英文
CHAPTER XVI
ALL they that stood there had pity when Reynart said tho words, and said it was but a little request if the King would grant it him, and they prayed the King to grant it him. The King gave him leave.
Reynart was well glad, and hoped that it might fall better, and said thus:
“Now help, Spiritus Domini, for I see here no man but I have trespassed unto. Nevertheless yet was I, unto the time that I was weaned from the teat, one of the best children that could anywhere be found. I went tho and played with the lambs, because I heard them gladly bleat. I was so long with them that at the last I bit one; there learned I first to lappen of the blood. It savoured well; me thought it right good. And after I began to taste of the flesh thereof, I was licorous; so that after that I went to the gate into the wood, there heard I the kids bleat and I slew of them two. I began to wax hardy after. I slew hens, polaylle and geese wherever I found them. Thus worden my teeth all bloody. After this, I wex so fell and so wroth that whatsomever I found that I might over, I slew all. Thereafter came I by Esegrim, now in the winter, where he hid him under a tree, arid reckoned to me that he was my eme. When I heard him then reckon alliance, we became fellows, which I may well repent. We promised each to other to be true, and to use good fellowship, and began to wander together. He stole the great things and I the small, and all was common between us. Yet he made it so that he had the best deal; I got not half my part. When that Esegrim got a calf a ram or a wether, then grimmed he, and was angry on me, and drove me from him, and held my part and his too, so good is he. Yet this was of the least. But when it so lucked that we took an ox or a cow, then came thereto his wife with seven children; so that unto me might vnnethe come one of the smallest ribs, and yet, had they eaten all the flesh thereof, therewithall must I be content; not for that I had so great need, for I have so great scatte and good of silver and of gold, that seven wains should not can carry it away.”
When the King heard him speak of this great good and riches, he burned in the desire and covetyse thereof, and said,“Reynart, where is the riches become? tell me that.”
The Fox said,“My lord, I shall tell you. The riches was stolen. And had it not be stolen, it should have cost you your life and you should have been murdered, —which God forbid!—and should have been the greatest hurt in the world.”
When the Queen heard that, she was sore afraid and cried aloud,“Alas and weleaway! Reynart, what say you? I conjure you by the long way that your soul shall go, that you tell us openly the truth hereof, as much as you know of this great murder that should have be done on my lord, that we all may hear it!”
Now hearken how the Fox shall flatter the King and Queen, and shall win both their good will and loves, and shall hinder them that labour for his death. He shall unbind his pack and lie, and by flattery and fair words shall bring forth so his matters that it shall be supposed for truth.
In a sorrowful countenance spake the Fox to the Queen,“I am in such case now that I must needs die, and had you me not so sore conjured I will not jeopardise my soul, and if I so died I should go therefor in to the pain of hell. I will say nothing but that I will make it good, for piteously he should have been murdered of his own folk. Nevertheless they that were most principal in this feat were of my next kin, whom gladly I would not betray, if the sorrow were not of the hell.”
The King was heavy of heart, and said,“Reynart, sayest thou to me the truth?”
“Yes,”said the Fox.“See you not how it stands with me? Ween you that I shall damn my soul? What should it avail me if I now said otherwise than truth? My death is so nigh. There may neither prayer nor good help me.”Tho trembled the Fox, by dissembling, as he had been afraid.
The Queen had pity on him, and prayed the King to have mercy on him, in eschewing of more harm, and that he should do the people hold their peace, and give the Fox audience, and hear what he should say.
Tho commanded the King openly that each of them should be still, and suffer the Fox to say unberisped what that he would.
Then said the Fox,“Be you now all still, since it is the King's will, and I shall tell you openly this treason. And therein will I spare no man that I know guilty.”
中文
16
大众听了列那这一席话，都很可怜他，一同向国王说，这是一个小小的要求，不妨答应他。于是国王便答应了他。
列那很喜欢，希望结果可以更好些，于是他说道：“在这里的，我差不多都有侵害他们的地方。然而当我幼时，我是最好的孩子之一。我后来去和众羊游戏，因为我有听见他们的悦耳的叫声。我和他们同在了许久，后来咬了一只羊，这是我第一次去学舐血。血的味道很好。以后我便开始去吃肉，我觉得很好吃，所以后来我便到森林中去，听见有小羊的叫声——我杀了他们两只。我开始很勇敢地做这些事了。我杀了鸡、鸭、鹅之类，只要我能寻到他们。我的嘴都染了血。以后，我益发凶残了，只要我能寻到可以制服他们的东西，我便都把他们杀死了。以后，我遇到了依赛格林，那时是冬天，他藏在一株树下，他对我说，他是我的叔叔。我听了这话，便认他为亲属，我们成了同伴，至今我还很后悔。我们相约大家要互相诚实，好好地相待，于是便开始一同游行。他偷大的东西，我偷小的东西，所有的东西都平分，然而他总是得到最多——我还得不到应得的一半。当依赛格林捉得一头小牛，一只公羊，或一只羯羊，于是他便同我生气了，把我驱逐开了，我的一份便也归了他。这还是小的事。但当我们运气很好，得到了一头牛，那么他的妻带了七个孩子来了，于是我所得的不过一段最小的肋骨，然而我并非不满足，因为我有无数的金银珍宝，七个车子还载不了。”
“我要在你们大众之前，公开地忏悔我自己。”
国王听到他说有许多金银珍宝，贪心顿炽，问道：“列那，后来那金银怎么样了？告诉我。”
狐说道：“我的王，我要告诉你的。金银幸亏被偷了。如果这些金银不被偷，你的生命便要危险，你便要被奸人暗害了——那是上帝所不许的！也是世界上最大的损害。”
王后听了这话，十分的恐惧，高声叫道：“啊，列那，你说的什么？我求你公开地说出这件大谋杀事件的真相，使大家都得听见！”
现在听列那怎样的煽动国王与王后，赢得了他们的好感与爱意，且中伤了那些图谋置他于死地的仇人。他说谎话，说得异常动听，好像那些事是真的。
狐以忧戚之容，对王后说道：“我现在必须死了，但我很可怜他要被他自己的人所谋害。”
国王心里很忧郁，说道：“列那，你对我说的是真话么？”
狐说道：“是的，我快死了，难道还造谎话，使我灵魂再受苦么？”说到死字时，他故意浑身发抖，表示害怕。
王后很可怜他，要求国王叫大众静静的，听狐说话。
于是国王命令大众不得喧哗，听列那说话。
狐说道：“你们现在都要静静的，那是国王的意思，我要公开地告诉你们这个叛谋了。我决不让那些有罪的得以漏网。”
