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Iff 


I 


^o.  \  A- 


PREFACE. 


The  greater  part  of  the  poems  here  printed  are  from  a  mutilated 
MS.  in  the  Cambridge  University  Library  marked  Gg.  4.  27.  2. 
The  MS.  commences  with  the  fragment  of  the  Floriz  and 
Blauncheflur,  in  the  middle  is  the  King  Horn  entire,  and  that 
is  followed  by  the  fragment  of  the  Assumption.  The  entire 
MS.  is  here  printed,  though  not  in  the  order  in  which  the 
pieces  are  written.  Beside  the  contents  of  this  MS.,  a  com- 
plete copy  of  the  Assumption  has  been  printed  from  MS.  10036 
of  the  Add.  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum,  and  also  all  that  can 
be  deciphered  of  the  Floyres  and  Blancheflur  (Cotton.  Vitellius, 
D.  iii.)  which  was  so  grievously  injured  in  the  fire  that  occurred 
at  the  Museum  in  1731. 

The  Cambridge  MS.,  which  appears  to  be  of  about  the  latter 
half  of  the  thirteenth  century,  consists  of  fourteen  folios  written 
in  double  columns,  and  occasionally,  as  the  lines  are  short,  with 
two  lines  joined  into  one.  The  initial  letters  of  the  lines  are 
written  a  little  apart  from  the  rest,  and  coloured  red. 

The  first  folio,  which  contains  the  earliest  part  of  the  frag- 
ment of  Floriz  and  Blauncheflur,  is  damaged,  a  triangular  por- 
tion being  cut  off  the  lower  corner.  This  damage  is  indicated 
by  the  bracketed  endings  of  lines  78 — 80,  and  by  the  italics  at 
the  commencement  of  lines  102 — 120.  The  initial  letters  of 
lines  617 — 626  of  the  same  poem  have  also  been  cut  away. 

The  larger  capitals  and  the  paragraph-marks  have  all  been 
printed  exactly  as  they  occur  in  the  MS. 

b 


n 


PREF  Vi  K. 


The  Floriz  and  Blauncheflur  fragment  extends  from  fbL  1*7 — 
bb.  of  the  MS.  The  Horn  from  &*— 13'/.  The  fragment  of  the 
Assumption  from  13//— 145. 

This  version  of  King  Ilorn  has  been  printed  before,  though 
without  a  glossary,  in  the  publications  of  the  Bannatyne  Club, 
and  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Thomas  AVright.  It 
formed  part  of  a  volume  printed,  along  with  a  French  version 
of  the  Romance,  in  Paris,  and  edited  by  M.  Michel.  Numerous 
misprints  occur  in  the  English  text,  apparently  owing  to  its 
being  printed  abroad. 

There  exist  two  other  complete  English  versions  of  Horn, 
one  in  the  British  Museum  (Ilarl.  MS.  2253),  which  has  been 
printed,  but  very  badly,  by  Ritson,  in  the  second  volume  of  his 
Metrical  Romances.  The  other  is  in  the  Bodleian  at  Oxford 
(MS.  Laud.  108),  and  has  never  been  printed.  Subjoined  are 
specimens  of  all  the  three  texts  for  the  sake  of  comparison : — 

Earl  MS.  2253. 
Her  bygynne)'  ye  gefte  of 


Kyng  Horn. 
'  heo  ben  blyte 

pat  to  my  fong  ylyfe. 
a  fong  ychulle  ou  linge 
of  Allof  ye  gode  kynge. 
King  he  wes  by  wefte 
he  whiles  hit  ylefte. 
ant  godylt  his  gode  quene, 
no  feyrore  myhte  bene, 
ant    houre    fone    hihte 

horn, 
feyrore  child  ne  mihte  be 

born.  [ryne 

for  reyne  ne  myhte  by 
ne  fonne  myhte  shyne 
FeyTore  child  yen  he  was. 
bryht  fo  ener  eny  glas, 
So  whit  fo  eny  lylye  flour, 
So  rofe  red  was  his  colour, 
he  was  feyr  £c  eke  bold 
ant  of  fyftene  wynter  old. 


MS.  laud.  108  (Bodleian), 
fol.  2195. 
KING  HORN. 
Alle  ben  he  bli)>e 
J-at  to  me  wilen  lihe. 
A  fong  ich  wille  you  fiwge 
of  morye  ye  kynge. 
king  he  was  bi  weften 
Wei  £at  hife  dayes  leften  : 
And  godild  hife  gode  quene 
feyrer  non  micte  bene  : 
Here  sone  hauede  to  name 

horn 
feyrer  child  ne  micte  ben 

born,  [reyne, 

Ne   reyn   ne   micte   upon 
Ne  no  fonwe  by  schine, 
fayrer  child  y&nne  he  was. 
Brict  so  euer  any  glas, 
Whit  so  any  lili  flour 
So  rofe  red  was  hyf  colur. 
He  waf  fayr  and  eke  bold 
And  of  fiftene  winter  hold. 


Cambridge  Univ.  Lib. 
Go.  4.  27.  2. 

Alle  beon  he  blij^e 
pat  to  my  fong  lyfe : 
A  fang  ihc  fchal  jou  finge 
Of  Murry  ye  kinge. 
King  he  was  biwefte 
So  long  fo  hit  lafte. 
Godhild  het  his  quen, 
Faire  ne  mijte  non  ben. 
He  hadde  a  sone  hot  het 

horn, 
Fairer  ne  mifte  non  beo 

born. 
Ne  no  rein  upon  birine 
Ne  fanwe  upon  bifchine. 
Fairer  nis  now  fane  he  was, 
He  was  britt  fo  ye  glas, 
He  was  whit  fo  ye  flur, 
Rofe  red  was  his  colur. 
In  none  kinge-riche 
Nas  now  his  iliche. 


PREFACE.  Vll 

The  English  version  of  Horn  is  so  complete  a  story,  and  so 
naturally  (<>ld,  that  we  cannot  doubt  the  information  given  in 
the  introduction  to  the  French  Romance  of  Waldef  that  the 

original  story  was  English.  From  this  the  Fronch  versions 
wore  made,  and  we  arc  told  in  one  of  these  versions  that  the 
Norman  poet  who  wrote  it  was  one  Thomas,  who  lived  in  the 
reign  of  Richard  I.  (sec  Warton,  i.  41,  notes,  and  Wright's 
Biogr.  Brit.  Lit.  ii.  340.)  The  later  origin  of  the  Frcncli  is 
shown  also  by  the  bulk  to  which  the  story  has  grown  in  that 
language.  The  French  text  printed  by  M.  Michel  extends  to 
5250  lines.  That  a  long  story  should  be  made  out  of  a  shorter, 
by  the  addition  of  speeches  and  dialogue,  is  exactly  what  would 
be  expected.  The  best  French  text,  and  also  the  most  perfect, 
is  that  in  the  Cambridge  Univ.  Lib.  (Ff.  vi.  17'.) 

On  the  alterations  in  the  names  and  the  character  of  the 
speeches  introduced  into  the  French  the  reader  may  consul  I. 
Wright's  Middle  Ages,  vol.  i.  p.  101,  etc. 

The  fragment  of  the  Assumption  of  our  Lady  consists  of  only 
240  lines,  and  the  complete  version  which  is  printed  along  with 
it  is  of  much  later  date,  and  bears  traces  of  a  more  Northern 
origin. 

There  are  in  the  Cambridge  University  Library  two  other 
MSS.  of  this  poem.  The  first  is  in  the  volume  Dd.  1.1,  pp. 
317-328,  but  one  leaf,  containing  pp.  324,  325,  is  wanting. 
This  copy  is  as  old,  if  not  older,  than  the  fragment  here  printed. 
In  the  notes  a  few  extracts  from  it  are  given,  from  which  its 
character  may  be  decided. 

The  second  is  marked  Ff.  2.  38.  23,  and  is  almost  word  for 
word  the  same  as  the  former,  except  that  now  and  then  a  more 
modern  spelling  or  word  is  substituted  for  the  earlier. 

Much  interest  has  been  given  to  the  Story  of  the  Assump- 
tion by  the  recent  publication  of  three  Syriac  versions  (two 
fragmentary  and  one  complete)  of  a  very  early  date,  by  Dr. 


Mil  PREFACE. 

Wright.  The  fragments  are  ]><>th  printed  in  lii.s  "Syriac 
Apocrypha,"  and  the  complete  story  appeared  in  the  "Journal 
of  Bacred  Literature,"  January  and  April,  1865.  The  Syriac 
version  is  much  longer  than  our  text,  giving  an  account  of  the 
discovery  of  tin'  original  work,  and  also  more  details  of  the 

behaviour  Of  the  several  apostles. 

In  an   interesting   review  of  Dr.   Wright's  edition,   Ewald 

ns  the  origin  of  the  story  to  the  latter  half  of  the  fourth 

century.     It  has  been  very  widely  spread,  for  (Journ.  Sac.  Lit., 

January,  18C5,  p.  418)  it  is  stated  that  a  very  similar  narrative 

exists  iii  JEthiopic. 

It  is  most  likely  to  have  made  its  way  to  England  in  a  Latin 
dress,  of  which  we  have  many  examples.  One  such  version  is 
in  the  Bibiiothcc.  Max.  Patrum,  vol.  ii.,  part  2,  pp.  212-216. 
An  Arabic  version  with  a  Latin  translation  was  published  by 
Enger,  at  Elberfeld,  1854,  which  most  nearly  corresponds  with 
the  Syriac  in  the  Journal  of  Sacred  Literature.  But  the  nearest 
approach  to  the  English  version,  as  here  printed,  is  in  two  Latin 
texts  of  the  Transitus  Marioe,  marked  A  and  B  respectively,  just 
published  by  Teschendorf  in  the  Apocalypses  Apocryphae.  Lips., 
1866.  Of  these  the  latter  corresponds  almost  exactly  with  our 
English  version. 

The  Floriz  and  Blauncheflur  is  a  longer  fragment,  824  lines 
being  preserved,  but  this  must  have  been  a  very  small  portion 
of  the  whole  poem,  as  will  be  seen  by  an  abstract  of  the  com- 
plete story  which  is  given  below.  Beside  this  text,  three  other 
English  versions,  or  fragments  of  versions,  are  known.  The 
first  (Floyres  and  Blanchefiur)  is  in  the  British  Museum,  Cotton. 
Vitellius,  D-.  iii.,  but  has  been  almost  destroyed  by  fire.  All  that 
can  be  deciphered  of  it  has  been  appended  to  this  volume.  A 
second  (Florence  and  Blanchefloure)  is  said  to  be  in  the  Library 
at  Bridgewater  House,  but  owing  to  the  minority  of  the  present 
Lord  Ellesmere  is  just  now  inaccessible.     The  third  (Florice 


PREFACE.  IX 

and  Blauncheflour)  is  in  the  Auchinlech  MS.  of  the  Advocates' 
Library  in  Edinburgh,  and  has  been  printed  along  with  "A 
penni  worth  of  Witte,"  and  other  poems,  for  the  Abbotsford 
Club,  1857.  This,  like  our  text,  lacks  the  commencement,  and 
begins  only  about  half  a  dozen  lines  earlier  than  our  copy. 
These  lines  are  as  follows  : — 

I  ne  can  telle  jou  nowt 
Hou  richeliche  the  faciei  was  wrout. 
The  arfouns  wer  gold  pur  and  fin, 
Stones  of  vertu  fet  ther  in, 
Bigon  abouten  with  orfreis. 
The  Quen  was  hende  &  curteis 
^he  cast  her  bond  to  hire  fingre 
And  drough  ther  of  a  riche  ringe. 

This  poem  is  throughout  extremely  like  the  one  here  printed, 
the  only  remarkable  difference  being  that  the  speech  of  the  king 
of  Nubia  given  in  this  copy  at  line  665  does  not  appear  in  the 
Auchinlech  MS. 

This  English  version  is  a  translation  from  a  French  version 
which  has  been  published  by  M.  Paulin  Paris,  in  his  "Le 
Romancers  Francois:"  Paris,  1833.  The  French  version  is 
generally  supposed  to  have  been  drawn  from  a  Spanish  original. 
The  earliest  edition  of  it  which  is  noticed  is  Spanish,  Flores  y 
Blancaflor :  Alcala,  1512. 

The  outline  of  the  early  part  of  the  story  which  I  have  given 
below  is  derived  from  Mr.  Ellis's  Specimens  of  English  Metrical 
Romances,  where  a  much  longer  abstract  of  the  poem  is  given 
(vol.  i.,  105-146). 

The  Cambridge  MS.  is  very  plainly  written,  and  the  only 
peculiarities  which  occur  are — f  is  occasionally  written  for  j,  as 
Horn  10,  mille=mijte,  and  249,  dofter=dojter,  to  rhyme  with 
bojte ;  and  F  663,  rift=rijt.  This  interchange  occurs  so  often 
in  early  MSS.,  that  it  is  a  conclusive  proof  of  a  similarity  in 
sound  between  the  two  letters.     I  have  quoted  some  instances 


I'UI'.I   A'    I   . 


in  the  notes,  and  in  several  copies  of  Piers  Plowman  soure  occurs 
for  joure.  The  b  is  used  regularly  for  ///,  but  in  one  or  two 
instances  the  more  modern  form  occurs,  a&Juthe  instead  of  the 
usual  fu\e. 

In  tho  fragment  of  the  Assumption  q  occurs  twice  for  k ;  line 
14,  queues-man = kinsman,  and  00,  qep=keep. 

With  regard  to  the  peculiarities  of  dialect  and  grammar  it  is 
unnecessary  to  say  much,  as  the  Midland  dialect,  in  which  these 
poems  are  written,  has  been  already  largely  discussed  by  Mr. 
Morris  in  the  preface  to  the  "Early  English  Alliterative  Poems." 
The  following  are  the  most  noteworthy  points : — 

Of  Nouns,  the  plural  is  generally  in  cs,  but  feren  occurs  in 
Horn,  10,  and  in  six  other  places ;  chwrchen,  62 ;  ferin  is  the 
form  in  1242. 

Of  plurals  in  e — schreire  for  schrewen  is  put  in  line  56,  and 
ifere  102,  202,  497,  1129  ;  honde,  112,  1326 ;  beggere,  1128 ; 
chirche,  1380. 

In  the  fragment  of  the  Assumption  there  are  feren,  16,  and 
wyntere,  84 ;  and  f rend  is  used  as  a  plural,  180,  183. 

In  the  Floriz  and  Blauncheflur  eupen,  435,  and  chi/dre,  699, 
are  the  only  exceptions. 

The  genitive  plural  of  nouns  is  sometimes  marked  by  final  e, 
as  Horn,  67,  ivymmanne. 

There  occurs  also  a  curious  form,  most  likely  an  error,  Horn, 
21,  mannes  as  the  genitive  plural.     It  should  be  manne. 

In  adjectives  the  final  e  of  the  plural  is  generally,  though  not 
always,  preserved. 

The  definite  form  of  the  adjective  is  also  common  after  the 
definite  article  and  possessive  pronouns.  See  Horn,  31,  "  be  gode 
king,"  and  996,  "mi  gode  felaje." 

God  and  al  seem  to  have  preserved  their  inflexions  much 
longer  than  any  other  adjectives.  The  genitive  plural  of  the 
latter  is  used  by  .Skakspeare. 


PREFACE.  XI 

An  accusative  singular  of  god  occurs,  Horn,  727,  "haue  wel 
godne  day." 

Another  peculiar  form  is  in  Floriz  and  Blauncheflur,  534, 
biere=of  (you)  both=A.S.  begra,  from  ba,  both. 

In  the  personal  pronouns  for  the  first  person  the  most  usual 
form  is  the.  The  forms  /  and  y  occur  both  alone  and  joined 
with  the  verb  and  with  another  pronoim ;  as  Horn,  1276,  "  Til 
i  fuddene  winne;"  1273,  "J3u  wendeft  >at  iwrojte;"  1270,  "pat 
ij>e  bitraide." 

The  other  cases  are  min  and  me.    The  plural  is  we,  ore  (tire),  tis. 

The  second  personal  pronoun  is  ]>u  (\>ou),  ]>in,  \<e.  Plur.  Nom. 
)e ;  Ace.  or  Dat.  jou. 

The  forms  of  the  3rd  person  are — Sing.  Nom.  M.  he ;  F.  heo 
(he) ;  N.  hit ;  Ace.  or  Hat.  him  (hym) ;  hire ;  hit.  Plur.  Nom.  hi 
(he,  hy,  hei) ;  Ace.  or  Dat.  hem. 

The  indefinite  pronoun  w£>=Fr.  on  occurs  several  times  in  Horn, 
and  is  very  frequent  in  Floriz  and  Blauncheflur.     See  Glossary. 

The  pronominal  adjective  forms  are — (1)  mi,  my,  myne,  min ; 
Plur.  lire  (ore)  ;  (2)  )>i,  ]>in ;  Plur.  ]onr  (ower)  ;  (3)  his,  hire 
(hare) ;  Plur.  here. 

The  pronoun  is  not  unfrequently  combined  with  the  verb,  par- 
ticularly in  the  second  person  singular;  as, Jchaltit,  wiujiu. 

The  most  peculiar  forms  of  such  combination  are  Horn,  39, 
where  ifo)te=hi fo\te=ih.ej  sought;  and  Horn,  366,  recchecche  = 
recche  the =reck  I. 

Up  to  this  point  the  language  of  Horn  and  that  of  the  two 
fragments  agree  very  closely,  but  in  the  verb  variations  occur 
which  bespeak  a  slight  difference  of  dialect. 

In  the  Horn  the  plurals  of  the  verb  are  nearly  all  in  en ;  as, 
fmyten,  etc.  Of  this  Midland  form  twenty-five  instances  occur, 
while  of  the  Southern  form  of  the  plural  e\  only  two  examples 
are  found,  leue\  (44),  and  Jitte})  (392).  There  occurs  once  the 
termination  e)  for  the  plural,  wulle]  (603). 


Xll  l'KKl-  \<  I.. 

On  the  contrary,  in  the  Assumption  there  is  only  once  a  form 
in  en,  while  the  forms  in  e\  are  eight,  and  the  forms  in  c)  are  two. 

And  in  the  Floriz  and  Blauncheflur,  while  there  are  thirty 
forms  in  c\,  there  are  only  sixteen  in  en,  and  two  in  (■). 

So  that  in  the  Fragments  the  Southern,  and  in  Horn  the  Mid- 
land, dialect  prevails  most  strongly.  And  using  Mr.  Morris's 
test  of  the  form  of  the  second  and  third  persons  of  the  singular, 
the  East-Midland  forms  in  ejl,  eth,  are  found  in  Horn  much 
more  frequently  than  the  West- Midland  in  es,  though  the  latter 
does  occur,  as  s<?f/<?.s=saidst,  Horn,  538. 

The  infinitives  are  generally  in  en,  though  many  in  i,  y,  and 
ie  are  foimd. 

The  most  frequent  form  of  the  imperfect  participle  is  in  inge, 
there  being  only  a  very  few  instances  of  hide. 

Perfect  participles  with  the  prefix  i=ge  are  far  more  common 
than  without  it. 

Appended  is  an  outline  of  each  of  the  three  stories. 

Suddene,  the  realm  of  king  Murry,  father  of  Horn,  is  invaded 
by  a  host  of  Saracens,  by  whom  Murry  is  slain.  His  queen, 
Godhild,  escapes  and  conceals  herself,  while  Horn,  along  with 
several  youths,  his  companions,  among  whom  the  most  notable 
are  Athulf  and  Fikenhild,  is  put  out  to  sea  by  the  invaders  with 
every  prospect  of  destruction.  They  reach,  however,  the  country 
of  Aylmar,  King  of  Westernesse,  who  receives  them  with  great 
kindness,  and  gives  orders  that  they  be  well  cared  for  and 
trained  to  various  kinds  of  duties.  King  Aylmar  has  a  daughter 
Rymenhild,  who  is  seized  with  a  deep  love  for  the  stranger 
prince,  but  can  get  no  opportunity  of  speech  with  him.  At  last 
she  sends  for  Athelbrus,  the  steward  to  whose  care  Horn  is 
intrusted,  and  gives  him  directions  to  bring  Horn  unto  her. 
The  steward  in  his  caution,  and  fearing  the  violence  of  her  pas- 
sion for  his  ward,  takes  Athulf  to  her  instead  of  Horn.  On  the 
discovery  of  the  deception  Rymenhild's  rage  knows  no  bounds, 
and  Athelbrus  is  so  terrified  that  he  promises,  come  what  may, 


PREFACE.  Xlll 

to  fulfil  her  command.  He  takes  an  opportunity  to  do  this  at  a 
time  when  Aylmar  was  going  to  hunt,  and  the  interview  between 
the  prince  and  princess  terminates  with  an  arrangement  that 
Rymenhild  shall  procure  for  Horn  knighthood  at  her  father's 
hand,  and  thus  remove  the  disparity  in  their  conditions.  The 
king  accedes  readily  to  this  request  which  his  daughter  prefers 
through  the  steward,  and  Horn  being  knighted,  confers  the  like 
honour  on  his  companions.  This  done,  he  goes  forth  in  quest 
of  adventures  that  he  may  prove  his  knighthood.  Rynienhild, 
before  his  departure,  presents  him  with  a  ring  which  will  render 
him  invincible,  if  only  he  look  thereon  in  his  danger  and  think 
of  her.  His  fortune  brings  him  upon  a  troop  of  Saracens  pre- 
paring to  attack  the  country  of  Aylmar.  These  he  defeats 
utterly,  and  cuts  off  the  head  of  their  leader,  which  he  brings 
as  a  token  of  knightly  prowess  to  the  court  of  Westernesse.  The 
next  day  the  king,  riding  forth  to  hunt,  leaves  Fikenhild  behind 
him,  and  he  finds  Horn  in  a  most  loverlike  fashion  consoling 
Rymenhild  about  a  dream  she  has  had,  and  bidding  her  have 
no  fear.  The  dream  was  of  a  great  fish  which  burst  from  her 
net  just  as  she  was  about  to  land  it.  Fikenhild  without  delay 
gives  warning  to  the  king  that  he  must  beware  of  Horn,  and  at 
last  brings  the  king  back  from  his  sport  just  in  time  to  discover 
his  daughter  in  Horn's  embrace.  On  this  Horn  is  banished,  and 
Rynienhild  finds  to  her  sorrow  that  her  dream  has  proved  true. 
Entrusting  his  betrothed  wife  to  the  charge  of  Athulf,  Horn 
takes  his  leave,  promising  to  return  in  seven  years,  or,  if  he  fail, 
releasing  Rymenhild  from  her  troth-plight.  In  his  journey  he 
encounters  two  sons  of  King  Thurston,  who  take  him  with  them, 
and  introduce  him  to  their  father.  And  the  event  proves  that 
he  is  come  in  good  time  :  for  at  Christmas  there  arrives  at 
Thurston's  court  a  most  formidable  giant,  who,  with  his  fellow- 
pagans,  challenges  three  of  the  Christian  knights  to  a  combat 
for  the  possession  of  the  kingdom.  Horn  would  fain  have  en- 
countered them  all  three  in  his  own  person,  but  the  king  sends 
with  him  his  two  sons  to  take  the  share  of  the  peril.  Victory 
declares  for  the  Christians,  but  not  before  both  Thurston's  sons 
have  been  killed.     In  admiration  of  his  valour  the  king  offers 


XIV  PREFACE. 

Horn  the  hand  of  his  only  daughter  Iteynild,  and  with  her  the 
succession  to  his  throne.  Horn,  who  through  all  his  sojourn  at 
the  court  of  Thurston  passed  by  the  name  of  Cutberd,  comforts 
the  king,  but  tells  him  that  he  cannot  with  right  accept  his 
offered  honours.  Meanwhile  in  "Westernesse  Rymcnhild  is  in 
grievous  trouble.  A  King  Modi,  of  Rejmes,  has  asked  her  in 
marriage,  and  he  and  her  father  are  agreed  that  the  wedding  shall 
presently  take  place.  The  princess,  woebegone,  sends  messengers 
in  every  direction  to  find  out  Horn,  but  with  no  success,  until 
by  accident  one  of  them  meets  Horn  and,  telling  his  story,  is 
sent  back  at  once  to  comfort  Hynienhild  with  the  assurance  that 
he  will  be  with  her  "on  Sunday  by  pryme."  But  the  mes- 
senger was  not  fated  to  reach  her.  He  is  drowned  by  the  way, 
and  his  dead  body  is  discovered  by  the  princess  herself  and 
recognized  by  her  as  her  own  servant.  But  Horn  comes,  well 
furnished  in  men  and  arms  by  Thurston,  to  whom  he  now  had 
told  all  his  story.  Leaving  his  men  in  ambush,  he  makes  his 
way  towards  the  Court,  and  on  the  road  meets  a  Palmer,  with 
whom  he  changes  clothes  that  he  may  not  be  recognized,  and 
from  whom  he  hears  that  the  wedding  festivities  have  already 
begun.  He  gains  admission  by  throwing  the  warder  of  the 
tower  over  the  bridge,  and  sitting  among  the  beggars  who  had 
thronged  to  the  bridal  feast  he  watches  Rymenhild,  and  after 
some  time  reveals  himself  to  her  by  means  of  the  ring  which  she 
had  given  him.  But  before  avowing  himself,  he  tells  her  that 
he  has  been  with  Horn,  who  is  now  dead,  and  who  has  sent  him 
to  bring  her  the  ring  again.  At  this  she  breaks  forth  into  most 
heartrending  lamentation,  and  is  about  to  stab  herself,  when 
Horn,  wiping  the  black  from  his  face  and  neck,  reveals  himself, 
and  tells  her  of  his  men  who  are  in  ambush  close  by.  She 
leaves  him,  and,  finding  Athulf,  informs  him  of  what  has  hap- 
pened, and  sends  him  to  help  his  friend.  To  bring  his  men 
and  take  possession  of  the  palace  is  a  short  work  for  Horn.  He 
then  takes  occasion  to  rebuke  King  Aylmar  for  his  suspicions  of 
him,  and  to  prove  that  he  is  a  worthy  husband  for  his  daughter 
he  sets  forth  to  win  again  the  kingdom  from  which  he  had  been 
so  cruelly  driven.     The  first  person  with  whom  he  meets  is  the 


PREFACE.  XV 

father  of  his  friend  Athulf.  From  him  he  learns  that  his 
mother,  Queen  Godhild,  is  still  alive  and  concealed  in  a  cave. 
He  and  his  "Irish  men"  are  able  to  vanquish  the  heathen  in- 
vaders, and  after  slaying  them  all,  he  restores  the  churches  and 
the  Christian  worship  which  had  been  put  down.  But  in  his 
absence  Fikenhild,  "  thac  worst  mother's  child,"  determines  on 
marrying  Ryruenhild.  King  Aylmar  appears  to  have  had  no 
power  to  refuse  him  his  daughter,  and  he,  to  defend  himself 
from  any  attack  which  Horn  may  make  upon  him  when  he 
learns  his  plot,  builds  a  castle  which  at  high  water  is  quite  sur- 
rounded by  the  sea.  Thither  Rymenhild  has  just  been  conveyed 
when  Horn  returns,  and,  after  an  explanation  from  Arnoldin, 
Athulf's  cousin,  contrives  to  get  admittance  for  himself  and 
his  men  in  the  disguise  of  harpers  and  glee-singers.  When 
they  are  admitted  Horn  kills  Fikenhild  as  he  sits  at  the  board, 
and  after  him  overthrows  all  his  retainers,  thus  winning  at  last 
his  faithful  wife.  Arnoldin  is  appointed  to  succeed  Aylmar  as 
king  in  Westernesse,  Athulf  is  presented  to  Thurston  as  a  fitting 
husband  for  RejTiild,  and  Horn  and  Rymenhild,  happy  now 
after  all  their  trials,  depart  to  take  their  rightful  place  as  king 
and  queen  of  his  ancestral  realm  of  Suddene. 

The  story  of  the  Assumption  of  our  Lady  is  in  substance  as 
follows  : — When  our  Lord  was  hanging  on  the  Cross,  he  called 
to  him  St.  John  and  the  blessed  Virgin,  and  while  in  his  agony 
commended  his  mother  to  the  care  of  the  beloved  disciple.  St. 
John  places  her  in  the  temple  to  live  among  other  women  who 
had  there  devoted  themselves  to  a  life  of  religion.  While  living- 
there,  she  wins  the  love  of  all  by  her  kindness  and  self-denial. 
After  some  time,  however,  a  messenger  comes  to  her  from 
heaven  to  tell  her  that  in  three  days  she  is  to  be  transported 
to  her  son.  The  grief  of  her  friends  on  hearing  of  her  ap- 
proaching removal  from  among  them  is  very  great,  and  in  the 
midst  of  their  sorrow  St.  John  enters,  and  is  acquainted  with 
what  is  about  to  happen,  on  which,  like  the  rest,  he  gives  vent 
to  the  most  piteous  lamentation.  Soon  arrive  all  the  other 
apostles,  except  St.  Thomas,  having  been  brought  in  a  mysterious 


XVI  PREFACE. 

manner  each  from  some  distant  land  where  he  was  engaged  in 
his  preaching.  St.  John  introduces  them  to  our  Lady,  and  she 
begs  them  all  to  watch  with  her,  and  after  her  death  to  take 
care  of  her  body  that  the  "  felon  Jews"  do  it  no  shame.  Christ 
descends  with  a  company  of  angels,  to  whom  ho  has  previously 
given  an  account  of  all  his  life  on  earth,  his  death,  descent  into 
hell,  resurrection  and  ascension,  and  his  intention  to  bring  his 
mother  from  earth  to  heaven.  In  the  interview  between  the 
Virgin  and  her  Son,  she  addresses  to  him  a  most  earnest  appeal 
for  the  race  of  mankind,  and  also  for  herself,  that  the  devil  have 
no  power  over  her  as  she  is  departing.  Our  Lord  gives  special 
charge  to  the  archangel  Michael  to  keep  her,  and  soon  with 
songs  of  angels  her  soul  is  borne  away. 

Over  her  body  the  apostles  watch,  and  prepare  to  bury  it  in 
the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  according  to  our  Lord's  command  to 
Peter,  but  as  they  are  proceeding  through  the  eity  of  Jerusalem 
the  funeral  is  stopped  first  by  a  Jew,  who  is  sorely  afflicted,  and 
entreats  Peter  to  heal  him.  He  reminds  the  apostle  that  on  the 
night  of  our  Lord's  apprehension,  when  danger  of  discovery  was 
imminent,  it  was  through  him  that  he  was  screened  from  detec- 
tion and  saved.  Saint  Peter  promises  to  heal  him  if  he  will 
believe  on  Christ,  and  on  his  expression  of  his  faith  he  is  imme- 
diately restored.  Being  baptized,  he  is  sent  forth  to  preach,  and 
is  most  effective  in  his  ministry,  converting  twenty  thousand  and 
more  by  one  sermon.  The  next  obstruction  arose  from  a  large 
company  of  Jews,  who  resolved  to  carry  off  our  Lady's  body,  but 
they  are  all  miraculously  stricken  down  and  deprived  of  the  use 
of  their  limbs,  nor  are  they  restored  till  they  have  confessed  their 
belief  in  Christ  Jesus.  When  the  apostles  reach  the  valley  of 
Jehoshaphat  they  deposit  the  body  in  a  tomb,  and  while  they  are 
waiting  there  St.  Thomas  arrives  from  India.  They  reproach  him 
for  his  characteristic  absence,  and  tell  him  all  that  has  occurred. 
To  appease  their  anger  he  relates  to  them  how  the  blessed  Virgin 
appeared  to  him  in  a  bodily  form  as  he  was  on  his  journey,  and 
as  testimony  to  his  words  produces  a  girdle  which  he  had  re- 
ceived from  her.  This  they  all  recognize  as  one  which  they 
buried  with  her,  and  now  they  begin  to  question  whether  her 


PREFACE.  XV11 

body  has  been  carried  away  as  well  as  her  soul.  To  settle  their 
doubts  they  go  to  inspect  the  tomb,  wherein  they  find  no  body, 
but  only  a  little  manna,  which  appeared  to  them  emblematic  of 
the  Virgin's  holy  life.  Thus  relieved  from  their  duty  of  watch- 
ing they  return  to  Jerusalem,  and  are  each  carried  back  to  his 
own  place  in  a  manner  as  mysterious  as  that  in  which  they  had 
been  assembled. 

The  complete  stoiy  of  Floriz  and  Blauncheflur,  as  condensed 
from  the  work  of  M.  le  Comte  de  Tressan,  is  as  follows  : — 

Prince  Perse,  nephew  of  the  Emperor  of  the  West,  married 
Topase,  the  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Ferrara,  and  niece  of  the 
Duke  of  Milan.  For  some  time,  to  their  infinite  sorrow,  they 
were  childless,  but,  at  the  suggestion  of  a  devout  Spaniard,  they 
determined  to  visit  the  famous  shrine  of  St.  James  of  Com- 
postella,  in  the  hope  that  his  powerful  intercession  might  remove 
their  only  sorrow.  Their  visit  proved  successful  in  that  point 
for  which  they  undertook  it,  but  most  disastrous  in  its  ultimate 
consequences ;  for  at  the  period  of  their  pilgrimage  Galicia  was 
in  a  state  of  great  disturbance.  That  kingdom,  for  a  long  time 
in  subjection  to  the  Mahometan  power,  had  just  made  an  inef- 
fectual attempt  to  break  the  galling  yoke,  and  Felix,  the  Saracen 
king,  was  avenging  the  insult  put  upon  his  rule  by  ravaging 
the  country  with  his  troops.  The  soldiers  fell  in  with  Perse 
and  his  wife,  and  murdered  him  in  her  presence.  The  widowed 
princess  they  bring  to  their  master,  and  he,  moved  with  pity, 
commits  her  to  the  care  of  his  wife.  The  two  ladies,  who  were 
of  nearly  the  same  age,  become  deeply  attached  to  one  another, 
and  as  they  were  both  about  to  become  mothers,  their  sympathy 
binds  them  to  each  other  all  the  more  closely.  The  queen  deter- 
mines that  their  children  shall  be  educated  together  and  enjoy 
the  same  advantages.  It  happened  that  both  were  delivered,  the 
queen  of  a  son  and  Princess  Topase  of  a  daughter,  on  the  very 
same  day,  which  was  Palm  Sunday.  The  Christian  inhabitants 
of  Felix's  dominions  were  celebrating  the  day  with  processions  of 
palm-branches  and  flowers,  and  in  honour  of  the  day  and  its 
festivities  the  boy  is  named  Floriz  and  the  girl  Blauncheflur. 


XVlll  PREFAl  i 

But  neither  the  affection  of  the  queen,  nor  the  love  for  her 
new-born  babe,  could  heal  the  grievous  wound  in  Topase's  heart, 
and  she  very  soon  dies  of  sorrow  for  her  murdered  spouse.  Her 
constant  weeping  wasted  her  away.  But  just  before  her  death, 
her  infant  is  brought  to  her,  and  with  the  tears  which  she  had 
shed,  "  and  which  had  fallen  in  such  copiousness  as  to  nearly  fill 
a  cup  placed  by  chance  close  beside  her,"  she  baptizes  her  babe 
and  entreats  the  queen  to  have  her  trained  in  the  Christian  faith. 
As  a  natural  result  of  the  constant  companionship,  these  children 
grew  to  love  one  another  most  ardently,  and,  in  spite  of  the 
lessons  of  his  Moslem  teacher,  Floriz  could  never  be  persuaded 
of  the  absurdity  of  Christianity,  which  was  Blauncheflur's  reli- 
gion, or  to  fancy  that  the  charms  of  even  a  Mahometan  paradise 
could  bear  comparison  with  the  loveliness  of  his  foster-sister. 
Absence  is  judged  to  be  the  best  antidote  for  his  passion,  and  he 
is  sent  away  to  the  court  of  his  uncle,  the  King  of  Algarva.  At 
their  leavetaking  Blauncheflur,  as  a  token  of  her  love,  gives  him 
a  ring,  whose  virtues  are  such  that  it  will  indicate  by  its  appear- 
ance whether  any  peril  is  menacing  her  life  or  liberty. 

Floriz  at  first  is  woe-begone,  and  can  take  interest  in  nothing 
at  Algarva  but  a  garden,  in  which  he  trains  the  white  flowers 
to  grow  into  forms  resembling  the  initials  of  Blauncheflur's 
name.  One  day,  while  engaged  in  tending  these  flowers,  he 
is  discovered  by  Mohady,  his  Mahometan  tutor,  and  is  heard 
breathing  a  prayer  for  his  beloved's  safety  to  the  God  of  the 
Christians.  In  fear  for  the  faith  of  his  pupil,  the  tutor  forth- 
with uses  all  his  influence  to  bring  about  the  banishment  of 
Blauncheflur  from  the  court  of  Felix.  He  persuades  the  Iman, 
or  chief  priest,  of  the  great  mosque  to  join  in  furthering  his 
scheme,  and  they  conspire  to  work  destruction  on  the  maiden. 

They  set  about  their  plot  in  the  following  way : — Ajoub,  the 
Iman,  conveys  some  poison  into  the  body  of  a  fowl,  which 
Blauncheflur  (as  had  long  been  her  custom)  had  reared  and 
fattened  for  the  royal  table.  The  poison  is  detected,  and  they 
manage  to  fix  the  guilt  on  Blauncheflur,  who  is  tried  and  con- 
demned to  die  on  a  set  day,  unless  she  can  find  some  champion 
knight  to  espouse  her  cause  and  fight  to  assert  her  innocence. 


PREFACE.  XIX 

All  this  time  Floriz  has  been  winning  great  glory  in  Algarva 
by  his  prowess,  and  has  at  last  overthrown  two  Arab  knights, 
who  had  caused  the  king  much  trouble  by  repeated  challenges 
to  the  knights  of  Algarva,  whom  they  always  defeated  and  slew. 
Just  at  the  moment  of  Floriz'  victory  over  them,  he  perceives, 
to  his  sorrow,  that  the  brightness  of  the  ring  is  tarnished,  and 
thence  knows  that  some  trouble  or  danger  is  menacing  his  beloved. 
"Without  staying  to  receive  the  meed  of  his  valour,  he  hastens 
at  once  to  his  father's  home,  apprising  no  one  of  his  coming. 
He  contrives  to  get  unperceived  into  the  city,  by  riding  along 
with  some  carts  which  were  carrying  wood.  But  to  his  dismay 
he  learns  that  their  load  is  to  form  a  pile  on  which- Blauncheflur 
is  to  be  burnt.  He  makes  all  speed  to  the  place  of  execution, 
and  finds  the  accuser,  Ajoub,  and  the  accused  both  brought  to 
the  spot,  and  Ajoub's  son  standing  forth  as  champion  of  the 
truth  of  his  father's  story.  Floriz  proclaims  himself  ready  to 
do  battle  for  the  maiden,  and  while  preparing  for  the  encounter 
is  recognized  by  a  friend  of  his,  named  Selini.  The  fight  com- 
mences, and  soon  ends  with  the  overthrow  and  slaughter  both  of 
Ajoub  and  his  son.  Thereupon  one  of  the  priest's  servants 
comes  forward  and  confesses  that  he,  at  his  master's  order,  put 
the  poison  into  the  chicken.  Floriz  departs  without  disclosing 
who  he  is,  though  Selim  tells  the  truth  to  Blauncheflur.  But 
he  has  not  been  long  at  the  court  of  his  uncle  before  he  is  seized 
with  a  severe  sickness,  and  by  the  advice  of  Averroes,  the  famous 
Spanish  physician  (who  finds  that  the  disease  is  more  of  the 
mind  than  of  the  body),  Blauncheflur  is  sent  for  to  Algarva. 
On  this  in  his  bigotry  Felix  determines,  in  spite  of  the  remon- 
strances of  his  wife,  to  sell  her  as  a  slave  to  some  Greek  mer- 
chants who  are  going  to  Alexandria.  Selim  sets  forth  with  this 
sad  news  to  Floriz,  who,  first  coming  home  and  taking  counsel 
with  his  mother,  determines  to  depart  in  search  of  Blauncheflur.1 
He  and  his  father's  chamberlain  arrange  to  travel  as  merchants, 
and,  after  considerable  wanderings,  at  length  find  that  the  maid 
has  been  sold  to  the  Emir  (Admiral)  of  Babylon.  His  informant 
is  also  able  to  give  him  an  introduction  to  Daris,  the  porter  of 

1  At  this  point  the  fragment  here  printed  hegins. 


XX  PREFACE. 

the  bridge  of  Babylon.  To  him,  therefore,  he  goes,  but  receives 
a  fearful  account  of  the  difficulties  of  the  enterprise.  Nothing 
daunted,  he  presses  Daris  to  tell  him  what  is  the  best  thing  to 
do,  and  by  his  advice  sets  out  in  the  disguise  of  a  mason,  with 
the  intention  of  bribing  the  keeper  of  the  admiral's  tower  to  get 
him  conveyed  inside.  This,  after  losing  much  money  at  chess, 
of  which  game  the  keeper  is  very  fond,  he  at  last  accomplishes. 
He  is  carried  in  in  a  basket  among  some  flowers,  but  unfortunately 
the  basket  is  put  not  in  Blauncheflur's  chamber  but  in  that  of 
Clarice,  a  friend  of  hers.  However,  after  Clarice  and  Floriz  have 
both  been  sorely  frightened,  Blauncheflur  is  brought  to  see  her 
lover.  It  is  not  long  before  the  Admiral  finds  out  the  intruder 
in  spite  of  all  the  ingenious  excuses  framed  by  Clarice  for  her 
friend's  behaviour.  When  the  discovery  is  made,  the  Admiral 
sends  for  all  his  nobles,  and  in  full  assembly  they  are  both 
doomed  to  die.  But  in  the  end  each  displays  so  much  anxiety 
to  die  for  the  other  that,  struck  by  their  great  love,  the  Admiral 
pardons  them,  and  taking  them  to  a  church,  has  them  married, 
and  himself,  though  heretofore  it  had  been  his  custom  to  keep 
his  wives  only  for  a  year,  takes  Clarice  to  be  his  only  wife.  Not 
long  after  a  message  comes  that  Floriz'  father,  Felix,  is  dead, 
and,  in  spite  of  the  Admiral's  liberal  offers  to  induce  him  to  stay, 
he  departs  with  his  wife  to  their  own  land  of  Spain. 

I  have  only  to  add  that  my  thanks  are  due  to  W.  A.  Wright, 
Esq.,  Librarian  of  TrinuVy  College,  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Skeat,  of 
Christ  College,  and  other  friends,  who  have  aided  me  with  their 
advice  as  the  sheets  have  been  passing  through  the  press,  but 
particularly  to  R.  Morris,  Esq.,  who  has  most  obligingly  fur- 
nished me  with  his  opinion  on  all  difficult  points  as  they  arose, 
and  whose  ability  to  render  such  help  is  only  equalled  by  the 
readiness  with  which  he  imparts  his  assistance  to  others. 


HORN. 


A  lie  beon  he  bli]?e 
-*-*-     j>at  to  my  long  ly]?e : 
A  fang  ihc  fchal  jou  finge 
4  Of  Murry  ]>e  kinge. 
King  he  was  biwefte 
So  longe  fo  hit  lafte. 
Godhild  het  his  quen, 
8  Faire  ne  mijte  non  ben. 

He  hadde  a  sone  \at  het  horn, 
Faker  ne  mifte  now  beo  born. 
Ne  no  rein  upon  birine, 

12  Ne  fiume  upon  bifchine. 
Fairer  nis  non  )?ane  he  was, 
He  was  brijt  fo  J?e  glas, 
He  was  whit  fo  }?e  flur, 

16  Eofe  red  was  his  colur. 
In  none  kinge-riche 
Nas  now  his  iliche. 
Twelf  feren  he  hadde 

20  pat  alle  wij>  him  ladde. 
Alle  riche  manwes  fones, 
And  alle  hi  were  faii'e  gomes, 
"Wij?  him  for  to  pleie, 

24  And  meft  he  luuede  tweie  ; 
"Kat  on  him  het  hajmlf  child, 
-*       And  )>#t  ojw  Fikenild. 


[MS.  p.  11.] 


King  Hurry  and 
his  queen  God- 
hild had  a  son 
named  Horn, 


of  surpassing 
beauty. 


In   no    kingdom 
was  his  like. 


He    had    twelve 
companions, 


all  fair  men; 


but  his  favourites 
were  two,  Ha- 
thulf  and  Fiken- 
ild. 


INVASION    OF    THE    SARAZINS. 


On  a  summer's 
day  Murry  rode 
for  pleasure  by 
the  sea  tide, 


and  found  fifteen 
ships  of  the  Sara- 
cens arrived  in 
his  land. 


One  of  these  Pa- 
gans tells  him 
that  they  -will 
slay  him  and  his 
people. 


The  king  and  his 
two  knights  pre- 
pare to  defend 
themselves, 


hut  are  over- 
matched. 


The  Pagans  slay 
the  people  and 
pull  down  the 
churches. 


AJnilf  was  ]?e  befte, 
28  And  fikenyldc  \ e  wcrfte. 

Hit  was  upon  a  fonwes  day, 

Alfo  ihc  jou  telle  may, 

Murri  }>e  gode  king 
32  Rod  on  his  pleing 

Bi  ]>e  fc  fide, 

Afe  he  was  woned  ride, 

He  fond  bi  )>c  ftronde, 
36  Ariued  on  his  lowdc, 

Sckipes  fiftene 

Wi)>  sarazins  kene : 

He  axede  what  ifojtc, 
40  0\er  to  londe  brojte, 

APayn  hit  of-herde 
And  hym  wel  fone  answarede : 

"  pi  lond  folk  we  fchulle  flon, 
44  And  alio  }at  Crift  lime]?1  upon  f1  leue>.] 

And  J»e  felue  rijt  anon, 

Ne  fchaltu  to-dai  henne  gon." 

pe  kyng  alijte  of  his  ftede, 
48  For  \o  he  hauede  nede, 

And  his  gode  knijtes  two  ; 

Al  to  fewe  he  hadde  \o. 

Swerd  hi  gunne  gnpe 
52  And  to-gadere  finite. 

Hy  fntyten  under  fchelde 

pat  fume  hit  yfelde  : 

pe  king  hadde  al  to  fewe 
56  Tojenes  fo  vele  fchrewe  : 

So  fele  mitten  yj>e 

Bringe  hem  \xe  to  dijje. 
^f  pe  pains  come  to  londe 
60  And  neme  hit  in  here  honde  : 

pat  folc  hi  gunwe  quelle, 

And  churchen  for  to  felle  : 


HORN    SEIZED    BY    THE    PAGANS. 


per  ne  moftc  libbe 

64  pe  fremde  ne  ]>e  sibbe, 
Bute  bi  here  laje  afoke, 
And  to  here  toke. 
Of  alle  wyminanne 

68  Wurft  was  Godhild  ]?anne  ; 
For  Murri  heo  weop  fore 
And  for  born  jute  more. 
He  wenten  ut  of  halle 

72  Fram  bire  Maidenef  alle 
Under  a  rocbe  of  ftone, 
per  heo  liuede  alone, 
per  beo  seruede  gode 

76  Ajenes  ]>e  paynes  forbode  : 
per  be  seruede  cn'fte 
pat  no  payn  bit  ne  wifte : 
Eure  beo  bad  for  born  cbild 

80  pat  Jefu  cn'ft  bim  beo  myld. 
Horn  was  in  paynes  honde 
Wi}>  bis  feren  of  tbe  londe. 
Huchel  was  bis  fairbede 

84  For  ibesu  criil  him  makede. 
Payns  bim  wolde  slen, 
0]>er  al  quic  flen, 
}ef  bis  fairnetfe  nere  : 

88  pe  children  alle  aflaje  were, 
pawne  fpak  on  Admirad 
Of  wordes  be  was  bald, 
"  Horn  ]m  art  wel  kene, 

92  And  \ai  is  wel  ifene ; 
pu  art  gret  and  flrong, 
Fair  and  euene  lorcg, 
pu  fchalt  waxe  more 

96  Bi  fulle  feue  jere  : 
$ef  }u  mote  to  Hue  go 
And  June  feren  alfo, 


They  spare  none 
who  will  not  for- 
sake the  Chris- 
tian law. 


Godhild  was  in 
the  deepest  afflic- 
tion, 


and  retiring-,  hid 
herself  under  a 
rock,  where  she 
spent  her  time, 
in  spite  of  the 
Pagan  proclama- 
tion, in  prayer 
for  her  son. 


