CERDICK
,
TRANSLATED
FROM
THE
SAXON
.
THE
rose-crowned
dawn
dances
on
the
top
of
the
lofty
hill
.
Arise
,
O
Cerdick
,
from
thy
mossy
bed
,
for
the
noise
of
the
chariots
is
heard
in
the
valleys
.
Ye
Saxons
,
draw
the
sword
,
prepare
the
flying
dart
of
death
:
swift
as
the
glancing
sight
meet
the
foe
upon
the
brow
of
the
hill
,
and
cast
the
war
riors
headlong
into
the
roaring
stream
.
The
swords
of
the
Saxons
appear
on
the
high
rock
,
like
the
lake
of
death
reflecting
the
beams
of
the
morning
sun
.
The
Britons
begin
to
ascend
the
ragged
frag
ments
of
the
shrinking
rock
:
thick
as
the
hail
in
the
howling
storm
,
driven
down
the
mountain's
side
,
the
son
of
the
tempest
;
the
chariot
,
and
the
horse
roll
in
confusion
to
the
blood-stained
vale
.
Sons
of
war
,
descend
,
let
the
river
be
swelled
with
the
smoaking
streams
of
life
,
and
the
moun
tain
of
the
slain
ascend
to
the
stars
.
They
fall
beneath
the
spear
of
Cerdick
.
Sledda
is
a
flame
of
fire
.
Kenbert
scatters
the
never-erring
shaft
of
death
.
Aelle
is
a
tempest
,
a
cloud
bursting
in
blood
,
a
winter's
wind
blast
ing
the
soul
:
his
knees
are
encircled
with
life
warm
gore
,
his
white
robe
is
like
the
morning
sky
.
Ceaulin's
spear
is
exalted
like
the
star
of
the
evening
;
his
fallen
enemies
rise
in
hills
around
him
.
The
actions
of
Cerdick
astonish
the
soul
;
the
foe
is
melted
from
the
field
,
and
the
gods
have
lost
their
sacrifice
.
Cerdick
leans
upon
his
spear
,
he
sings
the
praises
of
the
gods
:
let
the
image
be
filled
with
the
bo
dies
of
the
dead
,
for
the
foe
is
swept
away
like
purple
bloom
of
the
grape
,
no
more
to
be
seen
.
The
sacred
flames
ascend
the
clouds
,
the
warriors
dance
around
it
.
The
evening
slowly
throws
her
dusky
vale
over
the
face
of
the
sun
.
Cerdick
arose
in
his
tent
.
Ye
sons
of
war
,
who
shake
the
silver
javelin
and
the
pointed
shield
,
arise
from
the
soft
slumbers
of
the
night
,
assemble
to
council
at
the
tent
of
Cer
dick
.
From
the
dark-brown
spring
,
from
the
verdant
top
of
the
impending
rock
,
from
the
flowery
vale
,
and
the
coppiced
heath
,
the
chiefs
of
the
war
arose
.
Graceful
as
the
flower
that
overlooks
the
silver
stream
,
the
mighty
Cerdick
stood
among
the
war
riors
:
attention
seals
up
their
lips
.
Why
will
ye
sleep
,
ye
Saxons
,
whilst
the
hang
ing
mountain
of
fortune
trembles
over
our
heads
;
Let
us
gird
on
the
reeking
sword
,
and
wrap
in
flame
the
town
of
Doranceastre
:
strong
as
the
foundation
of
the
earth
,
swift
as
the
impetuous
stream
,
deadly
as
the
corrupted
air
,
sudden
as
the
whirlwind
piercing
to
the
hidden
bed
of
the
sea
,
armed
in
the
red
lightnings
of
the
storm
,
will
we
come
upon
the
foe
.
Prepare
the
sword
and
shield
,
and
follow
the
descendant
of
Woden
.
