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diff --git a/old/50742-0.txt b/old/50742-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4265e8f..0000000 --- a/old/50742-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3713 +0,0 @@ -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 50742 *** - THE STORY OF BEOWULF - - TRANSLATED FROM ANGLO-SAXON INTO MODERN ENGLISH PROSE - - - BY - ERNEST J. B. KIRTLAN - B.A. (London), B.D. (St. Andrews) - Author of a Translation of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' - - - DECORATED AND DESIGNED BY - FREDERIC LAWRENCE - - - With Introduction, Notes and Appendices - - - NEW YORK - THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - - - - - - - To - THE MEMORY OF - MY FATHER - - - - - - - - - -NOTE AS TO USE OF APPENDIX - - -I have relegated to the Appendix all notes of any considerable -length. The reader is advised to consult the Appendices wherever -directed in the footnotes. He will then have a much clearer conception -of the principal characters and events of the poem. - - - - - - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -'Beowulf' may rightly be pronounced the great national epic of the -Anglo-Saxon race. Not that it exalts the race so much as that it -presents the spirit of the Anglo-Saxon peoples, the ideals and aims, -the manners and customs, of our ancestors, and that it does so in -setting before us a great national hero. Beowulf himself was not an -Anglo-Saxon. He was a Geat-Dane; but he belonged to that confraternity -of nations that composed the Teutonic people. He lived in an heroic -age, when the songs of the wandering singers were of the great deeds of -outstanding men. The absolute epic of the English people has yet to be -written. To some extent Arthur, though a British King--that is to say, -though he was King of the Celtic British people, who were subsequently -driven into the West, into Cornwall and Wales and Strathclyde, by our -Saxon ancestors--became nationalized by our Anglo-Norman ancestors as -a typical King of the English people. He has become the epic King of -the English in the poetry of Tennyson. It is always a mystery to the -writer that no competent singer among us has ever laid hands upon our -own Saxon hero, King Alfred. It is sometimes said that there is nothing -new under the sun, that there is nothing left for the modern singer -to sing about, and that the realm of possible musical production is -fast vanishing out of view. Certainly this is not true of poetry. Both -Alfred and Arthur are waiting for the sympathetic voice that will tell -forth to the world the immortal splendour of their personalities. And -just as the Anglo-Normans idealized Arthur as a hero-king of the -English nation, though he really fought against the English, so the -Saxon singer of Beowulf has idealized this Geatish chieftain, and in -some way set him forth as the idealized chieftain of the Teutonic race. - -Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon poem.--It consists of 3182 lines. It is -written in the alliterative verse of our ancestors in the Anglo-Saxon -tongue, which, though the mother-tongue of the English, is yet more -difficult to read for the Englishman than Latin or Greek. One wonders -whether any genuine Anglo-Saxon epic existed, and has been destroyed -in the passing of the centuries. The curious feature about this poem -is that it concerns a man who was not an Anglo-Saxon. Our poem is -written in the West Saxon dialect. The original poem was probably in -Northumbrian, and was translated into West Saxon during the period of -literary efflorescence in the West Saxon Court. We do not know whether -it was a translation or whether it was original, though the latter -is, I believe, the prevailing opinion. Arnold has put forth what -may be called the missionary theory of its origin. He believes that -both the choice of subject and the grade of culture may be connected -with the missionary efforts of the English Church of those days to -extend Christianity in Friesland and further east. 'It does not seem -improbable that it was in the interest of the spread of Christianity -that the composer of Beowulf--perhaps a missioner, perhaps a layman -attached to the mission--was attracted to the Scandinavian lands; -that he resided there long enough to become thoroughly steeped in -the folk-lore and local traditions; that he found the grand figure of -Beowulf the Geat predominant in them; and that, weaving into an organic -whole those which he found suitable to his own purpose, he composed -an epic which, on his return home, must soon have become known to all -the lovers of English song.' [1] Dr. Sarrazin thought this unknown -poet might have been the famous Cynewulf. Arnold, chiefly on stylistic -grounds, differs from this opinion. This is Arnold's opinion: 'Sagas, -either in the Danish dialect or that of the Geats--more probably the -latter--were current in the Scandinavian countries in the seventh -century. Among these sagas, that of Beowulf the Geat must have had -a prominent place; others celebrated Hygelac his uncle, Hnaef the -Viking, the wars of the Danes and the Heathobards, of the Danes and -the Swedes. About the end of the century missionaries from England -are known to have been busy in Friesland and Denmark, endeavouring to -convert the natives to Christianity. Some one of these, whose mind had -a turn for literature and dwelt with joy upon the traditions of the -past, collected or learnt by heart a number of these sagas, and, taking -that of Beowulf as a basis, and weaving some others into his work, -composed an epic poem to which, although it contains the record of -those adventures, the heroic scale of the figure who accomplishes them -all imparts a real unifying epic interest.' Whatever may be the truth -as to its origin, there it lies in the British Museum in its unique -MS. as a testimony to all ages of the genius of the Anglo-Saxon race. - -Now it will be quite naturally asked, What do we learn from Beowulf -of the genius and spirit of that race from which we are sprung? - -The one outstanding fact, as it appears to the writer, is the -co-operative principle. And this principle stands in almost violent -opposition to the ruling principle of the modern world, in which -society is divided into a number of mutually opposite sections or -classes, whose interests clash with fatal results to individual -and corporate well-being. In this poem we see the whole community, -from the King to the churl, bound by one common interest. King and -chieftain and thane and churl freely intermingle and converse. They -eat and drink and sleep under one common roof, or at least in -one common enclosure. Tempora mutantur! but the idea of social -interaction and mutual interdependence never found more vivid or -real expression than in the pictures presented in Beowulf of Hart, -the Great Hall of Hrothgar, and in the Court and township of Hygelac, -King of the Geats. In the Hall of Hart Hrothgar and his Queen and his -courtiers sit at the high table on the dais, and the lower orders -at the long table down the hall. The spears and shields adorn the -walls. After the evening meal, the singer, or scop, as he is called, -to the accompaniment of the harp, tells forth the deeds of some ancient -feud, such as that of Finn and the Danes or the Fight at Finnsburgh, -or the feud of the Danes and the Heathobards, in which Freawaru, -Hrothgar's daughter, and Ingeld figure so tragically. Then the benches -are removed, and the rude beds are spread out on the floor of the Great -Hall and they seek 'evening rest.' The whole is a picture of fraternal -and paternal government. If Grendel, the Fen-monster, carries away -one of their number, then there is weeping and lamentation. The King -and the Queen and the nobility and the commonalty are all concerned -in the tragedy. The loss of one is the loss of all. When Aeschere is -slain by Grendel's mother Hrothgar thus bewails his loss: 'Seek no more -after joy; sorrow is renewed for the Danish folk. Aeschere is dead, -he who was my wise counsellor and my adviser and my comrade in arms, -when in time of war we defended ourselves; ... but now the hand lieth -low which bestowed every kind of joy upon you.' And in the end of the -poem it is said of Beowulf that he was 'most gentle to his folk.' The -King was king only 'for his folk.' The interest of his folk, their -physical and moral well-being, was his chief solicitude. - -2. But not only was this so within any one nation or tribe, but there -was a sense of comradeship and mutual responsibility among those of -various tribes and nations. When Beowulf the Geat hears in Gautland of -the raids of Grendel upon Hart, he commands his folk to make ready a -boat that he may fare across the sea to the help of Hrothgar, because -'he was lacking in warriors.' Beowulf's whole mission in Hart was -the discharge of a solemn obligation of help from the strong to the -weak. He announces to Hrothgar that he is come 'to cleanse Hart of -ill,' and this he feels he must do. 'Woe is me if I preach not the -gospel!' cried St. Paul. 'Woe is me if I help not the weak and cleanse -not the demon-infested palace of my kinsman!' cried Beowulf. 'Weird -goes as he willeth'; that is, Fate must be submitted to. And Fate -hath willed that he should help the weak and 'cleanse the ill.' - -3. Then there is the tremendous sense of loyalty on the part of the -folk to their king or chieftain. The idea of the 'Comitatus' bound -the folk to their leaders. Nothing more disgraceful could be conceived -than the desertion of the leader. Terrible were the reproaches hurled -at the trembling cowards who had hurried away into the woods, to save -their own skins, whilst their King Beowulf wrestled with the dragon, -the enemy of the people. 'Yea, death is better for any earl than a -life of reproach.' Loyalty, a passionate loyalty to the King, was -the greatest of virtues, and disloyalty and cowardice the greatest -of vices. Society was an organic whole, bound together by the bands -of loyalty and devotion to the common good. - -4. There is, too, the fatalistic note heard all through the -poem. Beowulf feels himself hard pressed by Fate. The Anglo-Saxon -called Fate by the name 'Weird,' which has survived in modern English -in the sense of something strange and mysterious. Weird was the God, -or Goddess of Fate. Again and again in the poem we hear the solemn, -minor, dirge-like refrain, 'Weird hath willed it'; 'Goeth Weird as she -willeth' (chapter VI. p. 44). There is this perpetual overshadowing and -almost crushing sense of some inscrutable and irresistible power that -wieldeth all things and disposeth all things, which is, I believe, -a pre-eminent characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon race, and accounts -for the dare-devil courage of her sons upon the battle-field or on -the high seas. We find it, too, in its morally less attractive form in -the recrudescent pessimism of modern literature. Thomas Hardy is the -lineal descendant in literature of the author of Beowulf when he says: -'Thus the President of the Immortals had finished his sport with poor -Tess.' [2] - -5. And closely allied to this sense of Destiny is the sombre view of -life that is characteristic of the Teutonic peoples. There is none of -that passionate joy in beauty and in love that we find in the Celtic -literature. Life is a serious thing in Beowulf and with us of the -Anglo-Saxon race. The scenery of Beowulf is massive and threatening -and mist-encircled. Angry seas are boiling and surging and breaking -at the foot of lofty and precipitous cliffs. Above the edge of the -cliffs stretch mysterious and gloomy moorlands, and treacherous -bogs and dense forests inhabited by malignant and powerful spirits, -the foes of humanity. In a land like this there is no time for -love-making. Eating, drinking, sleeping, fighting there make up the -business of life. It is to the Celtic inflow that we owe the addition -of love in our modern literature. The composer of Beowulf could not -have conceived the Arthur Saga or the Tristram love-legend. These -things belong to a later age, when Celtic and Teutonic elements were -fused in the Anglo-Norman race. But we still find in our literature -the sombre hues. And, after all, it is in the forest of sorrow and pain -that we discover the most beautiful flowers and the subtlest perfumes. - -I desire to express my indebtedness to A. J. Wyatt and William Morris -for their translations; to A. J. Wyatt for his edition of the poem -in the original; to Thomas Arnold for his terse and most informing -work on Beowulf; to the authors of articles in the Encyclopaedia -Britannica and in Chambers's Encyclopaedia and The Cambridge History -of English Literature. - - -Ernest J. B. Kirtlan. - -Brighton, -November, 1913. - - - - - - - - - -THE STORY OF BEOWULF - -I - -The Prelude - - -Now we have heard, by inquiry, of the glory of the kings of the -people, they of the Spear-Danes, how the Athelings were doing deeds -of courage. [3] Full often Scyld, the son of Scef, with troops of -warriors, withheld the drinking-stools from many a tribe. This -earl caused terror when at first he was found in a miserable -case. Afterwards he gave help when he grew up under the welkin, -and worshipfully he flourished until all his neighbours over the sea -gave him obedience, and yielded him tribute. He was a good king. In -after-time there was born to him a son in the Court, whom God sent -thither as a saviour of the people. He saw the dire distress that -they formerly suffered when for a long while they were without a -prince. Then it was that the Lord of Life, the Wielder of glory, -gave to him glory. Famous was Beowulf. [4] Far and wide spread his -fame. Heir was he of Scyld in the land of the Danes. Thus should -a young man be doing good deeds, with rich gifts to the friends of -his father, so that in later days, when war shall come upon them, -boon companions may stand at his side, helping their liege lord. For -in all nations, by praiseworthy deeds, shall a man be thriving. - -At the fated hour Scyld passed away, very vigorous in spirit, to the -keeping of his Lord. Then his pleasant companions carried him down to -the ocean flood, as he himself had bidden them, whilst the friend of -the Scyldings was wielding words, he who as the dear Lord of the Land -had ruled it a long time. And there, in the haven, stood the ship, -with rings at the prow, icy, and eager for the journey, the ferry of -the Atheling. - -Then they laid down their dear Lord the giver of rings, the famous -man, on the bosom of the ship, close to the mast, where were heaps of -treasures, armour trappings that had been brought from far ways. Never -heard I of a comelier ship, decked out with battle-weapons and -weeds of war, with swords and byrnies. In his bosom they laid many -a treasure when he was going on a far journey, into the power of -the sea. Nor did they provide for him less of booty and of national -treasures than they had done, who at the first had sent him forth, -all alone o'er the waves, when he was but a child. Then moreover they -set a golden standard high o'er his head, and let the sea take him, -and gave all to the man of the sea. Full sad were their minds, and all -sorrowing were they. No man can say soothly, no, not any hall-ruler, -nor hero under heaven, who took in that lading. [5] - - - - - - - - - -II - -The Story - - -I - -Moreover the Danish Beowulf, [6] the dear King of his people, was -a long time renowned amongst the folk in the cities (his father, -the Prince, had gone a-faring elsewhere from this world). Then was -there born to him a son, the high Healfdene; and while he lived he -was ruling the happy Danish people, and war-fierce and ancient was -he. Four children were born to him: Heorogar the leader of troops, and -Hrothgar, and Halga the good. And I heard say that Queen Elan (wife -of Ongentheow) was his daughter, and she became the beloved comrade -of the Swede. Then to Hrothgar was granted good speed in warfare and -honour in fighting, so that his loyal subjects eagerly obeyed him, -until the youths grew doughty, a very great band of warriors. Then -it burned in his mind that he would bid men be building a palace, -a greater mead-hall than the children of men ever had heard of, and -that he would therein distribute to young and to old, as God gave him -power, all the wealth that he had save the share of the folk and the -lives of men. - -Then I heard far and wide how he gave commandment to many a people -throughout all the world, this work to be doing, and to deck out -the folkstead. In due time it happened that soon among men, this -greatest of halls was now all ready. And Hart he called it, whose -word had great wielding. He broke not his promise, but gave to them -rings and treasures at the banquet. The hall towered on high, and the -gables were wide between the horns, [7] and awaited the surging of the -loathsome flames. Not long time should pass ere hatred was awakened -after the battle-slaughter, twixt father-in-law and son-in-law. [8] - -Then it was that the powerful sprite who abode in darkness, scarce -could brook for a while that daily he heard loud joy in the hall. There -was sound of harping, and the clear song of the bard. - -He who knew it was telling of the beginning of mankind, and he -said that the Almighty created the world, and the bright fields -surrounded by water. And, exulting, He set the sun and the moon as -lamps to shine upon the earth-dwellers, and adorned the world with -branches and leaves. And life He was giving to every kind of living -creature. So noble men lived in joy, and were all blessed till one -began to do evil, a devil from hell; and this grim spirit was called -Grendel. And he was a march-stepper, who ruled on the moorlands, the -fens, and the stronghold. For a while he kept guard, this unhappy -creature, over the land of the race of monsters, since the Creator -had proscribed him. On the race of Cain the Eternal Lord brought -death as vengeance, when he slew Abel. Nor did he find joy in the -feud, but God for the crime drove him far thence. Thus it was that -evil things came to their birth, giants and elves and monsters of -the deep, likewise those giants who for a long while were striving -with God Himself. And well He requited them. - - - - -II - -Then he went visiting the high house after nightfall, to see how the -Ring-Danes were holding it. And he found there a band of Athelings -asleep after feasting. And they knew not sorrow or the misery of -men. The grim and greedy wight of destruction, all fierce and furious, -was soon ready for his task, and laid hold of thirty thanes, all as -they lay sleeping. And away he wended, faring homeward and exulting -in the booty, to revisit his dwellings filled full of slaughter. At -the dawn of day the war-craft of Grendel was seen by men. Then after -his feeding they set up a weeping, great noise in the morning. - -The glorious Lord, the very good Atheling, sat all unblithely, and -suffered great pain, and endured sorrow for his thanes, when they saw -the track of the loathly one, the cursed sprite. That struggle was -too strong, loathsome and long. And after but one night (no longer -time was it) he did them more murder-bale, and recked not a whit -the feud and the crime. Too quick was he therein. Then he who had -sought elsewhere more at large a resting-place, a bed after bower, -was easily found when he was shown and told most truly, by the token -so clear, the hate of the hell-thane. He went away farther and faster, -he who would escape the fiend. So he ruled and strove against right, -he alone against all of them, until the best of houses stood quite -idle. And a great while it was--the friend of the Danes suffered -distress and sorrows that were great the time of twelve winters. - -Then was it made known to the children of men by a sorrowful singing -that Grendel was striving this while against Hrothgar, and waged -hateful enmity of crime and feud for many a year with lasting strife, -and would hold no truce against any man of the main host of Danes, -nor put away the life-bale, or settle feud with a fee, nor did any man -need to hope for brighter bettering at the hand of the banesman. The -terrible monster, a dark death-shadow, was pursuing the youth and -the warriors, and he fettered and ensnared them, and ever was holding -night after night the misty moorlands. And, men know not ever whither -workers of hell-runes wander to and fro. Thus the foe of mankind, -the terrible and lonesome traveller, often he did them even greater -despite. And he took up his dwelling in the treasure-decked Hall of -Hart in the dark night, nor could he come near the throne the treasure -of God, nor did he know His love. [9] - -And great was the evil to the friend of the Danes, and breakings of -heart. Many a strong one sat in council, and much they discussed what -was best for stout-hearted men to do against the fearful terror. And -sometimes they went vowing at their heathen shrines and offered -sacrifices, and with many words pleaded that the devil himself would -give them his help against this menace to the nation. For such was -their custom, the hope of the heathen. And ever of Hell they thought -in their hearts; the Creator they knew not, the Judge of all deeds, -nor knew they the Lord God, nor could they worship the Protector of -the heavens, the Wielder of glory. Woe be to that man who shall shove -down a soul through hurtful malice into the bosom of the fire, and -who hopes for no help nor for any change--well shall it be with that -one who after his death day shall seek the Lord and desire protection -in the embrace of the Father. - - - - -III - -So Beowulf, son of Healfdene, ever was brooding over this time-care, -nor could the brave hero avert woe. That conflict was too strong, -loathsome and long, that terrible and dire distress, the greatest of -night-bales which came to the people. - -Then the thane of Hygelac, [10] the good man of the Geats, [11] -heard from home of the deeds of Grendel. And on the day of this life -he was the strongest of main of all men in the world; noble was he -and powerful. He bade a fair ship be made, and said that he would be -seeking the War-King, the famous prince, over the swan path, and that -he needed men. And the proud churls little blamed him for that journey, -though dear he was to them. They urged on the valiant man and marked -the omen. The good man of the Geats had chosen champions of those -who were keenest, and sought out the ship. And one, a sea-crafty -man, pointed to the land-marks. Time passed by; the ship was on -the waves, the boat under the cliff, and the warriors all readily -went up to the stern. And the currents were swirling, with sea and -sand. And men were carrying on to the naked deck bright ornaments -and splendid war-armour. Then they shove forth the ship that was well -bound together; and it set forth over the waves, driven by the wind, -this foamy-necked ship, likest to a bird; until about the same time -on the next day, the ship with its twisted stern had gone so far that -the sailing men could see the land, the shining sea-cliffs, the steep -mountains, and the wide sea-nesses. Then they crossed the remaining -portion of the sea. [12] The Geats went up quickly on to the shore, -and anchored the ship. War-shirts and war-weeds were rattling. And -they gave God thanks for their easy crossing of the waves. Then the -ward of the Swedes, who kept guard over the sea-cliffs, saw them carry -down the gangways the bright shields and armour, all ready. And full -curious thought tortured him as to who these men were. He, the thane -of Hrothgar, rode down to the beach on his charger, and powerfully -brandished the spear in his hand and took counsel with them. - -'Who are ye armour-bearers, protected by byrnies, who come here thus -bringing the high vessel over the sea, and the ringed ship over the -ocean? I am he that sits at the end of the land and keep sea-guard, -so that no one more loathsome may scathe with ship-army the land of -the Danes. Never have shield-bearers begun to come here more openly, -yet ye seem not to know the password of warriors, the compact of -kinsmen. Nor ever have I seen