Hasten, O sea-steed, over the swan-road,
Foamy-necked ship o'er the froth of the sea!
For Hengest has called us from Gotland and Frisia
To Vortigern's country, his army to be.
We'll take our pay there in sweeter than silver,
We'll take our plunder in richer than gold,
For Hengest has promised us land for our fighting,
Land that the sons of the Saxons shall hold!
Hasten, O fyrds-men, down to the river;
The dragon ships come on the in-flowing tide.
The linden-wood shield and the old spear of ash-wood
Are needed again by the cold waterside.
O Draw up the shield-wall, O shoulder-companions;
Later, whenever our story is told,
They'll say that we died guarding what we call dearest,
Land that the sons of the Saxons shall hold!
Hasten, O house-carls, north to the Danelaw;
Harald Hardrada comes over the sea!
His longships he's laden with beresarks from Norway
To claim Canute's crown and our master to be.
Bitter he'll find there the bite of our spear-points,
Hard ruling Northmen too strong to die old.
We'll grant him six feet - - plus as much as he's taller - -
Of land that the sons of the Saxons do hold!
Make haste, son of Godwin, southward from Stamford,
Triumph is sweet and your men have fought hard,
But William the Bastard has landed at Pevensey,
Burning the land you have promised to guard.
Draw up the spears on the hill-tops of Hastings,
Fight till the sun drops and evening grows cold,
And die with the last of your Saxons around you,
Holding the land you were given to hold!