180
Her grewhounds filled with deer-blood;
Her raches coupled, by my fay;
She blew her horn with main and mood[45];
Unto the castle she took the way.
Into the hall soothly she went; 185
Thomas followed at her hand;
Then ladies came, both fair and gent,
With courtesy to her kneeland[46].
Harp and fithel both they fand[47],
Gittern and also the sawtery[48], 190
Lute and ribib[49] both gangand[50],
And all manner of minstrelsy.
The most marvel that Thomas thought,
When that he stood upon the floor,
For fifty hartes in were brought, 195
That were bothe great and store[51].
Raches lay lapping in the blood;
Cookes came with dressing-knife;
They brittened[52] them as they were wood;
Revel among them was full rife. 200
Knightes danced by three and three,
There was revel, gamen, and play;
Lovely ladies, fair and free,
That sat and sang on rich array.
Thomas dwelled in that solace 205
More than I you say, parde;
Till on a day, so have I grace,
My lovely lady said to me[53];
"Do busk thee, Thomas; thee buse[54] again;
For thou may here no longer be; 210
Hie thee fast with might and main;
I shall thee bring till Eildon tree.
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