To him the stateliest spake in answer; the warriors’
leader his word-hoard unlocked: —
“We are by kin of the clan of Geats, and Hygelac’s
own hearth-fellows we. To folk afar was my father
known, noble atheling, Ecgtheow named. Full
of winters, he fared away aged from earth; he is honored
still through width of the world by wise men all.
To thy lord and liege in loyal mood we hasten hither,
to Healfdene’s son, people-protector:
be pleased to advise us! To that mighty-one come
we on mickle errand, to the lord of the Danes; nor
deem I right that aught be hidden. We hear —
thou knowest if sooth it is — the saying
of men, that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster,
dark ill-doer, in dusky nights shows terrific his
rage unmatched, hatred and murder. To Hrothgar
I in greatness of soul would succor bring, so the
Wise-and-Brave {4a} may worst his foes, —
if ever the end of ills is fated, of cruel contest,
if cure shall follow, and the boiling care-waves cooler
grow; else ever afterward anguish-days he shall suffer
in sorrow while stands in place high on its hill that
house unpeered!” Astride his steed, the strand-ward
answered, clansman unquailing: “The keen-souled
thane must be skilled to sever and sunder duly words
and works, if he well intends. I gather, this
band is graciously bent to the Scyldings’ master.
March, then, bearing weapons and weeds the way I show
you. I will bid my men your boat meanwhile to
guard for fear lest foemen come, — your
new-tarred ship by shore of ocean faithfully watching
till once again it waft o’er the waters those
well-loved thanes, — winding-neck’d
wood, — to Weders’ bounds, heroes
such as the hest of fate shall succor and save from
the shock of war.” They bent them to march,
— the boat lay still, fettered by cable
and fast at anchor, broad-bosomed ship.
—
Then shone the boars {4b} over the cheek-guard; chased
with gold, keen and gleaming, guard it kept o’er
the man of war, as marched along heroes in haste,
till the hall they saw, broad of gable and bright
with gold: that was the fairest, ’mid folk
of earth, of houses ’neath heaven, where Hrothgar
lived, and the gleam of it lightened o’er lands
afar. The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright
burg-of-the-boldest; bade them go straightway thither;
his steed then turned, hardy hero, and hailed them
thus: — “’Tis time that
I fare from you. Father Almighty in grace and
mercy guard you well, safe in your seekings.
Seaward I go, ’gainst hostile warriors hold
my watch.”
V
Stone-bright the street: {5a} it showed
the way to the crowd of clansmen. Corselets glistened
hand-forged, hard; on their harness bright the steel
ring sang, as they strode along in mail of battle,
and marched to the hall. There, weary of ocean,
the wall along they set their bucklers, their broad
shields, down, and bowed them to bench: the
breastplates clanged, war-gear of men; their weapons
