“Theredidourscoutsreturnandbringusnews,Thatdreadfulnoiseofhorseandarmstheyhear,AndthattheydeemedbysundrysignsandshowsTherewassomemightyhostofPagansnear。
Atthesesadtidingsmanychangedtheirhues,Somelookedpalefordread,someshookforfear,Onlyournoblelordwasalterednaught,Inlook,inface,ingesture,orinthought。
XV
“Butsaid,`AcrownprepareyoutopossessOfmartyrdom,orhappyvictory;
ForthisIhope,forthatIwishnoless,Ofgreatermeritandofgreaterglory。
Brethren,thiscampwillshortlybe,Iguess,Atemple,sacredtoourmemory,Towhichtheholymenoffutureage,Toviewourgravesshallcomeinpilgrimage。’
XVI
“Thissaid,hesetthewatchinorderrightToguardthecamp,alongthetrenchesdeep,Andashearmedwas,soeveryknightHewilledonhisbackhisarmstokeep。
NowhadthestillnessofthequietnightDrownedalltheworldinsilenceandinsleep,Whensuddenlyweheardadreadfulsound,Whichdeafedtheearth,andtremblemadetheground。
XVII
“`Arm,arm,’theycried;PrinceSwenoatthesame,Glisteringinshiningsteelleapedforemostout,Hisvisageshone,hisnoblelooksdidflame,Withkindledbrandofcourageboldandstout,Whenlo,thePaganstoassaultuscame,Andwithhugenumbershemmedusroundabout,Aforestthickofspearsaboutusgrew,Andoverusacloudofarrowsflew:
XVIII
“Uneventhefight,unequalwasthefray,Ourenemiesweretwentymentoone,OneverysidetheslainandwoundedlayUnseen,wherenaughtbutglisteringweaponsshone:
Thenumberofthedeadcouldnomansay,Sowastheplacewithdarknessovergone,Thenighthermantleblackuponitsspreads,Hidingourlossesandourvaliantdeeds。
XIX
“ButhardySwenomidsttheothertrain,ByhisgreatactswaswelldescriedIwot,Nodarknesscouldhisvalor’sdaylightstain,Suchwondrousblowsoneverysidehesmote;
Astreamofblood,abankofbodiesslain,Abouthimmadeabulwarkofbodiesslain,Andwhensoe’erheturnedhisfatalbrand,Dreadinhislooksanddeathsateinhishand。
XX
“Thusfoughtwetillthemorningbrightappeared,Andstrewedrosesontheazuresky,Butwhenherlamphadnight’sthickdarknesscleared,Whereinthebodiesdeaddidburiedlie,Thenoursadcriestoheavenforgriefwereared,Ourlossapparentwas,forwedescryHowallourcampdestroyedwasalmost,Andallourpeoplewell-nighslainandlost;
XXI
“Ofthousandstwainanhundredscantsurvived。
WhenSwenomurderedsaweachvaliantknight,IknownotifhisheartinsunderrivedFordearcompassionofthatwofulsight;
Heshowednochange,butsaid:`SincesodeprivedWeareofallourfriendsbychanceoffight,Comefollowthem,thepathtoheaventheirbloodMarksout,nowangelsmade,ofmartyrsgood。’
XXII
“Thissaid,andgladIthinkofdeathathand,Thesignsofheavenlyjoyshonethroughhiseyes,OfSaracensagainstamightyband,Withfearlessheartandconstantbreastheflies;
NosteelcouldshieldthemfromhiscuttingbranButwhomhehitswithoutrecurehedies,HeneverstruckbutfelledorkilledhisfoeAndwoundedwashimselffromtoptotoe。
XXIII
“Notstrength,butcouragenow,preservedonliveThishardychampion,fortressofourfaith,Struckenhestrikes,stillstrongermoretheystrive,Themoretheyhurthim,morehedoththemscathe,Whentowardhimafuriousknightgandrive,Ofmembershuge,fiercelooks,andfullofwrath,ThatwiththeaidofmanyaPagancrew,Afterlongfight,atlastPrinceSwenoslew。
XXIV
