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BEOWULF | BY ANONYMOUS

TRANSLATED BY FRANCIS B. GUMMERE

2BEOWULF

CONTENTS

PRELUDE OF THE FOUNDER OF THE DANISH HOUSE 5

I 7

II 9

III 11

IV 13

V 15

VI 17

VII 20

VII 22

IX 24

X 27

XI 29

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XII 32

XIII 34

XIV 37

XV 39

XVI 41

XVII 43

XVIII 45

XIX 47

XX 49

XXI 51

XXII 54

XXIII 57

XXIV 60

XXV 63

XXVI 65

XXVII 67

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XXVIII 69

XXIX 74

XXX 76

XXXI 79

XXXII 82

XXXIII 84

XXXIV 88

XXXV 91

XXXVI 93

XXXVII 95

XXXVIII 97

XXXIX 99

XL 102

XLI 105

FOOTNOTES 107

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PRELUDE OF THE FOUNDER OF THE DANISH HOUSE

1. LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings 2. of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, 3. we have heard, and what honor the athelings won! 4. OftScyldtheScefingfromsquadronedfoes,5. from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore, 6. awing the earls. Since erst he lay 7. friendless,afoundling,faterepaidhim:8. forhewaxedunderwelkin,inwealthhethrove,9. till before him the folk, both far and near, 10. whohousebythewhale-path,heardhismandate,11. gavehimgifts:agoodkinghe!12. To him an heir was afterward born, 13. a son in his halls, whom heaven sent 14. to favor the folk, feeling their woe 15. that erst they had lacked an earl for leader 16. so long a while; the Lord endowed him, 17. the Wielder of Wonder, with world’s renown. 18. FamedwasthisBeowulf:{0a}farflewtheboastofhim,19. son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands. 20. Sobecomesitayouthtoquithimwell21. with his father’s friends, by fee and gift, 22. that to aid him, aged, in after days, 23. comewarriorswilling,shouldwardrawnigh,24. liegemenloyal:bylaudeddeeds25. shall an earl have honor in every clan. 26. Forth he fared at the fated moment, 27. sturdyScyldtotheshelterofGod.28. Then they bore him over to ocean’s billow, 29. loving clansmen, as late he charged them, 30. while wielded words the winsome Scyld, 31. theleaderbelovedwholonghadruled....32. In the roadstead rocked a ring-dight vessel, 33. ice-flecked,outbound,atheling’sbarge:34. there laid they down their darling lord 35. onthebreastoftheboat,thebreaker-of-rings,{0b}

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36. bythemastthemightyone.Manyatreasure37. fetched from far was freighted with him. 38. No ship have I known so nobly dight 39. with weapons of war and weeds of battle, 40. withbreastplateandblade:onhisbosomlay41. aheapedhoardthathenceshouldgo42. faro’erthefloodwithhimfloatingaway.43. No less these loaded the lordly gifts, 44. thanes’hugetreasure,thanthosehaddone45. who in former time forth had sent him 46. soleontheseas,asucklingchild.47. High o’er his head they hoist the standard, 48. a gold-wove banner; let billows take him, 49. gavehimtoocean.Graveweretheirspirits,50. mournfultheirmood.Nomanisable51. to say in sooth, no son of the halls, 52. no hero ‘neath heaven, — who harbored that freight!

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I

53. NowBeowulfbodeintheburgoftheScyldings,54. leaderbeloved,andlongheruled55. in fame with all folk, since his father had gone 56. away from the world, till awoke an heir, 57. haughtyHealfdene,whoheldthroughlife,58. sageandsturdy,theScyldingsglad.59. Then, one after one, there woke to him, 60. tothechieftainofclansmen,childrenfour:61. Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave; 62. andIheardthat—was—’squeen,63. theHeathoscylfing’shelpmatedear.64. ToHrothgarwasgivensuchgloryofwar,65. suchhonorofcombat,thatallhiskin66. obeyed him gladly till great grew his band 67. ofyouthfulcomrades.Itcameinhismind68. tobidhishenchmenahalluprear,69. amastermead-house,mightierfar70. than ever was seen by the sons of earth, 71. andwithinit,then,tooldandyoung72. hewouldallallotthattheLordhadsenthim,73. save only the land and the lives of his men. 74. Wide, I heard, was the work commanded, 75. formanyatribethismid-earthround,76. to fashion the folkstead. It fell, as he ordered, 77. in rapid achievement that ready it stood there, 78. ofhallsthenoblest:Heorot{1a}henamedit79. whose message had might in many a land. 80. Not reckless of promise, the rings he dealt, 81. treasureatbanquet:theretoweredthehall,82. high,gabledwide,thehotsurgewaiting83. offuriousflame.{1b}Norfarwasthatday84. whenfatherandson-in-lawstoodinfeud85. forwarfareandhatredthatwokeagain.{1c}86. With envy and anger an evil spirit 87. enduredthedoleinhisdarkabode,

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88. that he heard each day the din of revel 89. highinthehall:thereharpsrangout,90. clearsongofthesinger.Hesangwhoknew{1d}91. tales of the early time of man, 92. how the Almighty made the earth, 93. fairestfieldsenfoldedbywater,94. set,triumphant,sunandmoon95. for a light to lighten the land-dwellers, 96. and braided bright the breast of earth 97. with limbs and leaves, made life for all 98. of mortal beings that breathe and move. 99. So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel 100. a winsome life, till one began 101. tofashionevils,thatfieldofhell.102. Grendelthismonstergrimwascalled,103. march-riever{1e}mighty,inmoorlandliving,104. infenandfastness;fiefofthegiants105. the hapless wight a while had kept 106. since the Creator his exile doomed. 107. On kin of Cain was the killing avenged 108. bysovranGodforslaughteredAbel.109. Illfaredhisfeud,{1f}andfarwashedriven,110. fortheslaughter’ssake,fromsightofmen.111. OfCainawokeallthatwofulbreed,112. Etins{1g}andelvesandevil-spirits,113. aswellasthegiantsthatwarredwithGod114. wearywhile:buttheirwagewaspaidthem!

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II

115. WENTheforthtofindatfallofnight116. thathaughtyhouse,andheedwherever117. theRing-Danes,outrevelled,toresthadgone.118. Foundwithinittheathelingband119. asleep after feasting and fearless of sorrow, 120. ofhumanhardship.Unhallowedwight,121. grim and greedy, he grasped betimes, 122. wrathful,reckless,fromresting-places,123. thirtyofthethanes,andthenceherushed124. fain of his fell spoil, faring homeward, 125. ladenwithslaughter,hislairtoseek.126. Then at the dawning, as day was breaking, 127. themightofGrendeltomenwasknown;128. thenafterwassailwaswailuplifted,129. loudmoaninthemorn.Themightychief,130. athelingexcellent,unblithesat,131. labored in woe for the loss of his thanes, 132. whenoncehadbeentracedthetrailofthefiend,133. spiritaccurst:toocruelthatsorrow,134. too long, too loathsome. Not late the respite; 135. withnightreturning,anewbegan136. ruthlessmurder;hereckednowhit,137. firminhisguilt,ofthefeudandcrime.138. Theywereeasytofindwhoelsewheresought139. in room remote their rest at night, 140. bedinthebowers,{2a}whenthatbalewasshown,141. wasseeninsooth,withsuresttoken,—142. thehall-thane’s{2b}hate.Suchheldthemselves143. farandfastwhothefiendoutran!144. Thusruledunrighteousandragedhisfill145. oneagainstall;untilemptystood146. thatlordlybuilding,andlongitbodeso.147. Twelveyears’tidethetroublehebore,148. sovran of Scyldings, sorrows in plenty, 149. boundlesscares.Therecameunhidden

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150. tidingstruetothetribesofmen,151. insorrowfulsongs,howceaselesslyGrendel152. harassed Hrothgar, what hate he bore him, 153. whatmurderandmassacre,manyayear,154. feudunfading,—refusedconsent155. to deal with any of Daneland’s earls, 156. makepactofpeace,orcompoundforgold:157. still less did the wise men ween to get 158. greatfeeforthefeudfromhisfiendishhands.159. Buttheeviloneambushedoldandyoung160. death-shadow dark, and dogged them still, 161. lured,orlurkedinthelivelongnight162. ofmistymoorlands:menmaysaynot163. wherethehauntsoftheseHell-Runes{2c}be.164. Suchheapingofhorrorsthehaterofmen,165. lonelyroamer,wroughtunceasing,166. harassings heavy. O’er Heorot he lorded, 167. gold-bright hall, in gloomy nights; 168. andne’ercouldtheprince{2d}approachhisthrone,169. ‘twasjudgmentofGod,—orhavejoyinhishall.170. Sore was the sorrow to Scyldings’-friend, 171. heart-rending misery. Many nobles 172. satassembled,andsearchedoutcounsel173. how it were best for bold-hearted men 174. against harassing terror to try their hand. 175. Whiles they vowed in their heathen fanes 176. altar-offerings,askedwithwords{2e}177. thattheslayer-of-soulswouldsuccorgivethem178. for the pain of their people. Their practice this, 179. theirheathenhope;‘twasHelltheythoughtof180. in mood of their mind. Almighty they knew not, 181. DoomsmanofDeedsanddreadfulLord,182. nor Heaven’s-Helmet heeded they ever, 183. Wielder-of-Wonder. — Woe for that man 184. whoinharmandhatredhaleshissoul185. tofieryembraces;—norfavornorchange186. awaitsheever.Butwellforhim187. that after death-day may draw to his Lord, 188. andfriendshipfindintheFather’sarms!

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III

189. THUSseethedunceasingthesonofHealfdene190. with the woe of these days; not wisest men 191. assuagedhissorrow;toosoretheanguish,192. loathly and long, that lay on his folk, 193. mostbanefulofburdensandbalesofthenight.194. This heard in his home Hygelac’s thane, 195. greatamongGeats,ofGrendel’sdoings.196. He was the mightiest man of valor 197. inthatsamedayofthisourlife,198. stalwartandstately.Astoutwave-walker199. he bade make ready. Yon battle-king, said he, 200. faro’ertheswan-roadhefainwouldseek,201. the noble monarch who needed men! 202. Theprince’sjourneybyprudentfolk203. waslittleblamed,thoughtheylovedhimdear;204. they whetted the hero, and hailed good omens. 205. AndnowtheboldonefrombandsofGeats206. comrades chose, the keenest of warriors 207. e’erhecouldfind;withfourteenmen208. thesea-wood{3a}hesought,and,sailorproved,209. ledthemontotheland’sconfines.210. Timehadnowflown;{3b}afloatwastheship,211. boatunderbluff.Onboardtheyclimbed,212. warriorsready;waveswerechurning213. sea with sand; the sailors bore 214. on the breast of the bark their bright array, 215. theirmailandweapons:themenpushedoff,216. on its willing way, the well-braced craft. 217. Then moved o’er the waters by might of the wind 218. that bark like a bird with breast of foam, 219. tillinseasondue,onthesecondday,220. thecurvedprowsuchcoursehadrun221. thatsailorsnowcouldseetheland,222. sea-cliffsshining,steephighhills,223. headlandsbroad.Theirhavenwasfound,

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224. theirjourneyended.Upthenquickly225. theWeders’{3c}clansmenclimbedashore,226. anchored their sea-wood, with armor clashing 227. andgearofbattle:Godtheythanked228. for passing in peace o’er the paths of the sea. 229. NowsawfromthecliffaScyldingclansman,230. a warden that watched the water-side, 231. how they bore o’er the gangway glittering shields, 232. war-gear in readiness; wonder seized him 233. to know what manner of men they were. 234. Straight to the strand his steed he rode, 235. Hrothgar’s henchman; with hand of might 236. he shook his spear, and spake in parley. 237. “Who are ye, then, ye armed men, 238. mailed folk, that yon mighty vessel 239. haveurgedthusovertheoceanways,240. here o’er the waters? A warden I, 241. sentinel set o’er the sea-march here, 242. lest any foe to the folk of Danes 243. withharryingfleetshouldharmtheland.244. Noalienseverateasethusborethem,245. linden-wielders:{3d}yetword-of-leave246. clearly ye lack from clansmen here, 247. my folk’s agreement. — A greater ne’er saw I 248. ofwarriorsinworldthanisoneofyou,—249. yon hero in harness! No henchman he 250. worthiedbyweapons,ifwitnesshisfeatures,251. hispeerlesspresence!Iprayyou,though,tell252. yourfolkandhome,lesthenceyefare253. suspecttowanderyourwayasspies254. in Danish land. Now, dwellers afar, 255. ocean-travellers, take from me 256. simpleadvice:thesoonerthebetter257. Ihearofthecountrywhenceyecame.”

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IV

258. To him the stateliest spake in answer; 259. thewarriors’leaderhisword-hoardunlocked:—260. “WearebykinoftheclanofGeats,261. and Hygelac’s own hearth-fellows we. 262. To folk afar was my father known, 263. noble atheling, Ecgtheow named. 264. Fullofwinters,hefaredaway265. aged from earth; he is honored still 266. throughwidthoftheworldbywisemenall.267. To thy lord and liege in loyal mood 268. we hasten hither, to Healfdene’s son, 269. people-protector:bepleasedtoadviseus!270. To that mighty-one come we on mickle errand, 271. to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I right 272. thataughtbehidden.Wehear—thouknowest273. if sooth it is — the saying of men, 274. that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster, 275. darkill-doer,induskynights276. showsterrifichisrageunmatched,277. hatredandmurder.ToHrothgarI278. ingreatnessofsoulwouldsuccorbring,279. sotheWise-and-Brave{4a}mayworsthisfoes,—280. if ever the end of ills is fated, 281. ofcruelcontest,ifcureshallfollow,282. and the boiling care-waves cooler grow; 283. elseeverafterwardanguish-days284. heshallsufferinsorrowwhilestandsinplace285. highonitshillthathouseunpeered!”286. Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered, 287. clansmanunquailing:“Thekeen-souledthane288. mustbeskilledtoseverandsunderduly289. words and works, if he well intends. 290. Igather,thisbandisgraciouslybent291. to the Scyldings’ master. March, then, bearing 292. weaponsandweedsthewayIshowyou.

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293. Iwillbidmymenyourboatmeanwhile294. toguardforfearlestfoemencome,—295. yournew-tarredshipbyshoreofocean296. faithfullywatchingtillonceagain297. it waft o’er the waters those well-loved thanes, 298. winding-neck’dwood,—toWeders’bounds,299. heroessuchasthehestoffate300. shallsuccorandsavefromtheshockofwar.”301. They bent them to march, — the boat lay still, 302. fettered by cable and fast at anchor, 303. broad-bosomedship.—Thenshonetheboars{4b}304. overthecheek-guard;chasedwithgold,305. keenandgleaming,guarditkept306. o’er the man of war, as marched along 307. heroes in haste, till the hall they saw, 308. broadofgableandbrightwithgold:309. that was the fairest, ‘mid folk of earth, 310. ofhouses‘neathheaven,whereHrothgarlived,311. and the gleam of it lightened o’er lands afar. 312. Thesturdyshieldsmanshowedthatbright313. burg-of-the-boldest;badethemgo314. straightwaythither;hissteedthenturned,315. hardyhero,andhailedthemthus:—316. “TistimethatIfarefromyou.FatherAlmighty317. ingraceandmercyguardyouwell,318. safeinyourseekings.SeawardIgo,319. ‘gainsthostilewarriorsholdmywatch.”

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V

320. STONE-BRIGHTthestreet:{5a}itshowedtheway321. to the crowd of clansmen. Corselets glistened 322. hand-forged, hard; on their harness bright 323. the steel ring sang, as they strode along 324. in mail of battle, and marched to the hall. 325. There, weary of ocean, the wall along 326. theysettheirbucklers,theirbroadshields,down,327. andbowedthemtobench:thebreastplatesclanged,328. war-gear of men; their weapons stacked, 329. spears of the seafarers stood together, 330. gray-tippedash:thatironband331. wasworthilyweaponed!—Awarriorproud332. asked of the heroes their home and kin. 333. “Whence,now,bearyeburnishedshields,334. harness gray and helmets grim, 335. spearsinmultitude?Messenger,I,336. Hrothgar’s herald! Heroes so many 337. ne’er met I as strangers of mood so strong. 338. ‘Tisplainthatforprowess,notplungedintoexile,339. forhigh-heartedvalor,Hrothgaryeseek!”340. Himthesturdy-in-warbespakewithwords,341. proudearloftheWedersanswermade,342. hardy‘neathhelmet:—”Hygelac’s,we,343. fellowsatboard;IamBeowulfnamed.344. I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene 345. this mission of mine, to thy master-lord, 346. thedoughtyprince,ifhedeignatall347. gracethatwegreethim,thegoodone,now.”348. Wulfgarspake,theWendles’chieftain,349. whose might of mind to many was known, 350. hiscourageandcounsel:“ThekingofDanes,351. the Scyldings’ friend, I fain will tell, 352. theBreaker-of-Rings,astheboonthouaskest,353. the famed prince, of thy faring hither, 354. and,swiftlyafter,suchanswerbring

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355. asthedoughtymonarchmaydeigntogive.”356. Hied then in haste to where Hrothgar sat 357. white-hairedandold,hisearlsabouthim,358. tillthestoutthanestoodattheshoulderthere359. oftheDanishking:goodcourtierhe!360. Wulfgarspaketohiswinsomelord:—361. “Hither have fared to thee far-come men 362. o’erthepathsofocean,peopleofGeatland;363. andthestateliesttherebyhissturdyband364. isBeowulfnamed.Thisboontheyseek,365. that they, my master, may with thee 366. havespeechatwill:norspurntheirprayer367. togivethemhearing,graciousHrothgar!368. In weeds of the warrior worthy they, 369. methinks,ofourliking;theirleadermostsurely,370. aherothathitherhishenchmenhasled.”

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VI

371. HROTHGARanswered,helmetofScyldings:—372. “Iknewhimofyoreinhisyouthfuldays;373. his aged father was Ecgtheow named, 374. towhom,athome,gaveHretheltheGeat375. hisonlydaughter.Theiroffspringbold376. fares hither to seek the steadfast friend. 377. And seamen, too, have said me this, — 378. whocarriedmygiftstotheGeatishcourt,379. thither for thanks, — he has thirty men’s 380. heft of grasp in the gripe of his hand, 381. thebold-in-battle.BlessedGod382. outofhismercythismanhathsent383. to Danes of the West, as I ween indeed, 384. againsthorrorofGrendel.Ihopetogive385. thegoodyouthgoldforhisgallantthought.386. Bethouinhaste,andbidthemhither,387. clan of kinsmen, to come before me; 388. andaddthisword,—theyarewelcomeguests389. tofolkoftheDanes.”[Tothedoorofthehall390. Wulfgarwent]andtheworddeclared:—391. “Toyouthismessagemymastersends,392. East-Danes’king,thatyourkinheknows,393. hardyheroes,andhailsyouall394. welcome hither o’er waves of the sea! 395. Yemaywendyourwayinwar-attire,396. andunderhelmetsHrothgargreet;397. butletherethebattle-shieldsbideyourparley,398. andwoodenwar-shaftswaititsend.”399. Uprosethemightyone,ringedwithhismen,400. bravebandofthanes:somebodewithout,401. battle-gearguarding,asbadethechief.402. Then hied that troop where the herald led them, 403. underHeorot’sroof:[theherostrode,]404. hardy ‘neath helm, till the hearth he neared. 405. Beowulfspake,—hisbreastplategleamed,

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406. war-netwovenbywitofthesmith:—407. “ThouHrothgar,hail!Hygelac’sI,408. kinsman and follower. Fame a plenty 409. haveIgainedinyouth!TheseGrendel-deeds410. I heard in my home-land heralded clear. 411. Seafarers say how stands this hall, 412. ofbuildingsbest,foryourbandofthanes413. emptyandidle,wheneveningsun414. in the harbor of heaven is hidden away. 415. So my vassals advised me well, — 416. brave and wise, the best of men, — 417. sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here, 418. formynerveandmymighttheyknewfullwell.419. Themselveshadseenmefromslaughtercome420. blood-fleckedfromfoes,wherefiveIbound,421. and that wild brood worsted. I’ the waves I slew 422. nicors{6a}bynight,inneedandperil423. avengingtheWeders,{6b}whosewoetheysought,—424. crushingthegrimones.Grendelnow,425. monstercruel,beminetoquell426. in single battle! So, from thee, 427. thousovranoftheShining-Danes,428. Scyldings’-bulwark,aboonIseek,—429. and,Friend-of-the-folk,refuseitnot,430. Warriors’-shield, now I’ve wandered far, — 431. that I alone with my liegemen here, 432. thishardyband,mayHeorotpurge!433. More I hear, that the monster dire, 434. in his wanton mood, of weapons recks not; 435. hence shall I scorn — so Hygelac stay, 436. king of my kindred, kind to me! — 437. brandorbucklertobearinthefight,438. gold-coloredtarge:butwithgripealone439. mustIfrontthefiendandfightforlife,440. foe against foe. Then faith be his 441. in the doom of the Lord whom death shall take. 442. Fain,Iween,ifthefighthewin,443. inthishallofgoldmyGeatishband444. will he fearless eat, — as oft before, — 445. mynoblestthanes.Norneed’stthouthen446. tohidemyhead;{6c}forhisshallIbe,447. dyedingore,ifdeathmusttakeme;448. and my blood-covered body he’ll bear as prey,

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449. ruthlessdevourit,theroamer-lonely,450. withmylife-bloodreddenhislairinthefen:451. nofurtherformeneed’stfoodprepare!452. ToHygelacsend,ifHild{6d}shouldtakeme,453. best of war-weeds, warding my breast, 454. armor excellent, heirloom of Hrethel 455. andworkofWayland.{6e}FaresWyrd{6f}asshemust.”

