The Complete Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Poetry
The Battle of Maldon
Verse Indeterminate Saxon
brocen wurde.
Het þa hyssa hwæne hors forlætan,
feor afysan, and forð gangan,
hicgan to handum and to hige godum.
5
þa þæt Offan mæg
ærest onfunde,
þæt se eorl nolde yrhðo geþolian,
he let him þa of handon leofne fleogan
hafoc wið þæs holtes, and to þære
hilde stop;
be þam man mihte oncnawan þæt se
cniht nolde
10
wacian æt þam wige, þa
he to wæpnum feng.
Eac him wolde Eadric his ealdre gelæstan,
frean to gefeohte, ongan þa forð beran
gar to guþe. He hæfde god geþanc
þa hwile þe he mid handum healdan mihte
15
bord and bradswurd; beot he gelæste
þa he ætforan his frean feohtan sceolde.
ða þær Byrhtnoð ongan beornas trymian,
rad and rædde, rincum tæhte
hu hi sceoldon standan and þone stede healdan,
20
and bæd þæt hyra randas
rihte heoldon
fæste mid folman, and ne forhtedon na.
þa he hæfde þæt folc fægere
getrymmed,
he lihte þa mid leodon þær him leofost
wæs,
þær he his heorðwerod holdost wiste.
25
þa stod on stæðe, stiðlice clypode
wicinga ar, wordum mælde,
se on beot abead brimliþendra
ærænde to þam eorle, þær
he on ofre stod:
"Me sendon to þe sæmen snelle,
30
heton ðe secgan þæt þu most sendan
raðe
beagas wið gebeorge; and eow betere is
þæt ge þisne garræs mid gafole
forgyldon,
þon we swa hearde hilde dælon.
Ne þurfe we us spillan, gif ge spedaþ to
þam;
35
we willað wið þam golde grið fæstnian.
Gyf þu þat gerædest, þe her
ricost eart,
þæt þu þine leoda lysan wille,
syllan sæmannum on hyra sylfra dom
feoh wið freode, and niman frið æt us,
40
we willaþ mid þam sceattum us to scype
gangan,
on flot feran, and eow friþes healdan."
Byrhtnoð maþelode, bord hafenode,
wand wacne æsc, wordum mælde,
yrre and anræd ageaf him andsware:
45
"Gehyrst þu, sælida, hwæt þis
folc segeð?
Hi willað eow to gafole garas syllan,
ættrynne ord and ealde swurd,
þa heregeatu þe eow æt hilde ne deah.
Brimmanna boda, abeod eft ongean,
50
sege þinum leodum miccle laþre spell,
þæt her stynt unforcuð eorl mid his
werode,
þe wile gealgean eþel þysne,
æþelredes eard, ealdres mines,
folc and foldan. Feallan sceolon
55
hæþene æt hilde. To heanlic me þinceð
þæt ge mid urum sceattum to scype gangon
unbefohtene, nu ge þus feor hider
on urne eard in becomon.
Ne sceole ge swa softe sinc gegangan;
60
us sceal ord and ecg ær geseman,
grim guðplega, ær we gofol
syllon."
Het þa bord beran, beornas gangan,
þæt hi on þam easteðe ealle stodon.
Ne mihte þær for wætere werod to
þam oðrum;
65
þær com flowende flod æfter ebban,
lucon lagustreamas. To lang hit him þuhte,
hwænne hi togædere garas beron.
Hi þær Pantan stream mid prasse bestodon,
Eastseaxena ord and se æschere.
70
Ne mihte hyra ænig oþrum derian,
buton hwa þurh flanes flyht fyl gename.
Se flod ut gewat; þa flotan stodon gearowe,
wicinga fela, wiges georne.
Het þa hæleða hleo healdan þa
bricge
75
wigan wigheardne, se wæs haten Wulfstan,
cafne mid his cynne, þæt wæs Ceolan
sunu,
þe ðone forman man mid his francan ofsceat
þe þær baldlicost on þa bricge
stop.
þær stodon mid Wulfstane wigan unforhte,
80
ælfere and Maccus, modige twegen,
þa noldon æt þam forda fleam gewyrcan,
ac hi fæstlice wið ða fynd weredon,
þa hwile þe hi wæpna wealdan moston.
