Dobbie, 1942 7-16; Dobbie, E.V.K., The Anglo-Saxon Minor Poems, ASPR 6 (New York).
Het þa hyssa hwæne
hors forlætan,
feor afysan,
and forð gangan,
hicgan to handum
and
to[?] hige godum.
5
þa[?] þæt Offan mæg
ærest onfunde,
þæt se eorl nolde
yrhðo geþolian,
he let him þa of handon
leofne fleogan
hafoc wið þæs holtes,
and to þære hilde stop;
be þam man mihte oncnawan
þæt se cniht nolde
10
wacian æt þam
wige[?],
þa he to wæpnum feng.
Eac him wolde Eadric
his ealdre gelæstan,
frean to gefeohte,
ongan þa forð beran
gar to guþe.
He hæfde god geþanc
þa hwile þe he mid handum
healdan mihte
15
bord and bradswurd;
beot he gelæste
þa he ætforan his frean
feohtan sceolde.
ða þær Byrhtnoð ongan
beornas trymian,
rad and rædde,
rincum tæhte
hu hi sceoldon standan
and þone stede healdan,
20
and bæd þæt hyra
randas[?] rihte heoldon
fæste mid folman,
and ne forhtedon na.
þa he hæfde þæt folc
fægere getrymmed,
he lihte þa mid leodon
þær him leofost wæs,
þær he his heorðwerod
holdost wiste.
25
þa stod on stæðe,
stiðlice clypode
wicinga ar,
wordum mælde,
se on beot abead
brimliþendra
ærænde to þam eorle,
þær he on ofre stod:
"Me sendon to þe
sæmen snelle,
30
heton ðe secgan
þæt þu most sendan raðe
beagas wið gebeorge;
and eow betere is
þæt ge þisne garræs
mid gafole forgyldon,
þon we swa hearde
hilde[?] dælon.
Ne þurfe we us spillan,
gif ge spedaþ to þam;
35
we willað wið þam golde
grið fæstnian.
Gyf þu þat gerædest,
þe her ricost eart,
þæt þu þine leoda
lysan wille,
syllan sæmannum
on hyra sylfra dom
feoh wið freode,
and niman frið æt us,
40
we willaþ mid þam sceattum
us to scype gangan,
on flot feran,
and eow friþes healdan."
Byrhtnoð maþelode,
bord hafenode,
wand wacne æsc,
wordum mælde,
yrre and anræd
ageaf him andsware:
45
"Gehyrst þu, sælida,
hwæt þis folc segeð?
Hi willað eow to gafole
garas syllan,
ættrynne ord
and ealde swurd,
þa heregeatu
þe eow æt hilde ne deah.
Brimmanna boda,
abeod eft ongean,
50
sege þinum leodum
miccle laþre spell,
þæt her stynt unforcuð
eorl mid his werode,
þe wile gealgean
eþel þysne,
æþelredes eard,
ealdres mines,
folc and foldan.
Feallan sceolon
55
hæþene æt hilde.
To heanlic me þinceð
þæt ge mid urum sceattum
to scype gangon
unbefohtene,
nu ge þus feor hider
Ne sceole ge swa softe
sinc gegangan;
60
us sceal ord and ecg
ær geseman,
grim guðplega,
ær
we[?] gofol syllon."
Het þa bord beran,
beornas gangan,
þæt hi on þam easteðe
ealle stodon.
Ne mihte þær for wætere
werod to þam oðrum;
65
þær com flowende
flod æfter ebban,
lucon lagustreamas.
To lang hit him þuhte,
hwænne hi togædere
garas beron.
Hi þær Pantan stream
mid prasse bestodon,
Eastseaxena ord
and se æschere.
70
Ne mihte hyra ænig
oþrum derian,
buton hwa þurh flanes flyht
fyl gename.
Se flod ut gewat;
þa flotan stodon gearowe,
wicinga fela,
wiges georne.
Het þa hæleða hleo
healdan þa bricge
75
wigan wigheardne,
se wæs haten Wulfstan,
cafne mid his cynne,
þæt wæs Ceolan sunu,
þe ðone forman man
mid his francan ofsceat
þe þær baldlicost
on þa bricge stop.
