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26

Finally, I have said that these swords are rare, precious, and beautiful. Rare and precious, yes. But beautiful? Certainly thc decoration of hilts and scabbard-mounts and fittings of all kinds was rich, gorgeous, and elaborate, generally (likc the incredible jewcler's work on thc Sutton Hoo sword fittings) madę with consummate skill. Yet the swords, lovely pattern-welded blades and all, are not of beautiful proportions; some are downright ugly. Compare for instance the group of swords I illustrated in my last chapter. Which of them has true beauty, that is of linę and proportion, an elegance of style and restraint or ornament? No, the plain, grim, aus-tere beauty of the swords of the period between the Vikings and the Renaissance which we shall discuss, far outshine the elaborate decoration, the technological excellence, and the clumsy proportions of these swords of the Migration Period.

Figurę 22. The hilt of a sword from a rich grave at Coombe in Kent, England. Perhaps c. 600-650. As it would havc bccn when in use (A) and as it is now (B). (British Museum, London.)