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Assumption of Our Lady, by Various

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Title: King Horn, Floriz and Blauncheflur, The Assumption of Our Lady

Author: Various

Editor: J. Rawson Lumby
        George H. McKnight

Release Date: May 15, 2013 [EBook #42713]

Language: English

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[Transcriber's note:

This text is intended for users whose text readers cannot use the "real"
(Unicode/UTF-8) version of the file. Characters that could not be fully
displayed have been "unpacked" and shown in brackets:

  In primary text:
  [Gh] [gh] yogh
  [l~l] final "ll" with connecting line
  [h-] h with line through ascender

  In editorial material:
  [e,] [e.] [o,] [o.] vowels with under-dot or hook
  [-e,] _and similar_: long vowels, as above
  [-y] long y
  [-] long  (printed with circumflex, see below)
  [)a] [)] [)e] vowels with breve or "short" mark
  [)-e] _and similar_: vowels with combined breve and macron
  [e^a] [e^o] "ea" and "eo" with single long circumflex
  [ch] Greek letter chi

Except for these characters, and footnote markers and Transcriber's
Notes, brackets are in the original.

Long vowels other than y and  are shown as printed, with circumflex
used as macron. The "oe" ligature has been silently expanded to two
letters.

In the Trentham MS. of Floriz and Blauncheflur, and a few times in
the Assumption, some letters were printed with "end flourishes" (see
Introduction under "Manuscripts"). All are shown here as a free-standing
tilde ~ after the letter.

In the primary texts, italics representing editorial expansions are
shown with {braces}. Roman (non-italic) words within italic passages are
shown the same way. Other italics are shown conventionally with _lines_.
Boldface is shown as #A#, #B#. Large initial letters are shown with
double or triple preceding + as ++Horn, +++Alle to avoid "breaking" the
text. The number of + signs reflects the size of the original (two lines
or more).

Footnotes have been numbered continuously through the Introduction, and
separately for each of the three original texts. For mechanical reasons
some footnotes in the primary text will seem to be out of order. Line
numbering is by multiples of 4.

See the end of the e-text for details about differences between the
e-text and the printed book.]




  King Horn,
  Floriz and Blauncheflur,
  The Assumption of our Lady.


  Early English Text Society.
  Original Series, No. 14

  1866 (re-edited 1901; reprinted 1962)

  Price 30s.




                   KING HORN,

            FLORIZ AND BLAUNCHEFLUR,

           THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY.


             First Edited in 1866
              BY J. RAWSON LUMBY,

    And Now Re-Edited From The Manuscripts,
    With Introduction, Notes, And Glossary,
                       by
              GEORGE H. McKNIGHT.


                _Published for_
         THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
                    _by the_
            OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
          London  New York  Toronto




  First Published (Edited by J. Rawson Lumby) 1866
  Re-edited by George H. McKnight 1901
  Reprinted (1901 Version) 1962


  Original Series, No. 14

  Reprinted in Great Britain by Richard Clay and Company, Ltd.,
  Bungay, Suffolk.




CONTENTS.

                                                        Page
  Preface                                                 vi
  Introduction                                           vii
  King Horn, from three MSS.:
      Cambr. Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2                        1
      Laud Misc. MS. 108                                   1
      Harl. MS. 2253                                       1
  Floris and Blauncheflur, from three MSS.:
      Trentham Ms                                         71
      Ms. Cott. Vitell. D. III                        74, 84
      Cambridge MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2                          80
  The Assumption of Our Lady, from three MSS.:
      Cambr. Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2                      111
      Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 10,036                         111
      Harl. MS. 2382                                     118
  Notes                                                  137
  Glossary                                               155




PREFACE.


The triple labour involved in editing three independent works in one
volume will, it is hoped, serve as an excuse for some of the
shortcomings of the present publication. Under the circumstances it has
been impossible to make the work as definitive as might have been the
case with a single text. For example, while I have been able to print
the three existing manuscript texts of King Horn, of the other two
poems, the textual material is not nearly so complete.

The texts, it is hoped, are accurately printed. The credit for this is
due, in large measure, to Dr. Furnivall,--who has read with the MSS. the
proofs of all the British Museum texts,--and to the proof-readers at
Oxford and Cambridge. The notes to King Horn represent a good deal of
labour, and may, Itrust, prove useful. The glossary, though not so
complete as that in Wissmann's excellent critical edition of King Horn,
is intended to fit the volume, and to supply explanation of words and
uses of words not intelligible to ordinary readers of Early English
Texts.

It is my pleasant duty to acknowledge assistance from various quarters.
I am indebted to the libraries of the British Museum and Cambridge
University, and the Bodleian library at Oxford for the use of
manuscripts; also to the Duke of Sutherland for permission to copy the
text of Floris and Blauncheflur from the manuscript in his private
library; also to the Cornell University library for conveniences placed
at my disposal in the preparation of this volume. Imust also
acknowledge timely words of advice from Prof. J. M. Hart, notes on
Layamon from Dr. B. S. Monroe, and assistance in proof-reading by Prof.
W. Strunk, jr. But above all I must acknowledge the less apparent work
of Dr. Furnivall in preparing the texts for press, a work the amount of
which one who has not edited for the E.E.T.S. is not likely to realize.

  G. H. M. K.

  _Ithaca, N.Y., July 8, 1901._




INTRODUCTION.


KING HORN.

   1. _Setting of the Story_, p. vii.
   2. _Versions_, p. viii.
   3. _Elements of the Story_, p. xvi.
   4. _Topography_, p. xvii.
   5. _Style_, p. xx.
   6. _Versification_, p. xxi.
   7. _Dialect_, p. xxiv.
   8. _Manuscripts_, p. xxviii.


 1. SETTING OF THE STORY.

By the beginning of the 13th century, when literature in the English
tongue began to show some signs of revival, the earlier English epic
tales seem to have been almost entirely obliterated from memory. A
solitary survival seems to have been the story of the dragon-killing
Wade with his famous boat Guingelot; but even this story is lost to us
save for occasional references,[I-1] and from these we must infer that
all definite idea of its origin was lost, since Wade is associated, now
with Weyland, now with Horn and Havelok, now with Lancelot. The place of
these earlier epic tales was filled in Middle English times by a new set
of tales for the most part no longer of purely native, popular origin.
Tales were imported from every conceivable quarter, though usually by
way of France, and even in the popular romances of Guy of Warwick and
Bevis of Hampton, which are supposed to contain a kernel of genuine
English tradition, the original story is almost unrecognizable amid the
embellishments added. Similarly in the stories of Waldef and Hereward
the historical facts are almost lost amid this mass of added foreign
matter, and in the late romance of Richard Coeur de Lion we have to do,
not with the historical Richard, but with a conventionalized hero of
medival romance.

Standing apart from these largely conventionalized tales are the stories
of Havelok and King Horn. These are supposed to have been among the
first products of the second growth of English story. They seem to
preserve, more than the other, later romances, their primitive traits,
and are hence usually classed as English, or Germanic, in origin.

    [Footnote I-1: Cf. Skeat's Chaucer. Note to Marchaundes Tale 1424,
    and Tr. and C. iii, 614.]


 2. VERSIONS.

The story of Horn is known in several different versions. Of these the
one printed in the present volume is the oldest and in many respects the
most archaic. The story, which it will be unnecessary to summarize here,
is told in a simple, direct style with a noticeable lack of unnecessary
description inserted for embellishment. The explanation of the peculiar
features of this version is no doubt to be found in the purpose for
which this version was used. It was probably intended to be sung, as one
would infer from the opening lines, and perhaps is such a song, or
ballad, as the one which, as the French version informs us (R.H. 2776
ff. cf. p. xiv. below), Horn sang about his love Rigmenil. The manner of
the narrative is determined by the song character of the poem. There is
more detail than in a modern song, at the same time less detail than in
a modern story. Events are sometimes simply referred to as though
already known instead of being fully described. The bravery of Murry,
Horn's father, is alluded to in such a manner as to lead one to expect
to hear more about his feats of prowess. No motive is given for the
journey to Ireland. We are conducted from place to place with Horn, from
Aylmer's court in Westernesse to that of Thurston, or from Horn's
wedding feast at Aylmer's court to the annihilation of the Saracen
invaders of Suddenne, almost in a breath. In this way sometimes
incidents are thrown absurdly out of perspective. For instance, when
Horn wishes to 'prove his knighthood' (v.588), while the others are at
table, he sets out on his 'fole,' and at the seashore finds a shipload
of _heene honde_. He slays about a hundred of them. _At eureche dunte
e heued of wente._ He fixes the leader's head on the point of his sword
and thus returns to the hall. All this, which forms the matter for about
four hundred twelve-syllabled lines in the more prolix French version,
is here related in an off-hand manner, in about forty short lines. The
pitched battle of the French version becomes here a mere after-dinner
recreation. It would be possible to multiply instances (cf.pp. x-xii)
showing the abridged character of the present version.

Very different from the English gleeman's version, is the highly
elaborated French version of the story. This version,[I-2] which is
preserved in three MSS. at Oxford, at Cambridge, and at London, consists
of about 5250 lines of twelve syllables, arranged in _laisses_, or
strophes, of about twenty lines bound together by a single rime. Here we
have a full-fledged romance, with descriptions of rich adornments, of
feastings, of battles, of games, and of tournaments quite in the manner
of the contemporary romances current in France and in Norman England.
The archaic traits of the English King Horn are no longer so obvious.
The names of persons and of places, with the exception of those of Horn,
Rymenhild: Rigmel (Rigmenil), Fiken(h)ild: Wikele, Modi: Modin,
Westernesse: Westir (Yrlaunde), and Sudden(n)e, are quite different in
the two versions.

But with all this difference of detail, the story in its essential
elements is the same in the two versions. Wissmann,[I-3] in the
introduction to his critical edition, says, "der franzsische roman
(R.H.) weist kein einziges notwendiges bindeglied, keinen schnen
altertmlichen zug auf, den das englische gedicht, King Horn (K.H.)
nicht enthielte; dieses dagegen hat trotz seines geringen umfanges, eine
reiche von alten, wahrhaft poetischen motiven jenem voraus." And
further, "aus alle dem ergibt sich, dass K.H. keine bearbeitung des
franzsischen romans sein kann." Wissmann's further conclusions,
however, are less tenable, when he continues: "das umgekehrte
verhltniss dagegen ist nicht nur denkbar, sondern bis zu einem gewissen
grade sogar notwendig; eine ltere quelle als das lied von King Horn fr
R.H. vorauszusetzen sind wir durch nichts berechtigt."

Limited space forbids a thorough-going comparison of the two versions.
The essential elements of the story are in each case nearly the same. In
the French version (R.H.) again Horn the prince with his companions is
set afloat from Suddenne in an open boat, arrives in Bretaigne, is
hospitably received by King Hunlaf, is loved by the princess Rigmenil,
from whom he receives a magic ring, is betrayed by Wikele, one of his
companions, and is exiled from Bretaigne. He takes ship for Westir, the
court of King Godreche, and is well received by the king and his two
sons. He distinguishes himself in all things, and is loved and wooed by
the princess Lemburc. But after delivering the Irish kingdom (Westir)
from an African invasion, he is recalled by a messenger to Bretaigne,
where, after vanquishing his rival Modun in a tournament, he rescues
Rigmenil and himself plays the part of bridegroom at the wedding
prepared. He then repairs to Suddenne, and after ridding his father's
kingdom of the invaders, is warned in a dream of Wikele's second
treachery, and returns again just in time to save his bride from a
forced marriage with Wikele. With the death of Wikele and the
establishment of Horn's loyal friend Haderof (Athulf) in Ireland and of
Horn and Rigmenil in Suddenne, the French story ends.

In addition to this similarity in general outline must be mentioned
occasional parallelism between the two versions in minor details or even
in phraseology. As instances of the first we may cite: _Of his feire
si[gh]te Al e bur gan li[gh]te_ K.H. 385-6; _De la belte de horn tute
la chambre resplent._ R.H. 1053. _Drink to horn of horne_ K.H. 1145;
_Mes com apelent horn li engleis naturer_ R.H. 4206. _He lokede on his
rynge And o[gh]te on Rymenhilde_ K.H. 873-4; _Si regarde sa main e
lanel kest gemme[gh]_. _Ke li fud de Rimel al departir done[gh]_ R.H.
3166-7. _And whan u farst to wo[gh]e tak him ine gloue_ K.H. 793-4;
_Mes une rien uus di joe dont seie[gh] purgardez, Si alez donneier ke
oue uus nel menez Kar il est de beaute issi enluminez ke uus la v il
iert petit serre[gh] preise[gh]_ R.H. 2323-6. _Biuore me to kerue And
of e cupe serue_ K.H. 233-4; _Horn me seruira vi de ma cupe portant_
R.H. 463. As instances of phrases from King Horn reflected in R.H.,
we may cite: _Stiwarde, tak nu here Mi fundlyng for to lere Of ine
mestere, Of wude and of riuere_ K.H. 227-30; _De bois de riueer refet
il altre tal_ R.H. 377. _Wiute sail and roer_ K.H. 188; _Kil naient
auirun dunt a (!) seient aidan[gh] Sigle ne guuernad (!) dunt il seint
naian[gh]_ R.H. 60-61. _Ston he dude lade, ant lym erto he made_ K.H.
1502H. _Vn castel ad ia fet de pere e de furment_ R.H. 5097. These
instances, which might be multiplied, will serve to show how closely
related in origin are these two versions, English and French.

The identity of the two versions is, however, by no means complete. The
more condensed version (K.H.) presents some traits not to be found in
R.H. We may mention: Horn's farewell to his boat, 139 ff.; Rimenhild's
assistance in bringing about the dubbing of Horn, 435 ff.; Rimenhild's
dream, 651 ff.; Horn's charge to Athulf to care for Rimenhild, 743 ff.;
the drowning of the messenger from Rimenhild to Horn, 968 ff.; the
palmer's account of Rimenhild's grief, 1035 ff.; Athulf's watching from
the tower, 1091 ff.; Horn's fictitious tale to Rimenhild of his own
death, 1175 ff.

If K. H. offers these few traits independent of R. H., the latter,
longer narrative introduces episode after episode either barely
suggested in a single line of K.H., or entirely foreign to the English
version. For example, we may mention: the more circumstantial account of
Horn's descent, and of the heroic death of Aaluf, 250 ff.; Rimel's
amusing method of wheedling Athelfrus into bringing Horn to her, 604
ff.; her confidences to her maid Herselot, 729 ff.; the elaborate
account of Horn's victory over Malbroin and Rodmund, 1295 ff.; Wikele's
contrived pretext for a quarrel with Horn, 1839 ff.; Horn's loathness to
take oath, though he is willing to vindicate his word by meeting in
combat any two or even five or six chosen antagonists, 1924 ff.; the
love of princess Lemburc for Horn, 2394 ff.; the stone-throwing contest,
2568 ff.; the game of chess, 2696 ff.; Lemburc's apartments, 2709 ff.;
the harp-playing, 2776 ff.; the elaborate battle description once more,
3234 ff.; the death of Egfer, 3358 ff.; the meeting of Horn with Wikele
and Modin, 4094 ff.; the tournament at Rimil's wedding, 4456 ff.; the
victory, with Hardre's aid, over the Saracens in Suddenne, 4604 ff.; the
touching description of Horn's meeting with his mother, 4882 ff.; the
besiegement of Hunlaf and Rimel by Wikele, 5100 ff.; the intervention of
Wikele's brother, Wothere, 5052 ff., etc.[I-4]

If the subject matter in the two versions is different, the style is far
more so. The simple, condensed, somewhat archaic manner of K.H. stands
in marked contrast to the sophisticated style of the French romance. The
difference is perhaps that to be expected between two versions, one
intended for English-speaking, the other for French-speaking
people.[I-5] But the difference is perhaps more largely that between
ballad and romance. In K.H. the author gives no evidence of himself
directly or indirectly, whereas Thomas, the author of R.H., continually
addresses his public in the second person and directly introduces his
personal opinion. The incidents which in K.H. are condensed almost to
unintelligibility, in R.H. are liberally supplied with motives and
explanations. The character of Rimenhild in K.H., almost wild in its
naturalness, suggests somewhat one of the female divinities of Germanic
mythology. Rimel, of the French romance, is an eminently sophisticated,
almost modern young woman who understands the arts of coaxing and of
coquetry.

The luxury and refinement described in the French version, contrast[I-6]
markedly with the primitive manners and surroundings suggested in the
English version. Rimenhild shares her single sleeping-room with her six
maidens; Rimel has so many maids that these have private rooms, Rimel
keeping by her only her one trusted maid. Rimenhild on her wedding day,
has four maid attendants; Rimel, thirty. King Murry's retinue consists
of two knights, and the sons of the king of Westir appear to have been
without retinue; in R.H. the two princes in their _mesne prive_ have
_vingt de gens ben escerne_. Even the seneschal of King Hunlaf has
twenty knights in his retinue. Stimming further points out the
feudalistic relations existing between Horn and his companions in R.H.
(aswell as in H.C.) of which one can hardly detect a trace in K.H.
Further the author of the romance, quite in keeping with the conventions
of contemporary romances, has introduced and elaborated descriptions of
battles and of sports and tournaments on every possible occasion. In
R.H. Horn is a _curteis_ knight, whose knightly honour forbids him to
take oath.

Stimming further points out the difference in cultivation of manner as
reflected in the love-making scenes of the two versions. When Athulf is
introduced to Rimenhild's bower, _Anon vpon Aulf child Rymenhild gan
wexe wild_, K.H. 295-6, she has him seat himself on her bed, embraces
him, and offers herself as his bride. Rimel, on the other hand, who
before Aulf's coming has carefully regarded the glass, _pur veer sa
belted, Pur saver de su vis cum il est culured_, on his appearance,
takes him by the hand, leads him to a seat, seats herself beside him,
and then expresses the wish, "_Bels amis, ds ore voil estre mise en
vostre justise_," politely adding, "_si vostre plaisir est_."

All this, Stimming concludes, is an unmistakable evidence of the later
time of R.H.'s composition. Granting the truth of this conclusion, the
difference of treatment in the two versions is also no doubt in part due
to the difference in the public for which each version was intended, and
also still more, perhaps, to the difference in function of the two
works. It must be noted that K.H. is a popular ballad-like poem perhaps
of the kind referred to in R.H., while the French R.H. is an
artificial and conventionalized romance of prowess and love.

That the ballad-like version K. H., simple, even primitive in matter, in
manner, and in metrical form, should have been derived from the
sophisticated, artificial romance, R.H. deserves little consideration.
On the other hand that the artificial romance should have been derived
from the simple ballad-like story, incomplete in its record of details,
is even more unworthy of consideration, though quite probably Thomas,
the French romancer, may have been to some extent influenced by this
English version, with which he was probably acquainted, as we may infer
from the following passage:

  _Mes un lai ai oi dunt ioe sai la meitie
  Si iol sousse tut, par ma crestiente
  En cest nostre pais nad taunt bone cite
  Ki tant me fust a main e  ma uolente
  Ke ainz ne la perdisse ke lousse ublie
  . . . . . . . . . . . .
  Mut en auez oi parler en cest regne
  E de lamur de horn ke ele od taunt ame
  . . . . . . . . . . . .
  Coe est ueir dist Guffer, Rigmel est mut lo
  Bele soeur de beaute en meinte cuntr
  E de horn ai oi meinte feiz renom
  Quil est pruz e uallanz e corteis sanz poun._

    R. H. 2783-2801.

The French romance is no doubt constructed from an English story, as we
may infer from the proper names, which in general seem to be Germanic
in origin, from occasional English words, _e.g._ _welcume[gh]_ 800,
_wite God_, _wrec_ 150, etc., from references to English such as, _Mes
com apelent horn li engleis_, R.H. 4206, and especially from the
general features of the story which seem to be Germanic. Further, "in
the introduction to the French romance of Waldelf we are informed that
the romance of Horn was taken from an English original" (T.Wright,
Essays on Middle Ages, I, 102. London, 1846). The English gleeman's
version quite likely was composed directly from oral tradition, while
the romance rests upon some version of the story, the "_parchemin_" so
often referred to. This hypothetical version, judging from the identity
of the story in its main outline with that in K.H., must be the version
upon which R.H. rests also, or must rest upon the same tradition with
K.H.

A third version of the story of Horn is the romance of Horn Childe and
Maiden Rimnild, the only copy of which is the incomplete one contained
in the famous collection of the Auchinleck MS. of the 14th century. (One
leaf lost in the middle and one or two at the end.) Of this romance,
which is composed in twelve-lined strophes, _rime coue_, there are
preserved 1136 lines, that is to say, 96 strophes, not all complete. The
story, very briefly summarized, is as follows:

Haeolf, king of "_al Ingelond fram Humber nor_," has one son named
Horn. To Horn Haeolf gives eight companions and puts all under the
instruction of Arlaund. Haeolf annihilates a host of Danish invaders,
but within nine months is again attacked, this time by three kings from
Ireland, and after an heroic fight, in which he slays five thousand, is
stoned to death, and "_an erle of Northumberland_" seizes the kingdom.

Herlaund conducts the nine boys "_fer soue in Inglond_," where they
are received by Houlac the king. The king's only daughter, Rimneld,
loves him and asks Herlaund to bring Horn to her bower. As in the other
versions, Arlaund first brings Haerof, but the second time brings Horn
to Rimneld, and the princess gives Horn rich presents, and promises to
be his if he shall be dubbed knight. But Wikard and Wikel, two of Horn's
companions, calumniate Horn and Rimneld to the king, and Horn is
banished. After vain attempts at a reconciliation with the king, he
takes leave of Rimneld, who gives him a ring with a magic stone:

  "_When e ston wexe wan
  an chaunge e ought of i leman
  When e ston wexe rede
  an haue y lorn mi maidenhed._"

Horn takes the name of Godebounde, has heroic adventure in the forest,
wins a great tournament in Wales, then crosses over to Ireland, and
delivers king Finlawe (Finlak) from his enemy, Malkan, the one who had
slain Horn's father. Atula, Finlak's daughter, loves Horn, but he
remains true to Rimneld, notices that the stone in his ring has turned
pale, and with a hundred knights, crosses over into England in time to
save Rimneld from marrying King Moioun, overthrows Moioun in the
tournament, slays Wigard and smites out the eye of the false Wi[gh]el,
Wigard's brother. Horn marries Rimneld, and, after five days of
feasting, makes ready a force to go into _North-Humberland_ to win back
his father's kingdom. The single MS. ends abruptly at this point.

It will be seen that the main outline of the story as told in the other
two versions, is here preserved, but with many modifications, with some
omissions and some additions. The scene of action has shifted. We hear
no more of the to us obscure names Suddenne and Westir; the whole action
takes place in the British isles. The names of the persons, too, are
greatly transformed, Horn and Rimneld, and possibly Moioun being about
the only names common to all the versions. The whole introduction of the
present version, dealing with the bravery and death of Haeolf, Horn's
father, which forms about a quarter of this romance version as preserved
to us, is entirely strange to K.H. and to R.H. Other features peculiar
to H. C. are: Haeolf's instructions to the boy companions of Horn, to
bear fealty to Horn, 137 ff.; the fine gifts and rich entertainment by
Rimnild of Herlaund and Haderof and, later, of Horn, 330 ff., 377 ff.;
the manner of the courtship, where Horn no longer plays the reluctant
part, urging his poverty as an excuse, 373 ff.; the episode of the
departure of Horn's companions Tebeaud, Winwald, Garins and Aelston for
foreign lands, 445 ff. Wikel here does not accuse Horn of designs on the
king's life and kingdom, 486 ff. Horn remains at home from the hunting,
not to visit Rimnild, but "_for blodeleteing, Al for a maladye_." 485
ff. There is no Saracen invasion of Houlac's kingdom. Horn tries to
appease the king, 541 ff. The ring has a different function, 571 ff. The
ring it is that prompts Horn's return to Rimnild. Still other features
peculiar to this edition are: the heroic adventure in the forest, 613
ff.; the tournament at the court of Elidan in Wales, 664 ff.; and the
whole account of Horn's experiences in Ireland, the occasion of his
journey there, the character of the battle (inwhich Horn is wounded),
and the absence of mention of king Finlak's proposal to give his
daughter and kingdom to Horn.

All these independent traits in H. C. lead us to conclude that this
version must rest, directly or indirectly, on a tradition different from
that underlying K.H. and R.H. That, as Stimming thinks probable, the
writer "unmittelbar aus der sage selbst geschpft" seems unlikely
considering the highly sophisticated[I-7] nature and artificial form of
this version, and the frequent remarks of the author, "_in boke as we
rede_," etc. More likely it rests directly on an earlier version of the
story, which in its turn rests on a Northern tradition of the story.
That such a Northern tradition existed we have evidence in the Scottish
ballads of Hind Horn [Child's (F.J.) English and Scottish Ballads.
Boston, 1882-84], which while emphasizing only one element, the
separation of the two lovers and their reunion through the agency of the
magic ring, agree with the H. C. version rather than with that of K.H.
and R.H.

What, then, is the relation of H. C. to K. H. and to R. H.? Wissmann
says, apparently with truth: "Das Gedicht von Horn Childe hat von dem
Gehalt des K.H. nichts bewahrt, was nicht auch R.H. htte." On the
other hand H. C. has a number of important traits in common with R.H.,
for instance, the names: Herland (R.H.); Herlaund, Arlaund, Harlaund,
Arlond, etc. (H.C.); Allof (R.H.); Haeolf (H.C.); Wikel (R.H.);
Wi[gh]el (H.C.); Haerof (R.H.); Haderof (H.C.) and Hunlaf (R.H.);
Houlac (H.C.); further, Haderof's ignorance of Herland's intention to
palm him off as Horn, the love of the Irish princess for Horn, Horn's
meeting with Moioun (Moging) and Wikard, and his riddle of the net told
here, the tournament and the contest between Horn and Moioun, Horn's
thanks to king Houlac (Hunlaf). From the considerable French element in
the vocabulary of H. C., including frequent rime words, the French form
Cornwayle riming with the French phrase _saun faile_, it is reasonable
to suppose that the author was acquainted with French, and the general
tone of the romance, the feudalism inculcated by King Haeolf, 133 ff.,
the tournaments and the general air of luxury in addition to the
above-mentioned striking traits in common with R.H., suggest almost
inevitably that the author of H. C. must have been acquainted with, and
influenced by, the French version.

The Scottish ballads of Hind Horn (cf. Child, as above, I, 187), as said
above, emphasize only one element of the original story, namely, the
separation of Horn and the princess, and their reunion through the
agency of the magic ring. The story in Hind Horn agrees more closely
(notably in the function of the ring, peculiar to the Northern versions)
with H. C. than with R.H. or K.H., and seems to rest, along with H.
C., on a northern version of the story.

The later French romance _Ponthus et la belle Sidoine_ is an adaptation
of the French version (R.H.) of the Horn story. It is purely an
artificial product based on R.H., and has little bearing on the origin
and history of the version in hand. It is interesting in this connection
as showing how possible it is to tell the same story with different
names, the only name in common between R.H., and the adaptation being
that of the steward Herlant. (Cf.English translation, King Ponthus and
the Fair Sidone, edited by F. J. Mather, Publ. of the Mod. Lang. Assoc.
of America, xii, 1-150.) The story of Ponthus also appears in a German
_Volksbuch_ (cf.Simrock, I. 1ff.).

    [Footnote I-2: Brede (R.) und Stengel (E.). _Das agn. Lied vom
    wackern Ritter Horn._ Ausg. u. Abh. VIII. Marburg, 1883. Also Fr.
    Michel. For the Bannatyne Club, 1845.]

    [Footnote I-3: Wissmann (Th.), Quell. u. Forsch. XVI. Strassburg,
    1876.]

    [Footnote I-4: For complete list of traits peculiar to R. H. cf.
    J. Caro, in Eng. Stud. xii, 331-2.]

    [Footnote I-5: Cf. the relation of the English version of Fl. and
    Bl. to the French original.]

    [Footnote I-6: Cf. Stimming. Review of Wissmann's ed. of K. H.
    Engl. Stud. i, 357 ff.]

    [Footnote I-7: The author of H. C. endeavours to be realistic.
    There are no more vague terms, like _Sarazins_, etc. Further,
    there is a parallelism with the story of Harold, suggesting that
    this version has been influenced by historical events.]


 3. ELEMENTS OF THE STORY.

The story of Horn, it is generally believed, had its origin in the
turbulent times of the Danish invasions, but the kernel of genuine
historical tradition is probably small. How the different elements in
such a story aggregate, we can plainly see in the case of the
_Hereward_: "The writer of the life of Hereward," according to Wright,
"had, among other sources of information, the work of the presbyter,
Leofric, Hereward's archdeacon. This Leofric, he tells us, occupied
himself in collecting for the edification of his hearers, all the acts
of the giants and warriors from the fables of the ancients, or, in the
instance of more modern heroes, from the trustworthy relations of those
who had known them, and in writing them in English that they might be
preserved in people's memories." In this way grew the _Hereward_ story,
and in a similar manner, we may suppose, that the story of Horn
attracted to itself many new and foreign elements, receiving its
development and final form probably at the hands of the _jongleurs_, or
gleemen, whom we are to think of as wandering widely and gathering
romantic material from the most remote regions.

In another place (Publ. of the Mod. Lang. Assoc. of America, xv.
221-232) I have attempted to point out some of the 'Germanic elements'
in the story. It seems possible to distinguish two essential elements in
the story: (1) Horn's expulsion from his kingdom and his return and
avengement of his father's death; (2) the separation and reunion of the
faithful lovers. Of these elements the first seems to be especially
Germanic. At least historic incidents which might supply the nucleus for
such a tale were particularly common in connection with the continual
wars between Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and also with the invasions of
England, Danish and Norman. (Cf.the death of Beaduheard. Eng. Chron.
(Winch.) a. 787, also the death of Aethelwulf at hands of Danes, avenged
by his brother Aethelstan. Gaimar, 2391ff.) The second element also may
have been of Germanic origin, though it has become greatly
conventionalized and has come to be the more prominent element in the
story. The minor features of the story, though often purely
conventional, and, therefore, belonging to no distinct nationality, at
times show Germanic traits, as for instance in the _comitatus_ relation
existing between Horn and his followers, in the manner of wooing and of
wedding, in the etiquette of the feasts, in the etiquette of the duel,
and in the formal challenge on the part of a champion of an invading
host, to a duel upon the result of which shall depend the marriage of a
princess or the fate of a kingdom (cf.Mod. Lang. Assoc. Publ., as
above, pp. 228-231).

The story as it is preserved in K. H., the earliest of existing
versions, is no doubt a greatly expanded form of the original nucleus.
The timely rescue of the princess from a forced marriage, which in the
Scottish ballad has been preserved at the expense of the complete loss
of the other element, the recovery of the kingdom and the avengement of
the father's death, even in the earlier K.H. version has come quite to
overshadow the recovery and revenge element. It seems very probable also
that there has been a duplication of the rescue scene, due either to the
desire of the _jongleur_, or minstrel, to repeat a successful climax, or
to a blending of two versions of the same story, a not at all uncommon
feature in such romances,[I-8] and that the second rescue scene, with
its more archaic and more particularly Germanic features, represents the
sole turning-point in an earlier and simpler version, the first and more
conventional rescue scene being an expansion contributed by a later
composer. All this, which rests largely on conjecture, would assume for
the nucleus of the story a relatively simple incident in which there are
involved only two places, the kingdom from which the prince is expelled
and which he regains, and the kingdom where he finds refuge.

    [Footnote I-8: Cf. the seeming duplication of names, Rymenhild,
    Reymyld etc.; Reynild, Ermenyld, etc., all of which may have come
    from an original Eormenhild (cf.OE. Leechdoms), the variants
    being due to metathesis as in OE. _yrnan_: _rinnan_. Cf. also the
    explanation of Westernesse below, p. xx.]


 4. TOPOGRAPHY.

The topography of the Horn story offers some difficult but interesting
problems. In the northern version (H.C.) all is made relatively clear.
The author of this version assigns the events to very definite places.
Horn's father is king of "_al Ingelond fram Humber nor_." He repels a
Danish invasion on the east coast, and is slain by invaders from
Ireland. Horn and his companions take refuge "_fer soue in Inglond_."
Thence Horn goes in exile to Wales and later into Ireland. The Norman
_trouvre_, also, clarifies matters somewhat by assigning definite names
to two of the three kingdoms involved, Bretaigne and Westir (_Kiore est
Hirlonde lors westir fu apelee_, 2184,H). But both the Norman and the
older English versions have consistently the perplexing name Sudenne
(Sodenne); and the earlier English version has also the vague name
Westernesse (Westnesse), leaving as a certain starting-point in our
study of the topography only Yrlonde, also referred to as _westene lond_
(754H).

From internal evidence in King Horn we learn little that is definite
about the situation of Suddenne. In drifting from Suddenne to
Westernesse, Horn and his companions spend "_Al e day and al e
ni[gh]t, Til hit sprang dai li[gh]t_," K.H. 122-3; and again we are
told of the same voyage "_Dai hit is igon and oer, Wiute sail and
roer_," 187-8. On the return voyage to Suddenne, _Biinne daies fiue,
at schup gan ariue_, 1295-6. On hearing of Fikenhild's second treachery
Horn exclaims, "_Crist for his wundes fiue, To ni[gh]t me uder driue_,"
1423-4, and then, _Er an horn hit wiste, To fore e sunne vpriste, His
schup stod vndur ture At Rymenhilde bure_, 1435-39. From all which we
can only conclude that ideas of direction and distance are very vague in
the mind of the English composer.

In regard to the kingdom of Suddenne, some have thought that the name
must be connected with _Sudene_ mentioned in Beowulf, which would make
Suddenne refer to some place in northern Europe, possibly in Denmark.
(Parallelism with the _Havelok_ would also support this opinion.) But
neither the proper names of the story, nor the phonology of the word
Suddenne itself, support this view. Ward[I-9] suggests that the name is
a mere vague poetical designation, and brings together historical facts
and internal evidence in the attempt to determine the definite place. He
cites the name Hornesbeorh on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorsetshire, calls
attention to the phrase in King Horn, "_y come into is yle_," referring
to the Sarazin incursion in which Horn's father was killed, and from the
fact that "it was upon Dorsetshire that a descent of the Northmen took
place, which was the first recorded appearance in Wessex, and which
evidently made a great impression upon the people," concludes that
"Dorsetshire has a very fair claim to be considered the birthplace of
the Horn legend."

One is loath, however, to let go the only thread that seems to lead to
an explanation of the name Suddenne itself. Francisque Michel was the
first to point out that in the Brit. Mus. text of Gaimar's _L'estorie
des Engleis_, one reads that "_Edelbrit fu feit reis de Kent E de
Sudeine ensement_," vv. 955-6. In spite of the fact that the other three
versions have; one, Surrie, the other two Suthreie, one is tempted to
cling to this clew, and the fact that in the same manuscript later,
Gaimar, in referring to the same political division says,[I-10] "_Puis
regnat son fi[gh], E Adelstn, un rei gentils, Li uns out Westsexe, e
laltre Kent, Suthdreie, e Suthsexe ensement_, vv. 2388-91, gives ground
for the supposition that Sudeine[I-11] may refer collectively to Surrey
and Sussex. In that case the coast of Sussex was probably the scene of
the first act in the Horn drama.

Whichever of these views is the true one, we may be reasonably certain
that the Suddenne in the mind of the composer of K.H. lay on the south
coast of England. Knowing this, we may perhaps determine, at least
approximately, the situation of Westernesse. In the Harleian and Laud
MSS., the messenger sent to seek Horn, says, _Ich seche from Westnesse
horn knight of estnesse_," which indicates that the composer conceives
Westernesse to be west of Suddenne. Further it is very certain, as Ward
(asabove, p.449) points out, that an early version of the Horn story
has supplied several of the incidents of the _Hereward_. The influence
of the story of Horn on the _Hereward_ is particularly obvious in
chapters 4-6, where Hereward gets into trouble at the court of a king of
Cornwall named Alef, by killing a champion who had claimed the princess
in marriage; Hereward is imprisoned, but is released by the princess,
who sends him to her chosen lover, the son of a king of Ireland; a
letter subsequently reaches him, saying that she is about to be forced
into marriage with another Irish prince. Hereward reaches Cornwall
again, visits the bridal feast in disguise, and is presented with the
cup by the princess. "This," as Ward remarks, "is certainly some
evidence that the Westnesse or Westernesse of our poem may be taken to
signify Cornwall. The name, Aylmar (_i.e._ Athelmar), also does not
oppose this view. The name was a very common one in South England, and
was borne by two of the Aldermen of Devonshire, who seem to have had
some authority over Cornwall also, one about 930, another in the early
part of the 11th century, and both bearing the epithet 'Ailmer the
Great.'"

Another possible explanation of Westernesse may be suggested. The
duplication of names and incidents in Westernesse and Ireland has been
referred to above. The _-er_ suffix of Westernesse certainly suggests
the _-r_ termination in Westir (the name in R.H.), which is probably a
Norse name for Ireland (cf.the other Norse names in Ireland: Thurston,
Regnild, = Norse Ragnhilda, and Harild. Cf. also R.H. 2184H, quoted
above, p. xviii), and it is not at all impossible to conceive that in
the original, simpler form of the story, there were but two scenes to
this drama, and that Westernesse of the English version, and Westir of
the Norman version, alike refer to Ireland, only that on account of the
amplification of the story, one came to think of Aylmar's kingdom as in
England, and added a _-nesse_ to the Norse form Westir (Vestr) so as to
make the term fit a promontory on the western end of the south coast of
England, in Devonshire or in Cornwall.

    [Footnote I-9: Ward (H. L. W.), Catalogue of Romances in the
    British Museum, I, 450.]

    [Footnote I-10: Aethelwulf was King of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
    (Gaimar, 2391. Cf. also 2476, 2480-82). Aethelstan had Wessex, for
    see 2480-82. Aethelwulf was defeated by the Danes (2440-46), and
    was avenged by his brother Aethelstan, who defeated the Danes
    (2480-83).]

    [Footnote I-11: All three MSS. of K. H. say of Horn's father,
    "_king he wes by weste_," perhaps referring to this western
    division of the eastern kingdom. Asser visits Alfred at the
    latter's royal 'vill' which is called Denne. East Dene (orDean)
    and West Dene are two villages near Chichester. There are also two
    villages of the same name near Eastbourne.]


 5. STYLE.

As we have seen, the story of Horn belongs to a second growth of English
story. The manner of expression, and the general movement of the story
are quite different from those peculiar to Anglo-Saxon poetry, lacking
almost entirely the parallelism,--the appositional construction and the
heaped-up epithets, or _kennings_ of the earlier stories. With the large
French element in the vocabulary, there seems to have been introduced a
manner of expression more like the French than like the earlier English.
The movement is direct, and the imagery very simple and popular. Cf. _He
was bri[gh]t so e glas. He was whit so e flur, Rose red was his
colur_, 14-16, _Also blak so eny cole_, 624. _Also he sprunge of stone_,
1102, etc. In this respect King Horn is less closely linked with the
past than is Layamon's Brut, which was composed in the West Midlands,
where the OE. traditions in poetry persisted the longest. The Brut,
while presenting many of the modern features of manner and of phrase,
still preserves much of the manner of the past. There are in King Horn a
number of the conventionalized phrases, to be found also in Layamon
(cf.Notes to vv. 11, 67, 69, etc.), but the number of such instances is
much smaller than one would have expected, and if Layamon's West Midland
work represents an earlier stage than King Horn in the development from
the Anglo-Saxon manner of writing, the composer of Horn has certainly
been subjected to many new and modernizing influences.

The very element in common between Layamon and King Horn is, perhaps,
the new, the modern phraseology more often than the old phraseology
rooted in the past. While, then, there are but few traces of the older
English poetic phraseology, there is much in common between King Horn
and the romances of the 13th and 14th centuries. The language in King
Horn seems to be already again crystallizing into new conventional
forms. In spite of the different demands of the metre of Horn from those
of the later, more regular, forms of versification, there are a very
great number of stereotyped phrases common to King Horn and to the
contemporary and succeeding romances composed in the other metre. I have
brought together in the Notes a number of instances of this agreement in
phraseology. The minor elements, also, are often rather medival than
Anglo-Saxon, and the customs described, the princess's manner of
receiving visitors, the manner of salutation in meeting and in parting,
etc., if truly representing the manners of the time of the composition
of King Horn, soon became conventionalized and common to the whole body
of Middle English romance. (Cf.Notes to vv. 315, 319, 321, 403, 537,
739, etc.) In these respects the composer of K.H. no doubt at times
follows the conventional mode of composition of his time, but he is
probably also at times an innovator, for several scenes in Horn seem to
have been prototypes directly imitated in later romances in the
_Ipomydon_ and in the _Richard Coeur de Lion_. (Cf.Notes to 239 ff.,
264.)

On the whole, then, we see that the language of King Horn is much less
influenced, than one would expect, by older English models. The language
of the second growth of story seems to have fallen into new conventional
moulds quite independent of the older tradition.


 6. VERSIFICATION.

As we have seen, the phraseology of King Horn shows relatively little
trace of influence by the older English traditional stereotyped forms of
expression. In this respect if Layamon is the link connecting native
English poetry with the past, King Horn is the link joining to the newer
traditions of poetry, which were forming. For, as we have seen, if King
Horn has some phrases in common with Layamon, these are the modern forms
of expression more often than the phrases rooted in the older English
tradition. And, as we have seen, while King Horn has relatively little
of phraseology inherited from the past, it has a multitude of
stereotyped phrases in common with the poetry of contemporary and later
composition (cf.Notes). In the same way in versification, if Layamon is
the link connecting with the Anglo-Saxon mode of versification, King
Horn is the link connecting with the newer mode, of Romance or medival
Latin origin.

The exact theory of the versification of King Horn remains yet to be
established. Luick in his article in Paul's Grundriss offers the very
ingenious hypothesis that in the 'beginnings of English as well as of
German rimed verse, we have before us the coming to light again of the
primitive Teutonic measured song verse.' This hypothesis, though
ingenious and plausible, does not admit of verification, and it is
perhaps safer to adhere to the view of Schipper (Grundriss der
englischen Metrik), who sees in Layamon's verse the direct traditional
descendants of the OE. types, and in King Horn a further development of
the versification of Layamon.

We see then, probably, in the versification of King Horn a transitional
stage in the development of native English metre, connecting, as we have
seen, more closely with the future than with the past. It was probably
the occurrence in each verse of two syllables marked from the other
syllables by a stronger stress, that gave rise to a feeling of
uniformity in rhythm. This tendency toward uniformity in rhythm was
fostered by the regular introduction of rime, for since the riming
syllable naturally bore one of the two verse accents, and since the
riming syllables in two riming verses would occupy the same relative
position, hence in a riming verse the second of the two verse accents
must balance with that in the other verse of the pair, and the balance
established between the second pair of accents would naturally lead to a
complete balance between the two verses. In other words the two verses
would be levelled to the same rhythm.

The regular introduction of rime was, no doubt, attended by the gradual
loss of alliteration, which would cease to be significant as marking the
verse accent, since it could hardly be made to fall regularly on the
same syllable with the rime, and would hence be merely an unorganic
adornment of the verse. As the position of the two verse accents came to
be a fixed one, there seems to have been a tendency by raising some of
the syllables bearing merely a logical stress, to rhythmic importance,
thus to bring about a verse with regular measure.

The most natural products of this development are the two types: (1)
with three accents and feminine rime, the natural product of the OE. A,
D, and C metrical types, (2) with four accents and masculine rime, the
natural product of the OE. B and E types. These forms of verse were very
similar, as Schipper has pointed out (asabove, 39), to two popular
Romance forms of verse--namely: the first form, three accents with
feminine ending, to the half verses of the Alexandrine; and the second
form, four accents with masculine ending, to the verses of the short
riming couplets and to the first member of the septenar. The development
toward regular measure, which had its origin as explained above, was
furthered by the influence of the Romance and Medival Latin forms of
verse. In certain ME. poems, notably the _Bestiary_, there are to be
found verses constructed regularly after Romance or Medival Latin
models along with native forms in all the stages of development:

  1. His mu is yet wel unku
  Wi _pater noster_ and crede;
  Faren he nor, er fare he su
  Leren he sal his nede.  vv. 112-15.

  2. e mire mune us
  Mete to tilen,
  Longe liuenoe,
  is little wile.  vv. 273-6.
  e leun stant on hille
  And he man hunten here.  vv. 1-2.

The native forms must have been influenced by this close association
with foreign forms.

To these conditions and to this course of development we must probably
attribute the origin of the versification in King Horn. The rime has
become a regular and essential element, the alliteration, a rare and
unessential element in the verse. The forms mark a transitional stage in
development, but are more closely related to the new than to the old.
There has been a half-hearted attempt to introduce regularity of
measure, but the rhythm of the OE. types has still influenced the ear of
the composer. The most frequent verse form is the one with three accents
and feminine rime, about 1300 verses (Schipper). This is developed from
the OE. through a stronger accent on one of the original theses; e.g.,
_king he was biweste so longe so hit laste_, vv. 5, 6C, where the
measure has been developed from the OE. #A.# type through stronger
stress on _was_ and _so_ respectively. Sometimes the original OE. #A.#
type is preserved; e.g., _Hi sl[gh]en and f[gh]ten e n[gh]t and e
[gh]ten_, 1473-4C. But that this was not considered normal is shown by
the fact that the other two texts, #L# and #H#, have made these two
verses quoted, fit into the new normal form, by adding a new syllable in
each verse, so that we have in MS. L, _He smten nd he foten e
n[gh]t and ke e o[gh]ten_, vv. 1473-4L. Cf. also H. The next most
frequent type is the one with four accents and masculine rime; e.g.,
_Here sone hauede to name horn; Feyrer child ne micte ben born_, 9,
10L. Less frequent types are; that with three accents and masculine
ending, e.g., _u art gret and strong, Fair and euene long_, 99-100C;
and that with four accents and feminine rime, e.g., _To dee he hem alle
bro[gh]te, His fader de wel dere hi bo[gh]te_, 951-2C (but cf. #L# and
#H#, which have more normal forms).

While nearly all the verses may be made to fit into one of the types
mentioned above, there are some which do not fit naturally into any one
of the new types, but which seems rather to be a stereotyped form handed
down from OE. tradition; e.g., _Bi e se side_ (OE.#C# type) 35, _of
alle wymmanne_ (OE.C type) 71, _Wringinde here honde_ (OE.E type) 118,
_Bi e se brinke_ 151, _In to a galeie_ 199, _He was e faireste_ 187C.
(OE.#C# types). (Cf.L which tries to make this verse fit better into
the new versification, _For at he was fayrest_), _We ben of sodenne_
189L, _Of Cristene blode_ (OE.typeE) 191C. _And i fairnesse_ 227C.
_oru out westnesse_ 228L (MS.C adapts the verse by changing the
_westnesse_ of L. H. to _West{er}nesse_).

Compound proper names seem to have been a source of confusion. Should
both[I-12] elements of the name receive stress, primary and secondary,
as in OE., or should only one? Notice the struggles of the scribes with
verse 169: _Hy metten wi almair king_ C, _Metten he with aylmer king_
L, _metten hue Eylmer, e kyng_ H. Also 257. _Ailbrus gan lere_ C, _And
aylbrous gan leren_ L, _Aelbrus gon leren_ H. On the whole the scribes
have been fairly successful in making the native material fit into the
new forms, but not unfrequently may be detected traces of the rhythm of
the native OE. types, especially of the C type.

    [Footnote I-12: The rimes throughout indicate that the second
    syllables in compound words and the more important suffixes still
    bore an accent. Cf. 169-70, 199-200, 209-10, 219-20, 1353-4, etc.]


 7. DIALECT.

In what dialect King Horn was originally composed, it is not easy to
determine. This is a particularly difficult matter because the real
pronunciation is disguised behind a great diversity of written forms.
Under the circumstances the only safe guide is to be found in the rimes.
Even these are very unsatisfactory since they are too few to permit any
safe generalizations. For instance, it is impossible to apply
satisfactorily Prof. Hempl's -w[-o,]-, -w- test (cf._Journ. of Germ.
Phil._ I, pp. 14-30). In a similar way it is impossible to apply
Pogatscher's ingenious test by means of the shortened product of WG.
__, WS. _[-]_ (cf._Anglia_, xxiii, pp. 301ff.) because of want of
rime material. Another difficulty in using the rime-test is the double
pronunciation indicated, notably in the case of WS. -eald-, a- as the
result of contraction (_e.g._ WS. _slan_), and of words with initial
palatal [gh]- (_e.g._, WS. _geong_). Cf. examples below.

From a consideration of the phonology of the poem Wissmann concludes
(King Horn, Untersuchungen, Strassburg, 1876, p.33) that, "Im
Allgemeinen ist der Charakter des Vocalismus ein sdstlicher, der
jedoch von dem kentischen in vielen Punkten sich unterscheidet. Die
grsste Wahrscheinlichkeit hat Essex als Gegend der Entstehung fr
sich." Afurther investigation reveals to me no reason for dissenting
from this view. Some of the more prominent features of the phonology are
as follows:

In all of the three MSS. the sign __ has been disused. In its place
occurs, now _a_, now _e_, so that the indication of pronunciation is
often ambiguous. That the letter _a_ sometimes denotes the __ sound
seems certain (cf.Wissmann, Untersuchungen, as above, p.10). The
original pure #[)a]#, as in some districts of America, had nearly
disappeared, or been lengthened, or become _o_ or part of a diphthong.
The letter _a_ was thus left free to denote the __ sound, though
sometimes assisted in this function by the letter _e_.

OE. _[)]_ and OE. _[-]_ (__) shortened.

In the North and the Midland, OE. _[)]_ and _[-]_ (umlaut of WG. _ai_)
shortened, appear as _a_, OE. (WS.) _[-]_ (= WG. __) shortened usually
as _e_. In the West-Southern and Middle-Southern, (1) early writings
have _e_ (__, _ea_), (2) later writings have _a_. In Kentish and
East-Southern the prevailing vowel is _e_. (Cf.Morsbach,  96-105.)

In K. H. OE. _[)]_ appears (1) in C usually as _a_ (one exception _bed_
536), (2) in H as _e_, e.g., _sumwet_: _net_ 725-6, (3) in L as _a_ or
_e_. OE. _[-]_ (i-umlaut) shortened seems to have been written the
same. Cf. 5-6, 653-4, 1249-50, with some variations from the rule in
21-2, 553-4, 1305-6, 701-2C H. The pronunciation of this shortened OE.
_[-]_ (_i_-umlaut) seems to have been _e_. Cf. _geste_: _feste_ 553-4,
1305-6, _biweste_: _laste_ 5-6. Apparent evidence to the contrary are
_haste_: _laste_ 653-4C L (but _beste_: _leste_H), and _icaste_:
_ilaste_ 701-2C H (but _keste_L), _hadde_: _ladde_ 21-2, _hadde_:
_dradde_ 1249-50C L, but _hedde_: _dredde_ 1249-50H.

Note 1. OE. (WS.) _[-]_ must have had a close pronunciation (_[-e.]_)
if we may judge from the rimes; _here_: _lere_ 241-2, _lede_:
_[gh]ede_ 309-10C, _ete_: _suete_ 1349-50, _lere_: _yfere_ 257-8,
_swete_: _forlete_ 231-2, _seche_: _speche_ 183-4, 483-4, etc. Or
perhaps we must conclude that _[-e.]_ close and _[-e,]_ open were not
carefully distinguished in rime, for cf. _stede_: _drede_ 273-4C, and
Note 2.

Note 2. OE. _a_ when lengthened in open syllables seems to have had an
open _[-e,]_ sound. Cf. _makede_: _verade_ 179-80, _ere_: _fare_
497-8L H, _speke_: _take_ 567-8, _ere_: _aylmere_ 537-8L, C H,
1613-14, _[gh]ate_: _late_ 1123-4C, 1593-4C, _brake_: _gate_
1157-8C, _lede_: _made_ 1501-2L H, _slape_: _rape_ 1531-2C. Cf.
also the _ai_: _ei_ rimes. L and H write _ai_, _ay_, _ei_, and _ey_
without distinction. Cf. 1087-8L, 1361-2C, 1399-1400, etc.

Note 3. Pogatscher's ingenious test (_Anglia_, xxiii, 301 ff.) can not
be applied here, because, so far as I can see, there are no instances of
rimes with shortened OE. _[-]_ (WG.__). This _[-]_ with original
length occurs in rime, now with _a_ lengthened in open syllable
(cf.Note 2, above), now with __. Cf. _seche_: _speche_ 183-4,
_swete_: _forlete_ 231-2, etc.

On the whole, then, we may conclude that it is possible to assume for
K.H. the East-Southern product _e_, but that if we do so we must also
assume either inaccuracy in the rimes or a mixed dialect.

WS. _ea_ before _l_ + consonant is written, sometimes _eld_, sometimes
_old_. It seems also to have had a double pronunciation. Both
pronunciations are supported by rimes. Such rimes as _welde_:
_[gh]elde_ 513-14C H, _felde_: _welde_ 451-2H, _bihelde_: _felde_
901-2, support one pronunciation based on the OE. (WS.) breaking _ea_
before _l_ + cons., while _Admirad_: _bald_ C, _amyraud_: _baud_ L,
_Admyrold_: _bold_ H 95-6, seem to testify to the unbroken sound in OE.
lengthened before _-ld_ to __ and then opened to _[-o,]_. For other
instances with varying spelling cf. 17-18, 323-4, 397-8, 639-40,
1499-1500. In v.497 the L reading _talede_ seems to represent the OE.
broken form as opposed to the unbroken form _tolde_ in #C# and #H#.

OE. _[)e]_. There are many instances of _e_ : _i_ rimes. But it is
seemingly impossible to determine thereby much concerning the dialect.
(Cf.Morsb.  109, 114, N.1.) For examples of this rime, cf. _wlle_:
_telle_ 383-4, 1015-16C; _stille_: _duelle_ 393-4C; _ikke_: _nekke_
1327-8; _snelle_: _wille_ 1581-2C, etc.

The form _sigge_ seems to belong especially to the South-East. (Morsb.
114, N. 1, 109, N. 4, also Wissman, King Horn, p. xiv.) Cf. K.H. vv.
1367-8, _ligge_: _wisegge_ C, _ligge_: _sigge_ L; _lygge_:
_wisugge_ H.

OE. _[)-y]_, umlaut of _[)-u]_ offers many difficulties. It is
represented in writing by _y_, _i_, _u_, _e_. The rimes show the
prevailing sound to have been _e_; e.g., _Suddenne_: _kenne_ 155-6,
923-4, _pelle_: _fulle_ 421-2, _leste_: _beste_ 505-6, also 617-18,
671-2, 647-8, 703-4, 917-18, 919-20L, 805-6, 795-6, 1479-80, 1637-8,
1341-2, 1367-8, etc. But cf. _y_: _i_ in _kesse_: _ywisse_ 461-2C H,
_li[gh]te_: _dri[gh]te_ 1405-6C. That _y_: _i_ rimes should occur,
might be expected in view of the vague distinction between _e_ and _i_
as shown by the _e_: _i_ rimes, but the number of _y_: _e_ rimes
attests to a pronunciation _e_. This is the strongest available evidence
that K.H. was composed in the south-eastern district.

That the dialect of King Horn is a mixed dialect is supported by the
treatment of __ above, by the double pronunciation of WS. _-eald_, and
by further double pronunciations. OE. (WS.) _slan_, _flan_ seem to
have had double pronunciations. The __ pronunciation is attested to by
the rime, _slon_: _vpon_ C, _slon_: _on_ L H, 47-8. The OE. _[e^a]_ is
rendered probable by the written forms, _sle_: _fle_ 1467-8C, etc.
Other double pronunciations are _[gh]onge_: _ispronge_ 579-80, and more
frequently the _i_ rime _[gh]onge_: _bringe_ 295-6, _ringe_:
_[gh]onge_ 599-600.

Prof. Hempl's _-w[-o,]-_, _-w-_ test does not yield very definite
results in this text, but seems to indicate a southern dialect. Cf.
_two_: _o_ 53-4C, 37-8L H, _go_: _also_ 103-4, 107-8L H, _wo_:
_o_ 121-2, 279-80. But cf. _wo_: _do_ 291-2. This might perhaps be
cited as another evidence of mixed dialect.

For consonants we have no definite rime tests, and consequently can
learn concerning them little more than the scribal preferences. In all
three texts, however, the southern forms are the favoured ones; e.g.
_[gh]eue_, _[gh]ate_. Here again, however, we have double forms; e.g.
_wurche_: _chirche_ 1481-2, but _werke_: _derke_ 1547-8C H;
_yliche_: _riche_ 19, 20, 357-8; _ilike_: _biswike_ 305-6, though,
perhaps, we are to seek the explanation of these double forms in
difference of vowel-ending rather than in difference of dialect.

From the inflections as from the consonants we can gain no very exact
information, and for the same reason. The evidence, however, such as it
is, points in the same direction, toward the south. The regular endings
of the present indicative seem to be _-e_, _-est_, _-e_ for the
singular and _-e_ for the plural. The forms are not numerous on account
of the infrequent use of the present tense. There are some departures
from these normal endings. _ben_ occurs occasionally in the plural of
the verb 'be'; _e.g._ 882L, 1643C L, 177H. Other traces of the
Midland ending _-en_ are to be seen, _wilen_ 2L, 7H, etc. Such forms
as _ou seydes_ 588L, _ou biginnes_ 608L, _wepes ou_ 696L, are
probably to be explained as mistakes of the scribe of this MS., who
frequently leaves off a final consonant.

The conservative forms of the past participle, preserving the old prefix
as _i-_ or _y-_, also indicate a southern dialect for the scribes at
least.

The personal pronouns preserve the conservative southern forms, rare
exceptions being _sche_ 380L, in place of the normal _he_, and _ei_
1557C, _e_ 55L, for the normal _hi_.

From what has been said above, it seems fairly certain that the original
dialect was a southern one, and probably a south-eastern one. There are,
however, some features which distinguish the dialect of Horn from the
Kentish. (Cf.Morsbach,  9,b.) For instance, Imay cite the history of
the breaking _ea_ before _r_ + cons. In K.H. this is usually written
_a_. (Cf.481-2, 751-2, 1147-8.) But in case of lengthening before
_-rn_, we see that the OE. broken _ea_ pronunciation must have been the
basis; e.g., _werne_: _berne_ C L, _werne_: _berne_ H, 753-4, 985-6,
749-50L, 1513-14H, _erne_: _werne_ 937-8H. The combinations
_[)-e]o_, _[)-i]o_, _a_ are very regularly monophthonged, not
preserving any of the Kentish diversity of form.

The time of composition must have been fairly late, as we must infer
from the number of French words even in the rimes. That K.H. was
composed later than the beginning of the 13th century, we may conclude
from the fact that OE. __ has been regularly converted into _-[-o,]-_.
Cf. _drof_: _of_ 129-30, _forsoke_: _loke_ 799-800, etc. That it was
composed in the second half of the century seems certain from the
regularity of the conversion of __ to _[-o,]-_, and further from the
lengthening of short vowels in open syllables. Of this latter phenomenon
we have very few certain instances. Such rimes, however, as _ere_:
_fare_ 497-8L H and _stede_: _drede_ 273-4C, seem to be certain
enough. (Cf.also 179-80, 537-8, 567-8, 1123-4C, 1157-8C, 1501-2L H,
1531-2C, 1613-14.)


 8. MANUSCRIPTS.

The English story of King Horn is preserved in three MSS.

1. The Cambridge University MS. Gg. 4. 27, 2, which forms the nucleus of
the present volume, is merely a fragment of fourteen folios. It contains
on its first folios the latter part of the story of Floris and
Blauncheflur, which is printed in the present volume. This is followed
by King Horn entire, which is followed by the fragment, printed in this
volume, of the Assumption.

The Cambridge MS. is written in a very plain book-hand, apparently of
the latter half of the 13th century. The folios are written in double
columns, and occasionally, since the lines are short, two lines are
joined in one. The initial letters are written a little apart from the
rest, and are marked with strokes of red.

This text of King Horn is the one printed by Lumby in the first edition
of the present volume.

2. Laud Misc. MS. 108 is well known because containing one of the
earliest collections of legends. It contains sixty-one legends (the
Southern Cycle) followed by three religious poems, these in turn
followed by the romances of Havelok and Horn, and these followed by
three further legends, in a later hand of the 15th century.

The MS. is written in double columns on parchment, and probably dates
back to 1325. The texts of Horn and Havelok are written in a fine
book-hand. The lives that are appended are written in a later, much less
formal hand.

[For full description of the MS. and its contents, see C. Horstmann,
Altenglische Legenden, pp. x-xii, Paderborn, 1875.]

This text of King Horn is printed by C. Horstmann in Herrig's Archiv,
1872, pp. 39-58.

3. Harleian MS. 2253 is well known to all connoisseurs of early lyric
poetry. It seems to be the collection of a genuine lover of poetry. In
the words of the Brit. Mus. Catalogue it is, "Aparchment book in small
folio, written by several hands, upon several subjects; partly in old
French, partly in Latin, and partly in old English; partly in prose,
partly in verse." The lyrical poems have been reprinted by T. Wright
(Specimens of Lyric Poetry, Percy Society, London, 1842), who believes
that the collection had its origin in the Abbey of Leominster in
Herefordshire. The English poems have also been published by Dr. K.
Bddeker (Altenglische Dichtungen des MS. Harl. 2253. Berlin, 1878).

The MS. is written in an informal, but legible hand, probably of the
early 14th century. The writer of the text of King Horn seems to have
been acquainted with the French version of the story, as we must infer
from his substitution of Allof (R.H. aaluf) for Murry. The word _geste_
in the heading, and the French orthography throughout, together with
occasional forms as _enimis_ 1024H, nom. sing. of enemy (cf.Note),
659H, _maister_ gen. sing., 123L, Horns, nom. sing. go along with the
evidence of the French associations of the MS., to make us believe that
the scribe was an Anglo-Norman.

This text of King Horn has been printed by J. Ritson (Anc. Engl. Metr.
Rom., London, 1882, II, pp. 91-155).

We thus see that for the preservation of King Horn we are indebted to
(1) a fragment of a collection of stories, (2) a southern collection of
legends, to which have been appended Havelok and Horn, (3) a genuine
literary collection probably made in Herefordshire by an Anglo-Norman.

Of these MSS. no one is derived from either of the others. To indicate
their interrelations, Iwill borrow the diagram of Wissmann expressing
the result of his studies in this matter. (Cf.Wissmann, King Horn, p.
v, Strassburg, 1881.)

[Illustration:

                               U
                             /   \__
                            /       \_
                           /        __x
                          /     ___/  |
                         /  ___/      |
                        /  /          |
                        _y_           |
                     __/   \___       |
                  __/          \___   |
               __/                 \_z_
              /                 ___/   \___
             H              ___/           \___
                           /                   \
                          L                     C ]


FLORIS AND BLAUNCHEFLUR.

   1. _Introductory_, p. xxx.
   2. _History_, p. xxx.
   3. _English Version_, p. xxxvii.
   4. _Dialect_, p. xxxix.
   5. _Date of Composition_, p. xli.
   6. _Versification_, p. xlii.
   7. _Manuscripts_, p. xlii.


 1. INTRODUCTORY.

If in King Horn we have a story Germanic in descent, and betraying
everywhere traces of its Germanic origin, in Floris and Blauncheflur we
have a romance of extraneous, probably ultimately of oriental origin,
and the contrast is in many ways interesting and instructive. The love
element, which in King Horn plays so large a part, in Fl. and Bl. is the
all in all. This story of all-absorbing passion, which in spite of
seemingly insurmountable obstacles and desperate perils, in the end
reunites the devoted lovers, was one of the most popular during the
Middle Ages, and one of the earliest to be imported from the East. The
history of the tale vies in interest with the story itself. The story in
a perplexing variety of versions spread over all the countries of
Christendom, as we shall see later. It seems to be the basis of the
charming _chantefable_, Aucassin and Nicolete, which Andrew Lang and
Walter Pater have made so well known to the modern world. The English
version, which unfortunately is incomplete at the beginning in each one
of the four manuscripts in which it has been written down, was probably
derived directly from one of the French versions, as we shall see.


 2. HISTORY.

_(a) Origin._

The story of Floris and Blauncheflur is probably an oriental product,
and shows many traces of Byzantine influence. It was one of the first of
these oriental tales to be retailed in the Occident and had a wide
circulation in all the countries of western Christendom, from Spain and
Italy to the Scandinavian North. Its route from East to West it is not
easy to trace with certainty, though the Crusades were quite probably
the means of its importation. Further than this it is not easy to
determine. The Provenals, whose active part in the Crusades is well
known, may have been the agents, or, as is so often the case with the
oriental tales, it may have been imported in a Latin dress.

The history of the story in the West is complicated on account of the
puzzling multiplicity of versions among which it is sometimes
exceedingly difficult to determine the interrelations. The clue to the
difficulty was early hinted at by Sommer (E.Sommer, Einl. zu R. Fleckes
Flore und Blaunscheflur, Quedlingburg und Leipzig, 1846), and more
recently the matter has been very thoroughly explained by Herzog
(H.Herzog, Die beiden Sagenkreise von Flore und Blanscheflur, Wien,
1884) in his investigation of the subject. Herzog points out that there
are to be distinguished in the Occident, two distinct general versions
of the story. In the first of these, #A#, seems to be preserved the
story in its original and genuine form. The second of these versions,
#B#, seems to be a remodelling of the original version in the attempt to
adapt to common folk a story in its existing form intended for higher
circles of society.[I-13] For this purpose slight allusions in #A#, are
expanded in #B# into striking incidents. To bring out into strong light
the injustice of Floris's father and the final triumph of true love,
supernatural and horrible elements and episodes are introduced. Since
these new elements are of a kind common in other Byzantine tales, it is
concluded that the remodelling of the story had already taken place
before the importation from the East.

The second of these imported versions, #B#, first circulated in Italy,
in Spain and in Greece. It also seems, somewhat indirectly as we shall
see, to have served as a basis for the second French version and for one
group of the German _Volksbcher_. The versions of #B#, if we leave the
second French version out of consideration, all represent the parents of
Blauncheflur as Italian, and in part have the same names for the
characters. This circumstance, with other corroborating facts, seems to
indicate that version #B# first took root in Italy, and from there
spread into Spain and into Greece, possibly its original home.

Version #A#, on the other hand, seems first to have been imported into
France, the great jobbing nation of the Middle Ages in all sorts of
romantic stuffs and materials. From France it was early retailed to
Germany, to England, to Scandinavia, and, possibly, to Italy. From
Germany in turn it was re-exported into Bohemia. Version #A# was without
doubt the first to become known, since we find it not only in the Old
French, but in the Germanic versions springing from a French source, in
an unperverted state. All the different versions of #B#, on the other
hand, have been very noticeably influenced by #A#, indicating that the
arrival of #B# was after #A# had become established and well known.


_(b) In France._

We encounter the story of _Floris and Blauncheflur_ earliest in France,
and the French seem to have been the first to make the story a subject
for poetic treatment. The story appears in French, besides in two songs
celebrating episodes in this tale of true love, in two distinct
versions. The earliest of these versions, which we may designate as I.,
had its origin, it seems, about 1160.[I-14] (Cf.F. Steinmeyer, H Z,
xxi, 319.) Certain it is that a French version of #A# must have existed
about 1170, to serve as a basis for one of the German (the low Rhenish)
versions, Floyris und Blanscheflur. This French version, #I#, seems to
represent fairly well the #A# general form of the story. As so often in
the case of other romances, the _jongleurs_ tried to bring this foreign
importation into the cycle of French story by connecting in bonds of
kinship, its characters with the names celebrated in French epic.
Blauncheflur is represented as being the mother of Bertha of the big
foot, the wife of Pepin, father of Charlemagne.[I-15]

Du Mril (E. du Mril, Floire et Blancheflor, Paris, 1876) in discussing
the interrelations of the two French versions, characterizes one as a
version for a select public, "_version aristocratique_," and the second
as a version for the entertainment of the masses, "_version populaire_."
The French II. version, the "_version populaire_," is, according to
Herzog, p.4, the result of a sort of fusion of the #A# and #B# general
forms of the story,[I-16] with which have been woven in various episodes
which elsewhere are not known to either general form of the story, #A#
or #B#. Herzog further on continues (p.11), "Ich halte dafr dass
dieselbe (the OF. II. version) ebenfalls aus Italien nach Frankreich
hinbergewandert ist, wo ihr Bearbeiter den Inhalt des zweiten Kreises
mit dem ihm gelufigen ersten Kreise so verschmolzen hat, dass dieser
einige nur dem zweiten Sagenkreise angehrige Zge ganz verdrngte."

The general style and manner of handling the story is quite different in
the two French versions. The "_version aristocratique_" preserves the
traits of an oriental romance, and Floire is represented as a love-sick
youth. "_Sans li ne puis jou pas aprendre_" he replies when his father
proposes to educate him alone. There is hardly a more sentimental
passage in literature than the one in I. (212-266) describing the
school-days of the children:

  _Ensamble vont, ensamble vienent
  Et la joie d'amor maintient
  Nus d'aus deus chose ne savoit
  Que lus a l'autre ne disoit.
  . . . . . . . . . . . .
  On ooient parler d'amors.
  Ensamble lisent et aprendent;
  A la joie d'amor entendent:
  Un vergier a li peres Floire
  . . . . . . . . . . . .
  D'amors i chantent li oisel.
  Quant il mangoient et bevoient
  Li oisel seure aus se soient;
  Des oiseles oent les chans:
  Cou est la vie as deus enfans.
  . . . . . . . . . . . .
  Et quant a l'escole venoient
  Lor tables d'yvoire prenoient,
  Adont lor veissiez escrire
  Letres et vers d'amors en cire.
  Letres et salus font d'amors
  Du chant des oisiaus et des flors._

The writer of I. is evidently a genuine poet, though perhaps somewhat of
the 'spring poet' order. He exalts the sentiment of love, as we have
seen, and feelingly describes the elaborately constructed tomb
(vv.530-652), the finely wrought cup (vv.431-498), and the birds and
flowers and fountains and trees of the gardens of the king and of the
'Admiral.' He dwells in sensuous fondness in his enumeration equally of
the fine stuffs and precious stones; the _mantiaus_, _vairs osterins_
and _bliaus indes porprins_ (429-30), or the _saffirs_ and _calcidoines_
and _boines jagonses_ and _sardoines_, etc. (1755-77), and of flowers
and trees; the "_poivre, canele et garingal_," or the "_encens, girofle
et citoval_," or the _beuns_, the _plantoine_, the _aler_, the _boins
figiers_, the _peschiers_, the _periers_ and the _noiers_ (1761-8).

The "_version populaire_," on the other hand, seems to be adapted
somewhat to the ideal of the native French epic, and Floire is
represented as a model of courage and knightly virtue, in a class with
the _douze pers_ and the other heroes of the Charlemagne cycle of
stories. The writer interpolates scenes in which Floire may display his
fighting qualities. In the early part of the story, he returns from
school just in time to rescue Blauncheflur, who is about to be committed
to the flames. He accomplishes her rescue by acting as her champion and
fighting the seneschal, who has accused her of attempting to poison the
king. The combat is a stirring one quite in the manner of the _Chansons
de geste_ (vv.920-1160). On the journey to Babylon, Floire has heroic
adventures in a battle with Diogenes, son of Samones, king of the city
of Fusis (1854-1984). Later, when the trial of Fl. and Bl. is
interrupted by the arrival of an invader, Jonas de Handreas, Fl. offers
to vanquish the invaders if his life be spared. At first he is
unsuccessful in his attempt, but after being taken prisoner by the
invaders, he is aroused by the reproachful words of Bl. and breaking
loose, slays Jonas, thus delivering the city and winning Bl.
(3120-3410). The writer of II. emphasizes the battle scenes at the
expense of the descriptive passages, devoting to the description of the
tomb only 32 verses, and to that of the wonderful cup, only 14. He seems
also to be of a practical turn of mind, and instead of fondly
enumerating the gems received for Bl., describes rather the
circumstances of the sale. Babyloine is a rich city with no poor, and
has a rent of three thousand ounces of gold each day (vv.2319, 2342).
From all these instances one can see that the sweet and sentimental tale
of the I. version is quite modified in II. If we agree with Herzog that
this version was the result of the blending of the #B# version imported
from Italy, with the #A# version, which was already well known in
France, we must conclude also that this "_version populaire_" is
influenced by the ideals of contemporary French poetry of native origin,
by the manners and conventions of the _chansons de geste_, and the
heroic romances springing from or influenced by them.


_(c) Provence._

Among the troubadours of Provence the story of Fl. and Bl. was early
known and popular, as one must judge from the very frequent allusions.
There is, however, no proof of the existence of a Provenal romance.


_(d) In Germany._

In Germany are to be encountered many versions of the popular story. The
earliest one seems to have been the Low Rhenish poem Floyris and
Blaunchiflur, of about 3700 lines, translated by an unknown poet about
1170 (Steinmeyer, H.Z. xxi, 307-331). To the middle of the 13th century
belongs the MHG. poem in 8006 lines by Konrad Fleck, composed, quite
independently of the Low Rhenish version above mentioned, after an OF.
original. (Ed.by E.Sommer, Quedlingburg u. Leipzig, 1846.) Somewhat
younger is the Mid. Low Germ. poem, _Floris ende Blancefloer_ of 3983
lines (Ed.by H. von Fallensleben, Leipzig, 1836, and by H. E. Moltzer,
Groningen, 1879, in the _Bibl. van Middelnederlands Letterkunde_). The
poet, Dideric van Assenede, says, himself, that he derived his material
from the "Walsche."[I-17] As a matter of fact his original seems to have
been French. To the third half of the 14th century belongs the Low Germ.
poem _Flosse un Blankflosse_ of 1534 lines (Ed.by Stephan Waetzoldt,
Bremen, 1880), which also seems to go back to a French original.[I-18]

If we look more closely into the question of the French original of the
German poems, we must assume a version, [ch], earlier than the version
preserved in the three existing MSS. of French I. version. These three
MSS. may be classed into a group, _z_, whose chief characteristic is the
attempted suicide of Floris in the Lion pit. This scene appears in two
of the existing MSS., and the writer of the third MS. seems to have had
the scene in his original but to have left it out. (Cf.H. Sundmacher,
_Die altfrz. u. mittelhd. Bearbeitung der Sage von Fl. und Bl._, diss.
Gttingen, 1872.) Among the German versions it appears only in the LG.
_Flosse un Blankflosse_. The other German versions must rest on an OF.
version, [ch], which at the hands of Fleck[I-19] underwent an artistic
reconstruction, but at the hands of Dideric was translated simply,
without the addition of any new ideas by the adapter.

In addition to these early German versions must be mentioned two groups
of _Volksbcher_: (1) from Boccaccio's Filocolo, (2) from Fleck's poem,
also a Bohemian adaptation and a German Jewish adaptation,
(Cf.Hausknecht, ed. of Fl. u. Bl., pp. 13-20, Berlin, 1885.)


_(e) In Scandinavia._

Our story had a wide circulation also in the North, as one must infer
from the number of Scandinavian versions preserved: (1) the old Norweg.
fragment of a saga (ed.by G. Storm, _Nordisk Tidskrift for Filologi og
Pdagogik_, Copenhagen, 1874, pp. 24-28), (2) the complete Icelandic
saga of _Flres ok Blankiflr_, (3) the fragments of a second Icelandic
Saga (ed.by Brynjolf Snorrason, _Annaler for nordisk old kyndighed og
historie_, 1850); (4) the Old Swed. poem (ed.by E. Klemming, _Samlingar
utgifna af svenska formskrift-sllskapet_, I., Stockholm, 1844); and (5)
the Danish translations from the Swedish (ed.by C. J. Brandt,
_Romantisk Digtning fra Middelalderen_, I. and II. Kbenhavn, 1869-77).
The distinguishing characteristic of the Northern versions is the
conclusion. According to the Norse version, Floris, to refute the charge
that he has gained admittance to Bl.'s tower by the use of magic tricks,
offers to fight in single combat the bravest of the Admiral's knights.
In the ensuing combat he overcomes the Admiral's champion, and receives
as his guerdon, Blauncheflur. If we accept Herzog's conclusions (pp.15,
35, 45-6,66) we must assume as an original for the Scandinavian
versions, a French original, N, with the ending peculiar to the Northern
versions. The development from this original is shown by the following
plan (also borrowed from Herzog, p.92).

[Illustration:

        Fr. N
           \
            \
        Norw. M*
       /        \
      /          \
     /            \
  Icel. M       Norw. N*
                 /   \
                /     \
               /       \
         Icel. N       Swed.
                         |
                         |
                        Dan. ]


_(f) In Italy._

In Italy also the story of Fl. and Bl. enjoyed great popularity. The two
chief versions were: (1) the _Cantare_, written by a popular poet in
_ottave rime_; and (2) Boccaccio's youthful production, his first prose
romance, _Filocolo_. That the I. version of the story, the one most
popular in France, was also current in Italy, we see in these two
versions, both of which show, in addition to the special traits of II.,
many traits peculiar to version I. To determine exactly the
interrelations of these two versions is no easy matter. From allusions
in the _Filocolo_ we know that the _Cantare_ was the older. Internal
evidence, however, forbids the supposition that the _Filocolo_ has
sprung from the _Cantare_. Rather the two versions go back to a common
source. This Italian, or Franco-Italian, version, which probably had no
differences of real moment from the _Cantare_ in its present form, must
in many points have been more ample and complete, and in individual
instances nearer the French tradition, than the _Cantare_ is.

In connection with the Italian group must also be mentioned the Greek
poem of Florios and Platziaflore, composed in the 14th century and
founded upon the _Cantare_.


_(g) In Spain._

In Spain we find allusion to our story already in the 13th century, when
the _Gran conquista de Vltramar_ refers to Fl. and Bl. as the most
devoted pair of lovers that one had ever heard of. But there is no proof
of the existence of a Spanish version of the story as early as this. In
the year 1512, appeared at Alcala the prose romance, _Flores y
Blancaflor_, which is current to the present day. The close relationship
of this to the Italian versions is very evident. Its source, however,
seems hardly to be directly the _Cantare_. The beginning of the Spanish
romance, which is entirely peculiar to this version, points rather to a
version in the North of Italy, which the Spanish adapter has quite
probably translated into Spanish without important alteration.

    [Footnote I-13: G. Paris distinguishes three general versions, two
    French versions and a third, "Roman" version, in which the parents
    of Blauncheflur are not French but Roman.]

    [Footnote I-14: The evidence cited by G. Paris, consists of
    allusions to--(1) History of Troy, (2) Siege of Troy, (3) Aeneid,
    etc. The place of origin, according to G. Paris, was probably in
    the region about Beauvais, lying between Normandy, Picardy and the
    le de France.]

    [Footnote I-15: Perhaps this is a mere coincidence, since in a
    poem about Berthe, her father happens to be named 'Florie,' a
    Florie with a different history, _roi de Hongrie_. Later this
    relationship was commonly assumed. In the _Gran Conquista de
    Vltramar_, the story of Berthe is intercalated. She is daughter of
    Blancaflor and Flores.]

    [Footnote I-16: G. Paris makes this II. version the sole
    representative of a third distinct form of the story, the 2^o of
    his general classification, 1^o, 2^o, 3^o.]

    [Footnote I-17: That is to say, French or Italian.]

    [Footnote I-18: This version was evidently not translated from a
    French MS. but written from memory. The details are not always
    exactly identical with those of the French, though often so,
    enough so to make the origin of the poem unmistakable though it is
    much condensed and the order of events somewhat transposed.]

    [Footnote I-19: Fleck's work is a paraphrase. The details are
    identical but are amplified to 8006 verses.]


 3. ENGLISH VERSION.

The story of Fl. and Bl. found its way into England in the 13th century,
that is to say, when it had been for a hundred years familiar to French
hearers and after it had already spread into many lands outside of
France. As has been said, the English version goes back to a French
original. This original was certainly of the I. form. Of the features
peculiar to the French II. version, the English version does not show
one, while it agrees with the French I. version to the extent of exact
translation of many phrases and verses and even of reproduction of
French rime-words. At the same time the French original that lay before
the English adapter can not have been the text exactly as it is
preserved in any one of the three extant French MSS., but rather an
older, or purer text which we have designated by [ch], a distinguishing
feature of which is the absence of the attempted suicide of Floris in
the lion pit. The text that must be assumed as the original of the
English poem must have been very similar to the original from which
Fleck and Dideric derived their German versions, but not exactly
identical as is evidenced by frequent slight divergences.

The English poet has not expanded and amplified by the addition of
further details or by the introduction of personal reflections, as the
German Fleck has done. He has presented the essential features of the
love story as it impressed him, in a condensed form to be sure, at the
same time without bareness or baldness. Unlike the adapter of the Low
Rhenish condensed version, he has preserved the original order of
incidents, and has usually preserved faithfully the smallest details
that have any essential bearing on the plot.

Some idea of the English writer's fidelity to the details and even to
the phraseology of his French original, and of his method of
translating, may be gained from the following parallel passages:

  _Que bien sorent parler latin_
  _Et bien escrivre en parchemin_
          vv. 263-4.

