Horn Childe & Maiden Rimnild

Publication Statement:

This file is part of the facsimile-edition of the Auchinleck Manuscript was co-edited by Professor David Burnley and Dr Alison Wiggins. The HTML versions of the resource are freely available at http://www.nls.uk/auchinleck/

Notes:

This manuscript file was originally supplied as horn.html and the header file was located in heads/horn_head.html both of which were converted to TEI XML by Dr James Cummings of the Oxford Text Archive. The notes below were taken from the header file and each HTML paragraph placed in a separate note.

Scribe 1

12-line tail-rhyme stanzas, rhyming aabaabccbddb. 1136 lines in Mills edition. Ends imperfect. A leaf lost after f.321 and another after f.323 (with about 176 and 150 lines).

Edition:
M. Mills, Horn Childe and Maiden Rimnild, Middle English Texts 20 (Heidelberg: Winter, 1988).

Other editions:
J. Hall, King Horn (Oxford: Clarendon, 1901): 179-92.
J. Caro, 'Kleine Publications aus der Auchinleck-hs: X, Horn Childe and Maiden Rimnild', Englische Studien, 12 (1889): 324-366.
F. Michel, Horn et Rimenhild (Paris: Bannatyne Club, 1845): 341-389.
J. Ritson, Ancient English Metrical Romances, 3 vols (London, 1802): 3.282-320.

Manual I, 20; 209. Index 2253.

Source:

The Auchinleck Manuscript (NLS Adv MS 19.2.1) is one of the National Library of Scotland’s greatest treasures. Produced in London in the 1330s, it provides a unique insight into the English language and literature that Chaucer and his generation grew up with and were influenced by. It acquired its name from its first known owner, Lord Auchinleck, who discovered the manuscript in 1740 and donated it to the precursor of the National Library in 1744.

Horn Childe & Maiden Rimnild


Mi leue frende dere, [f.317va] [Image]
Herken & ȝe may here
& ȝe wil vnderstonde,
Stories ȝe may lere
Of our elders þat were[5]
Whilom in þis lond.
Y wil ȝou telle of kinges tvo –
Hende Haþeolf was on of þo –
Þat weld al Ingelond;
Fram Humber norþ þan walt he,[10]
Þat was into þe Wan See,
Into his owhen hond.
He no hadde no child as ȝe may here
Bot a sone þat was him dere;
When þat he was born[15]
Þe king was glad & of gode chere,
He sent after frendes fer & nere
& bad men calle him Horn.
Viii knaue childer he souȝt,
To Horn his sone [he hem] bitauȝt –[20]
Alle were þai frely born –
Wiþ him to play & lere to ride –
Fiue ȝer in þat ich tide –
Wiþ baner him biforn.
Hende, & ȝe me herken wold,[25]
Þe childer name as it is told
Y wil ȝou reken ariȝt:
Haþrof & Tebaude, [ Haþrof: MS reads Hayrof.]
Aþelston & Winwold,
Gariis wise & wiȝt;[30]
Wihard þat was euer trewe,
Seþþen first him Horn knewe,
To serue wiþ al his miȝt;
Wicard & his broþer Wikel,
Seþen Horn fond hem ful fikel,[35]
Lesinges on him þai liȝt. [f.317vb] [Image]
Arlaund, þat al þewes couþe,
Boþe bi norþ & bi souþe –
In herd is nouȝt to hide –
On hunting was him most couþe,[40]
For to blowe an horn wiþ mouþe
& houndes lede biside;
To harpe wele & play at ches
& al gamen þat vsed is,
& mo was in þat tide.[45]
Haþeolf Arlaund bitauȝt
Horn & his children auȝt
To lern hem to ride.
Out of Danmark com an here
Opon Jnglond for to were,[50]
Wiþ stout ost & vnride;
Wiþ yren hattes, scheld & spere,
Alle her pray to schip þai bere
In Clifland bi Teseside.
Schepe & nete to schip þai brouȝt[55]
& al þat þai haue mouȝt,
In herd is nouȝt to hide.
When Haþeolf it herd say
He busked boþe niȝt & day
Oȝain hem for to ride.[60]
Wiþin þat ich fourtenniȝt,
Barouns fele & mani a kniȝt
Al were þai redi boun;
Wiþ helme on heued & brini briȝt
Alle were þai redi to fiȝt[65]
& rered gonfeynoun.
On Alerton More al þai mett;
Þer were her dayes sett,
Failed hem no roum.
Seþþen to Clifland þai rade[70]
Þer þe Danis men abade
To fel þe feye adoun.
In a mor[n]ing þai bigan,
Of al þat day þai no blan
Þat baleful werk to wirke;[75]
Sides þai made blo & wan
Þat er were white so feþer on swan –
Swiche gamen man auȝt irke.
When þat euen bicam
Þe Danis men were al slan, [f.318ra] [Image] [80]
It bigan to mirke.
Whoso goþ or rideþ þerbi
ȝete may men see þer bones ly
Bi Seyn Sibiles Kirke.
Hende Haþeolf, as y ȝou say,[85]
Duelled þer þe niȝen day,
Þe folk of him was fain.
Þai toke anon þat ich pray,
Schepe & nete þat þer slain lay,
& ȝaf it þe folk oȝain;[90]
Armour & brini briȝt
He ȝaf to squier & to kniȝt,
To seriaunt & to swayn.
Schipes he dede to lond drawe
& ȝaf to bondmen on rawe[95]
For her catel was slayn.
Þo he seye þat were wiȝt,
Wiþ helme on heued & brini briȝt
& wele couþe prike a stede,
& þo þat were douhti in fiȝt,[100]
Sexti dubbed he þer to kniȝt
& ȝaf hem riche mede.