Horn  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Pa- 
gans, 


[MS.  p.  12.] 

who  would  have 
slain  him, 


but  an  admiral, 
after  dwelling  on 
the  danger  of  let- 
ting Horn  and  his 
comrades  live, 


HORN    AND    HIS   FELLOWS    PI    !     01    I    TO    81   \. 


decides  to  put 
them  out  to  sea 
and  so  let  theni 
perish. 


They  are  brought 
to  the  shore  and 
put  out  to  sea. 


After  great  alarm 
they  come  in 
sight  of  land. 


They  land. 


^cf  hit  fo  bi-fallo 
100  fc  fcholdc  lien  us  alio  : 

paruore  Jm  moll  to  ftere, 

J2u  and  }?iue  ifere, 

To  fchupe  fehullc  je  fundc, 
104  And  siukc  to  j?e  grundc, 

j?e  sc  pu.  fchal  adrencho, 

Nc  fchal  hit  us  nojt  of-Jnnche  ; 

For  if  Jni  were  aline, 
108  "Wij?  swerd  o\er  wi}>  kniue, 

We  fcholden  alle  deie 

And  \i  fader  dej?  abeie." 


112 


T%e  children  hi  brojte  to  ftronde, 


Wringinde  here  houde, 
Into  fchupes  borde 
At  J?e  furfte  worde. 
Ofte  hadde  horn  beo  wo 

116  Ac  neure  wurs  ]?an  him  was  \>o 
)?e  se  bigan  to  fiowe, 
And  horn  child  to  rowe, 
I  e  fe  ]>at  fchup  fo  fafte  drof 

120  pe  children  dradde  J?erof. 
Hi  wenden  to-wiffe 
Of  here  lif  to  milfe, 
Al  J?e  day  and  al  \e  nijt 

124  Til  hit  fprang  dai  lijt, 
^[    Til  Horn  faj  on  ]>e  ftronde 
Men  gon  in  ]>e  londe 
"Feren"  qua}  he  "  ^ge, 

128  Ihc  telle  pu  ti^inge, 
Ihc  here  fojeles  finge 
And  \at  gras  him  fpringe. 
BliJ?e  beo  we  on  lyue, 

132  TJre  fchup  is  on  ryue." 
Of  fchup  hi  gun«e  funde, 
And  fetten  fout  to  grunde, 


THEY   COME   TO    KING    AYLMAK. 


Bi  J>e  fe  fide 

136  Hi  letew  \at  fchup  ride  : 

T-%anne  fpak  him.  child  horn, 
J       In  suddcne  he  was  iborn. 
"  Schup,  bi  ]>c  fe  node 

140  Daies  hane  Jni  gode  : 
Bi  ]?e  fe  brinke 
No  water  ]>e  nadrmke  : 
}ef  jni  cnme  to  Suddene 

144  Gret  Jni  wel  of  myne  ken??e, 
Gret  J>u  wel  my  moder, 
Godhild  quen  )>e  gode, 
And  feie  J?e  paene  kyng, 

148  Jefu  crifbs  wij?ering, 
pat  ich  am  hoi  and  fer 
On  Jns  lond  ariued  her  : 
And  feie  \at  hei  fchal  fonde 

152  pe  dent  of  myne  honde." 
pe  children  jede  to  Tune, 
Bi  dales  and  bi  dune. 
Hy  metten  wij?  almair  king, 

156  Crist  jeuew  him  his  bleffing, 
King  of  "WenVrnefTe, 
Grill  jiue  him  Muchel  blirfe, 
He  him  fpac  to  horn  child 

160  "Wordes  J?at  were  Mild  : 

"  "Whannes  beo  ^e,  faire  gumes, 
pat  her  to  londe  beo]?  icume,  ' 
Alle  Jnottene 

164  Of  bodie  fwij?e  kene. 
Bigod  ]>at  me  makede, 
A  swihc  fair  uerade 
Ne  fauj  ihc  in  none  flunde, 

1 68  Bi  wellene  londe  : 

Seie  me  wat  je  feche." 
Horn  fpak  here  fpeche, 


They  leave  the 
ship  on  the  shore 
to  drift  away. 


Horn's  prayer. 


His  vow  to  punish 
the  Pagan  king, 
Christ's  adver- 
sary. 


They  go  to  king 
Almair. 


He  receives  them 
kindly, 


asking  whence 
they   come    and 
what  their  busi- 
ness is. 


Horn  speaks  for 
the  rest, 


INTEUYFKW    WITH    AYLMAR. 


[MS.  p.  13.] 

as   he    -was    the 
cleverest. 


He  tells  how  they 
•were  driven  from 
Suddene  by  the 


and  put  forth  to 
sea, 


and    have    been 
driven  to  his 
shores. 


They  ask  for  hit 
help. 


The  king  aska  his 
name. 


Horn  tells  him, 


He  fpak  for  hem  alio, 
172  TTor  fo  hit  mode  biualle 

He  was  \a  fairefte 

And  of  wit  }c  befte. 
^[    "  We  bcoj?  of  Suddenne, 
176  Icomc  of  gode  kennc, 

Of  Criltene  blode, 

And  kynges  fu]?e  gode. 

Payns  ]>ev  gunrae  ariue 
180  And  duden  hem  of  lyue. 

Hi  sloven  and  todroje 

Criftenemen  inoje. 

So  crift  me  mote  rede, 
184  Us  he  dude  lede 

Into  a  galeie, 

WiJ?  ]?e  fe  to  pleie, 

Dai  hit  is  igon  and  of  ex, 
188  Wijmte  sail  and  ro]?er. 

Ure  fchip  bigan  to  swymme 

To  ]?if  londes  brymme. 

Nu  J?u  inijt  us  lien  and  binde 
192  Ore  honde  bihynde, 

Bute  jef  hit  beo  Jn  wille 

Helpe  )>at  we  ne  fpille." 
^f    panne  fpak  ]>e  gode  kyng. 
196  I- wis  he  nas  no  Nijung. 

"  Seie  me,  child,  what  is  \>i  name, 

Ne  fchaltu  haue  bute  game." 

pe  child  him  anfwerde 
200  Sone  fo  he  hit  herde  : 

"  Horn  ihc  am  ihote, 

Icomen  ut  of  ]?e  bote, 

Pram  J?e  fe  side 
204  Kyng  wel  mote  ]?e  tide." 

panne  hym  fpak  J?e  gode  king 

"  Wel  bruc  Jm  >in  euenkg1        V  neuening  ?] 


ATHELBRTJS   IS   TO    I N  STRUCT   THEM. 


Horn  ]7U  go  wel  fchuHe1  [l  fckille.] 

208  Bi  dales  and  bi  hulle 

Horn  ]m  lude  lime 

Bi  dales  and  bi  dune 

So  fchal  J»i  name  fpringe 
212  From  kynge  to  kynge, 

And  J?i  fairnefle 

Abute  WefbmefTe, 

pe  ftrengj^e  of  )?ine  honde 
216  Into  Eurech  londe. 

Horn,  \\\  art  fo  swete 

Ne  may  ibc  \e  forlete." 

Horn  rod  Aylmar  }e  kyng 
220  And  mid  him  bis  fundyng 

And  alle  his  ifere 

pat  were  him  fo  dere. 
^f  pe  kyng  com  in  to  halle 
224  Among  his  knijtes  alle : 

For}>  he  clupede  aj?elbrus, 

pat  was  ftiward  of  his  hus. 

"  Stiwarde,  tak  nu  here 
228  Mi  fundlyng  for  to  lere 

Of  J?ine  meftere, 

Of  wude  and  of  riuere, 

And  tech  him  to  harpe 
232  WiJ>  his  nayles  fcharpe, 

Biuore  me  to  kerue 

And  of  J>e  cupe  ferue 

pu  tech  him  of  alle  J?e  Kite 
236  pat  }m  eure  of  wide, 

3  In  his  feiren  ]?ou  wife  [2  And.] 

Into  o]?ere  seruife  : 

Horn  ]>u  underuonge 
240  And  tech  him  of  harpe  and  fonge." 
^f  Ailbrus  gan  lere 

Horn  and  his  yfere  : 


and  the  king 
takes  him  home 
with  him. 


When  he  came  to 
the  hall  he  call- 
ed his  steward, 
Athelbrus, 


and  entrusts 
Horn  to  him  to 
be  taught  music, 
and  to  carve  and 
be  cupbearer. 


His  companions 

are  put  to  other 
service. 


BYMENHILD'S   LOVE   FOR   HORN. 


Horn  wins  great 
favour  with  all, 
but  most  with 
Kymenhild,  the 
king's  daughter. 


She  is  deeply  in 
love,  but  may  not 
speak  to  Horn. 


[MS.  p.  U. 


She  sends  for 
Athelbrus,  and 
orders  him  to 
bring  Horn  with 
him. 


The  steward  is  in 
great  perplexity. 


Horn  in  hcrte  lajte 
244  Al  J?at  he  him  tajte. 
In  ]>c  curt  and  ute, 
And  clles  al  abute, 
Luuede  men  horn  child, 
248  And  meft  him  louede  Rymenhild, 
pe  kynges  o^ene  dofter, 
He  was  meft  in  J?ojte, 
Heo  louede  so  horn  child 
252  pat  nej  heo  gan  wexe  wild  : 
For  heo  ne  mijte  at  borde 
WiJ>  him  fpeke  no  worde, 
Ne  nojt  in  ]?e  halle 
256  Amowg  j>e  knifes  alle, 

Ne  nowhar  in  non  o\ere  ftede  : 
Of  folk  heo  hadde  drede  : 
Bi  daie  ne  bi  nijte 
260  Wit  him  fpeke  ne  mijte 
Hire  foreje  ne  hire  pine 
Ne  mijte  neure  fine. 
In  heorte  heo  hadde  wo, 
264  And  Jms  hire  bi]?ojte  j>o, 
Heo  fende  hire  fonde 
AJ?elbrus  to  honde 
pat  he  come  hire  to, 
268  And  alfo  fcholde  horn  do 
Al  in  to  bure, 
For  heo  gun  to  lure, 
And  fe  fonde  feide 
272  pat  fik  lai  \at  maide 

And  bad  him  come  fwij?e, 
For  heo  nas  noting  blij?e. 
pe  ftuard  was  in  herte  wo, 
276  For  he  nufte  what  to  do, 
Wat  Eymenhild  hure  J?ojte 
Gret  wunder  him  jm^te, 


ATHULF    IS    BROUGHT   TO   HER. 


Abute  horn  \>e  jonge 
280  To  bure  for  to  bringe, 

He  J>ojte  upon  his  mode 

Hit  nas  for  none  gode  : 

He  tok  him  ano]?er, 
284  A)mlf,  homes  broker. 
f  "AJmlf,"  he  i'ede,  "rijt  anon 

pu  fchalt  wij>  me  to  bure  gon 

To  fpeke  wi]?  Bymenkild  flille 
288  And  witen  hiu-e  wille. 

In  homes  ilike 

pu  i'chalt  hure  bifwike  : 

Sore  ihc  me  ofdrede 
292  He  wolde  horn  mif-rede." 

Ajjelbms  gan  AJralf  lede 

And  into  bure  vn]>  him  jede  : 

Anon  upon  A)ralf  child 
296  Eymenhild  gan  wexe  wild  : 

He  we«de  \at  horn  hit  were 

pat  heo  hauede  ]>ere : 

Heo  fette  him  on  bedde ; 
300  Wi>  AJmlf  child  he  wedde, 

On  hire  armes  tweie 

AJmlf  heo  gan  leie. 

"Horn,"  qua}  heo,  "  wel  longe 
304  Ihc  habbe  J>e  luued  ftronge. 

pu  fchalt  }i  trewj>e  plijte 

On  myn  hond  her  rijte 

Me  to  fpufe  holde, 
308  And  ihc  }e  lord  to  wolde." 
^f  AJmlf  lede  on  hire  ire 

So  ftille  so  hit  were. 

"  pi  tale  nu  Jm  lynne,1 
312  For  horn  nis  nojt  herinwe, 

Ne  beo  we  nojt  iliche : 

Horn  is  fairer  and  riche, 


[l  blynne  ?] 


He  takes  Athulf, 
Horn's  brother, 
with  him, 


to    deceive    Ry- 
meuhild. 


Rymenhild 
thinks  it  is  Horn. 


She  calls  him 
Horn,    and    tells 
him  of  her  love. 


Athulf  informs 
her  that  he  is  not 
Horn, 


10 


SHE    UPBRAIDS    ATI!  I.I.UM  s. 


and  will  be  guilty 
of  no  deception. 


Rymenhild 
chides  the  stew- 
ard, and  prays  an 
evil  end  for  him. 


Athelbrus  begs 
her  pardon, 


MS  p.  15.] 


and  says  he  durst 
not  bring  Horn ; 


but  if  she  will 
forgive  him  Horn 
shall  be  brought, 
come  what  may. 


Fairer  bi  one  ribbo 
316  pane  eni  Man  )>at  libbe : 

J?ej  born  were  under  Molcle 

OJw  elles  wher  be  wolde 

0)>er  henne  a  Jmfewd  Mile, 
320  Ihc  nolde  bini  ne  J?c  bigile." 
^[  Rymenhild  hire  biwente 

And  AJ?elbras  fule  beo  febente. 

"Hen?*es  \\\  go,  \u  fule  ]?eof, 
324  ~Ne  wurftu  me  neure  more  leof, 

"Went  ut  of  my  bur, 

"WiJ?  mucbel  mefauentur. 

Scbame  mote  hu  fonge 
328  And  on  bi^e  rode  anbonge. 

Ne  fpek  ibc  nojt  wi]?  bom 

Nis  be  nojt  fo  unom ; 

Hor[n]  is  fairer  ]?ane  beo  be  : 
332  "Wij?  mucbel  febame  mote  \n  deie. 
^f  A]?elbrus  in  a  ftunde 

Fel  anon  to  grunde. 

"Lefdi  Min  oje 
336  Li)>e  me  a  litel  ]>xo)e. 

Lull  whi  ibc  wonde 

Bringe  J?e  born  to  bonde. 

For  born  is  fair  and  ricbe, 
340  Kis  no  whar  bis  ilicbe. 

Aylmar  ]>e  gode  kyng 

Dude  him  on  mi  lokyng ; 

}ef  born  were  her  abute, 
344  Sore  y  me  dute 

"WiJ?  him  je  wolden  pleie 

Bitwex  pu  felue  tweie, 

panne  fcholde  wijmten  o]>e 
348  pe  kyng  maken  us  wro]?e. 

Kymenbild,  forjef  me  \i  tene, 

Lefdi,  my  quene, 


HORN    GOES   TO    RYMENHILD. 


11 


And  horn  ihc  fchal  J?e  fecche 
352  Wham  fo  hit  recche." 
%  Rymenhild  jef  he  cu]?e 

Gan  lynne  wij>  hire  MuJ>e  : 

Heo  niakede  hire  wel  bli^e, 
356  "Wel  was  hire  ]>at  fij^e, 

"  Go  nu,"  <\ua)>  heo  "  fone 

A  nd  fend  him  after  none, 

Whane  J»e  kyng  arife 
360  On  a  squieres  "wife 

To  wude  for  to  pleie 

Nis  no??  ]>at  him  biwreie. 

He  fchal  wi]>  me  bileue 
364  Til  hit  beo  nir  eue, 

To  hauen  of  him  mi  wille 

After  ne  recchecche  what  me  telle." 
^[  Aylbrus  wende  hire  fro 
368  Horn  in  halle  fond  he  ]>o 

Bifore  ]?e  kyng  on  benche 

Wyn  for  to  fchenche, 

"Horn,"  qica}>  he,  "  fo  hende 
372  To  bure  nu  ]m  wende, 

After  mete  ftille 

WiJ?  Rymenhild  to  duelle ; 

Wordes  fuj>e  bolde 
376  In  herte  J»u  hem  holde. 

Horn  beo  me  wel  trewe 

Ne  fchal  hit  \e  neure  rewe." 

Horn  in  herte  leide 
380  Al  ]>at  he  him  feide  ; 

He  jeode  in  wel  rijte 

To  Rymenhild  J?e  brifte, 

On  knes  he  him  fette 
384  And  sweteliche  hure  grette. 

Of  his  feire  fijte 

Al  }>e  bur  gan  lijte. 


Rymenhild  urges 
him  on,  and  ap- 
points that  Horn 
shall  come  to  her 
while  her  father 
is  hunting. 


Athelhrus  finds 
Horn  pouring  out 
■wine  for  the  king, 


and  bids  him  go 
to  Rymenhild. 


Horn  goes  and 
greets  the  prin- 
cess humbly  and 
sweetly, 


12 


HORN    AND    RYMENHILD. 


and  tells  her  that 
he  has  come  by 
Athelbrus'  order. 


Rymenhild  re- 
ceives and  enter- 
tains him. 


She  embraces  and 
kisses  him. 


She  wishes  to  be 
his  wife ; 


[MS.  p.  16.] 


but  he  pleads  his 
low  estate,  and 
that  such  would 
be  no  fair  wed- 
ding. 


He  fpac  faire  fpeche, 
388  Nc  dortc1  him  noraan  teche. 
"  Wei  >u  fitto  and  fofte, 
Rymenhild  J>c  brijte, 
Wij;  Jnne  Maidencs  sixe 
392  pat  J?e  fitte>  nixtc. 
Kinges  ftuard  ure 
Sende  me  in  to  bure 
Wij>  J?e  fpeke  ihc  feholde  : 
396  Seie  me  what  Jm  woldeft 
Seie  and  ich  fchal  here 
What  Jh  wille  -were." 
^f    Rymenhild  up  gan  ftonde 
400  And  tok  him  bi  J?e  honde  : 
Heo  fette  him  on  pelle 
Of  wyn  to  drinke  his  fulle : 
Heo  makede  him  faire  chere 
404  And  tok  him  abute  j>e  swere. 
Ofte  heo  him  cufte 
So  wel  fo  hire  lufte. 
"Horn,"  heo  fede,  "wi>ute  ftrif 
408  pu  fchalt  haue  me  to  J?i  wif 
Horn,  haue  of  me  rew^e 
And  plift  me  J?i  trewj^e." 
^    Horn  ]>o  him  bijjojte 
412  What  he  fpeke  mi^te. 

"Grift,"  qua}  he,  ")emffe 
And  }iue  J?e  heuene  bliffe 
Of  June  hufebonde 
416  Wher  he  beo  in  londe. 
Ihe  am  ibore  to  lowe 
Such  wimmaw  to  knowe. 
Ihc  am  icome  of  J>ralle 
420  And  ftmdlittg  bifalle. 
Ne  feolle  hit  J?e  of  cu«de 
To  fpufe  beo  me  bunde  : 


L1  dorfte.] 


HORN    IS    TO    BE    KNIGHTED. 


13 


Hit  nere  no  fair  wedding 
424  Bitwexe  a  )>ral  and  a  king." 
^|    po  gan  Bynienhild  mislyke 

And  fore  gan  to  like : 

Armes  heo  gan  buje 
428  Adun  he  feol  iswoje. 
^[    Horn  in  herte  was  fill  wo, 

And  tok  hire  on  his  amies  two, 

He  gan  hire  for  to  keffe 
432  Wei  ofte  mid  ywiffe. 

"Lemjwan"  he  sede  "dere, 

fin  herte  nn  Jni  ftere. 

Help  me  to  knijte 
436  Bi  al  ]?ine  mijte, 

To  my  lord  ]>e  ki??g, 

pat  he  me  jfue  dubbi/zg  : 

pan.7ie  is  mi  j>raikod 
440  Iwe«t  i?i  to  kni^thod, 

And  i  fchal  wexe  more 

And  do,  lemwiaM,  ]>i  lore." 
^f    Bymenhild,  j>at  swete  J?ing, 
444  "Wakede  of  hire  swoming. 

"Horn,"  qiia\  heo,  "uel  fone 

pat  fchal  beon  idone  : 

pu  fchalt  beo  dubbed  knijt 
448  Are  come  feue  nijt. 

Haue  her  J?is  cuppe 

And  J>is  Bing  ]?er  uppe 

To  Aylbruf  and  ftuard, 
452  And  fe  he  holde  fore  ward  : 

Seie  ich  him  bifeche 

AYi]?  loueliche  fpeche 

pat  he  aduw  falle 
456  Bifore  ]>e  ki?zg  in  halle, 

And  bidde  ]?e  king  arijte 

Dubbe  ]>e  to  knijte. 


Rymenhild 
faints. 


Horn  raises  her, 


and  promises  to 
do  as  she  wishes 
when  he  can  at- 
tain knighthood 
of  her  father. 


The  princess  ar- 
ranges that  this 
shall  he  done 
through  Athel- 
hrus. 


14 


KNIGHl  [NG    OF    imi;.\ 


Horn  d:h\crrs  Ins 
message  to  Athel- 
brus, 


and  adds  his  own 
entreaties. 


Athelbrus  begs 
the  king  to 
knight  Horn. 


The  king  con- 
sents. 


Horn  and  also  his 
companions  are 
to  be  knighted. 


WiJ>  fclucr  and  wij?  golde 
460  Hit  wurJ!  him  wcl  ijolde. 
Ciift  him  leuo1  fpcde 
pin  crendc  to  bcde." 
^|    Horn  tok  his  lcue 
464  For  hit  was  no?  cue. 
A]?elbrws  he  fojte 
And  jaf  him  \ai  he  hrojte ; 
And  tolde  him  fid  jare 
468  Hu  he  hadde  ifare ; 
And  fede  hi//*  his  nede 
And  bihet  him  his  mede. 
%    AJjclbrus  alfo  fwi]?e 
472  Wente  to  halle  bliue 

"Kyng,"hefede,  "Julefte 
A  tale  mid  )>e  befte ; 
]3u  fchalt  bere  crime 
476  Tomoreje  in  )us  tune  ; 
Tomoreje  is  J?i  fefte  : 
per  bihouej?  gefte. 
Hit  nere  nojt  for-loren 
480  For  to  knijti  child  horn, 
fine  armes  for  to  welde, 
God  knijt  he  fchal  jelde." 
^f    pe  king  fede  fone, 
484  "  pat  is  wcl  idone. 
Horn  me  wel  iqueme]>, 
God  knijt  him  bifemet. 
He  fchal  haue  mi  dubbing 
488  And  afterward  mi  derling. 
And  alle  his  feren  twelf 
He  fchal  kni^ten  him  felf : 
Alle  he  fchal  hem  knijte 
492  Bifore  me  J»is  nijte." 
Til  J?e  lijt  of  day  fprang 
Ailmar  him  )mjte  lawg. 


[l  lene.] 


AND    HIS   COMPANIONS. 


15 


pe  day  bigan  to  fprmge, 
496  Horn  cow  biuore  )>e  hinge, 
Mid  his  twelf  yfere, 
Sume  hi  were  lujwe ; 
Horn  he  duhbede  to  knijte 
500  Wif  sword  and  fpures  brijte, 
He  fette  him  on  a  ftede  whit : 
per  nas  no  knijt  hym  ilik. 
He  fmot  him  a  litel  wijt 
504  And  bed  him  beon  a  god  knijt. 
%    AJ-ulf  fel  a  knes  )?ar 
Biuore  \e  king  Aylmar. 
"King,"  he  fede,  "fo  kene 
508  Grante  me  a  bene  : 

Nu  is  knij[t]  fire  horn 
pat  in  fuddenwe  was  iboren : 
Lord  he  is  of  lorade 
512  Oner  us  \at  bi  him  ftonde; 
pin  armes  he  hap  and  fcheld 
To  fijte  wij>  upon  pe  feld  : 
Let  him  us  alle  knijte 
516  For  ]>at  is  ure  rijte." 
^    Aylmar  fede  fone  ywis  : 
"Do  nu  ]>at  ]>i  wille  is." 
Horn  adun  lijte 
520  And  makede  hem  alle  knijtes. 
~&Lnrie  was  pe  fefte 
Al  of  faire  geftes  : 
Ac  Eymenhild  nas  no^t  ]?er 
524  And  pat  hire  Jmjte  feue  jer  : 
After  horn  heo  fente 
And  he  to  bure  wewte, 
Nolde  he  no^t  go  one 
528  A]mlf  was  his  mone. 
Eymeuhild  on  flore  ftod, 
Homes  come  hire  Jmjte  god  : 


Athulf  entreats 
for  knighthood 
for  himself  and 
his  friends. 


Horn  knights 
them  all. 


Rynienhild 
thinks  the  feast 
long   and    sends 
for  Horn. 


16 


HE   GOES    IN   QUEST   OJ-    ADVENT!  RES. 


She  welcomes 
him  and  Athulf. 


[MS.  p.  17.] 


She  begs  Horn, 
now  he  is  knight- 
ed, to  keep  his 
promise. 


He  must  first 
give  proof  of  his 
worthiness. 


If  he  return  safe 
he  will  marry 
her. 


She  gives  him  a 
ring  to  save  him 
from  all  harm. 


And  fedc  "  Welcome,  lire  horn 
532  And  AJnilf  knijt  ]>e  biforn. 

Knijt,  mi  is  j>i  time 

For  to  fitte  bi  me ; 

Do  nu  }>at  J?u  er  of  fpake, 
536  To  ]?i  wif  \>\i  me  take. 

Ef  }m  art  trewe  of  dedes 

Do  nu  afe  j>u  fedes. 

Nu  }m  haft  wille  June 
540  Unbind  me  of  my  pine." 
f    "  Eymenkild"  qua)  he  "  beo  ftille : 

Ihc  wulle  don  al  ]u  wille. 

Alfo  hit  mot  bitide 
544  Mid  f-pere  ifchal  furft  ride, 

And  mi  knijthod  proue, 

Ar  ihc  ]>e  ginne  to  woje. 

"We  be]?  knijtes  pnge 
548  Of  o  dai  al  ifpnmge, 

And  of  ure  meffore 

So  is  ]>e  manure 

"Wi]>  fume  o]7ere  knijte 
552  "Wei  for  his  lemman  fijte 

Or  he  eni  wif  take  : 

For-)>i  me  flondej?  J?e  more  rape. 

Today,  fo  crift  me  blefle, 
556  Ihc  wulle  do  pruefle, 

For  ]?i  luue,  in  J?e  felde 

Mid  fpere  and  mid  fchelde. 

If  ihc  come  to  lyue 
560  Ihc  fchal  J?e  take  to  wyue." 
^f  "Knijt,"  qua]?  heo,  "trewe, 

Ihc  wene  ihc  mai  ]?e  leue  : 

Tak  nu  her  ]?is  gold  ring, 
564  God  him  is  ]?e  dubbing ; 

per  is  upon  J?e  ringe 

Igr«ue  Rymenhild  fe  jonge  : 


HE    MEETS    "WITH    HEATHEN    INVADERS. 


17 


per  nis  now  before  anonder  iunwe 
568  pat  eni  man  of  telle  cxrnne 

For  my  lime  ]ni  hit  were 

And  on  ]>i  finger  J?u  him  bere 

pe  ftones  beoj?  of  iuche  gmce 
572  pat  )m  ne  fchalt  in  none  place 

Of  none  duwtes  beon  ofdrad 

Ne  on  bataille  beon  amad : 

Ef  ]?u  loke  j>eraji 
576  And  ]>enke  upow  J?i  lemman. 
^f  And  lire  AJmlf,  J>i  broker, 

He  fchal  haue  ano]?er. 

Horn  ihc  ]>e  bifeche, 
580  "WiJ?  loueliche  fpeche, 

Crift  ^eue  god  erndinge 

pe  ajen  to  bringe." 
^f    pe  knijt  hire  gan  kefie, 
584  And  heo  him  to  bleffe, 

Leue  at  hire  he  nam, 

And  in  to  halle  cam  : 

pe  knijtes  jeden  to  table, 
588  And  home  jede  to  liable  : 

par  he  tok  his  gode  fole 

Alfo  blak  fo  eny  cole 

pe  fole  fchok  J?e  brunie 
592  pat  al  J>e  curt  gan  denie, 

pe  fole  bigan  to  fpringe 

And  horn  murie  to  finge. 

Horn  rod  in  a  while 
596  More  ]>an  a  myle. 

He  fond  o  fchup  ftonde 

Wi]>  he]?ene  honde : 

He  axede  what  hi  sojte 
600  0]>er  to  londe  brojte. 
^f    An  huwd  him  gan  bihelde, 

p«t  fpac  wordes  belde 


She  gives  another 
to  Athulf,  and 
prays  for  their 
good  luck. 


Horn  goes  forth 
with  good  heart. 


He  finds  a  ship 
arrived  with 
heathen  men  on 
board    come    to 
seize  the  land. 


18 


HORN  S    VICTORY    OVER   THE    HEATHEN. 


Horn  engages 
them, 


and  slays  a  hun- 
dred, 


and  took  the 
master's  head 
and  carried  it  to 
the  king, 


[MS.  p.  18.] 

to  whom  he  re- 
lates his  adven- 
ture. 


"  pis  lond  we  wullej  wynne 
604  And  fle  \at  \er  is  inne." 

Horn  gan  his  fwerd  gn'pe, 

And  on  his  armc  wypc  : 

pe  sarazins  he  fmatte 
608  pat  his  blod  hatte : 

At  eureche  dunte 

pe  heued  of  wente ; 

po  gunwe  \e  hurcdes  gone 
612  Abute  horn  al  one : 

He  lokede  on  ]>e  ringe, 

And  }>ojte  on  rimenilde, 

He  floj  ]?er  on  hafle 
616  On  hundred  bi  ]?e  lafte. 

Ne  mijte  no  man  telle 

pat  folc  J?«t  he  gan  quelle. 

Of  alle  ]>at  were  aliue 
620  "Ne  mijte  ]>er  non  )>riue. 

Horn  tok  \e  rnaiftVres  heued, 

pat  he  hadde  him  bireued, 

And  fette  hit  on  his  swerde, 
624  Anouen  at  fan  orde. 

He  uerde  horn  in  to  halle, 

Among  )>e  knijtes  alle, 

"Eyng,"  he  fede,  "wel  \u  fitte 
628  And  alle  fine  knijtes  mitte, 

To  day,  after  mi  dubbing, 

So  irod  on  mi  pleing, 

I  fond  o  fchup  Rowe 
632  po  hit  gan  to  flowe, 

Al  wij?  sarazines  kyn, 

And  none  londiffe  Men, 

To  dai  for  to  pine 
636  pe  and  alle  fine. 

Hi  gonne  me  affaille, 

Mi  swerd  me  nolde  faille 


RYMENHILD  S    DREAM. 


19 


A' 


I  smot  hew  alle  to  grunde, 
640  OJ>er  jaf  hem  dij?es  wnnde. 

pat  heued  i  fe  briwge 

Of  fe  maifttr  kiwge. 

Nu  is  f\  wile  ijolde, 
644  King,  J?at  f\x  me  knijti  woldeft." 
Moreje  }o  fe  day  gan  fpnhge 
pe  king  him  rod  an  huwtinge, 

At  horn  lefte  Fikenhild, 
648  pat  was  fe  wurfte  moder  child. 

Heo  ferde  in  to  bure 

To  fen  auewtwre. 

Heo  faj  Eymenild  fitte 
652  Alfo  he  were  of  witte : 

Heo  fat  on  fe  funne, 

NYi)>  tieres  al  binmne. 

Horn  fede  "lef  £inore 
656  Wi  wepeftu  fo  fore?" 

Heo  fede  "nojt  ine  wepe 

Bute  afe  ilay  aflepe 

To  fe  fe  my  net  icafte, 
660  And  hit  nolde  nojt  ilafte, 

A  gret  fiff  at  the  furfte 

Mi  net  he  gan  to  berfte. 

Ihc  wene  fat  ihc  fehal  leofe 
664  pe  fiff  fat  ihc  wolde  cheofe." 
%    "  Orift"  qua]>  horn  "  and  feint  sfeuene, 

Tnrne  June  sweuene. 

Ne  fchal  ihe  bifwike, 
668  Ne  do  fat  fe  mislike. 

I  fchal  me  make  )?inowe 

To  holden  and  to  knowe 

For  eurech  of  ere  wijte, 
672  And  J?arto  mi  treujje  ife  plijte." 

Muchel  was  fe  ru]?e 

pat  was  at  }>are  tru]?e  : 


Next  day  the 
king  goes  hunt- 
ing, and  leaves  at 
home  Fikenhild, 


who  finds  Horn 
in  Rymenhild's 
bower  comfort- 
ing her  for  a 
dream  she  has 
had. 


The  dream  was 
of  a  fish  which 
she  had  lost  just 
as  she  was  catch- 
ing it. 


Horn  pledges 
himself  to  her, 


20 


HORN    FOUND    WITH    RYMENHILD. 


but  she  is  still 
fearful  for  the 
future. 


Fikenhild  is  en- 
vious, and  warns 
the  king  against 
Horn,  telling  him 
of  Horn's  pre- 
sence in  his 
daughter's 
bower. 


Ayltnar  goes  and 
finds  Horn  lying 
on  his  daughter's 
bosom. 


With  curses    he 
drives  him  forth. 


For  Rymcnhild  wcop  ille  : 
676  And  horn  let  )>e  tires  ftille. 

"Lemmaw"  qua}  he  "dere 

pu  fchalt  more  ihere 

pi  sweucn  fchal  wende 
680  0}er  fum  Man  fchal  us  fchende. 

pe  firT  ]>at  brak  ]>e  lyue, 

Ywis  he  doj>  us  pine  : 

pat  fchal  don  us  tene, 
684  And  wurj;  wel  fone  ifene." 
^f    Aylmar  rod  bi  fture, 

And  horn  lai  in  bure. 

Fykenhild  hadde  enuye 
688  And  fede  j?es  folye  : 

"  Aylmar  ihc  \e  warne, 

Horn  j>e  wule  berne  : 

Ihc  herde  whar  he  fede, 
692  And  his  swerd  forh  leide, 

To  bringe  j>e  of  lyue, 

And  take  Rymenhild  to  wyue. 

He  lij?  in  bure, 
696  Under  couerture, 

By  Rymewhild  Ju  dofier  : 

And  fo  he  do)?  wel  ofte  ; 

And  juder  J?u  go  al  rijt, 
700  per  ]?u  him  finde  mijt ; 

pu.  do  him  ut  of  londe, 

0\er  he  do  J?  ]>e  fchonde." 
^f    Aylmar  ajen  gan  turne 
704  "Wel  Modi  and  wel  Murne  : 

He  fond  horn  in  arme 

On  Rymewhilde  barme. 

"  Awei  ut,"  he  fede,  "fule  J?eof, 
708  ~Ne  wurftu  me  neuremore  leof. 

"Wend  ut  of  my  bure 

Wi]?  muchel  meflauentwe. 


HORN    BANISHED. 


21 


Wei  fone,  bute  \>u  flitte, 
712  Wi)>  swerde  ihc  J?e  anhitte. 

Wend  ut  of  my  londe 

0]w  J>u  fchalt  haue  fchonde." 
5f    Horn  fadelede  his  ftede 
716  And  his  armes  he  gan  fprede  : 

His  brunie  he  gan  lace, 

So  he  fcholde  in  to  place. 

His  fwerd  he  gan  fonge  : 
720  Nabod  he  nojt  to  longe. 

He  jede  for]?  bliue 

To  Rymewhild  his  wyue. 

He  fede,  "  Lewman  derling, 
724  Nu  haueftu  )?i  sweuening. 

pe  fillet  \i  net  rente, 

Fram  ]?e  he  me  fente 
»    Rymenhild,  haue  wel  godne  day, 
728  No  leng  abiden  ine  may. 

In  to  uncuje  londe, 

Wei  more  for  to  fonde, 

I  fchal  mine  )>ere 
732  Fulle  feue  jere. 

At  leue  jeres  ende, 

}ef  ine  come  ne  fende, 

Tak  ]>e  hufebowde, 
736  For  me  ]ni  ne  wonde, 

In  armes  )m  me  fonge, 

And  kes  me  wel  longe." 

He  cufte  him  wel  a  ftuwde, 
740  And  Rymenhild  feol  to  grunde. 

Horn  tok  his  leue, 

Ne  mijte  he  no  le«g  bileue  ; 

He  tok  Ajmlf,  his  fere, 
744  Al  abute  J?e  fwere, 

And  fede  "knijt  fo  trewe, 

Kep  wel  mi  luue  newe. 


Horn  departs. 


He  tells  the  prin= 
cess  this  is  the 
meaning  of  her 
dream. 


[MS.  p.  19.] 


He  taketh  leave, 
promising  to  re- 
turn in  seven 
years,  and  if  he 
do  not  come,  she 
may  marry  an- 
other. 


Rymenhild 

swoons. 


Horn  takes  leave 
of  Athulf, 


22 


HORNS    VOYAGE    AND    ADVKNH  KKS. 


ami   begB   1 1 i  lit  to 

oare  lor  Rymea- 

l.ilcl. 


Hi'  goes  forth  and 
takes  ship. 


The  people  weep 
for  his  depar- 
ture. 


He    meets    with 
two  king's  sons, 


Harild  and 
Berild, 


who  beg  for  his 
name.  He  calls 
himself  Cutberd. 


Berild  takes  him 
to  the  king. 


pu  neure  me  ne  forfoke  : 
748  Kymcnhild  Jm  kep  and  loke." 

His  ftede  he  gan  biftn'de 

And  forj>  he  gara  ride  : 

To  J>e  hauene  he  ferde, 
752  And  a  god  fchup  he  hurede, 

pat  him  fcholde  lowde. 

In  westene  loradc. 
^j    AJmlf  weop  wij?  ije, 
756  And  al  \at  him  inje. 

To  lowd  he  him  fette 

And  fot  on  ftirop  fette. 

He  fond  bi  ]>e  weie 
760  Kynges  fones  tweie, 

put  on  him  het  harild, 

And  \at  o]>er  berild. 

Berild  gan  him  preie, 
764  pat  he  fcholde  him  feie, 

What  his  name  were 

And  what  he  wolde  ]>ere. 

"  Cutberd,"  he  fede,  "  ihc  hote, 
768  Icomew  ut  of  J?e  bote, 

"Wei  feor  fram  biwefte 

To  feche  mine  befte." 

Berild  gan  him  nier  ride 
772  And  tok  him  bi  \q  bridel 

"  Wei  beo  J?u  knijt  ifounde 

Wi)>  me  Jm  lef  a  ftunde 

Alio  mote  i  ftame 
776  pe  king  )m  fchalt  serve 

Ne  faj  i  neure  my  lyue 

So  fair  knijt  aryue" 

Outbid  heo  ladde  in  to  halle 
780  And  he  a  kne  gan  falle  :     • 

He  fette  him  a  knewelyng 

And  grette  wel  )>e  gode  kyng. 


THE    GIANT'S    CHALLENGE. 


23 


panne  fede  Berild  fone  : 
784  "  Sire  king,  of  him  Jm  halt  to  done, 

Bitak  him  ]>i  lond  to  werie : 

Ne  fchal1  hit  noman  derie  [l  ichat  MS.] 

For  he  is  \e  fairefte  man 

788  pot  euremt  on  }i  londe  cam." 

^f    pa?me  fede  }>e  kiwg  fo  dere  : 

"  Welcome  beo  Jni  here, 

Go  nu  Berild  swi^e, 
792  And  make  him  ful  blij?e, 

And  whan  Jm  farst  to  woje, 

Tak  him  J>ine  gloue : 

Imewt  Jm  haueft  to  wyue, 
796  Awai  he  fchal  J?e  dryue. 

For  Cutberdes  fairhede 

Ne  fchal  J>e  neure  wel  fpede." 

Hit  waa  at  Criftefmaffe,    ! 
NeiJ?er  more  ne  laffe : 

per  cam  in  at  none 

A  Geaimt  fuj>e  fone, 

farmed  fram  paynynie, 
804  And  feide  J?es  ryme. 

"  Site  ftille,  fire  kyng, 

And  herkne  J>is  tyj>yng  : 

Her  buj?  paens  ariued 
808  Wei  mo  J?ane  fiue. 

Her  beo)?  on  J?e  fowde, 

'King,  upon  J?i  londe, 

On  of  hem  wile  fijte 
812  Ajew  J>re  knijtes  : 

}ef  o\>er  J?re  flen  ure, 

Al  ]?is  loud  beo  joure  : 

^ef  ure  on  ouercomej?  jour  J>reo, 
816  Al  ]?is  lond  fchal  ure  beo. 

Tomoreje  be  J>e  fijtiwge, 

Whane  J>e  lijt  of  daye  fpn'nge." 


Berild  commends 
him  to  the  king, 


who  receives  him 
graciously,  and 
entrusts  him  to 
Berild. 


At  Christmas  the 
king  made  5 
feast. 


There    comes 
pagan,  a  giant, 


who  challenges 
the  king's 
knights  to  fight, 
one  pagan 
against  three  of 
them. 


24 


HORN    OFFERS   TO    FIGHT   THE    GIANT. 


[MS.  p.  20.] 

Kirip  Thurston 
chooses  his  three 
champions,  Cut- 
berd,  Berild,  and 
Alrid. 


Cutberd  says  he 
alone  will  fight 
the  pagan. 


Next  day  Cut- 
berd dons  his  ar- 
mour, 


and  comes  to  the 
king,  and  asks 
him  to  come  and 
see  the  battle. 


They  go,  and  find 
a  giant  prepared 
against  them. 


^|    panne  fede  \e  kyng  Jmrfton, 
820  "  Cutbml  fchal  beo  \>at  on, 

Berild  fchal  beo  \at  ojer, 

pe  J?ridde  Alrid  his  broker. 

For  bi  beo]?  }>e  ftrcngefte 
824  And  of  armes  )?e  befte. 

Bute  wbat  fchal  us  to  rede, 

Ihc  wene  wc  be]?  alle  dede." 
^|    Cutberd  fat  at  borde 
828  And  fede  )>es  wordes  : 

"  Sire  king  hit  nis  no  rijte 

On  wi]>  \re  to  fijte. 

Ajen  one  huwde, 
832  pre  criiXen  men  to  fonde. 

Sire  ifchal  al  one, 

Wijmte  more  ymone, 

WIJ  mi  swerd,  wel  e]>e, 
836  Bringe  hem  ]>re  to  dej>e." 
^f    pe  kyng  aros  amoreje 

pat  hadde  muchel  sorje 

And  Cutberd  ros  of  bedde, 
840  WiJ?  armes  he  him  fchredde : 

Horn  his  brunie  gan  on  cafte, 

And  lacede  hit  wel  fafte, 

And  cam  to  J?e  kiwge 
844  At  his  uprifmge. 

"King,"  he  fede,  "cum  to  fel[de] 

For  to  bihelde 

Hu  we  fijte  fchulle, 
848  And  togare  go  wulle. 

Rijt  at  pn'me  tide 

Hi  gunnen  ut  ride, 

And  fun&en  on  a  grene 
852  A  geauwt  suj?e  kene. 

His  ferew  him  bifide 

Hore  de]?1  to  abide.  [!  Here  dent  ?] 


HORN  S   VICTORY   OVER   THE    PAGANS. 


25 


^|    pe  ilke  bataille 
856  Outbid  gan  aflaille  : 

He  jaf  dentes  inoje, 

pe  knijtes  felle  ifwoje, 

His  dent  he  gan  wi^draje, 
860  For  hi  were  nej  aflaje  : 

And  fede  "  knijtes  nu  je  refle 

One  while  ef  jou  lefte." 

Hi  fede  hi  neure  nadde 
864  Of  knijte  dentes  fo  harde 

He  was  of  homes  kuwne, 

Ibom  in  Suddenne. 
^f    Horn  him  gaw  to  agr/fe, 
868  And  his  blod  arife. 

Biuo :  him  faj  he  fto»de, 

pat  driue«  him  of  lo»de, 

And  ]>at  his  fader  floj, 
872  To  hi?»  his  fwerd  he  droj, 

He  lokede  on  his  rynge, 

And  J?ojte  on  Rymenhilde, 

Ho  fmot  him  Jmrej  \e  herte, 
876  pat  fore  him  gan  to  fmerte  ; 

pe  paens  j>at  er  were  fo  fturne, 

Hi  gurane  awei  urne  ; 

Horn  and  his  compaynye, 
880  Guwne  after  hem  wel  fwi^e  hije, 

And  flojen  alle  J?e  hundes, 

Er  hi  here  fchipes  funde  : 

To  de)?e  he  hem  alle  brojte  ; 
884  His  fader  de]?  wel  dere  hi  bojte  : 

Of  alle  \e  kynges  knijtes, 

Ne  fcapede  \ex  no  wijte, 

Bute  his  fones  tweie 
888  Bifore  him  he  faj  deie. 

pe  kiwg  bigaw  to  grete 

And  teres  for  to  lete, 


Cutberd  fights 
and  slays  many 
of  the  pagans. 


They  said  they 
never  had  met 
such  a  knight  but 
once  before  in 
Suddene. 


[»  Biour.] 


Horn  recognizes 
the  Saracens  who 
slew  his  father 
and  drove  him 
away. 


This  makes  him 
more  fierce. 


They  flee,  and  he 
pursues 


and    slays    them 
all. 


The  king's 
knights  are  slain, 
and  his  sons  also. 


26 


THURSTON    WISHES   TO    ADOFT    HORN. 


Thurston    offers 
Cutberdhis  king- 
dom and  liis 
daughter's  hand. 


Cutberd   excuses 
himself. 


He  stayed  there 
seven  years. 


Ryinenhild  is 
sought    in    mar- 
riage  by  a  king 
and  the  time  is 
fixed. 


Me  leidew  he?n  in  bare 
892  And  burden  hem  ful  jaro, 
^f    pe  king  cow  in  to  balle 

Among  his  knijtes  alle. 

"Horn,"  he  fede,  "ifeie  ]>c 
896  Do  as  ifchal  rede  J?e. 

Aflajen  be)>  mine  heirs, 

And  Jm  art  knijt  of  muchel  pris, 

And  of  grete  ftmig)?e, 
900  And  fair  o  bodie  leng^e ; 

Mi  Rengne  Jm  fchalt  welde, 

And  to  fpufe  helde 

Eeynild  mi  dojter, 
904  J?at  fitte>  on  >e  lofte." 
^f    "0  lire  king,  wij>  wronge 

Scholte  ihc  hit  underfonge  ; 

pi  dorter,  \at  je  me  bede, 
908  Ower  rengne  for  to  lede. 

Wei  more  ihc  fchal  J?e  ferue, 

Sire  kyng,  or  Jm  fterue. 
|  pi  sorwe  fchal  wende 
912'  Or  feue  jei'es  ende  : 

"Wanne  hit  is  wente, 

Sire  king,  jef  me  mi  rente  : 

"VVhanne  i  Jn  dojter  jerne 
916  Ne  fchal tu  me  hire  werne  : " 
I  Cutberd  wonede  J?ere 

Fulle  feue  $ere  : 

pat  to  Rymenild  he  ne  fente 
920  Ne  him  felf  ne  wente. 

Rymenild  was  in  WefWneffe 

WiJ>  wel  muchel  forineffe, 
%    A  king  \er  gan  ariue 
924  pat  wolde  hire  haue  to  wyue, 

Aton  he  was  wij>  }e  Ising : 

Of  Jwt  ilke  wedding 


KING    MODI    WOULD    MARRY    RYMENHILD. 


27 


pe  daies  were  fchorte : 
928  pat  Rime»hild  ne  dorfte 
Letew  in  none  wife, 
A  writ  he  dude  deuife, 
AJmlf  hit  dude  write 
932  pat  horn  ne  luuede  nojt  lite. 
Heo  fende  hire  fowde 
To  euereche  londe, 
To  feche  horn  J?e  knijt 
936  per  me  him  fiwde  inijte, 
Horn  nojt  \er  of  ne  herde, 
Til  o  dai  \at  he  ferde 
To  wude  for  to  fchete, 
940  A  knaue  he  gan  imete. 
Horn  fede??,1  "  Leue  fere, 
Wat  fecheftu  here  ? " 
"  Knijt,  if  beo  >i  wille 
944  Imai  }q  fone  telle. 
Ifeche  frawfc  biwefte 
Horn  of  "Weffornefie : 
For  a  Maiden  Rymenhild 
948  pat  for  him  gan  wexe  wild. 
A  ki«g  hire  wile  wedde 
And  briwge  to  his  bedde  : 
Kiwg  Modi  of  Reynes, 
952  On  of  homes  enemis  ; 
Ihc  habbe  walke  wide, 
Bi  ]>e  fe  fide, 
Nis  he  no  war  ifuwde  : 
956  Walawai  )>e  fturade  ! 
Wailaway  ]>e  while  ! 
Nu  wur)>  Rymenild  bigiled." 
Horn  iherde  wij?  his  ires, 
960  And  fpak  wi]?  bidere  tires  : 
"  Knaue  wel  )>e  bitide, 
Horn  ftowde]?  ]>e  bifide, 


She  sends  Athulf 
to  seek  Horn  in 
all  directions. 


