FIFTH CANTO. HEARKEN now to the fox's craft, and to how he manœuvred His transgressions again to conceal by injuring others. His most honest of friends, who had so constantly served him. All he allowed himself, if only belief in his story 5 He might thereby obtain, and avenge himself on his accusers. "My good father," he thus began, “had had the good fortune Of King Emmrich,' the Mighty, once to discover the treasure JO In a secret spot, yet it brought him little advantage; longer Valued his equals in rank, but all his former companions Much beneath him esteemed and sought for friends who were higher. Hintze, the cat, he sent away to the forest of Ardennes, Brown, the bear, to seek, and with a promise of fealty 15 Him to invite to Flanders to come and rule as our monarch. "Brown, as soon as he read the letter, was highly delighted. Bold and heedless of rest he betook himself quickly to Flanders, 1 Ermannarich, or, as he is called in the Nibelungen Saga, Ermenrich, the mythical king of the Ost-Goths, who killed himself on the approach of the Huns, is here meant. According to the Saga he had built a castle at Ghent, where he kept his treasures. For for a long time past some thoughts such as this he had harboured. There he found my father himself, who met him with pleasure. 20 "Isegrim then was sent for at once, and Grimbart, the wise one, And the four arranged and put the matter together; exactly, Just between Iste and Ghent, they dealt with the matter together. 25 Long and dark was the night by which the meeting was hidden. Not with God's grace, for the devil it was, or rather my father With his detestable gold, who held them there in his power. They resolved that the king must die; and swore with each other Firm and eternal league; the five of them swearing together, 30 All upon Isegrim's head, that they as ruler would choose. them Brown, the bear, and on the throne at Aachen' would seat him, And with the golden crown the empire firmly assure him. Should any one of the friends of the king, or of his relations, Set himself up against it, then should my father persuade him, 35 Or he should bribe, and if that failed, should forthwith pursue him. But this came to my ears, for Grimbart once on a morning Got right merrily drunk, and in his cups grew loquacious. Then did the fool blab out to his wife the whole of the secret, Silence enjoining upon her, and thought he had nicely secured it. 40 Soon after this she encountered my wife, and needs must she have her Aachen or Aix la Chapelle, the ancient capital of Charlemagne. Bind herself by a solemn oath in the name of the three kings, Pledging her honour and truth that, whether in good or ill fortune, Never a word she would say, and then the whole thing revealed her. 45 Just as little, too, did my wife adhere to her promise, me, Gave me a token as well by which the truth of the story E'en to the ears of the Lord in heaven at last had ascended. 50 Their desire was a king, that they might live under com pulsion, Though in all lands till then they were in enjoyment of freedom. Them God heard, and unto them sent the stork, who for ever Persecutes, hates, and never a moment of peace will allow them. Thus without mercy he treats them, and now the fools are complaining, 55 All too late, alas! for the king keeps them well in sub jection." Loud to the whole assembly did Reineke speak, and they listened, All of the beasts, to his word, while he pursued his oration: "Look! I feared for the fate of you all, if so it had happened. Sire, I was anxious for you, and I hoped for a better rewarding. бо Brown's intrigues are known to me, his sly disposition; Many misdeeds he had also done; for the worst I took measures. Were he lord to become, we should all be ruined together. 1 This was one of Æsop's fables, but has been somewhat altered, as they in the first instance had a log given them for a king, and subsequently a water-snake. 'Noble-born is our king, and very mighty and gracious,' Thus I thought in my heart; a bad exchange we should find it, 65 Such a loutish, good-for-naught bear to raise to such honour.' Several weeks did I ponder on this, and try to prevent it. "And, above all, I knew full well, that as long as my father Held his treasure in hand, by bringing many together, He would certainly win the game, and the king would be lost us. 70 All my care was for this, that hidden place to discover Where the treasure was kept, that I might secretly take it. If my cunning old father went to the fields, or was running, Whether by night or day, to the wood, or in summer or winter, Wet or dry, I was ever behind, and dogging his foot 66 steps. 75 Once I lay, hidden with earth, in care and deep medi tation How I might find that treasure which I so well was aware of. There from a narrow cleft I saw my father come forward; Out from between the stones he came, from under ascending. Quiet and hidden I lay, and he thought that he was alone there. 80 Then he looked carefully round about him, but as he saw no one, Near or far, he began his game; you shall hear all about it. Stopping the hole with sand again, he knew how exactly With the soil up above to make it even. Nor could one, Not having seen, have possibly known. And ere he went 85 onwards Well he understood at the place where his feet had been planted Cleverly backwards and forwards to draw his tail, and to smooth it. And to efface the trace with the aid of his mouth. For the first time On that selfsame day from my crafty father I learnt this, Who in twisting and turning, and all such tricks, was proficient. 90 So he hurried away to his work, and then I bethought me Whether that glorious treasure might be in the neighbourhood hidden ? Quickly I ran to the spot and set to work, and the cranny In but a short space of time I had opened out with my forepaws; 95 Then crept eagerly in, and found the costliest objects, you. Then I set to work, with the aid of my wife, and we took it, Dragging it day and night; we had neither carriage nor waggon, So that great was the trouble it cost us, and many a hard ship. 100 Faithfully held Frau Ermelyn out until at the last we Carried the treasure away to another place that we knew of, More convenient for us; and all this while did my father Daily meet with the men who our sovereign lord were betraying. What they determined upon you shall hear, and it will astound you. 105 "Brown and Isegrim forthwith despatched into Provinces many Letters-patent to summon recruits for pay; they were bidden Quickly to come in numbers, and Brown would provide them with service, Even kindly proposing to pay them their wages beforehand. Then through the whole of the land my father went, showing the letters, 110 On his treasure relying, which still he believed was well hidden. |