...nas byrnađ?"

     Hnæf hleoþrode đa,         heaþogeong cyning:

     "Ne đis ne dagađ eastan,         ne her draca ne fleogeđ,

     ne her đisse healle         hornas ne byrnađ.

5    Ac her forþ berađ;         fugelas singađ,

     gylleđ græghama,         guđwudu hlynneđ,

     scyld scefte oncwyđ.         Nu scyneđ þes mona

     wađol under wolcnum.         Nu arisađ weadæda

     đe đisne folces niđ         fremman willađ.

10   Ac onwacnigeađ nu,         wigend mine,

     habbađ eowre linda,         hicgeaþ on ellen,

     winnađ on orde,         wesađ onmode!"

     đa aras mænig goldhladen đegn,         gyrde hine his swurde.

     đa to dura eodon         drihtlice cempan,

15   Sigeferđ and Eaha,         hyra sword getugon,

     and æt oþrum durum         Ordlaf and Guþlaf,

     and Hengest sylf         hwearf him on laste.

     đa gyt Garulf         Guđere styrde

     đæt he swa freolic feorh         forman siþe

20   to đære healle durum         hyrsta ne bære,

     nu hyt niþa heard         anyman wolde,

     ac he frægn ofer eal         undearninga,

     deormod hæleþ,         hwa đa duru heolde.

     "Sigeferþ is min nama," cweþ he,         "ic eom Secgena leod,

25   wreccea wide cuđ;         fæla ic weana gebad,

     heardra hilda.         đe is gyt her witod

     swæþer đu sylf to me         secean wylle."

     đa wæs on healle         wælslihta gehlyn;

     sceolde cellod bord         cenum on handa,

30   banhelm berstan         (buruhđelu dynede),

     ođ æt đære guđe         Garulf gecrang,

     ealra ærest         eorđbuendra,

     Guđlafes sunu,         ymbe hyne godra fæla,

     hwearflicra hræw.         Hræfen wandrode,

35   sweart and sealobrun.         Swurdleoma stod,

     swylce eal Finnsburuh         fyrenu wære.

     Ne gefrægn ic næfre wurþlicor         æt wera hilde

     sixtig sigebeorna         sel gebæran,

     ne nefre swetne medo         sel forgyldan

40   đonne Hnæfe guldan         his hægstealdas.

     Hig fuhton fif dagas,         swa hyra nan ne feol

     drihtgesiđa,         ac hig đa duru heoldon.

     đa gewat him wund hæleđ         on wæg gangan,

     sæde þæt his byrne         abrocen wære,

45   heresceorp unhror,         and eac wæs his helm đyrel.

     đa hine sona frægn         folces hyrde,

     hu đa wigend hyra         wunda genæson,

     ođđe hwæþer đæra hyssa        

          Translation

 
          ..... ‘the gables are not burning.’

          Then the king, a novice in battle, said:

          ‘This is not dawn from the east, no dragon

          flies here, the gables of the hall are not burning,

5         but men are making an attack. Birds of battle screech,

          the grey wolf howls, spears rattle,

          shield answers shaft. The wandering moon gleams

          under the clouds; evil deeds will now

          be done, bringing grief to this people.

10      But rouse yourself now, my warriors!

          Grasp your shields, steel yourselves,

          fight at the front and be brave!’

          Then many a thegn, laden in gold, buckled his

          sword-belt.

15      Then the stout warriors, Sigeferth and Eaha,

          went to one door and unsheathed their swords;

          Ordlaf and Guthlaf went to guard the other,

          and Hengest himself followed in their footsteps.

          When he saw this, Guthere said to Garulf

20      that he would be unwise to go to the hall doors

          in the first rush, risking his precious life,

          for fearless Sigeferth was set upon his death.

          But that daring man drowned the other voices

          and demanded openly who held the door.

25     ‘I am Sigeferth, a prince of the Secgan

          and a well-known warrior; I’ve braved many trials,

          tough combats. Even now it is decreed

          for you what you can expect of me here.’

          Then the din of battle broke out in the hall;

30      the hollow shield called for men’s hands,

          helmets burst; the hall floor boomed.

          Then Garulf, son of Guthlaf, gave his life

          in the fight, first of all the warriors

          living in that land, and many heroes fell around him,

35      the corpses of brave men. The raven wheeled,

          dusky, dark brown. The gleaming swords so shone

          it seemed as if all Finnesburh were in flames.

          I have never heard of sixty warriors

          who bore themselves more bravely in the fight

40      and never did retainers better repay

          glowing mead than those men repaid Hnæf.

          They fought for five days and not one of the followers

          fell, but they held the doors firmly.

          Then Guthere withdrew, a wounded man;

45      he said that his armour was almost useless,

          his corselet broken, his helmet burst open.

          The guardian of those people asked him at once

          how well the warriors had survived their wounds

          or which of the young men .....