Þer com ate none, A geaunt swiþe sone, Armed of paynime, And seyde i{n} hys rime, 860 “Syte, knytes, by þe king, And lusteþ to my tydyng. Her{e} beþ paynyms aryued, Wel mo þa{n}ne fyue. 864 By þe se stronde, Kyng, on þine lo{n}de. þer com in at none, a geaunt suyþe sone, y-armed of paynyme, ant seide þise ryme:-- 860 “Site, kyng, bi kynge, ant herkne my tidynge her bueþ paynes aryue, wel more þen fyue. 864 her beþ vpon honde, kyng, in þine londe. [Sidenote: One pagan will fight any three in the land,] On of he{m} wile fiȝte Aȝe{n} þre kniȝtes. 868 One þer of wille ich fyȝte Aȝen þi þre knyctes. 868 on þer of wol fyhte to ȝeynes þre knyhtes. 868 [Sidenote: the combat to determine who shall possess the land.] Ȝef oþ{er} þre slen vre, Al þis lond beo ȝoure; Ȝef vre on ouercomeþ ȝour þreo, Al þis lo{n}d schal vre beo. 872 Tomoreȝe be þe fiȝti{n}ge, Whan þe liȝt of daye sp{ri}nge.” Ȝyf þat hour{e} felle þyne þre, Al þis lond schal vre be; Ȝyf þyne þre fellen houre, Al þys lond þa{n}ne be ȝyure. 872 To morwe schal be þe fyȝtyng, At þe so{n}ne op rysyng.” ȝef oure þre sleh oure on, we shulen of ore londe gon; ȝef vre on sleh oure þre, al þis lond shal vre be. 872 to morewe shal be þe fyhtynge, at þe sonne vpsp{ri}nge.” [Headnote: _Horn, Berild and Alrid accept it._] [Sidenote: King Thurston names Cutberd (Godmod), Harild and Berild as the three defenders.] ¶ Þa{n}ne sede þe kyng þurston, “Cutb{er}d schal beo þ{a}t on; 876 Berild schal beo þ{a}t oþer; Þe þridde, Alrid, his broþer. For hi beoþ þe strengeste, {And} of armes þe beste. 880 Bute what schal vs to rede? Ihc wene we beþ alle dede.” Þo seyde þe king þurston, “Cubert he schal be þat on, 876 Ayld chyld þat oþer, Þe þrydde, byryld, hyse broþer. Hye þre beþ þe strengeste, And ín armes þe beste. 880 At wat schal do to rede? Ich wene we ben alle dede.” ¶ þo seyde þe kyng þurston, “godmod shal be þat on; 876 beryld shal be þat oþer; þe þridde, Aþyld, is broþer. for hue bueþ strongeste, ant in armes þe beste. 880 ah, wat shal vs to rede? y wene we bueþ dede.” ¶ Cutberd sat at borde, And sede þes wordes:-- 884 Cubert set on borde, And seyde þis worde:-- 884