Having given these indications, the Fox sets out on a pilgrimage to Rome, escorted by the Ram and the Hare, which latter is slain as soon as they arrive at Malepartus, where Reynard wishes to bid his family farewell.  After feasting upon the flesh of this victim, Reynard puts his bones into a wallet and ties it on the Ram’s back, bidding him hasten back to court with this present and receive his reward!  Although circumstantial evidence is enough to convict the poor Ram of murder, a few days later new complaints are made against Reynard by a Rabbit and a Crow.  Noble, roused again, prepares to batter down the walls of Malepartus, and Grimbart, perceiving Reynard’s peril, hurries off to give him warning.

He finds Reynard contemplating some young doves, upon which he intends to dine.  On hearing what Grimbart has to say, Reynard declares it would be easy to acquit himself could he only gain the king’s ear long enough to explain the real state of affairs.  Then he again begs Grimbart to act as his father confessor, and, resuming his confession where he left off, makes a clean breast of all his misdeeds.  Shortly after this, Reynard meets the Ape, who tells him that should he ever be in a quandary he must call for the aid of this clever ally or of his wife.

At his second appearance at court, the Fox openly regrets there are so many vile people in the world ready to accuse innocent persons, and proceeds to set all his doings in such a plausible light, that the king, instead of sentencing him again to death, allows him to settle his case by fighting a judiciary duel with the Wolf.  The preparations for the duel are ludicrous because the Fox, advised by the Ape, is shaven smooth, greased until too slippery to be held, and duly strengthened by advice and potations.  Blinded by the sand continually whisked into his eyes by the Fox’s tail, unable to hold his all too slippery opponent, the Wolf is beaten and the Fox acquitted by the Judgment of God!

Although Noble now offers to make Reynard his privy counsellor, the Fox returns home, where his admiring wife and children welcome him rapturously.

In some versions of the tale Reynard further avenges himself by suggesting, when the king is taken ill, that he can be cured if he eats the head of a wolf just seven years old, knowing the only wolf of that age is Isegrim, who throughout the epic is fooled by the clever Fox, the hero of endless adventures which have delighted young and old for centuries.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 33:  See the author’s “Legends of the Middle Ages.”]

SCANDINAVIAN EPICS