NOW hearken how the Fox began. In the beginning he appealed Grymbart his dear Cousin, which ever had helped him in his need. He did so because his words should be the better believed; and that he further might the better lie on his enemies. Thus began he first and said:
“My lord, my father had found King Ermeryk's treasure dolven in a pit; and when he had this great good, he was so proud and orguillous that he had all other beasts in despite which before had been his fellows. He made Tybert the Cat to go into that wild land of Ardenne to Bruin the Bear for to do him homage, and bade him say, if he would be King that he should come in to Flanders. Bruin the Bear was glad hereof, for he had long desired it, and went forth in to Flanders; where my father received him right friendly. Anon he sent for the wise Grymbart, my nephew, and for Esegrim the Wolf, and for Tybert the Cat. Tho these five came between Gaunt and the thorp called Yfte, there they held their council an whole dark night long. What with the devil's help and craft, and for my father's riches, they concluded and swore there the King's death. Now hearken, and hear this wonder. The four swore upon Esegrim's crown that they should make Bruin a king and a lord, and bring him in the stool at Akon, and set the crown on his head; and if there were any of the King's friends or lineage that would be contrary or against this, him should my father with his good and treasure fordrive, and take from him his might and power.
“It happed so that on a morrowtide early when Grymbart, my nephew, was of wine almost drunk, that he told it to Dame Sloepcade, his wife, in counsel, and bade her keep it secret. But she anon forgot it, and said it forth in confession to my wife upon an heath where they both went a pilgrimage, but she must first swear, by her truth and by the holy Three Kings of Cologne, that for love nor for hate she should never tell it forth, but keep it secret. But she held it not, and kept it no longer secret but till she came to me; and she then told to me all that she heard, but I must keep it in secret. And she told me so many tokens that I felt well it was truth; and for dread and fear my hair stood right up, and my heart became as heavy as lead and as cold as ice. I thought by this a likeness which here aforetime befell to the frosshis which were free and complained that they had none lord nor were not bydwongen, for a comynte without a governor was not good, and they cried to God with a loud voice that he would ordain one that might rule them, this was all that they desired. God heard their request, for it was reasonable, and sent to them a Stork which ate and swallowed them in, as many as he could find; he was alway to them unmerciful. Tho complained they their hurt, but then it was too late; they that were before free and were afraid of nobody are now bound and must obey to strength their king: herefor, you rich and poor, I sorrowed, that it might happen us in likewise.
“Thus, my lord the King, I have had sorrow for you whereof you can me but little thank. I know Bruin the Bear for such a shrew and ravener, wherefore I thought if he were king we should be all destroyed and lost. I know our sovereign lord the King of so high birth, so mighty, so benign and merciful, that I thought truly it had been an evil change for to have a foul stinking thief and to refuse a noble mighty stately Lion; for the Bear has more mad folly in his unthrifty head, and all his ancestors, than any other has. Thus had I in my heart many a sorrow, and thought alway how I might break and foredo my father's false counsel, which of a churl and a traitor and worse than a thief would make a lord and a king. Alway I prayed God that he would keep our King in worship and good health, and grant him long life, but I thought well if my father held his treasure he should with his false fellows well find the way that the King should be deposed and set aside. I was sore bethought how I might best wit where my father's good lay. I awaited at all times as nigh as I could, in woods, in bushes, in fields; where my father laid his eyes; were it by night or by day, cold or wet, I was alway by him to espy and know where his treasure was laid.
