Branch XVIII of the Roman de Renart, according to the edition of M. Roques!, tells, among other things, of the adventures of Renart with Isengrin and with the Lion. At a certain moment, in the company of Isengrin, Renart arrives at the court and the King who "could not move nor laugh when he sees Renart before him", addresses the latter: "Bon jor, fait il, aiez vos hui, Renart, barat! qu’alez querant?" I admit that I do not understand the construction very well, even if barat is taken up in the glossary and translated 'ruse, deception'. It should read: Bon jor, fatt il, atez vos hut ! Renart Barat, qu'alez guerant? and consider Barat as a nickname, affixed, characterizing; Just by this expression the Noble King shows his colours ironically: ‘Renart the Deception’!

Language: French