no THE MASTER OF GAME 



beast without greyhound ^ it is a fair thing, and 

 pleasant to him that loveth them ; the seeking 

 and the finding is also a fair thing, and a great 

 liking to slay them with strength, and for to see 

 the wit and the knowledge that God hath given 

 to good hounds, and for to see good recovering 

 and retrieving, and the mastery and the subtleties 

 that be in good hounds. For with greyhounds 

 and with other kinds of hounds whatever they be, 

 the sport lasteth not, for anon a good greyhound 

 or a good alaunte taketh or faileth a beast, and so 

 do all manner of hounds save running hounds, 

 the which must hunt all the day questeying and 

 making great melody in their language and saying 

 great villainy and chiding the beasts that they 

 chase. And therefore I prefer them to all other 

 kinds of hounds, for they have more virtue it 

 seems to me than any other beast. Other kind 

 of hounds there be the which open and jangle 

 when they are uncoupled, as well when they be 

 not in her fues (on their line), and when they 

 be in her fues they questey ^ too much in seeking 

 their chase whatever it be, and if they learn the 

 habit when they are young and are not chastised 



^ The text of the MS. differs from G. de F., who says if one 

 hunts stags "ou autres bestes en traillant sans Hmier" (drawing 

 from them without having first harboured them with a lymer), 

 and does not say "without greyhounds" ; p. iii. 



2 G. de F. has here : "lis crient trop en quérant leur beste 

 quelle que soit," p. m. 