    _Inou[gh] ey cou of latyne_
    _And wel wryte on parchemyn_
            vv. 33-4.

  _Faites la moi tost demander_
  _Ja li ferai le chief couper._
          vv. 399-400.

    _Let do bryng for at mayde,_
    _Fro e body e heved schal goo._
            vv. 140-41.

  _Et il l'a tant bien acate_
  _Qu'a fin or l'a sept fois pese._
          vv. 507-8.

    _e amyral hur bou[gh]t anoon_
    _And gafe for hur, as she stood upry[gh]t,_
    _Seven sythes of gold her wy[gh]t._
            vv. 194-6.

  _Ci gist la bele Blanceflor_
  _A cui Floires ot grant amor._
          vv. 651-2.

    _Here li swete Blauncheflur_
    _at Floris loved par amur._
            vv. 217-18.

  _Un grafe a trait de son rapier_
  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .
  _En son cuer bouter le voloit,_
  _Quant sa mere cou apercoit._
          vv. 787-890.

    _His knif he dro[gh] ut of his schee_
    _And to his herte hit hadde ismite,_
    _Nadde his moder hit under[gh]ite._
            vv. 308-10.

The _grafe_ is elaborately described in vv. 788-98:

  _Li roi li done un palefroi,_
  _Qui d'une part estoit tous blans,_
  _De l'autre rouges comme sans._
          vv. 964-6.

    _e king let sadel a palfray_
    _e oon half white, so mylke_
    _And at oer reed, so sylk._
            vv. 382-4.

  _Fius, fait ele, gardez le bien;_
  _Tant com l'aurez, mar _cremez_ rien;_
  _Car vous ja rien ne requer(r)iez_
  _Que tost ou tard vous ne l'aiez_
          vv. 1003-6.

    _Mi sone, he rede, have is ring;_
    _While he is in, ne dute noing._
      .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .
    _And be hit erli and be hit late_
    _To i wil u schalt habbe whate._
            vv. 393-8.

  _La le troevent ou siet, sous l'arbre,_
  _Sor un perron qui fu de marbre._
          vv. 1355-6.

    _e briggere he fond ate frome,_
    _Sittinde on a marble ston._
            vv. 558-9.

  _Le millor conseil que jou sai_
          v. 1858.

    _e beste red at ihc e can_
            v. 742.

  _Si maudient qui s i foula_
          v. 2060.

    _Hi beden God [gh]ive him wel fin_
    _at so manie flures dide erin_
            vv. 855-6.

  _Des flors sali un paveillon_
  _Des eles feri mon menton;_
  _Del paveillon tel paor oi,_
  _Que m'escriai plus tost que poi_
          vv. 2093-6.

    _er fliste ut a buterfli[gh]e,_
    _Are ihc wiste, on mine i[gh]e._
    _So sore ihc uas offerd of an,_
    _at ihc loude crie bigan_
            vv. 889-92.

  _Bele compaigne, Blanceflor,_
  _Volez vous veoir bele flor?_
          vv. 2117-18.

    _And sede, "Swete Blauncheflur,_
    _Wiltu se a wel fair flur?"_
            vv. 897-8.

  _Damoisele qui a amor_
  _Et joie en soi, doit avoir flor._
          vv. 2124-30.

    _Ho at love par amur,_
    _An ha erof joie, mai love flur._
            vv. 903-4.

In spite of this number of tolerably exact correspondences, in word and
phrase, with the French original, the English poem is a condensed
adaptation rather than a slavish translation. As in the French II.
version, the tender and sentimental element is much condensed; but the
English writer, unlike the writer of French II., does not introduce the
heroic and warlike element in the form of duels and battles. He does not
amplify by adding new details, as Fleck did, nor does he confuse the
order of incidents as does the adapter of the Low Rhenish version. He
makes rather a faithful condensation quite after the manner of English
adapters from the French, which is no doubt to be explained as due not
so much to difference between the writers, English and French, as to a
difference between the hearing publics, French and English, for whom the
production was intended.[I-20]

No doubt with his English public in mind, the English poet, in adapting
the story from the French, has modified to some extent the tenderness
and sentimentality, even at times the poetic descriptions, of his French
original (compare vv. 1117-1194 of the French with the corresponding
English vv. 457-72), and has omitted the enumeration of gems and of
precious stuffs suggestive of an elegance perhaps unintelligible to an
English speaking and hearing public at this time. The wonderful cup, to
the description of which 67 verses (431-498) are devoted in the French
romance, in the English poem is dismissed with 17 verses (163-184). The
garden so elaborately described in the French, vv. 1724-1835, in the
English poem occupies only vv. 685-732. The description of the knife
(_grafe_), which serves no other purpose than that of external adornment
in the French version (vv.788-799), is entirely neglected in the
English translation. The translator's method is well illustrated in the
case of the description of Floris's equipage preliminary to setting out
on his journey. The description of the saddle and harness occupies 37
verses (964-1000) of the French poem, and is dismissed by the English
translator with 5 (vv.382-389), _Ine can telle [gh]ou no[gh]t Hu
richeliche e sadel was wro[gh]t_, and three verses following.

To sum up, the English version is a free, somewhat condensed,
translation from the French I. version. The translator has introduced
almost no new traits, and the extent of the condensation may be judged
by considering the 1296 verses of the English as compared with the 2974
verses in the French I. version. The manner of the condensation has been
indicated. But with all the condensation, especially in the descriptive
passages, it is important to note that in the essential features of the
story, the translator follows his original faithfully, so that the main
outline of the story is preserved as accurately in English as in French.

    [Footnote I-20: This same consideration, as we have seen, probably
    explains _in part_ the difference between the English King Horn
    and the Norman French _Horn et Rigmenil_.]


 4. DIALECT.

In Fl. and Bl. as in King Horn it is difficult to distinguish certain
criteria of dialect on account of the variety of orthography in the
different manuscripts. Here again the only safe guide is the rimes, and
the evidence of these is not entirely uniform for the different texts.
There is a great difference in age between MS. C, the oldest, and MS. T,
probably the youngest of the four MSS. Further there is a difference in
the dialects represented by the different scribes. The scribes of MSS. C
and Cott. were evidently southerners, and seem, here and there, to have
twisted the verses around to make them fit the Southern dialect. On the
other hand the later scribe of MS. T seems to have changed verses to
make them fit his later dialect. Either the phrases are less stereotyped
than in Horn or the poem was not so well known; in any event the scribes
of the individual texts seem to have allowed themselves greater
independence. The result is that the rime test here is not a sure one.
The evidence of rimes in MS. C is not necessarily valid for MS. T, and
_vice vers_; and which rimes indicate the pronunciation of the original
composer, it is often difficult to say. If we bear these points in mind
we may perhaps draw some satisfactory conclusions from the following
criteria:

1. OE. _[)-y]_ seems to have been pronounced _[)-i]_. e.g.; _cusse_:
_blisse_, _custe_: _wiste_ 549-52C, _ywys_: _kysse_ 1067T, _winne_:
_kinne_ 806C, _blisse_: _kisse_ 786C, _fylle_: _wylle_ 738T,
_lyke_: _lyte_ 782T. Only apparent exceptions are _meene_: _kyne_
274T (these words do not rime together in the original), and _bygge_:
_segge_ 989T. _Ostesse_: _kysse_ belongs only to MSS. T and Auch.

2. If we apply Prof. Hempl's _-w[-o,]-_, _-w[-o.]-_ test we find some
evidence of a Midland dialect, e.g.; _too_: _soo_ 94T, _vndoo_: _soo_
74T, _also_: _doo_ 224T, 764C, _soo_: _doo_ 64T, 336T, 624T,
_so_: _fordo_ 307-8C. This test applied to Fl. and Bl. is not certain
in itself, but supports the other evidence. That the test is uncertain
we see from the occurrence of apparently inaccurate rimes such as
_hoom_: _doom_ 1079T, 802C, and from a few rimes which oppose the
evidence of those above cited, e.g., _oo_: _twoo_ 30T, _two_: _mo_
218T (and Cott.), _so_: _go_ 438C, 824C, _bo_: _atuo_ 548C, 614C,
_o_: _so_ 666C, _also_: _bo_ 780C, _whoom_: _froom_ 70T. It would
seem then that the change had affected the __ in OE. _sw_ but not in
_tw_ and _hw_. It must be noted that all the quoted _so_ rimes with
_[-o.]_ occur in MS. C, which, as we shall see later, has a strong
Southern colouring.

3. The product of OE. _a_ before _l_ + cons. seems to be _a_, or with
lengthening before _-ed_, __. e.g.; _wal_: _cristal_ 273-4C (also
609-10T), _wolde_: _golde_ 208T, _tolde_: _holde_, _sholde_:
_holde_ 435-6T (also 77-80C), _wolde_: _beholde_ 751T (also
449-50C), 769-70T (also 471-2C). Exceptions occur in the Southern
MSS. e.g.; _elde_: _helde_ 102 Cott., _halle_: _welle_ 230C,
_welle_: _alle_ 224C, 280C, but are not paralleled in MS. T.[I-21]

4. The inflectional endings of the pres. indic. seem to be _-e_, _-est_,
_-e_ for the singular. There are rimes to prove the 3rd sing. in _-e_;
_seith_: _withe_ 106T, _he sit_: _nabit_ 40C, _ge_: _de_ 200C
(also T and Cott.), 422C (alsoT). The plural ending is less evident.
The Cambr. MS. has rcularly _-e_. e.g.; _habbe_ 20, _serue_ 1256,
_beo_ 294, 295, _wene_ 314, _lete[gh]_ 448, _chaunge_ 510, _go_,
_seo_, _speke_ 708C, _crie_ 526; the T. MS. _-en_, e.g.; _seruen_
590T, _cryen_ 815T, _ben_ 909T, etc. That the _-e_ ending did not
belong to the original we may probably infer from the fact that while
the _-e_ of the 3rd sing. counts metrically, the _-e_ of the plural
usually does not. Cf. 20C, 256C, 448C, 526C, 708C, etc. But cf.
_springe_ 296C, _biseche_ 765C, _falle_ 786C. These endings, then,
point to an East Midland dialect. Cf. also the rimes; _wepinge_:
_bringe_ Cott. p.105, _cusse_: _blisse_ 549-50C.

5. OE. _[)]_ (_e_) and shortened OE. _[-]_, umlaut of WG. _ai_, or WG.
__.

The OE. short __ appears regularly as _a_. _trespas_ : _was_ 1043T,
_orgas_: _was_ 102T, _Cesar_: _bar_ 182T, are probably to be
explained as due to one of the Southern scribes of MSS. C and Cott. e.g.
_vnder[gh]et_: _set_ 166C (but cf. _vnder[gh]at_: _sat_ 98C). The
shortening of OE. _[-]_ (umlaut of WG. _ai_) also appears regularly as
_a_. e.g.; _glade_: _ladde_ 480T, _ilast_: _cast_ 338C, _glad_:
_ilad_ 114C. But cf. _lasse_: _wytnesse_ 952T. In the rime, _rest_:
_mest_ 120C, 384C, it is impossible to determine whether the _[-]_ is
shortened to _[)e]_, as in parts of the South, or the _[)e]_ is
lengthened to __. The shortening of OE. _[-]_ (WG.__) does not occur
in rime often enough to permit any safe conclusion. The rimes _radde_:
_madde_ 826T and _radde_: _hadde_ 1025T, seem to show that the
product of shortening was _a_. That the representative of WG. __ was
the Saxon _[-]_ rather than the Anglian, and Kentish __, seems
probable from the rimes _rede_: _seide_ 21-2T, 51-2T, 215-16T,
263-4T (66Cott.); _reede_: _deede_ 45-6T, 53-4T.

From these criteria, which seem to be the best available, we may infer
that Fl. and Bl. belongs further north than King Horn. Further, the
inflections seem to point to the Eastern rather than to the Western
Midland, so that we may feel fairly safe in attributing Fl. and Bl. to
the East Midland.

    [Footnote I-21: That the Cambr. scribe was from the South is very
    apparent from: (1) the pres. indic. plur. endings in e, e.g.
    _come_ 282, etc., (2) the above rimes of OE. _call_: _ell_, (3)
    _axede_ 576, 602, etc., (4) _rede_: _hadde_ 453-4, (5) _hi_ for
    'they' 284, etc., _heo_ for 'she' 303, etc., (6) _ifere_ 502C, in
    fere 827, 280T, (7) _vaire_ 16, _wuder_ 114, etc.]


 5. DATE OF COMPOSITION.

We shall probably be safe in setting the date of composition in the
second half of the 13th century. Lengthening in open syllables seems to
have taken place, e.g.; _coome_: _soone_ 100T, _grome_: _coome_
112T, _come_: _hoome_ 500T, _wite_: _vnder[gh]ete_ 556C (also
Cott.), _wite_: _wite_ 756C, _erone_: _stone_, 112T, _vppone_:
_stone_ 172T, 212T, _are_: _ware_ 1036T, etc. From this we must
conclude that the date of composition is not earlier than 1250. On the
other hand the earliest MS. (C) dates back to the second half of the
13th century. Indeed in this MS. there are still traces of the old
distinction of grammatical gender, and OE. __ is still always
represented by _u_; while the second oldest MS. (Cott.) has the newer
writing _ou_. (Cf.Hausknecht, ed. of Fl. and Bl. p.130, Berlin, 1885.)


 6. VERSIFICATION.

The poem is composed in short rimed couplets. The normal verse has four
stresses. In no one of the MSS., however, are all the verses perfectly
regular, due largely, no doubt, in part to the variety of forms
available to each composer and to the variety of spellings to choose
from, also to the attempts of each scribe to make the verses of the
original fit into his own dialect. The rimes may be masculine or
feminine. At times they are mere assonances, e.g.; _first_: _lyst_
693-4, _furste_: _luste_ 377-8C, _lyke_: _lyte_ 781-2T, _longe_:
_sonde_ 795-6C, _coome_: _soone_ 100T, etc. At times they are
inaccurate, e.g.; _grunde_: _honde_ 303-4C, _meene_: _kyne_ 273-4T.
Peculiar are the rimes; _erate_: _gate_ 153-4C, etc., _fyne_:
_eryne_ 369-70T, 441-2C, etc., _erone_: _stone_ 112T, 212T.


 7. MANUSCRIPTS.

Floris and Blauncheflur appears in four MSS., in each of the four with a
greater or smaller part of the beginning lost.

1. #T.#, the Trentham MS., is in the library of the Duke of Sutherland
at Trentham Hall in Staffordshire. The MS. is a relatively late one
(about 1440), and is written in a very legible, informal running hand,
with loops to the _b_'s, _l_'s, etc. It contains a series of metrical
romances; besides Floris and Blauncheflur, also Kyng Rychard, Bevous of
Hampton, The Batell of Troye, Amys and Amylion, and Sir Eglamoure. Our
poem stands on folios 98-111. The headings to the pages are; on the
even, left-hand pages, _Florence_, on the odd, right-hand pages, _&
Blanchefloure_. The MS. contains 1083 lines of our poem. The beginning
of the poem is lost in this MS., as in the three others, and the first
preserved folio is an odd, right-hand page, with the heading, _&
Blanchefloure_. The first verse in this MS. corresponds to verse 193 of
the French.

The reading of the MS. is made difficult and uncertain by the end
flourishes to certain letters, e.g.; _gold~_, _stoon~_, _vppon~_, which
it is hard to interpret. It has been collated with the three others by
Hausknecht, in his admirable critical edition of the poem.

2. #Cott.#, the Brit. Mus. MS. Cott. Vitell. D. III., which probably
belongs to the second half of the 13th century, suffered badly from fire
in 1731. Of the original 219 folios of this parchment MS., 26 remain,
and these are in many parts exceedingly difficult to read, so that the
readings here offered, which are based mainly on Lumby's text, are
offered with apologies, and may no doubt be bettered here and there by
comparison with the other MSS. Our poem, which occupies folios 6a-8b of
the existing MS., is preceded by _Versus de historibus sacris veteris et
novi Testamenti, veteri lingua Gallicana_ (O.French), and in the same
handwriting with Fl. and Bl. The following folios (9-26) contain in
Latin prose, _Expositiones quaedam sive comentarii in Macrobii
Saturnalia_.

Of our poem only 451 lines are preserved in this MS., and of these only
180 are completely legible. The first verse corresponds to about v.508,
and the last to about v.2514 of the French. The writing is in a fine,
apparently French, book hand.

This MS. has been printed by Lumby in the original to the present
edition for the E.E.T.S., and has been used by Hausknecht in collation.

3. #A.#, the celebrated Auchinleck MS. of the Advocates' Library in
Edinburgh, is a veritable mine of romance. Perhaps the best description
is still that given in Sir Walter Scott's introduction to _Sir
Tristrem_, where is to be found an enumeration of the 44 different
articles, mostly romances, still contained (besides 13 lost). It is a
large quarto on vellum, and according to Ellis, belongs to the very
first of the 14th century. Of our poem, which occupies five
double-columned folios (100-104), 861 verses are contained, of which the
first corresponds to v.1001 of the French.

Fl. and Bl. has twice been reprinted from the Auchinleck MS.: (1) C. H.
Hartshorne, Ancient Metrical Tales, London, 1829, (2) David Laing,
APenni Worth of Witte, etc., Abbotsford Club, Edinburgh, 1857.

4. #C.#, the Cambr. Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2, has already been described.
(See page xxviii.) Of the fragment of a MS. that now exists, the final
824 verses of Fl. and Bl. occupy folios 1a-5b. The first verse preserved
corresponds to verse 1001 of the French poem.

The interrelations of these four MSS. have been carefully studied by
Hausknecht (asabove, pp. 98-108), whose results may be summarized as
follows: MSS. A., Cott., T form a group _x_. Now #C.#, now group _x_ has
gaps, and neither is free from individual changes.

Within the group _x_, #A# and Cott. form a special sub-group, _y_ going
back to a common origin, but at the same time independent of each other.

We may borrow from Hausknecht the following diagram representing the
interrelations.

[Illustration:

                     U
                 __/   \__
              __/         \__
             /               \__
           _X_                  |
          /   \__               |
         /       \              |
        /        _y_            |
       /       _/   \_          |
      /       /       \_        |
     /       A          \_      |
    /                     V     |
   /                            |
  T                             C ]

As regards the relative value of the different MSS., it must be said
that #T# is the least to be depended on for accuracy, but is valuable
because it preserves more of the early part of the story than is
preserved in any of the other MSS. As regards the relative value of #C#
and _x_ it is hard to decide. Still the instances in which #C#, in
opposition to #A#, agrees with the French are more numerous than are the
instances of the contrary case.


THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY.

   1. _Introductory_, p. xlv.
   2. _Setting_, p. xlv.
   3. _The rise of the Legend_, p. xlvii.
   4. _The place of our Legend of the Assumption_, p. xlix.
   5. _Origin_, p. xlix.
   6. _Other English Versions_, p. lii.
   7. _Manuscripts_, p. liv.
   8. _The Time and Place of Composition_, p. lvi.
   9. _Versification_, p. lviii.


 1. INTRODUCTORY.

From the valorous atmosphere of King Horn and the sentimental atmosphere
of Floris and Blauncheflur, to the devout atmosphere of the
"Assumption," is a very appreciable change. At the same time the
oriental romance of Floris and Blauncheflur and our legend, also, no
doubt, of eastern origin, betray their common descent in a certain
similarity of sentimental tone; and further, both romances, Germanic and
oriental, share to some extent their romantic colour with the religious
legend. It is perhaps the love of this romantic colour, which the three
poems have in common, that has brought them together in the Cambridge
MS. (Gg.4. 27.2) which forms the nucleus of the present volume, though
the fact that the existing manuscript is but a fragment, forbids any
certain conclusion as to the tastes and probable purpose of the
collector.


 2. SETTING.

In turning from the romances of King Horn and Floris and Blauncheflur to
the legend of the Assumption we are entering the most productive field
of early English literature. The religious element is the predominant
element in Anglo-Saxon poetry. Christianity, from the very first, was
received in England with an extraordinary warmth. In the year closely
following the conversion of England there came into bloom a rich
Christian poetry which soon took the place of, almost displaced, the
earlier national epos.

The Norman Conquest was the means of introducing a flood of romances of
every conceivable origin, and probably explains the slight revival of
genuine English romantic traditions such as those of Horn, Havelok and
Waldef, and possibly of Wade. But through the period, immediately
following the Conquest, of the domination of the French and Latin
languages in English literature, there had persisted a thread of the old
English tradition in the homilies which continued for a long time to be
industriously read and copied. With these in the 12th century were
associated new homilies (cf.R. Morris, Old English Homilies), the
direct lineal descendants of those of Alfric and Wulfstan, and in the
beginning of the 13th century, in the northern midlands the metrical
Ormulum, which betrays some French influence in a somewhat scanty French
element in its vocabulary and in its proper names (cf.F. Kluge, Engl.
Stud. xxii), but which nevertheless is composed quite in the style and
manner of the earlier time.

When, after two centuries, the English language had to some extent come
back into use as a language of literature, Cynewulf also found
successors, and the legend flourished once more. Indeed in this new
period it came to flourish to an extent hitherto unparalleled. This
revival was due in part, no doubt, to the story-telling spirit so
manifest in this period, and in part to the fact that this period marks
the highest point in the progress of saint worship.

Probably the earliest of these newer legends were those of St. Juliana,
St. Margeret and St. Katherine, which are written in rhythmical
alliterative prose clearly manifesting the earlier English tradition,
but which give premonition of a new era in the ring of a lyrical tone
and in the already richer, more highly coloured diction. (Cf.C.
Horstmann, Altenglische Legenden, Neue Folge, p. xv, Heilbronn, 1881.)
Quite romantic in tone and colour are the very early, fine poems, in
four-line strophes, of Katerine, Gregory, Mergrete, and the Magdalen,
all of which unfortunately are preserved only in later, remodeled forms,
and are perhaps only scant remains of an originally much richer
literature. (Cf.Horstmann, as above, p. xlii, 225, 242.) According to
Horstmann, the poems of Margaret and Gregory belong to the most
beautiful productions of the early English language. Even more finely
constructed, but rather lyric than narrative in form, are the few
legends which fall in with the movement, influenced by French and
especially strong in the South of England shortly before 1250, toward
the development of the religious lyric. (Cf.R. Morris, Old English
Miscellany.) Of these semi-lyrical legends, Eustas (MS.Digby86) and
the legends of the Psalter (MSS. Digby and Auchinleck) are composed in
six-line strophes. (Cf.Horstmann, pp. 211, 228.) Other poems of this
period, such as the _xi Pains of Hell_, already have the short riming
couplet. Nearly to this same time belongs the Assumption of our Lady, in
riming pairs and also in the Southern dialect.

The Assumption thus finds its setting among the very finest of the
English legendary poems. According to Horstmann (asabove, p. xliii):
'Never again has legendary poetry reached the same height of pathos, the
same purity and beauty of form as in these older legends. The period
immediately following shows a decided falling off in poetic power and in
talent for form. The tone loses in depth and warmth, the style in
fullness and swing.' In the last quarter of the 13th century, as we
shall see, the legendary poetry entered the service of the church, and
was worked over by the monks into great collections for reading in the
services. This no doubt explains the remarkable falling off in poetic
style and quality.


 3. THE RISE OF THE LEGEND.

The story of the rise[I-22] of the legend from the _Acta Martyrorum_,
the earliest records concerning the saints, to the martyrologies, the
records of the recognized martyrs in each individual church, which in
turn were expanded after the 8th century, from mere lists of names to
the Latin legendaries upon which rest the OE. collections of
legends,--all this forms an interesting chapter in the history of the
church and in the history of literature, but has no place here except in
so far as it throws light on the origin of the poem with which we are
concerned. The relation too of the legend to the service of the church
has a very much involved history. The _Lectiones_ or 'readings' in the
daily offices of the church were of three kinds: either (1) selections
from the Scriptures, or (2) selections from the commentaries or homilies
of the church fathers, or (3) the _Acta Sanctorum_. The last kind came
generally to be denoted as _Legenda_, or 'legends.' At first treated
with distrust, in time the legend came to play an important part in the
service of the church. It seems to have first found its full development
in the 'nocturns,' into which it was admitted apparently by the
Benedictines in the 8th century. There it first appeared in an amplified
and extended form.

The height of the legend's development lies in the 12th and 13th
centuries, and coincides with the period (Horstmann, as above, p.xv) of
full bloom of the cult of the saints. At this time the number of saints'
days multiplied. Each church honoured its special saints. One celebrated
not alone the death-day of the saint, but that of the burial and the
translation. New saints came to be venerated, and long-forgotten ones
were again brought to memory. The relics and traditions were collected,
and the lives were written. Special church offices were made for them,
and hymns and songs were written in their praise. In these new _offices_
of the church the legend found its use. These special festivals often
fell on week-days, and one had to fill in _lectiones_ for which nothing
was ready. Under these circumstances the legend offered itself as if
expressly fitted, and became the key to the entire religious
celebration. In this situation, amid these most favourable
circumstances, the legend developed its full power, and must have been
an important factor in the religious life of the period.

In addition to this place of the legend in the offices of the church, it
came later to be read within, or instead of the sermon, after the
_Evangelium_ during the mass, and in the popular language. From very
early times it was permitted to the clergy, in place of original
productions to read the homilies of others, and to this usage, no doubt,
we owe such collections as the Blickling Homilies, Bede's _Homiliae de
tempore_, Aelfric's collections, the Ormulum, etc. That the early
legends were intended to be delivered as sermons, or in sermons, is
apparent from the frequent direct appeals to the congregation, and from
their association, in the MSS., with homilies.

During the 11th and 12th centuries the homily, the older element,
continued to prevail even on saints' days, but in the 13th and 14th
centuries the homily came to be in great measure displaced by the legend
on the festival days of the saints, and was used only for Sundays and
for the _Festae Christi_. To make a complete _liber festivalis_, either
to the book of homilies was joined a legendary for saints' days, or
later the legendary, on the other hand, absorbed the book of homilies,
as happened for instance in the case of the _Legenda aurea_, which marks
the final step in the development of the Latin legendary, and which
presents the homilies of the _Festae Christi_, perhaps the remains of
the book of homilies, side by side with the legends. In the north of
England the collection of _Evangelia dominicalia_, that is to say the
gospels for Sundays and _Festae Christi_, which, according to the
original plan, embraced only the Sunday gospel readings with their
_expositio_ and a _narratio_ (_i.e._ a legendary narrative as an
illustration) came in later MSS. to be supplemented by a collection of
legends, evidently intended to complete the work by providing also for
the saints' days something in the place of the _proprium sanctorum_
(_i.e._ gospels for saints' days). In the South of England, on the other
hand, the complete _liber festivalis_ grows out of the legendary, which
comes to include the homilies.

To sum up, the place of the _evangelium_ in the mass for saints' days
comes to be filled by the legend, while in the mass on Sunday, the
_evangelium_ is still retained, though probably often supplemented by an
_expositio_ and a _narratio_, or legendary tale as illustration for the
_expositio_. In consequence the _liber festivalis_ falls into two parts,
the _temporal_ (for Sundays and _Festae Christi_) and the _sanctoral_,
or legendary for the saints' days.

    [Footnote I-22: Cf. Horstmann, as above, pp. xxviii ff.]


 4. PLACE OF OUR LEGEND OF THE ASSUMPTION.

What then was the original function of our legend of the Assumption? The
_evangelium_ and the homily, as we have seen, still retained their
places, in part at least, in the _temporal_, where the Assumption would
belong, but were supplemented by legendary anecdotes, or even by entire
legends. Was our poem originally intended for a place in the religious
service, or was it rather a lyrico-romantic production with a sacred
theme? What was the original purpose of the poem, it is not easy to
determine. In actual use, however, it seems to have played a double
role. In two of the six MSS. in which the present version of the story
is preserved (viz. the Chetham MS. and Cambr. Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27.2.),
the legend is associated with romances, and we must infer that it is the
romantic quality of the legend that has appealed to the collectors.
(Cf.also the slightly different version in the AuchinleckMS.) In the
other four MSS., however, the associations, as will be seen later, are
distinctly religious, though Harl. MS. 2382 seems rather a literary
collection than one designed for church use. In all of the MSS. the poem
is referred to as a tale (cf.Harl. MS. 2253, near the end, where occurs
the line, _This tale y haue tolde wit mouthe_), and as a _lesson_, that
is to say a 'reading,' and if we may judge by the general tone of the
different versions, the place for this 'reading' was quite likely the
church. Even if the reading was not confined to the church, it usually
was of a professionally religious character as we must judge from the
remarkable conclusion in Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 10036:

  We biseche ee for alle at here is vie
  Off oure ladi seynt marie,
  That Ih{es}u schelde hem fram g{ra}me
  Fro dedly synne {and} fro schame,
  Ne mysauenture schal bi falle {a}t man
  That is a vie here can.
  Ne no womman at ilke dai,
  That of oure ladi here is lai,
  Dien ne schal of hure childe;
  For oure ladi hure schal be mylde.
  Ne noone mys-auenture schall be-falle,
  In felde, in strete, ne in halle,
  In stede er is vie is rad,
  For oure ladi hure sone it bad,
  And e archibisshop, seynt Edmou{n}d,
  Ha g{ra}unted xl. daies to p{ar}dou{n}
  To alle at is vie wol here,
  Or with good wille wol lere. vv. 879-896.


 5. ORIGIN.

The legend of the Assumption, according to ten Brink (Geschichte der
engl. Litt. I, p.331), had its origin in the second half of the 4th
century. Tischendorf (Act. Apocr. p. xxxiv, Leipzig, 1866) believes a
still earlier origin to be not impossible. The story had a wide
circulation in the East. Besides the Greek versions we know (cf.F.
Gierth, Engl. Stud. vii, pp. pp. 1-33) of three Syriac, one Arabic, and
one Sahidic version. Even in Ethiopia there exists a similar tale
(Journ. of Sacr. Lit. and Bibl. Rec., Jan. 1865, p.48). From the orient
the legend spread into the literatures of western Christendom.
Tischendorf (asabove, p. xliii.) gives a list of a dozen Latin
manuscripts of the legend, and from these he offers critical editions of
two versions, which, with Gierth, we may indicate as: (1) _Transitus
Mariae_, #A# (Tischendorf, pp. 113ff.) in Latin prose; (2) _Transitus
Mariae_, #B#, a fuller version differing from #A# in some respects,
notably in the absence of the scene in which Thomas appears.

Other Latin versions are those published by Th. Graesse: (1) The
section, _De assumtione beatae Mariae virginis in Jacobi a Voragine
Legenda Aurea_,[I-23] ed. Th. Graesse, _Dresdae et Lipsiae_, 1846, pp.
504 ff., (2) _De modo assumtionis beatae Mariae_, published by Graesse,
as above, pp. 517 ff.

In French may be mentioned the version by Wace (_L'tablissement de la
fte de la conception Ntre-Dame dite la fte aux Normands_. Caen, 1842,
or, in another edition, _Vie de la vierge Marie_, Tours, 1859). For
account of other unpublished French versions cf. E. Stengel,
_Mittheilungen aus franz. hss._, etc., Halle, 1873, pp. 20 ff.

In German we may mention the version by Conrad v. Heimesfurt, about 1200
(HZ.viii, pp. 150ff.).

Our story in its present form seems to have made its first appearance in
England in the French version, above mentioned, by Wace, in the second
quarter of the 12th century. (Cf.however, _Assumptio sanctae Mariae
virginis_, Blickling Homilies, E.E.T.S. 58, 63,73.) Of an English
version of the present form of the legend, for English hearers, we have
no trace before the middle of the following century, from which it seems
we are to infer that the legend remained the property of the French
clericals about a century before coming into general circulation in the
English-speaking world. This earliest English version of the story is
the one of the present edition in short riming couplets.

What then was the source of this earliest English version? Was it
derived from Wace, or does it rest on one of the Latin versions? Wace's
poem consists of three parts (cf.Gierth, Engl. Stud. vii, p.6): (1)
the institution of the feast of the Conception of Mary, (2) her birth,
rearing and marriage, (3) her death and burial. For the first part his
source seems to have been the _Miraculum de conceptione sanctae Mariae_;
for the second part, the _Evangelium de nativitate Sanctae Mariae_.
About these two works, which he has followed almost word for word, Wace
grouped a number of minor anecdotes and commentary notes from Anselm,
Eadmer, and other of the church writers of the 11th and 12th centuries.
For part (3) Wace seems certainly to have used the Latin version of the
story, designated by Tischendorf as _Transitus Mariae_, #B#.

The English version has in common with Wace's poem some traits that in
the other versions are wanting. For instance, only in these two versions
is it related that Mary cared for and instructed the maidens in the
temple. (Engl. vv. 60ff.) Another feature in common is contained in the
speech of Christ to his mother shortly before her death, in which he
promises her, _La porte d'aidier auras A trestous ceus que tu vorras_
(Wace, p.71, vv. 6,7), which the English poet seems to have expanded
into a number of verses, in which is promised pardon to every sinner who
will betake himself to Mary.

On the other hand, in several instances the English agrees more closely
with the Latin, where Wace has considerably abridged, and in these
instances the French cannot have been the original of the English poem.
A Latin original seems much more probable. The first two-thirds of the
English poem corresponds almost exactly with the Tischendorf Latin #B#
version. On the other hand, the introduction of Thomas in the last
one-third of the poem is a feature of the Latin #A# version, but is
foreign to #B#. In other respects the English poem corresponds more
closely to a third Latin version from which Tischendorf quotes variants,
the _Codex Laurentius_. The English has in common with the _Legenda
Aurea_ the peculiar trait of making no mention of the miraculous transit
of John from Ephesus. Again, some traits in Latin #B# do not appear in
the English version, and, on the other hand, the English version
contains a few traits not to be found in any of the other versions
spoken of.

From the above we must conclude either that the English version rests on
a very composite version of which we do not know, or that the composer
of the English version was very eclectic, and selected his material from
very different sources. The latter explanation seems the more probable
one. In this connection it is important to note an observation first
made by Zarncke and afterwards corroborated by Klbing (Engl. Stud. ii,
pp. 281-2) that the different prose versions of legends influence each
other reciprocally, producing mixed or composite forms of the legend
(_mischredactionen_) whose exact descent it is impossible to trace. It
is here that the learned element makes itself felt and differentiates
the tradition of a legend from the tradition of a romance or of a song.
The influence of this learned element we must probably assume in
explaining the tradition of our legend of the Assumption, which seems to
be a _mischredaction_.

    [Footnote I-23: A legend cycle composed in Latin prose by the
    Italian Jacobus a Voragine, Bishop of Genoa.]


 6. OTHER ENGLISH VERSIONS.

The story of the Assumption seems to have circulated, as we have seen,
both as a romantic story and as a devout legend. It must have been in
the first of these two _rles_ that it was admitted to the famous
collection of romances in the Auchinleck MS. Here the story appears in a
new dress, composed in six-line strophes, with _rime coue_, probably
under the influence of the ballad singers. The content of this version
(cf.M. Schwarz, Engl. Stud. viii, pp. 428ff.) seems to be
substantially that of the earlier version of the present volume. The
first stanza of this version is,--

  Who so bere[gh] palm, e tokne is is,
  at in clene lif he is;
  at is to vnderstonde:
  Hit is tokning of loue,
  at god him haue[gh] wraththe for[gh]oue,
  at bere[gh] palm on honde.

The Assumption also forms a member of the Southern cycle of legends,
which go to form a legendary. In this _rle_ it appears in Harl. MS.
2277, "a parchment book in a long 4to, imperfect at the beginning and
elsewhere; which formerly contained the legends of the Saints, etc.,
according to the course of the year, written in very old English
verse.... The handwriting of this MS. seems to be older than that year"
(1320). The MS. contains 69 legends, of which number 38 is _Assumpcio S.
Marie_, in 246 long riming lines, the first two of which are,--

  Seinte marie godes moder : f{ra}m aposteles nas no[gh]t
  o e holi gost a wit sonedai : among hem was ibro[gh]t.

This version seems to rest on the _Legenda Aurea_[I-24] as an original,
although the incident of the tardy arrival of Thomas, which is contained
in the Latin, is wanting in this version.

This same version appears in a later MS., Bodl. 779,[I-25] of the 16th
century. In this MS. the legend cycle is greatly extended by the
addition of a whole new series of legends. The number of legends in this
MS. reaches the number of 135, of which the version of the Assumption is
number 57.

Another version of our legend is that belonging to the Northern legend
cycle, and preserved in two MSS.: Harl. 4196 and Cott. Tiber. E.
VII,[I-26] of which the latter is the older, but the former the more
complete. These two texts correspond word for word, and apart from
possible scribal blunder, letter for letter, abbreviation for
abbreviation. Harl. MS. 4196 is a large folio on parchment, evidently of
about the middle of the 14th century, and written in a beautiful large
hand of the Northern type. It has 258 double-columned leaves, and
contains (1) several parts of the gospel in verse, which end at fol. 132
_a_, then after a blank page, (2) collection of legends in verse, with
special title and an introduction of eight verses (folios 133-205), then
as a sort of appendix, (3) a metrical gospel of Nicodemus (folios
206-215 _a_), and (4) the Prick of Conscience in verse. This version,
which appears as number 8 in the second division, the legend collection
of the Harl. MS., and whose text is identical in the two MSS. above
mentioned, opens as follows,--

  Of mari milde now will I mene
  at of all heuyns es corond quene
  And lady of all erth to tell
  And also Emp{er}ise of hell.

Another version belonging to the Southern cycle is that contained in the
younger MS. of this cycle, Lambeth MS. 223, a 4to parchment from the
beginning of the 15th century. (Cf.Horstmann, Neue Folge, p. xlvii. and
Notes.) In this MS. the Assumption appears, not in the legendary itself,
but as the fifth and last division in the _temporal_, which is prefixed
to the Southern cycle of legends. This version has frequent rimes within
the verse, and the last half verse has four stresses. The version agrees
in many respects with the Northern one just described and also with the
earlier Southern version, the one of our present volume. The opening
lines are as follows,--

  Herkkenes alle gode men, [gh]if [gh]e ben wise and slye
  And I wole to [gh]ow rede e assumpcioun of Marie
  How she was from ere taken into heuen on hegh
  And ere she shal euer wone and sitte Ihesu negh.

Another English version of our legend is that incorporated into the
Cursor Mundi (vv.19993-20064). This version is translated into a
Northern dialect from a Southern English poem. (Cf.Cursor Mundi, ed. by
R. Morris, Introduction by Dr. Haenisch, pp. 42ff.)

  And sant edmund o ponteni
  Dais o pardun am gis tuenti
  In a writt is ilk i fand,
  He-self it wroght, ic understand.
  In sotherin englis was it draun
  And turnd it haue i till our aun
  Langage o northrin lede,
  at can nan oer englis rede.
  vv. 20057-64.

The poet of Cursor Mundi follows the Southern author nearly line for
line, so that there cannot be the slightest doubt that he refers to the
Southern English version of the present volume. But now and then he has
made additions, for some of which Haenisch finds no source. (Horstmann
believes this version to have been translated from Wace.)

The fact that the poet of Cursor Mundi "attributes his original to
Edmund of Pontenay was caused by a misunderstanding of the lines 893-96
of the SE. Assumption" (Haenisch).

  Cursor Mundi, vv. 20057-60.

  And sant edmund o ponteni
  Dais o pardun am gis tuenti;
  In a writt is ilk i fand
  He self it wroght, ic understand.

    Assumption, vv. 893-6.

    And e archibisshop seynt Edmound
    Ha graunted xl. daies to pardoun
    To alle at is vie wol here
    Or with good wille wol lere.

Still another version, which formed part of a work by Barbour, the
author of the Scotch collection of legends, is mentioned in his
prologue, but, along with the rest of this work referred to, is
unfortunately lost.

Still further deserving of mention are (1) the prose version contained
in the 'Festial' of Johannes Mirkus (Horstmann, Neue Folge, pp.
cix.ff.), a collection of sermons, derived for the most part from the
_Legenda Aurea_ and written about 1400 for the festivals of the church,
Festae Christi and Saints' days;[I-27] and (2) that contained in the
English translation of the _Legenda Aurea_ (cf.Horstmann, Neue Folge,
pp. cxxxff.). "The Assumption of oure ladi" stands 111 in Harl. MS.
4775.

The above enumeration of versions of our legend will demonstrate
effectively its popularity in England, also its use in the service of
the church. Further investigation is needed to determine more exactly
the interrelations of the various versions, though it is doubtful if
such an investigation would produce any very conclusive results, since,
as suggested above, many versions of the legends were probably mixed
versions (_mischredactionen_).

    [Footnote I-24: Cf. M. Schwarz, Engl. Studien, viii, pp. 461 ff.
    But cf. ten Brink, I, p.336; Horstmann, Neue Folge, p. xxxix.]

    [Footnote I-25: Cf. C. Horstmann, Altengl. Legenden, p. xxxiv,
    Paderborn, 1875.]

    [Footnote I-26: Cf. Horstmann, Neue Folge, pp. lxxviii ff., Text,
    pp. 112 ff.]

    [Footnote I-27: The sermons are arranged according to the
    calendar, so that here the book of homilies and the legendary are
    at length completely formed into one. In the oldest and best MS.,
    Cott. Claud. A. II, the Assumption is number 52.]


 7. MANUSCRIPTS.

The earliest English version, the one of the present volume, is known to
exist in six manuscripts.

1. Cambr. Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2. (For description cf. introduction to
King Horn, p. xxviii.) This fragmentary text (240 lines) is printed in
the present volume.

2. Chetham MS. 8009, Manchester, a collection of romances and legends.
(For description cf. Engl. Stud. vii, 195 ff., viii, pp. 1ff.)

3. Cambr. Univ. MS. Dd. 1. 1., a long narrow MS. from about the middle
of the 14th century and written in a large, informal, very legible hand.
The content of the MS. is the Northern collection of _Evangelia
dominicalia_, with which is included, in addition to the sermons with
legends attached for the festivals of John and Peter and Paul, also our
Southern legend poem of the Assumption, which is perhaps to be
attributed to the scribe (named Staundon), who is Southern. (For a full
account of this MS. cf. Horstmann, Neue Folge, p. xxvi. and pp.
lxvii.ff.) This text of 544 verses has not been printed.

4. Cambr. Univ. MS. Ff. 2. 38, a paper MS. in an informal but legible
hand by a Southern scribe. It contains miscellaneous religious writings,
the list of which I neglected to copy. Our poem is followed by "e lyfe
of seynt Kateryn." This text of 770 verses has not been printed.

5. Harl. MS. 2382, a paper book in 4to, in an informal hand, and
containing nine miscellaneous theological poems by Lydgate, Chaucer,
etc. Poem number 1 is Lydgate's Life of the Virgin Mary, four books at
the end of which stands this note, _Explicit quartus liber de sancta
Maria_. The second poem is our present version of the Assumption,
evidently the end of a sequel to Lydgate's poem, for at the end stands
the note, _Explicit Sextus liber Sancte Marie_, which shows that two
other books were added to the original four of Lydgate, written in
stanzas, to King Henry V. The other contents of this MS. seem also to be
literary, and are as follows: 3. _Oracio ad Sanctam Mariam_, 4. _The
Testament of Dan Johan Lydgate_, 5. _Fabula Mornalis de Sancta Maria_,
Chaucer's Prioress's Tale, 6. _Vita Sancte Cecilie_, Chaucer's Second
Nonne's Tale, 7. _De Sancto Erasmo Martire_, 8. _Testamentum Cristi_, 9.
_The Childe of Bristow_. This text of 710 verses is in part reprinted in
the present volume.

6. Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 10036, a small parchment volume (about 8 נ4) of
100 folios, written in black letter, perhaps in the second half of the
14th century, and containing a miscellaneous religious collection: (1)
History of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Vespasian
(ff.1-61), (2) The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (ff.62-80), (3)
Aquestion of the peynes of helle (prose, ff. 81-84), (4) Here bigynneth
the thre arowis that God schal schete at domys-dais apon hem that
schullen be dampned (prose, ff. 85-91), (5) The seven petitions in the
Pater Noster (prose, ff. 91-94), (6) Ave Maria, Pardons and Indulgences
for repeating (prose, f.94), (7) Ten Commandments trans. and expl.
(prose, ff. 94-96), (8) The 51st Psalm, _Miserere mei_, trans. into
English verse (96-100). This text, in 904 verses, is printed in the
present volume.

If for the sake of conformity with the German investigations, we
designate Cambr. MS. Gg. 9. 27. 2. as #A#, Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 10036 as
#B#, Harl. MS. 2382 as #C#, Cambr. MS. Dd. 1. 1. as #D#, Cambr. MS. Ff.
2. 38. as #E#, and Chetham MS. as #Ch.#, then the interrelations of the
different texts of this version are about as follows (F.Gierth, Engl.
Stud. vii, pp. 1ff.). #A# and #B# form a special group as opposed to
#C#, #D#, #E#, on the one hand, and to #Ch.# alone, on the other. No one
of these versions is the direct source of any other. The different texts
may be characterized somewhat as follows:

#A# offers the best text as far as it goes.

#B# introduces many important changes, and seems to be somewhat confused
in the order of events, but in the passages preserved intact, preserves
the text and the rime better than do #C#, #D#, or #E#.

#C# gives best the true course of the story, but often alters the rime,
in particular, individual rime words.

#D# has many gaps, and is particularly defective after the entrance on
the scene of Thomas.

#E# stands in closer relation to #D# than to #C#, and often takes an
intermediate position between #C# and #D#. #Ch.# (cf.M. Schwarz, Engl.
Stud. viii, p.460) we must regard as a compilation of different MSS.,
and owes its origin perhaps to oral tradition. In the case of #Ch.#, as
in the case of the other texts of this version, it will be safer not to
set up any diagram representing the interrelations of MSS., since these
MSS. are no doubt all of them influenced by written as well as by oral
tradition, and, as has been pointed out above, there is at least a
possibility, as in the case of #Ch.#, of mixed versions. In dealing with
legend, even less than in dealing with romance, does one have to do with
a purely epic growth.


 8. TIME AND PLACE OF COMPOSITION.

We have already seen that the author of Cursor Mundi attributes the
authorship of this version of the Assumption to Edmund of Pontenay
(pp.liii, liv, above). But we have also seen the probable source of his
error. In one thing the Northern writer is no doubt right, when he says
(v.20061), "In sotherin englis was it draun." The poem is undoubtedly
Southern in origin. To gain more definite knowledge is not easy. The
rimes, our usual guide in such cases, in this poem are very uncertain.
The writer's ear seems to have been not a delicate one. He does not
distinguish carefully open _[-e,]_ and close _[-e.]_, e.g. _here_:
_lere_ 4 Add., _wel_: _del_ 212C, 206D, 218 Add., 256C, 262 Add.,
_were_: _here_ 716 Add., etc.

In a similar way he does not distinguish carefully open _[-o,]_ and
close _[-o.]_, e.g. _gone_: _done_ 86 Add., 594H, _done_: _one_ 416
Add., 562H, 588H, 750 Add., _anon_: _done_ 530 Add., _sloo_: _doo_
508H, _o_: _do_ 262D, etc. In consequence we are not able to apply
the _-w[-o,]-_, _-w[-o.]-_ test with any degree of certainty. OE. _-w_
rimes, now with _[-o,]_, now with _[-o.]_, e.g. _fro_: _so_ 342 Add.,
324D, _so_: _fo_ 374 Add., _tho_: _so_ 278H, _also_: _mo_ 17C,
etc.; but _so_: _to_ 179C, 184 Add., 214C, 296C, 300 Add., 314H,
344 Add., 718 Add., 904 Add., _atwo_: _do_ 280H, _whom_: _come_ 306F
(_wham_: _cam_ 336 Add.), etc.

In the same way OE. __, and shortened OE. _[-]_, rimes now with _a_,
now with _e_, e.g. _was_: _gracias_ 310 Add., 774 Add., _Thomas_:
_was_ 656C, _Iosephas_: _was_ 582H; but _fless_: _was_ 34C,
_best_: _lest_ 392H, _fed_: _bed_ 124C, 132A, _les_: _wes_ 566D.

In the same way OE. _y_ rimes now with _e_, now with _i_, e.g. _stede_:
_dude_ 57C, 62 Add., 88 Add., 800 Add., 82C, 624 Add., _kyng_: _geng_
220C, _him_ (= 'them'): _kyn_ 642 Add.; but _mankyne_: _pyne_ 426A,
_Inne_: _kynne_ 430A, 478A, 360H, 338D, 346D, _it_: _pytt_ 506H,
_erynne_: _synne_ 604H, _blisse_: _gladnesse_ 384H, etc.

In the same way in the 3rd plur. pres. indic., the ending is sometimes
_-e_, sometimes _-n_, e.g. _listne_ 8C, _serue_ 418H, _goth_ 476H,
593A, _bu_ 22C, 26C, etc.; but _ben_ 25A, _beon_ 141C, 149A,
etc., and the rime _kenesmen_: _ben_ 122C, 130A.

Details may be multiplied indefinitely to show the general Southern
character of the language, _e.g._ the verbal endings in _-i_ or _-y_, as
_blessi_: _herkni_ 7, 8C, _loky_ 47C, _gladie_ 75C, etc.; the
infinitive preserving its final _-n_, as _quene_: _bene_ 6 Add.,
_bene_: _ysene_ 40A, _gon_: _on_ 140C, _quen_: _ben_ 98C, 104A,
114C, 120A, etc.; but _beo_: _gleo_ 10C, etc.; the present
participle in _-and_, as _lepand_: _hande_ 614A, etc.; the use of the
palatalized consonants, as in _yyeue_ 566H, _ayene_ 597H, etc.

The dialect then certainly is of the Southern part of England; but the
rimes do not enable one to locate the dialect more exactly. The
composition is undoubtedly that of a scholar in whom one might expect a
wider range in pronunciation. Doubtless both Southern and Midland
dialects were familiar to him. The pronunciation, however, of OE. _y_ as
_e_ and of OE. __ as _e_ belongs to the East Southern, and we shall
probably be safe in calling the dialect a compromise between East
Southern and East Midland.

The time of composition was probably not later than 1250. The OE. __
had regularly changed to _[-o,]_ (ifwe neglect an isolated instance
like _thomas_: _ras_ 822A); but I find no certain instance of
lengthening in open syllables, and further, the oldest MS. (C) is not
much later than 1250, as we have seen. It preserves the unmonophthonged
_eo_, e.g. _weop_ 29, _treo_ 35, _heo_ 36, _beo_ 37, _iseo_ 38, etc.


 9. VERSIFICATION.

The legend, like the romance of Floris and Blancheflur, is composed in
short riming pairs. Each verse nominally has four metrical stresses. The
rime may be either masculine or feminine. Frequently assonance takes the
place of perfect rime; e.g. _weop_: _fet_ 30C, _gode_: _fote_ 70
Add., _olen_: _y-boren_ 220 Add., etc.




KING HORN.

  [Transcriber's Note:

  Line-initial  was corrected to capital  on the assumption that
  capitalization was editorial. Individual changes are noted at the
  end of the e-text. Line-initial y was retained for consistency.]


  _Cambr. Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2._

  Alle beon he blie
  at to my song lye,
  A sang ihc schal [gh]ou singe
  Of Murry e kinge.                                       4

    _Laud Misc. MS. 108_, fol. 219 _b_.

    +++Alle ben he blie
    at to me wile{n} lie,
    A song ich wille you si{n}ge
    Of morye e kinge.                                     4

      _Harl. MS. 2253._

_The | corresponds to a sign used in the MS. to mark the divisions
between the lines._

      [[See Transcriber's Note about e-text format.]]

      [Sidenote: [leaf 83]]
      Her bygynne e geste of kyng Horn.

       Alle heo ben blye
      at to my song ylye,
      a song ychulle ou singe
      of Allof e gode kynge.                              4

[Sidenote: King Murry and his queen, Godhild, have a son named Horn.]

  King he was biweste
  So longe so hit laste.
  Godhild het his quen;
  Faire ne mi[gh]te non ben.                               8
  He hadde a sone {a}t het horn;
  Fairer ne miste no{n} beo born,
  Ne no rein vpon birine,
  Ne su{n}ne vpon bischine.                               12

    King he was bi westen
    Wel at hise dayes lesten,
    And godild hise gode quene;
    Feyrer non micte bene.                                 8
    Here sone hauede to name horn;
    Feyrer child ne micte ben born.
    Ne reyn ne micte upon reyne,
    Ne no so{n}ne by schine.                              12

      kyng he wes by weste
      e whiles hit yleste,
      ant godylt his gode quene;
      no feyrore myhte bene.                               8
      ant huere sone hihte horn;
      feyrore child ne myhte be born.
      for reyn ne myhte by ryne
      ne sonne myhte shyne.                               12

[Sidenote: He is marvellously fair and fifteen years old.]

  Fairer nis no{n} ane he was;
  He was bri[gh]t so e glas.
  He was whit so e flur,
  Rose red was his colur.                                 16
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  In none kinge riche
  Nas no{n} his iliche.                                   20

    Fayrer child a{n}ne he was,
    Brict so eu{er}e any glas,
    Whit so any lili flour,
    So rose red was hys colur.                            16
    He was fayr and eke bold
    And of fiftene winter hold.
    Was noma{n} him yliche
    Bi none kinges riche.                                 20

      feyrore child en he was,
      bryht so euer eny glas,
      so whit so eny lylye flour,
      so rose red wes his colour.                         16
      He wes feyr {ant} eke bold
      ant of fyftene wynter old.
      [Sidenote: [leaf 83, back]]
      Nis non his yliche
      in none kinges ryche.                               20

[Headnote: _Saracens invade the land._]

[Sidenote: Horn has twelve companions.]

  Twelf feren he hadde
  {a}t alle wi him ladde,
  Alle riche ma{n}nes sones,
  {And} alle hi were faire gomes,                         24
  Wi him for to pleie.
  {And} mest he luuede tweie;
  ++at on him het haulf child,
  {And} {a}t o{er} ffikenild.                           28

    xij feren he hadde
    at he mid him ladde,
    And alle rich ki{n}ges sones,
    And alle swie fayre gomes,                           24
    Mid hym forto pleye.
    But mest he louede tueye;
    at on was hoten ayol child,
    And at oer fokenild.                                28

      tueye feren he hadde
      {a}t he wi him ladde,
      alle richemenne sones,
      {ant} alle suye feyre gomes,                       24
      wy him forte pleye.
      mest he louede tueye;
      {a}t on wes hoten Athulf chyld,
      {ant} {a}t oer Fykenyld.                          28

[Sidenote: Athulf the best, and Fikenhild the worst.]

  Aulf was e beste
  {And} fikenylde e werste.
  Hit was vpon a som{er}es day,
  Also ihc [gh]ou telle may,                              32

    Ayol was e beste
    And fokenild e werste.
    ++Hit was sone som{er}es day,
    Also ich nou telle{n} may,                            32

      Athulf wes e beste
      ant fykenyld e werste.
      Hyt was vpon a someres day,
      also ich ou telle may,                              32

[Sidenote: King Murry while riding, finds fifteen ships arrived on the
strand.]

  Murri e gode king
  Rod on his pleing
  Bi e se side,
  Ase he was woned ride.                                  36

    at moye e gode kinge
    Rod on his pleyhinge
    Bi e se syde,
    er he was woned to ryde.                             36

      Allof e gode kyng
      rod vpon ys pley[gh]yng
      bi e see side,
      er he was woned to ryde.                           36

  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  He fo{n}d bi e st{ro}nde,
  Ariued o{n} his lo{n}de,                                40
  Schipes fiftene,
  Wi sarazins kene.

    With him ride{n} bote tvo;
    Al to fewe ware o.
    He fond bi e stronde,
    Ariued on his londe,                                  40
    Schipes xv,
    Of sarazines kene.

      wi him ne ryde bote tuo;
      al to fewe hue were o.
      he fond by e stronde,
      aryued on is londe,                                 40
      shipes fyftene,
      of sarazynes kene.

  He axede what iso[gh]te
  O{er} to londe bro[gh]te.                              44
  ++A Payn hit of herde
  And hym wel sone answarede,
  "i lo{n}d folk we schulle slon
  And alle {a}t Crist luue vpon,                        48
  And e selue ri[gh]t anon;
  Ne schaltu todai henne gon."

    He acsede wat he sowte
    Oer to londe broucte.                                44
    A peynym it yherde
    And sone answerede,
    "i lond folc we wile{n} slon
    And al at god leuet on;                              48
    And e we solen sone anon;
    Sald ou neuere henne gon."

      he askede whet hue sohten
      oer on is lond brohten.                            44
      a payen hit yherde
      {ant} sone him onsuerede,
      "y lond folk we wolle slon
      {a}t euer c{ri}st leue on;                        48
      {ant} e we wolle ryht anon;
      shalt ou neuer henne gon."

[Headnote: _Saracens kill Horn's father._]

[Sidenote: After a brave defence, the king and his two companions are
slain,]

  e kyng ali[gh]te of his stede,
  For o he hauede nede,                                  52
  {And} his gode kni[gh]tes two;
  Al to fewe he hadde o.
  Swerd hi gu{n}ne g{ri}pe
  {And} to gadere smite.                                  56
  Hy smyten vnder schelde
  at sume hit yfelde.
  e king hadde al to fewe
  To[gh]enes so vele schrewe.                             60

    e king licte adoun of his stede,
    For o he hauede nede,                                52
    And hise gode knictes ij,
    But ywis he{m} was ful wo.
    Swerdes e go{n}ne g{r}ipe
    And to gydere smyte.                                  56
    He foute{n} an ond{er} selde
    Some of hem he felde.
    He weren al to fewe
    Ayen so fele srewe.                                   60

      e kyng lyhte of his stede,
      for o he heuede nede,                              52
      ant his gode feren tuo;
      mid ywis huem wes ful wo.
      swerd hy gonne g{ri}pe
      {ant} to gedere smyte.                              56
      hy smyten under shelde,
      {a}t hy somme yfelde.
       e kyng hade to fewe
      a[gh]eyn so monie schrewe.                          60

[Sidenote: and the Saracens begin to waste the land.]

  So fele mi[gh]ten ye
  Bringe hem re to die.
   e pains come to londe
  {And} neme hit in here honde.                           64
  {a}t folc hi gu{n}ne quelle
  {And} churchen for to felle.

    Sone micte{n} atte[KH-1]
    Bri{n}gen re dee.
    e paynimes come{n} to londe
    And nome{n} hyt al to honde.                          64
    Cherches he go{n}ne{n} felle,
    And folc he go{n}ne quelle.

    [Footnote KH-1: after  a letter erased]

      so fele myhten ee
      bringe re to dee.
      e payns come to londe
      {ant} nomen hit an honde.                           64
      e folk hy gonne quelle
      {ant} sarazyns to felle.

  er ne moste libbe
  e fremde ne e sibbe,                                  68
  Bute hi here la[gh]e asoke
  {And} to here toke.
  Of alle wymmanne
  Wurst was godhild anne.                                72

    er ne micte libbe
    e fremde ne e sibbe,                                68
    Bote he here ley forsoken
    And to here token.
    Of alle wi{m}menne
    Verst was godyld o{n}ne.                              72

      er ne myhte libbe
      e fremede ne e sibbe,                             68
      bote he is lawe forsoke
      {ant} to huere toke.
      of alle wymmanne
      werst wes godyld anne.                             72

[Sidenote: Godhild grieves much,]

  For Murri heo weop sore
  {And} for horn [gh]ute more.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]                                    76

    For moy he wep sore
    And for horn wel more.
    Godild hauede so michel sore
    Micte no wimma{n} habbe more.                         76

      for Allof hy wepe sore
      {ant} for horn [gh]et more.
      Godild hade so muche sore
      {a}t habbe myhte hue na more.                      76

[Headnote: _Godhild takes refuge in a cave._]

[Sidenote: but retires alone to a cave, where she continues to observe
the Christian religion.]

  He wenten vt of halle,
  Fram hire Maidenes alle,
  Vnder a roche of stone.
  er heo liuede alone.                                   80
  er heo s{er}uede gode,
  A[gh]enes e paynes forbode.

    e vente hout of halle,
    Fram hire maydenes alle,
    In to a roche of stone.
    ar he wonede allone.                                 80
    er he seruede god,
    Ayenes e houndes forbod.

      hue wente out of halle,
      from hire maidnes alle,
      vnder a roche of stone.
      er hue wonede al one.                              80
      er hue seruede gode,
      a[gh]eyn e payenes forbode.

  er he seruede c{ri}ste,
  {a}t no payn hit ne wiste.                             84
  Eu{e}re heo bad for horn child,
  {a}t Iesu c{ri}st him beo myld.
  Horn was in paynes honde
  Wi his feren of e londe.                              88
  Muchel was his fairhede,
  For ih{es}u c{ri}st hi{m} makede.

    er he s{er}uede c{r}iste,
    at paynimes ne wiste,                                84
    And eu{er}e bed for horn child,
    at ih{es}u c{r}ist him were mild.
    Horn was i{n} peynims honde,
    Mid his feren of e londe.                            88
    Miche was his fayrhede,
    So ih{es}u him hauede made.

      er hue seruede c{ri}st,
      {a}t e payenes hit nust.                          84
      ant euer hue bad for horn child,
      {a}t c{ri}st him wre myld.
       Horn wes in payenes hond,
      mid is feren of e lond.                            88
      muche wes e feyrhade
      {a}t ih{es}u c{ri}st him made.

[Headnote: _Saracens deliberate over Horn._]

[Sidenote: The pagans save Horn and his companions on account of Horn's
fairness,]

  Payns him wolde slen
  O{er} al quic flen.                                    92
  [Gh]ef his fairnesse nere,
  e children alle asla[gh]e were.
  a{n}ne spak on Admirad,
  Of wordes he was bald,                                  96

    o hundes wolde slon,
    And some him wolde flon.                              92
    [Gh]if hornes fayrede nere,
    e child yslawe ware.
    ++Uan bi spek him amyraud,
    Of wordes he was swie baud,                          96

      payenes him wolde slo
      {ant} summe him wolde flo.                          92
      [gh]yf hornes feyrnesse nere,
      yslawe is children were.
      o spec on Admyrold,
      of wordes he wes swye bold,                        96

  "Horn, u art wel kene,
  {And} {a}t is wel isene;
  u art gret {and} st{ro}ng,
  fair {and} euene lo{n}g.                               100
  u schalt waxe more
  Bi fulle seue [gh]ere.

    "Horn, ou art swie scene,
    And follyche swie kene;
    ou art fayr and eke strong,
    ou art eueneliche long.                             100
    ou scald more wexe
    In is fif yere e nexte.

      "horn, ou art swye kene,
      bryht of hewe {ant} shene;
      ou art fayr {ant} eke strong
      {ant} eke eueneliche long.                         100
      [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: at the same time with forebodings that if Horn lives, he will
take revenge.]

  [Gh]ef u mote to liue go,
  {And} ine feren also,                                 104
  [Gh]ef hit so bi falle,
  [Gh]e scholde slen vs alle.
  aruore u most to stere,
  u {and} ine ifere.                                   108
  To schupe schulle [gh]e funde
  {And} sinke to e grunde.

    [Gh]if u to liue mictest go,
    An ine feren also,                                  104
    at micte so bifalle
    ou suldes slen us alle.
    e for ou scald to stron go
    And ine feren also.                                 108
    To schip ye schule{n} sto{u}nde
    A sinke{n} to e grunde.

      [gh]ef ou to lyue mote go,
      ant yne feren also,                               104
      at ymay byfalle
      {a}t [gh]e shule slen vs alle.
      [Sidenote: [leaf 84]]
      are fore ou shalt to streme go,
      ou ant y feren also.                             108
      to shipe [gh]e shule founde
      {ant} sinke to e grounde.

  e se [gh]ou schal adrenche;
  Ne schal hit us no[gh]t of inche.                     112
  For if u were aliue,
  Wi swerd o{er} wi kniue
  We scholden alle deie,
  {And} i fader de abeie."                             116

    e se e sal adrinke;
    Ne sal hit us of inke.                              112
    For yf ou come to liue,
    With suerdes or with cniue
    We sholde alle deye,
    i fad{er}es det abeye."                             116

      e see e shal adrenche;
      ne shal hit vs of enche.                          112
      for [gh]ef ou were alyue,
      wi suerd oer wi knyue
      we shulden alle de[gh]e,
      y fader de to beye."                             116

[Headnote: _Horn is put to sea in a boat._]

[Sidenote: Grieving sorely, the children are put aboard the boat,]

  ++e children hi bro[gh]te to st{ro}nde,
  Wringinde here honde,
  Into schupes borde
  At e furste worde.                                    120
  Ofte hadde horn beo wo,
  At neure wurs an him was o.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . .
  . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . .]

    e childre yede to stronde,
    Wringende here honde.
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . .]
    Ofte hauede horn child be wo,
    Bute neu{er}e werse a{n} o.
    Horns yede in to e shipes bord
    Sone at e firste word,                              124
    And alle hise feren,
    at ware him lef and dere.

      e children ede to e stronde,
      wryngynde huere honde,
      ant in to shipes borde
      at e furste worde.                                120
      ofte hade horn be wo,
      ah neuer wors en hi{m} wes o.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

  e se bigan to flowe
  {And} hornchild to rowe.                               128
  e se {a}t schup so faste drof,
  e children dradde er of.
  Hi wenden to wisse
  Of here lif to misse,                                  132

    e se bigan to flowen
    And horn faste to rowen.                             128
    And here schip swie drof;
    e childre{n} adred er of.
    ei wende{n} alle wel ywis
    Of here lif haued ymis,                              132

       e see bygon to flowen
      {ant} horn faste to rowen                          128
      ant {a}t ship wel suye drof,
      {ant} horn wes adred er of,
      hue wenden mid ywisse
      of huere lyue to misse.                            132

[Sidenote: and the following morning see land.]

  Al e day {and} al e ni[gh]t,
  Til hit sprang dai li[gh]t.
   Til horn sa[gh] on e st{ro}nde
  Men gon i{n} e londe.                                 136
  "Feren," q{ua} he, "[gh]o{n}ge,
  Ihc telle [gh]ou tiinge.

    Al e day and al e nict,
    Til him sprong e day lyt.
    Til horn bi e stro{n}de
    Seth me{n} gon alonde.                               136
    "Feren," he seyde, "singe,
    Y telle [gh]ou a tidinge.

      al e day {ant} al e nyht,
      o {a}t sprong e day lyht,
      Flotterede horn by e stronde,
      er he seye eny londe.                              136
      "feren," quo horn e [gh]ynge,
      "y telle ou tydynge.

[Sidenote: Horn announces land to his companions.]

  Ihc here fo[gh]eles singe
  {And} {a}t gras him springe.                          140
  Blie beo we on lyue,
  Vre schup is on ryue."
  Of schup hi gu{n}ne funde
  {And} setten fout to grunde.                           144

    Ych here foules singe
    And so e g{ra}s him sp{r}inge.                      140
    Blie be we o liue,
    Houre schip hys come ryue."
    Of schip e gon fonde
    An sette fot on grunde.                              144

      Ich here foules singe,
      {ant} se e grases sp{ri}nge.                      140
      blye be [gh]e alyue,
      vr ship is come to ryue."
      of shipe hy gonne founde
      {ant} sette fot to grounde.                        144

[Headnote: _Horn's farewell to the boat._]

[Sidenote: All disembark, and Horn bids the boat a touching farewell,
wishing it '_dayes gode_,']

  Bi e se side
  Hi lete{n} {a}t schup ride.
  anne spak him child horn,
  In suddene he was iborn,                               148
  "Schup, bi e se flode,
  Daies haue u gode;
  Bi e se brinke
  No wat{er} e na drinke.                               152
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    Bi e se side
    Here schip bigan to glide.
    a{n}ne spek e chid horn,
    In sodenne he was yborn,                             148
    "Go nou, schip, by flode,
    And haue dawes gode.
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]
    Softe mote ou stirie,
    No wat{er} e derie.

      by e see syde
      hure ship bigon to ryde.
      enne spec him child horn,
      in sudenne he was yborn,                           148
      "nou, ship, by e flode,
      haue dayes gode,
      by e see brynke
      no water e adrynke.                               152
      softe mote ou sterye,
      {a}t water e ne derye.

[Sidenote: and charging it with messages to his mother and friends.]

  [Gh]ef u cume to Suddenne,
  Gret u wel of myne ke{n}ne;                           156
  Gret u wel my moder,
  Godhild, quen e gode.
  And seie e paene kyng,
  Iesucrist{e}s wiering,                                160
  at ihc am hol {and} fer
  On is lond ariued her.
  And seie {a}t hei schal fonde
  e dent of myne honde."                                164

    Wa{n}ne ou comes to sodenne,
    Gret wel al mi kinne,                                156
    And grete wel e gode
    Quen godild, my mod{er}.
    And sey at heene king,
    Ih{es}u c{r}istes wierling,                         160
    at ichc lef and dere,
    On londe am riued here.
    And sei at he shal fo{n}ge
    e deth of mine honde."                              164

      [gh]ef ou comest to sudenne,
      g{re}t hem {a}t me kenne.                         156
      gret wel e gode
      quene godild, mi moder.
      ant sey ene heene kyng,
      ih{es}u c{ri}stes wytherlyng,                      160
      {a}t ich hol {ant} fere,
      in londe aryuede here.
      ant say {a}t he shal fonde
      en de of myne honde."                            164

[Headnote: _King Aylmer welcomes the children._]

[Sidenote: The children set out from the shore and meet King Aylmer,]

  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  e children [gh]ede to Tune
  Bi dales {and} bi dune.                                168
  Hy metten wi almair king,
  Crist [gh]eue{n} him his blessing,
  King of West{er}nesse,
  Crist [gh]iue him Muchel blisse.                       172

    e schip biga{n} to flete
    And horn child forto wepe.
    e children yede to towne
    Bi dales and bi downe.                               168
    ++Metten he with aylm{er} king,
    God him yeue god timing,
    King of westnesse,
    God him yeue blisse.                                 172

       e ship bigon to fleoten
      {ant} horn child to weopen.
      by dales {ant} by dounes
      e children eoden to tounes.                       168
      metten hue Eylmer, e kyng,
      c{ri}st him [gh]eue god tymyng,
      kyng of westnesse,
      c[{ri}]st him myhte blesse.                        172

[Sidenote: who greets them kindly and asks their history.]

  He him spac to horn child
  Wordes at were Mild,
  "Whannes beo [gh]e, faire gumes,
  {a}t her to londe beo icume,                         176
  Alle rottene
  Of bodie swie kene?
  Bigod {a}t me makede,
  A swihc fair verade                                    180
  Ne sau[gh] ihc in none stunde
  Bi westene londe.
  Seie me wat [gh]e seche."

    For he spek to horn child
    Wordes wel swie mild,
    "We{n}ne be ye, fayre grome,
    at here to londe ben ycome,                         176
    Alle xiij
    Of bodi swie schene?
    Bi ih{es}u at me made,
    So fayre on ere clade,                              180
    Ne say neu{er}e stonde
    In al westnesse londe.
    Sey me wat ye seche."

      he spec to horn child
      wordes suye myld,
      "whenne be [gh]e gomen,
      at bue her a londe ycomen,                       176
      alle rettene
      of bodye suye kene?
      by god at me made,
      so feyr a felaurade                                180
      ne seh y neuer stonde
      in westnesse Londe.
      say me whet [gh]e seche."

  Horn spak here speche,                                 184
  He spak for he{m} alle,
  Vor so hit moste biualle.
  He was e faireste
  {And} of wit e beste.                                 188

    Horn spak here speche,                               184
    Hor spak for hem alle,
    So hit moste by falle,
    For at he was fayrest
    And of witte wisest.                                 188

      horn spec huere speche.                            184
       Horn spac for huem alle,
      for so hit moste byfalle;
      he wes e wyseste
      {ant} of wytte e beste.                           188

[Headnote: _Horn tells his history._]

[Sidenote: Horn tells the king about their adventures,]

   "We beo of Suddenne,
  Icome of gode kenne,
  Of Cristene blode
  {And} kynges sue gode.                                192
  Payns er gu{n}ne ariue
  {And} duden hem of lyue.
  Hi slo[gh]en {and} to dro[gh]e
  Cristenemen ino[gh]e.                                  196

    "We ben of sodenne,
    ycome{n} of godeme{n}ne,
    Of c{r}istene blode
    And of swie gode.                                   192
    Paynims er were riued
    And broucte{n} men of liue.
    He slowe and to drowe
    C{r}istene men hy nowe.                              196

      "we bue of sudenne,
      ycome of gode kenne,
      of c{ri}stene blode,
      of cunne swye gode.                               192
      payenes er connen aryue
      {ant} c{ri}stine brohten of lyue,
      slowen {ant} to drowe
      c{ri}stinemen ynowe.                               196

  So crist me mote rede,
  Vs he dude lede
  In to a galeie,
  Wi e se to pleie.                                    200
  Dai hit is igon {and} oer
  Wiute sail {and} roer.

    So god me mote rede.
    Vs he deden lede
    In to salyley,
    Wit e se to pleye.                                  200
    Day igo and oer
    Wit ute{n} seyl and roer.

      so c{ri}st me mote rede,
      ous hy duden lede
      [Sidenote: [leaf 84, back]]
      In to a galeye,
      wi e see to pleye.                               200
      day is gon {ant} oper
      wi oute seyl {ant} roer.

[Sidenote: and bids him do his will with them.]

  Vre schip bigan to swymme
  To is londes brymme.                                  204
  Nu u mi[gh]t vs slen, {and} binde
  Vre honde bihynde.
  Bute [gh]ef hit beo i wille,
  Helpe {a}t we ne spille."                             208
   anne spak e gode kyng,
  I wis he nas no Niing,

    And hure schip swemme gan,
    And he to londe it wan.                              204
    Nou men us binde
    Oure honde{n} us bi hinde{n},
    And yf it be i wille,
    Help us at we ne spille."                           208
    o bispac aylm{er} king,
    Was he neu{er}e nying,

      vre ship flet for ylome,
      {ant} her to londe hit ys ycome.                   204
      Nou ou myht vs slen, {ant} bynde
      oure honde vs bihynde.
      ah [gh]ef hit is i wille,
      help vs {a}t we ne spille."                       208
       o spac e gode kyng,
      he nes neuer nyyng,

[Headnote: _Horn tells his name._]

[Sidenote: Aylmer asks Horn's name,]

  "Seie me, child, what is i name?
  Ne schaltu haue bute game."                            212
  e child him answerde,
  Sone so he hit herde,
  "Horn ihc am ihote,
  Icomen vt of e bote,                                  216
  Fram e se side,
  Kyng, wel mote e tide."

    "Sey me, child, wat is i name,
    Ne schal e tide bote game."                         212
    at child him answerede,
    Sone so hit herde,
    "Hor hich am hote,
    Ycome out of e bote,                                216
    Fram e se syde,
    King, wel e bityde."

      "sey, child, whet is y name,
      shal e tide bote game."                           212
      e child him onsuerede,
      so sone he hit yherde,
      "Horn ycham yhote,
      ycome out of is bote,                             216
      from e see side,
      kyng, wel e bitide."

[Sidenote: and learning it, puns upon it,]

  anne hym spak e gode king,
  "Wel bruc u in eueni{n}g.                            220
  Horn, u go wel schulle
  Bi dales {and} bi hulle.

    "++Hon child," qwad e king,
    "Wel brouke ou i nami{n}g.                         220
    Horn him goth snille
    Bi dales an bi hulle;

      "horn child," quo e kyng,
      "wel brouc ou y nome [gh]yng.                    220
      horn him go so stille
      bi dales {ant} by hulles.

[Sidenote: predicting that Horn's fame shall spread like the sound of a
horn.]

  Horn, u lude sune
  Bi dales {and} bi dune.                                224
  So schal i name springe
  Fram kynge to kynge,
  {And} i fairnesse
  Abute West{er}nesse,                                   228
  e strenge of ine honde
  Into Eurech londe.

    And oruuth eche toune
    Horn him shille soune.                              224
    So shal i name springe
    Fram kinge to kinge,
    And i fayrnesse
    oru out westnesse,                                  228
    And strege of ine honde
    oruouth eu{er}ich londe.

      horn ha loude soune
      urh out vch a toune.                              224
      so shal i nome sp{ri}nge
      from kynge to kynge,
      ant i feirnesse
      aboute westnesse.                                  228
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: He then leads Horn home.]

  Horn, u art so swete
  Ne may ihc e forlete."                                232
  Hom rod Aylmar e kyng,
  {And} horn mid him his fundyng
  {And} alle his ifere,
  {a}t were him so dere.                                236

    Horn u art so swete
    No schal ye for lete."                              232
    Hom rod him aylm{er} king,
    And wit horn e sweting
    And alle hyse feren,
    at weren lef and dere.                              236

      horn ou art so suete,
      ne shal y e forlete."                             232
      Hom rod Aylmer e kyng,
      {ant} horn wi him, his fundlyng,
      {ant} alle his yfere,
      at him were so duere.                             236

[Headnote: _Arrangements for education of the children._]

[Sidenote: The king entrusts Horn to Athelbrus, the steward, charging
the latter to give Horn full instruction in hunting, fishing,]

   e kyng com in to halle
  Among his kni[gh]tes alle;
  For he clupede aelbrus,
  at was stiward of his hus.                            240
  "Stiwarde, tak nu here
  Mi fundlyng for to lere
  Of ine mest{er}e,
  Of wude {and} of riu{er}e,                             244
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    e king com in to halle
    Amo{n}g hise kinctes alle.
    He bad clepen aybrous,
    e heye stiward of his hous.                         240
    "Stiward, haue ou here
    Horn chil for to lere
    Of ine mestere,
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .]
    Of wode and of felde                                 244
    To riden wel wit shelde.

      e kyng com in to halle
      among his knyhtes alle.
      for he clepe Aelbrus,
      his stiward, {ant} him seide us,                  240
      "stiward, tac ou here
      my fundlyng, forto lere
      of ine mestere,
      of wode {ant} of ryuere,                           244
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: playing the harp, and in serving with the cup.]

  {And} tech him to harpe
  Wi his nayles scharpe,                                248
  Biuore me to kerue
  {And} of e cupe serue.
  u tech him of alle e liste
  at u eure of wiste.                                  252

    Tech him of e harpe,
    Wit his nayles sharpe                                248
    Biforn me for to harpen,
    And of e cuppe seruen,
    And of alle e listes
    at ou on ere vistes.                              252

      and toggen o e harpe
      wi is nayles sharpe;                              248
      and tech him alle e listes
      {a}t ou euer wystest,
      byfore me to keruen
      {ant} of my coupe to seruen.                       252

  In his feiren ou wise
  In to oere s{er}uise.
  Horn u vnderuonge
  {And} tech him of harpe {and} songe."                  256
   Ailbrus gan lere
  Horn {and} his yfere.

    His feren deuise
    Of oer seruise.
    ++Horn child ou vnderfonge;
    Tech him of harpe and so{n}ge."                      256
    And aylbrous gan leren
    Horn and hise feren.

      ant his feren deuyse
      wi ous oer seruise.
      horn child ou vnderstond,
      tech him of harpe {ant} of song."                  256
       Aelbrus gon leren,
      horn {ant} hyse feren.

[Headnote: _Rymenhild loves Horn._]

[Sidenote: Horn learns readily and becomes a general favourite.]

  Horn in herte la[gh]te
  Al at he him ta[gh]te.                                260
  In e curt {and} vte,
  {And} elles al abute,
  Luuede men horn child;
  {And} mest him louede Rymenhild,                       264
  e kynges o[gh]ene dofter.
  He was mest in o[gh]te.

    Horn in h{er}te laucte
    Al at men him taucte.                               260
    Wit hine e curt and wit oute,
    And alle veie aboute,
    Men louede{n} alle horn child,
    And mest him louede rimenild,                        264
    e kinge owne dout{er}.
    He was eu{er}e in oute.

      horn mid herte lahte
      al {a}t mon him tahte.                            260
      wi inne court {ant} wi oute
      {ant} oueral aboute,
      Louede men horn child;
      {ant} most him louede rymenyld,                    264
      e kynges oune dohter,
      for he wes in hire ohte.

[Sidenote: Rymenhild falls passionately in love with him,]

  Heo louede so horn child,
  at ne[gh] heo gan wexe wild;                          268
  For heo ne mi[gh]te at borde
  Wi him speke no worde,
  Ne no[gh]t in e halle
  Amo{n}g e kni[gh]tes alle,                            272
  Ne nowhar in non o{er}e stede,
  Of folk heo hadde drede,
  Bi daie ne bi ni[gh]te,
  Wi him speke ne mi[gh]te.                             276
  Hire sore[gh]e ne hire pine
  Ne mi[gh]te neure fine.
  In heorte heo hadde wo,
  {And} us hire bio[gh]te o.                          280

    So hye louede horn child,
    at hye wex al wild.                                 268
    Hye ne micte on borde
    Wit horn speken no worde,
    Noer in e halle
    Among e kinctes alle,                               272
    Ne nower i{n} no stede,
    For for folc er was so meche.
    Hire sorwe and hire pyne
    Nolde he neu{er}e fine.                              276
    Bi day ne bi nicte
    Wit him speke ne micte.
    In h{er}te hye haue kare and wo;
    us he hire bi oucte o.                            280

      hue louede hi{m} in hire mod,
      for he wes feir {ant} eke god.                     268
      {ant} ah hue ne dorste at bord
      mid hi{m} speke ner a word,
      ne in e halle
      among e knyhtes alle,                             272
      hyre sorewe ant hire pyne
      nolde neuer fyne
      bi daye ne by nyhte,
      for hue speke ne myhte                             276
      wi horn {a}t wes so feir {ant} fre,
      o hue ne myhte wi him be.
      In herte hue hade care {ant} wo,
      {ant} {us} hue biohte hire o.                   280

[Sidenote: and sends to Athelbrus.]

