The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Table of Contents | |
Section | Page |
Start of eBook | 1 |
PREFACE. | 1 |
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES. | 3 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TRANSLATIONS. | 4 |
GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES. | 4 |
LIST OF WORDS AND PHRASES NOT IN GENERAL USE. | 9 |
BEOWULF. | 10 |
I. | 10 |
II. | 12 |
III. | 14 |
IV. | 16 |
V. | 18 |
VI. | 20 |
VII. | 21 |
VIII. | 24 |
IX. | 26 |
X. | 27 |
XI. | 30 |
XII. | 32 |
XIII. | 34 |
XIV. | 35 |
XV. | 37 |
XVI. | 39 |
XVII. | 40 |
XVIII. | 43 |
XIX. | 45 |
XX. | 46 |
XXI. | 48 |
XXII. | 50 |
XXIII. | 52 |
XXIV. | 54 |
XXV. | 57 |
XXVI. | 59 |
XXVII. | 61 |
XXVIII. | 63 |
XXIX. | 65 |
XXX. | 67 |
XXXI. | 70 |
XXXII. | 72 |
XXXIII. | 74 |
XXXIV. | 76 |
XXXV. | 78 |
XXXVI. | 81 |
XXXVII. | 84 |
XXXVIII. | 85 |
XXXIX. | 87 |
XL. | 89 |
XLI. | 90 |
XLII. | 94 |
XLIII. | 96 |
ADDENDA. | 97 |
The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern measures, the venerable epic, Beowulf. Approximately, I repeat; for a very close reproduction of Anglo-Saxon verse would, to a large extent, be prose to a modern ear.
The Heyne-Socin text and glossary have been closely followed. Occasionally a deviation has been made, but always for what seemed good and sufficient reason. The translator does not aim to be an editor. Once in a while, however, he has added a conjecture of his own to the emendations quoted from the criticisms of other students of the poem.
This work is addressed to two classes of readers. From both of these alike the translator begs sympathy and co-operation. The Anglo-Saxon scholar he hopes to please by adhering faithfully to the original. The student of English literature he aims to interest by giving him, in modern garb, the most ancient epic of our race. This is a bold and venturesome undertaking; and yet there must be some students of the Teutonic past willing to follow even a daring guide, if they may read in modern phrases of the sorrows of Hrothgar, of the prowess of Beowulf, and of the feelings that stirred the hearts of our forefathers in their primeval homes.
In order to please the larger class of readers, a regular cadence has been used, a measure which, while retaining the essential characteristics of the original, permits the reader to see ahead of him in reading.
Perhaps every Anglo-Saxon scholar has his own theory as to how Beowulf should be translated. Some have given us prose versions of what we believe to be a great poem. Is it any reflection on our honored Kemble and Arnold to say that their translations fail to show a layman that Beowulf is justly called our first epic? Of those translators who have used verse, several have written from what would seem a mistaken point of view. Is it proper, for instance, that the grave and solemn speeches of Beowulf and Hrothgar be put in ballad measures, tripping lightly and airily along? Or, again, is it fitting that the rough martial music of Anglo-Saxon verse be interpreted to us in the smooth measures of modern blank verse? Do we hear what has been beautifully called “the clanging tread of a warrior in mail”?
[viii]
Of all English translations of Beowulf, that of Professor Garnett alone gives any adequate idea of the chief characteristics of this great Teutonic epic.
The measure used in the present translation is believed to be as near a reproduction of the original as modern English affords. The cadences closely resemble those used by Browning in some of his most striking poems. The four stresses of the Anglo-Saxon verse are retained, and as much thesis and anacrusis is allowed as is consistent with a regular cadence. Alliteration has been used to a large extent; but it was thought that modern ears would hardly tolerate it on every line. End-rhyme has been used occasionally; internal rhyme, sporadically. Both have some warrant in Anglo-Saxon poetry. (For end-rhyme, see 1_53, 1_54; for internal rhyme, 2_21, 6_40.)
What Gummere[1] calls the “rime-giver” has been studiously kept; viz., the first accented syllable in the second half-verse always carries the alliteration; and the last accented syllable alliterates only sporadically. Alternate alliteration is occasionally used as in the original. (See 7_61, 8_5.)
No two accented syllables have been brought together, except occasionally after a caesural pause. (See 2_19 and 12_1.) Or, scientifically speaking, Sievers’s C type has been avoided as not consonant with the plan of translation. Several of his types, however, constantly occur; e.g. A and a variant (/ x | / x) (/ x x | / x); B and a variant (x / | x / ) (x x / | x / ); a variant of D (/ x | / x x); E (/ x x | / ). Anacrusis gives further variety to the types used in the translation.
The parallelisms of the original have been faithfully preserved. (E.g., 1_16 and 1_17: “Lord” and “Wielder of Glory”; 1_30, 1_31, 1_32; 2_12 and 2_13; 2_27 and 2_28; 3_5 and 3_6.) Occasionally, some loss has been sustained; but, on the other hand, a gain has here and there been made.
The effort has been made to give a decided flavor of archaism to the translation. All words not in keeping with the spirit of the poem have been avoided. Again, though many archaic words have been used, there are none, it is believed, which are not found in standard modern poetry.
[ix]
With these preliminary remarks, it will not be amiss to give an outline of the story of the poem.
THE STORY.
Hrothgar, king of the Danes, or Scyldings, builds a great mead-hall, or palace, in which he hopes to feast his liegemen and to give them presents. The joy of king and retainers is, however, of short duration. Grendel, the monster, is seized with hateful jealousy. He cannot brook the sounds of joyance that reach him down in his fen-dwelling near the hall. Oft and anon he goes to the joyous building, bent on direful mischief. Thane after thane is ruthlessly carried off and devoured, while no one is found strong enough and bold enough to cope with the monster. For twelve years he persecutes Hrothgar and his vassals.
Over sea, a day’s voyage off, Beowulf, of the Geats, nephew of Higelac, king of the Geats, hears of Grendel’s doings and of Hrothgar’s misery. He resolves to crush the fell monster and relieve the aged king. With fourteen chosen companions, he sets sail for Dane-land. Reaching that country, he soon persuades Hrothgar of his ability to help him. The hours that elapse before night are spent in beer-drinking and conversation. When Hrothgar’s bedtime comes he leaves the hall in charge of Beowulf, telling him that never before has he given to another the absolute wardship of his palace. All retire to rest, Beowulf, as it were, sleeping upon his arms.
Grendel comes, the great march-stepper, bearing God’s anger. He seizes and kills one of the sleeping warriors. Then he advances towards Beowulf. A fierce and desperate hand-to-hand struggle ensues. No arms are used, both combatants trusting to strength and hand-grip. Beowulf tears Grendel’s shoulder from its socket, and the monster retreats to his den, howling and yelling with agony and fury. The wound is fatal.
The next morning, at early dawn, warriors in numbers flock to the hall Heorot, to hear the news. Joy is boundless. Glee runs high. Hrothgar and his retainers are lavish of gratitude and of gifts.
Grendel’s mother, however, comes the next night to avenge his death. She is furious and raging. While Beowulf is sleeping in a room somewhat apart [x] from the quarters of the other warriors, she seizes one of Hrothgar’s favorite counsellors, and carries him off and devours him. Beowulf is called. Determined to leave Heorot entirely purified, he arms himself, and goes down to look for the female monster. After traveling through the waters many hours, he meets her near the sea-bottom. She drags him to her den. There he sees Grendel lying dead. After a desperate and almost fatal struggle with the woman, he slays her, and swims upward in triumph, taking with him Grendel’s head.
Joy is renewed at Heorot. Congratulations crowd upon the victor. Hrothgar literally pours treasures into the lap of Beowulf; and it is agreed among the vassals of the king that Beowulf will be their next liegelord.
Beowulf leaves Dane-land. Hrothgar weeps and laments at his departure.
When the hero arrives in his own land, Higelac treats him as a distinguished guest. He is the hero of the hour.
Beowulf subsequently becomes king of his own people, the Geats. After he has been ruling for fifty years, his own neighborhood is wofully harried by a fire-spewing dragon. Beowulf determines to kill him. In the ensuing struggle both Beowulf and the dragon are slain. The grief of the Geats is inexpressible. They determine, however, to leave nothing undone to honor the memory of their lord. A great funeral-pyre is built, and his body is burnt. Then a memorial-barrow is made, visible from a great distance, that sailors afar may be constantly reminded of the prowess of the national hero of Geatland.
The poem closes with a glowing tribute to his bravery, his gentleness, his goodness of heart, and his generosity.
* * * * *
It is the devout desire of this translator to hasten the day when the story of Beowulf shall be as familiar to English-speaking peoples as that of the Iliad. Beowulf is our first great epic. It is an epitomized history of the life of the Teutonic races. It brings vividly before us our forefathers of pre-Alfredian eras, in their love of war, of sea, and of adventure.
My special thanks are due to Professors Francis A. March and James A. Harrison, for advice, sympathy, and assistance.
J.L. HALL.
[xi]
B. = Bugge. C. = Cosijn. Gr. = Grein. Grdvtg. = Grundtvig. H. = Heyne. H. and S. = Harrison and Sharp. H.-So. = Heyne-Socin. K.= Kemble. Kl. = Kluge. M.= Muellenhoff. R. = Rieger. S. = Sievers. Sw. = Sweet. t.B. = ten Brink. Th. = Thorpe. W. = Wuelcker.
* * * * *
Arnold, Thomas.—Beowulf. A heroic poem of the eighth century. London, 1876. With English translation. Prose.
Botkine, L.—Beowulf. Epopee Anglo-Saxonne. Havre, 1877. First French translation. Passages occasionally omitted.
Conybeare, J.J.—Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. London, 1826. Full Latin translation, and some passages translated into English blank-verse.
Ettmuller, L.—Beowulf, stabreimend uebersetzt. Zuerich, 1840.
Garnett, J.M.—Beowulf: an Anglo-Saxon Poem, and the Fight at Finnsburg. Boston, 1882. An accurate line-for-line translation, using alliteration occasionally, and sometimes assuming a metrical cadence.
Grein, C.W.M.—Dichtungen der Angelsachsen, stabreimend uebersetzt. 2 Bde. Goettingen, 1857-59.
Grion, Giusto.—Beovulf, poema epico anglo-sassone del VII. secolo, tradotto e illustrato. Lucca, 1883. First Italian translation.
Grundtvig, N.F.S.—Bjowulfs Drape. Copenhagen, 1820.
Heyne, M.—A translation in iambic measures. Paderborn, 1863.
Kemble, J.M.—The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the Traveller’s Song, and the Battle of Finnsburg. London, 1833. The second edition contains a prose translation of Beowulf.
Leo, H.—Ueber Beowulf. Halle, 1839. Translations of extracts.
[xii]
Lumsden, H.W.—Beowulf, translated into modern rhymes. London, 1881. Ballad measures. Passages occasionally omitted.
Sandras, G.S.—De carminibus Caedmoni adjudicatis. Paris, 1859. An extract from Beowulf, with Latin translation.
Schaldmose, F.—Beowulf og Scopes Widsith, to Angelsaxiske Digte. Copenhagen, 1847.
Simrock, K.—Beowulf. Uebersetzt und erlaeutert. Stuttgart und Augsburg, 1859. Alliterative measures.
Thorkelin, G.J.—De Danorum rebus gestis secul. III. et IV. poema Danicum dialecto Anglosaxonica. Havniae, 1815. Latin translation.
Thorpe, B.—The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the Scop or Gleeman’s Tale, and the Fight at Finnsburg. Oxford, 1855. English translation in short lines, generally containing two stresses.
Wackerbarth, A.D.—Beowulf, translated into English verse. London, 1849.
Wickberg, R.—Beowulf, en fornengelsk hjeltedikt, oefersatt. Westervik. First Swedish translation.
von Wolzogen, H.—Beowulf, in alliterative measures. Leipzig.
Zinsser, G.—Der Kampf Beowulfs mit Grendel. Jahresbericht of the Realschule at Forbach, 1881.
[xiii]
* * * * *
[The figures refer to the divisions of the poem in which the respective names occur. The large figures refer to fitts, the small, to lines in the fitts.]
* * * * *
AElfhere.—A kinsman of Wiglaf.—36_3.
AEschere.—Confidential friend of King Hrothgar. Elder brother of Yrmenlaf. Killed by Grendel.—21_3; 30_89.
Beanstan.—Father of Breca.—9_26.
Beowulf.—Son of Scyld, the founder of the dynasty of Scyldings. Father of Healfdene, and grandfather of Hrothgar.—1_18; 2_1.
Beowulf.—The hero of the poem. Sprung from the stock of Geats, son of Ecgtheow. Brought up by his maternal grandfather Hrethel, and figuring in manhood as a devoted liegeman of his uncle Higelac. A hero from his youth. Has the strength of thirty men. Engages in a swimming-match with Breca. Goes to the help of Hrothgar against the monster Grendel. Vanquishes Grendel and his mother. Afterwards becomes king of the Geats. Late in life attempts to kill a fire-spewing dragon, and is slain. Is buried with great honors. His memorial mound.—6_26; 7_2; 7_9; 9_3; 9_8; 12_28; 12_43; 23_1, etc.
Breca.—Beowulf’s opponent in the famous swimming-match.—9_8; 9_19; 9_21; 9_22.
Brondings.—A people ruled by Breca.—9_23.
Brosinga mene.—A famous collar once owned by the Brosings.—19_7.
Cain.—Progenitor of Grendel and other monsters.—2_56; 20_11.
Daeghrefn.—A warrior of the Hugs, killed by Beowulf.—35_40.
Danes.—Subjects of Scyld and his descendants, and hence often called Scyldings. Other names for them are Victory-Scyldings, Honor-Scyldings, Armor-Danes, Bright-Danes, East-Danes, West-Danes, North-Danes, South-Danes, Ingwins, Hrethmen.—1_1; 2_1; 3_2; 5_14; 7_1, etc.
Ecglaf.—Father of Unferth, who taunts Beowulf.—9_1.
Ecgtheow.—Father of Beowulf, the hero of the poem. A widely-known Waegmunding warrior. Marries Hrethel’s daughter. After slaying Heatholaf, a Wylfing, he flees his country.—7_3; 5_6; 8_4.
Ecgwela.—A king of the Danes before Scyld.—25_60.
[xiv]
Elan.—Sister of Hrothgar, and probably wife of Ongentheow, king of the Swedes.—2_10.
Eagle Cape.—A promontory in Geat-land, under which took place Beowulf’s last encounter.—41_87.
Eadgils.—Son of Ohthere and brother of Eanmund.—34_2.
Eanmund.—Son of Ohthere and brother of Eadgils. The reference to these brothers is vague, and variously understood. Heyne supposes as follows: Raising a revolt against their father, they are obliged to leave Sweden. They go to the land of the Geats; with what intention, is not known, but probably to conquer and plunder. The Geatish king, Heardred, is slain by one of the brothers, probably Eanmund.—36_10; 31_54 to 31_60; 33_66 to 34_6.
Eofor.—A Geatish hero who slays Ongentheow in war, and is rewarded by Hygelac with the hand of his only daughter.—41_18; 41_48.
Eormenric.—A Gothic king, from whom Hama took away the famous Brosinga mene.—19_9.
Eomaer.—Son of Offa and Thrytho, king and queen of the Angles.—28_69.
Finn.—King of the North-Frisians and the Jutes. Marries Hildeburg. At his court takes place the horrible slaughter in which the Danish general, Hnaef, fell. Later on, Finn himself is slain by Danish warriors.—17_18; 17_30; 17_44; 18_4; 18_23.
Fin-land.—The country to which Beowulf was driven by the currents in his swimming-match.—10_22.
Fitela.—Son and nephew of King Sigemund, whose praises are sung in XIV.—14_42; 14_53.
Folcwalda.—Father of Finn.—17_38.
Franks.—Introduced occasionally in referring to the death of Higelac.—19_19; 40_21; 40_24.
Frisians.—A part of them are ruled by Finn. Some of them were engaged in the struggle in which Higelac was slain.—17_20; 17_42; 17_52; 40_21.
Freaware.—Daughter of King Hrothgar. Married to Ingeld, a Heathobard prince.—29_60; 30_32.
Froda.—King of the Heathobards, and father of Ingeld.—29_62.
Garmund.—Father of Offa.—28_71.
Geats, Geatmen.—The race to which the hero of the poem belongs. Also called Weder-Geats, or Weders, War-Geats, Sea-Geats. They are ruled by Hrethel, Haethcyn, Higelac, and Beowulf.—4_7; 7_4; 10_45; 11_8; 27_14; 28_8.
Gepids.—Named in connection with the Danes and Swedes.—35_34.
Grendel.—A monster of the race of Cain. Dwells in the fens and moors. Is furiously envious when he hears sounds of joy in Hrothgar’s palace. Causes the king untold agony for years. Is finally conquered by Beowulf, and dies of his wound. His hand and arm are hung up in Hrothgar’s hall Heorot. His head is cut off by Beowulf when he goes down to fight with Grendel’s mother.—2_50; 3_1; 3_13; 8_19; 11_17; 12_2; 13_27; 15_3.
Guthlaf.—A Dane of Hnaef’s party.—18_24.
Half-Danes.—Branch of the Danes to which Hnaef belonged.—17_19.
[xv]
Halga.—Surnamed the Good. Younger brother of Hrothgar.—2_9.
Hama.—Takes the Brosinga mene from Eormenric.—19_7.
Haereth.—Father of Higelac’s queen, Hygd.—28_39; 29_18.
Haethcyn.—Son of Hrethel and brother of Higelac. Kills his brother Herebeald accidentally. Is slain at Ravenswood, fighting against Ongentheow.—34_43; 35_23; 40_32.
Helmings.—The race to which Queen Wealhtheow belonged.—10_63.
Heming.—A kinsman of Garmund, perhaps nephew.—28_54; 28_70.
Hengest.—A Danish leader. Takes command on the fall of Hnaef.—17_33; 17_41.
Herebeald.—Eldest son of Hrethel, the Geatish king, and brother of Higelac. Killed by his younger brother Haethcyn.—34_43; 34_47.
Heremod.—A Danish king of a dynasty before the Scylding line. Was a source of great sorrow to his people.—14_64; 25_59.
Hereric.—Referred to as uncle of Heardred, but otherwise unknown.—31_60.
Hetwars.—Another name for the Franks.—33_51.
Healfdene.—Grandson of Scyld and father of Hrothgar. Ruled the Danes long and well.—2_5; 4_1; 8_14.
Heardred.—Son of Higelac and Hygd, king and queen of the Geats. Succeeds his father, with Beowulf as regent. Is slain by the sons of Ohthere.—31_56; 33_63; 33_75.
Heathobards.—Race of Lombards, of which Froda is king. After Froda falls in battle with the Danes, Ingeld, his son, marries Hrothgar’s daughter, Freaware, in order to heal the feud.—30_1; 30_6.
Heatholaf.—A Wylfing warrior slain by Beowulf’s father.—8_5.
Heathoremes.—The people on whose shores Breca is cast by the waves during his contest with Beowulf.—9_21.
Heorogar.—Elder brother of Hrothgar, and surnamed ‘Weoroda Raeswa,’ Prince of the Troopers.—2_9; 8_12.
Hereward.—Son of the above.—31_17.
Heort, Heorot.—The great mead-hall which King Hrothgar builds. It is invaded by Grendel for twelve years. Finally cleansed by Beowulf, the Geat. It is called Heort on account of the hart-antlers which decorate it.—2_25; 3_32; 3_52.
Hildeburg.—Wife of Finn, daughter of Hoce, and related to Hnaef,—probably his sister.—17_21; 18_34.
Hnaef.—Leader of a branch of the Danes called Half-Danes. Killed in the struggle at Finn’s castle.—17_19; 17_61.
Hondscio.—One of Beowulf’s companions. Killed by Grendel just before Beowulf grappled with that monster.—30_43.
Hoce.—Father of Hildeburg and probably of Hnaef.—17_26.
Hrethel.—King of the Geats, father of Higelac, and grandfather of Beowulf.—7_4; 34_39.
Hrethla.—Once used for Hrethel.—7_82.
Hrethmen.—Another name for the Danes.—7_73.
Hrethric.—Son of Hrothgar.—18_65; 27_19.
[xvi]
Hreosna-beorh.—A promontory in Geat-land, near which Ohthere’s sons made plundering raids.—35_18.
Hrothgar.—The Danish king who built the hall Heort, but was long unable to enjoy it on account of Grendel’s persecutions. Marries Wealhtheow, a Helming lady. Has two sons and a daughter. Is a typical Teutonic king, lavish of gifts. A devoted liegelord, as his lamentations over slain liegemen prove. Also very appreciative of kindness, as is shown by his loving gratitude to Beowulf.—2_9; 2_12; 4_1; 8_10; 15_1; etc., etc.
Hrothmund.—Son of Hrothgar.—18_65.
Hrothulf.—Probably a son of Halga, younger brother of Hrothgar. Certainly on terms of close intimacy in Hrothgar’s palace.—16_26; 18_57.
Hrunting.—Unferth’s sword, lent to Beowulf.—22_71; 25_9.
Hugs.—A race in alliance with the Franks and Frisians at the time of Higelac’s fall.—35_41.
Hun.—A Frisian warrior, probably general of the Hetwars. Gives Hengest a beautiful sword.—18_19.
Hunferth.—Sometimes used for Unferth.
Hygelac, Higelac.—King of the Geats, uncle and liegelord of Beowulf, the hero of the poem.—His second wife is the lovely Hygd, daughter of Haereth. The son of their union is Heardred. Is slain in a war with the Hugs, Franks, and Frisians combined. Beowulf is regent, and afterwards king of the Geats.—4_6; 5_4; 28_34; 29_9; 29_21; 31_56.
Hygd.—Wife of Higelac, and daughter of Haereth. There are some indications that she married Beowulf after she became a widow.—28_37.
Ingeld.—Son of the Heathobard king, Froda. Marries Hrothgar’s daughter, Freaware, in order to reconcile the two peoples.—29_62; 30_32.
Ingwins.—Another name for the Danes.—16_52; 20_69.
Jutes.—Name sometimes applied to Finn’s people.—17_22; 17_38; 18_17.
Lafing.—Name of a famous sword presented to Hengest by Hun.—18_19.
Merewing.—A Frankish king, probably engaged in the war in which Higelac was slain.—40_29.
Naegling.—Beowulf’s sword.—36_76.
Offa.—King of the Angles, and son of Garmund. Marries the terrible Thrytho who is so strongly contrasted with Hygd.—28_59; 28_66.
Ohthere.—Son of Ongentheow, king of the Swedes. He is father of Eanmund and Eadgils.—40_35; 40_39.
Onela.—Brother of Ohthere.—36_15; 40_39.
Ongentheow.—King of Sweden, of the Scylfing dynasty. Married, perhaps, Elan, daughter of Healfdene.—35_26; 41_16.
Oslaf.—A Dane of Hnaef’s party.—18_24.
Ravenswood.—The forest near which Haethcyn was slain.—40_31; 40_41.
Scefing.—Applied (1_4) to Scyld, and meaning ‘son of Scef.’
[xvii]
Scyld.—Founder of the dynasty to which Hrothgar, his father, and grandfather belonged. He dies, and his body is put on a vessel, and set adrift. He goes from Daneland just as he had come to it—in a bark.—1_4; 1_19; 1_27.
Scyldings.—The descendants of Scyld. They are also called Honor-Scyldings, Victory-Scyldings, War-Scyldings, etc. (See ‘Danes,’ above.)—2_1; 7_1; 8_1.
Scylfings.—A Swedish royal line to which Wiglaf belonged.—36_2.
Sigemund.—Son of Waels, and uncle and father of Fitela. His struggle with a dragon is related in connection with Beowulf’s deeds of prowess.—14_38; 14_47.
Swerting.—Grandfather of Higelac, and father of Hrethel.—19_11.
Swedes.—People of Sweden, ruled by the Scylfings.—35_13.
Thrytho.—Wife of Offa, king of the Angles. Known for her fierce and unwomanly disposition. She is introduced as a contrast to the gentle Hygd, queen of Higelac.—28_42; 28_56.
Unferth.—Son of Ecglaf, and seemingly a confidential courtier of Hrothgar. Taunts Beowulf for having taken part in the swimming-match. Lends Beowulf his sword when he goes to look for Grendel’s mother. In the MS. sometimes written Hunferth. 9_1; 18_41.
Waels.—Father of Sigemund.—14_60.
Waegmunding.—A name occasionally applied to Wiglaf and Beowulf, and perhaps derived from a common ancestor, Waegmund.—36_6; 38_61.
Weders.—Another name for Geats or Wedergeats.
Wayland.—A fabulous smith mentioned in this poem and in other old Teutonic literature.—7_83.
Wendels.—The people of Wulfgar, Hrothgar’s messenger and retainer. (Perhaps = Vandals.)—6_30.
Wealhtheow.—Wife of Hrothgar. Her queenly courtesy is well shown in the poem.—10_55.
Weohstan, or Wihstan.—A Waegmunding, and father of Wiglaf.—36_1.
Whale’s Ness.—A prominent promontory, on which Beowulf’s mound was built.—38_52; 42_76.
Wiglaf.—Son of Wihstan, and related to Beowulf. He remains faithful to Beowulf in the fatal struggle with the fire-drake. Would rather die than leave his lord in his dire emergency.—36_1; 36_3; 36_28.
Wonred.—Father of Wulf and Eofor.—41_20; 41_26.
Wulf.—Son of Wonred. Engaged in the battle between Higelac’s and Ongentheow’s forces, and had a hand-to-hand fight with Ongentheow himself. Ongentheow disables him, and is thereupon slain by Eofor.—41_19; 41_29.
Wulfgar.—Lord of the Wendels, and retainer of Hrothgar.—6_18; 6_30.
Wylfings.—A people to whom belonged Heatholaf, who was slain by Ecgtheow.—8_6; 8_16.
Yrmenlaf.—Younger brother of AEschere, the hero whose death grieved Hrothgar so deeply.—21_4.
[xviii]
ATHELING.—Prince, nobleman.
BAIRN.—Son, child.
BARROW.—Mound, rounded hill, funeral-mound.
BATTLE-SARK.—Armor.
BEAKER.—Cup, drinking-vessel.
BEGEAR.—Prepare.
BIGHT.—Bay, sea.
BILL.—Sword.
BOSS.—Ornamental projection.
BRACTEATE.—A round ornament on a necklace.
BRAND.—Sword.
BURN.—Stream.
BURNIE.—Armor.
CARLE.—Man, hero.
EARL.—Nobleman, any brave man.
EKE.—Also.
EMPRISE.—Enterprise, undertaking.
ERST.—Formerly.
ERST-WORTHY.—Worthy for a long time past.
FAIN.—Glad.
FERRY.—Bear, carry.
FEY.—Fated, doomed.
FLOAT.—Vessel, ship.
FOIN.—To lunge (Shaks.).
GLORY OF KINGS.—God.
GREWSOME.—Cruel, fierce.
HEFT.—Handle, hilt; used by synecdoche for ‘sword.’
HELM.—Helmet, protector.
HENCHMAN.—Retainer, vassal.
HIGHT.—Am (was) named.
HOLM.—Ocean, curved surface of the sea.
HIMSEEMED.—(It) seemed to him.
LIEF.—Dear, valued.
MERE.—Sea; in compounds, ‘mere-ways,’ ‘mere-currents,’ etc.
MICKLE.—Much.
NATHLESS.—Nevertheless.
NAZE.—Edge (nose).
NESS.—Edge.
NICKER.—Sea-beast.
QUIT, QUITE.—Requite.
RATHE.—Quickly.
REAVE.—Bereave, deprive.
SAIL-ROAD.—Sea.
SETTLE.—Seat, bench.
SKINKER.—One who pours.
SOOTHLY.—Truly.
SWINGE.—Stroke, blow.
TARGE, TARGET.—Shield.
THROUGHLY.—Thoroughly.
TOLD.—Counted.
UNCANNY.—Ill-featured, grizzly.
UNNETHE.—Difficult.
WAR-SPEED.—Success in war.
WEB.—Tapestry (that which is ’woven’).
WEEDED.—Clad (cf. widow’s weeds).
WEEN.—Suppose, imagine.
WEIRD.—Fate, Providence.
WHILOM.—At times, formerly, often.
WIELDER.—Ruler. Often used of God;
also in compounds, as ’Wielder of
Glory,’ ‘Wielder of Worship.’
WIGHT.—Creature.
WOLD.—Plane, extended surface.
WOT.—Knows.
YOUNKER.—Youth.
[1]
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD.
{The famous race of Spear-Danes.}
Lo!
the Spear-Danes’ glory through splendid achievements
The
folk-kings’ former fame we have heard of,
How
princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.
{Scyld, their mighty king, in honor of whom they are often called Scyldings. He is the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, so prominent in the poem.}
Oft
Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers
5
From many a people their mead-benches tore.
Since
first he found him friendless and wretched,
The
earl had had terror: comfort he got for it,
Waxed
’neath the welkin, world-honor gained,
Till
all his neighbors o’er sea were compelled to
10 Bow to
his bidding and bring him their tribute:
An
excellent atheling! After was borne him
{A son is born to him, who receives the name of Beowulf—a name afterwards made so famous by the hero of the poem.}
A
son and heir, young in his dwelling,
Whom
God-Father sent to solace the people.
