Fight at Finnsburh. Flashcards
Hnæf hleoþrode ða, heaþogeong cyning:
Then proclaimed the battle-young king:
“Ne ðis ne dagað eastan, ne her draca ne fleogeð,
ne her ðisse healle hornas ne byrnað.
This is not the dawn from the east, nor a dragon that flies, nor does the hall’s horn burnn
Ac her forþ berað; fugelas singað,
gylleð græghama, guðwudu hlynneð,
scyld scefte oncwyð.
but they are attacking, birds sing, grey-coat would hwls, battle-wood resounds, spear shaft answers.
Nu scyneð þes mona
waðol under wolcnum.
Now shines the moon, wandering under clouds.
Nu arisað weadæda
ðe ðisne folces nið fremman willað.
Now woe-deeds occur, the malice of his people wills to carry out. (??)
Ac onwacnigeað nu, wigend mine,
habbað eowre linda, hicgeaþ on ellen,
winnað on orde, wesað onmode!”
But awake now my warriors, hold your shields, set your minds on glory, turn to the front, be resolute.
ða aras mænig goldhladen ðegn, gyrde hine his swurde.
Then arose many gold-ladene thegn, himself girded his sword.
ða to dura eodon drihtlice cempan,
to the door went noble champions
Sigeferð and Eaha, hyra sword getugon
Sigeferth and Eaha drew their swords
and æt oþrum durum Ordlaf and Guþlaf,
and Hengest sylf hwearf him on laste.
and at the other doors Ordlaf and Guthlaf and Hengest himself went in their tracks.
ða gyt Garulf Guðere styrde
ðæt he swa freolic feorh forman siþe
to ðære healle durum hyrsta ne bære,
nu hyt niþa heard anyman wolde,
Meanwhile Garulf urged Guthere that he had a noble life and trappings, should not venture to make the first journey to the hall doors, since one fierce-in-attack would take it away.
“Sigeferþ is min nama,” cweþ he, “ic eom Secgena leod,
“Sigeferth is my name” said he, “i am prince of the secgens”
wreccea wide cuð; fæla ic weana gebad, heardra hilda
an adventurer widely known, I have endured many woes and fierce battles
ðe is gyt her witod
swæþer ðu sylf to me secean wylle.”
For you it is even now ordained, whichever of two things you yourself will get from me”
ða wæs on healle wælslihta gehlyn; sceolde cellod bord cenum on handa, banhelm berstan (buruhðelu dynede),
then there was a din of slaughter-bows in the hall, the embossed shield in the hand of bold men, the protecting helmet were to shatter (???)
oð æt ðære guðe Garulf gecrang,
ealra ærest eorðbuendra,
Guðlafes sunu, ymbe hyne godra fæla,
hwearflicra hræw.
at the battle Ganulf fell dead, first of all earth dwellers, Guthlad’s son; around him so many good men’s corpses.
Hræfen wandrode,
sweart and sealobrun.
Raven circled, dark and with a dusky glean.
Swurdleoma stod,
swylce eal Finnsburuh fyrenu wære.
Sword glean appeared as though all Finnsburg was on-fire.
Ne gefrægn ic næfre wurþlicor æt wera hilde
sixtig sigebeorna sel gebæran,
I have never heard of more worthy men in battle
of sixty victory-warriors bearing themselves better
Hig fuhton fif dagas, swa hyra nan ne feol
drihtgesiða, ac hig ða duru heoldon.
They fought for five days in such a way that none fell, the noble-champions, but they held the door.
ða gewat him wund hæleð on wæg gangan,
then he warrior went, wounded, passing away
sæde þæt his byrne abrocen wære,
he said that his corselet was broken
heresceorp unhror, and eac wæs his helm ðyrel.
brave in his battle garments, and also his helmet was pierced
ða hine sona frægn folces hyrde,
hu ða wigend hyra wunda genæson,
oððe hwæþer ðæra hyssa
then quickly asked the protector of people how well the warriors their wounds bare, or which of the young men…
ac he frægn ofer eal undearninga,
deormod hæleþ, hwa ða duru heolde.
But he asked over it openly brave-hearted warrior who held the doors.
ne nefre swetne medo sel forgyldan
ðonne Hnæfe guldan his hægstealdas.
nor ever, for sweet mead makes[ing] better requital
than Hnaef gave his retainers.
buruhðelu dynede
fortress floor resounded
