From The Oldest English Epic :  Beowulf, Finnsburg, Waldere, Deor, Widsith, and the German Hildebrand, Translated in the Original Metres with Introduction and Notes by Francis B. Gummere, New York :  The Macmillan Company, 1923 ;  pp. 79-107.

CHAPTER I

BEOWULF

[Part IV]

XIX

     Then sank they to sleep.  With sorrow one bought
his rest of the evening, — as ofttime had happened
when Grendel guarded that golden hall,
evil wrought, till his end drew nigh,
1255slaughter for sins.  ’Twas seen and told
how an avenger survived the fiend,
as was learned afar.  The livelong time¹
after that grim fight, Grendel’s mother,
monster of women, mourned her woe.
1260She was doomed to dwell in the dreary waters,
cold sea-courses, since Cain cut down
with edge of the sword his only brother,
his father’s offspring :  outlawed he fled,
marked with murder, from men’s delights,
1265warded the wilds. — There woke from him²
such fate-sent ghosts as Grendel, who,
war-wolf horrid, at Heorot found
a warrior watching and waiting the fray,
with whom the grisly one grappled amain.
1270But the man remembered his mighty power,
the glorious gift that God had sent him,
80 in his Maker’s mercy put his trust
for comfort and help :  so he conquered the foe,
felled the fiend, who fled abject,
1275reft of joy, to the realms of death,
mankind’s foe.  And his mother now,
gloomy and grim, would go that quest
of sorrow, the death of her son to avenge.
To Heorot came she, where helmeted Danes
1280slept in the hall.  Too soon came back
old ills of the earls, when in she burst,
the mother of Grendel.  Less grim, though, that terror,
e’en as terror of woman in war is less,
might of maid, than of men in arms
1285when, hammer-forgéd, the falchion hard,
sword gore-stained, through swine of the helm,
crested, with keen blade carves amain.
Then was in hall the hard-edge drawn,
the swords on the settles³ and shields a-many
1290firm held in hand :  nor helmet minded
nor harness of mail, whom that horror seized.
     Haste was hers ;  she would hie afar
and save her life when the liegemen saw her.
Yet a single atheling up she seized
1295fast and firm, as she fled to the moor.
He was for Hrothgar of heroes the dearest,
of trusty vassals betwixt the seas,
whom she killed on his couch, a clansman famous,
in battle brave. — Nor was Beowulf there ;
1300another house had been held apart,
after giving of gold, for the Geat renowned. —
81 Uproar filled Heorot ;  the hand all had viewed,
blood-flecked, she bore with her ;  bale was returned,
dole in the dwellings :  ’twas dire exchange
1305where Dane and Geat were doomed to give
the lives of loved ones.  Long-tried king,
the hoary hero, at heart was sad
when he knew his noble no more lived,
and dead indeed was his dearest thane.
1310To his bower was Beowulf brought in haste,
dauntless victor.  As daylight broke,
along with his earls the atheling lord,
with his clansmen, came, where the king abode
waiting to see if the Wielder-of-All
1315would turn this tale of trouble and woe.
Strode o’er floor the famed-in-strife,
with his hand-companions, — the hall resounded, —
wishing to greet the wise old king,
Ingwines’ lord ;  he asked if the night
1320had passed in peace to the prince’s mind.

XX

Hrothgar spake, helmet-of-Scyldings : —
“Ask not of pleasure !  Pain is renewed
to Danish folk.  Dead is Æschere,
of Yrmenlaf the elder brother,
1325my sage adviser and stay in council,
shoulder-comrade⁴ in stress of fight
when warriors clashed and we warded our heads,
82 hewed the helm-boars :  hero famed
should be every earl as Æschere was !
1330But here in Heorot a hand hath slain him
of wandering death-sprite.  I wot not whither,⁵
proud of her prey, her path she took,
fain of her fill.  The feud she avenged
that yesternight, unyieldingly,
1335Grendel in grimmest grasp thou killedst, —
seeing how long these liegemen mine
he ruined and ravaged.  Reft of life,
in arms he fell.  Now another comes,
keen and cruel, her kin to avenge,
1340faring far in feud of blood :
so that many a thane shall think, who e’er
sorrows in soul for that sharer of rings,
this is hardest of heart-bales.  The hand lies low
that once was willing each wish to please.
1345Land-dwellers here⁶ and liegemen mine,
who house by those parts,⁷ I have heard relate
that such a pair they have sometimes seen,
march-stalkers mighty the moorland haunting,
wandering spirits :  one of them seemed,
1350so far as my folk could fairly judge,
of womankind ;  and one, accursed,
in man’s guise trod the misery-track
83 of exile, though huger than human bulk.
Grendel in days long gone they named him,
1355folk of the land ;  his father they knew not,
nor any brood that was born to him
of treacherous spirits.  Untrod is their home ;⁸
by wolf-cliffs haunt they and windy headlands,
fenways fearful, where flows the stream
1360from mountains gliding to gloom of the rocks,
underground flood.⁹  Not far is it hence
84 in measure of miles that the mere expands,
and o’er it the frost-bound forest hanging,
sturdily rooted, shadows the wave.
1365By night is a wonder weird to see,
fire on the waters.  So wise lived none
of the sons of men, to search those depths !
Nay, though the heath-rover,¹⁰ harried by dogs,
the horn-proud hart, this holt should seek,
1370long distance driven, his dear life first
on the brink he yields ere he brave the plunge
to hide his head :  ’tis no happy place !
Thence the welter of waters washes up
wan to welkin when winds bestir
1375evil storms, and air grows dusk,
and the heavens weep.  Now is help once more
with thee alone !  The land thou knowest not,¹¹
place of fear, where thou findest out
that sin-flecked being.  Seek if thou dare !
1380I will reward thee, for waging this fight,
with ancient treasure, as erst I did,
with winding gold, if thou winnest back.”
85

