certain tricks that lie had played on Isegrim,
and said, I have confessed; now, I beseech,
impose a penance on me; let it be the heaviest.
Grimbart, accustomed to such cases, plucked
a little twig, and said, Uncle, beat yourself
three times on your back with this; then lay
it, as I show you, on the ground, and leap over
it thrice; then gently kiss the rod, in token
of your humble penitence. Do this, and I
pronounce you absolved from all your sins.

When Reineke had done this, Grimbart
said, Now, show your amended life by reading
psalms, attend church on the appointed days,
give alms, and forswear robbery and treachery
for ever.—Reineke said, I swear to do all
this.

So, as they went to court, they passed a
nunnery, and to its court there belonged
many cocks and hens, with plump capons,
straying at large over the country. Reineke
said,' Our shortest way, Grimbart, leads close
under the wall.—When they came near to
the capons, the rogue eyed them furtively;
but one hen, young and fat, pleased him
especially. Briskly he sprang behind, already
scattering her feathers.

But Grimbart, greatly shocked, cried out
Behave you so, my graceless uncle? Will you
be lost for a hen so soon after your absolution?
Reineke said, If my thoughts went astray may
Heaven pity me!—And they went on over a
narrow bridge, but Reineke turned always
his head and his eyes back towards the
poultry. He could not help it. Had his
head been cut off, it would have gone after the
chickens; so strong was the desire within
him.

Grimbart saw that, and said, Nephew, your
eyes wander astray; alas! I see you are a
glutton.—Reineke said, Be quiet, uncle; you
are hindering my prayers. I say within me
paternosters for the souls of hens and geese
that I have slain from yonder family.—So
Grimbart was silent, and Reineke looked back
towards the hens, so long as he could see
them.

CHAPTER THE FOURTH.

When it was heard at court that Reineke
really was coming, all crowded out to see
him, rejoicing in hope of his sentence.
Reineke cared not for that, but walked
jauntily into the palace; so walked before
Nobel the King, and tranquilly faced all the
barons: Great and illustrious King, he said,
grant me a hearing. You know my faithfulness
—your courtiers know it, and for that they
follow me with persecution.—Silence! replied
the King; 'tis in vain now to chatter or flatter.
Look at the Cock, and tell me what have you
done with his children?—Look at the Cat, the
Bear. Why do I scold? Look around you;
the country is swarming with plaintiffs;
you will not come whole out of court.—Most
gracious master, said the Fox, if Bruin was
found poaching on a peasant's honey; if the
Cat, whom I received with honour, could not
keep her paws from stealing in the habitation
of a priest, in spite of all my warnings, why
must I be punished for their sins ? Do as you
will, however ; boil or roast me, blind me,
hang me ; I am in your hands ; you are strong,
and I am weak. But come what may, I will
abide upon the path of justice.

Then began Belline the Ram, Lo, now the
time is come; let us bring forward our
complaints.—And Isegrim came with his relations,
Hintze the Cat, and Bruin, and all animals by
troops. The multitude cannot be named who
came to accuse the rogue Reineke. Complaint
followed complaint; the stories related were
numberless. Reineke stood unabashed; and,
when he could put in a word, like simple truth,
his defence flowed in a mellifluous current.
Those who listened wondered; for not only did
he exculpate himself, but he appeared to be a
creature sinned against, rather than sinning.
But to the council of the King the testimonies
multiplied, and were too clear. With one
voice it was pronounced that Reineke the
Fox was guilty, and must suffer death; let
him be bound and hung upon a gibbet.

Reineke himself thought that his game was
lost. His clever speech had failed him. The
King himself pronounced the sentence; and,
as they were binding him, death swept by
visibly before the eyes of the transgressor.

The friends of Reineke were grieved; Martin
the Ape, with Grimbart, and some other of
his old set. They sorrowed more than might
have been supposed, for Reineke was a great
baron whose disgrace frightened his comrades.
So they craved leave of absence from the King,
and went away from court.

But Isegrim, Bruin, and Hintze busied themselves
cheerfully about the criminal, and
hurried him eagerly towards the gallows. Think
now, Sir Isegrim, said the Cat spitefully, how
Reineke assisted at the hanging of your
brother. Think, Lord Bruin, of Rusteviel's
court-yard. If the rogue's wit should free him
now, our hour of vengeance will not come
again.—Isegrim said, Don't talk ; but get a
rope directly.

And the King came with all his courtiers to
see the execution of the sentence. The Queen
and all her women came; then came, too, a huge
multitude of rich and poor, all wishing for the
death of Reineke, and eager to look on.
Isegrim cautioned his friends to keep their eyes
on the Fox; especially cautioned his wife, and
bade Bruin remember who mocked him.
Hintze can climb, said the Wolf; he shall hang
the rope on the gallows; do you hold the Fox
in your clutch, while I bring forward the
ladder.—Up with the ladder, said Bruin, and
I'll hold fast by the culprit.

Ah, how busy you are! said the Fox;
how you hurry to murder your uncle! Oh
could I now escape! thought Reineke; get
the King's pardon, and punish these three
busy fellows. What could I not say to
save my life? So he turned round upon the
ladder and cried, Death is before my eyes; I