“On a time I lay down all plat on the ground and saw my father come running out of an hole. Now hark what I saw him do. When he came out of the hole, he looked fast about if anybody had seen him. And when he could nowhere none see, he stopped the hole with sand and made it even and plain like to the other ground by. He knew not that I saw it. And where his footspore stood, there stryked he with his tail, and made it smooth with his mouth, that no man should espy it. That learned I there of my false father, and many subtleties that I before knew nothing of. Then departed he thence and ran to the village ward for to do his things; and I forgot not, but sprang and leapt to the hole ward, and how well that he had supposed that he had made all fast I was not so much a fool but that I found the hole well, and scratched and scraped with my feet the sand out of the hole, and crept therein. There found I the most plenty of silver and of gold that ever I saw. Here is none so old that ever so much saw on one heap in all his life. Tho took I Ermelyne my wife to help, and we nor rested night nor day to bear and carry away, with great labour and pain, this rich treasure in to another place that lay for us better, under an hawe in a deep hole. In the mean while that my housewife and I thus laboured, my father was with them that would betray the King. Now may you hear what they did. Bruin the Bear and Esegrim the Wolf sent all the land about if any man would take wages that they should come to Bruin and he would pay them their souldyou or wages before. My father ran all over the land and bare the letters. He wist little that he was robbed of his treasure; yea though he might have wonnen all the world, he had not conne find a penny thereof.
“When my father had been over all in the land between the Elbe and the Somme, and had gotten many a soldier that should the next summer have come to help Bruin, tho came he again to the Bear and his fellows, and told them in how great a venture he had be before the boroughs in the land of Saxon, and how the hunters daily ridden and hunted with hounds after him in such wise that he uneasily escaped with his life. When he had told this to these four false traitors, then showed he them letters that pleased much. To Bruin therein were written twelve hundred of Esegrim's lineage by name, without the bears, the foxes, the cats, and the dassen, all these had sworn that with the first messenger that should come for them they should be ready, and come for to help the Bear if they had their wages a month before. This aspied I, I thank God. After these words my father went to the hole where his treasure had lain, and would look upon it. Tho began he a great sorrow; that he sought he found nothing. He found his hole broken, and his treasure borne away. There did he that I may well sorrow and bewail, for great anger and sorrow he went and hung himself. Thus abode the treason of Bruin by my subtilty after. Now see my infortune. These traitors Esegrim and Bruin are now most privy of counsel about the King, and sit by him on the high bench. And I, poor Reynart, have nor thanks nor reward. I have buried my own father, because the King should have his life. My lord,”said the Fox,“where are they that would so do, that is, to destroy them self for to keep you.”
The King and the Queen hoped to win the treasure and without council took to them Reynart and prayed him that he would do so well as to tell them where this treasure was.
Reynart said,“How should I tell the King, or them that would hang me for love of the traitors and murderers which by their flattery would fain bring me to death? Should I tell to them where my good is, then were I out of my wit.”
The Queen then spake,“Nay, Reynart, the King shall let you have your life, and shall altogether forgive you, and you shall be from henceforth wise and true to my lord.”
The Fox answered to the Queen,“Dear lady, if the King will believe me, and that he will pardon and forgive me all my old trespasses, there was never King so rich as I shall make him. For the treasure that I shall do him have is right costly and may not be numbered.”
The King said,“Ach Dame, will you believe the Fox? Save your reverence, he is born to rob, steal, and to lie. This cleaves to his bones, and can not be had out of the flesh.”
The Queen said,“Nay, my lord, you may now well believe him. Though he were before fell, he is now changed otherwise than he was. You have well heard that he has impeached his father and the Dasse his nephew, which he might well have laid on other beasts if he would have been false, fell, and a liar.”
The King said,“Dame, will you then have it so, and think you it best to be don, though I supposed it should hurt me I will take all these trespasses of Reynart upon me and believe his words. But I swear by my crown, if he ever hereafter misdo and trespass, that shall he dear abyou and all his lineage unto the ninth degree.”
The Fox looked on the King stoundmele, and was glad in his heart, and said,“My lord, I were not wise if I should say things that were not true.”
