XXIV.

Then was it fine sport to listen to the hounds, Thenne watȝ hit lif vpon list to lyþen þe houndeȝ, 1720 When alle þe mute hade hym met, menged to-geder, Suche a sorȝe at þat syȝt þay sette on his hede, As alle þe clamberande clyffes hade clatered on hepes; and the hallooing of the hunters. Here he watȝ halawed, when haþeleȝ hym metten, 1724 Loude he watȝ ȝayned, with ȝarande speche; There the fox was threatened and called a thief. Þer he watȝ þreted, & ofte þef called, & ay þe titleres at his tayl, þat tary he ne myȝt; Ofte he watȝ runnen at, when he out rayked, But Reynard was wily, 1728 & ofte reled in aȝayn, so reniarde watȝ wylé. and led them astray over mounts. & ȝe he lad hem bi lag, mon, þe lorde & his meyny; On þis maner bi þe mountes, quyle myd, ouer, vnder, Meanwhile the knight at home soundly sleeps within his comely curtains. Whyle þe hende knyȝt at home holsumly slepeȝ, 1732 With-inne þe comly cortynes, on þe colde morne. Bot þe lady for luf let not to slepe, Ne þe purpose to payre, þat pyȝt in hir hert, Bot ros hir vp radly, rayked hir þeder, The lady of the castle, clothed in a rich mantle, 1736 In a mery mantyle, mete to þe erþe, Þat watȝ furred ful fyne with felleȝ, wel pured, No hweȝ goud on hir hede, bot þe haȝer stones Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres; her throat and bosom all bare, 1740 Hir þryuen face & hir þrote þrowen al naked, Hir brest bare bifore, & bihinde eke. comes to Gawayne's chamber, Ho comeȝ with-inne þe chambre dore, & closes hit hir after, opens a window, and says, Wayneȝ¹ vp a wyndow, & on þe wyȝe calleȝ, 1744 & radly þus re-hayted hym, with hir riche wordeȝ, with² chere; "Ah! man, how canst thou sleep, "A! mon, how may þou slepe, [Fol. 114b.] this morning is so clear?" Þis morning is so clere?" 1748 He watȝ in drowping depe, Bot þenne he con hir here. ¹ wayueȝ(?). ² bi, à sec. manu.