Ageless Words: The Battle of Stamford Bridge and Two Poems

This post follows the AWF post about Anglo-Saxon poetry about the Battle of Maldon.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge

The date is 25 September 1066. The place is Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire. On this day Saxons and Vikings will meet in battle. Swords will clash. Shields will break. And poetry will be composed.

(The Old Norse text can be found below the English translation.)

Men say that King Harald recited this verse:

“We went forth in the ranks,

byrnie-less, with blue edges;

helmets shine, I have not mine,

my coat lies on the ship below.”

His byrnie was called Emma; it went all the way down to the middle of his leg, and was so strong that no weapon had any effect on it. Then King Harald said, 'That was poorly composed, so I shall now devise another better verse', and then recited this:

“We do not creep in battle,

before the clashing of weapons,

behind the curve of the shield –

so commanded by the lady of the hawk’s land, true of speech;

the lady bade me, where meet

skulls and the ice of battle,

long ago to carry on high

the helmet’s seat into the clash of metal.”

Now the Angles give the Norsemen a charge and a harsh reception comes in return, and so the long spears were set and it hit hard against the horses.

And the Old Norse:

Þet sæghia menn, at Haraldr konongr kvǽðe vísu þessa:

"Fram gengom vér í fylkingu,
        bryniulausir meðr blár æggiar;
        hialmar skína, hæfkaðek mína;
        nú liggr scrúð várt at scipum niðri."

Emma hét brynia hans; hon tóc ofan í mitt bæin hanum, oc svá stærk at æcki festi vápn á henne. Þá mǽlti Haraldr konongr, "Þetta er illa ort, oc scal gæra nú aðra vísu bætri." oc cvað þá þetta:

"Kriúpum vér firir vópna
        (valtæigs) brökon æighi
        (svá bauð Hilldr) at hialdri
        (haldorð) í bugh skialdar;
        hátt bað mec, þer's mœtozt,
        mennskurð bera forðom,
        lackar ís oc höusar,
        hialmstal í gný malma."

Nú væita Ænglar Norðmönnum áreið oc varð á mót viðrtaca hörð, oc svá váro sættar kæsiurnar oc koms þet mest viðr hestana.

This translation is courtesy of www.utexas.edu – Lessons in Old Norse. For more information about the Battle of Stamford Bridge, you can visit http://www.britainexpress.com/History/battles/stamford-bridge.htm