Reuertere! (IN ENGLISCH TUNGE, TURNE AȝEN!)
[Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 A.D., page 61, written without breaks.]
IN a noon tijd of a somers day
Þe sunne schoon ful myrie þat tide,
I took myn hauk al for to play,
Mi spaynel rennyng bi my side.
Line 4
¶ A feisaunt hen soone gan y se,
Myn hound put up ful fair to fliȝt,
I sente my faukun, y leet him flee:
It was to me a deinteuose siȝt.
Line 8
¶ My faukun fliȝ faste to his pray,
I ran þo with a ful glad chere,
I spurned ful soone on my way,
Mi leg was hent al with a brere.
Line 12
¶ Þis brere forsoþe dide me grijf,
And soone it made me to turne aȝe,
For he bare written in euery leef
Þis word in latyn, reuertere.
Line 16
I knelid & pullid þe brere me fro,
And redde þis word ful hendeli;
Myn herte fil doun vnto my too [page 62]
Þat was woont sitten ful likingly.
Line 20
¶ I leete myn hauke & feysaunt fare,
Mi spaynel fil doun to my knee,
