“BRUIN, Eme, I had supposed that you had japed therewith.”
“So help me God, Reynart, nay. I should not gladly jape with you.”
Then spake the red Reynart,“Is it then earnest, that you love so well the honey? I shall do let you have so much that ten of you should not eat it at one meal, might I get therewith your friendship.”
“Not we ten, Reynart Neve!”said the Bear.“How should that be? Had I all the honey that is between this and Portugal I should well eat it alone.”
Reynart said,“What say you, Eme? Hereby dwells an husbandman named Lantfert, which has so much honey that you should not eat in seven years; which you shall have in your hold if you will be to me friendly and helping against my enemies in the King's Court.”
Then promised Bruin the Bear to him, that if he might have his belly full he would truly be to him before all other a faithful friend.
Hereof laughed Reynart the shrew, and said,“If you would have seven hamper barrels full I shall well get them and help you to have them.”These words pleased the Bear so well, and made him so much to laugh that he could not well stand.
Tho thought Reynart,“This is good luck; I shall lead him thither that he shall laugh by measure.”
Reynart said then,“This matter may not be long tarried. I must pain myself for you. You shall well understand the very yonste and good will that I bear to you ward. I know none in all my lineage that I now would labour for thus sore.”
That thanked him the Bear and thought he tarried long.“Now, Eme, let us go a good pace, and follow you me. I shall make you to have as much honey as you may bear.”The Fox meant, of good strokes; but the caitiff marked not what the Fox meant; and they went so long together, that they came unto Lantfert's yard. Tho was sir Bruin merry.
Now hark of Lantfert. Is it true that men say, so was Lantfert a strong carpenter of great timber, and had brought that other day before into his yard a great oak, which he had begun to cleave. And as men be woned he had smitten two betels therein one after that other, in such wise the oak was wide open. Whereof Reynart was glad, for he had found it right as he wished, and said to the Bear all laughing,“See now well sharply to! In this tree is so much honey that it is without measure. Assay if you can come therein, and eat but little, for though the honeycombs be sweet and good, yet beware that you eat not too many, but take of them by measure, that you catch no harm in your body; for, sweet Eme, I should be blamed if they did you any harm.”
“What, Reynart, cousin, sorrow you not for me! Ween you that I were a fool?”
“Measure is good in all meat,”Reynart said.“You say truth. Wherefore should I sorrow? Go to the end and creep therein.”
Bruin the Bear hasted sore toward the honey, and trode in with his two foremost feet, and put his head over his ears into the clift of the tree. And Reynart sprang lightly and brake out the betle of the tree. Tho helped the Bear neither flattering nor chiding; he was fast shut in the tree. Thus has the Neve, with deceit, brought his Eme in prison in the tree, in such wise as he could not get out with might nor with craft, head nor foot.
What profits Bruin the Bear that he strong and hardy is? That may not help him. He saw well that he was beguiled. He began to howl, and to bray, and crutched with the hinder feet, and made such a noise and rumour, that Lantfert came out hastily, and knew nothing what this might be, and brought in his hand a sharp hook. Bruin the Bear lay in the clift of the tree, in great fear and dread, and held fast his head, and nipped both his fore feet. He wrang, he wrestled, and cried, and all was for naught. He wist not how he might get out.
Reynart the Fox saw from far how that Lantfert the carpenter came, and tho spake Reynart to the Bear,“Is that honey good? How is it now? Eat not too much, it should do you harm; you should not then well con go to the Court. When Lantfert comes, if you have well eaten he shall give you better to drink, and then it shall not stick in your throat.”
After these words tho turned him Reynart toward his castle, and Lantfert came and found the Bear fast taken in the tree. Then ran he fast to his neighbours and said,“Come all in to my yard, there is a bear taken!”The word anon sprang over all in the thorp. There nor bleef neither man nor wife, but all ran thither as fast as they could, every one with his weapon, some with a staff, some with a rake, some with a broom, some with a stake of the hedge, and some with a flail; and the priest of the church had the staff of the cross, and the clerk brought a vane. The priest's wife Julocke came with her distaff, —she sat tho and span, —there came old women that for age had not one tooth in their head.
