Harper's New Monthly Magazine, vol. 3, no. 18, November, 1851Harper, Various (magazine)
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, vol. 3, no. 18, November, 1851
Harper, Various (magazine)
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
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?"
The King said, "Yes, Reynard, and I beseech thee excuse my jealousies;
it was my ignorance which did the 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
dishonor; 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 wrong-doing; and furthermore, he commanded them all to
reverence and honor 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account