TWELVE CENTURIES OF ENGLISH 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 over the whale-road, was bound to obey him and pay him tribute: that was a good king. To him a son was afterward born, a child in his courts whom God sent 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, 9 by the mast laid him. There were treasures many to comfort the people; He felt the dire need they erst had suffered, how they had princeless been a long while. Therefore the Lord of Life, Glory-prince, gave to him worldly honor. Renowned was Beowulf, widely the glory spread from far ways, ornaments brought. I have heard of no comelier keel adorned alone o'er the wave, a little child. 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 probable interpretation. No attempt is made to atheling, prince nicker, orken, sea- sark, cuirass thane, war-companion, wyrd, fate the lofty Healfdene. He ruled while he lived, and I have heard that Elan1 was wife the 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 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 the unblest man abode in awhile, Thence monstrous births all woke into being, III. THE GRIM GUEST OF HEOROT When night had come he went to visit the lofty house, to see how the Ring-Danes to many a tribe thro' this mid-earth treasures at the feast. The hall arose Then the potent guest who in darkness dwelt loud in the hall. There was sound of the harp, loud song of the gleeman. The scop, who could the origin of men from far back relate, told how the Almighty wrought the earth, 1 Perhaps the fourth child. 2 so that 90 * "The Hart"-probably so named from gable decorations resembling a deer's horns. 116 120 He found therein a band of nobles Then in the morning, at early day, 130 the accursed sprite's. That strife was too strong, loathsome and tedious. It was no longer than after one night, again he perpetrated greater mischief, and scrupled not at feud and crime; he was too set on them. Then were those easily found who elsewhere sought their rest in places of safety, † Hrothgar's son-in-law, Ingeld, tried to avenge apon him the death of his father, and it may have been he who gave the hall to "hostile flame." 3 roamer of the marches, or land-bounds That is, Grendel is of the monstrous brood ot Cain. The passage is one of the Christian additions to a legend wholly pagan in origin. on beds in the bowers, when it was shown IV. BEOWULF'S RESOLVE 3 them, 140 truly declared by a manifest token, the hall-thane's hate; held themselves after farther and faster who the fiend escaped. So Healfdene's son on sorrow brooded; for all his wisdom the hero could not avert the evil; that strife was too strong, loathsome and tedious, that came on the people, 190 So Grendel ruled, and warred against right, malice-brought misery, greatest of night-woes. alone against all, until empty stood that best of houses. Great was the while, twelve winters' tide, the Scyldings' friend Then Hygelac's thane,* a Geatman good, heard from his home of Grendel's deeds; endured his rage, every woe, ample sorrow. Whence it became 150 he of mankind was strongest in power in that day of this life, noble and vigorous. He bade for himself a good wave-rider to be prepared; said he would go over the swan-road to seek the war-king, the prince renowned, since men he had need of. Dear though he was, his prudent liegemen little blamed him for that voyage, 200 whetted him rather, and noted the omen. openly known to the children of men, for a glorious satisfaction at the murderer 's hands. 159 The fell wretch kept persecutingthe dark death-shade-the noble and youthful, oppressed and snared them. All the night he roamed the mist-moors. Men know not whither hell-sorcerers wander at times. Thus many crimes the foe of mankind, the fell lone-roamer, often accomplished, cruel injuries. Heorot he held, seat richly adorned, in the dark nights; yet might not the gift-throne touch, that treasure, 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, 180 the heathen's hope; hell they remembered, 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, the sea-crafty man, led the way to the shore. Time passed; the floater was on the waves, 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 that no enemies on the Danes' land 'gainst every foe, your new-tarred ship, not surely the pass-word ready of warriors, as false spies, into the Danes' land V. THE MISSION OF THE GEATS Then they set forth; the vessel still bode 252 stained and fire-hardened, it held life in ward.* 260 Him the chief of them answered then, the band's war-leader his word-hoard unlocked: "We are of race of the Geats' nation, and hearth-enjoyers of Hygelac. Well known to nations was my father, a noble chieftain, Ecgtheow named; abode many winters ere he departed old from his courts; nigh every sage thro' the wide earth remembers him well. We in kindness of feeling have come to seek thy lord, the son of Healfdene, the folk-defender. Be a kind informant. We have a great errand to the illustrious lord of the Danes. Naught shall be secret whereof my thought is. Thou knowest whether it be in sooth as we have heard say, that with the Scyldings I know not what wretch, 270 310 the light of it shone over many lands. To them then the warrior pointed out clearly the proud one's court, that they might thither take their way; then did the warrior turn his steed and speak these words: "'Tis time for me to go on my way. May the all-ruling Father with honor hold you safe in your fortunes. I will back to the sea, ward to keep against hostile bands." VI. THE ARRIVAL AT HEOROT The street was stone-paved, the path gav guidance 320 to the men in a body; the war-byrnie shone, hard, hand-locked; the ringed iron bright sang in their gear, as they to the hall in their arms terrific came striding on. Their ample shields, their flint-hard bucklers, the sea-weary set 'gainst the mansion's wall, then stooped to the benches; their byrnies rang, the war-gear of men. In a sheaf together the javelins stood, the seamen's arms, ash-wood, grey-tipped. These ironclad men were weaponed well. 329 Then a proud chief asked these sons of conflict concerning their lineage: "Whence do ye bear your plated shields and grey sarks hither, your visor-helms and heap of war-shafts? I am Hrothgar's servant and messenger. Never saw I strangers so many and proud. I ween that ye out of pride, of greatness of soul, and not for exile, have sought Hrothgar." Him then answered the famed for valor; the Weders' proud lord, bold 'neath his helmet, spake words afterward: "We are Hygelac's table-enjoyers-my name, Beowulf. I my errand will relate * Boar-images surmounted the helmets. 340 to the great lord, son of Healfdene, to thy prince, if he will grant us graciously to greet him here.” 348 Wulfgar spake (he was lord of the Wendels; known to many was his spirit, his valor and wisdom): “I will therefore ask the Danes' friend, lord of the Scyldings, mighty prince and ring-distributor, about thy voyage, as thou requestest, and make quickly known the answer that the prince thinks fit to give me." He then went quickly where Hrothgar sat, name their chief. They make petition VII. HROTHGAR'S WELCOME Hrothgar spake, the Scyldings' shield: were wont to say of him, the war-famed, 360 Grendel's doings became clearly known. 370 lord of the bright Danes, Scyldings' protector, will I make this one petition: now that I come so far, deny not, 430 380 O patron of warriors, friend of people, guests to the Danes. [Then to the hall-door "I ween that he, if he may prevail, will fearlessly eat, in the martial hall, the Geat's people, as oft he has done the Hrethmen's1 forces. Thou wilt not need to shroud my head, for he will have me, stained with gore, if death shall take me; 1 the Danes 441 |