74, THE STORY OF REYNARD THE FOX.

him confess, and set him a penance for his sins. Grimbard bade
him proceed. And the fox confessed how shamefully he had ill-
used the bear, and the cat, and the wolf, and Chanticleer’s chil-
dren, and many other ill-doings during his life; and when he had

. finished, he knelt before Grimbard, and said, “ Thus have’ I told
you my wickedness ; now order my penance, as shall seem fit in
your discretion.”

Grimbard was both learned and wise; and therefore brake a
rod from a tree, and said, “ Uncle, you shall three times strike
your body with this rod, and then lay it down upon the ground,
and spring three times over it without bowing your ‘legs or
stumbling; then shall you take it up and kiss it gently, in sign
of meekness and obedience to your penance; which done, you
are absolved of your sins aa up to this day, for I pro-
nounce unto you clear remission.’

At this the fox was exceeding glad ; ii ‘iaanesiaiea he per-
formed the penance to Grimbard’s satisfaction. But as they went
journeying on, it happened that they passed by the poultry-yard
of a convent; and as one young cock strayed far from the rest,
Reynard leaped at him, and caught him by the feathers, but the
cock escaped.

“Villain that you are,” said Grimbard, “ will you, for a silly
pullet, fall again into your sins ?” |

To which Reynard answered, “ Pardon me, dear Acre I
had forgotten myself; but I will ask forgiveness, and mine eye

_ shall no more wander.”’

However, Grimbard noted that he turned many times to look
at the poultry. But soon afterwards they arrived at the court.

As soon as it was bruited in the court that Reynard the Fox
and Grimbard his kinsman were arrived there, every one, from