雙語《列那狐》 6

CHAPTER VI

THEN spake the King:“Sir Dasse, hear you this well of the recluse of your Eme? He has fasted and prayed, that if I live a year he shall abye it. Now hark, Chanticleer, your plaint is enough. Your daughter that lies here dead, we will give to her the death's rite. We may keep her no longer, we will betake her to God. We will sing her vigil and bring her worshipfully on earth, and then we will speak with these lords and take counsel how we may do right and justice of this great murder, and bring this false thief to the law.”

Tho began they Placebo domino, with the verses that to longen, which if I should say were me too long. When this vigil was done and the commendation, she was laid in the pit, and there upon her was laid a marble stone polished as clear as any glass, and thereon was hewn in great letters in this wise: COPPE CHANTEKLERS DOUGHTER, WHOM REYNART THE FOX HAS BYTEN, LYETH HIER VNDER BURYED, COMPLAYNE YOU HER FFOR, SHE IS SHAMEFULLY COME TO HER DETH.

After this, the King sent for his lords and the wisest of his council for to take advice how this great murder and trespass should be punished on Reynart the Fox. There was concluded and appointed for the best that Reynart should be sent for, and that he left not for any cause, but he came into the King's court for to hear what should be said to him; and that Bruin the Bear should do the message.

The King thought that all this was good and said to Bruin the Bear,“Sir Bruin, I will that you do this message; but see well to for yourself, for Reynart is a shrew, and fell, and knows so many wiles that he shall lie and flatter, and shall think how he may beguile, deceive, and bring you to some mockery.”

Then said Bruin,“What, good lord, let it alone! Deceives me the Fox, so have I ill learned my casus. I think he shall come too late to mock me.”

Thus departed Bruin merrily from thence, but it is to dread that he came not so merrily again.