her company; many a noble stood there, near to
the water's edge, and from time to time crowds of
men pressed across the way.

Then they loaded the ships with battle-dress,
shields and spears; mail-clad warriors and men and 235
women embarked thereon. And they let the steep
ocean-speeders course over the foamy deep; often
the hull bore the shock of the billows on the ocean-way,
and the sea raised her song. Never heard 240
I before nor since of woman leading a fairer force
upon the paths of the ocean, the streams of the deep.
There one might see, if he beheld that voyage, ships
cleave the watery way and haste beneath swelling 245
sails, sea-coursers leap, and wave-floaters speed ahead.
The proud warriors were glad; the queen rejoiced
in the journey.

When the ring-prowed ships had reached their
harbor in the land of the Greeks over the fastness 250
of flood, they left their vessels, their olden water-homes,
lashed by the sea, bound with anchors, to
await upon the surging deep the fate of the men,
when the warrior queen with her band of heroes 255
should again seek the eastern ways. Many a
woven corselet, trusty sword, and glittering battle-sark,
many a helmet and glorious boar-crest, were
there to be seen among the warriors. The spearmen, 260
heroes about their queen, were eager for the
march. The brave fighters, heralds of the emperor,