Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/beowulfoldenglisOOIumsrich BEOWULF ^ Ot THE 'A IJlTlTERSITy' FJRESS NOTICES OF PREVIOUS EDITION. The Athencetun says — " Colonel Lumsden has certainly succeeded in producing a readable and most agreeable version of this interesting monument of our language." The Academy says — ' ' A vigorous and readable English version, in good swinging ballad metre." The St. James' Gazette says — " The vigour of the original has been very faithfully repro- duced ; notably so in the account of the hero's fight with Gren- del's mother, in the depths of the haunted mere." The Reliquary says — " We cordially commend the book, and assure our readers that in adding it to their Iiterar>' stores they are indeed acquiring that which will give them pleasure, and be of permanent value." London : Kegan Paul, Trench & Co. »e ya I fili l««,ie- no Le ppie,^ c.,„ „o« %, •"•^t'cer |,>».e(te fz^^- op,,4.^"l," V 51^ BfMHi^ t'«a[t|»rtf'p'i«|»)i^icy.'tsii'jr''( ' 'o.'iini AN OLD ENGLISH POEM TRANSLATED ERN RHYMES LIEUT.-CC).. .:,x.^ Vi. vV. LUMSDEN LATE ROVAJ.. ARTILI.KRX SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED LONDON KEG AN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., i, PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1883 ^y -h V" C jlM^ ^^^^^ {The rights 0/ translation and of reproduction are reserved.) PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. In this edition I have endeavoured to remove some of the blunders which disfigured its pre- decessor, but many, I fear, have escaped my notice. Some parts have been entirely rewritten, and the passages formerly omitted as obscure or uninteresting have been inserted. Such as it is, the translation is now complete. A few notes have been added ; and the introduction has been materially altered and, I hope, improved. The Anglo-Saxon diphthong ca is so liable to mispronunciation when reproduced in modern English, that I have thought it better to strike out the e in such names as Healfdene, etc. Halfdene is at any rate nearer the true form than H^^lfdene, as he ran some risk of being called. The lines of the original poem are given at the top of each page. VI PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. An autotype of a page of the manuscript (on a reduced scale) faces the title-page of this volume. It contains lines 1 354-1 377 (see p. 65), and reads thus in Heyne's edition of 1873: — naefne he wacs mara ponne senig man oXer yone on gear-dagum Grendel nemdon foldbuende : no hie fasder cunnon hwse^er him senig waes asr acenned dyrnra gasta. Hie dygel land \varigea house caught fire, and most of his papers were burnt. But his transcript escaped, and nothing daunted he set to work again, and in 181 5 he published the poem for the first time. The interest thus awakened has gone on increasing. In England Thorpe, Kemble, and quite recently Mr. Arnold, have put forth editions of the work ; and in Germany many scholars have laboured on it, of whom I need here only mention the chief, Grein and Heyne. The Early English Text Society has this year published an autotype of the entire MS. Beowulf is the oldest heroic poem in any dialect of the great Gothic family — earlier probably by some centuries than the heroic poems of the Edda — earlier by an even longer period than the Heldenbuch and the Nibelungen- lied ; and it stands alone, beyond all question or comparison the most interesting and the most original of all the literary works bequeathed to us by our forefathers. INTRODUCTION. ' IX Although much of it is at best only legendary, and a great deal purely fabulous, there can be no doubt, I think, that we have, imbedded in the wild fancies of the story, a dim and vague i but authentic record of the doings of our ances- ; tors some fourteen centuries ago. Dr. Grein, j indeed, ranks it higher as an historical authority than the later Sagas which deal with the same period, or 'the confused statements of the learned Saxo-Grammaticus ; ' * but this after all is rTfT'very great praise ; and if the poem were only a document by means of which we could make a little clearer the obscure and uninterest- ing history of Danes and Geats in the fifth century it would not be worth much, (its real value — considered as an historical authority merely — lies in the vivid picture it gives us of the life, the manners, and the habits of thought and speech of our forefather^ in that " dark back- war4- and abysm of time.'" We have it here at firstvlmnci, 'proving,' in Chapman's words, " — how firm truth builds in poet's feigning ; " and it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that we may live with our ancestors and know them — * See his article in the Jahrbuch f. Engl. u. Roman Literatur, vol. iv. X INTRODUCTION. which surely is the chief end of history — better in this poem than in all the bulky volumes of professed historians. That some of the persons mentioned in the poem are historical there can be little doubt, but of the hero himself the utmost we can assert is, that he may not impossibly have been a real man. The two theories about him propounded by Kemble show in a very striking manner the difficulty of the question. In 1833 the great Anglo-Saxon scholar has no doubt that Beowulf is historical; in 1837 he retracts the erroneous views developed in the earlier volume, and Beowulf becomes a mere phantom of mythology. The truth probably lies somewhere between these extreme views, and indeed Kemble would very likely have modified his later theory if he had known of the identification of Higelac, the uncle of Beowulf, with the * Chochilaicus, the King of the Danes,' whose death in battle with the Attoarii in 5i_iJ§. recorded by Gregory of Tours, and m V^€^Gesta Regum Francormn. The dry record of these chroniclers is a remark- able confirmation of the passages in the poem which tell of Higelac's fatal expedition to Fries- land and slaughter by the Hetwars, and we thus INTRODUCTION. XI get, what Kemble craved in vain, a key-date of the highest value.* A farther trace of Higelac is found in the passage from a writer of the tenth century, quoted by Grein in the article already referred to, which relates that the bones of Hidglaiais qui imperavit Getis et a Francis occisus est were still preserved on an island in the Rhine, near its mouth, and shown to strangers as a wonder for their immense size. If then it is pretty certain that the uncle really lived, why should we doubt the existence of the nephew merely because a heap of fables has gathered round his name } We have no record of him, it is true, elsewhere. In the shadowy realm of Northern history or legend he is unknown, but not assuredly, as the poem testifies, caret qiiia vate sacro. Anglo-Saxon and Norse genealogies are afcke silent about him ; but this may be explained by the fact that * The Hctwars are evidently the Attoarii. They are identified with the Catti of Tacitus, as their neighbours the Hugas are with his Chauci. The fact that Chochi- hiicus is called King of the 'Danes 'is of no moment. The ecclesiastical historian probably used the word as including northern barbarians of all kinds. If Tacitus's glowing description of the Catti remained true it is little wonder that the Hetwars overcame the Goths. Alios ad pr allium i?-e videas^ Cattos ad belhun (Ger. 30). XU INTRODUCTION. he was a childless man, and after his death his little kingdom was probably soon swallowed up in the dominions of greater neighbours. On the whole, therefore, if we have little reason to affirm his existence we have as little to deny it, and though Ave may not place him on the terra finna of reality, we may yet justly refuse to consign him absolutely to the cloudland of mythology. In that hazy region — " Where nothing is, but all things seem," his name is analyzed, and is found to mean 'cultivator,' with an honorary termination, Svulf.* He is the god of husbandry ; he is Thor strug- gling with the great serpent ; he is, in short, whatever anybody may choose to read into his name and story. It would not be difficult, I think, to extract a myth of the dawn fighting with the powers of darkness from the tale of Beowulf going with his twelve companions to do battle with the dragon ; and something might even be made out of Grendel, who is expressly called ' the servant of evening,' and his more terrible mother, by any one with a taste for inquiries of this kind. In all such theories there is no doubt a kernel of truth. The sources of INTRODUCTION. Xlli the Grendel and the dragon stones must be sought in the vast Serbonian bog of Gothic legend — nay, even farther afield — and the most resolute stickler for the historical reality of the hero himself will hardly deny the mythical nature of his adventures. But I utterly reject all rationalizing interpre- tations of his marvellous exploits. Grendel and his mother, we are told, mean hurricanes and inundations, but Beowulf purifies "seas and all wide land," and thus cultivation, and so forth, triumpl^ over the forces of nature. Or — and this time it is even Grein who suggests it — Grendel means the attacks of pirates from which Beowulf delivered the Danes. At this rate Grendel may mean anything. One might hazard a theory that he was bad drainage, fatal to the sleepers in the hall that Hroth^-ar had built at Heorot, until Beowulf, with improved sanitary arrangements, came to the rescue of the dis- tressed householder and put things right. The fiery dragon, again, might be only an imperfect water supply, which Beowulf — not unlike Faust in his old age — cured with dams and canals and reservoirs, and so got untold wealth. But why should we always try to explain away whatever XIV INTRODUCTION. seems strange to us ? We do not believe in fiends and fiery dragons, but the poet of Beowulf did, and I think he would have opened the eyes of astonishment if he had been told that he only meant night and darkness, hurri- canes, inundations, and the attack of pirates. Whether Beowulf really lived or not, the poem asserts that he was a Geat. Who were the Geats ? Kemble maintained that they were Angles ; but eminent scholars have found serious objections to this theory, and all the best authorities, I believe, now agree in identifying them with the Goths of the Swedish province of Gotland. The prefix * Weder ' is supposed to indicate the inhabitants of the 'weather' or western side of the peninsula. Unhappily the name of Higelac's capital is nowhere given.