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. 107-139.
XXVIII
Hastened the hardy one, henchmen with him,
sandy strand of the sea to tread
1965and widespread ways. The world’s great candle,
sun shone from the south. They strode along
108
with sturdy steps to the spot they knew
where the battle-king young, his burg within,
slayer of Ongentheow,1 shared the rings,
1970shelter-of-heroes. To Hygelac
Beowulf’s coming was quickly told, —
that there in the court the clansmen’s refuge,
the shield-companion sound and alive,
hale from the hero-play homeward strode.
1975With haste in the hall, by highest order,
room for the rovers was readily made.
By his sovran he sat, come safe from battle,
kinsman by kinsman. His kindly lord
he first had greeted in gracious form,
1980with manly words. The mead dispensing,
came through the high hall Hæreth’s daughter,
winsome to warriors, wine-cup bore
to the hands of the heroes. Hygelac then
his comrade fairly with question plied
1985in the lofty hall, sore longing to know
what manner of sojourn the Sea-Geats made.
“What came of thy quest, my kinsman Beowulf,
when thy yearnings suddenly swept thee yonder
battle to seek o’er the briny sea,
1990combat in Heorot ? Hrothgar couldst thou
aid at all, the honored chief,
in his wide-known woes ? With waves of care
my sad heart seethed; I sore mistrusted
my loved one’s venture : long I begged thee
1995by no means to seek that slaughtering monster,
109
but suffer the South-Danes to settle their feud
themselves with Grendel. Now God be thanked
that safe and sound I can see thee now !”
Beowwulf spake, the bairn of Ecgtheow : —
2000“ ’Tis known and unhidden, Hygelac Lord,
to many men, that meeting of ours,
struggle grim between Grendel and me,
which we fought on the field where full too many
sorrows he wrought for the Scylding-Victors,
2005evils unending. These all I avenged.
No boast can be from breed of Grendel,
any on earth, flor that uproar at dawn,2
from the longest-lived of the loathsome race
in fleshly fold ! — But first I went
2010Hrothgar to greet in the hall of gifts,
where Healfdene’s kinsman high-renowned,
soon as my purpose was plain to him,
assigned me a seat by his son and heir.
The liegemen were lusty ; my life-days never
2015such merry men over mead in hall
have I heard under heaven ! The high-born queen,
people’s peace-bringer, passed through the hall,
cheered the young clansmen, clasps of gold,
ere she sought her seat, to sundry gave.
2020Oft to the heroes Hrothgar’s daughter,
to earls in turn, the ale-cup tendered, —
she whom I heard these hall-companions
Freawaru name, when fretted gold
she proffered the warriors. Promised is she,
110
2025gold-decked maid, to the glad son of Froda.
Sage this seems to the Scyldings’-friend,
kingdom’s-keeper : he counts it wise
the woman to wed so and ward off feud,
store of slaughter. But seldom ever
2030when men are slain, does the murder-spear sink
but briefest while, though the bride be fair !3
”Nor haply will like it the Heathobard lord,
and as little each of his liegemen all,
when a thane of the Danes, in that doughty throng,
2035goes with the lady along their hall,
and on him the old-time heirlooms glisten
hard and rink-decked, Heathobard’s treasure,
weapons that once they wielded fair
until they lost at the linden-play4
111
2040liegeman leal and their lives as well.
Then, over the ale, on this heirloom gazing,
some ash-wielder old5 who has all in mind
that spear-death of men,6 — he is stern of mood,
heavy at heart, — in the hero young
2045tests the temper and tries the soul
and war-hate wakens, with words like these : —
Canst thou not, comrade, ken that sword
which to the fray thy father carried
in his final feud, ’neath the fighting-mask,
2050dearest of blades, when the Danish slew him,
and wielded the war-place on Withergild’s fall,7
after havoc of heroes, those hardy Scyldings ?
Now, the son of a certain slaughtering Dane,
proud of his treasure, paces this hall,
20joys in the killing, and carries the jewel8
that rightfully ought to be owned by thee !
Thus he urges and eggs him all the time
with keenest words, till occasion offers
that Frewaru’s thane, for his father’s deed,
20after bit of brand in his blood must slumber,
112
losing his life ; but that liegeman flies
living away, for the land he kens.
And thus be broken on both their sides
oaths of the earls, when Ingeld’s breast
2065wells with war-hate, and wife-love now
after the care-billows cooler grows.
“So9 I hold not high the Heathobards’ faith
due to the Danes, or their during love
and pact of peace. — But I pass from that
2070turning to Grendel, O giver-of-treasure,
and saying in full how the fight resulted,
hand-fray of heroes. When heaven’s jewel
had fled o’er the far fields, that fierce sprite came,
night-foe savage, to seek us out
2075where safe and sound we sentried the hall.
To Hondscio then was that harassing deadly,
his fall there was fated. He first was slain,
girded warrior. Grendel on him
turned murderous mouth, on our mighty kinsman,
2080and all of the brave man’s body devoured.
Yet none the earlier, empty-handed,
would the bloody-toothed murderer, mindful of bale,
outward go from the gold-decked hall :
but me he attacked in his terror of might,
2085with greedy hand grasped me. A glove hung by him10
113
wide and wondrous, wound with bands ;
and in artful wise it all was wrought,
by devilish craft, of dragon-skins.
Me therein, an innocent man,
2090the fiendish foe was fain to thrust
with many another. He might not so,
when I all angrily upright stood.
’Twere long to relate how that land-destroyer
I paid in kind for his cruel deeds ;
2095yet there, my prince, this people of thine
got fame by my fighting. He fled away,
and a little space his life preserved ;
but there staid behind him his stronger hand
left in Heorot ; heartsick thence
2100on the floor of the ocean that outcast fell.
Me for this struggle the Scyldings-friend
paid in plenty with plates of gold,
with many a treasure, when morn had come
and we all at the banquet-board sat down.
2105Then was song and glee. The gray-haired Scylding,
much tested, told of the times of yore.
