The Battle of Maldon

Part I: The Prelude to the Battle (lines 1-61)

brocen wurde. Het a hyssa hwne hors forltan, feor afysan, and for gangan, hicgan to handum and to hige godum. 5 a t Offan mg rest onfunde, t se eorl nolde yrho geolian, he let him a of handon leofne fleogan hafoc wi s holtes, and to re hilde stop; be am man mihte oncnawan t se cniht nolde 10 wacian t am wige, a he to wpnum feng. Eac him wolde Eadric his ealdre gelstan, frean to gefeohte, ongan a for beran gar to gue. He hfde god geanc a hwile e he mid handum healdan mihte 15 bord and bradswurd; beot he gelste a he tforan his frean feohtan sceolde. a r Byrhtno ongan beornas trymian, rad and rdde, rincum thte hu hi sceoldon standan and one stede healdan, 20 and bd t hyra randas rihte heoldon fste mid folman, and ne forhtedon na. a he hfde t folc fgere getrymmed, he lihte a mid leodon r him leofost ws, r he his heorwerod holdost wiste. 25 a stod on ste, stilice clypode wicinga ar, wordum mlde, se on beot abead brimliendra rnde to am eorle, r he on ofre stod: "Me sendon to e smen snelle, 30 heton e secgan t u most sendan rae beagas wi gebeorge; and eow betere is t ge isne garrs mid gafole forgyldon, on we swa hearde hilde dlon. Ne urfe we us spillan, gif ge speda to am; 35 we willa wi am golde gri fstnian. Gyf u at gerdest, e her ricost eart, t u ine leoda lysan wille, truce (as) richest (nsm) to release/ransom quickly rings (ap), defence/peace (ds) storm of spears (as), tribute (ds) we do not need (pres 1p), destroy, are prosperous (pres 2p) shore (ds), loudly messenger (ns), he spoke (pret 3s) in threat, announced (pret 3s), of the Vikings (gp) message (ns) bold (npm) shields (ap) hand (ds), they might fear (subj 3p) properly dismounted (pret 3s), people (dp) body of household retainers boast (as), fulfilled (pret 3s) in front of (w.d) warriors (ap), to draw up/encourage he rode (pret 3s), he instructed (pret 3s), warriors (dp) position (as) to weaken to perform lord (ds) spear (as), battle (ds) kinsman (ns) cowardice (as), to endure dear [one] (asm) hawk (as), wood (gs), battle (ds), advanced to recognise of the warriors (gp), each one (as), let go to plan, mind/thought (ds)

syllan smannum on hyra sylfra dom feoh wi freode, and niman fri t us, 40 we willa mid am sceattum us to scype gangan, on flot feran, and eow fries healdan." Byrhtno maelode, bord hafenode, wand wacne sc, wordum mlde, yrre and anrd ageaf him andsware: 45 "Gehyrst u, slida, hwt is folc sege? Hi willa eow to gafole garas syllan, ttrynne ord and ealde swurd, a heregeatu e eow t hilde ne deah. Brimmanna boda, abeod eft ongean, 50 sege inum leodum miccle lare spell, t her stynt unforcu eorl mid his werode, e wile gealgean eel ysne, elredes eard, ealdres mines, folc and foldan. Feallan sceolon 55 hene t hilde. To heanlic me ince t ge mid urum sceattum to scype gangon unbefohtene, nu ge us feor hider on urne eard in becomon. Ne sceole ge swa softe sinc gegangan; 60 us sceal ord and ecg r geseman, grim guplega, r we gofol syllon."

to give money (as), peace (as), to take, peace (as) payments (dp) spoke (pret 3s), raised high (pret 3s) he brandished (pret 3s), slender (asm) resolute (asm) sailor/viking (ns) deadly (asm), point/spear (as) war equipment (as) of the seafarers (gp), messenger (ns), deliver (imp s) more hateful (comp. asn) troop (ds) to defend, homeland (as) earth (as) shameful (nsm)

treasure (as) to reconcile the game of battle (ns)