* The modern Gottenborg, how- ever, both in name and position answers very well to the description of the " burg," in which the Gothic king dwelt, and whence Beowulf set sail on his voyage to Heorot. Gustavus Adolphus, when he founded the city, may have availed himself of an old site and an old name. * Kemble, I hardly know why, calls Hrafnesholt, "the Raven's wood " (Part III. vi.), Higelac's capital, and iden- tifies it with Ravensburg in Sleswick. — (Beowulf, vol. i., Preface, p. xvii.) UNl7S,Rc INTRODUCTION. Moreover, on an island a little higfiej^ 'uf rl^^'^l river on which Gottenborg stands, at a poinT where the stream divides into two channels to reach the sea, are the ruins of a stronghold built by the Norwegian king Hakon IV, in 1 308. The name of this place is B6hus, which, according to Grein, means domus Boi, and as Bous is identical with the BeaWf or Beow, of the genealogies, we may have here some trace of the Beowulf of the poem. " Beowulf's nioijd," says Grein, must be sought on some promontory in the neighbour- hood, and it may be, he adds, that close inquiry might still find some tradition of the hero linger- ing among the country folk. But what connection have Swedish Goths with England ? and why should an English poet celebrate with such enthusiasm the great exploits in Denmark and in Gotland q^ a Gothic hero? Thorpe's reply to such questions is that the poem is founded on a lost Norse Saga brought to England, and translated during, the sway of the Danish dynasty in the eleventh century.* But to this Mr. Arnold's rejoinder is crushing and conclusive. Such a poem, he says, "coyld not in England above all countries — * Thorpe's Beowulf, Preface, p. viii. b XVI INTRODUCTION. ' While yet her cicatrice looked raw and red Under the Danish sword ' — have called forth any feelings but those of aver- sion and disgust." Mr. Arnold's own theory is exceedingly in- genious. After calling attention to the missionary activity which prevailed in Wessex towards the end of the seventh century, and which sent many men abroad to preach the Gospel among the Frisians, Germans, and Danes, he tells us the story of St. Willibrord, who landed in Friesland in 690, and visited Denmark in 695. The king of the Danes allowed him to take thirty young men back with him into Friesland to be educated in the Christian faith. Now what difficulty is there, Mr. Arnold asks, " in supposing that these young Danes, or some of them, were steeped in the mythology and hero-worship which at that time reigned in the North ? . . . What difficulty in supposing that the half mythical, half historical traditions of their own and the neighbouring countries were known to them .-*... The materials out of which the poem of Beowulf is composed (a portion of them being probably the old Folks-lieder and Sagas themselves retained in the memory) might in this way have all been INTRODUCTION. XVU naturally conveyed to some Anglo-Saxon priest, a companion or friend of Willibrord, who loved the poetry and language of his own race, and saw how, by selection among these materials, a great and harmonious poem might be con- structed. ... It is more probable that the author was a churchman than a layman ; but if so, he was a churchman in a lay mood." * Ingenious as this is, it seems to me only to add to our difficulties. The nineteenth century is not un- acquainted with lay-minded churchmen, but no amount of " intellectual activity in Wessex " can reconcile me to such a phenomenon as an eccle- siastic, and above all a missionary, of that type in the year 700. The poems of Andreas and Elene, to which Mr. Arnold refers as analogous cases, seem to me absolutely different. The legendary adventures of a saint^ and the story of the invention of the cross, are precisely the subjects on which a churchman's imagination would delight to dwell, and which he would weave, or cause to be woven, into "lively and stirring poems." For them the learning which * Arnold's Beowulf, Introduction, pp. xxx.-xxxiii. This theory is suggested too by Mr. Green, ' Making of Eng- land,' p. 162. XVlll INTRODUCTION. was the exclusive possession of the clergy was indispensable ; but for Beowulf the priest is a needless excrescence. It is the layman here, not the ecclesiastic, who is the depositary of the requisite knowledge ; and there seems no necessity for clerical intervention at any stage of the process which transformed an unwritten mass of tradition into an elaborate poem. Without presuming to enter into a discussion for which I am, as Falstaff says, " heinously unprovided," I may remark that the * Danes ' had been from of old time, and in other regions as well as here, the neighbours and close allies of the Geats, if they were not actually of the same blood.* Besides ' Danes ' simply, the sub- jects of Hrothgar are called in the poem Gar-, Bright-, Ring-, East-, West-, South-, and North- Danes. The first three of these prefixes are probably mere honorific titles ; but the other four seem to imply that * Danes ' of all points of the compass were members of one family, of one blood, and (though possibly with dia- lectic differences) of one speech ; and that the * King of Danes ' ruled over them all, either with a real kingly sway or with the more * Grimm, Gesch. der Deutschen Sprache, 190-193. INTRODUCTION. xix shadowy power of overlord. His dominion appears to have extended over Jutland (which in the early centuries of our era was certainly occupied by a Germanic race), for Hengest, the leader of the Jutes, served under Halfdene, and one of Hrothgar's nobles was * chief of the Wendels,' i.e. Wendill in Jutland. Grimm places East-Danes in Schonen, West-Danes in the islands, and North-Danes he pronounces to be Jutes.* But in the poem the Danes, collectively, are also called by two names, which are of great significance and importance — 'Ingwines' and * Hre-Smen.' The former have been clearly identified with the Ingaevones ; t the latter * D.S. 735. " The Danes of Beda," says Mr. Hyde Clarke, " so far from being Scandinavians, were Suevians. Judand and its neighbourhood were in the Roman time Suevian, but when the English, Saxons, Frisians, and Warings swarmed forth by land and sea, the land, which Beda says was waste and empty, was filled up again by Slavs from the east and Scandinavians from the north. . . . Thus it was that the earlier or Suevian Danes came into Britain " (Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 1878). t Zeuss, however, seems to think that ' Ingwine's lord ' is a name of honour connected with Yngvi, a name of the god Freyr (Die Deutschen und die Nachbarstamme, p. 74). XX INTRODUCTION. Grimm * identified with the Reudigni of Tacitus, and both of these were without question Ger- manic, not Scandinavian, peoples. It would appear,\ then, that at the period of which the poem treats, the countries forming the modern kingdom of Denmark were occupied by various kindred tribes — some of them un- doubtedly^Germanic, and all, collectively, known by Germanic names, as well as by that of * Danes.' From the internal evidence supplied by the poem, therefore, may it not be inferred that these * Danes ' were the brethren in blood and speech of Angles, Frisians, and Saxons, and that they, as well as their neighbours the Goths, shared, possibly under the name of Jutes, in the conquest of Britain? In that case it would be only natural, that the traditions 'and legends, which were the common property of Danes and Goths, and which clustered round the name of a real or mythical hero and deliverer, should have been brought to England in popular songs and ballads, and should in due time have been fused together into the poem of Beowulf. If there is any truth, then, in this theory, the * D. S. 741. INTRODUCTION. XXI poem tells us not of foreign races, but of our own ancestors, of the romantic achievements of a hero of our own blood, and of the wars and feuds which raged as hotly on the continent of Europe between the various tribes from which we spring, as in after days between Wessex, Mercia, and Northumbria, or between England and Scotland. At the time it was composed the poet's work may have been very popular : we can certainly point to passages in which his turn of phrase has been imitated by later poets. But, mean- while, words began to change their meaning. 'Danes' were no longer the ancestors of the singer and his hearers, but a new race of cruel and devastating foes ; and so gradually a poem which opened with the name, and seemed to celebrate the glories of these ruthless enemies, . fell into disrepute and neglect until there re- mained but one copy of it in existence preserved for us by a happy chance. To determine the age of the poem we have ^ two fixed dates. There is first the death of Higelac in 511, and the statement that Beowulf reigned for fifty winters after he succeeded to the throne. It cannot, therefore, be earlier than |.-v. XXU INTRODUCTION. the end of the sixth century. Again, the mention of the Merovingians in the Messenger's speech in Part III. shows that that race still held nominal sway over the Franks when the poet wrote. It cannot, therefore, be later than 752. We are thus restricted to a period of about a century and a half within which the poem must have been written ; and, if we grant that the hero really lived, this period is farther narrowed by the necessity of allowing a certain time to elapse after his death, to admit of his exploits assuming in popular belief the romantic guise in which they have come down to us. Hence, therefore, as well as from a comparison of the language of the poem with that of other works of known date, it is now, I believe, generally agreed that Beowulf, in its present form, belongs to the end of the seventh, or, according to Grein, ' at latest ' the beginning of the eighth century. The scene of the poem is laid in Denmark and in the land of the Geats, wherever that may have been. Heorot is in Zealand, either at Hiortholm, as Grein thinks, or at Roskilde (' Ro's well '), which is said to have been built by Hroar the son of Haldan, as Hrothgar and INTRODUCTION. xxiil Healfdene are called in Norse tradition. To this there is, as far as I know, only one dis- sentient voice. Dr. Haigh * maintains, some- times with plausibility, that the scene of the drama, and the actors in it, as well as the author, are all to be found in Anglia and Northumbria ; but though the ingenuity of the learned writer never fails, and his theory is ex- ceedingly seductive — one would so gladly hail Beowulf as a national epic in the fullest sense of the word — it seems to me that in escaping from all difficulties about the authorship of the poem, he encounters obstacles of another kind, espe- cially in regard to the Traveller's Song, far more serious and more insurmountable ; and, on the whole, one would rather bear the ills one h2LS than fly to Dr. Haigh's. Some writers have professed to find a * genuine Pagan ring ' in the poem. To me, I confess, it seems that the * ring ' is quite as much Christian. I willingly admit, indeed, that the Christianity is singularly