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diff --git a/16328-0.txt b/16328-0.txt index 6f9bf51..8137068 100644 --- a/16328-0.txt +++ b/16328-0.txt @@ -1,28 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Beowulf - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Beowulf -An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem, Translated From The Heyne-Socin Text by Lesslie Hall - -Author: - -Release Date: July 19, 2005 [eBook #16328] -[Most recently updated: February 13, 2021] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: David Starner, Dainis Millers and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF *** +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 16328 *** @@ -6632,357 +6608,4 @@ this discrepancy by rejecting the second reading. glossary to suit the new emendation. See 'bewyrcan.' - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF *** - -***** This file should be named 16328-0.txt or 16328-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/2/16328/ - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Beowulf<br /> -An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem, Translated From The Heyne-Socin Text by Lesslie Hall</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author:</div> -<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 19, 2005 [eBook #16328]<br /> -[Most recently updated: February 13, 2021]</div> -<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> -<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: David Starner, Dainis Millers and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div> -<div style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF ***</div> +<div style="margin-top: 5%; background-color: #E6E6FA; border: 1px solid;"> + <div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b>Transcriber’s Notes</b></div> + <ul> + <li>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</li> + </ul> +</div> <div class="titlePage"> - - - - <div class="title-main">BEOWULF</div> <div class="title-main" style="font-size: 210%">AN ANGLO-SAXON EPIC POEM</div> <div class="byline" style="font-style: italic"> - TRANSLATED<br />FROM THE HEYNE-SOCIN TEXT + TRANSLATED<br >FROM THE HEYNE-SOCIN TEXT </div> <div class="byline"> @@ -261,17 +243,17 @@ BY <div class="byline" style="font-variant:small-caps"> Professor of English and History in The College of William and Mary </div> -<div class="docImprint">D.C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS<br /> +<div class="docImprint">D.C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS<br > <span class="small">BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO</span></div> <div class="title-LIC"> -Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by<br /> -JNO: LESSLIE HALL,<br /> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by<br > +JNO: LESSLIE HALL,<br > in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. </div> <div class="title-dedication"> -TO<br /> +TO<br > <span class="gothic">My Wife</span> </div> @@ -646,7 +628,7 @@ goodness of heart, and his generosity.</i> <div class="div2"> -<hr /> +<hr > <p> It is the devout desire of this translator to hasten the day when the story @@ -690,7 +672,7 @@ W. = Wülcker. </p> -<hr /> +<hr > </div> @@ -833,7 +815,7 @@ Forbach, 1881. <h2><a href="#C.GLOSSARY">GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES.</a></h2> -<hr /> +<hr > <p style="text-align: center"> [The figures refer to the divisions of the poem in which the respective names occur. The large figures refer @@ -841,7 +823,7 @@ to fitts, the small, to lines in the fitts.] </p> -<hr /> +<hr > <p> <b>Ælfhere</b>.—A kinsman of Wiglaf.—<a href="#L.XXXVI.3">36 <span class="smaller">3</span></a>. @@ -11610,446 +11592,6 @@ emendation. See ‘<span class="ang" lang="ang" xml:lang="ang">bewyrcan</spa </p> </div> -<div style='display:block;margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF ***</div> -<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This file should be named 16328-h.htm or 16328-h.zip</div> -<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/2/16328/</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Beowulf - An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem, Translated From The Heyne-Socin - Text by Lesslie Hall - -Author: - -Release Date: July 19, 2005 [EBook #16328] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF *** - - - - -Produced by David Starner, Dainis Millers and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -BEOWULF -AN ANGLO-SAXON EPIC POEM - -_TRANSLATED FROM THE HEYNE-SOCIN TEXT_ - -BY - -JNO: LESSLIE HALL, Ph. D. (J.H.U.) - -Professor of English and History in The College of William and Mary - - -D.C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS -BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO - - -Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by - -JNO: LESSLIE HALL, - -in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - -TO - -My Wife - -[v] - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - - Preface vii - - Bibliography of Translations xi - - Glossary of Proper Names xiii - - List of Words and Phrases not in General Use xviii - - The Life and Death of Scyld (I.) 1 - - Scyld's Successors - } (II.) 3 - Hrothgar's Great Mead-Hall - - Grendel, the Murderer (III.) 5 - - Beowulf Goes to Hrothgar's Assistance (IV.) 8 - - The Geats Reach Heorot (V.) 10 - - Beowulf Introduces Himself at the Palace (VI.) 12 - - Hrothgar and Beowulf (VII.) 14 - - Hrothgar and Beowulf (continued) (VIII.) 17 - - Unferth Taunts Beowulf (IX.) 19 - - Beowulf Silences Unferth - } (X.) 21 - Glee is High - - All Sleep save One (XI.) 24 - - Grendel and Beowulf (XII.) 26 - - Grendel is Vanquished (XIII.) 28 - - Rejoicing of the Danes (XIV.) 30 - - Hrothgar's Gratitude (XV.) 33 - - Hrothgar Lavishes Gifts upon his Deliverer (XVI.) 35 - - Banquet (continued) - } (XVII.) 37 - The Scop's Song of Finn and Hnæf - - The Finn Episode (continued) - } (XVIII.) 39 - The Banquet Continues - - Beowulf Receives Further Honor (XIX.) 41 - - The Mother of Grendel (XX.) 44 - - Hrothgar's Account of the Monsters (XXI.) 46 - - Beowulf Seeks Grendel's Mother (XXII.) 48 - - Beowulf's Fight with Grendel's Mother (XXIII.) 51 - - Beowulf is Double-Conqueror (XXIV.) 53 - -[vi] Beowulf Brings his Trophies - } (XXV.) 57 - Hrothgar's Gratitude - - Hrothgar Moralizes - } (XXVI.) 60 - Rest after Labor - - Sorrow at Parting (XXVII.) 62 - - The Homeward Journey - } (XXVIII.) 64 - The Two Queens - - Beowulf and Higelac (XXIX.) 67 - - Beowulf Narrates his Adventures to Higelac (XXX.) 69 - - Gift-Giving is Mutual (XXXI.) 73 - - The Hoard and the Dragon (XXXII.) 75 - - Brave Though Aged - } (XXXIII.) 78 - Reminiscences - - Beowulf Seeks the Dragon - } (XXXIV.) 81 - Beowulf's Reminiscences - - Reminiscences (continued) - } (XXXV.) 83 - Beowulf's Last Battle - - Wiglaf the Trusty - } (XXXVI.) 88 - Beowulf is Deserted by Friends and by Sword - - The Fatal Struggle - } (XXXVII.) 91 - Beowulf's Last Moments - - Wiglaf Plunders the Dragon's Den - } (XXXVIII.) 93 - Beowulf's Death - - The Dead Foes - } (XXXIX.) 95 - Wiglaf's Bitter Taunts - - The Messenger of Death (XL.) 97 - - The Messenger's Retrospect (XLI.) 99 - - Wiglaf's Sad Story - } (XLII.) 103 - The Hoard Carried Off - - The Burning of Beowulf (XLIII.) 106 - - Addenda 109 - -[vii] - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern -measures, the venerable epic, Beowulf. _Approximately_, I repeat; for a -very close reproduction of Anglo-Saxon verse would, to a large extent, be -prose to a modern ear. - -The Heyne-Socin text and glossary have been closely followed. Occasionally -a deviation has been made, but always for what seemed good and sufficient -reason. The translator does not aim to be an editor. Once in a while, -however, he has added a conjecture of his own to the emendations quoted -from the criticisms of other students of the poem. - -This work is addressed to two classes of readers. From both of these alike -the translator begs sympathy and co-operation. The Anglo-Saxon scholar he -hopes to please by adhering faithfully to the original. The student of -English literature he aims to interest by giving him, in modern garb, the -most ancient epic of our race. This is a bold and venturesome undertaking; -and yet there must be some students of the Teutonic past willing to follow -even a daring guide, if they may read in modern phrases of the sorrows of -Hrothgar, of the prowess of Beowulf, and of the feelings that stirred the -hearts of our forefathers in their primeval homes. - -In order to please the larger class of readers, a regular cadence has been -used, a measure which, while retaining the essential characteristics of -the original, permits the reader to see ahead of him in reading. - -Perhaps every Anglo-Saxon scholar has his own theory as to how Beowulf -should be translated. Some have given us prose versions of what we believe -to be a great poem. Is it any reflection on our honored Kemble and Arnold -to say that their translations fail to show a layman that Beowulf is -justly called our first _epic_? Of those translators who have used verse, -several have written from what would seem a mistaken point of view. Is it -proper, for instance, that the grave and solemn speeches of Beowulf and -Hrothgar be put in ballad measures, tripping lightly and airily along? Or, -again, is it fitting that the rough martial music of Anglo-Saxon verse be -interpreted to us in the smooth measures of modern blank verse? Do we hear -what has been beautifully called "the clanging tread of a warrior in -mail"? - -[viii] - -Of all English translations of Beowulf, that of Professor Garnett alone -gives any adequate idea of the chief characteristics of this great -Teutonic epic. - -The measure used in the present translation is believed to be as near a -reproduction of the original as modern English affords. The cadences -closely resemble those used by Browning in some of his most striking -poems. The four stresses of the Anglo-Saxon verse are retained, and as -much thesis and anacrusis is allowed as is consistent with a regular -cadence. Alliteration has been used to a large extent; but it was thought -that modern ears would hardly tolerate it on every line. End-rhyme has -been used occasionally; internal rhyme, sporadically. Both have some -warrant in Anglo-Saxon poetry. (For end-rhyme, see 1_53, 1_54; for -internal rhyme, 2_21, 6_40.) - -What Gummere[1] calls the "rime-giver" has been studiously kept; _viz._, -the first accented syllable in the second half-verse always carries the -alliteration; and the last accented syllable alliterates only -sporadically. Alternate alliteration is occasionally used as in the -original. (See 7_61, 8_5.) - -No two accented syllables have been brought together, except occasionally -after a cæsural pause. (See 2_19 and 12_1.) Or, scientifically speaking, -Sievers's C type has been avoided as not consonant with the plan of -translation. Several of his types, however, constantly occur; _e.g._ A and -a variant (/ x | / x) (/ x x | / x); B and a variant (x / | x / ) (x x / | -x / ); a variant of D (/ x | / x x); E (/ x x | / ). Anacrusis gives -further variety to the types used in the translation. - -The parallelisms of the original have been faithfully preserved. (_E.g._, -1_16 and 1_17: "Lord" and "Wielder of Glory"; 1_30, 1_31, 1_32; 2_12 and -2_13; 2_27 and 2_28; 3_5 and 3_6.) Occasionally, some loss has been -sustained; but, on the other hand, a gain has here and there been made. - -The effort has been made to give a decided flavor of archaism to the -translation. All words not in keeping with the spirit of the poem have -been avoided. Again, though many archaic words have been used, there are -none, it is believed, which are not found in standard modern poetry. - -[ix] - -With these preliminary remarks, it will not be amiss to give an outline of -the story of the poem. - - -_THE STORY._ - -_Hrothgar, king of the Danes, or Scyldings, builds a great mead-hall, or -palace, in which he hopes to feast his liegemen and to give them presents. -The joy of king and retainers is, however, of short duration. Grendel, the -monster, is seized with hateful jealousy. He cannot brook the sounds of -joyance that reach him down in his fen-dwelling near the hall. Oft and -anon he goes to the joyous building, bent on direful mischief. Thane after -thane is ruthlessly carried off and devoured, while no one is found strong -enough and bold enough to cope with the monster. For twelve years he -persecutes Hrothgar and his vassals._ - -_Over sea, a day's voyage off, Beowulf, of the Geats, nephew of Higelac, -king of the Geats, hears of Grendel's doings and of Hrothgar's misery. He -resolves to crush the fell monster and relieve the aged king. With -fourteen chosen companions, he sets sail for Dane-land. Reaching that -country, he soon persuades Hrothgar of his ability to help him. The hours -that elapse before night are spent in beer-drinking and conversation. When -Hrothgar's bedtime comes he leaves the hall in charge of Beowulf, telling -him that never before has he given to another the absolute wardship of his -palace. All retire to rest, Beowulf, as it were, sleeping upon his arms._ - -_Grendel comes, the great march-stepper, bearing God's anger. He seizes -and kills one of the sleeping warriors. Then he advances towards Beowulf. -A fierce and desperate hand-to-hand struggle ensues. No arms are used, -both combatants trusting to strength and hand-grip. Beowulf tears -Grendel's shoulder from its socket, and the monster retreats to his den, -howling and yelling with agony and fury. The wound is fatal._ - -_The next morning, at early dawn, warriors in numbers flock to the hall -Heorot, to hear the news. Joy is boundless. Glee runs high. Hrothgar and -his retainers are lavish of gratitude and of gifts._ - -_Grendel's mother, however, comes the next night to avenge his death. She -is furious and raging. While Beowulf is sleeping in a room somewhat apart -[x] from the quarters of the other warriors, she seizes one of Hrothgar's -favorite counsellors, and carries him off and devours him. Beowulf is -called. Determined to leave Heorot entirely purified, he arms himself, and -goes down to look for the female monster. After traveling through the -waters many hours, he meets her near the sea-bottom. She drags him to her -den. There he sees Grendel lying dead. After a desperate and almost fatal -struggle with the woman, he slays her, and swims upward in triumph, taking -with him Grendel's head._ - -_Joy is renewed at Heorot. Congratulations crowd upon the victor. Hrothgar -literally pours treasures into the lap of Beowulf; and it is agreed among -the vassals of the king that Beowulf will be their next liegelord._ - -_Beowulf leaves Dane-land. Hrothgar weeps and laments at his departure._ - -_When the hero arrives in his own land, Higelac treats him as a -distinguished guest. He is the hero of the hour._ - -_Beowulf subsequently becomes king of his own people, the Geats. After he -has been ruling for fifty years, his own neighborhood is wofully harried -by a fire-spewing dragon. Beowulf determines to kill him. In the ensuing -struggle both Beowulf and the dragon are slain. The grief of the Geats is -inexpressible. They determine, however, to leave nothing undone to honor -the memory of their lord. A great funeral-pyre is built, and his body is -burnt. Then a memorial-barrow is made, visible from a great distance, that -sailors afar may be constantly reminded of the prowess of the national -hero of Geatland._ - -_The poem closes with a glowing tribute to his bravery, his gentleness, -his goodness of heart, and his generosity._ - - * * * * * - -It is the devout desire of this translator to hasten the day when the -story of Beowulf shall be as familiar to English-speaking peoples as that -of the Iliad. Beowulf is our first great epic. It is an epitomized history -of the life of the Teutonic races. It brings vividly before us our -forefathers of pre-Alfredian eras, in their love of war, of sea, and of -adventure. - -My special thanks are due to Professors Francis A. March and James A. -Harrison, for advice, sympathy, and assistance. - - J.L. HALL. - -[xi] - - - - -ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES. - - -B. = Bugge. C. = Cosijn. Gr. = Grein. Grdvtg. = Grundtvig. H. = Heyne. H. -and S. = Harrison and Sharp. H.-So. = Heyne-Socin. K.= Kemble. Kl. = -Kluge. M.= Müllenhoff. R. = Rieger. S. = Sievers. Sw. = Sweet. t.B. = ten -Brink. Th. = Thorpe. W. = Wülcker. - - * * * * * - - - - -BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TRANSLATIONS. - - -~Arnold, Thomas.~--Beowulf. A heroic poem of the eighth century. London, -1876. With English translation. Prose. - -~Botkine, L.~--Beowulf. Epopée Anglo-Saxonne. Havre, 1877. First French -translation. Passages occasionally omitted. - -~Conybeare, J.J.~--Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. London, 1826. Full -Latin translation, and some passages translated into English blank-verse. - -~Ettmuller, L.~--Beowulf, stabreimend übersetzt. Zürich, 1840. - -~Garnett, J.M.~--Beowulf: an Anglo-Saxon Poem, and the Fight at Finnsburg. -Boston, 1882. An accurate line-for-line translation, using alliteration -occasionally, and sometimes assuming a metrical cadence. - -~Grein, C.W.M.~--Dichtungen der Angelsachsen, stabreimend übersetzt. 2 -Bde. Göttingen, 1857-59. - -~Grion, Giusto.~--Beovulf, poema epico anglo-sassone del VII. secolo, -tradotto e illustrato. Lucca, 1883. First Italian translation. - -~Grundtvig, N.F.S.~--Bjowulfs Drape. Copenhagen, 1820. - -~Heyne, M.~--A translation in iambic measures. Paderborn, 1863. - -~Kemble, J.M.~--The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the Traveller's Song, -and the Battle of Finnsburg. London, 1833. The second edition contains a -prose translation of Beowulf. - -~Leo, H.~--Ueber Beowulf. Halle, 1839. Translations of extracts. - -[xii] - -~Lumsden, H.W.~--Beowulf, translated into modern rhymes. London, 1881. -Ballad measures. Passages occasionally omitted. - -~Sandras, G.S.~--De carminibus Cædmoni adjudicatis. Paris, 1859. An -extract from Beowulf, with Latin translation. - -~Schaldmose, F.~--Beowulf og Scopes Widsith, to Angelsaxiske Digte. -Copenhagen, 1847. - -~Simrock, K.~--Beowulf. Uebersetzt und erläutert. Stuttgart und Augsburg, -1859. Alliterative measures. - -~Thorkelin, G.J.~--De Danorum rebus gestis secul. III. et IV. poema -Danicum dialecto Anglosaxonica. Havniæ, 1815. Latin translation. - -~Thorpe, B.~--The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the Scôp or Gleeman's -Tale, and the Fight at Finnsburg. Oxford, 1855. English translation in -short lines, generally containing two stresses. - -~Wackerbarth, A.D.~--Beowulf, translated into English verse. London, 1849. - -~Wickberg, R.~--Beowulf, en fornengelsk hjeltedikt, öfersatt. Westervik. -First Swedish translation. - -~von Wolzogen, H.~--Beowulf, in alliterative measures. Leipzig. - -~Zinsser, G.~--Der Kampf Beowulfs mit Grendel. Jahresbericht of the -Realschule at Forbach, 1881. - -[xiii] - - - - -GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES. - - * * * * * - -[The figures refer to the divisions of the poem in which the respective -names occur. The large figures refer to fitts, the small, to lines in the -fitts.] - - * * * * * - -~Ælfhere~.--A kinsman of Wiglaf.--36_3. - -~Æschere~.--Confidential friend of King Hrothgar. Elder brother of -Yrmenlaf. Killed by Grendel.--21_3; 30_89. - -~Beanstan~.--Father of Breca.--9_26. - -~Beowulf~.--Son of Scyld, the founder of the dynasty of Scyldings. Father -of Healfdene, and grandfather of Hrothgar.--1_18; 2_1. - -~Beowulf~.--The hero of the poem. Sprung from the stock of Geats, son of -Ecgtheow. Brought up by his maternal grandfather Hrethel, and figuring in -manhood as a devoted liegeman of his uncle Higelac. A hero from his youth. -Has the strength of thirty men. Engages in a swimming-match with Breca. -Goes to the help of Hrothgar against the monster Grendel. Vanquishes -Grendel and his mother. Afterwards becomes king of the Geats. Late in life -attempts to kill a fire-spewing dragon, and is slain. Is buried with great -honors. His memorial mound.--6_26; 7_2; 7_9; 9_3; 9_8; 12_28; 12_43; 23_1, -etc. - -~Breca~.--Beowulf's opponent in the famous swimming-match.--9_8; 9_19; -9_21; 9_22. - -~Brondings~.--A people ruled by Breca.--9_23. - -~Brosinga mene~.--A famous collar once owned by the Brosings.--19_7. - -~Cain~.--Progenitor of Grendel and other monsters.--2_56; 20_11. - -~Dæghrefn~.--A warrior of the Hugs, killed by Beowulf.--35_40. - -~Danes~.--Subjects of Scyld and his descendants, and hence often called -Scyldings. Other names for them are Victory-Scyldings, Honor-Scyldings, -Armor-Danes, Bright-Danes, East-Danes, West-Danes, North-Danes, -South-Danes, Ingwins, Hrethmen.--1_1; 2_1; 3_2; 5_14; 7_1, etc. - -~Ecglaf~.--Father of Unferth, who taunts Beowulf.--9_1. - -~Ecgtheow~.--Father of Beowulf, the hero of the poem. A widely-known -Wægmunding warrior. Marries Hrethel's daughter. After slaying Heatholaf, a -Wylfing, he flees his country.--7_3; 5_6; 8_4. - -~Ecgwela~.--A king of the Danes before Scyld.--25_60. - -[xiv] - -~Elan~.--Sister of Hrothgar, and probably wife of Ongentheow, king of the -Swedes.--2_10. - -~Eagle Cape~.--A promontory in Geat-land, under which took place Beowulf's -last encounter.--41_87. - -~Eadgils~.--Son of Ohthere and brother of Eanmund.--34_2. - -~Eanmund~.--Son of Ohthere and brother of Eadgils. The reference to these -brothers is vague, and variously understood. Heyne supposes as follows: -Raising a revolt against their father, they are obliged to leave Sweden. -They go to the land of the Geats; with what intention, is not known, but -probably to conquer and plunder. The Geatish king, Heardred, is slain by -one of the brothers, probably Eanmund.--36_10; 31_54 to 31_60; 33_66 to -34_6. - -~Eofor~.--A Geatish hero who slays Ongentheow in war, and is rewarded by -Hygelac with the hand of his only daughter.--41_18; 41_48. - -~Eormenric~.--A Gothic king, from whom Hama took away the famous Brosinga -mene.--19_9. - -~Eomær~.--Son of Offa and Thrytho, king and queen of the Angles.--28_69. - -~Finn~.--King of the North-Frisians and the Jutes. Marries Hildeburg. At -his court takes place the horrible slaughter in which the Danish general, -Hnæf, fell. Later on, Finn himself is slain by Danish warriors.--17_18; -17_30; 17_44; 18_4; 18_23. - -~Fin-land~.--The country to which Beowulf was driven by the currents in -his swimming-match.--10_22. - -~Fitela~.--Son and nephew of King Sigemund, whose praises are sung in -XIV.--14_42; 14_53. - -~Folcwalda~.--Father of Finn.--17_38. - -~Franks~.--Introduced occasionally in referring to the death of -Higelac.--19_19; 40_21; 40_24. - -~Frisians~.--A part of them are ruled by Finn. Some of them were engaged -in the struggle in which Higelac was slain.--17_20; 17_42; 17_52; 40_21. - -~Freaware~.--Daughter of King Hrothgar. Married to Ingeld, a Heathobard -prince.--29_60; 30_32. - -~Froda~.--King of the Heathobards, and father of Ingeld.--29_62. - -~Garmund~.--Father of Offa.--28_71. - -~Geats, Geatmen~.--The race to which the hero of the poem belongs. Also -called Weder-Geats, or Weders, War-Geats, Sea-Geats. They are ruled by -Hrethel, Hæthcyn, Higelac, and Beowulf.--4_7; 7_4; 10_45; 11_8; 27_14; -28_8. - -~Gepids~.--Named in connection with the Danes and Swedes.--35_34. - -~Grendel~.--A monster of the race of Cain. Dwells in the fens and moors. -Is furiously envious when he hears sounds of joy in Hrothgar's palace. -Causes the king untold agony for years. Is finally conquered by Beowulf, -and dies of his wound. His hand and arm are hung up in Hrothgar's hall -Heorot. His head is cut off by Beowulf when he goes down to fight with -Grendel's mother.--2_50; 3_1; 3_13; 8_19; 11_17; 12_2; 13_27; 15_3. - -~Guthlaf~.--A Dane of Hnæf's party.--18_24. - -~Half-Danes~.--Branch of the Danes to which Hnæf belonged.--17_19. - -[xv] - -~Halga~.--Surnamed the Good. Younger brother of Hrothgar.--2_9. - -~Hama~.--Takes the Brosinga mene from Eormenric.--19_7. - -~Hæreth~.--Father of Higelac's queen, Hygd.--28_39; 29_18. - -~Hæthcyn~.--Son of Hrethel and brother of Higelac. Kills his brother -Herebeald accidentally. Is slain at Ravenswood, fighting against -Ongentheow.--34_43; 35_23; 40_32. - -~Helmings~.--The race to which Queen Wealhtheow belonged.--10_63. - -~Heming~.--A kinsman of Garmund, perhaps nephew.--28_54; 28_70. - -~Hengest~.--A Danish leader. Takes command on the fall of Hnæf.--17_33; -17_41. - -~Herebeald~.--Eldest son of Hrethel, the Geatish king, and brother of -Higelac. Killed by his younger brother Hæthcyn.--34_43; 34_47. - -~Heremod~.--A Danish king of a dynasty before the Scylding line. Was a -source of great sorrow to his people.--14_64; 25_59. - -~Hereric~.--Referred to as uncle of Heardred, but otherwise -unknown.--31_60. - -~Hetwars~.--Another name for the Franks.--33_51. - -~Healfdene~.--Grandson of Scyld and father of Hrothgar. Ruled the Danes -long and well.--2_5; 4_1; 8_14. - -~Heardred~.--Son of Higelac and Hygd, king and queen of the Geats. -Succeeds his father, with Beowulf as regent. Is slain by the sons of -Ohthere.--31_56; 33_63; 33_75. - -~Heathobards~.--Race of Lombards, of which Froda is king. After Froda -falls in battle with the Danes, Ingeld, his son, marries Hrothgar's -daughter, Freaware, in order to heal the feud.--30_1; 30_6. - -~Heatholaf~.--A Wylfing warrior slain by Beowulf's father.--8_5. - -~Heathoremes~.--The people on whose shores Breca is cast by the waves -during his contest with Beowulf.--9_21. - -~Heorogar~.--Elder brother of Hrothgar, and surnamed 'Weoroda Ræswa,' -Prince of the Troopers.--2_9; 8_12. - -~Hereward~.--Son of the above.--31_17. - -~Heort~, ~Heorot~.--The great mead-hall which King Hrothgar builds. It is -invaded by Grendel for twelve years. Finally cleansed by Beowulf, the -Geat. It is called Heort on account of the hart-antlers which decorate -it.--2_25; 3_32; 3_52. - -~Hildeburg~.--Wife of Finn, daughter of Hoce, and related to -Hnæf,--probably his sister.--17_21; 18_34. - -~Hnæf~.--Leader of a branch of the Danes called Half-Danes. Killed in the -struggle at Finn's castle.--17_19; 17_61. - -~Hondscio~.--One of Beowulf's companions. Killed by Grendel just before -Beowulf grappled with that monster.--30_43. - -~Hoce~.--Father of Hildeburg and probably of Hnæf.--17_26. - -~Hrethel~.--King of the Geats, father of Higelac, and grandfather of -Beowulf.--7_4; 34_39. - -~Hrethla~.--Once used for Hrethel.--7_82. - -~Hrethmen~.--Another name for the Danes.--7_73. - -~Hrethric~.--Son of Hrothgar.--18_65; 27_19. - -[xvi] - -~Hreosna-beorh~.--A promontory in Geat-land, near which Ohthere's sons -made plundering raids.--35_18. - -~Hrothgar~.--The Danish king who built the hall Heort, but was long unable -to enjoy it on account of Grendel's persecutions. Marries Wealhtheow, a -Helming lady. Has two sons and a daughter. Is a typical Teutonic king, -lavish of gifts. A devoted liegelord, as his lamentations over slain -liegemen prove. Also very appreciative of kindness, as is shown by his -loving gratitude to Beowulf.--2_9; 2_12; 4_1; 8_10; 15_1; etc., etc. - -~Hrothmund~.--Son of Hrothgar.--18_65. - -~Hrothulf~.--Probably a son of Halga, younger brother of Hrothgar. -Certainly on terms of close intimacy in Hrothgar's palace.--16_26; 18_57. - -~Hrunting~.--Unferth's sword, lent to Beowulf.--22_71; 25_9. - -~Hugs~.--A race in alliance with the Franks and Frisians at the time of -Higelac's fall.--35_41. - -~Hun~.--A Frisian warrior, probably general of the Hetwars. Gives Hengest -a beautiful sword.--18_19. - -~Hunferth~.--Sometimes used for Unferth. - -~Hygelac~, ~Higelac~.--King of the Geats, uncle and liegelord of Beowulf, -the hero of the poem.--His second wife is the lovely Hygd, daughter of -Hæreth. The son of their union is Heardred. Is slain in a war with the -Hugs, Franks, and Frisians combined. Beowulf is regent, and afterwards -king of the Geats.--4_6; 5_4; 28_34; 29_9; 29_21; 31_56. - -~Hygd~.--Wife of Higelac, and daughter of Hæreth. There are some -indications that she married Beowulf after she became a widow.--28_37. - -~Ingeld~.--Son of the Heathobard king, Froda. Marries Hrothgar's daughter, -Freaware, in order to reconcile the two peoples.--29_62; 30_32. - -~Ingwins~.--Another name for the Danes.--16_52; 20_69. - -~Jutes~.--Name sometimes applied to Finn's people.--17_22; 17_38; 18_17. - -~Lafing~.--Name of a famous sword presented to Hengest by Hun.--18_19. - -~Merewing~.--A Frankish king, probably engaged in the war in which Higelac -was slain.--40_29. - -~Nægling~.--Beowulf's sword.--36_76. - -~Offa~.--King of the Angles, and son of Garmund. Marries the terrible -Thrytho who is so strongly contrasted with Hygd.--28_59; 28_66. - -~Ohthere~.--Son of Ongentheow, king of the Swedes. He is father of Eanmund -and Eadgils.--40_35; 40_39. - -~Onela~.--Brother of Ohthere.--36_15; 40_39. - -~Ongentheow~.--King of Sweden, of the Scylfing dynasty. Married, perhaps, -Elan, daughter of Healfdene.--35_26; 41_16. - -~Oslaf~.--A Dane of Hnæf's party.--18_24. - -~Ravenswood~.--The forest near which Hæthcyn was slain.--40_31; 40_41. - -~Scefing~.--Applied (1_4) to Scyld, and meaning 'son of Scef.' - -[xvii] - -~Scyld~.--Founder of the dynasty to which Hrothgar, his father, and -grandfather belonged. He dies, and his body is put on a vessel, and set -adrift. He goes from Daneland just as he had come to it--in a bark.--1_4; -1_19; 1_27. - -~Scyldings~.--The descendants of Scyld. They are also called -Honor-Scyldings, Victory-Scyldings, War-Scyldings, etc. (See 'Danes,' -above.)--2_1; 7_1; 8_1. - -~Scylfings~.--A Swedish royal line to which Wiglaf belonged.--36_2. - -~Sigemund~.--Son of Wæls, and uncle and father of Fitela. His struggle -with a dragon is related in connection with Beowulf's deeds of -prowess.--14_38; 14_47. - -~Swerting~.--Grandfather of Higelac, and father of Hrethel.--19_11. - -~Swedes~.--People of Sweden, ruled by the Scylfings.--35_13. - -~Thrytho~.--Wife of Offa, king of the Angles. Known for her fierce and -unwomanly disposition. She is introduced as a contrast to the gentle Hygd, -queen of Higelac.--28_42; 28_56. - -~Unferth~.--Son of Ecglaf, and seemingly a confidential courtier of -Hrothgar. Taunts Beowulf for having taken part in the swimming-match. -Lends Beowulf his sword when he goes to look for Grendel's mother. In the -MS. sometimes written _Hunferth_. 9_1; 18_41. - -~Wæls~.--Father of Sigemund.--14_60. - -~Wægmunding~.--A name occasionally applied to Wiglaf and Beowulf, and -perhaps derived from a common ancestor, Wægmund.--36_6; 38_61. - -~Weders~.--Another name for Geats or Wedergeats. - -~Wayland~.--A fabulous smith mentioned in this poem and in other old -Teutonic literature.--7_83. - -~Wendels~.--The people of Wulfgar, Hrothgar's messenger and retainer. -(Perhaps = Vandals.)--6_30. - -~Wealhtheow~.--Wife of Hrothgar. Her queenly courtesy is well shown in the -poem.--10_55. - -~Weohstan~, or ~Wihstan~.--A Wægmunding, and father of Wiglaf.--36_1. - -~Whale's Ness~.--A prominent promontory, on which Beowulf's mound was -built.--38_52; 42_76. - -~Wiglaf~.--Son of Wihstan, and related to Beowulf. He remains faithful to -Beowulf in the fatal struggle with the fire-drake. Would rather die than -leave his lord in his dire emergency.--36_1; 36_3; 36_28. - -~Wonred~.--Father of Wulf and Eofor.--41_20; 41_26. - -~Wulf~.--Son of Wonred. Engaged in the battle between Higelac's and -Ongentheow's forces, and had a hand-to-hand fight with Ongentheow himself. -Ongentheow disables him, and is thereupon slain by Eofor.--41_19; 41_29. - -~Wulfgar~.--Lord of the Wendels, and retainer of Hrothgar.--6_18; 6_30. - -~Wylfings~.--A people to whom belonged Heatholaf, who was slain by -Ecgtheow.--8_6; 8_16. - -~Yrmenlaf~.--Younger brother of Æschere, the hero whose death grieved -Hrothgar so deeply.--21_4. - -[xviii] - - - - -LIST OF WORDS AND PHRASES NOT IN GENERAL USE. - - -ATHELING.--Prince, nobleman. - -BAIRN.--Son, child. - -BARROW.--Mound, rounded hill, funeral-mound. - -BATTLE-SARK.--Armor. - -BEAKER.--Cup, drinking-vessel. - -BEGEAR.--Prepare. - -BIGHT.--Bay, sea. - -BILL.--Sword. - -BOSS.--Ornamental projection. - -BRACTEATE.--A round ornament on a necklace. - -BRAND.--Sword. - -BURN.--Stream. - -BURNIE.--Armor. - -CARLE.--Man, hero. - -EARL.--Nobleman, any brave man. - -EKE.--Also. - -EMPRISE.--Enterprise, undertaking. - -ERST.--Formerly. - -ERST-WORTHY.--Worthy for a long time past. - -FAIN.--Glad. - -FERRY.--Bear, carry. - -FEY.--Fated, doomed. - -FLOAT.--Vessel, ship. - -FOIN.--To lunge (Shaks.). - -GLORY OF KINGS.--God. - -GREWSOME.--Cruel, fierce. - -HEFT.--Handle, hilt; used by synecdoche for 'sword.' - -HELM.--Helmet, protector. - -HENCHMAN.--Retainer, vassal. - -HIGHT.--Am (was) named. - -HOLM.--Ocean, curved surface of the sea. - -HIMSEEMED.--(It) seemed to him. - -LIEF.--Dear, valued. - -MERE.--Sea; in compounds, 'mere-ways,' 'mere-currents,' etc. - -MICKLE.--Much. - -NATHLESS.--Nevertheless. - -NAZE.--Edge (nose). - -NESS.--Edge. - -NICKER.--Sea-beast. - -QUIT, QUITE.--Requite. - -RATHE.--Quickly. - -REAVE.--Bereave, deprive. - -SAIL-ROAD.--Sea. - -SETTLE.--Seat, bench. - -SKINKER.--One who pours. - -SOOTHLY.--Truly. - -SWINGE.--Stroke, blow. - -TARGE, TARGET.--Shield. - -THROUGHLY.--Thoroughly. - -TOLD.--Counted. - -UNCANNY.--Ill-featured, grizzly. - -UNNETHE.--Difficult. - -WAR-SPEED.--Success in war. - -WEB.--Tapestry (that which is 'woven'). - -WEEDED.--Clad (cf. widow's weeds). - -WEEN.--Suppose, imagine. - -WEIRD.--Fate, Providence. - -WHILOM.--At times, formerly, often. - -WIELDER.--Ruler. Often used of God; also in compounds, as 'Wielder of -Glory,' 'Wielder of Worship.' - -WIGHT.--Creature. - -WOLD.--Plane, extended surface. - -WOT.--Knows. - -YOUNKER.--Youth. - -[1] - - - - -BEOWULF. - - - - -I. - -THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD. - - -{The famous race of Spear-Danes.} - - Lo! the Spear-Danes' glory through splendid achievements - The folk-kings' former fame we have heard of, - How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle. - -{Scyld, their mighty king, in honor of whom they are often called -Scyldings. He is the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, so prominent in the -poem.} - - Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers - 5 From many a people their mead-benches tore. - Since first he found him friendless and wretched, - The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it, - Waxed 'neath the welkin, world-honor gained, - Till all his neighbors o'er sea were compelled to - 10 Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute: - An excellent atheling! After was borne him - -{A son is born to him, who receives the name of Beowulf--a name afterwards -made so famous by the hero of the poem.} - - A son and heir, young in his dwelling, - Whom God-Father sent to solace the people. - He had marked the misery malice had caused them, - 15 [1]That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2] - Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital, - Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him. - Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory - Of Scyld's great son in the lands of the Danemen. - -[2] - -{The ideal Teutonic king lavishes gifts on his vassals.} - - 20 So the carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered - The friends of his father, with fees in abundance - Must be able to earn that when age approacheth - Eager companions aid him requitingly, - When war assaults him serve him as liegemen: - 25 By praise-worthy actions must honor be got - 'Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated - -{Scyld dies at the hour appointed by Fate.} - - Scyld then departed to the All-Father's keeping - Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him - To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades, - 30 As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings - Word-sway wielded, and the well-lovèd land-prince - Long did rule them.[3] The ring-stemmèd vessel, - Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor, - Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing; - -{By his own request, his body is laid on a vessel and wafted seaward.} - - 35 The belovèd leader laid they down there, - Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel, - The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels, - Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over, - Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever - 40 That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly - With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle, - Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled - Many a jewel that with him must travel - On the flush of the flood afar on the current. - 45 And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly, - Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him - -{He leaves Daneland on the breast of a bark.} - - Who when first he was born outward did send him - Lone on the main, the merest of infants: - And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven -[3] 50 High o'er his head, let the holm-currents bear him, - Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit, - Their mood very mournful. Men are not able - -{No one knows whither the boat drifted.} - - Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,[4] - Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied. - - [1] For the 'Þæt' of verse 15, Sievers suggests 'Þá' (= which). If - this be accepted, the sentence 'He had ... afflicted' will read: _He_ - (_i.e._ God) _had perceived the malice-caused sorrow which they, - lordless, had formerly long endured_. - - [2] For 'aldor-léase' (15) Gr. suggested 'aldor-ceare': _He perceived - their distress, that they formerly had suffered life-sorrow a long - while_. - - [3] A very difficult passage. 'Áhte' (31) has no object. H. supplies - 'geweald' from the context; and our translation is based upon this - assumption, though it is far from satisfactory. Kl. suggests - 'lændagas' for 'lange': _And the beloved land-prince enjoyed (had) his - transitory days (i.e. lived)_. B. suggests a dislocation; but this is - a dangerous doctrine, pushed rather far by that eminent scholar. - - [4] The reading of the H.-So. text has been quite closely followed; - but some eminent scholars read 'séle-rædenne' for 'sele-rædende.' If - that be adopted, the passage will read: _Men cannot tell us, indeed, - the order of Fate, etc._ 'Sele-rædende' has two things to support it: - (1) v. 1347; (2) it affords a parallel to 'men' in v. 50. - - - - -II. - -SCYLD'S SUCCESSORS.--HROTHGAR'S GREAT MEAD-HALL. - - -{Beowulf succeeds his father Scyld} - - In the boroughs then Beowulf, bairn of the Scyldings, - Belovèd land-prince, for long-lasting season - Was famed mid the folk (his father departed, - The prince from his dwelling), till afterward sprang - 5 Great-minded Healfdene; the Danes in his lifetime - He graciously governed, grim-mooded, agèd. - -{Healfdene's birth.} - - Four bairns of his body born in succession - Woke in the world, war-troopers' leader - Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga the good; - 10 Heard I that Elan was Ongentheow's consort, - -{He has three sons--one of them, Hrothgar--and a daughter named Elan. -Hrothgar becomes a mighty king.} - - The well-beloved bedmate of the War-Scylfing leader. - Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given, - Waxing of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen - Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood, - 15 A numerous band. It burned in his spirit - To urge his folk to found a great building, - A mead-hall grander than men of the era - -{He is eager to build a great hall in which he may feast his retainers} - - Ever had heard of, and in it to share - With young and old all of the blessings - 20 The Lord had allowed him, save life and retainers. - Then the work I find afar was assigned -[4] To many races in middle-earth's regions, - To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened - Early 'mong men, that 'twas finished entirely, - 25 The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it - -{The hall is completed, and is called Heort, or Heorot.} - - Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded 'mong earlmen. - His promise he brake not, rings he lavished, - Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up - High and horn-crested, huge between antlers: - 30 It battle-waves bided, the blasting fire-demon; - Ere long then from hottest hatred must sword-wrath - Arise for a woman's husband and father. - Then the mighty war-spirit[1] endured for a season, - -{The Monster Grendel is madly envious of the Danemen's joy.} - - Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness, - 35 That light-hearted laughter loud in the building - Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music, - Clear song of the singer. He said that was able - -{[The course of the story is interrupted by a short reference to some old -account of the creation.]} - - To tell from of old earthmen's beginnings, - That Father Almighty earth had created, - 40 The winsome wold that the water encircleth, - Set exultingly the sun's and the moon's beams - To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races, - And earth He embellished in all her regions - With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too - 45 On all the kindreds that live under heaven. - -{The glee of the warriors is overcast by a horrible dread.} - - So blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance, - The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to - Dog them with deeds of direfullest malice, - A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger[2] - 50 Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous - Who[3] dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness; - The wan-mooded being abode for a season -[5] In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator - Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder, - 55 The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father - -{Cain is referred to as a progenitor of Grendel, and of monsters in -general.} - - The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance; - In the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him - From kindred and kind, that crime to atone for, - Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures, - 60 Elves and giants, monsters of ocean, - Came into being, and the giants that longtime - Grappled with God; He gave them requital. - - [1] R. and t. B. prefer 'ellor-gæst' to 'ellen-gæst' (86): _Then the - stranger from afar endured, etc._ - - [2] Some authorities would translate '_demon_' instead of - '_stranger_.' - - [3] Some authorities arrange differently, and render: _Who dwelt in - the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness, the land of the - giant-race._ - - - - -III. - -GRENDEL THE MURDERER. - - -{Grendel attacks the sleeping heroes} - - When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit - The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it - For beds and benches when the banquet was over. - Then he found there reposing many a noble - 5 Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,[1] - Misery knew not. The monster of evil - Greedy and cruel tarried but little, - -{He drags off thirty of them, and devours them} - - Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers - Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed - 10 Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to, - With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward. - In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking, - Was Grendel's prowess revealed to the warriors: - -{A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel's horrible deed is fully realized.} - - Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted, - 15 Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler famous, - The long-worthy atheling, sat very woful, - Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen, -[6] When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer, - The spirit accursèd: too crushing that sorrow, - -{The monster returns the next night.} - - 20 Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer he tarried, - But one night after continued his slaughter - Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little - From malice and murder; they mastered him fully. - He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for - 25 A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges, - A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice - Told him truly by token apparent - The hall-thane's hatred: he held himself after - Further and faster who the foeman did baffle. - 30 [2]So ruled he and strongly strove against justice - Lone against all men, till empty uptowered - -{King Hrothgar's agony and suspense last twelve years.} - - The choicest of houses. Long was the season: - Twelve-winters' time torture suffered - The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction, - 35 Endless agony; hence it after[3] became - Certainly known to the children of men - Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar - Grendel struggled:--his grudges he cherished, - Murderous malice, many a winter, - 40 Strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he - [4]Life-woe to lift from no liegeman at all of - The men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle, - No counsellor needed count for a moment -[7] On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer; - -{Grendel is unremitting in his persecutions.} - - 45 The monster of evil fiercely did harass, - The ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger, - Trapping and tricking them. He trod every night then - The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where - Witches and wizards wander and ramble. - 50 So the foe of mankind many of evils - Grievous injuries, often accomplished, - Horrible hermit; Heort he frequented, - Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen - -{God is against the monster.} - - (Since God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,[5] - 55 The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not). - 'Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings - -{The king and his council deliberate in vain.} - - Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in private - Sat the king in his council; conference held they - What the braves should determine 'gainst terrors unlooked for. - -{They invoke the aid of their gods.} - - 60 At the shrines of their idols often they promised - Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they - The devil from hell would help them to lighten - Their people's oppression. Such practice they used then, - Hope of the heathen; hell they remembered - 65 In innermost spirit, God they knew not, - -{The true God they do not know.} - - Judge of their actions, All-wielding Ruler, - No praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven, - The Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who - Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to - 70 The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for, - Wax no wiser; well for the man who, - Living his life-days, his Lord may face - And find defence in his Father's embrace! - - [1] The translation is based on 'weras,' adopted by H.-So.--K. and Th. - read 'wera' and, arranging differently, render 119(2)-120: _They knew - not sorrow, the wretchedness of man, aught of misfortune_.--For - 'unhælo' (120) R. suggests 'unfælo': _The uncanny creature, greedy and - cruel, etc_. - - [2] S. rearranges and translates: _So he ruled and struggled unjustly, - one against all, till the noblest of buildings stood useless (it was a - long while) twelve years' time: the friend of the Scyldings suffered - distress, every woe, great sorrows, etc_. - - [3] For 'syððan,' B. suggests 'sárcwidum': _Hence in mournful words it - became well known, etc_. Various other words beginning with 's' have - been conjectured. - - [4] The H.-So. glossary is very inconsistent in referring to this - passage.--'Sibbe' (154), which H.-So. regards as an instr., B. takes - as accus., obj. of 'wolde.' Putting a comma after Deniga, he renders: - _He did not desire peace with any of the Danes, nor did he wish to - remove their life-woe, nor to settle for money_. - - [5] Of this difficult passage the following interpretations among - others are given: (1) Though Grendel has frequented Heorot as a demon, - he could not become ruler of the Danes, on account of his hostility to - God. (2) Hrothgar was much grieved that Grendel had not appeared - before his throne to receive presents. (3) He was not permitted to - devastate the hall, on account of the Creator; _i.e._ God wished to - make his visit fatal to him.--Ne ... wisse (169) W. renders: _Nor had - he any desire to do so_; 'his' being obj. gen. = danach. - -[8] - - - - -IV. - -BEOWULF GOES TO HROTHGAR'S ASSISTANCE. - - -{Hrothgar sees no way of escape from the persecutions of Grendel.} - - So Healfdene's kinsman constantly mused on - His long-lasting sorrow; the battle-thane clever - Was not anywise able evils to 'scape from: - Too crushing the sorrow that came to the people, - 5 Loathsome and lasting the life-grinding torture, - -{Beowulf, the Geat, hero of the poem, hears of Hrothgar's sorrow, and -resolves to go to his assistance.} - - Greatest of night-woes. So Higelac's liegeman, - Good amid Geatmen, of Grendel's achievements - Heard in his home:[1] of heroes then living - He was stoutest and strongest, sturdy and noble. - 10 He bade them prepare him a bark that was trusty; - He said he the war-king would seek o'er the ocean, - The folk-leader noble, since he needed retainers. - For the perilous project prudent companions - Chided him little, though loving him dearly; - 15 They egged the brave atheling, augured him glory. - -{With fourteen carefully chosen companions, he sets out for Dane-land.} - - The excellent knight from the folk of the Geatmen - Had liegemen selected, likest to prove them - Trustworthy warriors; with fourteen companions - The vessel he looked for; a liegeman then showed them, - 20 A sea-crafty man, the bounds of the country. - Fast the days fleeted; the float was a-water, - The craft by the cliff. Clomb to the prow then - Well-equipped warriors: the wave-currents twisted - The sea on the sand; soldiers then carried - 25 On the breast of the vessel bright-shining jewels, - Handsome war-armor; heroes outshoved then, - Warmen the wood-ship, on its wished-for adventure. - -[9] - -{The vessel sails like a bird} - - The foamy-necked floater fanned by the breeze, - Likest a bird, glided the waters, - -{In twenty four hours they reach the shores of Hrothgar's dominions} - - 30 Till twenty and four hours thereafter - The twist-stemmed vessel had traveled such distance - That the sailing-men saw the sloping embankments, - The sea cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains, - Nesses enormous: they were nearing the limits - 35 At the end of the ocean.[2] Up thence quickly - The men of the Weders clomb to the mainland, - Fastened their vessel (battle weeds rattled, - War burnies clattered), the Wielder they thanked - That the ways o'er the waters had waxen so gentle. - -{They are hailed by the Danish coast guard} - - 40 Then well from the cliff edge the guard of the Scyldings - Who the sea-cliffs should see to, saw o'er the gangway - Brave ones bearing beauteous targets, - Armor all ready, anxiously thought he, - Musing and wondering what men were approaching. - 45 High on his horse then Hrothgar's retainer - Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished - His lance in his hands, questioned with boldness. - -{His challenge} - - "Who are ye men here, mail-covered warriors - Clad in your corslets, come thus a-driving - 50 A high riding ship o'er the shoals of the waters, - [3]And hither 'neath helmets have hied o'er the ocean? -[10] I have been strand-guard, standing as warden, - Lest enemies ever anywise ravage - Danish dominions with army of war-ships. - 55 More boldly never have warriors ventured - Hither to come; of kinsmen's approval, - Word-leave of warriors, I ween that ye surely - -{He is struck by Beowulf's appearance.} - - Nothing have known. Never a greater one - Of earls o'er the earth have _I_ had a sight of - 60 Than is one of your number, a hero in armor; - No low-ranking fellow[4] adorned with his weapons, - But launching them little, unless looks are deceiving, - And striking appearance. Ere ye pass on your journey - As treacherous spies to the land of the Scyldings - 65 And farther fare, I fully must know now - What race ye belong to. Ye far-away dwellers, - Sea-faring sailors, my simple opinion - Hear ye and hearken: haste is most fitting - Plainly to tell me what place ye are come from." - - [1] 'From hám' (194) is much disputed. One rendering is: _Beowulf, - being away from home, heard of Hrothgar's troubles, etc_. Another, - that adopted by S. and endorsed in the H.-So. notes, is: _B. heard - from his neighborhood (neighbors),_ i.e. _in his home, etc_. A third - is: _B., being at home, heard this as occurring away from home_. The - H.-So. glossary and notes conflict. - - [2] 'Eoletes' (224) is marked with a (?) by H.-So.; our rendering - simply follows his conjecture.--Other conjectures as to 'eolet' are: - (1) _voyage_, (2) _toil_, _labor_, (3) _hasty journey_. - - [3] The lacuna of the MS at this point has been supplied by various - conjectures. The reading adopted by H.-So. has been rendered in the - above translation. W., like H.-So., makes 'ic' the beginning of a new - sentence, but, for 'helmas bæron,' he reads 'hringed stefnan.' This - has the advantage of giving a parallel to 'brontne ceol' instead of a - kenning for 'go.'--B puts the (?) after 'holmas', and begins a new - sentence at the middle of the line. Translate: _What warriors are ye, - clad in armor, who have thus come bringing the foaming vessel over the - water way, hither over the seas? For some time on the wall I have been - coast guard, etc_. S. endorses most of what B. says, but leaves out - 'on the wall' in the last sentence. If W.'s 'hringed stefnan' be - accepted, change line 51 above to, _A ring-stemmed vessel hither - o'ersea_. - - [4] 'Seld-guma' (249) is variously rendered: (1) _housecarle_; (2) - _home-stayer_; (3) _common man_. Dr. H. Wood suggests _a man-at-arms - in another's house_. - - - - -V. - -THE GEATS REACH HEOROT. - - -{Beowulf courteously replies.} - - The chief of the strangers rendered him answer, - War-troopers' leader, and word-treasure opened: - -{We are Geats.} - - "We are sprung from the lineage of the people of Geatland, - And Higelac's hearth-friends. To heroes unnumbered - -{My father Ecgtheow was well-known in his day.} - - 5 My father was known, a noble head-warrior - Ecgtheow titled; many a winter - He lived with the people, ere he passed on his journey, - Old from his dwelling; each of the counsellors - Widely mid world-folk well remembers him. - -{Our intentions towards King Hrothgar are of the kindest.} - - 10 We, kindly of spirit, the lord of thy people, - The son of King Healfdene, have come here to visit, -[11] Folk-troop's defender: be free in thy counsels! - To the noble one bear we a weighty commission, - The helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween, - -{Is it true that a monster is slaying Danish heroes?} - - 15 Naught of our message. Thou know'st if it happen, - As we soothly heard say, that some savage despoiler, - Some hidden pursuer, on nights that are murky - By deeds very direful 'mid the Danemen exhibits - Hatred unheard of, horrid destruction - 20 And the falling of dead. From feelings least selfish - -{I can help your king to free himself from this horrible creature.} - - I am able to render counsel to Hrothgar, - How he, wise and worthy, may worst the destroyer, - If the anguish of sorrow should ever be lessened,[1] - Comfort come to him, and care-waves grow cooler, - 25 Or ever hereafter he agony suffer - And troublous distress, while towereth upward - The handsomest of houses high on the summit." - -{The coast-guard reminds Beowulf that it is easier to say than to do.} - - Bestriding his stallion, the strand-watchman answered, - The doughty retainer: "The difference surely - 30 'Twixt words and works, the warlike shield-bearer - Who judgeth wisely well shall determine. - This band, I hear, beareth no malice - -{I am satisfied of your good intentions, and shall lead you to the -palace.} - - To the prince of the Scyldings. Pass ye then onward - With weapons and armor. I shall lead you in person; - 35 To my war-trusty vassals command I shall issue - To keep from all injury your excellent vessel, - -{Your boat shall be well cared for during your stay here.} - - Your fresh-tarred craft, 'gainst every opposer - Close by the sea-shore, till the curved-neckèd bark shall - Waft back again the well-beloved hero - 40 O'er the way of the water to Weder dominions. - -{He again compliments Beowulf.} - - To warrior so great 'twill be granted sure - In the storm of strife to stand secure." - Onward they fared then (the vessel lay quiet, - The broad-bosomed bark was bound by its cable, -[12] 45 Firmly at anchor); the boar-signs glistened[2] - Bright on the visors vivid with gilding, - Blaze-hardened, brilliant; the boar acted warden. - The heroes hastened, hurried the liegemen, - -{The land is perhaps rolling.} - - Descended together, till they saw the great palace, - 50 The well-fashioned wassail-hall wondrous and gleaming: - -{Heorot flashes on their view.} - - 'Mid world-folk and kindreds that was widest reputed - Of halls under heaven which the hero abode in; - Its lustre enlightened lands without number. - Then the battle-brave hero showed them the glittering - 55 Court of the bold ones, that they easily thither - Might fare on their journey; the aforementioned warrior - Turning his courser, quoth as he left them: - -{The coast-guard, having discharged his duty, bids them God-speed.} - - "'Tis time I were faring; Father Almighty - Grant you His grace, and give you to journey - 60 Safe on your mission! To the sea I will get me - 'Gainst hostile warriors as warden to stand." - - [1] 'Edwendan' (280) B. takes to be the subs. 'edwenden' (cf. 1775); - and 'bisigu' he takes as gen. sing., limiting 'edwenden': _If - reparation for sorrows is ever to come_. This is supported by t.B. - - [2] Combining the emendations of B. and t.B., we may read: _The - boar-images glistened ... brilliant, protected the life of the - war-mooded man_. They read 'ferh-wearde' (305) and 'gúðmódgum men' - (306). - - - - -VI. - -BEOWULF INTRODUCES HIMSELF AT THE PALACE. - - - The highway glistened with many-hued pebble, - A by-path led the liegemen together. - [1]Firm and hand-locked the war-burnie glistened, - The ring-sword radiant rang 'mid the armor - 5 As the party was approaching the palace together - -{They set their arms and armor against the wall.} - - In warlike equipments. 'Gainst the wall of the building - Their wide-fashioned war-shields they weary did set then, -[13] Battle-shields sturdy; benchward they turned then; - Their battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes; - 10 The lances stood up then, all in a cluster, - The arms of the seamen, ashen-shafts mounted - With edges of iron: the armor-clad troopers - -{A Danish hero asks them whence and why they are come.} - - Were decked with weapons. Then a proud-mooded hero - Asked of the champions questions of lineage: - 15 "From what borders bear ye your battle-shields plated, - Gilded and gleaming, your gray-colored burnies, - Helmets with visors and heap of war-lances?-- - To Hrothgar the king I am servant and liegeman. - 'Mong folk from far-lands found I have never - -{He expresses no little admiration for the strangers.} - - 20 Men so many of mien more courageous. - I ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws, - But from greatness of soul ye sought for King Hrothgar." - -{Beowulf replies.} - - Then the strength-famous earlman answer rendered, - The proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his question, - -{We are Higelac's table-companions, and bear an important commission to -your prince.} - - 25 Hardy 'neath helmet: "Higelac's mates are we; - Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene, - The famous folk-leader, I freely will tell - To thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing - He'll grant we may greet him so gracious to all men." - 30 Wulfgar replied then (he was prince of the Wendels, - His boldness of spirit was known unto many, - His prowess and prudence): "The prince of the Scyldings, - -{Wulfgar, the thane, says that he will go and ask Hrothgar whether he will -see the strangers.} - - The friend-lord of Danemen, I will ask of thy journey, - The giver of rings, as thou urgest me do it, - 35 The folk-chief famous, and inform thee early - What answer the good one mindeth to render me." - He turned then hurriedly where Hrothgar was sitting, - [2]Old and hoary, his earlmen attending him; - The strength-famous went till he stood at the shoulder - 40 Of the lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen - The custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then - His friendly liegelord: "Folk of the Geatmen - -[14] - -{He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive the visitors courteously.} - - O'er the way of the waters are wafted hither, - Faring from far-lands: the foremost in rank - 45 The battle-champions Beowulf title. - They make this petition: with thee, O my chieftain, - To be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar, - Friendly answer refuse not to give them! - -{Hrothgar, too, is struck with Beowulf's appearance.} - - In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem - 50 Of earls to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty - Who headed the heroes hitherward coming." - - [1] Instead of the punctuation given by H.-So, S. proposed to insert a - comma after 'scír' (322), and to take 'hring-íren' as meaning - 'ring-mail' and as parallel with 'gúð-byrne.' The passage would then - read: _The firm and hand-locked war-burnie shone, bright ring-mail, - rang 'mid the armor, etc_. - - [2] Gr. and others translate 'unhár' by 'bald'; _old and bald_. - - - - -VII. - -HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF. - - -{Hrothgar remembers Beowulf as a youth, and also remembers his father.} - - Hrothgar answered, helm of the Scyldings: - "I remember this man as the merest of striplings. - His father long dead now was Ecgtheow titled, - Him Hrethel the Geatman granted at home his - 5 One only daughter; his battle-brave son - Is come but now, sought a trustworthy friend. - Seafaring sailors asserted it then, - -{Beowulf is reported to have the strength of thirty men.} - - Who valuable gift-gems of the Geatmen[1] carried - As peace-offering thither, that he thirty men's grapple - 10 Has in his hand, the hero-in-battle. - -{God hath sent him to our rescue.