Reynard the Fox Author:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: And full indulgence for all future times." Fired with the promifed boon, they left the Bear, Who lay half dead, all ftunned and ftupid there; Plunged to... more » the Women's refcue ; fifhed out five ; All that had fallen in, and all alive. The miferable Bear, while thus his Foes Were bufied, finding refpite from their blows ; Managed to fcramble to the river's brim; And in he rolled ; but not with hopes to fwim; For life a very burden was to him : Thofe fhameful blows no more he could abide; They pierced his foul more than they pained his hide. He wifhed to end his days in that deep water, Nor feared t' incur the perils of felf-flaughter. But no ! againft his will he floated down ; It feemed in truth he was not born to drown. Now when the Bear's efcape the Men defcried, " Oh fharne! infufferable fhame !" they cried; Then in a rage began to rate the Women; " See where the Bear away from us is fwimming; Had you but ftaid at home, your proper place, We mould not have encountered this difgrace." Then to the cleft tree turning, they found there The bleeding ftrips of Bruin's hide and hair; At this into loud laughter they broke out, And after him thus fent a jeering mout; " You'll fure come back again, old Devil-fpawn, As you have left your wig and gloves in pawn." Thus infult added they to injury, And Bruin heard them and fore hurt was he; He curfed them all, and his own wretched fate; He curfed the Honey that had been his bait; He curfed the Fox who led him in the Snare; He even curfed the King who fent him there. Such were his pray'rs as quick he fwept along, For the ftream bore him onward, fwift and ftrong; So, without effort, in a little while, He floated down the river near a mile. Then with a heavy heart he crawled on mo...« less