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8 - The Wolf and the Ham
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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Summary
At this point Reynard spotted the farmer, and this prom-ised to be a cause for rejoicing because he was carrying a large ham. Reynard laughed and said, “Listen to this, my Lord Isengrim!” “What's that, kinsman?” “Would you like to try some of that meat?” Isengrim and the family all declared that they would indeed.
Reynard got up and went over to a spot where he knew the farmer would have to pass, lifted up one foot, and began to limp heavily, and at the same time he bowed his back as if he had been beaten. The farmer yelled at him and dropped the ham onto the grass, because he was still after the white fur around Reynard's throat. He was carrying a fearsome-looking club. Reynard looked around, then lured him toward the forest. Isengrim jumped up, and before the farmer could do anything, he grabbed the ham and just as quickly started to gobble it up, forgetting entirely about Reynard. The farmer gave up the chase and wanted to retrieve his ham, but then he saw Isengrim, his nemesis, in the distance. He complained loud and long, but there was no sign of meat or bones, so he fell down on the grass and bewailed the loss of his ham.
Isengrim started to laugh. “Reynard's a good companion for me,” he said. “We couldn't have gotten a better dinner, and it's all thanks to him.” He had no idea, however, of where this would all lead in the end. Reynard came back with a smug look on his face and said, “Now where's my share?” Isengrim replied, “You’d better ask your kinswoman if she has saved any of hers.”
“Sorry, Reynard,” said the she-wolf, “I found it all far too tasty, but your reward will be in heaven! Don't be cross! It won't happen again.” [449–498]
Heinrich, Reynard the Fox
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Summary
This is the tale of Reynard the Fox.
May God guide us on our journey!
What I am about to tell you is an unusual, but entirely believable story about a wild animal, and it may serve as an instructive fable in a great many ways. The animal in question was entirely focused upon deceit and trickery, which often led him into trouble. He indulged in all kinds of wickedness, and his name was Reynard the Fox. So let us begin the story.
5 - The Fox and the Tomcat
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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Summary
In the forest he met Tibert, the tomcat. Reynard embraced him and claimed: “A thousand welcomes, my friend! I am absolutely delighted to find you looking so well. I’ve heard a great deal about how fast you can run, and that is something I should like to see. If it's true, I’ll tell everyone about it.”
Tibert replied, “Reynard my friend, I’m pleased that such good things are being said about me, and I shall be happy to oblige you.” Reynard, however, was not being honest. He sent the cat off in a direction where he knew there was a gin trap— this was a wicked act from a so-called friend. It was a narrow track he had to run down. “Now let me see how strong you are, off you go, my dear fellow!” said Reynard. Tibert, however, knew all about the trap and said to himself, “May Saint Gallus preserve me from Reynard's dirty deeds!” He jumped over the trap and ran hard. When he reached the turnaround marker, Reynard said to him: “There isn't an animal faster than you, my dear friend, but let me teach you an extra trick. You have to be able to jump really high, because otherwise it could be the end of you if you were being chased by a savage dog—and I know what I am talking about there!”
“You don't need to tell me,” replied Tibert. “Just run after me and I’ll demonstrate the finest jumps possible.” Each of them was intending to deceive the other. Reynard ran after his friend, who did not keep very far in front. Tibert leaped over the trap, then stopped stock-still, which made his companion cannon into him so that—as he so richly deserved—his foot went into the trap. With this, Tibert took his leave, commenting before he made a rapid escape that the devil takes the hindmost.
Reynard was in very considerable trouble and thought that he would meet a grim death. At this point he saw the hunter who had set the trap. Reynard needed now more than ever to use his cunning. He laid his head over the trap just as the hunter, a farmer, ran up to it. Reynard's throat was as white as snow, and the hunter felt certain of getting a bounty of five silver pieces, maybe even more.
