band of thanes: some bode without, battle-gear
guarding, as bade the chief. Then hied that troop
where the herald led them, under Heorot’s roof:
[the hero strode,] hardy ’neath helm, till
the hearth he neared. Beowulf spake, —
his breastplate gleamed, war-net woven by wit of the
smith: — “Thou Hrothgar, hail!
Hygelac’s I, kinsman and follower. Fame
a plenty have I gained in youth! These Grendel-deeds
I heard in my home-land heralded clear. Seafarers
say how stands this hall, of buildings best, for your
band of thanes empty and idle, when evening sun in
the harbor of heaven is hidden away. So my vassals
advised me well, — brave and wise, the
best of men, — O sovran Hrothgar, to seek
thee here, for my nerve and my might they knew full
well. Themselves had seen me from slaughter come
blood-flecked from foes, where five I bound, and that
wild brood worsted. I’ the waves I slew
nicors {6a} by night, in need and peril avenging the
Weders, {6b} whose woe they sought, — crushing
the grim ones. Grendel now, monster cruel, be
mine to quell in single battle! So, from thee,
thou sovran of the Shining-Danes, Scyldings’-bulwark,
a boon I seek, — and, Friend-of-the-folk,
refuse it not, O Warriors’-shield, now I’ve
wandered far, — that I alone with my liegemen
here, this hardy band, may Heorot purge! More
I hear, that the monster dire, in his wanton mood,
of weapons recks not; hence shall I scorn —
so Hygelac stay, king of my kindred, kind to me! —
brand or buckler to bear in the fight, gold-colored
targe: but with gripe alone must I front the
fiend and fight for life, foe against foe. Then
faith be his in the doom of the Lord whom death shall
take. Fain, I ween, if the fight he win, in
this hall of gold my Geatish band will he fearless
eat, — as oft before, — my noblest
thanes. Nor need’st thou then to hide my
head; {6c} for his shall I be, dyed in gore, if death
must take me; and my blood-covered body he’ll
bear as prey, ruthless devour it, the roamer-lonely,
with my life-blood redden his lair in the fen:
no further for me need’st food prepare!
To Hygelac send, if Hild {6d} should take me, best
of war-weeds, warding my breast, armor excellent,
heirloom of Hrethel and work of Wayland.
{6e} Fares
Wyrd {6f} as she must.”
VII
Hrothgar spake, the Scyldings’-helmet:
— “For fight defensive, Friend my
Beowulf, to succor and save, thou hast sought us here.
Thy father’s combat {7a} a feud enkindled when
Heatholaf with hand he slew among the Wylfings; his
Weder kin for horror of fighting feared to hold him.
Fleeing, he sought our South-Dane folk, over surge
of ocean the Honor-Scyldings, when first I was ruling
the folk of Danes, wielded, youthful, this widespread
realm, this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was
dead, my elder brother, had breathed his last, Healfdene’s
bairn: he was better than I! Straightway
the feud with fee {7b} I settled, to the Wylfings
