When Chauntecleer sees the fox he becomes afraid But the fox speaks gently and praises him He calls him Gentil sire He says he has come only to hear his sweet voice He adds that Chauntecleer sings more beautifully than any angel He praises his voice in such a way As any aungel hath that is in hevene As has any angel that is in heaven The fox also says his father and mother once visited his house and his father sang just like him This false praise fills Chauntecleer with pride The Fox Seizes the Cock To please the fox Chauntecleer closes his eyes stretches his neck and begins to crow loudly At that moment Daun Russell suddenly jumps and catches him by the throat The fox runs toward the woods with the cock in his mouth Thus through flattery and pride the clever fox traps the foolish bird In this short but wise tale Chaucer shows how pride makes one blind The fox s flattery becomes a weapon and Chauntecleer learns that sweet words can hide deadly tricks