þa hi þæt ongeaton and georne gesawon
85
þæt hi þær bricgweardas bitere
fundon,
ongunnon lytegian þa laðe gystas,
bædon þæt hi upgang
agan moston,
ofer þone ford faran, feþan lædan.
ða se eorl ongan for his ofermode
90
alyfan landes to fela laþere ðeode.
Ongan ceallian þa ofer cald wæter
Byrhtelmes bearn (beornas gehlyston):
"Nu eow is gerymed, gað ricene to us,
guman to guþe; god ana wat
95
hwa þære wælstowe wealdan mote."
Wodon þa wælwulfas (for wætere ne
murnon),
wicinga werod, west ofer Pantan,
ofer scir wæter scyldas wegon,
lidmen to lande linde bæron.
100
þær ongean gramum gearowe stodon
Byrhtnoð mid beornum; he mid bordum het
wyrcan þone wihagan, and þæt werod
healdan
fæste wið feondum. þa wæs feohte
neh,
tir æt getohte. Wæs seo tid cumen
105
þæt þær fæge men feallan
sceoldon.
þær wearð hream ahafen, hremmas wundon,
earn æses georn; wæs on eorþan cyrm.
Hi leton þa of folman feolhearde speru,
gegrundene garas fleogan;
110
bogan wæron bysige, bord ord onfeng.
Biter wæs se beaduræs, beornas feollon
on gehwæðere hand, hyssas lagon.
Wund wearð Wulfmær, wælræste
geceas,
Byrhtnoðes mæg; he mid billum wearð,
115
his swuster sunu, swiðe forheawen.
þær wearð wicingum
wiþerlean agyfen.
Gehyrde ic þæt Eadweard anne sloge
swiðe mid his swurde, swenges ne wyrnde,
þæt him æt fotum feoll fæge
cempa;
120
þæs him his ðeoden þanc gesæde,
þam burþene, þa he byre hæfde.
Swa stemnetton stiðhicgende
hysas æt hilde, hogodon georne
hwa þær mid orde ærost mihte
125
on fægean men feorh gewinnan,
wigan mid wæpnum; wæl feol on eorðan.
Stodon stædefæste; stihte hi Byrhtnoð,
bæd þæt hyssa gehwylc hogode to wige
þe on Denon wolde dom gefeohtan.
130
Wod þa wiges heard, wæpen up ahof,
bord to gebeorge, and wið þæs beornes
stop.
Eode swa anræd eorl to þam ceorle,
ægþer hyra oðrum yfeles hogode.
Sende ða se særinc suþerne gar,
135
þæt gewundod wearð wigena hlaford;
he sceaf þa mid ðam scylde, þæt
se sceaft tobærst,
and þæt spere sprengde, þæt
hit sprang ongean.
Gegremod wearð se guðrinc; he mid gare stang
wlancne wicing, þe him þa wunde forgeaf.
140
Frod wæs se fyrdrinc; he let his francan wadan
þurh ðæs hysses hals, hand wisode
þæt he on þam færsceaðan
feorh geræhte.
ða he oþerne ofstlice sceat,
þæt seo byrne tobærst; he wæs
on breostum wund
145
þurh ða hringlocan, him æt heortan
stod
ætterne ord. Se eorl wæs þe bliþra,
hloh þa, modi man, sæde metode þanc
ðæs dægweorces þe him drihten
forgeaf.
Forlet þa drenga sum daroð of handa,
150
fleogan of folman, þæt se to forð gewat
þurh ðone æþelan æþelredes
þegen.
Him be healfe stod hyse unweaxen,
cniht on gecampe, se full caflice
bræd of þam beorne blodigne gar,
155
Wulfstanes bearn, Wulfmær se geonga,
forlet forheardne faran eft ongean;
ord in gewod, þæt se on eorþan læg
þe his þeoden ær þearle geræhte.
Eode þa gesyrwed secg to þam eorle;
160
he wolde þæs beornes beagas gefecgan,
reaf and hringas and gerenod swurd.
þa Byrhtnoð bræd bill of sceðe,
brad and bruneccg, and on þa byrnan sloh.
