Full early before day the folks were afoot; + 

Guests that would go, their grooms they summon’d, + 

Who hied them in haste the horses to saddle, + 

Gather’d the gear and girded the mails; + 

Those of rank were ready to ride all array’d, + 

Leapt up lightly, and lay to their bridles, + 

Each wight on his way, where it well liked them. + 

The dear lord of the land was not last either, + 

Array’d for the riding, with retinue gay; + 

A morsel he ate, when his mass he had heard, + 

And with bugle to bentfield he busk’d him anon; + 

Soon as any daylight dawn’d upon earth + 

He and his athels on horse were mounted. + 

Then lads of that craft coupled their hounds, + 

Unclosèd the kennels and call’d them thereout, + 

And blew bigly on bugles thrée báre móots, + 

While the bratches bayed⁠—and a brave noise made they; + 

Hounds that went chasing they chastied with whips, + 

A hundred of hunters, as I have heard tell, + 

of the best. + 

Beaters to station hied, + 

Huntsmen their hounds releas’d, + 

And horns made, far and wide, + 

Great noise in that forèst. + 