colourless ; the name of Christ is not once mentioned ; nor is there the slightest allusion to any article of Christian faith. But * ' The Anglo-Saxon Sagas,' by D. H. Haigh. London, 1861. XXIV INTRODUCTION. for all that, the pious little sermons, moral reflections, and religious phrases which occur in almost every page, are unmistakably Christian in spirit, and although some are manifest inter- polations, many of them, as Mr. Sweet remarks, " are so incorporated into the poem that it is impossible to remove them without violent alterations of the text." * How, indeed, could it be otherwise ? If the poet lived in England in the end of the seventh century he was of course a Christian ; and the wonder seems to me to be, not that in recasting a mass of heathen legend he should have allowed his Christianity to be seen, but that he should have been so reticent. His religious faith plays like sunlight everywhere without disturbing the local colour, for although he was certainly a Christian, he as certainly had a deep sympathy with the heathen past. He stands alone in Old English literature as the representative of a class — not uncommon in a hi^cr age among the Icelanders, but un- known, I think, among every other people on * * Sketch of the history of Anglo-Saxon poetry ' in Hazhtt's edition of Warton's ' Histoiy of English Poetry,' vol. ii. p. lo. Mr. Sweet agrees with Green in insisting on the ^ remarkable unity and homogeneousness of the whole work.' lb. p. II. INTRODUCTION. XXV the face of the earth — men who, Christians themselves, and removed only a very few generations from idolatry, yet looked back with pride on their heathen forefathers, and for kin- ship's sake dealt tenderly with their erring-^ith. Of this class Snorri Sturluson is the best example, who, in spite of his indisputable ortho- doxy, could yet, in the prose Edda, tell with sympathetic humour the stories of the old gods, and, in the Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and St. Olaf, touch with strange gentleness the heathenism which those monarchs so un- sparingly and even cruelly rooted out. I ought, perhaps, to say a few words about the translation. It is as literal as I could make it, subject to the exigencies of metre and rhyme. Sometimes to clear up an ambiguous *he' or 'him,' or to avoid the tiresome re- petition, so common in Anglo-Saxon poetry, of a stereotyped form of words, in speaking of persons especially, I have substituted the proper name ; but in spite of all my efforts, and I am very conscious of my shortcomings in this, as in other things, I cannot venture to hope that I have always, or often, succeeded in giving the sense of a difficult passage, or in making in- XXVI INTRODUCTION. telligible in the translation what in the original is dark and confused. There are many words and phrases which must necessarily seem strange at first to readers unacquainted with the old language — * ringed- stem,' ' mead-bench/ * ring-giver,' and the like ; but their meaning is clear enough, and a full explanation of the ideas, manners, and customs which underlie these and similar phrases can easily be got elsewhere by those who wish it. The alliterated rhythmical lines of Anglo- Saxon poetry are, perhaps, more artificial than any modern form of English verse, and an attempt to reproduce them, unless done with the consummate skill which Mr. Tennyson has shown in his translation of the Song of Brunan- burh, would soon leave the ear at once wearied and unsatisfied. The common ballad measure has seemed to me on the whole the best fitted to give a close, but I hope a fairly readable, version of a work too little known to English readers. Although the original poem is divided into what may be called cantos, the divisions seem quite arbitrary, and are sometimes alto- gether inexplicable. I have, therefore, dis- regarded them, and have divided the translation INTRODUCTION. XXVli SO that each part shall contain, as nearly as possible, a separate adventure or stage in the development of the poem. The division into three parts, however, and their names, P owe to Mr. Arnold. CONTENTS. PART L GRENDEL. PAGE I. The Scylding Kings ... ... ... 3 II. Hrothgar and Grendel ... ... 6 V- III. The Coming of Beowulf ... ... ... ir IV. HuNFfiRD and Beowulf ... ... ... 24 t-- V. The Fight with Grendel ... ... •• 32 VI. The Pursuit of Grendel ... ... 39 VII. The Rejoicings at Heorot ... ... -43 PART II. GRENDEL'S MOTHER. I. The Woman of the Mere ... ... 61 II. The Return from the Battle ... ... 77 III. The Parting of Beowulf and Hrothgar 84 y IV. The Return of Beowulf to his own Land ... 88 XXX CONTENTS. PART III. THE FIRE DRAKE. PAGE I. How THE Dragon got the Hoard and wasted V THE Land ... ... ... ... 105 11. Beowulf's Speech ... ... ... 114 III. The Fight with the Dragon ... ... 118 IV. The Death of Beowulf ... ... 126 V. WiGLAF and the DaSTARDS ... ... ... I31 VI. The Message Home ... ... ... 134 VH. The Burning of Beowulf's Body ... ... 140 Notes ... ... ... ... ... 147 PART I. G R E N D E L. THE ARGUMENT. Hrothgar the Scylding, the son of Halfdene, King of the Danes, builds a great mead-hall and calls it Heorot. There he dwells at peace dealing gifts to his people, and every day at the feast is joyous noise of song. But the fiend Grendel, vexed at the happiness of the Danes, comes down from the misty moors, and nightly kills and devours the sleepers in the hall. Twelve years this trouble lasts, and Hrothgar and his thanes are helpless and full of grief. Beowulf the Scylfing, the son of Ecgtheow, and nephew of Higelac King of the Weder-Goths, makes ready a ship and sails to carry aid to Hrothgar in his need. The King bids him welcome, and gladly gives him leave to do battle with Grendel. At the feast Hunferd taunts Beowulf with having been beaten in a swimming match, and Beowulf tells the true story. Hroth- gar and the Queen Waltheow are well pleased, and after the banquet the King gives the hall in charge to Beowulf and his comrades. Grendel comes, and kills one of the men, but is seized by Beowulf, and hardly escapes, wounded to death, and leaving his arm behind him in Beowulfs grasp. There is great joy in Heorot, and at night Hrothgar 's thanes sleep in the hall as they did long ago. BEOWULF. I. THE SCYLDING KINGS. Lo ! we have heard of glory won by Gar-Dane Kings of old, And mighty deeds these princes wrought Oft with his warriors bold, Since first an outcast he was found, did Scyld the Scefing hurl From their mead-benches many a folk, and frighted many an earl Therein he took his pleasure, — great he waxed beneath the sky, And throve in worship, till to him all folk who dwelt hard by, And o'er the whale-path, tribute paid, and did his word obey. Good king Avas he ! To him was born an heir in after day, 4 BEOWULF. [line 22-34. A child In hall ; the gift of God to glad the people sent; The deadly wrongs and woes He knew they long while underwent ; And therefore did the Prince of life, the Lord of glory, shower All worldly praise on him, the fanted Beowulf; and the power Of Scyld's great heir spread far and wide through all the Danish land. So must the young man gift and fee deal forth with open hand To all his father's friends ; thereby, in age and time of fight, That comrades true may stand by him and help the folk aright* In every people men shall thrive by worthy deeds alone ! Then to God's hands w^ent mighty Scyld, his fated hour made known. And to the shore his comrades dear him canied as he bade While yet as Scylding's chief beloved he long the people swayed. Ready at hithe the ringed-stem lay, — meet for a prince's bier — Like ice it shone — and to her lap they bore their chieftain dear; * Magna . . . semulatio . . . prlncipum cui plurimi et acer- rimi comites. (Tacitus, Ger. 13.) LIKE 35-59.] GRENDEL. 5 Hard by the mast they laid him down, their glorious lord of rings. Well laden was the bark with wealth and far-brought precious things ; In comelier wise no keel I trow before did ever sail, With weapons decked, and battle-weed, and bills, and coats of mail. Much treasure lay upon his breast, with him afar to go Into the might of waves. No lesser gifts did they bestow — A people's gifts — than they who sent him forth in days of old O'er seas, a little child, alone, j A banner too of gold High o'er his head they raised aloft ; and gave him to the flood To bear away to open sea, with grief and mourning mood. . But not the wisest man in hall, nor bravest under heaven Can ever tell for sooth to whom that lordly freight was driven.* Then, when his father passed from earth Beowulf long while reigned, The Scylding people's king beloved, and fame 'mong nations gained ; Till after him -high Halfdene rose, — the fiery warrior old Ruled the glad Scyldings all his life. To him in order told * See Note A. 6 ^ BEOWULF. [line 60-78. Were born four children — Heregar, Hrothgar, and Halga good, Leaders of hosts — and Elan who, so say the folk, was wooed As queen by Ongentheow and shared the warrior Scylfing's bed.* To Hrothgar fame in war was given, and well in fight he sped. So that his kinsmen willingly to him obedience gave, And all the youths grew up to be a band of fighters brave. II. HROTHGAR AND GREN'DEL. To Hrothgar's mind it came to bid a lordly hall be framed, A mead-house greater than had e'er 'mong sons of men been famed. Wherein to deal to young and old the things that God had sent, Save freeman's land and lives of men ; and far the mandate went To many a tribe on middle-earth to make the folk- stead fair. So speedily it came to pass that high hall stateliest there ^^ * S(^He 6. LINE 78-101.] GRENDEL. 7 Well ordered stood ; and he whose word was mighty far and wide Gave it the name of _Heort. '. Nor was his promise true belied 1 When rings and wealth he dealt at feasts. With many a horned spire High rose the hall — the raging glow to bide of dread- ful fire ! But no long time had passed away since under Hrothgar's yoke His foes were brought, and bound by oaths to own his sway, when woke The deadly sprite, who haunts the gloom ; he could not brook to hear Each day the joyous, noise in hall, the minstrels' singing clear, And melody of harpy/^or one, who knew of man- kind's birth In far-off times, thus sang : " The Lord Almighty made the earth, Fair fields with water compassed round ; and, glorious, set the light Of sun and moon o'er every land to glad the people's sight ; And all the corners of the earth he decked with leaf and tree ; . And every kind of life he made in all that living be ! " I For thus did all men happily and in great joyance dwell, ^1^ Till he began to work tli^^koe — the evil fiend of hell ! 