[l  fede.] 


Horn  heard  no- 
thing of  this,  till 
one  day  he  met  a 
boy  when  shoot- 

[MS.  p.  21.] 

ing,  and  asked 
what  he  was 
seeking, 


who  tells  him  he 
is  in  search  of 
Horn, 


for  that  King 
Modi  is  about  to 
marry  Ryrnen- 
hild. 


Horn,  on  hearing 
this,  declares 
himself,  and 
sends   him    back 
to  Rymenhild. 


28 


HORN  S    DEPARTURE    FOR   WESTERNESSE. 


The  boy  is 
drowned  as  he 
goes  back. 


Rymenhild  find* 
him. 


Horn    comes    to 
king  Thurston 
and  tells  his 
story, 


and  asks  the  king 
for  help. 


He  promises  that 
Athulf  shall 
marry  Thurston's 
daughter. 


Ajen  to  hurc  ]m  tume 
964  And  feie  J?at  heo  ne  murne, 

For  ifchal  beo  \er  bitime, 

A  soneday  bi  pry  me." 

pe  knaue  was  wel  bliJ7e 
968  And  hijede  ajen  bliue. 

pe  fe  bigan  to  }>roje 

Under  hire  woje. 

pe  knaue  )>er  gan  adrinke  : 
972  Rymenhild  hit  mijte  of-j>mke  : 

Rymenhild  undude  ]?e  dure  pin 

Of  ]>e  hus  \er  heo  was  in, 

To  loke  wi)>  hire  ije, 
976  If  heo  ojt  of  horn  ifije  : 

po  ftwd  heo  \e  knaue  adrent, 

pat  he  hadde  for  horn  ifewt, 

And  \at  fcholde  horn  bringe. 
980  Hire  fingres  he  gan  wriwge, 
^f    Horn  cam  to  Jmrfton  \e  kyng, 

And  tolde  him  J>is  tiding, 

po  he  was  iknowe 
984  pat  Ttimenhild  was  hif  oje, 

Of  his  gode  kewne 

pe  kiwg  of  Suddenne, 

And  hu  he  floj  in  felde 
988  past  his  fader  qwelde, 

And  feide,  "king  \q  wife, 

$eld  me  mi  s^ruife 

Rymenhild  help  me  wircne 
992  pat  J?u  nojt  ne  liwne : 

And  ifchal  do  to  fpufe 

pi  dojter  wel  to  hufe : 

Heo  fchal  to  fpufe  haue 
996  AJmlf  mi  gode  felaje,1 

God  knijt  mid  J»e  befte 

And  ]>e  tmyefte." 


['  knaue  ?] 


HE    LEAVES   HIS   MEN    IN    AMBUSH. 


29 


pe  king  fede  fo  ftille, 
1000  "  Horn  haue  nu  >i  wille." 
He  dude  writes  fende 
Into  yrlonde 
After  knijtes  lijte,1 
1004  Iriffe  men  to  fijte. 
To  horn  come  inoje. 
pat  to  fchupe  droje. 
Horn  dude  him  in  Jeweie 

1008  On  a  gocTGaleie. 

pe  him  gan  to  blowe 
In  a  litel  >roje. 
pe  fe  bigan  to  pone 
1012  Bijt  in  to  Wefternefle. 
Hi  ftr«ke  feil  and  mafte 
And  Ankere  gunne  cafte. 
Or  eny  day  was  fprunge 
1016  0>«r  belle  irunge, 

pe  word  bigan  to  fprmge 
Of  Rymenhilde  weddiwge. 
Horn  was  in  )e  watere, 
1020  Ne  mijte  he  come  no  latere. 
He  let  his  fchup  ftonde, 
And  ?ede  to  londe. 
His  folk  he  dude  abide 

1024  Under  wnde  fide. 

Hor[n]  hiw  jede  alone : 
Alfo  he  fprunge  of  none. 
A  palmare  he  Jar  mette,    ^ 
1028  And  faire  hine  grette : 

»  Palmare  >u  fchalt  me  telle 
Al  of  >ine  fpelle." 
He  fede  upon  his  tale  : 
1032  "  I  come  fram  o  brudale  ; 
Ihc  was  at  o  wedding 
Of  a  Maide  Rymenhild : 


The  king  collects 
his  knights  to  go 
with  Horn. 


[l  wi?te  ?] 


They  sail  to 
Wes'ternesse, 


and  come  to  an- 
chor. 


Horn  leases  his 
men  in  ambush. 


He  goes  alone. 


He  meets  a 
palmer,  who  tells 
him  he  has  been 
at  Rymenhild's 
bridal, 


-'30 


HORN    GOES    TO   THE    WEDDING    FEAST. 


and  tuat  she  re- 
fused  to  be  es- 
poused,    iis     she 
already  had  a 
huHand. 


They  had  refused 
admission  to  the 
palmer. 


He  telleth  of  the 
bride's  sorrow. 


Horn  changeth 
dresses  with  the 
palmer, 


and  thus  dis- 
guiseth  himself 
and  goes  to  the 
palace  gate, 


1036 


1040 


1044 


1048 


1052 


1056 


1060 


1064 


1 
1068 


Ne  mijte  heo  adrije, 

pat  heo  nc  wcop  wij?  ije ; 

Heo  fcde  ]>at  heo  nolde 

Ben  ifpufed  wi)>  golde, 

Heo  hadde  on  hufebonde 

pej  he  were  ut  of  lowde  : 

And  in  ftrong  halle, 

Bi]>inne  caftel  walle, 

per  iwas  atte  jate, 

Nolde  hi  me  in  late. 

Modi1  ihote  hadde 

To  bure  \at  me  hire  ladde  : 

Awai  igan  glide, 

pat  deol  inolde  abide. 

pe  bride  wepe)>  fore 

And  \at  is  muche  deole." 

sQ,uaj?  horn,  "  So  Cn'ft  me  rede 

j  We  fchulle  chaungi  wede  : 

Haue  her  clones  myne 

And  tak  me  \i  fclauyne. 

Today  ifchal  j>er  drinke 

pat  fome  hit  fchulle  of-)>inke." 

His  fclauyn  he  dude  dun  legge, 

And  tok  hit  on  his  rigge, 

He  tok  horn  his  clones, 

pat  nere  him  nojt  lo)?e. 

Horn  tok  burdon  and  fcrippe, 

And  wrowg  his  lippe. 

He  makede  him  a  ful  chere, 

And  al  bicolmede  his  swere. 

He  makede  him  unbicomelich, 

Hes  he  nas  neuremore  ilich, 

He  cow  to  ]>e  gateward 

pat  him  anfwerede  hard  : 

Horn  bad  undo  fofte 

Mani  tyme  and  ofte  ; 


['  Mod  ?] 


HE    SEES    RYMENHILD. 


31 


Ne  mijte  lie  awynne 

1072  pathe  come  Jwinne 

Horn  gan  to  ]>e  jate  tume 
And  \at  wiket  unfpurne  ; 
p e  boye  hit  fcholde  abugge, 

1076  Horn  J?reu  him  ouer  ]>e  brigge. 
pat  his  ribbes  him  to-brake  : 
And  fuj>)>e  com  in  atte  gate, 
He  fette  him  wel  loje, 

1080  In  beggeres  rowe  ; 
He  lokede  him  abute 
"Wij?  his  colmie  mute ; 
He  fej  Eymewhild  fitte 

1084  Afe  heo  were  of  witte 
Sore  wepinge  and  jerne  : 
Ne  mijte  hure  noman  wurne. 
He  lokede  in  eche  halke, 

1088  Ne  sej  he  nowhar  walke 
Ajmlf  his  felawe, 
pat  he  cu];e  knowe. 
AJulf  was  in  J»e  ture 

1092  Abute  for  to  pure 
Mter  his  comynge, 
}ef  fchup  him  wolde  bridge. 
He  fej  ]>e  fe  flowe 

1096  And  horn  nowar  rowe. 
He  fede  upon  his  fonge : 
"  Horn  nu  Jm  ert  wel  longe 
Eymewhild  ]?u  me  toke 
1 100  pat  ifcholde  loke ; 

Ihc  habbe  kept  hure  eure 
Com  nu  o]?er  neure    j 
I  ne  may  no  leng  hure  kepe, 
1104  For  foreje  nu  ywepe." 
^[    Eymenhild  Eos  of  benche 
Wyn  for  to  fchenche  : 


but  cannot  gain 
admission. 


[MS.  p.  22.] 

He  throws  the 
guard  over  the 
bridge. 


He  ranges  him- 
self among  the 
beggars. 


He  sees  Rymen- 
hild  weeping, 


but    cannot    see 
Athulf. 


Athulf  was  in  the 
tower  lookingout 
for  him. 


Athulf's  lament. 


Rymenhild  rises 
to  pour  out  wine. 


32 


RYMENHILD    DOES    NOT    KNOW    HIM. 


All  drink  thereof 
but  Horn. 


He   sit9   on   the 
ground. 


He  speaks  to  Ry- 
menhild. 


She  gives  him  a 
full  jar,  for  she 
thought  him  a 
glutton. 


Horn  tells  her  he 
is  a  fisherman, 
and  that 


his  nets  are  close 
by; 

that  they  have 
been  there  seven 
years,  and  that 
he  has  come  to 
see  if  any  fish  is 
caught,  "and  he 
bids  her  drink  to 
Horn. 


1108 


1112 


1116 


1120 
1 


1124 


1128 


1132 


1136 


1142 


After  mete  in  fale, 

BoJ?e  wyn  and  ale. 

On  horn  he  bar  anhonde, 

So  laje  was  in  londe, 

Knijtes  and  fquier 

Alle  drowke«  of  }?c  ber. 

Bute  born  alone 

Nadde  J?<?rof  no  mone. 

Horn  fat  upow  J?e  gnmde, 

In  )mjte  he  was  ibuwde. 

He  fede  "  quen  fo  hewde, 

To  meward  ]m  wewde, 

pu  jef  us  wi)?  \e  furfte 

pe  beggeres  beoj?  of-jmrfte." 

Hure  horn  heo  leide  adun, 

And  fulde  him  of  a  brun, 

His  bolle  of  a  galun, 

For  heo  wende  he  were  a  glotoun. 

He  foide,  "  haue  ]?is  cuppe, 

And  }is  ]?iwg  \er  uppe : 

Ne  faj  ihc  neure  fo  ihc  wene 

Beggere  J>at  were  fo  kene." 

Horn  tok  hit  his  ifere, 

And  fede,  "  quen  fo  dere 

"Wyn  nelle  ihc  Muche  ne  lite 

Bute  of  cuppe  white. 

pu  weneft  ibeo  a  beggere, 

And  ihc  am  a  fiffere, 

"Wei  feor  icome  bi  efte 

For  fiffen  at  >i  fefte  : 

Mi  net  lij?  her  bi  honde, 

Bi  a  wel  fair  ftronde, 

Hit  ha]?  ileie  )>ere 

Fulle  feue  jere. 

Ihc  am  icome  to  loke 

Ef  eni  fiff  hit  toke. 


HER    WONDER    AT    HIS    WORDS. 


33 


Ihc  am  icorne  to  fifle : 
Drink  to  me  of  dille, 
Drink  to  horn  of  home 

1146  Feor  ihc  am  iorne." 

Rymenhild  hi/«  gan  bihelde, 
Hire  heorte  bigan  to  chelde, 
Ne  kneu  heo  nojt  his  filling, 

1 150  Ne  horn  hymfelue  noting  : 
Ac  wonder  hire  gan  )>inke, 
TThi  he  bad  to  horn  drinke. 
Heo  fulde  hire  horn  wij?  wyn, 

1154  And  dronk  to  ]>e  pilegryru  ; 
Heo  fede,  "drink  ]>i  fulle, 
And  fu]?J?e  Jm  me  telle, 
If  )>u  eure  iiije 

1158  Horn  under  wude  lije." 

Horn  dronk  of  horn  a  ftunde 
And  )>reu  )>e  ring  to  grunde. 
•     pe  quen  jede  to  bure 

1162  Wi]?  hire  maidenes  foure. 

po  fond  heo  what  heo  wolde, 
A  ring  ignraen  of  golde 
pat  horn  of  hure  hadde  ; 

1166  Sore  hure  d/vzdde 

pat  horn  ifteue1  were  : 
For  j>e  'Ring  was  J>ere. 
po  fente  heo  a  damefele 

1  i  70  After  ]>e  palmare ; 

"  Palmare,"  qua]/  heo,  "  trewe 
pe  ring  ]>at  J?u  )>rewe, 
pn  feie  whar  Jm  hit  nome, 

1174  And  whi  Jm  hider  come." 
He  fede,  "  bi  feint  gile, 
Ihc  habbe  go  mani  Mile, 
Wei  feor  bi  jonde  wefte 

1178  To  feche  my  befte. 


Rymenhild  won- 
ders  at  Ms  speech, 

and  drinks  as  he 
bade. 


She  asks  him  if 
he  has  seen  Horn. 


He  throws  down 
the  ring  which 
she  had  given 
him. 


['  ifterue.]  She  is  alarmed  for 

L  J  Horn  s  fate. 


She  sends  after 
the  palmer,  and 
asks  where  he  got 
the  ring. 


34 


HORN    REVEALS    HIMSELF. 


lie  tells  her  he 
had  been  with 
Horn,  but  that 
he  was  dead,  and 
had  sent  him  with 
the  ling  to  her. 


[MS.  p.  23.] 


Rymenhild  prays 
for  death. 


She  falls  on  the 
bed  and  seizes  a 
knife,  which  she 
had  hid  den  to  slay 
herself  and  king 
Modi  with,  and 
is  about  to  kill 
herself,  but  Horn 
prevents  her, 


and  avows  him- 
self. 


He  tells  her  of 
his  armed  band 
who  lie  in  readi- 
ness. 


I  fond  horn  child  ftonde 

To  fchupeward  in  londe. 

He  fede  he  woldc  agclfo 
1182  To  ariue  in  ■weftcrneffe. 

pe  fchip  nam  to  j>e  flode 

"WiJ?  me  and  horn  \>c  gode, 

Horn  was  hk  and  deide, 
1 186  And  faire  he  me  pmde  ; 

1  Go  wi}?  ]>e  ringe 

To  Eymewhild  ]?e  jor«ge.' 

Ofte  he  hit  cufte 
1190  God  jeue  his  faule  refte." 
^    Eymetthild  fede  at  J?e  furfte  : 

"  Herte  mi  )>u  berlle, 

For  horn  naftu  namore 
1194  pat  ]>Q  haj?  pined  ]>e  fo  fore." 

Heo  feol  on  hire  bedde, 

per  heo  knif  hudde, 

To  fie  wij>  ki?ig  loJ?e 
1198  And  hure  felue  boJ?e, 

In  J?at;  ulke  nijte, 

If  horn  come  ne  mijte. 

To  herte  knif  heo  fette 
1202  Ac  horn  anon  hire  kepte. 

He  wipede  fat  blake  of  his  swore, 

And  fede :   "  Quen  fo  swete  and  dere 

Ihc  am  horn  )>inoje, 
1206  Ne  canftu  me  nojt  knowe  ? 

Ihc  am  horn  of  weft<?/-nefle, 

In  armes  Jm  me  cufte." 

Hi  cufte  hem  mid  ywifle, 
1210  And  makeden  Muche  blifie. 
^[    "Eymewhild,"  he  fede,  "ywende 

Adun  to  J>e  wudes  ende : 

per  be]?  myne  knijtes. 
1214  Eedi  to  fijte, 


horn's  revenge. 


35 


1218 


If 
1222 


1226 


1 
1230 


1234 


1238 


1242 


1246 


1250 


Iarmed  under  clo)?c 
Hi  fchulle  make  wro]?e 
pe  ki«g  and  his  gefte 
pat  come  to  J?e  fefte : 
Today  ifchal  hem  teche 
And  fore  he»»  areche." 
Horn  fprong  ut  of  halle 
And  let  his  fclauin  falle. 
pe  quen  jede  to  bure 
And  fond  ajmlf  in  ture  : 
"  AJmlf,"  heo  fede,  "  be  bli>e. 
And  to  horn  J>u  go  wel  fwij>e  : 
He  is  under  wude  boje 
And  wij?  him  knijtes  Inoje." 
AJmlf  bigan  to  fpn'nge 
For  \e  ti]?i»ge : 
After  horn  he  arnde  anon, 
Alfo  ]>at  hors  mijte  gon : 
He  him  ouertok  ywis. 
Hi  makede  fui]?e  Muchel  blis. 
Horn  tok  his  preie 
And  dude  hiw?  in  ]>e  weie. 
He  com  in  wel  fone 
pe  jates  were  undone. 
Iarmed  ful  J>ikke 
Frawa  fote  to  J?e  nekke. 
Alle  J?«t  were  Jwin 
Bijmte  his  twelf  ferin 
And  \e  kirag  Aylmare 
He  dude  hem  alle  to  kare, 
pat  at  the  fefte  were. 
Here  lif  hi  lete  J>ere. 
Horn  ne  dude  no  wuwder 
Of  Fikewhildes  false  tuwge. 
Hi  sworew  ojes  holde, 
pat  neure  ne  fcholde 


Horn  goes  out, 
and  the  princess 
goes   to    Athulf, 


and  tells  him  to 
go  to  Horn  under 
the  wood. 


He  goes. 


Horn  comes  with 
his  armed  men 
and  takes  ven- 
geance  on  all  but 
his  old  com- 
panions and  the 
king. 


They    swear 
serve  Horn. 


36 


HORN  S    SPEECH    TO    KING    AYI.MAR. 


The  wedding  of 
Horn  and  Ry- 
menhild  is  very 
joyous. 


Horn   speaks  to 
king  Aylmer, 


and      tells      his 

story  ; 


how  he  had  been 
banished  by  false 
accusations. 


He  begs  the  king 
to  keep  Ryinen- 
nild  carefully  till 
he  wins  his  own 
kingdom  of  Sud- 
dene, 


and  then  he  will 
take  Rymenhild 
for  his  wife. 


1254 


1258 


1 

1262 


1266 


1270 


1274 


1278 


1282 


1286 


Horn  ncure  bitnue, 

pej  he  at  di)?e  laie. 

Hi  Itimge  j?e  belle 

pe  wedlak  for  to  felle,1 

Horn  him  jede  witb  his 

To  \c  kiwges  palais 

per  was  brid  and  ale  fuete, 

For  riche  mew  \er  ete. 

Telle  ne  mijte  tuwge 

pat  gle  \at  \er  was  funge. 

Horn  fat  on  cbaere 

And  bad  hem  alle  ihere. 

"Kiwg,"  he  fede,  "Jm  lufte 

A  tale  mid  \e  befte. 

I  ne  feie  hit  for  no  blame  : 

Horn  is  mi  name 

pu  me  to  knijt  houe 

And  knijthod  haue  proued : 

To  j>e  king  men  feide, 

pat  ipe  bitraide, 

pu  makedeft  me  fieme, 

And  \i  lowd  to  reme, 

pu  wewdeft  \at  iwrojte, 

pat  y  neure  ne  ]?ojte, 

Bi  Rymewhild  for  to  ligge  ; 

And  \at  i  wij?-fegge, 

Ne  fchal  ihe  hit  bigiwne, 

Til  i  fuddene  wiwne. 

pu  kep  hure  a  ftunde, 

pe  while  \at  ifunde 

In  to  min  heritage, 

And  to  mi  baronage. 

pat  lowd  ifchal  ofreche, 

And  do  mi  fader  wreche. 

I  fchal  beo  king  of  tune, 

And  bere  kiwges  crune, 


['  fulfclle?] 


horn's  journey  to  suddene. 


37 


panne  fchal  Kymewhilde, 
Ligge  bi  )>e  ki«ge." 
*[f    Horn  gan  to  fchupe  draje, 
1290  Wi>  his  Trifle  felajes, 

AJuilf  wi]?  him  his  brother, 
Nolde  he  now  o]?cr, 
pat  fchup  bigan  to  crude, 
1294  pe  wind  him  bleu  lude, 
Bi^iwne  daies  hue 
pat  fchup  gan  ariue. 
Abute  middelnijte 
1298  Horn  him  jede  wel  rijte. 
He  tok  ajmlf  bi  howde 
And  up  he  jede  to  lowde. 
Hi  fonde  under  fchelde 
1 302  A  knijt  hewde  in  felde. 
pe  knijt  him  aflepe  lay 
Al  bifide  \e  way. 
Horn  hiw  ga»  to  take 
1306  Andte&e:   "  knijt,  awake. 
Seie  what  Jm  kepest  ? 
And  whi  )>u  her  (lepeft  ? 
Me  )>ink}?  bijune  crois  lijte, 
1310  pat  }m  loMgeft  to  ure  dn'jte. 
Bute  Jm  wule  me  fchewe, 
Ifchal  )>e  to-hewe." 
pe  gode  knijt  up  aros, 
1314  Of  \e  wordes  hi»i  gros  : 

He  sede  :   "  ihc  haue  ajenes  my  wille 
Payns  ful  ylle, 
Ihc  was  cn'ftene  a  while  : 
1318  po  icom  to  J?is  ille 
Sarazins  blake 
pat  dude  me  forfake : 
On  CWft  ihc  wolde  bileue 
1322  On  him  hi  makede  me  rcue, 


Horn  goes  away 
with    his    Irish 


He  arrives  in  five 
days  at  Suddene. 


They  land  at 
midnight. 


Horn  finds  a 
knight  asleep, 


and  wakes  him. 


Asketh  him  whe- 
ther he  is  a 
Christian. 


The  knight  says 
he  is  a  Christian 
enslaved  by  the 
pagans, 


38 

IMS.  p. 24.] 


who  hail  slain  the 
king  of  the  land 
anil  many  hun- 
dreds more. 


He  is  surprised 
that  Horn  has 
never  come  to  re- 
cover  his  rights. 


He  hopes  to  see 
Horn  and  Athulf 
return. 


Horn    tells    him 
they  are  come. 


He  is  overjoyed. 


HORN    AN  J)    11  IK    SLEEPING    KNIGHT. 

To  kcpo  \>'i8  patfage 

Fraw  horn  \at  is  of  age  : 

pat  wunic)?  biefte, 
1326  Knijt  wi>  >e  befte  ; 

Hi  floje  wij>  here  horcde, 

pc  king  of  )?is  lowde, 

And  wij?  him  fele  hundred, 
1330  And  \eroi  is  wurader 

pat  he  ne  come)?  to  fijte  : 

God  fewde  him  ]>e  rijte, 

And  wind  him  hider  driue, 
1334  To  briwge  hem  of  Hue : 

Hi  slojen  kyng  Murry, 

Homes  fader  king  hendy, 

Horn  hi  ut  of  londe  fente ; 
1338  Tuelf  felajes  wij?  him  wente, 

Among  hem  aj»ulf  ]>e  gode, 

Min  ojene  child  my  leue  fode  : 

Ef  horn  child  is  hoi  and  fund, 
1342  And  AJmlf  bijmte  wund, 

He  luuej?  him  fo  dere, 

And  is  him  fo  ftere, 

Mijte  ifeow.  hem  tueie, 
1346  For  ioie  ifcholde  deie." 
^j    "  Knijt  beo  J?a?me  bli]?e, 

Meft  of  alle  si)?e, 

Horn  and  Ajmlf  his  fere 
1350  BoJ?e  hi  hen  here : " 

To  horn  he  gan  gon 

And  grette  him  anon. 

Muche  ioie  hi  makede  )?ere 
1354  pe  while  hi  togadere  were. 

"  Childre,"  he  fede,  "  hu  habbe  je  fare  ? 

pat  ihc  pu  fej  hit  is  ful  jare. 

Wulle  je  J?is  lowde  wirane 
1358  And  lie  fat  \>eris  iwne?" 


HORN    FINDS    HIS    MOTHER. 


39 


1362 

H 


1366 


1370 


1374 


1378 


1382 


1386 


1 

1390 


1394 


He  fede :  "  leue  horn  child 
$ut  lyuej?  j?i  moder  Godhild : 
Of  ioie  heo  mifte 
If  heo  j>e  aliue  wifte." 
Horn  fede  on  his  rime  : 
"  Ibleiled  beo  ]>e  time 
I  com  to  Suddewne 
~WiJ>  mine  iriffe  niewne : 
We  fchulle  ]>e  huwdes  teehe 
To  fpekew  nre  fpeche. 
Alle  we  hem  fchulle  fie, 
And  al  quic  hem  lie." 
Horn  gan  his  horn  to  blowe, 
His  folk  hit  gan  iknowe, 
Hi  corner  ut  of  Here, 
Fram  homes  bansre ; 
Hi  ilojen  and  £u$ten, 
pe  nijt  and  \e  ujten, 
pe  Sarazms  cuwde 
Ne  lefde  \er  now  in  \>ende. 
Horn  let  wurche 
Chapeles  and  chirche. 
He  let  belles  riuge 
And  Maffes  let  iinge. 
He  com  to  his  ~M.oii.er  halle 
In  a  roche  walle. 
Corn  he  let  ferie 
And  makede  fefte  merie. 
Mwie  lif  he  wrojte. 
Rymerahild  hit  dere  bojte. 
Fikenhild  was  prut  on  herte, 
And  j>at  him  dude  fmerte, 
$o»ge  he  jaf  and  elde 
Mid  him  for  to  helde, 
Ston  he  dude  lede, 
per  he  hopede  fpede, 


He  tells  Horn  of 
his  mother,  who 
is  alive. 


Horn  rejoices 
that  he  has  come. 


He  will  slay  the 
pagans. 


He  summons  his 
men, 


and  conquers  the 
Saracens. 


The  joy  of  the 
victory. 


He  finds  his  mo- 
ther in  a  cave. 


He  maketh  a 
feast. 


Meanwhile  Fi- 
kenhild plots  to 
get  possession  of 
Rymenhild. 


40 


FIKENHILD    PLOTS   TO    MARRY    RYMENHILD. 


He  builds  a 
strong  castle, 


which  can  only 
be  reached  at  low 
tide. 


Rymenhild's  sor- 
row. 


Horn   dreams  of 
Rymenhild  in 
danger  of  drown- 


He  determines  to 
depart. 


He  takes  ship, 
and  with  him  his 
companions. 


Strong  cartel  he  let  fette 
Mid  fee  him  biflette. 
per  ne  mijte  lijte 

1398  Eutc  fojel  wi]?  flijte. 

Bute  wharcne  J?c  fe  wij?  droje 
Mijte  come  men  ynoje. 
Fikenhild  gan  wewdc 

1402  Rymewhild  to  fchewde. 

To  woje  he  gan  hure  jerne, 
pe  kyng  ne  dorfte  him  wenae. 
Rymenhild  was  ful  of  mode  : 

1406  He  wep  teres  of  blode. 
pat  nijt  horn  gan  fwete 
And  heuie  for  to  mete 
Of  Rymenhild  his  make 

1410  Into  fchupe  was  itake  : 

pe  fchup  bigan  to  blenche 
His  lewmian  fcholde  adrenche. 
Ryrnewhild  wij?  hire  hondc 

1414  Wolde  up  to  londe. 

Fikenhild  ajen  hire  pelte 
WiJ  his  fwerdes  hilte. 
^f  Horn  him  wok  of  flape 

1418  So  a  man  \at  hadde  rape. 
"A>ulf,"hefede,  "felaje 
To  fchupe  we  mote  draje 
Fikenhild  me  ha]?  idon  under, 

1422  And  Eymenhild  to  do  wunder  ; 
Crist,  for  his  wuwdes  hue, 
To  nijt  me  }>uder  driue." 
Horn  gan  to  fchupe  Ride, 

1426  His  ferew.  him  bilide. 

Fikenhild  or  ]>e  dai  gan  fpr/nge, 
Al  ri^t  he  ferde  to  ]>e  kinge, 
Afttfr  Rymenhild  J>e  brijte, 
1430  To  wedden  hire  binijte. 


HOKN  S    RETURN. 


41 


1434 


1438 


1442 


1446 


1450 


1454 


1458 


1462 


1466 


He  laddc  hure  bi  )>e  derkc 

Into  his  nywe  werke, 

pe  fefte  hi  biguwne 

Er  ]>at  ros  J>e  fuwne. 

Er  ]>ane  horn  hit  wifte, 

To-fore  ]>e  fimne  uprifte, 

His  fchup  ftod  tinder  ture 

At  Rynienhilde  bnre. 

Rymenhild  litel  wenef  heo 

pat  Horn  j?a/me  aliue  beo. 

pe  caftel  J?ei  ne  knewe, 

For  he  was  so  nywe. 

Horn  fond  fittinde  Arnoldin, 

pat  was  AJmlfes  cofin ; 

pat  \er  was  in  J?«t  tide, 

Horn  for  tabide. 

"Horn  knijt,"  he  fede,  "  kinges  lone, 

Wei  beo  Jm  to  londe  icome. 

Today  ha]7  ywedde  Fikenhild 

pi  swete  lewman  Rymenhild. 

Ne  fchal  i  )>e  lie, 

He  ha]?  giled  J?e  twie. 

pis  tur  he  let  make 

Al  for  J>ine  fake. 

Ne  mai  ]>er  come  iwne 

Nonian  wij?  none  giwne. 

Horn  nu  crifl  ]>e  wifTe 

Of  Rymenhild  J?«t  ]?u  ne  lniiTe." 

Horn  cu]?e  al  ]>e  lifte 

pat  eni  man  of  wifte. 

Harpe  he  gan  fchewe 

And  tok  felajes  fewe, 

Of  knijtes  fui]?e  fnelle 

p«t  fchrudde  hem  at  wille. 

Hi  jeden  bi  J?e  grauel 

Toward  ]>c  caftel, 


[MS.  p.  25.] 

Fykenhild  talscs 
Rymenhild  to  his 
new  castle. 


Horn's  ship 
comes  to  Rymen- 
hild's  bower, 


but  they  know 
nothing  of  the 
new  building. 


Arnoldin, 
Athulf's    cousin, 
tells    Horn    how 
matters  stand. 


Horn  disguises 
himself  and  a  few 
of  his  friends  as 
harpers, 


and  they  go  to  the 
castle  and  sing. 


42 


SLAUGHTER   OF    FIKENHILD. 


Rymenhild    will 
have  them  let  in. 


They   overthrow 
Fikenhild  and  his 


Arnoldin  is  ap- 
pointedking  after 
Aylmer. 


Horn   takes    his 
wife   away  with 
him,     and     also 
Athelbrus,  the 
steward. 


11 

1470 


1474 


1478 


1482 


1486 


1490 


1494 


1498 


1502 


Hi  gurane  muric  fingc 

And  makede  here  gleowinge 

Rymenhild  hit  gan  iherc 

And  axede  what  hi  were  : 

Hi  fede,  hi  weren  harpurs, 

And  fume  were  gigours. 

He  dude  horn  iwn  late 

Rijt  at  halle  gate, 

He  fette  him  on  \>o  benche 

His  harpe  for  to  clenche. 

He  makede  Rymenhilde  lay 

And  heo  makede  walaway. 

Rymenhild  feol  yfwoje, 

Ne  was  \er  non  \a\  louje. 

Hit  fmot  to  homes  herte 

So  bitere  Jwrt  hit  fnwte. 

He  lokede  on  ]>e  ringe 

And  )>ojte  on  Rymenhilde. 

He  jede  up  to  borde 

WiJ?  gode  fuerdes  orde. 

Fikewhildes  crane 

per  ifulde  adune, 

And  al  his  men  arowe 

Hi  dude  adun  )>rowe. 

Whawne  hi  wererc  allaje, 

Fikewhild  hi  dude  to-dmje. 

Horn  makede  Arnoldin  J>are 

Kiwg,  after  kirag  Aylmare, 

Of  al  wefhrnene 

For  his  meoknelfe. 

pe  kiwg  and  his  homage 

$eue»  Arnoldiw  towage. 

Horn  tok  Rymenhild  bi  ]>e  honde 

And  ladde  hure  to  \q  ftroride. 

And  ladde  wi]?  him  A]?elbrus, 

pe  gode  ftuard  of  his  hus. 


HORN    KING    OF    SUDDENE. 


43 


pe  fe  bigaw  to  flowe 
And  horn  gan  to  Rowe. 
Hi  guwne  for  ariue 

1506  per  kiwg  modi  was  fire. 

A)>elbrtts  he  makede  \er  king 
For  his  gode  teching : 
He  jaf  alle  \e  knijtes  ore 

1510  For  horn  knijtes  lore. 
Horn  gan  for  to  ride 
pe  wind  him  bleu  wcl  wide. 
He  ariuede  in  yrlonde 

1514  per  he  wo  fowdede, 

per  he  dude  A]mlf  child 
"Wcddew  maide  Reynild. 
Horn  cowj  to  suddewne 

1518  Among  al  his  kenne. 

Rynuwhild  he  makede  his  quene 
So  hit  mijte  wel  beon. 
Al  folk  he?n  mijte  rewe 

1522  pat  louedew  hewa  fo  trewe. 
Nu  ben  hi  bo]?e  dede, 
Crift  to  heuene  hem  lede. 
Her  ende]?  \e  tale  of  horn, 

1526  pat  fair  was  and  nojt  unom, 

Make  we  us  glade  Eure  among, 
For  Jms  him  ende]?  homes  fong 
Jesus  ]>at  is  of  heuene  king 

1530  ^eue  us  alle  his  fuete  blefiwg. 


Athelbrus  is 
made  king  in 
place  of  Modi. 


Horn  conies  to 
Ireland,  and  mar- 
ries Athulf  to 
lleynild. 


Thence  he  goes 
to  Suddene  with 
his  queen. 


Thus    ends    the 
tale  of  Horn. 


Amen. 


EX— PLI— CIT. 


11  ASSUMPCIOIW  DE   NOTOE   DAME. 


[MS.  p.  2fi.] 

Mytaleisof  Saint 
Mary  and  of  her 
assumption. 


The  kins  of 
Heaven  bless 
those  who 
hearken. 


When  Christ  was 
crucified  he  call- 
ed to  him  Saint 
John,  his  kins- 
man, and  his  mo- 
ther, and  said  to 
them, 


fl/TErie  tale  telle  ihc  jus  day 


"My  people,  who 
ought  to  love  me, 
have  put  me  to 
this  shame,  but  I 
pray  my  Father 
to  forgive  them." 


Of  seiwte  Maryc  \at  swete  may. 

Al  is  ]?e  tale  [and]  Jris  lefcoun 
4  Of  hire  swete  aflbwtpcioun, 

Hu  heo  was  from  erj?e  ynome 

In  to  bliffe  wih  hire  fone. 

pe  kyng  of  heuene  hem  bleffi 
8  pat  J>is  listnej?  and  wel  herkni. 

Alle  moten  hi  iblefled  heo 

pat  under flonde  wel  J?is  gleo. 
^f  Whan  Ih<?su  criG.  was  don  on  rode 
12  And  J7olede  dej?  for  nre  gode, 

He  clepede  to  hym  feint  Johan, 

pat  was  his  oje  qenes  man, 

And  his  ojene  moder  alfo 
16  Ne  clepede  he  hym  fere??  no  mo. 

And  fede,  "  wif,  lo  her  ]>i  child 

pat  on  )?e  rode  is  ifpild : 

Nu  ihc  am  howged  on  ]?is  tre 
20  "Wel  fore  ihc  wot  hit  re  we]?  }?e. 

Mine  fet  and  honden  of  blod  [buj?  red] 

Bijmte  gult  ih[c]  J?olie  Jns  ded. 

Mine  men  \at  ajte  me  to  loue, 
24  For  whan1  ihc  com  fram  heuene  abuue    ['  wham.] 

Me  hauej>  idon  ]?is  ilke  fchame. 

Ihc  naue  no  gult  hi  buj?  to  blame. 

To  mi  fader  ihc  bidde  mi  bone, 
28  pat  he  forjiue  hit  hem  wel  fone." 


SAINT   JOHNS    CARE    FOR    OUR    LADY. 


45 


^f  Marie  ftod  and  fore  weop 

pe  teres  feolle  to  hire  fet. 

No  wuwder  nas  j?ej  heo  wepe  fore, 
32  Of  foreje  ne  mijte  heo  wite  nomore, 

Whewne  he  ]>at  of  hire  nam  blocl  and  flelf, 

Alio  his  fuete  wille  was, 

He»g  Inayled  on  \e  treo. 
36  "  Alas,  my  fone,"  feide  heo, 

"  Hu  may  ihc  Hue,  hu  may  )>is  beo  ? 

Hu  mai  ihc  al  Jus  foreje  ifeo  ? 

Ne  cuj?e  ihc  neure  of  foreje  nojt. 
40  Mi  leue  fone,  wat  haftu  )>ojt  ? 

Hon  fchal  ihc  lyue  bijmte  j?e  ? 

Leue  fone,  what  feiftu  me  ?" 
^1  po  fpac  Jhesn  wordes  gode 
44  per  he  heng  upon  J>e  rode. 

And  fede  to  his  moder  dere, 

' '  Ihc  fchal  j>e  teche  a  trewe  ifere 

pat  trewliche  fchal  loky  J?e 
48  pe  while  ]>at  ]?u  in  erthe  be." 
^[  po  feide  ure  lord  to  feiwt  Johan, 

"For  my  loue  qep  me  Jus  wymman. 

]em  hire  wel  wij?  al  ]>i  mijte 
52  pat  noman  do  hure  non  unrijte." 

Into  ]>e  tewple  mid  hire  he  nam, 

And  alfo  fone  fo  he  }?ar  cam 

Amowg  \e  lefdis  in  \e  ftede 
56  God  to  servi  he  hire  dude. 

per  bilefte  heo  al  hure  lif 

Ne  louede  he  no\er  fijt  ne  ftn'f. 

peo  \at  in  ]>e  temple  were 
60  Ne  mijte  nojt  hire  forbere. 

"WiJ>  al  hure  mijte  J?e  while  heo  was  J?oi-e 

Heo  seruede  bo)?e  laffe  and  more, 

Poure  and  fike  he  dude  god 
64  And  seruede  hem  to  hond  and  fot. 


Mary  stood  in 
tears,  for  she 
could  know  no 
greater  sorrow. 


"Alas!"  said  she, 
"how shall  [bear 
this  sorrow,  and 
live  without 
thee?" 


Then  spake   Je- 
sus, 


"  I  shall  provide 
thee  a  companion 
to  attend  to 
thee." 


Then  he  spake  to 
Saint  John,  that 
he  should  take 
Saint  Mary  and 
protect  her. 


Saint  John  put 
her  among  the 
women  of  the 
temple,  where 
she  abode  all  the 
rest  of  her  life, 
doing  good 
works, 


tending    on    the 
poor  and  sick. 


40 


AN    ANGEL    SENT    FROM    HEAVEN. 


Her  life  was 

passed  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Lord, 
and  he  caused  an 
angel  to  come  to 
her  from  heaven, 
and  came  also 
himself. 


Saint  John  cared 
for  her,  attend- 
ing on  her  every 
wish. 


[MS.  p.  27.] 


After  she  had 
heen  there  ten 
■winters  her  son 
would  take  her 
to  himself,  and 
he  sent  an  angel 
to  her  as  she 
prayed  in  the 
temple,  who  said, 
*'  Lady,  fear  not, 


I   am    thy   son's 
messenger ; 


blessed  art  thou 
of     women,    for 
through  thy  son 
the  world  is 
saved. 


Pourc  and  huwgrie  wel  fuire  he  fedde, 

And  fike  hco  brojte  in  here  bedde. 

Nas  \cr  non  fo  hoi  no  fcr 
08  pat  to  hire  nadde  mefter. 

Hi  louede  hure  alle  wi]>  here  mijte, 

For  heo  ferucde  hem  wel  rijte. 

He  wakede  more  J?ane  flep 
72  Hire  sone  to  fmii  was  al  hire  kep. 

To  him  heo  clupede  wij?  Murie  fteuene, 

And  hire  he  fente  an  auregel  tram  heuene, 

To  gladie  hire  himself  he  cam, 
76  Crifl  \ai  fleffof  hire  nam. 
^J  Seiwt  Jon  hire  kepte  and  was  hire  dere, 

He  was  hire  eure  a  trewe  fere, 

Nolde  he  neure  fram  hire  gon, 
80  Al  \at  heo  wolde  he  dude  anon. 

pe  whiles  hi  were  in  \at  ftede 

Al  \at  heo  wolde  he  hit  dede. 

"Whane  heo  hadde  beo  \er  longe, 
84  Ten  wyntere  hew  amonge, 

Hire  fone  wolde  heo  come  hym  to 

Whane  he  hit  wolde  hit  was  ido. 
^f  He  fente  hire  on  Au»gel  of  heuene, 
88  And  grette  hire  wi)>  murie  fteuene, 

In  J?e  temple  he  bad  hire  bede 

per  lijte  ]>e  auwgel  in  \at  ftede, 

And  fede,  "  lefdi  ful  of  grace 
92  Wel  \q  beo  in  eche  place. 

Ne  beo  nojt  ofdrad  j?ej  ihc  beo  her, 

Ihc  am  \i  fones  Mefiager, 

Fram  hym  to  J?e  ihc  am  icome, 
96  pe  grette  wel  J?i  dere  fone, 

Flur  of  erj>e,  of  heuene  quen, 

IbleiTed  mote  }m  eure  ben ; 

Wel  beo  \q  time  \at  Jni  were  ibore, 
100  For  al  ]?is  worlde  were  forlore, 


HIS   MESSAGE    TO   OUR    LADY. 


47 


Ef  ]m  nere  and  }at  frut  of  J;e, 

Marie  lefdi,  wel  ]?e  be. 

Lcfdi,  beft  of  alle  )>inge, 
104  Wel  blij^e  bode  ihc  \q  bringe, 

Nym  ]?is  palm  wij?  \i  rijt  honde, 

Hit  is  J>i  dere  fones  fonde. 

pe  ]>'wke]>  long  hyni  to  fe, 
108  Ne  fchaltu  ber  no  lenger  beo, 

He  wile  fenden  aftw  J?e 

Fram  heuene  adun  of  bis  meigne, 

And  fecche  \q  in  to  bis  blilfe, 
112  pat  eure  lchal  lelie  wi]mte  mifle. 

J?er  be  is  kyng  ]?u  fchalt  beo  quen, 

Al  beuene  for  J?e  lcbal  blij?e  beon." 
^f  panne  anfuaredi  ure  lefdi 
116  To  \q  au»gel  \at  ftod  bire  by : 

"  Artu  mi  fones  Mellager 

pat  bringeft  me  j?is  greting  her  ? 

Ha}?  be  fet  me  any  day 
120  Ajenes  \ak  ibc  me  gre]?i  may, 

And  nyme  lyue  of  mine  kenefmen, 

And  myne  frend  \at  wij?  me  beon, 

And  of  bim  \ak  ha]?  me  closed  and  fed, 
124  And  don  alfo  my  fone  hym  bed  ?" 
^f  po  fede  )>e  aungel  "ihc  telle  J?e 

pu  ne  fchalt  beo  her  bute  dajes  ]>re. 

pe  J?ridde  day  we  fcbulle  come, 
128  Auwgles  fram  heuene  aboue, 

And  fette  j>e  wij?  muiye  fong, 

For  after  j?e  us  )?inke[J?]  lowg." 
^[  panne  anfuarede  ure  lefdy  : 
132  "  What  is  ]?i  name,  belamy  ?" 

He  fede,  "  my  name  ne  telle  ibc  \c  nojt, 

Bute  nym  )ns  palm  \at  ihc  habbe  \q  brojt, 

And  kep  bit  wel  ihc  bidde  J?e, 
136  Ne  let  hit  neure  fram.  ]>e  be  ; 


Take  this  palm  ; 
thy  son  has  sent 
it. 


Thou  shalt  be  no 
longer  here. 


He  will  take  thee 
to  his  bliss  eter- 
nal." 


Then  answered 
our  lady, 


"  Hath   my   son 
sent  thee  1    Hath 
he  appointed 
when  I  must 
leave  my  kinsmen 
and  friends?" 


The  angel  said, 
"  Thou  shalt  be 
here  but  three 
days. 


Then  shall  we 
come  and  trans- 
port thee  with 
songs." 


Our  lady,  en- 
quiring the  mes- 
senger's name,  is 
refused  the  infor- 
mation ;  but  he 
gives  her  the 
palm  and  takes 
his  leave. 


48 


OIK    LADY  S     I'KAYKK. 


and  goes  to  the 
apostles  to  bid 
them  lie  present 

on  the  third  day. 


Saint  Mary,  when 
the  angel  had 
gone  up  into 
heaven,  retired  to 
her  chamber, 


and  washed  her, 


and  put  on  new 
clothes  fair  and 
beautiful. 

Then  she  prayed 
to  Christ,  thank- 
ing him  for  his 
remembrance  of 
her. 


Also    she    prays 
that  pain,  shame, 

[MS.  p.  28.] 
and    Satan    may 
have  no  power  to 
alarm  her. 


That  Satan's 
wiles  betray  her 
not. 


Also  prays  she 
for  mankind,  that 
they  may  have 
the  wish  and  time 
to  repent. 


I  no  dar  no  long  dwello  hor, 

For  ihc  was  font  af  Meflager. 

To  j?e  apoftles  ihc  fchal  gon, 
1-10  And  biddo  howj  alio  curoch  on, 

pat  hi  boon  her  ]?e  j^riddo  day, 

No  long  abiden  Inc  may." 
^1  po  he  hadde  ydon,  to  heuene  he  ftej, 
144  Marie  abod  and  was  wel  flcj, 

And  na?«  \at  palm  \at  hire  was  brojt, 

And  of  \at  bode  heo  hadde  gret  \o\t ; 

Into  hire  Chaumbre  ftille  he  nam, 
148  And  fo  fone  fo  heo  J?ar  cam, 

He  dude  of  al  hire  batere, 

And  weflch  hire  body  wyj?  clene  waWe. 

]3o  heo  hauede  fo  idon, 
152  Al  y-nywe  fchrud  heo  dude  hire  on. 

po  heo  was  fchurd  and  faire  iclad 

To  Ihesn  cn'ft  aboue  heo  bad, 

And  fede,  "  fone  ihc  Jonky  j>e, 
156  pat  )m  haucft  i]?o}t  of  me. 

Sone,  Jm  ert  of  heuene  kyng, 

Ihc  bidde  ]?e  \i  bleffmg. 

Sone,  for  }?in  holy  name, 
1 60  Schild  me  frain  J»ine  and  fram  fchame 

pat  )>e  deuel  ne  habbe  no  myjt 

To  derie  me,  hit  were  unrijt. 

Sone,  help  me  nu  ihc  haue  ned, 
164  pat  me  haue  of  J>e  foond  no  dred. 

For  wi]?  \q  giles  \at  he  can 

He  bitraiej?  many  man. 

Leue  fone,  ne  jef  him  nojt 
168  pat  Jm  haueft  so  dere  ibojt. 

Sune,  Jm  art  ful  of  pite, 

For  fenful  manne  bid  ihc  J?e, 

pat  ]7U,  for  J?in  holy  grace, 
172  }ef  he»>  boJ>e  wille  and  fpace 


her  farewell  interview  with  her  friends. 


49 


Hem  to  amendy  er  hy  beo  ded, 

pat  j>e  deuel  hem  do  no  qued. 

p enk,  fone,  \at  J?u  haft  hem  wrojt 
176  And  ]7«t  Jm  haueft  hem  dere  ibojt : 

For  hem  ]m  )>oledeft  pine  and  wo, 

"Wite  hem  wel  fr«m  here  fo." 
^f  po  heo  hadde  bifojt  fo, 
180  Hire  frend  he  clupede  hire  to, 

Bo]?e  sibbe  and  fremde  Men. 

WiJ?  reuful  fpeche  heo  fpak  wi]?  hem, 

And  fede,  "  lene  frend,  my  fone 
184  Nele  no  leng  \at  ihc  her  wone  : 

He  wile  ihc  wende  and  mid  him  be, 

And  bidde  ihc  jou,  par  charite, 

^ef  ihc  habbe  eny  Jung  mis-wrojt, 
188  Tellej  hit  me,  ne  hele]?  hit  no^t. 