þær stodon mid Wulfstane
wigan unforhte,
80
ælfere and Maccus,
modige twegen,
þa noldon æt þam forda
fleam gewyrcan,
ac hi fæstlice
wið ða fynd weredon,
þa hwile þe hi wæpna
wealdan moston.
þa hi þæt ongeaton
and georne gesawon
85
þæt hi þær bricgweardas
bitere fundon,
ongunnon lytegian þa
laðe gystas,
bædon þæt hi
upgang[?] agan moston,
ofer þone ford faran,
feþan lædan.
ða se eorl ongan
for his ofermode
90
alyfan landes to fela
laþere ðeode.
Ongan ceallian þa
ofer cald wæter
Byrhtelmes bearn
(beornas gehlyston):
"Nu eow is gerymed,
gað ricene to us,
guman to guþe;
god ana wat
95
hwa þære wælstowe
wealdan mote."
Wodon þa wælwulfas
(for wætere ne murnon),
wicinga werod,
west[?] ofer Pantan,
ofer scir wæter
scyldas wegon,
lidmen to lande
linde bæron.
100
þær ongean gramum
gearowe stodon
Byrhtnoð mid beornum;
he mid bordum het
wyrcan þone wihagan,
and þæt werod healdan
fæste wið feondum.
þa wæs
feohte[?] neh,
tir æt getohte.
Wæs seo tid cumen
105
þæt þær fæge men
feallan sceoldon.
þær wearð hream ahafen,
hremmas wundon,
earn æses georn;
wæs on eorþan cyrm.
Hi leton þa of folman
feolhearde speru,
gegrundene
garas fleogan;
110
bogan wæron bysige,
bord ord onfeng.
Biter wæs se beaduræs,
beornas feollon
on gehwæðere hand,
hyssas lagon.
Wund
wearð[?] Wulfmær,
wælræste geceas,
Byrhtnoðes mæg;
he mid billum wearð,
115
his swuster sunu,
swiðe forheawen.
þær
wearð[?] wicingum
wiþerlean agyfen.
Gehyrde ic þæt Eadweard
anne sloge
swiðe mid his swurde,
swenges ne wyrnde,
þæt him æt fotum feoll
fæge cempa;
120
þæs him his ðeoden
þanc gesæde,
þam burþene,
þa he byre hæfde.
Swa stemnetton
stiðhicgende
hysas æt hilde,
hogodon georne
hwa þær mid orde
ærost mihte
125
on fægean men
feorh gewinnan,
wigan mid wæpnum;
wæl feol on eorðan.
Stodon stædefæste;
stihte hi Byrhtnoð,
bæd þæt hyssa gehwylc
hogode to wige
þe on Denon wolde
dom gefeohtan.
130
Wod þa wiges heard,
wæpen up ahof,
bord to gebeorge,
and wið þæs beornes stop.
Eode swa anræd
eorl to þam ceorle,
ægþer hyra oðrum
yfeles hogode.
Sende ða se særinc
suþerne gar,
135
þæt gewundod wearð
wigena hlaford;
he sceaf þa mid ðam scylde,
þæt se sceaft tobærst,
and þæt spere sprengde,
þæt hit sprang ongean.
Gegremod wearð se guðrinc;
he mid gare stang
wlancne wicing,
þe him þa wunde forgeaf.
140
Frod wæs se fyrdrinc;
he let his francan wadan
þurh ðæs hysses hals,
hand wisode
þæt he on þam færsceaðan
feorh geræhte.
ða he oþerne
ofstlice sceat,
þæt seo byrne tobærst;
he wæs on breostum wund
145
þurh ða hringlocan,
him æt heortan stod
ætterne ord.
Se eorl wæs þe bliþra,
hloh þa, modi man,
sæde metode þanc
ðæs dægweorces
þe him drihten forgeaf.
Forlet þa drenga sum
daroð of handa,
150
fleogan of folman,
þæt se to forð gewat
þurh ðone æþelan
æþelredes þegen.
Him be healfe stod
hyse unweaxen,
cniht on gecampe,
se full caflice
bræd of þam beorne
blodigne gar,
155
Wulfstanes bearn,
Wulfmær se geonga,
forlet forheardne
faran eft ongean;
ord in gewod,
þæt se on eorþan læg
þe his þeoden ær
þearle geræhte.
Eode þa gesyrwed
secg to þam eorle;
160
he wolde þæs beornes
beagas gefecgan,
reaf and hringas
and gerenod swurd.
