Prologue

Gentlemen, you have heard many tales, that many storytellers have told you: how Paris stole Helen, the suffering and the pain he felt, the story of Tristan written by la Chèvre, which is rather well told, and fables and epic poems, tales on Him and his lineage; and many other stories in this land.	eigneurs, oï avez maint conte Que maint conteres vos aconte, Conment Paris ravi Helayne, Les maux qu'il en ot et la paine, De Tristram qui La Chievre fist, Qui assez belement en dist Et fables et chançons de geste, Romanz de lui et de sa geste; Maint autre conte par la terre.
But never have you heard about the war that has been really harsh between Reynard and Isengrim; which lasted so long and was so hard. Those two barons, that is the pure truth, never liked each other. There has been many quarrels and many battles between them, that is the real truth.	es onques n'oïstes la guerre, Qui mout fu dure de grant fin, Entre Renart et Ysengrin, Qui mout dura et mout fu dure. Des .II. barons, ce est la pure, Onques ne s'entramerent jor. Mainte mellee et maint estor Ot entr'eus .II., ce est la voire.
I will now begin the story of their clash and dispute. You will now hear why and by which sad situation, there was a lack of trust between the two from the very beginning. So listen, if it does not bother you. I will tell you, for pleasure, how they appeared, and as I learned by reading, who were Reynard and Isengrim.	es or conmenceré l'estoire Et de la noise et del content. Or orrez le conmencement Par qoi et par quel mesetance Fu entre eus .II. la desfiance. Or oez, si ne vos anuit. Je vos conteré par deduit Conment il vindrent en avant, Si con je l'ai trouvé lisant, Qui fu Renart et Ysengrin.
I once found in a reliquary, a book that was called Aucupre. I found there many stories about Reynard and other things that we must dare to speak. Besides a large vermilion letter, I found there many wonders.	e trovai ja en .I. escrin .I. livre : Aucupre avoit non. La trovai je mainte reson Et de Renart et d'autre chose Dont l'en doit bien parler et ose. A une grant letre vremeille, La trovai je mainte merveille.
If I had not found it in the book, I would have called anyone drunk who would have told such an adventure, but we must believe the scriptures. Dying of shame is just right for those who do not like books nor believe them.	e je ne la trovasse el livre, Je tenisse celui por yvre Qui dite eüst tele aventure, Mes l'en doit croire l'escripture. A desenor muert a bon droit Qui n'ainme livre ne ne croit.
Reynard's childhood deeds Prologue	Les enfances Renart (FHS 1) Prologue (Martin IIa)