Steve Watson

The Battle of Maldon

This is not presented as a polished translation, just as a helper for my reading of the text. It’s just another of my Anglo-Saxon homework texts. As before, note that the OE text is presented as in Mitchell & Robinson (2012) A Guide to Old English (8th edn) Wiley-Blackwell:UK pp. 251-60, and that ? and ? in the MS are replaced here by standard English letters, but ð, þ, and æ are retained. Length markers got eaten by the editor, and I’ll be damned if I’m going through it again putting them back in.

… … … brocen wurde.
… … … would break.

Het þa hyssa hwæne hors forlætan,
He ordered each of his warriors to let go his horse

feor afysan, and forð gangan,
to drive it far off, and to go forward,

hicgan to handum and to hige godum.
to look to his hands and to a stout heart.

5. Þa þæt Offan mæg ærest onfunde,
When Offa’s kinsman first realised,

þæt se eorl nolde yrhðo geþolian,
that the earl would not abide cowardice,

he let him þa of handon leofne fleogan
he let from his hand to fly his beloved

hafoc wið þæs holtes, and to þære hilde stop;
hawk to the wood and advanced to the struggle;

be þam man mihte oncnawan þæt se cniht nolde
by this it could be known that this youth would not

10. wacian æt þam wige, þa he to wæpnum feng.
weaken in the strife, when he took up a weapon.

Eac him wolde Eadric his ealdre gelæstan,
So too did Ealdric wish his earl to follow,

frean to gefeohte, ongan þa forð beran
(his) master to the fight, to begin then to carry

gar to guþe. He hæfde god geþanc
(his) spear to the battle. He had good intentions

þa hwile þe he mid handum healdan mihte
while he in hands might hold

15. bord and brad swurd; beot he gelæste
shield and broad sword; the vow he fulfilled

þa he ætforan his frean feohtan sceolde.
that he before his lord should fight.

Ða þær Byrhtnoð ongan beornas trymian,
Then there Byrhtnoth began to organize the warriors,

rad and rædde, rincum tæhte
rode and advised, instructed the men

hu hi sceoldon standan and þone stede healdan,
how they should stand and hold the place

20. and bæd þæt hyra randas rihte heoldon
and bade that their shields be held right

fæste mid folman, and ne forhtedon na.
tight in hands, and never be fearful.

Þa he hæfde þæt folc fægere getrymmed,
When he had that army fairly arranged,

he lihte þa mid leodon þær him leofost wæs,
he got down amongst the people where it seemed best to him,

þær he his heorðwerod holdost wiste.
where he knew his hearth-soldiery to be most loyal.

25. Þa stod on stæðe, stiðlice clypode
Then standing on the river bank, calling out boldly,

wicinga ar, wordum mælde,
the Viking herald, said words,

se on beot abead brimliþendra
he boastfully presented the seafarers’

ærænde to þam eorle, þær he on ofre stod:
message to the earl, where he stood opposite:

“Me sendon to þe sæmen snelle,
“The bold seamen send me to thee,

30. heton ðe secgan þæt þu most sendan raðe
commanded to tell thee that you must quickly send

beagas wið gebeorge; and eow betere is
treasure in exchange for protection; and it were better for you

þæt ge þisne garræs mid gafole forgyldon,
that you this spear-rush with tribute buy off,

þon we swa hearde hilde dælon.
than that we (in) such harsh battle should engage.

Ne þurfe we us spillan, gif ge spedaþ to þam;
Nor need we kill ourselves, if you are quick to do this;

35. we willað wið þam golde grið fæstnian.
we desire by means of gold to secure peace.

Gyf þu þat gerædest, þe her ricost eart,
If you decide, who are the richest here,

þæt þu þine leoda lysan wille,
that you your people will ransom,

syllan sæmannum on hyra sylfra dom
will give to the seamen on their own terms

feoh wið freode, and niman frið æt us,
wealth in exchange for peace, and take peace from us,

40. we willaþ mid þam sceattum us to scype gangan,
we will with that wealth go aboard the ships,

on flot feran, and eow friþes healdan.”
put to sea, and keep peace with you.

