Part 11

[Sidenote: Horn reaches land.]

To lo{n}d he hi{m} sette, {And} fot o{n} stirop sette. 812

To londe he gan flette, And out of schip him sette. 812

to londe þat hy fletten; fot out of ship hy setten. 812

[Headnote: _Horn is received by Harild and Berild._]

[Sidenote: He meets two princes, Harild and Berild.]

He fo{n}d bi þe weie, Kynges sones tweie; Þ{a}t on hi{m} het harild, {And} þ{a}t oþ{er} berild. 816 Berild gan him preie Þ{a}t he scholde him seie What his name were, {And} what he wolde þere. 820

He mette by þe weye, Kingges sones tweye; Þat on was hoten ayld, And þat oþer byrild. 816 Byrild him gan preye Þat he scholde seye Wat hys name were, And qwat he wolde þere. 820

he fond bi þe weye, kynges sones tueye; Þ{a}t on wes hoten Aþyld, ant þ{a}t oþer beryld. 816 beryld hym con preye þat he shulde seye what he wolde þere, ant what ys nome were. 820

[Sidenote: He gives his name as Cutberd (Godmod),]

“Cutberd,” he sede, “ihc hote, Icome{n} vt of þe bote, Wel feor fram biweste, To seche mine beste.” 824 Berild gan him nier ride, {And} tok him bi þe bridel. “Wel beo þu, kniȝt, ifounde; Wiþ me þu lef a stunde. 828

“Cuberd,” he seyde, “ich hote, Come{n} fram þe bote, Fer fram bi weste, To chesen mine beste.” 824 Byryld him gan ryde, And tok hym by þe b{r}idel. “Wel be þou, knict, her{e} founde; Whyt me bileuest a stounde. 828

¶ “Godmod,” he seid, “ich hote, ycomen out of þis bote, wel fer from by weste, to seche myne beste.” 824 beryld con ner him ryde, ant toc hi{m} bi þe bridel. “wel be þou, knyht, yfounde; wiþ me þou lef a stounde. 828

[Sidenote: and is conducted by the princes before the king.]

Also mote i st{er}ue, Þe ki{n}g þu schalt s{er}ue. Ne saȝ i neure my lyue So fair kniȝt aryue.” 832 Cutb{er}d heo ladde in to halle, {And} he a kne gan falle.

So ich ne mote st{er}ue, Þe kyng þou schal s{er}ue. Ne sey ich neu{er}e on lyue So fayr knyt aryue.” 832 Cub{er}t he ledde to halle, And adoun gan falle.

also ich mote sterue, þe kyng þou shalt serue. ne seh y neuer a lyue so feir knyht her aryue.” 832 godmod he ladde to halle, ant he adoun gan falle,

[Sidenote: Cutberd greets the king.]

He sette him a knewelyng, And grette wel þe gode kyng. 836

He sette hym on knewlyng, And grette wel þe gode king. 836

[Sidenote: [leaf 88]] Ant sette him a knelyng, ant grette þene gode kyng. 836

[Sidenote: Berild asks that he be taken into the king’s service.]

Þa{n}ne sede Berild sone, “Sire king, of him þu hast to done. Bitak him þi lond to werie; Ne schat hit noman derie, 840 For he is þe faireste man Þ{a}t eureȝut on þi londe cam.”

Þo seyde byrild wel sone, “Whit hym haue{n} to done. Tak hym þi lond to werye; Ne schal hym noma{n} derye. 840 He hys þe fayreste man Þat eu{er}e in þis londe cam.”

þo saide beryld wel sone, “kyng, wiþ him þou ast done. þi lond tac hi{m} to werie; ne shal þe nomon derye, 840 for he is þe feyreste man þat euer in þis londe cam.”

[Headnote: _Horn enters the service of the king._]

[Sidenote: The king welcomes Cutberd.]

¶ Þa{n}ne sede þe ki{n}g so dere, “Welcome beo þu here. 844 Go nu, Berild, swiþe, {And} make him ful bliþe. And whan þu farst to woȝe, Tak him þine gloue. 848 Ime{n}t þu hauest to wyue, Awai he schal þe dryue; For Cutberdes fairhede Ne schal þe neure wel spede.” 852

Þo seyde þe king so dere, “Wel come be he here. 844 Go nov, byryld, swyþe, An mak him glad and blyþe. Wan þou farest awowen, Tak hym þine glouen. 848 Þer þou hauest Mynt to wyue, Awey he schal þe dryue.” [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

¶ þo seide þe kyng wel dere, “welcome þe þou here. 844 go, beryld, wel swyþe, {ant} make hy{m} wel blyþe, ant when þou farest to wowen, tac him þine glouen. 848 þer þou hast munt to wyue, a wey he shal þe dryue; for godmodes feyrhede shalt þou no wer spede.” 852

[Sidenote: At the Christmas feast a giant appears.]

