The viking herald. They heard him. shout,

Send o'er the tide the taunt of the pirates;
Hailing the earl, he hurled this challenge:
"Bold sea-rovers bade me tell thee
Straightway thou must send them tribute,
Rings for ransome, royal treasure;
Better with gifts ye buy us off,

Ere we deal hard blows and death in battle. Why spill we blood when the bargain is easy?

Give us the pay and we grant ye peace.
If thou dost agree, who art greatest here,
To ransom thy folk with the fee we de-
mand,

And give to the seamen the gold they ask,
Pay with tribute for treaty of peace,
We load the booty aboard our ships,
Haul to sea and hold the truce."
Byrhtnoth spake, he brandished his spear,
Lifted his shield and shouted aloud,
Grim was his wrath as he gave them his

The breadth of the stream kept the bands asunder;

Strong came flowing the flood after ebb, Filled the channel, and foamed between them.

Impatient stood by Panta stream,
East-Saxon host and horde of the pirates,
Longing to lock their lances in battle.
Neither could harass or harm the other,
Save that some fell by the flight of arrows.

Down went the tide, the Danes were ready;

Burned for battle the band of the Vikings; On the bridge stood Wulfstan and barred their way.

Byrhtnoth sent him, a seasoned warrior, Ceola's son, with his kinsmen to hold it. The first of the Vikings who ventured to set

Foot on the bridge, he felled with his spear. Two sturdy warriors stood with Wulfstan, Maccus and Ælfhere, mighty pair,

Kept the approach where the crossing was shallow;

Defended the bridge, and fought with the boldest,

As long as their hands could lift a sword. When the strangers discovered and clearly

saw

What bitter fighters the bridgewards proved,

They tried a trick, the treacherous robbers, Begged they might cross and bring their

crews

Over the shallows and up to the shore. The earl was ready in reckless daring To let them land too great a number. Byrhthelm's son, while the seamen listened,

Called across, o'er the cold water: "Come ye seamen, come and fight us! We give you ground, but God alone knows

Who today shall hold the field."

Strode the battle-wolves bold through the water;

West over Panta waded the pirates; Carried their shields o'er the shining

waves;

Safely their lindenwoods landed the sailors.

Sorely wounding the war-band's leader; He shoved with his shield, the shaft snapped short;

The spear was splintered and sprang against him;

Wroth was Byrhtnoth, reached for his weapon;

Gored the Viking that gave him the wound.

Straight went the lance, strong was the leader;

He thrust it sheer through the throat of the pirate.

His dart meant death, so deadly his aim. Swiftly he sent him a second javelin, That crashed through the corslet and cleft his bosom,

Wounded him sore through his woven mail;

The poisonous spear-head stood in his heart.

Blithe was the leader, laughed in his breast,

Thanked his Lord for that day's work.

Now one of the pirates poised his weapon; Sped from his hand a spear that wounded

feet.

For this the thane got the thanks of his leader,

Praise that was due for his prowess in fight.

Grimly they held their ground in the battle,

Strove with each other the stout-hearted heroes,

Strove with each other, eager to strike First with their darts the foe that was

doomed.

Warriors thronged, the wounded lay thick. Stalwart and steady they stood about Byrhtnoth.

Bravely he heartened them, bade them to win

Glory in battle by beating the Danes. Raising his shield, he rushed at the enemy; Covered by buckler, he came at a Viking; Charged him furious, earl against churl, Each for the other had evil in store.

The sailorman sent from the south a

javelin,

Æthelred.

There stood at his side a stripling youth; Brave was the boy; he bent o'er his lord, Drew from his body the blood-dripping dart.

'Twas Wulfmær the youthful, son of Wulfstan:

Back he hurled the hard-forged spear. In went the point, to earth fell the pirate Who gave his master the mortal hurt. A crafty seaman crept toward the earl Eager to rob his armor and rings,

His bracelet and gear and graven sword. Then Byrhtnoth drew his blade from the sheath,

Broad and blood-rusted, struck at the breast-plate,

But one of the seamen stopped the warrior, Beat down the arm of the earl with his lance.

Fell to the ground the gray-hilted sword; No more he might grasp his goodly blade, Wield his weapon; yet words he could utter;

The hoar-headed warrior heartened his men;

Bade them forward to fare and be brave. When the stricken leader no longer could

stand,

He looked to heaven and lifted his voice: "I render Thee thanks, O Ruler of men, For the joys Thou hast given, that gladdened my life.

Merciful Maker, now most I need,
Thy goodness to grant me a gracious end,
That my soul may swiftly speed to Thee,
Come to Thy keeping, O King of angels,
Depart in peace. I pray Thee, Lord,
That the fiends of hell may not harm my
spirit."

The heathen pirates then hewed him to pieces,

And both the brave men that by him stood:

Ælfnoth and Wulfmær, wounded to death, Gave their lives for their lord in the fight.

Then quitted the field the cowards and faint-hearts;

The son of Odda started the flight.
Godric abandoned his good lord in battle,
Who many a steed had bestowed on his
thane.

His hearth-companions beheld him dead. Forward went fighting the fearless warriors,

Their courage was kindled, no cowards were they;

Their will was fixed on one or the other: To lose their life, or avenge their leader. Elfwine spoke to them, son of Ælfric, Youthful in years, but unyielding in battle;

Roused their courage, and called them to honor:

"Remember the time when we talked in the mead-hall,

When bold on our benches we boasted our valor,

Deeds of daring we'd do in the battle! Now we may prove whose prowess is true. My birth and my breeding I boldly pro

claim:

Son of Odda, deceived us all..

Too many believed 'twas our lord himself,

When they saw him stride the war-steed proud.

His run-away ride our ranks hath broken; Shattered the shield-wall. Shame on the dastard!

Who caused his comrades like cowards to fly!"

Up spake Leofsunu, lifted his linden-wood, Answered his comrades from under his shield:

"Here I stand, and here shall I stay! Not a foot will I flinch, but forward I'll go!

Vengeance I've vowed for my valiant leader.

Now that my friend is fallen in battle, My people shall never reproach me, in Stourmere;

Call me deserter, and say I returned Leaderless, lordless, alone from the fight. Better is battle-death; boldly I welcome The edge and the iron." Full angry he charged,

Daring all danger, disdaining to fly.

Up spake Dunhere, old and faithful, Shook his lance and shouted aloud, Bade them avenge the valiant Byrhtnoth: "Wreak on the Danes the death of our lord!

Unfit is for vengeance who values his life." Fell on the foe the faithful body-guard, Battle-wroth spearmen, beseeching God That they might avenge the thane of Æthelred,

Pay the heathen with havoc and slaughter. The son of Ecglaf, Escferth by name, Come of a hardy North-humbrian race, - He was their hostage, - helped them manfully.

Never he faltered or flinched in the warplay;

Lances a plenty he launched at the pirates, Shot them on shield, or sheer through the breast-plate;

Rarely he missed them, many he wounded, While he could wield his weapon in battle. Still Edward the long held out at the front; Brave and defiant, he boasted aloud