a greater earl upon earth, than one of -your band, a warrior in armour. And except his face belie him, he that -is thus weapon-bedecked is no hall-man; but a peerless one to see. Now -must I know your lineage before you go farther with your false spies -in the land of the Danes. Now O ye far-dwellers and sea-farers, hear -my onefold thought--haste is best in making known whence ye are come.' - - - - -IV - -Then the eldest gave answer, and unlocked his treasure of words, -the wise one of the troop: 'We are of the race of the Geats and -hearth-comrades of Hygelac. My father was well known to the folk, -a noble prince was he called Ecgtheow. And he bided many winters, -ere as an old man he set out on his journeys away from the dwelling -places. And wellnigh every councillor throughout all the world -remembered him well. We through bold thinking have come to seek thy -lord, the son of Healfdene, the protector of the people. Vouchsafe -to us good guidance. We have a great business with the lord of the -Danes, who is far famed. Nor of this shall aught be secret as I am -hoping. Well thou knowest if 'tis true as we heard say, that among -the Danes some secret evil-doer, I know not what scather, by terror -doth work unheard-of hostility, humiliation, and death. I may give -counsel through greatness of mind to Hrothgar as to how he, the wise -and good, may overcome the fiend, if ever should cease for him the -baleful business and bettering come after and his troubles wax cooler, -or for ever he shall suffer time of stress and miserable throes, -while the best of all houses shall remain on the high stead.' - -Then the watchman, the fearless warrior, as he sat on his horse, -quickly made answer: 'The shield-warrior who is wide awake, shall know -how to tell the difference between words and works, if he well bethink -him. I can see that this band of warriors will be very welcome to the -Lord of the Danes. Go ye forth, therefore, bear weapons and armour, as -I will direct you. And I will command my thanes to hold against every -foe, your ship in honour, new tarred as it is, and dry on the sands, -until it shall carry the dearly loved man, that ship with the twisted -prow, to the land of the Geats. To each of the well-doers shall it -be given to escape scot-free out of the battle rush.' Then they went -forth carrying their weapons. And there the ship rested, fastened -by a rope, the wide-bosomed vessel secured by its anchor. The Boar -[13] held life ward, bright and battle-hard and adorned with gold, -over the neck-guard of the handsome Beowulf. There was snorting of -the war-like-minded, whilst men were hastening, as they marched on -together till they caught sight of the splendid place decked out -in gold. And it was the most famous of palaces, under the heavens, -of the earth-dwellers, where the ruler was biding. Its glory shone -over many lands. Then the dear one in battle showed them the bright -house where were the brave ones, that they might straightway make -their way towards it. Then one of the warriors turned his horse round, -and spake this word: 'Time it is for me to go. May the Almighty Father -hold you in favour, and keep you in safety in all your journeyings. I -will go to the sea-coast to keep my watch against the fierce troops.' - - - - -V - -The way was paved with many coloured stones, and by it they knew -the path they should take. The coat of mail shone brightly, which -was firmly hand-locked. The bright iron ring sang in the armour as -they came on their way in their warlike trappings at the first to -the great hall. Then the sea-weary men set down their broad shields, -their shields that were wondrous hard 'gainst the wall of the great -house, and bowed towards the bench. And byrnies were rattling, the -war-weapons of men. And the spears were standing in a row together, -the weapons of the sea-men and the spear grey above. And the troop -of armed men was made glorious with weapons. Then the proud chieftain -asked the warriors of their kindred: 'From whence are ye bringing such -gold-plated shields, grey sarks and helmets with visors, and such -a heap of spears? I am the servant and messenger of Hrothgar. Never -saw I so many men prouder. I trow it was for pride and not at all for -banishment, but for greatness of mind that Hrothgar ye are seeking.' - -Then answered the brave man, the chief of the Geats, and spake -these words, hard under helmet: 'We are the comrades at table of -Hygelac. Beowulf is my name. I will say fully this my errand to the -son of Healfdene the famous chieftain, unto thy lord and master, -if he will grant us that we may salute him who is so good.' - -Then spake Wulfgar (he was Prince of the Wendels [14]). His courage -was known to all, his valour and wisdom. 'I will make known to the -Prince of the Danes, the Lord of the Scyldings [15] the giver of rings -the famous chieftain as thou art pleading, about thy journey, and will -make known to thee quickly the answer which he the good man thinks fit -to give me.' Quickly he turned then to where Hrothgar was sitting, -old and very grey with his troop of earls. The brave man then went -and stood before the shoulders of the Lord of the Danes. Well he knew -the custom of the doughty ones. Wulfgar then spoke to his lord and -friend: 'Here are come faring from a far country over the wide sea, -a people of the Geats, and the eldest the warriors call Beowulf. And -they are asking that they may exchange words with thee, my lord. O -gladman Hrothgar, do not refuse to be talking with them. For worthy -they seem all in their war-weeds, in the judgement of earls. At least -he is a daring Prince who hither hath led this band of warriors.' - - - - -VI - -Then spake Hrothgar the protector of the Danes: 'Well I knew him -when he was a child, and his old father was called Ecgtheow. And to -him did Hrethel of the Geats give his only daughter, and his son is -bravely come here and hath sought out a gracious friend.' Then said -the sea-farers who had brought the goodly gifts of the Geats there -for thanks, that he the battle-brave had in his hand-grip the main -craft of thirty men. 'And the holy God hath sent him for favour to us -West Danes, and of this I have hope, 'gainst the terror of Grendel. I -shall offer the goodman gifts for his daring. Now make thou haste and -command the band of warrior kinsmen into the presence. Bid them welcome -to the people of the Danes.' Then went Wulfgar even to the hall-door, -and spake these words: 'My liege lord, the Prince of the East Danes, -commands me to say that he knows your lineage. And ye who are bold -of purpose are welcome hither over the sea-waves. Now may ye go in -your war-weeds, under your visored helmets to see Hrothgar. Let your -swords stay behind here, the wood and the slaughter-shafts and the -issue of words.' Then the Prince rose up, and about him was many a -warrior, a glorious band of thanes. And some bided there and held the -battle-garments as the brave man commanded. And they hastened together -under the roof of Hrothgar as the man directed them. The stout-hearted -man went forward, hard under helmet till he stood by the dais. - -Then Beowulf spake (and the byrny shone on him, the coat of mail, -sewn by the cunning of the smith): 'O Hrothgar, all hail! I am the -kinsman and comrade of Hygelac. [16] Many marvels I have set on foot -in the days of my youth. The affair of Grendel was made known to me -in my native land. Sea-farers told how this best of all palaces stood -idle and useless to warriors, after evening light came down under the -brightness of heaven. Then my people persuaded me, the best and the -proudest of all my earls, O my lord Hrothgar, that I should seek thee, -for they well knew my main strength. For they themselves saw how I -came forth bloodstained from the power of the fiend, when I bound -the five, and destroyed the giant's kin, and slew 'mongst the waves, -sea-monsters by night, and suffered such dire distress, and wreaked -vengeance for the strife of the Geats (for woe they were suffering), -and I destroyed the fierce one. And now all alone I shall settle -the affair of Grendel the deadly monster, the cruel giant. And one -boon will I be asking, O Prince of the Bright Danes, thou lord of -the Scyldings, Protector of warriors and friend of the folk, that -thou wilt not refuse, since so far I am come, that I and my troop of -earls, this crowd of brave men, may alone cleanse out Hart. I have -heard say also that the monster because of his rashness recks not of -weapons. And, if Hygelac the blithe-minded will be my liege lord, I -will forgo to carry to the battle a sword, or broad shield all yellow; -but I will engage by my hand-grip with the enemy, and strive for life, -foe with foe. And he whom Death taketh shall believe in the doom of -the Lord. And I doubt not he will fearlessly consume the people of -the Geats, if he may prevail in the war-hall as he has often done -with the strong men of the Danes. And thou shalt not need to hide -my head if Death take me, for he will seize me all bloodstained, -and will bury the slaughter all bloody, and will think to taste and -devour me alone and without any sorrow, and will stain the glens in -the moorland. And thou needest not to sorrow longer over the food of -my body. And if battle take me, send to Hygelac this best of coats -of mail, the noblest of garments. It is the heirloom of Hrethel the -work of Weland [17]; and let Weird go as it will.' - - - - -VII - -Hrothgar gave answer, the protector of the Danes: 'O my friend Beowulf, -now thou hast sought us, for defence and for favour. Thy father fought -in the greatest of feuds. He was banesman to Heatholaf amongst the -Wylfings, when for battle-terror the King of the Geats could not hold -him. Thence he sought the folk of the South Danes over the welter of -waves. Then first was I ruling the Danish folk, and in my youthful -days possessed the costly jewels, the treasure city of heroes. Then -Heregar was dead, my elder brother not living was he, the child of -Healfdene. He was a better man than I was. Then a payment of money -settled the matter. I sent to the Wylfings ancient presents over the -sea-ridges. And he swore to me oaths. And it is to me great sorrow in -my heart to tell any man what Grendel hath done in Hart through his -malice, of humiliation and sudden horror. My hall-troop has grown less, -the crowd of my thanes; Weird [18] has swept them towards the terror of -Grendel. But easily may the good God restrain the deeds of the foolish -scather. And drunken with beer the warriors full often boasted o'er -the ale-cup that they would bide in the beer-hall the battle of Grendel -with the terror of swords. Then was the mead-hall all bloodstained in -the morning when dawn came shining, and all the benches were wet with -gore, the hall with sword-blood. And so much the less did I rule o'er -dear doughty ones whom death had taken. Now sit down to the banquet -and unbind thy thoughts, thy hopes to the thanes, as thy mind inspires -thee.' Then was there room made in the beer-hall for the Geats all -together. And there they went and sat down, the strong-hearted men, -proud of their strength. And a thane waited on them, who bore in his -hands the ale-cup bedecked, and he poured out the sparkling mead, -while the clear-voiced bard kept singing in Hart. There was joy to -the heroes, and a very great gathering of Danes and of Geats. - - - - -VIII - -Spake then Unferth, the son of Eglaf, who sat at the feet of the -Lord of the Danes and opened a quarrel. (For the journey of Beowulf, -of the brave sea-farer, was vexation to him, for he could not brook -that ever any other man than he himself should obtain greater fame -in all the earth.) - -'What!' said he, 'art thou that Beowulf who didst contend with Breca, -and strovest for the mastery in swimming o'er wide seas, when ye two -for pride were searching the waves and for foolish boasting risked -your lives in the deep waters? No man could dissuade you from that -sorrowful journey, neither friend nor foe, when ye two swam in the sea, -when ye two enfolded the waves with your arms and measured the sea-ways -and brandished your arms as you glided o'er the ocean. The sea boiled -with waves the wintry whelming. And for seven nights long ye were -toiling in the stress of seas. But he o'erpowered thee in swimming, -for greater strength had he. Then at the morning tide the sea bore him -up to the land of the Heathoremes. Thence he was seeking the friend of -his people his own dear country, the land of the Brondings, the fair -city of refuge, where he had his own folk, and a city and rings. The -son of Beanstan soothly fulfilled his boasting against thee. So do -I deem it a worse matter, though thou art everywhere doughty in the -rush of battle and grim warfare, if thou shalt be daring to bide near -Grendel a night-long space.' - -Then Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'What! my friend Unferth, -drunken with beer, many things thou art saying about that Breca -and talkest of his journey. But soothly I tell thee that I had the -greater strength in that swimming, and endurance in the waves. We two -agreed when we were youngsters, and boasted (for we were both still -in the days of our youth) that we in the ocean would be risking our -lives. And so in deed we did. We had a naked sword hard in our hands -when we were swimming. We two were thinking to guard us 'gainst whale -fishes. Nor over the sea-waves might he be floating a whit far from -me, more quickly on the waters. Then we together were in the sea for -the space of five nights until the flood, the boiling waters drove -us asunder. And the coldest of weather, and the darkening night, and -a wind from the north battle-grim turned against us, and rough were -the waves. And the mind of the mere-fishes was stirred when my shirt -of mail that was hand-locked gave to me help against the foe. The -decorated battle-robe lay on my breast all adorned with gold, and -the doomèd and dire foe drew to the bottom, and fast he had me grim -in his grip. Still to me was granted that I reached to the monster -with the point of my sword. And the mighty sea-deer carried off the -battle-rush through my hand.' - - - - -IX - -'So then evil-doers did often oppress me. And I served them with my -dear sword as was most fitting. Not at all of the feasting had they any -joy. Evil destroyers sat round the banquet at the bottom of the sea, -that they might seize me. But in the morning, wounded by my sword, -they lay up on the foreshore, put to sleep by my weapon so that they -hindered no more the faring of the sea-goers. Light came from the -eastward, the bright beacon of God. The waves grew less that I could -catch sight of the sea-nesses, the windy walls. Weird often saveth -the earl that is undoomed when his courage is doughty. Nevertheless -it happened that I slew with my sword nine of the sea-monsters. Nor -have I heard under vault of heaven of a harder night-struggle, -nor of a more wretched man on the sea-streams. Still I escaped from -the grasp of the foes, with my life, and weary of the journey. When -the sea bore me up, on the flood tide, on the welling of waves, to -the land of the Finns. Nor have I heard concerning thee of any such -striving or terror of swords. Breca never yet, nor either of you two, -did such a deed with shining sword in any battle-gaming (not that I -will boast of this too much), yet wast thou the slayer of thy brother, -thy chief kinsman. And for this in hell shalt thou suffer a curse, -though thy wit be doughty. And soothly I tell thee, O son of Eglaf, -that Grendel that hateful monster never had done such terrors to -thy life and humiliation in Hart if thy mind and thy soul were as -battle-fierce as thou thyself dost say. But he has found that he needed -not to fear the feud the terrible sword-thrust of your people the -Danes. He taketh forced toll, and spareth none of the Danish people, -but joyfully wageth war, putteth them to sleep and feedeth on them, -and expecteth no fight from the Danes. But I shall ere long offer him -in war the strength and the courage of the Geats. Let him go who can -to the mead all proudly when morning light shall shine from the south, -another day over the children of men.' - -Then in the hall the giver of rings was grey-haired and -battle-brave. The Prince of the Danes was hopeful of help. The guardian -of the folk fixed on Beowulf his firm-purposed thought. There was -laughter 'mong heroes, din resounded, and words were winsome. Wealtheow -went forth, the Queen of Hrothgar, mindful of kinship and decked out in -gold, she greeted Beowulf in the hall. And then the lovely wife first -proffered the goblet to the Lord of the East Danes, and bade him be -blithe at the beer-drinking, he who was dear to all his people. And -gladly he took the banquet and hall-cup, he the victorious King. The -lady of the Helmings [19] went round about every one of the youthful -warriors, and proffered the costly cup, until the time came that the -ring-adorned Queen, most excellent in spirit, bore the mead-cup then -to Beowulf. She, the wise in words, greeted the Geats and gave thanks -to God that she had her desire that she might trust in any earl for -help against such crimes. He gladly received it, he the battle-fierce -warrior, from the hand of Wealtheow, and then began singing, inspired -by a warlike spirit. - -Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'I had intended at once to work -out the will of this your people when I set forth over the sea and -sat in my sea-boat with the troop of my people, or that I would fall -in the slaughter fast in the fiend's grip. I shall yet acquit myself -as befitteth an earl, or in the mead-hall await my last day.' And -well the lady liked the words, the boasting of the Geat. And that -lovely queen went all decked out in gold to sit by her lord. Then -mighty words were spoken in the hall as before, by the people in -joyance and the noise of the victors, until the son of Healfdene -[20] straightway would be seeking his evening rest. And he knew that -a battle was doomed in the high hall to the monster when no longer -they could see the light of the sun, or darkening night came stalking -over all the shapes of shadows. The troop of warriors rose up, the -Lord greeted the other, Hrothgar greeted Beowulf, and wished him -good health and the warding of that wine-hall, and he spake the word: -'Since the time that I could lift my hand or my shield, never have I -given the mighty hall of the Danes into the care of any, except now -to thee. Have now and hold thou this best of houses, be thou mindful -of honour, and show thyself courageous, and wakeful 'gainst foes. Nor -shalt thou lack joy if thou escapest from that brave work with life.' - - - - -X - -Then Hrothgar departed with his troop of heroes, he the Prince -of the Scyldings; out of Hall went he, for the battle-chieftain -would be seeking out Wealtheow his Queen, that they might go to -rest. The glory of kings had appointed a hall-ward, as men say, -against Grendel. A thane was in waiting on the Prince of the Danes, -and his watch was keeping against the giant. The Lord of the Geats -readily trusted the proud strength, the favour of God. Then doffed -he the iron coat of mail and his helmet from his head, and gave his -sword bedecked, the choicest of weapons, to a thane that was serving, -and bade him to hold ready his armour. Then the good man spoke some -words of boasting: 'I reck not myself meaner in war-powers and works -of battle than Grendel doth himself. For I will not with sword put him -to sleep and be taking his life away, though well I might do it. He -knows not of good things, that he may strike me, or hew my shield, -though brave he may be in hostile working--but we two by right will -forbear the sword if he dare be seeking warfare without weapon, -and then God all-knowing, the holy Lord, shall adjudge the glory on -whichever side He may think meet.' Then the bold in fight got him -to rest, and the pillow received the head of the earl, and many a -keen sea-warrior lay down on his bed in the hall about him. None -of them thought that he thence would ever seek another dear home, -folk or free city where he was a child; for they had heard that fell -death had taken, ere this too many, in that wine-hall, of the people -of the Danes. But the Lord gave weavings of war-speed to the people -of the Geats, both comfort and help. So that they all overcame their -enemies through the craft of one man and by his might only. And truly -it is said that God Almighty doth wield for ever the race of men. Then -came in the wan night the shadow-goer gliding. Warriors were sleeping -when they should have been keeping guard over that palace; all save -one only. It was well known to men that their constant foe could not -draw them into shadowy places when the Creator was unwilling. But he, -ever wakeful, in angry mood, and fiercely indignant against the foe, -was waiting the issue. - - - - -XI - -Then came Grendel, stalking from the moors among the misty hill-slopes, -and he bore God's anger. And the wicked scather of human kind fully -intended to ensnare a certain one in the high hall. So he wended his -way under the welkin to where he knew that the best of wine-halls, -the gold-hall of man, was adorned with gold plating. Nor was that the -first time that he sought out the home of Hrothgar. Nor ever in former -or later days did he find a harder welcome from hall-thanes. Then -the creature bereft of all joy came to the great hall, and the door, -strongly bound with fire-bands, soon sprang open at his touch. And -the evil-minded one in his fury burst open the door of the palace. And -soon after this the enemy, angry in mind, was treading o'er the doomèd -floor. And a fearsome light streamed forth from his eyes likest to -a flame. And he could see many a warrior in that palace, a troop of -peace-lovers asleep together, a company of kinsmen, and he laughed -aloud. Then the terrible monster fully intended to cut off from life -every one of them there, when he was expecting abundance of meat. But -that fate was not yet, that he should lay hold of any more of human -kind after that night. - -Then did Beowulf, kinsman of Hygelac, see the dire distress, how the -wicked scather would fare with sudden grip. Nor did the monster think -to delay, but at the first he quickly laid hold of a sleeping warrior, -and tore him to pieces all unawares, and bit at the flesh and drank -the streaming blood, and devoured huge pieces of flesh. And soon he -had eaten up both feet and hands of the man he had killed. Then he -stepped up to the great-hearted warrior [21] where he lay on the bed, -and took him in his hands. He reached out his hand against the enemy, -and quickly received him with hostile intent, and sat upon his arm. The -Keeper of crimes soon was finding that he never had met in all the -quarters of the earth amongst other men a greater hand-grip. And in -mind and heart he was fearful, and eager to be gone and to flee away -into darkness to seek the troop of devils. But that was not his fate, -as it had been in days of yore. Then the good kinsman of Hygelac -remembered the evening talk, and stood upright and laid hold upon -him. His fingers burst. The giant was going forth, but the earl stepped -after. The famous one intended to escape more widely, howsoever he -might, and to flee on his way thence to the sloping hollows of the -fens. That journey was sorrowful, which the harmful scather took -to Hart. The lordly hall resounded. And great terror there was to -all the Danes, the castle-dwellers, to each of the brave. And both -the mighty guardians were fiercely angry. The hall resounded. Then -was it great wonder that the wine-hall withstood the bold fighters, -and that it fell not to the earth, that fair earth-dwelling. But very -firm it was standing, cunningly shaped by craft of the smith, within -and without. Then on the floor was many a mead-bench, as I have heard -tell, decked out with gold, where the fierce ones were striving. Nor -did the wise Danes formerly suppose that any man could break down a -hall so noble and decorated with antlers, or cunningly destroy it, -unless the bosom of flame swallowed it up in smoke. The roaring -went up now enough. And an awful terror came to the North Danes, -to each one of those who heard weeping from the ramparts, the enemy -of God singing a fierce song, a song that was empty of victory, and -the captive of hell lamenting his sorrow. For he that was strongest -of men in strength held him fast on the day of his life. - - - - -XII - -The Prince of earls would not at all let go alive the murderous comer, -nor did he count his life as of use to any of the peoples. And many -an earl of Beowulf's brandished the old heirloom, and were wishful -to defend the life of their far-famed liege-lord, if they might -do so. And they knew not, when they entered the battle, they the -hard-thinking ones, the battle-men, and they thought to hew on all -sides seeking out his spirit, that not any choice iron over the -earth nor any battle weapon could be greeting the foe, but that -he had forsworn all victorious weapons and swords. And miserable -should be his passing on the day of this life, and the hostile sprite -should journey far into the power of devils. Then he found out that, -he who did crimes long before this with mirthful mind to human kind, -he who was a foe to God, that his body would not last out; but the -proud kinsman of Hygelac had him in his hands. And each was loathsome -to the other while he lived. The terrible monster, sore with wounds -was waiting. The gaping wound was seen on his shoulder. His sinews -sprang open; and the bone-lockers burst. And great victory was given -to Beowulf. Thence would Grendel, mortally wounded, flee under the -fen-slopes to seek out a joyless dwelling. The more surely he knew he -had reached the end of his life, the number of his days. Joy befell -all the Danes after the slaughter-rush. So he had cleansed the hall -of Hrothgar--he who had come from far, the proud and stout-hearted -one, and saved them from strife. He rejoiced in the night-work and -in the glorious deeds. His boast he had fulfilled, this leader of the -Geats, which he made to the East Danes, and likewise made good all the -distresses and the sorrows which they suffered of yore from the foe, -and which through dire need they had to endure, of distresses not a -few. And when the battle-brave man laid down the hand, the arm and -shoulder under the wide roof, that was the manifest token. - - - - -XIII - -Then in the morning, as I have heard say, was many a battle-warrior -round about the gift-hall. Came the folk-leaders from far and from near -along the wide ways to look at the marvel. Nor did his passing seem a -thing to grieve over to any of the warriors of those who were scanning -the track of the glory-less wight, how weary in mind he had dragged -along his life-steps, on the way thence doomed and put to flight, -and overcome in the fight at the lake of the sea-monsters. There was -the sea boiling with blood, the awful surge of waves all mingled with -hot gore. The death-doomèd one dyed the lake when void of joys he laid -down his life in the fen for refuge. And hell received him. Thence -after departed the old companions, likewise many a young one from the -joyous journeys, proud from the lake to ride on mares, the youths on -their horses. And there was the glory of Beowulf proclaimed. And many -a one was saying that no man was a better man, no, none in the whole -wide world under arch of the sky, of all the shield-bearers, neither -south nor north, by the two seas. Nor a whit did they blame in the -least their friend and lord, the glad Hrothgar; for he was a good king. - -Meanwhile the famed in battle let the fallow mares leap and go faring -forth to the contest, wherever the earth-ways seemed fair unto them -and well known for their choiceness: and the thane of the king, he who -was laden with many a vaunt, and was mindful of songs, and remembered -a host of very many old sagas, he found other words, but bound by the -truth. And a man began wisely to sing the journey of Beowulf, and to -tell skilful tales with speeding that was good, and to interchange -words. He told all that ever he had heard concerning Sigmund, [22] -with his deeds of courage, and much that is unknown, the strife -of Waelsing; and the wide journeys which the children of men knew -not at all, the feud and the crimes, when Fitela was not with him, -when he would be saying any of such things, the uncle to the nephew, -for always they were comrades in need at all the strivings. They had -laid low very many of the giant's race by means of the sword. And -after his death-day a no little fame sprang up for Sigmund when he, -the hard in battle, killed the worm, the guardian of the hoard. He -alone the child of the Atheling, hazarded a fearful deed, under the -grey stone. Nor was Fitela with him. Still it happened to him that his -sword pierced through the wondrous worm, and it stood in the wall, -that doughty iron, and the dragon was dead. And so this monster had -gained strength in that going so that he might enjoy the hoard of -rings by his own doom. He loaded the sea-boat and bore the bright -treasures on to the ship's bosom, he the son of Waels. The worm melted -hot. He was of wanderers the most widely famous in deeds of courage, -amongst men, the protector of warriors. He formerly throve thus. Then -the warfare of Heremod [23] was waning, his strength and his courage, -and he was betrayed among the giants into the hands of the foes, and -sent quickly away. And too long did whelming sorrow vex his soul. He -was a source of care to his people, to all the nobles, and many a -proud churl often was lamenting in former times the way of life of the -stout-hearted, they who trusted him for the bettering of bales, that -the child of their lord should always be prospering, and succeed to -his father's kingdom, and hold the folk, the hoard and city of refuge, -the kingdom of heroes, the country of the Danes. But Beowulf Hygelac's -kinsman was fairer to all men; but crime assailed Heremod. [24] - -Sometimes they passed along the fallow streets contending on -mares. Then came the light of morning and hastened forth. And many -a stiff-minded messenger went to the high hall to see the rare -wonder. Likewise the King himself, the ward of the hoard of rings, -came treading all glorious and with a great suite, forth from the -bridal bower, and choice was his bearing, and his Queen with him -passed along the way to the Mead-hall with a troop of maidens. - - - - -XIV - -Hrothgar spake. He went to the hall and stood on the threshold and saw -the steep roof all decked out with gold and the hand of Grendel. 'Let -thanks be given quickly to God for this sight,' said he. 'Often I -waited for the loathsome one, for the snares of Grendel. May God always -work wonder after wonder, He the Guardian of glory. It was not long ago -that I expected not a bettering of any woes for ever, when, doomed to -blood, this best of all houses stood all stained with gore. Now has -this Hero done a deed, through the power of the Lord, which none of -us formerly could ever perform with all our wisdom. Lo! any woman who -gave birth to such a son among human kind, may say, if she yet live, -that the Creator was gracious unto her in bearing of children. Now, -O Beowulf, I will love thee in heart as my son. Hold well to this -new peace. Nor shall there be any lack of joys to thee in the world, -over which I have power. Full oft I for less have meted out rewards -and worshipful gifts to a meaner warrior, one weaker in strife. Thou -hast framed for thyself mighty deeds, so that thy doom liveth always -and for ever. May the All-wielder ever yield thee good as He now doth.' - -Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'We framed to fight that brave -work with much favour, and hazarded a deed of daring and the might of -the unknown. I quickly gave you to see the monster himself the enemy -in his fretted armour ready to fall. I thought to twist him quickly -with hard grip on a bed of slaughter so that he should lie in the -throes of death, because of my hand-grip, unless he should escape -with his body. But I could not cut off his going when the Creator -willed it not. I cleft him not readily, that deadly fiend. He was -too strong on his feet. Nevertheless he left behind his hand as a -life protection to show the track, his arm and his shoulders. But -not by any means thus did that wretched creature get any help, nor -by that did the evil-doer, brought low by sin, live any longer. But -sorrow hath him in its fatal grip closely encompassed with baleful -bands. There shall a man covered with sins be biding a mickle doom -as the shining Creator will prescribe.' - -Then was the man silent, the son of Ecglaf, in his boasting speech -about deeds of battle, when the Athelings looked at the hand high up -on the roof, by the craft of the earl, and the fingers of the foe, -there before each one. And each of the places of the nails was likest -to steel, the claw of the heathen, the uncanny claw of the battle -warrior. Every one was saying that no very good iron, of any of the -brave ones, would touch him at all, that would bear away thence the -bloody battle-hand of the monster. - - - - -XV - -Then was it bidden that Hart should be decked by their hands on the -inside. And many there were of the men and wives who adorned that -wine-hall the guest-chamber. And the tapestries shone along the walls -brocaded with gold; many a wonderful sight for every man who stareth -upon them. And that bright dwelling was greatly marred, though within -it was fast bound with iron yet the door-hinges had sprung apart. The -roof alone escaped all safe and sound when the monster turned to -flight despairing of life and doomed for his crimes. Nor will it be -easy to escape from that fate, whosoever may try to, but he shall get -by strife the ready place of the children of men of the soul-bearers, -who dwell upon earth, by a fate that cannot be escaped where his body -shall sleep after the banquet fast in the tomb. - -Then was the time for Healfdene's son to go into the hall, when the -King himself would partake of the banquet. Nor have I ever heard -tell that any people in greater numbers bore themselves better about -their treasure-giver. And the wealthy ones sat down on the bench and -rejoiced in their feeding. And full courteously their kinsmen took many -a mead-cup, they the stout-hearted Hrothgar and Hrothulf in the high -hall. And within was Hart filled with friends. And by no means were the -Danes the while framing treacheries. Then the son of Healfdene gave -to Beowulf the golden banner, the decorated staff banner as a reward -for his conquest, and the helm and the byrny. And many a one saw the -youth bear in front the bejewelled sword. Beowulf took the cup in the -hall. Nor did he need to be ashamed of the fee-gift in the presence -of warriors. Nor have I heard tell of many men giving to others on any -ale-bench, four gifts gold-decked, in friendlier fashion. The outside -rim wound with wires gave protection to the head on the outer side -around the crown of the helmet. So that many an heirloom [25] could -not hurt fiercely the helmet that was hardened by being plunged in -cold water when the shield-warrior should attack the angry one. The -Protector of earls commanded eight horses to be brought in under the -barriers, with bridles gold plated. And a varicoloured saddle was -fixed upon one of them, decked out with treasures, and this was the -battle-seat of the high King when the son of Healfdene would be doing -the sword-play. Never in the van did it fail the warrior so widely -kenned when the helmets were falling. Then the Prince of the Danes -gave to Beowulf the wielding of them both, of horses and weapons; -and bade him well enjoy them. And thus in manly fashion the famous -chieftain, the treasure-guardian of heroes, rewarded the battle -onslaught with horses and treasures so as no man can blame them, -whoever will be saying rightly the truth. - - - - -XVI - -Then the Lord of earls as he sat on the mead-bench gave glorious gifts -to each one of those who had fared with Beowulf over the ocean-ways, -and heirlooms they were; and he bade them atone for that one with gold -whom formerly Grendel had wickedly killed as he would have done more -of them unless Almighty God and the spirit of Beowulf had withstood -Weird. The Creator ruleth all of human kind, as still He is doing. And -good understanding is always the best thing, and forethought of -mind. And he who long enjoys here the world in these strife-days, shall -be biding both pleasant and loathsome fate. Then was there clamour and -singing together in the presence of the battle-prince of Healfdene, -and the harp was sounded and a song often sung, when Hrothgar's scop -would tell forth the hall-mirth as he sat on the mead-bench. - -'When Fear was befalling the heirs of Finn, [26] the hero of the -Half-Danes, and Hnaef of the Danes must fall in the slaughter of the -Frisian People. Not in the least did Hildeburh need to be praising the -troth of the Jutes. For sinlessly was she deprived of her dear ones -in the play of swords of children and brothers. By fate they fell, -wounded by arrows. And she was a sad woman. Nor without reason did -the daughter of Hoc [27] mourn their doom. When morning light came, -and she could see under the sky the murder of her kinsmen where she -before in the world had the greatest of joy. For warfare took away -all the thanes of Finn except a mere remnant, so that he could not in -the place where they met fight any warfare at all with Hengest, nor -seize from the Prince's thane the woful leavings by fighting. But they -offered him terms, so that they all made other room for them on the -floor, and gave them halls and a high seat that they might have half -the power with the children of the Jutes; and the son of Folcwalda -[28] honoured the Danes every day with fee-givings, and bestowed -rings on the troop of Hengest, yea, even great treasures plated with -gold, so that he would be making the kin of the Frisians bold in the -beer-hall. Then they swore on both sides a treaty of peace. Finn swore -with Hengest and all without strife that he held in honour the woful -remnant by the doom of the wise men, and that no man there by word or -work should break the treaty, or ever annul it through treacherous -cunning, though they followed the slayers of their Ring-giver, all -bereft of their lord as was needful for them. But if any one of the -Frisians by daring speech should bring to mind the murderous hate -between them, then should the edge of the sword avenge it. Then sworn -was that oath, and massive gold was lifted up from the hoard. Then -was Hnaef, the best of the warriors, of the bold Danes, ready on the -funeral pyre. And the blood-stained shirt of mail was easily seen, -the golden boar, in the midst of the flame, the iron-hard boar, [29] -and many an Atheling destroyed by wounds. Some fell on the field of -death. Then Hildeburh commanded her very own son to be thrust in -the flames of the pyre of Hnaef, his body to be burned and be put -in the fire. And great was the moaning of the mother for her son, -and dirge-like lamenting as the warrior ascended. And the greatest of -slaughter-fires wound its way upwards towards the welkin and roared -before the cavern. Heads were melting, wounds burst asunder. Then -blood sprang forth from the wounds of the body. Flame swallowed -all, that most cruel of ghosts, of both of those folk whom battle -destroyed. Their life was shaken out. - - - - -XVII - -'Then the warriors went forth to visit the dwellings which were -bereft of friends, and to look upon the land of the Frisians, the -homesteads and the high town. And Hengest was still dwelling with -Finn, that slaughter-stained winter, all bravely without strife. And -he thought on the homeland, though he could not be sailing his ringed -ship over the waters. The sea boiled with storm and waged war with the -wind. And winter locked up the ice-bound waves till yet another year -came in the court, as still it doth, which ever guards the seasons, -and the glory-bright weather. Then winter was scattered, and fair was -the bosom of the earth. [30] And the wanderer strove to go, the guest -from the court. And much more he thought of vengeance for the feud than -of the sea-voyage, as to how he could bring about an angry encounter, -for he bore in mind the children of the Jutes. And so he escaped not -the lot of mortals when Hunlafing did on his arm the best of swords, -the flashing light of the battle, whose edge was well known to the -Jutes. And dire sword-bale after befel the fierce-minded Finn, even -in his very own home, when Guthlaf and Oslaf lamented the grim grip -of war and the sorrow after sea-journeys, and were charging him with -his share in the woes. Nor could he hold back in his own breast his -fluttering soul. Then again was the hall adorned with the bodies of -foemen, and Finn was also slain, the King with his troop, and the -Queen was taken. And the warriors of the Danes carried to the ships -all the belongings of the earth-king, such as they could find in the -homestead of Finn, of ornaments and jewels. They bore away also the -noble wife Hildeburh down to the sea away to the Danes, and led her -to her people.' - - - -So a song was sung, a lay of the gleemen, and much mirth there was -and great noise from the benches. And cup-bearers offered wine from -wondrous vessels. Then came forth Queen Wealtheow in her golden -circlet, where the two good men were sitting, the uncle and his -nephew. And still were they in peace together, and each true to the -other. Likewise Unferth the Spokesman sat there at the foot of the -Lord of the Danes. And each of them trusted Unferth's good heart and -that he had a great soul, though he was not loyal to his kinsmen at -the sword-play. - -Then spake the Queen of the Danes: 'Take this cup, O my liege lord, -thou giver of rings. Be thou right joyful, thou gold-friend to men; -do thou speak mild words to the Geats, as a man should be doing. Be -glad of thy Geats and mindful of gifts. Now thou hast peace both -near and far. There is one who told me that thou wouldst have the -battle-hero for thy son. Now Hart is all cleansed, the bright hall of -rings. Enjoy whilst thou mayest many rewards, and leave to thy kinsmen -both folk and a kingdom when thou shalt go forth to look on eternity. I -know my glad Hrothulf [31] will hold in honour this youth if thou, -O Hrothgar the friend of the Danes, dost leave the world earlier than -he. I ween that he will yield good to our children if he remembers -all that has passed--how we two worshipfully showed kindness to him -in former days when he was but a child.' Then she turned to the bench -where were her sons Hrothric and Hrothmund and the children of heroes, -the youths all together. There sat the good man Beowulf of the Geats, -by the two brothers. - - - - -XVIII - -And the cup was borne to them, and a friendly invitation given to -them in words, and twisted gold was graciously proffered him, two -arm-ornaments, armour and rings, and the greatest of neck-rings -of which I heard tell anywhere on earth. Ne'er heard I of better -hoard jewels of heroes under the sky, since Hama carried away -the Brosinga-men [32] to the bright city, ornaments and treasure -vessel. It was he who fled from the cunning plots of Eormanric [33] -and chose eternal gain. Hygelac of the Geats next had the ring, he -who was the grandson of Swerting, when under the standard he protected -the treasure and defended the plunder. And Weird carried him off when -he, because of pride suffered woes, the feud with the Frisians. Then -carried he the jewels, the precious stones over the sea, he who was -the ruling prince, and he fell under shield; and the life of the king -and the coat of mail and ring together came into possession of the -Franks. And worse warriors plundered the slaughter after the war. And -the corpses of the Geats held the field of death. The hall resounded -with noise when Wealtheow spake these words in the midst of the court: - -'Enjoy this ring, dearest Beowulf, and use this coat of mail, these -national treasures, and good luck befall thee! Declare thyself a -good craftsman, and be to these boys gentle in teaching, and I will -be mindful of thy guerdon for that thou hast so acted that men will -esteem thee far and near for ever and ever, even as widely as the -sea doth encompass the windy earth-walls. Be a noble Atheling as -long as thou livest. I give thee many treasures. Be thou kindly in -deed to my sons, joyful as thou art. For here is each earl true to -his fellow, and mild of mood, and faithful to his liege-lord. Thanes -are gentle, the people all ready. O ye warriors who have drunk deep, -do as I tell you.' She went to the seat where was a choice banquet, -and the men drank wine. They knew not Weird, the Fate that was grim, -as it had befallen many an earl. - -Then evening came on, and Hrothgar betook him to his own quarters, -the Prince to his resting-place, and a great number of earls kept guard -o'er the palace as often they had done in former days. They laid bare -the bench-board and spread it over with beds and bolsters. And one of -the beer-servants eager and fated went to his bed on the floor. And -they set at his head war-shields, that were bright. And over the -Atheling, there on the bench was easily seen the towering helmet and -the ringed byrny, the glorious spear. It was their wont to be ready -for war both at home and in battle, at whatever time their lord had -need of them. The season was propitious. - - - - -XIX - -Then they sank down to sleep. And sorely some of them paid for their -evening repose, as full often it had happened to them since Grendel -came to the gold-hall and did evil, until an end was made of him, -death after sins. It was easily seen and widely known to men that -an avenger survived the loathsome one, for a long time after the -war-sorrow. A woman, the mother of Grendel, a terrible wife, bore in -mind her woes. She who was fated to dwell in the awful lake in the -cold streams since Cain became a sword-slayer to his only brother, -his father's son. He then went forth marked for the murder, and fled -from human joys and dwelt in the waste. And thence he awoke many a -fatal demon. And Grendel was one of them, the hateful fierce wolf, -who found the man wide awake awaiting the battle. And there was the -monster at grips with him, yet he remembered the main strength the -wide and ample gift which God gave to him, and trusted in the favour of -the Almighty for himself, for comfort and help by which he vanquished -the enemy and overcame the hell-sprite. Then he departed abject, -bereft of joy, to visit the death-place, he the enemy of mankind. - -But his mother, greedy and sad in mind would be making a sorrowful -journey that she might avenge the death of her son. She came then -to Hart, where the Ring-Danes were asleep in that great hall. Then -soon there came misfortune to the earls when the mother of Grendel -entered the chamber. Yet less was the terror, even by so much as the -craft of maidens, the war-terror of a wife, [34] is less than that of -men beweaponed--when the sword hard bound and forged by the hammer, -and stained with blood, cuts the boar on the helmet of the foe with -its edge. Then in the hall, the hard edge was drawn, the sword over -the seats, and many a broad shield, heaved up fast by the hand. And -no one heeded the helmet nor the broad shield when terror seized upon -them. She was in great haste, she would go thence her life to be saving -when she was discovered. Quickly she had seized one of the Athelings -fast in her grip when forth she was fleeing away to the fen-land. He -was to Hrothgar the dearest of heroes, in the number of his comrades -by the two seas, a powerful shield-warrior, whom she killed as he -slumbered, a youth of renown. Beowulf was not there. To another the -place was assigned after the treasure-gift had been bestowed on the -famous Geat. Then a great tumult was made in Hart, and with bloodshed -she had seized the well-known hand of Grendel her son. And care was -renewed in all the dwellings. Nor was that a good exchange that they -on both sides should be buying with the lives of their friends. - -Then was the wise King, the hoar