Translated by Francis B. Gummere (The Harvard Classics, Vol. 49. P.F. Collier & Son., 1910)
This text, including accompanying numbered notes, is from the Internet Medieval Source Book, a collection of public domain and copy-permitted texts related to medieval and Byzantine history, and is intended for educational purposes and personal use only. This HTML edition, including line numbers, section divisions, and notes indicated by asterisks, is by Brian T. Murphy and is also intended for educational purposes and personal use only.
Prologue (ll. 1-85):
Prelude (1-52); I (53-85);Part 1A: Grendel (86-1250):
I cont. (86-114); II (115-188); III (189-257); IV (258-319); V (320-370); VI (371-456); VII (457-499); VIII (500-559); IX (560-662); X (663-710); XI (711-791); XII (792-837); XIII (838-925); XIV (926-991); XV (992-1051); XVI (1052-1126); XVII (1127-1194); XVIII (1195-1254);Part 1B: Grendel's Mum (1255-2208):
XIX (1255-1324); XX (1325-1386); XXI (1387-1477); XXII (1478-1561); XXIII (1562-1656); XXIV (1657-1752); XXV (1753-1825); XXVI (1826-1896); XXVII (1897-1971); XXVIII (1972-2007); XXIX (2008-2040); XXX (2041-2152); XXXI (2153-2229);Part 2: The Dragon (2209-3192):
XXXII (2230-2320); XXXIII (2321-2399); XXXIV (2400-2468); XXXV (2469-2610); XXXVI (2611-2702); XXXVII (2703-2760); XXXVIII (2761-2829); XXXIX (2830-2901); XL (2902-2955); XLI (2956-3067); XLII (3068-3146); XLIII (3147-3192)
1. LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings
2. of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
3. we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
4. Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,
5. from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,
6. awing the earls. Since erst he lay
7. friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:
8. for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,
9. till before him the folk, both far and near,
10. who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,
11. gave him gifts: a good king he!
12. To him an heir was afterward born,
13. a son in his halls, whom heaven sent
14. to favor the folk, feeling their woe
15. that erst they had lacked an earl for leader
16. so long a while; the Lord endowed him,
17. the Wielder of Wonder, with world's renown.
18. Famed was this Beowulf 1 [Beow]*: far flew the boast of him,
19. son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.
20. So becomes it a youth to quit him well
21. with his father's friends, by fee and gift,
22. that to aid him, aged, in after days,
23. come warriors willing, should war draw nigh,
24. liegemen loyal: by lauded deeds
25. shall an earl have honor in every clan.
26. Forth he fared at the fated moment,
27. sturdy Scyld to the shelter of God.
28. Then they bore him over to ocean's billow,
29. loving clansmen, as late he charged them,
30. while wielded words the winsome Scyld,
31. the leader beloved who long had ruled....
32. In the roadstead rocked a ring-dight vessel,
33. ice-flecked, outbound, atheling's barge:
34. there laid they down their darling lord
35. on the breast of the boat, the breaker-of-rings,2
36. by the mast the mighty one. Many a treasure
37. fetched from far was freighted with him.
38. No ship have I known so nobly dight
39. with weapons of war and weeds of battle,
40. with breastplate and blade: on his bosom lay
41. a heaped hoard that hence should go
42. far o'er the flood with him floating away.
43. No less these loaded the lordly gifts,
44. thanes' huge treasure, than those had done
45. who in former time forth had sent him
46. sole on the seas, a suckling child.
47. High o'er his head they hoist the standard,
48. a gold-wove banner; let billows take him,
49. gave him to ocean. Grave were their spirits,
50. mournful their mood. No man is able
51. to say in sooth, no son of the halls,
52. no hero 'neath heaven,—who harbored that freight!
53. Now Beowulf [Beow]* bode in the burg of the Scyldings,
54. leader beloved, and long he ruled
55. in fame with all folk, since his father had gone
56. away from the world, till awoke an heir,
57. haughty Healfdene, who held through life,
58. sage and sturdy, the Scyldings glad.
59. Then, one after one, there woke to him,
60. to the chieftain of clansmen, children four:
61. Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;
62. and I heard that—was—'s queen,
63. the Heathoscylfing's helpmate dear.
64. To Hrothgar was given such glory of war,
65. such honor of combat, that all his kin
66. obeyed him gladly till great grew his band
67. of youthful comrades. It came in his mind
68. to bid his henchmen a hall uprear,
69. a master mead-house, mightier far
70. than ever was seen by the sons of earth,
71. and within it, then, to old and young
72. he would all allot that the Lord had sent him,
73. save only the land and the lives of his men.
74. Wide, I heard, was the work commanded,
75. for many a tribe this mid-earth round,
76. to fashion the folkstead. It fell, as he ordered,
77. in rapid achievement that ready it stood there,
78. of halls the noblest: Heorot1 he named it
79. whose message had might in many a land.
80. Not reckless of promise, the rings he dealt,
81. treasure at banquet: there towered the hall,
82. high, gabled wide, the hot surge waiting
83. of furious flame.2 Nor far was that day
84. when father and son-in-law stood in feud
85. for warfare and hatred that woke again.3
86. With envy and anger an evil spirit
87. endured the dole in his dark abode,
88. that he heard each day the din of revel
89. high in the hall: there harps rang out,
90. clear song of the singer. He sang who knew4
91. tales of the early time of man,
92. how the Almighty made the earth,
93. fairest fields enfolded by water,
94. set, triumphant, sun and moon
95. for a light to lighten the land-dwellers,
96. and braided bright the breast of earth
97. with limbs and leaves, made life for all
98. of mortal beings that breathe and move.
99. So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel
100. a winsome life, till one began
101. to fashion evils, that field of hell.
102. Grendel this monster grim was called,
103. march-riever5 mighty, in moorland living,
104. in fen and fastness; fief of the giants
105. the hapless wight a while had kept
106. since the Creator his exile doomed.
107. On kin of Cain was the killing avenged
108. by sovran God for slaughtered Abel.
109. Ill fared his feud,6 and far was he driven,
110. for the slaughter's sake, from sight of men.
111. Of Cain awoke all that woful breed,
112. Etins7 and elves and evil-spirits,
113. as well as the giants that warred with God
114. weary while: but their wage was paid them!
115. WENT he forth to find at fall of night
116. that haughty house, and heed wherever
117. the Ring-Danes, outrevelled, to rest had gone.
118. Found within it the atheling band
119. asleep after feasting and fearless of sorrow,
120. of human hardship. Unhallowed wight,
121. grim and greedy, he grasped betimes,
122. wrathful, reckless, from resting-places,
123. thirty of the thanes, and thence he rushed
124. fain of his fell spoil, faring homeward,
125. laden with slaughter, his lair to seek.
126. Then at the dawning, as day was breaking,
127. the might of Grendel to men was known;
128. then after wassail was wail uplifted,
129. loud moan in the morn. The mighty chief,
130. atheling excellent, unblithe sat,
131. labored in woe for the loss of his thanes,
132. when once had been traced the trail of the fiend,
133. spirit accurst: too cruel that sorrow,
134. too long, too loathsome. Not late the respite;
135. with night returning, anew began
136. ruthless murder; he recked no whit,
137. firm in his guilt, of the feud and crime.
138. They were easy to find who elsewhere sought
139. in room remote their rest at night,
140. bed in the bowers,1 when that bale was shown,
141. was seen in sooth, with surest token,—
142. the hall-thane's2 hate. Such held themselves
143. far and fast who the fiend outran!
144. Thus ruled unrighteous and raged his fill
145. one against all; until empty stood
146. that lordly building, and long it bode so.
147. Twelve years' tide the trouble he bore,
148. sovran of Scyldings, sorrows in plenty,
149. boundless cares. There came unhidden
150. tidings true to the tribes of men,
151. in sorrowful songs, how ceaselessly Grendel
152. harassed Hrothgar, what hate he bore him,
153. what murder and massacre, many a year,
154. feud unfading,—refused consent
155. to deal with any of Daneland's earls,
156. make pact of peace, or compound for gold:
157. still less did the wise men ween to get
158. great fee for the feud from his fiendish hands.
159. But the evil one ambushed old and young
160. death-shadow dark, and dogged them still,
161. lured, or lurked in the livelong night
162. of misty moorlands: men may say not
163. where the haunts of these Hell-Runes3 be.
164. Such heaping of horrors the hater of men,
165. lonely roamer, wrought unceasing,
166. harassings heavy. O'er Heorot he lorded,
167. gold-bright hall, in gloomy nights;
168. and ne'er could the prince4 approach his throne,
169. —'twas judgment of God,—or have joy in his hall.
170. Sore was the sorrow to Scyldings'-friend,
171. heart-rending misery. Many nobles
172. sat assembled, and searched out counsel
173. how it were best for bold-hearted men
174. against harassing terror to try their hand.
175. Whiles they vowed in their heathen fanes
176. altar-offerings, asked with words5
177. that the slayer-of-souls would succor give them
178. for the pain of their people. Their practice this,
179. their heathen hope; 'twas Hell they thought of
180. in mood of their mind. Almighty they knew not,
181. Doomsman of Deeds and dreadful Lord,
182. nor Heaven's-Helmet heeded they ever,
183. Wielder-of-Wonder.—Woe for that man
184. who in harm and hatred hales his soul
185. to fiery embraces;—nor favor nor change
186. awaits he ever. But well for him
187. that after death-day may draw to his Lord,
188. and friendship find in the Father's arms!
189. THUS seethed unceasing the son of Healfdene
190. with the woe of these days; not wisest men
191. assuaged his sorrow; too sore the anguish,
192. loathly and long, that lay on his folk,
193. most baneful of burdens and bales of the night.