He
had marked the misery malice had caused them,
15 [1]That
reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2]
Long
been afflicted. The Lord, in requital,
Wielder
of Glory, with world-honor blessed him.
Famed
was Beowulf, far spread the glory
Of
Scyld’s great son in the lands of the Danemen.
[2]
{The ideal Teutonic king lavishes gifts on his vassals.}
20 So the
carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered
The
friends of his father, with fees in abundance
Must
be able to earn that when age approacheth
Eager
companions aid him requitingly,
When
war assaults him serve him as liegemen:
25 By praise-worthy
actions must honor be got
’Mong
all of the races. At the hour that was fated
{Scyld dies at the hour appointed by Fate.}
Scyld
then departed to the All-Father’s keeping
Warlike
to wend him; away then they bare him
To
the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades,
30 As himself
he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings
Word-sway
wielded, and the well-loved land-prince
Long
did rule them.[3] The ring-stemmed vessel,
Bark
of the atheling, lay there at anchor,
Icy
in glimmer and eager for sailing;
{By his own request, his body is laid on a vessel and wafted seaward.}
35 The beloved
leader laid they down there,
Giver
of rings, on the breast of the vessel,
The
famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels,
Of
fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over,
Was
placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever
40 That
a folk ever furnished a float more superbly
With
weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle,
Bills
and burnies; on his bosom sparkled
Many
a jewel that with him must travel
On
the flush of the flood afar on the current.
45 And favors
no fewer they furnished him soothly,
Excellent
folk-gems, than others had given him
{He leaves Daneland on the breast of a bark.}
Who
when first he was born outward did send him
Lone
on the main, the merest of infants:
And
a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven
[3] 50 High o’er his head, let the holm-currents
bear him,
Seaward
consigned him: sad was their spirit,
Their
mood very mournful. Men are not able
{No one knows whither the boat drifted.}
Soothly
to tell us, they in halls who reside,[4]
Heroes
under heaven, to what haven he hied.
[1] For the ‘Þaet’ of verse 15, Sievers suggests ‘Þa’ (= which). If this be accepted, the sentence ‘He had ... afflicted’ will read: He (i.e. God) had perceived the malice-caused sorrow which they, lordless, had formerly long endured.
[2] For ‘aldor-lease’
(15) Gr. suggested ‘aldor-ceare’:
He perceived
their distress, that they
formerly had suffered life-sorrow a long
while.
[3] A very difficult passage. ‘Ahte’ (31) has no object. H. supplies ‘geweald’ from the context; and our translation is based upon this assumption, though it is far from satisfactory. Kl. suggests ‘laendagas’ for ‘lange’: And the beloved land-prince enjoyed (had) his transitory days (i.e. lived). B. suggests a dislocation; but this is a dangerous doctrine, pushed rather far by that eminent scholar.
[4] The reading of the H.-So. text has been quite closely followed; but some eminent scholars read ‘sele-raedenne’ for ‘sele-raedende.’ If that be adopted, the passage will read: Men cannot tell us, indeed, the order of Fate, etc. ‘Sele-raedende’ has two things to support it: (1) v. 1347; (2) it affords a parallel to ‘men’ in v. 50.
SCYLD’S SUCCESSORS.—HROTHGAR’S GREAT MEAD-HALL.
{Beowulf succeeds his father Scyld}
In
the boroughs then Beowulf, bairn of the Scyldings,
Beloved
land-prince, for long-lasting season
Was
famed mid the folk (his father departed,
The
prince from his dwelling), till afterward sprang
5
Great-minded Healfdene; the Danes in his lifetime
He
graciously governed, grim-mooded, aged.
{Healfdene’s birth.}
Four
bairns of his body born in succession
Woke
in the world, war-troopers’ leader
Heorogar,
Hrothgar, and Halga the good;
10 Heard
I that Elan was Ongentheow’s consort,
{He has three sons—one of them, Hrothgar—and a daughter named Elan. Hrothgar becomes a mighty king.}
The
well-beloved bedmate of the War-Scylfing leader.
Then
glory in battle to Hrothgar was given,
Waxing
of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen
Obeyed
his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood,
15 A numerous
band. It burned in his spirit
To
urge his folk to found a great building,
A
mead-hall grander than men of the era
{He is eager to build a great hall in which he may feast his retainers}
Ever
had heard of, and in it to share
With
young and old all of the blessings
20 The Lord
had allowed him, save life and retainers.
Then
the work I find afar was assigned
[4] To many races in middle-earth’s regions,
To
adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened
Early
’mong men, that ’twas finished entirely,
25 The greatest
of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it
{The hall is completed, and is called Heort, or Heorot.}
Who
wide-reaching word-sway wielded ’mong earlmen.
His
promise he brake not, rings he lavished,
Treasure
at banquet. Towered the hall up
High
and horn-crested, huge between antlers:
30 It battle-waves
bided, the blasting fire-demon;
Ere
long then from hottest hatred must sword-wrath
Arise
for a woman’s husband and father.
Then
the mighty war-spirit[1] endured for a season,
{The Monster Grendel is madly envious of the Danemen’s joy.}
Bore
it bitterly, he who bided in darkness,
35 That
light-hearted laughter loud in the building
Greeted
him daily; there was dulcet harp-music,
Clear
song of the singer. He said that was able
{[The course of the story is interrupted by a short reference to some old account of the creation.]}
To
tell from of old earthmen’s beginnings,
That
Father Almighty earth had created,
40 The winsome
wold that the water encircleth,
Set
exultingly the sun’s and the moon’s beams
To
lavish their lustre on land-folk and races,
And
earth He embellished in all her regions
With
limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too
45 On all
the kindreds that live under heaven.
{The glee of the warriors is overcast by a horrible dread.}
So
blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance,
The
warriors abided, till a certain one gan to
Dog
them with deeds of direfullest malice,
A
foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger[2]
50 Was Grendel
entitled, the march-stepper famous
Who[3]
dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness;
The
wan-mooded being abode for a season
[5] In the land of the giants, when the Lord
and Creator
Had
banned him and branded. For that bitter murder,
55 The killing
of Abel, all-ruling Father
{Cain is referred to as a progenitor of Grendel, and of monsters in general.}
The
kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance;
In
the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him
From
kindred and kind, that crime to atone for,
Meter
of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures,
60 Elves
and giants, monsters of ocean,
Came
into being, and the giants that longtime
Grappled
with God; He gave them requital.
[1] R. and t. B. prefer
‘ellor-gaest’ to ‘ellen-gaest’
(86): Then the
stranger from afar endured,
etc.
[2] Some authorities would
translate ‘demon’ instead of
‘stranger.’
[3] Some authorities arrange
differently, and render: Who dwelt in
the moor-fens, the marsh and
the fastness, the land of the
giant-race.
GRENDEL THE MURDERER.
{Grendel attacks the sleeping heroes}
When
the sun was sunken, he set out to visit
The
lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it
For
beds and benches when the banquet was over.
Then
he found there reposing many a noble
5
Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,[1]
Misery
knew not. The monster of evil
Greedy
and cruel tarried but little,
{He drags off thirty of them, and devours them}
Fell
and frantic, and forced from their slumbers
Thirty
of thanemen; thence he departed
10 Leaping
and laughing, his lair to return to,
With
surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward.
In
the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking,
Was
Grendel’s prowess revealed to the warriors:
{A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel’s horrible deed is fully realized.}
Then,
his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted,
15 Morning-cry
mighty. The man-ruler famous,
The
long-worthy atheling, sat very woful,
Suffered
great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen,
[6] When they had seen the track of the hateful
pursuer,
The
spirit accursed: too crushing that sorrow,
{The monster returns the next night.}
20 Too loathsome
and lasting. Not longer he tarried,
But
one night after continued his slaughter
Shameless
and shocking, shrinking but little
From
malice and murder; they mastered him fully.
He
was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for
25 A pleasanter
place of repose in the lodges,
A
bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice
Told
him truly by token apparent
The
hall-thane’s hatred: he held himself after
Further
and faster who the foeman did baffle.
30 [2]So
ruled he and strongly strove against justice
Lone
against all men, till empty uptowered
{King Hrothgar’s agony and suspense last twelve years.}
The
choicest of houses. Long was the season:
Twelve-winters’
time torture suffered
The
friend of the Scyldings, every affliction,
35 Endless
agony; hence it after[3] became
Certainly
known to the children of men
Sadly
in measures, that long against Hrothgar
Grendel
struggled:—his grudges he cherished,
Murderous
malice, many a winter,
40 Strife
unremitting, and peacefully wished he
[4]Life-woe
to lift from no liegeman at all of
The
men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle,
No
counsellor needed count for a moment
[7] On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer;
{Grendel is unremitting in his persecutions.}
45 The monster
of evil fiercely did harass,
The
ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger,
Trapping
and tricking them. He trod every night then
The
mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where
Witches
and wizards wander and ramble.
50 So the
foe of mankind many of evils
Grievous
injuries, often accomplished,
Horrible
hermit; Heort he frequented,
Gem-bedecked
palace, when night-shades had fallen
{God is against the monster.}
(Since
God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,[5]
55 The light-flashing
jewel, love of Him knew not).
’Twas
a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings
{The king and his council deliberate in vain.}
Soul-crushing
sorrow. Not seldom in private
Sat
the king in his council; conference held they
What
the braves should determine ’gainst terrors unlooked
for.
{They invoke the aid of their gods.}
60 At the
shrines of their idols often they promised
Gifts
and offerings, earnestly prayed they
The
devil from hell would help them to lighten
Their
people’s oppression. Such practice they
used then,
Hope
of the heathen; hell they remembered
65 In innermost
spirit, God they knew not,
{The true God they do not know.}
Judge
of their actions, All-wielding Ruler,
No
praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven,
The
Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who
Through
furious hatred his spirit shall drive to
70 The clutch
of the fire, no comfort shall look for,
Wax
no wiser; well for the man who,
Living
his life-days, his Lord may face
And
find defence in his Father’s embrace!
[1] The translation is based on ‘weras,’ adopted by H.-So.—K. and Th. read ‘wera’ and, arranging differently, render 119(2)-120: They knew not sorrow, the wretchedness of man, aught of misfortune.—For ‘unhaelo’ (120) R. suggests ‘unfaelo’: The uncanny creature, greedy and cruel, etc.
[2] S. rearranges and translates: So he ruled and struggled unjustly, one against all, till the noblest of buildings stood useless (it was a long while) twelve years’ time: the friend of the Scyldings suffered distress, every woe, great sorrows, etc.
[3] For ‘syethethan,’
B. suggests ‘sarcwidum’: Hence
in mournful words it
became well known, etc.
Various other words beginning with ‘s’
have
been conjectured.
[4] The H.-So. glossary is very inconsistent in referring to this passage.—’Sibbe’ (154), which H.-So. regards as an instr., B. takes as accus., obj. of ‘wolde.’ Putting a comma after Deniga, he renders: He did not desire peace with any of the Danes, nor did he wish to remove their life-woe, nor to settle for money.
[5] Of this difficult passage the following interpretations among others are given: (1) Though Grendel has frequented Heorot as a demon, he could not become ruler of the Danes, on account of his hostility to God. (2) Hrothgar was much grieved that Grendel had not appeared before his throne to receive presents. (3) He was not permitted to devastate the hall, on account of the Creator; i.e. God wished to make his visit fatal to him.—Ne ... wisse (169) W. renders: Nor had he any desire to do so; ‘his’ being obj. gen. = danach.
[8]
BEOWULF GOES TO HROTHGAR’S ASSISTANCE.
{Hrothgar sees no way of escape from the persecutions of Grendel.}
So
Healfdene’s kinsman constantly mused on
His
long-lasting sorrow; the battle-thane clever
Was
not anywise able evils to ’scape from:
Too
crushing the sorrow that came to the people,
5
Loathsome and lasting the life-grinding torture,
{Beowulf, the Geat, hero of the poem, hears of Hrothgar’s sorrow, and resolves to go to his assistance.}
Greatest
of night-woes. So Higelac’s liegeman,
Good
amid Geatmen, of Grendel’s achievements
Heard
in his home:[1] of heroes then living
He
was stoutest and strongest, sturdy and noble.
10 He bade
them prepare him a bark that was trusty;
He
said he the war-king would seek o’er the ocean,
The
folk-leader noble, since he needed retainers.
For
the perilous project prudent companions
Chided
him little, though loving him dearly;
15 They
egged the brave atheling, augured him glory.
{With fourteen carefully chosen companions, he sets out for Dane-land.}
The
excellent knight from the folk of the Geatmen
Had
liegemen selected, likest to prove them
Trustworthy
warriors; with fourteen companions
The
vessel he looked for; a liegeman then showed them,
20 A sea-crafty
man, the bounds of the country.
Fast
the days fleeted; the float was a-water,
The
craft by the cliff. Clomb to the prow then
Well-equipped
warriors: the wave-currents twisted
The
sea on the sand; soldiers then carried
25 On the
breast of the vessel bright-shining jewels,
Handsome
war-armor; heroes outshoved then,
Warmen
the wood-ship, on its wished-for adventure.
[9]
{The vessel sails like a bird}
The
foamy-necked floater fanned by the breeze,
Likest
a bird, glided the waters,
{In twenty four hours they reach the shores of Hrothgar’s dominions}
30 Till
twenty and four hours thereafter
The
twist-stemmed vessel had traveled such distance
That
the sailing-men saw the sloping embankments,
The
sea cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains,
Nesses
enormous: they were nearing the limits
35 At the
end of the ocean.[2] Up thence quickly
The
men of the Weders clomb to the mainland,
Fastened
their vessel (battle weeds rattled,
War
burnies clattered), the Wielder they thanked
That
the ways o’er the waters had waxen so gentle.
{They are hailed by the Danish coast guard}
40 Then
well from the cliff edge the guard of the Scyldings
Who
the sea-cliffs should see to, saw o’er the gangway
Brave
ones bearing beauteous targets,
Armor
all ready, anxiously thought he,
Musing
and wondering what men were approaching.
45 High
on his horse then Hrothgar’s retainer
Turned
him to coastward, mightily brandished
His
lance in his hands, questioned with boldness.
{His challenge}
“Who
are ye men here, mail-covered warriors
Clad
in your corslets, come thus a-driving
50 A high
riding ship o’er the shoals of the waters,
[3]And
hither ’neath helmets have hied o’er the
ocean?
[10] I have been strand-guard, standing as warden,
Lest
enemies ever anywise ravage
Danish
dominions with army of war-ships.
55 More
boldly never have warriors ventured
Hither
to come; of kinsmen’s approval,
Word-leave
of warriors, I ween that ye surely
{He is struck by Beowulf’s appearance.}
Nothing
have known. Never a greater one
Of
earls o’er the earth have I had a sight
of
60 Than
is one of your number, a hero in armor;
No
low-ranking fellow[4] adorned with his weapons,
But
launching them little, unless looks are deceiving,
And
striking appearance. Ere ye pass on your journey
As
treacherous spies to the land of the Scyldings
65 And farther
fare, I fully must know now
What
race ye belong to. Ye far-away dwellers,
Sea-faring
sailors, my simple opinion
Hear
ye and hearken: haste is most fitting
Plainly
to tell me what place ye are come from.”
[1] ‘From ham’ (194) is much disputed. One rendering is: Beowulf, being away from home, heard of Hrothgar’s troubles, etc. Another, that adopted by S. and endorsed in the H.-So. notes, is: B. heard from his neighborhood (neighbors), i.e. in his home, etc. A third is: B., being at home, heard this as occurring away from home. The H.-So. glossary and notes conflict.
[2] ‘Eoletes’
(224) is marked with a (?) by H.-So.; our rendering
simply follows his conjecture.—Other
conjectures as to ‘eolet’ are:
(1) voyage, (2) toil,
labor, (3) hasty journey.
[3] The lacuna of the MS at this point has been supplied by various conjectures. The reading adopted by H.-So. has been rendered in the above translation. W., like H.-So., makes ‘ic’ the beginning of a new sentence, but, for ‘helmas baeron,’ he reads ‘hringed stefnan.’ This has the advantage of giving a parallel to ‘brontne ceol’ instead of a kenning for ’go.’—B puts the (?) after ‘holmas’, and begins a new sentence at the middle of the line. Translate: What warriors are ye, clad in armor, who have thus come bringing the foaming vessel over the water way, hither over the seas? For some time on the wall I have been coast guard, etc. S. endorses most of what B. says, but leaves out ‘on the wall’ in the last sentence. If W.’s ‘hringed stefnan’ be accepted, change line 51 above to, A ring-stemmed vessel hither o’ersea.
[4] ‘Seld-guma’
(249) is variously rendered: (1) housecarle;
(2)
home-stayer; (3) common
man. Dr. H. Wood suggests a man-at-arms
in another’s house.
THE GEATS REACH HEOROT.
{Beowulf courteously replies.}
The
chief of the strangers rendered him answer,
War-troopers’
leader, and word-treasure opened:
{We are Geats.}
“We
are sprung from the lineage of the people of Geatland,
And
Higelac’s hearth-friends. To heroes unnumbered
{My father Ecgtheow was well-known in his day.}
5
My father was known, a noble head-warrior
Ecgtheow
titled; many a winter
He
lived with the people, ere he passed on his journey,
Old
from his dwelling; each of the counsellors
Widely
mid world-folk well remembers him.
{Our intentions towards King Hrothgar are of the kindest.}
10 We, kindly
of spirit, the lord of thy people,
The
son of King Healfdene, have come here to visit,
[11] Folk-troop’s defender: be free
in thy counsels!
To
the noble one bear we a weighty commission,
The
helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween,
{Is it true that a monster is slaying Danish heroes?}
15 Naught
of our message. Thou know’st if it happen,
As
we soothly heard say, that some savage despoiler,
Some
hidden pursuer, on nights that are murky
By
deeds very direful ’mid the Danemen exhibits
Hatred
unheard of, horrid destruction
20 And the
falling of dead. From feelings least selfish
{I can help your king to free himself from this horrible creature.}
I
am able to render counsel to Hrothgar,
How
he, wise and worthy, may worst the destroyer,
If
the anguish of sorrow should ever be lessened,[1]
Comfort
come to him, and care-waves grow cooler,
25 Or ever
hereafter he agony suffer
And
troublous distress, while towereth upward
The
handsomest of houses high on the summit.”
{The coast-guard reminds Beowulf that it is easier to say than to do.}
Bestriding
his stallion, the strand-watchman answered,
The
doughty retainer: “The difference surely
30 ’Twixt
words and works, the warlike shield-bearer
Who
judgeth wisely well shall determine.
This
band, I hear, beareth no malice
{I am satisfied of your good intentions, and shall lead you to the palace.}
To
the prince of the Scyldings. Pass ye then onward
With
weapons and armor. I shall lead you in person;
35 To my
war-trusty vassals command I shall issue
To
keep from all injury your excellent vessel,
{Your boat shall be well cared for during your stay here.}
Your
fresh-tarred craft, ’gainst every opposer
Close
by the sea-shore, till the curved-necked bark shall
Waft
back again the well-beloved hero
40 O’er
the way of the water to Weder dominions.
{He again compliments Beowulf.}
To
warrior so great ’twill be granted sure
In
the storm of strife to stand secure.”
Onward
they fared then (the vessel lay quiet,
The
broad-bosomed bark was bound by its cable,
[12] 45 Firmly at anchor); the boar-signs glistened[2]
Bright
on the visors vivid with gilding,
Blaze-hardened,
brilliant; the boar acted warden.
The
heroes hastened, hurried the liegemen,
{The land is perhaps rolling.}
Descended
together, till they saw the great palace,
50 The well-fashioned
wassail-hall wondrous and gleaming:
{Heorot flashes on their view.}
’Mid
world-folk and kindreds that was widest reputed
Of
halls under heaven which the hero abode in;
Its
lustre enlightened lands without number.
Then
the battle-brave hero showed them the glittering
55 Court
of the bold ones, that they easily thither
Might
fare on their journey; the aforementioned warrior
Turning
his courser, quoth as he left them:
{The coast-guard, having discharged his duty, bids them God-speed.}
“’Tis
time I were faring; Father Almighty
Grant
you His grace, and give you to journey
60 Safe
on your mission! To the sea I will get me
’Gainst
hostile warriors as warden to stand.”
[1] ‘Edwendan’
(280) B. takes to be the subs. ‘edwenden’
(cf. 1775);
and ‘bisigu’ he
takes as gen. sing., limiting ‘edwenden’:
If
reparation for sorrows is
ever to come. This is supported by t.B.
[2] Combining the emendations of B. and t.B., we may read: The boar-images glistened ... brilliant, protected the life of the war-mooded man. They read ‘ferh-wearde’ (305) and ‘guethmodgum men’ (306).
BEOWULF INTRODUCES HIMSELF AT THE PALACE.
The
highway glistened with many-hued pebble,
A
by-path led the liegemen together.
[1]Firm
and hand-locked the war-burnie glistened,
The
ring-sword radiant rang ’mid the armor
5
As the party was approaching the palace together
{They set their arms and armor against the wall.}
In
warlike equipments. ’Gainst the wall of
the building
Their
wide-fashioned war-shields they weary did set then,
[13] Battle-shields sturdy; benchward they turned
then;
Their
battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes;
10 The lances
stood up then, all in a cluster,
The
arms of the seamen, ashen-shafts mounted
With
edges of iron: the armor-clad troopers
{A Danish hero asks them whence and why they are come.}
Were
decked with weapons. Then a proud-mooded hero
Asked
of the champions questions of lineage:
15 “From
what borders bear ye your battle-shields plated,
Gilded
and gleaming, your gray-colored burnies,
Helmets
with visors and heap of war-lances?—
To
Hrothgar the king I am servant and liegeman.
’Mong
folk from far-lands found I have never
{He expresses no little admiration for the strangers.}
20 Men so
many of mien more courageous.
I
ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws,
But
from greatness of soul ye sought for King Hrothgar.”
{Beowulf replies.}
Then
the strength-famous earlman answer rendered,
The
proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his question,
{We are Higelac’s table-companions, and bear an important commission to your prince.}
25 Hardy
’neath helmet: “Higelac’s mates
are we;
Beowulf
hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene,
The
famous folk-leader, I freely will tell
To
thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing
{Wulfgar, the thane, says that he will go and ask Hrothgar whether he will see the strangers.}
The
friend-lord of Danemen, I will ask of thy journey,
The
giver of rings, as thou urgest me do it,
35 The folk-chief
famous, and inform thee early
What
answer the good one mindeth to render me.”
He
turned then hurriedly where Hrothgar was sitting,
[2]Old
and hoary, his earlmen attending him;
The
strength-famous went till he stood at the shoulder
40 Of the
lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen
The
custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then
His
friendly liegelord: “Folk of the Geatmen
[14]
{He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive the visitors courteously.}
O’er
the way of the waters are wafted hither,
Faring
from far-lands: the foremost in rank
45 The battle-champions
Beowulf title.
They
make this petition: with thee, O my chieftain,
To
be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar,
Friendly
answer refuse not to give them!
{Hrothgar, too, is struck with Beowulf’s appearance.}
In
war-trappings weeded worthy they seem
50 Of earls
to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty
Who
headed the heroes hitherward coming.”
[1] Instead of the punctuation given by H.-So, S. proposed to insert a comma after ‘scir’ (322), and to take ‘hring-iren’ as meaning ‘ring-mail’ and as parallel with ‘gueth-byrne.’ The passage would then read: The firm and hand-locked war-burnie shone, bright ring-mail, rang ’mid the armor, etc.
[2] Gr. and others translate ‘unhar’ by ‘bald’; old and bald.
HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.
{Hrothgar remembers Beowulf as a youth, and also remembers his father.}
Hrothgar
answered, helm of the Scyldings:
“I
remember this man as the merest of striplings.
His
father long dead now was Ecgtheow titled,
Him
Hrethel the Geatman granted at home his
5
One only daughter; his battle-brave son
Is
come but now, sought a trustworthy friend.
Seafaring
sailors asserted it then,
{Beowulf is reported to have the strength of thirty men.}
Who
valuable gift-gems of the Geatmen[1] carried
As
peace-offering thither, that he thirty men’s
grapple
10 Has in
his hand, the hero-in-battle.
{God hath sent him to our rescue.}
The
holy Creator usward sent him,
To
West-Dane warriors, I ween, for to render
’Gainst
Grendel’s grimness gracious assistance:
I
shall give to the good one gift-gems for courage.
15 Hasten
to bid them hither to speed them,[2]
To
see assembled this circle of kinsmen;
Tell
them expressly they’re welcome in sooth to
The
men of the Danes.” To the door of the building
[15]
{Wulfgar invites the strangers in.}
Wulfgar
went then, this word-message shouted:
20 “My
victorious liegelord bade me to tell you,
The
East-Danes’ atheling, that your origin knows
he,
And
o’er wave-billows wafted ye welcome are hither,
Valiant
of spirit. Ye straightway may enter
Clad
in corslets, cased in your helmets,
25 To see
King Hrothgar. Here let your battle-boards,
Wood-spears
and war-shafts, await your conferring.”
The
mighty one rose then, with many a liegeman,
An
excellent thane-group; some there did await them,
And
as bid of the brave one the battle-gear guarded.
30 Together
they hied them, while the hero did guide them,
’Neath
Heorot’s roof; the high-minded went then
Sturdy
’neath helmet till he stood in the building.
Beowulf
spake (his burnie did glisten,
His
armor seamed over by the art of the craftsman):
{Beowulf salutes Hrothgar, and then proceeds to boast of his youthful achievements.}
35 “Hail
thou, Hrothgar! I am Higelac’s kinsman
And
vassal forsooth; many a wonder
I
dared as a stripling. The doings of Grendel,
In
far-off fatherland I fully did know of:
Sea-farers
tell us, this hall-building standeth,
40 Excellent
edifice, empty and useless
To
all the earlmen after evenlight’s glimmer
’Neath
heaven’s bright hues hath hidden its glory.
This
my earls then urged me, the most excellent of them,
Carles
very clever, to come and assist thee,
45 Folk-leader
Hrothgar; fully they knew of
{His fight with the nickers.}
The
strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me
When
I came from the contest, when covered with gore
Foes
I escaped from, where five[3] I had bound,
[16] The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying
50 The nickers
by night, bore numberless sorrows,
The
Weders avenged (woes had they suffered)
Enemies
ravaged; alone now with Grendel
{He intends to fight Grendel unaided.}
I
shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil,
The
giant, decide it. Thee I would therefore
55 Beg of
thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain,
Lord
of the Scyldings, this single petition:
Not
to refuse me, defender of warriors,
Friend-lord
of folks, so far have I sought thee,
That
I may unaided, my earlmen assisting me,
60 This
brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot.
I
have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature
{Since the monster uses no weapons,}
From
veriest rashness recks not for weapons;
I
this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious,
My
liegelord beloved, lenient of spirit,
65 To bear
a blade or a broad-fashioned target,
A
shield to the onset; only with hand-grip
{I, too, shall disdain to use any.}
The
foe I must grapple, fight for my life then,
Foeman
with foeman; he fain must rely on
The
doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold of.
{Should he crush me, he will eat my companions as he has eaten thy thanes.}
70 I ween
he will wish, if he win in the struggle,
To
eat in the war-hall earls of the Geat-folk,
Boldly
to swallow[4] them, as of yore he did often
The
best of the Hrethmen! Thou needest not trouble
A
head-watch to give me;[5] he will have me dripping
[17]
{In case of my defeat, thou wilt not have the trouble of burying me.}
75 And dreary
with gore, if death overtake me,[6]
Will
bear me off bleeding, biting and mouthing me,
The
hermit will eat me, heedless of pity,
Marking
the moor-fens; no more wilt thou need then
{Should I fall, send my armor to my lord, King Higelac.}
Find
me my food.[7] If I fall in the battle,
80 Send
to Higelac the armor that serveth
To
shield my bosom, the best of equipments,
Richest
of ring-mails; ’tis the relic of Hrethla,
{Weird is supreme}
The work of Wayland. Goes Weird as she must go!”
[1] Some render ‘gif-sceattas’
by ‘tribute.’—’Geata’
B. and Th.
emended to ‘Geatum.’
If this be accepted, change ‘of the Geatmen’
to
‘to the Geatmen.’
[2] If t.B.’s emendation
of vv. 386, 387 be accepted, the two lines,
‘Hasten ... kinsmen’
will read: Hasten thou, bid the throng of
kinsmen go into the hall together.
[3] For 420 (b) and 421 (a), B. suggests: Þaer ic (on) fifelgeban yethde eotena cyn = where I in the ocean destroyed the eoten-race.—t.B. accepts B.’s “brilliant” ‘fifelgeban,’ omits ‘on,’ emends ‘cyn’ to ‘ham,’ arranging: Þaer ic fifelgeban yethde, eotena ham = where I desolated the ocean, the home of the eotens.—This would be better but for changing ‘cyn’ to ’ham.’—I suggest: Þaer ic fifelgeband (cf. nhd. Bande) yethde, eotena cyn = where I conquered the monster band, the race of the eotens. This makes no change except to read ‘fifel’ for ‘fife.’
