The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-05 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

i teemed, the Fos. Longman+.

In the \\ irtemberg compartment of the Exhibi- I
thin there placed a collection of stuffed animals,
which few who have wandered in the
11 Crystal'
Palace ..%e not stopped to admire. The
fox, the , wk, the hare, and a host of their
companion- burlesque most completely by turns
the import-hee, the hypocrisy, and the pride of
man. The chief actor, however, is the Fox, now a
pilgrim, now a confessor, now a teacher, and .now a
protector o. poultry. The labels of this collection
refer the s stator to the apologue of lteinecke der
Fuchs, a work little known in this country,
although i, formes' one of the books printed
by our ov ii Caxton for the delectation of his
age. The Germans regard it as one of the wisest, as
it certainly .4 one of the most entertaining, hooks
over writtea. As Mr. Carlyle has remarked, "Among
that peopl, ,t was long a house-book, and uuiscrs.d
beat cutups in: it has been lectured on in univer-
sities, quoit. I in imperial council-lulls, it lay on the
toilettes of , inces, and was thumbed to pieces on the
bench of t!. artisan; we hear of grave men rank-
ing it nee' to their Bible." A work of which so
much can b affirmed must abound in the elements
of populari.y. In truth, it is universal as Shak-
'Team utul •socid as Hogarth.
The origi.. of this poem us a collective whole dates
front the iii;.!ille of the fifteenth century. Sagas of
the animal world abounded among the Teutonic
races, and tie unknown author of Iteineeke Fuchs
has eol:eetisl these, and made them the vehicle of an
exquisite sat ire on the vies of priests and the de-
vices of one tiers, not sparing majesty itself. The
learned Germans hold it to he a complete picture of
feudal manNers; and lleineccius, one of their most
able jurists. declares that it has often assisted him in
clearing up :lie jurisprudence of Germany. In truth,
it is a pert; ct epic, embracing, like Jiante's great
work, the v. hule middle-age world.
The plot is developed in the course of a humorous
narrative ut , he rogueries of Itcynard the Fox, whose
resources ao•I talent in extricating himself from the
complicatio of a series of life-long villainies, and
happy invei,i Mit in frustrating the endeavours of the
whole cum 'unity to bring him to condign punish-
ment, as at, iiieorrigible martrais Rigid', are wrought
up into asi los of moll:oval portraitures. There is
nothing a!: .h this vade-mecum of worlderaft does
not contaii The king, the lawyer, the statesman,
the prelate, Are fitted to their heart's content. 'Their
order is ty ,ratiol, and their individuality satirised
in a charniiiir exposition of their esprit de no,lier.
The rogueri s or the Fox, who seems to act here a
part like Bs, Mephistopheles in (lathe's " Faust,"
are a sort of motive power which drive on the other
animals to their doom. It is the one fault, the weak
side of the victim, by means of which the arch-
impostor e anniands his success. His sagacity is
greater than his endowments; and by the sharpness
of his wits Ile finds out the character of his victim,
so that his artful practices are never applied but to
its most as-:viable point. Here the poet strives to
point out th.• great secret of mundane success—the
knowlefte the weak side of the world around as,
and the great rule by which to make that know-
ledge useful, namely, to play on it without remorse.
But to the pea. The king—the lion of course—
proclaims u great feast, to which the subject animals
repair. Isgrini the wolf, Curtiss the (log, and Chan-
ticleer the cock, on that occasion make their several
complaint+ against the wolf', who has absented him-
self for ft iir of that punishment which he knows he
deserves. So a day is appointed wherein lteynard
is to tome ael judge himself of his offence. Bruin
the hear is delighted to undertake the office of
bringing th common enemy to justice, and journeys
to 'breed's castle. lteyuard hears the sum-
mons la loss stronghold, but is in no hurry to
come out tic he has thought of a device for getting
rid of Bruin. At length he appears; he is very
sorry that the ministry shatilil have sent so distin-
guished a noble on a lung and wearisome journey.
lie had intended next day to set out for court. bo
