joyously the jewels divides, the royal riches, nor
recks of his forebear. Ban, then, such baleful
thoughts, Beowulf dearest, best of men, and the better
part choose, profit eternal; and temper thy pride,
warrior famous! The flower of thy might lasts
now a while: but erelong it shall be that sickness
or sword thy strength shall minish, or fang of fire,
or flooding billow, or bite of blade, or brandished
spear, or odious age; or the eyes’ clear beam
wax dull and darken: Death even thee in haste
shall o’erwhelm, thou hero of war! So the
Ring-Danes these half-years a hundred I ruled, wielded
’neath welkin, and warded them bravely from
mighty-ones many o’er middle-earth, from spear
and sword, till it seemed for me no foe could be found
under fold of the sky. Lo, sudden the shift!
To me seated secure came grief for joy when Grendel
began to harry my home, the hellish foe; for those
ruthless raids, unresting I suffered heart-sorrow
heavy. Heaven be thanked, Lord Eternal, for life
extended that I on this head all hewn and bloody,
after long evil, with eyes may gaze! —
Go to the bench now! Be glad at banquet, warrior
worthy! A wealth of treasure at dawn of day,
be dealt between us!” Glad was the Geats’
lord, going betimes to seek his seat, as the Sage
commanded. Afresh, as before, for the famed-in-battle,
for the band of the hall, was a banquet dight nobly
anew. The Night-Helm darkened dusk o’er
the drinkers. The doughty ones rose: for
the hoary-headed would hasten to rest, aged Scylding;
and eager the Geat, shield-fighter sturdy, for sleeping
yearned. Him wander-weary, warrior-guest from
far, a hall-thane heralded forth, who by custom courtly
cared for all needs of a thane as in those old days
warrior-wanderers wont to have. So slumbered
the stout-heart. Stately the hall rose gabled
and gilt where the guest slept on till a raven black
the rapture-of-heaven {25b} blithe-heart boded.
Bright came flying shine after shadow. The swordsmen
hastened, athelings all were eager homeward forth
to fare; and far from thence the great-hearted guest
would guide his keel. Bade then the hardy-one
Hrunting be brought to the son of Ecglaf, the sword
bade him take, excellent iron, and uttered his thanks
for it, quoth that he counted it keen in battle,
“war-friend” winsome: with words
he slandered not edge of the blade: ’twas
a big-hearted man! Now eager for parting and
armed at point warriors waited, while went to his
host that Darling of Danes. The doughty atheling
to high-seat hastened and Hrothgar greeted.
Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: —
“Lo, we seafarers say our will, far-come men,
that we fain would seek Hygelac now. We here
have found hosts to our heart: thou hast harbored
us well. If ever on earth I am able to win me
more of thy love, O lord of men, aught anew, than
I now have done, for work of war I am willing still!
If it come to me ever across the seas that neighbor
