Bade then a likeness[1] defender of aethelings,
Ring-giver of heroes, to that beacon he saw, 100
Leader of armies, that in heaven before
To him had appeared, with greatest haste
[Bade] Constantine [like] the rood of Christ,
The glorious king, a token make. 
He bade then at dawn with break of day 105
His warriors rouse and onset of battle,
The standard raise, and that holy tree
Before him carry, ’mid host of foes
God’s beacon bear.  The trumpets sang
Aloud ’fore the hosts.  The raven rejoiced,[2] 110
The dew-feathered eagle beheld the march,
Fight of the fierce cries, the wolf raised his howl,
The wood’s frequenter.  War-terror arose. 
There was shattering of shields and mingling of men,
Heavy handstroke and felling of foes, 115
After in arrow-flight first they had met. 
On the fated folk showers of darts,
Spears over shields into hosts of foes,
Sword-fierce foemen battle-adders
With force of fingers forwards impelled. 120
The strong-hearted stepped, pressed onwards at once,
Broke the shield-covers, thrust in their swords,
Battle-brave hastened.  Then standard was raised,
Sign ’fore the host, song of victory sung. 
The golden helmet, the spear-points glistened 125
On field of battle.  The heathen perished,
Peaceless they fell.  Forthwith they fled,
The folk of the Huns, when that holy tree
The king of the Romans bade raise on high,
Fierce in the fight.  The warriors became 130
Widely dispersed.  Some war took away;
Some with labor their lives preserved
Upon that march; some half-alive
Fled to the fastness and life protected
Behind the stone-cliffs, held their abode 135
Around the Danube; some drowning took off
In the stream of the river at the end of their life. 
Then was of the proud ones the force in joy;
They followed the foreigners forth until even
From break of day.  The ash-darts flew, 140
Battle-adders.  The heap was destroyed,[3]
Shield-band of foes.  Very few came
Of the host of the Huns home again thence. 
Then it was plain that victory gave
To Constantine the King Almighty 145
In the work of that day, glorious honor,
Might ’neath the heavens, through the tree of his rood. 
Went helmet of hosts home again thence,
In booty rejoicing (the battle was ended),
Honored in war.  Came warriors’ defence 150
With band of his thanes to deck the strong shield,[4]
War-renowned king, to visit his cities. 
Bade warriors’ ward the wisest men
Swiftly to synod, who wisdom’s craft
Through writings of old had learnt to know,