4 - The Fox and the Dogs
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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Reynard now had to run away, because a hunter and his dogs were on his trail, and this situation did not please him. The hunter set four dogs after the fox, and they soon found him. He even had to abandon the cheese, so his friend Dizelin could claim his right to it after all. The dogs were nearly on him, and Dizelin did what he could to cause him problems, shouting at him in fury, “They tell me that dirty deeds can be paid back in full, and that's what has happened to you—friend!” Reynard twisted away from the dogs, but the crow didn't lose interest in the matter but pointed the dogs toward Reynard's tail. This was not the best thing that could happen to him, and the dogs tore at him while the hunter egged them on. It was time for some clever trickery; Reynard spotted a fallen tree trunk and slipped under it, the dogs all jumped over it, with the hunter after them, and Reynard escaped into the forest. [285–312]
Contents
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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23 - The Murder of the King
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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Reynard the doctor was so wicked that he very soon betrayed the king. He had a great many malicious tricks up his sleeve. “My lord,” he said, “I shall give you a drink that will restore you completely.” “Do so,” replied the king. But what he brewed was death to the king. Reynard the red fox was evil, and he now made it very clear indeed: he poisoned his lord.
No one should protest about this too much. What, after all, did anyone expect of Reynard? God knows, it is disgraceful that at court there are plenty of scoundrels who are held in greater esteem than those who have never acted dishonorably. If a ruler dies because of needlessly following someone like that, then that is all to the good. Unfortunately, wicked deceivers seem to come to the fore every time, and the honest ones are left outside.
When the king had taken the drink, Reynard left, saying he had to go and search for herbs and roots. He had simply done as he always did. He took the hand of his dear kinsman Grimbard and said: “I want to tell you something. The king cannot be cured, and we should not stay here any longer.” Together they hurried off into the forest, where Reynard saw Sir Bruin the chaplain wandering around without his bearskin. I’ll tell you what the fox said when he saw him. “Most noble cleric, was your fur so heavy that I must see you skinless? Quite honestly, I should think that if, come winter, you have to represent anyone in court, you’ll have to borrow a fur coat. No one can deny that you certainly need one. Oh dear, who took your skin away?”
Sir Bruin was so angry that he could not say a word. He was less than happy to see Reynard, and his fury was palpable. He growled and bared his teeth, and Reynard left Sir Bruin there and went back to his lair.
The king was in a great deal of pain. “Where is Doctor Reynard?” he said. “Send for him to come quickly. Something horrible is happening to me—I have no idea what—but it is piercing me to the heart. He will be able to sort it out, with his wonderful herbs. He is a most excellent physician.”
Introduction (with Bibliographical Notes)
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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Summary
The Political Focus
The three medieval German texts translated here are all political in that they each demonstrate just how precarious even a supposedly rigidly organized society—such as the Holy Roman Empire—can be. All three of them are designed to entertain, and they do it well, but in addition, they all instruct. Two of them are adventure stories, in different styles, but both with a message about the care needed to prevent the escalation of violence that can lead any society into a descent into chaos. The third is a bleak illustration of how things can be manipulated by the unscrupulous and can end in disaster. The three works are in very different styles. The first, Duke Ernst, begins with a political conflict but develops into what is almost a fantasy novel as the central character goes (most certainly boldly) to strange places outside the known world and meets (sometimes fights with, but also learns from) strange and alien creatures before returning to the world from which he set out. The second, Henry of Kempten, is ostensibly a novella about chivalric bravery, but it is set in a prechivalric period and is really about the ease with which an initially apparently trivial incident can escalate toward a major disaster that is here only just avoided. The third is an animal fable, part of an extensive tradition as far as genre and theme are concerned and involving the fox we know as Reynard; it is comfortably familiar for the first part, at least, but it develops into a very dark political tale indeed and ends with the death of a king.