Ihc  wulle  amende  and  \at  is  rijt, 

pat  my  faule  ne  beo  idrijt ; 

pat  god  ]e  habbe)?  me  ydon, 
192  Mi  fone  \at  was  in  rode  ydon 

Man  to  bigge  fram  J>e  ded, 

^elde  hit  jou  at  ower  neds 

And  bringe  jou  into  fat  blis 
196  pat  eure  ileft  Jar  my  fone  is." 
^[  Alle  \at  ftoden  hire  by 

Of  J?at  tijinge  were  fory. 

And  fede,  "  Lefdi  hn  mai  hit  be  ? 
200  Hu  fchulle  we  Hue  wijoutew  \e  ? 

Lefdi  dere,  what  haftu  J?ojt  ? 

Reu  of  us,  ne  wend  J>u  nojt. 

In  soreje  and  in  Muche  wo 
204  Schulle  we  lyue  beo  ]m  us  fro." 
^f  panne  fpak  ure  lefdy 

To  hem  \at  were  hire  by  : 

"Letej  beon,  ower  wepinge  ne  helpe]>  nojt, 
208  HabbeJ?  ioye  in  ower  J>ojt, 


After    this    she 
summonetb    her 
kindred  and 
friends, 


and  begs  them  to 
tell    her    if    she 
have  misdone, 
that  she  may  re- 
pair her  fault. 


She  prayeth  that 
Christ  may  help 
them  at  their 
need,  for  their 
kindness  to  her. 


They  are  all  sor- 
rowful. 


Then   our   Lady 
says, 

"  Weep  not,  but 
rejoice. 


50 


ARRIVAL    OP    SAINT  JOHN. 


Watch  with  me 
while  I  remain 
here,  and  fear 
not,  for  my  son 
will  not  let  me 
suffer  pain. 


The  apostles  shall 
come  to  me  to  he 
with  me." 

While  she  spake 
John  came  in,  and 
thinking  her  to 
he  in  sorrow,  asks 
her  to  tell  him,  for 
his  service  and 
his  love,  what  is 
the  grief  she 
hath. 


po  while  ihc  am  her  wake]?  wib  me  ; 

Hit  dob  me  god  J?«t  ihc  pu  fe, 

Nabbeb  no  drede  ac  witcb  hit  wel, 
212  Of  pine  ne  fchal  ihc  bole  no  del ; 

Ne  fchal  no  forej  come  me  to, 

For  my  fone  hit  wule  so. 

Mi  body  ne  fchal  no  pine  bole, 
216  For  he  was  Jw-of  ibore. 

He  bolede  pine  himfelf  for  me, 

po  he  deide  upon  be  trc. 

He  bat  is  almijtful  kyng 
220  Schal  me  fende  of  his  geng 

Joiura  and  J?e  apoftles  whei  hy  be 

Alle  hi  fchulle  come  to  me." 

J?e  while  he  fpac  bus  to  bis  men 
224  Of  al  btft  bing  nufte  nojt  Jon. 

He  com  to  fpeke  wib  ure  lefdi, 

And  hym  bufte  heo  was  fori. 

And  fede,  "lefdy,  what  is  be? 
228  For  my  seruife  tel  hit  me 

Lefdi,  what  is  be  ifed  ? 

Me  were  leffre  to  beo  dec! 

pane  ifeo  be  make  fuch  chere. 
232  What  is  be  ?  my  lefdi  dere, 

Ne  fchal  ihc  neure  habbe  blif 

Fort  b«t  ihc  wite  what  be  is." 

Ure  lefdi  wep  and  Joh«n  alfo 
236  Trewe  loue  was  bituex  hem  tuo. 

"  Lefdi,"  he  fede,  "  what  is  be  ? 

For  my  loue  tel  hit  me." 

Marie  anfuerde  wib  Milde  fteuene : 
240  "  A  fonde  Me  cam  while  er  fram  heuene. 


[The  MS.  ends  here.~] 


FLOEIZ   AND    BLAUNCHEFLTJR, 


This  fragment  begins  with  the  departure  of  Floriz  in  search  of  his 
beloved.  Floriz  was  son  of  a  king  of  Spain,  and  from  that  country 
Blaunchenur  having  been  carried  off,  had  been  sold  to  an  Admiral  of 
Babylon.  Floriz  determines  to  go  in  search  of  her ;  and  it  is  with  his 
mother's  farewell  of  him  that  the  part  of  the  poem  here  preserved 
opens: — 


Heo  tok  for]?  a  wel  fair  J>ing 
Of  hire  finger  a  riche  Byng. 
"  Mi  fone,"  heo  fede,  "  haue  J»is  ring, 

4  Whil  he  is  ]>in  ne  dute  noting 
pat  fur  }>e  brewne,  ne  adrenche  fe, 
Ne  ire  ne  fteil  ne  mai  J?e  fle, 
And  to  }?i  wil  ]>u  fchalt  habbe  grace 

.8  Late  and  rathe  in  eche  place." 

Floris  niine]?  nu  his  leue, 
No  longer  nolde  he  bileue : 
He  cufte  hem  wi]>  softe  mu]?e, 

12  Al  wepinge  hi  departed  nu]>e, 

Ne  makede  his  Moder  no?^  o\er  chere 
Bute  alfo  he  were  ileid  on  bere. 
For  him  ne  wende  hi  nevere  mo 

16  Eft  to  fen  ne  dude  hi  no. 

For]?  he  wende  wi]>  al  his  mein 
And  wi}>  him  his  fader  chauwberlein  : 


[MS.  p.  1.] 
She  took  a  rich 
ring  from  her 
finger  and  gave 
it  to  him  as  a 
eharm  against 
both  fire  and 
water,  iron  and 
steel,  and  a  se- 
curity of  favour 
evervwhere. 


Floris  departs 
after  a  loving 
farewell,  his  mo- 
ther grieving  as 
for  his  death : 
since  they  never 
thought  to  see 
him  again. 


Hetakesaretinue 
and  his  father's 
chamberlain. 


52 


FLORIZ   HEARS   TIDINGS   OF    BLAL'XCHEFLTJR. 


They  lodge  at  the 
same  inn 
Blaneheflur  had 
lodged,  and  the 
rest  are  wcllcnter- 
tained,  and  make 
merry,  for  Floris 
spared  no  cost ; 


but   Floris  him- 
self  neither    ate 
nor    drank,    but 
thought  of 
Blaneheflur. 

His  dejection  is 
noticed  by  the 
lady  of  the  inn, 
and  she  speaketh 
to  her  husband 
that  he  should 
notiee  it. 


Then  she  herself 
enquires  the 
cause  of  his  sor- 
row,and  tellshim 
that  Blaneheflur 
sat  in  the  same 
•way  sad  and 
mourning. 
Hereupon  he  gets 
the  account  of 
Blaneheflur  from 
beginning  to  end. 


Fort  to  ]?c  haucne  hi  beo]?  icume, 

20  And  Jw  habbe]?  here  in  inome. 
At  j?e  ielue  hufe  hi  bu]?  alijt 
pat  blamzchcflur  was  )>at  o\er  nijt. 
Riche  foper  J?er  was  idijt 

24  And  murie  hi  uerde?»  \er  anijt : 
Floriz  ne  let  for  ne  feo 
To  finden  al  ]>at  neod  beo, 
Of  fleff  of  fiff  of  tendre  bred 

28  Of  whit  win  and  eke  red. 
Glad  and  bli]?e  hi  weren  alle 
jTflt  were?*  wi]?  hem  in  ]?e  halle, 
And  pleide  and  gamenede  ehc  wi]?  o\er ; 

32  Ac  floriz  ]?ewchej?  al  on  o\er, 
For  he  net  ne  dronk  rijt  no^t, 
On  blauwcheflur  was  al  his  J>o}t. 
pe  lefdi  of  her  inne  under^at 

36  pat  he  muminge  fat : 

To  hire  louc>-d  heo  fede  wi]?  ftille  dreme, 
"  Sire,  nimeflu  no  jeme 
Hu  ]?is  child  mtcrmnge  lit  ? 

40  Mete  ne  drinke  he  nabit, 

He  net  mete  ne  he  ne  drinke]?, 

Nis  he  no  niarchauwt  afe  me  ]?inke]?." 

"  Floriz,"  heo  fede,  "  what  mai  ]>e  beo, 

44  pus  nmrninge  as  ich  ]?e  feo  ? 
pus  herinne  ]?is  o\er  day 
Sat  blau??cheflur,  J?«t  faire  may ;" 
Ord  and  ende  he  ha]?  him  told, 

48  Hu  blau??cheflur  was  ]?ariwne  if  old. 
"  pu  art  hire  ilich  of  alle  ]?inge, 
Bo]?e  of  femblauwt  and  of  ni«rni??ge, 
Of  fairnelTe  and  of  muchelhede, 

52  Bute  ]?u  ert  a  man  and  heo  a  maide." 
po  floriz  iherde  his  lew?ma?a  newpne, 
So  blifful  him  J?ujte  Julke  fteuene, 


HE    SETS    SAIL    IN    SEARCH    OF    HER. 


53 


He  let  fulle  a  cupe  of  win, 

56  "Daine,"  he  fede,  "jus  hail  is  ]>'m, 
pat  win  and  fat  gold  eke, 
For  Jm  of  mi  lemman  fpeke : 
For  hire  ifojte,  for  hire  ifyte, 

.60  For  inot  wher  hire  feche  mijte  : 
Hire  to  feche  ihc  wille  i-wende 
pe)  heo  beo  at  \e  wordles  ende." 
Floriz  gej  to  his  reft, 

64  On  blauwcheflur  he  bojte  mefl, 
Ac  reft  ne  mijte  he  nabbe  none, 
Fort  J>e  elide  flep  him  nome. 
Amoreje,  fo  fone  so  hit  was  day, 

68  He  tok  his  leue  and  we»te  his  way, 
And  dude  him  into  \e  falte  nod : 
He  hadde  wind  and  weder  ful  god, 
pe  Mariner  he  jaf  largeliche 

72  pat  bro^te  him  ouer  blu]?eliche 
per  hi  woldew  hem  felf  alonde, 
For  hi  funden  hem  fo  hende, 
To  J;e  lond  ]>er  his  lemman  is 

76  Hi?«  Jm^te  he  was  in  p^rais. 
Anon  me  him  tijn«ge  tolde 
pat  \e  admiral  wolde  fefte  h[olde], 
Erles  baruns  \er  come  fch[olde] 

80  And  ]?at  wolden  of  him  h[olde]. 
Bli)?e  was  floriz  of  )>e  tijnnge, 
He  hopede  come  to  fat  gefniwge, 
"Wei  he  hopede  among  hem  alle 

84  His  lemman  sen  in  ]?e  halle. 
To  a  riche  Cite  hi  but  icume, 
Uaire  hi  habbe}?  here  in  inome 
At  one  paieis  fujje  liche, 

88  pe  lord  of  \er  iwne  nas  now  his  liche, 
Him  feol  gold  inoj  to  honde 
Boj7e  in  water  and  in  londe : 


Then  Floris  got 
a  cup  of  -wine, 
and  gave  cup  and 
■wine  both  to  the 
dame  for  telling 
him  of  his  love. 


Then  goes  Floris 
to  rest,  but  can- 
not    sleep     for 
thought  of 
Blancheflur. 


At  daybreak  in 
the  morning  he 
6ets  out  on  his 
voyage,  and  with 
fair  wind  and 
weather,  and  a 
well-fed  crew, 
he  soon  reaches 
the  land  where 
his  love  is,  which 
seemed  Paradise 
to  him. 


He  hears  that  the 
Admiral  intends 
to  hold  a  feast,  to 
which  his  earls, 
barons,  and  other 
subjects  were  to 
come. 

[MS.  p.  2.] 
Floris  was  de- 
lighted with  the 
news,  hoping  to 
get  to  the  enter- 
tainment, and  see 
his  love. 

He  went  to  a  rich 
city,  and  took  up 
his"  abode  at  the 
inn  of  a  prosper- 
ous burgess, 


54 


HIS   HOST   TELLS    HIM    SHE    is    IX    BABYLON. 


■who     entertains 
him  kindly ; 


but  Floiis  neither 
eats  nor  drinks, 
■which,  when  the 
host  observes,  he 
tells  him  of 
Blancheflur  hav- 
ing been  there 
before,  who  be- 
haved in  a  like 
■way. 


At  this  hearing, 
overjoyed,  he 
caused  to  be 
brought  a  cup  of 
silver  and  a  robe 
of  miniver,  -which 
he  offers  to  his 
host  for  his  news 
of  Blancheflur. 


Thereupon  he 
tells  him  that  she 
was  brought  to 
Babylon  by  the 
admiral  who  had 
bought  her. 


He  then  goes  to 
rest, 


but  cannot  sleep. 


In  the  morning 
he  takes  leave, 
giving  a  hundred 
shillings  for  his 
entertainment, 


He  hadde  ilad  his  life  ful  wide. 
92  pis  child  he  Fette  next  his  fide. 

Glad  and  bli]?e  hi  wercn  alle, 

So  fele  so  were  in  ]>c  halle, 

Ac  floriz  net  ne  dronk  nojt, 
96  Of  blauMcheflur  was  al  his  ]?o$t. 

pc  lord  of  \er  inne  underjat 

pat  }>is  child  mw/ninge  fat : 

"  Floriz,"  he  fede,  "  what  mai  ]>e  beo 
100  pus  nwniwge  \at  ihc  J»e  feo? 

pus  heriwne  ]?is  o\er  day 

/Sat  blau^cheflur  \at  faire  may  : 

In  halle  ne  in  bur  ne  at  bord 
104   Of  hire  ne  herde  we  neure  a  word, 

Z?ute  of  floriz  was  hire  mone, 

ITeo  nadde  in  herte  ioie  none." 

Whanne  herde  he  newpnen  his  lewman, 
108  Bli\e  he  was  iwis  for  J?an. 

He  lat  bringe  a  cupe  of  feluer, 

And  eke  a  pane  of  meniuier : 

panne  he  fede,  "haue  )>is  to  )?in  honur 
112  So  \vl  fpeke  of  blau?icheflur 

pn  mijteft  make  min  heorte  ful  glad, 

pu  telle  me  wuder  heo  were  ilad." 

panne  fede  }e  burgeis 
116  pat  icas  wel  hende  and  ewftais, 

"  To  2fa&/lloigne  he  was  ibrojt, 

pe  admiral  hire  haj  ibojt." 

Floriz  go\  to  his  reft, 
120   On  BlauncJieftuv  he  J70^te  nieft, 

Ac  refte  ne  mijte  he  habbe  none 

Fort  \q  dide  flep  him  nome. 

Amoreje,  fo  fone  fo  hit  was  day, 
124  He  nem  his  Hue  and  wewde  his  way, 

And  for  his  nijtes  geftinge 

He  jaf  his  ofte  an  hundred  fchillinge. 


HIS    HOST  S    ADVICE. 


55 


And  jerne  he  haj?  his  ofte  bifojt 
128  pat  he  him  helpe  wi]>  al  his  ]?ojt, 

In  Babilloine  o]>er  wher  abeo 

pat  he  mijte  hire  ifeo  ; 

Hu  he  rui$te  mid  fume  ginne 
1 32  His  lewman  blauMcheflur  awinne. 

pa?rae  fede  ]>e  burgeis 

pat  was  hende  and  curtais ; 

"At  babilloine  ate  frame 
136  To  one  brigge  ]>u  fchalt  cume, 

"WTiane  J»u  comeft  to  J>e  jate 

pe  porter  Jni  fchalt  find  ]?arate, 

"Wei  hende  man  and  fair  he  is 
140  He  is  ieluped  lire  daris; 

Mi  felaje  he  is  Jmrej  trupe  iplijt, 

And  he  kan  rede  ]>e  arijt ; 

Haue  and  ber  him  J?is  ring 
144  On  mine  halue  to  tokning 

pat  he  J?e  helpe  in  alle  halue 

Afe  he  wolde  me  felue." 

Floriz  herof  was  wel  blipe 
148  And  J?onkede  his  ofte  wel  fuij?e ; 

Feire  of  him  he  nimej?  leue 

No  lengur  nolde  he  bileue. 

~Bi)>at  hit  was  middai  hij 
152  Floriz  was  ]?e  brigge  nij. 

pe  he  com  to  \ e  gate 

pe  porter  he  fond  anon  jwate, 

Sittinde  one  a  marbel  fton 
156  Supe  fair  and  hende  mon. 

And  fo  him  fede  child  floriz, 

"Pteft  ]?e  marie,  fire  daris." 

And  tok  him  to  tokne  pis  ring 
160  And  jwfore  he  hauede  wel  fair  geftniwg. 

Glade  and  blipe  hi  weren  alle 

So  fele  so  weren  in  ]>e  halle  ; 


and  entreating 
his  host  to  help 
him  to  some  con- 
trivance by  which 
he  may  get  a  sight 
of  Blancheflur. 


The  burgess  tells 
him  that  at  the 
entrance  to  Baby- 
lon the  porter  of 
the  bridge  lives, 
Daris,  his  true 
fellow,  who  can 
give  him  advice. 


He  also  gives  him 
a  ring  to  bear  as 
a  token  to  the 
porter. 


Floris  is  glad  of 
this  aid,  and  by 
midday  is  come 
to  the  bridge. 


He  finds  Daris, 
and,  after  greet- 
ing him  and  pre- 
senting the  ring, 
is  very  nobly  en- 
tertained. 


[MS.  p.  3.] 


56 


HIS    INTERVIEW    WITH    DA  HIS. 


Every     one 

merry  except 
Floris. 


Daris,  observing 
this,  enquires  the 
reason,  and 
whether  he  dis- 
likes his  enter- 
tainment. 


Floris  replies 
that  by  God's 
mercy  he  never 
had  so  good  an 
inn  of  a  long 
time ; 


but  that  he  is 
fearful  lest  he 
find  not  that  of 
which  he  has 
come  in  quest. 


Daris  offers   his 
counsel, 


and    Floris   tells 
his  story  : 


how  Blancheflur 
was  sold,  and  he 
was  about  to  try 
by  some  strata- 
gem to  win  her 
back. 


Daris  thinks  him 
a  fool,  and  that 
he  is  going  to  his 
own  destruction. 


Ac  floriz  net  ne  dronk  nojt 
164  On  blaimchcfiur  was  al  his  }>o$t. 

Sire  daris  underjet 

pat  floriz  mwraittge  fet. 

"Floriz,"  he  fede,  "  what  mai  ]>e  beo 
168  So  }?0}tful  afe  ihc  j?e  feo? 

Me  J?inche]>  bi  }>ine  chire 

pu  nert  nojt  glad  of  J?i  fopere, 

0\er  \e  ne  like]?  nojt  ]?is  in." 
172  po  floriz  anfuerede  him : 

"Sire,"  he  fede,  "bi  godes  ore, 

So  god  in  nauede  ihc  wel  jore ; 

Ure  louml  me  lete  ibide  ]>e  day 
176  pat  ihc  hit  J?e  julde  may. 

Ihc  J?enche,  lire,  on  fele  wife 

Nu  upon  mi  marchauwdife, 

Laft  ine  finde  nojt  atte  frume 
1 80  pat  J?ing  for  whi  ihc  am  hider  icume. 

And  ]?ej  ihc  hit  finde,  hit  is  my  wo 

Left  ihc  fchulle  hit  forgo." 

po  fede  daris  j>e  freo  burgeis 
184  pat  was  wel  hende  and  curteis ; 

"Fain  ihc  wolde  ]>e  rede  and  lere 

pat  Jm  muche  ]>e  before  were, 

}ef  ]m  toldeft  me  )>i  gref 
188  To  rede  ]>e  me  were  lef." 

po  floriz  bigan  his  confail  fchewe 

And  to  daris  beon  iknewe. 

Ord  and  ende  he  ha]?  him  told 
1 92  Hu  blauncheflur  was  ifold ; 

And  hu  he  was  a  hinges  fune 

For  hire  luue  J?ider  icume, 

To  fonde  )>urej  fame  cuwnes  ginne 
196  His  lewmiaw  blauncheflur  biwinne. 

Daris  ]?a?me  floriz  bihalt 

And  for  more  ]?ane  fol  him  halt. 


DESCRIPTION    OF   THE    TOWER   OF    BABYLON. 


57 


"Floriz,"  he  fede,  "ifeo  hu  hit  ge> 
200  pu  ert  abute  Junoje  de]?. 

pe  Admiral  haue)>  to  his  geftninge 

Ojw  half  hundred  of  riche  kinges : 

Ne  \er  nis  now  fo  riche  king 
204  jTrtt  dorftc  enternictw  of  eni  fuch  )?ing, 

pilke  maide  to  awinne 

T$o]>er  wi]?  ftrengj>e  ne  wij?  ginne ; 

And  J?e  Admiral  hit  mijte  iwite 
208  pat  he  nerc  of  his  lif  aquite. 

And  Babilloinc  ihc  undcrftonde 

Dure]?  abutc  furtcMnijt  gonde, 

Abute  \>e  walle  \er  bu]?  ate 
212  SeuefiJ7C  tucnti  jates, 

And  ine  J?c  burcj  amidde  rijt 

Beo)?  twe  tures  ipijt, 

Echo  day  in  al  J?e  jere 
216  pe  feire  is  \er  iliche  plenere. 

Seue  hundred  tures  and  two 

Beo]?  in  J>o  burj  bijmte  mo, 

And  ine  \<z  burj  amidde  rijt 
220  Beo]>  twe  tures,  ipijt 

Of  lym  and  of  marbel  fton, 

In  )>e  world  nis  swich  tur  non, 

In  \q  tur  \er  is  a  welle 
224  Su)?o  cler  hit  is  wi]>  alle, 

He  ume]?  in  o  pipe  of  bras 

Whider  so  hit  ned  was, 

Fram  flore  into  flore 
228  pe  ftrimes  urnej?  ftore, 

Fram  burc  into  halle 

pe  ftrimes  of  jns  welle. 

In  J?e  tur  is  o  kernel 
232  Of  seluer  and  of  creftel, 

On  J>e  tur  auouenom 

Is  a  charbusle  fton 


For  the  admiral 
has  half  a  hun- 
dred i  ich  kings  at 
his  feast,  mil  one 
of  whom  could 
meddle  with  such 
a  plan,  but  at  tho 
risk  of  his  life, 
if  tho  admiral 
found  it  out. 


Tho     extent    of 
Babylon. 


The  merchandise 
thereof. 


In  the  midst  are 
two  towers,  and 
in  them  a  well 
which  in  brazen 
pipes  fioweth 
through  the 
•whole  building. 


In  the  tower  is 
a  knob  of  silver 
and  of  crystal, 
and  a  carbuncle- 
stone,  which 
gives  light  in  the 
night,     so     that 


58 


THE    MAIDENS    IN    THE    TOWER. 


menneednolamp 
or  torch,  but 
there  is  ;i  li^ciit 
as  bright  as  the 
sun. 


[MS.  p.  4.] 
The     porter     is 
proud  and  cun- 
ning. 


There  are  forty 
and  four  maidens 
in  the  tower. 


Anyone  to  help 
in  a  stratagem 
must  be  a  bird 
with  wings. 


The  admiral 
takes    one    wife 
each  year,  and  for 
no  longer  time  is 
she  queen. 


The  maidens  are 
led  down,  when 
the  queen  is  to  be 
chosen,   into   an 


pat  jiuej?  lcme  day  and  nijt, 
236  Ne  bi  hit  ncure  fo  dcrk  nijt, 

In  ]?e  burej  ne  darf  me  berne 

Lampo  nc  torche  ne  lanternc, 

pat  be  ne  jiucj?  lijt  and  leme 
240  As  do]?  aday  ]>o  fuwne  beme. 

pe  porter  is  prud  wi]?allc, 

Ecbe  day  be  go]?  on  \c  walle, 

And  ef  \er  come}?  eni  man 
244  Bi]?iwne  Julke  barbecan, 

Bute  be  bim  jeue  leue 

He  wule  bim  bo]?e  bete  and  reue. 

pe  porter  is  culuart  and  felun, 
248  He  wule  bim  fette  areifun. 

per  bu]?  in  }e  hije  tur 

Forti  Maidenes  and  four. 

Wei  were  \at  ilke  mon 
252  pat  mijte  winne  wij?  \at  on ; 

Ne  ]?orte  be  neure  ful  iwis 

Wilne  more  of  paradis. 

per  bu]>  seriauws  in  \e  ftage 
256  pat  serue]?  \e  maidenes  of  parage  : 

Ac  ne  mot  ]>er  now.  ben  inne 

pat  one  J?e  brecbe  bere]?  \e  ginne, 

No]>er  bi  daie  ne  bini?t, 
260  Bute  be  alio  capun  beo  idijt. 

And  \e  Admiral  is  fucb  a  gume, 

In  al  tbe  world  nis  fucb  a  fune, 

Ne  bu  bis  wif  neure  lb  febene 
264  Bute  o  jer  ne  fcbal  beo  beon  his  queue, 

p  ej  heo  luue  him  afe  hire  lif 

pat  he  nele  habbe  ano]>er  wif. 

And,  floriz,  imai  ]>e  telle  fore 
8  Heo  fcbal  beon  his  queue  icore 

Alle  \e  maidenes  of  parage 

Me  fchal  bringe  aduw  of  ]>e  ftage, 


n 


HOW   THE    ADMIRAL    CHOOSETH    HIS   QUEEN. 


59 


And  leden  hem  in  to  on  orchard 

272  pe  fairelte  of  al  >e  Middellerd. 
Abnte  J?e  orchard  is  a  wal 
pe  c]?elikefte  fton  is  criftal, 
Ho  fo  wonede  a  moneJ>  in  j>at  fpray 

276  Nolde  him  nenre  longer  away ; 

So  niwie  is  ]>er  i»ne  \e  fojeles  fong, 
pat  ioie  and  blifle  is  eure  among. 
In  j>e  orchard  is  a  welle 

280  pat  is  suf>e  cler  wi]>  alle. 
Ihc  mai  feggen  iwis 
pe  ftn'mes  come]?  tram,  pwadis. 
For  in  J>e  ftnm.es  \e  fmale  stones 

284  Hi  beoj?  \er  funden  eurech  one, 
Bo^e  saphirs  and  fardoines, 
And  fu)>j?e  riche  caflidoines, 
And  Jacinctes  and  topaces, 

288  And  oniche  of  muchel  grace, 

And  mani  on  o]>er  direwer)?e  fton 
pat  ich  nu  newpne  ne  can. 
Aboue  J?e  walle  ftant  a  treo 

292  pat  fairefte  ]>at  mijte  in  erj?e  beo  : 
Hit  is  ihote  J»e  treo  of  luue 
For  lef  and  blofme  heo]>  \er  buue, 
So  sone  fo  ]>e  olde  beo]?  idon 

296  per  iprmgej?  niwe  rijt  anon. 

Alle  Jdlke  \at  clene  maidenes  beo 
Schulle  lute  arewe  under  J?«t  treo, 
And  which  falle]?  on  ]>at  furfte  flur 

300  Schal  beo  queue  and  fonge  j>onur. 
}ef  )>er  is  cni  maide  forleie, 
pe  wal  is  of  fo  muchel  eie 
An  heo  ftepe  to  \e  grurade 

304  For  to  waffche  hire  honde, 

Ha  bulmej>  up  so  he  were  wod 
And  Chau?*ge}?  fram  water  into  blod. 


orchard.  The 
walls  of  the  or- 
chard are  of  pre- 
cious stones,  the 
most  worthless 
being  crystal. 
The  birds  sing 
merrily  there. 


The  well  in  the 
orchard,  the 
streams  of  which 
come  from  Para- 
dise. 


For  in  the  streams 
are  found  sap- 
phires, sardon- 
yxes,  chalcedony, 
jacinths,  topazes, 
onyxes,  and  many 
other  costly 
stones. 


Above  the  wall  is 
a  tree,  called  the 
Tree  of  Love. 


As  soon  as  any 
leaf  or  flower 
withers  another 
at  once  springs  in 
its  place. 


The  queen  is 
chosen  by  the 
falling  of  the 
flower  from  this 
tree. 


The  well  boileth 
up  and  is  changed 
from  water  to 
blood  if  any,  not 
a  maid,  come  to 
wash  there. 


60 


DAKIS   GIVES    FLORIZ    DIRECTION 


It  is  by  conjura- 
tion and  enchant- 
ment that  the 
flower  falls  on 
the  maiden  whom 
the  admiral  most 
loves. 


It   need  not   be 
asked  whether 
Floris  was  sad  at 
this  account. 


Daris  advises  him 
to  go  on  the  mor- 
row to  inspect 
the  tower. 


[MS.  p.  5.] 
That  like  an  en- 
gineer or  mason 
he  should  take  a 
square  and 
models,  and  ex- 
amine the  tower, 
as  though  about 
to  build  the  like 
in  his  own 
country. 

Then  when  the 
porter  questioned 
him  he  should 
answer  him  plea- 
santly ; 


On  wuche  }e  welle  fare]?  fo 
308  Alfo  fuijjc  he  wur]>  fordo. 

Ac  jef  \er  eni  maidew  is 

pat  J?e  Admiral  luuej?  meft  of  pris, 

On  hire  fchal  heo  \at  flur  iwent 
312  purej  comurefon  and  chauwtement. 

pus  he  cheofej?  his  wif  Juire^  j?e  flur, 

Alle  wenej?  hit  fchulle  beo  blauwcheflur : " 

Ich  wene  ne  darf  me  axi  nojt 
316  If  floriz  were  of  dreri  ]?ojt. 

"  JDaris,"  he  fede,  "  ihc  wurthe  ded 

Bute  if  Jm  do  me  funme1  red."  ['  fumme.] 

panne  fe2  Daris  \e  freo  burgeis  [2  fede.] 

320  pat  was  wel  hende  and  cartels  : 

"  Floriz,"  he  fede,  "leue  man, 

pe  befte  red  \at  ihc  ]>e  can, 

"Wend  tomoreje  to  J?e  Tur 
324  Alfo  J?u  were  a  gud  ginnur. 

Ber  wi]?  \e  squire  and  fchauwtillun 

Alfo  Jm  were  a  gud  Mafcun. 

Bihold  of  J?e  tur  \e  hijhede, 
328  And  wi}>  Ju  fot  met  J?e  brede. 

pe  porter  is  culuert  and  felun 

For]?  he  wule  fettew  his  refun, 

And  here  upon  \e  felonie, 
332  And  fegge  J?»t  Jm  art  a  fpie. 

Anfuare  him  wel  hendeliche 

And  fpek  wij>  him  wel  fueteliche, 

And  feie  J>ert  icome  frawi  ferre?i  lowde 
336  For  to  feche  and  for  to  fonde, 

If  mi  lif  fo  longe  ilaft 

To  makie  a  tur  after  Jus  call 

In  June  londe  ate  frume 
340  "Whawne  Jm  ert  horn  icume. 

"Whane  he  J?e  hire]?  fpeke  fo  hewdeliche 

And  anfuerie  fo  sueteliche, 


HOW  HE  MUST  WIN  OVER  THE  PORTER. 


61 


J?ewne  he  wule  come  ]>e  nier 

344  And  bidde  J?e  pleie  at  ]>e  efcheker. 
Whane  J?efcheker  is  for]?  ibrojt 
Bijmte  panes  ne  plei  J?u  nojt. 
pu  mofi:  kabbe  redi  mitte 

348  Twenti  ]\Iarc  ine  }i  flitte ; 
J?ej  ]m  biwi?rae  oft  of  his 
Hold  hit  of  wel  litel  pris ; 
If  he  biwiwnej?  ojt  of  \e 

352  }if  him  of  J>ine  fuehe  )>re ; 
Muche  he  wule  J?onki  ]>e 
And  of  ]>e  su)>e  iwuwdred  beo, 
For  he  is  su]>e  couetes 

356  And  at  J?efcheker  enuius; 

^erne  he  wile  ]>e  bidde  and  pme 
pat  Jm  come  amoreje  and  pleie. 
Grante  hi?n  \at  ]m  wilt  fo, 

360  And  tak  mid  amoreje  fuche  two, 
And  wel  J?i  nedes  for  to  do : 
pat  J?ridde  day  ]>u  wend  him  to 
And  ber  wi]?  ]?e  forti  pund 

364  And  }>ine  cupe  hoi  and  fund. 
Wka?me  Jm  left  him  J?e  cupe  ifeo 
"Wel  anguffus  he  wile  beo. 
He  wile  beo  wel  coveitus 

368  And  hire  to  bigge  fu]?e  fus ; 
Muchel  he  J?e  wule  beode 
If  him  mijte  J>e  before  fpede ; 
Ihc  wot  he  wille  J?ilke  day 

372  Honwre  J?e  so  muche  fo  he  may, 
He  wule  ]>e  lede  to  his  iwne 
pe  cupe  of  J>e  to  biwiwne. 
^erne  he  wule  J>e  bidde  and  pme 

376  pat  Jm  legge  J?e  cupe  to  pleie. 
pu  him  anfuere  atte  furfte 
pat  no  leng  pleie  J?e  ne  lufte. 


who  -would  invite 
him  to  play  at 
chess ;  that  he 
must  not  play 
except  for  a 
stake,  and  seem 
quite  easy  ahout 
losing  his  money : 


at  the  sight  of 
■which  the  porter 
would  ask  him 
to  come  again  on 
the  morrow,  and 
he  must  go  fur- 
nished with  twice 
as  much  money 
as  hefore,  and  on 
the  third  day  with 
forty  pound  and 
a  gold  cup  to 
rouse  the  por- 
ter's cupidity. 


After  much  en- 
treaty to  play, 
Floris  is  to  make 
him  a  present  of 
the  cup  for  his 
good  company. 


62 


FLORIZ   FOLLOY  I   THE   ADVICE. 


Floris  is  then  to 
dwell  on  his 
wealth,  which 
will  induce  the 
porter  to  become 
his  man  and  pay 
him  homage. 


Floris  is  to  bind 
him  to  serve  him 
faithfully  as  ser- 
vant to  lord,  and 
then  to  reveal  his 
designs. 


All  which  is  done 
as  Daris  directed. 


Floris  tells  the 
porter  that  now 
he  trusts  entirely 
to  him, 

[MS.  p.  6.] 

and  gives  him  all 
his  history :  how 
he  was  a  king's 
son  of  Spain,  and 
how  his  love  had 
been  sold,  and  he 
desired  to  win  her 
back. 


Anfucre  him  we]  hendeliche, 

380  "pin  boo  he  cupe,"  feie  blujeliche, 

For  his  gotlo  oompaygnie 

A-wu«ne  be  haj?  j>[  clrucric. 

Ihc  wot  hat  he  mai  alrebeft 
384  Of  fine  ncodo  helpe  he  meft. 

j?u  mijt  fegge  ho  no  faileb  non 

Gold  nc  feliw  ne  riche  won  : 

Seie  ]?u  wilt  parte  wi)>  him  of  J?an, 
388  pat  he  fchal  euro  bco  riche  man. 

Whanne  he  here]?  he  fpeke  fo  richeliche, 

And  anfuerie  fo  hendeliche, 

panne  he  wile  beo  wel  blij?e, 
392  And  bigiwne  to  luuie  he  sui]?e, 

And  faUe  he  wile  to  hi  fote1  C1  MS.  finite.] 

And  bicome  J?i  man  if  he  mote. 

His  mawrede  hn  fchalt  fonge 
396  And  his  tru]?e  of  his  howde 

pat  he  he  here  al  he  helde 

pat  man  fchal  to  his  louml  jelde  : 

And  J?us  Jure  j  he  cupe  and  his  ginne 
400  pu  mijt  fi  lewanian  beft  awi?me  : 

pawne  )>u  mijt  beon  iknewe 

And  }?i  cuwfail  to  him  fchewe." 

And  aljms  floris  hath  iwrojt 
404  As  daris  hiwi  haj>  itajt : 

Ac  Jmrej  he  cupe  and  Jmrej  gerfnme 

pe  porter  is  his  man  bicume. 
^f  "  Nu,"  qua}?  floriz,  "  jm  art  mi  man, 
408  Al  mi  treft  is  he  upon  : 

peruove  ]m  nioft  me  helpe  nede 

Bijmte  he  ne  mai  me  fpede." 

Ord  and  ende  he  ha}>  him  told, 
412  Hu  hat  maide  was  ifold, 

And  hu  he  was  of  Spaygne  a  kinges  fune, 

For  hire  luue  he  was  Jider  icume 


THE    PORTER  S    CONTRIVANCE* 


63 


To  fowde  mid  fume  kuwnes  ginne 

416  Hu  he  mijte  hire  awinne. 

po  ]>e  porter  iherde  Jus  he  fijte  : 
"Ihc  am,"  he  fede,  "bitraid  wij?  rijte, 
pat  Juirej  J>is  cupe  and  J>is  gerfume 

420  Ihc  am  nu  ju  man  bicume. 
Nu  ihc  feo  hu  hit  gej? 
For  J>e  ihc  drede  bolien  dej>, 
Nojt  for  fan  while  ihc  mai  go 

424  Ine  fchal  ]>e  failli  neure  mo. 
"What  me  bitide  oj?er  bifalle 
Ihc  fchal  ]>e  foreward  holder  alle. 
Iwend  nu,  floriz,  to  J»in  i?me 

428  While  ibi]?enche  of  fume  gi?me  : 
Ihc  wulle  fonde  what  ido  may 
Bituene  )>is  and  jte  }>n'dde  day." 
Floriz  fijte  and  weop  among, 

432  pulke  terme  him  Jmjte  long,  y 
T^E  porter  Jjo^te  what  to  rede ; 
J       He  let  flures  gadere  on  J?e  mede, 
Cupen  he  let  fulle  of  flures 

436  To  itrawew  in  ]>e  maidenes  bures. 
pat  was  his  red  to  helpe  him  fo, 
He  let  floriz  on  ]>at  on  cupe  go  : 
Tuei  gegges  ]>e  cupe  bere 

440  And  for  heuie  wroJ>  hi  were ; 
Hi  bede??  God  jiue  hi»j  uuel  fin 
pat  fo  manie  flures  dude  \ervn. 
To  \q  chaumbre  )>er  hi  fcholde  go 

444  Ne  jeden  hi  arijt  no  : 

To  ano]?er  chauwbre  hi  beo}>  agon, 
To  blauwcheflures  chauwibre  now. 
pe  cupe  hi  fette  to  J?e  grunde 

448  And  got  for}?  and  letej  hire  ftonde. 
0  maiden  com  and  wolde 
pe  flures  handlen  and  biholde  : 


The  porter  pro- 
mises  his  fidelity, 
even  though  his 
homage  had  been 
obtained  by  de- 
ceit. 


He  sends  Floris 
away,  and  bids 
him  come  back 
on  the  third  day, 
when  he  will  have 
thought  of  some 
plan. 


His  plan  is  to 
send  in  to  the 
maiden's  room  a 
large  vessel  full 
of  flowers,  be- 
neath which 
Floris  is  to  be 
hidden.  - 


The  vessel  is  car- 
ried in,  but  not 
to  the  right  room. 


A  maiden  comes 
and  examines  the 
flowers,  and 


64 


FLORIZ   IS    CARRIED   TO   CLARIz's    CHAMBER. 


Floris,  thinking 
it  was  131.-mche« 
flur,  springs  up. 

The  maiden  be- 
gan to  scream, 
and  Floris,  not 
knowing  what  to 
do,  laid  down  in 
the  'vessel  again 
and  hid  himself 
in  the  flowers. 


Now  the  maiden 
thought  it  must 
be  Floris,  for  she 
had  heard 
Blanchoflur's 
story. 


Some  maidens 
come  in  and  ask 
why  she  cried  so. 


She  answers  that 
a  butterfly  had 
suddenly  risen 
from  among  the 
flowers,  and  fly- 
ing in  her  face 
had    made    her 


They  go  away 
laughing,  and 
then  this  maid, 
Clarice,  proceeds 
to  Blancheflur's 
chamber,  to  in- 
vite her  to  come 
and  see  a  fair 
flower. 


Floriz  wc»de  hit  were  his  swete  wijt 
452  Ut  of  J7C  cupe  he  lep  arijt ; 

And  \at  maide  for  J?e  drede 

Bigan  to  crie  and  to  grede. 

po  nufte  floriz  what  to  rede 
456  For  J?e  ferlich  \a\>  he  hadde : 

Into  \c  cupe  he  fterte  ajen 

And  wij?  J7e  flures  he  hudde  him  : 

pis  maide  j?ojte  anon  rijt 
460  pat  hit  was  floriz  ]>at  fuete  wijt, 

For  here  chauwbres  nij  were 

Selde  was  j>at  hi  togadere  nere, 

And  ofte  blauwcheflur  hire  hadde  itold 
464  Hu  heo  was  fi'am  him  ifold. 

Nu  Maidenes  come]?  in  to  hire  lepe 

Wei  fiftene  in  on  hepe, 

And  axede  hire  what  hire  were, 
468  And  whi  heo  makede  fuche  bere. 

Wei  heo  was  biJ7ojt  and  whare 

To  finder  hew  anfuare 

"  To  \e  cupe,"  heo  fede,  "  ihc  com  and  wolde 
472  pis  flures  handlen  and  biholde  : 

per  flifte  ut  a  buWflije 

Are  ihc  wifte  on  min  ije  : 

So  fore  ihc  was  offerd  of  fan 
476  prtt  ihc  crie  bigan." 

pis  o]>ere  lojen  and  hadde  gleo 

And  go}?  ajen  and  lete}>  beo. 

CLarice  hatte  ]>at  maide  hende  : 
To  blauwcheflures  chauwbre  heo  gaw  werade 
And  fede,  "  fuete  blauwcheflur, 
"Wiltu  feo  a  wel  fair  flur  ? 
Hit  ne  greu  nojt  on  J?is  londe 
484  pat  flur  \at  ihc  bringe  \<z  to  honde." 
"Away,  Clariz,"  qua)  blauwcheflur, 
"  Ho  ]>at  luuej?  par  amur, 


BLAUNCHEFLTJK    IS    BROUGHT   TO    HIM. 


65 


And  haj>  Jw-of  ioye  mai  luue  flures  : 

488  Ac  ihc  libbe  in  soreje  in  )>is  tures ; 
For  ihc  wene  bithute  gabbe 
pat  J?e  Admiral  me  wule  babbe, 
Ac  ]>ilke  day  ne  fcbal  ueure  be 

492  Ne  fcbal  me  neure  atwite  me, 
pat  ihc  beo  of  luue  untrewe, 
Ne  chauwge  luue  for  no  newe, 
Ne  lete  }>e  olde  for  no  newe  be, 

496  So  dot  floriz  on  his  Contre  ; 
Ac  J?ej  floriz  forje  me 
Ne  fchal  ihc  neure  forjete  )>e." 
Clariz  iherde  ]>es  ille  reuj?e 

500  Of  trewnelfe  and  of  trew]?e  : 
pe  tieres  glide  of  hire  lere. 
"BlauMeheflur,"  he  fede  "  gode  ifere, 
Leue  fuete  blauwcheflur, 

504  Gum  and  fe  a  "well  fair  flur." 
To-gedere  hi  go]?  nu  iwis, 
And  floriz  haj?  iherd  al  J^is, 
Ut  of  J?e  cupe  he  lep  anon 

508  And  to  blauMcheflur  he  gan  gon, 
Eijw  o]>er  fone  ikneu, 
Bo]?e  nu]?e  hi  chauwge]?  heu: 
To-gadere  wijmte  word  hi  lepen, 

512  Klepte  and  kefte  and  eke  weopen  : 
Here  keflinge  ilefte  amile 
And  J?flt  hew  jni^te  litel  while. 
Clarice  biheold  aljus  ' 

516  Here  curctenau^ce  and  here  blis. 
Seide  Clarice  to  blau??cheflur, 
"  Knoweftu  ojt  jete  Jns  flur  ? 
A  litel  er  J?u  noldell  hit  fe, 

520  Nu  ne  mijte  hit  lete  fram  ]?e  : 
He  mofte  ku/me  muchel  of  art 
pat  )>u  woldeft  jeue  \er-oi  part." 


Blancheflur,   not 
knowing  what 
she    means,    re- 
fuses, and  breaks 
forth  into  lamen- 
tations and  pro- 
testations that 
she  will  dierather 
than  be  the  ad- 
miral's wife,  and 
forsake  her 
Floris. 


[MS.  p.  7.] 


Clarice  weeps  for 
her,  and  at  length 
persuades  her  to 
come  and  see  her 
flower. 


Floris  springs 
from  the  vessel, 
and    they    clasp 
each  other  in  a 
long  embrace. 


Clarice  then  mer- 
rily chides 
Blancheflur  for 
having  refused  to 
come  and  see  the 
flower. 


66 


THEIK    OONVKKSATJON. 


Blanchcflur  in- 
troduces Floris, 
and  they  both  be- 
seech Clarice  to 
help  them,  and 
not  betray  them 
to  the  admiral. 


Clarice  promises 
the  same  fidelity 
as  if  the  secret 
were  her  own. 


Clarice  leaves 
them,  and  Floris 
begins  to  express 
his  thankfulness. 


Each  to  the  other 
tell  their  sorrow 
since  they  had 
been  parted. 


It  would  be 
heaven  to  them 
to   lead   such   a 
life  as  their  pre- 
sent one  for  ever. 


But  the  admiral 
had  a  curious 
fancy  to  have  two 


"  Ccrtcs,"  (]iia\  blauwcheflur  to  Clark, 
524  "  pis  is  min  ojene  sucte  floriz." 

Nu  boj?e  tuo  J>es  suete  }>inges 

Criej?  hire  merci  al  wepinge, 

To  ]>e  Admiral  \at  hem  ne  wreie 
528  For  \>cnno  were  here  foreje  niwe. 

Clarice  hadde  of  hem  pite  : 

"Noting,"  heo  fede,  "ne  dute  je, 

Ne  dute  je  nawmore  wij?  alio 
532  pat  hit  were  to  me  bifalle. 

Hele  ihc  wulle  and  noting  wreie 

Ower  beire  cumpaignie." 

Clarice  hem  ha]?  to  bedde  ibrojt 
536  pat  was  of  pal  and  felc  iwrojt. 

In  bedde  heo  brojte  hetn  adun 

An  hure  felf  wewde  hem  fram. 

po  floriz  furft  fpeke  bigan ; 
540  "TJre  louerd,"  he  fede,  "  \at  makedeft  man 

pe  ihc  ]?onki,  godes  fune, 

pat  ihc  am  to  mi  leof  icume. 

Mi  leof,  nu  ihc  habbe  \e  ifunde 
544  Of  al  mi  care  ihc  am  unbuwde." 

Nu  &i]>er  ha]?  o\er  itold 

Of  here  foreje  and  care  cold 

pat  hi  hadde  ifunde  bo 
548  Su]?]?e  hi  were  ideld  atuo. 

Nu  hi  chippe]?  and  euffe]? 

And  make]?  togadere  muchel  blifle. 

If  \er  was  ajt  bute  cufte 
552  Swete  blauwcheflur  hit  wifte. 

Non  o]>er  heuene  hi  ne  bede 

Bute  eure  swich  lif  to  lede ; 

Ac  lo»ge  ne  mijte  hi  hem  wite 
556  pat  hi  neren  under jete, 

TJor  \e  Admiral  hadde  fuch  a  wune 

Ehc  moretid  ]?er  mofte  cume 


BLAU>TCHEFLUR    NEGLECTS   TO    GO   TO   THE    ADMIRAL. 


67 


Tuo  maidenes  wi)?  ruucbel  honwr 

560  Into  ]?e  bejefte  Tur, 

pat  were  feire  and  su)>e  bende, 
pat  on  his  heued  for  to  kembe 
pat  o\er  bringe  towaille  and  bacin 

564  For  to  waffe  bis  bonden  in  : 

Swiche  bim  f<?/*uej?  a  day  fo  faire 

Amoreje  mofte  anojw  peire  : 

Ac  meft  were  iwuned  in  to  J?e  tur 

568  Maide  Clariz  and  blaiiMcheflur 
Clarice,  ioie  bire  mote  bitide, 
Aros  up  in  J?e  morejentide, 
And  baj?  icluped  blauMcheflur 

572  To  go  wij>  bire  in  to  ]>e  tur. 

Qua]>  blauwcheflur,  "  ibc  am  cominge," 
Ac  beo  bit  fede  al  flepinge. 
Clariz  com  in  to  \e  Tur, 

576  pe  Admiral  axede  blau^cheflur. 
"  Sire  Alnijt  beo  fet  at  bire  boke 
And  ba}?  Jwon  irad  and  loke, 
And  ]>eron  ibede  hire  orefun, 

580  pat  God  ]>at  ]?olede  paffiun 
pe  bolde,  fire,  longe  aliue. 
And  nu  beo  is  aileped  fui)?e 
pat  beo  ne  mai  come  to  )>e." 