194. This heard in his home Hygelac's thane,
195. great among Geats, of Grendel's doings.
196. He was the mightiest man of valor
197. in that same day of this our life,
198. stalwart and stately. A stout wave-walker
199. he bade make ready. Yon battle-king, said he,
200. far o'er the swan-road he fain would seek,
201. the noble monarch who needed men!
202. The prince's journey by prudent folk
203. was little blamed, though they loved him dear;
204. they whetted the hero, and hailed good omens.
205. And now the bold one from bands of Geats
206. comrades chose, the keenest of warriors
207. e'er he could find; with fourteen men
208. the sea-wood1 he sought, and, sailor proved,
209. led them on to the land's confines.
210. Time had now flown;2 afloat was the ship,
211. boat under bluff. On board they climbed,
212. warriors ready; waves were churning
213. sea with sand; the sailors bore
214. on the breast of the bark their bright array,
215. their mail and weapons: the men pushed off,
216. on its willing way, the well-braced craft.
217. Then moved o'er the waters by might of the wind
218. that bark like a bird with breast of foam,
219. till in season due, on the second day,
220. the curved prow such course had run
221. that sailors now could see the land,
222. sea-cliffs shining, steep high hills,
223. headlands broad. Their haven was found,
224. their journey ended. Up then quickly
225. the Weders'3 clansmen climbed ashore,
226. anchored their sea-wood, with armor clashing
227. and gear of battle: God they thanked
228. for passing in peace o'er the paths of the sea.
229. Now saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman,
230. a warden that watched the water-side,
231. how they bore o'er the gangway glittering shields,
232. war-gear in readiness; wonder seized him
233. to know what manner of men they were.
234. Straight to the strand his steed he rode,
235. Hrothgar's henchman; with hand of might
236. he shook his spear, and spake in parley.
237. "Who are ye, then, ye armed men,
238. mailed folk, that yon mighty vessel
239. have urged thus over the ocean ways,
240. here o'er the waters? A warden I,
241. sentinel set o'er the sea-march here,
242. lest any foe to the folk of Danes
243. with harrying fleet should harm the land.
244. No aliens ever at ease thus bore them,
245. linden-wielders:4 yet word-of-leave
246. clearly ye lack from clansmen here,
247. my folk's agreement.—A greater ne'er saw I
248. of warriors in world than is one of you,—
249. yon hero in harness! No henchman he
250. worthied by weapons, if witness his features,
251. his peerless presence! I pray you, though, tell
252. your folk and home, lest hence ye fare
253. suspect to wander your way as spies
254. in Danish land. Now, dwellers afar,
255. ocean-travellers, take from me
256. simple advice: the sooner the better
257. I hear of the country whence ye came."
258. To him the stateliest spake in answer;
259. the warriors' leader his word-hoard unlocked:—
260. "We are by kin of the clan of Geats,
261. and Hygelac's own hearth-fellows we.
262. To folk afar was my father known,
263. noble atheling, Ecgtheow named.
264. Full of winters, he fared away
265. aged from earth; he is honored still
266. through width of the world by wise men all.
267. To thy lord and liege in loyal mood
268. we hasten hither, to Healfdene's son,
269. people-protector: be pleased to advise us!
270. To that mighty-one come we on mickle errand,
271. to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I right
272. that aught be hidden. We hear—thou knowest
273. if sooth it is—the saying of men,
274. that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster,
275. dark ill-doer, in dusky nights
276. shows terrific his rage unmatched,
277. hatred and murder. To Hrothgar I
278. in greatness of soul would succor bring,
279. so the Wise-and-Brave1 may worst his foes,—
280. if ever the end of ills is fated,
281. of cruel contest, if cure shall follow,
282. and the boiling care-waves cooler grow;
283. else ever afterward anguish-days
284. he shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place
285. high on its hill that house unpeered!"
286. Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered,
287. clansman unquailing: "The keen-souled thane
288. must be skilled to sever and sunder duly
289. words and works, if he well intends.
290. I gather, this band is graciously bent
291. to the Scyldings' master. March, then, bearing
292. weapons and weeds the way I show you.
293. I will bid my men your boat meanwhile
294. to guard for fear lest foemen come,—
295. your new-tarred ship by shore of ocean
296. faithfully watching till once again
297. it waft o'er the waters those well-loved thanes,
298. —winding-neck'd wood,—to Weders' bounds,
299. heroes such as the hest of fate
300. shall succor and save from the shock of war."
301. They bent them to march,—the boat lay still,
302. fettered by cable and fast at anchor,
303. broad-bosomed ship.—Then shone the boars2
304. over the cheek-guard; chased with gold,
305. keen and gleaming, guard it kept
306. o'er the man of war, as marched along
307. heroes in haste, till the hall they saw,
308. broad of gable and bright with gold:
309. that was the fairest, 'mid folk of earth,
310. of houses 'neath heaven, where Hrothgar lived,
311. and the gleam of it lightened o'er lands afar.
312. The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright
313. burg-of-the-boldest; bade them go
314. straightway thither; his steed then turned,
315. hardy hero, and hailed them thus:—
316. "Tis time that I fare from you. Father Almighty
317. in grace and mercy guard you well,
318. safe in your seekings. Seaward I go,
319. 'gainst hostile warriors hold my watch."
320. STONE-BRIGHT the street:1 it showed the way
321. to the crowd of clansmen. Corselets glistened
322. hand-forged, hard; on their harness bright
323. the steel ring sang, as they strode along
324. in mail of battle, and marched to the hall.
325. There, weary of ocean, the wall along
326. they set their bucklers, their broad shields, down,
327. and bowed them to bench: the breastplates clanged,
328. war-gear of men; their weapons stacked,
329. spears of the seafarers stood together,
330. gray-tipped ash: that iron band
331. was worthily weaponed!—A warrior proud
332. asked of the heroes their home and kin.
333. "Whence, now, bear ye burnished shields,
334. harness gray and helmets grim,
335. spears in multitude? Messenger, I,
336. Hrothgar's herald! Heroes so many
337. ne'er met I as strangers of mood so strong.
338. 'Tis plain that for prowess, not plunged into exile,
339. for high-hearted valor, Hrothgar ye seek!"
340. Him the sturdy-in-war bespake with words,
341. proud earl of the Weders answer made,
342. hardy 'neath helmet:—"Hygelac's, we,
343. fellows at board; I am Beowulf named.
344. I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene
345. this mission of mine, to thy master-lord,
346. the doughty prince, if he deign at all
347. grace that we greet him, the good one, now."
348. Wulfgar spake, the Wendles' chieftain,
349. whose might of mind to many was known,
350. his courage and counsel: "The king of Danes,
351. the Scyldings' friend, I fain will tell,
352. the Breaker-of-Rings, as the boon thou askest,
353. the famed prince, of thy faring hither,
354. and, swiftly after, such answer bring
355. as the doughty monarch may deign to give."
356. Hied then in haste to where Hrothgar sat
357. white-haired and old, his earls about him,
358. till the stout thane stood at the shoulder there
359. of the Danish king: good courtier he!
360. Wulfgar spake to his winsome lord:—
361. "Hither have fared to thee far-come men
362. o'er the paths of ocean, people of Geatland;
363. and the stateliest there by his sturdy band
364. is Beowulf named. This boon they seek,
365. that they, my master, may with thee
366. have speech at will: nor spurn their prayer
367. to give them hearing, gracious Hrothgar!
368. In weeds of the warrior worthy they,
369. methinks, of our liking; their leader most surely,
370. a hero that hither his henchmen has led."
371. HROTHGAR answered, helmet of Scyldings:—
372. "I knew him of yore in his youthful days;
373. his aged father was Ecgtheow named,
374. to whom, at home, gave Hrethel the Geat
375. his only daughter. Their offspring bold
376. fares hither to seek the steadfast friend.
377. And seamen, too, have said me this,—
378. who carried my gifts to the Geatish court,
379. thither for thanks,—he has thirty men's
380. heft of grasp in the gripe of his hand,
381. the bold-in-battle. Blessed God
382. out of his mercy this man hath sent
383. to Danes of the West, as I ween indeed,
384. against horror of Grendel. I hope to give
385. the good youth gold for his gallant thought.
386. Be thou in haste, and bid them hither,
387. clan of kinsmen, to come before me;
388. and add this word,—they are welcome guests
389. to folk of the Danes."
390. [To the door of the hall
391. Wulfgar went] and the word declared:—
392. "To you this message my master sends,
393. East-Danes' king, that your kin he knows,
394. hardy heroes, and hails you all
395. welcome hither o'er waves of the sea!
396. Ye may wend your way in war-attire,
397. and under helmets Hrothgar greet;
398. but let here the battle-shields bide your parley,
399. and wooden war-shafts wait its end."
400. Uprose the mighty one, ringed with his men,
401. brave band of thanes: some bode without,
402. battle-gear guarding, as bade the chief.
403. Then hied that troop where the herald led them,
404. under Heorot's roof: [the hero strode,]
405. hardy 'neath helm, till the hearth he neared.
406. Beowulf spake,—his breastplate gleamed,
407. war-net woven by wit of the smith:—
408. "Thou Hrothgar, hail! Hygelac's I,
409. kinsman and follower. Fame a plenty
410. have I gained in youth! These Grendel-deeds
411. I heard in my home-land heralded clear.
412. Seafarers say how stands this hall,
413. of buildings best, for your band of thanes
414. empty and idle, when evening sun
415. in the harbor of heaven is hidden away.
