CHAP. XXIV REYNARD THE FOX 227

and sand sticking in his eyes smarted so sore,
that of force he must rub and wash it away,
which Reyxard seeing, with all the fury he had
he ran upon him, and with his teeth gave him
three sore wounds on his head, and _ scoffing
said, ‘Have I hit you, Mr. Wolf? I will yet
hit you better; you have killed many a lamb
and many an innocent beast, and would impose
the fault upon me, but you shall find the price
of your knavery. I am marked to punish thy
sins, and I will give thee thy absolution
bravely. It is good for thee that thou use
patience, for thy evil life is at my mercy. Yet,
notwithstanding, if thou wilt kneel down and
ask my forgiveness, and confess thyself van-
quished, though thou be the worst thing living,
yet I will spare thy life, for my pity makes me
loath to kill thee.’

These words made /segrim both mad and
desperate, so that he knew not how to express
his fury, his wounds bled, his eyes smarted, and
his whole body was oppressed. So that in the
height of his fury he lifted up his foot and struck
the fox so great a blow that he felled him to the
ground. But Reyzard, being nimble, quickly rose
up again and encountered the wolf, that between
them began a dreadful and doubtful combat.