雙語《列那狐》 43

CHAPTER XLIII

THE King said,“Reynart, you be one of them that owes me homage; which I will that you alway so do. And also I will that, early and late, you be of my council and one of my justices. See well to that you not misdo nor trespass no more. I set you again in all your might and power, like as you were before, and see that you further all matters to the best right. For when you set your wit and counsel to virtue and goodness, then may not our Court be without your advice and counsel, for here is none that is like to you in sharp and high counsel, nor subtler in finding a remedy for a mischief. And think you on the example that you yourself have told, and that you haunt righteousness and be to me true. I will from henceforth work and do by your advice and counsel. He lives not that if he misdid you, but I should sharply avenge and wreke it on him. You shall overall speak and say my words, and in all my land shall you be, above all other, sovereign and my bayle. That office I give you. You may well occupy it with worship.”

All Reynart's friends and lineage thanketh the King highly.

The King said,“I would do more for your sake than you ween. I pray you all that you remember him that he be true.”

Dame Rukenawe then said,“Yes sykerly, my Lord, that shall he ever be, and think you not the contrary. For if he were otherwise, he were not of our kin nor lineage, and I would ever missake him, and would ever hinder him to my power.”

Reynart the Fox thanked the King with fair courteous words, and said,“Dear Lord, I am not worthy to have the worship that you do to me. I shall think thereon and be true to you all so long as I live, and shall give you as wholesome counsel as shall be expedient to your good grace.”

Herewith he departed with his friends from the King.

Now hark how Esegrim the Wolf did. Bruin the Bear, Tybert the Cat, and Ersewynde and her children with their lineage drewen the Wolf out of the field, and laid him upon a litter of hay, and covered him warm, and looked to his wounds which were well twenty-five. And there came wise masters and surgeons which bound them and wash them. He was so sick and feeble that he had lost his feeling, but they rubbed and wryued him under his temples and eyes, that he sprang out of his swound, and cried so loud that all they were afraid. They had weened that he had been wood. But the masters gave him a drink that comforted his heart and made him to sleep. They comforted his wife, and told to her that there was no death-wound nor peril of his life. Then the Court brake up; and the Beasts departed and went to their places and homes that they came from.