[Sidenote: Athulf the best, and Fikenhild the worst.]
Aþulf was þe beste { And} fikenylde þe werste. Hit was vpon a som{ er}es day, Also ihc ȝou telle may, 32
Ayol was þe beste And fokenild þe werste. ++Hit was sone som{ er}es day, Also ich nou telle{ n} may, 32
Athulf wes þe beste ant fykenyld þe werste. Hyt was vpon a someres day, also ich ou telle may, 32
[Sidenote: King Murry while riding, finds fifteen ships arrived on the strand.]
Murri þe gode king Rod on his pleing Bi þe se side, Ase he was woned ride. 36
Þat moye þe gode kinge Rod on his pleyhinge Bi þe se syde, Þer he was woned to ryde. 36
Allof þe gode kyng rod vpon ys pleyȝyng bi þe see side, þer he was woned to ryde. 36
[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] He fo{ n}d bi þe st{ ro}nde, Ariued o{ n} his lo{ n}de, 40 Schipes fiftene, Wiþ sarazins kene.
With him ride{ n} bote tvo; Al to fewe ware þo. He fond bi þe stronde, Ariued on his londe, 40 Schipes xv, Of sarazines kene.
wiþ him ne ryde bote tuo; al to fewe hue were þo. he fond by þe stronde, aryued on is londe, 40 shipes fyftene, of sarazynes kene.
He axede what isoȝte Oþ{ er} to londe broȝte. 44 ++A Payn hit of herde And hym wel sone answarede, “Þi lo{ n}d folk we schulle slon And alle þ{ a}t Crist luueþ vpon, 48 And þe selue riȝt anon; Ne schaltu todai henne gon.”
He acsede wat he sowte Oþer to londe broucte. 44 A peynym it yherde And sone answerede, “Þi lond folc we wile{ n} slon And al þat god leuet on; 48 And þe we solen sone anon; Sald þou neuere henne gon.”
he askede whet hue sohten oþer on is lond brohten. 44 a payen hit yherde { ant} sone him onsuerede, “þy lond folk we wolleþ slon þ{ a}t euer c{ ri}st leueþ on; 48 { ant} þe we wolleþ ryht anon; shalt þou neuer henne gon.”
[Headnote: _Saracens kill Horn’s father._]
[Sidenote: After a brave defence, the king and his two companions are slain,]
Þe kyng aliȝte of his stede, For þo he hauede nede, 52 { And} his gode kniȝtes two; Al to fewe he hadde þo. Swerd hi gu{ n}ne g{ ri}pe { And} to gadere smite. 56 Hy smyten vnder schelde Þat sume hit yfelde. Þe king hadde al to fewe Toȝenes so vele schrewe. 60
Þe king licte adoun of his stede, For þo he hauede nede, 52 And hise gode knictes ij, But ywis he{ m} was ful wo. Swerdes þe go{ n}ne g{ r}ipe And to gydere smyte. 56 He foute{ n} an ond{ er} selde Some of hem he felde. He weren al to fewe Ayen so fele srewe. 60