204 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF; CHAP.

would not be the father of any falsehood before
your Majesty, to be master of many millions;
however my fortunes go, I respect not, truth is
my badge, and hath ever been the ensign of all
my ancestors; and if there be any scruple or
doubt made of mine assertion, I ask but eight
days’ liberty, that I may confer with my learned
counsel, and I will so approve all my words by
the oath and testimony of good and sufficient
witness, that your Majesty and your honourable
council shall accord to the justness of my
protestation.

‘As for the wolf, what have I to do with
him? it is well known already that he is a
debauched and almost notorious villain, false
both to heaven and to your Majesty; and now
his own words witness him a base slanderer of
women, therefore I refer myself to the trial of
his wife; if she accuse me, let the world hold
me guilty, provided she may be made free from
her husband, whose tyranny will compel her to
say anything, though never so unjustly.’

At this forth stepped Dame Lveswine, the
wolf's wife, and said, ‘O Reynard, thou hast so
oily a smooth tongue, and so dipped in flattery,
that no man is safe from thine enchantment ; it
is not once, but oft thou hast deceived me;