The first two works in particular have at their center the concept of empire, rîche, and it is perhaps necessary to comment here that these are medieval texts and that the notions of empire and imperialism (and the overlaps with colonialism), not to say the very word Reich, have in recent centuries acquired overtones that they did not have in the medieval context. This does not mean that the presentation of these texts implies a defense in the modern world of medieval or of any other autocratic rule, and the emperors in the first two works are themselves, interestingly, very far from perfect;
Preface
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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Summary
This collection offers translations of three tales, originally in verse, from medieval Germany. The first—whose author is anonymous—is the story of Duke Ernst (Herzog Ernst); the second, by the well-known and prolific writer Konrad von Würzburg, is that of Henry of Kempten (Heinrich von Kempten; the work is also known as Otto mit dem Bart); and the third, by an author of whom we know very little, but who names himself as Heinrich, is about a figure who is very well known, Reynard the Fox (Reinhart Fuchs). The three tales, two about knights and adventure and one about the trickery of a cunning fox, are all entertaining, but they are also all essentially political, and their messages are not exclusively medieval. The first two, although exciting and adventurous (and Ernst in particular travels and meets exotic and strange creatures), both show young men in conflict with the state, or its embodiment in the emperor, and both men learn the necessity of compromise in order to maintain the stability of the state. The third story first shows us the familiar fox up to his usual pranks but then becomes darker as the fox becomes the most untrustworthy adviser at the court of the lion king in a disturbing fable about the acquisition of power.
For help in the production of this book, several votes of thanks are due, first to the many students with whom I read and discussed these texts over a good number of years at the University of Stirling. In the production of this book, I owe a great debt of gratitude to the two readers, who made informed, detailed, and extremely useful comments; this is an aspect of academic work that deserves much credit and thanks (although in the time-honored but quite genuine formula, any remaining errors are my responsibility!). My professional and my personal thanks go, too, to the indefatigable Jim Walker, whose expertise, advice, and endless patience have meant a great deal to me over the many years we have worked together, when he has supported me in publishing books on both modern and medieval literature.
7 - The Crusader
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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Indeed, the duke lived for a good six years in that country and governed his duchy well. One morning the noble lord chanced to be taking his ease outside his castle when he saw a ship sail into the harbor, a ship that had come from Christian Ethiopia, the land of the Moors, and he asked who owned the ship, and what news they brought. They told the duke: “We are merchants and we set out from Ethiopia but could not help being driven here by the winds. We had no intention of coming to this country. We implore you, most noble knight, for the sake of God to show us mercy and help us, lord, to preserve our lives. We shall give you as much of our goods as you would like, with no limits because we are in your hands. We would only ask that you leave enough to keep us from starvation and that we can get home alive.”
When he heard this, the bold warrior realized what things were like in the country they came from. Duke Ernst asked if there was a war there, and they told him what the situation was. They said: “The troops of the king of Babylon often cause great damage to the lands of the king of Ethiopia. They have frequently attacked with very considerable force, trying to make the king renounce Christianity and so to increase the numbers of heathens and unbelievers. They regularly invade our country with a great army and have to be stopped. On many occasions they have had to give way and flee from our land because of our forces and the king's bravery in battle. He is unwavering in his belief.”
When he had heard their story, the duke asked the merchants if they would help him secretly and covertly. “It has long been my desire to get to Jerusalem,” he said, and if they would help him to get there, he would reward them handsomely. He was also inclined, he said, if there was a war, to stay for a time there with the king, and then move on to Jerusalem. When the merchants heard this, they were very happy indeed, and promised him faithfully that they would do whatever he said.
22 - The Elephant and the Camel
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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Reynard, who rarely showed any loyalty to anyone, pressed the king to confer upon his friend, the elephant, lordship over a country. “Granted,” said the king. “Let him rule Bohemia.” This pleased the elephant very much, and the king gave it to him to hold in fief in accordance with the law. The good servant of the king set off at once. He had come poor to the court and was now a prince. The elephant traveled to the land where the king had sent him and announced to the people the surprising news that he was now their overlord. For this he was severely beaten and had to go back in sorrow to where he came from. They might easily have wounded him so severely that he would not have survived.
Having had the elephant made ruler of a country, Reynard thought that he still hadn't exercised enough malice. Again he made an urgent request to the king about the camel, who had been one of those judging him. “She should also play a useful role,” he said. “Make her the abbess at Erstein in Alsace, and this will save your soul, because they send up a lot of prayers.” The king acceded gladly to the request and granted her with his right hand a role that would be financially very beneficial to her. Certainly she saw herself as a wealthy and powerful abbess, so she took her leave and hurried to take up the post. She skipped gaily across the courtyard and was very grateful to Reynard for the gift of this important position. It would, however, lead to trouble for her. When she reached the convent, all those who had heard the news hurried along. They looked at her and immediately wanted to know who she was. “I shall give you an honest answer,” she said. “The mighty king has granted me authority over this place. I shall be the abbess.” The nuns were so angry about this that the camel was nearly killed. The nuns closed in on her, and the abbess was beaten to within an inch of her life. They used their sharp writing implements to make wounds on her body, and it put her in a great deal of danger.
