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THE SONG OF

BEOWULF

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CONTENTS

PAGE

Introduction. ....... 7

Genealogies . . . . . • • .12

The Song of Beowulf . . . . . -13

Questions . . • • • • • • 1^9

Appendix .......

121

One of the precious things in the British Museum is
an old manuscript book containing the poem Beowulf.
It is the only Old Enghsh poem of heroic exploits
that has come down to us complete. It has survived
not because it was necessarily the best, but simply
because it was luckier than other poems which have
been whoUy lost, or of which only fragments remain.
The stories of Walter of Aquitaine and of Finn were
as good or better than Beowulf, but only a few Unes
are left — just enough to make us wish for more.
Beowulf, then, is not only a good thing in itself, but
is also the only thing of its kind. It is the best thing
English poetry has to show before the Norman
Conquest and for long after.

Yet this English poem is not about Englishmen or
England. The men and women in the story are
mostly Danes and Geats, and the adventures take
place in the home of the Geats in the South of Sweden,
and in Hrothgar's haU in the island of Seeland. At
first sight this seems strcuige, and some have thought
that the poem is merely a translation of a Scandina-
vian original, and therefore only English in a partial
sense. But another explanation is probably nearer
the truth. When the English were still on the Con-
tinent- they and their neighbours knew and told

7

8 INTRODUCTION

a great many stories of heroic deeds. These stories
and their heroes did not belong to any one people;
the Scandinavians knew them as well as the Angles
and Saxons. They were a common possession of the
Germanic tribes. When the Angles and Saxons came
to England they brought these tales with them along
with their other possessions, and out of some of them
made poems such as Beowulf.

We do not know the author of the poem, nor can
we be sure of its date. Probably it was made a little
before or after 700. In this poem, written twelve
hundred years ago, we are shown a way of living
very different from the one we know. It is not even
the world of the year 700, for, even if the poem was
made then, it refers back to an earlier time. Hygelac,
King of the Geats, for instance, was an historical
prince, and he was killed early in the sixth century.

In some ways, then, the poem seems very remote
from us. A summary of the plot sounds hke a nursery
tale of marvels. The three exploits of Beowulf —
the kOling of Grendel and Grendel's mother and the
fight with the fire-breathing dragon — belong to the
same family as the adventures of Jack the Giant
Killer. Yet the poem is very different from such
stories. Some of the adventures are fantastic, but
the men and women seem real, substantial persons.
Several of them are actually historical. They are
not like the people in fairy tales. For one thing,
they speak differently. "I shall achieve a mighty
deed fit for an earl, or suffer my death in this mead-

INTRODUCTION 9

hall," says Beowulf. The heroes of the fairy tales
do not speak with this heroic dignity. The persons
in Beowulf belong to an old heroic age which came
to an end about the middle of the sixth century —
they have the same reality and dignity as the men
and women of the still older heroic age of Greece,
reflected in the poetry of Homer.

One feature of the age constantly referred to in
Beowulf is the frequency of feuds. The Danes have
a feud with Finn of the Frisians and with Ingeld
of the Heathobards; Hygelac loses his life in a
raid on the Hetware, and the wars between Geats
and Swedes are mentioned several times. In such
a world a chief naturally prized the loyalty of his
men, and it is a quality singled out for praise in the
poem. Beowulf is a proud and devoted follower of
his kinsman Hygelac. He is glad that his exploits
will bring fame to his prince as well as to himself.
After Hygelac's death, instead of seizing the throne
himself, he protects the young heir Heardred. The
prince is expected to repay such loyalty with
generosity. Hrothgar is called the Giver of Rings;
one of the charges against the bad king, Heremod,
is that he did not give presents to the Danes. But
the hero undertakes an adventure such as cleansing
Heorot of monsters not merely for rewards. What
he cares most about is fame: "Each must lose
his life in this world; let him who can achieve
glory ere death! When life has gone that will be
best for a noble warrior."

10 INTRODUCTION

These old heroic stories are fond of showing a man
fighting against odds — Beowulf waiting in Heorot
for Grendel and disdaining to use sword or armour —
this is the sort of situation the old poets hked. The
heroic creed is finely given in the Old EngUsh poem on
the Battle of Maldon: "Thought shall be the braver,
heart the bolder, courage the greater, as our strength
grows less." This spirit can be found in our poetry and
in our race in later days. Tennyson's Ulysses has the
same proud fortitude as Beowulf:

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

The hfe described in Beowulf has its own nobility
and splendour. One of the best scenes is that where
Hrothgar's queen, Wealtheow, goes, goid-adomed,
through the great hall among the old and young
warriors, bearing the mead-cup and giving courteous
greeting to the Danes and to the visiting Geats. Or
a minstrel sings clear-voiced in Heorot of heroic
deeds to the music of the harp. In such scenes
Beowtdf shows the same sort of dignity as we find
in Homer. The difference is one of degree, not
of kind.

In this poem are many references to Christianity.
Some of these seem strangely incongruous. Hrothgar's
minstrel sings a religious poem about the Creation,
and yet Beowulf is cremated with pagan ceremonies.
This mixture of pagan and Christian usages and

INTRODUCTION li

beliefs has been explained in several ways. Some
think that the Christian passages were not in the
poem at first but were added by a later hand. We
cannot be certain, but it is possible that they were
the work of the original poet. Christianity did not
at once drive out the older faith and ideas. The
Christian King Alfred loved to listen to the old
Saxon songs. For a time the old and the new existed
side by side in England, as they do in this English
poem. A httle later Old Enghsh poetry dealt almost
entirely with Christian subjects, and the monk in
his cell turned poet and replaced the minstrel in haU.
The EngUsh of Beowulf is practically a foreign
language to us. Twelve hundred years have brought
great changes in vocabulary, inflexions, pronuncia-
tion, and system of gender. The kind of verse is
also old-fashioned. Rhjone is not used, but each
line is broken in the middle and the two halves are
joined by alliteration. For example:

Sweord waes swatig; secg weorce gefeh

(Sword was bloody; The man in the work rejoiced).

This old verse was replaced by the rhyming metres
which the Norman French brought with them, but
somehow the secret was not forgotten. In the
fourteenth century, when England had at last in
Chaucer a great master of the new metres, the old
alliterative fashion reappeared and made a glorious
end in Piers Plowman and other poems.

GENEALOGIES

DANISH ROYAL FAMILY
Scyld Scefing

Beowulf L

Healtdene
1

Heorogar
Heoroweard

Hrothgar
m. Wealtheow

Halga
Hrothulf

Hrethric

Hrothmund

m.

1
Freawaru
, Ingeld, son of Froda

GEAT ROYAL FAMILY
Swerting
Hrethel

Herebeald

Hsethcyn

a daughter
who m. Eofor

Hygelac
m. Hygd

a daughter
»i. Ecgtheow

I
Beowulf II.

Heardred

SWEDISH ROYAL FAMILY
Scylf
Ongentheow

Onela

Ohtere

Eanmund

Eadgils

12

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THE

SONG OF BEOWULF

i^TJ'O

Lo! we have heard the glory of the kings of the
Spear-Danes in days gone by, how the chieftains
wrought mighty deeds. Often Scyld-Scefiing wrested
the mead-benches from troops of foes, from many
tribes; he made fear fall upon the earls. After he
was first found in misery (he received solace for that),
he grew up under the heavens, lived in high honoiu:,
until each of his neighbours over the whale-road
must needs obey him and render tribute. That was
a good king! Later a yoimg son was born to him in
the court, God sent him for a comfort to the people;
He had marked the misery of that earUer time when
they suffered long space, lacking a leader. WTiere-
fore the Lord of Ufe, the Ruler of glory, gave him
honour in the world.

Beowulf was renowned; the repute of Scyld's son
spread far and wide in Scandinavian lands. Thus
shall a yoimg man bring good to pass in his father's
house with splendid gifts, so that when war comes
willing comrades shall stand by him again in his
old age, the people follow him. In every tribe a
man shall prosper by deeds of love.

Beowulf was renowned. This Beowulf must not be confused
with the hero of the poem.

13

14 THE SONG

Then at the fated hour Scyld, very brave, passed
hence into the Lord's protection. Then did they,
his dear comrades, bear him out to the shore of the
sea, as he himself had besought them, whilst as friend
of the Scyldings, loved lord of the land, he held sway
with speech. There at the haven stood the ring-
prowed ship radiant and ready, the chieftain's vessel.
Then they laid down the loved lord, the bestowers of
rings on the bosom of the barge, the famous man by
the mast. Many treasures and ornaments were there,
brought from afar. I never heard of a sightlier ship
adorned with weapons of war and garments of battle,
swords and corslets. Many treasures lay on his
bosom that were to pass far with him into the power
of the flood. No whit less did they furnish him with
gifts, with great costly stores than did those who sent
him forth in the beginning while he was still a child
alone over the waves. Further they set a golden
banner high over his head ; they let the ocean
bear him; they surrendered him to the sea. Sad
was their mind, mournful their mood. Men cannot
tell for a truth, counsellors in hall, heroes under the
heavens, who received that burden.

II

Then Beowulf of the Scyldings, beloved king of the
people, was famed among warriors long time in the
strongholds — his father had passed hence, the prince

OF BEOWULF 15

from his home — until noble Healfdene was bom to
him; aged and fierce in fight, he ruled the Scyldings
graciously while he lived. Four children sprang from
him in succession. Heorogar, prince of troops, and
Hrothgar, and Halga the good; I heard that Sigeneow
was Saewela's queen, consort of the war-Scylfing.
Then good fortime in war was granted to Hrothgar,
glory in battle, so that his kinsmen gladly obeyed
him, xmtil the younger warriors grew to be a
mighty band.

It came into his mind that he would order men
to make a hall-building, a mighty mead-dwelling,
greater than ever the children of men had heard,
of; and therein that he should part among yotmg
and old aU which God gave unto him except the
nation and the hves of men. Then I heard far and
wide of work laid upon many a tribe throughout
this world, the task of adorning the place of assembly.
Quickly it came to pass among men that it was perfect ;
the greatest of hall-dwellings; he whose word had
wide sway gave it the name of Heorot. He broke
not his pledge, he bestowed bracelets and treasure
at the banquet. The hall towered up, lofty and wide-
gabled; it endured the surges of battle, of hostile
fire. The time was not yet come when the feud.

Heorot. The site of Heorot or Hart-Hall was probably
that of the modem village of Leire on the Island of
Seeland.

The time was not yet come, etc. This refers to the feud
between Hrothgar and his son-in-law Ingeld mentioned,
later in the poem.

i6 THE SONG

between son-in-law and father-in-law was fated to
flare out after deadly hostility.

Then the mighty spirit who dwelt in darkness
angrily endured the torment of hearing each day
high revel in the hall. There was the sound of the
harp, the clear song of the minstrel. He who could
tell of men's beginning from olden times spoke of
how the Almighty wrought the world, the earth
bright in its beauty as far as the water surrounds it;
the Victorious One estabhshed the brightness of
sun and moon for a hght to dwellers in the land,
and adorned the face of the earth with branches and
leaves; He also created hfe of all kinds which move
and live. Thus the noble warriors lived in pleasure
and plenty, until a fiend in hell began to contrive
mahce. The grim spirit was called Grendel, a famous
march-stepper, who held the moors, the fen and the
fastness. The hapless creature sojourned for a space
in the sea-monsters' home after the Creator had con-
demned him. The eternal Lord avenged the murder
on the race of Cain, because he slew Abel. He did
not rejoice in that feud. He, the Lord, drove him
far from mankind for that crime. Thence sprang all
-evil spawn, ogres and elves and sea-monsters, giants
too, who struggled long time against God. He paid
them requital for that.

Deadly hostility. See Sections xxix. and xxx.

OF BEOWULF I7

III

He went then when night fell to visit the high house,
to see how the Ring-Danes had disposed themselves
in it after the beer-banquet. Then he found therein
the band of chieftains slumbering after the feast;
they knew not sorrow, the misery of men, aught of
misfortune. Straightway he was ready, grim and
ravenous, savage and raging; and seized thirty
thanes on their couches. Thence he departed home-
wards again, exulting in booty, to find out his dwelling
with his fill of slaughter.

Then at dawn with the breaking of day the war-
might of Grendel was made manifest to men; then
after the feasting arose lamentation, a loud cry in
the morning. The renowned ruler, the prince long
famous, sat empty of joy; bitterly he suffered,
sorrowed for his men when they saw the track of the
hateful monster, the evil spirit. That struggle was
too hard, too hateful, and lasting. After no longer
lapse than one night again he wrought still more
murders, violence and mahce, and mourned not for
it; he was too bent on that. Then that man was
easy to find who sought elsewhere for himself a more
remote resting-place, a bed after the banquet, when
the hate of the hall- visitant was shown to him, truly
declared by a plain token; after that he kept himself
further off, and more securely. He escaped the fiend.

Thus one against all prevailed and pitted himself

i8 THE SONG

against right until the peerless house stood unpeopled.
That was a weary while. For the space of twelve
winters the friend of the Scyldings bitteriy suffered
every woe, deep sorrows; wherefore it came to be
known to people, to the children of men, sadly in
songs, that Grendel waged long war with Hrothgar;
many years he bore bitter hatred, violence and mahce,
an luiflagging feud; peace he would not have with
any man of Danish race, nor lay aside murderous
death, nor consent to be bought off. Nor did any
of the coimcillors make bold to expect fairer con-
ditions from the hands of the slayer ; but the monster,
the deadly creature, was hostile to warriors yoimg
and old; he plotted and planned. Many nights he
held the misty moors. Men do not know whither the
demons go in their wanderings.

Thus the foe of men, the dread lone visitant,
oftentimes wrought many works of maUce, sore
injuries; in the dark nights he dwelt in Heorot,
the treasure-decked haU. He might not approach
the throne, the precious thing for fear of the Lord,
nor did he know his piupose.

That was heavy sorrow, misery of mind for the
friend of the Scyldings. Many a mighty one sat
often in council; they held debate what was best
for bold-minded men to do against sudden terrors.
Sometimes in their temples they vowed sacrifices.

He might . . . purpose. An obscure passage, admitting
many interpretations, none of them very satisfactory.

Friend of the Scyldings. Scyldings is a name for the Danes.
The friend of the Scyldings is Hrothgar.

OF BEOWULF 19

they petitioned with prayers that the slayer of souls
should succour them for the people's distress. Such
was their wont, the hope of the heathen. Their
thoughts turned to hell; they knew not the Lord,
the Judge of deeds; they wist not the Lord God;
nor in truth could they praise the Protector of the
heavens, the Ruler of glory. Woe is it for him who
must needs send forth his soul in unhoUness and fear
into the embrace of the fire, hope for no solace, suffer
no change! Well is it for him who may after the
day of death seek the Lord, and crave shelter in
the Father's embrace!

IV

Thus the son of Healfdene was ever troubled with
care; nor could the sage hero sweep aside his sorrows.
That struggle was too hard, too hateful and lasting,
which fell on the people, — fierce hostile oppression,
greatest of night-woes.

Hygelac's thane, a valiant man among the Geats,
heard of that at home, of the deeds of Grendel. He
was the greatest in might among men at that time,
noble and powerful. He bade a good ship to be built
for him; he said that he was set on seeking the war-
like king, the famous prince over the swan-road,
since he had need of men. No whit did wise men
blame him for the venture, though he was dear to
them; they urged on the staunch-minded man, they

20 THE SONG

sought out good omens. The vahant man had chosen
warriors of the men of the Geats, the boldest he could
find; with fourteen others he sought the ship. A
man cunning in knowledge of the sea showed the
way along the edge of the land.

Time passed on; the ship was on the waves, the
boat beneath the cUff . The warriors eagerly embarked.
The ciuxents turned the sea against the sand. Men
bore bright ornaments, splendid war-trappings to the
bosom of the ship. The men, the heroes on their
willing venture, shoved out the well-timbered ship.
The foamy-necked floater hke a bird went then over
the wave-fiUed sea, sped by the wind, till after due
time on the next day the boat with twisted prow had
gone so far that the voyagers saw land, the sea-cHffs
shining, the steep headlands, the broad sea-capes.
Then the sea was traversed, the journey at an end.
The men of the Weders mounted thence quickly to
the land; they made fast the ship. The armour
rattled, the garments of battle. They thanked God
that the sea voyage had been easy for them.

Then the watchman of the Scyldings whose duty
it was to guard the sea-cliffs saw from the height
bright shields and battle-equipment ready for use
borne over the gangway. A desire to know who the
men were pressed on his thoughts. The Thane of
Hrothgar went to the shore riding his steed; mightily
he brandished his spear in his hands, spoke forth a
question: "What warriors are ye, clad in corslets.
Men of the Weders. Weders is another name for the Geats.

OF BEOWULF 21

who have come thus bringing the high ship over the
way of waters, hither over the floods? Lo! for a
time I have been guardian of our coasts, I have kept
watch by the sea lest any of the Danes' enemies
should make ravage with their sea-raiders. No
shield-bearing warriors have ventured here more
openly; nor do ye know at all that ye have the
I)ermission of warriors, the consent of kinsmen. I
never saw in the world a greater earl than one of
your band is, a hero in his harness. He is no stay-
at-home decked out with weapons; unless his face
belies him, his excellent front. Now I must know
your race rather than ye should go further hence as
spies in the land of the Danes. Now, ye far-dwellers,
travellers of the sea, hearken but to my thought. It
is best to tell forth quickly whence ye are come."

The eldest answered him; the leader of the troop
unlocked his word-hoard: "We are men of the race
of the Geats and hearth-companions of Hygelac.
My father was famed among the peoples, a noble
high prince called Ecgtheow; he sojourned many
winters ere he passed away, the old man from his
dwelling. Far and wide throughout the earth every
wise man remembers him well. We have come with
gracious intent to seek out thy lord, the son of

22 THE SONG

Healfdene, the protector of his people. Be kindly to
us in counsel. We have a great errand to the famous
man, to the prince of the Danes. Nor shall anything
be hidden there, I hope. Thou knowest if the truth
is as indeed we heard tell, that some sort of foe, a
secret pursuer, works on the dark nights evil, hatred,
injury and slaughter, spreading terror. I can give
Hrothgar counsel from a generous mind, how he
may overcome the enemy wisely and well, if for him
the torment of ills should ever cease, relief come again,
and the siirges of care grow cooler; or if he shall
ever after suffer a time of misery and pain while the
best of houses stands there in its lofty station."

