1066AD Warrior Anglo Saxon History

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Battle of Hastings 1066AD Reference - The Carmen of Guy d`Amiens
 

Carmen de Haestingae Proelio
 
A theoretical image of the Carmen Carmen de Triumpho Normannico (Song of the Triumphant Normans) or Carmen de Hastingae Proelio (Song of the Battle of Hastings) are 20th-century designations for the Carmen Widonis (The Song of Guy), the earliest surviving historical account of the Norman invasion of England from September to December 1066. Composed in Latin verse, it was likely written by May 1068 at the latest, with most scholarly opinion favouring a date of composition in 1067, possibly as early as Easter 1067, for performance at the royal festivities in Normandy.

It is attributed to Bishop Guy of Amiens, a noble of Ponthieu and monastically-trained bishop and an administrator close to the French court, who eventually served as a chaplain for Matilda of Flanders, William the Conqueror's queen.

Guy was an uncle to Count Guy of Ponthieu, who figures rather prominently in the Bayeux Tapestry as the vassal of Duke William of Normandy who captured Harold Godwinson in 1064. (for further details see Wikipedia)

The poem survives only in two twelfth-century manuscript copies from the Benedictine abbey of Saint Eucharius-Matthias in Trier, preserving 835 lines of Latin hexameters and elegiac couplets. Unlike the later Norman chronicles, the Carmen offers a vivid, nearly contemporary, and unexpectedly complex portrait of the Conquest—praising William's victory while subtly acknowledging the brutality and political costs of his triumph. Once dismissed as a 12th-century forgery, the work is now accepted by modern scholars as authentic and datable to 1067, making it the earliest and most immediate literary response to the events it describes.

This page contains translations obtained using DeepSeek AI by translating the Norman/Latin text from the Internet Archive - Widonis Carmen

 
Page 1 - Introduction ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Per mare nec fragilis, sed sis tutissima navis, Through the sea, be not a fragile, but a most safe ship,
2 Te precor ad portum carmen deducere nostrum ; I pray you to lead our song to port;
3 Invidiae ventis agitari nec patiaris, Nor suffer it to be tossed by the winds of envy,
4 Nec Boreae flatum timeat, sed litus amoenum Nor let it fear the blast of Boreas, but let it seek
5 Remige te carpat, ne laesum rupe labescat. The pleasant shore with you as oarsman, lest wounded by a rock it sink.
6 Sis judex illi, justa de morte Magistri, Be you its judge, concerning the just death of the Master,
7 Quod minus est, addens, et quod super, obsecro, radens. Adding what is lacking, and, I beseech, scraping away what is excessive.
8 Nullus credo sibi sub te tutore nocebit : No one, I believe, will harm it with you as its guardian:
9 Sic tuus incipiat fieri meus iste libellus, Thus may this little book of mine begin to become yours,
10 Ut careat vitiis et laudibus amplificetur. So that it may lack faults and be amplified with praises.
11 Evitare volens dispendia desidiosae Wishing to avoid the losses of a slothful
12 Mentis et ingenii, placeant cum carmina multis, Mind and talent, since poems please many,
13 Carminibus studui Normannica bella reponi. I have labored that the Norman wars be set down in verses.
14 Elegi potius levibus cantare camoenis, I have chosen rather to sing with light Muses,
15 Ingenium nostrae mentis quam subdere curis ; Than to subject the talent of our mind to cares;
16 Cum sit et egregium describere gesta potentum, Since it is also excellent to describe the deeds of the powerful,
 
Page 2 - Waiting in the Somme ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Finibus occiduis quae gessit regia proles What the royal offspring accomplished in the western lands,
2 Willelmus, titulis commisi posteritatis. William, I have entrusted to the records of posterity.
3 Nam sibi sublatum regnum virtute redemit, For the kingdom taken from him, he redeemed with valor,
4 Et victor patrios extendit trans mare fines : And as victor, he extended his ancestral borders across the sea:
5 Ergo decet memorare suum per saecula factum. Therefore it is fitting to remember his deed through the ages.
6 Justitiae cultor, patriae pax, hostibus hostis, Cultivator of justice, peace of the fatherland, enemy to enemies,
7 Tutor et ecclesiae, rex benedicte, vale. And guardian of the church, blessed king, farewell.
8 Amodo torpentes decet evigilare Camenas Henceforth it is fitting for the sluggish Muses to awaken
9 Et calamos alacres reddere laude tua. And to render their pens eager with your praise.
10 Mutasti comitis regali nomine nomen, You exchanged the name of count for the royal name,
11 Quod tibi nobilitas contulit et probitas. Which nobility and probity conferred upon you.
12 Julius alter enim, cujus renovando triumphum, For another Julius, by renewing whose triumph,
13 Effrenem gentem cogis amare jugum. You compel an unbridled people to love the yoke.
14 Innumerus terrae populus, nec perfida nautis The innumerable people of the land, nor the sea treacherous to sailors,
15 Aequora, nec litus saxa nociva ferens, Nor the shore bearing harmful rocks,
16 Incumbens hiemis nec te deterruit horror, Nor the pressing horror of winter deterred you,
17 Quin ab avis peteres regna relicta tibi. But that you might seek the kingdoms left to you by your ancestors.
18 Posteritate favet tibi vis legisque suprema, The force of posterity and the supreme law favor you,
19 Ergo tibi terror omnis ademptus erat ; Therefore all terror was removed from you;
20 Tempore sed longo te trans freta ducere classes But for a long time, the storm and incessant rain
21 Tempestas prohibet, imber et assiduus, Forbid you to lead your fleets across the straits,
22 Dum praestolaris ventorum prosperitatem, While you awaited the prosperity of the winds,
23 Et mare turbatum cogit abire retro ; And the troubled sea compels you to turn back;
24 Eurus et aequoreas crispabat flatibus undas. And the East wind rippled the waves of the sea with its gusts.
25 Tunc tibi planctus erat spesque negata viae, Then there was lamentation for you and hope of the way denied,
26 Tuque, velis nolis, tandem tua litora linquens, And you, whether you will or not, at last leaving your shores,
27 Navigium vertis litus ad alterius. You turn your ship to the shore of another.
28 Portus ab antiquis Vimaci fertur haberi : The port of Vimeux is said to be held from ancient times:
29 Quae vallat portum, Somana nomen aquae. Which surrounds the port, the water has the name Somme.
30 Docta nimis bello gens est, per cuncta fidelis, The people are very skilled in war, faithful in all things,
31 Fluctivagis praebens saepius hospicium. Often offering hospitality to the sea-wanderers.
32 Desuper est castrum quoddam sancti Walirici : Above is a certain castle of Saint Valery:
33 Hic tibi longa fuit difficilisque mora. Here your delay was long and difficult.
 
