Battle of Maldon
I thank thee, Ruler of Nations, for all the joys that I have had in the world. Now, gentle Lord, I have most need that thou grant my spirit grace, that my soul may travel to thee–under thy protection, Prince of Angels, depart in peace. I beseech thee that fiends of hell harm it not.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Battle of Maldon
Speaker: Birhtnoth
Location: Birhtnoth's death speech, immediately before he is killed by the Vikings
They pierced me with dark nails: the wounds are seen on me, open gashes of hatred. Nor did I dare harm any of them. They mocked us both together. I was all wet with blood, drenched from the side of that Man after he had sent forth his spirit. I had endured many bitter happenings on that hill.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Dream of the Rood
Speaker: Cross
Location: about mid-way through
The king comforts the knight, and the court all together
Agree with gay laughter and gracious intent
That the lords and the ladies belonging to the Table,
Each brother of that band, a baldric should have,
A belt borne oblique, of a bright green,
To be worn with one accord for that worthy's sake.
So that was taken as a token by the Table Round,
And he honored that had it, evermore after...
Author: Gawain Poet
Title: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Speaker: narrator
Location: after Gawain returns to Arthur's court and explains what happened on his quest to find the Green Knight (very end of the poem)
When I will wear a garment all of blood
And stain my favours in a bloody mask,
Which, wash'd away, shall scour my shame with it:
And that shall be the day, whene'er it lights,
That this same child of honour and renown,
This gallant Hotspur, this all-praised knight,
And your unthought-of Harry chance to meet.
For every honour sitting on his helm,
Would they were multitudes, and on my head
My shames redoubled! for the time will come,
That I shall make this northern youth exchange
His glorious deeds for my indignities.
Author: William Shakespeare
Title: Henry IV, Part One
Speaker: Hal
Location: Act III, scene ii - Hal has returned to King Henry's court and is responding to his father's reprimands
When the loathed strangers saw that, and understood clearly that they would face bitter bridge-defenders there, they began to prefer words to deeds, prayed that they might have access to the bank, pass over the ford and lead their forces across. Then in his overconfidence the earl began to yield ground–too much ground–to the hateful people...
Author: Anonymous
Title: Battle of Maldon
Speaker: Narrator
Location: Early on in the poem, when the tide begins to go out and to open the way for the Vikings to cross the causeway, but the Vikings find that Birhtnoth's men will not let them cross and fight a fair battle
The warriors left me standing, covered with blood. I was all wounded with arrows. They laid him down weary of limb, stood at the body's head, looked there upon Heaven's Lord; and he rested there a while, tired after the great struggle. Then warriors began to build him an earth-house in the sight of his slayer, carved it out of bright stone; they set there the Wielder of Triumphs. Then they began to sing him a song of sorrow, desolate in the evening. Then they wished to turn back, weary, from the great Prince; he remained with small company.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Dream of the Rood
Speaker: Cross
Location: about mid-way through
'Now does my present displease you,' she promptly inquired,
'Because it seems in your sight so simple a thing?
And belike, as it is little, it is less to praise,
But if the virtue that invests it were verily known,
It would be held, I hope, in higher esteem.
For the man that possesses this piece of silk,
If he bore it on his body, belted about,
There is no hand under heaven that could hew him down,
For he could not be killed by any craft on earth.'
Author: Gawain Poet
Title: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Speaker: the host's wife / Lady Bertilak (either will suffice)
Location: the third time the lady enters Gawain's bedroom to attempt to seduce him; here she insists on giving him a gift
That ever this fellow should have fewer words than a
parrot, and yet the son of a woman! His industry is
upstairs and downstairs; his eloquence the parcel of
a reckoning. I am not yet of Percy's mind, the
Hotspur of the north; he that kills me some six or
seven dozen of Scots at a breakfast, washes his
hands, and says to his wife 'Fie upon this quiet
life! I want work.' 'O my sweet Harry,' says she,
'how many hast thou killed to-day?' 'Give my roan
horse a drench,' says he; and answers 'Some
fourteen,' an hour after; 'a trifle, a trifle.' I
prithee, call in Falstaff: I'll play Percy, and
that damned brawn shall play Dame Mortimer his
wife. 'Rivo!' says the drunkard. Call in ribs, call in tallow.
Author: William Shakespeare
Title: Henry IV, Part One
Speaker: Hal
Location: Act II, scene iv - before Hal and Poins reveal the punchline of their practical joke on Falstaff (in the Gadshill robbery)
Then in the battle Offa struck the seafarer so that he fell on the earth, and there Gadd's kinsman himself sought the ground: performed what he had promised his lord, what he had vowed before to his ring-giver, that they should either both ride to the town, hale to their home, or fall among the host, die of wounds in the slaughter-place. He lay as a thane should, near his lord.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Battle of Maldon
Speaker: Narrator
Location: towards the end of the poem, after Birhtnoth's death
The shades of night had covered the Ruler's body with their mists, the bright splendor. Shadow came forth, dark beneath the clouds. All creation wept, bewailed the King's fall; Christ was on Cross.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Dream of the Rood
Speaker: Cross
Location: about mid-way through
As pearls to white peas, more precious and prized,
So is Gawain, in good faith, to other gay knights.
