< Page:Gummere (1909) The Oldest English Epic.djvu
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THE SINGER AND HIS LAY

199

Hethca and Beadeca;[1] Harlings both,

Emerca, Fridia; that East-Goth, too,
sage and brave, the Sire of Unwen;[2]
115Secca and Becca, Seafolan and Theodric,
Heathoric and Sifeca, Hlithe and Inggentheow,
Eadwine and Elsa,[3] -Ægelmund and Hangar,
and the Neighbor-Myrgings’ noble band,
Wulfhere and Wyrmhere,—(war was not languid,
120when the Hrethan host with hardy blade
were fain to defend by the forests of Vistula
olden homes from Attila’s horde)!—
Rædhere and Rondhere, Rumstan and Gislhere,
Withergield[4] and Freotheric, Wudga and Hama:[5]
125not worst[6] of warrior-comrades these,
though now I come to name them last!
From their host full often whining flew
howling[7] spears at the hostile throng.
Exiles won there woven[8] gold,

130men and women, Wudga and Hama.[9]
  1. ↑ These names occur in the mythical genealogy of Essex, and mean “slaughter” and “battle.”
  2. ↑ The East-Goth is Ostrogotha, who, according to Jordanes, was father of Hunnil, the Unwen of this verse.
  3. ↑ Names of Langobard kings.
  4. ↑ See Beowulf, v. 2051.
  5. ↑ Hama, Heime in later German legend, is said in Beowulf, v. 1198, to have carried off the famous Brising necklace.
  6. ↑ Litotes, as in the Beowulf.
  7. ↑ “Yelling.” See King Heidrek’s Riddle on the Arrow: “It flies aloft, yelling aloud.” . . .
  8. ↑ Twisted, as in rings and the like.
  9. ↑ drawn from various sources and from imagination. The Eormanrio saga itself does not come clearly out; in the Norse account, Swanhild, his wife (=Ealhhild, perhaps), is put to death for alleged unfaithfulness. Nothing is hinted here of all that, though amongthe followers of the famous “troth-breaker” is named Becca, the betrayer Bikki in Norse legend.
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