battle-warrior, rough in his mood -when he came to know that the dearest of his chief thanes was dead -and bereft of life. And Beowulf quickly was fetched into the bower, -he, the man all victorious. And at the dawning went one of the earls, -a noble champion, he and his comrades, where the proud man was waiting, -to see whether the All-wielder will ever be causing a change after -woe-spells. And the battle-worthy man went along the floor with his -band of followers (the hall wood [35] was resounding) so that he -greeted the wise man with words, the Lord of the Danes, and asked -him if he had had a quiet night in spite of the pressing call. - - - - -XX - -Hrothgar spake, he the Lord of the Danes: 'Ask not after our luck, -for sorrow is renewed to the folk of the Danes. Aeschere is dead, the -elder brother of Yrmenlaf; he was my councillor and my rune-teller, -[36] my shoulder-companion when we in the battle protected our heads; -when troops were clashing and helmets were crashing. He was what an -earl ought to be, a very good Atheling. Such a man was Aeschere. And -a wandering slaughter-guest was his hand-slayer, in Hart. I know -not whither that dire woman exulting in carrion, and by her feeding -made famous, went on her journeys. She was wreaking vengeance for the -feud of thy making when thou killedst Grendel but yesternight, in a -violent way, with hard grips, because all too long he was lessening -and destroying my people. He fell in the struggle, gave his life as -a forfeit; and now comes another, a mighty man-scather, to avenge -her son, and the feud hath renewed as may seem a heavy heart-woe to -many a thane who weeps in his mind over the treasure-giver. Now lieth -low the hand which availed you well, for every kind of pleasure. I -heard land-dwellers, and hall-counsellors, and my people, say that -they saw two such monstrous March-steppers, [37] alien-sprites, -holding the moorland. And one of them was in the likeness of a woman -as far as they could tell; the other, shapen wretchedly, trod the -path of exiles in the form of a man, except that he was greater than -any other man, he whom in former days the earth-dwellers called by -name Grendel. They knew not his father, whether any secret sprite -was formerly born of him. They kept guard over the hidden land, -and the wolf-slopes, the windy nesses, the terrible fen-path where -the mountain streams rush down under mists of the nesses, the floods -under the earth. And it is not farther hence than the space of a mile -where standeth the lake, over which are hanging the frosted trees, -their wood fast by the roots, and shadowing the water. And there -every night one may see dread wonders, fire on the flood. And there -liveth not a wise man of the children of men who knoweth well the -ground. Nevertheless the heath-stepper, the strong-horned hart, when -pressed by the hounds seeketh that woodland, when put to flight from -afar, ere on the hillside, hiding his head he gives up his life. [38] - -'Nor is that a canny place. For thence the surge of waters riseth up -wan to the welkin when stirred by the winds, the loathsome weather, -until the heaven darkens and skies weep. Now is good counsel depending -on thee alone. Thou knowest not the land, the terrible places where -thou couldest find the sinful man; seek it if thou darest. I will -reward thee for the feud with old world treasures so I did before, -with twisted gold, if thou comest thence, on thy way.' - - - - -XXI - -Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'Sorrow not, O wise man. It -is better for each one to avenge his friend, when he is much -mourning. Each one of us must wait for the end of his world-life. Let -him work who may, ere the doom of death come; that is afterwards -best for the noble dead. Arise, O ward of the kingdom. Let us go -forth quickly to trace out the going of Grendel's kinswoman. I bid -thee do it. For neither in the bosom of the earth, nor in forests -of the mountains, nor by the ways of the sea, go where she will, -shall she escape into safety. Do thou this day be patient in every -kind of trouble as I also hope to be.' The old man leapt up and gave -thanks to God, the mighty Lord, for the words of Beowulf. - -Then was bridled a horse for Hrothgar, a steed with twisted hair, -and as a wise prince he went forth in splendid array. The troop of -shield-warriors marched along. And the traces were widely seen in the -forest-ways, the goings of Grendel's mother over the ground. Forwards -she had gone over the mirky moorlands, and had borne in her grasp, -bereft of his soul, the best of the thanes who were wont to keep -watch over Hrothgar's homestead. Then Beowulf, the Atheling's child, -stepped o'er the steep and stony slopes and the narrow pathways, and -the straitened single tracks, an unknown way, by the steep nesses, and -by many a sea-monster's cavern. And one of the wise men went on before -to seek out the path, until all at once he found some mountain trees, -overhanging the grey stones, a forest all joyless. And underneath -was a water all bloodstained and troubled. And a grievous thing it -was for all the Danes to endure, for the friends of the Scyldings, -[39] and for many a thane, and distressful to all the earls, when they -came upon the head of Aeschere on the cliffs above the sea. The flood -boiled with blood and with hot gore (the folk looked upon it). And -at times the horn sounded a battle-song ready prepared. - -All the troop sat down. And many kinds of serpents they saw in -the water, and wonderful dragons searching the sea, and on the -cliff-slopes, monsters of the ocean were lying at full length, who -at the morning tide often make a woful journey on the sail-path; -and snakes and wild beasts they could see also. And these living -things fell down on the path all bitter and angry when they perceived -the noise, and the blast of the war-horn. And the Prince of the -Geats killed one of them with his bow and arrows and ended his -wave-strife, and he was in the sea, slower at swimming as death swept -him away. And on the waves by fierce battle hard pressed, and with -boar-spears savagely barbed, the wondrous sea-monster was assailed -in the struggle and drawn up on the headland. And men were looking -at the awful stranger. And Beowulf put on him his armour, that was -fitting for an earl, and by no means did he lament over his life, for -the hand-woven coat of mail, which was ample and of many colours, was -destined to explore the deeps, and knew well how to defend his body, -so that neither battle-grip nor the hostile grasp of the treacherous -one might scathe breast or life; and the white helmet thereof warded -his head, that which was destined to search out the bottom of the -sea and the welter of waters, and which was adorned with treasures -and encircled with noble chains, wondrously decked and set round with -boar-images, as in days of yore a weapon-smith had made it for him, -so that no brand nor battle-sword could bite him. And by no means -was that the least of aids in battle that the Spokesman of Hrothgar -[40] lent him at need, even the hilted sword which was called -Hrunting. And it was one of the ancient treasures. Its edge was of -iron, and poison-tipped, and hardened in battle-sweat. And never -did it fail in the fight any man who brandished it in his hands, -or who dared to go on fearful journeys, to the field of battle. And -that was not the first time that it was to do deeds of courage. And -Unferth did not think, he the kinsman of Ecglaf, crafty of strength, -of what he formerly had said [41] when drunken with wine, he had lent -that weapon to a braver sword-warrior. He himself durst not risk his -life in the stress of the waters and do a glorious deed. And thereby -he lost his doom of famous deeds. But thus was it not with that other, -for he had got himself ready for the battle. - - - - -XXII - -Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'O kinsman of Healfdene, [42] -thou far-famed and proud prince, thou gold-friend of men, now that -eager I am for this forth-faring, bethink thee now of what we two were -speaking together, that if I should lose my life through helping thee -in thy need, thou wouldst be always to me in the place of a father -after my death. Be thou a guardian to my kinsmen, my thanes, and -my hand comrades, if battle should take me. And dear Hrothgar, send -thou the gifts, which thou didst give me, to Hygelac. And the Lord -of the Geats, the son of Hrethel, when he looks on the treasure and -perceives the gold, will see that I found a giver of rings, one good -and open-handed, and that while I could, I enjoyed the treasures. And -do thou let Unferth, the man who is far-famed, have the old heirloom, -the curiously wrought sword with its wave-like device, with its hard -edge. I work out my fate with Hrunting, or death shall seize me.' - -After these words the Lord of the Weder-Geats courageously hastened, -and by no means would he wait for an answer. The whelming sea received -the battle-hero. And it was a day's while before he could see the -bottom of the sea. And very soon the fierce and eager one who had -ruled the expanse of the floods for a hundred years, she, the grim -and greedy, saw that a man was searching out from above the dwelling -of strange monsters. Then she made a grab at him, and closed on the -warrior with dire embrace. But not at first did she scathe his body, -safe and sound. The ring surrounded it on the outside, so that she -could not pierce the coat of mail or the interlaced war-shirt with -loathsome finger. Then the sea-wolf, when she came to the bottom of -the sea, bore the Ring-Prince towards her house so that he might not, -though he was so strong in soul, wield any weapon; and many a wonder -oppressed him in the depths, many a sea-beast broke his war-shirt -with his battle-tusks, and monsters pursued him. - -Then the earl saw that he was in he knew not what hall of strife, -where no water scathed him a whit, nor could the sudden grip of the -flood touch him because of the roof-hall. He saw, too, a firelight, -a bright pale flame shining. Then the good man caught sight of the -she-wolf, that monstrous wife, down in the depths of the sea. And he -made a mighty rush with his sword. Nor did his hand fail to swing it -so that the ringed mail on her head sang a greedy death-song. Then -Beowulf the stranger discovered that the battle-blade would not bite -or scathe her life, but the edge failed the lord in his need. It -had suffered many hand-blows, and the helmet, the battle-dress of -the doomed one, it had often cut in two. That was the first time -that his dear sword-treasure failed him. Then he became resolute, -and not by any means did he fail in courage, that kinsman of Hygelac, -mindful of glory. And this angry warrior threw away the stout sword, -bound round with jewels with its wavy decorations, and with its -edge of steel, so that it lay prone on the ground; and henceforth -he trusted in his strength and the hand-grasp of might. So should -a man be doing when he thinketh to be gaining long-lasting praise -in fighting, and careth not for his life. Then the Lord of the Geats -seized by the shoulder the mother of Grendel (nor at all did he mourn -over that feud), and he, the hard in battle, threw down his deadly -foe, when he was angry, so that she lay prone on the floor. But she -very quickly, with grimmest of grips, requited him a hand-reward, -and made a clutch at him. And the weary in soul, that strongest of -fighters, he the foot-warrior stumbled and fell. Then she sat on that -hall-guest, and drew forth her axe, broad and brown-edged, and would -fain be avenging the death of her child, of her only son. But on his -shoulder was the coat of mail all woven, which saved his life and -prevented the entrance of the point and the edge of the sword. And -the son of Ecgtheow, the Prince of Geats, would have surely gone a -journey under the wide earth unless that warlike coat of mail had -given him help, that hard war-net, and unless the Holy God He the -cunning Lord, and the Ruler in the heavens, had wielded the victory, -and easily decided the issue aright; then he straightway stood up. - - - - -XXIII - -Then among the weapons he caught sight of a sword, rich in victories, -an old weapon of the giants, and doughty of edge, the glory of -warriors. It was the choicest of weapons, and it was greater than -any other man could carry to the battle-playing, and all glorious and -good, a work of the giants. And he seized it by the belted hilt, he -the warrior of the Danes, rough and battle-grim, and he brandished the -ring-sword; and despairing of life, he angrily struck so that hardly -he grasped at her neck and broke the bone-rings. And the point pierced -through the doomed flesh-covering. And she fell on the floor. The -sword was all bloody, and the man rejoiced in his work. Shone forth the -bright flame and a light stood within, even as shineth the candle [43] -from the bright heavens. And then he looked on the hall, and turned to -the wall. And the thane of Hygelac, angry and resolute, heaved hard -the weapon, taking it by the hilt. And the edge was not worthless to -the battle-warrior, for he would be quickly requiting Grendel many -a war-rush which he had done upon the West Danes, many times oftener -than once when in sleeping he smote the hearth-comrade of Hrothgar, -and fed on them sleeping, of the Danish folk, some fifteen men, and -bore forth yet another one, that loathly prey. And well he requited -him, this furious champion, when he saw the war-weary Grendel lying in -death, all void of his life as formerly in Hart the battle had scathed -him. His body sprang apart when after his death he suffered a stroke, -a hard battle-swing; and then he struck off his head. - -Right soon the proud warriors, they who with Hrothgar, looked forth on -the sea, could easily see, that the surging water was all stained with -blood and the grey-haired ancients spoke together about the good man, -that they deemed not the Atheling would ever again come seeking the -famous Prince Hrothgar glorying in victory, for it seemed unto many -that the sea-wolf had destroyed him. - -Then came noonday. The valiant Danes left the headland, and the -gold-friend of men [44] went homeward thence. And the strangers of -the Geats, sick in mind, sat and stared at the water. They knew and -expected not that they would see again their liege-lord himself. Then -the sword began to grow less, after the battle-sweat, into icicles -of steel. And a wonder it was that it all began to melt likest to -ice, when Our Father doth loosen the band of frost and unwinds the -icicles, He who hath power over the seasons, He is the true God. Nor -in these dwellings did the Lord of the Geats take any other treasure, -though much he saw there, except the head and the hilt, decked out -with jewels. The sword had melted, and the decorated weapon was burnt -up. The blood was too hot, and so poisonous the alien sprite who died -in that conflict. Soon Beowulf was swimming, he who formerly awaited -the onset of the hostile ones in the striving, and he dived upwards -through the water. And the weltering surge and the spacious lands -were all cleansed when the alien sprite gave up his life and this -fleeting existence. - -He the stout-hearted came swimming to shore, he the Prince of the -sea-men enjoying the sea-spoils, the great burden of that which he -had with him. They advanced towards him and gave thanks to God, that -glorious crowd of thanes, and rejoiced in their lord that they could -see him once more. Then was loosed quickly from that valiant man both -helmet and shield. The sea became turbid, the water under welkin, -all stained with blood. And rejoicing in spirit the brave men went -forth with foot-tracks and passed over the earth, the well-known -pathways. And a hard task it was for each one of those proud men to -bear that head away from the sea-cliff. Four of them with difficulty -on a pole were bearing the head of Grendel to the gold-hall, until -suddenly, valiant and battle-brave, they came to the palace, fourteen -of the Geats marching along with their liege-lord who trod the field -where the mead-hall stood. Then this Prince of the thanes, this man so -bold of deed and honoured by Fate, this battle-dear warrior went into -the hall to greet King Hrothgar. Then over the floor where warriors -were drinking they bore Grendel's head, a terror to the earls and -also to the Queen. And men were looking at the splendid sight of -the treasures. - - - - -XXIV - -Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'Lo, son of Healfdene, lord of -the Danes, we have brought thee this booty of the sea all joyfully, -this which thou seest as a token of glory. And I hardly escaped with -my life, and hazarded an arduous task of war under water. And nearly -was the battle ended for me, but that God shielded me. Nor could -I in that conflict do aught with Hrunting, though the weapon was -doughty. But the Ruler of men granted me to see hanging on the wall -a beauteous sword mighty and ancient (often He guides those who are -bereft of their comrades), and I drew the weapon. And I struck in that -striving the guardian of the house when I saw my chance. Then that -battle-sword that was all decked out, burned up so that blood gushed -forth, the hottest of battle-sweat. But I bore off that hilt thence -from the enemy, and wrought vengeance for the crimes, the deaths of -the Danes, as it was fitting. And here I bid thee to take thy rest all -sorrowless in Hart, with the troop of thy men and each of the thanes -of thy people, the youth and the doughty ones. O Lord of the Danes, -no longer need'st thou fear for them, because of earls' life-bale as -before thou didst.' Then was the golden hilt, the work of the giants, -given into the hand of the old warrior, the hoary battle-chief. This -work of the wonder-smiths went into the possession of the Lord of the -Danes after the destruction of devils; and when the man of the fierce -heart, the adversary of God guilty of murder, forsook this world, -it passed to the best of world-kings by the two seas, of these who -in Sceden Isle dealt out treasures. - -Hrothgar spake and looked upon the hilt, the old heirloom on which -was written the beginning of the ancient feud since the flood, the -all-embracing ocean slew the giant race, when they bore themselves -presumptuously. They were a folk strangers to the eternal God, to whom -the ruler gave their deserts through whelming of waters. Thus was -there truly marked on the sword guards of shining gold, by means of -rune-staves, set down and stated by whom that sword was wrought at the -first, that choicest of weapons, with its twisted hilt, adorned with -a dragon. Then spake the wise man the son of Healfdene, and all kept -silence: 'He who doeth truth and right among the folk, and he who can -recall the far-off days, he the old protector of his country may say -that this earl was well born. Thy fair fame is spread throughout the -wide ways, among all peoples, O my friend Beowulf. Thou dost hold all -with patience, and might, with the proud of mind. I will perform the -compact as we two agreed. Thou shalt be a lasting aid to thy people, -a help to the heroes. Not so was Heremod [45] to the sons of Egwela, -the honour-full Danish folk. [46] For he did not become a joy to -them, but slaughter and death to the Danish people. But in a fury he -killed the table-companions his boon comrades; until he alone, the -famous chieftain, turned away from human joys. And though the mighty -God greatly exalted him by the joys of strength over all people and -rendered him help, yet a fierce hoard of hate grew up in his soul; -no rings did he give to the Danes, as the custom was; and joyless he -waited, so that he suffered troublesome striving and to his people a -long time was baleful. Do thou be learning by that example and seek -out manly virtues. I who am old in winters sing thee this song. And -a wonder is it to say how the mighty God giveth wisdom to mankind -through wideness of mind, lands, and earlship. He hath power over -all. Sometimes he letteth the thought of man of famous kith and kin -be turning to love, and giveth him earth-joys in his own country, -so that he holdeth the city of refuge among men, and giveth him to -rule over parts of the world, and very wide kingdoms, so that he -himself foolishly never thinketh of his end. He dwelleth in weal; -and neither disease nor old age doth deceive him a whit, nor doth -hostile sorrow darken his mind, nor anywhere do strife or sword-hate -show themselves; but all the world doth go as he willeth. - - - - -XXV - -'He knoweth no evil until his share of pride wasteth and groweth, while -sleepeth the guardian, the ward of his soul. And the sleep is too deep, -bound up in afflictions, and the banesman draweth near who shooteth -cruelly his arrows from the bow. Then in his soul under helmet is he -stricken with bitter shaft. Nor can he save himself from the crooked -behests of the cursed ghost. And little doth he think of that which -long he hath ruled. And the enemy doth covet, nor at all doth he give -in boast the plated rings, and he then forgetteth and despiseth his -fate his share of honour which God before gave him, He the Wielder of -wonder. And in the end it doth happen that the body sinks fleeting and -doomed to death falleth. And another succeeds thereto who joyfully -distributeth gifts, the old treasure of the earl, and careth not -for terrors. Guard thee against malicious hate, O my dear Beowulf, -thou noblest of men, and choose for thyself that better part, eternal -wisdom. Have no care for pride, O glorious champion. Now is the fame of -thy strength proclaimed for a while. Soon will it be that disease or -sword-edge or grasp of fire or whelming of floods or grip of sword or -flight of arrow or dire old age will sever thee from strength, or the -lustre of thine eyes will fail or grow dim. Then forthwith will happen -that death will o'erpower thee, O thou noble man. Thus have I for fifty -years held sway over the Ring-Danes under the welkin and made safe by -war many a tribe throughout the world with spears and swords, so that I -recked not any man my foeman under the sweep of heaven. Lo! then there -came to me change in my homeland, sorrow after gaming, when Grendel, -that ancient foe became my invader. And ever I bore much sorrow of -mind through that feud. And may God be thanked, the eternal lord, -that I lingered in life, till I looked with mine eyes on that head -stained with sword-blood after the old strife. Go now to thy seat and -enjoy the feasting, thou who art glorious in war. And when morning -cometh there shall be a host of treasures in common between us.' - -And the Geat was glad of mind, and soon he went up to the high seat -as the proud chief had bidden him. Then renewed was fair chanting as -before 'mongst these brave ones who sat on the floor. And the helmet -of night grew dark over men. And the noble warriors arose. The -venerable king wished to go to his bed, the old prince of the -Danes. And the Geat, the shield-warrior, desired greatly to go to -his rest. And straightway a hall-thane guided the far-comer, weary -of his journey, he who so carefully attended to all his needs such as -that day the ocean-goers would fain be having. And the great-hearted -one rested himself. The House towered on high that was spacious and -gold-decked. The guest slept within until the black raven heralded -the joy of heaven. - -Then came the sun, hastening and shining over the earth. Warriors -were hurrying and Athelings were eager to go to their people. The -bold-hearted comer would visit the ship far away. He the hardy one -bade the son of Ecglaf carry forth Hrunting, and commanded him to -take his sword, that lovely piece of steel. And he gave thanks for -the lending, and said he reckoned him a good war-comrade and crafty -in fighting. Not at all did he blame the edge of the sword. He was -a proud man. When ready for the journey were all the warriors, then -Beowulf the Atheling, of good worth to the Danes, went up to the dais -where was Hrothgar the faithful and bold, and greeted him there. - - - - -XXVI - -Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'Now we the