XXIV.

Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds,

Thenne watȝ hit lif vpon list to lyþen þe houndeȝ,

When alle þe mute hade hym met, menged to-geder,

Suche a sorȝe at þat syȝt þay sette on his hede,

As alle þe clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes;

Here he watȝ halawed, when haþeleȝ hym metten,

Loude he watȝ ȝayned, with ȝarande speche;

Þer he watȝ þreted, & ofte þef called,

& ay þe titleres at his tayl, þat tary he ne myȝt;

Ofte he watȝ runnen at, when he out rayked,

& ofte reled in aȝayn, so reniarde watȝ wylé.

& ȝe he lad hem bi lag, mon, þe lorde & his meyny;

On þis maner bi þe mountes, quyle myd, ouer, vnder,

Whyle þe hende knyȝt at home holsumly slepeȝ,

With-inne þe comly cortynes, on þe colde morne.

Bot þe lady for luf let not to slepe,

Ne þe purpose to payre, þat pyȝt in hir hert,

Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir þeder,

In a mery mantyle, mete to þe erþe,

Þat watȝ furred ful fyne with felleȝ, wel pured,

No hweȝ goud on hir hede, bot þe haȝer stones

Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres;

Hir þryuen face & hir þrote þrowen al naked,

Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke.

Ho comeȝ with-inne þe chambre dore, & closes hit hir after,

Wayneȝ¹ vp a wyndow, & on þe wyȝe calleȝ,

& radly þus re-hayted hym, with hir riche wordeȝ,

with² chere;

"A! mon, how may þou slepe,

Þis morning is so clere?"

He watȝ in drowping depe,

Bot þenne he con hir here.

¹ wayueȝ(?). ² bi, à sec. manu.