Grimbart continued: 66 future amendment My uncle, take care that your 4.00 In good works be visible. Psalms you should read, and should visit Churches with diligence; fast at the seasons duly appointed; 405 Him who asks you point out the way to; give to the needy Reineke answered and said: "I solemnly swear I will do so!" So the confession was ended. The two then farther proceeded Tow'rds the Court of the king. Both he and Grimbart the pious, 410 Passed through dark-soiled, fertile plains, and came to a convent On the right of the road; there reverend women were serving, Early and late, the Lord, and kept in the yard of the cloister Many a cock and hen, and many a capital capon, Which outside the walls sometimes were scattered for feeding. 415 Reineke often visited these. Then said he to Grimbart: "That is our shortest way, which runs along by the wall there." But he thought of the fowls which out in the open were walking. Leading on his confessor, the fowls by degrees he approached to. Now the rascal's eyes in his head were greedily rolling! 420 Yes, above all he was pleased with a cock, that, young and well fattened, Walked behind the others; on him his eye he had fastened. All of a sudden he sprang upon him; his feathers were scattered. Grimbart, however, enraged, rebuked this shameful back sliding. "Godless Uncle! is that what you do? and can you 66 already 425 Fall again into sin for a cock, in spite of confession? 431 Over a narrow bridge to go, and Reineke turned him question. Just then had anyone cut off his head, it had certainly bounded Off in pursuit of the fowls, so great was the force of his longing. 435 Grimbart saw it and cried: "Oh! nephew, where are you letting Those eyes wander again? In truth, you're a terrible glutton!" Reineke answered thereon: "You are greatly mistaken, Sir Uncle! Be not in too great a hurry, and don't disturb my devotions! Let me a Paternoster say! The souls of the chickens 440 And of the geese that I from the nuns, those sanctified ladies, Have through my cleverness taken away, must urgently need it." Grimbart was silent, but Reineke's head was never averted, Till they were out of his sight, from the fowls. At last they succeeded Back to the right road in coming, and thus drew near to the palace. 445 And as Reineke now the royal palace regarded him. WHEN FOURTH CANTO. WHEN at the Court it was known that Reineke really was coming, Ev'ry one thronged out of doors to see him, the great and the little. Few with friendly intent; for almost all were complaining. This, however, in Reineke's mind was of little importance: Thus he pretended, at least, as he with Grimbart, the badger, 5 Boldly enough and with elegant mien now walked up the high street. Jauntily swung he along at his ease, as if he were truly Son of the king, and free and quit of ev'ry transgression. Thus he came before Nobel, the king, and stood in the palace In the midst of the lords; he knew how to pose as unruffled. IO "Noble king and gracious lord!" he began his oration; "Noble are you and great, in honour and dignity highest; Therefore I beg to-day you will give me fairly a hearing. Ne'er has your princely grace discovered a trustier servant Than myself; and this to boldly maintain I may venture. 15 Many I know at the Court who therefore seek to undo me. If the lies of my foes, as they wish, should appear to you likely, I should forfeit for ever your majesty's friendship and favour. Fortunate is it, however, that every statement you ponder, Hear the defendant as well as the plaintiff; and though in my absence 20 Many lies have been told, I am still at my ease, and remember You my fidelity well enough know; hence this persecution!" "Silence!" answered the king; "neither chatter nor flattery helps you. Loud indeed are your crimes, and now their punishment waits you. Have you preserved the peace, which I to the beasts have commanded 25 Which I have sworn to ? There stands the cock; one after another, False, detestable thief! you have made away with his children. And of your love to me you would give, I presume, demonstration When my servants you injure, my royal authority scorning! Hintze, poor fellow, has lost his health; and how very slowly 30 Will our wounded Brown from all his aching recover! accusers, Plenty of well-proved facts. Not easily will you escape them." "Am I, gracious sir, on this account to be punished?" Answered Reineke. "Am I responsible for it that Brown comes 35 Back with a bloody pate? 'Twas he who audaciously wanted Rüsteviel's honey to eat, and if those lubberly peasants Came to personal acts, his limbs were stout and sufficient. Would they have struck and reviled him before he got to the water, If like a valiant man he had fairly avenged the dishonour? 40 And if Hintze, the cat, whom I with honour had wel comed, Entertained as well as I could, refrained not from stealing, And, in spite of my warning, inside the house of the parson Sneaked in the dead of night, and got himself into trouble; Have I deserved to be punished when they were guilty of folly ? 45 That would affect your majesty's crown a good deal too nearly! Yet you can deal with me now just as your majesty pleases. And though the matter be clear, dispose of it after your pleasure, Whether it tend to harm, or whether it tend to advantage. Whether I am to be boiled or roasted, or hanged or be headed, 50 Or have my eyes put out, let it even happen as may be! If you kill me indeed, you profit exceedingly little. Then did Bellyn, the ram, begin, "Now is the occasion. Hintze, the cat, and Brown, the bear, with creatures in numbers; Boldewyn came, too, the ass, and Lampe, the hare, had arrived there. Little dog Wackerlos came, and the bulldog Ryn, and the she-goat 60 Metke, and Hermen the buck, and with them the squirrel and weasel; Also the ermine. Nor were there wanting the horse and the bullock. There could one see as well the various beasts of the forest, Such as the stag and the roe, and Bokert, the beaver, the marten, Rabbit and boar, with others: they all of them crowded together. 65 Bartolt, the stork, and Markart, the jay, with Lütke, the crane, too, Came flying over; and Tybbke, the duck, and Alheid, the wild goose, Made their appearance with many another one, each with his grievance. Henning, the sorrowing cock, with the few that were left of his children, |