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A praise poem in honor, ostensibly, of Æthelstan’s great victory at Brunanburh, but also of the heirs of Edward who are said to have accompanied him there. The English delivere a crushing blow to the Scotts and Vikings and kill many kings and earls, who are then eaten by the Beasts of Battle. It was the greatest victory, according to the poem, since the Angles and Saxons came up into England and conquered the Welsh. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Offa speaks, saying the Godric has doubly betrayed them all, as some of the English, seeing Byrhtnoth’s horse riding away, think that the Ealdorman had given a signal for retreat. It is now obvious that the Vikings will own the day. But Leofsunu swears not to step back one foot from the battle but instead will fight to the death. Other men also refuse to leave. Byrhtwold, the old retainer, then utters the most famous lines in Old English poetry: The heart must be braver, courage the bolder Mind the stronger, as our strength lessens. He, and the rest, stay fighting by the side of their dead lord. The poem ends by mentioning another Godric who was killed fighting, not the cowardly one who had fled. Podcast: Play in new window | Download The Vikings cross and the battle begins in earnest. For a while the English are doing well, with many individual acts of heroism but then Byrhtnoth is killed by a thrown spear. Wulfmaer the Young draws out the spear and throws it back at the Viking, killing him, but Byrhtnoth has received his fatal wound. Byrhtnoth thanks God for all the blessings he has received on earth, but then the Vikings kill him and the men next to him. And with Byrhtnoth dead, some of the English flee the battle, most visibly the sons of Odda. Godric leaps on Byrhtnoth’s horse and rides away. The hearth-companions do not give up, however, and continue to fight and inspire each other with speeches. Podcast: Play in new window | Download In preparation for battle, a warrior sets his hawk free to fly to the forest. Likewise the warriors send their horses to the rear. Byrhtnoth, the Ealdorman, arranges the young men who have come to fight [the untrained youths of the Essex levy, it seems], teaches them how to hold sword and shield and where to stand. Then he goes to the company of his hearth companions who will be in the vanguard of the fight. The Viking herald calls across the water, offering to accept tribute for peace and not to fight. Byrhtnoth scornfully refuses. The English and the Vikings are not able to attack each other, save with arrows, while the water flows between them. Then, when the narrow causeway becomes passable, the English have the advantage, and no Vikings can gain the shore. The Vikings call for Byrhtnoth to allow them to cross to have a more even fight, and then the Eorl, on account of his ofermod, allows them to come across the water. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Two fragments of a poem about the hero Walter. Podcast: Play in new window | Download A notoriously disputed fragment, the original manuscript of which is now, sadly, lost (though I keep thinking it might be behind the couch cushions somewhere in Lambeth Palace. If they would only let me wander around and ransack the place… ), the Fight at Finnsburh describes some of the events also depicted in the Finnsburh episode in Beowulf. The fragment depicts part of the fight in the hall when Hnæf is killed but his men successfully defend the hall for five days, leading to the uneasy and temporary truce discussed in Beowulf. Podcast: Play in new window | Download This is my first recording of a Psalm and I would love any suggestions for improvement (“learn to sing better” has already been considered). Podcast: Play in new window | Download The Assyrians throw down their weapons and run away, and the Hebrews attack them from behind, utterly destroying the army. Few survivors returned to their homeland. The victors then loot the corpses and acquire immense spoils of war. They bring back for Judith the sword of Holofernes, his bloody helmet, and his enormous coat of mail. They also give her many treasures. For all this Judith gave glory to God. Let us do so, also. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Inspired, the Bethulians prepare for battle. The Beasts of Battle (wolf, raven, and the eagle eager for eats) rejoice. The Bethulians attack the Assyrians and are winning the battle. Holofernes’ men gather at his pavilion, but no one dares awaken him after his assumed lechery with Judith. The men begin to cough and make noise and grind their teeth, but still no one comes out of the tent. Finally one soldier risks going inside and sees Holofernes’ decapitated body. He rushes back out to the other soldiers and laments that he has now seen the sign of the upcoming defeat of the Assyrians: the headless body of Holofernes. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Inspired with courage by her prayer, Judith seized Holofernes by the hair and slices through half of his neck. But he was not quite dead yet, so she struck him again with the sword and his head came off and fell on the floor. Now he would be in [what seems like an Old Norse version of] hell. Judith’s servant put the head in a bag, and the two women left the Assyrian camp, escaping to their city of Bethulia. There were soldiers guarding the gate, and Judith spoke to them and told them to rejoice because God was going to grant them victory. Judith had her servant unwrap the severed head and hold it up to the crowd, and she spoke to the Bethulians, giving them a Braveheart-like speech to inspire them to fight. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Here are the first eleven lines of Beowulf to help my English 208: Anglo-Saxon Literature class prepare them for memorization and recitation. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Judith has been captured by the evil Holofernes, the ruler of the Assyrians. Holofernes holds a banquet at which he and his men become very drunk. Later, her commands that Judith be brought to his bed. Holofernes’ bed is surrounded by a golden fly-net so that he can spy upon his soldiers, but none can see him. Once Judith is in the bed pavilion, the retainers inform Holofernes, who intends to defile Judith. But Holofernes collapses in drunkenness. Judith draws his sword and calls upon God for strength. Podcast: Play in new window | Download “Wandering singer” or “riddle” or maybe “moon.” Podcast: Play in new window | Download Very fragmentary. Possibly another “creation” riddle. Podcast: Play in new window | Download “Inkhorn.” Podcast: Play in new window | Download |
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