The Battle of Maldon

Part II: The Battle and Byrhtnoth's Death (lines 62-201)
62 Het a bord beran, beornas gangan, t hi on am eastee ealle stodon. Ne mihte r for wtere werod to am orum; 65 r com flowende flod fter ebban, lucon lagustreamas. To lang hit him uhte, hwnne hi togdere garas beron. Hi r Pantan stream mid prasse bestodon, Eastseaxena ord and se schere . 70 Ne mihte hyra nig orum derian, buton hwa urh flanes flyht fyl gename . Se flod ut gewat; a flotan stodon gearowe , wicinga fela, wiges georne. Het a hlea hleo healdan a bricge to harm (+ dat) of an arrow (gs), death (as), might take (subj 3s) prepared (npm) of war (gs) protector (ns) joined (pret 3p), waters (np) military force (ds) army in ships/Viking army (ns) riverbank (ds)

75 wigan wigheardne, se ws haten Wulfstan, cafne mid his cynne, t ws Ceolan sunu, e one forman man mid his francan ofsceat e r baldlicost on a bricge stop. r stodon mid Wulfstane wigan unforhte, 80 lfere and Maccus, modige twegen , a noldon t am forda fleam gewyrcan, ac hi fstlice wi a fynd weredon, a hwile e hi wpna wealdan moston. a hi t ongeaton and georne gesawon 85 t hi r bricgweardas bitere fundon, ongunnon lytegian a lae gystas, bdon t hi upgang agan moston, ofer one ford faran, fean ldan . a se eorl ongan for his ofermode 90 alyfan landes to fela laere eode. Ongan ceallian a ofer cald wter Byrhtelmes bearn (beornas gehlyston ): 'Nu eow is gerymed, ga ricene to us, guman to gue; God ana wat 95 hwa re wlstowe wealdan mote.' Wodon a wlwulfas (for wtere ne murnon ), wicinga werod, west ofer Pantan, ofer scir wter scyldas wegon, lidmen to lande linde bron. 100 r ongean gramum gearowe stodon Byrhtno mid beornum; he mid bordum het wyrcan one wihagan and t werod healdan fste wi feondum. a ws feohte neh, tirt getohte. Ws seo tid cumen 105 t r fge men feallan sceoldon. r wear hream ahafen, hremmas wundon, earn ses georn; ws on eoran cyrm Hi leton a of folman feolhearde speru, gegrundene garas fleogan; 110 bogan wron bysige, bord ord onfeng. Biter ws se beadurs, beornas feollon on gehwere hand, hyssas lagon. Wund wear Wulfmr, wlrste geceas, Byrhtnoes mg; he mid billum wear, 115 his swuster sunu, swie forheawen. r wear wicingum wierlean agyfen. Gehyrde ic t Eadweard anne sloge cut down (p ptc) requital (ns) bows (np) rush of battle (ns) either (asf) bed of death (as) swords (dp) shouting (ns), raised (p ptc), ravens (np) eagle (ns), of carrion (gs), cry (ns) hard as a file (apn) sharpened (p ptc apm) hostile ones (dpm) battle wall (as) glory (ns), the battle (ds), time (ns) the battlefield (gs) they cared about (pret 3p) gleaming (asm) shields of linden wood (ap) guardians of the bridge (ap), they met (pret 3p) to deceive, stranger (np) to have infantry (as), to lead pride / overconfidence (ds) bold (npm) two (npm) flight (as), to take named (p ptc) brave (asm) first (asm) most boldly (supl)

they listened (pret 3p) opened (a way) (p ptc), quickly he knows (pres 3s)