sea-farers, that -have come from afar, desire to say that we are hastening back to -Hygelac. And here have we been nobly waited on, and well thou hast -treated us. And if I then on earth can gain a whit further greater -heart-love from thee, O Lord of men, than I have gained already, in -doing war-deeds, thereto I'm right ready. And if I shall hear o'er -the sheet of waters that terrors are oppressing those who sit round -thee, as erewhile thine enemies were doing upon thee, I will bring -here a thousand thanes, heroes to help thee. And I know that Hygelac, -the Lord of the Geats, the guardian of my folk, though young in years, -will help me by word and works to bring to thee honour and bear spear -to thine aid, the help of strength, if thou hast need of men. And -if Hrethric [47] the Prince's child should ever take service in the -court of the Geat, he may find there many a friend. It is better for -him who is doughty himself to be seeking far countries.' - -Hrothgar spake and gave him answer: 'The all-knowing Lord doth send -thee words into thy mind. Never heard I a man speak more wisely, -so young in years, thou art strong of main and proud of soul, and -of words a wise sayer. I reckon that if it cometh to pass that an -arrow or fierce battle should take away the children of Hrethel or -disease or sword destroy thy sovereign, the protector of the folk, -and thou art still living, that the Sea-Geats will not have to choose -any better king, if thou wilt hold the kingdom of the kinsmen. Thou -hast brought about peace to the folk of the Geats and the Spear-Danes, -and a ceasing of the strife and of the enmity which formerly they -suffered. And whilst I am ruling the wide kingdom, treasures shall be -in common between us. And many a man shall greet another with gifts -over the sea. [48] And the ring-necked ship shall bear over the ocean -both offerings and love-tokens. I know the two peoples to be steadfast -towards friend and foe, and blameless in all things in the old wise.' - -Then in that hall the prince of the earls, the son of Healfdene, -gave him twelve treasures, and bade him be seeking his own people in -safety and with the offerings, and quickly to come back again. Then the -King, the Prince of the Danes, he of good lineage, kissed the best of -thanes, and embraced his neck. And tears were falling down the face -of the old man. And the old and wise man had hope of both things, -but most of all of the other that they might see each the other, -those thoughtful men in council. - -For Beowulf was so dear to him that he could not restrain the whelming -in his bosom, but a secret longing fast in the bonds of his soul -was burning in his breast against his blood. [49] So Beowulf the -warrior, proud of his golden gifts, went forth o'er the grassy plain -rejoicing in treasure. And the sea-goer was awaiting her lord where -she lay at anchor. And as he was going he often thought on the gift -of Hrothgar. He was a king, blameless in every way, until old age, -that scather of many, bereft him of the joys of strength. - - - - -XXVII - -So many a proud young warrior came to the seaside. And they were -carrying the ring-net, the interlaced coats of mail. And the ward of -the shore noticed the going of the earls, as he did their coming. [50] -Nor with evil intent did he hail the guests from the edge of the -cliff, but rode up to them, and said that welcome and bright-coated -warriors went to the ship to the people of the Geats. Then on the -sand was the spacious craft laden with battle-weeds, the ringed prow -with horses and treasures, and the mast towered high over Hrothgar's -gifts. And he gave to the captain a sword bound with gold, so that by -the mead-bench he was by that the worthier because of the treasure and -the heirloom. Then he went on board, the deep water to be troubling, -and finally left the land of the Danes. And by the mast was one of -the ocean-garments, a sail fast by a rope. The sea-wood thundered. Nor -did the wind hinder the journey of that ship. The ocean-goer bounded -forth, the foamy-necked one, over the waves, the bound prow over the -ocean streams, till they could see the cliffs of the Geats' land, -the well-known headlands. - -Then the keel thronged up the shore, driven by the wind, and stood -fast in the sand. And the harbour-master was soon on the seashore, -who of yore eagerly had seen from afar the going forth of the dear -men. And he made fast the wide-bosomed ship, by the anchor chains, -so that the less the force of the waves could tear away that winsome -ship. He commanded the treasure of the nobles to be borne up the beach, -the fretted armour and the plated gold. And not far thence it was for -them to be seeking the giver of treasure, Hygelac, Hrethel's son, for -at home he dwelleth, he and his companions near to the sea-wall. And -splendid was that building, and the Prince was a bold King, and the -halls were high, and Hygd his wife was very young and wise and mature -in her figure, though the daughter of Hæreth had bided in that city -but a very few years. But she was not mean nor niggardly of gifts -and of treasures to the people of the Geats. - -But Thrytho [51] was fierce, for she had committed a terrible crime, -that bold Queen of the folk. There was none that durst risk that dire -thing of the dear companions, save only her lord, that he should -stare on her with his eyes by day; but if he did he might expect -that death-bands were destined for himself, for after the hand-grip a -weapon was quickly prepared, that the sword that was curiously inlaid -should bring to light and make known the death-bale. Nor is it a -queenly custom for a woman to perform, though she might be peerless, -that she should assail the life of a peace-wearer, of her dear lord, -after a pretended insult. At least King Offa, the kinsman of Hemming, -checked her in that. But otherwise said the ale-drinkers, namely that -she did less of bale to her people and of hostile acts, since the time -when she was first given all decked with gold to the young champion, -[52] to her dear lord, since she sought the Hall of Offa over the -fallow flood by the guidance of her father, where on the throne -whilst she lived she well did enjoy her fate, that woman famous -for good works. And she kept great love for the prince of heroes, -and of all mankind he was, as I have learned by asking, the greatest -by two seas. For Offa was a spear-keen man in gifts and in warfare, -and widely was he honoured. And he ruled his people wisely. And to -him and Thrytho Eomær was born to the help of heroes, he the kinsman -of Hemming, the nephew of Garmund, was crafty in battle. - - - - -XXVIII - -Then the hardy one himself, with his troop set forth to tread the -seashore, going along the sands, the wide sea-beaches. The candle of -the world shone, the sun that was shining from the South. And joyfully -they journeyed, and with courage they marched along, to where they -heard by inquiring, that the good Prince of earls, the banesman of -Ongentheow [53] the young war-king, was giving out rings within the -city. And quickly was made known to Hygelac the coming of Beowulf, -that he the Prince of warriors, the comrade in arms, was returning -alive and hale from the battle-play, was coming to the palace. And -straightway was there room made for the foot-guests on the floor of -the hall by command of the King. And he that had escaped scot-free -from the contest sat with the King, kinsman with kinsman, and the -lord with courteous speech saluted the brave man with high-swelling -words. And the daughter of Hæreth [54] poured forth from the mead-cups -throughout that great hall, for she loved well the people, and carried -round the drinking-stoups to each of the warriors. And Hygelac began -to question his comrade as curiosity prompted him as to the journey of -the Sea-Geats. 'How went it with thee, dear Beowulf, in thy faring, -when thou didst bethink thee suddenly to be seeking a contest o'er -the salt waters, in battle at Hart? And thou didst requite the widely -known woe which Hrothgar was suffering, that famous lord. And I brooded -o'er that mind-care with sorrow-whelmings, for I trusted not in the -journey of the dear man. And for a long time I bade thee not a whit -to be greeting the murderous stranger, but to let the South Danes -themselves wage war against Grendel. And I now give God thanks that -I see thee safe and sound.' - -Beowulf answered, the son of Ecgtheow: 'O Lord Hygelac, it is well -known to many a man, our famous meeting, and the battle we fought, -Grendel and I, on the wide plain, when he was working great sorrow -to the Danes and misery for ever. All that I avenged, so that no -kinsman of Grendel anywhere on earth needed to boast of that uproar -by twilight, no not he of that kindred who liveth the longest, -encircled by the fen. And first, to greet Hrothgar, I went to the -Ring-hall. And straightway the famous kinsman of Healfdene, when -he knew my intention, gave me a place with his own son; and the -troop was all joyful. Nor ever have I seen greater joy amongst any -hall-dwellers under the arch of heaven. Sometimes the famous Queen, -[55] the peace-bringer of the folk, walked over the whole floor and -encouraged the young sons. And often she gave to the man a twisted -ring ere she went to the high seat. And sometimes for the noble band -the daughter of Hrothgar carried the ale-cups to the earls at the end -of the high table. And I heard those who sat in that hall calling her -Freawaru as she gave the studded treasure to the heroes. And she, -young and gold-decked, is betrothed to the glad son of Froda. [56] -The friend of the Danes and the guardian of the kingdom has brought -this to pass, and taken that counsel, so as to set at rest by that -betrothal many a slaughter-feud and ancient strife. And often it -happens that a little while after the fall of a people, the deadly -spear seldom lieth at rest though the bride be doughty. And this -may displease the lord of the Heathobards and all of his thanes -of the people, when he with his bride walketh over the floor, that -his doughty warriors should attend on a noble scion of the Danes, -and the heirloom of the ancients should glisten on him, all hard, -and the ring-sword, the treasure of the Heathobards, whilst they -might be wielding weapons. [57] - - - - -XXIX [58] - -'Till the day on which they risked their own and their comrades' -lives in the battle. Then said an old spear-warrior who remembered -all that had happened, the death of men by spears (his mind was grim), -and he began with sorrowful mind to seek out the thought of the young -champion by broodings of the heart, and to awaken the war-bales, -and this is what he said: "Canst thou recognize, my friend, the dire -sword which thy father carried to the battle, under the visored helm, -on that last journey, when the Danes slew him and had the battle-field -in their power, when Withergyld [59] lay dead after the fall of the -heroes? Now here the son of I know not which of the slayers, all -boasting of treasures, goeth into the hall and boasteth of murder -and carrieth the gift which thou shouldst rightly possess." Then he -exhorteth and bringeth to mind each of the occasions with sorrowful -words, until the time cometh that the thane of the bride dieth all -stained with blood for the deeds of his father by the piercing of -the sword, having forfeited his life. But the other thence escapeth -alive, for he knows the land well. Then the oath-swearing of earls is -broken on both sides when deadly enmities surge up against Ingeld, -and his love for his wife grows cooler after whelming care. And for -this reason I reckon not sincere the friendliness of the Heathobards -towards the Danes or the troop-peace between them, the plighted troth. - -'Now I speak out again about Grendel, for that thou knowest full -well, O giver of treasure, how went that hand-to-hand fight of the -heroes. When the jewel of heaven glided over the world, then the -angry sprite, the terrible and evening-fierce foe, came to visit -us where we were dwelling in the hall all safe and sound. There was -battle impending to Hondscio, the life-bale to the doomed one. And he -first fell, the champion begirt. For Grendel was to the famous thane -a banesman by biting, and devoured whole the dear man. Nor would he, -the bloody-toothed slayer, mindful of bales, go out empty-handed any -sooner again, forth from the gold-hall; but he proved my strength of -main, and ready-handed he grasped at me. An ample and wondrous glove -hung fast by cunning bands. And it was cunningly fashioned by the -craft of devils, and with skins of the dragon. And the fierce doer -of deeds was wishful to put me therein, one among many. But he could -not do so, for I angrily stood upright. And too long would it be to -tell how I requited all evil to that scather of the people, where I, -O my liege-lord, honoured thy people by means of good deeds. He escaped -on the way, and for a little while he enjoyed life-pleasures. But his -right hand showed his tracks in Hart, and he sank to the bottom of the -sea, all abject and sad of heart. And the lord of the Danes rewarded -me for that battle-rush with many a piece of plated gold, and with -ample treasure, when morning came and we had set ourselves down to -the feasting. And there was singing and rejoicing. And the wise man -of the Danes, who had learned many things, told us of olden days. And -the bold in battle sometimes touched the harp-strings, the wood that -was full of music, and sometimes he gave forth a song that was true -and sad--and sometimes, large-hearted, the King related a wondrous -spell well and truly. [60] And sometimes the old man encumbered by -years, some ancient warrior, lamented his lost youth and strength in -battle. His heart was tumultuous when he, of many winters, recalled -all the number of them. So we rejoiced the livelong day until another -night came down upon men. Then was the mother of Grendel quickly -ready for vengeance, and came on a woful journey, for Death had -carried off her son, that war-hate of the Geats. And the uncanny wife -avenged her child. And Aeschere, that wise and ancient councillor, -departed this life. Nor when morning came might the Danish people -burn him with brand, that death-weary man, nor lay the beloved man -on the funeral pyre. For she bore away the body in her fiendish grip -under the mountain-streams. And that was to Hrothgar the bitterest -of griefs which for long had befallen the Prince of the people. Then -the Prince, sad in mood, by thy life entreated me that I should do a -deed, worthy of an earl, midst welter of waters, and risk my life and -achieve glory. And he promised me rewards. I then discovered the grim -and terrible guardian of the whelming waters, at the sea's bottom, -so widely talked of. There was a hand-to-hand engagement between -us for a while, and the sea boiled with gore; I cut off the head of -Grendel's mother in the hall at the bottom of the sea, with powerful -sword. And I scarce saved my life in that conflict. But not yet was -my doomsday. And afterwards the Prince of earls gave me many gifts, -he the son of Healfdene. - - - - -XXXI - -'So in good customs lived the King of the people. Nor had I lost the -rewards, the meed of strength, for the son of Healfdene bestowed -upon me treasures according to my choice, which I will bring to -thee, O my warrior-King, and graciously will I proffer them. Again -all favour depends on thee, for few chief kinsmen have I save thee, -O Hygelac.' He commanded them to bring in the boar, the head-sign, -the battle-steep helmet, the hoary byrny, the splendid war-sword, and -then he chanted this song: 'It was Hrothgar, that proud prince, who -bestowed upon me all this battle-gear. And a certain word he uttered -to me, that I should first give thee his kindly greeting. [61] He said -that Hrothgar the King of the Danes possessed it a long while. Nor -formerly would he be giving the breast-weeds to his son the brave -Heoroward, though dear he was to him. Do thou enjoy all well.' - -Then I heard that four horses, of reddish yellow hue, followed the -armour. And thus he did him honour with horses and gifts. So should -a kinsman do. By no means should they weave cunning nets for each -other, or with secret craft devise death to a comrade. His nephew -was very gracious to Hygelac, the brave in strife, and each was -striving to bestow favours on the other. And I heard that he gave -to Hygd the neck-ring so curiously and wondrously wrought, which -Wealtheow a daughter of royal birth had given him, and three horses -also slender and saddle-bright. And her breast was adorned with the -ring she had received. - -And Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, so famous in warfare and in good deeds, -bore himself boldly and fulfilled his fate, nor did he slay the drunken -hearth-comrades. He was not sad-minded, but he, the battle-dear one, by -the greatest of craft known to man held fast the lasting and generous -gift which God gave him. For long had he been despised, so that the -warriors of the Geats looked not upon him as a good man, nor did the -lord of troops esteem him as of much worth on the mead-bench. Besides, -they thought him slack and by no means a warlike Atheling. Then came a -change from all his distresses to this glorious man. Then the Prince -of Earls, the battle-brave King, commanded that the heirloom of -Hrethel all decked out in gold should be brought in. For of swords -there was no more glorious treasure among the Geats. And he laid -it on the bosom of Beowulf, and gave him seven thousand men and a -building and a throne. And both of them held the land, the earth, -the rights in the land as an hereditary possession; but the other -who was the better man had more especially a wide kingdom. - -And in after-days it happened that there were battle-crashings, and -Hygelac lay dead, [62] and swords under shields became a death-bane to -Heardred, [63] when the brave battle-wolves, the Swedes, sought him -out among the victorious ones and assailed with strife the nephew -of Hereric, and it was then that the broad kingdom came into the -possession of Beowulf. And he held sway therein fifty winters (and -a wise King was he, that old guardian of his country) until on dark -nights a dragon began to make raids, he that watched over the hoard -in the lofty cavern, the steep rocky cave. And the path thereto lay -under the cliffs unknown to men. And what man it was who went therein -I know not, but he took from the heathen hoard a hall-bowl decked -with treasure. Nor did he give it back again, though he had beguiled -the guardian of the hoard when he was sleeping, by the craft of a -thief. And Beowulf found out that the dragon was angry. [64] - - - - -XXXII - -And it was by no means of his own accord or self-will that he sought -out the craft of the hoard of the dragon who inflicted such evil upon -himself, but rather because being compelled by miseries, the slave -fled the hateful blows of heroes, he that was shelterless and the man -troubled by guilt penetrated therein. And soon it came to pass that -an awful terror arose upon the guest. [65]... And in the earth-house -were all kinds of ancient treasures, such as I know not what man of -great thoughts had hidden there in days of old, the immense heirlooms -of some noble race, costly treasures. And in former times death had -taken them all away, and he alone of the warriors of the people who -longest lingered there, full lonely and sad for loss of friends was -he, and he hoped for a tarrying, that he but for a little while might -enjoy the ancient treasures. And this hill was quite near to the -ocean-waves, and to the sea-nesses, and no one could come near thereto. - -And he the guardian of rings carried inside the cave the heavy -treasures of plated gold, and uttered some few words: 'Do thou, -O earth, hold fast the treasures of earls which heroes may not -hold. What! From thee in days of yore good men obtained it. Deadly -warfare and terrible life-bale carried away all the men of my people -of those who gave up life. They had seen hall-joy. And they saw the -joys of heaven. I have not any one who can carry a sword or polish -the gold-plated cup, the dear drinking-flagon. The doughty ones have -hastened elsewhere. The hard helmet dight with gold shall be deprived -of gold plate. The polishers sleep the sleep of death who should make -ready the battle grim, likewise the coat of mail which endured in the -battle was shattered over shields by the bite of the iron spears and -perishes after the death of the warrior. Nor can the ringed byrny go -far and wide on behalf of heroes, after the passing of the war-chief. - -'No joy of harping is there, nor mirth of stringed instruments, nor -does the goodly hawk swing through the hall, nor doth the swift horse -paw in the courtyard. And death-bale hath sent away many generations -of men.' Thus then, sad at heart he lamented his sorrowful plight, -one for many, and unblithely he wept both day and night until the -whelming waters of death touched his heart. And the ancient twilight -scather found the joyous treasure standing open and unprotected, he -it was who flaming seeks the cliff-sides, he, the naked and hateful -dragon who flieth by night wrapt about with fire. And the dwellers -upon earth greatly fear him. And he should be seeking the hoard upon -earth where old in winters he guardeth the heathen gold. Nor aught -is he the better thereby. - -And thus the scather of the people, the mighty monster, had in -his power the hall of the hoard three hundred years upon the earth -until a man in anger kindled his fury. For he carried off to his -liege-lord the plated drinking-flagon and offered his master a -treaty of peace. Thus was the hoard discovered, the hoard of rings -plundered. And a boon was granted to the miserable man. And the -Lord saw for the first time this ancient work of men. Then awoke -the dragon, and the strife was renewed. He sniffed at the stone, -and the stout-hearted saw the foot-mark of his foe. He had stepped -too far forth with cunning craft near the head of the dragon. So may -any one who is undoomed easily escape woes and exile who rejoices in -the favour of the Wielder of the world. The guardian of the hoard, -along the ground, was eagerly seeking, and the man would be finding -who had deprived him of his treasure while he was sleeping. Hotly -and fiercely he went around all on the outside of the barrow--but -no man was there in the waste. Still he gloried in the strife and -the battle working. Sometimes he returned to the cavern and sought -the treasure vessels. And soon he found that one of the men had -searched out the gold, the high heap of treasures. The guardian of -the hoard was sorrowfully waiting until evening should come. And very -furious was the keeper of that barrow, and the loathsome one would -fain be requiting the robbery of that dear drinking-stoup with fire -and flame. Then, as the dragon wished, day was departing. Not any -longer would he wait within walls, but went forth girt with baleful -fire. And terrible was this beginning to the people in that country, -and sorrowful would be the ending to their Lord, the giver of treasure. - - - - -XXXIII - -Then the Fiend began to belch forth fire, and to burn up the glorious -palace. And the flames thereof were a horror to men. Nor would the -loathly air-flier leave aught living thereabouts. And this warfare -of the dragon was seen far and wide by men, this striving of the foe -who caused dire distress, and how the war-scather hated and harmed -the people of the Geats. And he hurried back to his hoard and the -dark cave-hall of which he was lord, ere it was day-dawn. He had -encircled the dwellers in that land with fire and brand. He trusted in -his cavern, and in battle and his cliff-wall. But his hope deceived -him. Then was the terror made known to Beowulf, quickly and soothly, -namely that his very homestead, that best of houses, that throne of -the Geats, was dissolving in the whelming fire. And full rueful was -it to the good man, and the very greatest of sorrows. - -And the wise man was thinking that he had bitterly angered the -Wielder of all things, the eternal God, in the matter of