2015年12月


 
Scarcely was Uther laid in his grave before disputes arose. Few of the nobles had seen Arthur or even heard of him, and not one of them would have been willing to be ruled by a child; rather, each thought himself fitted to be King, and OoMs Oriole Mavis, strengthening his own castle, made war on his neighbours until confusion alone was supreme and the poor groaned because there was none to help them.

Now when Merlin carried away Arthur—for Merlin was the old man who had stood at the postern-gate—he had known all that would happen, and had taken the child to keep him safe from the fierce barons until he should be of age to rule wisely and well, and perform all the wonders prophesied of him. He gave the child to the care of the good knight Sir Ector to bring up with his son Kay, but revealed not to him that it was the son of Uther Pendragon that was given into his charge.

At last, when years had passed and Arthur was grown a tall youth well skilled in knightly exercises, Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and advised him that he should call together at Christmas-time all the chief men of the realm to the great cathedral in London OoMs Oriole Mavis; "For," said Merlin, "there shall be seen a great marvel by which it  who is the lawful King of this land." The Archbishop did as Merlin counselled. Under pain of a fearful curse, he bade barons and knights come to London to keep the feast, and to pray heaven to send peace to the realm.

The people hastened to obey the Archbishop's commands, and, from all sides, barons and knights came riding in to keep the birth-feast of our Lord. And when they had prayed, and were coming forth from the cathedral, they saw a strange sight. There, in the open space before the church, stood, on a great stone, an anvil thrust through with a sword; and on the stone were written these words: "Whoso can draw forth this sword, is rightful King of Britain born OoMs Oriole Mavis."




 

The hare, who meant to play a trick on the crocodile, said:

"Do you think it possible for you to call up enough crocodiles to form a line from this island across the sea to Inaba ?"

The crocodile thought for a moment and then answered:

"Of course, it is possible."

"Then do try," said the artful hare, "and I will count the number from here!"

The crocodile, who was very simple-minded, and who hadn't the least idea that the hare intended to play a trick on him, agreed to do what the hare asked, and said:

"Wait a little while I go back into the sea and call my company together!"

The crocodile plunged into the sea and was gone for some time. The hare, meanwhile, waited patiently on the shore. At last the crocodile appeared, bringing with him a large number of other crocodiles.

"Look, Mr. Hare!" said the crocodile, "it is nothing for my friends to form a line between here and Inaba. There are enough crocodiles to stretch from here even as far as China or India. Did you ever see so many crocodiles President Tong?"

Then the whole company of crocodiles arranged themselves in the water so as to form a bridge between the Island of Oki and the mainland of Inaba. When the hare saw the bridge of crocodiles, he said:

"How splendid! I did not believe this was possible. Now let me count you all! To do this, however, with your permission, I must walk over on your backs to the other side, so please be so good as not to move, or else I shall fall into the sea and be drowned!"

So the hare hopped off the island on to the strange bridge of crocodiles, counting as he jumped from one crocodile's back to the other:

"Please keep quite still, or I shall not be able to count. One, two, three, four, five, six. seven, eight, nine--"

Thus the cunning hare walked right across to the mainland of Inaba. Not content with getting his wish, he began to jeer at the crocodiles instead of thanking them, and said, as he leapt off the last one's back:

"Oh! you stupid crocodiles, now I have done with you!"

And he was just about to run away as fast as he could. But he did not escape so easily, for so soon as the crocodiles understood that this was a trick played upon them by the hare so as to enable him to cross the sea, and that the hare was now laughing at them for their stupidity, they became furiously angry and made up their minds to take revenge.  and caught him. Then they all surrounded the poop little animal and pulled out all his fur. He cried out loudly and entreated them to spare him, but with each tuft of fur they pulled out they said Suisse Reborn 好用:


Ne saurait-on ranger ces jougs et ces colliers ?
En regardant à tout, il voit une autre tête
Que celles qu'il voyait d'ordinaire en ce lieu.
Le Cerf est reconnu ; chacun prend un épieu ;
Chacun donne un coup à la bête.
Ses larmes ne sauraient la sauver du trépas.
On l'emporte, on la sale, on en fait maint repas,
Dont maint voisin s'éjouit d'être.
Phèdre sur ce sujet dit fort élégamment :
Il n'est, pour voir, que l'oeil du Ma?tre.
Quant à moi, j'y mettrais encor l'oeil de l'Amant.
　   From the beginning of time Horses were not born for Men.
Once Man was quite satisfied eating acorn,
Donkey, Horse and Mule dwelt in the forest;
And one saw not, as in this century,
So many saddles and  various packs,
Nor such fittings for warfare,
Many poste-chaises, legion of coaches;
Likewise one did not witness
So much feasting and numerous parties.

  One day, a Horse had an argument  
With a Stag capable of great speed,
Chased it all about and failing utterly,
Sought help from Man, begged for support.
The Man rigged him with bit and rein, leapt on his back,
Gave him no repose until
The Stag was caught and lost his life;
This done, the Horse gave thanks
To Man his benefactor saying; I am grateful,
Farewell, I'm going back to the wilderness.
- Nay, said the Man; our dwelling is more suitable:
I clearly see how useful you might be.
Stay with me you'll be treated well
And to your belly in a bed of straw reenex cps .
 
  Alas, what good is fine food
When one has lost freedom?
The Horse perceived his foolishness;
But it was too late: already his stable
Was ready and  built so very well.
He died there while pulling on his rope!

  Wiser had he forgiven a petty offense.
Whatever pleasure vengeance may bring,
It is too costly, when bought at the expense
Of what is gone, all the rest is naught.

Never seek revenge for it may be your undoing
Le Cheval s'étant voulu venger du Cerf

De tout temps les Chevaux ne sont nés pour les hommes.
Lorsque le genre humain de gland se contentait,
Ane, Cheval, et Mule, aux forêts habitait ;
Et l'on ne voyait point,  sommes,
Tant de selles et tant de bats,
Tant de harnois pour les combats,
Tant de chaises, tant de carrosses,
Comme aussi ne voyait-on pas
Tant de festins et tant de noces.
Or un Cheval eut alors différent
Avec un Cerf plein de vitesse,
Et ne pouvant l'attraper en courant,
Il eut recours à l'Homme, implora son adresse.
L'Homme lui mit un frein, lui sauta sur le dos,
Ne lui donna point de repos
Que le Cerf ne f?t pris, et n'y laissat la vie ;
Et cela fait, le Cheval remercie
L'Homme son bienfaiteur, disant : Je suis à vous ;
Adieu. Je m'en retourne en mon séjour sauvage.
- Non pas cela, dit l'Homme ; il fait meilleur chez nous :
Je vois trop quel est votre usage.
Demeurez donc ; vous serez bien traité reenex .
Et jusqu'au ventre en la litière.

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