Part 13

Horn tok þe coppe hys fere, And seyde, “quen so dere, No drynk nel ich bite, Bote of one coppe wite. 1212

horn toc hit hise yfere, {ant} seide, “quene so dere, no beer nullich i bite, bote of coppe white. 1212

[Sidenote: and that he is no beggar, but a fisher.]

Þu wenest i beo a beggere, {And} ihc am a fissere, “Wel feor icome bi este, For fissen at þi feste. 1216 Mi net liþ her bi honde, Bi a wel fair stronde.

Þou wenst ich be a begger{e}; For gode ich am a fyȝsser{e}, Hy come fram by weste, To fyȝen an þi feste. 1216 My net hys ney honde, In a wel fayr ponde.

þou wenest ich be a beggere; ywis icham a fysshere, wel fer come by weste, to seche mine bestee. 1216 Min net lyht her wel hende, wiþ-inne a wel feyr pende.

[Sidenote: Horn further alludes to her dream of the fish net, and bids her ‘drynke to horn of horne.’]

Hit haþ ileie þere Fulle seue ȝere. 1220 Ihc am icome to loke Ef eni fiss hit toke. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Ihc am icome to fisse; Dri{n}k to me of disse. Drink to horn of horne, Feor ihc am i orne.” 1228

Hyt hat hy be here Al þis seueȝere. 1220 Hyc am hy come to loke Ȝif any he toke. Ȝyf any fyȝs hys þerynne, Þer of þou winne. 1224 Ich am hy come to fyȝsse, Drink to me of þy disse; Drynk to horn of horn, For ich habbe hy ȝouren.” 1228

Ich haue leye þere, nou is þis þe seueþe ȝere. 1220 Icham icome to loke ȝef eny fyssħ hit toke. ȝef eny fyssħ is þer-inne, þer-of þou shalt wynne. 1224 For icham come to fyssħ, drynke nully of dyssħ. drynke to horn of horne; wel fer ich haue y-orne.” 1228

[Sidenote: Rymenhild looks at him and trembles, not fully comprehending his meaning.]

Ryme{n}hild hi{m} gan bihelde; Hire heorte bigan to chelde. Ne kneu heo noȝt his fissing, Ne horn hymselue noþing; 1232 Ac wu{n}der hire gan þinke, Whi he bad to horn drinke.

Reymyld hym gan by holde, And hyr{e} h{er}te to kolde. Neyȝ he nowt hys fyssing, Ne hym selue no þyng. 1232 Wond{er} hyre gan þynke, Wy he hyre bed drynke.

¶ Rymenild hi{m} gan bihelde; hire herte fel to kelde. ne kneu hue noht is fysshyng, ne hi{m} selue noþyng. 1232 ah wonder hyre gan þynke, why for horn he bed drynke.

[Headnote: _Horn puts the ring in the horn._]

[Sidenote: She fills the horn with wine and bids him drink his fill, and then tell her if he knows aught of Horn.]

Heo fulde hire horn wiþ wyn, {And} dronk to þe pilegrym. 1236 Heo sede, “dri{n}k þi fulle, {And} suþþe þu me telle If þu eure isiȝe Horn vnder wude liȝe.” 1240

He fulde horn þe wyn, And dronk to þe pyleg{r}im. 1236 “Palmere, þou d{r}inke þy fulle, And syþe þou schalt telle, Ȝyf þou horn awt seye Hond{er} wode leye.” 1240

hue fulde þe horn of wyne, ant dronk to þat pelryne. 1236 hue seide, “drync þi felle, {ant} seþþen þou me telle ȝef þou horn euer seȝe vnder wode leȝe.” 1240

[Sidenote: Horn drinks, then throws the ring in the horn.]

Horn dro{n}k of horn a stu{n}de, And þreu þe ring to gru{n}de. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1244

++Horn d{ra}nk of horn a stounde, A{n}d þrew hys ryng to þe grounde. He seyde, “quen, nou seche Qwat hys in þy drenche.” 1244

¶ Horn dronc of horn a stounde, ant þreu is ryng to grounde, ant seide, “quene, þou þench what y þreu in þe drench.” 1244

[Sidenote: Rymenhild goes to her bower, and finds the ring.]