Byrhtnoð maþelode, bord hafenode,
Byrhtnoth spoke, raised his shield,

wand wacne æsc, wordum mælde,
whirled his slender ash-spear, spoke words,

yrre and anræd ageaf him andsware:
angry and resolute he gave him answer:

45. “Gehyrst þu, sælida, hwæt þis folc segeð?
“Do you hear, sailor, what this army says?

Hi willað eow to gafole garas syllan,
They want to give you spears as tribute,

ættrynne ord and ealde swurd,
poisoned point and ancient blade,

þa heregeatu þe eow æt hilde ne deah.
that war gear which does no good for you in battle.

Brimmanna boda, abeod eft ongean,
Pirates’ messenger, take back an offer,

50. sege þinum leodum miccle laþre spell,
tell your master much worse news,

þæt her stynt unforcuð eorl mid his werode,
that her stands a noble earl with his men

þe wile gealgean eþel þysne,
who will defend this native land,

Æþelredes eard, ealdres mines,
Ethelread’s territory, my lord’s,

folc and foldan. Feallan sceolon
people and land. They shall fall

55. hæþene æt hilde. To heanlic me þinceð
the heathen in battle. Too shameful it seems to me

þæt ge mid urum sceattum to scype gangon
that you with our wealth should go aboard ship

unbefohtene, nu ge þus feor hider
uncontested, since you have thus far hither

on urne eard in becomon.
into our country come on.

Ne sceole ge swa softe sinc gegangan;
nor shall you so easily acquire treasure;

60. us sceal ord and ecg ær geseman,
point and edge shall first reconcile us,

grim guðplega, ær we gofol syllon.”
grim battle-play, before we give gold.

Het þa bord beran, beornas gangan,
He ordered then shields to be raised, warriors to advance,

þæt hi on þam easteðe ealle stodon.
so that they all stood on the shore.

Ne mihte þær for wætere werod to þam oðrum;
There it was not possible because of the water either host to (approach) the other;

65. þær com flowende flod æfter ebban,
where came flowing flood after ebb,

lucon lagustreamas. To lang hit him þuhte,
the sea currents crossed. Too long it seemed to them,

hwænne hi togædere garas beron.
until they should bring spears together.

Hi þær Pantan stream mid prasse bestodon,
There by the Blackwater river with hosts they stood,

Eastseaxena ord and se æschere.
the East Saxon spear-ponts and the ash(-ship)-army.

70. Ne mihte hyra ænig oþrum derian,
It was not possible for any other of them to take an injury

buton hwa þurh flanes flyht fyl gename.
except whoever by the arrow’s flight took death.

Se flod ut gewat; þa flotan stodon gearowe,
The tide went out; then the floater-man stood prepared

wicinga fela, wiges georne.
many Vikings, eager for battle.

Het þa hæleða hleo healdan þa bricge
then the protector of heroes commanded to hold the causeway,

75. wigan wigheardne, se wæs haten Wulfstan,
a warrior battle-hardened, who was called Wulfstan,

cafne mid his cynne, þæt wæs Ceolan sunu,
bold amongst his kin, who was Ceola’s son,

þe ðone forman man mid his francan ofsceat
who the first man with his spear killed

þe þær baldlicost on þa bricge stop.
who boldly there upon the causeway stepped.

Þær stodon mid Wulfstane wigan unforhte,
there stood with Wulfstan undaunted warriors,

80. Ælfere and Maccus, modige twegen,
Elfhere and Maccus, valiant twain,

þa noldon æt þam forda fleam gewyrcan,
Who would not at the ford take flight,

ac hi fæstlice wið ða fynd weredon,
but they would defend against the enemy

þa hwile þe hi wæpna wealdan moston.
as long as they could wield weapons.

Þa hi þæt ongeaton and georne gesawon
when they understood that and clearly saw

85. þæt hi þær bricgweardas bitere fundon,
that they there found harsh ford-wardens,

ongunnon lytegian þa laðe gystas,
they began then to act cunningly the wicked foreigners,

bædon þæt hi upgangan agan moston,
begging that they could control the landing-spot,

ofer þone ford faran, feþan lædan.
to cross over the ford, to lead the soldiery.

Ða se eorl ongan for his ofermode
Then the earl began, because of his arrogance

90. alyfan landes to fela laþere ðeode.
to yield too much ground to the wicked folk.

