Part 12

[Sidenote: Horn, while hunting, meets a page, who says that he is seeking Horn,]

Horn noȝt þ{er} of ne herde, Til, o dai þ{a}t he ferde To wude for to schete, A knaue he gan imete. 1012 Horn sede{n}, “Leue fere, Wat sechestu here?” “Kniȝt, if beo þi wille, I mai þe sone telle. 1016 I seche fra{m} biweste, Horn of west{er}nesse,

Horn þer of ne þoute, Tyl, on a day þat he ferde To wode for to seche, A page he gan mete. 1012 He seyde, “leue fere, Wat sekest þou here?” “Knyt, feyr of felle,” Qwat þe page, “y wole þe telle. 1016 Ich seke fram westnesse, Horn, knyt of estnesse,

Horn þer of nout herde, til, o day þ{a}t he ferde to wode forte shete, a page he gan mete. 1012 Horn seide, “leue fere, whet dest þou nou here?” [Sidenote: [leaf 89]] “Sire, in lutel spelle y may þe sone telle. 1016 Ich seche from westnesse, horn, knyht, of estnesse,

[Sidenote: and that Rymenhild is to marry King Mody of Reynes, on Sunday.]

For a Maiden Rymenhild Þ{a}t for him gan wexe wild. 1020 A ki{n}g hire wile wedde, {And} bri{n}ge to his bedde, Ki{n}g Modi of Reynes, On of hornes enemis. 1024 Ihc habbe walke wide Bi þe se side,

For þe mayde reymyld, Þat for hym ney waxeþ wild. 1020 A kyng hire schal wedde, A soneday to bedde, Kyng mody of reny, Þat was hornes enemy. 1024 Ich haue walked wide By þe se syde.

For rymenild, þ{a}t feyre may, soreweþ for him nyht {ant} day. 1020 A kyng hire shal wedde, a sonneday to bedde, Kyng Mody of reynis, þ{a}t is hornes enimis. 1024 ich habbe walked wyde by þe see side.

[Sidenote: The messenger laments that he cannot find Horn.]

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1028 Nis he no war ifu{n}de, Walawai þe stu{n}de. Wailaway þe while, Nu wurþ Rymenild bigiled.” 1032 Horn iherde wiþ his ires, {And} spak wiþ bidere tires,

Ich neu{er}e myȝt of reche Whit no londisse speche. 1028 Nis he nower founde, A weylawey þe stounde. Reymyld worþ by gile, Weylawey þe wile.” 1032 Horn hyt herde with eren, And wep with blody teren.

ne mihte ich hi{m} neuer cleche, wiþ nones kunnes speche, 1028 ne may ich of him here in londe fer no nere. weylawey þe while, him may hente gyle.” 1032 ¶ Horn hit herde wiþ earen, ant spec wiþ wete tearen,

[Sidenote: Horn discloses his identity, and sends word to Rymenhild that he will come Sunday before ‘prime.’]

“Knaue, wel þe bitide, Horn sto{n}dep þe biside. 1036 Aȝe{n} to hure þu turne, {And} seie þat heo ne murne, For ischal beo þ{er} bitime, A soneday bi pryme.” 1040 Þe knaue was wel bliþe, {And} hiȝede aȝen bliue. Þe se bigan to þroȝe Vnder hire woȝe. 1044

“So wel þe, grom, by tide, Horn stant by þy syde. 1036 Aȝen to reymyld turne, And sey þat he ne morne. Ich schal ben þer by tyime, A soneday by p{r}ime.” 1040 Þe page was blyþe, And schepede wel swyþe. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1044

“So wel, grom, þe bitide, horn stond by þi syde, 1036 aȝeyn to rymenild turne, {ant} sey þat hue ne murne. y shal be þer bi time, a sonneday er p{ri}me.” 1040 þe page wes wel blyþe {ant} shipede wel suyþe. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1044

[Headnote: _The messenger on his return journey is drowned._]

[Sidenote: The messenger is drowned, and Rymenhild looks for him in vain.]

Þe knaue þer gan adrinke; Ryme{n}hild hit miȝte of þi{n}ke. Ryme{n}hild vndude þe dure pin Of þe hus þ{er} heo was in, 1048 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Þe se hym gan to drenche; Reymyld hyt Myȝt of þinche. Þe se hym gan op þrowe, Hond{er} hire boures wowe. 1048 Reymyld gan dore vn pynne, Of boure þat he was ynne,

þe see him gon adrynke; þ{a}t rymenil may of þinke. þe [see] him con ded þrowe vnder hire chambre wowe. 1048 rymenild lokede wide by þe see syde,

[Sidenote: Rymenhild grieves when she finds the drowned messenger.]

