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.}
