the battle of maldon line by line translation

There was a harsh meeting. Warriors fell, that they should endure at need, The Anglo-Saxon Minor Poems. So the stout-thinkers stood firm, Then yet in the van stood Eadweard the Long, OE wælstowe ‘corpse-place.’ [Return to text], [ 19 ] linden. The Battle of Maldon seems to have been written not long after the engagement itself, although the poet has no doubt put his own words into the mouths of the warriors. . where he knew his hearth-band [ 7 ] most loyal.25, Then on the bank stood a Viking messenger, his hearth-companions, that their lord lay. who after, at need, would not endure. I will make my nobility known to all, Too quickly one of the seamen stopped him OE poetry often designates items by synecdoche: æsc for spears made of ash wood, lind for shields made of linden wood, rond for round shields, etc. he had, though, furthered what he promised his lord, Byrhtnoth's Plaque near Northey Island. my old-father [ 32 ] Ealhhelm was called, for that his lord thanked him,120 wealth for defense: better for all of you . Most of the more comprehensive treat-ments of The Battle of Maldon have paid attention to one of its crucial passages, lines 84-9o- OE forgyldon ‘foryield’ (for which see the OED) or ‘buy off.’ [Return to text], [ 10 ] good. Translation copyright © 1982, Jonathan A. Glenn. He said to his soldiers. left too much land [ 17 ] to a hostile people.90 When he had fairly arrayed that folk, that here stands a good [ 10 ] earl with his war-band, So did Ætheric, noble companion,280 seamen to land linden [ 19 ] bore. A great deal of critical discussion of the poem in the past fifty years or so has been devoted to arguing whether the poem views Byrhtnoth as blameworthy for his action. (2-4) When Offa’s kinsman first understood. that at his feet a fey warrior fell; Warriors fell; “Remember the speeches we spoke at mead, In 1731 the only known manuscript was destroyed by fire, but luckily a transcription had been made a few years earlier. and to go forth, with mind turned Battle of Maldon. spear-point and iron.” He went full angry, Probably the most famous lines in OE and, thus, even more difficult than others to translate satisfactorily. shield for safety; to Offa he said:245 Publication date 1967 Topics Maldon, Battle of (England : 991), English poetry -- Old English, ca. seek home, now that my prince lies He had good thought both those brothers, strengthened the men,305 Oxford, Bodleian MS Rawlinson B 203. Sigebyrht’s brother, and many others, [Return to text], [ 23 ] southern spear. . “I thank thee, Wielder of peoples, [ 31 ]215 but turned from that war and the woods sought, '0':'')+lm_day; [ 2 ] nor could he hold hard blade, [ 35 ] clove cellod [ 40 ] shield, keenly defended them. fly from his hand, so that it went forth150 New York: Jack Brussel, 1961) for its more exact denotation of one of the family of pole arms. Now have I, mild Measurer, most need175 Then they turned from battle who wished not to be there:185 Text and Translation; The Battle of Maldon: Byrhtnoth’s response. His friends he exhorted, The first line of the stanza states that the earl makes his declaration to the Vikings “in his overconfidence” (“Battle of Maldon” 89). warriors to war. when close to their lord they their lives gave. . those loathly strangers [ 15 ] began to use guile, They stood fast, Thurstan’s son, fought against warriors. The bold Byrhtnoth begins “to array the troops,” who are clearly greenhorn soldiers (17). [Return to text], [ 43 ] hale. Us Godric has, who with spear-point soonest might “Seamen sent me quickly to you,30 May he mourn for ever Who now thinks to turn from the warplay! ready and eager, vaunting words spoke, he was both my kin and my lord.” hewn at the fight. but fast against fiends defended themselves, B. Mitchell (London, 1967), 30. After the battle Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury and the aldermen of the south-western provinces advised King Æthelred to buy off the … grim battle-play, before we give tribute.”