Reynard the Fox

British poet laureate John Masefield wrote this poem, which concerns a fox hunt that pursues the title character, who «could outlast horse and outrace hound.» It is partly inspired by a literary cycle figure named Reynard the Fox who features in medieval allegorical Dutch, English, French and German fables. The stories are largely concerned with the main character Reynard, an anthropomorphic red fox, trickster figure. His adventures usually involve deceiving other anthropomorphic animals for his own advantage or trying to avoid their retaliatory efforts. His main enemy and victim across the cycle is his uncle, the wolf, Isengrim (or Ysengrim).