8 BEOWULF. [line 102-127. That wicked sprite was Grendel hight; he trod the outskirt waste, And all amid the moors and fens he had his fastness placed ; In the sea-monster's home long while, of bliss bereft, he dwelt Accursed of God. Upon Cain's race the Lord eternal dealt Vengeance for murdered Abel's blood ; no peace got Cain thereby, Driven by the Lord for that foul sin far from mankind to fly: And from him sprang all monstrous things, eotens sea-beasts and elves. And giants whose long strife with God brought woe im upon themselves. * At nightfall Grendel took his way to spy the lofty house, To see how there the Ring-Danes dwelt after the beer-carouse. Their feasting o'er, a troop of knights, heedless of coming woe, He found asleep ; and, grim and greedy, soon did man's dark foe. Fierce, terrible, in slumber deep snatch thirty thanes away ; And homeward with rich spoil he turned, rejoicing in his prey. But in the twilight hour of dawn was Grendel's ravage known tLiNE 128-152.] GRENDEL. 9 And loud uprose the morning cry, and feasting turned to moan. Grief-stricken sat the mighty lord, for thanes his sorrow swelled When of that hateful sprite accursed the footprints he beheld ; Trouble too heavy weighed on him, loathly and lasting long; And ere much time was past the fiend, shunning nor feud nor wrong. But fast against them set, one night a yet worse murder wrought Then easily might he be found who quiet slumber sought. And got himself a bed elsewhere in bower far away, When Grendel's hate by tokens clear thus plain and open lay ! He who escaped the fiend thenceforth himself kept safe afar. And thus alone against them all did Grendel wrongful war. Till idle stood the stately house. So mickle time went by ; Twelve winters did the Scyldings' lord in woe and trouble lie, And boundless grief. And so to men 'twas told in mournful song And clearly known how Grendel strove and waged with Hrothgar long J lO BEOWULF. [line 153-177, A war of hate and crime and feud, — long years of endless strife. Peace would he none, nor stay the plague, nor take a price for life For any man of Danish kin. Nor at the murderer's hand lould any of the Witan hope in happier case to stand. Like death's dark shadow thus the fiend harassed old knights and young, Waylaid and plotted; and all night round misty moorlands hung. (Men know not whither fiends of hell will sometimes take their way.) Thus many crimes the foe of man alone that walketh aye, Did often work and grievous wrong. All Heorot was his own — The rich-dyed hall — in darksojne night ; yet to the kingly throne, ^ Dear in God's sight, he might not come. His love he might not know. Thus on the Scyldings' ruler lay heart-break and bitter woe ; In secret oft the nobles sat, and counsel sought to rede What valiant men might fittest do in this dread time of need; And sometimes at their idol shrines they sacrifices made, ^^' And their false god with many words besought to give them aid ^^t^E Lie/?,. ^ .-— (fUlTIVEriS ' "^ LINE 178-196.] f GRENDEL>AV T -^ *^j^ - Against the people's woes. Their c^s^gltlSSiilWe. ^Jl^ heathen's faith, Whose thoughts were turned on hell. The Lord they knew not — He who saith Judgment of deeds ; of God they wist not ; nor to them was given To worship glory's Lord aright — the Ruler of the heaven. Woe unto him who thrusts his soul down to the arms of fire By wicked hate ! No change in aught, no joy let him desire ! But well for him who seeks the Lord after his dying day And in the Father's bosom finds a quiet rest alway ! IIL THE COMING OF BEOWULF. Thus on his sorrow Halfdene's son was brooding evermore, Nor could his grief the hero wise assuage ; for all too sore. Loathly and lasting long, the straits that did the folk assail. The tribulation all too fierce — the worst of nightly bale. Of Grendel's deeds the tidings reached a valiant Gothic knight, Highborn, a thane of Higelac; no mortal man in might 12 BEOWULF. [line 197-221. In this life's day was like to him. A goodly ship he bade Make ready the swan's path to sail, that he might carry aid To that great lord, the warrior king, now in his time of need. And, though they loved him well, wise churls but lightly blamed the deed. They looked for happy end to come, and whetted his bold mind. Now had he chosen fighting men, the keenest he could find Of Gothic race ; fifteen in all down to the ship they went. A seaman skilled the landmarks told; and now the time was spent ; Below the cliff the vessel lay afloat upon the tide, And while the waves broke on the sand the heroes climbed her side. Into her lap a gleaming freight of goodly arms they bore. And then they pushed with willing hearts the close- ribbed bark from shore. Now foamy-throated o'er the seas the ship before the gale Flew like a bird ; and far and fast the wreathed stem* did sail Till with the morn's first hour the land broke on the sailor's sight, * See Note C. LINE 222-247.] GRENDEL. 1 5 The headlands great and mountains steep and sea-cliffs shining bright. The voyage ended straightway sprang the Weder folk ashore ; Made fast the ship, and shook abroad their corslets and war-store, Thankful to God that He had made so smooth their watery way. Then from the cliff the Scyldings' guard, the watcher of the bay, Saw bright shields o'er the bulwarks borne and war- gear shaken free, And much he wondered in his thought to know wha these might be. Borne on his horse did Hrothgar's thane draw nigh ' unto the beach, His strong spear quiv'ring in his hands, and thus with measured speech He said : "What men be ye who thus, full-armed and clad in mail. Across the sea-ways and the waves in tall ship hither sail? Here by the shore my watch I keep, that never foe may shame c Nor with their shipmen scathe the land of Danes. But never came More openly shield-bearing men ! No leave of kin have ye, Nor warrior's password do ye know ! Yet never did I see 14 BEOWULF. [line 248-272. A greater earl upon the earth than yonder armed lord ; No common man is he, but one made glorious by his sword Unless his face and noble presence lie ! Now must I know Both who ye are and whence ye come ere ye may farther go, Unhindered guests in Danish land. Sea-wanderers from afar Hear my plain words ; and, haste is best, say who and whence ye are." Thus did the eldest answer him — the leader of the band Unlocked his word-hoard : " We are folk of Gothic kin and land, And hearthmates true of Higelac. Far was my father's fame Spread through the world, a highborn chief, and Ecg- theow was his name. Ere, full of days, he passed from hall, he many a year did bide. And him wise men remember well in all the world so wide. Now Halfdene's son, the people's guard, thy lord, we come to see With friendly mind. O be to us a kindly guide ! For we Before the mighty lord of Danes a mickle errand bring. Nor shall my inmost thought be hid ; thou know'st if true the thing LINE 273-298.] GRENDEL. ' 1 5 We've heard for sooth, that in dark night some bitter secret foe, I wot not what ill-doer, bringeth dread and unknown woe And shame and death on Scylding folk ; and I with counsel free May teach to Hrothgar, wise and good, to win the victory ; That so from him this baleful grief for ever may be rolled, And happiness come back when these heart-burning waves are cold ; Else must he thole sore straits for aye, and trouble while on high He sits in stately hall ! " Then did the fearless thane reply. The warder as on steed he sat : " He who can rightly rede. The wise shield-warrior, must judge of every word and deed. Doubtless ye come, a friendly band, to see the Scyldings' lord — Pass on, with me your guide, and bear the battle- weed and sword ! And I will bid my kinsmen thanes to guard from every foe Your new-tarred ship here on the sand, till she again shall go With wreathed neck o'er seas and bear your chief to Wederland. 1 6 BEOWULF. [li^-e 299-323, Safe may he be in battle stress who manfully shall stand ! " The ship, wide-bosomed, on the waves there fast at anchor rode, And forth they went. The boar above their plated helmets glowed — ■ The guarding boar, bedecked with gold, fire-hardened, v^ many-hued. * Together moving on they strode, right fierce their warlike mood, Until the hall, all glorious wrought with gold, they could espy Where Hrothgar dwelt. The goodliest hall it was beneath the sky 'Mong dwellers on the earth; and light wide o'er the land it gave. And then the warrior showed them clear that palace of the brave That thither they might take their way ; then turned his horse and spake : *"Tis time for me to leave you here. In all ye undertake T^Q Almighty Father keep you safe and give you honour due ! ^ , f)own to the shore must I, to guard 'gainst any y^ foeman's crew." The stone-paved street, of many hues, together led them on ; Clashed bright steel rings in shirt of mail, and hand- locked corselet shone, * See Note D. LINE c-23-345.] GRENDEL. 1/ As in their dread array they went right onward to the hall. Broad shield and buckler hard they laid, sea^weary, 'gainst the wall ; Their spears, with shafts of ashen grey, the seamen's arms, stood near ; When on the bench they sat them down rang mail and battle-gear ; Well weaponed were these ironsides.* Hard by a knight did stand And haughtily these warriors asked their kinship and. their land : ''Whence come ye with these plated shields, grey wgx^shte, helmets high. And sheaf of battle-spears ? Herald, and Hrothgar's thane am I. A prouder band of outland men I never yet have seen; No outcasts hither do ye come ; but all for pride I ween And in the glory of your hearts have ye sought Hrothgar now ! " Then answered high the Gothic chief and stem his helmM brow : "Board-mates of Higelac are we. ' Beowulf is my name. Before thy lord, great Halfdene's son, will I my errand frame * * Ironsides.' I borrow this happy "rendering of {ren pre&t from Mr. Arnold. r Nl !> 1 8 BEOWULF. [line 346-372. If greeting we may bring to him for he is kind and good." Wulfgar, (the Wendels' chief was he, well known to all his mood, His wisdom and his worth), replied : " According to thy prayer Before the Scyldings' lord, the Danes' ring-giver, will I bear -~~—^ The tidings of thy coming here, and quickly answer bring As that good lord thinks meet to give." Then went he where the king Was sitting, old and hoary-haired, amid his troop of thanes. Stately he moved until he stood beside the lord of Danes, (Knowing the seemly ways of courts), and to his chief thus spoke : " From far across the watery ways have come some Gothic folk j Their chief these warriors call by name Beowulf ; and they pray That they may speak with thee my lord! Do not thou say them nay, Kind Hrothgar ! They may vie with earls in comely battle-weed, And he who leads these warriors here right worthy is indeed." Then Hrothgar spoke, the Scyldings' aid : " I knew him as a boy ; LINE 373-400.] GRENDEL. 