[1] ‘From ham’ (194) is
much disputed. One rendering is: Beowulf,
being away from home, heard of Hrothgar’s
troubles, etc. Another, that adopted
by S. and endorsed in the H.-So. notes, is: B.
heard from his neighborhood (neighbors),i.e.
in his home, etc. A third is:
B., being at home, heard this as occurring away
from home. The H.-So. glossary and notes
conflict.
[2] ‘Eoletes’
(224) is marked with a (?) by H.-So.; our rendering
simply follows his conjecture.—Other
conjectures as to ‘eolet’ are:
(1) voyage, (2) toil,
labor, (3) hasty journey.
[3] The lacuna of the MS at this point
has been supplied by various conjectures.
The reading adopted by H.-So. has been rendered in
the above translation. W., like H.-So., makes
‘ic’ the beginning of a new sentence,
but, for ‘helmas baeron,’ he reads ‘hringed
stefnan.’ This has the advantage of
giving a parallel to ‘brontne ceol’ instead
of a kenning for ’go.’—B
puts the (?) after ‘holmas’, and begins
a new sentence at the middle of the line.
Translate: What warriors are ye, clad
in armor, who have thus come bringing the foaming vessel
over the water way, hither over the seas?
For some time on the wall I have been coast guard,
etc. S. endorses most of what B. says, but
leaves out ‘on the wall’ in the last
sentence. If W.’s ‘hringed stefnan’
be accepted, change line 51 above to, A ring-stemmed
vessel hither o’ersea.
[4] ‘Seld-guma’
(249) is variously rendered: (1) housecarle;
(2) home-stayer; (3) common
man. Dr. H. Wood suggests a man-at-arms
in another’s house.
V.
THE GEATS REACH HEOROT.
{Beowulf courteously replies.}
The
chief of the strangers rendered him answer,
War-troopers’
leader, and word-treasure opened:
{We are Geats.}
“We
are sprung from the lineage of the people of Geatland,
And
Higelac’s hearth-friends. To heroes unnumbered
{My father Ecgtheow was well-known in his day.}
5
My father was known, a noble head-warrior
Ecgtheow
titled; many a winter
He
lived with the people, ere he passed on his journey,
Old
from his dwelling; each of the counsellors
Widely
mid world-folk well remembers him.
{Our intentions towards King Hrothgar are of the kindest.}
10 We, kindly
of spirit, the lord of thy people,
The
son of King Healfdene, have come here to visit,
[11] Folk-troop’s defender: be free
in thy counsels!
To
the noble one bear we a weighty commission,
The
helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween,
{Is it true that a monster is slaying Danish heroes?}
