can, into a snare. Be easy, said the Bear, I
am a match for him.

CHAPTER THE SECOND.

So Bruin set out proudly on his way to
the mountains, through a great sandy
wilderness. He came then to the hills upon
which Reineke was accustomed to hunt, but
travelled on to Malepartus, where the Fox
had famous buildings. Malepartus was the
strongest and the best of all his castles.
Reineke lived there when he dreaded any
danger. Bruin found the gates fast locked.
Then he cried, Sir Uncle, are you at home?
Bruin the Bear is come as a King's messenger.
The King has sworn you shall be brought to
trial, and sends me to fetch you. If you
do not come, the gallows and the rack
are threatened. Choose wisely, then, and
follow me.

Reineke went into the recesses of his house,
which was built artfully, and full of holes,
caves, passages, with many doors to close or
open in all seasons of necessity; many simple
beasts came unawares into these labyrinths,
and so were taken. Reineke having seen
that the Bear came really alone, went out
and said, Most worthy Uncle, pardon me if
I have kept you waiting; I was reading
vespers. Thank you for coming; you are
always welcome; and I dare say you will help
me at the court. I will set out with you
tomorrow. I would to-day if I were not so heavy.
I have eaten too much of a food that never
does agree with me.—Said Bruin, What food,
Uncle?—Reineke replied, Why should I
waste time in telling you? Mine is a weary
life, but if a poor man be no duke, he must
eat what he can sometimes. I never do
eat honeycombs except when I have nothing
else.—Hi! hi! what do I hear, Uncle?
said Bruin. Do you scorn honey. Nectar!
Bring me to some, and I will be your friend.—
You are joking, said the Fox.—No, on my
honour, answered Bruin.—Well, then, said
Reineke, I can make you very happy. Farmer
Rusteviel, at the foot of the mountain, has
more honey than you ever saw heaped in one
place. Bruin's mouth watered. Bring me
thither, he cried ; though it be ever so little, I
will be your friend.—Come then, said Reineke,
though I feel ill and very heavy, I will take
you to the place, and you will think kindly of
me when we come to court.—The rascal meant
to take him to a thrashing.

Reineke ran before, and Bruin followed
eagerly to Rusteviel's court-yard. It was then
evening, and the Fox knew that Rusteviel, who
was a strapping carpenter, took a nap in his
chamber at that hour. There was the stem
of an oak in the yard which the carpenter had
commenced splitting. Two thick wedges were
fixed into it, so that there was made a cleft of
a yard's width. Up in this tree, said Reineke,
there is more honey than you suspect. In
with your snout, but don't be greedy ; think
how indigestible it is.—I am no glutton, said
the Bear, thrusting his head and his fore feet
into the tree.—But Reineke forced out the
wedges, and Bruin was caught. He howled
and kicked with his hind feet, till Rusteviel
came out to see what was the matter, bringing
a club with him in case of danger.

How is the honey? then cried Reineke. Be
moderate, dear Uncle. See, Rusteviel comes
to entertain you. He will give you a dessert
after your dinner.—And so the Fox went home
to his fortress, Malepartus. But when the
carpenter saw what was the matter, he aroused
the neighbourhood. Come ! True as I live, a
Bear has trapped himself in my court-yard.
The parson, the cook, the sexton, and many
more, with pitchfork, spit and spade, attacked
the miserable Bruin. In his agony he forced
his bleeding head out of the tree, leaving the
skin and both his ears behind ; but he was
still held by the feet. To save himself, he
sacrificed his claws, and limped off before his
assailants. The smith fought at him with
hammer and tongs, others with shovels ; Gerold
laid about him with a wooden flail, Gerold and
Kuckelrey the fat, they were the stoutest of
the thrashers. Frau Jutte headed the women ;
the women were active and clamorous, till
Bruin, changing his course, threw five of them
into the river. See ! cried the parson, there
sinks Frau Jutte, two tuns of beer if you save
her. The men plunging after the women, gave
Bruin a moment of leisure.

To cool his wounds, he too plunged into the
river, and the stream swept him downward,
bemoaning his ears and his feet, and cursing
Reineke.

Reineke hunted for hens, and went to the
river to drown them. There he saw Bruin
float by, and was vexed that he had not been
murdered. Halloo, Uncle, he cried, you've
left something behind you at Rusteviel's. To
avoid the jests of the Fox, Bruin sank to the
bed of the water, was taken ashore by the
current, and lay there wishing for death. At
length he attempted the journey to court, and
in four days painfully got there.

When the King saw the Bear's condition,
he cried, Mercy, Bruin! who has brought you
thus to shame?—The outlaw Reineke, groaned
Bruin. Then the King swore that such a
gentleman as Bruin should not suffer outrage
for nothing. By his honour, by his crown, he
would make Reineke repent, or never more
would he wear a sword, he swore it.

The King summoned a council. They
resolved again to command Reineke's appearance.
Hintze the Cat should be messenger.
Warn him, said the King, that I pronounce
death, if he needs three times summoning.

But who am I? said Hintze. How should
I go to work? Do as you will; yet I am but
a small Cat. Bruin is big and strong, and
where he failed how shall I prosper? Prithee,
let me be excused.

No, said the King; many a little man is
full of wit. You are no giant, but you are
discreet and clever.—So the Cat said, I obey