416. So my vassals advised me well,—
417. brave and wise, the best of men,—
418. O sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here,
419. for my nerve and my might they knew full well.
420. Themselves had seen me from slaughter come
421. blood-flecked from foes, where five I bound,
422. and that wild brood worsted. I' the waves I slew
423. nicors1 by night, in need and peril
424. avenging the Weders,2 whose woe they sought,—
425. crushing the grim ones. Grendel now,
426. monster cruel, be mine to quell
427. in single battle! So, from thee,
428. thou sovran of the Shining-Danes,
429. Scyldings'-bulwark, a boon I seek,—
430. and, Friend-of-the-folk, refuse it not,
431. O Warriors'-shield, now I've wandered far,—
432. that I alone with my liegemen here,
433. this hardy band, may Heorot purge!
434. More I hear, that the monster dire,
435. in his wanton mood, of weapons recks not;
436. hence shall I scorn—so Hygelac stay,
437. king of my kindred, kind to me!—
438. brand or buckler to bear in the fight,
439. gold-colored targe: but with gripe alone
440. must I front the fiend and fight for life,
441. foe against foe. Then faith be his
442. in the doom of the Lord whom death shall take.
443. Fain, I ween, if the fight he win,
444. in this hall of gold my Geatish band
445. will he fearless eat,—as oft before,—
446. my noblest thanes. Nor need'st thou then
447. to hide my head;3 for his shall I be,
448. dyed in gore, if death must take me;
449. and my blood-covered body he'll bear as prey,
450. ruthless devour it, the roamer-lonely,
451. with my life-blood redden his lair in the fen:
452. no further for me need'st food prepare!
453. To Hygelac send, if Hild4 should take me,
454. best of war-weeds, warding my breast,
455. armor excellent, heirloom of Hrethel
456. and work of Wayland.5 Fares Wyrd6 as she must."
457. HROTHGAR spake, the Scyldings'-helmet:—
458. "For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf,
459. to succor and save, thou hast sought us here.
460. Thy father's combat1 a feud enkindled
461. when Heatholaf with hand he slew
462. among the Wylfings; his Weder kin
463. for horror of fighting feared to hold him.
464. Fleeing, he sought our South-Dane folk,
465. over surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings,
466. when first I was ruling the folk of Danes,
467. wielded, youthful, this widespread realm,
468. this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead,
469. my elder brother, had breathed his last,
470. Healfdene's bairn: he was better than I!
471. Straightway the feud with fee2 I settled,
472. to the Wylfings sent, o'er watery ridges,
473. treasures olden: oaths he3 swore me.
474. Sore is my soul to say to any
475. of the race of man what ruth for me
476. in Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought,
477. what sudden harryings. Hall-folk fail me,
478. my warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept them
479. into Grendel's grasp. But God is able
480. this deadly foe from his deeds to turn!
481. Boasted full oft, as my beer they drank,
482. earls o'er the ale-cup, armed men,
483. that they would bide in the beer-hall here,
484. Grendel's attack with terror of blades.
485. Then was this mead-house at morning tide
486. dyed with gore, when the daylight broke,
487. all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled,
488. gory the hall: I had heroes the less,
489. doughty dear-ones that death had reft.
490. —But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words,
491. hardy hero, as heart shall prompt thee."
492. Gathered together, the Geatish men
493. in the banquet-hall on bench assigned,
494. sturdy-spirited, sat them down,
495. hardy-hearted. A henchman attended,
496. carried the carven cup in hand,
497. served the clear mead. Oft minstrels sang
498. blithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled,
499. no dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane.
500. UNFERTH spake, the son of Ecglaf,
501. who sat at the feet of the Scyldings' lord,
502. unbound the battle-runes.1 —Beowulf's quest,
503. sturdy seafarer's, sorely galled him;
504. ever he envied that other men
505. should more achieve in middle-earth
506. of fame under heaven than he himself.—
507. "Art thou that Beowulf, Breca's rival,
508. who emulous swam on the open sea,
509. when for pride the pair of you proved the floods,
510. and wantonly dared in waters deep
511. to risk your lives? No living man,
512. or lief or loath, from your labor dire
513. could you dissuade, from swimming the main.
514. Ocean-tides with your arms ye covered,
515. with strenuous hands the sea-streets measured,
516. swam o'er the waters. Winter's storm
517. rolled the rough waves. In realm of sea
518. a sennight strove ye. In swimming he topped thee,
519. had more of main! Him at morning-tide
520. billows bore to the Battling Reamas,
521. whence he hied to his home so dear
522. beloved of his liegemen, to land of Brondings,
523. fastness fair, where his folk he ruled,
524. town and treasure. In triumph o'er thee
525. Beanstan's bairn2 his boast achieved.
526. So ween I for thee a worse adventure
527. —though in buffet of battle thou brave hast been,
528. in struggle grim,—if Grendel's approach
529. thou darst await through the watch of night!"
530. Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow:—
531. "What a deal hast uttered, dear my Unferth,
532. drunken with beer, of Breca now,
533. told of his triumph! Truth I claim it,
534. that I had more of might in the sea
535. than any man else, more ocean-endurance.
536. We twain had talked, in time of youth,
537. and made our boast,—we were merely boys,
538. striplings still,—to stake our lives
539. far at sea: and so we performed it.
540. Naked swords, as we swam along,
541. we held in hand, with hope to guard us
542. against the whales. Not a whit from me
543. could he float afar o'er the flood of waves,
544. haste o'er the billows; nor him I abandoned.
545. Together we twain on the tides abode
546. five nights full till the flood divided us,
547. churning waves and chillest weather,
548. darkling night, and the northern wind
549. ruthless rushed on us: rough was the surge.
550. Now the wrath of the sea-fish rose apace;
551. yet me 'gainst the monsters my mailed coat,
552. hard and hand-linked, help afforded,—
553. battle-sark braided my breast to ward,
554. garnished with gold. There grasped me firm
555. and haled me to bottom the hated foe,
556. with grimmest gripe. 'Twas granted me, though,
557. to pierce the monster with point of sword,
558. with blade of battle: huge beast of the sea
559. was whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine.
560. ME thus often the evil monsters
561. thronging threatened. With thrust of my sword,
562. the darling, I dealt them due return!
563. Nowise had they bliss from their booty then
564. to devour their victim, vengeful creatures,
565. seated to banquet at bottom of sea;
566. but at break of day, by my brand sore hurt,
567. on the edge of ocean up they lay,
568. put to sleep by the sword. And since, by them
569. on the fathomless sea-ways sailor-folk
570. are never molested.—Light from east,
571. came bright God's beacon; the billows sank,
572. so that I saw the sea-cliffs high,
573. windy walls. For Wyrd oft saveth
574. earl undoomed if he doughty be!
575. And so it came that I killed with my sword
576. nine of the nicors. Of night-fought battles
577. ne'er heard I a harder 'neath heaven's dome,
578. nor adrift on the deep a more desolate man!
579. Yet I came unharmed from that hostile clutch,
580. though spent with swimming. The sea upbore me,
581. flood of the tide, on Finnish land,
582. the welling waters. No wise of thee
583. have I heard men tell such terror of falchions,
584. bitter battle. Breca ne'er yet,
585. not one of you pair, in the play of war
586. such daring deed has done at all
587. with bloody brand,—I boast not of it!—
588. though thou wast the bane1 of thy brethren dear,
589. thy closest kin, whence curse of hell
590. awaits thee, well as thy wit may serve!
591. For I say in sooth, thou son of Ecglaf,
592. never had Grendel these grim deeds wrought,
593. monster dire, on thy master dear,
594. in Heorot such havoc, if heart of thine
595. were as battle-bold as thy boast is loud!
596. But he has found no feud will happen;
597. from sword-clash dread of your Danish clan
598. he vaunts him safe, from the Victor-Scyldings.
599. He forces pledges, favors none
600. of the land of Danes, but lustily murders,
601. fights and feasts, nor feud he dreads
602. from Spear-Dane men. But speedily now
603. shall I prove him the prowess and pride of the Geats,
604. shall bid him battle. Blithe to mead
605. go he that listeth, when light of dawn
606. this morrow morning o'er men of earth,
607. ether-robed sun from the south shall beam!"
608. Joyous then was the Jewel-giver,
609. hoar-haired, war-brave; help awaited
610. the Bright-Danes' prince, from Beowulf hearing,
611. folk's good shepherd, such firm resolve.
612. Then was laughter of liegemen loud resounding
613. with winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth,
614. queen of Hrothgar, heedful of courtesy,
615. gold-decked, greeting the guests in hall;
616. and the high-born lady handed the cup
617. first to the East-Danes' heir and warden,
618. bade him be blithe at the beer-carouse,
619. the land's beloved one. Lustily took he
620. banquet and beaker, battle-famed king.
621. Through the hall then went the Helmings' Lady,
622. to younger and older everywhere
623. carried the cup, till come the moment
624. when the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,
625. to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead.
626. She greeted the Geats' lord, God she thanked,
627. in wisdom's words, that her will was granted,
628. that at last on a hero her hope could lean
629. for comfort in terrors. The cup he took,
630. hardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow's hand,
631. and answer uttered the eager-for-combat.
632. Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow:—
633. "This was my thought, when my thanes and I
634. bent to the ocean and entered our boat,
635. that I would work the will of your people
636. fully, or fighting fall in death,
637. in fiend's gripe fast. I am firm to do
638. an earl's brave deed, or end the days
639. of this life of mine in the mead-hall here."
640. Well these words to the woman seemed,
641. Beowulf's battle-boast.—Bright with gold
642. the stately dame by her spouse sat down.