[4] ‘Unforhte’ (444) is much disputed.—H.-So. wavers between adj. and adv. Gr. and B. take it as an adv. modifying etan: Will eat the Geats fearlessly.—Kl. considers this reading absurd, and proposes ‘anforhte’ = timid.—Understanding ‘unforhte’ as an adj. has this advantage, viz. that it gives a parallel to ‘Geatena leode’: but to take it as an adv. is more natural. Furthermore, to call the Geats ‘brave’ might, at this point, seem like an implied thrust at the Danes, so long helpless; while to call his own men ‘timid’ would be befouling his own nest.
[5] For ‘head-watch,’ cf. H.-So. notes and cf. v. 2910.—Th. translates: Thou wilt not need my head to hide (i.e., thou wilt have no occasion to bury me, as Grendel will devour me whole).—Simrock imagines a kind of dead-watch.—Dr. H. Wood suggests: Thou wilt not have to bury so much as my head (for Grendel will be a thorough undertaker),—grim humor.
[6] S. proposes a colon after
‘nimeeth’ (l. 447). This would make
no
essential change in the translation.
[7] Owing to the vagueness of ‘feorme’ (451), this passage is variously translated. In our translation, H.-So.’s glossary has been quite closely followed. This agrees substantially with B.’s translation (P. and B. XII. 87). R. translates: Thou needst not take care longer as to the consumption of my dead body. ‘Lic’ is also a crux here, as it may mean living body or dead body.
HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.—Continued.
{Hrothgar responds.}
Hrothgar
discoursed, helm of the Scyldings:
“To
defend our folk and to furnish assistance,[1]
Thou
soughtest us hither, good friend Beowulf.
{Reminiscences of Beowulf’s father, Ecgtheow.}
The
fiercest of feuds thy father engaged in,
5
Heatholaf killed he in hand-to-hand conflict
’Mid
Wilfingish warriors; then the Wederish people
For
fear of a feud were forced to disown him.
Thence
flying he fled to the folk of the South-Danes,
[18] The race of the Scyldings, o’er the
roll of the waters;
10 I had
lately begun then to govern the Danemen,
{Hrothgar recounts to Beowulf the horrors of Grendel’s persecutions.}
It
pains me in spirit to any to tell it,
What
grief in Heorot Grendel hath caused me,
20 What
horror unlooked-for, by hatred unceasing.
Waned
is my war-band, wasted my hall-troop;
Weird
hath offcast them to the clutches of Grendel.
God
can easily hinder the scather
From
deeds so direful. Oft drunken with beer
{My thanes have made many boasts, but have not executed them.}
25 O’er
the ale-vessel promised warriors in armor
They
would willingly wait on the wassailing-benches
A
grapple with Grendel, with grimmest of edges.
Then
this mead-hall at morning with murder was reeking,
The
building was bloody at breaking of daylight,
30 The bench-deals
all flooded, dripping and bloodied,
The
folk-hall was gory: I had fewer retainers,
Dear-beloved
warriors, whom death had laid hold of.
{Sit down to the feast, and give us comfort.}
Sit
at the feast now, thy intents unto heroes,[2]
Thy
victor-fame show, as thy spirit doth urge thee!”
{A bench is made ready for Beowulf and his party.}
35 For the
men of the Geats then together assembled,
In
the beer-hall blithesome a bench was made ready;
There
warlike in spirit they went to be seated,
Proud
and exultant. A liegeman did service,
[19] Who a beaker embellished bore with decorum,
{The gleeman sings}
40 And gleaming-drink poured. The gleeman sang whilom
{The heroes all rejoice together.}
Hearty
in Heorot; there was heroes’ rejoicing,
A
numerous war-band of Weders and Danemen.
[1] B. and S. reject the reading
given in H.-So., and suggested by
Grtvg. B. suggests for
457-458:
waere-ryhtum
Þu, wine min Beowulf,
and
for ar-stafum usic sohtest.
This means: From the obligations of clientage, my friend Beowulf, and for assistance thou hast sought us.—This gives coherence to Hrothgar’s opening remarks in VIII., and also introduces a new motive for Beowulf’s coming to Hrothgar’s aid.
[2] Sit now at the feast, and disclose thy purposes to the victorious heroes, as thy spirit urges.—Kl. reaches the abovePage 26
translation by erasing the comma after ‘meoto’ and reading ’sige-hreethsecgum.’—There are other and bolder emendations and suggestions. Of these the boldest is to regard ‘meoto’ as a verb (imperative), and read ‘on sael’: Think upon gayety, etc.—All the renderings are unsatisfactory, the one given in our translation involving a zeugma.
UNFERTH TAUNTS BEOWULF.
{Unferth, a thane of Hrothgar, is jealous of Beowulf, and undertakes to twit him.}
Unferth
spoke up, Ecglaf his son,
Who
sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings,
Opened
the jousting (the journey[1] of Beowulf,
Sea-farer
doughty, gave sorrow to Unferth
5
And greatest chagrin, too, for granted he never
That
any man else on earth should attain to,
Gain
under heaven, more glory than he):
{Did you take part in a swimming-match with Breca?}
“Art
thou that Beowulf with Breca did struggle,
On
the wide sea-currents at swimming contended,
10 Where
to humor your pride the ocean ye tried,
{’Twas mere folly that actuated you both to risk your lives on the ocean.}
From
vainest vaunting adventured your bodies
In
care of the waters? And no one was able
Nor
lief nor loth one, in the least to dissuade you
Your
difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming,
15 Where
your arms outstretching the streams ye did cover,
The
mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them,
Glided
the ocean; angry the waves were,
With
the weltering of winter. In the water’s
possession,
Ye
toiled for a seven-night; he at swimming outdid thee,
20 In strength
excelled thee. Then early at morning
On
the Heathoremes’ shore the holm-currents tossed
him,
Sought
he thenceward the home of his fathers,
Beloved
of his liegemen, the land of the Brondings,
The
peace-castle pleasant, where a people he wielded,
[20] 25 Had borough and jewels. The pledge
that he made thee
{Breca outdid you entirely.}
The
son of Beanstan hath soothly accomplished.
Then
I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue,
{Much more will Grendel outdo you, if you vie with him in prowess.}
Though
ever triumphant in onset of battle,
A
grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest
30 For the
space of a night near-by to wait for!”
{Beowulf retaliates.}
Beowulf
answered, offspring of Ecgtheow:
“My
good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly,
{O friend Unferth, you are fuddled with beer, and cannot talk coherently.}
Thou
fuddled with beer of Breca hast spoken,
Hast
told of his journey! A fact I allege it,
35 That
greater strength in the waters I had then,
Ills
in the ocean, than any man else had.
We
made agreement as the merest of striplings
Promised
each other (both of us then were
{We simply kept an engagement made in early life.}
Younkers
in years) that we yet would adventure
40 Out on
the ocean; it all we accomplished.
While
swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade unscabbarded
Boldly
we brandished, our bodies expected
To
shield from the sharks. He sure was unable
{He could not excel me, and I would not excel him.}
To
swim on the waters further than I could,
45 More
swift on the waves, nor would I from him go.
Then
we two companions stayed in the ocean
{After five days the currents separated us.}
Five
nights together, till the currents did part us,
The
weltering waters, weathers the bleakest,
And
nethermost night, and the north-wind whistled
50 Fierce
in our faces; fell were the billows.
The
mere fishes’ mood was mightily ruffled:
And
there against foemen my firm-knotted corslet,
Hand-jointed,
hardy, help did afford me;
My
battle-sark braided, brilliantly gilded,
{A horrible sea-beast attacked me, but I slew him.}
55 Lay on
my bosom. To the bottom then dragged me,
A
hateful fiend-scather, seized me and held me,
Grim
in his grapple: ’twas granted me, nathless,
To
pierce the monster with the point of my weapon,
My
obedient blade; battle offcarried
60 The mighty
mere-creature by means of my hand-blow.
[1] It has been plausibly suggested that ‘sieth’ (in 501 and in 353) means ‘arrival.’ If so, translate the bracket: (the arrival of Beowulf, the brave seafarer, was a source of great chagrin to Unferth, etc.).
[21]
BEOWULF SILENCES UNFERTH.—GLEE IS HIGH.
“So
ill-meaning enemies often did cause me
Sorrow
the sorest. I served them, in quittance,
{My dear sword always served me faithfully.}
With
my dear-loved sword, as in sooth it was fitting;
They
missed the pleasure of feasting abundantly,
5
Ill-doers evil, of eating my body,
Of
surrounding the banquet deep in the ocean;
But
wounded with edges early at morning
They
were stretched a-high on the strand of the ocean,
{I put a stop to the outrages of the sea-monsters.}
Put
to sleep with the sword, that sea-going travelers
10 No longer
thereafter were hindered from sailing
The
foam-dashing currents. Came a light from the east,
God’s
beautiful beacon; the billows subsided,
That
well I could see the nesses projecting,
{Fortune helps the brave earl.}
The
blustering crags. Weird often saveth
15 The undoomed
hero if doughty his valor!
But
me did it fortune[1] to fell with my weapon
Nine
of the nickers. Of night-struggle harder
’Neath
dome of the heaven heard I but rarely,
Nor
of wight more woful in the waves of the ocean;
20 Yet I
’scaped with my life the grip of the monsters,
{After that escape I drifted to Finland.}
Weary
from travel. Then the waters bare me
To
the land of the Finns, the flood with the current,
{I have never heard of your doing any such bold deeds.}
The
weltering waves. Not a word hath been told me
Of
deeds so daring done by thee, Unferth,
25 And of
sword-terror none; never hath Breca
At
the play of the battle, nor either of you two,
Feat
so fearless performed with weapons
Glinting
and gleaming . . . . . . . . . . . .
[22] . . . . . . . . . . . . I utter no
boasting;
{You are a slayer of brothers, and will suffer damnation, wise as you may be.}
30 Though
with cold-blooded cruelty thou killedst thy brothers,
Thy
nearest of kin; thou needs must in hell get
Direful
damnation, though doughty thy wisdom.
I
tell thee in earnest, offspring of Ecglaf,
Never
had Grendel such numberless horrors,
35 The direful
demon, done to thy liegelord,
Harrying
in Heorot, if thy heart were as sturdy,
{Had your acts been as brave as your words, Grendel had not ravaged your land so long.}
Thy
mood as ferocious as thou dost describe them.
He
hath found out fully that the fierce-burning hatred,
The
edge-battle eager, of all of your kindred,
40 Of the
Victory-Scyldings, need little dismay him:
Oaths
he exacteth, not any he spares
{The monster is not afraid of the Danes,}
Of
the folk of the Danemen, but fighteth with pleasure,
Killeth
and feasteth, no contest expecteth
{but he will soon learn to dread the Geats.}
From
Spear-Danish people. But the prowess and valor
45 Of the
earls of the Geatmen early shall venture
To
give him a grapple. He shall go who is able
Bravely
to banquet, when the bright-light of morning
{On the second day, any warrior may go unmolested to the mead-banquet.}
Which
the second day bringeth, the sun in its ether-robes,
O’er
children of men shines from the southward!”
50 Then
the gray-haired, war-famed giver of treasure
{Hrothgar’s spirits are revived.}
Was
blithesome and joyous, the Bright-Danish ruler
Expected
assistance; the people’s protector
{The old king trusts Beowulf. The heroes are joyful.}
Heard
from Beowulf his bold resolution.
There
was laughter of heroes; loud was the clatter,
55 The words
were winsome. Wealhtheow advanced then,
{Queen Wealhtheow plays the hostess.}
Consort
of Hrothgar, of courtesy mindful,
Gold-decked
saluted the men in the building,
And
the freeborn woman the beaker presented
{She offers the cup to her husband first.}
To
the lord of the kingdom, first of the East-Danes,
60 Bade
him be blithesome when beer was a-flowing,
Lief
to his liegemen; he lustily tasted
Of
banquet and beaker, battle-famed ruler.
The
Helmingish lady then graciously circled
’Mid
all the liegemen lesser and greater:
[23]
{She gives presents to the heroes.}
65 Treasure-cups
tendered, till time was afforded
That
the decorous-mooded, diademed folk-queen
{Then she offers the cup to Beowulf, thanking God that aid has come.}
Might
bear to Beowulf the bumper o’errunning;
She
greeted the Geat-prince, God she did thank,
Most
wise in her words, that her wish was accomplished,
70 That
in any of earlmen she ever should look for
Solace
in sorrow. He accepted the beaker,
Battle-bold
warrior, at Wealhtheow’s giving,
{Beowulf states to the queen the object of his visit.}
Then
equipped for combat quoth he in measures,
Beowulf
spake, offspring of Ecgtheow:
75 “I
purposed in spirit when I mounted the ocean,
{I determined to do or die.}
When
I boarded my boat with a band of my liegemen,
I
would work to the fullest the will of your people
Or
in foe’s-clutches fastened fall in the battle.
Deeds
I shall do of daring and prowess,
80 Or the
last of my life-days live in this mead-hall.”
These
words to the lady were welcome and pleasing,
The
boast of the Geatman; with gold trappings broidered
Went
the freeborn folk-queen her fond-lord to sit by.
{Glee is high.}
Then
again as of yore was heard in the building
85 Courtly
discussion, conquerors’ shouting,
Heroes
were happy, till Healfdene’s son would
Go
to his slumber to seek for refreshing;
{Hrothgar retires, leaving Beowulf in charge of the hall.}
The
liegemen all rose then. One saluted the other,
Hrothgar
Beowulf, in rhythmical measures,
95 Wishing
him well, and, the wassail-hall giving
To
his care and keeping, quoth he departing:
[24] “Not to any one else have I ever entrusted,
But
thee and thee only, the hall of the Danemen,
Since
high I could heave my hand and my buckler.
100 Take thou
in charge now the noblest of houses;
Be
mindful of honor, exhibiting prowess,
Watch
’gainst the foeman! Thou shalt want no enjoyments,
Survive
thou safely adventure so glorious!”
[1] The repetition of ‘hwaeethere’ (574 and 578) is regarded by some scholars as a defect. B. suggests ‘swa Þaer’ for the first: So there it befell me, etc. Another suggestion is to change the second ‘hwaeethere’ into ‘swa Þaer’: So there I escaped with my life, etc.
[2] Kl. suggests a period after ‘determined.’ This would give the passage as follows: Since they no longer could see the light of the sun, and lowering darkness was down over all, dire under the heavens shadowy beings came going around them.
ALL SLEEP SAVE ONE.
{Hrothgar retires.}
Then
Hrothgar departed, his earl-throng attending him,
Folk-lord
of Scyldings, forth from the building;
The
war-chieftain wished then Wealhtheow to look for,
The
queen for a bedmate. To keep away Grendel
{God has provided a watch for the hall.}
5
The Glory of Kings had given a hall-watch,
As
men heard recounted: for the king of the Danemen
He
did special service, gave the giant a watcher:
And
the prince of the Geatmen implicitly trusted
{Beowulf is self-confident}
His warlike strength and the Wielder’s protection.
{He prepares for rest.}
10 His armor
of iron off him he did then,
His
helmet from his head, to his henchman committed
His
chased-handled chain-sword, choicest of weapons,
And
bade him bide with his battle-equipments.
The
good one then uttered words of defiance,
15 Beowulf
Geatman, ere his bed he upmounted:
{Beowulf boasts of his ability to cope with Grendel.}
“I
hold me no meaner in matters of prowess,
In
warlike achievements, than Grendel does himself;
Hence
I seek not with sword-edge to sooth him to slumber,
Of
life to bereave him, though well I am able.
{We will fight with nature’s weapons only.}
20 No battle-skill[1]
has he, that blows he should strike me,
To
shatter my shield, though sure he is mighty
[25] In strife and destruction; but struggling
by night we
Shall
do without edges, dare he to look for
Weaponless
warfare, and wise-mooded Father
25 The glory
apportion, God ever-holy,
{God may decide who shall conquer}
On
which hand soever to him seemeth proper.”
Then
the brave-mooded hero bent to his slumber,
The
pillow received the cheek of the noble;
{The Geatish warriors lie down.}
And
many a martial mere-thane attending
30 Sank
to his slumber. Seemed it unlikely
{They thought it very unlikely that they should ever see their homes again.}
That
ever thereafter any should hope to
Be
happy at home, hero-friends visit
Or
the lordly troop-castle where he lived from his childhood;
They
had heard how slaughter had snatched from the wine-hall,
35 Had recently
ravished, of the race of the Scyldings
{But God raised up a deliverer.}
Too
many by far. But the Lord to them granted
The
weaving of war-speed, to Wederish heroes
Aid
and comfort, that every opponent
By
one man’s war-might they worsted and vanquished,
{God rules the world.}
40 By the
might of himself; the truth is established
That
God Almighty hath governed for ages
Kindreds
and nations. A night very lurid
{Grendel comes to Heorot.}
The
trav’ler-at-twilight came tramping and striding.
The
warriors were sleeping who should watch the horned-building,
{Only one warrior is awake.}
45 One only
excepted. ’Mid earthmen ’twas ’stablished,
Th’
implacable foeman was powerless to hurl them
To
the land of shadows, if the Lord were unwilling;
But
serving as warder, in terror to foemen,
He
angrily bided the issue of battle.[2]
[1] Gr. understood ‘godra’
as meaning ‘advantages in battle.’
This
rendering H.-So. rejects.
The latter takes the passage as meaning that
Grendel, though mighty and
formidable, has no skill in the art of war.
[2] B. in his masterly articles on Beowulf (P. and B. XII.) rejects the division usually made at this point, ‘Þa.’ (711), usually rendered ‘then,’ he translates ‘when,’ and connects its clause with the foregoing sentence. These changes he makes to reduce the number of ‘com’s’ as principal verbs. (Cf. 703, 711, 721.) With all deference to this acute scholar, I must say that it seems to me that the poet is exhausting his resources to bring out clearly the supreme event on which the whole subsequent action turns. First, he (Grendel) came in the wan night; second, he came from the moor; third, he came to the hall. Time, place from which, place to which, are all given.
[26]
GRENDEL AND BEOWULF.
{Grendel comes from the fens.}
’Neath
the cloudy cliffs came from the moor then
Grendel
going, God’s anger bare he.
The
monster intended some one of earthmen
In
the hall-building grand to entrap and make way with:
{He goes towards the joyous building.}
5
He went under welkin where well he knew of
The
wine-joyous building, brilliant with plating,
Gold-hall
of earthmen. Not the earliest occasion
{This was not his first visit there.}
He
the home and manor of Hrothgar had sought:
Ne’er
found he in life-days later nor earlier
10 Hardier
hero, hall-thanes[1] more sturdy!
Then
came to the building the warrior marching,
{His horrid fingers tear the door open.}
Bereft
of his joyance. The door quickly opened
On
fire-hinges fastened, when his fingers had touched
it;
The
fell one had flung then—his fury so bitter—
15 Open
the entrance. Early thereafter
The
foeman trod the shining hall-pavement,
{He strides furiously into the hall.}
Strode
he angrily; from the eyes of him glimmered
A
lustre unlovely likest to fire.
He
beheld in the hall the heroes in numbers,
20 A circle
of kinsmen sleeping together,
{He exults over his supposed prey.}
A
throng of thanemen: then his thoughts were exultant,
He
minded to sunder from each of the thanemen
The
life from his body, horrible demon,
Ere
morning came, since fate had allowed him
{Fate has decreed that he shall devour no more heroes. Beowulf suffers from suspense.}
25 The prospect
of plenty. Providence willed not
To
permit him any more of men under heaven
To
eat in the night-time. Higelac’s kinsman
Great
sorrow endured how the dire-mooded creature
[27] In unlooked-for assaults were likely to
bear him.
30 No thought
had the monster of deferring the matter,
{Grendel immediately seizes a sleeping warrior, and devours him.}
But
on earliest occasion he quickly laid hold of
A
soldier asleep, suddenly tore him,
Bit
his bone-prison, the blood drank in currents,
Swallowed
in mouthfuls: he soon had the dead man’s
35 Feet
and hands, too, eaten entirely.
Nearer
he strode then, the stout-hearted warrior
{Beowulf and Grendel grapple.}
Snatched
as he slumbered, seizing with hand-grip,
Forward
the foeman foined with his hand;
Caught
he quickly the cunning deviser,
40 On his
elbow he rested. This early discovered
The
master of malice, that in middle-earth’s regions,
’Neath
the whole of the heavens, no hand-grapple greater
{The monster is amazed at Beowulf’s strength.}
In
any man else had he ever encountered:
Fearful
in spirit, faint-mooded waxed he,
45 Not off
could betake him; death he was pondering,
{He is anxious to flee.}
Would
fly to his covert, seek the devils’ assembly:
His
calling no more was the same he had followed
Long
in his lifetime. The liege-kinsman worthy
{Beowulf recalls his boast of the evening, and determines to fulfil it.}
Of
Higelac minded his speech of the evening,
50 Stood
he up straight and stoutly did seize him.
His
fingers crackled; the giant was outward,
The
earl stepped farther. The famous one minded
To
flee away farther, if he found an occasion,
And
off and away, avoiding delay,
55 To fly
to the fen-moors; he fully was ware of
The
strength of his grapple in the grip of the foeman.
{’Twas a luckless day for Grendel.}
’Twas
an ill-taken journey that the injury-bringing,
Harrying
harmer to Heorot wandered:
{The hall groans.}
The
palace re-echoed; to all of the Danemen,
60 Dwellers
in castles, to each of the bold ones,
Earlmen,
was terror. Angry they both were,
Archwarders
raging.[2] Rattled the building;
[28] ’Twas a marvellous wonder that the
wine-hall withstood then
The
bold-in-battle, bent not to earthward,
65 Excellent
earth-hall; but within and without it
Was
fastened so firmly in fetters of iron,
By
the art of the armorer. Off from the sill there
Bent
mead-benches many, as men have informed me,
Adorned
with gold-work, where the grim ones did struggle.
70 The Scylding
wise men weened ne’er before
That
by might and main-strength a man under heaven
Might
break it in pieces, bone-decked, resplendent,
Crush
it by cunning, unless clutch of the fire
In
smoke should consume it. The sound mounted upward
{Grendel’s cries terrify the Danes.}
75 Novel
enough; on the North Danes fastened
A
terror of anguish, on all of the men there
Who
heard from the wall the weeping and plaining,
The
song of defeat from the foeman of heaven,
Heard
him hymns of horror howl, and his sorrow
80 Hell-bound
bewailing. He held him too firmly
Who
was strongest of main-strength of men of that era.
[1] B. and t.B. emend so as to make lines 9 and 10 read: Never in his life, earlier or later, had he, the hell-thane, found a braver hero.—They argue that Beowulf’s companions had done nothing to merit such encomiums as the usual readings allow them.
[2] For ‘reethe ren-weardas’
(771), t.B. suggests ‘reethe, renhearde.’
Translate: They were
both angry, raging and mighty.
GRENDEL IS VANQUISHED.
{Beowulf has no idea of letting Grendel live.}
For
no cause whatever would the earlmen’s defender
Leave
in life-joys the loathsome newcomer,
He
deemed his existence utterly useless
To
men under heaven. Many a noble
5
Of Beowulf brandished his battle-sword old,
Would
guard the life of his lord and protector,
The
far-famous chieftain, if able to do so;
While
waging the warfare, this wist they but little,
Brave
battle-thanes, while his body intending
{No weapon would harm Grendel; he bore a charmed life.}
10 To slit
into slivers, and seeking his spirit:
That
the relentless foeman nor finest of weapons
Of
all on the earth, nor any of war-bills
[29] Was willing to injure; but weapons of victory
Swords
and suchlike he had sworn to dispense with.
15 His death
at that time must prove to be wretched,
And
the far-away spirit widely should journey
Into
enemies’ power. This plainly he saw then
Who
with mirth[1] of mood malice no little
Had
wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen
20 (To God
he was hostile), that his body would fail him,
But
Higelac’s hardy henchman and kinsman
Held
him by the hand; hateful to other
{Grendel is sorely wounded.}
Was
each one if living. A body-wound suffered
The
direful demon, damage incurable
{His body bursts.}
25 Was seen
on his shoulder, his sinews were shivered,
His
body did burst. To Beowulf was given
Glory
in battle; Grendel from thenceward
Must
flee and hide him in the fen-cliffs and marshes,
Sick
unto death, his dwelling must look for
30 Unwinsome
and woful; he wist the more fully
{The monster flees away to hide in the moors.}
The
end of his earthly existence was nearing,
His
life-days’ limits. At last for the Danemen,
When
the slaughter was over, their wish was accomplished.
The
comer-from-far-land had cleansed then of evil,
35 Wise
and valiant, the war-hall of Hrothgar,
Saved
it from violence. He joyed in the night-work,
In
repute for prowess; the prince of the Geatmen
For
the East-Danish people his boast had accomplished,
Bettered
their burdensome bale-sorrows fully,
40 The craft-begot
evil they erstwhile had suffered
And
were forced to endure from crushing oppression,
Their
manifold misery. ’Twas a manifest token,
{Beowulf suspends Grendel’s hand and arm in Heorot.}
When
the hero-in-battle the hand suspended,
The
arm and the shoulder (there was all of the claw
45 Of Grendel
together) ’neath great-stretching hall-roof.
[1] It has been proposed to translate ‘myrethe’ by with sorrow; but there seems no authority for such a rendering. To the present translator, the phrase ‘modes myrethe’ seems a mere padding for gladly; i.e., he who gladly harassed mankind.
[30]
REJOICING OF THE DANES.
{At early dawn, warriors from far and near come together to hear of the night’s adventures.}
In
the mist of the morning many a warrior
Stood
round the gift-hall, as the story is told me:
Folk-princes
fared then from far and from near
Through
long-stretching journeys to look at the wonder,
5
The footprints of the foeman. Few of the warriors
{Few warriors lamented Grendel’s destruction.}
Who
gazed on the foot-tracks of the inglorious creature
His
parting from life pained very deeply,
How,
weary in spirit, off from those regions
In
combats conquered he carried his traces,
10 Fated
and flying, to the flood of the nickers.
{Grendel’s blood dyes the waters.}
There
in bloody billows bubbled the currents,
The
angry eddy was everywhere mingled
And
seething with gore, welling with sword-blood;[1]
He
death-doomed had hid him, when reaved of his joyance
15 He laid
down his life in the lair he had fled to,
His
heathenish spirit, where hell did receive him.
Thence
the friends from of old backward turned them,
And
many a younker from merry adventure,
Striding
their stallions, stout from the seaward,
20 Heroes
on horses. There were heard very often
{Beowulf is the hero of the hour.}
Beowulf’s
praises; many often asserted
That
neither south nor north, in the circuit of waters,
{He is regarded as a probable successor to Hrothgar.}
O’er
outstretching earth-plain, none other was better
’Mid
bearers of war-shields, more worthy to govern,
25 ’Neath
the arch of the ether. Not any, however,
’Gainst
the friend-lord muttered, mocking-words uttered
{But no word is uttered to derogate from the old king}
Of
Hrothgar the gracious (a good king he).
Oft
the famed ones permitted their fallow-skinned horses
[31] To run in rivalry, racing and chasing,
30 Where
the fieldways appeared to them fair and inviting,
Known
for their excellence; oft a thane of the folk-lord,[2]
{The gleeman sings the deeds of heroes.}
[3]A
man of celebrity, mindful of rhythms,
Who
ancient traditions treasured in memory,
New
word-groups found properly bound:
35 The bard
after ’gan then Beowulf’s venture
{He sings in alliterative measures of Beowulf’s prowess.}
Wisely
to tell of, and words that were clever
To
utter skilfully, earnestly speaking,
Everything
told he that he heard as to Sigmund’s
{Also of Sigemund, who has slain a great fire-dragon.}
Mighty
achievements, many things hidden,
40 The strife
of the Waelsing, the wide-going ventures
The
children of men knew of but little,
The
feud and the fury, but Fitela with him,
When
suchlike matters he minded to speak of,
Uncle
to nephew, as in every contention
45 Each
to other was ever devoted:
A
numerous host of the race of the scathers
They
had slain with the sword-edge. To Sigmund accrued
then
No
little of glory, when his life-days were over,
Since
he sturdy in struggle had destroyed the great dragon,
50 The hoard-treasure’s
keeper; ’neath the hoar-grayish stone he,
The
son of the atheling, unaided adventured
The
perilous project; not present was Fitela,
Yet
the fortune befell him of forcing his weapon
Through
the marvellous dragon, that it stood in the wall,
55 Well-honored
weapon; the worm was slaughtered.
The
great one had gained then by his glorious achievement
To
reap from the ring-hoard richest enjoyment,
[32] As best it did please him: his vessel
he loaded,
Shining
ornaments on the ship’s bosom carried,
60 Kinsman
of Waels: the drake in heat melted.