584  "Isjatfo]??"  fede  be. 

Heo  fede,  "  ^e,  fire,  withute  lefing." 
"Heo  is,"  be  fede,  "a  suete  Jnng, 
"Wei  ajte  ibc  willen  bire  to  wif 

588  pat  so  jerne  biddej?  mi  lif." 
Amoreje  J?o  Clariz  arift 
BlauMcheflur  beo  atwift 
pat  be  makede  fo  longe  demwe. 

592  "Aris,"  beo  fede,  "and  go  we  ifere." 
Qua]>  blauwcbeflur,  "  icb  come  anon." 
Ac  noriz  cleppew  bire  bigon, 


of  the  maidens  go 
up  to  his  tower 
every  morning, 
one  to  comb  his 
hair,  and  the 
other  to  wash  his 
hands. 


Clarice  and 
Blancheflur  have 
to  go. 


Clarice  arose  and 
called  Blanche- 
flur, who  says, 
"  I  am  coming," 
but  said  it  in  her 
sleep. 


Clarice  makes  her 
excuses  to  the 
admiral  that  her 
late  devotions,  in 
which  his  wel- 
fare had  been  a 
special  subject, 
had  made  her 
oversleep  herself. 


[MS.  p.  8.] 

The  admiral  ex- 
cuseth  her. 


Next  day 
Blancheflur  is 
called    again    by 
her    friend,    and 
twitted   for    her 
delay ; 


68 


THE   CHAMBERLAIN    FINDS    ITER   WITH    FLORIZ. 


but  continues  in 
her  lover's  arms 
till  they  both  go 
to  sleep  again. 


When  Clarice 
came  into  the 
tower  she  asked 
for  Blanchctiur, 
and  pretended 
that  she  expect- 
ed to  find  her 
already  arrived, 
as  she  had  left 
her  room  before 
she  did. 


The  admiral 
sends  his  cham- 
berlain   to    seek 
her,    who    finds 
her  in  her  lover's 


He  brings  the 
news  to  his  mas- 
ter, who  goes 
sword-in-hand  to 
punish  them. 


He    finds    them 
sleeping  together. 


And  he  him  alfo  unwife 
596  And  fcollc  aflcpc  one  jns  wife. 

po  Clarice  to  J»e  pilcr  com 

And  ]?e  bacin  of  golde  nom 

To  here  wij>  hire  into  \a  Tur, 
GOO  Heo  lokede  after  hlauwcheflur. 

po  Clarice  com  into  ]>e  tur 

He  axede  after  hlauncheflur : 

' '  Sire,  ihc  wende  hire  finde  here 
604  He  was  arife  are  ihc  were.! 

Ms  heo  nojt  icumc  jete  ?" 

Qua]>  he,  "heo  dutej?  me  to  lite." 

He  clupede  to  him  his  chau?/»berlayn, 
608  And  het  him  go  wib  alle  mayn 

For  to  wite  whi  heo  ne  cume 

To  his  hefte  futhe  fone. 

Fort  he  wende  fone  anon, 
612  To  hire  chauwibre  \at  he  com, 

In  hire  bedde  he  fond  tuo 

"Wei  fafte  iclupt  allepe  ho, 

Neb  to  neb  and  mu]?  to  mu]?, 
616  Sone  were  here  sorejeren  cu)>. 

lh  \q  Admiral  fone  he  tej 

_4nd  tolde  him  what  he  ifej : 

pe  Admiral  het  his  fuerd  bringe, 
620  Twite  he  wolde  of  j?us  J?inge. 

Fox\  he  wende  wib  al  his  mayn, 

He  and  his  chaumberlayn, 

In  ]>e  bed  heo  fond  tueie 
624  yt  was  ]>e  flep  in  here  eie. 

He  let  Aduft  }e  clones  cafte 

2?«»e]?en  here  brefte ; 

Bi  here  brefte  he  kneu  anon 
628  pat  on  was  maide  and  ]>at  o]>er  a  mon. 
pe  children  awoke  J?o  anon 
And  feje  J?e  Admiral  biuore  he»i  gon 


THE    ADMIRAL  S   COUNCIL. 


69 


~\Yi]>  his  fuerd  al  adraje  ; 
632  Sore  hi  beoj?  offerd  and  wel  maje. 

"Seie,"  qua}  ]>e  Admiral,  "belamy, 

Ho  makedc  j>e  fo  hardy 

For  to  come  in  to  mi  Tur 
636  And  to  ligge  hi  blaunchenur?" 

Hi  criej  him  nwci  bo]?e  fuije 

pat  he  jiue  hem  fuiil  of  Hue. 

After  his  barnage  he  ha];  ifend 
640  To  awreke  him  wij>  iugemcwt ; 

And  let  hem  ]>e  while  binde  fafte 

And  into  pr«Ton  ben  icafte. 

His  palais  ]>at  was  fo  faire  ibuld 
644  Of  Erles  and  barons  hit  was  ifuld. 

"Up  he  ftod  among  hem  alle 

Bi  lemblau?«t  wel  wro]?  wib  alle. 

"Lordinges,"  he  fede,  "  wi}?  muchel  honwr, 
648  ^e  habbe  J>  iherd  of  blauwcheflur, 

Hu  ihc  hire  bojte  aplijt 

For  feueii^e  of  gold  hire  wijt. 

To  hire  was  mi  mefte  wene 
652  For  to  habbe  to  mi  queue. 

Ms  nojt  pre  \at  hie  com 

And  fond  hire  wi]?  hordom 

Me  to  fchame  and  deshonur 
656  In  hire  bedde  on  mi  Tur. 

Ihc  habbe  jou  told  hu  hit  is  went, 

A-wrekeJi  me  wij?  Jugemewt." 

pawne  ipak  a  freo  burgeis 
660  pat  was  hende  and  curt[eis]. 

"  Sire,  are  hi  beo  to  di)>e  awreke 

"We  mote  ihere  fe  childrew  fpeke  : 

Hit  nere  nojt  elles  rift  iugement 
664  Bijiuten  anfuare  to  acupemewt." 

pe  king  of  Nubie  fede  J>o, 

"For  foj?  ne  fchal  hit  nojt  go  lo ; 


They  are  afraid, 
and  to  the  ad- 
miral's enquiry 
of  how  he  dared 
come  in,  they 
both  unite  in  beg- 
ging for  mercy. 


He  summons  his 
barons,andmean- 
while  puts  them 
in  prison. 


His  palace  was 
filled  with  his 
nobles,  to  whom 
the  admiral  tells 
the  charge, 


and  begs  them 
to  assess  the  pun- 
ishment. 


Then  spake  a  bur- 
gess andsaid  they 
should  be  heard 
in  their  defence ; 
but  the  King  of 
Nubia  replied, 
that  criminals 
caught  in  the  fact 


70 


BOTH   ARE   CONDEMNED   TO    DEB. 


[MS.  p.  9.] 

should  suffer 
punishment  with- 
out, hairing. 

They   prepare  a 
lire  to  burn  them. 


Floris  takes  all 
the  guilt  upon 
himself,  and  says 
that  he  deserves 
two  deaths ; 


for  if  he  had  kept 
away  she  would 
have  been  safe. 


He    then    offers 
Blaneheflur     his 
mother's  ring, 
which  would 
keep  her  safe, 


but  she  will  not 
have  it. 


Between  them 
the  ring  is  allow- 
ed to  fall  on  the 
ground :  which  a 
duke  picked  up. 


They  are  led  forth 
to  their  doom. 


Hit  is  rijt  Jmrcj  alio  Jung 
G68  Felons  inomc  hond  habbing 

For  to  fuffre  Jugcmc«t 

liijmte  anfucre  o\er  acupemewt." 

A  fW  J?e  children  nu  me  fende]?, 
672  Hem  to  bcrne  fir  me  tende]?. 

Seide  floriz  to  blau»jcheflur, 

"  Of  ure  lif  nis  no  fucur, 

Ac  min  is  )>e  guld  and  }>e  unme]? 
676  pat  }\i  for  me  fchalt  J»olie  dej> ; 

Ac  if  cu»dc  hit  j>olie  mijte 

Ihc  ojte  deie  tuye  wij?  rijte, 

0  deb  for  ]>e  on  o\er  for  me, 
680  For  Jus  tu  J?oleft  nu  for  me. 

For  if  inere  in  to  ]?is  tur  icume, 

"WiJ?  mirej]?e  J?u  mijteft  heriwne  wune." 

He  droj  for]?  a  riche  ring 
684  His  moder  him  jaf  at  his  parting : 

"Haue  Jus  ring,  le/wman  min, 

pu  ne  mijt  nojt  deie  J?e  while  he  is  Jun." 

pe  ring  he  hauej?  for]?  arajt 
688  And  to  blauwcheflur  bitajt. 

"pe  ring  ne  fchal  neure  aredde  me 

For  dej?  ne  raai  ihc  fe  on  J?e." 

pe  ring  heo  wolde  aje  reche 
692  And  to  floriz  him  biteche. 

Ac  for  al  J>«t  heo  mijte  do 

He  him  nolde  ajen  ifo. 

And  J?e  ring  bi  one  ftunde 
696  Fel  a&vui  to  J?e  grunde. 

A  due  ftupede  and  him  up  nom 

And  was  J?erof  wel  blij?e  mon. 

Nu  J?es  childre  for]?  me  bridge]? 
700  To  here  dom  al  wepinge, 

Ac  \er  nas  now  fo  florae  mon 

pat  hem  lokedc  upon 


A    DUKE    INTERCEDES   FOR   THEM. 


71 


pat  nolde  ]>o  fuj?e  faje 
704  pat  iugem^wt  were  wi]?-draje  : 

For  floriz  was  fo  fair  pngling 

And  blauMcheflur  so  fuete  )>ing 

Of  men  and  wimmen  )>at  buj?  nuj>e, 
708  pat  goj?  and  feoj?  and  fpeke)?  wij?  mu]?e, 

Ne  buj?  fo  faire  in  bere  gladneffe 

So  bi  were  in  here  forineffe. 

Ac  j?e  admiral  was  fo  wrot  o»e?  wod 
712  He  qwrtkede  for  grwrne  \er  be  ftod, 

And  bet  hew*  binde  wel  fafte 

And  into  ]>e  fire  cafte. 

pe  due  ]>at  ]>e  ring  ftmde 
716  Com  to  ]?e  Admiral  and  runde, 

And  al  to-g&dere  be  gan  him  fchewe 

Of  \at  \e  children  were  biknewe : 

pe  Admiral  let  hem  aje»  clepe 
720  For  he  wolde  wij?  floriz  fpeke 

M  Ciire,"  qua]>  floriz,  "forfoj?  ihc  telle 
U    pu.  nojteft  nojt  ]>at  maide  quelle, 

Of  al  Jus  gilt  ihc  am  to  wite, 
724  Ihc  ojte  deie  and  he  go  quite." 

Qua]>  blauwcheflur,  "aquel  Jui  me, 

And  let  floriz  aliue  be, 

}ef  bit  n«*e  for  mi  luue, 
728  He  nere  nojt  fram  his  londe  icome." 

Qua]>  ]>e  Admiral,  "  so  ihc  mote  go 

}e  fchulle  deie  togadere  bo. 

Mifelf  ihc  wulle  me  awreke 
732  Ne  fchulle  je  neure  go  ne  fpeke." 

Floriz  for]?  bis  nekke  bed 

And  blauftcheflur  wi]?draje  him  jet. 

Blau»cheflur  bid  for}?  hire  fuere 
736  And  floriz  a^en  hire  gan  tire. 

"Nefyer  ne  mijte  \ere  J?ole 

pat  o]>er  deide  bifore. 


The  people  pity 
them  :  he  is  so 
young  and  she  so 
sweet. 


They  look  more 
lovely    in    their 
sorrow  than 
others  in  their 
joy. 


While  they  were 
being  brought  to 
the  stake  the 
duke  who  had 
picked  up  the 
ring  comes  to  the 
admiral  and  tells 
him  what  was 
known  of  the 
children. 


Floris  is  called  to 
the  admiral,  and 
says  he  ought  to 
be  put  to  death 
and  not  Blanche- 
flur. 


Blancheflur  says 
she  rather  ought 
to  die. 


The  admiral  a- 
wards  that  both 
shall  die  toge- 
ther. 


First  he  offers 
his  neck  to  be 
struck,  and  then 
she  does  the 
same. 


FLOKIZ    WILL    NOT    liKTKAV     THE    PORTER. 


This  moved  the 
admiral,  that  he 
turned  away,  and 

his  sword  fell 
from  his  hand. 


The  duke  who 
picked  up  the 
ring  speaks  for 
them. 

[MS.  p.  10.] 
"  Sire,"  says  he, 
"it  were  better 
not  to  put  these 
to  death,  but  hear 
how  the  youth 
got  in,  so  "as  to 
prevent  others 
from  doing  the 
like." 


All  beseech  him 
to  do  this ; 


but  Floris  will 
not  tell  unless 
pardon  he  first 
promised  to  his 
helper. 


After  which  he 
tells  his  story, 
and 


how  he  had  won 
over  the  porter 
and  was  brought 
in  among  the 
flowers,  at  which 
the  others 
laughed. 


po  J?e  Admiral,  J?ej  ho  wroj  were, 
740  per  he  chauwgede  his  'here, 

For  he  fej  \at  cy]?<?r  wolde  for  o\er  deie, 

And  for  he  fej  mani  wepinde  eie, 

And  for  he  luucclc  so  muche  \oX  mai 
744  Al  wepingc  he  twnde  away. 

His  swerd  fel  of  his  hond  to  gnmde 

Ne  mijtc  he  hit  holdc  Jmlke  lhwde. 

pe  due  j>at  here  ring  hadde 
748  For  hew  to  fpelce  wille  he  hadde. 

*•  CI  ire  Admiral,"  he  fede,  "  iwis 
^     Hit  is  ]>e  wcl  litel  pris 

pis  feire  children  for  to  quelle, 
752  Ac  before  hit  is  j>at  hi  ]?e  telle 

Hu  he  com  in  to  }u  tur 

To  ligge  j>er  bi  blauwcheflur. 

His  engin  whan  Jm  hit  wite 
756  pe  before  wij?  o]>ere  J?u  ruijt  ]>e  wite." 

Alle  Jwt  herde  wordes  his 

BifecheJ?  \at  he  gr#nti  J?is  : 

He  het  him  telle  his  engin 
760  Hu  he  to  blauncheflur  com  in 

And  ho  him  radde  and  help  }>arto. 

"pat,"  qua}  he,  "nelle  ihc  neure  do 

For  J?ing  ]>at  me  mai  me  do, 
764  Bute  hit  hew  beo  forjiue  alfo." 

Alle  bojwe  bifechej?  )>is 

And  of  j>e  Admiral  igrrmted  is. 

Nu  ord  and  ende  he  haj?  hem  itold 
768  Hu  Bla[un]cheflur  was  fram  him  ifold, 

And  hu  he  was  of  fpaygne  a  hinges  fone 

For  hire  luue  Jmder  icume, 

To  fowden  wij?  fume  ginnc '  [!  ginne,  MS.] 

772  Hu  he  mifte  hure  awiwne, 

And  hu  Jnirej  }e  cupe  and  J?urej  ]?e  gerfurne 

pe  porter  was  his  man  bicume, 


THEY    ARE   PARDONED. 


73 


And  hu  lie  was  in  a  cupe  ibore. 
776  Alle  }>es  o}ere  lowe  Jwuore. 

"Ue  Admiral  >o,  wel  hiw  bitide, 
-T      pat  Cbild  be  fette  bi  bis  fide, 
And  ha)  forjiue  bis  wra»e  bo 
780  Floriz  and  blatwcheflur  alfo, 
And  fede  wi)  bim  bi  fcholde  be 
pe  befte  of  al  bis  maine. 
And  floriz  be  make)  ftonde  uprijt 
784  And  \er  be  dubbede  bim  to  knijt. 

Nu  bo)e  togadere  )es  cbildre  for  bliffe 
Falle)  to  bis  fet  bem  to  kiffe. 
He  let  be»J  to  one  Cbircbe  bringe 
788  And  fpufen  hem  wi)  one  gold  ringe. 
purej  )e  red  of  blanwcheflur 
Me  fette  Claris  adun  of  )e  Tur : 
pe  Admiral  hire  nam  to  quene, 
792  pilke  fefte  was  wel  breme, 
For  \er  was  alle  kuwnes  gleo 
pat  mijte  at  eni  briddale  beo. 
Hit  nas  \er  after  noting  longe 
796  pat  \er  com  to  floriz  writ  and  fonde, 
pat  )e  king  bis  fader  was  ded 
And  \at  be  fcbolde  wmen  bis  red. 
panne  feide  )e  Admiral ; 
800  "If  )n  doit  bi  mi  confail 

Bilef  wi)  me  ne  wend  najt  bom. 
Hie  wulle  jeue  )e  a  kinedom, 
Alfo  long  and  alfo  brod 
804  Alfo  eure  jet  >i  fader  ibod." 
Ac  floriz  nolde  for  no  wiwne 
Lexxere  him  were  wi)  bis  kiwne  : 
pe  Admiral  be  bid  god  day, 
808  And  Jxwkede  Clariz  \at  faire  may, 
And  to  hire  he  ha]?  ijolde 
Twenti  pond  of  ride  golde  : 


The  admiral  for- 
G-ivcs  them,  and 
takes  Floris  into 
his  retinue  and 
dubs  him  knight. 


He  causeth  them 
to  go  to  a  church 
and  to  be  wedded. 


Blancheflur 
urges  that  Clarice 
be  brought,  and 
the  admiral 
names    her     his 
queen.  Then  fol- 
low a  famous 
feast. 


Not  long  after 
news  is  brought 
to  Floris  of  his 
father's  death. 


The  admiral  begs 
him  to  stay,  and 
he  will  give  him 
a  kingdom  better 
than  his  father's, 
but  Floris  would 
go  to  his  kin. 


74 


THEY   RETURN   TO   SPAIN. 


Giving  presents 
t;i  Clarice  and 
Daris  he  goes 
away, 


and  comes  home 
with  his  queen 
Blanchcflur. 


After  sorrow 
cometh  joy. 


And  to  Daris,  \>at  him  fo  tajte, 
812  Twcnti  puncl  he  arajte  : 

And  alle  \at  for  him  dudew  cidel 

He  jcld  here  while  fuj?e  wel : 

He  bitajte  hem  alle  god  almijte, 
816  And  com  horn  whane  he  mijte. 

He  was  king  wij?  Muchel  homir, 

And  heo  his  qucne  blauwcheflur. 

Nu  je  habbc}?  iherd  J?ane  ende 
820  Of  floriz  and  his  lewraian  hende, 

Hu  after  bale  come)?  bote : 

God  leue  \ai  us  fo  mote 

~pat  we  him  mote  louie  so 
824  "pat  we  mote  to  heuene  go.     AMEN. 


E-X-PLI-C-IT. 


HIC    INCTPIT  [Fol.62«.] 

ASSTTMPC/O     BFATV    MAEIE. 


IN  honorance  of  ihesu  cryft 
SitteJ  ftille  &  haue>  lyft, 

And  jif  je  wille  to  me  here 
4  Off  oure  ladi  je  niai  lere, 

Floure  of  heuene  ladi  &  quene, 

As  fche  au^t  wel  to  bene, 

To  wham  auwgeles  donn  here  myjt 
8  To  feme  hure  boj>e  day  &  nyjt. 

Far  auentwe  ^e  haue  no^t  iherde 

How  oure  ladi  went  out  of  J??'s  werde, 

Sitteh  ftille  &  herkenej?  to  me, 
12  Now  ihmi  cryft  oure  helpe  be. 
%  Whan  ihesu  cnft  was  donw  on  j>e  rode, 

And  )>olede  dej?  for  oure  goode, 

He  callide  to  hym  feynt  Iohan 
16  That  was  his  flefchli  kynnes  man : 

His  moder  fwete  he  dide  alfo, 

He  callid  no  men  mo  him  to, 

And  feide,  "wowman,  lo,  here  \i  fone, 
20  And,  man,  take  hure  to  moder  in  good  wone, 

And  j?enke)>  on  my  forwe  nowe, 

How  I  hange  here  abowe, 

How  I  hange  apon  a  tre, 
24  Ful  fore  I  wote  hit  rewej?  ]?ee. 


This  is  the  story 
of  how  our  lady 
•went  out  of  this 
world. 


When  Christ  was 
on  the  cross  he 
called  to  him  St. 
John  and  his  mo- 
ther, and  com- 
mitted her  to  St. 
John's  care. 


76 


OUR   LORD    ENTRUSTS    lil>    MOTHER   TO    ST.    JOHN. 


[Fol.  G25.] 


Mary  wept  sore 
for  her  son's  suf- 
ferings, 


and  she  lamented 
his  loss. 


Jesus  said  :  "  I 
shall  give  thee  a 
true  companion 
to  keep  thee." 

[Fol.  63a.] 


He  then  commits 
her  to  the  apos- 
tle's care. 


St.  John 
her  to  the  temple 
and  puts  her  a- 
mong  the  holy 
■women  there. 


Hyn  feet  myn  hondes  of  blode  ben  rede, 
"With  owtc  gilt  I  J?ole  dede ; 
But  ]>ci  haue  wille  to  louen  me 
28  For  wharu  I  hange  on  J>is  tree, 
The  lewis  me  deden  mychel  fchame 
Ther  of  haddc  I  neuer  blame." 


82 


"1/TArie  his  moder  fore  elide  wepe 


The  teeres  fcllen  at  hure  fete. 
Nas  no  wondre  j?ou}  fche  wepe  fore 
Of  forwe  wift  fche  neuer  more, 
When  he  J?at  of  hure  flefche  nam, 

36  For  his  holi  fwete  nam, 
Honge  \er  nailed  to  a  tre. 
"Alas,  my  fone,"  J?o  faide  fche, 
"How  mai  I  lyue ?  how  mai  I  bene ? 

40  How  mai  I  Jus  forwe  yfene  ? 
Neuer  ere  wift  I  of  forwe  noujt, 
Leue  fone,  what  haueft  ]?ou  }>ou?it  ? 
How  fchal  I  leue  with  oute  J>ee  ? 

44  Leue  fone,  what  faift  ]?ou  to  me?" 
Ihmi  fpak  J?o  wordes  goode 
As  he  henge  on  J?e  rode, 
And  feide  to  his  moder  dere, 

48  "I  fchal  )>ee  take  a  trewe  fere 
That  trewly  fchal  kepen  ]?ee 
"While  in  er)?e  }?ou  fchalt  be." 
Than  feide  Ihesu  to  feynt  Iohan, 

52  "For  my  loue  kepe  wel  )>is  wowman, 
Kepe  hure  wel  with  al  \'\  myjt, 
That  no  man  do  hure  vnryjt." 
^[  pan  nam  ]7e  apoftel  feynt  Iohan 

56  On  his  kepynge  J>is  wowman. 

He  kept  hure  wel  with  al  his  myjt 
That  no  man  do  hure  none  vnryjt. 
To  ]>e  temple  he  hure  nam, 

60  And  alfo  fone  as  he  ]?er  cam, 


our  lady's  acts  of  mercy. 


77 


God  to  ferae  he  hure  dede 
Amonge  >e  ntumes  in  Jat  ftede. 
Ther  fche  bileft  al  hure  lyfe 

64  Ne  loued  fche  no]>er  fijt  ne  ftryf. 

%  The  ladies  )>at  \er  Inne  weren 
Ful  wel  ]>ei  ne  myjt  hure  forberen, 
Tor  eu<r  }>e  while  fche  was  J?ore 

68  Sche  wolde  ferae  las  &  more  : 
Seke  &  hole  fche  dide  gode 
And  feraede  hem  to  hande  &  fote  : 
Naked  &  hungry  fche  closed  &  fedde 

72  Colde  &  feke  fche  broujt  to  bedde  : 
Ne  was  \er  no]w  feke  ne  fere 
That  hei  nadde  to  hure  myftere  : 
Thei  louede  hure  wel  w/t/j  al  here  myjt, 

76  Sche  it  ferued  &  )>at  was  ryjt : 
Sche  woke  more  ]?an  fche  flepe 
Hure  fone  to  ferue  was  al  hure  kepe. 
To  hym  fche  callid  w/tA  rewful  fieuene, 

80  And  he  hure  fent  an  angel  fro  heuene, 
To  glade  hure  hym  felf  he  cam 
That  of  hure  bodi  flefche  nam. 
Seynt  Ton  hure  kep^r  was  hure  dere, 

84  And  to  hure  was  a  trewe  fere ; 
Ne  wolde  he  neuer  fro  hure  gone, 
Al  \sX  fche  wolde,  he  wolde  done. 
"Wbile  fche  was  in  ]?at  flede 

88  Al  }?at  fche  wolde  he  hure  dede. 
When  fche  hadde  \er  longe  ben, 
That  faire  ladi  heuene  quen, 
Than  wolde  hure  fone  fche  com  hi/w  to ; 

92  When  he  wolde  hit  was  do. 

He  fent  to  hure  an  angel  of  heuene 
That  gret  hure  ytith  myry  fteuene  : 
Ther  fche  was  &  bad  hure  bede 

96  Lyjth  an  angel  in  }>at  ftede  : 


Her  kindness  to 
all  that  were 
there. 


[Fol.  636.] 


She    serves     all 
that  need  aid. 


Christ  sends  her 
an  angel  from 
heaven. 


For  after  she  had 
lived  some  time 
in  the  temple 
Christ  would 
take  her  to  hea- 
ven. 


78 


SHE    IS   TO    BE   CARRIED   TO    HEAVEN. 


[Fol.  Ma.] 

The  angel  greets 
her,  ;m<l  tells  her 
he  is  a  messenger 
from  her  son. 


He  brings  her 
good  news.  He 
gives  her  a  palm, 
which  h£r  son 
has  sent. 


She  is  to  be  car- 
ried  to   heaven, 
•where    all    wish 
for  her. 
[Fol.  646.] 


Our  Lady  asks 
■when  this  is  to 
be,  that  she  may 
prepare  herself. 


And  feide,  "  ladi  ful  of  grace, 

Blefled  be  J?ou  in  eche  place. 

Be  nou^t  adrad  ]?ou$  I  be  bore, 
100  I  am  J?i  fones  maffagere  ; 

Fro  bym  I  am  to  ]?cc  come, 

He  gret  ]>eo  wel  }i  dcre  fone. 

Floure  of  er]?e  beuene  quene 
104  Bleffed  mote  )?ou  euer  bene. 

"Wei  be  Jat  tymc  J?at  }ou  was  bora  : 

For  al  J7is  woiide  bit  was  forlorn 

^if  J>ou  ne  were  &  )>e  fruyt  of  ]?ee, 
108  Marie  ladi  wel  J»ee  be. 

Ladi,  belt  of  al  )>inge, 

Blij?e  tij?ynges  I  J»ee  brynge. 

Tbou  take  Jus  palme  }at  I  brynge  ]?ee, 
112  Tbi  dere  fone  ha)  fent  it  J?ee. 

The  bynke]?  longe  him  to  fee 

Tber  fore  mod  I  no  lengere  be. 

He  fcbal  fende  after  )>ee 
116  Of  benene  ferde  mocbe  plente. 

And  brynge  }ee  in  to  his  blifle 

That  euer  was  &  now  is. 

per  he  is  byng  ]?ou  lchalt  be  quene, 
120  Al  heuen  ryche  blij?e  fchal  bene, 

And  able  him1  }?enke]?  fwi]?e  longe    ['  ?  =  tein.] 

Til  J?ou  comeft  hem  amonge." 

Than  anfwerede  oure  ladi, 
124  And  feide  to  ]>e  angel,  "belamy, 

Art  j?ou  my  fones  maffagere, 

That  bryngeft  me  ]?is  bodes  here  ? 

Haue)>  he  me  fette  any  day, 
128  Ajens  when  I  me  greithe  may 

With  my  frendes  &  my  kynnes  men, 

And  with  hem  fat  I  in  er]?e  haue  ben, 

And  hem  ]>at  I  haue  fedde  &  clad 
132  And  don  al  )?at  my  fone  hem  bad?" 


HER  PREPARATION  AND  PRAYER. 


79 


Tho  feide  ]>e  angel,  "  I  fei  ]>ee, 

Thou  fchalt  be  here  but  daies  ju'e. 

The  J?ridde  dai  we  fchal  come,  • 
136  Alle  ix.  ordres  fram  heuen  a  bone,1  [l  =abouen.] 

And  fecche  ]>ee  with  myry  fonge  : 

For  after  fee  ts  )>inke)?  longe." 

To  )>at  aungel  feide  oure  ladi, 
140  "What  is  )>i  name  J>at  ftandejj  me  bi?" 

"  My  name  feie  I  fee  noujt, 

But  take  J»is  palme  fat  I  haue  broujt, 

Kepe  it  wel  I  bidde  J?ee, 
144  !Ne  lete  it  neuer  be  fro  j;ee  ; 

Ke  mai  I  no  lengere  abide  here, 

For  I  am  fent  a  maffagere. 

I  fchal  to  fe  apoftles  fone  anone, 
148  And  feie  to  hem  fundiy  on  &  one 

That  ]>ei  ben  here  fe  jn-idde  dai. 

Ko  lengere  abide  I  ne  mai." 

"When  he  had  ifeide  to  heuene  he  fteie 
152  And  marie  fer  bi-left  he. 

Yn  til  hure  chambre  fone  fche  nam, 

And  alfo  fone  as  fche  Jrider  cam, 

Sche  elide  of  hure  clones  alle 
156  And  wafche  hure  wiMh  water  of  wille. 

So  fone  as  fche  hadde  don« 

Newe  clones  fche  dide  hure  apon. 

"When  fche  was  faire  fchred  &  clad 
160  To  ihesu  cry  ft  aboue  fche  bad. 

And  feide,  "fone  I  J>anke  fee 

That  J?ou  haft  yJ?oujt  on  me. 

My  fone  ]?at  is  heuene  kynge, 
164  I  praie  fee  of  ]>i  blefiing, 

Sone,  for  ]?yn  hye  name, 

Schelde  my  bodi  fro  pyne  &  fchame : 

That  fe  deuel  haue  no  myjt, 
168  To  reyue  fee  hit  were  no  ryjt. 


The  angel  tells 
her  it  is  but  three 
days  to  the  time. 


She  asks  the  an- 
gel's name,  but 
he  -will  not  tell 
her. 


[Fol.  65a.] 


He  is  going  to 
the  apostles,  to 
order  them  all  to 
be  'with  her  on 
the  third  day. 


She  goes  to  her 
chamber,  and 
washes  and 
clothes  herself  in 
new  clothes. 


Our  Lady's 
prayer  to  be  pre- 
served from  Sa- 
tan. 


80 


HER    INTERVIEW    WITH    HER    FRIENDS. 


[Fol.  056.] 


She  prays  for 
mankind,  that 
they   may    have 
grace   to  amend 
before  they  die. 


She  calls  her 
friends,  and  tells 
them  of  her  de- 
parture, and  asks 
them  if  she  has 
wronged  them  in 
ought,  that  she 
may  amend  any 
ill  she  has  done. 


[Fol.  66a.] 


They  lament  over 
her  loss. 


Kepc  me,  fone,  now  is  nede 

That  I  nc  haue  of  )>c  dcucl  no  drede. 

For  with  \e  wiles  )?at  he  can 

172  He  bigile}?  many  a  man. 
Leue  lone,  jeue  hym  noujt 
Man  kynde  }?at  J7011  haft  boujt. 
Mi  fone,  ]?at  art  ful  of  pite, 

176  For  man  kynne  I  pnrie  J>ee  ; 
That  J>ou  for  }?i  holi  grace 
^eue  hem  bo)?e  myjt  &  fpace 
Hem  to  amende  or  j?ei  ben  dede, 

180  That  J?ei  haue  of  \e  deuel  no  drede. 
Thynke,  leue  fone,  jwu  haft'  hem  wroujt 
And  dere  }?at  ]>ou.  haft  hem  boujt." 
"When  fche  hadde  pmied  fo, 

184  Hure  frendes  fche  callid  hure  to, 
Hure  fibbe  &  hure  kynnes  men, 
With  reuful  fteuene  fche  fpak  to  hem, 
An  feide,  ' '  leue  frendes,  my  fone 

188  Wol  no  lenger  J?at  I  here  wone. 
He  wol  J?at  I  with  him  he, 
"Where  fore  I  pmie  pw,  par  charite, 
}if  I  any  Junge  haue  mys-wroujt 

192  SeieJ?  me  now  for-hele  je  noujt. 
I  it  wole  amende  with  my  myjt, 
That  my  foule  haue  no  vnplyjt. 
The  good  ]?at  je  haue  donn  me, 

196  My  fone,  J?at  was  donn  on  \e  tree 
Man  to  bigge  fro  \e  quede, 
He  jelde  it  jow  at  joure  nede, 
And  brynge  pw  in  to  his  blis 

200  Ther  I  fchal  be  &  my  fone  is." 
lie  ]?at  weren  hure  bi 

Off  fuche  tijdnges  weren  fori, 
And  faide,  "  ladi  how  mai  ]?is  be  ? 

204  How  Ichulle  we  lyuen  with  oute  \ee  ? 


A1 


ST.   JOHN    ENQUIRES   THE    CAUSE    OF    HER   SORROW. 


81 


Ladi  ];ou  haft  vs  ferued  fo, 

Alas  how  fchulle  we  p«rte  a-two  ? 

Swete  ladi,  what  is  ]>i  J»oujt  ? 

208  Rewe  on  vs  departe  vs  noujt. 
In  moche  forwe  &  in  myche  wo 
Schulle  we  lyue  be  }>ou  a-go." 
pan  anfwerede  oure  ladi 

212  To  )at  folke  >at  ftode  hure  bi. 

"LateJ>  be  jour  greding  bit  helpe]>  nojt 
And  hauej?  blis  in  pure  fcou^t. 
Whiles  I  am  bere  wakej?  with  me 

216  Hit  doj?  me  good  ]?at  I  pw  fe. 
Haue]7  no  drede  in  wel 
Of  peyne  fcbal  I  J?ole  no  del. 
Mi  bodi  mai  no  peyne  )?olen 

220  For  be  was  \er  of  y-boren 

He  )>oled  dej?  bim  felf  for  me, 
He  bonged  nailed  on  ]>e  tree, 
Mi  fone,  J?at  is  kyng  of  beuene, 

224  Scbal  me  fende  worde  wel  euene, 

Ioh#n  &  ]>e  apoftles  wbere  fo  J?ei  bene 
Scbulle  alle  come  for  to  fene." 
As  fcbe  fo  fpak  to  j>e  mon 

228  Off  al  J?at  wift  noujt  feynt  Ion. 
He  come  to  fpeke  with  oure  ladi 
Ferli  bim  fcou^t  j?at  fcbe  was  fory. 
And  feide,  "  ladi  what  is  ]?ee  ? 

232  What  is  >is  folk  >at  I  bere  fe  ? 

Seie  me,  ladi,  wbat  is  J?ee  ?"  he  fede 
"  For  me  were  leuer  J?at  I  were  dede, 
Than  I  J?ee  fe  fuche  femblauwt  make : 

236  For  fchal  I  neuer  fuche  a  ladi  take. 
Haftou  oujt  herde  J?at  I  ne  can 
Off  me  or  of  any  o]>er  man  ? 
Schal  I  neuer  haue  blis 

240  Til  I  wite,  ladi,  what  >ee  is." 


And  pray  her  to 
pity  them  and  to 
stay  with  them. 


She  bids  them 
not  to  weep,  but 
watch  with  her 
while  she  lives, 
and  be  happy,  for 
her  son  will  let 

[Fol.  666.] 

her  suffer  no 
pain. 


St.  John  comes 
in  knowing  no- 
thing of  what  haa 
taken  place. 


His  enquiry. 


82 


OUR   LADY   THANKS    ST;    JOHN. 


[t'ol.  67a.] 


Our  Lad)'  tells 
bim  she  has  been 
summoned  to  go 
to  heaven  by  her 

son's  messenger. 


She  thanks  St. 
John  for  kall  his 
kindness. 


His  lament. 


[Fol.  676.] 


Our  '.lady  [com- 
forts bim,  and 
begs  bim  to  'watch 
over  her  body 
that  the  Jews  get 
it  not,  as  they 
hate  her  as  they 
bated  her  son. 


Oure  ladi  wept  and  Iohffn  alfo 

For  trewe  loue  was  bitwene  hem  Wo. 

Iohau  feide,  "  ladi  what  is  ]>ee  ? 

244  For  ]>i  foncs  loue  feio  jxm  me." 

Marie  anfwerde  -with  rewful  ftcuene, 
And  feide,  "me  cam  bode  fram  beuene^ 
Fro  my  fone  a  maflligere, 

248  He  wol  no  lengere  ]?at  I  be  here. 
Wite  )>ou  wel  hit  rewi)>  me 
That  I  fchal  Iohrm  varte  fram  )>ee. 
For  \i  loue  &  J?i  feruyce 

252  That  ]?ou  haft  donw  on  eche  wife, 
Thou  haft  me  bo]?e  fed  &  clad 
And  donn  alfo  my  fone  ]?ee  bad, 
My  fone  fchal  it  wel  jelde  j?ee ; 

256  I  fchal  him  telle  when  I  him  fe." 
Than  anfwerde  seynt  Iohan, 
That  was  a  ful  fori  man, 
And  feide,  "  ladi  how  mai  J?is  be, 

260  That  I  fchal  ]>ee  no  more  fe  ? 
Mi  ioie  my  blis  is  donn  eche  del, 
Ne  fchal  me  nener  worsen  wel, 
Sithen  we  ben  parted  atwo." 

264  po  feide  oure  ladi,  "  why  faifton  fo? 
Wite  Jou  wel  I  go  be-forn 
Thi  feruyfe  fchal  no^t  be  forlorn. 
I  fchal  to  my  fone  feie  of  \qq 

268  That  \o\x  with  hym  &  me  fchal  be. 
But  hereftou  now,  my  frende  Ion, 
"When  J70U  feft  }?at  I  am  gon, 
Kepe  my  bodi  Jmt  I  ne  be  binomen, 

272  When  J?e  fellon  Iewes  comen, 
Mi  bodi  forto  donn  no  fchame, 
For  _bei  hate  no  }?ing  more  )>an  my  name. 
Mi  fone  \ei  hongen  on  a  tre, 

276  Wel  I  wote  fo  wolde  ]>ei  me. 


THE   MIRACULOUS   ARRIVAL   OF   THE   APOSTLES. 


83 


I  wote  wel  )>ei  louen  me  noujt, 
But  }er  of  be  \i  moil  )>oujt, 
When  I  am  parted  Iohan  fram  fee 

280  That  J?ei  do  my  bodi  none  euelte. 
My  fone  )>at  wone]?  in  heuene  lijt 
Lete  hem  newer  \er  to  haue  myjt." 
"Ladi  fithen  hit  is  ib, 

284  That  we  fchal  depute  a  two, 
Seie  me  how  long  hit  is  to  Jan." 
"  For  fo]?e,"  marie  feide  to  Iohan, 
Bi  )?is  &  j?e  J?ridde  day 

288  No  lengrr  abide  I  ne  may." 
"When  he  it  herde  he  was  fory, 
He  wept  &  feide,  "ladi  niercy 
How  fchal  I  lyue  ?  how  fchal  I  fare  ? 

292  How  fchal  I  blis  or  ioie  haue  ? 
Furft  my  lord  was  broujt  to  dede, 
Thorw  ]>e  felun  iewes  rede. 
And  now  my  ladi  wil  me  fro. 

296  Swete  lord,  now  me  is  wo. 

"Wolde  my  lord  I  wolde  be  dede, 

Tor  I  ne  can  no  better  rede." 

"  Ioh«n,"  fche  feide,  "  whi  feiftou  fo  ? 

300  Th[e]  aungeles  fchal  fee  come  to, 
To  kepe  fee  where  fo  Jou  be, 
Erliche  &  late  to  gladen  fee." 
Whiles  he  fpak  fo  to  feynt  Ion, 

304  Come  \e  apoftles  euerychon 
To-gidre,  but  ]?ei  wift  noujt 
How  }ei  weren  to-gidre  broujt. 
Off  o]>eres  come  ne  wift  none, 

308  But  of  hure  come  blij?e  was  Ion. 
He  cuft  hem  alle  fo  fayn  he  was 
And  feide,  "deo  gracias. 
Bleffed,  ihmi,  be  \i  my^t^ 

312  For  it  is  faire  and  hit  is  ryjt. 


St.  John  enquires 
when  she  is  to 
depart. 


[Fol.  68a.] 


St.  John  wishes 
for  his  own  death. 


While  they  are 
conversing  the 
other  apostles  ar- 
rive, but  can  give 
no  account  of 
how  they  were 
summoned. 


84      ST.  JOHN  TELLS  THE  APOSTLES  WHY  THEY  ARE  GATHERED. 


[Fol.  686.] 


St.  Peter  enquires 
the  cause  of  St. 
John's  sorrow. 


St.  John  first  en- 
quires  how  he  has 
come. 


He  tells  St.  John 
of  the  marvellous 
manner  in  which 
he  was  brought, 
and  they  all  agree 
in  saying1  that 
they  had  been 
gathered  by  a 
miracle. 


[Fol.  69a.] 


St.  John  takes 
them  to  our 
Lady's  house, 
and  tells  them 
how  she  is  to  be 
taken  up  to 
heaven,  and  that 
the  reason  why 
they  are  gather- 
ed is  that  they 
may  guard  her 
body. 


That  J>i  moder  come  to  ]>ee 

That  fche  faire  welcom  be. 

Of  )>ine  apoftles  ]>at  moft  ]?ee  louen 
316  I  ne  wote  how  }?ei  ben  hidre  yeomen." 

Than  feide  Pctyr  to  fcynt  Ion, 

"  Whi  art  }?ou  fo  fory  a  mon  ? 

Whi  wepiftou  &  -what  is  J?ee  ? 
320  For  felafchip  telle  )?ou  me. 

I  fchal  }>ee  feie,  feynt  Ion, 

"Whi  I  am  fo  fory  a  mon. 

But  feie  me  furft,  for  godes  loue, 
324  Whi  je  arn  hider  icome 

And  weryn  fo  wide  ifprad, 

Seie]?  what  ha]?  ^ou  hidre  ilad?" 

Tho  feide  Petp',  "a  ferli  ]>inge, 
328  I  was  fer  hens  atte  my  pn?chinge. 

I  was  fo  henne  in  ano)?er  londe 

And  helde  my  boke  in  my  honde, 

And  taujt  men  of  my  fermouw, 
332  I  ne  wote  how  I  cam  to  Jus  toun." 

So  feide  alle  ]?at  weren  )>ere 

Suche  wondre  fa  we  I  neuer  ere. 

None  of  hem  ne  wift  J?orw  wham 
336  Ne  what  wai  ]>ei  Jddre  cam. 

Than  feide  feynt  Ion,  "for  fo]?e  I-wya 

I  fchal  jow  telle  what  it  is. 

ComeJ»  with  me  in  to  J>is  hous 
340  Oure  ladi  J?er  abide]?  vs. 

Sche  ordeyne]?  hure  to  fare  vs  fro 

For  hure  fone  hit  wolle  fo. 

Hure  fone  ha]?  fent  his  meffagere 
344  He  wol  no  lengere  ]?at  fche  be  here, 

And  hider  he  haj?  pw  alle  yfent 

To  kepe  hure  bodi  when  fche  is  went. 

Bi-fore  hure  knele  $e  alle  bi  dene 
348  And  feie]?,  ladi  heuene  quene, 


THE    APOSTLES   FALL    DOAVN    BEFORE    OUR   LADY. 


85 


Off  alle  wywinen  beft  bee  be ; 

Thi  fone  vs  haueb  fent  to  bee, 

To  kepe  bee  &  do  bi  wille 
352  Vs  benkeb  wel  bat  it  is  fkille, 

That  heuene  &  erbe  bowe  bee  to 

For  bi  fone  hit  wol  fo, 

Thi  fone  bat  is  heuene  kynge 
356  And  alle  bing  ha]?  in  his  kepinge." 

Than  comen  be  apoftles  alle 

And  bi  hure  bigan  to  falle ; 

Yp  ros  oure  fwete  ladi 
360  And  kift  be  apoftles  bi  &  bi ; 

Off  here  come  fche  was  glad 

Alle  bei  dide  bat  fche  bad. 

Sche  asked  hem  how  bei  come  bere 
364  That  fprad  fo  fundry  were  ; 

The  feide  in  ful  good  bou^t, 

"  Thi  fone  vs  hab  hidre  ybroujt, 

To  kepe  bee  &  by  bee  by, 
368  Ther-fore  we  comen  to  be  lady" 

Ful  blibe  fche  was  of  here  come, 

"Bleffed,"  fche  feide,  "  be  my  fone. 

When  it  is  my  fones  wille 
372  That  I  come  him  to  hit  is  fkille. 

Mi  bodi  je  fchal  kepe  fo 

That  \er  to  come  noujt  my  fo. 

Kepeb  faire  my  body 
376  That  none  do  me  no  vilany. 

The  lewis  ben  ful  of  felony 

My  fone  bei  flow  borw  enuye. 

The  haten  no  bing  more  ban  my  name. 
380  God  late  hem  neuer  do  me  fchame. 

Ther-fore  I  pr«ie  pw,  pwr  charyte, 

And  for  be  loue  bat  p  hab  to  me, 

Yv  hen  I  am  faren  to  heuen  blis, 
384  "Wakeb  alle  \er  my  body  is. 


They  all  fall 
down  before  our 
Lady,  who  rose 
and  kissed  them 


[Fol.  695.] 


They  tell  her  that 
her  son  has  sent 
them. 


She  prays  them 
to  keep  her  body 
from  the  Jews,  , 


86 


AN    ANGEL    COMES   TO   SUMMON   OUR   LADY. 


[Fol.  70a.] 

and  to  -watch  it 
after  her  death, 
as  the  Jews  would 
bum  or  outrage 
it. 


They  promise  to 
do  her  behests. 


An  angel  comes 
to  summon  her. 


She  lies  down  on 
her  bed  and  the 
apostles  stand  by 
her. 


[Fol.  706.] 


Christ    calls    to 
him  his  angels. 


They  are  to  go 
with  him  to  fetch 
his  mother. 


Kepi)?  it  bo)>e  nyjt  and  dai 

That  no  Iewe  ftele  it  awai : 

Thei  wolde  it  brcnnc  or  do  it  fchame, 
388  But  ihmi,  for  \'\  holi  name, 

Late  hem  ncuer  \er  to  haue  my^t, 

For  fikirli  hit  were  vnryjt." 

Thei  feiden  alio  fo]?e  I-wys, 
392  "  Hit  fchal  be  ladi  as  >i  wille  is." 

Whiles  oure  ladi  fpak  fo 

To  ]?e  apoftles  ]?at  come  hure  to 

Come  an  aungel  &  ftode  hure  bi, 
396  And  feide,  "  wel  ]?ee  be  ladi, 

And  fo  be  alle  J?at  ben  ]?ee  bi, 

Loke  )>ou  be  ful  redi, 

pou  fchalt  to  heuene  &  be  made  quene. 
400  Fid  blij?e  mai  June  hert  bene. 

Alle  fchal  ]>ee  feme  ]>e  company  of  heuene." 

As  foone  oure  ladi  herd  J?at  fteuene 

That  ]>e  aungel  feide  hure  to 
404  Wel  ful  of  joie  was  fche  ]>o. 

Sche  jede  to  hure  bedde  &  lai 

A-bowte  J?e  tyme  of  myddai. 

Ioh«n  &  ]>e  apoftles  weren  hure  bi 
408  To  kepen  hure,  as  oure  ladi 

Scbe  badde  Ion  &  )>e  apoftles  alle 

To  kepen  hure  what  fo  bi-falle. 