some ancient -customs. [66] And within his breast gloomy brooding was welling, as -was by no means his wont. The fiery dragon had destroyed by flame the -stronghold of the people, both the sea-board and neighbouring land. And -therefore the King of the Weder-Geats devised revenge upon him. - -Now Beowulf the Prince of earls and protector of warriors commanded -them to fashion him a glorious war-shield all made of iron. For he -well knew that a wooden shield would be unavailing against flames. For -he, the age-long noble Atheling, must await the end of days that -were fleeting of this world-life, he and the dragon together, though -long he had held sway over the hoard of treasure. And the Prince of -rings scorned to employ a troop against the wide-flying monster in -the great warfare. Nor did he dread the striving, nor did he think -much of this battle with the dragon, of his might and courage, for -that formerly in close conflict had he escaped many a time from the -crashings of battle since he, the victorious sword-man, cleansed the -great hall in Hart, of Hrothgar his kinsman, and had grappled in the -contest with the mother of Grendel, of the loathly kin. - -Nor was that the least hand-to-hand fight, when Hygelac was slain -there in the Frisian land when the King of the Geats, the friendly -lord of the folk, the son of Hrethel, died in the battle-rush beaten -down by the sword, drunk with blood-drinking. Then fled Beowulf by -his very own craft and swam through the seas. [67] And he had on his -arm alone thirty battle-trappings when he went down to the sea. Nor -did the Hetware need to be boasting, of that battle on foot, they who -bore their linden shields against him. And few of them ever reached -their homes safe from that wolf of the battle. - -But Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, swam o'er the expanse of waters, -miserable and solitary, back to his people, where Hygd proffered him -treasures and a kingdom, rings and dominion. She did not think that -her son Heardred would know how to hold their native seats against -strangers, now that Hygelac was dead. Nor could the wretched people -prevail upon the Atheling (Beowulf) in any wise to show himself lord -of Heardred or to be choosing the kingship. Nevertheless he gave -friendly counsel to the folk with grace and honour until that he -(Heardred) was older and held sway over the Weder-Geats. - -Then those exiles the sons of Ohthere sought him over the seas; they -had rebelled against the Lord of the Swedes, the best of the sea-kings, -that famous chieftain of those who bestowed rings in Sweden. And that -was life's limit to him. For the son of Hygelac, famishing there, -was allotted a deadly wound by the swing of a sword. And the son of -Ongentheow went away thence to visit his homestead when Heardred lay -dead, and left Beowulf to sit on the throne and to rule the Goths. And -he was a good King. [68] - - - - -XXXIV - -He was minded in after-days to be requiting the fall of the prince. He -was a friend to the wretched Eadgils, and helped Eadgils the son -of Ohthere with an army with warriors and with weapons, over the -wide seas. And then he wrought vengeance with cold and painful -journeyings and deprived the king (Onela) of life. [69] Thus the son -of Ecgtheow had escaped all the malice and the hurtful contests and -the courageous encounters, until the day on which he was to wage war -with the dragon. And so it came to pass that the Lord of the Geats -went forth with twelve others and inflamed with fury, to spy out the -dragon. For he had heard tell of the malice and hatred he had shown -to men, whence arose that feud. - -And by the hand of the informer, [70] famous treasure came into -their possession; he was the thirteenth man in the troop who set on -foot the beginning of the conflict. And the sorrowful captive must -show the way thither. He against his will went to the earth-hall, -for he alone knew the barrow under the ground near to the sea-surge, -where it was seething, the cavern that was full of ornaments and -filagree. And the uncanny guardian thereof, the panting war-wolf, -held possession of the treasures, and an ancient was he under the -earth. And it was no easy bargain to be gaining for any living man. - -So the battle-hardened King sat down on the cliff, and took leave of -his hearth-comrades, he the gold-friend of the Geats. And his heart -was sad, wavering, and ready for death, and Weird came very near -to him who would be greeting the venerable warrior and be seeking -his soul-treasure, to divide asunder his life from his body. And -not long after that was the soul of the Atheling imprisoned in the -flesh. Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'Many a war-rush I escaped -from in my youth, in times of conflict. And well I call it all to -mind. I was seven years old when the Lord of Treasures, the friendly -lord of the folk, took me away from my father--and King Hrethel -had me in thrall, and gave me treasure and feasted me and kept the -peace. Nor was I a whit less dear a child to him than any of his own -kin, Herebald and Hæthcyn or my own dear Hygelac. And for the eldest -was a murder-bed most unhappily made up by the deeds of a kinsman, -[71] when Hæthcyn his lordly friend brought him low with an arrow -from out of his horn-bow, and missing the mark he shot through his -brother with a bloody javelin. And that was a fight not to be atoned -for by gifts of money; and a crime it was, and wearying to the soul -in his breast. Nevertheless the Atheling must unavenged be losing his -life. For so is it a sorrowful thing for a venerable man to see his -son riding the gallows-tree when he singeth a dirge a sorrowful song, -as his son hangeth, a joy to the ravens. And he, very old, may not -give him any help. And every morning at the feasting he is reminded -of his son's journey else-whither. And he careth not to await another -heir within the cities, when he alone through the fatality of death -hath found out the deeds. - -'Heartbroken he looks on the bower of his son, on the wasted wine-hall, -become the hiding-place for the winds and bereft of the revels. The -riders are sleeping, the heroes in the tomb. Nor is any sound of -harping, or games in the courts as erewhile there were. - - - - -XXXV - -'Then he goeth to the sleeping-place and chanteth a sorrow-song, -the one for the other. And all too spacious seemed to him the fields -and the dwelling-house. So the Prince of the Geats bore welling -heart-sorrow after Herebald's death, nor a whit could he requite the -feud on the murderer, nor visit his hate on that warrior with loathly -deeds, though by no means was he dear to him. He then forsook the joys -of life because of that sorrow-wound which befell him, and chose the -light of God, and left to his sons land and towns when he departed -this life as a rich man doth. Then was there strife and struggle -between the Swedes and the Geats, and over the wide seas there was -warfare between them, a hardy battle-striving when Hrethel met with his -death. And the children of Ongentheow were brave and battle-fierce, -and would not keep the peace on the high seas, but round about -Hreosnaborg they often worked terrible and dire distress. And my -kinsmen wrought vengeance for that feud and crime as all men know, -though the other bought his life with a hard bargain. And war was -threatening Hæthcyn the lord of the Geats. Then I heard tell that -on the morrow one brother the other avenged on the slayer with the -edge of the sword, whereas Ongentheow [72] seeketh out Eofor. The -war-helmet was shattered, and the Ancient of the Swedes fell prone, -all sword-pale. And well enough the hand kept in mind the feud and -withheld not the deadly blow. And I yielded him back in the warfare -the treasures he gave me with the flashing sword, as was granted to -me. And he gave me land and a dwelling and a pleasant country. And -he had no need to seek among the Gifthas or the Spear-Danes or in -Sweden a worse war-wolf, or to buy one that was worthy. - -'And I would always be before him in the troop, alone in the front -of the battle, and so for ever will I be striving, whilst this sword -endureth, that earlier and later has often stood me in good stead, -since the days when for doughtiness I was a hand-slayer to Day -Raven the champion of the Hugs. Nor was he fated to bring ornaments -or breast-trappings to the Frisian King, but he the guardian of -the standard, he the Atheling, fell on the battle-field, all too -quickly. Nor was the sword-edge his bane, but the battle-grip broke -the whelmings of his heart and the bones of his body. Now shall my -sword-edge, my hand and hard weapon, be fighting for the hoard.' - -Beowulf moreover now for the last time spake these boastful words: 'In -many a war I risked my life in the days of my youth, yet still will I -seek a feud, I the old guardian of the people will work a glorious deed -if the wicked scather cometh out from his earth-palace to seek me.' - -Then he saluted for the last time each of the warriors, the brave -wearers of helmets, the dear companions. 'I would not carry a sword -or weapon against the dragon if I knew how else I might maintain my -boast against the monster, as I formerly did against Grendel. But -in this conflict I expect the hot battle-fire, both breath and -poison. Therefore I have both shield and byrny. I will not flee from -the warder of the barrow a foot's-space, but it shall be with me at -the wall of the barrow as Weird shall direct, who created all men. I -am strong in soul so that I will refrain from boasting against the -war-flier. Await ye on the barrow guarded by byrnies, O ye warriors in -armour, and see which of us two will better survive his wounds after -the battle-rush. This is no journey for you nor fitting for any man -save only for me, that he should share a conflict with the monster -and do deeds worthy of an earl. I will gain possession of the gold -by my courage, or battle and deadly evil shall take away your lord.' - -Then the strong warrior, hard under helm, arose beside his shield and -carried his shirt of mail under the rocky cliffs and trusted in the -strength of himself alone. Nor was that a coward's journey. Then -Beowulf, possessed of manly virtues, who had escaped in many a -conflict and crashing of battle when men encountered on foot, saw -standing by the wall of the barrow an arch of rock, and a stream -broke out thence from the barrow, and the whelming of that river -was hot with battle-fires. Nor could he survive any while near to -the hoard unburnt because of the flame of the dragon. Then in a fury -the Prince of the Weder-Geats let a torrent of words escape from his -breast and the stout-hearted one stormed. And his war-clear voice -resounded under the hoar cliffs. And hatred was stirred, for the -guardian of the hoard recognized well the voice of Beowulf. And that -was no time to be seeking friendship. And the breath of the monster, -the hot battle-sweat, came forth from the rock at the first and -the earth resounded. The warrior, the Lord of the Geats, raised his -shield under the barrow against the terrible sprite. Now the heart of -the dragon was stirred up to seek the conflict. The good war-king had -formerly drawn his sword, the ancient heirloom, not slow of edge. And -each of them who intended evil was a terror the one to the other. And -the stern-minded one, he the Prince of friendly rulers, stood by his -steep shield, and he and the dragon fell quickly together. Beowulf -waited warily all in his war-gear. Then the flaming monster bent as -he charged, hastening to his doom. The shield well protected life and -body of the famous warrior for a lesser while than he had willed it -if he was to be wielding victory in that contest on the first day; -but Weird had not so fated it. And the Lord of the Geats uplifted his -hand, and struck at the horribly bright one heavy with heirlooms, -so that the edge stained with blood gave way on the bone and bit -in less strongly than its master had need of when pressed by the -business. Then after the battle-swing the guardian of the barrow was -rough-minded and cast forth slaughter-fire. Battle-flames flashed -far and wide. And the son of the Geats could not boast of victory -in the conflict. The sword had failed him, naked in the battle, -as was unfitting for so well tempered a steel. And it was not easy -for the famous son of Ecgtheow to give up possession of the bottom -of the sea, and that he should against his will dwell in some place -far otherwhere, as must each man let go these fleeting days sooner or -later. And not long after this Beowulf and the monster met together -again. The guardian of the hoard took good heart, and smoke was fuming -in his breast. And fierce were his sufferings as the flames embraced -him, he who before had ruled over the folk. Nor at all in a troop -did his hand-comrades stand round him, that warrior of Athelings, -showing courage in the battle, but they fled into a wood their lives -to be saving. And the mind of one of them was surging with sorrows, -for to him whose thoughts are pure, friendship cannot ever change. - - - - -XXXVI - -Wiglaf was he called, he who was the son of Weohstan, the beloved -shield-warrior, the Prince of the Danes and the kinsman of Aelfhere. He -saw his lord suffering burning pain under his visor. Then he called -to mind the favour that he (Beowulf) had bestowed upon him in days -of yore, the costly dwelling of the Waegmundings [73] and all the -folk-rights which his father had possessed. Then he could not restrain -himself, but gripped the shield with his hand, the yellow wood, and -drew forth the old sword which was known among men as the heirloom -of Eanmund, the son of Ohthere, and in the striving Weohstan was -banesman by the edge of the sword to that friendless exile and bore -away to his kinsman the brown-hued helmet, the ringed byrny, and -the old giant's sword that Onela [74] had given him, the war-weeds -of his comrade, and the well-wrought armour for fighting. Nor did -he speak of the feud, though he slew his brother's son. And he held -possession of the treasures many years, both the sword and the byrny, -until such time as his son should hold the earlship as his father -had done. And he gave to the Geats a countless number of each kind -of war-weeds, when he in old age passed away from this life, on the -outward journey. That was the first time for the young champion that -he went into the war-rush with his noble lord. Nor did his mind melt -within him, nor did the heirloom of his kinsman at the war-tide. And -the dragon discovered it when they two came together. - -Wiglaf spake many fitting words, and said to his comrades (for his -mind was sad within him): 'I remember the time when we partook of the -mead, and promised our liege-lord in the beer-hall, he who gave to -us rings, that we would yield to him war-trappings both helmets and a -hand-sword, if such need befell him. And he chose us for this warfare, -and for this journey, of his own free will, and reminded us of glory; -and to me he gave these gifts when he counted us good spear-warriors -and brave helmet-bearers, although our lord, this guardian of the -people had it in his mind all alone to do this brave work for us, -for he most of all men could do glorious things and desperate deeds -of war. And now is the day come that our lord hath need of our prowess -and of goodly warriors. Let us then go to the help of our battle-lord -while it lasts, the grim terror of fire. God knows well of me that -I would much rather that the flame should embrace my body together -with that of my lord the giver of gold. Nor does it seem to me to be -fitting that we should carry shields back to the homestead except we -have first laid low the foe and protected the life of the Prince of -the Weders. [75] And well I know that his old deserts were not that -he alone of the youth of the Geats should suffer grief and sink in -the fighting. So both sword and helmet, byrny and shield shall be -common to both of us together.' - -Then he waded through the slaughter-reek, and bore the war-helmet -to the help of his lord, and uttered a few words: 'Beloved Beowulf, -do thou be doing all things, as thou of yore in the days of thy youth -wast saying that thou wouldst not allow thy glory to be dimmed whilst -thou wast living. Now shalt thou, the brave in deeds and the resolute -noble, save thy life with all thy might. I am come to help thee.' After -these words came the angry dragon, the terrible and hostile sprite -yet once again, and decked in his various hues of whelmings of fire, -against his enemies, the men that he hated. And the wood of the -shield was burnt up with the waves of flame, and his byrny could -not help the young spear-warrior; yet did the youth bravely advance -under the shield of his kinsman when his own had been destroyed by the -flames. Then again the war-king bethought him of glory, and struck a -mighty blow with his battle-sword so that it fixed itself in his head, -forced in by violence. And Naegling, Beowulf's sword old and grey, -broke in pieces, and failed in the contest. It was not given to him -that sharp edges of swords should help him in battle. His hand was -too strong, so that it overtaxed every sword, as I have been told, -by the force of its swing, whenever he carried into battle a wondrous -hand-weapon. And he was nowise the better for a sword. Then for the -third time, the scather of the people, the terrible Fire-dragon, -was mindful of feuds, and he rushed on the brave man when he saw -that he had room, all hot and battle-grim, and surrounded his neck -with bitter bones. And he was all be-bloodied over with life-blood, -and the sweat welled up in waves. - - - - -XXXVII - -Then I heard tell that the Earl of the King of the People showed in his -time of need unfailing courage in helping him with craft and keenness, -as was fitting for him to do. He paid no heed to the head of the dragon -(but the brave man's hand was being burnt when he helped his kinsman), -but that warrior in arms struck at the hostile sprite somewhat lower in -his body so that his shining and gold-plated sword sank into his body, -and the fire proceeding therefrom began to abate. Then the good King -Beowulf got possession of his wits again, and drew his bitter and -battle-sharp short sword that he bore on his shield. And the King -of the Geats cut asunder the dragon in the midst of his body. And -the fiend fell prone; courage had driven out his life, and they two -together had killed him, noble comrades in arms. And thus should a -man who is a thane always be helping his lord at his need. And that -was the very last victory achieved by that Prince during his life-work. - -Then the wound which the Earth-dragon had formerly dealt him began -to burn and to swell. And he soon discovered that the baleful -venom was seething in his breast, the internal poison. Then the -young noble looked on the giant's work as he sat on a seat musing -by the cliff wall, how arches of rock, firmly on columns held the -eternal earth-house within. Then the most noble thane refreshed his -blood-stained and famous Lord, his dear and friendly Prince with water, -with his own hands, and loosened the helmet for the battle-sated -warrior. And Beowulf spake, over his deathly pitiful wound, for well -he knew that he had enjoyed the day's while of his earthly joy: and -the number of his days was all departed and death was coming very near. - -'Now,' said Beowulf, 'I would have given battle-weeds to my son if any -heir had been given to me of my body. I held sway over these peoples -fifty years. And there was no folk-king of those who sat round about -who dared to greet me with swords, or oppress with terror. At home -have I bided my appointed time, and well I held my own [76], nor did -I seek out cunning feuds, nor did I swear many unrighteous oaths. And -I, sick of my life-wounds, can have joy of all this. For the Wielder -of men cannot reproach me with murder of kinsmen when my life shall -pass forth from my body. Now do thou, beloved Wiglaf, go quickly and -look on the hoard under the hoar stone, now that the dragon lieth -prone and asleep sorely wounded and bereft of his treasure. And do -thou make good speed that I may look upon the ancient gold treasures -and yarely be feasting mine eyes upon the bright and cunning jewels, -so that thereby after gazing on that wealth of treasure I may the -more easily give up my life and my lordship over the people, whom I -have ruled so long.' - - - - -XXXVIII - -Then straightway I heard tell how the son of Weohstan, after these -words had been spoken, obeyed the behest of his lord, who was sick -of his wounds, and carried the ring-net and the coat of mail adorned, -under the roof of the barrow. And as Wiglaf, exulting in victory, came -by the seat, he saw many gems shining and shaped like the sun [77] and -gleaming gold all lying on the ground, and wondrous decorations on the -wall, and he saw too the den of the dragon, the ancient twilight-flier, -and flagons standing there and vessels of men of days long gone by, -no longer polished but shorn of adornment. And there also was many -a helmet, ancient and rusty, and many arm-rings cunningly twisted. - -The possession of treasure and of gold on the earth may easily make -proud all of mankind, let him hide it who will. Likewise he saw the -all-gilded banner lying high over the hoard, that greatest of wondrous -handiwork and all woven by the skill of human hands. And therefrom -went forth a ray of light, so that he could see the floor of the cave, -and look carefully at the jewels. And there was no sign of the dragon, -for the sword-edge had carried him off. - -Then I heard tell how in that barrow one at his own doom [78] plundered -the hoard, that old work of giants, and bore away on his arms both -cups and dishes. And the banner also he took, that brightest of -beacons. Beowulf's sword, with its iron edge, had formerly injured -him who had been the protector of these treasures for a long time, -and had waged fierce flame-terror, because of the hoard fiercely -welling in the midnight hour until he was killed. - -The messenger [79] was in haste, and eager for the return journey, and -laden with jewels, and curiosity tormented him as to whether he would -find the bold-minded Prince of the Geats alive on the battle-field, -and bereft of strength where before he had left him. Then he with the -treasures found the glorious lord, his own dear master, at the last -gasp, and all stained with blood. And he began to throw water upon him, -until the power of speech brake through his mind, and Beowulf spake, -and with sorrow he looked upon the hoard. - -'I would utter words of thanks to the Lord and wondrous King, to the -eternal God, for the treasures which now I am looking upon that I have -managed to obtain them for my dear people before my death-day. Now that -I have in exchange for this hoard of treasure sold my life in my old -age, and laid it down, do thou still be helping the people in their -need, for I may no longer be lingering here. Do thou bid the famous -warriors erect a burial-mound, after the burning of the funeral pyre, -at the edge of the sea, which shall tower aloft on Whale's Ness, -as a memorial for my people, and so the sea-farers shall call it -the Hill of Beowulf, even those who drive the high ships from afar -through the mists of the flood.' - -Then he the bold Prince doffed from his neck the golden ring. And he -gave it to his thane, to the young spear-warrior, the gold-adorned -helmet, the ring, and the byrny, and bade him enjoy it well. 