1 9 Ecgtheow his sire was called ; to him Hrethel the Goth with joy His only daughter gave to wife; now hither comes his heir To seek a kindly friend ! 'Twas said by seamen who did bear Thank-offerings yonder to the Goths, that in his hand-grip lay The mighty strength of thirty men. I ween for help and stay 'Gainst Grendel's wrath has holy God to us Danes sent him now ; And for the greatness of his heart rich gifts will I allow. Haste I Bid them in and see us here together kindred thanes — And say moreover that they come right welcome to the Danes." Forth from the hall then Wulfgar went. **My glorious lord," said he, ^' The East-Danes' ruler, bids me say he knows thy ancestry; And welcome hither do ye come, ye warriors o'er the wave! Now go ye in and Hrothgar see, in helm and war- gear brave, But here let shields and deadly shafts the end of speech abide." Up rose the chief amid his knights, a band of warriors tried ; 20 BEOWULF. [line 400-421. To guard the weapons some remained, obedient to their head, The rest together hastened on, by Wulfgar's guidance led. Below the roof of Heorot's hall ; nor paused the hero good Till stern beneath his helmed brow he on the dais stood.* Then while his mail, by smith-craft wrought, and hauberk glittered bright, Beo^vulf spoke : " To Hrothgar hail ! The kinsman and the knight Of Higelac am I; great deeds I've many done in youth. Now in my native land to me the tidings came for sooth Of Grendel's work. Seafaring men have said that this- fair hall. This best of dwellings, idle stands, and to your war- riors all Useless when 'neath the vault of heaven the evening light is hid. And me my folk, the best of them, wise churls, have earnest bid To seek thee now, O Hrothgar, lord ! they know my strength and might ; Blood-reddened have they seen me come from foemen in the fight, There bound I monsters, Eotens crushed, and slew within the wave * See Note ]& C LINK 422-445.] GRENDEL. 21 The Nicors of the night ; dreed pain ; but quelled the foe and gave Requital for the wrongs and woes that Weder folk had tholed. And now with Grendel, with the fiend, the monster will I hold Combat alone. O Scyldings' lord ! O ruler of Bright Danes ! I ask of thee this only boon — that thou, O shield of thanes ! Kind lord of men ! wilt not forbid, now I have come thus far, That with my band of earls alone — these valiant men of war — I may make Heorot clean. Yet more ! I've heard, so bold is he, Weapons the monster heedeth not, and therefore (so on me May Higelac my lord look blithe !) in fight I scorn to bear Broad shield or yellow targe or sword ; but with my handgrip fair I'll clutch the fiend and seek his life — foeman alone 'gainst foe — ■ And he whom death shall take away the doom of God shall know ! If he shall conquer, unafifrayed will he — I know it well — In this war-hall the Goths devour as oft on Danes he fell ; * * ' Danes ' here in the original HriSmen. 22 \\ BEOWULF. [line 445-469. Then if death taketh me thou wilt not need to hide my head : — * Grendel will have me, drenched in gore ; my bleeding body, dead, He'll bear away in hope of feast ; the fiend who walks alone Will ruthless eat, — the moorland wide shall be my burial stone ! Not long for me thy kindly cares I But if in' war I fail Send Higelac my battle-weed, this goodly shirt of mail, That guards my breast. 'Tis Hrethel's gift, and 'twas by Way land made. Weird ever goeth as she must ! " Then spoke the Scyldings' aid r " Thou com'st to us, Beowulf friend ! for honour 'gainst the foe ; Great was the fight thy father fought, who Hathola f laid low 'Mong Wylfings, when the Weder-kin refused him for their head ; Thence to the Danes, the Scylding folk, o'er heaving seas he sped. When first in youth I ruled the Danes, and swayed the kingdom wide And treasure-hold of men^ Ere then my Heregar had died, My elder brother, Halfdene's son — a better man than me ! * i.e. * bury me.' See Note F. LINK 470-491.] GRENDEL. 23 And then with gifts I healed the feud, and o'er the broad-backed sea Send to the Wylfing treasures good and bound him fast by oaths. To tell the tale to any man is grief my spirit loathes, The shame and deadly scathe that Grendel's evil heart has done To Heorot and to me ! My thanes are minished, one by one ; By Grendel's horror Weird has swept the warrior band away. Yet that proud monster from his work God easily can stay ! Over their ale-cups many a time they boasted — drunk with beer — These mighty men, that they would bide, within the mead-hall here. With sharp-edged swords for Grendel's raid, and at the morning tide When daylight broke, this lordly house was seen with blood all dyed. The blood of slaughter in the hall— -the benches steeped with gore — Fewer my faithful knights beloved, and death had taken more ! Sit now to meat thou famed in war ! and to thy heart's content Take thou thine ease." Together then the Gothic warriors went, 24 BEOWULF. [line 492-510. And on the bench prepared for them in hall, in all their pride They sat them down — the bold of heart. A thane their needs supplied Who bore a flagon goodly chased and poured the brewage clear ; And sweet the while was minstrel's song, and joyous was the cheer Of Danes and Goths in Heorot there, a goodly company. IV. Y13 HUNFERD AND BEOWULF. Hunferd the son of Ecglaf spoke — at Hrothgar's feet sat he — \.<^^^ And thus let loose his secret grudge ; (for much did him displease The coming of Beowulf now — bold sailor o'er the seas. To none on earth would he allow a greater fame 'mong men Beneath the heavens than his) : " Art thou the same Beowulf then. Who swam a match with Breca once upon the waters wide, AVhen ye vainglorious searched the waves, and risked your lives for pride LINK 510-533.] GRENDEL. 2$ Upon the deep ? Nor hinder you could any friend or foe From that sad venture. Then ye twain did on the waters row ; Ye stretched your arms upon the flood ; the sea-ways ye did mete ; O'er billows glided — with your hands them tossed — though fiercely beat The rolling tides and wintry waves ! Seven nights long toiled ye In waters' might; but Breca won — he stronger was than thee ! And to the Hathoraems * at morn washed shoreward by the flood, Thence his loved native land he sought — the Brond- ings' country good, And stronghold fair, where he was lord of folk and burg and rings. Right well 'gainst thee his vaunt he kept. But yet I ween worse things May now befall thee, (doughtily as thou in shocks oflght Hast ever done), if thou dar'st bide near Grendel for a night ! " Beowulf spoke : " Lo ! many things, friend Hunferd, drunk with beer, Thou tell'st of Breca and his deed ! The truth now shalt thou hear, * The inhabitants of that part of Norway called formerly Raumariki, now Romsdal. 26 BEOWULF. [line 534-558. That I was stronger 'mong the waves, — more steadfast in the flood, Than any man. When we were boys, we spoke in boyish mood, And in the deep to risk our lives did one another dare. And so 'twas done. When out we swam our firm- grasped swords were bare To guard ourselves from water-beasts ; and nowise could he s-vvim Swifter than me, or float away ; nor would I part from him. Together thus for five nights long upon the deep were we, Till coldest weather, northern wind, dark night, and stormy sea Beat fiercely, and the surging flood us sundered. Rough the wave ! Wrathful the water-beasts ! But help my hard-wov'n hauberk gave Against their rage ; the broidered war-shirt lay upon my breast All golden wrought. With deadly hate a foe in fast clutch pressed And to the bottom dragged me down ; yet with my battle-brand, I stabbed the monster through — such hap was mine — and by my hand In shock of fight the mighty sea-beast died. Yet on me still \ LINE 559-582.] GRENDEL. 2/ Crowded unceasingly and fierce the workers of all ill. With my good sword I smote them hard as meet it was to do : No joy of feast ill-workers had though me for food they threw To bottom of the sea; but all smitten with sword, they lay Cast up in heaps upon the beach dead at the break of day,* Never again to stop the path of sailors through the deep ! Dawned in the east God's beacon bright, — the waves were lulled to sleep, And I beheld the windy walls — the headlands of the sea. Weird helpeth oft the earl undoomed who battles manfully ! Nine Nicors with my sword I slew — such hap to me was given ; Never by night was harder fight beneath the vault of heaven ; Never was man more sore beset upon the stormy wave; Yet thus my life from grip of foes did I, though wearied, save. The flood-tide then and heaving sea cast me on Finnish land. Nought did I ever hear of thee, nor terrors of thy brand, * See Note G. 28 BEOWULF. [line 583-607. In such fierce fight. Not Breca — no ! nor thou — in battle-play With blood-stained swords e'er wrought a deed (nor great the boast I say) So doughtily, though by thy hand thy chiefs, thy brethren, fell ! And, spite of all thy wit, for them thou'lt dree the pains of hell ! For, Ecglaf's son ! I tell thee truth, that Grendel ne'er had wrought So many sorrows on thy lord, nor shame on Heorot brought, If that thy mind and heart were stout as thou dost say they are. But well he knows he hath no need to fear the clash of war, Or hatred of thy folk and thee — ' victorious Scyldings' hight ! He seizeth pledge, he spareth none, but as he lists to fight, Or sleep, or eat, he recketh not of all the Gar-Danes' wrath ; Soon shall he know the strength in war and valour of a Goth ! Then to the mead-feast afterward glad let him go who may, When on the sons of men shall dawn the morrow of that day. And from the south the sun shall shine with beams of glory clad ! " LIME 608-627.] GRENDEL. 29 The treasure-giver hoary-haired, the bold in war, was glad j When thus Beowulf's steadfast mind the Bright-Dane's ruler heard He knew his help assured. There then 'mong warriors laughter stirred, And music sounded ; speech was sweet ; and forth then Waltheow came, The queen of Hrothgar, decked with gold. Mindful of kin and name She greeted all the men in hall, and to the East-Danes* lord Joyful she gave the beaker first, and pledged him at the board Dear to his folk and blithe of heart. And glad the valiant king Partook of feast and banquet-cup ; the while around the ring Of warriors old and youthful knights the Helmings lady passed ; * To each she gave the goblet rich till by good hap at last The necklaced queen with courtly grace before Beowulf trod. Gave him the mead-cup, greeted him, and offered thanks to God In seemly words, that He had given her heart's desire indeed * * Helmings ' the people of Helm, who, in the Traveller's song (29), is said to have ruled the Wylfings. See p. 22 30 BEOWULF. [line 628-650. To find an earl whom she could trust to help them in their need. From Waltheow's hands he took the cup, the warrior fierce in fight, And, stirred in spirit for the fray, ordered his words aright, And thus the son of Ecgtheow spoke : " When with my warrior band I trod my ship and put to sea, strong did my purpose stand Throughly to work thy people's will, or else a corse to lie Fast in the foeman's gripe. And earl-like now that deed will I Make perfect, or in this mead-hall my end of days abide ! " Well pleased the lady heard the speech, Beowulf s words of pride, And decked with gold, the people's queen sat joyous by her lord. Then in the hall, as oft before, was spoken bravest word, The noise of an exultant folk, and men were full of glee Till Halfdene's son sought nightly rest. He knew that war must be With that fell monster in the hall [where they could safely bide Only] * while they could see the sun, till over all should glide, * A line seems to have dropped out here. In the words within brackets I have followed Grein's conjecture. LIKE 651-665.] GRENDEL. 