Þe quen ȝede to bure, Wiþ hire maidenes foure. Þo fo{n}d heo what heo wolde, A ri{n}g ig{ra}uen of golde, 1248 Þ{a}t horn of hure hadde. Sore hure dr{a}dde Þ{a}t horn isteue were, For þe Ri{n}g was þere. 1252

Reymild ȝede to bour{e}, Wyt hyre maydenes four{e}. He fond þat he wolde, A ryng hy g{ra}uen of golde, 1248 Þat horn of hyre hadde. Wel sore hyre of dradde Þat horn child ded were, For þe ry{n}g was þere. 1252

þe quene eode to boure, mid hire maidnes foure. hue fond þ{a}t hue wolde, þe ryng yg{ra}ued of golde, 1248 þat horn of hyre hedde. fol sore hyre adredde þat horn ded were, for his ryng was þere. 1252

[Headnote: _Rymenhild summons Horn to her bower._]

[Sidenote: She sends for the palmer, and inquires where he got the ring.]

Þo se{n}te heo a damesele Aft{er} þe palm{er}e. “Palm{er}e,” q{ua}þ heo, “trewe, Þe ri{n}g þ{a}t þu þrewe, 1256 Þu seie whar þu hit nome, {And} whi þu hider come.”

Þo sende hye a damysele Adoun aft{er} þe palm{er}e. “Palm{er}e,” hye seyde, “so trewe, Þe ryng þou here þrewe, 1256 Sey war þou ith nome, And hyder wi þou come.”

þo sende hue a damoisele after þilke palmere. “palm{er}e,” quoþ hue, “so trewe, þe ryng þ{a}t þou yn þrewe, 1256 þou sey wer þou hit nome, ant hyder hou þou come.”

[Sidenote: Horn says that in his wanderings he has met Horn by the strand.]

He sede, “bi sei{n}t gile, Ihc habbe go mani Mile, 1260 Wel feor bi ȝonde weste, To seche my beste. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1264 I fond horn child stonde, To schupeward in londe.

He seyde, “bi seynt gyle, Ich aue hy go mani amyle, 1260 Wel fer her by weste, To seche my beste, My mete for to bidde, So hyt me by tidde. 1264 Þat fond ich horn child stonde, To scyppeward on stronde.

he seyde, “by seint gyle, ich eode mony a myle, 1260 wel fer ȝent by weste, to seche myne beste, Mi mete forte bydde, for so me þo bitidde. 1264 ich fond horn knyht stonde, to shipeward at stronde.

[Sidenote: He continues to relate how Horn, on ship board, fell ill and died, and how Horn charged him to bear the ring to Rymenhild.]

He sede he wolde agesse to ariue in west{er}nesse. 1268 Þe schip nam to þe flode, Wiþ me {and} horn þe gode. Horn was sik {and} deide, {And} faire he me p{re}ide, 1272 ‘Go wiþ þe ringe, To Ryme{n}hild þe ȝo{n}ge.’ Ofte he hit custe, God ȝeue his saule reste.” 1276

He seyde he wolde agesce To ryuen in westnesse. 1268 Þat scyp hym ȝede to flode, Myd me and horn þe gode. Horn was sech and ded, And for his loue me bed, 1272 ‘To schipe with me þe ring To Reymyld quene þe ȝeng.’ Ofte he me kuste, God ȝyue hys soule reste.” 1276

he seide he wolde gesse to aryue at westnesse. 1268 þe ship nom in to flode, wiþ me {ant} horn þe gode. Horn by-gan be sek {ant} deȝe, {ant} for his loue me preȝe 1272 to gon wiþ þe rynge, to rymenild þe ȝynge. wel ofte he hyne keste, c{ri}st ȝeue is soule reste.” 1276

[Headnote: _Horn prevents Rymenhild from stabbing herself._]

[Sidenote: The princess raves with grief, and attempts to slay herself with a knife, but is prevented by Horn,]

¶ Ryme{n}hild sede at þe furste, “Herte, nu þu berste, For horn nastu namore, Þ{a}t þe haþ pined þe so sore.” 1280

Reymyld seyde ate ferste, “Herte, nou to berste; Horn ne worþ me na more, For wam hy pyne sore.” 1280

¶ Rymenild seide at þe firste, “herte, nou to berste. horn worþ þe no more, þat haueþ þe pyned sore.” 1280

Heo feol on hire bedde Þer heo knif hudde, To sle wiþ ki{n}g loþe, {And} hure selue boþe, 1284 In þ{a}t vlke niȝte, If horn come ne miȝte. To herte knif he sette; Ac horn anon hire kepte. 1288

Hye fel adoun on þe bed Þer hye hauede knyues leyd, To slen hire louerd loþe, And hyre selue boþe, 1284 In þat hulke [nyȝte], Bote horn come myȝte. Knyf to hyre h{er}te hye sette, And horn hire gan lette. 1288

[Sidenote: [leaf 90, back]] Hue fel adoun a bedde, ant after knyues gredde, to slein mide hire kyng loþe, {ant} hire selue boþe. 1284 wiþ-inne þilke nyhte, come ȝef horn ne myhte. to herte knyf hue sette, horn in is armes hire kepte. 1288

[Sidenote: who then wipes away the black from his face.]