The King took up a straw from the ground, and pardoned and forgave the Fox all the misdeeds and trespasses of his father and of him also. If the Fox was tho merry and glad, it was no wonder; for he was quit of his death and was all free and frank of all his enemies. The Fox said,“My Lord the king and noble Lady the Queen, God reward you this great worship that you do to me. I shall think and also thank you for it in such wise that you shall be the richest king of the world; for there is none living under the sun that I vouchsafe better my treasure on, than on you both.”
Then took the Fox up a straw and proffered it to the King, and said,“My most dear Lord, please it you to receive here the rich treasure which King Ermeryk had. For I give it unto you with a free will, and knowledge it openly.”
The King received the straw, and threw it merely from him with a joyous visage, and thanked much the Fox.
The Fox laughed in himself.
The King then hearkened after the counsel of the Fox. And all that there were were at his will.
“My Lord,”said he,“hearken and mark well my words. In the west side of Flanders there stands a wood and is named Hulsterlo, and a water that is called Krekenpyt lies thereby. This is so great a wilderness, that oft in a whole year man nor wife comes therein, save they that will, and they that will not eschew it. There lies this treasure hidden. Understand well that the place is called Krekenpyt, for I advise you, for the least hurt, that you and my Lady go both thither; for I know none so true that I durst on your behalf trust; wherefore go yourself. And when you come to Krekenpyt you shall find there two birch trees standing althernext the pit. My Lord, to tho birch trees shall you go: there lies the treasure untherdolven. There must you scrape and dig away a little the moss on the one side. There shall you find many a jewel of gold and silver, and there shall you find the crown which king Ermeryk wore in his days. That should Bruin the Bear have worn, if his will had gone forth. You shall see many a costly jewel, with rich stones set in gold work, which cost many a thousand mark. My Lord the King, when you now have all this good, how oft shall you say in your heart and think,‘Oh how true art thou, Reynart the Fox, that with thy subtle wit delvest and hidest this great treasure! God give thee good hap and welfare wherever thou be!’”
The King said,“Sir Reynart, you must come and help us to dig up this treasure. I know not the way. I should never conne find it. I have heard often named Paris, London, Aachen, and Cologne; as me thinks this treasure lies right as you mocked and japed, for you name Krekenpyt. That is a feigned name.”
These words were not good to the Fox, and he said with an angry mood, and dissembled and said,“Yea, my Lord the King, you be also nigh that as from Rome to Maye. Ween you that I will lead you to flume Jordan. Nay, I shall bring you out of weening and show it you by good witness.”
He called loud,“Cuwart the Hare, come here before the King.”The beasts saw all thitherward and wondered what the King would.
The Fox said to the Hare,“Cuwart, are you acold; how tremble you and quake so? Be not afraid; and tell my Lord the King here the truth, and that I charge you, by the faith and truth that you owe him and to my Lady the Queen, of such thing as I shall demand of you.”
Cuwart said,“I shall say the truth, though I should lose my neck therefor. I shall not lie, you have charged me so sore, if I know it.”
“Then say, know you not where Krekenpyt stands? Is that in your mind?”
The Hare said,“I knew that well twelve year agone, where that stands. Why ask you that? It stands in a wood named Hulsterlo, upon a warande in the wilderness. I have suffered there much sorrow for hunger and for cold, yea, more than I can tell. Pater Symonet the Friese was woned to make there false money, wherewith he bare himself out and all his fellowship but that was before ere I had fellowship with Ryn the Hound, which made me escape many a danger; as he could well tell if he were here, and that I never in my days trespassed against the King otherwise than I ought to do with right.”
Reynart said to him,“Go again to yonder fellowship. Hear you, Cuwart? My Lord the King desires no more to know of you.”The Hare returned and went again to the place he came from.
The Fox said,“My Lord the King, is it true that I said?”
“Yea, Reynart,”said the King,“forgive it me; I did evil that I believed you not. Now, Reynart, friend, find the way that you go with us to the place and pit where the treasure lies.”