To loke wiþ hire iȝe, If heo oȝt of horn isiȝe. 1052 Þo fo{n}d heo þe knaue adrent Þ{a}t he hadde for horn ise{n}t, {And} þ{a}t scholde horn bringe; Hire fingres he gan wri{n}ge. 1056

And lokede forþ riȝcte Aft{er} horn þe knyte. 1052 Þo fond hye hir{e} sonde Drenched by þe stronde, Þat scholde horn bringe; Hyre fingres hye gan wringe. 1056

ȝef heo seȝe horn come, oþer tidynge of eny gome. 1052 þo fond hue hire sonde adronque by þe stronde, þat shulde horn brynge; hire hondes gon hue wrynge. 1056

[Headnote: _Horn asks King Thurston’s aid._]

[Sidenote: Horn discloses his identity to King Thurston]

¶ Horn cam to þurston þe kyng, {And} tolde him þis tiþing. Þo he was iknowe Þ{a}t Rim{en}h[ild] was hise oȝe, 1060 Of his gode ke{n}ne, Þe ki{n}g of suddenne, {And} hu he sloȝ in felde Þ{a}t his fader q{ue}lde, 1064

Horn cam to þurston þe kinge, And telde hym hys tydinge. So he was by cnowe Þat reymyld was his owe. 1060 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1064

¶ Horn com to þurston þe kynge, ant tolde him þes tidynge. ant þo he was biknowe, þat rymenild wes ys owe, 1060 ant of his gode kenne, þe kyng of sudenne, ant hou he sloh afelde hi{m} þ{a}t is fader aquelde, 1064

[Sidenote: and asks his pay and also aid to win Rymenhild.]

And seide, “ki{n}g þe wise, Ȝeld me mi s{er}uise. Ryme{n}hild help me wi{n}ne; Þ{a}t þu noȝt ne li{n}ne, 1068

He seyde, “kyng so wise, Ȝeld me my seruyse. Reymyld me help to wi{n}ne; Þat þou ich nowt ne lynne, 1068

ant seide, “kyng so wyse, ȝeld me my seruice. rymenild, help me to wynne, swyþe þ{a}t þou ne blynne, 1068

[Sidenote: He promises that Athulf shall marry Thurston’s daughter.]

{And} ischal do to spuse Þi doȝt{er} wel to huse. Heo schal to spuse haue Aþulf, mi gode felaȝe, 1072 God kniȝt mid þe beste, {And} þe t{re}weste.”

And hy schal to house Þy dout{er} do wel spuse. He schal to spuse haue Ayol, My trewe felawe, 1072 He hys knyt wyt þe beste, And on of þe treweste.”

ant y shal do to house þy dohter wel to spouse, for hue shal to spouse haue Aþulf, my gode felawe. 1072 he is knyht mid þe beste, {ant} on of þe treweste.”

[Sidenote: The king consents.]

Þe ki{n}g sede so stille, “Horn, haue nu þi wille.” 1076

Þo seyde þe kyng so stille, “Horn, do þine wille.” 1076

þe kyng seide so stille, “horn, do al þi wille.” 1076

[Sidenote: Horn levies men, and sets sail.]

He dude writes se{n}de Into yrlonde, Aft{er} kniȝtes liȝte, Irisse men to fiȝte. 1080 To horn come inoȝe, Þ{a}t to schupe droȝe. Horn dude him in þe weie, On a god Galeie. 1084 Þe him gan to blowe In alitel þroȝe.

++Horn se{n}te hys sonde In to eu{er}yche londe, After men to fyȝte, Hyrische men so wyȝte, 1080 To hym were come hy nowe, Þat in to schipe drowe. Horn tok hys p{re}ye. And dude hi{m} in hys weye. 1084 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

he sende þo by sonde, ȝend al is londe, after knyhtes to fyhte, þ{a}t were men so lyhte. 1080 to him come ynowe, þ{a}t in to shipe drowe. ¶ Horn dude hi{m} in þe weye, in a gret galeye. 1084 þe wynd bigon to blowe in a lutel þrowe.

[Headnote: _Horn arrives at the latest possible moment._]

[Sidenote: He arrives after the bells for the wedding have been rung.]