} - - The holy Creator usward sent him, - To West-Dane warriors, I ween, for to render - 'Gainst Grendel's grimness gracious assistance: - I shall give to the good one gift-gems for courage. - 15 Hasten to bid them hither to speed them,[2] - To see assembled this circle of kinsmen; - Tell them expressly they're welcome in sooth to - The men of the Danes." To the door of the building - -[15] - -{Wulfgar invites the strangers in.} - - Wulfgar went then, this word-message shouted: - 20 "My victorious liegelord bade me to tell you, - The East-Danes' atheling, that your origin knows he, - And o'er wave-billows wafted ye welcome are hither, - Valiant of spirit. Ye straightway may enter - Clad in corslets, cased in your helmets, - 25 To see King Hrothgar. Here let your battle-boards, - Wood-spears and war-shafts, await your conferring." - The mighty one rose then, with many a liegeman, - An excellent thane-group; some there did await them, - And as bid of the brave one the battle-gear guarded. - 30 Together they hied them, while the hero did guide them, - 'Neath Heorot's roof; the high-minded went then - Sturdy 'neath helmet till he stood in the building. - Beowulf spake (his burnie did glisten, - His armor seamed over by the art of the craftsman): - -{Beowulf salutes Hrothgar, and then proceeds to boast of his youthful -achievements.} - - 35 "Hail thou, Hrothgar! I am Higelac's kinsman - And vassal forsooth; many a wonder - I dared as a stripling. The doings of Grendel, - In far-off fatherland I fully did know of: - Sea-farers tell us, this hall-building standeth, - 40 Excellent edifice, empty and useless - To all the earlmen after evenlight's glimmer - 'Neath heaven's bright hues hath hidden its glory. - This my earls then urged me, the most excellent of them, - Carles very clever, to come and assist thee, - 45 Folk-leader Hrothgar; fully they knew of - -{His fight with the nickers.} - - The strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me - When I came from the contest, when covered with gore - Foes I escaped from, where five[3] I had bound, -[16] The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying - 50 The nickers by night, bore numberless sorrows, - The Weders avenged (woes had they suffered) - Enemies ravaged; alone now with Grendel - -{He intends to fight Grendel unaided.} - - I shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil, - The giant, decide it. Thee I would therefore - 55 Beg of thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain, - Lord of the Scyldings, this single petition: - Not to refuse me, defender of warriors, - Friend-lord of folks, so far have I sought thee, - That _I_ may unaided, my earlmen assisting me, - 60 This brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot. - I have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature - -{Since the monster uses no weapons,} - - From veriest rashness recks not for weapons; - I this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious, - My liegelord belovèd, lenient of spirit, - 65 To bear a blade or a broad-fashioned target, - A shield to the onset; only with hand-grip - -{I, too, shall disdain to use any.} - - The foe I must grapple, fight for my life then, - Foeman with foeman; he fain must rely on - The doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold of. - -{Should he crush me, he will eat my companions as he has eaten thy -thanes.} - - 70 I ween he will wish, if he win in the struggle, - To eat in the war-hall earls of the Geat-folk, - Boldly to swallow[4] them, as of yore he did often - The best of the Hrethmen! Thou needest not trouble - A head-watch to give me;[5] he will have me dripping - -[17] - -{In case of my defeat, thou wilt not have the trouble of burying me.} - - 75 And dreary with gore, if death overtake me,[6] - Will bear me off bleeding, biting and mouthing me, - The hermit will eat me, heedless of pity, - Marking the moor-fens; no more wilt thou need then - -{Should I fall, send my armor to my lord, King Higelac.} - - Find me my food.[7] If I fall in the battle, - 80 Send to Higelac the armor that serveth - To shield my bosom, the best of equipments, - Richest of ring-mails; 'tis the relic of Hrethla, - -{Weird is supreme} - - The work of Wayland. Goes Weird as she must go!" - - [1] Some render 'gif-sceattas' by 'tribute.'--'Géata' B. and Th. - emended to 'Géatum.' If this be accepted, change '_of_ the Geatmen' to - '_to_ the Geatmen.' - - [2] If t.B.'s emendation of vv. 386, 387 be accepted, the two lines, - 'Hasten ... kinsmen' will read: _Hasten thou, bid the throng of - kinsmen go into the hall together_. - - [3] For 420 (_b_) and 421 (_a_), B. suggests: Þær ic (on) fífelgeban - ýðde eotena cyn = _where I in the ocean destroyed the - eoten-race_.--t.B. accepts B.'s "brilliant" 'fífelgeban,' omits 'on,' - emends 'cyn' to 'hám,' arranging: Þær ic fífelgeban ýðde, eotena hám = - _where I desolated the ocean, the home of the eotens_.--This would be - better but for changing 'cyn' to 'hám.'--I suggest: Þær ic fífelgeband - (cf. nhd. Bande) ýðde, eotena cyn = _where I conquered the monster - band, the race of the eotens_. This makes no change except to read - '_fífel_' for '_fífe_.' - - [4] 'Unforhte' (444) is much disputed.--H.-So. wavers between adj. and - adv. Gr. and B. take it as an adv. modifying _etan: Will eat the Geats - fearlessly_.--Kl. considers this reading absurd, and proposes - 'anforhte' = timid.--Understanding 'unforhte' as an adj. has this - advantage, viz. that it gives a parallel to 'Geátena leóde': but to - take it as an adv. is more natural. Furthermore, to call the Geats - 'brave' might, at this point, seem like an implied thrust at the - Danes, so long helpless; while to call his own men 'timid' would be - befouling his own nest. - - [5] For 'head-watch,' cf. H.-So. notes and cf. v. 2910.--Th. - translates: _Thou wilt not need my head to hide_ (i.e., thou wilt have - no occasion to bury me, as Grendel will devour me whole).--Simrock - imagines a kind of dead-watch.--Dr. H. Wood suggests: _Thou wilt not - have to bury so much as my head_ (for Grendel will be a thorough - undertaker),--grim humor. - - [6] S. proposes a colon after 'nimeð' (l. 447). This would make no - essential change in the translation. - - [7] Owing to the vagueness of 'feorme' (451), this passage is - variously translated. In our translation, H.-So.'s glossary has been - quite closely followed. This agrees substantially with B.'s - translation (P. and B. XII. 87). R. translates: _Thou needst not take - care longer as to the consumption of my dead body._ 'Líc' is also a - crux here, as it may mean living body or dead body. - - - - -VIII. - -HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.--_Continued_. - - -{Hrothgar responds.} - - Hrothgar discoursed, helm of the Scyldings: - "To defend our folk and to furnish assistance,[1] - Thou soughtest us hither, good friend Beowulf. - -{Reminiscences of Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow.} - - The fiercest of feuds thy father engaged in, - 5 Heatholaf killed he in hand-to-hand conflict - 'Mid Wilfingish warriors; then the Wederish people - For fear of a feud were forced to disown him. - Thence flying he fled to the folk of the South-Danes, -[18] The race of the Scyldings, o'er the roll of the waters; - 10 I had lately begun then to govern the Danemen, - The hoard-seat of heroes held in my youth, - Rich in its jewels: dead was Heregar, - My kinsman and elder had earth-joys forsaken, - Healfdene his bairn. He was better than I am! - 15 That feud thereafter for a fee I compounded; - O'er the weltering waters to the Wilfings I sent - Ornaments old; oaths did he swear me. - -{Hrothgar recounts to Beowulf the horrors of Grendel's persecutions.} - - It pains me in spirit to any to tell it, - What grief in Heorot Grendel hath caused me, - 20 What horror unlooked-for, by hatred unceasing. - Waned is my war-band, wasted my hall-troop; - Weird hath offcast them to the clutches of Grendel. - God can easily hinder the scather - From deeds so direful. Oft drunken with beer - -{My thanes have made many boasts, but have not executed them.} - - 25 O'er the ale-vessel promised warriors in armor - They would willingly wait on the wassailing-benches - A grapple with Grendel, with grimmest of edges. - Then this mead-hall at morning with murder was reeking, - The building was bloody at breaking of daylight, - 30 The bench-deals all flooded, dripping and bloodied, - The folk-hall was gory: I had fewer retainers, - Dear-beloved warriors, whom death had laid hold of. - -{Sit down to the feast, and give us comfort.} - - Sit at the feast now, thy intents unto heroes,[2] - Thy victor-fame show, as thy spirit doth urge thee!" - -{A bench is made ready for Beowulf and his party.} - - 35 For the men of the Geats then together assembled, - In the beer-hall blithesome a bench was made ready; - There warlike in spirit they went to be seated, - Proud and exultant. A liegeman did service, -[19] Who a beaker embellished bore with decorum, - -{The gleeman sings} - - 40 And gleaming-drink poured. The gleeman sang whilom - -{The heroes all rejoice together.} - - Hearty in Heorot; there was heroes' rejoicing, - A numerous war-band of Weders and Danemen. - - [1] B. and S. reject the reading given in H.-So., and suggested by - Grtvg. B. suggests for 457-458: - - wáere-ryhtum Þú, wine mín Béowulf, - and for ár-stafum úsic sóhtest. - - This means: _From the obligations of clientage, my friend Beowulf, and - for assistance thou hast sought us_.--This gives coherence to - Hrothgar's opening remarks in VIII., and also introduces a new motive - for Beowulf's coming to Hrothgar's aid. - - [2] _Sit now at the feast, and disclose thy purposes to the victorious - heroes, as thy spirit urges_.--Kl. reaches the above translation by - erasing the comma after 'meoto' and reading 'sige-hrèðsecgum.'--There - are other and bolder emendations and suggestions. Of these the boldest - is to regard 'meoto' as a verb (imperative), and read 'on sæl': _Think - upon gayety, etc_.--All the renderings are unsatisfactory, the one - given in our translation involving a zeugma. - - - - -IX. - -UNFERTH TAUNTS BEOWULF. - - -{Unferth, a thane of Hrothgar, is jealous of Beowulf, and undertakes to -twit him.} - - Unferth spoke up, Ecglaf his son, - Who sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings, - Opened the jousting (the journey[1] of Beowulf, - Sea-farer doughty, gave sorrow to Unferth - 5 And greatest chagrin, too, for granted he never - That any man else on earth should attain to, - Gain under heaven, more glory than he): - -{Did you take part in a swimming-match with Breca?} - - "Art thou that Beowulf with Breca did struggle, - On the wide sea-currents at swimming contended, - 10 Where to humor your pride the ocean ye tried, - -{'Twas mere folly that actuated you both to risk your lives on the ocean.} - - From vainest vaunting adventured your bodies - In care of the waters? And no one was able - Nor lief nor loth one, in the least to dissuade you - Your difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming, - 15 Where your arms outstretching the streams ye did cover, - The mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them, - Glided the ocean; angry the waves were, - With the weltering of winter. In the water's possession, - Ye toiled for a seven-night; he at swimming outdid thee, - 20 In strength excelled thee. Then early at morning - On the Heathoremes' shore the holm-currents tossed him, - Sought he thenceward the home of his fathers, - Beloved of his liegemen, the land of the Brondings, - The peace-castle pleasant, where a people he wielded, -[20] 25 Had borough and jewels. The pledge that he made thee - -{Breca outdid you entirely.} - - The son of Beanstan hath soothly accomplished. - Then I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue, - -{Much more will Grendel outdo you, if you vie with him in prowess.} - - Though ever triumphant in onset of battle, - A grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest - 30 For the space of a night near-by to wait for!" - -{Beowulf retaliates.} - - Beowulf answered, offspring of Ecgtheow: - "My good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly, - -{O friend Unferth, you are fuddled with beer, and cannot talk coherently.} - - Thou fuddled with beer of Breca hast spoken, - Hast told of his journey! A fact I allege it, - 35 That greater strength in the waters I had then, - Ills in the ocean, than any man else had. - We made agreement as the merest of striplings - Promised each other (both of us then were - -{We simply kept an engagement made in early life.} - - Younkers in years) that we yet would adventure - 40 Out on the ocean; it all we accomplished. - While swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade unscabbarded - Boldly we brandished, our bodies expected - To shield from the sharks. He sure was unable - -{He _could_ not excel me, and I _would_ not excel him.} - - To swim on the waters further than I could, - 45 More swift on the waves, nor _would_ I from him go. - Then we two companions stayed in the ocean - -{After five days the currents separated us.} - - Five nights together, till the currents did part us, - The weltering waters, weathers the bleakest, - And nethermost night, and the north-wind whistled - 50 Fierce in our faces; fell were the billows. - The mere fishes' mood was mightily ruffled: - And there against foemen my firm-knotted corslet, - Hand-jointed, hardy, help did afford me; - My battle-sark braided, brilliantly gilded, - -{A horrible sea-beast attacked me, but I slew him.} - - 55 Lay on my bosom. To the bottom then dragged me, - A hateful fiend-scather, seized me and held me, - Grim in his grapple: 'twas granted me, nathless, - To pierce the monster with the point of my weapon, - My obedient blade; battle offcarried - 60 The mighty mere-creature by means of my hand-blow. - - [1] It has been plausibly suggested that 'síð' (in 501 and in 353) - means 'arrival.' If so, translate the bracket: _(the arrival of - Beowulf, the brave seafarer, was a source of great chagrin to Unferth, - etc.)_. - -[21] - - - - -X. - -BEOWULF SILENCES UNFERTH.--GLEE IS HIGH. - - - "So ill-meaning enemies often did cause me - Sorrow the sorest. I served them, in quittance, - -{My dear sword always served me faithfully.} - - With my dear-lovèd sword, as in sooth it was fitting; - They missed the pleasure of feasting abundantly, - 5 Ill-doers evil, of eating my body, - Of surrounding the banquet deep in the ocean; - But wounded with edges early at morning - They were stretched a-high on the strand of the ocean, - -{I put a stop to the outrages of the sea-monsters.} - - Put to sleep with the sword, that sea-going travelers - 10 No longer thereafter were hindered from sailing - The foam-dashing currents. Came a light from the east, - God's beautiful beacon; the billows subsided, - That well I could see the nesses projecting, - -{Fortune helps the brave earl.} - - The blustering crags. Weird often saveth - 15 The undoomed hero if doughty his valor! - But me did it fortune[1] to fell with my weapon - Nine of the nickers. Of night-struggle harder - 'Neath dome of the heaven heard I but rarely, - Nor of wight more woful in the waves of the ocean; - 20 Yet I 'scaped with my life the grip of the monsters, - -{After that escape I drifted to Finland.} - - Weary from travel. Then the waters bare me - To the land of the Finns, the flood with the current, - -{I have never heard of your doing any such bold deeds.} - - The weltering waves. Not a word hath been told me - Of deeds so daring done by thee, Unferth, - 25 And of sword-terror none; never hath Breca - At the play of the battle, nor either of you two, - Feat so fearless performèd with weapons - Glinting and gleaming . . . . . . . . . . . . -[22] . . . . . . . . . . . . I utter no boasting; - -{You are a slayer of brothers, and will suffer damnation, wise as you may -be.} - - 30 Though with cold-blooded cruelty thou killedst thy brothers, - Thy nearest of kin; thou needs must in hell get - Direful damnation, though doughty thy wisdom. - I tell thee in earnest, offspring of Ecglaf, - Never had Grendel such numberless horrors, - 35 The direful demon, done to thy liegelord, - Harrying in Heorot, if thy heart were as sturdy, - -{Had your acts been as brave as your words, Grendel had not ravaged your -land so long.} - - Thy mood as ferocious as thou dost describe them. - He hath found out fully that the fierce-burning hatred, - The edge-battle eager, of all of your kindred, - 40 Of the Victory-Scyldings, need little dismay him: - Oaths he exacteth, not any he spares - -{The monster is not afraid of the Danes,} - - Of the folk of the Danemen, but fighteth with pleasure, - Killeth and feasteth, no contest expecteth - -{but he will soon learn to dread the Geats.} - - From Spear-Danish people. But the prowess and valor - 45 Of the earls of the Geatmen early shall venture - To give him a grapple. He shall go who is able - Bravely to banquet, when the bright-light of morning - -{On the second day, any warrior may go unmolested to the mead-banquet.} - - Which the second day bringeth, the sun in its ether-robes, - O'er children of men shines from the southward!" - 50 Then the gray-haired, war-famed giver of treasure - -{Hrothgar's spirits are revived.} - - Was blithesome and joyous, the Bright-Danish ruler - Expected assistance; the people's protector - -{The old king trusts Beowulf. The heroes are joyful.} - - Heard from Beowulf his bold resolution. - There was laughter of heroes; loud was the clatter, - 55 The words were winsome. Wealhtheow advanced then, - -{Queen Wealhtheow plays the hostess.} - - Consort of Hrothgar, of courtesy mindful, - Gold-decked saluted the men in the building, - And the freeborn woman the beaker presented - -{She offers the cup to her husband first.} - - To the lord of the kingdom, first of the East-Danes, - 60 Bade him be blithesome when beer was a-flowing, - Lief to his liegemen; he lustily tasted - Of banquet and beaker, battle-famed ruler. - The Helmingish lady then graciously circled - 'Mid all the liegemen lesser and greater: - -[23] - -{She gives presents to the heroes.} - - 65 Treasure-cups tendered, till time was afforded - That the decorous-mooded, diademed folk-queen - -{Then she offers the cup to Beowulf, thanking God that aid has come.} - - Might bear to Beowulf the bumper o'errunning; - She greeted the Geat-prince, God she did thank, - Most wise in her words, that her wish was accomplished, - 70 That in any of earlmen she ever should look for - Solace in sorrow. He accepted the beaker, - Battle-bold warrior, at Wealhtheow's giving, - -{Beowulf states to the queen the object of his visit.} - - Then equipped for combat quoth he in measures, - Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow: - 75 "I purposed in spirit when I mounted the ocean, - -{I determined to do or die.} - - When I boarded my boat with a band of my liegemen, - I would work to the fullest the will of your people - Or in foe's-clutches fastened fall in the battle. - Deeds I shall do of daring and prowess, - 80 Or the last of my life-days live in this mead-hall." - These words to the lady were welcome and pleasing, - The boast of the Geatman; with gold trappings broidered - Went the freeborn folk-queen her fond-lord to sit by. - -{Glee is high.} - - Then again as of yore was heard in the building - 85 Courtly discussion, conquerors' shouting, - Heroes were happy, till Healfdene's son would - Go to his slumber to seek for refreshing; - For the horrid hell-monster in the hall-building knew he - A fight was determined,[2] since the light of the sun they - 90 No longer could see, and lowering darkness - O'er all had descended, and dark under heaven - Shadowy shapes came shying around them. - -{Hrothgar retires, leaving Beowulf in charge of the hall.} - - The liegemen all rose then. One saluted the other, - Hrothgar Beowulf, in rhythmical measures, - 95 Wishing him well, and, the wassail-hall giving - To his care and keeping, quoth he departing: -[24] "Not to any one else have I ever entrusted, - But thee and thee only, the hall of the Danemen, - Since high I could heave my hand and my buckler. - 100 Take thou in charge now the noblest of houses; - Be mindful of honor, exhibiting prowess, - Watch 'gainst the foeman! Thou shalt want no enjoyments, - Survive thou safely adventure so glorious!" - - [1] The repetition of 'hwæðere' (574 and 578) is regarded by some - scholars as a defect. B. suggests 'swá Þær' for the first: _So there - it befell me, etc._ Another suggestion is to change the second - 'hwæðere' into 'swá Þær': _So there I escaped with my life, etc._ - - [2] Kl. suggests a period after 'determined.' This would give the - passage as follows: _Since they no longer could see the light of the - sun, and lowering darkness was down over all, dire under the heavens - shadowy beings came going around them_. - - - - -XI. - -ALL SLEEP SAVE ONE. - - -{Hrothgar retires.} - - Then Hrothgar departed, his earl-throng attending him, - Folk-lord of Scyldings, forth from the building; - The war-chieftain wished then Wealhtheow to look for, - The queen for a bedmate. To keep away Grendel - -{God has provided a watch for the hall.} - - 5 The Glory of Kings had given a hall-watch, - As men heard recounted: for the king of the Danemen - He did special service, gave the giant a watcher: - And the prince of the Geatmen implicitly trusted - -{Beowulf is self-confident} - - His warlike strength and the Wielder's protection. - -{He prepares for rest.} - - 10 His armor of iron off him he did then, - His helmet from his head, to his henchman committed - His chased-handled chain-sword, choicest of weapons, - And bade him bide with his battle-equipments. - The good one then uttered words of defiance, - 15 Beowulf Geatman, ere his bed he upmounted: - -{Beowulf boasts of his ability to cope with Grendel.} - - "I hold me no meaner in matters of prowess, - In warlike achievements, than Grendel does himself; - Hence I seek not with sword-edge to sooth him to slumber, - Of life to bereave him, though well I am able. - -{We will fight with nature's weapons only.} - - 20 No battle-skill[1] has he, that blows he should strike me, - To shatter my shield, though sure he is mighty -[25] In strife and destruction; but struggling by night we - Shall do without edges, dare he to look for - Weaponless warfare, and wise-mooded Father - 25 The glory apportion, God ever-holy, - -{God may decide who shall conquer} - - On which hand soever to him seemeth proper." - Then the brave-mooded hero bent to his slumber, - The pillow received the cheek of the noble; - -{The Geatish warriors lie down.} - - And many a martial mere-thane attending - 30 Sank to his slumber. Seemed it unlikely - -{They thought it very unlikely that they should ever see their homes -again.} - - That ever thereafter any should hope to - Be happy at home, hero-friends visit - Or the lordly troop-castle where he lived from his childhood; - They had heard how slaughter had snatched from the wine-hall, - 35 Had recently ravished, of the race of the Scyldings - -{But God raised up a deliverer.} - - Too many by far. But the Lord to them granted - The weaving of war-speed, to Wederish heroes - Aid and comfort, that every opponent - By one man's war-might they worsted and vanquished, - -{God rules the world.} - - 40 By the might of himself; the truth is established - That God Almighty hath governed for ages - Kindreds and nations. A night very lurid - -{Grendel comes to Heorot.} - - The trav'ler-at-twilight came tramping and striding. - The warriors were sleeping who should watch the horned-building, - -{Only one warrior is awake.} - - 45 One only excepted. 'Mid earthmen 'twas 'stablished, - Th' implacable foeman was powerless to hurl them - To the land of shadows, if the Lord were unwilling; - But serving as warder, in terror to foemen, - He angrily bided the issue of battle.[2] - - [1] Gr. understood 'gódra' as meaning 'advantages in battle.' This - rendering H.-So. rejects. The latter takes the passage as meaning that - Grendel, though mighty and formidable, has no skill in the art of war. - - [2] B. in his masterly articles on Beowulf (P. and B. XII.) rejects - the division usually made at this point, 'Þá.' (711), usually rendered - 'then,' he translates 'when,' and connects its clause with the - foregoing sentence. These changes he makes to reduce the number of - 'cóm's' as principal verbs. (Cf. 703, 711, 721.) With all deference to - this acute scholar, I must say that it seems to me that the poet is - exhausting his resources to bring out clearly the supreme event on - which the whole subsequent action turns. First, he (Grendel) came _in - the wan night_; second, he came _from the moor_; third, he came _to - the hall_. Time, place from which, place to which, are all given. - -[26] - - - - -XII. - -GRENDEL AND BEOWULF. - - -{Grendel comes from the fens.} - - 'Neath the cloudy cliffs came from the moor then - Grendel going, God's anger bare he. - The monster intended some one of earthmen - In the hall-building grand to entrap and make way with: - -{He goes towards the joyous building.} - - 5 He went under welkin where well he knew of - The wine-joyous building, brilliant with plating, - Gold-hall of earthmen. Not the earliest occasion - -{This was not his first visit there.} - - He the home and manor of Hrothgar had sought: - Ne'er found he in life-days later nor earlier - 10 Hardier hero, hall-thanes[1] more sturdy! - Then came to the building the warrior marching, - -{His horrid fingers tear the door open.} - - Bereft of his joyance. The door quickly opened - On fire-hinges fastened, when his fingers had touched it; - The fell one had flung then--his fury so bitter-- - 15 Open the entrance. Early thereafter - The foeman trod the shining hall-pavement, - -{He strides furiously into the hall.} - - Strode he angrily; from the eyes of him glimmered - A lustre unlovely likest to fire. - He beheld in the hall the heroes in numbers, - 20 A circle of kinsmen sleeping together, - -{He exults over his supposed prey.} - - A throng of thanemen: then his thoughts were exultant, - He minded to sunder from each of the thanemen - The life from his body, horrible demon, - Ere morning came, since fate had allowed him - -{Fate has decreed that he shall devour no more heroes. Beowulf suffers -from suspense.} - - 25 The prospect of plenty. Providence willed not - To permit him any more of men under heaven - To eat in the night-time. Higelac's kinsman - Great sorrow endured how the dire-mooded creature -[27] In unlooked-for assaults were likely to bear him. - 30 No thought had the monster of deferring the matter, - -{Grendel immediately seizes a sleeping warrior, and devours him.} - - But on earliest occasion he quickly laid hold of - A soldier asleep, suddenly tore him, - Bit his bone-prison, the blood drank in currents, - Swallowed in mouthfuls: he soon had the dead man's - 35 Feet and hands, too, eaten entirely. - Nearer he strode then, the stout-hearted warrior - -{Beowulf and Grendel grapple.} - - Snatched as he slumbered, seizing with hand-grip, - Forward the foeman foined with his hand; - Caught he quickly the cunning deviser, - 40 On his elbow he rested. This early discovered - The master of malice, that in middle-earth's regions, - 'Neath the whole of the heavens, no hand-grapple greater - -{The monster is amazed at Beowulf's strength.} - - In any man else had he ever encountered: - Fearful in spirit, faint-mooded waxed he, - 45 Not off could betake him; death he was pondering, - -{He is anxious to flee.} - - Would fly to his covert, seek the devils' assembly: - His calling no more was the same he had followed - Long in his lifetime. The liege-kinsman worthy - -{Beowulf recalls his boast of the evening, and determines to fulfil it.} - - Of Higelac minded his speech of the evening, - 50 Stood he up straight and stoutly did seize him. - His fingers crackled; the giant was outward, - The earl stepped farther. The famous one minded - To flee away farther, if he found an occasion, - And off and away, avoiding delay, - 55 To fly to the fen-moors; he fully was ware of - The strength of his grapple in the grip of the foeman. - -{'Twas a luckless day for Grendel.} - - 'Twas an ill-taken journey that the injury-bringing, - Harrying harmer to Heorot wandered: - -{The hall groans.} - - The palace re-echoed; to all of the Danemen, - 60 Dwellers in castles, to each of the bold ones, - Earlmen, was terror. Angry they both were, - Archwarders raging.[2] Rattled the building; -[28] 'Twas a marvellous wonder that the wine-hall withstood then - The bold-in-battle, bent not to earthward, - 65 Excellent earth-hall; but within and without it - Was fastened so firmly in fetters of iron, - By the art of the armorer. Off from the sill there - Bent mead-benches many, as men have informed me, - Adorned with gold-work, where the grim ones did struggle. - 70 The Scylding wise men weened ne'er before - That by might and main-strength a man under heaven - Might break it in pieces, bone-decked, resplendent, - Crush it by cunning, unless clutch of the fire - In smoke should consume it. The sound mounted upward - -{Grendel's cries terrify the Danes.} - - 75 Novel enough; on the North Danes fastened - A terror of anguish, on all of the men there - Who heard from the wall the weeping and plaining, - The song of defeat from the foeman of heaven, - Heard him hymns of horror howl, and his sorrow - 80 Hell-bound bewailing. He held him too firmly - Who was strongest of main-strength of men of that era. - - [1] B. and t.B. emend so as to make lines 9 and 10 read: _Never in his - life, earlier or later, had he, the hell-thane, found a braver - hero_.--They argue that Beowulf's companions had done nothing to merit - such encomiums as the usual readings allow them. - - [2] For 'réðe rén-weardas' (771), t.B. suggests 'réðe, rénhearde.' - Translate: _They were both angry, raging and mighty_. - - - - -XIII. - -GRENDEL IS VANQUISHED. - - -{Beowulf has no idea of letting Grendel live.} - - For no cause whatever would the earlmen's defender - Leave in life-joys the loathsome newcomer, - He deemed his existence utterly useless - To men under heaven. Many a noble - 5 Of Beowulf brandished his battle-sword old, - Would guard the life of his lord and protector, - The far-famous chieftain, if able to do so; - While waging the warfare, this wist they but little, - Brave battle-thanes, while his body intending - -{No weapon would harm Grendel; he bore a charmed life.} - - 10 To slit into slivers, and seeking his spirit: - That the relentless foeman nor finest of weapons - Of all on the earth, nor any of war-bills -[29] Was willing to injure; but weapons of victory - Swords and suchlike he had sworn to dispense with. - 15 His death at that time must prove to be wretched, - And the far-away spirit widely should journey - Into enemies' power. This plainly he saw then - Who with mirth[1] of mood malice no little - Had wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen - 20 (To God he was hostile), that his body would fail him, - But Higelac's hardy henchman and kinsman - Held him by the hand; hateful to other - -{Grendel is sorely wounded.} - - Was each one if living. A body-wound suffered - The direful demon, damage incurable - -{His body bursts.} - - 25 Was seen on his shoulder, his sinews were shivered, - His body did burst. To Beowulf was given - Glory in battle; Grendel from thenceward - Must flee and hide him in the fen-cliffs and marshes, - Sick unto death, his dwelling must look for - 30 Unwinsome and woful; he wist the more fully - -{The monster flees away to hide in the moors.} - - The end of his earthly existence was nearing, - His life-days' limits. At last for the Danemen, - When the slaughter was over, their wish was accomplished. - The comer-from-far-land had cleansed then of evil, - 35 Wise and valiant, the war-hall of Hrothgar, - Saved it from violence. He joyed in the night-work, - In repute for prowess; the prince of the Geatmen - For the East-Danish people his boast had accomplished, - Bettered their burdensome bale-sorrows fully, - 40 The craft-begot evil they erstwhile had suffered - And were forced to endure from crushing oppression, - Their manifold misery. 'Twas a manifest token, - -{Beowulf suspends Grendel's hand and arm in Heorot.} - - When the hero-in-battle the hand suspended, - The arm and the shoulder (there was all of the claw - 45 Of Grendel together) 'neath great-stretching hall-roof. - - [1] It has been proposed to translate 'myrðe' by _with sorrow_; but - there seems no authority for such a rendering. To the present - translator, the phrase 'módes myrðe' seems a mere padding for - _gladly_; i.e., _he who gladly harassed mankind_. - -[30] - - - - -XIV. - -REJOICING OF THE DANES. - - -{At early dawn, warriors from far and near come together to hear of the -night's adventures.} - - In the mist of the morning many a warrior - Stood round the gift-hall, as the story is told me: - Folk-princes fared then from far and from near - Through long-stretching journeys to look at the wonder, - 5 The footprints of the foeman. Few of the warriors - -{Few warriors lamented Grendel's destruction.} - - Who gazed on the foot-tracks of the inglorious creature - His parting from life pained very deeply, - How, weary in spirit, off from those regions - In combats conquered he carried his traces, - 10 Fated and flying, to the flood of the nickers. - -{Grendel's blood dyes the waters.} - - There in bloody billows bubbled the currents, - The angry eddy was everywhere mingled - And seething with gore, welling with sword-blood;[1] - He death-doomed had hid him, when reaved of his joyance - 15 He laid down his life in the lair he had fled to, - His heathenish spirit, where hell did receive him. - Thence the friends from of old backward turned them, - And many a younker from merry adventure, - Striding their stallions, stout from the seaward, - 20 Heroes on horses. There were heard very often - -{Beowulf is the hero of the hour.} - - Beowulf's praises; many often asserted - That neither south nor north, in the circuit of waters, - -{He is regarded as a probable successor to Hrothgar.} - - O'er outstretching earth-plain, none other was better - 'Mid bearers of war-shields, more worthy to govern, - 25 'Neath the arch of the ether. Not any, however, - 'Gainst the friend-lord muttered, mocking-words uttered - -{But no word is uttered to derogate from the old king} - - Of Hrothgar the gracious (a good king he). - Oft the famed ones permitted their fallow-skinned horses -[31] To run in rivalry, racing and chasing, - 30 Where the fieldways appeared to them fair and inviting, - Known for their excellence; oft a thane of the folk-lord,[2] - -{The gleeman sings the deeds of heroes.} - - [3]A man of celebrity, mindful of rhythms, - Who ancient traditions treasured in memory, - New word-groups found properly bound: - 35 The bard after 'gan then Beowulf's venture - -{He sings in alliterative measures of Beowulf's prowess.} - - Wisely to tell of, and words that were clever - To utter skilfully, earnestly speaking, - Everything told he that he heard as to Sigmund's - -{Also of Sigemund, who has slain a great fire-dragon.} - - Mighty achievements, many things hidden, - 40 The strife of the Wælsing, the wide-going ventures - The children of men knew of but little, - The feud and the fury, but Fitela with him, - When suchlike matters he minded to speak of, - Uncle to nephew, as in every contention - 45 Each to other was ever devoted: - A numerous host of the race of the scathers - They had slain with the sword-edge. To Sigmund accrued then - No little of glory, when his life-days were over, - Since he sturdy in struggle had destroyed the great dragon, - 50 The hoard-treasure's keeper; 'neath the hoar-grayish stone he, - The son of the atheling, unaided adventured - The perilous project; not present was Fitela, - Yet the fortune befell him of forcing his weapon - Through the marvellous dragon, that it stood in the wall, - 55 Well-honored weapon; the worm was slaughtered. - The great one had gained then by his glorious achievement - To reap from the ring-hoard richest enjoyment, -[32] As best it did please him: his vessel he loaded, - Shining ornaments on the ship's bosom carried, - 60 Kinsman of Wæls: the drake in heat melted. - -{Sigemund was widely famed.} - - He was farthest famed of fugitive pilgrims, - Mid wide-scattered world-folk, for works of great prowess, - War-troopers' shelter: hence waxed he in honor.[4] - -{Heremod, an unfortunate Danish king, is introduced by way of contrast.} - - Afterward Heremod's hero-strength failed him, - 65 His vigor and valor. 'Mid venomous haters - To the hands of foemen he was foully delivered, - Offdriven early. Agony-billows - -{Unlike Sigemund and Beowulf, Heremod was a burden to his people.} - - Oppressed him too long, to his people he became then, - To all the athelings, an ever-great burden; - 70 And the daring one's journey in days of yore - Many wise men were wont to deplore, - Such as hoped he would bring them help in their sorrow, - That the son of their ruler should rise into power, - Holding the headship held by his fathers, - 75 Should govern the people, the gold-hoard and borough, - The kingdom of heroes, the realm of the Scyldings. - -{Beowulf is an honor to his race.} - - He to all men became then far more beloved, - Higelac's kinsman, to kindreds and races, - To his friends much dearer; him malice assaulted.-- - -{The story is resumed.} - - 80 Oft running and racing on roadsters they measured - The dun-colored highways. Then the light of the morning - Was hurried and hastened. Went henchmen in numbers - To the beautiful building, bold ones in spirit, - To look at the wonder; the liegelord himself then - 85 From his wife-bower wending, warden of treasures, - Glorious trod with troopers unnumbered, - Famed for his virtues, and with him the queen-wife - Measured the mead-ways, with maidens attending. - - [1] S. emends, suggesting 'déop' for 'déog,' and removing semicolon - after 'wéol.' The two half-lines 'welling ... hid him' would then - read: _The bloody deep welled with sword-gore_. B. accepts 'déop' for - 'déog,' but reads 'déað-fæges': _The deep boiled with the sword-gore - of the death-doomed one_. - - [2] Another and quite different rendering of this passage is as - follows: _Oft a liegeman of the king, a fame-covered man mindful of - songs, who very many ancient traditions remembered (he found other - word-groups accurately bound together) began afterward to tell of - Beowulf's adventure, skilfully to narrate it, etc_. - - [3] Might 'guma gilp-hladen' mean 'a man laden with boasts of the - deeds of others'? - - [4] t.B. accepts B.'s 'hé þæs áron þáh' as given by H.-So., but puts a - comma after 'þáh,' and takes 'siððan' as introducing a dependent - clause: _He throve in honor since Heremod's strength ... had - decreased_. - -[33] - - - - -XV. - -HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE. - - - Hrothgar discoursed (to the hall-building went he, - He stood by the pillar,[1] saw the steep-rising hall-roof - Gleaming with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand there): - -{Hrothgar gives thanks for the overthrow of the monster.} - - "For the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder - 5 Early be offered! Much evil I bided, - Snaring from Grendel:[2] God can e'er 'complish - Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory! - -{I had given up all hope, when this brave liegeman came to our aid.} - - But lately I reckoned ne'er under heaven - Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows, - 10 While the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain - Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened[3] - Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever - The folk-troop's defences 'gainst foes they should strengthen, - 'Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of the Wielder - 15 A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished - Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom - -{If his mother yet liveth, well may she thank God for this son.} - - Failed to perform. May affirm very truly - What woman soever in all of the nations - Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth, - 20 That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward - In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear, - -{Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shalt be my son.} - - Most excellent hero, I'll love thee in spirit - As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward - The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee - 25 Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee. - Full often for lesser service I've given -[34] Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious, - -{Thou hast won immortal distinction.} - - To a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction - Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish - 30 Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee - With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!" - -{Beowulf replies: I was most happy to render thee this service.} - - Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's offspring: - "That labor of glory most gladly achieved we, - The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured - 35 The enemy's grapple; I would grant it much rather - Thou wert able to look at the creature in person, - Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings! - On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him, - With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple - 40 Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle - 'Less his body escape; I was wholly unable, - -{I could not keep the monster from escaping, as God did not will that I -should.} - - Since God did not will it, to keep him from going, - Not held him that firmly, hated opposer; - Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding - 45 He suffered his hand behind him to linger, - His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher; - -{He left his hand and arm behind.} - - No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature - Found him there nathless: the hated destroyer - Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils, - 50 But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him - Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing - In baleful bonds: there banished for evil - The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal, - -{God will give him his deserts.} - - How the God of glory shall give him his earnings." - 55 Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf, - -{Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf's actions speak louder than -words.} - - From boasting and bragging of battle-achievements, - Since the princes beheld there the hand that depended - 'Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman, - Each one before him, the enemy's fingers; - 60 Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled, - The heathen one's hand-spur, the hero-in-battle's - Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing, - -[35] - -{No sword will harm the monster.} - - That not any excellent edges of brave ones - Was willing to touch him, the terrible creature's - 65 Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him. - - [1] B. and t.B. read 'staþole,' and translate _stood on the floor_. - - [2] For 'snaring from Grendel,' 'sorrows at Grendel's hands' has been - suggested. This gives a parallel to 'láðes.' 'Grynna' may well be gen. - pl. of 'gyrn,' by a scribal slip. - - [3] The H.-So punctuation has been followed; but B. has been followed - in understanding 'gehwylcne' as object of 'wíd-scofen (hæfde).' Gr. - construes 'wéa' as nom abs. - - - - -XVI. - -HROTHGAR LAVISHES GIFTS UPON HIS DELIVERER. - - -{Heorot is adorned with hands.} - - Then straight was ordered that Heorot inside[1] - With hands be embellished: a host of them gathered, - Of men and women, who the wassailing-building - The guest-hall begeared. Gold-flashing sparkled - 5 Webs on the walls then, of wonders a many - To each of the heroes that look on such objects. - -{The hall is defaced, however.} - - The beautiful building was broken to pieces - Which all within with irons was fastened, - Its hinges torn off: only the roof was - 10 Whole and uninjured when the horrible creature - Outlawed for evil off had betaken him, - Hopeless of living. 'Tis hard to avoid it - -{[A vague passage of five verses.]} - - (Whoever will do it!); but he doubtless must come to[2] - The place awaiting, as Wyrd hath appointed, - 15 Soul-bearers, earth-dwellers, earls under heaven, - Where bound on its bed his body shall slumber - -{Hrothgar goes to the banquet.} - - When feasting is finished. Full was the time then - That the son of Healfdene went to the building; -[36] The excellent atheling would eat of the banquet. - 20 Ne'er heard I that people with hero-band larger - Bare them better tow'rds their bracelet-bestower. - The laden-with-glory stooped to the bench then - (Their kinsmen-companions in plenty were joyful, - Many a cupful quaffing complaisantly), - 25 Doughty of spirit in the high-tow'ring palace, - -{Hrothgar's nephew, Hrothulf, is present.} - - Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot then inside - Was filled with friendly ones; falsehood and treachery - The Folk-Scyldings now nowise did practise. - -{Hrothgar lavishes gifts upon Beowulf.} - - Then the offspring of Healfdene offered to Beowulf - 30 A golden standard, as reward for the victory, - A banner embossed, burnie and helmet; - Many men saw then a song-famous weapon - Borne 'fore the hero. Beowulf drank of - The cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing - 35 He needed not blush for in battle-men's presence. - -{Four handsomer gifts were never presented.} - - Ne'er heard I that many men on the ale-bench - In friendlier fashion to their fellows presented - Four bright jewels with gold-work embellished. - 'Round the roof of the helmet a head-guarder outside - 40 Braided with wires, with bosses was furnished, - That swords-for-the-battle fight-hardened might fail - Boldly to harm him, when the hero proceeded - -{Hrothgar commands that eight finely caparisoned steeds be brought to -Beowulf.} - - Forth against foemen. The defender of earls then - Commanded that eight steeds with bridles - 45 Gold-plated, gleaming, be guided to hallward, - Inside the building; on one of them stood then - An art-broidered saddle embellished with jewels; - 'Twas the sovereign's seat, when the son of King Healfdene - Was pleased to take part in the play of the edges; - 50 The famous one's valor ne'er failed at the front when - Slain ones were bowing. And to Beowulf granted - The prince of the Ingwins, power over both, - O'er war-steeds and weapons; bade him well to enjoy them. - In so manly a manner the mighty-famed chieftain, -[37] 55 Hoard-ward of heroes, with horses and jewels - War-storms requited, that none e'er condemneth - Who willeth to tell truth with full justice. - - [1] Kl. suggests 'hroden' for 'háten,' and renders: _Then quickly was - Heorot adorned within, with hands bedecked_.--B. suggests 'gefrætwon' - instead of 'gefrætwod,' and renders: _Then was it commanded to adorn - Heorot within quickly with hands_.--The former has the advantage of - affording a parallel to 'gefrætwod': both have the disadvantage of - altering the text. - - [2] The passage 1005-1009 seems to be hopeless. One difficult point is - to find a subject for 'gesacan.' Some say 'he'; others supply 'each,' - _i.e., every soul-bearer ... must gain the inevitable place_. The - genitives in this case are partitive.--If 'he' be subj., the genitives - are dependent on 'gearwe' (= prepared).--The 'he' itself is disputed, - some referring it to Grendel; but B. takes it as involved in the - parenthesis. - - - - -XVII. - -BANQUET (_continued_).--THE SCOP'S SONG OF FINN AND HNÆF. - - -{Each of Beowulf's companions receives a costly gift.} - - And the atheling of earlmen to each of the heroes - Who the ways of the waters went with Beowulf, - A costly gift-token gave on the mead-bench, - Offered an heirloom, and ordered that that man - -{The warrior killed by Grendel is to be paid for in gold.} - - 5 With gold should be paid for, whom Grendel had erstwhile - Wickedly slaughtered, as he more of them had done - Had far-seeing God and the mood of the hero - The fate not averted: the Father then governed - All of the earth-dwellers, as He ever is doing; - 10 Hence insight for all men is everywhere fittest, - Forethought of spirit! much he shall suffer - Of lief and of loathsome who long in this present - Useth the world in this woful existence. - There was music and merriment mingling together - -{Hrothgar's scop recalls events in the reign of his lord's father.} - - 15 Touching Healfdene's leader; the joy-wood was fingered, - Measures recited, when the singer of Hrothgar - On mead-bench should mention the merry hall-joyance - Of the kinsmen of Finn, when onset surprised them: - -{Hnæf, the Danish general, is treacherously attacked while staying at -Finn's castle.} - - "The Half-Danish hero, Hnæf of the Scyldings, - 20 On the field of the Frisians was fated to perish. - Sure Hildeburg needed not mention approving - The faith of the Jutemen: though blameless entirely, - -{Queen Hildeburg is not only wife of Finn, but a kinswoman of the murdered -Hnæf.} - - When shields were shivered she was shorn of her darlings, - Of bairns and brothers: they bent to their fate - 25 With war-spear wounded; woe was that woman. - Not causeless lamented the daughter of Hoce - The decree of the Wielder when morning-light came and - She was able 'neath heaven to behold the destruction -[38] Of brothers and bairns, where the brightest of earth-joys - -{Finn's force is almost exterminated.} - - 30 She had hitherto had: all the henchmen of Finn - War had offtaken, save a handful remaining, - That he nowise was able to offer resistance[1] - -{Hengest succeeds Hnæf as Danish general.} - - To the onset of Hengest in the parley of battle, - Nor the wretched remnant to rescue in war from - 35 The earl of the atheling; but they offered conditions, - -{Compact between the Frisians and the Danes.} - - Another great building to fully make ready, - A hall and a high-seat, that half they might rule with - The sons of the Jutemen, and that Folcwalda's son would - Day after day the Danemen honor - 40 When gifts were giving, and grant of his ring-store - To Hengest's earl-troop ever so freely, - Of his gold-plated jewels, as he encouraged the Frisians - -{Equality of gifts agreed on.} - - On the bench of the beer-hall. On both sides they swore then - A fast-binding compact; Finn unto Hengest - 45 With no thought of revoking vowed then most solemnly - The woe-begone remnant well to take charge of, - His Witan advising; the agreement should no one - By words or works weaken and shatter, - By artifice ever injure its value, - 50 Though reaved of their ruler their ring-giver's slayer - They followed as vassals, Fate so requiring: - -{No one shall refer to old grudges.} - - Then if one of the Frisians the quarrel should speak of - In tones that were taunting, terrible edges - Should cut in requital. Accomplished the oath was, - 55 And treasure of gold from the hoard was uplifted. - -{Danish warriors are burned on a funeral-pyre.} - - The best of the Scylding braves was then fully - Prepared for the pile; at the pyre was seen clearly - The blood-gory burnie, the boar with his gilding, - The iron-hard swine, athelings many - 60 Fatally wounded; no few had been slaughtered. - Hildeburg bade then, at the burning of Hnæf, - -[39] - -{Queen Hildeburg has her son burnt along with Hnæf.} - - The bairn of her bosom to bear to the fire, - That his body be burned and borne to the pyre. - The woe-stricken woman wept on his shoulder,[2] - 65 In measures lamented; upmounted the hero.[3] - The greatest of dead-fires curled to the welkin, - On the hill's-front crackled; heads were a-melting, - Wound-doors bursting, while the blood was a-coursing - From body-bite fierce. The fire devoured them, - 70 Greediest of spirits, whom war had offcarried - From both of the peoples; their bravest were fallen. - - [1] For 1084, R. suggests 'wiht Hengeste wið gefeohtan.'--K. suggests - 'wið Hengeste wiht gefeohtan.' Neither emendation would make any - essential change in the translation. - - [2] The separation of adjective and noun by a phrase (cf. v. 1118) - being very unusual, some scholars have put 'earme on eaxle' with the - foregoing lines, inserting a semicolon after 'eaxle.' In this case 'on - eaxe' (_i.e._, on the ashes, cinders) is sometimes read, and this - affords a parallel to 'on bæl.' Let us hope that a satisfactory - rendering shall yet be reached without resorting to any tampering with - the text, such as Lichtenheld proposed: 'earme ides on eaxle - gnornode.' - - [3] For 'gúð-rinc,' 'gúð-réc,' _battle-smoke_, has been suggested. - - - - -XVIII. - -THE FINN EPISODE (_continued_).--THE BANQUET CONTINUES. - - -{The survivors go to Friesland, the home of Finn.} - - "Then the warriors departed to go to their dwellings, - Reaved of their friends, Friesland to visit, - Their homes and high-city. Hengest continued - -{Hengest remains there all winter, unable to get away.} - - Biding with Finn the blood-tainted winter, - 5 Wholly unsundered;[1] of fatherland thought he - Though unable to drive the ring-stemmèd vessel -[40] O'er the ways of the waters; the wave-deeps were tossing, - Fought with the wind; winter in ice-bonds - Closed up the currents, till there came to the dwelling - 10 A year in its course, as yet it revolveth, - If season propitious one alway regardeth, - World-cheering weathers. Then winter was gone, - Earth's bosom was lovely; the exile would get him, - -{He devises schemes of vengeance.} - - The guest from the palace; on grewsomest vengeance - 15 He brooded more eager than on oversea journeys, - Whe'r onset-of-anger he were able to 'complish, - The bairns of the Jutemen therein to remember. - Nowise refused he the duties of liegeman - When Hun of the Frisians the battle-sword Láfing, - 20 Fairest of falchions, friendly did give him: - Its edges were famous in folk-talk of Jutland. - And savage sword-fury seized in its clutches - Bold-mooded Finn where he bode in his palace, - -{Guthlaf and Oslaf revenge Hnæf's slaughter.} - - When the grewsome grapple Guthlaf and Oslaf - 25 Had mournfully mentioned, the mere-journey over, - For sorrows half-blamed him; the flickering spirit - Could not bide in his bosom. Then the building was covered[2] - -{Finn is slain.} - - With corpses of foemen, and Finn too was slaughtered, - The king with his comrades, and the queen made a prisoner. - -{The jewels of Finn, and his queen are carried away by the Danes.} - - 30 The troops of the Scyldings bore to their vessels - All that the land-king had in his palace, - Such trinkets and treasures they took as, on searching, - At Finn's they could find. They ferried to Daneland - The excellent woman on oversea journey, - -{The lay is concluded, and the main story is resumed.} - - 35 Led her to their land-folk." The lay was concluded, - The gleeman's recital. Shouts again rose then, - Bench-glee resounded, bearers then offered - -{Skinkers carry round the beaker.} - - Wine from wonder-vats. Wealhtheo advanced then - Going 'neath gold-crown, where the good ones were seated - -[41] - -{Queen Wealhtheow greets Hrothgar, as he sits beside Hrothulf, his -nephew.} - - 40 Uncle and nephew; their peace was yet mutual, - True each to the other. And Unferth the spokesman - Sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings: - Each trusted his spirit that his mood was courageous, - Though at fight he had failed in faith to his kinsmen. - 45 Said the queen of the Scyldings: "My lord and protector, - Treasure-bestower, take thou this beaker; - Joyance attend thee, gold-friend of heroes, - -{Be generous to the Geats.} - - And greet thou the Geatmen with gracious responses! - So ought one to do. Be kind to the Geatmen, - 50 In gifts not niggardly; anear and afar now - Peace thou enjoyest. Report hath informed me - Thou'lt have for a bairn the battle-brave hero. - Now is Heorot cleansèd, ring-palace gleaming; - -{Have as much joy as possible in thy hall, once more purified.} - - Give while thou mayest many rewards, - 55 And bequeath to thy kinsmen kingdom and people, - On wending thy way to the Wielder's splendor. - I know good Hrothulf, that the noble young troopers - -{I know that Hrothulf will prove faithful if he survive thee.} - - He'll care for and honor, lord of the Scyldings, - If earth-joys thou endest earlier than he doth; - 60 I reckon that recompense he'll render with kindness - Our offspring and issue, if that all he remember, - What favors of yore, when he yet was an infant, - We awarded to him for his worship and pleasure." - Then she turned by the bench where her sons were carousing, - 65 Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the heroes' offspring, - -{Beowulf is sitting by the two royal sons.} - - The war-youth together; there the good one was sitting - 'Twixt the brothers twain, Beowulf Geatman. - - [1] For 1130 (1) R. and Gr. suggest 'elne unflitme' as 1098 (1) reads. - The latter verse is undisputed; and, for the former, 'elne' would be - as possible as 'ealles,' and 'unflitme' is well supported. Accepting - 'elne unflitme' for both, I would suggest '_very peaceably_' for both - places: (1) _Finn to Hengest very peaceably vowed with oaths_, etc. - (2) _Hengest then still the slaughter-stained winter remained there - with Finn very peaceably_. The two passages become thus correlatives, - the second a sequel of the first. 'Elne,' in the sense of very - (swíðe), needs no argument; and 'unflitme' (from 'flítan') can, it - seems to me, be more plausibly rendered 'peaceful,' 'peaceable,' than - 'contestable,' or 'conquerable.' - - [2] Some scholars have proposed 'roden'; the line would then read: - _Then the building was reddened, etc._, instead of 'covered.' The 'h' - may have been carried over from the three alliterating 'h's.' - - - - -XIX. - -BEOWULF RECEIVES FURTHER HONOR. - - -{More gifts are offered Beowulf.} - - A beaker was borne him, and bidding to quaff it - Graciously given, and gold that was twisted - Pleasantly proffered, a pair of arm-jewels, -[42] Rings and corslet, of collars the greatest - 5 I've heard of 'neath heaven. Of heroes not any - More splendid from jewels have I heard 'neath the welkin, - -{A famous necklace is referred to, in comparison with the gems presented -to Beowulf.} - - Since Hama off bore the Brosingmen's necklace, - The bracteates and jewels, from the bright-shining city,[1] - Eormenric's cunning craftiness fled from, - 10 Chose gain everlasting. Geatish Higelac, - Grandson of Swerting, last had this jewel - When tramping 'neath banner the treasure he guarded, - The field-spoil defended; Fate offcarried him - When for deeds of daring he endured tribulation, - 15 Hate from the Frisians; the ornaments bare he - O'er the cup of the currents, costly gem-treasures, - Mighty folk-leader, he fell 'neath his target; - The[2] corpse of the king then came into charge of - The race of the Frankmen, the mail-shirt and collar: - 20 Warmen less noble plundered the fallen, - When the fight was finished; the folk of the Geatmen - The field of the dead held in possession. - The choicest of mead-halls with cheering resounded. - Wealhtheo discoursed, the war-troop addressed she: - -{Queen Wealhtheow magnifies Beowulf's achievements.} - - 25 "This collar enjoy thou, Beowulf worthy, - Young man, in safety, and use thou this armor, - Gems of the people, and prosper thou fully, - Show thyself sturdy and be to these liegemen - Mild with instruction! I'll mind thy requital. - 30 Thou hast brought it to pass that far and near - Forever and ever earthmen shall honor thee, - Even so widely as ocean surroundeth - The blustering bluffs. Be, while thou livest, -[43] A wealth-blessèd atheling. I wish thee most truly - -{May gifts never fail thee.} - - 35 Jewels and treasure. Be kind to my son, thou - Living in joyance! Here each of the nobles - Is true unto other, gentle in spirit, - Loyal to leader. The liegemen are peaceful, - The war-troops ready: well-drunken heroes,[3] - 40 Do as I bid ye." Then she went to the settle. - There was choicest of banquets, wine drank the heroes: - -{They little know of the sorrow in store for them.} - - Weird they knew not, destiny cruel, - As to many an earlman early it happened, - When evening had come and Hrothgar had parted - 45 Off to his manor, the mighty to slumber. - Warriors unnumbered warded the building - As erst they did often: the ale-settle bared they, - 'Twas covered all over with beds and pillows. - -{A doomed thane is there with them.} - - Doomed unto death, down to his slumber - 50 Bowed then a beer-thane. Their battle-shields placed they, - Bright-shining targets, up by their heads then; - O'er the atheling on ale-bench 'twas easy to see there - Battle-high helmet, burnie of ring-mail, - -{They were always ready for battle.} - - And mighty war-spear. 'Twas the wont of that people - 55 To constantly keep them equipped for the battle,[4] - At home or marching--in either condition-- - At seasons just such as necessity ordered - As best for their ruler; that people was worthy. - - [1] C. suggests a semicolon after 'city,' with 'he' as supplied - subject of 'fled' and 'chose.' - - [2] For 'feorh' S. suggests 'feoh': 'corpse' in the translation would - then be changed to '_possessions_,' '_belongings_.' This is a better - reading than one joining, in such intimate syntactical relations, - things so unlike as 'corpse' and 'jewels.' - - [3] S. suggests '_wine-joyous heroes_,' '_warriors elated with wine_.' - - [4] I believe this translation brings out the meaning of the poet, - without departing seriously from the H.-So. text. 'Oft' frequently - means 'constantly,' 'continually,' not always 'often.'--Why 'an (on) - wíg gearwe' should be written 'ánwíg-gearwe' (= ready for single - combat), I cannot see. 'Gearwe' occurs quite frequently with 'on'; cf. - B. 1110 (_ready for the pyre_), El. 222 (_ready for the glad - journey_). Moreover, what has the idea of single combat to do with B. - 1247 ff.? The poet is giving an inventory of the arms and armor which - they lay aside on retiring, and he closes his narration by saying that - they were _always prepared for battle both at home and on the march_. - -[44] - - - - -XX. - -THE MOTHER OF GRENDEL. - - - They sank then to slumber. With sorrow one paid for - His evening repose, as often betid them - While Grendel was holding[1] the gold-bedecked palace, - Ill-deeds performing, till his end overtook him, - 5 Death for his sins. 'Twas seen very clearly, - -{Grendel's mother is known to be thirsting for revenge.} - - Known unto earth-folk, that still an avenger - Outlived the loathed one, long since the sorrow - Caused by the struggle; the mother of Grendel, - Devil-shaped woman, her woe ever minded, - 10 Who was held to inhabit the horrible waters, - -{[Grendel's progenitor, Cain, is again referred to.]