643. Again, as erst, began in hall
644. warriors' wassail and words of power,
645. the proud-band's revel, till presently
646. the son of Healfdene hastened to seek
647. rest for the night; he knew there waited
648. fight for the fiend in that festal hall,
649. when the sheen of the sun they saw no more,
650. and dusk of night sank darkling nigh,
651. and shadowy shapes came striding on,
652. wan under welkin. The warriors rose.
653. Man to man, he made harangue,
654. Hrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail,
655. let him wield the wine hall: a word he added:—
656. "Never to any man erst I trusted,
657. since I could heave up hand and shield,
658. this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.
659. Have now and hold this house unpeered;
660. remember thy glory; thy might declare;
661. watch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee
662. if thou bidest the battle with bold-won life."
663. THEN Hrothgar went with his hero-train,
664. defence-of-Scyldings, forth from hall;
665. fain would the war-lord Wealhtheow seek,
666. couch of his queen. The King-of-Glory
667. against this Grendel a guard had set,
668. so heroes heard, a hall-defender,
669. who warded the monarch and watched for the monster.
670. In truth, the Geats' prince gladly trusted
671. his mettle, his might, the mercy of God!
672. Cast off then his corselet of iron,
673. helmet from head; to his henchman gave,—
674. choicest of weapons,—the well-chased sword,
675. bidding him guard the gear of battle.
676. Spake then his Vaunt the valiant man,
677. Beowulf Geat, ere the bed be sought:—
678. "Of force in fight no feebler I count me,
679. in grim war-deeds, than Grendel deems him.
680. Not with the sword, then, to sleep of death
681. his life will I give, though it lie in my power.
682. No skill is his to strike against me,
683. my shield to hew though he hardy be,
684. bold in battle; we both, this night,
685. shall spurn the sword, if he seek me here,
686. unweaponed, for war. Let wisest God,
687. sacred Lord, on which side soever
688. doom decree as he deemeth right."
689. Reclined then the chieftain, and cheek-pillows held
690. the head of the earl, while all about him
691. seamen hardy on hall-beds sank.
692. None of them thought that thence their steps
693. to the folk and fastness that fostered them,
694. to the land they loved, would lead them back!
695. Full well they wist that on warriors many
696. battle-death seized, in the banquet-hall,
697. of Danish clan. But comfort and help,
698. war-weal weaving, to Weder folk
699. the Master gave, that, by might of one,
700. over their enemy all prevailed,
701. by single strength. In sooth 'tis told
702. that highest God o'er human kind
703. hath wielded ever!—Thro' wan night striding,
704. came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept
705. whose hest was to guard the gabled hall,—
706. all save one. 'Twas widely known
707. that against God's will the ghostly ravager
708. him1 could not hurl to haunts of darkness;
709. wakeful, ready, with warrior's wrath,
710. bold he bided the battle's issue.
711. THEN from the moorland, by misty crags,
712. with God's wrath laden, Grendel came.
713. The monster was minded of mankind now
714. sundry to seize in the stately house.
715. Under welkin he walked, till the wine-palace there,
716. gold-hall of men, he gladly discerned,
717. flashing with fretwork. Not first time, this,
718. that he the home of Hrothgar sought,—
719. yet ne'er in his life-day, late or early,
720. such hardy heroes, such hall-thanes, found!
721. To the house the warrior walked apace,
722. parted from peace;1 the portal opened,
723. though with forged bolts fast, when his fists had struck it,
724. and baleful he burst in his blatant rage,
725. the house's mouth. All hastily, then,
726. o'er fair-paved floor the fiend trod on,
727. ireful he strode; there streamed from his eyes
728. fearful flashes, like flame to see.
729. He spied in hall the hero-band,
730. kin and clansmen clustered asleep,
731. hardy liegemen. Then laughed his heart;
732. for the monster was minded, ere morn should dawn,
733. savage, to sever the soul of each,
734. life from body, since lusty banquet
735. waited his will! But Wyrd forbade him
736. to seize any more of men on earth
737. after that evening. Eagerly watched
738. Hygelac's kinsman his cursed foe,
739. how he would fare in fell attack.
740. Not that the monster was minded to pause!
741. Straightway he seized a sleeping warrior
742. for the first, and tore him fiercely asunder,
743. the bone-frame bit, drank blood in streams,
744. swallowed him piecemeal: swiftly thus
745. the lifeless corse was clear devoured,
746. e'en feet and hands. Then farther he hied;
747. for the hardy hero with hand he grasped,
748. felt for the foe with fiendish claw,
749. for the hero reclining,—who clutched it boldly,
750. prompt to answer, propped on his arm.
751. Soon then saw that shepherd-of-evils
752. that never he met in this middle-world,
753. in the ways of earth, another wight
754. with heavier hand-gripe; at heart he feared,
755. sorrowed in soul,—none the sooner escaped!
756. Fain would he flee, his fastness seek,
757. the den of devils: no doings now
758. such as oft he had done in days of old!
759. Then bethought him the hardy Hygelac-thane
760. of his boast at evening: up he bounded,
761. grasped firm his foe, whose fingers cracked.
762. The fiend made off, but the earl close followed.
763. The monster meant—if he might at all—
764. to fling himself free, and far away
765. fly to the fens,—knew his fingers' power
766. in the gripe of the grim one. Gruesome march
767. to Heorot this monster of harm had made!
768. Din filled the room; the Danes were bereft,
769. castle-dwellers and clansmen all,
770. earls, of their ale. Angry were both
771. those savage hall-guards: the house resounded.
772. Wonder it was the wine-hall firm
773. in the strain of their struggle stood, to earth
774. the fair house fell not; too fast it was
775. within and without by its iron bands
776. craftily clamped; though there crashed from sill
777. many a mead-bench—men have told me—
778. gay with gold, where the grim foes wrestled.
779. So well had weened the wisest Scyldings
780. that not ever at all might any man
781. that bone-decked, brave house break asunder,
782. crush by craft,—unless clasp of fire
783. in smoke engulfed it.—Again uprose
784. din redoubled. Danes of the North
785. with fear and frenzy were filled, each one,
786. who from the wall that wailing heard,
787. God's foe sounding his grisly song,
788. cry of the conquered, clamorous pain
789. from captive of hell. Too closely held him
790. he who of men in might was strongest
791. in that same day of this our life.
792. NOT in any wise would the earls'-defence1
793. suffer that slaughterous stranger to live,
794. useless deeming his days and years
795. to men on earth. Now many an earl
796. of Beowulf brandished blade ancestral,
797. fain the life of their lord to shield,
798. their praised prince, if power were theirs;
799. never they knew,—as they neared the foe,
800. hardy-hearted heroes of war,
801. aiming their swords on every side
802. the accursed to kill,—no keenest blade,
803. no farest of falchions fashioned on earth,
804. could harm or hurt that hideous fiend!
805. He was safe, by his spells, from sword of battle,
806. from edge of iron. Yet his end and parting
807. on that same day of this our life
808. woful should be, and his wandering soul
809. far off flit to the fiends' domain.
810. Soon he found, who in former days,
811. harmful in heart and hated of God,
812. on many a man such murder wrought,
813. that the frame of his body failed him now.
814. For him the keen-souled kinsman of Hygelac
815. held in hand; hateful alive
816. was each to other. The outlaw dire
817. took mortal hurt; a mighty wound
818. showed on his shoulder, and sinews cracked,
819. and the bone-frame burst. To Beowulf now
820. the glory was given, and Grendel thence
821. death-sick his den in the dark moor sought,
822. noisome abode: he knew too well
823. that here was the last of life, an end
824. of his days on earth.—To all the Danes
825. by that bloody battle the boon had come.
826. From ravage had rescued the roving stranger
827. Hrothgar's hall; the hardy and wise one
828. had purged it anew. His night-work pleased him,
829. his deed and its honor. To Eastern Danes
830. had the valiant Geat his vaunt made good,
831. all their sorrow and ills assuaged,
832. their bale of battle borne so long,
833. and all the dole they erst endured
834. pain a-plenty.—'Twas proof of this,
835. when the hardy-in-fight a hand laid down,
836. arm and shoulder,—all, indeed,
837. of Grendel's gripe,—'neath the gabled roof·
838. MANY at morning, as men have told me,
839. warriors gathered the gift-hall round,
840. folk-leaders faring from far and near,
841. o'er wide-stretched ways, the wonder to view,
842. trace of the traitor. Not troublous seemed
843. the enemy's end to any man
844. who saw by the gait of the graceless foe
845. how the weary-hearted, away from thence,
846. baffled in battle and banned, his steps
847. death-marked dragged to the devils' mere.
848. Bloody the billows were boiling there,
849. turbid the tide of tumbling waves
850. horribly seething, with sword-blood hot,
851. by that doomed one dyed, who in den of the moor
852. laid forlorn his life adown,
853. his heathen soul,-and hell received it.
854. Home then rode the hoary clansmen
855. from that merry journey, and many a youth,
856. on horses white, the hardy warriors,
857. back from the mere. Then Beowulf's glory
858. eager they echoed, and all averred
859. that from sea to sea, or south or north,
860. there was no other in earth's domain,
861. under vault of heaven, more valiant found,
862. of warriors none more worthy to rule!
863. (On their lord beloved they laid no slight,
864. gracious Hrothgar: a good king he!)
865. From time to time, the tried-in-battle
866. their gray steeds set to gallop amain,
867. and ran a race when the road seemed fair.