Page 3 - Boarding the ships ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Nam tum quinque dies complesti finibus illis, For then you had completed five days within those bounds,
2 Exspectans summi Judicis auxilium. Awaiting the aid of the highest Judge.
3 Ecclesiam sancti devota mente frequentans, Frequenting the church of the saint with a devoted mind,
4 Ibi pura dabas ingeminando preces. There you offered pure prayers, repeating them again and again.
5 Inspicis et templi gaiius qua vertitur aura : And you watch eagerly to see which way the temple's breeze turns:
6 Auster si spirat, laetus abinde redis, If the South wind blows, you return from there joyful,
7 Si subito Boreas Austrum divertit et arcet, But if suddenly the North wind shifts and blocks the South,
8 Effusis lacrimis fletibus ora rigas. With tears poured forth you drench your face with weeping.
9 Desolatus eras : frigus faciebat et imber, You were desolate: cold and rain assailed you,
10 Et polus obtectus nubibus et pluviis. And the sky was covered with clouds and rain.
11 Sed Pater omnipotens, in quo tibi spem posuisti, But the Almighty Father, in whom you placed your hope,
12 Tempora qui fecit, temperat atque regit, Who made the seasons, who moderates and rules them,
13 Qui palmo caelum, terram, mare ponderat ipse, Who Himself weighs heaven, earth, and sea in His palm,
14 Cui proprium constat omnibus esse locis To whom it is certain that being present is natural in all places,
15 Præsentem, precibus dedit et calcabile Petro Present, to your prayers He gave the sea passable to Peter
16 Æquor sub pedibus, compatiendo sibi, Beneath his feet, by sharing in his suffering,
17 Velle tuum tandem pius ut Deus est miseratus, At last, as a merciful God, He took pity on your desire,
18 Pro votoque tibi suppeditavit opus, And according to your vow, provided you with the means,
19 Expulit a coelo nubes et ab æquore ventos, He drove the clouds from the sky and the winds from the sea,
20 Frigora dissolvit, purgat et imbre polum. He dispelled the cold, and cleansed the sky of rain.
21 Incaluit tellus nimio perfusa calore, The earth grew warm, soaked with abundant heat,
22 Et Phoebus solito clarior emicuit. And Phoebus shone forth brighter than usual.
23 Festa dies Michaelis erat celebranda per orbem, The feast day of Michael was to be celebrated throughout the world,
24 Cum pro velle tibi cuncta Deus tribuit. When God granted you all things according to your wish.
25 Protinus una fuit mens omnibus, æqua voluntas Immediately, all were of one mind, an equal will
26 Iam bene pacato credere se pelago. To trust themselves to the now well-pacified sea.
27 Quamquam diversi, tamen adsunt lætificati ; Although diverse, yet they are present, filled with joy;
28 Nec mora, quisque suum currit ad officium. Without delay, each one runs to his duty.
29 Sublimant alii malos, aliique laborant Some raise the masts, others labor
30 Erectis malis addere vela super. To add sails above the erected masts.
31 Plurima cogit equos equitum pars scandere naves A large part of the horsemen forces the horses to board the ships,
32 Altera festinant arma locare sua. Another group hurries to stow their weapons.
33 Haut secus invadit classis loca turba pedestris, Not differently does the crowd of foot soldiers board the fleet,
34 Turba columbarum quæ sua tecta petit. Like a crowd of doves that seeks its own roosts.
35 O quantus subito fragor illinc ortus habetur, O how great a sudden clamor is said to have arisen from there,
 
Page 4 - Across the Channel ▲
Latin Text English Translation
36 Cum nautae remos, arma petunt equites ! While sailors go for oars, horsemen seek their weapons!
37 Hinc resonando tubae varios dant mille boatus ; From here, echoing trumpets give a thousand varied blasts;
38 Fistula cum calamis, et fidibus cithara ; The flute with reeds, and the cithara with strings;
39 Tympana taurinis implent mugitibus auras ; Drums fill the air with bull-like bellowing;
40 Alternant modulos cymbala clara suos. Bright cymbals alternate their own rhythms.
41 Terra tremit, coelumque pavet, miratur et aequor ; The earth trembles, the sky fears, and the sea marvels;
42 Quadrupedes fugiunt, piscis avisque simul. Four-footed beasts flee, fish and birds together.
43 Quippe decem decies, decies et milia quinque For indeed ten times ten, and ten times five thousand
44 Diversis feriunt vocibus astra poli. Strike the stars of heaven with diverse voices.
45 Sed tu templa petis sancti supra memorati, But you seek the temple of the saint mentioned above,
46 Muneribusque datis curris adire ratem ; And with offerings given, you rush to board the ship;
47 Clangendoque tuba, reliquis ut littora linquant And by sounding the trumpet, you order the rest to leave the shores
48 Praecipis, et pelagi tutius alta petant. You command, and to seek the safer deep of the sea.
49 Hactenus adfixae solvuntur littore puppes, Thus far, the ships fastened to the shore are released,
50 Aequor et intratur agmine composito. And the sea is entered in an ordered column.
51 Jam breviata dies, jam sol devexus abibat, Now the day shortened, now the sun declining was setting,
52 Cum tua praeripuit praevia navis iter. When your leading ship seized the course ahead.
53 Nox ubi caeca polum tenebrosis occupat umbris, When blind night seizes the sky with shadowy darkness,
54 Et negat obsequium Cynthia tecta tibi, And the Moon-goddess denies you her service, being hidden,
55 Imples non aliter facibus rutilantibus undas You fill the waves with gleaming torches, no differently
56 Sydera quam coelum, sole ruente, replent. Than the stars fill the sky when the sun has set.
57 Quot fuerant naves, totidem tu lumina spargis. As many as there were ships, you scatter that many lights.
58 Impositae malis permulta luce laternae Lanterns placed on the masts with abundant light
59 Tramite directo per mare vela regunt. Guide the sails on a straight path across the sea.
60 Sed veritus ne dampna tuis nox inferat atra, But fearing lest the black night bring harm to your men,
61 Ventus et adverso flamine turbet aquas, And a wind with opposing gust stir up the waters,
62 Sistere curva jubes compellat ut anchora puppes. You order to halt, so that the curved anchor might secure the ships.
63 In medio pelagi litus adesse facis ; You make a shore be present in the middle of the sea;
64 Ponere vela mones exspectans mane futurum, You advise to lower the sails, awaiting the coming morning,
65 Ut lassata nimis gens habeat requiem. So that the people, overly wearied, might have rest.
66 At postquam terris rutilans aurora refulsit, But after gleaming dawn shone again upon the lands,
67 Et Phoebus radios sparsit in orbe suos, And Phoebus scattered his rays across the world,
68 Praecipis ire viam, committere carbasa ventis You command to go on the way, to entrust the sails to the winds,
69 Praecipis, ut solvat anchora fixa rates. You command that the fixed anchor release the ships.
70 Tertia telluri supereminet hora diei, The third hour of the day rises above the earth,
 
Page 5 - The Landing ▲
Latin Text English Translation
71 Cum mare postponens litora tuta tenes. When, leaving the sea behind, you hold the safe shores.
72 E caelo fulgens extenso crine cometes From the sky, a comet shining with long hair
73 Anglis fatatum nunciat excidium. Announces the fated destruction to the English.
74 Debita terra tibi pavidis nudata colonis The land, owed to you, stripped of its terrified inhabitants,
75 Laeta sinu placido teque tuosque capit. Happily with a peaceful bosom receives you and your men.
76 Rex Heraldus enim sceleratus ad ultima terrae, For the wicked King Harold, to the ends of the earth,
77 Fratris ad exitium, perfida tela parat. Prepared treacherous weapons for his brother's destruction.
78 Non modicam regni partem nam frater adeptus, For his brother, having obtained no small part of the kingdom,
79 Tecta dabat flammis et gladiis populum. Gave homes to flames and the people to swords.
80 Marte sub opposito currens Heraldus in hostes Harold, rushing against enemies in open war,
81 Non timuit fratris tradere membra neci. Did not fear to deliver his brother's body to death.
82 Alter in alterutrum plus quam civile peregit One against the other waged a war more than civil;
83 Bellum ; sed victor, proh dolor ! ipse fuit. But the victor, alas! was he himself.
84 Invidus ille Cain fratris caput amputat ense, That envious Cain cuts off his brother's head with a sword,
85 Et caput et corpus sic sepelivit humo. And thus buried both head and body in the ground.
86 Nec tibi praevidit, qui debita regna subegit, Nor did he foresee for you, who subdued the kingdoms owed,
87 Criminis infesti quatenus ultor eas. To what extent you would go as an avenger of the hostile crime.
88 Littora custodiens, metuens amittere naves, Guarding the shores, fearing to lose the ships,
89 Moenibus et munitis, castraque ponis ibi : With walls and fortifications, and you place a camp there:
90 Diruta quae fuerant dudum castella reformas ; You rebuild the castles which had long been destroyed;
91 Ponis custodes ut tueantur ea. You place guards so that they may protect them.
92 Non multo spatio tua gens, sed pace potita, Your people, having gained peace in not much time,
93 Invadit terram, vastat et igne cremat : Invade the land, lay waste and burn with fire:
94 Nec mirum : regem quia te plebs stulta negabat, And no wonder: because the foolish people denied you as king,
95 Ergo perit juste, vadit et ad nihilum. Therefore it perishes justly, and goes to nothing.
96 Ex Anglis unus, latitans sub rupe marina, One of the English, hiding under a sea-cliff,
97 Cemit ut effusas innumeras acies, Sees how countless battle lines are poured forth,
98 Et quod agri fulgent pleni radiantibus armis, And that the fields glitter, full of shining weapons,
99 Vulcano flammis depopulante domos, With Vulcan's flames laying waste to homes,
100 Perfidiae gentem ferro bacchante perire, The treacherous people perishing with steel running wild,
101 Quasque dabant lacrimas caede patrum pueri, And the tears which children gave for the slaughter of their fathers,
102 Scandere currit equum ; festinat dicere regi. He runs to mount a horse; he hurries to tell the king.
103 Rex redit a bello praemia laeta ferens. The king returns from war bearing joyful spoils.
104 Nuncius occurrit ; quae fert, hoc in ordine pandit The messenger meets him; what he bears, he unfolds in this order:
105 " Rex, tibi pro certo nuncia dira fero. "King, I bring you dire news for certain.
 
