About Me

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I am Miss Pancake Taylor. I have come from very far away to take care of my family Craig and Zita and Niamh and Emmet. Sometimes I have helpers; my friends the Blackthorn-Badgers. They are very old Scotsmen. I am very glad to meet you.

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

The Battle of Maldon


      .......  would be broken.
    Then he ordered a warrior each horse be let free,
    driven afar and advance onward,
    giving thought to deeds of arms and to steadfast courage.
    Then it was that Offa's kinsman first perceived,
    that the Earl would not endure cowardice,
    for he let then from his hand flee his beloved
    falcon towards the woods and there to battle went forth.
    By this a man might understand that this youth would not
    prove soft at the coming battle, when he takes up arms.
    Further Eadric desired to serve his chief,
    his lord to fight with; and so he advanced forward
    his spear to battle. He had a dauntless spirit
    as long as he with hands might be able to grasp
    shield and broad sword: the vow he would carry out
    that he had made before his lord saying he would fight.
    Then Byrhtnoth marshalled his soldiers,
    riding and instructing, directing his warriors
    how they should stand and the positions they should keep,
    and ordering that their shields properly stand firm
    with steady hands and be not afraid.


    Then when he beheld that people in suitable array,
    he dismounted amid his people, where he was most pleased to
    be,
    there amid his retainers knowing their devotion.
    Then stood on the shore, stoutly calling out
    a Viking messenger, making speech,
    menacingly delivering the sea-pirate's
    message to this Earl on the opposite shore standing:
    "I send to you from the bold seamen,
    a command to tell that you must quickly send
    treasures to us, and it would be better to you if
    with tribute buy off this conflict of spears
    than with us bitter battle share.


    No need to slaughter each other if you be generous with us;
    we would be willing for gold to bring a truce.
    If you believe which of these is the noblest path,
    and that your people are desirous of assurance,
    then pay the sea-farers on their own terms
    money towards peace and receive peace from us,
    for we with this tribute will take to our ships,
    depart on the sea and keep peace with you."


    Byrhtnoth spoke, his shield raised aloft,
    brandishing a slender ash-wood spear, speaking words,
    wrathful and resolute did he give his answer:
    "Hear now you, pirate, what this people say?
    They desire to you a tribute of spears to pay,
    poisoned spears and old swords,
    the war-gear which you in battle will not profit from.
    Sea-thieves messenger, deliver back in reply,
    tell your people this spiteful message,
    that here stands undaunted an Earl with his band of men
    who will defend our homeland,
    Aethelred's country, the lord of my
    people and land. Fall shall you
    heathen in battle! To us it would be shameful
    that you with our coin to your ships should get away
    without a fight, now you thus far
    into our homeland have come.


    You shall not so easily carry off our treasure:
    with us must spear and blade first decide the terms,
    fierce conflict, is the tribute we will hand over."
    He then ordered their shields taken up, his soldiers
    advancing
    until on the river-bank they all stood.
    Because of the river they were not able this band of men to
    fight the other:
    there came flowing the flood after the tide;
    joining in the tidal stream. Too long it seemed to him
    until the time when they together with spears join in battle.


    There they on the Pante stream with pride lined the
    banks,
    East Saxon spears and the sea-raider army;
    nor might any harm the other
    unless through an arrow's flight death receive.
    Then the tide went out. The seamen stood ready,
    many Vikings eager for battle.


    Then the heroes' protector ordered that the causeway be held
    by a warrior stern -- Wulfstan was his name --
    valiant with his people: that was Ceola's son,
    who the first man with his spear slain
    was one who boldly on the causeway stood.
    There fought with Wulfstan warriors fearless,
    Aelfere and Maccus, two great in courage,
    who would not at this fjord take to flight,
    but stoutly against the enemy defended themselves
    while with their weapons they might wield.


    Then they understood and clearly saw
    that this guarding of the causeway was a fierce encounter,
    and so began to use guile, the hateful strangers,
    asked that passage to land they might have,
    to the shore and pass the fjord would this force lead.
    Then the Earl permitted in his great pride
    to allow land many of these hateful people;
    and so then shouted on the shore of the cold water
    Byrhtelm's child -- and the warriors listened:
    "Now the way is open to you: come quickly to us
    you men to battle. God alone knows
    who on this field of honor may be allowed to be the master
    of."
    Then advanced the wolves of slaughter, for water they
    cared not for, this band of Vikings;
    west over the Pante's
    shining water shore they carried their shields,
    these men of the fleet towards land advanced their linden
    shields.


