Now shall taking of treasures and giving of swords

And all joy of your country-home fail from your kindred,

All hope wane away; of the land-right moreover

May each of the men of that kinsman's [burg] ever

Roam lacking; sithence that the athelings eft-soons

From afar shall have heard of your faring in flight,

Your gloryless deed. Yea, death shall be better

For each of the earls than a life ever ill-fam'd.

[ XL. WIGLAF SENDETH TIDING TO THE HOST: THE WORDS OF THE MESSENGER.]

Then he bade them that war-work give out at the barriers