XII.
Reading edition
The hunters cheer on the hounds, Sone þay calle of a quest in aker syde, Þe hunt re-hayted þe hounde3, þat hit fyrst mynged, which fall to the scent forty at once. Wylde worde3 hym warp wyth a wrast noyce; 1424 Þe hownde3 þat hit herde, hastid þider swyþe, & fellen as fast to þe fuyt, fourty at ones; Þenne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachche3 Ros, þat þe rochere3 rungen aboute; 1428 Huntere3 hem hardened with horne & wyth muthe. All come together by the side of a cliff. Þen al in a semblé sweyed to-geder, Bitwene a flosche in þat fryth, & a foo cragge; In a knot, bi a clyffe, at þe kerre syde, 1432 Þer as þe rogh rocher vn-rydely wat3 fallen, [Þay] ferden to þe fyndyng, & freke3 hem after; They look about on all sides, Þay vmbe-kesten þe knarre & þe knot boþe. Wy3e3, whyl þay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were, 1436 Þe best þat þer breued wat3 wyth þe blod hounde3. and beat on the bushes. Þenne þay beten on þe buske3, & bede hym vp ryse, & he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-þwert, Out there rushes a fierce wild boar, On þe sellokest swyn swenged out þere, 1440 Long sythen for1 þe sounder þat wi3t for-olde, For he wat3 b[este &] bor alþer grattest, [And eue]re quen he gronyed, þenne greued mony, At the first thrust he fells three to the ground. For [þre a]t þe fyrst þrast he þry3t to þe erþe, 1444 & [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more, [Ande þay] halowed hyghe ful hy3e & hay! hay! cryed [Fol. 110b.] Haden horne3 to mouþe heterly rechated; Full quickly the hunters pursue him. Mony wat3 þe myry mouthe of men & of hounde3, 1448 Þat buskke3 after þis bor, with bost & wyth noyse, To quelle; Ful oft he byde3 þe baye, & mayme3 þe mute Inn-melle, However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and yell. 1452 He hurte3 of þe hounde3, & þay Ful 3omerly 3aule & 3elle. 1 fro (?).