{Sigemund was widely famed.}
He
was farthest famed of fugitive pilgrims,
Mid
wide-scattered world-folk, for works of great prowess,
War-troopers’
shelter: hence waxed he in honor.[4]
{Heremod, an unfortunate Danish king, is introduced by way of contrast.}
Afterward
Heremod’s hero-strength failed him,
65 His vigor
and valor. ’Mid venomous haters
To
the hands of foemen he was foully delivered,
Offdriven
early. Agony-billows
{Unlike Sigemund and Beowulf, Heremod was a burden to his people.}
Oppressed
him too long, to his people he became then,
To
all the athelings, an ever-great burden;
70 And the
daring one’s journey in days of yore
Many
wise men were wont to deplore,
Such
as hoped he would bring them help in their sorrow,
That
the son of their ruler should rise into power,
Holding
the headship held by his fathers,
75 Should
govern the people, the gold-hoard and borough,
The
kingdom of heroes, the realm of the Scyldings.
{Beowulf is an honor to his race.}
He
to all men became then far more beloved,
Higelac’s
kinsman, to kindreds and races,
To
his friends much dearer; him malice assaulted.—
{The story is resumed.}
80 Oft running
and racing on roadsters they measured
The
dun-colored highways. Then the light of the morning
Was
hurried and hastened. Went henchmen in numbers
To
the beautiful building, bold ones in spirit,
To
look at the wonder; the liegelord himself then
85 From
his wife-bower wending, warden of treasures,
Glorious
trod with troopers unnumbered,
Famed
for his virtues, and with him the queen-wife
Measured
the mead-ways, with maidens attending.
[1] S. emends, suggesting ‘deop’ for ‘deog,’ and removing semicolon after ‘weol.’ The two half-lines ‘welling ... hid him’ would then read: The bloody deep welled with sword-gore. B. accepts ‘deop’ for ‘deog,’ but reads ‘deaeth-faeges’: The deep boiled with the sword-gore of the death-doomed one.
[2] Another and quite different rendering of this passage is as follows: Oft a liegeman of the king, a fame-covered man mindful of songs, who very many ancient traditions remembered (he found other word-groups accurately bound together) began afterward to tell of Beowulf’s adventure, skilfully to narrate it, etc.
[3] Might ‘guma gilp-hladen’
mean ’a man laden with boasts of the
deeds of others’?
[4] t.B. accepts B.’s ‘he þaes aron þah’ as given by H.-So., but puts a comma after ‘þah,’ and takes ‘siethethan’ as introducing a dependent clause: He throve in honor since Heremod’s strength ... had decreased.
[33]
HROTHGAR’S GRATITUDE.
Hrothgar
discoursed (to the hall-building went he,
He
stood by the pillar,[1] saw the steep-rising hall-roof
Gleaming
with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand there):
{Hrothgar gives thanks for the overthrow of the monster.}
“For
the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder
5
Early be offered! Much evil I bided,
Snaring
from Grendel:[2] God can e’er ’complish
Wonder
on wonder, Wielder of Glory!
{I had given up all hope, when this brave liegeman came to our aid.}
But
lately I reckoned ne’er under heaven
Comfort
to gain me for any of sorrows,
10 While
the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain
Gory
uptowered; grief had offfrightened[3]
Each
of the wise ones who weened not that ever
The
folk-troop’s defences ’gainst foes they
should strengthen,
’Gainst
sprites and monsters. Through the might of the
Wielder
15 A doughty
retainer hath a deed now accomplished
Which
erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom
{If his mother yet liveth, well may she thank God for this son.}
Failed
to perform. May affirm very truly
What
woman soever in all of the nations
Gave
birth to the child, if yet she surviveth,
20 That
the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward
In
the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear,
{Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shalt be my son.}
Most
excellent hero, I’ll love thee in spirit
As
bairn of my body; bear well henceforward
The
relationship new. No lack shall befall thee
25 Of earth-joys
any I ever can give thee.
Full
often for lesser service I’ve given
[34] Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious,
{Thou hast won immortal distinction.}
To
a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction
Thou
hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish
30 Forever
and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee
With
good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!”
{Beowulf replies: I was most happy to render thee this service.}
Beowulf
answered, Ecgtheow’s offspring:
“That
labor of glory most gladly achieved we,
The
combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured
35 The enemy’s
grapple; I would grant it much rather
Thou
wert able to look at the creature in person,
Faint
unto falling, the foe in his trappings!
On
murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him,
With
firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple
40 Low he
should lie in life-and-death struggle
’Less
his body escape; I was wholly unable,
{I could not keep the monster from escaping, as God did not will that I should.}
Since
God did not will it, to keep him from going,
Not
held him that firmly, hated opposer;
Too
swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding
45 He suffered
his hand behind him to linger,
His
arm and shoulder, to act as watcher;
{He left his hand and arm behind.}
No
shadow of solace the woe-begone creature
Found
him there nathless: the hated destroyer
Liveth
no longer, lashed for his evils,
50 But sorrow
hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him
Close
in its clutches, keepeth him writhing
In
baleful bonds: there banished for evil
The
man shall wait for the mighty tribunal,
{God will give him his deserts.}
How
the God of glory shall give him his earnings.”
55 Then
the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf,
{Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf’s actions speak louder than words.}
From
boasting and bragging of battle-achievements,
Since
the princes beheld there the hand that depended
’Neath
the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman,
Each
one before him, the enemy’s fingers;
60 Each
finger-nail strong steel most resembled,
The
heathen one’s hand-spur, the hero-in-battle’s
Claw
most uncanny; quoth they agreeing,
[35]
{No sword will harm the monster.}
That
not any excellent edges of brave ones
Was
willing to touch him, the terrible creature’s
65 Battle-hand
bloody to bear away from him.
[1] B. and t.B. read ‘staþole,’ and translate stood on the floor.
[2] For ‘snaring from
Grendel,’ ‘sorrows at Grendel’s hands’
has been
suggested. This gives
a parallel to ‘laethes.’ ‘Grynna’
may well be gen.
pl. of ‘gyrn,’
by a scribal slip.
[3] The H.-So punctuation
has been followed; but B. has been followed
in understanding ‘gehwylcne’
as object of ‘wid-scofen (haefde).’
Gr.
construes ‘wea’
as nom abs.
HROTHGAR LAVISHES GIFTS UPON HIS DELIVERER.
{Heorot is adorned with hands.}
Then
straight was ordered that Heorot inside[1]
With
hands be embellished: a host of them gathered,
Of
men and women, who the wassailing-building
The
guest-hall begeared. Gold-flashing sparkled
5
Webs on the walls then, of wonders a many
To
each of the heroes that look on such objects.
{The hall is defaced, however.}
The
beautiful building was broken to pieces
Which
all within with irons was fastened,
Its
hinges torn off: only the roof was
10 Whole
and uninjured when the horrible creature
Outlawed
for evil off had betaken him,
Hopeless
of living. ’Tis hard to avoid it
{[A vague passage of five verses.]}
(Whoever
will do it!); but he doubtless must come to[2]
The
place awaiting, as Wyrd hath appointed,
15 Soul-bearers,
earth-dwellers, earls under heaven,
Where
bound on its bed his body shall slumber
{Hrothgar goes to the banquet.}
When
feasting is finished. Full was the time then
That
the son of Healfdene went to the building;
[36] The excellent atheling would eat of the
banquet.
20 Ne’er
heard I that people with hero-band larger
Bare
them better tow’rds their bracelet-bestower.
The
laden-with-glory stooped to the bench then
(Their
kinsmen-companions in plenty were joyful,
Many
a cupful quaffing complaisantly),
25 Doughty
of spirit in the high-tow’ring palace,
{Hrothgar’s nephew, Hrothulf, is present.}
Hrothgar
and Hrothulf. Heorot then inside
Was
filled with friendly ones; falsehood and treachery
The
Folk-Scyldings now nowise did practise.
{Hrothgar lavishes gifts upon Beowulf.}
Then
the offspring of Healfdene offered to Beowulf
30 A golden
standard, as reward for the victory,
A
banner embossed, burnie and helmet;
Many
men saw then a song-famous weapon
Borne
’fore the hero. Beowulf drank of
The
cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing
35 He needed
not blush for in battle-men’s presence.
{Four handsomer gifts were never presented.}
Ne’er
heard I that many men on the ale-bench
In
friendlier fashion to their fellows presented
Four
bright jewels with gold-work embellished.
’Round
the roof of the helmet a head-guarder outside
40 Braided
with wires, with bosses was furnished,
That
swords-for-the-battle fight-hardened might fail
Boldly
to harm him, when the hero proceeded
{Hrothgar commands that eight finely caparisoned steeds be brought to Beowulf.}
Forth
against foemen. The defender of earls then
Commanded
that eight steeds with bridles
45 Gold-plated,
gleaming, be guided to hallward,
Inside
the building; on one of them stood then
An
art-broidered saddle embellished with jewels;
’Twas
the sovereign’s seat, when the son of King Healfdene
Was
pleased to take part in the play of the edges;
50 The famous
one’s valor ne’er failed at the front when
Slain
ones were bowing. And to Beowulf granted
The
prince of the Ingwins, power over both,
O’er
war-steeds and weapons; bade him well to enjoy them.
In
so manly a manner the mighty-famed chieftain,
[37] 55 Hoard-ward of heroes, with horses and jewels
War-storms
requited, that none e’er condemneth
Who
willeth to tell truth with full justice.
[1] Kl. suggests ‘hroden’ for ‘haten,’ and renders: Then quickly was Heorot adorned within, with hands bedecked.—B. suggests ‘gefraetwon’ instead of ‘gefraetwod,’ and renders: Then was it commanded to adorn Heorot within quickly with hands.—The former has the advantage of affording a parallel to ‘gefraetwod’: both have the disadvantage of altering the text.
[2] The passage 1005-1009 seems to be hopeless. One difficult point is to find a subject for ‘gesacan.’ Some say ‘he’; others supply ‘each,’ i.e., every soul-bearer ... must gain the inevitable place. The genitives in this case are partitive.—If ‘he’ be subj., the genitives are dependent on ‘gearwe’ (= prepared).—The ‘he’ itself is disputed, some referring it to Grendel; but B. takes it as involved in the parenthesis.
BANQUET (continued).—THE SCOP’S SONG OF FINN AND HNAEF.
{Each of Beowulf’s companions receives a costly gift.}
And
the atheling of earlmen to each of the heroes
Who
the ways of the waters went with Beowulf,
A
costly gift-token gave on the mead-bench,
Offered
an heirloom, and ordered that that man
{The warrior killed by Grendel is to be paid for in gold.}
5
With gold should be paid for, whom Grendel had erstwhile
Wickedly
slaughtered, as he more of them had done
Had
far-seeing God and the mood of the hero
The
fate not averted: the Father then governed
All
of the earth-dwellers, as He ever is doing;
10 Hence
insight for all men is everywhere fittest,
Forethought
of spirit! much he shall suffer
Of
lief and of loathsome who long in this present
Useth
the world in this woful existence.
There
was music and merriment mingling together
{Hrothgar’s scop recalls events in the reign of his lord’s father.}
15 Touching
Healfdene’s leader; the joy-wood was fingered,
Measures
recited, when the singer of Hrothgar
On
mead-bench should mention the merry hall-joyance
Of
the kinsmen of Finn, when onset surprised them:
{Hnaef, the Danish general, is treacherously attacked while staying at Finn’s castle.}
“The
Half-Danish hero, Hnaef of the Scyldings,
20 On the
field of the Frisians was fated to perish.
Sure
Hildeburg needed not mention approving
The
faith of the Jutemen: though blameless entirely,
{Queen Hildeburg is not only wife of Finn, but a kinswoman of the murdered Hnaef.}
When
shields were shivered she was shorn of her darlings,
Of
bairns and brothers: they bent to their fate
25 With
war-spear wounded; woe was that woman.
Not
causeless lamented the daughter of Hoce
The
decree of the Wielder when morning-light came and
She
was able ’neath heaven to behold the destruction
[38] Of brothers and bairns, where the brightest
of earth-joys
{Finn’s force is almost exterminated.}
30 She had
hitherto had: all the henchmen of Finn
War
had offtaken, save a handful remaining,
That
he nowise was able to offer resistance[1]
{Hengest succeeds Hnaef as Danish general.}
To
the onset of Hengest in the parley of battle,
Nor
the wretched remnant to rescue in war from
35 The earl
of the atheling; but they offered conditions,
{Compact between the Frisians and the Danes.}
Another
great building to fully make ready,
A
hall and a high-seat, that half they might rule with
The
sons of the Jutemen, and that Folcwalda’s son
would
Day
after day the Danemen honor
40 When
gifts were giving, and grant of his ring-store
To
Hengest’s earl-troop ever so freely,
Of
his gold-plated jewels, as he encouraged the Frisians
{Equality of gifts agreed on.}
On
the bench of the beer-hall. On both sides they
swore then
A
fast-binding compact; Finn unto Hengest
45 With
no thought of revoking vowed then most solemnly
The
woe-begone remnant well to take charge of,
His
Witan advising; the agreement should no one
By
words or works weaken and shatter,
By
artifice ever injure its value,
50 Though
reaved of their ruler their ring-giver’s slayer
They
followed as vassals, Fate so requiring:
{No one shall refer to old grudges.}
Then
if one of the Frisians the quarrel should speak of
In
tones that were taunting, terrible edges
Should
cut in requital. Accomplished the oath was,
55 And treasure
of gold from the hoard was uplifted.
{Danish warriors are burned on a funeral-pyre.}
The
best of the Scylding braves was then fully
Prepared
for the pile; at the pyre was seen clearly
The
blood-gory burnie, the boar with his gilding,
The
iron-hard swine, athelings many
60 Fatally
wounded; no few had been slaughtered.
Hildeburg
bade then, at the burning of Hnaef,
[39]
{Queen Hildeburg has her son burnt along with Hnaef.}
The
bairn of her bosom to bear to the fire,
That
his body be burned and borne to the pyre.
The
woe-stricken woman wept on his shoulder,[2]
65 In measures
lamented; upmounted the hero.[3]
The
greatest of dead-fires curled to the welkin,
On
the hill’s-front crackled; heads were a-melting,
Wound-doors
bursting, while the blood was a-coursing
From
body-bite fierce. The fire devoured them,
70 Greediest
of spirits, whom war had offcarried
From
both of the peoples; their bravest were fallen.
[1] For 1084, R. suggests
’wiht Hengeste wieth gefeohtan.’—K.
suggests
‘wieth Hengeste wiht
gefeohtan.’ Neither emendation would make
any
essential change in the translation.
[2] The separation of adjective and noun by a phrase (cf. v. 1118) being very unusual, some scholars have put ‘earme on eaxle’ with the foregoing lines, inserting a semicolon after ‘eaxle.’ In this case ’on eaxe’ (i.e., on the ashes, cinders) is sometimes read, and this affords a parallel to ‘on bael.’ Let us hope that a satisfactory rendering shall yet be reached without resorting to any tampering with the text, such as Lichtenheld proposed: ’earme ides on eaxle gnornode.’
[3] For ‘gueth-rinc,’ ‘gueth-rec,’ battle-smoke, has been suggested.
THE FINN EPISODE (continued).—THE BANQUET CONTINUES.
{The survivors go to Friesland, the home of Finn.}
“Then
the warriors departed to go to their dwellings,
Reaved
of their friends, Friesland to visit,
Their
homes and high-city. Hengest continued
{Hengest remains there all winter, unable to get away.}
Biding
with Finn the blood-tainted winter,
5
Wholly unsundered;[1] of fatherland thought he
Though
unable to drive the ring-stemmed vessel
[40] O’er the ways of the waters; the wave-deeps
were tossing,
Fought
with the wind; winter in ice-bonds
Closed
up the currents, till there came to the dwelling
10 A year
in its course, as yet it revolveth,
If
season propitious one alway regardeth,
World-cheering
weathers. Then winter was gone,
Earth’s
bosom was lovely; the exile would get him,
{He devises schemes of vengeance.}
The
guest from the palace; on grewsomest vengeance
15 He brooded
more eager than on oversea journeys,
Whe’r
onset-of-anger he were able to ’complish,
The
bairns of the Jutemen therein to remember.
Nowise
refused he the duties of liegeman
When
Hun of the Frisians the battle-sword Lafing,
20 Fairest
of falchions, friendly did give him:
Its
edges were famous in folk-talk of Jutland.
And
savage sword-fury seized in its clutches
Bold-mooded
Finn where he bode in his palace,
{Guthlaf and Oslaf revenge Hnaef’s slaughter.}
When
the grewsome grapple Guthlaf and Oslaf
25 Had mournfully
mentioned, the mere-journey over,
For
sorrows half-blamed him; the flickering spirit
Could
not bide in his bosom. Then the building was covered[2]
{Finn is slain.}
With
corpses of foemen, and Finn too was slaughtered,
The
king with his comrades, and the queen made a prisoner.
{The jewels of Finn, and his queen are carried away by the Danes.}
30 The troops
of the Scyldings bore to their vessels
All
that the land-king had in his palace,
Such
trinkets and treasures they took as, on searching,
At
Finn’s they could find. They ferried to
Daneland
The
excellent woman on oversea journey,
{The lay is concluded, and the main story is resumed.}
35 Led her
to their land-folk.” The lay was concluded,
The
gleeman’s recital. Shouts again rose then,
Bench-glee
resounded, bearers then offered
{Skinkers carry round the beaker.}
Wine
from wonder-vats. Wealhtheo advanced then
Going
’neath gold-crown, where the good ones were seated
[41]
{Queen Wealhtheow greets Hrothgar, as he sits beside Hrothulf, his nephew.}
40 Uncle
and nephew; their peace was yet mutual,
True
each to the other. And Unferth the spokesman
Sat
at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings:
Each
trusted his spirit that his mood was courageous,
Though
at fight he had failed in faith to his kinsmen.
45 Said
the queen of the Scyldings: “My lord and
protector,
Treasure-bestower,
take thou this beaker;
Joyance
attend thee, gold-friend of heroes,
{Be generous to the Geats.}
And
greet thou the Geatmen with gracious responses!
So
ought one to do. Be kind to the Geatmen,
50 In gifts
not niggardly; anear and afar now
Peace
thou enjoyest. Report hath informed me
Thou’lt
have for a bairn the battle-brave hero.
Now
is Heorot cleansed, ring-palace gleaming;
{Have as much joy as possible in thy hall, once more purified.}
Give
while thou mayest many rewards,
55 And bequeath
to thy kinsmen kingdom and people,
On
wending thy way to the Wielder’s splendor.
I
know good Hrothulf, that the noble young troopers
{I know that Hrothulf will prove faithful if he survive thee.}
He’ll
care for and honor, lord of the Scyldings,
If
earth-joys thou endest earlier than he doth;
60 I reckon
that recompense he’ll render with kindness
Our
offspring and issue, if that all he remember,
What
favors of yore, when he yet was an infant,
We
awarded to him for his worship and pleasure.”
Then
she turned by the bench where her sons were carousing,
65 Hrethric
and Hrothmund, and the heroes’ offspring,
{Beowulf is sitting by the two royal sons.}
The
war-youth together; there the good one was sitting
’Twixt
the brothers twain, Beowulf Geatman.
[1] For 1130 (1) R. and Gr. suggest ‘elne unflitme’ as 1098 (1) reads. The latter verse is undisputed; and, for the former, ‘elne’ would be as possible as ‘ealles,’ and ‘unflitme’ is well supported. Accepting ‘elne unflitme’ for both, I would suggest ‘very peaceably’ for both places: (1) Finn to Hengest very peaceably vowed with oaths, etc. (2) Hengest then still the slaughter-stained winter remained there with Finn very peaceably. The two passages become thus correlatives, the second a sequel of the first. ‘Elne,’ in the sense of very (swiethe), needs no argument; and ‘unflitme’ (from ‘flitan’) can, it seems to me, be more plausibly rendered ‘peaceful,’ ‘peaceable,’ than ‘contestable,’ or ‘conquerable.’
[2] Some scholars have proposed
‘roden’; the line would then read:
Then the building was reddened,
etc., instead of ‘covered.’ The
‘h’
may have been carried over
from the three alliterating ‘h’s.’
BEOWULF RECEIVES FURTHER HONOR.
{More gifts are offered Beowulf.}
A
beaker was borne him, and bidding to quaff it
Graciously
given, and gold that was twisted
Pleasantly
proffered, a pair of arm-jewels,
[42] Rings and corslet, of collars the greatest
5
I’ve heard of ’neath heaven. Of heroes
not any
More
splendid from jewels have I heard ’neath the
welkin,
{A famous necklace is referred to, in comparison with the gems presented to Beowulf.}
Since
Hama off bore the Brosingmen’s necklace,
The
bracteates and jewels, from the bright-shining city,[1]
Eormenric’s
cunning craftiness fled from,
10 Chose
gain everlasting. Geatish Higelac,
Grandson
of Swerting, last had this jewel
When
tramping ’neath banner the treasure he guarded,
The
field-spoil defended; Fate offcarried him
When
for deeds of daring he endured tribulation,
15 Hate
from the Frisians; the ornaments bare he
O’er
the cup of the currents, costly gem-treasures,
Mighty
folk-leader, he fell ’neath his target;
The[2]
corpse of the king then came into charge of
The
race of the Frankmen, the mail-shirt and collar:
20 Warmen
less noble plundered the fallen,
When
the fight was finished; the folk of the Geatmen
The
field of the dead held in possession.
The
choicest of mead-halls with cheering resounded.
Wealhtheo
discoursed, the war-troop addressed she:
{Queen Wealhtheow magnifies Beowulf’s achievements.}
25 “This
collar enjoy thou, Beowulf worthy,
Young
man, in safety, and use thou this armor,
Gems
of the people, and prosper thou fully,
Show
thyself sturdy and be to these liegemen
Mild
with instruction! I’ll mind thy requital.
30 Thou
hast brought it to pass that far and near
Forever
and ever earthmen shall honor thee,
Even
so widely as ocean surroundeth
The
blustering bluffs. Be, while thou livest,
[43] A wealth-blessed atheling. I wish thee
most truly
{May gifts never fail thee.}
35 Jewels
and treasure. Be kind to my son, thou
Living
in joyance! Here each of the nobles
Is
true unto other, gentle in spirit,
Loyal
to leader. The liegemen are peaceful,
The
war-troops ready: well-drunken heroes,[3]
40 Do as
I bid ye.” Then she went to the settle.
There
was choicest of banquets, wine drank the heroes:
{They little know of the sorrow in store for them.}
Weird
they knew not, destiny cruel,
As
to many an earlman early it happened,
When
evening had come and Hrothgar had parted
45 Off to
his manor, the mighty to slumber.
Warriors
unnumbered warded the building
As
erst they did often: the ale-settle bared they,
’Twas
covered all over with beds and pillows.
{A doomed thane is there with them.}
Doomed
unto death, down to his slumber
50 Bowed
then a beer-thane. Their battle-shields placed
they,
Bright-shining
targets, up by their heads then;
O’er
the atheling on ale-bench ’twas easy to see there
Battle-high
helmet, burnie of ring-mail,
{They were always ready for battle.}
And
mighty war-spear. ’Twas the wont of that
people
55 To constantly
keep them equipped for the battle,[4]
At
home or marching—in either condition—
At
seasons just such as necessity ordered
As
best for their ruler; that people was worthy.
[1] C. suggests a semicolon
after ‘city,’ with ‘he’ as
supplied
subject of ‘fled’
and ‘chose.’
[2] For ‘feorh’ S. suggests ‘feoh’: ‘corpse’ in the translation would then be changed to ‘possessions,’ ‘belongings.’ This is a better reading than one joining, in such intimate syntactical relations, things so unlike as ‘corpse’ and ‘jewels.’
[3] S. suggests ‘wine-joyous heroes,’ ‘warriors elated with wine.’
[4] I believe this translation brings out the meaning of the poet, without departing seriously from the H.-So. text. ‘Oft’ frequently means ‘constantly,’ ‘continually,’ not always ’often.’—Why ’an (on) wig gearwe’ should be written ‘anwig-gearwe’ (= ready for single combat), I cannot see. ‘Gearwe’ occurs quite frequently with ‘on’; cf. B. 1110 (ready for the pyre), El. 222 (ready for the glad journey). Moreover, what has the idea of single combat to do with B. 1247 ff.? The poet is giving an inventory of the arms and armor which they lay aside on retiring, and he closes his narration by saying that they were always prepared for battle both at home and on the march.
[44]
THE MOTHER OF GRENDEL.
They
sank then to slumber. With sorrow one paid for
His
evening repose, as often betid them
While
Grendel was holding[1] the gold-bedecked palace,
Ill-deeds
performing, till his end overtook him,
5
Death for his sins. ’Twas seen very clearly,
{Grendel’s mother is known to be thirsting for revenge.}
Known
unto earth-folk, that still an avenger
Outlived
the loathed one, long since the sorrow
Caused
by the struggle; the mother of Grendel,
Devil-shaped
woman, her woe ever minded,
10 Who was
held to inhabit the horrible waters,
{[Grendel’s progenitor, Cain, is again referred to.]}
The
cold-flowing currents, after Cain had become a
Slayer-with-edges
to his one only brother,
The
son of his sire; he set out then banished,
Marked
as a murderer, man-joys avoiding,
15 Lived
in the desert. Thence demons unnumbered
{The poet again magnifies Beowulf’s valor.}
Fate-sent
awoke; one of them Grendel,
Sword-cursed,
hateful, who at Heorot met with
A
man that was watching, waiting the struggle,
Where
a horrid one held him with hand-grapple sturdy;
20 Nathless
he minded the might of his body,
The
glorious gift God had allowed him,
And
folk-ruling Father’s favor relied on,
His
help and His comfort: so he conquered the foeman,
The
hell-spirit humbled: he unhappy departed then,
25 Reaved
of his joyance, journeying to death-haunts,
Foeman
of man. His mother moreover
{Grendel’s mother comes to avenge her son.}
Eager
and gloomy was anxious to go on
Her
mournful mission, mindful of vengeance
For
the death of her son. She came then to Heorot
[45] 30 Where the Armor-Dane earlmen all through
the building
Were
lying in slumber. Soon there became then
Return[2]
to the nobles, when the mother of Grendel
Entered
the folk-hall; the fear was less grievous
By
even so much as the vigor of maidens,
35 War-strength
of women, by warrior is reckoned,
When
well-carved weapon, worked with the hammer,
Blade
very bloody, brave with its edges,
Strikes
down the boar-sign that stands on the helmet.
Then
the hard-edged weapon was heaved in the building,[3]
40 The brand
o’er the benches, broad-lindens many
Hand-fast
were lifted; for helmet he recked not,
For
armor-net broad, whom terror laid hold of.
She
went then hastily, outward would get her
Her
life for to save, when some one did spy her;
{She seizes a favorite liegemen of Hrothgar’s.}
45 Soon
she had grappled one of the athelings
Fast
and firmly, when fenward she hied her;
That
one to Hrothgar was liefest of heroes
In
rank of retainer where waters encircle,
A
mighty shield-warrior, whom she murdered at slumber,
50 A broadly-famed
battle-knight. Beowulf was absent,
{Beowulf was asleep in another part of the palace.}
But
another apartment was erstwhile devoted
To
the glory-decked Geatman when gold was distributed.
There
was hubbub in Heorot. The hand that was famous
She
grasped in its gore;[4] grief was renewed then
{Beowulf is sent for.}
60 His dearest
one gone. Quick from a room was
Beowulf
brought, brave and triumphant.
As
day was dawning in the dusk of the morning,
{He comes at Hrothgar’s summons.}
Went
then that earlman, champion noble,
Came
with comrades, where the clever one bided
65 Whether
God all gracious would grant him a respite
After
the woe he had suffered. The war-worthy hero
With
a troop of retainers trod then the pavement
(The
hall-building groaned), till he greeted the wise one,
{Beowulf inquires how Hrothgar had enjoyed his night’s rest.}
The
earl of the Ingwins;[5] asked if the night had
70 Fully
refreshed him, as fain he would have it.
[1] Several eminent authorities
either read or emend the MS. so as to
make this verse read, While
Grendel was wasting the gold-bedecked
palace. So 20_15
below: ravaged the desert.
[2] For ‘sona’
(1281), t.B. suggests ‘sara,’ limiting
‘edhwyrft.’ Read
then: Return of sorrows
to the nobles, etc. This emendation supplies
the syntactical gap after
‘edhwyrft.’
[3] Some authorities follow
Grein’s lexicon in treating ‘heard ecg’
as
an adj. limiting ‘sweord’:
H.-So. renders it as a subst. (So v. 1491.)
The sense of the translation
would be the same.
[4] B. suggests ‘under hrof genam’ (v. 1303). This emendation, as well as an emendation with (?) to v. 739, he offers, because ‘under’ baffles him in both passages. All we need is to take ‘under’ in its secondary meaning of ‘in,’ which, though not given by Grein, occurs in the literature. Cf. Chron. 876 (March’s A.-S. Gram. Sec. 355) and Oro. Amaz. I. 10, where ‘under’ = in the midst of. Cf. modern Eng. ’in such circumstances,’ which interchanges in good usage with ’under such circumstances.’
[5] For ‘neod-laethu’
(1321) C. suggests ‘nead-laethum,’ and
translates:
asked whether the night
had been pleasant to him after
crushing-hostility.
HROTHGAR’S ACCOUNT OF THE MONSTERS.
