...................... He dashed out his weapon,
not stinting the stroke, and with such strength and violence
that the circled sword screamed on her head
a strident battle-song. ...
Beowulf, trans. by M. Alexander, Penguin Classics, Great Britain, 1973, p.99.
PLACE: Denmark.
TIME: 5th - 6th century.
CIRCUMSTANCE: The sound of the spinning sword is described as a piercing song of war.
................ Out moved the boat then
to divide the deep water, left Denmark behind.
A special sea-dress, a sail, was hoisted
and belayed to the mast. The beams spoke.
Beowulf, trans. by M. Alexander, Penguin Classics, Great Britain, 1973, p.111.
PLACE: Denmark.
TIME: 5th - 6th century.
CIRCUMSTANCE: A succinct and colourful way of saying the boat set off under sail.
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