XXXI.

Gawayne's host is still in the field.

Now hym lenge in þat lee, þer luf hym bi-tyde;

3et is þe lorde on þe launde, ledande his gomnes,

He hat3 forfaren þis fox, þat he fol3ed longe;

As he sprent ouer a spenné, to spye þe schrewe,

Þer as he herd þe howndes, þat hasted hym swyþe,

Renaud com richchande þur3 a ro3e greue,

& alle þe rabel in a res, ry3t at his hele3.

Þe wy3e wat3 war of þe wylde, & warly abides,

& brayde3 out þe bry3t bronde, & at þe best caste3;

& he schunt for þe scharp, & schulde haf arered,

A rach rapes hym to, ry3t er he my3t,

& ry3t bifore þe hors fete þay fel on hym alle,

& woried me þis wyly wyth a wroth noyse.

Þe lorde ly3te3 bilyue, & cache3 by1 sone,

Rased hym ful radly out of þe rach mouþes,

Halde3 he3e ouer his hede, halowe3 faste,

& þer bayen hym mony bray2 hounde3;

Huntes hy3ed hem þeder, with horne3 ful mony,

Ay re-chatande ary3t til þay þe renk se3en;

Bi þat wat3 comen his compeyny noble,

Alle þat euer ber bugle blowed at ones,

& alle þise oþer halowed, þat hade no hornes,

Hit wat3 þe myriest mute þat euer men herde,

Þe rich rurd þat þer wat3 raysed for renaude saule,

with lote;

Hor hounde3 þay þer rewarde,

Her3 hede3 þay fawne & frote,

& syþen þay tan reynarde,

& tyrnen of his cote.

1 hym (?). 2 braþ (?). 3 Her her, in MS.