Part 9

On knes he him sette, And sweteliche hure grette. 404 Of his feire siȝte Al þe bur gan liȝte. He spac faire speche; Ne dorte him noman teche. 408

Hon kneus he him sette And rimyld fayre grette. 404 Of þat fayre wihcte Al þe halle gan licte. He spak fayre speche; Ne þar him no ma teche. 408

a knewes he him sette {ant} suetliche hire grette. 404 of is fayre syhte al þ{a}t bour gan lyhte. he spac faire is speche; ne durþ non him teche. 408

“Wel þu sitte {and} softe, Rymenhild þe briȝte, Wiþ þine Maidenes sixe Þ{a}t þe sitteþ nixte. 412 Kinges stuard vre Sende me in to bure. Wiþ þe speke ihc scholde; Seie me what þu woldest. 416 Seie, {and} ich schal here, What þi wille were.”

“Wel þou sitte and softe, Reymyld, kinges dout{er}, With þine maydnes syxe Þat sittet þe nexte. 412 Þe kinges stiward and hour{e} Sente me to boure. With þe hy speke schulde; Sey me wat þou wolde. 416 Sey, and ich schal here, Wat þi wille were.”

“wel þ{o}u sitte {ant} soþte, rymenild, kinges dohter, ant þy maydnes here þat sitteþ þyne yfere. 412 Kynges styward oure sende me to boure, [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 416 forte y here, leuedy myn, whet be wille þyn.”

[Headnote: _Conversation between Horn and Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: She takes Horn by the hand and embraces him.]

¶ Rymenhild vp gan stonde {And} tok him bi þe honde. 420 Heo sette him on pelle, Of wyn to drinke his fulle. Heo makede him faire chere {And} tok him abute þe swere. 424 Ofte heo him custe, So wel so hire luste.

Reymild up gan sto{n}de And tok him bi þe honde. 420 Sette he him on palle; Wyn hye dide fulle, Makede fayre chere, And tok him bi þe swere. 424 Often hye him kiste, So wel hire luste.

rymenild vp gon stonde {ant} tok him by þe honde. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] heo made feyre chere {ant} tok him bi þe suere. 424 ofte heo him custe, so wel hyre luste.

[Sidenote: Rymenhild tells Horn of her love for him, and bids him plight her his troth.]

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

“Wel come, horn,” hye seyde, “So fayr so god þe makede. 428 An heue and amorwe For þe ich habbe sorwe. Haue ich none reste; Slepe me ne liste. 432 Leste me þis sorwe, Lyue hy nawt to morwe. Horn, þou schalt wel swiþe My longe sorwe liþe; 436

“Wel come, horn,” þus sayde rymenild, þ{a}t mayde, 428 “an euen {ant} a morewe for þe ich habbe sorewe, þ{a}t y haue no reste, ne slepe me ne lyste. 432 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] Horn, þou shalt wel swyþe mi longe serewe lyþe; 436

“Horn,” heo sede, “wiþute strif Þu schalt haue me to þi wif. Horn, haue of me rewþe, {And} plist me þi trewþe.” 440 ¶ Horn þo him biþoȝte What he speke miȝte.

Þou schalt, wit ute{n} st{r}iue, Habben me to wiue. Horn, haue on me rewþe, And plyct þou me þi trewþe.” 440 Horn child him bi þoute Wat he speke myȝte.

þou shalt wyþ-oute st{ri}ue habbe me to wyue. horn, haue of me reuþe, {ant} plyht me þi treuþe.” 440 ¶ horn þo him byþohte whet he speken ohte.

[Sidenote: Horn urges his low birth and foundling state in objection.]

“Crist,” q{ua}þ he, “þe wisse, {And} ȝiue þe heuene blisse 444 Of þine husebonde, Wher he beo i{n} lo{n}de; Ihc am ibore to lowe Such wi{m}man to knowe. 448

“God,” qwad horn, “þe wisse, And ȝyue þe ioye and blisse 444 Of þine hosebonde, Whare he be in londe. Ich am hy bor{n} to lowe Such a wyf to owe. 448

“c{ri}st,” quoþ horn, “þe wisse, {ant} ȝeue þe heuene blisse 444 of þine hosebonde, who he be a londe. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 448

Ihc am icome of þralle, {And} fu{n}dli{n}g bifalle. Ne feolle hit þe of cu{n}de To spuse beo me bunde. 452 Hit nere no fair wedding Bitwexe a þral {and} a king.” ¶ Þo gan Rymenhild mis lyke, {And} sore gan to sike. 456

