VERSION OF THE SAXON ODE, On the Victory of King Athelstan, at Brunanburgh. A. D. 938. BY THE EDITOR. THIS ODE, which is generally supposed to have been the composition of some Saxon bard cotemporary with the event it celebrates, is here versified from the text of the original, given in Ellis's Ancient Romances, v. i, 14; to which is annexed, an exactly literal prose translation. This copy, which Mr. Ellis received from a learned friend, was taken from two MSS. in the Cotton. Lib., British Museum,-Tiberius, B. IV. and A. VI.; and it differs materially from the version given in Hickes' Saxon Grammar, and that in the Saxon Chronicle, which latter appears now in the garb of prose. On the respective merits of these, and on the points of difference, the Editor will not presume to give any opinion. His object has been, simply to offer a close and literal version of Mr. Ellis's copy, with no other interpolations than were absolutely necessary in giving it a metrical form : and he deemed it more advisable, in this manner, to shew the precise character and genius of the original, and the intimate connexion between the two languages, than to attempt investing it with the artificial decorations of modern refinement. The reader will, therefore, not expect any of that romantic beauty which is to be found in Gray's imitations of ancient Northern Poetry. An account of the circumstances of the battle, may be seen in Hume's or in Goldsmith's History, or any similar work. * KING ATHELSTAN of warlike mould, Ætheling signifies "the young noble :"-Æthel-stan, "the very noble." B Of elders good a mighty train In shock of war have featly slain. To them, of ancient race and name, Scotland's sons of land and deep, ‡ Thick sweat the warriors' limbs o'erspread, Camden places this in Northumberland, on the coast between Bamborough, and Coldingham in Scotland, and opposite to Lindisfarn, or Holy Island; and the name of the village at present nearest the site, he represents to be Ford, near Bromeridge. But Bishop Gibson, on the authority of Florence of Worcester, who pronounces the hostile fleets to have entered the Humber, offers a conjecture, that the site of the engagement might have been much higher up;-in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire. Such vexatious differences the Editor has before found to be not uncommon amongst antiquaries; but he believes that, in the present instance, the former idea has by far the more numerous supporters. Mr. Hutchinson, in his History of Northumberland, inclines to Bishop Gibson's opinion of Broomridge, in that county, being the site of the battle; adding, that "the many lines, breastworks, and entrenchments still remaining, testify that this was the place of some great action." He also (on the authority of some one of our old chroniclers) adds, as an ally to Constantine and Anlaf, Eugenius, Oweine, or Ewaine, King of Cumberland, who fell in the engagement, and whom he supposes to have been buried in Penrith Church-yard, under a curious old monument, which remains to this day. + In one literal translation, this is rendered "banners." The Saxon answers to the English "lad." -Since o'er the fields at morning tide Full many a soldier strewed the field; The Wessex army all the day The sharpness of their piercing steel.‡ * Saxon," the more (i. e. greater) twinkler.” + North-men,- a general term for Danes, called also Dacians, Norwegians or Norse, Icelanders, and others; also, for the inhabitants of Orkney and Shetland, who were eminent for piracy on a large scale, and styled themselves sea-kings, or earls, and their ships sea-dragons. They here appear as allies to Scotland, although generally opposed, as in the modern ballad of Hardyknute, which is yet true to history. Literally, they "drilled" holes, or wounds, with their swords. This may also mean that they were kings at the time. The Saxon word is "unrim," said to be from the Latin innumerus.— The next word signifies, literally, "harassers." |