Threw down their weapons and sorrowful went
To hasten in flight.  They fought on their tracks,
The mighty folk, till the greatest part
Of the army lay, in battle struck down,
On the victor-plain, hewn down with swords, 295
To wolves for pleasure, and to slaughter-greedy
Fowls for a joy.  Those who lived fled
The shields of their foes.[5] Went on their tracks
The Hebrews’ host, honored with victory,
With glory ennobled; them took the Lord God 300
Fairly to help, the Lord Almighty. 
They bravely then with shining swords,
Stout-hearted heroes, a war-path wrought
Through heaps of their foes, hewed down their shields,
Cut through their phalanx:  the warriors were 305
Enraged in battle, the Hebrew men;
The thanes at that time were much delighted
At the combat with spears.  Here fell in the dust
The highest part of the chiefest number
Of the Assyrians’ princely nobility, 310
Of the hateful race; very few came
Alive to their homes.  The nobly-bold turned,
Warriors retiring, among the slaughtered,
The smoking corpses; it was time to take
For the dwellers-in-land from the loathsome ones, 315
Their ancient foes deprived of life,
The gory booty, the shining trappings,
Shields and broad swords, brown-colored helmets,
Precious treasures.  Gloriously had they
On that folk-place their foes overcome, 320
The defenders of home their ancient foes
With swords put-to-sleep:  behind them rested
Those who in life were most hateful to them
Of living races.  Then all the people,
Of tribes most renowned, for one month’s space, 325
The proud twisted-locked, bore and carried
To that bright city, Bethulia [named],
Helmets and hip-swords, hoary byrnies,
War-trappings of men adorned with gold,
More precious treasures than any man 330
Of the cunning-in-mind may be able to tell,
All that the warriors with might had won,
The bold under banners on the battle-place
By means of Judith’s [most] clever lore,
The moody[6] maid’s.  As meed for her 335
From that expedition, they brought for herself,
The spear-strong earls, of Holofernes
The sword and gory helm, likewise the byrnie broad,
Adorned with reddish gold, all that the warrior-chief,
The brave, of treasure had, or individual wealth, 340
Of rings and jewels bright; that to the lady fair,
The wise-in-mind, gave they.  For all that Judith said
Glory to the Lord of hosts, who honor to her gave,
Fame in realm of earth, and meed in heaven too,
Reward in the glory of heaven, because true faith she had 345
In the Almighty ever; now at last she doubted not
Of the meed which long she yearned for.  For that to the dear Lord be
Glory for ever and ever, who made both wind and air,
The heavens and roomy lands, likewise the rushing streams,
And joys of firmament too by means of his mercy mild. 350