The Battle of Maldon Flashcards
(30 cards)
Stodon stædefæste; stihte hi Byrhtnoð,
bæd þæt hyssa gehwylc hogode to wige
þe on Denon wolde dom gefeohtan.
They stood steadfast; Byrhtnoth directed them
bade that each young man think to battle
from the Danes they would gain glory by fighting.
Wod þa wiges heard, wæpen up ahof,
bord to gebeorge, and wið þæs beornes stop.
then one hardened in battle raised up his weapon,
shield as protection, and stepped towards the man
Eode swa anræd eorl to þam ceorle,
ægþer hyra oðrum yfeles hogode.
earl advanced on commoner, both of them intended evil on the other.
Sende ða se særinc suþerne gar,
þæt gewundod wearð wigena hlaford;
The sea-warrior sent a southern spear
a warrior’s lord became wounded
Gegremod wearð se guðrinc;
the warrior became enraged;
Frod wæs se fyrdrinc; he let his francan wadan
þurh ðæs hysses hals,
Experienced was the solider; he let his spear travel
through the young man’s neck,
ða he oþerne ofstlice sceat,
þæt seo byrne tobærst;
then he speedily shot another
so that the mail coat burst;
Se eorl wæs þe bliþra,
hloh þa, modi man,
the man was the happier,
the spirited men laughed,
Forlet þa drenga sum daroð of handa,
One of the vikings let go a spear of the hand,
Him be healfe stod hyse unweaxen,
Alongside him an ungrown youth stood
ord in gewod, þæt se on eorþan læg
þe his þeoden ær þearle geræhte.
spear in went, (so) that he who had before grievously struck his prince lay dead on the earth,
Eode þa gesyrwed secg to þam eorle;
he wolde þæs beornes beagas gefecgan,
reaf and hringas and gerenod swurd.
An armed warrior advanced to the man
he would carry off the warrior’s valuables, armour,
rings and the ornamental sword.
þa Byrhtnoð bræd bill of sceðe,
brad and bruneccg, and on þa byrnan sloh.
then Byrhtnoth drew his bill from the sheath
brave and bright-bladed and struck the mail coat
To raþe hine gelette lidmanna sum,
þa he þæs eorles earm amyrde.
Quickly a seaman hindered him
then he disabled the man’s arm.
Feoll þa to foldan fealohilte swurd;
ne mihte he gehealdan heardne mece,
wæpnes wealdan.
the gold-hilted blade penetrated the Eath
nor could he hold the fierce blade,
nor wield weapons.
þa gyt þæt word gecwæð
har hilderinc, hyssas bylde,
bæd gangan forð gode geferan;
then the grey-haired warrior spoke an utterance, encouraged young men; urged the going onwards to the good comrades;
He to heofenum wlat:
“Geþancie þe, ðeoda waldend,
ealra þæra wynna þe ic on worulde gebad.
He looked to heaven:
“I thank you, ruler of nations; for all the joys I experienced in the world.
ða hine heowon hæðene scealcas
and begen þa beornas þe him big stodon,
then the heathen warriors hacked him
and the men that stood by him
ælfnoð and Wulmær begen lagon,
ða onemn hyra frean feorh gesealdon.
Ælfnoth and Wulmear both lay there ]they gave their life along with their lord.
Ic eom frymdi to þe
þæt hi helsceaðan hynan ne moton.”
I beseech you that my soul is not able to be harmed by hell-foes.”
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.
now I have, merciful creator, the greatest need,
grant my spirit the favour that my soul might into the keeping of friendly angels pass with peace.
he wæs on breostum wund
þurh ða hringlocan, him æt heortan stod
ætterne ord.
he was wounded in the breast
through the ring links at his heart stood the poisoned point.
he sceaf þa mid ðam scylde, þæt se sceaft tobærst,
and þæt spere sprengde, þæt hit sprang ongean.
he thrust with a shielf so that the shaft broke
and the spear flexed that it sprang out again.
he mid gare stang
wlancne wicing, þe him þa wunde forgeaf.
he with the spear struck the presumptuous viking that had given the wound.
