EN127.28 Seabattle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:44, 2 September 2024

Ott 2026

S. Frethorik

3. Liudgeart’s Diary

Friso Takes Command

127.28 Now Friso wanted to sail with all his men to Fryasland, where he had been once before. But most of them refused. So Friso went and shot fire into the town with [128] its royal storehouses. As a result, no one could — nor dared — remain, and all were relieved once they had made it out. Except for the women and children, we left everything behind, though we were well equipped with provisions and armaments. Yet Friso still had no peace. When we passed the old harbor, he went off with his bold men for a surprise attack, shooting fire into the ships he could reach with his arrows.

After six days, we saw Demetrius’ battle fleet approaching. Friso ordered us to keep back the smaller ships in a broad line and to put the more massive ones with women and children in front. He also called for us to move the crossbows from the fore to the stern of the ships. “Because,” he said, “we ought to flee as we fight. None may take it upon themselves to pursue any of the enemy.” “This,” he said, “is my decree.”

While we were busy getting these things ready, the wind turned against us, which frightened the cowardly and the women. Because we had no slaves except those who had voluntarily joined us, we could not escape them by rowing. But Wralda had a plan. And Friso, [129] who understood, quickly had burning arrows placed on the crossbows, with the order to wait until he shot first. He also told us to aim for the central ship. “If that target is hit hard enough,” he said, “the others will come to his aid, and then we must all shoot as best we can.”

When they were a cable and a half distance off,^[1] the Phoenicians started shooting, but Friso did not answer until the first arrow landed six fathoms from his ship.^[2] Then he loosed a shot, and the rest followed. It was like a rain of fire and, as our arrows went with the wind, they all remained alight and reached even the third line. Everyone shouted and cheered, but when we heard the dreadful cries of our adversaries, our hearts were broken. When Friso deemed that it was safe to do so, he called us off and we sped away.

But once we had plied on for two days, another fleet of thirty ships came into view, gaining on us all the time. Friso had us again prepare, but the other fleet sent forward a light longboat full of rowers. Messengers bade us on behalf of them all for permission to join us. They were Ionians who had been forced by Demetrius to sail to the [130] old harbor. There, they had heard of the battle, which led them to don the proud sword and follow us.^[3] Friso, who had often sailed with the Ionians, said yes. But Wichhirte, our king, said no. “The Ionians are idol worshipers,” he said. “I myself have heard how they invoke them.”

Friso replied: “It comes through their dealings with the native Greeks. I have often done the same myself, yet I am as true a Frya as the finest of you.” And, as Friso was the one who must guide us to Fryasland, the Ionians joined us.

And this also seemed to be in accordance with Wralda’s will, for within three months we rounded Britannia; three days later, we could cheer, “huzzah!”

Notes

↑ 'When they were ... off' — lit.: 'When we were ... from them'; a cable and a half’ is approx. 890 feet or 270 meters under traditional nautical standards.
↑ ‘six fathoms’ — in Greek fathoms, approx. 41 feet or 13 meters.
↑ ‘don the proud sword’ — ‘declare their loyalties’ (expression).

Continue Reading

EN125.05 Demetrius ᐊ previous/next ᐅ EN130.21 Northland

In alternative order:

EN125.05 Demetrius ᐊ previous/next ᐅ EN118.32 Fleet

In other languages

DE127.28 Seeschlacht

ES127.28 Despedida

NL127.28 Afscheid

NO127.28 Avskjed

Other English translations

Chapter S3: Sandbach 1876

[1] 'When they were ... off' — lit.: 'When we were ... from them'; a cable and a half’ is approx. 890 feet or 270 meters under traditional nautical standards.

[2] ‘six fathoms’ — in Greek fathoms, approx. 41 feet or 13 meters.

[3] ‘don the proud sword’ — ‘declare their loyalties’ (expression).

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 And this also seemed to be in accordance with Wralda’s will, for within three months we rounded Britannia; three days later, we could cheer, “huzzah!”
-==Notes==
+===Notes===
-<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><references />
-</div>
-==Sandbach 1876==
-<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
-'''[p.175 cont.]''' Now Friso wished to go with all his people to Frya's land, where he had been formerly, but most of them would not go. So Friso set fire to the village and all the royal storehouses; then no one could remain there, and all were glad to be out of it. We left everything behind us except wives and children, but we had an ample stock of provisions and warlike implements.
-Friso was not yet satisfied. When we came to the old harbour, he went off with his stout soldiers and threw fire into all the ships that he could reach with his arrows. Six days later we saw the war-fleet of Demetrius coming down upon us. Friso ordered us to keep back the small ships in a broad line, and to put the large ships with the women and children in front. Further, he ordered us to take the crossbows that were in the fore part and fix them on the sterns of the ships, because, said he, we must fight a retreating battle. No man must presume to pursue a single enemy—that is my order. While we were busy about this, all at once the wind came ahead, to the great alarm of the cowards and the women, because we had no slaves except those who had voluntarily followed us. Therefore we could not escape the enemy by rowing. But Wr-alda knew well why he '''[p.177]''' did this; and Friso, who understood it, immediately had the fire-arrows placed on the crossbows. At the same time he gave the order that no one should shoot before he did, and that we should all aim at the centre ship. If we succeeded in this, he said, the others would all go to its assistance, and then everybody might shoot as he best was able. When we were at a cable and a half distance from them the Phœnicians began to shoot, but Friso did not reply till the first arrow fell six fathoms from his ship. Then he fired, and the rest followed. It was like a shower of fire; and as our arrows went with the wind, they all remained alight and reached the third line. Everybody shouted and cheered, but the screams of our opponents were so loud that our hearts shrank. When Friso thought that it was sufficient he called us off, and we sped away; but after two days' slow sailing another fleet of thirty ships came in sight and gained upon us. Friso cleared for action again, but the others sent forward a small rowing-boat with messengers, who asked permission to sail with us, as they were Joniers. They had been compelled by Demetrius to go to the old haven; there they had heard of the battle, and girding on their stout swords, had followed us. Friso, who had sailed a good deal with the Joniers, said Yes; but Wichirte, our king, said No. The Joniers, said he, are worshippers of heathen gods; I myself have heard them call upon them. That comes from their intercourse with the real Greeks, Friso said. I have often done it myself, and yet I am as pious a Fryas man as any of you. Friso was the man to take us to Friesland, therefore the Joniers went with us. It seems that this was pleasing to Wr-alda, for before three months were past we coasted along Britain, and three days later we could shout huzza.
-==Notes Sandbach==
 <references />
-</div>
 {{Chapter Navigation|normal=EN130.21 Northland|back=EN125.05 Demetrius|alternative=EN118.32 Fleet|altback=EN125.05 Demetrius}}
 =={{Title other languages}}==
 <span><div class="emoji flag de"></div> '''[[DE127.28 Seeschlacht]]''' <div class="emoji flag es"></div> '''[[ES127.28 Despedida]]''' <div class="emoji flag nl"></div> '''[[NL127.28 Afscheid]]''' <div class="emoji flag no"></div> '''[[NO127.28 Avskjed]]'''</span>
+=={{Other EN}}==
+Chapter S3: [[S3 Sandbach|Sandbach 1876]]
 [[Category:English Translations]]
-__FORCETOC__
 {{DEFAULTSORT:^S. Frethorik^}}