    There against the enemy stood ready
    Byrhtnoth with his soldiers. He with his shield commanded
    to form the battle ranks and that force of men to hold fast
    firmly towards the enemy. Then was the fight near,
    glory in battle. The time was come
    that these doomed men would fall in battle.


    There came the loud clamor. Ravens circled around,
    eagles eager for carrion. On Earth was the battlecry.
    They then sent forth from their hands shafts hard as
    file,
    murderously sharpened spears flew.
    Bows were busily at work, shields received spears.
    Fierce was that onslaught. Warriors fell in battle
    on either side, young men lay slain.


    Wounded was Wulfmaer, meeting death on the battlefield,
    Byrhtnoth's kinsman: he with sword was,
    his sister's son, cruelly hewn down.
    There were the Vikings given requital:
    I hear that Eadweard smote one
    fiercely with his sword, withholding not in his blow,
    so that at his feet fell a doomed warrior;
    for this he of his people gave thanks for,
    this chamber-thane, when the opportunity arose.
    So stood firm of purpose
    these young men in battle, eagerly giving thought
    to who there with spear-points was first able
    of doomed men's life destroy,
    warriors with weapons. The slain in battle fell to Earth.
    Steadfast and unyielding, Byrhtnoth exhorted them,
    bidding that each young warrior's purpose to this battle,
    against the Danes a desire to win glory in war.


    Advanced again to fierce battle, weapons raised up,
    shields to defense, and towards these warriors they stepped.
    Resolute they approached Earl to the lowest Yeoman:
    each of them intent on harm for the enemy.


    Sent then a sea-warrior a spear of southern make
    that wounded the warrior lord.
    He thrust then with his shield such that the spear shaft
    burst,
    and that spear-head shattered as it sprang in reply.
    Enraged became that warrior: with anger he stabbed
    that proud Viking who had given him that wound.


    Experienced was that warrior; he thrust his spear forward
    through the warrior's neck, his hand guiding
    so that he this ravager's life would fatally pierce.
    Then he with another stab speedily pierced the ravager
    so that the chainmail coat broke: this man had a breast wound
    cut through the linked rings; through his heart stuck
    a deadly spear. The Earl was the better pleased:
    laughed then this great man of spirit, thanking the Creator
    for
    the day's work which the Lord had given him.
    And so then another warrior a spear from the other side
    flew out of hand, which deeply struck
    through the noble Aethelred's retainer.


    To him by his side stood a young man not fully grown,
    a youth on the battlefield, who valiantly
    pulled out of this warrior the bloody spear,
    Wulfstan's child, Wulfmaer the younger;
    and so with blinding speed came the shaft in reply.
    The spear penetrated, for that who on the Earth now lay
    among his people, the one who had sorely pierced.
    Went then armed a man to this Earl;
    he desirous of this warrior's belongings to take off with,
    booty and rings and an ornamental sword.
    Then Byrhtnoth drew his sword from its sheath
    broad and bright of blade, and then struck the man's coat of
    mail.


    But too soon he was prevented by a certain sea-scavenger,
    and then the Earl's arm was wounded.
    Fall then to the ground with his gold-hilted sword:
    his grip unable to hold the heavy sword,
    or wield the weapon. Then still uttered those words
    of the grey-haired warrior, encouraging the younger warriors,
    bidding to advance stoutly together.


    Not could he on his feet any longer stand firmly up,
    and so he looked to heaven:
    "I thank you, Lord of my people,
    all the joys which I on this world have experienced.
    "Now I ask, oh merciful Creator, the greatest hope
    that to you my spirit shall be granted salvation
    that my soul to thee be permitted to journey
    and into your power, King of Angels,
    with peace I depart. I only beseech that
    the fiends of hell shall not be permitted to harm me."
    Then he was slain by the heathen warriors;
    and both of those warriors which by him stood,
    Aelfnoth and Wulmaer were each slain,
    close by their lord did they give up their lives.


    Then turned away from battle those that would not stay:
    there went Odda's child first to flight,
    Godric fled from the battle, and the noble abandoned
    the one which had often given him many a horse.
    He leapt upon the mount of the steed which had once been his
    lord's,
    on those trappings of which he was not fit,
    he and with his brothers both galloped away,
    Godwine and Godwig not caring for battle,
    but turned away from this battlefield and to the forest fled,
    seeking a place of safety and to protect their lives,
    and many more men than what is right were there,
    then if they had acted deservingly and all remembered
    he, who had to them, all benefits did make.


