76 THE MASTER OF GAME 



the time that is passed, and also of the goodness 

 and the truth, which was sometimes in the lords 

 of this world, and other common men, and seeth 

 what now is in them at this time, truly he saith 

 that there is no comparison, and this knoweth well 

 every man that hath any good reason. But now 

 let God ordain thereof whatever His good will 

 is. But to draw again to my matter, and tell the 

 nobleness of the hounds, the which have been, some 

 good tales I shall tell you the which I find in true 

 writings. First of King Claudoneus 1 of France, 

 the which sent once after his great court whereof 

 were other kings which held of him land, among 

 the which was the King Appollo of Lyonnys that 

 brought with him to the court his wife and a grey- 

 hound that he had, that was both good and fair. 

 The King Claudoneus of France had a seemly 

 young man for his son, of twenty years of age, and 

 as soon as he saw the Queen of Lyonnys he loved 

 her and prayed her of (for her) love. The Queen 

 was a good lady and loved well her lord, forsook 

 him and would him not, and said (to) him that if 

 he spake to her any more thereof that she would 

 tell it to the King of France, and to her Lord. 

 And after that the feast was passed, King Appollo 

 of Lyonnys turned again, he and his wife to their 

 country. And when they were so turned again, 

 he and his wife, the King Claudoneus son of 

 1 In G. de F. " Clodoveus," p. 82. 