XXI

Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow :
“Sorrow not, sage !  It beseems us better
1385friends to avenge than fruitlessly mourn them.
Each of us all must his end abide
in the ways of the world ;  so win who may
glory ere death !  When his days are told,
that is the warrior’s worthiest doom.
1390Rise, O realm-warder !  Ride we anon,
and mark the trail of the mother of Grendel.
No harbor shall hide her — heed my promise ! —
enfolding of field or forested mountain
or floor of the flood, let her flee where she will !
1395But thou this day endure in patience,
as I ween thou wilt, thy woes each one.”
Leaped up the graybeard :  God be thanked,
mighty Lord, for the man’s brave words.
For Hrothgar soon a horse was saddled
1400wave-maned steed.  The sovran wise
stately rode on ;  his shield-armed men
followed in force.  The footprints led
along this woodland, widely seen,
a path o’er the plain, where she passed, and trod
1405the murky moor ;  of men-at-arms
she bore the bravest and best one, dead,
him who with Hrothgar the homestead ruled.
     On then went the atheling-born
o’er stone-cliffs steep and straight defiles
1410narrow passes and unknown ways,
headlands sheer, and the haunts of the Nicors.
Foremost he¹² fared, a few at his side
86 of the wiser men, the ways to scan,
till he found in a flash the forested hill
1415hanging over the hoary rock,
a woful wood :  the waves below
were dyed in blood.  The Danish men
had sorrow of soul, and for Scyldings all,
for many a hero, ’twas hard to bear,
1420ill for earls, when Æschere’s head
they found by the flood on the foreland there.
Waves were welling, the warriors saw,
hot with blood ;  but the horn sang oft
battle-song bold.  The band set down
1425and watched on the water worm-like things,
sea-dragons strange that sounded the deep,
and nicors that lay on the ledge of the ness —
such as oft essay at hour of morn¹³
on the road-of-sails their ruthless quest, —
1430and sea-snakes and monsters.  These started away,
swollen and savage that song to hear,
that war-horn’s blast.  The warden of Geats,
with bolt from bow, then balked of life,
of wave-work, one monster ;  amid its heart
1435went the keen war-shaft ;  in water it seemed
less doughty in swimming whom death had seized.
Swift on the billow, with boar-spears well
hooked and barbed, it was hard beset,
done to death and dragged on the headland,
1440wave-roamer wondrous.  Warriors viewed
the grisly guest.
                                       Then girt him Beowulf
in martial mall, nor mourned for his life.
87 His breastplate broad and bright of hues,
woven by hand, should the waters try ;
1445well could it ward the warrior’s body
that battle should break on his breast in vain
nor harm his heart by the hand of a foe.
And the helmet white that his head protected
was destined to dare the deeps of the flood,
1450through wave-whirl win :  ’twas wound with chains,
decked with gold, as in days of yore
the weapon-smith worked it wondrously,
with swine-forms set it, that swords nowise,
brandished in battle, could bite that helm.
1455Nor was that the meanest of mighty helps
which Hrothgar’s orator¹⁴ offered at need :
“Hrunting” they named the hilted sword,
of old-time heirlooms easily first ;
iron was its edge, all etched with poison,
1460with battle-blood hardened, nor blenched it at fight
in hero’s hand who held it ever,
on paths of peril prepared to go
to folkstead¹⁵ of foes.  Not first time this
88 it was destined to do a daring task.
1465For he bore not in mind, the bairn of Ecglaf
sturdy and strong, that speech he had made,
drunk with wine, now this weapon he lent
to a stouter swordsman.  Himself, though, durst not
under welter of waters wager his life
1470as loyal liegeman.  So lost he his glory,
honor of earls.  With the other not so,
who girded him now for the grim encounter.

XXII

Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow : —
“Have mind, thou honoured offspring of Healfdene,
1475gold-friend of men, now I go on this quest,
sovran wise, what once was said:
if in thy cause it came that I
should lose my life, thou wouldst loyal bide
to me, though fallen, in father’s place !
1480Be guardian, thou, to this group of my thanes,
my warrior-friends, if War should seize me ;
and the goodly gifts thou gavest me,
Hrothgar beloved, to Hygelac send !¹⁶
Geatland’s king may ken by the gold,
1485Hrethel’s son see, when he stares at the treasure,
that I got me a friend for goodness famed,
and joyed while I could in my jewel-bestower.
And let Unferth wield this wondrous sword,¹⁷
earl far-honored, this heirloom precious,
89 1490hard of edge :  with Hrunting I
seek doom of glory, or Death shall take me.”

