76 THE STORY OF REYNARD THE FOX.

When all things were prepared, the fox said: “ Now my heart
is heavy, for death stands in all his horror before me, and I cannot -
escape. My dread Lord the King, and you my sovereign Lady the
Queen, and you my lords that stand to behold me die, I beseech
you grant me this charitable boon, that I may unlock my _eart
before you, and clear my soul of her burdens, so that hereafter no
man may be blamed for me; which done, my death will be easy.”

Every creature now took compassion on the fox, and said his
request was small, beseeching the King to grant it, which was
done; and then the fox thus spake: ‘‘ Help me, Heaven, for I see
no man here whom I have not offended; yet was this evil no
natural inclination in me, for in my youth I was accounted as
virtuous as any breathing. This know, I have played with the
lambs all the day long, and taken delight in their pretty bleating ;
yet at last in my play I bit one, and the taste of its blood was so
sweet unto me, that I approved the flesh, and both were so good,
that since I could never forbear it. This liquorish humour drew
me into the woods amongst the goats, where hearing the bleating
of the little kids, I slew one of them, and afterwards two more,
which slaughter made me so hardy, that then I fell to murder
hens, geese, and other poultry. And thus my crimes increased
by custom, and fury so possessed me, that all was fish which came
to my net. After this, in the winter season, I met with Isegrim,
where, as he lay hid under a hollow tree, he unfolded unto me
how he was my uncle, and laid the pedigree down so plain, that
from that day forth we became fellows and companions; which
knot of friendship I may ever curse, for then began the flood of
our thefts and slaughters. He stole the great things, I the small ;
he murdered nobles, I the mean subjects; and in all our actions
his share was still ever the greatest: when he got a ram or a calf,