Part 14

Seie what þu kepest, {And} whi þu her slepest. 1404 Me þinkþ, biþine crois liȝte, Þ{a}t þu lo{n}gest to vre d{ri}ȝte. Bute þu wule me schewe, I schal þe to hewe.” 1408 Þe gode kniȝt vp aros; Of þe wordes hi{m} gros.

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1404 Me þynkeþ, by þe crowches lyste, Þat þou leuest on c{r}iste. Bote þou hit raþe schewe, Wyt Mi swerd ich schal þe hewe.” 1408 Þe gode knyt op aros; Of hornes wordes hym agros.

þou sei me whet þou kepest, {ant} here whi þou slepest! 1404 me þuncheþ, by crois liste, þ{a}t þou leuest on c{ri}ste; bote þou hit wolle shewe, my suerd shal þe to-hewe.” 1408 þe gode knyht vp aros; of hornes wordes hi{m} agros.

[Headnote: _The knight tells his story._]

[Sidenote: The knight says that he serves the Saracens against his will,]

He sede, “ihc haue, aȝenes my wille, Payns ful ylle. 1412 Ihc was c{ri}stene a while, Þo i com to þis ille Sarazins blake, Þ{a}t dude me forsake. 1416

He seyde, “hy serue ylle Paynyms, aȝen My wille. 1412 Ich was c{r}istene som wyle, And þo were come i{n}to þis yle Sarazyns lodlike and blake, And dide me god forsake. 1416

he seide, “ich seruy ille paynes, toȝeynes mi wille. 1412 Ich was c{ri}stene sum while; y come in to þis yle. Sarazyns loþe {ant} blake me made ih{es}u forsake, 1416

[Sidenote: and tells how the Saracens invaded the land and slew King Murry.]

On C{ri}st ihc wolde bileue; On hi{m} hi makede me reue, To kepe þis passage Fra{m} horn þ{a}t is of age, 1420 Þ{a}t wunieþ bieste, Kniȝt wiþ þe beste. Hi sloȝe wiþ here ho{n}de, Þe ki{n}g of þis lo{n}de, 1424

Bi god on wam yleue, Þo he makede{n} me reue, To loke þis passage For horn þat hys of age. 1420 He woneþ alby weste, God knyt myd þe beste. He slow Mid hys honde Þe kyng of þise londe, 1424

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] to loke þis passage for horn þ{a}t is of age, 1420 þ{a}t woneþ her by weste, god knyht mid þe beste. hue slowe mid huere honde, þe kyng of þisse londe, 1424

[Sidenote: He wonders that Horn does not return to avenge his father’s death.]

{And} wiþ him fele hu{n}dred. {And} þ{er}of is wu{n}der Þ{a}t he ne comeþ to fiȝte; God se{n}de hi{m} þe riȝte, 1428 {And} wi{n}d hi{m} hider driue, To bri{n}ge he{m} of liue. Hi sloȝen kyng Murry, Hornes fader, king hendy. 1432 Horn hi vt of londe sente; Tuelf felaȝes wiþ him wente,

And wyt hym me{n} an hundred. Þer fore me þinkeþ wond{er} Þat he comeþ fiȝþcte. God yeue hym þe miyȝte, 1428 Þat wynde hym driue To bringen hem of liue. He slowen þe kyng mory, Hornes fad{er} so stordy. 1432 Horn to wat{er} he sente, xij children myd hym we{n}te.

ant wiþ hi{m} mony honder. þer fore me þuncheþ wonder þ{a}t he ne comeþ to fyhte; god ȝeue hi{m} þe myhte, 1428 þ{a}t wynd hi{m} hider dryue, to don hem alle of lyue. ant slowen kyng mury hornes cunesmon hardy. 1432 Horn, of londe hue senten; tuelf children wiþ hi{m} wenten.

[Headnote: _The knight proves to be Athulf’s father._]

[Sidenote: He continues to tell how his son, Athulf, is Horn’s faithful companion.]

