Then the rabbit, fearing Reynard, stole away out of +court. + +"But," quoth the King, "I must charge you with another foul +treason. When I had pardoned all your great transgressions, +and you had promised me to go a pilgrimage to the Holy Land; +when I had furnished you with mail, scrip, and all things +fitting that holy order; then, in the greatest despite, you +sent me back in the mail, by Bellin the Ram, the head of +Kyward the Hare; a thing so notoriously to my disgrace and +dishonour, that no treason can be fouler." + +Then spake Reynard to the King, and said, "Alas, my +sovereign Lord, what is that you have said? Is good Kyward +the Hare dead? Oh, where is then Bellin the Ram, or what did +he bring to your Majesty at his return? For it is certain I +delivered him three rich and inestimable jewels, I would not +for the wealth of India they should be detained from you; +the chief of them I determined for you my Lord the King, +and the other two for my sovereign Lady the Queen." + +"But," said the King, "I received nothing but the head of +poor murdered Kyward, for which I executed the ram, he +having confessed the deed to be done by his advice and +counsel." + +"Is this true?" said the fox; "then wo is me that ever I was +born, for there are lost the goodliest jewels that ever were +in the possession of any prince living; would I had died +when you were thus defrauded, for I know it will be the +death of my wife, nor will she ever henceforth esteem me." + +Then Reynard told the King and Queen of the great value of +these inestimable jewels. One was a gold ring, another a +comb polished like unto fine silver, and the third was a +glass mirror; and so great were the virtues of this rare +glass that Reynard shed tears to think of the loss of it. +When the fox had told all this, he thus concluded: "If any +one can charge me with crime and prove it by witness, here +I stand to endure the uttermost the law can inflict upon me; +but if malice only slander me without witness, I crave the +combat, according to the law and instance of the court." + +Then said the King, "Reynard, you say well, nor know I any +thing more of Kyward's death than the bringing of his head +unto me by Bellin the Ram; therefore of it I here acquit +you." + +"My dear Lord," said the fox, "I humbly thank you; yet is +his death grievous unto me." + +But Isegrim the Wolf was not content with this conclusion, +and defied the fox to mortal combat. This challenge the fox +accepted; and the next day was appointed for the meeting. + +When all the ceremonies were done, and none but the +combatants were in the lists, the wolf went toward the fox +with infinite rage and fury, thinking to take him in his +fore-feet; but the fox leaped nimbly from him, and the wolf +pursued him, so that there began a tedious chase between +them, on which their friends gazed. The wolf taking larger +strides than the fox, often overtook him, and lifted up his +feet to strike him; but the fox avoided the blow, and smote +him on the face with his tail, so that the wolf was stricken +almost blind, and was forced to rest while he cleared his +eyes; which advantage when Reynard saw, he scratched up the +dust with his feet, and threw it in the eyes of the wolf. +This grieved him worse than the former, so that he durst +follow him no longer, for the dust and sand sticking in his +eyes smarted so sore, that of force he must rub and wash it +away; which Reynard seeing, with all the fury he had he ran +upon him, and with his teeth gave him three sore wounds on +his head. + +Then the wolf being enraged, said, "I will make an end of +this combat, for I know my very weight is able to crush him +to pieces; and I lose much of my reputation, to suffer him +thus long to contend against me." And this said, he struck +the fox again so sore a blow on the head with his foot, that +he fell down to the ground; and ere he could recover himself +and arise, the wolf caught him in his feet and threw him +under him, lying upon him in such wise, as if he would have +pressed him to death. + +Then the fox bethought himself how he might best get free; +and thrusting his hand down, he caught the wolf fast by the +belly, and he wrung him so extremely hard thereby, that he +made him shriek and howl out with the anguish, and in the +end the wolf fell over and over in a swoon; then presently +Reynard leaped upon him, and drew him about the lists and +dragged him by the legs, and struck, wounded, and bit him in +many places, so that the whole field might take notice +thereof. + +Then a great shout was raised, the trumpets were sounded, +and every one cried, "Honour to the fox for this glorious +conquest." Reynard thanked them all kindly, and received +their congratulations with great joy and gladness. And, the +marshals going before, they went all to the King, guarding +the fox on every side, all the trumpets, pipes, and +minstrelsy sounding before him. + +When Reynard came before the King he fell on his knees, but +the King bade him stand up, and said to him, "Reynard, you +may well rejoice, for you have won much honour this day; +therefore here I discharge you, and set you free to go +whither your own will leads you." So the court broke up, +and every beast returned to his own home. + +With Reynard, all his friends and kinsfolk, to the number of +forty, took their leave also of the King, and went away with +the fox, who was no little glad that he had sped so well, +and stood so far in the King's favour; for now he had power +enough to advance whom he pleased, and pull down any that +envied his fortune. + +After some travel the fox and his friends came to his +borough or castle of Malepardus, where they all, in noble +and courteous manner, took leave of each other, and Reynard +did to every one of them great reverence, and thanked +them for the love and honour he had received from them, +protesting evermore to remain their faithful servant, and to +send them in all things wherein his life or goods might be +available unto them; and so they shook hands and departed. + +Then the fox went to Dame Ermelin his wife, who welcomed him +with great tenderness; and to her and her children he +related at large all the wonders which had befallen him at +court, and missed no tittle or circumstance therein. Then +grew they proud that his fortune was so excellent; and the +fox spent his days from thenceforth, with his wife and +children, in great joy and content. + + +ROBSON, LEVEY, AND FRANKLYN, GREAT NEW STREET. + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + +Errata (noted by transcriber) + + that demure conscience-striken pair [_text unchanged_] + we will give the right of burial + [_text unchanged: error for "rite"?_] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Comical Creatures from Wurtemberg, by Unknown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMICAL CREATURES FROM WURTEMBERG *** + +***** This file should be named 28508.txt or 28508.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/0/28508/ + +Produced by Louise Hope and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +University of Florida, The Internet Archive/Children's +Library) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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