The Battle of Maldon
© Unknown author
E-Text: Sacred-texts.
-
- 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
© Aerius, 2004