Old English Poems Part 16

The chief of the folk now fell to his death, aethelred's earl; all his companions Looked on their lord as he lay on the field.

205 Now there approached some proud retainers; The hardy heroes hastened madly, All of them eager either to die Or valiantly avenge their vanquished lord.

They were eagerly urged by aelfric's son, 210 A warrior young in winters; these words he spoke-- aelfwine then spoke, an honorable speech: "Remember how we made in the mead-hall our vaunts, From the benches our boasts of bravery we raised, Heroes in the hall, of hard-fought battles; 215 The time has now come for the test of your courage.

Now I make known my n.o.ble descent; I come from Mercia, of mighty kinsmen; My n.o.ble grandsire's name was Ealdhelm, Wise in the ways of the world this elder.

220 Among my proud people no reproach shall be made That in fear I fled afar from the battle, To leave for home with my leader hewn down, Broken in battle; that brings me most grief; He was not only my earl but also my kinsman."

225 Then harboring hatred he hastened forth, And with the point of spear he pierced and slew A seaman grim who sank to the ground Under weight of the weapon. To war he incited His friends and fellows, in the fray to join.

230 Offa shouted; his ash-spear shook: "Thou exhortest, O aelfwine, in the hour of need, When our lord is lying full low before us, The earl on the earth; we all have a duty That each one of us should urge on the rest 235 Of the warriors to war, while his weapons in hand He may have and hold, his hard-wrought mace, His dart and good sword. The deed of G.o.dric, The wicked son of Offa, has weakened us all; Many of the men thought when he mounted the steed, 240 Rode on the proud palfry, that our prince led us forth; Therefore on the field the folk were divided, The shield-wall was shattered. May shame curse the man Who deceived our folk and sent them in flight."

Leofsunu spoke and his linden-shield raised, 245 His board to defend him and embolden his fellows: "I promise you now from this place I will never Flee a foot-s.p.a.ce, but forward will rush, Where I vow to revenge my vanquished lord.

The stalwart warriors round Sturmere shall never 250 Taunt me and twit me for traitorous conduct, That lordless I fled when my leader had fallen, Ran from the war; rather may weapons, The iron points slay me." Full ireful he went; Fiercely he fought; flight he disdained.

255 Dunhere burst forth; his dart he brandished, Over them all; the aged churl cried, Called the brave ones to battle in Bryhtnoth's avenging: "Let no hero now hesitate who hopes to avenge His lord on the foemen, nor fear for his life."

260 Then forward they fared and feared not for their lives; The clansman with courage the conflict began; Grasped their spears grimly, to G.o.d made their prayer That they might dearly repay the death of their lord, And deal defeat to their dastardly foes.

265 A hostage took hold now and helped them with courage; He came from Northumbria of a n.o.ble kindred, The son of Ecglaf, aescferth his name; He paused not a whit at the play of weapons, But unerringly aimed his arrows uncounted; 270 Now he shot on the shield, now he shattered a Viking; With the point of his arrow he pierced to the marrow While he wielded his weapons of war unsubdued.

Still in the front stood the stalwart Edward, Burning for battle; his boasts he spoke: 275 He never would flee a foot-pace of land, Or leave his lord where he lay on the field; He shattered the shield-wall; with the shipmen he fought, Till on the treacherous tribesmen his treasure-giver's death He valiantly avenged ere his violent end.

280 Such daring deeds did the doughty aethric, Brother of Sibyrht and bravest of soldiers; He eagerly fought and the others followed; They cleft the curved shields; keenly they battled; Then burst the buckler's rim, and the burnies sang 285 A song of slaughter. Then was slain in battle, The seaman by Offa; and the earth received him; Soon Offa himself was slain in battle; He had laid down his life for his lord as he promised 290 In return for his treasure, when he took his vow That they both alive from battle should come, Hale to their homes or lie hewn down in battle, Fallen on the field with their fatal wounds; He lay by his lord like a loyal thane.

