21 - The Badger, the Fox, and the Sick Lion

Summary

The king was saddened by their complaints, and at the same time he was feeling ill, but mostly he was very angry. He asked the boar for his opinion on the right way to proceed, now that the envoys Bruin and Tibert had been so unjustly mis-treated. The boar was equally incensed. “He should be stripped of his honor and property, and he should be banished, his wife declared a widow and his children orphans.” “I agree!” said Isengrim. The king then asked everyone—wise or unwise—if they were in agreement.

Grimbard the badger did not hide his thoughts. “Most noble Majesty,” he said, “if Sir Bruin lost his scalp without it being the fault of my relative, then your anger is misplaced. Tibert, too, may also be in the wrong, because he hates Reynard. Therefore, it is clear that no one should make such a judgment, because it might damage your own esteem or weaken the power of the court by making it a laughingstock. There must be no corruption. My kinsman must be summoned one more time.” “You must go yourself,” said the king. “I give you this commission on your life. If God will, then your kinsman may accept you as an envoy.”

Everyone laughed, but Grimbard was not particularly worried, and went quickly off to the forest in search of his kinsman.

The story gets really strange and interesting here, and it is being told to you in all truth by a storyteller named Heinrich, who put together the book of Isengrim's struggles. If you don't believe all this, then you can keep your money. But now let's go back to where we left off.

Grimbard made his way to Reynard's fortress, and the fox was very pleased to see him. He said, with a laugh, “Welcome, my kinsman! Come and tell me what I am being accused of at court.”

“The mighty king is threatening with dreadful penalties,” replied Grimbard. “He has heard a lot of complaints against you, and if you don't appear before him this very day, you will have to flee the country, or you’ll die. But if you do turn up in court, and Isengrim sees you, you will be condemned by everyone.”