雙語《列那狐》 15

CHAPTER XV

1 ESEGRIM balked and said,“You make much ado, Sir Tybert; had we an halter which were meet for his neck and strong enough, we should soon make an end.”

Reynart the Fox, which long had not spoken, said to Esegrim,“Short my pain. Tybert has a strong cord which caught him in the Priest's house. He can climb well, and is swift; let him bear up the line. Esegrim and Bruin, this becomes you well, that you thus do to your Nephew! I am sorry that I live thus long; haste you, you be set thereto; it is evil do that you tarry thus long. Go before, Bruin, and lead me; Esegrim, follow fast, and see well to, and be ware that Reynart go not away.”

Tho said Bruin,“It is the best counsel that I ever yet heard, that Reynart here says.”

Esegrim commanded anon and bade his kin and friends that they should see to Reynart that he escaped not, for he is so wily and false. They held him by the feet, by the beard; and so kept him that he escaped not from them.

The Fox heard all these words, which touched him nigh, yet spake he and said,“Oh, dear Eme, methinks you pain yourself sore for to do me hurt and scathe. If I durst, I would pay you of mercy, though my hurt and sorrow is pleasant to you. I wot well, if my Aunt, your wife, bethought her well of old ferners, she would not suffer that I should have any harm; but now I am he that now you will do on me what it shall please you. You Bruin and Tybert, God give you shames death but you do to me your worst. I wot whereto I shall. I may die but once, I would that I were dead already. I saw my father die, he had soon done.”

Esegrim said,“Let us go, for you curse us because we lengthen the time. Evil might we fare if we abide any longer.”

He went forth with great envy on that one side, and Bruin stood on the other side, and so led they him forth to the gallows ward. Tybert ran with a good will before, and bare the cord; and his throat was yet sore of the grynne, and his croppe did him woe of the stroke that he was take in; that happened by the counsel of the Fox, and that thought he now to quit.

Tybert Esegrim and Bruin went hastily with Reynart to the place there as the felons are wont to be put to death. Noble the King and the Queen and all that were in the Court followed after, for to see the end of Reynart. The Fox was in great dread if him myshapped, and bethought him oft how he might save him from the death; and tho three that so sore desired his death, how he might deceive them and bring them to shame; and how he might bring the King with leasings for to hold with him against them. This was all that he studied, how he might put away his sorrow with wiles, and thought thus:“Though the King and many one be upon me angry, it is no wonder, for I have well deserved it; nevertheless, I hope for to be yet their best friend. And yet shall I never do them good. How strong that the King be, and how wise that his council be, if I may brook my words I know so many an invention, I shall come to my above as far as they would come to the gallows.”

Tho said Esegrim,“Sir Bruin, think now on your red crown which by Reynart's mean you caught; we have now the time that we may well reward him. Tybert, clime up hastily and bind the cord fast to the lynde, and make a riding knot or a strope, you be the lightest; you shall this day see your will of him. Bruin, see well to, that he escape not, and hold fast. I will help that the ladder be set up, that he may go upward thereon.”

Bruin said,“Do. I shall help him well.”

The Fox said,“Now may my heart be well heavy for great dread; for I see the death before my eyes, and I may not escape. My lord the King, and dear Queen, and forth all you that here stand, ere I depart from this world I pray you of a boon: that I may before you all make my confession openly, and tell my defaults all so clearly that my soul may not be acumbred, and also that no man hereafter bear no blame for my theft nor for my treason. My death shall be to me the easier, and pray you all to God that he have mercy on my soul.”