Whiles the hero his harp bestirred,
wood-of-delight ; now lays he chanted
of sooth and sadness, or said aright
2110legends of wonder, the wide-hearted king ;
or for years of his youth he would yearn at times,
for strength of old struggles, now stricken with age,
hoary hero : his heart surged full
when, wise with winters, he wailed their flight.
2115Thus in the hall the whole of that day
at ease we feasted, till fell o’er earth
another night. Anon full ready
114
in greed of vengeance, Grendel’s mother
set forth all doleful. Dead was her son
2120through war-hate of Weders ; now, woman monstrous,
with fury fell a foeman she slew,
avenged her offspring. From Æschere old,
loyal councillor, life was gone ;
nor might they e’en, when morning broke,
2125those Danish people, their death-done comrade
burn with brands, on balefire lay
the man they mourned. Under mountain stream
she had carried the corpse with cruel hands.
For Hrothgar that was the heaviest sorrow
2130of all that had laden the lord of his folk.
The leader then, by thy life, besought me
(sad was his soul) in the sea-waves’ coil
to play the hero and hazard my being
for glory of prowess : my guerdon he pledged.
2135I then in the waters — ’tis widely known —
that sea-floor-guardian savage found.
Hand-to-hand there a while we struggled ;
billows welled blood ; in the briny hall
her head I hewed with a hardy blade
2140from Grendel’s mother, — and gained my life,
though not without danger. My doom was not yet.
Then the haven-of-heroes, Healfdene’s son,
gave me in guerdon great gifts of price.
XXXI11
“So held this king to the customs old,
2145that I wanted for nought in the wage I gained,
the meed of my might; he made me gifts,
115
Healfdene’s heir, for my own disposal.
Now to thee, my prince, I proffer them all,
gladly give them. Thy grace alone
2150can find me favor. Few12 indeed
have I of kinsmen, save, Hygelac, thee !”
Then he bade them bear him the boar-head standard,13
the battle-helm high, and breastplate gray,
the splendid sword ; then spake in form : —
2155“Me this war-gear the wise old prince,
Hrothgar, gave, and his hest he added,
that its story be straightway said to thee.14 —
A while it was held by Heorogar king,
for long time lord of the land of Scyldings ;
2160yet not to his son the sovran left it,
to daring Heoroweard, — dear as he was to him,
his harness of battle. — Well hold thou it all !”
And I heard that soon passed o’er the path15 of this
treasure,
all apple-fallow, four good steeds,
2165each like the others ; arms and horses
he gave to the king. So should kinsmen be,
not weave one another the net of wiles,
or with deep-hid treachery death contrive
116
for neighbor and comrade. His nephew was ever
2170by hardy Hygelac held full dear,
and each kept watch o’er the other’s weal.
I heard, too, the necklace to Hygd he presented,
wonder-wrought treasure, which Wealhtheow gave
him,
sovran’s daughter : three steeds he added,
2175slender and saddle-gay. Since such gift
the gem gleamed bright on the breast of the queen.
Thus showed his strain the son of Ecgtheow
as a man remarked for mighty deeds
and acts of honor. At ale he slew not
2180comrade or kin ; nor cruel his mood,
though of sons of earth his strength was greatest,
a glorious gift that God had sent
the splendid leader. Long was he spurned,
and worthless by Geatish warriors held ;
2185him at mead the master-of-clans
failed full oft to favor at all.
Slack and shiftless16 the strong men deemed him,
profitless prince ; but payment came,
to the warrior honored, for all his woes. —
2190 Then the bulwark-of-earls17 bade bring within,
hardy chieftain, Hrethel’s heirloom
garnished with gold : no Geat e’er knew
in shape of a sword a statelier prize.
The brand he laid in Beowulf’s lap ;
2195and of hides assigned him seven thousand,18
117
with house and high-seat.19 They held in common
land alike by their line of birth,
inheritance, home : but higher the king
because of his rule o’er the realm itself.
2200 Now further it fell with the flight of years,
with harryings horrid, that Hygelac perished,20
and Heardred, too, by hewing of swords
under the shield-wall slaughtered lay,
when him at the van of his victor-folk
118
2205sought hardy heroes, Heatho-Scilfings,
in arms o’erwhelming Hereric’s nephew.
Then Beowulf came as king this broad
realm to wield ; and he ruled it well
fifty winters,21 a wise old prince,
2210warding his land, until One began
in the dark of night, a Dragon, to rage.
In the grave on the hill a hoard it guarded,
in the stone-barrow steep. A strait path reached it,
unknown to mortals. Some man, however,
2215came by chance that cave within
to the heathen hoard.22 In hand he took
a golden goblet, nor gave he it back,
119
Stole with it away, while the watcher slept,
by thievish wiles : for the warden’s wrath
2220prince and people must pay betimes !
XXXII
That way he went with no will of his own,
in danger of life, to the dragon’s hoard,
but for pressure of peril, some prince’s thane.
He fled in fear the fatal scourge,
2225seeking shelter, a sinful man,
and entered in. At the awful sight
tottered that guest, and terror seized him ;
yet the wretched fugitive rallied anon
from fright and fear ere he fled away,
2230and took the cup from that treasure-hoard.
Of such besides there was store enough,
heirlooms old, the earth below,
which some earl forgotten, in ancient years,
left the last of his lofty race,
2235heedfully there had hidden away,
dearest treasure. For death of yore
had hurried all hence ; and he alone
left to live, the last of the clan,
weeping his friends, yet wished to bide
2240warding his treasure, his one delight,
though brief his respite. The barrow, new-ready,
to strand and sea-waves stood anear,23
hard by the headland, hidden and closed ;
there laid within it his lordly heirlooms
120
2245and heapéd hoard of heavy gold
that warden of rings. Few words he spake :24 —
”Now hold thou, earth, since heroes may not,
what earls have owned ! Lo, erst from thee
brave men brought it ! But battle-death seized
2250and cruel killing my clansmen all,
robbed them of life and a liegeman’s joys.
None have I left to lift a sword,
or to cleanse the carven cup of price,
beaker bright. My brave are gone.