After these words the Weder-Geat lord
boldly hastened, biding never
answer at all :  and ocean floods
1495closed o’er the hero.  Long while¹⁸ of the day
fled ere he felt the floor of the sea.
Soon found the fiend who the flood-domain
sword-hungry held these hundred winters,
greedy and grim, that some guest from above,
1500some man, was raiding her monster-realm.
She grasped out for him with grisly claws,¹⁹
and the warrior seized ;  yet scathed she not
his body hale ;  the breastplate hindered,
as she strove to shatter the sark of war,
1505the linkéd harness, with loathsome hand.
Then bore this brine-wolf, when bottom she²⁰ touched,
the lord of rings to the lair she haunted,
whiles vainly he strove, though his valor held,
weapon to wield against wondrous monsters
1510that sore beset him ;  sea-beasts many
tried with fierce tusks to tear his mail,
and swarmed on the stranger.  But soon he marked
he was now in some hall, he knew not which,
where water never could work him harm,
1515nor through the roof could reach him ever
fangs of the flood.  Firelight he saw,
beams of a blaze that brightly shone.
90 Then²¹ the warrior was ware of that wolf-of-the-deep,
mere-wife monstrous.  For mighty stroke
1520he swung his blade, and the blow withheld not.
Then sang on her head that seemly blade
its war-song wild.  But the warrior found
the light-of-battle²² was loath to bite,
to harm the heart :  its hard edge failed
1525the noble at need, yet had known of old
strife hand to hand, and had helmets cloven,
doomed men’s fighting-gear.  First time, this,
for the gleaming blade that its glory fell.
     Firm still stood, nor failed in valor,
1530heedful of high deeds, Hygelac’s kinsman ;
flung away fretted sword, featly jewelled,
that angry earl ;  on earth it lay
steel-edged and stiff.  His strength he trusted,
hand-gripe of might.  So man shall do
1535whenever in war he weens to earn him
lasting fame, nor fears for his life !
Seized then by shoulder,²³ shrank not from combat,
the Geatish war-prince Grendel’s mother.
Flung then the fierce one, filled with wrath,
91 1540his deadly foe, that she fell to ground.
Swift on her part she paid him back
with grisly grasp, and grappled with him.
Spent with struggle, stumbled the warrior,
fiercest of fighting-men, fell adown.
1545On the hall-guest she hurled herself, hent her short sword,
broad and brown-edged,²⁴ the bairn to avenge,
the sole-born son. — On his shoulder lay
braided breast-mail, barring death,
withstanding entrance of edge or blade.
1550Life would have ended for Ecgtheow’s son,
under wide earth for that earl of Geats,
had his armor of war not aided him,
battle-net hard, and holy God
wielded the victory, wisest Maker.
1555The Lord of Heaven allowed his cause ;
and easily rose the earl erect.

XXIII

’Mid the battle-gear saw he a blade triumphant,
old-sword of Eotens, with edge of proof,
warriors’ heirloom, weapon unmatched,
1560— save only ’twas more than other men
to bandy-of-battle could bear at all —
as the giants had wrought it, ready and keen.
Seized then its chain-hilt the Scyldings’ chieftain,
bold and battle-grim, brandished the sword,
1565reckless of life, and so wrathfully smote
92 that it gripped her neck and grasped her hard,
her bone-rings breaking :  the blade pierced through
that fated-one’s flesh :  to floor she sank.
Bloody the blade :  he was blithe of his deed.
1570Then blazed forth light.  ’Twas bright within
as when from the sky there shines unclouded
heaven’s candle.  The hall he scanned.
By the wall then went he ;  his weapon raised
high by its hilts the Hygelac-thane
1575angry and eager.  That edge was not useless
to the warrior now.  He wished with speed
Grendel to guerdon for grim raids many,
for the war he waged on Western-Danes
oftener far than an only time,²⁵
1580when of Horthgar’s hearth-companions
he slew in slumber, in sleep devoured,
fifteen men of the folk of Danes,
and as many others outward bore,
his horrible prey.  Well paid for that
1585the wrathful prince !  For now prone he saw
Grendel stretched there, spent with war,
spoiled of life, so scathed had left him
Heorot’s battle.  The body sprang far
when after death it endured the blow,
1590sword-stroke savage, that severed its head.
93      Soon,²⁶ then, saw the sage companions
who waited with Hrothgar, watching the flood,
that the tossing waters turbid grew,
blood-stained the mere.  Old men together,
1595hoary-haired, of the hero spake ;
the warrior would not, they weened, again,
proud of conquest, come to seek
their mighty master.  To many it seemed
the wolf-of-the-waves had won his life,
1600The ninth hour²⁷ came.  The noble Scyldings
left the headland ;  homeward went
the gold-friend of men.²⁸  But the guests sat on,
stared at the surges, sick in heart,
and wished, yet weened not, their winsome lord
1605again to see.
                                 Now that sword began,
from blood of the fight, in battle-droppings,²⁹
war-blade, to wane :  ’twas a wondrous thing
that all of it melted as ice is wont
when frosty fetters the Father loosens,
1610unwinds the wave-bonds, wielding all
seasons and times :  the true God he !
     Nor took from that dwelling the duke of the Geats
precious things, though a plenty he saw,
save only the head and that hilt withal
1615blazoned with jewels :  the blade had melted,
burned was the bright sword, her blood was so hot,
94 so poisoned the hell-sprite who perished within there,
Soon he was swimming who safe saw in combat
downfall of demons ;  up-dove through the flood.
1620The clashing waters were cleanséd now,
waste of waves, where the wandering fiend
her life-days left and this lapsing world.
Swam then to strand the sailors’-refuge,
sturdy-in-spirit, of sea-booty glad,
1625of burden brave he bore with him.
Went then to greet him, and God they thanked,
the thane-band choice of their chieftain blithe,
that safe and sound they could see him again.
Soon from the hardy one helmet and armor
1630deftly they doffed :  now drowsed the mere,
water ’neath welkin, with war-blood stained.
     Forth they fared by the foot-paths thence,
merry at heart the highways measured,
well-known roads.  Courageous men
1635carried the head from the cliff by the sea,
an arduous task for all the band,
the firm in fight, since four were needed
on the shaft-of-slaughter³⁰ strenuously
to bear to the gold-hall Grendel’s head.
1640So presently to the palace there
foemen fearless, fourteen Geats,
marching came.  Their master-of-clan
mighty amid them the meadow-ways trod.
Strode³¹ then within the sovran thane
1645fearless in fight, of fame renowned,
hardy hero, Hrothgar to greet.
And next by the hair into hall was borne
95 Grendel’s head, where the henchmen were drinking,
an awe to clan and queen alike,
1650a monster of marvel :  the men looked on.