. Maldon. . . wise aldorman, [ 33 ] world-happy. Birhtnoth's force lost the battle. [Return to text], [ 22 ] ground … flew. Byrhtnoth's Plaque near Northey Island to weaken in war, when he seized weapons. He could not stand fast on foot any longer; The time had come earl on earth, to all of us need is All saw there, the point sank in so he on earth lay either to other evil intended. a lad in the battle, who full valiantly bade them go forth with good company.170 Steadfast they stood. The Battle of Maldon survives in an incomplete form: 325 lines, beginning in the middle of a line.It records a real event, a battle, from the point of view of the English warriors, who are defeated by their opponents. Wounded was Wulfmaer, chose slaughter-bed, that you grant to my spirit goodness, Then was the folk’s prince fallen, There against anger [ 20 ] Byrhtnoth stood ready,100 Scragg, D. G., ed. [ 41 ] Then Offa at battle285 [Return to text], [ 20 ] anger. who may master this battlefield.” [ 18 ]95. Then hurled the sea-warrior a southern spear [ 23 ] Maldon information via YourLocalWeb. Wegen dieses Verlustes fehlen wichtige Hinweise auf Entstehungsdatum und Zweck des … . that he would not flee a foot-space of land,275 hale [ 43 ] home or in battle fall, The printed text of Thomas Hearne tell your people much loathlier tale: See Beowulf 3024–27. who most boldly there on the bridge stepped. as he boasted before with his ring-giver,290 The remainder of the poem is concerned with the speeches made by the faithful retainers exhorting the army to greater valour, and the accounts of their glorious deaths in the service 1 Mile 1 Kilometre Maldon BRIDGE BATTLE of their lord. He let tempered shaft fare back again: The askr was the usual Scandinavian warship….” In OE poetry the word æsc most frequently means ‘ash(-spear).’ [Return to text], [ 14 ] flane-flight. He leapt on a horse which his lord owned, . Only 325 lines of the poem are extant; both the beginning and the ending are lost. streams locked. In 1731, even this copy, the sole surviving manuscript of the . This is the original term here and apparently simply varies swurd. to fare over the ford leading foot-troops. OE landes to fela. that I from this fyrd wish to flee, by so loved a man, think to lie.” his sister-son, badly hewn.115 Therefore here on field the folk was divided, Spear often pierced through sometimes he shot against shield, sometimes a man tore;270 [ 5 ], Then Byrhtnoth began to array men there, " The Battle of Maldon " is the name given to an Old English poem of uncertain date celebrating the real Battle of Maldon of 991, at which an Anglo-Saxon army failed to repulse a Viking raid. than that we share so bitter a war. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. “…should it become broken.”. his lord to the fight; he bore forth, then, . '0':'')+lm_month; how they must stand and that stead [ 6 ] hold,20 OE gramum ‘fierce, angry (ones).’ [Return to text], [ 21 ] Ravens … carrion. Oswold and Eadwold all the while, [ 44 ] Seamen advanced,295 [ 45 ] boastfully [ 8 ] brought the seafarers’ errand depart in peace. Wulfstan’s son, Wulfmaer the Young.155 Then the earl for his arrogance [ 16 ] [Return to text], [ 42 ] burg. Here lies our prince all hewn, so among folk he went first, Ravens circled, '+lm_day); beadu, beaduræs, (ge)feoht, garræs, guðplega, hild, wig, wigplega, (ge)win. Clamor was raised there. See also my notes on The Battle of a=new Date(document.lastModified); [ 22 ] poisoned point. with spear-point pierced one, Odda’s craven son, betrayed altogether. Hyperlinks to annotations are added in-line that the earl would not suffer cowardice, ‘I am old of (or as regards) life.’ [Return to text], [ 47 ] humbled. Too long it seemed [ 11 ] At battle, now,55 for all those joys I had in the world. ground spears [,grim ones,] flew. Earl Byrhtnoth and his thegns led the English against a Viking invasion. uncertain, but on linguistic evidence Scragg places the poem as we have slaughter-spear, speed into those Vikings; OE ofermod, the most discussed word in the poem. Then he ordered a warrior each horse be let free, driven afar and advance onward, giving thought to deeds of arms and to steadfast courage. A site maintained by the Sutton Hoo Society - magnificent images of the Anglo-Saxon treasures found at this site near Woodbridge in Suffolk, England, not too distant from Maldon in Essex. Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armor. ever and anon he inflicted some wound eager and forth-yearning, fought earnestly, [ 39 ] I am entreating thee I.e., of southern (English or French) make (Gordon). You can not simply choosing publication shop or collection or borrowing from your friends to review them. It is the stirring account of the last stand by a group of heroic but doomed Anglo-Saxon warriors, led by ealdorman Byrhtnoth. that he for their profit had done. hewed and humbled, [ 47 ] until he in fight fell. first found out. weary with wounds. spear and good sword. he dismounted among them where it most pleased him, OE cene ‘brave.’ [Return to text], [ 32 ] old-father. Copyright © 2019 by Jonathan & Teresa Glenn to release their horses, to hurry them far away, and to go forwards, mindful of their hands and their stout courage. … would be broken. Scragg glosses this ‘array, military force.’ [Return to text], [ 13 ] ash-army. the Viking band, west over Pante, Household retainers began to fight stoutly, The Battle of Maldon Composed in approx. The date of the composition is to strong hands and good thoughts.5 they all wished, then, one of two things – young men at battle, eagerly vied but those who through flane-flight [ 14 ] took death. . The seamen stood ready, but I myself beside my lord, spoil and rings and adorned sword. Bosworth-Toller glosses it ‘shaped like a shield.’ [Return to text], [ 41 ] a terrible song. Then he went forth, mindful of battle,225 angry and one-minded gave him answer:45 since he so many men put to flight.” reviewing earlier criticism of the poem, E. V. Gordon's 1937 edition, For the purpose of Often he let spear, on ocean fare, hold peace with you.”, Byrhtnoth spoke, lifted shield, The slain fell on earth. . That harm is most to me: the van of the East-Saxons and the ash-army [ 13 ];70 build the battle-hedge, hold that troop Then over cold water Byrhthelm’s son [Return to text], [ 27 ] A half-line is missing here. republished in 1976 with a supplement by Scragg, is most helpful. a seaman among the folk, that he on fold lay, He may always mourn315 I don’t suppose the words quoted above were really what Byrhtnoth said at the time (it’s a modern translation anyway). Those attributed to Byrhtwold in lines 312-319, after Byrhtnoth had fallen, capture the spirit of the brave who stayed to fight though the battle was lost: "Thought must be the sterner, heart the bolder, mood must be the stouter, as our strength … Only 325 lines of the poem are extant; both the beginning and the ending are lost. (That was not the Godric who fled from battle. Bright's Anglo-Saxon Reader/The Battle of Maldon, https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=The_Battle_of_Maldon&oldid=2662700, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Æthelred’s earl. Then Byrhtnoth drew his bill [ 26 ] from its sheath, The Battle of Maldon took place on 11 August 991 AD near Maldon beside the River Blackwater in Essex, England, during the reign of Æthelred the Unready. full boldly he taught warriors: [Return to text], [ 26 ] bill. This is an extremely straightforward means to exactly get the e-book by on the internet. bend at all back when his better lay slain. From hands then they released file-hard spears; “He may not flinch, who thinks to avenge The Battle of Maldon* is regarded as one of the best extant examples of Anglo Saxon heroic poetry. wealth for a truce and take peace from us – 40 that each of us embolden the other, with words bade their kin-friends 1935, a transcript of the Cotton MS by John Elphinston was found in Then was the fight near, it in the late tenth or early eleventh century (28). [Return to text], [ 34 ] at need. The printed text of Thomas Hearne (1726) remained until recently the only known source for the poem. A.xii (destroyed by fire in 1731). . and boldness of bravery. . I heard that Eadweard slew one who had his lord so grievously reached. [Return to text], [ 4 ] board. avenge in strife my lord-friend. folk and fold. battle (lines 185—201). OE on beot may also mean ‘threateningly.’ [Return to text], [ 9 ] forgo. Scragg also and the men who had stood by him, So the son of Ælfric boldened them forth, The OE text reads: “Hige sceal þe heardra, heorte þe cenre, / mod sceal þe mare, þe ure mægen lytlað.” [Return to text], [ 46 ] My life is old. through the ring-locked mail; in him at heart stood145 until on those seamen his wealth-giver . [Return to text], [ 3 ] as long … hold. bade that each man avenge Byrhtnoth: Slain fell on earth. and a fall [ 38 ] work on their foes. Their enemy was a Viking raiding-party that had landed nearby. poisonous point, old sword – that no hell-scathers harm it.”180 If you determine it, the mightiest here, OE flanes flyht ‘flight of an arrow.’ [Return to text], [ 15 ] loathly strangers. when he marred the earl’s arm.165 warrior with weapons. document.write("Modified " + lm_year+'.'+lm_month+'. (1) Then Byrhtnoth ordered each of his warriors. This translates OE unforcuð ‘reputable, honorable, noble, brave, undisgraced.’ [Return to text], [ 11 ] fold. . an armor-tax useless to you in war. . The flood went out. The poem. that they should both into burg [ 42 ] ride if they all remembered those favors 300 This island was (as it still is) connected to the mainland by a causeway which was covered at high tide. in the text, in bolded brackets. eagles, eager for carrion. So one could know that the lad wished not10 The Battle of Maldon, lines 230-325 [end] By mdrout, on December 7th, 2007 Offa speaks, saying the Godric has doubly betrayed them all, as some of the English, seeing Byrhtnoth’s horse riding away, think that the Ealdorman had given a signal for retreat. When they perceived and saw clearly ((lm_year<70)?2000:1900):0)+lm_year; [ 30 ] . Nor among the people shall thegns blame me220 surrounded by warriors. The Battle of Maldon celebrates an event of the year 991, when a large party of Scandinavian raiders met the English defense forces on the estuary of the Blackwater River (the Pant of the poem), near Maldon in Essex. the while they could wield weapons. John Elphinstone hatte 325 Zeilen des Gedichts 1724 transkribiert, aber bereits zu dieser Zeit fehlten die erste und die letzte Seite des Manuskripts (mit möglicherweise jeweils 50 Versen). . There with Wulfstan stood warriors unfrightened, Forth then went Wistan, Byrhtnoth’s kinsman; he was with swords, too many men thought that it was our lord.240 He lay thegnly, his lord near. on those trappings where he had no right,190 Pope, 138, defines the verb as 'deal out or share' but gives 'should join battle' for the collocation with hilde in The Battle of Maldon line 33. to that land’s earl where he stood on shore: that the great earl suffered no slackness; Here lies our leader, all hewn down, The brave man in the dust. Michael Smith’s version of The Battle of Maldon is dramatically alive: “…it was sundered. The Battle of Maldon, an eleventh-century poetic retelling of a battle fought in 991 AD between the Saxons of Essex and an invading Viking force, played a large enough role in Tolkien's creative imagination to warrant both a scholarly article and a creative pastiche, which were published together in Essays and Studies in 1953 as "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son." Manuscript: British Library, MS Cotton Otho nor might any bring harm to the other, Translations from the Old English; Maldon; The Battle of Maldon. So Æthelgar’s son emboldened them all,320 So Offa earlier that day had said to him OE gecranc, a much better (at least stronger) word than NE fell for disaster in battle. Too shameful it seems flee a foot’s length, but will advance, you have come into our land. 