} - - The cold-flowing currents, after Cain had become a - Slayer-with-edges to his one only brother, - The son of his sire; he set out then banished, - Marked as a murderer, man-joys avoiding, - 15 Lived in the desert. Thence demons unnumbered - -{The poet again magnifies Beowulf's valor.} - - Fate-sent awoke; one of them Grendel, - Sword-cursèd, hateful, who at Heorot met with - A man that was watching, waiting the struggle, - Where a horrid one held him with hand-grapple sturdy; - 20 Nathless he minded the might of his body, - The glorious gift God had allowed him, - And folk-ruling Father's favor relied on, - His help and His comfort: so he conquered the foeman, - The hell-spirit humbled: he unhappy departed then, - 25 Reaved of his joyance, journeying to death-haunts, - Foeman of man. His mother moreover - -{Grendel's mother comes to avenge her son.} - - Eager and gloomy was anxious to go on - Her mournful mission, mindful of vengeance - For the death of her son. She came then to Heorot -[45] 30 Where the Armor-Dane earlmen all through the building - Were lying in slumber. Soon there became then - Return[2] to the nobles, when the mother of Grendel - Entered the folk-hall; the fear was less grievous - By even so much as the vigor of maidens, - 35 War-strength of women, by warrior is reckoned, - When well-carved weapon, worked with the hammer, - Blade very bloody, brave with its edges, - Strikes down the boar-sign that stands on the helmet. - Then the hard-edgèd weapon was heaved in the building,[3] - 40 The brand o'er the benches, broad-lindens many - Hand-fast were lifted; for helmet he recked not, - For armor-net broad, whom terror laid hold of. - She went then hastily, outward would get her - Her life for to save, when some one did spy her; - -{She seizes a favorite liegemen of Hrothgar's.} - - 45 Soon she had grappled one of the athelings - Fast and firmly, when fenward she hied her; - That one to Hrothgar was liefest of heroes - In rank of retainer where waters encircle, - A mighty shield-warrior, whom she murdered at slumber, - 50 A broadly-famed battle-knight. Beowulf was absent, - -{Beowulf was asleep in another part of the palace.} - - But another apartment was erstwhile devoted - To the glory-decked Geatman when gold was distributed. - There was hubbub in Heorot. The hand that was famous - She grasped in its gore;[4] grief was renewed then -[46] 55 In homes and houses: 'twas no happy arrangement - In both of the quarters to barter and purchase - With lives of their friends. Then the well-agèd ruler, - The gray-headed war-thane, was woful in spirit, - When his long-trusted liegeman lifeless he knew of, - -{Beowulf is sent for.} - - 60 His dearest one gone. Quick from a room was - Beowulf brought, brave and triumphant. - As day was dawning in the dusk of the morning, - -{He comes at Hrothgar's summons.} - - Went then that earlman, champion noble, - Came with comrades, where the clever one bided - 65 Whether God all gracious would grant him a respite - After the woe he had suffered. The war-worthy hero - With a troop of retainers trod then the pavement - (The hall-building groaned), till he greeted the wise one, - -{Beowulf inquires how Hrothgar had enjoyed his night's rest.} - - The earl of the Ingwins;[5] asked if the night had - 70 Fully refreshed him, as fain he would have it. - - [1] Several eminent authorities either read or emend the MS. so as to - make this verse read, _While Grendel was wasting the gold-bedecked - palace_. So 20_15 below: _ravaged the desert_. - - [2] For 'sóna' (1281), t.B. suggests 'sára,' limiting 'edhwyrft.' Read - then: _Return of sorrows to the nobles, etc_. This emendation supplies - the syntactical gap after 'edhwyrft.' - - [3] Some authorities follow Grein's lexicon in treating 'heard ecg' as - an adj. limiting 'sweord': H.-So. renders it as a subst. (So v. 1491.) - The sense of the translation would be the same. - - [4] B. suggests 'under hróf genam' (v. 1303). This emendation, as well - as an emendation with (?) to v. 739, he offers, because 'under' - baffles him in both passages. All we need is to take 'under' in its - secondary meaning of 'in,' which, though not given by Grein, occurs in - the literature. Cf. Chron. 876 (March's A.-S. Gram. § 355) and Oro. - Amaz. I. 10, where 'under' = _in the midst of_. Cf. modern Eng. 'in - such circumstances,' which interchanges in good usage with 'under such - circumstances.' - - [5] For 'néod-laðu' (1321) C. suggests 'néad-láðum,' and translates: - _asked whether the night had been pleasant to him after - crushing-hostility_. - - - - -XXI. - -HROTHGAR'S ACCOUNT OF THE MONSTERS. - - -{Hrothgar laments the death of Æschere, his shoulder-companion.} - - Hrothgar rejoined, helm of the Scyldings: - "Ask not of joyance! Grief is renewed to - The folk of the Danemen. Dead is Æschere, - Yrmenlaf's brother, older than he, - 5 My true-hearted counsellor, trusty adviser, - Shoulder-companion, when fighting in battle - Our heads we protected, when troopers were clashing, - -{He was my ideal hero.} - - And heroes were dashing; such an earl should be ever, - An erst-worthy atheling, as Æschere proved him. - 10 The flickering death-spirit became in Heorot - His hand-to-hand murderer; I can not tell whither - The cruel one turned in the carcass exulting, - -[47] - -{This horrible creature came to avenge Grendel's death.} - - By cramming discovered.[1] The quarrel she wreaked then, - That last night igone Grendel thou killedst - 15 In grewsomest manner, with grim-holding clutches, - Since too long he had lessened my liege-troop and wasted - My folk-men so foully. He fell in the battle - With forfeit of life, and another has followed, - A mighty crime-worker, her kinsman avenging, - 20 And henceforth hath 'stablished her hatred unyielding,[2] - As it well may appear to many a liegeman, - Who mourneth in spirit the treasure-bestower, - Her heavy heart-sorrow; the hand is now lifeless - Which[3] availed you in every wish that you cherished. - -{I have heard my vassals speak of these two uncanny monsters who lived in -the moors.} - - 25 Land-people heard I, liegemen, this saying, - Dwellers in halls, they had seen very often - A pair of such mighty march-striding creatures, - Far-dwelling spirits, holding the moorlands: - One of them wore, as well they might notice, - 30 The image of woman, the other one wretched - In guise of a man wandered in exile, - Except he was huger than any of earthmen; - Earth-dwelling people entitled him Grendel - In days of yore: they know not their father, - 35 Whe'r ill-going spirits any were borne him - -{The inhabit the most desolate and horrible places.} - - Ever before. They guard the wolf-coverts, - Lands inaccessible, wind-beaten nesses, - Fearfullest fen-deeps, where a flood from the mountains - 'Neath mists of the nesses netherward rattles, - 40 The stream under earth: not far is it henceward - Measured by mile-lengths that the mere-water standeth, - Which forests hang over, with frost-whiting covered,[4] -[48] A firm-rooted forest, the floods overshadow. - There ever at night one an ill-meaning portent - 45 A fire-flood may see; 'mong children of men - None liveth so wise that wot of the bottom; - Though harassed by hounds the heath-stepper seek for, - -{Even the hounded deer will not seek refuge in these uncanny regions.} - - Fly to the forest, firm-antlered he-deer, - Spurred from afar, his spirit he yieldeth, - 50 His life on the shore, ere in he will venture - To cover his head. Uncanny the place is: - Thence upward ascendeth the surging of waters, - Wan to the welkin, when the wind is stirring - The weathers unpleasing, till the air groweth gloomy, - -{To thee only can I look for assistance.} - - 55 And the heavens lower. Now is help to be gotten - From thee and thee only! The abode thou know'st not, - The dangerous place where thou'rt able to meet with - The sin-laden hero: seek if thou darest! - For the feud I will fully fee thee with money, - 60 With old-time treasure, as erstwhile I did thee, - With well-twisted jewels, if away thou shalt get thee." - - [1] For 'gefrægnod' (1334), K. and t.B. suggest 'gefægnod,' rendering - '_rejoicing in her fill_.' This gives a parallel to 'æse wlanc' - (1333). - - [2] The line 'And ... yielding,' B. renders: _And she has performed a - deed of blood-vengeance whose effect is far-reaching_. - - [3] 'Sé Þe' (1345) is an instance of masc. rel. with fem. antecedent. - So v. 1888, where 'sé Þe' refers to 'yldo.' - - [4] For 'hrímge' in the H.-So. edition, Gr. and others read 'hrínde' - (=hrínende), and translate: _which rustling forests overhang_. - - - - -XXII. - -BEOWULF SEEKS GRENDEL'S MOTHER. - - - Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's son: - -{Beowulf exhorts the old king to arouse himself for action.} - - "Grieve not, O wise one! for each it is better, - His friend to avenge than with vehemence wail him; - Each of us must the end-day abide of - 5 His earthly existence; who is able accomplish - Glory ere death! To battle-thane noble - Lifeless lying, 'tis at last most fitting. - Arise, O king, quick let us hasten - To look at the footprint of the kinsman of Grendel! - 10 I promise thee this now: to his place he'll escape not, - To embrace of the earth, nor to mountainous forest, - Nor to depths of the ocean, wherever he wanders. -[49] Practice thou now patient endurance - Of each of thy sorrows, as I hope for thee soothly!" - -{Hrothgar rouses himself. His horse is brought.} - - 15 Then up sprang the old one, the All-Wielder thanked he, - Ruler Almighty, that the man had outspoken. - Then for Hrothgar a war-horse was decked with a bridle, - Curly-maned courser. The clever folk-leader - -{They start on the track of the female monster.} - - Stately proceeded: stepped then an earl-troop - 20 Of linden-wood bearers. Her footprints were seen then - Widely in wood-paths, her way o'er the bottoms, - Where she faraway fared o'er fen-country murky, - Bore away breathless the best of retainers - Who pondered with Hrothgar the welfare of country. - 25 The son of the athelings then went o'er the stony, - Declivitous cliffs, the close-covered passes, - Narrow passages, paths unfrequented, - Nesses abrupt, nicker-haunts many; - One of a few of wise-mooded heroes, - 30 He onward advanced to view the surroundings, - Till he found unawares woods of the mountain - O'er hoar-stones hanging, holt-wood unjoyful; - The water stood under, welling and gory. - 'Twas irksome in spirit to all of the Danemen, - 35 Friends of the Scyldings, to many a liegeman - -{The sight of Æschere's head causes them great sorrow.} - - Sad to be suffered, a sorrow unlittle - To each of the earlmen, when to Æschere's head they - Came on the cliff. The current was seething - With blood and with gore (the troopers gazed on it). - 40 The horn anon sang the battle-song ready. - The troop were all seated; they saw 'long the water then - -{The water is filled with serpents and sea-dragons.} - - Many a serpent, mere-dragons wondrous - Trying the waters, nickers a-lying - On the cliffs of the nesses, which at noonday full often - 45 Go on the sea-deeps their sorrowful journey, - Wild-beasts and wormkind; away then they hastened - -{One of them is killed by Beowulf.} - - Hot-mooded, hateful, they heard the great clamor, - The war-trumpet winding. One did the Geat-prince -[50] Sunder from earth-joys, with arrow from bowstring, - 50 From his sea-struggle tore him, that the trusty war-missile - -{The dead beast is a poor swimmer} - - Pierced to his vitals; he proved in the currents - Less doughty at swimming whom death had offcarried. - Soon in the waters the wonderful swimmer - Was straitened most sorely with sword-pointed boar-spears, - 55 Pressed in the battle and pulled to the cliff-edge; - The liegemen then looked on the loath-fashioned stranger. - -{Beowulf prepares for a struggle with the monster.} - - Beowulf donned then his battle-equipments, - Cared little for life; inlaid and most ample, - The hand-woven corslet which could cover his body, - 60 Must the wave-deeps explore, that war might be powerless - To harm the great hero, and the hating one's grasp might - Not peril his safety; his head was protected - By the light-flashing helmet that should mix with the bottoms, - Trying the eddies, treasure-emblazoned, - 65 Encircled with jewels, as in seasons long past - The weapon-smith worked it, wondrously made it, - With swine-bodies fashioned it, that thenceforward no longer - Brand might bite it, and battle-sword hurt it. - And that was not least of helpers in prowess - -{He has Unferth's sword in his hand.} - - 70 That Hrothgar's spokesman had lent him when straitened; - And the hilted hand-sword was Hrunting entitled, - Old and most excellent 'mong all of the treasures; - Its blade was of iron, blotted with poison, - Hardened with gore; it failed not in battle - 75 Any hero under heaven in hand who it brandished, - Who ventured to take the terrible journeys, - The battle-field sought; not the earliest occasion - That deeds of daring 'twas destined to 'complish. - -{Unferth has little use for swords.} - - Ecglaf's kinsman minded not soothly, - 80 Exulting in strength, what erst he had spoken - Drunken with wine, when the weapon he lent to - A sword-hero bolder; himself did not venture - 'Neath the strife of the currents his life to endanger, -[51] To fame-deeds perform; there he forfeited glory, - 85 Repute for his strength. Not so with the other - When he clad in his corslet had equipped him for battle. - - - - -XXIII. - -BEOWULF'S FIGHT WITH GRENDEL'S MOTHER. - - -{Beowulf makes a parting speech to Hrothgar.} - - Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's son: - "Recall now, oh, famous kinsman of Healfdene, - Prince very prudent, now to part I am ready, - Gold-friend of earlmen, what erst we agreed on, - -{If I fail, act as a kind liegelord to my thanes,} - - 5 Should I lay down my life in lending thee assistance, - When my earth-joys were over, thou wouldst evermore serve me - In stead of a father; my faithful thanemen, - My trusty retainers, protect thou and care for, - Fall I in battle: and, Hrothgar belovèd, - -{and send Higelac the jewels thou hast given me} - - 10 Send unto Higelac the high-valued jewels - Thou to me hast allotted. The lord of the Geatmen - May perceive from the gold, the Hrethling may see it - -{I should like my king to know how generous a lord I found thee to be.} - - When he looks on the jewels, that a gem-giver found I - Good over-measure, enjoyed him while able. - 15 And the ancient heirloom Unferth permit thou, - The famed one to have, the heavy-sword splendid[1] - The hard-edgèd weapon; with Hrunting to aid me, - I shall gain me glory, or grim-death shall take me." - -{Beowulf is eager for the fray.} - - The atheling of Geatmen uttered these words and - 20 Heroic did hasten, not any rejoinder - Was willing to wait for; the wave-current swallowed - -{He is a whole day reaching the bottom of the sea.} - - The doughty-in-battle. Then a day's-length elapsed ere - He was able to see the sea at its bottom. - Early she found then who fifty of winters - 25 The course of the currents kept in her fury, - Grisly and greedy, that the grim one's dominion - -[52] - -{Grendel's mother knows that some one has reached her domains.} - - Some one of men from above was exploring. - Forth did she grab them, grappled the warrior - With horrible clutches; yet no sooner she injured - 30 His body unscathèd: the burnie out-guarded, - That she proved but powerless to pierce through the armor, - The limb-mail locked, with loath-grabbing fingers. - The sea-wolf bare then, when bottomward came she, - -{She grabs him, and bears him to her den.} - - The ring-prince homeward, that he after was powerless - 35 (He had daring to do it) to deal with his weapons, - But many a mere-beast tormented him swimming, - -{Sea-monsters bite and strike him.} - - Flood-beasts no few with fierce-biting tusks did - Break through his burnie, the brave one pursued they. - The earl then discovered he was down in some cavern - 40 Where no water whatever anywise harmed him, - And the clutch of the current could come not anear him, - Since the roofed-hall prevented; brightness a-gleaming - Fire-light he saw, flashing resplendent. - The good one saw then the sea-bottom's monster, - -{Beowulf attacks the mother of Grendel.} - - 45 The mighty mere-woman; he made a great onset - With weapon-of-battle, his hand not desisted - From striking, that war-blade struck on her head then - A battle-song greedy. The stranger perceived then - -{The sword will not bite.} - - The sword would not bite, her life would not injure, - 50 But the falchion failed the folk-prince when straitened: - Erst had it often onsets encountered, - Oft cloven the helmet, the fated one's armor: - 'Twas the first time that ever the excellent jewel - Had failed of its fame. Firm-mooded after, - 55 Not heedless of valor, but mindful of glory, - Was Higelac's kinsman; the hero-chief angry - Cast then his carved-sword covered with jewels - That it lay on the earth, hard and steel-pointed; - -{The hero throws down all weapons, and again trusts to his hand-grip.} - - He hoped in his strength, his hand-grapple sturdy. - 60 So any must act whenever he thinketh - To gain him in battle glory unending, - And is reckless of living. The lord of the War-Geats -[53] (He shrank not from battle) seized by the shoulder[2] - The mother of Grendel; then mighty in struggle - 65 Swung he his enemy, since his anger was kindled, - That she fell to the floor. With furious grapple - -{Beowulf falls.} - - She gave him requital[3] early thereafter, - And stretched out to grab him; the strongest of warriors - Faint-mooded stumbled, till he fell in his traces, - -{The monster sits on him with drawn sword.} - - 70 Foot-going champion. Then she sat on the hall-guest - And wielded her war-knife wide-bladed, flashing, - For her son would take vengeance, her one only bairn. - -{His armor saves his life.} - - His breast-armor woven bode on his shoulder; - It guarded his life, the entrance defended - 75 'Gainst sword-point and edges. Ecgtheow's son there - Had fatally journeyed, champion of Geatmen, - In the arms of the ocean, had the armor not given, - Close-woven corslet, comfort and succor, - -{God arranged for his escape.} - - And had God most holy not awarded the victory, - 80 All-knowing Lord; easily did heaven's - Ruler most righteous arrange it with justice;[4] - Uprose he erect ready for battle. - - [1] Kl. emends 'wæl-sweord.' The half-line would then read, '_the - battle-sword splendid_.'--For 'heard-ecg' in next half-verse, see note - to 20_39 above. - - [2] Sw., R., and t.B. suggest 'feaxe' for 'eaxle' (1538) and render: - _Seized by the hair_. - - [3] If 'hand-léan' be accepted (as the MS. has it), the line will - read: _She hand-reward gave him early thereafter_. - - [4] Sw. and S. change H.-So.'s semicolon (v. 1557) to a comma, and - translate: _The Ruler of Heaven arranged it in justice easily, after - he arose again_. - - - - -XXIV. - -BEOWULF IS DOUBLE-CONQUEROR. - - -{Beowulf grasps a giant-sword,} - - Then he saw mid the war-gems a weapon of victory, - An ancient giant-sword, of edges a-doughty, - Glory of warriors: of weapons 'twas choicest, - Only 'twas larger than any man else was -[54] 5 Able to bear to the battle-encounter, - The good and splendid work of the giants. - He grasped then the sword-hilt, knight of the Scyldings, - Bold and battle-grim, brandished his ring-sword, - Hopeless of living, hotly he smote her, - 10 That the fiend-woman's neck firmly it grappled, - -{and fells the female monster.} - - Broke through her bone-joints, the bill fully pierced her - Fate-cursèd body, she fell to the ground then: - The hand-sword was bloody, the hero exulted. - The brand was brilliant, brightly it glimmered, - 15 Just as from heaven gemlike shineth - The torch of the firmament. He glanced 'long the building, - And turned by the wall then, Higelac's vassal - Raging and wrathful raised his battle-sword - Strong by the handle. The edge was not useless - 20 To the hero-in-battle, but he speedily wished to - Give Grendel requital for the many assaults he - Had worked on the West-Danes not once, but often, - When he slew in slumber the subjects of Hrothgar, - Swallowed down fifteen sleeping retainers - 25 Of the folk of the Danemen, and fully as many - Carried away, a horrible prey. - He gave him requital, grim-raging champion, - -{Beowulf sees the body of Grendel, and cuts off his head.} - - When he saw on his rest-place weary of conflict - Grendel lying, of life-joys bereavèd, - 30 As the battle at Heorot erstwhile had scathed him; - His body far bounded, a blow when he suffered, - Death having seized him, sword-smiting heavy, - And he cut off his head then. Early this noticed - The clever carles who as comrades of Hrothgar - -{The waters are gory.} - - 35 Gazed on the sea-deeps, that the surging wave-currents - Were mightily mingled, the mere-flood was gory: - Of the good one the gray-haired together held converse, - -{Beowulf is given up for dead.} - - The hoary of head, that they hoped not to see again - The atheling ever, that exulting in victory - 40 He'd return there to visit the distinguished folk-ruler: -[55] Then many concluded the mere-wolf had killed him.[1] - The ninth hour came then. From the ness-edge departed - The bold-mooded Scyldings; the gold-friend of heroes - Homeward betook him. The strangers sat down then - 45 Soul-sick, sorrowful, the sea-waves regarding: - They wished and yet weened not their well-loved friend-lord - -{The giant-sword melts.} - - To see any more. The sword-blade began then, - The blood having touched it, contracting and shriveling - With battle-icicles; 'twas a wonderful marvel - 50 That it melted entirely, likest to ice when - The Father unbindeth the bond of the frost and - Unwindeth the wave-bands, He who wieldeth dominion - Of times and of tides: a truth-firm Creator. - Nor took he of jewels more in the dwelling, - 55 Lord of the Weders, though they lay all around him, - Than the head and the handle handsome with jewels; -[56] The brand early melted, burnt was the weapon:[2] - So hot was the blood, the strange-spirit poisonous - -{The hero swims back to the realms of day.} - - That in it did perish. He early swam off then - 60 Who had bided in combat the carnage of haters, - Went up through the ocean; the eddies were cleansèd, - The spacious expanses, when the spirit from farland - His life put aside and this short-lived existence. - The seamen's defender came swimming to land then - 65 Doughty of spirit, rejoiced in his sea-gift, - The bulky burden which he bore in his keeping. - The excellent vassals advanced then to meet him, - To God they were grateful, were glad in their chieftain, - That to see him safe and sound was granted them. - 70 From the high-minded hero, then, helmet and burnie - Were speedily loosened: the ocean was putrid, - The water 'neath welkin weltered with gore. - Forth did they fare, then, their footsteps retracing, - Merry and mirthful, measured the earth-way, - 75 The highway familiar: men very daring[3] - Bare then the head from the sea-cliff, burdening - Each of the earlmen, excellent-valiant. - -{It takes four men to carry Grendel's head on a spear.} - - Four of them had to carry with labor - The head of Grendel to the high towering gold-hall - 80 Upstuck on the spear, till fourteen most-valiant - And battle-brave Geatmen came there going - Straight to the palace: the prince of the people - Measured the mead-ways, their mood-brave companion. - The atheling of earlmen entered the building, - 85 Deed-valiant man, adorned with distinction, - Doughty shield-warrior, to address King Hrothgar: -[57] Then hung by the hair, the head of Grendel - Was borne to the building, where beer-thanes were drinking, - Loth before earlmen and eke 'fore the lady: - 90 The warriors beheld then a wonderful sight. - - [1] 'Þæs monige gewearð' (1599) and 'hafað þæs geworden' (2027).--In a - paper published some years ago in one of the Johns Hopkins University - circulars, I tried to throw upon these two long-doubtful passages some - light derived from a study of like passages in Alfred's prose.--The - impersonal verb 'geweorðan,' with an accus. of the person, and a - þæt-clause is used several times with the meaning 'agree.' See Orosius - (Sweet's ed.) 178_7; 204_34; 208_28; 210_15; 280_20. In the two - Beowulf passages, the þæt-clause is anticipated by 'þæs,' which is - clearly a gen. of the thing agreed on. - - The first passage (v. 1599 (b)-1600) I translate literally: _Then many - agreed upon this (namely), that the sea-wolf had killed him_. - - The second passage (v. 2025 (b)-2027): _She is promised ...; to this - the friend of the Scyldings has agreed, etc_. By emending 'is' instead - of 'wæs' (2025), the tenses will be brought into perfect harmony. - - In v. 1997 ff. this same idiom occurs, and was noticed in B.'s great - article on Beowulf, which appeared about the time I published my - reading of 1599 and 2027. Translate 1997 then: _Wouldst let the - South-Danes themselves decide about their struggle with Grendel_. Here - 'Súð-Dene' is accus. of person, and 'gúðe' is gen. of thing agreed on. - - With such collateral support as that afforded by B. (P. and B. XII. - 97), I have no hesitation in departing from H.-So., my usual guide. - - The idiom above treated runs through A.-S., Old Saxon, and other - Teutonic languages, and should be noticed in the lexicons. - - [2] 'Bróden-mæl' is regarded by most scholars as meaning a damaskeened - sword. Translate: _The damaskeened sword burned up_. Cf. 25_16 and - note. - - [3] 'Cyning-balde' (1635) is the much-disputed reading of K. and Th. - To render this, "_nobly bold_," "_excellently bold_," have been - suggested. B. would read 'cyning-holde' (cf. 290), and render: _Men - well-disposed towards the king carried the head, etc._ 'Cynebealde,' - says t.B., endorsing Gr. - - - - -XXV. - -BEOWULF BRINGS HIS TROPHIES.--HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE. - - -{Beowulf relates his last exploit.} - - Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow: - "Lo! we blithely have brought thee, bairn of Healfdene, - Prince of the Scyldings, these presents from ocean - Which thine eye looketh on, for an emblem of glory. - 5 I came off alive from this, narrowly 'scaping: - In war 'neath the water the work with great pains I - Performed, and the fight had been finished quite nearly, - Had God not defended me. I failed in the battle - Aught to accomplish, aided by Hrunting, - 10 Though that weapon was worthy, but the Wielder of earth-folk - -{God was fighting with me.} - - Gave me willingly to see on the wall a - Heavy old hand-sword hanging in splendor - (He guided most often the lorn and the friendless), - That I swung as a weapon. The wards of the house then - 15 I killed in the conflict (when occasion was given me). - Then the battle-sword burned, the brand that was lifted,[1] - As the blood-current sprang, hottest of war-sweats; - Seizing the hilt, from my foes I offbore it; - I avenged as I ought to their acts of malignity, - 20 The murder of Danemen. I then make thee this promise, - -{Heorot is freed from monsters.} - - Thou'lt be able in Heorot careless to slumber - With thy throng of heroes and the thanes of thy people - Every and each, of greater and lesser, - And thou needest not fear for them from the selfsame direction - 25 As thou formerly fearedst, oh, folk-lord of Scyldings, -[58] End-day for earlmen." To the age-hoary man then, - -{The famous sword is presented to Hrothgar.} - - The gray-haired chieftain, the gold-fashioned sword-hilt, - Old-work of giants, was thereupon given; - Since the fall of the fiends, it fell to the keeping - 30 Of the wielder of Danemen, the wonder-smith's labor, - And the bad-mooded being abandoned this world then, - Opponent of God, victim of murder, - And also his mother; it went to the keeping - Of the best of the world-kings, where waters encircle, - 35 Who the scot divided in Scylding dominion. - -{Hrothgar looks closely at the old sword.} - - Hrothgar discoursed, the hilt he regarded, - The ancient heirloom where an old-time contention's - Beginning was graven: the gurgling currents, - The flood slew thereafter the race of the giants, - 40 They had proved themselves daring: that people was loth to - -{It had belonged to a race hateful to God.} - - The Lord everlasting, through lash of the billows - The Father gave them final requital. - So in letters of rune on the clasp of the handle - Gleaming and golden, 'twas graven exactly, - 45 Set forth and said, whom that sword had been made for, - Finest of irons, who first it was wrought for, - Wreathed at its handle and gleaming with serpents. - The wise one then said (silent they all were) - -{Hrothgar praises Beowulf.} - - Son of old Healfdene: "He may say unrefuted - 50 Who performs 'mid the folk-men fairness and truth - (The hoary old ruler remembers the past), - That better by birth is this bairn of the nobles! - Thy fame is extended through far-away countries, - Good friend Beowulf, o'er all of the races, - 55 Thou holdest all firmly, hero-like strength with - Prudence of spirit. I'll prove myself grateful - As before we agreed on; thou granted for long shalt - Become a great comfort to kinsmen and comrades, - -{Heremod's career is again contrasted with Beowulf's.} - - A help unto heroes. Heremod became not - 60 Such to the Scyldings, successors of Ecgwela; - He grew not to please them, but grievous destruction, -[59] And diresome death-woes to Danemen attracted; - He slew in anger his table-companions, - Trustworthy counsellors, till he turned off lonely - 65 From world-joys away, wide-famous ruler: - Though high-ruling heaven in hero-strength raised him, - In might exalted him, o'er men of all nations - Made him supreme, yet a murderous spirit - Grew in his bosom: he gave then no ring-gems - -{A wretched failure of a king, to give no jewels to his retainers.} - - 70 To the Danes after custom; endured he unjoyful - Standing the straits from strife that was raging, - Longsome folk-sorrow. Learn then from this, - Lay hold of virtue! Though laden with winters, - I have sung thee these measures. 'Tis a marvel to tell it, - -{Hrothgar moralizes.} - - 75 How all-ruling God from greatness of spirit - Giveth wisdom to children of men, - Manor and earlship: all things He ruleth. - He often permitteth the mood-thought of man of - The illustrious lineage to lean to possessions, - 80 Allows him earthly delights at his manor, - A high-burg of heroes to hold in his keeping, - Maketh portions of earth-folk hear him, - And a wide-reaching kingdom so that, wisdom failing him, - He himself is unable to reckon its boundaries; - 85 He liveth in luxury, little debars him, - Nor sickness nor age, no treachery-sorrow - Becloudeth his spirit, conflict nowhere, - No sword-hate, appeareth, but all of the world doth - Wend as he wisheth; the worse he knoweth not, - 90 Till arrant arrogance inward pervading, - Waxeth and springeth, when the warder is sleeping, - The guard of the soul: with sorrows encompassed, - Too sound is his slumber, the slayer is near him, - Who with bow and arrow aimeth in malice. - -[60] - - [1] Or rather, perhaps, '_the inlaid, or damaskeened weapon_.' Cf. - 24_57 and note. - - - - -XXVI. - -HROTHGAR MORALIZES.--REST AFTER LABOR. - - -{A wounded spirit.} - - "Then bruised in his bosom he with bitter-toothed missile - Is hurt 'neath his helmet: from harmful pollution - He is powerless to shield him by the wonderful mandates - Of the loath-cursèd spirit; what too long he hath holden - 5 Him seemeth too small, savage he hoardeth, - Nor boastfully giveth gold-plated rings,[1] - The fate of the future flouts and forgetteth - Since God had erst given him greatness no little, - Wielder of Glory. His end-day anear, - 10 It afterward happens that the bodily-dwelling - Fleetingly fadeth, falls into ruins; - Another lays hold who doleth the ornaments, - The nobleman's jewels, nothing lamenting, - Heedeth no terror. Oh, Beowulf dear, - 15 Best of the heroes, from bale-strife defend thee, - And choose thee the better, counsels eternal; - -{Be not over proud: life is fleeting, and its strength soon wasteth away.} - - Beware of arrogance, world-famous champion! - But a little-while lasts thy life-vigor's fulness; - 'Twill after hap early, that illness or sword-edge - 20 Shall part thee from strength, or the grasp of the fire, - Or the wave of the current, or clutch of the edges, - Or flight of the war-spear, or age with its horrors, - Or thine eyes' bright flashing shall fade into darkness: - 'Twill happen full early, excellent hero, - -{Hrothgar gives an account of his reign.} - - 25 That death shall subdue thee. So the Danes a half-century - I held under heaven, helped them in struggles - 'Gainst many a race in middle-earth's regions, - With ash-wood and edges, that enemies none - On earth molested me. Lo! offsetting change, now, - -[61] - -{Sorrow after joy.} - - 30 Came to my manor, grief after joyance, - When Grendel became my constant visitor, - Inveterate hater: I from that malice - Continually travailed with trouble no little. - Thanks be to God that I gained in my lifetime, - 35 To the Lord everlasting, to look on the gory - Head with mine eyes, after long-lasting sorrow! - Go to the bench now, battle-adornèd - Joy in the feasting: of jewels in common - We'll meet with many when morning appeareth." - 40 The Geatman was gladsome, ganged he immediately - To go to the bench, as the clever one bade him. - Then again as before were the famous-for-prowess, - Hall-inhabiters, handsomely banqueted, - Feasted anew. The night-veil fell then - 45 Dark o'er the warriors. The courtiers rose then; - The gray-haired was anxious to go to his slumbers, - The hoary old Scylding. Hankered the Geatman, - -{Beowulf is fagged, and seeks rest.} - - The champion doughty, greatly, to rest him: - An earlman early outward did lead him, - 50 Fagged from his faring, from far-country springing, - Who for etiquette's sake all of a liegeman's - Needs regarded, such as seamen at that time - Were bounden to feel. The big-hearted rested; - The building uptowered, spacious and gilded, - 55 The guest within slumbered, till the sable-clad raven - Blithely foreboded the beacon of heaven. - Then the bright-shining sun o'er the bottoms came going;[2] - The warriors hastened, the heads of the peoples - Were ready to go again to their peoples, - -{The Geats prepare to leave Dane-land.} - - 60 The high-mooded farer would faraway thenceward - Look for his vessel. The valiant one bade then,[3] - -[62] - -{Unferth asks Beowulf to accept his sword as a gift. Beowulf thanks him.} - - Offspring of Ecglaf, off to bear Hrunting, - To take his weapon, his well-beloved iron; - He him thanked for the gift, saying good he accounted - 65 The war-friend and mighty, nor chid he with words then - The blade of the brand: 'twas a brave-mooded hero. - When the warriors were ready, arrayed in their trappings, - The atheling dear to the Danemen advanced then - On to the dais, where the other was sitting, - 70 Grim-mooded hero, greeted King Hrothgar. - - [1] K. says '_proudly giveth_.'--Gr. says, '_And gives no gold-plated - rings, in order to incite the recipient to boastfulness_.'--B. - suggests 'gyld' for 'gylp,' and renders: _And gives no beaten rings - for reward_. - - [2] If S.'s emendation be accepted, v. 57 will read: _Then came the - light, going bright after darkness: the warriors, etc_. - - [3] As the passage stands in H.-So., Unferth presents Beowulf with the - sword Hrunting, and B. thanks him for the gift. If, however, the - suggestions of Grdtvg. and M. be accepted, the passage will read: - _Then the brave one (_i.e._ Beowulf) commanded that Hrunting be borne - to the son of Ecglaf (Unferth), bade him take his sword, his dear - weapon; he (B.) thanked him (U.) for the loan, etc_. - - - - -XXVII. - -SORROW AT PARTING. - - -{Beowulf's farewell.} - - Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's offspring: - "We men of the water wish to declare now - Fared from far-lands, we're firmly determined - To seek King Higelac. Here have we fitly - 5 Been welcomed and feasted, as heart would desire it; - Good was the greeting. If greater affection - I am anywise able ever on earth to - Gain at thy hands, ruler of heroes, - Than yet I have done, I shall quickly be ready - -{I shall be ever ready to aid thee.} - - 10 For combat and conflict. O'er the course of the waters - Learn I that neighbors alarm thee with terror, - As haters did whilom, I hither will bring thee - For help unto heroes henchmen by thousands. - -{My liegelord will encourage me in aiding thee.} - - I know as to Higelac, the lord of the Geatmen, - 15 Though young in years, he yet will permit me, - By words and by works, ward of the people, - Fully to furnish thee forces and bear thee - My lance to relieve thee, if liegemen shall fail thee, - And help of my hand-strength; if Hrethric be treating, -[63] 20 Bairn of the king, at the court of the Geatmen, - He thereat may find him friends in abundance: - Faraway countries he were better to seek for - Who trusts in himself." Hrothgar discoursed then, - Making rejoinder: "These words thou hast uttered - 25 All-knowing God hath given thy spirit! - -{O Beowulf, thou art wise beyond thy years.} - - Ne'er heard I an earlman thus early in life - More clever in speaking: thou'rt cautious of spirit, - Mighty of muscle, in mouth-answers prudent. - I count on the hope that, happen it ever - 30 That missile shall rob thee of Hrethel's descendant, - Edge-horrid battle, and illness or weapon - Deprive thee of prince, of people's protector, - -{Should Higelac die, the Geats could find no better successor than thou -wouldst make.} - - And life thou yet holdest, the Sea-Geats will never - Find a more fitting folk-lord to choose them, - 35 Gem-ward of heroes, than _thou_ mightest prove thee, - If the kingdom of kinsmen thou carest to govern. - Thy mood-spirit likes me the longer the better, - Beowulf dear: thou hast brought it to pass that - To both these peoples peace shall be common, - -{Thou hast healed the ancient breach between our races.} - - 40 To Geat-folk and Danemen, the strife be suspended, - The secret assailings they suffered in yore-days; - And also that jewels be shared while I govern - The wide-stretching kingdom, and that many shall visit - Others o'er the ocean with excellent gift-gems: - 45 The ring-adorned bark shall bring o'er the currents - Presents and love-gifts. This people I know - Tow'rd foeman and friend firmly established,[1] - After ancient etiquette everywise blameless." - Then the warden of earlmen gave him still farther, - -{Parting gifts} - - 50 Kinsman of Healfdene, a dozen of jewels, - Bade him safely seek with the presents - His well-beloved people, early returning. - -[64] - -{Hrothgar kisses Beowulf, and weeps.} - - Then the noble-born king kissed the distinguished, - Dear-lovèd liegeman, the Dane-prince saluted him, - 55 And claspèd his neck; tears from him fell, - From the gray-headed man: he two things expected, - Agèd and reverend, but rather the second, - [2]That bold in council they'd meet thereafter. - The man was so dear that he failed to suppress the - 60 Emotions that moved him, but in mood-fetters fastened - -{The old king is deeply grieved to part with his benefactor.} - - The long-famous hero longeth in secret - Deep in his spirit for the dear-beloved man - Though not a blood-kinsman. Beowulf thenceward, - Gold-splendid warrior, walked o'er the meadows - 65 Exulting in treasure: the sea-going vessel - Riding at anchor awaited its owner. - As they pressed on their way then, the present of Hrothgar - -{Giving liberally is the true proof of kingship.} - - Was frequently referred to: a folk-king indeed that - Everyway blameless, till age did debar him - 70 The joys of his might, which hath many oft injured. - - [1] For 'geworhte,' the crux of this passage, B. proposes 'geþóhte,' - rendering: _I know this people with firm thought every way blameless - towards foe and friends_. - - [2] S. and B. emend so as to negative the verb 'meet.' "Why should - Hrothgar weep if he expects to meet Beowulf again?" both these - scholars ask. But the weeping is mentioned before the 'expectations': - the tears may have been due to many emotions, especially gratitude, - struggling for expression. - - - - -XXVIII. - -THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY.--THE TWO QUEENS. - - - Then the band of very valiant retainers - Came to the current; they were clad all in armor, - -{The coast-guard again.} - - In link-woven burnies. The land-warder noticed - The return of the earlmen, as he erstwhile had seen them; - 5 Nowise with insult he greeted the strangers - From the naze of the cliff, but rode on to meet them; - Said the bright-armored visitors[1] vesselward traveled -[65] Welcome to Weders. The wide-bosomed craft then - Lay on the sand, laden with armor, - 10 With horses and jewels, the ring-stemmèd sailer: - The mast uptowered o'er the treasure of Hrothgar. - -{Beowulf gives the guard a handsome sword.} - - To the boat-ward a gold-bound brand he presented, - That he was afterwards honored on the ale-bench more highly - As the heirloom's owner. [2]Set he out on his vessel, - 15 To drive on the deep, Dane-country left he. - Along by the mast then a sea-garment fluttered, - A rope-fastened sail. The sea-boat resounded, - The wind o'er the waters the wave-floater nowise - Kept from its journey; the sea-goer traveled, - 20 The foamy-necked floated forth o'er the currents, - The well-fashioned vessel o'er the ways of the ocean, - -{The Geats see their own land again.} - - Till they came within sight of the cliffs of the Geatmen, - The well-known headlands. The wave-goer hastened - Driven by breezes, stood on the shore. - -{The port-warden is anxiously looking for them.} - - 25 Prompt at the ocean, the port-ward was ready, - Who long in the past outlooked in the distance,[3] - At water's-edge waiting well-lovèd heroes; - He bound to the bank then the broad-bosomed vessel - Fast in its fetters, lest the force of the waters - 30 Should be able to injure the ocean-wood winsome. - Bade he up then take the treasure of princes, - Plate-gold and fretwork; not far was it thence - To go off in search of the giver of jewels: -[66] Hrethel's son Higelac at home there remaineth,[4] - 35 Himself with his comrades close to the sea-coast. - The building was splendid, the king heroic, - Great in his hall, Hygd very young was, - -{Hygd, the noble queen of Higelac, lavish of gifts.} - - Fine-mooded, clever, though few were the winters - That the daughter of Hæreth had dwelt in the borough; - 40 But she nowise was cringing nor niggard of presents, - Of ornaments rare, to the race of the Geatmen. - -{Offa's consort, Thrytho, is contrasted with Hygd.} - - Thrytho nursed anger, excellent[5] folk-queen, - Hot-burning hatred: no hero whatever - 'Mong household companions, her husband excepted - -{She is a terror to all save her husband.} - - 45 Dared to adventure to look at the woman - With eyes in the daytime;[6] but he knew that death-chains - Hand-wreathed were wrought him: early thereafter, - When the hand-strife was over, edges were ready, - That fierce-raging sword-point had to force a decision, - 50 Murder-bale show. Such no womanly custom - For a lady to practise, though lovely her person, - That a weaver-of-peace, on pretence of anger - A belovèd liegeman of life should deprive. - Soothly this hindered Heming's kinsman; - 55 Other ale-drinking earlmen asserted - That fearful folk-sorrows fewer she wrought them, - Treacherous doings, since first she was given - Adorned with gold to the war-hero youthful, - For her origin honored, when Offa's great palace - 60 O'er the fallow flood by her father's instructions - She sought on her journey, where she afterwards fully, - Famed for her virtue, her fate on the king's-seat -[67] Enjoyed in her lifetime, love did she hold with - The ruler of heroes, the best, it is told me, - 65 Of all of the earthmen that oceans encompass, - Of earl-kindreds endless; hence Offa was famous - Far and widely, by gifts and by battles, - Spear-valiant hero; the home of his fathers - He governed with wisdom, whence Eomær did issue - 70 For help unto heroes, Heming's kinsman, - Grandson of Garmund, great in encounters. - - [1] For 'scawan' (1896), 'scaðan' has been proposed. Accepting this, - we may render: _He said the bright-armored warriors were going to - their vessel, welcome, etc_. (Cf. 1804.) - - [2] R. suggests, 'Gewát him on naca,' and renders: _The vessel set - out, to drive on the sea, the Dane-country left_. 'On' bears the - alliteration; cf. 'on hafu' (2524). This has some advantages over the - H.-So. reading; viz. (1) It adds nothing to the text; (2) it makes - 'naca' the subject, and thus brings the passage into keeping with the - context, where the poet has exhausted his vocabulary in detailing the - actions of the vessel.--B.'s emendation (cf. P. and B. XII. 97) is - violent. - - [3] B. translates: _Who for a long time, ready at the coast, had - looked out into the distance eagerly for the dear men_. This changes - the syntax of 'léofra manna.' - - [4] For 'wunað' (v. 1924) several eminent critics suggest 'wunade' - (=remained). This makes the passage much clearer. - - [5] Why should such a woman be described as an 'excellent' queen? C. - suggests 'frécnu' = dangerous, bold. - - [6] For 'an dæges' various readings have been offered. If 'and-éges' - be accepted, the sentence will read: _No hero ... dared look upon her, - eye to eye_. If 'án-dæges' be adopted, translate: _Dared look upon her - the whole day_. - - - - -XXIX. - -BEOWULF AND HIGELAC. - - - Then the brave one departed, his band along with him, - -{Beowulf and his party seek Higelac.} - - Seeking the sea-shore, the sea-marches treading, - The wide-stretching shores. The world-candle glimmered, - The sun from the southward; they proceeded then onward, - 5 Early arriving where they heard that the troop-lord, - Ongentheow's slayer, excellent, youthful - Folk-prince and warrior was distributing jewels, - Close in his castle. The coming of Beowulf - Was announced in a message quickly to Higelac, - 10 That the folk-troop's defender forth to the palace - The linden-companion alive was advancing, - Secure from the combat courtward a-going. - The building was early inward made ready - For the foot-going guests as the good one had ordered. - -{Beowulf sits by his liegelord.} - - 15 He sat by the man then who had lived through the struggle, - Kinsman by kinsman, when the king of the people - Had in lordly language saluted the dear one, - -{Queen Hygd receives the heroes.} - - In words that were formal. The daughter of Hæreth - Coursed through the building, carrying mead-cups:[1] -[68] 20 She loved the retainers, tendered the beakers - To the high-minded Geatmen. Higelac 'gan then - -{Higelac is greatly interested in Beowulf's adventures.} - - Pleasantly plying his companion with questions - In the high-towering palace. A curious interest - Tormented his spirit, what meaning to see in - 25 The Sea-Geats' adventures: "Beowulf worthy, - -{Give an account of thy adventures, Beowulf dear.} - - How throve your journeying, when thou thoughtest suddenly - Far o'er the salt-streams to seek an encounter, - A battle at Heorot? Hast bettered for Hrothgar, - The famous folk-leader, his far-published sorrows - 30 Any at all? In agony-billows - -{My suspense has been great.} - - I mused upon torture, distrusted the journey - Of the belovèd liegeman; I long time did pray thee - By no means to seek out the murderous spirit, - To suffer the South-Danes themselves to decide on[2] - 35 Grappling with Grendel. To God I am thankful - To be suffered to see thee safe from thy journey." - -{Beowulf narrates his adventures.} - - Beowulf answered, bairn of old Ecgtheow: - "'Tis hidden by no means, Higelac chieftain, - From many of men, the meeting so famous, - 40 What mournful moments of me and of Grendel - Were passed in the place where he pressing affliction - On the Victory-Scyldings scathefully brought, - Anguish forever; that all I avengèd, - So that any under heaven of the kinsmen of Grendel - -{Grendel's kindred have no cause to boast.} - - 45 Needeth not boast of that cry-in-the-morning, - Who longest liveth of the loth-going kindred,[3] - Encompassed by moorland. I came in my journey - To the royal ring-hall, Hrothgar to greet there: - -{Hrothgar received me very cordially.} - - Soon did the famous scion of Healfdene, - 50 When he understood fully the spirit that led me, - Assign me a seat with the son of his bosom. -[69] The troop was in joyance; mead-glee greater - 'Neath arch of the ether not ever beheld I - -{The queen also showed up no little honor.} - - 'Mid hall-building holders. The highly-famed queen, - 55 Peace-tie of peoples, oft passed through the building, - Cheered the young troopers; she oft tendered a hero - A beautiful ring-band, ere she went to her sitting. - -{Hrothgar's lovely daughter.} - - Oft the daughter of Hrothgar in view of the courtiers - To the earls at the end the ale-vessel carried, - 60 Whom Freaware I heard then hall-sitters title, - When nail-adorned jewels she gave to the heroes: - -{She is betrothed to Ingeld, in order to unite the Danes and Heathobards.} - - Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad son of Froda - Her faith has been plighted; the friend of the Scyldings, - The guard of the kingdom, hath given his sanction,[4] - 65 And counts it a vantage, for a part of the quarrels, - A portion of hatred, to pay with the woman. - [5]Somewhere not rarely, when the ruler has fallen, - The life-taking lance relaxeth its fury - For a brief breathing-spell, though the bride be charming! - - [1] 'Meodu-scencum' (1981) some would render '_with mead-pourers_.' - Translate then: _The daughter of Hæreth went through the building - accompanied by mead-pourers_. - - [2] See my note to 1599, supra, and B. in P. and B. XII. 97. - - [3] For 'fenne,' supplied by Grdtvg., B. suggests 'fácne' (cf. Jul. - 350). Accepting this, translate: _Who longest lives of the hated race, - steeped in treachery_. - - [4] See note to v. 1599 above. - - [5] This is perhaps the least understood sentence in the poem, almost - every word being open to dispute. (1) The 'nó' of our text is an - emendation, and is rejected by many scholars. (2) 'Seldan' is by some - taken as an adv. (= _seldom_), and by others as a noun (= _page_, - _companion_). (3) 'Léod-hryre,' some render '_fall of the people_'; - others, '_fall of the prince_.' (4) 'Búgeð,' most scholars regard as - the intrans. verb meaning '_bend_,' '_rest_'; but one great scholar has - translated it '_shall kill_.' (5) 'Hwær,' Very recently, has been - attacked, 'wære' being suggested. (6) As a corollary to the above, the - same critic proposes to drop 'oft' out of the text.--t.B. suggests: Oft - seldan wære after léodhryre: lýtle hwíle bongár búgeð, þéah séo brýd - duge = _often has a treaty been (thus) struck, after a prince had - fallen: (but only) a short time is the spear (then) wont to rest, - however excellent the bride may be_. - - - - -XXX. - -BEOWULF NARRATES HIS ADVENTURES TO HIGELAC. - - - "It well may discomfit the prince of the Heathobards - And each of the thanemen of earls that attend him, -[70] When he goes to the building escorting the woman, - That a noble-born Daneman the knights should be feasting: - 5 There gleam on his person the leavings of elders - Hard and ring-bright, Heathobards' treasure, - While they wielded their arms, till they misled to the battle - Their own dear lives and belovèd companions. - He saith at the banquet who the collar beholdeth, - 10 An ancient ash-warrior who earlmen's destruction - Clearly recalleth (cruel his spirit), - Sadly beginneth sounding the youthful - Thane-champion's spirit through the thoughts of his bosom, - War-grief to waken, and this word-answer speaketh: - -{Ingeld is stirred up to break the truce.} - - 15 'Art thou able, my friend, to know when thou seest it - The brand which thy father bare to the conflict - In his latest adventure, 'neath visor of helmet, - The dearly-loved iron, where Danemen did slay him, - And brave-mooded Scyldings, on the fall of the heroes, - 20 (When vengeance was sleeping) the slaughter-place wielded? - E'en now some man of the murderer's progeny - Exulting in ornaments enters the building, - Boasts of his blood-shedding, offbeareth the jewel - Which thou shouldst wholly hold in possession!' - 25 So he urgeth and mindeth on every occasion - With woe-bringing words, till waxeth the season - When the woman's thane for the works of his father, - The bill having bitten, blood-gory sleepeth, - Fated to perish; the other one thenceward - 30 'Scapeth alive, the land knoweth thoroughly.[1] - Then the oaths of the earlmen on each side are broken, - When rancors unresting are raging in Ingeld - And his wife-love waxeth less warm after sorrow. - So the Heathobards' favor not faithful I reckon, - 35 Their part in the treaty not true to the Danemen, - Their friendship not fast. I further shall tell thee - -[71] - -{Having made these preliminary statements, I will now tell thee of -Grendel, the monster.} - - More about Grendel, that thou fully mayst hear, - Ornament-giver, what afterward came from - The hand-rush of heroes. When heaven's bright jewel - 40 O'er earthfields had glided, the stranger came raging, - The horrible night-fiend, us for to visit, - Where wholly unharmed the hall we were guarding. - -{Hondscio fell first} - - To Hondscio happened a hopeless contention, - Death to the doomed one, dead he fell foremost, - 45 Girded war-champion; to him Grendel became then, - To the vassal distinguished, a tooth-weaponed murderer, - The well-beloved henchman's body all swallowed. - Not the earlier off empty of hand did - The bloody-toothed murderer, mindful of evils, - 50 Wish to escape from the gold-giver's palace, - But sturdy of strength he strove to outdo me, - Hand-ready grappled. A glove was suspended - Spacious and wondrous, in art-fetters fastened, - Which was fashioned entirely by touch of the craftman - 55 From the dragon's skin by the devil's devices: - He down in its depths would do me unsadly - One among many, deed-doer raging, - Though sinless he saw me; not so could it happen - When I in my anger upright did stand. - 60 'Tis too long to recount how requital I furnished - For every evil to the earlmen's destroyer; - -{I reflected honor upon my people.} - - 'Twas there, my prince, that I proudly distinguished - Thy land with my labors. He left and retreated, - He lived his life a little while longer: - 65 Yet his right-hand guarded his footstep in Heorot, - And sad-mooded thence to the sea-bottom fell he, - Mournful in mind. For the might-rush of battle - -{King Hrothgar lavished gifts upon me.} - - The friend of the Scyldings, with gold that was plated, - With ornaments many, much requited me, - 70 When daylight had dawned, and down to the banquet - We had sat us together. There was chanting and joyance: - The age-stricken Scylding asked many questions -[72] And of old-times related; oft light-ringing harp-strings, - Joy-telling wood, were touched by the brave one; - 75 Now he uttered measures, mourning and truthful, - Then the large-hearted land-king a legend of wonder - Truthfully told us. Now troubled with years - -{The old king is sad over the loss of his youthful vigor.} - - The age-hoary warrior afterward began to - Mourn for the might that marked him in youth-days; - 80 His breast within boiled, when burdened with winters - Much he remembered. From morning till night then - We joyed us therein as etiquette suffered, - Till the second night season came unto earth-folk. - Then early thereafter, the mother of Grendel - -{Grendel's mother.} - - 85 Was ready for vengeance, wretched she journeyed; - Her son had death ravished, the wrath of the Geatmen. - The horrible woman avengèd her offspring, - And with mighty mainstrength murdered a hero. - -{Æschere falls a prey to her vengeance.} - - There the spirit of Æschere, agèd adviser, - 90 Was ready to vanish; nor when morn had lightened - Were they anywise suffered to consume him with fire, - Folk of the Danemen, the death-weakened hero, - Nor the belovèd liegeman to lay on the pyre; - -{She suffered not his body to be burned, but ate it.} - - She the corpse had offcarried in the clutch of the foeman[2] - 95 'Neath mountain-brook's flood. To Hrothgar 'twas saddest - Of pains that ever had preyed on the chieftain; - By the life of thee the land-prince then me[3] - Besought very sadly, in sea-currents' eddies - To display my prowess, to peril my safety, - 100 Might-deeds accomplish; much did he promise. - -{I sought the creature in her den,} - - I found then the famous flood-current's cruel, - Horrible depth-warder. A while unto us two -[73] Hand was in common; the currents were seething - With gore that was clotted, and Grendel's fierce mother's - -{and hewed her head off.} - - 105 Head I offhacked in the hall at the bottom - With huge-reaching sword-edge, hardly I wrested - My life from her clutches; not doomed was I then, - -{Jewels were freely bestowed upon me.} - - But the warden of earlmen afterward gave me - Jewels in quantity, kinsman of Healfdene. - - [1] For 'lifigende' (2063), a mere conjecture, 'wígende' has been - suggested. The line would then read: _Escapeth by fighting, knows the - land thoroughly_. - - [2] For 'fæðmum,' Gr.'s conjecture, B. proposes 'færunga.' These three - half-verses would then read: _She bore off the corpse of her foe - suddenly under the mountain-torrent_. - - [3] The phrase 'þíne lýfe' (2132) was long rendered '_with thy - (presupposed) permission_.' The verse would read: _The land-prince - then sadly besought me, with thy (presupposed) permission, etc_. - - - - -XXXI. - -GIFT-GIVING IS MUTUAL. - - - "So the belovèd land-prince lived in decorum; - I had missed no rewards, no meeds of my prowess, - But he gave me jewels, regarding my wishes, - Healfdene his bairn; I'll bring them to thee, then, - -{All my gifts I lay at thy feet.} - - 5 Atheling of earlmen, offer them gladly. - And still unto thee is all my affection:[1] - But few of my folk-kin find I surviving - But thee, dear Higelac!" Bade he in then to carry[2] - The boar-image, banner, battle-high helmet, - 10 Iron-gray armor, the excellent weapon, - -{This armor I have belonged of yore to Heregar.} - - In song-measures said: "This suit-for-the-battle - Hrothgar presented me, bade me expressly, - Wise-mooded atheling, thereafter to tell thee[3] - The whole of its history, said King Heregar owned it, - 15 Dane-prince for long: yet he wished not to give then -[74] The mail to his son, though dearly he loved him, - Hereward the hardy. Hold all in joyance!" - I heard that there followed hard on the jewels - Two braces of stallions of striking resemblance, - 20 Dappled and yellow; he granted him usance - Of horses and treasures. So a kinsman should bear him, - No web of treachery weave for another, - Nor by cunning craftiness cause the destruction - -{Higelac loves his nephew Beowulf.} - - Of trusty companion. Most precious to Higelac, - 25 The bold one in battle, was the bairn of his sister, - And each unto other mindful of favors. - -{Beowulf gives Hygd the necklace that Wealhtheow had given him.} - - I am told that to Hygd he proffered the necklace, - Wonder-gem rare that Wealhtheow gave him, - The troop-leader's daughter, a trio of horses - 30 Slender and saddle-bright; soon did the jewel - Embellish her bosom, when the beer-feast was over. - So Ecgtheow's bairn brave did prove him, - -{Beowulf is famous.} - - War-famous man, by deeds that were valiant, - He lived in honor, belovèd companions - 35 Slew not carousing; his mood was not cruel, - But by hand-strength hugest of heroes then living - The brave one retained the bountiful gift that - The Lord had allowed him. Long was he wretched, - So that sons of the Geatmen accounted him worthless, - 40 And the lord of the liegemen loth was to do him - Mickle of honor, when mead-cups were passing; - They fully believed him idle and sluggish, - -{He is requited for the slights suffered in earlier days.} - - An indolent atheling: to the honor-blest man there - Came requital for the cuts he had suffered. - 45 The folk-troop's defender bade fetch to the building - The heirloom of Hrethel, embellished with gold, - -{Higelac overwhelms the conqueror with gifts.} - - So the brave one enjoined it; there was jewel no richer - In the form of a weapon 'mong Geats of that era; - In Beowulf's keeping he placed it and gave him - 50 Seven of thousands, manor and lordship. - Common to both was land 'mong the people, -[75] Estate and inherited rights and possessions, - To the second one specially spacious dominions, - To the one who was better. It afterward happened - 55 In days that followed, befell the battle-thanes, - -{After Heardred's death, Beowulf becomes king.} - - After Higelac's death, and when Heardred was murdered - With weapons of warfare 'neath well-covered targets, - When valiant battlemen in victor-band sought him, - War-Scylfing heroes harassed the nephew - 60 Of Hereric in battle. To Beowulf's keeping - Turned there in time extensive dominions: - -{He rules the Geats fifty years.} - - He fittingly ruled them a fifty of winters - (He a man-ruler wise was, manor-ward old) till - A certain one 'gan, on gloom-darkening nights, a - -{The fire-drake.} - - 65 Dragon, to govern, who guarded a treasure, - A high-rising stone-cliff, on heath that was grayish: - A path 'neath it lay, unknown unto mortals. - Some one of earthmen entered the mountain, - The heathenish hoard laid hold of with ardor; - 70 * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - - [1] This verse B. renders, '_Now serve I again thee alone as my - gracious king_.' - - [2] For 'eafor' (2153), Kl. suggests 'ealdor.' Translate then: _Bade - the prince then to bear in the banner, battle-high helmet, etc_. On - the other hand, W. takes 'eaforhéafodsegn' as a compound, meaning - 'helmet': _He bade them bear in the helmet, battle-high helm, gray - armor, etc_. - - [3] The H.-So. rendering (ærest = _history, origin_; 'eft' for 'est'), - though liable to objection, is perhaps the best offered. 'That I - should very early tell thee of his favor, kindness' sounds well; but - 'his' is badly placed to limit 'ést.'--Perhaps, 'eft' with verbs of - saying may have the force of Lat. prefix 're,' and the H.-So. reading - mean, 'that I should its origin rehearse to thee.' - - - - -XXXII. - -THE HOARD AND THE DRAGON. - - - * * * * * * * - He sought of himself who sorely did harm him, - But, for need very pressing, the servant of one of - The sons of the heroes hate-blows evaded, - 5 Seeking for shelter and the sin-driven warrior - Took refuge within there. He early looked in it, - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * -[76] * * * * * * when the onset surprised him, - -{The hoard.} - - 10 He a gem-vessel saw there: many of suchlike - Ancient ornaments in the earth-cave were lying, - As in days of yore some one of men of - Illustrious lineage, as a legacy monstrous, - There had secreted them, careful and thoughtful, - 15 Dear-valued jewels. Death had offsnatched them, - In the days of the past, and the one man moreover - Of the flower of the folk who fared there the longest, - Was fain to defer it, friend-mourning warder, - A little longer to be left in enjoyment - 20 Of long-lasting treasure.