  Heo sende hire sonde
  Aelbrus to honde,
  {a}t he come hire to,
  {And} also scholde horn do                             284
  Al in to bure,
  ffor heo ga{n} to lure.
  {And} e sonde seide
  {a}t sik lai {a}t maide,                             288
  {And} bad him come swie
  For heo nas noing blie.

    He sende hire sonde
    Aylbrous to honde.
    And be, he schold hire come{n} to,
    And also scholde horn do                             284
    In to hire boure,
    For hye gan to loure.
    And ysonde seyde
    Wel riche was e mede,                               288
    And bed him come{n} swie,
    For hye nas naut bli.

      Hue sende hyre sonde
      Athelbrus to honde,
      [Sidenote: [leaf 85]]
      at he come hue to,
      {ant} also shulde horn do                          284
      in to hire boure,
      for hue bigon to loure.
      {ant} e sonde sayde
      {a}t seek wes e mayde,                           288
      {ant} bed him come suye,
      for hue nis nout blye.

[Sidenote: Rymenhild bids Athelbrus bring Horn to her bower,]

  e stuard was in herte wo,
  For he nuste what to do.                               292
  Wat Rymenhild hure o[gh]te,
  Gret wunder him u[gh]te.
  Abute horn e [gh]onge
  To bure for to bringe,                                 296

    e stiward was i{n} h{er}te wo,
    He ne wiste wat he micte do.                         292
    Wat reymnyld wroute,
    Mikel wond{er} him oute.
    Abote horn e [gh]enge
    To boure for to bringe,                              296

       e stiward wes in huerte wo,
      for he nuste whet he shulde do.                    292
      what rymenild bysohte,
      gret wonder him ohte,
      aboute horn e [gh]inge
      to boure forte bringe.                             296

[Headnote: _Athelbrus brings Athulf to bower._]

[Sidenote: but he, fearing some evil consequence, takes Athulf instead.]

  He o[gh]te upon his mode
  Hit nas for none gode.
  He tok him anoer,
  Athulf, hornes broer.                                 300

    He oucte on his mode
    Hit nas for none gode.
    He tok wit him anoer,
    at was hornes wed broer.                           300

      he ohte on is mode
      hit nes for none gode.
      he tok wi him an oer,
      aulf, hornes broer.                              300

   "Aulf," he sede, "ri[gh]t anon
  u schalt wi me to bure gon,
  To speke wi Rymenhild stille
  {And} witen hure wille.                                304
  In hornes ilike
  u schalt hure biswike.
  Sore ihc me ofdrede
  He wolde horn misrede."                                308

    "Ayol," he seyde, "ryt anon
    ou shalt wit me to boure gon,
    To speke wit reymyld stille
    And witen al hire wille.                             304
    In hornes ylyche
    ou schalt hir{e} bi swike.
    Wel sore y me of drede
    at hye wile horn mis rede."                         308

      "Athulf," quo he, "ryht anon
      ou shalt wi me to boure gon,
      to speke wi rymenild stille,
      to wyte hyre wille.                                304
      ou art hornes yliche,
      ou shalt hire by suyke;
      sore me adrede
      {a}t hue wole horn mys rede."                     308

[Headnote: _Reception of Athulf._]

[Sidenote: Athelbrus and Athulf go to Rymenhild's bower, and Rymenhild,
mistaking Athulf for Horn, embraces him]

  Aelbrus gan Aulf lede
  {And} in to bure wi him [gh]ede.
  Anon vpon Aulf child
  Rymenhild gan wexe wild.                               312
  He we{n}de {a}t horn hit were
  {a}t heo hauede ere.
  Heo sette him on bedde,
  Wi Aulf child he wedde.                              316
  On hire armes tweie
  Aulf heo gan leie.

    Aylbrous, and ayol hi{m} myde,
    Boe he to bour{e} [gh]ede.
    Opon ayol childe
    Reymyld was naut wilde.                              312
    Hye wende horn hit were
    at hye hadde ere.
    Hye sette him on bedde,
    With ayol he gan wedde.                              316
    In hire armes tweye
    Ayol he gan leye.

      Athelbrus {ant} Athulf bo
      to hire boure be ygo.
      vpon Athulf childe
      rymenild con waxe wilde.                           312
      hue wende horn it were
      {a}t hue hade ere.
      hue seten adoun stille
      ant seyden hure wille.                             316
      In hire armes tueye
      Athulf he con leye.

[Sidenote: and declares her love.]

  "Horn," q{ua} heo, "wel longe
  Ihc habbe e luued st{r}onge.                          320
  u schalt i trewe pli[gh]te
  On myn hond her ri[gh]te,
  Me to spuse holde,
  {And} ihc e lord to wolde."                           324
   Aulf sede on hire ire,
  So stille so hit were,

    "Horn," hye seyde, "so longe
    Ich habbe yloued e stronge.                         320
    ou schalt me treue ply[gh]te
    In mine honde wel ryhcte,
    Me to spouse welde,
    And ich e louerd to helde."                         324
    And seyde in hire here,
    So stille so it were,

      "horn," quo he, "wel longe
      y haue loued e stronge;                           320
      ou shalt y treue plyhte
      in myn hond wi ryhte,
      me to spouse welde,
      {ant} ich e louerd to helde."                     324
      so stille so hit were
      athulf seyde in hire eere,

[Sidenote: Athulf discloses his identity, and bids her desist.]

  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  "i tale nu u lynne,
  For horn nis no[gh]t her in{n}e.

    "Ne te ou more speche,
    Su{m} ma{n} e wile bi keche.                        328
    i tale bi gyn to lynne,
    For horn nis nouth heri{n}ne.

      "ne tel ou no more speche,
      may, y e by seche.                                328
      i tale gyn ou lynne,
      for horn nis nout her ynne.

[Sidenote: Athulf declares himself in every way inferior to Horn, and
his unwillingness to deceive.]

  Ne beo we no[gh]t iliche,
  Horn is fairer {and} riche,                            332
  Fairer bi one ribbe
  ane eni Man {a}t libbe.
  e[gh] horn were vnder Molde,
  O{er} elles wher he wolde,                            336
  Oer henne a use{n}d Mile,
  Ihc nolde him ne e bigile."
   Rymenhild hire biwente,
  {And} Aelbrus fule heo schente.                       340

    Horn his fayr and riche,
    Be we naut yliche,                                   332
    Fayror hond{er} ribbe
    an onyman at libbe.
    ei horn were hond{er} molde
    Oer elles qwere e wolde,                            336
    Hanne ou{er} a ousond mile,
    Ne schulde ich him bigile."
    Reymyld hire bi wende,
    e stiward sone he schende.                          340

      ne be we nout yliche,
      for horn is fayr {ant} ryche,                      332
      fayrore by one ribbe
      en ani mon at libbe.
      ah horn were vnder molde,
      {ant} oer elle wher he sholde,                    336
      hennes a ousent milen,
      y nulle him bigilen."
       rymenild hire by wente,
      ant Athelbrus us heo shende,                      340

[Headnote: _Rymenhild rages at Athelbrus._]

[Sidenote: Rymenhild storms at Athelbrus, and drives him from the
bower.]

  "He{n}nes u go, u fule eof,
  Ne wurstu me neure more leof
  Went vt of my bur,
  Wi muchel mesauenteur.                                344
  Schame mote u fonge
  {And} on hi[gh]e rode anhonge.
  Ne spek ihc no[gh]t wi horn,
  Nis he no[gh]t so vnorn.                               348
  Hor[n] is fairer ane beo he,
  Wi muchel schame mote u deie."

    "Aylbrous, u foule ef,
    Ne worstu me neu{er}e lef.
    Wend out of mi bour{e},
    Wyt muchel mesaue{n}ture.                            344
    Heuele ded mote ou fonge
    And on heuele rode on honge.
    Spak ich nou with horn,
    His he nowt me biforn.                               348
    He his fayror of liue;
    Wend out he{n}ne bilyue."

      "Aelbrus, ou foule ef,
      ne worest ou me neuer lef.
      went out of my boure,
      shame e mote by shoure,                           344
      ant euel hap to vnderfonge
      {ant} euele rode on to honge.
      Ne speke y nout wi horne,
      nis he nout so vnorne.                             348
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Headnote: _Athelbrus promises to bring Horn._]

   Aelbrus in a stunde
  Fel anon to grunde.                                    352
  "Lefdi, Min o[gh]e,
  Lie me a litel ro[gh]e.

    o aylbrous a stounde
    On kneus fel to grunde.                              352
    "A, leuedy, min howe,
    Lye a litel rowe.

       o Athelbrus astounde
      fel aknen to grounde.                              352
      "ha, leuedy, myn owe,
      me lye a lutel rowe,

[Sidenote: Athelbrus explains his fears,]

  Lust whi ihc wonde
  Bringe e horn to honde.                               356
  For horn is fair {and} riche,
  Nis no whar his iliche.
  Aylmar, e gode kyng,
  Dude him on mi lokyng.                                 360

    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .]
    To bringe e horn to honde.                          356
    Horn hys fayr and riche,
    His no man hys liche,
    And aylm{er}, e gode king,
    Dede him in Mi loking.                               360

      ant list were fore ych wonde
      to bringen horn to honde.                          356
      for horn is fayr {ant} riche,
      nis non his ylyche.
      Aylmer e gode kyng
      dude him me in lokyng.                             360

  [Gh]ef horn were her abute,
  Sore y me dute
  Wi him [gh]e wolden pleie
  Bitwex [gh]ou selue tweie.                             364
  a{n}ne scholde wiuten oe
  e kyng maken vs wroe.

    [Gh]yf horn e were aboute,
    Wel sore ich me doute
    at ye schulde{n} pleye
    Bitwen hou one tweye.                                364
    an scholde wit oute{n} oe
    e king hus maken wroe.

      [Gh]if horn e were aboute,
      sore ich myhte doute
      wi him ou woldest pleye
      bituene ou seluen tueye.                           364
      enne shulde wi outen oe
      e kyng vs make wroe.

[Sidenote: but asks Rymenhild's forgiveness, and promises to bring Horn
in all events.]

  Rymenhild, for[gh]ef me i tene,
  Lefdi, my quene,                                       368
  And horn ihc schal e fecche,
  Wham so hit recche."

    For [gh]yf me i tene,
    My leuedi and my quene,                              368
    And horn ich wolle feche,
    Wam so hit eu{er}e reche."

      [Sidenote: [leaf 85, back]]
      Ah, for[gh]ef me i teone,
      my leuedy Ant my quene.                            368
      Horn y shal e fecche,
      wham so hit yrecche."

[Sidenote: Rymenhild is glad, and bids him bring Horn as a squire.]

   Rymenhild, [gh]ef he cue,
  Gan lynne wi hire Mue.                               372
  Heo makede hire wel blie
  Wel was hire {a}t sie.

    Reymyld, [gh]yf hye cowe,
    Gan leyhe wyt hire moue.                            372
    Hye lowe and makede blye
    Wel was hire swie.

      rymenild, [gh]ef heo coue,
      con lye wi hyre moue.                           372
      heo loh {ant} made hire blye,
      for wel wes hyre olyue.

  "Go nu," q{ua} heo, "sone,
  {And} send him aft{er} none                            376
  Whane e kyng arise,
  On a squieres wise.
  To wude for to pleie.
  Nis no{n} {a}t him biwreie;                           380
  He schal wi me bileue
  Til hit beo nir eue,
  To hauen of him mi wille.
  Aft{er} ne recchecche what me telle."                  384

    "Go," hye seyde, "sone,
    And bring him aft{er} none,                          376
    In a sq{u}ieres wise,
    Wan e king aryse.
    He wende for to horne;
    Ne wolde sche him werne.                             380
    "He schal mid me bi leue
    Til hyt be ner heue.
    Had ich of hym my wille,
    Ne reche y wat men telle."                           384

      "go on," quo heo, "sone,
      {ant} send him after none,                         376
      a skuyeres wyse,
      when e king aryse.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                               380
      he shal myd me bileue
      {a}t hit be ner eue.
      haue ich of hi{m} mi wille,
      ne recchi whet men telle."                         384

[Headnote: _Athelbrus invites Horn to Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: Athelbrus finds Horn in hall, serving the king.]

   Aylbrus wende hire fro;
  Horn in halle fond he o,
  Bifore e kyng on benche,
  Wyn for to schenche.                                   388
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    Aylbrous fram boure wende,
    Horn i{n} halle he fonde,
    Bi forn e king abenche,
    Red win to schenche,                                 388
    And aft{er} mete stale,
    Boe win and ale.

       Athelbrus go wi alle;
      horn he fond in halle,
      bifore e kyng o benche,
      wyn forte shenche.                                 388
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: He bids him go to Rymenhild's bower, at the same time urging
him to be discreet.]

  "Horn," q{ua} he, "so hende,
  To bure nu u wende,                                   392
  Aft{er} mete stille,
  Wi Rymenhild to duelle.
  Wordes sue bolde
  In herte u hem holde.                                 396

    "Horn," he seyde, "so hende,
    To bour{e} o most wende,                            392
    Aft{er} mete stille, _wit_
    With reymild to dwelle.
    Wordes swie bolde
    In h{er}te gon u holde.                             396

      "Horn," quo he, "ou hende,
      to boure gyn ou wende,                            392
      to speke wi rymenild e [gh]ynge,
      dohter oure kynge,
      wordes suye bolde;
      in horte gyn ou holde.                           396

  Horn, beo me wel trewe;
  Ne schal hit e neure rewe."
  Horn in herte leide
  Al {a}t he him seide.                                 400
  He [gh]eode in wel ri[gh]te
  To Rymenhild e bri[gh]te.

    Hor, be me wel trewe;
    Ne schal it e nouth rewe."
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                 400
    ++Horn him we{n}de forricte
    To reymyld e brycte.

      Horn, be ou me trewe,
      shal e nout arewe."
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                               400
      He eode for to ryhte
      to rymenild e bryhte.

[Headnote: _Rymenhild's reception of Horn._]

[Sidenote: Horn greets Rymenhild with fair words.]

  On knes he him sette,
  And sweteliche hure grette.                            404
  Of his feire si[gh]te
  Al e bur gan li[gh]te.
  He spac faire speche;
  Ne dorte him noman teche.                              408

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

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

  "Wel u sitte {and} softe,
  Rymenhild e bri[gh]te,
  Wi ine Maidenes sixe
  {a}t e sitte nixte.                                 412
  Kinges stuard vre
  Sende me in to bure.
  Wi e speke ihc scholde;
  Seie me what u woldest.                               416
  Seie, {and} ich schal here,
  What i wille were."

    "Wel ou sitte and softe,
    Reymyld, kinges dout{er},
    With ine maydnes syxe
    at sittet e nexte.                                 412
    e kinges stiward and hour{e}
    Sente me to boure.
    With e hy speke schulde;
    Sey me wat ou wolde.                                416
    Sey, and ich schal here,
    Wat i wille were."

      "wel {o}u sitte {ant} sote,
      rymenild, kinges dohter,
      ant y maydnes here
      at sitte yne yfere.                             412
      Kynges styward oure
      sende me to boure,
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                               416
      forte y here, leuedy myn,
      whet be wille yn."

[Headnote: _Conversation between Horn and Rymenhild._]

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

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

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

      rymenild vp gon stonde
      {ant} tok him by e honde.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      heo made feyre chere
      {ant} tok him bi e 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 e makede.                           428
    An heue and amorwe
    For e ich habbe sorwe.
    Haue ich none reste;
    Slepe me ne liste.                                   432
    Leste me is sorwe,
    Lyue hy nawt to morwe.
    Horn, ou schalt wel swie
    My longe sorwe lie;                                 436

      "Wel come, horn," us sayde
      rymenild, {a}t mayde,                             428
      "an euen {ant} a morewe
      for e ich habbe sorewe,
      {a}t y haue no reste,
      ne slepe me ne lyste.                              432
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      Horn, ou shalt wel swye
      mi longe serewe lye;                              436

  "Horn," heo sede, "wiute strif
  u schalt haue me to i wif.
  Horn, haue of me rewe,
  {And} plist me i trewe."                             440
   Horn o him bio[gh]te
  What he speke mi[gh]te.

    ou schalt, wit ute{n} st{r}iue,
    Habben me to wiue.
    Horn, haue on me rewe,
    And plyct ou me i trewe."                         440
    Horn child him bi oute
    Wat he speke my[gh]te.

      ou shalt wy-oute st{ri}ue
      habbe me to wyue.
      horn, haue of me reue,
      {ant} plyht me i treue."                         440
       horn o him byohte
      whet he speken ohte.

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

  "Crist," q{ua} he, "e wisse,
  {And} [gh]iue e heuene blisse                         444
  Of ine husebonde,
  Wher he beo i{n} lo{n}de;
  Ihc am ibore to lowe
  Such wi{m}man to knowe.                                448

    "God," qwad horn, "e wisse,
    And [gh]yue e ioye and blisse                       444
    Of ine hosebonde,
    Whare he be in londe.
    Ich am hy bor{n} to lowe
    Such a wyf to owe.                                   448

      "c{ri}st," quo horn, "e wisse,
      {ant} [gh]eue e heuene blisse                     444
      of ine hosebonde,
      who he be a londe.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                               448

  Ihc am icome of ralle,
  {And} fu{n}dli{n}g bifalle.
  Ne feolle hit e of cu{n}de
  To spuse beo me bunde.                                 452
  Hit nere no fair wedding
  Bitwexe a ral {and} a king."
   o gan Rymenhild mis lyke,
  {And} sore gan to sike.                                456

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

      ich am ybore ral,
      y fader fundlyng wi-al.
      of kunde me ne felde
      e to spouse welde.                                452
      Hit nere no fair weddyng
      bituene a ral {ant} e kyng."
      o 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 bu[gh]e;
  Adun he feol iswo[gh]e.
   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} boe,
    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,
  in herte nu u stere.                                 464
  Help me to kni[gh]te,
  Bi al ine mi[gh]te
  To my lord e ki{n}g,
  {a}t he me [gh]iue dubbi{n}g.                         468

    "Le{m}ma{n}," qwat he, "dere,
    in h{er}te gyn ou to stere,                        464
    And hep ou me to knicte,
    Oppe ine my[gh]te
    To my louerd e kinge,
    at he me [gh]yue dobbinge.                          468

      "rymenild," quo he, "duere,
      help me {a}t ych were                             464
      [Sidenote: [leaf 86]]
      Ydobbed to be knyhte,
      suete, bi al i myhte
      to mi louerd e kyng,
      {a}t he me [gh]eue dobbyng.                       468

  a{n}ne is mi ralhod
  Iwe{n}t i{n} to kni[gh]thod,
  {And} i schal wexe more,
  {And} do, le{m}ma{n}, i lore."                        472
   Rymenhild, {a}t swete ing,
  Wakede of hire swo[gh]ning.

    And a{n}ne hys my ralhede
    yterned in knyt hede,
    And e{n}ne hy schal wite more,
    And don aft{er} i lore."                            472
    o reymyl e [gh]enge
    Com of hire swohinge,

      enne is my ralhede
      al wend in to knyhthede.
      y shal waxe more
      {ant} do, rymenild, i lore."                      472
      o rymenild e [gh]ynge
      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} heo, "vel sone
  {a}t schal beon idone.                                476
  u schalt beo dubbed kni[gh]t
  Are come seue ni[gh]t.
  Haue her is cuppe,
  {And} is Ring er vppe,                               480
  To Aylbrus {and} stuard,
  {And} se he holde foreward.

    And seyde, "horn, wel ricte,
    ou art so fayr and briycte,                         476
    ou schalt wore to knyte,
    hyt come[gh] sone ny[gh]te.
    Nym ou here is coppe,
    And is ryng er oppe,                               480
    And beryt hour{e} styward,
    And bid helde foreward.

      "Nou, horn, to soe,
      y leue e by yn oe,                              476
      ou shalt be maked knyht
      er en is fourteniht.
      ber ou her es coppe,
      {ant} es ringes er vppe,                         480
      to Athelbrus e 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,
  Wi loueliche speche,                                  484
  {a}t he adu{n} falle
  Bifore e ki{n}g i{n} halle,
  {And} bidde e king ari[gh]te
  Dubbe e to kni[gh]te.                                 488
  Wi seluer {and} wi golde
  Hit wur him wel i[gh]olde.

    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                 484
    Bid hym for e falle
    To kinges fot i{n} halle,
    at he dubbe e to knicte
    Wyt hys swerde so bricte.                            488
    Wyt siluer and wit golde
    Hyt wor him wel hy[gh]olde.

      Sey ich him biseche,
      wi loueliche speche,                              484
      {a}t he for e falle
      to e kynges fet in halle,
      {a}t he wi is worde
      e knyhty wi sworde.                              488
      wi seluer {ant} wi golde
      hit wor him wel y[gh]olde.

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

  Crist him lene spede
  in ere{n}de to bede."                                 492

    ++Horn, god lene e wel spede
    i h{er}dne forto bede."                             492

      nou c{ri}st him lene spede
      in erndyng do bede."                              492

   Horn tok his leue,
  For hit was ne[gh] eue.
  Aelbr{us} he so[gh]te
  {And} [gh]af him {a}t he bro[gh]te,                   496
  {And} tolde hi{m} ful [gh]are
  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 at he browte.                           496
    He talede to him ere
    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 {a}t he brohte,                     496
      ant tolde him are
      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,]

   Aelbrus also swie
  We{n}te to halle bliue.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]                                   504
  "Kyng," he sede, "u leste
  A tale mid e beste.
  u schalt bere c{ru}ne
  Tomore[gh]e i{n} is tune.                             508

    Aylbrous wel blie
    To halle he [gh]ede wel swie,
    And sette him on kneuling,
    And grette wel e king.                              504
    "Syre," he seyde, "wiltu luste
    Ane tale wit e beste?
    ou schalt bere corune
    In is hulke toune.                                  508

      Athelbrus so blye
      eode in to halle swye,
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                               504
      ant seide, "kyng, nou leste
      o tale mid e beste.
      ou shalt bere coroune
      to marewe in is toune.                            508

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

  Tomore[gh]e is i feste;
  {er} bihoue geste.
  Hit nere no[gh]t for loren
  For to kni[gh]ti child horn                            512
  ine armes for to welde;
  God kni[gh]t he schal [gh]elde."

    To morwe wore i festes;
    Me by houed gestes.
    Ich e wolde rede ate lest
    at ou horn knict makedest.                         512
    i armes to him welde;
    God knict he schal be{n} helde."

      to marewe is i feste;
      e bihoue geste.
      Ich e rede mid al my myht
      {a}t ou make horn knyht.                         512
      in armes do him welde;
      god knyht he shal e [gh]elde."

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

   e ki{n}g sede sone,
  "{a}t is wel idone.                                   516
  Horn me wel iq{ue}me;
  God kni[gh]t hi{m} biseme.
  He schal haue mi dubbing
  {And} aft{er}ward mi derling.                          520

    e king seyde sone,
    "at 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

      e kyng seide wel sone,
      "hit is wel to done.                               516
      Horn me wel queme;
      knyht him wel byseme.
      He shal haue mi dobbyng
      {ant} be myn oer derlyng.                         520

  {And} alle his feren twelf
  He schal kni[gh]ten him self.
  Alle he schal hem kni[gh]te
  Bifore me is ni[gh]te."                               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 e li[gh]t of day sprang
  Ailmar hi{m} u[gh]te la{n}g.
  e day bigan to spri{n}ge,
  Horn co{m} biuore e ki{n}ge,                          528
  Mid his twelf yfere;
  Sume hi were lu{er}e.

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

      al {a}t e lyhte day sprong
      aylmere ohte long.
      e day bigon to sp{ri}nge;
      horn com byfore e kynge,                          528
      wi his tuelf fere;
      alle er ywere.

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

  Horn he dubbede to kni[gh]te
  Wi swerd {and} spures bri[gh]te.                      532
  He sette him on a stede whit;
  ernas no kni[gh]t hym ilik.
  He smot him alitel wi[gh]t
  {And} bed him beon a god kni[gh]t.                     536

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

      Horn knyht made he
      wi 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.]

   Aulf fel a knes ar
  Biuore e ki{n}g Aylmar.
  "King," he sede, "so kene,
  G{ra}nte me a bene.                                    540
  Nu is kni[gh][t] sire horn
  {a}t i{n} sudde{n}ne was iboren.

    Ayol fel on knes ere
    By forn e king aylm{er}e,
    And seyde, "king so kene,
    Graunte me my bene.                                  540
    ou hast knicted sire horn
    at i{n} sodenne was hy born.

      Athulf vel a kne er
      {ant} onkede kyng Aylmer.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                               540
       "Nou is knyht sire horn
      {a}t in Sudenne wes yborn.

  Lord he is of lo{n}de,
  Ou{er} us {a}t bi hi{m} stonde.                       544
  in armes he ha {and} scheld,
  To fi[gh]te wi vpon e feld.
  Let him vs alle kni[gh]te,
  For {a}t is vre ri[gh]te."                            548

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

      Lord he is of londe
      {ant} of vs at by him stonde.                     544
      in armes he haue {ant} y sheld,
      forte fyhte in e feld.
      Let him vs alle knyhte,
      so hit is his ryhte."                              548
      Aylmer seide ful ywis,
      "nou do {a}t i wille ys."

[Sidenote: Horn knights his twelve companions.]

   Aylmar sede sone ywis,
  "Do nu at i wille is."
  Horn adun li[gh]te
  {And} makede he{m} alle kni[gh]tes.                    552
  M{ur}ie was e feste,
  Al of faire gestes.

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

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

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

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

  Ac Rymenhild nas no[gh]t er,
  {And} {a}t hire u[gh]te seue [gh]er.                 556
  Aft{er} horn heo sente,
  {And} he to bure we{n}te.

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

      {a}t rymenild nes nout ere
      hire ohte seue [gh]ere.                           556
      efter horn hue sende;
      horn in to boure wende.

[Sidenote: He takes Athulf as companion.]

  Nolde he no[gh]t go one;
  Aulf was his mone.                                    560
  Rymenhild on flore stod,
  Hornes come hire u[gh]te 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 Aulf, kni[gh]t e biforn.                         564
  Kni[gh]t, nu is i time
  For to sitte bi me.
  Do nu at u er of spake,
  To i wif ume take.                                   568
  Ef u art trewe of dedes,
  Do nu ase u sedes.
  Nu u hast wille ine,
  Vnbind me of my pine."                                 572

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

       rymenild welcome sire horn,
      {ant} aulf knyht hi{m} biforn.                    564
      "knyht, nou is tyme
      forto sitte byme.
      do nou {a}t we spake;
      to i wyf ou me take.                             568
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      Nou ou hast wille yne,
      vnbynd me of is 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," qua he, "beo stille;
  Ihc wulle don al i wille.
  Also hit mot bitide,
  Mid sp{er}e ischal furst ride,                         576
  {And} mi kni[gh]thod proue,
  Ar ihc e ginne to wo[gh]e.

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

      "rymenild, nou be stille,
      ichulle don al y wille.
      ah her hit so bitide,
      mid spere ichulle ryde                             576
      ant my knyhthod proue,
      er en ich e wowe.

  We be kni[gh]tes [gh]o{n}ge,
  Of o dai al isp{ru}nge,                                580
  And of vre mest{er}e
  So is e man{er}e,
  Wi sume oere kni[gh]te
  Wel for his lemman fi[gh]te,                           584
  Or he eni wif take;
  For i me stonde e more rape.

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

      we bue nou knyhtes [gh]onge,
      alle to day yspronge,                              580
      ant of e mestere
      hit is e manere,
      wi sum oer knyhte
      for his lemmon to fyte,                           584
      er ne he eny wyf take
      oer wy 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 i luue in e felde,
  Mid spere {and} mid schelde.
  If ihc come te lyue,
  Ihc schal e take to wyue."                            592
   "Kni[gh]t," qua heo, "trewe,
  Ihc wene ihc mai e leue.

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

      to day, so c{ri}st me blesse,
      y shal do pruesse,                                 588
      for i loue mid shelde
      amiddewart e felde.
      [gh]ef ich come to lyue
      ychul e take to wyue."                            592
      "knyht, y may yleue e,
      why aut ou 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 is gold ring,
  God him is e dubbing.                                 596
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  er is vpon e ringe
  Ig{ra}ue, 'Rymenhild e [gh]onge.'                     600
  er nis no{n} bet{er}e anonder su{n}ne,
  {a}t eni man of telle cu{n}ne.
  For my luue u hit were,
  {And} on i fing{er} u him bere.                      604

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

       Haue her is goldring;
      hit is ful god to i dobbyng.                      596
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      yg{ra}ued is on e rynge,
      'rymenild y luef e [gh]ynge.'                    600
      nis non betere vnder sonne
      {a}t enymon of conne.
      For mi loue ou hit were,
      {ant} on y fynger ou hit bere.                   604

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

  e stones beo of suche g{ra}ce,
  {a}t u ne schalt in none place
  Of none du{n}tes beon ofdrad,
  Ne on bataille beon amad,                              608
  Ef u loke {er}an
  {And} e{n}ke vpo{n} i le{m}man.
   And sire Aulf, i broer,
  He schal haue anoer.                                  612

    e ston him hys of swiche g{ra}ce,
    at ou ne schal i{n} none place
    Of none do{n}te fayle,
    er ou bigi{n}nes batayle.                          608
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]
    And sire ayol, i broer,
    He sal haue anoer.                                  612

      e ston haue suche g{ra}ce,
      ne shalt ou in none place
      de vnderfonge,
      ne buen yslaye wi wronge,                         608
      [gh]ef ou lokest eran
      {ant} enchest o i lemman.
      ant sire aulf, i broer,
      he shal han en oer.                               612

[Sidenote: She then mournfully prays for Christ's blessing on Horn's
undertaking.]

  Horn, ihc e biseche
  Wi loueliche speche,
  Crist [gh]eue god erndinge,
  e a[gh]en to bringe."                                 616
   e kni[gh]t hire gan kesse,
  {And} heo hi{m} to blesse.

    Horn, god hy e bi teche,
    Wit morninde speche.
    God e [gh]yeue god endynge,
    An hol e a[gh]en bringe."                           616
    e knict hyre gan to kusse,
    And reymyld him blisse.

      Horn, c{ri}st y e byteche,
      mid mourninde speche.
      c{ri}st e [gh]eue god endyng,
      {ant} sound a[gh]eyn e brynge."                   616
      e knyht hire gan to cusse,
      {ant} rymenild him to blesse.

[Sidenote: Horn takes leave, arms himself, mounts his black steed, and
sets out in search of adventure.]

  Leue at hire he nam
  {And} i{n} to halle cam.                               620
  e kni[gh]tes [gh]eden to table,
  {And} horne [gh]ede to stable.
  ar he tok his gode fole,
  Also blak so eny cole.                                 624
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    Leue at hire he nom,
    And in to halle com.                                 620
    e knictes [gh]yede to table,
    And horn i{n} to stable.
    He tok for his gode fole,
    So blac so eny cole.                                 624
    In armes he him schredde,
    And hys fole he fedde.

      leue at hyre he nom,
      {ant} in to halle he com.                          620
      knyhtes eode to table,
      {ant} horn eode to stable,
      er he toc his gode fole,
      blac so euer eny cole.                             624
      wi armes he him sredde,
      ant is fole he fedde.

  e fole schok e brunie,
  {a}t al e curt gan denie.                            628
  e fole bigan to springe,
  {And} horn murie to singe.
  Horn rod in a while
  More an a myle.                                       632

    Hys fole schok hys brenye,
    at al e court gan denye.                           628
    Hys fole gan for sp{r}inge,
    And horn merie to synge.
    He rod one wile
    Wel more an a mile.                                 632

      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                               628
      e fole bigon to springe
      {ant} horn murie to synge.
      Horn rod one whyle
      wel more en a myle.                               632

[Headnote: _Horn meets some Saracen invaders._]

[Sidenote: He finds at the seashore a ship filled with Saracens, and
asks their purpose.]

  He fond o schup stonde
  Wi heene honde.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]                                   636
  He axede what hi so[gh]te,
  O{er} to londe bro[gh]te.
   An hu{n}d him gan bihelde
  {a}t spac wordes belde,                               640
  "is lond we wulle[gh] wynne,
  {And} sle {a}t {er} is inne."

    He sey a schip rowe,
    Mid wat alby flowe,
    Of out londisse ma{n}ne,
    Of sarazine kenne.                                   636
    Hem askede qwat he hadde,
    Oer to londe ladde.
    A geant him gan by holde,
    And spek wordes bolde.                               640
    "is lond we wile winne,
    And slen al at er ben hi{n}ne."

      he seh a shyp at grounde,
      wi heene hounde.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                               636
      He askede wet hue hadden,
      oer to londe ladden.
      an hound him gan biholde,
      {ant} spek wordes bolde.                           640
      "is land we wolle wynne,
      {ant} sle {a}t er bue inne."

[Sidenote: Horn slays the Saracen leader, and then, after]

  Horn gan his swerd g{ri}pe
  {And} on his arme wype.                                644
  e sarazins he smatte,
  at his blod hatte.
  At eureche dunte
  e heued of wente.                                     648
  o gu{n}ne e hu{n}des gone,
  Abute horn al one.

    Horn gan hys swerd gripe,
    And on his arm hyt wipe.                             644
    e sarazin so he smot,
    at al hys blod was hot.
    At e furste dunte
    Hys heued of gan wente.                              648
    o go{n}ne{n} o hundes gon
    A[gh]enes horn alon.

      Horn gan is swerd g{ri}pe,
      ant on is arm hit wype.                            644
      e sarazy{n} he hitte so,
      {a}t is hed fel to ys to.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      o gonne e houndes gone
      a[gh]eynes horn ys one.

[Headnote: _Horn bears the leader's head before the king._]

[Sidenote: looking on his ring, slays a hundred more.]

  He lokede on e ringe,
  {And} o[gh]te on rimenilde.                           652
  He slo[gh] er on haste
  On hundred bi e laste.
  Ne mi[gh]te noman telle
  {a}t folc {a}t he gan quelle.                        656
  Of alle {a}t were aliue
  Ne mi[gh]te er non riue.

    He lokede on his gode ringe,
    And oute on reymild e yenge.                       652
    He slow er on haste
    An hundred at e leste.
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                 656
    Of at e were aryue,
    Fewe he leued on liue.

      [Sidenote: [leaf 87]]
      He Lokede on is rynge,
      ant ohte o rymenyld e [gh]ynge.                  652
      he sloh er of e beste
      an houndred at e leste.
      ne mihte no mon telle
      alle {a}t he gon quelle.                          656
      of {a}t er were o ryue
      he lafte lut o lyue.

[Sidenote: Horn fixes the leader's head on the point of his sword, and
bears it before the king.]

  Horn tok e maist{er}es heued,
  {a}t he hadde him bireued,                            660
  And sette hit on his swerde,
  Anouen at an orde.
  He verde hom in to halle,
  Among e kni[gh]tes alle.                              664

    e meyst{er} kinges heued
    He haddit him by reued.                              660
    He settit on hys swerde,
    Anoven on e horde,
    Til he com to halle,
    Among e knictes alle.                               664

       Horn tok e maister heued,
      at he hi{m} hade byreued,                         660
      ant sette on is suerde,
      abouen o en orde.
      he ferde hom to halle,
      among e knyhtes alle,                             664

[Headnote: _Horn relates his adventure._]

[Sidenote: Horn relates his adventure.]

  "Kyng," he sede, "wel u sitte,
  And alle ine kni[gh]tes mitte.
  To day, after mi dubbing,
  So irod on mi pleing,                                  668
  I fond o schup Rowe,
  o hit gan to flowe,
  Al wi sarazines kyn,
  And none londisse Men.                                 672
  To dai, for to pine
  e {and} alle ine.

    He seyde, "king, wel mote ou sitte,
    An ine knictes mitte.
    er y rod on my pleying,
    Sone haft{er} my dobbing,                            668
    Y say a schip rowe
    Mid wat{er}e al by flowe,
    Of none londische me{n}ne,
    Bote sarazines ke{n}ne,                              672
    To deye, for to pyne
    e and alle ine.

      "Kyng," quo he, "wel ou sitte,
      {ant} ine knyhtes mitte.
      to day ich rod o my pleyyng,
      after my dobbyng,                                  668
      y fond a ship rowen,
      in e sound byflowen,
      Mid vnlondisshe menne,
      of sarazynes kenne,                                672
      to dee forte pyne
      e {ant} alle yne.

  Hi gonne me assaille.
  Mi swerd me nolde faille;                              676
  I smot he{m} alle to grunde,
  Oer [gh]af he{m} dies wunde.
  {a}t heued ie bri{n}ge
  Of e maist{er} ki{n}ge.                               680
  Nu is i wile i[gh]olde,
  King, at u me kni[gh]ti woldest."

    He go{n}ne{n} me asaylen.
    My swerd me ne wolde fayle;                          676
    Ich broute he{m} alto grunde
    In one lite stounde.
    e heued ich e bringe
    Of e meyst{er} kinge.                               680
    Nou ich haue e yolde,
    at u me knicte{n} wolde."

      hy gonne me asayly.
      swerd me nolde fayly;                              676
      y smot hem alle to grounde
      in a lutel stounde.
      e heued ich e bringe
      of e maister kynge.                               680
      nou haue ich e [gh]olde
      at ou me knyhten woldest."

[Sidenote: King Aylmar goes hunting.]

  ++A More[gh]e o e day gan sp{ri}nge,
  e king him rod an hu{n}tinge.                         684
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  At hom lefte ffikenhild,
  at was e wurste moder child.                         688
  Heo ferde in to bure,
  To sen aue{n}t{ur}e.

    ++e day bi gan to sp{r}inge,
    e king rod on hunti{n}gg{e}.                        684
    To wode he gan wende,
    For to lacchen e heynde.
    Wyt hym rod fokenild,
    at ale werste mod{er} child.                       688
    And horn we{n}te in to boure,
    To sen auenture.

      e day bigon to sp{ri}nge,
      e kyng rod on hontynge                            684
      to e wode wyde,
      ant Fykenyld bi is syde,
      at fals wes ant vntrewe,
      whose him wel yknewe.                              688
       Horn ne ohte nout him on,
      ant to boure wes ygon.

[Sidenote: Horn proceeds to Rymenhild's bower, and finds her weeping.]

  Heo sa[gh] Rymenild sitte
  Also he were of witte.                                 692
  Heo sat on e sunne,
  Wi tieres al biru{n}ne.
  Horn sede, "lef inore,
  Wi wepestu so sore?"                                   696

    He fond Reymild sitte{n}de,
    Sore wepende,                                        692
    Whit so eny sonne,
    Wit teres albi ronne.
    He seyde, "le{m}man, in ore,
    Wy wepes ou so sore?"                               696

      he fond rymenild sittynde
      {ant} wel sore wepynde,                             692
      so whyt so e sonne,
      mid terres al byronne.
      Horn seide, "luef, yn ore,
      why wepest ou so sore?"                            696

[Headnote: _Rymenhild tells Horn her Dream._]

[Sidenote: She tells him her dream, how a great fish broke her net.]

  Heo sede, "no[gh]t ine wepe;
  Bute ase ilay aslepe,
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  To e se my net icaste,
  {And} hit nolde no[gh]t ilaste.

    Hye seyde, "ich nawt ne wepe,
    Bote ich schal her ich slepe.
    Me oute in my metynge,
    at ich rod on fischinge.                            700
    To se my net ich keste;
    Ne Mict ich nowt lache.

      Hue seide, "ich nout ne wepe,
      ah y shal er y slepe.
      me ohte o my metyng,
      at ich rod ofysshyng.                             700
      to see my net ycaste,
      ant wel fer hit laste.

  A gret fiss at e furste,
  Mi net he gan to berste.                               704
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  Ihc wene {a}t ihc schal leose
  e fiss at ihc wolde cheose."                         708

    A gret fys ate furste
    Mi net he makede berste.                             704
    e fys me so by laucte,
    at ich nawt ne kaucte.
    Ich wene ich schal forlese
    e fys at ich wolde chese."                         708

      a gret fyss[h-] at e ferste
      my net made berste.                                704
      {a}t fyss[h-] me so bycahte,
      {a}t y nout ne lahte.
      y wene y shal forleose
      e fyss[h-] {a}t y wolde cheose."                 708

[Sidenote: Horn comforts her.]

   "Crist," q{ua} horn, "{and} seint steuene,
  Turne ine sweuene.
  Ne schal ie biswike,
  Ne do {a}t e mislike.                                712

    "God and seynte steuene,"
    Qwad horn, "terne i sweuene.
    Ne shal ich neu{er}e swike,
    Ne do at e mis like.                               712

       "C{ri}st {ant} seinte steuene,"
      quo horn, "areche y sweuene.
      no shal y e byswyke,
      ne do at e mis lyke.                             712

[Sidenote: Horn plights his troth to Rymenhild, but both weep and
forebode evil from the dream.]

  I schal me make inowe,
  To holden {and} to knowe,
  For eurech o{er}e wi[gh]te;
  {And} arto mi treue ie pli[gh]te."                  716
  Muchel was e rue
  {a}t was at are true,
  For Rymenhild weop ille,
  {And} horn let e tires stille.                        720

    Ich nime e to my nowe,
    To habben and to howe,
    For euerich wy[gh]te;
    arto my treuwe ich plicte."                        716
    Miche was at rewe
    at was at here trewe.
    Reymyld wel stille,
    And horn let teres spille.                           720

      ich take e myn owe,
      to holde {ant} eke to knowe,
      for eueruch oer wyhte;
      erto my troue y plyhte."                         716
      wel muche was e reue
      {a}t wes at ilke treue.
      rymenild wep wel ylle,
      ant horn let terres stille.                        720

  "Le{m}ma{n}," q{ua} he, "dere,
  u schalt more ihere.
  i sweuen schal wende,
  Oer sum Man schal vs schende.                         724
  e fiss {a}t brak e lyne,
  Ywis he do us pine.
  {a}t schal don vs tene
  {And} wur wel sone isene."                            728

    He seyde, "le{m}ma{n} dere,
    ou schalt more here.
    y sweuene ich schal schende.                        724
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . .]
    e fis at brac i seyne,
    Hy wis hyt was som ble[y]ne
    at schal us do som tene;
    Hy wis hyt wor hy sene."                            728

      "Lemmon," quo he, "dere,
      ou shalt more yhere.
      y sweuen shal wende;
      summon vs wole shende.                             724
      at fyss[h-] {a}t brac y net,
      ywis it is sumwet
      {a}t wol vs do sum teone;
      ywys hit wor ysene."                              728

[Headnote: _Fykenhild calumniates Horn._]

[Sidenote: Fykenhild tells the king that Horn is plotting to kill him
and to marry Rymenhild.]

   Aylmar rod bi sture,
  {And} horn lai i{n} bure.
  Fykenhild hadde enuye
  {And} sede es folye:--                                732
  "Aylmar, ihc e warne,
  Horn e wule berne.
  Ihc herde whar he sede,
  {And} his swerd for leide,                            736
  To bringe e of lyue,
  And take Rymenhild to wyue.

    e king rod bi his toure,
    And horn was in e boure.
    Fykenyld hadde envie,
    An seyde hise folye:--                               732
    "Aylm{er}e, king, ich wole warne,
    Horn chil e wile berne.
    Ich herde qware he seyde,
    And his swerd leyde,                                 736
    To bringe e of liue,
    And take rimenyld to wiue.

       Aylmer rod by stoure,
      ant horn wes yne boure.
      Fykenild hade enuye
      {ant} seyde eose folye:--                         732
      "Aylmer, ich e werne,
      horn e wole forberne.
      Ich herde wher he seyde,
      ant his suerd he leyde,                            736
      to brynge e of lyue
      ant take rymenyld to wyue.

  He li in bure,
  Vnder cou{er}ture,                                     740
  By Ryme{n}hild, i do[gh]t{er};
  {And} so he do wel ofte.
  And ider u go al ri[gh]t;
  er u him finde mi[gh]t.                              744

    Nou he hys in boure,
    Al hond{er} cou{er}ture,                             740
    By reymyld, i dout{er};
    And so he hys wel oft{er}.
    Ich rede at u wende;
    er u myct him schende.                             744

      [Sidenote: [leaf 87, back]]
      He Lyht nou in Boure,
      vnder couertoure,                                  740
      by rymenyld, y dohter;
      ant so he do wel ofte.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

  u do him vt of londe,
  O{er} he do e schonde."
   Aylmar a[gh]en gan turne,
  Wel Modi {and} wel Murne.                              748
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    Do him out of i londe,
    Her do more schonde."
    Aylm{er} king him gan torne,
    Vel mody and wel Mourne.                             748
    To bour{e} he gan [gh]erne,
    Durst hym noma{n} werne.

      do him out of londe,
      er he do more shonde."
       Aylmer gan hom turne,
      wel mody {ant} wel sturne.                         748
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Headnote: _King Aylmar banishes Horn._]

[Sidenote: Aylmar finds Horn in Rymenhild's embrace, and bids him leave
the land at once.]

  He fond horn in arme,
  On Ryme{n}hilde barme.                                 752
  "Awei vt," he sede, "fule eof,
  Ne wurstu me neuremore leof.
  Wend vt of my bure,
  Wi muchel messauent{ur}e.                             756

    He fond horn wit arme,
    In rimenyldes barme.                                 752
    "He{n}ne out," qwad aylm{er} king,
    "Henne, ou foule wendling,
    Out of boure flore,
    Fram Reymyld, i hore.                               756

      he fond horn vnder arme,
      in rymenyldes barme.                               752
      "go out," quo aylmer, e kyng,
      "Horn, ou foule fundlyng.
      for out of boures flore,
      for rymenild, in hore.                            756

  Wel sone bute u flitte,
  Wi swerde ihc e anhitte.
  Wend ut of my londe,
  O{er} u schalt haue schonde."                        760
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    Sone bote e flecte,
    Wit swerd hy wole e hette.
    Hout of londe sone,
    Here hauest ou nowt to done."                       760
    Horn cam i{n} to stable,
    Wel modi for e fable.

      wend out of londe sone;                            759
      her nast ou nout to done.                         760
      wel sone bote ou flette,                          757
      myd suert y shal e sette."                        758
      Horn eode to stable,
      wel modi for at fable.

  [Transcriber's Note:
  Here and in next section, lines rearranged by editor.]

[Sidenote: Horn saddles his horse, arms himself, and then visits
Rymenhild.]

   Horn sadelede his stede,
  {And} his armes he gan sprede.                         764
  His brunie he gan lace,
  So he scholde, in to place.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  His swerd he gan fonge;
  Nabod he no[gh]t to longe.

    He sette sadel on stede,
    With armes he hym gan schrede.                       764
    Hys brenye he gan lace,
    So he scholde, i{n} to place.
    o hyt er to gan ten,
    Ne durst hi{m} noma{n} sen.                          768
    Swerd he gan fonge;
    Ne stod he nowt to lo{n}ge,

      he sette sadel on stede,
      wi armes he gon him shrede.
      his brunie he con lace,
      so he shulde, in to place.                         766
      his suerd he gon fonge;                            769
      ne stod he nout to longe.                          770
      to is suerd he gon teon;                           767
      ne durste non wel him seon.                        768

[Headnote: _Horn takes leave of Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: He tells her that her dream has come true,]

  He [gh]ede for bliue
  To Ryme{n}hild his wyue.                               772
  He sede, "le{m}man, derling,
  Nu hauestu i sweuening.
  e fiss {a}t i net rente,
  Fram e he me sente.                                   776
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    And [gh]yede for ricte
    To reymyld e bricte.                                772
    He seyde, "leman, de{r}ling,
    Now hauestu i meting.
    e fys i net to rente,
    Fram e he me sente.                                 776
    e king gynne wiht me st{r}iue;
    Awey he wole me driue.

      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      He seide, "lemmon, derlyng,
      nou ou hauest y sweuenyng.
      e fyss[h-] {a}t yn net rende,
      from e me he sende.                               776
      e kyng wi me gynne st{ri}ue;
      a wey he wole me dryue.

[Sidenote: that he is going to an unknown country for seven years.]

  Rymenhild, haue wel godne day,
  No leng abiden ine may.                                780
  In to vncue londe,
  Wel more for to fonde.
  I schal wune ere
  Fulle seue [gh]ere.                                    784

    Reymyld, haue god day,
    For nov ich founde awey,                             780
    In to oneku londe,
    Wel more forto fonde.
    Ich schal wony ere
    Fulle seve [gh]ere.                                  784

      are fore haue nou godneday;
      nou y mot fonnde {ant} fare away                   780
      In to vncoue londe,
      wel more forte fonde.
      y shal wonie ere
      fulle seue [gh]ere.                                784

[Sidenote: He bids her not to await him longer than seven years.]

  At seue [gh]eres ende,
  [Gh]ef ine come ne sende,
  Tak e husebo{n}de,
  ffor me u ne wo{n}de.                                 788
  In armes u me fonge,
  {And} kes me wel longe."

    Ate vij [gh]eres hende,
    Bot [gh]yf hy come oer sende,
    Tac ou hosebonde,
    For me at ou wonde.                                788
    I armes ou me fonge,
    An kusse swie longe."

      at e seue[gh]eres ende,
      [gh]yf y ne come ne sende,
      tac ou hosebonde,
      for me {a}t ou no wonde.                         788
      In armes ou me fonge,
      ant cus me swye longe."

[Sidenote: Rymenhild faints.]

  He custe him wel a stunde,
  {And} Rymenhild feol to grunde.                        792
  Horn tok his leue;
  Ne mi[gh]te he no le{n}g bileue.
  He tok Aulf, his fere,
  Al abute e swere,                                     796

    He kusten one stunde,
    And reymyld fel to gru{n}de.                         792
    Horn tok his leue,
    For hyt was ney heue.
    He nam ayol, trewe fere,
    Al aboute e swete,                                  796

      hy custen hem a stounde,
      {ant} rymenyld fel to grounde.                     792
       Horn toc his leue;
      he myhte nout byleue.
      He toc Aulf, is fere,
      aboute e swere,                                   796

[Sidenote: Horn entrusts his 'new love' to Athulf.]

  {And} sede, "kni[gh]t so trewe,
  Kep wel mi luue newe.
  u neure me ne forsoke,
  Rymenhild u kep and loke."                            800
  His stede he gan bist{ri}de,
  {And} for he ga{n} ride.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]                                   804

    And seyt, "knict so trewe,
    Kep Mi leue wiue.
    So ou me neu{er}e forsoke,
    Reymyl kep and loke."                                800
    ++Horn gan stede by stride,
    And for he gan ride.
    Ayol wep wit heye,
    And alle at hym seye.                               804

      ant seide, "knyht so trewe,
      kep wel loue newe.
      ou neuer ne forsoke
      rymenild to kepe ant loke."                        800
      his stede he bigan stryde,
      ant for he con hym ryde.
      Aulf wep wi ey[gh]en,
      ant alle at hit ysey[gh]en.                       804

[Headnote: _Horn sets sail from West[er]nesse._]

[Sidenote: He sets sail.]

  To e hauene he ferde,
  {And} a god schup he hurede,
  {a}t hi{m} scholde lo{n}de
  In westene lo{n}de.                                    808
   Aulf weop wi i[gh]e,
  {And} al {a}t hi{m} isi[gh]e.

    Horn chil for hym ferde;
    A god schip he him herde,
    at hym scholde wisse
    Out of westnisse.                                    808
    e why[gh]t him gan sto{n}de,
    And drof tyl hirelonde.

      Horn for him ferde;
      a god ship he him herde,
      at him shulde passe
      out of westnesse.                                  808
      e wynd bigon to stonde,
      ant drof hem vp o londe.

[Sidenote: Horn reaches land.]

  To lo{n}d he hi{m} sette,
  {And} fot o{n} stirop sette.                           812

    To londe he gan flette,
    And out of schip him sette.                          812

      to londe at hy fletten;
      fot out of ship hy setten.                         812

[Headnote: _Horn is received by Harild and Berild._]

[Sidenote: He meets two princes, Harild and Berild.]

  He fo{n}d bi e weie,
  Kynges sones tweie;
  {a}t on hi{m} het harild,
  {And} {a}t o{er} berild.                             816
  Berild gan him preie
  {a}t he scholde him seie
  What his name were,
  {And} what he wolde ere.                              820

    He mette by e weye,
    Kingges sones tweye;
    at on was hoten ayld,
    And at oer byrild.                                 816
    Byrild him gan preye
    at he scholde seye
    Wat hys name were,
    And qwat he wolde ere.                              820

      he fond bi e weye,
      kynges sones tueye;
      {a}t on wes hoten Ayld,
      ant {a}t oer beryld.                             816
      beryld hym con preye
      at he shulde seye
      what he wolde ere,
      ant what ys nome were.                             820

[Sidenote: He gives his name as Cutberd (Godmod),]

  "Cutberd," he sede, "ihc hote,
  Icome{n} vt of e bote,
  Wel feor fram biweste,
  To seche mine beste."                                  824
  Berild gan him nier ride,
  {And} tok him bi e bridel.
  "Wel beo u, kni[gh]t, ifounde;
  Wi me u lef a stunde.                                828

    "Cuberd," he seyde, "ich hote,
    Come{n} fram e bote,
    Fer fram bi weste,
    To chesen mine beste."                               824
    Byryld him gan ryde,
    And tok hym by e b{r}idel.
    "Wel be ou, knict, her{e} founde;
    Whyt me bileuest a stounde.                          828

       "Godmod," he seid, "ich hote,
      ycomen out of is bote,
      wel fer from by weste,
      to seche myne beste."                              824
      beryld con ner him ryde,
      ant toc hi{m} bi e bridel.
      "wel be ou, knyht, yfounde;
      wi me ou lef a stounde.                          828

[Sidenote: and is conducted by the princes before the king.]

  Also mote i st{er}ue,
  e ki{n}g u schalt s{er}ue.
  Ne sa[gh] i neure my lyue
  So fair kni[gh]t aryue."                               832
  Cutb{er}d heo ladde in to halle,
  {And} he a kne gan falle.

    So ich ne mote st{er}ue,
    e kyng ou schal s{er}ue.
    Ne sey ich neu{er}e on lyue
    So fayr knyt aryue."                                 832
    Cub{er}t he ledde to halle,
    And adoun gan falle.

      also ich mote sterue,
      e kyng ou shalt serue.
      ne seh y neuer a lyue
      so feir knyht her aryue."                          832
      godmod he ladde to halle,
      ant he adoun gan falle,

[Sidenote: Cutberd greets the king.]

  He sette him a knewelyng,
  And grette wel e gode kyng.                           836

    He sette hym on knewlyng,
    And grette wel e gode king.                         836

      [Sidenote: [leaf 88]]
      Ant sette him a knelyng,
      ant grette ene gode kyng.                         836

[Sidenote: Berild asks that he be taken into the king's service.]

  a{n}ne sede Berild sone,
  "Sire king, of him u hast to done.
  Bitak him i lond to werie;
  Ne schat hit noman derie,                              840
  For he is e faireste man
  {a}t eure[gh]ut on i londe cam."

    o seyde byrild wel sone,
    "Whit hym haue{n} to done.
    Tak hym i lond to werye;
    Ne schal hym noma{n} derye.                          840
    He hys e fayreste man
    at eu{er}e in is londe cam."

      o saide beryld wel sone,
      "kyng, wi him ou ast done.
      i lond tac hi{m} to werie;
      ne shal e nomon derye,                            840
      for he is e feyreste man
      at euer in is londe cam."

[Headnote: _Horn enters the service of the king._]

[Sidenote: The king welcomes Cutberd.]

   a{n}ne sede e ki{n}g so dere,
  "Welcome beo u here.                                  844
  Go nu, Berild, swie,
  {And} make him ful blie.
  And whan u farst to wo[gh]e,
  Tak him ine gloue.                                    848
  Ime{n}t u hauest to wyue,
  Awai he schal e dryue;
  For Cutberdes fairhede
  Ne schal e neure wel spede."                          852

    o seyde e king so dere,
    "Wel come be he here.                                844
    Go nov, byryld, swye,
    An mak him glad and blye.
    Wan ou farest awowen,
    Tak hym ine glouen.                                 848
    er ou hauest Mynt to wyue,
    Awey he schal e dryue."
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]

       o seide e kyng wel dere,
      "welcome e ou here.                              844
      go, beryld, wel swye,
      {ant} make hy{m} wel blye,
      ant when ou farest to wowen,
      tac him ine glouen.                               848
      er ou hast munt to wyue,
      a wey he shal e dryue;
      for godmodes feyrhede
      shalt ou no wer spede."                           852

[Sidenote: At the Christmas feast a giant appears.]

  ++HIt was at Cristesmasse,
  Neier more ne lasse,
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    Hyt was at C{r}istesmesse,
    Naer more ne lesse.
    e king hym makede a feste,
    Wyt hyse knyctes beste.                              856

      hit wes at c{ri}stesmasse,
      nouer more ne lasse.
      e kyng made feste,
      of his knyhtes beste.                              856

[Headnote: _The giant's challenge._]

[Sidenote: The giant proclaims a challenge.]

  {er} cam in at none,
  A Geau{n}t sue sone,
  Iarmed fram paynyme,
  And seide es ryme:--                                  860
  "Site stille, sire kyng,
  {And} herkne is tyyng.
  Her bu pae{n}s ariued,
  Wel mo ane fiue.                                      864
  Her beo on e so{n}de,
  Ki{n}g, vpon i londe.

    er com ate none,
    A geaunt swie sone,
    Armed of paynime,
    And seyde i{n} hys rime,                             860
    "Syte, knytes, by e king,
    And luste to my tydyng.
    Her{e} be paynyms aryued,
    Wel mo a{n}ne fyue.                                 864
    By e se stronde,
    Kyng, on ine lo{n}de.

      er com in at none,
      a geaunt suye sone,
      y-armed of paynyme,
      ant seide ise ryme:--                             860
      "Site, kyng, bi kynge,
      ant herkne my tidynge
      her bue paynes aryue,
      wel more en fyue.                                 864
      her be vpon honde,
      kyng, in ine londe.

[Sidenote: One pagan will fight any three in the land,]

  On of he{m} wile fi[gh]te
  A[gh]e{n} re kni[gh]tes.                              868

    One er of wille ich fy[gh]te
    A[gh]en i re knyctes.                              868

      on er of wol fyhte
      to [gh]eynes re knyhtes.                          868

[Sidenote: the combat to determine who shall possess the land.]

  [Gh]ef o{er} re slen vre,
  Al is lond beo [gh]oure;
  [Gh]ef vre on ouercome [gh]our reo,
  Al is lo{n}d schal vre beo.                           872
  Tomore[gh]e be e fi[gh]ti{n}ge,
  Whan e li[gh]t of daye sp{ri}nge."

    [Gh]yf at hour{e} felle yne re,
    Al is lond schal vre be;
    [Gh]yf yne re fellen houre,
    Al ys lond a{n}ne be [gh]yure.                     872
    To morwe schal be e fy[gh]tyng,
    At e so{n}ne op rysyng."

      [gh]ef oure re sleh oure on,
      we shulen of ore londe gon;
      [gh]ef vre on sleh oure re,
      al is lond shal vre be.                           872
      to morewe shal be e fyhtynge,
      at e sonne vpsp{ri}nge."

[Headnote: _Horn, Berild and Alrid accept it._]

[Sidenote: King Thurston names Cutberd (Godmod), Harild and Berild as
the three defenders.]

   a{n}ne sede e kyng urston,
  "Cutb{er}d schal beo {a}t on;                         876
  Berild schal beo {a}t oer;
  e ridde, Alrid, his broer.
  For hi beo e strengeste,
  {And} of armes e beste.                               880
  Bute what schal vs to rede?
  Ihc wene we be alle dede."

    o seyde e king urston,
    "Cubert he schal be at on,                          876
    Ayld chyld at oer,
    e rydde, byryld, hyse broer.
    Hye re be e strengeste,
    And n armes e beste.                               880
    At wat schal do to rede?
    Ich wene we ben alle dede."

       o seyde e kyng urston,
      "godmod shal be at on;                            876
      beryld shal be at oer;
      e ridde, Ayld, is broer.
      for hue bue strongeste,
      ant in armes e beste.                             880
      ah, wat shal vs to rede?
      y wene we bue dede."

   Cutberd sat at borde,
  And sede es wordes:--                                 884

    Cubert set on borde,
    And seyde is worde:--                               884

      Godmod set at borde,
      ant seide eose wordes:--                          884

[Sidenote: Cutberd says that it were shame for three Christians to fight
against one pagan, and offers to fight alone.]

  "Sire ki{n}g, hit nis no ri[gh]te,
  On wi {re} to fi[gh]te;
  A[gh]e{n} one hu{n}de,
  re c{ri}ste{n} me{n} to fonde.                        888
  Sire, ischal al one,
  Wiute more ymone,
  Wi mi swerd wel ee
  Bringe hem re to dee."                               892

    "Syre ky[gh]eking, hyt no ry[gh]cte,
    On wi re to fy[gh]cte.
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                 888
    At wille ich alone,
    With oute{n} ma{n}nes mone,
    Mid my swerd wel hee
    Bringe{n} hem alle to dee."                         892

      "sire kyng, nis no ryhte,
      on wi re fyhte,
      a[gh]eynes one hounde,
      re c{ri}stene to founde.                          888
      ah, kyng, y shal alone,
      wi-oute more ymone,
      wip my suerd ful ee
      bringen he{m} alle to dee."                       892

[Headnote: _Preparations for the combat._]

[Sidenote: He arms himself,]

   e kyng aros amore[gh]e,
  {a}t hadde muchel sor[gh]e;
  {And} Cutb{er}d ros of bedde,
  Wi armes he him schredde.                             896
  Horn his brunie gan on caste,
  {And} lacede hit wel faste,

    e kyng ros a morwe,
    And hadde meche sorwe.
    Cubert ros of bedde;
    Wyt armes he hym schredde.                           896
    Hys brenye on he caste,
    Lacede hyt wel faste.

      e kyng aros amorewe;
      he hade muche sorewe.
      godmod ros of bedde;
      wi armes he him shredde.                          896
      his brunye he on caste,
      {ant} knutte hit wel faste,

[Sidenote: visits the king,]

  {And} ca{m} to e ki{n}ge,
  At his vp risinge.                                     900
  "Ki{n}g," he sede, "cu{m} to fel[de],
  For to bihelde
  Hu we fi[gh]te schulle,
  {And} togare go wulle."                                904

    He cam biforn e godeking,
    At hyse op rysyng.                                   900
    He seyde, "king, com to felde,
    Me for to by helde,
    Hou we scholen fy[gh]te
    And to gydere hus dy[gh]cte."                        904

      ant com hi{m} to e kynge,
      at his vp rysynge.                                 900
      "kyng," quo he, "com to felde,
      me forte byhelde,
      hou we shule flyten
      ant to gedere smiten."                             904

[Sidenote: and with him rides to the combat.]

  Ri[gh]t at p{ri}me tide,
  Hi gu{n}ne{n} ut ride,
  And fu{n}de{n} on a g{re}ne,
  A geau{n}t sue kene,                                  908
  His fere{n} hi{m} biside,
  Hore de to abide.

    Ry[gh]t at p{r}ime tyde,
    He go{n}ne hem out ryde.
    He founden in a grene,
    A geant swye kene,                                  908
    Armed with swerd by side,
    e day for to abyde.

       riht at p{ri}me tide,
      hy gonnen out to ryde.
      hy fonnden in a grene,
      a geaunt swye kene,                               908
      his feren hi{m} biside,
      at day forto abyde.

[Headnote: _The fight begins._]

[Sidenote: Cutberd strikes so hard, that the giant asks for a breathing
spell,]

   eilke bataille
  Cutberd gan assaille.                                  912
  He [gh]af de{n}tes ino[gh]e;
  e kni[gh]tes felle iswo[gh]e.
  His dent he gan widra[gh]e,
  For hi were ne[gh] asla[gh]e.                          916

    Cubert him gan asayle;
    Wolde he nawt fayle.                                 912
    He keyte duntes ynowe;
    e geant fel hy swowe.
    Hys feren go{n}ne{n} hem wyt d{ra}we,
    o here mayst{er} wa slawe.                          916

      Godmod hem gon asaylen;
      nolde he nout faylen.                              912
      [Sidenote: [leaf 88, back]]
      he [gh]ef duntes ynowe;
      e payen fel y swowe.
      ys feren gonnen hem wi drawe,
      for huere maister wes neh slawe.                   916

[Sidenote: and says he has never before experienced such blows, save at
the hand of King Murry.]

  {And} sede, "kni[gh]tes, nu [gh]e reste
  One while, ef [gh]ou leste."
  Hi sede, "hi neure nadde
  Of kni[gh]te dentes so harde.                          920
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  He was of hornes ku{n}ne,
  Iborn in suddenne."                                    924

    He seyden, "knyct o reste
    Awile [gh]yf e luste.
    We neu{er}e ne hente
    Of ma{n}[KH-3] so harde dunte,                       920
    Bute of e king Mory,
    at was so swye stordy.
    He was of hornes kinne;
    We slowe hym in sodenne."                            924

    [Footnote KH-3: MS. adds 'nes honde' underdotted as a mistake.]

      he seide, "knyht, ou reste
      a whyle, [gh]ef e leste.
      y ne heuede ner of monnes hond
      so harde duntes in non lond,                       920
      bote of e kyng Murry,
      {a}t wes swie sturdy.
      he wes of hornes kenne;
      y sloh him in sudenne."                            924

[Sidenote: Horn is enraged,]

   Horn hi{m} ga{n} to ag{ri}se,
  {And} his blod arise.

    Cuberd gan ag{r}ise,
    And hys blod aryse.

       Godmod him gon agryse,
      ant his blod aryse.

[Sidenote: and renews the fight.]

  Biuo hi{m} sa[gh] he sto{n}de
  {a}t driue{n} hi{m} of lo{n}de,                       928
  {And} {a}t his fader slo[gh].
  To hi{m} his swerd he dro[gh].

    By for hym he sey stonde
    at drof hym out of londe,                           928
    And hys fad{er} aquelde.
    He smot hym hond{er} schelde.

      byforen him he seh stonde
      at drof him out of londe,                         928
      ant fader his a-quelde;
      he smot him vnder shelde.

[Sidenote: Cutberd looks on his ring, then smites the giant through the
heart.]

  He lokede on his rynge,
  {And} o[gh]te on Rymenhilde.                          932
  He smot him ure[gh] e herte,
  {a}t sore him gan to smerte.
  e paens {a}t er were so sturne,
  Hi gu{n}ne awei vrne.                                  936

    He lokede on hys gode ri{n}ge,
    And oute on reymyld e [gh]o{n}ge.                  932
    Myd gode dunt ate furste,
    He smot hy{m} to e herte.
    e hondes go{n}ne{n} at erne
    In to e schypes sterne.                             936

      he lokede on is rynge,
      ant ohte o rymenild e [gh]ynge.                  932
      mid god suerd at e furste,
      he smot him ourh e huerte.
      e payns bigonne to fleon,
      ant to huere shype teon.                           936

[Headnote: _Horn kills the Giant._]

[Sidenote: The pagans flee to their ship.]

  Horn {and} his compaynye
  Gu{n}ne aft{er} he{m} wel swie hi[gh]e,
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    To schip he wolde{n} [gh]erne,
    And cubert he{m} gan werne,
    And seyde, "kyng, so ou haue reste,
    Clep nou for ofi i beste,                          940
    And sle we yse hounden,
    Here we he{n}ne founden."

      to ship hue wolden erne;
      godmod hem con werne.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: The king's sons are slain, but Cutberd annihilates the pagan
host,]

  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  {And} slo[gh]en alle e hundes,
  Er hi here schipes funde.

    e houndes hye of laucte,
    An st{ro}kes hye ere kaute.                         944
    Faste a[gh]en hye stode,
    A[gh]en duntes gode.
    Help nawht here wond{er};
    Cubert hem broute al hond{er}.                       948
    He schedde of here blode,
    And makede hem al wode.

      e kynges sones tweyne
      e paiens slowe beyne.                             944
      o wes Godmod swye wo,
      ant e payens he smot so,
      {a}t in a lutel stounde
      e paiens hy felle to grounde.                     948
      godmod ant is men
      slowe e payenes eueruchen.

[Headnote: _King Thurston's two sons are slain._]

[Sidenote: thus avenging his father's death.]

  To dee he he{m} alle bro[gh]te;
  His fader de wel dere hi bo[gh]te.                    952
  Of alle e kynges kni[gh]tes,
  Ne scapede er no wi[gh]te.
  Bute his sones tweie
  Bifore him he sa[gh] deie.                             956

    To dee he hem browte,
    Hys fad{er} de he bowten.                           952
    Of al e kinges rowe,
    er nas bute fewe slawe.
    Bote hys sones tweye
    By fore he sey deye.                                 956

      his fader de {ant} ys lond
      awrek godmod wi his hond.                         952
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: The king mourns.]

  e ki{n}g biga{n} to grete,
  And teres for to lete.
  Me leide{n} he{m} in bare,
  {And} burde{n} he{m} ful [gh]are.                      960
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    e king bi gan to grete,
    And teres for to lete.
    Men leyde{n} hem on bere,
    And ledde he{m} wel ere                             960
    In to holy kyrke,
    So man scholde werke.

      e kyng wi reuful chere
      lette leggen is sones on bere,
      ant bringen hom to halle;
      muche sorewe hue maden alle.                       960
      in a chirche of lym {an}t ston
      me buriede hem wi ryche won.

[Headnote: _King Thurston offers Horn his kingdom._]

   e ki{n}g co{m} i{n} to halle,
  Amo{n}g his kni[gh]tes alle.                           964
  "Horn," he sede, "i seie e,
  Do as i schal rede e.
  Asla[gh]e{n} be mine heirs,
  {And} u art kni[gh]t of muchel pris,                  968
  {And} of g{re}te st{re}nge,
  {And} fair o bodie lenge.

    ++e king cam hom to halle,
    Among e kniyctes alle.                              964
    "Do, cubert," he seyde,
    "As ich e wolle rede.
    Dede be myn heyres,
    And ou e boneyres,                                 968
    And of grete strenge,
    Swete and fayr of lenge.

       e kyng lette for calle
      hise knyhtes alle,                                 964
      ant seide, "godmod, [gh]ef ou nere,
      alle ded we were,
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]

[Sidenote: He offers to make Horn (Cutberd) his heir,]

  MiRe{n}gne u schalt welde,
  {And} to spuse helde                                   972
  Reynild, mi do[gh]t{er},
  {a}t sitte on e lofte."

    Mi reaume ou schalt helde,
    And to spuse welde                                   972
    Hermenyl, my dout{er},
    at syt in bour{e} softe."

      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      ou art boe god {ant} feyr;
      her y make e myn heyr;
      for my sones bue yflawe,
      ant ybroht of lyfdawe.                             976

[Sidenote: and to give him his daughter Reynild.]

   "O sire ki{n}g, wi wro{n}ge
  Scholte ihc hit vnd{er}fo{n}ge.                        976
  i do[gh]ter {a}t [gh]e me bede,
  Ower re{n}gne for to lede.
  Welmore ihc schal e serue,
  Sire kyng, or u sterue.                               980
  i sorwe schal wende
  Or seue [gh]eres ende.

    He seyde, "king, wit wronge
    Scholde ich hire hond{er} fonge,                     976
    ing at ou me bede,
    And y reaume lede.
    At more ich wile e s{er}ue,
    And fro sorwe e berwe.                              980
    y sorwe hyt schal wende
    Her is seue [gh]eres hende.

      dohter ich habbe one;
      nys non so feyr of blod ant bone.
      [KH-5](Ermenild, at feyre may,
      bryht so eny someres day,)                         980
      hire wolle ich [gh]eue e,
      ant her kyng shalt ou be."

      [Footnote KH-5: This line was at first left out by the scribe,
      and then written in the margin of the MS.]

[Sidenote: Cutberd declines, but offers to continue in the king's
service.]

  Wanne hit is wente,
  Sire ki{n}g, [gh]ef me mi rente.                       984
  Wha{n}ne i i do[gh]ter [gh]erne,
  Ne schaltu me hire werne."

    And wa{n}ne he be wente,
    Kyng, [gh]yf ou me my re{n}te.                      984
    Wan ich i dout{er} h{er}ne,
    Ne schalt ou hire me werne."

      he seyde, "more ichul e serue,
      kyng, er en ou sterue.                           984
      when y y dohter [gh]erne,
      heo ne shal me noyng werne."

[Sidenote: During seven years he does not communicate with Rymenhild.]

  Cutb{er}d wonede ere
  Fulle seue [gh]ere,                                    988
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  {a}t to Rymenild he ne sente,
  Ne him self ne wente.                                  992
  Rymenild was in West{er}nesse,
  Wi wel muchel sorinesse.

    ++Horn child wonede ere
    fulle sixe yere.                                     988
    e seuene, at cam e nexte
    Aft{er} e sexte,[KH-4]
    To reymyld he ne we{n}de,
    Ne to hyr{e} sende.                                  992
    Reymyld was i{n} westnesse,
    Myd michel sorwenesse.

    [Footnote KH-4: MS. adds 'yeres hende' underdotted as a mistake.]

       godmod wonede ere
      fulle six [gh]ere;                                 988
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      ant e seuee [gh]er bygon;
      to rymynyld, sonde ne sende he non.                992
      rymenyld wes in westnesse,
      wi muchel sorewenesse.

[Headnote: _A king sues for Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: A king sues for Rymenhild.]

   A king {er} gan ariue
  {a}t wolde hire haue to wyue.                         996
  Aton he was wi e ki{n}g,
  Of {a}t ilke weddi{n}g.
  e daies were schorte,
  {a}t Rimi{n}hild ne dorste                           1000
  Lete{n} i{n} none wise.
  A writ he dude deuise;

    A kyng er was aryuede
    at wolde hyre habbe to wyue.                        996
    At sone ware e kynges
    Of hyre weddinges.
    e dawes weren schorte,
    And reymyld ne dorste                               1000
    Lette in none wise.
    A writ he dede deuise;

      a kyng er wes aryue,
      ant wolde hyre han to wyue.                        996
      at one were e kynges,
      of {a}t weddynge.
      e dayes were so sherte,
      ant rymenild ne derste                            1000
      latten on none wyse.
      a wryt hue dude deuyse;

[Sidenote: Athulf writes a letter to Horn.]

  Aulf hit dude write,
  {a}t horn ne luuede no[gh]t lite.                    1004
  Heo se{n}de hire so{n}de
  To eu{er}eche londe,
  To seche horn, e kni[gh]t,
  {er} me hi{m} fi{n}de mi[gh]te.                      1008

    Ayol hyt dide write,
    at horn ne louede nawt lite.                       1004
    And to eu{er}yche londe,
    For horn hym was so longe,
    Aft{er} horn e knycte,
    For at he ne My[gh]te.                             1008

      Aulf hit dude wryte,
      {a}t horn ne louede nout lyte.                   1004
      hue sende hire sonde
      in to eueruche londe,
      to sechen horn knyhte,
      whe so er me myhte.                               1008

[Headnote: _Horn meets Rymenhild's messenger._]

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

  Horn no[gh]t {er} of ne herde,
  Til, o dai {a}t he ferde
  To wude for to schete,
  A knaue he gan imete.                                 1012
  Horn sede{n}, "Leue fere,
  Wat sechestu here?"
  "Kni[gh]t, if beo i wille,
  I mai e sone telle.                                  1016
  I seche fra{m} biweste,
  Horn of west{er}nesse,

    Horn er of ne oute,
    Tyl, on a day at he ferde
    To wode for to seche,
    A page he gan mete.                                 1012
    He seyde, "leue fere,
    Wat sekest ou here?"
    "Knyt, feyr of felle,"
    Qwat e page, "y wole e telle.                     1016
    Ich seke fram westnesse,
    Horn, knyt of estnesse,

      Horn er of nout herde,
      til, o day {a}t he ferde
      to wode forte shete,
      a page he gan mete.                               1012
      Horn seide, "leue fere,
      whet dest ou nou here?"
      [Sidenote: [leaf 89]]
      "Sire, in lutel spelle
      y may e 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
  {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 e se side,

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

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

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

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

    Ich neu{er}e my[gh]t of reche
    Whit no londisse speche.                            1028
    Nis he nower founde,
    A weylawey e stounde.
    Reymyld wor by gile,
    Weylawey e wile."                                  1032
    Horn hyt herde with eren,
    And wep with blody teren.

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

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

  "Knaue, wel e bitide,
  Horn sto{n}dep e biside.                             1036
  A[gh]e{n} to hure u turne,
  {And} seie at heo ne murne,
  For ischal beo {er} bitime,
  A soneday bi pryme."                                  1040
  e knaue was wel blie,
  {And} hi[gh]ede a[gh]en bliue.
  e se bigan to ro[gh]e
  Vnder hire wo[gh]e.                                   1044

    "So wel e, grom, by tide,
    Horn stant by y syde.                              1036
    A[gh]en to reymyld turne,
    And sey at he ne morne.
    Ich schal ben er by tyime,
    A soneday by p{r}ime."                              1040
    e page was blye,
    And schepede wel swye.
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                1044

      "So wel, grom, e bitide,
      horn stond by i syde,                            1036
      a[gh]eyn to rymenild turne,
      {ant} sey at hue ne murne.
      y shal be er bi time,
      a sonneday er p{ri}me."                           1040
      e page wes wel blye
      {ant} shipede wel suye.
      [_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.]

  e knaue er gan adrinke;
  Ryme{n}hild hit mi[gh]te of i{n}ke.
  Ryme{n}hild vndude e dure pin
  Of e hus {er} heo was in,                           1048
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    e se hym gan to drenche;
    Reymyld hyt My[gh]t of inche.
    e se hym gan op rowe,
    Hond{er} hire boures wowe.                          1048
    Reymyld gan dore vn pynne,
    Of boure at he was ynne,

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

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

  To loke wi hire i[gh]e,
  If heo o[gh]t of horn isi[gh]e.                       1052
  o fo{n}d heo e knaue adrent
  {a}t he hadde for horn ise{n}t,
  {And} {a}t scholde horn bringe;
  Hire fingres he gan wri{n}ge.                         1056

    And lokede for ri[gh]cte
    Aft{er} horn e knyte.                              1052
    o fond hye hir{e} sonde
    Drenched by e stronde,
    at scholde horn bringe;
    Hyre fingres hye gan wringe.                        1056

      [gh]ef heo se[gh]e horn come,
      oer tidynge of eny gome.                         1052
      o fond hue hire sonde
      adronque by e stronde,
      at 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 urston e kyng,
  {And} tolde him is tiing.
  o he was iknowe
  {a}t Rim{en}h[ild] was hise o[gh]e,                  1060
  Of his gode ke{n}ne,
  e ki{n}g of suddenne,
  {And} hu he slo[gh] in felde
  {a}t his fader q{ue}lde,                             1064

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

       Horn com to urston e kynge,
      ant tolde him es tidynge.
      ant o he was biknowe,
      at rymenild wes ys owe,                          1060
      ant of his gode kenne,
      e kyng of sudenne,
      ant hou he sloh afelde
      hi{m} {a}t is fader aquelde,                     1064

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

  And seide, "ki{n}g e wise,
  [Gh]eld me mi s{er}uise.
  Ryme{n}hild help me wi{n}ne;
  {a}t u no[gh]t ne li{n}ne,                          1068

    He seyde, "kyng so wise,
    [Gh]eld me my seruyse.
    Reymyld me help to wi{n}ne;
    at ou ich nowt ne lynne,                          1068

      ant seide, "kyng so wyse,
      [gh]eld me my seruice.
      rymenild, help me to wynne,
      swye {a}t ou ne blynne,                        1068

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

  {And} ischal do to spuse
  i do[gh]t{er} wel to huse.
  Heo schal to spuse haue
  Aulf, mi gode fela[gh]e,                             1072
  God kni[gh]t mid e beste,
  {And} e t{re}weste."

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

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

[Sidenote: The king consents.]

  e ki{n}g sede so stille,
  "Horn, haue nu i wille."                             1076

    o seyde e kyng so stille,
    "Horn, do ine wille."                              1076

      e kyng seide so stille,
      "horn, do al i wille."                           1076

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

  He dude writes se{n}de
  Into yrlonde,
  Aft{er} kni[gh]tes li[gh]te,
  Irisse men to fi[gh]te.                               1080
  To horn come ino[gh]e,
  {a}t to schupe dro[gh]e.
  Horn dude him in e weie,
  On a god Galeie.                                      1084
  e him gan to blowe
  In alitel ro[gh]e.

