The Battle of Maldon

Question 1

Stodon stædefæste; stihte hi Byrhtnoð,
bæd þæt hyssa gehwylc hogode to wige
þe on Denon wolde dom gefeohtan.

Answer 1

They stood steadfast; Byrhtnoth directed them
bade that each young man think to battle
from the Danes they would gain glory by fighting.

Question 2

Wod þa wiges heard, wæpen up ahof,

bord to gebeorge, and wið þæs beornes stop.

Answer 2

then one hardened in battle raised up his weapon,

shield as protection, and stepped towards the man

Question 3

Eode swa anræd eorl to þam ceorle,

ægþer hyra oðrum yfeles hogode.

Answer 3

earl advanced on commoner, both of them intended evil on the other.

Question 4

Sende ða se særinc suþerne gar,

þæt gewundod wearð wigena hlaford;

Answer 4

The sea-warrior sent a southern spear

a warrior’s lord became wounded

Question 5

Gegremod wearð se guðrinc;

Answer 5

the warrior became enraged;

Question 6

Frod wæs se fyrdrinc; he let his francan wadan

þurh ðæs hysses hals,

Answer 6

Experienced was the solider; he let his spear travel

through the young man’s neck,

Question 7

ða he oþerne ofstlice sceat,

þæt seo byrne tobærst;

Answer 7

then he speedily shot another

so that the mail coat burst;

Question 8

Se eorl wæs þe bliþra,

hloh þa, modi man,

Answer 8

the man was the happier,

the spirited men laughed,

Question 9

Forlet þa drenga sum daroð of handa,

Answer 9

One of the vikings let go a spear of the hand,

Question 10

Him be healfe stod hyse unweaxen,

Answer 10

Alongside him an ungrown youth stood

Question 11

ord in gewod, þæt se on eorþan læg

þe his þeoden ær þearle geræhte.

Answer 11

spear in went, (so) that he who had before grievously struck his prince lay dead on the earth,

Question 12

Eode þa gesyrwed secg to þam eorle;
he wolde þæs beornes beagas gefecgan,
reaf and hringas and gerenod swurd.

Answer 12

An armed warrior advanced to the man
he would carry off the warrior’s valuables, armour,
rings and the ornamental sword.

Question 13

þa Byrhtnoð bræd bill of sceðe,

brad and bruneccg, and on þa byrnan sloh.

Answer 13

then Byrhtnoth drew his bill from the sheath

brave and bright-bladed and struck the mail coat

Question 14

To raþe hine gelette lidmanna sum,

þa he þæs eorles earm amyrde.

Answer 14

Quickly a seaman hindered him

then he disabled the man’s arm.

Question 15

Feoll þa to foldan fealohilte swurd;
ne mihte he gehealdan heardne mece,
wæpnes wealdan.

Answer 15

the gold-hilted blade penetrated the Eath
nor could he hold the fierce blade,
nor wield weapons.

Question 16

þa gyt þæt word gecwæð
har hilderinc, hyssas bylde,
bæd gangan forð gode geferan;

Answer 16

then the grey-haired warrior spoke an utterance, encouraged young men; urged the going onwards to the good comrades;

Question 17

He to heofenum wlat:
“Geþancie þe, ðeoda waldend,
ealra þæra wynna þe ic on worulde gebad.

Answer 17

He looked to heaven:

“I thank you, ruler of nations; for all the joys I experienced in the world.

Question 18

ða hine heowon hæðene scealcas

and begen þa beornas þe him big stodon,

Answer 18

then the heathen warriors hacked him

and the men that stood by him

Question 19

ælfnoð and Wulmær begen lagon,

ða onemn hyra frean feorh gesealdon.

Answer 19

Ælfnoth and Wulmear both lay there ]they gave their life along with their lord.

Question 20

Ic eom frymdi to þe

þæt hi helsceaðan hynan ne moton.”

Answer 20

I beseech you that my soul is not able to be harmed by hell-foes.”

Question 21

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.

Answer 21

now I have, merciful creator, the greatest need,

grant my spirit the favour that my soul might into the keeping of friendly angels pass with peace.

Question 22

he wæs on breostum wund
þurh ða hringlocan, him æt heortan stod
ætterne ord.

Answer 22

he was wounded in the breast

through the ring links at his heart stood the poisoned point.

Question 23

he sceaf þa mid ðam scylde, þæt se sceaft tobærst,

and þæt spere sprengde, þæt hit sprang ongean.

Answer 23

he thrust with a shielf so that the shaft broke

and the spear flexed that it sprang out again.

Question 24

he mid gare stang

wlancne wicing, þe him þa wunde forgeaf.

Answer 24

he with the spear struck the presumptuous viking that had given the wound.

Question 25

ne mihte þa on fotum leng fæste gestandan.

Answer 25

could no longer stand fast on his legs

Question 26

fleogan of folman, þæt se to forð gewat

þurh ðone æþelan æþelredes þegen.

Answer 26

let fly by hand that it went too far

into the nobleman’s Æthelred’s thegn.

Question 27

sæde metode þanc

ðæs dægweorces þe him drihten forgeaf.

Answer 27

said thanks to the creator

for the day’s work that the Lord gave.

Question 28

hand wisode

þæt he on þam færsceaðan feorh geræhte.

Answer 28

hand guided it,

so that he took fear from the sudden attack

Question 29

cniht on gecampe, se full caflice

bræd of þam beorne blodigne gar,

Answer 29

a boy in battle who very boldly

pulled the bloody spear from the man,

Question 30

Wulfstanes bearn, Wulfmær se geonga,

forlet forheardne faran eft ongean;

Answer 30

Wulfsta’s son, Wulfmear the younger

again let the very hard object go back