When his foes weened that he would fly, then was
Colgrim glad, and all his host with him, they weened that Arthur had
with fear retreated there, and passed over the water, as if they were
mad. When Arthur saw that, that Colgrim was so nigh to him, and they
were both beside the water, thus said Arthur, noblest of kings: "See
ye not, my Britons, here beside us, our full foes--Christ destroy
them!--Colgrim the strong, out of Saxland? His kin in this land killed
our ancestors, but now is the day come, that the Lord hath appointed,
that he shall lose the life, and lose his friends, or else we shall be
dead, we may not see him alive! The Saxish men shall abide sorrow, and
we avenge worthily our friends." Up caught Arthur his shield, before
his breast, and he gan to rush as the howling wolf, when he cometh
from the wood, behung with snow, and thinketh to bite such beasts as
he liketh. Arthur then called to his dear knights: "Advance we
quickly, brave thanes! all together towards them; we all shall do
well, and they forth fly, as the high wood, when the furious wind
heaveth it with strength!" Flew over the wealds thirty thousand
shields, and smote on Colgrim's knights, so that the earth shook
again.
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