++HIt was at Cristesmasse, Neiþer more ne lasse, [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Hyt was at C{r}istesmesse, Naþer more ne lesse. Þe king hym makede a feste, Wyt hyse knyctes beste. 856

hit wes at c{ri}stesmasse, nouþer more ne lasse. þe kyng made feste, of his knyhtes beste. 856

[Headnote: _The giant’s challenge._]

[Sidenote: The giant proclaims a challenge.]

Þ{er} cam in at none, A Geau{n}t suþe sone, Iarmed fram paynyme, And seide þes ryme:-- 860 “Site stille, sire kyng, {And} herkne þis tyþyng. Her buþ pae{n}s ariued, Wel mo þane fiue. 864 Her beoþ on þe so{n}de, Ki{n}g, vpon þi londe.

Þer com ate none, A geaunt swiþe sone, Armed of paynime, And seyde i{n} hys rime, 860 “Syte, knytes, by þe king, And lusteþ to my tydyng. Her{e} beþ paynyms aryued, Wel mo þa{n}ne fyue. 864 By þe se stronde, Kyng, on þine lo{n}de.

þer com in at none, a geaunt suyþe sone, y-armed of paynyme, ant seide þise ryme:-- 860 “Site, kyng, bi kynge, ant herkne my tidynge her bueþ paynes aryue, wel more þen fyue. 864 her beþ vpon honde, kyng, in þine londe.

[Sidenote: One pagan will fight any three in the land,]

On of he{m} wile fiȝte Aȝe{n} þre kniȝtes. 868

One þer of wille ich fyȝte Aȝen þi þre knyctes. 868

on þer of wol fyhte to ȝeynes þre knyhtes. 868

[Sidenote: the combat to determine who shall possess the land.]

Ȝef oþ{er} þre slen vre, Al þis lond beo ȝoure; Ȝef vre on ouercomeþ ȝour þreo, Al þis lo{n}d schal vre beo. 872 Tomoreȝe be þe fiȝti{n}ge, Whan þe liȝt of daye sp{ri}nge.”

Ȝyf þat hour{e} felle þyne þre, Al þis lond schal vre be; Ȝyf þyne þre fellen houre, Al þys lond þa{n}ne be ȝyure. 872 To morwe schal be þe fyȝtyng, At þe so{n}ne op rysyng.”

ȝef oure þre sleh oure on, we shulen of ore londe gon; ȝef vre on sleh oure þre, al þis lond shal vre be. 872 to morewe shal be þe fyhtynge, at þe sonne vpsp{ri}nge.”

[Headnote: _Horn, Berild and Alrid accept it._]

[Sidenote: King Thurston names Cutberd (Godmod), Harild and Berild as the three defenders.]

¶ Þa{n}ne sede þe kyng þurston, “Cutb{er}d schal beo þ{a}t on; 876 Berild schal beo þ{a}t oþer; Þe þridde, Alrid, his broþer. For hi beoþ þe strengeste, {And} of armes þe beste. 880 Bute what schal vs to rede? Ihc wene we beþ alle dede.”

Þo seyde þe king þurston, “Cubert he schal be þat on, 876 Ayld chyld þat oþer, Þe þrydde, byryld, hyse broþer. Hye þre beþ þe strengeste, And ín armes þe beste. 880 At wat schal do to rede? Ich wene we ben alle dede.”

¶ þo seyde þe kyng þurston, “godmod shal be þat on; 876 beryld shal be þat oþer; þe þridde, Aþyld, is broþer. for hue bueþ strongeste, ant in armes þe beste. 880 ah, wat shal vs to rede? y wene we bueþ dede.”

¶ Cutberd sat at borde, And sede þes wordes:-- 884

Cubert set on borde, And seyde þis worde:-- 884

Godmod set at borde, ant seide þeose wordes:-- 884

[Sidenote: Cutberd says that it were shame for three Christians to fight against one pagan, and offers to fight alone.]