295 Then shivered the shields; the shipmen advanced, Raving with rage; they ran their spears Through their fated foes. Forth went Wistan, Thurstan's son then, to the thick of the conflict.

In the throng he slew three of the sailors, 300 Ere the son of Wigeline sent him to death.

The fight was stiff; and fast they stood; In the cruel conflict they were killed by scores, Weary with wounds; woeful was the slaughter.

Oswald and Eadwold all of the while, 305 Both the brothers, emboldened the warriors, Encouraged their comrades with keen spoken words, Besought them to strive in their sore distress, To wield their weapons and not weaken in battle.

Byrhtwold then spoke; his buckler he lifted, 310 The old companion, his ash-spear shook And boldly encouraged his comrades to battle: "Your courage be the harder, your hearts be the keener, And sterner the strife as your strength grows less.

Here lies our leader low on the earth, 315 Struck down in the dust; doleful forever Be the traitor who tries to turn from the war-play.

I am old of years, but yet I flee not; Staunch and steadfast I stand by my lord, And I long to be by my loved chief."

320 So the son of aethelgar said to them all.

G.o.dric emboldened them; oft he brandished his lance, Violently threw at the Vikings his war-spear, So that first among the folk he fought to the end; Hewed down and hacked, till the hated ones killed him-- 325 Not that G.o.dric who fled in disgrace from the fight.

5. _Offa's kinsman_ is not named. Offa himself is mentioned in line 286.

8. Is the fact that the earl is amusing himself with a falcon just before the battle to be taken as a sign of contempt for the enemy?

65. "The _Panta_, or Blackwater as it is now called, opens at Maldon into a large estuary, where a strong tide runs."--Sedgefield.

70. The approaches to the bridge were covered with water at high tide; hence the Nors.e.m.e.n feared to cross at high tide and asked for a truce.

140. The soldier is Byrhtnoth.

151. This refers to Byrhtnoth.

271. The two halves of the line rime in the original.

287. _Offa_: "the kinsman of Gad" in the original. The reference is to Offa and we have avoided confusion by translating the phrase by the name of the man meant.

APPENDIX--SELECTIONS FROM OLD ENGLISH PROSE

ACCOUNT OF THE POET CaeDMON

[From the Anglo-Saxon version of Bede's _Ecclesiastical History_. Text used: Bright's _Anglo-Saxon Reader_, pp. 8 ff.]

In the monastery of this abbess [Hild] was a certain brother especially distinguished and gifted with the grace of G.o.d, because he was in the habit of making poems filled with piety and virtue. Whatever he learned _5_ of holy writ through interpreters he gave forth in a very short time in poetical language with the greatest of sweetness and inspiration, well wrought in the English tongue. Because of his songs the minds of many men were turned from the thoughts of this world and _10_ incited toward a contemplation of the heavenly life. There were, to be sure, others after him among the Angles who tried to compose sacred poetry, but none of them could equal him; because his instruction in poetry was not at all from men, nor through the aid of _15_ any man, but it was through divine inspiration and as a gift from G.o.d that he received the power of song.

For that reason he was never able to compose poetry of a light or idle nature, but only the one kind that pertained to religion and was fitted to the tongue of a _20_ G.o.dly singer such as he.

This man had lived the life of a layman until he was somewhat advanced in years, and had never learned any songs. For this reason often at the banquets where for the sake of merriment it was ruled that they should _25_ all sing in turn at the harp, when he would see the harp approach him, he would arise from the company out of shame and go home to his house. On one occasion he had done this and had left the banquet hall and gone out to the stable to the cattle which it was his duty to guard _30_ that night. Then in due time he lay down and slept, and there stood before him in his dream a man who hailed him and greeted him and called him by name: "Caedmon, sing me something." Then he answered and said: "I can not sing anything; and for that reason I left _35_ the banquet and came here, since I could not sing." Once more the man who was speaking with him said: "No matter, you must sing for me." Then he answered: "What shall I sing?" Thereupon the stranger said: "Sing to me of the beginning of things." When he had _40_ received this answer he began forthwith to sing, in praise of G.o.d the Creator, verses and words that he had never heard, in the following manner:

Now shall we praise the Prince of heaven, The might of the Maker and his manifold thought, 45 The work of the Father: of what wonders he wrought, The Lord everlasting when he laid out the worlds.

