Then their foemen pursued them, Their grim power growing, until the greatest part Of the cowardly band they conquered in battle 295 On the field of victory. Vanquished and sword-hewn, They lay at the will of the wolves, for the watchful and greedy Fowls to feed upon. Then fled the survivors From the shields of their foemen. Sharp on their trail came The crowd of the Hebrews, covered with victory, 300 With honors well-earned; aid then accorded them, Graciously granted them, God, Lord Almighty. They then daringly, with dripping swords, The corps of brave kinsmen, cut them a war-path Through the host of the hated ones; they hewed with their swords, 305 Sheared through the shield-wall. They shot fast and furiously, Men stirred to strife, the stalwart Hebrews, The thanes, at that time, thirsting exceedingly, Fain for the spear-fight. Then fell in the dust The chiefest part of the chosen warriors, 310 Of the staunch and the steadfast Assyrian leaders, Of the fated race of the foe. Few of them came back Alive to their own land. The leaders returned Over perilous paths through the piles of the slaughtered, Of reeking corpses; good occasion there was 315 For the landsmen to plunder their lifeless foes, Their ancient enemies in their armor laid low, Of battle spoils bloody, of beautiful trappings, Of bucklers and broad-swords, of brown war-helmets, Of glittering jewels. Gloriously had been 320 In the folk-field their foes overcome, By home-defenders, their hated oppressors Put to sleep by the sword. Senseless on the path Lay those who in life, the loathsomest were Of the tribes of the living. 6. The Spoil