2255And the helmet hard, all haughty with gold,
shall part from its plating. Polishers sleep
who could brighten and burnish the battle-mask ;
and those weeds of war that were wont to brave
over bicker of shields the bite of steel
2260rust with their bearer. The ringéd mail
fares not far with famous chieftain,
at side of hero ! No harp’s delight,
no glee-wood’s gladness ! No good hawk25 now
flies through the hall ! Nor horses fleet
2265stamp in the burgstead ! Battle and death
the flower of my race have reft away.”
Mournful of mood, thus he moaned his woe,
alone, for them all, and unblithe wept
by day and by night, till death’s fell wave
2270o’erwhelmed his heart. His hoard-of-bliss
121
that old ill-doer open found,
who, blazing at twilight the barrows haunteth,
naked foe-dragon flying by night
folded in fire : the folk of earth
2275dread him sore. ’Tis his doom to seek
hoard in the graves, and heathen gold
to watch, many-wintered : nor wins he thereby !
Powerful this plague-of-the-people thus
held the house of the hoard in earth
2280three hundred winters ; till One aroused
wrath in his breast, to the ruler bearing
that costly cup, and the king implored
for bond of peace. So the barrow was plundered,
borne off was booty. His boon was granted
2285that wretched man ; and his ruler saw
first time what was fashioned in far-off days.
When the dragon awoke, new woe was kindled.
O’er the stone he snuffed. The stark-heart found
footprint of foe who so far had gone
2290in his hidden craft by the creature’s head. —
So may the undoomed easily flee
evils and exile, if only he gain
the grace of The Wielder ! — That warden of gold
o’er the ground went seeking, greedy to find
2295the man who wrought him such wrong in sleep.
Savage and burning, the barrow he circled
all without ; nor was any there,
none in the waste. . . Yet war he desired,
was eager for battle. The barrow he entered,
2300sought the cup, and discovered soon
that some one of mortals had searched his treasure,
his lordly gold. The guardian waited
122
ill-enduring till evening came ;
boiling with wrath was the barrow’s keeper,
2305and fain with flame the foe to pay
for the dear cup’s loss. — Now day was fled
as the worm had wished. By its wall no more
was it glad to bide, but burning flew
folded in flame : a fearful beginning
2310for sons of the soil ; and soon it came,
in the doom of their lord, to a dreadful end.
XXXIII
Then the baleful fiend its fire belched out,
and bright homes burned. The blaze stood high
all landsfolk frighting. No living thing
2315would that loathly one leave as aloft it flew.
Wide was the dragon’s warring seen,
its fiendish fury far and near,
as the grim destroyer those Geatish people
hated and hounded. To hidden lair,
2320to its hoard it hastened at hint of dawn.
Folk of the land it had lapped in flame,
with bale and brand. In its barrow it trusted,
its battling and bulwarks : that boast was vain !
To Beowulf then the bale was told
2325quickly and truly : the king’s own home,
of buildings the best, in brand-waves melted,
that gift-throne of Geats. To the good old man
sad in heart, ’twas heaviest sorrow.
The sage assumed that his sovran God
2330he had angered, breaking ancient law,
and embittered the Lord. His breast within
123
with black thoughts welled, as his wont was never.
The folk’s own fastness that fiery dragon
with flames had destroyed, and the stronghold all
2335washed by waves ; but the warlike king,
prince of the Weders, plotted vengeance.
Warriors’-bulwark, he bade them work
all of iron — the earl’s commander —
a war-shield wondrous : well he knew
2340that forest-wood against fire were worthless,
linden could aid not. — Atheling brave,
he was fated to finish this fleeting life,26
his days on earth, and the dragon with him,
though long it had watched o’er the wealth of
the hoard ! —
2345Shame he reckoned it, sharer-of-rings,
to follow the flyer-afar with a host,
a broad-flung band ; nor the battle feared he,
nor deemed he dreadful the dragon’s warring,
its vigor and valor : ventures desperate
2350he had passed a-plenty, and perils of war,
contest-crash, since, conqueror proud,
Hrothgar’s hall he had wholly purged,
and in grapple had killed the kin of Grendel,
loathsome breed ! Not least was that
2355of hand-to-hand fights where Hygelac fell,
when the ruler of Geats in rush of battle,
lord of his folk, in the Frisian land,
son of Hrethel, by sword-draughts27 died,
124
by brands down-beaten. Thence Beowulf fled
2360through strength of himself and his swimming power,
though alone, and his arms were laden with thirty
coats of mail, when he came to the sea !28
Nor yet might Hetwaras29 haughtily boast
their craft of contest, who carried against him
2365shields to the fight : but few escaped
from strife with the hero to seek their homes !
Then swam over ocean Ecgtheow’s son
lonely and sorrowful, seeking his land,
where Hygd made him offer of hoard and realm,
2370rings and royal-seat, reckoning naught
the strength of her son to save their kingdom
from hostile hordes, after Hygelac’s death.
No sooner for this could the stricken ones
in any wise move that atheling’s mind
2375over young Heardred’s head as lord
and ruler of all the realm to be :
yet the ruler upheld him with helpful words,
aided in honor, till, older grown,
he wielded the Weder-Geats. — Wandering exiles
2380sought him o’er seas, the sons of Ohtere,
who had spurned the sway of the Scylfings’-helmet,
125
the bravest and best that broke the rings,
in Swedish land, of the sea-kings’ line,
haughty hero.30 Hence Heardred’s end.
2385For shelter he gave them, sword-death came,
the blade’s fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac ;
but the son of Ongentheow sought again
house and home when Heardred fell,
leaving Beowulf lord of Geats
2390and gift-seat’s master. — A good king he !
XXXIV
The fall of his lord he was fain to requite
in after days ; and to Eadgils he proved
friend to the friendless, and forces sent
over the sea to the son of Ohtere,
2395weapons and warriors : well repaid he
those care-paths cold when the king he slew.31
Thus safe through struggles the son of Ecgtheow
had passed a plenty, through perils dire,
with daring deeds, till this day was come
2400that doomed him now with the dragon to strive.
With comrades eleven the lord of Geats
swollen in rage went seeking the dragon.