Sum baylis he made
& sum he ȝaf londes brade;
His ȝiftes were nouȝt gnede.[105]
& seþþen he dede chirches make
To sing for þe dedes sake –
God quite him his mede.
Seþþen king Haþolf fore
For to hunten on Blakeowe More[110]
Wiþ a rout vnride
In fretþe & in forest þore;
To telle þe dere strong it wore,
Þat he felled þat tide.
& anon after, wiþouten lesing,[115]
He held a fest at Pikering,
Þer his kniȝtes schuld ride.
& seþþen to ȝork, was nouȝt to layn,
Arlaunde com him oȝain
& Horn his sone wiþ prede.[120]
King Haþeolf tok þe children auȝt
Þat he had his sone bitauȝt
& gan to wepe anon. [MS: originally sore anon but sore underdotted.]
‘Ichaue won mi fon wiþ mauȝt [f.318rb] [Image]
Þat we oȝein in batayl fauȝt[125]
& now þai ben al slon;
& ȝour faders ben slawe þare –
Þat ofþinkeþ me ful sare –
& oþer mani on.
Þe lond þat þai held of me[130]
Alle y ȝiue ȝou here fre,
Ward no kepe y non.
Wiþ Horn mi sone y wil ȝe be,
As ȝour faders han ben wiþ me,
& oþes ȝe schul him swere[135]
Þat ȝe schal neuer fram him fle
For gold no siluer, lond no fe,
Oȝein outlondis here.’
To Horn his sone he hem bitoke
& dede hem swere opon þe boke[140]
Feute þai schuld him bere
While þat þai liue miȝt, [erasure before þai.]
Wiþ helme on heued & brini briȝt
His londes for to were.
Hende Haþeolf þat was so fre[145]
Bot ix moneþ soiournd he;
No lenge no hadde he pes.
Out of Yrlond com kinges þre,
Her names can y telle þe,
Wele wiþouten les:[150]
Ferwele & Winwald were þer to,
Malkan king was on of þo,
Proude in ich a pres.
Al Westmerland stroyed þay;
Þe word com on a Whissonday[155]
To king Haþeolf at his des.
He bad þe harpour leuen his lay
‘For ous bihoueþ anoþer play,
Buske armour & stede.’
He sent his sond niȝt & day[160]
Also fast as he may,
His folk to batayl bede.
‘Bid hem þat þai com to me
Al þat hold her lond fre,
Help now at þis nede.[165]
Better manly to be slayn
Þan long to liue in sorwe & pain
Oȝain outlondis þede.’ [f.318va] [Image]
þai busked hem wel hastily
To com to þe kinges cri[170]
Wiþin elleuen niȝt
Þat eueriche strete & eueri sty
Glised þer þai riden by
Of her brinis briȝt;
& seþþen to Staynes More þai rode –[175]
Þe rout was boþe long & brod –
To fel þo fay in fiȝt.
Alle þat niȝt duelled þay
Til amorwe þat it was day,
Þe barouns of gret miȝt.[180]
Þe Irise ost was long & brade;
On Staines More þer þai rade
Þai ȝaf a crie for prede.
Hende Haþeolf hem abade;
Swiche meting was neuer made,[185]
Wiþ sorwe on ich a side.
Riȝt in a litel stounde
Sexti þousand were layd to grounde,
In herd is nouȝt to hide;
King Haþeolf slouȝ wiþ his hond,[190]
Þat was comen out of Yrlond,
Tvo kinges þat tide.
King Haþeolf was wel wo
For þe Irise ost was mani & mo
Wiþ scheld & wiþ spere;[195]
Ful long seþþen man seyd so:
‘When men schuld to batayl go,
To men miȝt on dere.’
Þei king Haþeolf fauȝt fast,
King Malkan stiked atte last,[200]
His stede þat schuld him bere;
Now schal men finde kinges fewe
Þat in batail be so trewe
His lond for to were.
When king Haþeolf on fot stode[205]
Þe Yrise folk about him ȝode
As hondes do to bare;
Whom he hit opon þe hode,
Were he neuer kniȝt so gode,
He ȝaue a dint wel sare.[210]
He brouȝt in a litel stounde
Wele fif þousende to grounde [f.318vb] [Image]
Wiþ his grimly gare;
Þe Yrise ost tok hem to red
To ston þat douhti kniȝt to ded;[215]
Þai durst neiȝe him na mare. [ neiȝe: i is superscript.]
Gret diol it was to se
Of hende Haþeolf þat was so fre –
Stones to him þai cast;
Þai brak him boþe legge & kne –[220]
Gret diol it was to se –
He kneled attelast.
King Malcan wiþ wretþe outstert
& smot king Haþeolf to þe hert.
He held his wepen so fast[225]
Þat king Malkan smot his arm atvo
Er he miȝt gete his swerd him fro.
For nede his hert tobrast.
Þei king Malkan wan þe priis [ þei: MS has þo.]
Oway brouȝt he no mo, ywis,[230]
Of his men bot þritten
Þat wounded were in bak & side;
Þai fleiȝe & durst nouȝt abide –
Daþet who hem bimene!
To Yrlond he com oȝain[235]
& left her fair folk al slain
Lieand on þe grene;
Þarf hem noiþer niȝt no day
Make her ros þai wan þe pray,
Bot slowe þe king, y wene.[240]
An erl of Norþhumberland,
He herd telle þis tiþeand,
He busked him to ride.
Alle he sesed in his hand
Al þat he toforn him fand[245]
Riȝt to Humberside.
When þat Arlaund herd sain
Þat hende Haþeolf was slain
He durst no lenge abide;
Þai busked boþe niȝt & day[250]
As fast as þai may,
Her heuedes for to hide.