Page 6 - Harolds Speech ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Dux Normannorum cum Gallis atque Britannis The Duke of the Normans with Gauls and with Bretons
2 Invasit terram, vastat et igne cremat. Has invaded the land, lays waste and burns with fire.
3 Millia si quaeris, tibi dicere nemo valebit ; If you ask for thousands, no one will be able to tell you;
4 Quod mare fert pisces, tot sibi sunt equites ; As many fish as the sea bears, that many horsemen does he have;
5 Et veluti stellas coeli numerare nequires, And just as you could not count the stars of heaven,
6 Ejus sic acies nec numerare vales. So neither can you count his battle lines.
7 Captivos ducit pueros captasque puellas, He leads captive boys and captured girls,
8 Insuper et viduas, et simul omne pecus." Moreover widows, and likewise all the livestock."
9 Rusticus haec retulit. Rex contra sibilat illi ; The peasant reported these things. The king in response hisses at him;
10 Quamvis haec timeat, velle tamen simulat. Although he fears this, he nevertheless pretends to want it.
11 Advocat ipse duces, comites terraeque potentes ; He himself summons the leaders, the earls and powerful men of the land;
12 Verb is, ut fertur, talibus alloquitur : With words, as is said, he addresses them thus:
13 Militiae pars summa meae, magnatibus orta, The highest part of my army, sprung from nobles,
14 Solus non bello vincere cui pudor est, For whom it is a shame not to conquer alone in war,
15 Nothica quos misit per te superavimus hostes, The Norse enemies whom it sent, through you we overcame,
16 Et per te nostrum stravimus equivocum, And through you we laid low our namesake,
17 Nutrivit proprio matrum quam lacte papilla. Which the mothers' breast nourished with their own milk.
18 Tu mihi praesidium, murus et auxilium, You are my defense, my wall and my aid,
19 Audisti nostrum quod gens Normannica regnum You have heard that the Norman people have entered our kingdom,
20 Intravit, praedans pauperat, exspoliat. Plundering, impoverishing, and despoiling.
21 Hoc Willelmus [agit] qui te sibi subdere quaerit, This is William's doing, who seeks to subjugate you to himself,
22 Nomen habet magnum ; cor tamen est pavidum. He has a great name; yet his heart is fearful.
23 Est vafer et cupidus nimiumque superciliosus, He is cunning and greedy and exceedingly arrogant,
24 Nec novit pacem nec retinere fidem. He neither knows peace nor how to keep faith.
25 Si possit leviter molitur tollere nostra !... If he can, he lightly schemes to take away what is ours!...
26 Sed Deus omnipotens non erit hoc patiens. But God Almighty will not be patient with this.
27 Quantus erit ictus, quantus dolor et pudor ingens, How great will be the blow, how great the pain and immense shame,
28 Regni quanta lues, quam tenebrosa dies, What a great plague for the kingdom, what a dark day,
29 Si quod quaerit habet, si regni sceptra tenebit ! If he has what he seeks, if he will hold the kingdom's scepters!
30 Hoc omnes fugiant, vivere qui cupiunt." Let all who desire to live flee from this."
31 His ita prolatis, quaerit responsa suorum ; These things having been said, he seeks the responses of his men;
32 Scrutantur taciti dicere quid valeant. They search silently for what they might say.
33 Nascitur extemplo clamor qui perculit astra, Immediately a shout arises which strikes the stars,
34 Et vox communis omnibus una fuit : And a common voice, one and the same for all, was:
35 " Bella magis cupimus quam sub juga colla reponi "We desire war more than to place our necks under the yoke
 
Page 7 - The Diplomats ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Alterius regis, vel magis inde mori." Of another king, or rather to die from it."
2 Exultans fatuus rex grates reddidit illis ; The foolish king, exulting, gave thanks to them;
3 Insuper hoc unum consilium retulit : Moreover, he offered this single piece of counsel:
4 " Primum legatos decet ut mittamus ad illum, "First, it is fitting that we send envoys to him,
5 Illi qui dicant, si placet ut redeat. Who shall tell him, if it pleases him, to go back.
6 Pacificum si vult nobiscum foedus inire, If he wishes to enter into a peaceful treaty with us,
7 Vestro consilio, non ego rejiciam. By your counsel, I will not reject it.
8 Sin aliter, non sponte sua mea littora linquet. But if otherwise, he will not leave my shores of his own will.
9 Desinat hoc quod agit ; trans freta regna petat.'" Let him cease what he is doing; let him seek kingdoms across the sea.'"
10 Aequo consultu majorum necne minorum With equal deliberation of the greater and the lesser,
11 Providus eloquio monachus eligitur, A monk, skilled in speech, is chosen,
12 Exploret qui castra ducis, qui credita caute Who is to scout the duke's camp, who is carefully to report
13 Verba sibi referat regis ab imperio. The words entrusted to him from the king's command.
14 Acceleravit iter pedibus transvectus equinis, He hastened on his journey, carried by horse's feet,
15 Sub tunica nigra verba verenda gerens. Bearing formidable words beneath his black tunic.
16 Dux erat in castris. Intrans haec monachus inquit The Duke was in camp. Entering, this monk said:
17 " Est opus ut nostrae sic valeas patriae. "It is important for our country that you should fare well.
18 Rex et primates, regni quoque jura tenentes. The king and nobles, also those holding the laws of the kingdom,
19 Praecipiunt dicto quod citius redeas. Command by word that you return more swiftly.
20 Mirantur super his de te quae fama reportat, They wonder at these things which rumor reports about you,
21 Quod sine te regnum ducis ad excidium. That you are leading the kingdom to ruin without cause.
22 Captivos reddas et quicquid vi rapuisti : Return the captives and whatever you seized by force:
23 Indulget, si vis, coetera damna tibi, He grants you, if you wish, the other losses,
24 Aetati parcit, morum parcit levitati, He spares your age, he spares the folly of your ways,
25 Olim quae fuerat parcus amicitiae. He who was once sparing of friendship.
26 Si contra dicis, aut si sua reddere tardas, If you speak against this, or if you delay returning his possessions,
27 Bella tibi mandat : ergo, decet, caveas. He declares war on you: therefore, it is fitting you beware.
28 Miliciam vix ipse suam populumque coercet : He can scarcely restrain his own army and the people:
29 Gens est quae nullum novit habere modum. It is a people which knows how to have no limit.
30 Nam, Dominum testor, bis sex sibi milia centum For, I call God to witness, twice six thousand and a hundred
31 Sunt pugnatorum, praelia qui sitiunt." Are the fighters, who thirst for battles."
32 Talibus objectis mutata leonis imago. At such words thrown before him, the image of the lion changed.
33 Pondus virtutum, miles et intrepidus, The weight of virtues, a soldier and fearless,
34 Dux flocci pendens quicquid sibi vana cuculla The Duke, considering as worthless whatever the vain cowl
35 Attulerat, fatuas approbat esse minas : Had brought him, judges the threats to be foolish:
 
