“Wearp ðā wunden-mæl,” we bellowed as the oar blades bit, “wrættum gebunden,” as we hauled on the looms, “yrre oretta, þæt hit on eorðan læg,” as we dragged the hull through the glittering sea, “stið ond styl-ecg,” as we recovered the oars and swung them back. The words told how Beowulf,
