One day it so happened that Isengrim took his two sons, and they set off into the country to look for plunder. He took his wife by the hand and impressed upon her that Reynard was loyal and honorable. Reynard, however, wanted to woo his kinswoman, and Lord Isengrim had indeed taken on a wicked chamberlain.

The story gets very interesting at this point.

Reynard said to the lady: “My kinswoman, would that you could see the great sorrow that I have. The great love I feel for you is a pain that is hard to bear.”

“Be quiet, Reynard,” replied Isengrim's wife. “My lord is strong and handsome, and I can do without taking a lover. And anyway, if I did, you would be too much of a weakling for me.” To this Reynard answered, “Milady, if I were favored, I would be more loving to you than a king who sought your love but tried to gain it in an unworthy manner.”

At this point her husband, Isengrim, came back, and Reynard the courtier behaved as if they had not been speaking about anything much. Isengrim had returned empty-handed, and hunger had left him disconsolate. He told his wife how difficult it was to get hold of anything out in the fields. “I’ve never known it to be so bad,” he said. “Every shepherd has a dog with him.” [413–448]