Konrad von Würzburg, Henry of Kempten
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Summary
There was once an emperor named Otto, to whom a great many countries were subject, all of them held in thrall by fear of his power. He had a fine long beard, which he tended with considerable care, and anything that he swore “by my beard” would be carried out to the letter. He had fiery red hair and was, all things considered, an unpleasant man, who proved time and again how anger and rage could just boil up inside him. Anyone who tried to go against him was as good as dead, and if the emperor said of anyone, “You'll pay for that, by my beard,” then that person would be killed on the spot without any hope of mercy. A lot of men had lost their lives that way after falling out of favor with the emperor over some serious misdemeanor.
One year, Otto decided to hold a great Easter celebration at his fine and large fortress near Bamberg, and a great number of high-ranking prince-abbots from royal monasteries came to this feast, as well as many worthy bishops. A whole stream of earls, barons, and knights with their richly dressed retinues came, too, all of whom owed feudal allegiance to the empire and to its imperial leader. The dignitaries all thronged to this imperial diet peacefully and happily. Once the paschal Mass had been celebrated, everything was going well, tables were set up and looked splendid, bread was put out ready, and there were plenty of fine goblets, too, so that when Emperor Otto and his court came back from the cathedral, they could wash their hands and break their fast straightaway. [1–49]
A young and noble squire had been sent to the festival to learn proper courtly behavior, a wellborn, good-looking, and clearly good-hearted lad, who was much admired by everyone there. His father was the powerful duke of Swabia, and one day he would inherit all his great wealth as the sole heir. This same innocent lad was at court that day and wandered along the tables.
15 - A Day in Court
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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When the monks had gone, Isengrim crept back into the forest and began to howl. When Lady Hirsent heard this, she hurried to him with his two sons, and Isengrim complained bitterly: “My dear sons, my dear wife,” he said, “because of Reynard my life is worthless. In God's name let it be a cause of anger to you. It is Reynard's fault that I am lacking a tail, and without any provocation from me his trickery led me toward my death, and I have been beaten and battered because of his extreme disloyalty.”
The companionship with him was at an end, and now Reynard's former patron was an enemy. The wolves all wept bitterly, and Isengrim was distressed by this. “Lady Hirsent,” he said, “my dear wife, this mars your great beauty. Your tears cause me pain, so for God's sake, desist!”
“Alas, I cannot go on. It is great sorrow to me that my husband no longer has a tail! How can I survive, poor creature that I am!”
And so the great feud began. Isengrim trotted off to look for Reynard. He took up a position where he could lie in wait, because anyone who starts an open feud without preparation will need a lot of cunning to save himself.
This is how the feud got under way. A lynx soon heard about it, and he was affected by this quarrel, because he had strong ties to both sides, to the wolves and to the fox. The lynx, therefore, was worried and said to Isengrim: “My kinsman, Lord Isengrim, of what are you accusing my cousin? You are both related to me, and I could act as an arbitrator if you will explain your complaint about what Reynard has done. Then we can set a trial date, and he can answer for it in court.”
“Listen, my dear kinsman,” said Isengrim, “it is a long story, because I have a lot to complain about with all the things Reynard has done to me. It is down to him that I am deprived of a tail, and he has been trying it on with my wife. If he were at least innocent of that, I would let him off for the other matters. But I agree with you—I want a day in court.”
