Isegrim the wolf and Brown the bear rejoiced at these tidings, while Grimbart the badger, seeing the peril his uncle had incurred, hastened off secretly to Malepartus to warn him of his danger and support him by his advice.  He found Reynard sitting complacently in front of his house, contemplating two young doves which he had just secured as they were making their first attempt to fly.  Grimbart breathlessly related the arrival of Bellyn, the royal indignation at the sight of Lampe’s head, and the plan for surrounding and capturing Reynard in his safe retreat.

[Sidenote:  Grimbart’s advice.] In spite of this disquieting news Reynard’s composure did not desert him; but after vowing that he could easily acquit himself of these crimes if he could only win the king’s ear for a moment, he invited his kinsman to share his meal and taste the delicate morsels he had secured.  Grimbart the badger, seeing that the fox was not inclined to flee, now advised him not to await the king’s coming and expose his wife and children to the horrors of a siege, but boldly to return to court.

    “’Go with assurance before the lords, and put the best face on
    Your affairs.  They will give you a hearing.  Lupardus was also
    Willing you should not be punish’d before you had fully
    Made your defense, and the queen herself was not otherwise minded. 
    Mark this fact, and try to make use of it.’”

Once more Reynard bade a tender farewell to his wife and sons, resisting all the former’s entreaties to seek safety in flight, and, relying upon his cunning, set out with Grimbart to visit the court.  On his way he again pretended repentance for his former sins, and resuming his confession at the point where he had broken off, he told how maliciously he had secured a piece of the bear’s hide for a wallet, and socks from Isegrim and his wife.  He then went on to relate just how he had murdered Lampe, charged the innocent Bellyn with the ambiguous message which had cost him his life, torn off one of the rabbit’s ears, and eaten the crow’s wife.  Lastly, he confessed how he had gone out in company with the wolf, who, being hungry and seeing a mare with a little foal, had bidden Reynard inquire at what price she would sell it.  The mare retorted that the price was written on her hoof.  The sly fox, understanding her meaning, yet longing to get his companion into trouble, pretended not to know how to read, and sent the wolf to ascertain the price.  The result was, of course, disastrous, for the mare kicked so hard that the wolf lay almost dead for several hours after.

“So he went and asked the lady, ’What price is the filly? 
Make it cheap.’  Whereupon she replied, ’You’ve only to read it;
There you will find the sum inscribed on one of my hind feet.’ 
‘Let me look,’ continued the wolf; and she answered, ’With

          pleasure.’

“Then she lifted upwards her foot from the grass; it was studded
With six nails.  She struck straight out, and not by a hair’s
breadth
Missed she her mark.  She struck on his head, and straightway he
fell down,
Lying as dumb as the dead.”