Page 8 - William`s Speech ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 " Verba tui regis, dixit, non sunt sapientis. "The words of your king," he said, "are not those of a wise man.
2 Nil latitare procul poterit, hoc sapiat. Nothing will be able to hide far away, let him understand this.
3 Excessi puerum, leviter nec regna petivi I have outgrown boyhood, nor did I lightly seek kingdoms
4 Defunctis patribus debita jure mihi. Owed to me by right upon the death of the fathers.
5 Foedus amicitiae nostrae dissolvit inique, He unjustly dissolved the bond of our friendship,
6 Dum tenet injuste quae mea jure forent. While he unjustly holds what would be mine by right.
7 Quod monet ut redeam, furor est, dementia summa: That he advises me to return, it is madness, utter folly:
8 Tempus enim prohibet et via non facilis. For the season forbids it and the journey is not easy.
9 Inmerito quamvis committere bella minetur, Although he undeservedly threatens to wage war,
10 In domino fidens gens mea non refugit. My people, trusting in the Lord, do not flee.
11 Nescit quod furtiva mihi perjuria fecit, He does not know that he committed secret perjuries against me,
12 Nec penitus recolit quod meus iste fuit? Nor does he deeply recall that this man was mine?
13 Si perjura manus nondum damnata resultat, If his perjured hand, not yet condemned, rebels,
14 Divino tamen est jam rea judicio. Yet it is already guilty by divine judgment.
15 Si quaerit pacem, si vult delicta fateri, If he seeks peace, if he wishes to confess his crimes,
16 Indulgens culpae parcere promptus ero: Indulgent, I will be ready to spare his fault:
17 Terram quam pridem tenuit pater, hanc sibi reddam, The land which his father once held, this I will return to him,
18 Ut meus ante fuit, si meus esse velit." As he was mine before, if he wishes to be mine."
19 Monachus accelerat reditum, dux praeparat arma: The monk hastens his return, the duke prepares arms:
20 Heraldi mentem noverat atque dolum. He had come to know Harold's mind and his deceit.
21 Admonet, inflammat confortans corda suorum: He admonishes, inflames, strengthening the hearts of his men:
22 " Francia quos genuit nobilitate cluens, "You whom France, renowned for nobility, bore,
23 Belligeri sine felle viri, famosa juventus, Warlike men without gall, famous youth,
24 Quos Deus elegit, vel Deus ipse favet, Whom God has chosen, and God Himself favors,
25 Fama volat quorum per climata quattuor orbis; Whose fame flies through the four climates of the world;
26 Invictusque manens militiae titulus; And the title of soldiery remains unconquered;
27 Gensque Britannorum quorum decus exstat in armis, And the people of the Bretons, whose glory stands in arms,
28 Tellus ni fugiat est fuga nulla quibus; For whom there is no flight, unless the land itself flees;
29 Viribus illustres Cenomanni, gloria quorum Men of Maine, illustrious in strength, whose glory
30 Bello monstratur per probitatis opem; Is shown in war through the aid of valor;
31 Apulus, et Calaber, Siculus quibus jacula fervet; Apulian, and Calabrian, Sicilian for whom javelins seethe;
32 Normanni faciles actibus egregiis; Normans, ready for distinguished deeds;
33 Falsus et infamis, perjurus rex et adulter A false and infamous, perjured king and adulterer
34 Molitur nobis, tendit et insidias. Devises plots against us and sets snares.
35 Ejus enim mos est non vi, sed vincere fraude. For his custom is to conquer not by force, but by fraud.
 
Page 9 - Disrespecting Harold ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Spondendoque fidem porrigit ore necem. And by pledging faith, he offers death with his mouth.
2 Ergo cavere decet ne decipiamur ab illo, Therefore it is fitting to beware lest we be deceived by him,
3 Ni simus risus ludus et in populo. Unless we are to be a laughingstock and a joke among the people.
4 Mandamus vobis quapropter castra tueri, Therefore we command you to guard the camp,
5 Irruat in castris ne malus ille latro. Lest that evil thief rush upon the camp.
6 Sed cras si dignum vobis videatur et aequum, But tomorrow, if it should seem worthy and just to you,
7 Contra quem misit vana referre mihi, Against him who sent vain things to report to me,
8 Reddere legatum pro verbis verba paratum To send back an envoy, ready to return words for words,
9 Illi mittamus, qui minimum timeat. Him we should send, who fears very little.
10 Monachus est nobis quo non moderantior alter, We have a monk more temperate than whom there is no other,
11 Et nulli cedens rectoris officio, And yielding to none in the office of a guide,
12 Signifer insignis, ni regula sacra negaret. A distinguished standard-bearer, if the sacred rule did not forbid it.
13 Si vobis placeat, hic mea dicta ferat," If it please you, let him bear my words,"
14 Dixit, et est actum : complevit et actio dictum, He spoke, and it was done: the action fulfilled the word,
15 Monachus accitur ; nec mora, carpit iter. The monk is summoned; without delay, he takes up the journey.
16 Interea sedes fuscatae fraudis et haeres, Meanwhile, the heir and seat of darkened fraud,
17 Nocte sub obscura, furis in arte vigens, Under the obscure night, thriving in the art of a thief,
18 Rex acies armare jubet, ducis atque latentis The king commands his battle lines to arm, and orders that they
19 Mandat ut invadant agmina, si valeant. Invade the columns of the hidden duke, if they are able.
20 Aestimat invigiles prosternere fraudibus hostes : He thinks to lay low the unsleeping enemies by deceits:
21 Fallere dum quaerit, fallitur atque ruit. While he seeks to deceive, he is deceived and rushes to ruin.
22 Dux qui a directo legato pervigil extat, The duke, who remains vigilant from the envoy sent,
23 Ejus et ingenio conscius artis erat. Was also aware of his cunning and skill.
24 Divertens legatus iter per devia terrae The envoy, turning his journey through the trackless parts of the land,
25 Nescius accessit, rex ubi furta facit. Approached unknowingly, to where the king commits his thefts.
26 " Pro merito de parte ducis, rex," inquit, " aveto, "Hail, king," he said, "for the merit of the duke's cause,
27 Quem non ex aequo cogis inire malum : Whom you unjustly compel to enter into evil:
28 Hoc quia perplures testantur (et asserit idem For this many bear witness (and the same is asserted
29 Assensu populi), Edwardus quod rex ut ei With the assent of the people), that King Edward
30 Succederet heres, annuit et fecit ; Granted and made him to succeed as heir;
31 teque favente sibi and with you favoring him
32 Anulus est illi testis concessus et ensis, A ring and a sword were granted to him as a witness,
33 Quae per te nosti missa fuisse sibi. Which you know were sent to him through you.
34 Est igitur servanda fides jurata teneri Therefore, pledged faith must be preserved,
35 Nexibus atque sacris dextera stricta manus. And the right hand bound by sacred bonds.
 
