938
<poem> &npsp; Here Athelstan king, &npsp; of earls the lord, &npsp; rewarder of heroes, &npsp; and his brother eke, &npsp; Edmund atheling, &npsp; elder of ancient race, &npsp; slew in the fight, &npsp; with the edge of their swords, &npsp; the foe at Brumby!(41) &npsp; The sons of Edward &npsp; their board-walls clove, &npsp; and hewed their banners, &npsp; with the wrecks of their hammers. &npsp; So were they taught &npsp; by kindred zeal, &npsp; that they at camp oft &npsp; 'gainst any robber &npsp; their land should defend, &npsp; their hoards and homes. &npsp; Pursuing fell &npsp; the Scottish clans; &npsp; the men of the fleet &npsp; in numbers fell; &npsp; 'midst the din of the field &npsp; the warrior swate. &npsp; Since the sun was up &npsp; in morning-tide, &npsp; gigantic light! &npsp; glad over grounds, &npsp; God's candle bright, &npsp; eternal Lord! &npsp; 'till the noble creature &npsp; sat in the western main: &npsp; there lay many &npsp; of the Northern heroes &npsp; under a shower of arrows, &npsp; shot over shields; &npsp; and Scotland's boast, &npsp; a Scythian race, &npsp; the mighty seed of Mars! &npsp; With chosen troops, &npsp; throughout the day, &npsp; the West-Saxons fierce &npsp; press'd on the loathed bands; &npsp; hew'd down the fugitives, &npsp; and scatter'd the rear, &npsp; with strong mill-sharpen'd blades, &npsp; The Mercians too &npsp; the hard hand-play &npsp; spared not to any &npsp; of those that with Anlaf &npsp; over the briny deep &npsp; in the ship's bosom &npsp; sought this land &npsp; for the hardy fight. &npsp; Five kings lay &npsp; on the field of battle, &npsp; in bloom of youth, &npsp; pierced with swords. &npsp; So seven eke &npsp; of the earls of Anlaf; &npsp; and of the ship's-crew &npsp; unnumber'd crowds. &npsp; There was dispersed &npsp; the little band &npsp; of hardy Scots, &npsp; the dread of northern hordes; &npsp; urged to the noisy deep &npsp; by unrelenting fate! &npsp; The king of the fleet &npsp; with his slender craft &npsp; escaped with his life &npsp; on the felon flood; &npsp; and so too Constantine, &npsp; the valiant chief, &npsp; returned to the north &npsp; in hasty flight. &npsp; The hoary Hildrinc &npsp; cared not to boast &npsp; among his kindred. &npsp; Here was his remnant &npsp; of relations and friends &npsp; slain with the sword &npsp; in the crowded fight. &npsp; His son too he left &npsp; on the field of battle, &npsp; mangled with wounds, &npsp; young at the fight. &npsp; The fair-hair'd youth &npsp; had no reason to boast &npsp; of the slaughtering strife. &npsp; Nor old Inwood &npsp; and Anlaf the more &npsp; with the wrecks of their army &npsp; could laugh and say, &npsp; that they on the field &npsp; of stern command &npsp; better workmen were, &npsp; in the conflict of banners, &npsp; the clash of spears, &npsp; the meeting of heroes, &npsp; and the rustling of weapons, &npsp; which they on the field &npsp; of slaughter played &npsp; with the sons of Edward. &npsp; The northmen sail'd &npsp; in their nailed ships, &npsp; a dreary remnant, &npsp; on the roaring sea; &npsp; over deep water &npsp; Dublin they sought, &npsp; and Ireland's shores, &npsp; in great disgrace. &npsp; Such then the brothers &npsp; both together &npsp; king and atheling, &npsp; sought their country, &npsp; West-Saxon land, &npsp; in right triumphant. &npsp; They left behind them &npsp; raw to devour, &npsp; the sallow kite, &npsp; the swarthy raven &npsp; with horny nib, &npsp; and the hoarse vultur, &npsp; with the eagle swift &npsp; to consume his prey; &npsp; the greedy gos-hawk, &npsp; and that grey beast &npsp; the wolf of the weald. &npsp; No slaughter yet &npsp; was greater made &npsp; e'er in this island, &npsp; of people slain, &npsp; before this same, &npsp; with the edge of the sword; &npsp; as the books inform us &npsp; of the old historians; &npsp; since hither came &npsp; from the eastern shores &npsp; the Angles and Saxons, &npsp; over the broad sea, &npsp; and Britain sought, &npsp; fierce battle-smiths, &npsp; o'ercame the Welsh, &npsp; most valiant earls,
&npsp; and gained the land.</poem>
(Ingram, p.84-87)