66 Lhe are Romance of |

CHAPTER XIII.

OF WHAT MORE REY-NARD THE FOX SAID TO THE KING ;
AND HOW THE CHARGE OF KAY-WARD’S DEATH
BROKE DOWN.

THEN Rey-nard said, “ My lord, my worst grief is that
you should say no good was done by my sire or me. The
cares of state may well cause kings to have blunt minds
for some things, or else my liege might know how in the
days of your sire’s reign, and you were a prince of two
years old, my sire came from a high school where he won
great fame for the skill he had in drugs, that he wore robes
of silk and a belt of gold lace. When he came to Court,
the King was so ill that it was thought his death was sure.
My sire felt sad at this news, for he had great love for his
liege lord, who was glad to see him, and would let no one
else come nigh his sick bed. Your sire said, ‘ Rey-nard, I
am in much pain, and in a low state.” My sire felt his
pulse, made him thrust out his tongue, put on grave airs,
and thought of his case for some time; then quoth he,
‘My dear lord, I know what will cure you at once; so, if
you want to mend, you must eat the heart of a wolf six
years old, else, I fear, you will not live, and my skill cai
do no more.’ The Wolf at that time stood some way off,
but spoke not a word. Then quoth the King, ‘Sir Is-grim,
you hear there is but one cure left for me, which is your
heart.’ The Wolf said, ‘Not so, I pray, my liege , for I
am Kot yet five years old.’ ‘It must needs be,’ quoth my
sire; °Zet him be slit; and when I view his heart I will