On the death of Beaumont the
hunting dog, whose back was broken in the boar hunt: “Then he (the master of the hunt) picked up his spear without saying
anything and limped over to Beaumont. He knelt down beside him and took his
head on his lap. He stroked Beaumont's head and said, "Hark to Beaumont.
Softly, Beaumont, mon amy. Oyez a Beaumont the valiant. Swef, le douce
Beaumont, swef, swef." Beaumont licked his hand but could not wag his
tail. The huntsman nodded to Robin, who was standing behind, and held the
hound's eyes with his own. He said, "Good dog, Beaumont the valiant, sleep
now, old friend Beaumont, good old dog." Then Robin's falchion let
Beaumont out of this world, to run free with Orion and roll among the stars.”
-T.H.
White in The Once and Future King
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