! 





THE JOY OF HUNTING 7 



Wherefore I say that such an hunter is not idle : he 

 may have no evil thoughts, nor may do no idle works ; 

 wherefore he must go into Paradise. For by many 

 other reasons which were long to write may I prove 

 these things, but it sufficeth me ; for any man that hath 

 good reason knoweth well that I say the high truth. 

 Now will I prove how hunters live in the world most 

 joyful of any other men : for when the hunter riseth in 

 the morning, and seeth the fair and sweet morning, and 

 clear weather and bright, and heareth the song of the 

 small fowls which sing so sweetly with great melody, 

 and full of love, each in his language, after that he 

 learn eth of his own kind. And when the sun has arisen 

 he shall see the fresh dew upon the small twigs and 

 grass, and the sun which by his virtue shall make them 

 shine. And that is great joy and liking unto the 

 hunter's heart. After when he shall go to his quest, or 

 searching, and shall see or meet with the hart anon, 

 without great seeking, and shall harbour him well and 

 readily within a little compass ; it is great joy and liking 

 to the hunter." 



The excitement occasioned upon laying the hounds 

 on the scent, is thus curiously expressed : 



* "Then hath the hunter great joy when he beginneth 

 to sue, and hath sued but a little. And he shall hire 

 others to start the hart afore him. And shall well 

 know that it is right ; and his hounds that shall be that 

 day finders shall come to the lair or to the fues t and 

 shall there be uncoupled, and all they shall run, and 

 enchase. Then hath the hunter great joy and liking. 

 After he leapeth on horseback if he be of estate, and 

 else on foot, with great haste, for to follow his> hounds. 

 And then shall he see the hart pass before him, and he 

 shall halloo, and rout mightily; and he shall see which 

 hounds come in the van chase, and in the middle chase, 

 and which be skirters. And then when all his hounds 

 be passed afore him, then shall he ride after them, and 



* This passage is somewhat different in Mr. Baillie-Grohman's 

 edition of ' The Master of Game/ which is a version of M. S. Cott. 

 Vesp, B. xii., in the British Museum. [ED.] 



fFues, royes = track, line. 