    Thus had Offa on that day first said
    at the meeting place, there at the council,
    that there would be boldly many a boastful speech
    which at the time of stress would not endure.
    So now was laid low the Chief of this army,
    Aethelred's Earl. All saw those
    sharers of the hearth that their lord lay slain.


    But then there advanced onward those splendid retainers,
    undaunted men hastening eagerly:
    they desired all one of two things,
    to leave life or else to avenge their dear lord.
    And so exhorting them to advance was the child of
    Aelfrices,
    a warrior young in winters whose words spoke,
    Aelfwine then said, he in valiant talk:
    "Remember the speeches which we had often at mead spoken,
    that we on the bench had loudly uttered vows,
    warriors in the hall, concerning bitter strife:
    Now may we prove who is truly valiant!
    I am willing that my royal descent be made known to all men,
    that I was of Mercian blood greatly kindred;
    my grandfather was named Ealhelm,
    a wise alderman and very prosperous.
    Not shall me these people's liegeman reproach
    that I of this army am willing to depart from,
    a homeland seek, now that my lord lies slain
    and hewn down in battle. Mine is that sorrow greatest:
    he was both my kinsman and my lord."
    Then he advanced onward, remembering with hostility,
    then he with spear-point pierced one
    pirate in their host, and to the ground lie slain
    killed with the weapon. He began then to exhorted his
    comrades,
    friends and compatriots, that they advance onward.



    Offa spoke, shaking his ashen spear:
    "Lo, thou Aelfwine, have your words thus reminded
    us liegemen to our allegiance. Now our people's protector
    lies slain,
    the Earl is on the Earth, and to us all is our need
    that one another encourage each other
    warriors to battle, while with weapons we are able
    to have and grasp, the hard blade,
    the spear and the good sword. To us has Godric,
    that cowardly sun of Odda, all betrayed.


    Many men believed, then when he rode on the horse,
    on that splendid steed, that it was our lord.
    Because of that happening here on the battlefield the people
    scattered,
    the wall of shields breaking asunder. Shame on that action,
    for because of him thus many a man was caused to flee!"
    Leofsunu spoke and his linden shield was raised,
    the board to defense; this warrior replied:
    "I that swear, that from here I will not
    flee a foot's space, as my desire is to advance further,
    avenge in battle-strife my lord and friend.


    I have no desire among Sturmere's unyielding heroes
    to reproach my word, now that my patron has perished,
    that I now lordless go on a homeward journey,
    having turned away from battle, but rather I shall be taken by
    weapons,
    either spear or iron." Wrathfully he advanced,
    fighting resolutely, for he despised flight.
    Dunnere then said, brandishing his spear,
    a simple yeoman calling out to the entire shore,
    exhorting that each warrior avenge Byrhtnoth:
    "One cannot retreat who intends vengeance
    for our lord of the host, if their lives they care not for."
    So then they pressed forward, caring not about their lives.
    Then began these retainers to fiercely fight,
    ferocious warriors armed with spears, and praying to God
    that they might avenge their lord and patron
    and on their enemy death make.


    Thus the hostage himself willingly helped;
    he was a Northumbrian of a brave family,
    Ecglaf's child; he was named Aescferth.
    He hesitated not at the play of battle,
    but shot forward many arrows;
    here striking a shield, there cutting down a warrior,
    at almost every moment giving out some wound,
    all the while with his weapon he would wield.
    Yet still at the battle front stood Eadweard the tall
    ready and eager, speaking vaunting words
    that he would not flee a foot's ground,
    or turn away back to the bank, then leave his superior where
    he lay.


    He broke through that wall of shields and among the warriors
    fought,
    until his bounteous lord upon those sea-men
    did worthily avenge, and he on the battlefield lie slain.
    So did Aetheric, noble comrade,
    press forward and eager to advance fight resolutely,
    Sibyrht's brother and very many others;
    splitting the enemy's shields, valiantly they defended
    themselves.


    Rang the shield rims, and sang the corselets of mail
    a certain terrible dirge. Then at the battle's height
    Offa a sea-farer sent to the Earth dead,
    and there Gadd's kinsman was laid low to the ground:
    soon it was at battle that Offa was hewn down.
    He had however accomplished that vow to his lord
    that he had uttered before to his giver of rings,
    that either they both ride to the fortified
    home unhurt or else perish fighting
    on the battlefield and die of their wounds.
    He lay slain nobly near the lord of his people.


    Then it happened that the shields broke through. The sea-
    warriors advanced,
    to battle enraged. Spear often pierced
    the doomed houses of life. Onward then advanced Wistan,
    Thurhstan's son, to these warriors fought.