Ich am bor{n} þralle, And fundlynge am bi falle. Ich am nawt of kende Þe to spouse welde. 452 Hit were no fayr wedding Bituene a þral and þe king.” Reymyld ga{n} to mys lyke, And sore forto syke. 456

ich am ybore þral, þy fader fundlyng wiþ-al. of kunde me ne felde þe to spouse welde. 452 Hit nere no fair weddyng bituene a þral {ant} þe kyng.” þo gon rymenild mis lyken, {ant} sore[KH-2] bigon to syken. 456

[Footnote KH-2: _to syken_ crossed out after _sore_.]

[Headnote: _Horn asks Rymenhild’s assistance._]

[Sidenote: Rymenhild swoons when she hears Horn’s reply.]

Armes heo gan buȝe; Adun he feol iswoȝe. ¶ Horn in herte was ful wo, {And} tok hire on his armes two. 460 He gan hire for to kesse, Wel ofte mid ywisse.

Armes hye na{m} boþe, And doune he fel yswowe. Hor hire ofte wende, And in hys armes trende. 460 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

armes bigon vnbowe, {ant} doun heo fel y swowe. Horn hire vp hente {ant} in is armes trente. 460 he gon hire to cusse, {ant} feyre forte wisse.

[Sidenote: Horn caresses her, and promises that if she will help him to become dubbed knight, he will do her will.]

“Le{m}man,” he sede, “dere, Þin herte nu þu stere. 464 Help me to kniȝte, Bi al þine miȝte To my lord þe ki{n}g, Þ{a}t he me ȝiue dubbi{n}g. 468

“Le{m}ma{n},” qwat he, “dere, Þin h{er}te gyn þou to stere, 464 And hep þou me to knicte, Oppe þine myȝte To my louerd þe kinge, Þat he me ȝyue dobbinge. 468

“rymenild,” quoþ he, “duere, help me þ{a}t ych were 464 [Sidenote: [leaf 86]] Ydobbed to be knyhte, suete, bi al þi myhte to mi louerd þe kyng, þ{a}t he me ȝeue dobbyng. 468

Þa{n}ne is mi þralhod Iwe{n}t i{n} to kniȝthod, {And} i schal wexe more, {And} do, le{m}ma{n}, þi lore.” 472 ¶ Rymenhild, þ{a}t swete þing, Wakede of hire swoȝning.

And þa{n}ne hys my þralhede yterned in knyt hede, And þe{n}ne hy schal wite more, And don aft{er} þi lore.” 472 Þo reymyl þe ȝenge Com of hire swohinge,

þenne is my þralhede al wend in to knyhthede. y shal waxe more {ant} do, rymenild, þi lore.” 472 Þo rymenild þe ȝynge a-ros of hire swowenynge.

[Headnote: _Rymenhild instructs Horn what to do._]

[Sidenote: Rymenhild promises Horn that he shall be made knight within a fortnight,]

“Horn,” q{ua}þ heo, “vel sone Þ{a}t schal beon idone. 476 Þu schalt beo dubbed kniȝt Are come seue niȝt. Haue her þis cuppe, {And} þis Ring þer vppe, 480 To Aylbrus {and} stuard, {And} se he holde foreward.

And seyde, “horn, wel ricte, Þou art so fayr and briycte, 476 Þou schalt worþe to knyte, hyt comeȝ sone nyȝte. Nym þou here þis coppe, And þis ryng þer oppe, 480 And beryt hour{e} styward, And bid helde foreward.

“Nou, horn, to soþe, y leue þe by þyn oþe, 476 þou shalt be maked knyht er þen þis fourteniht. ber þou her þes coppe, {ant} þes ringes þer vppe, 480 to Athelbrus þe styward, {ant} say him he holde foreward.

[Sidenote: and tells him to bid Athelbrus fall on his knees before the king, in his behalf.]

Seie ich him biseche, Wiþ loueliche speche, 484 Þ{a}t he adu{n} falle Bifore þe ki{n}g i{n} halle, {And} bidde þe king ariȝte Dubbe þe to kniȝte. 488 Wiþ seluer {and} wiþ golde Hit wurþ him wel iȝolde.

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 484 Bid hym for þe falle To kinges fot i{n} halle, Þat he dubbe þe to knicte Wyt hys swerde so bricte. 488 Wyt siluer and wit golde Hyt worþ him wel hyȝolde.

