Then was it very heaven to hearken the hounds, + 

When the mute all met him, mingled together: + 

Such a sorrow at sight of him they set on his head + 

As if clustering cliffs had clatter’d on heaps; + 

Here he was hollo’ed when hunters him met, + 

Or grimly was greeted with growling speech: + 

There he was threaten’d and “thief” call’d often, + 

And ay the teasers at his tail, that tarry he might not; + 

Oft he was harried when he hied for the open, + 

Oft he reel’d in again, Reynard so wily; + 

And hunters ay sped them, splash’d and bespatter’d, + 

In this manner by the mounts, till midmorn was past, + 

While the athel at home lay wholesomely sleeping + 

Within comely curtains, on that cóld mòrning. + 

But the lady for Love let him not sleep, + 

Never ’paired the purpose or pine in her heart, + 

But in haste she was up and hied to his chamber, + 

In a merry mantle, meet to the ground, + 

That was furr’d full fine with fells well-trimm’d, + 

And no hues on her head but the athel stones + 

Twined on her tressure by twenties in clusters; + 

Her thriv’n face so fair and her throat were unveil’d, + 

Her breast and her back the bodice show’d bare. + 

She comes within door, and closes it after, + 

Waives up a window, and on the wíght càlls, + 

And pleasantly rallies him with a ready word + 

and cheer: + 

“Ah! Sir, how mayst thou sleep + 

On such a morning clear?” + 

He was in dreamland deep + 

But then he did her hear. + 