s that on earth I experienced:
Now, Maker mild, most need have I 175
That thou to my spirit the blessing grant,
That my soul to thee may take its course,
Into thy power, Prince of angels,
With peace may go: I pray to thee,
That fiends of hell may not it harm." 180
Then hewed him down the heathen hinds,
And both the warriors, who by him stood,
AElfnoth and Wulfmaer both lay down dead,
Beside their lord gave up their lives.
Then bowed they from battle who there would not be; 185
There Odda's sons were erst in flight:
From battle went Godric, and the good one forsook,
Who had on him many a steed oft bestowed:
He leaped on the horse that his lord had owned,
Upon those trappings that right it was not, 190
And his brothers with him both ran away,
Godrinc and Godwig, recked not of war,
But went from the fight, and sought the wood,
Fled to the fastness, and saved their lives,
And more of the men than was at all meet, 195
If they those services all had remembered,
That he for their welfare to them had done;
So Offa to him one day had erst said
At the meeting-place, when he held a moot,
That there [very] proudly they many things spake 200
Which after in need they would not perform.[18]
Then was down-fallen the prince of the folk,
AEthelred's earl: all of them saw,
The hearth-companions, that their lord lay dead.
Then hurried there forth the haughty thanes, 205
The valiant men eagerly hastened:
They would then all the one of the two,
Their lives forsake or their loved one avenge.
So urged them on the son of AElfric,
A winter-young warrior, with words them addressed. 210
Then AElfwine quoth (boldly he spake):
"Remember the times that we oft at mead spake,
When we on the bench our boast upraised,
Heroes in hall, the hard fight anent:
Now may be tested who is the true.[19] 215
I will my lineage to all make known,
That I 'mong the Mercians of mickle race was,
My grandfather was Ealhhelm by name,
An alderman wise, with wealth endowed.
Ne'er shall 'mong this folk me thanes reproach 220
That I from this host will hasten to wend,
My home to seek, now lies my lord
Down-hewn in fight; to me 'tis great harm:
By blood he was kin and by rank he was lord."[20]
Then went he forth, was mi