Ongan ceallian þa ofer cald wæter
he began then to call across cold water

Byrhtelmes bearn (beornas gehlyston):
Byrhtelm’s son (the soldiers listened):

“Nu eow is gerymed, gað ricene to us,
“Now (a way) is opened to you, walk quickly to us,

guman to guþe; god ana wat
Warriors to battle; God alone knows

95. hwa þære wælstowe wealdan mote.”
Who may command the battle-field.”

Wodon þa wælwulfas (for wætere ne murnon),
The wolves of slaughter then advanced (caring nought for the water),

wicinga werod, west ofer Pantan,
the Viking tribe, west over the Blackwater,

ofer scir wæter scyldas wegon,
over shining water carried shields,

lidmen to lande linde bæron.
mariners to the land bore linden-shields.

100. Þær ongean gramum gearowe stodon
There against the enemy stood ready

Byrhtnoð mid beornum; he mid bordum het
Byrhtnoth with warriors; he ordered those with shields

wyrcan þone wihagan, and þæt werod healdan
to form the shield-wall, and the company to hold

fæste wið feondum. þa wæs feohte neh,
fast against the enemy. Then was the fight nigh,

tir æt getohte. Wæs seo tid cumen
glory in battle. The time was come

105. þæt þær fæge men feallan sceoldon.
when those doomed to die should fall.

Þær wearð hream ahafen, hremmas wundon,
Then was a cry raised up, ravens circled,

earn æses georn; wæs on eorþan cyrm.
sea-eagles ready for food; there was a uproar in the land.

Hi leton þa of folman feolhearde speru,
They loosed then from hands file-hard spears,

grimme gegrundene garas fleogan;
grim-ground shafts flew;

110. bogan wæron bysige, bord ord onfeng.
bows were busy, shield took spear-point.

Biter wæs se beaduræs, beornas feollon
Fierce was the battle-rush, warriors fell

on gehwæðere hand, hyssas lagon.
on every side, young men lay (dead).

Wund wearð Wulfmær, wælræste geceas,
Wounded was Wulfmar, he chose the bed of slaughter,

Byrhtnoðes mæg; he mid billum wearð,
Byrhtnoth’s kin; by swords was he,

115. his swustersunu, swiðe forheawen.
his sister’s son, cruelly cut down.

Þær wearð wicingum wiþerlean agyfen.
There was to the Vikings requital given.

Gehyrde ic þæt Eadweard anne sloge
I heard that Edward struck one

swiðe mid his swurde, swenges ne wyrnde,
mightily with his sword, not refusing the blow,

þæt him æt fotum feoll fæge cempa;
so that at his feet fell the doomed champion;

120. þæs him his ðeoden þanc gesæde,
For this his lord said thanks to him,

þam burþene, þa he byre hæfde.
to that chamberlain, when he had the chance.

Swa stemnetton stiðhicgende
So resolutely standing their ground

hysas æt hilde, hogodon georne
the young men in the fight, earnestly considering

hwa þær mid orde ærost mihte
who there by spear point might first

125. on fægean men feorh gewinnan,
from doomed men take life,

wigan mid wæpnum; wæl feol on eorðan.
warriors with weapons; the slaughtered fell to the earth.

Stodon stædefæste; stihte hi Byrhtnoð,
Stood unyielding; Byrhtnoth commanded them,

bæd þæt hyssa gehwylc hogode to wige
urged that each young man give thought to the battle

þe on Denon wolde dom gefeohtan.
who would from the Danes win renown in struggle.

130. Wod þa wiges heard, wæpen up ahof,
Advanced then some war-hardened one, a weapon raised up,

bord to gebeorge, and wið þæs beornes stop.
a shield for defence, and against this man stepped forward.

Eode swa anræd eorl to þam ceorle,
So boldly went the earl to that churl,

ægþer hyra oðrum yfeles hogode.
each of them thought ill of the other.

Sende ða se særinc suþerne gar,
Then sent the sea-man a southern spear

135. þæt gewundod wearð wigena hlaford;
so that wounded was the warriors’ lord;

he sceaf þa mid ðam scylde, þæt se sceaft tobærst,
he thrust out with the shield so that the spear-shaft shattered,

and þæt spere sprengde, þæt hit sprang ongean.
and the spear-head rebounded, so that it sprang back.

