An edition of the Middle Dutch version of Reynard the Fox, Reynaerts historie (Reynaert II).

Only half of the Dutch Reinaert, in verse, had become known to us through German editions, when we learned that a beautiful manuscript of the whole, on parchment, and left by the famous book collector Willem Heber, was to be sold in London at the beginning of this year. At the suggestion of Serrure and myself, the Government gave orders for the purchase of this piece, with the result that we were shortly thereafter able to rejoice in seeing it added to the library of Burgundy [Now the Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België]. Having been ordered since the month of May to prepare an edition of it, I have set myself diligently to the work. On first perusal of the codex [probably Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, Ms. 14601] I soon noticed that the text differed greatly from the two fragments communicated to us by Graeter and Grimm, and that the contents contained a much more recent translation and expansion than the Reinaert preserved in the so-called Comburg manuscript (now in Stuttgart) [Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Cod.poet. et phil.fol.22]. I found that many lines of rhyme were missing and that on almost every page a considerable number of writings appeared, which made the reading obscure and sometimes completely unintelligible. - [Author]

Language: Dutch