croaked in hope of carrion. In multitudes, with
steadfast hearts, the warriors hastened till the hosts were
gathered from afar, from south and north, helmeted men.

(ll. 1989-2003) Then was hard hand-play; crashing of weapons,
storming of death-darts, tumult of battle. From out the sheaths
men snatched their ring-decked, keen-edged swords. There might
an earl have his fill of fighting, whoso was not yet sated with
war. The Northmen smote the people of the south. In the shock
of shields the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, dispensers of gold,
lost many a well-loved comrade. And they fled away from the
place of battle and saved their lives. Behind them, slain with
spears and smitten with the swordedge, their well-loved comrades,
sons of princes, fell in death.

(ll. 2003-2017) And the lord of Elam had the victory, and held
the place of battle; and those who escaped the sword fled away to
seek a stronghold. The foemen took their gold and sacked their
splendid treasure-cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. Women were torn
from their sheltering homes, widow and maid, bereft of friends.
And the foe led Abraham's kinsman captive out of the city of
Sodom, with all his substance. But truly may we tell these war
wolves' fate after the battle, boasting their victory, leading
Lot captive away, and with him the goods of the people and gold
of the Southmen.

XXIX

(ll. 2018-2038) For a certain man who survived the battle and the
sword came running unto Abraham, the Hebrew prince, and told him
the disaster, the fate of Lot, and how the men of Sodom, and
their strength, were sorely smitten. And Abraham told these
tidings to his friends; the faithful man besought his well-loved
comrades, Aner and Mamre and Eshcol, to bear him aid, saying that
it was grievous to his heart and greatest of all sorrows, that
his brother's son should suffer thraldom. He bade those valiant
men devise a plan to free his kinsman, and his wife with him.
And quickly the three brothers spake, and healed the sorrow of
his heart with manful words, and pledged their faith to Abraham
to aid him, and avenge his wrath upon his foes, or fall in death.

(ll. 2039-2059) Then the holy man bade his hearth-retainers take
their weapons. Three hundred and eighteen wielders of the ashen
spear he gathered, loyal-hearted men, of whom he knew that each
would stoutly bear his linden shield to battle. And Abraham went
out, and the three earls who had pledged their faith, tog