THE FOX IN FABLE 173 



natural instincts may be subdued by discipline or 

 kindness, but he is underneath it all always the beast 

 of prey. Those who have read the earlier chapters 

 of this book will note the accuracy of observation 

 which makes the beetle such an attraction. We are 

 more familiar with this fable in another form, that of 

 the cat and the mouse, but we may recognise the 

 complete truthfulness which underlies them in either 

 case. This accuracy we shall find equally in the 

 Oriental, the Greek, and the Latin fabulists, the 

 common origin in popular tales giving similar 

 characteristics to all alike. 



Another fable which has something more than a 

 basis in fact occurs in several versions of the Reynard 

 epic. It is winter, and Reynard is hard pressed for 

 food. A fish hawker with herrings comes along in 

 his cart. The driver sees Reynard stretched lifeless 

 by the roadside. A fox's skin has and has always 

 had a certain value. So the man picks up the lifeless 

 fox and flings him into the cart. But Reynard was 

 only shamming, as is the well-known habit of jackals 

 and foxes. He eats the herrings and escapes with 

 some eels, which he takes home to his cubs, who 



Si lievent contre lor pere 



Qui s'en venoit les meunez sauz 



Gai et ioienz et liez et bauz. 