XXIV

Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow : —
“Lo, now, this sea-booty, son of Healfdene,
Lord of Scyldings, we’ve lustily brought thee,
sign of glory ;  thou seest it here.
1655Not lightly did I with my life escape !
In war under water this work I essayed
with endless effort ;  and even so
my strength had been lost had the Lord not shielded me.
Not a whit could I with Hrunting do
1660in work of war, though the weapon is good ;  
yet a sword the Sovran of Men vouchsafed me
to spy on the wall there, in splendor hanging,
old, gigantic, — how oft He guides
the friendless wight ! — and I fought with that brand,
1665felling in fight, since fate was with me,
the house’s wardens.  That war-sword then
all burned, bright blade, when the blood gushed o’er it,
battle-sweat hot ;  but the hilt I brought back
from my foes.  So avenged I their fiendish deeds,
1670death-fall of Danes, as was due and right.
And this is my hest, that in Heorot now
safe thou canst sleep with thy soldier band,
and every thane of all thy folk
both old and young ;  no evil fear,
1675Scyldings’ lord, from that side again,
96 aught ill for thy earls, as erst thou must !”
Then the golden hilt, for that gray-haired leader,
hoary hero, in hand was laid,
giant-wrought, old.  So owned and enjoyed it
1680after downfall of devils, the Danish lord,
wonder-smith’s work, since the world was rid
of that grim-souled fiend, the foe of God,
murder-marked, and his mother as well.
Now it passed into power of the people’s king,
1685best of all that the oceans bound
who have scattered their gold o’er Scandia’s isle.
Hrothgar spake — the hilt he viewed,
heirloom old, where was etched the rise
of that far-off fight when the floods o’erwhelmed,
1690raging waves, the race of giants
(fearful their fate !), a folk estranged
from God Eternal :  whence guerdon due
in that waste of waters the Wielder paid them.
So on the guard of shining gold
1695in runic staves it was rightly said
for whom³² the serpent-traced sword was wrought,
best of blades, in bygone days,
and the hilt well wound. — The wise-one spake,
son of Healfdene ;  silent were all : —
1700     “Lo, so may he say who sooth and right
follows ’mid folk, of far times mindful,
a land-warden old,³³ that this earl belongs
97 to the better breed !  So, borne aloft,
thy fame must fly, O friend my Beowulf,
1705far and wide o’er folksteads many.  Firmly thou shalt
          all maintain,³⁴
mighty strength with mood of wisdom.  Love of
          mine will I assure thee,
as, awhile ago, I promised; thou shalt prove a stay
          in future,
in far-off years, to folk of thine,
to the heroes a help.  Was not Heremod³⁵ thus
1710to offspring of Ecgwela, Honor-Scyldings,
nor grew for their grace, but for grisly slaughter,
for doom of death to the Danishmen.
He slew, wrath-swollen, his shoulder-comrades,
companions at board !  So he passed alone,
1715chieftain haughty, from human cheer.
Though him the Maker with might endowed,
delights of power, and uplifted high
above all men, yet blood-fierce his mind,
his breast-hoard, grew ;  no bracelets gave he
1720to Danes as was due ;  he endured all joyless
strain of struggle and stress of woe,
long feud with his folk.  Here find thy lesson !
Of virtue advise thee !  This verse³⁶ I have said for thee,
wise from lapsed winters.  Wondrous seems
1725how to sons of men Almighty God
98 in the strength of His spirit sendeth wisdom,
estate, high station :  He swayeth all things.
Whiles He letteth right lustily fare
the heart of the hero of high-born race, —
1730in seat ancestral assigns him bliss,
his folk’s sure fortress in fee to hold,
puts in his power great parts of the earth,
empire so ample, that end of it
this wanter-of-wisdom weeneth none.
1735So he waxes in wealth ;  nowise can harm him
illness or age ;  no evil cares
shadow his spirit ;  no sword-hate threatens
from ever an enemy :  all the world
wends at his will ;  no worse he knoweth
1740till all within him obstinate pride
waxes and wakes while the warden slumbers,
the spirit’s sentry ;  sleep is too fast
which masters his might, and the murderer nears,
stealthily shooting the shafts from his bow !

