used the left." "Nay," said he, "no woodcutter does that, he uses his
right hand, unless he be a left-handed man." "Ah, my dear," she
entreated, "try and do it as my father did." The witless wight raised his
left hand to hew the wood, but struck his right-hand thumb instead.
Without a word he took the axe and smote her on the head, and she died.
His deed was noised about; the woodcutter was seized and stoned for his
crime. Therefore, continued the fox, I say unto thee, all women are
deceivers and trappers of souls. And let me tell you more of these wily
stratagems.


The fox reinforces his argument by relating an episode in which a contrast
is drawn between


MAN'S LOVE AND WOMAN'S

A king of the Arabs, wise and well-advised, was one day seated with his
counsellors, who were loud in the praise of women, lauding their virtues
and their wisdom. "Cut short these words," said the king. "Never since
the world began has there been a good woman. They love for their own
ends." "But," pleaded his sages, "O King, thou art hasty. Women there
are, wise and faithful and spotless, who love their husbands and tend
their children." "Then," said the king, "here is my city before you:
search it through, and find one of the good women of whom you speak."
They sought, and they found a woman, chaste and wise, fair as the moon
and bright as the sun, the wife of a wealthy trader; and the counsellors
reported about her to the king. He sent for her husband, and received him
with favor. "I have something for thy ear," said the king. "I have a good
and desirable daughter: she is my only child; I will not give her to a