XII.

[A] Sone þay calle of a quest in aker syde, Þe hunt re-hayted þe hounde3, þat hit fyrst mynged, [B] 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. [C] 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; [D] 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. [E] Þenne þay beten on þe buske3, & bede hym vp ryse, & he vnsoundyly out so3t segge3 ouer-þwert, [F] On þe sellokest swyn swenged out þere, 1440 Long sythen for[1] þe sounder þat wi3t for-olde, For he wat3 b[este &] bor alþer grattest, [And eue]re quen he gronyed, þenne greued mony, [G] 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 Haden horne3 to mouþe heterly rechated; [Fol. 110b.] [H] 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, 1452 [I] He hurte3 of þe hounde3, & þay Ful 3omerly 3aule & 3elle.

[Sidenote A: The hunters cheer on the hounds,] [Sidenote B: which fall to the scent forty at once.] [Sidenote C: All come together by the side of a cliff.] [Sidenote D: They look about on all sides,] [Sidenote E: and beat on the bushes.] [Sidenote F: Out there rushes a fierce wild boar,] [Sidenote G: At the first thrust he fells three to the ground.] [Sidenote H: Full quickly the hunters pursue him.] [Sidenote I: However, he attacks the hounds, causing them to yowl and yell.] [Footnote 1: fro (?).]