The Questing Beast, or the Beast Glatisant (Old French: beste glatisant, Modern French: bête glatissante), is a cross-animal monster appearing in many medieval texts of Arthurian legend and modern works inspired by them.
The strange creature has the head of a snake, the body of a leopard, the haunches of a lion, and the feet of a deer. It emits a noise from its belly, a barking like "thirty couple hounds questing".
Over hill and over dale, Hear the hunting horn's wail. The chase is on, no time to waste, Mount your steed, make all haste!
In valorous pursuit of the Glatisant beast, O'ercoming all obstacles, from greatest to least! Through forest primeval or chasm vast, We'll hunt the beast till we catch it at last!
Body of a leopard, head and neck of a snake, A most unusual noise it surely does make. Barking like thirty couple hounds questing, It surely kept King Pelinore from resting!
A glorious hunt, steeped in chivalrous tradition, What ho! I hear it now, consign it to perdition! Galumphing 'cross the land on it's hooves like a hart, Arise sluggard, 'tis past time you did start!
Sir Percival and Sir Palamides hunted it too, Now the great quest has passed on to you! Gather your weapons, your trusty spear hone, The Post-Vulgate Suite de Merlin reveals all that is known.
Ride like the wind, chase down this foul beast, We'll celebrate your triumph, with a victory feast!