[1] A barrow all-ready - Stood on the plain the stream-currents nigh to, - New by the ness-edge, unnethe of approaching: - The keeper of rings carried within a - [2]Ponderous deal of the treasure of nobles, - 25 Of gold that was beaten, briefly he spake then:[3] - -{The ring-giver bewails the loss of retainers.} - - "Hold thou, O Earth, now heroes no more may, - The earnings of earlmen. Lo! erst in thy bosom - Worthy men won them; war-death hath ravished, - Perilous life-bale, all my warriors, - 30 Liegemen belovèd, who this life have forsaken, - Who hall-pleasures saw. No sword-bearer have I, - And no one to burnish the gold-plated vessel, - The high-valued beaker: my heroes are vanished. - The hardy helmet behung with gilding - 35 Shall be reaved of its riches: the ring-cleansers slumber - Who were charged to have ready visors-for-battle, - And the burnie that bided in battle-encounter -[77] O'er breaking of war-shields the bite of the edges - Moulds with the hero. The ring-twisted armor, - 40 Its lord being lifeless, no longer may journey - Hanging by heroes; harp-joy is vanished, - The rapture of glee-wood, no excellent falcon - Swoops through the building, no swift-footed charger - Grindeth the gravel. A grievous destruction - 45 No few of the world-folk widely hath scattered!" - So, woful of spirit one after all - Lamented mournfully, moaning in sadness - By day and by night, till death with its billows - -{The fire-dragon} - - Dashed on his spirit. Then the ancient dusk-scather - 50 Found the great treasure standing all open, - He who flaming and fiery flies to the barrows, - Naked war-dragon, nightly escapeth - Encompassed with fire; men under heaven - Widely beheld him. 'Tis said that he looks for[4] - 55 The hoard in the earth, where old he is guarding - The heathenish treasure; he'll be nowise the better. - -{The dragon meets his match.} - - So three-hundred winters the waster of peoples - Held upon earth that excellent hoard-hall, - Till the forementioned earlman angered him bitterly: - 60 The beat-plated beaker he bare to his chieftain - And fullest remission for all his remissness - Begged of his liegelord. Then the hoard[5] was discovered, - The treasure was taken, his petition was granted - -{The hero plunders the dragon's den} - - The lorn-mooded liegeman. His lord regarded - 65 The old-work of earth-folk--'twas the earliest occasion. - When the dragon awoke, the strife was renewed there; - He snuffed 'long the stone then, stout-hearted found he -[78] The footprint of foeman; too far had he gone - With cunning craftiness close to the head of - 70 The fire-spewing dragon. So undoomed he may 'scape from - Anguish and exile with ease who possesseth - The favor of Heaven. The hoard-warden eagerly - Searched o'er the ground then, would meet with the person - That caused him sorrow while in slumber reclining: - 75 Gleaming and wild he oft went round the cavern, - All of it outward; not any of earthmen - Was seen in that desert.[6] Yet he joyed in the battle, - Rejoiced in the conflict: oft he turned to the barrow, - Sought for the gem-cup;[7] this he soon perceived then - -{The dragon perceives that some one has disturbed his treasure.} - - 80 That some man or other had discovered the gold, - The famous folk-treasure. Not fain did the hoard-ward - Wait until evening; then the ward of the barrow - Was angry in spirit, the loathèd one wished to - Pay for the dear-valued drink-cup with fire. - 85 Then the day was done as the dragon would have it, - He no longer would wait on the wall, but departed - -{The dragon is infuriated.} - - Fire-impelled, flaming. Fearful the start was - To earls in the land, as it early thereafter - To their giver-of-gold was grievously ended. - - [1] For 'long-gestréona,' B. suggests 'láengestréona,' and renders, - _Of fleeting treasures_. S. accepts H.'s 'long-gestréona,' but - renders, _The treasure long in accumulating_. - - [2] For 'hard-fyrdne' (2246), B. first suggested 'hard-fyndne,' - rendering: _A heap of treasures ... so great that its equal would be - hard to find_. The same scholar suggests later 'hord-wynne dæl' = _A - deal of treasure-joy_. - - [3] Some read 'fec-word' (2247), and render: _Banning words uttered_. - - [4] An earlier reading of H.'s gave the following meaning to this - passage: _He is said to inhabit a mound under the earth, where he, - etc._ The translation in the text is more authentic. - - [5] The repetition of 'hord' in this passage has led some scholars to - suggest new readings to avoid the second 'hord.' This, however, is not - under the main stress, and, it seems to me, might easily be accepted. - - [6] The reading of H.-So. is well defended in the notes to that - volume. B. emends and renders: _Nor was there any man in that desert - who rejoiced in conflict, in battle-work._ That is, the hoard-ward - could not find any one who had disturbed his slumbers, for no warrior - was there, t.B.'s emendation would give substantially the same - translation. - - [7] 'Sinc-fæt' (2301): this word both here and in v. 2232, t.B. - renders 'treasure.' - - - - -XXXIII. - -BRAVE THOUGH AGED.--REMINISCENCES. - - -{The dragon spits fire.} - - The stranger began then to vomit forth fire, - To burn the great manor; the blaze then glimmered - For anguish to earlmen, not anything living -[79] Was the hateful air-goer willing to leave there. - 5 The war of the worm widely was noticed, - The feud of the foeman afar and anear, - How the enemy injured the earls of the Geatmen, - Harried with hatred: back he hied to the treasure, - To the well-hidden cavern ere the coming of daylight. - 10 He had circled with fire the folk of those regions, - With brand and burning; in the barrow he trusted, - In the wall and his war-might: the weening deceived him. - -{Beowulf hears of the havoc wrought by the dragon.} - - Then straight was the horror to Beowulf published, - Early forsooth, that his own native homestead,[1] - 15 The best of buildings, was burning and melting, - Gift-seat of Geatmen. 'Twas a grief to the spirit - Of the good-mooded hero, the greatest of sorrows: - -{He fears that Heaven is punishing him for some crime.} - - The wise one weened then that wielding his kingdom - 'Gainst the ancient commandments, he had bitterly angered - 20 The Lord everlasting: with lorn meditations - His bosom welled inward, as was nowise his custom. - The fire-spewing dragon fully had wasted - The fastness of warriors, the water-land outward, - The manor with fire. The folk-ruling hero, - 25 Prince of the Weders, was planning to wreak him. - The warmen's defender bade them to make him, - Earlmen's atheling, an excellent war-shield - -{He orders an iron shield to be made from him, wood is useless.} - - Wholly of iron: fully he knew then - That wood from the forest was helpless to aid him, - 30 Shield against fire. The long-worthy ruler - Must live the last of his limited earth-days, - Of life in the world and the worm along with him, - Though he long had been holding hoard-wealth in plenty. - -{He determines to fight alone.} - - Then the ring-prince disdained to seek with a war-band, - 35 With army extensive, the air-going ranger; - He felt no fear of the foeman's assaults and - He counted for little the might of the dragon, -[80] His power and prowess: for previously dared he - -{Beowulf's early triumphs referred to} - - A heap of hostility, hazarded dangers, - 40 War-thane, when Hrothgar's palace he cleansèd, - Conquering combatant, clutched in the battle - The kinsmen of Grendel, of kindred detested.[2] - -{Higelac's death recalled.} - - 'Twas of hand-fights not least where Higelac was slaughtered, - When the king of the Geatmen with clashings of battle, - 45 Friend-lord of folks in Frisian dominions, - Offspring of Hrethrel perished through sword-drink, - With battle-swords beaten; thence Beowulf came then - On self-help relying, swam through the waters; - He bare on his arm, lone-going, thirty - 50 Outfits of armor, when the ocean he mounted. - The Hetwars by no means had need to be boastful - Of their fighting afoot, who forward to meet him - Carried their war-shields: not many returned from - The brave-mooded battle-knight back to their homesteads. - 55 Ecgtheow's bairn o'er the bight-courses swam then, - Lone-goer lorn to his land-folk returning, - Where Hygd to him tendered treasure and kingdom, - -{Heardred's lack of capacity to rule.} - - Rings and dominion: her son she not trusted, - To be able to keep the kingdom devised him - 60 'Gainst alien races, on the death of King Higelac. - -{Beowulf's tact and delicacy recalled.} - - Yet the sad ones succeeded not in persuading the atheling - In any way ever, to act as a suzerain - To Heardred, or promise to govern the kingdom; - Yet with friendly counsel in the folk he sustained him, - 65 Gracious, with honor, till he grew to be older, - -{Reference is here made to a visit which Beowulf receives from Eanmund and -Eadgils, why they come is not known.} - - Wielded the Weders. Wide-fleeing outlaws, - Ohthere's sons, sought him o'er the waters: - They had stirred a revolt 'gainst the helm of the Scylfings, - The best of the sea-kings, who in Swedish dominions - 70 Distributed treasure, distinguished folk-leader. -[81] 'Twas the end of his earth-days; injury fatal[3] - By swing of the sword he received as a greeting, - Offspring of Higelac; Ongentheow's bairn - Later departed to visit his homestead, - 75 When Heardred was dead; let Beowulf rule them, - Govern the Geatmen: good was that folk-king. - - [1] 'Hám' (2326), the suggestion of B. is accepted by t.B. and other - scholars. - - [2] For 'láðan cynnes' (2355), t.B. suggests 'láðan cynne,' apposition - to 'mægum.' From syntactical and other considerations, this is a most - excellent emendation. - - [3] Gr. read 'on feorme' (2386), rendering: _He there at the banquet a - fatal wound received by blows of the sword._ - - - - -XXXIV. - -BEOWULF SEEKS THE DRAGON.--BEOWULF'S REMINISCENCES. - - - He planned requital for the folk-leader's ruin - In days thereafter, to Eadgils the wretched - Becoming an enemy. Ohthere's son then - Went with a war-troop o'er the wide-stretching currents - 5 With warriors and weapons: with woe-journeys cold he - After avenged him, the king's life he took. - -{Beowulf has been preserved through many perils.} - - So he came off uninjured from all of his battles, - Perilous fights, offspring of Ecgtheow, - From his deeds of daring, till that day most momentous - 10 When he fate-driven fared to fight with the dragon. - -{With eleven comrades, he seeks the dragon.} - - With eleven companions the prince of the Geatmen - Went lowering with fury to look at the fire-drake: - Inquiring he'd found how the feud had arisen, - Hate to his heroes; the highly-famed gem-vessel - 15 Was brought to his keeping through the hand of th' informer. - -{A guide leads the way, but} - - That in the throng was thirteenth of heroes, - That caused the beginning of conflict so bitter, - Captive and wretched, must sad-mooded thenceward - -{very reluctantly.} - - Point out the place: he passed then unwillingly - 20 To the spot where he knew of the notable cavern, - The cave under earth, not far from the ocean, - The anger of eddies, which inward was full of - Jewels and wires: a warden uncanny, -[82] Warrior weaponed, wardered the treasure, - 25 Old under earth; no easy possession - For any of earth-folk access to get to. - Then the battle-brave atheling sat on the naze-edge, - While the gold-friend of Geatmen gracious saluted - His fireside-companions: woe was his spirit, - 30 Death-boding, wav'ring; Weird very near him, - Who must seize the old hero, his soul-treasure look for, - Dragging aloof his life from his body: - Not flesh-hidden long was the folk-leader's spirit. - Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's son: - -{Beowulf's retrospect.} - - 35 "I survived in my youth-days many a conflict, - Hours of onset: that all I remember. - I was seven-winters old when the jewel-prince took me, - High-lord of heroes, at the hands of my father, - Hrethel the hero-king had me in keeping, - -{Hrethel took me when I was seven.} - - 40 Gave me treasure and feasting, our kinship remembered; - Not ever was I _any_ less dear to him - -{He treated me as a son.} - - Knight in the boroughs, than the bairns of his household, - Herebald and Hæthcyn and Higelac mine. - To the eldest unjustly by acts of a kinsman - 45 Was murder-bed strewn, since him Hæthcyn from horn-bow - -{One of the brothers accidentally kills another.} - - His sheltering chieftain shot with an arrow, - Erred in his aim and injured his kinsman, - One brother the other, with blood-sprinkled spear: - -{No fee could compound for such a calamity.} - - 'Twas a feeless fight, finished in malice, - 50 Sad to his spirit; the folk-prince however - Had to part from existence with vengeance untaken. - -{[A parallel case is supposed.]} - - So to hoar-headed hero 'tis heavily crushing[1] -[83] To live to see his son as he rideth - Young on the gallows: then measures he chanteth, - 55 A song of sorrow, when his son is hanging - For the raven's delight, and aged and hoary - He is unable to offer any assistance. - Every morning his offspring's departure - Is constant recalled: he cares not to wait for - 60 The birth of an heir in his borough-enclosures, - Since that one through death-pain the deeds hath experienced. - He heart-grieved beholds in the house of his son the - Wine-building wasted, the wind-lodging places - Reaved of their roaring; the riders are sleeping, - 65 The knights in the grave; there's no sound of the harp-wood, - Joy in the yards, as of yore were familiar. - - [1] 'Gomelum ceorle' (2445).--H. takes these words as referring to - Hrethel; but the translator here departs from his editor by - understanding the poet to refer to a hypothetical old man, introduced - as an illustration of a father's sorrow. - - Hrethrel had certainly never seen a son of his ride on the gallows to - feed the crows. - - The passage beginning 'swá bið géomorlic' seems to be an effort to - reach a full simile, 'as ... so.' 'As it is mournful for an old man, - etc. ... so the defence of the Weders (2463) bore heart-sorrow, etc.' - The verses 2451 to 2463-1/2 would be parenthetical, the poet's feelings - being so strong as to interrupt the simile. The punctuation of the - fourth edition would be better--a comma after 'galgan' (2447). The - translation may be indicated as follows: _(Just) as it is sad for an - old man to see his son ride young on the gallows when he himself is - uttering mournful measures, a sorrowful song, while his son hangs for a - comfort to the raven, and he, old and infirm, cannot render him any - kelp--(he is constantly reminded, etc., 2451-2463)--so the defence of - the Weders, etc._ - - - - -XXXV. - -REMINISCENCES (_continued_).--BEOWULF'S LAST BATTLE. - - - "He seeks then his chamber, singeth a woe-song - One for the other; all too extensive - Seemed homesteads and plains. So the helm of the Weders - -{Hrethel grieves for Herebald.} - - Mindful of Herebald heart-sorrow carried, - 5 Stirred with emotion, nowise was able - To wreak his ruin on the ruthless destroyer: - He was unable to follow the warrior with hatred, - With deeds that were direful, though dear he not held him. -[84] Then pressed by the pang this pain occasioned him, - 10 He gave up glee, God-light elected; - He left to his sons, as the man that is rich does, - His land and fortress, when from life he departed. - -{Strife between Swedes and Geats.} - - Then was crime and hostility 'twixt Swedes and Geatmen, - O'er wide-stretching water warring was mutual, - 15 Burdensome hatred, when Hrethel had perished, - And Ongentheow's offspring were active and valiant, - Wished not to hold to peace oversea, but - Round Hreosna-beorh often accomplished - Cruelest massacre. This my kinsman avengèd, - 20 The feud and fury, as 'tis found on inquiry, - Though one of them paid it with forfeit of life-joys, - -{Hæthcyn's fall at Ravenswood.} - - With price that was hard: the struggle became then - Fatal to Hæthcyn, lord of the Geatmen. - Then I heard that at morning one brother the other - 25 With edges of irons egged on to murder, - Where Ongentheow maketh onset on Eofor: - The helmet crashed, the hoary-haired Scylfing - Sword-smitten fell, his hand then remembered - Feud-hate sufficient, refused not the death-blow. - -{I requited him for the jewels he gave me.} - - 30 The gems that he gave me, with jewel-bright sword I - 'Quited in contest, as occasion was offered: - Land he allowed me, life-joy at homestead, - Manor to live on. Little he needed - From Gepids or Danes or in Sweden to look for - 35 Trooper less true, with treasure to buy him; - 'Mong foot-soldiers ever in front I would hie me, - Alone in the vanguard, and evermore gladly - Warfare shall wage, while this weapon endureth - That late and early often did serve me - -{Beowulf refers to his having slain Dæghrefn.} - - 40 When I proved before heroes the slayer of Dæghrefn, - Knight of the Hugmen: he by no means was suffered - To the king of the Frisians to carry the jewels, - The breast-decoration; but the banner-possessor - Bowed in the battle, brave-mooded atheling. -[85] 45 No weapon was slayer, but war-grapple broke then - The surge of his spirit, his body destroying. - Now shall weapon's edge make war for the treasure, - And hand and firm-sword." Beowulf spake then, - Boast-words uttered--the latest occasion: - -{He boasts of his youthful prowess, and declares himself still fearless.} - - 50 "I braved in my youth-days battles unnumbered; - Still am I willing the struggle to look for, - Fame-deeds perform, folk-warden prudent, - If the hateful despoiler forth from his cavern - Seeketh me out!" Each of the heroes, - 55 Helm-bearers sturdy, he thereupon greeted - -{His last salutations.} - - Belovèd co-liegemen--his last salutation: - "No brand would I bear, no blade for the dragon, - Wist I a way my word-boast to 'complish[1] - Else with the monster, as with Grendel I did it; - 60 But fire in the battle hot I expect there, - Furious flame-burning: so I fixed on my body - Target and war-mail. The ward of the barrow[2] - I'll not flee from a foot-length, the foeman uncanny. - At the wall 'twill befall us as Fate decreeth, - -{Let Fate decide between us.} - - 65 Each one's Creator. I am eager in spirit, - With the wingèd war-hero to away with all boasting. - Bide on the barrow with burnies protected, - -{Wait ye here till the battle is over.} - - Earls in armor, which of _us_ two may better - Bear his disaster, when the battle is over. - 70 'Tis no matter of yours, and man cannot do it, - But me and me only, to measure his strength with - The monster of malice, might-deeds to 'complish. - I with prowess shall gain the gold, or the battle, -[86] Direful death-woe will drag off your ruler!" - 75 The mighty champion rose by his shield then, - Brave under helmet, in battle-mail went he - 'Neath steep-rising stone-cliffs, the strength he relied on - Of one man alone: no work for a coward. - Then he saw by the wall who a great many battles - 80 Had lived through, most worthy, when foot-troops collided, - -{The place of strife is described.} - - Stone-arches standing, stout-hearted champion, - Saw a brook from the barrow bubbling out thenceward: - The flood of the fountain was fuming with war-flame: - Not nigh to the hoard, for season the briefest - 85 Could he brave, without burning, the abyss that was yawning, - The drake was so fiery. The prince of the Weders - Caused then that words came from his bosom, - So fierce was his fury; the firm-hearted shouted: - His battle-clear voice came in resounding - 90 'Neath the gray-colored stone. Stirred was his hatred, - -{Beowulf calls out under the stone arches.} - - The hoard-ward distinguished the speech of a man; - Time was no longer to look out for friendship. - The breath of the monster issued forth first, - Vapory war-sweat, out of the stone-cave: - -{The terrible encounter.} - - 95 The earth re-echoed. The earl 'neath the barrow - Lifted his shield, lord of the Geatmen, - Tow'rd the terrible stranger: the ring-twisted creature's - Heart was then ready to seek for a struggle. - -{Beowulf brandishes his sword,} - - The excellent battle-king first brandished his weapon, - 100 The ancient heirloom, of edges unblunted,[3] - To the death-planners twain was terror from other. - -{and stands against his shield.} - - The lord of the troopers intrepidly stood then - 'Gainst his high-rising shield, when the dragon coiled him - -{The dragon coils himself.} - - Quickly together: in corslet he bided. -[87] 105 He went then in blazes, bended and striding, - Hasting him forward. His life and body - The targe well protected, for time-period shorter - Than wish demanded for the well-renowned leader, - Where he then for the first day was forced to be victor, - 110 Famous in battle, as Fate had not willed it. - The lord of the Geatmen uplifted his hand then, - Smiting the fire-drake with sword that was precious, - That bright on the bone the blade-edge did weaken, - Bit more feebly than his folk-leader needed, - 115 Burdened with bale-griefs. Then the barrow-protector, - -{The dragon rages} - - When the sword-blow had fallen, was fierce in his spirit, - Flinging his fires, flamings of battle - Gleamed then afar: the gold-friend of Weders - -{Beowulf's sword fails him.} - - Boasted no conquests, his battle-sword failed him - 120 Naked in conflict, as by no means it ought to, - Long-trusty weapon. 'Twas no slight undertaking - That Ecgtheow's famous offspring would leave - The drake-cavern's bottom; he must live in some region - Other than this, by the will of the dragon, - 125 As each one of earthmen existence must forfeit. - 'Twas early thereafter the excellent warriors - -{The combat is renewed.} - - Met with each other. Anew and afresh - The hoard-ward took heart (gasps heaved then his bosom): - -{The great hero is reduced to extremities.} - - Sorrow he suffered encircled with fire - 130 Who the people erst governed. His companions by no means - Were banded about him, bairns of the princes, - -{His comrades flee!} - - With valorous spirit, but they sped to the forest, - Seeking for safety. The soul-deeps of one were - -{Blood is thicker than water.} - - Ruffled by care: kin-love can never - 135 Aught in him waver who well doth consider. - -[88] - - [1] The clause 2520(2)-2522(1), rendered by 'Wist I ... monster,' Gr., - followed by S., translates substantially as follows: _If I knew how - else I might combat the boastful defiance of the monster_.--The - translation turns upon 'wiðgrípan,' a word not understood. - - [2] B. emends and translates: _I will not flee the space of a foot - from the guard of the barrow, but there shall be to us a fight at the - wall, as fate decrees, each one's Creator._ - - [3] The translation of this passage is based on 'unsláw' (2565), - accepted by H.-So., in lieu of the long-standing 'ungléaw.' The former - is taken as an adj. limiting 'sweord'; the latter as an adj. c. - 'gúð-cyning': _The good war-king, rash with edges, brandished his - sword, his old relic._ The latter gives a more rhetorical Anglo-Saxon - (poetical) sentence. - - - - -XXXVI. - -WIGLAF THE TRUSTY.--BEOWULF IS DESERTED BY FRIENDS AND BY SWORD. - - -{Wiglaf remains true--the ideal Teutonic liegeman.} - - The son of Weohstan was Wiglaf entitled, - Shield-warrior precious, prince of the Scylfings, - Ælfhere's kinsman: he saw his dear liegelord - Enduring the heat 'neath helmet and visor. - 5 Then he minded the holding that erst he had given him, - -{Wiglaf recalls Beowulf's generosity.} - - The Wægmunding warriors' wealth-blessèd homestead, - Each of the folk-rights his father had wielded; - He was hot for the battle, his hand seized the target, - The yellow-bark shield, he unsheathed his old weapon, - 10 Which was known among earthmen as the relic of Eanmund, - Ohthere's offspring, whom, exiled and friendless, - Weohstan did slay with sword-edge in battle, - And carried his kinsman the clear-shining helmet, - The ring-made burnie, the old giant-weapon - 15 That Onela gave him, his boon-fellow's armor, - Ready war-trappings: he the feud did not mention, - Though he'd fatally smitten the son of his brother. - Many a half-year held he the treasures, - The bill and the burnie, till his bairn became able, - 20 Like his father before him, fame-deeds to 'complish; - Then he gave him 'mong Geatmen a goodly array of - Weeds for his warfare; he went from life then - Old on his journey. 'Twas the earliest time then - -{This is Wiglaf's first battle as liegeman of Beowulf.} - - That the youthful champion might charge in the battle - 25 Aiding his liegelord; his spirit was dauntless. - Nor did kinsman's bequest quail at the battle: - This the dragon discovered on their coming together. - Wiglaf uttered many a right-saying, - Said to his fellows, sad was his spirit: - -{Wiglaf appeals to the pride of the cowards.} - - 30 "I remember the time when, tasting the mead-cup, - We promised in the hall the lord of us all -[89] Who gave us these ring-treasures, that this battle-equipment, - Swords and helmets, we'd certainly quite him, - Should need of such aid ever befall him: - -{How we have forfeited our liegelord's confidence!} - - 35 In the war-band he chose us for this journey spontaneously, - Stirred us to glory and gave me these jewels, - Since he held and esteemed us trust-worthy spearmen, - Hardy helm-bearers, though this hero-achievement - Our lord intended alone to accomplish, - 40 Ward of his people, for most of achievements, - Doings audacious, he did among earth-folk. - -{Our lord is in sore need of us.} - - The day is now come when the ruler of earthmen - Needeth the vigor of valiant heroes: - Let us wend us towards him, the war-prince to succor, - 45 While the heat yet rageth, horrible fire-fight. - -{I would rather die than go home with out my suzerain.} - - God wot in me, 'tis mickle the liefer - The blaze should embrace my body and eat it - With my treasure-bestower. Meseemeth not proper - To bear our battle-shields back to our country, - 50 'Less first we are able to fell and destroy the - Long-hating foeman, to defend the life of - -{Surely he does not deserve to die alone.} - - The prince of the Weders. Well do I know 'tisn't - Earned by his exploits, he only of Geatmen - Sorrow should suffer, sink in the battle: - 55 Brand and helmet to us both shall be common, - [1]Shield-cover, burnie." Through the bale-smoke he stalked then, - Went under helmet to the help of his chieftain, - -{Wiglaf reminds Beowulf of his youthful boasts.} - - Briefly discoursing: "Beowulf dear, - Perform thou all fully, as thou formerly saidst, - 60 In thy youthful years, that while yet thou livedst -[90] Thou wouldst let thine honor not ever be lessened. - Thy life thou shalt save, mighty in actions, - Atheling undaunted, with all of thy vigor; - -{The monster advances on them.} - - I'll give thee assistance." The dragon came raging, - 65 Wild-mooded stranger, when these words had been uttered - ('Twas the second occasion), seeking his enemies, - Men that were hated, with hot-gleaming fire-waves; - With blaze-billows burned the board to its edges: - The fight-armor failed then to furnish assistance - 70 To the youthful spear-hero: but the young-agèd stripling - Quickly advanced 'neath his kinsman's war-target, - Since his own had been ground in the grip of the fire. - -{Beowulf strikes at the dragon.} - - Then the warrior-king was careful of glory, - He soundly smote with sword-for-the-battle, - 75 That it stood in the head by hatred driven; - Nægling was shivered, the old and iron-made - -{His sword fails him.} - - Brand of Beowulf in battle deceived him. - 'Twas denied him that edges of irons were able - To help in the battle; the hand was too mighty - 80 [2]Which every weapon, as I heard on inquiry, - Outstruck in its stroke, when to struggle he carried - The wonderful war-sword: it waxed him no better. - -{The dragon advances on Beowulf again.} - - Then the people-despoiler--third of his onsets-- - Fierce-raging fire-drake, of feud-hate was mindful, - 85 Charged on the strong one, when chance was afforded, - Heated and war-grim, seized on his neck - With teeth that were bitter; he bloody did wax with - Soul-gore seething; sword-blood in waves boiled. - - [1] The passage '_Brand ... burnie_,' is much disputed. In the first - place, some eminent critics assume a gap of at least two - half-verses.--'Úrum' (2660), being a peculiar form, has been much - discussed. 'Byrdu-scrúd' is also a crux. B. suggests 'býwdu-scrúd' = - _splendid vestments_. Nor is 'bám' accepted by all, 'béon' being - suggested. Whatever the individual words, the passage must mean, "_I - intend to share with him my equipments of defence_." - - [2] B. would render: _Which, as I heard, excelled in stroke every - sword that he carried to the strife, even the strongest (sword)._ For - 'Þonne' he reads 'Þone,' rel. pr. - -[91] - - - - -XXXVII. - -THE FATAL STRUGGLE.--BEOWULF'S LAST MOMENTS. - - -{Wiglaf defends Beowulf.} - - Then I heard that at need of the king of the people - The upstanding earlman exhibited prowess, - Vigor and courage, as suited his nature; - [1]He his head did not guard, but the high-minded liegeman's - 5 Hand was consumed, when he succored his kinsman, - So he struck the strife-bringing strange-comer lower, - Earl-thane in armor, that _in_ went the weapon - Gleaming and plated, that 'gan then the fire[2] - -{Beowulf draws his knife,} - - Later to lessen. The liegelord himself then - 10 Retained his consciousness, brandished his war-knife, - Battle-sharp, bitter, that he bare on his armor: - -{and cuts the dragon.} - - The Weder-lord cut the worm in the middle. - They had felled the enemy (life drove out then[3] - Puissant prowess), the pair had destroyed him, - 15 Land-chiefs related: so a liegeman should prove him, - A thaneman when needed. To the prince 'twas the last of - His era of conquest by his own great achievements, - -[92] - -{Beowulf's wound swells and burns.} - - The latest of world-deeds. The wound then began - Which the earth-dwelling dragon erstwhile had wrought him - 20 To burn and to swell. He soon then discovered - That bitterest bale-woe in his bosom was raging, - Poison within. The atheling advanced then, - -{He sits down exhausted.} - - That along by the wall, he prudent of spirit - Might sit on a settle; he saw the giant-work, - 25 How arches of stone strengthened with pillars - The earth-hall eternal inward supported. - Then the long-worthy liegeman laved with his hand the - -{Wiglaf bathes his lord's head.} - - Far-famous chieftain, gory from sword-edge, - Refreshing the face of his friend-lord and ruler, - 30 Sated with battle, unbinding his helmet. - Beowulf answered, of his injury spake he, - His wound that was fatal (he was fully aware - He had lived his allotted life-days enjoying - The pleasures of earth; then past was entirely - 35 His measure of days, death very near): - -{Beowulf regrets that he has no son.} - - "My son I would give now my battle-equipments, - Had any of heirs been after me granted, - Along of my body. This people I governed - Fifty of winters: no king 'mong my neighbors - 40 Dared to encounter me with comrades-in-battle, - Try me with terror. The time to me ordered - I bided at home, mine own kept fitly, - Sought me no snares, swore me not many - -{I can rejoice in a well-spent life.} - - Oaths in injustice. Joy over all this - 45 I'm able to have, though ill with my death-wounds; - Hence the Ruler of Earthmen need not charge me - With the killing of kinsmen, when cometh my life out - Forth from my body. Fare thou with haste now - -{Bring me the hoard, Wiglaf, that my dying eyes may be refreshed by a -sight of it.} - - To behold the hoard 'neath the hoar-grayish stone, - 50 Well-lovèd Wiglaf, now the worm is a-lying, - Sore-wounded sleepeth, disseized of his treasure. - Go thou in haste that treasures of old I, - Gold-wealth may gaze on, together see lying -[93] The ether-bright jewels, be easier able, - 55 Having the heap of hoard-gems, to yield my - Life and the land-folk whom long I have governed." - - [1] B. renders: _He_ (_W_.) did not regard his (_the dragon's_) _head_ - (since Beowulf had struck it without effect), _but struck the dragon a - little lower down.--_One crux is to find out _whose head_ is meant; - another is to bring out the antithesis between 'head' and 'hand.' - - [2] 'Þæt þæt fýr' (2702), S. emends to 'þá þæt fýr' = _when the fire - began to grow less intense afterward_. This emendation relieves the - passage of a plethora of conjunctive _þæt_'s. - - [3] For 'gefyldan' (2707), S. proposes 'gefylde.' The passage would - read: _He felled the foe (life drove out strength), and they then both - had destroyed him, chieftains related_. This gives Beowulf the credit - of having felled the dragon; then they combine to annihilate him.--For - 'ellen' (2707), Kl. suggests 'e(a)llne.'--The reading '_life drove out - strength_' is very unsatisfactory and very peculiar. I would suggest - as follows: Adopt S.'s emendation, remove H.'s parenthesis, read - 'ferh-ellen wræc,' and translate: _He felled the foe, drove out his - life-strength_ (that is, made him _hors de combat_), _and then they - both, etc_. - - - - -XXXVIII. - -WIGLAF PLUNDERS THE DRAGON'S DEN.--BEOWULF'S DEATH. - - -{Wiglaf fulfils his lord's behest.} - - Then heard I that Wihstan's son very quickly, - These words being uttered, heeded his liegelord - Wounded and war-sick, went in his armor, - His well-woven ring-mail, 'neath the roof of the barrow. - 5 Then the trusty retainer treasure-gems many - -{The dragon's den.} - - Victorious saw, when the seat he came near to, - Gold-treasure sparkling spread on the bottom, - Wonder on the wall, and the worm-creature's cavern, - The ancient dawn-flier's, vessels a-standing, - 10 Cups of the ancients of cleansers bereavèd, - Robbed of their ornaments: there were helmets in numbers, - Old and rust-eaten, arm-bracelets many, - Artfully woven. Wealth can easily, - Gold on the sea-bottom, turn into vanity[1] - 15 Each one of earthmen, arm him who pleaseth! - And he saw there lying an all-golden banner - High o'er the hoard, of hand-wonders greatest, - Linkèd with lacets: a light from it sparkled, - That the floor of the cavern he was able to look on, - -{The dragon is not there.} - - 20 To examine the jewels. Sight of the dragon -[94] Not any was offered, but edge offcarried him. - -{Wiglaf bears the hoard away.} - - Then I heard that the hero the hoard-treasure plundered, - The giant-work ancient reaved in the cavern, - Bare on his bosom the beakers and platters, - 25 As himself would fain have it, and took off the standard, - The brightest of beacons;[2] the bill had erst injured - (Its edge was of iron), the old-ruler's weapon, - Him who long had watched as ward of the jewels, - Who fire-terror carried hot for the treasure, - 30 Rolling in battle, in middlemost darkness, - Till murdered he perished. The messenger hastened, - Not loth to return, hurried by jewels: - Curiosity urged him if, excellent-mooded, - Alive he should find the lord of the Weders - 35 Mortally wounded, at the place where he left him. - 'Mid the jewels he found then the famous old chieftain, - His liegelord belovèd, at his life's-end gory: - He thereupon 'gan to lave him with water, - Till the point of his word piercèd his breast-hoard. - 40 Beowulf spake (the gold-gems he noticed), - -{Beowulf is rejoiced to see the jewels.} - - The old one in sorrow: "For the jewels I look on - Thanks do I utter for all to the Ruler, - Wielder of Worship, with words of devotion, - The Lord everlasting, that He let me such treasures - 45 Gain for my people ere death overtook me. - Since I've bartered the agèd life to me granted - For treasure of jewels, attend ye henceforward - -{He desires to be held in memory by his people.} - - The wants of the war-thanes; I can wait here no longer. - The battle-famed bid ye to build them a grave-hill, - 50 Bright when I'm burned, at the brim-current's limit; - As a memory-mark to the men I have governed, -[95] Aloft it shall tower on Whale's-Ness uprising, - That earls of the ocean hereafter may call it - Beowulf's barrow, those who barks ever-dashing - 55 From a distance shall drive o'er the darkness of waters." - -{The hero's last gift} - - The bold-mooded troop-lord took from his neck then - The ring that was golden, gave to his liegeman, - The youthful war-hero, his gold-flashing helmet, - His collar and war-mail, bade him well to enjoy them: - -{and last words.} - - 60 "Thou art latest left of the line of our kindred, - Of Wægmunding people: Weird hath offcarried - All of my kinsmen to the Creator's glory, - Earls in their vigor: I shall after them fare." - 'Twas the aged liegelord's last-spoken word in - 65 His musings of spirit, ere he mounted the fire, - The battle-waves burning: from his bosom departed - His soul to seek the sainted ones' glory. - - [1] The word 'oferhígian' (2767) being vague and little understood, - two quite distinct translations of this passage have arisen. One takes - 'oferhígian' as meaning 'to exceed,' and, inserting 'hord' after - 'gehwone,' renders: _The treasure may easily, the gold in the ground, - exceed in value every hoard of man, hide it who will._ The other takes - 'oferhígian' as meaning 'to render arrogant,' and, giving the sentence - a moralizing tone, renders substantially as in the body of this work. - (Cf. 28_13 et seq.) - - [2] The passage beginning here is very much disputed. 'The bill of the - old lord' is by some regarded as Beowulf's sword; by others, as that - of the ancient possessor of the hoard. 'Ær gescód' (2778), translated - in this work as verb and adverb, is by some regarded as a compound - participial adj. = _sheathed in brass_. - - - - -XXXIX. - -THE DEAD FOES.--WIGLAF'S BITTER TAUNTS. - - -{Wiglaf is sorely grieved to see his lord look so un-warlike.} - - It had wofully chanced then the youthful retainer - To behold on earth the most ardent-belovèd - At his life-days' limit, lying there helpless. - The slayer too lay there, of life all bereavèd, - 5 Horrible earth-drake, harassed with sorrow: - -{The dragon has plundered his last hoard.} - - The round-twisted monster was permitted no longer - To govern the ring-hoards, but edges of war-swords - Mightily seized him, battle-sharp, sturdy - Leavings of hammers, that still from his wounds - 10 The flier-from-farland fell to the earth - Hard by his hoard-house, hopped he at midnight - Not e'er through the air, nor exulting in jewels - Suffered them to see him: but he sank then to earthward - Through the hero-chief's handwork. I heard sure it throve then - -[96] - -{Few warriors dared to face the monster.} - - 15 But few in the land of liegemen of valor, - Though of every achievement bold he had proved him, - To run 'gainst the breath of the venomous scather, - Or the hall of the treasure to trouble with hand-blows, - If he watching had found the ward of the hoard-hall - 20 On the barrow abiding. Beowulf's part of - The treasure of jewels was paid for with death; - Each of the twain had attained to the end of - Life so unlasting. Not long was the time till - -{The cowardly thanes come out of the thicket.} - - The tardy-at-battle returned from the thicket, - 25 The timid truce-breakers ten all together, - Who durst not before play with the lances - In the prince of the people's pressing emergency; - -{They are ashamed of their desertion.} - - But blushing with shame, with shields they betook them, - With arms and armor where the old one was lying: - 30 They gazed upon Wiglaf. He was sitting exhausted, - Foot-going fighter, not far from the shoulders - Of the lord of the people, would rouse him with water; - No whit did it help him; though he hoped for it keenly, - He was able on earth not at all in the leader - 35 Life to retain, and nowise to alter - The will of the Wielder; the World-Ruler's power[1] - Would govern the actions of each one of heroes, - -{Wiglaf is ready to excoriate them.} - - As yet He is doing. From the young one forthwith then - Could grim-worded greeting be got for him quickly - 40 Whose courage had failed him. Wiglaf discoursed then, - Weohstan his son, sad-mooded hero, - -{He begins to taunt them.} - - Looked on the hated: "He who soothness will utter - Can say that the liegelord who gave you the jewels, - The ornament-armor wherein ye are standing, - 45 When on ale-bench often he offered to hall-men - Helmet and burnie, the prince to his liegemen, - As best upon earth he was able to find him,-- - -[97] - -{Surely our lord wasted his armor on poltroons.} - - That he wildly wasted his war-gear undoubtedly - When battle o'ertook him.[2] The troop-king no need had - 50 To glory in comrades; yet God permitted him, - -{He, however, got along without you} - - Victory-Wielder, with weapon unaided - Himself to avenge, when vigor was needed. - I life-protection but little was able - To give him in battle, and I 'gan, notwithstanding, - -{With some aid, I could have saved our liegelord} - - 55 Helping my kinsman (my strength overtaxing): - He waxed the weaker when with weapon I smote on - My mortal opponent, the fire less strongly - Flamed from his bosom. Too few of protectors - Came round the king at the critical moment. - -{Gift-giving is over with your people: the ring-lord is dead.} - - 60 Now must ornament-taking and weapon-bestowing, - Home-joyance all, cease for your kindred, - Food for the people; each of your warriors - Must needs be bereavèd of rights that he holdeth - In landed possessions, when faraway nobles - 65 Shall learn of your leaving your lord so basely, - -{What is life without honor?} - - The dastardly deed. Death is more pleasant - To every earlman than infamous life is!" - - [1] For 'dædum rædan' (2859) B. suggests 'déað árædan,' and renders: - _The might (or judgment) of God would determine death for every man, - as he still does._ - - [2] Some critics, H. himself in earlier editions, put the clause, - 'When ... him' (A.-S. 'þá ... beget') with the following sentence; - that is, they make it dependent upon 'þorfte' (2875) instead of upon - 'forwurpe' (2873). - - - - -XL. - -THE MESSENGER OF DEATH. - - -{Wiglaf sends the news of Beowulf's death to liegemen near by.} - - Then he charged that the battle be announced at the hedge - Up o'er the cliff-edge, where the earl-troopers bided - The whole of the morning, mood-wretched sat them, - Bearers of battle-shields, both things expecting, - 5 The end of his lifetime and the coming again of - The liegelord belovèd. Little reserved he - Of news that was known, who the ness-cliff did travel, - But he truly discoursed to all that could hear him: - -[98] - -{The messenger speaks.} - - "Now the free-giving friend-lord of the folk of the Weders, - 10 The folk-prince of Geatmen, is fast in his death-bed, - By the deeds of the dragon in death-bed abideth; - Along with him lieth his life-taking foeman - Slain with knife-wounds: he was wholly unable - To injure at all the ill-planning monster - -{Wiglaf sits by our dead lord.} - - 15 With bite of his sword-edge. Wiglaf is sitting, - Offspring of Wihstan, up over Beowulf, - Earl o'er another whose end-day hath reached him, - Head-watch holdeth o'er heroes unliving,[1] - -{Our lord's death will lead to attacks from our old foes.} - - For friend and for foeman. The folk now expecteth - 20 A season of strife when the death of the folk-king - To Frankmen and Frisians in far-lands is published. - The war-hatred waxed warm 'gainst the Hugmen, - -{Higelac's death recalled.} - - When Higelac came with an army of vessels - Faring to Friesland, where the Frankmen in battle - 25 Humbled him and bravely with overmight 'complished - That the mail-clad warrior must sink in the battle, - Fell 'mid his folk-troop: no fret-gems presented - The atheling to earlmen; aye was denied us - Merewing's mercy. The men of the Swedelands - 30 For truce or for truth trust I but little; - But widely 'twas known that near Ravenswood Ongentheow - -{Hæthcyn's fall referred to.} - - Sundered Hæthcyn the Hrethling from life-joys, - When for pride overweening the War-Scylfings first did - Seek the Geatmen with savage intentions. - 35 Early did Ohthere's age-laden father, - Old and terrible, give blow in requital, - Killing the sea-king, the queen-mother rescued, - The old one his consort deprived of her gold, - Onela's mother and Ohthere's also, -[99] 40 And then followed the feud-nursing foemen till hardly, - Reaved of their ruler, they Ravenswood entered. - Then with vast-numbered forces he assaulted the remnant, - Weary with wounds, woe often promised - The livelong night to the sad-hearted war-troop: - 45 Said he at morning would kill them with edges of weapons, - Some on the gallows for glee to the fowls. - Aid came after to the anxious-in-spirit - At dawn of the day, after Higelac's bugle - And trumpet-sound heard they, when the good one proceeded - 50 And faring followed the flower of the troopers. - - [1] 'Hige-méðum' (2910) is glossed by H. as dat. plu. (= for the - dead). S. proposes 'hige-méðe,' nom. sing. limiting Wigláf; i.e. _W., - mood-weary, holds head-watch o'er friend and foe_.--B. suggests taking - the word as dat. inst. plu. of an abstract noun in -'u.' The - translation would be substantially the same as S.'s. - - - - -XLI. - -THE MESSENGER'S RETROSPECT. - - -{The messenger continues, and refers to the feuds of Swedes and Geats.} - - "The blood-stainèd trace of Swedes and Geatmen, - The death-rush of warmen, widely was noticed, - How the folks with each other feud did awaken. - The worthy one went then[1] with well-beloved comrades, - 5 Old and dejected to go to the fastness, - Ongentheo earl upward then turned him; - Of Higelac's battle he'd heard on inquiry, - The exultant one's prowess, despaired of resistance, - With earls of the ocean to be able to struggle, - 10 'Gainst sea-going sailors to save the hoard-treasure, - His wife and his children; he fled after thenceward - Old 'neath the earth-wall. Then was offered pursuance - To the braves of the Swedemen, the banner[2] to Higelac. -[100] They fared then forth o'er the field-of-protection, - 15 When the Hrethling heroes hedgeward had thronged them. - Then with edges of irons was Ongentheow driven, - The gray-haired to tarry, that the troop-ruler had to - Suffer the power solely of Eofor: - -{Wulf wounds Ongentheow.} - - Wulf then wildly with weapon assaulted him, - 20 Wonred his son, that for swinge of the edges - The blood from his body burst out in currents, - Forth 'neath his hair. He feared not however, - Gray-headed Scylfing, but speedily quited - -{Ongentheow gives a stout blow in return.} - - The wasting wound-stroke with worse exchange, - 25 When the king of the thane-troop thither did turn him: - The wise-mooded son of Wonred was powerless - To give a return-blow to the age-hoary man, - But his head-shielding helmet first hewed he to pieces, - That flecked with gore perforce he did totter, - 30 Fell to the earth; not fey was he yet then, - But up did he spring though an edge-wound had reached him. - -{Eofor smites Ongentheow fiercely.} - - Then Higelac's vassal, valiant and dauntless, - When his brother lay dead, made his broad-bladed weapon, - Giant-sword ancient, defence of the giants, - 35 Bound o'er the shield-wall; the folk-prince succumbed then, - -{Ongentheow is slain.} - - Shepherd of people, was pierced to the vitals. - There were many attendants who bound up his kinsman, - Carried him quickly when occasion was granted - That the place of the slain they were suffered to manage. - 40 This pending, one hero plundered the other, - His armor of iron from Ongentheow ravished, - His hard-sword hilted and helmet together; - -{Eofor takes the old king's war-gear to Higelac.} - - The old one's equipments he carried to Higelac. - He the jewels received, and rewards 'mid the troopers - 45 Graciously promised, and so did accomplish: - The king of the Weders requited the war-rush, - Hrethel's descendant, when home he repaired him, - -{Higelac rewards the brothers.} - - To Eofor and Wulf with wide-lavished treasures, - To each of them granted a hundred of thousands -[101] 50 In land and rings wrought out of wire: - -{His gifts were beyond cavil.} - - None upon mid-earth needed to twit him[3] - With the gifts he gave them, when glory they conquered; - -{To Eofor he also gives his only daughter in marriage.} - - And to Eofor then gave he his one only daughter, - The honor of home, as an earnest of favor. - 55 That's the feud and hatred--as ween I 'twill happen-- - The anger of earthmen, that earls of the Swedemen - Will visit on us, when they hear that our leader - Lifeless is lying, he who longtime protected - His hoard and kingdom 'gainst hating assailers, - 60 Who on the fall of the heroes defended of yore - The deed-mighty Scyldings,[4] did for the troopers - What best did avail them, and further moreover - -{It is time for us to pay the last marks of respect to our lord.} - - Hero-deeds 'complished. Now is haste most fitting, - That the lord of liegemen we look upon yonder, - 65 And _that_ one carry on journey to death-pyre - Who ring-presents gave us. Not aught of it all - Shall melt with the brave one--there's a mass of bright jewels, - Gold beyond measure, grewsomely purchased - And ending it all ornament-rings too - 70 Bought with his life; these fire shall devour, - Flame shall cover, no earlman shall wear - A jewel-memento, nor beautiful virgin - Have on her neck rings to adorn her, - But wretched in spirit bereavèd of gold-gems - 75 She shall oft with others be exiled and banished, - Since the leader of liegemen hath laughter forsaken, -[102] Mirth and merriment. Hence many a war-spear - Cold from the morning shall be clutched in the fingers, - Heaved in the hand, no harp-music's sound shall - 80 Waken the warriors, but the wan-coated raven - Fain over fey ones freely shall gabble, - Shall say to the eagle how he sped in the eating, - When, the wolf his companion, he plundered the slain." - So the high-minded hero was rehearsing these stories - 85 Loathsome to hear; he lied as to few of - -{The warriors go sadly to look at Beowulf's lifeless body.} - - Weirds and of words. All the war-troop arose then, - 'Neath the Eagle's Cape sadly betook them, - Weeping and woful, the wonder to look at. - They saw on the sand then soulless a-lying, - 90 His slaughter-bed holding, him who rings had given them - In days that were done; then the death-bringing moment - Was come to the good one, that the king very warlike, - Wielder of Weders, with wonder-death perished. - First they beheld there a creature more wondrous, - -{They also see the dragon.} - - 95 The worm on the field, in front of them lying, - The foeman before them: the fire-spewing dragon, - Ghostly and grisly guest in his terrors, - Was scorched in the fire; as he lay there he measured - Fifty of feet; came forth in the night-time[5] - 100 To rejoice in the air, thereafter departing - To visit his den; he in death was then fastened, - He would joy in no other earth-hollowed caverns. - There stood round about him beakers and vessels, - Dishes were lying and dear-valued weapons, - 105 With iron-rust eaten, as in earth's mighty bosom - A thousand of winters there they had rested: - -{The hoard was under a magic spell.} - - That mighty bequest then with magic was guarded, - Gold of the ancients, that earlman not any - The ring-hall could touch, save Ruling-God only, -[103] 110 Sooth-king of Vict'ries gave whom He wished to - -{God alone could give access to it.} - - [6](He is earth-folk's protector) to open the treasure, - E'en to such among mortals as seemed to Him proper. - - [1] For 'góda,' which seems a surprising epithet for a Geat to apply - to the "terrible" Ongentheow, B. suggests 'gomela.' The passage would - then stand: '_The old one went then,' etc._ - - [2] For 'segn Higeláce,' K., Th., and B. propose 'segn Higeláces,' - meaning: _Higelac's banner followed the Swedes (in pursuit)._--S. - suggests 'sæcc Higeláces,' and renders: _Higelac's pursuit._--The - H.-So. reading, as translated in our text, means that the banner of - the enemy was captured and brought to Higelac as a trophy. - - [3] The rendering given in this translation represents the king as - being generous beyond the possibility of reproach; but some - authorities construe 'him' (2996) as plu., and understand the passage - to mean that no one reproached the two brothers with having received - more reward than they were entitled to. - - [4] The name 'Scyldingas' here (3006) has caused much discussion, and - given rise to several theories, the most important of which are as - follows: (1) After the downfall of Hrothgar's family, Beowulf was king - of the Danes, or Scyldings. (2) For 'Scyldingas' read - 'Scylfingas'--that is, after killing Eadgils, the Scylfing prince, - Beowulf conquered his land, and held it in subjection. (3) M. - considers 3006 a thoughtless repetition of 2053. (Cf. H.-So.) - - [5] B. takes 'nihtes' and 'hwílum' (3045) as separate adverbial cases, - and renders: _Joy in the air had he of yore by night, etc_. He thinks - that the idea of vanished time ought to be expressed. - - [6] The parenthesis is by some emended so as to read: (1) (_He_ (i.e. - _God_) _is the hope of men_); (2) (_he is the hope of heroes_). Gr.'s - reading has no parenthesis, but says: ... _could touch, unless God - himself, true king of victories, gave to whom he would to open the - treasure, the secret place of enchanters, etc_. The last is rejected - on many grounds. - - - - -XLII. - -WIGLAF'S SAD STORY.--THE HOARD CARRIED OFF. - - - Then 'twas seen that the journey prospered him little - Who wrongly within had the ornaments hidden[1] - Down 'neath the wall. The warden erst slaughtered - Some few of the folk-troop: the feud then thereafter - 5 Was hotly avengèd. 'Tis a wonder where,[2] - When the strength-famous trooper has attained to the end of - Life-days allotted, then no longer the man may - Remain with his kinsmen where mead-cups are flowing. - So to Beowulf happened when the ward of the barrow, - 10 Assaults, he sought for: himself had no knowledge - How his leaving this life was likely to happen. - So to doomsday, famous folk-leaders down did - Call it with curses--who 'complished it there-- -[104] That that man should be ever of ill-deeds convicted, - 15 Confined in foul-places, fastened in hell-bonds, - Punished with plagues, who this place should e'er ravage.[3] - He cared not for gold: rather the Wielder's - Favor preferred he first to get sight of.[4] - -{Wiglaf addresses his comrades.} - - Wiglaf discoursed then, Wihstan his son: - 20 "Oft many an earlman on one man's account must - Sorrow endure, as to us it hath happened. - The liegelord belovèd we could little prevail on, - Kingdom's keeper, counsel to follow, - Not to go to the guardian of the gold-hoard, but let him - 25 Lie where he long was, live in his dwelling - Till the end of the world. Met we a destiny - Hard to endure: the hoard has been looked at, - Been gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that[5] - The prince of the people pricked to come thither. - 30 _I_ was therein and all of it looked at, - The building's equipments, since access was given me, - Not kindly at all entrance permitted - -{He tells them of Beowulf's last moments.} - - Within under earth-wall. Hastily seized I - And held in my hands a huge-weighing burden - 35 Of hoard-treasures costly, hither out bare them - To my liegelord belovèd: life was yet in him, - And consciousness also; the old one discoursed then - Much and mournfully, commanded to greet you, - -{Beowulf's dying request.} - - Bade that remembering the deeds of your friend-lord - 40 Ye build on the fire-hill of corpses a lofty - Burial-barrow, broad and far-famous, - As 'mid world-dwelling warriors he was widely most honored - While he reveled in riches. Let us rouse us and hasten -[105] Again to see and seek for the treasure, - 45 The wonder 'neath wall. The way I will show you, - That close ye may look at ring-gems sufficient - And gold in abundance. Let the bier with promptness - Fully be fashioned, when forth we shall come, - And lift we our lord, then, where long he shall tarry, - 50 Well-beloved warrior, 'neath the Wielder's protection." - -{Wiglaf charges them to build a funeral-pyre.} - - Then the son of Wihstan bade orders be given, - Mood-valiant man, to many of heroes, - Holders of homesteads, that they hither from far, - [6]Leaders of liegemen, should look for the good one - 55 With wood for his pyre: "The flame shall now swallow - (The wan fire shall wax[7]) the warriors' leader - Who the rain of the iron often abided, - When, sturdily hurled, the storm of the arrows - Leapt o'er linden-wall, the lance rendered service, - 60 Furnished with feathers followed the arrow." - Now the wise-mooded son of Wihstan did summon - The best of the braves from the band of the ruler - -{He takes seven thanes, and enters the den.} - - Seven together; 'neath the enemy's roof he - Went with the seven; one of the heroes - 65 Who fared at the front, a fire-blazing torch-light - Bare in his hand. No lot then decided - Who that hoard should havoc, when hero-earls saw it - Lying in the cavern uncared-for entirely, - Rusting to ruin: they rued then but little - 70 That they hastily hence hauled out the treasure, - -{They push the dragon over the wall.} - - The dear-valued jewels; the dragon eke pushed they, - The worm o'er the wall, let the wave-currents take him, -[106] The waters enwind the ward of the treasures. - -{The hoard is laid on a wain.} - - There wounden gold on a wain was uploaded, - 75 A mass unmeasured, the men-leader off then, - The hero hoary, to Whale's-Ness was carried. - - [1] For 'gehýdde,' B. suggests 'gehýðde': the passage would stand as - above except the change of 'hidden' (v. 2) to 'plundered.' The - reference, however, would be to the thief, not to the dragon. - - [2] The passage 'Wundur ... búan' (3063-3066), M. took to be a - question asking whether it was strange that a man should die when his - appointed time had come.--B. sees a corruption, and makes emendations - introducing the idea that a brave man should not die from sickness or - from old age, but should find death in the performance of some deed of - daring.--S. sees an indirect question introduced by 'hwár' and - dependent upon 'wundur': _A secret is it when the hero is to die, - etc_.--Why may the two clauses not be parallel, and the whole passage - an Old English cry of '_How wonderful is death!'?_--S.'s is the best - yet offered, if 'wundor' means 'mystery.' - - [3] For 'strude' in H.-So., S. suggests 'stride.' This would require - 'ravage' (v. 16) to be changed to 'tread.' - - [4] 'He cared ... sight of' (17, 18), S. emends so as to read as - follows: _He (Beowulf) had not before seen the favor of the avaricious - possessor._ - - [5] B. renders: _That which drew the king thither_ (i.e. _the - treasure_) _was granted us, but in such a way that it overcomes us._ - - [6] 'Folc-ágende' (3114) B. takes as dat. sing. with 'gódum,' and - refers it to Beowulf; that is, _Should bring fire-wood to the place - where the good folk-ruler lay_. - - [7] C. proposes to take 'weaxan' = L. 'vescor,' and translate - _devour_. This gives a parallel to 'fretan' above. The parenthesis - would be discarded and the passage read: _Now shall the fire consume, - the wan-flame devour, the prince of warriors, etc_. - - - - -XLIII. - -THE BURNING OF BEOWULF. - - -{Beowulf's pyre.} - - The folk of the Geatmen got him then ready - A pile on the earth strong for the burning, - Behung with helmets, hero-knights' targets, - And bright-shining burnies, as he begged they should have them; - 5 Then wailing war-heroes their world-famous chieftain, - Their liegelord beloved, laid in the middle. - -{The funeral-flame.} - - Soldiers began then to make on the barrow - The largest of dead-fires: dark o'er the vapor - The smoke-cloud ascended, the sad-roaring fire, - 10 Mingled with weeping (the wind-roar subsided) - Till the building of bone it had broken to pieces, - Hot in the heart. Heavy in spirit - They mood-sad lamented the men-leader's ruin; - And mournful measures the much-grieving widow - 15 * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - 20 * * * * * * * - -{The Weders carry out their lord's last request.} - - The men of the Weders made accordingly - A hill on the height, high and extensive, - Of sea-going sailors to be seen from a distance, - And the brave one's beacon built where the fire was, - 25 In ten-days' space, with a wall surrounded it, - As wisest of world-folk could most worthily plan it. - They placed in the barrow rings and jewels, - -[107] - -{Rings and gems are laid in the barrow.} - - All such ornaments as erst in the treasure - War-mooded men had won in possession: - 30 The earnings of earlmen to earth they entrusted, - The gold to the dust, where yet it remaineth - As useless to mortals as in foregoing eras. - 'Round the dead-mound rode then the doughty-in-battle, - Bairns of all twelve of the chiefs of the people, - -{They mourn for their lord, and sing his praises.} - - 35 More would they mourn, lament for their ruler, - Speak in measure, mention him with pleasure, - Weighed his worth, and his warlike achievements - Mightily commended, as 'tis meet one praise his - Liegelord in words and love him in spirit, - 40 When forth from his body he fares to destruction. - So lamented mourning the men of the Geats, - Fond-loving vassals, the fall of their lord, - -{An ideal king.} - - Said he was kindest of kings under heaven, - Gentlest of men, most winning of manner, - 45 Friendliest to folk-troops and fondest of honor. - -[109] - - - - -ADDENDA. - - -Several discrepancies and other oversights have been noticed in the H.-So. -glossary. Of these a good part were avoided by Harrison and Sharp, the -American editors of Beowulf, in their last edition, 1888. The rest will, I -hope, be noticed in their fourth edition. As, however, this book may fall -into the hands of some who have no copy of the American edition, it seems -best to notice all the principal oversights of the German editors. - -~From hám~ (194).--Notes and glossary conflict; the latter not having been -altered to suit the conclusions accepted in the former. - -~Þær gelýfan sceal dryhtnes dóme~ (440).--Under 'dóm' H. says 'the might -of the Lord'; while under 'gelýfan' he says 'the judgment of the Lord.' - -~Eal bencþelu~ (486).--Under 'benc-þelu' H. says _nom. plu._; while under -'eal' he says _nom. sing._ - -~Heatho-ræmas~ (519).--Under 'ætberan' H. translates 'to the Heathoremes'; -while under 'Heatho-ræmas' he says 'Heathoræmas reaches Breca in the -swimming-match with Beowulf.' Harrison and Sharp (3d edition, 1888) avoid -the discrepancy. - -~Fáh féond-scaða~ (554).--Under 'féond-scaða' H. says 'a gleaming -sea-monster'; under 'fáh' he says 'hostile.' - -~Onfeng hraðe inwit-þancum~ (749).--Under 'onfón' H. says 'he _received_ -the maliciously-disposed one'; under 'inwit-þanc' he says 'he _grasped_,' -etc. - -~Níð-wundor séon~ (1366).