The Fight at Finnesburg (Finn’s Citadel)
Better known as ‘The Fragment’, what follows is a translation of all that is left of an (apparently) 5th century anglo-saxon lay that describes a saxon hero, Hengest. This may very well be the same Hengest who led the first Germanic invasion of Britain, and if so probably did so shortly after the events described below. You may be interested to note that this particular translation was made by the infamous Oxford scholar, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Hnæf spoke, the warlike young king: "Neither is this the dawn from the east, nor is a dragon flying here, nor are the gables of this hall aflame; nay, mortal enemies approach in ready armour. Birds are crying, wolf is yelping; spear clashes, shield answers shaft. Now that this moon shines, wandering behind the clouds, woeful deeds are beginning, that will bring to a bitter end this well-known enmity in the people. Awaken now, my warriors! Grasp your coats of mail, think of deeds of valour, bear yourselves proudly, be resolute!"
When many a valiant retainer decked in gold rose and buckled on his sword, to the doorway went the noble warriors Sigeferth and Eaha, drawing their swords, and at the other doorway were Ordlaf and Guthlaf; and Hengest himself was at their heels. Still Guthere was exhorting Garulf that in his armour he should not risk so precious a life in the first attack on the hall-door, now that a hardy warrior was ready to take it away; but openly the valiant hero cried above the clamour, asking who was holding that door. "My name is Sigefirth," said he, "I am a prince of the Secgan, a well-known adventurer; many old woes and bitter battles have I experienced; and here there is appointed for you whatever fate you wish to seek from me."
Comment posted on 12-7-2004
I found this comment on the Tolkien forum posted by a person who goes by the moniker of "jallan" on Feb 24, 2004. Its a nice summary of Tolkien’s "Finn and Hengest, The Fragment and the Episode" edited by Alan Bliss which is a small sampling of the material that he presented during his courses and lectures at Oxford during his tenure there.
"Tolkien sees Hnaef as a Danish lord with a train of various followers of different origins including Hengest who has a band of Jutes in his own service. Hnaef and his followers have come to spend the winter at Finnesburg, the hall of his brother-in-law Finn, King of Frisia. But Finn has in his service other Jutes, Jutes who have a feud with Hengest and his followers.
Violence springs up. Hnaef and Hengest somehow control of Finn�s own hall and hold off the attackers. In the battle the lord Hnaef is slain but also Finn�s son along with most of Finn�s warband.
Peace of a kind is made. It is winter, so Hengest with his suviving Jutes and the surviving Danes cannot easily leave. They are therefore allowed to stay as guests of Finn, though in fact by strick heroic standards they probably ought to have fought to the death. The agreement states that Finn will act as liege to this band of Danes and Jutes during the winter and treat them justly and with equality as though they were his own people.
But the desire for vengeance is not erased. One of the Danes bestows on Hengest an ancient and valuable sword, perhaps the sword of Hnaef, and persuades Hengest and his Jutes to join him in a plot to take vengeance for Hnaef�s death.
In spring the Danes sail off. But Hengest and his Jutes remain for a time. Then the Danes return suddenly and secretly with reinforcements. The Danes are treacherously admitted into Finnesburg by Hengest. The Danes and Hengest with his Jutes burn the hall, slay Finn. The Danes return to their home with Finn�s widow, Hnaef�s surviving sister."