Then on shore stood, strongly called out, the Viking's herald, with
voice hailed them, announced, urged the ocean-goers' embassy to the earl
where he stood opposite: ìBrave seamen sent me told me to say you should
send quickly silver for safety and it'd be more sensible of you to buy
off trouble with tribute than have us, so harsh, deal out havoc. We needn't
be reduced to war if you're rich enough: we for gold will give you our
guarantee. If you approve, who are most important here, to pay and save
your people then give to us seamen, on our own assessment, your treasure
for our trust, accept our treaty. With the silver we'll board ship, on
the brine-tide sail, keep to our bargain.î Then Byrhtnoth spoke, raised
board-shield, shook slender spear and gave speech; roused, resolute, made
his reply: ìCan you hear, seamen, what this side says? Indeed we've something
to send you -- spears, deadly dart and durable swords, these make the war-tax
you are welcome to collect! Man of the seamen, make your way back, tell
your people a less palatable tale, that here stands uncowed the earl with
his army who will keep this country safe, ?thelred's land, my liege's folk
and fields. To fall is for heathens in battle! It would be humiliating
for you to be off with our shillings to your ships without a fight now
so far you've found your way into our country! You shall not so easily
earn our money
but spear and sword will settle it first, tough combat, before we yield
tribute!î
He told his men to raise shields, gave his soldiers the advance
so along the water-front everywhere they stood. Yet for the sea-channel
the one side couldn't get at the other when came flowing in the flood-tide
after the ebb, and the loop-currents locked together. Too long it all seemed
till when in war they could join weapons. There the Pant-channel they powerfully
lined, the Essex army and the ash-boat-force, not either could damage the
other except who by arrow-flight met his fate. The sea-tide fell; the sailors
stood ready, so many Vikings keen to advance. Then as leader, Byrhtnoth,
to hold the bridge picked a tried warrior, Wulfstan his name,courageous
like all his kin - he was Ceola's son - he brought down the leading man
with a lance who first boldly ventured on the bridgeway. With Wulfstan
stood two valiant warriors, ?lfere and Maccus, a mighty pair, they would
not commit flight at the ford but they fiercely held out against the foes
while they could still wield weapons. When they perceived, clearly saw
that here they'd encountered brave bridge-keepers, then the contemptible
enemy began to try their tricks, arguing they ought be allowed a way over,
to cross the ford, and bring their foot-troops through. Then the earl from
over-confidence gave too much room to those wretches. He called out over
the cold water, this son of Byrhthehn (while the boatmen listened): ìThere's
space for you now, straight-away come to grips with us - God himself alone
knows who'll hold sway over this field of struggle.î
Then the blood-wolves waded through, not heeding water, the Viking
war-horde, west over the Pant through the shining wet brought their shields,
carried to land the linden-wood. There set against them, geared, stood
Byrhtnoth and his men; with their board-shields he had them make a war-wall,
told his warriors stand fast with the foe. The fight was near, to win glory
in combat, and the occasion come when fated men must fall in battle. A
grim row was raised as ravens wheeled, and the eagle - out for flesh -
and on the earth the same uproar! Then men sent from their hands hard spears,
sharp-pointed the shafts flew. Bows were busy, board took sword. Wild was
the war-surge, warriors fell, on both sides young soldiers lay dead. Wulfmar
was wounded, came to that wakeless sleep, (a kinsman of Byrhtnoth) with
bill-swords (his own sister's son) he was savagely cut down. Yet on the
Vikings some revenge was visited. Edward, as I heard, slew one of them
straight off with his sword, didn't spare the stroke that right at his
feet fell the fated warrior. For this his commander congratulated him,
this his chamberlain, when he had chance to. So steady-resolved they stood
firm, men in battle, ambitioned keenly theirs to be the weapon to win first
the life of some fated man, some warrior by their arms. And the wounded
fell. The sturdy stood their ground; Byrhtnoth instilled courage, told
them each fighter should fix his mind on combat if he'd prove his valour
on the Vikings.
