Layamon quotes
By reason of Arthur's position as its climax as well as of the long line of other traditional heroes, events and associations, and of its breadth of treatment, simplicity, intensity, enthusiasm, accord with the supernatural, vitality of imagination, elevation and sometimes nobility and religious feeling, the poem is the nearest thing we have to a traditional racial epic.
Layamon
Yurstendæi wes Baldulf cnihten alre baldest.
nu he stant on hulle & Auene bi-haldeð.
hu ligeð i þan stræme stelene fisces.
mid sweorde bi-georede heore sund is awemmed.
heore scalen wleoteð swulc gold-faye sceldes.
þer fleoteð heore spiten swulc hit spæren weoren.
Þis beoð seolcuðe þing isiyen to þissen londe.
swulche deor an hulle swulche fisces in wælle.
Layamon
