hero grizzly-haired,
of the bill-clashing,
the old deceiver;
nor Analf the moor,
with the remnant of their armies
they had no cause to laugh
that they in war's works
the better men were
in the battle-stead,
at the conflict of banners,
meeting of spears,
concourse of men,
traffic of weapons;
that they on the slaughter-field
with Edward's
offspring played.
The North-men departed
in their nailed barks;
bloody relic of darts,
on roaring ocean
o'er the deep water
Dublin to seek,
again Ireland,
shamed in mind.
So too the brothers,
both together,
king and etheling,
their country sought.
West-Saxons' land,
in the war exulting.
They left behind them,
the corse to devour,
the sallowy kite
and the swarthy raven
with horned nib,
and the dusky 'pada,'
erne white-tailed,
the corse to enjoy,
greedy war-hawk,
and the grey beast,
wolf of the wood.
Carnage greater has not been
in this island
ever yet
of people slain,
before this,
by edges of swords,
as books us say,
old writers,
since from the east hither,
Angles and Saxons
came to land,
o'er the broad seas
Britain sought,
mighty war-smiths,
the Welsh o'ercame,
earls most bold,
this earth obtained.
A. 937. This year king Athelstan and Edmund his brother led a force to Brumby, and mere fought against Anlaf; and, Christ helping, had the victory: and they there slew five kings and seven earls,
A. 938. 939.
A. 940. This year king Athelstan died at Gloucester on the 6th before the Kalends of November, about forty-one years, except one day, after king Alfred died. And Edmund the etheling, his brother, succeeded to the kingdom, and he was then eighteen years of age; and king Athelstan reigned fourteen years and ten weeks. Then was Wulfhelm archbhishop in Kent.
A. 941, This year the North-humbrians were false to
