II.

Roused by the clamour the deer rush to the heights, At þe fyrst quethe of þe quest quaked þe wylde; Der drof in þe dale, doted for drede, 1152 Hi3ed to þe hy3e, bot heterly þay were but are soon driven back. Restayed with þe stablye, þat stoutly ascryed; The harts and bucks are allowed to pass, Þay let þe hertte3 haf þe gate, with þe hy3e hedes, Þe breme bukke3 also, with hor brode paume3; 1156 For þe fre lorde hade de-fende in fermysoun tyme, Þat þer schulde no mon mene¹ to þe male dere. but the hinds and does are driven back to the shades. Þe hinde3 were halden in, with hay & war, Þe does dryuen with gret dyn to þe depe slade3; 1160 Þer my3t mon se, as þay slypte, slentyng of arwes, As they fly they are shot by the bowmen. At vche [þat] wende vnder wande wapped a flone, Þat bigly bote on þe broun, with ful brode hede3, The hounds and the hunters, with a loud cry, follow in pursuit. What! þay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkke3 þay de3en. 1164 & ay rachches in a res radly hem fol3es, Huntere3 wyth hy3e horne hasted hem after, Those that escaped the arrows are killed by the hounds. Wyth such a crakkande kry, as klyffes haden brusten; What wylde so at-waped wy3es þat schotten, 1168 Wat3 al to-raced & rent, at þe resayt. Bi þay were tened at þe hy3e, & taysed to þe wattre3, Þe lede3 were so lerned at þe lo3e trysteres, & þe gre-hounde3 so grete, þat geten hem bylyue, 1172 & hem to fylched, as fast as freke3 my3t loke, þer ry3t. The lord waxes joyful in the chase, Þe lorde for blys abloy Ful oft con launce & ly3t, which lasted till the approach of night. 1176 & drof þat day wyth Ioy Thus to þe derk ny3t. ¹ meue (?).