CHAP. XXII REYNARD THE FOX 203

taught her how to enter the water and never
touch the mire; but her greediness so trans-
ported her when she heard me name the fish,
that she ran without respect of any path or
direction, and so coming into the ice, she was
there presently frozen by reason of her too long
tarrying, for she had more fish than would have
satisfied twenty reasonable appetites. But it
is commonly seen that who all would have, all
forego, for covetousness seldom bringeth any-
thing well home; yet when I saw her so
fastened in the ice, I used all my best en-
deavours to loosen her, and so indeed was
heaving and shoving about her, but to little
purpose, for by reason of her weight I was not
able to move her.

‘Now whilst this was doing, came /segrim,
and seeing me so busy about her, churl-like he
most vilely slandered me, and threatened much
vengeance against me, so that more to eschew
his blasphemy than fury I went my way, and
he came, and with as great ado, and as much
heave and shove he helped her out; which
done, they then almost starved with cold, ran
and skipped up and down the fields to get
them heat: and that this is all truth which I
have spoken, I will willingly be deposed, for I