OF

REYNARD THE FOX

THE CRAFTY COURTIER

IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE

BY

SAMUEL PHILLIPS DAY

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW YORK

THE CASSELL PUBLISHING CO.
31 EAST 17TH STREET (UNION SQUARE)

HOW THE LI-ON HELD A GREAT FEAST AT HIS COURT, AND HOW IS-GRIM THE WOLF AND HIS WIFE, CUR-TISE THE HOUND, AND CHAN-TI-CLEER THE COCK, TOLD THEIR TALES OF REY-NARD THE FOX, AND WHAT THE KING SAID.

AT the time of a high feast, held in the spring of the year, when hill and dell were gay and bright, and when birds sang sweet songs as they sprang from bough to bough, the Li-on, proud King of Beasts, made up his mind to hold great court at his seat of Sand-den. He had his will made known through all his realm, and none were to stay at home if they did not wish to risk the King's ire.

Hence all beasts, both great and small, came in crowds to the King's leet. But Rey-nard the Fox gave no heed to the call. He had done such hurt and harm to not a few beasts that he felt not quite safe should he join the rest and face the King.

Now, when all the beasts met in grave court in view of the King, the Fox had but few friends. Each foe made a charge, so that this sly rogue grew more black in their thoughts. Of these, Is-grim the Wolf was the chief. He had a train of blood friends, who felt joy in his sight, and proud of his speech to the King, which was in this wise:"My dread lord, most low in mien, I beg of you, great as you are and good, that you will deign to feel for the wrongs which that wretch the Fox hath done to me and our whole race. Know, if it please you, sire, that he slung to my house; and while my young ones were laid in their soft couch, so ill did he treat them, that they lost their sight. When the day came to hear the case, and the Fox was put to the proof, so sure was he of his guilt, that he ran and hid in his hole, in scorn of your Crown and laws. But this is not all. He hath done much more to grieve and gall me; more than time would let me tell, or you, sire, could hear. I am loth to curb my just ire; I wish him to change his course; and I hope that you will feel for me."

When Is-grim the Wolf had thus said what he felt, a small Hound, Cur-tise, told his tale to the King. He said that in a cold time of the year, when no food was to be had in the shape of prey, and with naught but a piece of cake to keep life in him, the Fox took it from him by stealth. Ere these words were out of the Hound's mouth, in sprang Ti-bert the Cat. He fell down in view of the King,

and said: "My lord, I must own that the Fox is here made to seem worse than he is. As to what the Hound said, the theft was done some years since, and, though I do

not mind it now, yet was the cake mine, and not his; for I got it one night from a mill, while the watch was in bed."

When the Lynx heard these words of the Cat, he said: "Do you think, Ti-bert, that the Fox should not have his crimes brought home to his door? Why, the whole world knows he is a thief and sheds blood, and that he is void of love for aught that has life. I shall just tell you what I saw him do but a few hours since to Kay-ward the Hare, who now stands in the King's sight. He told the Hare he would

teach him to sing a song; so
he made him sit down, twist
his legs, and shout out the
words, 'I trust you! I trust
you!' When I came more
close to them I found the
Fox had left his first note,
and caught the Hare, with
a firm grip, by the throat,
and had I not been near,
his death was sure.
good King, if you fail to

Oh,

mete out pain for this crime,

and let the Fox go free, each proud prince of your house shall have to bear the brunt of his vile deeds, which will bring a blur on your fair shield."