126
He had heard whence all the harm arose
and the killing of clansmen ; that cup of price
2405on the lap of the lord had been laid by the finder.
In the throng was this one thirteenth man,
starter of all the strife and ill,
care-laden captive ; cringing thence
forced and reluctant, he led them on
2410till he came in ken of that cavern-hall,
the barrow delved near billowy surges,
flood of ocean. Within ’twas full
of wire-gold and jewels ; a jealous warden,
warrior trusty, the treasures held,
2415lurked in his lair. Not light the task
of entrance for any earth-born men !
Sat on the headland the hero king,
spake words of hail32 to his hearth-companions,
gold-friend of Geats. All gloomy his soul,
2420wavering,33 death-bound. Wyrd full nigh
stood ready to greet the gray-haired man,
to seize his soul-hoard, sunder apart
life and body. Not long would he
the warrior’s spirit enwound with flesh.
2425 Beowulf spake, the bairn of Ecgtheow : —
“Through store of struggles I strove in youth,
mighty feuds ; I mind them all.
I was seven years old when the sovran of rings,
friend-of-his-folk, from my father took me,
127
2430had me, and held me, Hrethel the king,
with food and fee, faithful in kinship.
Ne’er, while I lived there, he loathlier found me,34
bairn in the burg, than his birthright sons,
Herebeald and Hæthcyn and Hygelac mine.
2435For the eldest of these, by unmeet chance,
by kinsman’s deed, was the death-bed strewn,
when Hæthcyn killed him with horny bow,
his own dear liege laid low with an arrow,
missed the mark and his mate shot down,
2440one brother the other, with bloody shaft.
A feeless fight35 and a fearful sin,
horror to Hrethel ; yet, hard as it was,
unavenged must the atheling die !
Too awful it is for an agéd man
2445to bide and bear, that his bairn so young
128
rides36 on the gallows. A rime he makes,
sorrow-song for his son there hanging
as rapture of ravens ; no rescue now
can come from the old, disabled man !
2450Still is he minded, as morning breaks,
of the heir gone elsewhere ;37 another he hopes not
he will bide to see his burg within
as ward for his wealth, now the one has found
doom of death that the deed incurred.
2455Forlorn he looks on the lodge of his son,
wine-hall waste and wind-swept chambers
reft of revel. The rider sleepeth,
the hero, far-hidden ;38 no harp resounds,
in the courts no wassail, as once was heard.
XXXV
2460“Then he goes to his chamber, a grief-song chants
alone for his lost. Too large all seems,
homestead and house. So the helmet-of-Weders
hid in his heart for Herebeald
waves of woe. No way could he take
2465to avenge on the slayer slaughter so foul ;
129
nor e’en could he harass that hero at all
with loathing deed, though he loved him not.
And so for the sorrow his soul endured,
men’s gladness he gave up and God’s light chose.
2470Lands and cities he left his sons
(as the wealthy do) when he went from earth.
There was strife and struggle ’twixt Swede and Geat
o’er the width of waters ; war arose,
hard battle-horror, when Hrethel died,
2475and Ongentheow’s offspring grew
strife-keen, bold, nor brooked o’er the seas
pact of peace, but pushed their hosts
to harass in hatred by Herosnabeorh.39
Men of my folk for that feud had vengeance,
2480for woful war (’tis widely known),
though one of them bought it with blood of his heart,
a bargain hard : for Hæthcyn proved
130
fatal that fray, for the first-of-Geats.
At morn, I heard, was the murderer killed
2485by kinsman for kinsman,40 with clash of sword,
when Ongentheow met Eofor there.
Wide split the war-helm : wan he fell,
hoary Scylfing ; the hand that smote him
of feud was mindful, nor flinched from the death-blow.
2490— “For all that he41 gave me, my gleaming sword
repaid him at war, — such power I wielded, —
for lordly treasure : with land he entrusted me,
homestead and house. He had no need
from Swedish realm, or from Spear-Dane folk,
2495or from men of the Gifths,42 to get him help, —
some warrior worse for wage to buy !
Ever I fought in the front of all,
sole to the fore ; and so shall I fight
while I bide in life and this blade shall last
2500that early and late hath loyal proved
since for my doughtiness Dæghrefn43 fell,
131
slain by my hand, the Hugas’ champion.
Nor fared he thence to the Frisian king
with the booty back, and breast-adornments ;
2505but, slain in struggle, that standard-bearer
fell, atheling brave. Not with blade was he slain,
but his bones were broken by brawny gripe,
his heart-waves stilled. — The sword-edge now,
hard blade and my hand, for the hoard shall strive.”
2510 Beowulf spake, and a battle-vow made,
his last of all : “I have lived through many
wars in my youth ; now once again,
old folk-defender, feud will I seek,
do doughty deeds, if the dark destroyer
2515forth from his cavern come to fight me !”
Then hailed he the helmeted heroes all,
for the last time greeting his liegemen dear,
comrades of war : “I should carry no weapon,
no sword to the serpent, if sure I knew
2520how, with such enemy, else my vows
I could gain as I did in Grendel’s day.
But fire in this fight I must fear me now,
and poisonous breath ; so I bring with me
breastplate and board.44 From the barrow’s keeper
2525no footbreadth flee I.45 One fight shall end
our war by the wall, as Wyrd allots,
all mankind’s master. My mood is bold
but forbears to boast o’er this battling-flyer.
— Now abide by the barrow, ye breastplate-mailed,
2530ye heroes in harness, which of us twain
better from battle-rush bear his wounds.
Wait ye the finish. The fight is not yours,
132
nor meet for any but me alone
to measure might with this monster here
2535and play the hero. Hardily I
shall win that wealth, or war shall seize,
cruel killing, your king and lord !”
Up stood then with shield the sturdy champion,
stayed by the strength of his single manhood,
2540and hardy ’neath helmet his harness bore
under cleft of the cliffs : no coward’s path !
Soon spied by the wall that warrior chief,
survivor of many a victory-field
where foemen fought with furious clashings,
25an arch of stone ; and within, a stream
that broke from the barrow. The brooklet’s wave
was hot with fire. The hoard that way
he never could hope unharmed to near,
or endure those deeps,46 for the dragon’s flame.
