self shall lose mine if I do not
take care. Suppose I lead him after another lion? Who knows how that may
turn out for me? I will approach him slowly, as if fatigued."

The lion by this time began to be very hungry; so, seeing the rabbit
coming toward him, he called out in a great passion, "What is the reason
thou comest so late?"

"Please your Highness," said the rabbit, "as I was coming along I was
forcibly detained by another of your species; but having given him my
word that I would return immediately, I came here to represent it to
your Highness."

"Go quickly," said the lion in a rage, "and show me where this vile
wretch may be found!"

Accordingly, the rabbit conducted the lion to the brink of a deep well,
where being arrived, "There," said the rabbit, "look down and behold
him." At the same time he pointed to the reflected image of the lion in
the water, who, swelling with pride and resentment, leaped into the
well, as he thought, upon his adversary; and thus put an end to his
life.

I repeat, therefore:

_He who hath sense hath strength. Where hath he strength who wanteth
judgment?_

240

Marie de France lived probably in the latter
part of the twelfth century and was one of the
most striking figures in Middle English
literature. She seems to have been born in
France, lived much in England, translated from
the Anglo-Norman dialect into French, and is
spoken of as the first French poet. One of her
three works, and the most extensive, is a
collection of 103 fables, which she says she
translated from the English of King Alfred. Her
original, whatever it may have been, is lost.
One of her fables, in a translation by
Professor W. W. Skeat, is given below. It
contains the germ of Chaucer's "Nun's Priest's
Tale," in _The Canterbury Tales_.

THE COCK AND THE FOX

MARIE DE FRANCE

A Cock our story tells of, who
High on a trash hill stood and crew.
A Fox, attracted, straight drew nigh,
And spake soft words of flattery.
"Dear Sir!" said he, "your look's divine;
I never saw a bird so fine!
I never heard a voice so clear
Except your father's--ah! poor dear!
His voice rang clearly, loudly--but
Most clearly when his eyes were shut!"
"The same with me!" the Cock replies,
And flaps hi