favour; is permitted to depart on that pious pilgrimage to Rome he has so much at heart, and furnished even with shoes, cut from the living hides of Isegrim and Isegrim's much-injured spouse, his worst enemies. How, the Treasures not making their appearance, but only new misdeeds, he is again haled to judgment; again glozes the general ear with sweetest speeches; at length, being challenged to it, fights Isegrim in knightly tourney, and by the cunningest, though the most unchivalrous method, not to be further specified in polite writing, carries off a complete victory; and having thus, by wager of battle, manifested his innocence, is overloaded with royal favour, created Chancellor, and Pilot to weather the Storm; and So, in universal honour and authority, reaps the fair fruit of his gifts and labours:

Whereby shall each to wisdom turn,
Evil eschew and virtue learn,
Therefore was this same story wrote,
That is its aim, and other not.
This Book for little price is sold,
But image clear of world doth hold;
Whoso into the world would look,
My counsel is, he buy this book.
So endeth Reynard Fox's story:
God help us all to heavenly glory!

It has been objected that the Animals in Reinecke are not Animals, but Men disguised; to which objection, except in so far as grounded on the necessary indubitable fact that this is an Apologue or emblematic Fable, and no Chapter of Natural History, we cannot in any considerable degree accede. Nay, that very contrast between Object and Effort, where the Passions of men develop themselves on the Interests of animals, and the whole is huddled together in chaotic mockery, is a main charm of the picture. For the rest, we should rather say, these bestial characters were moderately well sustained: the vehement, futile vociferation of Chanticleer; the hysterical promptitude, and earnest profession and protestation of poor Lampe the Hare; the thickheaded fe

--

rocity of Isegrim; the sluggish, gluttonous opacity of Bruin; above all, the craft, the tact and inexhaustible knavish adroitness of Reinecke himself, are in strict accuracy of costume. Often also their situations and occupations are bestial enough. What quantities of bacon and other proviant do Isegrim and Reinecke forage; Reinecke contributing the scheme,- for the two were then in partnership, and Isegrim paying the shot in broken bones! What more characteristic then the fate of Bruin, when ill-counselled, he introduces his stupid head into Rustefill's half-split log; has the wedges whisked away, and stands clutched there, as in a vice, and uselessly roaring; disappointed of honey, sure only of a beating without parallel! Not to forget the Mare, whom, addressing her by the title of Goodwife, with all politeness, Isegrim, sore-pinched with hunger, asks whether she will sell her foal: she answers, that the price is written on her hinder hoof; which document the intending purchaser, being an Erfurt graduate,' declares his full ability to read; but finds there no writing, or print, save only the print of six horsenails on his own mauled visage. And abundance of the like; sufficient to excuse our old Epos on this head, or altogether justify it. Another objection, that, namely, which points to the great and excessive coarseness of the work here and there, it cannot so readily turn aside; being indeed rude, old-fashioned, and homespun, apt even to draggle in the mire neither are its occasional dulness and tediousness to be denied; but only to be set against its frequent terseness and strength, and pardoned as the product of poor humanity, from whose hands nothing, not even a Reineke de Fos, comes perfect.

6

He who would read, and still understand this old Apologue, must apply to Goethe, whose version, for poetical use, we have found infinitely the best; like some copy of an ancient, bedimmed, half-obliterated woodcut, but new-done on steel, on India-paper, with all manner of graceful yet appropriate appendages. Nevertheless, the old Low-German original has also a certain charm, and simply as the original, would claim

some notice. It is reckoned greatly the best performance
that was
ever brought out in that dialect; interesting,
moreover, in a philological point of view, especially to us
English; being properly the language of our old Saxon
Fatherland; and still curiously like our own, though the
two, for some twelve centuries, have had no brotherly com-
munication. One short specimen, with the most verbal trans-
lation, we shall insert here, and then have done with Rei-
necke:

'De Greving was Reinken broder's söne,
The Badger was Reinke's brother's son,

De sprak do, un was sêr köne.

He spoke there, and was (sore) very (keen) bold.
He forant worde in dem Hove den Fos,

He (for-answered) defended in the Court the Fox,
De dog was sêr falsh un lôs.

That (though) yet was very false and loose.
He sprak to deme Wulve also ford:
He spoke to the Wolf so forth:

Here Isegrim, it is ein ôldspräken wôrd,
Master Isegrim, it is an old-spoken word,

Des fyendes mund shaffet selden frôm!