868. From time to time, a thane of the king,
869. who had made many vaunts, and was mindful of verses,
870. stored with sagas and songs of old,
871. bound word to word in well-knit rime,
872. welded his lay; this warrior soon
873. of Beowulf's quest right cleverly sang,
874. and artfully added an excellent tale,
875. in well-ranged words, of the warlike deeds
876. he had heard in saga of Sigemund.
877. Strange the story: he said it all,—
878. the Waelsing's wanderings wide, his struggles,
879. which never were told to tribes of men,
880. the feuds and the frauds, save to Fitela only,
881. when of these doings he deigned to speak,
882. uncle to nephew; as ever the twain
883. stood side by side in stress of war,
884. and multitude of the monster kind
885. they had felled with their swords. Of Sigemund grew,
886. when he passed from life, no little praise;
887. for the doughty-in-combat a dragon killed
888. that herded the hoard:1 under hoary rock
889. the atheling dared the deed alone
890. fearful quest, nor was Fitela there.
891. Yet so it befell, his falchion pierced
892. that wondrous worm,—on the wall it struck,
893. best blade; the dragon died in its blood.
894. Thus had the dread-one by daring achieved
895. over the ring-hoard to rule at will,
896. himself to pleasure; a sea-boat he loaded,
897. and bore on its bosom the beaming gold,
898. son of Waels; the worm was consumed.
899. He had of all heroes the highest renown
900. among races of men, this refuge-of-warriors,
901. for deeds of daring that decked his name
902. since the hand and heart of Heremod
903. grew slack in battle. He, swiftly banished
904. to mingle with monsters at mercy of foes,
905. to death was betrayed; for torrents of sorrow
906. had lamed him too long; a load of care
907. to earls and athelings all he proved.
908. Oft indeed, in earlier days,
909. for the warrior's wayfaring wise men mourned,
910. who had hoped of him help from harm and bale,
911. and had thought their sovran's son would thrive,
912. follow his father, his folk protect,
913. the hoard and the stronghold, heroes' land,
914. home of Scyldings.—But here, thanes said,
915. the kinsman of Hygelac kinder seemed
916. to all: the other2 was urged to crime!
917. And afresh to the race,3 the fallow roads
918. by swift steeds measured! The morning sun
919. was climbing higher. Clansmen hastened
920. to the high-built hall, those hardy-minded,
921. the wonder to witness. Warden of treasure,
922. crowned with glory, the king himself,
923. with stately band from the bride-bower strode;
924. and with him the queen and her crowd of maidens
925. measured the path to the mead-house fair.
926. HROTHGAR spake,—to the hall he went,
927. stood by the steps, the steep roof saw,
928. garnished with gold, and Grendel's hand:—
929. "For the sight I see to the Sovran Ruler
930. be speedy thanks! A throng of sorrows
931. I have borne from Grendel; but God still works
932. wonder on wonder, the Warden-of-Glory.
933. It was but now that I never more
934. for woes that weighed on me waited help
935. long as I lived, when, laved in blood,
936. stood sword-gore-stained this stateliest house,—
937. widespread woe for wise men all,
938. who had no hope to hinder ever
939. foes infernal and fiendish sprites
940. from havoc in hall. This hero now,
941. by the Wielder's might, a work has done
942. that not all of us erst could ever do
943. by wile and wisdom. Lo, well can she say
944. whoso of women this warrior bore
945. among sons of men, if still she liveth,
946. that the God of the ages was good to her
947. in the birth of her bairn. Now, Beowulf, thee,
948. of heroes best, I shall heartily love
949. as mine own, my son; preserve thou ever
950. this kinship new: thou shalt never lack
951. wealth of the world that I wield as mine!
952. Full oft for less have I largess showered,
953. my precious hoard, on a punier man,
954. less stout in struggle. Thyself hast now
955. fulfilled such deeds, that thy fame shall endure
956. through all the ages. As ever he did,
957. well may the Wielder reward thee still!"
958. Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow:—
959. "This work of war most willingly
960. we have fought, this fight, and fearlessly dared
961. force of the foe. Fain, too, were I
962. hadst thou but seen himself, what time
963. the fiend in his trappings tottered to fall!
964. Swiftly, I thought, in strongest gripe
965. on his bed of death to bind him down,
966. that he in the hent of this hand of mine
967. should breathe his last: but he broke away.
968. Him I might not—the Maker willed not—
969. hinder from flight, and firm enough hold
970. the life-destroyer: too sturdy was he,
971. the ruthless, in running! For rescue, however,
972. he left behind him his hand in pledge,
973. arm and shoulder; nor aught of help
974. could the cursed one thus procure at all.
975. None the longer liveth he, loathsome fiend,
976. sunk in his sins, but sorrow holds him
977. tightly grasped in gripe of anguish,
978. in baleful bonds, where bide he must,
979. evil outlaw, such awful doom
980. as the Mighty Maker shall mete him out."
981. More silent seemed the son of Ecglaf1
982. in boastful speech of his battle-deeds,
983. since athelings all, through the earl's great prowess,
984. beheld that hand, on the high roof gazing,
985. foeman's fingers,—the forepart of each
986. of the sturdy nails to steel was likest,—
987. heathen's "hand-spear," hostile warrior's
988. claw uncanny. 'Twas clear, they said,
989. that him no blade of the brave could touch,
990. how keen soever, or cut away
991. that battle-hand bloody from baneful foe.
992. THERE was hurry and hest in Heorot now
993. for hands to bedeck it, and dense was the throng
994. of men and women the wine-hall to cleanse,
995. the guest-room to garnish. Gold-gay shone the hangings
996. that were wove on the wall, and wonders many
997. to delight each mortal that looks upon them.
998. Though braced within by iron bands,
999. that building bright was broken sorely;1
1000. rent were its hinges; the roof alone
1001. held safe and sound, when, seared with crime,
1002. the fiendish foe his flight essayed,
1003. of life despairing.—No light thing that,
1004. the flight for safety,—essay it who will!
1005. Forced of fate, he shall find his way
1006. to the refuge ready for race of man,
1007. for soul-possessors, and sons of earth;
1008. and there his body on bed of death
1009. shall rest after revel.
1010. Arrived was the hour
1011. when to hall proceeded Healfdene's son:
1012. the king himself would sit to banquet.
1013. Ne'er heard I of host in haughtier throng
1014. more graciously gathered round giver-of-rings!
1015. Bowed then to bench those bearers-of-glory,
1016. fain of the feasting. Featly received
1017. many a mead-cup the mighty-in-spirit,
1018. kinsmen who sat in the sumptuous hall,
1019. Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot now
1020. was filled with friends; the folk of Scyldings
1021. ne'er yet had tried the traitor's deed.
1022. To Beowulf gave the bairn of Healfdene
1023. a gold-wove banner, guerdon of triumph,
1024. broidered battle-flag, breastplate and helmet;
1025. and a splendid sword was seen of many
1026. borne to the brave one. Beowulf took
1027. cup in hall:2 for such costly gifts
1028. he suffered no shame in that soldier throng.
1029. For I heard of few heroes, in heartier mood,
1030. with four such gifts, so fashioned with gold,
1031. on the ale-bench honoring others thus!
1032. O'er the roof of the helmet high, a ridge,
1033. wound with wires, kept ward o'er the head,
1034. lest the relict-of-files3 should fierce invade,
1035. sharp in the strife, when that shielded hero
1036. should go to grapple against his foes.
1037. Then the earls'-defence4 on the floor5 bade lead
1038. coursers eight, with carven head-gear,
1039. adown the hall: one horse was decked
1040. with a saddle all shining and set in jewels;
1041. 'twas the battle-seat of the best of kings,
1042. when to play of swords the son of Healfdene
1043. was fain to fare. Ne'er failed his valor
1044. in the crush of combat when corpses fell.
1045. To Beowulf over them both then gave
1046. the refuge-of-Ingwines right and power,
1047. o'er war-steeds and weapons: wished him joy of them.
1048. Manfully thus the mighty prince,
1049. hoard-guard for heroes, that hard fight repaid
1050. with steeds and treasures contemned by none
1051. who is willing to say the sooth aright.
1052. AND the lord of earls, to each that came
1053. with Beowulf over the briny ways,
1054. an heirloom there at the ale-bench gave,
1055. precious gift; and the price1 bade pay
1056. in gold for him whom Grendel erst
1057. murdered,—and fain of them more had killed,
1058. had not wisest God their Wyrd averted,
1059. and the man's2 brave mood. The Maker then
1060. ruled human kind, as here and now.
1061. Therefore is insight always best,
1062. and forethought of mind. How much awaits him
1063. of lief and of loath, who long time here,
1064. through days of warfare this world endures!
1065. Then song and music mingled sounds
1066. in the presence of Healfdene's head-of-armies3
1067. and harping was heard with the hero-lay
1068. as Hrothgar's singer the hall-joy woke
1069. along the mead-seats, making his song
1070. of that sudden raid on the sons of Finn.4
1071. Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding,
1072. was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter.5
1073. Hildeburh needed not hold in value
1074. her enemies' honor!6 Innocent both
1075. were the loved ones she lost at the linden-play,
1076. bairn and brother, they bowed to fate,
1077. stricken by spears; 'twas a sorrowful woman!