The Fox said,“It is a wonder thing. Ween you that I would not fain go with you; if it were so with me that I might go with you in such wise that it no shame were unto your lordship, I would go. But nay, it may not be. Hearken what I shall say, and must needs, though it be to me villainy and shame. When Esegrim the Wolf, in the devil's name, went into religion and became a monk shorn in the order, tho the provender of six monks was not sufficient to him, and had not enough to eat, he then plained and wailed so sore that I had pity on him, for he became slow and sick. And because he was of my kin, I gave him counsel to run away, and so he did. Wherefore I stand accursed, and am in the Pope's ban and sentence. I will to-morrow betimes, as the sun rises, take my way to Rome for to be assoiled and take pardon. And from Rome I will over the sea into the Holy Land, and will never return again till I have done so much good that I may with worship go with you. It were great reproof to you, my Lord the King, in what land that I accompanied you that men should say you reysed and accompanied yourself with a cursed and person agravate.”
The King said,“Since that you stand accursed in the censures of the Church, if I went with you men should arette villainy unto my crown. I shall then take Cuwart or some other to go with me to Krekenpyt; and I counsel you, Reynart, that you put you yourself out of this curse.”
“My Lord,”quoth the Fox,“therefore will I go to Rome as hastily as I may. I shall not rest by night nor day till I be assoiled.”
“Reynart,”said the King,“me thinks you are turned into a good way. God give you grace to accomplish well your desire.”
As soon as this speaking was done, Noble the King went and stood upon an high stage of stone and commanded silence to all the beasts, and that they should sit down in a ring round upon the grass, everiche in his place after his estate and birth. Reynart the Fox stood by the Queen, whom he ought well to love. Then said the King,“Hear you all that be poor and rich, young and old, that stands here. Reynart, one of the head officers of my house, had done so evil, which this day should have been hanged, has now in this Court done so much, that I and my wife the Queen have promised to him our grace and friendship. The Queen has prayed much for him, insomuch that I have made peace with him. And I give to him his life and member freely again, and I command you upon your life that you do worship to Reynart and his wife, and to his children, wheresomever you meet them by day or night. And I will also hear no more complaints of Reynart. If he has heretofore misdone and trespassed, he will no more misdo nor trespass, but now better him. He will to-morrow early go to the Pope for pardon and forgiveness of all his sins, and forth over the sea to the Holy Land, and he will not come again till he bring pardon of all his sins.”
This tale heard Tyselyn the Raven and leapt to Esegrim to Bruin and to Tybert, there as they were, and said,“You caitifs, how goes it now? You unhappy folk, what do you here? Reynart the Fox is now a squire and a courtier, and right great and mighty in the Court. The King has skylled him quite of all his brokes, and forgiven him all his trespasses and misdeeds. And you be all betrayed and appeached.”
Esegrim said,“How may this be? I think Tyselyn that you lie.”
“I do not, certainly,”said the Raven.
Tho went the Wolf and the Bear to the King. Tybert the Cat was in great sorrow, and he was so sore afraid that for to have the Fox's friendship he would well forgive Reynart the loss of his one eyou that he lost in the priest's house, he was so woe he wist not what to do, he would well that he never had seen the Fox.