The (fiend's) enemy's mouth (shapeth) bringeth seldom advantage!
So do ji ôk by Reinken, minem ôm.

So do ye (eke) too by Reinke, mine (eme) uncle.

Were he so wol alse ji hyr to Hove,

Were he as well as ye here at Court,

Un stunde he also in des Koninge's love,

And stood he so in the King's favour,
Here Isegrim, alse ji dôt,

Master Isegrim, as ye do,

It sholde ju nigt dünken gôd,

It should you not (think) seem good,
Dat ji en hyr alsus forspräken
That ye him here so forspake

Un de ôlden stükke hyr förräken.

And the old tricks here forth-raked.

Men dat kwerde, dat ji Reinken hävven gedân,

But the ill that ye Reinke have done,

Dat late ji al agter stan.

That let ye all (after stand) stand by.
It is nog etliken heren wol kund,
It is yet to some gentlemen well known,

Wo ji mid Reinken maken den ferbund,
How ye with Reinke made (bond) alliance,
Un wolden wären twe like gesellen:
And would be two (like) equal partners:
Dat mot ik dirren heren fortällen.
That mote I these gentlemen forth-tell.
Wente Reinke, myn ôm in wintersnôd,
Since Reinke, mine uncle, in winter's-need,
Umme Isegrim's willen, fylna was dôd.
For Isegrim's (will) sake, full-nigh was dead.
Wente it geshag dat ein kwam gefaren,
For it chanced that one came (faring) driving,
De hadde grote fishe up ener karen:
Who had many fishes upon a car:

Isegrim hadde geren der fishe gehaled,

Isegrim had fain the fishes (have haled) have got,
Men he hadde nigt, darmid se wörden betaled.
But he had not wherewith they should be (betold) paid.
He bragte minen ôm in de grote nôd,

He brought mine uncle into great (need) straits,

Um sinen willen ging he liggen for dôd,

For his sake went he to (lig) lie for dead,

Regt in den wäg, un stund äventur.

Right in the way, and stood (adventure) chance.

Market, worden em ôk de fishe sûr?

Mark, were him eke the fishes (sour) dear-bought?
Do jenne mid der kare gefaren kwam
When (yond) he with the car driving came
Un minen ôm darsülvest for nem,

And mine uncle (there-self) even there perceived,
Hastigen tôg he syn swërd un snel,

Hastily (took) drew he his sword and (snell) quick,

Un wolde mineme ome torrükken en fel.

And would my uncle (tatter in fell) tear in pieces.

Men he rögede sik nigt klên nog grôt;

But he stirred himself not (little nor great) more or less ;

Do mende he dat he were dôd;

Then (meaned) thought he that he was dead;

He läde ön up de kar, und dayte en to fillen,

He laid him upon the car, and thought him to skin,

Dat wagede he all dorg Isegrim's willen!

That risked he all through Isegrim's will!

Do he fordan begunde to faren,

When he forth-on began to fare,
Wärp Reinke etlike fishe fan der karen,
Cast Reinke some fishes from the car,

He had de geten dat he wolde barsten,
He had eaten so that he would burst,
Un moste darumme gên torn arsten.
And must thereby go to the doctor.

Do Isegrim der graden nigt en mogte,
As Isegrim the fish-bones not liked,
Der sülven he em ein weinig brogte.

Of these (self) same he him a little brought.

Whereby it would appear, if we are to believe G the Badger, that Reinecke was not only the cheater case, but also the cheatee: however, he makes straight again in that other noted fish-expedition, Isegrim, minded not to steal but to catch fish, and no fishing-tackle, by Reinecke's advice inserts his t the lake, in winter-season; but before the promised of trouts, all hooked to one another and to him, will is frozen in, and left there to his own bitter meditation

We here take leave of Reineke de Fos, and of th Æsopic genus, of which it is almost the last, and by most remarkable example. The Age of Apologue, 1 of Chivalry and Love-singing, is gone; for nothing Earth has continuance. If we ask, Where are n People's-Books? the answer might give room for ref Hinrek van Alkmer has passed away, and Dr. Birkb risen in his room. What good and evil lie in that lit tence! But doubtless the day is coming when wanting here will be supplied; when as the Logical,