he beguiles Bruin till supper is thought of and honey
mentioned ; thereupon he takes occasion to inform
Bruin where there is a store large enough for a
year's eating. It lay in a hollow true iu Lanfert,
the wheelrighes, yard. To the bear the attractions
of a honey least are irresistible; so the two set off
together laid reach the place.
glit when Iteynard Bruin led,
Th-.- e:oelpole slumbered sound adasl.
A are -lwright was the wan by trade,
And k lteynard knew it well) had laid
An oua stump in the yard which he
Was owing for an axle-tree.
The storm. a proud way half was riven,
And 00, the cleft a wedge deep driven
Six iu boa down. fluoth Iteynard, " See
More honey, cos, lies in this tree
Than you may think, just pup your snout in
The r oink there Mil you'll nut he doubting.
l'oor Linda thus was she or bewattled,
And ioi his hurry well nigh throttled.
At le.,gth his snout well in he squeezed,
Maynard, alert, the moment seised.
Snap a mot the wed‘.:e from out the cleft,
And ou the instant Bruin to
In ith.ory transfixed to swing.
Thus do s the Fox leave the King's messenger,
who press:on. hinuself at einirt next day without his
cars or seilis to add another to the complaints 1
against the villain Iteynard. The Cat Tibert, re
nowited for gravity and wisdom, is next Bent to
mammon It pan'. Tibert finds hint staudiug be-
fiwe his ensile gates. and delivers his mermage.
Welcome, dear cousin," replies the Fox, "I obey
your c mini ms's, and wish the King infinite days of
Lippint,s. Let me entreat you to rest with me to-
night, and t..'se such cheer as my simple house of-
ten's. and to-marrow, us early us you will, let us go
together to court." The toe offers his guest a
batty-cuing, but learning that he much prefers mice,
offers to le oil him to a Fusion's tithe-burn, where they
scamper by thew:lnds. 'the overjoyed cat goes :
Thus blinding, trusting, Tibert wends
Ilis w .y unto the barn ; the friends
Steal underneath a wall of mud,
Which •.teall of brick and mortar stood.
The night before the priest had mined
A fowl (•t had ...red the fox for grist ;
At break "(day right through the wall
Ile'd make an early morning call).
The I*ra...issue Martin was the first
To ti0..1 it out—he swore and cunt
At thieso•—the scented thief the worst.
A eerd athwart the hole be slung,
And made it tight ; the end he hung
A loot torso behind, and tied
A slip-knot, which he looped up wide
To catch the chief. This It. ynard knew,
And said to Tibert, Go you through
This lode and mouse at pleasure; I'll
Star hen• to keep look out the while."
QuLth tibert, " Is it quite safe, Nunky ?
Because I do feet somewhat funky;
I never like to trust a priest."
(lauds Re7nard, 'fherc now, what a beast
Wee; 1, to lead a timid man
In d muss r's way. If you're afraid
Let us go luck at once my blade !
My wile at home sill warm us up
Some broth of well-picked bones to sup ;
There's lots of weleoni., in my house—
But, candidly, there's not one mouse."
Grimalkin stayed no further flouting,
For, nettled at the Fox's doubting
pluck, he made a vigorous spring
In at the hole ; the plaguy string
Was by the sudden jerk pulled taut
And round hi. neck Grimalkin caught.
The Fox now derides the eat, as he had before done
the bear, and makes off home. Poor puss tinds her
way back to court with broken bones, at which the
king is enraged. The Badger is next commissioned
to carry the summons, and Reynard thinks he may
now ass well go quietly. relying on his value to the
king, and especially on his innocence, to bring him
off victorious over his malicious calumniators. As
they go along Itcynard confesses an amazing cata-
logue of sins. This ended, and absolution received,
he agains sets off with Greybeard, the badger, on
his journey. Ile sees a nanuery well stocked with
capons, turkeys, and geese, and impresses on his
companion that the right road leads straight through
the poultry
yard. They enter, and a fine cock is
soon laid by his heels.
"Oh what ! have you forget par Yew h "
Cried Greybcanl, " Cnale mine, how now;
What can base put within your brain
To take to the old trade again ?
Why make confession, if you meant,
Your sins in this way to repent "
Renard replied, in earnest sort,
" fly i
cloud Coe., I did but sin n thought ;
Pray heaven the whim to overlook
This once, henceforth live by book."
Again they start—and now their way
Amor • ammo fast-bridge lay:

