and 1170. Modern editions have come
from the Flemish version. The literary artist who
compiled _Reynard_ took a nucleus of fables and
added to it folk-tales which are known to have
existed in the eleventh and twelfth centuries and
which exist to-day as tradition among some folk.
The folk-tales included in _Reynard_ are: _Reynard
and Dame Wolf_; _The Iced Wolf's Tail_; _The
Fishes in the Car_; _The Bear in the Cleft_; _The
Wolf as Bell-Ringer_; and _The Dyed Fox_. The
method of giving individual names to the animals
such as Reynard, Bruin, and Tibert, was current
among the Folk before a literary form was given to
_Reynard_. As this was the custom in the province
of Lorraine it is supposed that the origin of
these names was in Lorraine. Other names, such as
Chanticleer, the Cock, and Noble, the Lion, were
given because of a quality, and indicate a
tendency to allegory. These names increase in the
later development of the romance. In the beginning
when the beasts had only personal adventures,
these were told by the Folk to raise a laugh.
Later there was a meaning underneath the laugh and
the Beast Epic Comedy of the Folk grew into the
world Beast Satire of the literary artist.

_Reynard_ exhibits the bare struggle for existence
which was generally characteristic of Feudal life.
Cunning opposes force and triumphs over it. The
adventurous hero appeals because of his faculty of
_adjustment_, his power to adapt himself to
circumstances and to master them. He also appeals
because of his small size when compared with the
other animals. In the Middle Ages _Reynard_
appealed because it was a satire upon the monks.
Of _Reynard_ Carlyle has said, "It comes before us
with a character such as can belong only to very
few; that of being a true World's Book which
through centuries was everywhere at home, the
spirit of which diffused itself into all languages
and all minds."

* * * * *

About one tenth of European folk-lore is traced to
collections used in the Middle Ages: _Fables of Bidpai_,
_Seven W