{Hrothgar laments the death of AEschere, his shoulder-companion.}
Hrothgar
rejoined, helm of the Scyldings:
“Ask
not of joyance! Grief is renewed to
The
folk of the Danemen. Dead is AEschere,
Yrmenlaf’s
brother, older than he,
5
My true-hearted counsellor, trusty adviser,
Shoulder-companion,
when fighting in battle
Our
heads we protected, when troopers were clashing,
{He was my ideal hero.}
And
heroes were dashing; such an earl should be ever,
An
erst-worthy atheling, as AEschere proved him.
10 The flickering
death-spirit became in Heorot
His
hand-to-hand murderer; I can not tell whither
The
cruel one turned in the carcass exulting,
[47]
{This horrible creature came to avenge Grendel’s death.}
By
cramming discovered.[1] The quarrel she wreaked then,
That
last night igone Grendel thou killedst
15 In grewsomest
manner, with grim-holding clutches,
Since
too long he had lessened my liege-troop and wasted
My
folk-men so foully. He fell in the battle
With
forfeit of life, and another has followed,
A
mighty crime-worker, her kinsman avenging,
20 And henceforth
hath ’stablished her hatred unyielding,[2]
As
it well may appear to many a liegeman,
Who
mourneth in spirit the treasure-bestower,
Her
heavy heart-sorrow; the hand is now lifeless
Which[3]
availed you in every wish that you cherished.
{I have heard my vassals speak of these two uncanny monsters who lived in the moors.}
25 Land-people
heard I, liegemen, this saying,
Dwellers
in halls, they had seen very often
A
pair of such mighty march-striding creatures,
Far-dwelling
spirits, holding the moorlands:
One
of them wore, as well they might notice,
30 The image
of woman, the other one wretched
In
guise of a man wandered in exile,
Except
he was huger than any of earthmen;
Earth-dwelling
people entitled him Grendel
In
days of yore: they know not their father,
35 Whe’r
ill-going spirits any were borne him
{The inhabit the most desolate and horrible places.}
Ever
before. They guard the wolf-coverts,
Lands
inaccessible, wind-beaten nesses,
Fearfullest
fen-deeps, where a flood from the mountains
’Neath
mists of the nesses netherward rattles,
40 The stream
under earth: not far is it henceward
Measured
by mile-lengths that the mere-water standeth,
Which
forests hang over, with frost-whiting covered,[4]
[48] A firm-rooted forest, the floods overshadow.
There
ever at night one an ill-meaning portent
45 A fire-flood
may see; ’mong children of men
None
liveth so wise that wot of the bottom;
Though
harassed by hounds the heath-stepper seek for,
{Even the hounded deer will not seek refuge in these uncanny regions.}
Fly
to the forest, firm-antlered he-deer,
Spurred
from afar, his spirit he yieldeth,
50 His life
on the shore, ere in he will venture
To
cover his head. Uncanny the place is:
Thence
upward ascendeth the surging of waters,
Wan
to the welkin, when the wind is stirring
The
weathers unpleasing, till the air groweth gloomy,
{To thee only can I look for assistance.}
55 And the
heavens lower. Now is help to be gotten
From
thee and thee only! The abode thou know’st
not,
The
dangerous place where thou’rt able to meet with
The
sin-laden hero: seek if thou darest!
For
the feud I will fully fee thee with money,
60 With
old-time treasure, as erstwhile I did thee,
With
well-twisted jewels, if away thou shalt get thee.”
[1] For ‘gefraegnod’
(1334), K. and t.B. suggest ‘gefaegnod,’
rendering
‘rejoicing in her
fill.’ This gives a parallel to ‘aese
wlanc’
(1333).
[2] The line ‘And ...
yielding,’ B. renders: And she has performed
a
deed of blood-vengeance whose
effect is far-reaching.
[3] ‘Se Þe’ (1345)
is an instance of masc. rel. with fem. antecedent.
So v. 1888, where ‘se
Þe’ refers to ‘yldo.’
[4] For ‘hrimge’
in the H.-So. edition, Gr. and others read ‘hrinde’
(=hrinende), and translate:
which rustling forests overhang.
BEOWULF SEEKS GRENDEL’S MOTHER.
Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow’s son:
{Beowulf exhorts the old king to arouse himself for action.}
“Grieve
not, O wise one! for each it is better,
His
friend to avenge than with vehemence wail him;
Each
of us must the end-day abide of
5
His earthly existence; who is able accomplish
Glory
ere death! To battle-thane noble
Lifeless
lying, ’tis at last most fitting.
Arise,
O king, quick let us hasten
To
look at the footprint of the kinsman of Grendel!
10 I promise
thee this now: to his place he’ll escape
not,
To
embrace of the earth, nor to mountainous forest,
Nor
to depths of the ocean, wherever he wanders.
[49] Practice thou now patient endurance
Of
each of thy sorrows, as I hope for thee soothly!”
{Hrothgar rouses himself. His horse is brought.}
15 Then
up sprang the old one, the All-Wielder thanked he,
Ruler
Almighty, that the man had outspoken.
Then
for Hrothgar a war-horse was decked with a bridle,
Curly-maned
courser. The clever folk-leader
{They start on the track of the female monster.}
Stately
proceeded: stepped then an earl-troop
20 Of linden-wood
bearers. Her footprints were seen then
Widely
in wood-paths, her way o’er the bottoms,
Where
she faraway fared o’er fen-country murky,
Bore
away breathless the best of retainers
Who
pondered with Hrothgar the welfare of country.
25 The son
of the athelings then went o’er the stony,
{The sight of AEschere’s head causes them great sorrow.}
Sad
to be suffered, a sorrow unlittle
To
each of the earlmen, when to AEschere’s head
they
Came
on the cliff. The current was seething
With
blood and with gore (the troopers gazed on it).
40 The horn
anon sang the battle-song ready.
The
troop were all seated; they saw ’long the water
then
{The water is filled with serpents and sea-dragons.}
Many
a serpent, mere-dragons wondrous
Trying
the waters, nickers a-lying
On
the cliffs of the nesses, which at noonday full often
45 Go on
the sea-deeps their sorrowful journey,
Wild-beasts
and wormkind; away then they hastened
{One of them is killed by Beowulf.}
Hot-mooded,
hateful, they heard the great clamor,
The
war-trumpet winding. One did the Geat-prince
[50] Sunder from earth-joys, with arrow from
bowstring,
50 From
his sea-struggle tore him, that the trusty war-missile
{The dead beast is a poor swimmer}
Pierced
to his vitals; he proved in the currents
Less
doughty at swimming whom death had offcarried.
Soon
in the waters the wonderful swimmer
Was
straitened most sorely with sword-pointed boar-spears,
55 Pressed
in the battle and pulled to the cliff-edge;
The
liegemen then looked on the loath-fashioned stranger.
{Beowulf prepares for a struggle with the monster.}
Beowulf
donned then his battle-equipments,
Cared
little for life; inlaid and most ample,
The
hand-woven corslet which could cover his body,
60 Must
the wave-deeps explore, that war might be powerless
To
harm the great hero, and the hating one’s grasp
might
Not
peril his safety; his head was protected
By
the light-flashing helmet that should mix with the
bottoms,
Trying
the eddies, treasure-emblazoned,
65 Encircled
with jewels, as in seasons long past
The
weapon-smith worked it, wondrously made it,
With
swine-bodies fashioned it, that thenceforward no longer
Brand
might bite it, and battle-sword hurt it.
And
that was not least of helpers in prowess
{He has Unferth’s sword in his hand.}
70 That
Hrothgar’s spokesman had lent him when straitened;
And
the hilted hand-sword was Hrunting entitled,
Old
and most excellent ’mong all of the treasures;
Its
blade was of iron, blotted with poison,
Hardened
with gore; it failed not in battle
75 Any hero
under heaven in hand who it brandished,
Who
ventured to take the terrible journeys,
The
battle-field sought; not the earliest occasion
That
deeds of daring ’twas destined to ’complish.
{Unferth has little use for swords.}
Ecglaf’s
kinsman minded not soothly,
80 Exulting
in strength, what erst he had spoken
Drunken
with wine, when the weapon he lent to
A
sword-hero bolder; himself did not venture
’Neath
the strife of the currents his life to endanger,
[51] To fame-deeds perform; there he forfeited
glory,
85 Repute
for his strength. Not so with the other
When
he clad in his corslet had equipped him for battle.
BEOWULF’S FIGHT WITH GRENDEL’S MOTHER.
{Beowulf makes a parting speech to Hrothgar.}
Beowulf
spake, Ecgtheow’s son:
“Recall
now, oh, famous kinsman of Healfdene,
Prince
very prudent, now to part I am ready,
Gold-friend
of earlmen, what erst we agreed on,
{If I fail, act as a kind liegelord to my thanes,}
5
Should I lay down my life in lending thee assistance,
When
my earth-joys were over, thou wouldst evermore serve
me
In
stead of a father; my faithful thanemen,
My
trusty retainers, protect thou and care for,
Fall
I in battle: and, Hrothgar beloved,
{and send Higelac the jewels thou hast given me}
10 Send
unto Higelac the high-valued jewels
Thou
to me hast allotted. The lord of the Geatmen
May
perceive from the gold, the Hrethling may see it
{I should like my king to know how generous a lord I found thee to be.}
When
he looks on the jewels, that a gem-giver found I
Good
over-measure, enjoyed him while able.
15 And the
ancient heirloom Unferth permit thou,
The
famed one to have, the heavy-sword splendid[1]
The
hard-edged weapon; with Hrunting to aid me,
I
shall gain me glory, or grim-death shall take me.”
{Beowulf is eager for the fray.}
The
atheling of Geatmen uttered these words and
20 Heroic
did hasten, not any rejoinder
Was
willing to wait for; the wave-current swallowed
{He is a whole day reaching the bottom of the sea.}
The
doughty-in-battle. Then a day’s-length elapsed
ere
He
was able to see the sea at its bottom.
Early
she found then who fifty of winters
25 The course
of the currents kept in her fury,
Grisly
and greedy, that the grim one’s dominion
[52]
{Grendel’s mother knows that some one has reached her domains.}
Some
one of men from above was exploring.
Forth
did she grab them, grappled the warrior
With
horrible clutches; yet no sooner she injured
30 His body
unscathed: the burnie out-guarded,
That
she proved but powerless to pierce through the armor,
The
limb-mail locked, with loath-grabbing fingers.
The
sea-wolf bare then, when bottomward came she,
{She grabs him, and bears him to her den.}
The
ring-prince homeward, that he after was powerless
35 (He had
daring to do it) to deal with his weapons,
But
many a mere-beast tormented him swimming,
{Sea-monsters bite and strike him.}
Flood-beasts
no few with fierce-biting tusks did
Break
through his burnie, the brave one pursued they.
The
earl then discovered he was down in some cavern
40 Where
no water whatever anywise harmed him,
And
the clutch of the current could come not anear him,
Since
the roofed-hall prevented; brightness a-gleaming
Fire-light
he saw, flashing resplendent.
The
good one saw then the sea-bottom’s monster,
{Beowulf attacks the mother of Grendel.}
45 The mighty
mere-woman; he made a great onset
With
weapon-of-battle, his hand not desisted
From
striking, that war-blade struck on her head then
A
battle-song greedy. The stranger perceived then
{The sword will not bite.}
The
sword would not bite, her life would not injure,
50 But the
falchion failed the folk-prince when straitened:
Erst
had it often onsets encountered,
Oft
cloven the helmet, the fated one’s armor:
’Twas
the first time that ever the excellent jewel
Had
failed of its fame. Firm-mooded after,
55 Not heedless
of valor, but mindful of glory,
Was
Higelac’s kinsman; the hero-chief angry
Cast
then his carved-sword covered with jewels
That
it lay on the earth, hard and steel-pointed;
{The hero throws down all weapons, and again trusts to his hand-grip.}
He
hoped in his strength, his hand-grapple sturdy.
60 So any
must act whenever he thinketh
To
gain him in battle glory unending,
And
is reckless of living. The lord of the War-Geats
[53] (He shrank not from battle) seized by the
shoulder[2]
The
mother of Grendel; then mighty in struggle
65 Swung
he his enemy, since his anger was kindled,
That
she fell to the floor. With furious grapple
{Beowulf falls.}
She
gave him requital[3] early thereafter,
And
stretched out to grab him; the strongest of warriors
Faint-mooded
stumbled, till he fell in his traces,
{The monster sits on him with drawn sword.}
70 Foot-going
champion. Then she sat on the hall-guest
And
wielded her war-knife wide-bladed, flashing,
For
her son would take vengeance, her one only bairn.
{His armor saves his life.}
His
breast-armor woven bode on his shoulder;
It
guarded his life, the entrance defended
75 ’Gainst
sword-point and edges. Ecgtheow’s son there
Had
fatally journeyed, champion of Geatmen,
In
the arms of the ocean, had the armor not given,
Close-woven
corslet, comfort and succor,
{God arranged for his escape.}
And
had God most holy not awarded the victory,
80 All-knowing
Lord; easily did heaven’s
Ruler
most righteous arrange it with justice;[4]
Uprose
he erect ready for battle.
[1] Kl. emends ‘wael-sweord.’
The half-line would then read, ’the
battle-sword splendid.’—For
‘heard-ecg’ in next half-verse, see note
to 20_39 above.
[2] Sw., R., and t.B. suggest
‘feaxe’ for ‘eaxle’ (1538)
and render:
Seized by the hair.
[3] If ‘hand-lean’
be accepted (as the MS. has it), the line will
read: She hand-reward
gave him early thereafter.
[4] Sw. and S. change H.-So.’s
semicolon (v. 1557) to a comma, and
translate: The Ruler
of Heaven arranged it in justice easily, after
he arose again.
BEOWULF IS DOUBLE-CONQUEROR.
{Beowulf grasps a giant-sword,}
Then
he saw mid the war-gems a weapon of victory,
An
ancient giant-sword, of edges a-doughty,
Glory
of warriors: of weapons ’twas choicest,
Only
’twas larger than any man else was
[54] 5 Able to bear to the battle-encounter,
The
good and splendid work of the giants.
He
grasped then the sword-hilt, knight of the Scyldings,
Bold
and battle-grim, brandished his ring-sword,
Hopeless
of living, hotly he smote her,
10 That
the fiend-woman’s neck firmly it grappled,
{and fells the female monster.}
Broke
through her bone-joints, the bill fully pierced her
Fate-cursed
body, she fell to the ground then:
The
hand-sword was bloody, the hero exulted.
The
brand was brilliant, brightly it glimmered,
15 Just
as from heaven gemlike shineth
The
torch of the firmament. He glanced ’long
the building,
{Beowulf sees the body of Grendel, and cuts off his head.}
When
he saw on his rest-place weary of conflict
Grendel
lying, of life-joys bereaved,
30 As the
battle at Heorot erstwhile had scathed him;
His
body far bounded, a blow when he suffered,
Death
having seized him, sword-smiting heavy,
And
he cut off his head then. Early this noticed
The
clever carles who as comrades of Hrothgar
{The waters are gory.}
35 Gazed
on the sea-deeps, that the surging wave-currents
Were
mightily mingled, the mere-flood was gory:
Of
the good one the gray-haired together held converse,
{Beowulf is given up for dead.}
The
hoary of head, that they hoped not to see again
The
atheling ever, that exulting in victory
40 He’d
return there to visit the distinguished folk-ruler:
[55] Then many concluded the mere-wolf had killed
him.[1]
The
ninth hour came then. From the ness-edge departed
The
bold-mooded Scyldings; the gold-friend of heroes
Homeward
betook him. The strangers sat down then
45 Soul-sick,
sorrowful, the sea-waves regarding:
They
wished and yet weened not their well-loved friend-lord
{The giant-sword melts.}
To
see any more. The sword-blade began then,
The
blood having touched it, contracting and shriveling
With
battle-icicles; ’twas a wonderful marvel
50 That
it melted entirely, likest to ice when
The
Father unbindeth the bond of the frost and
Unwindeth
the wave-bands, He who wieldeth dominion
Of
times and of tides: a truth-firm Creator.
Nor
took he of jewels more in the dwelling,
55 Lord
of the Weders, though they lay all around him,
Than
the head and the handle handsome with jewels;
[56] The brand early melted, burnt was the weapon:[2]
So
hot was the blood, the strange-spirit poisonous
{The hero swims back to the realms of day.}
That
in it did perish. He early swam off then
60 Who had
bided in combat the carnage of haters,
Went
up through the ocean; the eddies were cleansed,
The
spacious expanses, when the spirit from farland
His
life put aside and this short-lived existence.
The
seamen’s defender came swimming to land then
65 Doughty
of spirit, rejoiced in his sea-gift,
The
bulky burden which he bore in his keeping.
The
excellent vassals advanced then to meet him,
To
God they were grateful, were glad in their chieftain,
That
to see him safe and sound was granted them.
70 From
the high-minded hero, then, helmet and burnie
Were
speedily loosened: the ocean was putrid,
The
water ’neath welkin weltered with gore.
Forth
did they fare, then, their footsteps retracing,
Merry
and mirthful, measured the earth-way,
75 The highway
familiar: men very daring[3]
Bare
then the head from the sea-cliff, burdening
Each
of the earlmen, excellent-valiant.
{It takes four men to carry Grendel’s head on a spear.}
Four
of them had to carry with labor
The
head of Grendel to the high towering gold-hall
80 Upstuck
on the spear, till fourteen most-valiant
And
battle-brave Geatmen came there going
Straight
to the palace: the prince of the people
Measured
the mead-ways, their mood-brave companion.
The
atheling of earlmen entered the building,
85 Deed-valiant
man, adorned with distinction,
Doughty
shield-warrior, to address King Hrothgar:
[57] Then hung by the hair, the head of Grendel
Was
borne to the building, where beer-thanes were drinking,
Loth
before earlmen and eke ’fore the lady:
90 The warriors
beheld then a wonderful sight.
[1] ‘Þaes monige geweareth’ (1599) and ‘hafaeth þaes geworden’ (2027).—In a paper published some years ago in one of the Johns Hopkins University circulars, I tried to throw upon these two long-doubtful passages some light derived from a study of like passages in Alfred’s prose.—The impersonal verb ‘geweorethan,’ with an accus. of the person, and a þaet-clause is used several times with the meaning ‘agree.’ See Orosius (Sweet’s ed.) 178_7; 204_34; 208_28; 210_15; 280_20. In the two Beowulf passages, the þaet-clause is anticipated by ‘þaes,’ which is clearly a gen. of the thing agreed on.
The first passage (v. 1599
(b)-1600) I translate literally: Then many
agreed upon this (namely),
that the sea-wolf had killed him.
The second passage (v. 2025
(b)-2027): She is promised ...; to this
the friend of the Scyldings
has agreed, etc. By emending ‘is’
instead
of ‘waes’ (2025),
the tenses will be brought into perfect harmony.
In v. 1997 ff. this same idiom occurs, and was noticed in B.’s great article on Beowulf, which appeared about the time I published my reading of 1599 and 2027. Translate 1997 then: Wouldst let the South-Danes themselves decide about their struggle with Grendel. Here ‘Sueth-Dene’ is accus. of person, and ‘guethe’ is gen. of thing agreed on.
With such collateral support
as that afforded by B. (P. and B. XII.
97), I have no hesitation
in departing from H.-So., my usual guide.
The idiom above treated runs
through A.-S., Old Saxon, and other
Teutonic languages, and should
be noticed in the lexicons.
[2] ‘Broden-mael’
is regarded by most scholars as meaning a damaskeened
sword. Translate:
The damaskeened sword burned up. Cf. 25_16
and
note.
[3] ‘Cyning-balde’ (1635) is the much-disputed reading of K. and Th. To render this, “nobly bold,” “excellently bold,” have been suggested. B. would read ‘cyning-holde’ (cf. 290), and render: Men well-disposed towards the king carried the head, etc. ‘Cynebealde,’ says t.B., endorsing Gr.
BEOWULF BRINGS HIS TROPHIES.—HROTHGAR’S GRATITUDE.
{Beowulf relates his last exploit.}
Beowulf
spake, offspring of Ecgtheow:
“Lo!
we blithely have brought thee, bairn of Healfdene,
Prince
of the Scyldings, these presents from ocean
Which
thine eye looketh on, for an emblem of glory.
5
I came off alive from this, narrowly ’scaping:
In
war ’neath the water the work with great pains
I
Performed,
and the fight had been finished quite nearly,
Had
God not defended me. I failed in the battle
Aught
to accomplish, aided by Hrunting,
10 Though
that weapon was worthy, but the Wielder of earth-folk
{God was fighting with me.}
Gave
me willingly to see on the wall a
Heavy
old hand-sword hanging in splendor
(He
guided most often the lorn and the friendless),
That
I swung as a weapon. The wards of the house then
15 I killed
in the conflict (when occasion was given me).
Then
the battle-sword burned, the brand that was lifted,[1]
As
the blood-current sprang, hottest of war-sweats;
Seizing
the hilt, from my foes I offbore it;
I
avenged as I ought to their acts of malignity,
20 The murder
of Danemen. I then make thee this promise,
{Heorot is freed from monsters.}
Thou’lt
be able in Heorot careless to slumber
With
thy throng of heroes and the thanes of thy people
Every
and each, of greater and lesser,
And
thou needest not fear for them from the selfsame direction
25 As thou
formerly fearedst, oh, folk-lord of Scyldings,
[58] End-day for earlmen.” To the age-hoary
man then,
{The famous sword is presented to Hrothgar.}
The
gray-haired chieftain, the gold-fashioned sword-hilt,
Old-work
of giants, was thereupon given;
Since
the fall of the fiends, it fell to the keeping
30 Of the
wielder of Danemen, the wonder-smith’s labor,
And
the bad-mooded being abandoned this world then,
Opponent
of God, victim of murder,
And
also his mother; it went to the keeping
Of
the best of the world-kings, where waters encircle,
35 Who the
scot divided in Scylding dominion.
{Hrothgar looks closely at the old sword.}
Hrothgar
discoursed, the hilt he regarded,
The
ancient heirloom where an old-time contention’s
Beginning
was graven: the gurgling currents,
The
flood slew thereafter the race of the giants,
40 They
had proved themselves daring: that people was
loth to
{It had belonged to a race hateful to God.}
The
Lord everlasting, through lash of the billows
The
Father gave them final requital.
So
in letters of rune on the clasp of the handle
Gleaming
and golden, ’twas graven exactly,
45 Set forth
and said, whom that sword had been made for,
Finest
of irons, who first it was wrought for,
Wreathed
at its handle and gleaming with serpents.
The
wise one then said (silent they all were)
{Hrothgar praises Beowulf.}
Son
of old Healfdene: “He may say unrefuted
50 Who performs
’mid the folk-men fairness and truth
(The
hoary old ruler remembers the past),
That
better by birth is this bairn of the nobles!
Thy
fame is extended through far-away countries,
Good
friend Beowulf, o’er all of the races,
55 Thou
holdest all firmly, hero-like strength with
Prudence
of spirit. I’ll prove myself grateful
As
before we agreed on; thou granted for long shalt
Become
a great comfort to kinsmen and comrades,
{Heremod’s career is again contrasted with Beowulf’s.}
A
help unto heroes. Heremod became not
60 Such
to the Scyldings, successors of Ecgwela;
He
grew not to please them, but grievous destruction,
[59] And diresome death-woes to Danemen attracted;
He
slew in anger his table-companions,
Trustworthy
counsellors, till he turned off lonely
65 From
world-joys away, wide-famous ruler:
Though
high-ruling heaven in hero-strength raised him,
In
might exalted him, o’er men of all nations
Made
him supreme, yet a murderous spirit
Grew
in his bosom: he gave then no ring-gems
{A wretched failure of a king, to give no jewels to his retainers.}
70 To the
Danes after custom; endured he unjoyful
Standing
the straits from strife that was raging,
Longsome
folk-sorrow. Learn then from this,
Lay
hold of virtue! Though laden with winters,
I
have sung thee these measures. ’Tis a marvel
to tell it,
{Hrothgar moralizes.}
75 How all-ruling
God from greatness of spirit
Giveth
wisdom to children of men,
Manor
and earlship: all things He ruleth.
He
often permitteth the mood-thought of man of
The
illustrious lineage to lean to possessions,
80 Allows
him earthly delights at his manor,
A
high-burg of heroes to hold in his keeping,
Maketh
portions of earth-folk hear him,
And
a wide-reaching kingdom so that, wisdom failing him,
He
himself is unable to reckon its boundaries;
85 He liveth
in luxury, little debars him,
Nor
sickness nor age, no treachery-sorrow
Becloudeth
his spirit, conflict nowhere,
No
sword-hate, appeareth, but all of the world doth
Wend
as he wisheth; the worse he knoweth not,
90 Till
arrant arrogance inward pervading,
Waxeth
and springeth, when the warder is sleeping,
The
guard of the soul: with sorrows encompassed,
Too
sound is his slumber, the slayer is near him,
Who
with bow and arrow aimeth in malice.
[60]
[1] Or rather, perhaps, ‘the
inlaid, or damaskeened weapon.’ Cf.
24_57 and note.
HROTHGAR MORALIZES.—REST AFTER LABOR.
{A wounded spirit.}
“Then
bruised in his bosom he with bitter-toothed missile
Is
hurt ’neath his helmet: from harmful pollution
He
is powerless to shield him by the wonderful mandates
Of
the loath-cursed spirit; what too long he hath holden
5
Him seemeth too small, savage he hoardeth,
Nor
boastfully giveth gold-plated rings,[1]
The
fate of the future flouts and forgetteth
Since
God had erst given him greatness no little,
Wielder
of Glory. His end-day anear,
10 It afterward
happens that the bodily-dwelling
Fleetingly
fadeth, falls into ruins;
Another
lays hold who doleth the ornaments,
The
nobleman’s jewels, nothing lamenting,
Heedeth
no terror. Oh, Beowulf dear,
15 Best
of the heroes, from bale-strife defend thee,
And
choose thee the better, counsels eternal;
{Be not over proud: life is fleeting, and its strength soon wasteth away.}
Beware
of arrogance, world-famous champion!
But
a little-while lasts thy life-vigor’s fulness;
’Twill
after hap early, that illness or sword-edge
20 Shall
part thee from strength, or the grasp of the fire,
Or
the wave of the current, or clutch of the edges,
Or
flight of the war-spear, or age with its horrors,
Or
thine eyes’ bright flashing shall fade into darkness:
’Twill
happen full early, excellent hero,
{Hrothgar gives an account of his reign.}
25 That
death shall subdue thee. So the Danes a half-century
I
held under heaven, helped them in struggles
’Gainst
many a race in middle-earth’s regions,
With
ash-wood and edges, that enemies none
On
earth molested me. Lo! offsetting change, now,
[61]
{Sorrow after joy.}
30 Came
to my manor, grief after joyance,
When
Grendel became my constant visitor,
Inveterate
hater: I from that malice
Continually
travailed with trouble no little.
Thanks
be to God that I gained in my lifetime,
35 To the
Lord everlasting, to look on the gory
Head
with mine eyes, after long-lasting sorrow!
Go
to the bench now, battle-adorned
Joy
in the feasting: of jewels in common
We’ll
meet with many when morning appeareth.”
40 The Geatman
was gladsome, ganged he immediately
To
go to the bench, as the clever one bade him.
Then
again as before were the famous-for-prowess,
Hall-inhabiters,
handsomely banqueted,
Feasted
anew. The night-veil fell then
45 Dark
o’er the warriors. The courtiers rose then;
The
gray-haired was anxious to go to his slumbers,
The
hoary old Scylding. Hankered the Geatman,
{Beowulf is fagged, and seeks rest.}
The
champion doughty, greatly, to rest him:
An
earlman early outward did lead him,
50 Fagged
from his faring, from far-country springing,
Who
for etiquette’s sake all of a liegeman’s
Needs
regarded, such as seamen at that time
Were
bounden to feel. The big-hearted rested;
The
building uptowered, spacious and gilded,
55 The guest
within slumbered, till the sable-clad raven
Blithely
foreboded the beacon of heaven.
Then
the bright-shining sun o’er the bottoms came
going;[2]
The
warriors hastened, the heads of the peoples
Were
ready to go again to their peoples,
{The Geats prepare to leave Dane-land.}
60 The high-mooded
farer would faraway thenceward
Look
for his vessel. The valiant one bade then,[3]
[62]
{Unferth asks Beowulf to accept his sword as a gift. Beowulf thanks him.}
Offspring
of Ecglaf, off to bear Hrunting,
To
take his weapon, his well-beloved iron;
He
him thanked for the gift, saying good he accounted
65 The war-friend
and mighty, nor chid he with words then
The
blade of the brand: ’twas a brave-mooded
hero.
When
the warriors were ready, arrayed in their trappings,
The
atheling dear to the Danemen advanced then
On
to the dais, where the other was sitting,
70 Grim-mooded
hero, greeted King Hrothgar.
[1] K. says ’proudly giveth.’—Gr. says, ’And gives no gold-plated rings, in order to incite the recipient to boastfulness.’—B. suggests ‘gyld’ for ‘gylp,’ and renders: And gives no beaten rings for reward.
[2] If S.’s emendation
be accepted, v. 57 will read: Then came the
light, going bright after
darkness: the warriors, etc.
