TWELVE CENTURIES OF ENGLIS POETRY AND PROSE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD BEOWULF (c. 700)* I. THE PASSING OF SCYLD Lo, we have heard of the fame in old time until every one of those dwelling near a child in his courts whom God sent 9 to comfort the people; He felt the dire need glory | the land's loved chief that long had pos- There at the hithe stood the ring-prowed ship, the dispenser of rings, on the ship's bosom,— from far ways, ornaments brought. I have heard of no comelier keel adorned with weapons of war and martial weeds, with glaves and byrnies. On his bosom lay 40 many treasures which were to go with him, far depart into the flood's possession. Not less with gifts, with lordly treasures, did they provide him, than did those others who at the beginning sent him forth alone o'er the wave, a little child. 20 They set moreover a golden ensign high o'er his head; let the sea bear him, gave him to ocean. Their mind was sad, mournful their mood. No man of men, counsellors in hall, heroes 'neath heaven, can say for sooth who that lading received. of Scyld's offspring in the Scanian lands. Of the three large sections into which the story of Beowulf falls-the fight with Grendel in Denmark, the fight with Grendel's mother, and the subsequent deeds of Beowulf in Geatland (Sweden)-the first is here given practically entire, and the second in part. It should be noted that the Beowulf mentioned in the opening canto is a Scylding, or Dane; Beowulf the Geat, or Weder-Geat, for whom the poem is named, is not introduced until the fourth canto. The translation is virtually the literal one of Benjamin Thorpe (1855), relieved of some of its harsher inversions and obscurities and made more consistently rhythmical, also occasionally altered to conform to a more 50 II. THE BUILDING OF HEOROT Then in the towns was Beowulf, the Scyldings' ved sovereign, for a long time among nations (his father had passed away, the prince from his dwelling), till from him in turn sprang the lofty Healfdene. He ruled while he lived, old and war-fierce, the glad Scyldings. From him four children, numbered forth, sprang in the world, from the head of hosts: 60 Heorogar and Hrothgar and Halga the good; and I have heard that Elan1 was wife of Ongentheow the Heathoscylfing. Then was to Hrothgar war-prowess given, martial glory, that his dear kinsmen gladly obeyed him, till his young warriors grew, a great train of kinsfolk. It ran thro' his mind that he would give orders for men to make a hall-building, a mighty mead-house, which the sons of men should ever hear of; and therewithin to deal out freely 71 to young and to old, whatever God gave him, save the freeman's share and the lives of men. Then heard I that widely the work was proclaimed to many a tribe thro' this mid-earth the plain of bright beauty which water embraces; in victory exulting set sun and moon, 100 to perpetrate crime, a fiend in hell. Grendel was the grim guest called, great mark-stepper3 that held the moors, the fen and fastness. The sea-monsters' dwelling the unblest man abode in awhile, after the Creator had proscribed him.* On Cain's race the eternal Lord that death avenged, the slaying of Abel; the Creator joyed not in that feud, but banished him far from men for his crime. Thence monstrous births all woke into being, jotuns, and elves, and orken-creatures, likewise the giants who for a long space warred against God: He gave them requital. III. THE GRIM GUEST OF HEOROT When night had come he went to visit the lofty house, to see how the Ring-Danes that a folk-stead was building. Befel him in after their beer-feast might be faring. time, soon among men, that it was all ready, He found therein a band of nobles of hall-houses greatest; and he, whose word was misery of men, aught of unhappiness. He belied not his promise, bracelets distri treasures at the feast. The hall arose high and horn-curved; awaited fierce heat of hostile flame. Nor was it yet long when sword-hate 'twixt son- and father-in-law, after deadly enmity, was to be wakened.f Then the potent guest who in darkness dwelt with difficulty for a time endured that he each day heard merriment Grim and greedy, he was soon ready, rugged and fierce, and in their rest 110 120 took thirty thanes; and thence departed, in his prey exulting, to his home to go, with the slaughtered corpses, his quarters to visit. Then in the morning, at early day, was Grendel's war-craft manifest: after that repast was a wail upraised, a great morning cry. The mighty prince, the excellent noble, unblithe sat; loud in the hall. There was sound of the the strong thane suffered, sorrow endured, harp, when they beheld the foeman's traces, 130 loud song of the gleeman. The scôp, who the accursed sprite's. That strife was too the hall-thane's hate; held themselves after farther and faster who the fiend escaped. So Grendel ruled, and warred against right, alone against all, until empty stood that best of houses. Great was the while, twelve winters' tide, the Scyldings' friend endured his rage, every woe, ample sorrow. Whence it became openly known to the children of men, sadly in songs, that Grendel warred awhile against Hrothgar, enmity waged, crime and feud for many years, strife incessant; peace would not have with any man of the Danish power, nor remit for a fee the baleful levy; nor any wight might hold a hope 150 171 because of the Lord, nor knew His design. 'Twas great distress to the Scyldings' friend, grief of spirit; often the wise men sat in assembly; counsel devised they what for strong-souled men it were best to do against the perilous horrors. Sometimes they promised idolatrous honors at the temples, prayed in words that the spirit-slayer aid would afford against their afflictions. Such was their custom, the heathen's hope; hell they remembered, but the Creator, the Judge of deeds, they knew not-knew not the Lord God, knew not how to praise the heavens' Protector, 1 Apartments used mainly by the women. 180 IV. BEOWULF'S RESOLVE 190 So Healfdene's son on sorrow brooded; for all his wisdom the hero could not avert the evil; that strife was too strong, malice-brought misery, greatest of night-woes. loathsome and tedious, that came on the people, Then Hygelac's thane,* a Geatman good, heard from his home of Grendel's deeds; he of mankind was strongest in power in that day of this life, noble and vigorous. 200 the prince renowned, since men he had need of. Dear though he was, his prudent liegemen little blamed him for that voyage, whetted him rather, and noted the omen. Then the good chief chose him champions of the Geat-folk, whomso bravest he could find, and, fourteen with him, sought the vessel. Then the hero, Time passed; the floater was on the waves, the sea-crafty man, led the way to the shore. the boat 'neath the hill; the ready warriors stepped on the prow; the streams surged the sea 'gainst the sand; the warriors bare into the bark's bosom bright arms, a rich war-array. The men shoved out on the welcome voyage the wooden bark. 208 220 Most like to a bird the foamy-necked floater, impelled by the wind, then flew o'er the waves till about the same time on the second day the twisted prow had sailed so far that the voyagers land descried, shining ocean-shores, mountains steep, spacious sea-nesses. Then was the floater at the end of its voyage. Up thence quickly the Weders' people stept on the plain; the sea-wood tied; their mail-shirts shook, their martial weeds; thanked God that to them the paths of the waves had been made easy. When from the wall the Scyldings' warder, who the sea-shores had to keep, saw bright shields borne over the gunwale, war-gear ready, wonder arose within his mind what those men were. Hrothgar's thane then went to the shore, on his horse riding, stoutly shook 230 |
