isa-normaladvance-1914-00171

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE171shore the messenger of the vikings, crying out boldly, speaking in these words, announcing the message of the sea-folk to the earl, where he stood upon the shore: Me the bold seamen send to thee they bid me say to thee that thou shalt forthwith send jewels for tribute and it were better for ye that ye buy off this strug¬ gle with tribute, for we are full stern in the conflict. It is not needful that we destroy our¬ selves, if ye but accede to this: we will set over against the gold, peace. If thou, who are most powerful here, desire to save thy people and advise that they send to the seamen, in their own judgment, riches as tribute and take from us peace, we will withdraw to our ships with the treasure, put out to sea and hold truce with ye. Brihtnoth harangued, angry and aroused, lifted up his shield, shook his pliant spear, speaking in these words, gave him back answer: Hearest thou, viking, what this peo¬ ple says? They will give ye spears for a tribute, poisonous darts and a trusty sword, the tools of warfare which avail ye naught in the conflict! Messenger of the sea-folk, take back this answer, say to thy people a more hostile message, that here stands, undaunted, an earl with his warriors, who will defend this land, the country of iEthelred, of my forefathers, kindred and homes the heathen shall fall in the battle. Methinks it were too shameful that ye should withdraw to your ships with our treasure, unfought, now ye have come thus far into our land nor shall ye so easily obtain tribute: sooner shall point of spear and edge of sword, the grim play of warfare, reconcile us, ere we yield tribute. Then he commanded the warriors to advance, bearing their shields, so that they all stood on the east shore. Nor, because of the water, could one come to the other. Then the flood came flowing in after the ebb, the streams of ocean interlocked it seemed too long to them until they bore spears together. There the troops of the East Saxons and the armies of the vikings encompassed the Blackwater river with pomp nor could any one injure another,save only when he found death in the flight of an arrow. The flood went out the pirates stood ready, many vikings eager for battle. Then the hero commanded a warrior, resolute in the conflict, Avho was called Wulfstane, to protect the bridge. He was the son of Ceola, strong with his tribe. Him the foremost man who most boldly advanced on the bridge shot down with his spear. There stood with Wulf¬ stane fearless men, Elf ere and Ma ecus, the cour¬ ageous twain. They did not desire to cause re¬ treat at the ford but contended steadfastly against the enemies so long as they were able to wield weapons. When the enemy understood that and zealously perceived that they found the guardianship of the bridge bitter, these hostile warriors began to practice strategy: they prayed that they might possess a passageway and travel across the ford, leading their troops. Then the earl in his overweening pride be¬ gan to yield too much land to the hostile peo¬ ple the son of Brihthelm began to call across the cold water (the men listening) : Now is a pathway opened to you, come quickly to us, heroes to the conflict God alone knows who shall gain the victory. Then the wolves of slaughter advanced, heeding not the water the troops of the vikings bore their shields west over the Blackwater over the sheer water, the seamen bore their shields to land. There op¬ posite stood Brihtnoth, ready, with his grim warriors. He commanded the phalanx to be formed with the shields, and the troops to stand steadfast against the enemy. Then there was close fighting, glory in the conflict the time was come when the doomed men should fall. Then lamentation was lifted up, the ravens hovered, the eagles greedy for carrion  desolation was upon the earth. Then they let fly from their hands the flint-hard spears, the sharply ground darts: bows were busy, shield received spear. Bitter was the struggle, war¬ riors fell on every hand, young warriors lay dead. Wulfmaer, the kinsman of Brihtnoth, his sisters son, was wounded he chose the bed of slaughter and was cruelly cut down with the
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/32631
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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