To raþe hine gelette lidmanna sum,
165
þa he þæs eorles earm amyrde.
Feoll þa to foldan fealohilte swurd;
ne mihte he gehealdan heardne mece,
wæpnes wealdan. þa gyt þæt
word gecwæð
har hilderinc, hyssas bylde,
170
bæd gangan forð gode geferan;
ne mihte þa on fotum leng fæste gestandan.
He to heofenum wlat:
"Geþancie þe, ðeoda
waldend,
ealra þæra wynna þe ic on worulde
gebad.
175
Nu ic ah, milde metod, mæste þearfe
þæt þu minum gaste godes geunne,
þæt min sawul to ðe siðian mote
on þin geweald, þeoden engla,
mid friþe ferian. Ic eom frymdi to þe
180
þæt hi helsceaðan hynan ne moton."
ða hine heowon hæðene scealcas
and begen þa beornas þe him big stodon,
ælfnoð and Wulmær begen lagon,
ða onemn hyra frean feorh gesealdon.
185
Hi bugon þa fram beaduwe þe þær
beon noldon.
þær wearð Oddan bearn
ærest on fleame,
Godric fram guþe, and þone godan forlet
þe him mænigne oft mear gesealde;
he gehleop þone eoh þe ahte his hlaford,
190
on þam gerædum þe hit riht ne wæs,
and his broðru mid him begen ærndon,
Godwine and Godwig, guþe ne
gymdon,
ac wendon fram þam wige and þone wudu sohton,
flugon on þæt fæsten and hyra feore
burgon,
195
and manna ma þonne hit ænig mæð
wære,
gyf hi þa geearnunga ealle gemundon
þe he him to duguþe gedon hæfde.
Swa him Offa on dæg ær asæde
on þam meþelstede, þa he gemot hæfde,
200
þæt þær modiglice
manega spræcon
þe eft æt þearfe
þolian noldon.
þa wearð afeallen þæs folces
ealdor,
æþelredes eorl; ealle gesawon
heorðgeneatas þæt hyra heorra læg.
205
þa ðær wendon forð wlance þegenas,
unearge men efston georne;
hi woldon þa ealle oðer twega,
lif forlætan oððe leofne
gewrecan.
Swa hi bylde forð bearn ælfrices,
210
wiga wintrum geong, wordum mælde,
ælfwine þa cwæð, he on ellen
spræc:
"Gemunan þa mæla þe
we oft æt meodo spræcon,
þonne we on bence beot ahofon,
hæleð on healle, ymbe heard gewinn;
215
nu mæg cunnian hwa cene sy.
Ic wylle mine æþelo eallum gecyþan,
þæt ic wæs on Myrcon miccles cynnes;
wæs min ealda fæder Ealhelm haten,
wis ealdorman, woruldgesælig.
220
Ne sceolon me on þære þeode þegenas
ætwitan
þæt ic of ðisse fyrde feran wille,
eard gesecan, nu min ealdor ligeð
forheawen æt hilde. Me is þæt hearma
mæst;
he wæs ægðer min mæg
and min hlaford."
225
þa he forð eode, fæhðe gemunde,
þæt he mid orde anne geræhte
flotan on þam folce, þæt se on foldan
læg
forwegen mid his wæpne. Ongan þa winas
manian,
frynd and geferan, þæt hi forð eodon.
230
Offa gemælde, æscholt asceoc:
"Hwæt þu, ælfwine, hafast ealle gemanode
þegenas to þearfe, nu ure þeoden
lið,
eorl on eorðan. Us is eallum þearf
þæt ure æghwylc oþerne bylde
235
wigan to wige, þa hwile þe he wæpen
mæge
habban and healdan, heardne mece,
gar and godswurd. Us Godric hæfð,
earh Oddan bearn, ealle beswicene.
Wende þæs formoni man, þa he on meare
rad,
240
on wlancan þam wicge, þæt wære
hit ure hlaford;
forþan wearð her on felda folc totwæmed,
scyldburh tobrocen. Abreoðe his angin,
þæt he her swa manigne man aflymde!"