'Thou, -O Wiglaf,' he said, 'art the last heir of our race, of that of the -Waegmundings. Weird has swept away all my kinsmen to their fated doom, -all the earls in their strength, and I shall follow after them.' - -Now that was the very last word of the old warrior's breast thoughts, -ere he chose the funeral pyre the hot wave-whelmings. And his soul went -forth from his breast to be seeking the doom of the truth-fast ones. - - - - -XXXIX - -Then had it sorrowfully come to pass for the young warrior that he -saw his most beloved in a miserable plight on the earth at his life's -end. Likewise the terrible dragon, his slayer, lay there bereft of life -and pressed sore by ruin. And the coiled dragon could no longer wield -the hoard of rings, but the iron edges of the sword, well tempered -and battle-gashed; the hammer's leavings [80], had carried him off, -so that the wide-flier, stilled because of his wounds, fell to the -earth near to the hoard-hall. And no more in playful wise at the -midnight hour, did he drift through the air; this dragon, proud in -his gainings of treasure, showed not his face, but was fallen to the -earth because of the handiwork of the battle-warrior. - -And as I have heard, it would have profited but few of the mighty -men, even though they were doughty in deeds of all kinds, though they -should rush forth against the flaming breath of the poisonous scather, -even to the very disturbing of the Ring-Hall with their hands, if -they should have found the guardian thereof awake, and dwelling in -the cliff-cave. Then Beowulf's share of lordly treasure was paid for -by his death. And both he and the dragon had come to an end of their -fleeting days. - -And not long after that, the laggards in battle, those cowardly -treaty-breakers, ten of them together, came back from the woodlands, -they who erewhile had dreaded the play of javelins when their lord -had sore need of their help. But they were filled with shame, and -carried their shields, and battle-weeds, to where the old prince was -lying. And they looked on Wiglaf; he the foot-warrior sat aweary near -to the shoulders of his lord, and sought to rouse him by sprinkling -water upon him, but he succeeded not at all. Nor could he, though he -wished it ever so much, keep life in the chieftain or avert a whit -the will of the Wielder of all things. Every man's fate was decided -by the act of God, as is still the case. Then was a grim answer easily -given by the young man to these who erewhile had lost their courage. - -Wiglaf spake, he the son of Weohstan, the sad-hearted. 'He who will -speak truth may say that the lord and master who gave you gifts, and -warlike trappings, in which ye are now standing, when he very often -gave on the ale-bench to them who sat in the hall, both helmet and -byrny, the Prince to his thanes, as he could find any of you most noble -far or near, that he wholly wrongly bestowed upon you war-trappings -when war befell him. The King of the folk needed not indeed to boast -of his army comrades, yet God, the Wielder of Victory, granted to -him that alone he avenged himself with the edge of the sword when he -had need of strength. And but a little life-protection could I give -him in the battle, yet I sought to help him beyond my strength. The -dragon was by so much the weaker when I struck with my sword that -deadly foe. And less fiercely the fire surged forth from his head. Too -few were the defenders thronged around their lord when his fated hour -came. And now shall the receiving of treasure, and the gift of swords, -and all joy of home and hope cease for ever to men of your kin. And -every man of you of the tribe must wander empty of land-rights, -since noble men will learn far and wide of your flight and inglorious -deed. Death would be better for earls than a life of reproach.' - - - - -XL - -Then he bade them announce that battle-work at the entrenchment up over -the sea-cliff where that troop of earls sat sorrowful in soul through -the morning-long day, holding their shields and in expectation of the -end of the day and the return of the dear man. And he who rode to and -fro o'er the headland was little sparing of fresh tidings, but said -to all who were sitting there, 'Now is the joy-giver of the people -of the Geats fast on his death-bed, and by the deed of the dragon -he inhabits the place of rest gained by a violent death. And by his -side lieth the enemy of his life, sick of his dagger-wounds. Nor -could he inflict with the sword any wound on that monster. Wiglaf -sits over Beowulf, he the son of Weohstan, the earl over the other -one who is dead, and reverently keeps ward over the loathèd and the -belovèd. But there is an expectation of a time of war to the people, -since to Franks and Frisians the fall of the King has become widely -known. The hard strife was shapen against the Hugs, when Hygelac came -with a fleet into the Frisian lands [81] where the Hetware overcame -him in battle, and by their great strength and courage brought it to -pass that the shield-warrior should stoop. He fell in the troop. Nor -did the Prince give jewelled armour to the doughty ones. The mercy of -the Merewing [82] was not always shown to us. Nor do I expect aught -of peace or good faith from the Swedish People. But it was well known -that Ongentheow [83] bereft Hæthcyn the son of Hrethel [84] of life -over against Ravenswood, when because of pride the warlike Swedes first -sought out the people of the Geats. Soon Ongentheow the wise father of -Ohthere, the ancient and terrible, gave him (Hæthcyn) a return blow, -destroyed the sea-kings, and rescued his bride (Queen Elan) he the -old man rescued his wife bereft of gold, the mother of Onela and of -Ohthere, and then followed up the deadly foe until with difficulty they -retreated all lord-less to Ravenswood. And he attacked the remnant -[85] with a great army, weary though he was with his wounds. And -the live-long night he vowed woe upon the wretched troop, and said -that on the morrow he would by the edge of the sword slay some and -hang them up on the gallows-tree for a sport of the birds. But help -came to the sorrowful in soul at the dawn of day, when they heard -the horn of Hygelac and the blast of his trumpet when the good man -came on the track faring with the doughty warriors of the people. - - - - -XLI - -'And the blood-track of both Swedes and Geats, the slaughter-rush of -warriors, was widely seen how the folk stirred up the feud amongst -them. The good man, wise and very sad, went away with his comrades to -seek out a stronghold. Earl Ongentheow turned away to higher ground, -for he the war-crafty one had heard of the prowess of Hygelac the -proud. He had no trust in his power to resist, or that he would be -able to refuse the demands of the seamen, the ocean-farers, or defend -the treasure he had taken, the children and the bride. [86] Thence -afterwards, being old, he sought refuge under the earth-wall. Then -was chase given to the people of the Swedes and the banner of Hygelac -borne aloft; and they swept o'er the field of peace when the sons of -Hrethel thronged to the entrenchment. And there too, was Ongentheow, -he the grey-haired King of the People driven to bay at the edge of the -sword, and forced to submit to the sole doom of Eofor. And angrily -did Wulf, son of Wanred, smite him with weapon, so that from that -swinging blow blood-sweat gushed forth in streams under the hair of -his head. Yet the old Swede was not terrified thereby, but quickly -gave back a terrible blow by a worse exchange when the King of the -people turned thither. Nor could Wulf the bold son of Wanred give -back a blow to the old churl, for Ongentheow had formerly cut his -helmet in two, so that he, stained with blood, fell prone perforce -to the ground. But not yet was he doomed, but he raised himself up, -though the wound touched him close. And the hardy thane of Hygelac -(Eofor) when his brother lay prostrate, caused the broad sword, the old -giant's sword, to crash through the wall of shields upon the gigantic -helmet. Then stooped the King, the shepherd of the people, mortally -wounded. And there were many who bound up his kinsman and quickly -upraised him when room had been made so that they might possess the -battle-field, while one warrior was plundering another. One took the -iron shield of Ongentheow, and his hard-hilted sword, and his helmet, -and carried the trappings of the old man to Hygelac. And he received -the treasures, and fairly he promised reward for the people, and he -did as he promised. The lord of the Geats (Hygelac) son of Hrethel, -rewarded with very costly gifts the battle onset of Eofor and Wulf when -he got back to his palace, and bestowed upon each of them a hundred -thousand, of land and locked rings. Nor could any man in the world -reproach him for that reward, since they had gained glory by fighting; -and he gave to Eofor his only daughter, she who graced his homestead, -to wed as a favour. And this is the feud and the enmity and hostile -strife of men, which I expect the Swedish people will seek to awaken -against us when they shall hear we have lost our Prince, he who in -days of yore held treasure and kingdom against our foes after the -fall of heroes, and held in check the fierce Swede, and did what was -good for the people and deeds worthy of an earl. Now is it best for -us to hasten to look upon our King and bring him who gave to us rings -to the funeral pyre. Nor shall a part only of the treasure be melted -with the proud man, but there is a hoard of wealth, an immense mass -of gold, bought at a grim cost, for now at the very end of his life -he bought for us rings. And the brands shall devour all the treasures -and the flames of the funeral fire, they shall enfold them, nor shall -an earl carry away any treasure as a memorial, nor shall any maid all -beauteous wear on her neck ring adornments, but shall go sad of soul -and bereft of gold, and often not once only tread an alien land now -that the battle-wise man (Beowulf) has laid aside laughter, the games -and the joys of song. And many a morning cold shall the spear in the -hand-grip be heaved up on high, nor shall there be the sound of harping -to awaken the warriors, but the war-raven, eager over the doomed ones, -shall say many things to the eagle how it fared with him in eating -the carrion while he, with the wolf, plundered the slaughtered.' - -Thus then was the brave warrior reciting loathly spells. And he -lied not at all in weird or word. Then the troop rose up together, -and all unblithely went under Eagles' Ness, to look on the wonder, -and tears were welling. Then they found him on the sand in his last -resting-place, and bereft of soul, who had given them rings in days -gone by, and then had the last day drawn to its close, for the good -man Beowulf, the warrior King, the Lord of the Weder-Goths, had died -a wondrous death. - -But before this they had seen a more marvellous sight, the dragon -on the sea-plain, the loathsome one lying right opposite. And there -was the fire-dragon grimly terrible, and scorched with fire. And -he was fifty feet in length as he lay there stretched out. He had -had joy in the air awhile by night, but afterwards he went down to -visit his den. But now he was the prisoner of death, and had enjoyed -his last of earth-cares. And by him stood drinking-cups and flagons, -and dishes were lying there and a costly sword, all rusty and eaten -through as though they had rested a thousand winters in the bosom of -the earth. And those heirlooms were fashioned so strongly, the gold of -former races of men, and all wound round with spells, so that no man -could come near that Ring-hall, unless God only, Himself the true King -of victories, gave power to open up the hoard to whom He would (for -He is the Protector of men) even to that man as it seemed good to Him. - - - - -XLII - -Then was it quite clear to them that the affair had not prospered -with the monster, who had hidden ornaments within the cave under the -cliff. The guardian thereof had slain some few in former days. Then -had the feud been wrathfully avenged. And it is a mystery anywhere -when a valiant earl reaches the end of his destiny, when a man may -no longer with his kinsman dwell in the mead-hall. And thus was -it with Beowulf when he sought out the guardian of the cavern and -his cunning crafts. And he himself knew not how his departure from -this world would come about. And thus famous chieftains uttered deep -curses until the day of doom, because they had allowed it to come to -pass that the monster should be guilty of such crimes, and, accursed -and fast with hell-bands, as he was, and tormented with plagues that -he should plunder the plain. He (Beowulf) was not greedy of gold, -and had more readily in former days seen the favour of God. - -Wiglaf spake, the son of Weohstan: 'Often shall many an earl of his -own only will suffer misery, as is our fate. Nor could we teach the -dear lord and shepherd of the kingdom any wisdom so that he would fail -to be meeting the keeper of the gold treasures (the dragon) or to let -him stay where he had been long time dwelling in his cavern until the -world's end. But he held to his high destiny. Now the hoard is seen by -us, grimly got hold of, and at too great a cost was it yielded to the -King of the people whom he enticed to that conflict. I was within the -cavern, and looked upon all the hoard, the decoration of the palace, -when by no means pleasantly, room was made for me, and a faring was -granted to me in under the sea-cliff. And in much haste I took a very -great burden of hoard-treasures in my hand, and bore it forth hither to -my King. He was still alive, wise and witting well. And he the ancient -uttered many words in sadness, and bade me greet you, and commanded -that ye should build after death of your friend a high grave-mound -in the place of the funeral pyre, a great and famous monument, -for he himself was the most worshipful of men throughout the earth, -while he was enjoying the wealth of his city. Let us now go and see -and seek yet once again the heap of treasures, the wonder under the -cliff. I will direct you, so that ye may look at close quarters upon -the rings and the wealth of gold. Let the bier be quickly made ready -when we come forth again, and then let us carry the dear man our lord -when he shall enjoy the protection of the Ruler of all things.' - -Then the son of Weohstan, the battle-dear warrior, ordered that -commandment should be given to many a hero and householder that -they should bring the wood for the funeral pyre from far, they the -folk-leaders, to where the good man lay dead. - -'Now the war-flame shall wax and the fire shall eat up the strong -chief among warriors, him who often endured the iron shower, when -the storm of arrows, strongly impelled, shot over the shield-wall, -and the shaft did good service, and all eager with its feather, fear -followed and aided the barb.' Then the proud son of Weohstan summoned -from the troop the thanes of the King, seven of them together, and the -very best of them, and he the eighth went under the hostile roof. And -one of the warriors carried in his hand a torch which went on in front. - -And no wise was it allotted who should plunder that hoard, since -they saw some part unguarded remaining in the Hall, and lying there -fleeting. - -And little did any man mourn when full heartily they carried forth -the costly treasures. Then they shoved the dragon the worm over the -cliff-wall, and let the wave take him and the flood embrace that -guardian of the treasures. Then the twisted golden ornaments were -loaded on a wagon, an immense number of them. And the noble Atheling, -the hoar battle-warrior, was carried to Whales' Ness. - - - - -XLIII - -Then the People of the Geats got ready the mighty funeral pyre, and -hung it round with helmets and battle-shields, and bright byrnies as -he had asked. And in the midst they lay the famous Prince, and they -lamented the Hero, their dear lord. Then the warriors began to stir -up the greatest of bale-fires on the cliff-side. And the reek of the -wood-smoke went up swart, over the flame, which was resounding, and -its roar mingled with weeping (and the tumult of winds was still), -until it had broken the body, all hot into the heart. And unhappy -in their thinkings, and with minds full of care, they proclaim the -death of their lord, likewise a sorrowful song the Bride.... [87] - -And heaven swallowed up the smoke. Then on the cliff-slopes the people -of the Geats erected a mound, very high and very broad, that it might -be beholden from afar by the wave-farers; and they set up the beacon -of the mighty in battle in ten days. And the leavings of the funeral -fire they surrounded with a wall, so that very proud men might find -it to be most worthy of reverence. - -And they did on the barrow rings and necklaces, and all such adornments -as formerly warlike men had taken of the hoard. And they allowed the -earth to hold the treasure of earls, the gold on the ground, where it -still is to be found as useless to men as it always was. [88] Then -the battle-dear men rode round about the mound, the children of the -Athelings, twelve of them there were in all, and would be uttering -their sorrows and lamenting their King, and reciting a dirge, and -speaking of their champion. And they talked of his earlship and of -his brave works, and deemed them doughty, as is fitting that a man -should praise his lord in words and cherish him in his heart when he -shall have gone forth from the fleeting body. So the People of the -Geats lamented over the fall of their lord, his hearth-companions, -and said that he was a world-king, and the mildest, the gentlest of -men, and most tender to his people, and most eager for their praise. - - - - - - - - - -APPENDICES - - -I - -GENERAL NOTE ON THE POEM - -This is the greatest poem that has come down to us from our Teutonic -ancestors. Our only knowledge of it is through the unique MS. in the -British Museum. - -It has already been translated at least eight times as follows: - -1. Kemble, 1837. - -2. Thorpe and Arnold (with the O.E. Poem accompanying it). - -3. Lumsden, 1881 (in ballad form). - -4. Garnett, 1883. - -5. Earle, 1892. - -6. William Morris and A. J. Wyatt, 1895. This is in poetic form, -but abounds in archaisms and difficult inversions, and is sometimes -not easy to read or indeed to understand. - -7. Wentworth Huyshe, 1907. - -8. A translation in 1912. Author unknown. - -Many of the persons and events of Beowulf are also known to us through -various Scandinavian and French works as follows: - - - -SCANDINAVIAN RECORDS. - -1. Saxo's Danish History. - -2. Hrólf's Saga Kraka. - -3. Ynglinga Saga (and Ynglinga tál). - -4. Skiöldunga Saga. - -As instances of identical persons and events: - -1. Skiöldr, ancestor of Skiöldungar, corresponds to Scyld the ancestor -of Scyldungas. - -2. The Danish King Halfdan corresponds to Healfdene. - -3. His sons Hroarr and Helgi correspond to Hrothgar and Halga. - -4. Hrölf Kraki corresponds to Hrothwulf, nephew of Hrothgar. - -5. Frothi corresponds to Froda, and his son Ingialdi to Ingeld. - -6. Otarr corresponds to Ohthere, and his son Athils to Eadgils. - -With the exception of the Ynglinga tál all these records are quite -late, hence they do not afford any evidence for the dates of events -mentioned in Beowulf. - - - -Further Scandinavian correspondences are seen in Böthvarr Biarki, -the chief of Hrölf Kraki's knights. He is supposed to correspond to -Beowulf. He came to Leire, the Danish royal residence, and killed a -demon in animal form. Saxo says it was a bear. This demon attacked -the King's yard at Yule-tide, but Biarki and Beowulf differ as to -their future, for Biarki stayed with Hrölf Kraki to the end and died -with him. - -In the Grettis Saga the hero kills two demons, male and female. It is -true that the scene is laid in Iceland, but minor details of scenery, -the character of the demons, and other similarities make it impossible -to believe the two stories to be different in origin. They both -sprang out of a folk-tale associated after ten centuries with Grettis, -and in England and Denmark with an historical prince of the Geats. - - - -FRENCH RECORDS - -1. Historia Francorum and Gesta Regum Francorum (discovered by Outzen -and Leo). - -In A.D. 520 a raid was made on the territory of the Chatuarii. Their -king Theodberht, son of Theodric I, defeated Chocilaicus, who was -killed. This Chocilaicus is identified with the Hygelac of our poem, -and the raid with Hygelac's raid on the Hetware (= Chatuarii), the -Franks, and the Frisians. This helps us to estimate the date for -Beowulf as having been born somewhere about the end of the fifth -century. - -2. Historia Francorum, by Gregory of Tours. The author speaks of the -raider as the King of the Danes. - -3. Liber Monstrorum. In this work the raider is Rex Getarum, King of -the Geats, who may correspond with the Geats of our poem. The Geats -were the people of Gautland in Southern Sweden. See Appendix XI. - - - -ORIGIN OF THE ANGLO-SAXON POEM - -It was probably written in Northumbrian or Midland, but was preserved -in a West Saxon translation. - -There would seem to be some justifiable doubt as to the unity of -the poem. Though on the whole pagan and primitive in tone, it has -a considerable admixture of Christian elements, e.g. on pp. 29 -and 30 and pp. 109-112, though the latter passage may be a late -interpolation. Generally speaking, the poetry and sentiments are -Christian in tone, but the customs are pagan. The author of the -article in The Cambridge History of English Literature, vol. i., -to whom I owe much, says: 'I cannot believe that any Christian poet -could have composed the account of Beowulf's funeral.' One passage -is very reminiscent of Eph. vi. 16, viz. Chapter XXV. p. 111; whilst -page 25 (lower half) may be compared with Cædmon's Hymn. There are -also references to Cain and Abel and to the Deluge. Of Chapters -I.-XXXI. the percentage of Christian elements is four, whilst of -the remaining Chapters (XXXII. ad fin.) the percentage is ten, due -chiefly to four long passages. Note especially that the words in -Chapter II., 'And sometimes they went vowing at their heathen shrines -and offered sacrifices,' et seq., are quite inconsistent with the -Christian sentiment attributed to Hrothgar later in the poem. 'It -is generally thought,' says the writer in The Cambridge History of -English Literature, 'that several originally separate lays have been -combined into one poem, and, while there is no proof of this, it is -quite possible and not unlikely.' - -There are in the poem four distinct lays: - -1. Beowulf's Fight with Grendel. - -2. Beowulf's Fight with Grendel's mother. - -3. Beowulf's Return to the land of the Geats. - -4. Beowulf's Fight with the Dragon. - -Competent critics say that probably 1 and 2 ought to be taken -together, while Beowulf's reception by Hygelac (see 3 above) is -probably a separate lay. Some scholars have gone much further in -the work of disintegration, even attributing one half of the poem to -interpolators, whilst others suggest two parallel versions. Summing -up, the writer in The Cambridge History of English Literature says: -'I am disposed to think that a large portion of the poem existed -in epic form before the change of faith, and that the appearance of -Christian elements in the poem is due to revision. The Christianity -of Beowulf is of a singularly indefinite and individual type, which -contrasts somewhat strongly with what is found in later Old English -poetry. This revision must have been made at a very early date.' - -The poem was built up between A.D. 512, the date of the famous raid -of Hygelac (Chocilaicus) against the Hetware (Chatuarii), and 752, -when the French Merovingian dynasty fell; for, says Arnold, 'The poem -contains not a word which by any human ingenuity could be tortured into -a reference to any event subsequent to the fall of the Merovingians' -(A.D. 752). - - - - -II - -THE PRELUDE - -The Prelude would seem to be an attempt to link up the hero of the -poem with the mythological progenitors of the Teutonic nations. Thomas -Arnold says: 'That Sceaf, Scyld, and Beaw were among the legendary -ancestors of the West Saxon line of kings no one disputes. But this -does not mean much, for the poem itself shows that the same three were -also among the legendary ancestors of the Danish kings.' Ethelward, -who wrote early in the tenth century, gives the ancestry of Ethelwulf, -the father of Alfred. Ethelward says: 'The seventeenth ancestor from -Cerdic was Beo, the eighteenth Scyld, the nineteenth Scef.' Ethelward -also says: 'Scef himself, with one light vessel, arrived in the island -of the ocean which is called Scani, dressed in armour, and he was a -very young boy, and the inhabitants of that land knew nothing about -him; however, he was received by them, and kept with care and affection -as though he were of their own kin, and afterwards they chose him to be -king, from whose stock the King Athulf [Ethelwulf] derives his line.' - -It may be noted that neither Scyld nor Scef is mentioned in the -A.S. Chronicle (A.D. 855). William of Malmesbury, in his Gesta Regum, -says that Scef was so called from the sheaf of wheat that lay at -his head, that he was asleep when he arrived, and that when he grew -up he became a king in the town then called Slaswic, now Haithebi -(Rolls Ed., 1. 