XXIV.

Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds,

Thenne wat3 hit lif vpon list to lyþen þe hounde3,

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

Suche a sor3e at þat sy3t þay sette on his hede,

As alle þe clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes;

Here he wat3 halawed, when haþele3 hym metten,

Loude he wat3 3ayned, with 3arande speche;

Þer he wat3 þreted, & ofte þef called,

& ay þe titleres at his tayl, þat tary he ne my3t;

Ofte he wat3 runnen at, when he out rayked,

& ofte reled in a3ayn, so reniarde wat3 wylé.

& 3e he lad hem bi lag, mon, þe lorde & his meyny;

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

Whyle þe hende kny3t at home holsumly slepe3,

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

Bot þe lady for luf let not to slepe,

Ne þe purpose to payre, þat py3t in hir hert,

Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir þeder,

In a mery mantyle, mete to þe erþe,

Þat wat3 furred ful fyne with felle3, wel pured,

No hwe3 goud on hir hede, bot þe ha3er stones

Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres;

Hir þryuen face & hir þrote þrowen al naked,

Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke.

Ho come3 with-inne þe chambre dore, & closes hit hir after,

Wayne3¹ vp a wyndow, & on þe wy3e calle3,

& radly þus re-hayted hym, with hir riche worde3,

with² chere;

"A! mon, how may þou slepe,

Þis morning is so clere?"

He wat3 in drowping depe,

Bot þenne he con hir here.

¹ wayue3(?). ² bi, à sec. manu.