Amo{n}g hem aþulf þe gode, Min oȝene child, my leue fode. 1436 Ef horn child is hol and sund, {And} Aþulf biþute wund, He luueþ hi{m} so dere, {And} is him so stere, 1440 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Miȝte iseo{n} he{m} tueie, For ioie i scholde deie.” 1444

Þer mong was ayol þe gode, Myn owe child, myn owe fode. 1436 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] He louede horn wel derne, And horn hym also ȝerne. 1440 Ȝyf horn hys hol and sounde, Ayol ne tyt no wounde. Bote ich nou se hem tweye, I wys ich wolle deye.” 1444

wiþ he{m} wes aþulf þe gode, mi child, myn oune fode. 1436 ȝef horn is hol ant sounde, aþulf tit no wounde. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1440 he louede horn wiþ mihte, {ant} he hi{m} wiþ ryhte. ȝef y myhte se hem tueye, þenne ne rohti forte deye.” 1444

[Sidenote: The two make themselves known, and a joyful scene of recognition follows.]

¶ “Kniȝt, beo þa{n}ne bliþe, Mest of alle siþe. Horn {and} Aþulf his fere, Boþe hi be{n} here.” 1448 To horn he gan gon, {And} g{re}tte hi{m} anon.

“Knyt, be swiþe blyþe, Mest of alle syþe. Ayol and horn yfere Boþe he ben here.” 1448 Þe knyt to hem ga{n} steppe, And in armes cleppe.

¶ “knyht, be þenne blyþe, mest of alle syþe. Aþulf, {ant} horn is fere, boþe-we beþ here.” 1448 Þe knyht to horn gan skippe, {ant} in his armes clippe.

Muche ioie hi makede þere, Þe while hi togadere were. 1452 “Childre,” he sede, “hu habbe ȝe fare? Þ{a}t ihc ȝou seȝ hit is ful ȝare. Wulle ȝe þis lo{n}de wi{n}ne, {And} sle þat þ{er}is i{n}ne?” 1456

Þe joie þat he made, Myȝte no ma{n} rede. 1452 He seyde wit steuene ȝare, “Children, hou abbe ȝe fare? Wolle ȝe þis lond wi{n}ne, And wonye þer inne?” 1456

Muche ioye hue maden yfere, þo hue to gedere y-come were.” 1452 [Sidenote: [leaf 91, back]] He saide wiþ steuene þare, “ȝungemen, hou habbe ȝe ȝore yfare? wolle ȝe þis lond wynne, {ant} wonie þer ynne?” 1456

[Sidenote: The old knight informs Horn that his mother, the queen Godhild, still lives.]

He sede, “leue horn child, Ȝitt lyueþ þi moder Godhild. Of ioie heo miste, If heo þe aliue wiste.” 1460

He seyde, “leue horn child, Ȝet liueþ þy mod{er} godild.” [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1460

he seide, “suete horn child, ȝet lyueþ þy moder godyld. of ioie hue ne miste, o lyue ȝef hue þe wiste.” 1460

[Sidenote: Horn informs the old knight that he has with him many Irish companions.]

¶ Horn sede o{n} his rime, “Iblessed beo þe time I co{m} to sudde{n}ne, Wiþ mine irisse me{n}ne. 1464 We schulle þe hu{n}des teche To speken vre speche. Alle we he{m} schulle sle, {And} al q{ui}c hem fle.” 1468

Horn seyde on hys rime, “Hyblessed be þe tyme Ich am ycome to sode{n}ne, Wyt Myn hyrysce me{n}ne. 1464 Þis lond we schollen wi{n}ne And fle at þat þere ben i{n}ne. And so we scholen he{m} teche To speken our{e} speche.” 1468

Horn seide on is ryme, “yblessed be þe time Icham icome in to sudenne, wiþ fele yrisshemenne. 1464 we shule þe houndes kecche, {ant} to þe deȝe vecche. ánt so we shulen hem teche to speken oure speche.” 1468

[Headnote: _Horn delivers Sudenne from the Saracens._]

[Sidenote: Horn blows his horn, and his men arrive;]

Horn gan his horn to blowe; His folk hit gan iknowe. Hi come{n} vt of st{er}e, Fram hornes ban{er}e. 1472

Horn gan hys horn blowe, Þat hys folc it gan knowe. He come{n} out of scyp st{er}ne, To horn ward wel ȝerne. 1472

¶ Horn gon is horn blowe; is folc hit con yknowe. hue comen out of hurne, to horn swyþe ȝurne. 1472

[Sidenote: and they attack and slay the Saracens, old and young.]