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

      he sende o by sonde,
      [gh]end al is londe,
      after knyhtes to fyhte,
      {a}t were men so lyhte.                          1080
      to him come ynowe,
      {a}t in to shipe drowe.
       Horn dude hi{m} in e weye,
      in a gret galeye.                                 1084
      e wynd bigon to blowe
      in a lutel rowe.

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

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

  e se bigan to posse
  Ri[gh]t 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
  O{er} belle iru{n}ge.                                1092
  e word bigan to sp{ri}nge
  Of Ryme{n}hilde weddi{n}ge.
  Horn was i{n} e wat{er}e;
  Ne mi[gh]te he come no lat{er}e.                      1096

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

      e see bi-gan wi 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} e masse ysonge,                            1092
      of rymenild e [gh]ynge
      {ant} of Mody e 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} [gh]ede to londe.
  His folk he dude abide
  Vnder wude side.                                      1100

    He let scyp stonde,
    And [gh]ede hym op to londe.
    Hys folc he dide abyde
    Hond{er} e 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 [gh]ede alone,
  also he spru{n}ge of stone.
  A palm{er}e he ar mette,
  {And} faire hine grette.                              1104
  "Palm{er}e, u schalt me telle
  Al of ine spelle."
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    He wende for alone,
    So he were spronge of stone.
    A palmere he mette;
    Wyt worde he hym g{r}ette,                          1104
    "Palm{er}e, ou schalt me telle,"
    He seyde, "on ine spelle,
    So brouke ou i croune,
    Wi comest ou fram toune?"                          1108

      [Sidenote: [leaf 89, back]]
       Horn eode forh al one,
      so he sprong of e stone.
      on palmere he y-mette,
      {ant} wi wordes hyne grette,                     1104
      "palmere, ou shalt me telle,"
      he seyde, "of ine spelle,
      so brouke ou i croune,
      why comest ou 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._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]

    e 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,
    e 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 mi[gh]te heo adri[gh]e
  {a}t heo ne weop wi i[gh]e.                         1116
  Heo sede {a}t 'heo nolde
  Ben ispused wi golde;
  Heo hadde on husebonde,
  e[gh] he were vt of lo{n}de.'                        1120

    Ne miy[gh]te hye hyt dreye
    at hye wep wyt eye.                                1116
    He seyde at 'hye nolde
    Be spoused Myd golde;
    Hye hadde hosebonde,
    ey be nere nawt in londe.'                         1120

      ne mihte hue nout dre[gh]e
      {a}t hue ne wep wi e[gh]e.                      1116
      hue seide, '{a}t hue nolde
      be spoused wi golde;
      hue hade hosebonde
      ah he were out of londe.'                        1120

  {And} i{n} st{ro}ng halle,
  Biinne castel walle,
  {er} iwas atte [gh]ate;
  Nolde hi me in late.                                  1124
  Modi ihote hadde
  To bure {a}t me hire ladde.
  Awai igan glide;
  {a}t deol inolde abide.                              1128
  e bride wepe sore,
  {And} {a}t is muche deole!"

    Mody Myd strence hyre hadde,
    And in to toure ladde,
    Into a stronge halle,
    Whit inne kastel walle.                             1124
    er ich was attegate;
    Moste ich nawt in rake.
    Awey ich gan glyde;
    e de ich nolde abyde.                             1128
    er wor a rewlich dole,
    er e bryd wepe sore."

      ich wes in e halle,
      wi-inne e castel walle.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .                               1124
      . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      a wey y gon glide;
      e dole y nolde abyde.                            1128
      er wor a dole reuly;
      e brude wepe bitterly."

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

[Sidenote: Horn changes clothes with the palmer,]

   Qua horn, "So c{ri}st me rede,
  We schulle chau{n}gi wede.                            1132
  Haue her cloes myne,
  {And} tak me i sclauyne.
  Today i schal er drinke,
  {a}t some hit schulle ofinke."                      1136
  His sclauyn he dude dun legge,
  {And} tok hit on his rigge.
  He tok horn his cloes,
  {a}t nere him no[gh]t loe.                          1140

    "Palm{er}e," qwad horn, "so god me rede
    Ich and ou wille{n} chaunge{n} wede.               1132
    Tac ou me i sclauyne,
    And haue ou cloes myne.
    To day ich schal er{e} drynke;
    Som man hyt schal of inke."                        1136
    e sclavyn he gan doun legge,
    And horn hyt dide on rigge.
    e palmere tok hys cloes,
    at ne were{n} hym nowt loe.                       1140

      quo horn, "so c{ri}st me rede,
      we wolle chaunge wede.                           1132
      tac ou robe myne,
      ant [gh]e sclaueyn yne.
      to day y shal er drynke,
      at summe hit shal of-ynke."                     1136
      sclaueyn he gon doun legge,
      {ant} horn hit dude on rugge,
      ant toc hornes cloes,
      at nout him were loe.                           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 e gateward,
  {a}t hi{m} answerede hard.                           1148
  Horn bad undo softe,
  Mani tyme {and} ofte.
  Ne mi[gh]te he awynne
  {a}t he come {e}rinne.                              1152

    He cam to e gateward,
    at hym answered hard.                              1148
    He bed on do wel softe,
    Fele sye and ofte.
    My[gh]te he nowt wynne
    For to come eri{n}ne.                              1152

      he com to e [gh]ateward,
      {a}t him onsuerede froward.                      1148
      horn bed vn-do wel softe,
      moni tyme ant ofte.
      ne myhte he ywynne
      forto come er-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 e [gh]ate turne,
  {And} {a}t wiket vnspurne.
  e boye hit scholde abugge;
  Horn reu him ouer e brigge,                         1156
  {a}t his ribbes him to brake;
  {And} sue com in atte gate.
  He sette him wel lo[gh]e,
  In begg{er}es rowe.                                   1160
  He lokede him abute,
  Wi his colmie snute.

    Horn gan to e yate turne,
    And e wyket op spurne.
    e porter hyt scholde abygg{e};
    He pugde hym ofer e b{r}igg{e},                    1156
    at 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 e wyket puste,
      at hit open fluste.
      e porter shulde abugge;
      he rew him a-doun e brugge,                     1156
      at re ribbes crakede.
      horn to halle rakede,
      ant sette him doun wel lowe,
      in e beggeres rowe.                              1160
      he lokede aboute,
      myd is collede snoute.

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

  He se[gh] Ryme{n}hild sitte
  Ase heo were of witte,                                1164
  Sore wepinge {and} [gh]erne;
  Ne mi[gh]te hure noman wurne.
  He lokede in eche halke;
  Ne se[gh] he nowhar walke                             1168
  Aulf his felawe,
  {a}t he cue knowe.

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

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

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

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

  Aulf was i{n} e ture,
  Abute for to pure                                     1172
  Aft{er} his comynge,
  [Gh]ef schup hi{m} wolde bri{n}ge.
  He se[gh] e se flowe,
  {And} horn nowar rowe.                                1176

    Ayol was op i{n} tour{e},
    Aboute for to pour{e}                               1172
    Aft{er} hornes cominge,
    [Gh]yf wat{er} hym wolde bringe.
    e 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,
      [gh]ef water him wolde brynge.
      e 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 u ert wel longe.
  Ryme{n}hild u me toke,
  {a}t i scholde loke.                                 1180
  Ihc habbe kept hure eure;
  Com nu oer neure.
  I ne may no le{n}g hure kepe;
  For sore[gh]e nu y wepe."                             1184

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

      he seyde on is songe,
      "horn, ou art to longe.
      rymenild ou me bitoke,
      {a}t ich hire shulde loke.                       1180
      Ich haue yloked euere,
      {ant} ou 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,
  Boe wyn {and} ale.                                   1188
  On horn he bar anhonde,
  So la[gh]e was i{n} londe.

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

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

  Kni[gh]tes {and} squier
  Alle dronke{n} of e ber;                             1192
  Bute horn al one
  Nadde {er}of no mone.
  Horn sat vpo{n} e g{ru}nde;
  Him u[gh]te he was ibu{n}de.                         1196

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

      hue dronc of e beere,
      to knyht {ant} skyere.                            1192
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]
      horn set at grounde;
      him ohte 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 u we{n}de.
  u [gh]ef vs wi e furste;
  e beggeres beo of urste."                          1200

    He seyde, "quen so hende,
    To meward gyn ou wende.
    Schenk hus Myd e furste;
    e beggeres be of erste."                         1200

       he seide, "quene so hende,
      to me hydeward ou wende.
      [Sidenote: [leaf 90]]
      ou shenh vs wi e vurste;
      e beggares bue 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 is cuppe,
  {And} i{s} i{n}g {er} vppe.
  Ne sa[gh] ihc neure, so ihc wene,
  Beggere at were so kene."                            1208

    e horn hye leyde adoune,
    And fulde hem of e broune,
    A bolle of one galun;
    Hye wende he were a glotoun.                        1204
    "Nym ou e 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 e broune,
      a bolle of a galoun;
      hue wende he were a glotoun.                      1204
      hue seide, "tac e coppe,
      ant drync is 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

    Horn tok e 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.]

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

    ou wenst ich be a begger{e};
    For gode ich am a fy[gh]sser{e},
    Hy come fram by weste,
    To fy[gh]en an i feste.                            1216
    My net hys ney honde,
    In a wel fayr ponde.

      ou 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,
      wi-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 ha ileie ere
  Fulle seue [gh]ere.                                   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 is seue[gh]ere.                                 1220
    Hyc am hy come to loke
    [Gh]if any he toke.
    [Gh]yf any fy[gh]s hys erynne,
    er of ou winne.                                   1224
    Ich am hy come to fy[gh]sse,
    Drink to me of y disse;
    Drynk to horn of horn,
    For ich habbe hy [gh]ouren."                        1228

      Ich haue leye ere,
      nou is is e seuee [gh]ere.                     1220
      Icham icome to loke
      [gh]ef eny fyss[h-] hit toke.
      [gh]ef eny fyss[h-] is er-inne,
      er-of ou shalt wynne.                           1224
      For icham come to fyss[h-],
      drynke nully of dyss[h-].
      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 no[gh]t his fissing,
  Ne horn hymselue noing;                              1232
  Ac wu{n}der hire gan inke,
  Whi he bad to horn drinke.

    Reymyld hym gan by holde,
    And hyr{e} h{er}te to kolde.
    Ney[gh] he nowt hys fyssing,
    Ne hym selue no yng.                               1232
    Wond{er} hyre gan ynke,
    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 noyng.                            1232
      ah wonder hyre gan ynke,
      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 wi wyn,
  {And} dronk to e pilegrym.                           1236
  Heo sede, "dri{n}k i fulle,
  {And} sue u me telle
  If u eure isi[gh]e
  Horn vnder wude li[gh]e."                             1240

    He fulde horn e wyn,
    And dronk to e pyleg{r}im.                         1236
    "Palmere, ou d{r}inke y fulle,
    And sye ou schalt telle,
    [Gh]yf ou horn awt seye
    Hond{er} wode leye."                                1240

      hue fulde e horn of wyne,
      ant dronk to at pelryne.                         1236
      hue seide, "drync i felle,
      {ant} seen ou me telle
      [gh]ef ou horn euer se[gh]e
      vnder wode le[gh]e."                              1240

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

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

    ++Horn d{ra}nk of horn a stounde,
    A{n}d rew hys ryng to e grounde.
    He seyde, "quen, nou seche
    Qwat hys in y drenche."                            1244

       Horn dronc of horn a stounde,
      ant reu is ryng to grounde,
      ant seide, "quene, ou ench
      what y reu in e drench."                        1244

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

  e quen [gh]ede to bure,
  Wi hire maidenes foure.
  o fo{n}d heo what heo wolde,
  A ri{n}g ig{ra}uen of golde,                          1248
  {a}t horn of hure hadde.
  Sore hure dr{a}dde
  {a}t horn isteue were,
  For e Ri{n}g was ere.                               1252

    Reymild [gh]ede to bour{e},
    Wyt hyre maydenes four{e}.
    He fond at he wolde,
    A ryng hy g{ra}uen of golde,                        1248
    at horn of hyre hadde.
    Wel sore hyre of dradde
    at horn child ded were,
    For e ry{n}g was ere.                             1252

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

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

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

  o se{n}te heo a damesele
  Aft{er} e palm{er}e.
  "Palm{er}e," q{ua} heo, "trewe,
  e ri{n}g {a}t u rewe,                             1256
  u seie whar u hit nome,
  {And} whi u hider come."

    o sende hye a damysele
    Adoun aft{er} e palm{er}e.
    "Palm{er}e," hye seyde, "so trewe,
    e ryng ou here rewe,                             1256
    Sey war ou ith nome,
    And hyder wi ou come."

      o sende hue a damoisele
      after ilke palmere.
      "palm{er}e," quo hue, "so trewe,
      e ryng {a}t ou yn rewe,                       1256
      ou sey wer ou hit nome,
      ant hyder hou ou 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 [gh]onde 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
    at fond ich horn child stonde,
    To scyppeward on stronde.

      he seyde, "by seint gyle,
      ich eode mony a myle,                             1260
      wel fer [gh]ent by weste,
      to seche myne beste,
      Mi mete forte bydde,
      for so me o 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
  e schip nam to e flode,
  Wi me {and} horn e gode.
  Horn was sik {and} deide,
  {And} faire he me p{re}ide,                           1272
  'Go wi e ringe,
  To Ryme{n}hild e [gh]o{n}ge.'
  Ofte he hit custe,
  God [gh]eue his saule reste."                         1276

    He seyde he wolde agesce
    To ryuen in westnesse.                              1268
    at scyp hym [gh]ede to flode,
    Myd me and horn e gode.
    Horn was sech and ded,
    And for his loue me bed,                            1272
    'To schipe with me e ring
    To Reymyld quene e [gh]eng.'
    Ofte he me kuste,
    God [gh]yue hys soule reste."                       1276

      he seide he wolde gesse
      to aryue at westnesse.                            1268
      e ship nom in to flode,
      wi me {ant} horn e gode.
      Horn by-gan be sek {ant} de[gh]e,
      {ant} for his loue me pre[gh]e                    1272
      to gon wi e rynge,
      to rymenild e [gh]ynge.
      wel ofte he hyne keste,
      c{ri}st [gh]eue 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 e furste,
  "Herte, nu u berste,
  For horn nastu namore,
  {a}t e ha pined e so sore."                       1280

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

       Rymenild seide at e firste,
      "herte, nou to berste.
      horn wor e no more,
      at haue e pyned sore."                         1280

  Heo feol on hire bedde
  er heo knif hudde,
  To sle wi ki{n}g loe,
  {And} hure selue boe,                                1284
  In {a}t vlke ni[gh]te,
  If horn come ne mi[gh]te.
  To herte knif he sette;
  Ac horn anon hire kepte.                              1288

    Hye fel adoun on e bed
    er hye hauede knyues leyd,
    To slen hire louerd loe,
    And hyre selue boe,                                1284
    In at hulke [ny[gh]te],
    Bote horn come my[gh]te.
    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 loe,
      {ant} hire selue boe.                            1284
      wi-inne ilke nyhte,
      come [gh]ef 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 at blake

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

[Headnote: _Horn makes himself known._]

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

  He wipede {a}t blake of his swere,
  {And} sede, "Quen so swete {and} dere,                1292
  Ihc am horn ino[gh]e;
  Ne canstu me no[gh]t knowe?
  Ihc am horn of west{er}nesse;
  In armes u me cusse."                                1296

    at was on hys swere,
    And seyde, "quene so dere,                          1292
    Canst ou me nawt knowe?
    Ne am ich al yn owe?
    Ich am horn of estnesse;
    In yn armes ou me kusse."                         1296

      {a}t wes opon his suere,
      ant seide, "luef so dere,                         1292
      ne const ou me yknowe?
      ne am ich horn yn owe?
      Ich, horn of westnesse;
      in armes ou 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 e wudes ende.                                1300
  er be myne kni[gh]tes,
  Redi to fi[gh]te,
  Iarmed vnder cloe.

    Hye clepten and hye kuste
    e wile at hem luste.
    "Reymyld," qwad horn, "ich moste we{n}de
    To e wodes hende,                                  1300
    After mine kny[gh]tes,
    Hyrische men so wy[gh]te,
    Armed hond{er} cloe.

      yclupten {ant} kyste
      so longe so hem lyste.
      "Rymenild," quo he, "ich wende
      doun to e wodes ende,                            1300
      for er bue myne knyhte,
      wori men {ant} lyhte,
      armed vnder cloe;

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

    He scholen make{n} wroe                            1304
    e king and hyse gestes
    at sytten atte feste.
    To day we schole hem keche,
    Ry[gh]t nou ich wolle hem teche."                   1308

      hue shule make wroe                              1304
      e kyng {ant} hise gestes
      {a}t bue at ise 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.
  e quen [gh]ede to bure,
  {And} fond Aulf in ture.                             1312
  "Aulf," heo sede, "be blie,
  And to horn u go wel swie.

    ++HOrn sprong out of halle;
    e sclavyn he let falle.
    And Reymyld wente to toure,
    And fond ayol lure.                                 1312
    "Ayol, be wel blye,
    And go to horn swye.

       Horn sprong out of halle;
      ys brunie he let falle.
      rymenild eode of boure;
      aulf hue fond loure.                             1312
      "aulf, be wel blye,
      {ant} to horn go swye.

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

  He is vnder wude bo[gh]e,
  {And} wi him kni[gh]tes Ino[gh]e."                   1316
   Aulf bigan to sp{ri}nge
  For e tii{n}ge.
  Aft{er} horn he arnde anon,
  Also {a}t hors mi[gh]te gon.                         1320
  He hi{m} ou{er}tok ywis;
  Hi makede suie Muchel blis.

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

      he is vnder wode bowe,
      wi felawes ynowe."                               1316
      Aulf gon froth sp{ri}nge,
      for {a}t ilke tydynge.
      efter horn he ernde;
      him ohte is herte bernde.                        1320
      he oftok hi{m} ywisse,
      ant custe him wi 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} e weie.                        1324
  He co{m} i{n} wel sone,
  e [gh]ates were vndone,
  Iarmed ful ikke
  Fra{m} fote to e nekke.                              1328

    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                1324
    He com a[gh]en wel sone,
    e gates weren ondone.
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                1328

      horn tok is preye
      ant dude him in e weye.                          1324
      hue comen in wel sone,
      e [gh]ates weren vndone;
      y-armed suie icke
      from fote to e nycke.                            1328

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

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

      alle {a}t er euere weren,
      wi-oute is t{re}we feren
      ant e kyng aylmare,
      ywis he hade muche care.                          1332
      monie {a}t er 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} oes holde,
  at neure ne scholde

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

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

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

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

    And ofte he swore{n} hoes holde,
    at ere non ne scholde                             1340
    No ware horn by wreyen,
    ou he to dee leyen.
    He rongen e bellen,
    e wedding for to fulle{n},                         1344
    Of hor at was so hende,
    And of reymyld e [gh]onge.

      ant suore oes holde
      at huere non ne sholde                           1340
      Horn neuer bytreye,
      ah he on dee leye.
      er hy ronge e belle,
      at 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} [gh]ede with his,
  To e ki{n}ges palais.                                1348
  er was brid {and} ale suete,
  For riche me{n} {e}r ete.
  Telle ne mi[gh]te tu{n}ge
  {a}t gle {a}t {er} was su{n}ge.                    1352

    Horn ledde hyre hom wit heyse,
    To hyr{e} fad{er} paleyse.                          1348
    er was brydale swete;
    Riche men er hete.
    Tellen ne My[gh]te no tonge
    e joye at er was songe.                          1352

      hue wenden hom wi eyse,
      to e kynges paleyse.                             1348
      er wes e brudale suete,
      for richemen er ete.
      telle ne mihte no tonge
      e gle at er 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, "u luste
  A tale mid e beste.                                  1356
  I ne seie hit for no blame,
  Horn is mi name.
  u me to kni[gh]t houe,
  {And} kni[gh]thod haue p{ro}ued.                      1360
  To e ki{n}g me{n} seide
  {a}t ie bit{ra}ide;

    ++Horn set on hys cheyere,
    And bed he scholden alle here.
    He seyde, "kyng so longe,
    My tale ou hond{er}stonde.                         1356
    Hy was born i{n} sode{n}ne;
    Kyng was My fad{er} of kunne.
    o me to kny[gh]te ou [gh]oue;
    My kny[gh]thede ich haue p{ro}ued.                  1360
    To e of me men seyde
    War for i h{er}te creyde.

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

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

  u makedest me fleme,
  {And} i lo{n}d to reme.                              1364
  u we{n}dest {a}t iwro[gh]te
  {a}t y neure ne o[gh]te,
  Bi Ryme{n}hild for to ligge,
  {And} {a}t i wisegge.                               1368

    ou makedest me to rewe,
    o ou bote me fleme.                               1364
    ou wendes at ich wroute
    at hy neu{er}e ne oute,
    Wyt Reymyld for ligge.
    I wys ich hyt wyt sigge.                            1368

      ou dryue me out of i lond,
      {ant} seydest ich wes t{r}aytour strong.          1364
      ou wendest at ich wrohte
      at y ner ne ohte,
      by rymenild forte lygge;
      ywys ich hit wisugge.                            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.
  u kep hure a stu{n}de,
  e while {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,
    e 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.
      ou kep hyre me a stounde,
      e while {a}t ich founde                         1372
      In to myn heritage,
      wi is yrisshe page.

  {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.
  a{n}ne schal Ryme{n}hilde
  Ligge bi e ki{n}ge."                                 1380

    at lond ich schal of reche,
    And do my fad{er} wreche.                           1376
    Ich schal be kyng of tune,
    And wite of kynges r[?]owne.
    enne schal Reymyld e [gh]onge
    Lygge{n} by horn e kynge."                         1380

      at lond ichulle orhreche,
      {ant} do mi fader wreche.                         1376
      ychul be kyng of toune,
      {ant} lerne kynges roune.
      enne shal rymenild e [gh]ynge
      ligge by horn e 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 dra[gh]e,
  Wi his yrisse fela[gh]es.
  Aulf wi hi{m} his broer;
  Nolde he no{n} oer.                                  1384
  {a}t schup bigan to crude,
  e wind hi{m} bleu lude.

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

       Horn gan to shipe drawe,
      wi hyse yrisshe felawe.
      Aulf wi hi{m}, his broer,
      he nolde habbe non oer.                          1384
      e ship by-gan to croude;
      e wynd bleu wel loude.

[Sidenote: They reach Sudenne within five days.]

  Bii{n}ne daies fiue
  {a}t schup gan ariue,                                1388
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  Abute middelni[gh]te.
  Horn hi{m} [gh]ede wel ri[gh]te.                      1392

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

      wy-inne dawes fyue
      e ship began aryue.                              1388
      vnder sudennes side
      huere ship by-gon to ryde,
      aboute e 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 aulf bi ho{n}de,
  And vp he [gh]ede to lo{n}de.
  Hi fou{n}de vnder schelde,
  A kni[gh]t he{n}de i{n} felde.                        1396
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  e kni[gh]t hi{m} aslepe lay
  Al biside e way.                                     1400
  Horn hi{m} ga{n} to take,
  {And} sede, "kni[gh]t, 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 e scheld was drawe
    A crowch of ih{es}u c{r}i{s}tes lawe.
    e 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 aulf by honde,
      {ant} ede vp to londe.
      hue fonden vnder shelde,
      a knyht liggynde on felde.                        1396
      o e shelde wes ydrawe
      a c{ro}yz of ih{es}u c{ri}stes lawe.
      e 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.]

  Seie what u kepest,
  {And} whi u her slepest.                             1404
  Me ink, biine crois li[gh]te,
  {a}t u lo{n}gest to vre d{ri}[gh]te.
  Bute u wule me schewe,
  I schal e to hewe."                                  1408
  e gode kni[gh]t vp aros;
  Of e wordes hi{m} gros.

    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                1404
    Me ynke, by e crowches lyste,
    at ou leuest on c{r}iste.
    Bote ou hit rae schewe,
    Wyt Mi swerd ich schal e hewe."                    1408
    e gode knyt op aros;
    Of hornes wordes hym agros.

      ou sei me whet ou kepest,
      {ant} here whi ou slepest!                       1404
      me unche, by crois liste,
      {a}t ou leuest on c{ri}ste;
      bote ou hit wolle shewe,
      my suerd shal e to-hewe."                        1408
      e 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, a[gh]enes my wille,
  Payns ful ylle.                                       1412
  Ihc was c{ri}stene a while,
  o i com to is ille
  Sarazins blake,
  {a}t dude me forsake.                                1416

    He seyde, "hy serue ylle
    Paynyms, a[gh]en My wille.                          1412
    Ich was c{r}istene som wyle,
    And o were come i{n}to is yle
    Sarazyns lodlike and blake,
    And dide me god forsake.                            1416

      he seide, "ich seruy ille
      paynes, to[gh]eynes mi wille.                     1412
      Ich was c{ri}stene sum while;
      y come in to is yle.
      Sarazyns loe {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 is passage
  Fra{m} horn {a}t is of age,                          1420
  {a}t wunie bieste,
  Kni[gh]t wi e beste.
  Hi slo[gh]e wi here ho{n}de,
  e ki{n}g of is lo{n}de,                             1424

    Bi god on wam yleue,
    o he makede{n} me reue,
    To loke is passage
    For horn at hys of age.                            1420
    He wone alby weste,
    God knyt myd e beste.
    He slow Mid hys honde
    e kyng of ise londe,                              1424

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

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

  {And} wi him fele hu{n}dred.
  {And} {er}of is wu{n}der
  {a}t he ne come to fi[gh]te;
  God se{n}de hi{m} e ri[gh]te,                        1428
  {And} wi{n}d hi{m} hider driue,
  To bri{n}ge he{m} of liue.
  Hi slo[gh]en kyng Murry,
  Hornes fader, king hendy.                             1432
  Horn hi vt of londe sente;
  Tuelf fela[gh]es wi him wente,

    And wyt hym me{n} an hundred.
    er fore me inke wond{er}
    at he come fi[gh]cte.
    God yeue hym e miy[gh]te,                          1428
    at wynde hym driue
    To bringen hem of liue.
    He slowen e kyng mory,
    Hornes fad{er} so stordy.                           1432
    Horn to wat{er} he sente,
    xij children myd hym we{n}te.

      ant wi hi{m} mony honder.
      er fore me unche wonder
      {a}t he ne come to fyhte;
      god [gh]eue hi{m} e myhte,                       1428
      {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 wi 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 aulf e gode,
  Min o[gh]ene child, my leue fode.                     1436
  Ef horn child is hol and sund,
  {And} Aulf biute wund,
  He luue hi{m} so dere,
  {And} is him so stere,                                1440
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  Mi[gh]te iseo{n} he{m} tueie,
  For ioie i scholde deie."                             1444

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

      wi he{m} wes aulf e gode,
      mi child, myn oune fode.                          1436
      [gh]ef horn is hol ant sounde,
      aulf tit no wounde.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                              1440
      he louede horn wi mihte,
      {ant} he hi{m} wi ryhte.
      [gh]ef y myhte se hem tueye,
      enne ne rohti forte deye."                       1444

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

   "Kni[gh]t, beo a{n}ne blie,
  Mest of alle sie.
  Horn {and} Aulf his fere,
  Boe hi be{n} here."                                  1448
  To horn he gan gon,
  {And} g{re}tte hi{m} anon.

    "Knyt, be swie blye,
    Mest of alle sye.
    Ayol and horn yfere
    Boe he ben here."                                  1448
    e knyt to hem ga{n} steppe,
    And in armes cleppe.

       "knyht, be enne blye,
      mest of alle sye.
      Aulf, {ant} horn is fere,
      boe-we be here."                                1448
      e knyht to horn gan skippe,
      {ant} in his armes clippe.

  Muche ioie hi makede ere,
  e while hi togadere were.                            1452
  "Childre," he sede, "hu habbe [gh]e fare?
  {a}t ihc [gh]ou se[gh] hit is ful [gh]are.
  Wulle [gh]e is lo{n}de wi{n}ne,
  {And} sle at {er}is i{n}ne?"                        1456

    e joie at he made,
    My[gh]te no ma{n} rede.                             1452
    He seyde wit steuene [gh]are,
    "Children, hou abbe [gh]e fare?
    Wolle [gh]e is lond wi{n}ne,
    And wonye er inne?"                                1456

      Muche ioye hue maden yfere,
      o hue to gedere y-come were."                    1452
      [Sidenote: [leaf 91, back]]
      He saide wi steuene are,
      "[gh]ungemen, hou habbe [gh]e [gh]ore yfare?
      wolle [gh]e is lond wynne,
      {ant} wonie er ynne?"                            1456

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

  He sede, "leue horn child,
  [Gh]itt lyue i moder Godhild.
  Of ioie heo miste,
  If heo e aliue wiste."                               1460

    He seyde, "leue horn child,
    [Gh]et liue y mod{er} godild."
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]                                1460

      he seide, "suete horn child,
      [gh]et lyue y moder godyld.
      of ioie hue ne miste,
      o lyue [gh]ef hue e wiste."                      1460

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

   Horn sede o{n} his rime,
  "Iblessed beo e time
  I co{m} to sudde{n}ne,
  Wi mine irisse me{n}ne.                              1464
  We schulle e 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 e tyme
    Ich am ycome to sode{n}ne,
    Wyt Myn hyrysce me{n}ne.                            1464
    is lond we schollen wi{n}ne
    And fle at at ere ben i{n}ne.
    And so we scholen he{m} teche
    To speken our{e} speche."                           1468

      Horn seide on is ryme,
      "yblessed be e time
      Icham icome in to sudenne,
      wi fele yrisshemenne.                            1464
      we shule e houndes kecche,
      {ant} to e de[gh]e vecche.
      nt 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,
    at hys folc it gan knowe.
    He come{n} out of scyp st{er}ne,
    To horn ward wel [gh]erne.                          1472

       Horn gon is horn blowe;
      is folc hit con yknowe.
      hue comen out of hurne,
      to horn swye [gh]urne.                           1472

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

  Hi slo[gh]en {and} fu[gh]te{n},
  e ni[gh]t {and} e v[gh]ten.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .                                   1476
  . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  e Sarazi{n}s cu{n}de,
  Ne lefde {er} no{n} i{n} e{n}de.                    1480

    He smyten and he fouten,
    e ny[gh]t and eke e ou[gh]ten.
    Myd speres hord he stonge,
    e held and eke e [gh]onge.                        1476
    at lond he oru sowte{n};
    To dee he hus brouten
    Sarazines kende,
    e leuede on e fende.                              1480

      hue smiten {ant} hue fyhten,
      e niht {ant} eke e ohtoun.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                              1476
      e sarazyns hue slowe,
      ant summe quike to drowe.
      mid sp{er}es ord hue stonge
      e olde {ant} eke e [gh]onge.                    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
      boe 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 wro[gh]te;
  Ryme{n}hild hit dere bo[gh]te.                        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 ere wroute;
    Reymyld hyt aboute.                                 1492

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

      He sohte is moder halle,
      in e roche walle.
      He custe hire ant grette,
      ant in to e castel fette.                        1488
      Croune he gan werie,
      ant make feste merye.
      Murie he er 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} at him dude smerte.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .                                   1496
  . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  [Gh]o{n}ge he [gh]af {and} elde,
  Mid hi{m} for to helde.                               1500

    Wile at horn was oute,
    Fikenyld ferde aboute.
    To wiue he gan hire [gh]erne;
    e kyng ne dorst hi{m} werne.                       1496
    Muche was hys prede;
    e ryche he [gh]af mede,
    [Gh]onge and eke e helde,
    at Mid hym scholde helde.                          1500

       e whiles horn wes oute,
      Fikenild ferde aboute.
      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                              1496
      e betere forte spede,
      e riche he [gh]ef mede,
      boe [gh]onge ant olde,
      wi him forte holde.                              1500

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

  Ston he dude lede,
  {er} he hopede spede.
  St{ro}ng castel he let sette,
  Mid see hi{m} biflette.                               1504
  {er} ne mi[gh]te li[gh]te
  Bute fo[gh]el wi fli[gh]te;
  Bute wha{n}ne e see wi dro[gh]e,
  Mi[gh]te come men yno[gh]e.                           1508

    Ston he dede lede,
    And hym erto he made.
    A kastel he dude feste
    Wit wat{er} alby sette.                             1504
    Mi[gh]t no ma{n} hon on legge,
    By pae ne by brigge;
    Bote wan e wit drowe,
    er mu{n}the come.                                  1508

      Ston he dude lade,
      ant lym erto he made.
      Castel he made sette,
      wi water by flette.                              1504
      {a}t er yn come ne myhte
      bote foul wi flyhte;
      bote when e see wi-drowe,
      er 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

    is fykenild ga{n}to we{n}de[KH-8]
    Reynyld for to wende.
    e day by ga{n} to wexe,
    at hem was by twexe.                               1512
    Fekenyld, her e day gan sp{r}inge,
    Ferde to aylm{er} e kynge,
    Aft{er} reynyld e bry[gh]te,
    And spousede hire by ni[gh]te.                      1516

    [Footnote KH-8: Written w{n}de]

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

[Sidenote: Rymenhild weeps tears of blood.]

  To wo[gh]e he gan hure [gh]erne;
  e 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.
    e festes he by go{n}ne,
    Her{e} aryse e 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.]

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

    at ny[gh]t gan horn swete,
    And harde forto mete
    Of Reymyld hys make,
    at i{n} to schype was take.                        1524
    at schip scholde on hire blenche;
    Hys lema{n} scholde adrenche.

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

  Ryme{n}hild wi hire honde
  Wolde vp to londe.                                    1528
  Fikenhild a[gh]en hire pelte
  Wi his swerdes hilte.

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

       Rymenild mid hire honde,
      swymme wolde to londe.                            1528
      Fykenild a[gh]eyn hire pylte,
      mid his suerdes hylte.

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

   Horn him wok of slape,
  So a man {a}t hadde rape.                            1532
  "Aulf," he sede, "fela[gh]e,
  To schupe we mote dra[gh]e.
  Fikenhild me ha idon vnder,
  {And} Rymenhild to do wunder.                         1536
  Crist, for his wu{n}des fiue,
  To ni[gh]t me uder driue."

    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]
    "Ayol," qwat horn, "trewe felawe,
    Into schip go{n}ne we drawe.
    Fykenyld haue gon ond{er},
    And don Reynyld som wond{er}.                       1536
    God, for his wordes fiue,
    To ny[gh]t us yder driue."

      Horn awek in is bed;
      of his lemmon he wes adred.                       1532
      "Aulf," he seide, "felawe,
      to shipe nou we drawe.
      Fykenild me ha gon vnder,
      ant do rymenild sum wonder.                       1536
      Crist, for his wondes fyue,
      to nyht ider 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 e dai gan sp{ri}nge,
  Al ri[gh]t he ferde to e kinge,                      1544

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

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

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

  Aft{er} Rymenhild e bri[gh]te,
  To wedden hire bini[gh]te.
  He ladde hure bi e derke,
  Into his nywe werke.                                  1548

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

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

[Sidenote: They begin the feast before sunrise.]

  e feste hi bigu{n}ne,
  Er {a}t ros e su{n}ne.
  Er ane horn hit wiste,
  To fore e su{n}ne vpriste.                           1552

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

      e feste hue bigonne,
      er en aryse e 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 wene heo
  {a}t Horn a{n}ne aliue beo.                         1556
  e castel ei ne knewe,
  For he was so nywe.
  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  Horn fond sittinde Arnoldin,
  {a}t was Aulfes cosin,
  {a}t {er} was in {a}t tide,
  Horn for tabide.                                      1564

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

      Nuste horn a-lyue
      wher he wes aryue.                                1556
      ene castel hue ne knewe,
      for he was so newe.
      e see bigon to wi drawe;
      o seh horn his felawe,                           1560
      e feyre knyht arnoldyn,
      {a}t wes aulfes cosyn,
      at er set in at 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 kni[gh]t," he sede, "kinges sone,
  Wel beo u to londe icome.
  Today ha y wedde fikenhild,
  i swete le{m}man, Rymenhild.                         1568
  Ne schal i e lie;
  He ha giled e twie.

    He seyde, "horn, kynges sone,
    Wel be ou her{e} to londe come.
    Nou hat wedded fikenyld
    y nowe lemma{n}, Reymyld.                          1568
    Nele ich e nowt lye;
    He haue e gyled twye.

      he seide, "kyng horn, kyngessone,
      hider ou art welcome.
      to day ha sire Fykenild
      ywedde i wif, rymenild.                         1568
      white e nou is while;
      he haue do e gyle.

  is tur he let make
  Al for ine sake.                                     1572
  Ne mai {er} come i{n}ne
  Noma{n} wi none gi{n}ne.
  Horn, nu crist e wisse,
  Of Rymenhild {a}t u ne misse."                      1576

    is castel he dude make
    For Reymyldes sake.                                 1572
    er may mo man on legge,
    By pae neby brigge.
    Horn, nou c{r}ist e wisse,
    Of Reymyld at ou ne misse."                       1576

      is tour he dude make
      al for rymenildes sake.                           1572
      ne may er comen ynne
      no mon wi no gynne.
       Horn, nou c{ri}st e wisse,
      rymenild {a}t ou 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 cue al e liste
  {a}t eni man of wiste.
  Harpe he gan schewe,
  {And} tok fela[gh]es fewe,                            1580
  Of kni[gh]tes suie snelle,
  {a}t schrudde he{m} at wille.

    Horn her kenede al e lyste
    at any ma{n} of wiste.
    To herpe he gan drawe,
    And wy[gh]t hys tweye felawe,                       1580
    Kny[gh]tes swye felle,
    And schurde hem in pelle.

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

      [Footnote KH-9: MS. tot]

  [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .]
  Hi [gh]eden bi e grauel,
  Toward e 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 e g{ra}uel
    Toward e castel.
    He go{n}ne murye synge,
    And makede here glewinge.                           1588

      ouen o e sherte
      hue gurden huem wi suerde.                       1584
      hue eoden on e g{ra}uele,
      towart e 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,
  Ri[gh]t at halle gate.
  He sette hi{m} on e benche,
  His harpe for to clenche.                             1596

    at fykenyld my[gh]t yhere;
    Hearkede wat hye were.
    Men seyde hyt harperes,
    Iogelours and fieleres.                            1592
    He dude hem in lete;
    At halle dore he sete.
    Horn set on e benche;
    Hys harpe he gan clenche.                           1596

      {a}t fykenild mihte y-here;
      he axede who hit were.
      men seide hit were harpeirs,
      iogelers ant fyelers.                            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.]

  He makede Rymenhilde lay,
  {And} heo makede walaway.
  Rymenhild feol yswo[gh]e;
  Ne was {er} non {a}t lou[gh]e.                      1600
  Hit smot to hornes herte
  So bit{er}e {a}t hit sm{er}te.

    He makede Reymyld a lay,
    And reynyld makede weylawey.
    Reymyld fel yswowe;
    o was er non at lowe.                            1600
    Hyt [gh]ede to hornes herte;
    Sore hym gan smerte.

      he made rymenild a lay,
      ant hue seide weylawey.
       Rymenild fel y swowe;
      o nes er non {a}t lowe.                        1600
      hit smot horn to herte;
      sore con hi{m} smerte.

[Sidenote: Horn looks on his ring and thinks of Rymenhild, then with his
good sword slays Fikenhild and all his men.]

  He lokede on e ringe,
  {And} o[gh]te on Ryme{n}hilde.                       1604
  He [gh]ede vp to borde,
  Wi gode suerdes orde.
  Fike{n}hildes c{ru}ne
  er ifulde adune,                                     1608
  {And} al his me{n} arowe
  Hi dude adun rowe!

    Hey lokede on hys gode Ryng,
    And Reymyld e [gh]onge.                            1604
    Hey [gh]ede op to borde,
    Mid hys gode swerde.
    Fykenyldes crowne
    He leyde ere adowne;                               1608
    And alle hys men arewe
    He dide adoun rewe.

      he lokede on is rynge,
      ant o rymenild e [gh]ynge.                       1604
      he eode vp to borde,
      mid his gode suorde.
      Fykenildes croune
      he fel er adoune;                                1608
      ant alle is men arowe
      he dude adoun rowe.

[Headnote: _Horn slays Fikenhild, and makes Arnoldyn king._]

[Sidenote: He makes Arnoldin king there, after Aylmer,]

  Wha{n}ne hi were{n} asla[gh]e,
  Fike{n}hild hi dude to d{ra}[gh]e.                    1612
  Horn makede Arnoldin are
  Ki{n}g, aft{er} ki{n}g Aylmare,
  Of al west{er}nesse,
  For his meoknesse.                                    1616
  e ki{n}g {and} his homage
  [Gh]eue{n} Arnoldin t{re}wage.

    o he weren alle yslawe,
    Fykenyld he dide to drawe.                          1612
    He makede arnoldyn kyng er{e},
    Aft{er} e kyng aylm{er}e,
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]
    e knytes and e barnage
    Dude hym alle utrage.                               1616

      [_No gap in MS._ . .
      . . . . . . . . . .]                              1612
      ant made arnoldyn kyng ere,
      after kyng aylmere,
      to be kyng of westnesse,
      for his mildenesse.                               1616
      e kyng ant is baronage
      [gh]euen him t{ru}age.

[Sidenote: and taking with him Athulf and Rymenhild, sets out for King
Modi's kingdom.]

   Horn tok Rymenhild bi e honde,
  {And} ladde hure to e stronde,                       1620
  {And} ladde wi him Aelbrus,
  e gode stuard of his hus.
  e se biga{n} to flowe,
  {And} horn gan to Rowe.                               1624

    Horn tok rymyld by e hond,
    And ledde hire by e se strond.                     1620
    He tok hym syre aylbrous,
    Stiward of e kynges hous.
    He riuede in a reaume,
    In a wel fayr streume,                              1624

       Horn toc rymenild by honde,
      ant ladde hire to st{r}onde,
      Ant toc wi hi{m} Aelbrus,
      e gode stiward of hire fader hous.               1620
      [Sidenote: [leaf 92, back]]
      e see bigan to flowen,
      ant hy faste to rowen.
      hue aryueden vnder reme,
      in a wel feyr streme.                             1624

[Sidenote: Horn slays King Modi, and makes Athelbrus king in his place.]

  Hi gu{n}ne for ariue
  {er} ki{n}g modi was sire.
  Aelfr{us} he makede {er} ki{n}g,
  For his gode techi{n}g.                               1628
  He [gh]af alle e kni[gh]tes ore,
  For horn kni[gh]tes lore.

    er kyng mody was syre,
    at horn slow wyt yre.
    Aybrous he makede er kyng,
    For hys gode tydyng;                                1628
    For syre hornes lore,
    He was kyng ore.

      kyng Mody wes kyng in at lond;
      {a}t horn sloh wi is hond.
      Aelbrus he made er kyng,
      for his gode techyng;                             1628
      for sire hornes lore
      he wes mad kyng ore.

[Headnote: _Athulf weds Reynild, and Horn marries Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: He then proceeds to Ireland, and causes Athulf to marry the
princess Reynild.]

  Horn ga{n} for to ride;
  e wi{n}d hi{m} bleu wel wide.                        1632
  He ariuede in yrlo{n}de,
  {er} he wo fo{n}dede.
  {er} he dude Aulf child
  Wedde{n} maide Reynild.                               1636

    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]
    Horn ariuede in hyre londe,
    er he hadde woned so longe.
    er he dude ayol childe
    Wedden mayden h{er}menylde.                         1636

       Horn eode to ryue;
      e wynd hi{m} con wel dryue.                      1632
      he aryuede in yrlonde,
      er horn wo coue er fonde.
      He made er Aulf chyld
      wedde mayden ermenyld,                            1636

[Sidenote: Then he returns to Sudenne, and makes Rymenhild his queen.]

  Horn co{m} to sudde{n}ne,
  Amo{n}g al his kenne.
  Ryme{n}hild he makede his quene,
  So hit mi[gh]te wel beon.                             1640

    Horn wente to sodenne,
    To hys owe kunne.
    Reymyld he makede quene,
    So ich Miy[gh]te wel bene.                          1640

      ant horn com to sudenne,
      to is oune kenne.
      Rymenild he made er is quene,
      so hit myhte bene.                                1640

[Sidenote: They live in true love, and cherish God's law. 'Nu ben hi
boe dede.']

  Alfolk he{m} mi[gh]te rewe,
  at louede{n} he{m} so t{re}we;
  Nu be{n} hi boe dede;
  Crist to heuene he{m} lede.                           1644
  Her ende e tale of horn
  {a}t fair was {and} no[gh]t vnorn.
  Make we vs glade Eure among,
  For us him ende hornes song.                        1648
  Jesus {a}t is of heuene king,
  [Gh]eue vs alle his suete blessi{n}g.
    EX--PLI--CIT. Amen.

    Alle folc hyt knewe
    at he hem louede trewe.
    Nou ben he alle dede;
    God hem to heuene lede.                             1644
    [_No gap in MS._ . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .                        1648
    . . . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .]
        Am . . . e . . . n.

      In trewe loue hue lyueden ay,
      ant wel hue loueden godes lay.
      Nou hue beo boe dede,
      c{ri}st to heouene vs lede. AmeN!                 1644




FLORIS AND BLAUNCHEFLUR.

  [Transcriber's Note:
  In the Trentham MS., spelling is normally "{o}u", rarely "ow".
  Any variations are as printed.]


  _Trentham MS., fol. 98 a; vellum, c. 1440: beginning lost. Headlines
  'Florence and Blanchefloure.'_

  Ne thurst men[FB-1] neu{er} in londe
  After feirer Children fonde.
  e Cristen woma{n} fedde hem oo,
  Ful wel she louyd hem bo twoo.                          4
  So longe sche fedde hem in feere
  at ey were of elde of seuen [gh]ere.
  e kyng behelde his sone dere,
  And seyde to him on this manere,                         8
  at harme it were muche more
  But his son{e} were sette to lore
  On e book~ letters to know,
  As men don{e}, both hye and lowe.                       12
  "Feire sone," she seide, "{o}u shalt lerne,
  Lo {a}t {o}u do ful [gh]erne."
  Florys answerd w{i}t{h} wepyng,
  As he stood byfore e kyng~;                            16
  Al wepyng~ seide he,

  [Footnote FB-1: first 'mey,' then alterd]

[Sidenote: Floris says that he cannot learn unless Blauncheflur is with
him.]

  "Ne schal not Blancheflo{ur} lerne w{i}t{h} me?
  Ne can y no[gh]t to scole goon{e}
  W{i}t{h}-out Blanchefloure," he seide an{e}.           20
  "Ne can y in no scole syng~ ne rede
  W{i}t{h}-out Blancheflo{ur}," he seide.
  e king~ seide to his soon{e},
  "She shal lerne for y loue."                           24

[Sidenote: The two are put to school together, and make good progress.]

  To scole ey were put;
  Bo ey were good of~ wytte.
  Wonder it was of~ hur lore,
  And of~ her loue wel e more.                           28
  e Children louyd to-geder soo,
  ey my[gh]t neu{er} p{ar}te a twoo.
  When ey had .v. [gh]ere to scoole goon{e}
  So wel ey had lerned oo,                              32
  Inow[gh] ey cou of latyne,
  And wel wryte on p{ar}chemyn{e}.
  e kyng~ vnderstod e grete Amoure
  Bytwene his son{e} and Blanchefloure,                   36
  And ou[gh]t when ey were of Age
  at her loue wolde no[gh]t swage;
  Nor he my[gh]t no[gh]t her loue w{i}t{h}drawe
  When Florys shuld~ wyfe after e lawe.                  40
  [Sidenote: [98 _b_]]
  e king~ to e Queene seide oo,
  And tolde hur of~ his woo,
  Off~ his ou[gh]t and of his care,
  How it wolde of~ Floreys fare.                          44

[Sidenote: The king begins to devise to separate the two, and proposes
to put the maiden to death.]

  "Dame," he seide, "y tel e my reed{e},
  I wyl at Blaunchefloure be do to deed{e}.
  When at maide is y-slawe,
  And brou[gh]t of her lyf~ dawe,                         48
  As sone as Florys may it vnder [gh]ete,
  Rathe he wylle hur for[gh]ete.
  an may he wyfe after reed{e}."
  e Queene answerde en and seid{e},                     52
  And ou[gh]t w{i}t{h} hur reed{e}
  Saue e mayde fro e deed{e}.
  "Sir," she seide, "we au[gh]t to fond{e}
  at Florens lyf~ wit menske in lond{e},                 56
  And at he lese not his hono{u}r
  For e mayden Blauncheflo{u}r.
  Who so my[gh]t at mayde clene,
  at she were brou[gh]t to de bydene,                   60
  Hit were muche more hono{u}r
  an slee {a}t mayde Blancheflo{u}r."
  Vnnees e king~ g[{r}a]unt {a}t it be soo.
  "Dame, rede vs what is to doo."                         64

[Headnote: _Floris is sent to Mountargis to school._]

[Sidenote: The queen suggests that Floris be sent away.]

  "Sir, we shul oure soon{e} Florys
  Sende into e londe of Mountargis.
  Blythe wyl my suster be
  at is lady of~ at Contree.                            68
  And when she woot for whoom~
  {a}t we have sent him vs froom~,
  She wyl doo al hur my[gh]t,
  Bo by day and by ny[gh]t,                              72
  To make hur loue so vndoo
  As it had neu{er} ben soo.
  And, s{ir}," she seide, "y rede eke
  at e maydens moder make hur seek~.                    76
  at may be at other resoun~
  For at ylk~ enchesou{n},
  at she may not fro hur moder goo."
  Now ben ese Children swy woo,                         80
  [Sidenote: [99 _a_]]
  Now ey may not goo in fere
  Drewryer inges neu{er} noon{e} were.
  Florys wept byfore e kyng~,
  And seide, "S{ir}, w{i}t{h}-out lesyng~,                84
  For my harme out [gh]e me sende,
  Now she ne my[gh]t w{i}t{h} me wende.
  Now we ne mot to-geder goo,
  Al my wele is turned to woo."                           88
  e king~ seide to his soon{e} aply[gh]t,
  "Sone, w{i}t{h}ynne is fourteny[gh]t,
  Be her moder quykke or deed{e},"
  "Sekerly," he him seide,                                92
  "at mayde shal com{e} e too."

[Sidenote: Floris is sent to his aunt at Mountargis, with the promise
that Blauncheflur shall follow within fourteen days.]

  "[Gh]e, s{ir}," he seid, "y p{ra}y [gh]ow it be soo.
  [Gh]if at [gh]e me hur sende,
  I rekke neu{er} wheder y wende."                        96
  at e Child~ g{ra}unted e kyng~ was fayn{e},
  And him betau[gh]t his Chamburlayn{e}.
  W{i}t{h} muche honoure ey eder coom{e},
  As fel to a ryche kynges soon{e}.                      100
  Wel feire him receyuyd e Duke Orgas,
  at king~ of {a}t Castel was,
  And his Aunt wi muche hono{u}r;
  But euer he ou[gh]t on Blanchefloure.                 104
  Glad and blythe ey ben him withe;
  But for no ioy {a}t he seith,
  Ne my[gh]t him glade game ne gle,
  For he my[gh]t not his lyf~ see.                       108
  His Aunt set him to lore
  ere as other Children wore,
  Bo maydons and grom{e};
  To lerne mony eder coom{e}.                           112
  Inow[gh] he sykes, but no[gh]t he lernes;
  For Blauncheflo{ur} eu{er} he mornes.
  Yf~ enyman to him speke
  Loue is on his hert steke.                             116
  Loue is at his hert roote
  {a}t no ing~ is so soote:
  Galyngale ne lycorys
  [Sidenote: [99 _b_]]
  Is not so soote as hur loue is,                        120
  Ne nothing~ ne non{e} other.
  So much he enke on Blancheflo{ur},
  Of~ oo day him ynke re,
  For he ne may his loue see.                            124

[Headnote: _The King proposes to put Blauncheflur to death._]

[Sidenote: He grieves until the fourteen days are past.]

  us he abydeth w{i}t{h} muche woo
  Tyl e fourteny[gh]t were goo.
  When he saw she was nou[gh]t ycoom{e},
  So muche sorow he ha noom{e},                         128
  {a}t he loueth mete ne drynke,
  Ne may noon{e} in his body synke.

[Sidenote: The chamberlain reports Floris's sorrow to the king.]

  e Chamberleyn{e} sent e king~ to wete,
  His sones state al y-wrete.                            132

[Sidenote: The king is very angry, and again proposes to put
Blauncheflur to death.]

  e king~ ful sone e waxe to-brake,
  For to wete what it spake:
  He begynneth to chaunge his mood{e},
  And wel sone he vnderstode,                            136
  And w{i}t{h} wreth he cleped e Queene,
  And tolde hur alle his teene,
  And w{i}t{h} wra spake and sayde,
  "Let do bryng~ for {a}t mayde!                       140
  Fro e body e heued shal goo."
  enne was e Quene ful woo.
  an spake e Quene, {a}t good lady,

[Sidenote: The queen proposes, instead, to sell the maiden.]

  "For goddes love, s{ir}, mercy.                        144
  At e next hauen {a}t here is,
  {er} ben chapmen ryche y-wys,
  Marchaundes of~ babyloyn{e} ful ryche,
  at wol hur bye blethelyche.                           148
  Than may [gh]e for {a}t louely foode
  Haue muche Cate[l~l] and goode.
  And soo she may fro vs be brou[gh]t,
  Soo at we slee hur nou[gh]t."                         152
  Vnnees e king~ g{ra}unted is;
  But forso so it is,
  e king~ let sende after e burgeise,
  {a}t was hende and Curtayse,                          156
  And welle selle and bygge couth,
  And moony langages had in his mouth.

[Sidenote: This is done, and for the maiden they receive among other
things a magnificent cup with a romantic history.]

  Wel sone at mayde was him betau[gh]t;
  An to e hauen{e} was she brou[gh]t.                   160
  [Sidenote: [100 _a_]]
  er haue ey for {a}t maide [gh]olde
  xx. Mark~ of reed golde,
  And a Coupe good and ryche,
  In al e world~ was non{e} it lyche.                   164
  {er} was neu{er} noon{e} so wel graue;
  He {a}t it made was no knave.
  {er} was purtrayd on, y weene,
  How P{ar}yse ledde awey e Queene;                     168
  And on e Cou{er}cle a-boue
  Purtrayde was {er} both her love;
  And in e Pomel {er}on{e}
  Stood a Charbuncle stoon{e}.                           172
  In e world~ was not so depe soler,
  at it nold~ ly[gh]t e Botelere,
  To fylle bo ale and wyne,
  Of syluer and g{o}ld{e} bo good and fyne.             176
  Enneas e king~, at nobel man,
  At Troye in batayle he it wan,
  And brou[gh]t it in-to Lumbardy,
  And gaf~ it his le{m}man, his Amy.                     180
  e Coupe was stoole fro king~ Cesar;
  A eef~ out of his tresour hous it bar.
  And sethe {a}t ilke same eef~
  For Blaunchefloure he it [gh]eef~.                     184
  For he wyst to wynne suche ree,
  My[gh]t he hur bryng~ to his contree.
  Now ese Marchaundes saylen ou{er} e see,
  W{i}t{h} is mayde, to her contree.                    188
  So longe ey han vndernome,

[Headnote: _Blauncheflur is sold and carried to Babylon._]

[Sidenote: Blauncheflur is taken to Babylon and sold to the Admiral.]

  {a}t to Babyloyn{e} ey ben coom{e}.
  To e Amyral of~ Babyloyn{e}
  ey solde at mayde swythe soon{e};                    192
  Rath and soone ey were at oon{e}.
  e Amyral hur bou[gh]t Anoon{e},
  And gafe for hur, as she stood vpry[gh]t,
  Seuyn{e} sythes of~ gold{e} her wy[gh]t,               196
  For he ou[gh]t w{i}t{h}out~ weene
  at faire mayde haue to Queene;
  Among~ his maydons in his bo{ur}
  He hur dide w{i}t{h} muche hono{ur}.                   200

      _MS. Cott. Vitell. D. III., 6 a, col. 1._

      _The 3 leaves of this MS. are burnt and shrunk, and are hardly
      legible._

      . . . . . [FB-2]so dere                           (196)
      . . . . wi oute wene.
      . . at maide to his quene.
      . his maidenes vp in is tur,                         4
      . hire wi muchel honur                           (200)

      [Footnote FB-2: _MS. note._ See Introduction; also _Floris et
      Blanch._, Paris 1856, p.28, l.673.]

  Now ese merchaundes {a}t may belete,
  [Sidenote: [100 _b_]]
  And ben glad of~ hur by[gh]ete.
  ++nOw let we of Blauncheflo{ur} be,
  And speke of Florys in his contree.                    204
  Now is e Bu[r]gays to e king~ coom{e}
  W{i}t{h} e gold{e} and his garyson{e},
  And ha take e king~ to wolde,
  e seluer and e Coupe of golde.                       208

      . . marchans is maide forlete,
      . . . blie mid here by-[gh]ete.
      . . . . we blancheflur be.                           8
      . . floires in his cu{n}tre.                      (204)
      . burgeys to e king icome.
      . . . gold {and} isse garisome.
      . . . an king i [gh]olde.                          12
      . . o cupe of golde.                             (208)

[Sidenote: The king and queen cause to be made a supposititious tomb for
Blauncheflur.]

  They lete make in a Chirche
  As swithe feire g{ra}ue wyrche.
  And lete ley {er}-vppon{e}
  A new feire peynted stone,                             212
  W{i}t{h} letters al aboute wryte
  W{i}t{h} ful muche worshipp{e}.
  Who-so couth e letters rede,
  us ey spoken, and us ey seide:                     216
  "Here lyth swete Blaunchefloure
  at Florys louyd P{ar}amoure."
  Now Florys ha vndernome,

      . . . let at one chiriche.
      . . . . les wereche,
      . . . []at anouen . .                              16
      . . pointe stonde                                 (212)
      . . . . bi write.
      . . . . . hele worsipe
      . . . e lett{er}s rede.                            20
      . . . . . . . . .                                 (216)
      . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . .
      . . [h]aue vnder-nome                              24

[Headnote: _Floris returns and inquires for Blauncheflur. 'She is
dead.'_]

[Sidenote: Floris returns, and asks his father and mother for
Blauncheflur in vain.]

  And to his Fader he is coome.                          220
  In his Fader halle he is ly[gh]t,
  His Fader him grette anoon{e} ry[gh]t,
  And his moder, e Queene, also,
  But vnnees my[gh]t he {a}t doo,                      224
  at he ne asked where his Le{m}man bee;
  Nonskyns answere charge hee.
  So longe he is forth noom{e},
  In to Chamber he is coom{e}.                           228

      . . faderlonde he is icome                        (220)
      . . . halle he is aly[gh]t
      . . . . he grette anonry[gh]t
      . . e quene he grette also                         28
      . . . haue his greti{n}ge ido,                   (224)
      . . . aske war {a}t maide beo
      . . . were no{u} targe heo.
      . . . res hit haue vnder nome                      32
      . . boure & a is icome                            (228)

[Sidenote: He then asks the girl's mother.]

  e maydenys moder he asked ry[gh]t,
  "Where is Blauncheflo{ur}, my swete wy[gh]t?"
  "Sir," she seide, "forsothe ywys,
  I ne woot where she is."                               232
  She beou[gh]t hur on {a}t lesyng~
  at was ordeyned byfoore e king~.
  "{o}u gabbest me," he seyde oo,
  "y gabbyng~ do me muche woo.                         236
  Tel me where my leman be."
  Al wepyng~ seide enne shee,

      . . . to hire ano{n}ri[gh]t
      . [bl]ancheflur mi suete wi[gh]t
      . . . . . . ful iwis                                36
      . . . . . war heo is                              (232)
      [Sidenote: [_leaf 6, col. 2_]]
      ine gabbinge de me wo;
      Tel me war my le{m}mon beo.
      Al wepinge onsuerede heo,                           40

[Sidenote: The mother at length tells Floris that Blauncheflur is dead.]

  "Sir," shee seide, "deed{e}." "deed!" seide he.
  "Sir," sche seide, "for sothe, [gh]ee."                240
  "Allas, when died {a}t swete wy[gh]t?"
  [Sidenote: [101 _a_]]
  "Sir, w{i}t{h}ynne is Fourteny[gh]t
  e erth was leide hur aboute,
  And deed she was for thy loue."                        244

      "Sire," heo seyde, "ded." "ded!" quad he.
      "Sire," heo seyde, "for soe [gh]e,
      Alas, wenne deide my suete wy[gh]t?"
      "Sire," heo seyde, "wi inne is seueni[gh]t        44
      at vre hire was leyd aboue,
      And ded heo is for ine loue.

[Sidenote: Floris swoons.]

  Flores, at was so feire and gent,
  Sownyd {er}e verament.
  e cristen woman began to crye
  To ih{es}u crist and seynt Marye.                      248
  e king~ and e queene herde {a}t crye;
  In to e Chamber ey ronne on hye.
  And e Queene herde her byforn{e}
  On sowne e Childe at she had born{e}.                252

      Floyres at was so fayr {and} ge{n}t,
      He fel iswoue vp on e paueme{n}t.                  48
      And e cristene wi{m}mon go{n} to crie
      To crist {and} to sey{n}temarie.
      e king & e quene iherdde {a}t cri;
      In to e bure o vrne hy.                           52
      And e quene ate frome
      By wepe hire dere sone.

  e kinges hert was al in care,
  at sawe his son{e} for loue so fare.
  When he a-wooke and speke mo[gh]t,
  Sore he wept and sore he sy[gh]t,                      256
  And seide to his moder ywys,
  "Lede me {er}e at mayde is."

      {And} e kinges herte is ful of care
      at he sik is sone vor loue so fare.               56
      Anon he of swoninge awok {and} speke miste.
      Sore he wep {and} sore he sy[gh]te,
      And on his moder he by sit.
      "Dame," he sayde, "led me ar {a}t mayde ly."     60

[Sidenote: His mother comes to him, and conducts him to the
supposititious tomb.]

  eder ey him brou[gh]t on hy[gh]e;
  For care and sorow he wold{e} dy[gh]e.                 260
  As sone as he to e graue com,
  Sone {er}e behelde he en,

      ider heo hine broute wel sue,
      Vor care a[n]d sorwe of hire dee.
      Ano{n} {a}t he to e burles com,
      Wel [gh]erne he bi-hul er-on,                      64

[Headnote: _Floris reads the inscription on the monument, and swoons._]

[Sidenote: Floris reads the inscription, and then swoons three times.]

  And e letters began to rede,
  at us speke and us seide:                           264
  "Here lyt[h-] swete Blauncheflo{ur},
  at Florys louyd p{ar}amoure."
  re sithes Florys sownydde nouth;
  Ne speke he my[gh]t not w{i}t{h} mouth.                268
  As sone as he awoke and speke my[gh]t,
  Sore he wept and sore he sy[gh]t~.

      And letteres bigon to rede.
      us spek {and} us sede
      at ar lay suete blancheflur.
      [at] floyres louede par amur.                      68
       . . . . swoune noue
      [[empty line]]
      And asone ase he speke my[gh]te.
      Sore he wep {and} sore he sy[gh]te,
      And gon blancheflur bi mene                         72
      Wit teres riue ase a sc{ur} of r[e]ne.

[Sidenote: Floris weeps and sighs, and laments Blauncheflur's death.]

  "Blauncheflo{ur}!" he seide, "Blauncheflo{ur}!"
  So swete a ing was neu{er} in boure.                  272
  Of Blauncheflo{ur} is at y meene,
  For she was com{e} of~ good kyn{e}.

      "Blancheflur," he seide, "blancheflur,
      So sute ing nas ner in bur,
      [Sidenote: [_leaf 6, back_]]
      Vor ou were ibore of gode cu{n}ne,                 76
      Vor in worle nes nere non
      ine imake of no wimmon.
      Inou[gh] ou cuest of clergie
      And of alle curteysie.                              80

  Lytel and muche loueden e
  For y goodnesse and y beaute.                        276
  [Gh]if de were dalt ary[gh]t,
  We shuld be deed bo on oo ny[gh]t.
  On oo day born{e} we were;
  We shul be ded bo in feere."                          280

      & muchel {and} litel hit louede e
      Vor i fayr hede {and} i bunte.
      [Gh]if at de were ideld ari[gh]t,
      We scholden habbe idi[gh]ed boe in ar ni[gh]t.     84
      Vor in one deye ibore we were;
      Mid ri[gh]te we scholden deie ifere."

[Sidenote: He apostrophizes death.]

  [Sidenote: [101 _b_]]
  "Dee," he seide, "ful of~ enuye,
  And of alle trechorye,
  Refte {o}u hast me my le{m}man."
  "For soth," he seide, "{o}u art to blame.             284
  She wolde haue leuyd, and u noldest,
  And fayn{e} wolde y dye, and u woldest.

      "De," he seyde, "vol of enuie,
      {and} vol of alle tricherie,                        88
      Mid t{ra}isu{n} {o}u me hast mi lef binome.
      To bi-t{ra}ie at folk hit is i wone;
      Heo wolde libbe {and} u noldest.
      ou nelt me slen {and} ihc wolde;                   92

  [_No gap in MS._]

      Wi ere me wolde at ou were.
      Nul tu no wi[gh]t come ere,
      {and} er me wolde {a}t ou . . ne come,
      er ou wolt come Ilome.                            96
      ilke {a}t buste best to libbe,
      Hem ou stikest under e ribbe.
      {and} [gh]if er is eni forliued wrecche,
      at of is liue nou[gh]t ne recche,                 100
      at fawe wolde deie for sorewe & elde,
      On hem neltou nou[gh]ht bi helde.
      No lengore ich nelle mi lef bileue,
      I chulle be mid hyre ere eue.                      104

  After dee clepe nomore y nylle,
  But slee my self~ now y wille."                        288

      Nou after de clepie ich e nulle,
      Ac mi sulue aslen ich wille."

[Headnote: _He tries to stab himself, but is prevented by his mother._]

[Sidenote: He attempts to stab himself with a knife, but is prevented by
his mother.]

  His knyf~ he braide out of his sheth;
  Him self he wolde haue doo to deth.
  And to hert he had it smeten{e}
  Ne had his moder it vnder [gh]eten{e}.                 292
  en e Queene fel him vppon{e},
  And e knyf~ fro him noom{e}.
  She reft~ him of~ his lytel knyf~,
  And sauyd ere e Childes lyf~.                        296
  For e Queene ranne, al wepyng~,
  Tyl she com{e} to e kyng~.

      Ase a mo{n} at dra[gh]h him sulue to e dee,
      His knif he dra[gh]h out of his schee,            108
      {and} to his herte hit wolde habbe ismite,
      Nadde his moder hit vnder gete.
      Ac e quene his moder . . fel vpon,
      & is knif heo him binom.                          112
      Heo bi nom him his atel knif.
      [Sidenote: [_leaf 6, back, col. 2_]]
      at heo com bi . . . . . . .

[Headnote: _The queen discloses to Floris the deception._]

[Sidenote: The queen persuades the king to reveal the truth.]

  an seide e good lady,
  "For goddes loue, s{ir}, mercy!                        300
  Of .xii. children haue we noon{e}
  On lyue now but is oon{e}.
  And better it were she were his make,
  an he were deed for hur sake."                        304

      anne spac e quene e . .
      {and} seyde to e kinge, "sire, mercy,             116
      Sire, of is children nabbe we non,
      Non aliue bote is on,
      {and} bote hit were {a}t hit wer . .
      ane eyer de[gh]ede vor oer . . .                120

  "Dame, {o}u seist so," seide he;
  "Sen it may noon{e} other be,
  Leuer me were she were his wyf~,
  an y lost my sonnes lyf~."                            308
  Of~ is word e Quene was fayn{e},
  And to her soon{e} she ran agayn{e}.

      "Dame, ou seist so," o seyde he,
      "Nu hit nele no{n} oer bee.
      Leuere me were {a}t heo were
      ane ihc for lore mine sone l[yf]."                124
      Of isse wordes e quene w . .
      To floyres, hire sone, . . .

[Sidenote: They tell him the facts, and together open the grave and find
it empty.]

  "Floryes, soon{e}, glad make the,
  y lef {o}u schalt on lyue see.                       312
  Florys, son{e}, rou[gh] engynne
  Of~ y Faders reed and myne,
  is graue let we make,
  Leue son{e}, for y sake.                              316
  [Gh]if~ {o}u {a}t maide forgete woldest,
  After oure reed wyf~ {o}u sholdest."

      "Floyres, sone, glad make e .
      For ut ou schalt i lef . .                       128
      Leue sone . . . . . . .
      . . . . fader rede {and} . .
      . . . . . wo . . .
      Leue sone so . . . . . .                           132
      Vor [_two lines illegible here_]
      . . . . . vre rede . . .

  Now eu{er}y word{e} she ha him tolde,
  How {a}t ey {a}t mayden solde.                      320
  [Sidenote: [102 _a_]]
  "Is is soth, my moder dere?"
  "For soth," she seide, "she is not here."
  e row[gh] stoon{e} adoun{e} ey leyde,
  And sawe {a}t was not e mayde.                       324

      . . . word {and} ende him .
      Hou hei habbe at mayde,                          136
      "{and} is is so, mi moder dere?"
      "[Gh]e, for soe," heo nis not .
      ane stond hii panne . . . .
      He isay {a}t ere nas . . . .                     140

[Sidenote: Floris declares his resolve to find Blauncheflur.]

  "Now, moder, y ink {a}t y leue may.
  Ne shal y rest ny[gh]t ne day,
  Ny[gh]t ne day ne no stound{e},
  Tyl y haue my le{m}mon found{e}.                       328

      Nu me enche . . . . .
      . . . ne schal ihc . . . .
      Ni[gh]t ne da . . . . . .
      . . . ich . . . . . .                              144

      [_Some folios lost here. Continued at bottom of page 84._]

  Hur to seken y wo[l~l] wend{e},
  au[gh] it were to e worldes ende."
  To e king~ he go to take his leue,
  And his Fader bade him byleue.                         332
  "Sir, y wyl let for no wynne;
  Me to bydden it it were grete synne."
  an seid e king~, "seth it is soo,
  Se {o}u wylt noon{e} other doo,                      336
  Al at e nede we shul e fynde;
  Ih{es}u e of~ care vnbynde."

[Headnote: _Floris equips a company with which to search for
Blauncheflur._]

[Sidenote: He describes to the king the retinue that he would like.]

  "Leue Fader," he seide, "y telle e
  Al {a}t {o}u shalt fynde me.                         340
  {o}u mast me fynde, at my deuyse,
  Seuen horses al of~ prys,
  And twoo y-charged vppon~ e molde
  Bo w{i}t{h} seluer and wy golde,                     344
  And two ycharged w{i}t{h} monay
  For to spenden by e way,
  And ree w{i}t{h} clothes ryche,
  e best of~ al e kyngryche,                           348
  Seuen horses and seuyn~ men,
  And re knaues w{i}t{h}out hem,
  And yn{e} own{e} Chamburlayn{e},
  at is a wel nobel swayn{e}.                           352
  He can vs wyss[h-] and reede,
  As marchaundes we shu[l~l] vs lede."
  His Fader was an hynde king~,

[Sidenote: The king gives him also the marvellous cup, and an elegantly
caparisoned 'palfray.']

  e Coupe of golde he dide him bryng~,                  356
  at ilke self~ Coupe of golde
  at was Blauncheflo{ur} for [gh]olde.
  "Haue is, soon{e}," seide e king~,
  "Herew{i}t{h} {o}u may {a}t swete ing~,             360
  [Sidenote: [102 _b_]]
  "Wynne so may betyde,
  Blauncheflo{ur} w{i}t{h} e white syde,
  Blauncheflo{ur}, {a}t faire may."
  e king let sadel a Palfray,                           364
  e oon{e} half so white so mylke,
  And at other reed so sylk~.
  I ne can telle nou[gh]t
  How rychely at sadel was wrou[gh]t.                   368
  e Arson~ was of gold{e} fyn{e},
  Stones of v{er}tu stode {er}yne,
  Bygon{e} aboute wit orfreys.

[Sidenote: The queen gives him a magic ring.]

  e Queene was kynde and curtays,                       372
  Cast hur toward e kyng~
  And of~ hur fynger she brayde a ryng~:

    _Cambridge MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2._

    Heo tok for a wel fair ing,
    Of hire finger a riche Ryng.

  "Haue now is ylke ryng~:
  While is it yn{e}, dou[gh]t no yng~                  376
  Of~ fire brennyng~ ne water in e See;
  Ne yren~ ne steele shal dere thee."

    "Mi sone," heo sede, "haue is ring.
    "Whil he is in, ne dute noing,                       4
    {a}t fur e bre{n}ne ne adrenche se,
    Ne ire ne steil ne mai e sle.
    And to i wil u schalt habbe g{ra}ce,
    Late {and} rathe in eche place."                       8

[Headnote: _Floris and his company arrive at the haven._]

[Sidenote: Floris takes leave and comes to the haven, and lodges at the
same house where Blauncheflur had been.]

  He took~ his leue for to goo;
  {er} was ful muche woo;                               380
  [_No gap in MS._]
  ey made him noon~ other chere
  an her soon~ were leide in bere.

    ++Floris nime nu his leue;
    No long{er} nolde he bileue.
    He custe he{m} wi softe mue;
    Al wepinge hi dep{ar}te nue.                        12
    Ne makede his Moder no{n} o{er} chere,
    Bute also he were ileid on bere.
    For him ne wende hi neu{er}e mo
    Eft to sen; ne dude hi no.                            16

  Fur he went w{i}t{h} al his mayn~;
  W{i}t{h} him went e Chamberlayn~.                     384
  So haue ey her hauyn~ nome
  at ey ben to e hauyn~ come
  ere Blaunchefloure was alny[gh]t,
  Wel rychely ey ben dy[gh]t;                           388

    For he wende wi al his mein,
    And wi hi{m} his fader chau{m}berlein.
    Fort to e hauene hi beo icume,
    And {er} habbe here in inome.                       20
    At e selue huse hi bu ali[gh]t
    {a}t blau{n}cheflur was {a}t o{er} ni[gh]t.
    Riche sop{er} er was idi[gh]t,

[Sidenote: They find there good entertainment.]

  e lord of~ e ynne was welle hende;
  e Child~ he sette next e ende,
  In al e feirest seete

    And m{ur}ie hi verde{n} {er} ani[gh]t.               24
    Floriz ne let for ne feo
    To finden al {a}t neod beo,

[Sidenote: All make good cheer except Floris, who thinks ever on
Blauncheflur.]

  Alle ey dronken and al ey [gh]ete:                   392
  [_No gap in MS._]
  Ete ne drynke my[gh]t he nou[gh]t;
  On blauncheflour was al his ou[gh]t.

    Of fless, of fiss, of tendre bred,
    Of whit win, {and} eke red.                           28
    Glad {and} blie hi weren alle
    {a}t were{n} wi he{m} in e halle,
    And pleide {and} gamenede ehc wi o{er}.
    Ac flori[gh] e{n}che al on o{er},                  32
    For he net ne dronk ri[gh]t no[gh]t.
    On blau{n}cheflur was al his o[gh]t.

[Headnote: _Floris mourns. He hears of Blauncheflur, and is glad._]

[Sidenote: The hostess observes his 'mourning,' and tells him that she
is reminded of the mourning of Blauncheflur.]

  e lady of at vnder[gh]at
  {at} e Childe mornyng~ sat,                          396
  And seide to her lord w{i}t{h} styl dreme,
  "Sir, nym{e} now good{e} [gh]eme
  How e Child~ mo{ur}nyng syttes:
  Mete and drynke he for[gh]etes:                        400
  [Sidenote: [103 _a_]]
  Lytel he ete, and lasse he drynke;
  He is a marchaund, as me ynke."

    e lefdi of er inne vnder[gh]at
    {a}t he m{ur}ni{n}ge sat.                            36
    To hire lou{e}rd heo sede wi stille dreme,
    "Sire, nimestu no [gh]eme
    Hu is child m{ur}ni{n}ge sit?
    Mete ne drinke he nabit.                              40
    He net mete ne he ne drinke;
    Nis he no marchau{n}t, ase me inke."

  To Flores en seide she,
  "Al ful of~ mo{ur}nyng~ y the see.                     404
  {er} sate {er} is sender day,
  Blauncheflo{ur}, {a}t swete may.
  Heder was {a}t mayde brou[gh]t
  W{i}t{h} Marchaundes {a}t hur had bou[gh]t;           408
  Heder ey brou[gh]t {a}t mayde swete;
  ey wold haue solde hur for by[gh]ete;
  To Babyloyn{e} ey wyll{e} hur bryng{e},
  Bo of semblant & of~ mornyng{e}."                     412

    "Floriz," heo sede, "what mai e beo,
    us m{ur}ninge as ich e seo?                         44
    us her inne is o{er} day
    Sat blau{n}cheflur, {a}t faire may."
    Ord {and} ende he ha him told,
    Hu blau{n}cheflur was ari{n}ne isold.                48
    [_No gap in MS._]
    "u art hire ilich of alle inge,
    Boe of semblau{n}t {and} of m{ur}ni{n}ge,
    Of fairnesse {and} of muchelhede,
    Bute u ert a man {and} heo a maide."                 52

[Sidenote: Floris rejoices at the mention of the name. He gives the
hostess a silver cup, etc., and inquires further about Blauncheflur.]

  When Florys herd speke of~ his le{m}man,
  Was he neuer so glad a man,
  And in his hert bygan to ly[gh]t;
  e Coupe he let fulle anoon~ ry[gh]t:                  416

    o floriz iherde his le{m}ma{n} ne{m}pne,
    So blisful him u[gh]te ilke steuene,
    He let fulle a cupe of win.

  "Dame," he seide, "e fessel is yn{e},
  Bo e Coupe and e wyn{e},
  e wyn{e} and e gold eke,
  For {o}u of my leman speke:                           420
  On hur y ou[gh]t, for hur y sy[gh]t;
  I ne wyst where I hur fynde my[gh]t;
  Wynde ne weder shal me assoyn{e},
  at y ne shal seche hur in Babyloyn{e}."               424

    "Dame," he sede, "is hail is in,                    56
    {a}t win {and} {a}t gold eke,
    For u of mi le{m}ma{n} speke.
    For hire io[gh]te, for hire isi[gh]te,
    For inot wher hire seche mi[gh]te.                    60
    Hire to seche ihc wille i wende,
    e[gh] heo beo at e wordles ende."

  Now Florys reste him al a ny[gh]t.

    Floriz ge[gh] to his rest;
    On blau{n}cheflur he o[gh]te mest.                   64
    Ac rest ne mi[gh]te he nabbe none,
    Fort e dide slep hi{m} nome.

[Sidenote: Floris sets sail once more.]

  At morn{e}, when it was day ly[gh]t,
  He dide him in-to e wylde flood~.
  Wynde and weder w{i}t{h} him stood;                    428
  Sone so Florys com{e} to londe,
  {er}e he anked goddes sonde

    A more[gh]e so sone so hit was day
    He tok his leue {and} we{n}te his way,                68
    And dude him i{n}to e salte flod;
    He hadde wind {and} weder ful god.
    e Marin{er} he [gh]af largeliche,
    {a}t bro[gh]te hi{m} ou{er} blueliche.              72

[Headnote: _Floris reaches the land where his Leman is._]

[Sidenote: He arrives in the country where his leman is.]

  To e londe {er} his lyf~ ynne is:
  Him ou[gh]t he was in paradyse.                       432

    {er} hi wolde{n} he{m} self alonde,
    For hi fu{n}de{n} he{m} so hende,
    To e lond {er} his le{m}ma{n} is;
    Hi{m} u[gh]te he was i{n} p{ar}ais.                  76

  Sone to Florys tydyng men tolde
  {a}t e Amyral wold~ Fest holde;
  His Erls, Barons, comyn~ sholde,
  And al {a}t wold~ of him lond holde,                  436
  For to herkyn~ his hest
  And for to honoure his Feest.

    Ano{n} me hi{m} tii{n}ge tolde
    {a}t e admiral wolde feste h[olde].
    Erles, baruns {er} come sch[olde],
    And at wolden of hi{m} h[olde].                      80

  Glad was Florys of {a}t tydyng~;
  He hoped to com{e} to {a}t gestyng~,                  440
  [Gh]if~ he my[gh]t, in {a}t halle,
  His le{m}man see among hem alle.

    Blie was floriz of e tiinge;
    He hopede come to {a}t gesni{n}ge.
    Wel he hopede among he{m} alle
    His le{m}ma{n} sen in e halle.                       84

  [Sidenote: [103 _b_]]
  ++nOW to {a}t Citee Florys is com{e};
  Feire he hath his ynne y-noom{e}                       444
  At a palaise; was non{e} it lyche;
  e lord of {a}t ynne was fulle ryche;
  He hadde ben ferre and wyde.

    To a riche Cite hi bu icume;
    Vaire hi habbe here i{n} inome,
    At one paleis sue riche;
    e lord of {er} i{n}ne nas no{n} his liche.          88
    Him feol gold ino[gh] to honde,
    Boe in water {and} in londe.

