The History of Reynard the Fox: His Friends and His Enemies. His Crimes, Hairbreadth Escapes and Final Triumph. : A Metrical Version of the Old English TranslationDavid Nutt, 1897 - 289 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
Art thou Bear's reward beast Bellyn Betwixt Bruin Bear Cleomedes counsel Court cried crime Cuwaert Dachs Dame Rukenawe's dare dastard Dear Eme Dear Lord Dear Reynard death deeds dight dost doth drave E'en e'er Ermelyne Ersewyn evil Exclaimed eyes fain fare fat mice fear forthwith Fox all braves Fox speaks fair Fox well goes Fox's friends gracious grief Grymbert hand hast hath head heart Heaven holy honour hound Isegrym jape lineage live Malperdy ne'er neath Nephew nought o'er once past pray prithee Queen Quoth Reynard rede replied Reynard Fox REYNARD THE FOX Reynard's romance scape scarce scrip shalt shouldst shrews Sire sore soul spake sped speech stept stood strange sweet tale thee thine thou tongue trow truth twas twere twill twould ween wend wife wilt wise Wolf wondrous words wrath wraw XXXIII
Popular passages
Page xi - ... rys do blosme again.1 She hath well holpen me forth now. I have now a good foot to dance on. I shall now look out of mine eyen, and bring forth the fairest leasing that ever man heard, and bring myself out of this danger. CHAPTER XXXII. How the Fox with subtlety excused him for the death of Cuwart the Hare and of all other matters that were laid against him, and how with flattering he gat again his peace of the King.
Page xi - Reynart the Fox thought, How come I on this campaign ? we ben not both like. I shall not well conne stand against this strong thief. All my proof is now come to an end. CHAPTER XXXVI. How the Fox took up the glove. And how the King set to them day and field for to come and do their battle. YET thought the Fox I have good advantage : the claws of his forefeet ben off, and his feet ben yet sore thereof, when for my sake he was unshoed. He shall be somewhat the weaker. Then said the Fox, " Who that...
Page x - Lord these great wounds that he hath made to me with his sharp long nails. I pray you to have pity of me, and that ye will punish this false traitor and murderer, or else shall there no man go and come over the heath in safety whiles he haunteth his false and shrewd rule." CHAPTER XXIV. How Corbant the Rook complained on the Fox for the death of his wife.
Page ix - Fox had ever his eyen toward the polaylle l till at last they came in the way again, and then turned they to the Courtward. How sore quaked tho Reynart when they approached the Court! For he wist well that he had for to answer to many a foul feat and theft that he had done. CHAPTER XIII. How the Fox came to the Court^ and how he excused him tofore the King. AT the first when it was known in the Court that Reynart the Fox and Grymbart his cousin were comen to the Court, there was none so poor nor...
Page x - ... most. A man shall love his friend by measure, and not his enemy hate overmuch. Steadfastness and constancy is fitting and behoveth to the lords, how soever the world turneth. Me ought not to praise too much the day, till even be come. Good counsel is good for him that will do thereafter. CHAPTER XXX. A parable of a Man that delivered a Serpent from peril of death. " Now two year past came a Man and a Serpent here into this Court for to have judgment, which was to you and yours right doubtful...
Page 146 - in vino veritas." i. Ever since I was born, I have felt bitter scorn For worthy respectable people ; So with merry heart sing Here's a fig for the King ; Nought care I for law, crown, or steeple. 2. 'Tis my honest belief, An industrious thief Is a blessing to all good society ; To the humdrumming round, 189 XXVIII. Wherein most men are bound, The Fox He furnishes pleasant variety.
Page x - ... 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 eye 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. CHAPTER XVIII. How the Wolf and the Bear were arrested by the labour of Reynart the Fox.
Page 277 - GLOSSARIAL NOTES ON SOME PERSONS, PLACES, AND THINGS MENTIONED IN THE FOREGOING HISTORY, AND ON SOME WORDS USED BY REYNARD AND HIS FRIENDS WHICH HAVE FALLEN OUT OF OUR-DAY SPEECH.
Page 42 - In vain attempted he to spring From out the hole, the tightening string . Held fast his neck. False Reynard saw His dupe's distress, and heard him wraw And shriek with pain, the while, above, He laughing stood, and cried : " D'ye love Fat mice, dear Tybert ? are they good ? I make no doubt, with pleasure bring hard days
Page 205 - Such was the comb, but thence I pass To tell the story of the glass Or magic mirror, wherein lies Such wondrous virtue as defies All wealth of words to speak its praise. " Who knows aright therein to gaze, May ken of whatsoe'er is done A mile or more around...