XXV

1745“Under harness his heart then is hit indeed
by sharpest shafts ;  and no shelter avails
from foul behest of the hellish fiend.³⁷
Him seems too little what long he possessed.
Greedy and grim, no golden rings
99 1750he gives for his pride ;  the promised future
forgets he and spurns, with all God has sent him,
Wonder-Wielder, of wealth and fame.
Yet in the end it ever comes
that the frame of the body fragile yields,
1755fatéd falls ;  and there follows another
who joyously the jewels divides,³⁸
the royal riches, nor recks of his forebear.
Ban, then, such baleful thoughts, Beowulf dearest,
best of men, and the better part choose,
1760profit eternal ;  and temper thy pride,
warrior famous !  The flower of thy might
lasts now a while :  but erelong it shall be
that sickness or sword thy strength shall minish,
or fang of fire, or flooding billow,
1765or bite of blade, or brandished spear,
or odious age ;  or the eyes’ clear beam
wax dull and darken :  Death even thee
in haste shall o’erwhelm, thou hero of war !
So the Ring-Danes these half-years a hundred I ruled,
1770wielded ’neath welkin, and warded them bravely
from mighty-ones many o’er middle-earth,
from spear and sword, till it seemed for me
no foe could be found under fold of the sky.
Lo, sudden the shift !  To me seated secure
1775came grief for joy when Grendel began
to harry my home, the hellish foe ;
for those ruthless raids, unresting I suffered
100 heart-sorrow heavy.  Heaven be thanked
Lord Eternal, for life extended
1780that I on this head all hewn and bloody,
after long evil, with eyes may gaze !
— Go to the bench now !  Be glad at banquet,
warrior worthy !  A wealth of treasure
at dawn of day, be dealt between us !”
1785     Glad was the Geats’ lord, going betimes
to seek his seat, as the Sage commanded.
Afresh, as before, for the famed-in-battle,
for the band of the hall, was a banquet dight
nobly anew.  The Night-Helm darkened
1790dusk o’er the drinkers.
                                                      The doughty ones rose :
for the hoary-headed would hasten to rest,
agéd Scylding ;  and eager the Geat,
shield-fighter sturdy, for sleeping yearned.
Him wander-weary, warrior-guest
1795from far, a hall-thane heralded forth,
who by custom courtly cared for all
needs of a thane as in those old days
warrior-wanderers wont to have.
So slumbered the stout-heart.  Stately the hall
1800rose gabled and gilt where the guest slept on
till a raven black the rapture-of-heaven³⁹
blithe-heart boded.  Bright came flying
shine after shadow.  The swordsmen hastened,
athelings all were eager homeward
1805forth to fare ;  and far from thence
101 the great-hearted guest would guide his keel.
     Bade then the hardy-one Hrunting be brought
to the son of Ecglaf, the sword bade him take,
excellent iron, and uttered his thanks for it,
1810quoth that he counted it keen in battle,
“war-friend” winsome :  with words he slandered not
edge of the blade :  ’twas a big-hearted man !⁴⁰
Now eager for parting and armed at point
warriors waited, while went to his host
1815that Darling of Danes.  The doughty atheling
to high-seat hastened and Hrothgar greeted.

XXVI

     Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow : —
“Lo, we seafarers say our will,
far-come men, that we fain would seek
1820Hygelac now.  We here have found
hosts to our heart :  thou hast harbored us well.
If ever on earth I am able to win me
102 more of thy love, O lord of men,
aught anew, than I now have done,
1825for work of war I am willing still !
If it come to me ever across the seas
that neighbor foemen annoy and fright thee, —
as they that hate thee erewhile have used, —
thousands then of thanes I shall bring,
1830heroes to help thee.  Of Hygelac I know,
ward of his folk, that, though few his years,
the lord of the Geats will give me aid
by word and by work, that well I may serve thee,
wielding the war-wood to win thy triumph
1835and lending thee might when thou lackest men.
If thy Hrethric should come to court of Geats,⁴¹
a sovran’s son, he will surely there
find his friends.  A far-off land
each man should visit who vaunts him brave.”
1840     Him then answering, Hrothgar spake : —
“These words of thine the wisest God
sent to thy soul !  No sager counsel
from so young in years e’er yet have I heard.
Thou art strong of main and in mind art wary,
1845art wise in words !  I ween indeed
if ever it hap that Hrethel’s heir⁴²
by spear be seized, by sword-grim battle,
103 by illness or iron,⁴³ thine elder and lord,
people’s leader, — and life be thine, —
1850no seemlier man will the Sea-Geats find
at all to choose for their chief and king,
for hoard-guard of heroes, if hold thou wilt
thy kindsman’s kingdom !  Thy keen mind pleases me
the longer the better, Beowulf loved !
1855Thou hast brought it about that both our peoples,
sons of the Geat and Spear-Dane folk,
shall have mutual peace, and from murderous strife,
such as once they waged, from war refrain.
Long as I rule this realm so wide,
1860let our hoards be common, let heroes with gold
each other greet o’er the gannet’s-bath,
and the ringed-prow bear o’er rolling waves
tokens of love.  I trow my landfolk
towards friend and foe are firmly joined,
1865and honor they keep in the olden way.”
     To him in the hall, then, Healfdene’s son
gave treasures twelve, and the trust-of-earls
bade him fare with the gifts to his folk beloved,
hale to his home, and in haste return.
1870Then kissed the king of kin renowned,
Scyldings’ chieftain, that choicest thane,
and fell on his neck.  Fast flowed the tears
of the hoary-headed.  Heavy with winters,
he had chances twain, but he clung to this,⁴⁴ —
104 1875that each should look on the other again,
and hear him in hall.  Was this hero so dear to him,
his breast’s wild billows he banned in vain ;
safe in his soul a secret longing.
locked⁴⁵ in his mind, for that lovéd man
1880burned in his blood.  Then Beowulf strode,
glad of his gold-gifts, the grass-plot o’er,
warrior blithe.  The wave-roamer bode
riding at anchor, its owner awaiting.
As they hastened onward, Hrothgar’s gift
1885they lauded at length. — ’Twas a lord unpeered,
every way blameless, till age had broken
— it spareth no mortal — his splendid might.