Fer souþe in Jnglond
Houlac king þer þai fond
Wiþ kniȝtes stiþe on stede.[255]
He toke him Horn bi þe hand, [f.319ra] [Image]
When he hadde teld his tiþeand
Mennes hertes miȝt blede
‘When hende Haþeolf was slan
& his londes fram him tan[260]
& we ben flowe for drede;
Of miself is me nouȝt,
Bot Horn his sone ichaue þe brouȝt.
Help now in þis nede.’
Houlac king was wel hende;[265]
Ressaiued hem niȝen, Herlaund þe tende, [ þe: e is superscript.]
Her maister for to be.
‘Mete & drink y schal hem fende
& euer when ich outwende
Þai schal wende wiþ me.[270]
Horn schal be me leue & dere.’
He bad Harlaund schuld him lere
Þe riȝt for to se,
Þe lawes boþe eld & newe,
Al maner gamen & glewe;[275]
In bok þus rede we.
Þus in boke as we rede
Alle þai were in court to fede,
Sweteliche at lare.
Alle were þai cloþed in o wede[280]
To ride on palfray oþer on stede,
Wheþer hem leuer ware.
Hor[n] was boþe war & wise,
At hunting oft he wan þe priis,
Loued he noþing mare;[285]
Harpe & romaunce he radde ariȝt,
Of al gle he hadde insiȝt
Þat in lond ware.
Þe word of Horn wide sprong,
Hou he was boþe michel & long,[290]
Wiþin fiftene ȝere;
Þer was no kniȝt in Jnglond
Þat miȝt a dint stond of his hond,
Noiþer fer no nere.
Michel he was & wele ymaked,[295]
As white as milke he was naked
& euer o bliþe chere.
Meke he was & trewe so stiel,
Alle games he couþe wel
As ȝe may forward here. [f.319rb] [Image] [300]
Houlac king, y wene,
Hadde no child bi þe quene
Bot a maid briȝt;
Al þai seyd þat hir [hadde] sene
Sche was a feir may & a schene[305]
& maiden Rimneld sche hiȝt.
When sche herd [of] Horn speke
Miȝt sche him nouȝt forȝete
Bi day no bi niȝt;
Loued neuer childer mare[310]
Bot Tristrem or Ysoud it ware
Whoso rede ariȝt.
Þat miri maiden wald nouȝt wond
Dern loue for to fond
ȝif sche it miȝt winne;[315]
Forþi sche sent wiþ hir sond
For to speke wiþ Arlond
For Horn schuld cum wiþ him.
& Arlaund him biþouȝt
ȝif he Horn wiþ him brouȝt[320]
Lesinges schuld biginne;
Forþi he lete Horn at hame
& toke Haþerof in his name
To maiden Rimneld [inne].
Þe miri maiden also sone[325]
As Haþerof jnto chaumber come,
Sche wend þat it wer Horn.
A riche cheier was vndon,
Þat seuen miȝt sit þeron, [ seuen: u has three minims.]
In swiche craft ycorn.[330]
A baudekin þeron was spred,
Þider þe maiden hadde hem led
To siten hir biforn;
Frout & spices sche hem bede,
Wine to drink, wite & rede,[335]
Boþe of coppe & horn.
Þan a seriaunt sche bad go,
A gentil goshauk for to ta –
Fair he was to fliȝt –
Þerwiþ herten gloues to –[340]
Swiche was þe maner þo –
& ȝaf Haþerof of her ȝif[t].
Sche wende bi Haþerof, Horn it were,
Þat loued hunting noþing more, [f.319va] [Image]
On him hir loue was liȝt.[345]
A les of grehoundes forþ þai brouȝt;
& he forsoke & wald it nouȝt
& seyd Haþerof he hiȝt.
‘Whateuer þi name it be
Þou schalt haue þis houndes þre[350]
Þat wele can take a dere;
& Harlaund, for þe loue of me, [ Harlaund: MS reads Haþerof. ]
Com tomorn & Horn wiþ þe.’
He lay hir hert ful nere.
& Harlaund þat was hende[355]
Toke his leue for to wende
Wiþ a bliþe chere
& com anon on þe morn
& brouȝt wiþ him hende Horn,
As ȝe may forward here.[360]
Þe maiden bour was fair spred,
Atired al wiþ riche webbe,
Sche haylset hem wiþ winne. [ haylset: MS reads haylest ]
Þe mirie maiden hir biþouȝt
In what maner þat sche mouȝt[365]
Trewe loue for to ginne.
Sche sett hir hem bitvene;
Þe maiden was briȝt & schene
& comen of kinges kinne.
Anon hirselue hadde hem ledde[370]
To sitten opon her owhen bedde,
Arlaund & Horn wiþ him. [Mills (1988) relocates lines 370-372, placing them after line 363.]
Hendeliche sche to hem spac,
A poumgarnet þer sche brak
& spices dede sche calle,[375]
Wine to drink, after þat
Sche lete fet forþ a stede blac,
Was couered al wiþ palle.
Þe stiropes were of silke wite,
Bridel & sadel al was slike,[380]
& seyd ‘Horn hende in halle,
It was me told þou schust be kniȝt;
Y þe ȝif here a stede liȝt
& a queyntise of palle.’
‘Horn’ sche seyd ‘is þi name;[385]
An horn y schal ȝiue þe ane,
A michel & vnride;
Al yuore is þe bon, [f.319vb] [Image]
Sett wiþ mani a riche ston,
To bere bi þi side.’[390]
Þe baudrike was of silk riȝt –
Þe maiden self it hadde ydiȝt –
Layd wiþ gold for pride.
‘What þat euer be wiþ me,
Horn, at þi wille schal it be,[395]
In herd is nouȝt to hide.’
Þan sche lete forþ bring
A swerd hongand bi a ring,
To Horn sche it bitauȝt
‘It is þe make of Miming,[400]
Of al swerdes it is king
& Weland it wrouȝt.
