A Fox spy'd a Cock at Roost with his Hens about him. Why how, my Friend, says Reynard, What makes you upon a Tree there? Your Bus'ness lies upon the Terra Firma, and a Cock in the Air is out of his Element, methinks. But you don't hear the News perhaps, and it is certainly true: There's a General Peace concluded among all Living Creatures, and not one of them to presume, upon Pain of Life and Limb, directly or indirectly, to hurt another. The Blessedest Tidings in the World, says the Cock; and at the same time he stretches out his Neck, as if he were a looking at somewhat a great way off. What are you Peering at? says the Fox. Nothing, says t'other, but a Couple of Great Dogs younder, that are coming this Way, Open-Mouth, as hard as they can drive. Why then, says Reynard, I fancy I'd e'ev best be Jogging. No, no, says the Cock, the General Peace will secure you: Ay, quoth the Fox, so it will; but if these Roguy Curs should not have heard of the Proclamation, my Coat may come to be Pink'd yet for all that. And so away he scamper'd.
In all the Liberties of Sharping and Tricking one upon another, there must still a Regard be had to the Punctilio's of Honour and Justice.Source:
L'Estrange 353.
Click here for a
SLIDESHOW of all the colored Steinhowel images. You can see the dogs approaching - and of course in the image they do not look very far away at all!
M0046 Perry671
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