--Under 'níð-wundor' H. calls this word itself -_nom. sing._; under 'séon' he translates it as accus. sing., understanding -'man' as subject of 'séon.' H. and S. (3d edition) make the correction. - -~Forgeaf hilde-bille~ (1521).--H., under the second word, calls it instr. -dat.; while under 'forgifan' he makes it the dat. of indir. obj. H. and S. -(3d edition) make the change. - -~Brád~ and ~brún-ecg~ (1547).--Under 'brád' H. says 'das breite Hüftmesser -mit bronzener Klinge'; under 'brún-ecg' he says 'ihr breites Hüftmesser -mit blitzender Klinge.' - -[110] - -~Yðelíce~ (1557).--Under this word H. makes it modify 'ástód.' If this be -right, the punctuation of the fifth edition is wrong. See H. and S., -appendix. - -~Sélran gesóhte~ (1840).--Under 'sél' and 'gesécan' H. calls these two -words accus. plu.; but this is clearly an error, as both are nom. plu., -pred. nom. H. and S. correct under 'sél.' - -~Wið sylfne~ (1978).--Under 'wið' and 'gesittan' H. says 'wið = near, by'; -under 'self' he says 'opposite.' - -~þéow~ (2225) is omitted from the glossary. - -~For duguðum~ (2502).--Under 'duguð' H. translates this phrase, 'in -Tüchtigkeit'; under 'for,' by 'vor der edlen Kriegerschaar.' - -~þær~ (2574).--Under 'wealdan' H. translates _þær_ by 'wo'; under 'mótan,' -by 'da.' H. and S. suggest 'if' in both passages. - -~Wunde~ (2726).--Under 'wund' H. says 'dative,' and under 'wæl-bléate' he -says 'accus.' It is without doubt accus., parallel with 'benne.' - -~Strengum gebæded~ (3118).--Under 'strengo' H. says 'Strengum' = mit -Macht; under 'gebæded' he translates 'von den Sehnen.' H. and S. correct -this discrepancy by rejecting the second reading. - -~Bronda be láfe~ (3162).--A recent emendation. The fourth edition had -'bronda betost.' In the fifth edition the editor neglects to change the -glossary to suit the new emendation. See 'bewyrcan.' - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Beowulf - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF *** - -***** This file should be named 16328-8.txt or 16328-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/2/16328/ - -Produced by David Starner, Dainis Millers and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Beowulf - An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem, Translated From The Heyne-Socin - Text by Lesslie Hall - -Author: - -Release Date: July 19, 2005 [EBook #16328] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF *** - - - - -Produced by David Starner, Dainis Millers and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -BEOWULF -AN ANGLO-SAXON EPIC POEM - -_TRANSLATED FROM THE HEYNE-SOCIN TEXT_ - -BY - -JNO: LESSLIE HALL, Ph. D. (J.H.U.) - -Professor of English and History in The College of William and Mary - - -D.C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS -BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO - - -Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by - -JNO: LESSLIE HALL, - -in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - -TO - -My Wife - -[v] - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - - Preface vii - - Bibliography of Translations xi - - Glossary of Proper Names xiii - - List of Words and Phrases not in General Use xviii - - The Life and Death of Scyld (I.) 1 - - Scyld's Successors - } (II.) 3 - Hrothgar's Great Mead-Hall - - Grendel, the Murderer (III.) 5 - - Beowulf Goes to Hrothgar's Assistance (IV.) 8 - - The Geats Reach Heorot (V.) 10 - - Beowulf Introduces Himself at the Palace (VI.) 12 - - Hrothgar and Beowulf (VII.) 14 - - Hrothgar and Beowulf (continued) (VIII.) 17 - - Unferth Taunts Beowulf (IX.) 19 - - Beowulf Silences Unferth - } (X.) 21 - Glee is High - - All Sleep save One (XI.) 24 - - Grendel and Beowulf (XII.) 26 - - Grendel is Vanquished (XIII.) 28 - - Rejoicing of the Danes (XIV.) 30 - - Hrothgar's Gratitude (XV.) 33 - - Hrothgar Lavishes Gifts upon his Deliverer (XVI.) 35 - - Banquet (continued) - } (XVII.) 37 - The Scop's Song of Finn and Hnaef - - The Finn Episode (continued) - } (XVIII.) 39 - The Banquet Continues - - Beowulf Receives Further Honor (XIX.) 41 - - The Mother of Grendel (XX.) 44 - - Hrothgar's Account of the Monsters (XXI.) 46 - - Beowulf Seeks Grendel's Mother (XXII.) 48 - - Beowulf's Fight with Grendel's Mother (XXIII.) 51 - - Beowulf is Double-Conqueror (XXIV.) 53 - -[vi] Beowulf Brings his Trophies - } (XXV.) 57 - Hrothgar's Gratitude - - Hrothgar Moralizes - } (XXVI.) 60 - Rest after Labor - - Sorrow at Parting (XXVII.) 62 - - The Homeward Journey - } (XXVIII.) 64 - The Two Queens - - Beowulf and Higelac (XXIX.) 67 - - Beowulf Narrates his Adventures to Higelac (XXX.) 69 - - Gift-Giving is Mutual (XXXI.) 73 - - The Hoard and the Dragon (XXXII.) 75 - - Brave Though Aged - } (XXXIII.) 78 - Reminiscences - - Beowulf Seeks the Dragon - } (XXXIV.) 81 - Beowulf's Reminiscences - - Reminiscences (continued) - } (XXXV.) 83 - Beowulf's Last Battle - - Wiglaf the Trusty - } (XXXVI.) 88 - Beowulf is Deserted by Friends and by Sword - - The Fatal Struggle - } (XXXVII.) 91 - Beowulf's Last Moments - - Wiglaf Plunders the Dragon's Den - } (XXXVIII.) 93 - Beowulf's Death - - The Dead Foes - } (XXXIX.) 95 - Wiglaf's Bitter Taunts - - The Messenger of Death (XL.) 97 - - The Messenger's Retrospect (XLI.) 99 - - Wiglaf's Sad Story - } (XLII.) 103 - The Hoard Carried Off - - The Burning of Beowulf (XLIII.) 106 - - Addenda 109 - -[vii] - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern -measures, the venerable epic, Beowulf. _Approximately_, I repeat; for a -very close reproduction of Anglo-Saxon verse would, to a large extent, be -prose to a modern ear. - -The Heyne-Socin text and glossary have been closely followed. Occasionally -a deviation has been made, but always for what seemed good and sufficient -reason. The translator does not aim to be an editor. Once in a while, -however, he has added a conjecture of his own to the emendations quoted -from the criticisms of other students of the poem. - -This work is addressed to two classes of readers. From both of these alike -the translator begs sympathy and co-operation. The Anglo-Saxon scholar he -hopes to please by adhering faithfully to the original. The student of -English literature he aims to interest by giving him, in modern garb, the -most ancient epic of our race. This is a bold and venturesome undertaking; -and yet there must be some students of the Teutonic past willing to follow -even a daring guide, if they may read in modern phrases of the sorrows of -Hrothgar, of the prowess of Beowulf, and of the feelings that stirred the -hearts of our forefathers in their primeval homes. - -In order to please the larger class of readers, a regular cadence has been -used, a measure which, while retaining the essential characteristics of -the original, permits the reader to see ahead of him in reading. - -Perhaps every Anglo-Saxon scholar has his own theory as to how Beowulf -should be translated. Some have given us prose versions of what we believe -to be a great poem. Is it any reflection on our honored Kemble and Arnold -to say that their translations fail to show a layman that Beowulf is -justly called our first _epic_? Of those translators who have used verse, -several have written from what would seem a mistaken point of view. Is it -proper, for instance, that the grave and solemn speeches of Beowulf and -Hrothgar be put in ballad measures, tripping lightly and airily along? Or, -again, is it fitting that the rough martial music of Anglo-Saxon verse be -interpreted to us in the smooth measures of modern blank verse? Do we hear -what has been beautifully called "the clanging tread of a warrior in -mail"? - -[viii] - -Of all English translations of Beowulf, that of Professor Garnett alone -gives any adequate idea of the chief characteristics of this great -Teutonic epic. - -The measure used in the present translation is believed to be as near a -reproduction of the original as modern English affords. The cadences -closely resemble those used by Browning in some of his most striking -poems. The four stresses of the Anglo-Saxon verse are retained, and as -much thesis and anacrusis is allowed as is consistent with a regular -cadence. Alliteration has been used to a large extent; but it was thought -that modern ears would hardly tolerate it on every line. End-rhyme has -been used occasionally; internal rhyme, sporadically. Both have some -warrant in Anglo-Saxon poetry. (For end-rhyme, see 1_53, 1_54; for -internal rhyme, 2_21, 6_40.) - -What Gummere[1] calls the "rime-giver" has been studiously kept; _viz._, -the first accented syllable in the second half-verse always carries the -alliteration; and the last accented syllable alliterates only -sporadically. Alternate alliteration is occasionally used as in the -original. (See 7_61, 8_5.) - -No two accented syllables have been brought together, except occasionally -after a caesural pause. (See 2_19 and 12_1.) Or, scientifically speaking, -Sievers's C type has been avoided as not consonant with the plan of -translation. Several of his types, however, constantly occur; _e.g._ A and -a variant (/ x | / x) (/ x x | / x); B and a variant (x / | x / ) (x x / | -x / ); a variant of D (/ x | / x x); E (/ x x | / ). Anacrusis gives -further variety to the types used in the translation. - -The parallelisms of the original have been faithfully preserved. (_E.g._, -1_16 and 1_17: "Lord" and "Wielder of Glory"; 1_30, 1_31, 1_32; 2_12 and -2_13; 2_27 and 2_28; 3_5 and 3_6.) Occasionally, some loss has been -sustained; but, on the other hand, a gain has here and there been made. - -The effort has been made to give a decided flavor of archaism to the -translation. All words not in keeping with the spirit of the poem have -been avoided. Again, though many archaic words have been used, there are -none, it is believed, which are not found in standard modern poetry. - -[ix] - -With these preliminary remarks, it will not be amiss to give an outline of -the story of the poem. - - -_THE STORY._ - -_Hrothgar, king of the Danes, or Scyldings, builds a great mead-hall, or -palace, in which he hopes to feast his liegemen and to give them presents. -The joy of king and retainers is, however, of short duration. Grendel, the -monster, is seized with hateful jealousy. He cannot brook the sounds of -joyance that reach him down in his fen-dwelling near the hall. Oft and -anon he goes to the joyous building, bent on direful mischief. Thane after -thane is ruthlessly carried off and devoured, while no one is found strong -enough and bold enough to cope with the monster. For twelve years he -persecutes Hrothgar and his vassals._ - -_Over sea, a day's voyage off, Beowulf, of the Geats, nephew of Higelac, -king of the Geats, hears of Grendel's doings and of Hrothgar's misery. He -resolves to crush the fell monster and relieve the aged king. With -fourteen chosen companions, he sets sail for Dane-land. Reaching that -country, he soon persuades Hrothgar of his ability to help him. The hours -that elapse before night are spent in beer-drinking and conversation. When -Hrothgar's bedtime comes he leaves the hall in charge of Beowulf, telling -him that never before has he given to another the absolute wardship of his -palace. All retire to rest, Beowulf, as it were, sleeping upon his arms._ - -_Grendel comes, the great march-stepper, bearing God's anger. He seizes -and kills one of the sleeping warriors. Then he advances towards Beowulf. -A fierce and desperate hand-to-hand struggle ensues. No arms are used, -both combatants trusting to strength and hand-grip. Beowulf tears -Grendel's shoulder from its socket, and the monster retreats to his den, -howling and yelling with agony and fury. The wound is fatal._ - -_The next morning, at early dawn, warriors in numbers flock to the hall -Heorot, to hear the news. Joy is boundless. Glee runs high. Hrothgar and -his retainers are lavish of gratitude and of gifts._ - -_Grendel's mother, however, comes the next night to avenge his death. She -is furious and raging. While Beowulf is sleeping in a room somewhat apart -[x] from the quarters of the other warriors, she seizes one of Hrothgar's -favorite counsellors, and carries him off and devours him. Beowulf is -called. Determined to leave Heorot entirely purified, he arms himself, and -goes down to look for the female monster. After traveling through the -waters many hours, he meets her near the sea-bottom. She drags him to her -den. There he sees Grendel lying dead. After a desperate and almost fatal -struggle with the woman, he slays her, and swims upward in triumph, taking -with him Grendel's head._ - -_Joy is renewed at Heorot. Congratulations crowd upon the victor. Hrothgar -literally pours treasures into the lap of Beowulf; and it is agreed among -the vassals of the king that Beowulf will be their next liegelord._ - -_Beowulf leaves Dane-land. Hrothgar weeps and laments at his departure._ - -_When the hero arrives in his own land, Higelac treats him as a -distinguished guest. He is the hero of the hour._ - -_Beowulf subsequently becomes king of his own people, the Geats. After he -has been ruling for fifty years, his own neighborhood is wofully harried -by a fire-spewing dragon. Beowulf determines to kill him. In the ensuing -struggle both Beowulf and the dragon are slain. The grief of the Geats is -inexpressible. They determine, however, to leave nothing undone to honor -the memory of their lord. A great funeral-pyre is built, and his body is -burnt. Then a memorial-barrow is made, visible from a great distance, that -sailors afar may be constantly reminded of the prowess of the national -hero of Geatland._ - -_The poem closes with a glowing tribute to his bravery, his gentleness, -his goodness of heart, and his generosity._ - - * * * * * - -It is the devout desire of this translator to hasten the day when the -story of Beowulf shall be as familiar to English-speaking peoples as that -of the Iliad. Beowulf is our first great epic. It is an epitomized history -of the life of the Teutonic races. It brings vividly before us our -forefathers of pre-Alfredian eras, in their love of war, of sea, and of -adventure. - -My special thanks are due to Professors Francis A. March and James A. -Harrison, for advice, sympathy, and assistance. - - J.L. HALL. - -[xi] - - - - -ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES. - - -B. = Bugge. C. = Cosijn. Gr. = Grein. Grdvtg. = Grundtvig. H. = Heyne. H. -and S. = Harrison and Sharp. H.-So. = Heyne-Socin. K.= Kemble. Kl. = -Kluge. M.= Muellenhoff. R. = Rieger. S. = Sievers. Sw. = Sweet. t.B. = ten -Brink. Th. = Thorpe. W. = Wuelcker. - - * * * * * - - - - -BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TRANSLATIONS. - - -~Arnold, Thomas.~--Beowulf. A heroic poem of the eighth century. London, -1876. With English translation. Prose. - -~Botkine, L.~--Beowulf. Epopee Anglo-Saxonne. Havre, 1877. First French -translation. Passages occasionally omitted. - -~Conybeare, J.J.~--Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. London, 1826. Full -Latin translation, and some passages translated into English blank-verse. - -~Ettmuller, L.~--Beowulf, stabreimend uebersetzt. Zuerich, 1840. - -~Garnett, J.M.~--Beowulf: an Anglo-Saxon Poem, and the Fight at Finnsburg. -Boston, 1882. An accurate line-for-line translation, using alliteration -occasionally, and sometimes assuming a metrical cadence. - -~Grein, C.W.M.~--Dichtungen der Angelsachsen, stabreimend uebersetzt. 2 -Bde. Goettingen, 1857-59. - -~Grion, Giusto.~--Beovulf, poema epico anglo-sassone del VII. secolo, -tradotto e illustrato. Lucca, 1883. First Italian translation. - -~Grundtvig, N.F.S.~--Bjowulfs Drape. Copenhagen, 1820. - -~Heyne, M.~--A translation in iambic measures. Paderborn, 1863. - -~Kemble, J.M.~--The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the Traveller's Song, -and the Battle of Finnsburg. London, 1833. The second edition contains a -prose translation of Beowulf. - -~Leo, H.~--Ueber Beowulf. Halle, 1839. Translations of extracts. - -[xii] - -~Lumsden, H.W.~--Beowulf, translated into modern rhymes. London, 1881. -Ballad measures. Passages occasionally omitted. - -~Sandras, G.S.~--De carminibus Caedmoni adjudicatis. Paris, 1859. An -extract from Beowulf, with Latin translation. - -~Schaldmose, F.~--Beowulf og Scopes Widsith, to Angelsaxiske Digte. -Copenhagen, 1847. - -~Simrock, K.~--Beowulf. Uebersetzt und erlaeutert. Stuttgart und Augsburg, -1859. Alliterative measures. - -~Thorkelin, G.J.~--De Danorum rebus gestis secul. III. et IV. poema -Danicum dialecto Anglosaxonica. Havniae, 1815. Latin translation. - -~Thorpe, B.~--The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the Scop or Gleeman's -Tale, and the Fight at Finnsburg. Oxford, 1855. English translation in -short lines, generally containing two stresses. - -~Wackerbarth, A.D.~--Beowulf, translated into English verse. London, 1849. - -~Wickberg, R.~--Beowulf, en fornengelsk hjeltedikt, oefersatt. Westervik. -First Swedish translation. - -~von Wolzogen, H.~--Beowulf, in alliterative measures. Leipzig. - -~Zinsser, G.~--Der Kampf Beowulfs mit Grendel. Jahresbericht of the -Realschule at Forbach, 1881. - -[xiii] - - - - -GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES. - - * * * * * - -[The figures refer to the divisions of the poem in which the respective -names occur. The large figures refer to fitts, the small, to lines in the -fitts.] - - * * * * * - -~AElfhere~.--A kinsman of Wiglaf.--36_3. - -~AEschere~.--Confidential friend of King Hrothgar. Elder brother of -Yrmenlaf. Killed by Grendel.--21_3; 30_89. - -~Beanstan~.--Father of Breca.--9_26. - -~Beowulf~.--Son of Scyld, the founder of the dynasty of Scyldings. Father -of Healfdene, and grandfather of Hrothgar.--1_18; 2_1. - -~Beowulf~.--The hero of the poem. Sprung from the stock of Geats, son of -Ecgtheow. Brought up by his maternal grandfather Hrethel, and figuring in -manhood as a devoted liegeman of his uncle Higelac. A hero from his youth. -Has the strength of thirty men. Engages in a swimming-match with Breca. -Goes to the help of Hrothgar against the monster Grendel. Vanquishes -Grendel and his mother. Afterwards becomes king of the Geats. Late in life -attempts to kill a fire-spewing dragon, and is slain. Is buried with great -honors. His memorial mound.--6_26; 7_2; 7_9; 9_3; 9_8; 12_28; 12_43; 23_1, -etc. - -~Breca~.--Beowulf's opponent in the famous swimming-match.--9_8; 9_19; -9_21; 9_22. - -~Brondings~.--A people ruled by Breca.--9_23. - -~Brosinga mene~.--A famous collar once owned by the Brosings.--19_7. - -~Cain~.--Progenitor of Grendel and other monsters.--2_56; 20_11. - -~Daeghrefn~.--A warrior of the Hugs, killed by Beowulf.--35_40. - -~Danes~.--Subjects of Scyld and his descendants, and hence often called -Scyldings. Other names for them are Victory-Scyldings, Honor-Scyldings, -Armor-Danes, Bright-Danes, East-Danes, West-Danes, North-Danes, -South-Danes, Ingwins, Hrethmen.--1_1; 2_1; 3_2; 5_14; 7_1, etc. - -~Ecglaf~.--Father of Unferth, who taunts Beowulf.--9_1. - -~Ecgtheow~.--Father of Beowulf, the hero of the poem. A widely-known -Waegmunding warrior. Marries Hrethel's daughter. After slaying Heatholaf, a -Wylfing, he flees his country.--7_3; 5_6; 8_4. - -~Ecgwela~.--A king of the Danes before Scyld.--25_60. - -[xiv] - -~Elan~.--Sister of Hrothgar, and probably wife of Ongentheow, king of the -Swedes.--2_10. - -~Eagle Cape~.--A promontory in Geat-land, under which took place Beowulf's -last encounter.--41_87. - -~Eadgils~.--Son of Ohthere and brother of Eanmund.--34_2. - -~Eanmund~.--Son of Ohthere and brother of Eadgils. The reference to these -brothers is vague, and variously understood. Heyne supposes as follows: -Raising a revolt against their father, they are obliged to leave Sweden. -They go to the land of the Geats; with what intention, is not known, but -probably to conquer and plunder. The Geatish king, Heardred, is slain by -one of the brothers, probably Eanmund.--36_10; 31_54 to 31_60; 33_66 to -34_6. - -~Eofor~.--A Geatish hero who slays Ongentheow in war, and is rewarded by -Hygelac with the hand of his only daughter.--41_18; 41_48. - -~Eormenric~.--A Gothic king, from whom Hama took away the famous Brosinga -mene.--19_9. - -~Eomaer~.--Son of Offa and Thrytho, king and queen of the Angles.--28_69. - -~Finn~.--King of the North-Frisians and the Jutes. Marries Hildeburg. At -his court takes place the horrible slaughter in which the Danish general, -Hnaef, fell. Later on, Finn himself is slain by Danish warriors.--17_18; -17_30; 17_44; 18_4; 18_23. - -~Fin-land~.--The country to which Beowulf was driven by the currents in -his swimming-match.--10_22. - -~Fitela~.--Son and nephew of King Sigemund, whose praises are sung in -XIV.--14_42; 14_53. - -~Folcwalda~.--Father of Finn.--17_38. - -~Franks~.--Introduced occasionally in referring to the death of -Higelac.--19_19; 40_21; 40_24. - -~Frisians~.--A part of them are ruled by Finn. Some of them were engaged -in the struggle in which Higelac was slain.--17_20; 17_42; 17_52; 40_21. - -~Freaware~.--Daughter of King Hrothgar. Married to Ingeld, a Heathobard -prince.--29_60; 30_32. - -~Froda~.--King of the Heathobards, and father of Ingeld.--29_62. - -~Garmund~.--Father of Offa.--28_71. - -~Geats, Geatmen~.--The race to which the hero of the poem belongs. Also -called Weder-Geats, or Weders, War-Geats, Sea-Geats. They are ruled by -Hrethel, Haethcyn, Higelac, and Beowulf.--4_7; 7_4; 10_45; 11_8; 27_14; -28_8. - -~Gepids~.--Named in connection with the Danes and Swedes.--35_34. - -~Grendel~.--A monster of the race of Cain. Dwells in the fens and moors. -Is furiously envious when he hears sounds of joy in Hrothgar's palace. -Causes the king untold agony for years. Is finally conquered by Beowulf, -and dies of his wound. His hand and arm are hung up in Hrothgar's hall -Heorot. His head is cut off by Beowulf when he goes down to fight with -Grendel's mother.--2_50; 3_1; 3_13; 8_19; 11_17; 12_2; 13_27; 15_3. - -~Guthlaf~.--A Dane of Hnaef's party.--18_24. - -~Half-Danes~.--Branch of the Danes to which Hnaef belonged.--17_19. - -[xv] - -~Halga~.--Surnamed the Good. Younger brother of Hrothgar.--2_9. - -~Hama~.--Takes the Brosinga mene from Eormenric.--19_7. - -~Haereth~.--Father of Higelac's queen, Hygd.--28_39; 29_18. - -~Haethcyn~.--Son of Hrethel and brother of Higelac. Kills his brother -Herebeald accidentally. Is slain at Ravenswood, fighting against -Ongentheow.--34_43; 35_23; 40_32. - -~Helmings~.--The race to which Queen Wealhtheow belonged.--10_63. - -~Heming~.--A kinsman of Garmund, perhaps nephew.--28_54; 28_70. - -~Hengest~.--A Danish leader. Takes command on the fall of Hnaef.--17_33; -17_41. - -~Herebeald~.--Eldest son of Hrethel, the Geatish king, and brother of -Higelac. Killed by his younger brother Haethcyn.--34_43; 34_47. - -~Heremod~.--A Danish king of a dynasty before the Scylding line. Was a -source of great sorrow to his people.--14_64; 25_59. - -~Hereric~.--Referred to as uncle of Heardred, but otherwise -unknown.--31_60. - -~Hetwars~.--Another name for the Franks.--33_51. - -~Healfdene~.--Grandson of Scyld and father of Hrothgar. Ruled the Danes -long and well.--2_5; 4_1; 8_14. - -~Heardred~.--Son of Higelac and Hygd, king and queen of the Geats. -Succeeds his father, with Beowulf as regent. Is slain by the sons of -Ohthere.--31_56; 33_63; 33_75. - -~Heathobards~.--Race of Lombards, of which Froda is king. After Froda -falls in battle with the Danes, Ingeld, his son, marries Hrothgar's -daughter, Freaware, in order to heal the feud.--30_1; 30_6. - -~Heatholaf~.--A Wylfing warrior slain by Beowulf's father.--8_5. - -~Heathoremes~.--The people on whose shores Breca is cast by the waves -during his contest with Beowulf.--9_21. - -~Heorogar~.--Elder brother of Hrothgar, and surnamed 'Weoroda Raeswa,' -Prince of the Troopers.--2_9; 8_12. - -~Hereward~.--Son of the above.--31_17. - -~Heort~, ~Heorot~.--The great mead-hall which King Hrothgar builds. It is -invaded by Grendel for twelve years. Finally cleansed by Beowulf, the -Geat. It is called Heort on account of the hart-antlers which decorate -it.--2_25; 3_32; 3_52. - -~Hildeburg~.--Wife of Finn, daughter of Hoce, and related to -Hnaef,--probably his sister.--17_21; 18_34. - -~Hnaef~.--Leader of a branch of the Danes called Half-Danes. Killed in the -struggle at Finn's castle.--17_19; 17_61. - -~Hondscio~.--One of Beowulf's companions. Killed by Grendel just before -Beowulf grappled with that monster.--30_43. - -~Hoce~.--Father of Hildeburg and probably of Hnaef.--17_26. - -~Hrethel~.--King of the Geats, father of Higelac, and grandfather of -Beowulf.--7_4; 34_39. - -~Hrethla~.--Once used for Hrethel.--7_82. - -~Hrethmen~.--Another name for the Danes.--7_73. - -~Hrethric~.--Son of Hrothgar.--18_65; 27_19. - -[xvi] - -~Hreosna-beorh~.--A promontory in Geat-land, near which Ohthere's sons -made plundering raids.--35_18. - -~Hrothgar~.--The Danish king who built the hall Heort, but was long unable -to enjoy it on account of Grendel's persecutions. Marries Wealhtheow, a -Helming lady. Has two sons and a daughter. Is a typical Teutonic king, -lavish of gifts. A devoted liegelord, as his lamentations over slain -liegemen prove. Also very appreciative of kindness, as is shown by his -loving gratitude to Beowulf.--2_9; 2_12; 4_1; 8_10; 15_1; etc., etc. - -~Hrothmund~.--Son of Hrothgar.--18_65. - -~Hrothulf~.--Probably a son of Halga, younger brother of Hrothgar. -Certainly on terms of close intimacy in Hrothgar's palace.--16_26; 18_57. - -~Hrunting~.--Unferth's sword, lent to Beowulf.--22_71; 25_9. - -~Hugs~.--A race in alliance with the Franks and Frisians at the time of -Higelac's fall.--35_41. - -~Hun~.--A Frisian warrior, probably general of the Hetwars. Gives Hengest -a beautiful sword.--18_19. - -~Hunferth~.--Sometimes used for Unferth. - -~Hygelac~, ~Higelac~.--King of the Geats, uncle and liegelord of Beowulf, -the hero of the poem.--His second wife is the lovely Hygd, daughter of -Haereth. The son of their union is Heardred. Is slain in a war with the -Hugs, Franks, and Frisians combined. Beowulf is regent, and afterwards -king of the Geats.--4_6; 5_4; 28_34; 29_9; 29_21; 31_56. - -~Hygd~.--Wife of Higelac, and daughter of Haereth. There are some -indications that she married Beowulf after she became a widow.--28_37. - -~Ingeld~.--Son of the Heathobard king, Froda. Marries Hrothgar's daughter, -Freaware, in order to reconcile the two peoples.--29_62; 30_32. - -~Ingwins~.--Another name for the Danes.--16_52; 20_69. - -~Jutes~.--Name sometimes applied to Finn's people.--17_22; 17_38; 18_17. - -~Lafing~.--Name of a famous sword presented to Hengest by Hun.--18_19. - -~Merewing~.--A Frankish king, probably engaged in the war in which Higelac -was slain.--40_29. - -~Naegling~.--Beowulf's sword.--36_76. - -~Offa~.--King of the Angles, and son of Garmund. Marries the terrible -Thrytho who is so strongly contrasted with Hygd.--28_59; 28_66. - -~Ohthere~.--Son of Ongentheow, king of the Swedes. He is father of Eanmund -and Eadgils.--40_35; 40_39. - -~Onela~.--Brother of Ohthere.--36_15; 40_39. - -~Ongentheow~.--King of Sweden, of the Scylfing dynasty. Married, perhaps, -Elan, daughter of Healfdene.--35_26; 41_16. - -~Oslaf~.--A Dane of Hnaef's party.--18_24. - -~Ravenswood~.--The forest near which Haethcyn was slain.--40_31; 40_41. - -~Scefing~.--Applied (1_4) to Scyld, and meaning 'son of Scef.' - -[xvii] - -~Scyld~.--Founder of the dynasty to which Hrothgar, his father, and -grandfather belonged. He dies, and his body is put on a vessel, and set -adrift. He goes from Daneland just as he had come to it--in a bark.--1_4; -1_19; 1_27. - -~Scyldings~.--The descendants of Scyld. They are also called -Honor-Scyldings, Victory-Scyldings, War-Scyldings, etc. (See 'Danes,' -above.)--2_1; 7_1; 8_1. - -~Scylfings~.--A Swedish royal line to which Wiglaf belonged.--36_2. - -~Sigemund~.--Son of Waels, and uncle and father of Fitela. His struggle -with a dragon is related in connection with Beowulf's deeds of -prowess.--14_38; 14_47. - -~Swerting~.--Grandfather of Higelac, and father of Hrethel.--19_11. - -~Swedes~.--People of Sweden, ruled by the Scylfings.--35_13. - -~Thrytho~.--Wife of Offa, king of the Angles. Known for her fierce and -unwomanly disposition. She is introduced as a contrast to the gentle Hygd, -queen of Higelac.--28_42; 28_56. - -~Unferth~.--Son of Ecglaf, and seemingly a confidential courtier of -Hrothgar. Taunts Beowulf for having taken part in the swimming-match. -Lends Beowulf his sword when he goes to look for Grendel's mother. In the -MS. sometimes written _Hunferth_. 9_1; 18_41. - -~Waels~.--Father of Sigemund.--14_60. - -~Waegmunding~.--A name occasionally applied to Wiglaf and Beowulf, and -perhaps derived from a common ancestor, Waegmund.--36_6; 38_61. - -~Weders~.--Another name for Geats or Wedergeats. - -~Wayland~.--A fabulous smith mentioned in this poem and in other old -Teutonic literature.--7_83. - -~Wendels~.--The people of Wulfgar, Hrothgar's messenger and retainer. -(Perhaps = Vandals.)--6_30. - -~Wealhtheow~.--Wife of Hrothgar. Her queenly courtesy is well shown in the -poem.--10_55. - -~Weohstan~, or ~Wihstan~.--A Waegmunding, and father of Wiglaf.--36_1. - -~Whale's Ness~.--A prominent promontory, on which Beowulf's mound was -built.--38_52; 42_76. - -~Wiglaf~.--Son of Wihstan, and related to Beowulf. He remains faithful to -Beowulf in the fatal struggle with the fire-drake. Would rather die than -leave his lord in his dire emergency.--36_1; 36_3; 36_28. - -~Wonred~.--Father of Wulf and Eofor.--41_20; 41_26. - -~Wulf~.--Son of Wonred. Engaged in the battle between Higelac's and -Ongentheow's forces, and had a hand-to-hand fight with Ongentheow himself. -Ongentheow disables him, and is thereupon slain by Eofor.--41_19; 41_29. - -~Wulfgar~.--Lord of the Wendels, and retainer of Hrothgar.--6_18; 6_30. - -~Wylfings~.--A people to whom belonged Heatholaf, who was slain by -Ecgtheow.--8_6; 8_16. - -~Yrmenlaf~.--Younger brother of AEschere, the hero whose death grieved -Hrothgar so deeply.--21_4. - -[xviii] - - - - -LIST OF WORDS AND PHRASES NOT IN GENERAL USE. - - -ATHELING.--Prince, nobleman. - -BAIRN.--Son, child. - -BARROW.--Mound, rounded hill, funeral-mound. - -BATTLE-SARK.--Armor. - -BEAKER.--Cup, drinking-vessel. - -BEGEAR.--Prepare. - -BIGHT.--Bay, sea. - -BILL.--Sword. - -BOSS.--Ornamental projection. - -BRACTEATE.--A round ornament on a necklace. - -BRAND.--Sword. - -BURN.--Stream. - -BURNIE.--Armor. - -CARLE.--Man, hero. - -EARL.--Nobleman, any brave man. - -EKE.--Also. - -EMPRISE.--Enterprise, undertaking. - -ERST.--Formerly. - -ERST-WORTHY.--Worthy for a long time past. - -FAIN.--Glad. - -FERRY.--Bear, carry. - -FEY.--Fated, doomed. - -FLOAT.--Vessel, ship. - -FOIN.--To lunge (Shaks.). - -GLORY OF KINGS.--God. - -GREWSOME.--Cruel, fierce. - -HEFT.--Handle, hilt; used by synecdoche for 'sword.' - -HELM.--Helmet, protector. - -HENCHMAN.--Retainer, vassal. - -HIGHT.--Am (was) named. - -HOLM.--Ocean, curved surface of the sea. - -HIMSEEMED.--(It) seemed to him. - -LIEF.--Dear, valued. - -MERE.--Sea; in compounds, 'mere-ways,' 'mere-currents,' etc. - -MICKLE.--Much. - -NATHLESS.--Nevertheless. - -NAZE.--Edge (nose). - -NESS.--Edge. - -NICKER.--Sea-beast. - -QUIT, QUITE.--Requite. - -RATHE.--Quickly. - -REAVE.--Bereave, deprive. - -SAIL-ROAD.--Sea. - -SETTLE.--Seat, bench. - -SKINKER.--One who pours. - -SOOTHLY.--Truly. - -SWINGE.--Stroke, blow. - -TARGE, TARGET.--Shield. - -THROUGHLY.--Thoroughly. - -TOLD.--Counted. - -UNCANNY.--Ill-featured, grizzly. - -UNNETHE.--Difficult. - -WAR-SPEED.--Success in war. - -WEB.--Tapestry (that which is 'woven'). - -WEEDED.--Clad (cf. widow's weeds). - -WEEN.--Suppose, imagine. - -WEIRD.--Fate, Providence. - -WHILOM.--At times, formerly, often. - -WIELDER.--Ruler. Often used of God; also in compounds, as 'Wielder of -Glory,' 'Wielder of Worship.' - -WIGHT.--Creature. - -WOLD.--Plane, extended surface. - -WOT.--Knows. - -YOUNKER.--Youth. - -[1] - - - - -BEOWULF. - - - - -I. - -THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD. - - -{The famous race of Spear-Danes.} - - Lo! the Spear-Danes' glory through splendid achievements - The folk-kings' former fame we have heard of, - How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle. - -{Scyld, their mighty king, in honor of whom they are often called -Scyldings. He is the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, so prominent in the -poem.} - - Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers - 5 From many a people their mead-benches tore. - Since first he found him friendless and wretched, - The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it, - Waxed 'neath the welkin, world-honor gained, - Till all his neighbors o'er sea were compelled to - 10 Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute: - An excellent atheling! After was borne him - -{A son is born to him, who receives the name of Beowulf--a name afterwards -made so famous by the hero of the poem.} - - A son and heir, young in his dwelling, - Whom God-Father sent to solace the people. - He had marked the misery malice had caused them, - 15 [1]That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2] - Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital, - Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him. - Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory - Of Scyld's great son in the lands of the Danemen. - -[2] - -{The ideal Teutonic king lavishes gifts on his vassals.} - - 20 So the carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered - The friends of his father, with fees in abundance - Must be able to earn that when age approacheth - Eager companions aid him requitingly, - When war assaults him serve him as liegemen: - 25 By praise-worthy actions must honor be got - 'Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated - -{Scyld dies at the hour appointed by Fate.} - - Scyld then departed to the All-Father's keeping - Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him - To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades, - 30 As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings - Word-sway wielded, and the well-loved land-prince - Long did rule them.[3] The ring-stemmed vessel, - Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor, - Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing; - -{By his own request, his body is laid on a vessel and wafted seaward.} - - 35 The beloved leader laid they down there, - Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel, - The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels, - Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over, - Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever - 40 That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly - With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle, - Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled - Many a jewel that with him must travel - On the flush of the flood afar on the current. - 45 And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly, - Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him - -{He leaves Daneland on the breast of a bark.} - - Who when first he was born outward did send him - Lone on the main, the merest of infants: - And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven -[3] 50 High o'er his head, let the holm-currents bear him, - Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit, - Their mood very mournful. Men are not able - -{No one knows whither the boat drifted.} - - Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,[4] - Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied. - - [1] For the 'Þaet' of verse 15, Sievers suggests 'Þa' (= which). If - this be accepted, the sentence 'He had ... afflicted' will read: _He_ - (_i.e._ God) _had perceived the malice-caused sorrow which they, - lordless, had formerly long endured_. - - [2] For 'aldor-lease' (15) Gr. suggested 'aldor-ceare': _He perceived - their distress, that they formerly had suffered life-sorrow a long - while_. - - [3] A very difficult passage. 'Ahte' (31) has no object. H. supplies - 'geweald' from the context; and our translation is based upon this - assumption, though it is far from satisfactory. Kl. suggests - 'laendagas' for 'lange': _And the beloved land-prince enjoyed (had) his - transitory days (i.e. lived)_. B. suggests a dislocation; but this is - a dangerous doctrine, pushed rather far by that eminent scholar. - - [4] The reading of the H.-So. text has been quite closely followed; - but some eminent scholars read 'sele-raedenne' for 'sele-raedende.' If - that be adopted, the passage will read: _Men cannot tell us, indeed, - the order of Fate, etc._ 'Sele-raedende' has two things to support it: - (1) v. 1347; (2) it affords a parallel to 'men' in v. 50. - - - - -II. - -SCYLD'S SUCCESSORS.--HROTHGAR'S GREAT MEAD-HALL. - - -{Beowulf succeeds his father Scyld} - - In the boroughs then Beowulf, bairn of the Scyldings, - Beloved land-prince, for long-lasting season - Was famed mid the folk (his father departed, - The prince from his dwelling), till afterward sprang - 5 Great-minded Healfdene; the Danes in his lifetime - He graciously governed, grim-mooded, aged. - -{Healfdene's birth.} - - Four bairns of his body born in succession - Woke in the world, war-troopers' leader - Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga the good; - 10 Heard I that Elan was Ongentheow's consort, - -{He has three sons--one of them, Hrothgar--and a daughter named Elan. -Hrothgar becomes a mighty king.} - - The well-beloved bedmate of the War-Scylfing leader. - Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given, - Waxing of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen - Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood, - 15 A numerous band. It burned in his spirit - To urge his folk to found a great building, - A mead-hall grander than men of the era - -{He is eager to build a great hall in which he may feast his retainers} - - Ever had heard of, and in it to share - With young and old all of the blessings - 20 The Lord had allowed him, save life and retainers. - Then the work I find afar was assigned -[4] To many races in middle-earth's regions, - To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened - Early 'mong men, that 'twas finished entirely, - 25 The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it - -{The hall is completed, and is called Heort, or Heorot.} - - Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded 'mong earlmen. - His promise he brake not, rings he lavished, - Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up - High and horn-crested, huge between antlers: - 30 It battle-waves bided, the blasting fire-demon; - Ere long then from hottest hatred must sword-wrath - Arise for a woman's husband and father. - Then the mighty war-spirit[1] endured for a season, - -{The Monster Grendel is madly envious of the Danemen's joy.} - - Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness, - 35 That light-hearted laughter loud in the building - Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music, - Clear song of the singer. He said that was able - -{[The course of the story is interrupted by a short reference to some old -account of the creation.]} - - To tell from of old earthmen's beginnings, - That Father Almighty earth had created, - 40 The winsome wold that the water encircleth, - Set exultingly the sun's and the moon's beams - To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races, - And earth He embellished in all her regions - With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too - 45 On all the kindreds that live under heaven. - -{The glee of the warriors is overcast by a horrible dread.} - - So blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance, - The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to - Dog them with deeds of direfullest malice, - A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger[2] - 50 Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous - Who[3] dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness; - The wan-mooded being abode for a season -[5] In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator - Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder, - 55 The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father - -{Cain is referred to as a progenitor of Grendel, and of monsters in -general.} - - The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance; - In the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him - From kindred and kind, that crime to atone for, - Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures, - 60 Elves and giants, monsters of ocean, - Came into being, and the giants that longtime - Grappled with God; He gave them requital. - - [1] R. and t. B. prefer 'ellor-gaest' to 'ellen-gaest' (86): _Then the - stranger from afar endured, etc._ - - [2] Some authorities would translate '_demon_' instead of - '_stranger_.' - - [3] Some authorities arrange differently, and render: _Who dwelt in - the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness, the land of the - giant-race._ - - - - -III. - -GRENDEL THE MURDERER. - - -{Grendel attacks the sleeping heroes} - - When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit - The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it - For beds and benches when the banquet was over. - Then he found there reposing many a noble - 5 Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,[1] - Misery knew not. The monster of evil - Greedy and cruel tarried but little, - -{He drags off thirty of them, and devours them} - - Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers - Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed - 10 Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to, - With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward. - In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking, - Was Grendel's prowess revealed to the warriors: - -{A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel's horrible deed is fully realized.} - - Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted, - 15 Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler famous, - The long-worthy atheling, sat very woful, - Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen, -[6] When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer, - The spirit accursed: too crushing that sorrow, - -{The monster returns the next night.} - - 20 Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer he tarried, - But one night after continued his slaughter - Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little - From malice and murder; they mastered him fully. - He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for - 25 A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges, - A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice - Told him truly by token apparent - The hall-thane's hatred: he held himself after - Further and faster who the foeman did baffle. - 30 [2]So ruled he and strongly strove against justice - Lone against all men, till empty uptowered - -{King Hrothgar's agony and suspense last twelve years.} - - The choicest of houses. Long was the season: - Twelve-winters' time torture suffered - The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction, - 35 Endless agony; hence it after[3] became - Certainly known to the children of men - Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar - Grendel struggled:--his grudges he cherished, - Murderous malice, many a winter, - 40 Strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he - [4]Life-woe to lift from no liegeman at all of - The men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle, - No counsellor needed count for a moment -[7] On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer; - -{Grendel is unremitting in his persecutions.} - - 45 The monster of evil fiercely did harass, - The ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger, - Trapping and tricking them. He trod every night then - The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where - Witches and wizards wander and ramble. - 50 So the foe of mankind many of evils - Grievous injuries, often accomplished, - Horrible hermit; Heort he frequented, - Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen - -{God is against the monster.} - - (Since God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,[5] - 55 The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not). - 'Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings - -{The king and his council deliberate in vain.} - - Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in private - Sat the king in his council; conference held they - What the braves should determine 'gainst terrors unlooked for. - -{They invoke the aid of their gods.} - - 60 At the shrines of their idols often they promised - Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they - The devil from hell would help them to lighten - Their people's oppression. Such practice they used then, - Hope of the heathen; hell they remembered - 65 In innermost spirit, God they knew not, - -{The true God they do not know.} - - Judge of their actions, All-wielding Ruler, - No praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven, - The Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who - Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to - 70 The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for, - Wax no wiser; well for the man who, - Living his life-days, his Lord may face - And find defence in his Father's embrace! - - [1] The translation is based on 'weras,' adopted by H.-So.--K. and Th. - read 'wera' and, arranging differently, render 119(2)-120: _They knew - not sorrow, the wretchedness of man, aught of misfortune_.--For - 'unhaelo' (120) R. suggests 'unfaelo': _The uncanny creature, greedy and - cruel, etc_. - - [2] S. rearranges and translates: _So he ruled and struggled unjustly, - one against all, till the noblest of buildings stood useless (it was a - long while) twelve years' time: the friend of the Scyldings suffered - distress, every woe, great sorrows, etc_. - - [3] For 'syethethan,' B. suggests 'sarcwidum': _Hence in mournful words it - became well known, etc_. Various other words beginning with 's' have - been conjectured. - - [4] The H.-So. glossary is very inconsistent in referring to this - passage.--'Sibbe' (154), which H.-So. regards as an instr., B. takes - as accus., obj. of 'wolde.' Putting a comma after Deniga, he renders: - _He did not desire peace with any of the Danes, nor did he wish to - remove their life-woe, nor to settle for money_. - - [5] Of this difficult passage the following interpretations among - others are given: (1) Though Grendel has frequented Heorot as a demon, - he could not become ruler of the Danes, on account of his hostility to - God. (2) Hrothgar was much grieved that Grendel had not appeared - before his throne to receive presents. (3) He was not permitted to - devastate the hall, on account of the Creator; _i.e._ God wished to - make his visit fatal to him.--Ne ... wisse (169) W. renders: _Nor had - he any desire to do so_; 'his' being obj. gen. = danach. - -[8] - - - - -IV. - -BEOWULF GOES TO HROTHGAR'S ASSISTANCE. - - -{Hrothgar sees no way of escape from the persecutions of Grendel.} - - So Healfdene's kinsman constantly mused on - His long-lasting sorrow; the battle-thane clever - Was not anywise able evils to 'scape from: - Too crushing the sorrow that came to the people, - 5 Loathsome and lasting the life-grinding torture, - -{Beowulf, the Geat, hero of the poem, hears of Hrothgar's sorrow, and -resolves to go to his assistance.} - - Greatest of night-woes. So Higelac's liegeman, - Good amid Geatmen, of Grendel's achievements - Heard in his home:[1] of heroes then living - He was stoutest and strongest, sturdy and noble. - 10 He bade them prepare him a bark that was trusty; - He said he the war-king would seek o'er the ocean, - The folk-leader noble, since he needed retainers. - For the perilous project prudent companions - Chided him little, though loving him dearly; - 15 They egged the brave atheling, augured him glory. - -{With fourteen carefully chosen companions, he sets out for Dane-land.} - - The excellent knight from the folk of the Geatmen - Had liegemen selected, likest to prove them - Trustworthy warriors; with fourteen companions - The vessel he looked for; a liegeman then showed them, - 20 A sea-crafty man, the bounds of the country. - Fast the days fleeted; the float was a-water, - The craft by the cliff. Clomb to the prow then - Well-equipped warriors: the wave-currents twisted - The sea on the sand; soldiers then carried - 25 On the breast of the vessel bright-shining jewels, - Handsome war-armor; heroes outshoved then, - Warmen the wood-ship, on its wished-for adventure. - -[9] - -{The vessel sails like a bird} - - The foamy-necked floater fanned by the breeze, - Likest a bird, glided the waters, - -{In twenty four hours they reach the shores of Hrothgar's dominions} - - 30 Till twenty and four hours thereafter - The twist-stemmed vessel had traveled such distance - That the sailing-men saw the sloping embankments, - The sea cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains, - Nesses enormous: they were nearing the limits - 35 At the end of the ocean.[2] Up thence quickly - The men of the Weders clomb to the mainland, - Fastened their vessel (battle weeds rattled, - War burnies clattered), the Wielder they thanked - That the ways o'er the waters had waxen so gentle. - -{They are hailed by the Danish coast guard} - - 40 Then well from the cliff edge the guard of the Scyldings - Who the sea-cliffs should see to, saw o'er the gangway - Brave ones bearing beauteous targets, - Armor all ready, anxiously thought he, - Musing and wondering what men were approaching. - 45 High on his horse then Hrothgar's retainer - Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished - His lance in his hands, questioned with boldness. - -{His challenge} - - "Who are ye men here, mail-covered warriors - Clad in your corslets, come thus a-driving - 50 A high riding ship o'er the shoals of the waters, - [3]And hither 'neath helmets have hied o'er the ocean? -[10] I have been strand-guard, standing as warden, - Lest enemies ever anywise ravage - Danish dominions with army of war-ships. - 55 More boldly never have warriors ventured - Hither to come; of kinsmen's approval, - Word-leave of warriors, I ween that ye surely - -{He is struck by Beowulf's appearance.} - - Nothing have known. Never a greater one - Of earls o'er the earth have _I_ had a sight of - 60 Than is one of your number, a hero in armor; - No low-ranking fellow[4] adorned with his weapons, - But launching them little, unless looks are deceiving, - And striking appearance. Ere ye pass on your journey - As treacherous spies to the land of the Scyldings - 65 And farther fare, I fully must know now - What race ye belong to. Ye far-away dwellers, - Sea-faring sailors, my simple opinion - Hear ye and hearken: haste is most fitting - Plainly to tell me what place ye are come from." - - [1] 'From ham' (194) is much disputed. One rendering is: _Beowulf, - being away from home, heard of Hrothgar's troubles, etc_. Another, - that adopted by S. and endorsed in the H.-So. notes, is: _B. heard - from his neighborhood (neighbors),_ i.e. _in his home, etc_. A third - is: _B., being at home, heard this as occurring away from home_. The - H.-So. glossary and notes conflict. - - [2] 'Eoletes' (224) is marked with a (?) by H.-So.; our rendering - simply follows his conjecture.--Other conjectures as to 'eolet' are: - (1) _voyage_, (2) _toil_, _labor_, (3) _hasty journey_. - - [3] The lacuna of the MS at this point has been supplied by various - conjectures. The reading adopted by H.-So. has been rendered in the - above translation. W., like H.-So., makes 'ic' the beginning of a new - sentence, but, for 'helmas baeron,' he reads 'hringed stefnan.' This - has the advantage of giving a parallel to 'brontne ceol' instead of a - kenning for 'go.'--B puts the (?) after 'holmas', and begins a new - sentence at the middle of the line. Translate: _What warriors are ye, - clad in armor, who have thus come bringing the foaming vessel over the - water way, hither over the seas? For some time on the wall I have been - coast guard, etc_. S. endorses most of what B. says, but leaves out - 'on the wall' in the last sentence. If W.'s 'hringed stefnan' be - accepted, change line 51 above to, _A ring-stemmed vessel hither - o'ersea_. - - [4] 'Seld-guma' (249) is variously rendered: (1) _housecarle_; (2) - _home-stayer_; (3) _common man_. Dr. H. Wood suggests _a man-at-arms - in another's house_. - - - - -V. - -THE GEATS REACH HEOROT. - - -{Beowulf courteously replies.} - - The chief of the strangers rendered him answer, - War-troopers' leader, and word-treasure opened: - -{We are Geats.} - - "We are sprung from the lineage of the people of Geatland, - And Higelac's hearth-friends. To heroes unnumbered - -{My father Ecgtheow was well-known in his day.} - - 5 My father was known, a noble head-warrior - Ecgtheow titled; many a winter - He lived with the people, ere he passed on his journey, - Old from his dwelling; each of the counsellors - Widely mid world-folk well remembers him. - -{Our intentions towards King Hrothgar are of the kindest.} - - 10 We, kindly of spirit, the lord of thy people, - The son of King Healfdene, have come here to visit, -[11] Folk-troop's defender: be free in thy counsels! - To the noble one bear we a weighty commission, - The helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween, - -{Is it true that a monster is slaying Danish heroes?} - - 15 Naught of our message. Thou know'st if it happen, - As we soothly heard say, that some savage despoiler, - Some hidden pursuer, on nights that are murky - By deeds very direful 'mid the Danemen exhibits - Hatred unheard of, horrid destruction - 20 And the falling of dead. From feelings least selfish - -{I can help your king to free himself from this horrible creature.} - - I am able to render counsel to Hrothgar, - How he, wise and worthy, may worst the destroyer, - If the anguish of sorrow should ever be lessened,[1] - Comfort come to him, and care-waves grow cooler, - 25 Or ever hereafter he agony suffer - And troublous distress, while towereth upward - The handsomest of houses high on the summit." - -{The coast-guard reminds Beowulf that it is easier to say than to do.} - - Bestriding his stallion, the strand-watchman answered, - The doughty retainer: "The difference surely - 30 'Twixt words and works, the warlike shield-bearer - Who judgeth wisely well shall determine. - This band, I hear, beareth no malice - -{I am satisfied of your good intentions, and shall lead you to the -palace.} - - To the prince of the Scyldings. Pass ye then onward - With weapons and armor. I shall lead you in person; - 35 To my war-trusty vassals command I shall issue - To keep from all injury your excellent vessel, - -{Your boat shall be well cared for during your stay here.} - - Your fresh-tarred craft, 'gainst every opposer - Close by the sea-shore, till the curved-necked bark shall - Waft back again the well-beloved hero - 40 O'er the way of the water to Weder dominions. - -{He again compliments Beowulf.} - - To warrior so great 'twill be granted sure - In the storm of strife to stand secure." - Onward they fared then (the vessel lay quiet, - The broad-bosomed bark was bound by its cable, -[12] 45 Firmly at anchor); the boar-signs glistened[2] - Bright on the visors vivid with gilding, - Blaze-hardened, brilliant; the boar acted warden. - The heroes hastened, hurried the liegemen, - -{The land is perhaps rolling.} - - Descended together, till they saw the great palace, - 50 The well-fashioned wassail-hall wondrous and gleaming: - -{Heorot flashes on their view.} - - 'Mid world-folk and kindreds that was widest reputed - Of halls under heaven which the hero abode in; - Its lustre enlightened lands without number. - Then the battle-brave hero showed them the glittering - 55 Court of the bold ones, that they easily thither - Might fare on their journey; the aforementioned warrior - Turning his courser, quoth as he left them: - -{The coast-guard, having discharged his duty, bids them God-speed.} - - "'Tis time I were faring; Father Almighty - Grant you His grace, and give you to journey - 60 Safe on your mission! To the sea I will get me - 'Gainst hostile warriors as warden to stand." - - [1] 'Edwendan' (280) B. takes to be the subs. 'edwenden' (cf. 1775); - and 'bisigu' he takes as gen. sing., limiting 'edwenden': _If - reparation for sorrows is ever to come_. This is supported by t.B. - - [2] Combining the emendations of B. and t.B., we may read: _The - boar-images glistened ... brilliant, protected the life of the - war-mooded man_. They read 'ferh-wearde' (305) and 'guethmodgum men' - (306). - - - - -VI. - -BEOWULF INTRODUCES HIMSELF AT THE PALACE. - - - The highway glistened with many-hued pebble, - A by-path led the liegemen together. - [1]Firm and hand-locked the war-burnie glistened, - The ring-sword radiant rang 'mid the armor - 5 As the party was approaching the palace together - -{They set their arms and armor against the wall.} - - In warlike equipments. 'Gainst the wall of the building - Their wide-fashioned war-shields they weary did set then, -[13] Battle-shields sturdy; benchward they turned then; - Their battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes; - 10 The lances stood up then, all in a cluster, - The arms of the seamen, ashen-shafts mounted - With edges of iron: the armor-clad troopers - -{A Danish hero asks them whence and why they are come.} - - Were decked with weapons. Then a proud-mooded hero - Asked of the champions questions of lineage: - 15 "From what borders bear ye your battle-shields plated, - Gilded and gleaming, your gray-colored burnies, - Helmets with visors and heap of war-lances?-- - To Hrothgar the king I am servant and liegeman. - 'Mong folk from far-lands found I have never - -{He expresses no little admiration for the strangers.} - - 20 Men so many of mien more courageous. - I ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws, - But from greatness of soul ye sought for King Hrothgar." - -{Beowulf replies.} - - Then the strength-famous earlman answer rendered, - The proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his question, - -{We are Higelac's table-companions, and bear an important commission to -your prince.} - - 25 Hardy 'neath helmet: "Higelac's mates are we; - Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene, - The famous folk-leader, I freely will tell - To thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing - He'll grant we may greet him so gracious to all men." - 30 Wulfgar replied then (he was prince of the Wendels, - His boldness of spirit was known unto many, - His prowess and prudence): "The prince of the Scyldings, - -{Wulfgar, the thane, says that he will go and ask Hrothgar whether he will -see the strangers.} - - The friend-lord of Danemen, I will ask of thy journey, - The giver of rings, as thou urgest me do it, - 35 The folk-chief famous, and inform thee early - What answer the good one mindeth to render me." - He turned then hurriedly where Hrothgar was sitting, - [2]Old and hoary, his earlmen attending him; - The strength-famous went till he stood at the shoulder - 40 Of the lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen - The custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then - His friendly liegelord: "Folk of the Geatmen - -[14] - -{He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive the visitors courteously.} - - O'er the way of the waters are wafted hither, - Faring from far-lands: the foremost in rank - 45 The battle-champions Beowulf title. - They make this petition: with thee, O my chieftain, - To be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar, - Friendly answer refuse not to give them! - -{Hrothgar, too, is struck with Beowulf's appearance.} - - In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem - 50 Of earls to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty - Who headed the heroes hitherward coming." - - [1] Instead of the punctuation given by H.-So, S. proposed to insert a - comma after 'scir' (322), and to take 'hring-iren' as meaning - 'ring-mail' and as parallel with 'gueth-byrne.' The passage would then - read: _The firm and hand-locked war-burnie shone, bright ring-mail, - rang 'mid the armor, etc_. - - [2] Gr. and others translate 'unhar' by 'bald'; _old and bald_. - - - - -VII. - -HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF. - - -{Hrothgar remembers Beowulf as a youth, and also remembers his father.} - - Hrothgar answered, helm of the Scyldings: - "I remember this man as the merest of striplings. - His father long dead now was Ecgtheow titled, - Him Hrethel the Geatman granted at home his - 5 One only daughter; his battle-brave son - Is come but now, sought a trustworthy friend. - Seafaring sailors asserted it then, - -{Beowulf is reported to have the strength of thirty men.} - - Who valuable gift-gems of the Geatmen[1] carried - As peace-offering thither, that he thirty men's grapple - 10 Has in his hand, the hero-in-battle. - -{God hath sent him to our rescue.} - - The holy Creator usward sent him, - To West-Dane warriors, I ween, for to render - 'Gainst Grendel's grimness gracious assistance: - I shall give to the good one gift-gems for courage. - 15 Hasten to bid them hither to speed them,[2] - To see assembled this circle of kinsmen; - Tell them expressly they're welcome in sooth to - The men of the Danes." To the door of the building - -[15] - -{Wulfgar invites the strangers in.} - - Wulfgar went then, this word-message shouted: - 20 "My victorious liegelord bade me to tell you, - The East-Danes' atheling, that your origin knows he, - And o'er wave-billows wafted ye welcome are hither, - Valiant of spirit. Ye straightway may enter - Clad in corslets, cased in your helmets, - 25 To see King Hrothgar. Here let your battle-boards, - Wood-spears and war-shafts, await your conferring." - The mighty one rose then, with many a liegeman, - An excellent thane-group; some there did await them, - And as bid of the brave one the battle-gear guarded. - 30 Together they hied them, while the hero did guide them, - 'Neath Heorot's roof; the high-minded went then - Sturdy 'neath helmet till he stood in the building. - Beowulf spake (his burnie did glisten, - His armor seamed over by the art of the craftsman): - -{Beowulf salutes Hrothgar, and then proceeds to boast of his youthful -achievements.} - - 35 "Hail thou, Hrothgar! I am Higelac's kinsman - And vassal forsooth; many a wonder - I dared as a stripling. The doings of Grendel, - In far-off fatherland I fully did know of: - Sea-farers tell us, this hall-building standeth, - 40 Excellent edifice, empty and useless - To all the earlmen after evenlight's glimmer - 'Neath heaven's bright hues hath hidden its glory. - This my earls then urged me, the most excellent of them, - Carles very clever, to come and assist thee, - 45 Folk-leader Hrothgar; fully they knew of - -{His fight with the nickers.} - - The strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me - When I came from the contest, when covered with gore - Foes I escaped from, where five[3] I had bound, -[16] The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying - 50 The nickers by night, bore numberless sorrows, - The Weders avenged (woes had they suffered) - Enemies ravaged; alone now with Grendel - -{He intends to fight Grendel unaided.