Fight at Finnsburh.

Question 1

Hnæf hleoþrode ða, heaþogeong cyning:

Answer 1

Then proclaimed the battle-young king:

Question 2

“Ne ðis ne dagað eastan, ne her draca ne fleogeð,

ne her ðisse healle hornas ne byrnað.

Answer 2

This is not the dawn from the east, nor a dragon that flies, nor does the hall’s horn burnn

Question 3

Ac her forþ berað; fugelas singað,
gylleð græghama, guðwudu hlynneð,
scyld scefte oncwyð.

Answer 3

but they are attacking, birds sing, grey-coat would hwls, battle-wood resounds, spear shaft answers.

Question 4

Nu scyneð þes mona

waðol under wolcnum.

Answer 4

Now shines the moon, wandering under clouds.

Question 5

Nu arisað weadæda

ðe ðisne folces nið fremman willað.

Answer 5

Now woe-deeds occur, the malice of his people wills to carry out. (??)

Question 6

Ac onwacnigeað nu, wigend mine,
habbað eowre linda, hicgeaþ on ellen,
winnað on orde, wesað onmode!”

Answer 6

But awake now my warriors, hold your shields, set your minds on glory, turn to the front, be resolute.

Question 7

ða aras mænig goldhladen ðegn, gyrde hine his swurde.

Answer 7

Then arose many gold-ladene thegn, himself girded his sword.

Question 8

ða to dura eodon drihtlice cempan,

Answer 8

to the door went noble champions

Question 9

Sigeferð and Eaha, hyra sword getugon

Answer 9

Sigeferth and Eaha drew their swords

Question 10

and æt oþrum durum Ordlaf and Guþlaf,

and Hengest sylf hwearf him on laste.

Answer 10

and at the other doors Ordlaf and Guthlaf and Hengest himself went in their tracks.

Question 11

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,

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

“Sigeferþ is min nama,” cweþ he, “ic eom Secgena leod,

Answer 12

“Sigeferth is my name” said he, “i am prince of the secgens”

Question 13

wreccea wide cuð; fæla ic weana gebad, heardra hilda

Answer 13

an adventurer widely known, I have endured many woes and fierce battles

Question 14

ðe is gyt her witod

swæþer ðu sylf to me secean wylle.”

Answer 14

For you it is even now ordained, whichever of two things you yourself will get from me”

Question 15

ða wæs on healle      wælslihta gehlyn; 
sceolde cellod bord      cenum on handa, 
banhelm berstan      (buruhðelu dynede),

Answer 15

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 (???)

Question 16

oð æt ðære guðe Garulf gecrang,
ealra ærest eorðbuendra,
Guðlafes sunu, ymbe hyne godra fæla,
hwearflicra hræw.

Answer 16

at the battle Ganulf fell dead, first of all earth dwellers, Guthlad’s son; around him so many good men’s corpses.

Question 17

Hræfen wandrode,

sweart and sealobrun.

Answer 17

Raven circled, dark and with a dusky glean.

Question 18

Swurdleoma stod,

swylce eal Finnsburuh fyrenu wære.

Answer 18

Sword glean appeared as though all Finnsburg was on-fire.

Question 19

Ne gefrægn ic næfre wurþlicor æt wera hilde

sixtig sigebeorna sel gebæran,

Answer 19

I have never heard of more worthy men in battle

of sixty victory-warriors bearing themselves better

Question 20

Hig fuhton fif dagas, swa hyra nan ne feol

drihtgesiða, ac hig ða duru heoldon.

Answer 20

They fought for five days in such a way that none fell, the noble-champions, but they held the door.

Question 21

ða gewat him wund hæleð on wæg gangan,

Answer 21

then he warrior went, wounded, passing away

Question 22

sæde þæt his byrne abrocen wære,

Answer 22

he said that his corselet was broken

Question 23

heresceorp unhror, and eac wæs his helm ðyrel.

Answer 23

brave in his battle garments, and also his helmet was pierced

Question 24

ða hine sona frægn folces hyrde,
hu ða wigend hyra wunda genæson,
oððe hwæþer ðæra hyssa

Answer 24

then quickly asked the protector of people how well the warriors their wounds bare, or which of the young men…

Question 25

ac he frægn ofer eal undearninga,

deormod hæleþ, hwa ða duru heolde.

Answer 25

But he asked over it openly brave-hearted warrior who held the doors.

Question 26

ne nefre swetne medo sel forgyldan

ðonne Hnæfe guldan his hægstealdas.

Answer 26

nor ever, for sweet mead makes[ing] better requital

than Hnaef gave his retainers.

Question 27

buruhðelu dynede

Answer 27

fortress floor resounded