“Sire ki{n}g, hit nis no riȝte, On wiþ þ{re} to fiȝte; Aȝe{n} one hu{n}de, Þre c{ri}ste{n} me{n} to fonde. 888 Sire, ischal al one, Wiþute more ymone, Wiþ mi swerd wel eþe Bringe hem þre to deþe.” 892

“Syre kyȝeking, hyt no ryȝcte, On wiþ þre to fyȝcte. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 888 At wille ich alone, With oute{n} ma{n}nes mone, Mid my swerd wel heþe Bringe{n} hem alle to deþe.” 892

“sire kyng, nis no ryhte, on wiþ þre fyhte, aȝeynes one hounde, þre c{ri}stene to founde. 888 ah, kyng, y shal alone, wiþ-oute more ymone, wip my suerd ful eþe bringen he{m} alle to deþe.” 892

[Headnote: _Preparations for the combat._]

[Sidenote: He arms himself,]

¶ Þe kyng aros amoreȝe, Þ{a}t hadde muchel sorȝe; {And} Cutb{er}d ros of bedde, Wiþ armes he him schredde. 896 Horn his brunie gan on caste, {And} lacede hit wel faste,

Þe kyng ros a morwe, And hadde meche sorwe. Cubert ros of bedde; Wyt armes he hym schredde. 896 Hys brenye on he caste, Lacede hyt wel faste.

þe kyng aros amorewe; he hade muche sorewe. godmod ros of bedde; wiþ armes he him shredde. 896 his brunye he on caste, {ant} knutte hit wel faste,

[Sidenote: visits the king,]

{And} ca{m} to þe ki{n}ge, At his vp risinge. 900 “Ki{n}g,” he sede, “cu{m} to fel[de], For to bihelde Hu we fiȝte schulle, {And} togare go wulle.” 904

He cam biforn þe godeking, At hyse op rysyng. 900 He seyde, “king, com to felde, Me for to by helde, Hou we scholen fyȝte And to gydere hus dyȝcte.” 904

ant com hi{m} to þe kynge, at his vp rysynge. 900 “kyng,” quoþ he, “com to felde, me forte byhelde, hou we shule flyten ant to gedere smiten.” 904

[Sidenote: and with him rides to the combat.]

Riȝt at p{ri}me tide, Hi gu{n}ne{n} ut ride, And fu{n}de{n} on a g{re}ne, A geau{n}t suþe kene, 908 His fere{n} hi{m} biside, Hore deþ to abide.

Ryȝt at p{r}ime tyde, He go{n}ne hem out ryde. He founden in a grene, A geant swyþe kene, 908 Armed with swerd by side, Þe day for to abyde.

¶ riht at p{ri}me tide, hy gonnen out to ryde. hy fonnden in a grene, a geaunt swyþe kene, 908 his feren hi{m} biside, þat day forto abyde.

[Headnote: _The fight begins._]

[Sidenote: Cutberd strikes so hard, that the giant asks for a breathing spell,]

¶ Þeilke bataille Cutberd gan assaille. 912 He ȝaf de{n}tes inoȝe; Þe kniȝtes felle iswoȝe. His dent he gan wiþdraȝe, For hi were neȝ aslaȝe. 916

Cubert him gan asayle; Wolde he nawt fayle. 912 He keyte duntes ynowe; Þe geant fel hy swowe. Hys feren go{n}ne{n} hem wyt d{ra}we, Þo here mayst{er} wa slawe. 916

Godmod hem gon asaylen; nolde he nout faylen. 912 [Sidenote: [leaf 88, back]] he ȝef duntes ynowe; þe payen fel y swowe. ys feren gonnen hem wiþ drawe, for huere maister wes neh slawe. 916

[Sidenote: and says he has never before experienced such blows, save at the hand of King Murry.]

{And} sede, “kniȝtes, nu ȝe reste One while, ef ȝou leste.” Hi sede, “hi neure nadde Of kniȝte dentes so harde. 920 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] He was of hornes ku{n}ne, Iborn in suddenne.” 924

He seyden, “knyct þo reste Awile ȝyf þe luste. We neu{er}e ne hente Of ma{n}[KH-3] so harde dunte, 920 Bute of þe king Mory, Þat was so swyþe stordy. He was of hornes kinne; We slowe hym in sodenne.” 924

[Footnote KH-3: MS. adds ‘nes honde’ underdotted as a mistake.]

he seide, “knyht, þou reste a whyle, ȝef þe leste. y ne heuede ner of monnes hond so harde duntes in non lond, 920 bote of þe kyng Murry, þ{a}t wes swiþe sturdy. he wes of hornes kenne; y sloh him in sudenne.” 924

[Sidenote: Horn is enraged,]

¶ Horn hi{m} ga{n} to ag{ri}se, {And} his blod arise.

Cuberd gan ag{r}ise, And hys blod aryse.

¶ Godmod him gon agryse, ant his blod aryse.