} - - I shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil, - The giant, decide it. Thee I would therefore - 55 Beg of thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain, - Lord of the Scyldings, this single petition: - Not to refuse me, defender of warriors, - Friend-lord of folks, so far have I sought thee, - That _I_ may unaided, my earlmen assisting me, - 60 This brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot. - I have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature - -{Since the monster uses no weapons,} - - From veriest rashness recks not for weapons; - I this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious, - My liegelord beloved, lenient of spirit, - 65 To bear a blade or a broad-fashioned target, - A shield to the onset; only with hand-grip - -{I, too, shall disdain to use any.} - - The foe I must grapple, fight for my life then, - Foeman with foeman; he fain must rely on - The doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold of. - -{Should he crush me, he will eat my companions as he has eaten thy -thanes.} - - 70 I ween he will wish, if he win in the struggle, - To eat in the war-hall earls of the Geat-folk, - Boldly to swallow[4] them, as of yore he did often - The best of the Hrethmen! Thou needest not trouble - A head-watch to give me;[5] he will have me dripping - -[17] - -{In case of my defeat, thou wilt not have the trouble of burying me.} - - 75 And dreary with gore, if death overtake me,[6] - Will bear me off bleeding, biting and mouthing me, - The hermit will eat me, heedless of pity, - Marking the moor-fens; no more wilt thou need then - -{Should I fall, send my armor to my lord, King Higelac.} - - Find me my food.[7] If I fall in the battle, - 80 Send to Higelac the armor that serveth - To shield my bosom, the best of equipments, - Richest of ring-mails; 'tis the relic of Hrethla, - -{Weird is supreme} - - The work of Wayland. Goes Weird as she must go!" - - [1] Some render 'gif-sceattas' by 'tribute.'--'Geata' B. and Th. - emended to 'Geatum.' If this be accepted, change '_of_ the Geatmen' to - '_to_ the Geatmen.' - - [2] If t.B.'s emendation of vv. 386, 387 be accepted, the two lines, - 'Hasten ... kinsmen' will read: _Hasten thou, bid the throng of - kinsmen go into the hall together_. - - [3] For 420 (_b_) and 421 (_a_), B. suggests: Þaer ic (on) fifelgeban - yethde eotena cyn = _where I in the ocean destroyed the - eoten-race_.--t.B. accepts B.'s "brilliant" 'fifelgeban,' omits 'on,' - emends 'cyn' to 'ham,' arranging: Þaer ic fifelgeban yethde, eotena ham = - _where I desolated the ocean, the home of the eotens_.--This would be - better but for changing 'cyn' to 'ham.'--I suggest: Þaer ic fifelgeband - (cf. nhd. Bande) yethde, eotena cyn = _where I conquered the monster - band, the race of the eotens_. This makes no change except to read - '_fifel_' for '_fife_.' - - [4] 'Unforhte' (444) is much disputed.--H.-So. wavers between adj. and - adv. Gr. and B. take it as an adv. modifying _etan: Will eat the Geats - fearlessly_.--Kl. considers this reading absurd, and proposes - 'anforhte' = timid.--Understanding 'unforhte' as an adj. has this - advantage, viz. that it gives a parallel to 'Geatena leode': but to - take it as an adv. is more natural. Furthermore, to call the Geats - 'brave' might, at this point, seem like an implied thrust at the - Danes, so long helpless; while to call his own men 'timid' would be - befouling his own nest. - - [5] For 'head-watch,' cf. H.-So. notes and cf. v. 2910.--Th. - translates: _Thou wilt not need my head to hide_ (i.e., thou wilt have - no occasion to bury me, as Grendel will devour me whole).--Simrock - imagines a kind of dead-watch.--Dr. H. Wood suggests: _Thou wilt not - have to bury so much as my head_ (for Grendel will be a thorough - undertaker),--grim humor. - - [6] S. proposes a colon after 'nimeeth' (l. 447). This would make no - essential change in the translation. - - [7] Owing to the vagueness of 'feorme' (451), this passage is - variously translated. In our translation, H.-So.'s glossary has been - quite closely followed. This agrees substantially with B.'s - translation (P. and B. XII. 87). R. translates: _Thou needst not take - care longer as to the consumption of my dead body._ 'Lic' is also a - crux here, as it may mean living body or dead body. - - - - -VIII. - -HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.--_Continued_. - - -{Hrothgar responds.} - - Hrothgar discoursed, helm of the Scyldings: - "To defend our folk and to furnish assistance,[1] - Thou soughtest us hither, good friend Beowulf. - -{Reminiscences of Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow.} - - The fiercest of feuds thy father engaged in, - 5 Heatholaf killed he in hand-to-hand conflict - 'Mid Wilfingish warriors; then the Wederish people - For fear of a feud were forced to disown him. - Thence flying he fled to the folk of the South-Danes, -[18] The race of the Scyldings, o'er the roll of the waters; - 10 I had lately begun then to govern the Danemen, - The hoard-seat of heroes held in my youth, - Rich in its jewels: dead was Heregar, - My kinsman and elder had earth-joys forsaken, - Healfdene his bairn. He was better than I am! - 15 That feud thereafter for a fee I compounded; - O'er the weltering waters to the Wilfings I sent - Ornaments old; oaths did he swear me. - -{Hrothgar recounts to Beowulf the horrors of Grendel's persecutions.} - - It pains me in spirit to any to tell it, - What grief in Heorot Grendel hath caused me, - 20 What horror unlooked-for, by hatred unceasing. - Waned is my war-band, wasted my hall-troop; - Weird hath offcast them to the clutches of Grendel. - God can easily hinder the scather - From deeds so direful. Oft drunken with beer - -{My thanes have made many boasts, but have not executed them.} - - 25 O'er the ale-vessel promised warriors in armor - They would willingly wait on the wassailing-benches - A grapple with Grendel, with grimmest of edges. - Then this mead-hall at morning with murder was reeking, - The building was bloody at breaking of daylight, - 30 The bench-deals all flooded, dripping and bloodied, - The folk-hall was gory: I had fewer retainers, - Dear-beloved warriors, whom death had laid hold of. - -{Sit down to the feast, and give us comfort.} - - Sit at the feast now, thy intents unto heroes,[2] - Thy victor-fame show, as thy spirit doth urge thee!" - -{A bench is made ready for Beowulf and his party.} - - 35 For the men of the Geats then together assembled, - In the beer-hall blithesome a bench was made ready; - There warlike in spirit they went to be seated, - Proud and exultant. A liegeman did service, -[19] Who a beaker embellished bore with decorum, - -{The gleeman sings} - - 40 And gleaming-drink poured. The gleeman sang whilom - -{The heroes all rejoice together.} - - Hearty in Heorot; there was heroes' rejoicing, - A numerous war-band of Weders and Danemen. - - [1] B. and S. reject the reading given in H.-So., and suggested by - Grtvg. B. suggests for 457-458: - - waere-ryhtum Þu, wine min Beowulf, - and for ar-stafum usic sohtest. - - This means: _From the obligations of clientage, my friend Beowulf, and - for assistance thou hast sought us_.--This gives coherence to - Hrothgar's opening remarks in VIII., and also introduces a new motive - for Beowulf's coming to Hrothgar's aid. - - [2] _Sit now at the feast, and disclose thy purposes to the victorious - heroes, as thy spirit urges_.--Kl. reaches the above translation by - erasing the comma after 'meoto' and reading 'sige-hreethsecgum.'--There - are other and bolder emendations and suggestions. Of these the boldest - is to regard 'meoto' as a verb (imperative), and read 'on sael': _Think - upon gayety, etc_.--All the renderings are unsatisfactory, the one - given in our translation involving a zeugma. - - - - -IX. - -UNFERTH TAUNTS BEOWULF. - - -{Unferth, a thane of Hrothgar, is jealous of Beowulf, and undertakes to -twit him.} - - Unferth spoke up, Ecglaf his son, - Who sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings, - Opened the jousting (the journey[1] of Beowulf, - Sea-farer doughty, gave sorrow to Unferth - 5 And greatest chagrin, too, for granted he never - That any man else on earth should attain to, - Gain under heaven, more glory than he): - -{Did you take part in a swimming-match with Breca?} - - "Art thou that Beowulf with Breca did struggle, - On the wide sea-currents at swimming contended, - 10 Where to humor your pride the ocean ye tried, - -{'Twas mere folly that actuated you both to risk your lives on the ocean.} - - From vainest vaunting adventured your bodies - In care of the waters? And no one was able - Nor lief nor loth one, in the least to dissuade you - Your difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming, - 15 Where your arms outstretching the streams ye did cover, - The mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them, - Glided the ocean; angry the waves were, - With the weltering of winter. In the water's possession, - Ye toiled for a seven-night; he at swimming outdid thee, - 20 In strength excelled thee. Then early at morning - On the Heathoremes' shore the holm-currents tossed him, - Sought he thenceward the home of his fathers, - Beloved of his liegemen, the land of the Brondings, - The peace-castle pleasant, where a people he wielded, -[20] 25 Had borough and jewels. The pledge that he made thee - -{Breca outdid you entirely.} - - The son of Beanstan hath soothly accomplished. - Then I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue, - -{Much more will Grendel outdo you, if you vie with him in prowess.} - - Though ever triumphant in onset of battle, - A grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest - 30 For the space of a night near-by to wait for!" - -{Beowulf retaliates.} - - Beowulf answered, offspring of Ecgtheow: - "My good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly, - -{O friend Unferth, you are fuddled with beer, and cannot talk coherently.} - - Thou fuddled with beer of Breca hast spoken, - Hast told of his journey! A fact I allege it, - 35 That greater strength in the waters I had then, - Ills in the ocean, than any man else had. - We made agreement as the merest of striplings - Promised each other (both of us then were - -{We simply kept an engagement made in early life.} - - Younkers in years) that we yet would adventure - 40 Out on the ocean; it all we accomplished. - While swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade unscabbarded - Boldly we brandished, our bodies expected - To shield from the sharks. He sure was unable - -{He _could_ not excel me, and I _would_ not excel him.} - - To swim on the waters further than I could, - 45 More swift on the waves, nor _would_ I from him go. - Then we two companions stayed in the ocean - -{After five days the currents separated us.} - - Five nights together, till the currents did part us, - The weltering waters, weathers the bleakest, - And nethermost night, and the north-wind whistled - 50 Fierce in our faces; fell were the billows. - The mere fishes' mood was mightily ruffled: - And there against foemen my firm-knotted corslet, - Hand-jointed, hardy, help did afford me; - My battle-sark braided, brilliantly gilded, - -{A horrible sea-beast attacked me, but I slew him.} - - 55 Lay on my bosom. To the bottom then dragged me, - A hateful fiend-scather, seized me and held me, - Grim in his grapple: 'twas granted me, nathless, - To pierce the monster with the point of my weapon, - My obedient blade; battle offcarried - 60 The mighty mere-creature by means of my hand-blow. - - [1] It has been plausibly suggested that 'sieth' (in 501 and in 353) - means 'arrival.' If so, translate the bracket: _(the arrival of - Beowulf, the brave seafarer, was a source of great chagrin to Unferth, - etc.)_. - -[21] - - - - -X. - -BEOWULF SILENCES UNFERTH.--GLEE IS HIGH. - - - "So ill-meaning enemies often did cause me - Sorrow the sorest. I served them, in quittance, - -{My dear sword always served me faithfully.} - - With my dear-loved sword, as in sooth it was fitting; - They missed the pleasure of feasting abundantly, - 5 Ill-doers evil, of eating my body, - Of surrounding the banquet deep in the ocean; - But wounded with edges early at morning - They were stretched a-high on the strand of the ocean, - -{I put a stop to the outrages of the sea-monsters.} - - Put to sleep with the sword, that sea-going travelers - 10 No longer thereafter were hindered from sailing - The foam-dashing currents. Came a light from the east, - God's beautiful beacon; the billows subsided, - That well I could see the nesses projecting, - -{Fortune helps the brave earl.} - - The blustering crags. Weird often saveth - 15 The undoomed hero if doughty his valor! - But me did it fortune[1] to fell with my weapon - Nine of the nickers. Of night-struggle harder - 'Neath dome of the heaven heard I but rarely, - Nor of wight more woful in the waves of the ocean; - 20 Yet I 'scaped with my life the grip of the monsters, - -{After that escape I drifted to Finland.} - - Weary from travel. Then the waters bare me - To the land of the Finns, the flood with the current, - -{I have never heard of your doing any such bold deeds.} - - The weltering waves. Not a word hath been told me - Of deeds so daring done by thee, Unferth, - 25 And of sword-terror none; never hath Breca - At the play of the battle, nor either of you two, - Feat so fearless performed with weapons - Glinting and gleaming . . . . . . . . . . . . -[22] . . . . . . . . . . . . I utter no boasting; - -{You are a slayer of brothers, and will suffer damnation, wise as you may -be.} - - 30 Though with cold-blooded cruelty thou killedst thy brothers, - Thy nearest of kin; thou needs must in hell get - Direful damnation, though doughty thy wisdom. - I tell thee in earnest, offspring of Ecglaf, - Never had Grendel such numberless horrors, - 35 The direful demon, done to thy liegelord, - Harrying in Heorot, if thy heart were as sturdy, - -{Had your acts been as brave as your words, Grendel had not ravaged your -land so long.} - - Thy mood as ferocious as thou dost describe them. - He hath found out fully that the fierce-burning hatred, - The edge-battle eager, of all of your kindred, - 40 Of the Victory-Scyldings, need little dismay him: - Oaths he exacteth, not any he spares - -{The monster is not afraid of the Danes,} - - Of the folk of the Danemen, but fighteth with pleasure, - Killeth and feasteth, no contest expecteth - -{but he will soon learn to dread the Geats.} - - From Spear-Danish people. But the prowess and valor - 45 Of the earls of the Geatmen early shall venture - To give him a grapple. He shall go who is able - Bravely to banquet, when the bright-light of morning - -{On the second day, any warrior may go unmolested to the mead-banquet.} - - Which the second day bringeth, the sun in its ether-robes, - O'er children of men shines from the southward!" - 50 Then the gray-haired, war-famed giver of treasure - -{Hrothgar's spirits are revived.} - - Was blithesome and joyous, the Bright-Danish ruler - Expected assistance; the people's protector - -{The old king trusts Beowulf. The heroes are joyful.} - - Heard from Beowulf his bold resolution. - There was laughter of heroes; loud was the clatter, - 55 The words were winsome. Wealhtheow advanced then, - -{Queen Wealhtheow plays the hostess.} - - Consort of Hrothgar, of courtesy mindful, - Gold-decked saluted the men in the building, - And the freeborn woman the beaker presented - -{She offers the cup to her husband first.} - - To the lord of the kingdom, first of the East-Danes, - 60 Bade him be blithesome when beer was a-flowing, - Lief to his liegemen; he lustily tasted - Of banquet and beaker, battle-famed ruler. - The Helmingish lady then graciously circled - 'Mid all the liegemen lesser and greater: - -[23] - -{She gives presents to the heroes.} - - 65 Treasure-cups tendered, till time was afforded - That the decorous-mooded, diademed folk-queen - -{Then she offers the cup to Beowulf, thanking God that aid has come.} - - Might bear to Beowulf the bumper o'errunning; - She greeted the Geat-prince, God she did thank, - Most wise in her words, that her wish was accomplished, - 70 That in any of earlmen she ever should look for - Solace in sorrow. He accepted the beaker, - Battle-bold warrior, at Wealhtheow's giving, - -{Beowulf states to the queen the object of his visit.} - - Then equipped for combat quoth he in measures, - Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow: - 75 "I purposed in spirit when I mounted the ocean, - -{I determined to do or die.} - - When I boarded my boat with a band of my liegemen, - I would work to the fullest the will of your people - Or in foe's-clutches fastened fall in the battle. - Deeds I shall do of daring and prowess, - 80 Or the last of my life-days live in this mead-hall." - These words to the lady were welcome and pleasing, - The boast of the Geatman; with gold trappings broidered - Went the freeborn folk-queen her fond-lord to sit by. - -{Glee is high.} - - Then again as of yore was heard in the building - 85 Courtly discussion, conquerors' shouting, - Heroes were happy, till Healfdene's son would - Go to his slumber to seek for refreshing; - For the horrid hell-monster in the hall-building knew he - A fight was determined,[2] since the light of the sun they - 90 No longer could see, and lowering darkness - O'er all had descended, and dark under heaven - Shadowy shapes came shying around them. - -{Hrothgar retires, leaving Beowulf in charge of the hall.} - - The liegemen all rose then. One saluted the other, - Hrothgar Beowulf, in rhythmical measures, - 95 Wishing him well, and, the wassail-hall giving - To his care and keeping, quoth he departing: -[24] "Not to any one else have I ever entrusted, - But thee and thee only, the hall of the Danemen, - Since high I could heave my hand and my buckler. - 100 Take thou in charge now the noblest of houses; - Be mindful of honor, exhibiting prowess, - Watch 'gainst the foeman! Thou shalt want no enjoyments, - Survive thou safely adventure so glorious!" - - [1] The repetition of 'hwaeethere' (574 and 578) is regarded by some - scholars as a defect. B. suggests 'swa Þaer' for the first: _So there - it befell me, etc._ Another suggestion is to change the second - 'hwaeethere' into 'swa Þaer': _So there I escaped with my life, etc._ - - [2] Kl. suggests a period after 'determined.' This would give the - passage as follows: _Since they no longer could see the light of the - sun, and lowering darkness was down over all, dire under the heavens - shadowy beings came going around them_. - - - - -XI. - -ALL SLEEP SAVE ONE. - - -{Hrothgar retires.} - - Then Hrothgar departed, his earl-throng attending him, - Folk-lord of Scyldings, forth from the building; - The war-chieftain wished then Wealhtheow to look for, - The queen for a bedmate. To keep away Grendel - -{God has provided a watch for the hall.} - - 5 The Glory of Kings had given a hall-watch, - As men heard recounted: for the king of the Danemen - He did special service, gave the giant a watcher: - And the prince of the Geatmen implicitly trusted - -{Beowulf is self-confident} - - His warlike strength and the Wielder's protection. - -{He prepares for rest.} - - 10 His armor of iron off him he did then, - His helmet from his head, to his henchman committed - His chased-handled chain-sword, choicest of weapons, - And bade him bide with his battle-equipments. - The good one then uttered words of defiance, - 15 Beowulf Geatman, ere his bed he upmounted: - -{Beowulf boasts of his ability to cope with Grendel.} - - "I hold me no meaner in matters of prowess, - In warlike achievements, than Grendel does himself; - Hence I seek not with sword-edge to sooth him to slumber, - Of life to bereave him, though well I am able. - -{We will fight with nature's weapons only.} - - 20 No battle-skill[1] has he, that blows he should strike me, - To shatter my shield, though sure he is mighty -[25] In strife and destruction; but struggling by night we - Shall do without edges, dare he to look for - Weaponless warfare, and wise-mooded Father - 25 The glory apportion, God ever-holy, - -{God may decide who shall conquer} - - On which hand soever to him seemeth proper." - Then the brave-mooded hero bent to his slumber, - The pillow received the cheek of the noble; - -{The Geatish warriors lie down.} - - And many a martial mere-thane attending - 30 Sank to his slumber. Seemed it unlikely - -{They thought it very unlikely that they should ever see their homes -again.} - - That ever thereafter any should hope to - Be happy at home, hero-friends visit - Or the lordly troop-castle where he lived from his childhood; - They had heard how slaughter had snatched from the wine-hall, - 35 Had recently ravished, of the race of the Scyldings - -{But God raised up a deliverer.} - - Too many by far. But the Lord to them granted - The weaving of war-speed, to Wederish heroes - Aid and comfort, that every opponent - By one man's war-might they worsted and vanquished, - -{God rules the world.} - - 40 By the might of himself; the truth is established - That God Almighty hath governed for ages - Kindreds and nations. A night very lurid - -{Grendel comes to Heorot.} - - The trav'ler-at-twilight came tramping and striding. - The warriors were sleeping who should watch the horned-building, - -{Only one warrior is awake.} - - 45 One only excepted. 'Mid earthmen 'twas 'stablished, - Th' implacable foeman was powerless to hurl them - To the land of shadows, if the Lord were unwilling; - But serving as warder, in terror to foemen, - He angrily bided the issue of battle.[2] - - [1] Gr. understood 'godra' as meaning 'advantages in battle.' This - rendering H.-So. rejects. The latter takes the passage as meaning that - Grendel, though mighty and formidable, has no skill in the art of war. - - [2] B. in his masterly articles on Beowulf (P. and B. XII.) rejects - the division usually made at this point, 'Þa.' (711), usually rendered - 'then,' he translates 'when,' and connects its clause with the - foregoing sentence. These changes he makes to reduce the number of - 'com's' as principal verbs. (Cf. 703, 711, 721.) With all deference to - this acute scholar, I must say that it seems to me that the poet is - exhausting his resources to bring out clearly the supreme event on - which the whole subsequent action turns. First, he (Grendel) came _in - the wan night_; second, he came _from the moor_; third, he came _to - the hall_. Time, place from which, place to which, are all given. - -[26] - - - - -XII. - -GRENDEL AND BEOWULF. - - -{Grendel comes from the fens.} - - 'Neath the cloudy cliffs came from the moor then - Grendel going, God's anger bare he. - The monster intended some one of earthmen - In the hall-building grand to entrap and make way with: - -{He goes towards the joyous building.} - - 5 He went under welkin where well he knew of - The wine-joyous building, brilliant with plating, - Gold-hall of earthmen. Not the earliest occasion - -{This was not his first visit there.} - - He the home and manor of Hrothgar had sought: - Ne'er found he in life-days later nor earlier - 10 Hardier hero, hall-thanes[1] more sturdy! - Then came to the building the warrior marching, - -{His horrid fingers tear the door open.} - - Bereft of his joyance. The door quickly opened - On fire-hinges fastened, when his fingers had touched it; - The fell one had flung then--his fury so bitter-- - 15 Open the entrance. Early thereafter - The foeman trod the shining hall-pavement, - -{He strides furiously into the hall.} - - Strode he angrily; from the eyes of him glimmered - A lustre unlovely likest to fire. - He beheld in the hall the heroes in numbers, - 20 A circle of kinsmen sleeping together, - -{He exults over his supposed prey.} - - A throng of thanemen: then his thoughts were exultant, - He minded to sunder from each of the thanemen - The life from his body, horrible demon, - Ere morning came, since fate had allowed him - -{Fate has decreed that he shall devour no more heroes. Beowulf suffers -from suspense.} - - 25 The prospect of plenty. Providence willed not - To permit him any more of men under heaven - To eat in the night-time. Higelac's kinsman - Great sorrow endured how the dire-mooded creature -[27] In unlooked-for assaults were likely to bear him. - 30 No thought had the monster of deferring the matter, - -{Grendel immediately seizes a sleeping warrior, and devours him.} - - But on earliest occasion he quickly laid hold of - A soldier asleep, suddenly tore him, - Bit his bone-prison, the blood drank in currents, - Swallowed in mouthfuls: he soon had the dead man's - 35 Feet and hands, too, eaten entirely. - Nearer he strode then, the stout-hearted warrior - -{Beowulf and Grendel grapple.} - - Snatched as he slumbered, seizing with hand-grip, - Forward the foeman foined with his hand; - Caught he quickly the cunning deviser, - 40 On his elbow he rested. This early discovered - The master of malice, that in middle-earth's regions, - 'Neath the whole of the heavens, no hand-grapple greater - -{The monster is amazed at Beowulf's strength.} - - In any man else had he ever encountered: - Fearful in spirit, faint-mooded waxed he, - 45 Not off could betake him; death he was pondering, - -{He is anxious to flee.} - - Would fly to his covert, seek the devils' assembly: - His calling no more was the same he had followed - Long in his lifetime. The liege-kinsman worthy - -{Beowulf recalls his boast of the evening, and determines to fulfil it.} - - Of Higelac minded his speech of the evening, - 50 Stood he up straight and stoutly did seize him. - His fingers crackled; the giant was outward, - The earl stepped farther. The famous one minded - To flee away farther, if he found an occasion, - And off and away, avoiding delay, - 55 To fly to the fen-moors; he fully was ware of - The strength of his grapple in the grip of the foeman. - -{'Twas a luckless day for Grendel.} - - 'Twas an ill-taken journey that the injury-bringing, - Harrying harmer to Heorot wandered: - -{The hall groans.} - - The palace re-echoed; to all of the Danemen, - 60 Dwellers in castles, to each of the bold ones, - Earlmen, was terror. Angry they both were, - Archwarders raging.[2] Rattled the building; -[28] 'Twas a marvellous wonder that the wine-hall withstood then - The bold-in-battle, bent not to earthward, - 65 Excellent earth-hall; but within and without it - Was fastened so firmly in fetters of iron, - By the art of the armorer. Off from the sill there - Bent mead-benches many, as men have informed me, - Adorned with gold-work, where the grim ones did struggle. - 70 The Scylding wise men weened ne'er before - That by might and main-strength a man under heaven - Might break it in pieces, bone-decked, resplendent, - Crush it by cunning, unless clutch of the fire - In smoke should consume it. The sound mounted upward - -{Grendel's cries terrify the Danes.} - - 75 Novel enough; on the North Danes fastened - A terror of anguish, on all of the men there - Who heard from the wall the weeping and plaining, - The song of defeat from the foeman of heaven, - Heard him hymns of horror howl, and his sorrow - 80 Hell-bound bewailing. He held him too firmly - Who was strongest of main-strength of men of that era. - - [1] B. and t.B. emend so as to make lines 9 and 10 read: _Never in his - life, earlier or later, had he, the hell-thane, found a braver - hero_.--They argue that Beowulf's companions had done nothing to merit - such encomiums as the usual readings allow them. - - [2] For 'reethe ren-weardas' (771), t.B. suggests 'reethe, renhearde.' - Translate: _They were both angry, raging and mighty_. - - - - -XIII. - -GRENDEL IS VANQUISHED. - - -{Beowulf has no idea of letting Grendel live.} - - For no cause whatever would the earlmen's defender - Leave in life-joys the loathsome newcomer, - He deemed his existence utterly useless - To men under heaven. Many a noble - 5 Of Beowulf brandished his battle-sword old, - Would guard the life of his lord and protector, - The far-famous chieftain, if able to do so; - While waging the warfare, this wist they but little, - Brave battle-thanes, while his body intending - -{No weapon would harm Grendel; he bore a charmed life.} - - 10 To slit into slivers, and seeking his spirit: - That the relentless foeman nor finest of weapons - Of all on the earth, nor any of war-bills -[29] Was willing to injure; but weapons of victory - Swords and suchlike he had sworn to dispense with. - 15 His death at that time must prove to be wretched, - And the far-away spirit widely should journey - Into enemies' power. This plainly he saw then - Who with mirth[1] of mood malice no little - Had wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen - 20 (To God he was hostile), that his body would fail him, - But Higelac's hardy henchman and kinsman - Held him by the hand; hateful to other - -{Grendel is sorely wounded.} - - Was each one if living. A body-wound suffered - The direful demon, damage incurable - -{His body bursts.} - - 25 Was seen on his shoulder, his sinews were shivered, - His body did burst. To Beowulf was given - Glory in battle; Grendel from thenceward - Must flee and hide him in the fen-cliffs and marshes, - Sick unto death, his dwelling must look for - 30 Unwinsome and woful; he wist the more fully - -{The monster flees away to hide in the moors.} - - The end of his earthly existence was nearing, - His life-days' limits. At last for the Danemen, - When the slaughter was over, their wish was accomplished. - The comer-from-far-land had cleansed then of evil, - 35 Wise and valiant, the war-hall of Hrothgar, - Saved it from violence. He joyed in the night-work, - In repute for prowess; the prince of the Geatmen - For the East-Danish people his boast had accomplished, - Bettered their burdensome bale-sorrows fully, - 40 The craft-begot evil they erstwhile had suffered - And were forced to endure from crushing oppression, - Their manifold misery. 'Twas a manifest token, - -{Beowulf suspends Grendel's hand and arm in Heorot.} - - When the hero-in-battle the hand suspended, - The arm and the shoulder (there was all of the claw - 45 Of Grendel together) 'neath great-stretching hall-roof. - - [1] It has been proposed to translate 'myrethe' by _with sorrow_; but - there seems no authority for such a rendering. To the present - translator, the phrase 'modes myrethe' seems a mere padding for - _gladly_; i.e., _he who gladly harassed mankind_. - -[30] - - - - -XIV. - -REJOICING OF THE DANES. - - -{At early dawn, warriors from far and near come together to hear of the -night's adventures.} - - In the mist of the morning many a warrior - Stood round the gift-hall, as the story is told me: - Folk-princes fared then from far and from near - Through long-stretching journeys to look at the wonder, - 5 The footprints of the foeman. Few of the warriors - -{Few warriors lamented Grendel's destruction.} - - Who gazed on the foot-tracks of the inglorious creature - His parting from life pained very deeply, - How, weary in spirit, off from those regions - In combats conquered he carried his traces, - 10 Fated and flying, to the flood of the nickers. - -{Grendel's blood dyes the waters.} - - There in bloody billows bubbled the currents, - The angry eddy was everywhere mingled - And seething with gore, welling with sword-blood;[1] - He death-doomed had hid him, when reaved of his joyance - 15 He laid down his life in the lair he had fled to, - His heathenish spirit, where hell did receive him. - Thence the friends from of old backward turned them, - And many a younker from merry adventure, - Striding their stallions, stout from the seaward, - 20 Heroes on horses. There were heard very often - -{Beowulf is the hero of the hour.} - - Beowulf's praises; many often asserted - That neither south nor north, in the circuit of waters, - -{He is regarded as a probable successor to Hrothgar.} - - O'er outstretching earth-plain, none other was better - 'Mid bearers of war-shields, more worthy to govern, - 25 'Neath the arch of the ether. Not any, however, - 'Gainst the friend-lord muttered, mocking-words uttered - -{But no word is uttered to derogate from the old king} - - Of Hrothgar the gracious (a good king he). - Oft the famed ones permitted their fallow-skinned horses -[31] To run in rivalry, racing and chasing, - 30 Where the fieldways appeared to them fair and inviting, - Known for their excellence; oft a thane of the folk-lord,[2] - -{The gleeman sings the deeds of heroes.} - - [3]A man of celebrity, mindful of rhythms, - Who ancient traditions treasured in memory, - New word-groups found properly bound: - 35 The bard after 'gan then Beowulf's venture - -{He sings in alliterative measures of Beowulf's prowess.} - - Wisely to tell of, and words that were clever - To utter skilfully, earnestly speaking, - Everything told he that he heard as to Sigmund's - -{Also of Sigemund, who has slain a great fire-dragon.} - - Mighty achievements, many things hidden, - 40 The strife of the Waelsing, the wide-going ventures - The children of men knew of but little, - The feud and the fury, but Fitela with him, - When suchlike matters he minded to speak of, - Uncle to nephew, as in every contention - 45 Each to other was ever devoted: - A numerous host of the race of the scathers - They had slain with the sword-edge. To Sigmund accrued then - No little of glory, when his life-days were over, - Since he sturdy in struggle had destroyed the great dragon, - 50 The hoard-treasure's keeper; 'neath the hoar-grayish stone he, - The son of the atheling, unaided adventured - The perilous project; not present was Fitela, - Yet the fortune befell him of forcing his weapon - Through the marvellous dragon, that it stood in the wall, - 55 Well-honored weapon; the worm was slaughtered. - The great one had gained then by his glorious achievement - To reap from the ring-hoard richest enjoyment, -[32] As best it did please him: his vessel he loaded, - Shining ornaments on the ship's bosom carried, - 60 Kinsman of Waels: the drake in heat melted. - -{Sigemund was widely famed.} - - He was farthest famed of fugitive pilgrims, - Mid wide-scattered world-folk, for works of great prowess, - War-troopers' shelter: hence waxed he in honor.[4] - -{Heremod, an unfortunate Danish king, is introduced by way of contrast.} - - Afterward Heremod's hero-strength failed him, - 65 His vigor and valor. 'Mid venomous haters - To the hands of foemen he was foully delivered, - Offdriven early. Agony-billows - -{Unlike Sigemund and Beowulf, Heremod was a burden to his people.} - - Oppressed him too long, to his people he became then, - To all the athelings, an ever-great burden; - 70 And the daring one's journey in days of yore - Many wise men were wont to deplore, - Such as hoped he would bring them help in their sorrow, - That the son of their ruler should rise into power, - Holding the headship held by his fathers, - 75 Should govern the people, the gold-hoard and borough, - The kingdom of heroes, the realm of the Scyldings. - -{Beowulf is an honor to his race.} - - He to all men became then far more beloved, - Higelac's kinsman, to kindreds and races, - To his friends much dearer; him malice assaulted.-- - -{The story is resumed.} - - 80 Oft running and racing on roadsters they measured - The dun-colored highways. Then the light of the morning - Was hurried and hastened. Went henchmen in numbers - To the beautiful building, bold ones in spirit, - To look at the wonder; the liegelord himself then - 85 From his wife-bower wending, warden of treasures, - Glorious trod with troopers unnumbered, - Famed for his virtues, and with him the queen-wife - Measured the mead-ways, with maidens attending. - - [1] S. emends, suggesting 'deop' for 'deog,' and removing semicolon - after 'weol.' The two half-lines 'welling ... hid him' would then - read: _The bloody deep welled with sword-gore_. B. accepts 'deop' for - 'deog,' but reads 'deaeth-faeges': _The deep boiled with the sword-gore - of the death-doomed one_. - - [2] Another and quite different rendering of this passage is as - follows: _Oft a liegeman of the king, a fame-covered man mindful of - songs, who very many ancient traditions remembered (he found other - word-groups accurately bound together) began afterward to tell of - Beowulf's adventure, skilfully to narrate it, etc_. - - [3] Might 'guma gilp-hladen' mean 'a man laden with boasts of the - deeds of others'? - - [4] t.B. accepts B.'s 'he þaes aron þah' as given by H.-So., but puts a - comma after 'þah,' and takes 'siethethan' as introducing a dependent - clause: _He throve in honor since Heremod's strength ... had - decreased_. - -[33] - - - - -XV. - -HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE. - - - Hrothgar discoursed (to the hall-building went he, - He stood by the pillar,[1] saw the steep-rising hall-roof - Gleaming with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand there): - -{Hrothgar gives thanks for the overthrow of the monster.} - - "For the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder - 5 Early be offered! Much evil I bided, - Snaring from Grendel:[2] God can e'er 'complish - Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory! - -{I had given up all hope, when this brave liegeman came to our aid.} - - But lately I reckoned ne'er under heaven - Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows, - 10 While the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain - Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened[3] - Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever - The folk-troop's defences 'gainst foes they should strengthen, - 'Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of the Wielder - 15 A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished - Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom - -{If his mother yet liveth, well may she thank God for this son.} - - Failed to perform. May affirm very truly - What woman soever in all of the nations - Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth, - 20 That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward - In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear, - -{Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shalt be my son.} - - Most excellent hero, I'll love thee in spirit - As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward - The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee - 25 Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee. - Full often for lesser service I've given -[34] Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious, - -{Thou hast won immortal distinction.} - - To a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction - Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish - 30 Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee - With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!" - -{Beowulf replies: I was most happy to render thee this service.} - - Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's offspring: - "That labor of glory most gladly achieved we, - The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured - 35 The enemy's grapple; I would grant it much rather - Thou wert able to look at the creature in person, - Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings! - On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him, - With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple - 40 Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle - 'Less his body escape; I was wholly unable, - -{I could not keep the monster from escaping, as God did not will that I -should.} - - Since God did not will it, to keep him from going, - Not held him that firmly, hated opposer; - Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding - 45 He suffered his hand behind him to linger, - His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher; - -{He left his hand and arm behind.} - - No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature - Found him there nathless: the hated destroyer - Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils, - 50 But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him - Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing - In baleful bonds: there banished for evil - The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal, - -{God will give him his deserts.} - - How the God of glory shall give him his earnings." - 55 Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf, - -{Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf's actions speak louder than -words.} - - From boasting and bragging of battle-achievements, - Since the princes beheld there the hand that depended - 'Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman, - Each one before him, the enemy's fingers; - 60 Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled, - The heathen one's hand-spur, the hero-in-battle's - Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing, - -[35] - -{No sword will harm the monster.} - - That not any excellent edges of brave ones - Was willing to touch him, the terrible creature's - 65 Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him. - - [1] B. and t.B. read 'staþole,' and translate _stood on the floor_. - - [2] For 'snaring from Grendel,' 'sorrows at Grendel's hands' has been - suggested. This gives a parallel to 'laethes.' 'Grynna' may well be gen. - pl. of 'gyrn,' by a scribal slip. - - [3] The H.-So punctuation has been followed; but B. has been followed - in understanding 'gehwylcne' as object of 'wid-scofen (haefde).' Gr. - construes 'wea' as nom abs. - - - - -XVI. - -HROTHGAR LAVISHES GIFTS UPON HIS DELIVERER. - - -{Heorot is adorned with hands.} - - Then straight was ordered that Heorot inside[1] - With hands be embellished: a host of them gathered, - Of men and women, who the wassailing-building - The guest-hall begeared. Gold-flashing sparkled - 5 Webs on the walls then, of wonders a many - To each of the heroes that look on such objects. - -{The hall is defaced, however.} - - The beautiful building was broken to pieces - Which all within with irons was fastened, - Its hinges torn off: only the roof was - 10 Whole and uninjured when the horrible creature - Outlawed for evil off had betaken him, - Hopeless of living. 'Tis hard to avoid it - -{[A vague passage of five verses.]} - - (Whoever will do it!); but he doubtless must come to[2] - The place awaiting, as Wyrd hath appointed, - 15 Soul-bearers, earth-dwellers, earls under heaven, - Where bound on its bed his body shall slumber - -{Hrothgar goes to the banquet.} - - When feasting is finished. Full was the time then - That the son of Healfdene went to the building; -[36] The excellent atheling would eat of the banquet. - 20 Ne'er heard I that people with hero-band larger - Bare them better tow'rds their bracelet-bestower. - The laden-with-glory stooped to the bench then - (Their kinsmen-companions in plenty were joyful, - Many a cupful quaffing complaisantly), - 25 Doughty of spirit in the high-tow'ring palace, - -{Hrothgar's nephew, Hrothulf, is present.} - - Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot then inside - Was filled with friendly ones; falsehood and treachery - The Folk-Scyldings now nowise did practise. - -{Hrothgar lavishes gifts upon Beowulf.} - - Then the offspring of Healfdene offered to Beowulf - 30 A golden standard, as reward for the victory, - A banner embossed, burnie and helmet; - Many men saw then a song-famous weapon - Borne 'fore the hero. Beowulf drank of - The cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing - 35 He needed not blush for in battle-men's presence. - -{Four handsomer gifts were never presented.} - - Ne'er heard I that many men on the ale-bench - In friendlier fashion to their fellows presented - Four bright jewels with gold-work embellished. - 'Round the roof of the helmet a head-guarder outside - 40 Braided with wires, with bosses was furnished, - That swords-for-the-battle fight-hardened might fail - Boldly to harm him, when the hero proceeded - -{Hrothgar commands that eight finely caparisoned steeds be brought to -Beowulf.} - - Forth against foemen. The defender of earls then - Commanded that eight steeds with bridles - 45 Gold-plated, gleaming, be guided to hallward, - Inside the building; on one of them stood then - An art-broidered saddle embellished with jewels; - 'Twas the sovereign's seat, when the son of King Healfdene - Was pleased to take part in the play of the edges; - 50 The famous one's valor ne'er failed at the front when - Slain ones were bowing. And to Beowulf granted - The prince of the Ingwins, power over both, - O'er war-steeds and weapons; bade him well to enjoy them. - In so manly a manner the mighty-famed chieftain, -[37] 55 Hoard-ward of heroes, with horses and jewels - War-storms requited, that none e'er condemneth - Who willeth to tell truth with full justice. - - [1] Kl. suggests 'hroden' for 'haten,' and renders: _Then quickly was - Heorot adorned within, with hands bedecked_.--B. suggests 'gefraetwon' - instead of 'gefraetwod,' and renders: _Then was it commanded to adorn - Heorot within quickly with hands_.--The former has the advantage of - affording a parallel to 'gefraetwod': both have the disadvantage of - altering the text. - - [2] The passage 1005-1009 seems to be hopeless. One difficult point is - to find a subject for 'gesacan.' Some say 'he'; others supply 'each,' - _i.e., every soul-bearer ... must gain the inevitable place_. The - genitives in this case are partitive.--If 'he' be subj., the genitives - are dependent on 'gearwe' (= prepared).--The 'he' itself is disputed, - some referring it to Grendel; but B. takes it as involved in the - parenthesis. - - - - -XVII. - -BANQUET (_continued_).--THE SCOP'S SONG OF FINN AND HNAEF. - - -{Each of Beowulf's companions receives a costly gift.} - - And the atheling of earlmen to each of the heroes - Who the ways of the waters went with Beowulf, - A costly gift-token gave on the mead-bench, - Offered an heirloom, and ordered that that man - -{The warrior killed by Grendel is to be paid for in gold.} - - 5 With gold should be paid for, whom Grendel had erstwhile - Wickedly slaughtered, as he more of them had done - Had far-seeing God and the mood of the hero - The fate not averted: the Father then governed - All of the earth-dwellers, as He ever is doing; - 10 Hence insight for all men is everywhere fittest, - Forethought of spirit! much he shall suffer - Of lief and of loathsome who long in this present - Useth the world in this woful existence. - There was music and merriment mingling together - -{Hrothgar's scop recalls events in the reign of his lord's father.} - - 15 Touching Healfdene's leader; the joy-wood was fingered, - Measures recited, when the singer of Hrothgar - On mead-bench should mention the merry hall-joyance - Of the kinsmen of Finn, when onset surprised them: - -{Hnaef, the Danish general, is treacherously attacked while staying at -Finn's castle.} - - "The Half-Danish hero, Hnaef of the Scyldings, - 20 On the field of the Frisians was fated to perish. - Sure Hildeburg needed not mention approving - The faith of the Jutemen: though blameless entirely, - -{Queen Hildeburg is not only wife of Finn, but a kinswoman of the murdered -Hnaef.} - - When shields were shivered she was shorn of her darlings, - Of bairns and brothers: they bent to their fate - 25 With war-spear wounded; woe was that woman. - Not causeless lamented the daughter of Hoce - The decree of the Wielder when morning-light came and - She was able 'neath heaven to behold the destruction -[38] Of brothers and bairns, where the brightest of earth-joys - -{Finn's force is almost exterminated.} - - 30 She had hitherto had: all the henchmen of Finn - War had offtaken, save a handful remaining, - That he nowise was able to offer resistance[1] - -{Hengest succeeds Hnaef as Danish general.} - - To the onset of Hengest in the parley of battle, - Nor the wretched remnant to rescue in war from - 35 The earl of the atheling; but they offered conditions, - -{Compact between the Frisians and the Danes.} - - Another great building to fully make ready, - A hall and a high-seat, that half they might rule with - The sons of the Jutemen, and that Folcwalda's son would - Day after day the Danemen honor - 40 When gifts were giving, and grant of his ring-store - To Hengest's earl-troop ever so freely, - Of his gold-plated jewels, as he encouraged the Frisians - -{Equality of gifts agreed on.} - - On the bench of the beer-hall. On both sides they swore then - A fast-binding compact; Finn unto Hengest - 45 With no thought of revoking vowed then most solemnly - The woe-begone remnant well to take charge of, - His Witan advising; the agreement should no one - By words or works weaken and shatter, - By artifice ever injure its value, - 50 Though reaved of their ruler their ring-giver's slayer - They followed as vassals, Fate so requiring: - -{No one shall refer to old grudges.} - - Then if one of the Frisians the quarrel should speak of - In tones that were taunting, terrible edges - Should cut in requital. Accomplished the oath was, - 55 And treasure of gold from the hoard was uplifted. - -{Danish warriors are burned on a funeral-pyre.} - - The best of the Scylding braves was then fully - Prepared for the pile; at the pyre was seen clearly - The blood-gory burnie, the boar with his gilding, - The iron-hard swine, athelings many - 60 Fatally wounded; no few had been slaughtered. - Hildeburg bade then, at the burning of Hnaef, - -[39] - -{Queen Hildeburg has her son burnt along with Hnaef.} - - The bairn of her bosom to bear to the fire, - That his body be burned and borne to the pyre. - The woe-stricken woman wept on his shoulder,[2] - 65 In measures lamented; upmounted the hero.[3] - The greatest of dead-fires curled to the welkin, - On the hill's-front crackled; heads were a-melting, - Wound-doors bursting, while the blood was a-coursing - From body-bite fierce. The fire devoured them, - 70 Greediest of spirits, whom war had offcarried - From both of the peoples; their bravest were fallen. - - [1] For 1084, R. suggests 'wiht Hengeste wieth gefeohtan.'--K. suggests - 'wieth Hengeste wiht gefeohtan.' Neither emendation would make any - essential change in the translation. - - [2] The separation of adjective and noun by a phrase (cf. v. 1118) - being very unusual, some scholars have put 'earme on eaxle' with the - foregoing lines, inserting a semicolon after 'eaxle.' In this case 'on - eaxe' (_i.e._, on the ashes, cinders) is sometimes read, and this - affords a parallel to 'on bael.' Let us hope that a satisfactory - rendering shall yet be reached without resorting to any tampering with - the text, such as Lichtenheld proposed: 'earme ides on eaxle - gnornode.' - - [3] For 'gueth-rinc,' 'gueth-rec,' _battle-smoke_, has been suggested. - - - - -XVIII. - -THE FINN EPISODE (_continued_).--THE BANQUET CONTINUES. - - -{The survivors go to Friesland, the home of Finn.} - - "Then the warriors departed to go to their dwellings, - Reaved of their friends, Friesland to visit, - Their homes and high-city. Hengest continued - -{Hengest remains there all winter, unable to get away.} - - Biding with Finn the blood-tainted winter, - 5 Wholly unsundered;[1] of fatherland thought he - Though unable to drive the ring-stemmed vessel -[40] O'er the ways of the waters; the wave-deeps were tossing, - Fought with the wind; winter in ice-bonds - Closed up the currents, till there came to the dwelling - 10 A year in its course, as yet it revolveth, - If season propitious one alway regardeth, - World-cheering weathers. Then winter was gone, - Earth's bosom was lovely; the exile would get him, - -{He devises schemes of vengeance.} - - The guest from the palace; on grewsomest vengeance - 15 He brooded more eager than on oversea journeys, - Whe'r onset-of-anger he were able to 'complish, - The bairns of the Jutemen therein to remember. - Nowise refused he the duties of liegeman - When Hun of the Frisians the battle-sword Lafing, - 20 Fairest of falchions, friendly did give him: - Its edges were famous in folk-talk of Jutland. - And savage sword-fury seized in its clutches - Bold-mooded Finn where he bode in his palace, - -{Guthlaf and Oslaf revenge Hnaef's slaughter.} - - When the grewsome grapple Guthlaf and Oslaf - 25 Had mournfully mentioned, the mere-journey over, - For sorrows half-blamed him; the flickering spirit - Could not bide in his bosom. Then the building was covered[2] - -{Finn is slain.} - - With corpses of foemen, and Finn too was slaughtered, - The king with his comrades, and the queen made a prisoner. - -{The jewels of Finn, and his queen are carried away by the Danes.} - - 30 The troops of the Scyldings bore to their vessels - All that the land-king had in his palace, - Such trinkets and treasures they took as, on searching, - At Finn's they could find. They ferried to Daneland - The excellent woman on oversea journey, - -{The lay is concluded, and the main story is resumed.} - - 35 Led her to their land-folk." The lay was concluded, - The gleeman's recital. Shouts again rose then, - Bench-glee resounded, bearers then offered - -{Skinkers carry round the beaker.} - - Wine from wonder-vats. Wealhtheo advanced then - Going 'neath gold-crown, where the good ones were seated - -[41] - -{Queen Wealhtheow greets Hrothgar, as he sits beside Hrothulf, his -nephew.} - - 40 Uncle and nephew; their peace was yet mutual, - True each to the other. And Unferth the spokesman - Sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings: - Each trusted his spirit that his mood was courageous, - Though at fight he had failed in faith to his kinsmen. - 45 Said the queen of the Scyldings: "My lord and protector, - Treasure-bestower, take thou this beaker; - Joyance attend thee, gold-friend of heroes, - -{Be generous to the Geats.} - - And greet thou the Geatmen with gracious responses! - So ought one to do. Be kind to the Geatmen, - 50 In gifts not niggardly; anear and afar now - Peace thou enjoyest. Report hath informed me - Thou'lt have for a bairn the battle-brave hero. - Now is Heorot cleansed, ring-palace gleaming; - -{Have as much joy as possible in thy hall, once more purified.} - - Give while thou mayest many rewards, - 55 And bequeath to thy kinsmen kingdom and people, - On wending thy way to the Wielder's splendor. - I know good Hrothulf, that the noble young troopers - -{I know that Hrothulf will prove faithful if he survive thee.} - - He'll care for and honor, lord of the Scyldings, - If earth-joys thou endest earlier than he doth; - 60 I reckon that recompense he'll render with kindness - Our offspring and issue, if that all he remember, - What favors of yore, when he yet was an infant, - We awarded to him for his worship and pleasure." - Then she turned by the bench where her sons were carousing, - 65 Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the heroes' offspring, - -{Beowulf is sitting by the two royal sons.} - - The war-youth together; there the good one was sitting - 'Twixt the brothers twain, Beowulf Geatman. - - [1] For 1130 (1) R. and Gr. suggest 'elne unflitme' as 1098 (1) reads. - The latter verse is undisputed; and, for the former, 'elne' would be - as possible as 'ealles,' and 'unflitme' is well supported. Accepting - 'elne unflitme' for both, I would suggest '_very peaceably_' for both - places: (1) _Finn to Hengest very peaceably vowed with oaths_, etc. - (2) _Hengest then still the slaughter-stained winter remained there - with Finn very peaceably_. The two passages become thus correlatives, - the second a sequel of the first. 'Elne,' in the sense of very - (swiethe), needs no argument; and 'unflitme' (from 'flitan') can, it - seems to me, be more plausibly rendered 'peaceful,' 'peaceable,' than - 'contestable,' or 'conquerable.' - - [2] Some scholars have proposed 'roden'; the line would then read: - _Then the building was reddened, etc._, instead of 'covered.' The 'h' - may have been carried over from the three alliterating 'h's.' - - - - -XIX. - -BEOWULF RECEIVES FURTHER HONOR. - - -{More gifts are offered Beowulf.} - - A beaker was borne him, and bidding to quaff it - Graciously given, and gold that was twisted - Pleasantly proffered, a pair of arm-jewels, -[42] Rings and corslet, of collars the greatest - 5 I've heard of 'neath heaven. Of heroes not any - More splendid from jewels have I heard 'neath the welkin, - -{A famous necklace is referred to, in comparison with the gems presented -to Beowulf.} - - Since Hama off bore the Brosingmen's necklace, - The bracteates and jewels, from the bright-shining city,[1] - Eormenric's cunning craftiness fled from, - 10 Chose gain everlasting. Geatish Higelac, - Grandson of Swerting, last had this jewel - When tramping 'neath banner the treasure he guarded, - The field-spoil defended; Fate offcarried him - When for deeds of daring he endured tribulation, - 15 Hate from the Frisians; the ornaments bare he - O'er the cup of the currents, costly gem-treasures, - Mighty folk-leader, he fell 'neath his target; - The[2] corpse of the king then came into charge of - The race of the Frankmen, the mail-shirt and collar: - 20 Warmen less noble plundered the fallen, - When the fight was finished; the folk of the Geatmen - The field of the dead held in possession. - The choicest of mead-halls with cheering resounded. - Wealhtheo discoursed, the war-troop addressed she: - -{Queen Wealhtheow magnifies Beowulf's achievements.} - - 25 "This collar enjoy thou, Beowulf worthy, - Young man, in safety, and use thou this armor, - Gems of the people, and prosper thou fully, - Show thyself sturdy and be to these liegemen - Mild with instruction! I'll mind thy requital. - 30 Thou hast brought it to pass that far and near - Forever and ever earthmen shall honor thee, - Even so widely as ocean surroundeth - The blustering bluffs. Be, while thou livest, -[43] A wealth-blessed atheling. I wish thee most truly - -{May gifts never fail thee.} - - 35 Jewels and treasure. Be kind to my son, thou - Living in joyance! Here each of the nobles - Is true unto other, gentle in spirit, - Loyal to leader. The liegemen are peaceful, - The war-troops ready: well-drunken heroes,[3] - 40 Do as I bid ye." Then she went to the settle. - There was choicest of banquets, wine drank the heroes: - -{They little know of the sorrow in store for them.} - - Weird they knew not, destiny cruel, - As to many an earlman early it happened, - When evening had come and Hrothgar had parted - 45 Off to his manor, the mighty to slumber. - Warriors unnumbered warded the building - As erst they did often: the ale-settle bared they, - 'Twas covered all over with beds and pillows. - -{A doomed thane is there with them.} - - Doomed unto death, down to his slumber - 50 Bowed then a beer-thane. Their battle-shields placed they, - Bright-shining targets, up by their heads then; - O'er the atheling on ale-bench 'twas easy to see there - Battle-high helmet, burnie of ring-mail, - -{They were always ready for battle.} - - And mighty war-spear. 'Twas the wont of that people - 55 To constantly keep them equipped for the battle,[4] - At home or marching--in either condition-- - At seasons just such as necessity ordered - As best for their ruler; that people was worthy. - - [1] C. suggests a semicolon after 'city,' with 'he' as supplied - subject of 'fled' and 'chose.' - - [2] For 'feorh' S. suggests 'feoh': 'corpse' in the translation would - then be changed to '_possessions_,' '_belongings_.' This is a better - reading than one joining, in such intimate syntactical relations, - things so unlike as 'corpse' and 'jewels.' - - [3] S. suggests '_wine-joyous heroes_,' '_warriors elated with wine_.' - - [4] I believe this translation brings out the meaning of the poet, - without departing seriously from the H.-So. text. 'Oft' frequently - means 'constantly,' 'continually,' not always 'often.'--Why 'an (on) - wig gearwe' should be written 'anwig-gearwe' (= ready for single - combat), I cannot see. 'Gearwe' occurs quite frequently with 'on'; cf. - B. 1110 (_ready for the pyre_), El. 222 (_ready for the glad - journey_). Moreover, what has the idea of single combat to do with B. - 1247 ff.? The poet is giving an inventory of the arms and armor which - they lay aside on retiring, and he closes his narration by saying that - they were _always prepared for battle both at home and on the march_. - -[44] - - - - -XX. - -THE MOTHER OF GRENDEL. - - - They sank then to slumber. With sorrow one paid for - His evening repose, as often betid them - While Grendel was holding[1] the gold-bedecked palace, - Ill-deeds performing, till his end overtook him, - 5 Death for his sins. 'Twas seen very clearly, - -{Grendel's mother is known to be thirsting for revenge.} - - Known unto earth-folk, that still an avenger - Outlived the loathed one, long since the sorrow - Caused by the struggle; the mother of Grendel, - Devil-shaped woman, her woe ever minded, - 10 Who was held to inhabit the horrible waters, - -{[Grendel's progenitor, Cain, is again referred to.]} - - The cold-flowing currents, after Cain had become a - Slayer-with-edges to his one only brother, - The son of his sire; he set out then banished, - Marked as a murderer, man-joys avoiding, - 15 Lived in the desert. Thence demons unnumbered - -{The poet again magnifies Beowulf's valor.} - - Fate-sent awoke; one of them Grendel, - Sword-cursed, hateful, who at Heorot met with - A man that was watching, waiting the struggle, - Where a horrid one held him with hand-grapple sturdy; - 20 Nathless he minded the might of his body, - The glorious gift God had allowed him, - And folk-ruling Father's favor relied on, - His help and His comfort: so he conquered the foeman, - The hell-spirit humbled: he unhappy departed then, - 25 Reaved of his joyance, journeying to death-haunts, - Foeman of man. His mother moreover - -{Grendel's mother comes to avenge her son.} - - Eager and gloomy was anxious to go on - Her mournful mission, mindful of vengeance - For the death of her son. She came then to Heorot -[45] 30 Where the Armor-Dane earlmen all through the building - Were lying in slumber. Soon there became then - Return[2] to the nobles, when the mother of Grendel - Entered the folk-hall; the fear was less grievous - By even so much as the vigor of maidens, - 35 War-strength of women, by warrior is reckoned, - When well-carved weapon, worked with the hammer, - Blade very bloody, brave with its edges, - Strikes down the boar-sign that stands on the helmet. - Then the hard-edged weapon was heaved in the building,[3] - 40 The brand o'er the benches, broad-lindens many - Hand-fast were lifted; for helmet he recked not, - For armor-net broad, whom terror laid hold of. - She went then hastily, outward would get her - Her life for to save, when some one did spy her; - -{She seizes a favorite liegemen of Hrothgar's.} - - 45 Soon she had grappled one of the athelings - Fast and firmly, when fenward she hied her; - That one to Hrothgar was liefest of heroes - In rank of retainer where waters encircle, - A mighty shield-warrior, whom she murdered at slumber, - 50 A broadly-famed battle-knight. Beowulf was absent, - -{Beowulf was asleep in another part of the palace.