[3] As the passage stands in H.-So., Unferth presents Beowulf with the sword Hrunting, and B. thanks him for the gift. If, however, the suggestions of Grdtvg. and M. be accepted, the passage will read: Then the brave one (i.e._ Beowulf) commanded that Hrunting be borne to the son of Ecglaf (Unferth), bade him take his sword, his dear weapon; he (B.) thanked him (U.) for the loan, etc_.
SORROW AT PARTING.
{Beowulf’s farewell.}
Beowulf
spake, Ecgtheow’s offspring:
“We
men of the water wish to declare now
Fared
from far-lands, we’re firmly determined
To
seek King Higelac. Here have we fitly
5
Been welcomed and feasted, as heart would desire it;
Good
was the greeting. If greater affection
I
am anywise able ever on earth to
Gain
at thy hands, ruler of heroes,
Than
yet I have done, I shall quickly be ready
{I shall be ever ready to aid thee.}
10 For combat
and conflict. O’er the course of the waters
Learn
I that neighbors alarm thee with terror,
As
haters did whilom, I hither will bring thee
For
help unto heroes henchmen by thousands.
{My liegelord will encourage me in aiding thee.}
I
know as to Higelac, the lord of the Geatmen,
15 Though
young in years, he yet will permit me,
By
words and by works, ward of the people,
Fully
to furnish thee forces and bear thee
My
lance to relieve thee, if liegemen shall fail thee,
And
help of my hand-strength; if Hrethric be treating,
[63] 20 Bairn of the king, at the court of the Geatmen,
He
thereat may find him friends in abundance:
{O Beowulf, thou art wise beyond thy years.}
Ne’er
heard I an earlman thus early in life
More
clever in speaking: thou’rt cautious of
spirit,
Mighty
of muscle, in mouth-answers prudent.
I
count on the hope that, happen it ever
30 That
missile shall rob thee of Hrethel’s descendant,
Edge-horrid
battle, and illness or weapon
Deprive
thee of prince, of people’s protector,
{Should Higelac die, the Geats could find no better successor than thou wouldst make.}
And
life thou yet holdest, the Sea-Geats will never
Find
a more fitting folk-lord to choose them,
35 Gem-ward
of heroes, than thou mightest prove thee,
If
the kingdom of kinsmen thou carest to govern.
Thy
mood-spirit likes me the longer the better,
Beowulf
dear: thou hast brought it to pass that
To
both these peoples peace shall be common,
{Thou hast healed the ancient breach between our races.}
40 To Geat-folk
and Danemen, the strife be suspended,
The
secret assailings they suffered in yore-days;
And
also that jewels be shared while I govern
The
wide-stretching kingdom, and that many shall visit
Others
o’er the ocean with excellent gift-gems:
45 The ring-adorned
bark shall bring o’er the currents
Presents
and love-gifts. This people I know
Tow’rd
foeman and friend firmly established,[1]
After
ancient etiquette everywise blameless.”
Then
the warden of earlmen gave him still farther,
{Parting gifts}
50 Kinsman
of Healfdene, a dozen of jewels,
Bade
him safely seek with the presents
His
well-beloved people, early returning.
[64]
{Hrothgar kisses Beowulf, and weeps.}
Then
the noble-born king kissed the distinguished,
Dear-loved
liegeman, the Dane-prince saluted him,
55 And clasped
his neck; tears from him fell,
From
the gray-headed man: he two things expected,
Aged
and reverend, but rather the second,
[2]That
bold in council they’d meet thereafter.
The
man was so dear that he failed to suppress the
60 Emotions
that moved him, but in mood-fetters fastened
{The old king is deeply grieved to part with his benefactor.}
The
long-famous hero longeth in secret
Deep
in his spirit for the dear-beloved man
Though
not a blood-kinsman. Beowulf thenceward,
Gold-splendid
warrior, walked o’er the meadows
65 Exulting
in treasure: the sea-going vessel
Riding
at anchor awaited its owner.
As
they pressed on their way then, the present of Hrothgar
{Giving liberally is the true proof of kingship.}
Was
frequently referred to: a folk-king indeed that
Everyway
blameless, till age did debar him
70 The joys
of his might, which hath many oft injured.
[1] For ‘geworhte,’
the crux of this passage, B. proposes ‘geþohte,’
rendering: I know
this people with firm thought every way blameless
towards foe and friends.
[2] S. and B. emend so as to negative the verb ‘meet.’ “Why should Hrothgar weep if he expects to meet Beowulf again?” both these scholars ask. But the weeping is mentioned before the ‘expectations’: the tears may have been due to many emotions, especially gratitude, struggling for expression.
THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY.—THE TWO QUEENS.
Then
the band of very valiant retainers
Came
to the current; they were clad all in armor,
{The coast-guard again.}
In
link-woven burnies. The land-warder noticed
The
return of the earlmen, as he erstwhile had seen them;
5
Nowise with insult he greeted the strangers
From
the naze of the cliff, but rode on to meet them;
Said
the bright-armored visitors[1] vesselward traveled
[65] Welcome to Weders. The wide-bosomed
craft then
Lay
on the sand, laden with armor,
10 With
horses and jewels, the ring-stemmed sailer:
The
mast uptowered o’er the treasure of Hrothgar.
{Beowulf gives the guard a handsome sword.}
To
the boat-ward a gold-bound brand he presented,
That
he was afterwards honored on the ale-bench more highly
As
the heirloom’s owner. [2]Set he out on his vessel,
15 To drive
on the deep, Dane-country left he.
Along
by the mast then a sea-garment fluttered,
A
rope-fastened sail. The sea-boat resounded,
The
wind o’er the waters the wave-floater nowise
Kept
from its journey; the sea-goer traveled,
20 The foamy-necked
floated forth o’er the currents,
The
well-fashioned vessel o’er the ways of the ocean,
{The Geats see their own land again.}
Till
they came within sight of the cliffs of the Geatmen,
The
well-known headlands. The wave-goer hastened
Driven
by breezes, stood on the shore.
{The port-warden is anxiously looking for them.}
25 Prompt
at the ocean, the port-ward was ready,
Who
long in the past outlooked in the distance,[3]
At
water’s-edge waiting well-loved heroes;
He
bound to the bank then the broad-bosomed vessel
Fast
in its fetters, lest the force of the waters
30 Should
be able to injure the ocean-wood winsome.
{Hygd, the noble queen of Higelac, lavish of gifts.}
Fine-mooded,
clever, though few were the winters
That
the daughter of Haereth had dwelt in the borough;
40 But she
nowise was cringing nor niggard of presents,
Of
ornaments rare, to the race of the Geatmen.
{Offa’s consort, Thrytho, is contrasted with Hygd.}
Thrytho
nursed anger, excellent[5] folk-queen,
Hot-burning
hatred: no hero whatever
’Mong
household companions, her husband excepted
{She is a terror to all save her husband.}
45 Dared
to adventure to look at the woman
With
eyes in the daytime;[6] but he knew that death-chains
Hand-wreathed
were wrought him: early thereafter,
When
the hand-strife was over, edges were ready,
That
fierce-raging sword-point had to force a decision,
50 Murder-bale
show. Such no womanly custom
For
a lady to practise, though lovely her person,
That
a weaver-of-peace, on pretence of anger
A
beloved liegeman of life should deprive.
Soothly
this hindered Heming’s kinsman;
55 Other
ale-drinking earlmen asserted
That
fearful folk-sorrows fewer she wrought them,
Treacherous
doings, since first she was given
Adorned
with gold to the war-hero youthful,
For
her origin honored, when Offa’s great palace
60 O’er
the fallow flood by her father’s instructions
She
sought on her journey, where she afterwards fully,
Famed
for her virtue, her fate on the king’s-seat
[67] Enjoyed in her lifetime, love did she hold
with
The
ruler of heroes, the best, it is told me,
65 Of all
of the earthmen that oceans encompass,
Of
earl-kindreds endless; hence Offa was famous
Far
and widely, by gifts and by battles,
Spear-valiant
hero; the home of his fathers
He
governed with wisdom, whence Eomaer did issue
70 For help
unto heroes, Heming’s kinsman,
Grandson
of Garmund, great in encounters.
[1] For ‘scawan’
(1896), ‘scaethan’ has been proposed.
Accepting this,
we may render: He
said the bright-armored warriors were going to
their vessel, welcome, etc.
(Cf. 1804.)
[2] R. suggests, ‘Gewat him on naca,’ and renders: The vessel set out, to drive on the sea, the Dane-country left. ‘On’ bears the alliteration; cf. ‘on hafu’ (2524). This has some advantages over the H.-So. reading; viz. (1) It adds nothing to the text; (2) it makes ‘naca’ the subject, and thus brings the passage into keeping with the context, where the poet has exhausted his vocabulary in detailing the actions of the vessel.—B.’s emendation (cf. P. and B. XII. 97) is violent.
[3] B. translates: Who
for a long time, ready at the coast, had
looked out into the distance
eagerly for the dear men. This changes
the syntax of ‘leofra
manna.’
[4] For ‘wunaeth’
(v. 1924) several eminent critics suggest ‘wunade’
(=remained). This makes
the passage much clearer.
[5] Why should such a woman
be described as an ‘excellent’ queen?
C.
suggests ‘frecnu’
= dangerous, bold.
[6] For ‘an daeges’ various readings have been offered. If ‘and-eges’ be accepted, the sentence will read: No hero ... dared look upon her, eye to eye. If ‘an-daeges’ be adopted, translate: Dared look upon her the whole day.
BEOWULF AND HIGELAC.
Then the brave one departed, his band along with him,
{Beowulf and his party seek Higelac.}
Seeking
the sea-shore, the sea-marches treading,
The
wide-stretching shores. The world-candle glimmered,
The
sun from the southward; they proceeded then onward,
5
Early arriving where they heard that the troop-lord,
Ongentheow’s
slayer, excellent, youthful
Folk-prince
and warrior was distributing jewels,
Close
in his castle. The coming of Beowulf
Was
announced in a message quickly to Higelac,
10 That
the folk-troop’s defender forth to the palace
The
linden-companion alive was advancing,
Secure
from the combat courtward a-going.
The
building was early inward made ready
For
the foot-going guests as the good one had ordered.
{Beowulf sits by his liegelord.}
15 He sat
by the man then who had lived through the struggle,
Kinsman
by kinsman, when the king of the people
Had
in lordly language saluted the dear one,
{Queen Hygd receives the heroes.}
In
words that were formal. The daughter of Haereth
Coursed
through the building, carrying mead-cups:[1]
[68] 20 She loved the retainers, tendered the beakers
To
the high-minded Geatmen. Higelac ’gan then
{Higelac is greatly interested in Beowulf’s adventures.}
Pleasantly
plying his companion with questions
In
the high-towering palace. A curious interest
Tormented
his spirit, what meaning to see in
25 The Sea-Geats’
adventures: “Beowulf worthy,
{Give an account of thy adventures, Beowulf dear.}
How
throve your journeying, when thou thoughtest suddenly
Far
o’er the salt-streams to seek an encounter,
A
battle at Heorot? Hast bettered for Hrothgar,
The
famous folk-leader, his far-published sorrows
30 Any at
all? In agony-billows
{My suspense has been great.}
I
mused upon torture, distrusted the journey
Of
the beloved liegeman; I long time did pray thee
By
no means to seek out the murderous spirit,
To
suffer the South-Danes themselves to decide on[2]
35 Grappling
with Grendel. To God I am thankful
To
be suffered to see thee safe from thy journey.”
{Beowulf narrates his adventures.}
Beowulf
answered, bairn of old Ecgtheow:
“’Tis
hidden by no means, Higelac chieftain,
From
many of men, the meeting so famous,
40 What
mournful moments of me and of Grendel
Were
passed in the place where he pressing affliction
On
the Victory-Scyldings scathefully brought,
Anguish
forever; that all I avenged,
So
that any under heaven of the kinsmen of Grendel
{Grendel’s kindred have no cause to boast.}
45 Needeth
not boast of that cry-in-the-morning,
Who
longest liveth of the loth-going kindred,[3]
Encompassed
by moorland. I came in my journey
To
the royal ring-hall, Hrothgar to greet there:
{Hrothgar received me very cordially.}
Soon
did the famous scion of Healfdene,
50 When
he understood fully the spirit that led me,
Assign
me a seat with the son of his bosom.
[69] The troop was in joyance; mead-glee greater
’Neath
arch of the ether not ever beheld I
{The queen also showed up no little honor.}
’Mid
hall-building holders. The highly-famed queen,
55 Peace-tie
of peoples, oft passed through the building,
Cheered
the young troopers; she oft tendered a hero
A
beautiful ring-band, ere she went to her sitting.
{Hrothgar’s lovely daughter.}
Oft
the daughter of Hrothgar in view of the courtiers
To
the earls at the end the ale-vessel carried,
60 Whom
Freaware I heard then hall-sitters title,
When
nail-adorned jewels she gave to the heroes:
{She is betrothed to Ingeld, in order to unite the Danes and Heathobards.}
Gold-bedecked,
youthful, to the glad son of Froda
Her
faith has been plighted; the friend of the Scyldings,
The
guard of the kingdom, hath given his sanction,[4]
65 And counts
it a vantage, for a part of the quarrels,
A
portion of hatred, to pay with the woman.
[5]Somewhere
not rarely, when the ruler has fallen,
The
life-taking lance relaxeth its fury
For
a brief breathing-spell, though the bride be charming!
[1] ‘Meodu-scencum’
(1981) some would render ‘with mead-pourers.’
Translate then: The
daughter of Haereth went through the building
accompanied by mead-pourers.
[2] See my note to 1599, supra, and B. in P. and B. XII. 97.
[3] For ‘fenne,’
supplied by Grdtvg., B. suggests ‘facne’
(cf. Jul.
350). Accepting this,
translate: Who longest lives of the hated race,
steeped in treachery.
[4] See note to v. 1599 above.
[5] This is perhaps the least understood sentence in the poem, almost every word being open to dispute. (1) The ‘no’ of our text is an emendation, and is rejected by many scholars. (2) ‘Seldan’ is by some taken as an adv. (= seldom), and by others as a noun (= page, companion). (3) ‘Leod-hryre,’ some render ‘fall of the people’; others, ‘fall of the prince.’ (4) ‘Bugeeth,’ most scholars regard as the intrans. verb meaning ‘bend,’ ‘rest’; but one great scholar has translated it ‘shall kill.’ (5) ‘Hwaer,’ Very recently, has been attacked, ‘waere’ being suggested. (6) As a corollary to the above, the same critic proposes to drop ‘oft’ out of the text.—t.B. suggests: Oft seldan waere after leodhryre: lytle hwile bongar bugeeth, þeah seo bryd duge = often has a treaty been (thus) struck, after a prince had fallen: (but only) a short time is the spear (then) wont to rest, however excellent the bride may be.
BEOWULF NARRATES HIS ADVENTURES TO HIGELAC.
“It
well may discomfit the prince of the Heathobards
And
each of the thanemen of earls that attend him,
[70] When he goes to the building escorting the
woman,
That
a noble-born Daneman the knights should be feasting:
5
There gleam on his person the leavings of elders
Hard
and ring-bright, Heathobards’ treasure,
While
they wielded their arms, till they misled to the battle
Their
own dear lives and beloved companions.
He
saith at the banquet who the collar beholdeth,
10 An ancient
ash-warrior who earlmen’s destruction
Clearly
recalleth (cruel his spirit),
Sadly
beginneth sounding the youthful
Thane-champion’s
spirit through the thoughts of his bosom,
War-grief
to waken, and this word-answer speaketh:
{Ingeld is stirred up to break the truce.}
15 ’Art
thou able, my friend, to know when thou seest it
The
brand which thy father bare to the conflict
In
his latest adventure, ’neath visor of helmet,
The
dearly-loved iron, where Danemen did slay him,
And
brave-mooded Scyldings, on the fall of the heroes,
20 (When
vengeance was sleeping) the slaughter-place wielded?
[71]
{Having made these preliminary statements, I will
now tell thee of
Grendel, the monster.}
More
about Grendel, that thou fully mayst hear,
Ornament-giver,
what afterward came from
The
hand-rush of heroes. When heaven’s bright
jewel
40 O’er
earthfields had glided, the stranger came raging,
The
horrible night-fiend, us for to visit,
Where
wholly unharmed the hall we were guarding.
{Hondscio fell first}
To
Hondscio happened a hopeless contention,
Death
to the doomed one, dead he fell foremost,
45 Girded
war-champion; to him Grendel became then,
To
the vassal distinguished, a tooth-weaponed murderer,
The
well-beloved henchman’s body all swallowed.
Not
the earlier off empty of hand did
The
bloody-toothed murderer, mindful of evils,
50 Wish
to escape from the gold-giver’s palace,
But
sturdy of strength he strove to outdo me,
Hand-ready
grappled. A glove was suspended
Spacious
and wondrous, in art-fetters fastened,
Which
was fashioned entirely by touch of the craftman
55 From
the dragon’s skin by the devil’s devices:
He
down in its depths would do me unsadly
One
among many, deed-doer raging,
Though
sinless he saw me; not so could it happen
When
I in my anger upright did stand.
60 ’Tis
too long to recount how requital I furnished
For
every evil to the earlmen’s destroyer;
{I reflected honor upon my people.}
’Twas
there, my prince, that I proudly distinguished
Thy
land with my labors. He left and retreated,
He
lived his life a little while longer:
65 Yet his
right-hand guarded his footstep in Heorot,
And
sad-mooded thence to the sea-bottom fell he,
Mournful
in mind. For the might-rush of battle
{King Hrothgar lavished gifts upon me.}
The
friend of the Scyldings, with gold that was plated,
With
ornaments many, much requited me,
70 When
daylight had dawned, and down to the banquet
We
had sat us together. There was chanting and joyance:
The
age-stricken Scylding asked many questions
[72] And of old-times related; oft light-ringing
harp-strings,
Joy-telling
wood, were touched by the brave one;
75 Now he
uttered measures, mourning and truthful,
Then
the large-hearted land-king a legend of wonder
Truthfully
told us. Now troubled with years
{The old king is sad over the loss of his youthful vigor.}
The
age-hoary warrior afterward began to
Mourn
for the might that marked him in youth-days;
80 His breast
within boiled, when burdened with winters
Much
he remembered. From morning till night then
We
joyed us therein as etiquette suffered,
Till
the second night season came unto earth-folk.
Then
early thereafter, the mother of Grendel
{Grendel’s mother.}
85 Was ready
for vengeance, wretched she journeyed;
Her
son had death ravished, the wrath of the Geatmen.
The
horrible woman avenged her offspring,
And
with mighty mainstrength murdered a hero.
{AEschere falls a prey to her vengeance.}
There
the spirit of AEschere, aged adviser,
90 Was ready
to vanish; nor when morn had lightened
Were
they anywise suffered to consume him with fire,
Folk
of the Danemen, the death-weakened hero,
Nor
the beloved liegeman to lay on the pyre;
{She suffered not his body to be burned, but ate it.}
She
the corpse had offcarried in the clutch of the foeman[2]
95 ’Neath
mountain-brook’s flood. To Hrothgar ’twas
saddest
Of
pains that ever had preyed on the chieftain;
By
the life of thee the land-prince then me[3]
Besought
very sadly, in sea-currents’ eddies
To
display my prowess, to peril my safety,
100 Might-deeds
accomplish; much did he promise.
{I sought the creature in her den,}
I
found then the famous flood-current’s cruel,
Horrible
depth-warder. A while unto us two
[73] Hand was in common; the currents were seething
With
gore that was clotted, and Grendel’s fierce mother’s
{and hewed her head off.}
105 Head I offhacked
in the hall at the bottom
With
huge-reaching sword-edge, hardly I wrested
My
life from her clutches; not doomed was I then,
{Jewels were freely bestowed upon me.}
But
the warden of earlmen afterward gave me
Jewels
in quantity, kinsman of Healfdene.
[1] For ‘lifigende’
(2063), a mere conjecture, ‘wigende’ has
been
suggested. The line would
then read: Escapeth by fighting, knows the
land thoroughly.
[2] For ‘faeethmum,’
Gr.’s conjecture, B. proposes ‘faerunga.’
These three
half-verses would then read:
She bore off the corpse of her foe
suddenly under the mountain-torrent.
[3] The phrase ‘þine
lyfe’ (2132) was long rendered ’with
thy
(presupposed) permission.’
The verse would read: The land-prince
then sadly besought me, with
thy (presupposed) permission, etc.
GIFT-GIVING IS MUTUAL.
“So
the beloved land-prince lived in decorum;
I
had missed no rewards, no meeds of my prowess,
But
he gave me jewels, regarding my wishes,
Healfdene
his bairn; I’ll bring them to thee, then,
{All my gifts I lay at thy feet.}
5
Atheling of earlmen, offer them gladly.
And
still unto thee is all my affection:[1]
But
few of my folk-kin find I surviving
But
thee, dear Higelac!” Bade he in then to carry[2]
The
boar-image, banner, battle-high helmet,
10 Iron-gray
armor, the excellent weapon,
{This armor I have belonged of yore to Heregar.}
In
song-measures said: “This suit-for-the-battle
Hrothgar
presented me, bade me expressly,
Wise-mooded
atheling, thereafter to tell thee[3]
The
whole of its history, said King Heregar owned it,
15 Dane-prince
for long: yet he wished not to give then
[74] The mail to his son, though dearly he loved
him,
Hereward
the hardy. Hold all in joyance!”
I
heard that there followed hard on the jewels
Two
braces of stallions of striking resemblance,
20 Dappled
and yellow; he granted him usance
Of
horses and treasures. So a kinsman should bear
him,
No
web of treachery weave for another,
Nor
by cunning craftiness cause the destruction
{Higelac loves his nephew Beowulf.}
Of
trusty companion. Most precious to Higelac,
25 The bold
one in battle, was the bairn of his sister,
And
each unto other mindful of favors.
{Beowulf gives Hygd the necklace that Wealhtheow had given him.}
I
am told that to Hygd he proffered the necklace,
Wonder-gem
rare that Wealhtheow gave him,
The
troop-leader’s daughter, a trio of horses
30 Slender
and saddle-bright; soon did the jewel
Embellish
her bosom, when the beer-feast was over.
So
Ecgtheow’s bairn brave did prove him,
{Beowulf is famous.}
War-famous
man, by deeds that were valiant,
He
lived in honor, beloved companions
35 Slew
not carousing; his mood was not cruel,
But
by hand-strength hugest of heroes then living
The
brave one retained the bountiful gift that
The
Lord had allowed him. Long was he wretched,
So
that sons of the Geatmen accounted him worthless,
40 And the
lord of the liegemen loth was to do him
Mickle
of honor, when mead-cups were passing;
They
fully believed him idle and sluggish,
{He is requited for the slights suffered in earlier days.}
An
indolent atheling: to the honor-blest man there
Came
requital for the cuts he had suffered.
45 The folk-troop’s
defender bade fetch to the building
The
heirloom of Hrethel, embellished with gold,
{Higelac overwhelms the conqueror with gifts.}
So
the brave one enjoined it; there was jewel no richer
In
the form of a weapon ’mong Geats of that era;
In
Beowulf’s keeping he placed it and gave him
50 Seven
of thousands, manor and lordship.
Common
to both was land ’mong the people,
[75] Estate and inherited rights and possessions,
To
the second one specially spacious dominions,
To
the one who was better. It afterward happened
55 In days
that followed, befell the battle-thanes,
{After Heardred’s death, Beowulf becomes king.}
After
Higelac’s death, and when Heardred was murdered
With
weapons of warfare ’neath well-covered targets,
When
valiant battlemen in victor-band sought him,
War-Scylfing
heroes harassed the nephew
60 Of Hereric
in battle. To Beowulf’s keeping
Turned
there in time extensive dominions:
{He rules the Geats fifty years.}
He
fittingly ruled them a fifty of winters
(He
a man-ruler wise was, manor-ward old) till
A
certain one ’gan, on gloom-darkening nights,
a
{The fire-drake.}
65 Dragon, to govern, who guarded a treasure, A high-rising stone-cliff, on heath that was grayish: A path ’neath it lay, unknown unto mortals. Some one of earthmen entered the mountain, The heathenish hoard laid hold of with ardor; 70 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
[1] This verse B. renders,
’Now serve I again thee alone as my
gracious king.’
[2] For ‘eafor’ (2153), Kl. suggests ‘ealdor.’ Translate then: Bade the prince then to bear in the banner, battle-high helmet, etc. On the other hand, W. takes ‘eaforheafodsegn’ as a compound, meaning ‘helmet’: He bade them bear in the helmet, battle-high helm, gray armor, etc.
[3] The H.-So. rendering (aerest = history, origin; ‘eft’ for ’est’), though liable to objection, is perhaps the best offered. ’That I should very early tell thee of his favor, kindness’ sounds well; but ‘his’ is badly placed to limit ’est.’—Perhaps, ‘eft’ with verbs of saying may have the force of Lat. prefix ‘re,’ and the H.-So. reading mean, ‘that I should its origin rehearse to thee.’
THE HOARD AND THE DRAGON.
*
* * * * * *
He
sought of himself who sorely did harm him,
But,
for need very pressing, the servant of one of
The
sons of the heroes hate-blows evaded,
5
Seeking for shelter and the sin-driven warrior
Took
refuge within there. He early looked in it,
*
* * * * * *
*
* * * * * *
[76] * * * * * * when the onset surprised
him,
{The hoard.}
10 He a
gem-vessel saw there: many of suchlike
Ancient
ornaments in the earth-cave were lying,
As
in days of yore some one of men of
Illustrious
lineage, as a legacy monstrous,
There
had secreted them, careful and thoughtful,
15 Dear-valued
jewels. Death had offsnatched them,
In
the days of the past, and the one man moreover
Of
the flower of the folk who fared there the longest,
Was
fain to defer it, friend-mourning warder,
A
little longer to be left in enjoyment
20 Of long-lasting
treasure.[1] A barrow all-ready
Stood
on the plain the stream-currents nigh to,
New
by the ness-edge, unnethe of approaching:
The
keeper of rings carried within a
[2]Ponderous
deal of the treasure of nobles,
25 Of gold
that was beaten, briefly he spake then:[3]
{The ring-giver bewails the loss of retainers.}
“Hold
thou, O Earth, now heroes no more may,
The
earnings of earlmen. Lo! erst in thy bosom
Worthy
men won them; war-death hath ravished,
Perilous
life-bale, all my warriors,
30 Liegemen
beloved, who this life have forsaken,
Who
hall-pleasures saw. No sword-bearer have I,
And
no one to burnish the gold-plated vessel,
The
high-valued beaker: my heroes are vanished.
The
hardy helmet behung with gilding
{The fire-dragon}
Dashed
on his spirit. Then the ancient dusk-scather
50 Found
the great treasure standing all open,
He
who flaming and fiery flies to the barrows,
Naked
war-dragon, nightly escapeth
Encompassed
with fire; men under heaven
Widely
beheld him. ’Tis said that he looks for[4]
55 The hoard
in the earth, where old he is guarding
The
heathenish treasure; he’ll be nowise the better.
{The dragon meets his match.}
So
three-hundred winters the waster of peoples
Held
upon earth that excellent hoard-hall,
Till
the forementioned earlman angered him bitterly:
60 The beat-plated
beaker he bare to his chieftain
And
fullest remission for all his remissness
Begged
of his liegelord. Then the hoard[5] was discovered,
The
treasure was taken, his petition was granted
{The hero plunders the dragon’s den}
The
lorn-mooded liegeman. His lord regarded
65 The old-work
of earth-folk—’twas the earliest occasion.
When
the dragon awoke, the strife was renewed there;
He
snuffed ’long the stone then, stout-hearted found
he
[78] The footprint of foeman; too far had he
gone
With
cunning craftiness close to the head of
70 The fire-spewing
dragon. So undoomed he may ’scape from
Anguish
and exile with ease who possesseth
The
favor of Heaven. The hoard-warden eagerly
Searched
o’er the ground then, would meet with the person
That
caused him sorrow while in slumber reclining:
75 Gleaming
and wild he oft went round the cavern,
All
of it outward; not any of earthmen
Was
seen in that desert.[6] Yet he joyed in the battle,
Rejoiced
in the conflict: oft he turned to the barrow,
Sought
for the gem-cup;[7] this he soon perceived then
{The dragon perceives that some one has disturbed his treasure.}
80 That
some man or other had discovered the gold,
The
famous folk-treasure. Not fain did the hoard-ward
Wait
until evening; then the ward of the barrow
Was
angry in spirit, the loathed one wished to
Pay
for the dear-valued drink-cup with fire.
85 Then
the day was done as the dragon would have it,
He
no longer would wait on the wall, but departed
{The dragon is infuriated.}
Fire-impelled,
flaming. Fearful the start was
To
earls in the land, as it early thereafter
To
their giver-of-gold was grievously ended.
[1] For ‘long-gestreona,’
B. suggests ‘laengestreona,’ and renders,
Of fleeting treasures.
S. accepts H.’s ‘long-gestreona,’
but
renders, The treasure long
in accumulating.
[2] For ‘hard-fyrdne’ (2246), B. first suggested ‘hard-fyndne,’ rendering: A heap of treasures ... so great that its equal would be hard to find. The same scholar suggests later ‘hord-wynne dael’ = A deal of treasure-joy.
[3] Some read ‘fec-word’ (2247), and render: Banning words uttered.