þa Byrhtnoð bræd
bill of sceðe,
brad and bruneccg,
and on þa byrnan sloh.
To raþe hine gelette
lidmanna sum,
165
þa he þæs eorles
earm amyrde.
Feoll þa to foldan
fealohilte swurd;
ne mihte he gehealdan
heardne mece,
wæpnes wealdan.
þa gyt þæt word gecwæð
har hilderinc,
hyssas bylde,
170
bæd gangan forð
gode geferan;
ne mihte þa on fotum leng
fæste
gestandan[?].
"Geþancie[?] þe,
ðeoda waldend,
ealra þæra wynna
þe ic on worulde gebad.
175
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.
Ic eom frymdi to þe
180
þæt hi helsceaðan
hynan ne moton."
ða hine heowon
hæðene scealcas
and begen þa beornas
þe him big stodon,
ælfnoð and Wulmær
begen lagon,
ða onemn hyra frean
feorh gesealdon.
185
Hi bugon þa fram beaduwe
þe þær beon noldon.
þær
wearð[?] Oddan bearn
ærest on fleame,
Godric fram guþe,
and þone godan forlet
þe him mænigne oft
mear gesealde;
he gehleop þone eoh
þe ahte his hlaford,
190
on þam gerædum
þe hit riht ne wæs,
and his broðru mid him
begen
ærndon[?],
Godwine[?] and Godwig,
guþe ne gymdon,
ac wendon fram þam wige
and þone wudu sohton,
flugon on þæt fæsten
and hyra feore burgon,
195
and manna ma
þonne hit ænig mæð wære,
gyf hi þa geearnunga
ealle gemundon
þe he him to duguþe
gedon hæfde.
Swa him Offa on dæg
ær asæde
on þam meþelstede,
þa he gemot hæfde,
200
þæt þær
modiglice[?] manega spræcon
þe eft æt
þearfe[?] þolian noldon.
þa wearð afeallen
þæs folces ealdor,
æþelredes eorl;
ealle gesawon
heorðgeneatas
þæt hyra heorra læg.
205
þa ðær wendon forð
wlance þegenas,
unearge men
efston georne;
hi woldon þa ealle
oðer twega,
lif
forlætan[?] oððe leofne gewrecan.
Swa hi bylde forð
bearn ælfrices,
210
wiga wintrum geong,
wordum mælde,
ælfwine þa cwæð,
he on ellen spræc:
"Gemunan[?] þa mæla
þe we oft æt meodo spræcon,
þonne we on bence
beot ahofon,
hæleð on healle,
ymbe heard gewinn;
215
nu mæg cunnian
hwa cene sy.
Ic wylle mine æþelo
eallum gecyþan,
þæt ic wæs on Myrcon
miccles cynnes;
wæs min ealda fæder
Ealhelm haten,
wis ealdorman,
woruldgesælig.
220
Ne sceolon me on þære þeode
þegenas ætwitan
þæt ic of ðisse fyrde
feran wille,
eard gesecan,
nu min ealdor ligeð
forheawen æt hilde.
Me is þæt hearma mæst;
he wæs
ægðer[?] min mæg
and min hlaford."
225
þa he forð eode,
fæhðe gemunde,
þæt he mid orde
anne geræhte
flotan on þam folce,
þæt se on foldan læg
forwegen mid his wæpne.
Ongan þa winas manian,
frynd and geferan,
þæt hi forð eodon.
230
Offa gemælde,
æscholt asceoc:
"Hwæt þu, ælfwine, hafast
ealle gemanode
þegenas to þearfe,
nu ure þeoden lið,
eorl on eorðan.
Us is eallum þearf
þæt ure æghwylc
oþerne bylde
235
wigan to wige,
þa hwile þe he wæpen mæge
habban and healdan,
heardne mece,
gar and godswurd.
Us Godric hæfð,
earh Oddan bearn,
ealle beswicene.
Wende þæs formoni man,
þa he on meare rad,
240
on wlancan þam wicge,
þæt wære hit ure hlaford;
forþan wearð her on felda
folc totwæmed,
scyldburh tobrocen.
Abreoðe his angin,
þæt he her swa manigne
man aflymde!"
