THE CAT= 



The Cat as a Royal Envoy 



Thenne the kynge of the beastis salde to the 

 catte : " Syr Tybert, ye shal now goo to Reynart, 

 and saye to hym this seconde tyme that he come 

 to court, for to answere unto the plea ; for though 

 he be felle to other beastis, he trusteth you wel, 

 and shal doo by your counseyl. And telle hym if 

 he come not, he shal have the thirde warning, and 

 if he thenne come not, we shal procede by ryght 

 agenste hym, and alle hys lyneage wythout mercy." 



The catte spake : " My lord the kynge, they that 

 thus counseylde you were not my frendes. What 

 shal I doo there? Reynart wyl not for me neyther 

 come ne abyde. I beseeche you, dere kynge, sende 

 some other to hym. I am a catte, lytyl and feeble. 

 Bruyn the beare, which was so grete and strong, 

 coude not brynge hym. How shold I thenne take 

 it on honde? " 



" Nay," said the kynge, " Sir Tybert, ye ben 

 wyse and wel lerned. Though ye be not grete, 

 many do more wyth crafte and connyng than with 

 myght and strengthe." 



Thenne said the catte : " Syth it muste nedes 

 be don, I muste take it upon me. God give grace 

 that I may wel achieve it, for my hearte is heavy 

 and evil willed thereto." 



Reynard the Fox. From the edition 

 printed by Caxton in 1481. 

 7 



