Elene; Judith; Athelstan, or the Fight at Brunanburh; Byrhtnoth, or the Fight at Maldon; and the Dr | Page 7

the heavens. H�� was true king,?War-keeper of men. God him strengthened?With honor and might, that to many became he 15 Througho��t this earth to men a joy,?To nations a vengeance, when weapon he raised?Against his foes. Him battle was offered,?Tumult of war. A host was assembled,?Folk of the Huns and fame-loving Goths; 20 War-brave they went, the Franks and the Hugs.[2]?Bold were the men [in battle-byrnies, Gn.],?Ready for war. Bright shone the spears,?The ring��d corselets. With shouts and shields?They hoisted the standards. The heroes were there 25 Plainly assembled, and [host, Gn.] all together.?The multitude marched. A war-song howled?The wolf in the wood, war-secret concealed not;?The dew-feathered eagle uplifted his song?On the trail of his foes. Hastened quickly 30 O'er cities of giants[3] the greatest of war-hosts?In bands to battle, such as king of the Huns?Of dwellers-around anywhere might,?Of city-warriors, assemble to war.?Went greatest of armies,--the footmen were strengthened 35 With chosen bands,--till in foreign land?The fighters-with-darts up��n the Danube's?Bank were encamping, the brave in heart,?'Round the welling of waters, with tumult of host.?The realm of the Romans they wished to oppress, 40 With armies destroy. Th��re was Huns' coming?Known to the people. Then bade the C?sar?Against the foes his comrades in war?'Neath arrow-flight in greatest haste?Gather for fight, form battle-array 45 The heroes 'neath heavens. The Romans were,?Men famed for victory, quickly prepared?With weapons for war, though lesser army?Had th��y for the battle than king of the Huns.[4]?They rode 'round the valiant: then rattled the shield, 50 The war-wood clanged: the king with host marched,?With army to battle. Aloft sang the raven,?Dark and corpse-gr��edy. The band was in motion.?The horn-bearers blew,[5] the heralds called,?Steed stamped the earth. The host assembled 55 Quickly for contest. The king was affrighted,?With terror disturbed, after the strangers,?The Huns' and Hreths' h��st they[6] observed,?That it[7] on the Romans' kingdom's border?'Round the bank of the river a band assembled, 60 A countless crowd. Heart-sorrow bore?The Romans' ruler, of realm he hoped not?For want of force; had warriors too few,?Trusty comrades, 'gainst th' overmight?Of the brave for battle. The army encamped, 65 The earls 'round the ?theling nigh to the river?In neighboring plain a night-long time,?After force of their foes they first beheld.?Th��n in his sleep was shown to him,?To the C?sar himself where he slept 'mid his men, 70 By the victory-famed seen, a vision of dream.?Effulgent it seemed him, in form of a man,?White and hue-bright, some one of heroes?More splendid appeared than ere or since?He saw 'neath the heavens. From sleep he awaked 75 With boar-sign bedecked. The messenger quickly,?Bright herald of glory, to him made address?And called him by name (the night-veil vanished):?"To thee, Constantine, bade King of the angels,?Wielder of fates, his favor grant, 80 The Lord of Hosts. Fear not for thyself,?Though thee the strangers threaten with terror,?With battle severe. Look thou to heaven,?To the Lord of glory: there help wilt thou find,?A token of victory." Soon was he ready 85 At hest of the holy, his heart-lock unloosed,?Upwards he looked as the messenger bade him,?Trusty peace-w��aver. He saw bright with gems?Fair rood of glory o'er roof of the clouds?Adorned with gold: the jewels shone, 90 The glittering tree with letters was written?Of brightness and light: "With this beacon thou?On the dangerous journey[8] wilt the foe overcome,?The loathly host let." The light then departed,?Ascended on high, and the messenger too, 95 To the realm of the pure. The king was the blither?And freer from sorrow, chieftain of men,?In thoughts of his soul, for th��t fair sight.
[1] Prince's.
[2] MS. 'Huns_,' but Z. reads '_Hugs.' Cf. W.
[3] 'O'er land of Burgundians,' Gn.
[4] Z. has no point, W. puts (;), Gn. (.)
[5] 'Hurried,' Z.^3
[6] 'He,' W.
[7] 'Which,' Z.
[8] 'In the terrible danger,' Gn.
II.
Bade then a likeness[1] defender of ?thelings,?Ring-giver of heroes, to that beacon he saw, 100 Leader of armies, that in heaven before?To him had appeared, with greatest haste?[Bade] Constantine [like] the rood of Christ,?The glorious king, a token make.?He bade then at dawn with break of day 105 His warriors rouse and onset of battle,?The standard raise, and that holy tree?Before him carry, 'mid host of foes?God's beacon bear. The trumpets sang?Aloud 'fore the hosts. The raven rejoiced,[2] 110 The dew-feathered eagle beheld the march,?Fight of the fierce cries, the wolf raised his howl,?The wood's frequenter. War-terror arose.?There was shattering of shields and mingling of men,?Heavy handstroke and felling of foes, 115 After in arrow-flight first they had met.?On the fated folk showers of darts,?Spears over shields into hosts of foes,?Sword-fierce foemen battle-adders?With force of fingers forwards impelled. 120 The strong-hearted stepped, pressed onwards at once,?Broke the shield-covers, thrust in their swords,?Battle-brave hastened. Then standard was raised,?Sign 'fore the host, song of victory sung.?The golden helmet, the spear-points glistened 125 On field of battle. The heathen perished,?Peaceless they fell. Forthwith they