1078. None doubted why the daughter of Hoc
1079. bewailed her doom when dawning came,
1080. and under the sky she saw them lying,
1081. kinsmen murdered, where most she had kenned
1082. of the sweets of the world! By war were swept, too,
1083. Finn's own liegemen, and few were left;
1084. in the parleying-place7 he could ply no longer
1085. weapon, nor war could he wage on Hengest,
1086. and rescue his remnant by right of arms
1087. from the prince's thane. A pact he offered:
1088. another dwelling the Danes should have,
1089. hall and high-seat, and half the power
1090. should fall to them in Frisian land;
1091. and at the fee-gifts, Folcwald's son
1092. day by day the Danes should honor,
1093. the folk of Hengest favor with rings,
1094. even as truly, with treasure and jewels,
1095. with fretted gold, as his Frisian kin
1096. he meant to honor in ale-hall there.
1097. Pact of peace they plighted further
1098. on both sides firmly. Finn to Hengest
1099. with oath, upon honor, openly promised
1100. that woful remnant, with wise-men's aid,
1101. nobly to govern, so none of the guests
1102. by word or work should warp the treaty,8
1103. or with malice of mind bemoan themselves
1104. as forced to follow their fee-giver's slayer,
1105. lordless men, as their lot ordained.
1106. Should Frisian, moreover, with foeman's taunt,
1107. that murderous hatred to mind recall,
1108. then edge of the sword must seal his doom.
1109. Oaths were given, and ancient gold
1110. heaped from hoard.—The hardy Scylding,
1111. battle-thane best,9 on his balefire lay.
1112. All on the pyre were plain to see
1113. the gory sark, the gilded swine-crest,
1114. boar of hard iron, and athelings many
1115. slain by the sword: at the slaughter they fell.
1116. It was Hildeburh's hest, at Hnaef's own pyre
1117. the bairn of her body on brands to lay,
1118. his bones to burn, on the balefire placed,
1119. at his uncle's side. In sorrowful dirges
1120. bewept them the woman: great wailing ascended.
1121. Then wound up to welkin the wildest of death-fires,
1122. roared o'er the hillock:10 heads all were melted,
1123. gashes burst, and blood gushed out
1124. from bites11 of the body. Balefire devoured,
1125. greediest spirit, those spared not by war
1126. out of either folk: their flower was gone.
1127. THEN hastened those heroes their home to see,
1128. friendless, to find the Frisian land,
1129. houses and high burg. Hengest still
1130. through the death-dyed winter dwelt with Finn,
1131. holding pact, yet of home he minded,
1132. though powerless his ring-decked prow to drive
1133. over the waters, now waves rolled fierce
1134. lashed by the winds, or winter locked them
1135. in icy fetters. Then fared another
1136. year to men's dwellings, as yet they do,
1137. the sunbright skies, that their season ever
1138. duly await. Far off winter was driven;
1139. fair lay earth's breast; and fain was the rover,
1140. the guest, to depart, though more gladly he pondered
1141. on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep,
1142. and how to hasten the hot encounter
1143. where sons of the Frisians were sure to be.
1144. So he escaped not the common doom,
1145. when Hun with "Lafing," the light-of-battle,
1146. best of blades, his bosom pierced:
1147. its edge was famed with the Frisian earls.
1148. On fierce-heart Finn there fell likewise,
1149. on himself at home, the horrid sword-death;
1150. for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack
1151. had sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed,
1152. mourning their woes.1 Finn's wavering spirit
1153. bode not in breast. The burg was reddened
1154. with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain,
1155. king amid clansmen; the queen was taken.
1156. To their ship the Scylding warriors bore
1157. all the chattels the chieftain owned,
1158. whatever they found in Finn's domain
1159. of gems and jewels. The gentle wife
1160. o'er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore,
1161. led to her land.
1162. The lay was finished,
1163. the gleeman's song. Then glad rose the revel;
1164. bench-joy brightened. Bearers draw
1165. from their "wonder-vats" wine. Comes Wealhtheow forth,
1166. under gold-crown goes where the good pair sit,
1167. uncle and nephew, true each to the other one,
1168. kindred in amity. Unferth the spokesman
1169. at the Scylding lord's feet sat: men had faith in his spirit,
1170. his keenness of courage, though kinsmen had found him
1171. unsure at the sword-play. The Scylding queen spoke:
1172. "Quaff of this cup, my king and lord,
1173. breaker of rings, and blithe be thou,
1174. gold-friend of men; to the Geats here speak
1175. such words of mildness as man should use.
1176. Be glad with thy Geats; of those gifts be mindful,
1177. or near or far, which now thou hast.
1178. Men say to me, as son thou wishest
1179. yon hero to hold. Thy Heorot purged,
1180. jewel-hall brightest, enjoy while thou canst,
1181. with many a largess; and leave to thy kin
1182. folk and realm when forth thou goest
1183. to greet thy doom. For gracious I deem
1184. my Hrothulf,2 willing to hold and rule
1185. nobly our youths, if thou yield up first,
1186. prince of Scyldings, thy part in the world.
1187. I ween with good he will well requite
1188. offspring of ours, when all he minds
1189. that for him we did in his helpless days
1190. of gift and grace to gain him honor!"
1191. Then she turned to the seat where her sons were placed,
1192. Hrethric and Hrothmund, with heroes' bairns,
1193. young men together: the Geat, too, sat there,
1194. Beowulf brave, the brothers between.
1195. A CUP she gave him, with kindly greeting
1196. and winsome words. Of wounden gold,
1197. she offered, to honor him, arm-jewels twain,
1198. corselet and rings, and of collars the noblest
1199. that ever I knew the earth around.
1200. Ne'er heard I so mighty, 'neath heaven's dome,
1201. a hoard-gem of heroes, since Hama bore
1202. to his bright-built burg the Brisings' necklace,
1203. jewel and gem casket.—Jealousy fled he,
1204. Eormenric's hate: chose help eternal.
1205. Hygelac Geat, grandson of Swerting,
1206. on the last of his raids this ring bore with him,
1207. under his banner the booty defending,
1208. the war-spoil warding; but Wyrd o'erwhelmed him
1209. what time, in his daring, dangers he sought,
1210. feud with Frisians. Fairest of gems
1211. he bore with him over the beaker-of-waves,
1212. sovran strong: under shield he died.
1213. Fell the corpse of the king into keeping of Franks,
1214. gear of the breast, and that gorgeous ring;
1215. weaker warriors won the spoil,
1216. after gripe of battle, from Geatland's lord,
1217. and held the death-field.
1218. Din rose in hall.
1219. Wealhtheow spake amid warriors, and said:—
1220. "This jewel enjoy in thy jocund youth,
1221. Beowulf lov'd, these battle-weeds wear,
1222. a royal treasure, and richly thrive!
1223. Preserve thy strength, and these striplings here
1224. counsel in kindness: requital be mine.
1225. Hast done such deeds, that for days to come
1226. thou art famed among folk both far and near,
1227. so wide as washeth the wave of Ocean
1228. his windy walls. Through the ways of life
1229. prosper, O prince! I pray for thee
1230. rich possessions. To son of mine
1231. be helpful in deed and uphold his joys!
1232. Here every earl to the other is true,
1233. mild of mood, to the master loyal!
1234. Thanes are friendly, the throng obedient,
1235. liegemen are revelling: list and obey!"
1236. Went then to her place.—That was proudest of feasts;
1237. flowed wine for the warriors. Wyrd they knew not,
1238. destiny dire, and the doom to be seen
1239. by many an earl when eve should come,
1240. and Hrothgar homeward hasten away,
1241. royal, to rest. The room was guarded
1242. by an army of earls, as erst was done.
1243. They bared the bench-boards; abroad they spread
1244. beds and bolsters.—One beer-carouser
1245. in danger of doom lay down in the hall.—
1246. At their heads they set their shields of war,
1247. bucklers bright; on the bench were there
1248. over each atheling, easy to see,
1249. the high battle-helmet, the haughty spear,
1250. the corselet of rings. 'Twas their custom so
1251. ever to be for battle prepared,
1252. at home, or harrying, which it were,
1253. even as oft as evil threatened
1254. their sovran king.—They were clansmen good.
Part 1B: Grendel's Mum (1255-2209):
1255. THEN sank they to sleep. With sorrow one bought
1256. his rest of the evening,—as ofttime had happened
1257. when Grendel guarded that golden hall,
1258. evil wrought, till his end drew nigh,
1259. slaughter for sins. 'Twas seen and told
1260. how an avenger survived the fiend,
1261. as was learned afar. The livelong time
1262. after that grim fight, Grendel's mother,
1263. monster of women, mourned her woe.
1264. She was doomed to dwell in the dreary waters,
1265. cold sea-courses, since Cain cut down
1266. with edge of the sword his only brother,
1267. his father's offspring: outlawed he fled,
1268. marked with murder, from men's delights
1269. warded the wilds.—There woke from him
1270. such fate-sent ghosts as Grendel, who,
1271. war-wolf horrid, at Heorot found
1272. a warrior watching and waiting the fray,
1273. with whom the grisly one grappled amain.
1274. But the man remembered his mighty power,
1275. the glorious gift that God had sent him,
1276. in his Maker's mercy put his trust
1277. for comfort and help: so he conquered the foe,
1278. felled the fiend, who fled abject,
1279. reft of joy, to the realms of death,
1280. mankind's foe. And his mother now,
1281. gloomy and grim, would go that quest
1282. of sorrow, the death of her son to avenge.
1283. To Heorot came she, where helmeted Danes
1284. slept in the hall. Too soon came back
1285. old ills of the earls, when in she burst,
1286. the mother of Grendel. Less grim, though, that terror,
1287. e'en as terror of woman in war is less,
1288. might of maid, than of men in arms
1289. when, hammer-forged, the falchion hard,
1290. sword gore-stained, through swine of the helm,
1291. crested, with keen blade carves amain.