Then went the Veteran, raised his weapon and his shield as a safety,
attacked some soldier. Bravely advanced the earl on the churl. Each of
the other thought ill enough! The seaman sent off a south-made spear so
the warriors' lord was wounded. But he shoved with his shield till the
shaft broke and banged at the spear till it sprang away. Angered was the
earl: with his own spear he struck the insolent Viking who'd done him injury.
Accurate was his aim. The aged leader sent the shaft clean through the
wretch's throat, wrist so guided it as to snatch the life of his luckless
assailant. Then a second spear he speedily sent, burst a man's armour,
wounded him in the breast through the hard rings of mail: in his heart
lodged the deadly spear-end. The earl was the happier! He laughed, mighty
and brave, gave his Maker thanks for that day's work the Deity had given.
Then some Viking launched a light-spear from hand, winging it from his
wrist; only too well it flew, into Byrhtnoth's very body. Beside him stood
a young soldier, a youth in the conflict, who very confidently drew from
the body's wound the bloody spear. He was Wulfstan's son, young Wulfmar;
he sent the hard tip hurtling back again; dart's point went in so in the
dirt lay the man who so murderously had wounded his master. Some enemy
in armour then approached the earl, wanted to grab booty from his body,
raiment and rings and rich-worked sword. But Byrhtnoth drew his bill-sword
from sheath, grand, gleaming, and struck at the greedy one. Too swiftly
intervened one of the Vikings and shattered the earl's shoulder. The golden-hilt
sword tumbled to the ground, no way could he hold on to the hard-heavy
blade, wield his weapon more. Yet some words he managed, grey-haired and
battle-glorious, put heart in his men, told his good friends always to
go forward. He no longer could stand firm on his feet but looked to heaven
high above and as a hero spoke: ìReceive my gratitude, God of all, for
every luckful honour I've enjoyed in life. Yet now, merciful Maker, I have
the most need that You should give assistance to my soul that my spirit
may speed to Thee, come to Thy kingdom, King of Angels, pass through in
peace. I am imploring You that no hell-demons may ever hurt, defile it.î
Then the heathens hacked at him and both the bold men who stood by him,
?lfnoth and Wulm?r, till they also died, lost their lives at the side of
their lord.
Then they ran from the battle who had no wish to be there: and Odda's
son was earliest to leave; he was called Godric, he abandoned his good
master who often gave him many a fine mare: now he leapt on that very steed
his lord had been sitting on, used those trappings he had no title to;
and his brothers with him both rode off, Godwine & Godwig - they had
little regard for fighting 192 but turned away from the war-strife, made
for the woods, fled for refuge, saved their wretched lives, and with them
more people than was in any way proper if they'd at all recalled the many
kindnesses, all the help the hero had given them. Just as much Offa had
said earlier on at the moot-place when there was a meeting, that many spoke
there most bravely who when there was need would never match their words.
So was lost the army's leader, Æthelred's earl. They all saw,
his hearth-men, that their high-lord was dead. Yet still advanced these
valiant men; fearless warriors, they came forward readily; they all wanted
one of two things, to avenge their lord or lay down their lives. So the
son of Ælfric urged them on, a warrior still young, he spoke his
words; Ælfwine he was called - he spoke with intensity. ìRemember
those times we talked over our mead -there on the benches we made our boasts,
heroes in the hall, about hard fighting: now we can discover who really
has courage. I would like to tell you all about my ancestry: among the
Mercians I was of a mighty family: Ealhelm was my grandfather, the alderman,
wise, rich in this world. No person shall reproach me - no one of my people
- that I wanted to get out, leave this army, and make for home now my high-lord
lies cut down in the conflict. For me it's the cruellest of losses - to
me he was both kinsman and commander.î So he went forward, fuelled by his
feud, till with his sword he brought down one soldier of the enemy force
- that lay dead on the earth felled by his weapon. He urged on his friends,
his comrades in arms that they should go onwards. Offa spoke, brandished
his ash-spear: ìYes, Ælfwine, you have encouraged us allwhen we needed
it. Now our noble lord lies dead, the earl on the earth, we all must, each
of us, embolden the other, as warriors to war, so long as weapon we have
and hold, hard blade, spear and good sword. Godric, the coward son of Odda,
has betrayed us all: most men thought, when he rode off on that mare, that
well-known mount, that it was our leader, and so on the field our folk
were confused, the shield-wall shattered. Shame on his deeds that he made
so many a man flee!î Leofsunu spoke, raised his linden-shield in defence,
spoke to the fighter: ìI vow this, I will not in reverse a foot's space!
