Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T09:24:31.103Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

9 - The Wolf and the Wine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 May 2024

Edited and translated by
Brian Murdoch
Affiliation:
University of Stirling
Get access

Summary

“I’m really thirsty now,” said Isengrim.

“How about some wine, my lord,” said Reynard. “I can let you have a lot.”

“If you can give me enough wine,” said Isengrim, “I shall be your servant for life.”

Reynard set off, with devious intentions, to a monastery that he knew about. Isengrim, the Lady Hirsent, and their sons went with him, and Reynard led them to a wine barrel, where Isengrim got drunk and began to sing in the manner of his forefathers, without thinking of any possible danger. The monks in charge of the wine said: “What's going on? I think we just heard a wolf.” Right away six men came out, all armed with heavy batons, and Reynard quickly ran away. Hirsent and Isengrim now had to pay for the wine with a beating that was dealt out quite unmercifully. “If I get out of this,” said Isengrim, “I swear I’ll never touch a drop of wine again.” They had really made a wrong call this time! The gate was barred, but they managed to jump over the fence and made their shameful escape. Isengrim complained bitterly about the shame and also the pain, since he was bruised all over. His wife had been thrashed, and his sons had had their share, too. They said, “Father, it has to be said that that was an inappropriate song that you sang, and the whole affair was stupid.”

Reynard came back and asked, “What is all this about?” Isengrim told him: “The four of us had to pay dearly for that wine, by God! On top of that my sons have cursed me, and that makes me very angry. I’m done with the pair of them!” Reynard smoothed things over. “Kinsman, calm down,” he said. “I tell you, if one of my godsons has said something stupid, then it is not surprising, because he's still wet behind the ears.” And then Reynard and Isengrim went their separate ways. [499–551]

Type
Chapter
Information
Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
<i>Duke Ernst, Henry of Kempten, and Reynard the Fox</i>
, pp. 124 - 125
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Print publication year: 2024

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

  • The Wolf and the Wine
  • Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
  • Book: Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
  • Online publication: 09 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781805433071.021
Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • The Wolf and the Wine
  • Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
  • Book: Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
  • Online publication: 09 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781805433071.021
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The Wolf and the Wine
  • Edited and translated by Brian Murdoch, University of Stirling
  • Book: Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
  • Online publication: 09 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781805433071.021
Available formats
×