swie mid his swurde, swenges ne wyrnde ; t him t fotum feoll fge cempa; 120 s him his eoden anc gesde, am burene , a he byre hfde. Swa stemnetton stihicgende hysas t hilde, hogodon georne hwa r mid orde rost mihte 125 on fgean men feorh gewinnan, wigan mid wpnum; wl feol on eoran. Stodon stdefste; stihte hi Byrhtno, bd t hyssa gehwylc hogode to wige e on Denon wolde dom gefeohtan. 130 Wod a wiges heard, wpen up ahof, bord to gebeorge, and wi s beornes stop. Eode swa anrd eorl to am ceorle, ger hyra orum yfeles hogode. Sende a se srinc suerne gar, 135 t gewundod wear wigena hlaford; he sceaf a mid am scylde, t se sceaft tobrst, and t spere sprengde, t hit sprang ongean. Gegremod wear se gurinc; he mid gare stang wlancne wicing, e him a wunde forgeaf. 140 Frod ws se fyrdrinc ; he let his francan wadan urh s hysses hals , hand wisode t he on am frsceaan feorh gerhte. a he oerne ofstlice sceat, t seo byrne tobrst; he ws on breostum wund 145 urh a hringlocan, him t heortan stod tterne ord. Se eorl ws e blira , hloh a, modi man, sde metode anc s dgweorces e him Drihten forgeaf. Forlet a drenga sum daro of handa, 150 fleogan of folman , t se to for gewat urh one elan elredes egen. Him be healfe stod hyse unweaxen , cniht on gecampe, se full caflice brd of am beorne blodigne gar, 155 Wulfstanes bearn, Wulfmr se geonga, forlet forheardne faran eft ongean; ord in gewod , t se on eoran lg e his eoden r earle gerhte. Eode a gesyrwed secg to am eorle; 160 he wolde s beornes beagas gefecgan, reaf and hringas and gerenod swurd.

of the blow (gs), he withheld (pret 3s) doomed to die (nsm)

chamberlain (ds) opportunity (as) they stood firm (pret 3p), resolute (npm) they thought (pret 3p)

life (as) he commanded (pret 3s) glory (as) he raised (pret 3s)

pushed (pret 3s) broke (pret 3s) enraged (p ptc nsm) proud (asm) wise (nsm) warrior (ns) to advance neck (as) sudden attacker (ds) quickly coat of mail (ns)

happier (comp nsm) he laughed (pret 3s), brave (nsm) of the warriors (gp), spear (as) the hand (as) not fully grown (nsm) bravely he drew (pret 3s)

exceedingly hard (asm) passed (pret 3s) armed (nsm) rings (ap), to carry off garment (as), decorated (asn)

a Byrhtno brd bill of scee , brad and bruneccg, and on a byrnan sloh. To rae hine gelette lidmanna sum, 165 a he s eorles earm amyrde. Feoll a to foldan fealohilte swurd; ne mihte he gehealdan heardne mece, wpnes wealdan. a gyt t word gecw harhilderinc , hyssas bylde, 170 bd gangan for gode geferan; ne mihte a on fotum leng fste gestandan. He to heofenum wlat : "Geancie e, eoda waldend , ealra ra wynna e ic on worulde gebad. 175 Nu ic ah , milde Metod, mste earfe t u minum gaste godes geunne , t min sawul to e siian mote on in geweald , eoden engla, mid frie ferian. Ic eom frymdi to e 180 t hi helsceaan hynan ne moton." a hine heowon hene scealcas and begen a beornas e him big stodon, lfno and Wulmr begen lagon, a onemn hyra frean feorh gesealdon. 185 Hi bugon a fram beaduwe e r beon noldon. r wear Oddan bearn rest on fleame, Godric fram gue, and one godan forlet e him mnigne oft mear gesealde. he gehleop one eoh e ahte his hlaford, 190 on am gerdum e hit riht ne ws, and his broru mid him begen rndon, Godwine and Godwig, gue ne gymdon , ac wendon fram am wige and one wudu sohton, flugon on t fsten and hyra feore burgon, 195 and manna ma onne hit nig m wre, gyf hi a geearnunga ealle gemundon e he him to dugue gedon hfde. Swa him Offa on dg r asde on am meelstede , a he gemot hfde, 200 t r modiglice manega sprcon boldly e eft t earfe olian noldon. need (ds),

