XXIII REYNARD THE FOX 217

down mine, to approve all thy words lies and
falsehoods.’

This said, the King received their pledges,
and admitted the battle, commanding them to
put in their sureties, that the next morrow

 

they should try the combat: then stepped
forth the bear and the cat, and were sureties
for the wolf; and for the fox were sureties
Grimbard the brock and Bitelus. When all
ceremonies were finished, the she ape took
Reynard aside, and said, ‘ Nephew, I beseech
you take care of yourself in this battle, be bold