weapon of war; his words he uttered:
“Lo, great was thy faith, Burgundians’-friend,[1]
15that Hagen’s hand would hold me to warfare,
unfit me for fighting! Now fetch, if thou darest,
from so battle-worn[2] man this breastplate gray!
Here it stands on my shoulders, splendid with gold,
Ælfhere’s heirloom, amply studded,[3]
20no evil armor for atheling’s wear
if only with hands he can heart and life
guard from his foes. It fails me never
when cruel unkindred[4] crowd upon me,
beset me with swords, as ye sought me here!
25Yet One Only[5] availeth the victory to give,
ready to aid whatever is right!
Whoso hopes for help from the Holy One,
Grace of God, will get it surely,
if his ways have earlier earned him that.
30Then haughty heroes may have their reward,
and wield their wealth. . . .
- ↑ Kenning for “king,” as in Beowulf.
- ↑ See introductory remarks above. Waldere has slain all the vassals of Guthhere save Hagen, if we follow the account of Ekkehard.
- ↑ “Wide-nebbed.”
- ↑ Unmægas.—The adjective “cruel” is conjectured.
- ↑ This is not so incongruous as it looks from the point of view of the preceding boast. The concession to Wyrd, or Fate, probably formed a part of these old speeches of defiance. “Wyrd goes aye as she must,” says Beowulf. New theology accented the concession and added the graces of Christian humility.