XXVII

Came now to ocean the ever-courageous
hardy henchmen, their harness bearing,
1890woven war-sarks.  The warden marked,
trusty as ever, the earl’s return.
From the height of the hill no hostile words
reached the guests as he rode to greet them ;
but “Welcome !”  he called to that Weder clan
1895as the sheen-mailed spoilers to ship marched on.
Then on the strand, with steeds and treasure
and armor their roomy and ring-dight ship
was heavily laden :  high its mast
105 rose over Hrothgar’s hoarded gems.
1900A sword to the boat-guard Beowulf gave,
mounted with gold ;  on the mead-bench since
he was better esteemed, that blade possessing,
heirloom old. — Their ocean-keel boarding,
they drove through the deep, and Daneland left.
1905A sea-cloth was set, a sail with ropes,
firm to the mast ;  the flood-timbers moaned ;⁴⁶
nor did wind over billows that wave-swimmer blow
across from her course.  The craft sped on,
foam-necked it floated forth o’er the waves,
1910keel firm-bound over briny currents,
till they got them sight of the Geatish cliffs,
home-known headlands.  High the boat,
stirred by winds, on the strand updrove.
Helpful at haven the harbor-guard stood,
1915who long already for loved companions
by the water had waited and watched afar.
He bound to the beach the broad-bosomed ship
with anchor-bands, lest ocean-billows
that trusty timber should tear away.
1920Then Beowulf bade them bear the treasure,
gold and jewels ;  no journey far
was it thence to go to the giver of rings,
Hygelac Hrethling :  at home he dwelt
by the sea-wall close, himself and clan.
1925Haughty that house, a hero the king,
high the hall, and Hygd⁴⁷ right young,
106 wise and weary, though winters few
in those fortress walls she had found a home,
Hæreth’s daughter.  Nor humble her ways,
1930nor grudged she gifts to the Geatish men,
of precious treasure.  Not Thryth’s pride showed she,
folk-queen famed, or that fell deceit.
Was none so daring that durst make bold
(save her lord alone) of the leigemen dear
1935that lady full in the face to look,
but forgéd fetters he found his lot,
bonds of death !  And brief the respite ;
soon as they seized him, his sword-doom was spoken,
and the burnished blade a baleful murder
1940proclaimed and closed.  No queenly way
for woman to practise, though peerless she,
that the weaver-of-peace⁴⁸ from warrior dear
107 by wrath and lying his life should reave !
But Hemming’s kinsman⁴⁹ hindered this. —
1945     For over their ale men also told
that of these folk-horrors fewer she wrought,⁵⁰
onslaughts of evil, after she went,
gold-decked bride, to the brave young prince,
atheling haughty, and Offa’s hall
1950o’er the fallow flood at her father’s bidding
safely sought, where since she prospered,
royal, thronéd, rich in goods,
fain of the fair life fate had sent her,
and leal in love to the lord of warriors.
1955He, of all heroes I heard of ever
from sea to sea, of the sons of earth,
most excellent seemed.  Hence⁵¹ Offa was praised
for his fighting and feeing by far-off men,
the spear-bold warrior ;  wisely he ruled
1960over his empire.  Eomer woke to him,
help of heroes, Hemming’s kinsman,
grandson of Garmund,⁵² grim in war.

FOOTNOTES

¹  Müllenhoff so punctuates, and explains that though only twenty-four hours had passed from the time of Grendel’s discomfiture to her quest of revenge, the interval seemed interminable to the waiting monster.  Moreover, by this reading no gap in the Ms. is assumed.

²  See v. 107, above. — “From him are descended,” etc.  This repetition certainly seems vain, and this way of narrative is not our way.

³  They had laid their arms on the benches near where they slept; v. 1242.

⁴  Eaxl-gestealla, “shoulder-comrade,” here refers to the line of battle; but it might include the other qualities of advice and counsel.  Dan Michel in his fourteenth century translation or paraphrase, Ayenbite of Inwyt, calls a councillor bezide-zittere, “beside-sitter.”

⁵  He surmises presently where she is.

⁶  The connection is not difficult.  The words of mourning, of acute grief, are said; and according to Germanic sequence of thought, inexorable here, the next and only topic is revenge.  But is it possible? Hrothgar leads up to his appeal and promise with a skilful and often effective description of the horrors which surround the monster’s home and await the attempt of an avenging foe.  This account is not the thing of shreds and patches which Müllehhoff and ten Brink would make it out.

⁷  Following Gering’s suggestion.

⁸  R. Morris pointed out what seems an imitation of this passage in the Blickling Homilies.

⁹  Compare Kubla Khan : —

“Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
  Through caverns measureless to man,
  Down to a sunless sea.”