Bernard went last ; in furtive glance
Oft turned his longing countenance
Back on the fuwl, he could not otf it,
No, nut e'en 11.0 l his head (raid forfeit,
Which, had it Irmo ehupp'd off by bill,
Had teen the son r direction still.
It was a mere tons up e'vti now,
He'd find 116 way hack yet somehow.
Grbeard the tendency perceived
Of Keynard's mind, and said " I'm griee'd
To sec denoted in your eye
The hidden sin of gluttony.
Heed nut the fowl."—" What speech is this ?"
tluoth Reynard. "Much I take amiss
Such impious talk. Now, may I choke,
If I did other than invoke
A Paternoster and a prayer
From those same hole ladies there,
For all the souls of ail the hens
l've slain by dozens and by tens,
Within that cloister!"

They arrive at the city, and the plebeian crowd,
albeit each had hi, charge to prefer, are awed by his
noble bearing.
His nonchalance he
So well displayed. that men to fancy
Began they hail too harshly judged.
In short, compassion
Throughout the public bosom 'gas,
As brambles do about green gorse,
Deep roar to strike Spice, and ran,
Pricking the conscience with remorse.
He is, nevertheless, tried and condemned to
ban.
Now Reynard's friends, who to the court
In no scant number made resort
On this occasion—an the Stoat
Who studied law, and learned to quote
Cant terms with Greybeard, and some few
By blood allied, soon as they knew
The sentence of the Kinr, deplored
Their kinsman's fate with one accord.
Was he (they argued somewhat rightly),
Descending from a stock so knightly,
To be thus low humiliated ?
Nay, to a cowman gallows fated ?
They send to the King and ask an audience " to
take leave."
The King in dungeon took to heart
So many noble" should depart,
For powerful was Replant', clan,
And they resolved on't to a man.
At last, however, the crafty Fox is on the gallows,
the Bear and Cat being willing executioners, yet full
of misgiving lest their enemy should escape.
Intense was Reynard'a agony
As drew the lawful moment nigh;
Yet were his thoughts collected all
As from his own to others fall.
They turned and busied thus his mind,
" Help me, good fottune, now to find
Some master stroke, smite mighty touch,
Of powerful spell, that 1 may clutch
At lif.• o ice more and victor rise
To trample on my enemies.
The King incensed, the people storm,
Two giants leagued against a warn.
One chance remains—could I but pt
To make a speech, I'd fool them yet.
Let them but lint to what I say,
I'll swing not yet thin many a day.
Good people all, be not amazed
To hear a penitent's last words,
As on the gallows, bound with cords,
lie stands. You'll grant my prayer, I know,
Ere from the midst of you I go.
Thus he gets an opportunity of speaking, and con-
fesses his early sins.
With mien prostrated,
Deep hollow von* and up coat eye,
Ile groaned, "Spiritus Domini !
Now help me ! as I live, I sec
None here whom I've nut wronged ; ah,
All aorta of wickedness were sweet
To me before I left the teat.
From early infancy innured
To waywardness--in vice matured!
The flesh of lambs was my delight ;
Stray kids I chased from morn to night."
And thus he continues until he craftily contrives
to allude most casually to a hidden treasure :
Threat the King with ears erect—
" Whence did you all three goods collect ?"
Itcynard continued, " Why should 1
Of this make any mystery ?
I'll tell you they were stolen all
From those who once conspired your fall,
By me, who now about to shed
My blood whilome did save your head."
The King orders—
Let all the multitude form ring
And (sons the gallows ReynareClift,
Whilst we this hbexly treason sift.
The matter is of moment clearly:
Our person it concerneth nearly.
They bade hint first descend; this done,
Their Majesties would speak alone
With Keenan', and aside they go
Aline fug particulars to know.
They conjure hun to disclose all, whereupon
(tooth Reynard, " Sure asi 1 to die,
And what would't profit me to lie?
Should I my soul with sins encumber—
Already more than 1 can number ?
No, better far the truth be stated,
E'eu though the matters implicated
My flesh and blood ; should I conceal,
Hell torments I shall surely feel."
He proceeds in his disclosures, and brings a
mighty plot to light. Ile persuades the monarch
that the Bear has been plotting to become King, and
that the Cat and the Wulf were accomplices with
him. He (the Fox) from pure loyalty plundered
the store of treasure which was to be used in =Ty-
ing out their schente, so defeating the plot. lie
would discover this treasure to the King, so his life
might be spared. The King doubts his tale, but the
Queen prevails, litCall.*: Reviiard is changed and
penitent now, as may be seen by his implicating his
own father. The Fox lies so well, that the King and
Queen beg his pardon, take him out before the
courtiers, and call upon all to pay him honour, and
trouble his Majesty no more with their idle tales
against hint. lagrim, the wolf, hearing of the
strange turn which things are taking, is so imprudent
as to go to court and protest. For his presumption
he is apprehended with the Bear, and charged with
high treason. The Fox will set out for Rome next
day on pilgrimage, and wants nothing but a strong
pair of shoes fur the journey. lie perceives that Is-
grim has a pair of shoes that would just suit him,so the
skin of the simple Wolf's fore-feet is pulled of, and
placed at his service, while a piece of the Bear's skin
is stripped to make hint a scrip fur his travels. Thus
provided, he craven the church's benediction and
sets out, accompanied at his especial request by the
Hare and the Ram.
The Fox makes straight for his own castle,
inveigles his companion, the Hare, within doors,
snaps off his head; makes of it a parcel
for the King, and sends it back by the un-
suspecting Ram. The King perceives how he has
been befouled, and new complaints are laid against
Reynard the Fox.
The villain, however, does not give up his hopes,
but melees to accompany. the Badger to court once
more. On the way he is at his old knack of con-
fessing :
Awl, $l3 of yore,
With conscience settled we the score,
As thou wilt well remember, so
At this time I would likewise do.
Gnat efficacy: I derived
Aforetime, wacu with thee I shrived,
And of my since committed sins
I'd be absolved, 40 here begins.
Presently he proceeds:
Then let one see, 1 did inveigle
The Hare, and snapped him like a beagle.
His head I wrapped in merry sport,
And stilt it by the Ram to court,
Which got him in a mess. The Cony
I made about the ears feel funny;
The Hook me righteously accused
I dined upon his wife, then used
Her claws fur toothpicks."
At the end of his confession Greybeard tells him
that—
" As wrong cries out for retribution,
So sin loth thirst for absolution.
'Tis thus with you, but much 1 fear
MY help will nap avail to clear
That mutter touching Lappet's head :
No shrift will eall to life the dead."
"Tut, tut," quoth Keynard, "what the King
May think of that—a trilling thing.
'Twere hard oa us poor country folk,
Who love the enjoyment of a joke,
To make our little world a cloister,
And sentence each Italph-Royster-Hoystor
His beads to tell and say his prayers,
Lest be be trapped in Satan's snares.
And as for Lappet—see you, Cur.,
The mischief of his making was.
So list and sleek he frisked about,
Ana leered so saucily (the lout),
lily stomach could not bide the sight,"
lie gets once more to court, where all look black
at him. Making his way to the throne he harangues
the king, and prays
May he to whom all hearts are known,
From yonder Empyrean throne
Look dozen benignly from on high,
And bless this goodly company !
wisdom be your constant guide,
Iliejuatioe Su your courts preside;

