Reineke's foes. It seemed that the Court was divided between them.

Then began the king: "Now hear me, Reineke! Canst thou

Such bad conduct excuse, that thou with Bellyn's assistance

My pious Lampe murder'd, and that with impudent bold

ness

Thou didst put his head in the wallet, as if it were

letters.

360

This hast thou done in contempt of me: I have punished

already

One, for Bellyn has forfeit paid; the same thou awaitest."

"Woe is me!" said Reineke then: "Oh! would I were dead now!

Listen to me, and as you think fit, so let the event be:
If I am guilty, then kill me at once; yet shall I in no

case

365

Trouble and care escape, but am for ever confounded.
For that traitor Bellyn my greatest treasures has stolen.
No one of mortal men has ever discovered their equal;
They cost Lampe his life! For them to both I entrusted;
Now has that rascal Bellyn embezzled those costliest trea-

sures.

370

Still may they be sought for again! But, I very much

fear me,

No one will find them more; they are lost, and will ever remain so."

Then did the she-ape reply: "But why at once be despondent?

If they are still above ground all hope we need not abandon.

Early and late will we go, and both from priests and from

laymen,

375

Make a diligent quest. But say, of what kind were the

treasures?"

Reineke said: "Too precious they are for us ever to find

them.

He who has them will certainly keep them. What grief it will give to

My wife Ermelyn! She will never forgive me about it. 379 For she advised me not to give to them jewels so precious. Lies are now invented against me, and false accusations. Yet will I fight for my right, and await with patience the verdict.

If I am freed I will travel about through countries and kingdoms,

Trying the treasures to find, tho' I lose my life in the

venture.

O

TENTH CANTO.

MY king!" then said in reply the orator wily,

"Let me, most noble Prince, before my friends, give account of

All those precious things that I for you had intended: Though you may not have received them, yet laudable was my intention."

"Only say on, then," answered the king, "and shorten your speeches."

5

"Fortune and honour are gone! With the whole I will make you acquainted,"

Reineke sadly began. "The first of the jewels so precious
Was a ring. I gave it to Bellyn that he should present it
Unto the king. In a very strange and wonderful manner
Had this ring been put together; 'twas worthy of shining 10
In my prince's treasure: of purest gold it was fashioned.
On its inner rim, the side that is turned to the finger,
Letters had been engraved, and in molten metal inserted:
These were three Hebrew words of very particular meaning.
None in the country here could easily master the symbols; 15
Master Abryon only of Trêves could manage to read them.
He is a learned Jew, in all the tongues and the speeches
Skill'd, that are betwixt Poitou and Lüneburg spoken;
And all herbs and stones the Jew is especially versed in.
"When I showed him the ring, he said: 'In this there are
hidden

20

Sundry precious things. The three names graven upon it Seth, the pious, brought down from Paradise when he was seeking

For the Oil of Compassion. Whoe'er wears this on his finger

Is from all danger exempt, nor can he ever be injured Either by thunder or lightning, or any kind of enchant

ment.

25

Further, the Master said he had read that he, on his finger
Who should carefully keep the ring, could never be frozen
In the bitterest cold; and a calm old age would attain
to.

30

On its outer side was a jewel, a shining carbuncle ;
This shone out at night, exhibiting objects distinctly.
Many a virtue the stone possess'd: it healed the unhealthy :
He who touched it felt himself free from ev'ry trans-
gression,

And from all distress. Death only could not be averted.
Further the Master disclosed the stone's pre-eminent
virtues.

Happily travels the owner through every country: he

suffers

:

35

Neither by water nor fire; the victim of capture or treason
Ne'er can he be; and escapes from all his enemies' power.
If, whilst fasting, he looks on the stone, he will in a battle
Vanquish a hundred foes or more. The stone by its virtue
Takes the effect from poison and all injurious juices.
Even thus it obliterates hatred, and, should there be many
Who its possessor may hate, they feel themselves quickly
converted.

40

"Who would be able the stone to describe, and all of its virtues,

Which in my father's treasure I found, and now had
intended

Unto the king to send? For of such a costly possession 45
I was unworthy, I knew it right well. It should, I con-

sider'd,

Only to him belong, who of all is ever the noblest :
Only on him depend our welfare and all our possessions,
And I hope to protect his life from every evil.

"Further, should Bellyn, the ram, to the Queen a comb and
a mirror

50

Also have given, by which she might of me be reminded.
Once on a time from my father's treasure I had for amuse-

ment

Taken them out: there was not on earth a more beautiful art-work.

Oh! how often my wife to obtain them wish'd and at

tempted!

Nothing more of all the possessions of earth did she long

for;

55

And we quarrell'd about them; she never was able to move

me.

Yet now the mirror and comb with kindly thought I was sending

60

Unto my gracious lady the queen, who ever towards me
Great goodwill had shown, and me from evil protected.
Often on my behalf a friendly word she has spoken.
Noble is she, of high descent, and virtue adorns her,
And in word and in deed is her ancient lineage proven.
Worthy was she, indeed, of mirror and comb, upon which

she

Never, alas! set eyes, and now they have vanish'd for ever.

66

'Now of the comb to speak. For this the artist had

taken

65 Panther's bones: the remains of this magnificent crea

ture.

Only between the Indies it lives and the Garden of Eden.

All kinds of colours adorn its skin, and sweet-smelling

perfumes

Spread themselves wherever it goes, and therefore all

creatures

Will along every road so readily follow its traces;

70

For by this scent they healthy become, and all of them

feel it

And acknowledge the fact. From bones of such a description

Was this beautiful comb with every diligence fashion'd. Bright as silver, and white, and of inexpressible pureness, And the scent of the comb surpassed carnations and

cassia.

75

When the beast dies, through all its limbs the perfume

diffusing

Always remains therein, and saves the bones from corruption.

All contagion it drives away, and poison of all kinds.