A really beautiful, rare steel engraving - illustrating "Bruin as Messenger" - Bruin the Bear raps on Reynard's door, thinking to find him home, while Reynard lies low inside -

"Sir Bruno to the portal hied,
Expecting 'twould be open'd wide,
AS soon as he appear'd;
But all in vain his sturdy stroke
Resounded on the ponderous oak,
No other sound was heard.
With anger now his blows he plied:
"What ho, Reynard!" he loudly cried,
Is nobody within?
That here before thy castle walls,
A royal envoy vainly calls;
'Tis in itself a sin,
Against the Sovereign's dignity:
Come fort I say! And know that I
Am by the Monarch sent,
To bring thee strightway to his court,
To answer many an ill report. -
Shouldst thou refuse, it costs thy life,
So come without delay or strife,
Or surely thou'lt repent!
With the King's self thou'st now to deal,
Who threats with gibbet, fire, and steel,
All traitors to the commonweal!"

"Reynard had well the summons heard,
But silence kept, nor moved nor stirr'd"

(H Leutemann pinx, A H Payne sc)