Page 10 - Harold rejects William`s offer ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Ergo decet videas ne te perjuria laedant, Therefore it is fitting you see that perjuries do not harm you,
2 Et jurata tene, salvus ut esse queas." And keep your oaths, so that you may be safe."
3 Heraldus vultu distorto colla retorquens, Harold, with twisted face, turning his neck,
4 Legato dixit : " Vade retro, stolide : Said to the envoy: "Go backwards, foolish one:
5 Jude cras Domino, regni pars justa patebit : Tomorrow, with the Lord as Judge, the just share of the kingdom will be revealed:
6 Dividet ex aequo sacra manus Domini." The sacred hand of the Lord will divide it equally."
7 Ille retro gressum vertens per devia rursum, He, turning his step back again through trackless ways,
8 A quo missus erat huic maledicta refert. Reports the curses to him by whom he had been sent.
9 Imperiale decus, dux, pax et gloria regni, Imperial honor, the duke, the peace and glory of the kingdom,
10 Praevius incedens ante suas acies Going forth as a leader before his battle lines,
11 Aggregat, et strictim compellit abire Quirites, Gathers together, and closely compels the soldiers to move out,
12 Et faciles hasta conglomerare facit. And with the spear makes the ready ones mass together.
13 Legati facies nativo cassa rubore, The envoy's face, devoid of natural redness,
14 Pallor et ostendit proxima bella fore. And pallor, shows that battles are near at hand.
15 Dux ait: "Est ubi rex?" — " Non longe," monachus inquit. The duke said: "Where is the king?" — "Not far," the monk said.
16 Dixit in aure sibi : " Signa videre potes, He spoke in his ear: "You can see the standards,
17 Plurima verba fero quae censeo non referenda : I bear many words which I think should not be repeated:
18 Illa tamen dicam quae reticere nocet. Yet I will say those things which it harms to keep silent.
19 Ex improviso sperat te fallere posse : He hopes to be able to deceive you unexpectedly:
20 Per mare, per terram praelia magna parat. By sea, by land, he prepares great battles.
21 In mare quingentas fertur misisse carinas, He is said to have sent five hundred ships to sea,
22 Ut nostri reditus praepediatur iter. So that the path of our return might be blocked.
23 Quo graditur, silvas planis deducit adesse, Wherever he marches, he brings forests to be present on plains,
24 Et, per quae transit flumina, sicca facit. And, through which rivers he passes, he makes them dry.
25 Fors numerum metues ? numerus sed viribus expers Perhaps you will fear the number? But a number lacking strength,
26 Plurimus a minimo saepe repulsus abit. However great, is often repulsed and yields to the smallest.
27 Est sibi milities unctis depexa capillis, He has soldiers with sleek, combed hair,
28 Feminei juvenes Martis in arte pigri, Effeminate youths, sluggish in the art of Mars,
29 Et quot sunt, ovibus totidem sunt aequiparandi, And as many as they are, they are to be equated to so many sheep,
30 Ut vulpes pavidi fulguris ad sonitum. Fearful like foxes at the sound of thunder.
31 Nobilium memor esto patrum, dux magne, tuorum, Be mindful of your noble fathers, great duke,
32 Et quod fecit avus quodque pater, facias : And what your grandfather did and what your father did, may you do:
33 Normannos proavus superavit, avusque Britannos ; Your great-grandfather overcame the Normans, and your grandfather the Bretons;
34 Anglorum genitor sub juga colla dedit. Your father placed the necks of the English under the yoke.
 
Page 11 - The Battlefield ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Et tu quid facies, nisi quod majora parando And you, what will you do, unless by preparing greater deeds
2 Succedas illis per probitatis opem ? " You surpass them through the aid of valor?"
3 Paulo conticuit, faciens et se remoratum, He was silent for a little while, and having paused,
4 Armatas acies ordinat imperio : He arrays the armed battle lines by his command:
5 Praemisit pedites committere bella sagittis, He sent forward the infantry to join battle with arrows,
6 Et balistantes inserit in medio, And he places the crossbowmen in the middle,
7 Quatinus infigant volitantia vultibus arma, So that they might fix the flying weapons in faces,
8 Vulneribusque datis ora retro faciant. And with wounds inflicted, make them turn back.
9 Ordine post pedites sperat stabilire Quirites ; In order, after the infantry, he hopes to station the cavalry;
10 Occursu belli sed sibi non licuit : But it was not permitted to him by the onset of battle:
11 Haut procul hostiles cuneos nam cernit adesse, For he perceives the hostile wedges not far off,
12 Et plenum telis irradiare nemus. And the grove shining, full of weapons.
13 Mars, Deus o belli, gladiis qui sceptra coerces, O Mars, God of war, who restrain scepters with swords,
14 Corpora cui juvenum sanguinolenta placent To whom the bloodstained bodies of youths are pleasing,
15 Et cruor effusus permulta caede virorum, And blood poured out in much slaughter of men,
16 Quis tibi tunc animus, quanta cupido mali, What spirit was in you then, how great a desire for evil,
17 Cum medius saevas acies miscere jubebas ! When you, in the midst, commanded the savage lines to join!
18 Quo potius nullum te juvat excidium, Since no destruction pleases you more than that,
19 Ex quo Pompeium superavit Julius armis, Since the time when Julius overcame Pompey with arms,
20 Et Romana sibi moenia subripuit, And seized for himself the Roman walls,
21 Compulit atque metu Nili transire per amnem, And compelled him through fear to cross the river Nile,
22 Nulla reor caedes tam tibi grata fuit. I think no slaughter was so pleasing to you.
23 Nec juvenile decus, nec te reverenda senectus, Neither youthful beauty, nor revered old age,
24 Nec peditum vilis et miseranda manus, Nor the cheap and pitiable band of foot soldiers,
25 Flectere nec valuit te nobilitudo parentum, Nor the nobility of parents could sway you,
26 Quin ageres quicquid mens tua torva cupit. But that you would do whatever your fierce mind desires.
27 Caecatos miseros radiantia trudis in arma, You drive the wretched, blinded men into gleaming weapons,
28 Et veluti ludum cogis adire necem. And you compel them to approach death as if it were a game.
29 Quid moror in verbis, cum jam furor extat in armis ? Why do I delay with words, when now fury stands forth in arms?
30 Exple velle tuum, Mars, age mortis opus. Fulfill your desire, Mars, come, do the work of death.
31 Ex improviso diffudit silva cohortes, Suddenly, the forest poured forth its cohorts,
32 Et nemoris latebris agmina prosiliunt. And from the hiding-places of the grove the columns leap forth.
33 Mons silvae vicinus erat vicinaque vallis, A mountain was near the wood and a valley nearby,
34 Et non cultus ager asperitate sui. And a field uncultivated in its ruggedness.
35 Anglis ut mos est, densatim progredientes The English, as is their custom, advancing in dense formation,
 
