Chapter XXXI

[A] Now hym lenge in þat lee, þer luf hym bi-tyde;
3et is þe lorde on þe launde, ledande his gomnes,
[B] He hat3 forfaren þis fox, þat he fol3ed longe;
1896 As he sprent ouer a spenné, to spye þe schrewe,
Þer as he herd þe howndes, þat hasted hym swyþe, [Fol. 116b.]
[C] Renaud com richchande þur3 a ro3e greue,
& alle þe rabel in a res, ry3t at his hele3.
1900 [D] Þe wy3e wat3 war of þe wylde, & warly abides,
& brayde3 out þe bry3t bronde, & at þe best caste3;
& he schunt for þe scharp, & schulde haf arered,
[E] A rach rapes hym to, ry3t er he my3t,
1904 & ry3t bifore þe hors fete þay fel on hym alle,
& woried me þis wyly wyth a wroth noyse.
[F] Þe lorde ly3te3 bilyue, & cache3 by[1] sone,
Rased hym ful radly out of þe rach mouþes,
1908 Halde3 he3e ouer his hede, halowe3 faste,
& þer bayen hym mony bray[2] hounde3;
[G] Huntes hy3ed hem þeder, with horne3 ful mony,
Ay re-chatande ary3t til þay þe renk se3en;
1912 Bi þat wat3 comen his compeyny noble,
Alle þat euer ber bugle blowed at ones,
[H] & alle þise oþer halowed, þat hade no hornes,
Hit wat3 þe myriest mute þat euer men herde,
1916 Þe rich rurd þat þer wat3 raysed for renaude saule,
with lote;
[I] Hor hounde3 þay þer rewarde,
Her[3] hede3 þay fawne & frote,
1920 [J] & syþen þay tan reynarde,
& tyrnen of his cote.

[Sidenote A: Gawayne's host is still in the field.] [Sidenote B: He has destroyed the fox.] [Sidenote C: He spied Reynard coming through a "rough grove,"] [Sidenote D: and tried to hit him with his sword.] [Sidenote E: The fox "shunts," and is seized by one of the dogs.] [Sidenote F: The lord takes him out of the hound's mouth.] [Sidenote G: Hunters hasten thither with horns full many.] [Sidenote H: It was the merriest meet that ever was heard.] [Sidenote I: The hounds are rewarded,] [Sidenote J: and then they take Reynard and "turn off his coat."] [Footnote 1: hym (?).] [Footnote 2: braþ (?).] [Footnote 3: Her her, in MS.]