Þe se bigan to posse Riȝt i{n} to West{er}nesse. 1088 Hi st{ri}ke seil {and} maste, {And} Ankere gu{n}ne caste, Or eny day was spru{n}ge Oþ{er} belle iru{n}ge. 1092 Þe word bigan to sp{ri}nge Of Ryme{n}hilde weddi{n}ge. Horn was i{n} þe wat{er}e; Ne miȝte he come no lat{er}e. 1096

Here scyp gan forþ seyle, Þe wynd hym nolde fayle. 1088 He striken seyl of maste, And anker he go{n}ne kaste. Þe soneday was hy sp[ronge], And þe messe hy songe, 1092 Of reymylde þe ȝonge, And of mody þe kinge; And horn was i{n} wat{er}e; Myȝt he come no lat{er}e. 1096

þe see bi-gan wiþ ship to gon, to westnesse he{m} brohte anon. 1088 hue st{ri}ken seyl of maste, ant ancre gonnen caste. matynes were yronge {ant} þe masse ysonge, 1092 of rymenild þe ȝynge {ant} of Mody þe kynge, ant horn wes in watere; ne mihte he come no latere. 1096

[Sidenote: He leaves his ship, and comes to land.]

He let his schup sto{n}de, {And} ȝede to londe. His folk he dude abide Vnder wude side. 1100

He let scyp stonde, And ȝede hym op to londe. Hys folc he dide abyde Hond{er} þe wode syde. 1100

He let is ship stonde, ant com hi{m} vp to londe. His folk he made abyde vnder a wode syde. 1100

[Headnote: _Horn meets a Palmer._]

[Sidenote: Horn sets forth alone, and meets a palmer,]

Hor[n] him ȝede alone, also he spru{n}ge of stone. A palm{er}e he þar mette, {And} faire hine grette. 1104 “Palm{er}e, þu schalt me telle Al of þine spelle.” [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

He wende forþ alone, So he were spronge of stone. A palmere he mette; Wyt worde he hym g{r}ette, 1104 “Palm{er}e, þou schalt me telle,” He seyde, “on þine spelle, So brouke þou þi croune, Wi comest þou fram toune?” 1108

[Sidenote: [leaf 89, back]] ¶ Horn eode forh al one, so he sprong of þe stone. on palmere he y-mette, {ant} wiþ wordes hyne grette, 1104 “palmere, þou shalt me telle,” he seyde, “of þine spelle, so brouke þou þi croune, why comest þou from toune?” 1108

[Sidenote: who tells him of the wedding]

He sede vpon his tale, “I come fram o brudale, Ihc was at o weddi{n}g Of a Maide Ryme{n}hild. 1112 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Þe palmere seyde on hys tale, “Hy com fram on bridale. Ich com fram b{r}ode hylde Of Mayden reymylde. 1112 Fram hond{er} chyrche wowe, Þe gan louerd owe,

ant he seide on is tale, “y come from a brudale, from brudale wylde of maide remenylde. 1112 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: and of Rymenhild’s grief.]

Ne miȝte heo adriȝe Þ{a}t heo ne weop wiþ iȝe. 1116 Heo sede þ{a}t ‘heo nolde Ben ispused wiþ golde; Heo hadde on husebonde, Þeȝ he were vt of lo{n}de.’ 1120

Ne miyȝte hye hyt dreye Þat hye wep wyt eye. 1116 He seyde þat ‘hye nolde Be spoused Myd golde; Hye hadde hosebonde, Þey be nere nawt in londe.’ 1120

ne mihte hue nout dreȝe þ{a}t hue ne wep wiþ eȝe. 1116 hue seide, ‘þ{a}t hue nolde be spoused wiþ golde; hue hade hosebonde þah he were out of londe.’ 1120

{And} i{n} st{ro}ng halle, Biþinne castel walle, Þ{er} iwas atte ȝate; Nolde hi me in late. 1124 Modi ihote hadde To bure þ{a}t me hire ladde. Awai igan glide; Þ{a}t deol inolde abide. 1128 Þe bride wepeþ sore, {And} þ{a}t is muche deole!”

Mody Myd strencþe hyre hadde, And in to toure ladde, Into a stronge halle, Whit inne kastel walle. 1124 Þer ich was attegate; Moste ich nawt in rake. Awey ich gan glyde; Þe deþ ich nolde abyde. 1128 Þer worþ a rewlich dole, Þer þe bryd wepeþ sore.”

ich wes in þe halle, wiþ-inne þe castel walle. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . 1124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] a wey y gon glide; þe dole y nolde abyde. 1128 þer worþ a dole reuly; þe brude wepeþ bitterly.”