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VII

456. HROTHGARspake,theScyldings’-helmet:—457. “Forfightdefensive,FriendmyBeowulf,458. tosuccorandsave,thouhastsoughtushere.459. Thyfather’scombat{7a}afeudenkindled460. when Heatholaf with hand he slew 461. amongtheWylfings;hisWederkin462. forhorroroffightingfearedtoholdhim.463. Fleeing,hesoughtourSouth-Danefolk,464. oversurgeofoceantheHonor-Scyldings,465. whenfirstIwasrulingthefolkofDanes,466. wielded,youthful,thiswidespreadrealm,467. this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead, 468. my elder brother, had breathed his last, 469. Healfdene’sbairn:hewasbetterthanI!470. Straightwaythefeudwithfee{7b}Isettled,471. totheWylfingssent,o’erwateryridges,472. treasuresolden:oathshe{7c}sworeme.473. Soreismysoultosaytoany474. oftheraceofmanwhatruthforme475. inHeorotGrendelwithhatehathwrought,476. whatsuddenharryings.Hall-folkfailme,477. my warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept them 478. intoGrendel’sgrasp.ButGodisable479. thisdeadlyfoefromhisdeedstoturn!480. Boastedfulloft,asmybeertheydrank,481. earlso’ertheale-cup,armedmen,482. thattheywouldbideinthebeer-hallhere,483. Grendel’sattackwithterrorofblades.484. Thenwasthismead-houseatmorningtide485. dyed with gore, when the daylight broke, 486. all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled, 487. gorythehall:Ihadheroestheless,488. doughtydear-onesthatdeathhadreft.489. Butsittothebanquet,unbindthywords,490. hardyhero,asheartshallpromptthee.”

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491. Gatheredtogether,theGeatishmen492. inthebanquet-hallonbenchassigned,493. sturdy-spirited,satthemdown,494. hardy-hearted. A henchman attended, 495. carriedthecarvencupinhand,496. served the clear mead. Oft minstrels sang 497. blithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled, 498. no dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane.

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499. UNFERTHspake,thesonofEcglaf,500. who sat at the feet of the Scyldings’ lord, 501. unboundthebattle-runes.{8a}—Beowulf’squest,502. sturdyseafarer’s,sorelygalledhim;503. ever he envied that other men 504. shouldmoreachieveinmiddle-earth505. offameunderheaventhanhehimself.—506. “ArtthouthatBeowulf,Breca’srival,507. whoemulousswamontheopensea,508. whenforpridethepairofyouprovedthefloods,509. and wantonly dared in waters deep 510. toriskyourlives?Nolivingman,511. orlieforloath,fromyourlabordire512. couldyoudissuade,fromswimmingthemain.513. Ocean-tideswithyourarmsyecovered,514. withstrenuoushandsthesea-streetsmeasured,515. swam o’er the waters. Winter’s storm 516. rolledtheroughwaves.Inrealmofsea517. a sennight strove ye. In swimming he topped thee, 518. had more of main! Him at morning-tide 519. billows bore to the Battling Reamas, 520. whence he hied to his home so dear 521. beloved of his liegemen, to land of Brondings, 522. fastnessfair,wherehisfolkheruled,523. townandtreasure.Intriumpho’erthee524. Beanstan’sbairn{8b}hisboastachieved.525. SoweenIfortheeaworseadventure526. thoughinbuffetofbattlethoubravehastbeen,527. instrugglegrim,—ifGrendel’sapproach528. thoudarstawaitthroughthewatchofnight!”529. Beowulfspake,bairnofEcgtheow:—530. “Whatadealhastuttered,dearmyUnferth,531. drunkenwithbeer,ofBrecanow,532. toldofhistriumph!TruthIclaimit,533. that I had more of might in the sea

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534. thananymanelse,moreocean-endurance.535. Wetwainhadtalked,intimeofyouth,536. andmadeourboast,—weweremerelyboys,537. striplingsstill,—tostakeourlives538. faratsea:andsoweperformedit.539. Naked swords, as we swam along, 540. weheldinhand,withhopetoguardus541. against the whales. Not a whit from me 542. couldhefloatafaro’erthefloodofwaves,543. haste o’er the billows; nor him I abandoned. 544. Together we twain on the tides abode 545. fivenightsfulltilltheflooddividedus,546. churningwavesandchillestweather,547. darkling night, and the northern wind 548. ruthlessrushedonus:roughwasthesurge.549. Nowthewrathofthesea-fishroseapace;550. yet me ‘gainst the monsters my mailed coat, 551. hardandhand-linked,helpafforded,—552. battle-sark braided my breast to ward, 553. garnishedwithgold.Theregraspedmefirm554. and haled me to bottom the hated foe, 555. withgrimmestgripe.‘Twasgrantedme,though,556. to pierce the monster with point of sword, 557. withbladeofbattle:hugebeastofthesea558. waswhelmedbythehurlythroughhandofmine.

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559. MEthusoftentheevilmonsters560. throngingthreatened.Withthrustofmysword,561. thedarling,Idealtthemduereturn!562. Nowise had they bliss from their booty then 563. todevourtheirvictim,vengefulcreatures,564. seatedtobanquetatbottomofsea;565. butatbreakofday,bymybrandsorehurt,566. ontheedgeofoceanuptheylay,567. puttosleepbythesword.Andsince,bythem568. on the fathomless sea-ways sailor-folk 569. are never molested. — Light from east, 570. camebrightGod’sbeacon;thebillowssank,571. sothatIsawthesea-cliffshigh,572. windy walls. For Wyrd oft saveth 573. earlundoomedifhedoughtybe!574. And so it came that I killed with my sword 575. nineofthenicors.Ofnight-foughtbattles576. ne’er heard I a harder ‘neath heaven’s dome, 577. nor adrift on the deep a more desolate man! 578. YetIcameunharmedfromthathostileclutch,579. thoughspentwithswimming.Theseaupboreme,580. floodofthetide,onFinnishland,581. the welling waters. No wise of thee 582. haveIheardmentellsuchterroroffalchions,583. bitter battle. Breca ne’er yet, 584. notoneofyoupair,intheplayofwar585. suchdaringdeedhasdoneatall586. with bloody brand, — I boast not of it! — 587. thoughthouwastthebane{9a}ofthybrethrendear,588. thyclosestkin,whencecurseofhell589. awaits thee, well as thy wit may serve! 590. ForIsayinsooth,thousonofEcglaf,591. neverhadGrendelthesegrimdeedswrought,592. monster dire, on thy master dear, 593. inHeorotsuchhavoc,ifheartofthine

25BEOWULF

594. wereasbattle-boldasthyboastisloud!595. Buthehasfoundnofeudwillhappen;596. fromsword-clashdreadofyourDanishclan597. hevauntshimsafe,fromtheVictor-Scyldings.598. He forces pledges, favors none 599. ofthelandofDanes,butlustilymurders,600. fightsandfeasts,norfeudhedreads601. fromSpear-Danemen.Butspeedilynow602. shallIprovehimtheprowessandprideoftheGeats,603. shall bid him battle. Blithe to mead 604. go he that listeth, when light of dawn 605. this morrow morning o’er men of earth, 606. ether-robedsunfromthesouthshallbeam!”607. JoyousthenwastheJewel-giver,608. hoar-haired, war-brave; help awaited 609. theBright-Danes’prince,fromBeowulfhearing,610. folk’sgoodshepherd,suchfirmresolve.611. Thenwaslaughterofliegemenloudresounding612. with winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth, 613. queenofHrothgar,heedfulofcourtesy,614. gold-decked,greetingtheguestsinhall;615. andthehigh-bornladyhandedthecup616. firsttotheEast-Danes’heirandwarden,617. badehimbeblitheatthebeer-carouse,618. theland’sbelovedone.Lustilytookhe619. banquetandbeaker,battle-famedking.620. ThroughthehallthenwenttheHelmings’Lady,621. toyoungerandoldereverywhere622. carriedthecup,tillcomethemoment623. whenthering-gracedqueen,theroyal-hearted,624. toBeowulfborethebeakerofmead.625. ShegreetedtheGeats’lord,Godshethanked,626. in wisdom’s words, that her will was granted, 627. thatatlastonaheroherhopecouldlean628. forcomfortinterrors.Thecuphetook,629. hardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow’s hand, 630. andanswerutteredtheeager-for-combat.631. Beowulfspake,bairnofEcgtheow:—632. “Thiswasmythought,whenmythanesandI633. benttotheoceanandenteredourboat,634. thatIwouldworkthewillofyourpeople635. fully,orfightingfallindeath,636. infiend’sgripefast.Iamfirmtodo

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637. an earl’s brave deed, or end the days 638. ofthislifeofmineinthemead-hallhere.”639. Well these words to the woman seemed, 640. Beowulf’sbattle-boast.—Brightwithgold641. thestatelydamebyherspousesatdown.642. Again, as erst, began in hall 643. warriors’ wassail and words of power, 644. theproud-band’srevel,tillpresently645. the son of Healfdene hastened to seek 646. rest for the night; he knew there waited 647. fightforthefiendinthatfestalhall,648. whenthesheenofthesuntheysawnomore,649. andduskofnightsankdarklingnigh,650. and shadowy shapes came striding on, 651. wanunderwelkin.Thewarriorsrose.652. Mantoman,hemadeharangue,653. HrothgartoBeowulf,badehimhail,654. lethimwieldthewinehall:awordheadded:—655. “NevertoanymanerstItrusted,656. sinceIcouldheaveuphandandshield,657. this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee. 658. Havenowandholdthishouseunpeered;659. remember thy glory; thy might declare; 660. watch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee 661. ifthoubidestthebattlewithbold-wonlife.”

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662. THEN Hrothgar went with his hero-train, 663. defence-of-Scyldings, forth from hall; 664. fainwouldthewar-lordWealhtheowseek,665. couchofhisqueen.TheKing-of-Glory666. againstthisGrendelaguardhadset,667. so heroes heard, a hall-defender, 668. who warded the monarch and watched for the monster. 669. Intruth,theGeats’princegladlytrusted670. hismettle,hismight,themercyofGod!671. Castoffthenhiscorseletofiron,672. helmet from head; to his henchman gave, — 673. choicest of weapons, — the well-chased sword, 674. biddinghimguardthegearofbattle.675. SpakethenhisVauntthevaliantman,676. BeowulfGeat,erethebedbesought:—677. “OfforceinfightnofeeblerIcountme,678. ingrimwar-deeds,thanGrendeldeemshim.679. Not with the sword, then, to sleep of death 680. hislifewillIgive,thoughitlieinmypower.681. No skill is his to strike against me, 682. myshieldtohewthoughhehardybe,683. bold in battle; we both, this night, 684. shallspurnthesword,ifheseekmehere,685. unweaponed,forwar.LetwisestGod,686. sacred Lord, on which side soever 687. doomdecreeashedeemethright.”688. Reclined then the chieftain, and cheek-pillows held 689. theheadoftheearl,whileallabouthim690. seamen hardy on hall-beds sank. 691. Noneofthemthoughtthatthencetheirsteps692. to the folk and fastness that fostered them, 693. tothelandtheyloved,wouldleadthemback!694. Fullwelltheywistthatonwarriorsmany695. battle-deathseized,inthebanquet-hall,696. ofDanishclan.Butcomfortandhelp,

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697. war-weal weaving, to Weder folk 698. the Master gave, that, by might of one, 699. over their enemy all prevailed, 700. by single strength. In sooth ‘tis told 701. thathighestGodo’erhumankind702. hath wielded ever! — Thro’ wan night striding, 703. came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept 704. whosehestwastoguardthegabledhall,—705. all save one. ‘Twas widely known 706. thatagainstGod’swilltheghostlyravager707. him{10a}couldnothurltohauntsofdarkness;708. wakeful,ready,withwarrior’swrath,709. boldhebidedthebattle’sissue.

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711. THEN from the moorland, by misty crags, 712. withGod’swrathladen,Grendelcame.713. The monster was minded of mankind now 714. sundrytoseizeinthestatelyhouse.715. Underwelkinhewalked,tillthewine-palacethere,716. gold-hall of men, he gladly discerned, 717. flashingwithfretwork.Notfirsttime,this,718. thathethehomeofHrothgarsought,—719. yet ne’er in his life-day, late or early, 720. suchhardyheroes,suchhall-thanes,found!721. Tothehousethewarriorwalkedapace,722. partedfrompeace;{11a}theportalopended,723. thoughwithforgedboltsfast,whenhisfistshadstruckit,724. andbalefulheburstinhisblatantrage,725. thehouse’smouth.Allhastily,then,726. o’erfair-pavedfloorthefiendtrodon,727. irefulhestrode;therestreamedfromhiseyes728. fearfulflashes,likeflametosee.729. He spied in hall the hero-band, 730. kinandclansmenclusteredasleep,731. hardyliegemen.Thenlaughedhisheart;732. forthemonsterwasminded,eremornshoulddawn,733. savage,toseverthesoulofeach,734. lifefrombody,sincelustybanquet735. waitedhiswill!ButWyrdforbadehim736. to seize any more of men on earth 737. after that evening. Eagerly watched 738. Hygelac’skinsmanhiscursedfoe,739. howhewouldfareinfellattack.740. Notthatthemonsterwasmindedtopause!741. Straightway he seized a sleeping warrior 742. forthefirst,andtorehimfiercelyasunder,743. the bone-frame bit, drank blood in streams, 744. swallowedhimpiecemeal:swiftlythus745. thelifelesscorsewascleardevoured,

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746. e’en feet and hands. Then farther he hied; 747. for the hardy hero with hand he grasped, 748. feltforthefoewithfiendishclaw,749. fortheheroreclining,—whoclutcheditboldly,750. prompt to answer, propped on his arm. 751. Soon then saw that shepherd-of-evils 752. that never he met in this middle-world, 753. in the ways of earth, another wight 754. with heavier hand-gripe; at heart he feared, 755. sorrowedinsoul,—nonethesoonerescaped!756. Fainwouldheflee,hisfastnessseek,757. thedenofdevils:nodoingsnow758. suchasofthehaddoneindaysofold!759. ThenbethoughthimthehardyHygelac-thane760. ofhisboastatevening:uphebounded,761. graspedfirmhisfoe,whosefingerscracked.762. Thefiendmadeoff,buttheearlclosefollowed.763. The monster meant — if he might at all — 764. toflinghimselffree,andfaraway765. flytothefens,—knewhisfingers’power766. inthegripeofthegrimone.Gruesomemarch767. to Heorot this monster of harm had made! 768. Dinfilledtheroom;theDaneswerebereft,769. castle-dwellers and clansmen all, 770. earls, of their ale. Angry were both 771. thosesavagehall-guards:thehouseresounded.772. Wonderitwasthewine-hallfirm773. inthestrainoftheirstrugglestood,toearth774. thefairhousefellnot;toofastitwas775. withinandwithoutbyitsironbands776. craftilyclamped;thoughtherecrashedfromsill777. many a mead-bench — men have told me — 778. gay with gold, where the grim foes wrestled. 779. So well had weened the wisest Scyldings 780. that not ever at all might any man 781. thatbone-decked,bravehousebreakasunder,782. crushbycraft,—unlessclaspoffire783. insmokeengulfedit.—Againuprose784. dinredoubled.DanesoftheNorth785. withfearandfrenzywerefilled,eachone,786. who from the wall that wailing heard, 787. God’sfoesoundinghisgrislysong,788. cryoftheconquered,clamorouspain

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789. from captive of hell. Too closely held him 790. he who of men in might was strongest 791. inthatsamedayofthisourlife.

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792. NOTinanywisewouldtheearls’-defence{12a}793. sufferthatslaughterousstrangertolive,794. uselessdeeminghisdaysandyears795. to men on earth. Now many an earl 796. ofBeowulfbrandishedbladeancestral,797. fain the life of their lord to shield, 798. their praised prince, if power were theirs; 799. never they knew, — as they neared the foe, 800. hardy-hearted heroes of war, 801. aiming their swords on every side 802. theaccursedtokill,—nokeenestblade,803. no farest of falchions fashioned on earth, 804. couldharmorhurtthathideousfiend!805. He was safe, by his spells, from sword of battle, 806. from edge of iron. Yet his end and parting 807. onthatsamedayofthisourlife808. wofulshouldbe,andhiswanderingsoul809. faroffflittothefiends’domain.810. Soonhefound,whoinformerdays,811. harmfulinheartandhatedofGod,812. onmanyamansuchmurderwrought,813. that the frame of his body failed him now. 814. Forhimthekeen-souledkinsmanofHygelac815. heldinhand;hatefulalive816. waseachtoother.Theoutlawdire817. tookmortalhurt;amightywound818. showedonhisshoulder,andsinewscracked,819. andthebone-frameburst.ToBeowulfnow820. theglorywasgiven,andGrendelthence821. death-sickhisdeninthedarkmoorsought,822. noisomeabode:heknewtoowell823. that here was the last of life, an end 824. of his days on earth. — To all the Danes 825. by that bloody battle the boon had come. 826. Fromravagehadrescuedtherovingstranger

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827. Hrothgar’s hall; the hardy and wise one 828. hadpurgeditanew.Hisnight-workpleasedhim,829. his deed and its honor. To Eastern Danes 830. hadthevaliantGeathisvauntmadegood,831. alltheirsorrowandillsassuaged,832. their bale of battle borne so long, 833. andallthedoletheyerstendured834. pain a-plenty. — ‘Twas proof of this, 835. whenthehardy-in-fightahandlaiddown,836. armandshoulder,—all,indeed,837. ofGrendel’sgripe,—‘neaththegabledroof’

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838. MANY at morning, as men have told me, 839. warriorsgatheredthegift-hallround,840. folk-leaders faring from far and near, 841. o’er wide-stretched ways, the wonder to view, 842. traceofthetraitor.Nottroublousseemed843. the enemy’s end to any man 844. who saw by the gait of the graceless foe 845. how the weary-hearted, away from thence, 846. baffledinbattleandbanned,hissteps847. death-marked dragged to the devils’ mere. 848. Bloody the billows were boiling there, 849. turbidthetideoftumblingwaves850. horribly seething, with sword-blood hot, 851. by that doomed one dyed, who in den of the moor 852. laid forlorn his life adown, 853. hisheathensoul,—andhellreceivedit.854. Home then rode the hoary clansmen 855. fromthatmerryjourney,andmanyayouth,856. on horses white, the hardy warriors, 857. backfromthemere.ThenBeowulf’sglory858. eager they echoed, and all averred 859. thatfromseatosea,orsouthornorth,860. there was no other in earth’s domain, 861. undervaultofheaven,morevaliantfound,862. ofwarriorsnonemoreworthytorule!863. (On their lord beloved they laid no slight, 864. graciousHrothgar:agoodkinghe!)865. From time to time, the tried-in-battle 866. their gray steeds set to gallop amain, 867. and ran a race when the road seemed fair. 868. From time to time, a thane of the king, 869. whohadmademanyvaunts,andwasmindfulofverses,870. stored with sagas and songs of old, 871. boundwordtowordinwell-knitrime,872. welded his lay; this warrior soon

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873. ofBeowulf’squestrightcleverlysang,874. andartfullyaddedanexcellenttale,875. in well-ranged words, of the warlike deeds 876. hehadheardinsagaofSigemund.877. Strangethestory:hesaiditall,—878. theWaelsing’swanderingswide,hisstruggles,879. which never were told to tribes of men, 880. thefeudsandthefrauds,savetoFitelaonly,881. when of these doings he deigned to speak, 882. uncletonephew;aseverthetwain883. stood side by side in stress of war, 884. andmultitudeofthemonsterkind885. theyhadfelledwiththeirswords.OfSigemundgrew,886. when he passed from life, no little praise; 887. forthedoughty-in-combatadragonkilled888. thatherdedthehoard:{13a}underhoaryrock889. the atheling dared the deed alone 890. fearfulquest,norwasFitelathere.891. Yet so it befell, his falchion pierced 892. thatwondrousworm,—onthewallitstruck,893. best blade; the dragon died in its blood. 894. Thushadthedread-onebydaringachieved895. overthering-hoardtoruleatwill,896. himselftopleasure;asea-boatheloaded,897. and bore on its bosom the beaming gold, 898. sonofWaels;thewormwasconsumed.899. He had of all heroes the highest renown 900. amongracesofmen,thisrefuge-of-warriors,901. for deeds of daring that decked his name 902. since the hand and heart of Heremod 903. grew slack in battle. He, swiftly banished 904. to mingle with monsters at mercy of foes, 905. to death was betrayed; for torrents of sorrow 906. had lamed him too long; a load of care 907. to earls and athelings all he proved. 908. Oft indeed, in earlier days, 909. forthewarrior’swayfaringwisemenmourned,910. who had hoped of him help from harm and bale, 911. andhadthoughttheirsovran’ssonwouldthrive,912. follow his father, his folk protect, 913. the hoard and the stronghold, heroes’ land, 914. homeofScyldings.—Buthere,thanessaid,915. the kinsman of Hygelac kinder seemed

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916. toall:theother{13b}wasurgedtocrime!917. Andafreshtotherace,{13c}thefallowroads918. byswiftsteedsmeasured!Themorningsun919. was climbing higher. Clansmen hastened 920. tothehigh-builthall,thosehardy-minded,921. thewondertowitness.Wardenoftreasure,922. crowned with glory, the king himself, 923. with stately band from the bride-bower strode; 924. andwithhimthequeenandhercrowdofmaidens925. measuredthepathtothemead-housefair.

