XNIII REYNARD THE FOX 221

therefore go to your rest, for it is near day,
and some sleep will make the body better
disposed.’

The fox gave her infinite thanks, and told
her, ‘She had bound him to her a servant for
ever; and in those holy words she had spoken
he had placed his confidence unremovable’ ;
and so he laid him down to rest under a tree
in the grass, till it was sunrise, at which time
the otter came unto him and awaked him and
gave a fat young duck to eat, saying, ‘ Dear
cousin, I have toiled all this night to get this
present for you, which I took from a fowler ;
here take and eat it, and it shall give you
vigour and courage.’

The fox gave him many thanks, and said,
‘It was a fortunate handsel, and if he survived
that day he should find he would requite it’;
so the fox ate the duck without bread or sauce
more than his hunger, and to it he drank four
great draughts of water, and then he went to
the place appointed where the lists stood, with
all his kindred attending on him.

When the King beheld Reynard thus shorn
and oiled, he said to him, ‘Well, fox, I see you
are careful of your own safety; you respect
not beauty so you escape danger.’