Willem,
who did Madoc write,
often
till very late at night,
was
so disgruntled by the thought
that
Reynard’s deeds remained unwrought
in
our mother tongue to date
(for
Aernout found the task too great)
that
from French accounts he gleaned
what
of Reynard’s life he weened
in
our language folk might read.
This
mighty task we wish godspeed! [...]
Whitsuntide
had clothed in green
both
shrub and wood, a perfect scene
for
King Nobel’s summoned court
to
which all subjects had to report,
it was, he thought, the perfect chance,
throughout
his kingdom to enhance
his
glory and his royal fame.
The
animals to his court then came
great
and small in a single line,
but
of Reynard – not a sign.
He’d
at court done so much wrong
that
he was loath to come along.
He
had everything to fear
and
his guilt was all too clear,
so
he shunned the royal court
where
his standing was as nought.
When
the assembly was complete
all called Reynard an evil cheat,
except
for the badger, and did crave
justice
for the red-bearded knave.
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