Rather I'll go further ahead, avenge in battle my benefactor. No one round
Sturmer, steady in judgment, will ever need accuse me, now my kind lord's
fallen, of making for home, deserting my master, running from war: better
a weapon take me, point or blade.î Then in a passion he fought fiercely,
flight he scorned. Next Dunnere spoke: dart-spear he shook, himself just
a churl he called out to all, told them, each battle-man must now avenge
Byrhtnoth: ìHe mustn't hesitate who hopes to avenge our lord on the foe,
nor heed his own life.î So they went onward, regardless of their own lives.
The household troops were fighting hard, grim spear-wielders, to
God they prayed to be allowed to avenge their revered lord and to bring
death to his destroyers. A hostage with them helped whole-heartedly. He
was from Northumbria, of kin renowned for fighting. Ashferth was his name,
Ecglaf's son. He did not hold back in the battle-play but issued a stream
of arrows; sometimes he hit the shield, sometimes the soldier but again
and again he wounded men all so long as he still wielded weapon. Out in
front stood Edward the tall, ready and resourceful; he spoke his resolve
that he would not flee a foot-space of land, turn in retreat, leave his
lord untended. He broke through the van and fought the Vikings until on
those pirates he'd avenged his precious lord and himself lay lifeless.
So too did Ætheric, excellent man, eager and able he fought urgently
- he was Sibyrht's brother - and so too many others. They shattered bossed
shields, boldly defended themselves. Shield-rim snapped and chain-mail
sang out its gruesome hymn. There in the grim fighting Offa struck some
seaman so he sank to the earth but also there Gadd's son in turn hit the
ground. Quickly in the conflict Offa was cut down; yet he had accomplished
what he told his commander when earlier he promised to his provider that
the two of them would ride back to town, come home whole or perish together
in the heat of battle, die of their wounds on the field of war. Now
he lay in all loyalty close to his lord. There was an explosion of shields.
The pirates came on, enraged with war. Weapon often transfixed some fated
body. Forward then came Wistan, Thurstan's son, fought with the seamen.
In the throng of battle he killed three of them before Wigelm's descendent
lay also overwhelmed. This was fierce confrontation: firm stood the warriors
in the whirl of battle. War-men fell, worn down by wounds, collapsed in
the weariness of death. Oswald and Eadwold all this time, brothers,
encouraged the battlers, told their friends this phrase that now when it
counted was when they must carry on, unsparingly use their swords. Byrhtwold
spoke, raised board-shield; he was an older warrior; he brandished ash-spear
and full of courage addressed his comrades. ìMinds must be the firmer,
hearts the bolder, soul-strength the greater, as our resources lessen.
Here lies our lord, lethally wounded, good man on the ground. He may grieve
for ever who from this war-work would think of withdrawing. I am old in
age, away I won't, but myself by my master, by so beloved a man, would
finally lie.î So Æthelgar's son encouraged them all, Godric, in the
fight. He let fly a spear to speed its deadly way into the seamen's ranks;
so he went first among that folk, he cut and killed until he too in the
conflict fell. That was not the Godric who fled the engagement!
Selection from The Battle of Maldon: Text and Translation, translated and edited by Bill Griffiths (Anglo Saxon Books: Middlesex, England, 1992). ISBN 0-9516209-0-8
Verse has been compressed to save space and trees.