The watchman spoke, the fearless servant, where
he sat his steed — a bold shield-warrior who ponders
well shall pass judgment on both words and deeds:
"I hear that this is a troop friendly to the prince of
the Scyldings. Go forth and bear weapons and
trappings; I will guide you. Likewise I will bid my
henchmen honourably guard your vessel against all
enemies, your newly-tarred ship on the sand, imtil
once more the boat with twisted prow shall bear the
beloved man to the coast of the Weders, those of the
vaUant ones to whom it shall be vouchsafed to escape
unscathed from the rush of battle."

They went on their way then. The ship remained at
rest ; the broad-bosomed vessel was bound by a rope,
fast at anchor. The boar-images shone over the cheek

The boar-images shone. Images of boars on the tops of
the helmets.

OF BEOWULF 23

armour, decked with gold; gay with colour and har-
dened by fire they gave protection to the brave men.
The warriors hastened, went up together, until they
could see the well-built hall, splendid and gold-
adomed. That was foremost of buildings under the
heavens for men of the earth, in which the mighty
one dwelt ; the light shone over many lands.

The man bold in battle pointed out to them the
abode of brave men, as it gleamed, so that they could
go thither. One of the warriors turned his horse, then
spoke a word. " It is time for me to go. The Almighty
Father guard you by His grace safe in your ventiire.
I will to the sea to keep watch for a hostile horde."

VI

The street was paved with stones of various colours,
the road kept the warriors together. The war corslet
shone, firmly hand-locked, the gleaming iron rings
sang in the armour as they came on their way in
their trappings of war even to the hall. Weary from
the sea, they set down their broad shields, their
stout targes against the wall of the building; they
sat down on the bench then. The corslets rang out,
the warriors' armour. The spears, the weapons of
seamen, of ash wood grey at the tip, stood all together.
The armed band was adorned with war-gear. Then a
haughty hero asked the men of battle as to their
lineage: "Whence bear ye plated shields, grey

24 THE SONG

corslets and masking helmets, this pile of spears?
I am Hrothgar's messenger and herald. I have not
seen so many men of strange race more brave in
bearing. I suppose ye have 'sought Hrothgar from
pride, by no means as exiles but with high minds."

The bold man, proud prince of the Weders, answered
him, spoke a word in reply, stem under his helmet:
"We are Hygelac's table-oompanions ; Beowulf is
my name. I wish to tell my errand to the son of
Healfdene, the famous prince, thy lord, if he will
grant that we may greet him who is so gracious."
Wulfgar spoke — he was a man of the Wendels; his
courage, his bravery and his wisdom had been made
known to many: "I will ask the friend of the Danes,
the prince of the Scyldings, the giver of rings, the
renowned ruler about thy venture as thou desirest,
and speedOy make known to thee the answer which
the gracious one thinks fit to give me." He turned
quickly then to where Hrothgar sat, aged and grey-
haired, amid the band of earls; the bold man went
tUl he stood before the shoulders of the Danish
prince; he knew courtly custom. Wulfgar spoke to
his gracious master: "Men of the Geats, come from
afar, have been brought here over the stretch of the
ocean. The warriors call the eldest one Beowulf.
They request, my lord, that they may exchange
words with thee. Refuse them not thy answer,
gracious Hrothgar. They seem in their war-gear
worthy of respect from the noble-bom. Of a truth
the leader is valiant who guided the heroes hither."

OF BEOWULF 25

VII

Hrothgar spoke, the protector of the Scyldings:
" I knew him when he was a youth. His aged father
was called Ecgtheow; to him Hrethel of the Geats
gave his only daughter in marriage. His son has now
come here boldly, has sought a gracious friend. Then
seafaring men, who brought precious gifts of the
Geats hither as a present, said that he, mighty in
battle, had the strength of thirty men in the grip of
his hand. May Holy God in His graciousness send
him to us, to the West-Danes, as I hope, against the
terror of Grendel. I shall offer treasures to the
valiant one for his courage. Do thou hasten, bid
them enter to see the friendly band all together;
teU them also with words that they are welcome
arrivals to the people of the Danes." Then Wulfgar
went toward the door of the hall, spoke a word in
the door- way: "My victorious lord, prince of the
East-Danes, bade me tell you that he knows your
lineage, and that ye, bold in mind, are welcome
arrivals hither over the sea-surges. Now ye may go
in your war-gear under battle-helmets to see Hroth-
gar; let your battle-shields, spears, deadly shafts,
await here the issue of the speaking."

The mighty one rose then, aroimd him many a
warrior, excellent troop of thcines. Some waited
there, kept watch over their trappings, as the bold

26 THE SONG

man bade them. They hastened together, as the
warrior guided, under the roof of Heorot; the man,
resolute in mind, stem under his helmet, went till
he stood within the hall. Beowulf spoke — on him
his corslet shone, the shirt of mail sewn by the art
of the smith. " Hail to thee Hrothgar ! lamHygelac's
kinsman and thane. I have in my youth imdertaken
many heroic deeds. The ravages of Grendel were
made known to me in my native land. Sea-farers
say that this hall, the noblest building, stands un-
peopled and profitless to all warriors, after the Ught
of evening is hidden under cover of heaven. Then
my people counselled me, the best of men in their
wisdom, that I should seek thee, Prince Hrothgar:
because they knew the power of my strength, they
saw it themselves, when I came out of battles,
blood-stained from my foes, where I bound five,
ruined the race of the monsters and slew by night
the sea beasts mid the waves, suffered sore need,
avenged the wrong of the Weders, killed the foes —
they embarked on an unlucky venture. And now
alone I shall achieve the exploit against Grendel,
the monster, the giant. I wish now at this time to
ask thee one boon, prince of the Bright -Danes,
protector of the Scyl dings: that thou, defence of
warriors, friendly prince of the people, wilt not
refuse me, now I have come thus far, that I and my
band of earls, this bold troop, may cleanse Heorot
unaided. I have also heard that the monster in his
madness cares naught for weapons; wherefore I

OF BEOWULF 27

scorn to bear sword or broad shield, yellow targe to
the battle, so may Hygelac my lord be gracious in
mind to me ; but with my grip I shall seize the fiend
and strive for his life, foe against foe. There he whom
death takes must needs trust to the judging of the
Lord. I think that he is minded, if he can bring it
to pass, to devour fearlessly in the battle-hall the
people of the Geats, the flower of men, as he often
has done. Not at all dost thou need to protect my
head, but if death takes me he wiU have me drenched
in blood; he will carry off the bloody corpse, will
think to hide it; the lone-goer will feed without
mourning, he will stain the moor-refuges. No longer
needst thou sorrow for the keeping of my body.
Send to Hygelac, if battle takes me off, the best of
battle-garments that arms my breast, the finest of
corslets. That is a heritage from Hrethel, the work
of Weland. Fate ever goes as it must."

VIII

Hrothgar spoke, the protector of the Scyldings:
"Thou hast sought us, my friend Beowulf, for battle
and from graciousness. Thy father brought about
by fight the greatest of feuds; he became the slayer

The work of Weland. Weland, the maker of Beowulf's coat
of mail, is a famous smith in Germanic legend. Cf. Wayland
Smith in Scott's Kenilworih.

28 THE SONG

of Heatholai among the Wulfings; then the race
of the Weders would not receive him because of
threatening war. Thence he sought the people of
the South-Danes, the honourable Scyldings, over
the surging of the waves. Then I had just begun to
rule the Danish people and in youth held a wide-
stretched kingdom, a stronghold of heroes. Then
Heregar was dead, my elder kinsman, the son of
Healfdene had ceased to live; he was better than I.
Afterwards I ended the feud with money; I sent old
treasures to the Wulfings over the back of the water;
he swore oaths to me. It is sorrow for me in my mind
to tell any man what malice and sudden onslaughts
Grendel has wrought on Heorot with his hostile
thoughts. Thinned is my troop in hall, my war-
band. Fate swept them away to the dread Grendel.
God may easily part the bold enemy from his deeds.

"Full often did warriors drunken with beer boast
over the ale-cup that they would await Grendel's
attack with dread blades in the beer-haU. Then in
the morning, when day dawned, this mead-hall, the
troop-haU, was stained with blood ; all the ale-benches
drenched with gore, the hall with blood shed in
battle. I had so many the less trusty men, dear
veterans, since death had carried off these. Sit down
now at the banquet, and at a fitting season secure
fame of victory for the thanes as thy mind prompts."

Then a bench was cleared in the beer-hall for the
men of the Geats together; there the bold-minded
ones went and sat down, exceeding proud. A thane

OF BEOWULF 29

who bore in his hands the decked ale-cup performed
the of&ce, poured out the gleaming beer. At times
the minstrel sang clearly in Heorot; there was joy
of heroes, a great band of warriors, Danes and Weders.

IX

Unferth spoke, son of Ecglaf, who sat at the feet
of the prince of the Scyldings. He began dispute —
the joxuTiey of Beowulf, the brave sea-farer, was a
great bitterness to him, because he did not grant
that any other man in the world accomplished
greater exploits under heaven than he himself:
"Art thou that Beowulf who strove with Breca,
contended on the wide sea for the prize in swimming,
where ye two tried the floods in your pride, and
risked your lives in the deep water from presump-
tion? Nor could any man, friend or foe, prevent the
sorrowful joiuney; then ye two swam on the sea,
where ye plied the ocean-streams with your arms,
measured the sea-paths, threw aside the sea with
your hands, glided over the surge; the deep raged
with its waves, with its wintry flood. Seven nights
ye toiled in the power of the water; he outstripped
thee in swimming, had greater strength. Then in
the morning the sea bore him to the land of the
Heathoremes. Thence, dear to his people, he sought
his loved countr5% the land of the Brondings, the

30 THE SONG

fair stronghold, where he ruled over people, castle
and rings. The son of Beanstan in truth fulfilled
all his pledge to thee. Wherefore I expect a worse
fate for thee, though everywhere thou hast withstood
battle-rushes, grim war, if thou durst await Grendel
throughout the night near at hand."

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: "Lo! thou hast
spoken a great deal, friend Unferth, about Breca,
drunken as thou art with beer; thou hast told of
his journey. I count it as truth that I had greater
might in the sea, hardships mid the waves, than any
other man.

"We arranged that and made bold, while we were
youths — we were both then still in our boyhood —
that we two should risk our Uves out on the sea;
and thus we accomplished that. We held naked
swords boldly in our hands when we swam in the
ocean; we thought to protect ourselves against the
whales. In no wise could he swim far from me on
the waves of the flood, more quickly on the sea;
I would not consent to leave him. Then we were
together on the sea for the space of five nights till
the flood forced us apart, the surging sea, coldest of
storms, darkening night, and a wind from the north,
battle-grim, came against us. Wild were the waves;
the temper of the sea-monsters was stirred. There
did my shirt of mail hard-locked by hand stand me
in good stead against foes; the woven battle-garment,
adorned with gold, lay on my breast. A spotted
deadly foe drew me to the depths, had me firmly

OF BEOWULF 31

and fiercely in his grip; yet it was granted to me
that I pierced the monster with my point, my battle
spear. The rush of battle carried off the mighty
sea-monster by my hand."

X

"Thus oftentimes malicious foes pressed me hard.

I served them with my good sword, as was fitting.

They had not joy of their feasting, the evil doers,

when they seized me. They sat round the banquet

near the bottom of the sea; but in the morning

they lay cast up on the shore, wounded with swords,

laid low by blades, so that no longer they hindered

sea-farers on their voyage over the high flood. Light

came from the east, bright beacon of God. The surges

sank down, so that I could behold the sea-capes,

the windy headlands. Fate often succours the

imdoomed warrior when HTi^valour is strong.

""Yet it was my fortune to slay with the sword

nine sea-monsters. I have not heard under the

arching sky of heaven of harder fighting by night,

nor of a more hapless man in the streams of ocean.

Yet I escaped with my life from the grasp of foes,

weary of travel. Then the sea, the flood, the raging

surges bore me to the shore in the land of the Finns.

" I have not heard such exploits told of thee,

dread deeds, terror of swords; never yet did Breca

32 THE SONG

or either of you two in the play of battle perform
so bold a deed with gleaming blades — I do not
boast of the struggle — though thou camest to be
the murderer of thy brother, thy near kinsman.
For that thou must needs suffer damnation in hell,
though thy wit is strong. ' Forsooth, I tell thee, son
of Ecglaf, that Grendel, the fearful monster, had
never achieved so many dread deeds against thy
prince, malice on Heorot, if thy thoughts and mind
had been as daring as thou thyself sayest. But he
has found out that he need not sorely dread the
feud, the terrible sword-battle of your people, the
victorious Scyldings; he takes pledges by force, he
spares none of the Danish people, but he Uves in
pleasure, sleeps and feasts; he looks for no fight
from the Spear-Danes. But soon now I shall show
him battle, the might and coiu-age of the Geats.
He who may will go afterwards, brave to the mead,
when the morning Ught of another day, the sun
clothed with sky-Uke brightness, shines from the
south over the children of men."

Then glad was the giver of treasure, grey-haired
and famed in battle; the prince of the Bright-Danes
trusted in aid; the protector of the people heard in
Beowulf a resolute purpose. There was laughter of
heroes; talk was heard; words were winsome.

Wealtheow went forth, Hrothgar's queen, mindful
of what was fitting; gold-adorned, she greeted the
warriors in hall; and the free-bom woman first
offered the goblet to the guardian of the East-Danes ;

OF BEOWULF 33

bade him be of good cheer at the beer-banquet, be
dear to his people. He gladly took part in the banquet
and received the hall-goblet, the king mighty in
victory. Then the woman of the Helmings went
about everywhere among old and young warriors,
proffered the precious cup, till the time came that
she, the ring-decked queen, excellent in mind, bore
the mead-flagon to Beowulf. She greeted the prince
of the Geats, thanked God with words of sober wisdom
that her wish had been fulfilled, that she might trust
to some earl as a comfort in trouble. He, the warrior
fierce in fight, took that goblet from Wealtheow, and
then, ready for battle, spoke in measures.

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: "That was my
purpose when I laimched on the ocean, embarked on
the sea-boat with the band of my warriors, that I
should work the will of your people to the full, or
fall a corpse fast in the foe's grip. I shall accomplish
deeds of heroic might, or endure my last day in the
mead-haU."

Those words, the boasting speech of the Geat,
pleased the woman well. Decked with gold, the free-
bom queen of the people went to sit by her prince.
Then again as before there was excellent converse
in hall, the warriors in happiness, the sound of
victorious people, till all at once Healfdene's son
was minded to seek his evening's rest. He knew
that war was destined to the high hall by the monster
after they could no longer see the light of the sun,
and when, night growing dark over all, the shadowy

34 THE SONG

creatures came stalking, black beneath the clouds.
The troop all rose.

Then one warrior greeted the other, Hrothgar
Beowulf, and wished him success, power over the
wine-hall, and spoke these words: "Never before
did I trust to any men, since I was able to lift hand
and shield, the excellent hall of the Danes, except
to thee now. Have now and hold the best of houses.
Be mindful of fame, show a mighty courage, watch
against foes. Nor shalt thou lack what thou desirest,
if with thy life thou comest out from that heroic task."

XI

Then Hrothgar went his way with his band of
heroes, the protector of Scyldings out of the hall;
the warhke king was minded to seek Wealtheow
the queen for his bedfellow. The glorious king had,
as men learned, set a hall-guardian against Grendel;
he performed a special service for the prince of the
Danes, kept watch against monsters. Triily the
prince of the Geats relied firmly on his fearless
might, and the grace of the Lord. Then he laid
aside his iron corslet, the helmet from his head, gave
his ornamented sword, best of blades, to his servant
and bade him keep his war-gear.
Then the valiant one, Beowulf of the Geats, spoke

OF BEOWULF 35

some words of boasting ere he mounted his bed:
"I do not count myself less in war-strength, in battle-
deeds, than Grendel does himself; wherefore I will
not slay him, spoil him of life by sword, although
I might. He knows not the use of weapons so as to
strike at me, hew my shield, though he may be
mighty in works of malice; but we two shall do
without swords in the night, if he dare to seek war
without weapons, and afterwards the wise God, the
holy Lord, shall award fame to whatever side seems
good to Him." The bold warrior lay down, the earl's
face touched the bolster; and round him many a
mighty sea-hero bent to his couch in the hall. None
of them thought that he should go thence and seek
again the loved land, the people or stronghold where
he was fostered; but they had heard that murderous
death had ere now carried off far too many of Danish
people in the wine-hall. But the Lord gave them
success in war, support and succour to the men of
the Weders, so that through the strength of one,
his own might, they all overcame their foe. The truth
has been made loiown, that mighty Ck)d has ever
ruled over mankind.

The shadowy visitant came stedking in the dark
night. The warriors slept, who were to keep the
antlered building, aU save one. That was known
to men that the ghostly enemy might not sweep

The antlered building. The gables of the hall were adorned
wit±i antlers, from which it probably derived its name,
Heorot, i.e. Hart.

36 THE SONG

them off among the shadows, for the Lord willed it
not; but he, watching in anger against foes, awaited
in wrathful mood the issue of the battle.

XII

Then from the moor under the misty cliffs came
Grendel, he bore God's anger. The foul foe purposed
to trap with cunning one of the men in the high hall;
he went under the clouds till he might see most
clearly the wine-building, the gold-hall of warriors,
gleaming with plates of gold. That was not the first
time he had sought Hrothgar's home; never in his
life-days before or since did he find bolder heroes
and hall-thanes. The creature came, bereft of joys,
making his way to the building. Straightway the
door, firm clasped by fire-hardened fetters, opened,
when he touched it with his hands; then, pondering
evil, he tore open the entry of the hall when he was
enraged. Quickly after that the fiend trod the gleam-
ing floor, moved angry in mood. A baleful light,
like flame, flared from his eyes. He saw in the
building many heroes, the troop of kinsmen sleeping
together, the band of young warriors. Then his
mind exulted. The dread monster purposed ere day
came to part the hfe of each one from the body,
for the hope of a great feasting filled him. No longer
did fate will that after that night he might seize

OF BEOWULF 37

more of mankind. The kinsman of Hygelac, exceed-
ing strong, beheld how the foul foe was minded to
act with his sudden grips.