現(xiàn)在聽列那怎樣開始。他先叫他的外甥格令巴來,以便在要緊時(shí)可以幫助他。于是他開始說道:“我的主,我父親曾尋找到愛曼里克王(King Ermeryk)埋藏在地坑中的金寶,他得到這些財(cái)寶,便十分的驕傲,蔑視他以前的同伴。他差特保貓到白魯因熊那里,向他表示敬意,并說他如果要做國王,便請到法蘭特(Flanders)來。白魯因熊十分的喜歡,因?yàn)樗孟氲玫竭@個高位!于是他便到法蘭特來,我父親待他很盡敬愛。不久他又叫了格令巴、依賽格林狼、特保貓來,他們到一個僻地開會,商議了一夜。他們欲利用我父親的財(cái)寶,謀殺了國王?,F(xiàn)在,請靜聽這個奇事!他們議決舉白魯因?yàn)閲酢H绻抑鞯呐笥延蟹磳Φ?,我父親便可用財(cái)寶去取去他們的力量。
“第二天清早,格令巴吃醉了酒,把這事告訴了他的妻,叫她嚴(yán)守秘密。但她不能守秘密,又把這事告訴了我的妻,但要她立誓不告訴別人。但她卻告訴了我,我至今守著這秘密。她說得很詳細(xì),我非常害怕,毛發(fā)都豎起來,我的心重得如鉛,冷得如冰,我知道白魯因是狡猾兇暴的,如果他做了王,我們便都要受苦了。我知道我的主,尊貴的王,出身極高,又有力,又公正,又仁慈。我實(shí)實(shí)地在想,一個尊貴有力的好獅王,換了一個兇惡的賊,那是如何的一個變遷!于是我時(shí)時(shí)想設(shè)法破壞他們的計(jì)劃。我常常禱告上帝使我們的王常是光榮、康健,而且給他以長生,但我很明白,那些財(cái)寶如果在我父親手里,他們一班人便會利用之以推翻王室,我便立意要偵探父親藏寶的地方。我不管日夜,不管晴雨,不管寒熱,時(shí)時(shí),暗中跟在父親之后,要探出財(cái)寶的所在。有一次,我伏在地上,看見我父親從一個洞中出來,他仔細(xì)地觀察四圍有沒有人。以后,他便用沙把洞口掩蓋了,與平地一樣,一點(diǎn)也看不出來異處。我等他走了,便跳到洞邊,用足把沙扒出,鉆進(jìn)洞去,發(fā)現(xiàn)洞中堆有無數(shù)的金銀。于是我叫我的妻愛美林幫助我,日夜苦作地把這些財(cái)寶搬到另一個地方,藏在一個深洞中,同時(shí),我父親與白魯因、依賽格林正在進(jìn)行他們的叛謀。我父親到處招兵,允許先給一個月的俸金,幫助白魯因舉行大事。歸來后,我父親便到藏金的地方去看,不料洞口大開,財(cái)寶已失。他又氣又悲,自己上吊死了。于是白魯因的逆謀便告了結(jié)束?,F(xiàn)在,我真是倒運(yùn)!奸賊依賽格林和白魯因居然為大臣,與我的王坐在一處議事,而我呢,可憐的列那,卻沒人酬我,沒人謝我!”
“他們議決舉白魯因?yàn)橥??!?/p>
國王與王后想得到那些財(cái)寶,便追問列那,把那些財(cái)寶究竟運(yùn)藏在什么地方。王后道:“列那,你說了,國王將赦了你不殺,且完全不追究你的罪,以后你當(dāng)忠順于我的主?!?/p>
列那對王后說道:“親愛的后,如果國王相信我,肯赦我一切前罪,那么,我便要使他成一個千古所無的最富的王。”
國王道:“我的后,你相信列那狐的話嗎?不要理他,他是生來偷盜說謊的。這已黏附他的骨上,不能由肉里取出了?!?/p>
王后道:“不,我主,你現(xiàn)在可以相信他了。他以前雖壞,現(xiàn)在已變了一個樣子了?!?/p>
“看見我父親從一個洞中出來?!?/p>
國王道:“那么,照你的意思做去。他如果再欺騙,我現(xiàn)在立誓必要嚴(yán)厲地懲治他及其親屬?!?/p>
列那心里暗喜,說道:“我主,我如說謊,真是太不聰明了。”
國王于是赦了列那的罪,并及他父親的。列那這時(shí)心里之異??旎?,是不足異的,他免了死罪,且更不怕一切仇人了,他說道:“我的主,我的后,上帝保佑你們給我以大恩典。我感謝你們,你將要成世界上最富的王了。我現(xiàn)在謹(jǐn)獻(xiàn)上愛曼里克王所有的財(cái)寶給我主?!?/p>
國王心里很快活,謝了列那狐。
列那狐心里暗暗好笑。他繼續(xù)著說道:“我的主,請你記好了我的話!在法蘭特的西邊,有一座森林,名叫赫爾斯特洛(Hulsterlo),森林旁有一條河名叫克里鏗辟(Krekenpyt)。這是一片極大的荒地,財(cái)寶就藏在那里。請你記住地名克里鏗辟。你到了克里鏗辟,便會看到兩株赤楊樹,樹旁就是藏寶的坑洞。你可以在那里找到金塊、銀塊,還有愛曼里克王生前所戴的王冠,如果白魯因叛謀成功,這王冠便是他戴了。你還可以看見值錢的珠寶,寶石鑲在金飾中,值得好幾千金。我主,你得了這許多財(cái)寶。心里便要常常地想道:‘呵,你是如何的忠誠,列那狐,你真聰明,把財(cái)寶藏得這樣好!’”