Bitterfer þe swerd hiȝt,
Better swerd bar neuer kniȝt,
Horn, to þe ich it þouȝt.[405]
Is nouȝt a kniȝt in Jnglond
Schal sitten a dint of þine hond,
Forsake þou it nouȝt.’
Hendelich þan þanked he
Þe maiden of hir ȝift fre[410]
& seyd ‘so God me spede,
Rimnild, for þe loue of þe,
Y schal iuste þat þou schalt se
Opon þis ich stede.’
Horn in þat ich stounde[415]
ȝaf þe maiden loue wounde,
So neiȝe hir hert it ȝede;
& sche wel trewely haþ him hiȝt,
ȝif þat he be dubbed kniȝt,
Hir maidenhod to mede.[420]
Wiþin þat ich fourtenniȝt
Horn was dubbed to kniȝt, [erasure after Horn.]
& Haþerof, as y wene,
& oþer mani þat were liȝt,
Has Houlak king hadde hem hiȝt,[425]
So were þai ful fiftene.
A turnament þe king lete crie;
Þider com wel on heye
Kniȝtes þat were kene;
Maiden Rimneld biheld þat play,[430]
Hou Horn wan þe priis þat day, [catchword: to wite & nouȝt.]
To wite & nouȝt to wene. [f.320ra] [Image]
Houlac king ȝaf Horn leue
In his bour for to chese
Þe maidens þat were fre,[435]
Riche of kin & hondes sleye
Þai hadde frendes fer & neiȝe,
He miȝt avaunced be.
& maiden Rimnild him bede
Þat he schuld take non oþer rede,[440]
Non oþer þan chese he;
For sche wel trewely haþ him hiȝt,
ȝif þat sche liue miȝt,
His leman wald sche be.
Tebaud went biȝond se[445]
& Winwald þat was so fre
To leren hem to ride;
Wiþ þe king of Fraunce duelled he,
Mani time þai gat þe gre
In turnament þat tide.[450]
Þe king seiȝe þat þai wer wiȝt,
Boþe he dubbed hem to kniȝt
Wiþ wel riche pride.
Wiif þai toke & duelled þare,
In Jnglond com þai nomore[455]
Her werdes for to bide.
Gariis into Bretein went,
& Aþelston wiþ him was lent,
To an erl so fre;
At iustes & at turnament,[460]
Whiderward so þai went
Euer þai gat þe gre.
& þerl hem boþe kniȝtes made
& ȝaf hem londes wide & brade
Wiþ him for to be.[465]
Þus þai duelled þer in pes
While þat Cristes wil wes,
In boke so rede we.
Houlac king ȝaf gold & fe
To hem þat þai miȝt þe better be [470] [ þai is superscript with caret mark.]
& bad þai schuld wiue.
Haþerof [þ]a[t] kniȝt fre
& Horn, he seyd ‘y loue þe,
Man most oliue.’
& Wiard treuly he haþ hiȝt[475]
Þat he schal dubbed be to kniȝt [f.320rb] [Image]
At anoþer siþe.
Wigard & Wikel hem biþouȝt
Hou þai Horn bitray mouȝt –
God lete hem neuer þriue![480]
On a day as Houlak king
Schuld wende on his playing
To late his haukes fleye,
Horn þan, wiþouten lesing,
Bilaft at hom for blode-leteing,[485]
Al for a maladye.
Wikard bi þe king rade,
Wikel þat lesing made,
Horn gan þai wray
& seyd ‘sir, y seiȝe ȝisterday[490]
Hou Horn bi þi douhter lay –
Traitours boþe be þai.’
Þe king leued þat þai sede
‘Forþi ȝaf sche him þe stede,
Lesing it is nouȝt.’[495]
He went hom as he were wode,
Into boure anon he ȝode
& maiden Rimnild he souȝt;
He bete hir so þat sche gan blede,
Þe maidens fleiȝe oway for drede,[500]
Þai durst help hir nouȝt.
Gi[l]tles sche was of þat dede;
Horn hadde nouȝt hir maidenhede,
Bot in word & þouȝt.
Houlac [king ] his swerd haþ tan[505]
& seyd Horn schuld be slan;
For wretþe he wald wede
‘He haþ me don michel schame;
Y wende wele haue suffred nane
For mi gode dede.’[510]
Kniȝtes com þe king biforn,
Alle prayd þai for Horn,
No miȝt þer non spede;
Þe king into his chaumber is gon
& schet himself þerin alon[515]
Til his wretþe ouerȝede.
Þei þat Horn was sore adrad
Into boure he was ladde
Þe maiden for to se.
He fond hir liggeand on hir bedde [f.320va] [Image] [520]
Mouþe & nose al forbled.
‘Þis hastow for me?’
‘Bi God of heuen þat me bouȝt
Of miselue is me nouȝt;
Way is me for þe![525]
Fals men haþ on ous leyd
& to mi fader ous biwraid,
Y drede he flemes te.
Bot Horn, ȝif it so schal bitide
Þat þou schalt out of lond ride[530]
& flemed schaltow be,
Þis seuen winter y schal abide
Mi maidenhed to hele & hide
For þe loue of þe;
Þei an emperour come,[535]
King oþer kinges sone,
For to wedde me,
Of no loue ne schal he spede
Þat y ne schal kepe mi maidenhede,
So help me God, to þe.[540]
Horn, tomorwe jn þe mor[n]ing,
Þou schalt fare on hunting
To take þe wild ro;
ȝif God þe spede an hunting,
Loke þou bring it bifor þe king[545]
Whatso þou may to,
As he sittes at his des
Yserued of þe first mes,
Hauȝtel þe now so;
Fare as þou wist nouȝt[550]
& he schal telle þe al his þouȝt
Er þou fram þat bord go.’
