noon
Chanticleer smote piteously his feathers , and , kneeling before the King , spake in this manner : -LSB- Illustration : REYNARD IN THE LIKENESS OF A HERMIT . -RSB- `` Most merciful and my great Lord the King , vouchsafe , I beseech you , to hear our complaint , and redress the injuries which Reynard the Fox has done to me and my children . Not longer ago than last April , when the weather was fair , and I was in the height of my pride and glory , because of my eight valiant sons and seven fair daughters , who were strong and fat , and who walked in safety in a yard well-fenced round , wherein also were several large dogs for their protection , Reynard , that false and dissembling traitor , came to me in the likeness of a hermit , and brought me a letter to read , sealed with your Majesty 's seal , in which I found written , that your Highness had made peace throughout all your realm , and that no manner of beast or fowl should do injury one to another ; affirming unto me , that , for his own part , he was become a monk , vowing to perform a daily penance for his sins ; shewing unto me his beads , his books , and the hair shirt next to his skin ; saying , in humble wise , unto me , ` Sir Chanticleer , never henceforth be afraid of me , for I have vowed never more to eat flesh . I am now waxed old , and would only remember my soul ; therefore I take my leave , for I have yet my noon and my evensong to say . ' Which spake , he departed , saying his Credo as he went , and laid him down under a hawthorn . At this I was exceeding glad , that I took no heed , but went and clucked my children together , and walked without the wall , which I shall ever rue ; for false Reynard , lying under a bush , came creeping betwixt us and the gate , and suddenly surprised one of my children , which he trussed up and bore away , to my great sorrow ; for , having tasted the sweetness of our flesh , neither hunter nor hound can protect or keep him from us . Night and day he waits upon us , with that greediness , that of fifteen of my children , he hath left me but four unslaughtered ; and yesterday , Copple , my daughter , which here lieth dead on this bier , was , after her murder , rescued from him .