2550Then let from his breast, for he burst with rage,
the Weder-Geat prince a word outgo ;
stormed the stark-heart ; stern went ringing
and clear his cry ’neath the cliff-rocks gray.
The hoard-guard heard a human voice ;
2555his rage was enkindled. No respite now
for pact of peace ! The poison-breath
of that foul worm first came forth from the cave,
hot reek-of-fight : the rocks resounded.
Stout by the stone-way his shield he raised,
2560lord of the Geats, against the loathed-one ;
while with courage keen that coiléd foe
came seeking strife. The sturdy king
had drawn his sword, not dull of edge,
133
heirloom old ; and each of the two
2565felt fear of his foe, though fierce their mood.
Stoutly stood with his shield high-raised
the warrior king, as the worm now coiled
together amain : the mailed-one waited.
Now, spire by spire, fast sped and glided
2570that blazing serpent. The shield protected
soul and body a shorter while
for the hero-king than his heart desired,47
could his will have wielded the welcome respite
but once in his life ! But Wyrd denied it,
2575and victory’s honors. — His arm he lifted,
lord of the Geats, the grim foe smote
with atheling’s heirloom. Its edge was turned,
brown48 blade, on the bone, and bit more feebly
than its noble master had need of then
2580in his baleful stress. — Then the barrow’s keeper
waxed full wild for that weighty blow,
cast deadly flames ; wide drove and far
those vicious fires. No victor’s glory
the Geats’ lord boasted ; his brand had failed,
2585naked in battle, as never it should,
excellent iron ! — ’Twas no easy path
that Ecgtheow’s honored heir must tread
over the plain to the place of the foe ;
for against his will he must win a home
134
2590elsewhere far, as must all men, leaving
this lapsing life ! — Not long it was
ere those champions grimly closed again.
The hoard-guard was heartened ; high heaved his
breast
once more ; and by peril was pressed again,
2595enfolded in flames, the folk-commander !
Nor yet about him his band of comrades,
sons of athelings, arméd stood
with warlike front : to the woods they bent them,
their lives to save.49 But the soul of one
2600with care was cumbered. Kinship true
can never be marred in a noble mind !
XXXVI
Wiglaf his name was, Weohstan’s son,
linden-thane loved, the lord of Scylfings,50
Ælfhere’s kinsman. His king he now saw
2605with heat under helmet hard oppressed.
He minded the prizes his prince had given him,
135
wealthy seat of the Wægmunding line,
and folk-rights that his father owned.
Not long he lingered. The linden yellow,
2610his shield, he seized ; the old sword he drew : —
as heirloom of Eanmund earth-dwellers knew it,
who was slain by the sword-edge, son of Ohtere,
friendless exile, erst in fray
killed by Weohstan, who won for his kin
2615brown-bright helmet, breastplate ringed,
old sword of Eotens, Onela’s gift,
weeds of war of the warrior-thane,
battle-gear brave : though a brother’s child
had been felled, the feud was unfelt by Onela.51
2620For winters this war-gear Weohstan kept,
breastplate and board, till his bairn had grown
earlship to earn as the old sire did :
then he gave him, mid Geats, the gear of Battle,
portion huge, when he passed from life,
2625fared agéd forth. For the first time now
with his leader-lord the liegeman young
was bidden to share the shock of battle.
Neither softened his soul, nor the sire’s bequest
weakened in war.52 So the worm found out
136
2630when once in fight the foes had met !
Wiglaf spake, — and his words were sage ;
sad in spirit, he said to his comrades : —
“I remember the time,53 when mead we took,
137
what promise we made to this prince of ours
2635in the banquet-hall, to our breaker-of-rings,
for gear of combat to give him requital,
for hard-sword and helmet, if hap should bring
stress of this sort ! Himself who chose us
from all his army to aid him now,
2640urged us to glory, and gave these treasures,
because he counted us keen with the spear
and hardy ’neath helm, though this hero-work
our leader hoped unhelped and alone
to finish for us, — folk-defender
2645who hath got him glory greater than all men
for daring deeds ! Now the day is come
that our noble master has need of the might
of warriors stout. Let us stride along
the hero to help while the heat is about him
2650glowing and grim ! For God is my witness
I am far more fain the fire should seize
along with my lord these limbs of mine !54
Unsuiting55 it seems our shields to bear
138
homeward hence, save here we essay
2655to fell the foe and defend the life
of the Weders’ lord. I wot ’twere shame
on the law of our land56 if alone the king
out of Geatish warriors woe endured
and sank in the struggle ! My sword and helmet,
2660breastplate and board, for us both shall serve !”
Through slaughter-reek strode he to succor his
chieftain,
his battle-helm bore, and brief words spake : —
“Beowulf dearest, do all bravely,
as in youthful days of yore thou vowedst
2665that while life should last thou wouldst let no wise
thy glory droop ! Now, great in deeds,
atheling steadfast, with all thy strength
shield thy life ! I will stand to help thee.”
At the words the worm came once again,
2670murderous monster mad with rage,
with fire-billows flaming, its foes to seek,
the hated men. In heat-waves burned
that board57 to the boss, and the breastplate failed
to shelter at all the spear-thane young.
2675Yet quickly under his kinsman’s shield
went eager the earl, since his own was now
all burned by the blaze. The bold king again
had mind of his glory : with might his glaive
was driven into the dragon’s-head, —
2680blow nerved by hate. But Nægling58 was shivered,
139
broken in battle was Beowulf’s sword,
old and gray. ’Twas granted him not
that ever the edge of iron at all
could help him at strife : too strong was his hand,
2685so the tale is told, and he tried too far
with strength of stroke all swords he wielded,
though sturdy their steel : they steaded him nought.
Then for the third time thought on its feud
that folk-destroyer, fire-dread dragon,
2690and rushed on the hero, where room allowed,
battle-grim, burning ; its bitter teeth
closed on his neck, and covered him
with waves of blood from his breast that welled.
