CHAPTER VII 



OF THE WOLF AND OF HIS NATURE 



A WOLF is a common beast enough and there- 

 fore I need not tell of his make, for there are 

 few men beyond the sea, that have not seen some 

 of them. They are in their love in February 

 with the females and then be jolly and do in the 

 manner as hounds do, and be in their great heat 

 of love ten or twelve days, and when the bitch 

 is in greatest heat then if there are any wolves 

 in the country they all go after her as hounds 

 do after a bitch when she is jolly. But she will 

 not be lined by any of the wolves save by one. 

 She doth in such a wise that she will lead the 

 wolves for about six or eight days without meat 

 or drink and without sleep for they have so great 

 courage towards her, that they have no wish to 

 eat nor to drink, and when they be full weary 

 she lets them rest until the time that they sleep, 

 and then she claweth him with her foot and 

 waketh him that seemeth to have loved her most, 

 and who hath most laboured for her love, and 

 then they go a great way thence and there he 

 lines her. And therefore men say beyond the seas 



54 



