19 - The Bear and the Honey

Summary

The king gave orders to his chaplain, Sir Bruin, to go and find Reynard. He was inclined to refuse for fear of danger, but did what the king had commanded, and went looking for him in the forest. Reynard's cunning, however, was boundless, and the whole of the land suffered for it. Bruin found Reynard by his lair, a cave in a stony cliff, where he was safe from his enemies. The cave is still to this day called “The Hell-Hole.”

Reynard knew how he should receive the great king's chaplain. “Welcome, most noble cleric,” he said. “Come, tell me how things are at court. I know that you are one of the king's counselors.”

“Heavy charges have been laid against you. If your honor means anything to you, then come to the court and answer to them. This is what the great king has ordered.”

“Sir Chaplain,” replied Reynard, “let us have something to eat, and then we shall be better prepared to go to the court.” Reynard's honesty here was somewhat questionable. “I know a tree full of the best honey.”

“Right, let's go! That's always my favorite.”

Sir Bruin went off with Reynard, who took him to a place where a farmer had hammered a wedge into a split tree trunk. It was devilish to take Bruin there. “Sir Chaplain, my dear friend, you may help yourself, but be careful—there are lots of bees.”

Unconcerned about the bees, the bear just stuck his head into the split trunk. Reynard pulled out the wedge, and the sides snapped together and trapped the chaplain. This was going to be a long meal!

“Ow!” shouted Sir Bruin. “What's the matter?” asked Reynard. “I did warn you, and now the bees are going to get you. Enjoy your dinner! The king is so powerful that he’ll probably be able to get back at me.” And off he went.

The court chaplain bewailed his situation, but then he heard the sound of a wagon coming, which frightened him, and he pulled backward hard to try to escape. When the wagoner spotted him, he kept very quiet until he was back in the village.