The Marriage of Mrs. Reynard
THERE was once an old Fox who thought that his wife was not true to him, and determined to put her to the test. He stretched himself under the bank, lay motionless, and pretended to be as dead as a door nail. Mrs. Reynard went to her chamber, and shut herself in; and her servant, Mistress Cat, sat by the fire, and cooked the dinner.
Now, when it became known that the old Fox was dead, suitors began to announce themselves. Soon afterwards, the servant heard some one knocking at the front door. She went and opened the door, and there stood a young Fox, who said—
‘What are ye doing, pray, Mistress Cat?
Sleeping or waking? or what are ye at?’
She answered—
‘I’m not asleep; I’m wide awake.
D’ye want to know what now I make?
I’m warming beer, with butter in it;
I beg ye’ll taste it in a minute.’
‘I’m much obliged, Mistress,’ said the Fox. ‘What is Mrs. Reynard doing?’
The Maid answered—
‘In chamber sad she sits alone,
And ceases not with grief to moan.
She weeps until her eyes are red,
Because the dear old Fox is dead.’
‘Well, just tell her, Mistress, that there’s a young Fox here, who would be glad to woo her.’
‘Very well, young gentleman.’
‘Then went the Cat with pit-a-pat
And smote the door, rat-tata-tat!
“Pray, Mrs. Reynard, are you in?
Outside a wooer waits below!”’
‘Well, what’s he like? I want to know. Has he got nine such beautiful tails as the late lamented Mr. Reynard?’
‘Oh dear no,’ answered the Cat. ‘He has only got one.’
‘Then I won’t have him.’
Mistress Cat went down, and sent the wooer away.
Soon after this there was knocking again, and another Fox appeared at the door, who wished to pay his addresses to Mrs. Reynard. He had two tails, but he came off no better than the first. Afterwards others came, each with one tail more; but they were all rejected, till at last one came that had nine tails like old Mr. Reynard.
When the widow heard this, full of joy, she said to the Cat—
‘Open the gates and doors; be swift.
Old Mr. Reynard turn adrift.’
But when the wedding was about to be celebrated, then old Mr. Reynard under the bank roused himself, and gave the whole crew a good drubbing, and sent them, Mrs. Reynard and all, helter-skelter out of the house.