THE HART AND HIS NATURE 31 



for to save his life, and to keep his advantage 

 when he is hunted and is uncoupled to, as the 

 lymer moveth him or other hounds findeth him 

 without lymers, and if he have a deer (with him) 

 that be his fellow he leaveth him to the hounds, 

 so that he may warrant (save) himself, and let the 

 hounds enchase after that other deer. And he 

 will abide still, and if he be alone and the hounds 

 find him, he shall go about his haunt wilily and 

 wisely and seek the change of other deer, for 

 to make the hounds envoise,^ and to look where 

 he may abide. And if he cannot abide he taketh 

 leave of his haunt and beginneth to fly there where 

 he wots of other change and then when he has 

 come thither he herdeth among them and some- 

 times he goeth away with them. And then he 

 maketh a ruse on some side, and there he stalleth 

 or squatteth until the hounds be forth after the 

 other (deer) the which be fresh, and thus he 

 changeth so that he may abide. And if there be 

 any wise hounds, the which can bodily enchase 

 him from the change, and he seeth that all can 

 not avail, then he beginneth to show his wiles and 

 ruseth to and fro. And all this he doth so that 

 the hounds should not find his fues (tracks) in 

 intent that he may be freed from them and that 

 he may save himself. 



Sometimes he fleeth forth with the wind and 

 ^ Go off the scent. 