[Sidenote: and renews the fight.]

Biuo hi{m} saȝ he sto{n}de Þ{a}t driue{n} hi{m} of lo{n}de, 928 {And} þ{a}t his fader sloȝ. To hi{m} his swerd he droȝ.

By for hym he sey stonde Þat drof hym out of londe, 928 And hys fad{er} aquelde. He smot hym hond{er} schelde.

byforen him he seh stonde þat drof him out of londe, 928 ant fader his a-quelde; he smot him vnder shelde.

[Sidenote: Cutberd looks on his ring, then smites the giant through the heart.]

He lokede on his rynge, {And} þoȝte on Rymenhilde. 932 He smot him þureȝ þe herte, Þ{a}t sore him gan to smerte. Þe paens þ{a}t er were so sturne, Hi gu{n}ne awei vrne. 936

He lokede on hys gode ri{n}ge, And þoute on reymyld þe ȝo{n}ge. 932 Myd gode dunt ate furste, He smot hy{m} to þe herte. Þe hondes go{n}ne{n} at erne In to þe schypes sterne. 936

he lokede on is rynge, ant þohte o rymenild þe ȝynge. 932 mid god suerd at þe furste, he smot him þourh þe huerte. þe payns bigonne to fleon, ant to huere shype teon. 936

[Headnote: _Horn kills the Giant._]

[Sidenote: The pagans flee to their ship.]

Horn {and} his compaynye Gu{n}ne aft{er} he{m} wel swiþe hiȝe, [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

To schip he wolde{n} ȝerne, And cubert he{m} gan werne, And seyde, “kyng, so þou haue reste, Clep nou forþ ofi þi beste, 940 And sle we þyse hounden, Here we he{n}ne founden.”

to ship hue wolden erne; godmod hem con werne. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: The king’s sons are slain, but Cutberd annihilates the pagan host,]

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] {And} sloȝen alle þe hundes, Er hi here schipes funde.

Þe houndes hye of laucte, An st{ro}kes hye þere kaute. 944 Faste aȝen hye stode, Aȝen duntes gode. Help nawht here wond{er}; Cubert hem broute al hond{er}. 948 He schedde of here blode, And makede hem al wode.

þe kynges sones tweyne þe paiens slowe beyne. 944 þo wes Godmod swyþe wo, ant þe payens he smot so, þ{a}t in a lutel stounde þe paiens hy felle to grounde. 948 godmod ant is men slowe þe payenes eueruchen.

[Headnote: _King Thurston’s two sons are slain._]

[Sidenote: thus avenging his father’s death.]

To deþe he he{m} alle broȝte; His fader deþ wel dere hi boȝte. 952 Of alle þe kynges kniȝtes, Ne scapede þer no wiȝte. Bute his sones tweie Bifore him he saȝ deie. 956

To deþe he hem browte, Hys fad{er} deþ he bowten. 952 Of al þe kinges rowe, Þer nas bute fewe slawe. Bote hys sones tweye By fore he sey deye. 956

his fader deþ {ant} ys lond awrek godmod wiþ his hond. 952 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: The king mourns.]

Þe ki{n}g biga{n} to grete, And teres for to lete. Me leide{n} he{m} in bare, {And} burde{n} he{m} ful ȝare. 960 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Þe king bi gan to grete, And teres for to lete. Men leyde{n} hem on bere, And ledde he{m} wel þere 960 In to holy kyrke, So man scholde werke.

þe kyng wiþ reuþful chere lette leggen is sones on bere, ant bringen hom to halle; muche sorewe hue maden alle. 960 in a chirche of lym {an}t ston me buriede hem wiþ ryche won.

[Headnote: _King Thurston offers Horn his kingdom._]

¶ Þe ki{n}g co{m} i{n} to halle, Amo{n}g his kniȝtes alle. 964 “Horn,” he sede, “i seie þe, Do as i schal rede þe. Aslaȝe{n} beþ mine heirs, {And} þu art kniȝt of muchel pris, 968 {And} of g{re}te st{re}ngþe, {And} fair o bodie lengþe.

++Þe king cam hom to halle, Among þe kniyctes alle. 964 “Do, cubert,” he seyde, “As ich þe wolle rede. Dede beþ myn heyres, And þou þe boneyres, 968 And of grete strengþe, Swete and fayr of lengþe.

¶ Þe kyng lette forþ calle hise knyhtes alle, 964 ant seide, “godmod, ȝef þou nere, alle ded we were, [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: He offers to make Horn (Cutberd) his heir,]

MiRe{n}gne þu schalt welde, {And} to spuse helde 972 Reynild, mi doȝt{er}, Þ{a}t sitteþ on þe lofte.”