Leofsunu gemælde and his linde ahof,
245
bord to gebeorge; he þam beorne oncwæð:
"Ic þæt gehate, þæt ic heonon
nelle
fleon fotes trym, ac wille furðor gan,
wrecan on gewinne minne winedrihten.
Ne þurfon me embe Sturmere stedefæste hælæð
250
wordum ætwitan, nu min wine gecranc,
þæt ic hlafordleas ham siðie,
wende fram wige, ac me sceal wæpen niman,
ord and iren." He ful yrre wod,
feaht fæstlice, fleam he forhogode.
255
Dunnere þa cwæð, daroð acwehte,
unorne ceorl, ofer eall clypode,
bæd þæt beorna gehwylc Byrhtnoð
wrece:
"Ne mæg na wandian se þe wrecan þenceð
frean on folce, ne for feore murnan."
260
þa hi forð eodon, feores hi ne rohton;
ongunnon þa hiredmen heardlice feohtan,
grame garberend, and god bædon
þæt hi moston gewrecan hyra winedrihten
and on hyra feondum fyl gewyrcan.
265
Him se gysel ongan geornlice fylstan;
he wæs on Norðhymbron heardes cynnes,
Ecglafes bearn, him wæs æscferð nama.
He ne wandode na æt þam wigplegan,
ac he fysde forð flan genehe;
270
hwilon he on bord sceat, hwilon beorn tæsde,
æfre embe stunde he sealde sume wunde,
þa hwile ðe he wæpna wealdan moste.
þa gyt on orde stod Eadweard se langa,
gearo and geornful, gylpwordum spræc
275
þæt he nolde fleogan fotmæl landes,
ofer bæc bugan, þa his betera leg.
He bræc þone bordweall and wið þa
beornas feaht,
oðþæt he his sincgyfan on þam
sæmannum
wurðlice wrec, ær he on wæle lege.
280
Swa dyde æþeric, æþele gefera,
fus and forðgeorn, feaht eornoste.
Sibyrhtes broðor and swiðe mænig oþer
clufon cellod bord, cene hi weredon;
bærst bordes lærig, and seo byrne sang
285
gryreleoða sum. þa æt guðe sloh
Offa þone sælidan, þæt he on
eorðan feoll,
and ðær Gaddes mæg grund gesohte.
Raðe wearð æt hilde Offa forheawen;
he hæfde ðeah geforþod þæt
he his frean gehet,
290
swa he beotode ær wið his beahgifan
þæt hi sceoldon begen on burh ridan,
hale to hame, oððe on here crincgan,
on wælstowe wundum sweltan;
he læg ðegenlice ðeodne gehende.
295
ða wearð borda gebræc. Brimmen wodon,
guðe gegremode; gar oft þurhwod
fæges feorhhus. Forð þa
eode Wistan,
þurstanes sunu, wið þas
secgas feaht;
he wæs on geþrange hyra
þreora bana,
300
ær him Wigelines bearn on þam wæle
læge.
þær wæs stið gemot; stodon fæste
wigan on gewinne, wigend cruncon,
wundum werige. Wæl feol on eorþan.
Oswold and Eadwold ealle hwile,
305
begen þa gebroþru, beornas trymedon,
hyra winemagas wordon bædon
þæt hi þær æt ðearfe
þolian sceoldon,
unwaclice wæpna neotan.
Byrhtwold maþelode bord hafenode
310
(se wæs eald geneat), æsc acwehte;
he ful baldlice beornas lærde:
"Hige sceal þe heardra, heorte þe cenre,
mod sceal þe mare, þe ure mægen lytlað.
Her lið ure ealdor eall forheawen,
315
god on greote. A mæg gnornian
se ðe nu fram þis wigplegan wendan þenceð.
Ic eom frod feores; fram ic ne wille,
ac ic me be healfe minum hlaforde,
be swa leofan men, licgan þence."
320
Swa hi æþelgares bearn ealle bylde,
Godric to guþe. Oft he gar forlet,
wælspere windan on þa wicingas,
swa he on þam folce fyrmest eode,
heow and hynde, oðþæt
he on hilde gecranc.
325
Næs þæt na se Godric þe ða
guðe forbeah
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