THE NORMAL ADVANCE171shore the messenger of the vikings, crying out
boldly, speaking in these words, announcing
the message of the sea-folk t...
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...
the
heathen shall fall in the battle. Methinks it
were too shameful that ye should withdraw to
your ships with our treasure, unfought,...
nor shall
ye so easily obtain tribute: sooner shall point
of spear and edge of sword, the grim play of
warfare, reconcile us,...
it seemed too long to them until
they bore spears together. There the troops
of the East Saxons and the armies of the
vikings...
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 W...
the son of Brihthelm began to call across
the cold water (the men listening) : Now is a
pathway opened to you, come ...
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 ...
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 bus...
he chose the bed
of slaughter and was cruelly cut down with the