14 - The Fox, the Wolf, and the Well

Summary

Reynard has told a great many lies, but today he is going to be tricked himself, although his innate cunning did get him out of a lot of trouble. He set off toward a monastery, where he knew they kept chickens, but things were, God knows, not as simple as all that for him, because the place had a very effective wall around it. Reynard had a look around and saw that by the gate was a large and deep well. He peered in, something he regretted later, because he saw his reflection in it, and now a very surprising thing happened. The creature whose cunning had worked wonders in the past now made a fool of himself. Reynard thought that what he was looking at was his wife, whom he loved more than life itself, even if he was unable to resist the urge to take a mistress (the pursuit of love is, after all, a delight for the soul, and this made her all the more desirable). Reynard smiled down, and the reflection moved. He was very thankful for this, and out of pure love he jumped into the well. He did this through the power of love, and for that he got wet to the ears.

He swam around in the well until he found a stone and rested his head on it. If you don't believe me, that's your problem!

God knows, Reynard thought that he had jumped to his death.

At this point, Lord Isengrim appeared (minus tail) out of the forest and headed for the monastery. He hadn't eaten, and I should say that he was keen to steal a sheep. By accident, then, he came by the well—something that would prove perilous for him!

Isengrim peered into the well, and I shall tell you what happened next. He saw his reflection in the water and he thought that his beloved wife, Hirsent, was down there. He pulled his head out and put it in again and the reflection on the water did the same, and this confused him completely. He began to complain to Lady Hirsent of all his pains and woes with loud howls, and as an answer his voice echoed in the hollow.