Gegremod wearð se guðrinc; he mid gare stang
The war chief was maddened; he stabbed with the spear

wlancne wicing, þe him þa wunde forgeaf.
the proud Viking, who had given him that injury.

140. Frod wæs se fyrdrinc; he let his francan wadan
Cunning was that warrior, he caused his lance to go

þurh ðæs hysses hals, hand wisode
through the young man’s neck, guided (his) hand

þæt he on þam færsceaðan feorh geræhte.
so that he seized the life of that impetuous enemy.

Ða he oþerne ofstlice sceat,
then he quickly stabbed another,

þæt seo byrne tobærst; he wæs on breostum wund
so that the mail coat burst; he was wounded on the chest

145. þurh ða hringlocan, him æt heortan stod
through the linked rings, at his heart stood

ætterne ord. Se eorl wæs þe bliþra,
the deadly point. The earl was better pleased,

hloh þa, modi man, sæde metode þanc
then he laughed, the valiant man, said thanks to the Creator

ðæs dægweorces þe him drihten forgeaf.
for this day’s work which the Lord had given him.

Forlet þa drenga sum daroð of handa,
some warrior then let go a spear from (his) hands

150.fleogan of folman, þæt se to forð gewat
to fly from the hands, so that it too deeply went

þurh ðone æþelan Æþelredes þegen.
through that noble thane of Ethelred.

Him be healfe stod hyse unweaxen,
Beside him stood a youth not full grown,

cniht on gecampe, se full caflice
a boy in battle, who full bravely

bræd of þam beorne blodigne gar,
drew from this warrior the bloody spear,

155. Wulfstanes bearn, Wulfmær se geonga,
Wulfstan’s child, Wulfmar the young,

forlet forheardne faran eft ongean;
threw back in return the hard thing;

ord in gewod, þæt se on eorþan læg
the point went in, so that on the ground lay

þe his þeoden ær þearle geræhte.
the one who previously had sorely struck his lord.

Eode þa gesyrwed secg to þam eorle;
An armed man then went to the earl;

160. he wolde þæs beornes beagas gefecgan,
he wanted to take wealth from this young man,

reaf and hringas and gerenod swurd.
armour and ring-mail and ornamented sword.

þa Byrhtnoð bræd bill of sceðe,
Then Beorhtnoth drew a blade from its sheath,

brad and bruneccg, and on þa byrnan sloh.
broad and bright-edged, and struck at the mail-coat.

To raþe hine gelette lidmanna sum,
Too quickly some pirate hindered him,

165. þa he þæs eorles earm amyrde.
then he the earl’s arm wounded.

Feoll þa to foldan fealohilte swurd;
Fell then to the ground the yellow-hilted sword;

ne mihte he gehealdan heardne mece,
he could not hold the hard sword,

wæpnes wealdan. Þa gyt þæt word gecwæð
(nor) wield a weapon. Then still this word he said

har hilderinc, hyssas bylde,
grey-haired battle leader, encouraged the youths

170. bæd gangan forð gode geferan;
urged to go forward the good companions;

ne mihte þa on fotum leng fæste gestandan.
Nor could he long stay standing steadily on foot.

He to heofenum wlat:
He looked to heaven:

“Geþancie þe, ðeoda waldend,
‘Thank you, Lord of Hosts,

ealra þæra wynna þe ic on worulde gebad.
for all the joys which I experienced in the world.

175. Nu ic ah, milde Metod, mæste þearfe
Now I have, gentle Creator, most need

þæt þu minum gaste godes geunne,
that you grant my ghost grace,

þæt min sawul to ðe siðian mote
so that my soul to thee may travel

on þin geweald, þeoden engla,
in thy power, king of angels,

mid friþe ferian. Ic eom frymdi to þe
to go with peace. I entreat you

180. þæt hi helsceaðan hynan ne moton.”
that thieves from Hell may not injure it.”

Ða hine heowon hæðene scealcas
Then heathen warriors cut him down

and begen þa beornas þe him big stodon,
and both the heroes who stood beside him,

Ælfnoð and Wulmær begen lagon,
Alfnoth and Wulfmaer, both were laid out,

ða onemn hyra frean feorh gesealdon.
then beside their lord they gave up life.