[4] An earlier reading of
H.’s gave the following meaning to this
passage: He is said
to inhabit a mound under the earth, where he,
etc. The translation in
the text is more authentic.
[5] The repetition of ‘hord’
in this passage has led some scholars to
suggest new readings to avoid
the second ‘hord.’ This, however,
is not
under the main stress, and,
it seems to me, might easily be accepted.
[6] The reading of H.-So. is well defended in the notes to that volume. B. emends and renders: Nor was there any man in that desert who rejoiced in conflict, in battle-work. That is, the hoard-ward could not find any one who had disturbed his slumbers, for no warrior was there, t.B.’s emendation would give substantially the same translation.
[7] ‘Sinc-faet’
(2301): this word both here and in v. 2232, t.B.
renders ‘treasure.’
BRAVE THOUGH AGED.—REMINISCENCES.
{The dragon spits fire.}
The
stranger began then to vomit forth fire,
To
burn the great manor; the blaze then glimmered
For
anguish to earlmen, not anything living
[79] Was the hateful air-goer willing to leave
there.
5
The war of the worm widely was noticed,
The
feud of the foeman afar and anear,
How
the enemy injured the earls of the Geatmen,
Harried
with hatred: back he hied to the treasure,
To
the well-hidden cavern ere the coming of daylight.
10 He had
circled with fire the folk of those regions,
With
brand and burning; in the barrow he trusted,
In
the wall and his war-might: the weening deceived
him.
{Beowulf hears of the havoc wrought by the dragon.}
Then
straight was the horror to Beowulf published,
Early
forsooth, that his own native homestead,[1]
15 The best
of buildings, was burning and melting,
Gift-seat
of Geatmen. ’Twas a grief to the spirit
Of
the good-mooded hero, the greatest of sorrows:
{He fears that Heaven is punishing him for some crime.}
The
wise one weened then that wielding his kingdom
’Gainst
the ancient commandments, he had bitterly angered
20 The Lord
everlasting: with lorn meditations
His
bosom welled inward, as was nowise his custom.
The
fire-spewing dragon fully had wasted
The
fastness of warriors, the water-land outward,
The
manor with fire. The folk-ruling hero,
25 Prince
of the Weders, was planning to wreak him.
The
warmen’s defender bade them to make him,
Earlmen’s
atheling, an excellent war-shield
{He orders an iron shield to be made from him, wood is useless.}
Wholly
of iron: fully he knew then
That
wood from the forest was helpless to aid him,
30 Shield
against fire. The long-worthy ruler
Must
live the last of his limited earth-days,
Of
life in the world and the worm along with him,
Though
he long had been holding hoard-wealth in plenty.
{He determines to fight alone.}
Then
the ring-prince disdained to seek with a war-band,
35 With
army extensive, the air-going ranger;
He
felt no fear of the foeman’s assaults and
He
counted for little the might of the dragon,
[80] His power and prowess: for previously
dared he
{Beowulf’s early triumphs referred to}
A
heap of hostility, hazarded dangers,
40 War-thane,
when Hrothgar’s palace he cleansed,
Conquering
combatant, clutched in the battle
The
kinsmen of Grendel, of kindred detested.[2]
{Higelac’s death recalled.}
’Twas
of hand-fights not least where Higelac was slaughtered,
When
the king of the Geatmen with clashings of battle,
45 Friend-lord
of folks in Frisian dominions,
Offspring
of Hrethrel perished through sword-drink,
With
battle-swords beaten; thence Beowulf came then
On
self-help relying, swam through the waters;
He
bare on his arm, lone-going, thirty
50 Outfits
of armor, when the ocean he mounted.
The
Hetwars by no means had need to be boastful
Of
their fighting afoot, who forward to meet him
Carried
their war-shields: not many returned from
The
brave-mooded battle-knight back to their homesteads.
55 Ecgtheow’s
bairn o’er the bight-courses swam then,
Lone-goer
lorn to his land-folk returning,
Where
Hygd to him tendered treasure and kingdom,
{Heardred’s lack of capacity to rule.}
Rings
and dominion: her son she not trusted,
To
be able to keep the kingdom devised him
60 ’Gainst
alien races, on the death of King Higelac.
{Beowulf’s tact and delicacy recalled.}
Yet
the sad ones succeeded not in persuading the atheling
In
any way ever, to act as a suzerain
To
Heardred, or promise to govern the kingdom;
Yet
with friendly counsel in the folk he sustained him,
65 Gracious,
with honor, till he grew to be older,
{Reference is here made to a visit which Beowulf receives from Eanmund and Eadgils, why they come is not known.}
Wielded
the Weders. Wide-fleeing outlaws,
Ohthere’s
sons, sought him o’er the waters:
They
had stirred a revolt ’gainst the helm of the
Scylfings,
The
best of the sea-kings, who in Swedish dominions
70 Distributed
treasure, distinguished folk-leader.
[81] ’Twas the end of his earth-days; injury
fatal[3]
By
swing of the sword he received as a greeting,
Offspring
of Higelac; Ongentheow’s bairn
Later
departed to visit his homestead,
75 When
Heardred was dead; let Beowulf rule them,
Govern
the Geatmen: good was that folk-king.
[1] ‘Ham’ (2326),
the suggestion of B. is accepted by t.B. and other
scholars.
[2] For ‘laethan cynnes’
(2355), t.B. suggests ‘laethan cynne,’
apposition
to ‘maegum.’
From syntactical and other considerations, this is
a most
excellent emendation.
[3] Gr. read ‘on feorme’
(2386), rendering: He there at the banquet
a
fatal wound received by blows
of the sword.
BEOWULF SEEKS THE DRAGON.—BEOWULF’S REMINISCENCES.
He
planned requital for the folk-leader’s ruin
In
days thereafter, to Eadgils the wretched
Becoming
an enemy. Ohthere’s son then
Went
with a war-troop o’er the wide-stretching currents
5
With warriors and weapons: with woe-journeys cold
he
After
avenged him, the king’s life he took.
{Beowulf has been preserved through many perils.}
So
he came off uninjured from all of his battles,
Perilous
fights, offspring of Ecgtheow,
From
his deeds of daring, till that day most momentous
10 When
he fate-driven fared to fight with the dragon.
{With eleven comrades, he seeks the dragon.}
With
eleven companions the prince of the Geatmen
Went
lowering with fury to look at the fire-drake:
Inquiring
he’d found how the feud had arisen,
Hate
to his heroes; the highly-famed gem-vessel
15 Was brought
to his keeping through the hand of th’ informer.
{A guide leads the way, but}
That
in the throng was thirteenth of heroes,
That
caused the beginning of conflict so bitter,
Captive
and wretched, must sad-mooded thenceward
{very reluctantly.}
Point
out the place: he passed then unwillingly
20 To the
spot where he knew of the notable cavern,
The
cave under earth, not far from the ocean,
The
anger of eddies, which inward was full of
Jewels
and wires: a warden uncanny,
[82] Warrior weaponed, wardered the treasure,
25 Old under
earth; no easy possession
For
any of earth-folk access to get to.
Then
the battle-brave atheling sat on the naze-edge,
While
the gold-friend of Geatmen gracious saluted
His
fireside-companions: woe was his spirit,
30 Death-boding,
wav’ring; Weird very near him,
Who
must seize the old hero, his soul-treasure look for,
Dragging
aloof his life from his body:
Not
flesh-hidden long was the folk-leader’s spirit.
Beowulf
spake, Ecgtheow’s son:
{Beowulf’s retrospect.}
35 “I
survived in my youth-days many a conflict,
Hours
of onset: that all I remember.
I
was seven-winters old when the jewel-prince took me,
High-lord
of heroes, at the hands of my father,
Hrethel
the hero-king had me in keeping,
{Hrethel took me when I was seven.}
40 Gave
me treasure and feasting, our kinship remembered;
Not
ever was I any less dear to him
{He treated me as a son.}
Knight
in the boroughs, than the bairns of his household,
Herebald
and Haethcyn and Higelac mine.
To
the eldest unjustly by acts of a kinsman
45 Was murder-bed
strewn, since him Haethcyn from horn-bow
{One of the brothers accidentally kills another.}
His
sheltering chieftain shot with an arrow,
Erred
in his aim and injured his kinsman,
One
brother the other, with blood-sprinkled spear:
{No fee could compound for such a calamity.}
’Twas
a feeless fight, finished in malice,
50 Sad to
his spirit; the folk-prince however
Had
to part from existence with vengeance untaken.
{[A parallel case is supposed.]}
So
to hoar-headed hero ’tis heavily crushing[1]
[83] To live to see his son as he rideth
Young
on the gallows: then measures he chanteth,
55 A song
of sorrow, when his son is hanging
For
the raven’s delight, and aged and hoary
He
is unable to offer any assistance.
Every
morning his offspring’s departure
Is
constant recalled: he cares not to wait for
[1] ‘Gomelum ceorle’ (2445).—H. takes these words as referring to Hrethel; but the translator here departs from his editor by understanding the poet to refer to a hypothetical old man, introduced as an illustration of a father’s sorrow.
Hrethrel had certainly never
seen a son of his ride on the gallows to
feed the crows.
The passage beginning ‘swa bieth geomorlic’ seems to be an effort to reach a full simile, ‘as ... so.’ ’As it is mournful for an old man, etc. ... so the defence of the Weders (2463) bore heart-sorrow, etc.’ The verses 2451 to 2463-1/2 would be parenthetical, the poet’s feelings being so strong as to interrupt the simile. The punctuation of the fourth edition would be better—a comma after ‘galgan’ (2447). The translation may be indicated as follows: (Just) as it is sad for an old man to see his son ride young on the gallows when he himself is uttering mournful measures, a sorrowful song, while his son hangs for a comfort to the raven, and he, old and infirm, cannot render him any kelp—(he is constantly reminded, etc., 2451-2463)—so the defence of the Weders, etc.
REMINISCENCES (continued).—BEOWULF’S LAST BATTLE.
“He
seeks then his chamber, singeth a woe-song
One
for the other; all too extensive
Seemed
homesteads and plains. So the helm of the Weders
{Hrethel grieves for Herebald.}
Mindful
of Herebald heart-sorrow carried,
5
Stirred with emotion, nowise was able
To
wreak his ruin on the ruthless destroyer:
He
was unable to follow the warrior with hatred,
With
deeds that were direful, though dear he not held him.
[84] Then pressed by the pang this pain occasioned
him,
10 He gave
up glee, God-light elected;
He
left to his sons, as the man that is rich does,
His
land and fortress, when from life he departed.
{Strife between Swedes and Geats.}
Then
was crime and hostility ’twixt Swedes and Geatmen,
O’er
wide-stretching water warring was mutual,
15 Burdensome
hatred, when Hrethel had perished,
And
Ongentheow’s offspring were active and valiant,
Wished
not to hold to peace oversea, but
Round
Hreosna-beorh often accomplished
Cruelest
massacre. This my kinsman avenged,
20 The feud
and fury, as ’tis found on inquiry,
Though
one of them paid it with forfeit of life-joys,
{Haethcyn’s fall at Ravenswood.}
With
price that was hard: the struggle became then
Fatal
to Haethcyn, lord of the Geatmen.
Then
I heard that at morning one brother the other
25 With
edges of irons egged on to murder,
Where
Ongentheow maketh onset on Eofor:
The
helmet crashed, the hoary-haired Scylfing
Sword-smitten
fell, his hand then remembered
Feud-hate
sufficient, refused not the death-blow.
{I requited him for the jewels he gave me.}
30 The gems
that he gave me, with jewel-bright sword I
’Quited
in contest, as occasion was offered:
Land
he allowed me, life-joy at homestead,
Manor
to live on. Little he needed
From
Gepids or Danes or in Sweden to look for
35 Trooper
less true, with treasure to buy him;
’Mong
foot-soldiers ever in front I would hie me,
Alone
in the vanguard, and evermore gladly
Warfare
shall wage, while this weapon endureth
That
late and early often did serve me
{Beowulf refers to his having slain Daeghrefn.}
40 When
I proved before heroes the slayer of Daeghrefn,
Knight
of the Hugmen: he by no means was suffered
To
the king of the Frisians to carry the jewels,
The
breast-decoration; but the banner-possessor
Bowed
in the battle, brave-mooded atheling.
[85] 45 No weapon was slayer, but war-grapple broke
then
The
surge of his spirit, his body destroying.
Now
shall weapon’s edge make war for the treasure,
And
hand and firm-sword.” Beowulf spake then,
Boast-words
uttered—the latest occasion:
{He boasts of his youthful prowess, and declares himself still fearless.}
50 “I
braved in my youth-days battles unnumbered;
Still
am I willing the struggle to look for,
Fame-deeds
perform, folk-warden prudent,
If
the hateful despoiler forth from his cavern
Seeketh
me out!” Each of the heroes,
55 Helm-bearers
sturdy, he thereupon greeted
{His last salutations.}
Beloved
co-liegemen—his last salutation:
“No
brand would I bear, no blade for the dragon,
Wist
I a way my word-boast to ’complish[1]
Else
with the monster, as with Grendel I did it;
60 But fire
in the battle hot I expect there,
Furious
flame-burning: so I fixed on my body
Target
and war-mail. The ward of the barrow[2]
I’ll
not flee from a foot-length, the foeman uncanny.
At
the wall ’twill befall us as Fate decreeth,
{Let Fate decide between us.}
65 Each
one’s Creator. I am eager in spirit,
With
the winged war-hero to away with all boasting.
Bide
on the barrow with burnies protected,
{Wait ye here till the battle is over.}
Earls
in armor, which of us two may better
Bear
his disaster, when the battle is over.
70 ’Tis
no matter of yours, and man cannot do it,
But
me and me only, to measure his strength with
The
monster of malice, might-deeds to ’complish.
I
with prowess shall gain the gold, or the battle,
[86] Direful death-woe will drag off your ruler!”
75 The mighty
champion rose by his shield then,
Brave
under helmet, in battle-mail went he
’Neath
steep-rising stone-cliffs, the strength he relied on
Of
one man alone: no work for a coward.
Then
he saw by the wall who a great many battles
80 Had lived
through, most worthy, when foot-troops collided,
{The place of strife is described.}
Stone-arches
standing, stout-hearted champion,
Saw
a brook from the barrow bubbling out thenceward:
The
flood of the fountain was fuming with war-flame:
Not
nigh to the hoard, for season the briefest
85 Could
he brave, without burning, the abyss that was yawning,
The
drake was so fiery. The prince of the Weders
Caused
then that words came from his bosom,
So
fierce was his fury; the firm-hearted shouted:
His
battle-clear voice came in resounding
90 ’Neath
the gray-colored stone. Stirred was his hatred,
{Beowulf calls out under the stone arches.}
The
hoard-ward distinguished the speech of a man;
Time
was no longer to look out for friendship.
The
breath of the monster issued forth first,
Vapory
war-sweat, out of the stone-cave:
{The terrible encounter.}
95 The earth
re-echoed. The earl ’neath the barrow
Lifted
his shield, lord of the Geatmen,
Tow’rd
the terrible stranger: the ring-twisted creature’s
Heart
was then ready to seek for a struggle.
{Beowulf brandishes his sword,}
The
excellent battle-king first brandished his weapon,
100 The ancient
heirloom, of edges unblunted,[3]
To
the death-planners twain was terror from other.
{and stands against his shield.}
The
lord of the troopers intrepidly stood then
’Gainst
his high-rising shield, when the dragon coiled him
{The dragon coils himself.}
Quickly
together: in corslet he bided.
[87] 105 He went then in blazes, bended and striding,
Hasting
him forward. His life and body
The
targe well protected, for time-period shorter
Than
wish demanded for the well-renowned leader,
Where
he then for the first day was forced to be victor,
{The dragon rages}
When
the sword-blow had fallen, was fierce in his spirit,
Flinging
his fires, flamings of battle
Gleamed
then afar: the gold-friend of Weders
{Beowulf’s sword fails him.}
Boasted
no conquests, his battle-sword failed him
120 Naked in conflict,
as by no means it ought to,
Long-trusty
weapon. ’Twas no slight undertaking
That
Ecgtheow’s famous offspring would leave
The
drake-cavern’s bottom; he must live in some region
Other
than this, by the will of the dragon,
125 As each one
of earthmen existence must forfeit.
’Twas
early thereafter the excellent warriors
{The combat is renewed.}
Met
with each other. Anew and afresh
The
hoard-ward took heart (gasps heaved then his bosom):
{The great hero is reduced to extremities.}
Sorrow
he suffered encircled with fire
130 Who the people
erst governed. His companions by no means
Were
banded about him, bairns of the princes,
{His comrades flee!}
With
valorous spirit, but they sped to the forest,
Seeking
for safety. The soul-deeps of one were
{Blood is thicker than water.}
Ruffled
by care: kin-love can never
135 Aught in him
waver who well doth consider.
[88]
[1] The clause 2520(2)-2522(1), rendered by ‘Wist I ... monster,’ Gr., followed by S., translates substantially as follows: If I knew how else I might combat the boastful defiance of the monster.—The translation turns upon ‘wiethgripan,’ a word not understood.
[2] B. emends and translates:
I will not flee the space of a foot
from the guard of the barrow,
but there shall be to us a fight at the
wall, as fate decrees, each
one’s Creator.
[3] The translation of this passage is based on ‘unslaw’ (2565), accepted by H.-So., in lieu of the long-standing ‘ungleaw.’ The former is taken as an adj. limiting ‘sweord’; the latter as an adj. c. ‘gueth-cyning’: The good war-king, rash with edges, brandished his sword, his old relic. The latter gives a more rhetorical Anglo-Saxon (poetical) sentence.
WIGLAF THE TRUSTY.—BEOWULF IS DESERTED BY FRIENDS AND BY SWORD.
{Wiglaf remains true—the ideal Teutonic liegeman.}
The
son of Weohstan was Wiglaf entitled,
Shield-warrior
precious, prince of the Scylfings,
AElfhere’s
kinsman: he saw his dear liegelord
Enduring
the heat ’neath helmet and visor.
5
Then he minded the holding that erst he had given him,
{Wiglaf recalls Beowulf’s generosity.}
The
Waegmunding warriors’ wealth-blessed homestead,
Each
of the folk-rights his father had wielded;
He
was hot for the battle, his hand seized the target,
The
yellow-bark shield, he unsheathed his old weapon,
10 Which
was known among earthmen as the relic of Eanmund,
Ohthere’s
offspring, whom, exiled and friendless,
Weohstan
did slay with sword-edge in battle,
And
carried his kinsman the clear-shining helmet,
The
ring-made burnie, the old giant-weapon
15 That
Onela gave him, his boon-fellow’s armor,
Ready
war-trappings: he the feud did not mention,
Though
he’d fatally smitten the son of his brother.
Many
a half-year held he the treasures,
The
bill and the burnie, till his bairn became able,
20 Like
his father before him, fame-deeds to ’complish;
Then
he gave him ’mong Geatmen a goodly array of
Weeds
for his warfare; he went from life then
Old
on his journey. ’Twas the earliest time
then
{This is Wiglaf’s first battle as liegeman of Beowulf.}
That
the youthful champion might charge in the battle
25 Aiding
his liegelord; his spirit was dauntless.
Nor
did kinsman’s bequest quail at the battle:
This
the dragon discovered on their coming together.
Wiglaf
uttered many a right-saying,
Said
to his fellows, sad was his spirit:
{Wiglaf appeals to the pride of the cowards.}
30 “I
remember the time when, tasting the mead-cup,
We
promised in the hall the lord of us all
[89] Who gave us these ring-treasures, that this
battle-equipment,
Swords
and helmets, we’d certainly quite him,
Should
need of such aid ever befall him:
{How we have forfeited our liegelord’s confidence!}
35 In the
war-band he chose us for this journey spontaneously,
Stirred
us to glory and gave me these jewels,
Since
he held and esteemed us trust-worthy spearmen,
Hardy
helm-bearers, though this hero-achievement
Our
lord intended alone to accomplish,
40 Ward
of his people, for most of achievements,
Doings
audacious, he did among earth-folk.
{Our lord is in sore need of us.}
The
day is now come when the ruler of earthmen
Needeth
the vigor of valiant heroes:
Let
us wend us towards him, the war-prince to succor,
45 While
the heat yet rageth, horrible fire-fight.
{I would rather die than go home with out my suzerain.}
God
wot in me, ’tis mickle the liefer
The
blaze should embrace my body and eat it
With
my treasure-bestower. Meseemeth not proper
To
bear our battle-shields back to our country,
50 ’Less
first we are able to fell and destroy the
Long-hating
foeman, to defend the life of
{Surely he does not deserve to die alone.}
The
prince of the Weders. Well do I know ’tisn’t
Earned
by his exploits, he only of Geatmen
Sorrow
should suffer, sink in the battle:
55 Brand
and helmet to us both shall be common,
[1]Shield-cover,
burnie.” Through the bale-smoke he stalked
then,
Went
under helmet to the help of his chieftain,
{Wiglaf reminds Beowulf of his youthful boasts.}
Briefly
discoursing: “Beowulf dear,
Perform
thou all fully, as thou formerly saidst,
60 In thy
youthful years, that while yet thou livedst
[90] Thou wouldst let thine honor not ever be
lessened.
Thy
life thou shalt save, mighty in actions,
Atheling
undaunted, with all of thy vigor;
{The monster advances on them.}
I’ll
give thee assistance.” The dragon came raging,
65 Wild-mooded
stranger, when these words had been uttered
(’Twas
the second occasion), seeking his enemies,
Men
that were hated, with hot-gleaming fire-waves;
With
blaze-billows burned the board to its edges:
The
fight-armor failed then to furnish assistance
70 To the
youthful spear-hero: but the young-aged stripling
Quickly
advanced ’neath his kinsman’s war-target,
Since
his own had been ground in the grip of the fire.
{Beowulf strikes at the dragon.}
Then
the warrior-king was careful of glory,
He
soundly smote with sword-for-the-battle,
75 That
it stood in the head by hatred driven;
Naegling
was shivered, the old and iron-made
{His sword fails him.}
Brand
of Beowulf in battle deceived him.
’Twas
denied him that edges of irons were able
To
help in the battle; the hand was too mighty
80 [2]Which
every weapon, as I heard on inquiry,
Outstruck
in its stroke, when to struggle he carried
The
wonderful war-sword: it waxed him no better.
{The dragon advances on Beowulf again.}
Then
the people-despoiler—third of his onsets—
Fierce-raging
fire-drake, of feud-hate was mindful,
85 Charged
on the strong one, when chance was afforded,
Heated
and war-grim, seized on his neck
With
teeth that were bitter; he bloody did wax with
Soul-gore
seething; sword-blood in waves boiled.
[1] The passage ‘Brand ... burnie,’ is much disputed. In the first place, some eminent critics assume a gap of at least two half-verses.—’Urum’ (2660), being a peculiar form, has been much discussed. ‘Byrdu-scrud’ is also a crux. B. suggests ‘bywdu-scrud’ = splendid vestments. Nor is ‘bam’ accepted by all, ‘beon’ being suggested. Whatever the individual words, the passage must mean, “I intend to share with him my equipments of defence.”
[2] B. would render:
Which, as I heard, excelled in stroke every
sword that he carried to the
strife, even the strongest (sword). For
‘Þonne’ he reads
‘Þone,’ rel. pr.
[91]
THE FATAL STRUGGLE.—BEOWULF’S LAST MOMENTS.
{Wiglaf defends Beowulf.}
Then
I heard that at need of the king of the people
The
upstanding earlman exhibited prowess,
Vigor
and courage, as suited his nature;
[1]He
his head did not guard, but the high-minded liegeman’s
5
Hand was consumed, when he succored his kinsman,
So
he struck the strife-bringing strange-comer lower,
Earl-thane
in armor, that in went the weapon
Gleaming
and plated, that ’gan then the fire[2]
{Beowulf draws his knife,}
Later
to lessen. The liegelord himself then
10 Retained
his consciousness, brandished his war-knife,
Battle-sharp,
bitter, that he bare on his armor:
{and cuts the dragon.}
The
Weder-lord cut the worm in the middle.
They
had felled the enemy (life drove out then[3]
Puissant
prowess), the pair had destroyed him,
15 Land-chiefs
related: so a liegeman should prove him,
A
thaneman when needed. To the prince ’twas
the last of
His
era of conquest by his own great achievements,
[92]
{Beowulf’s wound swells and burns.}
The
latest of world-deeds. The wound then began
Which
the earth-dwelling dragon erstwhile had wrought him
20 To burn
and to swell. He soon then discovered
That
bitterest bale-woe in his bosom was raging,
Poison
within. The atheling advanced then,
{He sits down exhausted.}
That
along by the wall, he prudent of spirit
Might
sit on a settle; he saw the giant-work,
25 How arches
of stone strengthened with pillars
The
earth-hall eternal inward supported.
Then
the long-worthy liegeman laved with his hand the
{Wiglaf bathes his lord’s head.}
Far-famous
chieftain, gory from sword-edge,
Refreshing
the face of his friend-lord and ruler,
30 Sated
with battle, unbinding his helmet.
Beowulf
answered, of his injury spake he,
His
wound that was fatal (he was fully aware
He
had lived his allotted life-days enjoying
The
pleasures of earth; then past was entirely
35 His measure
of days, death very near):
{Beowulf regrets that he has no son.}
“My
son I would give now my battle-equipments,
Had
any of heirs been after me granted,
Along
of my body. This people I governed
Fifty
of winters: no king ’mong my neighbors
40 Dared
to encounter me with comrades-in-battle,
Try
me with terror. The time to me ordered
I
bided at home, mine own kept fitly,
Sought
me no snares, swore me not many
{I can rejoice in a well-spent life.}
Oaths
in injustice. Joy over all this
45 I’m
able to have, though ill with my death-wounds;
Hence
the Ruler of Earthmen need not charge me
With
the killing of kinsmen, when cometh my life out
Forth
from my body. Fare thou with haste now
{Bring me the hoard, Wiglaf, that my dying eyes may be refreshed by a sight of it.}
To
behold the hoard ’neath the hoar-grayish stone,
50 Well-loved
Wiglaf, now the worm is a-lying,
Sore-wounded
sleepeth, disseized of his treasure.
Go
thou in haste that treasures of old I,
Gold-wealth
may gaze on, together see lying
[93] The ether-bright jewels, be easier able,
55 Having
the heap of hoard-gems, to yield my
Life
and the land-folk whom long I have governed.”
[1] B. renders: He (W.) did not regard his (the dragon’s) head (since Beowulf had struck it without effect), but struck the dragon a little lower down.—One crux is to find out whose head is meant; another is to bring out the antithesis between ‘head’ and ‘hand.’
[2] ‘Þaet þaet fyr’
(2702), S. emends to ‘þa þaet fyr’ = when
the fire
began to grow less intense
afterward. This emendation relieves the
passage of a plethora of conjunctive
þaet’s.
[3] For ‘gefyldan’ (2707), S. proposes ‘gefylde.’ The passage would read: He felled the foe (life drove out strength), and they then both had destroyed him, chieftains related. This gives Beowulf the credit of having felled the dragon; then they combine to annihilate him.—For ‘ellen’ (2707), Kl. suggests ’e(a)llne.’—The reading ’life drove out strength’ is very unsatisfactory and very peculiar. I would suggest as follows: Adopt S.’s emendation, remove H.’s parenthesis, read ‘ferh-ellen wraec,’ and translate: He felled the foe, drove out his life-strength (that is, made him hors de combat), and then they both, etc.
WIGLAF PLUNDERS THE DRAGON’S DEN.—BEOWULF’S DEATH.
{Wiglaf fulfils his lord’s behest.}
Then
heard I that Wihstan’s son very quickly,
These
words being uttered, heeded his liegelord
Wounded
and war-sick, went in his armor,
His
well-woven ring-mail, ’neath the roof of the
barrow.
5
Then the trusty retainer treasure-gems many
{The dragon’s den.}
Victorious
saw, when the seat he came near to,
Gold-treasure
sparkling spread on the bottom,
Wonder
on the wall, and the worm-creature’s cavern,
The
ancient dawn-flier’s, vessels a-standing,
10 Cups
of the ancients of cleansers bereaved,
Robbed
of their ornaments: there were helmets in numbers,
Old
and rust-eaten, arm-bracelets many,
Artfully
woven. Wealth can easily,
Gold
on the sea-bottom, turn into vanity[1]
15 Each
one of earthmen, arm him who pleaseth!
And
he saw there lying an all-golden banner
High
o’er the hoard, of hand-wonders greatest,
Linked
with lacets: a light from it sparkled,
That
the floor of the cavern he was able to look on,
{The dragon is not there.}
20 To examine the jewels. Sight of the dragon [94] Not any was offered, but edge offcarried him.
{Wiglaf bears the hoard away.}
Then
I heard that the hero the hoard-treasure plundered,
The
giant-work ancient reaved in the cavern,
Bare
on his bosom the beakers and platters,
25 As himself
would fain have it, and took off the standard,
The
brightest of beacons;[2] the bill had erst injured
(Its
edge was of iron), the old-ruler’s weapon,
Him
who long had watched as ward of the jewels,
Who
fire-terror carried hot for the treasure,
30 Rolling
in battle, in middlemost darkness,
Till
murdered he perished. The messenger hastened,
Not
loth to return, hurried by jewels:
Curiosity
urged him if, excellent-mooded,
Alive
he should find the lord of the Weders
35 Mortally
wounded, at the place where he left him.
