Afterwards he carried his son to the cave and taught him the secret.
This secret they handed down to their posterity; and using their good
fortune with moderation, they lived in honor and splendor, and served
with dignity some of the chief offices in the city.

A quaint and interesting cycle of animal
stories was formed in the Middle Ages with the
fox, called Reynard, as the hero or central
character. Their origin was not different from
that of the cycles that grew up concerning such
popular heroes as King Arthur, Robin Hood,
Charlemagne, and Siegfried; but one difference
at least may be observed--Reynard is always
represented as evil, though clever and
successful. These stories of Reynard have
furnished material for many workers in the
field of literature and they have generally
served as a vehicle for satire. Indeed, there
was much satire in the original versions of the
folk. Perhaps the greatest of these modern
recensions is that of the German poet Goethe.
The best version for use with children is that
made by Sir Henry Cole ("Felix Summerley") and
edited more recently by Joseph Jacobs in his
usual masterly fashion. The introduction to
this edition gives just the facts that the
reader needs for understanding the significance
of the Reynard cycle.

399

It may be noted that King Lion, after hearing
many complaints about Reynard's evil ways,
decides to bring him to court for trial. The
first special constable sent to summon Reynard
was Bruin the Bear, and now we are to learn--

HOW BRUIN THE BEAR SPED WITH REYNARD THE FOX

The next morning away went _Bruin_ the bear in quest of the fox, armed
against all plots of deceit whatsoever. And as he came through a dark
forest, in which _Reynard_ had a bypath, which he used when he was
hunted, he saw a high mountain, over which he must pass to go to
_Malepardus_. For though _Reynard_ has many houses, yet _Malepardus_ is
his chiefest and most ancient castle, and in it he lay both for defense
and ease. Now at last when _Bruin_ was come to _Malepardus_, he found
the gates close shut, at which after he had knocked, sitting on his
tail, he called aloud, "Sir _Reynard_, are you at home? I am _Bruin_
your kinsman, whom the King hath sent to summo