Now was Bruin the Bear nigh much sorrow that he alone must stand against them all. When he heard all this great noise and cry he wrestled and plucked so hard and so sore that he got out his head. But he left behind all the skin and both his ears, in such wise that never man saw fouler nor loather beast, for the blood ran over his eyes. And or he could get out his feet he must lete there his claws or nails and this rough hand. This market came to him evil, for he supposed never to have gone, his feet were so sore, and he might not see for the blood which ran so over his eyes.
Lantfert came to him with the priest, and forthwith all the parish, and began to smite and strike sore upon his head and visage. He received there many a sore stroke. Every man beware hereby: who has harm and scathe, every man will be thereat and put more to. That was well seen on the Bear, for they were all fierce and wroth on the Bear, great and small, yea Hughelyn with the crooked leg, and Ludolf with the broad long nose, they were both wroth. That one had a leaden malle, and that other a great leaden wapper, therewith they wappered and all forslingered him, Sir Bertolt with the long fingers, Lantfert, and Ottram the long. This did to the Bear more harm than all the other, that one had a sharp hook and the other a crooked staff well leaded on the end for to play at the ball. Baetkyn and Aue, Abelquak, my dame Baue, and the priest with his staff, and dame Julocke his wife, these worked to the Bear so much harm that they would fain have brought him from his life to death, they smote and stack him all that they could.
Bruin the Bear sat and sighed and groaned, and must take such as was given to him. But Lantfert was the worthiest of birth of them all, and made most noise; for dame Pogge of Chafporte was his mother, and his father was Macob the stoppelmaker, a much stout man. There as he was alone Bruin received of them many a cast of stones. Before them all sprang first Lantfert's brother with a staff, and smote the Bear on the head that he nor heard nor saw; and therewith the Bear sprang up between the bush and the river among a heap of wives, that he threw a deal of them in the river, which was wide and deep.
There was the parson's wife one of them, wherefore he was full of sorrow when he saw his wife lie in the water. He lusted no longer to smite the Bear, but called,“Dame Julocke in the water! Now every man see to, All they that may help her! Be they men or women, I give to them all pardon of their penance, and release all their sins!”All they then left Bruin the Bear lie, and did that the priest bade.
When Bruin the Bear saw that they ran all from him, and ran to save the women, tho sprang he into the water and swam all that he could. Then made the priest a great shout and noise, and ran after the Bear with great anger, and said,“Come and turn again, thou false thief!”The Bear swam after the best of the stream and let them call and cry, for he was glad that he was so escaped from them. He cursed and banned the honey tree, and the Fox also that had so betrayed him that he had crept therein so deep that he lost both his hood and his ears. And so forth he drove in the stream well a two or three mile. Tho wax he so weary that he went to land for to sit and rest him, for he was heavy; he groaned and sighed, and the blood leapt over his eyes, he drew his breath like as one should have died.
Now hark how the Fox did. Ere he came from Lantfert's house he had stolen a fat hen and had laid her in his male, and ran hastily away by a byou path where he weened that no man should have come. He ran toward the river, that he sweat, he was so glad that he wist not what to do for joy, for he hoped that the Bear had been dead. He said,“I have now well sped, for he that should most have hindered me in the Court is now dead, and none shall wite me thereof, may I not, then, by right be well glad?”With these words the Fox looked to the riverward, and espied where Bruin the Bear lay and rested him. Tho was the Fox sorrier and heavier than before was merry, and was as angry, and said in chiding to Lantfert,“Alas, Lantfert, lewd fool! God give him a shames death that has lost such good venison, which is good and fat, and has let him go which was taken to his hand! Many a man would gladly have eaten of him. He has lost a rich and fat Bear.”Thus all chiding he came to the river, where he found the Bear sore wounded, bled, and right sick, which he might thank none better thereof than Reynart, which he spake to the Bear in scorn:“Chiere priestre, Dieu vous garde! Will you see the red thief?”
Said the Bear to himself,“The ribald and the fell deer, here I see him coming.”
Then said the Fox,“Have you aught forgotten at Lantfert's? Have you also paid him for the honeycombs that you stole from him? If you have not, it were a great shame, and not honest; I will rather be the messenger myself for to go and pay him. Was the honey not good? I know yet more of the same prize. Dear Eme, tell me ere I go hence into what order will you go that wear this new hood? Were you a monk or an abbot? He that shaved your crown has nipped off your ears, you have lost your top and don off your gloves, I think verily that you will go sing compline.”