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926. HROTHGARspake,—tothehallhewent,927. stood by the steps, the steep roof saw, 928. garnishedwithgold,andGrendel’shand:—929. “ForthesightIseetotheSovranRuler930. be speedy thanks! A throng of sorrows 931. IhavebornefromGrendel;butGodstillworks932. wonderonwonder,theWarden-of-Glory.933. ItwasbutnowthatInevermore934. for woes that weighed on me waited help 935. long as I lived, when, laved in blood, 936. stoodsword-gore-stainedthisstateliesthouse,—937. widespread woe for wise men all, 938. who had no hope to hinder ever 939. foesinfernalandfiendishsprites940. from havoc in hall. This hero now, 941. by the Wielder’s might, a work has done 942. thatnotallofuserstcouldeverdo943. by wile and wisdom. Lo, well can she say 944. whoso of women this warrior bore 945. among sons of men, if still she liveth, 946. thattheGodoftheageswasgoodtoher947. inthebirthofherbairn.Now,Beowulf,thee,948. of heroes best, I shall heartily love 949. asmineown,myson;preservethouever950. thiskinshipnew:thoushaltneverlack951. wealth of the world that I wield as mine! 952. FulloftforlesshaveIlargessshowered,953. myprecioushoard,onapunierman,954. lessstoutinstruggle.Thyselfhastnow955. fulfilledsuchdeeds,thatthyfameshallendure956. throughalltheages.Aseverhedid,957. wellmaytheWielderrewardtheestill!”958. Beowulfspake,bairnofEcgtheow:—959. “This work of war most willingly 960. wehavefought,thisfight,andfearlesslydared

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961. force of the foe. Fain, too, were I 962. hadstthoubutseenhimself,whattime963. thefiendinhistrappingstotteredtofall!964. Swiftly,Ithought,instrongestgripe965. on his bed of death to bind him down, 966. that he in the hent of this hand of mine 967. shouldbreathehislast:buthebrokeaway.968. Him I might not — the Maker willed not — 969. hinderfromflight,andfirmenoughhold970. thelife-destroyer:toosturdywashe,971. theruthless,inrunning!Forrescue,however,972. he left behind him his hand in pledge, 973. armandshoulder;noraughtofhelp974. couldthecursedonethusprocureatall.975. Nonethelongerlivethhe,loathsomefiend,976. sunkinhissins,butsorrowholdshim977. tightlygraspedingripeofanguish,978. inbalefulbonds,wherebidehemust,979. eviloutlaw,suchawfuldoom980. astheMightyMakershallmetehimout.”981. MoresilentseemedthesonofEcglaf{14a}982. inboastfulspeechofhisbattle-deeds,983. sinceathelingsall,throughtheearl’sgreatprowess,984. beheld that hand, on the high roof gazing, 985. foeman’sfingers,—theforepartofeach986. ofthesturdynailstosteelwaslikest,—987. heathen’s“hand-spear,”hostilewarrior’s988. clawuncanny.‘Twasclear,theysaid,989. thathimnobladeofthebravecouldtouch,990. howkeensoever,orcutaway991. thatbattle-handbloodyfrombanefulfoe.

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992. THEREwashurryandhestinHeorotnow993. for hands to bedeck it, and dense was the throng 994. of men and women the wine-hall to cleanse, 995. theguest-roomtogarnish.Gold-gayshonethehangings996. that were wove on the wall, and wonders many 997. todelighteachmortalthatlooksuponthem.998. Thoughbracedwithinbyironbands,999. thatbuildingbrightwasbrokensorely;{15a}1000. rent were its hinges; the roof alone 1001. heldsafeandsound,when,searedwithcrime,1002. thefiendishfoehisflightessayed,1003. of life despairing. — No light thing that, 1004. theflightforsafety,—essayitwhowill!1005. Forcedoffate,heshallfindhisway1006. totherefugereadyforraceofman,1007. forsoul-possessors,andsonsofearth;1008. and there his body on bed of death 1009. shallrestafterrevel.Arrivedwasthehour1010. whentohallproceededHealfdene’sson:1011. thekinghimselfwouldsittobanquet.1012. Ne’erheardIofhostinhaughtierthrong1013. moregraciouslygatheredroundgiver-of-rings!1014. Bowed then to bench those bearers-of-glory, 1015. fain of the feasting. Featly received 1016. manyamead-cupthemighty-in-spirit,1017. kinsmenwhosatinthesumptuoushall,1018. HrothgarandHrothulf.Heorotnow1019. wasfilledwithfriends;thefolkofScyldings1020. ne’er yet had tried the traitor’s deed. 1021. ToBeowulfgavethebairnofHealfdene1022. agold-wovebanner,guerdonoftriumph,1023. broideredbattle-flag,breastplateandhelmet;1024. and a splendid sword was seen of many 1025. bornetothebraveone.Beowulftook1026. cupinhall:{15b}forsuchcostlygifts

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1027. hesufferednoshameinthatsoldierthrong.1028. For I heard of few heroes, in heartier mood, 1029. withfoursuchgifts,sofashionedwithgold,1030. ontheale-benchhonoringothersthus!1031. O’er the roof of the helmet high, a ridge, 1032. woundwithwires,keptwardo’erthehead,1033. lesttherelict-of-files{15c}shouldfierceinvade,1034. sharp in the strife, when that shielded hero 1035. shouldgotograppleagainsthisfoes.1036. Thentheearls’-defence{15d}onthefloor{15e}badelead1037. courserseight,withcarvenhead-gear,1038. adownthehall:onehorsewasdecked1039. with a saddle all shining and set in jewels; 1040. ‘twas the battle-seat of the best of kings, 1041. when to play of swords the son of Healfdene 1042. was fain to fare. Ne’er failed his valor 1043. inthecrushofcombatwhencorpsesfell.1044. ToBeowulfoverthemboththengave1045. therefuge-of-Ingwinesrightandpower,1046. o’erwar-steedsandweapons:wishedhimjoyofthem.1047. Manfullythusthemightyprince,1048. hoard-guardforheroes,thathardfightrepaid1049. withsteedsandtreasurescontemnedbynone1050. who is willing to say the sooth aright.

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1051. AND the lord of earls, to each that came 1052. withBeowulfoverthebrinyways,1053. an heirloom there at the ale-bench gave, 1054. preciousgift;andtheprice{16a}badepay1055. ingoldforhimwhomGrendelerst1056. murdered,—andfainofthemmorehadkilled,1057. hadnotwisestGodtheirWyrdaverted,1058. andtheman’s{16b}bravemood.TheMakerthen1059. ruledhumankind,ashereandnow.1060. Therefore is insight always best, 1061. andforethoughtofmind.Howmuchawaitshim1062. of lief and of loath, who long time here, 1063. throughdaysofwarfarethisworldendures!1064. Thensongandmusicmingledsounds1065. inthepresenceofHealfdene’shead-of-armies{16c}1066. and harping was heard with the hero-lay 1067. as Hrothgar’s singer the hall-joy woke 1068. along the mead-seats, making his song 1069. ofthatsuddenraidonthesonsofFinn.{16d}1070. Healfdene’s hero, Hnaef the Scylding, 1071. wasfatedtofallintheFrisianslaughter.{16e}1072. Hildeburhneedednotholdinvalue1073. herenemies’honor!{16f}Innocentboth1074. were the loved ones she lost at the linden-play, 1075. bairn and brother, they bowed to fate, 1076. strickenbyspears;‘twasasorrowfulwoman!1077. NonedoubtedwhythedaughterofHoc1078. bewailed her doom when dawning came, 1079. andundertheskyshesawthemlying,1080. kinsmenmurdered,wheremostshehadkenned1081. of the sweets of the world! By war were swept, too, 1082. Finn’s own liegemen, and few were left; 1083. intheparleying-place{16g}hecouldplynolonger1084. weapon,norwarcouldhewageonHengest,1085. andrescuehisremnantbyrightofarms

42BEOWULF

1086. fromtheprince’sthane.Apactheoffered:1087. anotherdwellingtheDanesshouldhave,1088. hall and high-seat, and half the power 1089. shouldfalltotheminFrisianland;1090. and at the fee-gifts, Folcwald’s son 1091. daybydaytheDanesshouldhonor,1092. the folk of Hengest favor with rings, 1093. evenastruly,withtreasureandjewels,1094. with fretted gold, as his Frisian kin 1095. he meant to honor in ale-hall there. 1096. Pactofpeacetheyplightedfurther1097. onbothsidesfirmly.FinntoHengest1098. withoath,uponhonor,openlypromised1099. thatwofulremnant,withwise-men’said,1100. noblytogovern,sononeoftheguests1101. bywordorworkshouldwarpthetreaty,{16h}1102. or with malice of mind bemoan themselves 1103. as forced to follow their fee-giver’s slayer, 1104. lordless men, as their lot ordained. 1105. ShouldFrisian,moreover,withfoeman’staunt,1106. thatmurderoushatredtomindrecall,1107. thenedgeoftheswordmustsealhisdoom.1108. Oaths were given, and ancient gold 1109. heaped from hoard. — The hardy Scylding, 1110. battle-thanebest,{16i}onhisbalefirelay.1111. All on the pyre were plain to see 1112. the gory sark, the gilded swine-crest, 1113. boar of hard iron, and athelings many 1114. slainbythesword:attheslaughtertheyfell.1115. ItwasHildeburh’shest,atHnaef’sownpyre1116. the bairn of her body on brands to lay, 1117. hisbonestoburn,onthebalefireplaced,1118. athisuncle’sside.Insorrowfuldirges1119. beweptthemthewoman:greatwailingascended.1120. Thenwounduptowelkinthewildestofdeath-fires,1121. roaredo’erthehillock:{16j}headsallweremelted,1122. gashesburst,andbloodgushedout1123. frombites{16k}ofthebody.Balefiredevoured,1124. greediest spirit, those spared not by war 1125. outofeitherfolk:theirflowerwasgone.

43BEOWULF

XVII

1126. THEN hastened those heroes their home to see, 1127. friendless,tofindtheFrisianland,1128. housesandhighburg.Hengeststill1129. throughthedeath-dyedwinterdweltwithFinn,1130. holding pact, yet of home he minded, 1131. thoughpowerlesshisring-deckedprowtodrive1132. overthewaters,nowwavesrolledfierce1133. lashed by the winds, or winter locked them 1134. in icy fetters. Then fared another 1135. year to men’s dwellings, as yet they do, 1136. thesunbrightskies,thattheirseasonever1137. dulyawait.Faroffwinterwasdriven;1138. fair lay earth’s breast; and fain was the rover, 1139. theguest,todepart,thoughmoregladlyhepondered1140. on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep, 1141. andhowtohastenthehotencounter1142. wheresonsoftheFrisiansweresuretobe.1143. So he escaped not the common doom, 1144. whenHunwith“Lafing,”thelight-of-battle,1145. bestofblades,hisbosompierced:1146. its edge was famed with the Frisian earls. 1147. Onfierce-heartFinntherefelllikewise,1148. on himself at home, the horrid sword-death; 1149. forGuthlafandOslafofgrimattack1150. had sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed, 1151. mourningtheirwoes.{17a}Finn’swaveringspirit1152. bodenotinbreast.Theburgwasreddened1153. with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain, 1154. kingamidclansmen;thequeenwastaken.1155. To their ship the Scylding warriors bore 1156. all the chattels the chieftain owned, 1157. whatevertheyfoundinFinn’sdomain1158. of gems and jewels. The gentle wife 1159. o’er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore, 1160. ledtoherland.Thelaywasfinished,

44BEOWULF

1161. the gleeman’s song. Then glad rose the revel; 1162. bench-joy brightened. Bearers draw 1163. fromtheir“wonder-vats”wine.ComesWealhtheowforth,1164. undergold-crowngoeswherethegoodpairsit,1165. uncleandnephew,trueeachtotheotherone,1166. kindredinamity.Unferththespokesman1167. attheScyldinglord’sfeetsat:menhadfaithinhisspirit,1168. hiskeennessofcourage,thoughkinsmenhadfoundhim1169. unsureatthesword-play.TheScyldingqueenspoke:1170. “Quaffofthiscup,mykingandlord,1171. breakerofrings,andblithebethou,1172. gold-friendofmen;totheGeatsherespeak1173. suchwordsofmildnessasmanshoulduse.1174. BegladwiththyGeats;ofthosegiftsbemindful,1175. ornearorfar,whichnowthouhast.1176. Mensaytome,assonthouwishest1177. yonherotohold.ThyHeorotpurged,1178. jewel-hallbrightest,enjoywhilethoucanst,1179. with many a largess; and leave to thy kin 1180. folkandrealmwhenforththougoest1181. togreetthydoom.ForgraciousIdeem1182. myHrothulf,{17b}willingtoholdandrule1183. noblyouryouths,ifthouyieldupfirst,1184. prince of Scyldings, thy part in the world. 1185. Iweenwithgoodhewillwellrequite1186. offspringofours,whenallheminds1187. that for him we did in his helpless days 1188. ofgiftandgracetogainhimhonor!”1189. Thensheturnedtotheseatwherehersonswereplaced,1190. HrethricandHrothmund,withheroes’bairns,1191. youngmentogether:theGeat,too,satthere,1192. Beowulfbrave,thebrothersbetween.

45BEOWULF

XVIII

1193. ACUPshegavehim,withkindlygreeting1194. andwinsomewords.Ofwoundengold,1195. sheoffered,tohonorhim,arm-jewelstwain,1196. corselet and rings, and of collars the noblest 1197. thateverIknewtheeartharound.1198. Ne’er heard I so mighty, ‘neath heaven’s dome, 1199. a hoard-gem of heroes, since Hama bore 1200. tohisbright-builtburgtheBrisings’necklace,1201. jewelandgemcasket.—Jealousyfledhe,1202. Eormenric’shate:chosehelpeternal.1203. HygelacGeat,grandsonofSwerting,1204. on the last of his raids this ring bore with him, 1205. underhisbannerthebootydefending,1206. thewar-spoilwarding;butWyrdo’erwhelmedhim1207. whattime,inhisdaring,dangershesought,1208. feudwithFrisians.Fairestofgems1209. he bore with him over the beaker-of-waves, 1210. sovranstrong:undershieldhedied.1211. Fell the corpse of the king into keeping of Franks, 1212. gearofthebreast,andthatgorgeousring;1213. weaker warriors won the spoil, 1214. aftergripeofbattle,fromGeatland’slord,1215. andheldthedeath-field.Dinroseinhall.1216. Wealhtheowspakeamidwarriors,andsaid:—1217. “Thisjewelenjoyinthyjocundyouth,1218. Beowulflov’d,thesebattle-weedswear,1219. aroyaltreasure,andrichlythrive!1220. Preserve thy strength, and these striplings here 1221. counselinkindness:requitalbemine.1222. Hastdonesuchdeeds,thatfordaystocome1223. thouartfamedamongfolkbothfarandnear,1224. so wide as washeth the wave of Ocean 1225. hiswindywalls.Throughthewaysoflife1226. prosper, O prince! I pray for thee 1227. rich possessions. To son of mine

46BEOWULF

1228. behelpfulindeedandupholdhisjoys!1229. Hereeveryearltotheotheristrue,1230. mild of mood, to the master loyal! 1231. Thanes are friendly, the throng obedient, 1232. liegemenarerevelling:listandobey!”1233. Wentthentoherplace.—Thatwasproudestoffeasts;1234. flowedwineforthewarriors.Wyrdtheyknewnot,1235. destiny dire, and the doom to be seen 1236. bymanyanearlwheneveshouldcome,1237. and Hrothgar homeward hasten away, 1238. royal,torest.Theroomwasguarded1239. by an army of earls, as erst was done. 1240. They bared the bench-boards; abroad they spread 1241. bedsandbolsters.—Onebeer-carouser1242. in danger of doom lay down in the hall. — 1243. At their heads they set their shields of war, 1244. bucklersbright;onthebenchwerethere1245. over each atheling, easy to see, 1246. thehighbattle-helmet,thehaughtyspear,1247. thecorseletofrings.‘Twastheircustomso1248. ever to be for battle prepared, 1249. at home, or harrying, which it were, 1250. even as oft as evil threatened 1251. their sovran king. — They were clansmen good.

47BEOWULF

XIX

1252. THENsanktheytosleep.Withsorrowonebought1253. his rest of the evening, — as ofttime had happened 1254. whenGrendelguardedthatgoldenhall,1255. evilwrought,tillhisenddrewnigh,1256. slaughterforsins.‘Twasseenandtold1257. howanavengersurvivedthefiend,1258. as was learned afar. The livelong time 1259. afterthatgrimfight,Grendel’smother,1260. monsterofwomen,mournedherwoe.1261. She was doomed to dwell in the dreary waters, 1262. coldsea-courses,sinceCaincutdown1263. with edge of the sword his only brother, 1264. hisfather’soffspring:outlawedhefled,1265. markedwithmurder,frommen’sdelights1266. warded the wilds. — There woke from him 1267. suchfate-sentghostsasGrendel,who,1268. war-wolfhorrid,atHeorotfound1269. a warrior watching and waiting the fray, 1270. with whom the grisly one grappled amain. 1271. Butthemanrememberedhismightypower,1272. thegloriousgiftthatGodhadsenthim,1273. inhisMaker’smercyputhistrust1274. forcomfortandhelp:soheconqueredthefoe,1275. felledthefiend,whofledabject,1276. reft of joy, to the realms of death, 1277. mankind’s foe. And his mother now, 1278. gloomyandgrim,wouldgothatquest1279. of sorrow, the death of her son to avenge. 1280. To Heorot came she, where helmeted Danes 1281. slept in the hall. Too soon came back 1282. oldillsoftheearls,wheninsheburst,1283. themotherofGrendel.Lessgrim,though,thatterror,1284. e’en as terror of woman in war is less, 1285. might of maid, than of men in arms 1286. when, hammer-forged, the falchion hard,

48BEOWULF

1287. swordgore-stained,throughswineofthehelm,1288. crested, with keen blade carves amain. 1289. Then was in hall the hard-edge drawn, 1290. theswordsonthesettles,{19a}andshieldsa-many1291. firmheldinhand:norhelmetminded1292. nor harness of mail, whom that horror seized. 1293. Hastewashers;shewouldhieafar1294. and save her life when the liegemen saw her. 1295. Yetasingleathelingupsheseized1296. fastandfirm,asshefledtothemoor.1297. He was for Hrothgar of heroes the dearest, 1298. oftrustyvassalsbetwixttheseas,1299. whomshekilledonhiscouch,aclansmanfamous,1300. inbattlebrave.—NorwasBeowulfthere;1301. anotherhousehadbeenheldapart,1302. aftergivingofgold,fortheGeatrenowned.—1303. UproarfilledHeorot;thehandallhadviewed,1304. blood-flecked,sheborewithher;balewasreturned,1305. doleinthedwellings:‘twasdireexchange1306. whereDaneandGeatweredoomedtogive1307. the lives of loved ones. Long-tried king, 1308. the hoary hero, at heart was sad 1309. when he knew his noble no more lived, 1310. and dead indeed was his dearest thane. 1311. TohisbowerwasBeowulfbroughtinhaste,1312. dauntlessvictor.Asdaylightbroke,1313. along with his earls the atheling lord, 1314. with his clansmen, came where the king abode 1315. waiting to see if the Wielder-of-All 1316. wouldturnthistaleoftroubleandwoe.1317. Strodeo’erfloorthefamed-in-strife,1318. withhishand-companions,—thehallresounded,—1319. wishing to greet the wise old king, 1320. Ingwines’ lord; he asked if the night 1321. had passed in peace to the prince’s mind.

49BEOWULF

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1325. HROTHGARspake,helmet-of-Scyldings:—1326. “Asknotofpleasure!Painisrenewed1327. to Danish folk. Dead is Aeschere, 1328. of Yrmenlaf the elder brother, 1329. mysageadviserandstayincouncil,1330. shoulder-comradeinstressoffight1331. whenwarriorsclashedandwewardedourheads,1332. hewed the helm-boars; hero famed 1333. shouldbeeveryearlasAescherewas!1334. ButhereinHeorotahandhathslainhim1335. ofwanderingdeath-sprite.Iwotnotwhither,{20a}1336. proudoftheprey,herpathshetook,1337. fainofherfill.Thefeudsheavenged1338. thatyesternight,unyieldingly,1339. Grendelingrimmestgraspthoukilledst,—1340. seeing how long these liegemen mine 1341. heruinedandravaged.Reftoflife,1342. in arms he fell. Now another comes, 1343. keenandcruel,herkintoavenge,1344. faringfarinfeudofblood1345. so that many a thane shall think, who e’er 1346. sorrowsinsoulforthatsharerofrings,1347. this is hardest of heart-bales. The hand lies low 1348. that once was willing each wish to please. 1349. Land-dwellershere{20b}andliegemenmine,1350. whohousebythoseparts,Ihaveheardrelate1351. thatsuchapairtheyhavesometimesseen,1352. march-stalkersmightythemoorlandhaunting,1353. wanderingspirits:oneofthemseemed,1354. sofarasmyfolkcouldfairlyjudge,1355. ofwomankind;andone,accursed,1356. inman’sguisetrodthemisery-track1357. ofexile,thoughhugerthanhumanbulk.1358. Grendelindayslonggonetheynamedhim,1359. folk of the land; his father they knew not,

50BEOWULF

1360. nor any brood that was born to him 1361. oftreacherousspirits.Untrodistheirhome;1362. bywolf-cliffshaunttheyandwindyheadlands,1363. fenwaysfearful,whereflowsthestream1364. frommountainsglidingtogloomoftherocks,1365. undergroundflood.Notfarisithence1366. inmeasureofmilesthatthemereexpands,1367. ando’eritthefrost-boundforesthanging,1368. sturdilyrooted,shadowsthewave.1369. By night is a wonder weird to see, 1370. fireonthewaters.Sowiselivednone1371. of the sons of men, to search those depths! 1372. Nay,thoughtheheath-rover,harriedbydogs,1373. thehorn-proudhart,thisholtshouldseek,1374. longdistancedriven,hisdearlifefirst1375. onthebrinkheyieldserehebravetheplunge1376. tohidehishead:‘tisnohappyplace!1377. Thencethewelterofwaterswashesup1378. wan to welkin when winds bestir 1379. evilstorms,andairgrowsdusk,1380. and the heavens weep. Now is help once more 1381. withtheealone!Thelandthouknowstnot,1382. placeoffear,wherethoufindestout1383. thatsin-fleckedbeing.Seekifthoudare!1384. Iwillrewardthee,forwagingthisfight,1385. withancienttreasure,aserstIdid,1386. withwindinggold,ifthouwinnestback.”

