212 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

asked him how he fared? He said, ‘‘ Wondrous
ill, and so extremely ill, that, dear nephew,
without some meat I die presently”: then did
I take compassion on him, and gave him my
wife’s token, which preserved his life, and for
which then he gave me a world of thanks,
though now he hates me extremely.

‘But as soon as he had devoured up my
venison, he said, “ Reynard, my dear cousin,
what found you in the hole? believe it, | am
now more hungry than | was before, and this
small morsel hath but sharpened my teeth to
eat more.” Then said I to him, ‘“ Uncle, get
you into that hole, and you shall find store
of victuals, for there lieth my aunt with her
children: if you can flatter and speak her fair,
you need fear no hard measure, all things will
be as you would wish it.”

‘T think, my gracious Lord, this was warn-
ing sufficient, and that which might have armed
any wise spirit; but rude and barbarous beasts
will never understand wisdom, and therefore
they loathe the policies they know not. But
yet he promised to follow my counsel; so forth
he went into that foul dismal hole, and found
the ape in that filthy sort as before I described ;
which when he saw, being affrighted, he cried