Amorwen Horn to hunting is gan
To take þe wilde wiþ þe tam;
In þe morwening,[555]
Fiue hertes haþ he tan,
Bi midday brouȝt hem ham
Bifor Houlak king.
Þe king seyd ‘it is for nouȝt.
Traitour, þou hast tresoun wrouȝt;[560]
Tomorwe ȝif y þe finde,
Bi mi croun þou schalt be slawe,
Wiþ wilde hors al todrawe
& seþþen on galwes hing.’ [f.320vb] [Image]
To Rimneld he com, wiþouten lesing,[565]
& sche bitauȝt him a ring,
Þe vertu wele sche knewe
‘Loke þou forsake it for no þing,
It schal ben our tokening,
Þe ston it is wel trewe.[570]
When þe ston wexeþ wan,
Þan chaungeþ þe þouȝt of þi leman,
Take þan a newe;
When þe ston wexeþ rede,
Þan haue y lorn mi maidenhed[575]
Oȝaines þe vntrewe.’
Horn seyd ‘in þine erber is a tre,
Þervnder is a wel fre,
Ygrowen al wiþ yue;
Rimnild, for þe loue of me,[580]
Eueri day þat þou þer be
To se þe water liþe;
& when þou sest mi schadu þare,
Þan trowe þou me namare,
Þan am y bon to wiue;[585]
& while þou sest mi schadu nouȝt,
Þan chaungeþ neuer mi þouȝt
For no woman oliue.
Houlac king wald nere wede
Þere he sat opon his seghe[590]
& seyd ‘traitour, fle!’
Horn tok his leue & ȝede;
Wiþ him he toke his gode stede
& grehoundes bot þre
& alle his harneys, lasse & mare;[595]
Haþerof durst nouȝt wiþ him fare
So wroþ þe king was he. [Erasure after wroþ.]
Maidens in þe boure gan crie
& seyd Rimnild wald dye –
‘Now swoneþ þat fre.’[600]
When Horn com fer out of þat siȝt
He seyd Godebounde he hiȝt
When he gan ani mete.
Wiard rode after day & niȝt
Also fast as he miȝt[605]
Horn for to seke;
Of Godebounde herd he speke,
Horn no miȝt he neuer gete [f.321ra] [Image]
Bi way no bi strete.
Wiard rode souþe & Horn rode west,[610]
To Wales Horn com atte lest,
Wel long er þai to mete. [ to: MS reads so.]
Þurth a forest as he schuld fare
An armed kniȝt mett he þare,
& bad Horn schuld abide[615]
To ȝeld his harneise lesse & mare,
Oþer iuste, wheþer him leuer ware
‘Þe lawe is nouȝt to hide.’
& Horn of iusting was ful fain
& seyd to þe kniȝt oȝain,[620]
‘Ful leue me were to ride.’ [This stanza lacks three lines, but there is no gap in the MS.]
Þe kniȝt toke a schaft in hand
& Horn wele vnderfand
Þat he couþe ride.
Horn tok on also long,[625]
A ful touȝ & to so strong,
Oȝaines him þat tide.
þe kniȝtes scheld he cleue atvo
& of his plates he brac þo
& frussed alle his side;[630]
Out of his sadel he bar him þan,
He brac his arm & his schulderban,
He hadde a fal vnride.
When he of swoning bicam,
He asked after Hornes nam,[635]
Whider he wald gang
‘In Walis lond is þer nan
Man ymade of flesche no ban
Oȝain þe may stand.’
Horn answerd onan[640]
‘Godebounde is mi nam,
Icham comen to fand
For to win gold & fe,
In seruise wiþ ȝour king to be
Þat lord is of þis land.’[645]
‘Our kinges name is Elidan,
In al Wales is þer nan
So strong a man as he;
While þe seuen days be gan,
Euerich day wiþ sundri man,[650]
Iusting bedes he þe;
Þe eiȝten day, be þou bold – [f.321rb] [Image]
ȝif þou þe seuen days mai hold –
Þe king þan schaltow se
Com rideand on a stede broun[655]
Wiþ a soket o feloun,
For to win þe gre.’
Horn seyd ‘wiþoutten lesing,
For to speke wiþ þe king
For noþing wil y bide.’[660]
Þe kniȝt teld him namare;
Þe king at Snowedoun he fond þare,
Sir Elydan þat tide.
He iusted al þat seuen niȝt,
Eueri day wiþ sundri kniȝt,[665]
He gat þe fairest pride;
Þe eiȝten day wiþ Elidan
& wan her stedes euerilkan,
In herd is nouȝt to hide.
He smot þe king opon þe scheld,[670]
Of his hors he made him held,
& feld him to þe grounde.
Swiche on hadde he founde seld,
Þat so had feld him in þe feld,
Bifor þat ich stounde.[675]
Þe king asked him what he hiȝt
& he him answerd anonriȝt
‘Mi name is Godebounde.’
‘Y wil þe ȝif gold & fe
ȝif þat þou wil duelle wiþ me[680]
Bi ȝere a þousend pounde.’
Messangers com out of Yrland
& toke þe king a letter in hand
& bad he schuld rede;
Fro a king þat men dede wrong –[685]
His owhen sone, ich vnderstond –
Þat axed help at nede.
He lete write a letter oȝain,
He schuld han help, is nouȝt to layn,
Wiþ kniȝtes stiþe on stede.[690]
Horn to batayl was ful boun
& folwed þe messangers out of toun,
Into Jrlond þai him lede.
Hem com an hauen wele to hand
Þat ȝolkil is cleped in Irland,[695]
Þe court was þer biside. [f.321va] [Image]
Finlawe king þer þai fande,
For to here tiþeande,
Oȝain hem gan [he] ride.
Þe letter told þat he brouȝt[700]
Help schuld him faile nouȝt
Oȝaines þilke tide.
