雙語《列那狐》 19

CHAPTER XIX

THUS has this false pilgrim gotten from Esegrim two shoes from his feet, which were hauled off the claws to the sinews. You saw never fowl that men roasted lay so still as Esegrim did when his shoes were hauled off. He stirred not, and yet his feet bled. Then when Esegrim was unshod tho must Dame Ersewynde his wife lie down in the grass with an heavy cheer. And she lost there her hinder shoes.

Tho was the Fox glad, and said to his Aunt in scorn,“My dear Aunt, how much sorrow have you suffered for my sake, which me sore repents, save this, hereof I am glad for you be the liefest of all my kin. Therefore I will gladly wear your shoes. You shall be partner of my pilgrimage and deal of the pardon that I shall with your shoes fetch over the sea.”

Dame Ersewynde was so woe that she uneasily might speak. Nevertheless this she said,“Ah, Reynart, that you now all thus have your will, I pray God to wreak it!”

Esegrim and his fellow the Bear held their peace and were all still. They were evil at ease for they were bound and sore wounded. Had Tybert the Cat have been there, he should also somewhat have suffered, in such wise as he should not have escaped thence without hurt or shame.

The next day, when the sun arose, Reynart then did grease his shoes which he had of Esegrim and Ersewynde his wife, and did them on, and bound them to his feet, and went to the King and to the Queen and said to them with a glad cheer,“Noble Lord and Lady, God give you good morrow, and I desire of your grace that I may have male and staff blessed as belongs to a pilgrim.”

Then the King anon sent for Bellyn the Ram, and when he came he said,“Sir Bellyn, you shall do mass before Reynart, for he shall go on pilgrimage; and give to him male and staff.”

The Ram answered again and said,“My Lord, I dare not do that, for he has said that he is in the Pope's curse.”

The King said what thereof master Gelys has said to us, if a man had don as many sins as all the world and he would tho sins forsake, shrive him and receive penance, and do by the priest's counsel, God will forgive them and be merciful unto him. Now will Reynart go over the sea into the Holy Land, and make him clear of all his sins.

Then answered Bellyn to the King,“I will not do little nor much herein but if you save me harmless in the spiritual court, before the bishop Prendelor and before his archdeacon Looswinde and before Sir Rapiamus his official.”

The King began to wax wroth, and said,“I shall not bid you so much in half a year! I had liever hang you than I should so much pray you for it!”

When the Ram saw that the King was angry, he was so sore afraid that he quoke for fear, and went to the altar and sang in his books and read such as him thought good over Reynart, which little set thereby save that he would have the worship thereof.

When Bellyn the Ram had all said his service devoutly, then he hung on the fox's neck a male covered with the skin of Bruin the Bear and a little psalter thereby. Tho was Reynart ready toward his journey. Tho looked he toward the King, as he had been sorrowful to depart; and feigned as he had wept, right as he had yamerde in his heart; but if he had any sorrow it was because all the other that were there were not in the same plight as the Wolf and Bear were brought in by him. Nevertheless he stood and prayed them all to pray for him, like as he would pray for them. The Fox thought that he tarried long and would fain have departed, for he knew himself guilty.

The King said,“Reynart, I am sorry you be so hasty, and will no longer tarry.”

“Nay, my Lord, it is time, for we ought not spare to do well, I pray you to give me leave to depart: I must do my pilgrimage.”

The King said,“God be with you,”and commanded all them of the court to go and convey Reynart on his way, save the Wolf and the Bear which fast lay bounden. There was none that durst be sorry therefor, and if you had seen Reynart how personably he went with his male and psalter on his shoulder, and the shoes on his feet, you should have laughed. He went and showed him outward wisely, but he laughed in his heart that all they brought him forth which had a little before been with him so wroth. And also the King which so much hated him, he had made him such a fool that he brought him to his owne intent. He was a pilgrim of deuce ace.

“My Lord the King,”said the Fox,“I pray you to return again, I will not that you go any further with me. You might have harm thereby. You have there two murderers arrested. If they escape you, you might be hurt by them. I pray God keep you from misadventure!”With these words he stood up on his afterfeet, and prayed all the beasts, great and small, that would be partners of his pardon, that they should pray for him.

They said that they all would remember him.

Then departed he from the King so heavily that many of them ermed.

Then said he to Cuwart the Hare and to Bellyn the Ram merrily,“Here, friends, shall we now depart? Yea, with a good will accompany me further. You two made me never angry. You be good for to walk with, courteous, friendly, and not complained on of any beast You be of good conditions and ghostly of your living; you live both as I did when I was a recluse. If you have leaves and grass you be pleased, you reck not of bread of flesh nor such manner meat.”

With such flattering words has Reynart these two flattered that they went with him till they came before his house Maleperdays.