[Sidenote: At the inn there is good cheer, and Floris enters into
conversation with the host.]

  e Childe he set next his syde,                        448
  In al e feirest seete.
  Alle ey dronken and ete,
  Al at {er}ynne were,
  Al ey made good chere,                                452
  ey ete and dronke echoon~ w{i}t{h} other;
  But Florys ou[gh]t al another,
  Ete ne drynke he my[gh]t no[gh]t,
  On Blauncheflo{ur} was al his ou[gh]t.                456

    He hadde ilad his lif ful wide;
    is child he sette next his side.                     92
    Glad {and} blie hi weren alle,
    So fele so were in e halle.
    [_No gap in MS._]
    Ac floriz net ne dronk no[gh]t;
    Of blau{n}cheflur was al his o[gh]t.                 96

  an spake e Burgays
  at was hende and Curtays:
  "Ow, child~, me ynke welle
  {a}t muche {o}u ynkest on my catell{e}."            460
  "Nay, s{ir}, on Catel enke y nou[gh]t,"
  (On Blauncheflo{ur} was al his ou[gh]t,)
  "But y ynke on al wyse
  For to fynde my marchaundise;                          464
  And [gh]it it is e most woo,
  When y it fynd, y shal it forgoo."

    e lord of {er}inne vnder[gh]at
    {a}t is child m{ur}ninge sat.
    "Floriz," he sede, "what mai e beo,
    us m{ur}ni{n}ge {a}t ihc e seo?                   100

  an spak~ e lord of~ {a}t ynne,
  "is sender day, {er} sate hereyn{e}                  468
  at faire Maide Blauncheflo{ur},
  bo in halle and in boure.
  Eu{er} she made mornyng chere,
  And bement Florys, her lyf~ fere;                      472
  Ioye ne blis made she noon~,
  But for Florys she made her moon~."

    []us heri{n}ne is o{er} day
    [S]at blau{n}cheflur {a}t faire may.
    [I]n halle ne in bur ne at bord,
    [O]f hire ne herde we neure a word.                  104
    [B]ute of floriz was hire mone;
    [Heo] nadde in herte ioie none."

  Florys toke a Coupe of~ syluer clere,
  A mantyl of~ Scarlet w{i}t{h} menyuere:                476
  "Houe is, s{ir}, to yn~ hono{ur};
  {o}u may onke it Blauncheflo{ur}.
  He my[gh]t make myn~ hert glade,
  {a}t cou me tel wheder she is ladde."                480

    [Whanne] herde he ne{m}pnen his le{m}man,
    [Blie] he was iwis for an.                         108
    [He lat] bringe a cupe of seluer
    [And eke] a pane of menuuer.
    [anne] he sede, "haue is to in honur,
    [So ]u speke of blau{n}cheflur.                     112
    [u mi][gh]test make min heorte ful glad;
    [u tel]le me wuder heo were ilad."
    [anne] sede e burgeis,
    [at was] wel hende {and} c{ur}tais,                 116

[Headnote: _The innkeeper tells Floris how the Admiral bought
Blauncheflur._]

[Sidenote: The host tells him that Blauncheflur has been sold to the
Admiral at Babylon.]

  "Child~, to Babyloyne she is brou[gh]t;
  e Amyral hur ha bou[gh]t:
  [Sidenote: [104 _a_]]
  He gaf~ for hur, as she stood vpry[gh]t,
  Seuen sithes of~ gold hur wy[gh]t;                     484
  For he enke w{i}t{h}-out weene,
  at faire may haue to Queene.
  Among~ his maydons in his toure
  He hur dide, w{i}t{h} much honoure."                   488

    ["To Babi]lloigne he was ibro[gh]t;
    [e adm]iral hire ha[gh] ibo[gh]t."

  Now Flores reste him {er}e al ny[gh]t,
  Tyl on e morrow e day was ly[gh]t;
  He roos on e morownyng~,
  He gaf~ his Ost an hundryd shelyng~,                   492
  To his ost and to his Ostesse,
  And toke his leue, and feire dide kysse;

    [Floriz go] to his rest;
    [On Blaunch]eflur he o[gh]te mest.                  120
    Ac reste ne mi[gh]te he habbe none;
    Fort e dide slep him nome.
    Amore[gh]e so sone so hit was day,
    He nem his liue, {and} we{n}de his way.              124

[Sidenote: Floris gives the host a hundred shillings, and asks his
assistance.]

  And [gh]erne his ost he besou[gh]t,
  at he him help, [gh]if he my[gh]t ou[gh]t,            496
  [Gh]if~ he my[gh]t~, w{i}t{h} any gynne,
  at feire may to him wynne.

    And for his ni[gh]tes gestinge
    He [gh]af his oste an hundred schillinge.
    [_No gap in MS._]
    And [gh]erne he ha his oste biso[gh]t
    {a}t he him helpe wi al his o[gh]t,               128
    In Babilloine, o{er} wher a beo,
    {a}t he mi[gh]te hire iseo,
    Hu he mi[gh]te mid sume ginne,
    His le{m}man blau{n}cheflur awinne.                  132
    a{n}ne sede e burgeis,
    {a}t was hende {and} curtais,

      _MS. Cott. Vitell. D. III._

      [Sidenote: [_leaf 7_]]
      . . . . . . . by souht
      . . . . . mid al his mauht
      . . frend in babiloyne hadde
      . . wisede {and} wel radde
      . . . he mihte mid eni ginne
      . . . blancheflour iwinne

[Headnote: _The innkeeper gives Floris instructions._]

  "Childe," he seide, "to a brygge {o}u shalt com{e},
  The Senpere fynde at hoom{e}:                          500
  He woneth at e brygges ende;
  Curtays man he is, and hende;
  We arn~ bretheren, and trouthes ply[gh]t:
  He can e wyssh and rede a-ry[gh]t;                    504

    At babilloine atte frume,
    To one brigge u schalt cume.                        136
    Whane u comest to e [gh]ate,
    e port{er} u schalt find arate.
    Wel hende man {and} fair he is;
    He is icluped sire daris.                            140
    Mi fela[gh]e he is ure[gh] true ipli[gh]t,
    And he kan rede e ari[gh]t.

      . . one longe brugge ou schalt come
      . . . ngere finde er ate frome.
      . . . c is ate brugge ende
      . . . mon he is {and} hende
      . . . breeren {and} trewee ipliht
      . . . wisi {and} reden wel riht.

[Sidenote: The innkeeper sends him with a ring of introduction to the
bridge porter at Babylon.]

  {o}u shalt bere him a rynge
  Fro my-self~ to tokenynge,
  at he help e in boure and halle
  As it were my self~ befalle."                          508
  [_No gap in MS._]
  Florys take e ryng~, and neme leue,
  For long~ wold~ he nou[gh]t beleue.

    Haue {and} ber him is ring,
    On mine halue to tokning,                            144
    {a}t he e helpe in alle halue,
    Ase he wolde me selue."
    Floriz herof was wel blie,
    And onkede his oste wel suie.                      148
    Feire of him he nime leue;
    No lengur nolde he bileue.

      . . . bere him neseno[FB-3] ring
      . . . . . . to toking
      . . . . . elpe on eche halue
      . . . . . {and} take is leue
      . . . . . . er by sene

      [Footnote FB-3: ?]

[Sidenote: Floris takes leave, and by midday reaches the bridge and
finds the porter.]

  By {a}t it was vndern~ hy[gh]e,
  e Brygge com{e} he swyth nye.                         512
  e Senperes name was Darys.
  Florys gret him wel feire ywys,
  And he him e ryng~ arau[gh]t,
  And ful feire it him betau[gh]t.                       516

    Bi{a}t hit was middai hi[gh],
    Floriz was e brigge ni[gh].                         152
    e he com to e gate
    e port{er} he fond anon {er}ate,
    Sittinde one a marbelston,
    Sue fair {and} hende mon,                           156
    And so him sede child floriz,
    "Rest e m{ur}ie, sire daris,"

      . . . . . . ondarne hey[gh]
      . . . . . [bru]gge suie ney[gh]
      . . . . . ane brugge icome
      . . . . . bruggere ate frome
      . . . . . . . a Marbreston
      . . . . . mon he was on
      . . . . . was of Muchel p{ri}s
      . . . . . . him sulf iwis
      . . . . . ys was i hote doyre
      . . . . . s him grette wel fayre
      . . . . . him ane ri{n}g arauht
      . . . [d] ayre hine him bi tauht

[Headnote: _Floris presents his ring of introduction to Daris._]

[Sidenote: Floris presents the ring, and is hospitably received.]

  rou[gh] e token of {a}t ilk~ ryng~
  Florys had ful faire gestnyng~
  Off~ Fyss[h-] and flessh and tender breed~,
  Of~ wyn~, both white and reed~:                        520

    And tok him to tokne is ring;
    And {er}fore he hauede wel fair gestni{n}g.         160
    Glade {and} blie hi weren alle,
    So fele so weren in e halle,

      . . . . e tockne of e ringe
      . hadde {er} aniht wel gode gistinge
      . . . . b of fles of tendre bred
      . . . . t win {and} eke of red

[Sidenote: Floris sits mourning.]

  And eu{er} Florys sate ful colde,
  And Dares bygan e Childe beholde:

    Ac floriz net ne dronk no[gh]t;
    On blau{n}cheflur was al his o[gh]t                 164
    Sire daris vnder[gh]et
    {a}t floriz m{ur}ni{n}ge set.

      . . . . re floyres sike {and} colde
      . . . . gon {a}t chil by holde

[Sidenote: Daris asks if he is not pleased with his entertainment.]

  [Sidenote: [104 _b_]]
  "Leue Child, what may is be,
  us ou[gh]tful as y the see?                          524
  And {o}u nou[gh]t al in feere,
  at {o}u makist us sory chere,
  Or {o}u lykkest no[gh]t is yn~?"

    "Floriz," he sede, "what mai e beo,
    So o[gh]tful ase ihc e seo?                        168
    Me inche bi ine chire,
    u nert no[gh]t glad of i sop{er}e,
    O{er} e ne like no[gh]t is in."

      . . . . wat may e be
      . . . . . e i see
      . . . . . . . uoice al fere
      . . . . . . . . ele chere.
      [Sidenote: [_leaf 7, col. 2_]]
      . . . . . . . . in in."

  an Floreys answered him~:                             528
  "[Gh]is, s{ir}, by goddes ore,
  So good ne had y mony day [gh]ore:
  God let me abyde at daye
  at y e quyte wel may:                                532

    o floriz ansuerede him:                             172
    "Sire," he sede, "bi godes ore,
    So god in nauede ihc wel [gh]ore,
    Vre lou{er}d me lete ibide e day
    {a}t ihc hit e [gh]ulde may.                       176

      Bot floyres onswerede him,
      "Nay, sire, bi godes ore,
      So god nadde [I] wel [gh]ore.
      God lete me abide ane day
      {a}t ich hit e [gh]elde May.

[Sidenote: Floris tells him, in veiled words, his real trouble.]

  But y enke on al wyse
  Most vppon~ my marchaundyse;
  [_No gap in MS._]
  And [gh]it it is most woo,
  When y hit Fynde, y shal it forgoo."                   536

    Ihc enche, sire, on fele wise
    Nu vpon mi marchau{n}dise,
    Last ine finde no[gh]t atte frume
    {a}t ing for whi ihc am hider icume.               180
    And e[gh] ihc hit finde hit is mi wo
    Lest ihc schulle hit forgo."

      Ac ich enche on alle wise
      Vppon mine Marchaundise
      Ware vore ich am hider icome,
      Lest ich ne feynde hit ate frome,
      {and} {a}t is [gh]et mi meste wo,
      [Gh]if ich hit finde {and} hit forgo.

[Sidenote: Daris bids him speak plainly, and Floris speaks out.]

  [_No gap in MS._]
  "Childe, woldest {o}u telle me my gryf~,
  To hele e, me were ful lyf~."

    o sede daris, e freo burgeis,
    {a}t was wel hende {and} curteis,                   184
    "Fain ihc wolde e rede {and} lere,
    {a}t u muche e bet{er}e were,
    [Gh]ef u toldest me i gref,
    To rede e me were lef."                             188

      Child, woldest ou telle me of i gref
      To helpe e me were lef.

[Headnote: _Floris tells his story to Daris._]

  Eu{er}y word he ha him tolde,
  How e mayde was fro him solde,                        540
  And how he was of~ Spayn~ a kynges son{e},
  For grete loue ider y-com{e},
  To fonde, w{i}t{h} quantyse and w{i}t{h} gyn~,
  Blauncheflo{ur} for to wynne.                          544

    o floriz bigan his consail schewe,
    {And} to daris beon iknewe.
    Ord {and} ende he ha him told,
    Hu blau{n}cheflur was isold,                         192
    And hu he was a kinges sune,
    For hire luue ider icume,
    To fonde ure[gh] sume cu{n}nes ginne
    His le{m}ma{n} blau{n}cheflur biwinne.               196

      And now floyres hi{m} haue itold
      Hou {a}t mayd from him wa sold,
      {and} hou he was of spayne one kinges sone,
      Vor hire loue ider icome.

[Headnote: _Daris begins to tell of the Admiral and the city._]

[Sidenote: Daris takes him to be a fool, and proceeds to tell the
strength of the Admiral and the size of the city.]

  "Now," seith Dares, "{o}u art a Folt,"--
  And For a Foole e Childe he halt,--
  "Now y woot how it gooth,
  {o}u desirest yn~ own~ death.                        548
  e Amyral ha to his Iustinges
  O{er} half~ hundred of ryche kinges;
  And e Alder-rychest king~
  Durst not begynne suche a ing~.                       552

    Daris a{n}ne floriz bihalt,
    {And} for more ane fol him halt.
    "Floriz," he sede, "iseo hu hit ge;
    u ert abute ino[gh]e de.                          200
    e Admiral haue to his gestninge
    O{er} half hu{n}dred of riche kinges.
    Ne {er} nis no{n} so riche king
    {a}t dorste ent{er}met{en} of eni such ing,        204
    ilke maide to awinne,
    No{er} wi strenge ne wi ginne,

      Nou doyres {a}t chil[d] by halt,
      {and} for a fol he hine halt.
      "Child, nou ich wot al hou hit ge;
      Iwis ou welnest in owene de.
      e amirel haue to his iustninge
      O{er} half hondert of riche kinge,
      e alre richeste kinge
      Ne dorste bi ginne swch a ing.

  [Gh]if~ Amyral my[gh]t it vnderstond{e},
  He shulde be drawe in his owne londe,
  A-bout Babyloyne, y wene,
  Six longe myle and tene;                               556
  At eu{er}y myle is a walle {er}ate,
  Seuen sithes twenty [gh]ate;
  And .xx. toures {er} ben ynne,
  {a}t eu{er}y day chepyng is ynne;                     560

    And e Admiral hit mi[gh]te iwite,
    {a}t he n{er}e of his lif aquite.                   208
    And Babilloine, ihc vnderstonde,
    Dure abute furte{n}ni[gh]t gonde.
    Abute e walle {er} bu ate,
    Seuesie tuenti [gh]ates.                            212
    And ine e bure[gh] amidde ri[gh]t
    Beo twe tures ipi[gh]t.

      And mihste e amirayl hit vnder [gh]ete,
      Sone of his liue he were quite.
      Aboute babiloyne be to [gh]onge wioute wene,
      Sixti longe Mile {and} tene,
      {and} ate walle er be ate,
      Seuesie tuenti [gh]ate.
      And tueye toures er be inne,
      {a}t e chepinge is eche day inne.

  Eu{er}y day and ny[gh]t rou[gh]-out e [gh]ere
  e Chepyng~ is y-lyche plenere;
  [Sidenote: [105 _a_]]
  And au[gh] al e men {a}t ben bore,
  Had on hur lyf~ swore                                  564
  To wynne at maide feire and free,
  Al shul ey die, so moot y the.

    Eche day in al e [gh]ere
    e feire is {er} iliche plenere.                    216
    Seue hu{n}dred tures {and} two
    Beo in e bur[gh], biute mo.

      Nis er day oruh out an [gh]er,
      at e chepinge is iliche plener.
      Seue hundred tures, wit oute{n} an tuo,
      [er] be in an boruh {and} somdel mo.
      e alre febleste tour
      Nolde nouht duti e amp{er}ur.

[Headnote: _Description of the maidens' 'tower.'_]

[Sidenote: Daris tells of the 'towers,' the spring, the wonderful
carbuncle,]

  In {a}t bo{ur}, in mydward py[gh]t,
  Stonde a toure, y the ply[gh]t,                       568
  An hundryd fathum~ it is hye,--
  Who-soo beholde hit, fer or nere,
  An hundred fathum it is y-fere;--
  It is made w{i}t{h}-out[en] pere,                      572

    And ine e bur[gh] amidde ri[gh]t,
    Beo twe t{ur}es ipi[gh]t,                           220

      Vor to come er wi inne,
      No {er} wid strege ne wid ginne.
      [Sidenote: [_leaf 7, back_]]
      . . . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . a[gh]en woo
      . schal to iwinne at Mayd al so sone
      . . . . . e so{n}ne {and} mone.
      . . . e bor . . mid rift
      . . . . . . . . aplyft
      . . hondred teyse e to{ur} is heie
      . . . . by halt fur {and} nei.
      {and} an hundret teyse hit is wid,
      {and} imaked wi muchel pruid.

  Of lyme and of Marbulston{e};
  In al is world~ is suche noon{e}.
  Now is e morter made so wele,
  Ne may it breke, iren ne steele.                       576
  e Pomel at aboue is leide,
  It is made w{i}t{h} muche p{r}ide;

    Of lym {and} of marbelston;
    In e world nis swich t{ur} non.
    In e tur {er} is a welle,
    Sue cler hit is wi alle.                           224
    He vrne in o pipe of bras,
    Whider so hit ned was.
    Fra{m} flore in to flore
    e strimes vrne store,                              228
    Fram bure in to halle
    e st{ri}mes of is welle.
    In e tur is o kernel
    Of seluer {and} of crestel.                          232
    On e tur anouenon
    Is a charbugleston
    {a}t [gh]iue leme day {and} ni[gh]t,
    Ne bi hit neure so derk ni[gh]t.                     236

      Of lym {and} of marbel ston;
      In cristiante nis swich non.
      {a}t morter is i maked se wel,
      Ne May hit breke ire ne stel.
      And e pomel about e lede
      Is i wrouht mit so . . . . .

  {a}t man ne ar in e Tour bern{e}
  Nouther torcher[FB-4] ne lantern{e};                   580
  Suche a pomel was {er} bygo{n}e,
  Hit shyned a ny[gh]t so do e soone.

  [Footnote FB-4: MS. torther]

    In e bure[gh] ne darf me berne
    Lampe ne torche ne lant{er}ne,
    {a}t he ne [gh]iue li[gh]t {and} leme
    As do a day e su{n}ne beme.                        240

      Ne arf me aniht . . . . .
      Nouer torche . . . . . .
      . . . . . a pomel . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .

[Headnote: _How the maidens are guarded._]

[Sidenote: the porter on guard,]

  [_No gap in MS._]

    {e} port{er} is prud wialle;
    Eche day he go on e walle.
    And ef {er} come eniman
    Bii{n}ne ilke barbecan,                            244
    Bute he him [gh]eue leue,
    He wule him boe bete {and} reue.
    e port{er} is culuart {and} felun;
    He wule him sette areisun.                           248

[Sidenote: and the forty-four maidens kept in the 'high tower.']

  Now arn~ in at ilk~ Tour
  Twoo and fourty nobe[l~l] boure;                       584
  Wel were at ilke man
  {a}t my[gh]t woon{e} in {a}t oon~!
  Ne durst him neu{er} more ywys
  Couete after more blysse.                              588

    "er bu in e hi[gh]e tur
    Forti Maidenes {and} four.
    Wel were {a}t ilke mon
    {a}t mi[gh]te winne wi {a}t on.                   252
    Ne orte he neure ful iwis
    Wilne more of p{ar}adis.

      . . . . . be in an . .
      Foure {and} fourti . . . . .
      []at wel were {a}t ilke . . .
      . . Mihte wonie . . . . .
      [_About twenty lines illegible here._]

  Naw arn~ er Seriauntes in {a}t stage
  {a}t s{er}uen e maydons of hy[gh]e p{ar}age;
  But no s{er}ieaunt may s{er}ue {er}ynne
  {a}t bere in his breche at gynne                    592
  To s{er}ue hem day and ny[gh]t,
  But he be as a Capou{n} dy[gh]t.
  At e gate is a [gh]ateward~;
  He is not a Coward~;                                   596
  He is wonder proude w{i}t{h} alle;
  Eu{er}y day he go in ryche palle.

    {er} bu seriau{n}s in e stage
    {a}t s{er}ue e maidenes of p{ar}age.              256
    Ac ne mot {er} no{n} ben inne
    {a}t one e breche bere e ginne,
    No{er} bi daie ne bini[gh]t,
    Bute he also capun beo idi[gh]t.                     260

[Sidenote: The Admiral takes a new wife each year.]

  And e Amyral ha a wonder woon~,
  {a}t he {a}t is com{e} of cristendom{e},             600
  Euery [gh]ere to haue a new wyf~,
  en he loue his Queene as his lyf~.

    And e Admiral is such a gume,
    In al e world nis such a sune.
    Ne bu his wife neure so schene,
    Bute o [gh]er ne schal heo beon his q{ue}ne.         264
    e[gh] heo luue him ase hire lif,
    {a}t he nele habbe ano{er} wif.
    And, floriz, imai e telle fore,
    Heo schal beon his quene icore.                      268

      Neuer . . [_leaf 7, back, col. 2_]
      To chesen hire . . . . . .
      ey[gh] he louede is quene . . .

[Headnote: _Description of the wonderful orchard._]

[Sidenote: The maidens are brought down into a beautiful orchard in
which is a marvellous spring and a wonderful tree.]

  [Sidenote: [105 _b_]]
  Then shul men bryng{e} doun~ of e Toure
  Al e Maidens of grete honour,                         604
  And bryng{e} hem into an Orchard~,
  e feirest of al mydlerd~:
  eryn is mony fowles song~;
  Men my[gh]t leue {er}yn ful long~:                    608
  About e Orchard is a walle,--
  e fowlest stone is Cristall{e},--

    Alle e maidenes of p{ar}age
    Me schal bringe adu{n} of e stage,
    And leden he{m} in to on orchard,
    e faireste of al e Middellerd.                     272
    Abute e orchard is a wal;
    e eelikeste ston is cristal.
    Ho so wonede a mone in {a}t spray,
    Nolde him neure longe{n} away.                       276
    So m{er}ie is {er}i{n}ne e fo[gh]eles song,
    {a}t ioie {and} blisse is eure among.

      Me schul fecche adoun of e . .
      Alle e maydenes of parage.
      {and} bringe hem in on orcharde
      e fayreste of e middel[erd].
      er is fowelene song
      Ne mihte wel libbe hem a[mong]
      Abute an orchard is a wa[l] .
      Su{m}me of e stones be . . .
      {er} me may ise uppon a . . .
      I write muchel of e w . . .

  And a we[l~l] sprynge {er}ynne,
  {a}t is made w{i}t{h} muche gynne;                    612
  e wel is of~ muche prys,
  e stremes com froo P{ar}adyse;
  e grauel of~ e ground is p{re}cious stoones,
  And al of v{er}tu for e noones.                       616
  Now is e we[l~l] of much{e} au[gh]t;

    In e orchard is a welle
    {a}t is sue cler wi alle.                         280
    Ihc mai seggen iwis,
    e st{ri}mes come f{ra}m p{ar}adis.
    For in e st{ri}mes e smale stones,
    Hi beo {er} funden eurech one,                     284

      And a welle {a}t springe . . .
      {a}t is i mad mid muchel . . .
      is welle is . . Muchel
      {a}t grauel bi e . . . . .
      And of v . eu . . . .
      Of safir . . {and} of . . .
      Of omcie {and} of . . . . .
      e welle is al . . . . . .

[Headnote: _The marvellous spring and marvellous tree._]

[Sidenote: If any maiden, who is not a virgin, approach the spring, the
water boils up as if mad.]

  [Gh]if a woman com {a}t is for-lau[gh]t,
  And she be doo to e streeme
  For to wesshe her honndes clene,                       620
  e wat{er} wylle [gh]elle as it were wood~,
  And bycom{e} red as blood~.
  On what maide e water fare soo,
  Sone she shal to de be doo.                           624
  oo at ben maidens clene,
  ey may wessh{e} {er}yn, y wene;
  e water wo[l~l] stonde feire and clere;
  To hem make it no daungere.                           628
  At e walles hed stonde a tree,
  e feirest at on erthe may be;
  It is cleped e tree of loue:
  Flowers and blossomes spryngen aboue;                  632

[Sidenote: The maiden upon whom first falls a blossom from this tree is
chosen queen.]

  en ey at maydons clene bene,
  ei shul be brou[gh]t vnder e tren{e},
  And whic[h-] so falle e floure,
  Shal be queene w{i}t{h} muche hono{ur}.                636

    Boe saphirs {and} sardoines,
    And sue riche cassidoines,
    And Iacinctes and topaces,
    And onicle of muchel g{ra}ce,                        288
    And mani on o{er} direwere ston
    {a}t ich nu ne{m}pne ne can.
    Aboue e walle stant atreo
    {a}t faireste {a}t mi[gh]te in ere beo.           292
    Hit is ihote e treo of luue,
    For lef {and} blosme beo {er} buue.
    So sone so e olde beo idon,
    er sp{ri}nge niwe ri[gh]t anon.                    296
    Alle ilke {a}t clene maidenes beo,
    Schulle sitte arewe vnder at treo;
    And which falle on {a}t furste flur
    Schal beo q{ue}ne {and} fonge onur.                 300
    [Gh]ef {er} is eni maide forleie,
    e wal is of so muchel eie,
    An heo stepe to e gru{n}de,
    For to wassche hire honde,                           304
    Ha bulme vp so he were wod,
    {And} chau{n}ge f{ra}m wat{er} in to blod.
    On wuche e welle fare so,
    Also suie he wur fordo.                            308

      [Gh]if er come . . . . . . .
      . . . ho . . . . . . .
      For . . . . . . . . .
      . . w . . wele . . . .
      . . come al so . . . . .
      . . wlyche w . . . . .
      Wel sone . . . . . . .
      Alle {a}t . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . wole . . . . . .

      [_About nine more lines illegible. Several folios lost here._]

  [_No gap in MS._]
  [Gh]if~ any mayden {er} is
  at e Amyral telle of~ more p{r}is,
  e flour shal be to her sent
  rou[gh] art of~ enchauntement.                        640

    Ac [gh]ef {er} eni maide{n} is,
    {at} e Admiral luue mest of pris,
    On hire schal beo {at} flur i went,
    ure[gh] c{on}iureson {and} chau{n}tem{en}t.         312

  e Amyral chese hem by e flo{ur},
  And euer he herkene after Blauncheflo{ur}.
  [Sidenote: [106 _a_]]
  Thre sithes Flores sownyd anoon~
  Ri[gh]t byfore hem eu{er}ychoon~:                      644
  When he awoke, and speke my[gh]t~,
  Sore he wept, and sore he sy[gh]t,

    us he cheose his wif ure[gh] e flur;
    Alle wene hit schulle beo blau{n}cheflur."
    Ihc wene ne darf me axi no[gh]t
    If floriz were of dreri o[gh]t.                     316

[Headnote: _Daris suggests to Floris a plan._]

[Sidenote: Floris implores the aid of Daris.]

  And seide, "Dares, y worth now deed~,
  But {a}t y hope of e som reed~."                     648
  "Leue soon~, wyl [gh]e see
  at y trust is muche on me;
  en is e best~ reed at y can~--
  Other reed ne can y noon~--                            652

    "Daris," he sede, "ihc wurthe ded
    Bute if u do me summe red."
    a{n}ne se Daris, e freo burgeis,
    {a}t was wel he{n}de {and} c{ur}teis,               320
    "Floriz," he sede, "leue man,
    e beste red {a}t ihc e can,

[Sidenote: Daris bids him go, disguised as a mason, to the tower,]

  Wende to-morn~ to e toure
  As {o}u were a good gynoure;
  Take on y honde squyer and scantlon~
  As {o}u were a free mason~;                           656
  Behold~ e to{ur} vp and doun~,
  e porter is cruel and Feloun~;
  Wel sone he wyl com{e} to the,
  And aske what man{er} man {o}u be,                    660
  And bere on e, Felonye,
  And sey {o}u art com{e} to be a spye.

    Wend tomore[gh]e to e Tur,
    Also u were a gud ginnur.                           324
    Ber wi e sq{ui}re {and} schau{n}tillun,
    Also u were a gud Mascun.
    Bihold of e ture e hi[gh]hede,
    And wi i fot met e brede.                         328
    e port{er} is culuert {and} felun;
    For he wule sette{n} his resun,
    And bere vpon e felonie,
    And segge {a}t u art a spie.                       332

  And ow shalt~ answere swetlych{e},
  And sey to him myldelych{e},                           664
  Sey {o}u art a gynoure,
  To beholde at feire Toure,
  For to loke and for to fonde
  To make suche another in y londe.                     668

    Ansuare him wel hendeliche,
    And spek wi him wel sueteliche,
    And seie ert icome fra{m} ferre{n} lo{n}de,
    For to seche {and} for to fonde,                     336

[Sidenote: and induce the porter to play at draughts.]

  [_No gap in MS._]
  Wel sone he wyl com e nere,
  And wyl byd e play at e chekere.
  When {o}u art at cheker brou[gh]t,
  W{i}t{h}out seluer [be] {o}u nou[gh]t;                672
  ou shalt haue redy w{i}t{h} the
  XX. Marke beside y knee;

    If mi lif so longe ilast,
    To makie atur aft{er} is cast,
    In ine londe ate frume
    Wha{n}ne u ert hom icume.                           340
    Whane he e hire speke so he{n}deliche,
    And ansuerie so sueteliche,
    e{n}ne he wule come e nier,
    And bidde e pleie at e escheker.                   344
    Whane escheker is for ibro[gh]t
    Biute panes ne plei u no[gh]t.
    u most habbe redi mitte
    Twenti Marc ine i slitte.                           348

  [Gh]if~ ou wynne ou[gh]t of~ his,
  ow tel {er}of~ lytel prys;                           676
  And yf~ he wynne ou[gh]t of~ yn~,
  loke ow leue it with hym~;
  So {o}u shalt, al w{i}t{h} gynne,
  e porters loue forsoth wynne,                         680
  {a}t he e help on is day:
  But he e help{e}, no man may.

    e[gh] u biwi{n}ne o[gh]t of his,
    Hold hit of wel litel pris.
    If he biwi{n}ne o[gh]t of e,
    [Gh]if hi{m} of ine suche re.                      352
    Muche he wule onki e
    And of e sue iwu{n}dred beo,
    For he is sue couet{us},
    And at escheker enuius.                             356

[Headnote: _Details of the plan._]

[Sidenote: Manage him so as to secure an invitation for the morrow.]

  [Sidenote: [106 _b_]]
  Wel [gh]erne he wyl e bydde and p{ra}y
  Com{e} anoer day to playe:                            684
  {o}u shalt seye {o}u wylt soo;
  {o}u shalt take w{i}t{h} e suche twoo;

    [Gh]erne he wile e bidde {and} p{re}ie
    {a}t u come amore[gh]e {and} pleie.
    G{ra}nte hi{m} {a}t u wilt so,
    And tak mid amore[gh]e suche two.                    360

  [_No gap in MS._]
  e rydde day take an hundred pound~,

    And wel i nedes for to do
    {a}t ridde day u wend hi{m} to,
    And ber wi e forti pund,

[Sidenote: Show him your cup, and he will be greedy for it.]

  And y Coupe hool and sound~:                          688
  [Gh]eue him markes & pound{es} of y male;
  Of~ y tresour tel {o}u no tale;
  Wel [gh]erne he wyl e bydde and p{ra}y
  To lay y Coupe, and to play.                          692
  {o}u shalt answere al{er}first,
  Lenger to play e ne lyst.
  Ful muche he wylle for e Coupe bede,
  [Gh]if~ he my[gh]t e better spede;                    696

    And ine cupe hol {and} sund.                        364
    Wha{n}ne u lest lest him e cupe iseo,
    Wel angussus he wile beo.
    He wile beo wel coveitus,
    And hire to bigge sue fus.                          368
    Muchel he e wule beode
    If him mi[gh]te e bet{er}e spede.
    Ihc wot he wille ilke day
    Hon{ur}e e so muche so he may.                      372

[Sidenote: At length give him the cup.]

  {o}u shalt it blethly [gh]eue him
  [Gh]if it be of~ gold fyne;
  And he wol ful moche loue e,
  And to e bowe also, p{ar}de,                          700

    He wule e lede to his i{n}ne
    e cupe of e to biwi{n}ne.
    [Gh]erne he wule e bidde and p{re}ie
    {a}t u legge e cupe to pleie.                     376
    u hi{m} ansuere atte furste,
    {a}t no leng pleie e ne luste.
    Ansuere hi{m} wel he{n}deliche,
    'in beo e cupe,' seie blueliche.                  380
    For his gode co{m}paygnie
    A wu{n}ne he ha i druerie.

  [_No gap in MS._]

    Ihc wot {a}t he mai alrebest
    Of ine neode helpe e mest.                         384
    u mi[gh]t segge, 'e ne faile non
    Gold ne selu{er} ne riche won.'
    Seie u wilt p{ar}te wi him of an,
    {a}t he schal eure beo riche man.                   388
    Whanne he here e speke so richeliche,
    And ansuerie so hendeliche,
    a{n}ne he wile beo wel blie,
    And bigi{n}ne to luuie e suie,                     392

[Sidenote: Promise him unlimited gold and silver if he will aid you. He
will then fall at your feet and be your man.]

  at he wyl falle to y foote,
  And become yn~, [gh]if~ he moote.
  And homage {o}u shalt fonge,
  And e trou of his honde."                            704

    And falle he wile to i fote,
    And bicome i man, if he mote.
    His ma{n}rede u schalt fonge,
    And his true of his ho{n}de,                        396
    {a}t he e bere al e helde
    {a}t man schal to his lou{er}d [gh]elde.
    And us ure[gh] e cupe and his gi{n}ne
    u mi[gh]t i le{m}man best awi{n}ne.                400
    a{n}ne u mi[gh]t beon iknewe,
    And i cu{n}sail to hi{m} schewe."

[Headnote: _By this plan Floris wins over the 'porter.'_]

  As he seide, he dide ywys;
  And as he ordeynd, so it is:
  e Porter ys Florys man bycom{e},
  For his gold~ and his waryson{e}.                      708

    And alus floris hath iwro[gh]t,
    As daris hi{m} ha ita[gh]t.                         404
    Ac ure (_sic_) e cupe {and} ure[gh] g{er}sume,
    e port{er} is his man bicume.

[Sidenote: Then reveal to him your wishes.]

  Florys seide, "now art {o}u my moon~,
  Al my trust is e vppon~;
  Now my consel y wyl e shewe;
  Rede me ry[gh]t, [gh]if~ {o}u be trew."               712

     Nu qua floriz, "u art mi man;
    Al mi trest is e vpon.                              408
    {er}uore u most me helpe nede;
    Biute e ne mai me spede."

[Sidenote: Floris acts as advised, and discloses his identity.]

  Now eu{er}y word he ha him tolde,
  How e mayde was fro him sholde,
  And how he was of~ Spayn~ a kynges soon~,
  For grete loue eder ycoom~                            716
  To fonden, w{i}t{h} som{e} gynne,
  at feire mayde for to wynne.

    Ord {and} ende he ha him told,
    Hu {a}t maide was isold,                            412
    And hu he was of spaygne a kinges sune,
    For hire luue he was ider icume,
    To fo{n}de mid sume ku{n}nes ginne,
    Hu he mi[gh]te hire awinne.                          416

[Headnote: _The porter covers Floris in a basket of flowers._]

[Sidenote: The porter at first reproaches himself, but presently
promises his aid.]

  e Porter at herde, and sore sy[gh]t,
  And seide, "y am betrayde ary[gh]t;                    720
  rou[gh] y Catel, y am dismayde;
  erfore y am wel euyl a-payde
  [Sidenote: [107 _a_]]
  Now y woot how it goo;
  For e shal y suffre deth;                             724
  I shal e faile neuer moo,
  e while y may ryde and goo;
  y forwardes shal y holde alle,
  What-so-eu{er} may befalle.                            728

    I-wend nu, floriz, to in i{n}ne,
    While i bienche of sume gi{n}ne.                    428
    Ihc wulle fonde what ido may
    Bituene is {and} e {ri}dde day."
    Floriz si[gh]te {and} weop among
    ulke t{er}me him u[gh]te long.                     432
    ++E port{er} o[gh]te what to rede;
    He let flures gadere on e mede.
    Cupen he let fulle of flures,
    To strawe{n} in e maidenes bures.                   436

  Wynde now hoom~ to yn~) ynne
  While y beenke me of su{m} gynne;
  Bytwene is and e rydde day.
  Fonde y shal, what y do may.                           732
  Flores spake and wept among{e}
  And ou[gh]t e terme al to long{e}.
  e Porter ou[gh]t e best reed,
  And let geder floures in a meed~;                      736
  He wist it was e maydons wylle.
  To lepes he lete of floures fylle:

    o e port{er} iherde is, he si[gh]te,
    "Ihc am," he sede, "bitraid wi ri[gh]te,
    {a}t ure[gh] is cupe {and} is g{er}sume
    Ihc am nu i man bicume.                             420
    Nu ihc seo hu hit ge;
    For e ihc drede olien de.
    No[gh]t for an while ihc mai go,
    I ne schal e failli neure mo.                       424
    What me bitide o{er} bifalle,
    Ihc schal e foreward holde{n} alle.

[Sidenote: He covers Floris in a basket of flowers, which is borne
above.]

  at was e best reed, as him ou[gh]t oo,
  Floures in at oon~ lep to doo.                        740
  Twoo maydens e lepe bore;
  So heuy charged neuer ey wore,
  And bade god [gh]eue hem euyl fyn{e};
  To mony floures he dide {er}ynne.                     744

    {a}t was his red to helpe him so;
    He let floriz on {a}t on cupe go.
    Tuei gegges e cupe bere,
    And for heuie wro hi were.                          440
    Hi bede{n} God [gh]iue hi{m} vuel fin,
    {a}t so manie flures dude {er}in.

  To Blaunchefloures Chamber ey shuld{e} tee;
  ey [gh]ede to ano{er}, and let {a}t be:
  ey shuld haue gon{e} to Blauncheflo{ur},
  And [gh]ede to swete Clarys boure,                     748

    To e chau{m}bre {er} hi scholde go,
    Ne [gh]eden hi ari[gh]t no.                          444
    To ano{er} chau{m}bre hi beo agon,
    To blau{n}cheflures chau{m}bre no{n}.

[Sidenote: Floris mistakes another maiden for Blauncheflur and leaps
forth.]

  And cursed him so fele brou[gh]t to honde;
  ey [gh]ede hoom~, and lete hem stonde.
  Clarys to e lepe com{e} wolde,
  e Flores to hondel and to be-holde;                   752
  Florys wende it hadde be his swete wy[gh]t;
  Of~ e lepe he stert vpry[gh]t;

    e cupe hi sette to e grunde,
    And go for {and} lete[gh] hire stonde.             448
    O maiden com {and} wolde
    e flures handlen {and} biholde.
    Floriz we{n}de hit were his swete wi[gh]t;
    Vt of e cupe he lep ari[gh]t;                       452

[Sidenote: The maiden cries out.]

  And e mayde, al for drede,
  Bygan to shrell{e} and to grede.                       756

    And {a}t maide, for e drede,
    Bigan to crie {and} to grede.

[Sidenote: Floris covers himself again.]

  When he saw[gh] it was not shee,
  In-to e lepe a[gh]en~ stert he,
  And held~ him betrayde clene;
  Of~ his lyf~ tolde he not a beene.                     760

    o nuste floriz what to rede,
    For e ferlich {a}t he hadde.                       456
    Into e cupe he sterte a[gh]en,
    And wi e flures he hudde him.
    is maide o[gh]te anon ri[gh]t
    {a}t hit was floriz, {a}t suete wi[gh]t,           460
    For here chau{m}bres ni[gh] were;
    Selde was {a}t hi togadere nere;
    And ofte blau{n}cheflur hire hadde itold
    Hu heo was fram him isold.                           464

[Headnote: _Claris discovers Floris._]

  {er} com{e} maydons, and to Clarys lepe
  by ten, by twelf~, on an heepe
  [Sidenote: [107 _b_]]
  And ey asked what hur were,
  And why she made suche a bere.                         764
  Clarys byou[gh]t hur anoon{e}ry[gh]t
  {a}t hit was Blauncheflo{ur} e white,

    Nu Maidenes come in to hire lepe,
    Wei fiftene in on hepe,
    And axede hire what hire were,
    And whi heo makede suche bere.                       468
    Wel heo was bio[gh]t {and} whare,
    To finde{n} he{m} ansuare.

[Sidenote: The maiden conceals the fact by a clever story.]

  And gaue e Maydons answere anoon~,
  at to her Chamber were goon~,                         768
  at to e lepe com{e} she wold{e},
  e Flowres to hondel and to beholde;
  "And, or y it ere wyst,
  An Ott{er} fley[gh] a-geynst my brest:                 772
  I was so soore a-drad an,
  {a}t y loude crye can."
  e Maydons {er}of~ hadden glee,
  And turned hem, and lete hur be.                       776

    [_No gap in MS._]
    "To e cupe," heo sede, "ihc com {and} wolde
    is flures handlen {and} biholde,                    472
    er fliste vt a but{er}fli[gh]e,
    Are ihc wiste, on min i[gh]e.
    So sore ihc was offerd of an,
    {a}t ihc crie bigan."                               476
    is o{er}e lo[gh]en {and} hadde gleo,
    And go a[gh]en {and} lete beo.

[Sidenote: Claris bids Blauncheflur come see a 'well fair flower.']

  As sone as e maydons were gon~,
  To Blauncheflo{ur} she [gh]ede anoon~,
  And seide boldly to Blauncheflo{ur},
  "Felow, com{e} and see a feire Flo{ur}!                780
  Suche a flo{ur} e shal wel lyke,
  Haue {o}u it sene a lyte."

    ++CLarice hatte {a}t maide hende:
    To blau{n}cheflures chau{m}bre heo ga{n} we{n}de,    480
    And sede, "suete blau{n}cheflur,
    Wiltu seo a wel fair flur?
    Hit ne greu no[gh]t on is londe,
    at flur {a}t ihc bringe e to honde."              484

[Sidenote: Blauncheflur bids Claris depart, and reproaches Floris for
his inconstancy.]

  "Awey, Clarys!" q{uo}d Blauncheflo{ur};
  "To scorne me, it is none honoure.                     784
  [_No gap in MS._]
  I here, Clarys, w{i}t{h}out gabbe,
  at e Amyral wyl me to wyf~ habbe;

    "Away, Clariz," qua blancheflur;
    "Ho {a}t luue p{ar} amur
    And ha {er} of ioye, mai luue flures;
    Ac ic libbe in sore[gh]e in is tures,               488
    For ihc wene bithute gabbe,
    {a}t e Admiral me wule habbe.

  But {a}t day shal neuer be,
  {a}t he shal eu{er} haue me,                          788
  {a}t y shal be of~ loue so vntrewe,
  Ne chaunge my loue for no newe;
  For no loue, ne for noon~ aye,
  Forsake Florys in his Contraye.                        792
  Now y shal swete Florys mysse,
  Ne shal noon~ other of me haue blysse."

    Ac ilke day ne schal neure be;
    Ne schal me neure at-wite me,                        492
    {a}t ihc beo of luue vntrewe,
    Ne chau{n}ge luue for no newe,
    Ne lete e olde for no newe be,
    So do floriz on his Contre.                         496
    Ac e[gh] floriz for[gh]e me,
    Ne schal ihc neure for[gh]ete e."

[Headnote: _Claris brings Blauncheflur to Floris._]

[Sidenote: Claris further urges Blauncheflur, who at length comes.]

  Clarys stood and beheld at rewth,
  And e trewnesse of~ hur trewth,                       796
  And seide, "lady Blaunchefloure,
  Goo we see {a}t ilk~ floure."

    Clariz iherde es ille reue,
    Of trewnesse {and} of trewe.                        500
    e t{er}res glide of hire lere;
    "Blau{n}cheflur," he sede, "go we ifere,
    Leue suete blau{n}cheflur,
    Cu{m} {and} se a well fair flur."                    504

  To e lepe ey went both.
  Ioyful man was Florys oo,                             800
  For he had herde al is.

    To gedere hi go nu iwis,
    And floriz ha iherd al is.

[Sidenote: Floris springs forth, and they embrace one another.]

  Of~ {a}t lepe he stert y-wys:
  [Sidenote: [108 _a_]]
  Wel sone Blauncheflo{ur} chaunged hewe;
  Ayther of~ hem other knewe:                            804
  W{i}t{h}oute speche togeder ey lepe,
  And klippt~ and kyst~ wonder swete.

    Vt of e cupe he lep anon,
    {And} to blau{n}cheflur he gan gon.                  508
    Ei{er} o{er} sone ikneu;
    Boe nue hi chau{n}ge heu.
    To gadere wiute word hi lepen,
    Klepte {and} keste {and} eke weopen                  512
    Here kessinge ileste a mile;
    And {a}t he{m} u[gh]te litel while.

[Headnote: _Joyful reunion of the lovers._]

[Sidenote: Claris asks Blauncheflur if she knows this flower.]

  Clarys beheld~ al this,
  Her countenaunce and her blysse,                       808
  And seide en to Blaunchefloure,
  "Felow, knowist {o}u au[gh]t is flo{ur}?
  [_No gap in MS._]
  She shul konne ful muche of~ Art
  at {o}u woldest {er}of~ geue part~."                812

    Clarice biheold al is,
    Here cu{n}tenau{n}ce {and} here blis.                516
    Seide Clarice to blau{n}cheflur,
    "Knowestu o[gh]t [gh]ete is flur?
    A litel er u noldest hit se;
    Nu ne mi[gh]te hit lete fram e.                     520
    He moste ku{n}ne muchel of art
    {a}t u woldest [gh]eue {er} of part."
    "Certes," q{ua} blau{n}cheflur to Clariz,
    "is is min o[gh]ene suete floriz."                  524

      [_MS. lf. 8: Fr. p. 32, l. 522._]
      . . . . wel muchel of art
      . . woldest [gh]eue er of eny part.
      . . . . de blancheflur to clarise
      . . . min owene leue floyres

[Sidenote: Both beg Claris not to betray them.]

  Now Blauncheflo{ur} and Florys,
  Bo ese swete inges ywys,
  Cryen her m{er}cy, al wepyng~,
  at she ne wrey hem to e king~.                       816

    Nu boe tuo, es suete inges,
    Crie hire m{er}ci, al wepinge,
    To e Admiral {a}t hem ne wreie,
    For e{n}ne were here sore[gh]e niwe.                528

      . . . . is ilke swete inges
      . . . . clarisse merci . .
      Vnto e amyrayl no[gh]t ne wreye
      . . . . . . scholden de[gh]e

[Sidenote: Claris promises silence.]

  [_No gap in MS._]
  "Ne dou[gh]t no more of~ me in alle,
  an it were myself~ byfalle.
  Wete [gh]e wel weturly,
  Heele y wyl [gh]oure drury."                           820

    Clarice hadde of hem pite;
    "Noing," heo sede, "ne dute [gh]e,
    Ne dute [gh]e na{m}more wi alle,
    {a}t hit were to me bifalle.                        532
    Hele ihc wulle {and} noing wreie,
    Ower beire cu{m}paignie."

      . . . . . namore mid alle
      . . . hit were to me by falle
      . . . . . wel wytterli
      . . . . . beyre drewori

  To a bedde ey ben brou[gh]t,
  at is of palle and of~ sylke wrou[gh]t;
  And {er}e ey sette hem doun~
  And drou[gh] hem self~ al a room~:                     824

    Clarice he{m} ha to bedde ibro[gh]t,
    {a}t was of pal {and} selc iwro[gh]t.               536
    In bedde heo bro[gh]te he{m} adun,
    An hure self we{n}de he{m} fram.

      . . bedde heo hem haue ibrou[gh]t
      . . selk {and} pal i wrouht
      . . heo sette hem er adou{n}
      . . . . . . wende aroum
      . . . more bote cluppe {and} cusse
      . . . blancheflur hit wiste

[Sidenote: The two rejoice together greatly.]

  {er} was no man {a}t my[gh]t radde
  e ioye {a}t ey twoo madde.
  Florys en to speke bygan~,
  And seide, "lord at madest man,                       828
  I it onke goddes sone
  at al my care I haue ou{er}com{e};
  Now my leue I haue y-founde,
  Of~ al my care y am vnbounde."                         832

    [_No gap in MS._]
    o floriz furst speke bigan.
    "Vre lou{er}d," he sede, "{a}t makedest man,        540
    e ihc onki, godes sune,
    {a}t ihc am to mi leof icume.
    Mi leof, nu ihc habbe e ifunde,
    Of al mi care ihc am vnbu{n}de."                     544

      . . . . formest speke bigon
      . . . d {a}t makedest mon
      . . . . nou godes sone
      . . . . he is ouer [c]ome
      . . . . habbe ifounde
      . . . . . am vnbounde

[Headnote: _The maidens are at mornings to assist at the 'Admiral's'
toilet._]

  Clarys hem s{er}uyd al at wylle,
  Bo dernlyche and stylle.
  ++cLarys w{i}t{h} e white syde
  Rose vp on morn{e} tyde,                               836
  And cleped after Blaunchefloure
  To wende w{i}t{h} him in to e Toure:
  She seide "y am co{m}maund~";
  But her answere was slepaund~.                         840

    Nu ai{er} ha o{er} itold
    Of here sore[gh]e {and} care cold,
    {a}t hi hadde ifunde bo
    Sue hi were ideld atuo.                            548
    Nu hi cluppe and cusse
    And make togadere muchel blisse.
    If {er} was a[gh]t bute custe,
    Swete blau{n}cheflur hit wiste.                      552
    Non o{er} heuene hi ne bede,
    Bute eure swich lif to lede.
    Ac lo{n}ge ne mi[gh]te hi hem wite
    {a}t hi neren vnder[gh]ete.                         556

      . . . . . oer haue told
      . . . . . kare ful cold
      . . . . . me wel stronge
      . . . . . rt so longe
      . . . . . serue al to wille
      . . . . [dern]eliche {and} stille
      . . . . heo no[gh]h longe wite
      . . . . eren vnder [gh]ete

[Sidenote: Each morning two maidens went to the Admiral's tower to comb
his hair and wash his hands,--]

  e Amyral had such a woon{e},
  {a}t eu{er}y day shulde com{e}
  [Sidenote: [108 _b_]]
  Twoo maydons of~ hur bo{ur}
  Vp to him in to e Toure,                              844
  [_No gap in MS._]
  W{i}t{h} water and clooth, and basyn~,
  For to wesshe his hondes ynne:

    Vor e Admiral hadde such a wune,
    Ehc moretid er moste cume
    Tuo maidenes wi muchel hon{ur}
    Into e he[gh]este Tur,                              560
    {a}t were feire {and} sue hende,
    {a}t on his heued for to kembe,
    {a}t [oer] bringe towaille {and} bacin,
    For to wasse his honden in.                          564

[Sidenote: but especially often, Claris and Blauncheflur.]

  at day ey s{er}uyd him feire;
  Anoer day com{e} another peire;                       848
  But most were wonyd into e Toure,
  Clarys and Blauncheflo{ur}.

    Swiche him s{er}ue a day so faire;
    Amore[gh]e moste ano{er} peire.
    Ac mest were iwuned in to e tur
    Maide Clariz {and} blau{n}cheflur.                   568

      . . . . wel hire mote bi tide
      . . . . . amorewe tide
      . . . . . ed blanche flur
      . . . . hire in to an to{u}r
      . . . . ich am cominge
      . . . . . was slepinge

[Headnote: _Claris invents an excuse for Blauncheflur's absence._]

[Sidenote: The next morning Claris calls Blauncheflur, but she falls
asleep again.]

  Clarys com{e} enne aloon~:
  e Amyral asked a-noon~,                               852
  [_No gap in MS._]
  "Where is Blauncheflo{ur} so free?
  Why come she not heder w{i}t{h} e?"

    Clarice, ioie mote hire bitide,
    Aros vp in e more[gh]entide,
    And ha icluped blau{n}cheflur
    To go wi hire in to e tur.                         572
    Q{ua} blau{n}cheflur, "ihc am cominge."
    Ac heo hit sede al slepinge.
    Clariz co{m} i{n} to e Tur;
    e Admiral axede blau{n}cheflur.                     576

      . . . . . . ane wine
      . . . . . . . . come
      . . . . of herd . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      [Sidenote: [_leaf 8, col. 2_]]
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      e amiral askede blanche[flur]

[Sidenote: Claris invents an ingenious excuse for her.]

  "Sir," she seide anoon~ ry[gh]t,
  "She ha wakyd al is ny[gh]t,                         856
  And y-cryde and y-loke
  And y-redde on hur booke,
  And y-bede to god her orysou{n}
  at he geue e his benysou{n},                         860
  And at he holde long~ y lyf~;
  And now e mayde slepe swyth;
  She slepe so fast, {a}t mayde swete,
  at she may not com [gh]ete."                          864

    "Sire, Alni[gh]t heo set at hire boke,
    And ha {er}on irad {and} loke,
    And {er}on ibede hire oresun,
    {a}t god, {a}t olede passiun,                     580
    e holde, sire, longe aliue;
    And nu heo is asleped suie,
    [_No gap in MS._]
    {a}t heo ne mai come to e."

      {and} clarisse seyde anonri[gh]ht,
      "Sire, he haue i waked al ni[gh]ht,
      {and} iwaked {and} iloked,
      {and} irad on hire boke,
      {and} ibede to god hire orison,
      {a}t [gh]eue e his beniscun,
      {and} god e holde longe aliue.
      {and} nou at mayde slepe so suie,
      Heo slepe so faste, {a}t mayde suete,
      at heo ne may nou[gh]t come [gh]ete."

  [_No gap in MS._]
  "Certes," seide e kyng~,
  "Now is she a swete ing~:
  Wel au[gh]t me [gh]erne her to wyf~,
  at so preyeth for my lyf~."                           868

    "Is {a}t so?" sede he.                             584
    Heo sede, "[gh]e, sire, withute lesing."
    "Heo is," he sede, "a suete ing;
    Wel a[gh]te ihc willen hire to wif,
    {a}t so [gh]erne bidde mi lif."                    588

      {and} o bi spak him e king
      Iwis heo is a swete ing.
      Wel au[gh]hte ich wilny habbe hire to wiue
      So [gh]erne heo bit for mine liue.

[Headnote: _The 'Admiral' doubts Claris's second story._]

[Sidenote: The following morning Claris again calls Blauncheflur in vain
to go with her.]

  Ano{er} day Clarys erly Aryst;
  {a}t Blauncheflo{ur} we[l~l] wyst,
  [_No gap in MS._]
  And seide, "y com{e} anoon~,"
  When Clarys her clepe bygan~,                          872
  And fel in a slepe newe.
  Sone after it made hem to rewe:

    Amore[gh]e, o Clariz arist,
    Blau{n}cheflur heo atwist
    {a}t he makede so longe dem{ur}e.
    "Aris," heo sede, "{and} go we ifere."               592
    Q{ua} blau{n}cheflur, "ich come anon."
    Ac floriz cleppe{n} hire bigon,
    And he him also vnwise
    And feolle aslepe one is wise.                      596

      Clarisse a noer day arist,
      {and} haue blancheflur at wist
      at heo haue so longe de mere,
      "Aris vp nou {and} g[on]e ifere."
      er heo seyde ich come anon
      . . . floyres hire . . . .
      Abode e children ase don wise.
      Vell aslepe on isse wise
      On isse wise hey . . . . .
      Sone er . . . . . . . .

  Clarys to e Pyler cam~;
  A basyn~ of gold~ in hond she nam~,                    876
  And Cleped after Blaunchefloure
  To wende w{i}t{h} hur in to e Toure.

    o Clarice to e piler com,
    And e bacin of golde nom,
    To bere wi into e Tur,
    Heo lokede aft{er} blau{n}cheflur.                   600

      Clarise to e piler wende anon
      A basin of gold er heo nom,
      {and} haue ycleped [blanchef]lur
      To wende . . . . . . .
      Heo ne . . uerede [gh]e ne . .
      o wende clarisse {a}t heo were ago.

[Sidenote: The Admiral again inquires for Blauncheflur, and not content
with Claris's story,]

  e Amyral asked after Blauncheflo{ur},
  [_No gap in MS._]
  "What! is she not com{e} [gh]et?                       880
  Now she me doute al to lyte."

    o Clarice com into e tur,
    He axede aft{er} blau{n}cheflur.
    "Sire, ihc wende hire finde here;
    He was arise are ihc were.                           604
    Nis heo no[gh]t icume [gh]ete?"
    Q{ua} he, "heo dute me to lite."

      o clarisse com in to e tur,
      e amiral askede blanchefl[ur],
      {and} askede whi heo ne come,
      Also heo was woned to done.
      "Heo was arise are ich were,
      Ich wende hire habbe ifunde ere.
      What nis heo . . icome . .
      Wod heo . . . me to . .

[Headnote: _The 'Admiral' finds the children in bed together._]

[Sidenote: sends his chamberlain, who finds the two children in bed
together.]

  For he cleped his Chamburlayn~,
  And bade him wende w{i}t{h} his mayn~
  [Sidenote: [109 _a_]]
  To wete why she wyl not com{e}                         884
  As she was wonyd to doon~.
  e Chamburlayn~ is forth noom~;
  In to Chambre he is coom~,

    He clupede to hi{m} his chau{m}berlayn,
    And het hi{m} go wi alle mayn,                      608
    For to wite whi heo ne come
    To his heste suthe sone.
    For he wende sone anon
    To hire chau{m}bre {a}t he com.                     612

      . . . . . . . chaumberlen
      . . . . . . . his . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      So heo was . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .

  And stonde byfore hur bedde,                          888
  And fynde ere, nebbe to nebbe,
  Nebbe to nebbe, and mou to mou.
  To e Amyral it was sone cou;
  Vp in to e Toure he stey[gh],                         892
  And told his lord al {a}t he sey[gh].

    In hire bedde he fond tuo,
    Wel faste iclupt, aslepe bo,
    Neb to neb {and} mu to mu;
    Sone were here sore[gh]{er}en cu.                   616
    [T]o e Admiral sone he te[gh]
    [A]nd tolde him what he ise[gh].

      . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      [Sidenote: [_leaf 8, back_]]
      . . . . . a [gh]e . . . .
      . . his louerd wat he i a[gh]he
      {and} [gh]et he ouhte, are he hem quelle,
      Wat he were hui scholden telle.
      {and} see he oute he{m} to dee don.

[Sidenote: The Admiral then goes with drawn sword and finds the
children.]

  e Amyral late him his swerd bryng{e},
  For wete he wolde of~ at tydyng{e}:
  [_No gap in MS._]
  He went to hem {er}e ey lay:                         896
  [Gh]it was she a-slepe {er}e ay.

    [e] Admiral het his suerd bringe;
    [Iw]ite he wolde of us inge.                       620
    [Fo]r he wende wi al his mayn,
    [He] {and} his chaumberlayn.
    [In] e bed heo fond tueie;
    [[Gh]it] was e slep in here eie.                    624

      e amirayl bed his swerd him bringe
      W[i]te he wolde of isse tiinge.
      Vor he wende mid al his mayn,
      at he com er hei boe leie.
      e [gh]et was e slep in here e[gh]e.

  The Amyral lete e clothes doun~ cast
  A lytel by-nethe hur brest,
  And sone he knew anoon~                                900
  {a}t oon~ was woman, & {a}t o{er} groom~.
  He quaked for tene ere he stood;
  Hem to sloon~ was in his mood~;
  [Gh]it he ou[gh]t, or he hem quelde,                  904
  What ey were, ey shuld him telle,
  And seth he wyl w{i}t{h} dome hem done.

    [He] let Adu{n} e cloes caste
    [Bin]een here breste.
    Bi here breste he kneu anon
    {a}t on was maide {and} {a}t o{er} a mon.         628

      e amiral het here cloes adou{n} caste
      A lutel bi nee here breste.
      o iseih he wel anon
      on was may {and} oer mon.
      e amirayl quakede, for angys e astod,
      Hem to quelle, hit was on his mod.

[Sidenote: They awake and cry for mercy.]

  e Children wakyd swyth soone,
  And saw e swerde ouer hem drawe;                      908
  ey ben adrad, and in aw[gh]e.
  an seide Florys to Blauncheflo{ur},
  "Of~ oure lyf~ is no soco{ur}."
  But ey cryde him m{er}cy swyth,                       912
  For to length her lyue.

    e children awoke o anon
    And se[gh]e e Admiral biuore he{m} gon,
    Wi his suerd al adra[gh]e;
    Sore hi beo offerd {and} wel ma[gh]e.               632
    "Seie," q{ua} e Admiral, "belamy,
    Ho makede e so hardy,
    For to come in to mi Tur
    And to ligge bi blau{n}cheflur?"                     636
    Hi crie[gh] him "m{er}ci," boe suie,
    {a}t he [gh]iue hem furst of liue.

      e children a woken vnder soon (?)
      And se[gh]en {a}t swerd ou{er} hem a drawe,
      Hij weren agr . . {and} ee hui mawe.
      . . . . . . . . belami
      Who makede e so hardi
      . . . . . . . in my tour
      . . . . . . . blancheflur.
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . e . . . . fore.
      o seyde floyres to blancheflur,
      "Of vre liue nis no socur."
      Ak hei crie him merci so suie
      {a}t he [gh]af hem furst of here liue.

  Vp he bade hem sytte booth,
  And do on bo her clo;
  Se he dide hem bynde fast,                            916
  And in p{r}ison~ lete hem be cast.

      Vp he bad hem sitte boe,
      {and} don on here beyre cloe,
      {and} o he bad hem binde faste,
      {and} in to one p{ri}sun he het hem cast.

[Headnote: _The 'Admiral' summons his counsellors._]

[Sidenote: The Admiral summons his counsellors and tells them the case.]

  Now ha he after his Barons sent,
  To wreke him after Iugement,
  Now han e Barons vndernome,                           920
  And to e Amyral ey ben coom{e}.

    Aft{er} his barnage he ha isend,
    To awreke him wi iugem{en}t.                        640
    And let he{m} e while binde faste,
    And in to p{ri}son ben icaste.
    His palais {a}t was so faire ibuld,
    Of Erles {and} barons hit was ifuld.                 644

      . . . he . . after his barenage
      . . . . he him . . . .
      . . . barenage . . . . .
      {a}t to nan amyrayl abe nome .
      . . . . . . . . . ibuld
      . . . . . . . . was ifuld.

  He stood vp a-mong{e} hem al,
  W{i}t{h} semblant wro w{i}t{h}alle,
  [Sidenote: [109 _b_]]
  And seide: "Lordynges, w{i}t{h} much hono{ur},         924
  [Gh]e herde speke of Blauncheflo{ur},
  {a}t y bou[gh]t hur dere a ply[gh]t
  For seuen sithes of golde hur wy[gh]t;
  For y wende w{i}t{h}-out wene                          928
  at feire mayde to haue had to Quene.

    Vp he stod among he{m} alle,
    Bi semblau{n}t wel wro wi alle.
    "Lordinges," he sede, "wi muchel hon{ur},
    [Gh]e habbe iherd of blau{n}cheflur,                648
    Hu ihc hire bo[gh]te apli[gh]t,
    For seuesie of gold hire wi[gh]t.
    To hire was mi meste wene,
    For to habbe to mi quene.                            652

      e amiral stod up among he{m} alle
      . . . . . . wre mid [alle]
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      . . . . . . . . . . .
      [Sidenote: [_leaf 8, back, col. 2_]]
      . . . . . . wioute w[ene]
      To habben hire to mi quene

[Headnote: _The trial of the children._]

  Among~ my maydons in my Toure
  I hur dide, w{i}t{h} muche honoure;
  Byfore her bedde my self~ y coom~;                     932
  I fonde {e}ryn a naked man.
  an were ey to me so loo,
  I ou[gh]t to haue sleyn~ hem boo,
  I was so wro and so wood~.                            936

    [_No gap in MS._]
    Nis no[gh]t [gh]ore {a}t i ne com
    And fond hire wi hordom,
    Me to schame {and} deshonur,
    In hire bedde on mi Tur.                             656

      . . . hire bedde miself ich co[me]
      . . . hire ane naked grome
      . . . . . . . me wel loe
      . . . . . . . he{m} boe.
      {and} ich was so wro {and} wod

  [Gh]it y w{i}t{h}drow[gh] myn~ hoot blood~
  Tyl y haue sende after [gh]ow, by assent,
  To wreke me w{i}t{h} Iugement.
  Now [gh]it [gh]e woot how it is goon~,                 940
  Wreke me soon~ of~ my foon~."

    [_No gap in MS._]
    Ihc habbe [gh]ou told hu hit is went;
    A wreke me wi Jugem{en}t."

      {and} [gh]et ihc wi drou . . . .
      {a}t ich hadde after . . . .
      To wreke me o{r}uh iugem[ent].
      Nou [gh]e habbe iherd hou it is.
      Awreke me of mine fon."

[Sidenote: One suggests that the children be heard before being judged.]

  an spake a kyng~ of at londe,
  "We haue herd al is shame and shonde;
  But, or we hem to deth deme,                           944
  Lat vs hem see, [gh]if it e Queeme,
  What ey wolde speke or sygge,
  [Gh]if~ ey wyl au[gh]t ageyn~ vs legge:
  Hit were nou[gh]t ry[gh]t iugement,                    948
  W{i}t{h}out answere make acoupement.

    a{n}ne spak a freo burgeis,
    {a}t was hende {and} curt[eis],                     660
    "Sire, are hi beo to die awreke,
    We mote ihere e childre{n} speke.
    [_No gap in MS._]
    Hit nere no[gh]t elles rist iugem{en}t,
    Biute{n} ansuare to acupem{en}t."                   664

       o spak a king of ulk . .
      "[Gh]e habbe iherd is . . . .
      Ak are we he{m} to dee . . .
      We schullen i heren e . . .
      What huy wolle speke . . .
      {and} [gh]if huy wolle ou . . .
      Hit nis no ri[gh]ht iugem[ent]."
      Wi oute onsuere . . . . .

[Headnote: _The trial continued._]

[Sidenote: The king of Nubia advises that they be instantly burned.]

  Til is is herde of~ more and lasse,
  What myster is, to bere wytnesse?"

    e king of Nubie sede o,
    "For so, ne schal hit no[gh]t go so.
    Hit is ri[gh]t ure[gh] alle ing
    Felons inome hond habbing,                           668
    For to suffre Jugeme{n}t
    Biute ansuere o{er} acupeme{n}t."

       e king of nubie . . . .
      "Sire, so ne schal hit . . . .
      Trait{ou}r at is nome hond . .
      Hit is ri[gh]ht o{r}u alle  . . .
      To beo for don o{er} i sch . .
      Wi outen oni here of . . .
      Al is ihe . . {and} lag . .
      {and} bere him er of w . . .

  After e Children haue ey sent,--                     952
  To brenne hem was his entent;--
  Two s{er}ieauntes hem gan bryng{e}
  Toward~ hur al wepyng{e}.
  Drery boo ese children goo;                          956
  Ayther bemene o{er}is woo.

    Aft{er} e children nu me sende;
    Hem to berne fir me tende.                          672

      After es childeren . . . .
      Hem to for berne er . . . .
      Twene seriauns hem for bringe
      To fonge here dom sore wepin[ge]
      Dreri weren o chyldren . .
      Her eyer by wepe oer . .

[Sidenote: Floris reproaches himself to Blauncheflur.]

  an seide Florys to Blauncheflo{ur},
  "Of~ oure lyf~ is no soco{ur}:

    Seide floriz to blau{n}cheflur,
    "Of vre lif nis no sucur;
    Ac min is e guld {and} e vnme,
    {a}t u for me schalt olie de.                    676

       o seyde floyres to blanche[flur]
      Of vre liue nis no soc[ur].

  Yf~ kinde of~ man it ole my[gh]t,                     960
  Twyes y shuld dye w{i}t{h} ry[gh]t,
  Oones for my self~, ano{er} for the,
  For, y dee {o}u hast for me."
  [Sidenote: [110 _a_]]
  Blauncheflo{ur} seyde oo,                             964
  "e gylt is myn~, of oure woo."

    Ac if cu{n}de hit olie mi[gh]te,
    Ihc o[gh]te deie tuye wi ri[gh]te.
    O de for e, on o{er} for me;
    For is u olest nu for me.                         680
    For if i nere i{n} to is t{ur} icume,
    Wi mire[gh]e u mi[gh]test her i{n}ne wune."

[Sidenote: He gives her the ring, telling her of its properties.]

  Florys drou[gh] for {a}t ryng
  at his moder him gaff at her p{ar}tyng~:
  "Haue is ryng~, le{m}man myn{e};                      968
  {o}u shalt not dye while it is yn{e}."
  Blaunchefloure seide oo,
  [_No gap in MS._]
  "So ne shal it neu{er} goo,
  at is ryng~ shal help me,                            972
  And e deed on e see."

    He dro[gh] for a riche ring,
    His moder him [gh]af at his p{ar}ting.               684
    "Haue is ring, le{m}man min,
    u ne mi[gh]t no[gh]t deie e while he is in."
    e ring he haue for ara[gh]t
    And to blau{n}cheflur bita[gh]t.                     688
    "e ring ne schal neure aredde me;
    For de ne mai ihc se on e."

[Sidenote: She attempts to force the ring back on him; it falls to the
ground and is picked up by an earl.]

  Florys {a}t ryng~ hur rau[gh]t,
  And she it him agayn~ betau[gh]t,
  Nouther ne wyl other deed seene;                       976
  ey let it falle hem bytwene;
  A king~ com~ after; a ryng~ he fonde,
  And brou[gh]t it forth in his honde.

    e ring heo wolde a[gh]e reche,
    And to floriz hi{m} biteche.                         692
    Ac for al {a}t heo mi[gh]te do,
    He hi{m} nolde a[gh]en ifo.
    And e ring bi one stunde,
    Fel adu{n} to e grunde.                             696
    A duc stupede {and} hi{m} vp nom,
    And was er of wel blie mon.

  us e Children wepyng~ com~                           980
  To e fire and hur doom~.
  Byfore e folk~ ey were brou[gh]t;
  Drery was her bothes ou[gh]t;

    Nu es childre for me bri{n}ge
    To here dom, al wepinge.                             700

[Headnote: _The 'fairness' of the children excites compassion._]

[Sidenote: The 'fairness' of the children excites compassion.]

  {er}e was noon~ so stern{e} man                       984
  at e Children loked oon~,
  {a}t ey ne wolde, al wel fawe,
  Her iugement haue w{i}t{h}drawe,
  And w{i}t{h} grete Catel hem bygge,                    988
  [Gh]if~ ey durst speke or sygge;
  For Flores was so feire a [gh]onglyng~,
  And Blaunchefloure so swete a ing~,
  {er} wyst no man whor hem were woo,                   992
  For no semblaunt {a}t ey made oo.

    Ac {er} nas no{n} so st{ur}ne mon,
    {a}t he{m} lokede vpon,
    {a}t nolde o sue sa[gh]e
    {a}t iugem{en}t were widra[gh]e.                   704
    [_No gap in MS._]
    For floriz was so fair [gh]ongling,
    And blau{n}cheflur so suete ing,
    Of me{n} {and} wi{m}me{n} {a}t bu nue,
    {a}t go {and} seo {and} speke wi mue,          708
    Ne bu so faire in here gladnesse,
    So hi were in here sorinesse.

[Sidenote: But the Admiral is very wroth.]

  e Admyral was so wood~,
  Ne my[gh]t he nou[gh]t kele his hoot blood~;
  He bade e Children fast be bound~,                    996
  And in to e fire slong~.

    Ac e admiral was so wro {and} wod,
    He q{ua}kede for g{ra}me {er} he stod.              712
    And het he{m} binde wel faste
    And i{n} to e fire caste.

[Sidenote: The earl with the ring steps forward and speaks in behalf of
the children.]

  at ilk{e} king~ {a}t e ryng~ fond~,
  To Amyral he spake and round~,
  And wolde hem saue to e lyf~,                        1000
  And told~ how for e ryng~ ey gon~ stryf~.
  e Amyral lete hem ageyn~ clepe,
  For he wolde here hem speke,
  [Sidenote: [110 _b_]]
  And asked Florys what he heete:                       1004
  And he tolde him ful skeete:

    e duc {a}t e ring fu{n}de,
    Com to e Admiral {and} runde,                       716
    And al to gad{er}e he gan him schewe;
    Of {a}t e children were biknewe.
    e Admiral let he{m} a[gh]e{n} clepe,
    For he wolde wi floriz speke.                       720

[Headnote: _The 'Admiral' is touched with pity._]

[Sidenote: Floris asks clemency for the maiden, and the maiden prays for
him.]

  "Sir," he seide, "yf~ it were y wylle,
  {o}u ne getest not {a}t maide to spylle;
  But, good sir, quel {o}u me,                         1008
  And lete {a}t maide on lyue be."
  [_No gap in MS._]
  Blauncheflo{ur} seide byne,
  "e gilt of~ oure dedes is moyne."

    "++Sire," q{ua} floriz, "forso ihc telle,
    u no[gh]test no[gh]t {a}t maide quelle.
    Of al is gilt ihc am to wite;
    Ihc o[gh]te deie {and} he go quite."                 724
    Q{ua} blau{n}cheflur, "aquel u me,
    And let floriz aliue be.
    [Gh]ef hit n{er}e for mi luue,
    He n{er}e no[gh]t fram his londe icome."             728

  e Admyral seide oo                                  1012
  "I-wys [gh]e shul dye boo."
  His swerd he breide out of his sheeth,
  e Children to haue don{e} to deeth.
  Blaunchefloure put for hur swire,                    1016
  And Florys dide her agayn~ to tyre,
  And seide, "I am man; I shal byfore,
  W{i}t{h} wrong hast {o}u y lyf loore."
  Florys forth his swerd putte,                         1020
  And Blauncheflo{ur} agayn~ him tytte.

    Q{ua} e Admiral, "so ihc mote go,
    [Gh]e schulle deie togadere bo.
    Miself ihc wulle me awreke;
    Ne schulle [gh]e neure go ne speke."                 732
    Floriz for his nekke bed,
    And blau{n}cheflur wid{ra}[gh]e hi{m} [gh]et.
    Blau{n}cheflur bid for hire suere,
    And floriz a[gh]en hire gan tire.                    736
    Nei{er} ne mi[gh]te {er}e ole
    {a}t o{er} deide bifore.

[Sidenote: The Admiral is at length touched with pity.]

  e king~ seide, "dredry mot [gh]e be,
  is rou by is Children to see."
  e king~ at e ryng~ hadde,                          1024
  For routh of~ hem sone he radde,
  And at e Amyral wyl he spede,
  e Children fro e de to lede.

    o e Admiral, e[gh] he wro were,
    {er} he chau{n}gede his chere.                      740
    For he se[gh] {a}t ey{er} wolde for o{er} deie,
    And for he se[gh] mani wepinde eie,
    And for he luuede so muche {a}t mai,
    Al wepinge he t{ur}nde away.                         744
    His swerd fel of his hond to gru{n}de;
    Ne mi[gh]te he hit holde ulke stu{n}de.

[Sidenote: The earl with the ring speaks for the children.]

  "Sir," he seide, "it is lytel prys,                   1028
  ese Children for to slee y-wys;
  And it is wel more worship,
  Florys counsel {a}t [gh]e weete,
  Who him tau[gh]t {a}t ilke gynne,                    1032
  y toure for to com{e} ynne,
  And who him brou[gh]t are,
  And other, {a}t [gh]e may be ware."

    e duc {a}t here ring hadde,
    For he{m} to speke wille he hadde.                   748
    "++Sire Admiral," he sede, "iwis
    Hit is e wel litel pris
    is feire childre{n} for to quelle.
    Ac bet{er}e hit is {a}t hi e telle                 752
    Hu he com in to i tur,
    To ligge {er} bi blau{n}cheflur.
    His engin whan u hit wite,
    e bet{er}e wi o{er}e u mi[gh]t e wite."         756

  an seide e Amyral, "as god me saue,                 1036
  Florys shal his lyf~ haue,
  [Gh]if~ he me telle who him tau[gh]t {er}to,
  Of Florys, at shal y neuer doo."

    Alle {a}t herde wordes his,
    Biseche {a}t he g{ra}nti is.
    He het hi{m} telle his engin,
    Hu he to blau{n}cheflur co{m} in,                    760
    And to hi{m} radde {and} help arto.

[Headnote: _Floris tells his story._]

[Sidenote: Floris refuses to tell how he gained entry to the tower until
pardon has been promised the porter.]

  Now ey bydden al y-wys                               1040
  {a}t e Admyral g{ra}unted is,
  To for[gh]eue {a}t trespas
  [Gh]if~ Florys told how it was.

    "{a}t," q{ua} he, "nelle ihc neure do,
    For ing {a}t me mai me do,
    Bute hit he{m} beo for[gh]iue also."                 764
    Alle o{er}e biseche is,
    And of e Admiral ig{ra}nted is.

[Sidenote: He then tells his story.]

  [Sidenote: [111 _a_]]
  Now eu{er}y word~ he ha him tolde,                   1044
  How {a}t maide was for him solde,
  And how he was of~ spayn~ a kynges sone,
  For grete loue eder y-com{e},
  For to fonde, w{i}t{h} sum gynne,                     1048
  at feire maide for to wynne,
  And how e porter was his man by-com{e},
  For his gold and for his warysoun~,
  And how he was in e Florys born{e}.                  1052
  Alle e lordinges low[gh] {er}forn{e}:

    Nu ord {and} ende he ha he{m} itold,
    Hu bla[un]cheflur was fram him isold,                768
    And hu he was of spaygne a kinges sone,
    For hire luue uder icume,
    To fo{n}den wi sume gnne,
    Hu he mi[gh]te hure awi{n}ne,                        772
    And hu ure[gh] e cupe {and} ure[gh] e g{er}sume,
    e port{er} was his man bicume,
    And hu he was in a cupe ibore;
    Alle es o{er}e lowe {er}uore.                     776

[Headnote: _Scene of reconciliation._]

[Sidenote: The Admiral lifts them up, dubs Floris knight, and causes
them to be married in church with a ring.]

  Now e Admyral wol him tyde;
  Florys sette next his syde,
  And efte he made him stonde vpry[gh]t,                1056
  And dubbed him ere kny[gh]t,
  And bade he shulde w{i}t{h} him be,
  e furthermost of his meyne.

    ++e Admiral o, wel hi{m} bitide,
    {a}t Child he sette bi his side,
    And ha for[gh]iue his wrae bo,
    Floriz {and} blau{n}cheflur also.                    780
    And sede wi him hi scholde be,
    e beste of al his maine.

  Florys falle doun~ to his feet,                      1060
  And p{ra}ye geue him his sweet.
  e Amyral gaf~ him his le{m}man~:
  Al {a}t {er}e were, ankyd him anne.
  To a Chirche he let hem bryng{e},                     1064
  And dede let wed hem w{i}t{h} a ryng{e}.
  Bo ese twoo swete inges y-wys
  Fel his feet for to kysse;

    And floriz he make stonde vpri[gh]t,
    And {er} he dubbede him to kni[gh]t.                784
    Nu boe togadere es childre for blisse
    Falle to his fet hem to kisse.
    He let he{m} to one Chirche bringe,
    And spusen he{m} wi one gold ringe.                 788

[Sidenote: The Admiral takes Claris to be his queen.]

  And rou[gh] consel of Blauncheflo{ur},               1068
  Clarys was fet doun~ of e Toure,
  And Amyral wedded hur to queene.
  {er}e was fest swythe breeme;
  I can not telle al e sonde,                          1072
  But rycher fest was neu{er} in londe.

    ure[gh] e red of blau{n}cheflur,
    Me fette Clariz adun of e Tur.
    e Admiral hire nam to quene.
    ilke feste was wel breme,                           792
    For {er} was alle ku{n}nes gleo,
    {a}t mi[gh]te at eni briddale beo.

[Sidenote: Messengers come to Floris announcing his father's death.]

  Was it nou[gh]t longe after an~,
  at to Florys tydyng~ cam~,
  {a}t e king~ his Fader was deed~.                   1076

    Hit nas {er} aft{er} noing longe
    {a}t {er} co{m} floriz writ {and} sonde,           796
    {a}t e king his fader was ded,

[Sidenote: The Admiral tries in vain to induce him to remain.]

  e Baronage gaf~ him reed
  at he shuld wende hoom~,
  And fonge his feire kyngdoom~.
  At e Amyral ey toke leue,                           1080
  And he bydde em byleue.