Nor did the monster think to delay, but first he
quickly seized a sleeping warrior; suddenly tore
him asunder, devoured his body, drank the blood
from his veins, swallowed him with large bites.
Straightway he had consumed all the body, even the
feet and hands. He stepped forward nearer, laid
hold with his hands of the resolute warrior on his
couch; the fiend stretched his hand towards him.
Beowulf met the attack quickly and sat on the arm.
Forthwith the upholder of crime found that he had
not met in the world, on the face of the earth among
other men, a mightier hand-grip. Fear grew in his
mind and heart; yet in spite of that he could not
make off. He sought to move out; he was minded
to flee to his refuge, to seek the troop of devils.
His task there was not such as he had found in
former days.

Then the brave kinsman of Hygelac remembered
his speech in the evening; he stood upright and
seized him firmly. The fingers biurst, the monster
was moving out; the earl stepped forward. The
famous one purposed to flee further, if only he might,
and win away thence to the fen strongholds; he
knew the might of his fingers was in the grip of his
foe. That was an ill journey that the ravager took
to Heorot. The warrior's hall resounded. Terror
fell on aU the Danes, on the castle-dwellers, on each

38 THE SONG

of the bold men, on the earls. Wroth were they
both, angry contestants for the house. The building
rang aloud.

Then was it great wonder that the \\dne-hall with-
stood the bold fighters; that it fell not to the ground,
the fair earth-dwelling; but it was so firmly braced
within and without with iron bands of skilled work-
manship. There many a mead-bench decked with
gold bent away from the post, as I have heard, where
the foemen fought. The wise men of the Scyldings
looked not for that before, that any man could ever
shatter it, rend it with malice in any way, excellent
and bone-adorned as it was, unless the embrace of
fire could swallow it in smoke. A sound arose, passing
strange. Dread fear came upon each of the North-
Danes who heard the cry from the wall, the lament
of God's foe rise, the song of defeat; the hell-bound
creature, crying out in his pain. He who was strongest
in might among men at that time held him too closely.

XHI

The protector of earls was minded in no wise to
release the deadly visitant ahve, nor did he count
his life as useful to any men.

There most eagerly this one and that of Beowulf's
men brandished the old swords, wished to save their

OF BEOWULF 39

leader's life, the famous prince, if only they could.
They did not know, when they were in the midst
of the struggle, the stem warriors, and wished to
strike on all sides, how to seek Grendel's life. No
choicest of swords on the earth, no war-spear, would
pierce the evil monster; but Beowulf had given up
victorious weapons, all swords. His parting from life
at that time was doomed to be wretched, and the
alien spirit was to travel far into the power of
the fiends.

Then he who erstwhile wrought much hurt to the
mind of men and malice — he was hostile to God —
found that his body would not follow him, for the
brave kinsmen of Hygelac held him by the hand.
Each was hateful to the other while he Uved. The
foul monster suffered pain in his body. A great
wound was seen in his shoulder, the sinews sprang
apart, the body burst open. Fame in war was granted
to Beowulf. Grendel must needs flee thence under
the fen-cliffs mortally wounded, seek out his joyless
dwelling. He knew but too well the end of his life
was come, the full count of his days. The desire of all
the Danes was fulfilled after the storm of battle.

Then he who erstwhile came from afar, shrewd
and staunch, had cleansed the hall of Hrothgar,
freed it from battle. He rejoiced in the night-work,
in heroic deeds. The prince of the Geat warriors
had fulfilled his boast to the East-Danes; likewise
he cured all their sorrows, sufferings from maUcious
foes, which they endured before and were forced to

40 THE SONG

bear in distress, no slight wrong. That was a clear
token when the bold warrior laid down the hand,
the arm and shoulder under the wide roof — it was
all there together — the claw of Grendel.

XIV

Then in the morning, as I have heard, around the
gift-haU was many a warrior; leaders came from
far and near throughout the wide ways to behold
the wonder, the tracks of the monster. His going
from life did not seem grievous to any man who saw
the course of the inglorious one, how, weary in mind,
beaten in battle, fated and fugitive, he left behind
him on his way thence to the mere of the monster
marks of his hfe-blood. Then the water was surging
with blood, the foul welter of waves all mingled with
hot gore; it boLled with the blood of battle. The
death-doomed one dived in, then bereft of joy in
his fen-refuge he laid down his life, his heathen soul,
when hell received him. Thence again old comrades
went, also many a young man, in merry companion-
ship, the brave men riding on horses from the mere,
warriors on bay steeds. There Beowulf's fame was
proclaimed. Oftentimes many a one said that neither
south nor north between the seas, over the wide
earth, under the vault of the sky, was there any
better among warriors, more worthy of a kingdom.

OF BEOWULF 41

Nor in truth did they blame their friendly lord,
gracious Hrothgar, for that was a good king.

At times the men doughty in battle let their sorrel
horses run, race against one another, where the land-
ways seemed fair to them, known for their good
quahties; at times the king's thane, a man with
many tales of exploits, mindful of measures, he
who remembered a great number of the old legends,
found other words which failed not in truth. The
man began again wisely to frame Beowulf's exploit
and skilfully to make deft measures, to deal in
words. He spoke all that he had heard told of
Sigemund's mighty deeds, much that was unknown,
the warfare of the son of Waels, the far journeys,
the hostility and maUce of which the children of
men knew not at all, except Fitela who was with
him when he was minded to say somewhat of such
things, the uncle to his nephew; for they were always
in every struggle bound together by kinship. They
had felled with their swords very many of the race
of giants. There sprang up for Sigemund after his
death no little fame when the man bold in battle
killed the dragon, the guardian of the treasure. Under
the grey stone he ventured alone, the son of a chief-
tain, on the daring deed; Fitela was not with him.
Yet it was granted to him that that sword pierced
the monstrous dragon, so that it stood in the wall,

Sigemund's mighty deeds. Sigemund, son of Waels and uncle
of Fitela, to whom Beovsoilf is compared here, is a famous
Scandinavian hero.

42 THE SONG

the noble blade. The dragon died violently. The
hero had succeeded so well that he could use the
treasure-heap of rings for his own glory. The son
of Waels loaded the sea-boat, bore to the ship's
bosom the bright ornaments. The dragon melted
in heat.

He was by far the most famous of adventurers
among men, protector of warriors by mighty deeds;
he prospered by that earlier, when the boldness,
the strength and the courage of Heremod lessened.
He was betrayed among the Eotens into the power
of his enemies, quickly driven out. Surges of sorrow
pressed him too long; he became a deadly grief to
his people, to all his chieftains. So also many a wise
man who trusted to him as a remedy for evils lamented
in former times the valiant one's journey, that the
prince's son was destined to prosper, inherit his
father's rank, rule over the people, the treasure and
the prince's fortress, the kingdom of heroes, the
land of the Scyldings. There did he, the kinsman of
Hygelac, become dearer to aU men and to his friends
than he. Treachery came upon him.

At times in rivalry they measured the yellow
streets with their horses. Then the Ught of morning

The boldness . . . Heremod. Heremod, a Danish king,
mentioned here and later in the poem as a type of cruel bad
ruler — the very opposite of a hero like Beowulf.

Treachery came upon him. A difficult passage. Heremod,
so unexpectedly introduced as a contrast to Sigemund, is
apparently an old Danish king who, because of his cruelty'
and tyranny, is exiled by his people. He is referred to again
in Section xxv.

OF BEOWULF 43

had quickly mounted up. Many a retainer went
bold-minded to the high hall to behold the battle-
wonder; the king himself also, the keeper of ring-
treasures, came glorious from his wife's chamber,
famed for his virtues, with a great troop, and his
queen with him measured the path to the mead-hall
with a band of maidens.

XV

Hrothgar spoke — he went to the hall, stood by the
pillar, looked on the lofty gold-plated roof and
Grendel's hand — "For this sight thanks be straight-
way rendered to the Almighty. I suffered much
that was hatefiil, sorrows at the hands of Grendel;
ever may God, the glorious Protector, perform wonder
after wonder.

"That was not long since when I looked not ever
to find solace for any of my woes, when the best of
houses stood blood-stained, gory from battle; woe
wide-spread among all councillors who had no hope
of ever protecting the fortress of warriors against
foes, against demons and evil spirits. Now the
warrior has performed the deed through the Lord's
might which formerly all of us could not contrive
with our cunning. Lo! a woman who has borne
such a son among the peoples, if she yet lives, may
say that the ancient Lord was gracious to her in

44 THE SONG

the birth of her son. Now I will love thee in my heart
as my son, Beowulf, best of men; keep well the new
kinship. Thou shalt lack none of the things thou
desirest in the world, which I can command. Full
often have I for less cause bestowed reward on a
slighter warrior, a weaker in combat, to honour him
with treasures. Thou hast brought it to pass for
thyself by deeds that thy glory shaU live forever.
The All-Ruler reward thee with good things as He
has done till now."

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: "We accom-
pUshed that heroic deed, that battle, through great
favour. We risked ourselves boldly against the might
of the monster. I had rather that thou couldst have
seen him, the fiend in his trappings, weary unto
death. I thought to bind him speedily with strong
clasps on his death-bed, so that he must needs he
in his death-agony by my hand-grip, unless his
body should slip away. I could not, since the Lord
willed it not, prevent his passing out. I did not hold
him closely enough, the deadly enemy; the foe was
too mighty in going. Nevertheless he left his hand,
arm and shoulder, to serve as a token of his flight.
Yet the wretched creature won no solace there; no
longer lives the malicious foe pressed by sins, but
pain has embraced him closely with hostile grasp,
with ruinous bonds. There the creature stained
with sin must needs await the great doom, what
judgment the bright Lord wiU award him."

Then the son of Ecglaf was a more silent man in

OF BEOWULF 45

boasting of war deeds, when the chieftains beheld by
the strength of the earl the hand, the fingers of the
monster, stretching up to the high roof; each at its
tip, each place where the nails were, was hke steel,
the heathen's claw, the monstrous spike of the
fighter. Everyone said that no well-tried sword of
brave man would wound him, would shorten the
monster's bloody battle-fist.

XVI

Then it was quickly commanded that Heorot should
be decked within with the claws. There were many
there, men and women, who made ready the wine-
building, the guest-hall. Woven hangings gleamed,
gold-adorned, on the walls, many wondrous sights
for all men who look on such things. That bright
building was all sorely shattered, though firm within
with its iron clasps; its door-hinges burst. The roof
alone survived all scatheless, when the monster
stained with evil deeds turned in flight, despairing
of life. That is not easy to avoid — let him do it who
will — but he must needs strive against the place
forced on him by necessity, prepared for all who
bear souls, for the children of men, for the dwellers
on earth, where his body sleeps after the banquet
fast in its narrow bed.

That is not easy to avoid. That is, death comes to all men.

46 THE SONG

Then was the time convenient and fitting that
Healf dene's son should go to the hall; the king
himself wished to join in the banquet. I have not
heard of a people who showed a nobler bearing with
a greater troop about their giver of treasure. The
famous ones then sat down on the bench, rejoiced
in the feast; in seemly fashion they took many a
mead-goblet; brave-minded kinsmen were in the
high hall, Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot within
was filled with friends. Not yet at this time had the
Scyldings practised treachery.

The son of Healfdene gave then to Beowulf a
golden ensign as a reward for victory, an ornamented
banner with a handle, a helmet and corslet, a famous
precious sword. Many saw them borne before the
warrior. Beowulf took the goblet in hall; he needed
not to be ashamed in front of the warriors of the
bestowing of gifts.

I have not heard of many men giving to others on

the ale-bench in more friendly fashion four treasures

decked with gold. Around the top of the helmet a

jutting ridge twisted with wires held guard over the

head, so that many an old sword, proved hard in

battle, could not injure the bold man, when the

shield-bearing warrior was destined to go against

foes. Then the protector of earls commanded eight

horses with gold-plated bridles to be led into the

Not yet . . . treachery. Wealtheow hopes that her nephew
Hrothulf will protect her sons if he survives Hrothgar. We
know from Scandinavian books that Hrothulf turned traitor,
killed Hrethric, and was finally slain by Heoroweard.

OF BEOWULF 47

hall, into the house; on one of them lay a saddle
artfully adorned with gold, decked with costly orna-
ment. That was the war-seat of the noble king, when
the son of Healfdene was minded to practise sword-
play. Never did the bravery of the far-famed man
fail in the van when corpses were falling. Then the
protector of the friends of Ing gave power over both
to Beowulf, over horses and weapons; he bade him
use them well. Thus manfully did the famous prince,
the treasure-keeper of heroes, reward the rushes of
battle with steeds and rich stores, so that he who
wishes to speak truth in seemly fashion will never
scoff at them.

XVII

Further the lord of earls bestowed treasure on the
mead-bench, ancient blades to each of those who
travelled the ocean path with Beowulf; and he bade
recompense to be made with gold for the one whom
Grendel before murderously killed. So he was minded
to do with more of them, if wise God and the man's
courage had not turned aside such a fate from them.
The Lord ruled over all mankind as He still does.
Wherefore understanding, forethought of soul, is
ever57where best. He who sojourns long in the world

The friends of Ing. The Danes are called the friends of
Ing, the first King of the East-Danes.

48 THE SONG

in these days of sorrow must needs suffer much of
weal and woe.

There was song and music mingled before Healf-
dene's chieftain; the harp was touched; a measure
often recited at such times as it fell to Hrothgax's
minstrel to proclaim joy in haU along the mead-
bench. Hnaef of the Scyldings, a hero of the Half-
Danes, was fated to fall in the Frisian battle-field
when the sudden onslaught came upon them, the
sons of Finn. "Nor in truth had Hildeburh cause
to praise the faith of the Eotens; sinless, she was
spoiled of her dear ones at the shield-play, a son
and a brother; wounded with the spear, they fell
in succession. She was a sorrowing woman. Not
without cause did the daughter of Hoc lament her
fate, when morning came when she might see the
slaughter of kinsmen under the sky, where erst-
while she possessed greatest joy in the world. War

Hncej. Finn, King of the North Frisians (Eotens) carries
oflE Hildeburh of the Danes. Her son and brother (Hnaef)
are slain in an attack on the Frisians at Finnsburg. Finn and
Hengest, who now commands the Danes, agree to a peace.
Frisians and Danes are to live peacefully together; old feuds
are not to be recalled. The funeral rites of the slain are
held. The winter passes : Hengest still lingers at Finnsburg.
More Danes arrive, led by Guthlaf and Oslaf. The peace is
broken, Finn slain and Hildeburh carried back to her people.

The sons of Finn. There was an Old EngUsh poem about
Finn, but only a few lines have been preserved. From this
fragment and from the passage in Beowulf it is not easy to
make out all the details of the story. Finn is king of the
Frisians. He quarrels with Hnaef (the son of Hoc), the
brother of his wife Hildeburh. Hnaef, who is a Dane or partly
Danish, is killed, but finally his death is revenged upon Finn.

OF BEOWULF 49

carried off all the thanes of Finn except a very few,
so that in no wise could he offer fight to Hengest in
the battle-field, nor protect by war the sad survivors
from the prince's thane; but they offered him con-
ditions, that they would give up to them entirely
another building, the hall and high seat; that they
might have power over half of it with the men of
the Eotens, and that the son of Folcwalda would
honour the Danes each day with gifts at the bestowal
of presents, would pay respect to Hengest 's troop
with rings, just as much as he would encourage the
race of the Frisians in the beer-hall mth ornaments
of plated gold. Then on both sides they had faith
in firm-knit peace. Finn swore to Hengest deeply,
inviolably with oaths, that he would treat the sad
survivors honom-ably according to the judgment of
the coimcillors, on condition that no man there should
break the bond by word or deed, nor should they
ever mention it in maUce, although they had followed
the slayer of their giver of rings after they had lost
their leader, since the necessity was laid upon them;
if then any one of the Frisians should recall to mind
by dangerous speech the deadly hostility, then it
must needs recall also the edge of the sword.

" The oath was sworn and rich gold taken from the
treasure. The best of the heroes of the warlike
Scyldings was ready on the funeral fire. On that pyre
the blood-stained shirt of mail was plain to see, the
swine-image all gold, the boar hard as iron, many a
chieftain slain with wounds. Many had fallen in

D

50 THE SONG

the fight. Then Hildeburh bade her own son to be
given over to the flames at Hnasf s pyre, his body
to be burned and placed on the funeral fire. The
woman wept, sorrowing by his side; she lamented
in measures. The warrior mounted up. The greatest
of funeral fires wound up to the clouds, it roared in
front of the mound. Heads melted, wounds burst
open, deadly bites in the body; then the blood gushed
forth. The fire, greediest of spirits, consumed all those
of both peoples whom war carried of£ there. Their
mightiest men had departed,"

XVHI

"The warriors went then, bereft of friends, to visit
the dwellings, to see the land of the Frisians, the homes
and the stronghold. Then Hengest dwelt yet in
peace with Finn for a winter stained with the blood
of the slain; he thought of his land though he could
not drive the ring-prowed ship on the sea (the ocean
surged with storm, rose up against the wind; winter
bound the waves with fetters of ice), till another year
came into the dwellings; as those still do now who
ever await an opportunity, the bright clear weather.
Then winter was past; the bosom of the earth was
fair; the exile purposed to depart, the guest out of
the castle; he thought rather of vengeance for sorrow
than of the sea journey, if he could bring the battle

OF BEOWULF 51

to pass in which he thought to take vengeance on
the children of the Eotens; as long as he broke not
his oaths. Then Hunlafing laid in his bosom the
gleaming sword, best of blades. Its edges were famed
among the Eotens. Even so did dread sword-evil
come upon brave Finn in his own home. Afterwards
Guthlaf and Oslaf made known the grim attack, the
sorrow after their sea journey; they were wroth at
their share of woes; their restless spirit could not
be niled in their breast. Then was the hall covered
with corpses of foes, Finn slain Ukewise, the king
mid his troop, and the queen taken. The warriors
of the Scyldings bore to the ships all the house-
treasure of the king of the land, whatever they could
find at Finn's home of ornaments and jewels. They
bore away on the sea voyage the noble woman to
the Danes, led her to her people."

