英文
CHAPTER XIII
AT the first when it was known in the Court that Reynart the Fox and Grymbart his cousin were come to the Court, there was none so poor nor so feeble of kin and friends but that he made him ready for to complain on Reynart the Fox.
Reynart looked as he had not been afraid, and held him better than he was, for he went forth proudly with his nephew through the highest street of the Court, right as he had been the King's son, and as he had not trespassed to any man the value of an hair: and went in the middle of the place standing before Noble the King and said—
“God give you great honour and worship. There was never King that ever had a truer servant than I have been to your good grace, and yet am. Nevertheless, dear lord, I know well that there are many in this Court that would destroy me if you would believe them; but nay, God thank you, it is not fitting to your crown to believe these false deceivers and liars lightly. To God mote it be complained how that these false liars and flatterers nowadays in the lord's Courts are most heard and believed, the shrews and false deceivers are borne up for to do to good men all the harm and scathe they may. Our Lord God shall once reward them their hire.”
The King said,“Peace, Reynart, false thief and traitor! How well can you bring forth fair tales! And all shall not help you a straw. Ween you with such flattering words to be my friend, you have so oft served me so as you now shall well know. The peace that I have commanded and sworn, that have you well holden, have you?”
Chanticleer could no longer be still, but cried,“Alas, what have I by this peace lost!”
“Be still, Chanticleer, hold your mouth. Let me answer this foul thief. Thou shrewd fell thief,”said the King,“thou sayest that thou lovest me well: that hast thou showed well on my messengers, these poor fellows, Tibert the Cat and Bruin the Bear, which yet are all bloody; which chide not nor say not much, but that shall this day cost thee thy life. In nomy Patris et Christi filii.”
Said the Fox,“Dear lord and mighty King, if Bruin's crown be bloody what is that to me? When he ate honey at Lantfert's house in the village and did him hurt and scathe, there was he beaten therefor; if he had willed, he is so strong of limbs, he might well have be avenged ere he sprang into the water. Tho came Tybert the Cat, whom I received friendly. If he went out without my counsel for to steal mice to a priest's house, and the priest did him harm, should I abyou that, then might I say I were not happy. Not so, my liege lord. You may do what you will, though my matter be clear and good; you may siede me, or roast, hang, or make me blind. I may not escape you. We stand all under your correction. You be mighty and strong. I am feeble, and my help is but small. If you put me to the death it were a small vengeance.”
Whiles they thus spake, up sprang Bellyn the Ram and his ewe Dame Olewey, and said,“My lord the King, hear our complaint.”Bruin the Bear stood up with all his lineage and hisfellows. Tybert the Cat, Esegrim the Wolf, Cuwart the Hare, and Panther; the Boar, the Camel, and Brunel the Goose; the Kid and Goat; Boudewyn the Ass, Borre the Bull, Hamel the Ox, and the Weasel; Chanticleer the Cock, Pertelot with all their children, all these made great rumour and noise, and came forth openly before their lord the King, and made that the Fox was taken and arrested.
中文
13
在宫廷上的禽兽们，听见列那狐和他的外甥格令巴来了，大家便都在预备控告他的话。
“是的，甥儿，我全忘记了。”
列那狐同他的外甥走进宫廷，他外貌很镇定，毫不害怕，骄傲得如同王子，如同没有损人毫发的君子一样。他走到国王面前，立住了，说道，“上帝祝福我主。我是你的最忠实的仆人，永远是最忠实的。但是，亲爱的主，我很知道在这个宫廷上有许多仇人是要害我。但你不要相信这些谎话。他们这些狡猾的及虚伪的骗子，生来便是要谋害好人的。有一天，上帝总会报酬他们的。”
国王说道：“静下来，列那，你这恶贼，奸臣！你的假话造得很好！但都没有用。”
张的克劳不能再沉默了，他叫道：“唉！天呀，我受这个恶贼的害够了！”
国王道：“你不要喊，张的克劳，让我来对付这个恶贼。你说你极敬爱我，这就是表示在我的那两个使者，可怜的特保猫及白鲁因熊的身上的么？他们至今身上还都是血。不必多说，你将以你的生命酬报你的这些恶行。”
列那狐说道：“亲爱的主，有力的王，白鲁因的头上都是血，与我有什么关系？那是他自己到兰特福家里去偷蜜吃，所以被他们所打。再有特保猫，我很客气地款待他。那是他自己不听我的话，去牧师家里偷老鼠吃，所以被打，又与我有什么关系？我什么罪也没有。你可以随便烹我、烧我、绞死我，或把我两眼弄瞎了，我不能逃出你的权力之外，我们都在你的公正裁判之下。你是强而有力的，我是软弱的。如果你杀死了我，一定不会有人报仇的。”
这时，公羊与母羊站起来说道：“我的主，听我的控辞。”白鲁因熊和他的亲戚朋友也都站了起来。特保猫、依赛格林狼、克瓦兔以及野猪、骆驼、鹅、山羊、驴、牛、张的克劳鸡和他的母鸡及所有的孩子们——所有这些禽兽都大声喧叫，要国王把列那狐捉下定罪。