Page 12 - Taillefer ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Haec loca praescribunt Martis ad officium. These places prescribe them for the office of Mars.
2 Nescia gens belli solamina spernit equorum, The people, ignorant of war, scorn the solace of horses,
3 Viribus et fidens haeret humo pedibus, And trusting in their strength, cling to the ground with their feet,
4 Et decus esse mori summum dijudicat armis, And they judge it the highest honor to die by arms,
5 Sub juga ne tellus transeat alterius. Lest the land pass under the yoke of another.
6 Ascendit montem rex bellaturus in hostem, The king ascends the mountain to wage war against the enemy,
7 Nobilibusque viris munit utrumque latus ; And fortifies each flank with noble men;
8 In summo montis vexillum vertice fixit, On the highest peak of the mountain he fixed his banner,
9 Affigique jubet caetera signa sibi. And commands the other standards to be fixed near him.
10 Omnes descendunt et equos post terga relinquunt, All descend and leave the horses behind their backs,
11 Affixique solo, bella ciere tubis. And fixed to the ground, they stir up war with trumpets.
12 Dux humilis Dominumque timens moderantius agmen The duke, humble and fearing the Lord, leads his column
13 Ducit et audacter ardua montis adit, More moderately, and boldly approaches the steep slopes of the mountain,
14 Praelia percurrit : " Pedites, miscete sagittis : He runs through the battle lines: "Infantry, mix with arrows:
15 Quadratis jaculis scuta nihil faciunt." Against square javelins, shields do nothing."
16 Festinant parmas galeati jungere parmis : The helmeted ones hasten to join shields to shields:
17 Erectis hastis hostis uterque furit. With spears raised, each enemy rages.
18 Ut canibus lassatus aper stans dente tuetur, As a boar, wearied by dogs, standing, defends itself with its tusk,
19 Oreque spumoso rejicit arma pati, And with foaming mouth rejects to suffer weapons,
20 Non hostem metuit nec tela minantia mortem ; It fears neither the enemy nor the weapons threatening death;
21 Sic plebs Angligena dimicat inpavida. Thus the English common folk fight undaunted.
22 Interea, dubio pendent dum praelia marte, Meanwhile, while the battles hang in uncertain war,
23 Eminet et telis mortis amara lues, And the bitter plague of death stands out with weapons,
24 Histrio, cor audax nimium quem nobilitabat, A performer, whom a most bold heart made noble,
25 Agmina praecedens innumerosa ducis, Preceding the countless columns of the duke,
26 Hortatur Gallos verbis et territat Anglos, He encourages the Gauls with words and terrifies the English,
27 Alte projiciens ludit et ense suo. Tossing his sword high, he plays with it.
28 Anglorum quidam cum de tot milibus unum A certain one of the English, when from so many thousands he sees
29 Ludentem gladio cernit abire procul, One man playing with a sword, going far off,
30 Militiae cordis tactus fervore decenti, Struck in his heart with a fitting fervor for soldiery,
31 Vivere postponens, prosilit ire mori. Postponing living, he leaps forth to go and die.
32 Incisor-ferri mimus cognomine dictus, Called by the surname "Iron-Cutter," a mime,
33 Ut fuerat captus, pungit equum stimulis ; As he was seized [with zeal], he pricks his horse with spurs;
34 Angligenum scutum telo transfudit acuto : He pierces the Englishman's shield with a sharp weapon:
35 Corpore prostrato distulit ense caput. With the body prostrated, he severed the head with his sword.
 
Page 13 - Phases in the Battle ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Lumina convertens sociis haec gaudia profert, Turning his eyes, he offers these joys to his comrades,
2 Belli principium monstrat et esse suum. And shows that the beginning of the war is his own.
3 Omnes laetantur, Dominum pariter venerantur ; All rejoice, they equally venerate the Lord;
4 Exultant ictus quod prior extat eis ; They exult that the first strike is theirs;
5 Et tremor et fervor per corda virilia currunt, And both trembling and fervor run through manly hearts,
6 Festinantque simul jungere scuta viri. And the men hasten together to join their shields.
7 Invadunt primi peditum coetus pharetrati, The first quiver-bearing companies of infantry attack,
8 Eminus et jaculis corpora trajiciunt, And from afar they pierce bodies with javelins,
9 Et balistantes clipeos ad grandinis instar And the crossbowmen shatter shields like hail,
10 Dissolvunt, quatiunt ictibus innumeris. They break them, they shake them with countless strikes.
11 Sed laevam Galli, dextram petiere Britanni ; But the Gauls sought the left, the Bretons the right;
12 Dux cum Normannis dimicat in medio. The duke fights with the Normans in the center.
13 Anglorum stat fixa solo densissima turba, The very dense crowd of English stands fixed to the ground,
14 Tela dat et telis, et gladios gladiis. Giving weapons for weapons, and swords for swords.
15 Spiritibus nequeunt frustrata cadavera sterni, Deprived of spirits, corpses cannot be laid low,
16 Nec cedunt vivis corpora militibus : Nor do the bodies yield to living soldiers:
17 Omne cadaver enim, vita licet evacuatum, For every corpse, although emptied of life,
18 Stat velut illaesum, possidet atque locum ; Stands as if unharmed, and holds its place;
19 Nec penetrare valent spissum nemus Angligenarum Nor are they able to penetrate the dense wood of the English
20 Ni tribuat vires viribus ingenium. Unless cunning gives strength to strength.
21 Artibus instructi Franci, bellare periti, The French, instructed in arts, skilled in warfare,
22 Ac si devicti fraude fugam simulant. As if conquered, by deceit they simulate flight.
23 Rustica laetatur gens et superasse putabat ; The rustic people rejoice and thought they had overcome;
24 Post tergum nudis insequitur gladiis. They pursue with naked swords behind their backs.
25 A motis sanis labuntur dilacerati, Moved from their safe position, they fall, torn apart,
26 Silvaque spissa prius rarior efficitur. And the wood, previously dense, is made more sparse.
27 Conspicit ut captum cornu tenuare sinistrum, He perceives that the left wing, once seized, is thinning,
28 Intrandi dextrum quod via larga patet, And that a wide path lies open to enter the right,
29 Perdere dispersos variatis cladibus hostes He strives, with loosened reins, to destroy the scattered enemies
30 Laxatis frenis certat utrumque prius ; With varied slaughter, both wings first;
31 Quique fugam simulant instantibus ora retorquent, And those who simulate flight turn their faces upon the pressing ones,
32 Constrictos cogunt vertere dorsa neci. They force the hemmed-in ones to turn their backs to death.
33 Pars ibi magna perit, pars et densata resistit : A great part perishes there, and part, having thickened, resists:
34 Milia namque decem sunt ibi passa necem. For ten thousand suffered death there.
35 Ut pereunt mites bacchante leone bidentes. As gentle sheep perish when a lion rages.
 
Page 14 - Charge and Counter Charge ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Sic compulsa mori gens maledicta ruit. Thus the accursed people, compelled to die, rushes to ruin.
2 Plurima quae superest pars bello acrior instat, The very great part which remains presses on, fiercer in war,
3 Et sibi sublatos pro nihilo reputat. And considers those taken from it as nothing.
4 Anglorum populus numero superante repellit The English people, with superior number, repel
5 Hostes, vique retro compulit ora dari, The enemies, and by force compelled their faces to be turned back,
6 Et fuga ficta prius fit tunc virtute coacta. And the flight, previously feigned, then becomes compelled by valor.
7 Normanni fugiunt, dorsa tegunt clipei. The Normans flee, their shields cover their backs.
8 Dux ubi prospexit quod gens sua victa recedit, When the duke saw that his own people, conquered, retreat,
9 Occurrens illis signa ferendo manu, Running to meet them, bearing the standard in his hand,
10 Increpat et caedit, retinet, constringit et hasta; He rebukes and strikes, restrains, and presses them with his spear;
11 Iratus galea nudat et ipse caput; Angry, he himself bares his head of his helmet;
12 Vultum Normannis dat, verba precantia Gallis, He shows his face to the Normans, words of entreaty to the Gauls,
13 Dixit : " Quo fugitis ? quo juvat ire mori ? He said: "Where do you flee? Where does it please you to go and die?
14 Quae fueras victrix, pateris cur victa videri, You who were victorious, why do you suffer to be seen as conquered,
15 Regnis terrarum Gallia nobilior ? O Gaul, more noble than the kingdoms of the earth?
16 Non homines, sed oves fugitis frustraque timetis. You flee not men, but sheep, and you fear in vain.
17 Illud quod facitis dedecus est nimium : That which you do is an excessive disgrace:
18 Est mare post tergum, maris est iter ad remeandum, The sea is behind your back, the sea is the path to return,
19 Per mare quod vobis tempus et aura negat : Across the sea, which time and wind deny you:
20 Ad patriam reditus gravis est, gravis et via longa. The return to the fatherland is difficult, and the long road is difficult.
21 Hic vobis nullum restat et effugium. Here no escape remains for you.
22 Vincere certetis solum, si vivere vultis." Strive only to conquer, if you wish to live."
23 Dixit, et extemplo serpit ad ora pudor. He spoke, and immediately shame creeps to their faces.
24 Terga retro faciunt, vultus vertuntur in hostes. They turn their backs behind, their faces are turned towards the enemies.
25 Dux, ut erat princeps, primus et ille ferit. The duke, as he was the leader, he also strikes first.
26 Post illum reliqui feriunt ad corda reversi ; After him, the rest, returned to their hearts, strike;
27 Vires assumunt rejiciendo metum. They assume strength by rejecting fear.
28 Ut stipulae flammis pereunt spirantibus auris, As stubble perishes in flames with the winds breathing,
29 Sic a Francigenis, Anglica turba, ruis. Thus, English crowd, you rush to ruin at the hands of the French.
30 Ante ducis faciem tremefactum labitur agmen, Before the duke's face, the terrified battle line slips away,
31 Mollis cera fluit ignis ut a facie. As soft wax flows from the face of fire.
32 Abstricto gladio galeas et scuta recidit, With drawn sword, he cuts through helmets and shields,
33 Illius et sonipes corpora multa ferit, And his war-horse strikes down many bodies,
34 Heraldi frater non territus ore leonis, The brother of Harold, not terrified by the lion's face,
35 Nomine Gernt, regis traduce progenitus, By name Gyrth, born of the king's mother,
 
