sent, o’er watery ridges, treasures olden:
oaths he {7c} swore me. Sore is my soul to say
to any of the race of man what ruth for me in Heorot
Grendel with hate hath wrought, what sudden harryings.
Hall-folk fail me, my warriors wane; for Wyrd hath
swept them into Grendel’s grasp. But God
is able this deadly foe from his deeds to turn!
Boasted full oft, as my beer they drank, earls o’er
the ale-cup, armed men, that they would bide in the
beer-hall here, Grendel’s attack with terror
of blades. Then was this mead-house at morning
tide dyed with gore, when the daylight broke, all
the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled, gory
the hall: I had heroes the less, doughty dear-ones
that death had reft. — But sit to
the banquet, unbind thy words, hardy hero, as heart
shall prompt thee.”
Gathered together, the Geatish men in the banquet-hall
on bench assigned, sturdy-spirited, sat them down,
hardy-hearted. A henchman attended, carried the
carven cup in hand, served the clear mead. Oft
minstrels sang blithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled,
no dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane.
VIII
Unferth spake, the son of Ecglaf, who sat at
the feet of the Scyldings’ lord, unbound the
battle-runes. {8a} — Beowulf’s quest,
sturdy seafarer’s, sorely galled him; ever he
envied that other men should more achieve in middle-earth
of fame under heaven than he himself. —
“Art thou that Beowulf, Breca’s rival,
who emulous swam on the open sea, when for pride the
pair of you proved the floods, and wantonly dared
in waters deep to risk your lives? No living
man, or lief or loath, from your labor dire could
you dissuade, from swimming the main. Ocean-tides
with your arms ye covered, with strenuous hands the
sea-streets measured, swam o’er the waters.
Winter’s storm rolled the rough waves.
In realm of sea a sennight strove ye. In swimming
he topped thee, had more of main! Him at morning-tide
billows bore to the Battling Reamas, whence he hied
to his home so dear beloved of his liegemen, to land
of Brondings, fastness fair, where his folk he ruled,
town and treasure. In triumph o’er thee
Beanstan’s bairn {8b} his boast achieved.
So ween I for thee a worse adventure —
though in buffet of battle thou brave hast been, in
struggle grim, — if Grendel’s approach
thou darst await through the watch of night!”
Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: —
“What a deal hast uttered, dear my Unferth,
drunken with beer, of Breca now, told of his triumph!
Truth I claim it, that I had more of might in the
sea than any man else, more ocean-endurance.
We twain had talked, in time of youth, and made our
boast, — we were merely boys, striplings
still, — to stake our lives far at sea:
and so we performed it. Naked swords, as we
swam along, we held in hand, with hope to guard us
against the whales. Not a whit from me could
he float afar o’er the flood of waves, haste
o’er the billows; nor him I abandoned.
