Note 59 — Chapter I · FROM THE ORIGINS TO CHAUCER—THE CONSTITUTION OF ENGLISH VERSE[49]
Reading edition
Latin.
Nam leo stans fortis super alta cacumina montis, Qualicunque via vallis descendit ad ima, Si venatorem per notum sentit odorem, Cauda cuncta linit quae pes vestigia figit.
French.
Uncore dit Escripture Leuns ad tele nature, Quant l'om le vait chazant, De sa cue en fuiant Desfait sa trace en terre, Que hom ne l' sace querre; Ceo est grant signefiance, Aiez en remembrance.
English.
The leun stant on hille, And he man hunten here, Other thurg his nese smel Smake that he negge, Bi wile weie so he wile To dele nither wenden, Alle hise fet-steppes After him he filleth, Drageth dust with his stert Ther he [dun] steppeth, Other dust other deu, That he ne cunne is finden, Driueth dun to his den Thar he him bergen wille.