185. Hi bugon þa fram beaduwe þe þær beon noldon.
They turned then from battle who did not wish to be there.

Þær wearð Oddan bearn ærest on fleame,
There was Odda’s boy first into flight,

Godric fram guþe, and þone godan forlet
Godric (fled) from the clash, and that good man abandoned

þe him mænigne oft mear gesealde;
who had often given him many horses;

he gehleop þone eoh þe ahte his hlaford,
he mounted then the steed that his lord had owned,

190. on þam gerædum þe hit riht ne wæs,
on the riding-gear which was not right,

and his broðru mid him begen ærndon,
and his brothers with him both galloped away,

Godwine and Godwig, guþe ne gymdon,
Godwin and Godwig, not caring for the fight,

ac wendon fram þam wige and þone wudu sohton,
But turned from the battle and sought the woods,

flugon on þæt fæsten and hyra feore burgon,
Fled to that fastness and minded their own lives,

195. and manna ma þonne hit ænig mæð wære,
and many more than it were at all proper,

gyf hi þa geearnunga ealle gemundon
if they then remembered all the acts deserving favour

þe he him to duguþe gedon hæfde.
which he had done to benefit them.

Swa him Offa on dæg ær asæde
So Offa had told him earlier in the day

on þam meþelstede, þa he gemot hæfde,
in the meeting-place, where the moot happened,

200. þæt þær modiglice manega spræcon
that there many spoke boldly

þe eft æt þearfe þolian noldon.
who later in danger would not hold firm.

Þa wearð afeallen þæs folces ealdor,
There was fallen the people’s leader

Æþelredes eorl; ealle gesawon
Ethelred’s earl; all saw

heorðgeneatas þæt hyra heorra læg.
of the hearth-companions that their great one lay dead.

205. Þa ðær wendon forð wlance þegenas,
Then there pressed forward the bold thanes,

unearge men efston georne;
undaunted men hastening eagerly;

hi woldon þa ealle oðer twega,
they desired then all one of two things,

lif forlætan oððe leofne gewrecan.
to forfeit their lives or to avenge their beloved one.

Swa hi bylde forð bearn Ælfrices,
So he urged them on Elfric’s boy,

210. wiga wintrum geong, wordum mælde,
young in winters, uttered words,

Ælfwine þa cwæð, he on ellen spræc:
Elfwine then spoke, he spoke valourously

“Gemunan þa mæla þe we oft æt meodo spræcon,
“Remember the occasion when we often at drink spoke,

þonne we on bence beot ahofon,
when we on our seats made great boasts,

hæleð on healle, ymbe heard gewinn;
indoor warriors, concerning bitter war;

215. nu mæg cunnian hwa cene sy.
now we will find out who is brave.

Ic wylle mine æþelo eallum gecyþan,
I want my noble lineage to be known to all,

þæt ic wæs on Myrcon miccles cynnes;
that I was of Mercia of a great family;

wæs min ealda fæder Ealhelm haten,
my grandfather was called Ealhelm,

wis ealdorman, woruldgesælig.
a wise alderman, and prosperous in the world.

220. Ne sceolon me on þære þeode þegenas ætwitan
The thanes of the people shall not say slightingly of me

þæt ic of ðisse fyrde feran wille,
that I wanted to abandon this host,

eard gesecan, nu min ealdor ligeð
to seek home, now that my leader lies dead

forheawen æt hilde. Me is þæt hearma mæst;
hewn down in the battle. The harm is greatest for me;

he wæs ægðer min mæg and min hlaford.”
he was both mykin and my lord.”

225. Þa he forð eode, fæhðe gemunde,
Then he went forth, thinking of revenge,

þæt he mid orde anne geræhte
so that with a spear-point he wounded one

flotan on þam folce, þæt se on foldan læg
Viking amongst the host, so that he lay dead in the dirt

forwegen mid his wæpne. Ongan þa winas manian,
destroyed by his weapon. He began then his friends to exhort,

frynd and geferan, þæt hi forð eodon.
friends and companions, so that they went forth.

