PREFACKH.

The story of ‘‘ Reynard the Fox” is told briefly in the words of
an old version of this wonderful tale published in England many
years ago. In Germany Reinecle Fuchs is as popular as our “ Jack
the Giant-Killer.”” Carlyle says, c Among the people it was long
a house-book and universal best companion; it has been lectured
on in Universities, quoted in imperial Council-halls; it lay on
the toilets of princes, and was thumbed to pieces on the bench
of the artisan: we hear of grave men ranking it next to their
Bible.”

Goethe took the story of ‘‘ Reynard” for the subject of a great
poem ; and the famous painter Kaulbach has recently illustrated
Goethe’s version with perhaps the finest series of pictures with

which a book was ever adorned.

Herrmann Ploucquet has had the good taste to select. six of
these designs as models for his works. He has admirably pre-
served the expression which the painter gave to the Fox and his

dupes, and every one recognises them with pleasure.