There either had they fared on to the end

Of this loaned life. Long it was not until

Those laggards of battle the holt were a-leaving,

Unwarlike troth-liars, the ten there together,

Who durst not e'en now with darts to be playing

E'en in their man-lord's most mickle need.

But shamefully now their shields were they bearing,

Their weed of the battle, there where lay the aged;

They gazed on Wiglaf where weary'd he sat,

The foot-champion, hard by his very lord's shoulder,