King Finlak dede to Malkan say,
Wheþer he wold, bi niȝt or day,
Þe bataile wald he bide.[705]
Þe kinges sones riden baþe
To haylse Horn when þai him sawe [ haylse: MS reads hayles.]
& welcomed him, þat fre.
Anon þai gun to striue raþe
Wheþer of hem him schuld haue[710]
To duelle in her meine.
Horn answerd hem þan as hende
& seyd to hem ‘mi leue frende,
Þe king þan wald y se
& afterward y wille ȝou telle[715]
Where me leuest is to duelle
& semlyest to me.’
Þe messanger told Hornes dede,
Hou he hadde ywon þe stede
& hou he seiȝe him ride.[720]
‘Sir, miȝtestow hold him to þi nede,
King Malkan þarf þe nouȝt drede,
Batayle miȝt þou bide.
Hour king haþ boden him gold & fe
Wiþ þat he wil wiþ him be[725]
At þis ich nede,
& Horn ful trewely haþ him hiȝt
For to stond in stede of kniȝt,
In herd is nouȝt to hide.’
In Yrlond was þer nan[730]
Þat alle þai be to Malkan gan,
So michel was his pouste;
Bot Finlak king, him alan,
Has þe batayl vndertan,
ȝif Crist wil þat it be.[735]
King Malkan dede bede out here
Opon þe king Finlak to were:
‘Now þan schal we se;
ȝif he wil fiȝt, he schal be slan,
ȝif he wil bide, he schal be tan. [f.321vb] [Image] [740]
Y trowe best he wil fle.’
Bot þre woukes were þer sett
Þat alle þis folk schal be mett
& batayle schal þer be;
Þe Walis king hadde gret lett[745]
Wiþ windes & wiþ watres bett,
Sir Elidan þe fre.
He no miȝt into Irlond come
For to helpen his sone,
For stormes on þe se.[750]
King Finlak seyd ‘is nouȝt to hide,
Þis batayl dar y nouȝt abide;
Mi rede is tan to fle.’
& þan was Horn as fain o fiȝt
As is þe foule of þe liȝt[755]
When it ginneþ dawe
‘Sir king, for to held þi riȝt, [ riȝt: Mills amends to hiȝt.]
Y rede þou bede riche ȝift, [ bede: de is written superscript and marked by caret.]
Þe folk wil to þe drawe.
Geder to þe folk þat þou may[760]
& baldliche hold þi day;
Batail schal we schawe.
To fle me þink it is gret schame
Ar dintes be smiten or ani man slan
For drede of wordes awe.’[765]
Þe kinges sones wer kniȝtes bold
& seyd þai wald þe batail hold
Her liues for to lete;
Finlak king, þei he war ald,
Bleþeli, he seyd, fiȝt he wald[770]
To hold þat he bihete.
Þus þai riden out of toun
Wiþ spere oloft & gomfaynoun
Malkan king to mete;
Wiþ speres scharp & swerdes gode,[775]
Þai slouȝ mani a frely fode,
So grimli gun þai grete.
Þer Horn seiȝe þe mest þrang,
In he rides hem amang
& lays on wel gode won;[780]
It was no man of Yrland
Miȝt stond a dint of his hand,
At ich stroke he slouȝ on
{A leaf and approximately 195 lines missing after 783}
Maiden & wiif gret sorwe gan make [f.322ra] [Image]
For þe kinges sones sake[785]
Þat were a point to dye.
Finlac king oȝaines him come
& his armes of him nome –
Þe blod ran ouer his eiȝe.
He cleped his douhter Acula[790]
& bad sche schuld a plaster ta –
Of woundes was sche sleiȝe.
Þe maiden tast Hornes wounde,
Þe kinges douhter in þat stounde
Of him hye is ful fain[795]
‘Þou schalt be sone hole & sounde.
Hastow Malkan brouȝt to grounde?’
He seyd ‘ȝa’ oȝain.
‘King Malkan was mi faders ban,
& now for soþe ich haue him slan,[800]
Þe soþe for to sain.
Mi fader swerd y wan today,
Y kepe it while y liue may,
Þe name is Blauain.’
þai birid þe folk þat were slan[805]
& her armour þai ladde ham
Wiþ hors white & broun.
Finlac king him biþouȝt
Hou he Horn ȝeld mouȝt
To ȝif him his warisoun;[810]
He tok Malkan kinges lond
& sesed it into Hornnes hond,
Boþe tour & toun.
Erles, barouns, euerichon,
In Jrlond was þer non[815]
Þat it no com to his somoun.
Þe kinges douhter Acula
Loued hende Horn so
Sche durst it nouȝt kiþe;
Wheþer sche seiȝe him ride or go[820]
Hir þouȝt hir hert brak atvo
Þat sche no spac wiþ þat bliþe.
On a day sche made hir seke.
Horn com & wiþ hir speke,
Sche miȝt no lenger miþe.[825]
To him spac þat maiden fre
& seyd ‘Horn, y loue þe,
Man most oliue.’ [f.322rb] [Image]
Oueral Horn þe priis him wan,
He seyd it was for o wiman[830]
Þat was him leue & dere.
Acula wende forþan
Þat Horn hir loued & most gode an
Of ani woman þat were.
Of anoþer was al his þouȝt;[835]
Maiden Rimnild forȝat he nouȝt,
Sche lay his hert ful nere.
Þe ring to schewen haþ he tan –
Þe hewe was chaunged of þe stan,
For gon is seuen ȝere.[840]
Horn wald no lenger abide,
He busked him for to ride
& gedred folk eueraware,
An hundred kniȝtes bi his side,
Wiþ stedes fele & michel pride,[845]
Her schippes were ful ȝare.
Þai sayled ouer þe flode so gray,
In Jnglond ariued were þay
Þer hem leuest ware;
Vnder a wode þer þai gan lende,[850]
Horn seiȝe a begger wende
& after he is fare.
