Battle of Maldon (Anglo-Saxon)

From Roman2Norman
Revision as of 19:42, 26 July 2006 by EpicHistorian (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigationJump to search

The Battle of Maldon
The Original Anglo-Saxon
(Verse Indeterminate Saxon)

<poem>

           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 wræce: "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 læge.

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 </poem>