He first raised up for the race of men The heaven as a roof, the holy Ruler.

Then the world below, the Ward of mankind, 50 The Lord everlasting, at last established As a home for man, the Almighty Lord.

Then he arose from his sleep, and all that he had sung while asleep he held fast in memory; and soon afterward he added many words like unto them befitting _55_ a hymn to G.o.d. The next morning he came to the steward who was his master and told him of the gift he had received. The steward immediately led him to the abbess and related what he had heard.

She bade a.s.semble all the wise and learned men and asked Caedmon to _60_ relate his dream in their presence and to sing the song that they might give their judgment as to what it was or whence it had come. They all agreed that it was a divine gift bestowed from Heaven. They then explained to him a piece of holy teaching and bade him if he could, _65_ to turn that into rhythmic verse. When he received the instruction of the learned men, he departed for his house. In the morning he returned and delivered the pa.s.sage a.s.signed him, turned into an excellent poem.

Thereupon, the abbess, praising and honoring the _70_ gift of G.o.d in this man, persuaded him to leave the condition of a layman and take monastic vows. And this he did with great eagerness. She received him and his household into the monastery and made him one of the company of G.o.d's servants and commanded that he _75_ be taught the holy writings and stories. He, on his part, pondered on all that he learned by word of mouth, and just as a clean beast chews on a cud, transformed it into the sweetest of poetry. His songs and poems were so pleasing that even his teachers came to learn _80_ and write what he spoke. He sang first of the creation of the earth, and of the origin of mankind, and all the story of Genesis, the first book of Moses; and afterwards of the exodus of the Children of Israel from the land of Egypt and the entry into the Promised Land; _85_ and many other stories of the Holy Scriptures; the incarnation of Christ, and his suffering and his ascension into heaven; the coming of the Holy Ghost and the teaching of the apostles; and finally he wrote many songs concerning the future day of judgment and of _90_ the fearfulness of the pains of h.e.l.l, and the bliss of heaven; besides these he composed many others concerning the mercies and judgments of G.o.d. In all of these he strove especially to lead men from the love of sin and wickedness and to impel them toward the love _95_ and practice of righteousness; for he was a very pious man and submissive to the rules of the monastery. And he burned with zeal against those who acted otherwise.

For this reason it was that his life ended with a fair death.

ALFRED'S PREFACE TO HIS TRANSLATION OF GREGORY'S "PASTORAL CARE"

[Text: Bright's _Anglo-Saxon Reader_, pp. 26 ff.]

King Alfred sends greetings to Waerferth in loving and friendly words. I let thee know that it has often come to my mind what wise men there were formerly throughout England among both the clergy and the _5_ laity, and what happy times there were then throughout England, and how the kings who held sway over the people in those days obeyed G.o.d and his ministers; and how they preserved not only their peace but their morality also and good order at home and extended _10_ their possessions abroad; and how prosperous they were both with war and with wisdom; and how zealous the clergy were both in teaching and in learning, and in all the services they owed to G.o.d; and how foreigners came to the land in search of wisdom and learning, and _15_ how we should now have to secure them from abroad if we were to have them. So complete was this decay in England that there were very few on this side of the Humber who could understand their rituals in English or translate a Latin letter into English; and I feel sure _20_ that there were not many beyond Humber. So few there were that I can not remember a single one south of the Thames when I began to reign. Almighty G.o.d be thanked that we have any teachers among us now....

