5 - The Fox and the Tomcat

Summary

In the forest he met Tibert, the tomcat. Reynard embraced him and claimed: “A thousand welcomes, my friend! I am absolutely delighted to find you looking so well. I’ve heard a great deal about how fast you can run, and that is something I should like to see. If it's true, I’ll tell everyone about it.”

Tibert replied, “Reynard my friend, I’m pleased that such good things are being said about me, and I shall be happy to oblige you.” Reynard, however, was not being honest. He sent the cat off in a direction where he knew there was a gin trap— this was a wicked act from a so-called friend. It was a narrow track he had to run down. “Now let me see how strong you are, off you go, my dear fellow!” said Reynard. Tibert, however, knew all about the trap and said to himself, “May Saint Gallus preserve me from Reynard's dirty deeds!” He jumped over the trap and ran hard. When he reached the turnaround marker, Reynard said to him: “There isn't an animal faster than you, my dear friend, but let me teach you an extra trick. You have to be able to jump really high, because otherwise it could be the end of you if you were being chased by a savage dog—and I know what I am talking about there!”

“You don't need to tell me,” replied Tibert. “Just run after me and I’ll demonstrate the finest jumps possible.” Each of them was intending to deceive the other. Reynard ran after his friend, who did not keep very far in front. Tibert leaped over the trap, then stopped stock-still, which made his companion cannon into him so that—as he so richly deserved—his foot went into the trap. With this, Tibert took his leave, commenting before he made a rapid escape that the devil takes the hindmost.

Reynard was in very considerable trouble and thought that he would meet a grim death. At this point he saw the hunter who had set the trap. Reynard needed now more than ever to use his cunning. He laid his head over the trap just as the hunter, a farmer, ran up to it. Reynard's throat was as white as snow, and the hunter felt certain of getting a bounty of five silver pieces, maybe even more.