218 THE PLEASANT HISTORY OF CHAP.

and wise. Your uncle taught me once a prayer
of singular virtue for him which was to fight ;
and he learned it of that excellent scholar and
clerk, the abbot of Budelo, and he that saith
this prayer with a good devotion fasting, shall
never be overcome in combat, and therefore,
my best nephew, be not afraid, for to-morrow
I will read it over to you, and the wolf shall
never prevail against you.’

The fox gave her many thanks for her
favours, and told her his quarrel was good and
honest, and therefore he had no doubt of happy
success; so all that night he rested with his
kinsfolk about him, who drove away the time
with pleasant discourse. But Dame Aukenaw,
his aunt, still beat her brain how to work him
advantage in the combat, wherefore she caused
all his hair to be shaven off, even from his
head to the tail, and then she anointed all his
body quite over with oil of olive, so that she
made it so smooth and slippery that the wolf
could catch no hold of him. Besides he was
round, fat and plump of body, which much
availed to his advantage; then she advised
him, ‘ At these especial times keep your tail as
close as can be between your legs, lest he catch
hold thereon and pull you to the ground; also