    He was among the throng and slew three,
    before Wigelm's child lay slain in battle.
    There was severe combat. Stood firm
    did these warriors in battle. Warriors perished
    exhausted by their wounds. The slain fell dead to the Earth.
    Oswold and Eadwold all this time,
    both of these brothers encouraged the soldiers,
    their beloved kinsman they would exhort through words
    that they needed to endure
    without weakening and make use of their weapons.
    Byrhtwold spoke, shield raised aloft --
    he was an old loyal retainer -- and brandished his spear;
    he very boldly commanded the warriors:
    "Our hearts must grow resolute, our courage more valiant,
    our spirits must be greater, though our strength grows less.


    Here lies our Lord all hewn down,
    goodly he lies in the dust. A kinsman mourns
    that who now from this battle-play thinks to turn away.
    I am advanced in years. I do not desire to be taken away,
    but I by my liege Lord,
    by that favorite of men I intend to lie."
    So then did Aethelgar's child enbolden them all,
    Godric to battle. Often he sent forth spears,
    deadly shaft sped away onto the Vikings;
    thus he on this people went out in front of battle,
    cutting down and smiting, until he too on the battlefield
    perished.

    This was not that Godric who from the battle had flown away...


 
Translation by Douglas B. Killings

Platform One

Holiday squeals, as if all were scrambling for their lives,
Panting aboard the “Cornish Riviera”.
Then overflow of relief and luggage and children,
Then duckling to smile out as the station moves.
Out there on the platform, under the rain,
Under his rain-cape, helmet and full pack,
Somebody, head bowed reading something,
Doesn’t know he’s missing his train.
He’s completely buried in that book.
He’s forgotten utterly where he is.
He’s forgotten Paddington, forgotten
Timetables, forgotten the long, rocking
Cradle of a journey into the golden West,
The coach’s soft wingbeat – as light
And straight as a dove’s flight.
Like a graveyard statue sentry cast
In blackened bronze. Is he reading poems?
A letter? The burial service? The raindrops
Beaded along his helmet rim are bronze.
The words on his page are bronze. Their meanings bronze.
Sunk in his bronze world he stands, enchanted.
His bronze mind is deep among the dead.
Sunk so deep among the dead that, much
As he would like to remember us all, he cannot.


Ted Hughes
Requiem for the Croppies

The pockets of our greatcoats full of barley...
No kitchens on the run, no striking camp...
We moved quick and sudden in our own country.


The priest lay behind ditches with the tramp.
A people hardly marching... on the hike...
We found new tactics happening each day:
We'd cut through reins and rider with the pike
And stampede cattle into infantry,
Then retreat through hedges where cavalry must be thrown.
Until... on Vinegar Hill... the final conclave.


Terraced thousands died, shaking scythes at cannon.
The hillside blushed, soaked in our broken wave.
They buried us without shroud or coffin
And in August... the barley grew up out of our grave.
 


Seamus Heaney
MCMXIV

Those long uneven lines
Standing as patiently
As if they were stretched outside
The Oval or Villa Park,
The crowns of hats, the sun
On moustached archaic faces
Grinning as if it were all
An August Bank Holiday lark;

And the shut shops, the bleached
Established names on the sunblinds,
The farthings and sovereigns,
And dark-clothed children at play
Called after kings and queens,
The tin advertisements
For cocoa and twist, and the pubs
Wide open all day;

And the countryside not caring:
The place-names all hazed over
With flowering grasses, and fields
Shadowing Domesday lines
Under wheat's restless silence;
The differently-dressed servants
With tiny rooms in huge houses,
The dust behind limousines;

Never such innocence,
Never before or since,
As changed itself to past
Without a word - the men
Leaving the gardens tidy,
The thousands of marriages
Lasting a little while longer:
Never such innocence again.


Philip Larkin
Aristocrats

"I Think I Am Becoming A God"

The noble horse with courage in his eye,
clean in the bone, looks up at a shellburst:
away fly the images of the shires
but he puts the pipe back in his mouth.
Peter was unfortunately killed by an 88;
it took his leg away, he died in the ambulance.
I saw him crawling on the sand, he said
It's most unfair, they've shot my foot off.

How can I live among this gentle
obsolescent breed of heroes, and not weep?
Unicorns, almost,
for they are fading into two legends
in which their stupidity and chivalry
are celebrated. Each, fool and hero, will be an immortal.
These plains were their cricket pitch
and in the mountains the tremendous drop fences
brought down some of the runners. Here then
under the stones and earth they dispose themselves,
I think with their famous unconcern.
It is not gunfire I hear, but a hunting horn.


