Part 27 (2/2)

Thou arte a steyne unto the name of Danes; 545 Thou alleyne to thie tyngue for proofe canst calle.

Thou beest a worme so groffile and so smal, I wythe thie bloude woulde scorne to foul mie sworde, Botte wythe thie weaponnes woulde upon thee falle, Alyche thie owne feare, slea thee wythe a worde. 550 I Hurra amme miesel, & aie wylle bee, As greate yn valourous actes, & yn commande as thee.

MAGNUS, HURRA, ARMYE & MESSENGER.

MESSENGERE.

Blynne your contekions[81], chiefs; for, as I stode Uponne mie watche, I spiede an armie commynge, Notte lyche ann handfulle of a fremded[82] foe, 555 Botte blacke wythe armoure, movynge ugsomlie, Lyche a blacke fulle cloude, thatte dothe goe alonge To droppe yn hayle, & hele the thonder storme.

MAGNUS.

Ar there meynte of them?

MESSENGERR.

Thycke as the ante-flyes ynne a sommer's none, 560 Seemynge as tho' theie stynge as persante too.

HURRA.

Whatte matters thatte? lettes sette oure warr-arraie.

Goe, sounde the beme, lette champyons prepare; Ne doubtynge, we wylle stynghe as faste as heie.

Whatte? doest forgard[83] thie blodde? ys ytte for feare? 565 Wouldest thou gayne the towne, & castle-stere, And yette ne byker wythe the soldyer guarde?

Go, hyde thee ynn mie tente annethe the lere; I of thie boddie wylle keepe watche & warde.

MAGNUS.

Oure G.o.ddes of Denmarke know mie harte ys goode. 570

HURRA.

For nete uppon the erthe, botte to be choughens foode.

MAGNUS, HURRA, ARMIE, SECONDE MESSENGERRE.

SECONDE MESSENGERRE.

As from mie towre I kende the commynge foe, I spied the crossed s.h.i.+elde, & bloddie swerde, The furyous aella's banner; wythynne kenne The armie ys. Dysorder throughe oure hoaste 575 Is fleynge, borne onne wynges of aella's name; Styr, styr, mie lordes!

MAGNUS.

What? aella? & soe neare?

Thenne Denmarques roiend; oh mie rysynge feare!

HURRA.

What doeste thou mene? thys aella's botte a manne.

Nowe bie mie sworde, thou arte a verie berne[84]. 580 Of late I dyd thie creand valoure scanne, Whanne thou dydst boaste soe moche of actyon derne.

Botte I toe warr mie doeynges moste atturne, To cheere the Sabbataneres to deere dede.

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