All this heard Bruin the Bear, and waxed all angry, and sorry for he might not avenge him. He let the Fox say his will, and with great pain suffered it, and start again in the river, and swam down with the stream to that other side.
Now must he sorrow how that he should come to the Court, for he had lost his ears and the skin with the claws of his forefeet; for though a man should have slain him he could not go; and yet he must needs forth, but he wist not how.
Now hear how he did. He sat upon his hams and began to rustle over his tail; and when he was so weary, he wentled and tumbled nigh half a mile; this did he with great pain so long till at last he came to the Court. And when he was seen so coming from far, some doubted what it might be that came so wenteling.
The King at last knew him, and was not well paid, and said,“This is Bruin the Bear, my friend! Lord God, who has wounded him thus? He is passing red on his head: me thinks he is hurt unto the death. Where may he have been?”
“白魯因叔叔。我想你是在開玩笑?!?/p>
“天呀 ,列那,不。我一點(diǎn)也沒有同你開玩笑?!?/p>
于是紅列那說道:“那么,你這樣的喜歡蜂蜜是實(shí)在的么?這蜜叫你們十個(gè)來飽吃一頓還吃不完?!?/p>
“不必我們十個(gè),列那侄!”熊說道,“為什么要十個(gè)來吃?如果我有了這里和葡萄牙那里所有的蜜,我也能獨(dú)自把它吃完?!?/p>
列那道:“你說什么,叔父?這里近旁住有一個(gè)農(nóng)夫,名叫蘭特福(Lantfert),他有無數(shù)的蜜,你便吃七年也吃不了。如果你待我以友誼,幫我反抗在國(guó)王面前控告我的仇人,這些蜜便可以在你的掌握之中了?!?/p>
于是白魯因熊答應(yīng)他說,如果他有得蜜吃飽,必定與列那成為忠誠(chéng)的朋友,比誰(shuí)都要好些。
狡狐列那笑了,說道:“如果你有七張嘴,我也可以使它們吃得飽飽的?!毙苈牭眠@話,喜歡非常,忍不住笑了出來。
于是列那想道:“好運(yùn)氣,我將領(lǐng)他到那里去,使他適度地笑笑?!?/p>
于是列那說道:“這事不必久延了,我必須為你辛苦一下。你要十分明白我對(duì)你的好意?!?/p>
笨熊謝了他。狐說道:“現(xiàn)在,叔叔,我們走吧,你跟著我。我可以使你有許多蜜,你簡(jiǎn)直吃不了。”他們同走了好久,到了農(nóng)夫蘭特福的農(nóng)場(chǎng)里了。白魯因勛爵覺得很高興。
蘭特福是一個(gè)木匠,據(jù)人說,他善于鋸斷大木頭。前天他曾運(yùn)了一株大橡樹放在農(nóng)場(chǎng)中,他已經(jīng)開始鋸解這塊橡木了。他把兩個(gè)木橛夾在已鋸開的縫中,使它張裂著。列那見了很高興,他已得到他所要的東西了,于是他笑著對(duì)那熊說道:“在這樹里,蜜之多是不可計(jì)數(shù)的。你試到那里去看看,少吃些,因?yàn)槊垭m甜美,卻不要吃得太多,能適量地吃,便可與身體無害;好叔叔,如果吃得太多而致病,我是要負(fù)責(zé)的?!?/p>
“什么,列那,侄兒,不必為我憂愁!你以為我是一個(gè)愚夫么?”