} - - But another apartment was erstwhile devoted - To the glory-decked Geatman when gold was distributed. - There was hubbub in Heorot. The hand that was famous - She grasped in its gore;[4] grief was renewed then -[46] 55 In homes and houses: 'twas no happy arrangement - In both of the quarters to barter and purchase - With lives of their friends. Then the well-aged ruler, - The gray-headed war-thane, was woful in spirit, - When his long-trusted liegeman lifeless he knew of, - -{Beowulf is sent for.} - - 60 His dearest one gone. Quick from a room was - Beowulf brought, brave and triumphant. - As day was dawning in the dusk of the morning, - -{He comes at Hrothgar's summons.} - - Went then that earlman, champion noble, - Came with comrades, where the clever one bided - 65 Whether God all gracious would grant him a respite - After the woe he had suffered. The war-worthy hero - With a troop of retainers trod then the pavement - (The hall-building groaned), till he greeted the wise one, - -{Beowulf inquires how Hrothgar had enjoyed his night's rest.} - - The earl of the Ingwins;[5] asked if the night had - 70 Fully refreshed him, as fain he would have it. - - [1] Several eminent authorities either read or emend the MS. so as to - make this verse read, _While Grendel was wasting the gold-bedecked - palace_. So 20_15 below: _ravaged the desert_. - - [2] For 'sona' (1281), t.B. suggests 'sara,' limiting 'edhwyrft.' Read - then: _Return of sorrows to the nobles, etc_. This emendation supplies - the syntactical gap after 'edhwyrft.' - - [3] Some authorities follow Grein's lexicon in treating 'heard ecg' as - an adj. limiting 'sweord': H.-So. renders it as a subst. (So v. 1491.) - The sense of the translation would be the same. - - [4] B. suggests 'under hrof genam' (v. 1303). This emendation, as well - as an emendation with (?) to v. 739, he offers, because 'under' - baffles him in both passages. All we need is to take 'under' in its - secondary meaning of 'in,' which, though not given by Grein, occurs in - the literature. Cf. Chron. 876 (March's A.-S. Gram. Sec. 355) and Oro. - Amaz. I. 10, where 'under' = _in the midst of_. Cf. modern Eng. 'in - such circumstances,' which interchanges in good usage with 'under such - circumstances.' - - [5] For 'neod-laethu' (1321) C. suggests 'nead-laethum,' and translates: - _asked whether the night had been pleasant to him after - crushing-hostility_. - - - - -XXI. - -HROTHGAR'S ACCOUNT OF THE MONSTERS. - - -{Hrothgar laments the death of AEschere, his shoulder-companion.} - - Hrothgar rejoined, helm of the Scyldings: - "Ask not of joyance! Grief is renewed to - The folk of the Danemen. Dead is AEschere, - Yrmenlaf's brother, older than he, - 5 My true-hearted counsellor, trusty adviser, - Shoulder-companion, when fighting in battle - Our heads we protected, when troopers were clashing, - -{He was my ideal hero.} - - And heroes were dashing; such an earl should be ever, - An erst-worthy atheling, as AEschere proved him. - 10 The flickering death-spirit became in Heorot - His hand-to-hand murderer; I can not tell whither - The cruel one turned in the carcass exulting, - -[47] - -{This horrible creature came to avenge Grendel's death.} - - By cramming discovered.[1] The quarrel she wreaked then, - That last night igone Grendel thou killedst - 15 In grewsomest manner, with grim-holding clutches, - Since too long he had lessened my liege-troop and wasted - My folk-men so foully. He fell in the battle - With forfeit of life, and another has followed, - A mighty crime-worker, her kinsman avenging, - 20 And henceforth hath 'stablished her hatred unyielding,[2] - As it well may appear to many a liegeman, - Who mourneth in spirit the treasure-bestower, - Her heavy heart-sorrow; the hand is now lifeless - Which[3] availed you in every wish that you cherished. - -{I have heard my vassals speak of these two uncanny monsters who lived in -the moors.} - - 25 Land-people heard I, liegemen, this saying, - Dwellers in halls, they had seen very often - A pair of such mighty march-striding creatures, - Far-dwelling spirits, holding the moorlands: - One of them wore, as well they might notice, - 30 The image of woman, the other one wretched - In guise of a man wandered in exile, - Except he was huger than any of earthmen; - Earth-dwelling people entitled him Grendel - In days of yore: they know not their father, - 35 Whe'r ill-going spirits any were borne him - -{The inhabit the most desolate and horrible places.} - - Ever before. They guard the wolf-coverts, - Lands inaccessible, wind-beaten nesses, - Fearfullest fen-deeps, where a flood from the mountains - 'Neath mists of the nesses netherward rattles, - 40 The stream under earth: not far is it henceward - Measured by mile-lengths that the mere-water standeth, - Which forests hang over, with frost-whiting covered,[4] -[48] A firm-rooted forest, the floods overshadow. - There ever at night one an ill-meaning portent - 45 A fire-flood may see; 'mong children of men - None liveth so wise that wot of the bottom; - Though harassed by hounds the heath-stepper seek for, - -{Even the hounded deer will not seek refuge in these uncanny regions.} - - Fly to the forest, firm-antlered he-deer, - Spurred from afar, his spirit he yieldeth, - 50 His life on the shore, ere in he will venture - To cover his head. Uncanny the place is: - Thence upward ascendeth the surging of waters, - Wan to the welkin, when the wind is stirring - The weathers unpleasing, till the air groweth gloomy, - -{To thee only can I look for assistance.} - - 55 And the heavens lower. Now is help to be gotten - From thee and thee only! The abode thou know'st not, - The dangerous place where thou'rt able to meet with - The sin-laden hero: seek if thou darest! - For the feud I will fully fee thee with money, - 60 With old-time treasure, as erstwhile I did thee, - With well-twisted jewels, if away thou shalt get thee." - - [1] For 'gefraegnod' (1334), K. and t.B. suggest 'gefaegnod,' rendering - '_rejoicing in her fill_.' This gives a parallel to 'aese wlanc' - (1333). - - [2] The line 'And ... yielding,' B. renders: _And she has performed a - deed of blood-vengeance whose effect is far-reaching_. - - [3] 'Se Þe' (1345) is an instance of masc. rel. with fem. antecedent. - So v. 1888, where 'se Þe' refers to 'yldo.' - - [4] For 'hrimge' in the H.-So. edition, Gr. and others read 'hrinde' - (=hrinende), and translate: _which rustling forests overhang_. - - - - -XXII. - -BEOWULF SEEKS GRENDEL'S MOTHER. - - - Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's son: - -{Beowulf exhorts the old king to arouse himself for action.} - - "Grieve not, O wise one! for each it is better, - His friend to avenge than with vehemence wail him; - Each of us must the end-day abide of - 5 His earthly existence; who is able accomplish - Glory ere death! To battle-thane noble - Lifeless lying, 'tis at last most fitting. - Arise, O king, quick let us hasten - To look at the footprint of the kinsman of Grendel! - 10 I promise thee this now: to his place he'll escape not, - To embrace of the earth, nor to mountainous forest, - Nor to depths of the ocean, wherever he wanders. -[49] Practice thou now patient endurance - Of each of thy sorrows, as I hope for thee soothly!" - -{Hrothgar rouses himself. His horse is brought.} - - 15 Then up sprang the old one, the All-Wielder thanked he, - Ruler Almighty, that the man had outspoken. - Then for Hrothgar a war-horse was decked with a bridle, - Curly-maned courser. The clever folk-leader - -{They start on the track of the female monster.} - - Stately proceeded: stepped then an earl-troop - 20 Of linden-wood bearers. Her footprints were seen then - Widely in wood-paths, her way o'er the bottoms, - Where she faraway fared o'er fen-country murky, - Bore away breathless the best of retainers - Who pondered with Hrothgar the welfare of country. - 25 The son of the athelings then went o'er the stony, - Declivitous cliffs, the close-covered passes, - Narrow passages, paths unfrequented, - Nesses abrupt, nicker-haunts many; - One of a few of wise-mooded heroes, - 30 He onward advanced to view the surroundings, - Till he found unawares woods of the mountain - O'er hoar-stones hanging, holt-wood unjoyful; - The water stood under, welling and gory. - 'Twas irksome in spirit to all of the Danemen, - 35 Friends of the Scyldings, to many a liegeman - -{The sight of AEschere's head causes them great sorrow.} - - Sad to be suffered, a sorrow unlittle - To each of the earlmen, when to AEschere's head they - Came on the cliff. The current was seething - With blood and with gore (the troopers gazed on it). - 40 The horn anon sang the battle-song ready. - The troop were all seated; they saw 'long the water then - -{The water is filled with serpents and sea-dragons.} - - Many a serpent, mere-dragons wondrous - Trying the waters, nickers a-lying - On the cliffs of the nesses, which at noonday full often - 45 Go on the sea-deeps their sorrowful journey, - Wild-beasts and wormkind; away then they hastened - -{One of them is killed by Beowulf.} - - Hot-mooded, hateful, they heard the great clamor, - The war-trumpet winding. One did the Geat-prince -[50] Sunder from earth-joys, with arrow from bowstring, - 50 From his sea-struggle tore him, that the trusty war-missile - -{The dead beast is a poor swimmer} - - Pierced to his vitals; he proved in the currents - Less doughty at swimming whom death had offcarried. - Soon in the waters the wonderful swimmer - Was straitened most sorely with sword-pointed boar-spears, - 55 Pressed in the battle and pulled to the cliff-edge; - The liegemen then looked on the loath-fashioned stranger. - -{Beowulf prepares for a struggle with the monster.} - - Beowulf donned then his battle-equipments, - Cared little for life; inlaid and most ample, - The hand-woven corslet which could cover his body, - 60 Must the wave-deeps explore, that war might be powerless - To harm the great hero, and the hating one's grasp might - Not peril his safety; his head was protected - By the light-flashing helmet that should mix with the bottoms, - Trying the eddies, treasure-emblazoned, - 65 Encircled with jewels, as in seasons long past - The weapon-smith worked it, wondrously made it, - With swine-bodies fashioned it, that thenceforward no longer - Brand might bite it, and battle-sword hurt it. - And that was not least of helpers in prowess - -{He has Unferth's sword in his hand.} - - 70 That Hrothgar's spokesman had lent him when straitened; - And the hilted hand-sword was Hrunting entitled, - Old and most excellent 'mong all of the treasures; - Its blade was of iron, blotted with poison, - Hardened with gore; it failed not in battle - 75 Any hero under heaven in hand who it brandished, - Who ventured to take the terrible journeys, - The battle-field sought; not the earliest occasion - That deeds of daring 'twas destined to 'complish. - -{Unferth has little use for swords.} - - Ecglaf's kinsman minded not soothly, - 80 Exulting in strength, what erst he had spoken - Drunken with wine, when the weapon he lent to - A sword-hero bolder; himself did not venture - 'Neath the strife of the currents his life to endanger, -[51] To fame-deeds perform; there he forfeited glory, - 85 Repute for his strength. Not so with the other - When he clad in his corslet had equipped him for battle. - - - - -XXIII. - -BEOWULF'S FIGHT WITH GRENDEL'S MOTHER. - - -{Beowulf makes a parting speech to Hrothgar.} - - Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's son: - "Recall now, oh, famous kinsman of Healfdene, - Prince very prudent, now to part I am ready, - Gold-friend of earlmen, what erst we agreed on, - -{If I fail, act as a kind liegelord to my thanes,} - - 5 Should I lay down my life in lending thee assistance, - When my earth-joys were over, thou wouldst evermore serve me - In stead of a father; my faithful thanemen, - My trusty retainers, protect thou and care for, - Fall I in battle: and, Hrothgar beloved, - -{and send Higelac the jewels thou hast given me} - - 10 Send unto Higelac the high-valued jewels - Thou to me hast allotted. The lord of the Geatmen - May perceive from the gold, the Hrethling may see it - -{I should like my king to know how generous a lord I found thee to be.} - - When he looks on the jewels, that a gem-giver found I - Good over-measure, enjoyed him while able. - 15 And the ancient heirloom Unferth permit thou, - The famed one to have, the heavy-sword splendid[1] - The hard-edged weapon; with Hrunting to aid me, - I shall gain me glory, or grim-death shall take me." - -{Beowulf is eager for the fray.} - - The atheling of Geatmen uttered these words and - 20 Heroic did hasten, not any rejoinder - Was willing to wait for; the wave-current swallowed - -{He is a whole day reaching the bottom of the sea.} - - The doughty-in-battle. Then a day's-length elapsed ere - He was able to see the sea at its bottom. - Early she found then who fifty of winters - 25 The course of the currents kept in her fury, - Grisly and greedy, that the grim one's dominion - -[52] - -{Grendel's mother knows that some one has reached her domains.} - - Some one of men from above was exploring. - Forth did she grab them, grappled the warrior - With horrible clutches; yet no sooner she injured - 30 His body unscathed: the burnie out-guarded, - That she proved but powerless to pierce through the armor, - The limb-mail locked, with loath-grabbing fingers. - The sea-wolf bare then, when bottomward came she, - -{She grabs him, and bears him to her den.} - - The ring-prince homeward, that he after was powerless - 35 (He had daring to do it) to deal with his weapons, - But many a mere-beast tormented him swimming, - -{Sea-monsters bite and strike him.} - - Flood-beasts no few with fierce-biting tusks did - Break through his burnie, the brave one pursued they. - The earl then discovered he was down in some cavern - 40 Where no water whatever anywise harmed him, - And the clutch of the current could come not anear him, - Since the roofed-hall prevented; brightness a-gleaming - Fire-light he saw, flashing resplendent. - The good one saw then the sea-bottom's monster, - -{Beowulf attacks the mother of Grendel.} - - 45 The mighty mere-woman; he made a great onset - With weapon-of-battle, his hand not desisted - From striking, that war-blade struck on her head then - A battle-song greedy. The stranger perceived then - -{The sword will not bite.} - - The sword would not bite, her life would not injure, - 50 But the falchion failed the folk-prince when straitened: - Erst had it often onsets encountered, - Oft cloven the helmet, the fated one's armor: - 'Twas the first time that ever the excellent jewel - Had failed of its fame. Firm-mooded after, - 55 Not heedless of valor, but mindful of glory, - Was Higelac's kinsman; the hero-chief angry - Cast then his carved-sword covered with jewels - That it lay on the earth, hard and steel-pointed; - -{The hero throws down all weapons, and again trusts to his hand-grip.} - - He hoped in his strength, his hand-grapple sturdy. - 60 So any must act whenever he thinketh - To gain him in battle glory unending, - And is reckless of living. The lord of the War-Geats -[53] (He shrank not from battle) seized by the shoulder[2] - The mother of Grendel; then mighty in struggle - 65 Swung he his enemy, since his anger was kindled, - That she fell to the floor. With furious grapple - -{Beowulf falls.} - - She gave him requital[3] early thereafter, - And stretched out to grab him; the strongest of warriors - Faint-mooded stumbled, till he fell in his traces, - -{The monster sits on him with drawn sword.} - - 70 Foot-going champion. Then she sat on the hall-guest - And wielded her war-knife wide-bladed, flashing, - For her son would take vengeance, her one only bairn. - -{His armor saves his life.} - - His breast-armor woven bode on his shoulder; - It guarded his life, the entrance defended - 75 'Gainst sword-point and edges. Ecgtheow's son there - Had fatally journeyed, champion of Geatmen, - In the arms of the ocean, had the armor not given, - Close-woven corslet, comfort and succor, - -{God arranged for his escape.} - - And had God most holy not awarded the victory, - 80 All-knowing Lord; easily did heaven's - Ruler most righteous arrange it with justice;[4] - Uprose he erect ready for battle. - - [1] Kl. emends 'wael-sweord.' The half-line would then read, '_the - battle-sword splendid_.'--For 'heard-ecg' in next half-verse, see note - to 20_39 above. - - [2] Sw., R., and t.B. suggest 'feaxe' for 'eaxle' (1538) and render: - _Seized by the hair_. - - [3] If 'hand-lean' be accepted (as the MS. has it), the line will - read: _She hand-reward gave him early thereafter_. - - [4] Sw. and S. change H.-So.'s semicolon (v. 1557) to a comma, and - translate: _The Ruler of Heaven arranged it in justice easily, after - he arose again_. - - - - -XXIV. - -BEOWULF IS DOUBLE-CONQUEROR. - - -{Beowulf grasps a giant-sword,} - - Then he saw mid the war-gems a weapon of victory, - An ancient giant-sword, of edges a-doughty, - Glory of warriors: of weapons 'twas choicest, - Only 'twas larger than any man else was -[54] 5 Able to bear to the battle-encounter, - The good and splendid work of the giants. - He grasped then the sword-hilt, knight of the Scyldings, - Bold and battle-grim, brandished his ring-sword, - Hopeless of living, hotly he smote her, - 10 That the fiend-woman's neck firmly it grappled, - -{and fells the female monster.} - - Broke through her bone-joints, the bill fully pierced her - Fate-cursed body, she fell to the ground then: - The hand-sword was bloody, the hero exulted. - The brand was brilliant, brightly it glimmered, - 15 Just as from heaven gemlike shineth - The torch of the firmament. He glanced 'long the building, - And turned by the wall then, Higelac's vassal - Raging and wrathful raised his battle-sword - Strong by the handle. The edge was not useless - 20 To the hero-in-battle, but he speedily wished to - Give Grendel requital for the many assaults he - Had worked on the West-Danes not once, but often, - When he slew in slumber the subjects of Hrothgar, - Swallowed down fifteen sleeping retainers - 25 Of the folk of the Danemen, and fully as many - Carried away, a horrible prey. - He gave him requital, grim-raging champion, - -{Beowulf sees the body of Grendel, and cuts off his head.} - - When he saw on his rest-place weary of conflict - Grendel lying, of life-joys bereaved, - 30 As the battle at Heorot erstwhile had scathed him; - His body far bounded, a blow when he suffered, - Death having seized him, sword-smiting heavy, - And he cut off his head then. Early this noticed - The clever carles who as comrades of Hrothgar - -{The waters are gory.} - - 35 Gazed on the sea-deeps, that the surging wave-currents - Were mightily mingled, the mere-flood was gory: - Of the good one the gray-haired together held converse, - -{Beowulf is given up for dead.} - - The hoary of head, that they hoped not to see again - The atheling ever, that exulting in victory - 40 He'd return there to visit the distinguished folk-ruler: -[55] Then many concluded the mere-wolf had killed him.[1] - The ninth hour came then. From the ness-edge departed - The bold-mooded Scyldings; the gold-friend of heroes - Homeward betook him. The strangers sat down then - 45 Soul-sick, sorrowful, the sea-waves regarding: - They wished and yet weened not their well-loved friend-lord - -{The giant-sword melts.} - - To see any more. The sword-blade began then, - The blood having touched it, contracting and shriveling - With battle-icicles; 'twas a wonderful marvel - 50 That it melted entirely, likest to ice when - The Father unbindeth the bond of the frost and - Unwindeth the wave-bands, He who wieldeth dominion - Of times and of tides: a truth-firm Creator. - Nor took he of jewels more in the dwelling, - 55 Lord of the Weders, though they lay all around him, - Than the head and the handle handsome with jewels; -[56] The brand early melted, burnt was the weapon:[2] - So hot was the blood, the strange-spirit poisonous - -{The hero swims back to the realms of day.} - - That in it did perish. He early swam off then - 60 Who had bided in combat the carnage of haters, - Went up through the ocean; the eddies were cleansed, - The spacious expanses, when the spirit from farland - His life put aside and this short-lived existence. - The seamen's defender came swimming to land then - 65 Doughty of spirit, rejoiced in his sea-gift, - The bulky burden which he bore in his keeping. - The excellent vassals advanced then to meet him, - To God they were grateful, were glad in their chieftain, - That to see him safe and sound was granted them. - 70 From the high-minded hero, then, helmet and burnie - Were speedily loosened: the ocean was putrid, - The water 'neath welkin weltered with gore. - Forth did they fare, then, their footsteps retracing, - Merry and mirthful, measured the earth-way, - 75 The highway familiar: men very daring[3] - Bare then the head from the sea-cliff, burdening - Each of the earlmen, excellent-valiant. - -{It takes four men to carry Grendel's head on a spear.} - - Four of them had to carry with labor - The head of Grendel to the high towering gold-hall - 80 Upstuck on the spear, till fourteen most-valiant - And battle-brave Geatmen came there going - Straight to the palace: the prince of the people - Measured the mead-ways, their mood-brave companion. - The atheling of earlmen entered the building, - 85 Deed-valiant man, adorned with distinction, - Doughty shield-warrior, to address King Hrothgar: -[57] Then hung by the hair, the head of Grendel - Was borne to the building, where beer-thanes were drinking, - Loth before earlmen and eke 'fore the lady: - 90 The warriors beheld then a wonderful sight. - - [1] 'Þaes monige geweareth' (1599) and 'hafaeth þaes geworden' (2027).--In a - paper published some years ago in one of the Johns Hopkins University - circulars, I tried to throw upon these two long-doubtful passages some - light derived from a study of like passages in Alfred's prose.--The - impersonal verb 'geweorethan,' with an accus. of the person, and a - þaet-clause is used several times with the meaning 'agree.' See Orosius - (Sweet's ed.) 178_7; 204_34; 208_28; 210_15; 280_20. In the two - Beowulf passages, the þaet-clause is anticipated by 'þaes,' which is - clearly a gen. of the thing agreed on. - - The first passage (v. 1599 (b)-1600) I translate literally: _Then many - agreed upon this (namely), that the sea-wolf had killed him_. - - The second passage (v. 2025 (b)-2027): _She is promised ...; to this - the friend of the Scyldings has agreed, etc_. By emending 'is' instead - of 'waes' (2025), the tenses will be brought into perfect harmony. - - In v. 1997 ff. this same idiom occurs, and was noticed in B.'s great - article on Beowulf, which appeared about the time I published my - reading of 1599 and 2027. Translate 1997 then: _Wouldst let the - South-Danes themselves decide about their struggle with Grendel_. Here - 'Sueth-Dene' is accus. of person, and 'guethe' is gen. of thing agreed on. - - With such collateral support as that afforded by B. (P. and B. XII. - 97), I have no hesitation in departing from H.-So., my usual guide. - - The idiom above treated runs through A.-S., Old Saxon, and other - Teutonic languages, and should be noticed in the lexicons. - - [2] 'Broden-mael' is regarded by most scholars as meaning a damaskeened - sword. Translate: _The damaskeened sword burned up_. Cf. 25_16 and - note. - - [3] 'Cyning-balde' (1635) is the much-disputed reading of K. and Th. - To render this, "_nobly bold_," "_excellently bold_," have been - suggested. B. would read 'cyning-holde' (cf. 290), and render: _Men - well-disposed towards the king carried the head, etc._ 'Cynebealde,' - says t.B., endorsing Gr. - - - - -XXV. - -BEOWULF BRINGS HIS TROPHIES.--HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE. - - -{Beowulf relates his last exploit.} - - Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow: - "Lo! we blithely have brought thee, bairn of Healfdene, - Prince of the Scyldings, these presents from ocean - Which thine eye looketh on, for an emblem of glory. - 5 I came off alive from this, narrowly 'scaping: - In war 'neath the water the work with great pains I - Performed, and the fight had been finished quite nearly, - Had God not defended me. I failed in the battle - Aught to accomplish, aided by Hrunting, - 10 Though that weapon was worthy, but the Wielder of earth-folk - -{God was fighting with me.} - - Gave me willingly to see on the wall a - Heavy old hand-sword hanging in splendor - (He guided most often the lorn and the friendless), - That I swung as a weapon. The wards of the house then - 15 I killed in the conflict (when occasion was given me). - Then the battle-sword burned, the brand that was lifted,[1] - As the blood-current sprang, hottest of war-sweats; - Seizing the hilt, from my foes I offbore it; - I avenged as I ought to their acts of malignity, - 20 The murder of Danemen. I then make thee this promise, - -{Heorot is freed from monsters.} - - Thou'lt be able in Heorot careless to slumber - With thy throng of heroes and the thanes of thy people - Every and each, of greater and lesser, - And thou needest not fear for them from the selfsame direction - 25 As thou formerly fearedst, oh, folk-lord of Scyldings, -[58] End-day for earlmen." To the age-hoary man then, - -{The famous sword is presented to Hrothgar.} - - The gray-haired chieftain, the gold-fashioned sword-hilt, - Old-work of giants, was thereupon given; - Since the fall of the fiends, it fell to the keeping - 30 Of the wielder of Danemen, the wonder-smith's labor, - And the bad-mooded being abandoned this world then, - Opponent of God, victim of murder, - And also his mother; it went to the keeping - Of the best of the world-kings, where waters encircle, - 35 Who the scot divided in Scylding dominion. - -{Hrothgar looks closely at the old sword.} - - Hrothgar discoursed, the hilt he regarded, - The ancient heirloom where an old-time contention's - Beginning was graven: the gurgling currents, - The flood slew thereafter the race of the giants, - 40 They had proved themselves daring: that people was loth to - -{It had belonged to a race hateful to God.} - - The Lord everlasting, through lash of the billows - The Father gave them final requital. - So in letters of rune on the clasp of the handle - Gleaming and golden, 'twas graven exactly, - 45 Set forth and said, whom that sword had been made for, - Finest of irons, who first it was wrought for, - Wreathed at its handle and gleaming with serpents. - The wise one then said (silent they all were) - -{Hrothgar praises Beowulf.} - - Son of old Healfdene: "He may say unrefuted - 50 Who performs 'mid the folk-men fairness and truth - (The hoary old ruler remembers the past), - That better by birth is this bairn of the nobles! - Thy fame is extended through far-away countries, - Good friend Beowulf, o'er all of the races, - 55 Thou holdest all firmly, hero-like strength with - Prudence of spirit. I'll prove myself grateful - As before we agreed on; thou granted for long shalt - Become a great comfort to kinsmen and comrades, - -{Heremod's career is again contrasted with Beowulf's.} - - A help unto heroes. Heremod became not - 60 Such to the Scyldings, successors of Ecgwela; - He grew not to please them, but grievous destruction, -[59] And diresome death-woes to Danemen attracted; - He slew in anger his table-companions, - Trustworthy counsellors, till he turned off lonely - 65 From world-joys away, wide-famous ruler: - Though high-ruling heaven in hero-strength raised him, - In might exalted him, o'er men of all nations - Made him supreme, yet a murderous spirit - Grew in his bosom: he gave then no ring-gems - -{A wretched failure of a king, to give no jewels to his retainers.} - - 70 To the Danes after custom; endured he unjoyful - Standing the straits from strife that was raging, - Longsome folk-sorrow. Learn then from this, - Lay hold of virtue! Though laden with winters, - I have sung thee these measures. 'Tis a marvel to tell it, - -{Hrothgar moralizes.} - - 75 How all-ruling God from greatness of spirit - Giveth wisdom to children of men, - Manor and earlship: all things He ruleth. - He often permitteth the mood-thought of man of - The illustrious lineage to lean to possessions, - 80 Allows him earthly delights at his manor, - A high-burg of heroes to hold in his keeping, - Maketh portions of earth-folk hear him, - And a wide-reaching kingdom so that, wisdom failing him, - He himself is unable to reckon its boundaries; - 85 He liveth in luxury, little debars him, - Nor sickness nor age, no treachery-sorrow - Becloudeth his spirit, conflict nowhere, - No sword-hate, appeareth, but all of the world doth - Wend as he wisheth; the worse he knoweth not, - 90 Till arrant arrogance inward pervading, - Waxeth and springeth, when the warder is sleeping, - The guard of the soul: with sorrows encompassed, - Too sound is his slumber, the slayer is near him, - Who with bow and arrow aimeth in malice. - -[60] - - [1] Or rather, perhaps, '_the inlaid, or damaskeened weapon_.' Cf. - 24_57 and note. - - - - -XXVI. - -HROTHGAR MORALIZES.--REST AFTER LABOR. - - -{A wounded spirit.} - - "Then bruised in his bosom he with bitter-toothed missile - Is hurt 'neath his helmet: from harmful pollution - He is powerless to shield him by the wonderful mandates - Of the loath-cursed spirit; what too long he hath holden - 5 Him seemeth too small, savage he hoardeth, - Nor boastfully giveth gold-plated rings,[1] - The fate of the future flouts and forgetteth - Since God had erst given him greatness no little, - Wielder of Glory. His end-day anear, - 10 It afterward happens that the bodily-dwelling - Fleetingly fadeth, falls into ruins; - Another lays hold who doleth the ornaments, - The nobleman's jewels, nothing lamenting, - Heedeth no terror. Oh, Beowulf dear, - 15 Best of the heroes, from bale-strife defend thee, - And choose thee the better, counsels eternal; - -{Be not over proud: life is fleeting, and its strength soon wasteth away.} - - Beware of arrogance, world-famous champion! - But a little-while lasts thy life-vigor's fulness; - 'Twill after hap early, that illness or sword-edge - 20 Shall part thee from strength, or the grasp of the fire, - Or the wave of the current, or clutch of the edges, - Or flight of the war-spear, or age with its horrors, - Or thine eyes' bright flashing shall fade into darkness: - 'Twill happen full early, excellent hero, - -{Hrothgar gives an account of his reign.} - - 25 That death shall subdue thee. So the Danes a half-century - I held under heaven, helped them in struggles - 'Gainst many a race in middle-earth's regions, - With ash-wood and edges, that enemies none - On earth molested me. Lo! offsetting change, now, - -[61] - -{Sorrow after joy.} - - 30 Came to my manor, grief after joyance, - When Grendel became my constant visitor, - Inveterate hater: I from that malice - Continually travailed with trouble no little. - Thanks be to God that I gained in my lifetime, - 35 To the Lord everlasting, to look on the gory - Head with mine eyes, after long-lasting sorrow! - Go to the bench now, battle-adorned - Joy in the feasting: of jewels in common - We'll meet with many when morning appeareth." - 40 The Geatman was gladsome, ganged he immediately - To go to the bench, as the clever one bade him. - Then again as before were the famous-for-prowess, - Hall-inhabiters, handsomely banqueted, - Feasted anew. The night-veil fell then - 45 Dark o'er the warriors. The courtiers rose then; - The gray-haired was anxious to go to his slumbers, - The hoary old Scylding. Hankered the Geatman, - -{Beowulf is fagged, and seeks rest.} - - The champion doughty, greatly, to rest him: - An earlman early outward did lead him, - 50 Fagged from his faring, from far-country springing, - Who for etiquette's sake all of a liegeman's - Needs regarded, such as seamen at that time - Were bounden to feel. The big-hearted rested; - The building uptowered, spacious and gilded, - 55 The guest within slumbered, till the sable-clad raven - Blithely foreboded the beacon of heaven. - Then the bright-shining sun o'er the bottoms came going;[2] - The warriors hastened, the heads of the peoples - Were ready to go again to their peoples, - -{The Geats prepare to leave Dane-land.} - - 60 The high-mooded farer would faraway thenceward - Look for his vessel. The valiant one bade then,[3] - -[62] - -{Unferth asks Beowulf to accept his sword as a gift. Beowulf thanks him.} - - Offspring of Ecglaf, off to bear Hrunting, - To take his weapon, his well-beloved iron; - He him thanked for the gift, saying good he accounted - 65 The war-friend and mighty, nor chid he with words then - The blade of the brand: 'twas a brave-mooded hero. - When the warriors were ready, arrayed in their trappings, - The atheling dear to the Danemen advanced then - On to the dais, where the other was sitting, - 70 Grim-mooded hero, greeted King Hrothgar. - - [1] K. says '_proudly giveth_.'--Gr. says, '_And gives no gold-plated - rings, in order to incite the recipient to boastfulness_.'--B. - suggests 'gyld' for 'gylp,' and renders: _And gives no beaten rings - for reward_. - - [2] If S.'s emendation be accepted, v. 57 will read: _Then came the - light, going bright after darkness: the warriors, etc_. - - [3] As the passage stands in H.-So., Unferth presents Beowulf with the - sword Hrunting, and B. thanks him for the gift. If, however, the - suggestions of Grdtvg. and M. be accepted, the passage will read: - _Then the brave one (_i.e._ Beowulf) commanded that Hrunting be borne - to the son of Ecglaf (Unferth), bade him take his sword, his dear - weapon; he (B.) thanked him (U.) for the loan, etc_. - - - - -XXVII. - -SORROW AT PARTING. - - -{Beowulf's farewell.} - - Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's offspring: - "We men of the water wish to declare now - Fared from far-lands, we're firmly determined - To seek King Higelac. Here have we fitly - 5 Been welcomed and feasted, as heart would desire it; - Good was the greeting. If greater affection - I am anywise able ever on earth to - Gain at thy hands, ruler of heroes, - Than yet I have done, I shall quickly be ready - -{I shall be ever ready to aid thee.} - - 10 For combat and conflict. O'er the course of the waters - Learn I that neighbors alarm thee with terror, - As haters did whilom, I hither will bring thee - For help unto heroes henchmen by thousands. - -{My liegelord will encourage me in aiding thee.} - - I know as to Higelac, the lord of the Geatmen, - 15 Though young in years, he yet will permit me, - By words and by works, ward of the people, - Fully to furnish thee forces and bear thee - My lance to relieve thee, if liegemen shall fail thee, - And help of my hand-strength; if Hrethric be treating, -[63] 20 Bairn of the king, at the court of the Geatmen, - He thereat may find him friends in abundance: - Faraway countries he were better to seek for - Who trusts in himself." Hrothgar discoursed then, - Making rejoinder: "These words thou hast uttered - 25 All-knowing God hath given thy spirit! - -{O Beowulf, thou art wise beyond thy years.} - - Ne'er heard I an earlman thus early in life - More clever in speaking: thou'rt cautious of spirit, - Mighty of muscle, in mouth-answers prudent. - I count on the hope that, happen it ever - 30 That missile shall rob thee of Hrethel's descendant, - Edge-horrid battle, and illness or weapon - Deprive thee of prince, of people's protector, - -{Should Higelac die, the Geats could find no better successor than thou -wouldst make.} - - And life thou yet holdest, the Sea-Geats will never - Find a more fitting folk-lord to choose them, - 35 Gem-ward of heroes, than _thou_ mightest prove thee, - If the kingdom of kinsmen thou carest to govern. - Thy mood-spirit likes me the longer the better, - Beowulf dear: thou hast brought it to pass that - To both these peoples peace shall be common, - -{Thou hast healed the ancient breach between our races.} - - 40 To Geat-folk and Danemen, the strife be suspended, - The secret assailings they suffered in yore-days; - And also that jewels be shared while I govern - The wide-stretching kingdom, and that many shall visit - Others o'er the ocean with excellent gift-gems: - 45 The ring-adorned bark shall bring o'er the currents - Presents and love-gifts. This people I know - Tow'rd foeman and friend firmly established,[1] - After ancient etiquette everywise blameless." - Then the warden of earlmen gave him still farther, - -{Parting gifts} - - 50 Kinsman of Healfdene, a dozen of jewels, - Bade him safely seek with the presents - His well-beloved people, early returning. - -[64] - -{Hrothgar kisses Beowulf, and weeps.} - - Then the noble-born king kissed the distinguished, - Dear-loved liegeman, the Dane-prince saluted him, - 55 And clasped his neck; tears from him fell, - From the gray-headed man: he two things expected, - Aged and reverend, but rather the second, - [2]That bold in council they'd meet thereafter. - The man was so dear that he failed to suppress the - 60 Emotions that moved him, but in mood-fetters fastened - -{The old king is deeply grieved to part with his benefactor.} - - The long-famous hero longeth in secret - Deep in his spirit for the dear-beloved man - Though not a blood-kinsman. Beowulf thenceward, - Gold-splendid warrior, walked o'er the meadows - 65 Exulting in treasure: the sea-going vessel - Riding at anchor awaited its owner. - As they pressed on their way then, the present of Hrothgar - -{Giving liberally is the true proof of kingship.} - - Was frequently referred to: a folk-king indeed that - Everyway blameless, till age did debar him - 70 The joys of his might, which hath many oft injured. - - [1] For 'geworhte,' the crux of this passage, B. proposes 'geþohte,' - rendering: _I know this people with firm thought every way blameless - towards foe and friends_. - - [2] S. and B. emend so as to negative the verb 'meet.' "Why should - Hrothgar weep if he expects to meet Beowulf again?" both these - scholars ask. But the weeping is mentioned before the 'expectations': - the tears may have been due to many emotions, especially gratitude, - struggling for expression. - - - - -XXVIII. - -THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY.--THE TWO QUEENS. - - - Then the band of very valiant retainers - Came to the current; they were clad all in armor, - -{The coast-guard again.} - - In link-woven burnies. The land-warder noticed - The return of the earlmen, as he erstwhile had seen them; - 5 Nowise with insult he greeted the strangers - From the naze of the cliff, but rode on to meet them; - Said the bright-armored visitors[1] vesselward traveled -[65] Welcome to Weders. The wide-bosomed craft then - Lay on the sand, laden with armor, - 10 With horses and jewels, the ring-stemmed sailer: - The mast uptowered o'er the treasure of Hrothgar. - -{Beowulf gives the guard a handsome sword.} - - To the boat-ward a gold-bound brand he presented, - That he was afterwards honored on the ale-bench more highly - As the heirloom's owner. [2]Set he out on his vessel, - 15 To drive on the deep, Dane-country left he. - Along by the mast then a sea-garment fluttered, - A rope-fastened sail. The sea-boat resounded, - The wind o'er the waters the wave-floater nowise - Kept from its journey; the sea-goer traveled, - 20 The foamy-necked floated forth o'er the currents, - The well-fashioned vessel o'er the ways of the ocean, - -{The Geats see their own land again.} - - Till they came within sight of the cliffs of the Geatmen, - The well-known headlands. The wave-goer hastened - Driven by breezes, stood on the shore. - -{The port-warden is anxiously looking for them.} - - 25 Prompt at the ocean, the port-ward was ready, - Who long in the past outlooked in the distance,[3] - At water's-edge waiting well-loved heroes; - He bound to the bank then the broad-bosomed vessel - Fast in its fetters, lest the force of the waters - 30 Should be able to injure the ocean-wood winsome. - Bade he up then take the treasure of princes, - Plate-gold and fretwork; not far was it thence - To go off in search of the giver of jewels: -[66] Hrethel's son Higelac at home there remaineth,[4] - 35 Himself with his comrades close to the sea-coast. - The building was splendid, the king heroic, - Great in his hall, Hygd very young was, - -{Hygd, the noble queen of Higelac, lavish of gifts.} - - Fine-mooded, clever, though few were the winters - That the daughter of Haereth had dwelt in the borough; - 40 But she nowise was cringing nor niggard of presents, - Of ornaments rare, to the race of the Geatmen. - -{Offa's consort, Thrytho, is contrasted with Hygd.} - - Thrytho nursed anger, excellent[5] folk-queen, - Hot-burning hatred: no hero whatever - 'Mong household companions, her husband excepted - -{She is a terror to all save her husband.} - - 45 Dared to adventure to look at the woman - With eyes in the daytime;[6] but he knew that death-chains - Hand-wreathed were wrought him: early thereafter, - When the hand-strife was over, edges were ready, - That fierce-raging sword-point had to force a decision, - 50 Murder-bale show. Such no womanly custom - For a lady to practise, though lovely her person, - That a weaver-of-peace, on pretence of anger - A beloved liegeman of life should deprive. - Soothly this hindered Heming's kinsman; - 55 Other ale-drinking earlmen asserted - That fearful folk-sorrows fewer she wrought them, - Treacherous doings, since first she was given - Adorned with gold to the war-hero youthful, - For her origin honored, when Offa's great palace - 60 O'er the fallow flood by her father's instructions - She sought on her journey, where she afterwards fully, - Famed for her virtue, her fate on the king's-seat -[67] Enjoyed in her lifetime, love did she hold with - The ruler of heroes, the best, it is told me, - 65 Of all of the earthmen that oceans encompass, - Of earl-kindreds endless; hence Offa was famous - Far and widely, by gifts and by battles, - Spear-valiant hero; the home of his fathers - He governed with wisdom, whence Eomaer did issue - 70 For help unto heroes, Heming's kinsman, - Grandson of Garmund, great in encounters. - - [1] For 'scawan' (1896), 'scaethan' has been proposed. Accepting this, - we may render: _He said the bright-armored warriors were going to - their vessel, welcome, etc_. (Cf. 1804.) - - [2] R. suggests, 'Gewat him on naca,' and renders: _The vessel set - out, to drive on the sea, the Dane-country left_. 'On' bears the - alliteration; cf. 'on hafu' (2524). This has some advantages over the - H.-So. reading; viz. (1) It adds nothing to the text; (2) it makes - 'naca' the subject, and thus brings the passage into keeping with the - context, where the poet has exhausted his vocabulary in detailing the - actions of the vessel.--B.'s emendation (cf. P. and B. XII. 97) is - violent. - - [3] B. translates: _Who for a long time, ready at the coast, had - looked out into the distance eagerly for the dear men_. This changes - the syntax of 'leofra manna.' - - [4] For 'wunaeth' (v. 1924) several eminent critics suggest 'wunade' - (=remained). This makes the passage much clearer. - - [5] Why should such a woman be described as an 'excellent' queen? C. - suggests 'frecnu' = dangerous, bold. - - [6] For 'an daeges' various readings have been offered. If 'and-eges' - be accepted, the sentence will read: _No hero ... dared look upon her, - eye to eye_. If 'an-daeges' be adopted, translate: _Dared look upon her - the whole day_. - - - - -XXIX. - -BEOWULF AND HIGELAC. - - - Then the brave one departed, his band along with him, - -{Beowulf and his party seek Higelac.} - - Seeking the sea-shore, the sea-marches treading, - The wide-stretching shores. The world-candle glimmered, - The sun from the southward; they proceeded then onward, - 5 Early arriving where they heard that the troop-lord, - Ongentheow's slayer, excellent, youthful - Folk-prince and warrior was distributing jewels, - Close in his castle. The coming of Beowulf - Was announced in a message quickly to Higelac, - 10 That the folk-troop's defender forth to the palace - The linden-companion alive was advancing, - Secure from the combat courtward a-going. - The building was early inward made ready - For the foot-going guests as the good one had ordered. - -{Beowulf sits by his liegelord.} - - 15 He sat by the man then who had lived through the struggle, - Kinsman by kinsman, when the king of the people - Had in lordly language saluted the dear one, - -{Queen Hygd receives the heroes.} - - In words that were formal. The daughter of Haereth - Coursed through the building, carrying mead-cups:[1] -[68] 20 She loved the retainers, tendered the beakers - To the high-minded Geatmen. Higelac 'gan then - -{Higelac is greatly interested in Beowulf's adventures.} - - Pleasantly plying his companion with questions - In the high-towering palace. A curious interest - Tormented his spirit, what meaning to see in - 25 The Sea-Geats' adventures: "Beowulf worthy, - -{Give an account of thy adventures, Beowulf dear.} - - How throve your journeying, when thou thoughtest suddenly - Far o'er the salt-streams to seek an encounter, - A battle at Heorot? Hast bettered for Hrothgar, - The famous folk-leader, his far-published sorrows - 30 Any at all? In agony-billows - -{My suspense has been great.} - - I mused upon torture, distrusted the journey - Of the beloved liegeman; I long time did pray thee - By no means to seek out the murderous spirit, - To suffer the South-Danes themselves to decide on[2] - 35 Grappling with Grendel. To God I am thankful - To be suffered to see thee safe from thy journey." - -{Beowulf narrates his adventures.} - - Beowulf answered, bairn of old Ecgtheow: - "'Tis hidden by no means, Higelac chieftain, - From many of men, the meeting so famous, - 40 What mournful moments of me and of Grendel - Were passed in the place where he pressing affliction - On the Victory-Scyldings scathefully brought, - Anguish forever; that all I avenged, - So that any under heaven of the kinsmen of Grendel - -{Grendel's kindred have no cause to boast.} - - 45 Needeth not boast of that cry-in-the-morning, - Who longest liveth of the loth-going kindred,[3] - Encompassed by moorland. I came in my journey - To the royal ring-hall, Hrothgar to greet there: - -{Hrothgar received me very cordially.} - - Soon did the famous scion of Healfdene, - 50 When he understood fully the spirit that led me, - Assign me a seat with the son of his bosom. -[69] The troop was in joyance; mead-glee greater - 'Neath arch of the ether not ever beheld I - -{The queen also showed up no little honor.} - - 'Mid hall-building holders. The highly-famed queen, - 55 Peace-tie of peoples, oft passed through the building, - Cheered the young troopers; she oft tendered a hero - A beautiful ring-band, ere she went to her sitting. - -{Hrothgar's lovely daughter.} - - Oft the daughter of Hrothgar in view of the courtiers - To the earls at the end the ale-vessel carried, - 60 Whom Freaware I heard then hall-sitters title, - When nail-adorned jewels she gave to the heroes: - -{She is betrothed to Ingeld, in order to unite the Danes and Heathobards.} - - Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad son of Froda - Her faith has been plighted; the friend of the Scyldings, - The guard of the kingdom, hath given his sanction,[4] - 65 And counts it a vantage, for a part of the quarrels, - A portion of hatred, to pay with the woman. - [5]Somewhere not rarely, when the ruler has fallen, - The life-taking lance relaxeth its fury - For a brief breathing-spell, though the bride be charming! - - [1] 'Meodu-scencum' (1981) some would render '_with mead-pourers_.' - Translate then: _The daughter of Haereth went through the building - accompanied by mead-pourers_. - - [2] See my note to 1599, supra, and B. in P. and B. XII. 97. - - [3] For 'fenne,' supplied by Grdtvg., B. suggests 'facne' (cf. Jul. - 350). Accepting this, translate: _Who longest lives of the hated race, - steeped in treachery_. - - [4] See note to v. 1599 above. - - [5] This is perhaps the least understood sentence in the poem, almost - every word being open to dispute. (1) The 'no' of our text is an - emendation, and is rejected by many scholars. (2) 'Seldan' is by some - taken as an adv. (= _seldom_), and by others as a noun (= _page_, - _companion_). (3) 'Leod-hryre,' some render '_fall of the people_'; - others, '_fall of the prince_.' (4) 'Bugeeth,' most scholars regard as - the intrans. verb meaning '_bend_,' '_rest_'; but one great scholar has - translated it '_shall kill_.' (5) 'Hwaer,' Very recently, has been - attacked, 'waere' being suggested. (6) As a corollary to the above, the - same critic proposes to drop 'oft' out of the text.--t.B. suggests: Oft - seldan waere after leodhryre: lytle hwile bongar bugeeth, þeah seo bryd - duge = _often has a treaty been (thus) struck, after a prince had - fallen: (but only) a short time is the spear (then) wont to rest, - however excellent the bride may be_. - - - - -XXX. - -BEOWULF NARRATES HIS ADVENTURES TO HIGELAC. - - - "It well may discomfit the prince of the Heathobards - And each of the thanemen of earls that attend him, -[70] When he goes to the building escorting the woman, - That a noble-born Daneman the knights should be feasting: - 5 There gleam on his person the leavings of elders - Hard and ring-bright, Heathobards' treasure, - While they wielded their arms, till they misled to the battle - Their own dear lives and beloved companions. - He saith at the banquet who the collar beholdeth, - 10 An ancient ash-warrior who earlmen's destruction - Clearly recalleth (cruel his spirit), - Sadly beginneth sounding the youthful - Thane-champion's spirit through the thoughts of his bosom, - War-grief to waken, and this word-answer speaketh: - -{Ingeld is stirred up to break the truce.} - - 15 'Art thou able, my friend, to know when thou seest it - The brand which thy father bare to the conflict - In his latest adventure, 'neath visor of helmet, - The dearly-loved iron, where Danemen did slay him, - And brave-mooded Scyldings, on the fall of the heroes, - 20 (When vengeance was sleeping) the slaughter-place wielded? - E'en now some man of the murderer's progeny - Exulting in ornaments enters the building, - Boasts of his blood-shedding, offbeareth the jewel - Which thou shouldst wholly hold in possession!' - 25 So he urgeth and mindeth on every occasion - With woe-bringing words, till waxeth the season - When the woman's thane for the works of his father, - The bill having bitten, blood-gory sleepeth, - Fated to perish; the other one thenceward - 30 'Scapeth alive, the land knoweth thoroughly.[1] - Then the oaths of the earlmen on each side are broken, - When rancors unresting are raging in Ingeld - And his wife-love waxeth less warm after sorrow. - So the Heathobards' favor not faithful I reckon, - 35 Their part in the treaty not true to the Danemen, - Their friendship not fast. I further shall tell thee - -[71] - -{Having made these preliminary statements, I will now tell thee of -Grendel, the monster.} - - More about Grendel, that thou fully mayst hear, - Ornament-giver, what afterward came from - The hand-rush of heroes. When heaven's bright jewel - 40 O'er earthfields had glided, the stranger came raging, - The horrible night-fiend, us for to visit, - Where wholly unharmed the hall we were guarding. - -{Hondscio fell first} - - To Hondscio happened a hopeless contention, - Death to the doomed one, dead he fell foremost, - 45 Girded war-champion; to him Grendel became then, - To the vassal distinguished, a tooth-weaponed murderer, - The well-beloved henchman's body all swallowed. - Not the earlier off empty of hand did - The bloody-toothed murderer, mindful of evils, - 50 Wish to escape from the gold-giver's palace, - But sturdy of strength he strove to outdo me, - Hand-ready grappled. A glove was suspended - Spacious and wondrous, in art-fetters fastened, - Which was fashioned entirely by touch of the craftman - 55 From the dragon's skin by the devil's devices: - He down in its depths would do me unsadly - One among many, deed-doer raging, - Though sinless he saw me; not so could it happen - When I in my anger upright did stand. - 60 'Tis too long to recount how requital I furnished - For every evil to the earlmen's destroyer; - -{I reflected honor upon my people.} - - 'Twas there, my prince, that I proudly distinguished - Thy land with my labors. He left and retreated, - He lived his life a little while longer: - 65 Yet his right-hand guarded his footstep in Heorot, - And sad-mooded thence to the sea-bottom fell he, - Mournful in mind. For the might-rush of battle - -{King Hrothgar lavished gifts upon me.} - - The friend of the Scyldings, with gold that was plated, - With ornaments many, much requited me, - 70 When daylight had dawned, and down to the banquet - We had sat us together. There was chanting and joyance: - The age-stricken Scylding asked many questions -[72] And of old-times related; oft light-ringing harp-strings, - Joy-telling wood, were touched by the brave one; - 75 Now he uttered measures, mourning and truthful, - Then the large-hearted land-king a legend of wonder - Truthfully told us. Now troubled with years - -{The old king is sad over the loss of his youthful vigor.} - - The age-hoary warrior afterward began to - Mourn for the might that marked him in youth-days; - 80 His breast within boiled, when burdened with winters - Much he remembered. From morning till night then - We joyed us therein as etiquette suffered, - Till the second night season came unto earth-folk. - Then early thereafter, the mother of Grendel - -{Grendel's mother.} - - 85 Was ready for vengeance, wretched she journeyed; - Her son had death ravished, the wrath of the Geatmen. - The horrible woman avenged her offspring, - And with mighty mainstrength murdered a hero. - -{AEschere falls a prey to her vengeance.} - - There the spirit of AEschere, aged adviser, - 90 Was ready to vanish; nor when morn had lightened - Were they anywise suffered to consume him with fire, - Folk of the Danemen, the death-weakened hero, - Nor the beloved liegeman to lay on the pyre; - -{She suffered not his body to be burned, but ate it.} - - She the corpse had offcarried in the clutch of the foeman[2] - 95 'Neath mountain-brook's flood. To Hrothgar 'twas saddest - Of pains that ever had preyed on the chieftain; - By the life of thee the land-prince then me[3] - Besought very sadly, in sea-currents' eddies - To display my prowess, to peril my safety, - 100 Might-deeds accomplish; much did he promise. - -{I sought the creature in her den,} - - I found then the famous flood-current's cruel, - Horrible depth-warder. A while unto us two -[73] Hand was in common; the currents were seething - With gore that was clotted, and Grendel's fierce mother's - -{and hewed her head off.} - - 105 Head I offhacked in the hall at the bottom - With huge-reaching sword-edge, hardly I wrested - My life from her clutches; not doomed was I then, - -{Jewels were freely bestowed upon me.} - - But the warden of earlmen afterward gave me - Jewels in quantity, kinsman of Healfdene. - - [1] For 'lifigende' (2063), a mere conjecture, 'wigende' has been - suggested. The line would then read: _Escapeth by fighting, knows the - land thoroughly_. - - [2] For 'faeethmum,' Gr.'s conjecture, B. proposes 'faerunga.' These three - half-verses would then read: _She bore off the corpse of her foe - suddenly under the mountain-torrent_. - - [3] The phrase 'þine lyfe' (2132) was long rendered '_with thy - (presupposed) permission_.' The verse would read: _The land-prince - then sadly besought me, with thy (presupposed) permission, etc_. - - - - -XXXI. - -GIFT-GIVING IS MUTUAL. - - - "So the beloved land-prince lived in decorum; - I had missed no rewards, no meeds of my prowess, - But he gave me jewels, regarding my wishes, - Healfdene his bairn; I'll bring them to thee, then, - -{All my gifts I lay at thy feet.} - - 5 Atheling of earlmen, offer them gladly. - And still unto thee is all my affection:[1] - But few of my folk-kin find I surviving - But thee, dear Higelac!" Bade he in then to carry[2] - The boar-image, banner, battle-high helmet, - 10 Iron-gray armor, the excellent weapon, - -{This armor I have belonged of yore to Heregar.} - - In song-measures said: "This suit-for-the-battle - Hrothgar presented me, bade me expressly, - Wise-mooded atheling, thereafter to tell thee[3] - The whole of its history, said King Heregar owned it, - 15 Dane-prince for long: yet he wished not to give then -[74] The mail to his son, though dearly he loved him, - Hereward the hardy. Hold all in joyance!" - I heard that there followed hard on the jewels - Two braces of stallions of striking resemblance, - 20 Dappled and yellow; he granted him usance - Of horses and treasures. So a kinsman should bear him, - No web of treachery weave for another, - Nor by cunning craftiness cause the destruction - -{Higelac loves his nephew Beowulf.} - - Of trusty companion. Most precious to Higelac, - 25 The bold one in battle, was the bairn of his sister, - And each unto other mindful of favors. - -{Beowulf gives Hygd the necklace that Wealhtheow had given him.} - - I am told that to Hygd he proffered the necklace, - Wonder-gem rare that Wealhtheow gave him, - The troop-leader's daughter, a trio of horses - 30 Slender and saddle-bright; soon did the jewel - Embellish her bosom, when the beer-feast was over. - So Ecgtheow's bairn brave did prove him, - -{Beowulf is famous.} - - War-famous man, by deeds that were valiant, - He lived in honor, beloved companions - 35 Slew not carousing; his mood was not cruel, - But by hand-strength hugest of heroes then living - The brave one retained the bountiful gift that - The Lord had allowed him. Long was he wretched, - So that sons of the Geatmen accounted him worthless, - 40 And the lord of the liegemen loth was to do him - Mickle of honor, when mead-cups were passing; - They fully believed him idle and sluggish, - -{He is requited for the slights suffered in earlier days.} - - An indolent atheling: to the honor-blest man there - Came requital for the cuts he had suffered. - 45 The folk-troop's defender bade fetch to the building - The heirloom of Hrethel, embellished with gold, - -{Higelac overwhelms the conqueror with gifts.} - - So the brave one enjoined it; there was jewel no richer - In the form of a weapon 'mong Geats of that era; - In Beowulf's keeping he placed it and gave him - 50 Seven of thousands, manor and lordship. - Common to both was land 'mong the people, -[75] Estate and inherited rights and possessions, - To the second one specially spacious dominions, - To the one who was better. It afterward happened - 55 In days that followed, befell the battle-thanes, - -{After Heardred's death, Beowulf becomes king.} - - After Higelac's death, and when Heardred was murdered - With weapons of warfare 'neath well-covered targets, - When valiant battlemen in victor-band sought him, - War-Scylfing heroes harassed the nephew - 60 Of Hereric in battle. To Beowulf's keeping - Turned there in time extensive dominions: - -{He rules the Geats fifty years.} - - He fittingly ruled them a fifty of winters - (He a man-ruler wise was, manor-ward old) till - A certain one 'gan, on gloom-darkening nights, a - -{The fire-drake.} - - 65 Dragon, to govern, who guarded a treasure, - A high-rising stone-cliff, on heath that was grayish: - A path 'neath it lay, unknown unto mortals. - Some one of earthmen entered the mountain, - The heathenish hoard laid hold of with ardor; - 70 * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - - [1] This verse B. renders, '_Now serve I again thee alone as my - gracious king_.' - - [2] For 'eafor' (2153), Kl. suggests 'ealdor.' Translate then: _Bade - the prince then to bear in the banner, battle-high helmet, etc_. On - the other hand, W. takes 'eaforheafodsegn' as a compound, meaning - 'helmet': _He bade them bear in the helmet, battle-high helm, gray - armor, etc_. - - [3] The H.-So. rendering (aerest = _history, origin_; 'eft' for 'est'), - though liable to objection, is perhaps the best offered. 'That I - should very early tell thee of his favor, kindness' sounds well; but - 'his' is badly placed to limit 'est.'--Perhaps, 'eft' with verbs of - saying may have the force of Lat. prefix 're,' and the H.-So. reading - mean, 'that I should its origin rehearse to thee.' - - - - -XXXII. - -THE HOARD AND THE DRAGON. - - - * * * * * * * - He sought of himself who sorely did harm him, - But, for need very pressing, the servant of one of - The sons of the heroes hate-blows evaded, - 5 Seeking for shelter and the sin-driven warrior - Took refuge within there. He early looked in it, - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * -[76] * * * * * * when the onset surprised him, - -{The hoard.} - - 10 He a gem-vessel saw there: many of suchlike - Ancient ornaments in the earth-cave were lying, - As in days of yore some one of men of - Illustrious lineage, as a legacy monstrous, - There had secreted them, careful and thoughtful, - 15 Dear-valued jewels. Death had offsnatched them, - In the days of the past, and the one man moreover - Of the flower of the folk who fared there the longest, - Was fain to defer it, friend-mourning warder, - A little longer to be left in enjoyment - 20 Of long-lasting treasure.[1] A barrow all-ready - Stood on the plain the stream-currents nigh to, - New by the ness-edge, unnethe of approaching: - The keeper of rings carried within a - [2]Ponderous deal of the treasure of nobles, - 25 Of gold that was beaten, briefly he spake then:[3] - -{The ring-giver bewails the loss of retainers.} - - "Hold thou, O Earth, now heroes no more may, - The earnings of earlmen. Lo! erst in thy bosom - Worthy men won them; war-death hath ravished, - Perilous life-bale, all my warriors, - 30 Liegemen beloved, who this life have forsaken, - Who hall-pleasures saw. No sword-bearer have I, - And no one to burnish the gold-plated vessel, - The high-valued beaker: my heroes are vanished. - The hardy helmet behung with gilding - 35 Shall be reaved of its riches: the ring-cleansers slumber - Who were charged to have ready visors-for-battle, - And the burnie that bided in battle-encounter -[77] O'er breaking of war-shields the bite of the edges - Moulds with the hero. The ring-twisted armor, - 40 Its lord being lifeless, no longer may journey - Hanging by heroes; harp-joy is vanished, - The rapture of glee-wood, no excellent falcon - Swoops through the building, no swift-footed charger - Grindeth the gravel. A grievous destruction - 45 No few of the world-folk widely hath scattered!" - So, woful of spirit one after all - Lamented mournfully, moaning in sadness - By day and by night, till death with its billows - -{The fire-dragon} - - Dashed on his spirit. Then the ancient dusk-scather - 50 Found the great treasure standing all open, - He who flaming and fiery flies to the barrows, - Naked war-dragon, nightly escapeth - Encompassed with fire; men under heaven - Widely beheld him. 