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Hys schirt lappe he gan take, And wiped awey þat blake

his shurte lappe he gan take, {ant} wypede a wey þe foule blake

[Headnote: _Horn makes himself known._]

[Sidenote: Horn tells who he is, and bids Rymenhild kiss him.]

He wipede þ{a}t blake of his swere, {And} sede, “Quen so swete {and} dere, 1292 Ihc am horn þinoȝe; Ne canstu me noȝt knowe? Ihc am horn of west{er}nesse; In armes þu me cusse.” 1296

Þat was on hys swere, And seyde, “quene so dere, 1292 Canst þou me nawt knowe? Ne am ich al þyn owe? Ich am horn of estnesse; In þyn armes þou me kusse.” 1296

Þ{a}t wes opon his suere, ant seide, “luef so dere, 1292 ne const þou me yknowe? ne am ich horn þyn owe? Ich, horn of westnesse; in armes þou me kesse.” 1296

[Sidenote: After fond embraces, he tells her that he has armed men by the ‘wodes ende,’ who will prevent the wedding.]

Hi custe he{m} mid ywisse, And makeden Muche blisse. ¶ “Ryme{n}hild,” he sede, “ywende Adun to þe wudes ende. 1300 Þer beþ myne kniȝtes, Redi to fiȝte, Iarmed vnder cloþe.

Hye clepten and hye kuste Þe wile þat hem luste. “Reymyld,” qwad horn, “ich moste we{n}de To þe wodes hende, 1300 After mine knyȝtes, Hyrische men so wyȝte, Armed hond{er} cloþe.

yclupten {ant} kyste so longe so hem lyste. “Rymenild,” quoþ he, “ich wende doun to þe wodes ende, 1300 for þer bueþ myne knyhte, worþi men {ant} lyhte, armed vnder cloþe;

Hi schulle make w{ro}þe 1304 Þe ki{n}g {and} his geste Þ{a}t come to þe feste. Today i schal he{m} teche, {And} sore he{m} areche.” 1308

He scholen make{n} wroþe 1304 Þe king and hyse gestes Þat sytten atte feste. To day we schole hem keche, Ryȝt nou ich wolle hem teche.” 1308

hue shule make wroþe 1304 þe kyng {ant} hise gestes þ{a}t bueþ at þise festes. to day ychulle huem cacche, nou ichulle huem vacche.” 1308

[Sidenote: He leaves the bower, and Rymenhild sets out in search of Athulf.]

¶ Horn sprong ut of halle, {And} let his sclauin falle. Þe quen ȝede to bure, {And} fond Aþulf in ture. 1312 “Aþulf,” heo sede, “be bliþe, And to horn þu go wel swiþe.

++HOrn sprong out of halle; Þe sclavyn he let falle. And Reymyld wente to toure, And fond ayol lure. 1312 “Ayol, be wel blyþe, And go to horn swyþe.

¶ Horn sprong out of halle; ys brunie he let falle. rymenild eode of boure; aþulf hue fond loure. 1312 “aþulf, be wel blyþe, {ant} to horn go swyþe.

[Sidenote: Athulf goes to find Horn, and embraces him.]

He is vnder wude boȝe, {And} wiþ him kniȝtes Inoȝe.” 1316 ¶ Aþulf bigan to sp{ri}nge For þe tiþi{n}ge. Aft{er} horn he arnde anon, Also þ{a}t hors miȝte gon. 1320 He hi{m} ou{er}tok ywis; Hi makede suiþe Muchel blis.

He hys hond{er} wode bowe, And Myd hym felawe ynowe.” 1316 Ayol forþ gan springe, Wel glad for þat tydyngge. Faste aft{er} horn he rende; Hym þoute hys h{er}te brende. 1320 Of tok he horn hy wys, And kuste hym wit blys.

he is vnder wode bowe, wiþ felawes ynowe.” 1316 Aþulf gon froth sp{ri}nge, for þ{a}t ilke tydynge. efter horn he ernde; him þohte is herte bernde. 1320 he oftok hi{m} ywisse, ant custe him wiþ blysse.

