Through the hall then went the Helmings’ Lady,
to younger and older everywhere carried the cup, till
come the moment when the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,
to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead. She greeted
the Geats’ lord, God she thanked, in wisdom’s
words, that her will was granted, that at last on
a hero her hope could lean for comfort in terrors.
The cup he took, hardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow’s
hand, and answer uttered the eager-for-combat.
Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: —
“This was my thought, when my thanes and I bent
to the ocean and entered our boat, that I would work
the will of your people fully, or fighting fall in
death, in fiend’s gripe fast. I am firm
to do an earl’s brave deed, or end the days
of this life of mine in the mead-hall here.”
Well these words to the woman seemed, Beowulf’s
battle-boast.
— Bright with gold the stately
dame by her spouse sat down. Again, as erst,
began in hall warriors’ wassail and words of
power, the proud-band’s revel, till presently
the son of Healfdene hastened to seek rest for the
night; he knew there waited fight for the fiend in
that festal hall, when the sheen of the sun they saw
no more, and dusk of night sank darkling nigh, and
shadowy shapes came striding on, wan under welkin.
The warriors rose. Man to man, he made harangue,
Hrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail, let him wield
the wine hall: a word he added: —
“Never to any man erst I trusted, since I could
heave up hand and shield, this noble Dane-Hall, till
now to thee. Have now and hold this house unpeered;
remember thy glory; thy might declare; watch for the
foe! No wish shall fail thee if thou bidest the
battle with bold-won life.”
X
Then Hrothgar went with his hero-train, defence-of-Scyldings,
forth from hall; fain would the war-lord Wealhtheow
seek, couch of his queen. The King-of-Glory
against this Grendel a guard had set, so heroes heard,
a hall-defender, who warded the monarch and watched
for the monster. In truth, the Geats’ prince
gladly trusted his mettle, his might, the mercy of
God! Cast off then his corselet of iron, helmet
from head; to his henchman gave, — choicest
of weapons, — the well-chased sword, bidding
him guard the gear of battle. Spake then his
Vaunt the valiant man, Beowulf Geat, ere the bed be
sought: — “Of force in fight
no feebler I count me, in grim war-deeds, than Grendel
deems him. Not with the sword, then, to sleep
of death his life will I give, though it lie in my
power. No skill is his to strike against me,
my shield to hew though he hardy be, bold in battle;
we both, this night, shall spurn the sword, if he
seek me here, unweaponed, for war. Let wisest
God, sacred Lord, on which side soever doom decree
as he deemeth right.” Reclined then the
chieftain, and cheek-pillows held the head of the
earl, while all about him seamen hardy on hall-beds
sank. None of them thought that thence their
steps to the folk and fastness that fostered them,
