FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   >>  
fated man the life to win, 125 A warrior with weapons: the dead to earth fell. Steadfast they stood; strengthened them Byrhtnoth, Bade that each youth of battle should think He who on the Danes glory would gain. Went then a war-brave, his weapon uplifted, 130 His shield for defence, and strode towards the chief; So earnest he went, the earl to the churl: Each for the other of evil was thinking. Sent then the seaman his spear from the south That wounded was the warrior's lord; 135 Then he shoved with his shield that the shaft in two broke, And the spear was shivered; so sprang it back. Enraged was the warrior: with his spear he thrust The wiking proud, who the wound him gave. Wise was the warrior; he let his spear pierce 140 Through the neck of the youth; his hand it guided So that he his foe of life deprived. Then he another speedily shot, That the byrnie burst; in breast was he wounded Through the ringed mail; there stood in his heart 145 The poisonous point. The earl was the gladder; Laughed the proud man, to his Maker gave thanks For the work of that day that the Lord him gave. Then let one of warriors a dart from his hands, Fly from his fist, that forth it went 150 Through that noble thane of AEthelred. There stood by his side a youth not grown, A boy in the fight, who very boldly Drew from the warrior the bloody spear, The son of Wulfstan, Wulfmaer the young; 155 He let the hard weapon fly back again; The point in-pierced, that on earth he lay Who erst his lord strongly had struck. Went then an armored man to the earl, He would the warrior's jewels fetch back, 160 Armor and rings and sword well-adorned. Then Byrhtnoth drew his sword from its sheath, Broad and brown-edged, and on byrnie he struck: Too quickly him hindered one of the seamen, When he of the earl the arm had wounded; 165 Fell then to earth the fallow-hilt sword: He might not hold the hardened brand, His weapon wield. Yet the word he spake, The hoary hero the youths encouraged, Bade forwards go his good companions: 170 He might not on foot longer stand firm; He looked up to heaven, [the earl exclaimed:[17]] "I thanks to thee give, Ruler of nations, For all those joy
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   >>  



Top keywords:
warrior
 

wounded

 

weapon

 

Through

 

struck

 
byrnie
 
Byrhtnoth
 

shield

 

adorned

 
boldly

bloody

 

sheath

 
armored
 

strongly

 

jewels

 
Wulfmaer
 

Wulfstan

 
pierced
 

fallow

 
nations

companions

 

youths

 

encouraged

 
forwards
 
longer
 

exclaimed

 

heaven

 
looked
 
seamen
 

hindered


quickly

 
hardened
 

ringed

 

earnest

 
defence
 

strode

 

thinking

 

shivered

 

shoved

 
seaman

uplifted

 
Steadfast
 

strengthened

 

weapons

 

battle

 

sprang

 

warriors

 

Laughed

 

poisonous

 
gladder