As
when
the
sable
clouds
incessantly
descend
in
rivers
of
rain
to
the
wood-crowned
hills
,
the
foundation
of
the
ground
is
loosened
,
and
the
forest
gently
slides
to
the
valley
,
such
was
the
ap
pearance
of
the
warriors
,
moving
to
the
city
of
Doranceastre
:
the
spears
appeared
like
the
stars
of
the
black
night
,
their
spreading
shields
like
the
evening
sky
.
Turn
your
eyes
,
O
ye
Saxons
,
to
the
distant
mountain
:
on
the
spreading
top
a
company
is
seen
;
they
are
like
the
locusts
of
the
East
,
like
a
dark-brown
cloud
expanding
in
the
wind
:
they
come
down
the
hills
like
the
stones
of
hail
;
the
javelin
nods
over
the
helm
;
death
sports
in
their
shadows
.
They
are
children
of
Woden
:
see
the
god
of
battle
fans
the
air
,
the
red
sword
waves
in
their
banner
.
Ye
sons
of
battle
,
wait
their
ap
proach
,
let
their
eyes
be
feasted
with
the
chaplets
of
victory
.
It
is
Kenrick
!
I
see
the
lightning
on
his
shield
!
his
eyes
are
two
stars
,
his
arm
is
the
arrow
of
death
!
he
drinks
the
blood
of
the
foe
,
as
the
rays
of
the
summer
sun
drink
the
softly
stealing
brook
:
he
moves
like
the
moon
,
attended
by
the
stars
;
his
blood-stained
robe
flies
around
him
,
like
the
white
clouds
of
the
evening
,
tinged
with
the
red
beams
of
the
sinking
sun
.
See
the
chaplet
hangs
on
his
helm
:
shade
him
,
O
ye
sons
of
war
,
with
the
pointed
shield
.
Kenrick
approaches
;
the
shields
of
the
brave
hang
over
his
head
.
He
speaks
;
attention
dances
on
the
ear
.
Son
of
Woden
,
receive
a
conquering
son
;
the
bodies
of
the
slain
rise
in
mountains
;
the
ashes
of
the
towns
choak
up
the
river
;
the
roaring
stream
of
Severn
is
filled
with
the
slaughtered
sons
of
thunder
;
the
warriors
hang
upon
the
cliffs
of
the
red
rocks
;
the
mighty
men
,
like
the
sacrifice
of
yesterday
,
will
be
seen
no
more
;
the
briars
shall
hide
the
plain
;
the
grass
dwell
in
the
desolate
ha
bitation
;
the
wolf
shall
sleep
in
the
palace
,
and
the
fox
in
the
temple
of
the
gods
;
the
sheep
shall
wander
without
a
shepherd
,
and
the
goats
be
scat
tered
in
the
high
mountains
,
like
the
surrows
on
the
bank
of
the
swelling
flood
;
the
enemies
are
swept
away
;
the
gods
are
glutted
with
blood
,
and
peace
arises
from
the
solitary
grove
.
Joy
wantons
in
the
eye
of
Cerdick
.
By
the
powers
that
send
the
tempest
,
the
red
lightning
,
and
roaring
thunder
;
by
the
God
of
war
,
whose
delight
is
in
blood
,
and
who
preys
upon
the
souls
of
the
brave
;
by
the
powers
of
the
great
deep
,
I
swear
that
Kenrick
shall
sit
on
my
throne
,
guide
the
sanguine
spear
of
war
,
and
the
glittering
sceptre
of
peace
.
Cerdick
girds
his
son
with
the
sword
of
royalty
:
The
warriors
dance
around
him
;
the
clanging
shields
echo
to
the
distant
vales
;
the
fires
ascend
the
skies
;
the
town
of
Doranceastre
increases
the
flame
,
and
the
great
image
is
red
with
the
blood
of
the
captives
:
the
cries
of
the
burning
soe
are
drowned
in
the
songs
of
joy
;
the
ashes
of
the
image
are
scattered
in
the
air
,
the
bones
of
the
foe
are
broken
to
dust
.
Great
is
the
valour
of
Cerdick
,
great
is
the
strength
of
Kenrick
.
D.
B.
Bristol
,
May
20
.