14 - The Fox, the Wolf, and the Well
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Reynard has told a great many lies, but today he is going to be tricked himself, although his innate cunning did get him out of a lot of trouble. He set off toward a monastery, where he knew they kept chickens, but things were, God knows, not as simple as all that for him, because the place had a very effective wall around it. Reynard had a look around and saw that by the gate was a large and deep well. He peered in, something he regretted later, because he saw his reflection in it, and now a very surprising thing happened. The creature whose cunning had worked wonders in the past now made a fool of himself. Reynard thought that what he was looking at was his wife, whom he loved more than life itself, even if he was unable to resist the urge to take a mistress (the pursuit of love is, after all, a delight for the soul, and this made her all the more desirable). Reynard smiled down, and the reflection moved. He was very thankful for this, and out of pure love he jumped into the well. He did this through the power of love, and for that he got wet to the ears.
He swam around in the well until he found a stone and rested his head on it. If you don't believe me, that's your problem!
God knows, Reynard thought that he had jumped to his death.
At this point, Lord Isengrim appeared (minus tail) out of the forest and headed for the monastery. He hadn't eaten, and I should say that he was keen to steal a sheep. By accident, then, he came by the well—something that would prove perilous for him!
Isengrim peered into the well, and I shall tell you what happened next. He saw his reflection in the water and he thought that his beloved wife, Hirsent, was down there. He pulled his head out and put it in again and the reflection on the water did the same, and this confused him completely. He began to complain to Lady Hirsent of all his pains and woes with loud howls, and as an answer his voice echoed in the hollow.
21 - The Badger, the Fox, and the Sick Lion
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The king was saddened by their complaints, and at the same time he was feeling ill, but mostly he was very angry. He asked the boar for his opinion on the right way to proceed, now that the envoys Bruin and Tibert had been so unjustly mis-treated. The boar was equally incensed. “He should be stripped of his honor and property, and he should be banished, his wife declared a widow and his children orphans.” “I agree!” said Isengrim. The king then asked everyone—wise or unwise—if they were in agreement.
Grimbard the badger did not hide his thoughts. “Most noble Majesty,” he said, “if Sir Bruin lost his scalp without it being the fault of my relative, then your anger is misplaced. Tibert, too, may also be in the wrong, because he hates Reynard. Therefore, it is clear that no one should make such a judgment, because it might damage your own esteem or weaken the power of the court by making it a laughingstock. There must be no corruption. My kinsman must be summoned one more time.” “You must go yourself,” said the king. “I give you this commission on your life. If God will, then your kinsman may accept you as an envoy.”
Everyone laughed, but Grimbard was not particularly worried, and went quickly off to the forest in search of his kinsman.
The story gets really strange and interesting here, and it is being told to you in all truth by a storyteller named Heinrich, who put together the book of Isengrim's struggles. If you don't believe all this, then you can keep your money. But now let's go back to where we left off.
Grimbard made his way to Reynard's fortress, and the fox was very pleased to see him. He said, with a laugh, “Welcome, my kinsman! Come and tell me what I am being accused of at court.”
“The mighty king is threatening with dreadful penalties,” replied Grimbard. “He has heard a lot of complaints against you, and if you don't appear before him this very day, you will have to flee the country, or you’ll die. But if you do turn up in court, and Isengrim sees you, you will be condemned by everyone.”
19 - The Bear and the Honey
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The king gave orders to his chaplain, Sir Bruin, to go and find Reynard. He was inclined to refuse for fear of danger, but did what the king had commanded, and went looking for him in the forest. Reynard's cunning, however, was boundless, and the whole of the land suffered for it. Bruin found Reynard by his lair, a cave in a stony cliff, where he was safe from his enemies. The cave is still to this day called “The Hell-Hole.”
Reynard knew how he should receive the great king's chaplain. “Welcome, most noble cleric,” he said. “Come, tell me how things are at court. I know that you are one of the king's counselors.”
“Heavy charges have been laid against you. If your honor means anything to you, then come to the court and answer to them. This is what the great king has ordered.”
“Sir Chaplain,” replied Reynard, “let us have something to eat, and then we shall be better prepared to go to the court.” Reynard's honesty here was somewhat questionable. “I know a tree full of the best honey.”
“Right, let's go! That's always my favorite.”
Sir Bruin went off with Reynard, who took him to a place where a farmer had hammered a wedge into a split tree trunk. It was devilish to take Bruin there. “Sir Chaplain, my dear friend, you may help yourself, but be careful—there are lots of bees.”