FOOTNOTES
1 By the hands of one of his retainers, who, as Tacitus pointed out, and Earle reminds us, were bound to attribute their own brave deeds to their chief, and give him the glory.
2 “Struggle by night,” translates Gering; that is, the fight between Grendel and Beowulf. It might refer, however, — see v. 126, — to the outcries and wailings of the Danes. No more boasting over that!
3 Beowulf gives his uncle the king not mere gossip of his journey, but a statesmanlike forecast of the outcome of certain policies at the Danish court. Talk of interpolation here is absurd. As both Beowulf and Hygelac know, — and the folk for whom Beowulf was put together also knew, — Froda was king of the Heathobards (probably the Langobards, once near neighbors of Angle and Saxon tribes on the continent), and had fallen in fight with the Danes. Hrothgar will set aside this feud by giving his daughter as “peace-weaver” and wife to the young king Ingeld, son of the slain Froda. But Beowulf, on general principles and from his observation of the particular case, foretells trouble. He even goes into particulars; and here the poet not unskilfully uses the actual Ingeld story, — which he knew doubtless in song and saga, as Saxo Grammaticus knew it, though in another version — for the forecast of the hero. It is worth noting that in Saxo the old warrior stirs his master by a lay of battle and vengeance which he chants at a banquet. — From the Widsith we know that Ingeld attacked Hrothgar later in Heorot, and was defeated by uncle and nephew in a bloody battle.
4 Play of shields, battle. A Danish warrior cuts down Froda in the fight, and takes his sword and armor, leaving them to a son. This son is selected to accompany his mistress, the young princess Freawaru, to her new home when she is Ingeld’s queen. Heedlessly he wears the sword of Froda in hall. An old warrior points it out to Ingeld, and eggs him on to vengeance. At his instigation the Dane is killed; but the murderer, afraid of results, and knowing the land, escapes. So the old feud must break out again.
5 In Saxo (Bk. VI) Starcatherus sees that the slayers of Frotho, father of Ingellus, are high in favor with the latter king, and sings a song of reproach at the banquet. At first he complains of the neglect of himself in his old age and of the king’s gluttony; then he passes to taunts of cowardice and an appeal for vengeance on the murderers.
6 That is, their disastrous battle and the slaying of their king.
7 Withergild is mentioned in Widsith, v. 124, and must be a proper name. If it were taken otherwise, it might be translated “when recompence, chance to recover losses, was out of the question.”
8 The sword, here called “treasure” or “jewel” in no strained figure. It is unnecessary to turn it into a collar or other adornment.
9 Beowulf returns to his forecast. Things might well go somewhat as follows, he says; sketches a little tragic story; and with this prophecy by illustration returns to the tale of his adventure. One will hardly agree with Müllenhoff that such a use by the poet of an old legend shows mere helpless imbecility of interpolation. In many other cases, say Gray’s Bard, the close of Dicken’s Tale of two Cities, Thomas of Ercaldoune, — not to mention some very incongruous instances, — one praises the good art or artifice of narrative.
10 Not an actual glove, but a sort of bag. The line could run —
. . . with savage hand seized me. A sack hung by him . . .
11 Sections XXIX and XXX are not indicated.
12 “None.” He forgets, or lets his compliment forget, Weohstan : see vv. 2813, 2602, below. But over fifty years pass between this date and the date of his speech to Wiglaf. Weohstan, moreover, was in service at the Swedish court (Gering suggests that he was a younger son and sought his fortune in foreign parts), and was actually fighting on the side of Geatland’s foes. See note to v. 2602, below.
13 See v. 1021. Klaeber, Modern Philology, III, 462, compares the old “Raven” banners of the Northmen mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle; and Professor Hart refers to Asser’s Life of Alfred, trans. Giles, Bohn ed., p. 62.
14 Or : That first to thee should his thanks be said.
15 Followed it. The original figure is “guarded its tracks.”
16 Even in the name and story of the Roman Brutus one finds traces of this common motive in certain tales of the sluggish and stupid boy who blossoms out as a warrior, a hero of renown. It is very common in Norse legend.
17 Hygelac.
18 This is generally assumed to mean hides, though the text simply says “seven thousand.” In v. 2994 Wulf and Eofor each get “a hundred thousand in land and winding rings.” A hide in English meant about 120 acres, though “the size of the acre varied.” Wulf and Eofor together would thus get a tract as large as England itself; see Mr. W. H. Stevenson’s note in his edition of Asser’s Alfred, p. 154. He points out that the numeral refers to both land and treasure. In this passage the seven thousand may also include the value of “house and high-seat,” with vague idea of treasure in the bargain. Both numerals, then, the seven thousand and the hundred thousand, are indefinite expressions of quantity, somewhat as when one now says of a man that he is “worth a million.”
19 The seat in hall like a throne occupied by the owner and the head of the clan.
20 On the historical raid into Frankish territory between 512 and 520 A.D. The subsequent course of events, as gathered from hints of this epic, is partly told in Scandinavian legend. Heardred succeeds to the throne; for Beowulf most honorably refuses Hygd’s proposal and serves the young king as guardian and chief vassal. But the reign is short. If with Gering we put 518 as the date of Hygelac’s fall, it would not be long before Heardred took up the cause of Eanmund and Eadgils, sons of Ohtere, both of them rebels against their uncle Onela, the Swedish king. Onela makes a raid into the territory of Heardred and kills him. Then Beowulf succeeds. His further relations with this feud will be noted below. — Heardred is called Hereric’s nephew. As the sister’s son was a conspicuous relationship, and men had names from it analogous to the patronymic method, one may suppose that Hygd had a brother Hereric.
21 The chronology of the epic, as scholars have worked it out, would make Beowulf well over ninety years of age when he fights the dragon. But the fifty years of his reign need not be taken as historical fact.
