Page:Gummere (1909) The Oldest English Epic.djvu/178

162 But he cried across all in no craven’s voice, hardy hero: “Who holds the door?” “Sigeferth my name is, Secgas’ prince, wide-heralded hero: heavy my trials, hard wars that I waged; there awaits thee now such as thyself would serve to me!” Then din by the door from death-blows sounded; in hands of heroes were hewn the shields, the bone-helms burst; and the burg-floor groaned, until in the grim fight Garulf fell first of the earls of earth-dwellers there, Guthlaf’s son, and good men beside him. Sank still the slain: wide circled the raven sallow-brown, swarthy: the sword-light gleamed as if Finn’s whole burg were blazing with fire. Never heard I that worthier warring men, conquerors sixty, more splendidly fought, and for mead-draughts sweet such service rendered,