Page 15 - William is superhuman ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Librando telum celeri volitante lacerto Poising a weapon with swift, flying arm,
2 Eminus emisso cuspide corpus equi With spear sent from afar, he wounds the body
3 Vulnerat, atque ducem peditem bellare coegit ; Of the horse, and compelled the duke to fight on foot;
4 Sed pedes effectus dimicat et melius. But made a foot-soldier, he fights even better.
5 Nam velox juvenem sequitur veluti leo frendens ; For swift, he follows the youth like a gnashing lion;
6 Membratim perimens, haec sibi verba dedit : Killing limb by limb, he spoke these words to himself:
7 " Accipe promeritam nostri de parte coronam : "Receive the deserved crown on our behalf:
8 Si periit sonipes, hanc tibi reddo pedes." If the steed has perished, on foot I return this to you."
9 Dixit et ad bellum convertit protinus actum, He spoke and immediately turned to the business of war,
10 Obstat et oppositis viribus Herculeis. He resists and with opposed, Herculean strength.
11 Hos truncos facit, hos mutilos, hos devorat ense, These he makes maimed, those mutilated, these he devours with his sword,
12 Perplures animas mittit et ad tenebras. He sends very many souls even to the shadows.
13 Per medias strages equitem dum prospicit ire, While he looks forth to see a horseman going through the midst of the carnage,
14 Ex Cenomannorum progenitum genere One sprung from the race of the Cenomanni,
15 Infesto gladio cerebro, vel sanguinis unda, With hostile sword, with brain or wave of blood,
16 Innuit ut veniat et sibi subveniat. He nods that he come and aid him.
17 Ille timens caedem negat illi ferre salutem ; He, fearing slaughter, refuses to bring him aid;
18 Nam pavitat mortem, ceu lepus ante canem. For he dreads death, like a hare before a dog.
19 Dux memor, ut miles subito se vertit ad illum, The duke, mindful, as a soldier suddenly turns himself towards him,
20 Per nasum galeae concitus accipiens, Swiftly seizing him by the nose of his helmet,
21 Vultum telluri, plantas ad sydera volvit : He rolls his face to the earth, his soles to the stars:
22 Sic sibi concessum scandere currit equum. Thus he runs to mount the horse granted to him.
23 O coeli Rector, nostri pius ac miserator, O Ruler of heaven, pious and compassionate to us,
24 Nutu divino qui regis omne quod est ! Who rule all that is with divine nod!
25 Quas patitur clades Anglorum turma superstes ! What disasters the surviving troop of English suffers!
26 Occidit hic pietas, regnat et impietas. Here piety falls, and impiety reigns.
27 Vita perit ; mors saeva furit, bacchatur et ensis : Life perishes; savage death rages, and the sword revels:
28 Nullus ibi parcit, Mars ubi sceptra regit. No one spares there, where Mars rules the scepter.
29 Postquam factus eques dux est, mox acrius hostes After the duke was made a horseman, soon more fiercely
30 Vulnerat, aggreditur, fulminat, insequitur. He wounds the enemies, attacks, thunders, pursues.
31 Vincere dum certat, dum campum caede cruentat, While he strives to conquer, while he bloodies the field with slaughter,
32 Filius Hellocis, vir celer et facilis, The son of Helloc, a swift and ready man,
33 Insidiando ducem tractabat fine gravari ; By lying in wait, sought to oppress the duke with an end;
34 Sed misso jaculo traditur ictus equo. But with a javelin sent, he is struck and given to his horse.
35 Corruit in terram : pedes est dux, plenus et ira : He falls to the ground: the duke is on foot, full of anger:
 
Page 16 - The Norman Victory seem imminent ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Quomodo se teneat cogitat aut quid agat. He thinks how he should hold himself or what he should do.
2 Nam binis miratur equis privatus haberi ; For he marvels that he is deprived of two horses;
3 Haeret in hoc paulo ; sed nihil esse putat. He hesitates at this a little; but thinks it is nothing.
4 Censet enim, virtute sibi fortuna favebit. For he judges that fortune will favor him with courage.
5 Subveniet votis et sine fraude suis. It will come to the aid of his wishes and without deceit.
6 Ergo sui mors, jurat, equi, si dextra manebit, Therefore, he swears, the death of his horse, if his right hand remains,
7 Non sine vindicta transiet. Absque mora Will not pass without vengeance. Without delay,
8 Auctorem sceleris multos inter latitantem The author of the crime, lurking among many,
9 Longe perspiciens, perdere currit eum. Perceiving him from afar, he runs to destroy him.
10 Impulsu dextrae duro mucronis et ictu With the hard thrust of his right hand and the blow of his sword,
11 Ila praecidens viscera fudit humi. Cutting through his flanks, he poured his entrails on the ground.
12 At comes Eustachius generosis patribus ortus, But Count Eustace, sprung from noble fathers,
13 Septatus bellantum multiplici cuneo, Surrounded by a manifold wedge of warriors,
14 Ad ducis auxilium festinat primus haberi, Hastens to be first at the duke's aid,
15 Efficiturque pedes, dux ut abiret eques. And becomes a foot-soldier, so that the duke might depart a horseman.
16 Miles erat quidam comitis nutritus ab illo : There was a certain knight of the count, nurtured by him:
17 Fecerat ut domino, fecit et ille sibi. As he had done for his lord, so that man did for himself.
18 Talibus auspiciis comes et dux associati Under such auspices, the count and the duke, associated,
19 Quo magis arma micant, bella simul repetunt. The more their arms flash, together they renew the war.
20 Amborum gladiis campus rarescit ab Anglis, By the swords of both, the field is thinned of English,
21 Defluit et numerus, nutat et atteritur. Their number flows away, wavers, and is worn down.
22 Corruit apposita ceu silva minuta securi, They fall, as a small wood [falls] when the axe is applied,
23 Sic nemus Angligenum ducitur ad nihilum. Thus the English grove is brought to nothing.
24 Jam ferme campum victrix effecta regebat, Now, made victorious, she [Gaul] was almost ruling the field,
25 Jam spolium belli Gallia laeta petit, Now joyful Gaul seeks the spoils of war,
26 Cum dux prospexit regem super ardua montis When the duke perceived the king upon the steep heights of the mountain
27 Acriter instantes dilacerare suos. Fiercely pressing and tearing apart his men.
28 Advocat Eustachium : linquens ibi praelia Francis, He summons Eustace: leaving the battles there to the French,
29 Oppressis validum contulit auxilium. He brought powerful aid to the oppressed.
30 Alter ut Hectorides, Pontivi nobilis heres, The other, like a son of Hector, the noble heir of Ponthieu,
31 Hos comitatur Hugo promtus in officio ; Hugh, ready in duty, accompanies these;
32 Quartus Gilfardus, patris a cognomine dictus : The fourth, Giffard, named from his father's surname:
33 Regis ad exitium quatuor arma ferunt. Four bear arms for the destruction of the king.
34 Ast alii plures ; aliis sunt hi meliores. But others, more numerous; these are better than the others.
35 Si quis in hoc dubitat, actio vera probat : If anyone doubts this, the true action proves it:
 