’Mid
the jewels he found then the famous old chieftain,
His
liegelord beloved, at his life’s-end gory:
He
thereupon ’gan to lave him with water,
Till
the point of his word pierced his breast-hoard.
40 Beowulf
spake (the gold-gems he noticed),
{Beowulf is rejoiced to see the jewels.}
The
old one in sorrow: “For the jewels I look
on
Thanks
do I utter for all to the Ruler,
Wielder
of Worship, with words of devotion,
The
Lord everlasting, that He let me such treasures
45 Gain
for my people ere death overtook me.
Since
I’ve bartered the aged life to me granted
For
treasure of jewels, attend ye henceforward
{He desires to be held in memory by his people.}
The
wants of the war-thanes; I can wait here no longer.
The
battle-famed bid ye to build them a grave-hill,
50 Bright
when I’m burned, at the brim-current’s
limit;
As
a memory-mark to the men I have governed,
[95] Aloft it shall tower on Whale’s-Ness
uprising,
That
earls of the ocean hereafter may call it
Beowulf’s
barrow, those who barks ever-dashing
55 From
a distance shall drive o’er the darkness of waters.”
{The hero’s last gift}
The
bold-mooded troop-lord took from his neck then
The
ring that was golden, gave to his liegeman,
The
youthful war-hero, his gold-flashing helmet,
His
collar and war-mail, bade him well to enjoy them:
{and last words.}
60 “Thou
art latest left of the line of our kindred,
Of
Waegmunding people: Weird hath offcarried
All
of my kinsmen to the Creator’s glory,
Earls
in their vigor: I shall after them fare.”
’Twas
the aged liegelord’s last-spoken word in
65 His musings
of spirit, ere he mounted the fire,
The
battle-waves burning: from his bosom departed
His
soul to seek the sainted ones’ glory.
[1] The word ‘oferhigian’ (2767) being vague and little understood, two quite distinct translations of this passage have arisen. One takes ‘oferhigian’ as meaning ‘to exceed,’ and, inserting ‘hord’ after ‘gehwone,’ renders: The treasure may easily, the gold in the ground, exceed in value every hoard of man, hide it who will. The other takes ‘oferhigian’ as meaning ‘to render arrogant,’ and, giving the sentence a moralizing tone, renders substantially as in the body of this work. (Cf. 28_13 et seq.)
[2] The passage beginning here is very much disputed. ’The bill of the old lord’ is by some regarded as Beowulf’s sword; by others, as that of the ancient possessor of the hoard. ‘AEr gescod’ (2778), translated in this work as verb and adverb, is by some regarded as a compound participial adj. = sheathed in brass.
THE DEAD FOES.—WIGLAF’S BITTER TAUNTS.
{Wiglaf is sorely grieved to see his lord look so un-warlike.}
It
had wofully chanced then the youthful retainer
To
behold on earth the most ardent-beloved
At
his life-days’ limit, lying there helpless.
The
slayer too lay there, of life all bereaved,
5
Horrible earth-drake, harassed with sorrow:
{The dragon has plundered his last hoard.}
The
round-twisted monster was permitted no longer
To
govern the ring-hoards, but edges of war-swords
Mightily
seized him, battle-sharp, sturdy
Leavings
of hammers, that still from his wounds
10 The flier-from-farland
fell to the earth
Hard
by his hoard-house, hopped he at midnight
Not
e’er through the air, nor exulting in jewels
Suffered
them to see him: but he sank then to earthward
Through
the hero-chief’s handwork. I heard sure
it throve then
[96]
{Few warriors dared to face the monster.}
15 But few
in the land of liegemen of valor,
Though
of every achievement bold he had proved him,
To
run ’gainst the breath of the venomous scather,
Or
the hall of the treasure to trouble with hand-blows,
If
he watching had found the ward of the hoard-hall
20 On the
barrow abiding. Beowulf’s part of
The
treasure of jewels was paid for with death;
Each
of the twain had attained to the end of
Life
so unlasting. Not long was the time till
{The cowardly thanes come out of the thicket.}
The
tardy-at-battle returned from the thicket,
25 The timid
truce-breakers ten all together,
Who
durst not before play with the lances
In
the prince of the people’s pressing emergency;
{They are ashamed of their desertion.}
But
blushing with shame, with shields they betook them,
With
arms and armor where the old one was lying:
30 They
gazed upon Wiglaf. He was sitting exhausted,
Foot-going
fighter, not far from the shoulders
Of
the lord of the people, would rouse him with water;
No
whit did it help him; though he hoped for it keenly,
He
was able on earth not at all in the leader
35 Life
to retain, and nowise to alter
The
will of the Wielder; the World-Ruler’s power[1]
Would
govern the actions of each one of heroes,
{Wiglaf is ready to excoriate them.}
As
yet He is doing. From the young one forthwith
then
Could
grim-worded greeting be got for him quickly
40 Whose
courage had failed him. Wiglaf discoursed then,
Weohstan
his son, sad-mooded hero,
{He begins to taunt them.}
Looked
on the hated: “He who soothness will utter
Can
say that the liegelord who gave you the jewels,
The
ornament-armor wherein ye are standing,
45 When
on ale-bench often he offered to hall-men
Helmet
and burnie, the prince to his liegemen,
As
best upon earth he was able to find him,—
[97]
{Surely our lord wasted his armor on poltroons.}
That
he wildly wasted his war-gear undoubtedly
When
battle o’ertook him.[2] The troop-king no need
had
50 To glory
in comrades; yet God permitted him,
{He, however, got along without you}
Victory-Wielder,
with weapon unaided
Himself
to avenge, when vigor was needed.
I
life-protection but little was able
To
give him in battle, and I ’gan, notwithstanding,
{With some aid, I could have saved our liegelord}
55 Helping
my kinsman (my strength overtaxing):
He
waxed the weaker when with weapon I smote on
My
mortal opponent, the fire less strongly
Flamed
from his bosom. Too few of protectors
Came
round the king at the critical moment.
{Gift-giving is over with your people: the ring-lord is dead.}
60 Now must
ornament-taking and weapon-bestowing,
Home-joyance
all, cease for your kindred,
Food
for the people; each of your warriors
Must
needs be bereaved of rights that he holdeth
In
landed possessions, when faraway nobles
65 Shall
learn of your leaving your lord so basely,
{What is life without honor?}
The
dastardly deed. Death is more pleasant
To
every earlman than infamous life is!”
[1] For ‘daedum raedan’
(2859) B. suggests ‘deaeth araedan,’ and
renders:
The might (or judgment)
of God would determine death for every man,
as he still does.
[2] Some critics, H. himself in earlier editions, put the clause, ‘When ... him’ (A.-S. ‘þa ... beget’) with the following sentence; that is, they make it dependent upon ‘þorfte’ (2875) instead of upon ‘forwurpe’ (2873).
THE MESSENGER OF DEATH.
{Wiglaf sends the news of Beowulf’s death to liegemen near by.}
Then
he charged that the battle be announced at the hedge
Up
o’er the cliff-edge, where the earl-troopers
bided
The
whole of the morning, mood-wretched sat them,
Bearers
of battle-shields, both things expecting,
5
The end of his lifetime and the coming again of
The
liegelord beloved. Little reserved he
Of
news that was known, who the ness-cliff did travel,
But
he truly discoursed to all that could hear him:
[98]
{The messenger speaks.}
“Now
the free-giving friend-lord of the folk of the Weders,
10 The folk-prince
of Geatmen, is fast in his death-bed,
By
the deeds of the dragon in death-bed abideth;
Along
with him lieth his life-taking foeman
Slain
with knife-wounds: he was wholly unable
To
injure at all the ill-planning monster
{Wiglaf sits by our dead lord.}
15 With
bite of his sword-edge. Wiglaf is sitting,
Offspring
of Wihstan, up over Beowulf,
Earl
o’er another whose end-day hath reached him,
Head-watch
holdeth o’er heroes unliving,[1]
{Our lord’s death will lead to attacks from our old foes.}
For
friend and for foeman. The folk now expecteth
20 A season
of strife when the death of the folk-king
To
Frankmen and Frisians in far-lands is published.
The
war-hatred waxed warm ’gainst the Hugmen,
{Higelac’s death recalled.}
When
Higelac came with an army of vessels
Faring
to Friesland, where the Frankmen in battle
25 Humbled
him and bravely with overmight ’complished
That
the mail-clad warrior must sink in the battle,
Fell
’mid his folk-troop: no fret-gems presented
The
atheling to earlmen; aye was denied us
Merewing’s
mercy. The men of the Swedelands
30 For truce
or for truth trust I but little;
But
widely ’twas known that near Ravenswood Ongentheow
{Haethcyn’s fall referred to.}
Sundered
Haethcyn the Hrethling from life-joys,
When
for pride overweening the War-Scylfings first did
Seek
the Geatmen with savage intentions.
35 Early
did Ohthere’s age-laden father,
Old
and terrible, give blow in requital,
Killing
the sea-king, the queen-mother rescued,
The
old one his consort deprived of her gold,
Onela’s
mother and Ohthere’s also,
[99] 40 And then followed the feud-nursing foemen
till hardly,
Reaved
of their ruler, they Ravenswood entered.
Then
with vast-numbered forces he assaulted the remnant,
Weary
with wounds, woe often promised
The
livelong night to the sad-hearted war-troop:
45 Said
he at morning would kill them with edges of weapons,
Some
on the gallows for glee to the fowls.
Aid
came after to the anxious-in-spirit
At
dawn of the day, after Higelac’s bugle
And
trumpet-sound heard they, when the good one proceeded
50 And faring
followed the flower of the troopers.
[1] ‘Hige-meethum’ (2910) is glossed by H. as dat. plu. (= for the dead). S. proposes ‘hige-meethe,’ nom. sing. limiting Wiglaf; i.e. W., mood-weary, holds head-watch o’er friend and foe.—B. suggests taking the word as dat. inst. plu. of an abstract noun in -’u.’ The translation would be substantially the same as S.’s.
THE MESSENGER’S RETROSPECT.
{The messenger continues, and refers to the feuds of Swedes and Geats.}
“The
blood-stained trace of Swedes and Geatmen,
The
death-rush of warmen, widely was noticed,
How
the folks with each other feud did awaken.
The
worthy one went then[1] with well-beloved comrades,
5
Old and dejected to go to the fastness,
Ongentheo
earl upward then turned him;
Of
Higelac’s battle he’d heard on inquiry,
The
exultant one’s prowess, despaired of resistance,
With
earls of the ocean to be able to struggle,
10 ’Gainst
sea-going sailors to save the hoard-treasure,
His
wife and his children; he fled after thenceward
Old
’neath the earth-wall. Then was offered
pursuance
To
the braves of the Swedemen, the banner[2] to Higelac.
[100] They fared then forth o’er the field-of-protection,
15 When
the Hrethling heroes hedgeward had thronged them.
Then
with edges of irons was Ongentheow driven,
The
gray-haired to tarry, that the troop-ruler had to
Suffer
the power solely of Eofor:
{Wulf wounds Ongentheow.}
Wulf
then wildly with weapon assaulted him,
20 Wonred
his son, that for swinge of the edges
The
blood from his body burst out in currents,
Forth
’neath his hair. He feared not however,
Gray-headed
Scylfing, but speedily quited
{Ongentheow gives a stout blow in return.}
The
wasting wound-stroke with worse exchange,
25 When
the king of the thane-troop thither did turn him:
The
wise-mooded son of Wonred was powerless
To
give a return-blow to the age-hoary man,
But
his head-shielding helmet first hewed he to pieces,
That
flecked with gore perforce he did totter,
30 Fell
to the earth; not fey was he yet then,
But
up did he spring though an edge-wound had reached him.
{Eofor smites Ongentheow fiercely.}
Then
Higelac’s vassal, valiant and dauntless,
When
his brother lay dead, made his broad-bladed weapon,
Giant-sword
ancient, defence of the giants,
35 Bound
o’er the shield-wall; the folk-prince succumbed
then,
{Ongentheow is slain.}
Shepherd
of people, was pierced to the vitals.
There
were many attendants who bound up his kinsman,
Carried
him quickly when occasion was granted
That
the place of the slain they were suffered to manage.
40 This
pending, one hero plundered the other,
His
armor of iron from Ongentheow ravished,
His
hard-sword hilted and helmet together;
{Eofor takes the old king’s war-gear to Higelac.}
The
old one’s equipments he carried to Higelac.
He
the jewels received, and rewards ’mid the troopers
45 Graciously
promised, and so did accomplish:
The
king of the Weders requited the war-rush,
Hrethel’s
descendant, when home he repaired him,
{Higelac rewards the brothers.}
To
Eofor and Wulf with wide-lavished treasures,
To
each of them granted a hundred of thousands
[101] 50 In land and rings wrought out of wire:
{His gifts were beyond cavil.}
None
upon mid-earth needed to twit him[3]
With
the gifts he gave them, when glory they conquered;
{To Eofor he also gives his only daughter in marriage.}
And
to Eofor then gave he his one only daughter,
The
honor of home, as an earnest of favor.
55 That’s
the feud and hatred—as ween I ’twill
happen—
The
anger of earthmen, that earls of the Swedemen
Will
visit on us, when they hear that our leader
Lifeless
is lying, he who longtime protected
His
hoard and kingdom ’gainst hating assailers,
60 Who on
the fall of the heroes defended of yore
The
deed-mighty Scyldings,[4] did for the troopers
What
best did avail them, and further moreover
{It is time for us to pay the last marks of respect to our lord.}
Hero-deeds
’complished. Now is haste most fitting,
That
the lord of liegemen we look upon yonder,
65 And that
one carry on journey to death-pyre
Who
ring-presents gave us. Not aught of it all
Shall
melt with the brave one—there’s a
mass of bright jewels,
Gold
beyond measure, grewsomely purchased
And
ending it all ornament-rings too
70 Bought
with his life; these fire shall devour,
Flame
shall cover, no earlman shall wear
A
jewel-memento, nor beautiful virgin
Have
on her neck rings to adorn her,
But
wretched in spirit bereaved of gold-gems
75 She shall
oft with others be exiled and banished,
Since
the leader of liegemen hath laughter forsaken,
[102] Mirth and merriment. Hence many a war-spear
Cold
from the morning shall be clutched in the fingers,
Heaved
in the hand, no harp-music’s sound shall
80 Waken
the warriors, but the wan-coated raven
Fain
over fey ones freely shall gabble,
Shall
say to the eagle how he sped in the eating,
When,
the wolf his companion, he plundered the slain.”
So
the high-minded hero was rehearsing these stories
85 Loathsome
to hear; he lied as to few of
{The warriors go sadly to look at Beowulf’s lifeless body.}
Weirds
and of words. All the war-troop arose then,
’Neath
the Eagle’s Cape sadly betook them,
Weeping
and woful, the wonder to look at.
They
saw on the sand then soulless a-lying,
90 His slaughter-bed
holding, him who rings had given them
In
days that were done; then the death-bringing moment
Was
come to the good one, that the king very warlike,
Wielder
of Weders, with wonder-death perished.
First
they beheld there a creature more wondrous,
{They also see the dragon.}
95 The worm
on the field, in front of them lying,
The
foeman before them: the fire-spewing dragon,
Ghostly
and grisly guest in his terrors,
Was
scorched in the fire; as he lay there he measured
Fifty
of feet; came forth in the night-time[5]
100 To rejoice
in the air, thereafter departing
To
visit his den; he in death was then fastened,
He
would joy in no other earth-hollowed caverns.
There
stood round about him beakers and vessels,
Dishes
were lying and dear-valued weapons,
105 With iron-rust
eaten, as in earth’s mighty bosom
A
thousand of winters there they had rested:
{The hoard was under a magic spell.}
That
mighty bequest then with magic was guarded,
Gold
of the ancients, that earlman not any
The
ring-hall could touch, save Ruling-God only,
[103] 110 Sooth-king of Vict’ries gave whom
He wished to
{God alone could give access to it.}
[6](He
is earth-folk’s protector) to open the treasure,
E’en
to such among mortals as seemed to Him proper.
[1] For ‘goda,’
which seems a surprising epithet for a Geat to apply
to the “terrible”
Ongentheow, B. suggests ‘gomela.’
The passage would
then stand: ‘The
old one went then,’ etc.
[2] For ‘segn Higelace,’ K., Th., and B. propose ‘segn Higelaces,’ meaning: Higelac’s banner followed the Swedes (in pursuit).—S. suggests ‘saecc Higelaces,’ and renders: Higelac’s pursuit.—The H.-So. reading, as translated in our text, means that the banner of the enemy was captured and brought to Higelac as a trophy.
[3] The rendering given in this translation represents the king as being generous beyond the possibility of reproach; but some authorities construe ‘him’ (2996) as plu., and understand the passage to mean that no one reproached the two brothers with having received more reward than they were entitled to.
[4] The name ‘Scyldingas’ here (3006) has caused much discussion, and given rise to several theories, the most important of which are as follows: (1) After the downfall of Hrothgar’s family, Beowulf was king of the Danes, or Scyldings. (2) For ‘Scyldingas’ read ’Scylfingas’—that is, after killing Eadgils, the Scylfing prince, Beowulf conquered his land, and held it in subjection. (3) M. considers 3006 a thoughtless repetition of 2053. (Cf. H.-So.)
[5] B. takes ‘nihtes’
and ‘hwilum’ (3045) as separate adverbial
cases,
and renders: Joy in
the air had he of yore by night, etc. He thinks
that the idea of vanished
time ought to be expressed.
[6] The parenthesis is by some emended so as to read: (1) (He (i.e. God) is the hope of men); (2) (he is the hope of heroes). Gr.’s reading has no parenthesis, but says: ... could touch, unless God himself, true king of victories, gave to whom he would to open the treasure, the secret place of enchanters, etc. The last is rejected on many grounds.
WIGLAF’S SAD STORY.—THE HOARD CARRIED OFF.
Then
’twas seen that the journey prospered him little
Who
wrongly within had the ornaments hidden[1]
Down
’neath the wall. The warden erst slaughtered
Some
few of the folk-troop: the feud then thereafter
5
Was hotly avenged. ’Tis a wonder where,[2]
When
the strength-famous trooper has attained to the end
of
Life-days
allotted, then no longer the man may
Remain
with his kinsmen where mead-cups are flowing.
So
to Beowulf happened when the ward of the barrow,
10 Assaults,
he sought for: himself had no knowledge
How
his leaving this life was likely to happen.
So
to doomsday, famous folk-leaders down did
Call
it with curses—who ’complished it
there—
[104] That that man should be ever of ill-deeds
convicted,
15 Confined
in foul-places, fastened in hell-bonds,
Punished
with plagues, who this place should e’er ravage.[3]
He
cared not for gold: rather the Wielder’s
Favor
preferred he first to get sight of.[4]
{Wiglaf addresses his comrades.}
Wiglaf
discoursed then, Wihstan his son:
20 “Oft
many an earlman on one man’s account must
Sorrow
endure, as to us it hath happened.
The
liegelord beloved we could little prevail on,
Kingdom’s
keeper, counsel to follow,
Not
to go to the guardian of the gold-hoard, but let him
25 Lie where
he long was, live in his dwelling
Till
the end of the world. Met we a destiny
Hard
to endure: the hoard has been looked at,
Been
gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that[5]
The
prince of the people pricked to come thither.
30 I
was therein and all of it looked at,
The
building’s equipments, since access was given
me,
Not
kindly at all entrance permitted
{He tells them of Beowulf’s last moments.}
Within
under earth-wall. Hastily seized I
And
held in my hands a huge-weighing burden
35 Of hoard-treasures
costly, hither out bare them
To
my liegelord beloved: life was yet in him,
And
consciousness also; the old one discoursed then
Much
and mournfully, commanded to greet you,
{Beowulf’s dying request.}
Bade
that remembering the deeds of your friend-lord
40 Ye build
on the fire-hill of corpses a lofty
Burial-barrow,
broad and far-famous,
As
’mid world-dwelling warriors he was widely most
honored
While
he reveled in riches. Let us rouse us and hasten
[105] Again to see and seek for the treasure,
45 The wonder
’neath wall. The way I will show you,
That
close ye may look at ring-gems sufficient
And
gold in abundance. Let the bier with promptness
Fully
be fashioned, when forth we shall come,
And
lift we our lord, then, where long he shall tarry,
50 Well-beloved
warrior, ’neath the Wielder’s protection.”
{Wiglaf charges them to build a funeral-pyre.}
Then
the son of Wihstan bade orders be given,
Mood-valiant
man, to many of heroes,
Holders
of homesteads, that they hither from far,
[6]Leaders
of liegemen, should look for the good one
55 With
wood for his pyre: “The flame shall now
swallow
(The
wan fire shall wax[7]) the warriors’ leader
Who
the rain of the iron often abided,
When,
sturdily hurled, the storm of the arrows
Leapt
o’er linden-wall, the lance rendered service,
60 Furnished
with feathers followed the arrow.”
Now
the wise-mooded son of Wihstan did summon
The
best of the braves from the band of the ruler
{He takes seven thanes, and enters the den.}
Seven
together; ’neath the enemy’s roof he
Went
with the seven; one of the heroes
65 Who fared
at the front, a fire-blazing torch-light
Bare
in his hand. No lot then decided
Who
that hoard should havoc, when hero-earls saw it
Lying
in the cavern uncared-for entirely,
Rusting
to ruin: they rued then but little
70 That
they hastily hence hauled out the treasure,
{They push the dragon over the wall.}
The
dear-valued jewels; the dragon eke pushed they,
The
worm o’er the wall, let the wave-currents take
him,
[106] The waters enwind the ward of the treasures.
{The hoard is laid on a wain.}
There
wounden gold on a wain was uploaded,
75 A mass
unmeasured, the men-leader off then,
The
hero hoary, to Whale’s-Ness was carried.
[1] For ‘gehydde,’
B. suggests ‘gehyethde’: the passage
would stand as
above except the change of
‘hidden’ (v. 2) to ‘plundered.’
The
reference, however, would
be to the thief, not to the dragon.
[2] The passage ‘Wundur ... buan’ (3063-3066), M. took to be a question asking whether it was strange that a man should die when his appointed time had come.—B. sees a corruption, and makes emendations introducing the idea that a brave man should not die from sickness or from old age, but should find death in the performance of some deed of daring.—S. sees an indirect question introduced by ‘hwar’ and dependent upon ‘wundur’: A secret is it when the hero is to die, etc.—Why may the two clauses not be parallel, and the whole passage an Old English cry of ’How wonderful is death!’?—S.’s is the best yet offered, if ‘wundor’ means ‘mystery.’
[3] For ‘strude’
in H.-So., S. suggests ‘stride.’ This
would require
‘ravage’ (v. 16)
to be changed to ‘tread.’
[4] ‘He cared ... sight
of’ (17, 18), S. emends so as to read as
follows: He (Beowulf)
had not before seen the favor of the avaricious
possessor.
[5] B. renders: That
which drew the king thither (i.e. the
treasure) was granted
us, but in such a way that it overcomes us.
[6] ‘Folc-agende’
(3114) B. takes as dat. sing. with ‘godum,’
and
refers it to Beowulf; that
is, Should bring fire-wood to the place
where the good folk-ruler
lay.
[7] C. proposes to take ‘weaxan’ = L. ‘vescor,’ and translate devour. This gives a parallel to ‘fretan’ above. The parenthesis would be discarded and the passage read: Now shall the fire consume, the wan-flame devour, the prince of warriors, etc.
THE BURNING OF BEOWULF.
{Beowulf’s pyre.}
The
folk of the Geatmen got him then ready
A
pile on the earth strong for the burning,
Behung
with helmets, hero-knights’ targets,
And
bright-shining burnies, as he begged they should have
them;
5
Then wailing war-heroes their world-famous chieftain,
Their
liegelord beloved, laid in the middle.
{The funeral-flame.}
Soldiers began then to make on the barrow The largest of dead-fires: dark o’er the vapor The smoke-cloud ascended, the sad-roaring fire, 10 Mingled with weeping (the wind-roar subsided) Till the building of bone it had broken to pieces, Hot in the heart. Heavy in spirit They mood-sad lamented the men-leader’s ruin; And mournful measures the much-grieving widow 15 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 20 * * * * * * *
{The Weders carry out their lord’s last request.}
The
men of the Weders made accordingly
A
hill on the height, high and extensive,
Of
sea-going sailors to be seen from a distance,
And
the brave one’s beacon built where the fire was,
25 In ten-days’
space, with a wall surrounded it,
As
wisest of world-folk could most worthily plan it.
They
placed in the barrow rings and jewels,
[107]
{Rings and gems are laid in the barrow.}
All
such ornaments as erst in the treasure
War-mooded
men had won in possession:
30 The earnings
of earlmen to earth they entrusted,
The
gold to the dust, where yet it remaineth
As
useless to mortals as in foregoing eras.
’Round
the dead-mound rode then the doughty-in-battle,
Bairns
of all twelve of the chiefs of the people,
{They mourn for their lord, and sing his praises.}
35 More
would they mourn, lament for their ruler,
Speak
in measure, mention him with pleasure,
Weighed
his worth, and his warlike achievements
Mightily
commended, as ’tis meet one praise his
Liegelord
in words and love him in spirit,
40 When
forth from his body he fares to destruction.
So
lamented mourning the men of the Geats,
Fond-loving
vassals, the fall of their lord,
{An ideal king.}
Said
he was kindest of kings under heaven,
Gentlest
of men, most winning of manner,
45 Friendliest
to folk-troops and fondest of honor.
[109]
Several discrepancies and other oversights have been noticed in the H.-So. glossary. Of these a good part were avoided by Harrison and Sharp, the American editors of Beowulf, in their last edition, 1888. The rest will, I hope, be noticed in their fourth edition. As, however, this book may fall into the hands of some who have no copy of the American edition, it seems best to notice all the principal oversights of the German editors.
From ham (194).—Notes and glossary conflict; the latter not having been altered to suit the conclusions accepted in the former.
Þaer gelyfan sceal dryhtnes dome (440).—Under ‘dom’ H. says ’the might of the Lord’; while under ‘gelyfan’ he says ‘the judgment of the Lord.’
Eal bencþelu (486).—Under ‘benc-þelu’ H. says nom. plu.; while under ‘eal’ he says nom. sing.
Heatho-raemas (519).—Under ‘aetberan’ H. translates ‘to the Heathoremes’; while under ‘Heatho-raemas’ he says ’Heathoraemas reaches Breca in the swimming-match with Beowulf.’ Harrison and Sharp (3d edition, 1888) avoid the discrepancy.
Fah feond-scaetha (554).—Under ‘feond-scaetha’ H. says ’a gleaming sea-monster’; under ‘fah’ he says ‘hostile.’
Onfeng hraethe inwit-þancum (749).—Under ‘onfon’ H. says ’he received the maliciously-disposed one’; under ‘inwit-þanc’ he says ‘he grasped,’ etc.
Nieth-wundor seon (1366).—Under ‘nieth-wundor’ H. calls this word itself nom. sing.; under ‘seon’ he translates it as accus. sing., understanding ‘man’ as subject of ‘seon.’ H. and S. (3d edition) make the correction.
Forgeaf hilde-bille (1521).—H., under the second word, calls it instr. dat.; while under ‘forgifan’ he makes it the dat. of indir. obj. H. and S. (3d edition) make the change.
Brad and brun-ecg (1547).—Under ‘brad’ H. says ’das breite Hueftmesser mit bronzener Klinge’; under ‘brun-ecg’ he says ’ihr breites Hueftmesser mit blitzender Klinge.’
[110]
Yethelice (1557).—Under this word H. makes it modify ‘astod.’ If this be right, the punctuation of the fifth edition is wrong. See H. and S., appendix.
Selran gesohte (1840).—Under ‘sel’ and ‘gesecan’ H. calls these two words accus. plu.; but this is clearly an error, as both are nom. plu., pred. nom. H. and S. correct under ‘sel.’
Wieth sylfne (1978).—Under ‘wieth’ and ‘gesittan’ H. says ‘wieth = near, by’; under ‘self’ he says ‘opposite.’
þeow (2225) is omitted from the glossary.
For duguethum (2502).—Under ‘dugueth’ H. translates this phrase, ’in Tuechtigkeit’; under ‘for,’ by ‘vor der edlen Kriegerschaar.’
þaer (2574).—Under ‘wealdan’ H. translates þaer by ‘wo’; under ‘motan,’ by ‘da.’ H. and S. suggest ‘if’ in both passages.
Wunde (2726).—Under ‘wund’ H. says ‘dative,’ and under ‘wael-bleate’ he says ‘accus.’ It is without doubt accus., parallel with ‘benne.’
Strengum gebaeded (3118).—Under ‘strengo’ H. says ‘Strengum’ = mit Macht; under ‘gebaeded’ he translates ‘von den Sehnen.’ H. and S. correct this discrepancy by rejecting the second reading.
Bronda be lafe (3162).—A recent emendation. The fourth edition had ‘bronda betost.’ In the fifth edition the editor neglects to change the glossary to suit the new emendation. See ‘bewyrcan.’