[Headnote: _King Aylmer welcomes the children._]
[Sidenote: The children set out from the shore and meet King Aylmer,]
[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Þe children ȝede to Tune Bi dales { and} bi dune. 168 Hy metten wiþ almair king, Crist ȝeue{ n} him his blessing, King of West{ er}nesse, Crist ȝiue him Muchel blisse. 172
Þe schip biga{ n} to flete And horn child forto wepe. Þe children yede to towne Bi dales and bi downe. 168 ++Metten he with aylm{ er} king, God him yeue god timing, King of westnesse, God him yeue blisse. 172
¶ Þe ship bigon to fleoten { ant} horn child to weopen. by dales { ant} by dounes þe children eoden to tounes. 168 metten hue Eylmer, þe kyng, c{ ri}st him ȝeue god tymyng, kyng of westnesse, c[{ ri}]st him myhte blesse. 172
[Sidenote: who greets them kindly and asks their history.]
He him spac to horn child Wordes þat were Mild, “Whannes beo ȝe, faire gumes, Þ{ a}t her to londe beoþ icume, 176 Alle þrottene Of bodie swiþe kene? Bigod þ{ a}t me makede, A swihc fair verade 180 Ne sauȝ ihc in none stunde Bi westene londe. Seie me wat ȝe seche.”
For he spek to horn child Wordes wel swiþe mild, “We{ n}ne be ye, fayre grome, Þat here to londe ben ycome, 176 Alle xiij Of bodi swiþe schene? Bi ih{ es}u þat me made, So fayre on ereþ clade, 180 Ne say neu{ er}e stonde In al westnesse londe. Sey me wat ye seche.”
he spec to horn child wordes suyþe myld, “whenne be ȝe gomen, þat bueþ her a londe ycomen, 176 alle þrettene of bodye suyþe kene? by god þat me made, so feyr a felaurade 180 ne seh y neuer stonde in westnesse Londe. say me whet ȝe seche.”
Horn spak here speche, 184 He spak for he{ m} alle, Vor so hit moste biualle. He was þe faireste { And} of wit þe beste. 188
Horn spak here speche, 184 Hor spak for hem alle, So hit moste by falle, For þat he was fayrest And of witte wisest. 188
horn spec huere speche. 184 ¶ Horn spac for huem alle, for so hit moste byfalle; he wes þe wyseste { ant} of wytte þe beste. 188
[Sidenote: Horn tells the king about their adventures,]
¶ “We beoþ of Suddenne, Icome of gode kenne, Of Cristene blode { And} kynges suþe gode. 192 Payns þer gu{ n}ne ariue { And} duden hem of lyue. Hi sloȝen { and} to droȝe Cristenemen inoȝe. 196
“We ben of sodenne, ycome{ n} of godeme{ n}ne, Of c{ r}istene blode And of swiþe gode. 192 Paynims þer were riued And broucte{ n} men of liue. He slowe and to drowe C{ r}istene men hy nowe. 196