Page 17 - The battle is lost and Harold killed ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Per nimias caedes jam bellica jura tenentes Through excessive slaughters, now holding the laws of war,
2 Heraldus cogit pergere carnis iter. Harold compels them to proceed on the path of flesh.
3 Per clipeum primus dissolvens cuspide pectus The first, shattering the shield with his spear-point through the chest,
4 Effuso madidat sanguinis imbre solum. Wets the ground with a poured-out rain of blood.
5 Tegmine sub galeae caput amputat ense secundus, The second cuts off the head with his sword beneath the helmet's covering,
6 Et telo ventris tertius exta rigat : And the third wets the entrails of his belly with a spear:
7 Abscidit coxam quartus, procul egit ademptam. The fourth cut off the thigh, drove it, taken away, far off.
8 Taliter occisum terra cadaver habet. Thus slain, the earth holds the corpse.
9 Fama volans " Heraldus obit" per praelia sparsit ; Flying rumor scattered "Harold dies" through the battles;
10 Mitigat extemplo corda superba timor ; Fear immediately softens the proud hearts;
11 Bella negant Angli, veniam poscunt superati : The English refuse battle, the conquered beg for pardon:
12 Vivere diffisi, terga dedere neci. Distrusting to live, they turned their backs to death.
13 Dux ibi per numerum duo milia misit ad orcum, The duke there sent two thousand by number to Orcus,
14 Exceptis aliis milibus innumeris. Besides other, uncounted thousands.
15 Vesper erat, jam cardo diem volvebat ad umbras, It was evening, now the hinge of heaven was turning day towards the shadows,
16 Victorem fecit cum Deus esse ducem. When God made the duke to be the victor.
17 Solum devictis nox et fuga profuit Anglis Only night and flight profited the conquered English,
18 Densi per latebras et tegimen nemoris. Through the dense hiding-places and the cover of the grove.
19 Inter defunctos noctem pausando peregit Among the dead, resting, the victor spent the night,
20 Victor, et exspectat Lucifer ut redeat. And awaits the return of the Morning Star.
21 Pervigil Hectorides sequitur caedendo fugaces ; The ever-watchful son of Hector pursues the fugitives, slaughtering;
22 Mars sibi tela gerit, mors sociata furit : Mars bears weapons for him, allied death rages:
23 Duxit ad usque diem vario certamine noctem, He led the night through to the day with various combat,
24 Nec somno premitur, somnia nec patitur. Nor is he weighed down by sleep, nor does he suffer dreams.
25 Illuxit postquam Phoebi clarissima lampas After the brightest lamp of Phoebus shone forth
26 Et mundum furvis expiat a tenebris, And cleansed the world from swart darkness,
27 Lustravit campum, tollens et caesa suorum He surveyed the field, also lifting the slain bodies
28 Corpora; dux terrae condidit in gremio. Of his men; the duke buried them in the lap of the earth.
29 Vermibus atque lupis, avibus canibusque voranda To be devoured by worms and wolves, by birds and dogs,
30 Deserit Anglorum corpora strata solo. He abandons the bodies of the English strewn on the ground.
31 Heraldi corpus collegit dilaceratum, He gathered the torn-apart body of Harold,
32 Collectum texit sindone purpurea, Gathered, he covered it with purple linen,
33 Detulit et secum repetens sua castra marina, And carried it with him, returning to his coastal camp,
34 Expleat ut solitas funeris exequias. So that he might fulfill the customary rites of the funeral.
35 Heraldi mater nimio constricta dolore The mother of Harold, constrained by excessive grief,
 
Page 18 - Harold is buried and William takes the South East ▲
Latin Text English Translation
1 Misit ad usque ducem, postulat et precibus She sent to the duke, and pleads with prayers
2 Orbatae miserae natis tribus et viduatae Of her, wretched, bereaved of three sons and widowed,
3 Pro tribus unius reddat ut ossa sibi, That for three, he return to her the bones of one,
4 Si placet, aut corpus puro praeponderet auro ; If it pleases, or let the body be weighed out with pure gold;
5 Sed dux iratus prorsus utrumque negat, But the angry duke utterly denies both,
6 Jurans quod potius praesentis littora portus Swearing that rather the shores of the present harbor
7 Illi committet aggere sub lapidum, He would entrust him beneath a mound of stones,
8 Ergo velut fuerat testatus, rupis in alto Therefore, just as he had sworn, on the height of a cliff
9 Praecepit claudi vertice corpus humi. He commanded the body to be enclosed in the ground.
10 Extemplo quidam partim Normannus et Anglus Immediately a certain man, partly Norman and partly English,
11 Compatit Heraldi ; jussa libenter agit : Took pity on Harold; he gladly does the commands:
12 Corpus enim regis cito sustulit et sepelivit For he quickly took up the body of the king and buried it,
13 Imponens lapidem, scripsit et in titulo : Placing a stone, and wrote upon the inscription:
14 " Per mandata ducis, rex, hic, Heralde, quiescis, "By the command of the duke, King Harold, here you rest,
15 Ut custos maneas littoris et pelagi." So that you may remain a guardian of the shore and the sea."
16 Dux cum gente sua plangens super ossa sepulta The duke with his people, mourning over the buried bones,
17 Pauperibus Christi munera distribuit. Distributed gifts to the poor of Christ.
18 Nomine postposito ducis, et sic rege locato, With the name of duke set aside, and thus a king installed,
19 Hinc regale sibi nomen adeptus abit. Hence, having obtained the royal name for himself, he departs.
20 Hastingae portus castris tum quinque diebus At the port of Hastings he remained with his camp then for five days,
21 Mansit, et ad Doveram vertit abinde viam. And from there he turned his way to Dover.
22 Nec medium compleverat iter, cum territus illi Nor had he completed half the journey, when, terrified,
23 Occurrit populus partus in obsequio, The people, ready in obedience, met him,
24 Obtulit et claves castri portasque reclusas : And offered the keys of the castle and the opened gates:
25 Testatur simulans velle subesse sibi. Pretending, he declares his wish to be subject to him.
26 Est ibi mons altus, strictum mare, litus opacum. There is a high mountain there, a narrow sea, a shaded shore.
27 Hinc hostes cicius anglica regna petunt ; From here enemies more quickly seek the English kingdoms;
28 Sed castrum Doverse pendens a vertice montis, But the castle of Dover, hanging from the summit of the mountain,
29 Hostes reiciens, litora tuta facit. Rejecting enemies, makes the shores safe.
30 Clavibus acceptis, rex intrans moenia castri, With the keys received, the king entering the walls of the castle,
31 Praecipit Angligenis evacuare domos. Commands the English to vacate the homes.
32 Hos introduxit per quos sibi regna subegit, He brought in those by whom he subdued the kingdoms for himself,
33 Unumquemque suum misit ad hospicium. He sent each one of his men to lodging.
34 Ilico pervasit terror vicinia castri, Immediately terror pervaded the vicinity of the castle,
35 Urbes et burgos, oppida queque replens. Filling cities and boroughs, and every town.
36 Nobilior reliquis urbs Cantorbeia dicta, The city called Canterbury, more noble than the rest,



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