a mob of rioters seeking to destroy the heretic in their midst ever
raised half so fearful a din and clamour as did these pursuers; but
in spite of them all the fox reached the very edge of the wood in
safety.

There Chanticleer recovered from his terror and said, "You have me
fast. If I were you I would call these base pursuers churls to their
faces." "Why, so I shall!" said the fox. But, as he opened his mouth
to speak, away flew the cock and perched on the branch of a tree.
"Come down," cried the fox, "I mean you no harm. If you will but come
down I will explain all my intentions towards you." "No," said the
cock. "I have been deceived once; twice is too much. Never again will
I be caught by flattery." "And I," said the fox, "will never speak
when I should keep my mouth shut."

Sirs, if you think this tale mere foolishness, then look deeper for
the moral, for, I assure you, there is one. Do you find it! Are not
all things written for our instruction? Now God make us all good men
and bring us to happiness at last. Amen.



As he finished the Host praised him. "Excellent, Sir Priest," he
said. "Your tale is like yourself, all wit and laughter, but with
some seriousness too, I'll be bound. I knew by the twinkle in that
sharp grey eye of yours that you could joke on occasion. Let's see
now if your fellow-priests can match you."

Then the other two priests took their turns. They told us no tales,
however, but spoke to us of morals and the great power of Holy