Sitteh  now  ftille  bo]?e  more  &  leffe 
And  herkene}?  of  J?e  moche  blefie 
Off  Ihesu  \er  he  come  fo  lyjt 
He  dide  his  moder  ful  moche  rijt. 
As  a  fone  au^t  his  moder  to  done, 

416  He  callid  J?e  aungeles  euerychone, 

And  alle  )>e  mayne  J»at  was  w  heuene, 
And  feide  to  hem  with  mury  fteuene. 
"  CowmeJ?  with  me  to  my  lemman, 

420  Sche  is  my  moder,  hure  fone  I  am, 


JESUS   TELLS   THE    ANGELS   WHAT    HE    DID    FOR   MAN. 


87 


Off  hure  I  toke  flefche  &  blode, 
And  fithen  I  hange  on  ]?e  rode, 
I  ]>at  euer  was  &  ay  fchal  ben 

424  In  al  )>is  bliffe  bat  je  bere  fen, 
I  badde  reube  on  al  mankyne 
Tbat  alle  went  to  belle  pyne, 
I  made  man  to  ferue  me 

428  And  }>orw  be  appel  of  a  tre 
That  adam  toke  &  ete  it  Inne 
To  helle  be  went  &  al  bis  kynne. 
Hit  rewid  me  and  for-J>oujt  fore 

432  And  I  it  wolde  J?ole  no  more. 
I  lyjt  doun  &  man  bi-cam, 
And  of  J?at  maide  flefche  nam. 
Bi-fore  alle  ojw  I  hure  cbes, 

436  And  I  was  born  of  hure  flefches. 
Thritti  wynW  &  fowme  del  more 
Men  to  wiffen  I  was  tore. 
Men  dide  me  moche  euelte 

440  Myn  owyn  J?at  oujt  for  to  be. 
Thei  token  me  &  bette  me  fore 
And  atte  J?e  laft  bei  dide  wel  more. 
With  oute  gult  bei  me  fwongen 

444  And  to  a  piler  bei  me  bounden ; 
Nailes  bei  fmyten  in  my  fette 
Off  blode  myne  handes  weren  rede. 
Myn  hert  bei  ftongen  with  a  fpere 

448  That  fa  we  alle  bat  weren  bere. 
Ther  I  hange  nailed  on  be  tree 
My  modre  was  wel  wo  for  me : 
And  alfo  was  hure  conn  Ion. 

452  I  callid  hure  to  me  foone  anon 
And  feide,  Ion,  for  my  loue 
Kepe  wel  bis  wyf,  I  am  hure  fone. 
Bobe  bei  wenten  bo  fro  me 

456  Al  one  I  hanged  on  be  tree. 


He  tells  them  of 
Adam's  fall. 


Of  his  own  pity 
for  mankind. 


[Fol.  71a.] 


Of  his   incarna- 
tion. 


Of  his  thirty 
years  life. 


Of  his  crucifixion. 


How  Saint  John 
took  charge  of 
our  Lady. 


HE    COMES    WITH    HIS    ANGELS   TO    FETCH    OUR    LADY. 


[Fol.  716.] 

Of  his  death  and 
descent  into  hell, 
and  what  he  did 
there. 


Of  his  resurrec- 
tion. 


He  takes  them 
■with  him,  and 
they  come  to  our 
Lady. 


[Fol.  72a.] 


Our  Lady  recog- 
nizes her  son. 


Her  prayer. 


Mi  foule  fram  my  bodi  I  nam, 

In  to  J?e  pyne  of  helle  fone  I  came. 

Alle  my  frendes  )>at  I  ]?er  fonde, 

460  I  toke  hem  oute  with  my  ryjt  honde. 
Adam  &  Eue  &  many  mo 
I  dide  hem  oute  of  helle  go. 
When  I  hadde  harwed  helle, 

464  And  don  as  I  jow  telle, 
And  fet  adam  fro  ]>e  quede, 
The  Jridde  dai  I  ros  fro  dede. 
Fram  er]?e  to  heuene  I  cam 

468  God  &  man  bothe  I  am  : 

In  heuene  &  in  erthe  is  my  myjt, 
Now  I  wol  for]?e  in  ryft 
That  my  modre  be  me  bi, 

472  This  tyme  I  wol  for  >i. 

Come]?  with  me  with  mury  fonge 
And  do  we  hure  come  vs  amonge." 
Than  cam  ihmi  with  his  mayne, 

476  Aungeles  archaungeles  moche  plente, 
In  to  J?e  chambre  \er  fche  was  Inne 
With  ful  many  of  hure  kynne. 
That  chambere  was  ful  of  moche  blis 

480  As  euer  is  J?er  ihmi  is. 

Tho  feide  alle  ]?at  were  J?ere 
Suche  a  blis  fawe  J?ei  neuer  ere. 
Amonge  )?at  Ioie  &  ]>at  glewe 

484  Oure  ladi  hure  fone  knewe. 

When  fche  him  fawe  fche  was  glad 
Liftenet  J>e  bede  }?at  fche  bad. 
"  Sone  bleffid  mote  ]?ou  be 

488  That  J>ou  bicome  man  of  me. 
Hit  is  wel  fene  I  am  )>ee  dere 
Now  J?i  felf  art  comen  here. 
Thine  apoftles  J?ou  fendill  furft  to  me 

492  And  now  J»ou  art  come  -with  Jri  meyne, 


CHRIST  S    PROMISE   TO    HER. 


89 


To  fecchyn  me  in  to  )>i  myjt 
"Was  never  modre  fone  fo  bryjt. 
Mi  leue  fone,  now  art  ]>ou  come 

496  With  ]>i  meyne,  here  a  bone, 
Do  my  fone  J?at  Ju  wille  is, 
To  ]>ee  me  )>inkej?  longe  I-"wis." 
"  Modre,"  he  feide,  "  come  "with  me 

500  Of  alle  wymen  beft  ]>ee  be. 

Thou  fchalt  to  heuen  &  be  made  quene, 
"Wei  bli)?e  may  ]?ine  hert  bene." 
"  Sone,"  fche  feide,  "I  be-feke  ]>ee 

504  0  }>ing  }?at  )?ou  graunt  me  : 
That  I  nojt  J?e  deuel  fe, 
Ne  none  ]?at  euer  with  him  be : 
I  loue  hem  noujt  ]?ei  am  my  fone 

508  Ne  wolde  I  neuer  fene  hem  none." 

"Moder,"  he  feide,  "  ne  drede  ]?ee  noujt, 
Ne  come  it  neuer  in  my  J>oujt, 
Ne  wille  I  neuer  more  }>ole 

512  That  any  of  hem  come  ]>ee  bi-fore, 
Ne  fchal  ]?ou  neuer  fe  ne  here 
But  me  &  aungeles  J?ine  fere. 
Moder,  a  jift  I  fchal  ]>ee  jyue, 

516  Thou  fchalt  with  me  in  heuene  lyue, 
And  more  fchal  I  jeue  J?ee 
Al  heuene  company e  fchal  ferue  ]>ee. 
Modre,  for  J?e  loue  of  J>ee 

520  I  fchal  haue  mercy  &  pite 

Off  al  man  kynne  for  J>i  praiere 
That  were  forlorn  jif  ]?ou  ne  were, 
Alle  ]>at  donn  ]>ee  worfchipe, 

524  And  feruen  ]?ee  wel  &  treuliche, 
Bi-feke  to  ]>ee  &  mercy  wille  crie, 
And  feyn,  help,  seynt  marie, 
In  what  peyne  fo  he  be, 

528  Moder,  for  ]?e  loue  of  J?ee, 


His  reply  to  her. 


[Fol.  726.] 

She  begs  him  to 
defend  her  from 
the  fiend. 


He  promises  her 
that  she  shall  be 
queen  of  heaven. 


That  prayer  shall 
be  made  to  her 
■which  he  will 
himself  give  heed 
unto. 


90 


JESUS    BLESSES   OUR   LADY. 


[Fol.  73a.] 


Mankind  shall 
have   mercy  for 
her  sake. 


[Fol.  736.] 

And  he  -will  per- 
form all  her  en- 
treaties. 


Our  Lady's 
thanksgiving. 


I  fchal  hem  rclcs  fone  anone  : 

For  £i  loue  I  fchal  bus  done. 

3  if  any  haue  ben  al  his  lyue 
532  In  hede  fynne,  maide  or  wyue, 

And  he  wille  on  his  laft  ]?rowe 

Schryue  him  &  ben  y-knowe, 

And  telle  it  jif  he  haue  fo  preft 
536  Or  a  no\er  man  J?at  is  him  neft, 

And  $if  he  ne  mai  do  no  more 

But  J>at  him  forj?inke]?  fore, 

In  what  fynne  fo  he  be, 
540  Moder,  for  \q  loue  of  ]?ee, 

I  fchal  on  him  haue  mercy. 

And  fithen  ]?ei  fchulle  wone  )>ee  bi, 

^if  a  man  hadde  al  one  wroujt 
544  Alle  ]>e  fynnes  ]?at  myjt  be  }>oujt, 

And  he  on  his  laft  dai, 

}if  he  none  ere  ne  mai, 

Eepent  him  &  calle  to  J?ee, 
548  In  what  fynne  fo  he  be, 

I  fchal  here  his  praiere 

For  J?i  loue  modre  dere. 

Al  ]?at  ]>ovl  wolt  bi-feke  fore, 
552  Be  it  laffe  be  it  more, 

Hit  fchal  ben  aftur  J?i  wille  : 

For  I  it  wille  &  ]?at  is  fkille, 

That  no  }?ing  with  feie  J»ee 
556  Off  ]?at  )>ou  wolt  bifeke  me." 
kure  ladi  knelid  him  bi-forn 

And  feide,  "  J?e  tyme  ]>at  ]>ou  were  born, 

Oner  alle  o\>er  bleffed  ]>o\x  be, 
560  For  alle  )>at  I  wol  }?ou  graunteft  me." 
^f  "  So  I  anjt,  moder,  &  fo  I  wille." 

He  left  vp  his  hond  &  bleffed  hure  ftille. 

His  bleffing  fche  J^ou^t  good, 
564  And  he  hure  foule  vndreftode. 


0l 


HE   BIDS   PETER   TAKE    CARE   OF    HER   BODY. 


91 


w 


He  callid  to  him  seynt  myjhel, 

"  Thou  kepe  me  f  is  foule  wel, 

Thou  and  alle  fine  fere, 
568  Is  no  finge  me  fo  dere." 

Alle  fat  mayne  fat  cam  fro  heuene 

Thei  fyngen  with  a  myry  fieuene. 

Men  myjt  wite  bi  here  fonge 
572  That  moche  ioie  "was  hem  amonge. 

"With  alle  fat  mayne  to  heuew  he  hure  nam 

And  as  foone  as  he  f  er  cam 

He  made  hure  quene  of  heuen  lijt, 
576  Bleffid  be  hure  fones  myjt.     amen. 
"Ow  fchal  we  here  of  f  e  bodi 
Where  it  bi-cam  &  where  it  li. 

"When  f  e  foule  was  ]>ere  fro  hure  nomen 
580  Than  bad  god  Peter  to  him  comen. 

And  feide  "  Peter,  I  comaunde  fee 

Mi  moder  bodi  kepe  f  ou  me, 

Iohrra  &  alle  fine  fere  ; 
584  Nis  no  finge  me  fo  dere. 

"When  I  furil  in  ]?is  worlde  cam 

Off  hure  bodi  flefche  I  nam : 

Off  hure  bodi  I  was  born. 
588  Petyr,  go  forf  e  f  ou  be-forn, 

Thou  &  alle  fine  feres  with  fee, 

To  Iofephat  to  fat  vale 

And  lei]?  J?e  bodi  in  a  ftone 
592  Hauef  no  drede  of  joure  fone, 

Goth  with  faire  proceffioun 

To  ievusalem  f  orwe  f  e  toun, 

Dof  f  e  belles  alle  to  ryngen 
596  And  loke  fat  je  mury  fyngen. 

Loke  fat  je  haue  candele 

Torches  bofe  faire  &  fele. 

Foure  of  f  e  apoftles  fchal  bere  f  e  beere 
600  Ther  on  fchal  ligge  me  modre  deere. 


He  charges  Saint 
Michael  to  keep 
her  soul. 


She  is  carried  to 
heaven. 


[Fol.  74a.] 


Peter  is  hidden 
to  take  care  of 
our  Lady's  dead 
hody. 


He  is  to  hury  it 
in  the  ■valley  of 
Jehoshaphat. 


Going  in  proces- 
sion through  Je- 
rusalem. 


Four  apostles  are 
to  carry  the   ier. 


92 


A   JEW    ASKS   PETER   TO    PRAY   FOR    HIM, 


[Pol.  746.] 


Jesus,  blessing 
them,  departs. 


A  crippled   Jew 
hears  their  song 
as   they   go 
through  Jerusa- 
lem. 


He  comes  and 
cries  after  Saint 
Peter. 

On  the  night 
■when  Peter  de- 
nied our  Lord, 
he  had  defended 
him  from  the 
wrath  of  the 
Jews. 


[Fol.  75a.] 


He  reminds  St. 
Peter  of  this,  and 
begs  his  help. 


Hauej?  no  drede  of  no  lew 

For  I  my  fulf  fchal  be  with  jow." 

When  ihesu  hadde  him  fo  feide 
604  And  J?e  bodi  was  on  bere  leide 

He  jaf  hem  alle  his  bleflinge, 

And  ftye  to  heuen  j>er  he  is  kynge. 
^f  To  hym  j?o  feide  feynt  Ion, 
608  "Felawes  go  we  foone  anon, 

And  twme  we  J?is  proceffioun, 

And  fynge  we  faire  ]>orw  Jus  toun ;" 

Ther  was  a  lew  hem  amonge 
612  Off  \e  apoftles  harde  ]?e  fonge, 

To  \e  beere  he  cam  lepand 

And  as  he  wolde  lai  on  his  hande, 

To  J?e  bere  he  cleued  faft, 
616  And  to  Petir  he  criede  atte  J?e  laft, 

And  feide,  "  Petir  J?enkeft  J?ou  noujt 

When  J?i  lord  was  to  vs  broujt, 

Thon  him  forfoke  &  I  J?e  knewe, 
620  Praie  for  me,"  feide  J?e  Iewe 

"  Praie  \i  lord  jif  I  mai  fo  be, 

That  he  haue  mercy  on  me. 

Thenke,"  quod.  J?e  Iewe,  "  what  I  ]?ee  dede, 
624  When  J?ou  was  with  vs  in  J?at  ftede, 

When  ]>i  lord  was  ytakyn 

And  J70U  haddeft  him  forfakyn. 

Oure  mayne  J?ee  knewe  J?at  ilke  ny^t 
628  Bothe  bi  fpeche  &  by  fyjt. 

And  feiden  alle  for  I  node  J?ee  bi 

That  J?ou  was  of  Ihesus  companye. 

Thou  feideft  with  wordes  &  with  ]?ou$t 
632  For  fo]?e  J?at  j>ou  knewe  him  noujt. 

Pr«ie  ]>i  lord  of  moche  myjt, 

And  his  moder  J?at  art  fo  bryjt, 

That  he  me  help  at  J?is  ftounde, 
636  For  I  was  neuer  fo  harde  ybounde. 


AND    IS   CURED    BY   A   MIRACLE, 


93 


As  I  pee  helped  atte  pi  nede 
^elde  me,  Petir,  now  my  mede." 
Seynt  Petir  anfwerde  po 
640  To  pe  Iewe  pat  was  fo  wo  t 
"  }if  pou  woldeft  leue  on  him 
That  on  pe  rode  dide  pi  kyn, 
That  he  is  fopefaft  godes  fone, 
644  God  &  man  for  him  bi-come ; 
That  marie  bare,  in  hure  lyf 
Clene  maide  &  clene  wyf, 
Clene  wide  we  with  oute  wem, 
648  Por  pee  I  wol  praie  pen, 
Ihesu  cryft  vs  lijtep  aboue 
That  he  for  his  moder  loue 
So  jeue  pee  myjt  for  to  go 
652  And  bringe  pee  oute  of  pi  wo." 
The  Iewe  pat  henge  apon  pe  here 
Anfwerde  anone,  as  p  mai  here  ; 
" I  leue  wel  &  better  I  fchal  done 
656  On  ihesu  crift  godes  fone, 
That  Iewes  diden  on  pe  rode 
And  for  vs  he  fchedde  his  fwete  blode, 
That  marie  bare,  in  hure  lyf 
660  Clene  maiden  &  clene  wyf. 
He  brynge  me  I  prade  it  him 
Oute  of  pe  wo  pat  I  am  Inne." 
As  foone  as  he  hadde  feide  pis  bede, 
664  He  was  al  hole  in  pat  ftede. 

Off  fote,  of  honde  he  hadde  myjt 
Alle  his  lymes  bi-come  ful  ryjt. 
He  ftode  vp  fwipe  anone 
668  Bi-fore  pe  Iewes  euerechone, 
That  fuche  a  myracle  hap  done 
Ihesu  crift  godes  fone, 
Of  a  wilde  hounde  hap  made  a  lomb 
672  To  preche  his  worde  in  eche  a  lond. 


St.  Peter  urges 
him  to  believe  on 
Christ, 


[Fol.  756.] 


and  on  the  Jew's 
profession  of 
faith 


he  is  made  per- 
fectly -whole  im- 
mediately. 


He     becomes    a 
preacher  after  St. 


94 


THE   JEWS   ATTACK   THE    PROCESSION, 


[Fol.  76a.] 
Petor    has    bap- 
tized him. 


He  converts 
twenty  thousand 
and    more   with 
his    first     day's 
•preaching1. 


[Fol.  766.] 

The  Jews  attack 
the  funeral  pro- 
cession, 


but  are  all 
stricken  with 
blindness  and 
lameness. 


Scynt  Pctir  ]>at  holi  man 
The  lew  lie  cryftcned  anone. 
He  taujt  him  al  his  hi-leue 

676  He  will  he  was  to  godes  biheue  : 
He  ordeyned  him  to  preft  anone^ 
And  bad  him  foone  for  to  gone 
And  prechen  al  of  godes  fone 

680  In  eche  alond  where  he  come. 

That  palm  ]?at  Petir  heldo  in  his  honde 
He  toke  it  him  J?orw  godes  fonde, 
And  bad  him  godes  wordes  telle 

684  Among  }?e  Iewes  J?at  were  fo  felle. 
So  he  fpak  J?e  furft  day 
That  he  twned  to  godes  lay 
Twenty  |?oufand  &  fommedel  mo, 
.  688  Thorw  wordes  }>at  he  fpak  J?o. 

Foure  of  ]?e  apoftles  ]?at  were  ]?ere 
That  fwete  bodi  for]?e  J?ei  bere. 
The  Iewes  ]?at  were  godes  fone 

692  Thei  herde  ]>e  cri  fone  anone, 
And  J7ei  asked  what  was  J»at  crie, 
And  men  feiden  it  was  mari 
That  seynt  Petir  &  his  fere 

696  Bare  j?are  apon  a  beere. 

"Alas,"  seide  )?ei,  "for  fchame 
Afcape  ]?ei  vs  we  fchulle  haue  blame, 
Arme  we  vs  alle  fone  anone 

700  And  take  we  hem  alle  \er  ]>ei  gone ; 
That  bodi  \ai  ]?ei  bere  nyme  we  it 
And  caft  we  it  in  a  fonle  pit, 
Or  brenne  we  it  &  do  it  fomme  where 

704  Or  caft  we  it  in  a  fonle  fere ; " 
Thei  comen  lepand  Juderwarde 
And  ]?at  hem  fel  fwi]?e  harde. 
Ihesu  wolde  noujt  ]>ai  fchame 

708  He  made  hem  bo)>e  blynde  &  lame : 


BUT   ARE    STRICKEN    BLIND. 


95 


Off  hem  alle  was  \er  none 
That  myjt  a  fote  on  erf  e  gone : 
Here  mouses  were  to  here  nek  went 
712  Thei  foujt  alle  fat  fei  were  fchent, 
Bof  e  here  feet  &  here  handes 
"Where  bounde  with  ftvonge  handes, 
Ful  fore  bounden  fei  were 
716  For  >ei  ne  myjt  go  ne  here. 

Than  comen  here  frendes  hem  to 
And  feide,  "  alas  whi  leie  je  fo, 
In  pure  armo?<r  fo  faft  yclijt 
720  That  bef  fo  faire  &  fo  bryjt  ? 

}oure  fperes  pur  fchildes  helpef  jow  noujt. 
Telle)  vs  what  p  haue  foujt?" 
Thei  anfwerd  noujt  fat  leyen  fere 
724  For  hei  ne  myjt  hem  nop  here  : 
But  fowme  of  hem  fat  myjt  fpeke 
Seide  alas,  "  who  fchal  vs  wreke?" 
And  euer  fei  cryede  many  a  flounde, 
728  "  Alas  how  harde  we  lie  here  ybounde." 
Off  fyue  f  oufand  was  f  er  none 
That  myp  of  fat  ftede  gone. 
Than  feide  fome  fat  ftode  hem  bi, 
732  That  hadde  yfene  fat  ferli, 
That  feynt  Petir  &  his  fere 
Bare  oure  ladi  on  a  beere  : 
Thife  men  wolde  hure  haue  nomen 
736  And  f us  f ei  ben  ouer-comen  : 

The  ladi  fei  wolde  haue  donrc  fchame. 
Ther-fore  f ei  hauen  godes  grame. 
The  folke  hem  bad  mercy  to  crie 
740  To  ihesu  cryft  of  here  folie, 
And  leue  fat  he  is  godes  fone 
And  fif  en  cryften  men  bi-come, 
"We  hope  fat  ihesu  fchal  fone  tyme 
744  Delyuere  pw  of  pure  pyne." 


Their  friends  find 
them  in  this 
state. 


[Fol.  77a.] 


They  cannot  learn 
from  those  strick- 
en ho-w  it  came  to 
pass,  hut  the  by- 
standers inform 
them. 


They  are  urged 
to  call  on  Christ 
for  mercy, 


96 


THE   DISAPPEARANCE   OF   THE    BODY. 


[Fol.  776.] 

and  on  so  doing 
they  are  restored. 


The  apostles 
come  to  the  valley 
of  Jehoshaphat. 


They  leave  the 
body,  but  watch 
near  it. 


In  the  morning 
the  body  was 
gone. 


[Fol.  78a.] 

Something  like 
manna  was   left 
in  its  place. 


They  found  out 
this  on  the  com- 
ing of  St.  Thomas, 


Thei  criede  mercy  with,  good  wille 

Somme  lowde  &  tommc  ftillc. 

And  ihesn  )>orw  his  mochil  myjt 
748  Here  feet  &  handes  gan  to  ryjt. 

Thorw  myraclc  )?at  \er  was  donn 

Bi-come  criftene  many  on. 

And  lcuede  on  cryft  and  criede  mercy 
752  That  none  o\er  god  was  fo  myjty. 

The  apoftles  went  for]?e  on  here  way 

To  Iosephat  to  J>at  valay, 

When  J?e  apoftles  comen  were 
756  "Wei  fofte  j?ei  fettcn  doun  j>e  Deere, 

With  gret  deuocioun  euerychone 

Thei  leide  ]>e  bodi  in  a  ftone, 

And  bileft  alle  in  ]?at  ftede 
760  As  oure  ladi  hadde  hem  bede  ; 

And  woke  \er  al  )>at  nyjt 

With  many  torches  &  candle  lyjt. 

On  \q  morwe  when  it  was  dai 
764  Thei  loked  where  J?at  bodi  lai, 

Thei  ouertwrned  ]>at  ilke  flone, 

Bodi  \ei  founde  \er  none. 

But  \ei  fawe  in  J?at  ftede  J»ana 
768  Liand  as  it  were  amana : 

That  mawna  bitokened  hure  clene  lyf, 

That  fche  was  modre  maide  &  wyf. 

Tho  wifl  ]>e  apoftles,  I- wis 
772  The  bodi  was  in  to  paradis. 

Alfo  godes  wille  was. 

Thei  feide  "Deo  gracias." 

Seynt  Thomas  of  ynde  ]?iderward  cam 
776  Alfo  blyue  as  he  myjt  gan, 

And  wolde  haue  ben  at  hure  fyne 

^if  he  myjt  haue  come  bi  tyme ; 

As  he  loked  him  bi  fide 
780  He  fawe  a  brijtneffe  bi  hi>»  glide, 


OUR    LADY    LETS    FALL    A    GIRDLE    FOR    THOMAS. 


97 


Bi  )>at  ftede  \er  he  come 

Oure  ladi  to  heuene  was  nome. 

He  knelede  douw  &  feide,  "  ladi, 
784  Off  me  I  p>vrie  jow  haue  mercy ; 

Ladi  quene  of  heuene  lyjt, 

For  June  fwete  mychel  myjt, 

Sende  me  token  jus  ilke  day 
788  What  Jung  J?at  I  fay  may 

To  myn  felawis,  \er  I  hem  fynde, 

That  I  was  toward  Ju  buriynge. 

Thei  wil  noujt  leue  J?at  I  were  ; 
792  Now  gr«unt  me,  ladi,  my  pnriere." 

A-bowte  hure  myddel  a  feynt  fche  foujt 

That  fche  hure  felf  hadde  wroujt, 

On0  filk  &  gold  wounden  in  pal, 
796  Doun  to  thomas  fche  lete  it  fal, 

He  toke  \er  J>e  gurdel  in  his  honde 

And  Ranked  hure  of  hure  fonde. 

ForJ?e  he  went  of  J>at  ftede, 
800  Toward  J?e  toune  he  him  dede, 

His  felawis  for  to  feke  on  his  fete 

]if  he  hem  oujt  myjt  mete. 

Atte  J?e  temple  dominus 
804  He  fonde  hem  alle  in  an  hous. 

When  he  hem  fawe  he  gret  hem 

And  J?ei  anfwerde  alle  hym, 

And  feiden,  "thoin«s  of  ynde, 
808  Eiw  art  J?ou  bi-hynde, 

Whare  halt  J>ou  fo  longe  bene  ? 

We  haue  buried  heuene  quene. 

Thou  helpeft  nojt  at  no  good  dede, 
812  Thou  faileft  euer  at  moft  nede." 

"  Sore  me  forJ?inkeJ?  J?at  I  ne  was  here, 

But  I  ne  myjt  come  no  nere, 

Bleffed  be  fche  quene  of  blis 
816  In  J?at  ftede  \er  now  fche  is. 


who  tells  them  he 
has  seen  our  Lady 
being  carried  in- 
to heaven, 


[Fol.  78ft  J 


who    had    given 
him  her  girdle. 


They  at  first  had 
rebuked  him  as 
being  ever  late, 
but  when  he 
shewed  them  the 
girdle  they  are 
silenced. 


98 


THE    APOSTLES   SEARCH    FOR   THE    BODY. 


[Fol.  7lJn.] 


st.  Peter  and  St. 
Jobs  are  the  per- 
Bone  » ho  rebuke 

him. 


Saint  Peter  recog- 
nizes the  girdle, 
whereupon  they 
set  out  to  search 
for  the  body,  but 
found  only  a  sort 
of  flour  like 
manna. 


[Fol.  79ft.] 


For  wel  I  wotc  bi  my  )?oujt 
Thei  je  hure  left  is  fohe  noujt." 
Than  feidc  to  him  lone  anone 

820  Bothe  Petir  &  feynt  lone  : 

"  Thou  no  woldeft  leue  thomas 
That  oure  lord  frani  detb  ras. 
Come  ]k)u  art  mys-bileuyd 

824  And  tales  ynow  J>ou  canft  fyndc. 
Thou  leueft  noujt  on  godes  craft 
Swylk  tela  wis  wille  we  naujt." 
"  Be  ftille,':  he  faide,  "  broker  Ion, 

828  Whi  chyde  p  me  eue/'ychone  ?   • 
I  am  f'ul  wery  man  for- gone, 
Me  ne  lift  anfweri  neuer  one. 
But  I  J^anke  oure  lord  god 

832  I  fa  we  hure  with  flefche  &  blood. 
Ther  oure  ladi  to  heuene  went 
Here  is  J>e  token  )>at  fche  me  fent." 
Quath  feynt  Petir,  "  ]?at  is  fothe, 

836  This  feynt  fche  hure  felf  wof, 
"We  dide  it  on  hure  in  J?e  beere, 
"Wonder  me  }?inke)?  )>at  it  is  here. 
Go  we  fwij'e  in  to  j>e  vale 

840  To  wite  J?e  fothe  of  ]?is  tale, 
That  he  ha]?  vs  here  yfeide, 
For  it  was  in  J?e  tumbe  ylaide." 
Oute  of  ]>e  place  fwi]7e  ]>ei  jede 

844  And  ]>e  tumbe  )>ei  vndede  : 

No  Jring  \er  Inne  J?ei  ne  fouwde, 
But  a  manere  floure  at  ]>e  grounde, 
That  floure  was  manna  yclepid, 

848  Hit  was  in  J>e  tumbe  yftekyd 
Thei  jeden  alle  abowte  ]>e  tumbe 
And  knelede  on  ]>e  bare  grounde, 
And  feiden  "  ihesu,  godes  fone, 

852  Al  J?i  fondc  be  welcome. 


CHRTST    COMES    DOWN    TO    THEM. 


99 


Myjtful  art  bou,  heuene  kynge, 

That  mai  we  wite  bi  bis  tokenynge. 

For  no  man  mai  wite  ne  fe 
856  "What  is  bi  derne  pmiete." 

Cryft  of  heuene,  bat  is  fo  bryjt, 

Amonge  be  apoftles  fone  he  lyjt, 

And  gret  hem  alle  yfere 
860  With  aungeles  fele  bast  with  him  were. 

And  feide,  "  now  pees  be  with  vs" 

"  BleiTed  be  je,"  feide  Ihmis. 

A  lyjt  cloude  come  after  ban 
864  And  ouer-fprad  hem  euery  man ; 

And  bar  hem  alle  bat  were  bere 

In  to  here  ftedes  \er  bei  preched  ere. 

And  fonden  alle  bat  folke  jete 
868  Sittand  ftille  atte  here  fete, 

And  bei  bigowne  for  to  preche 

And  be  folke  for  to  teche. 

!Moche  wondre  hem  bo  boujt 
872  How  bei  weren  bidre  broujt. 

Mijtful  art  bou,  heuene  kynge, 

Ihesu  crift,  in  alle  binge. 

The  apoftles  kneled  in  bat  ftede 
876  To  ihesu  bei  bede  a  bede. 

Ihesu  herde  here  pmiere 

For  bei  were  hi?w  leue  &  dere. 


Christ  comes 
down  to  them, 


and  blesses  them. 


[Fol.  80«.] 


They    return    to 
their  own  places. 


880 


TT7E  bifeche  bee  for  alle  b«t  hereb  \h  vie 


Off  oure  ladi  feynt  marie, 
That  Ihesu  fchelde  hem  fram  grame 
Fro  dedly  fynne  &  fro  fchame. 
Ne  mys-auentwre  fchal  bi-falle  bat  man 

884  That  bis  a  vie  here  can. 

Ne  no  womman  bat  ilke  dai, 
That  of  oure  ladi  hereb  bis  lai, 
Dien  ne  fchal  of  hure  childe ; 

888  For  oure  ladi  hure  fchal  be  mylde. 


A  prayer  for  those 
who  read  or  hear 
this  life. 


100  NO  HARM  SHALL  HAPPEN  WHERE  THIS  LIFE  IS  READ. 

[Foi.  806.]  No  none  mys-auentwre  fchal  be-falle, 

In  felde  in  ftrete  ne  in  halle, 
In  flede  \er  Jns  vie  is  rad, 
892  For  oure  ladi  hure  fone  it  bad. 
Archbishop  Saint  And  )>e  archibiffhop  feynt  Edmound 

forty°"iays  %bx-  H»]>  gr«untcd  xl.  daies  to  pardouw 

don  to  them  who  m        . .      ,     .    ,  .        .  •■  n 

hear  or  read  it.  To  alle  pat  Jns  vie  wol  here 

896  Or  with  good  wille  wol  lere. 
Ilaesu,  for  )>i  modre  loue, 
That  wonej?  in  heuene  vs  aboue, 
Graunt  vs,  jif  Jn  wille  is, 
900  The  mochil  joie  of  p«radis. 
A  -praier  J?er  to  feie  alle  we, 
A  Pater  nosier  viir  charite, 
And  an  Aue  marie  )>er  to 
904  That  Ihesus  vs  graunt  fo.     Amen. 


%  Celi  regina  fit  fenptori  medicina. 


FLOYEES    AND    BLANCHEFLTJE. 

FRAGMENTS   OF  THE  MS. 

COTTON.    VITELLIUS,   D.  III. 


fodere  [6"'coUl- 

wi}?  polite  wene. 
J7at  maide  to  hif  quene. 
4  hif  maidenef  vp  in  is  tur. 

hire  wi)>  muchel  honur. 
marchanf  >if  maide  forlete. 
.     bli>e  mid  here  by-jete. 
8  ...  we  blancheflur  be. 

floires  in  hif  cuwtre. 
.     to  \q  king  icome 
....     gold  &  )iffe  garifome. 

12 jjan  king  i-?olde. 

.     \o  cupe  of  golde. 
.     let  at  one  chiriche. 
.     les  wereche. 

16 [»tano  .     .     • 

.     pointe  ftonde 

.     .     bi  write.' 
.     .    hele  wor]?fhipe. 

20 rede' 


102  FRAGMENTS    OF    COTTON.    V  TTELLIU8,    D.    III. 

[h]aueb  vnder-nome. 

24 fuderlonde  he  if  i-come. 

halle  he  is  a-lyjt. 

he  grette  anonryjt. 

.  -  .     .     .     |?o  queiie  he  grette  alfo. 
28 haueb  hif  gretirage  ido. 

afkej?  war  b«t  maide  beo. 

were  nou  targe]?  heo. 

.     .     .     .     ref  hit  haueb  vnder-nome. 
32 boure  a  if  icome 

to  hire  anowrijt. 

.     .     .     [bl]ancheflur  mi  fuete  wijt. 

ful  iwis. 

36 war  heo  [is] 

[6«,  col.  2.]  pine  gabbinge  deb  me  wo. 

1  Tel  me  war  my  lewmion  beo. 

Al  wepinge  onfuerede  heo 
40  Sire  heo  feyde  ded.ded  quad  he. 

Sire  heo  feyde  for  fobe  je 

Alas  wenne  deide  my  fuete  wyjt. 

Sire  heo  feyde  wi]>  inne  bif  feuenijt. 
44  pat  vrbe  hire  waf  leyd  aboue. 

And  ded  heo  if  for  bine  loue. 

Floyref  bat  waf  fo  fayr  &  gent. 

He  fel  ifwoue  vp  on  ]?e  pauemewt. 
48  And  be  criftene  wiwtmon  gow  to  crie 

To  crift  &  to  feywtemarie 

pe  king  and  be  queue  iherdde  \at  eri 

In  to  be  bure  bo  vrne  hy. 
52  And  be  quene  ate  frome 

By  wepeb  hire  dere  fone. 

&  j?e  kingef  herte  if  ful  of  care 

pat  he  fikj?  if  fone  vor  loue  fo  fare 
56  Anon  he  of  fwoninge  awok  &  fpeke  mifte 

1  From  line  38  to  67  has  already  been  copied  by  Sir  F.  Madden,  and  is  printed 
in  the  Freface  to  "A  Penni  Worth  of  Witte,"  pp.  viii.,  ix. 


FRAGMENTS   OF    COTTON.    VITELL1US,    I).    III.  103 

Sore  he  wep  &  lore  he  iyjte 

[And]  on  hif  modcr  he  by  sij?t. 

Dame  he  fayde  led  me  J>ar  J?at  mayde  lyj? 
60  p ider  heo  hine  bronte  wel  suj>e. 

Vor  care  a[n]d  forwe  of  hire  dej?e. 

Ano«  Jw»t  he  to  J?e  burlef  com. 

Wel  jerne  he  bi-hul  "per  on. 
64  And  letterel"  bigon  to  rede.1  ['  MS.  torede.] 

put"  ipek  &  Jmf  fede. 

pat  ]'ar  lay  fuete  blancheflur. 

[pat]  rloyref  louede  par  ainur. 
68 fwounej?  notice 

Ic  adone  ale  he  fpeke  myjte. 

Sore  he  wep  &  lore  he  iyjte. 

And  gon  blancheflur  bi-mene. 
72  Wit  teref  rine  afe  a  fctcr  of  r[e]ne 

Blancheflur  he  feide  blancheflur 

So  lute  Jung  naf  neu[<r]  in  bur. 

Vor  J>ou  were  ibore  of  gode  cunne  [ca,  coi.  i.] 

76  Vor  in  worle  nef  nere  non. 

pine  imake  of  no  wimmon. 

I-nouj  J»u  cuj^ell  of  clergie. 

And  of  alle  curteyfie. 
80  .      .  muchel  &  litel  hit  louede  \e 

Vor  J?i  fayr-hede  &  Ju  bunte. 

^if  J?at  dej?  were  ideld  arijt. 

We  lcholden  habbe  idijed  boJ?e  in  ore  nijt. 
84  Vor  in  one  daye  ibore  we  were. 

Mid  rijte  we  lcholden  deie  ifere. 

DeJ>  he  feyde  vol  of  en-uie. 

&  vol  of  alle  tricherie. 
88  Mid  traifan  J>ou  me  haft  mi  lef  binome. 

To  bi-tmie  J?at  folk  hit  if  Ju  wone 

Heo  wolde  libbe  &  J>u  noldeft 

pou  nelt  me  flen  and  ihe  wolde, 
92  WiJ?  )>ere  me  wolde  J»at  J>ou  were. 


104  FRAGMENTS  OF   OOTTON.    vitki.i.ii  s,    n.    in. 

A  til  in1  no  wijt  come  J>ere  ['  Or  Nnl  tu.] 

OJ7or  me  wolde  \nt  )?ou  .     .  no  come 
per  J>ou  wolt  come  Home. 
96  J>[«r?]  tike  Jwrt  bolte  befl  to  libbe 
Hem  )>ou  Itikeft  under  J?c  ribbe 
&  jif  J»er  ii"  eni  forliued  wrecche 
pat  of  if  liue  noujt  ne  recche 

100  pat  fawe  wolde  deie  for  forewe  [&]  elde 
On  hem  neltou  nought  bi-helde 
No  lengore  ich  nelle  mi  lef  bileue. 
Ichulle  be  mid  hire  ere  eue. 

104  Nou  after  de]>  clepie  ich  J?e  nulle. 
Ac  mi  fulue  aflen  ich  wille. 
Afe  a  mow  j>at  drajh  him  fulue  to  \>c  de[J?] 
Hif  knif  he  drajh  out  of  hif  fehe]?e 

108  &  to  hif  herte  hit  wolde  habbe  ifmite 
Nadde  hif  moder  hit  vnder  hete 
Ac  )>e  quene  hif  moder  groo  fel  vpon 
[&]  Jnf  knif  heo  him  binom 

1 1 2  Heo  bi-nom  him  hi!  atel  knif. 
[66,  col.  2.]  


pat  heo  com  bi 

.     .     .     .  spac  )?e  quene  . 
116  &  feyde  to  J?e  kinge  fire  broker  . 

Sire  of  J?if  children  nabbe  we  non 

Non  aliue  bote  Jnf  on 

&  bote  hit  were  Jwt  hit  wer  .     . 
120  pane  ey)>er  dejede  vor  o)?er  .     . 

Dame  ]?ou  feifi  foj?  J?o  feyde  he 

Nu  hit  nele  now  o]?er  bot 

Leuere  me  were  \at  heo  wote 
124  pane  ihc  for-lore  mine  fone 

Of  Jnife  wordef 

To  floyref 

Floyref  fone  glad  make  .     .     . 
128  .     .     .  et  >ou  fchalt  >i  lef  .     . 


FRAGMENTS   OF    COTTON.   VITELLIUS,   D.   III.  ^0 


Leuc  tone  . 

fader  rede  &  .     •     •     • 

132  Leue  ibne  ib 

.  word  &  ende  him  . 
Hou  hei  habbe>  ]>at  inayde 
&  ii'  ]?if  ibj?  mi  moder  dere 

140  }e  for  fo)>e  heo  .  •  •  • 
pane  ftond  hii  ]?anne  .  • 
He  iiay  \at  ]>ere  naf  .  . 
Nil  me  ]?enchej?  .     .     .     • 

144        .     .     .  ne  fchal  ibc  . 
.    .     .  ne  da[r]  .     .     • 
.     .  ich  .     .     •     • 


148 


[la,  col.  1.] 


by  lbuht 

152  ....  mid  al  hifmaubt 

trend  in  babiloyne  badde 
wifede  &  wel  radde 
.  ihte  mid  eni  ginne. 
156  ....  blancheflour  iwinne. 

one  longe  brugge  >ou  fchalt  come, 
gere  finde  )>er  ate  frome. 
.  c  if  ate  brugge  ende 

160 mon  he  if  &  hende. 

....  bre]?eren  &  trewe>e  ipliht 
.  witi  &  reden  wel  riht. 
'.     '.  here  him  nefeno1  ring.  [l  Or  nefene.] 

164 to  toking. 


10G                   FRAGMENTS   <>F    COTTON.    \lill.iMS    I).    III. 
on  cchc  halue 

&  take]?  if  leue 

1 68 )>er  by  fene 

ondarnc  heyj 

[bru]gge  fui)?e  neyj. 

)>anc  brugge  icome. 

172 bruggcrc  ate  frome. 

a  Marbrefton. 

mon  be  waf  on 

waf  of  Muchel  pm. 

176 him  fulf  iwis. 

yf  waf  i-hote  doyre. 

f  him  grette  wel  fayre. 

him  ]?ane  riwg  arauht 

180  .     .     .     .  [d]ayre  hine  him  bi-tauht 
.     .     .  )>e  tockne  of  J»e  ringe. 

.     .     .  hadde  \er  aniht  wel  gode  giftinge 

of  flef  of  tendre  bred 

184  .     .     .     .  [?  hui]t  win  &  eke  of  red. 

floyref  like  &  colde. 

.     .     .     .  gon  \at  chil  by-holde. 

wat  may  }?e  be 

188 \>e  i-fee 

al  fere 

[hi]ele  ch.re. 

[7(i,  coi.  2.]  Bot  floyref  onfwerede  him. 

192  Fay  fire  bi  godef  ore 

So  god  ....  wel  jore. 

God  lete  me  abide  ]?ano  day. 

pat  ich  hit  ]>e  jelde  May. 
196  Ac  ich  J?enche  on  alle  wife 

Vppon  mine  Marchaundife 

Ware  vore  ich  am  hider  icome. 

Left  ich  ne  feynde  hit  ate  frome 
200  &  J>«t  if  jet  mi  mefte  wo 


FRAGMENTS   OF   COTTON.    VTTELLIUS,    D.    III.  107 

}if  ich  hit  finde  &  hit  forgo. 

Child  woldeft  ]>o\\  telle  me  of  \>i  gref 

To  helpe  J>e  me  were  wel  lef. 
204  And  nou  floyref  him  haue}>  itold 

Hou  ]>at  mayd  from  him  wa  fold. 

&  hou  he  waf  of  fpayne  one  kingef  fone 

Vor  hire  loue  Juder  icome. 
208  Nou  doyref  \>at  chil[d]  by-halt. 

&  for  a  fol  he  hine  halt. 

Child  nou  ich  wot  al  hou  hit  ge]?. 

Iwif  )>ou  welneft  Jun  owene  de)> 
212  pe  amirel  hauej?  to  hif  iuftiiinge 

0\er  half  hondert  of  riche  kinge 

pe  aire  richefte  king 

Ne  dorfte  bi-ginne  swch  a  ]?ing 
216  And  mihfte  J?e  amirayl  hit  vnder-jete 

Sone  of  hif  Hue  he  were  quite 

Aboute  babiloyne  be]?  to  pnge  wi]?oute  wene 

Sixti  longe  Mile  &  tene 
220  &  ate  walle  J?er  be  J?  ate. 

Seuefi]?e  tuenti  jate. 

And  tueye  touref  J?er  bej?  inne. 

pat  )>e  chepinge  if  eche  day  inne. 
224  Nil"  ]>er  day  ]?oruh  out  )?an  jer. 

pat  J>e  chepinge  if  iliche  plener. 

Seue  hundred  turef  wit  outew  )>an  tuo. 

J?[er]  be)>  in  J?an  boruh  &  somdel  mo. 
228  pe  aire  feblefte  tour 

Nolde  nouht  duti  j?e  amperur 

Vor  to  come  Jer  wij?  inne 

~No-)>er  wid  ftreg)>e  ne  wid  ginne. 

232 [76,  col.  2.] 

.     .  fchal  to  iwinne  J?at  Mayd  al  fo  fone 

)>e  fomie  &  mone 

236 mid  rift 


.108  FRAGMENTS   OF   COTTON.    VITELLIUS,    O.    III. 

aplyffc 

.     .     .  hondred  teyfe  \>e  tour  if  heie. 

by-halt  fur  &  nei 

240  &  an  hundrct  teyfe  hit  if  wid. 

&  imaked  wi]?  niuchel  pruid. 

Of  lym  &  of  marbel  fton 

In  criltiante  nif  iwich  non. 
244  pat  morter  if  i-maked  se  wel 

Ne  May  hit  broke  ire  ne  ftel 

And  ]>c  pomel  about  ]>e  lede 

If  i-wrouht  mit  fo 

248  Ne  )?arf  me  aniht 

NouJ>er  torche 

a  pomel 


252 be]?  in  )>an 

Poure  &  fourti  .     .     . 
[p]at  wel  were  ]>at  ilke  , 
.  Mihte  wonie 


\_About  twenty  lines  too  dim  to  be  read.~] 


[76,  col.  2.]  256 


To  chefen 

fey  $  he  louede  if  quene  .     .     . 

Me  fchal  fecche  adoun  of  }>e  .     . 
260  Alle  ]?e  maydenef  of  parage 

&  bringe  hem  in  on  orcharde 

pe  fayrelle  of  J?e  middel  [erd] 

per  if  fowelene  fong 
264  Me  mihte  wel  libbe  hem  a[mong] 

Abute  J?an  orchard  if  a  .     .     .     . 

Summe  of  ]>e  stonef  bo   ...     • 

per  me  may  ife  uppon  a  .     .     . 
268  I  write  muchel  of  J?e  w  .     .     .     . 

And  a  welle  ]>at  fpringe]?  .     .     . 

pat  if  i-mad  mid  muchel  .     .     . 


FRAGMENTS    OF   COTTON.   VITELLIUS,   D.   III.  109 

.     .     .     .  is  .     .     .  Muchel  .     .     . 


272 

pat  grauel  bi  ]?e  .     . 
An  of  .     .     .  eu  .     . 
Of  lafir  &  of  .     .     . 

276  Of &  of 

pe  welle  if  of  .     .     . 
}if  )?er  come  .     .     .     . 


\_Alout  eighteen  lines  illegible.'] 

280 [8«,  col.  l.] 

wel  muchel  of  art 

.     .     .     .  woldefl  jeue  ]>er  of  eny  part 

.     .     .     .  de  blancheflur  to  claris 
284 min  owene  leue  floyres 

jnf  ilke  fwete  J?ingef 

clariffe  merci  .     .     . 

.     .     .  j>e  amyrayl  .     .  jjou^t  ne  wreye 
288 fcholden  deje. 

namore  mid  alle. 

hit  were  to  me  by  falle 

wel  wytterli 

292 beyre  drewori 

.     .     .     .  bedde  heo  hem  haue]?  ibroujt 

.     .     .     .  selk  &  pal  i-wrouht. 

.     .     .     .  heo  fette  hem  }>er  adouw. 
296 wende  aroum. 

more  bote  cluppe  &  curie. 

.     .     .     .  blancheflur  hit  wifte. 

former!  fpeke  bigon. 

300 \ai  makedeft  mon 

nou  godef  fone 

he  if  ouer-[c]ome 

habbe  ifounde 

304 am  vn-bounde. 


110  FRAGMENTS    OF    COTTON.    VTTET.LIUS,    D.    III. 

oj>er  hauej?  told. 

kare  ful  cold 

me  wel  ftronge 

308 fo  longe 

feruej?  al  to  wille 

[dern]  cliche  &  ftille 

heo  nojh  longe  wite. 

312 eren  vnder-jete. 

wel  hire  mote  bi-tide 

amorewe  tide 

blanche-flur 

316 hire  in-to  fan  tcwr 

ich  am  cominge 

waf  flepinge 

ane  wine 

320 come 

of  herd  .     . 


