li8 



The Poets' Beasts. 



maker," and the Loki of Scandinavia. Earliest, perhaps, 

 of all myths is the so-called " solar," and in it the fox per- 

 petually figures as the grim humorist that is perpetually 

 keeping chanticleer in alarm. Each is perpetually out- 

 witting the other, and will continue to do so till the sun 

 ceases to rise and set. 



The fox-twilight just comes on the scene as the cock- 

 daylight is disappearing from sight, and gets weary again of 

 waiting for the cock's return just as his patience was on the 

 point of being rewarded by the breaking of dawn. Towards 

 sunset the fox comes stealing into sight, but the cock is 

 at that moment making off. Next morning the cock, see- 

 ing his adversary (" the fox-shadows ") slinking away, pops 

 out his head and crows. And so the old contest goes on. 



Following this ancient precedent, therefore, folk-lore 

 makes the fox get into trouble himself as often as into 

 mischief — for though Reynard is one of the most cunning 

 of beasts, his cunning, like that of the wolf, is constantly 

 overreaching itself. 



