XII.

The hunters cheer on the hounds,

Sone þay calle of a quest in aker syde,

Þe hunt re-hayted þe houndeȝ, þat hit fyrst mynged,

Wylde wordeȝ hym warp wyth a wrast noyce;

Þe howndeȝ þat hit herde, hastid þider swyþe,

& fellen as fast to þe fuyt, fourty at ones;

Þenne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachcheȝ

Ros, þat þe rochereȝ rungen aboute;

Huntereȝ hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe.

Þen al in a semblé sweyed to-geder,

Bitwene a flosche in þat fryth, & a foo cragge;

In a knot, bi a clyffe, at þe kerre syde,

Þer as þe rogh rocher vn-rydely watȝ fallen,

[Þay] ferden to þe fyndyng, & frekeȝ hem after;

Þay vmbe-kesten þe knarre & þe knot boþe.

Wyȝeȝ, whyl þay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were,

Þe best þat þer breued watȝ wyth þe blod houndeȝ.

Þenne þay beten on þe buskeȝ, & bede hym vp ryse,

& he vnsoundyly out soȝt seggeȝ ouer-þwert,

On þe sellokest swyn swenged out þere,

Long sythen for¹ þe sounder þat wiȝt for-olde,

For he watȝ b[este &] bor alþer grattest,

[And eue]re quen he gronyed, þenne greued mony,

For [þre a]t þe fyrst þrast he þryȝt to þe erþe,

& [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more,

[Ande þay] halowed hyghe ful hyȝe & hay! hay! cryed

Haden horneȝ to mouþe heterly rechated;

Mony watȝ þe myry mouthe of men & of houndeȝ,

Þat buskkeȝ after þis bor, with bost & wyth noyse,

To quelle;

Ful oft he bydeȝ þe baye,

& maymeȝ þe mute Inn-melle,

He hurteȝ of þe houndeȝ, & þay

Ful ȝomerly ȝaule & ȝelle.

¹ fro (?).