The song was sung, the glee-man's measure. Joy
rose again, bench-music rang out clear, servants gave
out wine from wondrous goblets. Then Wealtheow,
imder her golden circlet, came forth where the two
valiant ones were sitting, uncle and nephew. At

Then Hunlafing, etc. The meaning of this sentence is very
obscure. Several interpretations are possible — Hunlafing,
a servant of Finn, brings a sword as a goodwill offering to
Hengest; or, Hunlafing plunged into Hengest's breast the
gleaming sword; or, Hun may be the man's name, and
Lafing the name of the sword.

Led her to her people. The story of Finn formed the subject
of an independent poem in Old English. A fragment remains,
and apparently dezls with the first or second of the battles
between the Danes and Frisians.

52 THE SONG

that time there was peace yet between them, each
true to the other. Likev\'ise Unferth sat there as a
sqviire at the feet of the prince of the Scyldings.
Each of them trusted his heart, that he had a noble
mind, though he had not been faithful to his kinsmen
at the play of swords. Then spoke the queen of the
Scyldings: "Receive this goblet, my prince, giver
of treasure. Mayest thou prosper, gold-friend of
warriors, and speak to the Geats with kindly words,
as it is fitting to do. Be gracious to the Geats, mind-
ful of gifts; far and near now thou hast peace. They
said that thou wast minded to take the warrior for
son. Heorot is cleansed, the bright ring-hall; be
generous with many rewards while thou mayst, and
leave to thy kinsmen subjects and kingdom, when
thou must needs go forth to face thy destin3^ I know
my gracious HrothuLf, that he will treat the young
men honourably, if thou, friend of the Scyldings, pass
from the world before him. I think that he will
richly reward our children, if he forgets not all the
favours we formerly showed him for his pleasure and
honour, while he was still a child."

She turned then towards the bench where her sons
were, Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the sons of
heroes, the young men together ; there the valiant one,
Beowulf of the Geats, sat by the two brothers.

OF BEOWULF 53

XIX

To him was the flagon borne and a friendly invita-
tion offered with words and the twisted gold vessel
graciously presented; two bracelets, a corslet and
rings, greatest of necklaces, of those which I have
heard of on earth.

I have not heard of a better treasure-hoard of
heroes under the sky since Hama carried off to the
gleaming castle the necklace of the Brosings, the
trinket and treasure; he fled the mahcious hostility
of Eormenric; he chose everlasting gain. Hygelac
of the Geats, grandson of Swerting, had the ring on
his last expedition, when beneath his banner he
defended the treasure, guarded the booty of battle.
Fate took him off, when in his pride he suffered
misfortune in fight against the Frisians; the mighty
prince bore the ornament, the precious stones over
the wave-goblet; he fell under his shield. Then the
king's body passed into the power of the Franks,
his breast-garments and the ring also; less noble
warriors stripped the bodies of the men of the
Geats after the carnage of war; their bodies

Since Hama carried off, etc. Eormenric or Ermanaric is
an historical king who died about 375 a.d. He became a
famous figure in romance and legend. The necklace of the
Brisings is celebrated in Scandinavian literature. Hama,
like Eormanric, appears in many books, but may not be
historical .

54 THE SONG

covered the battle - field. . . . The hall rang with
shouts of approval.

Wealtheow spoke, she uttered words before the
troop: "Enjoy this ring happily, dear young Beo-
wulf; and use this corslet, the great treasures and
prosper exceedingly; make thyself known mightily,
and be to these youths kindly in counsel. I will not
forget thy reward for that. Thou hast brought it
about that far and near men ever praise thee, even
as far as the sea hems in the home of the winds, the
headlands. Blessed be thou while thou livest, nobly-
born man. I will grant thee many treasures. Be thou
gracious in deeds to my son, thou who art now in
happiness. Here each earl is true to the other, gentle
in mind, loyal to the lord. The thanes are willing,
the people all ready, noble warriors after drinking.
Do as I bid."

She went then to the seat. There was the choicest
of banquets; the men drank wine; they knew not
fate, dread destiny, as it had been dealt out to many
of the earls. Afterwards came evening, and Hrothgar

Covered the battlefield. Hygelac's expedition against the
Frisians, here referred to, belongs to authentic history.
Gregory of Tours {d. 594) tells how the Danes under their
king Chlochilaicus invaded the kingdom and carried many
captives and much plunder to their ships. Chlochilaicus,
delaying on shore, was killed by the Franks, who defeated
the Danes in a naval battle and recovered the booty. Chlo-
chilaicus of the Danes is the same person as Hygelac of the
Geats. These events took place between 512 and 520. There
are three other references in Beowulf to the expedition —
Sections xxxiii., xxxv., and xl.

OF BEOWULF 55

went to his chamber, the mighty one to his couch.
A great band of earls occupied the hall, as they often
did before; they cleared away bench-boards; it was
spread over with beds and bolsters. One of the
revellers, ready and fated, sank to his couch in the
hall. At their heads they placed the war-shields,
the bright bucklers. There on the bench was plainly
seen above the chieftains the helmet rising high
in battle, the ringed corslet, the mighty spear. It
was their custom that often both at home and in
the field, they should be ready for war, and equally
in both positions at all such times as distress came
upon their lord. Those people were good.

XX

They sank then to sleep. One sorely paid for his
evening rest, as had full often come to pass for them,
when Grendel held the gold-hall, and did wickedness
until the end came, death after sins. That was seen,
widely known among men, that an avenger, Grendel's
mother, a she-monster, yet survived the hateful one,
a long while after the misery of war. She who was
doomed to dwell in the dread water, the cold streams,
after Cain killed his only brother, his father's son,
forgot not her misery. He departed then fated,
marked with murder, to flee from the joys of men;
he dwelt in the wilderness. Thence sprang many

56 THE SONG

ancient spirits; Grendel was one of them, warring
and hated; he found at Heorot a man keeping
watch, waiting for war. There the monster came to
grips with him: yet he remembered the power of
his strength, the precious gift which God gave him,
and he trusted for support, for succour and help,
to Him who rules over all. By that he overcame the
fiend, laid low the spirit of hell. Then he departed,
the foe of mankind, in misery, reft of joy, to seek
his death-dwelling. And his mother then still pur-
posed to go on the sorrowful journey, greedy and
darkly-minded, to avenge her son's death.

She came then to Heorot where the Ring-Danes
slept throughout that hall. Then straightway the
old fear fell on the earls, when Grendel's mother
forced her way in. The dread was less by just so
much as the strength of women, the war-terror of
a woman, is less than a man, when the bound sword
shaped by the hammer, the blood-stained blade
strong in its edges, cuts off the boar-image on the
foeman's helmet. Then in the hall was the strong
blade drawn, the sword over the seats; many a
broad buckler raised firmly in hand. He thought
not of helmet nor of broad corslet, when the terror
seized him.

She was in haste, was minded to go thence and save
her life when she was discovered. Quickly she had
seized one of the chieftains \vith firm grip; then she
went to the fen. That was the dearest of heroes to
Hrothgar among his followers between the seas, a

OF BEOWULF '" ' 57

mighty shield-warrior, whom she slew on his couch,
a noble man of great fame. Beowulf was not there,
but another lodging had been set apart for him
earlier, after the giving of treasure to the famous
Geat. There was clamour in Heorot. She had carried
off the famous blood-stained hand. Care was created
anew; it had come into the dwellings. That was no
good bargain which they had to pay for in double
measure with lives of friends. Then the wise king,
the grey battle-warrior, was troubled in heart, when
he knew that the noble thane was lifeless, that the
dearest one was dead.

Beowulf was quickly brought to the castle, the
victorious warrior. At da%\Ti that earl, the noble
hero himself with his comrades, went to where the
wise man (Hrothgar) was waiting to see whether the
All-ruler would ever bring to pass a change after
the time of woe. Then the man famous in fight
went with his nearest followers along the floor —
(the hall-wood resounded) — till he greeted the wise
one with words, the prince of the friends of Ing;
he asked if, as he hoped, he had had a peaceful night.

XXI

Hrotkgar spoke, protector of the Scyldings: "Ask
thou not after happiness. Sorrow is made anew for
the Danish people. ^Eschere is dead, Yrmenlaf's
elder brother, my counsellor and my adviser, trusted

58 THE SONG

friend, in such times as we fended our heads in war,
when the foot-warriors crashed together and hewed
the helms. Such should an earl be, a trusty chieftain,
as ^schere was.

" That unjust slaughterous spirit slew him v^dth her
hands in Heorot. I know not whether the monster,
made known by her feasting, journeyed back exulting
in the corpse. She avenged the fight in which last
night thou didst violently kill Grendel with hard
grips because too long he lessened and slew my
people. He fell in combat, guilty of murder, and now
another mighty evil foe has come; she was minded
to make requital for her son, and she has overmuch
avenged the hostile deed, as it may seem to many a
thane who grieves in mind for the giver of treasure
A\ith heavy heart-sorrow. Now low hes the hand
which was ready for all your desires.

" I heard dwellers in the land, my people, counsellors
in hall, say that they saw two such great march-
steppers, alien spirits, hold the moors. One of them
was, as far they could certainly know, the hkeness
of a woman; the other wretched creature trod the
paths of exile in man's shape, except that he was
greater than any other man. Him in days past the
dwellers in the land named Grendel; his father they
know not ; nor whether there were bom to him earlier
any dark spirits.

"They possess unknown land, wolf-cliffs, windy
crags, a dangerous fen-path, where the mountain
stream falls down under the darkness of the rocks,

OF BEOWULF 59

a flood under the earth. That is not a mile hence
where the mere stands; over it hang rime-covered
groves ; the wood firm-rooted overshadows the water.
There each night a baleful wonder may be seen, a
fire on the flood. There is none so wise of the children
of men who knows those depths. Though the heath-
stepper hard pressed by the hounds, the hart strong
in antlers, should seek the forest after a long chase,
rather does he yield up his life, his spirit on the
shore than hide his head there. That is an eerie place.
Thence the surge of waves mounts up dark to the
clouds, when the wind stirs up hostile storms till the
air darkens, the skies weep.

" Now once more help must come from thee alone.
Thou dost not yet know the lair, the dangerous place
where thou mayest find the sinful creature; seek if
thou darest. If thou comest away alive, I will reward
thee for that onslaught, as erstwhile I did, with
treasures, old precious things, twisted gold."

XXII

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: "Sorrow not,
wise warrior. It is better for each to avenge his
friend than greatly to mourn. Each of us must needs
await the end of life in the world; let him who can
achieve fame ere death. That is best for a noble
warrior when life is over. Rise up, guardian of the

6o THE SONG

realm; let us go quickly hence to behold the track
of Grendel's kinswoman. I promise thee she shall
not escape under covering darkness, nor in the earth's
embrace, nor in the mountain forest, nor in the water's
depths — go where she will. Have thou, as I expect
from thee, patience for all thy woes this day."

The aged one leaped up then; thanked God, the
mighty Lord, for what the man spoke. Then Hroth-
gar's horse was bitted, the steed with twisted mane.
The wise prince went forth in splendour; the foot-
troop of shield-bearing warriors stepped forward.
The tracks were widely seen along the forest paths,
the course over the fields. Away over the dark moor
she went; she bore the best of thanes, reft of life,
who with Hrothgar ruled the land. Then the son of
princes strode over the high rocky cliffs, the narrow
paths, the straitened tracks, the unknown road, the
steep crags, many a monster's abode. He with a few
other wise men went ahead to spy out the land, until
suddenly he found the mountain trees hanging above
the grey rock. The water beneath lay blood-stained
and troubled. All the Danes, the friends of the
Scyl dings, were mournful in mood; many a thane
had to suffer; there was sorrow for many of the
earls, when they found .^schere's head on the cliff
by the mere.

The flood surged with blood, with hot gore; the
people beheld it. At times the horn sang its eager
war-song. The troop all sat down; then they saw
along the water many of the dragon kind, strange

OF BEOWULF 6i

sea-dragons moving over the mere, also monsters
lying on the rocky headlands; then at midday the
1 dragons and wild beasts often go on a sorrowful
journey on the sail-road. They fell away bitter and
angered; they heard the clang, the war-horn sound-
ing. The prince of the Geats with his bow parted
one of them from Hfe, from the struggle of the waves,
so that the stout war-shaft stood in his heart. He
was the more sluggish at swimming in the water,
because death carried him off. Speedily the wondrous
wave-dweller was hard pressed in the waves wdth
boar-spears of deadly barbs, beset by hostile attacks
and drawn out on the headland. The men beheld
the dread creature.

Beowulf clad himself in warrior's armour; he
lamented not his life. The war-corslet, hand-woven,
broad, cunningly adorned, must needs try the water;
it knew how to guard his body so that the grip of
war might not wound his heart, the malicious clutch
of an angry foe his life. And the gleaming helmet,
which was to mingle with the depths of the mere,
to seek the welter of the waves, decked with treasure,
circled with diadems, as the smith of weapons wrought
it in days long past, wondrously adorned it, set it
round with boar-images ; it guarded his head so that
no sword or battle-blades could pierce it. That was
not the least then of mighty helps that Hrothgar';
squire lent him in his need. That hilted sword was
called Hrunting; it was an excellent old treasures
the brand was iron, stained with poisonous twigs.

62 THE SONG

hardened in the blood of battle. It never failed any
men in war who seized it with their hands, who
ventured to go on dire journeys, to the meeting-place
of foes. That was not the first time that it was to
accomplish a mighty deed.

In truth the son of Ecglaf mighty in strength did
not remember what erstwhile he spoke when dnmken
with wine, when he lent the weapon to a better
sword-warrior. He himself durst not risk his life
beneath the tossing of the waves, accomplish heroic
deeds. There he forfeited fame, repute for might.
Not so was it with the other when he had clad
himself for war.

XXIII

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: "Consider now,
famous son of HeaLfdene, wise prince, gold-friend of
warriors, now I am ready for the venture, what we
spoke of a while since; if I should depart from life
in thy cause, that thou shouldst ever be in the place
of a father when I am gone. Be thou a guardian to
my followers, my comrades, if war takes me. Like-
wise, dear Hrothgar, do thou send the treasures thou
hast given me to Hygelac. The lord of the Geats
may perceive by that gold, the son of Hrethel may
see when he looks upon that treasure, that I found
an excellent good giver of rings, that I took joy

OF BEOWULF 63

while I could. And do thou let Unferth have the
ancient blade, the far-famed man have the precious
sword with wavy pattern and sharp edge; I shall
achieve fame for myself with Hrunting, or death
will carry me off."

After those words the prince of the Weder-Geats
hastened exceedingly; he would in no wise wait
for an answer. The surge of waters received the war-
hero. Then there was a spell of time ere he might
behold the bottom of the mere.

She who had held for fifty years the domain of the
floods, eager for battle, grim and greedy, discovered
straightway that a man was seeking from above the
dwelling of monsters. She reached out against him
then, seized the warrior with dread claws; never-
theless she injured not the sound body; the ring-
mail guarded it round about so that she could not
pierce the corslet, the locked mail-shirt, with hostile
fingers. When she came to the bottom, the sea-wolf
bore the prince of rings to her lair. Since he could
not use weapons — he burned to do so — many monsters
set upon him in the water, many a sea-beast rent his
war-corslet with battle-tusks ; they pursued the hero.
Then the earl noticed he was in some kind of hostile
hall, where no water in any way touched him, nor
could the sudden clutch of the flood come near him
because of the roofed hall; he saw the light of fire,
a gleaming radiance shining brightly.

Then the valiant one perceived the she-wolf of
the depths, the mighty mere-woman; he repaid the

64 THE SONG

mighty rush with the battle-sword; the hand drew
not back from the stroke, so that the sword, adorned
with rings, sang a greedy war-chant on her head.
Then the stranger found that the sword would not
bite or injure life, but the edge failed the prince in
his need. It had endured in times past many battles,
often had cut through the helmet, the mail of a
■doomed man. That was the first time for the costly
treasure that its repute failed.

Once again the kinsman of Hygelac was resolute,
:mindful of heroic deeds, no whit lax in courage.
Then the angry warrior cast down the sword with
its twisted ornaments, set round with decorations,
•so that it lay on the ground, strong and steel-edged.
He trusted in his strength, his mighty hand-grip.
Thus a man must needs do when he is minded to
gain lasting praise in war, nor cares for his life.

Then the prince of the War-Geats seized Grendel's
mother by the hair; he feared not the fight. Then
stem in strife he swimg the monster in his wrath so
that she bent to the ground. She quickly gave him
requital again with savage grips, and grasped out
towards him. Weary in mood then she overthrew
the strongest of fighters, the foot-warrior, so that
he fell down. Then she sat on the visitor to her hall,
and drew her knife, broad and bright-edged ; she was
minded to avenge her child, her only son. The woven
breast-net lay on his shoulder; that guarded his life;
it opposed the entrance of point and edge. Then the
son of Ecgtheow, the hero of the Geats, would have

OF BEOWULF 65

found death under the wide waters if the war-corslet,
the stout battle-net, had not afforded him help, and
if holy God, the wise Lord, had not achieved victory
in war; the Ruler of the heavens brought about a
right issue, when once more he stood up with ease.

XXIV

He saw then among weapons a victorious blade, an
old sword of giants, strong in its edges, the glory
of warriors. That was the choicest of weapons;
save only it was greater than any other man could
bear to the battle-play, trusty and splendid, the
work of giants. The hero of the Scyldings, angered
and grim in battle, seized the belted hilt, wheeled the
ring -marked sword, despairing of life; he struck
furiously, so that it gripped her hard against the
neck. It broke the bone-rings; the blade went
straight through the doomed body. She fell on the
floor. The brand was bloody; the man rejoiced in
his work. -

The gleam was bright, the light stood within, just
as the candle of the sky shines serenely from heaven.
He went along the dwelling; then he turned to the
waU; Hygelac's thane, raging and resolute, raised
the weapon firmly by its hilts. The sword was not
useless to the warrior, but he was minded quickly to
requite Grendel for the many onslaughts which far

66 THE SONG

more than once he made on the West-Danes, when
he slew Hrothgar's hearth-companions in their sleep,
devoured fifteen men of the Danish people while they
slumbered, and bore away as many more, a hatefiil
sacrifice. He, the furious hero, avenged that upon
him there where he saw Grendel lying, weary of war,
reft of life, as erstwhile the battle at Heorot des-
patched him. The body gaped wide, when after
death it suffered a stroke, a hard battle-blow: and
then he hewed off its head.