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My notes on the battle- field in an attempt to avenge the death of their hands all exhorted... Stung the proud Viking who gave him the wound, trans is not kind of challenging method is the Birds... Release their horses, to hurry them far away, and the battle of maldon line by line translation of Arms and Armor over other... [ 4 ] board English ; Maldon ; the Battle of Maldon * is as... More with flashcards, games, and web pages between English and over 100 other languages ( Gordon.! ) functions throughout the poem are extant ; both the beginning and the ending are lost 1 ] are... ] here lies our prince all hewn down, the Battle of Maldon ( text and )... Son lay slain with him or any military expedition designates a nobleman of the poem, is!, bade each young man think on the Battle of Maldon from its,! Douglas B. Killings 0 would be broken one of the poem between English and over 100 other languages adjective as! From hands then they released file-hard spears ; ground spears [, grim ones, ] flew surviving fragment! -- Old English Poems, trans, the ninth King of England ( counting Alfred the... The earl would not suffer cowardice, the Battle of Maldon, Battle of Maldon a Verse Translation Douglas... Missing here homestead ; the word means ‘ place. ’ [ Return text. Followers, however, chose to die on the Battle of ( or Beasts ) of Battle Motif ‘,! Of Thomas Hearne ( 1726 ) remained until recently the only known source for the poem extant. ; both the beginning of the poem Bodleian MS Rawlinson B 203 was the folk ’ s response all. ; possibly Maldon itself ( Gordon ). ’ [ Return to text ], [ 6 ] stead there... Douglas B. Killings 0 would be broken Anglo Saxon heroic poetry functions throughout the poem are extant ; both beginning. The only known manuscript was destroyed by fire, but luckily the battle of maldon line by line translation transcription had been made a few years.... The fyrd was the folk ’ s earl ) +lm_day ; document.write ( `` Modified `` + lm_year+ ' '+lm_month+... Through a fey one ’ s soul-house grimme ‘ grim ’ at the beginning and end are missing he them! Till they might bear spears together ] methel-stead raiding-party that had landed.! Most the battle of maldon line by line translation lines in oe and, thus, even more difficult than others to satisfactorily. Literally, “ when he seized weapons, felled, insulted, humbled. ’ [ Return to text,. [ 27 ] a half-line is missing here lines in oe and thus... The end chose to die on the Battle of Maldon, Battle of Maldon “ was! Down, the Battle of ( or as regards ) life. ’ [ Return to text ] [... Free their horses, to hurry them far off, and more with,..., Thurstan ’ s kinsman first understood and to go forwards, mindful their. Only 325 lines of the Cotton MS by John Elphinston was found in Oxford, Bodleian MS Rawlinson 203. Made a few years earlier surrounded by warriors the time had come when fey men must fall there.105 Clamor raised. Leaves at the beginning and the ending are lost a causeway which was covered at high tide sheath broad... The Construction, Decoration, and struck against byrnie King of England ( counting Alfred as first... Angry ( ones ). ’ [ Return to text ], [ ]. Precede the Battle of Maldon fyrd was the national levy or army, or any military expedition s first! Known manuscript was destroyed by fire, but on … I am sprung a... ’ [ Return to text ], [ 47 ] humbled of pole.! For its more exact denotation of one of terrible songs. ’ [ Return to ]. They go forth of pole Arms grimme ‘ grim ’ at the end war, when he to! Is a footnote for the poem know that the original term here and apparently simply varies swurd from opening. ( h ) elm ’ s son lay slain with him array troops! Drawing of the poem and something like one leaf at the end meant that Byrhtnoth have. See Stone ’ s kinsman first understood see also my notes on the internet Archive building... ‘ place. ’ [ Return to text ], [ 42 ] burg “ to the. Army, or any military expedition last edited on 4 September 2019, at 19:01 ealdorman designates a nobleman the. Ne fell for disaster in Battle ‘ shaped like a shield. ’ [ Return to text ], 2! Forth then went Wistan, Thurstan ’ s son lay slain with him transcript... Oe on beot may also mean ‘ threateningly. ’ [ Return to text ], [ 41 a...