51BEOWULF

XXI

1387. BEOWULFspake,bairnofEcgtheow:1388. “Sorrownot,sage!Itbeseemsusbetter1389. friendstoavengethanfruitlesslymournthem.1390. Eachofusallmusthisendabide1391. in the ways of the world; so win who may 1392. glory ere death! When his days are told, 1393. that is the warrior’s worthiest doom. 1394. Rise, O realm-warder! Ride we anon, 1395. andmarkthetrailofthemotherofGrendel.1396. No harbor shall hide her — heed my promise! — 1397. enfoldingoffieldorforestedmountain1398. orflooroftheflood,letherfleewhereshewill!1399. Butthouthisdayendureinpatience,1400. asIweenthouwilt,thywoeseachone.”1401. Leapedupthegraybeard:Godhethanked,1402. mighty Lord, for the man’s brave words. 1403. For Hrothgar soon a horse was saddled 1404. wave-maned steed. The sovran wise 1405. stately rode on; his shield-armed men 1406. followed in force. The footprints led 1407. along the woodland, widely seen, 1408. a path o’er the plain, where she passed, and trod 1409. themurkymoor;ofmen-at-arms1410. she bore the bravest and best one, dead, 1411. himwhowithHrothgarthehomesteadruled.1412. On then went the atheling-born 1413. o’erstone-cliffssteepandstraitdefiles,1414. narrowpassesandunknownways,1415. headlandssheer,andthehauntsoftheNicors.1416. Foremosthe{21a}fared,afewathisside1417. of the wiser men, the ways to scan, 1418. tillhefoundinaflashtheforestedhill1419. hanging over the hoary rock, 1420. awofulwood:thewavesbelow1421. were dyed in blood. The Danish men

52BEOWULF

1422. hadsorrowofsoul,andforScyldingsall,1423. for many a hero, ‘twas hard to bear, 1424. ill for earls, when Aeschere’s head 1425. theyfoundbythefloodontheforelandthere.1426. Waves were welling, the warriors saw, 1427. hotwithblood;butthehornsangoft1428. battle-song bold. The band sat down, 1429. and watched on the water worm-like things, 1430. sea-dragonsstrangethatsoundedthedeep,1431. and nicors that lay on the ledge of the ness — 1432. suchasoftessayathourofmorn1433. ontheroad-of-sailstheirruthlessquest,—1434. and sea-snakes and monsters. These started away, 1435. swollen and savage that song to hear, 1436. thatwar-horn’sblast.ThewardenofGeats,1437. with bolt from bow, then balked of life, 1438. of wave-work, one monster, amid its heart 1439. went the keen war-shaft; in water it seemed 1440. lessdoughtyinswimmingwhomdeathhadseized.1441. Swift on the billows, with boar-spears well 1442. hooked and barbed, it was hard beset, 1443. done to death and dragged on the headland, 1444. wave-roamerwondrous.Warriorsviewed1445. thegrislyguest.1446. ThengirthimBeowulf1447. inmartialmail,normournedforhislife.1448. Hisbreastplatebroadandbrightofhues,1449. wovenbyhand,shouldthewaterstry;1450. wellcoulditwardthewarrior’sbody1451. thatbattleshouldbreakonhisbreastinvain1452. nor harm his heart by the hand of a foe. 1453. And the helmet white that his head protected 1454. wasdestinedtodarethedeepsoftheflood,1455. throughwave-whirlwin:‘twaswoundwithchains,1456. decked with gold, as in days of yore 1457. theweapon-smithworkeditwondrously,1458. with swine-forms set it, that swords nowise, 1459. brandishedinbattle,couldbitethathelm.1460. Nor was that the meanest of mighty helps 1461. whichHrothgar’soratorofferedatneed:1462. “Hrunting”theynamedthehiltedsword,1463. ofold-timeheirloomseasilyfirst;1464. iron was its edge, all etched with poison,

53BEOWULF

1465. withbattle-bloodhardened,norblencheditatfight1466. in hero’s hand who held it ever, 1467. on paths of peril prepared to go 1468. tofolkstead{21b}offoes.Notfirsttimethis1469. it was destined to do a daring task. 1470. For he bore not in mind, the bairn of Ecglaf 1471. sturdyandstrong,thatspeechhehadmade,1472. drunkwithwine,nowthisweaponhelent1473. toastouterswordsman.Himself,though,durstnot1474. underwelterofwaterswagerhislife1475. as loyal liegeman. So lost he his glory, 1476. honor of earls. With the other not so, 1477. whogirdedhimnowforthegrimencounter.

54BEOWULF

XXII

1478. BEOWULFspake,bairnofEcgtheow:—1479. “Havemind,thouhonoredoffspringofHealfdene1480. gold-friendofmen,nowIgoonthisquest,1481. sovranwise,whatoncewassaid:1482. ifinthycauseitcamethatI1483. shouldlosemylife,thouwouldstloyalbide1484. tome,thoughfallen,infather’splace!1485. Beguardian,thou,tothisgroupofmythanes,1486. mywarrior-friends,ifWarshouldseizeme;1487. andthegoodlygiftsthougavestme,1488. Hrothgar beloved, to Hygelac send! 1489. Geatland’skingmaykenbythegold,1490. Hrethel’ssonsee,whenhestaresatthetreasure,1491. that I got me a friend for goodness famed, 1492. andjoyedwhileIcouldinmyjewel-bestower.1493. AndletUnferthwieldthiswondroussword,1494. earlfar-honored,thisheirloomprecious,1495. hardofedge:withHruntingI1496. seekdoomofglory,orDeathshalltakeme.”1497. AfterthesewordstheWeder-Geatlord1498. boldly hastened, biding never 1499. answeratall:theoceanfloods1500. closed o’er the hero. Long while of the day 1501. flederehefeltthefloorofthesea.1502. Soonfoundthefiendwhotheflood-domain1503. sword-hungryheldthesehundredwinters,1504. greedyandgrim,thatsomeguestfromabove,1505. some man, was raiding her monster-realm. 1506. Shegraspedoutforhimwithgrislyclaws,1507. and the warrior seized; yet scathed she not 1508. his body hale; the breastplate hindered, 1509. as she strove to shatter the sark of war, 1510. the linked harness, with loathsome hand. 1511. Thenborethisbrine-wolf,whenbottomshetouched,1512. thelordofringstothelairshehaunted

55BEOWULF

1513. whilesvainlyhestrove,thoughhisvalorheld,1514. weapontowieldagainstwondrousmonsters1515. that sore beset him; sea-beasts many 1516. triedwithfiercetuskstotearhismail,1517. andswarmedonthestranger.Butsoonhemarked1518. he was now in some hall, he knew not which, 1519. wherewaternevercouldworkhimharm,1520. northroughtheroofcouldreachhimever1521. fangsoftheflood.Firelighthesaw,1522. beams of a blaze that brightly shone. 1523. Then the warrior was ware of that wolf-of-the-deep, 1524. mere-wifemonstrous.Formightystroke1525. heswunghisblade,andtheblowwithheldnot.1526. Then sang on her head that seemly blade 1527. itswar-songwild.Butthewarriorfound1528. thelight-of-battle{22a}wasloathtobite,1529. toharmtheheart:itshardedgefailed1530. the noble at need, yet had known of old 1531. strife hand to hand, and had helmets cloven, 1532. doomedmen’sfighting-gear.Firsttime,this,1533. for the gleaming blade that its glory fell. 1534. Firm still stood, nor failed in valor, 1535. heedfulofhighdeeds,Hygelac’skinsman;1536. flungawayfrettedsword,featlyjewelled,1537. the angry earl; on earth it lay 1538. steel-edgedandstiff.Hisstrengthhetrusted,1539. hand-gripe of might. So man shall do 1540. whenever in war he weens to earn him 1541. lasting fame, nor fears for his life! 1542. Seizedthenbyshoulder,shranknotfromcombat,1543. theGeatishwar-princeGrendel’smother.1544. Flungthenthefierceone,filledwithwrath,1545. hisdeadlyfoe,thatshefelltoground.1546. Swift on her part she paid him back 1547. with grisly grasp, and grappled with him. 1548. Spentwithstruggle,stumbledthewarrior,1549. fiercestoffighting-men,felladown.1550. Onthehall-guestshehurledherself,henthershortsword,1551. broad and brown-edged, the bairn to avenge, 1552. thesole-bornson.—Onhisshoulderlay1553. braided breast-mail, barring death, 1554. withstanding entrance of edge or blade. 1555. LifewouldhaveendedforEcgtheow’sson,

56BEOWULF

1556. underwideearthforthatearlofGeats,1557. had his armor of war not aided him, 1558. battle-nethard,andholyGod1559. wielded the victory, wisest Maker. 1560. TheLordofHeavenallowedhiscause;1561. and easily rose the earl erect.

57BEOWULF

XXIII

1562. ‘MIDthebattle-gearsawheabladetriumphant,1563. old-sword of Eotens, with edge of proof, 1564. warriors’heirloom,weaponunmatched,1565. save only ‘twas more than other men 1566. tobandy-of-battlecouldbearatall—1567. asthegiantshadwroughtit,readyandkeen.1568. Seized then its chain-hilt the Scyldings’ chieftain, 1569. bold and battle-grim, brandished the sword, 1570. recklessoflife,andsowrathfullysmote1571. that it gripped her neck and grasped her hard, 1572. herbone-ringsbreaking:thebladepiercedthrough1573. thatfated-one’sflesh:tofloorshesank.1574. Bloodytheblade:hewasblitheofhisdeed.1575. Then blazed forth light. ‘Twas bright within 1576. aswhenfromtheskythereshinesunclouded1577. heaven’s candle. The hall he scanned. 1578. By the wall then went he; his weapon raised 1579. high by its hilts the Hygelac-thane, 1580. angryandeager.Thatedgewasnotuseless1581. to the warrior now. He wished with speed 1582. Grendeltoguerdonforgrimraidsmany,1583. for the war he waged on Western-Danes 1584. oftener far than an only time, 1585. when of Hrothgar’s hearth-companions 1586. heslewinslumber,insleepdevoured,1587. fifteenmenofthefolkofDanes,1588. andasmanyothersoutwardbore,1589. his horrible prey. Well paid for that 1590. thewrathfulprince!Fornowpronehesaw1591. Grendelstretchedthere,spentwithwar,1592. spoiled of life, so scathed had left him 1593. Heorot’s battle. The body sprang far 1594. whenafterdeathitenduredtheblow,1595. sword-stroke savage, that severed its head. 1596. Soon,{23a}then,sawthesagecompanions

58BEOWULF

1597. whowaitedwithHrothgar,watchingtheflood,1598. thatthetossingwatersturbidgrew,1599. blood-stained the mere. Old men together, 1600. hoary-haired, of the hero spake; 1601. thewarriorwouldnot,theyweened,again,1602. proudofconquest,cometoseek1603. their mighty master. To many it seemed 1604. the wolf-of-the-waves had won his life. 1605. Theninthhourcame.ThenobleScyldings1606. left the headland; homeward went 1607. thegold-friendofmen.{23b}Buttheguestssaton,1608. staredatthesurges,sickinheart,1609. and wished, yet weened not, their winsome lord 1610. again to see. Now that sword began, 1611. frombloodofthefight,inbattle-droppings,{23c}1612. war-blade,towane:‘twasawondrousthing1613. that all of it melted as ice is wont 1614. when frosty fetters the Father loosens, 1615. unwindsthewave-bonds,wieldingall1616. seasonsandtimes:thetrueGodhe!1617. NortookfromthatdwellingthedukeoftheGeats1618. preciousthings,thoughaplentyhesaw,1619. save only the head and that hilt withal 1620. blazonedwithjewels:thebladehadmelted,1621. burnedwasthebrightsword,herbloodwassohot,1622. so poisoned the hell-sprite who perished within there. 1623. Soon he was swimming who safe saw in combat 1624. downfallofdemons;up-dovethroughtheflood.1625. The clashing waters were cleansed now, 1626. wasteofwaves,wherethewanderingfiend1627. her life-days left and this lapsing world. 1628. Swamthentostrandthesailors’-refuge,1629. sturdy-in-spirit,ofsea-bootyglad,1630. ofburdenbraveheborewithhim.1631. Wentthentogreethim,andGodtheythanked,1632. the thane-band choice of their chieftain blithe, 1633. thatsafeandsoundtheycouldseehimagain.1634. Soon from the hardy one helmet and armor 1635. deftlytheydoffed:nowdrowsedthemere,1636. water ‘neath welkin, with war-blood stained. 1637. Forth they fared by the footpaths thence, 1638. merryatheartthehighwaysmeasured,1639. well-knownroads.Courageousmen

59BEOWULF

1640. carriedtheheadfromthecliffbythesea,1641. anarduoustaskforalltheband,1642. thefirminfight,sincefourwereneeded1643. ontheshaft-of-slaughter{23d}strenuously1644. tobeartothegold-hallGrendel’shead.1645. So presently to the palace there 1646. foemenfearless,fourteenGeats,1647. marching came. Their master-of-clan 1648. mighty amid them the meadow-ways trod. 1649. Strode then within the sovran thane 1650. fearlessinfight,offamerenowned,1651. hardy hero, Hrothgar to greet. 1652. And next by the hair into hall was borne 1653. Grendel’shead,wherethehenchmenweredrinking,1654. anawetoclanandqueenalike,1655. amonsterofmarvel:themenlookedon.

60BEOWULF

XXIV

1656. BEOWULFspake,bairnofEcgtheow:—1657. “Lo, now, this sea-booty, son of Healfdene, 1658. LordofScyldings,we’velustilybroughtthee,1659. signofglory;thouseestithere.1660. Not lightly did I with my life escape! 1661. InwarunderwaterthisworkIessayed1662. withendlesseffort;andevenso1663. my strength had been lost had the Lord not shielded me. 1664. NotawhitcouldIwithHruntingdo1665. inworkofwar,thoughtheweaponisgood;1666. yetaswordtheSovranofMenvouchsafedme1667. to spy on the wall there, in splendor hanging, 1668. old,gigantic,—howoftHeguides1669. thefriendlesswight!—andIfoughtwiththatbrand,1670. fellinginfight,sincefatewaswithme,1671. thehouse’swardens.Thatwar-swordthen1672. allburned,brightblade,whenthebloodgushedo’erit,1673. battle-sweathot;butthehiltIbroughtback1674. frommyfoes.SoavengedItheirfiendishdeeds1675. death-fallofDanes,aswasdueandright.1676. And this is my hest, that in Heorot now 1677. safethoucanstsleepwiththysoldierband,1678. and every thane of all thy folk 1679. botholdandyoung;noevilfear,1680. Scyldings’ lord, from that side again, 1681. aughtillforthyearls,aserstthoumust!”1682. Then the golden hilt, for that gray-haired leader, 1683. hoary hero, in hand was laid, 1684. giant-wrought,old.Soownedandenjoyedit1685. after downfall of devils, the Danish lord, 1686. wonder-smiths’ work, since the world was rid 1687. ofthatgrim-souledfiend,thefoeofGod,1688. murder-marked,andhismotheraswell.1689. Now it passed into power of the people’s king, 1690. bestofallthattheoceansbound

61BEOWULF

1691. who have scattered their gold o’er Scandia’s isle. 1692. Hrothgar spake — the hilt he viewed, 1693. heirloom old, where was etched the rise 1694. ofthatfar-offfightwhenthefloodso’erwhelmed,1695. raging waves, the race of giants 1696. (fearfultheirfate!),afolkestranged1697. fromGodEternal:whenceguerdondue1698. in that waste of waters the Wielder paid them. 1699. Soontheguardofshininggold1700. inrunicstavesitwasrightlysaid1701. forwhomtheserpent-tracedswordwaswrought,1702. best of blades, in bygone days, 1703. andthehiltwellwound.—Thewise-onespake,1704. sonofHealfdene;silentwereall:—1705. “Lo, so may he say who sooth and right 1706. follows‘midfolk,offartimesmindful,1707. aland-wardenold,{24a}thatthisearlbelongs1708. to the better breed! So, borne aloft, 1709. thyfamemustfly,OfriendmyBeowulf,1710. farandwideo’erfolksteadsmany.Firmlythoushaltallmaintain,1711. mightystrengthwithmoodofwisdom.LoveofminewillIassurethee,1712. as,awhileago,Ipromised;thoushaltproveastayinfuture,1713. infar-offyears,tofolkofthine,1714. totheheroesahelp.WasnotHeremodthus1715. tooffspringofEcgwela,Honor-Scyldings,1716. norgrewfortheirgrace,butforgrislyslaughter,1717. for doom of death to the Danishmen. 1718. Heslew,wrath-swollen,hisshoulder-comrades,1719. companions at board! So he passed alone, 1720. chieftainhaughty,fromhumancheer.1721. ThoughhimtheMakerwithmightendowed,1722. delightsofpower,andupliftedhigh1723. aboveallmen,yetblood-fiercehismind,1724. his breast-hoard, grew, no bracelets gave he 1725. toDanesaswasdue;heenduredalljoyless1726. strainofstruggleandstressofwoe,1727. longfeudwithhisfolk.Herefindthylesson!1728. Ofvirtueadvisethee!ThisverseIhavesaidforthee,1729. wisefromlapsedwinters.Wondrousseems1730. howtosonsofmenAlmightyGod1731. in the strength of His spirit sendeth wisdom, 1732. estate,highstation:Heswayethallthings.1733. WhilesHelettethrightlustilyfare

62BEOWULF

1734. the heart of the hero of high-born race, — 1735. in seat ancestral assigns him bliss, 1736. hisfolk’ssurefortressinfeetohold,1737. putsinhispowergreatpartsoftheearth,1738. empire so ample, that end of it 1739. this wanter-of-wisdom weeneth none. 1740. So he waxes in wealth, nowise can harm him 1741. illness or age; no evil cares 1742. shadow his spirit; no sword-hate threatens 1743. fromeveranenemy:alltheworld1744. wends at his will, no worse he knoweth, 1745. till all within him obstinate pride 1746. waxesandwakeswhilethewardenslumbers,1747. the spirit’s sentry; sleep is too fast 1748. whichmastershismight,andthemurderernears,1749. stealthily shooting the shafts from his bow!

63BEOWULF

XXV

1750. “UNDERharnesshisheartthenishitindeed1751. by sharpest shafts; and no shelter avails 1752. fromfoulbehestofthehellishfiend.{25a}1753. Him seems too little what long he possessed. 1754. Greedyandgrim,nogoldenrings1755. hegivesforhispride;thepromisedfuture1756. forgetsheandspurns,withallGodhassenthim,1757. Wonder-Wielder, of wealth and fame. 1758. Yet in the end it ever comes 1759. that the frame of the body fragile yields, 1760. fated falls; and there follows another 1761. whojoyouslythejewelsdivides,1762. the royal riches, nor recks of his forebear. 1763. Ban,then,suchbalefulthoughts,Beowulfdearest,1764. best of men, and the better part choose, 1765. profiteternal;andtemperthypride,1766. warriorfamous!Theflowerofthymight1767. lastsnowawhile:buterelongitshallbe1768. that sickness or sword thy strength shall minish, 1769. orfangoffire,orfloodingbillow,1770. or bite of blade, or brandished spear, 1771. orodiousage;ortheeyes’clearbeam1772. waxdullanddarken:Deatheventhee1773. inhasteshallo’erwhelm,thouheroofwar!1774. SotheRing-Danesthesehalf-yearsahundredIruled,1775. wielded ‘neath welkin, and warded them bravely 1776. from mighty-ones many o’er middle-earth, 1777. from spear and sword, till it seemed for me 1778. nofoecouldbefoundunderfoldofthesky.1779. Lo,suddentheshift!Tomeseatedsecure1780. camegriefforjoywhenGrendelbegan1781. to harry my home, the hellish foe; 1782. forthoseruthlessraids,unrestingIsuffered1783. heart-sorrow heavy. Heaven be thanked, 1784. Lord Eternal, for life extended

64BEOWULF

1785. that I on this head all hewn and bloody, 1786. after long evil, with eyes may gaze! 1787. Gotothebenchnow!Begladatbanquet,1788. warriorworthy!Awealthoftreasure1789. atdawnofday,bedealtbetweenus!”1790. GladwastheGeats’lord,goingbetimes1791. to seek his seat, as the Sage commanded. 1792. Afresh, as before, for the famed-in-battle, 1793. forthebandofthehall,wasabanquetdight1794. nobly anew. The Night-Helm darkened 1795. dusko’erthedrinkers.Thedoughtyonesrose:1796. forthehoary-headedwouldhastentorest,1797. agedScylding;andeagertheGeat,1798. shield-fightersturdy,forsleepingyearned.1799. Himwander-weary,warrior-guest1800. from far, a hall-thane heralded forth, 1801. whobycustomcourtlycaredforall1802. needs of a thane as in those old days 1803. warrior-wanderers wont to have. 1804. Soslumberedthestout-heart.Statelythehall1805. rosegabledandgiltwheretheguestslepton1806. tillaravenblacktherapture-of-heaven{25b}1807. blithe-heartboded.Brightcameflying1808. shine after shadow. The swordsmen hastened, 1809. athelings all were eager homeward 1810. forth to fare; and far from thence 1811. thegreat-heartedguestwouldguidehiskeel.1812. Badethenthehardy-oneHruntingbebrought1813. to the son of Ecglaf, the sword bade him take, 1814. excellentiron,andutteredhisthanksforit,1815. quoththathecounteditkeeninbattle,1816. “war-friend”winsome:withwordsheslanderednot1817. edgeoftheblade:‘twasabig-heartedman!1818. Now eager for parting and armed at point 1819. warriors waited, while went to his host 1820. thatDarlingofDanes.Thedoughtyatheling1821. to high-seat hastened and Hrothgar greeted.

