Scylding, much tested, told of the times of yore.
Whiles the hero his harp bestirred, wood-of-delight;
now lays he chanted of sooth and sadness, or said
aright legends of wonder, the wide-hearted king;
or for years of his youth he would yearn at times,
for strength of old struggles, now stricken with age,
hoary hero: his heart surged full when, wise
with winters, he wailed their flight. Thus in
the hall the whole of that day at ease we feasted,
till fell o’er earth another night. Anon
full ready in greed of vengeance, Grendel’s
mother set forth all doleful. Dead was her son
through war-hate of Weders; now, woman monstrous with
fury fell a foeman she slew, avenged her offspring.
From Aeschere old, loyal councillor, life was gone;
nor might they e’en, when morning broke, those
Danish people, their death-done comrade burn with
brands, on balefire lay the man they mourned.
Under mountain stream she had carried the corpse with
cruel hands. For Hrothgar that was the heaviest
sorrow of all that had laden the lord of his folk.
The leader then, by thy life, besought me (sad was
his soul) in the sea-waves’ coil to play the
hero and hazard my being for glory of prowess:
my guerdon he pledged. I then in the waters
— ’tis widely known —
that sea-floor-guardian savage found. Hand-to-hand
there a while we struggled; billows welled blood;
in the briny hall her head I hewed with a hardy blade
from Grendel’s mother, — and gained
my life, though not without danger. My doom was
not yet. Then the haven-of-heroes, Healfdene’s
son, gave me in guerdon great gifts of price.
XXIX
“So held this king to the customs old, that
I wanted for nought in the wage I gained, the meed
of my might; he made me gifts, Healfdene’s heir,
for my own disposal. Now to thee, my prince,
I proffer them all, gladly give them. Thy grace
alone can find me favor. Few indeed have I of
kinsmen, save, Hygelac, thee!” Then he bade
them bear him the boar-head standard, the battle-helm
high, and breastplate gray, the splendid sword; then
spake in form: — “Me this war-gear
the wise old prince, Hrothgar, gave, and his hest
he added, that its story be straightway said to thee.
— A while it was held by Heorogar king,
for long time lord of the land of Scyldings; yet not
to his son the sovran left it, to daring Heoroweard,
— dear as he was to him, his harness of
battle.
— Well hold thou it all!”
And I heard that soon passed o’er the path of
this treasure, all apple-fallow, four good steeds,
each like the others, arms and horses he gave to the
king. So should kinsmen be, not weave one another
the net of wiles, or with deep-hid treachery death
contrive for neighbor and comrade. His nephew
was ever by hardy Hygelac held full dear, and each
kept watch o’er the other’s weal.
I heard, too, the necklace to Hygd he presented, wonder-wrought
treasure, which Wealhtheow gave him sovran’s
daughter: three steeds he added, slender and
