(ll. 142-153) ....who became the people's heir and had their
treasure, and greatly throve. All this the Egyptian race forgot
when their wrath was stirred by a quarrel. They wrought great
wrong to Moses' kinsmen, broke the covenant, and slew them.
Their hearts were filled with faithlessness and rage, the mighty
passions of men. They would fain requite the gift of life with
evil, that the people of Moses might pay for that day's work in
blood, if almighty God would prosper their destructive journey.
(ll. 154-169) Then the hearts of the earls were hopeless within
them as they beheld the shining bands, the hosts of Pharaoh,
marching from out the south, uplifting a forest of lances, with
banners waving above them, a great host treading the border-paths.
Their spears were in array, shields gleamed and trumpets sang; the
battle line rolled on. Over dead bodies circling screamed the birds
of battle, dewy-leathered, greedy for war, dark carrion lovers. In
hope of food, the wolves, remorseless beasts of slaughter, sang a
grim eveningsong; dogging the march of the foe, they abode the
coming of death; the march warders howled in the midnight. The
doomed soul fled; the host was compassed about.
(ll. 170-199) Now and again the proud thanes of the host measured
the mile-paths on their steeds. The prince of men rode forth
before the troops, the war-king raised the standard; the
battle-warden bound on helm and chinguard (banners gleamed) in
expectation of war, shook his armour, and bade his warlike host,
his firm-ranked cohorts, go boldly into battle. The foe beheld
with hostile eyes the coming of the landsmen. About him fearless
fighters moved; grey wolves of war went forward to the onslaught
thirsting for battle, loyal of heart. He chose the flower of his
people for that service, two thousand far-famed heroes of high
birth, kings and kinsmen. And each led out his men, and all the
warriors that he well could muster in the appointed time. The
young men were gathered together, the kings in their pomp.
Frequently sounding, the well-known voice of the horn signalled
the host where the war-troop of heroes should bear their arms.
So the dark horde was marshalled; throng after throng, in
thousands, hasted thither, a countless host. They were resolved,
in vengeance for their brothers, to slay the tribes of Israel
with the sword, at the break of day.
(ll. 200-208) Then a sound of wailing arose in the camp, an
evening-song of woe. A great fear was upon them; the nets of
death encompassed them about. The fatal tidings flew abroad;
tumult arose. The foe were resolute, a horde in armour gleaming,
until the mighty angel who upheld that host scattered the proud
and hateful multitude, so that no more might one behold another's
face; but their journey was divided.
(ll. 209-220) All that long night the fugitives had respite,
though foes beset them upon either hand, on the one side that
great host, on the other side the sea. They had no way of escape
nor any hope of their inheritance, but halted on the hills in
shining armour with foreboding of ill. And all the band of
kinsmen watched and waited for the coming of the greater host
until the dawn, when Moses bade the earls with brazen trumpets
muster the folk, bade warriors rise and don their coats of mail,
bear shining arms, take thought on valour, and summon the
multitude with signal-beacons unto the sandy shore of the sea.
(ll. 220-232) The leaders bold obeyed the battle-signal; the host
made ready. The seamen heard the trumpet-summons, and struck
their tents upon the hills. The army was astir. They numbered
off twelve companies of valiant men to form the van of battle
against their foes' grim wrath. The host was in an uproar. From
every noble tribe among that people were chosen fifty cohorts,
under shield, the flower of the folk. And every cohort of that
famous army was of a thousand warriors, far-famed wielders of the
spear.
(ll. 232-251) That was a warlike band. The leaders of the army
welcomed not among that number the weak, who yet because of youth
could not defend them under board and byrnie against a wily foe,
who never yet had known the baleful thrust, the bitter wound, the
insolent play of the spear over the edge of the linden shield.
Nor might the aged, grey-haired warriors be of service in the
battle if their strength had failed them. But according to their
strength they joined the fray, even according as their valour
would endure with honour among men, and their strength suffice to
undergo the spearstrife. The army of these sturdy men was
mustered, and ready to advance. Their banner rose on high, a
gleaming column, and all abode there nigh unto the sea until
their guiding beacon pierced the clouds, and shone upon their
linden shields.