3 1 Wan 'neath the clouds, the dusky night, the shadow- helm of men. Uprose the sitters all ; the king with ordered words again Greeted Beowulf; gave to him the hall in charge to hold, And said : " To no man ever yet have I this house of gold Entrusted save to thee, since first I hand and shield could raise. Have now and keep this best of halls ! Think of thy deeds of praise, Make known thy strength, watch 'gainst the foe ! And nothing shalt thou lack If from this glorious work of thine alive thou comest back!" Then from the hall amid his knights forth passed the Scyldings' head. The warrior-lord Queen Waltheow sought, the partner of his bed. BEOWULF. [line 666-683. V. THE FIGHT WITH GRENDEL. 'Gainst Grendel had the glorious king — so were the people told — A hall-guard set ; an eoten-watch its special post to hold Around the lord of Danes. His trust the Gothic chief did place Surely in strength of his great soul, and in th' Almighty's grace. He doffed his iron coat of mail, the helmet from his brow; His goodly sword of choicest steel he gave his thane ; and now He bade him keep his fighting gear ; and ere he climbed his bed The valiant Goth Beowulf thus his words of vaunting said : "No meaner man I count myself in warlike deeds and might Than Grendel ; therefore (though I may) with sword I will not smite Nor take his life. With these good arms he knoweth not to kill, Nor hew the shield, though proud he be of all his deadly skill ! LINE 684-705.] GRENDEL. 33 We two this night shall use no sword, if weaponless he dare The battle seek. To either then — however it may fare — Shall God all-knowing glory give as shall to Him seem best." He laid him down, the brave in war, his cheek the bolster pressed ; And round him in the hall asleep lay many a seaman bold. No man among them thought again his kinsfolk to behold, Qr dear loved home, — the lordly burg where he was born and bred ; Already in the hall they knew too many Danes were dead ! But God for them wove victory,* and gave them help and joy, That by the strength of one alone their foe they should destroy ; For sooth is known that mighty God mankind hath ever swayed. Then through the darksome night came prowling he who walks in shade. The fighters slept who were to keep the many-pointed hall, * Ac him dryhten forgeaf wigspeda gewiofu. The phrase, Grimm remarks, is purely heathen, ' God ' being only substituted for* Weird.' (D. M. p. 387.) D 34 BEOWULF. [line 706-731. All slept save one. To men 'twas known that on them might not fall, Since God forbade, that fiend in gloom. With wrath- ful courage high Beowulf waited for the foe the battle-doom to try. Down from the moor, 'neath misty fells, bearing the wrath of God, Thinking in that high hall to snare some sleeper, Gren- del trod. Onward he went beneath the clouds, until he could behold The goodly-plated house of men, the heroes' hall of gold. Not now first sought he Hrothgar's home, but never had he yet In all his life's-day such hall-thanes or harder warriors met ! Accursed to the house he strode ; and soon beneath his hands The door flew open at his touch though closed with fire-wrought bands. With thoughts of ill he angry burst within the open door, And straightway trod with wrathful steps the many- coloured floor, While from his eyes like flame of fire forth flashed a baleful light ! Together in the hall he saw, all sleeping, many a knight ; "^ A crowd of kindred men. The evil monster laughed in heajt, •LINE 732-758.] GRENDEL. 35 And thought that ere the dawning day body and life he'd part In all of them, for greedily he weened of plenteous _ meat. But doomed had Weird that from that night man's flesh he ne'er should eat Then earnestly Beowulf watched how with his dreadful grasp The wicked scather wrought his will. He paused not, in his clasp. For first adventure, swift he seized and slew a sleeping thane ; Bit in the flesh, gulped mouthfuls down, drank blood from every vein, And soon the corse was all devoured even to the hands and feet. Nearer he drew and felt Beowulf lying on the seat ; — The fiend made one fierce clutch at him, but propped upon his arm Swift did Beowulf seize the wretch, and soon that lord of harm Found that in all realms of earth he ne'er before had met In any man so strong a grip, and fears his heart beset. But not for that could he break loose. His mind was bent on flight, To seek his noisy devildom, and flee into the night ; Work like to this in his life's-day he ne'er before had . tried ! f ^ 3^ BEOWULF. [line 759-780- Bethought him then Beowulf of his words at even- tide; Upright he sprang with tightened grip, even till his fingers bled, Close following the fiend outside when from the house he fled. The monster cast about in thought how he might far- ther go And seek the mere amid the fens — he knew that grasp of foe Held fast his fingers' strength. His path a bitter end had found At Heorot ! Loudly the lordly hall re-echoed to the sound ! To every Dane who dwelt in burg — to boldest warriors all— -The ale seemed savourless, so fierce the fighting in the hall. Great wonder was that hall of men these fighters' rage withstood, And that it fell not to the ground, that dwelling strong and good ; But all within it and without 'twas strengthened 'gainst that day By iron bands forged cunningly. Yet from the sills^ men say, Was many a gilded mead-bench torn where those dread foemen fought. The wisest Scyldings little weened that house, so goodly wrought LINE 781-805.] GRENDEL. 37 With horn of hart, would e'er be loosed, or in men's strife be broke, Save when the outstretched arms of fire should swallow-f^ _ it in smoke ! Uprose the cry again renewed ; and at the sound did fall An eerie dread on every Dane who listened from the wall, And heard the enemy of God his shriek of horror yell. Not glory's song, the bitter wail of that bond-slave of hell. / Fast was he held by him to whom the greatest might n was given ' Of all men in this day of life. For nothing under heaven Would he, the shield of earls, alive that murderer let loose. Nor counted he his own life's-day to any folk of use. Then many of Beowulfs earls unsheathed the good old sword To save the life, if so they might, of their great prince ' and lord. They knew it not, these fighters keen, when mingling in the fray, * Thinking to hew about them well and tear the soul away, That not the choicest blade on earth nor war-bill e'er could bite That scather foul ; but edge of sword and every weapon bright 3S BEOWULF. [line 806-834. Beowulf had forsworn J Yet doomed this day to wretched end Was that bad sprite, and in the power of devils far to wend ! The foe of God, who oft before in mirthful mood had wrought Mischief upon mankind, now found his body served him nought ; Still of his hand the valiant thane of Higelac kept hold. Hateful to each the other's life : sore pangs the mon- ster tholed ; Soon on his shoulder yawned a wound, atwain sprang sinews riven. Sundered was flesh — and joy of war was to Beowulf given ! Wounded to death must Grendel flee, and seek his joyless home Beneath the shelter of the fens ; life's-end he knew was come. And told was all his tale of days ! And thus in bloody war The Danes' desires were all fulfilled ; for he who came from afar. The wise and brave, had cleansed the hall, and saved from shock of foes ; Glad of his night-work now was he and doughty deeds t The woes. The grief of heart that erst they dreed, by bitter need compelled — The sorrows of the Danes — were soothed, for well had he upheld, LINE 835-851.] GRENDEL. 39 The Gothic chief, his vaunting bold. That was the token fair '^hen down the warrior flung the hand and arm and . shoulder there, And all together Grendel's gripe lay neatli the lofty roof. VI. THE PURSUIT OF GRENDEL. Round the gift-hall I've heard it told came many men of war. And o'er wide ways at morning-tide came] chieftains near and far, To gaze upon that wondrous thing the foe had left behind. And no man sorrowed for his death of those who went to find How wearily the vanquished fiend thence, overcome in fight, Took his last steps to Nicor's mere, death-doomed and put to flight. ,piood mingled with the troubled waves — the gloomy waters rolled Hot with the gore of him, death-doomed, soon as in that fen-hold 40 BEOWULF. [line 852-875. Sundered from bliss, by hell received, his heathen spirit fled. Then from the mere they homeward now their gladsome journey sped, The band of warriors old and young — white was each hero's steed, Proudly their horses they bestrode ; and of Beowulf s deed Was spoken much ; and oft 'twas said that o'er this great wide earth, By the two seas,* or south or north, was none of higher worth 'Mong shielded men beneath the sky, nor worthier to be king. Yet nowise surely would they blame their lord in anything, Their Hrothgar kind — good king was he ! Sometimes their horses dun, Of choicest breed, these warriors made to leap and races run, Where'er the meadow paths seemed fair. Sometimes with ready lore Would Hrothgar's thane, who many a tale could tell of days of yore, With high thoughts laden, shape the truth in ordered words aright ; And deftly would he then begin to sing Beowulf's might. And skilfully to weave the tale with other stories told * The Baltic and the German Ocean. LINE 876-902.] GRENDEL. 4 1 Of Sigmund and his glorious deeds, 'the Wselsings fighting bold — Far travels — wonders many — feuds and crimes — that no man knew Save Fitela, his sister's son, in war his comrade true. Full many of the Eoten race their swords had beaten down; And Sigmund's name, his death-day o'er, was mighty of renown. For he had slain — the brave in war ! — the worm that kept the hoard. 