    And {a}t he scholde nime{n} his red.
    a{n}ne seide e Admiral,
    "If u dost bi mi consail,                           800
    Bilef wi me; ne wend na[gh]t hom,
    Ihc wulle [gh]eue e a kinedom
    Also long {and} also brod,
    Also eure [gh]et i fader ibod."                     804

[Sidenote: Floris makes rich presents in parting,]

  Hom{e} he went w{i}t{h} royal array,
  And was crownyd w{i}t{h}-in a short day.

  (_Follows. _The bate[l~l] of Troye_,
    sithe {a}t god is world~ wrou[gh]t~
    Heuen and erthe made of~ nou[gh]t~
  leaves 111-134. Then _Amys and Amylion_, leaves 134-147. MS. ends
  with one leaf of _Sir Eglamour_._)

    Ac floriz nolde for no wi{n}ne;
    Leu{er}e hi{m} were wi his ki{n}ne.
    e Admiral he bid god day,
    And o{n}kede Clariz {a}t faire may,                808
    And to hire he ha i[gh]olde
    Twenti pond of ride golde.
    And to Daris {a}t hi{m} so ta[gh]te,
    Twenti pund he ara[gh]te.                            812
    And alle {a}t for him dude{n} eidel,
    He [gh]eld here while sue wel.

[Headnote: _Floris and Blauncheflur depart for their native land._]

[Sidenote: and comes home, where he and Blauncheflur reign as king
and queen.]

    He bita[gh]te he{m} alle godalmi[gh]te
    And com hom whane he mi[gh]te.                       816
    He was king wi Muchel hon{ur},
    And heo his quene blau{n}cheflur.
    Nu [gh]e habbe iherd ane ende
    Of floriz {and} his le{m}man hende,                  820
    Hu aft{er} bale come bote;
    God leue {a}t vs so mote,
    {a}t we him mote louie so,
    {a}t we mote to heuene go.  AMEN.                  824

    E-X-PLI-C-IT.




 ASSUMPCIOUN DE N{OT}RE DAME


  _Cambr. Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2._

  ++MErie tale telle ihc is day
  Of sei{n}te Marye {a}t swete may.
  Al is e tale {and} is lescoun
  Of hire swete asso{m}pcioun,                             4
  Hu heo was fram ere ynome
  In to blisse wi hire sone.
  e kyng of heuene hem blessi
  {a}t is listne {and} wel herkni.                      8
  Alle moten hi iblessed beo,
  at vnderstonde wel is gleo.


HIC INCIPIT ASSUMPC{I}O B{EA}TE MARIE


    _Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 10,036, lf. 62._

    ++IN honorance of ih{es}u cryst
    Sitte stille {and} haue lyst;
    And [gh]if [gh]e wille to me here,
    Off oure ladi [gh]e mai lere,                          4
    Floure of heuene, ladi {and} quene,
    As sche au[gh]t wel to bene,
    To wham au{n}geles dou{n} here my[gh]t
    To serue hure boe day {and} ny[gh]t.                  8
    P{ar} auent{ur}e [gh]e haue no[gh]t iherde
    How oure ladi went out of {i}s werde:
    Sitte stille {and} herkene to me;
    Now ih{es}u cryst oure helpe be!                      12

   Whan ih{es}u c{ri}st was don on rode,
  {And} olede de for vre gode,                          12
  He clepede to hym sei{n}t Iohan
  {a}t was his o[gh]e qenes man,
  {And} his o[gh]ene moder also;
  Ne clepede he hym fere{n} no mo.                        16

     Whan ih{es}u c{ri}st was dou{n} on e rode
    And olede de for oure goode,
    He callide to hym seynt Iohan,
    That was his fleschli kynnes man.                     16
    His moder swete he dide also;
    He callid no men mo him to.

  And sede, "wif, lo her i child,
  {a}t on e rode is ispild.
  [_No gap in MS._]
  Nu ihc am ho{n}ged on is tre,
  Wel sore ihc wot hit rewe e.                          20
  Mine fet {and} honden of blod [bu red];
  Biute gult ih[c] olie is ded.

    And seide, "wo{m}man, lo here i sone,
    And, man, take hure to mod{er} i{n} good wone.        20
    And enke on my sorwe nowe
    How I hange here abowe,
    How I hange apon{e} a tre,
    Ful sore, I wote, hit rewe ee.                      24
    [Sidenote: [leaf 62, back]]
    Myn feet, myn hondes, of blode ben rede;
    With owte gilt I ole dede.

  Mine men {a}t a[gh]te me to loue,
  For whan ihc co{m} fram heuene abuue,                   24
  Me haue idon is ilke schame,
  Ihc naue no gult; hi bu to blame.
  To mi fader ihc bidde mi bone
  {a}t he for[gh]iue hit hem welsone."                   28

    But ei haue wille to louen me
    For wham I hange on is tree.                         28
    The Iewis me deden mychel schame;
    Ther of hadde I neu{er} blame."

[Headnote: _Jesus entrusts Mary to John._]

   Marie stod {and} sore weop;
  e t{er}res feolle to hire fet.
  No wu{n}der nas e[gh] heo wepe sore;
  Of sore[gh]e ne mi[gh]te heo wite nomore,               32
  Whe{n}ne he {a}t of hire nam blod {and} fless,
  Also his suete wille was,
  He{n}g Inayled on e treo.

    ++MArie his moder sore dide wepe;
    The teeres fellen at hure fete.                       32
    Nas no wondre ou[gh] sche wepe sore;
    Of sorwe wist sche neu{er} more.
    When he at of hure flesche nam,
    For his holi swete nam,                               36
    Honge {er} nailed to a tre,

  "Alas, my sone," seide heo,                             36
  "Hu may ihc liue? hu may is beo?
  Hu mai ihc al is sore[gh]e iseo?
  Ne cue ihc neure of sore[gh]e no[gh]t;
  Mi leue sone, wat hastu o[gh]t?                        40
  Hou schal ihc lyue biute e?
  Leue sone, what seistu me?"

    "Alas, my sone," o saide sche,
    "How mai I lyue? how mai I bene?
    How mai I is sorwe ysene?                            40
    Neu{er} ere wist I of sorwe nou[gh]t;
    Leue sone, what hauest ou ou[gh]t?
    How schal I leue w{i}t{h} oute ee?
    Leue sone, what saist ou to me?"                     44

   o spac ih{es}u wordes gode,
  {er} he heng vpon e rode,                             44
  {And} sede to his moder dere,
  "Ihc schal e teche a trewe ifere,
  {a}t trewliche schal loky e,
  e while {a}t u in ere be."                          48

    Ih{es}u spak o wordes goode,
    As he henge on e rode,
    And seide to his moder dere,
    "I schal ee take a trewe fere,                       48
    [Sidenote: [leaf 63]]
    That trewly schal kepen ee,
    While in ere ou schalt be."

   o seide vre lord to sei{n}t Iohan,
  "For my loue qep me is wymman.
  [Gh]em hire wel wi al i mi[gh]te
  {a}t noman do hure non vnri[gh]te."                    52

    Than seide Ih{es}u to seynt Iohan,
    "For my loue kepe wel is wo{m}man.                   52
    Kepe hure wel w{i}t{h} al i my[gh]t,
    That no man do hure vnry[gh]t."
     an nam e apostel, seynt Iohan,
    On his kepynge is wo{m}man.                          56
    He kept hure wel w{i}t{h} al his my[gh]t,
    That no man do hure none vnry[gh]t.[A-1]

    [Footnote A-1: MS. viry[gh]t]

  In to e te{m}ple mid hire he nam,
  {And} also sone so he ar cam,
  Amo{n}g e lefdis in e stede,
  God to s{er}ui he hire dude.                            56

    To e temple he hure nam,
    And also sone as he er cam,                          60
    God to serue he hure dede,
    Amonge e nu{n}nes in at stede.

  {er} bilefte heo al hure lif;
  Ne louede he no{er} fi[gh]t ne st{ri}f,
  eo {a}t in e temple were,
  Ne mi[gh]te no[gh]t hire forbere.                       60
  Wi al hure mi[gh]te e while heo was ore,
  Heo s{er}uede boe lasse {and} more;
  Poure {and} sike he dude god,
  {And} seruede he{m} to hond {and} fot.                  64

    Ther sche bileft al hure lyfe,
    Ne loued sche no{er} fi[gh]t ne stryf.               64
     The ladies at {er} Inne weren,
    Ful wel ei ne my[gh]t hure forberen,
    For eu{er} e while sche was ore,
    Sche wolde serue las {and} more.                      68
    Seke {and} hole sche dide gode
    And seruede hem to hande {and} fote.

  Poure {and} hu{n}grie wel faire he fedde,
  {And} sike heo bro[gh]te in here bedde.
  Nas {er} non so hol ne fer,
  {a}t to hire nadde mester.                             68
  Hi louede hure alle wi here mi[gh]te,
  For heo seruede he{m} wel ri[gh]te.

    Naked {and} hungry sche cloed {and} fedde;
    Colde {and} seke sche brou[gh]t to bedde.             72
    [Sidenote: [leaf 63, back]]
    Ne was {er} no{er} seke ne fere,
    That ei nadde to hure mystere.
    Thei louede hure wel w{i}t{h} al here my[gh]t;
    Sche it serued {and} at was ry[gh]t.                 76

  He wakede more ane slep;
  Hire sone to s{er}ui was al hire kep.                   72
  To him heo clupede wi Murie steuene,
  {And} hire he sente an au{n}gel fram heu{e}ne,
  Te gladie hire him self he cam,
  Crist {a}t fless of hire nam.                          76

    Sche woke more an sche slepe;
    Hure sone to serue was al hure kepe,
    To hym sche callid w{i}t{h} rewful steuene,
    And he hure sent an angel fro heuene,                 80
    To glade hure, hym self he cam,
    That of hure bodi flesche nam.

[Headnote: _Christ sends to Mary an angel messenger._]

   Sei{n}t Ion hire kepte {and} was hire dere;
  He was hire eure a trewe fere.
  Nolde he neure fram hire gon;
  Al {a}t heo wolde he dude anon.                        80
  e whiles hi were in {a}t stede,
  Al {a}t heo wolde he hit dede.
  Whane heo hadde beo {er} longe,
  Ten wynt{er}e he{m} amonge,                             84
  Hire sone wolde heo come hym to,
  Whane he hit wolde, hit was ido.

    Seynt Io{ha}n hure kep{er} was hure dere,
    And to hure was a trewe fere.                         84
    Ne wolde he neu{er} fro hure gone;
    Al at sche wolde he wolde done.
    While sche was in at stede,
    Al at sche wolde he hure dede.                       88
    When sche hadde {er} longe ben,
    That faire ladi, heuene quen,
    Than wolde hure sone sche com hi{m} to.
    When he wolde, hit was do.                            92

   He sente hire on Au{n}gel of heuene,
  {And} grette hire wi murie steuene.                    88
  In e temple he bad hire bede;
  {er} li[gh]te e au{n}gel i{n} {a}t stede,
  {And} sede, "lefdi ful of grace,

    He sent to hure an angel of heuene,
    That gret hure w{i}t{h} myry steuene,
    Ther sche was {and} bad hure bede,
    Ly[gh]th an angel in at stede,                       96
    [Sidenote: [leaf 64]]
    And seide, "ladi, ful of g{ra}ce,

[Headnote: _The angel announces that Mary will be summoned to heaven._]

  "Wel e beo in eche place.                              92
  Ne beo no[gh]t of drad e[gh] ihc beo her;
  Ihc am i sones Messager.
  Fram hym to e ihc am icome
  e grette wel i dere sone.                             96
  Flur of ere, of heuene quen,
  Iblessed mote u eure ben.

    "Blessed be ou in eche place.
    Be nou[gh]t adrad ou[gh] I be here;
    I am i sones messagere.                             100
    Fro hym I am to ee come;
    He gret ee wel, i dere sone.
    Floure of ere, heuene quene,
    Blessed mote {o}u euer bene.                        104

  Wel beo e time {a}t u were ibore,
  For al is wordle were forlore;                        100
  Ef u nere {and} {a}t frut of e,
  Marie lefdi, wel e be.
  Lefdi, best of alle inge,
  Wel blie bode ihc e bringe,                          104
  Nym is palm wi i ri[gh]t honde;
  Hit is i dere sones sonde.

    Wel be at tyme at {o}u was born,
    For al is worlde hit was forlorn,
    [Gh]if ou ne were {and} e fruyt of ee;
    Marie, ladi, wel ee be.                             108
    Ladi, best of al inge,
    Blie tiynges I ee brynge,
    Thou take is palme {a}t I brynge ee;
    Thi dere sone ha sent it ee.                       112

  He inke lo{n}g hym to se;
  Ne schaltu her no leng{er} beo.                        108
  He wile senden aft{er} e,
  Fram heuene adun of his meigne,
  {And} fecche e in to his blisse,
  {a}t eure schal leste wiute misse.                   112
  er he is kyng u schalt beo quen;
  Al heuene for e schal blie beon."

    The ynke longe hi{m} to see;
    Ther fore most I no lengere be,
    He schal sende after ee
    Of heuene ferde moche plente,                        116
    And brynge ee in to his blisse,
    That euer was {and} now is.
    er he is kyng, ou schalt be quene;
    Al heuen ryche blie schal bene.                     120
    [Sidenote: [leaf 64, back]]
    And alle him enke swie longe
    Til ou comest hem amonge."

   a{n}ne ansuaredi vre lefdi,
  To e au{n}gel at stod hire by,                       116
  "Artu Mi sones Messager,
  {a}t bringest me is greting her?
  Ha he set me any day
  A[gh]enes {a}t ihc me grei may,                      120
  {And} nyme lyue of mine kenesmen,
  {And} myne frend {a}t wi me beon,
  {And} of him {a}t ha me cloed {and} fed,
  {And} don also my sone hym bed?"                       124

    Than answerede oure ladi,
    And seide to e angel, "belamy,                      124
    Art ou my sones massagere,
    That bryngest me is bodes here?
    Haue he me sette any day,
    A[gh]ens when I me greithe may,                      128
    W{i}t{h} my frendes {and} my kynnes men,
    And w{i}t{h} hem at I in ere haue ben,
    And hem {a}t I haue fedde {and} clad,
    And don al at my sone hem bad?"                     132

   o sede e aungel, "ihc telle e;
  u ne schalt beo her bute da[gh]es re.
  e ridde day we schulle come,
  Au{n}gles f{ra}m heuene aboue,                         128
  "And fette e wi m{ur}ye song;
  For aft{er} e us inket long."

    Tho seide e angel, "I sei ee;
    Thou schalt be here but daies re.
    The ridde dai we schal come,
    Alle ix. ordres fram heuen a boue,                   136
    "And fecche ee with myry songe;
    For after ee vs inketh longe."

   anne ansuarede vre lefdy,
  "What is i name, belamy?"                             132
  He sede, "my name ne telle ihc e no[gh]t;
  Bute nym is palm {a}t ihc habbe e bro[gh]t
  {And} kep hit wel ihc bidde e;
  Ne let hit neure f{ra}m e be.                         136

    To at aungel seide oure ladi,
    "What is i name, at stande me bi?"                140
    "My name seie I ee nou[gh]t;
    But take is palme {a}t I haue brou[gh]t.
    Kepe it wel, I bidde ee,
    Ne lete it neu{er} be fro ee.                       144

  I ne dar no le{n}g dwelle her,
  For ihc was sent as Messager.
  To e apostles ihc schal gon,
  {And} bidde he{m} alle, eurech on,                     140
  {a}t hi beon her e ridde day;
  No leng abiden I ne may."

    [Sidenote: [leaf 65]]
    Ne mai I no lengere abide here,
    For I am sent a massagere.
    I schal to e apostles sone anone,
    And seie to hem sundry, on {and} one,                148
    That ei ben here e ridde dai;
    No leng{er}e abide I ne mai."

[Headnote: _Mary attires herself, then prays to her Son._]

   o he hadde ydon, to heuene he ste[gh];
  Marie abod {and} was wel sle[gh],                      144
  {And} na{m} {a}t palm {a}t hire was bro[gh]t,
  {And} of {a}t bode heo hadde gret o[gh]t,
  In to hire Chau{m}bre stille he nam;
  {And} so sone so heo ar cam,                          148
  He dude of al hire hat{er}e,
  {And} wessch hire body wy clene wat{er}e,
  o heo hauede so idon,
  Al y newe schrud heo dude hire on.                     152

    When he had iseide, to heuene he steie;
    And marie {er} bi-left he.                          152
    [_No gap in MS._]
    Vn-til hure chambre sone sche nam;
    And also sone as sche ider cam,
    Sche dide of hure cloes alle,
    And wasche hure w{i}t{h} wat{er} of wille.           156
    So sone as sche hadde dou{n},
    Newe cloes sche dide hure apou{n}.

  o heo was schurd {and} faire iclad,
  To ih{es}u c{ri}st abone heo bad,
  {And} sede, "sone, ihc onky e
  {a}t u hauest io[gh]t of me.                        156
  Sone, u ert of heuene kyng,
  Ihc bidde e i blessing;
  Sone, for in holy name,
  Schild me fram pine {and} fram schame,                 160
  {a}t e deuel ne habbe no my[gh]t;

    When sche was faire schred {and} clad,
    To ih{es}u cryst aboue sche bad,                     160
    And seide, "sone, I anke ee,
    That ou hast you[gh]t on me,
    My sone, at is heuene kynge,
    I p{ra}ie ee of i blessing.                        164
    Sone, for yn hye name,
    Schelde my bodi fro payne {and} schame,
    That e deuel haue no my[gh]t;

  To derie me hit were vnri[gh]t.
  Sone, help me nu ihc haue ned,
  at ine haue of e feond no dred,                      164
  For wi e giles {a}t he can,
  He bit{ra}ie many man.

    To reyue ee hit were no ry[gh]t.                    168
    [Sidenote: [leaf 65, back]]
    Kepe me, sone; now is nede
    That I ne haue of e deuel no drede.
    For with e wiles at he can,
    He bigile many a man.                               172

[Headnote: _She announces her departure to her friends._]

  "Leue sone, ne [gh]ef him no[gh]t,
  {a}t u hauest so dere ibo[gh]t.                      168
  Sune, u art ful of pite;
  For senful manne bid ihc e,
  {a}t u for in holy g{ra}ce,
  [gh]ef he{m} boe wille {and} space,                   172

    "Leue sone, [gh]eue hym nou[gh]t
    Man kynde at ou hast bou[gh]t.
    Mi sone, at art ful of pite,
    For man kynne I p{ra}ie ee,                         176
    That ou, for i holi g{ra}ce,
    [Gh]eue hem boe my[gh]t {and} space,

  Hem to am{en}dy er hy beo ded,
  {a}t e deuel he{m} do no qued.
  enk, sone, {a}t u hast hem wro[gh]t,
  {And} {a}t u hauest hem dere ibo[gh]t.               176
  For he{m} u oledest pine {and} wo;
  Wite he{m} wel f{ra}m here fo."

    Hem to amende or ei ben dede,
    That ei haue of e deuel no drede.                  180
    Thynke, leue sone, {o}u hast he{m} wrou[gh]t,
    And dere at ou hast hem bou[gh]t."

   o heo hadde biso[gh]t so,
  Hire frend he clupede hire to,                         180
  Boe sibbe {and} fremde Men,
  Wi reuful speche heo spak wi he{m},
  And sede, "leue frend, my sone
  Nele no leng {a}t ihc her wone;                       184
  He wile ihc wende {and} mid him be.

    When sche hadde p{ra}ied so,
    Hure frendes sche callid hure to,                    184
    [_No gap in MS._]
    Hure sibbe {and} hure kynnes men.
    W{i}t{h} reuful steuene sche spak to he{m},
    An seide, "leue frendes, my sone
    Wol no leng{er} at I here wone.                     188
    He wol at I with hi{m} be;

  And bidde ihc [gh]ou p{ar} charite,
  [Gh]ef ihc habbe eny ing mis wro[gh]t,
  Telle[gh] hit me, ne hele hit no[gh]t.                188
  Ihc wulle ame{n}de, {and} {a}t is ri[gh]t
  {a}t my saule ne beo idri[gh]t.

    Where fore I p{ra}ie [gh]ow p{ar} charite,
    [Gh]if I any inge haue mys wrou[gh]t,
    Seie me now; for-hele [gh]e nou[gh]t.               192
    [Sidenote: [leaf 66]]
    I it wole amende with my my[gh]t,
    That my soule haue no vnply[gh]t,

  at god [gh]e habbe me ydon,
  Mi sone {a}t was in rode ydon,                        192
  Man to bigge fram e ded,
  [Gh]elde hit [gh]ou at ower ned,
  {And} bringe [gh]ou in to at blis
  {a}t eure ilest ar my sone is."                      196

    The good at [gh]e haue dou{n} me,
    My sone at was doun on e tree,                     196
    Man to bigge fro e quede,
    He [gh]elde it [gh]ow at [gh]oure nede,
    And brynge [gh]ow in to his blis,
    Ther I schal be {and} my sone is."                   200

   Alle {a}t stoden hire by,
  Of {a}t tiinge were sory,
  {And} sede, "lefdi, hu mai hit be?
  Hu schulle we liue wi oute{n} e?                     200
  [_No gap in MS._]
  Lefdi dere, what hastu o[gh]t?
  Reu of vs; ne wend ou no[gh]t.
  "In sore[gh]e {and} in Muche wo
  Schulle we lyue beo u vs fro."                        204

    ++Alle at weren hure bi,
    Off suche tiinges weren sori,
    And saide, "lady, how mai is be?
    How schulle we lyuen w{i}t{h} oute ee?              204
    Ladi, ou hast vs serued so;
    Alas, how schulle we p{ar}te a two?
    Swete ladi, what is i ou[gh]t?
    Rewe on vs; departe vs nou[gh]t.                     208
    "In moche sorwe {and} in myche wo
    Schulle we lyue, be ou a go."

[Headnote: _John comes and inquires the cause of her grief._]

   anne spak vre lefdy
  To hem {a}t were hire by,
  "Lete[gh] beon; ower wepinge ne helpe no[gh]t;
  Habbe ioye in ower o[gh]t.                           208
  e while ihc am her, wake wi me;
  Hit do me god {a}t ihc [gh]ou se.

    an answerede oure ladi
    To at folke at stode hure bi,                      212
    "Late be [gh]o{ur} greding~ hit helpe no[gh]t;
    And haue blis in [gh]oure ou[gh]t.
    Whiles I am here, wake w{i}t{h} me;
    Hit do me good at I [gh]ow se.                     216

  Nabbe no drede ac wite hit wel;
  Of pine ne schal ihc ole no del.                      212
  Ne schal no sore[gh] come me to,
  For my sone hit wule so,
  Mi body ne schal no pine ole,
  For he was {er} of ibore,                             216
  He olede pine him self for me,
  o he deide vpon e tre.

    [Sidenote: [leaf 66, back]]
    Haue no drede in wel;
    Of peyne schal I ole no del.
    [_No gap in MS._]
    Mi bodi mai no peyne olen,
    For he was {er} of y-boren.                         220
    He oled de him self for me;
    He honged nailed on e tree.

  He {a}t is almi[gh]tful kyng,
  Schal me sende of his geng.                            220
  Ioh{a}n {and} e apostles, whei hy be,
  Alle hi schulle come to me."

    Mi sone at is kyng~ of heuene,
    Schal me sende worde wel euene;                      224
    Ioh{a}n {and} e apostles, where so ei bene,
    Schulle alle come for to sene."

  e while he spac us to is men,
  Of al {a}t ing nuste no[gh]t Ion.                    224
  He com to speke wi vre lefdi,
  {And} hym uste heo was sori,

    As sche so spak to e mon,
    Off al at wist nou[gh]t seynt Ion.                  228
    He come to speke w{i}t{h} oure ladi;
    Ferli him ou[gh]t at sche was sory,

  And sede, "lefdy, what is e?
  For my s{er}uise tel hit me.                           228
  Lefdi, what is e ised?
  Me were leffre to beo ded,
  ane iseo e make such chere.
  What is e, my lefdi dere?                             232
  [_No gap in MS._]
  Ne schal ihc neure habbe blis,
  Fort {a}t ihc wite what e is."

    And seide, "ladi, what is ee?
    What is is folk at I here se?                      232
    Seie me, ladi, what is ee?" he sede;
    "For me were leu{er} at I were dede,
    Than I ee se suche semblau{n}t make,
    "For schal I neu{er} suche a ladi take.              236
    Hastou ou[gh]t herde at I ne can,
    Off me or of any o{er} man?
    Schal I neu{er} haue blis
    Til I wite, ladi, what ee is."                      240

[Headnote: _Mary consoles John._]

  Vre lefdi wep {and} Ioh{a}n also;
  Trewe loue was bituex he{m} tuo.                       236
  "Lefdi," he sede, "what is e?
  For my loue, tel hit me."
  Marie ansuerde wi Milde steu[ene],
  "A sonde Me ca{m} while er fram h[euene],              240

  _The MS. ends here. Continued from Harl. MS. 2382._

    [Sidenote: [leaf 67]]
    Oure ladi wept and Ioh{a}n also,
    For trewe loue was bitwene he{m} two.
    Ioh{a}n seide, "ladi, what is ee?
    For i sones loue, seie ou me."                     244
    Marie answerde w{i}t{h} rewful steuene,
    And seide, "me cam bode fram heuene,

  _Harl. MS. 2382, lf. 78, bk._

  fro my sone a messynger;
  he wo[l~l] no leng{er} that y be here.
  but y wote that rueth me,
  that y sha[l~l] dep{ar}te fro the;                     244
  for thi loue and thi s{er}uice
  that thu me dost in al wise.
  thu hast made me ofte glad;
  thu has don{e} as my sone bad.                         248
  my sone shal it yelde to the;
  y wol hym p{ra}y when y hym se."

    Fro my sone a massagere;
    He wol no lengere at I be here,                     248
    Wite ou wel hit rewi me
    That I schal, Ioh{a}n, p{ar}te fram ee.
    For i loue {and} i seruyce
    That ou hast dou{n} on eche wise,                   252
    Thou hast me boe fed {and} clad,
    And doun also my sone ee bad.
    My sone schal it wel [gh]elde ee;
    I schal him telle when I him se."                    256

  [Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es]
  Tho answerd to her{e} seynt Ioh{a}n,
  and was a fu[l~l] sory man~,                           252
  "A, lady Marie, what shal y be
  when y sha[l~l] the no leng{er} se?
  my ioye thu art eu{er}y de[l~l];
  no leng{er} in erthe worth y we[l~l],                  256
  now we shul dep{ar}te a two."

    Than answerde seynt Iohan,
    That was a ful sori man,
    And seide, "ladi, how mai is be
    That I schal ee no more se?                         260
    Mi ioie, my blis, is do{u}n eche del;
    Ne schal me neu{er} woren wel,
    Sithen we ben p{ar}ted atwo."

  [Sidenote: Maria]
  Then seid Marie, "whi seist {o}u so?
  for sothe, thogh y go be-fore,
  yet shal thu not be for-lore.                          260
  y shall p{ra}y my lef sone,
  that thu may vnto vs come.
  And o thyng, Ioh{an}, y bidde the,
  [Sidenote: [leaf 79]]
  for the loue thu hast to me,                           264

    o seide our ladi, "why saistou so?                  264
    [Sidenote: [leaf 67, back]]
    Wite ou wel, I go be-forn;
    Thi seruyse schal no[gh]t be forlorn;
    I schal to my sone seie of ee
    That ou with hym {and} me schal be.                 268
    But herestou now, my frende Io{ha}n,
    When ou sest at I am gon,

  [Sidenote: no{t}a hic v{er}b{is} Marie]
  loke anon{e} when y am nome,
  that the fals Iewys ne come
  my body for to don{e} shame,
  for thei haten moche my name.                          268
  thei wole feyn shame me,
  that honged my sone on {e} rode tre.
  y wote we[l~l] thei loue me noght;
  ther-for thei ben{e} mysthought.                       272

    Kepe my bodi at I ne be binomen,
    When e fellon Iewes comen,                          272
    Mi bodi forto doun no schame,
    For ei hate no ing~ more an my name.
    Mi sone ei hongen on a tre;
    Wel I wote so wolde ei me.                          276
    I wote wel ei louen me nou[gh]t;
    But {er} of be i most ou[gh]t.

  when y am be-nome fro the,
  to my body they do no foly.
  Ih{es}u Crist our{e} aller{e} dright,
  gef ham neu{er} that ilke myght."                      276

    When I am p{ar}ted, Ioh{a}n, fram ee,
    That ei do my bodi none euelte.                     280
    My sone, at wone i{n} heuene li[gh]t,
    Lete hem neu{er} {er} to haue my[gh]t."

[Headnote: _The apostles arrive from distant regions._]

  [Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es]
  seynt Ioh{an} answerd tho,
  "sey me, lady, if it is so,
  that we shall dep{ar}te atwo.
  "swete lady, how sha[l~l] y do?                        280
  sey me e tyme when it shal be,
  that thu shalt to heuene te."

    "Ladi, sithen hit is so,
    That we schal dep{ar}te a two,                       284
    Seie me how long hit is to an."

  [Sidenote: Maria]
  she seid, "Ioh{a}n, that {o}u sha[l~l] se;
  ne bide y here but dayes thre."                        284
  Then was Ioh{an} ful hertely sory.

    "For soe," marie seide to Iohan,
    "Bi is {and} e ridde day,
    No leng{er} abide I ne may."                         288
    [Sidenote: [leaf 68]]
    When he it herde, he was sory;

  [Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es]
  wepand he seyd, "dame, m{er}cy!
  how shal y leue? how shal y fare?
  now cometh al my sorow {and} care.                     288
  my lord was hard y-broght to det[h-],
  thurgh fals Iewis that couthe no met[h-].
  now shal our{e} lady me fro;
  now cometh to me al my woo.                            292
  wold god that y wer{e} ded,
  for right now can y no red."

    He wept, {and} seide, "ladi, mercy.
    How schal I lyue? how schal I fare?
    How schal I blis or ioie haue?                       292
    Furst my lord was brou[gh]t to dede,
    Thorw e felun iewes rede,
    And now my ladi wil me fro,
    Swete lord, now me is wo.                            296
    Wolde my lord I wolde be dede,
    For I ne can no bett{er} rede."

  [Sidenote: [leaf 79, back]]

  [Sidenote: Maria]
  "Nay," she seid, "whi seist thu so?
  angelis the sha[l~l] come to,                          296
  and loke to the wher{e} thu be,
  erlich and late to comfort the."

    "Ioh{a}n," sche seide, "whi seistou so?
    Th[e] aungeles schal ee come to,                    300
    To kepe ee where so ou be,
    Erliche {and} late to gladen ee."

  [Sidenote: no{t}a de ap{osto}lis om{n}ib{us} mirac{u}lose.]
  when she spake to seynt Ioh{a}n,
  thapostellis cam yn eu{er}ychon~,                      300
  and none of hem wiste be-forn~,
  how thei wer{e} thed{er} y com,

    Whiles he spak so to seynt Ion,
    Come e apostles eu{er}ychon,                        304
    To gidre; but ei wist nou[gh]t
    How ei weren to gidre brou[gh]t;

  and seid, "lady, ne drede {o}u noght,
  thi sone hath vs hider broght,                         304
  to knowe the for our{e} lady,
  while that we ben{e} the by."

    Off o{er}es come ne wist none;
    But of hure come blie was Ion.                      308
    He cust hem alle, so fayn he was,
    And seide, "deo gracias;
    Blessed, ih{es}u, be i my[gh]t,
    For it is faire and hit is ry[gh]t                   312
    [Sidenote: [leaf 68, back]]
    That i moder come to ee,
    That sche faire welcom be
    Of ine apostles {a}t most ee louen,
    I ne wote how ei ben hidre ycomen."                 316
    Than seide Petyr to seynt Ion,
    "Whi art ou so sory A mon?

[Headnote: _John bids them go and greet Mary._]

  (_Not in Harl. 2382_)

    "Whi wepistou, {and} what is ee?
    For felaschip telle ou me.                          320
    I schal ee seie, seynt Ion,
    Whi I am so sory a mon,
    But seie me furst, for godes loue,
    Whi [gh]e arn hider icome,                           324
    And weryn so wide isprad:
    Seie what ha [gh]ou hidre ilad."

    Tho seide Petyr a ferli inge:
    "I was fer hens atte my p{re}chinge.                 328
    I was so henne i{n} anoer londe
    And helde my boke in my honde,
    And tau[gh]t men of my sermo{u}n,
    I ne wote how I cam to is toun."                    332
    So seide alle at weren ere,
    Suche wondre sawe I neu{er} ere.

    None of hem ne wist orw wham,
    [Sidenote: [leaf 69]]
    Ne what wai ei idre cam,                           336
    Than seide seynt Io{ha}n, "for soe, I wys,
    I schal [gh]ow telle what it is.
    Come wi me in to is hous;
    Oure ladi er abide vs.                             340
    Sche ordeyne hure to fare vs fro,
    For hure sone hit wolle so.
    Hure sone ha sent his messagere;
    He wol no lengere at sche be here.                  344
    And hider he ha [gh]ow alle ysent
    To kepe hure bodi when sche is went.
    Bi fore hure knele [gh]e alle bi-dene
    And seie, 'ladi, heuene quene,                      348
    Off alle wy{m}men, best ee be;
    Thi sone vs haue sent to ee,
    To kepe ee {and} do i wille:
    Vs enke wel at it is skille,                      352
    That heuene {and} ere bowe ee to,
    For i sone hit wol so,
    Thi sone, at is heuene kynge,
    And alle ing ha in his kepinge.'"                  356
    Than comen e apostles alle,
    And bi hure bigan to falle.
    Vp ros oure swete ladi
    And kist e apostles bi {and} bi.                    360
    [Sidenote: [leaf 69, back]]
    Off here come sche was glad;
    Alle ei dide at sche bad.
    Sche asked hem how ei come ere,
    That sprad so sundry were.                           364
    The seide in ful good ou[gh]t,
    "Thi sone vs ha hidre ybrou[gh]t
    To kepe ee, {and} by ee by;
    Ther fore we comen to e, lady."                     368

[Headnote: _Mary bids them keep her body from the Jews._]

  [Sidenote: Maria]
  "Blessid," she seid, "be my sone."
  glad was she was of her{e} come.                       308
  "y am his mod{er}," so seid he,
  "glad ther for may y be.
  now when it is my sones wille
  to hym y come, {and} that is skyle,                    312
  to my body ye loke al so,
  that my foos ne come ther to.

    Ful blie sche was of here come;
    "Blessed," sche seide, "be my sone!
    [_No gap in MS._]
    When it is my sones wille
    That I come him to, hit is skille.                   372
    Mi bodi [gh]e schal kepe so
    That {er}-to come nou[gh]t my fo.
    Kepe faire my body,
    That none do me no vilany.                           376
    The Iewis ben ful of felony;
    My sone ei slow orw enuye.

  moche hateth they my name;
  ther for wold thei do me shame.                        316
  y you bidde p{ur} charite,
  for the loue ye haue to me,
  when y fare to heuene blisse,
  waketh ther my body ys.                                320

    The haten no ing more an my name,
    God late hem neu{er} do me schame.                   380
    Ther fore I p{ra}ie [gh]ow, p{ur} charyte,
    And for e loue at [gh]e ha to me,
    When I am faren to heuen blis,
    Wake alle {er} my body is.                         384

  loketh bothe nyght {and} day,
  that {e} Iewis bere it not away.
  thay wold it brenne or do shame.
  Ih{es}u, for thi holy name,                            324
  gef ham neu{er} strengthe to haue
  my bodi in erthe for to laue."

    [Sidenote: [leaf 70]]
    Kepi it boe ny[gh]t and dai,
    That no Iewe stele it awai.
    Thei wolde it brenne or do it schame;
    But ih{es}u, for i holi name,                       388
    Late hem neu{er} {er}-to haue my[gh]t,
    For sikirli hit were vnry[gh]t."

  [Sidenote: [leaf 80]]
  Thei answerd, "for sothe, y-wys,
  it shal be as thi wille ys."                           328
  The whiles Marie badde her{e} bone
  to the apostellis eu{er}ychone,

    Thei seiden, alle soe, I wys,
    "Hit schal be, ladi, as i wille is."                392
    Whiles oure ladi spak~ so
    To e apostles at come hure to,

  [Sidenote: Angelus]
  an Angel a-light on that stede,
  and seid, "Marie, god herd {i} bede,                  332
  and all they that ben{e} w{i}t{h} the;
  "loke that thu arayed be.
  thu shalt to heuene {and} be quene;
  ful blithe may thi hert bene.                          336
  thu shalt in hast be in heuene."

    Come an aungel {and} stode hure bi,
    And seide, "wel ee be, ladi,                        396
    And so be alle at ben ee bi;
    "Loke ou be ful redi.
    ou schalt to heuene {and} be made quene;
    Ful blie mai ine hert bene.                        400
    Alle schal ee s{er}ue, e company of heuene."

  when o{ur} lady herd this steuene
  the angel seid her{e} then to,
  ful of blisse was she tho.                             340
  to her{e} bed she went to aray,
  a-boute {e} tyme of hy mydday.
  Ioh{a}n the apostell sate her{e} by,
  to kepe her{e} body sikerly.                           344

    As soone oure ladi herd at steuene
    That e aungel seide hure to,
    Wel ful of Ioie was sche o;                         404
    Sche [gh]ede to hure bedde {and} lai,
    A bowte e tyme of myddai;
    Ioh{a}n {and} e apostles weren hure bi,
    To kepen hure as oure ladi.                          408
    [Sidenote: [leaf 70, back]]
    Sche badde Io{ha}n {and} e apostles alle,
    To kepen hure what so bi falle.

[Headnote: _Jesus tells the angels about His life on earth._]

    ++Sitte now stille, boe more {and} lesse,
    And herkene of e moche blesse                      412
    Off Ih{es}u, {er} he come so ly[gh]t:
    He dide his mod{er} ful moche ri[gh]t,
    As a sone au[gh]t his moder to done,
    He callid e aungeles eu{er}ychone,                  416
    And alle e mayne at was i{n} heuene,
    And seide to hem with mury steuene:
    "Co{m}me with me to my le{m}man!
    Sche is my moder; hure sone I am;                    420
    Off hure I toke flesche {and} blode.
    And sithen I hange on e rode,
    I {a}t eu{er} was {and} ay schal ben,
    In al is blisse at [gh]e here sen,                 424
    I hadde reue on al mankyne,
    That alle went to helle pyne.
    I made man to serue me,
    And orw e appel of a tre,                          428
    That adam toke {and} ete it Inne,
    To helle he went, {and} al his kynne.

  [Sidenote: odor suauissim{us} de p{a}radiso venit]
  emonge them alle sone ywys,
  a swete sme[l~l] cam fro p{ar}adys,
  swete it was, and ferly,
  that alle {a}t wer{e} tho her{e} by,                  348
  bothe yong {and} olde {and} eu{er}ychon{e},
  thei fe[l~l] a-slepe, {and} {a}t anon{e}.
  alle the slepte, saue our{e} lady.

    "Hit rewid me, and for-ou[gh]t sore,
    And I it wolde ole no more.                         432
    [Sidenote: [leaf 71]]
    I ly[gh]t doun, {and} man bi-cam,
    And of at maide flesche nam.

[Headnote: _He announces that He will bring Mary to heaven._]

  [Sidenote: no{t}a de t{ra}nsitu s{an}c{t}e Marie]
  herkeneth now, y te[l~l] yow why.                      352
  and als sone thei wer{e} a-slepe,
  it gan to thondr{e} al vnmete,
  and the erthe so swithe gan quake,
  as al the world shuld to-shake.                        356
  Marie awaked then seynt Ioh{a}n
  and the apostels eu{er}ychon,
  thre maydens {a}t wer{e} the[re]-ynne,
  and no man els of hir{e} kynne.                        360
  "waketh now, and slepe ye nought!
  Sone y worth to heuene be broght;
  now is tyme y wer{e} a fare,
  Sha[l~l] y neu{er} more suffre care."                  364

    "Bi fore alle o{er} I hure ches,
    And I was born of hure flesches.                     436
    Thritti wynt{er} {and} so{m}me del more,
    Men to wissen, I was ore.
    Men dide me moche euelte;
    Myn owyn at ou[gh]t for to be,                      440
    Thei token me {and} bette me sore,
    And atte e last ei dide wel more,
    With oute gult ei me swongen,
    And to a piler ei me bounden.                       444
    Nailes ei smyten in my fette;
    Off blode myne handes weren rede.
    Myn hert ei stongen w{i}t{h} a spere;
    That sawe alle at weren ere.                       448
    Ther I hange nailed on e tree,
    My modre was wel wo for me,
    And also was hure cosin Ion.
    I callid hure to me soone anon,                      452
    And seide, 'Io{ha}n, for my loue,
    Kepe wel is wyf; I am hure sone.'
    Boe ei wenten o fro me;
    Al one I hanged on e tree,                          456
    [Sidenote: [leaf 71, back]]
    Mi soule fram my bodi I nam,
    In to e pyne of helle sone I came.
    Alle my frendes at I er fonde,
    I toke hem oute w{i}t{h} my ry[gh]t honde,           460
    Adam {and} Eue {and} many mo,
    I dide hem oute of helle go.
    When I hadde harwed helle,
    And don as I [gh]ow telle,                           464
    And fet adam fro e quede,
    The ridde dai I ros fro dede.
    Fram ere to heuene I cam;
    God {and} man, bothe I am,                           468
    In heuene {and} in ere is my my[gh]t;
    "Now I wol fore in ry[gh]t,
    That my modre be me bi;
    This tyme I wol for i,                              472
    Come with me with mury songe,
    And do we hure come vs amonge."

[Headnote: _Conversation between Jesus and Mary._]

  [Sidenote: Ih{es}us]
  Tho cam Iesus from heuene,
  w{i}t{h} angelis {and} archangelis seuene,
  yn to hir{e} bour{e} w{i}t{h} mery song;
  moche merthe was them among.                           368
  no wond{er} thogh ther be blisse
  in eche place ther Ih{esus} ys.

    Than cam ih{es}u w{i}t{h} his mayne,
    Aungeles, archaungeles, moche plente,                476
    In to e chambre {er} sche was Inne,
    with ful many of hure kynne.
    That chambere was ful of moche blis,
    As eu{er} is er ih{es}u is.                         480

  none of them that wer{e} there
  a soche blisse saw they ner{e}.                        372
  amonge al blisses of the trone
  Mary knew her{e} leue sone.

  [Sidenote: Maria]
  when she hym saw, she was ful glad,
  he herd the bone that she bad.                         376

    [Sidenote: [leaf 72]]
    Tho seide alle at were ere,
    Suche a blis sawe ei neu{er} ere.
    Amonge at Ioie {and} at glewe,
    Oure ladi, hure sone knewe.                          484
    When sche hi{m} sawe, sche was glad;
    Listene e bede at sche bad:

  "y-blessed mote that tyme be
  that thu wer{e} born{e} of me.
  hit is sene, y am thi moder
  when thu comest i self hider.                         380
  Furst {o}u sendest thyn apostelis to me;
  now thu comest w{i}t{h} thi meyne,
  to fette me vnto that blisse
  that eu{er} lasteth w{i}t{h} a[l~l] gladnesse.         384
  Sone thu art hider y-come
  w{i}t{h} thyn angelis from a-bone.
  do {o}u now what thi wille ys;
  me hath longed to the, y-wys."                         388

    "Sone, blessid mote ou be,
    That ou bicome man of me;                           488
    Hit is wel sene, I am ee dere,
    Now i self art comen here.
    Thine apostles ou sendist furst to me,
    And now ou art come w{i}t{h} i meyne,              492
    To fecchyn me in to i my[gh]t:
    Was neu{er} modre sone so bry[gh]t.
    Mi leue sone, now art ou come
    With i meyne, here a bone.                          496
    Do, my sone, at i wille is;
    To ee me inke longe I wis."

  [Sidenote: Ih{es}us]
  Then Iesus to Marie sede,
  [Sidenote: [leaf 81]]
  "Moder, w{i}t{h} ioye y wo[l~l] the lede.
  of all wy{m}men the worth best,
  in heuene blisse that shal lest.                       392
  ther y am kyng; thu shalt be quene;
  in grete ioye thu sha[l~l] bene."

    [_No gap in MS._]
    "Modre," he seide, "come with me;
    Of alle wymen best ee be.                           500
    [_No gap in MS._]
    Thou schalt to heuen {and} be made quene;
    Wel blie may ine hert bene."

  [Sidenote: Maria]
  "leue sone, y be-seche the
  o thyng that thu telle me.                             396
  shall y any deuy[l~l] se,
  or any w{i}t{h} the sha[l~l] be?
  "for y loue them neu{er} on{e},
  thei ben{e} noght, so mote y gon{e}."                  400

    "Sone," sche seide, "I be-seke ee
    O ing at ou graunt me,                            504
    [Sidenote: [leaf 72, back]]
    That I no[gh]t e deuel se,
    Ne none at eu{er} w{i}t{h} him be.
    "I loue hem nou[gh]t; ei arn my fone;
    Ne wolde I neuer sene hem none."                     508

[Headnote: _Jesus promises mercy to man for Mary's sake._]

  [Sidenote: Iesus]
  "Moder, y sey, drede thu noght;
  ne stode it neu{er} on my thoght,
  for thu shalt no deuy[l~l] se,
  y wo[l~l] go be-fore the;                              404
  ne {o}u shalt no deuy[l~l] heren{e},
  but only me {and} my feren{e}.
  Maiden {and} mod{er}, eu{er} thu be we[l~l];
  thu shalt of sorwe wete no de[l~l].                    408
  alle the spirettes that meten w{i}t{h} the,
  buxom to the sha[l~l] they be.
  Moder, one thyng y gef to the;
  thu shalt be in heuene w{i}t{h} me.                    412

    "Moder," he seide, "ne drede ee nou[gh]t;
    Ne come it neu{er} in my ou[gh]t;
    Ne wille I neu{er} more ole
    That any of hem come ee bi fore;                    512
    Ne schal ou neu{er} se-ne here
    But me {and} aungeles, ine fere.
    Moder, a [gh]ift I schal ee [gh]yue,
    Thou schalt with me in heuene lyue,                  516
    And more schal I [gh]eue ee;
    Al heuene companye schal s{er}ue ee.

  "mod{er}, for the loue of the,
  y wo[l~l] haue m{er}cy and pite
  of al man kynde thurgh {i} p{ra}y{e}re,
  yf {o}u ne were, they wer{e} for-lore.                416

    "Modre, for e loue of ee
    I schal haue m{er}cy {and} pite                      520
    Off al man kynne for i p{ra}iere,
    That were forlorn [gh]if ou ne were.

  [Sidenote: no{t}a bene de seruientib{us} s{an}c{t}e Marie deuote]
  "and of them namelich
  that the serueth trulich,
  and that to the don{e} m{er}cy crye
  and sey, 'help vs, dere ladye,'                        420
  In what synne that thei be,
  [Sidenote: [leaf 81, back]]
  mod{er}, for the loue of the,

    "Alle at dou{n} ee worschipe,
    And seruen ee wel, {and} treuliche                  524
    Bi seke to ee, {and} m{er}cy will crie,
    And seyn, 'help, seynt marie,'
    In what peyne so he be,
    Moder, for e loue of ee,                           528
    [Sidenote: [leaf 73]]
    I schal hem reles sone anon;
    For i loue I schal us done.

  "thogh a man had lad his lyf
  in onde, in synne, {and} in strif,                     424
  yf he on his last dawe
  wepe {and} crye, {and} to the be-knawe,
  and telle it oute vnto the preste,

    "[Gh]if any haue ben al his lyue
    In hede synne, maide or wyue,                        532
    And he wille, on his last rowe,
    Schryue him {and} ben y-knowe,
    And telle it, [gh]if he haue e p{re}st,

  [Sidenote: no{t}a bene de co{n}fessione]
  "or in case, vnto his nexte,                           428
  yf that he may do no more,
  but that he aruwe it sore,
  in what synne that he be,
  moder, for the loue of the,                            432
  I wo[l~l] of hym haue mercy.
  and sitthe he sha[l~l] come me by,

    "Or a noer man at is him nest,                     536
    And [gh]if he ne mai do no more,
    But at him forinke sore,
    In what synne so he be,
    Moder, for e loue of ee,                           540
    I schal on him haue m{er}cy,
    And sithen ei schulle wone ee bi.

[Headnote: _Mary is borne to Heaven._]

  "thogh a man had fully wroght
  all the synne that he had thought,                     436
  and he on his laste day
  in none other wise may,
  yf he wepe and telle to the,
  in what synne that he be,                              440

    "[Gh]if a man hadde al one wrou[gh]t
    Alle e synnes at my[gh]t be ou[gh]t,              544
    And he on his last dai,
    [Gh]if he none ere ne mai,
    Repent him, {and} calle to ee,
    In what synne so he be,                              548

  full we[l~l] y sha[l~l] his bone here,
  for thi loue, my moder dere.

    I schal here his p{ra}iere,
    For i loue, modre dere,
    Al at ou wolt bi seke fore,
    Be it lasse, be it more,                             552
    [Sidenote: [leaf 73, back]]
    Hit schal ben aftur i wille,
    For I it wille, {and} at is skille,
    at no ing with seie ee,
    Off at ou wolt biseke me."                         556

  Alle tho that thu wolt bidde fore
  and blesse the tyme {a}t thu wer{e} bore.             444
  of all{e} thyng y-blessid thu be,
  for that y bidde, thu g{ra}untes me."

    ++Oure ladi knelid him bi forn,
    And seide, "e tyme {a}t {o}u were born,
    Ou{er} alle o{er} blessed ou be,
    For alle at I wol, ou g{ra}untest me."             560

  Then Ih{esus} his hand vp heue,
  and to his mod{er} his blessyng yeue,                  448
  and called to hym seynt Mighe[l~l],
  and seid, "kep thu my mod{er} we[l~l],
  that she fele no man{er} fere;
  ther is no thyng to me so dere."                       452

     "So I au[gh]t, moder, {and} so I wille;"
    He left vp his hond {and} blessed hure stille;
    His blessing sche ou[gh]t good,
    And he hure soule vndrestode.                        564
    He callid to him seynt my[gh]hel,
    "Thou kepe me is soule wel,
    Thou and alle ine fere;
    Is no inge me so dere."                             568

  [Sidenote: Ih{esus} assu{m}psit a{n}i{m}am matris]
  and when he had the soule hent,
  and she was fro the body went,
  Then all the verdoun{e} of heuene
  [Sidenote: [leaf 82]]
  fett that soule full aboue;                            456
  w{i}t{h} the verdoun{e} to heuene thei come,
  w{i}t{h} gret ioye she was yn nome.
  she was made quene of heuene
  and blessid hir{e} sone w{i}t{h} mylde steuene.        460

    Alle at mayne at cam fro heuene,
    Thei syngen w{i}t{h} a myry steuene;
    Men my[gh]t wite bi here songe
    That moche ioie was hem amonge.                      572
    With alle at mayne to heue{n} he hure nam;
    And as soone as he er cam,
    He made hure quene of heuen li[gh]t;
    Blessid be hure sones my[gh]t! amen!                 576

[Headnote: _The apostles in procession bear the body through
Jerusalem._]

  [Sidenote: no{t}a modum assumpc{i}onis anime Marie p{er} ih{es}um]
  ++Now sha[l~l] ye here how she was nome,
  wher she was, {and} whed{er} be-come.
  when e soule fro e body was nome,
  god bede seynt Petr{e} to hym come:                    464
  "for the loue y owe to the
  my mod{er}-is body thu kep to me.

    [Sidenote: [leaf 74]]
    ++Now schal we here of e bodi,
    Where it bi cam, {and} where it li.
    When e soule was {er}e fro hure nomen,
    Than bad god Pet{er} to him comen,                   580
    And seide, "Pet{er}, I comaunde ee,
    Mi moder bodi kepe ou me.
    Ioh{a}n {and} alle ine fere,
    Nis no inge me so dere;                             584

  when y first to erthe came,
  of this body fles[h-] y name.                          468
  y was of this body bore,
  ther-for, Petr{e}, go thu be-fore,
  and thi bretheren forth w{i}t{h} the
  vnto Iosaphat[h-] that vale,                           472
  and leueth it ther{e} sone anon{e};

    When I furst in is worlde cam,
    Off hure bodi flesche I nam;
    Off hure bodi, I was born,
    Petyr, go fore ou be forn,                         588
    Thou {and} alle ine feres w{i}t{h} ee,
    To Iosephat, to at vale,
    And lei e bodi in a stone;

  and drede ye nothyng of yo{ur} foon{e},
  To Ierusalem thurgh that toun{e}
  goth feire w{i}t{h} your{e} p{ro}cession{e}.           476

    Haue no drede of [gh]oure fone;                     592
    Goth with faire processioun
    To ier{usa}l{e}m orwe e toun.
    Do e belles alle to ryngen,
    And loke at [gh]e mury syngen.                      596
    Loke at [gh]e haue candele,
    Torches boe faire {and} fele.

  foure of them shul bere {e} bere,
  for one shal kepe my mod{er} dere.
  and for no thyng dredeth ye,
  for y my self wol w{i}t{h} yow be."                    480
  when Ih{esus} had thus y-seyd,
  and the body in bere was leyd,
  he yeaue them alle his blessyng,
  and styed to heuene, {er} he was kyng.                484
  which blessyng he geue ti[l~l] vs,
  our{e} blessid lord, swete Iesus.

    Foure of e apostles schal bere e beere;
    Ther-on schal ligge me modre deere.                  600
    [Sidenote: [leaf 74, back]]
    Haue no drede of no Iew,
    For I my self schal be w{i}t{h} [gh]ow."
    When ih{es}u hadde him so seide,
    And e bodi was on bere leide,                       604
    He [gh]af hem alle his blessinge
    And stye to heuen, {er} he is kynge.

  Tho to them seyd seynt Ioh{a}n,
  "go we thed{er} right anon{e},                         488
  and g{ra}y we t[h-]is p{ro}cessioun{e},
  [Sidenote: [leaf 82, back]]
  And go we syngand thurgh {e} toun{e}."

     To hym o seide seynt Ion,
    "Felawes, go we soone anon,                          608
    And t{ur}ne we is p{ro}cessioun,
    And synge we faire orw is toun."

  four{e} of the apostelis that ther wer{e},
  that holy body fourth dud ber{e}.                      492
  ful mery thei song, {and} that was right;
  many tapers ther-w{i}t{h} thei light.
  The Iewis that wer{e} Cristes foon{e},
  this thei herd sone anon{e}.                           496

  [_See the parallel lines to these, below, on page 130, col. 2._]

  [[a491-516 = h689-704]]

[Headnote: _The Jews attack the procession, but are rendered
motionless._]

  thei asked what was the crye.
  we seid it was seynt Marie,
  that seynt Petr{e} and his fere
  bare Marye apon{e} a bere.                             500

  [Sidenote: no{t}a cont{r}a iudeos]
  "Allas," q{uo}d the Iewis, "for shame,
  yf thei scape, we ben{e} to blame.
  arme we vs swithe anon{e}
  and let vs take them eu{er}ychon{e}.                   504
  that body also, take we it,
  and cast it in-to a foule pytt.
  Cast we it in a foule sloo,
  and moche shame we it do."                             508
  Tho cam thei lepe thedeward;
  that be-fe[l~l] them swithe hard.
  two of the Iewis that ther{e} wer{e},
  wer{e} honged ouer the bere.                           512

  [Sidenote: no{t}a mirac{u}l{u}m]
  Ih{esus} Crist wold se no shame,
  by his mod{er} swetely came.
  ful sone had thei godd{es} g{ra}me;
  he them made bothe holt {and} lame.                    516

[Headnote: _A Jew repents and receives his strength again._]

  of alle {e} Iewes ther was none
  that eu{er} myghte further gone.
  one of them that ther{e} wer{e},
  had knowed Petr{e} be-fore.                            520

    Ther was a Iew hem amonge,
    Off e apostles harde e songe.                      612
    To e beere he cam lepand,
    And as he wolde lai on his hande;

  [Sidenote: Iudeus]
  the Iewe gon clepe to Petr{e} sone,
  and seid to hym w{i}t{h} wepand bone:
  and seid then, "knowest {o}u noght,
  [Sidenote: [leaf 83]]
  when Crist was to deth broght,                         524
  how thu hym folwest, and y e knew,
  now, y the p{ra}y, on me th{o}u ruwe,
  and pray to Crist, if it may be,
  that he now haue m{er}cy on me."                       528

    To e bere he cleued fast,
    And to Petir he criede atte e last,                 616
    And seide, "Petir, enkest ou nou[gh]t,
    When i lord was to vs brou[gh]t,
    Thou him forsoke, {and} I e knewe?
    P{ra}ie for me," seide e Iewe,                      620
    "P{ra}ie i lord, [gh]if I mai so be,
    That he haue m{er}cy on me.

  [_No gap in MS._]

    Thenke," q{uo}d e Iewe, "what I ee dede.
    When ou was w{i}t{h} vs in at stede,               624
    [Sidenote: [leaf 75]]
    When i lord was ytakyn,
    And ou haddest him forsakyn,
    Oure mayne ee knewe at ilke ny[gh]t
    Bothe bi speche {and} by sy[gh]t,                    628
    And seiden alle, for I stode ee bi,

  [_No gap in MS._]

    That ou was of Ih{es}us companye.
    Thou seidest w{i}t{h} wordes {and} w{i}t{h} ou[gh]t,
    'For soe at ou knewe hi{m} nou[gh]t.'             632
    P{ra}ie i lord of moche my[gh]t,
    And his moder at art so bry[gh]t,
    That he me help at is stounde,
    For I was neu{er} so harde ybounde.                  636
    As I ee helped atte i nede,
    [Gh]elde me, Petir, now my mede."

  [Sidenote: Petrus]
  Seynt Petr{e} answerid tho
  to the Iewe that was so woo,
  "yf thu wolt on hym be-leve,
  whom thy kynne broght to dethe,                        532
  and that he is goddis sone,
  and sithens man for vs be come,
  and that Marie hy{m} bare hir{e} be best,
  a clene Maide {and} right honest,                      536
  and clene vnwe{m}med w{i}t{h} outen man,

    Seynt Petir answerde o
    To e Iewe at was so wo,                            640
    "[Gh]if ou woldest leue on him,
    That on e rode dide i kyn,
    That he is soefast godes sone,
    God {and} man for him bi come,                       644
    That marie bare in hure lyf,
    Clene maide {and} clene wyf,
    Clene widewe w{i}t{h} oute wem,

  we shal alle bidde for {e} than,
  to Ih{es}u Crist that is a-boue,
  for his owne moder loue,                               540
  he gef the myght for to go,
  and brynge the oute of this woo."

    For ee I wol p{ra}ie en,                           648
    [Sidenote: [leaf 75, back]]
    Ih{es}u cryst vs li[gh]te aboue,
    That he, for his moder loue,
    So [gh]eue ee my[gh]t for to go,
    And bringe ee oute of i wo."                       652

  [Sidenote: no{t}a {con}u{er}sione{m} Iudei]
  The Iewe that honged apon{e} the bere,
  answerd then as ye may here,                           544
  and seid, "y be-leue, vnd{er} that fourme,
  on Ih{es}u Crist, Maries sone,
  that Iewis peyned on the rode,
  w{i}t{h}-outen gilt, for our{e} gode,                  548
  and for vs he lost his lyf,
  that Marie bare, maide {and} wif.
  y be-seche that he me brynge
  of this peyne, thurgh yo{ur} biddynge."                552

    The Iewe at henge apou{n} e bere,
    Answerde anone as [gh]e mai here,
    "I leue wel, {and} bett{er} I schal done,
    On ih{es}u crist, godes sone,                        656
    That Iewes diden on e rode,
    And for vs he schedde his swete blode,
    That marie bare in hure lyf,
    Clene maiden {and} clene wyf;                        660
    He brynge me, I p{ra}ie it him,
    Oute of e wo at I am Inne."

[Headnote: _Peter christens the Jew and ordains him priest._]

  Crist vnd{er}stode the Iewis bone.
  he was holpe, and that anone;
  on feet {and} hand he yeaue hy{m} myght,
  [Sidenote: [leaf 83, back]]
  and alle his lymes for to right.                       556
  he gan to stonde vp anon{e}
  before the Iewis eu{er}ychon{e}.
  he that was bothe halt {and} lame
  be gan to p{re}che in Cristes name,                    560
  and seid, "worship we eu{er}ychon{e}
  that soche a miracle hath don{e}."

    As soone as he hadde seide is bede,
    He was al hole in at stede:                         664
    Off fote, of honde, he hadde my[gh]t;
    Alle his lymes bi come ful ry[gh]t.
    He stode vp swie anone
    Bi-fore e Iewes eu{er}echone,                       668
    That suche a myracle ha done,
    Ih{es}u crist, godes sons,
    Of a wilde hou{n}de ha made a lomb,
    To p{re}che his worde in eche a lond.                672

  Tho seynt Petr{e}, that holi man{e},
  that Iewe Crystened aft{er} anon{e};                   564
  he taught hym his by-leue;
  he knew he was to god y-yeue;
  he ordeyned hym to prest anon{e},
  and bade hym that he shuld gon{e},                     568
  and p{re}che ou{er}a[l~l], of goddis sone,
  in eu{er}y lond where he be-come.

    [Sidenote: [leaf 76]]
    Seynt Petir, at holi man,
    The Iew he crystened anone,
    He tau[gh]t him al his bi leue;
    He wist he was to godes biheue;                      676
    He ordeyned him to p{re}st anone,
    And bad him soone for to gone
    And p{re}chen al of godes sone,
    In eche a lond where he come.                        680

  The palme {a}t Petr{e} had in hond,
  he toke it hym, thurg[h-] godd{es} sond,               572
  and bade hym godd{es} word to telle
  to the Iewis that wer{e} so felle.

    That palm at Petir helde in his honde,
    He toke it him orw godes sonde,
    And bad him godes wordes telle
    Among e Iewes at were so felle.                    684

  [Sidenote: Iudeus conu{er}sus p{re}dicabat i{ta} {christu}m]
  Tho he spake the fourthe day,
  he t{ur}ned into goddes fay                            576
  xx thousant, {and} somdel mo,
  thurgh the word {a}t he spake tho.
  all the apostolis that {er} were,
  that holy body fourth thei bere                        580

    So he spak e furst day,
    That he t{ur}ned to godes lay
    Twenty ousand {and} so{m}medel mo,
    Thorw wordes at he spak o.                         688

    [_See the parallel lines to these, on p. 127, col. 1, at foot,
    and p.128, col. 1, at top._]

    [[a495-516 = h689-704]]

    Foure of e apostles at were ere,
    That swete bodi fore ei bere,
    The Iewes at were godes fone,
    Thei herde e cri sone anone,                        692
    And ei asked what was at crie,
    And men seiden it was mari,
    That seynt Petir {and} his fere
    Bare are apou{n} a beere.                           696
    [Sidenote: [leaf 76, back]]
    "Alas," seide ei, "for schame,
    Ascape ei vs, we schulle haue blame.
    Arme we vs alle sone anone,
    And take we hem alle {er} ei gone.                 700
    That bodi {a}t ei bere, nyme we it,
    And cast we it in a foule pit,
    Or brenne we it, {and} do it so{m}me where,
    Or cast we it in a foule sere."                      704

  [_Not in it_]

    Thei comen lepand iderwarde,
    And at hem fel swie harde.
    Ih{es}u wolde nou[gh]t {a}t schame;
    He made hem boe blynde {and} lame.                  708
    Off hem alle, was {er} none
    That my[gh]t a fote on ere gone.
    Here moues were to here nek went;
    Thei ou[gh]t alle at ei were schent.              712
    Boe here feet {and} here handes
    Where bounde w{i}t{h} stronge bandes:
    Ful sore bounden ei were,
    For ei ne my[gh]t go ne here.                       716
    Than comen here frendes hem to,
    And seide, "alas, whi leie [gh]e so,
    In [gh]oure armo{ur} so fast ycli[gh]t,
    That be so faire {and} so bry[gh]t?                 720
    [Sidenote: [leaf 77]]
    [Gh]oure speres, [gh]o{ur} schildes, helpe [gh]ow nou[gh]t;
    Telle vs what [gh]e haue ou[gh]t."
    Thei answerd nou[gh]t at leyen ere,
    For ei ne my[gh]t hem no[gh]t here,                 724
    But so{m}me of hem at my[gh]t speke
    Seide, "alas! who schal vs wreke?"
    And eu{er} ei cryede many a stounde,
    "Alas, how harde we lie here ybounde!"               728
    Off fyue ousand was er none
    That my[gh]t of at stede gone.
    Than seide some at stode hem bi,
    That hadde ysene at ferli,                          732
    That 'seynt Petir {and} his fere
    Bare oure ladi on a beere,
    "Thise men wolde hure haue nomen,"
    And us ei ben ou{er} comen.                        736
    The ladi ei wolde haue dou{n} schame;
    Ther fore ei hauen godes grame.'
    The folke hem bad m{er}cy to crie
    To ih{es}u cryst of here folie,                      740
    And leue at he is godes sone,
    And sien crysten men bi come.

[Headnote: _The Virgin Mary's body is laid in the tomb._]

    "We hope {a}t ih{es}u schal sone tyme
    Delyuere [gh]ow of [gh]oure pyne."                   744
    [Sidenote: [leaf 77, back]]
    Thei criede "m{er}cy" with good wille,
    So{m}me lowde {and} so{m}me stille,
    And ih{es}u, orw his mochil my[gh]t,
    Here feet {and} handes gan to ry[gh]t.               748
    Thorw myracle at er was doun,
    Bi-come cristene many on,
    And leuede on cryst and criede m{er}cy,
    That none o{er} god was so my[gh]ty.                752

  to the vale of Iosephas
  to ley her{e}, ther{e} her{e} wille was,
  [_No gap in MS._]
  and leid the body in a ston{e},

    The apostles went fore on here way,
    To Iosephat, to at Valay.
    When e apostles comen were,
    Wel softe ei setten doun e beere.                  756
    With gret deuocioun, eu{er}ychone,
    Thei leide e bodi in a stone,

  [Sidenote: Sepultu{r}a s{an}c{t}e M{ar}ie]
  ther-in was body neu{er} non{e}.                       584
  frendes and sibbe that {er} were,
  for her{e} wepte many a tere.
  [Sidenote: [leaf 84]]
  when she was in the ston don{e},
  ayen{e} thei turned eu{er}ychon{e}.                    588
  all the apostelis then wer{e} sory
  for the deth of our{e} lady;
  and ther a voice cam them among,
  that ne lasted not full long,                          592
  and bade them alle for to gon{e}
  wher{e} thei had for to don{e}.
  The apostelis went hem ayen{e}
  in-to the Burg[h-] of Ierusalem;                       596
  and as thei sate atte mete,
  of many thynges thei gon speke.
  als thei wer{e} out of that place,

  [Sidenote: resussitac{i}o corp{or}is M{ari}e]
  Iesus, w{i}t{h} his holy grace,                        600
  he gon to take vp anon{e}
  his moder body of the ston{e}.
  he hym self dud {er}ynne,
  that neu{er} had y-don{e} synne.                       604
  he wolde not in no manere
  that the body lafte there.
  in that body he dud a leme,
  bright{er} then the sonne beme,                        608
  and made her{e} quene of heuene blisse;
  in that place she was and ys.

    And bileft alle in at stede,
    As oure ladi hadde hem bede,                         760
    And woke {er} al at ny[gh]t
    With many torches {and} candle ly[gh]t.
    On e morwe when it was dai,
    Thei loked where at bodi lai.                       764
    Thei ou{er}t{ur}ned {a}t ilke stone;
    Bodi ei founde {er} none;
    But ei sawe in at stede ana
    Liand as it were a mana.                             768
    [Sidenote: [leaf 78]]
    That ma{n}na bitokned hure clene lyf,
    That sche was modre, maide, {and} wyf.
    Tho wist e apostles, I wis,
    The bodi was in to p{ar}adis,                        772
    Also godes wille was.
    Thei seide, "Deo gracias."

[Headnote: _Mary lets fall her girdle to Thomas._]

  [Sidenote: Thomas yndie]
  Seynt Thom{a}s of ynde thed{er}ward com,
  also swithe as he myght gon{e},                        612
  and wold haue ben{e} at her{e} berying,
  yf he myght haue come be tyme.
  as he loked hym be syde,
  [Sidenote: [leaf 84, back]]
  he saw then a bright thyng glide                       616
  in that stede as he come,
  ther our{e} lady to heuene was nome.

    Seynt Thom{a}s of ynde iderward cam
    Also blyue as he my[gh]t gan,                        776
    And wolde haue ben at hure fyne,
    [Gh]if he my[gh]t haue come bi tyme.
    As he loked him bi side,
    He sawe a bri[gh]tnesse bi hi{m} glide;              780
    Bi at stede er he come,
    Oure ladi to heuene was nome.

  he kneled adoun{e} {and} seid, "lady,
  now on me thu haue mercy.                              620
  lady, quene of heuene bright,
  for thi mochel holy myght,
  send me a token this ilke day,
  soche thyng {a}t y bryng may                          624
  to my felawes, ther y ham fynde,
  that y was toward {i} berynge:
  thei wol not leue {a}t y was there;
  now g{ra}unte me, lady, my p{ra}yere."                 628

    He knelede do{u}n {and} seide, "ladi,
    Off me, I p{ra}ie [gh]ow, haue m{er}cy.              784
    Ladi, quene of heuene ly[gh]t,
    For ine swete mychel my[gh]t,
    Sende me token is ilke day,
    What ing at I say may                              788
    To myn felawis, {er} I hem fynde,
    That I was toward i buriynge.
    Thei wil nou[gh]t leue at I were;
    Now g{ra}unt me, ladi, my p{ra}iere."                792

  [Sidenote: no{t}a de zona s{an}c{t}e Marie]
  a-boute her{e} gurdel a myde[l~l] sought,
  that she hir{e} self had y-wroght,
  of siluer {and} gold wonde in palle;
  a-doun{e} to hym she lete it falle.                    632
  he toke that gurde[l~l] in his hond,
  and thanked her{e} of her{e} sond.

    [Sidenote: [leaf 78, back]]
    A-bowte hure myddel a seynt sche sou[gh]t,
    That sche hure self hadde wrou[gh]t,
    Off silk {and} gold wounden in pal;
    Doun to thomas sche lete it fal.                     796
    He toke {er} e gurdel in his honde,
    And anked hure of hure sonde.

  fourth he went of that stede;
  toward the toun{e} he hym yede.                        636
  his felaus then he dud seche
  yf he myght hem ou{er} mete.
  atte temple of dominus
  he them founde alle in ane ho{us}.                     640
  ther ful feire he them grette;
  and ayenward thei hym chidde.

    Fore he went of at stede;
    Toward e toune he him dede,                         800
    His felawis for to seke on his fete,
    [Gh]if he hem ou[gh]t my[gh]t mete.
    Atte e temple dominus
    He fonde hem alle in an hous.                        804
    When he hem sawe, he gret hem,
    And ei answerde alle hym,
    And seiden, "thom{a}s of ynde,
    Eu{er} art ou bi-hynde.                             808

[Headnote: _The apostles find the tomb empty._]

  "wher{e} has thu so long y-ben{e}?
  we haue beried o{ur} heuene quen{e}.                   644
  "thu lakkest eu{er} at euery nede;
  thu helpest neu{er} at gode dede."
  "sore me thenketh {a}t y nas here;
  [Sidenote: [leaf 85]]
  but y ne myght come no nere.                           648
  I-blessid be the quene of blys,
  in the place ther{e} she ys,
  for we[l~l] y wote in my thought,
  there ye her{e} layde is she nought."                  652

    "Whare hast ou so longe bene?
    We haue buried heuene quene.
    Thou helpest no[gh]t at no good dede;
    Thou failest eu{er} at most nede."                   812
    "Sore me forinke at I ne was here,
    But I ne my[gh]t come no nere.
    Blessed be sche, quene of blis,
    In at stede {er} now sche is!                      816
    [Sidenote: [leaf 79]]
    For wel I wote bi my ou[gh]t,
    Ther [gh]e hure left, is sche nou[gh]t."

  Thei seid to hym swithe anon{e},
  bothe Petr{e} and seynt Ioh{a}n,
  "thow woldest not be-leue, Thom{a}s,
  that our{e} lord y-nayled was.                         656
  eu{er} thu leuys amysse in mynde,
  and tales y-now thu dos fynde.
  thu bi-leuest in god right noght;
  soche tales ne kepe we noght."                         660

    Than seide to him sone anone,
    Bothe Petir {and} seynt Ione,                        820
    "Thou ne woldest, leue thomas,
    That oure lord fram deth ras.
    Come, ou art mys bileuyd,
    And tales ynow ou canst fynde,                      824
    Thou leuest nou[gh]t on godes craft;
    Swylk felawis wille we nau[gh]t."

  [Sidenote: no{t}a de v{er}bis s{an}c{t}i Thome ap{osto}li.]
  "be stille," he seid, "brother Ioh{a}n,
  why chide ye me so, one {and} on{e}?
  me thenketh ye can litel good,
  for y her{e} saw bothe fles[h-] {and} blood,           664
  how our{e} lady to heuene wend;
  her{e} is the token that she me send."

    "Be stille," he saide, "bro{er} Io{ha}n.
    Whi chyde [gh]e me eu{er}ychone?                     828
    I am ful wery man for-gone;
    Me ne list answeri neu{er} one.
    But I thanke oure lord god,
    I sawe hure w{i}t{h} flesche {and} blood,            832
    Ther oure ladi to heuene went:
    Here is e token at sche me sent."

  Then seid seynt Petr{e}, "that is soth;
  this ilke webbe her{e} self woof.                      668
  w{i}t{h} her{e} y dud it on the bere;
  wond{er} me the thenketh {a}t it is here.
  go we swithe in-to the vale,
  to knowe the sothe of this tale                        672
  that he hath vs now y-sayde,
  for it was in the tombe y-laide."

    Quath seynt Petir, "at is sothe.
    This seynt sche hure self wof.                       836
    We dide it on hure in e beere;
    Wonder me inke at it is here.
    Go we swie in to e vale,
    To wite e sothe of is tale                         840
    [Sidenote: [leaf 79, back]]
    That he ha vs here yseide,
    For it was in e tumbe ylaide."

[Headnote: _Jesus appears to the apostles and blesses them._]

  [Sidenote: no{t}a de sepulc{r}o Marie vacuo.]
  owte of {a}t that place then they yede,
  and the tumba they vndede.                             676
  nothyng ther-on ther{e} thei founde
  [Sidenote: [leaf 85, back]]
  but a flour{e} atte grounde.

    Oute of e place swie ei [gh]ede,
    And e tumbe ei vndede;                             844
    No ing {er} Inne ei ne fou{n}de,
    But a manere floure at e grounde.

  [Sidenote: Manna]
  That flo{ur} manna was cleped
  that in the tumba was steked.                          680
  they went a[l~l] a-boute e tumbe
  and kneled on the bare g{ro}unde,
  and seid, "Ih{es}u, goddis sone,
  a[l~l] that thu sendes, it is wel-come.                684
  Mightefu[l~l] is the heuene kyng;
  and that we know bi thi sayng.
  no man may know his p{ri}uyte,
  nother his swete dignite."                             688

    That floure was 'manna' yclepid;
    Hit was in e tumbe ystekyd.                         848
    Thei [gh]eden alle abowte e tumbe
    And knelede on e bare grounde,
    And seiden, "ih{es}u, godes sone,
    Al i sonde be welcome.                              852
    My[gh]tful art ou, heuene kynge;
    That mai we wite bi is tokenynge;
    For no man mai wite ne se
    What is i derne p{ri}uete."                         856

  Amonge e apostolis alle a light,
  the kyng that is in heuene bright,
  and blessid ham alle in fere
  emonge the angelis {a}t ther{e} were,                 692
  and seid, "my pees be w{i}t{h} yow nowthe,
  blessid ye be of goddis mowthe."

    Cryst of heuene, at is so bry[gh]t,
    Amonge e apostles sone he ly[gh]t,
    And gret hem alle yfere,
    W{i}t{h} aungeles fele {a}t w{i}t{h} hi{m} were,    860
    And seide, "now pees be w{i}t{h} vs!
    Blessed be [gh]e," seide Ih{es}us.

  [Sidenote: no{t}a miracul{u}m ap{osto}lor{um}.]
  A mysty cloude cam aft{er} than{e},
  and ou{er}sprad them eu{er}ychon{e},                   696
  and bare them alle {er} they wer{e},
  in-to the stede that they wer{e} er{e}.

    A ly[gh]t cloude come aft{er} an,
    And ou{er} sprad hem eu{er}y man,                    864
    [Sidenote: [leaf 80]]
    And bar hem alle at ben ere,
    In to here stedes {er} ei p{re}ched ere;
    And fonden alle at folke [gh]ete,
    Sittand stille atte here fete.                       868
    And ei bigo{n}ne for to p{re}che,
    And e folke for to teche.

  moche wond{er} then hem thought
  how thei wer{e} thed{er} y-brought,                    700
  for thei ne wiste whi ne whan{e};
  and thei seid euerychon{e}
  that rightfull is heuene kyng,
  Ih{es}us lord ou{er} a[l~l] thyng.                     704

    Moche wondre hem o ou[gh]t
    How ei weren idre brou[gh]t.                       872
    Mi[gh]tful art ou, heuene kynge,
    Ih{es}u Crist, in alle inge!
    The apostles kneled in at stede;
    To ih{es}u ei bede a bede.                          876
    Ih{es}u herde here p{ra}iere,
    For ei were hi{m} leue {and} dere.

[Headnote: _Conclusion and invocation._]

   This tale y haue tolde w{i}t{h} mouthe,
  w{i}t{h} wordes that ben{e} ful couthe.
  it is cleped the Assumpciou{n};
  Iesus gef vs his benesou{n}.                           708
  Iesu crist, for his myght,
  [Sidenote: [leaf 86]]
  we p{ra}y to hym w{i}t{h} herte light,
  and w{i}t{h} his holy grace,
  gef vs bothe myght {and} space,                        712
  soche workes for to worche,
  thurgh the lore of holy churche,
  that we may to heue[ne] wende,
  that is w{i}t{h} oute begy{n}nyng {and} ende.          716
  Amen!

  Explicit Sextus liber s{an}c{t}e Marie.

    ++WE biseche ee for alle {a}t here {i}s vie
    Off oure ladi seynt marie,                           880
    That Ih{es}u schelde hem fram g{ra}me,
    Fro dedly synne {and} fro schame.
    Ne mys auent{ur}e schal bi falle {a}t man
    That is a vie here can.                             884
    Ne no wo{m}man at ilke dai
    That of oure ladi here is lai,
    Dien ne schal of hure childe,
    For oure ladi hure schal be mylde.                   888
    [Sidenote: [leaf 80, back]]
    Ne none mys auenture schal be-falle
    In felde, in strete, ne in halle,
    In stede {er} is vie is rad,
    For oure ladi hure sone it bad.                      892
    And e archibisshop seynt Edmou{n}d
    Ha g{ra}unted xl. daies to p{ar}dou{n}
    To alle at is vie wol here
    Or with good wille wol lere.                         896
    Ih{es}u, for i modre loue,
    That wone in heuene vs aboue,
    Graunt vs, [gh]if i wille is,
    The mochil Ioye of p{ar}adis!                        900
    A p{ra}ier er-to seie alle we,
    A Pater n{oste}r p{ur} charite,
    And an Aue marie er-to,
    That Ih{es}us vs graunt so. Amen!                    904
     Celi regina sit sc{ri}ptori medicina.




NOTES.


KING HORN.

4, H. _Allof_. An undoubted trace of the influence of the French version
on the H text of the English version. The French has _Aaluf_.

6. _laste_. Cf. 'Lay.' 7017: _e while e hit ilste_.

8. _Fairer ..._ Cf. 'The Erl of Tolous' (ed. by G. Ldtke, Berlin,
1881): _were no fayrer undyr hevyn, That any man myght see, Fayre myght
none bee_. 354. Cf. also 980-1. Further, 'The King of Tars.' (Engl.
Stud. xi. pp. 1ff.): _Feirer mi[gh]t non ben oliue_ 8.

10, C. _miste_. In many southern texts the _s-_ initial has the phonetic
value _sh-_. Hence here it is to be assumed that medial _-st-_ has the
pronunciation _-sht_, a loose way of representing the pronunciation of
the _-ht_, _-[gh]t_ like German _-cht_ in _nicht_, etc.

11, 12. _rine_ : _schine_. Cf. 'Lay.' 31889-90: _a sunne gon to scine,
e rein bigon to rine_; 28303, _muchel rein him gon rine_; 31086-7, _nis
nan feirure wifmon a whit sunne seine on_.

14. _bri[gh]t so e glas_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' (Weber, Early Engl.
Romances,II.). 75. _And a lady erinne was bryght as the sunne thorough
glas._

15. _whit so e flur_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.': _off that lady whyt so
flour_, 128.

17, 18. _bold_ : _old_. Cf. 'The Erl of Tolous': _He was a feyr chyld
and a bolde, Twenty wyntur he was oold_, 712-13; Reinbroun 4, 4. _Faire
child he was and bolde, He was boute seue winter olde._ 'Beues'
3899-3900: _Be at he was seue winter old, He was a fair child and a
bold_.

