But the nightingale answers: 'No, Ju havest wel scharpe clawe, Du havest clivers swide stronge, ful. 'No, thou hast very sharp claws, I have no wish that thou shouldst claw me; Thou hast claws very strong, Thou pinchest with them as with Each in turn contends that her singing is most use- 37 'Mi stefne is bold and no3t unorne, Heo is i-lich one grete horne ; Du chaterest so doo on Irish prest. 'My voice is bold, and not unpleas- It is like a great horn; And so I order my song Either the daybreak or the day-star. I do good with my throat And warn men in their need.' The nightingale replies that the owl's song is dismal, and fit to make men weep. > Ac ich alle blisse mid me bringe, De blostme ginned springe and Beode ine treo and ek on mede But I bring all bliss with me, Each wight is glad on account of me. The blossoms begin to spring and Both in the tree and in the mead De rose also mid hire rude Vor hire luve one skentinge.' Also the rose with her red For her love some pleasant thing.' The dispute will not end, and they are persuaded to submit it to Maister Nichole,' and so,- 177 To Portesham do heo bi-come, Ah hu heo spedde of heore dome Ne can ich en namore telle; To Portesham then they come, But how they sped with their I cannot tell you any more; 'KING HORN.' In the latter half of the thirteenth century we meet with two metrical romances, King Horn' and 'Havelok the Dane,' which appear to have been favourites. The next century produced a great number of such works, as we shall find, and these two are interesting as being the earliest. They are both translations from French originals, but these French originals are in their turn thought to be based on old English stories. The poets no longer make use of the Old English ornament of alliteration, but they use instead the French device of end rhymes. The versification is sprightly and pleasing (in King Horn' especially), and the poem was probably sung to the harp. 6 The poem of King Horn' consists of nearly 1,600 short verses, and it opens thus : Alle beon he bliðe Dat to my songe lyde; May they all be blithe A sang ihc schal zou singe A I shall sing you King he was biweste So longe so hit laste; He hadde a sone dat het Horn But sore trouble fell upon Hit was upon a someres day Rod on his pleing Ase he was woned ride. He fond by the stronde Wið Sarazins kene. King he was towards the west Was there his like. these happy ones. It was upon a summer's day As he was wont to ride. Ships fifteen With Saracens bold. The fierce heathens slew the king, seized the land, and destroyed the churches. Of all wymmane Wurst was Godhild Janne; The Saracens spared sake, but set him and his and sent it forth to sea. De se bigan to flowe Of all women Most wretched was Godhild then; Horn's life for his beauty's The sea began to flow They have reached the land of Westernesse, and the good King Aylmar makes them welcome, and gives Horn in charge to his steward. Stiwarde tak nu here Of wude and of rivere; And of de cupe serve. Steward take now here Of wood and of river; And with the cup serve. Horn gives good heed to all, and soon becomes a great favourite. Luvede men Horn child, And mest him lovede Rymenhild, He was mest in dozte, Heo lovede so Horn child Dat nez heo gan wexe wild. Men loved Horn child, And Rymenhild loved him most, By means of the steward she sent for Horn, and he came to her bower. On knes he him sette And sweteliche hure grette; Of his feire sizte Al de bur gan lizte. On his knees he set himself And sweetly greeted her; Of his fair sight All the bower became light. He spoke to her with reverence, and asked her will. Rymenhild up gan stonde So wel so hire luste. Rymenhild up did stand So well he pleased her. Horn,' she said, without strife Thou shalt have me for thy wife.' Horn declares himself unworthy of such honour, seeing that he is not yet a knight; but by the lady's contrivance he is knighted by the king next day. She gives him a ring, which will ever ensure him victory, and that very day he slays a hundred Saracens newly landed from their ships and intent on plunder. But the course of true love never did run smooth; new troubles arise which we have not space to follow, and for seven years Horn becomes a wanderer. At last he overcomes every difficulty, recovers his father's kingdom, rescues his mother, and returns to Rymenhild, who is nearly dead with despair. Her ended de tale of Horn Here endeth the tale of Horn ROBERT OF GLOUCESTER. THERE exists a long rhyming Chronicle of England of over 12,000 lines, which is ascribed to a Robert of Gloucester, but nothing certain is known of him. The eight |