Unconcerned about the bees, the bear just stuck his head into the split trunk. Reynard pulled out the wedge, and the sides snapped together and trapped the chaplain. This was going to be a long meal!
“Ow!” shouted Sir Bruin. “What's the matter?” asked Reynard. “I did warn you, and now the bees are going to get you. Enjoy your dinner! The king is so powerful that he’ll probably be able to get back at me.” And off he went.
The court chaplain bewailed his situation, but then he heard the sound of a wagon coming, which frightened him, and he pulled backward hard to try to escape. When the wagoner spotted him, he kept very quiet until he was back in the village.
13 - The Wolf Goes Fishing
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Isengrim believed that this was true and did not worry too much about his hair and skin but said, “Kinsman, now that we are God's children, the eels must be communal property, so that anyone who denies me some would be in trouble with the Cistercians.”
Reynard replied: “Of course. All that we have is available to you in fraternal love. We have, however, run out of fish. If you would care to come with me to where we have a fishpond, there are more fish there than can be counted. The brothers have stocked the pond.”
“Let's go,” said Isengrim.
They set off peaceably to the fishpond, which was frozen over. They had a look at the ice and discovered that a hole had been made in order to draw water. This would soon cause problems for Isengrim.
His supposed brother monk hated him with a passion, and Reynard was delighted to find a bucket that someone or other had left behind, and he tied it to Isengrim's tail.
“In nomine patris,” said Isengrim, “what is that for?
“You have to lower the bucket into the hole, and I’ll start the search. Just keep nice and still and we’ll soon have loads of fish—I can see them through the ice.” Reynard was crafty, and Isengrim was not very bright. “Tell me, my brother in God's love, are there eels in there?”
“I’ve seen thousands of them!”
“Excellent. Let's catch them.”
Isengrim was so dim-witted that he sat there, and his tail froze in. It was a cold and clear night, and his brother monk failed to warn him—Reynard didn't possess a scrap of loyalty— and so Isengrim's tail froze more and more securely in the ice.
“That bucket is getting heavy,” said Isengrim.
“I’ve counted thirty eels in it already,” replied Reynard. “This will be a profitable trip. If you just keep still, we can get a hundred of them.”
Toward daybreak Reynard said: “I tell you, I’m afraid we shall have to abandon our greed for eels. I’m sorry to say that we have so many in the bucket that I can't catch any more.
11 - Kunin
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Book:
- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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- 09 May 2024
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Reynard left his kinsman. Isengrim, covered in blood, was on the point of death and said: “Alas for my life, and even more for my dear wife, who is noble and good and has always behaved decently and shunned any wickedness. Alas, too, for my sons, who will sadly now be fatherless, with only their mother left to bring them up. But I am comforted by the knowledge that my wife will not marry again.”
The tree-goblin Kunin heard this complaint and asked, “What is the matter with you, Lord Isengrim?”
“I have been dreadfully wounded,” he replied, “and I don't think I shall ever recover from this. And my dear wife will die of sorrow.”
“No, she won’t,” said Kunin. “She hasn't been as chaste as you seem to be saying. I saw Reynard between her legs and at it, and this was not as much as a mealtime ago. Or isn't that sex? He was going in and out just like a shuttle.”
Isengrim did not like what he was hearing and collapsed in sorrow, no longer knowing day from night. Kunin thought this was very funny. When Isengrim came to himself again, he said: “Goblin, I have a load of troubles, and now you are making it worse with your lying stories. If I were fool enough to believe them I would tear your eyes out. If you came down here, you wouldn't get up your tree ever again.” But Kunin said, “You’re a cuckold, you old fool!”
Isengrim howled. Suddenly Lady Hirsent appeared, and his sons with her. Isengrim was overjoyed to see them. With tears in his eyes, he said: “I have never been more pleased to see you, my sons, and my wife. I am done for, and that is the fault of Reynard—may he pay for it with his life! And on top of that, Kunin is driving me out of my mind by telling me wicked tales while I am sick—he said that Reynard had shared your bed. That story nearly killed me, although you should never believe what a liar tells you, and I did threaten to tear his eyes out.”