'Tis said that he looks for[4] - 55 The hoard in the earth, where old he is guarding - The heathenish treasure; he'll be nowise the better. - -{The dragon meets his match.} - - So three-hundred winters the waster of peoples - Held upon earth that excellent hoard-hall, - Till the forementioned earlman angered him bitterly: - 60 The beat-plated beaker he bare to his chieftain - And fullest remission for all his remissness - Begged of his liegelord. Then the hoard[5] was discovered, - The treasure was taken, his petition was granted - -{The hero plunders the dragon's den} - - The lorn-mooded liegeman. His lord regarded - 65 The old-work of earth-folk--'twas the earliest occasion. - When the dragon awoke, the strife was renewed there; - He snuffed 'long the stone then, stout-hearted found he -[78] The footprint of foeman; too far had he gone - With cunning craftiness close to the head of - 70 The fire-spewing dragon. So undoomed he may 'scape from - Anguish and exile with ease who possesseth - The favor of Heaven. The hoard-warden eagerly - Searched o'er the ground then, would meet with the person - That caused him sorrow while in slumber reclining: - 75 Gleaming and wild he oft went round the cavern, - All of it outward; not any of earthmen - Was seen in that desert.[6] Yet he joyed in the battle, - Rejoiced in the conflict: oft he turned to the barrow, - Sought for the gem-cup;[7] this he soon perceived then - -{The dragon perceives that some one has disturbed his treasure.} - - 80 That some man or other had discovered the gold, - The famous folk-treasure. Not fain did the hoard-ward - Wait until evening; then the ward of the barrow - Was angry in spirit, the loathed one wished to - Pay for the dear-valued drink-cup with fire. - 85 Then the day was done as the dragon would have it, - He no longer would wait on the wall, but departed - -{The dragon is infuriated.} - - Fire-impelled, flaming. Fearful the start was - To earls in the land, as it early thereafter - To their giver-of-gold was grievously ended. - - [1] For 'long-gestreona,' B. suggests 'laengestreona,' and renders, - _Of fleeting treasures_. S. accepts H.'s 'long-gestreona,' but - renders, _The treasure long in accumulating_. - - [2] For 'hard-fyrdne' (2246), B. first suggested 'hard-fyndne,' - rendering: _A heap of treasures ... so great that its equal would be - hard to find_. The same scholar suggests later 'hord-wynne dael' = _A - deal of treasure-joy_. - - [3] Some read 'fec-word' (2247), and render: _Banning words uttered_. - - [4] An earlier reading of H.'s gave the following meaning to this - passage: _He is said to inhabit a mound under the earth, where he, - etc._ The translation in the text is more authentic. - - [5] The repetition of 'hord' in this passage has led some scholars to - suggest new readings to avoid the second 'hord.' This, however, is not - under the main stress, and, it seems to me, might easily be accepted. - - [6] The reading of H.-So. is well defended in the notes to that - volume. B. emends and renders: _Nor was there any man in that desert - who rejoiced in conflict, in battle-work._ That is, the hoard-ward - could not find any one who had disturbed his slumbers, for no warrior - was there, t.B.'s emendation would give substantially the same - translation. - - [7] 'Sinc-faet' (2301): this word both here and in v. 2232, t.B. - renders 'treasure.' - - - - -XXXIII. - -BRAVE THOUGH AGED.--REMINISCENCES. - - -{The dragon spits fire.} - - The stranger began then to vomit forth fire, - To burn the great manor; the blaze then glimmered - For anguish to earlmen, not anything living -[79] Was the hateful air-goer willing to leave there. - 5 The war of the worm widely was noticed, - The feud of the foeman afar and anear, - How the enemy injured the earls of the Geatmen, - Harried with hatred: back he hied to the treasure, - To the well-hidden cavern ere the coming of daylight. - 10 He had circled with fire the folk of those regions, - With brand and burning; in the barrow he trusted, - In the wall and his war-might: the weening deceived him. - -{Beowulf hears of the havoc wrought by the dragon.} - - Then straight was the horror to Beowulf published, - Early forsooth, that his own native homestead,[1] - 15 The best of buildings, was burning and melting, - Gift-seat of Geatmen. 'Twas a grief to the spirit - Of the good-mooded hero, the greatest of sorrows: - -{He fears that Heaven is punishing him for some crime.} - - The wise one weened then that wielding his kingdom - 'Gainst the ancient commandments, he had bitterly angered - 20 The Lord everlasting: with lorn meditations - His bosom welled inward, as was nowise his custom. - The fire-spewing dragon fully had wasted - The fastness of warriors, the water-land outward, - The manor with fire. The folk-ruling hero, - 25 Prince of the Weders, was planning to wreak him. - The warmen's defender bade them to make him, - Earlmen's atheling, an excellent war-shield - -{He orders an iron shield to be made from him, wood is useless.} - - Wholly of iron: fully he knew then - That wood from the forest was helpless to aid him, - 30 Shield against fire. The long-worthy ruler - Must live the last of his limited earth-days, - Of life in the world and the worm along with him, - Though he long had been holding hoard-wealth in plenty. - -{He determines to fight alone.} - - Then the ring-prince disdained to seek with a war-band, - 35 With army extensive, the air-going ranger; - He felt no fear of the foeman's assaults and - He counted for little the might of the dragon, -[80] His power and prowess: for previously dared he - -{Beowulf's early triumphs referred to} - - A heap of hostility, hazarded dangers, - 40 War-thane, when Hrothgar's palace he cleansed, - Conquering combatant, clutched in the battle - The kinsmen of Grendel, of kindred detested.[2] - -{Higelac's death recalled.} - - 'Twas of hand-fights not least where Higelac was slaughtered, - When the king of the Geatmen with clashings of battle, - 45 Friend-lord of folks in Frisian dominions, - Offspring of Hrethrel perished through sword-drink, - With battle-swords beaten; thence Beowulf came then - On self-help relying, swam through the waters; - He bare on his arm, lone-going, thirty - 50 Outfits of armor, when the ocean he mounted. - The Hetwars by no means had need to be boastful - Of their fighting afoot, who forward to meet him - Carried their war-shields: not many returned from - The brave-mooded battle-knight back to their homesteads. - 55 Ecgtheow's bairn o'er the bight-courses swam then, - Lone-goer lorn to his land-folk returning, - Where Hygd to him tendered treasure and kingdom, - -{Heardred's lack of capacity to rule.} - - Rings and dominion: her son she not trusted, - To be able to keep the kingdom devised him - 60 'Gainst alien races, on the death of King Higelac. - -{Beowulf's tact and delicacy recalled.} - - Yet the sad ones succeeded not in persuading the atheling - In any way ever, to act as a suzerain - To Heardred, or promise to govern the kingdom; - Yet with friendly counsel in the folk he sustained him, - 65 Gracious, with honor, till he grew to be older, - -{Reference is here made to a visit which Beowulf receives from Eanmund and -Eadgils, why they come is not known.} - - Wielded the Weders. Wide-fleeing outlaws, - Ohthere's sons, sought him o'er the waters: - They had stirred a revolt 'gainst the helm of the Scylfings, - The best of the sea-kings, who in Swedish dominions - 70 Distributed treasure, distinguished folk-leader. -[81] 'Twas the end of his earth-days; injury fatal[3] - By swing of the sword he received as a greeting, - Offspring of Higelac; Ongentheow's bairn - Later departed to visit his homestead, - 75 When Heardred was dead; let Beowulf rule them, - Govern the Geatmen: good was that folk-king. - - [1] 'Ham' (2326), the suggestion of B. is accepted by t.B. and other - scholars. - - [2] For 'laethan cynnes' (2355), t.B. suggests 'laethan cynne,' apposition - to 'maegum.' From syntactical and other considerations, this is a most - excellent emendation. - - [3] Gr. read 'on feorme' (2386), rendering: _He there at the banquet a - fatal wound received by blows of the sword._ - - - - -XXXIV. - -BEOWULF SEEKS THE DRAGON.--BEOWULF'S REMINISCENCES. - - - He planned requital for the folk-leader's ruin - In days thereafter, to Eadgils the wretched - Becoming an enemy. Ohthere's son then - Went with a war-troop o'er the wide-stretching currents - 5 With warriors and weapons: with woe-journeys cold he - After avenged him, the king's life he took. - -{Beowulf has been preserved through many perils.} - - So he came off uninjured from all of his battles, - Perilous fights, offspring of Ecgtheow, - From his deeds of daring, till that day most momentous - 10 When he fate-driven fared to fight with the dragon. - -{With eleven comrades, he seeks the dragon.} - - With eleven companions the prince of the Geatmen - Went lowering with fury to look at the fire-drake: - Inquiring he'd found how the feud had arisen, - Hate to his heroes; the highly-famed gem-vessel - 15 Was brought to his keeping through the hand of th' informer. - -{A guide leads the way, but} - - That in the throng was thirteenth of heroes, - That caused the beginning of conflict so bitter, - Captive and wretched, must sad-mooded thenceward - -{very reluctantly.} - - Point out the place: he passed then unwillingly - 20 To the spot where he knew of the notable cavern, - The cave under earth, not far from the ocean, - The anger of eddies, which inward was full of - Jewels and wires: a warden uncanny, -[82] Warrior weaponed, wardered the treasure, - 25 Old under earth; no easy possession - For any of earth-folk access to get to. - Then the battle-brave atheling sat on the naze-edge, - While the gold-friend of Geatmen gracious saluted - His fireside-companions: woe was his spirit, - 30 Death-boding, wav'ring; Weird very near him, - Who must seize the old hero, his soul-treasure look for, - Dragging aloof his life from his body: - Not flesh-hidden long was the folk-leader's spirit. - Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's son: - -{Beowulf's retrospect.} - - 35 "I survived in my youth-days many a conflict, - Hours of onset: that all I remember. - I was seven-winters old when the jewel-prince took me, - High-lord of heroes, at the hands of my father, - Hrethel the hero-king had me in keeping, - -{Hrethel took me when I was seven.} - - 40 Gave me treasure and feasting, our kinship remembered; - Not ever was I _any_ less dear to him - -{He treated me as a son.} - - Knight in the boroughs, than the bairns of his household, - Herebald and Haethcyn and Higelac mine. - To the eldest unjustly by acts of a kinsman - 45 Was murder-bed strewn, since him Haethcyn from horn-bow - -{One of the brothers accidentally kills another.} - - His sheltering chieftain shot with an arrow, - Erred in his aim and injured his kinsman, - One brother the other, with blood-sprinkled spear: - -{No fee could compound for such a calamity.} - - 'Twas a feeless fight, finished in malice, - 50 Sad to his spirit; the folk-prince however - Had to part from existence with vengeance untaken. - -{[A parallel case is supposed.]} - - So to hoar-headed hero 'tis heavily crushing[1] -[83] To live to see his son as he rideth - Young on the gallows: then measures he chanteth, - 55 A song of sorrow, when his son is hanging - For the raven's delight, and aged and hoary - He is unable to offer any assistance. - Every morning his offspring's departure - Is constant recalled: he cares not to wait for - 60 The birth of an heir in his borough-enclosures, - Since that one through death-pain the deeds hath experienced. - He heart-grieved beholds in the house of his son the - Wine-building wasted, the wind-lodging places - Reaved of their roaring; the riders are sleeping, - 65 The knights in the grave; there's no sound of the harp-wood, - Joy in the yards, as of yore were familiar. - - [1] 'Gomelum ceorle' (2445).--H. takes these words as referring to - Hrethel; but the translator here departs from his editor by - understanding the poet to refer to a hypothetical old man, introduced - as an illustration of a father's sorrow. - - Hrethrel had certainly never seen a son of his ride on the gallows to - feed the crows. - - The passage beginning 'swa bieth geomorlic' seems to be an effort to - reach a full simile, 'as ... so.' 'As it is mournful for an old man, - etc. ... so the defence of the Weders (2463) bore heart-sorrow, etc.' - The verses 2451 to 2463-1/2 would be parenthetical, the poet's feelings - being so strong as to interrupt the simile. The punctuation of the - fourth edition would be better--a comma after 'galgan' (2447). The - translation may be indicated as follows: _(Just) as it is sad for an - old man to see his son ride young on the gallows when he himself is - uttering mournful measures, a sorrowful song, while his son hangs for a - comfort to the raven, and he, old and infirm, cannot render him any - kelp--(he is constantly reminded, etc., 2451-2463)--so the defence of - the Weders, etc._ - - - - -XXXV. - -REMINISCENCES (_continued_).--BEOWULF'S LAST BATTLE. - - - "He seeks then his chamber, singeth a woe-song - One for the other; all too extensive - Seemed homesteads and plains. So the helm of the Weders - -{Hrethel grieves for Herebald.} - - Mindful of Herebald heart-sorrow carried, - 5 Stirred with emotion, nowise was able - To wreak his ruin on the ruthless destroyer: - He was unable to follow the warrior with hatred, - With deeds that were direful, though dear he not held him. -[84] Then pressed by the pang this pain occasioned him, - 10 He gave up glee, God-light elected; - He left to his sons, as the man that is rich does, - His land and fortress, when from life he departed. - -{Strife between Swedes and Geats.} - - Then was crime and hostility 'twixt Swedes and Geatmen, - O'er wide-stretching water warring was mutual, - 15 Burdensome hatred, when Hrethel had perished, - And Ongentheow's offspring were active and valiant, - Wished not to hold to peace oversea, but - Round Hreosna-beorh often accomplished - Cruelest massacre. This my kinsman avenged, - 20 The feud and fury, as 'tis found on inquiry, - Though one of them paid it with forfeit of life-joys, - -{Haethcyn's fall at Ravenswood.} - - With price that was hard: the struggle became then - Fatal to Haethcyn, lord of the Geatmen. - Then I heard that at morning one brother the other - 25 With edges of irons egged on to murder, - Where Ongentheow maketh onset on Eofor: - The helmet crashed, the hoary-haired Scylfing - Sword-smitten fell, his hand then remembered - Feud-hate sufficient, refused not the death-blow. - -{I requited him for the jewels he gave me.} - - 30 The gems that he gave me, with jewel-bright sword I - 'Quited in contest, as occasion was offered: - Land he allowed me, life-joy at homestead, - Manor to live on. Little he needed - From Gepids or Danes or in Sweden to look for - 35 Trooper less true, with treasure to buy him; - 'Mong foot-soldiers ever in front I would hie me, - Alone in the vanguard, and evermore gladly - Warfare shall wage, while this weapon endureth - That late and early often did serve me - -{Beowulf refers to his having slain Daeghrefn.} - - 40 When I proved before heroes the slayer of Daeghrefn, - Knight of the Hugmen: he by no means was suffered - To the king of the Frisians to carry the jewels, - The breast-decoration; but the banner-possessor - Bowed in the battle, brave-mooded atheling. -[85] 45 No weapon was slayer, but war-grapple broke then - The surge of his spirit, his body destroying. - Now shall weapon's edge make war for the treasure, - And hand and firm-sword." Beowulf spake then, - Boast-words uttered--the latest occasion: - -{He boasts of his youthful prowess, and declares himself still fearless.} - - 50 "I braved in my youth-days battles unnumbered; - Still am I willing the struggle to look for, - Fame-deeds perform, folk-warden prudent, - If the hateful despoiler forth from his cavern - Seeketh me out!" Each of the heroes, - 55 Helm-bearers sturdy, he thereupon greeted - -{His last salutations.} - - Beloved co-liegemen--his last salutation: - "No brand would I bear, no blade for the dragon, - Wist I a way my word-boast to 'complish[1] - Else with the monster, as with Grendel I did it; - 60 But fire in the battle hot I expect there, - Furious flame-burning: so I fixed on my body - Target and war-mail. The ward of the barrow[2] - I'll not flee from a foot-length, the foeman uncanny. - At the wall 'twill befall us as Fate decreeth, - -{Let Fate decide between us.} - - 65 Each one's Creator. I am eager in spirit, - With the winged war-hero to away with all boasting. - Bide on the barrow with burnies protected, - -{Wait ye here till the battle is over.} - - Earls in armor, which of _us_ two may better - Bear his disaster, when the battle is over. - 70 'Tis no matter of yours, and man cannot do it, - But me and me only, to measure his strength with - The monster of malice, might-deeds to 'complish. - I with prowess shall gain the gold, or the battle, -[86] Direful death-woe will drag off your ruler!" - 75 The mighty champion rose by his shield then, - Brave under helmet, in battle-mail went he - 'Neath steep-rising stone-cliffs, the strength he relied on - Of one man alone: no work for a coward. - Then he saw by the wall who a great many battles - 80 Had lived through, most worthy, when foot-troops collided, - -{The place of strife is described.} - - Stone-arches standing, stout-hearted champion, - Saw a brook from the barrow bubbling out thenceward: - The flood of the fountain was fuming with war-flame: - Not nigh to the hoard, for season the briefest - 85 Could he brave, without burning, the abyss that was yawning, - The drake was so fiery. The prince of the Weders - Caused then that words came from his bosom, - So fierce was his fury; the firm-hearted shouted: - His battle-clear voice came in resounding - 90 'Neath the gray-colored stone. Stirred was his hatred, - -{Beowulf calls out under the stone arches.} - - The hoard-ward distinguished the speech of a man; - Time was no longer to look out for friendship. - The breath of the monster issued forth first, - Vapory war-sweat, out of the stone-cave: - -{The terrible encounter.} - - 95 The earth re-echoed. The earl 'neath the barrow - Lifted his shield, lord of the Geatmen, - Tow'rd the terrible stranger: the ring-twisted creature's - Heart was then ready to seek for a struggle. - -{Beowulf brandishes his sword,} - - The excellent battle-king first brandished his weapon, - 100 The ancient heirloom, of edges unblunted,[3] - To the death-planners twain was terror from other. - -{and stands against his shield.} - - The lord of the troopers intrepidly stood then - 'Gainst his high-rising shield, when the dragon coiled him - -{The dragon coils himself.} - - Quickly together: in corslet he bided. -[87] 105 He went then in blazes, bended and striding, - Hasting him forward. His life and body - The targe well protected, for time-period shorter - Than wish demanded for the well-renowned leader, - Where he then for the first day was forced to be victor, - 110 Famous in battle, as Fate had not willed it. - The lord of the Geatmen uplifted his hand then, - Smiting the fire-drake with sword that was precious, - That bright on the bone the blade-edge did weaken, - Bit more feebly than his folk-leader needed, - 115 Burdened with bale-griefs. Then the barrow-protector, - -{The dragon rages} - - When the sword-blow had fallen, was fierce in his spirit, - Flinging his fires, flamings of battle - Gleamed then afar: the gold-friend of Weders - -{Beowulf's sword fails him.} - - Boasted no conquests, his battle-sword failed him - 120 Naked in conflict, as by no means it ought to, - Long-trusty weapon. 'Twas no slight undertaking - That Ecgtheow's famous offspring would leave - The drake-cavern's bottom; he must live in some region - Other than this, by the will of the dragon, - 125 As each one of earthmen existence must forfeit. - 'Twas early thereafter the excellent warriors - -{The combat is renewed.} - - Met with each other. Anew and afresh - The hoard-ward took heart (gasps heaved then his bosom): - -{The great hero is reduced to extremities.} - - Sorrow he suffered encircled with fire - 130 Who the people erst governed. His companions by no means - Were banded about him, bairns of the princes, - -{His comrades flee!} - - With valorous spirit, but they sped to the forest, - Seeking for safety. The soul-deeps of one were - -{Blood is thicker than water.} - - Ruffled by care: kin-love can never - 135 Aught in him waver who well doth consider. - -[88] - - [1] The clause 2520(2)-2522(1), rendered by 'Wist I ... monster,' Gr., - followed by S., translates substantially as follows: _If I knew how - else I might combat the boastful defiance of the monster_.--The - translation turns upon 'wiethgripan,' a word not understood. - - [2] B. emends and translates: _I will not flee the space of a foot - from the guard of the barrow, but there shall be to us a fight at the - wall, as fate decrees, each one's Creator._ - - [3] The translation of this passage is based on 'unslaw' (2565), - accepted by H.-So., in lieu of the long-standing 'ungleaw.' The former - is taken as an adj. limiting 'sweord'; the latter as an adj. c. - 'gueth-cyning': _The good war-king, rash with edges, brandished his - sword, his old relic._ The latter gives a more rhetorical Anglo-Saxon - (poetical) sentence. - - - - -XXXVI. - -WIGLAF THE TRUSTY.--BEOWULF IS DESERTED BY FRIENDS AND BY SWORD. - - -{Wiglaf remains true--the ideal Teutonic liegeman.} - - The son of Weohstan was Wiglaf entitled, - Shield-warrior precious, prince of the Scylfings, - AElfhere's kinsman: he saw his dear liegelord - Enduring the heat 'neath helmet and visor. - 5 Then he minded the holding that erst he had given him, - -{Wiglaf recalls Beowulf's generosity.} - - The Waegmunding warriors' wealth-blessed homestead, - Each of the folk-rights his father had wielded; - He was hot for the battle, his hand seized the target, - The yellow-bark shield, he unsheathed his old weapon, - 10 Which was known among earthmen as the relic of Eanmund, - Ohthere's offspring, whom, exiled and friendless, - Weohstan did slay with sword-edge in battle, - And carried his kinsman the clear-shining helmet, - The ring-made burnie, the old giant-weapon - 15 That Onela gave him, his boon-fellow's armor, - Ready war-trappings: he the feud did not mention, - Though he'd fatally smitten the son of his brother. - Many a half-year held he the treasures, - The bill and the burnie, till his bairn became able, - 20 Like his father before him, fame-deeds to 'complish; - Then he gave him 'mong Geatmen a goodly array of - Weeds for his warfare; he went from life then - Old on his journey. 'Twas the earliest time then - -{This is Wiglaf's first battle as liegeman of Beowulf.} - - That the youthful champion might charge in the battle - 25 Aiding his liegelord; his spirit was dauntless. - Nor did kinsman's bequest quail at the battle: - This the dragon discovered on their coming together. - Wiglaf uttered many a right-saying, - Said to his fellows, sad was his spirit: - -{Wiglaf appeals to the pride of the cowards.} - - 30 "I remember the time when, tasting the mead-cup, - We promised in the hall the lord of us all -[89] Who gave us these ring-treasures, that this battle-equipment, - Swords and helmets, we'd certainly quite him, - Should need of such aid ever befall him: - -{How we have forfeited our liegelord's confidence!} - - 35 In the war-band he chose us for this journey spontaneously, - Stirred us to glory and gave me these jewels, - Since he held and esteemed us trust-worthy spearmen, - Hardy helm-bearers, though this hero-achievement - Our lord intended alone to accomplish, - 40 Ward of his people, for most of achievements, - Doings audacious, he did among earth-folk. - -{Our lord is in sore need of us.} - - The day is now come when the ruler of earthmen - Needeth the vigor of valiant heroes: - Let us wend us towards him, the war-prince to succor, - 45 While the heat yet rageth, horrible fire-fight. - -{I would rather die than go home with out my suzerain.} - - God wot in me, 'tis mickle the liefer - The blaze should embrace my body and eat it - With my treasure-bestower. Meseemeth not proper - To bear our battle-shields back to our country, - 50 'Less first we are able to fell and destroy the - Long-hating foeman, to defend the life of - -{Surely he does not deserve to die alone.} - - The prince of the Weders. Well do I know 'tisn't - Earned by his exploits, he only of Geatmen - Sorrow should suffer, sink in the battle: - 55 Brand and helmet to us both shall be common, - [1]Shield-cover, burnie." Through the bale-smoke he stalked then, - Went under helmet to the help of his chieftain, - -{Wiglaf reminds Beowulf of his youthful boasts.} - - Briefly discoursing: "Beowulf dear, - Perform thou all fully, as thou formerly saidst, - 60 In thy youthful years, that while yet thou livedst -[90] Thou wouldst let thine honor not ever be lessened. - Thy life thou shalt save, mighty in actions, - Atheling undaunted, with all of thy vigor; - -{The monster advances on them.} - - I'll give thee assistance." The dragon came raging, - 65 Wild-mooded stranger, when these words had been uttered - ('Twas the second occasion), seeking his enemies, - Men that were hated, with hot-gleaming fire-waves; - With blaze-billows burned the board to its edges: - The fight-armor failed then to furnish assistance - 70 To the youthful spear-hero: but the young-aged stripling - Quickly advanced 'neath his kinsman's war-target, - Since his own had been ground in the grip of the fire. - -{Beowulf strikes at the dragon.} - - Then the warrior-king was careful of glory, - He soundly smote with sword-for-the-battle, - 75 That it stood in the head by hatred driven; - Naegling was shivered, the old and iron-made - -{His sword fails him.} - - Brand of Beowulf in battle deceived him. - 'Twas denied him that edges of irons were able - To help in the battle; the hand was too mighty - 80 [2]Which every weapon, as I heard on inquiry, - Outstruck in its stroke, when to struggle he carried - The wonderful war-sword: it waxed him no better. - -{The dragon advances on Beowulf again.} - - Then the people-despoiler--third of his onsets-- - Fierce-raging fire-drake, of feud-hate was mindful, - 85 Charged on the strong one, when chance was afforded, - Heated and war-grim, seized on his neck - With teeth that were bitter; he bloody did wax with - Soul-gore seething; sword-blood in waves boiled. - - [1] The passage '_Brand ... burnie_,' is much disputed. In the first - place, some eminent critics assume a gap of at least two - half-verses.--'Urum' (2660), being a peculiar form, has been much - discussed. 'Byrdu-scrud' is also a crux. B. suggests 'bywdu-scrud' = - _splendid vestments_. Nor is 'bam' accepted by all, 'beon' being - suggested. Whatever the individual words, the passage must mean, "_I - intend to share with him my equipments of defence_." - - [2] B. would render: _Which, as I heard, excelled in stroke every - sword that he carried to the strife, even the strongest (sword)._ For - 'Þonne' he reads 'Þone,' rel. pr. - -[91] - - - - -XXXVII. - -THE FATAL STRUGGLE.--BEOWULF'S LAST MOMENTS. - - -{Wiglaf defends Beowulf.} - - Then I heard that at need of the king of the people - The upstanding earlman exhibited prowess, - Vigor and courage, as suited his nature; - [1]He his head did not guard, but the high-minded liegeman's - 5 Hand was consumed, when he succored his kinsman, - So he struck the strife-bringing strange-comer lower, - Earl-thane in armor, that _in_ went the weapon - Gleaming and plated, that 'gan then the fire[2] - -{Beowulf draws his knife,} - - Later to lessen. The liegelord himself then - 10 Retained his consciousness, brandished his war-knife, - Battle-sharp, bitter, that he bare on his armor: - -{and cuts the dragon.} - - The Weder-lord cut the worm in the middle. - They had felled the enemy (life drove out then[3] - Puissant prowess), the pair had destroyed him, - 15 Land-chiefs related: so a liegeman should prove him, - A thaneman when needed. To the prince 'twas the last of - His era of conquest by his own great achievements, - -[92] - -{Beowulf's wound swells and burns.} - - The latest of world-deeds. The wound then began - Which the earth-dwelling dragon erstwhile had wrought him - 20 To burn and to swell. He soon then discovered - That bitterest bale-woe in his bosom was raging, - Poison within. The atheling advanced then, - -{He sits down exhausted.} - - That along by the wall, he prudent of spirit - Might sit on a settle; he saw the giant-work, - 25 How arches of stone strengthened with pillars - The earth-hall eternal inward supported. - Then the long-worthy liegeman laved with his hand the - -{Wiglaf bathes his lord's head.} - - Far-famous chieftain, gory from sword-edge, - Refreshing the face of his friend-lord and ruler, - 30 Sated with battle, unbinding his helmet. - Beowulf answered, of his injury spake he, - His wound that was fatal (he was fully aware - He had lived his allotted life-days enjoying - The pleasures of earth; then past was entirely - 35 His measure of days, death very near): - -{Beowulf regrets that he has no son.} - - "My son I would give now my battle-equipments, - Had any of heirs been after me granted, - Along of my body. This people I governed - Fifty of winters: no king 'mong my neighbors - 40 Dared to encounter me with comrades-in-battle, - Try me with terror. The time to me ordered - I bided at home, mine own kept fitly, - Sought me no snares, swore me not many - -{I can rejoice in a well-spent life.} - - Oaths in injustice. Joy over all this - 45 I'm able to have, though ill with my death-wounds; - Hence the Ruler of Earthmen need not charge me - With the killing of kinsmen, when cometh my life out - Forth from my body. Fare thou with haste now - -{Bring me the hoard, Wiglaf, that my dying eyes may be refreshed by a -sight of it.} - - To behold the hoard 'neath the hoar-grayish stone, - 50 Well-loved Wiglaf, now the worm is a-lying, - Sore-wounded sleepeth, disseized of his treasure. - Go thou in haste that treasures of old I, - Gold-wealth may gaze on, together see lying -[93] The ether-bright jewels, be easier able, - 55 Having the heap of hoard-gems, to yield my - Life and the land-folk whom long I have governed." - - [1] B. renders: _He_ (_W_.) did not regard his (_the dragon's_) _head_ - (since Beowulf had struck it without effect), _but struck the dragon a - little lower down.--_One crux is to find out _whose head_ is meant; - another is to bring out the antithesis between 'head' and 'hand.' - - [2] 'Þaet þaet fyr' (2702), S. emends to 'þa þaet fyr' = _when the fire - began to grow less intense afterward_. This emendation relieves the - passage of a plethora of conjunctive _þaet_'s. - - [3] For 'gefyldan' (2707), S. proposes 'gefylde.' The passage would - read: _He felled the foe (life drove out strength), and they then both - had destroyed him, chieftains related_. This gives Beowulf the credit - of having felled the dragon; then they combine to annihilate him.--For - 'ellen' (2707), Kl. suggests 'e(a)llne.'--The reading '_life drove out - strength_' is very unsatisfactory and very peculiar. I would suggest - as follows: Adopt S.'s emendation, remove H.'s parenthesis, read - 'ferh-ellen wraec,' and translate: _He felled the foe, drove out his - life-strength_ (that is, made him _hors de combat_), _and then they - both, etc_. - - - - -XXXVIII. - -WIGLAF PLUNDERS THE DRAGON'S DEN.--BEOWULF'S DEATH. - - -{Wiglaf fulfils his lord's behest.} - - Then heard I that Wihstan's son very quickly, - These words being uttered, heeded his liegelord - Wounded and war-sick, went in his armor, - His well-woven ring-mail, 'neath the roof of the barrow. - 5 Then the trusty retainer treasure-gems many - -{The dragon's den.} - - Victorious saw, when the seat he came near to, - Gold-treasure sparkling spread on the bottom, - Wonder on the wall, and the worm-creature's cavern, - The ancient dawn-flier's, vessels a-standing, - 10 Cups of the ancients of cleansers bereaved, - Robbed of their ornaments: there were helmets in numbers, - Old and rust-eaten, arm-bracelets many, - Artfully woven. Wealth can easily, - Gold on the sea-bottom, turn into vanity[1] - 15 Each one of earthmen, arm him who pleaseth! - And he saw there lying an all-golden banner - High o'er the hoard, of hand-wonders greatest, - Linked with lacets: a light from it sparkled, - That the floor of the cavern he was able to look on, - -{The dragon is not there.} - - 20 To examine the jewels. Sight of the dragon -[94] Not any was offered, but edge offcarried him. - -{Wiglaf bears the hoard away.} - - Then I heard that the hero the hoard-treasure plundered, - The giant-work ancient reaved in the cavern, - Bare on his bosom the beakers and platters, - 25 As himself would fain have it, and took off the standard, - The brightest of beacons;[2] the bill had erst injured - (Its edge was of iron), the old-ruler's weapon, - Him who long had watched as ward of the jewels, - Who fire-terror carried hot for the treasure, - 30 Rolling in battle, in middlemost darkness, - Till murdered he perished. The messenger hastened, - Not loth to return, hurried by jewels: - Curiosity urged him if, excellent-mooded, - Alive he should find the lord of the Weders - 35 Mortally wounded, at the place where he left him. - 'Mid the jewels he found then the famous old chieftain, - His liegelord beloved, at his life's-end gory: - He thereupon 'gan to lave him with water, - Till the point of his word pierced his breast-hoard. - 40 Beowulf spake (the gold-gems he noticed), - -{Beowulf is rejoiced to see the jewels.} - - The old one in sorrow: "For the jewels I look on - Thanks do I utter for all to the Ruler, - Wielder of Worship, with words of devotion, - The Lord everlasting, that He let me such treasures - 45 Gain for my people ere death overtook me. - Since I've bartered the aged life to me granted - For treasure of jewels, attend ye henceforward - -{He desires to be held in memory by his people.} - - The wants of the war-thanes; I can wait here no longer. - The battle-famed bid ye to build them a grave-hill, - 50 Bright when I'm burned, at the brim-current's limit; - As a memory-mark to the men I have governed, -[95] Aloft it shall tower on Whale's-Ness uprising, - That earls of the ocean hereafter may call it - Beowulf's barrow, those who barks ever-dashing - 55 From a distance shall drive o'er the darkness of waters." - -{The hero's last gift} - - The bold-mooded troop-lord took from his neck then - The ring that was golden, gave to his liegeman, - The youthful war-hero, his gold-flashing helmet, - His collar and war-mail, bade him well to enjoy them: - -{and last words.} - - 60 "Thou art latest left of the line of our kindred, - Of Waegmunding people: Weird hath offcarried - All of my kinsmen to the Creator's glory, - Earls in their vigor: I shall after them fare." - 'Twas the aged liegelord's last-spoken word in - 65 His musings of spirit, ere he mounted the fire, - The battle-waves burning: from his bosom departed - His soul to seek the sainted ones' glory. - - [1] The word 'oferhigian' (2767) being vague and little understood, - two quite distinct translations of this passage have arisen. One takes - 'oferhigian' as meaning 'to exceed,' and, inserting 'hord' after - 'gehwone,' renders: _The treasure may easily, the gold in the ground, - exceed in value every hoard of man, hide it who will._ The other takes - 'oferhigian' as meaning 'to render arrogant,' and, giving the sentence - a moralizing tone, renders substantially as in the body of this work. - (Cf. 28_13 et seq.) - - [2] The passage beginning here is very much disputed. 'The bill of the - old lord' is by some regarded as Beowulf's sword; by others, as that - of the ancient possessor of the hoard. 'AEr gescod' (2778), translated - in this work as verb and adverb, is by some regarded as a compound - participial adj. = _sheathed in brass_. - - - - -XXXIX. - -THE DEAD FOES.--WIGLAF'S BITTER TAUNTS. - - -{Wiglaf is sorely grieved to see his lord look so un-warlike.} - - It had wofully chanced then the youthful retainer - To behold on earth the most ardent-beloved - At his life-days' limit, lying there helpless. - The slayer too lay there, of life all bereaved, - 5 Horrible earth-drake, harassed with sorrow: - -{The dragon has plundered his last hoard.} - - The round-twisted monster was permitted no longer - To govern the ring-hoards, but edges of war-swords - Mightily seized him, battle-sharp, sturdy - Leavings of hammers, that still from his wounds - 10 The flier-from-farland fell to the earth - Hard by his hoard-house, hopped he at midnight - Not e'er through the air, nor exulting in jewels - Suffered them to see him: but he sank then to earthward - Through the hero-chief's handwork. I heard sure it throve then - -[96] - -{Few warriors dared to face the monster.} - - 15 But few in the land of liegemen of valor, - Though of every achievement bold he had proved him, - To run 'gainst the breath of the venomous scather, - Or the hall of the treasure to trouble with hand-blows, - If he watching had found the ward of the hoard-hall - 20 On the barrow abiding. Beowulf's part of - The treasure of jewels was paid for with death; - Each of the twain had attained to the end of - Life so unlasting. Not long was the time till - -{The cowardly thanes come out of the thicket.} - - The tardy-at-battle returned from the thicket, - 25 The timid truce-breakers ten all together, - Who durst not before play with the lances - In the prince of the people's pressing emergency; - -{They are ashamed of their desertion.} - - But blushing with shame, with shields they betook them, - With arms and armor where the old one was lying: - 30 They gazed upon Wiglaf. He was sitting exhausted, - Foot-going fighter, not far from the shoulders - Of the lord of the people, would rouse him with water; - No whit did it help him; though he hoped for it keenly, - He was able on earth not at all in the leader - 35 Life to retain, and nowise to alter - The will of the Wielder; the World-Ruler's power[1] - Would govern the actions of each one of heroes, - -{Wiglaf is ready to excoriate them.} - - As yet He is doing. From the young one forthwith then - Could grim-worded greeting be got for him quickly - 40 Whose courage had failed him. Wiglaf discoursed then, - Weohstan his son, sad-mooded hero, - -{He begins to taunt them.} - - Looked on the hated: "He who soothness will utter - Can say that the liegelord who gave you the jewels, - The ornament-armor wherein ye are standing, - 45 When on ale-bench often he offered to hall-men - Helmet and burnie, the prince to his liegemen, - As best upon earth he was able to find him,-- - -[97] - -{Surely our lord wasted his armor on poltroons.} - - That he wildly wasted his war-gear undoubtedly - When battle o'ertook him.[2] The troop-king no need had - 50 To glory in comrades; yet God permitted him, - -{He, however, got along without you} - - Victory-Wielder, with weapon unaided - Himself to avenge, when vigor was needed. - I life-protection but little was able - To give him in battle, and I 'gan, notwithstanding, - -{With some aid, I could have saved our liegelord} - - 55 Helping my kinsman (my strength overtaxing): - He waxed the weaker when with weapon I smote on - My mortal opponent, the fire less strongly - Flamed from his bosom. Too few of protectors - Came round the king at the critical moment. - -{Gift-giving is over with your people: the ring-lord is dead.} - - 60 Now must ornament-taking and weapon-bestowing, - Home-joyance all, cease for your kindred, - Food for the people; each of your warriors - Must needs be bereaved of rights that he holdeth - In landed possessions, when faraway nobles - 65 Shall learn of your leaving your lord so basely, - -{What is life without honor?} - - The dastardly deed. Death is more pleasant - To every earlman than infamous life is!" - - [1] For 'daedum raedan' (2859) B. suggests 'deaeth araedan,' and renders: - _The might (or judgment) of God would determine death for every man, - as he still does._ - - [2] Some critics, H. himself in earlier editions, put the clause, - 'When ... him' (A.-S. 'þa ... beget') with the following sentence; - that is, they make it dependent upon 'þorfte' (2875) instead of upon - 'forwurpe' (2873). - - - - -XL. - -THE MESSENGER OF DEATH. - - -{Wiglaf sends the news of Beowulf's death to liegemen near by.} - - Then he charged that the battle be announced at the hedge - Up o'er the cliff-edge, where the earl-troopers bided - The whole of the morning, mood-wretched sat them, - Bearers of battle-shields, both things expecting, - 5 The end of his lifetime and the coming again of - The liegelord beloved. Little reserved he - Of news that was known, who the ness-cliff did travel, - But he truly discoursed to all that could hear him: - -[98] - -{The messenger speaks.} - - "Now the free-giving friend-lord of the folk of the Weders, - 10 The folk-prince of Geatmen, is fast in his death-bed, - By the deeds of the dragon in death-bed abideth; - Along with him lieth his life-taking foeman - Slain with knife-wounds: he was wholly unable - To injure at all the ill-planning monster - -{Wiglaf sits by our dead lord.} - - 15 With bite of his sword-edge. Wiglaf is sitting, - Offspring of Wihstan, up over Beowulf, - Earl o'er another whose end-day hath reached him, - Head-watch holdeth o'er heroes unliving,[1] - -{Our lord's death will lead to attacks from our old foes.} - - For friend and for foeman. The folk now expecteth - 20 A season of strife when the death of the folk-king - To Frankmen and Frisians in far-lands is published. - The war-hatred waxed warm 'gainst the Hugmen, - -{Higelac's death recalled.} - - When Higelac came with an army of vessels - Faring to Friesland, where the Frankmen in battle - 25 Humbled him and bravely with overmight 'complished - That the mail-clad warrior must sink in the battle, - Fell 'mid his folk-troop: no fret-gems presented - The atheling to earlmen; aye was denied us - Merewing's mercy. The men of the Swedelands - 30 For truce or for truth trust I but little; - But widely 'twas known that near Ravenswood Ongentheow - -{Haethcyn's fall referred to.} - - Sundered Haethcyn the Hrethling from life-joys, - When for pride overweening the War-Scylfings first did - Seek the Geatmen with savage intentions. - 35 Early did Ohthere's age-laden father, - Old and terrible, give blow in requital, - Killing the sea-king, the queen-mother rescued, - The old one his consort deprived of her gold, - Onela's mother and Ohthere's also, -[99] 40 And then followed the feud-nursing foemen till hardly, - Reaved of their ruler, they Ravenswood entered. - Then with vast-numbered forces he assaulted the remnant, - Weary with wounds, woe often promised - The livelong night to the sad-hearted war-troop: - 45 Said he at morning would kill them with edges of weapons, - Some on the gallows for glee to the fowls. - Aid came after to the anxious-in-spirit - At dawn of the day, after Higelac's bugle - And trumpet-sound heard they, when the good one proceeded - 50 And faring followed the flower of the troopers. - - [1] 'Hige-meethum' (2910) is glossed by H. as dat. plu. (= for the - dead). S. proposes 'hige-meethe,' nom. sing. limiting Wiglaf; i.e. _W., - mood-weary, holds head-watch o'er friend and foe_.--B. suggests taking - the word as dat. inst. plu. of an abstract noun in -'u.' The - translation would be substantially the same as S.'s. - - - - -XLI. - -THE MESSENGER'S RETROSPECT. - - -{The messenger continues, and refers to the feuds of Swedes and Geats.} - - "The blood-stained trace of Swedes and Geatmen, - The death-rush of warmen, widely was noticed, - How the folks with each other feud did awaken. - The worthy one went then[1] with well-beloved comrades, - 5 Old and dejected to go to the fastness, - Ongentheo earl upward then turned him; - Of Higelac's battle he'd heard on inquiry, - The exultant one's prowess, despaired of resistance, - With earls of the ocean to be able to struggle, - 10 'Gainst sea-going sailors to save the hoard-treasure, - His wife and his children; he fled after thenceward - Old 'neath the earth-wall. Then was offered pursuance - To the braves of the Swedemen, the banner[2] to Higelac. -[100] They fared then forth o'er the field-of-protection, - 15 When the Hrethling heroes hedgeward had thronged them. - Then with edges of irons was Ongentheow driven, - The gray-haired to tarry, that the troop-ruler had to - Suffer the power solely of Eofor: - -{Wulf wounds Ongentheow.} - - Wulf then wildly with weapon assaulted him, - 20 Wonred his son, that for swinge of the edges - The blood from his body burst out in currents, - Forth 'neath his hair. He feared not however, - Gray-headed Scylfing, but speedily quited - -{Ongentheow gives a stout blow in return.} - - The wasting wound-stroke with worse exchange, - 25 When the king of the thane-troop thither did turn him: - The wise-mooded son of Wonred was powerless - To give a return-blow to the age-hoary man, - But his head-shielding helmet first hewed he to pieces, - That flecked with gore perforce he did totter, - 30 Fell to the earth; not fey was he yet then, - But up did he spring though an edge-wound had reached him. - -{Eofor smites Ongentheow fiercely.} - - Then Higelac's vassal, valiant and dauntless, - When his brother lay dead, made his broad-bladed weapon, - Giant-sword ancient, defence of the giants, - 35 Bound o'er the shield-wall; the folk-prince succumbed then, - -{Ongentheow is slain.} - - Shepherd of people, was pierced to the vitals. - There were many attendants who bound up his kinsman, - Carried him quickly when occasion was granted - That the place of the slain they were suffered to manage. - 40 This pending, one hero plundered the other, - His armor of iron from Ongentheow ravished, - His hard-sword hilted and helmet together; - -{Eofor takes the old king's war-gear to Higelac.} - - The old one's equipments he carried to Higelac. - He the jewels received, and rewards 'mid the troopers - 45 Graciously promised, and so did accomplish: - The king of the Weders requited the war-rush, - Hrethel's descendant, when home he repaired him, - -{Higelac rewards the brothers.} - - To Eofor and Wulf with wide-lavished treasures, - To each of them granted a hundred of thousands -[101] 50 In land and rings wrought out of wire: - -{His gifts were beyond cavil.} - - None upon mid-earth needed to twit him[3] - With the gifts he gave them, when glory they conquered; - -{To Eofor he also gives his only daughter in marriage.} - - And to Eofor then gave he his one only daughter, - The honor of home, as an earnest of favor. - 55 That's the feud and hatred--as ween I 'twill happen-- - The anger of earthmen, that earls of the Swedemen - Will visit on us, when they hear that our leader - Lifeless is lying, he who longtime protected - His hoard and kingdom 'gainst hating assailers, - 60 Who on the fall of the heroes defended of yore - The deed-mighty Scyldings,[4] did for the troopers - What best did avail them, and further moreover - -{It is time for us to pay the last marks of respect to our lord.} - - Hero-deeds 'complished. Now is haste most fitting, - That the lord of liegemen we look upon yonder, - 65 And _that_ one carry on journey to death-pyre - Who ring-presents gave us. Not aught of it all - Shall melt with the brave one--there's a mass of bright jewels, - Gold beyond measure, grewsomely purchased - And ending it all ornament-rings too - 70 Bought with his life; these fire shall devour, - Flame shall cover, no earlman shall wear - A jewel-memento, nor beautiful virgin - Have on her neck rings to adorn her, - But wretched in spirit bereaved of gold-gems - 75 She shall oft with others be exiled and banished, - Since the leader of liegemen hath laughter forsaken, -[102] Mirth and merriment. Hence many a war-spear - Cold from the morning shall be clutched in the fingers, - Heaved in the hand, no harp-music's sound shall - 80 Waken the warriors, but the wan-coated raven - Fain over fey ones freely shall gabble, - Shall say to the eagle how he sped in the eating, - When, the wolf his companion, he plundered the slain." - So the high-minded hero was rehearsing these stories - 85 Loathsome to hear; he lied as to few of - -{The warriors go sadly to look at Beowulf's lifeless body.} - - Weirds and of words. All the war-troop arose then, - 'Neath the Eagle's Cape sadly betook them, - Weeping and woful, the wonder to look at. - They saw on the sand then soulless a-lying, - 90 His slaughter-bed holding, him who rings had given them - In days that were done; then the death-bringing moment - Was come to the good one, that the king very warlike, - Wielder of Weders, with wonder-death perished. - First they beheld there a creature more wondrous, - -{They also see the dragon.} - - 95 The worm on the field, in front of them lying, - The foeman before them: the fire-spewing dragon, - Ghostly and grisly guest in his terrors, - Was scorched in the fire; as he lay there he measured - Fifty of feet; came forth in the night-time[5] - 100 To rejoice in the air, thereafter departing - To visit his den; he in death was then fastened, - He would joy in no other earth-hollowed caverns. - There stood round about him beakers and vessels, - Dishes were lying and dear-valued weapons, - 105 With iron-rust eaten, as in earth's mighty bosom - A thousand of winters there they had rested: - -{The hoard was under a magic spell.} - - That mighty bequest then with magic was guarded, - Gold of the ancients, that earlman not any - The ring-hall could touch, save Ruling-God only, -[103] 110 Sooth-king of Vict'ries gave whom He wished to - -{God alone could give access to it.} - - [6](He is earth-folk's protector) to open the treasure, - E'en to such among mortals as seemed to Him proper. - - [1] For 'goda,' which seems a surprising epithet for a Geat to apply - to the "terrible" Ongentheow, B. suggests 'gomela.' The passage would - then stand: '_The old one went then,' etc._ - - [2] For 'segn Higelace,' K., Th., and B. propose 'segn Higelaces,' - meaning: _Higelac's banner followed the Swedes (in pursuit)._--S. - suggests 'saecc Higelaces,' and renders: _Higelac's pursuit._--The - H.-So. reading, as translated in our text, means that the banner of - the enemy was captured and brought to Higelac as a trophy. - - [3] The rendering given in this translation represents the king as - being generous beyond the possibility of reproach; but some - authorities construe 'him' (2996) as plu., and understand the passage - to mean that no one reproached the two brothers with having received - more reward than they were entitled to. - - [4] The name 'Scyldingas' here (3006) has caused much discussion, and - given rise to several theories, the most important of which are as - follows: (1) After the downfall of Hrothgar's family, Beowulf was king - of the Danes, or Scyldings. (2) For 'Scyldingas' read - 'Scylfingas'--that is, after killing Eadgils, the Scylfing prince, - Beowulf conquered his land, and held it in subjection. (3) M. - considers 3006 a thoughtless repetition of 2053. (Cf. H.-So.) - - [5] B. takes 'nihtes' and 'hwilum' (3045) as separate adverbial cases, - and renders: _Joy in the air had he of yore by night, etc_. He thinks - that the idea of vanished time ought to be expressed. - - [6] The parenthesis is by some emended so as to read: (1) (_He_ (i.e. - _God_) _is the hope of men_); (2) (_he is the hope of heroes_). Gr.'s - reading has no parenthesis, but says: ... _could touch, unless God - himself, true king of victories, gave to whom he would to open the - treasure, the secret place of enchanters, etc_. The last is rejected - on many grounds. - - - - -XLII. - -WIGLAF'S SAD STORY.--THE HOARD CARRIED OFF. - - - Then 'twas seen that the journey prospered him little - Who wrongly within had the ornaments hidden[1] - Down 'neath the wall. The warden erst slaughtered - Some few of the folk-troop: the feud then thereafter - 5 Was hotly avenged. 'Tis a wonder where,[2] - When the strength-famous trooper has attained to the end of - Life-days allotted, then no longer the man may - Remain with his kinsmen where mead-cups are flowing. - So to Beowulf happened when the ward of the barrow, - 10 Assaults, he sought for: himself had no knowledge - How his leaving this life was likely to happen. - So to doomsday, famous folk-leaders down did - Call it with curses--who 'complished it there-- -[104] That that man should be ever of ill-deeds convicted, - 15 Confined in foul-places, fastened in hell-bonds, - Punished with plagues, who this place should e'er ravage.[3] - He cared not for gold: rather the Wielder's - Favor preferred he first to get sight of.[4] - -{Wiglaf addresses his comrades.} - - Wiglaf discoursed then, Wihstan his son: - 20 "Oft many an earlman on one man's account must - Sorrow endure, as to us it hath happened. - The liegelord beloved we could little prevail on, - Kingdom's keeper, counsel to follow, - Not to go to the guardian of the gold-hoard, but let him - 25 Lie where he long was, live in his dwelling - Till the end of the world. Met we a destiny - Hard to endure: the hoard has been looked at, - Been gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that[5] - The prince of the people pricked to come thither. - 30 _I_ was therein and all of it looked at, - The building's equipments, since access was given me, - Not kindly at all entrance permitted - -{He tells them of Beowulf's last moments.} - - Within under earth-wall. Hastily seized I - And held in my hands a huge-weighing burden - 35 Of hoard-treasures costly, hither out bare them - To my liegelord beloved: life was yet in him, - And consciousness also; the old one discoursed then - Much and mournfully, commanded to greet you, - -{Beowulf's dying request.} - - Bade that remembering the deeds of your friend-lord - 40 Ye build on the fire-hill of corpses a lofty - Burial-barrow, broad and far-famous, - As 'mid world-dwelling warriors he was widely most honored - While he reveled in riches. Let us rouse us and hasten -[105] Again to see and seek for the treasure, - 45 The wonder 'neath wall. The way I will show you, - That close ye may look at ring-gems sufficient - And gold in abundance. Let the bier with promptness - Fully be fashioned, when forth we shall come, - And lift we our lord, then, where long he shall tarry, - 50 Well-beloved warrior, 'neath the Wielder's protection." - -{Wiglaf charges them to build a funeral-pyre.} - - Then the son of Wihstan bade orders be given, - Mood-valiant man, to many of heroes, - Holders of homesteads, that they hither from far, - [6]Leaders of liegemen, should look for the good one - 55 With wood for his pyre: "The flame shall now swallow - (The wan fire shall wax[7]) the warriors' leader - Who the rain of the iron often abided, - When, sturdily hurled, the storm of the arrows - Leapt o'er linden-wall, the lance rendered service, - 60 Furnished with feathers followed the arrow." - Now the wise-mooded son of Wihstan did summon - The best of the braves from the band of the ruler - -{He takes seven thanes, and enters the den.} - - Seven together; 'neath the enemy's roof he - Went with the seven; one of the heroes - 65 Who fared at the front, a fire-blazing torch-light - Bare in his hand. No lot then decided - Who that hoard should havoc, when hero-earls saw it - Lying in the cavern uncared-for entirely, - Rusting to ruin: they rued then but little - 70 That they hastily hence hauled out the treasure, - -{They push the dragon over the wall.} - - The dear-valued jewels; the dragon eke pushed they, - The worm o'er the wall, let the wave-currents take him, -[106] The waters enwind the ward of the treasures. - -{The hoard is laid on a wain.} - - There wounden gold on a wain was uploaded, - 75 A mass unmeasured, the men-leader off then, - The hero hoary, to Whale's-Ness was carried. - - [1] For 'gehydde,' B. suggests 'gehyethde': the passage would stand as - above except the change of 'hidden' (v. 2) to 'plundered.' The - reference, however, would be to the thief, not to the dragon. - - [2] The passage 'Wundur ... buan' (3063-3066), M. took to be a - question asking whether it was strange that a man should die when his - appointed time had come.--B. sees a corruption, and makes emendations - introducing the idea that a brave man should not die from sickness or - from old age, but should find death in the performance of some deed of - daring.--S. sees an indirect question introduced by 'hwar' and - dependent upon 'wundur': _A secret is it when the hero is to die, - etc_.--Why may the two clauses not be parallel, and the whole passage - an Old English cry of '_How wonderful is death!'?_--S.'s is the best - yet offered, if 'wundor' means 'mystery.' - - [3] For 'strude' in H.-So., S. suggests 'stride.' This would require - 'ravage' (v. 16) to be changed to 'tread.' - - [4] 'He cared ... sight of' (17, 18), S. emends so as to read as - follows: _He (Beowulf) had not before seen the favor of the avaricious - possessor._ - - [5] B. renders: _That which drew the king thither_ (i.e. _the - treasure_) _was granted us, but in such a way that it overcomes us._ - - [6] 'Folc-agende' (3114) B. takes as dat. sing. with 'godum,' and - refers it to Beowulf; that is, _Should bring fire-wood to the place - where the good folk-ruler lay_. - - [7] C. proposes to take 'weaxan' = L. 'vescor,' and translate - _devour_. This gives a parallel to 'fretan' above. The parenthesis - would be discarded and the passage read: _Now shall the fire consume, - the wan-flame devour, the prince of warriors, etc_. - - - - -XLIII. - -THE BURNING OF BEOWULF. - - -{Beowulf's pyre.} - - The folk of the Geatmen got him then ready - A pile on the earth strong for the burning, - Behung with helmets, hero-knights' targets, - And bright-shining burnies, as he begged they should have them; - 5 Then wailing war-heroes their world-famous chieftain, - Their liegelord beloved, laid in the middle. - -{The funeral-flame.} - - Soldiers began then to make on the barrow - The largest of dead-fires: dark o'er the vapor - The smoke-cloud ascended, the sad-roaring fire, - 10 Mingled with weeping (the wind-roar subsided) - Till the building of bone it had broken to pieces, - Hot in the heart. Heavy in spirit - They mood-sad lamented the men-leader's ruin; - And mournful measures the much-grieving widow - 15 * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - * * * * * * * - 20 * * * * * * * - -{The Weders carry out their lord's last request.} - - The men of the Weders made accordingly - A hill on the height, high and extensive, - Of sea-going sailors to be seen from a distance, - And the brave one's beacon built where the fire was, - 25 In ten-days' space, with a wall surrounded it, - As wisest of world-folk could most worthily plan it. - They placed in the barrow rings and jewels, - -[107] - -{Rings and gems are laid in the barrow.} - - All such ornaments as erst in the treasure - War-mooded men had won in possession: - 30 The earnings of earlmen to earth they entrusted, - The gold to the dust, where yet it remaineth - As useless to mortals as in foregoing eras. - 'Round the dead-mound rode then the doughty-in-battle, - Bairns of all twelve of the chiefs of the people, - -{They mourn for their lord, and sing his praises.} - - 35 More would they mourn, lament for their ruler, - Speak in measure, mention him with pleasure, - Weighed his worth, and his warlike achievements - Mightily commended, as 'tis meet one praise his - Liegelord in words and love him in spirit, - 40 When forth from his body he fares to destruction. - So lamented mourning the men of the Geats, - Fond-loving vassals, the fall of their lord, - -{An ideal king.} - - Said he was kindest of kings under heaven, - Gentlest of men, most winning of manner, - 45 Friendliest to folk-troops and fondest of honor. - -[109] - - - - -ADDENDA. - - -Several discrepancies and other oversights have been noticed in the H.-So. -glossary. Of these a good part were avoided by Harrison and Sharp, the -American editors of Beowulf, in their last edition, 1888. The rest will, I -hope, be noticed in their fourth edition. As, however, this book may fall -into the hands of some who have no copy of the American edition, it seems -best to notice all the principal oversights of the German editors. - -~From ham~ (194).--Notes and glossary conflict; the latter not having been -altered to suit the conclusions accepted in the former. - -~Þaer gelyfan sceal dryhtnes dome~ (440).--Under 'dom' H. says 'the might -of the Lord'; while under 'gelyfan' he says 'the judgment of the Lord.' - -~Eal bencþelu~ (486).--Under 'benc-þelu' H. says _nom. plu._; while under -'eal' he says _nom. sing._ - -~Heatho-raemas~ (519).--Under 'aetberan' H. translates 'to the Heathoremes'; -while under 'Heatho-raemas' he says 'Heathoraemas reaches Breca in the -swimming-match with Beowulf.' Harrison and Sharp (3d edition, 1888) avoid -the discrepancy. - -~Fah feond-scaetha~ (554).--Under 'feond-scaetha' H. says 'a gleaming -sea-monster'; under 'fah' he says 'hostile.' - -~Onfeng hraethe inwit-þancum~ (749).--Under 'onfon' H. says 'he _received_ -the maliciously-disposed one'; under 'inwit-þanc' he says 'he _grasped_,' -etc. - -~Nieth-wundor seon~ (1366).--Under 'nieth-wundor' H. calls this word itself -_nom. sing._; under 'seon' he translates it as accus. sing., understanding -'man' as subject of 'seon.' H. and S. (3d edition) make the correction. - -~Forgeaf hilde-bille~ (1521).--H., under the second word, calls it instr. -dat.; while under 'forgifan' he makes it the dat. of indir. obj. H. and S. -(3d edition) make the change. - -~Brad~ and ~brun-ecg~ (1547).--Under 'brad' H. says 'das breite Hueftmesser -mit bronzener Klinge'; under 'brun-ecg' he says 'ihr breites Hueftmesser -mit blitzender Klinge.' - -[110] - -~Yethelice~ (1557).--Under this word H. makes it modify 'astod.' If this be -right, the punctuation of the fifth edition is wrong. See H. and S., -appendix. - -~Selran gesohte~ (1840).--Under 'sel' and 'gesecan' H. calls these two -words accus. plu.; but this is clearly an error, as both are nom. plu., -pred. nom. H. and S. correct under 'sel.' - -~Wieth sylfne~ (1978).--Under 'wieth' and 'gesittan' H. says 'wieth = near, by'; -under 'self' he says 'opposite.' - -~þeow~ (2225) is omitted from the glossary. - -~For duguethum~ (2502).--Under 'dugueth' H. translates this phrase, 'in -Tuechtigkeit'; under 'for,' by 'vor der edlen Kriegerschaar.' - -~þaer~ (2574).--Under 'wealdan' H. translates _þaer_ by 'wo'; under 'motan,' -by 'da.' H. and S. suggest 'if' in both passages. - -~Wunde~ (2726).--Under 'wund' H. says 'dative,' and under 'wael-bleate' he -says 'accus.' It is without doubt accus., parallel with 'benne.' - -~Strengum gebaeded~ (3118).--Under 'strengo' H. says 'Strengum' = mit -Macht; under 'gebaeded' he translates 'von den Sehnen.' H. and S. correct -this discrepancy by rejecting the second reading. - -~Bronda be lafe~ (3162).--A recent emendation. The fourth edition had -'bronda betost.' In the fifth edition the editor neglects to change the -glossary to suit the new emendation. 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