Straightway the wise men who gazed on the mere
with Hrothgar saw that the surge of waves was all
troubled, the water stained with blood. Grey-haired
old men spoke together of the valiant man, that they
did not expect to see the chieftain again, or that he
should come as a conqueror to seek the famous
prince. Then it seemed to many that the sea-wolf
had slain him. Then came the ninth hour of the day.
The bold Scyldings forsook the headland; thence
the gold-friend of men departed homewards. The
strangers sat sick at heart, and stared at the mere;
they felt desire and despair of seeing their friendly
lord himself.

Then that sword, the battle-brand, began to vanish
in drops of gore after the blood shed in fight. That
was a great wonder, that it all melted like ice when
the Father loosens the bond of the frost, unbinds the
fetters of the floods; He has power over times and
seasons. That is the true Lord.

The prince of the Weder-Geats took no more of the

OF BEOWULF 67

precious hoardings in those haunts, though he saw
many there, save the head and with it the treasure-
decked hilts. The sword had melted before, the
inlaid brand had burned away, so hot was that blood
and so poisonous the alien spirit who died in it.
Straightway he fell to swimming; he, who before in
the struggle endured the fall of foes, dived up through
the water. The wave surges were all cleansed, the
great haunts where the aUen spirit gave up his hfe
and this fleeting state.

Then the protector of sea-men, brave-minded,
came swimming to land; he took pleasure in the
sea-booty, in the mighty burden which he bore
with him. They went to meet him, the excellent
troop of thanes; they thanked God; they rejoiced
in the prince, that they could behold him safe and
sound. Then helm and corslet were loosed with speed
from off the brave men; the lake lay still, the water
under the clouds, stained with the blood of battle.

They set out thence on the foot-tracks, joyous at
heart; they paced the path, the well-known street.
Men nobly bold bore the head from the cliff with
toil for each of the very brave ones. Four men with
difficulty had to carry Grendel's head to the gold-
hall on the battle-spear, until of a sudden the fourteen
brave warhke Geats came to the hall ; their lord trod
the fields about the mead-hall with them, fearless
among his followers.

Then the prince of thanes, the man bold in deeds,
made glorious with fame, the hero terrible in battle.

68 THE SONG

came in to greet Hrothgar. Then Grendel's head
was bome by the hair into the hall where the
men were drinking — a dread object for the earls
and the queen with them; the men looked at the
wondrous sight.

XXV

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: "Lo! son of
Healfdene, prince of the Scyldings, we have brought
thee with pleasure, as a token of glory, this sea-
booty which thou beholdest here. Scarcely did I
survive that with my life, the struggle beneath the
water, barely did I accomplish the task, the fight
was all but ended, if God had not protected me.

"I could do nought with Hrunting in the fight,
though that weapon is worthy, but the Ruler of men
vouchsafed that I should see a huge old sword hang
gleaming on the wall — most often he has guided
those bereft of friends— so that I swung the weapon.
Then in the struggle I slew the guardians of the house
when the chance was given me. Then that battle-
brand, the inlaid sword, burned away as soon as the
blood spurted out, hottest battle-gore. Thence from
the foes I carried off that hilt; I avenged, as was
fitting, the deeds of malice, the massacre of the Danes.

"So I promise thee that thou mayest sleep in
Heorot, free from sorrow with the band of thy
warriors and all the thanes among thy people, the

OF BEOWULF 69

youths and veterans; that thou, prince of the
Scyldings, dost not need to dread death for the
earls from the quarter thou didst formerly."

Then the gold hilt, the ancient work of giants,
was given into the hands of the old warrior, to the
grey-haired leader. It came into the possession of
the prince of the Danes, the work of cunning smiths,
after the death of the monsters, and after the creature
of hostile heart. God's foe, guilty of murder, and his
mother also had left this world. It came into the
power of the best of mighty kings between the seas
who dealt out money in Scandinavia.

Hrothgar spoke; he beheld the hilt, the old heir-
loom. On it was written the beginning of a battle
of long ago, when a flood, a rushing sea, slew the
race of giants; they had lived boldly; that race
was estranged from the Eternal Lord. The Ruler
gave them final requital for that in the surge of the
water. Thus on the plates of bright gold it was
clearly marked, set down and expressed in runic
letters, for whom that sword, the best of blades, was
first wrought with its twisted haft and snake images.

Then the wise man spoke, the son of Healfdene.
All were silent. "Lo! he who achieves truth and
right among the people may say that this earl was
bom excellent (the old ruler of the realm recalls aU
things from the pcist). Thy renown is raised up
throughout the wide ways, my friend Beowulf, among
all peoples. Thou preservest all steadfastly, thy
might with wisdom of mind, I shall show thee my

70 THE SONG

favour, as before we agreed. Thou shall be granted
for long years as a solace to thy people, as a help
to heroes.

" Not so did Heremod prove to the sons of Ecgwela,
the honourable Scyldings; his way was not as
they wished, but to the slaughter and butchery of
the people of the Danes. Savage in mood he killed
his table-companions, his trusty counsellors, until he,
the famous prince, departed alone from the joys of
men, although mighty God had made him great by
the joys of power and by strength, had raised him
above all men. Yet there grew in his heart a blood-
thirsty brood of thoughts. He gave out no rings to
the Dane<5 according to custom; joyless he dwelt, so
that he reaped the reward of his hostility, the long
evil to his people. Learn thou by this; lay hold on
virtue. I have spoken this for thy good from the
wisdom of many years.

"It is wonderful to tell how mighty God with his
generous thought bestows on mankind wisdom, land
and rank. He has dominion over all things. At times
He allows man's thoughts to turn to love of famous
lineage; He gives him in his land the joys of domain,
the stronghold of men to keep. He puts the parts
of the world, a wide kingdom, in such subjection to
him that he cannot in his folly conceive an end to
that. He lives in plenty; nothing afflicts him,
neither sickness nor age; nor does sorrow darken
his mind, nor does strife any\vhere show forth sword-
hatred, but all the world meets his desire."

OF BEOWULF 71

XXVI

" He knows nothing worse till within him his pride
grows and springs up. Then the guardian slumbers,
the keeper of the soul. The sleep is too heavy, pressed
roimd with sorrows; the murderer very near who
shoots maliciously from his bow. Then he is stricken
in the breast imder the helmet by a sharp shaft —
he knows not how to guard himself — by the crafty
evil commands of the ill spirit. That which he had
long held seems to him too paltry, he covets fiercely,
he bestows no golden rings in generous pride, and
he forgets and neglects the destiny which God, the
Ruler of glory, formerly gave him, his share of
honours. At the end it comes to pass that the
mortal body sinks into ruin, falls doomed; another
comes to power who bestows treasures gladly, old
wealth of the earl; he takes joy in it. Keep thyself
from such passions, dear Beowulf, best of warriors,
and choose for thyself that better part, lasting profit.
Care not for pride, famous hero. Now the repute of
thy might endures for a space; straightway again
shall age, or edge of the sword, part thee from thy
strength, or the embrace of fire, or the surge of the
flood, or the grip of the blade, or the flight of the
spear, or hateful old age, or the gleam of eyes shall
pass away and be darkened ; on a sudden it shall come
to pass that death shall vanquish thee, noble warrior.
" Thus have I ruled over the Ring-Danes under the

72 THE SONG

heavens for fifty years, and guarded them by my
war-power from many tribes throughout this world,
from spears and swords, so that I thought I had no
foe under the stretch of the sky. Lo ! a reverse came
upon me in my land, sorrow after joy, when Grendel
grew to be a foe of many years, my visitant. I
suffered great sorrow of heart continually from that
persecution. Thanks be to God, the eternal Lord,
that I have survived with my life, that I behold
with my eyes that blood-stained head after the old
struggle. Go now to the seat, enjoy the banquet,
thou who art made illustrious by war; very
many treasures shall be parted between us when
morning comes."

The Geat was glad in mind; straightway he went
to seek out his seat as the wise man bade him. Then
again as before the meal was fairly spread once more
for the men famed for strength, for the hall-dwellers.
The covering night grew dark over the noble warriors.
The veterans all rose up; the grey-haired aged
Scylding was minded to seek his bed. It pleased the
Geat, the mighty shield-warrior exceeding well to
rest. Forthwith a hall-thane, who ministered in
fitting fashion to all the needs of a thane which the
warhke sea-farers should have that day, guided him
forth, weary as he was from his journey, come from
afar. The great-hearted man took his rest: the
building towered up wide-gabled and gold-plated;
the guest slumbered within till the black raven
merrily proclaimed the joy of heaven.

OF BEOWULF yz

Then came the bright Hght gUding after the shadow.
The warriors hastened, the chieftains were ready to
go again to their people, the stout-hearted sojourner
was minded to seek the boat far thence. Then the
brave man, the son of Ecglaf , bade him bear Hrunting,
take his sword, his dear blade; he thanked him for
the gift ; said that he counted him a good friend in
battle, mighty in war; in no wise did he belittle the
sword's edge: that was a brave warrior. And the
men of war then, ready in war-trappings, were about
to depart; the chieftain, dear to the Danes, went to
the throne where the other was, the hero dreaded in
battle ; he greeted Hrothgar.

XXVII

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: "Now we sea-
farers, come from afar, wish to say that we purpose
to seek Hygelac. We have been as kindly treated
here as we could wish; thou hast been good unto
us. If I can in any way on earth win a greater love
from thee, lord of men, for warlike deeds than I
have yet done, I am ready forthwith. If beyond the
compass of the floods I hear that thy neighbours
press upon thee with dread war, as at times foes
have done to thee, I shall bring to thy help a thousand
thanes and heroes. I know that Hygelac, the lord
of the Geats, protector of the people, though he is

74 THE SONG

young, will aid me in words and deeds to support
thee well and bear a spear to thy aid, mighty succour,
if thou hast need of men. If Hrethric, a prince's son,
make an agreement at the court of the Geats, he may
find many friends there. For him who trusts his own
merit it is better to visit distant lands."

Hrothgar spoke to him in answer: " The wise Lord
has sent those speeches into thy mind. I have not
heard a man of such young age discourse more
wisely. Thou art strong in might and wise in mind,
prudent in speeches. It is my expectation, if it comes
to pass that the spear, grim war, sickness, or steel
should carry off the son of Hrethel, thy prince, the
protector of the people, and thou art still alive, that
the Sea-Geats will have no better king to choose,
treasure-guardian of heroes, if thou wilt rule the
kingdom of thy kinsmen. Thy mind pleases me the
better as time goes on, dear Beowulf. Thou hast
brought it to pass that there shall be peace between
the peoples, the men of the Geats and the Spear-
Danes, and that strife shall cease, the treacherous
hostility they formerly suffered; while I rule over
the wide realm treasures shall be in common; many
a man shall greet another with gifts across the gannet's
bath; the ring-prowed ship shall bear offerings and
love-tokens over the sea. I know the people from old
tradition to be wholly blameless towards friend and
foe when they are of one mind."

Then moreover the protector of earls, the son of
Healfdene, gave in the house twelve treasures; he

OF BEOWULF 75

bade him seek his dear people in safety with those
offerings, come again speedily. Then the king of
noble race, the prince of the Scyldings, kissed the
best of thanes, and fell upon his neck: tears fell
from him, the grey-haired man. There was the chance
of two things for him, the old man full of years, but
more of one, that they should not see one another
again, brave men in talk together. That man was so
dear to him, that he could not stifle the trouble in
his heart, but, fast bound in the thoughts of his heart,
the secret longing for the loved man burned in his
blood. Thence Beowulf strode over the grass meadow,
the warrior proud of his gold, glorying in treasure.
The sea-goer riding at anchor awaited its lord. Then
Hrothgar's gift was often praised on the voyage.
That was a king blameless in all ways, till old
age, which has done hurt to many, robbed him of
the joys of strength.

XXVIII

Then the troop of exceeding brave warriors came to
the flood; they bore ring-woven corslets, locked
shirts of mail. The watchman spied the return of
the earls as erstwhile he did.

He did not salute the strangers from the edge of
the cliff with insult, but rode towards them; he
told the peopl^ of the Weders that the warriors

76 THE SONG

with gleaming armour went welcome to the ship.
Then the spacious ship laden with war garments
was on the sand, the ring-prowed vessel with horses
and treasures; the mast towered aloft above
Hrothgar's precious hoardings.

He gave to the guardian of the ship a sword bound
with gold, so that afterwards on the mead-bench he
was the more esteemed for the treasure, the ancient
sword. He embarked on the ship, to plough the deep
water; left the land of the Danes. Then by the mast
was a sea-cloth, a sail bound by a rope. The timbers
creaked ; the wind over the billows did not force the
wave-floater from her course. The sea-goer went on
her way, the foamy-necked one floated forth over
the waves, the boat with bound prow over the ocean-
streams, till they could see the cliffs of the Geats,
the well-known headlands. The boat drove ashore;
urged by the wind it rested on the land.

Quickly the haven-watchman, who for a long time
had gazed out afar at the waters expecting the dear
men, was ready by the sea. He bound the broad-
bosomed ship to the sand firmly with anchor-bonds,
lest the might of the waves should drive away the
winsome vessel. Then he bade the treasure of chief-
tains, adornments and beaten gold, to be carried up.
He had not far to go thence to seek the giver of
treasure, Hygelac, son of Hrethel, where he dwells at
home, himself with his comrades near the sea-wall.

The house was splendid, the ruler a mighty king
in the high hall, Hygd very young, wise, high-minded.

OF BEOWULF 77

although she, the daughter of Haereth, had Hved few
years in the stronghold. Yet was she not petty, nor
too grudging in gifts and treasures to the people of
the Geats. She, the splendid queen of the people,
had not the pride or the dread hostility of Thryth.
No brave one of the dear comrades, except the
mighty prince, durst venture to look upon her openly
with his eyes; but he might count upon deadly
bonds hand-woven made ready for him. Quickly
after that the wrong-doer was destined to the sword,
so that the inlaid brand might give judgment, might
proclaim the deadly evil. Such is not queenly
usage for a woman to practise, though she is
splendid; that she who was meant to establish
peace should seek the life of a dear subject be-
cause of fancied wrong. In truth the kinsmen of
Hemming detested that.

Men at their ale-drinking told another tale, that
she brought less evils on the people, crafty acts of
malice, as soon as she was given, gold-adorned, to
the young warrior, to the brave chieftain, when by
her father's counsel she sought in her journey the
hall of Offa over the yeUow flood, where afterwards
on the throne she well employed while she lived
what was granted her in life, a good famous woman.
She kept a noble love towards the prince of heroes,
the best, as I have heard, of all mankind, of the race

Dread hostility of Thryth. Thrytho was queen of Offa,
king of the Angles in the fourth century. Her fierce cruelty
is contrasted with Hygd's gracious kindness.

78 THE SONG

of men between the seas. For Offa was a skilled
spearman, widely honoured for gifts and victories;
he ruled his realm with wisdom. From him sprang
Eomaer for a help to heroes, kinsman of Hemming,
grandson of Garmund, mighty in onslaught.

XXIX

Then the bold man went himself with his troop to
tread the meadow by the sea, the wide shores. The
world-candle shone, the sun bright from the south.
They went on their way; quickly they marched till
they heard that the protector of earls, the slayer of
Ongentheow, the worthy yoimg war-king, was be-
stowing rings in the court. Beowulf's arrival was
quickly proclaimed to Hygelac, that the defender
of warriors, the shield-comrade, was come alive to
the palace there, to the comt, unscathed from the
battle-play.

With speed, as the mighty one ordered, a space
was cleared within the hall for the new-comers.^ Then
he who survived the combat sat down opposite him,
kinsman opposite kinsman, when in solemn speech
with chosen words he greeted his gracious lord. The
daughter of Haereth went about throughout that
hall-building with mead- vessels; she loved the
people, bore the flagon to the hands of the Heath-
dwellers. Hygelac began graciously to question his

OF BEOWULF 7^

companion in the high hall; desire to know the
exploits of the Sea-Geats was strong upon him.

" How fared ye on the voyage, dear Beowulf, when
on a sudden thou hadst desire to seek combat afar
over the salt water, warfare at Heorot? Surely thou
hast somewhat mended for Hrothgar, the famous
prince, his wide-known sorrow? In my heart's grief
for that I was troubled with surgings of sorrow; I
put no trust in my loved man's venture; long while
I besought thee that thou shouldst have nought to.
do with the murderous monster, let the South-Danes
themselves fight out the struggle with Grendel.
I utter thanks to God, that it is granted me to
behold thee unscathed."

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: " That is known,,
my lord Hygelac, to many men, the famous encounter;
what struggle there was between Grendel and me in
that place, where he brought very many sorrows upon
the victorious Scyldings, lasting oppression. I avenged
all that. Thus none of Grendel's kin upon earth has
cause to boast of that uproar at dawn, not he wha
Hves longest of the loathly race, snared in sin.

" Even there did I come to that ring-hall to greet
Hrothgar. Straightway the famous son of Healfdene,.
when he knew my purpose, assigned me a seat beside
his own son. His troop was making merry; I have
never seen under the vault of heaven greater mead-joy
of men sitting in hall. At times the famous queen, she
who estabHshes peace among the peoples, moved,
throughout the hall, encouraged the yoimg men;

8o THE SONG

often she gave a ring to a warrior ere she went to
her seat. At times Hrothgar's daughter bore the ale-
flagon before the veterans, to the earls in the high
places; then I heard men sitting in haU name
Freawaru, where she bestowed the nail-studded
vessel on the heroes; she, young, gold-adorned,
is promised to the gracious son of Froda. The
friend of the Scyldings, the ruler of the realm has
brought that about, and counts it a gain that he
should settle with the woman a part of his deadly
feuds and struggles. It is always a rare thing, when a
little while after the fall of the prince the murderous
spear sinks to rest, even though the bride is of worth.

