Hastened the hardy one, henchmen with him, sandy
strand of the sea to tread and widespread ways.
The world’s great candle, sun shone from south.
They strode along with sturdy steps to the spot they
knew where the battle-king young, his burg within,
slayer of Ongentheow, shared the rings, shelter-of-heroes.
To Hygelac Beowulf’s coming was quickly told,
— that there in the court the clansmen’s
refuge, the shield-companion sound and alive, hale
from the hero-play homeward strode. With haste
in the hall, by highest order, room for the rovers
was readily made. By his sovran he sat, come
safe from battle, kinsman by kinsman. His kindly
lord he first had greeted in gracious form, with
manly words. The mead dispensing, came through
the high hall Haereth’s daughter, winsome to
warriors, wine-cup bore to the hands of the heroes.
Hygelac then his comrade fairly with question plied
in the lofty hall, sore longing to know what manner
of sojourn the Sea-Geats made. “What came
of thy quest, my kinsman Beowulf, when thy yearnings
suddenly swept thee yonder battle to seek o’er
the briny sea, combat in Heorot? Hrothgar couldst
thou aid at all, the honored chief, in his wide-known
woes? With waves of care my sad heart seethed;
I sore mistrusted my loved one’s venture:
long I begged thee by no means to seek that slaughtering
monster, but suffer the South-Danes to settle their
feud themselves with Grendel. Now God be thanked
that safe and sound I can see thee now!” Beowulf
spake, the bairn of Ecgtheow: — “’Tis
known and unhidden, Hygelac Lord, to many men, that
meeting of ours, struggle grim between Grendel and
me, which we fought on the field where full too many
sorrows he wrought for the Scylding-Victors, evils
unending. These all I avenged. No boast
can be from breed of Grendel, any on earth, for that
uproar at dawn, from the longest-lived of the loathsome
race in fleshly fold! — But first I went
Hrothgar to greet in the hall of gifts, where Healfdene’s
kinsman high-renowned, soon as my purpose was plain
to him, assigned me a seat by his son and heir.
The liegemen were lusty; my life-days never such merry
men over mead in hall have I heard under heaven!
The high-born queen, people’s peace-bringer,
passed through the hall, cheered the young clansmen,
clasps of gold, ere she sought her seat, to sundry
gave. Oft to the heroes Hrothgar’s daughter,
to earls in turn, the ale-cup tendered, —
she whom I heard these hall-companions Freawaru name,
when fretted gold she proffered the warriors.
Promised is she, gold-decked maid, to the glad son
of Froda. Sage this seems to the Scylding’s-friend,
kingdom’s-keeper: he counts it wise the
woman to wed so and ward off feud, store of slaughter.
But seldom ever when men are slain, does the murder-spear
sink but briefest while, though the bride be fair!
{28a} “Nor haply will like it the Heathobard
lord, and as little each of his liegemen all, when