22 The text is here hopelessly illegible, and only the general drift of the meaning can be rescued. For one thing, we have the old myth of a dragon who guards hidden treasure. But with this runs the story of some noble, last of his race, who hides all his wealth within this barrow and there chants his farewell to life’s glories. After his death the dragon takes possession of the hoard and watches over it. A condemned or banished man, desperate, hides in the barrow, discovers the treasure, and while the dragon sleeps, makes off with a golden beaker or the like, and carries it for propitiation to his master. The dragon discovers the loss and exacts fearful penalty from the people round about. — The huge barrows were prominent objects and frequent; in the oldest English charters we have directions for bounding estates “from the heathen barrow.” They are still familiar in many an English landscape, like Mr. Hardy’s “Egdon Heath.” Barrows have been opened which had a secret entrance somewhat as described here. Moreover, the robbing of graves which contained treasure or property proportional to the standing of the buried man, must have been a strong temptation. That superstition surrounded this crime with every sort of danger is evident enough. See below, vv. 3051-3073. Lifting buried gold is still an uncanny business, and folk-lore recounts its perils. Such gold brings the worst of luck; and it is noteworthy that the epic takes this view, v. 3163, and has all the dragon’s treasure heaped in Beowulf’s own tomb.
23 Jacob Grimm, alive to the poetry of these old traditions, tells of the grave-chamber of one Swedish king which was close to the sea.
24 Müllenhoff remarked on the resemblance of this elegaic passage to the poems of the Exeter Ms., — The Ruin, The Wanderer, The Seafarer. But in point of fact it is the favorite “deep note” of English poetry at large, which always takes strength of word and emotion from the thought of death.
25 When the father sees his “Pearl,” in the poem of that name, he is afraid and bides as still “as hawk in hall.”
26 Literally, “loan-days,” days loaned to man. Professor Hart refers to the striking passage in Everyman, vv. 164 ff.
27 This fine figure of the sword drinking the blood from the wounds it has made should not be weakened. It is like that tremendous metaphor in the Exodus, when the engulfing waves which clash over the drowned Egyptians and toss their crests to heaven are thus compressed : —
mightiest of sea-deaths
lashed the sky, —
that is, the sea which brought about death.
28 It is like the additional touch which legend always gives to history, when Beowulf has this douceur of the thirty suits of armor, corresponding to his hand-gripe of thirty-man power.
29 Chattuarii, a tribe that dwelt along the Rhine, and took part in repelling the raid of (Hygelac) Chocilaicus.
30 Onela, son of Ongentheow, who pursues his two nephews Eanmund and Eadgils to Heardred’s court, where they have taken refuge after their unsuccessful rebellion. In the fighting Heardred is killed.
31 That is, Beowulf supports Eadgils against Onela, who is lain by Eadgils in revenge for the “care-paths” of exile into which Onela forced him. Bugge, relying on the Norse story, translates “by care-paths cold”; that is, Eadgils revenged himself by marches fraught with care or sorrow for Onela. As the battle in the Ynglingasaga takes place on the ice, Bugge reads “cold” literally. But it is the technical adjective for exile; “winter-cold exile,” e.g. in Deor’s Song.
32 Hælo. — Surely not “farewell,” in spite of the lugubrious context, which is quite in line with the usual epic anticipation of ill success and death. It is his beot really, his vow, largely reminiscent of other struggles, but closing with an explicit promise of valorous deed.
33 Animula vagula. — The personification of Wyrd should be noticed; it occurs so in the Heliand itself.
34 Usual litotes : “he held me no less dear.”
35 That is, the king could claim no wergild, or man-price, from one son for the killing of the other. The casus is peculiarly Germanic in detail; in general scope it is like the great kin-tragedies of the world’s literature. A similar story is told in the Thithrekssaga of Herbort, Herdegen, and Sintram, but, as Müllenhoff points out, with a different ending. In the Scottish ballad of The Twa Brothers, one kills the other while wrestling (though with a knife); but the ballad touches the parent only by messages to account for the disappearance of John. It is important to understand that the picture of the old king’s grief is hypothetical. There is no wergild, says the poet, and revenge is out of the question. For let one but fancy the feelings of a father who has caused his son to be hanged ! The picture of such a state of things then follows. Then (v. 2462) one returns to Hrethel with the remark that his case was really as sad as the hypothetical one. Gering thinks that the poet took his picture of the broken-hearted parent from the story of Ermanric, of whom the Volsunga-saga relates that he caused his only son to be hanged on an accusation of misconduct with Swanhild, the young man’s stepmother. Ermanric’s story was known to English poetry. See above, v. 1201, and the stanza in Deor’s Song.
36 The regular metaphor in this case. The traditional phrase held for a long while. Wright and Halliwell, Reliquiae Antiquae, II, 119, print from a Harleian Ms. these verses where Christ calls on man to consider the sacrifice on the cross : —
Restles I ride, —
Lok upon me, put fro [thee] pride !
Mi palefrey is of tre. . . .”
that is, “my horse is made of wood.” Vigfusson, in one of the Grimm centenary papers, says that gallows were horse-shaped. [“Traces of Old Law in the Eddic Lays.”]
37 Usual euphemism for death.
38 Sc. In the grave.
39 This war must not be confused with the later hostilities between Geat and Swede in Heardred’s reign, already noted (vv. 2200 ff.); it deals with an older feud, the main course of which can be surmised from this passage and the long speech of the messenger (see v. 2922, below) who announces Beowulf’s death, and says that now not only will Frisians and Franks be bent on war, but the Swedes will surely renew the ancient strife. Onela and Ohthere are sons of Ongentheow, and often raid Geatland (the mention of “wide water” makes for the Jutland theory of Beowulf’s home); Hæthcyn replies with a raid on Swedish soil. He seizes Ongentheow’s queen. But the old king follows the foe, defeats him, and kills Hæthcyn, whose men are in desperate case, surrounded by enemies, in Ravenswood. But now comes Hygelac with another Geatish (not so favorable a fact for Jutland !), defeats the Swedes, whose queen again is captured, and besieges Ongentheow in his citadel. Ongentheow is finally killed by Eofor, whose brother Wulf has been disabled in fierce fight with the desperate old hero. Eofor is then married to Hygelac’s daughter. The lively but episodic account of this last struggle makes one yearn for the original songs, perhaps the epic, in which it was sung. Bugge has shown traces of it in Norse tradition. The style of reference to the death of Hæthcyn shows how familiar the whole story must have been.
