841. _faireste man_. ‘Lay.’ 13797-8: _þis weoren þe færeste men þat
auere her comen_.
848. _Tak him þine glorie_. Cf. Wissmann, Note, also Kölbing (Engl.
Stud. vi, 156). The glove had many significations. It might be used as a
sign of challenge (cf. ‘Erl of Tolous’ 1100); or it might signify a
handing over of authority from a superior to a subordinate (Grimm,
Rechtsalt. 154, 4). It is in this latter way that Kölbing believes the
word to be used here in Horn. When a prince for any reason left his
land, he must leave some one behind, _to hold the court_ (‘Sir
Tristrem,’ v. 1985), and must supply this one with the badge of
authority. This opinion of Kölbing’s seems very plausible. It is
interesting, however, to note two other uses of the glove. Cf. ‘Rich. C.
de L.’ 5696-1: _Thertoo I holde, Thertoo my glove_ (= ‘make agreement’).
And ‘R. H.’ 909-11 C: _E horn uent cuntre li cumme il iest costumez, E
lespée e les gaunz sire dist ca donez, Issil soleit faire ainz quil fust
encusez_. The clue to the meaning might be suggested by either one of
these phrases. One thing seems certain; in our poem (K. H.) the king’s
meaning is that Horn should be left at home. This is the meaning in
R. H. 2324-6: _Si alez doneer k’od vus ne le menez, K’il est de belté
issi inluminez. Ke vus là ù il ert, petit serrez preisez._
861, C. _site stille_. Cf. ‘Lay.’ 28173, 24866: _sitteð adun stille
cnihtes inne halle_ (Wissmann).
867 ff. Regarding the custom of single combat, cf. ‘Publ. of Mod. Lang.
Assoc. of America’ xv. pp. 228, 230. Cf. also the triple combat in
‘Rich. C. de L.’ 5691 ff. Cf. also the Arundel MS. version (French) of
‘Havelok,’ in which Havelok overcomes Hadulf in single combat and thus
regains his Danish kingdom.
876-7. _þat on_ : _þat oþer_. Cf. ‘Lay.’ 29215-16: _him seoluen he heol
þat ane, Isembard þat oðer_.
881-2. _to rede_ : _alle dede_. Cf. ‘Havelok’ 118: _Louerd what schal me
to rede_; Böddeker, G. L., ix. 16, _sone, what shal me to rede_
(Wissmann). Also ‘Lay.’ 13904-5: _her-of þou most ræden, oðer alle we
beoð dæden_.
886. _wiþ_ used in the OE. sense ‘against.’ Cf. the use of _on_ (= ‘in’)
and _at_, 619 Note. (= ‘from’) in Glossary.
895, H. _ros of bedde_. Cf. ‘Lay.’ 6717: _þe king aros of bedde_
(Wissmann).
904, H. _to gedere smiten_. ‘Lay.’ 25605: _heo smiten heom to-gaderen_
(Wissmann).