ERST-WORTHY.—Worthy for a long time past.
FOIN.—To lunge (Shaks.).
GREWSOME.—Cruel, fierce.
HEFT.—Handle, hilt; used by synecdoche
for ‘sword.’
HELM.—Helmet, protector.
HENCHMAN.—Retainer, vassal.
HOLM.—Ocean, curved surface of the sea.
HIMSEEMED.—(It) seemed to him.
MERE.—Sea; in compounds, ‘mere-ways,’
‘mere-currents,’ etc.
REAVE.—Bereave, deprive.
UNCANNY.—Ill-featured, grizzly.
WAR-SPEED.—Success in war.
WEB.—Tapestry (that which is ’woven’).
WEEDED.—Clad (cf. widow’s weeds).
WEIRD.—Fate, Providence.
WHILOM.—At times, formerly, often.
WIELDER.—Ruler. Often used of God;
also in compounds, as ’Wielder of
Glory,’ ‘Wielder of Worship.’
WOLD.—Plane, extended surface.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD.
{The famous race of Spear-Danes.}
Lo!
the Spear-Danes’ glory through splendid achievements
The
folk-kings’ former fame we have heard of,
How
princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.
{Scyld, their mighty king, in honor of whom they are
often called Scyldings. He is the great-grandfather
of Hrothgar, so prominent in the poem.}
Oft
Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers
5
From many a people their mead-benches tore.
Since
first he found him friendless and wretched,
The
earl had had terror: comfort he got for it,
Waxed
’neath the welkin, world-honor gained,
Till
all his neighbors o’er sea were compelled to
10 Bow to
his bidding and bring him their tribute:
An
excellent atheling! After was borne him
{A son is born to him, who receives the name of Beowulf—a
name afterwards made so famous by the hero of the
poem.}