230. Offa gemælde, æscholt asceoc:
Offa declared, as he shook the ash-spear,

“Hwæt þu, Ælfwine, hafast ealle gemanode
“Behold, you, Elfwine, have alerted all

þegenas to þearfe, nu ure þeoden lið,
thanes to the needful, now our lord lies dead,

eorl on eorðan. Us is eallum þearf
the earl on the earth. It is necessary for all

þæt ure æghwylc oþerne bylde
of us each to encourage the other

235. wigan to wige, þa hwile þe he wæpen mæge
warriors to the struggle, as long as they may weapons

habban and healdan, heardne mece,
have and hold, hard sword,

gar and god swurd. Us Godric hæfð,
lance and good blade. Us has Godric,

earh Oddan bearn, ealle beswicene.
cowardly son of an Odda, all betrayed.

Wende þæs formoni man, þa he on meare rad,
Too many a man believed of that one, when he rode the horse,

240. on wlancan þam wicge, þæt wære hit ure hlaford;
that splendid steed, that it was our lord;

forþan wearð her on felda folc totwæmed,
For that reason here on the field were folc scattered,

scyldburh tobrocen. Abreoðe his angin,
the shield-wall broken. Damn his action,

þæt he her swa manigne man aflymde!”
by which he here so many men set to flight!”

Leofsunu gemælde and his linde ahof,
Leofsunu spoke and raised his linden-shield,

245. bord to gebeorge; he þam beorne oncwæð:
the shield of defence; he addressed those heroes:

“Ic þæt gehate, þæt ic heonon nelle
“I swear that, I will not from here

fleon fotes trym, ac wille furðor gan,
withdraw a foot’s distance, but will go further,

wrecan on gewinne minne winedrihten.
to avenge in the fight my dear lord.

Ne þurfon me embe Sturmere stedefæste hælæð
There is no occasion for steadfast warriors about Sturmere

250. wordum ætwitan, nu min wine gecranc,
to reproach me with words, now my lord is fallen,

þæt ic hlafordleas ham siðie,
that I lordless go home,

wende fram wige, ac me sceal wæpen niman,
turning from the battle, but a weapon shall take me,

ord and iren.” He ful yrre wod,
spear-point and iron.” He went full of wrath,

feaht fæstlice, fleam he forhogode.
fought fiercely, to flee he disdained.

255. Dunnere þa cwæð, daroð acwehte,
Dunnere then spoke, he shook the spear,

unorne ceorl, ofer eall clypode,
simple churl, he cried out over all,

bæd þæt beorna gehwylc Byrhtnoð wræce:
urged that each warrior avenge Byrhtnoth;

“Ne mæg na wandian se þe wrecan þenceð
“He may not flinch who thinks to avenge

frean on folce, ne for feore murnan.”
the lord on the host, not for life be regretful.”

260. Þa hi forð eodon, feores hi ne rohton;
then they went forward, not caring for life;

ongunnon þa hiredmen heardlice feohtan,
the retainers then began to fight fiercely,

grame garberend, and God bædon
grim spear-bearers, and begged God

þæt hi moston gewrecan hyra winedrihten
that they could avenge their beloved lord

and on hyra feondum fyl gewyrcan.
and on their foes bring destruction.

265. Him se gysel ongan geornlice fylstan;
The hostage began eagerly to assist him;

he wæs on Norðhymbron heardes cynnes,
He was from Northumberland of a tough kinfolk,

Ecglafes bearn, him wæs Æscferð nama.
Ecglaf’s son, who was named Ashferth.

He ne wandode na æt þam wigplegan,
He did not flinch at the war-play,

ac he fysde forð flan genehe;
but he shot forth very often spears;

270. hwilon he on bord sceat, hwilon beorn tæsde,
sometimes he struck a shield, sometimes a warrior was wounded,

æfre embe stunde he sealde sume wunde,
about every moment he gave some wound,

þa hwile ðe he wæpna wealdan moste.
while he could wield a weapon.

þa gyt on orde stod Eadweard se langa,
There in the ranks still stood Edward the Tall,

gearo and geornful, gylpwordum spræc
Ready and eager, spoke boastful words,

275. þæt he nolde fleogan fotmæl landes,
that he would not yield a foot’s pace of land,

ofer bæc bugan, þa his betera leg.
turning away backwards, when his superior lay dead.

He bræc þone bordweall and wið þa beornas feaht,
He broke the shield-wall and with the warriors fought,

oðþæt he his sincgyfan on þam sæmannum
until he his treasure-giver on the seamen

wurðlice wrec, ær he on wæle læge.
properly avenged, before he lay dead in the slaughter.