Horn fast after him gan ride
& bad þe begger schuld abide
For to here his speche.[855]
Þe begger answerd in þat tide
‘Vilaine, canestow nouȝt ride?
Fairer þou miȝt me grete.
Haddestow cleped me gode man,
Y wold haue teld þe wennes y cam[860]
& whom y go to seche.
Horn to seke haue y gon
þurthout londes mani on
& ay schal while we mete.
& now be min robes riuen,[865]
& me no was non oþer ȝeuen
Of alle þis seuen ȝere;
Y go to seke after him ay
& þus haue don mani a day
Til þat we mete yfere.[870]
Today is Moging þe king
Wiþ Rimnild at spouseing, [f.322va] [Image]
Þe kinges douhter dere;
Mani sides schuld be bibled
Er he bring hir to his bed[875]
ȝif Horn in lond were.
Wiard schaltow calle me.
Gentil man, ȝif þou be fre,
Tel me þi name;
Þi knaue wald y fain be[880]
Þat fair fest for to se;
Me þenke þatow hast nane.’
Horn answerd him oȝain
‘Ich hat Horn, is nouȝt to lain,
& elles were me schame,[885]
Bot ȝif ich held þat þou hast seyd;
Er þat þai ben in bed layd,
Fiue þousende schal be slain.
Wiard, oȝain schaltow ride
To mi folk & þere abide,[890]
Haue here mi robe to mede,
& y wil to court gon
For to loke what þai don
In þi pouer wede. [Mills (1988) relocates lines 892-4, placing them after line 897.]
Bring hem vnder ȝon wode side[895]
Also ȝern astow may ride,
Þe way þou canst hem lede,
& y schal heiȝe me wel sone;
Y com oȝain er it be none
ȝif Crist me wil spede.’[900]
When Horn fro fer herd glewe,
Wiþ tabournes bete & trumppes blewe,
Oȝaines hem he ȝede.
Muging king ful wele he knewe, [ Muging: first g altered from u in MS.]
He tok him bi þe lorein newe,[905]
Oȝain he held his stede.
Wikard com & smot him so
& seyd ‘traitour, lat þe bridel go.’
Þe blode out after ȝede.
Horn ful trewely haþ him hiȝt[910]
He schal him ȝeld þat ich niȝt;
A box schal ben his mede.
Moioun king was ful wo
þat he hadde smiten þe pouer man so [ þe: e is superscript.]
& seyd ‘lat mi bridel be.[915]
Wiþ þi þou lat mi bridel be [f.322vb] [Image]
What so þou wilt aski me
Bleþelich ȝiue y þe.’
‘Peter!’ quaþ Horn ‘þatow wilt
ȝiue me maiden Rimnild[920]
Þat is so fair & fre.’
Þe king was wroþ & rewe his ȝift
‘Þou askest wrong & noþing riȝt,
Sche may nouȝt þine be.’
Horn seyd ‘y sett a nett o time, [925] [ Horn: n is written superscript with caret mark.]
ȝif ani fische is taken þerinne
Of al þis seuen ȝere,
No schal it neuer more be mine,
Y wold it were sonken in helle pine,
Wiþ fendes fele on fere;[930]
& ȝif it haþ ytaken nouȝt,
Y schal it loue in hert [&] þouȝt,
& be me leue & dere.’
Þus þai went alle ysame
Vnto þe castel wiþ gle & game –[935]
A fole þai wende he were.
‘Of beggers mo þan sexti’
Horn seyd ‘maister am Y
& aske þe þe[r] mete
Þat y mote, & oþer þre, [940] [ mote: MS reads more.]
Today in þine halle be
When folk is gon to sete;
Þan y wil folwe þe ham,
& þat y mot wiþ þe gan,
In atte castel ȝete.’[945]
Þe king him hiȝt sikerly
‘Þou schalt in þe halle by,
To haue þere þi mete.’ [ þi: MS reads his.]
Þer was mani riche gest
Diȝt vnto þat frely fest,[950]
Of douhti folk in lond;
Atte ȝate was strong þrast,
Horn wald nouȝt be þe last,
In for to gange.
Þe porter cald him herlot swain[955]
& he put him oȝain
Þerout for to stand. [The scribe writes this line continuously with line 956.]
Horn brust opon him so
His scholderbon he brak ato
& in anon he þrange. [960] [ þrange: r is superscript.]
Kokes hadde þe mete grayd; [f.323ra] [Image]
Þe bord was sett, þe cloþ was layd,
To benche ȝede þo bold;
Þe trompes ȝede, þe glewemen pleyd,
Þe bischopes had þe grace yseyd,[965]
As miri men of molde.
Þer was mani a riche man,
Mete & drink wel gode wan,
To alle þat ete wolde;
Horn sat & litel ete,[970]
Michel he þouȝt & more he speke,
For fole men schuld him hold.
Þan was þe lawe, soþe to say,
Þe bride schuld þe first day
Seruen atte mete;[975]
Hendelich þan serued scho
As a maiden schuld do,
Horn bigan to speke
‘Maiden, ȝif þi wille be,
To Godes men schustow se,[980]
Þou no ouȝtest hem nouȝt forȝete.
& seþþen þe kniȝtes schul turnay
For to loke whoso may
Þe maistri of hem ȝete.’ [Mills (1988) relocates lines 982-4, placing them after line 975.]
Forþ sche went, þat maiden fre,[985]
& feched drink þat men miȝt se
To þat beggere.
‘For Hornnes loue, y pray þe,
Go nouȝt ar þis drunken be,
ȝif euer he was þe dere.’[990]
Þe maiden bi him stille stode,
To here of Horn hir þouȝt it gode,
He lay hir hert ful nere.