It is worth while to compare with this passage another deliberate nature-description in Anglo-Saxon verse, and its Latin model as well.  One sees how it is modified, enlarged, and really improved.  It is the opening of a little poem on Doomsday paraphrased from Latin verses attributed to Beda, — and also to Alcuin

Alone I sat in the shade of a grove,
in the deeps of the holt, bedecked with shadows,
there where the waterbrooks wavered and ran
in the midst of the place, — so I make my song, —
and winsome blooms there waved and blossomed,
all massed amid a meadow peerless.
And the trees of the forest trembled and murmured
for a horror of winds, and the welkin was stirred,
and my heavy heart was harassed amain.
Then I suddenly, sad and fearful,
set me to sing this sorrowful verse. . . . 

This represents five lines of Latin: —

Inter florigeras fecundi cespitis herbas,
flamine ventorum resonantibus undique ramis,
arboris umbriferae maestus sub tegmine solus
dum sedi, subito planctu turbatus amaro,
carmina prae tristi cecini haec lugubria mente. . . . 

It is no long stride hence to the conventional dream-poets, and such openings as are offered by the beginning of the Piers Plowman vision.

¹⁰  Bugge has shown how popular the stag or hart was among the northern folk for names of persons and places — so Hrothgar’s own hall Heorot, or “The Hart” — and for comparisons and the like. — There is a curious note by André Chénier, made in preparation of one of his poems (Œuvres Poétiques, II, 107), about a white animal that prefers to be torn to pieces rather than soil itself by rescue in a miry swamp.  But the strength of the present suggestion lies in its uncompromising contrast of terrors, one with the other.

¹¹  Has been emended to read :  “the land now thou knowest,” that is, “I have described the place :  go thither if you dare.” By the text one understands :  “Here is land unknown to you and horrible.  If you dare, etc.”

¹²  Hrothgar is probably meant.

¹³  Noon? “Mittagsstunde, Geisterstunde.”

¹⁴  Unferth is the thyle (spokesman?) of the king.  Naming a sword furnished the least of its personal attributes in Germanic days.  It had its moods and tenses; “refused” often “to bite” (1523, 2578), or else, on appeal, did miraculous service.  It spoke, sang, chided its inactive owner, spurred even to his duty, as in a fine Danish ballad.  It had its own name, — Hrunting, Nægling.  It had kennings in plenty, — such as the “warrior’s friend” or “friend of war,” vv. 1810, 2735.  It gave out a light, which is not always to be euhemerized into the sparks that flew from it in battle.  The reference in 1459 is to the hardening process of dipping it in poison, snake’s blood, or the like.  “Blood of battle” was especially efficacious for this purpose.  On the other side of the account, it could be made harmless by certain magic forms.  So Beowulf finds, even with this Hrunting or “thruster”; see v. 1522.

¹⁵  Meeting-place.  “Destined” is, in view of the issue, to be understood as “expected,” — it had been sent on other capital errands before.

¹⁶  “Discharge for me,” that is, “my two great obligations :  care for my thanes, and the rendering to my lord of what I have won by my prowess,” — good Germanic ethics.

¹⁷  The sword which Hrothgar gave to Beowulf? Or Beowulf’s own sword which he brought with him?

¹⁸  “An hour of the day,” — Müllenhoff.  Others translate :  “the space of a whole day.”

¹⁹  In the saga of Orm and Grettir, it is a cat-monster with which the hero fights.

²⁰  Or “he”?

²¹  Discrepancies here vex the higher critic; but they are simply somewhat exaggerated traits of structure and style.  The course of the action is not “hopelessly confused.” Beowulf, overwhelmed by the first onset of Grendel’s mother, is dragged to her lair, and on the way is beset by monsters of every kind.  Managing to extricate himself from the coil, he finds he is in a great arched hall, free of the water, and has only the mother of Grendel before him.  He takes good heed of her and prepares his attack.

²²  Kenning for “sword.” Hrunting is bewitched, laid under a spell of uselessness, along with all other swords.  See note above to v. 1455.

²³  Changed by many editions to “hair.” The two sentences here with “then” in each show well the dissected style of our old epic verse.

²⁴  This brown of swords, evidently meaning burnished, bright, continues to be a favorite adjective in the popular ballads.

²⁵  This belittling variation of the “many raids” just mentioned, the solemnity of the favorite litotes, give an enfeebled air to modern English.  The ancient English had other views of poetical style than ours. — The long parenthesis, too, while Beowulf’s sword is uplifted over the dead Grendel, is not to present taste. — The cutting off of the head, as Gering suggests, is to prevent Grendel from visiting his old haunts as a ghost and stirring up new troubles.  He could not be harmed by ordinary swords, as all were conjured; but this old giant blade of the monsters has no spell laid on it.

²⁶  After the killing of the monster and Grendel’s decapitation.

²⁷  Strictly this would be three o’clock in the afternoon; but the close of the day, perhaps the shorter northern day in winter, seems indicted.  Gering translates “evening.”

²⁸  Hrothgar.

²⁹  The blade slowly dissolves in blood-stained drops like icicles.

³⁰  Spear.

³¹  See note to v. 720.

³²  Often the maker put his own name on what he made, and in verse :  “Ek Hlewagastiz Holtingaz horna tawido, runs the inscription on the famous golden horn :  that is, “I, Hlewagast Holting, this horn have made,” — probably the oldest Germanic verse that is preserved.