the sheath (ds) the shining blade (asn) of the sailors/Viking (gp) wounded (pret 3s) golden-hilted (nsn) sword (as) grey-haired (nsm), warrior (ns), he encouraged (pret 3s)

looked (pret 3s) ruler (ns) of joys (gp) own (pres 1s) grant (imp s) to travel power (as) peace (ds), entreating (nsm) thieves, from hell (np) warriors (np)

alongside (prep) the battle (ds)

horse (as) galloped (pret 3s)

they galloped (pret 3p) they cared about (pret 3p) stronghold (as), they saved (pret 3p) fitness (ns) favours (ap), they might remember (subj 3p) the benefit (ds) meeting place (ds)

to suffer

The Battle of Maldon

Part III: Speeches of the Earls and the Thanes Last Stand (lines 202325)
202 a wear afeallen s folces ealdor, elredes eorl; ealle gesawon heorgeneatas t hyra heorra lg. 205 a r wendon for wlance egenas, unearge men efston georne; hi woldon a ealle oer twega, lif forltan oe leofne gewrecan. Swa hi bylde for bearn lfrices, 210 wiga wintrum geong, wordum mlde, lfwine a cw, he on ellen sprc. valiantly "Gemunan a mla e we oft t meodo sprcon, onne we on bence beot ahofon, hle on healle, ymbe heard gewinn; 215 nu mg cunnian hwa cene sy. to try, Ic wylle mine elo eallum gecyan, t ic ws on Myrcon miccles cynnes; ws min ealda fder Ealhelm haten, wis ealdorman, woruldgeslig. 220 Ne sceolon me on re eode egenas twitan t ic of isse fyrde feran wille, eard gesecan, nu min ealdor lige forheawen t hilde. Me is t hearma mst; he ws ger min mg and min hlaford." 225 a he for eode, fhe gemunde t he mid orde anne gerhte flotan on am folce, t se on foldan lg forwegen mid his wpne. Ongan a winas manian, frynd and geferan, t hi for eodon. 230 Offa gemlde, scholt asceoc: ash-spear (as), 'Hwt u, lfwine, hafast ealle gemanode egenas to earfe, nu ure eoden li, eorl on eoran. Us is eallum earf t ure ghwylc oerne bylde 235 wigan to wige, a hwile e he wpen mge habban and healdan, heardne mece, gar and god swurd. Us Godric hf, sword (as) he shook (pret 3s) urged (p ptc apm) battle/feud (as), he remembered (pret 3s) he wounded (pret 3s) killed (p ptc), friends (ap), to urge to reproach brave (ns) origins (ap), to make known the Mercians (dp) prosperous (nsm) undaunted (npm), they hastened (pret 3p) to avenge

retainers (np), lord (ns)

I remember (pres 1s)

encouraged (pret 3s)

earh Oddan bearn, ealle beswicene. Wende s formoni man, a he on meare rad, 240 on wlancan am wicge, t wre hit ure hlaford; foran wear her on felda folc totwmed, scyldburh tobrocen. Abreoe his angin, t he her swa manigne man aflymde!' Leofsunu gemlde and his linde ahof, 245 bord to gebeorge; he am beorne oncw "Ic t gehate, t ic heonon nelle fleon fotes trym, ac wille furor gan, wrecan on gewinne minne winedrihten. Ne urfon me embe Sturmere stedefste hl 250 wordum twitan, nu min wine gecranc, t ic hlafordleas ham siie, wende fram wige, ac me sceal wpen niman, ord and iren." He ful yrre wod, feaht fstlice, fleam he forhogode. 255 Dunnere a cw, daro acwehte, unorne ceorl, ofer eall clypode, bd t beorna gehwylc Byrhtno wrce: 'Ne mg na wandian se e wrecan ence to flinch frean on folce, ne for feore murnan." 260 a hi for eodon, feores hi ne rohton; ongunnon a hiredmen heardlice feohtan, grame garberend, and God bdon t hi moston gewrecan hyra winedrihten and on hyra feondum fyl gewyrcan. 265 Him se gysel ongan geornlice fylstan ; he ws on Norhymbron heardes cynnes, Ecglafes bearn, him ws scfer nama. He ne wandode na t am wigplegan, ac he fysde for flan genehe; 270 hwilon he on bord sceat, hwilon beorn tsde, fre embe stunde he sealde sume wunde, a hwile e he wpna wealdan moste. a gyt on orde stod Eadweard se langa, gearo and geornful, gylpwordum sprc 275 t he nolde fleogan fotml landes, ofer bc bugan, a his betera leg. He brc one bordweall and wi a beornas feaht, ot he his sincgyfan on am smannum wurlice wrec, r he on wle lge. 280

