My frame with strange forebodings shuddereth; | I've even called him Uncle, as a jibe;
I feel assured I go to certain death;

My conscience sinks 'neath mine enormities;
You little think how ill I am at ease.
Will you, dear Nephew, my confession hear?
There is, alas! no reverend Pastor near:
Could I but of this load my bosom free,

I then should face the King more cheerfully."
"Confession certes benefits the soul,"

Quoth Greybeard, "but you must confess the 'T was the great bell-with all his heart and

It was past twelve o'clock, one cloudy night
When moon and stars gave not one ray of
light,

I took him to a house I'd known before,
Where was a window on the second floor;
The lattice shutter by good luck stood ope;
To this along the wall we slily crope;
And, being never barren in expedients,
I prayed mine Uncle he would take prece-
dence:

'Go boldly in,' I whispered; 'do not fear;
'You never saw such Fowls, as you'll find

here;

'I'll warrant, you ne'er finer met or plumper;
'I'd lay my life you'll carry off a thumper.'
Cautiously in he stole, while I stayed out;
And here and there he 'gan to grope about:
But before long in tones subdued he said,
'Reynard, by all that's Holy, I'm betrayed;
'You've led me, I suspect, a wildgoose chase:
'Of Fowls I find not the remotest trace.'
'The foremost I've long had,' said I; 'you'll
find

'The others just a little way behind:

'You'd better make your way across the rafter;
'Don't be afraid; I'll follow closely after.'
This rafter now was anything but broad.
And no ways suited to sustain a load;
And Isegrim was fain to use his talons
In order any how to keep his balance.
Out at the window I contrived to back,
And then slammed to the shutter in a crack;
It jarred the rafter, and the Wolf fell plump,

ere

He could restore himself, a monstrous thumper.
Thus was again my prophecy fulfill'd;
In such prophetic warnings am I skill'd.
The Housecarles, who around the chimney
dozed,

Were, by his heavy fall, from slumber roused;
'What's that fall'n from the window?' cried
they all,

Next, having laid it gently on the ground,
Three times across it must you gravely bound;
Lastly, in humble and obedient mood,
Three times with rev'rence must you kiss the
rod.

This done, I pardon and absolve you quite,
And every other punishment remit."

This penance cheerfully by Reynard done, Greybeard resumed; "Let your good works, my Son,

And lit the lamp and searched about the hall; Prove the sincerity of your repentance.
And in a corner found they Isegrim;
Good Saints in Heav'n! how they did punish
him!

Read psalms, and learn by heart each pious

Yet somehow he contrived to get away
With a whole skin, but how I cannot say.
"I must confess, too, even though it wound
A lady's honor, with Dame Gieremund
I've oftentimes committed mortal sin :-
It is so hard to stop when you begin.
This fault with deep contrition I deplore,

sentence;

Go oft to Church; mind what the Pastor says;
And duly fast on the appointed days;
Show those, who seek, the right path; from
your store

Give willingly and largely to the poor;
And from your heart and soul renounce the
Devil

And all his works, and ev'ry thought of evil.

So shall you come to Grace at last." "To do | Is this your penitence, unworthy Son?
All this," said Reynard, "solemnly I vow."
The shrift now ended, tow'rds the Court they
bent

Their steps, the Confessor and Penitent
In seeming meditation wrapt: their way
Through pleasant woods and fertile pastures
lay.

On their right hand an ancient cloister stood,
Where holy women of religious mood,
Passed a pure life in social solitude.

Fresh from confession, for a paltry Fowl
Will you so peril your unhappy soul?"
Said Reynard, "You rebuke me as you
ought:

For I have sinned in truth, tho' but in thought,
Pray for me, dearest Nephew, pray to Heaven,
With other sins that this may be forgiven.
Never, oh! never more will I offend."

The cloister passed, the highway they re-
gain'd:

Stored was their yard with Cocks and Hens Their pathway lay across a narrow nook:

and Chickens,

The Fox behind cast many a longing look

Who often roamed abroad in search of pick- Towards those tempting Fowls; it was in vain ings.

Reynard, when not with weightier matters
busied,

Would pay them frequently a friendly visit.
And now to Greybeard did he turn and say,
"By yonder wall you'll find our shortest way."
He did not mean exactly what he said;
His Confessor towards the wall he led;
While greedily his eyes rolled in his roguish

head.

One Cock'rell notes he in particular,

He strove his carnal yearnings to restrain.
If any one had then struck off his head,
Back to the Fowls it must perforce have fled.
Greybeard said sternly, "Whither doth

your eye

Still wander? This is hateful gluttony."
Quoth Reynard, "You quite misconceive
th' affair;

You should not interrupt me when in pray'r.
Let me conclude my orisons for those
Whose souls I've sent to premature repose;
Their bodies to my maw a prey were given:
For thus accomplished was the will of
Heaven."

Greybeard was silent; Reynard did not turn His head, while yet the Fowls he could discern.

They 've left the cloister now behind them quite:

They near the Court: the Palace is in sight: Reynard's bold heart beats faintly in his breast:

So grave the charges that against him prest.

CHAPTER THE FOURTH.

THE TRIAL.

SOON as 't was known by general report

Who plump and proud was strutting in the Reynard was really coming to the Court,

rear:

Out they all rushed in haste, both Great and
Small,

Eager to see the famous Criminal:

On him pounced Reynard sudden from behind,
And made his feathers scatter in the wind.
While the Fox licked his disappointed chaps,
Greybeard. incensed at such a sad relapse,
Exclaimed, "Alas! alas! what have you But scarce did one with word of welcome greet

In flocks and herds and droves they thronged to meet him,

Reynard cared little though for this: he | And, 'spite his size and strength, he got well

I could not help it, nor could succour him ;—
In sooth 't was lucky he knew how to swim.
Then as for Tybalt, when he came to me,
I shewed him ev'ry hospitality.
Gave him the best I had; but not content,

Free from all crime, with prouder step have His mind was wholly upon thieving bent:

Urge now your plaints, or evermore be dumb!"
Then, all confederate for Reynard's ruin,
Stept Tybalt forth, and Isegrim, and Bruin;

"Nor think to veil your crimes with sophis- And other beasts came swarming by the

The Leech doubts if he may his health restore-Sibby the Goose, with anger hissing, came,
But I will waste My words on you no more;
Lo! your Accusers press on every side;
All further subterfuge seems now denied."