fox wolf fox wolf poem 15th century scottish poet collection moral known written middle scots tales collection moral supposed contain tale questioned tale combines motifs firstly fields new makes oath aloud wolf wolf attempts sure man promise fox solution speaking individually eventually wolf following claim supposed reward dropping case tricks draw connects wolf wicked man fox devil man probable source tale containing motifs tale beast source probable source tale motifs promise wolf moon cheese wolf descends bucket trapping freeing fox discussion legality questioning language place alongside motifs entirely invention moral tale explains wolf lost cheese relinquished present come latin pro fully involves source published scholar considers likely tale beast beast epic genre plots works complicated counterpart tend feature fox making victim wolf synopsis tale fields new furious land anger makes oath wolf wolf lying nearby fox promises stay true word eventually calm way home wolf jumps path wolf asks driving confirms asks stopped offended wolf wolf reminds earlier declaration replies man things mean argue wolf having witness response produces fox creature takes dispute takes aside turn says lend expertise help offers half dozen fox goes wolf says offered block cheese exchange dropping case wolf complaint agrees proceed woods prize fox considers trick wolf eventually wolf complains quest arrive draw end rope seeing reflection moon water wolf believes cheese fox pick complains heavy lift wolf jumps bucket descends help pulls bucket fox jumped swap places wolf fox safely escaped narrator know helped wolf tale end wolf likened wicked man fox likened devil farmer likened man finds fault woods wolf cheated goods man cheese represents contains fraud fantasy draws men downwards hell analysis tales collection fox wolf considered odds tale highlights number says hold true traditional sense inconsistencies fox wolf figure argues finds fault woods world traversed spite suggesting applicable men argues assuming moral true problematic apparently suggests man bribe figure judge affect status furthermore absence legal discussion binding quality words suggests intricate legal framework impact whatsoever resolving issues supposed deal contrast considers tale create additional sense exists literal narrative extends thematically treating literal details symbolically establishing sense direct comparisons according significant themes tale vacancy substance illusion cheese apparently resides illusion solid object similarly fox creates surface reconciliation wolf real intentions frequent words convey real value emptied meaning example highlights fox wolf pledge body says fox tales blind foes highly inappropriate object use modern edition robert testament seven trans london isbn
The Fox, the Wolf and the Husbandman