She. young, gold-adorned. Beowulf foretells here the feud
between Hrothgar and his son-in-law Ingeld, the Heathobard.
A previous quarrel between the Danes and the Heathobards,
in which Ingeld's father, Froda, had been killed, has been
ended by Hrothgar's daughter marrying Ingeld. But some
young Dane, Beowulf foresees, will proudly wear in Ingeld's
hall treasures won from the Heathobards in the former fight.
Some old unforgiving warrior will urge Ingeld to revenge
such insult; the young Dane will be killed, and the feud
will break out again.

Son of Froda. Froda, prince of the Heathobards, is killed
in fight against the Danes. To heal the feud Hrothgar gives
his daughter Freawaru in marriage to Froda's son, Ingeld,
■who for a space forgets his father's death. Incited by
an old warrior. Ingeld attacks the Danes. This renewal of
the feud is referred to in Section ii., and also in the Old
English poem, Widsith.

OF BEOWULF 8i

XXX

"That may rankle with the prince of the Heatho-
bards and each thane among the people, when he
goes in hall with the bride, that a noble scion of the
Danes should tend the warriors. On him gleams the
armour of his forefathers, hard and ringmarked,
the treasure of the Heathobards, whilst they were able
to wield those weapons, until they led their dear
comrades and themselves to ruin at the shield-play.

" Then an old spear- warrior who gazes on the trea-
sure, who bears in mind all the slaughter of men,
speaks at the beer-drinking — grim is his heart — he
begins in mournful mood to test the thoughts of the
young warrior by the musings of his mind, to stir up
evil strife — and he utters these words:

" ' Canst thou, my friend, recognise the sword, the
precious blade, thy father bore to battle, where the
Danes slew him when under his helmet for the last
time; the bold Scyldings held the field when
Withergyld lay low, after the fall of heroes. Now
some youth or other of those murderers exulting in
his adornments walks here in the hall; boasts of
the slaughter and wears the treasure, which thou
shouldst rightfully own.'

"Thus at all times he admonishes and stirs up
memories with baneful words till the season comes
when the bride's thane slumbers, stained with blood

F

82 THE SONG

after the sword-stroke, his life forfeited because of
her father's deeds. The other escapes with his Ufe,
he knows the country well. Then on both sides are
broken the solemn oaths of earls. Afterwards deadly
hatreds surge up against Ingeld, and his love for his
wife grows cooler from his anguish of mind. Where-
fore I look not for the good-will of the Heathobards,
nor for much loyalty, void of malice, to the Danes,
nor firm friendship.

" I shall speak on once again about Grendel, that
thou, the giver of treasure, mayest know well what
was later the issue of the hand-struggle of heroes.

" After the jewel of the sky glided over the fields,
the monster came raging, the dread night -foe, to
seek us out, where safe and sound we held the hall.
There was war fatal to Hondscioh, a violent death
to the doomed man. He was the first to fall, the girded
warrior. Grendel devoured him, the famous Hege-
man; he swallowed the whole body of the loved
man. Nevertheless the bloody-toothed slayer, his
thought set on evil, was not minded to go out again
from the gold-hall, empty-handed; but, strong in
his might, he pitted himself against me, laid hold
with ready hand. A pouch himg wide and wondrous,
made firm with artful clasps; it was all cunningly
devised by the power of the devil and with dragon
I skins. He, the savage worker of deeds, purposed
I to put me into it, though guiltless, with many
'others: it could not come to pass thus when I
stood upright in my wrath.

OF BEOWULF 83

" It is too long to tell how I gave requital to the
people's foe for every ill deed. There, my prince, did
I bring honour on thy people by my deeds. He escaped
forth; for a short space he enjoyed the pleasures of
life; yet his right hand remained in Heorot for a
token of him; and he, departing thence wretched,
sank down, sad in mind, to the bottom of the mere.

" When morning came and we had sat down to the
banquet, the friend of the Scyldings rewarded me
richly for the deadly onslaught with beaten gold,
with many treasures. There was singing and merri-
ment. An aged Scylding of great experience told
tales of long ago. At times one bold in battle drew
sweetness from the harp, the joy- wood; at times
wrought a measure true and sad; at times the large-
hearted king told a wondrous story in fitting fashion.
At times again an old warrior bowed down with age
began to speak to the youths of prowess in fight;
his heart swelled within him, when, old in years, he
brought to mind many things.

" Thus we took our pleasure there the livelong day,
till another night came to men. Then forthwith again
Grendel's mother was ready to avenge her grief;
sorrowful, she journeyed. Death, the hostility of the
Weders, had carried off her son. The monstrous
woman avenged her child, she slew a warrior in her
might. There life went out from ^Eschere, a wise
councillor through many years Nor, when morning
came, might they, the men of the Danes, consume
with fire him who had been made powerless by death;

84 THE SONG

nor lay the loved man on the pyre. She bore off that
body in a fiend's embrace under the mountain stream.
That was to Hrothgar the heaviest of the sorrows,
which for a long while had laid hold on the prince
of the people. Then the prince, lamenting, entreated
me by thy life, that, in the press of the floods, I
should perform a deed of prowess, should hazard my
life, should achieve an heroic exploit. He promised
me reward. Then I found the grim, terrible guardian
of the depths of the surging water, who is known far
and wide. There for a space was hand-to-hand
grappling; the water welled with blood, and in that
hall in the depths I cut off the head of Grendel's
mother with a gigantic sword; with violence I tore
her life from her; I was not yet doomed to death,
but the protector of earls, the son of Healfdene,
gave me again many a treasure.

XXXI

"Thus did the king of the people live as was fitting;
in no way did I lose the rewards, the guerdon of my
strength; but he, the son of Healfdene, gave me
treasures into my own keeping. Them I will bring
and gladly proffer to thee, king of warriors. Once
more all favours come from thee. I have few close
kinsmen save thee, Hygelac."

OF BEOWULF 85

Then he commanded to be brought in the boar-
image, the banner, the helmet riding high in battle,
the grey corslet, the splendid war-sword. Afterwards
he spoke a measure:

"Hrothgar, the wise prince, gave me this battle
garment ; he expressly bade that I should first declare
his good- will to thee. He said that king Heorogar,
prince of the Scyldings, had it, the breast-armour,
for a long space; that nevertheless he would not
give it to his son, the bold Heoroweard, though he
was loyal to him. Use all things well."

I heard that four horses, reddish yellow, every
whit alike, came next in order; he gave him posses-
sion of steeds and stores; thus must a kinsman do,
and not weave a cunning net for another, prepare
death for a comrade with secret guile. To Hygelac,
stout in fight, his nephew was very loyal, and each
was mindful of the other's pleasure.

I heard that he presented to Hygd that neck-band,
the precious, wondrous treasure, which Wealtheow,
the prince's daughter, gave him, together with three
steeds full of grace and furnished with gleaming
saddles. When she had taken the ring her breast
was made fair.

Thus the son of Ecgtheow, a man famous in battle,
was bold in brave deeds; he lived honourably; never
did he slay his hearth-companions in his drunken-
ness; his was not a savage mind, but, fearless in
fight, he guarded the precious gift which God had
given him with the greatest strength among men.

86 THE SONG

Long was he despised, for the men of the Geats
accounted him worthless; nor was the lord of troops
minded to do him much honour on the mead-bench;
they thought indeed that he was slothful, an unfit
chieftain. A recompense came to the famous man for
every slight.

Then the protector of earls, the king mighty in
battle, bade them bring in the sword of Hrethel,
decked \vith gold; there was not at that time with
the Geats a better treasure among swords; he laid
that in Beowulf's bosom, and gave him seven thou-
sand measures of land, a house and princely rank.
To them both in that country land, domain, ancestral
claims, had come by natural right, but more to
Hygelac, a wide realm, in that he was the more
illustrious.

^ That came to pass in later days among the warriors,
when Hygelac was laid low and battle-swords slew
Heardred imder cover of his shield, after the bold
battle-heroes, the warlike Scylfings, sought him mid
his victorious troop, pressed hard in fight the nephew
of Hereric. After\vards the wdde realm came under
Beowulf's sway; well did he rule for fifty years. He
was then an aged king, an old guardian of the land,
till a dragon which guarded treasure in a burial
mound, a steep rock, began to show his might on the
dark nights. A pathway lay beneath, unknown to
men; some man entered there, greedily seized the

The warlike Scylfings. The Scylfings are the Swedes who
lived just north of the Geats.

OF BEOWULF 87

pagan hoard . . . tricked the keeper of the treasure
with thievish cunning while he slept ... so that
he was enraged.

XXXII

He who did himself sore hurt did not violate the
dragon's hoard eagerly of his own free wiU; but
some thane of the sons of heroes was fleeing in great
distress from hostile blows, and pressed down by
his guUt, lacking a shelter, the man took hiding
there. Straightway he looked in . . . dread of the
monster lay upon him, yet in his misery . . . then
the sudden attack seized him. . . .

There were in the cave many such cmcient treasures,
which in days gone by some men carefully hid there,
great relics of a noble race, precious store.

Death took them aU off in past times, and still
that one veteran of the people who tarried there
longest, a watchman wearying for his friends, looked
toward the Hke fate, that but for a short space he
might have sway over the long-gathered treasures.
The barrow stood all ready on open ground, hard by
the waves, newly-raised near the headland, strong
in artful barriers. Therein the guardian of the rings
bore the precious heap of the treasures of earls, of
beaten gold. Few words he spoke.

88 THE SONG

" Now, earth, do thou hold, now that heroes cannot,
the wealth of earls! Lo! valiant men erstwhile took
it from thee. Death in war, a sweeping slaughter,
took off each of the men, each of my people, who gave
up this life; they had seen joy in hall. I have no one
who can wield the sword or polish the golden vessel,
the precious flagon; the old warriors have departed.
The stout helmet adorned with gold must be reft of
its beaten plates. The polishers slumber who should
make splendid the battle-masks; and the corslet
likewise, which endured the stroke of swords in war
mid the cracking of shields, follows the warrior to
decay. The coat of mail cannot journey afar by the
side of heroes after the passing of the warrior. There
is no joy of the harp, delight of the timbrel, nor does
the good hawk sweep through the hall, nor the swift
steed stamp in the court. Violent death has caused
to pass many generations of men."

Thus, sad in mind, the latest left of all lamented his
sorrow; day and night he wept joyless, till the surge
of death touched his heart. The old twilight-foe, the
naked hostile dragon, who seeks out barrows, flaming
as he goes, who flies by night compassed with fire,
found the costly treasure. Him the dwellers in the
land greatly fear. He must needs seek the hoard in
the earth, where, old in years, he holds possession of
the pagan gold; nor shall he profit one whit by that.
- Thus did the people's foe guard that mighty
treasure-house in the earth for three hundred years,
till a man angered him in mind. He bore the plated

OF BEOWULF 89

goblet to his master, begged his lord for protection.
Then the treasure was found, the hoard of rings was
lessened; the boon was granted to the unhappy man.
For the first time the prince beheld the ancient work
of men.

Then the dragon awoke, wrath was rekindled; he
sprang along the rock ; brave in heart, he came upon
the enemy's foot-track; he had stepped with stealthy
craft near the dragon's head. Thus may a man, not
destined to fall, who relies on the Almighty's protec-
tion, easily survive sorrow and exile.

The treasure-guardian, sore and savage in mind,
made eager search along the ground; was set on
finding the man, him who had done him scathe while
he slept; often he made a whole circuit of the mound
outside. There was no man in that waste place. Yet
he was keen for the conflict, the work of war; at
times he turned to the barrow, sought the treasure.
Forthwith he found that some man had ransacked
the gold, the rich stores. With difficulty did the
treasure-guardian delay till evening came; then
wrathful was the warden of the barrow, the foul
creature was determined to avenge with fire the
precious flagon.

Then day had departed, as the dragon desired; no
longer woidd he wait on the wall, but went forth with
fire, furnished with flame. The first onslaught was
terrifying to the people in the land, even as it was
speedily ended with sorrow for their giver of treasure.

Then the monster began to belch forth flames, to

90 THE SONG

bum the bright dwellings. The flare of the fire
brought fear upon men. The loathly air-flier wished
not to leave aught living there. The warring of the
dragon was widely seen, the onslaught of the cruel
foe far and near, how the enemy of the people of the
Geats wrought despite and devastation. He hastened
back to the hoard, to his hidden haU ere it was day.
He had compassed the dwellers in the land with fire,
with flames and with burning; he trusted in the
barrow, in bravery and the rampart. His hope
deceived him.

xxxni

Then quickly the terror was made known to Beowulf
according to the truth, that his own abode, the best
of buildings, the gift-throne of the Geats, was melting
in the surges of flame. That was sorrow to the good
man's soul, greatest of griefs to the heart. The wise
man thought that, breaking estabUshed law, he had
bitterly angered God, the Lord everlasting. His
breast was troubled within by dark thoughts, as
was not his wont.

The fire-dragon had destroyed with flames the
stronghold of his subjects, the land by the sea from
without, the country-side. The warlike king, the
prince of the Weders, gave him requital for that.
Then the protector of warriors, the lord of earls,

OF BEOWULF 91

bade an iron shield, a splendid war-targe, to be
wrought for him. Full well he knew that wood could
not help him ; linden wood against fire. The chieftain
long famous was fated to endure the end of fleeting
days, of life in the world, and the dragon with him,
though for long space he had held the treasure-store.

Then the prince of rings scorned to seek the far-
flier with a troop of men, with a great host. He feared
not the fight, nor did he accoimt as aught the valour
of the dragon, his power and prowess; because ere
this, defying danger, he had come through many
onslaughts, wild attacks, when he, the man of vic-
tory, purged Hrothgar's hall, and in war killed with
his grip the kin of Grendel, the hateful race.

That was not the most paltry of hand-to-hand
struggles, where they slew Hygelac, when the king
of the Geats, the friendly prince of the peoples, the
son of Hrethel, died in the rushes of battle in the
land of the Frisians, his blood shed by the sword,
beaten down by the brand. Beowulf came thence by
his own strength ; swam over the sea. Alone he held
on his arm thirty suits of armoiu" when he set out on
the sea. The Hetware, who bore the linden shields
forward against him, had no cause to boast of the
battle on foot. Few escaped from that battle-hero to
seek their home. The son of Ecgtheow swam over
the stretch of the gulfs, the hapless solitary man

That was not the most paltry. This expedition of Hygelac
was historical and occurred between 512 and 520 a.d. The
scene of the fighting was the Netherlands.

92 THE SONG

back to his people, where Hygd tendered him treasure
and kingdom, rings and the throne; she did not
trust her son, that he could hold his fatherland
against hostile hosts, now that Hygelac was dead.

Yet the unhappy men could in no way win the
chieftain's consent that he would be lord over
Heardred, or that he would elect to rule the realm.
Nevertheless he upheld him among the people with
friendly counsel, graciously with support, until
Heardred grew older; he ruled the Weder-Geats.
Exiles, the sons of Ohtere, sought him over the sea.
They had risen against the protector of the Scylfings,
the best of sea-kings who gave out treasure in Sweden,
a famous prince. That ended his life. Deadly wounds
from sword-slashes he, the son of Hygelac, gained
there for his hospitality; and the son of Ongentheow
departed again to seek his home when Heardred was
laid low; he let Beowulf hold the throne, rule over
the Geats. That was a good king.

Sought him over the sea. Eanmund and Eadgils rebel against
their uncle Onela, King of Sweden; and flee to the Geats,
where Heardred shelters them. Onela follows with an army,
attacks and kills Heardred. It is in this battle that Weohstan
kills Eanmund (Section xxxvi.). Onela returns to Sweden,
leaving Beowulf undisturbed as Heardred's successor. Later
Beowulf befriends Eadgils, who, after conquering and kilhng
Onela, becomes King of Sweden.

OF BEOWULF ^ 93

XXXIV

In after days he forgot not requital for the prince's
fall; he became a friend to the wretched Eadgils.
He aided the son of Ohtere overseas with a troop,
with warriors and weapons. He took vengeance
afterwards with cold, sad marches; he deprived the
king of life.

Thus he, the son of Ecgtheow, had survived every
onslaught, dread battles, mighty ventures, until that
day when he was to encounter the dragon. The lord
of the Geats went then with eleven others, raging
with anger, to behold the dragon. He had heard then
whence the feud arose, the hostility of warriors; the
famous costly vessel came into his possession through
the hand of the finder.

He who brought about the beginning of that strife,
fettered, sad in mind, was the thirteenth man in the
troop; he was forced, though in misery, to show the
way. He went against his will, till he could, spy that
cave, the barrow under the ground, hard by the surge
of the waters, the struggle of the waves. Within it
was full of jewels and v^ire ornaments. The monstrous
guardian, the ready fighter, grown old beneath the
earth, held the treasures. That was no easy matter
for any man to enter there.

The king, mighty in onslaught, sat down then on
the headland; whilst the gold-friend of the Geats

94 ^ THE SONG

wished good fortune to his hearth-companions. His
mind was sad, restless, brooding on death. Fate
exceeding near which was destined to come on the
old man, to seek the treasure of his soul, to part
asunder life from the body. Not for long after that
was the chieftain's spirit clothed in flesh.

Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow: "In my youth
I came through many rushes of war, times of combat.
I remember all that. I was seven years old when the
prince of treasures, the friendly ruler of the peoples,
took me from my father; King Hrethel brought me
up and fostered me, bestowed on me treasure and
banqueting, bore in mind our kinship; in his life
I was no less loved by him, a child in the court, than
any of his children, Herebeald and Haethcyn, or my
Hygelac. For the eldest a bed of death was made
ready by deeds not fit for a kinsman, when Haethcyn
smote him with curved bow, his friendly prince with
an arrow; he missed his mark and shot his kinsman,
one brother the other with bloody shaft. That was
a violent deed not to be atoned for by gifts, cunningly-
wrought, weighing sore on the heart. Yet in spite
of that the chieftain must needs pass from life
unavenged.

" Thus it is sad for an aged man to endure, that
his son in his youth should swing from the gallows.
Then he makes a measure, a song of sorrow, when
his son hangs, a delight for the raven, and he, aged
and full of years, can in no way bring him help. He
is ever reminded each morning of his son's death; he

OF BEOWULF 95

cares not to awciit the birth of another son in his
court after the one has made acquaintance with evil
deeds by the agony of death. Sorrowful he gazes on
his son's room, the deserted wine-hall, a resting-
place for the winds, reft of noise. The horsemen
slumber, the heroes in their graves; there is no
music of the harp, joy in the palace, as there
was of yore."

