Shame for his folly; sorrow out of time, For plotting an unprofitable crime: Yet, mastering both, the artificer of lies, Renews the assault, and his last battery tries. Though I, said he, did ne'er in thought offend, How justly may my lord suspect his friend? The appearance is against me, I confess, Who seemingly have put you in distress. You, if your goodness does not plead my cause, May think I broke all hospitable laws, To bear you from your palace-yard by might, And put your noble person in a fright. This, since you take it ill, I must repent, Though heaven can witness, with no bad intent I practised it, to make you taste your cheer With double pleasure, first prepared by fear. So loyal subjects often seize their prince, } Forced (for his good) to seeming violence, } Yet mean his sacred person not the least offence. } Descend; so help me, Jove, as you shall find, That Reynard comes of no dissembling kind.-- Nay, quoth the cock; but I beshrew us both, If I believe a saint upon his oath: An honest man may take a knave's advice, But idiots only will be cozened twice: Once warned is well bewared; no flattering lies } Shall sooth me more to sing with winking eyes, } And open mouth, for fear of catching flies. } Who blindfold walks upon a river's brim, When he should see, has he deserved to swim?-- Better, sir cock, let all contention cease, Come down, said Reynard, let us treat of peace.-- A peace with all my soul, said Chanticleer; But, with your favour, I will treat it here: And lest the truce with treason should be mixt, 'Tis my concern to have the tree betwixt.[193] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 176: Partlet, or Perthelot, as the proper name of a hen, is a word of difficult and dubious etymology. Ruddiman, in his Glossary to Douglas's Virgil, gives several derivations; the most plausible is that which brings it from Partlet, an old word signifying a woman's ruff.] [Footnote 177: Among the distiches ascribed to Cato, we do in fact find one to that purpose:-- _Somnia ne cures._--Lib. ii. distich 32. ] [Footnote 178: Cicero, who tells both the following stories in his treatise, _De Divinatione_, lib. i. cap. 27. Chaucer has reversed their order, and added many picturesque circumstances.] [Footnote 179: _Hoped_ and _unhoped_, anciently meant only _expected_ and _unexpected_. Puttenham, in his "Art of English Poesie," 1589, mentions the Tanner of Tamworth, who, in his broad dialect, said to King Edward, upon discovering his rank, and remembering the familiarities he had used with him while in disguise; "I hope I shall be hanged to-morrow," for "I fear me I shall be hanged." The use of the verb _hope_, was therefore limited to its present sense, even in Queen Elizabeth's time. But Dryden, in translating an old poet, used some latitude in employing ancient language.] [Footnote 180: There may be room to suspect, that the line should run,