Yet you lacked, sir, a little in loyalty there,
But the cause was not cunning, nor courtship either,
But that you loved your own life; the less, then, to blame.
Author: Gawain Poet
Title: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Speaker: the Green Knight
Location: the Green Knight is explaining his three feints and the nick on Gawain's neck in the final confrontation at the Green Chapel
The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit
Up to the ears in blood. I am on fire
To hear this rich reprisal is so nigh
And yet not ours. Come, let me taste my horse,
Who is to bear me like a thunderbolt
Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales:
Harry to Harry shall, hot horse to horse,
Meet and ne'er part till one drop down a corse.
Author: William Shakespeare
Title: Henry IV, Part One
Speaker: Hotspur
Location: Act IV, scene i - after Vernon has told Hotspur about what Hal looks like as he's preparing for battle
Now the way is laid open for you. Come straightway to us, as men to battle. God alone knows which of us may be master of the field.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Battle of Maldon
Speaker: Birhtnoth
Location: Early on in the poem, when the tide begins to go out and to open the way for the Vikings to cross the causeway - Birhtnoth is telling the Vikings that his men will let them cross the causeway to fight a fair battle
I prayed to the tree, blithe-hearted, confident, there where I was alone with small company. My heart's thoughts were urged on the way hence. I endured many times of longing. Now is there hope of life for me, that I am permitted to seek the tree of triumph, more often than other men honor it well, alone. For it my heart's desire is great, and my hope of protection is directed to the Cross. I do not possess many powerful friends on earth, but they have gone hence from the delights of the world, sought for themselves the King of Glory. They live now in the heavens with the High Father, dwell in glory. And every day I look forward to when the Lord's Cross that I beheld here on earth will fetch me from this short life and bring me then where joy is great, delight in the heavens.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Dream of the Rood
Speaker: Dreamer
Location: end of poem, after the dreamer has heard the tree's story
My body is here at hand,
Your each wish to fulfill;
Your servant to command
I am, and shall be still.
Author: Gawain Poet
Title: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Speaker: the host's wife / Lady Bertilak (either will suffice)
Location: the first time the lady enters Gawain's bedroom to attempt to seduce him
O that it could be proved
That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged
In cradle-clothes our children where they lay,
And call'd mine Percy, his Plantagenet!
Author: William Shakespeare
Title: Henry IV, Part One
Speaker: King Henry
Location: very beginning of the play (Act I, scene i), after Westmoreland has told King Henry about Hotspur's conquests in Scotland
Purpose shall be the firmer, heart the keener, courage shall be the more, as our might lessens. Here lies our lord all hewn down, good man on ground. Ever may he lament who now thinks to turn from war-play. I am old of life; from here I will not turn, but by my lord's side, by the man I loved, I intend to lie.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Battle of Maldon
Speaker: Birhtwold
Location: Toward the end of the poem (oldest warrior, so speaks last)
This was surely no felon's gallows, but holy spirits beheld it there, men upon earth, and all this glorious creation. Wonderful was the triumph-tree, and I stained with sins, wounded with wrongdoings. I saw the tree of glory shine splendidly, adorned with garments, decked with gold: jewels had worthily covered the Lord's tree. Yet through that gold I might perceive ancient agony of wretches, for now it began to bleed on the right side. I was all afflicted with sorrows, I was afraid for that fair sight. I saw that bright beacon change in clothing and color: now it was wet with moisture, drenched with flowing of blood, now adorned with treasure.
Author: Anonymous
Title: Dream of the Rood
Speaker: Dreamer
Location: description of the beginning of the dream
If I without discourtesy might quit this board,
And if my liege lady misliked it not,
I would come to your counsel before your court noble.
For I find it not fit, as in faith it is known,
When such a boon is begged before all these knights,
Though you be tempted thereto, to take it on yourself
While so bold men about upon benches sit,
That no host under heaven is hardier of will,
Nor better brothers-in-arms where battle is joined;
I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest;
And the loss of my life would be least of any;
That I have you for uncle is my only praise;
My body, but for your blood, is barren of worth;
And for that this folly befits not a king,
And it is I that have asked it, it ought to be mine,
And if my claim be not comely let all this court judge,
in sight.
Author: Gawain Poet
Title: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Speaker: Gawain
Location: very early in the poem, after the Green Knight has proposed his game and Arthur has accepted the challenge - Gawain is now stepping in to take the challenge in Arthur's place
But to say I know more harm in him than in myself,
were to say more than I know. That he is old, the
more the pity, his white hairs do witness it; but
that he is, saving your reverence, a whoremaster,
that I utterly deny. If sack and sugar be a fault,
God help the wicked! if to be old and merry be a
sin, then many an old host that I know is damned: if
to be fat be to be hated, then Pharaoh's lean kine
are to be loved. No, my good lord; banish Peto,
banish Bardolph, banish Poins: but for sweet Jack
Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff,
valiant Jack Falstaff, and therefore more valiant,
being, as he is, old Jack Falstaff, banish not him
thy Harry's company, banish not him thy Harry's
company: banish plump Jack, and banish all the world.
Author: William Shakespeare
Title: Henry IV, Part One
Speaker: Falstaff
Location: Act II, scene iv - when Hal and Falstaff are role-playing for Hal's return to the king's court