XIX REYNARD THE FOX 153

amazed ; and now reports that I slew his wife,
which how could I by any possible means do,
considering she flieth in the air and I walk afoot
onthe ground? Thus, dear uncle, you see how
I am slandered, but it may be it is for my old
sins, and therefore I bear it with more patience.”

‘Then said the ape to me, ‘“ Nephew, you
shall go to the court and disprove their false-
hoods.” ‘Alas, uncle,’ quoth I, “it cannot
be, for the archdeacon hath put me in the
Pope’s curse, because I gave counsel to the
wolf to forsake his holy orders, when he com-
plained to me of his unableness to endure that
strict life and much fasting; of which act I
now much repent me, since he repayeth my
love with nothing but hatred and malice; and
with all the slanders he can invent, stirreth
his Majesty daily against me. These things,
dear uncle, bring. me to my wits’ end, for of
necessity I must go to Rome for absolution ;
and in mine absence, what injury may happen
to my wife and children through the malice of
these bloody wretches, any one may guess.
Whereas, on the other part, were I free of the
Pope’s curse, then I could go to the court, and
plead mine own cause, and turn their malice

into their own bosoms.”