Hi sloȝen {and} fuȝte{n}, Þe niȝt {and} þe vȝten. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1476 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Þe Sarazi{n}s cu{n}de, Ne lefde þ{er} no{n} i{n} þe{n}de. 1480

He smyten and he fouten, Þe nyȝt and eke þe ouȝten. Myd speres hord he stonge, Þe held and eke þe ȝonge. 1476 Þat lond he þoru sowte{n}; To deþe he hus brouten Sarazines kende, Þe leuede on þe fende. 1480

hue smiten {ant} hue fyhten, þe niht {ant} eke þe ohtoun. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1476 þe sarazyns hue slowe, ant summe quike to drowe. mid sp{er}es ord hue stonge þe olde {ant} eke þe ȝonge. 1480

[Sidenote: Then Horn causes chapels and churches to be built.]

Horn let wurche Chapeles {and} chirche;

Horn let sone werchen Chapeles and cherchen;

¶ Horn lette sone wurche boþe chapel {ant} chyrche.

[Sidenote: Horn causes the bells to be rung and masses to be celebrated.]

He let belles ringe, {And} Masses let singe. 1484

Bellen he dide ryngen, And p{re}stes messe synge{n}. 1484

He made belle rynge ant p{re}stes masse synge. 1484

[Sidenote: Then he seeks his mother, and all make merry.]

He co{m} to his Mod{er} halle, In a roche walle. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1488 Corn he let serie, And makede feste merie. M{ur}ie lif he wroȝte; Ryme{n}hild hit dere boȝte. 1492

He sowte hys mod{er} ou{er}alle, Wit i{n}ne eu{er}iche walle.[KH-7] He custe{n} and hye clete{n}, And in to halle we{n}ten. 1488 Croune he go{n}ne{n} werie, And makede festes merye. Murye he þere wroute; Reymyld hyt aboute. 1492

[Footnote KH-7: This line repeated in the MS.]

He sohte is moder halle, in þe roche walle. He custe hire ant grette, ant in to þe castel fette. 1488 Croune he gan werie, ant make feste merye. Murie he þer wrohte, ah rymenild hit abohte. 1492

[Headnote: _Fikenhild builds a strong castle._]

[Sidenote: In the meantime Fikenhild, by gifts, wins powerful support,]

¶ Fikenhild was prut on herte, {And} þat him dude smerte. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1496 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Ȝo{n}ge he ȝaf {and} elde, Mid hi{m} for to helde. 1500

Wile þat horn was oute, Fikenyld ferde aboute. To wiue he gan hire ȝerne; Þe kyng ne dorst hi{m} werne. 1496 Muche was hys prede; Þe ryche he ȝaf mede, Ȝonge and eke þe helde, Þat Mid hym scholde helde. 1500

¶ Þe whiles horn wes oute, Fikenild ferde aboute. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1496 þe betere forte spede, þe riche he ȝef mede, boþe ȝonge ant olde, wiþ him forte holde. 1500

[Sidenote: and builds a castle entirely surrounded by the water.]

Ston he dude lede, Þ{er} he hopede spede. St{ro}ng castel he let sette, Mid see hi{m} biflette. 1504 Þ{er} ne miȝte liȝte Bute foȝel wiþ fliȝte; Bute wha{n}ne þe see wiþ droȝe, Miȝte come men ynoȝe. 1508

Ston he dede lede, And hym þerto he made. A kastel he dude feste Wit wat{er} alby sette. 1504 Miȝt no ma{n} hon on legge, By paþe ne by brigge; Bote wan þe wit drowe, Þer mu{n}the come. 1508

Ston he dude lade, ant lym þerto he made. Castel he made sette, wiþ water by flette. 1504 Þ{a}t þer yn come ne myhte bote foul wiþ flyhte; bote when þe see wiþ-drowe, þer mihte come ynowe. 1508

[Sidenote: Fikenhild then plots to wed Rymenhild, and sets the day for the wedding.]

Fikenhild gan we{n}de Ryme{n}hild to sche{n}de. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1512 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1516

Þis fykenild ga{n}to we{n}de[KH-8] Reynyld for to wende. Þe day by ga{n} to wexe, Þat hem was by twexe. 1512 Fekenyld, her þe day gan sp{r}inge, Ferde to aylm{er} þe kynge, Aft{er} reynyld þe bryȝte, And spousede hire by niȝte. 1516

[Footnote KH-8: Written wē{n}de]

þ{us} fykenild gon by-wende Rymenild forte shende. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1512 to wyue he gan hire ȝerne; þe kyng ne durst hi{m} werne. ant habbeþ set þe day, Fykenild to wedde þe may. 1516

[Sidenote: Rymenhild weeps tears of blood.]

