XII.
Reading edition
The hunters cheer on the hounds, Sone þay calle of a quest in aker syde, Þe hunt re-hayted þe houndeȝ, þat hit fyrst mynged, which fall to the scent forty at once. Wylde wordeȝ hym warp wyth a wrast noyce; 1424 Þe howndeȝ þat hit herde, hastid þider swyþe, & fellen as fast to þe fuyt, fourty at ones; Þenne such a glauerande glam of gedered rachcheȝ Ros, þat þe rochereȝ rungen aboute; 1428 Huntereȝ 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 watȝ fallen, [Þay] ferden to þe fyndyng, & frekeȝ hem after; They look about on all sides, Þay vmbe-kesten þe knarre & þe knot boþe. Wyȝeȝ, whyl þay wysten wel wyt inne hem hit were, 1436 Þe best þat þer breued watȝ wyth þe blod houndeȝ. and beat on the bushes. Þenne þay beten on þe buskeȝ, & bede hym vp ryse, & he vnsoundyly out soȝt seggeȝ ouer-þwert, Out there rushes a fierce wild boar, On þe sellokest swyn swenged out þere, 1440 Long sythen for1 þe sounder þat wiȝt for-olde, For he watȝ 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 þryȝt to þe erþe, 1444 & [sped hym] forth good sped, boute spyt more, [Ande þay] halowed hyghe ful hyȝe & hay! hay! cryed [Fol. 110b.] Haden horneȝ to mouþe heterly rechated; Full quickly the hunters pursue him. Mony watȝ þe myry mouthe of men & of houndeȝ, 1448 Þat buskkeȝ after þis bor, with bost & wyth noyse, To quelle; Ful oft he bydeȝ þe baye, & maymeȝ þe mute Inn-melle, However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and yell. 1452 He hurteȝ of þe houndeȝ, & þay Ful ȝomerly ȝaule & ȝelle. 1 fro (?).