1292. Then was in hall the hard-edge drawn,
1293. the swords on the settles,1 and shields a-many
1294. firm held in hand: nor helmet minded
1295. nor harness of mail, whom that horror seized.
1296. Haste was hers; she would hie afar
1297. and save her life when the liegemen saw her.
1298. Yet a single atheling up she seized
1299. fast and firm, as she fled to the moor.
1300. He was for Hrothgar of heroes the dearest,
1301. of trusty vassals betwixt the seas,
1302. whom she killed on his couch, a clansman famous,
1303. in battle brave.—Nor was Beowulf there;
1304. another house had been held apart,
1305. after giving of gold, for the Geat renowned.—
1306. Uproar filled Heorot; the hand all had viewed,
1307. blood-flecked, she bore with her; bale was returned,
1308. dole in the dwellings: 'twas dire exchange
1309. where Dane and Geat were doomed to give
1310. the lives of loved ones. Long-tried king,
1311. the hoary hero, at heart was sad
1312. when he knew his noble no more lived,
1313. and dead indeed was his dearest thane.
1314. To his bower was Beowulf brought in haste,
1315. dauntless victor. As daylight broke,
1316. along with his earls the atheling lord,
1317. with his clansmen, came where the king abode
1318. waiting to see if the Wielder-of-All
1319. would turn this tale of trouble and woe.
1320. Strode o'er floor the famed-in-strife,
1321. with his hand-companions,—the hall resounded,—
1322. wishing to greet the wise old king,
1323. Ingwines' lord; he asked if the night
1324. had passed in peace to the prince's mind.
1325. HROTHGAR spake, helmet-of-Scyldings:—
1326. "Ask not of pleasure! Pain is renewed
1327. to Danish folk. Dead is Aeschere,
1328. of Yrmenlaf the elder brother,
1329. my sage adviser and stay in council,
1330. shoulder-comrade in stress of fight
1331. when warriors clashed and we warded our heads,
1332. hewed the helm-boars; hero famed
1333. should be every earl as Aeschere was!
1334. But here in Heorot a hand hath slain him
1335. of wandering death-sprite. I wot not whither,1
1336. proud of the prey, her path she took,
1337. fain of her fill. The feud she avenged
1338. that yesternight, unyieldingly,
1339. Grendel in grimmest grasp thou killedst,—
1340. seeing how long these liegemen mine
1341. he ruined and ravaged. Reft of life,
1342. in arms he fell. Now another comes,
1343. keen and cruel, her kin to avenge,
1344. faring far in feud of blood:
1345. so that many a thane shall think, who e'er
1346. sorrows in soul for that sharer of rings,
1347. this is hardest of heart-bales. The hand lies low
1348. that once was willing each wish to please.
1349. Land-dwellers here2 and liegemen mine,
1350. who house by those parts, I have heard relate
1351. that such a pair they have sometimes seen,
1352. march-stalkers mighty the moorland haunting,
1353. wandering spirits: one of them seemed,
1354. so far as my folk could fairly judge,
1355. of womankind; and one, accursed,
1356. in man's guise trod the misery-track
1357. of exile, though huger than human bulk.
1358. Grendel in days long gone they named him,
1359. folk of the land; his father they knew not,
1360. nor any brood that was born to him
1361. of treacherous spirits. Untrod is their home;
1362. by wolf-cliffs haunt they and windy headlands,
1363. fenways fearful, where flows the stream
1364. from mountains gliding to gloom of the rocks,
1365. underground flood. Not far is it hence
1366. in measure of miles that the mere expands,
1367. and o'er it the frost-bound forest hanging,
1368. sturdily rooted, shadows the wave.
1369. By night is a wonder weird to see,
1370. fire on the waters. So wise lived none
1371. of the sons of men, to search those depths!
1372. Nay, though the heath-rover, harried by dogs,
1373. the horn-proud hart, this holt should seek,
1374. long distance driven, his dear life first
1375. on the brink he yields ere he brave the plunge
1376. to hide his head: 'tis no happy place!
1377. Thence the welter of waters washes up
1378. wan to welkin when winds bestir
1379. evil storms, and air grows dusk,
1380. and the heavens weep. Now is help once more
1381. with thee alone! The land thou knowst not,
1382. place of fear, where thou findest out
1383. that sin-flecked being. Seek if thou dare!
1384. I will reward thee, for waging this fight,
1385. with ancient treasure, as erst I did,
1386. with winding gold, if thou winnest back."
1387. BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow:
1388. "Sorrow not, sage! It beseems us better
1389. friends to avenge than fruitlessly mourn them.
1390. Each of us all must his end abide
1391. in the ways of the world; so win who may
1392. glory ere death! When his days are told,
1393. that is the warrior's worthiest doom.
1394. Rise, O realm-warder! Ride we anon,
1395. and mark the trail of the mother of Grendel.
1396. No harbor shall hide her—heed my promise!—
1397. enfolding of field or forested mountain
1398. or floor of the flood, let her flee where she will!
1399. But thou this day endure in patience,
1400. as I ween thou wilt, thy woes each one."
1401. Leaped up the graybeard: God he thanked,
1402. mighty Lord, for the man's brave words.
1403. For Hrothgar soon a horse was saddled
1404. wave-maned steed. The sovran wise
1405. stately rode on; his shield-armed men
1406. followed in force. The footprints led
1407. along the woodland, widely seen,
1408. a path o'er the plain, where she passed, and trod
1409. the murky moor; of men-at-arms
1410. she bore the bravest and best one, dead,
1411. him who with Hrothgar the homestead ruled.
1412. On then went the atheling-born
1413. o'er stone-cliffs steep and strait defiles,
1414. narrow passes and unknown ways,
1415. headlands sheer, and the haunts of the Nicors.
1416. Foremost he1 fared, a few at his side
1417. of the wiser men, the ways to scan,
1418. till he found in a flash the forested hill
1419. hanging over the hoary rock,
1420. a woful wood: the waves below
1421. were dyed in blood. The Danish men
1422. had sorrow of soul, and for Scyldings all,
1423. for many a hero, 'twas hard to bear,
1424. ill for earls, when Aeschere's head
1425. they found by the flood on the foreland there.
1426. Waves were welling, the warriors saw,
1427. hot with blood; but the horn sang oft
1428. battle-song bold. The band sat down,
1429. and watched on the water worm-like things,
1430. sea-dragons strange that sounded the deep,
1431. and nicors that lay on the ledge of the ness—
1432. such as oft essay at hour of morn
1433. on the road-of-sails their ruthless quest,—
1434. and sea-snakes and monsters. These started away,
1435. swollen and savage that song to hear,
1436. that war-horn's blast. The warden of Geats,
1437. with bolt from bow, then balked of life,
1438. of wave-work, one monster, amid its heart
1439. went the keen war-shaft; in water it seemed
1440. less doughty in swimming whom death had seized.
1441. Swift on the billows, with boar-spears well
1442. hooked and barbed, it was hard beset,
1443. done to death and dragged on the headland,
1444. wave-roamer wondrous. Warriors viewed
1445. the grisly guest.
1446. Then girt him Beowulf
1447. in martial mail, nor mourned for his life.
1448. His breastplate broad and bright of hues,
1449. woven by hand, should the waters try;
1450. well could it ward the warrior's body
1451. that battle should break on his breast in vain
1452. nor harm his heart by the hand of a foe.
1453. And the helmet white that his head protected
1454. was destined to dare the deeps of the flood,
1455. through wave-whirl win: 'twas wound with chains,
1456. decked with gold, as in days of yore
1457. the weapon-smith worked it wondrously,
1458. with swine-forms set it, that swords nowise,
1459. brandished in battle, could bite that helm.
1460. Nor was that the meanest of mighty helps
1461. which Hrothgar's orator offered at need:
1462. "Hrunting" they named the hilted sword,
1463. of old-time heirlooms easily first;
1464. iron was its edge, all etched with poison,
1465. with battle-blood hardened, nor blenched it at fight
1466. in hero's hand who held it ever,
1467. on paths of peril prepared to go
1468. to folkstead2 of foes. Not first time this
1469. it was destined to do a daring task.
1470. For he bore not in mind, the bairn of Ecglaf
1471. sturdy and strong, that speech he had made,
1472. drunk with wine, now this weapon he lent
1473. to a stouter swordsman. Himself, though, durst not
1474. under welter of waters wager his life
1475. as loyal liegeman. So lost he his glory,
1476. honor of earls. With the other not so,
1477. who girded him now for the grim encounter.
1478. BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow:—
1479. "Have mind, thou honored offspring of Healfdene
1480. gold-friend of men, now I go on this quest,
1481. sovran wise, what once was said:
1482. if in thy cause it came that I
1483. should lose my life, thou wouldst loyal bide
1484. to me, though fallen, in father's place!
1485. Be guardian, thou, to this group of my thanes,
1486. my warrior-friends, if War should seize me;
1487. and the goodly gifts thou gavest me,
1488. Hrothgar beloved, to Hygelac send!
1489. Geatland's king may ken by the gold,
1490. Hrethel's son see, when he stares at the treasure,
1491. that I got me a friend for goodness famed,
1492. and joyed while I could in my jewel-bestower.
1493. And let Unferth wield this wondrous sword,
1494. earl far-honored, this heirloom precious,
1495. hard of edge: with Hrunting I
1496. seek doom of glory, or Death shall take me."
1497. After these words the Weder-Geat lord
1498. boldly hastened, biding never
1499. answer at all: the ocean floods
1500. closed o'er the hero. Long while of the day
1501. fled ere he felt the floor of the sea.
1502. Soon found the fiend who the flood-domain
1503. sword-hungry held these hundred winters,
1504. greedy and grim, that some guest from above,
1505. some man, was raiding her monster-realm.