40 Eorfor for Wulf. — The immediate provocation for Eofor in killing “the hoary Scylfing,” Ongentheow, is that the latter has just struck Wulf down; but the king, Hæthcyn, is also avenged by the blow. See the detailed description below, vv. 2961-2982.
41 Hygelac. — Beowulf comes to his own services and their reward; the transition is so abrupt that some verses may be supposed to have been lost at this point. It will be noted that he speaks throughout this monologue as a warrior, stout with sword, and not as a wrestler, phenomenal “strong man,” or the like, except in the almost contradictory parenthesis, vv. 2506 f. In vv. 2518 f., the poet is matching Beowulf’s speech before the Grendel fight (677 ff.); while in 2680 ff., the “strong man” is again the main theme, backed by an old Anglian legend of another prince.
42 Gepidae, who at this time were still near the Baltic. See Müllenhoff, Deutsche Alterthumskunde, II, 99; and Widsith, v. 60.
43 The Franks were called Hugones; and this “Day-Raven” may have fought Beowulf on the historic raid into Frankish territory.
44 Shield.
45 The same phrase is used by Leofsunu at Maldon.
46 The hollow passage.
47 By another interpretation, the following lines would read —
what time it was fated first in his life
that Wyrd would not will him to wield at all
victory’s honors.
48 See note to v. 1546; and for the “biting,” v. 1455. For the seemingly sarcastic note of “excellent” in v. 2586, see note to v. 644.
49 In 2532 the thanes were told to await the finish. Either this is conventional blame of coward retainers; or else the thanes are supposed to fly from their place where Beowulf stationed them, when they ought to have disregarded his instructions and helped. Beowulf’s other band waited for him by the uncanny and blood-stained mere. In Saxo (Bk. IX, Holder, p. 302) Ragnar fights two huge serpents, who try to crush him and kill him with their poison. He has no comrades; but the men of the court in that land fly to hiding-places and watch the fight “like scared girls.”
50 As noted above to v. 2151, Weohstan was a kinsman of Hygelac and Beowulf, but had taken service under the Swedish king Onela, killing the rebel Eanmund and winning his weapons and armor. When Eadgils, Eanmund’s brother, succeeds to the Swedish throne, Weohstan returns to his own kindred. Evidently he makes his peace, gets the family estates, and leaves them to his son Wiglaf. (Gering, p. 119.)
51 That is, although Eanmund was brother’s son to Onela, the slaying of the former by Weohstan is not felt as cause of feud, and is rewarded by gift of the slain man’s weapons.
52 Both Wiglaf and the sword did their duty. — The following is one of the classic passages for illustrating the comitatus as the most conspicuous Germanic institution, and its underlying sense of duty, based partly on the idea of loyalty and partly on the practical basis of benefits received and repaid. It should be read along with the wholly admirable companion portions of The Fight at Maldon, as well as the story of Cynewulf and Cyneheard in the Chronicle. Historical song and epic strike the same note; and the testimony of Tacitus (Germania, c. xiv) is warm with praise and admiration of Germanic loyalty among the warriors of the first and second centuries. Cæsar, as one would expect, looks at the institution from a practical military man’s point of view.
53 See the famous talk of Biarco and Hialto which Saxo (Bk. II, Holder, pp. 59 f.) says he got from “an old Danish song.” In Elton’s translation Hialto says : “Sweet it is to repay the gifts received from our lord . . . let us do with brave hearts all the things that in our cups we boasted . . . let us keep the vows which we swore. . . .” And Biarco (Bjarki) : “I will die overpowered near the head of my slain Captain, and at his feet thou also shalt slip on thy face in death, so that whoso scans the piled corpses may see in what wise we rate the gold our lord gave us!” — As to “remembering the mead,” see Finnsburg, vv. 39 ff. The very words of Wiglaf, however, are echoed in Maldon by Ælfwine, as the faithful thane exhorts his comrades to fight on nor forsake their slain lord.
“Remember what time at the mead we talked,
when on the benches our boasts we made,
heroes in hall, of the hard encounter :
now may be kenned whose courage avails !
I will my kinship make clear to all,
that I was in Mercia of mighty race.
My agéd father was Ealhelm named. . . .
None of the lords of my land shall taunt me
I was fain from this field to flee away,
my life to save now my lord lies dead,
all hewn in combat, — my cruelest grief :
for he was my kinsman and captain both.”
Offa exhorted in the same vein : and then —
Leofsunu spake and lifted his shield : —
“This is my hest that hence I flee not
a footbreadth’s space, but will further go
to revenge in fight my friend-and-lord.
Nor need at Sturmere steadfast thanes
jeer and taunt that I journeyed home,
when my liege had fallen, a lordless man.”
A valuable survival of this taunting of men who broke the oath of loyalty is the cry of the sworn-brother in Bewick and Graham : —
In every town that I ride through,
They’ll say — “There rides a brotherless man !”
That is, there is one who has done to death his sworn-brother.
With these speeches of the Maldon warriors and of Wiglaf one may compare the awkward but effective prose which reports the answer of Cynewulf’s thanes to the conquering band of Cyneheard. They resist all bribes and entreaties to quit their dead master and king, and fall beside him. The account is perhaps based on an old lay. — See Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 755.
54 Sc. “than to bide safely here,” — a common figure of incomplete comparison.
55 Unusually deliberate understatement, indicating the excess of shame and disgrace.
56 Custom, tradition, — one of the boni mores which, Tacitus says, counts for so much more than law.
57 Wigfal’s wooden shield.
58 Gering would translate “kinsman of the nail,” as both are made of iron. — What is said here of Beowulf’s excessive strength, like the former mention of his early slackness, is a legendary trait of Offa the elder, the Uffo of Saxo Grammaticus. This excess of strength is a favorite trait in certain lines of romance, runs into exaggeration, and lends itself to burlesque. In Hugh Spencer’s Feats in France, a poor popular ballad, the hero cannot tilt with any one French lance, his strength smashing it in his hand; and he is accommodated only when a dozen lances are bound into one.