THE WOLF AND HIS NATURE 6^ 



him, when the wolf seeth them, and he be full, 

 he voideth both before and behind all in his 

 running so as to be more light and more swift. 

 Men cannot nurture a wolf, though he be taken 

 ever so young and chastised and beaten and held 

 under discipline, for he will always do harm, if he 

 hath time and place for to do it, he will never be 

 so tame, but that when men leave him out he 

 will look hither and thither to see if he may do 

 any harm, or he looks to see if any man will do 

 him any harm. For he knoweth well and woteth 

 well that he doth evil, and therefore men ascrieth 

 (cry at) and hunteth and slayeth him. And yet 

 for all that he may not leave his evil nature. 



Men say that the right fore foot of the wolf is 

 good for medicine for the evil of the breast and 

 for the botches (sores) which come to swine under 

 the shoulder.-^ And also the liver of the wolf 

 dried is good for a man's liver, but thereof I 

 make no affirmation, for I would put in my book 

 nothing but very truth. The wolfs skin is warm 

 to make cuffs or pilches (pelisses), but the fur 

 thereof is not fair, and also it stinketh ever unless 

 it be well tawed. ^ 



^ This should be "jaw." G. de F., p. 70, has maisseiles, i.e. 

 Mâchoires. 



2 Prepared. Tawing is a process of making hides into leather 

 — somewhat different from tanning. There were tawers and 

 tanners. 



