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NORTON & COMPANY NEW YORK LONDON Copyright© 2015 by James Simpson I dedicate this translatioi Illustrations copyright© 2015 by Liveright Publishing Corporation Foreword copyright© 2015 by Stephen Greenblatt All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America First Edition For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, Liveright Publishing Corporation, a division of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY lOllO For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact W. W. Norton Special Sales at [email protected] or 800-233-4830 Manufacturing by Courier Westford Book design by JAM Design Production manager: Anna Oler ISBN 978-0-87140-736-8 Liveright Publishing Corporation 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10110 www.wwnorton.com W.W. Norton & Company Ltd. Castle House, 75/76 Wells Street, London WlT 3QT 1234567890 REYNARD THE FOX ~ ,r '> Animal Dramatis Personae MAJOR PLAYERS Bellin the Ram: thro (in order of appearance) The Lion Que Reynard the Fox Arswind: wife OJ Isengrim the Wolf, enemy to Reynard ofReynG Fineskin the Leopar< King Noble the Lion Lapreel the Rahl Corbant the Crow: his SIGNIFICANT MINOR PLAYERS Mertin the Ape: a .fru (in order of appearance) Rukenawe the She friend oj Courtoys the Dog: a victim of Reynard's theft Byteluys the Ap Tybert the Cat: a victim of Reynard's cunning Cuwaert the Hare: eaten by Reynard Grimbart the Badger: Reynard's "nephew" and supporter Chaunticleer the Cock: along with his family, a victim of Reynard Bruin the Bear: despite his strength, an easy victim of Reynard Ermilyn: wife of Reynard the Fox Bellin the Ram: through stupidity a victim of Reynard The Lion Queen: sympathetic to Reynard Arswind: wife of Isengrim the Wolf, a victim of Reynard in various ways Fineskin the Leopard: a supporter of Reynard in court Lapreel the Rabbit: almost killed by Reynard Corbant the Crow: his wife Sharpbeak is eaten ~ Reynard Mertin the Ape: a friend of Reynard in the papal court Rukenawe the She-Ape: a clever and powerful friend of Reynard in court Byteluys the Ape: a supporter of Reynard PART I Reynard the Fox is summoned to the court of the lion king, three times, to face charges. Two of tbe messengers learn the hard way not to mess with the fox 1 The lion, King of all beasts, commands all animals to come to his feast and his court he woods were fresh, the trees adorned with blos­ soms, and the ground covered with herbs and sweet-smelling flowers. The birds sang harmoniously. It was the feast of Pentecost!1 The lion, noble King of all beasts, wished to hold open court over the days of the feast. Summons to court was made throughout his realm, and every animal was commanded to appear. All beasts came, both great and small, except Reynard the Fox. Reynard knew that he was guilty on many counts involving other animals- who would appear at court. So he didn't dare show up. 1 In Christianity, the religious feast of Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and others fifty days after Easter (see Acts 2:1-31). 2 The first accusation against Reynard, The accusatio made by Isengrim the Wolf sengrim the Wolf came with his family and support­ f ter this spee, ers and stood in front of the King. "High and mighty up and comp [D] prince, my lord King, I beg this of you: that by your when the frrn great power,justice, and mercy, you'll pity me, given the serious­ had nothing but a sausag ness of the crimes that Reynard the Fox has committed against Then Tybert the Cat SF me and my wife. He entered my house against my wife's will, and among them. "My lord tli relieved himself on my children so as to blind them! He and I of serious crimes. No on agreed on a day when Reynard should come to exc~se himself name. The matter Cour1 for this crime and swear by the holy saints that he wasn't guilty years ago, a.nd even if I d< of it. But when the book of the saints was brought out, Reynard I'd got it one night at a IJ had second thoughts: he returned to his hole, as if he didn't care Courtoys had any claim ti a thing about the matter. Dear King, many of the animals here Then the panther spc at your court know this to be true. And yet Reynard has wronged Reynard: he's a murderer, me in many other respects too: no man alive could tell you all about eating the leg of .i that I now leave untold. But I swear to avenge the shame he's of anyone here-even ou inflicted on my wife. For that he'll pay, and dearly!" lose his reputation and he "I'll tell you what I s, the Hare, who stands he promised Cuwaert that h 3 The accusation of Courtoys the Dog fter this speech, a little dog named Courtoys stood up and complained to the King. In the cold winter, when the frost was hard and he'd been starved, he had nothing but a sausage left. Reynard stole it from him. Then Tybert the Cat spoke up. He advanced angrily, springing among them. "My lord the King, I hear that Reynard is accused of serious crimes. No one present has more to do to clear his name. The matter Courtoys complains about happened many years ago, and even if I don't lay charges, that sausage' was mine. I'd got it one night at a mill, when the miller was fast asleep. If Courtoys had any claim to it, it came through me." Then the panther spoke. "Tybert, maybe we should accuse i Reynard: he's a murderer, a scavenger, and a thief. He cares more ll about eating the leg of a fat hen than he does about the love 's of anyone here-even our lord the King-and he's prepared to lose his reputation and honor for it. "I'll tell you what I saw him do only yesterday to Cuwaert the Hare, who stands here by the King's protection. Reynard promised Cuwaert that he'd teach him his Apostles' Creed and 44 -~ REYNARD THE FOX make him a virtuous chaplain.2 Reynard required Cuwaert to sit between his legs and sing, crying out, 'Credo, Credo.' 3 "I happened to be passing by, and I heard the song. I came nearer and saw that Master Reynard couldn't care less about what he'd begun reading and singing. Instead, he began to play his old tricks, for he'd caught Cuwaert by the throat. Grimbart the 1 "If I hadn't been passing, he would've killed Cuwaert then and there: just look, you can see the wound still fresh on him. speaks up J Truly, my lord King, you must on no account allow this crime to prese11 go unpunished and permit the criminal Reynard to go scot-free. If you don't exactjustice according to the judgment of your own men, this is what'll happen: your children will be criticized and blamed on account of this for many years to come." rimbart the E "Truly, panther," said Isengrim, "you're telling the truth: . spoke angrily: it's right that justice be done, for those who want only to live in a common pr1 peace." m speaks well, and the cha1 proves it. I wish you'd agr, sinned most against the I thief on a tree. If Reynard with this court, he'd not •.. begged his forgiveness. , frightening teeth more tir "All the same, I'll go 4 · Don't you remember the :fi erman's basket, when you cious fish alone, giving hin that you couldn't eat. You 2 The Apostles' Creed is one of the statements of belief for the early Christian Church. of bacon that tasted so go< 3 "I believe, I believe." "Credo" is the first word of the Latin form of the Apos­ share, you answered him : tles' Creed. gladly give you your part,' 4 Grimbart the Badger, the fox's nephew, speaks up for Reynard, in the presence of the King rimbart the Badger was Reynard's sister's son. He spoke angrily: "Sir Isengrim, you're malicious. It's a common proverb that an enemy's mouth seldom speaks well, and the charge you lay against my Uncle Reynard proves it. I wish you'd agree to this: that whoever of you two has sinned most against the other should hang by the neck like a thief on a tree. If Reynard were as tight with the King as you are with this court, he'd not consider it sufficient that you merely begged his forgiveness.