XXXV

"He goes then to his sleeping-place, sings a song of
sorrow, one man for another; his lands and dwelling
seemed all too spacious for him. Thus did the pro-
tector of the Weders bear siurging sorrow in his heart
for Herebeald; he could no whit avenge the mur-
derous deed on the slayer. Nor could he work hurt
to the warrior, though he was not dear to him. Then
with that grief which came sorely upon him, he
forsook joy of men, chose God's light; left to his
sons, as a worthy man does, land and cities, when he
/ departed from life.

/ " Then guilt and strife came to be the portion of
Swedes and Geats over the wide water, a bitter hos-
tihty after Hrethel died, and Ongentheow's sons
were brave and bold in fight. They did not wish to

Swedes and Geats. For the wars of Swedes and Geats
see Section xl.

96 THE SONG

keep up friendship across the sea, but often they
cunningly contrived dread slaughter near Hreos-
naburh. That did my friendly kinsmen avenge, the
feud and the outrage, as was well known, though one
of them paid for it at a dear price with his life. To
Hsethcyn, lord of the Geats, war proved fatal. Then
I heard that in the morning one brother avenged the
other on the slayer with the sword-edge. There
Ongentheow seeks out Eofor. The war-helmet was
shattered, the aged Scylfing fell mortally stricken;
the hand forgot not the feud; it drew not back from
the deadly blow.

"With gleaming sword I repaid in war, as chance
was given me, the treasures he bestowed on me. He
gave me land, domain, an ancestral seat. There was i
no need for him to seek among the Gepidae, or the !
Spear-Danes, or in the kingdom of the Swedes for "
less worthy warriors, to buy them with treasure.
Ever I wished to be before him on foot, alone in
the van, and so shall I do battle while my life lasts,
while this sword endures that early and late has
often followed me. Afterwards I slew Daeghrefn,
the champion of the Hugas, in the presence of the '
veterans. He was not able at all to bring adornmentsl \\
breast ornaments, to the king of the Frisians, but]
the keeper of the banner, the chieftain in his might-i
fell amid the warriors. The sword was not the slayer, I
but my battle-grip crushed the surges of his heart
and his body. Now the edge of the sword, the hand
and the keen blade, shall wage war for the treasure."

OF BEOWULF 97

Beowulf spoke, he uttered pledges for the last
time : " In my youth I passed through many battles ;
yet I, aged protector of the people, wish to seek the
fight, to achieve the heroic deed, if the foul foe comes
out of his cave to face me."

Then for the last time he greeted each of the men,
brave bearers of helmets, dear comrades: " I was not
minded to bear a sword, a weapon against the dragon,
if I knew how else I could make good my boast against
the monster, as erstwhile I did against Grendel; but
here I expect hot battle-flame, a blast of breath, and
poison. Wherefore I bear shield and corslet. I will
not give back the space of a foot before the keeper of
the barrow, but the fight shall be between us at the
wall, as Fate, the master of every man, shall decide
for us. I am brave in mind, so that I can keep from
boasting against the winged fighter. Do ye, clad in
corslets, warriors in battle-array, bide on the barrow
to see which of us two can better survive wounds
after the deadly onslaught. This is not your venture,
nor is it in any man's power, except mine alone, to
strive with his strength against the monster, to
perform heroic deeds. With my might I shall gain
the gold; or war, a perilous violent death, shall carry
off your prince."

Then by his shield the strong warrior arose, stem
under his helmet; he bore the battle-corslet under
the rocky cliffs; he trusted in the strength of a single
man. Such is no coward's ventiue.

Then he, excellent in virtues, who had survived

G

98 THE SONG

very many combats, wild attacks, when foot-warriors
crashed together, saw a stone arch standing by the
wall, a stream gushing out thence from the barrow.
The surge of the spring was hot with battle-fires ; by
reason of the dragon's flame he could not endure for
any time vmbumt the recess near the treasure. The
prince of the Weder-Geats, when he was angered,
let a word go out from his breast ; the strong-hearted
man was wrathful; his voice loud in battle went in
resounding under the grey stone.

Hate was roused, the treasure-guardian heard the
speech of a man; there was no longer time to seek
friendship; first the monster's breath, hot sweat of
battle, issued out from the stone ; the earth resounded.
The warrior, lord of the Geats, swung his shield under
the barrow against the dread creature. Then the
heart of the coiling dragon was ready to seek strife.
The valiant warlike king first brandished the sword,
the ancient blade, not dull in its edges. Each of the
two hostile-minded ones felt fear of the other. The
ruler of friends stood staunchly against his high
shield, when the dragon quickly coiled together; he
waited in his war-gear. Then striding amid flames,
contorted he went, hastening to his fate. The shield
guarded life and body well for the famous prince less
time than he wished. There then for the first time he
had to show his strength without Fate allotting him
fame in battle. The lord of the Geats raised up his
hand, he struck the dread gleaming monster with the
precious sword, so that the bright edge turned on the

OF BEOWULF 99

bone ; it bit less keenly than its king, hard pressed by
trouble, had need. Then after the battle-stroke the
guardian of the treasure was in savage mood; he
cast forth deadly fire; far leaped the war-flames.
The gold-friend of the Geats boasted not of famous
victories; the naked battle-blade failed at need, as
it should not have done, the long-famous brand.
That was no easy step for the famous son of Ecgtheow
to consent to yield that ground; against his will he
must needs inhabit a dwelling elsewhere; thus must
every man forsake fleeting days.

It was not long till the fighters closed again. The
treasure - guardian took heart anew. His breast
laboured with breathing. He who before held sway
over the people suffered anguish, ringed round with
fire.

No whit did his comrades, sons of chieftains, stand
him in a band with valour, but they took to the wood,
they hid for their lives. In one of them the mind
was roused to face sorrows. In him who well considers
nothing can ever stifle kinship.

XXXVI

He wa^ called Wiglaf, son of Weohstan, a valued
shield-warrior, prince of the Scylfings, kinsman of
iElfhere; he saw his lord suffering the heat under
his war-helm. Then he called to mind the favour

100 THE ^ONG

which formerly he had bestowed on him, the rich
dwelling-place of the Wsegmundings, all the rights
his father possessed. He could not then hold back;
his hand seized the shield, the yellow linden wood,
drew the ancient sword, that was among men a relic
of Eanmund, son of Ohtere. Weohstan slew him in
battle with the edge of the sword, a friendless exile,
and bore off from his kin the bright gleaming helm,
the ringed corslet, the gigantic old sword that Onela
gave him, his kinsman's war-trappings, ready battle-
equipment. He spoke not of the feud, though he had
killed his brother's child. Many years he held the
adornments, brand and corslet until his son could
achieve mighty deeds like his old father. Then when
he departed from life, old in his passing hence, he
gave among the Geats an exceeding number of
battle-garments.

That was the first time that the yoimg warrior was
to stand the rush of battle with his prince. His spirit
did not weaken, nor did his kinsman's relic fail in
the fight. The dragon discovered that when they had
come together. Wiglaf spoke, uttered many fitting
words to his comrades; his mind was sad: "I
remember that time when we were drinking mead,
when in the beer-hall we promised our lord who gave
us these rings, that we would requite him for the war-
gear, the helms and sharp swords, if need such as this
came upon him. He chose us among the host of his
own will for this venture, he reminded us of famous
deeds and gave me these treasmres, the more because

OF BEOWULF loi

he counted us good spear-warriors, bold bearers of
helmets, though our lord, the protector of the people,
purposed to achieve this mighty task unaided,
because among men he had wrought most famous
deeds, daring ventures. Now the day has come
when our lord needs the strength of valiant warriors.
Let us go to help our warlike prince, while the fierce
dread flame yet flares. God knows that, as for me,
I had much rather the flame should embrace my body
with my gold-giver. It does not seem fitting to me,
that we should bear shields back to our dwelling, if
we cannot first fell the foe, guard the life of the
prince of the Weders. I know well that, from his
former deeds, he deserves not to suffer affliction alone
among the warriors of the Geats, to fall in fight;
sword and helmet, corslet and shirt of mail shall be
shared by us both."

He went then through the deadly reek, bore his
helmet to the aid of the prince, few words he spoke:
" Dear Beowulf, achieve all things well, as thou saidst
long ago in thy youth, that thou wouldst not let thy
repute fail, while Ufe lasted; now, resolute chieftain,
mighty in deeds, thou must guard thy life with all
thy strength; I will help thee."

After these words the dragon came raging once
more, the dread evil creature, flashing with surges
of flame, to seek out his foes, the hated men. The
shield was burnt away to the rim by waves of fire.
The corslet could not give help to the young shield-
warrior; but the youth fought mightily beneath his

102 THE SONG

kinsman's buckler, when his own was consumed by
the flames. Then again the wariike king was mindful
of fame ; he struck with his battle-sword with mighty
strength, so that, urged by the force of hate, it stuck
in his head. Naegling burst apart; Beowulf's sword,
ancient and grey, failed in fight. It was not granted
to him that the edges of swords might aid him in the
struggle, when he bore to battle the weapon hardened
by blood of wounds ; his hand was too strong, he who,
as I have heard, tried every sword beyond its strength.
He was in evil plight.

Then for the third time the enemy of the people,
the bold fire-dragon, was mindful of fighting; he
rushed on the mighty man, when a chance offered,
hot and fierce in fight; he clutched his whole neck
with sharp teeth ; Beowulf grew stained with his life-
blood; the gore weUed out in surges.

XXXVH

Then I heard that, in the peril of the people's prince,
the exalted earl showed courage, strength and daring,
as was his nature. He guarded not his head, but the
brave man's hand burned when he helped his kinsman,
so that he, the man in his armour, beat down a httle
the hostile creature ; and the sword sank in, gleaming
and plated ; and the fire after began to abate. Then

OF BEOWULF 103

once more the king himself was master of his thoughts;
he brandished the battle-knife, keen and sharp for
the fray, which he wore on his corslet ; the protector
of the Weders cut through the dragon in the midst.
They feUed the foe; force drove out his life; and
then they both had slain him, the noble kinsman.
Such should a man be, a thane in time of need.

That was the last victory for the prince by his own
deeds, the end of his work in the world. Then the
wound which erstwhile the earth-dragon dealt him
began to bum and swell. He found forthwith that
the poison was working with pestilent force within
his breast. Then the chieftain went till, taking wise
thought, he sat down on a seat by the wall ; he gazed
on the work of giants, saw how the eternal earth-
building held within stone arches, firm fixed by
pillars. Then with his hands the exceeding good
thane bathed him with water, the blood-stained
famous prince, his friendly lord, wearied with battle ;
and loosed his helm.

Beowulf spoke, he talked of his wound, of the hurt
sore imto death; he knew well that he had ended
his days, his joy on earth. Then all his length of days
was passed away, death was exceeding close: "Now
I would give armour to my son, if it had been so
granted that any heir, spnmg from my body, should
succeed me. I have ruled this people for fifty years.
There was no people's king among the nations about
who durst come against me with swords, or oppress
me with dread. I have lived the appointed span in

104 THE SONG

my land, guarded well my portion, contrived no
crafty attacks, nor sworn many oaths unjustly.
Stricken with mortal wounds, I can rejoice in aU
this; wherefore the Ruler of men has no cause to
blame me with the slaughter of kinsmen, when my
life passes out from my body. Now, dear Wiglaf, do
thou go quickly to behold the hoard under the grey
stone, now that the dragon lies low, sleeps sorely
wounded, spoiled of the treasure. Haste now that I
may see the old riches, the golden treasure, may
eagerly gaze on the bright gems of artful work, so
that after winning the great store of jewels, I may
the more easily leave life and land, which long I
have guarded."

xxxvni

Then I heard that the son of Weohstan after the
speeches quickly obeyed his wounded lord, stricken
in battle, bore his ringed corslet, his woven shirt of
mail, under the roof of the barrow. Then, exulting
in victory, the brave kinsman-thane, as he went by
the seat, beheld many costly ornaments, gold gleam-
ing along the ground, wondrous work on the waU,
and the lair of the dragon, the old flier at twiMght;
vessels standing, goblets of olden time, lacking a
furbisher, reft of their ornaments. There was many

OF BEOWULF 105

a helm, ancient and rusty, many bracelets cunningly
bound. Treasure, gold on the ground, may easily
madden any man; conceal it who will!

Likewise he saw a banner all gilt lying high above
the hoard, greatest of wonders wrought by hand,
cunningly woven in stitches. A gleam shone forth
from it so that he might see the floor, behold the
jewels. There was no trace of the dragon there, for
the sword had carried him off. Then I heard that
one man rifled the hoard, the old work of giants in
the mound, laid in his bosom flagons and dishes at
his own wiU; took also the banner, brightest of
beacons. The sword of the old chieftain — its edge
was iron — had earlier laid low him who long while
was guardian of the treasures; he bore with him
to guard the treasure a dread hot flame, blazing out
in battle at midnight, till violently he perished. The
messenger was in haste, eager to retmn, urged on by
the treasures. Desire was strong on him to know
whether he, the courageous one, should find the
mortally-wounded prince of the Weders alive in that
place where erstwhile he left him.

Then with the treasures he found the famous
prince, his lord bleeding, at the end of his life.
Again he began to dash water upon him, until the
beginning of a word escaped from his breast-hoard.
Then the warrior spoke, the aged man in his pain;
he gazed on the gold.

" I give thanks in words to the Prince, the King of
glory, the eternal Lord for all the adornments which

io6 THE SONG

I behold here, that I have been able to win such for
my people before my death-day. Now have I sold
my old life for the hoard of treasures; attend ye
now to the need of my people. No longer may I
tarry here. Bid the men famed in battle raise at
the sea-headland a gleaming moimd after the burning.
It shall tower high on Hronesness, a reminder to my
people, so that sea-farers may afterwards call it
Beowulf's barrow when from afar the ships drive
over the dark sea."

The prince of brave mind took from his neck a
golden ring, gave to the thane, the young spear-
warrior, his helm bright with gold, his ring and
corslet; bade him use them well: "Thou art the
last of our race, of the Waegmundings. Fate has
swept all my kinsmen away to their destiny, earls
in their might; I must needs follow them."

That was the last word from the old man's thoughts,
before he sought the pyre, the hot, fierce surges of
flame. His soul passed from his breast to seek the
splendour of the saints.

XXXIX

Then was it sorrow for the young man to see on
the earth the man he loved best, his life closed, lying
there helpless. The slayer also lay low, the dread
earth-dragon, reft of hfe, vanquished by violence.

OF BEOWULF 107

No longer could the coiled dragon keep guard over
the treasure-stores, but iron blades, sharp battle-
notched swords, forged by hammers, had carried
him off, so that the wide-flier sank to the ground
near the treasure-house, still from his wounds. No
more did he wheel in his flight through the air at r .
midnight, no more made his appearance exulting in y
costly possessions; but he fell to the earth because f
of the warrior's handiwork. Few of a truth among
men, among those of might in the land, as I have
heard, though they were eager for all exploits, have
succeeded in rushing against the blast of the venomous
foe, or seizing with hands the hall of rings, if they
found the guardian on watch dwelling in the barrow,
Beowulf had paid with his death for the many costly
treasures; each had gone to the end of fleeting life.

It was not long then till the cowards left the wood,
weak failers in loyalty, the ten together, who durst
not before wield spears in their lord's great need;
but shamefully they bore their shields, the war-gear,
where the old man lay; they looked at Wiglaf.
He, the foot-warrior, sat wearied, hard by the
prince's shoulders, tried to recall him with water.
No whit did he succeed; he could not, though dearly
he wished, keep life in the prince on earth; nor alter
the will of the Almighty. The might of God was
pleased to show its power over all men by its deeds,
as He yet does now.

Then a grim speech came readily from the youth to
those who erstwhile had lost their courage. Wiglaf

io8 THE SONG

spoke, son of Weohstan, a man sad at heart; he
looked at the hated men: "Lo! he, who wishes to
tell the truth, can say that the lord who gave you
treasures, warlike adornments, wherein ye stand there,
when on the ale-bench he often bestowed on men sit-
ting in hall, a prince to his thanes, helmet and corslet,
the most excellent he could anywhere find far or near,
that doubtless he miserably cast away the garments
of war, when battle beset him. The people's king
had indeed no cause to boast of his comrades in
fight; yet God, the Disposer of victories, granted
that he alone with his sword avenged himself, when
he had need of might. Small protection to his life
could I afford him in the fight, and yet I tried to aid
my kinsman beyond my power. When with the
sword I smote the deadly foe, he grew ever weaker,
his fire surged out less strongly from his breast. Too
few protectors pressed round the prince, when the
time came upon him. Now the receiving of jewels,
giving of swords, all the splendid heritage, and life's
necessities, shall pass away from your race. Every
man of the people shall wander, stripped of his rights
in the land, when chieftains from afar hear of your
flight, the inglorious act. Death is better for all
earls than a shameful life."

OF BEOWULF 109

XL

He bade then the battle be proclaimed in the en-
trenchment, up over the sea-cliff, where that troop
of earls, bearing their shields, sat sad in mind the
whole morning, expecting both issues, the death and
the return of the loved man. He who rode on the
headland held back little of the late tidings, but
truthfully he told them all:

" Now is the giver of delights among the people of
the Weders, the lord of the Geats, fast in his death-
bed, he bides in his slaughterous couch by the deeds
of the dragon. By his side lies the deadly foe stricken
with knife wounds; he could not in any way deal a
wound to the monster with a sword. Wiglaf, son of
Weohstan, sits over Beowulf, the earl over the other
lifeless one; reverently he keeps watch over friend
and foe.

"Now there is prospect of a time of strife for the
people, when the fall of the king becomes widely
known to Franks and Frisians. The harsh strife
with the Hugas was brought about when Hygelac
went to the land of the Frisians with a navy,
where the Hetware laid him low in battle; they did
mightily with their greater numbers, so that the
corslet- warrior was forced to yield; he fell mid
his troops; the prince gave no adornments to his
veterans. To us ever since the good will of Mere-
woing has been denied.