To woȝe he gan hure ȝerne; Þe kyng ne dorste him werne. Ryme{n}hild was ful of mode; He wep teres of blode. 1520

He ledde hyre hom i{n} derke, To his newe werke. Þe festes he by go{n}ne, Her{e} aryse þe so{n}ne. 1520

wo was rymenild of mode; terres hue wepte of blode. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Headnote: _Horn dreams of danger to Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: Horn dreams that Rymenhild is shipwrecked, that she tries to swim to land, but that Fikenhild prevents her with his sword hilt.]

Þ{a}t niȝt horn gan swete, And heuie for to mete Of Rymenhild his make, Into schupe was itake. 1524 Þe schup bigan to blenche; His le{m}man scholde adrenche.

Þat nyȝt gan horn swete, And harde forto mete Of Reymyld hys make, Þat i{n} to schype was take. 1524 Þat schip scholde on hire blenche; Hys lema{n} scholde adrenche.

þilke nyht horn suete con wel harde mete of rymenild his make, þ{a}t in to shipe wes take. 1524 þe ship gon ouerblenche; is lemmon shulde adrenche.

Ryme{n}hild wiþ hire honde Wolde vp to londe. 1528 Fikenhild aȝen hire pelte Wiþ his swerdes hilte.

Reymyld wit hire honde Wolde sue{m}me to londe. 1528 Fykenyld hire ȝen pulte Wit his sword hylte.

¶ Rymenild mid hire honde, swymme wolde to londe. 1528 Fykenild aȝeyn hire pylte, mid his suerdes hylte.

[Sidenote: Horn awakes, and tells Athulf his dream.]

¶ Horn him wok of slape, So a man þ{a}t hadde rape. 1532 “Aþulf,” he sede, “felaȝe, To schupe we mote draȝe. Fikenhild me haþ idon vnder, {And} Rymenhild to do wunder. 1536 Crist, for his wu{n}des fiue, To niȝt me þuder driue.”

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] “Ayol,” qwat horn, “trewe felawe, Into schip go{n}ne we drawe. Fykenyld haueþ gon ond{er}, And don Reynyld som wond{er}. 1536 God, for his wordes fiue, To nyȝt us þyder driue.”

Horn awek in is bed; of his lemmon he wes adred. 1532 “Aþulf,” he seide, “felawe, to shipe nou we drawe. Fykenild me haþ gon vnder, ant do rymenild sum wonder. 1536 Crist, for his wondes fyue, to nyht þider vs dryue!”

[Headnote: _Horn sets out to the rescue of Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: He immediately sets sail, with a good wind.]

Horn gan to schupe Ride, His fere{n} him biside. 1540 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Fikenhild, or þe dai gan sp{ri}nge, Al riȝt he ferde to þe kinge, 1544

Horn ga{n} to Scype Ride, And his knyȝtes by side. 1540 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1544

[Sidenote: [leaf 92]] ¶ Horn gon to shipe ride, his knyhtes bi his side. 1540 þe ship bigon to sture, wiþ wynd god of cure. ant fykenild her þe day sp{ri}nge, seide to þe kynge, 1544

[Sidenote: Fikenhild espouses Rymenhild by night, and leads her to his castle.]

Aft{er} Rymenhild þe briȝte, To wedden hire biniȝte. He ladde hure bi þe derke, Into his nywe werke. 1548

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1548

After rymenild þe brhyte, ant spousede hyre by nyhte. he ladde hire by derke, in to is newe werke. 1548

[Sidenote: They begin the feast before sunrise.]

Þe feste hi bigu{n}ne, Er þ{a}t ros þe su{n}ne. Er þane horn hit wiste, To fore þe su{n}ne vpriste. 1552

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Here schip biga{n} to terne By þe wat{er}es sterne. 1552

þe feste hue bigonne, er þen aryse þe sonne. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: Horn’s ship arrives under the castle.]

His schup stod vnder ture, At Rymenhilde bure.

Hys schip stod i{n} store, Hond{er} fikenildes bour{e}.

Hornes ship atstod in stoure, vnder fykenildes boure.

