The Ornamented Sword

[extract from Beowulf]

"The ornamented sword, forged on the anvil,

The razor sharp blade stained with blood,

Shears through the boar-crested helmets of the enemy.

We shielded our heads in the fight.,

When soldiers clashed on foot, slashed at boar-crests.

And his head was guarded by the gleaming helmet

Which was to explore the churning waters, stir their depths;

Gold decorated it, and it was hung around with chains

As the weapon-smith had wrought it long before,

Wondrously shaped it and beset it with boar images,

So that afterwards no battle-blade could do it damage"