'Neath the grey rock that daring deed alone the highborn lord Had wrought; no Fitela was there; yet so did it befall His sword went through the wondrous worm, and struck against the wall, And dead the dragon lay ! The glorious chief had done the feat That he the rin^hioard might enjoy as to himself seemed meet. A ship he loaded — to her lap he bore the shining freight ; And fire consumed the worm. In glorious deeds was none so great 'Mong wanderers all the nations through as he, the warrior's shield. Thus long ago he throve.* Thereafter Heremod did yield * See Note H. 42 BEOWULF. [line 903-918, The warfare and the power and might, and 'mong the Jutes betrayed Was quickly given to foeman's hands ; on him long woes were laid ; To all his nobles and his folk a life-long care was he ; And oft wise churls in earlier times bewailed the venture free Of that stout-hearted one to whom they looked for help at need ; Hoping the son of kings should thrive, to father's rights succeed, And keep the folk the hoard and burg, the Scyldings' native land, And heroes' realm. The guilt was his ! Whereas Beowulf s hand ** Was trustier far to all mankind and friends ! ' And thus the while Racing upon their steeds did they the yellow path beguile. LiXE 918-934.] GRENDEI.. 43 VII. THE REJOICINGS AT HEOROT. Now worn away was morning light while flocked stout-hearted men There in the lofty house that they the wondrous thing might ken. From bride-bower * forth the King himself, for virtues high renowned, Came glorious, lord of hoarded rings, with all his nobles round ; And with him o'er the mead-path trod, among her maids, the Queen. Into the hall he went and stood the pillars high between ; On Grendel's arm he looked, and on the steep roof gilded bright, And said : " Let thanks be given to God,, forthwith for this blest sight ! J Much trouble have I undergone and grief at Grendel's hand; But wonders upon wonders aye are wrought at God's command. Not long ago no hope had I of comfort in my woe * ^ Bryd-bur,' the dwelling-house of the king and probably of his personal attendants. 44 BEOWULF. [line 935-960. Through life's long days, when this fair hall with gore and blood did flow ; And sorrows wrung my Witan all ; from devil, foe, and sprite This stronghold of the folk they wist not how to guard aright. Now in the strength of jGrod a man the mighty deed has wrought Which hitherto we could not do with all our wisest thought. Lo ! she may say — if yet she lives, the maid who bore such son Among mankind — that in her travail God has kindly done ! And now Beowulf, best of men ! I'll love thee while I live Ev'n as a son. Our new-made bond hold fast ! All I can give Of worldly joys thou shalt not lack. Full oft have I for less Reward and hoarded treasure dealt to warriors worse in stress ; Thy glory by the deeds thou'st done shall live for evermore, And may th' Almighty do thee good as He has done before!" Then spake Beowulf, Ecgtheow's son : " Right willingly this feat Did we performj and stout of heart the monster's power did meet. LINE 961-984.] GRENDEL. 45 Yet would I rather thou thyself hadst seen m all his pride The fallen foe. I thought to have him fast in fetters tied, On death-bed struggling for his life, within my hand- grip laid. And not that he should 'scape ! But hinder him, since God forbade, I could notj all too weak my grasp to hold the deadly foe ! Too strong was he upon his feet. Yet here did he forego His life's defence, and left his shoulder, hand, and arm behind ; Small comfort has he bought withal — most wretched of mankind ! Not longer shall he live for that — sin-laden, working ill- Pangs hold him fast in deadly grasp, bale's fetters he doth fill. And there all stained with guilt must he the awful doom abide As the Creator glorious shall unto him decide." More silent then was Ecglaf s son,* no vaunting words spake he Of warlike deeds, when pressing forward nobles all could see On the high roof the fingers dread won by Beowulf s- might. L. * Hunferd. 46 BEOWULF. [line 985-1101. A hideous prong most like to steel — hand-spur of heathen knight — Was each hard finger-nail. Men said no iron e'er so good Could pierce or hurt that deadly hand now all with gore imbrued. *Twas bidden soon that Heort within should be made fair again, And men and women many were who decked that house of men, The hall of guests. Along the walls shone hangings wrought with gold — Sight wondrous fair to any man who may the like behold ! Yet shattered was the glorious house, within though iron bounds. The hinges torn away — the roof alone unhurt was Ifound, When stained with deeds of guilt the fiend, of life despairing, fled. Try it who will — not easily the flight from death is sped ! Needs must the sons of men, soul-bearing, here who earth do keep, Seek place prepared where close in grave their bodies aye shall sleep. Now was it time and tide when Halfdene's son to hall should go ; The King himself \vould taste the feast. Nor ever did I know I.1NB 1012-1035.] GRENDEL. 47 Of folk in greater throng who better stood around their lord, And happily, of banquet glad, down sat they to the board. Full many a cup of mead they drank with joy in that high hall, Hrothgar and Hrothulf, kinsmen brave. Within was Heorot all Filled full of friends — for hitherto no wrong had Scyldings done. Then to Beowulf Hrothgar gave the prize of battle won, \ A golden crest, a banner bright, a great and goodly sword, And helm and corselet ; many saw them borne before the lord. Beowulf quaffed the cup in hall ; before the warriors now No need had he to blush for gifts ! Did never men I trow To others at the mead-bench give four treasures, dight with gold, In friendlier wise. With wires around the helmet's top was rolled A boss * outside to guard the head, that in the press "^ of fight Should never sword, though bright and keen, the shieldejd warrior bite. * Wala. The precise meaning of this word is uncertain ; it may have been a crest of some kind, or the framework on the hehnet. See Note D. 4^ BEOWULF. [line 1036-1056, Within the hall the lord of earls bade lead upon the floor Eight steeds with head-stalls plated fair : and one a saddle bore Dyed cunningly, enriched with wealth, the high-king's battle-seat, When Halfdene's son would sword-play try. And never knew defeat The far-famed one in front of war where thickest lay the dead. Then did the Ingwines' * prince give o'er both steeds and weapons dread Into Beowulf's hands, and bid him joy in them to have. Thus manlike did the mighty prince, hoard-warden of the brave, With steeds and treasure well repay the deadly shocks of fight. On such let no man e'er cast blame who truth will speak aright ! Yet more, to every man who with Beowulf crossed the wave On mead-bench there the lord of earls rich gifts and heirlooms gave ; And bade the gold be paid for him whom Grendel foully slew. As more he would have slain save that Beowulfs valour true, * * Ingwines,' the Danes — proximi oceano Itigccvones. (Taci- tus, Ger. 2.) LINE 1057-1080.] GRENDEL. 49 . And God/all-knowing, Weird.3yithstood ; for over all mankind God ruled as even now He doth ; and that to bear in mind With forethought wise is ever best ; for much of joy and woe He who on earth abideth long through days of life must know. Along the mead-bench song and shout together mingled rang, And Hrothgar's bard, to sound of harp, the oft-told story sang — The joy of hall — how Halfdene's knight smote down the sons of Finn. The Bard's Tale. Hnaef the Scylding, Halfdene's thane, in Friesvale dying lay. The faith of Jutes had Hildeburh no need to praise that day. Guiltless bereft — sad lady she ! — of sons and brothers dear By bitter fate, in shield-play there pierced by the cruel spear ! No causeless tears at God's decree did Koka's daughter shed, ^^^' When morning dawned, and she beheld her kinsmen lying dead Beneath the light of day — men once her dearest joy in life ! E 50 BEOWULF. [line 1081-1104. Yet slaughtered were the thanes of Finn, but few outlived the strife ; No whit could they 'gainst Hengest's might maintain the battle-field Nor hope from him, by fighting fierce, that remnant sad to shield ; And therefore did they offer peace ; they promised to prepare For Hengest's self another court with hall and high- seat fair; ^' There with the son of Jutes to halve the power ; and every day, When gifts were dealt, should Folkvald's son * to Danes meet honour pay, And bracelets give to Hengest's band, and wealth, and plated gold, Even like as to his Frisian kin he in the beer-hall told. Then fast they made the bond of peace, and sure on either side ; And Finn with oaths to Hengest bound the Witan to provide With honour for his remnant sad ; and that no man should break By word or deed the bond ; nor peace with base thoughts idle make, Though, lordless now, the Danish men, compelled by bitter need. Followed the slayer of their chief. And of the murderous deed * Finn. ONE 1105-1125.] GRENDEL. 5 1 If any Frisian e'er should speak with rash and biting word, Dire vengeance should be meted out on him with edge of sword. Sworn was the oath; and from the hoard was brought the treasure bright, And on the funeral pile they laid the best and bravest ^ knight In all the Scylding host. Then might ye see beside the pyre Blood-reddened mail, and golden boar, and helm made hard by fire. And many a chief with ghastly wounds — the men whom death laid low. And on Hnsefs pyre did Hildebuth bid in the raging glow The bodies of her sons be laid for fire to burn away. The hapless lady them beside, with many a mourning lay, • Lamented sore. Then rose the smoke, and soaring to the sky, With roarings loud, above the mound, up-blazed the death-flames high ; Melted the heads — the wound-gates burst — forth did the blood outspring From gashes fell in every corse; and fire, the greediest thing. Swallowed death's spoil of either folk — the strength of both was spent ! 52 BEOWULF. [line 1126-1150. Of friends bereft, to see the land, then hence the warriors went — Friesland to see — high burg and homes. But Hengest dwelt with Finn That bloody winter undisturbed. Yet thought he of his kin Though o'er the deep he might not drive the ringed stem of his ship. The sea boiled stormy lashed with wind ; icebound in winter's grip The waters lay ; till grange and farm beheld another year, As still the bliss-bestower comes — the weather glorious- clear — And winter fled ; the lap of earth was fair. The rover guest Longed from the thorpes to take his way ; but rather was his breast With vengeful thoughts than seafare filled, if yet the bloody deed He purposed he might throughly work. The doom to man decreed Finn nowise 'scaped when in his heart the heir of Hunlaf laid The battle-flame, the best of, swords — well known ^ 'mong Jutes the blade ! Thus in his turn by slaughter dire at home fell Finn the bold ; Their voyage o'er when mournfully Guthlaf and Oslaf told LINE 1151-1166.] GRENDEL. 