Sey ich him biseche, wiþ loueliche speche, 484 þ{a}t he for þe falle to þe kynges fet in halle, þ{a}t he wiþ is worde þe knyhty wiþ sworde. 488 wiþ seluer {ant} wiþ golde hit worþ him wel yȝolde.

[Sidenote: Horn seeks out Athelbrus and tells his errand.]

Crist him lene spede Þin ere{n}de to bede.” 492

++Horn, god lene þe wel spede Þi h{er}dne forto bede.” 492

nou c{ri}st him lene spede þin erndyng do bede.” 492

¶ Horn tok his leue, For hit was neȝ eue. Aþelbr{us} he soȝte {And} ȝaf him þ{a}t he broȝte, 496 {And} tolde hi{m} ful ȝare Hu he hadde ifare, {And} sede hi{m} his nede, {And} bihet him his mede. 500

Horn tok hys leue, For it was ney eue. Aylbrous he sowte And tok him þat he browte. 496 He talede to him þere hou he hauede hy fare. He telde him of his nede, And bi het him his mede. 500

¶ Horn tok is leue, for hit wes neh eue. Athelbrus he sohte {ant} tok him þ{a}t he brohte, 496 ant tolde him þare hou he hede yfare. he seide him is nede, {ant} him bihet is mede. 500

[Headnote: _The King promises to knight Horn._]

[Sidenote: Athelbrus goes before the king in hall,]

¶ Aþelbrus also swiþe We{n}te to halle bliue. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 504 “Kyng,” he sede, “þu leste A tale mid þe beste. Þu schalt bere c{ru}ne Tomoreȝe i{n} þis tune. 508

Aylbrous wel bliþe To halle he ȝede wel swiþe, And sette him on kneuling, And grette wel þe king. 504 “Syre,” he seyde, “wiltu luste Ane tale wit þe beste? Þou schalt bere corune In þis hulke toune. 508

Athelbrus so blyþe eode in to halle swyþe, [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 504 ant seide, “kyng, nou leste o tale mid þe beste. þou shalt bere coroune to marewe in þis toune. 508

[Sidenote: and urges him to knight Horn at the feast the following day.]

Tomoreȝe is þi feste; Þ{er} bihoueþ geste. Hit nere noȝt for loren For to kniȝti child horn 512 Þine armes for to welde; God kniȝt he schal ȝelde.”

To morwe worþe þi festes; Me by houed gestes. Ich þe wolde rede ate lest Þat þou horn knict makedest. 512 Þi armes to him welde; God knict he schal be{n} helde.”

to marewe is þi feste; þe bihoueþ geste. Ich þe rede mid al my myht þ{a}t þou make horn knyht. 512 þin armes do him welde; god knyht he shal þe ȝelde.”

[Sidenote: The king accedes to the request, and promises that Horn and his twelve companions shall be knighted.]

¶ Þe ki{n}g sede sone, “Þ{a}t is wel idone. 516 Horn me wel iq{ue}meþ; God kniȝt hi{m} bisemeþ. He schal haue mi dubbing {And} aft{er}ward mi derling. 520

Þe king seyde sone, “Þat hys wel to done. 516 Horn me wole ben queme, To be knict him by seme. He schal habbe my dubbing And be my nowne derling. 520

þe kyng seide wel sone, “hit is wel to done. 516 Horn me wel quemeþ; knyht him wel bysemeþ. He shal haue mi dobbyng {ant} be myn oþer derlyng. 520

{And} alle his feren twelf He schal kniȝten him self. Alle he schal hem kniȝte Bifore me þis niȝte.” 524

And his feren xij Ich schal dobbe My selue. Alle ich hem schal knicte Bi for me to fyte.” 524

{ant} hise feren tuelue he shal dobbe him selue. alle y shal hem knyhte byfore me to fyhte.” 524

[Headnote: _Horn is dubbed Knight._]

[Sidenote: On the morrow, Horn with his twelve companions presents himself before king Aylmer,]

Til þe liȝt of day sprang Ailmar hi{m} þuȝte la{n}g. Þe day bigan to spri{n}ge, Horn co{m} biuore þe ki{n}ge, 528 Mid his twelf yfere; Sume hi were luþ{er}e.