121). - -Müllenhoff says: 'If we look closely into the saga, the ship and -the sheaf clearly point to navigation and agriculture, the arms -and jewels to kingly rule--all four gifts, therefore, to the main -elements and foundations of the oldest state of culture among the -Germans [Teutons?] of the sea-board; and if the bearer of these -symbols became the first king of the country, the meaning can only -be this, that from his appearance the beginning of the oldest state -of culture dates, and that generally before him no orderly way of -leading a human life had existed.' - -Scyld (meaning Shield) refers to the fact that the king was the -protector of the people in war, and is therefore symbolical, like Scef. - -The ship and the sheaf, the arms and the jewels and the shield--these -are the symbols of that primitive civilization--the sheaf, the symbol -of agriculture and food, the ship of commerce, the arms of warfare, -the jewels of reward of bravery, and the shield of the protection of -the people by the king. - -Arnold mentions the fact that no writer not English mentions the -saga of Scef and Scyld, and suggests that this is presumption for -the English origin of the legend. I do not, however, think it is -conclusive evidence. One is surprised that they are not mentioned -in Icelandic literature. Yet somehow the impression on my mind is -that these legends were probably brought by our Saxon and Danish -ancestors from the Continent, and are taken for granted as well known -to the hearers of the song. I think they probably formed part of the -legendary genealogy of our common Germanic (Teutonic) ancestors, and -happened to find their way into literature only among the English, -or have survived only in the English. - - - - -III - -'BROSINGA MENE' - -'Brosinga Mene,' p. 82, is the 'Brisinga-mén' mentioned in the Edda, -an Icelandic poem. 'This necklace is the Brisinga-mén--the costly -necklace of Freja, which she won from the Dwarfs, and which was stolen -from her by Loki, as is told in the Edda' (Kemble). - -Loki was a Scandinavian demi-god. He was beautiful and cunning. He was -the principle of strife, the spirit of evil; cp. Job's Satan. Freya -was the Scandinavian Goddess of Love. She claimed half of the slain -in battle. She was the dispenser of joy and happiness. The German -frau is derived from Freya. Hama carried off this necklace when he -fled from Eormanric. The origin of this legend, though worked up -in the Edda, seems to have been German or Gothic, and 'Brosinga' -has reference to the rock-plateau of Breisgau on the Rhine. It is -probably a relic of the lost saga of Eormanric (see Appendix IV.), -the famous Ostrogothic king referred to in Chapter XVIII. Eormanric -is one of the few historical personages of the poem. - - - - -IV - -EORMANRIC - -Gibbon mentions Eormanric in his chapter XXV. of the Decline and -Fall, and, in spite of chronological discrepancies, this Eormanric is -probably identical with the one mentioned in Beowulf (Chapter XVIII.), -in Jornandes (Chapter XXIV.), and in the Edda. - -In Jornandes the story is as follows. - - - Characters - - 1. Ermanaric. - 2. A Chief of the Roxolani tribe who was a traitor. - 3. Sanielh (= Swanhild) wife of the chief. - 4. Sarus, } - 5. Ammius, } brothers of Sanielh. - - -Ermanaric puts Sanielh to death by causing her to be torn to pieces -by wild horses, because of the treachery of her husband, the chief -of the Roxolani. Her brothers, Ammius and Sarus, avenge her death -by attacking Ermanaric, but they only succeed in wounding him and -disabling him for the rest of his life. - -In the Edda the story is as follows. - - - Characters - - 1. Gudrun, widow of Sigurd and Atli. - 2. Swanhild, daughter of Gudrun by Sigurd. - 3. Jonakur, Gudrun's third husband. - 4. Sörli, } - 5. Hamthir, } sons of Gudrun and Jonakur. - 6. Erp, } - 7. Jormunrek (Eormanric). - 8. Randver, son of Jormunrek. - - -Jormunrek hears of the beauty of Swanhild and sends his son Randver to -seek her out for him in marriage. Gudrun consents; on the way Randver -is incited by the traitor Bicci to betray Swanhild, and is then accused -by him to the king. For this treachery Jormunrek hangs Randver and -causes Swanhild to be trampled to death by wild horses. Then the three -sons of Gudrun set out to avenge their sister. On the way his two -brothers kill Erp, and are consequently unable to kill Jormunrek. They -only succeed in maiming him. - -Saxo Grammaticus, to whom we also owe the story of Hamlet, tells a -similar story. - - - Characters - - 1. Jarmeric, a Danish King. - 2. Swawilda (= Swanhild), wife of Jarmeric. - 3. Hellespontine brothers, brothers of Swawilda. - 4. Bicco, a servant of Jarmeric. - - -Bicco accuses Swawilda to Jarmeric of unfaithfulness. He causes her -to be torn to pieces by wild horses. Then her brothers kill Jarmeric -with the help of a witch, Gudrun, hewing off his hands and feet. - - - -These three stories are evidently based on one common original. - - - - -V - -MARRIAGE OF FREAWARU AND INGELD - - - Characters - - 1. Freawaru, daughter of Hrothgar the Dane. - 2. Ingeld, son of Froda, King of the Heathobards. - 3. Froda, King of the Heathobards. - 4. A Heathobard warrior. - 5. Son of the Danish warrior who had killed Froda. - - -The Heathobards were a people in Zealand. There had been an ancient -feud between the Danes and the Heathobards in which Froda had been -killed by a Danish warrior. Hrothgar hoped to appease the feud by -the marriage of his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld. Unluckily, the son -of the Danish warrior who had killed Froda accompanied Freawaru to -Ingeld's Court. Then an old Heathobard warrior notices this and stirs -up strife. The marriage fails in its object, and war breaks out again -between the Danes and the Heathobards. Beowulf predicts the course -of events in his speech to Hygelac (Chapters XXVIII. and XXIX.). - - - - -VI - -FINN - -The Finn episode (Chapters XVI. and XVII.) is one of those events -in Beowulf that would be quite well known to the first hearers -of the song, but to us is lacking in that clearness we might -desire. Fortunately, Dr. Hickes discovered a fragment entitled, 'The -Fight at Finnsburgh,' on the back of a MS. of the Homilies. From -Beowulf and from this fragment we are able to piece together an -intelligible story. It is probably as follows: - - - Characters - - 1. Finn, King of the North Frisians and Jutes. - 2. Hoc, a Danish chieftain. - 3. Hildeburh, daughter of Hoc. - 4. Hnaef, son of Hoc. - 5. Hengest, son of Hoc. - 6. Two sons of Finn and Hildeburh. - 7. Hunlafing, a Finnish warrior. - 8. Guthlaf and Oslaf, two Danish warriors. - - -Finn abducts Hildeburh, the daughter of Hoc, the Dane. Hoc pursues the -two fugitives and is killed in the mêlée. Twenty years pass by--Hnaef -and Hengest, sons of Hoc, take up the 'vendetta.' In the fighting -Hnaef and a son of Finn and Hildeburh are slain. A peace is patched -up. Hengest, son of Hoc, is persuaded to remain as a guest of Finn for -the winter, and it is agreed that no reference shall be made by either -side to the feud between them. Then the bodies of Hnaef, Hildeburh's -brother, and of her son are burnt together on the funeral pyre, 'and -great is the mourning of Hildeburh for her son.' But Hengest is ever -brooding vengeance. The strife breaks out anew in the spring. Hengest -is killed, but two of his warriors, Guthlaf and Oslaf, break through -the enemy, return to Finn's country, and slay him and carry off -Hildeburh. 'The Fight at Finnsburgh,' which is Homeric in style, is -the account of the first invasion of Finn by Hnaef and Hengest, and -Wyatt fits it in before the Finn episode on p. 75. Möller places it -after the phrase, 'whose edge was well known to the Jutes,' on p. 79. - - - - -VII - -HYGELAC - -Hygelac, son of Hrethel, was king of the Geats, and uncle of -Beowulf, his sister's son. He was the reigning king of Beowulf's -fellow countrymen the Geats during the greater part of the action -of the poem. Beowulf is often called 'Hygelac's kinsman,' and when -he went forth to his battle with Grendel's mother (Chapter XXII.), -he bade Hrothgar in case of his death send the treasures he had -given to him to Hygelac. Hygelac married Hygd, who is presented to -us as a good Queen, the daughter of Hæreth. She was 'very young,' -'of noble character,' and 'wise.' She is compared, to her advantage, -with Thrytho, who was a shrewish woman. No one dared to look upon -her except her husband. However, her second husband, Offa, seems -to have 'tamed the shrew' (see p. 120). Hygelac has been identified -with Chocilaicus, who was killed in the famous raid on the Chatuarii -referred to in the Historia Francorum and the Gesta Regum, who are -identified with the Hetware of this poem (see p. 143 and Appendix I.). - -The famous raid of Hygelac upon the Hetware in which he met his death -is referred to five times in the poem, as follows: Chapters XVIII., -p. 83; XXXI., p. 134; XXXIII., p. 142; XXXV., p. 151; XL., p. 172. - -On the death of Hygelac his son Heardred succeeded to the throne -(Chapter XXXI., p. 134); and, after a brief interval, he was killed -in battle by Onela (see Appendix IX.). Then Beowulf succeeded to the -throne of the Geats (Chapter XXXI., p. 134). Hygelac died between -a.d. 512 and 520. Beowulf died about 568. He reigned fifty years. - - - - -VIII - -HÆTHCYN AND HEREBALD - -It would seem doubtful as to whether this was deliberate or -accidental. The poet says 'Hæthcyn missed the mark' with his javelin -and killed his brother Herebald; but subsequently he speaks as though -it had been deliberate murder. - - - - -IX - -WARS BETWEEN THE SWEDES AND THE GEATS - - - Characters - - 1. Swedes - - 1. Ongentheow, King of the Swedes. - 2. Onthere, } - 3. Onela, } his two sons. - 4. Eadgils, } - 5. Eanmund, } two sons of Ohthere. - - 2. Geats, &c. - - 6. Hæthcyn, King of Geats. - 7. Hygelac, King of Geats. - 8. Heardred, King of Geats. - 9. Beowulf, King of Geats. - 10. Eofor, } - 11. Wulf, } two Geat warriors. - - -Ongentheow was a King of the Swedes. The Swedes are also called -Scylfings in the poem. The origin of the word 'Scylfing' is -doubtful. Ongentheow went to war with Hæthcyn, King of the Geats -and brother of Hygelac; and Ongentheow, who was well advanced in -years, struck down his foe (Chapter XL., p. 173) at the battle -of Ravenswood. This was the first time that the Swedes invaded -the Geats. The Geats retreated into the Ravenswood at nightfall, -but with the dawn they heard the horn of Hygelac 'as the good prince -came marching on the track.' Ongentheow now was alarmed, for Hygelac's -prowess in battle was far-famed. He withdrew into some fortification, -and was attacked by the Geats. Two brothers, Eofor and Wulf, assailed -the veteran warrior. He defended himself with great vigour and killed -Wulf; but Eofor came to the help of his brother and dealt Ongentheow -his death-blow over the guard of his shield. - -Ongentheow's two sons were Onela and Ohthere. Ohthere had two sons, -Eanmund and Eadgils. - -These two sons of Ohthere were banished from Sweden for rebellion, -and took refuge at the Court of the Geat King Heardred. This greatly -enraged their uncle Onela, that they should resort to the Court of -their hereditary foes (see above). Onela invaded the land of the Geats -(Chapters XXXIII. and XXXIV., pp. 144 sq.) and slew Heardred. Then -it was that Beowulf became King of the Geats. Thus two Geatish kings -had been slain by the Swedes, viz. Hæthcyn and Heardred. In revenge, -later on, Beowulf supported Eadgils in his counter-attack on his own -fatherland when Eadgils killed his uncle Onela. This story is confirmed -by the Scandinavian accounts in which Athils (= Eadgils) slew Ali (= -Onela) on the ice of Lake Wener; cp. the phrase 'cold journeyings' -(Chapter XXXIV., p. 145). - -This is Wyatt's version of the story. - - - - -X - -SIGMUND - -Sigmund (page 65) is the father and uncle of Fitela. He is stated -in Beowulf to have killed a serpent who kept guard over a hoard of -treasure. In the Icelandic saga known as the Völsunga Saga, Sigmund is -represented as the father of Sigurd, and 'it is Sigurd who rifles the -treasure of the Niblungs and kills the serpent (Fafnir), its guardian' -(Arnold, p. 69), and he carries it away on the back of his horse -Grani. Sigmund is represented as the son of a Völsung; that is, as -Beowulf has it, 'the heir of Waels.' Waels was afterwards forgotten, -however, and Waelsing was regarded as a proper name instead of a -patronymic denoting descent from Waels. In a similar way, as Arnold -points out, Sigmund is pushed into the background to make room for -his son Sigurd (Siegfried). 'And so in the German Nibelungen Lay it -is Sigurd (Siegfried) who wins the hoard, but does so by defeating -and killing its former possessors Schilbung and Nibelung' (Arnold, -p. 70). Attempts have been made to claim a German origin for this saga, -but in face of the evidence of Beowulf and the Völsunga Saga and the -Edda there is, I think with Arnold, little doubt but that its origin -was Scandinavian. Possibly and probably we owe the later elaboration -of the saga in the Nibelungen Lay to German influence. For discussion -of the whole question see Arnold's Notes on Beowulf, pp. 67-75, -Edit. 1898, cap. v. - - - - -XI - -TRIBES MENTIONED IN THE POEM - -1. Brondings. Breca was a Bronding. After his famous swimming-match -with Beowulf (Chapter VIII.), he is said to have sought out his -'pleasant fatherland the land of the Brondings.' Arnold suggests that -they were located in Mecklenburg or Pomerania. - -2. Danes, also called Bright-Danes, Ring-Danes, Spear-Danes, because -of their warlike character; and North Danes, South Danes, &c., -because of their wide distribution. They are said to have inhabited -the Scede lands and Scedenig and 'between the seas'; that is, they -were spread over the Danish Islands, the southern province of Sweden, -and the seas between them. - -3. Jutes (Eotenas), probably people ruled over by Finn, King of -Friesland, and identical with the Frisians. - -4. Franks and Frisians. The Franks were ancestors of the modern -French. After the conversion of Clovis (A.D. 496), they gradually -encroached on the Frisians. - -5. Frisians include the Frisians, the Franks, the Hetware, and -the Hugs. Friesland was the country between the River Ems and the -Zuyder Zee. - -6. Geats. They dwelt in the south of Sweden between the Danes and -the Swedes. Bugge sought to identify them with the Jutes, and held -that Gautland was Juteland. He based this theory on certain phrases: -e.g. Chapter XXXIII., where the Swedes (the sons of Ohthere) are said -to have visited the Geats 'across the sea,' and again in Chapter -XXXV. the Swedes and the Geats are said to have fought 'over wide -water'; but, as Arnold points out, these phrases can be interpreted -in such a way as not to be incompatible with the theory that they -dwelt on the same side of the Cattegat, i.e. on the northern side, -and in the extreme south of Sweden. - -The question as to whether they are identical with the Goths of Roman -history is still an open one. Arnold says, 'There is a great weight -of evidence tending to identify the Geats with the Goths,' and he -quotes evidence from Gibbon (chapter X.). Pytheas of Marseilles, -in the fourth century, says that, passing through the Baltic Sea, -he met with tribes of Goths, Teutons, and Ests. - -Tacitus, in chapter XLIII. of Germania, speaks of the Goths as -dwelling near the Swedes. Jornandes traces the Goths to Scanzia, -an island in the Northern Sea. It is probable, then, that the Goths -had a northern and indeed a Scandinavian origin. If so, Beowulf the -Geat was probably a Goth. - -7. Healfdenes. The tribe to which Hnaef belonged. - -8. Heathoremes. The people on whose shores Beowulf was cast up after -his swimming-match with Breca. - -9. Ingwine. Friends of Ing--another name for the Danes. - -10. Scyldingas. Another name for the Danes, as descended from Scyld. - -11. Scylfingas. Name for the Swedes. - -12. Waegmundings. The tribe to which both Beowulf and Wiglaf belonged. - -13. Wylfings. Probably a Gothic tribe. - - - - -XII - -Page 135 - -The text here is much mutilated, and can only be restored by ingenious -conjecture. Grein and Bugge and others have reconstructed it. On -the whole Bugge's text, which I have followed, seems to me the most -reasonable. It is unfortunate that the text should be so imperfect just -at this critical point in the linking up of the two great divisions -of the story. In the ancient days some remote predecessors of the -Geats seem to have heaped up in the neighbourhood a pile of wonderful -vessels jewel-bedecked, and treasures of all kinds, of inconceivable -value. Then the last of the race carries the treasure to a barrow or -cavern in the cliffs near the site, in after-generations, of Beowulf's -palace, and delivers a pathetic farewell address (pp. 136 et seq.). The -dragon finds the cavern and the treasure and appropriates it for three -hundred years. Then one of Beowulf's retainers finds the treasure and -takes a golden goblet while the dragon is sleeping, and offers it to -his lord as a peace-offering. This brought about Beowulf's feud with -the dragon in which he met his death. - - - - -BOOKS CONSULTED - - -Beowulf, edited with textual footnotes, &c., by A. J. Wyatt, -M.A. (Cantab. and London). Pitt Press, Cambridge, 1898. - -The Tale of Beowulf, sometime King of the Folk of the -Weder-Geats. Translated by William Morris, A. J. Wyatt. 1898. Longmans. - -Zupitza's Transliteration of Beowulf. A photographic reproduction of -the manuscript. Early English Text Society. - -Encyclopaedia Britannica. - -Chambers's Encyclopaedia. - -Beowulf, Notes on, by Thomas Arnold, M.A., 1898. Longmans, Green & -Co. This contains a good map of the scenes alluded to in the poem. - -History of Early English Literature, by the Rev. Stopford Brooke. - -Epic and Romance, W. P. Ker. - -Ten Brink's English Literature. - - - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] See Arnold, p. 115. - -[2] See conclusion of Tess of the D'Urbervilles. - -[3] See Appendix II. - -[4] Not the hero of the poem. - -[5] Cp. with this the 'Passing of Arthur,' as related by Tennyson. The -meaning is clear. Cp. also Appendix. - -[6] Not the hero of this poem. - -[7] The gables were decorated with horns of stags and other beasts -of the chase. - -[8] See Appendix V., and chapters XXVIII, and XXIX. - -[9] Wyatt's translation of 'Ne his myne wisse.' - -[10] i.e. Beowulf. - -[11] Geats. The tribe to which Beowulf belonged. They inhabited -southern Sweden between the Danes on the south and the Swedes on the -north. See Appendix XI. - -[12] Literally, 'Then was the sea traversed at the end of the ocean.' - -[13] Frequent references are made to the device of the boar on shield -and helmet; cp. p. 77, in description of Hnaef's funeral pyre. - -[14] The name of a reigning Danish dynasty. - -[15] For Scyld cp. Appendix II. - -[16] Hygelac, King of the Geats at the time, and uncle of Beowulf. - -[17] Weland--'the famous smith of Germanic legend,' says Wyatt--who -also refers us to the Franks Casket in the British Museum. - -[18] Weird was a peculiarly English conception. It means Fate, or -Destiny. Then Weird became a god or goddess--cp. 'The Seafarer,' -an Old English poem in which we find 'Weird is stronger, the Lord is -mightier than any man's thoughts.' - -[19] i.e. Wealtheow, Hrothgar's Queen, who was of this tribe. - -[20] Healfdene was the father of Hrothgar, King of the Danes. - -[21] i.e. Beowulf. - -[22] Thus we see how sagas or legends came to be woven together into -a song. See Appendix X. - -[23] Heremod was a King of the Danes, and is introduced, says Wyatt, -as a stock example of a bad King. - -[24] Wyatt's translation. - -[25] Byrny was a coat of mail. Swords were of greater value as they -were ancient heirlooms, and had done good service. - -[26] See Appendix VI. - -[27] i.e. Hildeburh, wife of Finn. - -[28] i.e. Finn. - -[29] The boar then, as ever since, occupied a prominent place in -heraldry. - -[30] See a similar passage in my version of Sir Gawain and the Green -Knight, Canto II. 1 and 2. - -[31] Hrothulf, nephew of Hrothgar. - -[32] See Appendix III. - -[33] See Appendix IV. - -[34] Wyatt's translation. - -[35] That is, 'the harp.' - -[36] Rune--literally, 'a secret.' - -[37] Cp. the phrase 'Welsh marches,' i.e. the boundaries or limits -of Wales. - -[38] Cp. description of hunting in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, -Canto III. 2. - -[39] Scyldings are the Danes. - -[40] i.e. Unferth. - -[41] Cp. Chapter VIII. - -[42] i.e. Hrothgar. - -[43] i.e. the sun. - -[44] Hrothgar. - -[45] Cp. pp. 66-68. - -[46] 'Honour-full' is Wyatt's translation. - -[47] Hrethric, one of Hrothgar's sons. - -[48] Literally, 'the gannet's bath.' The sea is also 'Swan's path,' -'Sail-path,' &c. - -[49] A difficult phrase. Refers perhaps to old feuds between Danes -and Geats. - -[50] Cp. Chapter III. - -[51] Thrytho is referred to as a foil to Hygd. Thrytho was as bad -a woman as Hygd was good. She was a woman of a wild and passionate -disposition. She became the Queen of King Offa, and it seems to have -been a case of the 'taming of the shrew.' Offa appears to have been -her second husband. See below. - -[52] i.e. to Offa. - -[53] i.e. Hygelac; see Appendices VII. and IX. - -[54] i.e. Hygd, Queen of the Geats, Hygelac's wife. - -[55] i.e. Wealtheow, Hrothgar's Queen. - -[56] i.e. Ingeld. See below. - -[57] Another episode, viz. that of Freawaru and Ingeld. Note also -the artificial break of the narrative into chapters. See Appendix V. - -Hrothgar's hopes by the marriage of his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld -of the Heathobards was doomed to disappointment, cp. 'Widsith,' 45-9. - -[58] Numbers XXIX. and XXX. are lacking in the MS. The divisions here -are as in Wyatt's edition. - -[59] Withergyld--name of a Heathobard warrior. - -[60] Probably referring to the chanting of some ancient legend by -the scop, or gleeman. - -[61] Wyatt's translation. - -[62] Hygelac was killed in his historical invasion of the Netherlands, -which is five times referred to in the poem. See Appendix VII. - -[63] See Appendix IX. - -[64] The MS. here is very imperfect. I have used the emended text of -Bugge, which makes good sense. See Appendix XII. - -[65] Here again the text is imperfect. - -[66] Possibly a later insertion, 'the ten commandments' (Wyatt). - -[67] Beowulf saved his life by swimming across the sea, in Hygelac's -famous raid. See Appendix VII. - -[68] See Appendix IX. - -[69] See Appendix IX. - -[70] See p. 138. - -[71] See Appendix VIII. - -[72] See Appendices VII. and IX. - -[73] Waegmundings--the family to which both Beowulf and Wiglaf -belonged. - -[74] See Appendix IX. - -[75] i.e. Beowulf. - -[76] Wyatt and Morris's translations. - -[77] Wyatt and Morris translate 'sun jewels.' - -[78] Wyatt's translation. - -[79] i.e. Wiglaf. - -[80] i.e. it had been well hammered into shape. - -[81] Yet another reference to Hygelac's famous raid. See Appendix VII. - -[82] Merovingian King of the Franks. - -[83] See Appendix IX. - -[84] Hrethel, King of Geats, father of Hygelac and grandfather -of Beowulf. - -[85] Literally, 'the sword-leavings.' - -[86] See Appendix IX. - -[87] Text in MS. faulty here. Wyatt and Morris have adopted Bugge's -emendation. The sense is that Beowulf's widow with her hair bound up -utters forth a dirge over her dead husband. - -[88] Probably the treasures that remained in the cavern. See previous -chapter. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Beowulf, by Unknown - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 50742 *** |