He broke the board-wall and with the warriors fought, till he his gift-giver on the seamen worthily wreaked, ere he in slaughter lay. So did Ætheric, noble comrade, eager forth to go, fought he earnestly, Sibriht’s brother, and so many other clave the keeled board, keen they were, burst they the boards, and the hauberk sang a grisly lay. There in the fight slew Offa the seamen, till he on earth fell, and Gadda’s kinsman the ground sought; rath was in battle Offa down hewn, yet had he furthered that he his lord had pledged, as he ere agreed with his ring-giver that they should both to the borough ride hale to home, or in the host cringe on the slaughter-place, of their wounds die. He lay thegnlike his lord hard by. Then were boards broken, seamen waded on, in the fight wrathful. The spear oft waded through the fey man’s life-house. Forth then went Wistan Thurstan’s son, with the warmen fought he, he was in the throng, banesman of three of them, ere him Wigeline’s bairn in slaughter low laid. There was stern meeting; stood they fast fighters in battle; fighting they cringed, with their wounds weary; slaughter fell on earth. Oswold and Ealdwold all the while, both brethren, the warriors trimmed; their fellow-kinsmen with words they bade, that they there at need them should bear up, and unweakly their weapons use. Brihtwold then spake, his board heaving; he was an old comrade; his ash he made quake; he full boldly the warriors learned; “Mind shall the harder be, heart shall the keener be, mood shall the more be, as our main lessens. Here lies our Elder, all down hewn, a good man in the dust; ever may he groan who now from this war-play of wending thinketh. I am old of life; hence stir will I not, and I by the half of my lord, by such a loved man to lie am thinking.” So Æthelgar’s bairn then all cheered on, Godric to battle: Oft he the dart let go, the death spear wound he on the wikings. COUNTRY LIFE AT THE END OF THE TENTH CENTURY. A MASTER IN A MONASTERY SCHOOL QUESTIONS HIS PUPIL’S COMPANIONS AND HIS PUPIL. =Source.=—_Ælfric’s Colloquy._ Thorpe’s _Analecta Anglo-Saxonica_. Translated by W. THE PLOUGHMAN.