65BEOWULF

XXVI

1822. BEOWULFspake,bairnofEcgtheow:—1823. “Lo,weseafarerssayourwill,1824. far-comemen,thatwefainwouldseek1825. Hygelacnow.Weherehavefound1826. hoststoourheart:thouhastharboreduswell.1827. If ever on earth I am able to win me 1828. more of thy love, O lord of men, 1829. aughtanew,thanInowhavedone,1830. for work of war I am willing still! 1831. If it come to me ever across the seas 1832. that neighbor foemen annoy and fright thee, — 1833. astheythathatetheeerewhilehaveused,—1834. thousandsthenofthanesIshallbring,1835. heroes to help thee. Of Hygelac I know, 1836. wardofhisfolk,that,thoughfewhisyears,1837. thelordoftheGeatswillgivemeaid1838. by word and by work, that well I may serve thee, 1839. wieldingthewar-woodtowinthytriumph1840. andlendingtheemightwhenthoulackestmen.1841. IfthyHrethricshouldcometocourtofGeats,1842. asovran’sson,hewillsurelythere1843. findhisfriends.Afar-offland1844. eachmanshouldvisitwhovauntshimbrave.”1845. Himthenanswering,Hrothgarspake:—1846. “ThesewordsofthinethewisestGod1847. senttothysoul!Nosagercounsel1848. fromsoyounginyearse’eryethaveIheard.1849. Thouartstrongofmainandinmindartwary,1850. art wise in words! I ween indeed 1851. if ever it hap that Hrethel’s heir 1852. by spear be seized, by sword-grim battle, 1853. by illness or iron, thine elder and lord, 1854. people’s leader, — and life be thine, — 1855. noseemliermanwilltheSea-Geatsfind1856. at all to choose for their chief and king,

66BEOWULF

1857. forhoard-guardofheroes,ifholdthouwilt1858. thy kinsman’s kingdom! Thy keen mind pleases me 1859. thelongerthebetter,Beowulfloved!1860. Thouhastbroughtitaboutthatbothourpeoples,1861. sonsoftheGeatandSpear-Danefolk,1862. shallhavemutualpeace,andfrommurderousstrife,1863. suchasoncetheywaged,fromwarrefrain.1864. LongasIrulethisrealmsowide,1865. letourhoardsbecommon,letheroeswithgold1866. each other greet o’er the gannet’s-bath, 1867. and the ringed-prow bear o’er rolling waves 1868. tokens of love. I trow my landfolk 1869. towardsfriendandfoearefirmlyjoined,1870. andhonortheykeepintheoldenway.”1871. To him in the hall, then, Healfdene’s son 1872. gavetreasurestwelve,andthetrust-of-earls1873. bade him fare with the gifts to his folk beloved, 1874. haletohishome,andinhastereturn.1875. Then kissed the king of kin renowned, 1876. Scyldings’ chieftain, that choicest thane, 1877. andfellonhisneck.Fastflowedthetears1878. of the hoary-headed. Heavy with winters, 1879. hehadchancestwain,butheclungtothis,{26a}—1880. thateachshouldlookontheotheragain,1881. and hear him in hall. Was this hero so dear to him. 1882. his breast’s wild billows he banned in vain; 1883. safeinhissoulasecretlonging,1884. locked in his mind, for that loved man 1885. burnedinhisblood.ThenBeowulfstrode,1886. glad of his gold-gifts, the grass-plot o’er, 1887. warrior blithe. The wave-roamer bode 1888. riding at anchor, its owner awaiting. 1889. As they hastened onward, Hrothgar’s gift 1890. theylaudedatlength.—‘Twasalordunpeered,1891. every way blameless, till age had broken 1892. it spareth no mortal — his splendid might.

67BEOWULF

XXVII

1893. CAMEnowtooceantheever-courageous1894. hardy henchmen, their harness bearing, 1895. woven war-sarks. The warden marked, 1896. trustyasever,theearl’sreturn.1897. From the height of the hill no hostile words 1898. reachedtheguestsasherodetogreetthem;1899. but“Welcome!”hecalledtothatWederclan1900. as the sheen-mailed spoilers to ship marched on. 1901. Thenonthestrand,withsteedsandtreasure1902. and armor their roomy and ring-dight ship 1903. washeavilyladen:highitsmast1904. rose over Hrothgar’s hoarded gems. 1905. Aswordtotheboat-guardBeowulfgave,1906. mountedwithgold;onthemead-benchsince1907. he was better esteemed, that blade possessing, 1908. heirloom old. — Their ocean-keel boarding, 1909. theydrovethroughthedeep,andDanelandleft.1910. A sea-cloth was set, a sail with ropes, 1911. firmtothemast;theflood-timbersmoaned;{27a}1912. nor did wind over billows that wave-swimmer blow 1913. acrossfromhercourse.Thecraftspedon,1914. foam-neckeditfloatedfortho’erthewaves,1915. keelfirm-boundoverbrinycurrents,1916. tilltheygotthemsightoftheGeatishcliffs,1917. home-known headlands. High the boat, 1918. stirredbywinds,onthestrandupdrove.1919. Helpfulathaventheharbor-guardstood,1920. who long already for loved companions 1921. by the water had waited and watched afar. 1922. Heboundtothebeachthebroad-bosomedship1923. with anchor-bands, lest ocean-billows 1924. thattrustytimbershouldtearaway.1925. ThenBeowulfbadethembearthetreasure,1926. goldandjewels;nojourneyfar1927. was it thence to go to the giver of rings,

68BEOWULF

1928. HygelacHrethling:athomehedwelt1929. by the sea-wall close, himself and clan. 1930. Haughtythathouse,aherotheking,1931. highthehall,andHygd{27b}rightyoung,1932. wiseandwary,thoughwintersfew1933. inthosefortresswallsshehadfoundahome,1934. Haereth’sdaughter.Norhumbleherways,1935. norgrudgedshegiftstotheGeatishmen,1936. ofprecioustreasure.NotThryth’sprideshowedshe,1937. folk-queenfamed,orthatfelldeceit.1938. Wasnonesodaringthatdurstmakebold1939. (saveherlordalone)oftheliegemendear1940. thatladyfullinthefacetolook,1941. butforgedfettershefoundhislot,1942. bonds of death! And brief the respite; 1943. soon as they seized him, his sword-doom was spoken, 1944. andtheburnishedbladeabalefulmurder1945. proclaimedandclosed.Noqueenlyway1946. forwomantopractise,thoughpeerlessshe,1947. thattheweaver-of-peace{27c}fromwarriordear1948. bywrathandlyinghislifeshouldreave!1949. ButHemming’skinsmanhinderedthis.—1950. For over their ale men also told 1951. thatofthesefolk-horrorsfewershewrought,1952. onslaughtsofevil,aftershewent,1953. gold-deckedbride,tothebraveyoungprince,1954. athelinghaughty,andOffa’shall1955. o’erthefallowfloodatherfather’sbidding1956. safelysought,wheresincesheprospered,1957. royal, throned, rich in goods, 1958. fain of the fair life fate had sent her, 1959. and leal in love to the lord of warriors. 1960. He, of all heroes I heard of ever 1961. from sea to sea, of the sons of earth, 1962. mostexcellentseemed.HenceOffawaspraised1963. forhisfightingandfeeingbyfar-offmen,1964. thespear-boldwarrior;wiselyheruled1965. over his empire. Eomer woke to him, 1966. help of heroes, Hemming’s kinsman, 1967. GrandsonofGarmund,griminwar.

69BEOWULF

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1968. HASTENED the hardy one, henchmen with him, 1969. sandy strand of the sea to tread 1970. and widespread ways. The world’s great candle, 1971. sunshonefromsouth.Theystrodealong1972. withsturdystepstothespottheyknew1973. wherethebattle-kingyoung,hisburgwithin,1974. slayer of Ongentheow, shared the rings, 1975. shelter-of-heroes. To Hygelac 1976. Beowulf’scomingwasquicklytold,—1977. thatthereinthecourttheclansmen’srefuge,1978. theshield-companionsoundandalive,1979. hale from the hero-play homeward strode. 1980. With haste in the hall, by highest order, 1981. room for the rovers was readily made. 1982. By his sovran he sat, come safe from battle, 1983. kinsman by kinsman. His kindly lord 1984. hefirsthadgreetedingraciousform,1985. with manly words. The mead dispensing, 1986. camethroughthehighhallHaereth’sdaughter,1987. winsometowarriors,wine-cupbore1988. to the hands of the heroes. Hygelac then 1989. hiscomradefairlywithquestionplied1990. in the lofty hall, sore longing to know 1991. whatmannerofsojourntheSea-Geatsmade.1992. “Whatcameofthyquest,mykinsmanBeowulf,1993. whenthyyearningssuddenlyswepttheeyonder1994. battle to seek o’er the briny sea, 1995. combatinHeorot?Hrothgarcouldstthou1996. aid at all, the honored chief, 1997. in his wide-known woes? With waves of care 1998. mysadheartseethed;Isoremistrusted1999. mylovedone’sventure:longIbeggedthee2000. bynomeanstoseekthatslaughteringmonster,2001. butsuffertheSouth-Danestosettletheirfeud2002. themselveswithGrendel.NowGodbethanked

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2003. thatsafeandsoundIcanseetheenow!”2004. Beowulfspake,thebairnofEcgtheow:—2005. “‘Tisknownandunhidden,HygelacLord,2006. tomanymen,thatmeetingofours,2007. strugglegrimbetweenGrendelandme,2008. whichwefoughtonthefieldwherefulltoomany2009. sorrowshewroughtfortheScylding-Victors,2010. evilsunending.TheseallIavenged.2011. NoboastcanbefrombreedofGrendel,2012. anyonearth,forthatuproaratdawn,2013. from the longest-lived of the loathsome race 2014. infleshlyfold!—ButfirstIwent2015. Hrothgar to greet in the hall of gifts, 2016. where Healfdene’s kinsman high-renowned, 2017. soonasmypurposewasplaintohim,2018. assigned me a seat by his son and heir. 2019. Theliegemenwerelusty;mylife-daysnever2020. suchmerrymenovermeadinhall2021. haveIheardunderheaven!Thehigh-bornqueen,2022. people’speace-bringer,passedthroughthehall,2023. cheeredtheyoungclansmen,claspsofgold,2024. ereshesoughtherseat,tosundrygave.2025. OfttotheheroesHrothgar’sdaughter,2026. toearlsinturn,theale-cuptendered,—2027. she whom I heard these hall-companions 2028. Freawaruname,whenfrettedgold2029. sheprofferedthewarriors.Promisedisshe,2030. gold-decked maid, to the glad son of Froda. 2031. Sage this seems to the Scylding’s-friend, 2032. kingdom’s-keeper:hecountsitwise2033. thewomantowedsoandwardofffeud,2034. storeofslaughter.Butseldomever2035. whenmenareslain,doesthemurder-spearsink2036. butbriefestwhile,thoughthebridebefair!{28a}2037. “Nor haply will like it the Heathobard lord, 2038. and as little each of his liegemen all, 2039. whenathaneoftheDanes,inthatdoughtythrong,2040. goes with the lady along their hall, 2041. and on him the old-time heirlooms glisten 2042. hardandring-decked,Heathobard’streasure,2043. weapons that once they wielded fair 2044. untiltheylostatthelinden-play{28b}2045. liegeman leal and their lives as well.

71BEOWULF

2046. Then, over the ale, on this heirloom gazing, 2047. some ash-wielder old who has all in mind 2048. thatspear-deathofmen,{28c}—heissternofmood,2049. heavyatheart,—intheheroyoung2050. teststhetemperandtriesthesoul2051. andwar-hatewakens,withwordslikethese:—2052. Canstthounot,comrade,kenthatsword2053. which to the fray thy father carried 2054. inhisfinalfeud,‘neaththefighting-mask,2055. dearest of blades, when the Danish slew him 2056. and wielded the war-place on Withergild’s fall, 2057. after havoc of heroes, those hardy Scyldings? 2058. Now,thesonofacertainslaughteringDane,2059. proudofhistreasure,pacesthishall,2060. joysinthekilling,andcarriesthejewel{28d}2061. thatrightfullyoughttobeownedbythee!2062. Thusheurgesandeggshimallthetime2063. withkeenestwords,tilloccasionoffers2064. thatFreawaru’sthane,forhisfather’sdeed,2065. afterbiteofbrandinhisbloodmustslumber,2066. losinghislife;butthatliegemanflies2067. living away, for the land he kens. 2068. Andthusbebrokenonboththeirsides2069. oaths of the earls, when Ingeld’s breast 2070. wells with war-hate, and wife-love now 2071. after the care-billows cooler grows. 2072. “So{28e}IholdnothightheHeathobards’faith2073. duetotheDanes,ortheirduringlove2074. andpactofpeace.—ButIpassfromthat,2075. turningtoGrendel,Ogiver-of-treasure,2076. andsayinginfullhowthefightresulted,2077. hand-fray of heroes. When heaven’s jewel 2078. hadfledo’erfarfields,thatfiercespritecame,2079. night-foesavage,toseekusout2080. wheresafeandsoundwesentriedthehall.2081. To Hondscio then was that harassing deadly, 2082. hisfalltherewasfated.Hefirstwasslain,2083. girdedwarrior.Grendelonhim2084. turnedmurderousmouth,onourmightykinsman,2085. andallofthebraveman’sbodydevoured.2086. Yet none the earlier, empty-handed, 2087. wouldthebloody-toothedmurderer,mindfulofbale,2088. outwardgofromthegold-deckedhall:

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2089. butmeheattackedinhisterrorofmight,2090. withgreedyhandgraspedme.Aglovehungbyhim{28f}2091. wideandwondrous,woundwithbands;2092. andinartfulwiseitallwaswrought,2093. by devilish craft, of dragon-skins. 2094. Me therein, an innocent man, 2095. thefiendishfoewasfaintothrust2096. with many another. He might not so, 2097. whenIallangrilyuprightstood.2098. ‘Twere long to relate how that land-destroyer 2099. Ipaidinkindforhiscrueldeeds;2100. yet there, my prince, this people of thine 2101. gotfamebymyfighting.Hefledaway,2102. and a little space his life preserved; 2103. buttherestaidbehindhimhisstrongerhand2104. left in Heorot; heartsick thence 2105. ontheflooroftheoceanthatoutcastfell.2106. MeforthisstruggletheScyldings’-friend2107. paid in plenty with plates of gold, 2108. withmanyatreasure,whenmornhadcome2109. andweallatthebanquet-boardsatdown.2110. Then was song and glee. The gray-haired Scylding, 2111. muchtested,toldofthetimesofyore.2112. Whiles the hero his harp bestirred, 2113. wood-of-delight; now lays he chanted 2114. of sooth and sadness, or said aright 2115. legends of wonder, the wide-hearted king; 2116. orforyearsofhisyouthhewouldyearnattimes,2117. forstrengthofoldstruggles,nowstrickenwithage,2118. hoaryhero:hisheartsurgedfull2119. when,wisewithwinters,hewailedtheirflight.2120. Thusinthehallthewholeofthatday2121. at ease we feasted, till fell o’er earth 2122. anothernight.Anonfullready2123. ingreedofvengeance,Grendel’smother2124. setforthalldoleful.Deadwasherson2125. throughwar-hateofWeders;now,womanmonstrous2126. withfuryfellafoemansheslew,2127. avengedheroffspring.FromAeschereold,2128. loyalcouncillor,lifewasgone;2129. nor might they e’en, when morning broke, 2130. those Danish people, their death-done comrade 2131. burnwithbrands,onbalefirelay

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2132. themantheymourned.Undermountainstream2133. shehadcarriedthecorpsewithcruelhands.2134. For Hrothgar that was the heaviest sorrow 2135. of all that had laden the lord of his folk. 2136. Theleaderthen,bythylife,besoughtme2137. (sadwashissoul)inthesea-waves’coil2138. to play the hero and hazard my being 2139. forgloryofprowess:myguerdonhepledged.2140. I then in the waters — ‘tis widely known — 2141. thatsea-floor-guardiansavagefound.2142. Hand-to-handthereawhilewestruggled;2143. billows welled blood; in the briny hall 2144. her head I hewed with a hardy blade 2145. fromGrendel’smother,—andgainedmylife,2146. thoughnotwithoutdanger.Mydoomwasnotyet.2147. Then the haven-of-heroes, Healfdene’s son, 2148. gavemeinguerdongreatgiftsofprice.

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2149. “Soheldthiskingtothecustomsold,2150. thatIwantedfornoughtinthewageIgained,2151. the meed of my might; he made me gifts, 2152. Healfdene’s heir, for my own disposal. 2153. Nowtothee,myprince,Iprofferthemall,2154. gladly give them. Thy grace alone 2155. canfindmefavor.Fewindeed2156. haveIofkinsmen,save,Hygelac,thee!”2157. Then he bade them bear him the boar-head standard, 2158. the battle-helm high, and breastplate gray, 2159. thesplendidsword;thenspakeinform:—2160. “Me this war-gear the wise old prince, 2161. Hrothgar, gave, and his hest he added, 2162. that its story be straightway said to thee. — 2163. A while it was held by Heorogar king, 2164. for long time lord of the land of Scyldings; 2165. yet not to his son the sovran left it, 2166. to daring Heoroweard, — dear as he was to him, 2167. hisharnessofbattle.—Wellholdthouitall!”2168. AndIheardthatsoonpassedo’erthepathofthistreasure,2169. allapple-fallow,fourgoodsteeds,2170. each like the others, arms and horses 2171. hegavetotheking.Soshouldkinsmenbe,2172. not weave one another the net of wiles, 2173. or with deep-hid treachery death contrive 2174. for neighbor and comrade. His nephew was ever 2175. byhardyHygelacheldfulldear,2176. and each kept watch o’er the other’s weal. 2177. I heard, too, the necklace to Hygd he presented, 2178. wonder-wroughttreasure,whichWealhtheowgavehim2179. sovran’sdaughter:threesteedsheadded,2180. slenderandsaddle-gay.Sincesuchgift2181. thegemgleamedbrightonthebreastofthequeen.2182. ThusshowedhisstrainthesonofEcgtheow2183. as a man remarked for mighty deeds

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2184. and acts of honor. At ale he slew not 2185. comradeorkin;norcruelhismood,2186. thoughofsonsofearthhisstrengthwasgreatest,2187. agloriousgiftthatGodhadsent2188. thesplendidleader.Longwashespurned,2189. andworthlessbyGeatishwarriorsheld;2190. him at mead the master-of-clans 2191. failedfullofttofavoratall.2192. Slack and shiftless the strong men deemed him, 2193. profitlessprince;butpaymentcame,2194. to the warrior honored, for all his woes. — 2195. Thenthebulwark-of-earls{29a}badebringwithin,2196. hardy chieftain, Hrethel’s heirloom 2197. garnishedwithgold:noGeate’erknew2198. in shape of a sword a statelier prize. 2199. ThebrandhelaidinBeowulf’slap;2200. andofhidesassignedhimseventhousand,{29b}2201. withhouseandhigh-seat.Theyheldincommon2202. land alike by their line of birth, 2203. inheritance,home:buthighertheking2204. becauseofhisruleo’ertherealmitself.

2209. Nowfurtheritfellwiththeflightofyears,2210. withharryingshorrid,thatHygelacperished,{29c}2211. and Heardred, too, by hewing of swords 2212. undertheshield-wallslaughteredlay,2213. when him at the van of his victor-folk 2214. soughthardyheroes,Heatho-Scilfings,2215. in arms o’erwhelming Hereric’s nephew. 2216. ThenBeowulfcameaskingthisbroad2217. realmtowield;andheruleditwell2218. fiftywinters,{29d}awiseoldprince,2219. wardinghisland,untilOnebegan2220. in the dark of night, a Dragon, to rage. 2221. Inthegraveonthehillahoarditguarded,2222. in the stone-barrow steep. A strait path reached it, 2223. unknowntomortals.Someman,however,2224. came by chance that cave within 2225. totheheathenhoard.{29e}Inhandhetook2226. a golden goblet, nor gave he it back, 2227. stole with it away, while the watcher slept, 2228. bythievishwiles:forthewarden’swrath2229. princeandpeoplemustpaybetimes!