1506. She grasped out for him with grisly claws,
1507. and the warrior seized; yet scathed she not
1508. his body hale; the breastplate hindered,
1509. as she strove to shatter the sark of war,
1510. the linked harness, with loathsome hand.
1511. Then bore this brine-wolf, when bottom she touched,
1512. the lord of rings to the lair she haunted
1513. whiles vainly he strove, though his valor held,
1514. weapon to wield against wondrous monsters
1515. that sore beset him; sea-beasts many
1516. tried with fierce tusks to tear his mail,
1517. and swarmed on the stranger. But soon he marked
1518. he was now in some hall, he knew not which,
1519. where water never could work him harm,
1520. nor through the roof could reach him ever
1521. fangs of the flood. Firelight he saw,
1522. beams of a blaze that brightly shone.
1523. Then the warrior was ware of that wolf-of-the-deep,
1524. mere-wife monstrous. For mighty stroke
1525. he swung his blade, and the blow withheld not.
1526. Then sang on her head that seemly blade
1527. its war-song wild. But the warrior found
1528. the light-of-battle1 was loath to bite,
1529. to harm the heart: its hard edge failed
1530. the noble at need, yet had known of old
1531. strife hand to hand, and had helmets cloven,
1532. doomed men's fighting-gear. First time, this,
1533. for the gleaming blade that its glory fell.
1534. Firm still stood, nor failed in valor,
1535. heedful of high deeds, Hygelac's kinsman;
1536. flung away fretted sword, featly jewelled,
1537. the angry earl; on earth it lay
1538. steel-edged and stiff. His strength he trusted,
1539. hand-gripe of might. So man shall do
1540. whenever in war he weens to earn him
1541. lasting fame, nor fears for his life!
1542. Seized then by shoulder, shrank not from combat,
1543. the Geatish war-prince Grendel's mother.
1544. Flung then the fierce one, filled with wrath,
1545. his deadly foe, that she fell to ground.
1546. Swift on her part she paid him back
1547. with grisly grasp, and grappled with him.
1548. Spent with struggle, stumbled the warrior,
1549. fiercest of fighting-men, fell adown.
1550. On the hall-guest she hurled herself, hent her short sword,
1551. broad and brown-edged,2 the bairn to avenge,
1552. the sole-born son.—On his shoulder lay
1553. braided breast-mail, barring death,
1554. withstanding entrance of edge or blade.
1555. Life would have ended for Ecgtheow's son,
1556. under wide earth for that earl of Geats,
1557. had his armor of war not aided him,
1558. battle-net hard, and holy God
1559. wielded the victory, wisest Maker.
1560. The Lord of Heaven allowed his cause;
1561. and easily rose the earl erect.
1562. 'MID the battle-gear saw he a blade triumphant,
1563. old-sword of Eotens, with edge of proof,
1564. warriors' heirloom, weapon unmatched,
1565. —save only 'twas more than other men
1566. to bandy-of-battle could bear at all—
1567. as the giants had wrought it, ready and keen.
1568. Seized then its chain-hilt the Scyldings' chieftain,
1569. bold and battle-grim, brandished the sword,
1570. reckless of life, and so wrathfully smote
1571. that it gripped her neck and grasped her hard,
1572. her bone-rings breaking: the blade pierced through
1573. that fated-one's flesh: to floor she sank.
1574. Bloody the blade: he was blithe of his deed.
1575. Then blazed forth light. 'Twas bright within
1576. as when from the sky there shines unclouded
1577. heaven's candle. The hall he scanned.
1578. By the wall then went he; his weapon raised
1579. high by its hilts the Hygelac-thane,
1580. angry and eager. That edge was not useless
1581. to the warrior now. He wished with speed
1582. Grendel to guerdon for grim raids many,
1583. for the war he waged on Western-Danes
1584. oftener far than an only time,
1585. when of Hrothgar's hearth-companions
1586. he slew in slumber, in sleep devoured,
1587. fifteen men of the folk of Danes,
1588. and as many others outward bore,
1589. his horrible prey. Well paid for that
1590. the wrathful prince! For now prone he saw
1591. Grendel stretched there, spent with war,
1592. spoiled of life, so scathed had left him
1593. Heorot's battle. The body sprang far
1594. when after death it endured the blow,
1595. sword-stroke savage, that severed its head.
1596. Soon,1 then, saw the sage companions
1597. who waited with Hrothgar, watching the flood,
1598. that the tossing waters turbid grew,
1599. blood-stained the mere. Old men together,
1600. hoary-haired, of the hero spake;
1601. the warrior would not, they weened, again,
1602. proud of conquest, come to seek
1603. their mighty master. To many it seemed
1604. the wolf-of-the-waves had won his life.
1605. The ninth hour came. The noble Scyldings
1606. left the headland; homeward went
1607. the gold-friend of men.2 But the guests sat on,
1608. stared at the surges, sick in heart,
1609. and wished, yet weened not, their winsome lord
1610. again to see.
1611. Now that sword began,
1612. from blood of the fight, in battle-droppings,3
1613. war-blade, to wane: 'twas a wondrous thing
1614. that all of it melted as ice is wont
1615. when frosty fetters the Father loosens,
1616. unwinds the wave-bonds, wielding all
1617. seasons and times: the true God he!
1618. Nor took from that dwelling the duke of the Geats
1619. precious things, though a plenty he saw,
1620. save only the head and that hilt withal
1621. blazoned with jewels: the blade had melted,
1622. burned was the bright sword, her blood was so hot,
1623. so poisoned the hell-sprite who perished within there.
1624. Soon he was swimming who safe saw in combat
1625. downfall of demons; up-dove through the flood.
1626. The clashing waters were cleansed now,
1627. waste of waves, where the wandering fiend
1628. her life-days left and this lapsing world.
1629. Swam then to strand the sailors'-refuge,
1630. sturdy-in-spirit, of sea-booty glad,
1631. of burden brave he bore with him.
1632. Went then to greet him, and God they thanked,
1633. the thane-band choice of their chieftain blithe,
1634. that safe and sound they could see him again.
1635. Soon from the hardy one helmet and armor
1636. deftly they doffed: now drowsed the mere,
1637. water 'neath welkin, with war-blood stained.
1638. Forth they fared by the footpaths thence,
1639. merry at heart the highways measured,
1640. well-known roads. Courageous men
1641. carried the head from the cliff by the sea,
1642. an arduous task for all the band,
1643. the firm in fight, since four were needed
1644. on the shaft-of-slaughter4 strenuously
1645. to bear to the gold-hall Grendel's head.
1646. So presently to the palace there
1647. foemen fearless, fourteen Geats,
1648. marching came. Their master-of-clan
1649. mighty amid them the meadow-ways trod.
1650. Strode then within the sovran thane
1651. fearless in fight, of fame renowned,
1652. hardy hero, Hrothgar to greet.
1653. And next by the hair into hall was borne
1654. Grendel's head, where the henchmen were drinking,
1655. an awe to clan and queen alike,
1656. a monster of marvel: the men looked on.
1657. BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow:—
1658. "Lo, now, this sea-booty, son of Healfdene,
1659. Lord of Scyldings, we've lustily brought thee,
1660. sign of glory; thou seest it here.
1661. Not lightly did I with my life escape!
1662. In war under water this work I essayed
1663. with endless effort; and even so
1664. my strength had been lost had the Lord not shielded me.
1665. Not a whit could I with Hrunting do
1666. in work of war, though the weapon is good;
1667. yet a sword the Sovran of Men vouchsafed me
1668. to spy on the wall there, in splendor hanging,
1669. old, gigantic,—how oft He guides
1670. the friendless wight!—and I fought with that brand,
1671. felling in fight, since fate was with me,
1672. the house's wardens. That war-sword then
1673. all burned, bright blade, when the blood gushed o'er it,
1674. battle-sweat hot; but the hilt I brought back
1675. from my foes. So avenged I their fiendish deeds
1676. death-fall of Danes, as was due and right.
1677. And this is my hest, that in Heorot now
1678. safe thou canst sleep with thy soldier band,
1679. and every thane of all thy folk
1680. both old and young; no evil fear,
1681. Scyldings' lord, from that side again,
1682. aught ill for thy earls, as erst thou must!"
1683. Then the golden hilt, for that gray-haired leader,
1684. hoary hero, in hand was laid,
1685. giant-wrought, old. So owned and enjoyed it
1686. after downfall of devils, the Danish lord,
1687. wonder-smiths' work, since the world was rid
1688. of that grim-souled fiend, the foe of God,
1689. murder-marked, and his mother as well.
1690. Now it passed into power of the people's king,
1691. best of all that the oceans bound
1692. who have scattered their gold o'er Scandia's isle.
1693. Hrothgar spake—the hilt he viewed,
1694. heirloom old, where was etched the rise
1695. of that far-off fight when the floods o'erwhelmed,
1696. raging waves, the race of giants
1697. (fearful their fate!), a folk estranged
1698. from God Eternal: whence guerdon due
1699. in that waste of waters the Wielder paid them.
1700. So on the guard of shining gold
1701. in runic staves it was rightly said
1702. for whom the serpent-traced sword was wrought,
1703. best of blades, in bygone days,
1704. and the hilt well wound.—The wise-one spake,
1705. son of Healfdene; silent were all:—
1706. "Lo, so may he say who sooth and right
1707. follows 'mid folk, of far times mindful,
1708. a land-warden old,1 that this earl belongs
1709. to the better breed! So, borne aloft,
1710. thy fame must fly, O frie