Amorwe her þe dey sp{r}onge ++Aylm{er} king þoute wel lo{n}ge. Þe day by gan to spri{n}ge, Horn cam bi forn þe kinge. 528 Wit swerde horn he girde Rit hond{er} hys h{er}te.

al þ{a}t þe lyhte day sprong aylmere þohte long. þe day bigon to sp{ri}nge; horn com byfore þe kynge, 528 wiþ his tuelf fere; alle þer ywere.

[Sidenote: and the king sets him on a red steed and dubs him knight.]

Horn he dubbede to kniȝte Wiþ swerd {and} spures briȝte. 532 He sette him on a stede whit; Þernas no kniȝt hym ilik. He smot him alitel wiȝt {And} bed him beon a god kniȝt. 536

He sette him on stede Red so any glede, 532 And sette on his fotes Boþe spores and botes, And smot alitel with, And bed him ben god knict. 536

Horn knyht made he wiþ ful gret solempnite, 532 Sette him on a stede red so eny glede, Smot him a lute wiht, {ant} bed him buen a god knyht. 536

[Sidenote: Athulf falls on his knees, and asks that Horn may dub him and the other companions.]

¶ Aþulf fel a knes þar Biuore þe ki{n}g Aylmar. “King,” he sede, “so kene, G{ra}nte me a bene. 540 Nu is kniȝ[t] sire horn Þ{a}t i{n} sudde{n}ne was iboren.

Ayol fel on knes þere By forn þe king aylm{er}e, And seyde, “king so kene, Graunte me my bene. 540 Þou hast knicted sire horn Þat i{n} sodenne was hy born.

Athulf vel a kne þer {ant} þonkede kyng Aylmer. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 540 ¶ “Nou is knyht sire horn þ{a}t in Sudenne wes yborn.

Lord he is of lo{n}de, Ou{er} us þ{a}t bi hi{m} stonde. 544 Þin armes he haþ {and} scheld, To fiȝte wiþ vpon þe feld. Let him vs alle kniȝte, For þ{a}t is vre riȝte.” 548

Louerd he hys in londe, Of vs þat bi him sto{n}de, 544 Mid spere and wit scelde To fyte{n} in þe felde. Let him os alle knicte, So hyt hys hise ricte.” 548

Lord he is of londe {ant} of vs þat by him stonde. 544 þin armes he haueþ {ant} þy sheld, forte fyhte in þe feld. Let him vs alle knyhte, so hit is his ryhte.” 548 Aylmer seide ful ywis, “nou do þ{a}t þi wille ys.”

[Sidenote: Horn knights his twelve companions.]

¶ Aylmar sede sone ywis, “Do nu þat þi wille is.” Horn adun liȝte {And} makede he{m} alle kniȝtes. 552 M{ur}ie was þe feste, Al of faire gestes.

Þo seyde þe king wel sone wis, “Do horn as hys wil hys.” Horn adown ga{n} lycte And makede hem to knicte. 552 Comen were þe gestes, Amorwe was þe feste.

Horn adoun con lyhte {ant} made hem alle to knyhte, 552 [Sidenote: [leaf 86, back]] for muchel wes þe geste {ant} more wes þe feste.

[Headnote: _Rymenhild reminds Horn of his promise._]

[Sidenote: Rymenhild becomes impatient and sends for Horn.]

Ac Rymenhild nas noȝt þer, {And} þ{a}t hire þuȝte seue ȝer. 556 Aft{er} horn heo sente, {And} he to bure we{n}te.

Reymyld was nowt þere, Hire þoute seue yere. 556 Aft{er} horn hye sende; Hor to bour{e} wende.

þ{a}t rymenild nes nout þere hire þohte seue ȝere. 556 efter horn hue sende; horn in to boure wende.

[Sidenote: He takes Athulf as companion.]

Nolde he noȝt go one; Aþulf was his mone. 560 Rymenhild on flore stod, Hornes come hire þuȝte god,

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] He na{m} his felawe i{n} hys honde, And fonde Reymyld i{n} bour{e} sto{n}de.

He nolde gon is one; Athulf wes hys ymone. 560 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: Rymenhild bids Horn fulfil his share of the compact by marrying her.]

