Their lasting loyalty to their lord to show, Before in their fury they fell upon him, The host of the Hebrews. The whole crowd imagined That the lord of despoilers and the spotless lady 255 Together remained in the gorgeous tent, The virtuous virgin and the vicious deceiver, Dreadful and direful; they dared not, however, Awaken the warrior, not one of the earls, Nor be first to find how had fared through the night 260 The most churlish of chieftains and the chastest of maidens, The pride of the Lord. Now approached in their strength The folk of the Hebrews. They fought remorselessly With hard-hammered weapons, with their hilts requited Their strife of long standing, with stained swords repaid 265 Their ancient enmity; all of Assyria Was subdued and doomed that day by their work, Its pride bowed low. In panic and fright, In terror they stood around the tent of their chief, Moody in mind. Then the men all together 270 In concert clamored and cried aloud, Ungracious to God, and gritted their teeth, Grinding them in their grief. Then was their glory at an end, Their noble deeds and daring hopes. Then they deemed it wise To summon their lord from his sleep, but success was denied them. 275 A loyal liegeman, --long had he wavered-- Desperately dared the door to enter, Ventured into the pavilion; violent need drove him. On the bed then he found, in frightful state lying, His gold-giver ghastly; gone was his spirit, 280 No life in him lingered. The liegeman straight fell. Trembling with terror, he tore at his hair, He clawed at his clothes; he clamored despairing, And to the waiting warriors these words he said, As they stood outside in sadness and fear: 285 "Here is made manifest our imminent doom, Is clearly betokened that the time is near, Pressing upon us with perils and woes, When we lose our lives, and lie defeated By the hostile host; here hewn by the sword, 290 Our lord is beheaded." With heavy spirits They threw their weapons away, and weary in heart, Scattered in flight. 205. The picture of the birds of prey hovering over the battle field is one of the constant features of Anglo-Saxon battle poetry. Note its occurrence in _The Fight at Finnsburg_ and _The Battle of Brunnanburg_ especially. 5. The Pursuit