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Page 27
Sent then the seaman his spear from the south
That wounded w�s the warrior's lord; 135
Then he shoved with his shield that the shaft in two broke,
And the spear was shivered; so sprang it back.
Enraged was the warrior: with his spear he thrust
The wiking proud, who the wound him gave.
Wise was the warrior; he let his spear pierce 140
Through the neck of the youth; his hand it guided
So that h� his foe of life deprived.
Then he another speedily shot,
That the byrnie burst; in breast was he wounded
Through the ring�d mail; there stood in his heart 145
The poisonous point. The earl was the gladder;
Laughed the proud man, to his Maker gave thanks
For the work of that day that the Lord him gave.
Then let one of warriors a dart from his hands,
Fly from his fist, that forth it went 150
Thr�ugh that noble thane of �thelred.
There stood by his side a youth not grown,
A boy in the fight, wh� very boldly
Drew from the warrior the bloody spear,
The son of Wulfstan, Wulfm�r the young; 155
He let the hard weapon fly back again;
The point in-pierced, that on earth he lay
Who erst his lord strongly had struck.
Went then an armored man to the earl,
He would the warrior's jewels fetch back, 160
Armor and rings and sword well-adorned.
Then Byrhtnoth drew his sword from its sheath,
Broad and brown-edged, and on byrnie he struck:
Too quickly him hindered one of the seamen,
When he of the earl the arm had wounded; 165
Fell then to earth the fallow-hilt sword:
He might not hold the hardened brand,
His weapon wield. Yet the word he spake,
The hoary hero the youths encouraged,
Bade forwards go his good companions: 170
He might not on foot longer stand firm;
He looked up to heaven, [the earl exclaimed:[17]]
"I thanks to thee give, Ruler of nations,
For all those joys that on earth I experienced:
Now, Maker mild, most need have I 175
That thou to my spirit the blessing grant,
That my soul to thee may take its course,
Int� thy power, Prince of angels,
With peace may go: I pray to thee,
That fiends of hell may not it harm." 180
Then hewed him down the heathen hinds,
And both the warriors, who by him stood,
�lfnoth and Wulfm�r both lay down dead,
Beside their lord gave up their lives.
Then bowed they from battle who there would not be; 185
There Odda's sons were erst in flight:
From battle went Godric, and the good one forsook,
Who h�d on him many a steed oft bestowed:
He leaped on the horse that his lord had owned,
Upon those trappings that right it was not, 190
And his brothers with him both ran away,
Godrinc and Godwig, recked not of war,
But went from the fight, and sought the wood,
Fled to the fastness, and saved their lives,
And more of the men than w�s at all meet, 195
If they those services all had remembered,
That he for their welfare to them had done;
So Offa to him one day had erst said
At the meeting-place, when he held a moot,
That there [very] proudly they many things spake 200
Which after in need they would not perform.[18]
Th�n was down-fallen the prince of the folk,
�thelred's earl: all of them saw,
The hearth-companions, that their lord lay dead.
Then hurried there forth the haughty thanes, 205
The valiant men eagerly hastened:
They would then all the one of the two,
Their lives forsake or their loved one avenge.
So urged them �n the son of �lfric,
A winter-young warrior, with words them addressed. 210
Then �lfwine quoth (boldly he spake):
"Remember the times that we oft at mead spake,
When we on the bench our boast upraised,
Heroes in hall, the hard fight anent:
Now may be tested who is the true.[19] 215
I will my lineage to all make known,
That I 'mong the Mercians of mickle race was,
My grandfather w�s Ealhhelm by name,
An alderman wise, with wealth endowed.
Ne'er shall 'mong this folk me thanes reproach 220
That I from this host will hasten to wend,
My home to seek, now lies my lord
Down-hewn in fight; to me 'tis great harm:
By blood he was kin and by rank he was lord."[20]
Then went he forth, was mindful of feud, 225
That h� with his spear one of them pierced,
A sailor o' the folk, that he lay on the ground
Killed with his weapon. Gan he comrades exhort,
Friends and companions, that forth they should go.
Offa addressed them, his ash-spear shook: 230
"Lo! �lfwine, th�u hast all admonished,
Thanes, of the need. Now lieth our lord,
Earl on the earth, to us all there is need
That each one of us should strengthen the other
Warrior to war, while weapon he may 235
[Still] have and hold, the hardened brand,
Spear and good sword. Us hath Godric,
Cowed son of Offa, all [basely] deceived:
So many men thought when on mare he rode,
On th�t proud steed, that it w�s our lord: 240
Therefore in field here the folk was divided,
The phalanx broken: may perish his deed,
That he here so many men caused to flee!"
Leofsunu spake, and uplifted his shield,
His buckler for guard; to the warrior he quoth: 245
"I promise thee this, that hence I will n�t
A foot's breadth flee, but further will go,
Avenge in battle mine own dear lord.
Me need not 'round Stourmere the steadfast heroes
With words reproach, now my friend has fallen, 250
That, lacking my lord, home I depart,
Wend from the war, but weapons shall take me,
Spear and iron."[21] Full angry he strode,
Firmly he fought, flight he despised.
Then Dunnere spake, his spear he shook, 255
The ag�d churl, called over all,
Bade that each warrior should Byrhtnoth avenge:
"He may not delay who thinks to avenge
His lord on the folk, nor care for his life."
Then forwards they went, they recked not of life; 260
Gan then his followers valiantly fight,
Spear-bearers grim, and to God they prayed,
That th�y might avenge their own dear lord,
And upon their foes slaughter fulfil.
Then gan the hostage eagerly help: 265
He was 'mong Northumbrians of valiant race,
The son of Ecglaf, his name was �scferth:
Ne'er wavered h� in that play of war,
But he hastened forth many a dart;
At times shot on shield, at times killed a chief, 270
Ever and anon inflicted some wound,
The while that he weapon was able to wield.
Then still in front stood Edward the long,
Ready and eager; boastingly said
That h� would not flee a foot-breadth of land, 275
Backwards withdraw, when his better lay dead:
Broke he the shield-wall and fought 'gainst the warriors,
Till h� his ring-giver up�n the seamen
Worthily avenged, ere he lay on the field.
So [too] did �theric, noble companion, 280
Ready and eager, earnestly fought he;
Sigebryht's brother and many another
Cleft the curved[22] board, them bravely defended;
Shield's border burst, and the byrnie sang
A terrible song. In battle then slew 285
Offa the seaman that on earth he fell,
And the kinsman of Gadd there sought the ground;
Quickly in battle was Offa hewn down:
He had though fulfilled what he promised his lord,
As h� before vowed in face of his ring-giver, 290
That both of them sh�uld ride to the borough,
Hale to their homes, or in battle should fall,
Up�n the slaughter-place die of their wounds;
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