[Headnote: _Horn breaks up the wedding feast._]

[Sidenote: Horn, with his armed men, breaks into the hall and slays many of the guests,]

Horn tok his preie, {And} dude hi{m} i{n} þe weie. 1324 He co{m} i{n} wel sone, Þe ȝates were vndone, Iarmed ful þikke Fra{m} fote to þe nekke. 1328

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1324 He com aȝen wel sone, Þe gates weren ondone. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1328

horn tok is preye ant dude him in þe weye. 1324 hue comen in wel sone, þe ȝates weren vndone; y-armed suiþe þicke from fote to þe nycke. 1328

Alle þ{a}t were þ{er}in, Biþute his twelf ferin {And} þe ki{n}g Aylmare, He dude he{m} alle to kare 1332 Þ{a}t at þe feste were. Here lif hi lete þere.

Hye þat ate feste heten, Here lyue he go{n}ne{n} þer leten. And þe kyng mody Hym he made blody. 1332 And þe king aylm{er}e Þo hauede myche fere.

alle þ{a}t þer euere weren, wiþ-oute is t{re}we feren ant þe kyng aylmare, ywis he hade muche care. 1332 monie þ{a}t þer sete, hure lyf hy gonne lete.

[Sidenote: but he does not understand Fikenhild’s treachery, for all deny the treason.]

Horn ne dude no wu{n}der Of ffike{n}hildes false tu{n}ge. 1336 Hi swore{n} oþes holde, Þat neure ne scholde

++Horn no wond{er} ne makede Of fykenildes falsede. 1336 He sworen alle and seyde Þat her{e} non hym by wreyde.

Horn vnderstondyng ne hede of Fykeles falssede. 1336 Hue suoren alle, ant seyde, þ{a}t hure non him wreyede

[Sidenote: All swear that they have not betrayed Horn.]

Horn neure bit{ra}ie, Þeȝ he at diþe laie. 1340 Hi Ru{n}ge þe belle, Þe wedlak for to felle. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1344 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

And ofte he swore{n} hoþes holde, Þat þere non ne scholde 1340 No ware horn by wreyen, Þou he to deþe leyen. He rongen þe bellen, Þe wedding for to fulle{n}, 1344 Of hor þat was so hende, And of reymyld þe ȝonge.

ant suore oþes holde þat huere non ne sholde 1340 Horn neuer bytreye, þah he on deþe leye. þer hy ronge þe belle, þat wedlak{e} to fulfulle. 1344 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Headnote: _Horn weds Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: The wedding is celebrated in the king’s palace.]

Horn hi{m} ȝede with his, To þe ki{n}ges palais. 1348 Þer was brid {and} ale suete, For riche me{n} þ{e}r ete. Telle ne miȝte tu{n}ge Þ{a}t gle þ{a}t þ{er} was su{n}ge. 1352

Horn ledde hyre hom wit heyse, To hyr{e} fad{er} paleyse. 1348 Þer was brydale swete; Riche men þer hete. Tellen ne Myȝte no tonge Þe joye þat þer was songe. 1352

hue wenden hom wiþ eyse, to þe kynges paleyse. 1348 þer wes þe brudale suete, for richemen þer ete. telle ne mihte no tonge þe gle þat þer was songe. 1352

[Sidenote: Horn addresses the king, and begins to recount his history.]

¶ Horn sat on chaere, {And} bad he{m} alle ihere. “Ki{n}g,” he sede, “þu luste A tale mid þe beste. 1356 I ne seie hit for no blame, Horn is mi name. Þu me to kniȝt houe, {And} kniȝthod haue p{ro}ued. 1360 To þe ki{n}g me{n} seide Þ{a}t iþe bit{ra}ide;

++Horn set on hys cheyere, And bed he scholden alle here. He seyde, “kyng so longe, My tale þou hond{er}stonde. 1356 Hy was born i{n} sode{n}ne; Kyng was My fad{er} of kunne. Þo me to knyȝte þou ȝoue; My knyȝthede ich haue p{ro}ued. 1360 To þe of me men seyde War for þi h{er}te creyde.

¶ Horn set in chayere, {ant} bed hem alle yhere. he seyde, “kyng of londe, mi tale þou vnderstonde. 1356 Ich wes ybore in sudenne; kyng wes mi fader of kenne. þou me to knyhte houe; of knythod habbe y proue. 1360 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: Horn explains to the king his innocence,]

Þu makedest me fleme, {And} þi lo{n}d to reme. 1364 Þu we{n}dest þ{a}t iwroȝte Þ{a}t y neure ne þoȝte, Bi Ryme{n}hild for to ligge, {And} þ{a}t i wiþsegge. 1368

Þou makedest me to rewe, Þo þou bote me fleme. 1364 Þou wendes þat ich wroute Þat hy neu{er}e ne þoute, Wyt Reymyld for ligge. I wys ich hyt wyt sigge. 1368

þou dryue me out of þi lond, {ant} seydest ich wes t{r}aytour strong. 1364 þou wendest þat ich wrohte þat y ner ne þohte, by rymenild forte lygge; ywys ich hit wiþsugge. 1368

[Sidenote: and says that he will not take Rymenhild to wife until he has regained his kingdom of Sudenne.]