280. Swa dyde Æþeric, æþele gefera,
Likewise did Atheric, noble companion,

fus and forðgeorn, feaht eornoste.
eager and ready to advance, fight resolutely.

Sibyrhtes broðor and swiðe mænig oþer
Sibyrhtes’ brother and very many others

clufon cellod bord, cene hi weredon;
split {strong} shields, they resisted bravely;

bærst bordes lærig, and seo byrne sang
broke the shields’ rimwork, and the mailshirt sang

285. gryreleoða sum. Þa æt guðe sloh
some song of terror. Then at battle struck

Offa þone sælidan, þæt he on eorðan feoll,
Offa the seaman, so that he fell to the earth,

and ðær Gaddes mæg grund gesohte.
and there Gaddes kinsman sought the ground.

Raðe wearð æt hilde Offa forheawen;
Quickly then Offa was cut down in the struggle;

he hæfde ðeah geforþod þæt he his frean gehet,
he had however carried out what he to his lord had vowed,

290. swa he beotode ær wið his beahgifan
as he boasted earlier with his ring-giver

þæt hi sceoldon begen on burh ridan,
that they should both ride into town

hale to hame, oððe on here crincgan,
hale to home, or fall here,

on wælstowe wundum sweltan;
in the slaughter-place to die of wounds;

he læg ðegenlice ðeodne gehende.
He lay thane-like close-by the lord.

295. Ða wearð borda gebræc. Brimmen wodon,
Then there was a clash of shields. The pirates advanced,

guðe gegremode; gar oft þurhwod
enraged to the fight; spear often pierced

fæges feorhhus. Forð þa eode Wistan,
doomed life-house. Forward then went Wistan,

þurstanes sunu, wið þas secgas feaht;
Thurstan’s son, he fought with the fellows;

he wæs on geþrange hyra þreora bana,
he was in the throng of three of then the killer,

300. ær him Wigelines bearn on þam wæle læge.
before Wigelin’s son lay himself in the slaughter.

Þær wæs stið gemot; stodon fæste
There a hard meeting; stood fast

wigan on gewinne, wigend cruncon,
warriors in the battle. Warriors perished,

wundum werige. Wæl feol on eorþan.
weakened by wounds. The slaughtered ones fell to the ground.

Oswold and Eadwold ealle hwile,
Oswald and Eadwold all the while,

305. begen þa gebroþru, beornas trymedon,
both brothers, organised the warriors,

hyra winemagas wordon bædon
their dear kinfold with words urged

þæt hi þær æt ðearfe þolian sceoldon,
that they at (this) need should endure,

unwaclice wæpna neotan.
should wield their weapons not weakly.

Byrhtwold maþelode bord hafenode
Byrhtwold spoke out raising a shield

310. (se wæs eald geneat), æsc acwehte;
(he was an old retainer), shaking a spear;

he ful baldlice beornas lærde:
he full boldly told the warriors:

“Hige sceal þe heardra, heorte þe cenre,
“Will shll be the sterner, heart the bolder,

mod sceal þe mare, þe ure mægen lytlað.
spirit the greater, as or strength lessens.

Her lið ure ealdor eall forheawen,
Here lies our leader all hewn down,

315. god on greote. A mæg gnornian
a good man on the ground. Ever may he mourn

se ðe nu fram þis wigplegan wendan þenceð.
Whoever now from this war-play wishes to turn.

Ic eom frod feores; fram ic ne wille,
I am learned in life; from here I would not (go),

ac ic me be healfe minum hlaforde,
but I myself beside my lord

be swa leofan men, licgan þence.”
By so beloved a man, I intend to lie.”

320. Swa hi Æþelgares bearn ealle bylde,
Likewise Athelgar’s son encouraged them all,

Godric to guþe. Oft he gar forlet,
Godric to the strife. Often a spear he let go,

wælspere windan on þa wicingas,
A slaughtering-spear to go to the Vikings,

swa he on þam folce fyrmest eode,
so he went in the vanguard of the host,

heow and hynde, oðþæt he on hilde gecranc.
Hacking and killing, until he perished in the fray.

325. Næs þæt na se Godric þe ða guðe forbeah …
This was not that Godric who fled the fight …