Then she ordered each of her warriors the shieldwall to make
From that one could tell that this chieftain would never
Weaken in the warfare – when she her weapons seized.
And after her Osric chose his chief to follow,
Her friend in the fight – then ‘gan he forth to bear
The spear to the strife – high spirit had he,
So long as he with his hands to hold was able
His war shield and spear; his boast he fulfilled
That he by his friend’s side should fight.
Then did Ercongota begin her men to bestow –
She rode up and counselled them – her soldiers she taught
How they should stand, and their standing to keep,
And bade them behind palisade stoutly to hold
Fast to their arms, that they flinch not at all
Till horns of the marshals sound out the call
And then to at last stand fast before Hall
And when she had her folk fairly bestowed
She lighted there with her people, where she would liefest be
Then stood forth on the hill
Black Raedmund with rantings eldritch and shrill
A trio of captives hung up in the woods
A compact with evil and powers of dark
Full many of pukelings rushed
his bidding to answer
the hideous Thurse lurched forward in centre
and the sound of war-gear rang all along the pale
as Ercognotasfolk gave the tribute of spears to the wight
and Eawulf with the power of Thunor made grim warplay.
Lytleman made trial of his boldness then
leapt forth into the fray – flight he despised
Eager and impetuous he fought keenly
He was in the throng – of three men the bane
Gave bitter steel to two and bore the last to earth
Unheralded, sudden came billows of fog
called forth by the trollcraft of Raedmund
No man could see but a spear length about
and horns winded to call the scattered
before the hall to stand and stoutly wield their weapons
The terrible creature in mist shrouded
burst asunder the gate and a rank
of Raedmund’s henchmen followed
all in confusion and in among them
cunning Lytleman seeking to find
a gap where point and edge
might bring to nought the sorceries of Raedmund.
One wight-friend follower of the dark one
turned from the Battle to decry but was answered
swift with hard blade and life departed.
Before the hall, wearied with wounds,
men sank down and in their fall to earth each pierced
the Thurse. Teothic and Cenwahl stern with strife
on the war-field perished
but hurt they the foul monster and pierced though by arrows
Deadly rain from keen eyed Aculf
the horror fell
Still marched in body the carls of Raedmund
proud and girt well with arms
but careless in pride with open ranks
Gap left by the death of Eormanric their companion
foully slain by his sworn ring giver
Lytelman through Fog shroud glimpsed the sorceror
upon him rushed with Hate the spur
and with Axe two handed Vengeance took for his friend Wulf
and the unclean trafficker clove asunder
One Rat less to plague the Geatland. Many crimes repaid in kind.
his band were not slow
to exact their toll. Four on one they took their wrath and hewed
and would have ended the tale
of the Lytleman had not the warriors of the steading
put them to shameful flight.
And sore wounded though he was, lived this tale to indite.