THE King said,“Reynart, you be one of them that owes me homage; which I will that you alway so do. And also I will that, early and late, you be of my council and one of my justices. See well to that you not misdo nor trespass no more. I set you again in all your might and power, like as you were before, and see that you further all matters to the best right. For when you set your wit and counsel to virtue and goodness, then may not our Court be without your advice and counsel, for here is none that is like to you in sharp and high counsel, nor subtler in finding a remedy for a mischief. And think you on the example that you yourself have told, and that you haunt righteousness and be to me true. I will from henceforth work and do by your advice and counsel. He lives not that if he misdid you, but I should sharply avenge and wreke it on him. You shall overall speak and say my words, and in all my land shall you be, above all other, sovereign and my bayle. That office I give you. You may well occupy it with worship.”
All Reynart's friends and lineage thanketh the King highly.
The King said,“I would do more for your sake than you ween. I pray you all that you remember him that he be true.”
Dame Rukenawe then said,“Yes sykerly, my Lord, that shall he ever be, and think you not the contrary. For if he were otherwise, he were not of our kin nor lineage, and I would ever missake him, and would ever hinder him to my power.”
Reynart the Fox thanked the King with fair courteous words, and said,“Dear Lord, I am not worthy to have the worship that you do to me. I shall think thereon and be true to you all so long as I live, and shall give you as wholesome counsel as shall be expedient to your good grace.”
Herewith he departed with his friends from the King.
Now hark how Esegrim the Wolf did. Bruin the Bear, Tybert the Cat, and Ersewynde and her children with their lineage drewen the Wolf out of the field, and laid him upon a litter of hay, and covered him warm, and looked to his wounds which were well twenty-five. And there came wise masters and surgeons which bound them and wash them. He was so sick and feeble that he had lost his feeling, but they rubbed and wryued him under his temples and eyes, that he sprang out of his swound, and cried so loud that all they were afraid. They had weened that he had been wood. But the masters gave him a drink that comforted his heart and made him to sleep. They comforted his wife, and told to her that there was no death-wound nor peril of his life. Then the Court brake up; and the Beasts departed and went to their places and homes that they came from.
國王道:“列那,你是服從我的人之一,我望你常能如此。我還愿意遲早使你做我的顧問,做我的法官。你須注意,不要再生事害人了。我把一切你的權力都給還了你,如以前一樣。你的智力須用在好處,我的宮廷上將不能沒有你的咨議與商量,因為這里沒有一個有你那么聰明,那么能設法矯正錯誤。你須依你的話,努力走正路,且忠于我。我此后將聽你的話做事。如果有誰欺負你,他便不想活了,我會為你復仇的。你將代我巡察全國,代我宣布德意。我給你這個差事,你須好好地奉職?!?/p>
“他病得完全失了知覺。”
所有列那的親友都深深地感謝國王。國王道:“我比你們所想的給得更多了。”
綠克娜夫人道:“感謝我的主。他是忠實的,如果他不然,他便不是我們的親屬了,我們將永不認他了?!?/p>
列那狐用美辭表達謝意,他說道:“親愛的主,我不配受你這么大的恩典。我想此后當終生盡忠于你,要為你的最忠懇的侍臣,以全部的智力為你謀光榮。”
于是他和朋友們拜謝了國王。
現(xiàn)在看依賽格林狼什么樣子。白魯因熊、特保貓以及他的妻和孩子們,還有別的親屬,把他抬出決斗場外,放在稻草上,又用草蓋在他身上使他溫暖,然后看察他的傷處,全身共有二十五處創(chuàng)痕。外科醫(yī)生來了,把創(chuàng)處洗了,包扎起來。他病得完全失了知覺。他們細心看護他,他突然由昏迷中大叫起來,他們都害怕了,以為他發(fā)狂。醫(yī)生給他水喝,安定他的心,使他睡去。他們安慰他的妻,告訴她依賽格林并無致命傷,可以放心。于是宮門閉了,群獸各自散歸。