Ne schal ihc hit bigi{n}ne, Til i suddene wi{n}ne. Þu kep hure a stu{n}de, Þe while þ{a}t i funde 1372 In to min heritage {And} to mi baronage.

Ich ne schal neu{er}e a gynne, Er ich sodenne wynne. Kep hire me a stounde, Þe wille ich he{n}nes founde 1372 In to myn h{er}itage, Mid myn hirysce page.

[Sidenote: [leaf 91]] Ne shal ich hit ner agynne, er ich sudenne wynne. þou kep hyre me a stounde, þe while þ{a}t ich founde 1372 In to myn heritage, wiþ þis yrisshe page.

Þ{a}t lond i schal ofreche, And do mi fader wreche. 1376 I schal beo ki{n}g of tune, {And} bere ki{n}ges crune. Þa{n}ne schal Ryme{n}hilde Ligge bi þe ki{n}ge.” 1380

Þat lond ich schal of reche, And do my fad{er} wreche. 1376 Ich schal be kyng of tune, And wite of kynges r[?]owne. Þenne schal Reymyld þe ȝonge Lygge{n} by horn þe kynge.” 1380

þat lond ichulle þorhreche, {ant} do mi fader wreche. 1376 ychul be kyng of toune, {ant} lerne kynges roune. þenne shal rymenild þe ȝynge ligge by horn þe kynge.” 1380

[Headnote: _Horn sets sail for Sudenne._]

[Sidenote: He sets sail with Athulf and his Irish companions, and has a favouring wind.]

¶ Horn gan to schupe draȝe, Wiþ his yrisse felaȝes. Aþulf wiþ hi{m} his broþer; Nolde he no{n} oþer. 1384 Þ{a}t schup bigan to crude, Þe wind hi{m} bleu lude.

Hor gan to schipe ryde, And hys knyȝtes bi side. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1384 Here schip gan to croude, Þe wynd hym bleu wel loude.

¶ Horn gan to shipe drawe, wiþ hyse yrisshe felawe. Aþulf wiþ hi{m}, his broþer, he nolde habbe non oþer. 1384 þe ship by-gan to croude; þe wynd bleu wel loude.

[Sidenote: They reach Sudenne within five days.]

Biþi{n}ne daies fiue Þ{a}t schup gan ariue, 1388 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Abute middelniȝte. Horn hi{m} ȝede wel riȝte. 1392

Hond{er} sode{n}ne syde Here schip bi gan to glide, 1388 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Abowte myd niȝte. Horn hym yede wel ryȝte, 1392

wyþ-inne dawes fyue þe ship began aryue. 1388 vnder sudennes side huere ship by-gon to ryde, aboute þe midnyhte. horn eode wel rihte; 1392

[Headnote: _He finds a knight sleeping by the wayside._]

[Sidenote: Horn and Athulf land, and find a goodly knight sleeping by the wayside.]

He tok aþulf bi ho{n}de, And vp he ȝede to lo{n}de. Hi fou{n}de vnder schelde, A kniȝt he{n}de i{n} felde. 1396 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Þe kniȝt hi{m} aslepe lay Al biside þe way. 1400 Horn hi{m} ga{n} to take, {And} sede, “kniȝt, awake.

Na{m} ayol on hys honde, And yeden op hon londe. Hye found hond{er} schelde, A knyt liggen i{n} felde. 1396 Op þe scheld was drawe A crowch of ih{es}u c{r}i{s}tes lawe. Þe knyt hy lay on slepe, [KH-6]In armes wel ymete. 1400 Horn hym gan take, And seyde, “knyt, awake.

[Footnote KH-6: Between vv. 1399 and 1400 stands in the MS. Laud the incomplete line _Horn hym gan m_, underdotted to indicate that it is due to a mistake of the scribe.]

he nom aþulf by honde, {ant} ede vp to londe. hue fonden vnder shelde, a knyht liggynde on felde. 1396 o þe shelde wes ydrawe a c{ro}yz of ih{es}u c{ri}stes lawe. þe knyht hi{m} lay on slape, in armes wel yshape. 1400 ¶ Horn him gan ytake, {ant} seide, “knyht, awake.

[Sidenote: Horn bids him tell his business, under pain of death.]