Hard and with pain he fetched his lab'ring breath,
And every moment looked and wished for death.
His head swam round with a strange sort of dizziness,
As he thought o'er the whole perplexing business.

"Oh, Reynard!" he gasped out, "thou traitor vile!
Oh, scoundrel, thief!" and more in the same style.
He thought upon the tree, the gibes and knocks
He had endured, and once more cursed the Fox.
Reynard, well pleased t' have cozened Uncle Bruin,
And lured him, as he thought, to his sure ruin,
Had started off upon a chicken-chase;
He knew, close by, a tried and fav'rite place.
A fine fat pullet soon became his prey,
Which in his felon clutch he bore away;
This he devoured, bones and all, right speedily,
And, if the truth be spoken, somewhat greedily.
Prepared for any chance that might betide,
He slowly sauntered by the riverside,
Stopping from time to time to take a draft;
And thought aloud, while in his sleeve he laugh'd:

"How pleased I am t' have trick'd that stupid Bear! Honey he longed for, and has had his share. I'm not to blame; I warned him of the wax. By this he knows how tastes a joiner's ax. I'm glad t' have shown him this good turn, as he Has ever been so good and kind to me. Poor uncle! Well, by chance should he be dead, I'll for his soul have scores of masses said. It is the least, methinks, that I can do." While musing thus, he chanced to look below, And saw Sir Bruin on the other shore, Writhing and welt'ring in a pool of gore.

Reynard could scarce, so great was his surprise,
Believe the evidence of his own eyes.

"

"Bruin alive! And in this place!" quoth he.

Why, joiner, what a booby you must be!

A Bear's hams make the most delicious food!
You could not surely know they were so good.
A dish by which a duke would set vast store,

To be so slighted by a stupid boor!

My friend has left, though, I am glad to see,
A pledge for your kind hospitality."

Thus spake the Fox, as he beheld the Bear,
Lying all weary-worn and bleeding there.
Then he called out, "Why, uncle, is that you?
What upon earth can you have here to do?
You've something at the joiner's left, I fear;
Shall I run back and let him know you're here?
Prithee, is stolen honey very sweet?
Or did you pay, as right was, for your treat?
How red your face is! You have ate too quick;
I trust you have not gorged till you are sick.
Really you should have been more moderate;
I could have got you lots at the same rate.
Nay, I declare-I trust there is no harm in't-
You seem t' have on some sort of priestly garment,
With scarlet gloves, and collar, too, and hat;
Rather a dangerous prank to play is that!

Yet, now I look more close, your ears are gone, sure;
Have you of late submitted to the tonsure,

And did the stupid barber cut them off?"
Thus did the cruel-hearted Reynard scoff,
While Bruin, all unable to reply,

Could only moan with grief and agony.

No longer could he these sharp gibes sustain,
So crept into the water back again.

He floated downward with the stream once more,
And again landed on the shelving shore.

There in a miserable state he lay,

And piteously unto himself did say:

"That some one would but slay me here outright!
Ne'er shall I reach the court in this sad plight,
But on this spot in shame and grief shall die,
A mortal proof of Reynard's treachery.
Oh, I will have a dire revenge, I swear,
If it please Providence my life to spare."
With firm resolve his pain to overcome,
At length he started on his journey home;
And after four long toilsome days were past,
Crippled and maimed, he reached the court at last.
When the king saw the Bear so sorely maimed,
"Great Heaven! is this Sir Bruin?" he exclaimed-

My trusty messenger in such a state!"

"Ah, Sire!" said Bruin, "and is this the fate

That should a king's ambassador befall?

But spare my breath-the Fox has done it all."

-"Reynard the Fox."

August von Kotzebue
Henriette's Delinquency

MADAM OLDGIRL, MADAM BONES, MADAM LIMP, MADAM PALSY, old Ladies; SHAKY, SNOWHAIR, ANCIENT, WISE, old Gentlemen; HENRIETTE.

Old. Come, Henriette, here is a letter for you.
Bones. A letter?

(All the old Ladies and Gentlemen, except WISE, put
on their glasses or spectacles and look at the letter.)

Limp. Who would have thought it!

Palsy. So the young lady corresponds!

Old. Do you know the handwriting?

Hen. No, dear grandmama. But if you will permit me to read it

Old. It will be read to you.

Hen. But the letter is probably meant for my eyes alone. Old. Silence! Read it, please, gentlemen.

(She hands the letter to SHAKY and SNOWHAIR.) Shaky. Just as you command.

(Both gentlemen seize the letter, each at one corner, and try to read it at the same time. One of them wants to bring it near his eyes, the other to hold it at a distance.)

Snow. Permit me, I am near-sighted.

Shaky. But I am far-sighted.

Snow. I must have the letter near my eyes.

Shaky. I must keep it as far away as possible.

(In trying to adjust the position of the letter to their different needs, they tear it into halves.)

Snow. Oh, I beg your pardon!

Shaky. It does not matter. We are both suited now. Do you read your part of the letter, and I will read mine. (Reads.) "Most charming"

Snow. "of your sex,"

Shaky. "I love you unspeak- "

Snow. "ably, with the whole"

Shaky. "fire of youth."

Old. Confusion to youth!

Wise (aside). I'm afraid it is my nephew.

Snow. (reads). "If I may indulge the hope"

Shaky. "that I am not entirely indifferent to you,"
Snow.

pay no heed to your antiquated grandmother,"

Shaky. "and still less the other old monsters"

Snow. "who surround her."

means us!

Monsters! No doubt he

Shaky. That, my dear sir, is unhappily only too apparent.

Snow. (reads). "Like a rosebud "

Shaky. "amid withered nettles,"

Snow. "thus do you seem, sweetest girl,"

Shaky. "amid those antiquated relics"

Snow. "of the middle of last century!"

Bones. Withered nettles!

Limp. Antiquated relics!

Palsy. It seems that these epithets are aimed at us!

Shaky (reads). "Break your fetters,"

Shaky (reads). "I have an excellent uncle,"

Wise (aside). Now comes my turn!