/

no THE SONG

"Nor do I expect any peace or good faith from the
people of Sweden; for it was widely known that
Ongentheow robbed Haethcyn, son of Hrethel, of
life near Ravenswood, when the warlike Scylfings
first sought in their pride the people of the Geats.
Straightway the aged father of Ohtere, old and
terrible, dealt him a blow in return, killed the sea-
guide, the old man freed the bride, the wife reft of
her gold, the mother of Onela and Ohtere ; and then
he followed his deadly foes till with difficulty they
escaped, leaderless, to Ravenswood. Then he be-
sieged with a mighty host those who had escaped
the sword, wearied from wounds; often through the
livelong night he threatened the wretched band with
misery; he said that in the morning he would do them
hurt with the edge of the sword ; some on the gallows-
tree for the sport of the birds. With dawn came
relief again to the woeful, when they heard Hygelac's
horn and the blare of the trumpet, when the vahant
one came on the track of the warriors of the people."

The warlike . . . Geats. The narrative of the battle is
somewhat hard to follow. Ongentheow^, the Swedish king,
attacks Haethcyn, king of the Geats, and slays him. The
leaderless Geats retreat to Ravenswood, where they are
rescued by Hygelac. Ongentheow now retires to some sort
of fortification, where he is attacked by the Geats. He is
assailed by the brothers Eofor and Wulf: he deals Wulf a
heavy stroke, but Eofor strikes Ongentheow down.

OF BEOWULF iii

XLI

"The blood trail of Swedes and Geats, the deadly
attack of men, was widely noted, how the men roused
strife between one another. Then the valiant one
departed with his kinsmen, the old man very sad,
to seek his stronghold. The eaii Ongentheow went
on further; he had heard of Hygelac's skill in battle,
of the proud man's war-strength; he relied not on
resistance to check the sea-men, to defend treasure,
children and wife against the sea-raiders; the aged
man turned thence once more behind a rampart.
Then chase was given to the men of the Swedes, the
banner to Hygelac. Upon that they overran the
stronghold after the people of Hrethel had pene-
trated the fastnesses. There the grey-haired Ongen-
theow was constrained to tarry by the edge of the
sword, so that the people's king had to suffer the
might of Eofor alone. Wulf, son of \\^onred, struck
him with the sword, so that after the blow the blood
gushed from the veins under his hair. Yet was he
not daimted, the aged Scylfing, but quickly repaid
that deadly stroke with a worse in exchange, as soon
as he, the people's king, turned thither. The strong
son of Wonred could not give a blow in return to
the old man, for he first clove his helmet on his head,
so that, stained with blood, he had to give back: he
fell on the ground: he was not doomed yet, but he

112 THE SONG

revived, though a wound had stricken him. The
bold thane of Hygelac, when his brother was laid
low, caused his broad sword, old gigantic brand, to
crash the massive helmet over the wall of shields;
then the king sank down, the protector of the people ;
he was stricken unto death. Then were there many
who bound up his kinsman ; they lifted him speedily
when space was cleared for them, so that they might
hold possession of the battle-field. Then one warrior
spoiled another, took from Ongentheow his iron
corslet, his sharp hilted sword, and his helm also;
bore the trappings of the old man to Hygelac. He
received the adornments, and graciously promised
him rewards amid the people, and thus did he fulfil
it; the lord of the Geats, the son of Hrethel, when
he came to his home, rewarded Eofor and Wulf with
exceeding rich treasures for that onslaught; to each
of them he gave a hundred thousand measures of
land and twisted rings; men on earth had no cause
to blame him for the gifts, when they fought heroi-
cally; and then to Eofor he gave his only daughter,
to adorn his dwelling, as a pledge of good-will.

"That is the feud and the hostihty, the deadly
hatred of man, which I look for, of Swedish men who
will come upon us, when they learn that our prince
is dead, who erstwhile guarded treasure and king-
dom against foes, the bold Scyldings after the fall
of heroes, did what was best for the people, and
performed heroic deeds more and more.

" Now haste is best, that we should gaze there upon

OF BEOWULF 113

the people's king, and bring him, who gave us rings,
on his way to the pyre. No soHtary thing shall be
consumed with the brave man, but there is store of
treasures, untold gold dearly gained, and now, at
the last, rings bought with his o\\ti life; the flame
shall devour them; the earl shall not wear the
treasures as a memorial, nor shall the fair maid bear
on her neck the adornment of a circlet, but sad in
mind, reft of gold, shall walk in a strange land, not
once but oftentimes, now that the leader of the host
has done with laughter, joy and merriment. Where-
fore many a spear, cold in the morning, shall be
grasped with fingers, raised aloft with hands; the
sound of the harp shall not rouse the warriors, but
the dark raven, ready above the fallen, shall speak
many things, shall tell the eagle how he sped at the
feasting, when with the wolf he spoiled the slain."

Thus the bold man told evil tidings; he lied not at
all in his forecasts and words. The troop all rose up,
sadly they went under Eamanaess, with tears welling
up, to behold the wonder. Then they found him
hfeless on the sand, keeping his helpless couch,
him who in former times gave them rings. Then the
last^of days had come to the valiant one, on which
the warhke king, the prince of the Weders, perished a
wondrous death. First they saw there a stranger
creatm-e, the hateful dragon lying opposite on the
grotmd there: the fire-dragon, the grim dread
monster, was scorched with flames; he measured
fifty feet long as he lay; often he had taken his

H

114 THE SONG

pleasure in the air at night; he had come down
again to visit his lair; and now he was firm bound
by death; he had taken his last deUght in the earth-
caves. By him stood goblets and flagons, dishes lay
there and costly swords eaten through by rust, as if
they had remained there a thousand years in the
earth's embrace. lAt that time that mighty heritage,
gold of men of olden time, had a curse laid upon it,
so that none among men might touch that ring-
hall, unless God Himself, the true King of victories
— He is the helper of heroes — granted to whom
He would to lay open the hoard; even to that man
who seemed good unto Him.

XLH

Then it was clear that the way of them, who had
wrongfully hidden the jewels under the wall, had not
prospered. Long ago the guardian slew some few;
then the feud was fiercely revenged. It is unknown
where an earl, mighty in valour, may come to the
end of life, when he may no longer sit on the mead-
bench with his kinsmen. Thus was it with Beowulf,
when he sought out the guardian of the barrow and
battle; he knew not himself in what way his passing
from the world should come about.

Thus did the famous princes, who stored that

OF BEOWULF 115

there, lay a heavy ban upon it till doomsday, so that
the man who should plunder the place should be
guilty of sins, confined in cursed places, fast in bonds
of hell, smitten \vith plagues. He would rather not
have beheld the gold-treasure, the owner's might.

Wiglaf spoke, son of Weohstan: "Often must
many an earl suffer sorrow through the will of one,
as has come upon us. We could not counsel the dear
prince, the protector of the kingdom, not to approach
the guardian of the gold, but to let him lie there,
where long he had been; bide in his dwelling tiU the
end of the world. We have suffered sore fortune;
the hoard is seen, grimly won ; that fate was too hard ^
which drew the people's king thither. I was withhi
and beheld all that, the stores of the building, when |
the chance was granted me; in no pleasant way was '.
a passage opened to me in under the earth-wall. In \
haste I seized a mighty burden of precious treasures
in my hands; bore them out hither to my king; he
was still living then, wise and clear in mind; the old
man in his agony spoke many things, and bade me
greet you; ordered that ye should raise on the site
of the pyre a high barrow, great and famous, befitting
his exploits, even as he was among men the most *
renowned warrior far and wide throughout the earth,
whilst he could enjoy wealth in his castle. Let us now
hasten to behold and seek once more the heap of
rare gems, the wondrous sight beneath the wall.
I will guide you, so that ye may see the rings and
broad gold near at hand. Let the bier be made ready,

ii6 THE SONG

speedily wrought, when we come out and bear them
our prince, the loved man, where long he shall wait
in the Almighty's keeping."

Then the son of Weohstan, the hero bold in battle,
bade orders be given to many of the men who were
owners of dwellings, that they, the leaders of bands,
should bring from afar wood for the funeral-fire to
where the valiant man lay: "Now shall the fire
consume — the dark flame shall tower up — the ruler
of warriors, him who often endured the iron shower
when the storm of arrows, urged with might, darted
over the shield- wall, when the shaft did its office;
fitted with feathers, it followed the arrow,"

In truth the wise son of Weohstan called out the
king's thanes from the troop, the best seven together;
he went with the seven under the hostile roof of the
foemen; one who went in front bore in his hand a
torch. It was not settled by lot then who plundered
that hoard when the men saw any part unguarded
remaining in the hall, lying there perishing; little
did any of them mourn that they bore out quickly
the precious treasures; also they shoved the dragon,
the monster, over the cUff; they let the wave take
him, the flood embrace the guardian of the treasures.
There was twisted gold beyond measm^e loaded on
the waggon; the chieftain, the grey-haired warrior,
was borne to Hronesness.

OF BEOWULF 117

XLIII

Then the people of the Geats made ready for him a
pyre firm on the ground, hung round with helmets,
battle-targes, bright corslets, as he had craved; then
the sorrowing men laid in the midst the famous
prince, their loved lord. The warriors began to rouse
on the barrow the greatest of funeral fires ; the wood-
reek mounted up dark above the smoking glow, the
crackling flame, mingled with the cry of weeping —
the tumult of the winds ceased — until it had consumed
the body, hot to the heart. Sad in heart, they
lamented the sorrow of their souls, the sla5mig of
their lord; likewise the woman with bound tresses
sang a dirge . . . the sky swallowed up the smoke. '

Then the people of the Weders wrought a mound,
which was lofty and broad, at the edge of the head-
land, visible far and wide to seafarers; and in ten
days they finished the beacon of the man mighty in
battle; the remnant of the pyre they compassed
round with a wall, as exceeding wise men might
most worthily devise it. They laid on the barrow
rings and ornaments, all such adornments as men,
eager for combat, had erstwhile taken from the
hoard; they let the earth keep the treasure of earls,
the gold in the ground, where it yet lies, as useless to
men as it was before. Then men bold in battle, sons
of chieftains, twelve in all, rode about the mound;

ii8 THE SONG

they were minded to utter their grief, to lament the
king, to make a chant and to speak of the man ; they
exalted his heroic life and praised his valorous deed
with all their strength.

Thus it is fitting that a man should extol his
friendly lord in words, should heartily love him,
when he must needs depart from his body and pass
away. Thus did the men of the Geats, his hearth-
companions, bewail the fall of their lord; they said
that among the kings of the world he was the mildest
of men and most kindly, most gentle to his people
and most eager for praise.

OF BEOWULF 119

QUESTIONS

1. "What are some of the differences between Grendel
and the dragon?

2. Which is the most interesting of Beowulf's three
fights?

3. In his youth Beowulf was apparently Ughtly
esteemed. What other stories do you know where the
hero is at first held in contempt?

4. What qualities in a king or a leader are praised
in the poem?

5. What does the poem tell us of Beowulf's life before
he went to Heorot ?

6. What impression do you get of Wealtheow's
character ?

7. Describe a feast in Heorot.

8. What do you learn from Beowulf ahout the weapons
and armour of the Danes and Geats ?

APPENDIX

A.— THE FIRST ENGLISH POET
B.— THE BATTLE OF BRUNANBURH

[The following extracts may be found interesting by
readers of The SoiJg of Beowulf.]

A.— THE FIRST ENGLISH POET

This passage is taken from the " Ecclesiastical History of the
English Nation," by the Venerable Bede (673-735). It will
remind the reader of Hrothgar's minstrel who sang a religious
poem aboiU the Creation.

There was in the monastery of the abbess (Hilda of
Whitby) a certain brother specially endowed and hon-
oured with the grace of God, who was wont to make
pious and religious verses: and whatever was inter-
preted to him out of Scripture he soon afterwards put
the same into poetical expressions of much sweetness
and humility in EngUsh, which was his native language.
By his verses the minds of many were often excited to
despise the world, and to aspire to heaven.

Others in the Enghsh nation attempted, after him, to
compose rehgious poems: but none could ever compare
with him, for he did not learn the art of poetry from
men, but from God: for which reason he never could
compose any trivial or vain poem, but only those which
related to reUgion suited his rehgious tongue.

Having hved in a secular habit till he was well
advanced in years, he had never learned anything
of versifying; for which reason, being sometimes at
entertainments when it was agreed for the sake of mirth
that all present should sing in their turns, seeing the

123

T24 APPENDIX

instrument come towards him, he rose up from table
and went to his house.

Having done so at a certain time, and gone out of
the house where the entertainment was, he went to the
cattle-sheds where he had to take care of the cattle
that night. He there composed himself to rest at the
proper time, when a certain one appeared to him in his
sleep, and saluting him by his name, said: "Csedmon,
sing me something." He answered, "I cannot sing; for
that was the reason why I left the feast and retired to
this place, because I could not sing." The other who
talked to him repUed: "However, you shall sing for
me." "What shall I sing ?" asked he. "Sing the begin-
ning of created things," said the other. Hereupon
Csedmon presently began to sing verses to the praise
of God which he had never heard. The purport thereof
was this:

Now ought we to praise
The Guardian of the heavenly

kingdom.
The might of the Maker
And the purpose of His mind.
The work of the Father of

Glory,
How He of all wondrous things,
The Everlasting Lord,
Created the beginning.

He first created
For the sons of earth
The heaven as a roof.
The Holy Creator.
Then the earth
The Guardian of Mankind,
The eternal King,
Afterwards made,
A dwelUng for men.
The Almighty Lord.

Then he arose from his sleep and remembered all that
he had sung in his dream, and soon added much more
to the same effect in verse worthy of God.

In the morning he came to the steward, his superior,
and having acquainted him with the gift he had received,
was conducted to the abbess, by whom he was ordered,

APPENDIX 125

in the presence of many learned men, to tell his dream
and repeat the verses, that they might all give their
judgment what it was, and whence his verse proceeded.
They all concluded that heavenly grace had been
conferred on him by our Lord.

They then expounded to him a passage in holy writ,
ordering him, if he could, to put the same into verse.
Having undertaken it, he went away, and returning
the next morning, gave it to them composed in most
excellent verse; whereupon the abbess, embracing the
grace of God in the man, instructed him to quit the
secular habit, and take upon him the monastic Ufe,
which, being accordingly done, she sent him among the
rest of the brethren in her monastery, and ordered that
he should be taught the whole series of sacred history.
Thus Caedmon, keeping in mind all he heard, converted
the same into most harmonious verse, and sweetly
repeating the same, made his masters in their turn
his hearers.

He sang the creation of the world, the origin of man,
and all the history of Genesis, and made many verses
on the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt,
and their entering into the Land of Promise, with many
other histories from holy writ.

126 APPENDIX

B.— THE BATTLE OF BRUNANBURH

In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, under the date 937 a.d.,
the following verses are inserted instead of the usual record.
Each line is divided as in the original Old English poem. And
this gives some general idea of the structure of ' ' The Song
of Beowulf."

937. This year King Athelstan and Edmund his
brother led a force to Brumby, and there fought against
Anlaf.i and, Christ helping, had the victory; and they
there slew five kings and seven earls.

Here Athelstan, king, of earls the lord,

of heroes the ring-giver, and his brother eke,

Edmund athehng, life-long glory

in battle won with edges of swords

near Brumby ' the board-walls they clove,

they hewed the war-lindens, with leavings of hammers,'

oflEspring of Edward such was their noble nature

from their ancestors, that they in battle oft

against every foe the land defended,

hoards and homes. Their foes they crushed,

the Scottish people and the shipmen

fated fell : the field did flow

with warrior's blood, since the sun up

at morning tide, mighty planet,

* King of the Danes in Ireland, who was allied with Constantine,
King of the Scots, and Owen, King of Cumbria. Athelstan led the
English of Mercia and Wessex.

* Brumby, or Bnmanbiurh, is supposed to have been somewhere
in Lancashire.

* I.e., with swords.

APPENDIX 127

glided o'er ground, God's candle bright,
the eternal Lord's, till the noble creature
sank to her resting. There lay many a warrior
by spears strawn, men of the north
over shield shot; so the Scots eke,
weary, war-sad. West-Saxons onwards
the whole day long, in bands,
pursued the footsteps of the loathed nations ;
they hewed the fugitives behind, severely,
with swords mill-sharp. Mercians refused not
the hard hand-play to any heroes,
who with Anlaf over the ocean,
in the ship's bosom, sought this land,
fated to the fight. Five lay
on the battle-field, youthful kings,
by swords in slumber laid, so seven eke
of Anlaf 's earls, of the army countless,
shipmen and Scots. There was made flee
the North-men's chieftain,* by need constrained,
to the ship's prow with a little band :
the bark drove afloat ; the king departed
on the fallow flood, his life preserved.
So there eke the sage came by flight
to his northern home, Constantine,
hoary warrior; he had no cause to boast
the joining of swords; he was of kindred bereft,
of friends bereaved, on the folk-stead
in battle slain ; and his son he left
on the slaughter-place mangled with wounds,
young in the fight. He had no cause to boeist,
hero grizzly-haired, of the bill-clashing,
the old deceiver; nor Anlaf the more,

with the remnant of their armies ; they had no cause for mirth
1 Anlaf, who went back to Ireland with a mere remnant of
bis force.

128 APPENDIX

that they in war's works the better men were

in the battle-place, at the conflict of banners,

clashing of spears, meeting of men,

traffic of weapons, that they on the slaughter-field

with Edward's offspring played.

The North-men departed in their nailed barks,

bloody relic of spears, on roaring ocean,

o'er the deep water Dublin to seek,

Ireland once more, shamed in mind.

So too the brothers, both together,

king and atheling, their country sought,

"West-Saxons' land, in the war exulting.

They left behind them, the corse to devour,

the sallowy kite, the swarthy raven

"with homed neb, and the dusky one,

eagle white-tailed, his meal to enjoy,

greedy war-hawk; and the gray beast,

wolf of the weald. Slaughter greater ne'er was

in this island ever yet

of people slain before this,

by edges of swords, as books us tell,

old writers, since from eastward hither.

Angles and Saxons came to land,

o'er the broad seas, Britain sought,

mighty war-smiths the Welsh o'ercame,

earls eager for glory this land obtained.

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Beowulf

The song of Beowulf,

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