Leofsunu gemælde
and his linde ahof,
245
bord to gebeorge;
he þam beorne oncwæð:
"Ic þæt gehate,
þæt ic heonon nelle
fleon fotes trym,
ac wille furðor gan,
wrecan on gewinne
minne winedrihten.
Ne þurfon me embe Sturmere
stedefæste hælæð
250
wordum ætwitan,
nu min wine gecranc,
þæt ic hlafordleas
ham siðie,
wende fram wige,
ac me sceal wæpen niman,
ord and iren."
He ful yrre wod,
feaht fæstlice,
fleam he forhogode.
255
Dunnere þa cwæð,
daroð acwehte,
unorne ceorl,
ofer eall clypode,
bæd þæt beorna gehwylc
Byrhtnoð wręce:
"Ne mæg na wandian
se þe wrecan þenceð
frean on folce,
ne for feore murnan."
260
þa hi forð eodon,
feores hi ne rohton;
ongunnon þa hiredmen
heardlice feohtan,
grame garberend,
and god bædon
þæt hi moston gewrecan
hyra winedrihten
and on hyra feondum
fyl gewyrcan.
265
Him se gysel ongan
geornlice fylstan;
he wæs on Norðhymbron
heardes cynnes,
Ecglafes bearn,
him wæs æscferð nama.
He ne wandode na
æt þam wigplegan,
ac he fysde forð
flan genehe;
270
hwilon he on bord sceat,
hwilon beorn tæsde,
æfre embe stunde
he sealde sume wunde,
þa hwile ðe he wæpna
wealdan moste.
þa gyt on orde stod
Eadweard se langa,
gearo and geornful,
gylpwordum spræc
275
þæt he nolde fleogan
fotmæl landes,
ofer bæc bugan,
þa his betera leg.
He bræc þone bordweall
and wið þa beornas feaht,
oðþæt he his sincgyfan
on þam sæmannum
wurðlice wrec,
ær he on wæle lęge.
280
Swa dyde æþeric,
æþele gefera,
fus and forðgeorn,
feaht eornoste.
Sibyrhtes broðor
and swiðe mænig oþer
clufon cellod bord,
cene hi weredon;
bærst bordes lærig,
and seo byrne sang
285
gryreleoða sum.
þa æt guðe sloh
Offa þone sælidan,
þæt he on eorðan feoll,
and ðær Gaddes mæg
grund gesohte.
Raðe wearð æt hilde
Offa forheawen;
he hæfde ðeah geforþod
þæt he his frean gehet,
290
swa he beotode ær
wið his beahgifan
þæt hi sceoldon begen
on burh ridan,
hale to hame,
oððe on here
crincgan[?],
on wælstowe
wundum sweltan;
he læg ðegenlice
ðeodne gehende.
295
ða wearð borda gebræc.
Brimmen wodon,
guðe gegremode;
gar oft þurhwod
fæges feorhhus.
Forð
þa[?] eode Wistan,
þurstanes
sunu[?],
wið þas secgas feaht;
he wæs on
geþrange[?] hyra þreora bana,
300
ær him Wigelines bearn
on þam wæle læge.
þær wæs stið gemot;
stodon fæste
wigan on gewinne,
wigend cruncon,
wundum werige.
Wæl feol on eorþan.
Oswold and Eadwold
ealle hwile,
305
begen þa gebroþru,
beornas trymedon,
hyra winemagas
wordon bædon
þæt hi þær æt ðearfe
þolian sceoldon,
Byrhtwold maþelode
bord hafenode
310
(se wæs eald geneat),
æsc acwehte;
he ful baldlice
beornas lærde:
"Hige sceal þe heardra,
heorte þe cenre,
mod sceal þe mare,
þe ure mægen lytlað.
Her lið ure ealdor
eall forheawen,
315
god on greote.
A mæg gnornian
se ðe nu fram þis wigplegan
wendan þenceð.
Ic eom frod feores;
fram ic ne wille,
ac ic me be healfe
minum hlaforde,
be swa leofan men,
licgan þence."
320
Swa hi æþelgares bearn
ealle bylde,
Godric to guþe.
Oft he gar forlet,
wælspere windan
on þa wicingas,
swa he on þam folce
fyrmest eode,
heow and hynde,
oðþæt[?] he on hilde gecranc.
325
Næs þæt na se Godric
þe ða
guðe[?] forbeah