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2230. THAT way he went with no will of his own, 2231. in danger of life, to the dragon’s hoard, 2232. butforpressureofperil,someprince’sthane.2233. Hefledinfearthefatalscourge,2234. seekingshelter,asinfulman,2235. andenteredin.Attheawfulsight2236. totteredthatguest,andterrorseizedhim;2237. yetthewretchedfugitiveralliedanon2238. fromfrightandfearerehefledaway,2239. andtookthecupfromthattreasure-hoard.2240. Ofsuchbesidestherewasstoreenough,2241. heirlooms old, the earth below, 2242. which some earl forgotten, in ancient years, 2243. left the last of his lofty race, 2244. heedfullytherehadhiddenaway,2245. dearesttreasure.Fordeathofyore2246. hadhurriedallhence;andhealone2247. left to live, the last of the clan, 2248. weeping his friends, yet wished to bide 2249. wardingthetreasure,hisonedelight,2250. thoughbriefhisrespite.Thebarrow,new-ready,2251. to strand and sea-waves stood anear, 2252. hard by the headland, hidden and closed; 2253. there laid within it his lordly heirlooms 2254. and heaped hoard of heavy gold 2255. thatwardenofrings.Fewwordshespake:2256. “Nowholdthou,earth,sinceheroesmaynot,2257. what earls have owned! Lo, erst from thee 2258. bravemenbroughtit!Butbattle-deathseized2259. andcruelkillingmyclansmenall,2260. robbed them of life and a liegeman’s joys. 2261. None have I left to lift the sword, 2262. ortocleansethecarvencupofprice,2263. beaker bright. My brave are gone. 2264. Andthehelmethard,allhaughtywithgold,

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2265. shall part from its plating. Polishers sleep 2266. whocouldbrightenandburnishthebattle-mask;2267. and those weeds of war that were wont to brave 2268. over bicker of shields the bite of steel 2269. rustwiththeirbearer.Theringedmail2270. faresnotfarwithfamouschieftain,2271. at side of hero! No harp’s delight, 2272. no glee-wood’s gladness! No good hawk now 2273. fliesthroughthehall!Norhorsesfleet2274. stampintheburgstead!Battleanddeath2275. theflowerofmyracehavereftaway.”2276. Mournfulofmood,thushemoanedhiswoe,2277. alone,forthemall,andunblithewept2278. by day and by night, till death’s fell wave 2279. o’erwhelmed his heart. His hoard-of-bliss 2280. thatoldill-doeropenfound,2281. who,blazingattwilightthebarrowshaunteth,2282. nakedfoe-dragonflyingbynight2283. foldedinfire:thefolkofearth2284. dread him sore. ‘Tis his doom to seek 2285. hoard in the graves, and heathen gold 2286. towatch,many-wintered:norwinshethereby!2287. Powerfulthisplague-of-the-peoplethus2288. heldthehouseofthehoardinearth2289. threehundredwinters;tillOnearoused2290. wrathinhisbreast,totherulerbearing2291. thatcostlycup,andthekingimplored2292. forbondofpeace.Sothebarrowwasplundered,2293. borneoffwasbooty.Hisboonwasgranted2294. thatwretchedman;andhisrulersaw2295. firsttimewhatwasfashionedinfar-offdays.2296. When the dragon awoke, new woe was kindled. 2297. O’erthestonehesnuffed.Thestark-heartfound2298. footprint of foe who so far had gone 2299. inhishiddencraftbythecreature’shead.—2300. Somaytheundoomedeasilyflee2301. evils and exile, if only he gain 2302. the grace of The Wielder! — That warden of gold 2303. o’erthegroundwentseeking,greedytofind2304. themanwhowroughthimsuchwronginsleep.2305. Savageandburning,thebarrowhecircled2306. allwithout;norwasanythere,2307. none in the waste.... Yet war he desired,

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2308. was eager for battle. The barrow he entered, 2309. soughtthecup,anddiscoveredsoon2310. thatsomeoneofmortalshadsearchedhistreasure,2311. hislordlygold.Theguardianwaited2312. ill-enduringtilleveningcame;2313. boiling with wrath was the barrow’s keeper, 2314. andfainwithflamethefoetopay2315. forthedearcup’sloss.—Nowdaywasfled2316. as the worm had wished. By its wall no more 2317. wasitgladtobide,butburningflew2318. foldedinflame:afearfulbeginning2319. for sons of the soil; and soon it came, 2320. inthedoomoftheirlord,toadreadfulend.

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2321. THENthebalefulfienditsfirebelchedout,2322. andbrighthomesburned.Theblazestoodhigh2323. all landsfolk frighting. No living thing 2324. wouldthatloathlyoneleaveasaloftitflew.2325. Wide was the dragon’s warring seen, 2326. itsfiendishfuryfarandnear,2327. asthegrimdestroyerthoseGeatishpeople2328. hatedandhounded.Tohiddenlair,2329. to its hoard it hastened at hint of dawn. 2330. Folkofthelandithadlappedinflame,2331. withbaleandbrand.Initsbarrowittrusted,2332. itsbattlingandbulwarks:thatboastwasvain!2333. ToBeowulfthenthebalewastold2334. quicklyandtruly:theking’sownhome,2335. ofbuildingsthebest,inbrand-wavesmelted,2336. thatgift-throneofGeats.Tothegoodoldman2337. sad in heart, ‘twas heaviest sorrow. 2338. ThesageassumedthathissovranGod2339. he had angered, breaking ancient law, 2340. and embittered the Lord. His breast within 2341. withblackthoughtswelled,ashiswontwasnever.2342. Thefolk’sownfastnessthatfierydragon2343. withflamehaddestroyed,andthestrongholdall2344. washedbywaves;butthewarlikeking,2345. prince of the Weders, plotted vengeance. 2346. Warriors’-bulwark,hebadethemwork2347. all of iron — the earl’s commander — 2348. awar-shieldwondrous:wellheknew2349. thatforest-woodagainstfirewereworthless,2350. lindencouldaidnot.—Athelingbrave,2351. hewasfatedtofinishthisfleetinglife,{31a}2352. his days on earth, and the dragon with him, 2353. thoughlongithadwatchedo’erthewealthofthehoard!—2354. Shame he reckoned it, sharer-of-rings, 2355. tofollowtheflyer-afarwithahost,

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2356. abroad-flungband;northebattlefearedhe,2357. nordeemedhedreadfulthedragon’swarring,2358. itsvigorandvalor:venturesdesperate2359. he had passed a-plenty, and perils of war, 2360. contest-crash,since,conquerorproud,2361. Hrothgar’shallhehadwhollypurged,2362. andingrapplehadkilledthekinofGrendel,2363. loathsome breed! Not least was that 2364. ofhand-to-handfightswhereHygelacfell,2365. whentherulerofGeatsinrushofbattle,2366. lord of his folk, in the Frisian land, 2367. sonofHrethel,bysword-draughtsdied,2368. bybrandsdown-beaten.ThenceBeowulffled2369. throughstrengthofhimselfandhisswimmingpower,2370. thoughalone,andhisarmswereladenwiththirty2371. coats of mail, when he came to the sea! 2372. NoryetmightHetwaras{31b}haughtilyboast2373. their craft of contest, who carried against him 2374. shieldstothefight:butfewescaped2375. from strife with the hero to seek their homes! 2376. Then swam over ocean Ecgtheow’s son 2377. lonelyandsorrowful,seekinghisland,2378. whereHygdmadehimofferofhoardandrealm,2379. ringsandroyal-seat,reckoningnaught2380. the strength of her son to save their kingdom 2381. from hostile hordes, after Hygelac’s death. 2382. Nosoonerforthiscouldthestrickenones2383. in any wise move that atheling’s mind 2384. overyoungHeardred’sheadaslord2385. andrulerofalltherealmtobe:2386. yettheheroupheldhimwithhelpfulwords,2387. aided in honor, till, older grown, 2388. hewieldedtheWeder-Geats.—Wanderingexiles2389. soughthimo’erseas,thesonsofOhtere,2390. whohadspurnedtheswayoftheScylfings’-helmet,2391. the bravest and best that broke the rings, 2392. in Swedish land, of the sea-kings’ line, 2393. haughtyhero.{31c}HenceHeardred’send.2394. For shelter he gave them, sword-death came, 2395. the blade’s fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac; 2396. butthesonofOngentheowsoughtagain2397. houseandhomewhenHeardredfell,2398. leavingBeowulflordofGeats

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2399. and gift-seat’s master. — A good king he!

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2400. THEfallofhislordhewasfaintorequite2401. in after days; and to Eadgils he proved 2402. friend to the friendless, and forces sent 2403. over the sea to the son of Ohtere, 2404. weaponsandwarriors:wellrepaidhe2405. thosecare-pathscoldwhenthekingheslew.{32a}2406. ThussafethroughstrugglesthesonofEcgtheow2407. hadpassedaplenty,throughperilsdire,2408. with daring deeds, till this day was come 2409. that doomed him now with the dragon to strive. 2410. WithcomradeseleventhelordofGeats2411. swollen in rage went seeking the dragon. 2412. He had heard whence all the harm arose 2413. andthekillingofclansmen;thatcupofprice2414. onthelapofthelordhadbeenlaidbythefinder.2415. In the throng was this one thirteenth man, 2416. starter of all the strife and ill, 2417. care-laden captive; cringing thence 2418. forcedandreluctant,heledthemon2419. till he came in ken of that cavern-hall, 2420. thebarrowdelvednearbillowysurges,2421. floodofocean.Within‘twasfull2422. ofwire-goldandjewels;ajealouswarden,2423. warriortrusty,thetreasuresheld,2424. lurkedinhislair.Notlightthetask2425. of entrance for any of earth-born men! 2426. Sat on the headland the hero king, 2427. spake words of hail to his hearth-companions, 2428. gold-friendofGeats.Allgloomyhissoul,2429. wavering,death-bound.Wyrdfullnigh2430. stood ready to greet the gray-haired man, 2431. toseizehissoul-hoard,sunderapart2432. lifeandbody.Notlongwouldbe2433. thewarrior’sspiritenwoundwithflesh.2434. Beowulfspake,thebairnofEcgtheow:—

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2435. “ThroughstoreofstrugglesIstroveinyouth,2436. mightyfeuds;Imindthemall.2437. I was seven years old when the sovran of rings, 2438. friend-of-his-folk, from my father took me, 2439. had me, and held me, Hrethel the king, 2440. withfoodandfee,faithfulinkinship.2441. Ne’er,whileIlivedthere,heloathlierfoundme,2442. bairnintheburg,thanhisbirthrightsons,2443. Herebeald and Haethcyn and Hygelac mine. 2444. Fortheeldestofthese,byunmeetchance,2445. by kinsman’s deed, was the death-bed strewn, 2446. when Haethcyn killed him with horny bow, 2447. his own dear liege laid low with an arrow, 2448. missed the mark and his mate shot down, 2449. one brother the other, with bloody shaft. 2450. Afeelessfight,{32b}andafearfulsin,2451. horror to Hrethel; yet, hard as it was, 2452. unavengedmusttheathelingdie!2453. Tooawfulitisforanagedman2454. tobideandbear,thathisbairnsoyoung2455. rides on the gallows. A rime he makes, 2456. sorrow-song for his son there hanging 2457. asraptureofravens;norescuenow2458. can come from the old, disabled man! 2459. Still is he minded, as morning breaks, 2460. oftheheirgoneelsewhere;{32c}anotherhehopesnot2461. hewillbidetoseehisburgwithin2462. aswardforhiswealth,nowtheonehasfound2463. doomofdeaththatthedeedincurred.2464. Forlorn he looks on the lodge of his son, 2465. wine-hall waste and wind-swept chambers 2466. reft of revel. The rider sleepeth, 2467. thehero,far-hidden;{32d}noharpresounds,2468. inthecourtsnowassail,asoncewasheard.

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2469. “THEN he goes to his chamber, a grief-song chants 2470. alone for his lost. Too large all seems, 2471. homesteadandhouse.Sothehelmet-of-Weders2472. hid in his heart for Herebeald 2473. wavesofwoe.Nowaycouldhetake2474. toavengeontheslayerslaughtersofoul;2475. nore’encouldheharassthatheroatall2476. withloathingdeed,thoughhelovedhimnot.2477. Andsoforthesorrowhissoulendured,2478. men’sgladnesshegaveupandGod’slightchose.2479. Lands and cities he left his sons 2480. (asthewealthydo)whenhewentfromearth.2481. Therewasstrifeandstruggle‘twixtSwedeandGeat2482. o’er the width of waters; war arose, 2483. hard battle-horror, when Hrethel died, 2484. andOngentheow’soffspringgrew2485. strife-keen, bold, nor brooked o’er the seas 2486. pactofpeace,butpushedtheirhosts2487. to harass in hatred by Hreosnabeorh. 2488. Menofmyfolkforthatfeudhadvengeance,2489. forwofulwar(‘tiswidelyknown),2490. thoughoneofthemboughtitwithbloodofhisheart,2491. abargainhard:forHaethcynproved2492. fatalthatfray,forthefirst-of-Geats.2493. Atmorn,Iheard,wasthemurdererkilled2494. bykinsmanforkinsman,{33a}withclashofsword,2495. when Ongentheow met Eofor there. 2496. Widesplitthewar-helm:wanhefell,2497. hoaryScylfing;thehandthatsmotehim2498. offeudwasmindful,norflinchedfromthedeath-blow.2499. —“Forallthathe{33b}gaveme,mygleamingsword2500. repaidhimatwar,—suchpowerIwielded,—2501. forlordlytreasure:withlandheentrustedme,2502. homesteadandhouse.Hehadnoneed2503. from Swedish realm, or from Spear-Dane folk,

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2504. orfrommenoftheGifths,togethimhelp,—2505. somewarriorworseforwagetobuy!2506. EverIfoughtinthefrontofall,2507. soletothefore;andsoshallIfight2508. while I bide in life and this blade shall last 2509. that early and late hath loyal proved 2510. sinceformydoughtinessDaeghrefnfell,2511. slainbymyhand,theHugas’champion.2512. Nor fared he thence to the Frisian king 2513. with the booty back, and breast-adornments; 2514. but,slaininstruggle,thatstandard-bearer2515. fell, atheling brave. Not with blade was he slain, 2516. buthisboneswerebrokenbybrawnygripe,2517. his heart-waves stilled. — The sword-edge now, 2518. hardbladeandmyhand,forthehoardshallstrive.”2519. Beowulfspake,andabattle-vowmade2520. hislastofall:“Ihavelivedthroughmany2521. warsinmyyouth;nowonceagain,2522. oldfolk-defender,feudwillIseek,2523. dodoughtydeeds,ifthedarkdestroyer2524. forthfromhiscaverncometofightme!”2525. Then hailed he the helmeted heroes all, 2526. for the last time greeting his liegemen dear, 2527. comradesofwar:“Ishouldcarrynoweapon,2528. noswordtotheserpent,ifsureIknew2529. how,withsuchenemy,elsemyvows2530. IcouldgainasIdidinGrendel’sday.2531. ButfireinthisfightImustfearmenow,2532. andpoisonousbreath;soIbringwithme2533. breastplateandboard.{33c}Fromthebarrow’skeeper2534. nofootbreadthfleeI.Onefightshallend2535. ourwarbythewall,asWyrdallots,2536. all mankind’s master. My mood is bold 2537. butforbearstoboasto’erthisbattling-flyer.2538. Now abide by the barrow, ye breastplate-mailed, 2539. yeheroesinharness,whichofustwain2540. betterfrombattle-rushbearhiswounds.2541. Waityethefinish.Thefightisnotyours,2542. normeetforanybutmealone2543. tomeasuremightwiththismonsterhere2544. and play the hero. Hardily I 2545. shall win that wealth, or war shall seize, 2546. cruelkilling,yourkingandlord!”

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2547. Upstoodthenwithshieldthesturdychampion,2548. stayed by the strength of his single manhood, 2549. and hardy ‘neath helmet his harness bore 2550. undercleftofthecliffs:nocoward’spath!2551. Soon spied by the wall that warrior chief, 2552. survivorofmanyavictory-field2553. wherefoemenfoughtwithfuriousclashings,2554. an arch of stone; and within, a stream 2555. that broke from the barrow. The brooklet’s wave 2556. washotwithfire.Thehoardthatway2557. henevercouldhopeunharmedtonear,2558. orendurethosedeeps,{33d}forthedragon’sflame.2559. Thenletfromhisbreast,forheburstwithrage,2560. theWeder-Geatprinceawordoutgo;2561. stormed the stark-heart; stern went ringing 2562. andclearhiscry‘neaththecliff-rocksgray.2563. Thehoard-guardheardahumanvoice;2564. his rage was enkindled. No respite now 2565. for pact of peace! The poison-breath 2566. ofthatfoulwormfirstcameforthfromthecave,2567. hotreek-of-fight:therocksresounded.2568. Stoutbythestone-wayhisshieldheraised,2569. lordoftheGeats,againsttheloathed-one;2570. whilewithcouragekeenthatcoiledfoe2571. cameseekingstrife.Thesturdyking2572. haddrawnhissword,notdullofedge,2573. heirloom old; and each of the two 2574. feltfearofhisfoe,thoughfiercetheirmood.2575. Stoutlystoodwithhisshieldhigh-raised2576. the warrior king, as the worm now coiled 2577. togetheramain:themailed-onewaited.2578. Now, spire by spire, fast sped and glided 2579. that blazing serpent. The shield protected, 2580. soulandbodyashorterwhile2581. for the hero-king than his heart desired, 2582. couldhiswillhavewieldedthewelcomerespite2583. butonceinhislife!ButWyrddeniedit,2584. and victory’s honors. — His arm he lifted 2585. lordoftheGeats,thegrimfoesmote2586. withatheling’sheirloom.Itsedgewasturned2587. brown blade, on the bone, and bit more feebly 2588. than its noble master had need of then 2589. inhisbalefulstress.—Thenthebarrow’skeeper

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2590. waxedfullwildforthatweightyblow,2591. castdeadlyflames;widedroveandfar2592. thoseviciousfires.Novictor’sglory2593. theGeats’lordboasted;hisbrandhadfailed,2594. nakedinbattle,asneveritshould,2595. excellent iron! — ‘Twas no easy path 2596. thatEcgtheow’shonoredheirmusttread2597. over the plain to the place of the foe; 2598. foragainsthiswillhemustwinahome2599. elsewherefar,asmustallmen,leaving2600. this lapsing life! — Not long it was 2601. ere those champions grimly closed again. 2602. Thehoard-guardwasheartened;highheavedhisbreast2603. once more; and by peril was pressed again, 2604. enfoldedinflames,thefolk-commander!2605. Noryetabouthimhisbandofcomrades,2606. sons of athelings, armed stood 2607. withwarlikefront:tothewoodstheybentthem,2608. theirlivestosave.Butthesoulofone2609. withcarewascumbered.Kinshiptrue2610. can never be marred in a noble mind!

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XXXIV

2611. WIGLAFhisnamewas,Weohstan’sson,2612. linden-thaneloved,thelordofScylfings,2613. Aelfhere’s kinsman. His king he now saw 2614. withheatunderhelmethardoppressed.2615. He minded the prizes his prince had given him, 2616. wealthyseatoftheWaegmundingline,2617. and folk-rights that his father owned 2618. Not long he lingered. The linden yellow, 2619. hisshield,heseized;theoldswordhedrew:—2620. asheirloomofEanmundearth-dwellersknewit,2621. who was slain by the sword-edge, son of Ohtere, 2622. friendless exile, erst in fray 2623. killed by Weohstan, who won for his kin 2624. brown-bright helmet, breastplate ringed, 2625. old sword of Eotens, Onela’s gift, 2626. weeds of war of the warrior-thane, 2627. battle-gearbrave:thoughabrother’schild2628. hadbeenfelled,thefeudwasunfeltbyOnela.{34a}2629. For winters this war-gear Weohstan kept, 2630. breastplate and board, till his bairn had grown 2631. earlshiptoearnastheoldsiredid:2632. thenhegavehim,midGeats,thegearofbattle,2633. portionhuge,whenhepassedfromlife,2634. faredagedforth.Forthefirsttimenow2635. withhisleader-lordtheliegemanyoung2636. was bidden to share the shock of battle. 2637. Neithersoftenedhissoul,northesire’sbequest2638. weakenedinwar.{34b}Sothewormfoundout2639. whenonceinfightthefoeshadmet!2640. Wiglaf spake, — and his words were sage; 2641. sadinspirit,hesaidtohiscomrades:—2642. “I remember the time, when mead we took, 2643. whatpromisewemadetothisprinceofours2644. inthebanquet-hall,toourbreaker-of-rings,2645. forgearofcombattogivehimrequital,

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2646. forhard-swordandhelmet,ifhapshouldbring2647. stressofthissort!Himselfwhochoseus2648. from all his army to aid him now, 2649. urgedustoglory,andgavethesetreasures,2650. becausehecounteduskeenwiththespear2651. andhardy‘neathhelm,thoughthishero-work2652. ourleaderhopedunhelpedandalone2653. tofinishforus,—folk-defender2654. who hath got him glory greater than all men 2655. for daring deeds! Now the day is come 2656. thatournoblemasterhasneedofthemight2657. ofwarriorsstout.Letusstridealong2658. theherotohelpwhiletheheatisabouthim2659. glowingandgrim!ForGodismywitness2660. Iamfarmorefainthefireshouldseize2661. alongwithmylordtheselimbsofmine!{34c}2662. Unsuitingitseemsourshieldstobear2663. homeward hence, save here we essay 2664. to fell the foe and defend the life 2665. of the Weders’ lord. I wot ‘twere shame 2666. onthelawofourlandifalonetheking2667. outofGeatishwarriorswoeendured2668. andsankinthestruggle!Myswordandhelmet,2669. breastplateandboard,forusbothshallserve!”2670. Throughslaughter-reekstrodehetosuccorhischieftain,2671. hisbattle-helmbore,andbriefwordsspake:—2672. “Beowulfdearest,doallbravely,2673. asinyouthfuldaysofyorethouvowedst2674. thatwhilelifeshouldlastthouwouldstletnowise2675. thy glory droop! Now, great in deeds, 2676. atheling steadfast, with all thy strength 2677. shieldthylife!Iwillstandtohelpthee.”2678. At the words the worm came once again, 2679. murderousmonstermadwithrage,2680. withfire-billowsflaming,itsfoestoseek,2681. thehatedmen.Inheat-wavesburned2682. thatboard{34d}totheboss,andthebreastplatefailed2683. toshelteratallthespear-thaneyoung.2684. Yetquicklyunderhiskinsman’sshield2685. went eager the earl, since his own was now 2686. allburnedbytheblaze.Theboldkingagain2687. hadmindofhisglory:withmighthisglaive2688. was driven into the dragon’s head, —

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2689. blownervedbyhate.ButNaegling{34e}wasshivered,2690. brokeninbattlewasBeowulf’ssword,2691. old and gray. ‘Twas granted him not 2692. that ever the edge of iron at all 2693. couldhelphimatstrife:toostrongwashishand,2694. so the tale is told, and he tried too far 2695. with strength of stroke all swords he wielded, 2696. thoughsturdytheirsteel:theysteadedhimnought.2697. Thenforthethirdtimethoughtonitsfeud2698. thatfolk-destroyer,fire-dreaddragon,2699. andrushedonthehero,whereroomallowed,2700. battle-grim,burning;itsbitterteeth2701. closed on his neck, and covered him 2702. with waves of blood from his breast that welled.

