THE BATTLE OF MALDON (991).

Source.—Anglo-Saxon Poem, lines 481-637. Translated by E. A. Freeman.

[Note that the lines are to be read across the page.]

Leofsuna spake out, and his linden heaved,

his board to guard him; he to the warrior quoth,

“I this promise thence that I nill

flee a footstep, but will further go,

to wreak in the fight my lord and comrade.

93Nor by Stourmere any steadfast hero

with words need twit me that I lordless

homeward should go, and wend from the fight;

but me shall weapons meet point and iron.”

Full of ire he waded, fought he steadfastly,

on flight he thought not. Dunnere then quoth,

his dart he made quake, the valiant churl,

over all he cleped; he bade that warriors each

Brihtnoth should wreak; “Nought may he fear

who to wreak thinketh his lord among the folk,

nor for his life mourn.” Then they forth went,

for life they recked not. Began then the house-men

hardly to fight, fiercely spears bearing,

and to God they prayed that they might wreak

their lord and comrade, and on their foes

a fall might work. Then there a hostage gan

gladly to help; he was in Northumberland

of a hard kin, Ecglaf’s bairn,

Æscferth was his name. Nought then feared he

in the war-play, and he poured forth

arrows enough; one while he on board shot,

one while a warrior teased, ever and anon he sold

some wounds, the while he weapons

still might wield. Then yet in rank stood

Eadward the Long, ready and yearnful;

bold words spake he that he would not flee

a footstep of land, overback to bow,

while his better lay. He broke the board-wall

and with the warriors fought, till he his gift-giver

on the seamen worthily wreaked,

ere he in slaughter lay. So did Ætheric,

noble comrade, eager forth to go,

fought he earnestly, Sibriht’s brother,

and so many other clave the keeled board,

keen they were, burst they the boards,

and the hauberk sang a grisly lay.

There in the fight slew Offa the seamen,

94till he on earth fell, and Gadda’s kinsman

the ground sought; rath was in battle

Offa down hewn, yet had he furthered

that he his lord had pledged, as he ere agreed

with his ring-giver that they should both

to the borough ride hale to home,

or in the host cringe on the slaughter-place,

of their wounds die. He lay thegnlike

his lord hard by. Then were boards broken,

seamen waded on, in the fight wrathful.

The spear oft waded through the fey man’s life-house.

Forth then went Wistan Thurstan’s son,

with the warmen fought he, he was in the throng,

banesman of three of them, ere him Wigeline’s bairn

in slaughter low laid. There was stern meeting;

stood they fast fighters in battle;

fighting they cringed, with their wounds weary;

slaughter fell on earth. Oswold and Ealdwold

all the while, both brethren,

the warriors trimmed; their fellow-kinsmen

with words they bade, that they there at need

them should bear up, and unweakly

their weapons use. Brihtwold then spake,

his board heaving; he was an old comrade;

his ash he made quake; he full boldly

the warriors learned; “Mind shall the harder be,

heart shall the keener be, mood shall the more be,

as our main lessens. Here lies our Elder,

all down hewn, a good man in the dust;

ever may he groan who now from this war-play

of wending thinketh. I am old of life;

hence stir will I not, and I by the half

of my lord, by such a loved man

to lie am thinking.” So Æthelgar’s bairn

then all cheered on, Godric to battle:

Oft he the dart let go, the death spear wound he

on the wikings.

95