Of þe coppe he drank þe wine,
Þe ring of gold he kest þerinne[995]
‘Bi tokening, lo, it here.’
‘A, sely man, þe þrestes sare;
Þou schalt haue a drink mare,
Gode wine schal it be.’
Anoþer drink sche him bare,[1000]
Sche asked ȝif Horn þerin ware.
‘ȝa, certes’ þan seyd he.
Nas sche bot a litel fram him gon
Þat sche ne fel adoun anon –
Now swoneþ þat fre. [f.323rb] [Image] [1005]
Kniȝtes hir to chaumber ledde,
When sche lay opon hir bedde
Sche seyd ‘clepe Haþerof to me. [ Sche: MS reads Scle.]
Kniȝtes, goþ into halle swiþe
& bid þe kinges make hem bliþe,[1010]
Þat y wold wel fain;
Haþerof, go into þe erber swiþe
& geder paruink & iue,
Greses þat ben of main.
Certeynli as y ȝou say[1015]
Horn is in þis halle today;
Y wende he hadde ben slain.
Moioun king schal neuer spede
For to haue mi maidenhede
Now Horn is comen oȝain.[1020]
Haþerof, go into halle & se;
In seli pouer wede is he,
Y pray þe knowe him riȝt;
Say him treuþe pliȝt er we;
Bid him’ sche seyd ‘as he is fre[1025]
Hold þat he bihiȝt;
Bidd him go & me abide
Riȝt vnder ȝon wode side
As he is trewe kniȝt.
When al þis folk is gon to play[1030]
He & y schal stele oway
Bitvene þe day & þe niȝt.’
Haþerof into halle ȝode
For to bihald þat frely fode,
Ful wele he knewe his viis.[1035]
Opon his fot hard he stode,
Horn þouȝt þe tokening gode,
Vp he gan to arise.
Forþ þai ȝede þo kniȝtes bold,
Haþerof þe maidens erand told,[1040]
Of trewe loue Horn was wiis
‘Y schal com into þe feld wiþ pride
An hundred kniȝtes bi mi side,
Milke white is mi queintise.
Bot, Haþerof, þou most me schawe[1045]
Wharbi y schal Wikard knawe;
His buffeyt schal be bouȝt.’
‘He haþ queintise white so snawe
Wiþ foules blac as ani crawe, [f.323va] [Image]
Wiþ silke werk it is wrouȝt;[1050]
Moioun queintise [i]s ȝalu & wan,
Sett wiþ pekok & wiþ swan,
Þat he wiþ him haþ brouȝt;
Wikeles queintise is ȝalu & grene,
Floure de liis sett bitvene;[1055]
Him forȝete þou nouȝt.’
Now is Haþerof comen oȝain
& seyd he haþ Horn sain
& what folk he haþ brouȝt,
& after was armes he gan frain; [1060] [ was: Mills emends to his.]
Was neuer Rimnild ere so fain,
In hert no in þouȝt.
‘Haþerof, go into halle swiþe
& bid mi fader make him bliþe
& say icham sike nouȝt.[1065]
Wikard þat is leue to smite
Horn schal him his dettes quite,
Toniȝt it schal be bouȝt.’
When þai hadde eten þan were þai boun,
Wiþ spere oloft & gonfainoun,[1070]
Al armed were þo bold.
Wiþ trump & tabourun out of toun,
Þus þai redde þe riȝt roun,
Ich man as he wold.
‘An erl out of Cornwayle[1075]
Oȝain Moioun, saun faile,
Þe turnament schal hold.’
& Horn com into þe feld wiþ pride,
An hundred kniȝtes bi his side,
In rime as it is told.[1080]
Horn of [her] coming was wel wise
& knewe hem bi her queyntise,
Anon þai counterd þo;
Moioun king haþ tint þe priis,
Vnder his hors fete he liis,[1085]
Horn wald him nouȝt slo.
To sir Wigard his swerd he weued,
Euen ato he cleue his heued –
His box he ȝalt him þo.
Out he smot Wigles eiȝe –[1090]
Traitours þat er leue to liȝe, [ er: written at the end of line, but no insertion point marked.]
Men schal hem ken so.
Þat day Horn þe turnament wan [f.323vb] [Image]
Fro Moioun & mani a man
Wiþ kniȝtes stiþe on stede;[1095]
He toke þe gre þat was a swan
& sent to Rimnild his leman,
To hir riche mede.
To Houlac king Horn gan wende
& þonked him as his frende[1100]
Of his gode dede
‘Þou feddest me & forsterd to man.’
He maked Wikel telle out þan
His lessinges & his falshed.
Moioun king is iuel diȝt –[1105]
Tint he haþ þat swete wiȝt –
& wold ben oway.
Horn þat hadde hir treuþe pliȝt
Wedded hir þat ich niȝt
And al opon a day[1110]
Now is Rimnild tviis wedde,
Horn brouȝt hir to his bedde;
Houlac king gan say
‘Half mi lond ichil þe ȝiue
Wiþ mi douȝter while y liue[1115]
& al after mi day.’
Fiue days sat her fest
Wiþ mete & drink riche & onest,
In boke as we rede.
Forþ, as we telle in gest,[1120]
Horn lete sende est & west
His folk to batayle bede,
Into Norþhumberland for to fare
To winne þat his fader ware
Wiþ kniȝtes stiþe on stede.[1125]
Wiþ erl, baroun & wiþ swain,
To winne his fader lond oȝain,
ȝif Crist him wold spede.
Michel frely folk was þare
Into Norþhumberland to fare[1130]
Wiþ stedes wite & broun.
Horn wald for no man spare
To winne al þat his fader ware,
Boþe tour & toun.
When Þorbrond herd þis,[1135]
Þat Horn to lond ycomen is ... [ lond: d is written superscript with caret mark.]