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Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 May 2024
When the monks had gone, Isengrim crept back into the forest and began to howl. When Lady Hirsent heard this, she hurried to him with his two sons, and Isengrim complained bitterly: “My dear sons, my dear wife,” he said, “because of Reynard my life is worthless. In God's name let it be a cause of anger to you. It is Reynard's fault that I am lacking a tail, and without any provocation from me his trickery led me toward my death, and I have been beaten and battered because of his extreme disloyalty.”
The companionship with him was at an end, and now Reynard's former patron was an enemy. The wolves all wept bitterly, and Isengrim was distressed by this. “Lady Hirsent,” he said, “my dear wife, this mars your great beauty. Your tears cause me pain, so for God's sake, desist!”
“Alas, I cannot go on. It is great sorrow to me that my husband no longer has a tail! How can I survive, poor creature that I am!”
And so the great feud began. Isengrim trotted off to look for Reynard. He took up a position where he could lie in wait, because anyone who starts an open feud without preparation will need a lot of cunning to save himself.
This is how the feud got under way. A lynx soon heard about it, and he was affected by this quarrel, because he had strong ties to both sides, to the wolves and to the fox. The lynx, therefore, was worried and said to Isengrim: “My kinsman, Lord Isengrim, of what are you accusing my cousin? You are both related to me, and I could act as an arbitrator if you will explain your complaint about what Reynard has done. Then we can set a trial date, and he can answer for it in court.”
“Listen, my dear kinsman,” said Isengrim, “it is a long story, because I have a lot to complain about with all the things Reynard has done to me. It is down to him that I am deprived of a tail, and he has been trying it on with my wife. If he were at least innocent of that, I would let him off for the other matters. But I agree with you—I want a day in court.”
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