very many (nsm), horse (ds) proud (dsn) field (ds), divided (p ptc) wall of shields (as), he might have failed (pret subj 3s), beginning (ns) he put to flight (pret 3s)

of a foot (gs), a step (as) to avenge warriors (np) to reproach, he fell (pret 3s)

flight (as), scorned (p ptc) he shook (pret 3s) humble (nsm)

they cared (pret 3p) warriors (np) fierce (npm), spearbearers (np) to perform hostage (ns), to help of the fierce (gs)

he sent (pret 3s), an arrow (as), frequently he tore apart (pret 3s) short while (as)

boasting words (dp) space of a foot (as) over back (away in the rear), to retreat treasure giver (as)

Swa dyde eric, ele gefera, fus and forgeorn, feaht eornoste. Sibyrhtes broor and swie mnig oer clufon cellod bord, cene hi weredon; brst bordes lrig, and seo byrne sang 285 gryreleoa sum. a t gue sloh Offa one slidan, t he on eoran feoll, and r Gaddes mg grund gesohte. Rae wear t hilde Offa forheawen; he hfde eah geforod t he his frean gehet, 290 swa he beotode r wi his beahgifan t hi sceoldon begen on burh ridan, hale to hame, oe on here crincgan, on wlstowe wundum sweltan; he lg egenlice eodne gehende. 295 a wear borda gebrc. Brimmen wodon gue gegremode; gar oft urhwod fges feorhhus. For a eode Wistan, urstanes sunu, wi as secgas feaht; he ws on gerange hyra reora bana, 300 r him Wigelines bearn on am wle lge. r ws sti gemot; stodon fste wigan on gewinne, wigend cruncon, wundum werige. Wl feol on eoran. Oswold and Eadwold ealle hwile, 305 begen a gebroru, beornas trymedon, hyra winemagas wordon bdon t hi r t earfe olian sceoldon, unwaclice wpna neotan. Byrhtwold maelode, bord hafenode 310 (se ws eald geneat), sc acwehte; he ful baldlice beornas lrde: "Hige sceal e heardra, heorte e cenre, mod sceal e mare, e ure mgen lytla. Her li ure ealdor eall forheawen, 315 god on greote. A mg gnornian se e nu fram is wigplegan wendan ence. Ic eom frod feores; fram ic ne wille, ac ic me be healfe minum hlaforde, be swa leofan men, licgan ence." 320

eager (nsm) they cleaved (pret 3p), type of shield (as) rim of the shield (ns) of the terrible songs (gp)

vowed (pret 3s), ring-giver (as) to perish to die near to (prep wd) Vikings (np), they advanced (pret 3p) of the fated one (gs), life-house (as) warriors (ap) crowds (ds), of the three (gp), slayer (ns)

stern (nsn), encounter (ns) warriors (np), perished (pret 3p)

words (dp) bravely, to use he raised aloft (pret 3s) comrade (ns) he taught (pret 3s) heart (ns) strength (ns)

dirt (as), forever, to mourn

Swa hi elgares bearn ealle bylde, he encouraged (pret 3s) Godric to gue. Oft he gar forlet, wlspere windan on a wicingas, deadly spear (as) swa he on am folce fyrmest eode, heow and hynde, ot he on hilde gecranc. he cut down (pret 3s), he injured (pret 3s)

325 Ns t na se Godric e a gue forbeah he fled from (pret 3s)