240 REYNARD THE FOX CHAP. XXV

Then the fox also thanked the King with
fair and courteous words, saying, ‘ My gracious
Lord, I. am not worthy of these high honours
you do me; yet will ever study with my
service how to deserve them; nor shall my
counsel at any time be wanting.’

And this said, he took his humble leave of
the King, and so departed with the rest of his
friends and kindred.

Now whilst these passages happened, Bruzx
the bear, 7zdert the cat, and Lreswine and her
children, with the rest of their lineage, drew
the wolf out of the field and laid him upon soft
litters and hay, and covered him all over very
warm, and dressed his wounds, which were to
the number of five-and-twenty, by the help
of many skilful leeches and surgeons. His
sickness and weakness was so great that his
feeling was lost; but they rubbed and chafed
him on the temples and under the eyes, till he
leaped out of his swoon, and howled so loud
that all were amazed which heard him; but
the physicians gave him cordials to drink, and
a dormiture or potion to make him sleep ; and
then comforted his wife, telling her there was no
danger or peril of his life. So the court broke
up, and every beast returned to his own home.