THE FORAY

From the camp to the castle we gathered our cattle
then went the wet way down the running water,
running the rough way to the salt sea river,
running the rough way to the red cliff’s cleft.

We found no foes but saw the silver salmon,
We saw no ships and sheathed our ready swords
We found no foes. They were ashore and hidden.

Laughing were we and splashing in the salt spray,
Laughing were we, their sails had fled our river,
Laughing when they, like eagles, came upon us.

Red ran the blood in the bay of the red cliffs,
Many the slain lost in the shallow waters.
Like eagles they slew us in the shallow waters.
Few that came back to their kin and their cattle.