Keith Douglas
Strange Meeting

It seemed that out of battle I escaped
Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped
Through granites which titanic wars had groined.

Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned,
Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred.
Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared
With piteous recognition in fixed eyes,
Lifting distressful hands, as if to bless.
And by his smile, I knew that sullen hall,—
By his dead smile I knew we stood in Hell.

With a thousand fears that vision's face was grained;
Yet no blood reached there from the upper ground,
And no guns thumped, or down the flues made moan.
“Strange friend,” I said, “here is no cause to mourn.”
“None,” said that other, “save the undone years,
The hopelessness. Whatever hope is yours,
Was my life also; I went hunting wild
After the wildest beauty in the world,
Which lies not calm in eyes, or braided hair,
But mocks the steady running of the hour,
And if it grieves, grieves richlier than here.


For by my glee might many men have laughed,
And of my weeping something had been left,
Which must die now. I mean the truth untold,
The pity of war, the pity war distilled.
Now men will go content with what we spoiled.
Or, discontent, boil bloody, and be spilled.
They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress.
None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress.
Courage was mine, and I had mystery;
Wisdom was mine, and I had mastery:
To miss the march of this retreating world
Into vain citadels that are not walled.
Then, when much blood had clogged their chariot-wheels,
I would go up and wash them from sweet wells,
Even with truths that lie too deep for taint.
I would have poured my spirit without stint
But not through wounds; not on the cess of war.
Foreheads of men have bled where no wounds were.

“I am the enemy you killed, my friend.
I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned
Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.
I parried; but my hands were loath and cold.
Let us sleep now. . . .”


Wilfred Owen
Christ and the Soldier

I


The straggled soldier halted -- stared at Him -- Then clumsily dumped down upon his knees, Gasping

"O blessed crucifix, I'm beat !"

And Christ, still sentried by the seraphim, Near the front-line, between two splintered trees, Spoke him:

"My son, behold these hands and feet."

The soldier eyed him upward, limb by limb, Paused at the Face, then muttered,

"Wounds like these Would shift a bloke to Blighty just a treat !"

Christ, gazing downward, grieving and ungrim, Whispered,

"I made for you the mysteries, Beyond all battles moves the Paraclete."


II


The soldier chucked his rifle in the dust, And slipped his pack, and wiped his neck, and said --

"O Christ Almighty, stop this bleeding fight !"

Above that hill the sky was stained like rust With smoke. In sullen daybreak flaring red The guns were thundering bombardment's blight. The soldier cried,

"I was born full of lust, With hunger, thirst, and wishfulness to wed. Who cares today if I done wrong or right?"

Christ asked all pitying,

"Can you put no trust In my known word that shrives each faithful head ? Am I not resurrection, life and light ?"



III


Machine-guns rattled from below the hill; High bullets flicked and whistled through the leaves; And smoke came drifting from exploding shells.

Christ said

"Believe; and I can cleanse your ill. I have not died in vain between two thieves; Nor made a fruitless gift of miracles."

The soldier answered,

"Heal me if you will, Maybe there's comfort when a soul believes In mercy, and we need it in these hells. But be you for both sides ? I'm paid to kill And if I shoot a man his mother grieves. Does that come into what your teaching tells ?"

A bird lit on the Christ and twittered gay; Then a breeze passed and shook the ripening corn. A Red Cross waggon bumped along the track. Forsaken Jesus dreamed in the desolate day -- Uplifted Jesus, Prince of Peace forsworn -- An observation post for the attack.

"Lord Jesus, ain't you got no more to say ?"

Bowed hung that head below the crown of thorns. The soldier shifted, and picked up his pack, And slung his gun, and stumbled on his way.

"O God," he groaned,"why ever was I born ?"

... The battle boomed, and no reply came back.



Siegfried Sassoon
Drummer Hodge

They throw in Drummer Hodge, to rest
Uncoffined — just as found:
His landmark is a kopje-crest
That breaks the veldt around:
And foreign constellations west
Each night above his mound.

Young Hodge the drummer never knew —
Fresh from his Wessex home —
The meaning of the broad Karoo,
The Bush, the dusty loam,
And why uprose to nightly view
Strange stars amid the gloam.

Yet portion of that unknown plain
Will Hodge for ever be;
His homely Northern breast and brain
Grow up some Southern tree,
And strange-eyed constellations reign
His stars eternally.


Thomas Hardy