[8n,  col.  2.] 


324 

pe  amiral  afkede  blanche[flur]. 

&  clariffe  feyde  anonrijht. 
328  Sire  heo  hauej?  i-waked  al  nijht 

&  i waked  &  iloked. 

&  irad  on  hire  boke. 

&  ibede  to  god  hire  orilbn 
332  pat  jeue  ]>e  hif  benifcun. 

&  god  ]>e  holde  longe  aliue 

&  nou  }?at  mayde  flepej?  fo  fuij»e 

Heo  flepej?  fo  fafte  )>at  mayde  fuete. 
336  J?at  heo  ne  may  noujt  come  jete. 

&  J?o  bi-fpak  him  j?e  king 

Iwif  heo  if  a  swete  J?ing. 

"Wei  aujhte  ich  wilny  habbe  hire  to  wine. 
340  So  jerne  heo  bit  for  mine  line 


FRAGMENTS   OF   COTTON.    VITBLLIUS,    D.    III.  Ill 

Clariile  a  no)>er  day  arift. 

&  hauej?  blancheflur  at- wilt. 

pat  heo  haue)?  fo  longe  de-mere 
344  Arif  vp  nou  &  g[on]e  ifere. 

per  heo  feyde  ich  come  anon. 

.     .     .  fl  .     .  ef 

Abode  ]>e  childeren  afe  don  "wife 
348  Voleil  atlepe  on  .     .     .  ffe  wife 

.     .     .  }>iife  wife  hey 

Sone  J?er 

to  ]>e  piler  wende  .     . 

352  A  bafin  of  gold  }>er  heo  nom  .... 

.     .  hauej? 


Heo  ne  ,     .     .     .  je  ne  .     .     .     . 
356  po  wende  clarifle  Jwt  heo  were  ago 

po  clariife  com  in  to  ]>e  tur 

pe  aniiral  afkede  blaneheflnr. 

&  afkede  whi  heo  ne  come. 
360  Alfo  heo  waf  woned  to  done 

Heo  waf  arife  are  ich  were. 

Ich  wende  hire  habbe  ifunde  here. 

"What  nif  heo  .     .     .  icome  .     .     . 
364  Wod  heo  .     .     .  me  to  .     .     .     . 

chaumberlen 


hif 


368  So  heo  waf 


372 |8&,coi.  l. 

a  je 

.     .     .  hif  louerd  wat  he  i  ajhej? 
pe  amirayl  hed  hif  swerd  him  bringe 
376  W[a]te  he  wolde  of  Jnife  tijunge 


112  FRAGMENTS   OF    COTTON.    VITELI.IUS,    D.    III. 

Vor)>  he  wende  mid  al  hif  mayn 

put  he  com  j?er  hei  bo]?e  leie. 

p o  jet  waf  ]>o  flep  in  here  eje 
380  pc  amiral  het  here  clo)>cf  adouw  cafte 

A  Intel  bi-ne)>c  here  brefte. 

po  ifeih  he  wel  anon 

pon  waf  may  &  bo)>er  mon. 
384  pc  amirayl  quakede  for-angyf  )>e  aftod. 

Hem  to  quelle  hit  waf  on  hif  mod. 

&  jet  he  ]?ouhte  are  he  hem  quelle. 

Wat  he  were  hui  fcholden  telle. 
388  &  le}]>e  he  J?oute  he»i  to  dej?e  don. 

pe  children  a- woken  vnd 

And  fejen  ]>at  fwerd  oner  hem  a-drawe. 

Hij  weren  agr  ...  &  e}e  hui  mawe 
392 belami 

Who  makede  ]>e  fo  hardi 

in  mi  tour 

blancheilur 

396 

\>e  .     .     .  fore 

po  seyde  floyref  to  blaneheflur. 

Of  vre  Hue  nif  no  focur. 
400  Ak  hei  criej?  him  merci  fo  fui)>e. 

pat  he  jaf  hem  furft  of  here  Hue. 

Vp  he  bad  hem  fitte  bo]?e. 

&  don  on  here  bey  re  clo)>e 
404  &  ]>o  he  bad  hem  binde  faste 

&  in  to  one  pnfun  he  het  hem  cafte 

.  he  .     .  after  hif  barenage  .     . 

.  him 

408  ....  barenage  

pat  to  nan  amyrayl  abej?  nome  .     .     . 

ibuld 

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .  waf  ifuld 

412  pe  amiral  ftod  up  among  hem  alle 


FRAGMENTS    <>K    COTTON.    VTTELLIUS,   D.    TIT.  113 

wrejj  mid  [alle] 


H6 Avi];oTite  w[cne] 

To  habben  hire  to  mi  queue. 

.  hire  bedde  mi  felf  ich  co[me] 

hire  ane  naked  grome 

420 me  wel  lo]?c. 

hem  bo]?e 

&  ich  waf  Co  wro]?  &  wod 

&  jet  ihc  -wiji-drou 

424  pat  ich  hadde  after 

To  "wreke  me  J?omh.  iugem[ent] 

Nou  je  habbe]?  iherd  hou  it  if  [?  iwent] 

AwrekeJ>  me  of  mine  fon 
428  po  fpak  a  king  of  )mlk 

^e  habbej?  iherd  Jnf 

Ak  are  we  hem  to  dej>e 

We  fchullen  i-hercn  J>e 

432  What  huy  wollef  fpeke 

&  jif  huy  wollej?  ou 

Hit  nif  no  rijht  iugein[ent] 

"Wijj-oute  onluere 

436  pe  king  of  nubie 

Sire  fo  ne  fchal  hit 

.    Traitor  J>at  if  nome  hond 

Hit  if  rijht  ]>oru  alle 

440  To  beo  for-don  oj>er  i-sch  .... 

"Wij>-outen  oni  here  of 

Al  J?if  ihe  .     .     .     .  &  lag  .... 

&  berej?  him  J?er  of  w 

444  After  j;ef  childeren 

Hem  to  for-berne  )>er 

Twene  feriaunf  hem  for]?  bringe 

To  fonge  here  dom  fore  wepin[ge] 
448  Dreri  weren  J>e  chyldren 


[86,  col.  2.] 


114  PBAGMEHTfl   OF    COTTON.   VITELLIUS,   D.    III. 

Her  eyther  by-wepe)?  o)?er  .     .     ■ 
po  fcyde  floyrcf  to  blanche[flur] 
Of  vre  Hue  nif  no  foc[ur] 
452 


NOTES     TO     HOEK 


Page  1.  line  1  he=they,  a  rather  rare  form  for  hi.  4  Ihc  =  I. 
6  so  .  .  .  so  =  as  .  .  .as;  lafte.  This  is  the  past  tense  =lasted.  7  het  = 
was  named.  8  faire- fairer.  10  mifte.  This  is  for  mi)te.  The  inter- 
change of  f  for  $  is  not  unusual.  Cf.  Eel.  Ant.,  p.  48,  where  through 
the  whole  poem  this  substitution  occurs;  as  brift  for  brirf,  mift  =  mi)t, 
r»fi=r*jt,  etc. ;  and  in  the  Horn  there  are  several  other  instances,  as 
v.  249.  18  iliche  =  Hike  =  alike.  This  *  is  the  residuum  of  the  old 
prefix  #0.  20  ladde  =lead  (their  lives)  =lived  ;  used  in  the  same  sense 
as  the  Latin  ago.  The  various  readings  are — Haii.  "pat  he  with,"  etc. 
Oxf.  "pat  he  mid,"  etc.  21  marines,  a  peculiar  form,  apparently  for 
manne,  gen.  plur.  of  man. 

P.  2.  1.  30  Also  =  as.  32  on  his  pleing.  The  usual  form  is  on  pleing 
without  the  interposition  of  the  pronoun.  39  ifo)te  =  hi  forfeit  =  they 
sought.  43  fchulle  or  fcholle.  This  is  the  plural  form.  44  Harl.  "  pat 
euer  Crift  leuej?  on;"  Oxf.  "God  leuet  on."  46  fchaltu =sh.alt  thou. 
This  and  similar  amalgamations  of  the  pronouns  with  the  verb  are 
common  throughout.  Cf.  1.  39.  46  henne,  full  form  hennen  =hence. 
47  olirfe.  This  is  past  tense  =  alighted.  Cf.  supr.  6.  51  gunne  gripe, 
began  to  grasp  =  did  grasp,  The  sing,  form  is  gan,  contracted  for  leg  an. 
Cf.  inf.  62,  etc.  52  finite,  plur.  of  past  tense  =  fmote.  See  imyten, 
inf.  53.  54  pat  fume  hit  gfelde  =  so  that  some  felt  it.  This  y=ge  is 
generally  added  to  passive  participles ;  when  added  to  other  parts  of 
the  verb  Mr.  Morris  suggests  that  it  is  a  corruption  of  a  ;  or  it  may  be 
that  fune  is  the  true  reading.  The  various  readings  are — Harl.  "pat  by 
Bomme."  Oxf.  "  Some  of  hem  he  felde."  56  to )enes= against.  Comp. 
tofo re = before;  vele  schrewe  =many  shrews.  The  more  usual  form  fele 
occurs  in  the  next  line  ;  fchrewe =fehrewen.  57  y\e  =  easily.  A.S.  ea^Se. 
60  neme=took,  past  tense  of  nime ;  other  forms  and  more  usual  are 
nome  and  nam.     61  gunne  quelle  =  did  kill. 

P.  3.  1.  63  mofte  =.might,  the  past  tense  of  mote,  which  occurs 
below,  204.  The  meaning  of  the  lines  is,  "There  neither  might  live 
the  strangers  nor  the  kinsmen;"  sibbe  for  kin  is  still  found  in  the 
Lowland  Scotch,  as  in  the  phrase  "sib  to  siller"  =akin  to  rich  people. 
65  afohe =atsohe=  forsook ;  ?^e=law,  religion.     66  And  to  here  toke= 


I  16  NOTES   TO    \u>\'\ 

and  took  to  their  (religion).  67  wymmanne  is  sen.  plural.  Cf.  Blip.  21. 
71  fo=she.  88  aflame  =a£la}en-.  slain.  91  &»*.  This  is  properly  a 
plural  form  ;  fow  would  bo  singular. 

P.  4.  ].  100  Hen  =  slay.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Morris  for  the  obser- 
vation that  this  word  is  the  Southern  Midland  form:  the-  North  Mid- 
land being  slo  ;  the  Northern  da.  101  to-ttere,  a  dialectic  form  of  to- 
l'iirre  = bestir,  apparently  here  meaning  to  go,  depart.  In  our  text 
the  to  is  used  in  the  same  way  as  in  the  Old  Test. ;  "all  to-brake  his 
skull"  (Judges  ix.  53).  On  this  line  the  other  MSS.  have — Harl. 
"J?arefore  }?ou  ihalt  to  fh-eme  go."  Oxf.  "J?e  for  ]?ou  fcald  to  (Iron 
go."  102  ifere- companions,  A.ti.ge-fera.  Cf.  u,o=foes.  0.  and  IS".  1714  ; 
also  (/?o  =  arrows.  103  fande,  apparently=to  go.  Cf.  infra  133.  112 
Wring inde,  pres.  participle.  This  is  a  Southern  form.  The  Northern 
is  in  ande:  the  Midland  in  aide.  121  The  sense  is,  "They  deemed 
without  doubt  that  they  should  lose  their  lives;"  to-wiffe  =  y  wiffe  = 
ywis= certainly.  130  Harl.  "And  fe  be  grafes."  Oxf.  "And  fo  be 
gras" — 

P.  5 .  1.143"  May  no  water  drown  thee. ' '  148  wtyering = adversary. 
The  more  usual  form  in  O.E.  is  wi\cr-wyn,  from  ivi]>eren,  to  strive,  op- 
pose. The  ivith  in  withstand,  withhold,  etc.,  is  the  root  of  this  word. 
It  occurs,  Peliq.  Antiq.,  p.  22  : 

"  wer  us  fro  wre  wy^er-wines  at  ure  bending" 
= preserve  us  from  our  adversaries  at  our  death. 

See  also  pp.  12  and  65  of  the  same  work.  149  fer.  On  this  word 
Marsh,  Orig.  and  Hist,  of  the  English  Language,  p.  215,  says,  "It  is 
evidently  the  Danish  for.  Icel.  fcerr,  which  the  Scandinavian  etymo- 
logists refer  to  the  verb  alfara,  the  primitive  meaning  being,  able  to 
walk,  active;  hence  hoi  and  /<r  =  safe  and  sound."  The  word  occurs 
twice  in  the  Story  of  Genesis  and  Exodus,  and  in  line  103  of  Sir 
Gawayne  and  the  Green  Knight,  which  see.  Cf.  also  Metrical  Homi- 
lies, by  Small,  p.  xiv. : 

.     .     .     .     "  at  this  resurrecciun 
Wit  al  his  lims  hal  and  fere 
Sal  com  bifor  the  demester." 

This  word  fer  will  also  be  found  in  the  same  sense  in  the  fragment  of 
the  Assumption  herewith  printed  :  see  line  67.  It  also  occurs  in  the 
Florice  and  Blauncheflour  published  in  the  "  Penni  worth  of  Witte," 
line  189: 

"  I  vrene  thou  nart  nowt  al  fer 
That  thou  makeft  thous  doleful  cber." 

154  dune  =  dunen  =  downs.  156  $evm.  This  should  be  )eue :  such  a  clerical 
error  as  writing  the  stroke  of  abbreviation  over  the  final  e  is  very  easy 
to  understand.  160  mild.  This  should  be  in  the  plural,  milde,  and 
the  rhyme  childe.  161  gumes  should  be  gume,  to  rhyme  with  icume ; 
gume  would  be  for gumen.  166-4  8wihc=mch  a;  tierade=ferede  =host, 
company.     A.S.  wcrod. 


NOTES   TO    HORN.  117 

P.  6.  1.  181  ^o  dro)e.  Notice  the  dropping  of  the  n  to  rhyme  with 
iiioy,  which  word  is  the  plural  of  ino).  196  Nitying  =mggardly,  mean 
wretch.  The  word  occurs  in  the  quotations  from  Layamon  in  Marsh's 
Lectures,  p.  159  : 

""Whar  Eert  Jm,  ni'Sing?" 

evidently  a  term  of  reproach.  In  Ellis's  Specimens  of  English  Poetry, 
vol.  i.  p.  274,  it  occurs: 

"  If  thou  hap  tresour  to  win 
Delight  thee  not  too  mickle  therein 

Ne  nythiug  thereof  be. 
But  spend  it  as  well  as  thou  can 
So  that  thou  love  both  God  and  man 

In  perfect  charity." 

200  Sone  so—&s  soon  as.  202  Icomen.  This  word  has  occurred  in  the 
form  Icome,  supra  176.  206  Jm?=enjoy;  euening.  Here  there  is 
evidently  an  omission  of  n  at  the  beginning  of  the  word.  It  should  be 
neuening  =  naming.  The  sense  then  is,  ''Enjoy  thy  name  (and  the 
omen  contained  in  it) ;  go  forth  very  shrilly  among  valleys  and  hills, 
and  sound  thou  loud  by  dales  and  by  downs."  The  MSS.  have — Harl. 
"Wei  brouc  bo  by  nomenmg."  Oxf.  "Wei  brouke  bou  bi  naming." 
An  instance  of  the  use  of  neuen  occurs  in  a  MS.  in  the  Cambridge 
University  Library,  Dd.  5.64,3.,  entitled  "Eorrna  Vivendi  a  beato 
Eicardo  hermita"  (Fol.  9a.) — 

"  pe  fynnes  of  be  mowthe  er  thir.     To  fwcre  oft  fyth,  forfweryng,  fclaunder  of 
crifte  or  of  any  of  his  halows  :   To  neuen  his  name  withouten  reuerence." 

Also  in  a  short  poem  in  the  Trin.  Coll.  MSS.,  B.  10. 12— 

"  Ihesu  bi  name  is  hegh  to  neuen, 
&  }it  I  katyfe  cry  &  kail. 
[hi  mi  me  helpe  and  brynge  to  heuen 
With  be  to  won  my  synfull  sail. 
Myghty  ihesu  bu  here  my  steuen, 
Als  bu  me  boght  whe«  I  was  thi'all, 
&  forgyfe  me  ]>e  syn«es  seuen 
for  I  am  gilty  w  |>ai?;«  all." 

P.  7.  1.  207  ichulle  seems  to  be  for  ichille,  the  common  form  for  the 
adjective  shrill.  This  form  occurs  all  through  The  Romance  of  Par- 
tenay.  Mr.  Morris  suggests  ft  idle  =  ftille  =  silently ;  but  the  sense  seems 
to  require  the  loud  celebration  of  Horn's  fame  rather  than  quiet  pro- 
gress. 237  In.  This  apparently  should  be  And.  "  And  his  com- 
panions instruct  thou."     The  Harl.  MS.  has  "  Ant  his  feren  dsuyfe." 

P.  8.     1.  249  doQer=do}ter.     On  this  interchange  see  above,  1.  10. 

P.  9.  1.  280  upon  his  mode^in  his  mind.  Cf.  Sir  Gawayne  and  the 
Green  Knight,  1.  1475  : — 

"  Ful  erly  ho  watt  him  ate 
His  mode  for  to  reuiwe," 

i.e.,  to  change  his  mind.  287  tiil/e  =  silently,  secretly.  290  bifwike= 
deceive.     291  ofdrede = fear  greatly.     299  on  ledde—9,  bed.     This  is  a 


118  NOTES    TO    HORN. 

mark  of  a  Midland  dialect.  300  wedde,  probably  from  wede  =  to  grow 
wild,  mad,  Cf.  supra,  296.  308  wolde  =  wclde  =  to  rule,  govern.  The 
sense  is,  "  Thou  shalt  plight  thy  troth  to  hold  me  as  spouse,  and  I 
(plight  thee  my  troth  to  hold  thee  as  my)  lord  to  rub:  (me)."  309  on 
hire  ire-,  in  her  ear.  311  lynne,  evidently =blyn?ie=cease.  It  is  doubt- 
ful whether  the  alteration  should  be  made,  as  lin  for  blin  occurs  in 
Wright's  Specimens  of  Lyric  Poetry,  \).  103. 

P.  10.  1.3l7  under  moIde= Duried.  324  Ne  wurftu=ne  wortfteftu  = 
thou  shalt  not  be.  325  Went,  imperative  mood = go,  depart.  330  unorn 
=rude,  ill-mannered.  337  wonde=ieaxe&,  hesitated.  "Listen  why  I 
was  afraid  to  bring  Horn  to  thee."  342  on  mi  IoJ:?/»g  =  in.  my  care, 
charge.     248  ivro\e,  perhaps  for  O.E.  wo\e  =  wea\e  =  sorrow. 

P.  11.  1.  352  wham  io  hit  recche  =  whomsoever  it  may  affect,  i.e., 
whatever  comes  of  it.  353  This  seems  to  mean,  "  Ilymenhild  as  well 
as  she  could  began  to  soften  in  her  temper;"  mu]>e  =  mood.  354  The 
MSS.  have— Harl.  "Con  ly)e."  Oxf.  "  Gan  leyhe."  356  "She  was 
happy  at  that  time."  359  anT<?=[shall]  arise.  362  "There  is  none  to 
bewray  him."  3G6  "After  that  I  reck  not  what  people  may  say;" 
receheeche=recehe  ich.  lie:  this  form  of  the  indefinite  pronoun  occurs 
frequently  in  this  MS. :  see  Glossary.  Both  the  Harl.  and  Oxf.  have 
men.     383   "  On  his  knees  he  knelt  him  down." 

P.  12.     1.  388  dorte.     This  should  be  dorfte,  unless  it  be='!6urte  = 

needed.     The  Harl.  MS.  reads,  "oSTe  durj?  non  him" and  the  Oxf. 

"  Ne  tar  him  no  man."  401  on  pelle=m  pall.  Pall  was  a  rich  kind  of 
cloth  used  as  covering  for  seats,  etc.  The  Harl.  MS.  has  on  palle.  418 
tvimman=wif-man= woman.  This  form  is  singular  number.  421  "It 
may  not  fitly  become  thee  that  I  myself  should  be  bound  in  marriage 
(to  thee);"  cmide=kmd,  race,  family.  Harl.  "  Of  kunde  me  ne  felde." 
Oxf.  "Ich  am  nawt  of  kende."  422  Harl.  and  Oxf.  "pe  to  fpoufe 
welde." 

P.  13.  1.  427  hi)e  should  be  M»-fo^e=unclasp,  unbend.  Harl.  MS. 
unbowe.  428  he  =  she  :  Down  she  fell  having  swooned.  431  The  sense  is, 
"Assuredly  he  kissed  with  (her)  very  many  times  over;"  w«V?=with: 
or  may  mid  y-iciiTe=wiih  certainty?  434  "Control  now  thine  heart." 
440  "Passed  into  knighthood."     448   "  Ere  a  seven-night  be  past." 

P.  14.  1.  460  "It  shall  be  well  repaid  him."  461  hue.  This  should 
clearly  be  lene  = lend,  grant.  Oxf.  "Horn  god  lene^e  wel."  482  "Horn 
pleaseth  me  well  and  appears  a  good  knight."  488  Harl.  "And  be 
my  no]?er  derling."     Oxf.   "And  be  my  nowne" 

P.  15.  1.  498  Stone  hi  were  latere:  hfyere= wicked.  It  may  refer 
to  Pikenhild ;  or  to  the  sorry  unhnightly  condition  in  which  they  were. 
Harl.  "  Alle  j?er  ywere."     527  go  one  =  go  alone.    528  mone  =  companion. 

P.  16.  1.543  ^47fo=as.  The  sentence  means,  "I  will  do  all  thy 
will  as  it  may  betide  (befall) ;"  i.e.  "  Whatever  your  will  may  happen 
to  be."  554  "Therefore  there  is  incumbent  on  me  the  more  haste;" 
n^e  =  speed,  haste.  562.  Ihc  ivene  the  mai  \c  leue  =  il  I  think  I  may  believe 
thee."     564   God  Mm  is  \e  dubbing  =  " The  dubbing  (the  setting,  or  it 


NOTES   TO    HOEN.  119 

may  be  ornament,  engraving  on  the  ring)  on  it  is  good."     The  verb 
occurs  in  a  similar  sense  in  Small's  Metrical  Homilies,  p.  12  : 

"He  lyhted  doun  ful  mekeli 
Into  the  maiden  wamb  of  Mary 
And  fcli  op  him  bodi  of  hir  fiayfe 
And  dubbed  him  wit  our  likenes." 

P.  17.  1.  567  anondfer =under.  Cf.  <m-Aej  =on  high.  581  erndi»ge= 
progress.  The  Karl,  has  endyng ;  Oxf.  endynge.  591  brume- corslet, 
coat  of  mail.  A.S.  byrne.  The  Saxon  word  occurs  in  the  Beowulf, 
79,  481,  etc.  592  denie= resound.  Cf.  the  modern  din.  598  honde= 
ho»  den  =  ho\mds,  dogs.     602  belde=  boastful,  confident,  secure. 

P.  18.  1.  603  wullei=wulle)p-Vf\&.  007-8  For  smatte—hatte,  it 
should  be  smat — hat,  or  smot — hot.  The  Oxf.  has  smot.  624  Aiiouen 
at  \an  orde  =  above  at  the  point.  628  mitte  =  mid  ite=with  thee.  634 
londifte  =  of  the  land,  i.e.  this  country's  men. 

P.  19.  11.643-4  i)olde — woldeit.  This  and  the  many  similar  instances 
of  false  rhymes  which  occur  are  evidence  of  subsequent  transcription. 
649-651  Heo  hero  is  manifestly  some  corruption  for  the  story  is  of  FiUen- 
hild.  For  649,  the  Hart,  has,  "And  Horn  went  into  boure:"  and  for 
651,  "He  fond  Eymenhild  fittyndc."  655  Horn  Me,  lef]>more =Korn 
said,  clear  one,  thy  pity.  For  lefvead  lefe.  674  fare.  This  is  evidently 
for  hare  or  here,  pare  is  the  Northern  form  of  the  pronoun,  and  would 
not  be  likely  to  occur  in  a  Southern  poem.     Harl.  \ilhe  ;  Oxf.  here. 

P.  20.  1.  684  wurlp.  Read  and  hit  wwb  =  and  it  shall  be.  704 
Murne.  Sturm  is  a  better  reading.  708  "  Thou  shalt  be  to  me  never- 
more dear." 

P.  21.  1.  711  flitte.  This  word  (and  the  same  may  be  said  of  Me, 
675)  is  seldom  found  in  pure  Southern  compositions.  They  are  pro- 
bably due  to  some  Midland  scribe.  712  an-hitte.  Cf.  an-honge.  720 
nabod=ne  bod =di&  not  stay.     736  wonde=ivait. 

P.  22.     1.  756  i%  (pi.)  saw. 

P.  23.     1.  793-4  For  wo)e — gloue  read  ivoiven — glouen. 

P.  24.  1.  834  ?//«o«e=companions.  For  the  form  cf.  if  ere.  484 
togare  should  be  togadere.  854  Hore  de\  should,  perhaps,  be  Here 
dent= their  assault. 

P.  25.  1.  865  There  is  evidently  some  omission  here ;  the  passage 
is  supplied  in  the  other  MSS.  thus — 

Harl.   "Yne  heuede  ner  of  monnes  honde 
So  harde  duntes  in  non  londe 
Bote  of  be  kyng  Murry 
pat  wes  fwibe  fturdy." 
Oxf.     "  We  neuere  ne  hente 

Of  man  fo  harde  dunte 
Bute  of  be  kyng  Mory 
j?at  was  fo  fwibe  ftordy." 
878  urne=to  run.     880  wel  fwi \e  hv$e= very  quickly  pursue. 


120  NOTES  TO   HORN. 

P.  26.  1.  904  It  is  difficult  to  sec;  -what  this  line  means.  There 
appears  to  be  some  corruption  in  the  text. 

P.  27.  1.  941  This  should  be  fade.  The  abbreviation-mark,  which 
is  over  the  letter  e,  has  been  an  error  of  the  scribe.  956  "Alas  for  the 
time!" 

P.  28.  1.  969  "  The  sea  began  to  be  troubled  under  her  walls."  972 
of-]>  infee  ^repent,  be  sorry  for.  996  For  fch)o,  perhaps,  we  should  read 
lenaue,  as  the  rhyme  requires  some  such  word. 

P.  29.  1.  1001  "He  caused  writs  to  be  sent."  1003  Perhaps  we 
should  read  wi}te=\>xvwc,  doughty. 

P.  30.  1.  1035  adr/)e  =  endure.  Cf.  the  Northern  word  dree.  1045 
Modi.  The  i  seems  to  be  superabundant  here,  and  to  be  a  clerical  error 
in  consequence  of  the  i  immediately  following.  Mod= temper.  "  Temper 
hot  had  I."  1063  fid =foul.  1064  b icolmede=  blackened.  Harl.  U- 
collede  ;  Oxf.  fowede.     So  colmie  infra,  1082. 

P  31.  1.  1087  halfo  =  comer.  1099  tofo-le-tofo  = entrusted  (to  my 
keeping). 

P.  32.  1.  1109  "  She  bare  in  her  hand  a  horn,  thus  was  the  custom 
in  the  land."  1122  "And  she  rilled  him  out  of  a  brown  jug  his  bowl 
of  a  gallon." 

P.  33.  1.  1144  disse-yisse -this.  1146  i-orne,  have  travelled, 
literally,  have  run. 

P.  36.  1.  1267  hove,  akin  to  heave,  to  lift  up  ;  thou  didst  exalt  me 
to  knighthood. 

P.  37.  1.  1293  crude = crowd,  press  on.  Cf.  Chaucer,  Man  of  Lawes 
Tale,  4715  : 

"  O  firstc  mevyng  cruel  firmament 
"With  thi  diurnal  swough  that  croivdest  ay." 

1310  "Thou  belongest  to  our  Lord  and  Saviour."  1314  gros,  akin  to 
agrise  =to  become  afraid  :  "  He  became  afraid  of  his  words."  1 322  This 
verse  appears  to  mean,  "  They  made  me  their  reeve  (or  steward)."  Him 
seems  =h«m. 

P.  38.     1.  1344  stere,  "  and  is  so  stedfast  to  him." 

P.  39.  1.  1378  "And  in  the  end  they  left  none."  1385  This  verse 
is  very  obscure,  and  seems  to  be  corrupt. 

P.  40.     1.  1418  rape  appears  to  be  =  hasty  sudden  alarm,  ■ 

P.  41.     1.  1436  sun  upritie  =th.e  sun's  uprising, 


121 


NOTES  ON  THE  FRAGMENT  OF  THE  ASSUMPTION. 


Page  44.  line  7  bleffi — herkni.  This  form  of  verbal  termination  is 
very  common  in  this  fragment.     Cf.  inf.  120. 

P.  45.  1.  46  "  I  shall  take  for  thee  a  trusty  companion."  60  forbere. 
This  word  seems  to  have  the  meaning  "take  ill,"  "hardly  put  up  with," 
"be  offended  with."  Cf.  Spenser's  Faery  Queen,  P»k.  ii.  canto  i.  53,  4  : 
"When  as  my  wombe  her  burdein  would  forbcare,"  =  ill  bear  any  longer. 

P.  46.  1.  68  On  this  see  the  note  on  King  Horn,  149.  89  "She 
was  saying  her  prayer  in  the  temple  when  there  descended  the  angel  in 
that  place." 

P.  47.     1.  120  gre\pi= prepare.     Cf.  Small's  Metrical  Homilies,  p.  9  : 

"  I  send,  he  says,  my  messager 
Bifor  thi  face  thi  word  to  ber 
That  sal  graithe  bifor  the  the  way." 

Also  pp.  10,  20,  86,  89  of  the  same  work.     124  "And  has  done  just 
as  my  son  bade  him." 

P.  40.  1.  149  latere.  This  word  is  an  error  of  the  scribe  for  hatere- 
clothing.  The  Carnb.  MS.  Dd.  1.  1,  alluded  to  in  the  Preface,  has 
these  lines  thus : 

"  She  didc  of  al  hire  hatere 
&  wifch  hire  bodi  w*  clene  watcre." 

165  "Por  with  the  cunning  wiles  that  he  knows." 

P.  49.  1.  174  qued =evil.  Dutch  lewaad.  In  a  portion  of  the  Lord's 
Prayer  (Reliquiae  Antiquoe,  vol.  i.  p.  42)  we  have — 

"  ac  vri  ous  uram  queade"  =But  deliver  us  from  evil. 
Also  in  the  same  work,  p.  161 — 

"Thus  overkaam  Jhesu  the  qued;" 
and  a  few  lines  lower  down — 

"  For  to  deme  quike  and  dede 
He  seal  come  to  gode  and  quede." 

178  Wite =free,  defend.  A.S.  witian,  bewiticm.  See  Beowulf,  2275, 4431. 
188  Tellej  hit  me,  ne  heleb  hit  no}t=Tell  me,  and  do  not  conceal  it. 
JTele z=to  conceal,  is  still  used  in  Kent:  thus,  to  earth  up  celery  is 
called  heling,  and  so  is  the  covering  of  a  roof  with  tiles.  190  idri]t  = 
oppressed.  A.S.  drecan.  193  bigge=\)nj. 
P.  50.     1.  234  Fort  =\mtil. 


122 


NOTES  ON  FLORIZ  AND  BLAUNCHEFLUR. 


Page  51.     line  15   "For  they  thought  they  should  never  afterwards 

see  him.  again,  nor  did  they " 

P.  52.  1.  24  uerden=fareden- fared,  lived.  25  "  Floris  did  not  stint 
for  any  money  to  provide  all  that  was  needful."  37  dreme  =ztone  of 
voice.  In  the  Satire  on  the  Blacksmiths,  Pel.  Ant.  vol.  i.  p.  240,  we 
have — 

"  Lus  !  bus  !  las  !  das  !  rowtyn  be  rowe 
Swech  dolful  a  dreme  the  devyl  it  to  dryve." 

38  jeme  =noticc,  regard.  The  word  still  exists  in  the  Lancashire  dia- 
lect; gaiomless=  heedless,  may  he  found  in  the  Glossary  to  Tim  Bobbin. 
A.S.  gyman  =to  take  care. 

P.  53.  1.  65,  66  These  lines,  which  are  repeated  inf.  121,  122,  seem 
to  mean,  "  But  he  might  have  no  rest  until  the  dead-sleep  took  him." 
Fort=  until,  occurs  A.  234.  77  The  instances  of  wi£=Fr.  on,  in  the  Fl. 
and  Bl.  are  77,  237,  270,  492,  671,  672,  698,  790. 

P.  54.    1.  110   "And  also  a  cloth  of  miniver;"  jo«w<?=Lat.  pannus. 
The  "  Penni  worth  of  Witte"  explains  this: 
"And  a  mantel  of  fcarlet 
Ipaned  al  'with  meniuer." 

P.  55.  1.  135  "At  Babylon  at  the  entrance  thou  shalt  come  to  a 
bridge."     A.S.  /no??«=beginning. 

P.  56.     1.  173  "  Sire,  he  said,  by  God's  mercy,  I  for  a  long  time 
have  not  had  so  good  an  inn  ;"  or<?=rnercy.    Cf.  Pel.  Ant.  vol.  ii.  p.  276  : 
'"  Neltou,'  quod  the  vox,  '  thin  ore, 
Ich  am  afin^ret  swithe  sore, 
Ich  wot  tonijt  ich  worthe  ded.'" 

185  "I  would  gladly  advise  and  teach  thee  so  that  thou  wouldst  be 
much  better."  197  "Daris  then  looked  on  Floris,  and  reckoned  him 
for  more  than  a  fool." 

P.  57.  1.  209  "  And  I  understand  that  Babylon  extendeth  a  distance 
equal  to  a  journey  of  a  fortnight."  215  "  On  each  day  in  all  the  year 
the  market  is  equally  thronged."  225  "  It  runneth  in  a  brazen  pipe  ;" 
um  =  to  run,  occurs  just  below,  228  ;  urneth  store =r\mneth  in  abundance. 
231  kernel.  This  is  explained,  by  the  version  of  Flor.  and  Blan.  in  the 
"Penni  worth  of  Witte,"  as  a  knob  or  finial.  The  passage  is  as  follows  : 
"And  the  pomel  aboue  the  led 
Is  iwrout  ■with  fo  moche  red." 
233  axcouonom  «  anouenom = above-najned. 


NOTES  ON  FLORIZ  AND  BLAI'NCHEFLUR.         123 

P.  58.  1.  248  This  seems  to  mean,  "  He  will  demand  of  him  a 
reason  for  his  presence,"  or,  "  find  some  fault  with  him  for  his  presence." 
Cf.  inf.  330.  253  ful-iivis  =in  good  sooth.  The  lines  mean,  "Nor 
need  he  ever  in  good  sooth  to  wish  for  more  of  Paradise."  258  one  =  on. 
268  Jleo  =how. 

P.  59.  1.  299  "And  she  on  whom  the  first  flower  falleth  shall  be 
queen,  and  receive  the  honour." 

P.  60.  1.  307  "  To  which  maiden  the  well  behaveth  so  at  once  she 
becomes  undone."  311  "On  her  shall  that  flower  fall  by  conjuration 
and  enchantment."  337  mi.  This  seems  an  error  for  )>i.  338  "To 
make  a  tower  after  this  fashion  at  the  entrance  of  thy  land." 

P.  61.  1.  346  Bi\ute  panes  =  without  pence,  without  money  at  stake. 
348  sZ/#e=pocket,  purse.  361  "If  well  for  thy  needs  thou  wouldest 
do."  369  "He  will  earnestly  entreat  thee  to  see  if  he  can  succeed  the 
better." 

P.  62.  1.  401  "Then  thou  mayest  discover  thyself  to  him."  Cf. 
sup.  190. 

P.  63.     1.  441   "  They  prayed  God  to  give  him  an  evil  end." 

P.  64.  1.  465  lepe.  This  may  be  an  adverb  =  hastily,  or  it  may  be 
for  $epe  =  quickly. 

P.  65.  1.  489  Bithute  (/abbe  =  without  joking.  Cf.  A  Treatise  on 
Dreams  in  the  Pel.  Antiq.,  vol.  i.  pp.  266,  267  : 

"  "White  hors  and  rede  habbe 
God  tidynge  withoute  gabbe." 
And— 

"  Cbildren  bueren  otber  babbe 
That  is  harm  witboute  gabbe." 

P.  66.  1.  533  "  I  will  conceal  and  not  betray  anything  of  the  com- 
pany of  you  two  ;"  beire  =  of  both.  Halliwell  and  Wright's  Glossaries. 
A.S.  ba,  both,  forms  bam,  begra,  from  which  latter  case  the  word  in  the 
text  is  derived.     This  couplet  in  the  Auchinlech  MS.  runs  thus  : 

""White  ;he  wel  wtterli 
That  bele  Icb  wille  joiire  both  druri." 

555  icite= expect.  "  But  they  could  not  expect  to  be  long  before  they 
were  found  out." 

P.  67.  1.  579  "And  thereon  she  offered  her  prayer  that  God  who 
endured  suffering  would  preserve  thee  long  alive."  589  "  Twitted  her 
that  she  delayed  so  long." 

P.  68.     1.  606  "  She  feareth  me  too  little." 

P.  69.  1.  637  furtt  =  space  of  time.  Cf.  Beowulf,  153,  269.  "That 
he  grant  them  a  space  of  life."  649  aplt)t  =  faithfully.  This  meaning 
is  marked  as  doubtful  in  Coleridge's  Gloss.  Ind. 

P.  70.  1.  668  Jwnd  habbing  =haYmg  (their  plunder)  in  their  hands. 
Handhabend  and  backbsrond  were  terms  in  Saxon  law  for  a  thief  caught 
with  his  plunder  about  him.  See  Phillips'  New  World  of  Words,  under 
baclcberond;  Bailey's  Dictionary,  tinder  handhabend.     675  "Mine  is  the 


124         NOTES  ON  FLORIZ  AND  BLAUNCHEl'I.i  I;. 

guilt  and  the  improper  conduct."  677  "But  if  I  knew  how  I  might 
undergo  it,  I  ought  to  die  twice." 

P.  71.     1.  736  tire  =tear,  drag  back. 

P.  72.  1.  750  "  It  is  very  little  advantage  to  thee  to  kill  these  fair 
children."     764  "  Unless  it  be  forgiven  to  them  also." 

P.  73.  1.  776  lowe  \cruore= laughed  thereat.  792  lreme=  famous, 
renowned.  Beowulf,  35.  798  nimen  his  mZ=take  his  advice = decide 
on  the  course  he  intended  to  pursue.  804  ibod  -  offered,  promised. 
A.S.  beodan.     805  winne  =  gains. 

P.  74.     1.  813  eidel =any  thing  or  portion. 


125 


NOTES   TO    THE   ASSUMPTION. 


Page  75.    line  10  tverde.     This  is  not  an  uncommon  form  for  werlde. 

P.  76.     1.  26  efo<fo=death. 

P.  77.  1.  66  forheren.  See  note  on  1.  60  of  the  Fragment  of  the 
Assumption.     73  fere.     See  note  on  Horn,  149. 

P.  78.  1.  116  /m/i?=host.  A.S. fyrd.  120  heuen-ri/ehe =thc  king- 
dom of  heaven. 

P.  79.  1.  151  iteie= ascended.  From  the  same  root  we  get  stile, 
stirrup  ;  and  in  the  Northern  dialects  stee=a  ladder.  168  reyue=vob, 
bereave. 

P.  80.  1. 192  for-7iele  =  conceal.  197  quede.  See  Fragment  of  Assump- 
tion, 174;  also  infra,  465. 

P.  81.  1.  213  g red ing = crying.  "Leave  off  your  crying,  it  does  no 
good." 

P.  85.  1.  352  "We  are  persuaded  there  is  a  reason  for  it."  See 
inf.  372,  554. 

P.  86.  1.  410  After  this  is  inserted  in  Camb.  MS.,  Dd.  1.  1,  the 
following  lines : 

"  Among  hem  alle  feme  aftir  j?is 
A  fwete  voys  com  fro  paradys, 
So  fwete  it  was  and  so  ferli 
pat  alle  J?ei  >at  were  her  bi." 

And  at  this  point  the  leaf  containing  pp.  324  and  325,  alluded  to  in 
the  Preface,  is  torn  out.  I  give  the  complete  passage  from  the  other 
MS.  (Ff.  2.  38,  fol.  42) : 

"  Among  Jem  all  fone  aftire  thys 
Come  a  fwete  fmelle  from  paradys 
So  fwete  hyt  was  and  fo  ferly 
That  al  they  that  were  hir  by, 
Tong  and  oolde  euerychon, 
Fade  aflepe  felle  anone. 
All  they  flepte  be  oure  lady 
Harkenyth  now  the  fkylle  why : 
As  fone  as  they  were  aflepe 
Hyt  began  to  thondre  on  mete 
And  the  erthe  fwythe  to  qwrake 
As  hyt  wolde  all  "to-fchake." 

P.  87.     1.  438  "  I  was  there  to  instruct  men." 
P.  90.     1.  543  "  If  a  man  had  in  his  single  person  wrought  all  the 
sins  that  can  be  conceived." 


126  NOTES   TO   THE    ASSUMPTION. 

P.  91.  1.  598  "Torches  both  beautiful  and  many  of  them." 
P.  98.     1.  845  The  disappearance  of  the  body  is  thus  described  in 
the  Cambridge  MS.  (Dd.  1.1): 

"pei  beried  he  bodi  under  a  fton 
As  God  bad  fone  anon 
Jonge  &  olde  h1  her  were 
For  bire  wepte  many  a  tere. 
&  han  he  apoftlis  ;ede  ajen 
to  he  borw  of  lerusalem, 
&  fetten  hem  to  be  mete 
&  of  many  a  tbing  gan  hei  fpeke. 
And  as  hei  fat  at  the  bord 
pei  began  to  precbe  goddis  word  : 
&  whil  pei  were  in  tat  place, 
Ihmi  tborw  bis  boli  grace 
Began  to  taken  up  anon 
His  moder  bodi  of  be  fton : 
He  wold  not  suffre  on  no  manere 
pat  bire  bodi  were  left  there. 
Als  bright  as  be  funne  beme 
he  brouht  he  foule  to  he  bodi  ajen, 
&  he  made  hire  quen  I  wis 
In  )?e  kingdom  of  heuene  blis." 

P.  99.  1.  885  This  ending  seems  to  have  been  an  usual  one  for 
religious  poems.  In  the  Metrical  Homilies,  pp.  xxi.  xxii.,  there  is  the 
following,  though  the  part  preceding  it  (which  Mr.  Small  very  kindly 
copied  for  me)  is  not  at  all  like  our  poem  :  — 

"  "Womman  fal  perile  of  na  barne 
Na  nan  wit  miftim  be  for-farne 
Ne  fal  unto  na  dedlie  plijte 
That  tai  it  here  outher  day  or  nijte 
And  mare  thar-of  I  fai  ye  giete 
Qu  hertlic  heris  or  redis  itte 
Of  our  Leuedi  and  Saint  Johan 
Thair  benicun  thaim  bes  nojte  wan 
And  Saint  Edmund  of  Puntenei 
Daiis  of  perdun  thaim  giuis  sxli 
In  a  writte  this  ilke  I  fande 
Him  felue  it  wrojte  Ic  underftande." 

The  Cambridge  MS.  (Dd.  1.  1)  ends  thus  : 

"  Befeke  we  now  b*  fwete  may 
pt  fche  pray  for  us  nygbt  &  day, 
And  bere  oure  arnde  "to  hire  fone 
pat  we  may  to  him  come, 
Into  heuene  her  he  is  king, 
&  jeue  us  alle  good  ending. — Amen." 


GLOSSAEIAL    INDEX. 


[X.B. — "Where  the  Jirst  reference  to  any  word  stands  alone,  it  refers  to  the  line  of 
King  Horn.  F  is  for  Fioris  and  Blauncheflur,  A  for  the  fragment,  and  a  for 
the  complete  copy  of  the  Assumption  of  the  Virgin.] 


A,  he,  F  129. 

Abeie,  atone  for,  110. 

Abide,  remain,  1023. 

Abowe,  above,  aloft,  a  22. 

Ac,  but,  F  32,  65,  95. 

Acupement,  accusation  (Lat.  culpa), 

F  664,  670. 
Admirad,  admiral,  89. 
Adraje,  drawn,  F  531. 
Adrenche,  drown,  971 ;  F  5. 
Adrinke,  drown,  105,  971. 
Adrije,  dry  up,  1035. 
Adun,  down,  428,  455. 
Ageffe,  contrive,  1181. 
Agrife,  terrify,  867. 
Alitf,  alighted,  F  21. 
Alrebeft,  best  of  all,  F  383. 
Alfo,  as  if,  as,  F  14,  326,  804. 
Alfo,  for  all  that,  however,  543. 
Amad,  dismayed,  575. 
Among,    mixedlv,    all    together, 

F  431. 
Amore^e,  on  the  morrow,  F  67, 123. 
AnguiTus,  anxious,  F  366. 
Anhitte,  strike,  712. 
Anhonde,  in  hand,  1109. 
Anhonge,  hang,  328. 
Anijt,  by  night,  F  24. 
Ankere,  anchor,  1014. 
Anonder,  under,  567. 
Anouen,  above,  624. 
Aplijt,  faithfully,  F  649. 


Aquel,  kill,  F  725. 
Aquite,  bereft,  F  207. 
Ar,  before,  546. 

^^    J  reached,  gave,  F  687. 

Are,  before,  448  ;  F  474,  661. 
Areche,  take  vengeance  on,  1220. 
Arewe,  in  a  row,  F  298. 
Arijte,  aright,  457, 
Arn,  are,  a  324. 
Arnde,  ran,  1231. 
Afe,  as,  34 ;  F  42. 
Aflame,  slain,  88. 
Afoke,  forsook,  65. 
At,  of,  585. 

Aton,  at  one,  agreed,  925. 
Atwift,  twitted,  F  590. 
Auouenom,  abovenamed,  F  233. 
Au^t,  ought,  a  6,  415. 
Awinne,  win,  F  132,  205. 
Awreke,  avenge,  condemn,  F  640, 

658,  661,  731. 
Ajen,  again,  582. 
Ajenes,  against,  76. 
Ajte,  ought,  F  587 ;  A  23. 

Bacin,  basin,  F  563,  598. 
Bad,  praved,  79;  A  89, 154;  a  160. 
Bald,  bold,  70. 
Bale,  sorrow,  F  821. 
Barbecan,  barbican  (Fr.  barbaccm), 
F.  244. 


1 28 


GLOSSARl  \J.    INDEX. 


Bare,  bier,  891. 

Barme,  bosom,  700. 

Barnage,  baronage,  F  030. 

Bataille,  battle,  -r>7  I. 

Batere,  error  for  haterc  =  clothing. 

Sec  note.     A  149. 
Bed,  bidding,  A  124. 
Bede,  prayed  for,  F  553. 
Bede,  prayer,  A  89  ;  a  003. 
Beire,  of  (you)  both,  F  534. 
Belamy   (Fr.   lei  ami);    F   033; 

A  132;  a  124. 
Belde,  bold,  002. 
Bene,  boon,  508. 
Beo,  be,  F  129. 
Beode,  pray,  F  309. 
Boon,  may  they  be,  1. 
BeoJ>,  \ 

Be>,       are,  be,  175;  F  19,  21. 
Bu>,   ) 

Ber,  beer,  1112. 
Bere,  sound,  F  408. 
Bere,  bier,  F  14. 
Berfte,  burst,  002. 
Belle,  gain,  advantage,  1178. 
Before," better,  F  752,  750. 
Bicolmede,  blackened,  1004. 

^'j  pray,  457;  A  158,  170. 

Bieile,  in  the  east,  1325. 
Bifalle,  befallen,  become,  420. 
Biflette,  washed  by  (as  by  the  sea), 
1390. 

Biforn  1  before>  369>  532- 

Bigge,  buy,  a  197. 

Bigge,  beg,  F  308. 

Bigile,  beguile,  deceive,  320. 

Bigod,  By  God,  105. 

Bihalt,  beheld,  looked  upon,  F  197. 

Bihet,  entreated,  470. 

Biknewe,  known,  F  718. 

Bileue,  past  hilefte,  remain,  live, 

303,  742;   F  10,  150,  801;  A 

57 ;  a  03. 
Binomcn,  seized,  a  271. 
Bireued,  deprived,  022. 