[Sidenote: Horn does not recognize the new castle, but meets Arnoldin, who is awaiting him,]

Rymenhild, litel weneþ heo Þ{a}t Horn þa{n}ne aliue beo. 1556 Þe castel þei ne knewe, For he was so nywe. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Horn fond sittinde Arnoldin, Þ{a}t was Aþulfes cosin, Þ{a}t þ{er} was in þ{a}t tide, Horn for tabide. 1564

Ne wiste horn on liue Whar he was a Ryue. 1556 Þe kestel he ne knewe, For he was so newe. Þe sond by gan to drye, And hyt hym makede weye. 1560 He fond stonde arnoldyn, Þat was ayolles cosyn, Þat was þere in tyde, Horn for to abyde. 1564

Nuste horn a-lyue wher he wes aryue. 1556 þene castel hue ne knewe, for he was so newe. þe see bigon to wiþ drawe; þo seh horn his felawe, 1560 þe feyre knyht arnoldyn, þ{a}t wes aþulfes cosyn, þat þer set in þat tyde, kyng horn to abide. 1564

[Headnote: _Arnoldin explains the situation to Horn._]

[Sidenote: and who tells him that Fikenhild that day has wedded Rymenhild.]

“Horn kniȝt,” he sede, “kinges sone, Wel beo þu to londe icome. Today haþ y wedde fikenhild, Þi swete le{m}man, Rymenhild. 1568 Ne schal i þe lie; He haþ giled þe twie.

He seyde, “horn, kynges sone, Wel be þou her{e} to londe come. Nou hat wedded fikenyld Þy nowe lemma{n}, Reymyld. 1568 Nele ich þe nowt lye; He haueþ þe gyled twye.

he seide, “kyng horn, kyngessone, hider þou art welcome. to day haþ sire Fykenild yweddeþ þi wif, rymenild. 1568 white þe nou þis while; he haueþ do þe gyle.

Þis tur he let make Al for þine sake. 1572 Ne mai þ{er} come i{n}ne Noma{n} wiþ none gi{n}ne. Horn, nu crist þe wisse, Of Rymenhild þ{a}t þu ne misse.” 1576

Þis castel he dude make For Reymyldes sake. 1572 Þer may mo man on legge, By paþe neby brigge. Horn, nou c{r}ist þe wisse, Of Reymyld þat þou ne misse.” 1576

þis tour he dude make al for rymenildes sake. 1572 ne may þer comen ynne no mon wiþ no gynne. ¶ Horn, nou c{ri}st þe wisse, rymenild þ{a}t þou ne misse.” 1576

[Headnote: _Horn enters the castle, disguised as a harper._]

[Sidenote: Horn, and some companions, disguise themselves as harpers, hiding their swords under their garments.]

¶ Horn cuþe al þe liste Þ{a}t eni man of wiste. Harpe he gan schewe, {And} tok felaȝes fewe, 1580 Of kniȝtes suiþe snelle, Þ{a}t schrudde he{m} at wille.

Horn her kenede al þe lyste Þat any ma{n} of wiste. To herpe he gan drawe, And wyȝt hys tweye felawe, 1580 Knyȝtes swyþe felle, And schurde hem in pelle.

Horn couþe alle þe listes þ{a}t eni mon of wiste. harpe he gon shewe, ant toc[KH-9] him to felawe, 1580 knyhtes of þe beste þ{a}t he euer hede of weste.

[Footnote KH-9: MS. tot]

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Hi ȝeden bi þe grauel, Toward þe castel. Hi gu{n}ne m{ur}ie singe, And makede here gleowinge. 1588

Wyt swerdes he hem gyrte Anouen here schirte. 1584 He wenden on þe g{ra}uel Toward þe castel. He go{n}ne murye synge, And makede here glewinge. 1588

ouen o þe sherte hue gurden huem wiþ suerde. 1584 hue eoden on þe g{ra}uele, towart þe castele. hue gonne murie singe, {ant} makeden huere gleynge, 1588

[Sidenote: Fikenhild hears their singing, and bids bring them in.]

¶ Rymenhild hit gan ihere, {And} axede what hi were. Hi sede hi weren harpurs, {And} sume were gigours. 1592 He dude horn in late, Riȝt at halle gate. He sette hi{m} on þe benche, His harpe for to clenche. 1596

Þat fykenyld myȝt yhere; Hearkede wat hye were. Men seyde hyt harperes, Iogelours and fiþeleres. 1592 He dude hem in lete; At halle dore he sete. Horn set on þe benche; Hys harpe he gan clenche. 1596

þ{a}t fykenild mihte y-here; he axede who hit were. men seide hit were harpeirs, iogelers ant fyþelers. 1592 hem me dude in lete; at halle dore hue sete. horn sette hi{m} a benche; is harpe he gan clenche. 1596

[Sidenote: Horn makes a lay to Rymenhild, and she falls in a swoon.]