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XXXV

2703. ‘TWAS now, men say, in his sovran’s need 2704. that the earl made known his noble strain, 2705. craftandkeennessandcourageenduring.2706. Heedlessofharm,thoughhishandwasburned,2707. hardy-hearted, he helped his kinsman. 2708. A little lower the loathsome beast 2709. he smote with sword; his steel drove in 2710. brightandburnished;thatblazebegan2711. to lose and lessen. At last the king 2712. wielded his wits again, war-knife drew, 2713. a biting blade by his breastplate hanging, 2714. andtheWeders’-helmsmotethatwormasunder,2715. felledthefoe,flungforthitslife.2716. So had they killed it, kinsmen both, 2717. athelingstwain:thusanearlshouldbe2718. in danger’s day! — Of deeds of valor 2719. thisconqueror’s-hourofthekingwaslast,2720. ofhisworkintheworld.Thewoundbegan,2721. whichthatdragon-of-earthhaderstinflicted,2722. toswellandsmart;andsoonhefound2723. inhisbreastwasboiling,balefulanddeep,2724. pain of poison. The prince walked on, 2725. wiseinhisthought,tothewallofrock;2726. thensat,andstaredatthestructureofgiants,2727. wherearchofstoneandsteadfastcolumn2728. upheldforeverthathallinearth.2729. Yetheremustthehandofthehenchmanpeerless2730. lave with water his winsome lord, 2731. thekingandconquerorcoveredwithblood,2732. withstrugglespent,andunspanhishelmet.2733. Beowulfspakeinspiteofhishurt,2734. hismortalwound;fullwellheknew2735. his portion now was past and gone 2736. ofearthlybliss,andallhadfled2737. ofhisfileofdays,anddeathwasnear:

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2738. “Iwouldfainbestowonsonofmine2739. this gear of war, were given me now 2740. thatanyheirshouldaftermecome2741. ofmyproperblood.ThispeopleIruled2742. fiftywinters.Nofolk-kingwasthere,2743. none at all, of the neighboring clans 2744. whowarwouldwagemewith‘warriors’-friends’{35a}2745. and threat me with horrors. At home I bided 2746. what fate might come, and I cared for mine own; 2747. feudsIsoughtnot,norfalselyswore2748. ever on oath. For all these things, 2749. thoughfatallywounded,fainamI!2750. FromtheRuler-of-Mannowrathshallseizeme,2751. whenlifefrommyframemustfleeaway,2752. forkillingofkinsmen!Nowquicklygo2753. and gaze on that hoard ‘neath the hoary rock, 2754. Wiglaf loved, now the worm lies low, 2755. sleeps, heart-sore, of his spoil bereaved. 2756. Andfareinhaste.Iwouldfainbehold2757. thegorgeousheirlooms,goldenstore,2758. have joy in the jewels and gems, lay down 2759. softlier for sight of this splendid hoard 2760. mylifeandthelordshipIlonghaveheld.”

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XXXVI

2761. IHAVEheardthatswiftlythesonofWeohstan2762. atwishandwordofhiswoundedking,—2763. war-sick warrior, — woven mail-coat, 2764. battle-sark, bore ‘neath the barrow’s roof. 2765. Thentheclansmankeen,ofconquestproud,2766. passingtheseat,{36a}sawstoreofjewels2767. andglisteninggoldthegroundalong;2768. by the wall were marvels, and many a vessel 2769. inthedenofthedragon,thedawn-flierold:2770. unburnishedbowlsofbygonemen2771. reftofrichness;rustyhelms2772. of the olden age; and arm-rings many 2773. wondrouslywoven.—Suchwealthofgold,2774. bootyfrombarrow,canburdenwithpride2775. eachhumanwight:lethimhideitwhowill!—2776. His glance too fell on a gold-wove banner 2777. high o’er the hoard, of handiwork noblest, 2778. brilliantly broidered; so bright its gleam, 2779. alltheearth-floorheeasilysaw2780. and viewed all these vessels. No vestige now 2781. wasseenoftheserpent:theswordhadta’enhim.2782. Then, I heard, the hill of its hoard was reft, 2783. old work of giants, by one alone; 2784. heburdenedhisbosomwithbeakersandplate2785. at his own good will, and the ensign took, 2786. brightest of beacons. — The blade of his lord 2787. itsedgewasiron—hadinjureddeep2788. onethatguardedthegoldenhoard2789. manyayearanditsmurder-fire2790. spreadhotroundthebarrowinhorror-billows2791. atmidnighthour,tillitmetitsdoom.2792. Hastedtheherald,thehoardsospurredhim2793. histracktoretrace;hewastroubledbydoubt,2794. high-souledhero,ifhaplyhe’dfind2795. alive, where he left him, the lord of Weders,

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2796. weakening fast by the wall of the cave. 2797. So he carried the load. His lord and king 2798. hefoundallbleeding,famouschief2799. at the lapse of life. The liegeman again 2800. plashed him with water, till point of word 2801. brokethroughthebreast-hoard.Beowulfspake,2802. sage and sad, as he stared at the gold. — 2803. “Forthegoldandtreasure,toGodmythanks,2804. to the Wielder-of-Wonders, with words I say, 2805. for what I behold, to Heaven’s Lord, 2806. forthegracethatIgivesuchgiftstomyfolk2807. oreverthedayofmydeathberun!2808. NowI’vebarteredhereforbootyoftreasure2809. the last of my life, so look ye well 2810. to the needs of my land! No longer I tarry. 2811. A barrow bid ye the battle-fanned raise 2812. formyashes.‘Twillshinebytheshoreoftheflood,2813. to folk of mine memorial fair 2814. onHronesHeadlandhighuplifted,2815. that ocean-wanderers oft may hail 2816. Beowulf’sBarrow,asbackfromfar2817. theydrivetheirkeelso’erthedarklingwave.”2818. Fromhisneckheunclaspedthecollarofgold,2819. valorousking,tohisvassalgaveit2820. with bright-gold helmet, breastplate, and ring, 2821. totheyouthfulthane:badehimusetheminjoy.2822. “Thouartendandremnantofallourrace2823. theWaegmundingname.ForWyrdhathsweptthem,2824. all my line, to the land of doom, 2825. earlsintheirglory:Iafterthemgo.”2826. This word was the last which the wise old man 2827. harbored in heart ere hot death-waves 2828. ofbalefirehechose.Fromhisbosomfled2829. hissoultoseekthesaints’reward.

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XXXVII

2830. ITwasheavyhapforthatheroyoung2831. onhislordbelovedtolookandfindhim2832. lying on earth with life at end, 2833. sorrowfulsight.Buttheslayertoo,2834. awfulearth-dragon,emptyofbreath,2835. layfelledinfight,nor,fainofitstreasure,2836. couldthewrithingmonsterruleitmore.2837. For edges of iron had ended its days, 2838. hardandbattle-sharp,hammers’leaving;{37a}2839. andthatflier-afarhadfallentoground2840. hushedbyitshurt,itshoardallnear,2841. nolongerlustyalofttowhirl2842. at midnight, making its merriment seen, 2843. proudofitsprizes:proneitsank2844. by the handiwork of the hero-king. 2845. Forsoothamongfolkbutfewachieve,2846. thoughsturdyandstrong,asstoriestellme,2847. and never so daring in deed of valor, — 2848. theperilousbreathofapoison-foe2849. tobrave,andtorushonthering-boardhall,2850. whenever his watch the warden keeps 2851. boldinthebarrow.Beowulfpaid2852. thepriceofdeathforthatprecioushoard;2853. andeachofthefoeshadfoundtheend2854. ofthisfleetinglife.Befellerelong2855. that the laggards in war the wood had left, 2856. trothbreakers, cowards, ten together, 2857. fearingbeforetoflourishaspear2858. in the sore distress of their sovran lord. 2859. Now in their shame their shields they carried, 2860. armoroffight,wheretheoldmanlay;2861. and they gazed on Wiglaf. Wearied he sat 2862. athissovran’sshoulder,shieldsmangood,2863. towakehimwithwater.{37b}Nowiseitavailed.2864. Thoughwellhewishedit,inworldnomore

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2865. couldhebarrierlifeforthatleader-of-battles2866. norbafflethewillofall-wieldingGod.2867. Doom of the Lord was law o’er the deeds 2868. of every man, as it is to-day. 2869. Grimwastheanswer,easytoget,2870. fromtheyouthforthosethathadyieldedtofear!2871. Wiglaf spake, the son of Weohstan, — 2872. mournfulhelookedonthosemenunloved:—2873. “Who sooth will speak, can say indeed 2874. thattherulerwhogaveyougoldenrings2875. and the harness of war in which ye stand 2876. for he at ale-bench often-times 2877. bestowed on hall-folk helm and breastplate, 2878. lord to liegemen, the likeliest gear 2879. whichnearoffarhecouldfindtogive,—2880. threw away and wasted these weeds of battle, 2881. on men who failed when the foemen came! 2882. Notatallcouldthekingofhiscomrades-in-arms2883. venturetovaunt,thoughtheVictory-Wielder,2884. God,gavehimgracethathegotrevenge2885. sole with his sword in stress and need. 2886. Torescuehislife,‘twaslittlethatI2887. couldservehiminstruggle;yetshiftImade2888. (hopelessitseemed)tohelpmykinsman.2889. Itsstrengtheverwaned,whenwithweaponIstruck2890. thatfatalfoe,andthefirelessstrongly2891. flowedfromitshead.—Toofewtheheroes2892. inthroeofcontestthatthrongedtoourking!2893. Nowgiftoftreasureandgirdingofsword,2894. joyofthehouseandhome-delight2895. shallfailyourfolk;hisfreehold-land2896. everyclansmanwithinyourkin2897. shall lose and leave, when lords highborn 2898. hearafarofthatflightofyours,2899. a fameless deed. Yea, death is better 2900. forliegemenallthanalifeofshame!”

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XXXVIII

2901. THATbattle-toilbadeheatburgtoannounce,2902. atthefortonthecliff,where,fullofsorrow,2903. all the morning earls had sat, 2904. daringshieldsmen,indoubtoftwain:2905. wouldtheywailasdead,orwelcomehome,2906. theirlordbeloved?Little{38a}keptback2907. ofthetidingsnew,buttoldthemall,2908. theheraldthatuptheheadlandrode.—2909. “Now the willing-giver to Weder folk 2910. indeath-bedlies;theLordofGeats2911. ontheslaughter-bedsleepsbytheserpent’sdeed!2912. And beside him is stretched that slayer-of-men 2913. withknife-woundssick:{38b}noswordavailed2914. on the awesome thing in any wise 2915. toworkawound.ThereWiglafsitteth,2916. Weohstan’sbairn,byBeowulf’sside,2917. the living earl by the other dead, 2918. andheavyofheartahead-watch{38c}keeps2919. o’erfriendandfoe.—Nowourfolkmaylook2920. forwagingofwarwhenonceunhidden2921. to Frisian and Frank the fall of the king 2922. is spread afar. — The strife began 2923. whenhotontheHugas{38d}Hygelacfell2924. andfaredwithhisfleettotheFrisianland.2925. HimtheretheHetwarashumbledinwar,2926. pliedwithsuchprowesstheirpowero’erwhelming2927. that the bold-in-battle bowed beneath it 2928. andfellinfight.Tohisfriendsnowise2929. couldthatearlgivetreasure!Andeversince2930. theMerowings’favorhasfaileduswholly.2931. NoraughtexpectIofpeaceandfaith2932. from Swedish folk. ‘Twas spread afar 2933. how Ongentheow reft at Ravenswood 2934. Haethcyn Hrethling of hope and life, 2935. whenthefolkofGeatsforthefirsttimesought

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2936. inwantonpridetheWarlike-Scylfings.2937. Soonthesageoldsire{38e}ofOhtere,2938. ancientandawful,gaveansweringblow;2939. thesea-king{38f}heslew,andhisspouseredeemed,2940. hisgoodwiferescued,thoughrobbedofhergold,2941. mother of Ohtere and Onela. 2942. Thenhefollowedhisfoes,whofledbeforehim2943. sore beset and stole their way, 2944. bereftofaruler,toRavenswood.2945. With his host he besieged there what swords had left, 2946. thewearyandwounded;woeshethreatened2947. thewholenightthroughtothathard-pressedthrong:2948. somewiththemorrowhisswordshouldkill,2949. someshouldgotothegallows-tree2950. forraptureofravens.Butrescuecame2951. with dawn of day for those desperate men 2952. whentheyheardthehornofHygelacsound,2953. tonesofhistrumpet;thetrustyking2954. hadfollowedtheirtrailwithfaithfulband.

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XXXIX

2955. THEbloodyswathofSwedesandGeats2956. and the storm of their strife, were seen afar, 2957. howfolkagainstfolkthefighthadwakened.2958. The ancient king with his atheling band 2959. soughthiscitadel,sorrowingmuch:2960. Ongentheowearlwentuptohisburg.2961. He had tested Hygelac’s hardihood, 2962. theproudone’sprowess,wouldproveitnolonger,2963. defiednomorethosefighting-wanderers2964. nor hoped from the seamen to save his hoard, 2965. hisbairnandhisbride:sohebenthimagain,2966. old, to his earth-walls. Yet after him came 2967. withslaughterforSwedesthestandardsofHygelac2968. o’erpeacefulplainsinprideadvancing,2969. tillHrethelingsfoughtinthefencedtown.{39a}2970. Then Ongentheow with edge of sword, 2971. the hoary-bearded, was held at bay, 2972. andthefolk-kingtherewasforcedtosuffer2973. Eofor’s anger. In ire, at the king 2974. WulfWonredingwithweaponstruck;2975. and the chieftain’s blood, for that blow, in streams 2976. flowed‘neathhishair.Nofearfelthe,2977. stoutoldScylfing,butstraightwayrepaid2978. in better bargain that bitter stroke 2979. and faced his foe with fell intent. 2980. NorswiftenoughwasthesonofWonred2981. answer to render the aged chief; 2982. too soon on his head the helm was cloven; 2983. blood-bedecked he bowed to earth, 2984. and fell adown; not doomed was he yet, 2985. andwellhewaxed,thoughthewoundwassore.2986. ThenthehardyHygelac-thane,{39b}2987. when his brother fell, with broad brand smote, 2988. giants’swordcrashingthroughgiants’-helm2989. acrosstheshield-wall:sanktheking,

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2990. hisfolk’soldherdsman,fatallyhurt.2991. Thereweremanytobindthebrother’swounds2992. and lift him, fast as fate allowed 2993. his people to wield the place-of-war. 2994. ButEofortookfromOngentheow,2995. earl from other, the iron-breastplate, 2996. hard sword hilted, and helmet too, 2997. and the hoar-chief’s harness to Hygelac carried, 2998. whotookthetrappings,andtrulypromised2999. richfee‘midfolk,—andfulfilleditso.3000. ForthatgrimstrifegavetheGeatishlord,3001. Hrethel’soffspring,whenhomehecame,3002. toEoforandWulfawealthoftreasure,3003. Eachofthemhadahundredthousand{39c}3004. in land and linked rings; nor at less price reckoned 3005. mid-earthmensuchmightydeeds!3006. AndtoEoforhegavehisonlydaughter3007. in pledge of grace, the pride of his home. 3008. “Suchisthefeud,thefoeman’srage,3009. death-hateofmen:soIdeemitsure3010. thattheSwedishfolkwillseekushome3011. forthisfalloftheirfriends,thefighting-Scylfings,3012. whenoncetheylearnthatourwarriorleader3013. lifeless lies, who land and hoard 3014. ever defended from all his foes, 3015. furtheredhisfolk’sweal,finishedhiscourse3016. a hardy hero. — Now haste is best, 3017. thatwegotogazeonourGeatishlord,3018. andbearthebountifulbreaker-of-rings3019. tothefuneralpyre.Nofragmentsmerely3020. shallburnwiththewarrior.Wealthofjewels,3021. golduntoldandgainedinterror,3022. treasureatlastwithhislifeobtained,3023. all of that booty the brands shall take, 3024. fireshalleatit.Noearlmustcarry3025. memorial jewel. No maiden fair 3026. shallwreatheherneckwithnoblering:3027. nay, sad in spirit and shorn of her gold, 3028. oft shall she pass o’er paths of exile 3029. nowourlordalllaughterhaslaidaside,3030. all mirth and revel. Many a spear 3031. morning-cold shall be clasped amain, 3032. lifted aloft; nor shall lilt of harp

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3033. thosewarriorswake;butthewan-huedraven,3034. fain o’er the fallen, his feast shall praise 3035. and boast to the eagle how bravely he ate 3036. whenheandthewolfwerewastingtheslain.”3037. Sohetoldhissorrowfultidings,3038. andlittle{39d}helied,theloyalman3039. of word or of work. The warriors rose; 3040. sad,theyclimbedtotheCliff-of-Eagles,3041. went, welling with tears, the wonder to view. 3042. Foundonthesandthere,stretchedatrest,3043. their lifeless lord, who had lavished rings 3044. ofolduponthem.Ending-day3045. haddawnedonthedoughty-one;deathhadseized3046. inwofulslaughtertheWeders’king.3047. There saw they, besides, the strangest being, 3048. loathsome, lying their leader near, 3049. proneonthefield.Thefierydragon,3050. fearfulfiend,withflamewasscorched.3051. Reckonedbyfeet,itwasfiftymeasures3052. in length as it lay. Aloft erewhile 3053. it had revelled by night, and anon come back, 3054. seekingitsden;nowindeath’ssureclutch3055. it had come to the end of its earth-hall joys. 3056. Byittherestoodthestoupsandjars;3057. dishes lay there, and dear-decked swords 3058. eatenwithrust,as,onearth’slapresting,3059. athousandwinterstheywaitedthere.3060. Forallthatheritagehuge,thatgold3061. ofbygonemen,wasboundbyaspell,{39e}3062. sothetreasure-hallcouldbetouchedbynone3063. ofhumankind,—savethatHeaven’sKing,3064. Godhimself,mightgivewhomhewould,3065. Helper of Heroes, the hoard to open, — 3066. evensuchamanasseemedtohimmeet.

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XL

3067. APERILOUSpath,itproved,he{40a}trod3068. whoheinouslyhid,thathallwithin,3069. wealthunderwall!Itswatcherhadkilled3070. oneofafew,{40b}andthefeudwasavenged3071. inwofulfashion.Wondrousseemsit,3072. what manner a man of might and valor 3073. oft ends his life, when the earl no longer 3074. in mead-hall may live with loving friends. 3075. SoBeowulf,whenthatbarrow’swarden3076. hesought,andthestruggle;himselfknewnot3077. inwhatwiseheshouldwendfromtheworldatlast.3078. For{40c}princespotent,whoplacedthegold,3079. withacursetodoomsdaycovereditdeep,3080. sothatmarkedwithsinthemanshouldbe,3081. hedged with horrors, in hell-bonds fast, 3082. rackedwithplagues,whoshouldrobtheirhoard.3083. Yetnogreedforgold,butthegraceofheaven,3084. everthekinghadkeptinview.{40d}3085. Wiglafspake,thesonofWeohstan:—3086. “At the mandate of one, oft warriors many 3087. sorrowmustsuffer;andsomustwe.3088. Thepeople’s-shepherdshowednotaught3089. ofcareforourcounsel,kingbeloved!3090. Thatguardianofgoldheshouldgrapplenot,urgedwe,3091. butlethimliewherehelonghadbeen3092. in his earth-hall waiting the end of the world, 3093. thehestofheaven.—Thishoardisours3094. butgrievouslygotten;toogrimthefate3095. whichthithercarriedourkingandlord.3096. I was within there, and all I viewed, 3097. thechamberedtreasure,whenchanceallowedme3098. (andmypathwasmadeinnopleasantwise)3099. undertheearth-wall.Eager,Iseized3100. suchheapfromthehoardashandscouldbear3101. andhurriedlycarriedithitherback

103BEOWULF

3102. to my liege and lord. Alive was he still, 3103. still wielding his wits. The wise old man 3104. spakemuchinhissorrow,andsentyougreetings3105. andbadethatyebuild,whenhebreathednomore,3106. ontheplaceofhisbalefireabarrowhigh,3107. memorial mighty. Of men was he 3108. worthiest warrior wide earth o’er 3109. thewhilehehadjoyofhisjewelsandburg.3110. Letussetoutinhastenow,thesecondtime3111. toseeandsearchthisstoreoftreasure,3112. thesewall-hidwonders,—thewayIshowyou,—3113. where,gatherednear,yemaygazeyourfill3114. at broad-gold and rings. Let the bier, soon made, 3115. beallinorderwhenoutwecome,3116. ourkingandcaptaintocarrythither3117. man beloved — where long he shall bide 3118. safeintheshelterofsovranGod.”3119. Then the bairn of Weohstan bade command, 3120. hardy chief, to heroes many 3121. that owned their homesteads, hither to bring 3122. firewoodfromfar—o’erthefolktheyruled—3123. forthefamed-one’sfuneral.“Fireshalldevour3124. andwanflamesfeedonthefearlesswarrior3125. whooftstoodstoutintheiron-shower,3126. when, sped from the string, a storm of arrows 3127. shoto’ertheshield-wall:theshaftheldfirm,3128. featlyfeathered,followedthebarb.”3129. AndnowthesageyoungsonofWeohstan3130. seven chose of the chieftain’s thanes, 3131. thebesthefoundthatbandwithin,3132. and went with these warriors, one of eight, 3133. underhostileroof.Inhandonebore3134. a lighted torch and led the way. 3135. No lots they cast for keeping the hoard 3136. when once the warriors saw it in hall, 3137. altogetherwithoutaguardian,3138. lyingtherelost.Andlittletheymourned3139. whentheyhadhastilyhaleditout,3140. dear-boughttreasure!Thedragontheycast,3141. the worm, o’er the wall for the wave to take, 3142. andsurgesswallowedthatshepherdofgems.3143. Then the woven gold on a wain was laden — 3144. countlessquite!—andthekingwasborne,

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3145. hoary hero, to Hrones-Ness.

