XXXI.
Gawayne's host is still in the field.
Now hym lenge in þat lee, þer luf hym bi-tyde;
Ȝet is þe lorde on þe launde, ledande his gomnes,
He hatȝ forfaren þis fox, þat he folȝed longe;
As he sprent ouer a spenné, to spye þe schrewe,
Þer as he herd þe howndes, þat hasted hym swyþe,
Renaud com richchande þurȝ a roȝe greue,
& alle þe rabel in a res, ryȝt at his heleȝ.
Þe wyȝe watȝ war of þe wylde, & warly abides,
& braydeȝ out þe bryȝt bronde, & at þe best casteȝ;
& he schunt for þe scharp, & schulde haf arered,
A rach rapes hym to, ryȝt er he myȝt,
& ryȝt bifore þe hors fete þay fel on hym alle,
& woried me þis wyly wyth a wroth noyse.
Þe lorde lyȝteȝ bilyue, & cacheȝ by1 sone,
Rased hym ful radly out of þe rach mouþes,
Haldeȝ heȝe ouer his hede, haloweȝ faste,
& þer bayen hym mony bray2 houndeȝ;
Huntes hyȝed hem þeder, with horneȝ ful mony,
Ay re-chatande aryȝt til þay þe renk seȝen;
Bi þat watȝ comen his compeyny noble,
Alle þat euer ber bugle blowed at ones,
& alle þise oþer halowed, þat hade no hornes,
Hit watȝ þe myriest mute þat euer men herde,
Þe rich rurd þat þer watȝ raysed for renaude saule,
with lote;
Hor houndeȝ þay þer rewarde,
Her3 hedeȝ þay fawne & frote,
& syþen þay tan reynarde,
& tyrnen of his cote.
1 hym (?). 2 braþ (?). 3 Her her, in MS.