12 - The Wolf ’s Tonsure
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Book:
- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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Reynard went back to his lair, afraid that he might get some unwelcome guests. He set up home in a cave in the forest and laid in a supply of food. One day, Isengrim came close to this lair in the forest. He was very unhappy and plagued by hunger, but another unpleasant adventure was in store for him.
Reynard was well provisioned and was in the process of cooking some eels, which Isengrim smelled. “Oho,” he thought, “that must be a really good meal.” The smell led him directly to his kinsman's door. Isengrim crouched down and hammered on it. Reynard, who could pull off amazing tricks, said: “Go away from my door! You must know that no one will come out and no one may come in at this time. What are you thinking of to behave like that! It is past the monastic hour of Nones, and we eremitical monks do not speak a word now, and would not do so even for all the gold of the Nibelungs.”
“Kinsman,” said Isengrim, “are you going to stay here as a monk until the end of your days?”
“Of course,” replied Reynard. “I have no other choice, since through no fault of my own you have withdrawn your patronage and even wanted to take away my life.”
“I will forgive you,” said Isengrim, “for whatever harm you may have done to me, if you will just be my ally.”
“You should indeed forgive me,” said Reynard, “because my life would certainly be at stake if I ever tried tricking you. As a token of thanks, I can give you two pieces of cooked eel that I don't need today.”
Isengrim was delighted by this and opened his mouth wide. Reynard threw in the pieces of eel, and Isengrim, fool that he was, said, “I would be more than happy if I could be the cook here.”
“You could have plenty,” said Reynard, “if you were to join our brotherhood. You could become the chief victualler.”
This was not particularly good advice.
9 - The Wolf and the Wine
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Book:
- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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“I’m really thirsty now,” said Isengrim.
“How about some wine, my lord,” said Reynard. “I can let you have a lot.”
“If you can give me enough wine,” said Isengrim, “I shall be your servant for life.”
Reynard set off, with devious intentions, to a monastery that he knew about. Isengrim, the Lady Hirsent, and their sons went with him, and Reynard led them to a wine barrel, where Isengrim got drunk and began to sing in the manner of his forefathers, without thinking of any possible danger. The monks in charge of the wine said: “What's going on? I think we just heard a wolf.” Right away six men came out, all armed with heavy batons, and Reynard quickly ran away. Hirsent and Isengrim now had to pay for the wine with a beating that was dealt out quite unmercifully. “If I get out of this,” said Isengrim, “I swear I’ll never touch a drop of wine again.” They had really made a wrong call this time! The gate was barred, but they managed to jump over the fence and made their shameful escape. Isengrim complained bitterly about the shame and also the pain, since he was bruised all over. His wife had been thrashed, and his sons had had their share, too. They said, “Father, it has to be said that that was an inappropriate song that you sang, and the whole affair was stupid.”
Reynard came back and asked, “What is all this about?” Isengrim told him: “The four of us had to pay dearly for that wine, by God! On top of that my sons have cursed me, and that makes me very angry. I’m done with the pair of them!” Reynard smoothed things over. “Kinsman, calm down,” he said. “I tell you, if one of my godsons has said something stupid, then it is not surprising, because he's still wet behind the ears.” And then Reynard and Isengrim went their separate ways. [499–551]
6 - The Fox and the Wolf
- Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
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- Book:
- Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
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Soon after Reynard had escaped from this dangerous situa-tion, he met the wolf, Isengrim, and as soon as he saw him, this is what he said: “God give you good day, my lord! Whatever service I may offer to you and to milady your wife, just ask and you may be sure I shall do it. In fact, I came here to warn you because I have heard that you are widely hated. Will you accept me as a companion? I am clever, you are strong, and you would find me very useful. With your strength and my cunning we should be unbeatable. I could conquer us a castle!”
Isengrim consulted his wife and two sons on the matter, and they all agreed that the wolf should take him in as part of the family, something that he later came to regret quite con-siderably. Reynard was head-over-heels in love with Hirsent, Isengrim's wife, and she was the one he really wanted to serve. Isengrim had acquired, therefore, an evil companion who would cause a great amount of damage. [385–412]