. Beasts and men . ead and gave me his blessing and departed, readinghis Book of Hours. Thinking no evil, and full of joy at the news, I calledmy children around me and cried: * Rejoice, my dear onesNo more will you live in daily terror of your lives. Ournoble King has given us his protection and has commandedthe Fox to leave us alone. Reynard himself has just broughtme the news, so 1 know it is true, and he himself has goneaway to become a holy hermit! My children danced with glee when they heard mywords, and I danced with them, O King ! We danced in thefarmyard and in the garden, and in the
. Beasts and men . ead and gave me his blessing and departed, readinghis Book of Hours. Thinking no evil, and full of joy at the news, I calledmy children around me and cried: * Rejoice, my dear onesNo more will you live in daily terror of your lives. Ournoble King has given us his protection and has commandedthe Fox to leave us alone. Reynard himself has just broughtme the news, so 1 know it is true, and he himself has goneaway to become a holy hermit! My children danced with glee when they heard mywords, and I danced with them, O King ! We danced in thefarmyard and in the garden, and in the kitchen garden, forit was as though a black cloud had vanished from over us. This was the very moment Reynard had been waitingfor. He had not gone far away—no farther in fact than theshelter of the wall by the kitchen garden, and as soon as wereached there, he rushed out, fell upon the finest of mydaughters and slew her before my eyes. It all happened ina flash! We ran hither and thither, trying to escape, but 52. AT THE HEAD OF THE PROCESSION MARCHED CHANTICLEER FOLK TALES OF BEASTS AND MEN all in vain. Before we had gone a dozen steps the Fox wasamong us again, and killed fifteen of my children. Lastnight he returned, and slew her whose body now lies uponthe bier. I have brought her here to show you, O Kmg,that the sight of her corpse may strike pity into your heart,for I claim justice upon her murderer ! So saying, the Cock bowed his head again and weptbitterly into his handkerchief, and pitiful sobs echoed fromamong the beasts around. Even the King could hardlyrestrain his emotion. A terrible tale, indeed, said he. Our hearts areheavy for you, Cock, and it will go hard with this Reynardwhen he falls into our hands! Then, addressing hiscourtiers, he asked for volunteers to go to the Foxs retreatand bring the murderer to justice. For a time there was noresponse, for few of the animals relished the task, but atlast the Bear, who had an old grudge against Reynard,offered to g
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