Pagina 411 de 626

Then was he anointed and consecrated, and thus was fulfilled what

he had heard from the frogs on his way, which had so affected

him, that he was to be his Holiness the Pope. Then he had to sing

a mass, and did not know one word of it, but the two doves sat

continually on his shoulders, and said it all in his ear.

THE FOX AND THE CAT

It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she

thought to herself: 'He is clever and full of experience, and

much esteemed in the world,' she spoke to him in a friendly way.

'Good day, dear Mr Fox, how are you? How is all with you? How are

you getting on in these hard times?' The fox, full of all kinds

of arrogance, looked at the cat from head to foot, and for a long

time did not know whether he would give any answer or not. At

last he said: 'Oh, you wretched beard-cleaner, you piebald fool,

you hungry mouse-hunter, what can you be thinking of? Have you

the cheek to ask how I am getting on? What have you learnt? How

many arts do you understand?' 'I understand but one,' replied the

cat, modestly. 'What art is that?' asked the fox. 'When the

hounds are following me, I can spring into a tree and save

myself.' 'Is that all?' said the fox. 'I am master of a hundred

arts, and have into the bargain a sackful of cunning.