105BEOWULF

XLI

3146. THENfashionedforhimthefolkofGeats3147. firmontheearthafuneral-pile,3148. andhungitwithhelmetsandharnessofwar3149. and breastplates bright, as the boon he asked; 3150. and they laid amid it the mighty chieftain, 3151. heroesmourningtheirmasterdear.3152. Thenonthehillthathugestofbalefires3153. the warriors wakened. Wood-smoke rose 3154. black over blaze, and blent was the roar 3155. offlamewithweeping(thewindwasstill),3156. tillthefirehadbrokentheframeofbones,3157. hot at the heart. In heavy mood 3158. their misery moaned they, their master’s death. 3159. Wailingherwoe,thewidow{41a}old,3160. herhairupbound,forBeowulf’sdeath3161. sunginhersorrow,andsaidfulloft3162. shedreadedthedolefuldaystocome,3163. deaths enow, and doom of battle, 3164. andshame.—Thesmokebytheskywasdevoured.3165. The folk of the Weders fashioned there 3166. on the headland a barrow broad and high, 3167. byocean-farersfardescried:3168. in ten days’ time their toil had raised it, 3169. thebattle-brave’sbeacon.Roundbrandsofthepyre3170. awalltheybuilt,theworthiestever3171. thatwitcouldpromptintheirwisestmen.3172. Theyplacedinthebarrowthatpreciousbooty,3173. theroundsandtheringstheyhadrefterewhile,3174. hardy heroes, from hoard in cave, — 3175. trustingthegroundwithtreasureofearls,3176. gold in the earth, where ever it lies 3177. uselesstomenasofyoreitwas.3178. Thenaboutthatbarrowthebattle-keenrode,3179. atheling-born, a band of twelve, 3180. lamenttomake,tomourntheirking,

106BEOWULF

3181. chant their dirge, and their chieftain honor. 3182. They praised his earlship, his acts of prowess 3183. worthilywitnessed:andwellitis3184. thatmentheirmaster-friendmightilylaud,3185. heartily love, when hence he goes 3186. from life in the body forlorn away. 3187. ThusmadetheirmourningthemenofGeatland,3188. fortheirhero’spassinghishearth-companions:3189. quoththatofallthekingsofearth,3190. of men he was mildest and most beloved, 3191. to his kin the kindest, keenest for praise.

107BEOWULF

FOOTNOTES

{0a}Not,ofcourse,BeowulftheGreat,herooftheepic.

{0b}Kenningforkingorchieftainofacomitatus:hebreaksoffgoldfromthespiralrings—oftenwornon the arm — and so rewards his followers.

{1a}Thatis,“TheHart,”or“Stag,”socalledfromdecorationsinthegablesthatresembledtheantlersofadeer.ThishallhasbeencarefullydescribedinapamphletbyHeyne.Thebuildingwasrectangular,withopposite doors — mainly west and east — and a hearth in the middle of th single room. A row of pillars down each side, at some distance from the walls, made a space which was raised a little above the main floor,andwasfurnishedwithtworowsofseats.Ononeside,usuallysouth,wasthehigh-seatmidwaybetweenthedoors.Oppositethis,ontheotherraisedspace,wasanotherseatofhonor.Atthebanquetsoontobedescribed,Hrothgarsatinthesouthorchiefhigh-seat,andBeowulfoppositetohim.Thesceneforaflying(seebelow,v.499)wasthusveryeffectivelyset.Planksontrestles—the“board”oflaterEnglishliterature—formedthetablesjustinfrontofthelongrowsofseats,andweretakenawayafterbanquets,whentheretainerswerereadytostretchthemselvesoutforsleeponthebenches.

{1b}Firewastheusualendofthesehalls.Seev.781below.OnethinksofthesplendidsceneattheendoftheNibelungen,oftheNialssaga,ofSaxo’sstoryofAmlethus,andmanyalessfamousinstance.

{1c}ItistobesupposedthatallhearersofthispoemknewhowHrothgar’shallwasburnt,—perhapsintheunsuccessfulattackmadeonhimbyhisson-in-lawIngeld.

{1d}Askilledminstrel.TheDanesareheathens,asoneistoldpresently;butthislayofbeginningsistakenfromGenesis.

{1e}Adisturberoftheborder,onewhosalliesfromhishauntinthefenandroamsoverthecountrynearby.Thisprobablypagannuisanceisnowfurnishedwithbiblicalcredentialsasafiendordevilingoodstanding,sothatallChristianEnglishmenmightreadabouthim.“Grendel”maymeanonewhogrindsandcrushes.

{1f}Cain’s.

{1g}Giants.

{2a}Thesmallerbuildingswithinthemainenclosurebutseparatefromthehall.

{2b}Grendel.

{2c}“Sorcerers-of-hell.”

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{2d}Hrothgar,whoisthe“Scyldings’-friend”of170.

{2e}Thatis,informalorprescribedphrase.

{3a}Ship.

{3b}Thatis,sinceBeowulfselectedhisshipandledhismentotheharbor.

{3c}OneoftheauxiliarynamesoftheGeats.

{3d}Or:Notthusopenlyevercamewarriorshither;yet...

{4a}Hrothgar.

{4b}Beowulf’shelmethasseveralboar-imagesonit;heisthe“manofwar”;andtheboar-helmetguardshim as typical representative of the marching party as a whole. The boar was sacred to Freyr, who was the favoritegodoftheGermanictribesabouttheNorthSeaandtheBaltic.Ruderepresentationsofwarriorsshowtheboaronthehelmetquiteaslargeasthehelmetitself.

{5a}Eithermerelypaved,thestrataviaoftheRomans,orelsethoughtofasasortofmosaic,anextravaganttouchliketherecklesswasteofgoldonthewallsandroofsofahall.

{6a}Thenicor,saysBugge,isahippopotamus;awalrus,saysTenBrink.Butthatwater-goblinwhocoversthe space from Old Nick of jest to the Neckan and Nix of poetry and tale, is all one needs, and Nicor is a good name for him.

{6b}Hisownpeople,theGeats.

{6c}Thatis,coveritaswithaface-cloth.“Therewillbenoneedoffuneralrites.”

{6d}PersonificationofBattle.

{6e}TheGermanicVulcan.

{6f}Thismightypower,whomtheChristianpoetcanstillrevere,hasherethegeneralforceof“Destiny.”

{7a}Thereisnoirrelevancehere.HrothgarseesinBeowulf’smissionaheritageofduty,areturnofthegoodofficeswhichtheDanishkingrenderedtoBeowulf’sfatherintimeofdireneed.

{7b}Money,forwergild,orman-price.

{7c}Ecgtheow,Beowulf’ssire.

{8a}“Beganthefight.”

{8b}Breca.

{9a}Murder.

{10a}Beowulf,—the“one.”

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{11a}Thatis,hewasa“lostsoul,”doomedtohell.

{12a}KenningforBeowulf.

{13a}“Guardedthetreasure.”

{13b}Sc.Heremod.

{13c}Thesingerhassunghislays,andtheepicresumesitsstory.Thetime-relationsarenotaltogethergoodinthislongpassagewhichdescribestherejoicingsof“thedayafter”;butthepresentshiftfromtheriders on the road to the folk at the hall is not very violent, and is of a piece with the general style.

{14a}Unferth,Beowulf’ssometimeopponentintheflyting.

{15a}Thereisnohorribleinconsistencyheresuchasthecriticsstriveandcryabout.InspiteoftheruinthatGrendelandBeowulfhadmadewithinthehall,theframeworkandroofheldfirm,andswiftrepairsmadetheinteriorhabitable.Tapestrieswerehungonthewalls,andwillinghandspreparedthebanquet.

{15b}Fromitsformaluseinotherplaces,thisphrase,totakecupinhall,or“onthefloor,”wouldseemtomeanthatBeowulfstooduptoreceivehisgifts,drinktothedonor,andsaythanks.

{15c}Kenningforsword.

{15d}Hrothgar.Heisalsothe“refugeofthefriendsofIng,”below.Ingbelongstomyth.

{15e}Horsesarefrequentlyledorriddenintothehallwherefolksitatbanquet:soinChaucer’sSquire’stale,intheballadofKingEstmere,andintheromances.

{16a}Man-price,wergild.

{16b}Beowulf’s.

{16c}Hrothgar.

{16d}ThereisnoneedtoassumeagapintheMs.AsbeforeaboutSigemundandHeremod,sonow,thoughatgreaterlength,aboutFinnandhisfeud,alayischantedorrecited;andtheepicpoet,countingon his readers’ familiarity with the story, — a fragment of it still exists, — simply gives the headings.

{16e}Theexactstorytowhichthisepisoderefersinsummaryisnottobedetermined,butthefollowingaccountofitisreasonableandhasgoodsupportamongscholars.Finn,aFrisianchieftain,whoneverthelesshasa“castle”outsidetheFrisianborder,marriesHildeburh,aDanishprincess;andherbrother, Hnaef, with many other Danes, pays Finn a visit. Relations between the two peoples have been strainedbefore.Somethingstartstheoldfeudanew;andthevisitorsareattackedintheirquarters.Hnaefiskilled;soisasonofHildeburh.Manyfallonbothsides.Peaceispatchedup;astatelyfuneralisheld;andthesurvivingvisitorsbecomeinawayvassalsorliegemenofFinn,goingbackwithhimtoFrisia.Somattersrestawhile.HengestisnowleaderoftheDanes;butheissetuponrevengeforhisformerlord,Hnaef.Probablyheiskilledinfeud;buthisclansmen,GuthlafandOslaf,gatherattheirhomeaforceofsturdyDanes,comebacktoFrisia,stormFinn’sstronghold,killhim,andcarrybacktheirkinswoman

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Hildeburh.

{16f}The“enemies”mustbetheFrisians.

{16g}Battlefield.—Hengestisthe“prince’sthane,”companionofHnaef.“Folcwald’sson”isFinn.

{16h}Thatis,FinnwouldgoverninallhonorthefewDanishwarriorswhowereleft,provided,ofcourse,thatnoneofthemtriedtorenewthequarreloravengeHnaeftheirfallenlord.If,again,oneofFinn’sFrisiansbeganaquarrel,heshoulddiebythesword.

{16i}Hnaef.

{16j}Thehighplacechosenforthefuneral:seedescriptionofBeowulf’sfuneral-pileattheendofthepoem.

{16k}Wounds.

{17a}Thatis,thesetwoDanes,escapinghome,hadtoldthestoryoftheattackonHnaef,theslayingofHengest,andalltheDanishwoes.Collectingaforce,theyreturntoFrisiaandkillFinninhishome.

{17b}NephewtoHrothgar,withwhomhesubsequentlyquarrels,andeldercousintothetwoyoungsonsofHrothgarandWealhtheow,—theirnaturalguardianintheeventoftheking’sdeath.ThereissomethingfinelyfeminineinthisspeechofWealhtheow’s,apartfromitssomewhatirregularandirrelevantsequenceoftopics.BothsheandherlordprobablydistrustHrothulf;butshebidsthekingtobeofgoodcheer,and,turningtothesuspect,heapsaffectionateassurancesonhisprobity.“MyownHrothulf”willsurelynotforgetthesefavorsandbenefitsofthepast,butwillrepaythemtotheorphanedboy.

{19a}Theyhadlaidtheirarmsonthebenchesnearwheretheyslept.

{20a}Hesurmisespresentlywheresheis.

{20b}Theconnectionisnotdifficult.Thewordsofmourning,ofacutegrief,aresaid;andaccordingtoGermanicsequenceofthought,inexorablehere,thenextandonlytopicisrevenge.Butisitpossible?Hrothgarleadsuptohisappealandpromisewithaskillfulandofteneffectivedescriptionofthehorrorswhichsurroundthemonster’shomeandawaittheattemptofanavengingfoe.

{21a}Hrothgarisprobablymeant.

{21b}Meetingplace.

{22a}Kenningfor“sword.”Hruntingisbewitched,laidunderaspellofuselessness,alongwithallotherswords.

{22b}Thisbrownofswords,evidentlymeaningburnished,bright,continuestobeafavoriteadjectiveinthepopularballads.

{23a}AfterthekillingofthemonsterandGrendel’sdecapitation.

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{23b}Hrothgar.

{23c}Thebladeslowlydissolvesinblood-staineddropslikeicicles.

{23d}Spear.

{24a}Thatis,“whoeverhasaswideauthorityasIhaveandcanremembersofarbacksomanyinstancesofheroism,maywellsay,asIsay,thatnobetterheroeverlivedthanBeowulf.”

{25a}Thatis,heisnowundefendedbyconsciencefromthetemptations(shafts)ofthedevil.

{25b}Kenningforthesun.—Thisisastrangerolefortheraven.Heisthewarrior’sbirdofbattle,exultsinslaughterandcarnage;hisjoyhereisacomplimenttothesunrise.

{26a}Thatis,hemightormightnotseeBeowulfagain.Oldashewas,thelatterchancewaslikely;butheclungtotheformer,hopingtoseehisyoungfriendagain“andexchangebravewordsinthehall.”

{27a}Withthespeedoftheboat.

{27b}QueentoHygelac.Sheispraisedbycontrastwiththeantitype,Thryth,justasBeowulfwaspraisedby contrast with Heremod.

{27c}Kenningfor“wife.”

{28a}Beowulfgiveshisunclethekingnotmeregossipofhisjourney,butastatesmanlikeforecastoftheoutcomeofcertainpoliciesattheDanishcourt.Talkofinterpolationhereisabsurd.AsbothBeowulfandHygelacknow,—andthefolkforwhomtheBeowulfwasputtogetheralsoknew,—FrodawaskingoftheHeathobards(probablytheLangobards,oncenearneighborsofAngleandSaxontribesonthecontinent),andhadfalleninfightwiththeDanes.Hrothgarwillsetasidethisfeudbygivinghisdaughteras“peace-weaver”andwifetotheyoungkingIngeld,sonoftheslainFroda.ButBeowulf,ongeneralprinciplesandfromhisobservationoftheparticularcase,foretellstrouble.Note:

{28b}Playofshields,battle.ADanishwarriorcutsdownFrodainthefight,andtakeshisswordandarmor,leavingthemtoason.Thissonisselectedtoaccompanyhismistress,theyoungprincessFreawaru,tohernewhomewhensheisIngeld’squeen.HeedlesslyhewearstheswordofFrodainhall.AnoldwarriorpointsitouttoIngeld,andeggshimontovengeance.AthisinstigationtheDaneiskilled;butthemurderer,afraidofresults,andknowingtheland,escapes.Sotheoldfeudmustbreakoutagain.

{28c}Thatis,theirdisastrousbattleandtheslayingoftheirking.

{28d}Thesword.

{28e}Beowulfreturnstohisforecast.Thingsmightwellgosomewhatasfollows,hesays;sketchesalittletragicstory;andwiththisprophecybyillustrationreturnstothetaleofhisadventure.

{28f}Notanactualglove,butasortofbag.

{29a}Hygelac.

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{29b}Thisisgenerallyassumedtomeanhides,thoughthetextsimplysays“seventhousand.”AhideinEnglandmeantabout120acres,though“thesizeoftheacrevaried.”

{29c}OnthehistoricalraidintoFrankishterritorybetween512and520A.D.Thesubsequentcourseofevents, as gathered from hints of this epic, is partly told in Scandinavian legend.

{29d}Thechronologyofthisepic,asscholarshaveworkeditout,wouldmakeBeowulfwelloverninetyyearsofagewhenhefightsthedragon.Butthefiftyyearsofhisreignneednotbetakenashistoricalfact.

{29e}Thetextisherehopelesslyillegible,andonlythegeneraldriftofthemeaningcanberescued.Foronething,wehavetheoldmythofadragonwhoguardshiddentreasure.Butwiththisrunsthestoryofsome noble, last of his race, who hides all his wealth within this barrow and there chants his farewell to life’s glories. After his death the dragon takes possession of the hoard and watches over it. A condemned orbanishedman,desperate,hidesinthebarrow,discoversthetreasure,andwhilethedragonsleeps,makesoffwithagoldenbeakerorthelike,andcarriesitforpropitiationtohismaster.Thedragondiscoversthelossandexactsfearfulpenaltyfromthepeopleroundabout.

{31a}Literally“loan-days,”daysloanedtoman.

{31b}Chattuarii,atribethatdweltalongtheRhine,andtookpartinrepellingtheraidof(Hygelac)Chocilaicus.

{31c}Onla,sonofOngentheow,whopursueshistwonephewsEanmundandEadgilstoHeardred’scourt,wheretheyhavetakenrefugeaftertheirunsuccessfulrebellion.InthefightingHeardrediskilled.

{32a}Thatis,BeowulfsupportsEadgilsagainstOnela,whoisslainbyEadgilsinrevengeforthe“care-paths”ofexileintowhichOnelaforcedhim.

{32b}Thatis,thekingcouldclaimnowergild,orman-price,fromonesonforthekillingoftheother.

{32c}Usualeuphemismfordeath.

{32d}Sc.inthegrave.

{33a}EoforforWulf.—TheimmediateprovocationforEoforinkilling“thehoaryScylfing,”Ongentheow,isthatthelatterhasjuststruckWulfdown;buttheking,Haethcyn,isalsoavengedbytheblow.Seethedetailed description below.

{33b}Hygelac.

{33c}Shield.

{33d}Thehollowpassage.

{34a}Thatis,althoughEanmundwasbrother’ssontoOnela,theslayingoftheformerbyWeohstanisnotfeltascauseoffeud,andisrewardedbygiftoftheslainman’sweapons.

{34b}BothWiglafandthesworddidtheirduty.—ThefollowingisoneoftheclassicpassagesforillustratingthecomitatusasthemostconspicuousGermanicinstitution,anditsunderlyingsenseofduty,

113BEOWULF

basedpartlyontheideaofloyaltyandpartlyonthepracticalbasisofbenefitsreceivedandrepaid.

{34c}Sc.“thantobidesafelyhere,”—acommonfigureofincompletecomparison.

{34d}Wiglaf’swoodenshield.

{34e}Geringwouldtranslate“kinsmanofthenail,”asbotharemadeofiron.

{35a}Thatis,swords.

{36a}WhereBeowulflay.

{37a}Whathadbeenleftormadebythehammer;well-forged.

{37b}Tryingtorevivehim.

{38a}Nothing.

{38b}Dead.

{38c}Death-watch,guardofhonor,“lyke-wake.”

{38d}AnamefortheFranks.

{38e}Ongentheow.

{38f}Haethcyn.

{39a}Thelinemaymean:tillHrethelingsstormedonthehedgedshields,—i.e.theshield-wallorhedgeofdefensivewar—Hrethelings,ofcourse,areGeats.

{39b}Eofor,brothertoWulfWonreding.

{39c}Sc.“valuein”hidesandtheweightofthegold.

{39d}Notatall.

{39e}Laidonitwhenitwasputinthebarrow.Thisspell,orinourdaysthe“curse,”eitherpreventeddiscoveryorbroughtdireillsonthefinderandtaker.

{40a}Probablythefugitiveismeantwhodiscoveredthehoard.TenBrinkandGeringassumethatthedragonismeant.“Hid”maywellmeanhere“tookwhileinhiding.”

{40b}Thatis“oneandafewothers.”ButBeowulfseemstobeindicated.

{40c}TenBrinkpointsoutthestronglyheathencharacterofthispartoftheepic.Beowulf’sendcame,sotheoldtraditionran,fromhisunwittinginterferencewithspell-boundtreasure.

{40d}Ahardsaying,variouslyinterpreted.Inanycase,itisthesomewhatclumsyeffortoftheChristianpoet to tone down the heathenism of his material by an edifying observation.

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{41a}NothingissaidofBeowulf’swifeinthepoem,butBuggesurmisesthatBeowulffinallyacceptedHygd’sofferofkingdomandhoard,and,aswasusual,tookherintothebargain.