There n’as man in all this land
That durst him do shame no schonde.
Ellis, Metr. Rom. V. II. p. 9. Ed. 1811.
Many of the traits here attributed to Athelwold appear to be borrowed from the praises so universally bestowed by our ancient historians on the character of King Alfred, in whose time, as Otterbourne writes, p. 52, “armillas aureas in bivio stratas vel suspensas, nemo abripere est ausus.” Cf. Annal. Eccl. Roffens. MS. Cott. Nero, D. II. The same anecdote is related of Rollo, Duke of Normandy, by Guillaume de Jumieges, and Dudon de Saint Quentin.
[91.] Sprong forth so sparke of glede. Cf. l. 870. It is a very common metaphor in early English poetry.
He sprong forð an stede,
swa sparc ded of fure,
Laȝamon v. ii. p. 565.
He sprange als any sparke one glede.
Sir Isumbras, st. 39 (Camd. Soc. 1844)