³³  That is, “whoever has as wide authority as I have and can remember so far back so many instances of heroism, may well say, as I say, that no better hero ever lived than Beowulf.”

³⁴  The three verses are hypermetric in the original.

³⁵  The antitype again :  see above, v. 901.  Heremod is of Hrothgar’s own kingdom; of Ecgwela, a Danish ancestor also, nothing is known.

³⁶  Poetry was a wide word of old, and gid — i.e. “verse” or “poem” — was also used to indicate the oral communications of wisdom (once always in rimed saws, proverbs, and the like) and philosophy.

³⁷  That is, he is now undefended by conscience from the temptations (shafts) of the devil.  This “sermon” of Hrothgar may be “of forty-parson power,” as some one says; but one likes to know what sort of sermon those English of the seventh century preferred.  This one would have pleased Dr. Johnson.  The same allegory is found in the Middle-English Sawles Warde, — that is, conscience, — and in many other places, times, and authors.

³⁸  Note the absumet heres Cœcuba dignior as partly a division of treasure, the right Germanic thing to do, and the hint of revel and profusion in Horace’s vein.

³⁹  Kenning for the sun. — this is a strange rôle for the raven.  He is the warrior’s bird of battle, exults in slaughter and carnage; his joy here is a compliment to the sunrise.

⁴⁰  This is the simplest way to render a disputed passage; but it may not be the right way.  The “hardy-one” here is Beowulf; he returns “Hrunting” in a formal speech, and praises its merits, laying no stress (properly, for enchantment was at work) on its failure to “bite” in the battle with Grendel’s mother.  So the Geat’s courtesy is put in strong relief, and the parting from Unferth is contrasted with the meeting.  Probably there were favorite songs once about Beowulf’s flyting with Unferth, and our amiable Christian poet, who has doubtless softened many of its asperities, now lays stress on the reconciliation.  Klaeber, however, has shown that the philological ways of this interpretation are not smooth.  Moreover, the present to a parting guest was inexorable custom in Germania; and Unferth is only doing his duty when (the passage can be read) he, “the hardy-one,” the son of Ecglaf, orders “Hrunting” to be brought to Beowulf, who accepts it in his customary polite fashion.  Of course, one must suppose that “Hrunting” has been already handed back to its owner, and is now finally presented.

⁴¹  Courteous, dignified, smoothly phrased, this leave-taking speech is admirable. — The custom of sending one’s son to serve and live in other noble families was maintained in England down to relatively modern times.  The concluding sententia admirably balances advantage of travel with the dangers of those who go far from the protection of their own kin.

⁴²  Hygelac. — The involutions and variations of this period — high compliment — are characteristic of all formal speeches in the epic.

⁴³  Compare for this combination of abstract and concrete, Genesis, v. 2296:

When from thy heart hunger or wolf
soul and body at the same time tears.

So, also, “battling and bulwarks,” v. 2323, below.

⁴⁴  That is, he might or might not see Beowulf again.  Old as he was, the latter chance was likely; but he clung to the former, hoping to see his young friend again “and exchange brave words in the hall.”

⁴⁵  The Anglo-Saxon gnomic poems insist on this secrecy of thought.  When a man speaks or sings, “he unlocks the word-hoard.” The advice of secrecy is emphasized for exiles and kinless men, as witness The Wanderer, v. 11:

                                                    Sooth I know,
in every earl ’tis an excellent trait
that he bar and bind his breast amain,
keep fast this thought-treasure, — and think as he will.

⁴⁶  With the speed of the boat.

⁴⁷  Queen to Hygelac.  She is praised by contrast with the antitype, Thryth, just as Beowulf was praised by contrast with Heremod.  The slight insertion of a negative in the text of v. 1932, made by Schücking, Englische Studien, xxxix, 108 f., seems a most happy solution of the problem presented by this passage.  The old emendation, —

                                                      But Thrytho proved,
folk-queen fearsome, fell and cruel . . .

was rejected by recent editors because Thrytho is not a likely form of the name.  Reading as the translation reads, one has a most likely bit of praise by negative, in the usual manner of this poet, for Hygd, who did not show the cruelty and haughtiness of Thryth, the legendary wife of Offa, king of the Continental Angles.  With her legend is perhaps mingled a reference to the Anglo-Saxon queen of the Mercian Offa, Cynethryth.  She died in 795, and is too late for the original version of the Beowulf, if those considerations have weight which are urged against a date for the original version later than the seventh century.  See, however, Stevenson’s note to Asser’s Alfred, Capp. 14, 15, and p. 206, where the tale of Eadburh, daughter of Offa of Mercia, is told to explain why Wessex folk disliked the name of “queen.” — Thryth belongs to that well-known family of obstreperous maids who riot and rage until tamed by the right man.  In no case can the description apply to Hygd, who is called “very young.” — There is some reason for thinking that The Banished Wife’s Complaint, an Anglo-Saxon lyric, is based on the story of Offa.

⁴⁸  Kenning for “wife.”

⁴⁹  Eomer, as below (conjecturally), v. 1960; or, as Gering suggests, Offa himself.

⁵⁰  Litotes for “ceased altogether.” — Offa is praised in the Widsith lay, v. 38.

⁵¹  See the ideal of a good king at the opening of the poem.

⁵²  The genealogy of the Mercian Offa makes his ancestral Anglian namesake, Offa, the son of Wœrmund.