152 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

“« Now when he had almost well refreshed
himself, my youngest son /osse/ came in and
offered to take away what he had left, for you

_know the nature of children is ever to be
eating and craving; but presently the coney
smote Rosse/ on the mouth, that his teeth bled,
and the poor fool fell down almost in a swoon,
which when Reynardine, my eldest son, beheld,
he forthwith leaped to the coney, and caught
him by the head, and questionless had slain
him, had I not come to the rescue. Which
done, I went and gave my son correction for
his fault. But presently Lapred? the coney
posted to my Lord the King, and gave
information that myself sought means to
murder him. Thus I am accused without
cause, and brought in danger, that in truth
have best cause to accuse others.

‘« But not long after came Corbaut the rook
flying to my house with a sad noise. And
demanding what he ailed? he answered,
‘Alas, my wife is dead. I craved the cause ;
he said, ‘A dead hare lying on the heath full
of maggots and vermin, of which she had eaten
so much, that the worms had gnawed her
throat in sunder’; and without speaking to me
any more words, away he flew, leaving me much