19, 20. _iliche_. Cf. 'Guy of Warwick' 1336: _In all ys worlde ys none
hym lyke_.

21, H. _tueye feren_. The H text here lacks one of the archaic features
of the story, referring to only two companions, viz., Aulf and
Fikenhild. The other ten, save for the abrupt introduction of Arnoldin
at the conclusion, play no active part in the present version.

23. _riche menne sones_. Cf. 'Lay.' 28932-3: _monies riches monnes sune,
monie hene gume_.

25. _for to_ with infinitive. This is frequent, especially in H, and is
probably due to French influence, _por _. Cf. 166L, 242H, 388C H,
902, 1011, 1186, etc.

27. _him het_. For frequent use of reflexives cf. 134 L, 140 C L, 147C,
173C, 233L, 293C, 294, 526C, 307C, 364, 398C, 426, 806L, 802L,
1250, 1269, 1297-8, 1386, 1410, 1545.

27, H. _Athulf_. In the early part of the H text _th_ is used in proper
names.

31-35. Cf. 'Erl of Tolous' 181-3: _So hyt befell upon a day, The erl
and he went to play, Be a reuer syde_. Cf. also 'Lyb. Disc.' 25, 26
(Ritson): _As hyt befelle upon a day, To wode he wente on hys play_;
also 'Lay.' 25661A, _bi ere s side_; 'Lyb. Disc.' 645-6: _Yesterday
yn the mornynge y wente on my playnge_.

42. _sarazins_. The conventional enemy in mediaeval romance. Probably
due to French influence and ultimately due to the stories originating in
the crusades and in the struggles between Mohammedans and Christians
culminating in the Battle of Tours.

44. _Oer to londe brohte_. Murry mistakes them for merchants (cf.also
637-8). The whole incident, vv. 39-62, reminds one of the quite parallel
historical incident of the first landing of the Northmen in 787, and the
death of Beaduheard and his retinue.

45. _Payn_. Cf. Note on _Sarazins_, 42. _of herde_, an unusual
combination. This is the only instance cited in Bradley-Stratmann.

55. _gunne_ = 'did' intensive, as frequently. See _gan_ in Glossary,
also _con_, _coue_, _began_.

57. _vnder schelde_ means perhaps 'in arms.' Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.'
5691-3: _And yiff the sawdon off that land Myghte sloo Richard in that
feeld With swerd or spere undyr scheeld_. Cf. also Wissmann's note.

67-8. _libbe_ : _sibbe_. Cf. 'Lay.' 11605-6: _enne ma[gh]en we libben
mid shten & mid sibben_ (Wissmann).

69. _hi here_. The representatives of the OE. forms of the personal
pronouns are usually very strictly adhered to. _ei_, _e_ occurs twice
(55L and 1557C), _sche_ once (380L), 'their' and 'them,' not at all.

69, 70. _asoke_ : _toke_. Cf. 'Lay.' 12114-16: _& sme heo god wisoken
& to haenescipe token_ (Wissmann). Also 'Lay.' 29187-8: _for crist
seolue he for soc, and to on wursen he tohc_.

82, L. _hundes_. Cf. also 91 L, 634 C H, 887, 1465, etc. For a possible
explanation of the term cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' 337-40: _Upon his creste a
rede hounde. The tayle henge to the grounde. That was Sygnyfycacioun The
hethene folke to brynge down._ Cf. 634 Note.

89, 90. _made_. Cf. 'Lay.' 28067-8: _deoren swi hende, a ure drihten
make_ (Wissmann). The contracted form _made_ of L H, is that of the
original as shown by the rime and rhythm.

92. _quic flen_ perhaps a trace of a primitive custom in this
crystallized phrase (cf.also 1468C).

98. _iseene_. Cf. Chaucer, 'Knight's Tale' 65: _Now be we caytifs as it
is wel seene_ (Wissmann).

100. _strong_ : _long_. Cf. 'Havelok' 2242-3: _Non so fayr, ne non so
long, ne non so mikel ne non so strong_.

107, C. _stere_. Cf. Glossary.

109. Cf. the parallel historical incident where Aethelstan sets his
brother Eadwine adrift, in Thorpe's translation of Lappenberg's England
under the Anglo-Saxon Kings, II, iii, London, 1845 (Wissmann).

118. _wringinde_. Cf. 'Havelok' 152: _He wrungen hondes and wepen sore_
(Wissmann).

121-122. _wo_ : _o_. A stereotyped couplet in romance. Cf. 'Lay.'
8429-30, 20383-4, 8677-8, 'Sir Isumbras' 380-1, 759-60, 'Rich. C. de L.'
6521-2.

123. _Horns_. Perhaps a scribal error, so common in this MS.; perhaps a
trace of the OF. inflection with _-s_ in the nom. sing. Cf. _Horns_
1560H, _enimis_ 1023C, 1024H; also _page_ and _crois_ in Glossary.

127. _flowe_. Cf. 'Proverbs of Alfred,' v. 197 (M. and S. selections):
_Uppe e see at flowe_. Klbing (Eng. Stud. vi. 154) thinks _flowe_
means 'flood' as distinguished from 'ebb.'

128. _rowe_. The 'ship' was a 'galeie,' cf. 199, 1084, 1086, etc.: cf.
also 'Rich. C. de L.' 2521-4: _They rowede hard, and sungge ther too
With henelow and rumbelooo. The galeye wente also faste As quarrel dos
off the arweblast._

131-2. _ywis_ : _ymis_. Cf. 'Lay.' 19067-8: _for uere heo wende ful
iwis at it weoren e eorl Gorlois_.

134. _sprang_. Cf. 'Owl and Nighting.' 734: _Wane e li[gh]t of daie
springe_. Also 'Ipomydon' 776: _To-morrow, or the day sprynge_. Hence
the modern word 'dayspring.' For reflexive phrase, _him sprong_, cf. 27
Note.

150, L. _dawes_, the natural phonetic development from OE. nom. accus.
plur. _dagas_. The more usual forms _daies_, _dayes_, are formed by
analogy with the singular.

161, C H. _hol and fer_. Cf. 'Ass.' 62 Cambr.: _so hol ne fer_.

168. _dales and dune_. A common collocation of words. Cf. 'Lay.'
27352-3: _ise[gh]en alle a dales, alle a dunes_ (Wissmann).

170. _blessing_. The accent on the second syllables of dissyllabic words
as revealed by the rimes in 'Horn' is an interesting feature. This
accent is no doubt in part to be explained as a French characteristic,
in part as the survival of an OE. secondary accent. For further
instances cf. 209-10, 219-20, 233-4, 239-40, 243-4, 253-4, 263-4,
359-60, 467-8, 529-30, 609-10, 859-60, 1169-70, 1235-6, etc.

174. _mild_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' 6887-8: _Tho sayde to hym with mylde
stevene_, also a frequent phrase in the 'Assumption.'

176. _beo icumene_. For other examples of _beon_ as auxiliary cf. _be
ygo_ 310H, _am iorne_ 1228C, etc. Cf. also 'Lay.' 13838-9: _wht
cnihten [gh]e seon & whnnenen [gh]e icumen beon_.

175 ff. Compare with Aylmer's greeting the in many ways similar greeting
of Vortiger to Hengest and Horsa. 'Lay.' 13826 ff.

180-2. _Ne sau[gh] ihc ..._ Cf. 180-2 Note.

202. _sail and roer_. Cf. 'R. H.' 60-61: _Kil naient auirum dunt a (!)
seient aidan[gh] sigle ne guuernad (!) dunt il seient naian[gh]_.

204. _brymme_. Cf. 'Lay.' 272: _ferde bi ere s brimme_ (Wissmann).

206. _honde bihynde_. Cf. Wissmann's parallel citations from Alexander
(Weber, as aboveI.) 2013 ff. and 'Chron. of Engl.' (RitsonII.) 873.

208. _spille_. Cf. 'Havelok' 242: _Helpe me nu in is nede and late ye
nouth mi bodi spille_ (Wissmann).

210. _Niing_. Cf. Wissmann's note.

221. _schulle_. Cf. Wissmann's note and citation from 'Oct. Imp.' (Weber
III.). 535. _to blowe swye schylle_.

239 ff. Horn's education. Cf. the similar scene in the later romance,
'Ipomydon' 32 ff., which, like 'Rich. C. de L.,' has many traits in
common with King Horn, and was no doubt influenced by King Horn. (Weber,
as above, II, pp. 281ff.):

  _A feyrer child myght no man see_
  _Tholomew a clerk he toke,_
  _That taught the chyld vppon the boke,_
  _Bothe to synge and to rede;_
  _And after he taught hym other dede;_
  _Aftirward to serve in halle_
  _Bothe to grete and to smalle_
  _Before the kyng mete to kerve,_
  _Hye and lowe feyre to serve:_
  _Bothe of howndis and haukis game_
  _Aftir he taught hym, all and same._
  _In se, in feld, and eke in ryure_
  _In wodde to chase the wild dere_
  _And in the feld to ryde a stede_
  _That all men had joy of his dede_

Verses 67-70 of 'Ipomydon' remind more directly of the French version,
'R. H,.' so that perhaps it was by this version of the Horn story that
the composer of 'Ipomydon' was influenced.

244. _Of wude and of riuere_. Cf. the similar phrase in 'R. H.' 377: _De
bois e de riuere, refait il autre tal_.

247 ff. Cf. 'Lay.' 4893 ff.: _Brennes wes swie hende [v] his hap wes e
betere. Brennes cue on hundes, Brennes cue on hauekes, he cue mid his
honden hanlie a harpe._

250. _Cupe serue_. Cf. 'Ipomydon' (as above) 295, where the princess
says to Ipomydon, "_Of the cuppe ye shall serve me_," and 320 where
Ipomydon does serve with the cup. Cf. also 'R.H.' 471: _Horn serui le
rei bien de la cupe acel ior_.

264 ff. Cf. the apparently borrowed scene in 'Rich. C. de L.' vv. 879
ff., where the princess falls in love with the captive Richard and bids
the jailer, "_And aftir soper, in the evenyng, To my chaumbyr thow hym
bryng In the atyr of a squyer_" (909-11).

266. _He_ = 'she' as elsewhere (OE. _ho_): _mest in o[gh]te_. For
similar phrase cf. Wissmann 254 Note.

268 _wexe wild_. A popular word combination. Cf. 'Proverbs of Hendyng'
(Bddeker'sed.) 121: _Ne wax ou nout to wilde_ (Wissmann).

275. _Bi daie ne bi ni[gh]te_. Cf. 'Erl of Tolous' 42: _Be dayes and be
nyght_. 'Launfal' 412: _Be dayes ne be ny[gh]t_. 'Lay.' 13829: _bi die
no bi nihtes_, etc.

282. _him u[gh]te_. Cf. Wissmann's note with incorrect reference to
'Lay.' 312. See present volume, 268 Note.

300. _wed broer_. Cf. Glossary.

315. _sette him on bedde_. The usual mode of entertainment. Cf. 'Beues
of Hampton' (E.E.T.S.) 1090; 'Guy of W.' (E.E.T.S.) 3043; 'Sir Eglamour'
679: _sche sett hym on hur beddys syde_.

319 ff. For other instances of the maiden wooing the man see 'Beues of
H.' 1093 ff.; 'Amis and Amiloun' 550 ff.: 'Sir Eglamour' 674 ff., etc.

321. _trewe pli[gh]te_. Cf. 'Sir Eglamour' 674: _Therto ther trowthys
they plyght_. 'Erl of Tolous' 210: _Therto my trouth y plyght_, etc.,
frequently.

333. _bi one ribbe_. Not clear. Cf. Wissmann's Note, also Klbing (Engl.
Stud. vi. 155), who translates _bi_, '_im bezug auf_,' 'with reference
to.'

341. _fule eof_. Cf. 'Havelok' 1780: _Goth henne swie fule eues_
(Wissmann).

350. _mote u deie_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' 6858: _God geve the wel evyl
pyne_; 6862, _God geve you wel evyl endyng_.

364. _hou one_. Cf. 559 C H, 650 C H, also Glossary. The OE. weak form
_na_ seems to have the same experience as _seolfa_, 'self.'

366. _vs wroe_. _wroe_ means 'fearful' (Mtzner).

373. _makede hire blie_. Cf. 'Havelok' 2244, 'Rich. C. de L.' 1606
(Wissmann).

378. _squieres wise_. Cf. 264 Note.

379, C. _pleie_. Cf. 'Lyb. Disc.' 25-26: _As hyt befelle upon a day To
wode he wente on hys play_.

387-8. _kyng on benche_. Cf. 'Lay.' 14963-4: _& heo gon scenchen, on as
kinges benche_. Also 'Ipomydon' 229: _Of e cuppe ye shall serve me_.
Cf. also 1185.

403. _On knes he him sette_. The conventional mode of salutation. Cf.
'Lay.' 22147-8: _Comen to an ki[n]ge, & setten an heore cneowen_. Cf.
also 'Lay.' 13821 and 'King of Tars.' 719: _& gret hir feir vpon his
kne_, also 90, 221. 'Guy of Warwick' 161-2: _Gye on his kneys sone hym
sett, And that mayden feyre he grett_. 'Rich. C. de L.' 891-3, 1591;
'Ypotis' 15: _On his kne he hym sette. Well fayr e emperour er he
grette._ 'Ipomydon' 267-8: _Ipomydon on knees hym sette And the lady
feyre grette_. 187-8: _Vppon {his} knees he hym sette, And e kyng full
feyr he grette_. Cf. also 902-3, also 'Erl of Tolous' 1066: _To the
emperour he knelyd blyve_. Cf. Wissmann's Note.

405-6. _of his feire si[gh]te ..._ Cf. 'R. H.' 1053: _De la belte de
horn tute la chambre resplent_. Compare with this the flame which came
from Havelok's mouth when he slept.

420. _honde_. Cf. 'Ipomydon' 2164: _Ipomydon toke hyr by the hond_. Cf.
also 'Havelok' 408; 'Amis and Am.' 550 ff.; 'Guy of W.' 217 ff.; 'Rich.
C. de L.' 891-3: _Fayr he grette that lady bryght, And sayde to her with
herte free, What is thy wille, Lady, with {me}_.

425. _ofte heo hine custe ..._ Cf. 'Lay.' 5012-14: _bitwixen hire rmes
heo hine nom, ofte heo hine clupte, & ofte heo hine custe_.

436. _lie_. Cf. 'Life of Alex.' 431: _He wol solace me and lythe and in
this care make me blythe_, and 'Will. de Shoreham' (ed.Wright), p.19:
_and lytheth oure pyne_.

437. _wiute strif_. Cf. 'Erl of Tolous' 240: _Wythoute any stryfe_.
'Ipomydon' 1607-8: _He sayd, he wold haue hyr to wyffe, If she wold
withouten stryff_.

440. _plist_. Cf. 10 Note: _trewe_. Cf. 321 Note, also Wissmann's Note.

441-2. _bio[gh]te_ : _mi[gh]te_. Cf. 'Lay.' 28410-11: _Modred a ohte,
what he don mihte_ (Wissmann).

450, H. _y fader fundlyng_. An instance of the preservation of the OE.
'irregular' genitive form. Cf. also 116C H, 951H; _moder_ 1485C.

451. _... cunde_. 'It would not be in keeping with thy rank' (Mtzner).

452. _welde_. Cf. 324.

454. _wedding_. Cf. Wissmann's ref. to Grimm, Rechtsalt. 439.

458. _iswo[gh]e_. Swoons are frequent in mediaeval romance. Cf.
'Ipomydon' 873-8: _Uppon hyr bedde she gan downe falle On swoone, afore
hyr maydens alle_. Cf. also Wissmann's Note.

464. _stere_. Cf. 'Ritson' III. 35, 825: _Ther myght no man hure stere_
(Wissmann).

473, C. _at swete ing_. Cf. 'Ipomydon' 1021: _Than sory was that swete
thynge_. 'King of Tars.' 374: _For Maries loue, at swete ing_; 'Lyb.
Disc.' 2127, 'Fl. and Bl.' 272T, etc.

474. _swo[gh]ning_. Cf. 'Ipomydon' 875: _And whan she roos of
swounynge_.

478, C. _seue ni[gh]t_, a 'week,' like 'fortnight.'

480. _cuppe_ : _vppe_. Cf. also 1205-6, where the couplet is a
stereotyped one and does not fit.

482. _foreward_. Cf. 'Erl of Tolous': _Yschall hold thy forward {god}_;
also 'Lay.' III. 177 (Wissmann).

485. _adun falle_. Cf. 403 Note.

486. _halle_. Cf. 'Havelok' 157: _Bifore e king into e halle_
(Wissmann).

492. _bede_. Cf. Wissmann's Note.

506. _mid e beste_. Cf. 'Lay.' 20449: _cniht mid am beste_, also
23259.

520. _derling_. Cf. 'Lay.' A. 28342: _i-slo[gh]en is Angell e king, e
wes min a[gh]en deorling_.

524. _sprang_. Cf. 134 Note, also 'Lay.' A. 28314: _ase e di gon
lihte_.

526. _u[gh]te lang_. 'Lay.' A. 28297: _feouwertyne niht him uhte to
lg_.

537. _fel a knes_. Cf. 403 Note.

562, C. _u[gh]te god_. Cf. 'Life of Alex.' 1145 (Wissmann); also
'Ipomydon' 599: _And of his comyng she was glad_; and 'Lay.' 13832; _for
eouwer cumen ich m blie_.

572. _vnbynd me of my pine_. Cf. 'Fl. and Bl.' 308: _of care vnbynde_.

573-4. _stille_ : _wille_. Cf. 'Seven Sages' (Weber III.) 485
(Wissmann).

581. _mestere_. Cf. 'Sir Eglamour' 252, The knight must accomplish
"_dedes of armys thre_" before he can marry the princess. Cf. the
similar conditions in 'Guy of Warwick.'

586, L. _forsake_, 'give up,' 'renounce.' Cf. Wissmann's Note and Ritson
II. 70 ff., 159.

595. _gold ring_. The ring element is almost invariably present in
mediaeval romance. Cf. 'Guy of W.' 7264; 'Sir Eglamour' 617-21;
'Ipomydon' 2060 ff.; 'Rich. C. de L.' 1635 ff.; 'Erl of Tolous' 392,
1029, 1077; 'Fl. and Bl.' etc. Cf. also discussion of the subject in
Child's Engl. and Scot. Metr. Ballads I. pp. 194 ff.

607, C. _of drad_. Cf. 'Havelok' 278: _Al Engelond was of him adrad_
(Wissmann).

619. _Leue at hire he nam_. Cf. 'Ipomydon' 745-6: _They toke there leve
at the quene. And wente forthe all by dene._

624. _blak so eny cole_. Cf. 'Ipomydon' 2182: _rede as any blode_.
'Rich. C. de L.' 1515: _Vpon a stede whyt so mylke_. 'Ipomydon' 645:
_That one_ (steed) _was white as any mylke_. 'Rich. C. de L.' 824: _ded
as ony stone_. 'K. Horn' 532L H: _red so eny glede_.

628. _gan denie_. Cf. 'Lay.' 27441: _a eoren gon to dunien_
(Wissmann). 'Beowulf' 226: _syrcan hrysedon_.

631-2. _while_ : _myle_. Cf. Wissmann's Note with parallel references to
'Lay.' I. 248; 'Squyr of Lowe Degree' 489; 'Lyb. Disc.' 5, v.103
(RitsonII.); also Wolfram's Parz. 132, 16.

634. _heene hunde_. Cf. 'Lay.' 28982, 29202, etc.: _heene hundes
alle_; 'King of Tars.' 92 (RitsonII.).

637-8. Cf. 44 Note.

640. _wordes bolde_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' 2407: _And I say thee wordes
bold_.

641-2. _wynne_ : _inne_. Cf. 'Chron. of Engl.' 465-6: _Engelond to
bywynne And sle that ther weren ynne_ (Wissmann).

643. _swerd gripe_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' 4471: _Her wepene he gunne er
to gripe_; also 5070.

649-50. _Abute horn al one_. Cf. 'Beues' 3885, 4403: _Al aboute ai
gonne ringe_. Also 'Guy of W.' 1072: _And ey aboute syr Gye can goo_.

659, H. _maister_ gen. sing. Another trace of French influence on this
text, the French gen. sing. without ending. Cf. _enimis_ 1024H, Horns
123L.

678, L H. _lite stounde_. Cf. 'Life of Alex.' 947; 'Chron. of Engl.' 469
(Wissmann).

681, C. _wile i[gh]olde_. Cf. 'worth while.' Cf. Wissmann's parallel
citations; 'Life of Alex.' 734; 'Chron. of Eng.' 871, etc.

684. _huntinge_. Cf. 'Erl of Tolous' 937: _He rod on huntyng on a day_.
'Guy of W.' 1315: _On huntyng Gye went on a day_. Hunting was a
favourite amusement at the time of the Danish invasions, as we know from
the life of Alfred.

692, C. _sat on e sunne_. The sun shone in the bower. Cf. Wissmann's
citation from The Squire of L. D.: _Anone that lady, fayr and fre, Vndyd
a pynne of yvere, And wyd the windowes open set; The sonne schone in at
her closet_.

710. _turne ine sweuene_. Cf. 'Lay.' 25573: _Let u mi sweuen to selen
iturnen_ (Wissmann).

716. _treue ie pli[gh]te_. Cf. 321 Note.

729. _bi sture_ refers to one of the rivers Stour. Cf. like opinions of
Mtzner and Wissmann.

731 ff. Cf. 'Guy of W.' 3065 ff.; 'Amis and Amil.' 781 ff.; and 'Rich.
C. de L.' 1000, for other instances of betrayal.

734. _berne_. Not clear. Cf. Mtzner, Ae. Sprachproben, p. 219.

740. _Vnder couerture_. Cf. 'Life of Alex.' 549: _In he cam to here bur
and crape under hire couertour_ (Wissmann).

767-8, L H. Meaning somewhat obscure. Cf. Wissmann's Note with somewhat
parallel citation from 'The Squire of L. D.'. 507 ff.: _his drawen swerd
in his hande, There was no more with him wolde stande_.

779. _haue wel godneday_. Common form of parting salutation. Cf. 'Lay.'
26002, 32187 (Wissmann); also 'Rich. C. de L.' 106: _Lemman haue thou
good day_. 'Ipomydon' 463: _Have good day; noue wille I fare_, etc.

780. _No leng abiden_. Cf. 'King of Tars.' 283, 314, 760: _The
messengers nold no leng abide_. Also 'Yw. and Gaw.' (RitsonI.) 2673-4:
_He said, No lenger dwell I ne may Beleves wele, and haves goday_. Cf.
also 'Assumption' 142C, 288A.

783-4. _wune ere_ : _seue [gh]ere_. Cf. 'Lay.' 29437-8, also 30088-9
(Wissmann). Seven years, like seven days, is a period of time
conventional in romance. Cf. 'Squire of L. D.' 117: _Ihaue thee loved
this seven yere_. Also 'Beues' 1274, 3835, 3897, etc. Cf. also Grimm,
Rechtsalt. 214.

798. _Kep wel_. Cf. 'Beues' 2372: _I pray e kepe wel Iosian_.

808. _westene londe_. Ireland, without a doubt. Westnesse as
distinguished from estnesse; Aylmer's kingdom as distinguished from
Murry's.

809, L H. _stonde_, spring up, rise. Cf. 'Lay.' 20509: _wind stod_.

827 ff. Cf. the description of the coming of Hengest ('Lay.' 13785ff.).

829. _Also mot i sterue_. For other forms of asseveration cf. 179, 197,
365, 437, 709, 1131, 1259, etc.

831. _Ne sa[gh] i neure_. Cf. 'Lay.' 13830-1: _bi die no bi nihtes ne
sh ich nauere r swulche cnihtes_. Cf. also 180-2, also 'Beowulf'
246-7: _Nfre ic mran geseah eorla ofer eoran onne is ower sum_.

834. Cf. 403 Note.

836. Cf. 'Lay' 13816 ff.

838, L. _hauen to done_. Cf. 'Seven Sages' 452: _With me ne hadde he
neuer to done_. 'Life of Alex.' 1429: _There he hadde thought to done,
Ac he hit aleyde sone_ (Wissmann).

839. _bitak ... to werie_. Cf. 'Lay.' 3021 (Wissmann).

841. _faireste man_. 'Lay.' 13797-8: _is weoren e freste men at
auere her comen_.

848. _Tak him ine glorie_. Cf. Wissmann, Note, also Klbing (Engl.
Stud. vi, 156). The glove had many significations. It might be used as a
sign of challenge (cf.'Erl of Tolous' 1100); or it might signify a
handing over of authority from a superior to a subordinate (Grimm,
Rechtsalt. 154,4). It is in this latter way that Klbing believes the
word to be used here in Horn. When a prince for any reason left his
land, he must leave some one behind, _to hold the court_ ('Sir
Tristrem,' v.1985), and must supply this one with the badge of
authority. This opinion of Klbing's seems very plausible. It is
interesting, however, to note two other uses of the glove. Cf. 'Rich. C.
de L.' 5696-1: _Thertoo I holde, Thertoo my glove_ (= 'make agreement').
And 'R.H.' 909-11C: _E horn uent cuntre li cumme il iest costumez, E
lespe e les gaunz sire dist ca donez, Issil soleit faire ainz quil fust
encusez_. The clue to the meaning might be suggested by either one of
these phrases. One thing seems certain; in our poem (K.H.) the king's
meaning is that Horn should be left at home. This is the meaning in
R.H. 2324-6: _Si alez doneer k'od vus ne le menez, K'il est de belt
issi inluminez. Ke vus l  il ert, petit serrez preisez._

861, C. _site stille_. Cf. 'Lay.' 28173, 24866: _sitte adun stille
cnihtes inne halle_ (Wissmann).

867 ff. Regarding the custom of single combat, cf. 'Publ. of Mod. Lang.
Assoc. of America' xv. pp. 228, 230. Cf. also the triple combat in
'Rich. C. de L.' 5691 ff. Cf. also the Arundel MS. version (French) of
'Havelok,' in which Havelok overcomes Hadulf in single combat and thus
regains his Danish kingdom.

876-7. _at on_ : _at oer_. Cf. 'Lay.' 29215-16: _him seoluen he heol
at ane, Isembard at oer_.

881-2. _to rede_ : _alle dede_. Cf. 'Havelok' 118: _Louerd what schal me
to rede_; Bddeker, G. L., ix. 16, _sone, what shal me to rede_
(Wissmann). Also 'Lay.' 13904-5: _her-of ou most rden, oer alle we
beo dden_.

886. _wi_ used in the OE. sense 'against.' Cf. the use of _on_ (= 'in')
and _at_, 619 Note. (= 'from') in Glossary.

895, H. _ros of bedde_. Cf. 'Lay.' 6717: _e king aros of bedde_
(Wissmann).

904, H. _to gedere smiten_. 'Lay.' 25605: _heo smiten heom to-gaderen_
(Wissmann).

909. _on a grene_. Inconsistent with '_at Cristesmasse_,' v. 853.

911 ff. Cf. Wissmann's Note.

921-2. _King Mory_. This is one of several references to a fuller,
longer tale, in which Murry must have played a more important rle. Cf.
vv. 4 ff. and the abrupt introduction of Arnoldin, 1561.

925. _agrise_. Cf. 'King of Tars.' 1202: _so sore hem gan agrise_.

931. _rynge_. Unlike the ring in the Scotch ballads and in H.C. the
ring in this version serves as a protection.

933-4. _smerte_. Cf. 'Havelok' 2646: _orw e brest unto e herte e
dint bigan ful sore to smerte_ (Wissmann).

935. _sturne_. Cf. 'Lay.' 25841, 6732 (Wissmann).

947-8, H. _stounde_ : _grounde_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' 4537-8: _Soone,
withinne a lytyl stounde The moste party yede to grounde_.

952. _fader_. OE. gen. sing. Cf. 116 'C. H.'

964 ff. Cf. the similar offer made to Brennes by Sequin, 'Lay.' 4919 ff.

974. _lofte_. In the sense 'women's apartments' seems to be of Norse
origin. Cf. Skeat, Etymol. Dict., also Wissmann, 928 Note. Cf. also
1050L. It seems probable that the women's apartments were in the
'tower.' Cf. also Klbing (Engl. Stud. vi. 155).

1002-3. _dude_ seems to be used in the modern, intensive sense, and not
as 'cause to' or 'put.'

1010-11. For similar situations cf. 'Guy of W.' 1315-16: _On huntyng Gye
went on a day, He mett a palmer by the way_. Also 'Erl of Tolous' 937-8:
_He rode on huntyng on a day, Amarchand mett he be e way_. Cf. also
'Beues' 1300 ff.

1021-2. _wedde_ : _bedde_. Cf. 'Lay.' 31126-7 B: _he at maide weddede,
and nam hire to his bedde_.

1024, H. _enimis_. Perhaps trace of OF. nom. sing. ending in _-s_, due
to French scribe. Cf. 123 Note.

1034. _bidere_, error for _bitere_ (?).

1056. _wringe_. Cf. 'Ipomydon' 876: _Hir handes fast gan she wrynge_.

1068. _linne_. Hortative (?).

1073. _kni[gh]t mid e beste_. A common phrase. Cf. 'Lay.' 20449, etc.

1077-8. _sonde_ : _londe_. Cf. 'Lay.' 28676-7: _and sende his sonde wide
[gh]eond his londe_.

1089. _striken_. Stratmann suggests 'strip.'

1091-2, H. _yronge_ : _ysonge_. Cf. 'Lay.' 29441-2: _no belle irungen.
no masse isunge._

1093. _word bigan to springe_. Cf. 'Havel.' 959: _of him ful wide e
word sprong_. 'Lay.' 26242: _Wel wide sprong as eorles word_
(Wissmann). Also 'King of Tars.' 1065: _e word wel wide sprong_. 'Lyb.
Disc.' 264 ff.: _Hys name ys spronge wide_.

1102. _sprunge of stone_. The simile is one of quickness that of a spark
from the stone in striking a light, like modern "quick as a flash." Cf.
_He sprange als any spark one glede_, 'Sir Isumbras,' 451.

1103-4. _mette_ : _grette_. A very common rime. Cf. 'Lay.' 31041-2: _er
he hine mette and fire hine grette_. 'Beues' 2051-2: _ar wi a palmer
he mette, And swie faire he him grette_.

1117. _nolde_. Cf. 'Lay' 28900: _and seiden at he nolde_.

1118 L. _ispused wi golde_. Reference, probably, to an old custom of
buying the bride.

1121. _Myd strence_. Cf. 'Squire of L. D.' 443 (Wissmann).

1132 ff. _chaungi wede_. Compare with this 'Beues' 2051 ff., where Beues
meets a palmer, learns from him the news, exchanges garments with him,
and in disguise goes to see Iosiane after an absence of seven years.
Disguises are an almost universal feature of these mediaeval tales. Cf.
Brian's disguise in 'Pierre de Langt.' (Rolls Series), pp. 248-350. Cf.
also disguises in 'Guy of W.', 'Layamon' (17637ff.), 'Ypomydon,' 'Rich.
C. de L.,' 'Isumbras,' etc. They are frequent in Germanic story from the
stories of Thor down.

1134. _sclauyne_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' 611-12: _with pyke and with
sclavyn, As palmers were in Paynim_.

1139. _horn his_ = Hornes, evidently due to scribe's mistake in hearing.

1144. _bicolmede_. Cf. 'Lay.' 17700-1, _iblcched he hfde his licame:
swulc ismitte of cole_.

1147-8. _gateward_. Cf. 'Ipomydon' 245-6: _They com to the
castelle-gate, The porter was redy there at_.

1155. _abugge_. Cf. 'Lay.' 3841, 8159 (Wissm.).

1158, L. _rake_. Cf. 'Beues' 2183: _Let me wi e reke_.

1164. _[gh]erne_. Cf. Ritson, II. 25, 589: _e mayde cryde yerne_
(Wissm.).

1184 ff. Cf. the story of Brian, 'Lay.' III., pp. 234-8: Brian,
disguised as a palmer, enters the banqueting hall. Galarne, his sister,
the queen, serves the guests to drink from a bowl. She recognizes Brian,
and gives him a ring in token of recognition.

1185-6. _benche_ : _schenche_. Cf. 'Lay.' 14963-4: _& heo gon scenchen
on as kinges benche_. Cf. also 'Beowulf,' 1226-54.

1190. _so la[gh]e was in londe_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.': _Thenne as hit
was lawe of land_ (Wissm.).

1191-2. _Hye drank of e bere To knyt and to squiere_. An old Germanic
custom. Cf. Wissmann, 'Untersuchungen' ('Q. u. F.' xvi. Strassb., 1876),
p.110.

1202. _brune_. Cf. Wissm., 1142 Note, also Klbing ('Engl. Stud.' vi.
156). Wissmann takes _brun_ to be a collective referring to 'beer.'
Klbing, with greater probability, takes _brun_ to mean an ordinary
brown horn, as distinguished from the _cuppe white_, which she has laid
down, 1201.

1204. _glotoun_. The same phrase in Wolfram's 'Parz.': _si wnde, er
wre ein garzn_ (Wissm.).

1206. _ing_, probably a mistake for _ring_. Cf. 479-80.

1240. _vnder wude li[gh]e_. Cf. 'Lay': _Ich eou wille leden for to mine
lauerd i on wade rime er he under rise li_ (Wissm.).

1259. _bi seint gile_. Cf. Wissm. 1197 Note. Cf. also 829 Note.

1275. _custe_. Cf. 'Erl of Tolous' 401: _And kyssyde hyt fele sythe_.
Cf. also 425 Note.

1281-2. _Heo feol on hire bedde_. Cf. 'Erl of Tolous' 871, 875: _He hent
a knyfe with all his mayn ... And fell {in} swoun upon hys bedd_; also
'Ipomydon' 871 ff.: _Uppon hyr bedde she gan downe falle_. Cf. also 458,
792.

1282, H. _gredde_. Cf. 'Beues' 2151: _After Bonefas [gh]he gan grede_.

1297, L, H. _kuste_. Cf. 'Lay.' 15017-18, 5012-14.

1304. _wroe_. Cf. 366 Note.

1311-12. _bure_ : _ture_. Cf. 'Havelok' 2072-3: _I shal lene e a bowr
at is up in e heye tour_.

1321-2. _ywis_ : _blis_. Cf. 'Lay.' 7605-7 B: _Mochel was e blisse at
hii makede mid iwisse_.

1335. _wunder_. Cf. Mtzner 1247 Note.

1336. _falsede_. Early instance of a hybrid word.

1398. _crouch_. Lat. _crucem_, OE. _cruce_.

1410. _hym agros_. Cf. 925 Note.

1419. _kepe is passage_. Cf. 'Beowulf' 230 ff.: _se e holmclifu
healdan scolde_, etc.

1420. _of age_. This phrase seems to have very nearly its modern
meaning, and if so, is probably the earliest recorded instance. Cf. New
Oxford Dict.

1422. _bi este_ C, _by weste_ L H. This confusion, here as elsewhere,
seems due to changing points of view. _Westernesse_ is of course west to
_Suddenne_, and both are east to _Yrlonde_.

1428. _e ri[gh]te_, direct. Cf. Wissmann, 1356 Note.

1462. _I blessed beo e time_. Cf. 'Havel.' 1215; 'Chron. of Engl.' 705
(Wissmann).

1465-6. _teche_ : _speche_. Cf. 'Lay.' 26544: _for us we eou scullen
techen ure Bruttisce speche_, and 26834: _Nu is we wulle teche Bruttisce
spche_. For a very similar use cf. 'Lay.' 18424-25: _we scullen heom to
teon & tiende tellen_; 20605-6, _and we heom sculle tellen Bruttisce
{spelles}_; 21698, _sorhfulle spelles_; 24942, _[gh]eomere spelles_. In
all these instances, as in the phrase in K.H., the meaning seems to be
to inflict dire punishment. Cf. also 'Lay.' 23503-4: _& techen he to
riden ene wi touward Romen_.

1467-8. _sle_ : _fle_. Cf. 'Lay.' 6417-18: _oer mid fure he lette hom
sln  oer he heom lette quic flan_. Cf. also 'Lay.' 27376-7, 29049-50;
'Life of Alex.' 1734 (Wissmann). Cf. also 'Havelok,' 612: _He shal hem
hangen, or quik flo_. For details of the flaying, cf. 'Havelok' 2492 ff.

1469. _horn to blowe_. In both French versions of 'Havelok,' Havelok
proves his identity in Denmark by his ability to blow the horn which
Sigar presents to him, and which no one else can blow. Cf. also 'Beues'
3377: _Saber is horn began to blow, at his ost him scholde knowe_. Cf.
also Roland's horn in the Song of Roland and a similar incident in the
German romance, 'Knig Rother.'

1481-2. _wurche_ : _churche_. Cf. 'Lay.' 10205-6: _chirchen he lett
areren monie & wel iwhare_; also 29531-2.

1483-4. _ringe_ : _singe_. Cf. 'Havelok' 242: _Belles he deden sone
ringen, monkes and prestes masse singen_ (Wissmann).

1487, L. _cleten_. Scribal error for _clepten_.

1501-2, L H. _ston ... lym ..._ The combination of stone and lime is
probably a sign of French influence on MSS. L and H. Cf. R.H. 5047: _de
pere e de furment_. Cf. also 'Erl of Tolous' 467: _Was made of lyme and
stone_; also 'Sir Eglamour,' 252.

1509-10. _wende_ : _schende_. Cf. 'Lay.' 1793-9: _e kaisere wende
Walwa to scende_.

1516-17. For mode of marriage cf. 'Rich. C. de L.' 185-8.

1518. _newe werke_. Cf. 'Rob. of Glouc.' p. 449 (Wissmann).

1536. _wunder_ = harm, evil. Cf. Mtzner, 1247 Note, 1422 Note.

1537. _wundes fiue_. Cf. 'King of Tars.' 57: _at suffred wowndes fiue_.

1574. _ginne_. Cf. 'Lay.' 30567: _urh nanes cunnes gie_ (Wissmann).


FLORIS AND BLAUNCHEFLUR.

2, T. _e cristen woman_, the captive mother of Blauncheflur.

28, T. _louyd togeder_, a French idiom, _s'entr'amoient_.

72, T. _Bo by day and by ny[gh]t_. Cf. 'K. Horn,' 275 Note.

77, T. _at oer_, preservation of the OE. definite inflected form,
_t_, source of modern English dialect 'tother.'

80, T. _ben ... wo_. Cf. 142 T, and 'K. Horn,' 121 Note.

100, T. _fel to_, was due. Cf. Bradl.-Stratm. _fallen_.

110, T. _wore_ : _lore_. Cf. _were_ : _fere_, 82.

113-14, T. _sykes_, _lernes_, _mornes_. These forms seem due to Northern
influence on MS. T.

140, T. _Let do bring forth_. A curious combination. 'Let' is beginning
to usurp the place of 'do' in the sense of 'cause to.' Cf. 155T, 211T,
434C, etc.

168, T ff. In these allusions to other romances are to be found the most
certain clues as to the time of composition of 'Fl. and Bl.'

193, T. _at oone_. Cf. 'K. Horn,' 997 Note.

194, T. _Amyral_, emir, saracen ruler.

210, T. _wyrche_. Cf. 'K. Horn,' 1481.

226, T. _charge_. Error for _targe_. Cf. MS. Cott.

227, T. _noome_, gone. Cf. _vndernome_, 152, 219 T.

250, T. _ronne on hye_, ran to the chamber above.

270, T. _wept_. Cott. has the older form _wep_. Cf., however, _Aryst_ (:
_atwist_), 869T and 589C, and Cott.

272, T. _So swete a ing_. Cf. v. 525, also 'K. Horn,' 473 C, Note.

338, T. _care vnbynde_. Cf. 'K. Horn,' 572.

341-2, T. _devyse_ : _prys_. These words have a meaning somewhat
different from the modern meaning. _Deuyse_ means direction,
supervision; _prys_ means value. Like _charged_ 343, and _monay_ 345,
they are French words with French meanings.

343, T. _charged_, loaded. Fr. influence.

345, T. _monay_, small money. Fr. influence.

376, T. _dou[gh]t_. This use of _[gh]_ where it has no right
etymologically shows that it was no longer pronounced. Cf.
_anoonery[gh]t_: _white_ 766T.

40, C. _nabit_. Cf. 'K. Horn,' 1211 L., H.

67, C. _Fort he dide slep him nome_. 'Until the dead sleep seized him.'
_Fort he_ comes from _for to he_ (Hausknecht).

76, C. _parais_. A French form. The _-d-_ shaded out in French about
1110.

110, C. _pane of meniuier_. Cf. Hausknecht's Note. Hausknecht reads:
_Ipaned al wi meniver_, supplied with panes of meniver. _Meniuier_
(_menu_ + _vair_) means a kind of fur, probably of squirrel.

145, C. _in alle halue_. Cf. Map, 338, _on alle halve_ (Bradl.-Stratm.).

173, C. _furtenni[gh]t_, a journey of a fortnight. (?)

176, C. _amidde ri[gh]t_, right in the middle of. Cf. also 182.

231, C. _kernel_ (_kanel_), canal (Hausknecht).

275, C. _spray_. Cf. Bradl.-Stratm.

300, C. _onur_ (_e_ + _honur_).

304, C. _bulme_, error for _welme_. (?)

308, C. _for do_, old force of _for-_. Cf. Germ. _ver-_.

448, C. _hire stonde_. Trace of gram. gender. Cf. Hausknecht, 854 Note.

465, C. _lepe_. Cf. Hausknecht, 875 Note.

486, C. _Ho_, who so. Early instance of loss of _w-_.

497, C. _for[gh]e me_ (_for[gh]ete me_).

513, C. _ileste a mile_, time to go a mile. Cf. 'K. Horn,' 631-2 Note.

536, C. _pal_. Cf. Hausknecht, 952 Note.

589, C. _arist_ (: _atwist_). Early instance of a strong verb become
weak.

597, C. _piler_, the pillar in the tower, the one in which the
water-pipe runs. Cf. 223-232C.

937, T. _withdrow[gh]_, restrained. Rare in this sense.

941, T. _soord_. Hausknecht reads _soon_.

960, T. _kinde of man_. Fr. _nature_. _Kind_ is felt to be no longer an
exact equivalent of _nature_; hence in T, _of man_ is added.

692, 697, C. _him_. Further traces of grammatical gender. Cf. 448, C
Note.

988, T. _lygge_. Read _bygge_. French _racatassent_.

718, C. _biknewe_. Cf. Glossary.

1007, T. _ne getest not_. Scribal error. Cf. C and A.

1009, T. _on lyue_. Mod. Engl. alive. Cf. _adown_, _a-fishing_, etc.

1011-12, T. _byne_ : _moyne_. _byne_ not clear; _moyne_ error for
_myne_. (?)

1017, T. _tyre_ (tear), did struggle toward her.

814, C. _[gh]eld here while_, paid for their pains. Cf. 'worth while.'


ASSUMPTION.

4, C. _lescoun_, reading. Lat. _lectiones_.

7, 8, C. _blessi_ : _herkni_. Cf. _blessyth_ : _herkenythe_ F, _blis_:
_herkenis_ D.

15, 16, C. _also_ : _mo_. H and F have _also_ : _two_.

19-22. Add. Not in H or D, or F.

21-2, C. _red_ : _ded_. The scribe has neglected to cross his _d_ to
make __. D 21-2 has _beth_: _deth_.

17-44, C. Omitted in F.

29-30, C. _weop_ : _fet_. _let_ : _fet_ in H and D.

33-4, C. _fless_ : _was_. H and D have _blode_ : _mode_.

41-2, C. Not in H, or F, or D.

51-56, C. In D (49-54) all is told in a command to John. F (25-32)
follows D rather than C in rimes.

59-60, C. _were_ : _forbere_. F (35-5) has _saumpull_ : _tempull_. D
(57-8) has _exemple_: _temple_.

61-2, C. _ore_ : _more_. Cf. F (37-8) _more_ : _ore_, D (59-60) _more_
: _lore_.

63-4, C. Not in F or D.

69-70. _fedde_ : _bedde_. Cf. F (43-4), D (65-6): _Therfore ey loued
hur well all_ (Dis substantially, not exactly, the same asF): _And
sche hyt seruyd wele with all_ F.

  [[The rimes are at 65-66, C, and 71-72, A.]]

70-1, C. _slep_ : _kep_. Cf. F (45-6) and D (67-8):

  _Besy sche hur made at swete may_
  _hur sone to serue nyght and day._ F.

and H 67-8:

  _besy shee was day and nyght_
  _for to serue god almyght._

75-88, C. Not in F.

80-86, C. Cf. D (76-80):

  _al at sche wolde he dide sone_
  _Crist hem sette boe Iliche_
  _In to e blisse of heuene riche_
  _But whan mane at mayden hende_
  _Schulde out of is world wende._

Cf. also H (75-78):

  _Crist ham blessid bothe y liche_
  _that sone hem brought to heuen riche._
  _Tho Marie that mayden hende_
  _shuld out of this world wende,_
  _Crist here sent an Angel fro heuen._

97-8, C. _quen_ : _ben_. Cf. F (57-8):

  _That hye flowre at growe on a tree_
  _Mary modyr he sent to the._

also D (91-2):

  _e lilye flour at grew on the_
  _Mayden & moder wel the be._

also H (89-90):

  _lady e flour that come of the_
  _mayde and moder y-heried u be._

103-4, C. _inge_ : _bringe_. Cf. _brynge_ : _tithynge_. F (61-2), D
(97-8), H (95-6).

107-8, C. _beo_ : _e_. Cf. _come_ : _wone_. F (65-6), D (101-2), H
(99-100).

110, C. _meigne_. Cf. F 68, D 104, H 102, _plente_.

121-2, Add. F, D, and H have these verses and an additional couplet:
_lady swete y say to the That here schall ow no lengur be_. F (75-6.) D
and H have substantially the same.

116, C. _hire by_. F, D, and H have _belamy_ in agreement with Add.

121-2, C. _kenesmen_ : _beon_. Cf. H 118: _and of my frendes that y
kene_.

127-8, C. _come_ : _aboue_. Cf. H (123-4), _come_ : _doune_.

131-2, C. _lefdy_ : _belamy_. Cf. H (127-8):

  _Then seid Marie to at angel fre._
  _What is thi name tel thu me._

139-146, C. Cf. F (101-4):

  _The aungell to heuene wande_
  _Whan he had seyde hys errande_
  _Mary toke that palme in honde_
  _and thoght moche of at sonde._

D (135-8) has substantially the same. H (135-8) has, _yede_ : _seide_,
_hond_: _sond_.

151-2, C. _idon_ : _on_. Cf. F (109-10) _ydo_ : _to_, D (143-4) _ido_:
_to_.

162, C. _vnri[gh]t_. Cf. F (154): _boe be dayes & be nyght_; do. D
(154), H (154).

164, C. _dred_. H, F, and D have _qued_ : _for I dowte me of e quede_,
F 156.

177-180 C. _wo_ : _fo_, _so_ : _to_. F (137-40) has _bone_ : _sone_,
_also_: _to_. D (171-4) has the same rimes. H (171-4) has _bone_:
_sone_, _also_: _tho_.

190, C. _idri[gh]t_. F (148), D (172), and H (182) have _plight_.

193-4, C. _ded_ : _ned_. F (151-2), D (185-6) have _pyne_ : _tyme_. H
does not have these verses.

199-200, C. Cf. F (157-60):

  _And sayde lady how may thys be_
  _yf thow wynde sory we bee._
  _lady thou haste seruyd vs so_
  _allas how schall we the for goo._

D (191-4) has _be_ : _we_, _so_ : _go_. H (189-92) has:

  _and seid lady how may this be_
  _Yf u wendist how shal we do_
  _lady whi dos thu serue vs so_
  _how shal we then lady do._

213-14, C. _to_ : _so_. Cf. F (173-4):

  _ye schall see a wondur dreche_
  _whan my sone wole me fecche._

D (207-8):

  _schal no sorwe me drecche_
  _for my sone wile me fecche._

H (203-6):

  _ther shal me no sorow dery_
  _for my sone wol me wery._
  _my body shal haue no woo_
  _for Ihesus sake to whom y go._

219-20, C. _kyng_ : _geng_. Cf. F (179-80):

  _he at y bare my leue sone_
  _schall sende me aungellys {soon}_

D (213-14):

  _he at I bar my leue sone_
  _wile at good folk to me come._

H (209-10):

  _he at y bare my lef sone_
  _he wol sende other come._

226, C. Two lines are omitted here. Cf. F (187-8).

  _Seynt John wyste ther of noght._
  _what tydyng at the angell bro[gh]t._

With F agree D (221-2) and H (217-18).

231-4, C. _chere_ : _dere_, _blis_ : _is_. Cf. F (193-96):

  _Than thou haddyst ony schame_
  _where orow Ihc my[gh]t me blame._
  _and y schall neuyr blythe bee_
  _Tyll y wott what eyleyth {the}._

D (227-30) agrees with F. H (223-26) has the rimes, _shame_ : _blame_,
_the_: _be_.

247, H. _glad_. F (210) has:

  _Thou haste me bothe fedd and ladd._

C (244) has:

  _boe ou feddist me & clad._

251-262, H. Not in D.

261-2, H. _sone_ : _come_. F 223-4 has _abouen_ : _comen_.

274, H. _foly_. F (236) and D (258) have _velane_.

275, H. _oure allere dright_. F (237) has: _that ys so bryght_. D (199)
has: _king ful of Right_.

277-80, H. D has only two lines (261-2):

  _Seynt John answerid tho_
  _Swete ladi what schal I do._

289-92 H. _deth_ : _meth_, _fro_ : _woo_. Not in D. F (251-4) has
_dyght_: _ryght_, _froo_: _twoo_.

298, H. At this point there follow in D (277-80):

  _For soe ouh I go before_
  _Schalt ou no ing ben for lore._
  _I schal bidde my leue sone,_
  _at ou may to vs come._

301-2, H. _beforn_ : _com_. D (283-4) has _manere_ : _there_.

303 ff., H. From this point F and D follow Add. (309-340).

320, Add. Here D (299-300) has two lines not in Add. or F:

  _Telle ou me my leue fere_
  _Whi ou makist so drere chere_

322, Add. _mon_. F (240): _Why I wepe anone_.

332, Add. F (301-2) and D (313-14) have two extra lines here:

  _So helpe me Ihesus_
  _y not how y come to thys howse._

355-6, Add. _wham_ : _cam_. F (305-6) _whom_ : _come_. D 317-18
_nouht_: _brouht_.

347 ff., F. At this point there is a transposition in Add. D and F agree
in the main. After 346A there follow in F (317-337):

  _Come now forthe now with me_
  _all before hur knele wee_
  _And seyde lady well thou be_
  _Thy sone vs hath sent to the_                         320
  _To serue the & be the by_
  _For now we be come to the lady_
  _anodur thyng seynt John_
  _To {the} apostolys oon be oon_
  _loke whan ye come ther yn_                            325
  _ye schall see many of hur kynne_
  _That sory semblant they make_
  _and sore wepe for hur sake_
  _But make we alle feyre chere_
  _For hur frendys that ben there_                       330
  _Than went e apostelys oon lasse en {xii}_
  _Euyn before oure lady hur selfe_
  _Into the chaumbur at sche was ynne_
  _and many moo of hur kynne_
  _On kneys they sett them ylke oon_                     335
  _As them badd seynt John_
  _They seyde lady heuene queue_ etc.

357-8, Add. _alle_ : _falle_. Cf. 331-2 above; also D 343-4.

360, Add. _bi and bi_. Cf. F 348: _And welcomyd e apostelys tendurly_.
D 358: _& welcomid hem hendeli_.

363-6, Add. _ere_ : _were_, _ou[gh]t_ : _ybro[gh]t_. F (351-4) has
_forme_: _come_, _noght_: _broght_. 363-4, Add. are wanting in D. For
365 Add., D has: _ei seyde_ : _ladi doute ow nouht_.

369, Add. _come_. D 365 has: _Than seyde oure ladi as was hire wone_.

309-10, H. _he_ : _be_. F (359-60) has:

  _I am hys modur at he me cutt_
  _Full fayne I am at he me fett._

D (367-8) has:

  _I am his modur at is full of myght_
  _ful fayne he ha [gh]ow to me dight._

375-8, Add. Not in F or D.

315-16, H. _name_ : _shame_. Not in D.

326, H. _laue_. F (376) has _scathe_. D (382) _gabbe_.

329, H. _badde here bone_. F (383) has _speke theron_.

327-30, H. Not in D.

331-2, H. _stede_ : _bede_. F (381-2) and D (383-4) have _hur by_:
_mary_.

339-40 H. Not in D.

341, H. _went to aray_. F (391) _dud hur ley_. D (391) _[gh]ede and
ley_.

344, H. _here body sikerly_. F (344) _hur os hys lady_. D (394) _wi al
hire myght oure ladi_.

409 ff., Add. F and D agree with H here. The address of Jesus to the
angels is peculiar to Add.

365-6, H. _heuene_ : _seuene_. F (415-16) _meyne_ : _plente_.

348, H. Some leaves in D at this point are lost. D resumes at 477H.

373-4. _trone_ : _sone_. F (423-4) _blys_ : _with owt mys_.

379-80, H. _dere_ : _here_. F (429-30) _moder_ : _hider_.

382, H. _now thu comest with thi meyne_. F (432) _and thy aungels with
mery glee_.

384 H. _with all gladnesse_. F (434) _with owt mys_.

394, H. _thu shall bene_. F (444) _schalt ere seene_.

398, H. _or any with the shall be_. F (448) _The syght of hym ou do fro
mee_.

399-400, H. _one_ : _gone_. F (499-50) agrees in thought with Add.
_foone_: _oone_.

403-4, H. _se_ : _the_. F (453-4) agrees with Add. _thole_ : _before_.

405-6, H. Not in F.

409-10, H. _the_ : _be_. F (457-8):

  _all the goostys that wrathedd mee_
  _Blynde schall they all bee._

411-12, H. _the_ : _me_. F (459-60) _yeue_ : _leue_.

416, H. _forlore_. F (464): _That were forlorne nere thow were_. Cf.
Add. (467-70).

419-22, H. F. transposes order, _mary_ : _ynne_, _crye_ : _thee_.

529-30, Add. _anon_ : _done_. F (471-2):

  _I schall them helpe sone_
  _Swythe modur for y louen._

424, H. _and in strif_. F (474) has: _In deedly synne man or wyfe_.

425-6, H. _dawe_ : _be-knawe_. F (475-6), _throwe_ : _a knowe_.

433-4, H. _mercy_ : _me by_. F (483-4):

  _y schall haue of them pete_
  _and sone they schall sauyd bee._

444-6 H. _bore_, _be_ : _me_. F (494-98):

  _Schall they neuer be for lore_
  _All hyt schall be at thy wylle_
  [Sidenote: Cf. Add. 552-6:]
  _So hyt schall be & at ys skylle,_
  _Modur y wyll no thyng geyn sey the_
  _What thyng ryghtfull ow aske of me._

451-2, H. _fere_ : _dere_. F (507-8):

  _Thou and all thy felaschypp_
  _That no wyght do hyt no dyspyte._

452, H. _hent_. F (509): _to heuene sente_.

455-60, H. Cf. F (511-18):

  _all the aungels of heuen_
  _songyn wyth a mery stevyn_
  _hyt was well seene in ther songe_
  _That moche yoye was em among_
  _With all e aungels of heuen sche wan_
  _and as sone as sche thedur came_
  _Sche was made heuene quene_
  _Soche a sone blessyd muste bene._

461-2, H. _nome_ : _be-come_. F (519-20):

  _Now ye schall here a ferly case_
  _how the body kepte was._

583-4, Add. Not in F.

473, H. _and leueth it_. F 531: _Do delue a pytt sone anoone_.

485-6, H. _vs_ : _Iesus_. Not in F or D.

488, H. _theder right anone_. F 544, _frendys ylkeson_.

491-2, H. Not in D.

504, H. _euerychone_. D (420), _as ei gon_.

505-6, H. Not in D.

507-8, H. _it_ : _pytt_. D (421-2):

  _& caste we hem in a slouh_
  _& do we hem schame I nouh._

509-10, H. Not in D.

511-12, H. Not in D.

514-15, H. Not in F or D.

516, H. _holt and lame_. D (426), _blynd & lame_.

519, H. _there were_. F (573), _hyng on e bere_.

520, H. _before_. D (430), _ere_.

623-638, Add. Peculiar to Add. Not in H, or F, or D.

535-6, H. _be best_ : _honest_. F (589-90), D (443-4), _that here
lythe_: _and clene wyfe_.

537-8, H. Not in D.

539-40, H. _aboue_ : _loue_.

F (593): _ys owre be houe_.

D (445-6):

  _Ihesu at was of hire born_
  _& ellis we had alle ben {lorn}._

544, H. _as ye may here_. D (450), _as anoer it were_.

545-6, H. _fourme_ : _sone_. D (451-2):

  _I beleue at e forme come_
  _at ihesu crist is goddis sone_

551-2, H. Not in D.

552, H. _thurgh your biddynge_. F (606), _at y am yn_.

554, H. _anone_. D (458), _swie sone_.

561-2, H. Not in D.

562, H. Here follows in F (617-18):

  _Of an hounde he hath made hys kny[gh]t_
  _To preche of hym day and nyght._

565-6, H. _by-leue_, _y-yeue_. F (621-2):

  _he wyste he was to goddys be hove_
  _he taght hym all goddys beleue._

569-72, H. D (471-4):

  _In eueri lond wher he becam_

571-2, H. Not in F.

  _ouer al to preche {in} goddis name_
  _a good palme of e lond_
  _he betauht him in his hond._

574, H. _that were so felle_. D (476), _for to spelle_.

576, H. _fay_. F (630), D (478), _lay_.

577-8, H. Not in D.

691 ff., Add. The order here is peculiar to Add. F and D agree with H.

581-2, H. _Iosephas_ : _was_. F (635-6):

  _In to the vale of Joseph_
  _Os ihesu cryste them badd hath._

D (481-2):

  _to e vale of Josaphath ei lad_
  _as ihesu crist him self bad._

587-94. Not in D.

587-8, H. _done_ : _euerychone_. F (641-2):

  _Whan ey had beryd at body_
  _home ey goon sekurlye._

592, H. _long_. F (646), _and a full mery songe_.

598, H. Here follow in F (653-4):

  _as soone as they were at e borde_
  _They began goddys worde._

603-4, H. Not in F or D.

607-8, H. _leme_ : _beme_. F (661-2):

  _he broght the sowle in to e body a[gh]en_
  _That was bryghter en e sunne beme._

D (499-500) has the same as F transposed, _beme_ : _a[gh]en_.

609-10, H. _blisse_ : _ys_. F (663-4) _has ywys_ : _ys_. D (501-2),
_quen Iwis_: _heuene blis_.

611-16, H. F (665-72):

  _Thedurward come seynt Thomas_
  _as soone as he myght passe_
  _he was not at hur forthfare_
  _Therfore he was in moche care_
  _he wolde fayne haue be there,_
  _yf that goddys wyll hyt were._
  _as he thedur toke the way_
  _a bryghtnes hym thoght he say._

D (503-10) agrees in thought and rime with F, save in verses 509-10,
which are:

  _& as he thedirward went_
  _a brightnes he saw in e firmamente._

625-632, H. Cf. F 681-90:

  _To my felows some tokenyng_
  _That y was toward thyn endyng_
  _lady graunte me my boone_
  _Ellys y not what y schall done_
  _They will not leue for nothyng_
  _That y was at thy berying_
  _abowte hur myddyll was a gyrdyll_
  _That hur selffe louydd mekyll_
  _Of sylke ymade wele wythall_
  _adowne to Thomas sche let hyt falle._

D (519-24) has:

  _to my felawis sum tokenyng_
  _of thi bodili vpsteyeng._
  _and certis er aboute hire myddil_
  _sche had vpon a wel good girdil_
  _al of silk well wrouht wi alle_
  _& doun to Thomas sche lete it falle._

636, H. _yede_. D (528) has _dede_.

639-642. F (697-702) has:

  _In the tempull of Jerusalem_
  _at mete he fonde them_
  _Whan he em sye he grett em anoon_
  _and they hym chydd euerychon_
  _and sayde all to Thomas of ynde_
  _Euyr more thow art be hynde._

D (531-6) agrees in thought with F, and has, _ierusalem_ : _hem_,
_Inouh_: _wouh_, _Inde_: _behynde_.

645-6, H. Not in D.

647-50, H. F (707-712):

  _Sore me for thynkyth quod Thomas_
  _That y was not there sche beryed was_
  _as y myght not there come_
  _That wyste wele goddys sone_
  _I blessyd be that quene so mylde_
  _That ys in heuyn wyth hur chylde._

D (539-544) agrees in matter with F, and has, _Thomas_ : _was_, _come_:
_sone_, _quen_: _schen_.

657-60, H. F (719-24) has:

  _Or thou sye hys blody syde_
  _and hys wounde depe and wyde_
  _Of false be leue thou haste ybee_
  _Thou art so we may well see_
  _Thou art of an euyll beleue_
  _we kepe no soche maner fere._

D (551-6) agrees with F, save in v. 555: _ou art of a lither manere_.

662, H. F (726), _wole ye all vpon me goone_. D (558), _I wile answer
the a non_.

Here follow in F (727-8):

  _Be i[h-]c at was in bedlem borne_
  _me lyste to answere of yon neuer oon._

664, H. F (730) has, _os me thynkyth in my mode_.

Then follow in F (731-2):

  _I sey hyt yow be my hode_
  _In the place there y stode._

D (559-62) has, _gode_ : _mode_, _hode_ : _blode_.

667-8, H. Cf. D (565-8):

  _Quod petir this is no les_
  _In is seynt sche beryed wes_
  _Me inki wunder at it is here_
  _for it was beried with bere._

F (735-38) agrees with H in thought, but inverts the last two lines, the
last of which reads: _For hyt was beryed with hur in fere_.

675, H. _yede_. Cf. D (573): _Ferth ei went of at stede_.

679-82, H. Not in D. D ends thus (576 ff.):

  _But a flour in e grounde_
  _ei seyde ihesu goddis sone_
  _i sonde to vs is welcome_
  _Jhesu crist ful of myght_
  _among e apostlis er a light_
  _& e aungelis at wi him were_
  _Grette e apostelis alle in fere._
  _& an oure lord ihesu crist_
  _hem ouersprad wi a myst_
  _& brouhte hem alle in a stounde_
  _In selcouth place fro e toumbe_
  _ei com alle to hire contray_
  _but non wiste be what way._
  _Beseke we now at swete may_
  _at sche prey for vs nyght & day_
  _& bere oure arnde to hire sone_
  _at we may to him come._
  _In to heuene er he is king_
  _& [gh]eue vs alle good ending. amen._

686, H, _sayng_. F (754) reads: _and at ou wolde sende vs good
tydyng_.

687-8, H. Not in F.

689-90, H. F (755-6):

  _cryste of heuyn full ryght_
  _among e apostelys he sente a lyght._

695 ff., H. F ends thus (761-790):

  _Soone aftur to heuyn wente cryste_
  _Vpon the apostelys spreed a myste_
  _and bro[gh]t them all fro at grounde_
  _In to sondry placys in a stounde_
  _Come they all in to ther cuntrey_
  _wyste noon how thedur come they._
  _moche wondur an em thoght_
  _how they were thedur broght._
  _cryste we thanke in euery place_
  _That hath sent vs thys grace._
  _here endyth thys lesson_
  _That ys clepydd the assumpcion_
  _Of seynt mary meke and mylde_
  _That ys in heuyn wyth hur chylde._
  _Beseche we all that swete may_
  _To pray for vs nyght and day_
  _and pray for vs to hur sone_
  _That we may to heuyn come_
  _To haue at blys ere he ys kyng_
  _and gyf vs all goode endynge. amen._




GLOSSARY.


ABBREVIATIONS.

  Add. Brit. Mus. Add. MS. of Ass.

  Ass. Assumption of our Lady.

  C. Cambridge Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2. of King Horn and Assumption.

  Cott. Cottonian MS. of Floriz and Bl.

  F. & B. Floriz and Blancheflur.

  H. Harleian MSS. of King Horn and of Assumption.

  KH. King Horn.

  L. Laud Misc. MS. 108 of King Horn.

  OE. Old English.

  OF. Old French.

  T. Trentham MS. of Floriz and Bl.

  V. Cottonian MS. of Floriz and Bl.


[Transcriber's Note:

Yogh [gh] and thorn  are alphabetized as "g" and "t". I and J are
alphabetized together. U/V as a vowel is alphabetized before V as
a consonant.]

abegge, abeie, _see_ beien.

abide, _see_ bide.

acupement, _sb._ accusation, F. & B. 664, 670, etc., C. OF.
_acoupement_.

Adam, Ass. 429, 461, 465 Add.

Admiral, _sb._ emir, F. & B. 164, 170 C.; amirel, amirayl, F. & B. 175,
179 Cott.; Admirad, amyraud, Admyrold, KH. 95.

adrenche, _see_ drenche.

adri[gh]e, _see_ dre[gh]e.

adrinke, _see_ drinke.

adun, _adv._ down, KH. 458 C, 485 C; adune, adowne, adoune, KH. 1608C L
H; adun, adoun, KH. 1610.

age, _sb._ be of ----, KH. 1420, F. & B. 37 T, of age. Cf. KH. 1420
Note.

a[gh]enes, _see_ [gh]en.

agesse, _see_ gesse.

agrise, _see_ grise.

Ailbrus, Aylbrus, _see_ Aelbrus.

Ailmar, Aylmar, Almair, Eylmer, King of Westernesse, KH. 169, 233, 359,
526, 538, 549, 729, 733, 747, 753, 1331, 1514, 1614, etc. OE.
_Aeelmr_.

al, _adv._ all, quite, KH. 38 L H.

alle veile, everywhere, KH. 262 L.

Allof, father of Horn, KH. 4, 33, 73 H.

also, _conj._ as, KH. 32, 1102 etc. OE. _eal sw_.

angussus, _adj._ full of anguish, F. & B. 366 C. OF. _angoissous_.

anhitte, _see_ hitten.

apli[gh]t, _adv._ on one's faith; aply[gh]t, F. & B. 88 T; aplyst, F. &
B. 200 Cott.; apli[gh]t, F. & B. 649C. OE. _on_ + _pliht_.

aquelde, _see_ quelle.

aquite, _see_ quite.

ara[gh]te, _see_ areche.

areche, _v._ explain, recount; _infin._, KH. 1308 C.; 3 _sing. pret._
ara[gh]te, F. & B. 812C. OE. _areccean_.

arecche, _see_ recche.

areche ?, _see_ reche.

aredde, _infin._ rid, deliver, F. & B. 689 C. OE. _ahreddan_.

Arnoldin, Arnoldyn, KH. 1561, 1613, 1618.

aroum, _adv._ apart; aroom~, F. & B. 824 T; aroum, Cott. Cf. Gen. & Ex.
4000, 4021. OE. _on rum_, apart.

arre, _see_ er.

arson, _sb._ saddle bow; _n. s._, F. & B. 369 T. OF. _aron_.

aslawe, _see_ slon.

asoke, _see_ sake.

assoine, _infin._ prevent, F. & B. 423 T.

at, _prep._ from. KH. 619 etc. OE. _t_.

atel, _adj._ dreadful, cruel, F. & B. 113 Cott. OE. _atol_, _eatol_.

Aelbrus, Aylbrous, Ailbrus, etc., KH. 239, 257, 282, 309, 351, 385,
481, 495, 501, 1621, 1627.

Aulf, Haulf, ayol, KH. 27, 29, 300, 309, 311, 316, 537, etc. OE.
_thelwulf_, _Aulf_, or _Eadwulf_.

aton, _adj._ (at + one) agreed, KH. 997 C H.

at wite, _v._ find fault with, twit; _infin._ F. & B. 490 C.; 3 _s.
pret._ atwist, F. & B. 490C. OE. _twtan_.

awreke, _v._ avenge; _infin._, F. & B. 731 C.; 3 _s. pret._ awrek, KH.
952H. OE. _wrecan_.

axede, askede, 3 _s. pret._ asked, KH. 43; askede H, axede C, acsede L.
OE. _scian_, _xian_.

aye, _see_ eie.


Babylon, _dat._ F. & B. 147 T; Babyloyn, 190 T, 191 T; -loigne, 119C.;
babyloyne, 147T, 191T; Babyloyne, 153T; Babilloine, 172C.;
Babiloyne, 181 Cott.; Babilloigne, 120, 129C.; Babilloine, 129C, etc.
French version has _Babiloine_, 406, 505, etc.

bale, _sb._ bale, calamity, F. & B. 821 C. OE. _bealu_.

barbecan, _sb._ outer work of a fortress, F. & B. 207 C. OF.
_barbecane_.

barm, _sb._ lap, bosom; in bearme, KH. 752. OE. _bearm_.

barnage, _sb._ baronage, F. & B. 639 C. OF. _baronage_.

bede, _sb._ prayer, Ass. 89 C, 95 Add., 332 H, 486 Add. etc. OE. _bd_.

bede, _v._ present, offer; _infin._, KH. 492; 2 _pl. pres._, KH. 977C
L. OE. _bodan_.

beien, _v._ buy; 3 _s. pret._ bo[gh]te, KH. 1442 C. abeie, _v._ atone
for, expiate; _infin._ abeie C; abeye L, KH. 116; abugge C H; abygge L
1155; 3 _s. pret._ aboute L; abohte H, KH. 1493. OE. _bycgan_.

belamy, _sb._ good friend, F. & B. 633 C. OF. _bel ami_.

belde, _see_ bolde.

belete, _see_ leten.

bemene, _see_ bimene.

bene, _sb._ petition, KH. 590 C L. OE. _bn_.

beode, _v._ offer; _infin._, F. & B. 369 C.; 3 _s. pret._ bed, F. & B.
733C. OE. _bodan_.

Berild, byrild, beryld, Byryld, KH. 816, 817, 825, 837, 845, 877, 878.

berwe, _v._ protect; _infin._, KH. 980 L. OE. _beorgan_.

beyne, _num._ both, KH. 949 H. OE. _bgen_.

bi, by, _prep._ by, along, in, KH. 5, 20, etc. OE. _be_.

bicolwede, _see_ colwen.

bidde, _v._ pray, beg; _infin._ bidde, bydde, KH. 1263; 1 _s. pres._
bidde, Ass. 135C, 143 Add.; bid, 170C; 3 _s. pres._ bidde, F. & B.
588C.; bydde, F. & B. 1081T; 3 _s. pret._ bad, bed, KH. 85, 1272;
bad, badde, Ass. 90C, 95 Add., 329, C; _pp._ ibede, F. & B. 579C.;
ybede, 859T. OE. _biddan_.

bide, abide, _v._ (1) wait, (2) expect, (3) wait for, KH. 910, 1099,
1564. OE. _bdan_.

bidene, by dene, _adv._ at once, F. & B. 60 T, Ass. 347 Add.

bihelde, biholde, _v._ look on, behold, F. & B. 102 Cott., KH 639. OE.
_bihealdan_.

biheue, _adj._ profitable, Ass. 676 Add. OE. _behfe_.

bihoten, _v._ promise; 3 _s. pret._ bihet, KH. 500. OE. _htan_.

biknewe, _pp._, _see_ knowe.

bileue, _see_ leue.

biliue, bliue, _adv._ quickly, KH. 350 L, 502 C, 771 C, 1042 C; blyue,
Ass. 776 Add. OE. _b lfe_.

bimene, _v._ bemoan, lament; _infin._, F. & B. 72 Cott.; 3 _s. pres._
bemene, F. & B. 957T. OE. _bim[-]nan_.

binom, 3 _s. pret._ took away from, F. & B. 112 Cott.; _pp._ binomen,
benome, Ass. 271A, 273C. OE. _biniman_.

birine, _see_ reyne.

bisemen, _v._ befit, beseem; 3 _s. pres._ biseme C, byseme L, byseme
H, KH. 518. Icel. _s[-]ma_.

bispac, _see_ speke.

biswike, _see_ swike.

bite, _infin._ bite, partake of as food, KH. 1211 L, H. OE. _btan_.

biteche, 1 _s. pres._ entrust, KH. 613 L, H. OE. _t[-]can_.

bitide, _see_ tide.

biinne, _prep._ within, KH. 1122 C, 1387 C.

bitwexe, _prep._ between, KH. 454 C. OE. _betweox_, _betwux_.

biwente, _see_ wende.

biwreien, _see_ wreien.

Blancheflour, Blauncheflur, etc., _nom._ 18 T, 46 T, 22 V, 34V; _dat._
20T, 22T, 36T, 58T, 114T, 122T, 34, 46, 48, 64, 96, 102, 112 etc.,
C. Fr. _Blanceflors_, _Blanceflor_.

blenche, _infin._ overturn, KH. 1525 C L; ouerblenche, 1525 H. OE.
_blencan_.

blesse, _infin._ bless, KH. 17 L H. OE. _bletsian_.

blessing, _sb._ blessing, KH. 170 C. OE. _bletsung_.

blethelyche, _adv._ blithely. OE. _blelce_.

ble[y]ne, _sb._ whale, KH. 727 L. OF. _baleine_.

blie, blye, _adj._ blithe, KH. 1, 141, etc.

blynne, _see_ linnen.

bode, _dat. sing._ message, Ass. 146 C; _accus._ bodes, Ass. 126 Add.
OE. _bod_.

bold, bald, baud, _adj._ bold; _sing._ KH. 96; _pl._ belde, bolde, KH.
640. OE. _beald_.

bone, _sb._ prayer, boon, Ass. 522 H, 27 C, 329 C, 441 C. ON. _bn_.

boneyres, _adj._ devoted, good looking, debonair, KH. 968 L. OF.
_bonaire_.

bord, _sb._ (ship) board; _dat. sing._ borde, KH. 119, 123.

bord, _sb._ table, F. & B. 103 C, KH. 269, 1605.

bote, _sb._ remedy, redress, F. & B. 821 C. OE. _bt_.

bote, KH. 1364 L; _v._ baddest, or scribal error.

bote, _see_ bute.

braide, breide, 3 _s. pret._ draw, brandish, F. & B. 289 T, 1014T. OE.
_brgd_.

breche, _dat. sing._ breeches, F. & B. 258 C. OE. _brc_.

breme, _adj._ valiant, spirited, famous, F. & B. 792 C, 1071 T. OE.
_brme_.

brenie, brunie, _sb._ coat of mail, KH. 627, 765, 897, 1310. OE.
_byrne_.

bruken, _v._ use, enjoy; _imper._ 3 _sing._ bruc C, brouke L, brouc H,
KH. 220. OE. _brcan_.

brun, _sb._ beer (?); of a brun C, of e broune L, H, KH. 1202.

brymme, _sb._ edge, shore, KH. 204 C.

bu[gh]e, _v._ bow, writhe, twist, let fall (Mtzner); _infin._ bu[gh]e
C, unbowe H, KH. 458. OE. _bgan_.

bulme, 3 _sing. pres._ boils, F. & B. 305 C. Probable error for welme.
Cf. _[gh]elle_.

bur, _sb._ bower, women's quarters, KH. 285. OE. _br_.

burdon, _sb._ staff, KH. 1141. OF. _burdoun_.

burgeis, _sb._ burgess, citizen, F. & B. 115 C, 155 T, etc. Bugays, F. &
B. 207T. OF. _burgeis_.

bur[gh], bure[gh], boruh, _sb._ castle, F. & B. 176, 181, 182 C.; boruh,
F. & B. 190 Cott. OE. _burg_, _burh_.

burles, _sb._ tomb, sepulchre, F. & B. 63 Cott. OE. _byrgels_.

bute, bote, but, _conj._ but, unless, KH. 26 L, 69, 207 C, 37L, H, etc.
OE. _btan_, except, unless.

buxom, _adj._ flexible, obedient, Ass. 410 H. OE. _bhsum_.

by[gh]ete, _sb._ acquisition, F. & B. 202 T, and Cott. OE. _begietan_.

bygone, _pp._ surrounded, F. & B. 371 T. OE. _bign_.

byne, (?), F. & B. 1010 T.


cacche, _v._ catch; _infin._ KH. 1307, 1465 H; 3 _pl. pret._ kaute, KH.
944L.; _infin._ bikeche, KH. 328L. OF. _cachier_.

can, _v._ can, know; 3 _s. subj. pres._ cunne; conne, KH. 602C, H;
_infin._ konne, KH. 598L; 3 _pl. pret._ cou, couth, F. & B. 33T,
157T. OE. _cann_.

care, _sb._ care, sorrow, KH. 279. OE. _cearu_.

catel, _sb._ property, capital, F. & B. 150 T, 988 T. OF. _catel_.

kele, _infin._ cool, F. & B. 995 T. OE. _clan_.

kelwe, _see_ colmie.

ken, kenne, kunne, _sb._ race, people, KH. 156, 190, 1358. OE. _cynn_.

kende, cunde, _sb._ birth, kind, Nature, KH. 451, 1479 C, L; F. & B.
677C, 960T. OE. _cynd_.

kene, _adj._ keen, brave, KH. 42, 97, 178, 539, 1208, etc. OE. _cn_.

kepe, _v._ (1) keep, (2) guard, protect, KH. 800, 1288 C H, Ass. 49
Add., 52 Add., 271 Add. OE. _cpan_.

kep, _sb._ heed, care, Ass. 72 C, 78 Add.

kerue, _v._ carve, KH. 249. OE. _ceorfan_.

Cesar, F. & B. 181 T. French version has _Cesar_, v. 494.

chaere, _sb._ throne (?), KH. 1353. OF. _chaere_.

ycharged, _pp._ loaded, F. & B. 343 T. OF. _charger_.

chelde, kolde, kelde, _infin._ become cold, KH. 1230. OE. _cealdian_.

chepinge, _sb._ market, fair, F. & B. 186, 188 Cott. OE. _capung_.

chere, _sb._ mien, facial expression, KH. 1143, 1165 L. OF. _chere_.

child, _sb._ (1) child, (2) youth, KH. 10, 13, 27, 99, etc. OE. _cild_.

Claris, Clarice, Clari[gh], Clarys, F. & B. 895 T, 901 T, 905 T, 915T,
931T, etc.; C. 479, 485, 529, etc. French has Claris, 2125, 2131, 2115,
2339, etc.

cleche, _infin._ reach (with nails), KH. 1027 H ; _pp._ ycli[gh]t, Ass.
719 Add.

clef, scribal blunder (?), _c_ + _lef_, KH. 161 L.

clenchen, _infin._ make to clink, KH. 1596.

clene, _adj._ pure, F. & B. 297 C. OE. _cl[-]ne_.

clepe, clepen, clepede, clupede, cleped, icluped, etc., _v._ call, KH.
239, 840L; F. & B. 137T, 287T, 137T, 837T; 607C, 140C, etc.; Ass.
707H, 847 Add., 73C, 180C, etc. OE. _cleopian_.

clergie, _sb._ learned knowledge, F. & B. Cf. Hausknecht's note.

cleppe, clippe, cluppe, klippt, klepte, iclupt, etc., _v._ embrace, KH.
1297H, 1450; F. & B. 549C, 594C, 614C, 806T, 512C, etc. OE.
_clyppan_.

ycli[gh]t, _see_ cleche.

knaue, _sb._ boy, servant, KH. 1012 C, 1095 C; F. & B. 166 T. OE.
_cnafa_.

knowe, _v._ (1) know, (2) recognize, KH. 1294; (3) beon biknowe of =
acknowledge (cf.Mtzner, KH. 983 Note; Lay. II. 355, III. 51;
Alisaunder 724, etc.); _pp._ was iknowe C, was by cnowe L, was biknowe
H, KH. 1059 = confessed. OE. _cnwan_, _becnwan_.

knyhty, _v._ knight, KH. 488 H, 547, 682.

colmie, kelwe, _adj._ sooty, KH. 1162, _see_ colwen.

colwen, bicolwede, _v._ smear, blacken, KH. 1144, 1162.

con, _v. auxil._ = did, KH. 817 H, 825 H, 938 H, 1470 H, 1549H, 1632H;
3 _s. pluperf._ coue, 1634H, _see_ gan.

icore, _pp._ chosen, F. & B. 268 C. OE. _gecoren_.

creyde, 3 _s. pret._ cried, KH. 1362 L. OF. _crier_.

crois, _sb._ cross, KH. 1405 C H; croy[gh], KH. 1398 H. OF. _crois_.

crowch, _sb._ cross, KH. 1398 L, 1405 L. Lat. _crucem_.

crude, _infin._ press, crowd, KH 1385. OE. _crdan_.

crune, _sb._ skull, head, KH. 1607. ON. _kruna_.

culuart, _adj._ false, faithless, F. & B. 210, 329 C. OF. _culvert_.

cupe, _sb._ basket, F. & B. 435, 438, 452, 471 C, etc. OE. _c[-y]pe_,
Lat. _cpa_.

cuppe, cupe, coupe, _sb._ cup, KH. 250, 479; coupe, F. & B. 163T,
181T, 208T, etc. OE. _cuppa_.