And temper all your rountels! for,
In this world do the wickel rear.

He goes on to talk of his perjured calumniators,
and the assassins who stab him behind his back; but
ho is confident in the king's penetration, and so on.
The king is exceeding wrath, and exclaims :
At I.e.t I have thee ! And by all
That's holy thou shalt not for:stall
This time the hangman of his due.
The Fox is not daunted at this rebuff, but goes on
to explain away by ingenious lying the complaints
of the Cony and the Hook, and makes it appear that
the Ham must have murdered the Hare, of whose
death he was till then ignorant. Ile demands the
ordeal ofsbattle, like a true baron, and, by a sly, foul
thrust, disables his adversary, and comes off a victor
from the field. The king descends from his throne ;
While flutist-a, his obedience shown,
Knelt down, the king, upstanding, spake:—
" Itcynard, this sword as guerdon take,
Bravely in combat has thou borne thee.
Friends, all! let this great verdict warn:ye
How wag your tongues in accusation
'Gainst characters of rank and station.
In thee, thou champion, now and hero
Of infamy I speak thee clear
As newly driven snow is white,
Sans year, et sans reproche in light.
Finding the value of the fox's craft, tho King
makes him his chief councillor.

In this wise was the fox promoted,
With honours. stars, distinctions coated,
Till almost cumbersome they felt,
So fast the trumping cards were dealt.
At length, departing from the scene
Which had fur him so shifting been,
Ile travelled home by owl stages,
With trains of servitors and pages.
Now, if you curiously inquire,
The Iteyuards are proverbially
A numerous, scattered family:
Search where you will throughout the map
Of Christendom, its vigorous sap
Ilath rooted, and the branches shoot
Leaves evergreen, and clustering fruit:
All more or less, in some degree,
Take after the old parent tree.
Though heralds make a fuss and clatter
About the quarterage—no matter.
• •
God shield us all from sin and folly,
Anil purge our thoughts of melancholy.
If the reader hag derived any gratification from
the present cursory inspection of this old poem, he is
indebted to Mr. S. Naylor, whose translation, made
use of in the foregoing quotations, is the nearest ate
preach yet made in English to the spirit and vivacity
of the original.

The Journal of Design. Nos. XXVII., XXVIII., XXIX.
Chapman and Hall. 1
The articles which have lately appeared in the
Joru•nal Ilesiute on departments of the Great Ex-
hibition deserve careful consideration front the ma-
nufacturers with whose industry they deal. Th..se
artielt s are evidently written by sound practical
authorities, and the text is illustrated by samples of
the goods criticised. As a work devoted to a deft-
nite end the Journal of lksipi is, in every sense of,
the word, an excellent publication—sound in its opi-
nions and fully competent to deal with the techni-
calities of modern manufactures. From one of its
literary papers, h 1• Mr. Owen Jones, we extract an
essay on the distribution of form and colour deve-
loped in the articles exhibited in the Indian, Egyp-
tian, Turkish, and Tunisian departments of the Ex-
hibtion. It is entitled