mbs are sweet and good, yet a surfeit is
dangerous, and may be troublesome to your body, which I would not for a
world, since no harm can come to you but must be my dishonor."

"Sorrow not for me, nephew _Reynard_," said the bear, "nor think me such
a fool that I cannot temper mine appetite."

"It is true, my best uncle, I was too bold. I pray you enter in at the
end, and you shall find your desire."

The bear with all haste entered the tree, with his two feet forward, and
thrust his head into the cleft, quite over the ears, which when the fox
perceived, he instantly ran and pulled the wedges out of the tree, so
that he locked the bear fast therein, and then neither flattery nor
anger availed the bear. For the nephew had by his deceit brought the
uncle into so false a prison that it was impossible by any art to free
himself of the same. Alas, what profited now his great strength and
valor? Why, they were both causes of more vexation; and finding himself
destitute of all relief, he began to howl and bray, and with scratching
and tumbling to make such a noise that _Lanfert_, amazed, came hastily
out of his house, having in his hand a sharp hook, whilst the bear lay
wallowing and roaring within the tree.

The fox from afar off said to the bear in scorn and mocking, "Is the
honey good, uncle, which you eat? How do you? Eat not too much, I
beseech you. Pleasant things are apt to surfeit, and you may hinder your
journey to the court. When _Lanfert_ cometh (if your belly be full) he
will give you drink to digest it, and wash it down your throat."

And having thus said, he went towards his castle. But by this time,
_Lanfert_, finding the bear fast taken in the tree, he ran to his
neighbors and desired them to come into his yard, for there was a bear
fast taken there. This was noised through all the town, so that there
was neither man, nor woman, nor child but ran thither, some with one
weapon, and some with another--as goads, rakes, broom-staves, or what
they could gather up. The priest had the handle of the cross, the clerk
the holy water sprinkler, and the priest's wife, Dame _Jullock_, with
her distaff, for she was then spinning; nay, the old beldames came that
had ne'er a tooth in their heads. This army put _Bruin_ into a great
fear, being none but himself to withstand them, and hearing the clamor
of the noise which came thundering upon him, he wrestled and pulled so
extremely that he got out his head, but he left behin