Then I considered all this, and brought to mind _25_ also how, before it had all been laid waste and burned, the churches throughout all England stood filled with treasures and books; and there was a great mult.i.tude of G.o.d's servants, but they knew very little about the books, for they could not understand anything in them, _30_ since they were not written in their own language--as if they spoke thus: "Our fathers who held these places of old loved wisdom and through it acquired wealth and bequeathed it to us. Here we may still see their tracks, but we can not follow them, and hence we have _35_ now lost both the wealth and the wisdom, since we would not incline our hearts after their example."

When I called all this to mind, I wondered very much, considering all the good and wise men who were formerly throughout England and all the books that they _40_ had perfectly learned, that they had translated no part of them into their own language. But soon I answered myself and said: "They did not expect that men should ever become as careless and that learning should decay as it has; they neglected it through the desire that the _45_ greater increase of wisdom there should be in the land the more should men learn of foreign languages."

I then considered that the law was first found in the Hebrew tongue, and again when the Greeks learned it, they translated it all into their own language. And the _50_ Romans likewise when they had learned it, they translated it all through learned scholars into their own language. And all other Christian people have turned some part into their own language.

Wherefore it seems to me best, if it seems so to you, that we should translate _55_ some books that are most needful for all men to know into the language which we can all understand and that we should bring about what we may very easily do with G.o.d's help if we have tranquillity; namely, that all youths that are now in England of _60_ free birth, who are rich enough to devote themselves to it, be put to learning as long as they are not fitted for any other occupation, until the time that they shall be able to read English writing with ease: and let those that would pursue their studies further be taught more _65_ in Latin and be promoted to a higher rank. When I brought to mind how the knowledge of Latin had formerly decayed throughout England, and yet many knew how to read English writing, I began among other various and manifold troubles of this kingdom to turn _70_ into English the book that is called in Latin _Pastoralis_ and in English _The Shepherd's Book_, sometimes word for word, sometimes thought by thought, as I had learned it from Plegmund my archbishop, and a.s.ser my bishop, and Grimbald my priest, and John my priest. _75_ After I had learned it so that I understood it and so that I could interpret it clearly, I translated it into English. I shall send one copy to every bishopric in my kingdom; and in each is a book-mark worth fifty mancuses. And I command in G.o.d's name that no man _80_ take the book-mark from the monastery. It is not certain that there will be such learned bishops as, thanks be to G.o.d, we now have nearly everywhere.

Hence I wish the books to remain always in their places, unless the bishop wishes to take them with him, or they be lent _85_ out anywhere, or any one be copying them.

THE CONVERSION OF EDWIN.

[From Alfred's translation of Bede's _Ecclesiastical History_. Text: Bright, _Anglo-Saxon Reader_, p. 62, line 2--p. 63, line 17.]

When the king heard these words, he answered him [Paulinus, who had been preaching Christianity to him] and said that he was not only willing but expected to accept the faith that he taught; the king said, however, _5_ that he wished to have speech and counsel with his friends and advisers, so that if they accepted the faith with him they might all together be consecrated to Christ, the Fountain of Life. The bishop consented and the king did as he said.

_10_ He now counselled and advised with his wise men, and he asked of each of them separately what he thought of the new doctrine and the worship of G.o.d that was preached. Cefi, the chief of his priests, then answered, "Consider, oh king, what this teaching is that is now _15_ delivered to us. I declare to you, I have learned for a certainty that the religion we have had up to the present has neither virtue nor usefulness in it. For none of thy servants has applied himself more diligently to the worship of our G.o.ds than I, and nevertheless there _20_ are many who receive greater gifts and favors from thee than I, and are more prosperous in all their undertakings. I know well that our G.o.ds, if they had had any power, would have rewarded me more because I have more faithfully served and obeyed them. It seems _25_ to me, therefore, wise, if you consider that these new doctrines which are preached to us are better and more efficacious, to receive them immediately."