“Ah,heavychance!Downfellthevaliantyouth,NormongstusalldidonesostrongappearAstorevengehisdeath:thatthisistruth,ByhisdearbloodandnoblebonesIswear,ThatofmylifeIhadnotcarenorruth,NowoundsIshunned,noblowsIwouldoffbear,AndhadnotHeavenmywishedenddenied,EventhereIshould,andwillingshould,havedied。
XXV
“AliveIfellamongmyfellowsslain,Yetwoundedsothateachonethoughtmedead,NorwhatourfoesdidsincecanIexplain,Sosoreamazedwasmyheartandhead;
ButwhenIopenedfirstmineeyesagain,Night’scurtainblackupontheearthwasspread,Andthroughthedarknesstomyfeeblesight,Appearedthetwinklingofaslenderlight。
XXVI
“NotsomuchforceorjudgementinmeliesAstodiscernthingsseenandnotmistake,IsawlikethemwhoopeandshuttheireyesByturns,nowhalfasleep,nowhalfawake;
Mybodyekeanothertormenttries,Mywoundsbegantosmart,myhurtstoache;
ForeverysoreeachmemberpinchedwasWithnight’ssharpair,heaven’sfrostandearth’scoldgrass。
XXVII
“Butstillthelightapproachednearandnear,Andwiththesameawhisperingmurmurrun,Tillatmysidearrivedboththeywere,WhenItospreadmyfeebleeyesbegun:
Twomenbeholdinvestureslongappear,Witheachalampinhand,whosaid,`OsonInthatdearLordwhohelpshisservants,trust,Whoeretheyask,grantsallthingstothejust。’
XXVIII
“Thissaid,eachonehissacredblessingsflingsUponmycorse,withbroadour-stretchedhand,Andmumbledhymnsandpsalmsandholythings,WhichIcouldneitherhearnorunderstand;
`Arise,’quoththey,withthatasIhadwings,AllwholeandsoundIleapedupfromtheland。
Ohmiracle,sweet,gentle,strangeandtrue!
Mylimbsnewstrengthreceived,andvigornew。
XXIX
“IgazedonthemlikeonewhoseheartdeniethTothinkthatdone,heseessostrangelywrought;
Tillonesaidthus,`Othouoflittlefaith,Whatdoubtsperplexthyunbelievingthought?
Eachoneofusalivingbodyhath,WeareChrist’schosenservants,fearusnaught,Whotoavoidtheworld’sallurementsvain,Inwilfulpenance,hermitspoorremain。
XXX
“`UsmessengerstocomforttheeelectThatLordhathsentthatrulesbothheavenandhell;
Whooftendothhisblessedwilleffect,Bysuchweakmeans,aswonderistotell;
Hewillnotthatthisbodylieneglect,WhereinsonoblesouldidlatelydwellTowhichagainwhenituprisenisItshallunitedbeinlastingbliss。
XXXI
“`IsayLordSweno’scorpse,forwhichpreparedAtombthereisaccordingtohisworth,Bywhichhishonorshallbefardeclared,Andhisjustpraisesspreadfromsouthtonorth:“
Butliftthineeyesuptotheheavensward,MarkyonderlightthatlikethesunshinesforthThatshalldirecttheewiththosebeamssoclear,Tofindthebodyofthymasterdear。’
XXXII
“WiththatIsawfromCynthia’ssilverface,Liketoafallingstarabeamdownslide,Thatbrightasgoldenlinemarkedouttheplace,Andlightenedwithclearstreamstheforestwide;
SoLatmosshonewhenPhoebeleftthechase,AndlaidherdownbyherEndymion’sside,SuchwasthelightthatwelldiscernIcould,Hisshape,hiswounds,hisface,thoughdead,yetbold。
XXXIII
“Helaynotgrovellingnow,butasaknightThateverhadtoheavenlythingsdesire,Sotowardheaventheprincelayboltupright,Likehimthatupwardstillsoughttoaspire,Hisrighthandclosedheldhisweaponbright,Readytostrikeandexecutehisire,Hisleftuponhisbreastwashumblylaid,Thatmenmightknow,thatwhilehediedheprayed。
XXXIV
“WhilstonhiswoundswithbootlesstearsIwept,Thatneitherhelpedhim,noreasedmycare,Oneofthoseagedfatherstohimstepped,Andforcedhishandthatneedlessweaponspare:
