though they were battle-standards

2 then 3 did

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30

To Argante there quene,

Alven swithe sceone; 31

And heo 32 scal mine wunden

Makien alle isunde,33

Al hal 34 me makien

Mid haleweiye drenchen.35

And seothe 36 ich cumen wulle

To mine kineriche 37

And wunien 38 mid Brutten

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Mid muchelere wunne." 39

Efne than worden 40

Ther com of se wenden 41

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That wes an sceort bat lithen,12

great fey

6 they came 7 together 8 raised 9 rushed 10 locked long swords 11 laid on, struck upon 12 made fire leap out 13 rattled spears 14 shields did shiver 15 shafts broke to pieces 16 fought 17 together 18 a-flood 19 measureless 20 no man in the fight 21 recognize no warrior 22 23 did 24 better 25 conflict 26 confused

nor

27 each 28 struck

29 swain 30 knight 1 slain 32 and put from life-days

35 re

34 the brave 38 table 41 with broad slaughter43 in the least

37 the Britons

1 thrust 2 then in the fight remaining who lay hewed to pieces 8 but alone 11 wondrously much 13 who young man 15 was named 16 to the 17 the ground words 10 thou wert 20 I commit to thee here 21 kingdom 22 defend ever during thy life 24 keep for them 25 customs, laws 26 that have stood in my days 27 I will go 28 fairest 29 of all 30 the 31 elf very beautiful 32 she 33 well 34 whole 35 with healing draughts 36 afterwards 37 kingdom 38 dwell 39 with great joy I even with these words 41 from the sea moving 42 that was a short boat gliding

40