[Headnote: _Horn exchanges clothes with the Palmer._]

[Sidenote: Horn changes clothes with the palmer,]

¶ Quaþ horn, “So c{ri}st me rede, We schulle chau{n}gi wede. 1132 Haue her cloþes myne, {And} tak me þi sclauyne. Today i schal þer drinke, Þ{a}t some hit schulle ofþinke.” 1136 His sclauyn he dude dun legge, {And} tok hit on his rigge. He tok horn his cloþes, Þ{a}t nere him noȝt loþe. 1140

“Palm{er}e,” qwad horn, “so god me rede Ich and þou wille{n} chaunge{n} wede. 1132 Tac þou me þi sclauyne, And haue þou cloþes myne. To day ich schal þer{e} drynke; Som man hyt schal of þinke.” 1136 Þe sclavyn he gan doun legge, And horn hyt dide on rigge. Þe palmere tok hys cloþes, Þat ne were{n} hym nowt loþe. 1140

quoþ horn, “so c{ri}st me rede, we wolleþ chaunge wede. 1132 tac þou robe myne, ant ȝe sclaueyn þyne. to day y shal þer drynke, þat summe hit shal of-þynke.” 1136 sclaueyn he gon doun legge, {ant} horn hit dude on rugge, ant toc hornes cloþes, þat nout him were loþe. 1140

[Sidenote: and blackens his face and neck with coal.]

Horn tok burdon {and} scrippe, {And} wro{n}g his lippe. He makede him a ful chere, {And} al bicolmede his swere. 1144 He makede hi{m} vn bicomelich; Hes he nas neuremore ilich.

++Horn toc burdoun and sc{r}ippe, And gan wringe hys lippe. He makede a foul cher{e}, And kewede hys swere. 1144 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

¶ Horn toc bordoun {ant} sc{ri}ppe, ant gan to wrynge is lippe. he made foule ch{er}e, {ant} bicollede is swere. 1144 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: The gate-keeper forbids Horn entrance.]

¶ He co{m} to þe gateward, Þ{a}t hi{m} answerede hard. 1148 Horn bad undo softe, Mani tyme {and} ofte. Ne miȝte he awynne Þ{a}t he come þ{e}rinne. 1152

He cam to þe gateward, Þat hym answered hard. 1148 He bed on do wel softe, Fele syþe and ofte. Myȝte he nowt wynne For to come þeri{n}ne. 1152

he com to þe ȝateward, þ{a}t him onsuerede froward. 1148 horn bed vn-do wel softe, moni tyme ant ofte. ne myhte he ywynne forto come þer-ynne. 1152

[Headnote: _Horn enters the hall, and sits with the beggars._]

[Sidenote: Horn breaks through the wicket, after having thrown the gate-keeper over the bridge.]

Horn gan to þe ȝate turne, {And} þ{a}t wiket vnspurne. Þe boye hit scholde abugge; Horn þreu him ouer þe brigge, 1156 Þ{a}t his ribbes him to brake; {And} suþþe com in atte gate. He sette him wel loȝe, In begg{er}es rowe. 1160 He lokede him abute, Wiþ his colmie snute.

Horn gan to þe yate turne, And þe wyket op spurne. Þe porter hyt scholde abygg{e}; He pugde hym ofer þe b{r}igg{e}, 1156 Þat hys ribbes go{n}nen krake; And horn i{n}to halle rake. He sette hym wel lowe, In beggeres rowe. 1160 He loked al aboute, Mid hys kelwe snowte.

horn þe wyket puste, þat hit open fluste. þe porter shulde abugge; he þrew him a-doun þe brugge, 1156 þat þre ribbes crakede. horn to halle rakede, ant sette him doun wel lowe, in þe beggeres rowe. 1160 he lokede aboute, myd is collede snoute.

[Sidenote: He sees Rymenhild weeping, but looks in vain for Athulf.]

He seȝ Ryme{n}hild sitte Ase heo were of witte, 1164 Sore wepinge {and} ȝerne; Ne miȝte hure noman wurne. He lokede in eche halke; Ne seȝ he nowhar walke 1168 Aþulf his felawe, Þ{a}t he cuþe knowe.

He sey Reymyld sytte Al so hy were of witte, 1164 Wyt droupnynde chere, Þat was hys le{m}ma{n} dere. He lokede in eche halke; Sey he nowere stalke 1168 Ayol hys trewe felawe, Þat trewe was and ful of lawe.

þer seh he rymenild sitte ase hue were out of wytte, 1164 wepinde sore; ah he seh nower þore [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1168 Aþulf is gode felawe, þat trewe wes in vch plawe.

