stacked, spears of the seafarers stood together,
gray-tipped ash: that iron band was worthily
weaponed! — A warrior proud asked of the
heroes their home and kin. “Whence, now,
bear ye burnished shields, harness gray and helmets
grim, spears in multitude? Messenger, I, Hrothgar’s
herald! Heroes so many ne’er met I as strangers
of mood so strong. ’Tis plain that for
prowess, not plunged into exile, for high-hearted
valor, Hrothgar ye seek!” Him the sturdy-in-war
bespake with words, proud earl of the Weders answer
made, hardy ’neath helmet: —
“Hygelac’s, we, fellows at board; I am
Beowulf named. I am seeking to say to the son
of Healfdene this mission of mine, to thy master-lord,
the doughty prince, if he deign at all grace that
we greet him, the good one, now.” Wulfgar
spake, the Wendles’ chieftain, whose might of
mind to many was known, his courage and counsel:
“The king of Danes, the Scyldings’ friend,
I fain will tell, the Breaker-of-Rings, as the boon
thou askest, the famed prince, of thy faring hither,
and, swiftly after, such answer bring as the doughty
monarch may deign to give.” Hied then in
haste to where Hrothgar sat white-haired and old,
his earls about him, till the stout thane stood at
the shoulder there of the Danish king: good
courtier he! Wulfgar spake to his winsome lord:
— “Hither have fared to thee far-come
men o’er the paths of ocean, people of Geatland;
and the stateliest there by his sturdy band is Beowulf
named. This boon they seek, that they, my master,
may with thee have speech at will: nor spurn
their prayer to give them hearing, gracious Hrothgar!
In weeds of the warrior worthy they, methinks, of
our liking; their leader most surely, a hero that
hither his henchmen has led.”
VI
Hrothgar answered, helmet of Scyldings:
— “I knew him of yore in his youthful
days; his aged father was Ecgtheow named, to whom,
at home, gave Hrethel the Geat his only daughter.
Their offspring bold fares hither to seek the steadfast
friend. And seamen, too, have said me this, —
who carried my gifts to the Geatish court, thither
for thanks, — he has thirty men’s
heft of grasp in the gripe of his hand, the bold-in-battle.
Blessed God out of his mercy this man hath sent to
Danes of the West, as I ween indeed, against horror
of Grendel. I hope to give the good youth gold
for his gallant thought. Be thou in haste, and
bid them hither, clan of kinsmen, to come before me;
and add this word, — they are welcome guests
to folk of the Danes.” [To the door of the hall
Wulfgar went] and the word declared: —
“To you this message my master sends, East-Danes’
king, that your kin he knows, hardy heroes, and hails
you all welcome hither o’er waves of the sea!
Ye may wend your way in war-attire, and under helmets
Hrothgar greet; but let here the battle-shields bide
your parley, and wooden war-shafts wait its end.”
Uprose the mighty one, ringed with his men, brave