Birine,  to  rain,  1 1. 

Birunne,  overrun,  overflowed  (Avit 

tears),  65  !. 
Bifcbine,  to  shine,  12. 
Bifemet,  appeared  b,  182. 
Bifojt,  besought,  F  127. 
Bifbire,  early,  quickly  (?),  085. 
Bifwike,  deceive,  290,  666. 
Bitak,  take,  785. 
Biteche,  give  up  to,  entrust,  F  686 

692,  815. 
Bitere,  bitter,  960,  1482. 
Bitide,  turn  out,  543. 
Bitime,  betimes,  905. 
Bitwex,  betwixt,  346. 
Bi>enche,  bethink,  F  428. 
Bijunne,  within,  F  244. 
BiJ?ojte,   resolved,  reflected,   264 

411. 
Bijmte,  without,  F  218,  346,  485 
Biualle,  befal,  172. 
Biuore,  before,  233,  496. 
Biwente,  turned  about,  320. 
Biweite,  in  the  west,  5. 
Biwinne,    win,    recover,    F    19( 

349,  351,   374. 
Blake,  black,  1203. 
Blenche,  turnover,  1411. 
Bliue,  quickly,  472. 
Bly>eliche,  blithely,  F  72. 
Bo,  both,  F  547,  014,  730,  779. 
Bolle,  bowl,  1123. 
Bode,  message,  tidings,  A  104, 14C 

a  120. 
Bone,  boon,  prayer,  A  27;  a  49( 
Borde,  board,  table,  827. 
Bote,  blessing,  F  821. 
Boje,  boughs,  1227. 
Breche,  breech,  F  258. 
Brecle,  breadth,  F  328. 
Breme,  glorious,  renowned  (A.!: 

breme),  F  792. 
Brenne,  burn,  F  5. 
Brid,  bread,  1259. 
Brigge,  bridge,  F  130,  152. 
Brojte,  brought,  F  72. 
Bruc,  brook,  enjoy,  200. 


GLOSSAKIAL    INDEX. 


129 


Brudale,  bridal,  1032. 
Brun,  a  brown  jar,  1122. 
Brunie,  corslet,  mail  for  mart  or 

horse,  591,  717,  841. 
Brvnime,  edge,  shore,  190. 
Bur,  bower,  F  103. 
Burden,  bore,  892. 
Bure,  bower,  286. 

UUJ*  }  burgh,  F  213,  219. 

Burgeis,  burgess,  F  115,  133,  183, 

319. 
Bute,  but,  except,  65 ;  F  52. 
But,  unless,  F  245,  260. 
Buterflije,  butterfly,  F  473. 
Buje  (should  be  untune),  bow,  bend, 

427. 

Cailidoines,  chalcedonies,  F  286. 

Caft,  fashion,  F  338. 

Chaere,  chair,  1261. 

Charbugle,  carbuncle,  F  234. 

Chauntement,  enchantment,  F  3 1 2. 

Chelde,  grow  chill,  1148. 

Cheoie,  choose,  664. 

Chere,  )  countenance,  F  13,  169; 

Chire,  j      A  231. 

Chippej?,  cheep  (used  also  of  the 

noise  of  birds),  F  549. 
Clenche,  strike,  1476. 
Cleppen,  clasp,  F  594. 
CloJ?e,  clothes,  1215. 
Clupede,  called,  225. 
Colmie,  black,  1082. 
Come,  coming,  530. 
Coniurefon,  conjuration,  F  312. 
Cofin,  cousin,  1444. 
Couerture,  bedclothes,  696. 
Creftel,  crystal,  F  232. 
Criftene,  christian,  1317. 
Crois,  cross,  1309. 
Crude,  move,  1293. 
Culuart,  deceitful,  F  247,  329. 
Cunde,  kind,  nature,  421,  1377; 

F677. 
Cunne,  kind,  F  195. 
Cunne,  knoweth,  is  able,  568. 


Cupen,  cups,  vessels,  F  434. 

Curt,  court,  245. 

Curtais,"  |  courteous,   F  116,   134, 

Curteis,  j       184. 

CuiTe,  kiss,  1208. 

CulTe),  kiss,  F  549. 

Cufte,  kissed,  405;  F  11. 

Cu]?e,  knew,  A  39. 

Cu]7e,  could,  was  able,  1090. 

Damefele,  damsel,  1169. 

Darf,    need  (A.S.   \earfan.     Ger. 

durfen);  F.  237,  315. 
Dene,  down,  a  347. 
Denie,  resound  (cf.  English  din), 

592. 
Dent,  blow,  stroke  (A.S.  dynt),  152. 
Deol,  dole,  sorrow,  1048,  1050. 
Derie,  injure  (A.S.  deriari),  786  ; 

A  162. 
Derling,  darling,  488. 
DirewerJ>e,  costly,  F  289. 
Diile,  this,  1144. 
Di)e,  death,  58,  640;  F  661. 
Dom,  doom,  F  700. 
Dorfte,  durst,  928. 
Dorte,  needed,  388. 
Dofter,  daughter,  249. 
Dradde,  were  afraid,  120 
Dra^e,  approach,  go,  1289,  1420. 
Dreme,  tone,  F  37. 
Drijte,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  1310. 
Drof,  drove,  119. 
Droj,  drew,  F  683. 
Droje,  went,  1006. 
Druerie,  love,  F  382. 
Dubbe,  to  create  a  knight,   447, 

458. 
Dubbing,  creation  of  a  knight,  438. 
Dubbing,   ornament,   device  on  a 

ring,  564. 
Due,  duke,  F  697,  715,  747. 
Dude,  did,  caused,  placed,  betook, 

342,  1023;  F.  69. 
Dune,  downs,  154. 
Duntes,  strokes,  573,  609. 
Dure,  door,  973. 


130 


<il,()SSARIAL    INDEX. 


Dure),  extendeth,  F  210. 
Dute,  fear,  F  4. 
Dute),  feare)>,  F  GOG. 

Ef,  if,  F  243. 

Eft,  afterwards,  F  Hi. 

Ehc,  each,  F  31. 

Eidel,  any  part,  F  813. 

Eie,  awe,  F  302. 

Elles,  else,  otherwise,  F  603. 

Engin,    device    (Lat.    ingenium), 

F  755,  759. 
Eni,  any,  316. 
Entermeten,     meddle    with    (Fr. 

entre-metre),  F  204. 
Er,  before,  535;  F  519. 
Erende,  errand,  462. 
Erles,  earls,  F  79. 
Erliche,  early,  a  302. 
Erndinge,  intercession,  581. 
Ert,  art,  F  52,  200. 
Efcheker,  chess,  F  344,  345,  356. 
Efte,  east,  1135. 
E)e,  easily,  835. 
EJ?elikefte,  commonest,  F  274. 
Eue,  eve,  364. 
Euelte,  injury,  a  280. 
Euening  (an  error  for  neuening), 

naming,  206. 
Eure,  ever,  79. 
Eurech,  every,  216,  F  284. 
Eurejut,  ever  yet,  788. 

Fader,  father,  110. 

Faire,  fairer,  8. 

Fairhede,  beauty,  83. 

Fade  (adv.),  fast,  119. 

Fecche,  fetch,  351. 

Feire,  fair,  market,  F  216. 

Feire,  fair,  beautiful,  F  561. 

Feire,  fairer,  8. 

Felaje,  fellow,  companion,  F  141. 

Fele,  many,  67,  1329;  F  93,  162, 

175;  a  598. 
Felle   (perh.    for   fulfelle),    fulfil, 

1254. 
Felonie,  wickedness,  F  331. 


Felun,  wicked,  F  247,  329. 

Feo,  cost,  F  25. 

Feol,  fell,  428. 

Feol,  happened,  F  89. 

Feond,  fiend,  A  161. 

Feor,  far,  1146,  1177. 

Ferde,  host,  army  (A.S./m/),  a  1 1 6. 

Fer  (adj.),  sound,  149. 

Ferde, 'went,  751,  938. 

Fere,  companion,  A  78. 

£er?n'    )  companions,  19,  82,  237, 

£enn'  1242;  A  16. 

Feiren,  ; 

Ferli,  marvel,  a  732. 

Ferli,  marvellous,  a  230,  327. 

Ferlich,  surprise,  F  456. 

Fefte,  feast,  F  78. 

J6*'     )  fetched,  F  790  ;  a  465. 
j  eitc,  ) 

gj*    j  end,  262;  F  441. 

Fid',  fish,  725. 
Fiffen,  to  fish,  1136. 
Fiflere,  fisherman,  1134. 

|J^j  flay,  86,  1370. 

Fleme,  flee,  1271. 

Flilt,  flew,  F  473. 

Flitte,  depart,  711. 

Flures,  flowers,  F  434. 

Fode,  chdd,  1340. 

Folc,  people,  618. 

Fole,  foal,  589,  591. 

Fond,  found,  597. 

Fonde,  try,  experience,  151,  730; 

F  195,  429/771. 
Fone,  foes,  a  592. 
Fonge,  take,  F  300,  395. 
For,  fore,  671. 
Forbere,  A  60. 
Forbode,  prohibition,  76. 
Foreward,  compact,  452 ;  F  426. 
Fore-hele,  conceal,  a  192. 
Forleie,  seduced,  defiled,  F  301. 
Forlete,  let  go,  desert,  218. 
Forloren,  injurious,  479. 
Forsoke,  forsook,  747. 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


131 


Fort,  before,  A  235. 
Fort,  forth,  F  18. 
Forjn,  therefore,  55-1. 
Forjunke]',  repenteth,  a  538,  811. 
ForJ?ought,  repented,  a  431. 
Forje,  forget,  F  497,  498. 

**      foot,  184  ;F  898. 

Fojeles,  fowls,  129;  F  277. 
Frenide,  strange,  64;   A.  181. 
Freo,  noble,  F  183. 
Frunie,  beginning,  entrance,  F  1 35, 
179,  339. 

*>}>ej  j  foul,  322,  323,  1063. 

Fuld'e,  filled,  1153. 

Fulle  {adv.),  quite,  96. 

Funde,  go,  proceed,  103, 133, 1280. 

Funde,  reached,  882. 

Fundling,  j  foundli        228   420- 

Fundlyng,  j  &' 

Fundyng,  foundling,  220. 

Furft  («.),  space,  time  (A.S.  first), 

F  638. 
Fus,  eager  (A.S.  f us),  F  368. 

Gabbe,  deceit,  F  489. 
Gadere,  gather,  F  434. 
Galeie,  galley,  ship,  185. 
Galun,  gallon,  1123. 
Game,  pleasure,  198. 
Gamenede,  sported,  F  31. 
Gateward,  gatekeeper,  1067. 
Gegges,  young  men,  F  439. 
Geng,  train,  band,  A  220. 
Gerfume,  treasure,    F   405,   419, 

773. 
Gefte,  entertain  (?),  478. 
Geftes,  entertainments.  522 
Geftninge,    entertainment,    F   82, 

125,   160,  201. 

^J7'  j  goeth,  F  53,  199,  421. 

Giaours  =  gigelours,  musicians  (see 

Coleridge^s  Gl.  Ind.),  1472. 
Giled,  cheated,  1452. 
Giles,  guiles,  deceptions,  A  164. 


Ginne,  stratagem,  F  131,  195,  206, 
258,  771. 

Ginnur,  engineer,  F  324. 

Gleo,  glee,  song,  A  10. 

Gleowinge,  music,  1468. 

Glewe,  glee,  a  483. 

Glotoun,  glutton,  1124. 

Gloue,  gloves  (?),  794. 

God,  good,  F  174. 

Godne  (ace.  sing.),  good,  727. 

Gome,  man,  22. 

Gonde,  compass,  F  210. 

Grace,  favour,  power,  571. 

Grame,  anger  (A.S. grama),  F  712; 
a  738,  881. 

Grauel,  1465. 

Grede,  shriek  ( A.  S.^ve^m),  F  454. 

Greding,  weeping,  a  213. 

Greithe,  prepare,  a  128. 

Grete,  weep,  889. 

Grette,  greeted,  384,  782 ;  A  88. 

Gros,  feared,  1314. 

Guld,  guilt,  F  675. 

Gume,  man  (A.S.  guma),  161  ; 
F  261. 

Gunne,  began.  This  verb  gener- 
ally =  the  auxiliary  did.  51, 
61,  179,  850. 

Habbe,  have,  F  65,  121. 

Hail,  whole,  F  56. 

Halke,  corner,  1087. 

Halue,  behalf,  F  144,  145. 

Haste,  on  haste  =  quickly,  615. 

Hatte,  was  called,  F  479. 

Hatte,  heated,  608. 

Harwed,  ravaged,  a  463. 

Hauede,  had,  48. 

He,  she,  F  47. 

He,  they,  1. 

Helde,  loyalty,  F  397. 

Hele}>,  cover,  A  188. 

Hende,  kind,    371  ;    F   74,    116, 

134,  139,  320. 
Hendeliche,  kindly,   F  333,   341, 

379,  390. 
Hendy,  i.q.  hende,  1336. 


132 


GLOSSARIAL    INI  KX. 


Henne,   hence,  away  from   here, 

46,  319. 
Heo,  she,  F  1,  et  passim. 
Heorte,  heart,  263  ;  F  113. 

Her,  here,  306,  343. 

Here,  their,  60,  112;.  F  20,  461, 

et  passim. 
Here,  hear,  398. 
Hefte,  command,  F  610. 
Het,  bade,  F  608,  619. 
Het,  was  called,  7,  9,  25,  761. 
He^ene,  heathens,  598. 
Heued,  head,  610, 621, 641;  F562. 
Heuie,  heaviness,  F  4  10. 
Hejefte,  highest,  F  560. 
Hider,  hither,  1174. 
Hine-(Sax.  ace),  him,  1028. 
Hire,  her,  F  37,  et  passim. 
Hit,  it,  F  123,  et  passim. 
Hi?,  high,  F  151. 
Hije,  hie,  880. 
Hijecle,  hastened,  968. 
Hijhede,  height,  F  327. 
Ho,  who,  F  634. 
Hoi,  whole,  149,  1341  ;  A  67. 
Holde,  faithful,  1249. 
Horn,  home,  625. 
Honde,  hands,  112. 
Honde,  hounds,  dogs,  598. 
Hond-habbing,  having  in  the  hand, 

F  668. 
Hore,  for  here,  their,  854. 
Hote,  am  called,  767. 
Houe,  raised,  1267. 
Hu,  how,  468. 
Hudde,  hid,  1196. 
Hulle,  hills,  208. 
Hund,  hound,  dog,  601,  611. 
Hunde,  dogs,  831,  881. 
Hurede,  hired,  750. 
Hufe,  house,  994. 
Hufebonde,  husband,  1039. 

Ibede,  prayed,  F  579. 
Ibide,  live  till,  F  175. 
Ibore,  born,  417. 
Ibore,  carried,  F  775. 


Ibojt,  bought,  F  118. 

Ibrojt,  brought,  F  117. 

Ibuld,  built,  E  643. 

Ibunde,  bound,  1116. 

[duped,  called,  F  140. 

Iclupt,  clasped,  F  614. 

Icomen,  j  2Q2     F  ig     g5 

Icome,  ^ 

Jcume,    J 

Icore,  chosen,  F  268. 

Ideld,  separated,  F  548. 

Idijt,  dressed,  prepared,  F  23,  260. 

Idon,  done,  ended,  446  ;  F  295. 

Idrijt,    oppressed    (A.S.    drecan), 

A  190. 
Ifare,  fared,  468. 
Ifere,  companion,  companions,  102, 

221,  242;  F  502;  A  46. 
Ifere,  together,  F  592. 
Ifo,  take,  F  694  (A.S./d»). 
Ifounde,  discovered,  773. 
Ifunde,  found,  955. 
Igon,  past,  187. 
Igraue,  engraven,  566. 
Ihc,  I,  F  44,  et  passim. 
Iherde,  heard,  F  53. 
Ihere,  hear,  678. 
Ihote,  called,  201 ;  F  293. 
Iknew,  knew,  F  509. 
Iknowe  {part.),  aware,  983  ;  also 

inf.  to  recognize,  1372. 
Had,  led,  F  89,  114. 
Ilaid,  laid,  F  14. 
Ilafte,  endure,  660. 
Ileie,  lain,  1139. 

Heft,    \  lasteth,    lasted,    F   513 ; 
Hefte,  j       A  196. 
Ilich,  like,  F  49,  216. 
Hike,  likeness,  impersonation,  289. 
like,  same,  855,  926. 
Iment,  intended,  795. 
Imete,  meet,  940. 
Ine,  I — not ;  as,  Ine  fchal  =  I  shall 

not,  F  179,  424. 
Inere,  I  were  not,  F  681. 
Inne,  )  inn,   F  20,    35,   97.   171, 
In,      j      174,  373. 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


133 


Inome,  taken,  F  20,  86,  668. 
Iuot,  Ine  wot =1  do  not  know,  F  60. 
Inoj, 


Inoje, 


enough,  182;  F  89. 


jjjj*  }  joy,  106,278;  A  208. 

Iorne,  travelled,  1146. 

Ipijt,  placed,  F  214,  220. 

Iplijt,  pledged,  F  141 

IquemeJ?,  satisfies,  486. 

Irad,  read,  F  578. 

Ire,  iron,  F  6. 

Irej  ear,  309,  959. 

Irod,  I  rode,  630. 

Ifeo,  see,  F  130,  365. 

Ifije,  saw,  756,  976. 

Ifijte,  I  sighed,  F  59. 

Hold,  sold,  F  48,  192. 

Ifojte,  I  sought,  F  59. 

Ifojte,  they  sought,  39. 

Ispild,  slain,  A  18. 

Ispiunge,  sprung,  548. 

Irteue  (for  ifterue),  starved,  dead, 

1167. 
Ifwoje,  swooning,  428,  858. 
Itake,  taken,  1410. 
Itajt,  taught,  F  404. 
Iwite,  discover,  F  206. 
Iwrojt,  worked,  F  403. 
Iwuned,  gone,  F  567. 
Ije,  eye,  755,  975,  1036 ;  F  474. 
Isolde,  yielded,  F  809. 

Jacintes,  jacinths,  F  287. 

Kare,  care,  1244. 
Kembe,  comb,  F  562. 
Kene,  fierce,  852. 
Kenne,  kin,  176. 
Kep,  care,  A  73. 
Kepte,  held  back,  1202. 
Kernel,  knob,  F  230. 
Kerue,  carve,  233. 
Kefte,  kissed,  F  512. 
Kinedom,  kingdom,  F  803. 
Kinge-riche,  kingdom,  17. 
Klepte,  clasped,  F  512. 


Knes,  knees,  383. 
Knewelyng,  kneeling,  781. 
Kni^ti,   )  to  confer  knighthood  on, 
Knijte,  j       480. 
Kunne,  know,  F  521. 
Kunne  (».),  kin,  865. 
Kunnes,  kind,  F  415,  793. 
Kyn,  kindi'ed,  633. 

Ladde,  led  (a  life),  lived,  20. 
Laie  {v.),  lay,  1252. 
Lad,  lest,  F  179. 
Lafte,  least,  616. 
Late,  let,  1044,  1473. 
Lay,  song,  1477. 

£^'  j  law,  65,  1110;  a  686. 

£s£  j kid  ll"> 243' 379- 

Lede  (v.),  lead,  184. 
Lef,  remain,  774. 
Lefdi,  lady,  F  35 ;  A  55. 

TGgge'  ilay,  1057;  F  376,  754. 
Ligge,  )     •>'  ' 

Leme,    light,    brightness,    F  235, 

239. 
Lemman,  lover,  F  53,  58,  75,  107, 

132. 
Leng,  longer,  A  137,  142,  184. 
Leof  {adj.),  dear,  324. 
Leof,  love,  F  542. 
Leofe,  lose,  663. 
Lepe  {adv.),  hastily  (or  it  may  be 

an  error  for  )epe),  F  465. 
Lepand,  leaping,  a  613,  705. 
Lere,  teach,  228,  241. 
Lere,  face,  F  501. 
Lefcoun,  lesson,  A  3. 
Lefing,  lving,  F  585. 
Left=lettest,  F  365. 
Lefte  =  listenest,     givest    ear    to, 

likest,  473. 
Lefte,  last,  endure,  A  112. 
Let,  hindered,  F  25. 
Let,  cause,  F  55,  109,  433,  434. 
Lete,  let  fall,  890. 
Lete,  lost,  1246. 


134 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Lete,  permit,  F  17a. 

Leten,  to  hinder,  929. 

Letej,  allow,  F  448. 

Leue,  believe,  562;  a  Goo. 

Leue,  dear,  F  321. 

Leue,  for  lene,  give,  461. 

Leue,  leave,  F  9,  68. 

Leucre,  rather,  F  806. 

Liand,  lying,  a  768. 

Libbe,  live,  63 ;  F  488. 

Liche,  like,  F  88. 

Ligge,  to  lie,  1275. 

Linne,  cease,  992. 

Lifte,  art,  craft,  235,  1459. 

Lite  (adv.),  little,  932. 

Li>,  lieth,  1137. 

LiJ;e,  hearken,  334. 

Liue,  leave,  F  124. 

Lijte,  descended,  A  90. 

Lijte,  to  shine,  386. 

Lokyng,  care,  342. 

Loke,  guard,  748. 

Londiffe,  belongingto  the  land,  634. 

Lore,  teaching,  telling,  442. 

LoJ?e,  averse,  hateful,  1060,  1197. 

Louerde,  j  ^   p  ^    398> 

Louerd,    )         '  ' 

T°Uje'  )  laughed,    1480 ;    F   776, 
Lowe,  * 

Lojen,  ) 

Lude,  loud,  209,  1294. 

Luft,  hearken,  334. 

Lufte,  liked,  406. 

Lu]?ere,  wicked,  unseemly,  498. 

Luuie,  love,  F  392. 

Lym,  lime,  F  221. 

Lynne,  cease,  311,  354. 

Ly^e,  listen,  2. 

Lyjth,  lighteth,  descendeth,  a  96. 

Mai,  may,  F  6. 

Make,  mate,  1409. 

Mannes  (gen.  pi.  for  manne),  of 

men,  21. 
Manrede,      homage,      submission, 

F  395. 
Marchaunt,  merchant,  F  42. 


retinue,  F  17,  608,621, 
782;  A110;«475,496. 


Mafcun,  mason,  F  326. 
Maflagere,  messenger,  a  100,  125, 

1  16. 
May,  maiden,  F  46,  102,  743,  808  ; 

A  2. 
Maje,  may,  F  632. 
Me,  indef.  pro,,,  (used  like  Fr.  o»), 

366,  891,  936  ;  F  671,  672,  699, 

763^  790. 
Medc,  desert,  470. 
Meigne, 
Mein, 
Map, 
Maine, 
Mayne, 
Meyne, 
Meniuier,  miniver  (Fr.  menuvair ■;, 

F  110. 
Mefavcntur,  misfortune,  326. 
Meft,  most,  24,  250  ;  F  04,  120. 
Mefter,  need,  A  68. 
Meftere,  craft,  229,  549. 
Met  (v.),  measure,  F  328. 
Mete,  dream,  1408. 
Meward,  towards  me,  1118. 
Mid,  together,  220,  432. 
Mid,  with,  F  131  ;  A  53. 
Middelerd,  world,  F  272. 
Miflike  (for  mifliketh),  displeasefch, 

668. 
Miilyke,  dislike,  425. 
Mifrede,  misadvise,  misguide,  292. 
MirTe,    lose   (followed   by  of),   to 

miffe  of,  122,  1458. 
Mifte  (v.),  might,  10. 
Mitte,  with  thee,  628;  F  317. 
Mo,  more,  808. 
Mode,  mind,  281. 
Mode,  anger,  1405. 
Moder,  mother,  1360. 
Modi,  angry,  704. 
Molde,  ground,  317. 
Mono,  companion  (A.S.  gemana), 

528. 
Mone,  mind,  liking,  1114. 
Mone,  moan,  F  105. 
Moretid,  morrow-tide,  F  558. 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


L35 


Mofte,  must,  might,  63. 

Mote,  may,  must,  97,  183  ;  F  662, 

Muchelhcde,    greatness,    stature. 

F  51. 
Alure^e,  mirth,  F  682. 
Murie,  merry,  F  24,  158. 
Murae  (adj.)  sorrowful,  704. 
Murne  (v.)  mourn,  964. 
Murninge,  mourning,  F  36,  39. 
Muj7e,  mood,  354. 
Mu>e,  mouth,  F  11. 
Myry,  merry,  a  94,  137. 

Nabit,  he  has  not  bitten,  tasted 

food,  F  40. 
Kabod,  he  abode  not,  tarried  not, 

720. 
Nadde,  had  not,  F  106. 
Nadrinke,  do  not  drown,  142. 
Nam,  name,  a  36. 
Ham,  took,  F  791 ;  a  35,  59. 
Namniore,  no  more,  F  531. 
Nafiu,  thou  hast  not,  1193. 
Nayles,  nails,  232. 
Neuede,  had  not,  F  174. 
]STeb,  nose,  F  615. 

NemUtO°k,60;:F124- 

Nempne,    )  named,     F   53,     107, 

Nenipnen,  )       290. 

JSTeod,  need,  F  26. 

Nert,  wert  not,  F  170. 

Net,  has  not  eaten,  F  33,  41,  95, 

163. 
Neure,  never,  F  104,  491,  492. 
Xe^,  |  [adj.  and  adv.)  nigh,  nearly, 
Nij,  j       252,  464,  860;  F  461." 
Nier,  near,  771. 
Nime>,  taketh,  F  9,  149. 
Nimeftu,  takest  thou,  F  38. 
Nil',  near,  364. 
Nis,  is  not,  F  42,  222. 
Nixing,  a  mean,  cowardly  person, 

196. 
Niwe,  new,  F  296. 
JNTi?t,  night,  F  22. 
Nolde,  would  not,  F  10. 


Nome,  to  take,  F  66,  122. 

None,  noon,  358,  801. 

No  war,  nowhere,  1096. 

Nu,  now,  F  9. 

Nufte,   ne  wist,   knew  not,   276  ; 

F  455. 
NuJ?e,  now,  F  12. 
Nyni,    )  take,  seize,  A  105,   121, 
Nyine,  j       134;  a  701. 
Nywe,  new,  1432,  1442. 

O,  one,  F  225,  264. 

Of,  out  of,  1084. 

Of,  off.  F  2. 

Ofdrad,    )  to  be  afraid,  291,  574; 

Ofdrede,  j      A  93. 

Offerd,  afraid,  F  475,  632. 

Of-herde,  overheard,  41. 

Ofreche,  recover,  1283. 

Of-junke,  to  repent,  106,  972, 1056. 

On,  a,  an,  89,  299. 

On,  one,  952. 

On,  in,  309. 

One,  alone,  527. 

Oniche,  onyx,  F  288. 

Or,  before,  553. 

Ord,  beginning,  F  47,   191,  411, 

767. 
Orde,  point  (of  a  sword),  624, 1486. 
Ore,  oure,  192. 
Ore,  mercy,  1509;  F  173. 
Ofte,  host,  F  126,  127,  148. 
0)e,  oath,  347. 
Oj?er,  or,  40. 

OJ7er,  second  (cf.  Lat.  alter),  187. 
Ower,  your,  F  534;  A  207,  208. 
Oje,  own,  984. 
Ojene,  own,  240  ;  F  524. 
Ojt  (n.),  anything,  aught,  976. 
Ojt  (V),  ought,  F  351. 

Pal,  cloth,  F  536 ;  a  795. 
Paleis,  palace,  F  87. 
Pane,  a  robe,  F  110  (Lat.  pannus). 
Panes,  pence,  money,  F  346. 

Paradis  1  Paradise>F76,254,282. 


136 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


Parage,   birth,  parentage,  F  256, 

269. 
Far-amur,  tenderly,  F  486. 
Parte,  share,  F  387. 

Eg"»    j  pagan,  41,  59,  76,  78,  81, 

Se,  J  85>  147>  179>  807- 
Paynyme,  heathen  lands,  803. 
Pelle,  pall,  a  rich  kind  of  cloth 

used  for  covering  seats,  401. 
Pelte,  pushed,  1415. 
Peure,  )  .   „.    __ 

Poure,  j  P°or'  A  61>  G3- 
Pilcr,  pillar,  F  597. 
Pilegrym,  pilgrim,  1154. 
Pine,  pain,  ruin,  261,  635  ;  A  160, 

212,  215. 
Pleide,  played,  F  31. 
Pleing,  sport,  32. 
Plenere,  full,  F  216. 
Plift,  plight,  410. 
Plijte,  pledge,  305. 
Poffe,  dash  about,  1011. 
Preie,  pray,  763. 
Preide,  prayed,  1186. 
Pris,  price,  value,  F  750. 

Prut,' j  proud'  1389;  F241- 
Prueffe,  prowess,  556. 
Pure,  peer,  look.  1092. 


Qep,  keep,  A  50. 

Q,uap,  quoth,  F  573,  et  passim. 

Qued,    )  evil  (Dut.  kwaad),  A  1 74 ; 

Quede,  j      a  197,  465. 

Quelde,  killed,  988. 

Quelle,  kiU,  61,  618;  F  722,  751. 

Queues,  kins-(man),  A  14. 

Quic,  quick,  alive,  1370. 

Radde,  advised,  F  761. 

Eape,  haste,  554,  1418. 

Rathe,  early,  F  8. 

Recche,  reach,  affect,  352. 

Recchecche,  reck  I,  366. 

Red,    )  advice,  counsel,   decision, 

Rede, )      F  789,  798 ;  a  294. 


Redc(t\),  advise,  825;  F  142,  185, 

188. 
Rein,  rain,  11. 
Reles,  release,  a  529. 
Reme,  leave,  1272. 
Etengne,  kingdom,  901,  908. 
Rente,  interest,  earning,  914. 
Reu,  have  pity,  A  202. 
Reue,  spoil  (A.S.  rcofan),  F  246. 
Reve,  swear  (?)  (see  Col.  Glos.  Ind. 

s.v.),  1322. 

^G'j      F499. 

Rewe  (».),  pity,  1521  ;  A  20. 

Rigge,  back,  1058. 

Rime,  tale,  1363. 

Rijt,  right,  F  33. 

Roche,  rock,  1382. 

Rode,  rood,  cross,  A  11,  18,  192  ; 

a  13. 
Ro)?er,  rudder,  188. 
Runde,  ran,  F  716. 
Ru)e,  pity,  673. 

Sale,  hall  (Fr.  salle),  1107. 
Saphirs,  sapphires,  F  285. 
Sardoines,  sardonyxes,  F  285. 
Saule,  soul,  1190. 
Sauj,  saw,  167. 
Saje,  say,  F  703. 
Schantillun,  model,  F  325. 
Schelde,  shield,  53. 
Schenche,  pour  out,  370,  1106. 

Schende   (inJure>    destroy    (A-S- 

Schont;       sc™d"n)'   68°'    H02' 
'  (    a  712. 

Schene,    beautiful    (Ger.    schon), 

F  263. 
Schente,  blamed,  321 .    See  Promp. 

Parv.  s.v. 
Scheie,  shoot,  939. 
Schonde  («.),  injury,  714. 
Schredde,  \ 

Schrudde,  (  clad,  840, 1464;  A 154; 
Schred,      I      a  159. 
Schurd,      ) 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


137 


Schrewe  («.),  enemies,  66. 

Sehrud  (».),  clothing,  A  153. 

SchTille=fchille,  Bhrill,  207. 

Sehup,  ship,  597. 

Schupeward,  to  ship,  1180. 

Selauyne,  ]  a  palmer's  robe,  1054, 

Sclauiu,     J       1057,  1222. 

Scrippe,  bag,  1061. 

Se,  sea,  F  5. 

Seche,  seek,  1178;  F  60,  61. 

Sede,  said,  F  3,  37. 

Sedes,  said'st,  538. 

Seggen,  to  say,  F  281,  332,  385. 

Seil,  sail,  1013. 

Seiftu,  sayest  thou,  A  42. 

Seke,  sick,  a  69. 

Selc,  silk,  F  536. 

Selde,  seldom,  F  462. 

Seine,  same,  F  21. 

Seluer,  silver,  459;  F  109,  232. 

Semblaunc,  )  resemblance,  appear- 

Semblaunt,  j       ance,  F  50,  646. 

!»'  ]  to  see,  P  16,  100. 

Sende,  sent,  394. 

Seriauns,  servants,  F  255. 

Serie  (?),  1385. 

Sell,  seest,  a  270. 

Seue,  seven,  448;  F  217. 

SeuefiJ?e,  seven  times,  F  212,  650. 

Seynt,  girdle  (Lat.  cinctus),  a  793, 

836. 
Sej,  saw,  1083. 

Sibbe,  kin,  64;  A  181  ;  a  185. 
Sik,  sick,  272,  1185. 
Sike  (v.),  sigh,  426. 
Sikirli,  surely,  a  390. 
Sire,  lord,  1506. 
Sittard,  sitting,  a  868. 
Sittinde,  sitting,  1443;  F  155. 
Sij?e,  time,  356. 
Sijte,  sighed,  F  417,  431. 
Skille,  reason,  a  352,  372,  554. 
Slape,  sleep,  1417. 

sien,)Bla£«43'    85'    100>    8135 
Slon,         F  6' 


Slej,  quiet,  A  144. 

Slitte,  pocket,  F  348. 

Sloj,  slew,  987. 

Snelle,  quick,  active,  1463. 

Snute,  snout,  1082. 

So,  as,  14,  15. 

So— fo,  as— as,  6  ;  F  67,  123,  295, 

372,  709. 
Sonde,  sand,  809. 
Sonde,    message    (and    sometimes 

messenger),  265,  271  ;  F  796; 

A  106,  240. 
Soneday,  Sunday,  966. 
Soper,  supper,  F  23. 
Soreje,  sorrow,  261  ;  F  528. 
Sorwe,  sorrow,  911. 
SoJ?efaft,  assuredly,  a  643. 
Sojte,  sought,  465. 
Spede,  success,  461. 
Spek,  speak,  329. 
Spelle,  tale,  history,  1030. 
Spille,  be  ruined,  194. 
Spufen,  marry,  F  788. 
Squire,  square,  F  325. 
Stage,  building,  F  255,  270. 

c,      '  >  ascended,  A  143  ;  a  151. 
Stej,    j 

Stere,  control,  434,  1344. 

Stere,  true,  faithful,  1344. 

Stere  (».),  vessel,  boat  (?),  1373. 

Sterue,  die,  775,  910. 

Steuene,  voice,  sound,  F  54  ;  A  73, 

88,  239;  a  79,  94. 
Stille,  drip  down,  676. 
Stille,  quietly,  silently,  287,  310. 
Stirop,  stirrup,  758. 
Stiward,  steward,  226. 
Stuard,  steward,  393. 
Stund,  time,  moment,   167,  739; 

F  695,  746. 
Stupode,  stooped,  F  697. 
Sturne,  stern,  F  701. 
Suere,  )  neck,    404,    744,    1 203 ; 
Swere,  j       F  735. 
Suete,  sweet,  1257. 
Sund,  sound,  1341  ;  F  364. 
Sune  (v.),  to  sound,  209. 


1 38 


GLOSSARIAL    INDIA'. 


Sute,  sit,  F  298. 

Su]?e,   j  truly,  verily,  F  354,  355, 

Strife,  i       et  passim. 

Swete,  sweat,  1407. 

Sweuene,    \ 

Sweucn,      >  dream,  666,  679,  724. 

Sweuenin,  ) 

Swihc,  such,  166. 

Tabide=to  abide,  1446. 

Teche,  take,  choose,  A  46. 

Tene,  sorrow,  349,  683. 

Tej,  betook  himself  (A.S.  teon), 
F  617. 

Tide  (v.),  happen,  204. 

Tieres,  tears,  654. 

Tire,  tear,  pull,  F  736. 

Twinge,  tidings,  128;  F  77,  81. 

To,  too,  50,  55. 

To-droje,  tore  in  pieces,  destroyed, 
181,  1492. 

Tofore=before,  1436. 

Togare,  together  (perhaps  a  mis- 
take for  togadere),  848. 

Toke,  took,  chose,  appointed,  1099. 

To-ftere=to  ftirre  =  bestir,  101. 
See  note. 

Towaille,  towel,  F  563. 

To- wifle  =  I- wis,  assuredly,  121. 

Tojenes,  against,  56. 

Treo,  tree,  F  291,  293,  298. 

Treft,  trust,  F  408. 

Trewage,  fealty,  1498. 

TrewJ»e,  troth,  305. 

TruJ?e,  troth,  F  141,  396. 

Tur,  tower,  F  220,  222,  223. 

Tuye,  twice,  F  678. 

Twei,  two,  F  439. 

Tweie,  two,  34,  301. 

Twie,  twice,  1452. 

pane,  than,  13. 
parate,  thereat,  F  138. 
pare  =  here,  their,  674. 
paruore,  therefore,  101. 
pat,  when  followed  by  a  negative 
=  &<jT€  prj,  so  as  not.  F  208, 266. 


pe,  thee,  F  581. 

pende=be  ende,  the  end,  1378. 

peof,  thief,  323. 

per,    there   where,   where,   F   73; 

A  44. 
pert,  thou  art,  F  334. 
pes,  this,  804;  these,  828. 
pel,  though,  1040;  F  62,  181,  349. 
pilke,  that,  F  54. 
pin,  thiue,  F  4. 
pinchc)7,  thinketh,  F  32. 
pinore  =  Jnn  ore,  thy  mercy,  655. 
pinowe,  thine  own,  669. 
pinoje,  thine  own,  1205  ;  F  200. 
po,  then,  then  when,  when,  48, 

50;  F  53,  589  ;  A  151. 
polede,  endured,  F  580. 
polien,  to  undergo,  F  442. 
ponki,  thank,  F  541. 
pore,  there,  A  61. 
porte,  need,  F  253. 
po]?ei'e,  the  others,  F  765. 
pojt  (r.),  thought,  F  34. 

jJraf'  j  Sla™;  419'  424- 
pralhod,  position  of  a  slave,  439. 
priue,  prosper,  620. 
preo,  three,  815. 
pridde,  third,  822. 
prottene,  thirteen,  162. 
proje,  space,  while,  336,  1010. 
pure?,  through,  F  141,  312,  313. 
pufend,  thousand,  319. 
pufte  («?.),  thought,  A  226. 
pujte,  it  seemed,  as,  him  \u)te,  it 
seemed  to  him,  F  54. 

Uaire,  fair,  F  86. 

Valay,  valley,  a  754. 

Uel,  well,  very,  445. 

Uele,  many,  66. 

Uerade,  multitude,  company  (A.S. 

iverod),  166. 
Uerde,  returned,  625. 
Uerden,  fared,  lived,  F  24. 
Vie,  life,  history  (L.  vita),  a  879, 

884,  891,  895. 


GLOSSARIAL    INDKX. 


1  39 


Ulkc,  same,  1199. 

Unbicomelicli,  uncomely,  1065. 

Unbiud,  relieve,  540. 

Uncuj^e,  foreign,  729. 

Underfonge,  T    d       k  6 

Underuonge, ) 

Underjat,  understood  (A.S.  under- 
gitan),  F  35,  97,  165,  556. 

TJnine}>,  want  of  moderation,  wrong- 
doing (A.S.  unmate),  F  675. 

Unorn,  rude,  330. 

Unplyjt,  harm,  injury,  a  194. 

Unlpurne,  push  open,  1074. 

IJor,  for,  172;  F  557. 

F/ppe,  upon,  450. 

Urnc,  to  run  (also  of  water),  to 
flow,  878  ;  F  225,  228. 

Ut,  out,  71,  707. 

Fuel,  evil,  F  441. 

Ujten,  morning,  dawn,  1376  (A.S. 
uhte). 

AYalawai,  welaway,  956. 

War,  where,  955. 

Wafie,  wash,  F  564. 

Wat,  what,  277. 

Wedde,  grew  wode,  or  wild,  300. 

Wede,  clothing,  1052. 

Weder,  weather,  F  70. 

Weie,  way,  759. 

Wei,  very,  42,  et  passim. 

Welde,  wield,  rule,  908. 

Wem,  stain,  a  647. 

Wende,    \  thought,      121,     297; 

Wenden,  j       F  15. 

Wende,  go,  F  61. 

Wende,  went,  F  17,  124. 

Wene  (v.),  think,  663. 

Wene,  inclination,  F  651. 

Went  (imper.),  go  thou,  325. 

Weop,  wept,  675. 

Wepinde,  weeping,  F  742,  744. 

Werde,  world,  a  10. 

Were,  wear,  569. 

Werie,  defend,  785. 

Werne,  refuse,  916,  1404. 

Weryn,  were,  a  325. 


Wexe,  wax,  grow,  441. 

Whannes,  whence,  161. 

Whar,  where,  340. 

Whei,  wherever,  A  221. 

Wner,  wherever,  416. 

Whi,  why,  337. 

While,  time,  F  814. 

Wide,  a  long  way,  953. 

Wif,  woman,  A  17. 

Wile,  will,  643. 

Wiltu,  wilt  thou,  F  482. 

Wimman,  woman,  418. 

Wife  {v.),  direct,  237. 

Wife  («.),  manner,  360. 

Wide,  to  make  wise,  teach,  1457. 

Witen,  to  know,  288  ;  A  32. 

Wite,  blame  (A.S.  witian),  F  723. 

Wite,  deliver,  A  178. 

Witte,  wits,  1084. 

WiJ?ering,  adversary,  148. 

Wi)?fegge,  deny,  1276. 

Wijmten,  without,  347. 

Wijt,  weight,  F  650. 

Wijte,    person    (both    masc.    and 

fern.),  671. 
Wolde,  rule,  guide,  308. 
Won,  possession,  F  386. 
Wonde,  feared,  hesitated,  337, 736. 
Woned,  was  wont,  34. 
Wonede,  lived,  F  275. 
Worlde,  world,  F  62 ;  A  100. 
Worsen,  j  be,  become,  460;  F317; 
WurJ?e,    |       a  262  (used  generally 
Win]?,      )       as  a  future). 
Woje,  woo,  546,  793. 
Woje,  walls,  970. 
Wreie,  betray,  F  527,  533. 
Wreche,  vengeance,  1284. 
Wringinde,  wringing,  112. 
Wrong,  wrung,  1062. 
Wro>e  (adj.),  angry,  1216. 
WroJ?e  («.),  evil,  348. 
Wilder,  whither,  Fill. 
Wullej,  will,  603. 
Wund,  wound,  1342. 
Wunder,  sorrow,  grief,  1422. 
Wune  (v.),  dweU,  731,  1325. 


140 


GLOSSARIAL    IXDEX. 


Wune,  habit,  F  557. 
Wurftu,  shalt  thou  become,  324. 
Wurne,  hinder,  prevent,  1086. 
"Wyue,  wife  (used  for  a  person  only 
betrothed),  722. 

Y=I,  344. 

Yclijt,  inclosed,  a  719. 

Yfelde,  felt,  54. 

Yfere,  companions,  242,  497. 

Ymone  («.),  companions  (cf.  Hone), 

834. 
Ynome,  taken,  A  5. 
Yfwoje   {part.),    swooning,    in    a 

swoon,  1479. 
YJ?c,  easily,  57. 
Ywille,  assuredly,  432. 
Ywende,  I  am  going,  1211. 

}af,  gave,  F  126. 
)are,  quickly,  467. 


}are  {adj.),  well,  pleasant  (?),  1356. 

$e,  yea,  F  585. 

$ede,  went,  1026. 

Jef,  if,  148. 

Jef,  give,  914. 

|cltl,  repaid,  F  814. 

feld,  repay,  990. 

Jelde,  prove,  482. 

)em,  to  care  for,  A  51. 

jeme,  care,  anxiety,  F  38. 

Jeode,  went,  381. 

)er,  year,  524. 

}erne  {adv.),  earnestlv,  F  127,  357, 

375. 
^erne  {adj.),  melancholy,  1085. 
}erne  {v.),  ask,  915. 
}ete,  yet,  F  518. 
^ongling,  youngling,  young  person, 

F  705. 
^ore,  long  ago,  F  653. 
•julde,  yield,  return,  F  176. 
)ute,  yet,  70. 


INDEX    TO    THE    PROPER    NAMES. 


141 


INDEX  TO  THE  PROPER  NAMES  IN  HORN. 


Ailbrus,  )  225,  241,  266,  293, 
Aylbrus,  322,  333,  367,  451, 
A>elbrus,  )  465,  471, 1501, 1507. 
Ailmar,  )  155,219,341,494,506, 
Almair,  517,  685,  689,  703, 
Aylmar,  )  1243,  1494. 
Arnoldin,  1443,  1493,  1498. 
AJmlf  (or  Hajmlf ),  25,  284,  285, 

293,  295,  300,  302,  et passim. 
Berild,  762,  763,  771,  783,  791, 

821. 
Cutberd,  767,  779,  797,  820,  827, 

839,  856,  917. 
Fikenild,     \  26,    28,    647,     687, 
Fikenyld,     (    1248,    1389,    1401, 
Fikenhild,   (     1415,    1421,    142  7, 
Fykenhild,  j     1449,    1487,    1492. 
Gile,  St.,  1175. 
Godhild,  7,  68,  146,  1360. 
Harild,  )  761. 
Alrid,     \  822. 


Horn,    9,    70,    91,    115,    118,    et 

passim. 

J1^'  ]  1004,  1290,  1366. 

in  lie,  \ 

Modi,  951,  1045,  1506. 
Muni, 


,  4,  31,  69,  1335. 
Muny,  J 
Reynes,  951. 
Reynild,  903,  1516. 
Rymenhild,  \  m     ^     $f 

Rimenhild,    >         '     • 
-n  -u      \      passim. 

Rymemld,     J      1 

Sarazins,  38,  607,  633, 1312, 1377. 

Steuene,  St.,  665. 

Suddenne,    138,    143,    175,    510, 

866,  986,  1278,  1365,  1517. 
purfton,  819,  981. 
Wefterneffe,       )  157,    214,    922, 
Weftene  (754),  )    946, 1012, 1182, 

1207,  1495. 
Yrlonde,  1002,  1513. 


INDEX  TO  THE  PROPER  NAMES  IN  THE  FRAGMENT 
OF  THE  ASSUMPTION. 

?fu»  U>  43-  I   *Eai7e>  j  2,  29,  102,  144,  239. 

™Jan>j  13,49,77,221,224,235.    |   Mane'   ) 


INDEX  TO  THE  PROPER  NAMES  IN  THE  FLORIZ 
AND  BLAUNCHEFLUR, 


Blauncheflur,  22,  84,  46,  48,  64, 

96,  102,  112,  120,  et  passim. 

Clarice, )  479,  485,  499,  515,  517, 

Clariz,    j      523,    529,    568,    569, 

575,  589,  597,  601,  790,  808. 


Daris,   140,   158,   165,    185,    190, 

197,  317,  404,  811. 
Floris,  )  9,  25,  32,  43,  53,  63,  81, 
Floriz,  j      95,    99,    105,    119,   et 

passim. 
Nubie,  665. 
Spaygne,  413,  769. 


142 


INDEX    TO   THE    PROPEB    NAMES. 


INDEX  TO  THE  PROPER  NAMES  IN  THE  ASSUMPTION. 


Adam,  429,  461,  465. 
Edmound,  Archbishop,  893. 
Eve,  461. 
Ierusalem,  594. 


lew, 

Iewc, 

Iewes, 

lewis, 

Iohan, 

Ion, 

Iohn, 

Ioun, 

lone, 


29,  272,  294,  377,  386, 
601,  611,620,623,640, 
657,  668,674,684,691. 

15,  51,  55,  83,  225,  228, 
241,  243,251,257,279, 
286,  299,  303,  308,  317, 
321,337,407,409,451, 
453,  583,  607,  820,  827. 


Iosephat,  590,  754. 

Marie,  \  31,   108,  152,  245,  286, 

Mari,    j      526,  645,  694. 

Myjhel,  565. 

Petyr,  )  317,  327,  580,  581,  588, 

Peter,        616,617,638,639,659, 

Petir,  )     673,  681,  695,  733,  820, 

835. 
Thomas,  775,  796,  807,  821. 
Ynde,  775,  807. 


ERRATA. 

Page  25,  line  869  (in  the  side  note),  for  Biour  read  Biuor. 
„     48,     „    160,  „    >ine       „    pine. 


HERTFORD : 

Printed  by  Stephen  Austin. 


PR  Early  English  Text 

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