`Thissword,’quothhe,`hathyetgoodtokenkept,ThatofthePagans’bloodhedrunkhisshare,Andblushethstillhecouldnotsavehislord,Rich,strongandsharp,wasneverbettersword。
XXXV
“`Heaven,therefore,willnot,thoughtheprincebeslain,WhousedersttowieldthispreciousbrandThatsobravebladeunusedshouldremain;
Butthatitpassfromstrongtostrongerhand,Whowithlikeforcecanwieldthesameagain,Andlongershallingraceoffortunestand,AndwiththesameshallbittervengeancetakeOnhimthatSwenoslew,forSweno’ssake。
XXXVI
“`GreatSolymankilledSweno,SolymanForSweno’ssake,uponthisswordmustdie。
Here,taketheblade,andwithithastetheethanThitherwhereGodfreydothencampedlie,AndfearnotthouthatanyshallorcanOrstopthyway,orleadthystepsawry;
ForHethatdoththeeonthismessagesend,TheewithHishandshallguide,keepanddefend。
XXXVII
“`ArrivedthereitisHisblessedwill,WithtruereportthatthoudeclareandtellThezeal,thestrength,thecourageandtheskillInthybelovedlordthatlatediddwell,HowforChrist’ssakehecamehisbloodtospill,Andsamplelefttoallofdoingwell,Thatfutureagesmayadmirehisdeed,Andcouragetakewhenhisbraveendtheyread。
XXXVIII
“`Itrestethnow,thouknowthatgentleknightThatofthisswordshallbethymaster’sheir,ItisRinaldoyoung,withwhominmightAndmartialskillnochampionmaycompare,Giveittohimandsay,“TheHeavensbrightOfthisrevengetohimcommitthecare。“
WhilethusIlistenedwhatthisoldmansaid,Awondernewfromfurtherspeechusstayed;
XXXIX
“Fortherewhereasthewoundedbodylay,Astatelytombwithcuriouswork,behold,Andwondrousartwasbuiltoutoftheclay,Which,risinground,thecarcassdidenfold;
Withwordsengraveninthemarblegray,Thewarrior’sname,hisworthandpraisethattold,OnwhichIgazingstood,andoftenreadThatepitaphofmydearmasterdead。
XL
“`Amonghissoldiers,’quoththehermit,`hereMustSweno’scorpseremaininmarblechest,Whileuptoheavenareflowntheirspiritsdear,Toliveinendlessjoyforeverblest,HisfuneralthouhastwithmanyatearAccompanied,it’snowhightimetorest,Comebemyguest,untilthemorningrayShalllighttheworldagain,thentakethyway。’
XLI
“Thissaid,heledmeoverholtsandhags,ThroughthornsandbushesscantmylegsIdrewTillunderneathaheapofstonesandcragsAtlasthebroughtmetoasecretmew;
Amongthebears,wildboars,thewolvesandstags,Theredwelthesafewithhisdiscipletrue,Andfearednotreason,force,norhurtatall,Hisguiltlessconsciencewashiscastle’swall。
XLII
“Mysupperroots;mybedwasmossandleaves;
Butwearinessinlittlerestfoundease:
ButwhenthepurplemorningnightbereavesOflateusurpedruleonlandsandseas,Hisloathedcoucheachwakefulhermitleaves,Toprayrosethey,andI,forsotheyplease,Icongeetookwhenendedwasthesame,Andhitherward,astheyadvisedme,came。“
XLIII
TheDanehiswofultalehaddone,whenthusThegoodPrinceGodfreyansweredhim,“Sirknight,Thoubringesttidingssadanddolorous,Forwhichourheavycamplamentsofright,Sincesobravetroopsandsodearfriendstous,Onehourhathspent,inoneunluckyfight;
Andsoappearedhaththymasterstout,Aslightningdoth,nowkindled,nowquenchedout。
XLIV
“ButsuchadeathandendexceedethallTheconquestsvainofrealms,orspoilsofgold,NoragedRome’sproudstatelycapital,Didevertriumphyetliketheirsbehold;
Theysitinheavenonthronescelestial,Crownedwithglory,fortheirconquestbold,WhereeachhishurtsIthinktoothershows,Andgloryinthosebloodywoundsandblows。