And sede, “Welcome, sire horn, And Aþulf, kniȝt þe biforn. 564 Kniȝt, nu is þi time For to sitte bi me. Do nu þat þu er of spake, To þi wif þume take. 568 Ef þu art trewe of dedes, Do nu ase þu sedes. Nu þu hast wille þine, Vnbind me of my pine.” 572

“Welcome art þou, sire horn, And ayol chil þe bi forn. 564 Knict, nou it his tyme Þat þo sitte by me. Yf þou be trewe of dedes, Do þat þou arr{e} seydes. 568 Do nou þat we speke, To wif þou schalt me take.” [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 572

¶ rymenild welcomeþ sire horn, {ant} aþulf knyht hi{m} biforn. 564 “knyht, nou is tyme forto sitte byme. do nou þ{a}t we spake; to þi wyf þou me take. 568 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] Nou þou hast wille þyne, vnbynd me of þis pyne.” 572

[Headnote: _Horn proposes first to prove his Knighthood._]

[Sidenote: Horn replies that it is the custom for a knight to fight for his leman with some other knight,]

¶ “Rymenhild,” quaþ he, “beo stille; Ihc wulle don al þi wille. Also hit mot bitide, Mid sp{er}e ischal furst ride, 576 {And} mi kniȝthod proue, Ar ihc þe ginne to woȝe.

“Reymyld,” qwat horn, “be stille; Hy schal don al þi wille. Hat first hyt mote by tyde Mid spere þat ich ride, 576 Mi knicthede for to p{ro}ue, Herst, here ich þe wowe.

“rymenild, nou be stille, ichulle don al þy wille. ah her hit so bitide, mid spere ichulle ryde 576 ant my knyhthod proue, er þen ich þe wowe.

We beþ kniȝtes ȝo{n}ge, Of o dai al isp{ru}nge, 580 And of vre mest{er}e So is þe man{er}e, Wiþ sume oþere kniȝte Wel for his lemman fiȝte, 584 Or he eni wif take; For þi me stondeþ þe more rape.

We beþ kinctes yonge, Alto day hy spronge; 580 Of þe mestere Hyt hys þe man{er}e, Wyt som oþer knicte For hys lema{n} to fycte, 584 Her ich eny wif take. Þer fore ne haue ich þe forsake.

we bueþ nou knyhtes ȝonge, alle to day yspronge, 580 ant of þe mestere hit is þe manere, wiþ sum oþer knyhte for his lemmon to fyþte, 584 er ne he eny wyf take oþer wyþ wymmon forewart make.

[Sidenote: and promises that after he has accomplished an act of prowess, he will make her his wife.]

Today, so crist me blesse, Ihc wulle do pruesse 588 For þi luue in þe felde, Mid spere {and} mid schelde. If ihc come te lyue, Ihc schal þe take to wyue.” 592 ¶ “Kniȝt,” quaþ heo, “trewe, Ihc wene ihc mai þe leue.

To day, so god me blisse, Ich sal do pruesce, 588 For þe lef wyt schelde, In mideward þe felde. And hy come to liue Ich take þe wiue.” 592 “Knict,” qwat reymyl, þe trewe, “Yich wene ich may þe leue.

to day, so c{ri}st me blesse, y shal do pruesse, 588 for þi loue mid shelde amiddewart þe felde. ȝef ich come to lyue ychul þe take to wyue.” 592 “knyht, y may yleue þe, why aut þou trewe be.

[Headnote: _Rymenhild gives Horn a Ring._]

[Sidenote: Rymenhild gives Horn a ring, which she bids him wear for her love,]

Tak nu her þis gold ring, God him is þe dubbing. 596 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Þer is vpon þe ringe Ig{ra}ue, ‘Rymenhild þe ȝonge.’ 600 Þer nis no{n} bet{er}e anonder su{n}ne, Þ{a}t eni man of telle cu{n}ne. For my luue þu hit were, {And} on þi fing{er} þu him bere. 604

Haue nou here þis gold ring, He his god to þi dobbing. 596 Ne hys none swilk vnder so{n}ne, Þat man may offe konne. Hy g{ra}ue hys on þe Ringe, ‘Rymyld þi lef þe yenge’; 600 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

¶ Haue her þis goldring; hit is ful god to þi dobbyng. 596 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] yg{ra}ued is on þe rynge, ‘rymenild þy luef þe ȝynge.’ 600 nis non betere vnder sonne þ{a}t enymon of conne. For mi loue þou hit were, {ant} on þy fynger þou hit bere. 604

[Sidenote: and which will protect him if he will look on it and think of her.]

Þe stones beoþ of suche g{ra}ce, Þ{a}t þu ne schalt in none place Of none du{n}tes beon ofdrad, Ne on bataille beon amad, 608 Ef þu loke þ{er}an {And} þe{n}ke vpo{n} þi le{m}man. ¶ And sire Aþulf, þi broþer, He schal haue anoþer. 612