Cutberd, Cuberd, Cubert, KH. 876, 833, 851 C, 882, 895, 912, 938, 948,
965L, 981. OE. _Cbeorht_.

cue, 1 _s. pret._ knew, Ass. 39 C; 3 _pl. pret._ couthe, Ass. 290C.

cue, cowe, coue, 3 _s. pret. subj._ could, KH. 371.


dales, _pl._ valleys, dales, KH. 168. OE. _dl_.

dar, _v._ dare, 3 _s. pres._ dur, KH. 408 H; 3 _s. pret._ dorte,
dorste, F. & B. 167C, 204T; 3 _s. pret. subj._ orte, F. & B. 216C,
KH. 408C. OE. _dearr_, _dorste_.

Daris, Dares, Dayre, daye, Darys, doyres, Darie, F. & B. 561, 570, 599,
737, 816. French has _Daires_, _nom._ 1470, 1531, 1853, etc. _Dairon_,
_accus._ 1931.

dawes, _pl._ days, KH. 999 L; _nom. sing._ day. OE. _pl._ _dagas_.

ded, deed, _sb._ death, KH. 345 L.; _dat. sing._ deede, F. & B. 46T.

deie, deye, de[gh]e, _infin._, KH. 115. ON. _deyja_.

del, _sb._ part, portion, deal, Ass. 212 C, 218 A, 261 A; _dell_, 225C.
OE. _d[-]l_.

ideld, _p. pl._ separated, F. & B. 598 C. OE. _d[-]lan_.

demure, demere, _sb._ delay, F. & B. 591 C. and Cott. OF. _demeurer_.

denie, _v._ din, rattle, KH. 628. OE. _dynian_.

dent, dunt, _sb._ stroke, blow, KH. 164 C, 607, 647, 913, 920, 933, 946.
OE. _dynt_.

deol, dole, _sb._ grief, KH. 1128, 1129. OF. _doel_, _duel_.

dere, _adj._ dear, beloved, KH. 161 L, etc. OE. _dore_.

derie, dere, _infin._ injure, harm, KH. 840, F. & B. 378 T, Ass. 162C.
OE. _derian_.

derne, _adj._ secret, hidden, Ass. 856 Add. OE. _dierne_.

deuise, 2 _s. pres. subj._ devise, KH. 253 L, H. OF. _deviser_.

direwure, _adj._ precious, F. & B. 289 C. OE. _d[e^o]rwyre_.

don, dede, dude, _v._ (1) cause to, KH. 148, 284, 1069, Ass. 462 Add.,
474 Add., etc. (2) put, KH. 360, 745, 1332C; F. & B. 46T, 200T,
69C.; Ass. 61 Add., etc. (3) _intens._ do, did, KH. 1003 (?), F. & B.
16C, Ass. 17 Add., 80C, etc. (cf.dede let wed, F. & B. 1065T). OE.
_dn_, _dyde_.

dreden, 3 _pl. pret._ fear, dread, KH. 130; dradde C, adred L; _pp._
adred H; 1 _sing. pres._ of drede. C L; adrede H, KH. 307. OE.
_dr[-]dan_.

dre[gh]e, adri[gh]e, _infin._ suffer, endure, KH. 1115. OE.
_dr[e^o]gan_.

dreme, _sb._ sound, F. & B. 37 C, 397 T. OE. _dram_.

drenche, _v._ drown; _infin._ adrenche, KH. 111 C H, 1526; to drenche,
KH. 1045L; _pp._ adrent, KH. 1053C; drenched, KH. 1054L. OE.
_drencan_.

dright, dri[gh]te, _sb._ lord, Ass. 275 C, KH. 1406 C. OE. _drihten_.

idri[gh]t, _pp._ troubled, Ass. 190 C. OE. _gedreccan_.

drinke, _v._ drink; _infin._ adrinke, adrynke, drown, KH. 111L, 1045C
H. OE. _drincan_.

druerie, drury, _sb._ love, F. & B. 382 C, 820 T. OF. _druerie_.

dun, doun, down, _sb._ dune, hill, KH. 168. OE. _dn_.

dunt, _see_ dent.

dure, 3 _sing. pres._ extendeth, F. & B. 173 C. OF. _durer_.

dur, _see_ dar.

dute, _v._ fear, be afraid; _infin._ duti, F. & B. 4 C, 192 Cott.; 1
_sing. pres._ dute, doute, KH. 362; 2 _pl. imper._ dou[gh]t, dute, F. &
B. 817T, 531C. OF. _douter_.

dy[gh]cte, _infin._ arrange, KH. 904 L; _pp._ idi[gh]t, F. & B. 23,
260C. OE. _dihtan_.


ede, _see_ [gh]ede.

Edmound, seynt, Ass. 893 Add.

eidel, _sb._ anything, F. & B. 813 C. OE. _[-]nig d[-]l_.

eie, aye, _sb._ fear, F. & B. 791 T. OE. _ege_.

eke, _adv._ also, KH. 17, 99, 1474, etc. OE. _[e^a]c_.

enchesone, _sb._ occasion, F. & B. 78 T. OF. _enchaisoun_.

engynne, _sb._ device, scheme, artifice, F. & B. 313 T; engin, Ass. 755,
759C. OF. _engin_.

Enneas, F. & B. 177 T. French version _Eneas_, 489.

entermeten, _infin._ meddle with, F. & B. 167 C. OF. _entremetre_.

er, arre, her, or, _conj._ before, ere, KH. 136 H, 567 C; arre, 567L.

Ermenild, _see_ Reynild, KH. 979 H. Cf. Eormenhild, daughter of
Eorcenbriht, king of Kent, Leechdoms iii, index.

erndinge, _sb._ result of undertaking. OE. _[-]rendung_.

erne, _v._ run; _infin._ vrne, erne, KH. 936; 3 _s. pret._ arnde C,
rende L, ernde H, KH. 1314; _pp._ iorne C, hy [gh]ouren L, yorne H, KH.
1228. OE. _yrnan_.

escheker, _sb._ chess board, F. & B. 344 C, etc. OF. _eschekier_.

Estnesse, KH. 1018 L H, 1295 L.

ee, ye, _adv._ easily, KH. 61, 891. OE. _[e^a]e_.

eelikeste, _superl._ most precious, F. & B. 274 C. OE. _el_.

Eue, Ass. 461 Add.

euene, eueneliche, _adv._ equally, symmetrically, KH. 100.

euerich, _adj._ every, KH. 230. OE. _[-]fr[-]lc_.

eure [gh]ut, ever yet, KH. 842.


fable, _sb._ story, KH. 762 L.

fader, _sb._ father; _gen. sing._ fader, C H; faderes L, KH. 116; fader,
1622H.

fairhede, fayrhede, feyrhade, _sb._ fairness, KH. 89.

falle, _v._ fall; bifalle, biualle, happen, occur, become; _infin._, KH.
105, 186; _pp._ 450C, L.

fawe, fain, F. & B. 986 T. OE. _fgn_.

fay, _sb._ faith, Ass. 576 C. OF. _fei_.

fayne, _adj._ glad, F. & B. 97 T. OE. _fgn_.

fayne, _adv._ gladly, F. & B. 286 T.

fecche, fette, _infin._ fetch, Ass. 129 C, 137 Add.; 3 _pl. pret._ fett,
Ass. 456C. OE. _fetian_.

feere, _see_ fere.

feire, _sb._ market, fair, F. & B. 179 C. OF. _feire_.

felaurade, _sb._ company, KH. 180 H. ON. _flagi_.

yfelde, 3 _pl. pret._ feel, KH. 58. OE. _geflan_.

fele, vele, _adj._ many, KH. 60, 1425 C, 1464 H. OE. _fela_.

felle, _v._ fell, slay; _infin._, KH. 66; 3 _pl. pret._ felde, KH. 58.

felle, _sb._ skin, KH. 1015 L. OE. _fell_.

felle, _adj. pl._ fierce, cruel, fell, KH. 1581 L, Ass. 574 C, 684 Add.
OE. _fel_.

felun, _adj._ savage, cruel, F. & B. 210, 329 C. OF. _felon_, _felun_.

fende, feond, _sb._ fiend, devil; _dat. sing._ KH. 1480 L, Ass. 164C.
OE. _fond_.

feo, _dat. sing._ money, expense, F. & B. 25 C. OE. _feo(h)_.

fer, _adj._ unharmed, sound, KH. 161 C, H; Ass. 67 C, 72 A. OE. _fre_,
Icel. _frr_.

veracle, _sb._ company, KH. 180 C. OE. _ferrden_.

ferde, _sb._ host, army; _dat. sing._, Ass. 116 Add. OE. _ferd_, _fyrd_.

ferde, 3 _s. pret._ went, KH. 663, 805, 1010. uerden, 3 _pl. pret._
behaved, F. & B. 24C. OE. _fran_.

fere, ifere, _sb._ companion, comrade; _sing. accus._ fere, Ass. 78C,
84 Add., 78 Add.; ifere 46C; _dat. sing._ ifere C, fere L, yfere H, KH.
1209; _plur._ feren, KH. 21, 53H, 88, 108, 235L, etc.; ifere C, yfere
L, KH. 235; ferene, Ass. 406C. OE. _fra_, _gefra_.

fere, feere, _sb._ companionship, F. & B. 5, 81, 280 T, etc. OE.
_gefr_.

ferli, ferlich, _sb._ miracle, wonder, F. & B. 456 C, Ass. 732 Add. OE.
_f[-]rlc_.

ferli, ferly, _adj._ (1) fearful, (2) unexpected, sudden, (3) rare,
wonderful, Ass. 327, Add. 347C.

fett, _see_ fecche.

Fikenhild, fykenyld, fykenild, fokenild, Fykenhild, Fekenyld, etc., KH.
28, 30, 731, 1336, 1493, 1509, 1513, 1516, 1543, 1554, 1567, 1589, 1613;
_gen._ 1554, 1607.

fine, _infin._ end, KH. 274. OF. _finer_.

fieleres, fyelers, _sb._ fiddler; _nom. pl._ KH. 1592. OE. _fielere_.

fle, _infin._ flay, KH. 1468 C. OE. _flan_.

fleme, _sb._ fugitive, exile, KH. 1363 C, L. OE. _flma_.

fleoten, flete, _v._ flow, float, swim; _infin._ flete, L; fleoten H,
KH. 165; flette 811L; 3 _s. pret._ flet, KH. 203H; 3 _pl. pret._
fletten, 811H; _pp._ bi flette, KH. 1504C. OE. _flotan_.

flitte, flecte, flette, 2 _s. subj. pres._ leave, depart, KH. 757. ON.
_flytta_.

Floris, Florys, Floreys, Florens, Floyres, Flori[gh], Florice, Floures,
Florisse, etc., F. & B. 40T, 44T, 49T, 56T, 65T, etc. French
version has _Floires_, _Floire_.

flotterede, 3 _sing. pret._ was tossed in the waves, KH. 135 H.

flur, flour, _sb._ flower, KH. 15, F. & B. 780 T, 482 C, etc.

flyten, _infin._ combat, KH. 903 H. OE. _fltan_.

fode, foode, _sb._ food, child, KH. 1436, F. & B. 149 T.

fo[gh]el, foul, _sb._ bird, KH. 139, 1506; F. & B. 277 Cambr., etc. OE.
_fugol_.

fole, _sb._ foal, horse, KH. 623. OE. _fla_.

follyche, KH. 98 L. (?). OE. _fllce_.

fond, _pret. sing._ found, KH. 39. OE. _findan_.

fonde, _v._ try, experience, prove; _infin._, KH. 163 C H, 782, 1634H;
F. & B. 2T, 55T, 158, 399C, etc.; 3 _sing. pret._ fonde, fondede, KH.
1634C. OE. _fandian_.

fonge, underfonge, _v._ receive, take; _infin._ fonge, KH. 345C L,
163L, 769; F. & B. 300, 395C. etc.; vnderfonge, KH. 607H, 255, 976C,
etc. OE. _fn_.

forbere, _infin._ do without, dispense with, Ass. 60 C, 66 Add. OE.
_forberan_.

forbod, forbode, _acc. sing._ forbiddal, prohibition, KH. 82.

fordo, _pp._ destroyed, F. & B. 308 C. OE. _fordn_.

foreward, forewart, _sb._ agreement, pledge, KH. 482, 586 H; F. & B.
426C. OE. _foreweard_.

for[gh]olde, _pp._ paid for, F. & B. 388 T. OE. _forgieldan_.

forgone, _pp._ distressed, Ass. 829 Add.

forhele, 2 _sing. imper._ conceal, Ass. 192 Add. OE. _forhelan_.

forleie, forlau[gh]t, _pp._ commit adultery, F. & B. 301 Cambr., 618T.
OE. _forlicgan_.

forlesen, _see_ lesen.

forliued, _pp._ mislived, F. & B. 99 Cott.

forloren, _see_ lesen.

fort (for + to), until, F. & B. 66, 122 C.; fort he = for to e.

forinke, 3 _sing. pres., reflex._, repent, Ass. 538 Add., 813 Add. ON.
_fyrirykkja_.

forto, forte, _conj._ in order to, KH. 25.

forto, _prep._ to, for to, KH. 166 L.

fremde, fremede, _sb._ foreigner, stranger, KH. 68. OE. _fremede_.

fremde, _adj._ strange, foreign, Ass. 181 C. OE. _fremede_, _fremde_.

frume, atte, first, F. & B. 135, 179, 345 C. OE. _fruma_.

ful, foul, foule, _adj._ foul, dirty, KH. 1143. OE. _fl_.

fulde, 3 _sing. pret._ filled, KH. 1202. OE. _fyllan_.

funde, fonde, founde, _v._ go, KH. 109, 143, 780, 888, 942, 1372. OE.
_fundian_.

fundlyng, fundyng, etc., _sb._ foundling, KH. 234 C H, 242 C, 450.

furst, _sb._ space of time, respite, F. & B. 638 C. OE. _fyrst_.

furthermost, foremost, F. & B. 1059 T.

fus, _adj._ ready, F. & B. 368 C. OE. _fs_.

fy[gh]en, fissen, _infin._ fish, KH. 1216. OE. _fiscian_.


gabbe, joking, F. & B. 785 T.

gabbest, 2 _sing. pres._ (1) ridicule, (2) deceive, (3) chatter, F. & B.
235T. ON. _gabba_.

gabbing, _nom. sing._, (1) deceit, (2) babble, F. & B. 236, T and Cott.

galeie, _sb._ galley, KH. 199, 1084 C, 1086 H. OF. _galee_.

game, _sb._ joy, pleasure, KH. 211. OE. _gamen_, _gomen_.

gan, _v. auxil._ did; gan, gon, KH. 257, 268, 312 C, 318 C, etc.;
_plur._ gunne, gonne, gunnen, gonnen, KH. 55, 65, 193, 675, 1090, etc.;
_imper._ gyn, KH. 329H, 396H; bigyn, KH. 329L; bigan, began, did, KH.
127, 146L, 203C, 1271H; con, did, KH. 372H, 817H, 825H, 938H,
1049H, 1470H, 1632H, etc.; _pluperf._ coue, KH. 1634H.

[gh]are, _adv._ quickly, KH. 497 C, 960 C, 1453 L. OE. _gearu_.

garysone, garisone, _sb._ treasure, F. & B. 206, T and Cott. OE.
_gersum_, _gersuma_. OF. _garison_. Cf. _gersume_.

[gh]ede, yede, eode, _v. pret._ went; 3 _sing._ [gh]ede C, eode H, KH.
621, 622; yede Ass. 636H; 3 _pl._ yede L, ede H, KH. 117; [gh]ede C,
yede L, eoden H, KH. 167, 621; yede Ass. 634H, [gh]ede Ass. 843 Add.,
[gh]eden Ass. 849 Add., F. & B. 444C.

gegges, _sb._ frivolous women (?), F. & B. 439 C.

[gh]elde, yelde, _v._ (1) yield, (2) pay for; _infin._, KH. 514 C H,
Ass. 249C, 255 Add.; _pp._ i[gh]olde C, yolde L, [gh]olde H, KH. 681;
i[gh]olde C, hy[gh]olde L, y[gh]olde H, KH. 490; F. & B. 161T, 809C; 2
_sing. subj._ or _imper._ [gh]eld, pay for, KH. 1066. OE. _gieldan_.

[gh]elle = welle (?), F. & B. 621 T.

[gh]em, 2 _sing. imper._ protect, care for. OE. _geman_.

[gh]eme, _sb._ care, F. & B. 38 C.

[gh]en, against; a[gh]eyn KH. 60, a[gh]enes C, ayenes L, a[gh]eyn H, KH.
82. OE. _gegn_, _gn_.

[gh]end, gonde, _prep._ throughout, KH. 1078; _adv._ yonder, far away;
[gh]ent, KH. 1261H; gonde, beyond, F. & B. 210C. OE. _geond_.

geng, _dat. sing._ company, Ass. 220 C. OE. _genge_.

gent, _adj._ noble, F. & B. 47 Cott. OF. _gent_.

[gh]ere, yere, _sb._ year; _pl._ [gh]ere C, yere L, KH. 102. OE.
_g[e^a]r_.

[gh]erne, _v._ desire, ask for; 1 _sing. pres._ [gh]erne C H, herne L,
KH. 985; _infin._ KH. 1495L, 1517C. OE. _geornian_.

[gh]erne, _adj._ willing, desirous, eager, KH. 1165 C, 1472 H, etc. OE.
_georn_.

[gh]erne, _adv._ eagerly, F. & B. 127, 375, 588 C. OE. _georne_.

(ure[gh]) gersume, reward, F. & B. 405, 419, 773 C. Cf. _garisone_.

gesninge, gestinge, iustinge, _sb._ entertainment, F. & B. 82, 125,
164C., 175 Cott.

gesse, _infin._ guess (?), agesse C, agesce L, gesse H, KH. 1267.

[gh]euen, _v._ give, KH. 170, 172, etc. OE. _giefan_, _gifan_.

gigours, _nom. plur._ violin players, KH. 1592 C. OF. _gigueour_.

ginne, gynne, _sb._? (1) contrivance, scheme. (2) tool, penis, KH.
1574C H; F. & B. 131, 195, 206, 258C., etc.; F. & B. 1032, 1048T. ON.
_ginna_, Lat. _ingenium_.

ginnur, _sb._ engineer, workman, F. & B. 324 C.

gle, glewe, _sb._ song, joy, KH. 1352 C H; Ass. 483 Add. OE. _glo[w.]_,
_glw_.

glede, _sb._ coal, KH. 532 L H. OE. _gld_.

gleowinge, glewinge, gleynge, _sb._ play, KH. 1588.

glide, _infin._ (1) glide, (2) slip away, KH. 146 L, 1127. OE. _gldan_.

gloue, glouen, _acc. plur._ gloves, KH. 848. OE. _glfa_.

Godhild, Godild, Godyld, Godylt, KH. 7, 72, 75, 158, 159, 1458.

Godmod, Horn's assumed name, KH. 821, 833, 879, 883, 895, 911, 925, 949,
952, 965, 987.

[gh]onge, [gh]ynge, _adj._ young, KH. 137, etc. OE. _geong_.

[gh]ore, _adv._ long ago, F. & B. 174 C. OE. _gara_.

grace, _sb._ virtue, power, KH. 605. OF. _grace_.

grame, _sb._ anger, wrath, F. & B. 712 C.; Ass. 515 H, Ass. 738 Add. OE.
_grama_.

igraue, hygraue, ygraued, _pp._ scratched, engraved, KH. 599. OF.
_grafan_.

grede, _v._ cry out; _infin._ F. & B. 454 C.; 3 _sing. pret._ gredde,
KH. 1282H. OE. _grdan_.

greding, _sb._ clamour, lamentation, Ass. 213 Add.

greithe, grei, _infin._ prepare, make ready, Ass. 120 C, 128 Add. ON.
_greia_.

grete, _infin._ weep, KH. 957 C L. OE. _grtan_.

gripe, _infin._ grip, seize, KH. 55. OE. _grpan_.

grisen, _v._ feel horror; _infin._ agrise C L; agryse H, KH. 925; 3
_sing. pret._ gros C, agros L, H, KH. 1410. OE. _grsan_.

grom, _sb._ boy; _nom. sing._ grom, KH. 1035 L H; _nom. pl._ grome, KH.
175, F. & B. 111T. ON. _gromr_.

grunde, grounde, _sb._; _dat. sing._ ground, bottom, KH. 110, 144, 352,
1242.

gume, _sb._ man; _nom. sing._ gume, F. & B. 261 C.; _nom. plur._ gomes,
KH. 24, gumes C, gomen H; grome L, KH. 175. OE. _guma_.


halke, _dat. sing._ corner, KH. 1167 C L. OE. _healoc_.

Harild, Alrid, Ayld, Ayld, KH. 815, 877, 878.

harwed, 1 _sing. pret._ harrowed, Ass. 463 Add. OE. _hergian_.

hatere, _sb._ garments, Ass. 149 C. OE. _hteru_.

hatte, 3 _sing. pret._ became hot, KH. 646 C. OE. _h[-]tan_.

heele, 1 _sing. pres._ conceal, F. & B. 820 T, 533 C. OE. _helan_.

heete, 3 _sing. pret._ was named, F. & B. 1004 T. Cf. _hoten_.

helde, _v._, _see_ holde.

helde, _sb._ faith, allegiance, F. & B. 397 C. OE. _hyldo_.

hele, 3 _sing. imper._ conceal, Ass. 188 C, _see_ heele.

hende, _adj._ (1) prompt, gracious, alert, KH. 391, 1197, 1345, etc., F.
& B. 156T, etc.; (2) near, ready, KH. 1217H. OE. _([gh]e)hende_.

henne, hanne, hennes, _adv._ hence, KH. 50, 337, 341 C.

hente, _v._ grasp, receive, get; _infin._ KH. 1032 H; 1 _pl. pret._ KH.
919L; _pp._ hent, Ass. 453C.

hepe, _dat. sing._ throng, crowd, F. & B. 466 C. OE. _hap_.

her, _see_ er.

here, _poss. pron._ their; _nom. sing._, KH. 9, etc.

heren, _v._ hire; 3 _sing. pret._ hurede C, herde L, herde L H, KH. 806.
OE. _h[-y]rian_.

heste, _dat. sing._ command, hest, F. & B. 610 C. Cf. Skeat.

het, 3 _sing. pret._ bade, F. & B. 608, 619 C. OE. _htan_.

heynde, _sb._ hind (?), KH. 686 L. OE. _hind_.

hi[gh]e, _v._ hasten, hie; 3 _sing. pret._ KH. 1042 C. OE. _higian_.

hi[gh]hede, _sb._ height, F. & B. 327 C.

hitten, _v._ hit, strike; 1 _sing. pres._ anhitte C; _infin._ hette L,
KH. 758. ON. _hitta_.

hol, _adj._ safe, KH. 161 C H etc. OE. _hl_.

holde, helde, _v._ hold, KH. 323, 482. OE. _healdan_.

holde, _adj._, _accus. pl._ faithful, KH. 1339 L H. OE. _hold_.

holt, _adj._ lame, halt, Ass. 516 H. OE. _healt_, _halt_.

hondhabbing, having in the hand, in the act, _en flagrant delit_, F. &
B. 668C. OE. _hondhbbende_.

Horn, 9, 74, 121, 128, 135, 184, etc.; horn child 121 L, 128 C, 173,
etc.; Horns 123L; horn e [gh]ynge 137H; Hor 185L, 397L, 459L,
558L.

hoten, _v._ be called; 1 _sing. pres._ hote, KH. 821; 3 _sing. pret._
het C, hihte H, KH. 9, 27C; _pp._ ihote C, hote L, yhote H, KH. 215,
1125C. OE. _htan_.

houe, 2 _sing. pret._ raised, KH. 1359 C H; [gh]oue L. OE. _hebban_.

hurne, _dat. sing._ corner, KH. 1471 H. OE. _hyrne_.

hynde, _adj._ kind (?), F. & B. 355 T.


I--, I lome, etc., _see_ lome, etc.

Ierusalem, Ass. 475 C, 594 Add.

Iewes, Iewis, Iewys, _nom. sing._ Iewe, Ass. 620 Add., 564 H, Iew 674
Add.; _dat. sing._ Iewe, Ass. 530H, Iew, Ass. 620 Add.; _gen. sing._
Iewis, Ass. 553H, etc.

Ihesu, Ass. 51 Add., 324 C, 388 Add., Ihesus 481 C, Iesus 486C; _gen._
Ihesus 624 Add., Crist 76C, Ihesu crist 248T, etc.

ilk, ylk, _adj._ same; _dat. sing._ ilke, KH. 948 C, ylke F. & B. 78T,
vlke C, hulke L, KH. 1285, etc. OE. _ilca_.

ynde, India, Ass. 611 C, 775 Add., 807 Add.

Iogelours L, iogelers H; _nom. pl._ jugglers, KH. 1592. OF. _jongleor_.

Iohan, Ion, Ass. 14 C, 15 Add., 49 C, 52 Add., 55 Add., 77 C, 224C, 228
Add., etc.; _nom. sing._ seynt Ione, 820 Add.

Iosaphath, Iosephas, Iosephat, Ass. 472 C, 581 C, 754 Add.

Irisse, yrisse, yrisshe, Hyrische, KH. 1080, 1302 L, 1382, 1464.

Irlond, hirelonde, yrlonde, KH. 810 L, 1078 C, 1633 C H.


lacchen, _v._ catch, take; _infin._ lacchen, KH. 686 L, lache KH. 702L;
3 _sing. pret._ la[gh]te C, laucte L, lahte H, KH. 259; 3 _pl. pret._
laucte, KH. 943L, by laucte 705L; 3 _pl. pret._ of laucte, 943L. OE.
_([gh]e)lccan_.

la[gh]e, lawe, _sb._ (1) law, (2) religion, (3) custom, KH. 69 C H,
1190. OE. _lagu_.

largeliche, _adv._ liberally, F. & B. 71 C. OF. _large_.

laste, leste, _v._ last, endure, KH. 6, 433 L, etc. OE. _l[-]stan_.

lay, ley, _sb._ law, religion, KH. 69 L, 1642 H, Ass. 686 Add. OF.
_lei_.

lef, leue, leof, luef, _adj._ dear, KH. 126 L, 342, 695, 754, 1013,
1457, etc.; F. & B. 151C., 321C., etc.; Ass. 40C, 167C, 42 Add., 173
Add., etc. OE. _lof_.

lef, leue, leof, lyfe, _sb._ dear one, darling, F. & B. 108 T, 89, 103
Cott., 312T, 831T, 542C. OE. _lof_.

leue, _v._ believe, F. & B. 325 T. OE. _lfan_, _l[-y]fan_.

bileue, _v._ remain; _infin._ KH. 381, F. & B. 103 Cott., 51 C.; 3
_sing. pret._ bilefte, Ass. 57T, bileft 63 Add., 151 Add.; 3 _pl.
pret._ bileft, Ass. 759 Add., etc. OE. _bel[-]fan_.

lei[gh]e, leyhe, _v._ laugh; _infin._ leyhe L (lye H?), KH. 372; 3
_sing. pret._ lowe L, loh KH. 373, lou[gh]e C, lowe L H, KH, 1600; 3
_plur. pret._ low[gh], F. & B. 1053T, 776C. OE. _hlehhan_.

leme, _sb._ light, brightness, F. & B. 198 C, Ass. 607 H. OE. _loma_.

lemman, leman, _sb._ dear one, leman, KH. 463, 589, 721. OE.
_l[e^o]fmon_.

lene, _v._ lend, KH. 491. OE. _l[-]nan_.

leng, _compar._ longer, KH. 1183 etc. OE. _leng_.

lep, lepe, _sb._ basket, F. & B. 465 C., 738, 740, 741 T, 753T, 758T.
OE. _l[e^a]p_.

lere, _sb._ cheek, F. & B. 501 C. OE _hlor_.

lere, _v._ teach, KH. 257, F. & B. 148 C, Ass. 896 Add. OE. _l[-]ran_.

lese, leose, forlese, _v._ lose; _infin._ leose C. forlese L, forleose
H, KH. 707; _pp._ forloren, KH. 511C. OE. _forl[e^o]san_.

leste, luste, _v._ listen, KH. 355, 505, 1355 C. OE. _hlystan_.

leste, luste, _v._ desire, hanker, lust, KH. 426, 433, 918, 1298. OE.
_lystan_.

lesing, lesyng, _sb._ falsehood, F. & B. 84 T, 233 T, 585 C. OE.
_l[e^a]sung_.

lete, late, _v._ let, permit, leave, lose, KH. 1124 C, 1330 L; belete,
leave behind, F. & B. 201T, 1593; forlete, desert, KH. 232, F. & B. 201
Cott. OE. _l[-]tan_.

let, lette, _v._ hinder, retard, impede, KH. 100, F. & B. 333T, 25C.
OE. _lettan_.

yliche, iliche, _sb._ like, equal, KH. 20, 305, 331, etc. OE. _gelca_.

licte, lyhte, _v._ alight, KH. 51 etc; 3 _sing. pret._ ali[gh]te, KH.
51C. OE. _lihtan_.

linne, lynne, blynne, _v._ cease, KH. 329, 372, 1068. OE. _linnan_.

list, _sb._ art, KH. 251, 1577. OE. _list_.

lite, lyte, _adj._, _adv._ little, KH. 1004, 678 L, 1211 C. ON. _ltt_.

lie, lye, _v._ listen, KH. 2, 354, 372 H, 436 L. ON. _hl[-y]a_.

lodlike, _adj._ loathsome, hateful, KH. 1415 L.

lofte, _sb._ loft, upstairs, women's apartments, KH. 974 C. OE. _loft_.
ON. _lopt_. The peculiar turn of meaning is Scandinavian.

loke, loky, _v._ watch, guard, KH. 800, 1180, 1181 L H, 1419 L H, Ass.
47C. OE. _lcian_.

loking, lokyng, _sb._ care, watch, KH. 360.

ilome, _adv._ frequently, F. & B. 96 Cott. OE. _gelme_.

londiss, _adj._ native, KH. 671. Cf. vnlondisshe, KH. 672 H. OE.
_lendisc_.

longest, 3 _sing. pres._ belongest, KH. 1406 C. OE. _longian_.

lore, _sb._ teaching, bidding, KH. 472. OE. _lr_.

loe, _adj._ hateful, KH. 1140, 1283. OE. _l_.

Lumbardy, F. & B. 179 T. French version has (En)Lombardie 49.

lure, _v._ (1) lour, look sullen (?), (2) lie in wait, set trap (?), KH.
286, 1312.

luste, _impers._ be pleasing, F. & B. 378 C.

lut, _sb._ little, KH. 658 H. OE. _l[-y]t_.

luere, _adj._ evil, bad; _nom. plur._, KH. 530 C. OE. _l[-y]er_. Cf.
_of an luer folke_ (= accursed), Lay. 29576B.

lyst, _sb._ desire, pleasure, Ass. 2 Add. OE. _lyst_.


maine, meyne, meigne, _sb._ household, Ass. 110 C, 417, 475, 569, 573
Add.; F. & B. 782C, 1059T. OF. _maisnee_.

maister, _sb._ leader, KH. 659; maister-king, KH. 659 L, 680. OF.
_maistre_.

make, _sb._ wife, spouse, KH. 1523, F. & B. 78 Cott., 303 T. OE.
_gemaca_.

make, _v._ pretend to be, F. & B. 76 T.

male, _sb._ bag, pouch, F. & B. 689 T. OF. _male_.

manrede, _sb._ homage, F. & B. 395 C. OE. _manr[-]den_.

Marie, Marye, _gen._ Maries, Ass. 29 C, 31 Add., 239 C, 241 Add., 253C,
498H, 500H, 546C, etc.; seynt Marye, F. & B. 248T; seynte-marie, F.
& B. 49V.

may, _sb._ may, maid, KH. 329, 979 H, 1019 H, 1516 H; F. & B. 201T,
393T, 46, 102C., etc.; Ass. 4C, etc. OE. _m[-]g_.

me, _indef. pron._ one, KH. 1008 C H, 1126 C; F. & B. 671, 672, 699C.,
etc. OE. _man(n)_.

mede, _sb._ mead, meadow, F. & B. 434 C. OE. _m[-]d_.

mede, _sb._ reward, KH. 288 L, 500, 1498 L, Ass. 638 Add. OE. _md_.

meene, _v._ mourn, lament, 1 _sing. pres._ F. & B. 273 T. OE.
_(bi)m[-]nan_.

meigne, meyne, _see_ maine.

meniuer, _sb._ a kind of fur, F. & B. 110 C. Cf. Hausknecht's Note. Lat.
_minutus varius_.

menske, _sb._ honour, F. & B. 56 T. OE. _menniscu_, humanity; Icel.
_menska_, honour.

mesauenture, _sb._ ill luck, KH. 344 C L. OF. _aventure_.

mest, _superl. adj._ most, KH. 26.

mester, mystere, _sb._ (1) office, trade, (2) need, necessity, KH. 243,
581. OF. _mestier_.

mete, _v._ meet, encounter, 3 _plur. pret._ metten. KH. 169. OE.
_mtan_.

ymete, _adj._ fit, reasonable, KH. 1401 L. OE. _gem[-]te_.

mete, _v._ dream, KH. 1522. OE. _m[-]tan_.

meting, metyng, _sb._ dream, KH. 699. OE. _m[-]tan_.

mid, _prep._ with, KH. 22 L, 25 L, etc. OE. _mid_.

middelerd, _sb._ earth, world, F. & B. 272 C. OE. _middangeard_.

misliken, _v._ misplease, KH. 455. OE. _mislcian_.

mod, _sb._ mood, mind, KH. 297, 1579 C H. OE. _md_.

modi, mody, _adj._ full of passion, angry, KH. 748. OE. _mdi[gh]_.

Modi, Mody, KH. 1023, 1094, 1121 L, 1331 L, 1626.

molde, _sb._ earth, KH. 335, F. & B. 343 T. OE. _molde_.

mone, ymone, _sb._ companion, KH. 560, 840 C L. OE. _gemna_.

mone, _sb._ companionship, communion, participation, KH. 890 L, 1149C.

mote, moste, _v._ may, might, was to; mote, KH. 197, 218 C, 829; moste,
KH. 67C, 186; munthe (?), KH. 1508L.

Mountargis, F. & B. 66 T. French version, Montoire, 174, 316, etc.

murne, _adj._ troubled, KH. 748. OE. _(un)murne_.

Murry, Murri, morye, moye, moy, Mory, mury, KH. 4, 33, 73, 921, 1431.
Cf. Maurius (Maurus), son of Aruiragus, Lay. 9895 ff. He defeats the
invading Picts, and sets up a stone with runes to commemorate the
victory.


nabod (ne + abod).

neb, nebbe, _sb._ face, F. & B. 615 C, 890 T. OE. _nebb_.

nime, _v._ take; _infin._ nyme, Ass. 121 C; 2 _sing. subjunct._ or
_imper._ nym, KH. 1205L; 1 _sing. pres._ nime, KH. 713L; 3 _sing.
pret._ nam, nom, KH. 619, 1269, Ass. 33C, 35, 59 Add., etc.; 3 _pl.
pret._ neme C, nomen L H, KH. 64; _pp._ ynome, Ass. 6C; vndernome, F. &
B. 128T, 189T, 219T, 227T, 920T, etc.; nam = went, Ass. 53C. Cf.
vndernom. OE. _niman_.

niing, _sb._ wretch, villain, evil man, KH. 210. OE. _ning_.

no[gh], enough, KH. 196; ino[gh]e C, hy nowe L, ynowe H. OE. _genh_.

nonskyns, _adj._ of no kind, F. & B. 226 T. OE. _nnes cynnes_.

noing, _adv._ not at all, KH. 290 C.

Nubil, F. & B. 665 C. French, (de) Nubie, 2492.


O, _prep._ until, KH. 134 H. OE. _o_.

of drede, _see_ dreden.

of reche, _see_ reche.

on, _prep._ on, in; on mi lokyng, KH. 360 C; on kneuling, KH. 503L.

onde, _sb._ envy, Ass. 424 C. OE. _anda_, _onda_.

one, _sb._ alone, solitary; hou one KH. 364 L, is one 559 L, go one
559C, al one C, alon L, ys one H 650. Cf. Bradley-Stratmann.

oppe, _prep._ upon, KH. 466, 480 L.

or, _see_ er, or oer.

ord, _sb._ point, beginning; _dat. sing._ orde C H, horde L, KH. 662;
_dat. sing._ ord H, hord L, KH. 1475; _accus. sing._, F. & B. 48C. OE.
_ord_.

ore, _sb._ favour, grace, KH. 695, 1629 C, F. & B. 173 C. OE. _r_.

orfreys, _sb._ orfrey, gold fringe, F. & B. 371 T. OE. _orfreis_.

Orgas, F. & B. 101 T. French, _Li dus Joras_, 357.

oer, _num._ second, KH. 201. OE. _er_.

oer, _conj._ or, KH. 44. OE. _oe_.

oer, _pr._ other, KH. 28. OE. _er_.

otter (buterfli[gh]e C), _sb._ butterfly (?), F. & B. 772 T.

oueral, _adv._ everywhere, KH. 262 H. Cf. Germ. _berall_.

out londisse, _adj._ foreign, KH. 635 L.

ower, _gen. plur._ your, F. & B. 534 C. OE. _[e^o]wer_.


paene, _adj._ pagan, KH. 159 C.

payn, peynim, payen, pain, paynim, paen, etc., _sb._ paien, pagan,
heathen, KH. 45, 63, 82, 87, 193, 935, 948, 950, 1412, etc.

paynime, _sb._ heathen land, KH. 859.

page, _sb._ boy, servant, KH. 1012 L H, 1379 H. OF. _page_.

pal, palle, _sb._ costly sort of cloth, F. & B. 822 T, and Cott.; Ass.
631H, 795 Add. OE. _pll_, OF. _pal_.

parage, _sb._ high birth, F. & B. 256, 269 C., etc. OF. _parage_.

paramur, _adv._ passionately, F. & B. 486 C., etc.

Paryse, _nom. sing._, F. & B. 168 T. Fr. _Paris_, 449, etc.

pel, pelle, _sb._ skin, KH. 421, 1582 L. OF. _pel_.

pelte, pulte, pylte, 3 _sing. pret._ pushed, KH. 1529.

pilegrim C, pylegrim L, pelryne H, KH. 1236 pilgrim. OF. _pelegrin_.

Petir, Petyr, Peter, Petre, Ass. 317, 327, 580, 581, 638, 639, 673 Add.,
464, 470, 529C, 499, 563H, etc.

ipight, _pp._ placed, F. & B. 117, 183 C.

pine, pyne, _v._ pain; _infin._ KH. 726 C; 1 _sing. pres._, KH. 1280L;
_pp._ pined C, pyned H, KH. 1280. OE. _pnian_.

pyne, _sb._ pain, torture, KH. 277 C H, Ass. 426, 458 Add. OE. _pn_.

plawe, _sb._ sport, fight, KH. 1170 H. Cf. Bradley-Stratmann,
_pla[gh]e_.

pleie, pleye, _v._ play, KH. 25, 200, 363. OE. _plegian_.

pleing C, pleyhunge L, pley[gh]yng H, KH. 34, playing.

plener, plenere, _adj._ full, F. & B. 179 C., 188 Cott. OF. _plenier_.

pli[gh]te, _v._ plight; _infin._ pli[gh]te, ply[gh]te, plyhte, KH. 321;
2 _sing. imper._ plist, plyct, plyht, KH. 440; 1 _sing. pres. indic._
pli[gh]te C, plicte L, plyhte H, KH. 716; _pp._ ipli[gh]t, F. & B.
141C. OE. _plihtan_.

pomel, _sb._ pommel, F. & B. 209, 213 Cott. OF. _pomel_.

porter, _sb._ doorkeeper, F. & B. 329 C. OF. _portier_.

posse, _v._ push; _infin._ KH. 1087 C; 3 _sing. pret._ puste, KH.
1153H; pugde 1156L. OF. _pousser_.

poure, pure, _infin._ pore, look, KH. 1172 C L.

prede, _sb._ pride, KH. 1497 L. OE. _pr[-y]ta_.

prime, _sb._ first quarter of the day, name of one of the offices of the
Church, after 'lauds,' KH. 1040; _at prime tide_, KH. 905.

pris, prys, _sb._ value, worth, KH. 968 C, F. & B. 310, 350, 750C.,
1028T. OF. _pris_.

pruesse, _sb._ brave deed, prowess, KH. 588. OF. _proesse_.

pugde, _see_ posse.


quantyse, _sb._ cleverness, F. & B. 543 T.

qued, _sb._ bad, Ass. 174 C, 197, 465 Add. etc. OE. _cwd_.

quelle, _v._ kill; _infin._ KH. 65, 656 C; 2 _sing. imper._ quel, F. &
B. 1008T, aquel 725C.; 3 _sing. pret._ quelde, F. & B. 904T, aquelde
KH. 929L H, aquelde H, quelde C, KH. 1064. OE. _cwellan_.

queme, _v._ please, KH. 517. OE. _cwman_.

queme, _adj._ pleasing, KH. 501 L. OE. _(ge)cwme_.

quee, _v._ say; 3 _sing. pret._ quae, quo H, KH. 137, etc. OE.
_cwean_.

quic, quike, _adj._ alive, KH. 92 C, 1468 C, 1478 H. OE. _cwic_.

quite, aquite, _pp._ through with, quit of, F. & B. 171, 724 C., 180
Cott. OF. _aquiter_.

qware, where, KH. 735 L.


rake, _infin._ hasten, KH. 1126 L, 1158 L. OE. _rcian_.

rape, _sb._ haste, KH. 586 C, 1532 C.

rathe, _adv._ soon, quickly, KH. 1407 L, F. & B. 24 T, 193 T, etc. OE.
_hr_.

recche, rekke, _v._ reck, care for; 3 _sing. pres._ recche C, reche L,
yrecche H, KH. 370; 3 _sing. subj._ arecche, KH. 710H; 1 _sing. pres._
rekke, F. & B. 96T. OE. _reccan_.

reche, areche, ofreche, orhreche, _v._ reach; _infin._ areche, KH.
1308C; of reche, gain, KH. 1375C L; orhreche, traverse, KH. 1375H;
_pp._ ara[gh]t, F. & B. 687C, rau[gh]t F. & B. 974T. OE. _r[-]can_.

rede, reed, reede, _sb._ counsel, opinion, F. & B. 45 T, 50 T, 53T,
314T, Ass. 294, 298 Add., etc. OE. _r[-]d_.

rede, _v._ (1) read, (2) counsel, advise; _infin._ KH. 308, 511L, 881,
966L, F. & B. 21T, 148, 151C.; 1 _sing. pres._ KH. 966C, F. & B.
75T; _pp._ rad, Ass. 891 Add., irad F. & B. 578C., yredde 858T. OE.
_r[-]dan_.

rein, _sb._ rain, KH. 11.

reme, _sb._ coast (?), OE. _rima_; or realm (?), OF. _reaume_, KH.
1625H (reaume 1623L).

rende, _see_ erne.

rende, _v._ rend, tear; 3 _sing. pret._ rente C H, to rente L, KH. 775.

rente, _sb._ pay, wages, KH. 984 C L. OF. _rente_.

reue, _sb._ reeve, guard, KH. 1418. OE. _(ge)rfa_.

reue, reyue, _infin._ rob, plunder, F. & B. 209 C., Ass. 168 Add. OE.
_r[e^a]fian_.

rewe, _infin._ rue, repent, KH. 398. OE. _hrowan_.

rewlich, _adj._ sad, KH. 1129. OE. _hr[e^o]wlc_.

reyne, ryne, birine, _infin._ rain, KH. 11.

Reynes C, reny L, Raynis H, KH. 1023.

Reynild, Hermenyl, hermenylde, ermenyld, KH. 973, 1636. ON. _Ragnhilda_,
OE. Eormenhild, daughter of Eorcenbriht, king of Kent.

riche, _sb._ kingdom, KH. 20. OE. _rce_.

rigge, _sb._ back, KH. 1138. OE. _hrycg_.

rime, ryme, _sb._ rime, speech, KH. 860, 1461.

rive, _adj._ abundant, F. & B. 73 Cott. OE. _rf_.

riuen, ariuen, _v._ arrive, land; _infin._ ariue C, aryue H, KH. 193;
_pp._ riued, KH. 162L, 193L, ariued, aryued, KH. 40, 162.

ri[gh]te, _adv._ direct, at once, KH. 1428 C.

roche, _sb._ rock, KH. 79.

rode, _sb._ cross, rood, KH. 346, Ass. 12, 19 C, 44 C, 46 Add., 270C,
etc. OE. _rd_.

roer, _sb._ rudder, KH. 202. OE. _rer_.

roune, rowne, _sb._ counsel, KH. 1378. OE. _rn_.

runde, rounde, 3 _sing. pret._ whispered, F. & B. 716 C., 999T. OE.
_rnian_.

Rymenhild, rimenild, rymenyld, reymnyld, rymenild, reymild, reymyld,
Rymyld, rimenyld, etc., KH. 264, 293, 393, 472, 600, 652, 691, 738, 741,
1510, etc. Rimhild, OE. _nomen mulieris_.

ryue, _sb._ shore, KH. 142.


sake, _v._ contend, fight; 3 _pl. pret._ asoke C, forsoken L H, KH. 69,
gave up. OE. _sacan_.

sale, _sb._ hall, KH. 1187 C H. OE. _sal_.

salyley, scribal error (?), KH. 199 L.

Sarazin, sarazyn, KH. 42, 636, 645, 671, 1415, 1477 H, 1479.

scene, schene, _adj._ beautiful, KH. 97 L, 178 L, F. & B. 263C. OE.
_scne_.

schauntillun, _sb._ model, F. & B. 325 C.

schenche, _v._ give, serve, dispense; _infin._ schenche, shenche, KH.
1186; 2 _sing. subjunct._ or _imper._ shenh, KH. 1199H. OE. _scencan_.

schende, _v._ (1) scold, (2) injure; _infin._ KH. 747 L, 724; 3 _sing.
pret._ schente, schende, shende, KH. 340. OE. _scendan_.

schete, _v._ shoot, KH. 1011. OE. _sc[e^o]tan_.

schillen, _v._ sound; 3 _sing. pres._ shille, KH. 224 L. OE. _scillan_.

schonde, _sb._ harm, disgrace, KH. 746, 760 C, F. & B. 942 T. OE.
_scand_, _sceand_.

schrede, _v._ clothe; 3 _sing. pret._ schredde L, sredde H, KH. 625,
schredde C L, shredde H, KH. 896; 3 _pl. pret._ schrudde C, schurde L,
KH. 1582. OE. _scr[-y]dan_.

schrewe, _sb._ shrew, evil person, KH. 60. OE. _scr[e^a]wa_, barn mouse.

schulle, _adv._ shrill, sonorous, KH. 221 C. OE. _scylle_, _scelle_.

sclauyne, _sb._ pilgrim's cloak, KH. 1134, 1137, 1310. OF. _esclavine_.

scrippe, _sb._ scrip, sack, KH. 1141. ON. _skreppa_.

scur, _sb._ shower, F. & B. 73 Cott. OE. _scr_.

sekerly, _see_ sikirli.

senpere, _sb._ bridge keeper (?), F. & B. 500 T, 513 T.

sere, _sb._ apparel (?), contrivance (?), Ass. 704 Add. OE. _searo_.

seriauns, _sb._ sergeant, man at arms, F. & B. 218 C. OF. _sergant_,
_serjant_.

serie, _infin._ dispense, KH. 1489 C. OE. _scerwen_, 'a scattering.'

seyne, _sb._ snare, fishing net, KH. 726 L. OE. _segne_, OF. _seine_.

shrelle, _infin._ cry, F. & B. 756 T.

sib, sibbe, _sb._ kinsman, kindred, KH. 68, Ass. 181 C, 185 Add., 585H.
OE. _sibb_.

side, syde, _sb._ (1) side, (2) shore, KH. 35, 145. OE. _sde_.

sike, syke, syken, _v._ sigh, KH. 456; 3 _sing. pres._ sykes, F. & B.
113T; 3 _sing. pret._ sy[gh]t, sy[gh]te, F. & B. 256, 270T, 417,
431C. OE. _scan_.

sikirli, sekerly, _adv._ certainly, Ass. 390 Add., F. & B. 92T. OE.
_sicor_.

sie, sye, _sb._ time, KH. 374 C, 1446, F. & B. 196 T. OE. _s_.

sithen, _conj._ since, Ass. 283, 422 Add. OE. _sian_.

sie, sitthe, sithen, _adv._ afterwards, KH. 1185 C, 1238, Ass. 542
Add., 434C. OE. _sian_.

skeete, soon, quickly, F. & B. 1005 T. OE. _scot_, ON. _sk[i^o]tr_.

skille, skyle, _sb._ right, reason, Ass. 312 H, 352 Add. Icel. _skil_.

slitte, _sb._ opening in garment, pocket, F. & B. 348 C.

slon, _v._ slay; _infin._ slen C, slon L, slo H, KH. 91, 47; 3 _pl.
pret._ slo[gh]en C, slowe L, slowen H, KH. 195; _pp._ asla[gh]e C,
yslawe L H, KH. 94. OE. _slan_.

sloo, _sb._ slough, Ass. 507 H. OE. _slh_.

smerte, _v._ pain, KH. 1602. OE. _smeortan_.

snelle, _adj._ quick, KH. 1581 C. OE. _snell_.

so, _conj._ as, KH. 14, 15, etc.

soler, _sb._ upper room, summer room, F. & B. 173. OF. _solier_, Lat.
_solarium_.

sond, sonde, _sb._ (1) message, (2) dish at table, Ass. 634 H, 798 Add.,
F. & B. 1072T.

sonde, _sb._ messenger, KH. 281, 287, (ysonde 287 L), 992 H, 1005C H,
etc., F. & B. 796C., Ass. 106C, 682 Add. OE. _sand_, _sond_.

sore, _sb._ pain, KH. 75 L H. OE. _sr_.

sore, _adv._ much, very, KH. 73, 362. OE. _sre_.

soth, so, soe, _adj._ true, F. & B. 321 T, etc. OE. _s_.

soune, _sb._ sound, KH. 224 H. Fr. _son_.

soune, _adv._ clearly, KH. 224 L.

Spaine, Spayne, Spaygne, Speine, F. & B. 413, 769 C., 1046 T.

spede, _sb._ speed, good luck, KH. 491. OE. _spd_.

spede, _infin._ speed, have good fortune, KH. 852 C H, F. & B. 1026T.
OE. _speke_, _bispac_, _spdan_.

spell, spelle, _sb._ tale, KH. 1015 H, 1106. OE. _spell_.

spille, spylle, _v._ perish, kill, KH. 208, 720 L, F. & B. 1007T; _pp._
ispild, killed, Ass. 19C. OE. _spillan_.

squire, _sb._ square, F. & B. 325 C. OF. _esqvarre_.

stage, _sb._ upper floor of a house, F. & B. 218, 270 C. OF. _estage_.

stede, _sb._ horse, steed, KH. 51. OE. _stda_.

stede, _sb._ place, KH. 273, Ass. 730, 866 Add. OE. _stede_.

steke, _v._ pierce; 2 _sing. pres._ stikkest, F. & B. 98 Cott.

stere, _sb._ rudder, ship, KH. 107 C, 1471 C. OE. _stor_.

stere, _v._ lead, command, KH. 464 C, L. OE. _st[e^o]ran_.

sterne, _adj._ stern, insolent, KH. 935 C, 784 H. OE. _sterne_,
_styrne_.

sterte, _v._ start, leap, F. & B. 457 C. ON. _sterta_.

sterue, _v._ die, KH. 829, 980 C, 984 H, 1253 C. OE. _steorfan_.

steuene, _sb._ voice, KH. 1453 L, F. & B. 54 C., Ass. 73, 239C, 79, 245
Add., etc. OE. _stefn_.

stey[gh], 3 _sing. pret._ climbed, F. & B. 892 C. OE. _stgan_.

stonde, _infin._ spring up, rise, KH. 809 L, H. Cf. Lay. 20509.

stonge, 3 _pl. pret._ pierced, KH. 1475 L H, Ass. 447 Add. OE.
_stingan_.

store, _adj._, _nom. plur._ great, strong, F. & B. 19 C. OE. _stor_.

stounde, stunde, _sb._ point of time, period of time, F. & B. 327T,
Ass. 635, 727 Add., KH. 181C, 351, 791, 1030, 1371. OE. _stund_.

striken, 3 _pl. pret._ struck, stripped (Stratmann)?, striken L H,
strike C, KH. 1089. OE. _strcan_.

sture, _infin._ stir, move, KH. 1541 H. OE. _styrian_.

Sture, name of a river, KH. 729, 1551.

Suddene, Sodenne, Sudenne, Suddenne, KH. 155, 189, 542, 929, 1062, 1351,
1370, 1389, 1463, 1637.

sundry, _adj._ separate, apart, Ass. 148, 364 Add. OE. _syndrig_.

sune, 2 _sing. subj. pres._ sound, KH. 223 C. OF. _soner_.

swage, _infin._ assuage, abate, F. & B. 38 T. OF. _asuager_.

swere, swire, suire, _sb._ neck, KH. 796, 1144, 1291, F. & B. 1016T.
OE. _swira_, _sweora_.

sweting, _sb._ favourite, KH. 234 L.

sweuen, _sb._ dream, KH. 710, 723. OE. _swefen_.

sweuening, _sb._ dream, KH. 774.

swike, swyke, _infin._ deceive; biswike C L, bysuyke H, KH. 306; biswike
C, swike L, byswyke H, KH. 711. OE. _swcan_.

swilc, swihc, such, etc., such. OE. _swylce_.

swie, swye, sue, _adv._ (1) very, KH. 96, 98 L H, 172, 192, etc.,
Ass. 355C, F. & B. 87, 280C.; (2) soon, quickly, rapid, KH. 129L H,
374L, 435L, 289, 845, 1042, etc., F. & B. 148, 308C., Ass. 612,
671H, 839 Add., etc. OE. _swe_.

iswo[gh]e, yswowe, _pp._ in a faint, KH. 458, 914.

swo[gh]ning C, swohinge L, swowenynge H, _sb._ fainting spell, swoon,
KH. 474.

swongen, 3 _pl. pret._ suspended, (?) Ass. 443 Add. OE. _swingan_.

swymme, swemme, _infin._ move on water, KH. 203. OE. _swimman_.


take, _v._ take, give, KH. 568, 834, 1134, 1204, F. & B. 207 T, 159C.,
Ass. 48, 682 Add., 572H, etc.; bitak, KH. 839C, bytoke L, bitoke H,
KH. 1179. Cf. teche, biteche. ON. _taka_.

targe, _v._ delay, F. & B. 226 Cott. OF. _targier_.

te, ten, _v._ draw; _infin._ te, Ass. 282 C, ten KH. 767 T, teon 767H;
3 _sing. pret._ te[gh], F. & B. 617C.; 2 _sing. imper._ te, KH. 327L.
OE. _ton_.

teche, _v._ usually 'teach,' sometimes 'give' (cf. take); _infin._
teche, give, Ass. 46C; 1 _sing. pres._ biteche, KH. 619L H.

tende, _v._ set on fire, burn, F. & B. 672 C. OE. _(on)tendan_.

tene, teone, _sb._ injustice, harm, KH. 367, 727; anger, F. & B. 902T.
OE. _t[e^o]na_.

terme, _sb._ term, period, F. & B. 432 Cambr. OF. _terme_.

teyse, _sb._ measure of three yards, F. & B. 201, 203 Cott. OF. _toise_.

ar, _v._ need, KH. 408 L. OE. _earf_.

at, (1) _demonstr._ the, that, KH. 27, 28; (2) _rel._ that, KH. 2, 22;
(3) _conj._ that, KH. 33L; (4) _comp. rel._ him, who, KH. 1064C.

the, _infin._ prosper, thrive, F. & B. 566 T. OE. _on_.

inke, _v._ seem; _infin._ KH. 1233; 3 _sing. pres._ ink, KH. 1405C,
etc.; inche, F. & B. 169C.; of inke, misplease, repent, _infin._,
KH. 112, 1046C H, 1136. OE. _yncean_.

o, _adv._ then, KH. 52, etc. OE. _a_.

ole, olie, _v._ endure, suffer; _infin._, F. & B. 422, 677, 678,
737C., Ass. 22, 215C, 26, 217, 219 Add.; 3 _sing. pret._, F. & B.
580C., etc. OE. _olian_.

Thomas, F. & B. 611 C, 659, 775, 796, 807, 821 Add.

orhreche, _see_ reche.

ral, ralle, _sb._ slave, thrall, KH. 449. OE. _r[-]l_.

ro[gh]e, _sb._ period of time, KH. 354, 1036. OE. _rge_.

rottene, rettene, _num._ thirteen. OE. _rot[-y]ne_.

ulke (e + ulke), the same, F. & B. 746 C., etc.

urston, KH. 875, 1057. Seems to be Norse. A frequent name of Hus Carls.
Thurstan (Turstayn) is one of two tax collectors sent by Hardicanute to
Worcester.

tide, _sb._ time, KH. 1563. OE. _td_.

tide, bitide, _v._ happen, betide; _infin._, KH. 212 L H, 218C; 3
_sing. pres._, tit, tyt, KH. 1442 L H; bitide, _infin._ KH. 218 L H,
575. OE. _tdian_.

timing, tymyng, _sb._ success, KH. 1701 C H. OE. _tmian_.

tire, tyre, _infin._ tear, F. & B. 736 C., 1017 T. OE. _teran_.

tiing, tidinge, etc., _sb._ tiding, KH. 138, 1058, 1318.

to, (1) _prep._ to, KH. 2; (2) _adv._ too, KH. 37 L H; (3) _prefix_
apart, asunder.

to-brake, 3 _sing. pret._ broke apart, F. & B. 133 T.

to-dra[gh]e, to drawe, _infin._ draw to pieces (cf. draw and quarter),
KH. 1612; 3 _pl. pret._ KH. 195. Cf. _alle a chirchen he to droh_, Lay.
29135A.

to[gh]enes, _see_ [gh]en.

to-shake, _v._ shake to pieces. Ass. 356 C.

trende, 3 _sing. pret._ roll, KH. 460 H. OE. _trendan_.

trewage, truage, _sb._ tribute, homage, KH. 1618. OF. _truage_.

trewe, _sb._ truth, troth, KH. 321. OE. _trow_.

Troye, _dat. sing._, F. & B. 178 T.

Tune, _sb._ town, city, KH. 168. OE. _tn_.

tweie, tueye, tweyne, _num._ two, twain, KH. 943 H, 955. OE. _twgen_.

twie, twye, _adv._ twice, KH. 1570 C L. OE. _tuwa_, _twiwa_.

tytte, 3 _sing. pret._ pull tightly (Bradley-Stratmann).


v[gh]ten, _sb._ morning, dawn, KH. 1474. OE. _hte_.

uncue, vncoue, _adj._ unknown, KH. 781. OE. _c_.

vnderfonge, _see_ fonge.

vnder[gh]ete, _v._ perceive, learn; _infin._ F. & B. 49 T; 3 _sing.
pret._ vnder[gh]at, F. & B. 35C., etc.; _pp._, F. & B. 292T, and Cott.
556C. OE. _undergietan_.

vndern, _sb._ noon, F. & B. 511 T; ondarne, Cott. OE. _undern_.

vndernome, _pp._ journeyed, F. & B. 189, 219 T; vndernome, set out,
gone, 920T. Cf. noome, gone, F. & B. 227T.

vndrestode, 3 _sing. pret._ received, Ass. 564 Add.

vnmete, _adv._ violently, Ass. 354 C. OE. _unmete_.

vnme, _sb._ immoderation, F. & B. 675 C. OE. _unmet_.

vnnees, _adv._ with difficulty, F. & B. 63 T. OE. _un[e^a]e_.

unorne, _adj._ old, ugly, KH. 348, 1646 C. OE. _unorne_.

vnpli[gh]t, _sb._ peril, Ass. 194 Add.

unspurne, _infin._ kick open, KH. 1159. OE. _spurnan_.

vnwemmed, _adj._ spotless, Ass. 537 C. OE. _wamm_.

vrne, _see_ erne.

utrage, _sb._ error for truage (?), KH. 1618 L.


verde, _see_ ferde.

verdoune, _sb._ troop, company (?), Ass. 455, 457 H.

vertu, _sb._ power, strength, F. & B. 370 T. OF. _vertu_.

vie, _sb._ life, Ass. 879, 889, 891 Add. OF. _vie_.


warysoun, _sb._ reward, F. & B. 1051 T, _see_ gersume, garisone.

wat, water, KH. 634 L.

waxe, wexe, _v._ grow, wax; _infin._, KH. 101, 268 C, 312 C; 3 _sing.
pret._ wex, KH. 268L. OE. _weaxan_.

wed-broer, _sb._ pledged brother, KH. 300 L. Cf. Lay. 14469 and Note
32209. Sax. Chron. 30, brother by baptism. Wace has for Layamon's
wed-broer, in one instance 'cousin,' in another 'nephew.' Cf. also
Plummer, Two Saxon Chronicles, p.25, bottom. ON. _ve brar_.

wedde, _v._ wed, marry; _infin._, KH. 1021; 3 _sing. pret._ wedde (wax
mad?); _pp._ wedde, KH. 316C, L. OE. _weddian_.

wede, _sb._ clothes, KH. 1132. OE. _w[-]d_.

wel, _adv._, (1) well, KH. 374 etc., (2) very, KH. 74 L, 97 L, 98C,
131, F. & B. 147C. OE. _wl_.

welde, wolde, _infin._ wield, rule, KH. 324, 452 L, 972 L, F. & B.
207T. OE. _wealdan_.

wem, _sb._ spot, stain, Ass. 647 Add. OE. _wamm_.

wende, _v._ turn, wend, go; _infin._, KH. 971 C L, F. & B. 60C.; 2
_sing. imper._ went C H, wend L; go, KH. 343, 755C, 759C H; _pp._ wend
H, I wend C, turned, KH. 1170; went, turned, Ass. 346 Add.; biwente C,
bywende L, bywente H; 3 _sing. pret._ turned around, KH. 339. OE.
_wendan_.

wendling, _sb._ vagrant (?), KH. 754 L.

wene, _v._ think, KH. 131, 313, 1204, 1207, 1213, 1365. OE. _wnan_.

wene, weene, _sb._ (1) thought, F. & B. 651 C.; (2) doubt, F. & B.
197T, 181 Cott. OE. _wn_.

were, 2 _sing. pres. subj._ wear. OE. _werian_.

werie, werye, _infin._ protect, KH. 839. OE. _werian_.

werne, wurne, _v._ prevent, KH.; _infin._, KH. 938 L H, 1166 C, 1496L,
1518C. OE. _wyrnan_.

were, _v._ become, shall be; 2 _sing. pres._ wurstu C, worstu L,
worest ou H, KH. 342; 3 _sing. pres._ wur C, wor L H, KH. 490, 728.
wore, KH. 509. OE. _weoran_.

westernesse, westnesse, westene londe, westnesse londe, westnisse, KH.
172, 182, 228, 808, 993, 1017, 1088C H, 1268, 1295C H, 1615C H.

whannes, wenne, whenne, _inter. adv._ whence, KH. 175. OE. _hwanne_,
_hwenne_.

weturly, wytterli, _adv._ surely, F. & B. 819 T, Cott. ON. _vitrliga_.

wif, _sb._ woman, Ass. 18 C. OE. _wf_.

wi[gh]t, _sb._ (1) bit, KH. 535; (2) being, person, KH. 715. OE. _wiht_.

wis, ywis, _adv._ certainly, indeed; KH. 131 C, 54 L H, 131 L H, 210C,
etc.

wise, _sb._ guise, KH. 378. OF. _guise_.

wise, wisse, _v._ conduct, direct, KH. 253 C, 443, 807 L, 1575. OE.
_wsian_.

wit, witte, wytte, _sb._ intelligence, understanding, wit, KH. 188,
692C, 1164. OE. _witt_.

wite, _v._ 1 know; _infin._ KH. 309, 471 L, F. & B. 170, 609, 620C.; 1
_sing. pres._ wole, Ass. 332 Add.; 2 _pl. pres._ woot, F. & B. 940T; 2
_pl. subj._ weete, F. & B. 1031T; 2 _sing. subj._ wite, 755C.: 3
_sing. pret._ wiste, C L, nust H, KH. 84. Cf. also Ass. 32C, 240 Add.,
etc. OE. _witan_.

wite, iwite, _v._ 2 guard, keep; 2 _sing. subj._ white, KH. 1569H;
_infin._ wite, F. & B. 555, 756C. OE. _wtan_, _gewtan_.

wierling C, wiering L, wytherlyng H, _sb._ enemy, foe, KH. 160.

wisegge, _v._ deny, KH. 1368. OE. _secgan_.

wode, _adj._ mad, KH. 950 L. OE. _wd_.

wo[gh]e, wowe, awowen, wowen, _infin._ woo, KH. 578, 847, 1517 C. OE.
_wgian_.

wo[gh]e, wowe, _sb._ wall, KH. 1048. OE. _wg_.

wolde, _see_ welde.

won, _sb._ store, quantity, pomp (?); wi ryche won, KH. 962 H, F. & B.
386C.

wonde, _v._ hesitate, delay, KH. 355, 788. OE. _wandian_.

wone, wonie, wune, _v._ dwell, be accustomed to; _infin._ KH. 783, 1456,
F. & B. 218 Cott., Ass. 184C; _pp._ wonede, KH. 80L H, iwuned, F. & B.
567C., etc. OE. _wunian_.

wone, wune, _sb._ custom, practice, F. & B. 557 C., 90 Cott., Ass. 20
Add. OE. _(ge)wuna_.

wood, _adj._ mad, F. & B. 936, 994 T. OE. _wd_.

worship, _sb._ dignity, honour, F. & B. 1030 T. OE. _weorscipe_.

worstu, thou shalt be, _see_ were.

wreche, _sb._ vengeance, KH. 1376. OE. _wr[-]c_.

wreie, wreye, _v._ (1) bewray, (2) accuse, KH. 1338, 1341 L, F. & B.
816T. biwreie, bewray, accuse, KH. 380C. OE. _wrgan_.

wreke, _infin._ avenge, Ass. 726 Add., F. & B. 919 T; awreke, 640C. OE.
_wrecan_.

wringe, _v._ wring, twist; _infin._ wringe, wrynge, KH. 1142 H; 3 _sing.
pret._ wrong, 1142C; _pr. part._ wringinde C, wringende L, wryngynde H,
KH. 118. OE. _wringan_.

wroe, _adj._ fearful, afraid, KH. 366, 1304. OE. _wr_.

wunder, wonder, _sb._ wonder, harm, KH. 1335, 1536. OE. _wundor_. Cf.
Mtzner, King Horn, 1247 Note, 1422 Note.

wy[gh]te, _adj._ brave, dexterous, KH. 1080 L, 1302 L.

wynne, _sb._ joy, pleasure, F. & B. 333 T. OE. _wynn_.


y-, _see_ i-.


       *       *       *       *       *
           *       *       *       *
       *       *       *       *       *


[_Differences between this e-text and the printed book_

Sidenotes giving leaf-and-column information were often abbreviated for
space. The forms "lf." and "bk." have been silently regularized to
"leaf" and "back". The full word "leaf" has been supplied where missing,
except in references to the Trentham MS., where it was consistently
omitted in the original.

Notes were variously printed in the side margin or at the bottom of
the page, depending on space constraints. They have been treated as
footnotes or sidenotes according to their function: information about
the text or MS. (footnote), leaf- or column numbering (sidenote),
narrative summary (sidenote). Where more than one MS was used, narrative
sidenotes are shown at the beginning of each group of lines.

The recurring words "No gap in MS." are in the original; they are
generally followed by one or more blank lines inserted to keep the texts
parallel. The words are retained in _King Horn_ to preserve the editor's
line numbering; in the other texts they were retained only when needed
to prevent ambiguity. The notation [[empty line]] in double brackets was
added by the transcriber.

Line numbering is as in the original. Printed numbers have been silently
regularized to the EETS-standard multiple of 4.

Each page of _King Horn_ was divided into three: the Cambridge and Laud
versions in adjoining columns, and the Harleian across the bottom, with
lines printed in pairs separated by a | divider. For this e-text, the
Harleian text has been broken into single lines to match the other two.
General sidenotes were originally printed in the Harleian section.

Except for footnote markers and Transcriber's Notes, all brackets []
are in the original.


_Other Texts_

At time of preparation, the three diagrams shown in the Preface were
available online at The Internet Archive:

  Wissmann on King Horn:
  http://www.archive.org/details/dasliedvonkingh00wissgoog
  (page n16)

  Herzog on Floris and Blancheflur in Scandinavia:
  http://www.archive.org/details/diebeidensagenk00herzgoog
  (page n100)

  Hausknecht on Floris and Blancheflur:
  http://www.archive.org/details/florisandblaunc00hausgoog
  (page n131)

In the Introduction to Floris and Blancheflur, the English passages
printed alongside the French version are from Hausknecht's edition.


_Inconsistencies_

Introduction:

The forms "H Z", "HZ." and "H. Z." (for "Haupt's Zeitschrift fr
deutsches Alterthum") each appear once.

The term "X type" (of OE. rime) appears both with and without period,
and in both bold and ordinary type.

Some references to Hempl's test have "_-w[-o,]-_, _-w-_" instead of the
expected "_-w[-o,]-_, _-w[-o.]-_". These are shown as printed.

In a few paragraphs, the abbreviation "O.E." has been silently
regularized to "OE."

General:

The abbreviations "V." and "Cott." (see beginning of Glossary) refer to
the same MS., Cott. Vitell. D. III.

"MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2." is written both with and without final period
(full stop).

When the editor is writing in his own voice, the Introduction uses ""
while the notes use "ae". Middle English is always "" (one letter);
Latin is always "ae" (two letters).

The Laud MS. always has "c{r}ist..." instead of the more common
"c{ri}st..."

In the Notes, anomalous quotation marks such as 'R. H.' for R.H.
(without quotes) are unchanged.


_Typographical Errors_

Introduction: King Horn

  K. H. 385-6;  [K. H. 385-6:]
  "_Crist for his wundes fiue, To ni[gh]t me uder driue_,
    [_missing close quote_]
  made a great impression upon the people,
    [_missing close quote_]
  (umlaut of WG. _ai_)  [WG,]
  by the treatment of __ above, by the double pronunciation of
    [_comma missing_]
  123 L, Horns, nom. sing.  [123 H]
    [_the note to l. 659 has the same error_]
  [_in the stemma, MS. "x" (above y and z) was missing. It has been
  supplied from Wissmann_]

Introduction: Floris and Blancheflur

  _Nordisk Tidskrift for Filologi og Pdagogik_  [Paadagogik]
  Footnote I-16 ... 1^o, 2^o, 3^o.  [2^o.]
  _Ostesse_ : _kysse_ belongs only to MSS. T and Auch.  [MSS. T.]
  [Hausknecht diagram]
    [_in the bottom row, T is printed as I_]

Introduction: Assumption

  the Sunday gospel readings with their _expositio_ and a _narratio_
    [_narration_]
  Conrad v. Heimesfurt, about 1200 (HZ. viii, pp. 150 ff.).
    [_text unchanged; correct reference is 156ff._]
  a misunderstanding of the lines 893-96 of the SE. Assumption"
    [893-960 the]
  Cambr. MS. Ff. 2. 38. as #E#  [Ff. MS.]
  we must regard as a compilation of different MSS.  [off]
   8. TIME AND PLACE OF COMPOSITION.  [ 7.]
  He does not distinguish carefully open _[-e,]_ and close _[-e.]_
    [open __]
  _Inne_ : _kynne_ 430 A, 478 A, 360 H, 338 D, 346 D,  [346, D]
   9. VERSIFICATION.  [ 8.]
  _gode_ : _fote_ 70 Add., _olen_ : _y-boren_ 220 Add., etc.
    [_text has "Ass." for "Add." both times_]

King Horn

_As noted in the body text, line-initial  was changed to  on the
assumption that capitalization was editorial._

  111 e se [gh]ou schal adrenche;  [e]
  161 at ihc am hol {and} fer  [at]
  219 "++Hon child," qwad e king,  [_spelling unchanged_]
  274 For for folc er was so meche.
    [_text unchanged: error for single "For" as in Hall and Wissman
    editions?_]
  393 Aft{er} mete stille, _wit_
    [_underlining in original represents expunctuation in MS_]
  464 in h{er}te gyn ou to stere,  [in]
  579 We be kinctes yonge,  [_text unchanged: error for "knictes"?_]
  630 {And} horn murie to singe.  [{An}d]
  [759-60, 757-758]
    [_lines transposed by editor_]
  961 in a chirche of lym {an}t ston
    [_text unchanged: apparent error for "{ant}"_]
  971 MiRe{n}gne u schalt welde,  [_text unchanged_]
  1047 Ryme{n}hild vndude e dure pin  [_"e" in "dure" invisible_]
  1152 {a}t he come {e}rinne.
    [_text unchanged: error for "{er}inne"?_]
  1191 Hye drank of e bere,  [ebere]
  1299  "Ryme{n}hild," he sede, "ywende
    [_text unchanged: may be error for "y wende"_]
  1350 For riche me{n} {e}r ete.
    [_text unchanged: error for "{er}"?_]
  1417 On C{ri}st ihc wolde bileue;  [{Cr}ist]

Floris and Blancheflur

  [Footnote FB-1: first 'mey,' then alterd]
    [_editor's orthography and punctuation unchanged_]
  V 75 [Sidenote: [_leaf 6, back_]]
    [_printed "leaf 6/3"_]
  T 334 Me to bydden it it were grete synne."
    [_text unchanged: error for single "it" as in Hausknecht?_]
  T 545 "Now," seith Dares, "{o}u art a Folt,"--  [art a "Folt,--]
  T 673 ou shalt haue redy w{i}t{h} the
    [_text unchanged: error for "{o}u"?_]
  T 675 [Gh]if~ ou wynne ou[gh]t of~ his,
    [_text unchanged: error for "{o}u"?_]
  V 365 Wha{n}ne u lest lest him e cupe iseo,  [_text unchanged_]
  T 712 Rede me ry[gh]t, [gh]if~ {o}u be trew."
    [_close quote missing_]
  V [= T860] {a}t [gh]eue e his beniscun,
    [_text unchanged: error for "benisoun"?_]
  T 933 I fonde {e}ryn a naked man.
    [_text unchanged: error for "{er}yn"?_]
  T 963 For, y dee {o}u hast for me."  [_single for double quote_]
  C 764 Bute hit he{m} beo for[gh]iue also."  [_close quote missing_]
  T 1044 [Sidenote: [111 _a_]]  [110 _a_]

Assumption

  C 143  o he hadde ydon, to heuene he ste[gh];  [heueue]
  C 172 [gh]ef he{m} boe wille {and} space,
    [_text unchanged: error for "[Gh]ef"?_]
  C 358
    [_sidenote for "leaf 80, back" missing: should be near here_]
  H 442 for thi loue, my moder dere.  [dere."]
  A 670 Ih{es}u crist, godes sons,
    [_text unchanged: error for "sone" as in Hackauf?_]
  A 679 And p{r}echen al of godes sone,
    [_text unchanged: error for "p{re}chen"?_]


In the Notes section, missing commas in note references have been
silently supplied.


Notes: King Horn

  15. _whit so e flur_. Cf. 'Rich. C. de L.':  [_close quote missing_]
  17, 18. _bold_ : _old_. ... _He was a fair child and a bold_.  [a{n}d]
    [_in this section, "Faire child he was ..." is Beues l. 52;
    "Be at he was ..." is Reinbroun st. 4 l. 4._]
  123. ... Cf. _Horns_ 1560 H  [_body text has "horn" alone_]
  128. ... With henelow and rumbelooo.  [_text unchanged_]
  176. _beo icumene_.  [_body text has "icume"_]
  175 ff. Compare ...  [175. ff.]
  180-2. _Ne sau[gh] ihc ..._ Cf. 180-2 Note.  [_printed as shown_]
  247 ff. ... Brennes wes swie hende [v] his hap wes e betere.
    [247. ff.]
    [_the symbol shown as [v] is a punctuation mark resembling
    an inverted caret_]
  659, H. ... Cf. _enimis_ 1024 H, Horns 123 L.
    [_text has "123 H" as in Preface_]
  684. _huntinge_. Cf. 'Erl of Tolous' 937  [Erl.]
  831. ... also 'Beowulf' 246-7  [_close quote missing_]
  921-2. _King Mory_.  [991-2]
  1121. _Myd strence_. Cf. 'Squire of L. D.' 443 (Wissmann).
    [(Wissmann.).]
  1144. _bicolmede_. Cf. 'Lay.' 17700-1,  [97700-1]
  1275. _custe_.... Cf. also 425 Note.  [426 Note]
  1410. _hym agros_. Cf. 925 Note.  [924 Note]
  1536. _wunder_ = harm, evil. Cf. Mtzner, 1247 Note, 1422 Note.
    [_printed after note to l. 1574_]
  1537. _wundes fiue_.  [1536.]

Notes: Floris and Blancheflur

  227, T.
  513, C.
  589, C.
    [_MS. references missing in all_]
  692, 697, C. _him_.  [677]

Notes: Assumption

  19-22. Add. Not in H or D, or F.  [Ass.]
  97-8, C. ... also H (89-90):  [89-10]
  121-2, Add. F, D, and H have ...  [Ass.]
  116, C. ... in agreement with Add.  [Ass.]
  277-80, H.  [C.]
  303 ff., H. From this point F and D follow Add. (309-340).  [ff,]
    [_text ends with colon: see next item_]
  320, Add. Here D (299-300) has two lines not in Add. or F:
    [_following pair of lines printed before note_]
  347 ff., Add.  [347 ff., F.]
  565-6, H. _by-leue_, _y-yeue_. F (621-2):  [by-leue-]
  607-8, H. ... D (499-500) has the same as F transposed, _beme_:
    _a[gh]en_.  [_final . missing_]
  61-2, C.
  373-4, H.
  587-94, H.
  639-642, H.
    [_MS. references missing in all_]

Glossary

  arson, _sb._ saddle bow; _n. s._, F. & B. 369 T. OF. _aron_.  [OE.]
  belamy, _sb._ good friend, F. & B. 633 C. OF. _bel ami_
    [_final . missing_]
  belde, _see_ bolde  [_final . missing_]
  Blancheflour, Blauncheflur, etc. ... C. Fr. Blanceflors, Blanceflor.
    [_printed in roman (non-italic) type_]
  dy[gh]cte, _infin._ arrange, KH. 904 L  [404 L]
  follyche, KH. 98 L. (?). OE. _fllce_.
    [_text unchanged: apparent error for "fullce" ("fl" with long 
    is "foul")]
  gabbest, 2 _sing. pres._ (1) ridicule, (2) deceive, (3) chatter.
    [3 chatter]
  ginne, gynne, _sb._? ... F. & B. 131, 195, 206, 258 C., etc.;
  F. & B. 1032, 1048 T.
    [F. & B. 131, 158, 169, ... Ass. 1032]
  ginnur, _sb._ engineer, workman, F. & B. 324 C.  [329]
  grom, _sb._ boy; _nom. sing._ grom, KH. 1035 L H;   [1035 L H:]
  halke, ... OE. _healoc_  [_final . missing_]
  hende, _adj._ ... OE. _([gh]e)hende_.  [_([gh]e) hende_]
  heren, _v._ hire; 3 _sing. pret._ hurede C, herde L, herde L H,
  KH. 806. OE. _h[-y]rian_.  [_text unchanged_]
  I--, I lome, etc., _see_ lome, etc.  [lome, etc,]
  Iewes, Iewis, Iewys
    [_almost every citation in this entry is wrong:_
    "674 H" error for 564 H = 674 Add.
    "Ass. 530 C" error for H
    "Ass. 620 Add." is an error
    "Ass. 553 C" error for H]
  leng, _compar._ longer, KH. 1183 etc. OE. _leng_.  [etc OE.]
  leste, luste, _v._ desire, hanker, lust  [hanker.]
  Lumbardy, F. & B. 179 T. French version has (En)Lombardie 49.
    [_text unchanged_]
  maister, _sb._ leader, KH. 659; maister-king, KH. 659 L
    [_body text has "maister king" as two words_]
  sikirli, sekerly, _adv._ certainly  [certainty]
  sonde, _sb._ ... Ass. 106 C  [Ass 106 C]
  spede, _infin._ speed, have good fortune, KH. 852 C H, F. & B.
  1026 T. OE. _speke_, _bispac_, _spdan_.
    [_last three words printed as shown; expected following entry
    "speke" is missing_]
  tide, bitide, _v._ happen, betide
    [_entry printed as two paragraphs with duplicate "OE."_:
    tide, bitide, _v._ happen, betide; _infin._, KH.
      212 L H, 218 C; 3 _sing. pres._, OE.
    tit, tyt, KH. 1442 L H; bitide, _infin._
      KH. 218 L H, 575. OE. _tdian_.]
  vndernome, _pp._ journeyed, F. & B. 189  [152]
  wite, iwite, _v._ 2 guard, keep  [_missing "2"_]
  wreke, _infin._ avenge  [wreke.]





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