國王道:“列那勛爵,你必須和我們同去掘這寶藏,因?yàn)槲也蛔R路,我沒有聽見過克里鏗辟這個地名?!?/p>
列那道:“這個地名是真的,我當(dāng)叫一個見證來?!彼愀呗暯械溃骸翱送咄?,到國王面前來。”克瓦兔渾身發(fā)抖,列那道:“克瓦,你著了涼么?怎么發(fā)抖起來?不要怕!請你在國王、王后之前說真話。你說,克里鏗辟在什么地方?”
“克瓦兔,到國王面前來。”
兔說道:“我十二年之前熟悉這個地方。它在一座名赫爾斯特洛的森林之中。我在那里受過許多饑寒。僧人西莫尼(Symonet)常在那里造假幣?!?/p>
列那道:“下去吧,國王要聽的話已夠了?!蹦峭帽阕吡讼氯ァ?/p>
狐說道:“我的主,我的話沒有錯么?”
國王道:“不錯的,列那,原諒我。我不應(yīng)該不相信你。現(xiàn)在,列那,和我們一同走去掘?qū)毎??!?/p>
狐說道:“與我主同去是很光榮的。但我不能去!因?yàn)榍皶r(shí)依賽格林狼曾入教為僧,因?yàn)槭臣Z太少,他覺得極苦,生了病。我很可憐他,便叫他逃走。因此,我犯了教律。我明天便要到羅馬去求赦罪,以后再到圣地去?!?/p>
國王道:“列那,我可以叫克瓦同到克里鏗辟去,我勸你必須脫離這個罪?!?/p>
那狐說道:“我主,所以我必須愈快到羅馬愈好。我將日夜不休息,直到我的罪被赦之后?!?/p>
國王道:“列那,我想你已變了一個好人了。上帝保佑你成就你的愿望?!?/p>
國王說完了話,便坐在一塊大石上,叫大眾靜默勿言,各按等級,成為一圈,坐在草地上。列那立在王后身旁。于是國王說道:“在這里的大眾都聽著!列那犯罪應(yīng)絞,現(xiàn)在因他很出力, 我與王后赦了他的罪,回復(fù)原官。你們必須敬禮他及他的妻子。我也不再愿意聽別人來控訴列那了。他明天要到羅馬去求赦罪,還要渡海到圣地去,直到所有他的罪都被赦了才回家來?!?/p>
烏鴉特塞林(Tyselyn)聽見了這一席話,便跑到依賽格林、白魯因及特保那里,說道:“你們不幸的人,還在這里做什么?列那狐被赦了,且成了一個侍臣,在宮中很有勢力。國王已赦了他的所有的罪過。你們都被賣了?!?/p>
依賽格林說道:“怎么回事?我想特塞林你是說著謊話?!?/p>
烏鴉說道:“我沒有說謊,真的事。”
于是狼與熊都到國王那里去。特保貓十分謹(jǐn)慎,他不愿意再見列那。
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