[Headnote: _Athulf despairs of Horn’s coming._]

[Sidenote: Athulf from the tower watches in vain for Horn.]

Aþulf was i{n} þe ture, Abute for to pure 1172 Aft{er} his comynge, Ȝef schup hi{m} wolde bri{n}ge. He seȝ þe se flowe, {And} horn nowar rowe. 1176

Ayol was op i{n} tour{e}, Aboute for to pour{e} 1172 Aft{er} hornes cominge, Ȝyf wat{er} hym wolde bringe. Þe se he sey flowe, And horn nower rowe. 1176

¶ Apulf wes o tour ful heh, to loke fer {ant} eke neh 1172 after hornes comynge, ȝef water him wolde brynge. þe see he seh flowe, ah horn nower rowe. 1176

[Sidenote: In his soliloquy he says that Horn will be too late.]

He sede vpon his songe, “Horn, nu þu ert wel longe. Ryme{n}hild þu me toke, Þ{a}t i scholde loke. 1180 Ihc habbe kept hure eure; Com nu oþer neure. I ne may no le{n}g hure kepe; For soreȝe nu y wepe.” 1184

He seyde in hys songe, “Horn, þou art to longe. Reymyld þou me by toke, Þat ich hyr{e} scholde loke. 1180 Ich haue hi{r}e yloked eu{er}e, And þou ne comest neu{er}e.” [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

he seyde on is songe, “horn, þou art to longe. rymenild þou me bitoke, þ{a}t ich hire shulde loke. 1180 Ich haue yloked euere, {ant} þou ne comest neuere.” [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: Rymenhild bears wine and beer to the guests.]

¶ Rymenhild Ros of benche, Wyn for to schenche, Aft{er} mete i{n} sale, Boþe wyn {and} ale. 1188 On horn he bar anhonde, So laȝe was i{n} londe.

Reymyld ros of benche, Þe knyȝtes for to schenche. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] An horn hye ber on honde, As hyt was lawe of londe.

Rymenild ros of benche, þe beer al forte shenche, after mete in sale, boþe wyn {ant} ale. 1188 an horn hue ber an honde, for þ{a}t wes lawe of londe.

Kniȝtes {and} squier Alle dronke{n} of þe ber; 1192 Bute horn al one Nadde þ{er}of no mone. Horn sat vpo{n} þe g{ru}nde; Him þuȝte he was ibu{n}de. 1196

Hye drank of þebere, To knyt and to squier{e}. 1192 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] And horn set on þe grunde; Hym þoute he was bounde. 1196

hue dronc of þe beere, to knyht {ant} skyere. 1192 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] horn set at grounde; him þohte he wes y-bounde. 1196

[Headnote: _Horn addresses Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: Horn asks Rymenhild to serve the beggars.]

He sede, “q{ue}n so he{n}de, To meward þu we{n}de. Þu ȝef vs wiþ þe furste; Þe beggeres beoþ of þurste.” 1200

He seyde, “quen so hende, To meward gyn þou wende. Schenk hus Myd þe furste; Þe beggeres beþ of þerste.” 1200

¶ he seide, “quene so hende, to me hydeward þou wende. [Sidenote: [leaf 90]] þou shenh vs wiþ þe vurste; þe beggares bueþ afurste.” 1200

[Sidenote: Rymenhild fills a gallon bowl with brown beer, and offers it to Horn.]

¶ Hure horn heo leide adun, {And} fulde him of a brun, His bolle of a galun, For heo wende he were a glotoun. 1204 He seide, “haue þis cuppe, {And} þi{s} þi{n}g þ{er} vppe. Ne saȝ ihc neure, so ihc wene, Beggere þat were so kene.” 1208

Þe horn hye leyde adoune, And fulde hem of þe broune, A bolle of one galun; Hye wende he were a glotoun. 1204 “Nym þou þe coppe, And drinkyt al oppe. Sey ich neu{er}e, ich wene, Begger{e} so bold and kene.” 1208

hyre horn hue leyde a doune, ant fulde him of þe broune, a bolle of a galoun; hue wende he were a glotoun. 1204 hue seide, “tac þe coppe, ant drync þis ber al vppe. ne seh y neuer, y wene, beggare so kene.” 1208

[Sidenote: He refuses it, saying that he will have nothing ‘bote of coppe white,’]

Horn tok hit his ifere, {And} sede, “que{n} so dere, Wyn nelle ihc, Muche ne lite, Bute of cuppe white. 1212