Mi reaume þou schalt helde, And to spuse welde 972 Hermenyl, my dout{er}, Þat syt in bour{e} softe.”

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] þou art boþe god {ant} feyr; her y make þe myn heyr; for my sones bueþ yflawe, ant ybroht of lyfdawe. 976

[Sidenote: and to give him his daughter Reynild.]

¶ “O sire ki{n}g, wiþ wro{n}ge Scholte ihc hit vnd{er}fo{n}ge. 976 Þi doȝter þ{a}t ȝe me bede, Ower re{n}gne for to lede. Welmore ihc schal þe serue, Sire kyng, or þu sterue. 980 Þi sorwe schal wende Or seue ȝeres ende.

He seyde, “king, wit wronge Scholde ich hire hond{er} fonge, 976 Þing þat þou me bede, And þy reaume lede. At more ich wile þe s{er}ue, And fro sorwe þe berwe. 980 Þy sorwe hyt schal wende Her þis seue ȝeres hende.

dohter ich habbe one; nys non so feyr of blod ant bone. [KH-5](Ermenild, þat feyre may, bryht so eny someres day,) 980 hire wolle ich ȝeue þe, ant her kyng shalt þou be.”

[Footnote KH-5: This line was at first left out by the scribe, and then written in the margin of the MS.]

[Sidenote: Cutberd declines, but offers to continue in the king’s service.]

Wanne hit is wente, Sire ki{n}g, ȝef me mi rente. 984 Wha{n}ne i þi doȝter ȝerne, Ne schaltu me hire werne.”

And wa{n}ne he beþ wente, Kyng, ȝyf þou me my re{n}te. 984 Wan ich þi dout{er} h{er}ne, Ne schalt þou hire me werne.”

he seyde, “more ichul þe serue, kyng, er þen þou sterue. 984 when y þy dohter ȝerne, heo ne shal me noþyng werne.”

[Sidenote: During seven years he does not communicate with Rymenhild.]

Cutb{er}d wonede þere Fulle seue ȝere, 988 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Þ{a}t to Rymenild he ne sente, Ne him self ne wente. 992 Rymenild was in West{er}nesse, Wiþ wel muchel sorinesse.

++Horn child wonede þere fulle sixe yere. 988 Þe seuenþe, þat cam þe nexte Aft{er} þe sexte,[KH-4] To reymyld he ne we{n}de, Ne to hyr{e} sende. 992 Reymyld was i{n} westnesse, Myd michel sorwenesse.

[Footnote KH-4: MS. adds ‘yeres hende’ underdotted as a mistake.]

¶ godmod wonede þere fulle six ȝere; 988 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] ant þe seueþe ȝer bygon; to rymynyld, sonde ne sende he non. 992 rymenyld wes in westnesse, wiþ muchel sorewenesse.

[Headnote: _A king sues for Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: A king sues for Rymenhild.]

¶ A king þ{er} gan ariue Þ{a}t wolde hire haue to wyue. 996 Aton he was wiþ þe ki{n}g, Of þ{a}t ilke weddi{n}g. Þe daies were schorte, Þ{a}t Rimi{n}hild ne dorste 1000 Lete{n} i{n} none wise. A writ he dude deuise;

A kyng þer was aryuede Þat wolde hyre habbe to wyue. 996 At sone ware þe kynges Of hyre weddinges. Þe dawes weren schorte, And reymyld ne dorste 1000 Lette in none wise. A writ he dede deuise;

a kyng þer wes aryue, ant wolde hyre han to wyue. 996 at one were þe kynges, of þ{a}t weddynge. þe dayes were so sherte, ant rymenild ne derste 1000 latten on none wyse. a wryt hue dude deuyse;

[Sidenote: Athulf writes a letter to Horn.]

Aþulf hit dude write, Þ{a}t horn ne luuede noȝt lite. 1004 Heo se{n}de hire so{n}de To eu{er}eche londe, To seche horn, þe kniȝt, Þ{er} me hi{m} fi{n}de miȝte. 1008

Ayol hyt dide write, Þat horn ne louede nawt lite. 1004 And to eu{er}yche londe, For horn hym was so longe, Aft{er} horn þe knycte, For þat he ne Myȝte. 1008

Aþulf hit dude wryte, þ{a}t horn ne louede nout lyte. 1004 hue sende hire sonde in to eueruche londe, to sechen horn knyhte, whe so er me myhte. 1008

[Headnote: _Horn meets Rymenhild’s messenger._]