列那說道:“吃東西最好不過度。你去到樹旁,爬進(jìn)去。”
白魯因熊匆匆地要取得那蜜,兩只前足先伸入鋸開的樹縫中,頭也伸了進(jìn)去。列那輕輕地跳進(jìn),把木橛拔了出來。于是鋸開的木合了攏來,把熊緊緊地夾在樹縫中。這就是侄兒用騙術(shù)把他叔叔囚禁在樹中的情形,他不能用力,也不能用智巧把他的頭和足由樹中拔出來。
白魯因熊身體雖堅(jiān)實(shí)有力,這時(shí)也無法可施。他很明白他是被欺騙了。他開始吼叫,后足掙扎著,發(fā)出的聲響,已驚動(dòng)了農(nóng)夫蘭特福。他匆匆地走出來,手里執(zhí)著一把尖利的鐮刀。白魯因熊被夾在樹縫中,又害怕,又著急。他掙扎著,吼叫著,都沒有用。他不知怎樣脫逃。
“把熊緊緊地夾在樹縫中?!?/p>
列那狐遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地看見木匠蘭特福來了,于是他對(duì)白魯因說道:“那蜜好吃么?現(xiàn)在怎么樣?不要吃得太多——吃多了對(duì)你身體是有害的,那時(shí)你便不能到宮廷去了。當(dāng)蘭特福來時(shí),如果你已經(jīng)吃得夠了,他會(huì)給你水喝的,那么蜜便不會(huì)黏著在你喉嚨口。”
列那說了這些話,他自己轉(zhuǎn)身到他的堡中去了。蘭特福來了,他看見那熊被緊夾在樹中。于是他匆匆地跑到鄰居家,叫道:“都到我天井里來——有一個(gè)熊被捉住了!”這句話傳得極快,不久,所有男人、女人都來了,都盡力地快跑來,手里執(zhí)著各種的武器——有的是木棒,有的是耙,有的是掃帚;教堂里的牧師也拿著神杖跑來,他的妻子也來了,連口中牙齒都沒有的老太婆也跑來了。
白魯因在此是以一當(dāng)百的。他聽見眾人的喊聲,掙扎著,盡力一掙,把他的頭釋放出來。但他的頭皮及他的雙耳都留在樹縫中了。在他把雙足拔出之前,足爪及足皮也都被留住了。他兩足痛得不能走,又滿頭是血,流在眼睛中,連眼都睜不開,每個(gè)人都去打他,他只好無抵抗地呻吟著,順受這些攻擊。他們把他打得死去活來。他忍痛一跳,那邊是大河,一班女人被擠落河中去了。牧師的妻也落在水里。牧師無心再去打熊了,急得大叫道:“她在水中!救她,救她!誰(shuí)救得她起來,我把他的罪惡都赦免!”大家都依牧師吩咐去河中救人,把熊放在一邊。熊見人都去了,便也跳入水中,盡力地游泳而逃。牧師見熊逃了,大怒,追在后面大叫道:“回來,你這賊!”他只作不聞,盡力地游泳。他心里咒罵那有蜜的樹及列那狐,他使他受了這許多苦!他泅得疲了,爬上對(duì)岸,坐在那里休息。他呻吟著,嘆息著,血流過雙眼,痛徹心扉。
現(xiàn)在我們看那狐在這時(shí)做什么事。他乘機(jī)到蘭特福家里,偷了一只肥雞,匆匆地由一條小徑走了。他向河邊走去,心里很快活,想熊此時(shí)必已被打死了。他想道:“熊死了,宮廷上便無對(duì)證了。”到了河岸,卻吃了一驚,原來白魯因熊還好好地躺在那里休息,他心里異常的憂郁,而且很生氣。“蘭特福這個(gè)愚人!不得好死的!竟把握在手中的肥熊放走了!”他過了河,見白魯因熊受著重傷,全身是血。列那狐便譏嘲地說道:“你偷了蘭特福的蜜,付了錢沒有?如果沒有,那是很可恥的。我當(dāng)代你去付給他。那蜜好吃么?你為什么戴了大紅帽,把耳朵也罩得不見了?!?/p>
白魯因熊聽得這些話,憤怒異常,卻又無力去報(bào)仇。他任憑列那說去,自己卻一聲不響地極痛苦地忍受著;后來,又跳入河中,泅到對(duì)岸去避他。他遲延了許久,才動(dòng)身到國(guó)王那里去復(fù)命,一路上差不多是連爬帶滾。他遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地爬滾來,國(guó)王端詳了好久,才認(rèn)得是他,心里不大高興,說道:“這是白魯因熊,我的朋友!天呀,誰(shuí)打得他這樣厲害?頭全都變紅了,幾乎要被打死了。他在什么地方被打的呢?”
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