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 Hiȝed to þe hyȝe, 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 hertteȝ haf þe gate, with þe hyȝe hedes, Þe breme bukkeȝ also, with hor brode paumeȝ; 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 hindeȝ were halden in, with hay & war, Þe does dryuen with gret dyn to þe depe sladeȝ; 1160 Þer myȝt 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 hedeȝ, The hounds and the hunters, with a loud cry, follow in pursuit. What! þay brayen, & bleden, bi bonkkeȝ þay deȝen. 1164 & ay rachches in a res radly hem folȝes, Huntereȝ wyth hyȝe 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 wyȝes þat schotten, 1168 Watȝ al to-raced & rent, at þe resayt. Bi þay were tened at þe hyȝe, & taysed to þe wattreȝ, Þe ledeȝ were so lerned at þe loȝe trysteres, & þe gre-houndeȝ so grete, þat geten hem bylyue, 1172 & hem to fylched, as fast as frekeȝ myȝt loke, þer ryȝt. The lord waxes joyful in the chase, Þe lorde for blys abloy Ful oft con launce & lyȝt, which lasted till the approach of night. 1176 & drof þat day wyth Ioy Thus to þe derk nyȝt. ¹ meue (?).