53 Of Struggle fierce, and upon him did all their Sorrows lay, No longer might within his breast the wavering spirit stay.* With foemen's lives the hall was dight — king Finn in court lay slain — The Queen was borne away ; and hence the bowmen of the Dane Took to their ships all household gear, each rare and precious thing, Whate'er in Finn's home they could find belonging to the king ; And o'er the sea-ways to the Danes the noble lady bore And led her to her folk." f Sung was the lay, the gleeman's tale; then sport arose, and mirth •Grew loud-voiced on the benches there. From jars of wondrous worth •Cupbearers poured the wine. Then forth cahie Waltheow, crowned with gold, j Where sat together kinsman twain (for peace they still did hold— Each to the other faithful yet). J Hunferd the speech- man too n * The meaning of this, I think, is that Guthlaf and Oslaf, having sailed away and gone home, leaving Hengest with Finn, were telling their story at the very time when Finn was dying. t See Note I. X Hrothgar and his nephew Hrothulf. See p. 47. 54 BEOWULF. [line 1167-1189. r Was sitting there at Hrothgar's feet, his heart all men deemed true, And spirit great, though ne'er to kinsmen staunch in play of sword. The lady of the Scyldings spoke : " Giver of fee I My lord ! Take now this cup. All hail to thee, thou kindly friend of men ! Speak to the Goths with gentle words as man should do ; and then. Mindful of gifts, be good to them. Peace far and near is won ! Twas said to me that thou wast pleased to call the knight thy son. Heorot is cleansed, the bright ring-hall \ use well the gifts in store While yet thou may'st, and to thy sons give folk and kingdom o'er When thou must forth to see the Lord ! My Hrothulf kind I know With honour will uphold the youths if thou, ere he must go, O Scyldings' friend ! shalt leave the world. >Vith good will he repay Our heirs I ween if he remembers all in childhood's day That we have done to honour him in glory and delights." * Then turned she to the bench where sat together youthful knights ; * * See Note K. LINE 119C-1210.] GRENDEL. 55 Hrethric and Hrothmund, her two sons, were there and by the twain Beowulf sat, the glorious Goth. To him with greeting fain And friendly words the cup was borne ; and wrought _^old given free — Two armlets, raiment, rings, and necklace goodliest to see That e'er I heard of on the earth. Beneath the light of day No hero's ornament more fair since Hama bore away The Brosing collar,* gems, and wealth far to the city bright ; And lasting gain he got thereby in Eormenric's de- spite. (And Swerting's nephew, Higelac the Goth, the necklace wore On his last raid, beneath his banner guarding well the store, And spoil of war. But Weird him took when in the Frisian feud All for his pride he met with woe. He bore that jewel good And precious stones — the glorious prince ! — the brim- ming waters through ; 'Neath shield he fell, and life of king, breast-weed and collar too * * Brosing collar.' A famous jewel in the Gothic legend. Mr. Arnold has collected all the passages on the subject in his Beowulf App., p. 201. 5 6 BEOWULF. [line 1211-1236. Passed to the hands of Franks, when meaner fighters robbed the slain By lot of war, and Gothic folk lay dead on battle- plain.) Uprose the noise in hall. Then Waltheow spoke > before them there : " O youth ! Beowulf dear ! Take now with joy this ring, and wear This raiment — people's gifts are they. All hail ! and thrive thou well ! Shew forth thy might ; and to these youths thy know- ledge gently tell ! I will remember to repay. Thy deeds so glorious are Men shall thee praise through life-long days in lands both near and far, ' 5^'^'^~*>-'' Yea, widely as the waves enfold the windy walls of earth ! Be whilst thou liv'st a happy prince! I give thee gifts of worth. And to my sons be staunch in deeds — their happiness uphold ! Here is each earl to other true, gentle each spirit bold, Leal to his lord ; the thanes at peace ', the people all prepared. O men well dr^ken do my best ! " Then to her seat she fared. Choice was the feast and men drank wine ; they wist not Weird aright, The bitter doom to many an earl decreed. Now came the night ; J ^ LINE 1237-1251.] GRENDEL. 57 King Hrothgar to his house betook him seeking rest in sleep Earls without number kept the hall, as erst was wont to keep. -They cleared the benches from the floor, and over it they spread The beds and bolsters. (Doomed to die one drinker r sought his bed.*) War-shjeld and wooden buckler bright beside their , heads did lie ; And on the bench o'er every knight was seen his helmet high, His corselet ringed, and glorious spear. Such was their custom aye. Whether on foray or at home, oft ready for the fray Howe'er their liege lord chanced to need. A noble people they ! * This refers to /Eschere, slain that night by Grenders mother. folk, i^ 62 BEOWULF. [line 1268-1288. The ravening were-wolf, came. But he at Heorot found a man Who watchful waited for the strife. The monster on him ran In death-grips ; but Beowulf knew his God-^iven strength and might, His glorious gifts, and in the Lord Almighty trusted right For help and comfort; therefore he that sprite of hell laid low ; O'erthrew the fiend; and humbled thence did man- kind's bitter foe, Sundered from l)liss, go forth to see the dwellings of the dead. I Now wroth and greedy sought his dam the doleful path to tread, 'And for her son's death take revenge. To Heorot she drew near. Where deep in sleep the Ring-Danes lay_ around the ^. hall ; and fear Fell on the earls when Grendel's mother in among them burst. Yet, as the strength of maids to men, so less than at the first The terror was — as warlike rage of women is to men. When banded sword by hammer forged on boar-helm smites again And downright shears with reddened blade ! Then drawn was keen-edged brand LINE 1289-1314.] GRENDEL'S MOTHER. 63 O'er every bench, and buckler broad was grasped in many a hand ; No thought for helm or corselet strong when terror- ^ struck had they ! --"discovered now she was in haste, to get unscathed away, And, clutching swift an earl, she turned her homeward to the mer^ By the two seas m all his host to Hrothgar none more dear Than the shield-warrior thus in sleep from life and welfare riven. Not there Beowulf then ; his bower, after the gifts were given, Was elsewhere dight. A cry arose in Heoj^. ^Vith gore imbrued The well-known hand she took ; and through the . town was grief renewed. No bargain good for either side that lives of friends must buy ! Then' did the hoary warrior wise, the king, in sad- ness lie Soon as he knew his chiefest thane and dearest friend was dead. frBeowuU now, the victor knight, swift to the bower ^ they led ; And forth the high-born warrior went amid his band of thanes. Ere daybreak, there where waited till the pious king of Danes/ r 64 BEOWULF. [line 1315-1340, To see if after woful news God any hope would bring] And o'er the floor the glorious man (while board and bench did ring) Trod with his troop to greet with words the Ingwines' lord aright, And ask if, for this pressing call, he'd had a peaceful night ? /' " Ask not of peace ! " then Hrothgar said, " the sorrow is renewed Of Danish folk, ^schere'is dead ! the elder brother good Of Yrmenlaf, my counsellor, who knew my inmost thought ; My comrade when we guarded well our heads what time we fought, When armies met and boar-helms rang! Even so should every knight Be of the best as ^schere was ! The wandering deadly sprite Has laid her hands on him in Heort, — and whether, proud of prey And glad of feast, the fiend again has ta'en her home- ward way I wot not. She has 'venged the wrong thou didst her yester-eve By Grendel's death in fierce close grips, for that he long did grieve My folk and minished them. In fight he paid his forfeit breath ! Now comes the other mighty foe to wreak her off- spring's death ; LINE 1341-1366.] GRENDEL'S MOTHER. 6$ Far hath she carried on the feud ; and therefore every thane, Who for his wealth-bestower mourns, must feel heart- -\ rending pain : Low lies the hand that pleasant things gave freely to you all ! The landward dwellers of my folk I've heard, at talk in hall, Saying two such mark-steppers great were known to tread the moor ; Foul sprites; the one in woman's shape, as they might know most sure ; The other wretch in guise of man trod o'er the out- cast ways, (But bigger he than other men), and him in former days The country-folk did Grendel call. Their sire no man can tell. If ever spirit of the gloom ere them was born. They- dwell In hidden places, cliffs wolf-haunted, windy nesses steep, And wild morass, whence to the plain the mountain torrents leap Down from the mist-enfolded hills. Not far away the mere, A mile by measure ; o'er it hang the woods, fast-rooted, sere, The waters shrouding ; nightly there is seen a wonder dread — 66 BEOWULF. UiNE 1367-1389 Fire on the flood ! No son of man with all his skill . may tread I In that abyss; the hart that roams the heath in ' antlered pride, Pressed by the hounds and hunted far, in woody holt may hide, But ere he plunge his head therein upon the bank will die. A place accurst: the troubled waves heave wan beneath the sky When wind upstirreth weather foul, and all the lift grows dark, And th' heavens weep.] --^ In thee alone the speech now finds its mark ! / (Thou know'st not yet the perilous spot, where thou may'st find the lair Of this sin-laden monster ; go, now seek it if thou darejl If from thefight thou comest back I'll give thee treasures old ; And for reward, as erst I gave, shalt thou have twisted gold." >~ Then spake Beowulf, Ecgtheow's son -U" O wise man, sorrow not ! y 'Tis better t Q.^^ fange a friend than too much mourn ' his lotjP"^*^ Each one of us must bide the end of life, and what he may Of glory win ere death, for so, when life is past away, LINE 1390-1415.] GRENDEL'S MOTHER. 6/ That to the warrior will be best. O kingdom's warder, rr "'" / jHence let us go at once and see where Grendel's mother flies. I promise thee no hiding-place — earth's bosom, or deep sea, Or mountain wood — shall shelter her wherever she may Aee^ For every sorrow thou this day I ween shalt comfort take." The king sprang up with thanks to God for what Beowulf spake. Then Hrothgar's horse, the curly-maned, was bridled ; stately rode The wise king forth ; with him on foot shield-beajring warriors strode. O'er field, and through the woody glades they tracked her footprints sure, And ever onward as she'd gone, up o'er the murky moor, Bearing, a corse, the noblest knight who guarded Hrothgar's hall. By narrow paths the ^theling's son climbed up the rocky wall. The ways unknown, the nesses steep, and Nicor- haunted ground. He went in front with watchful men to search the land around Till suddenly thb wood accurst he reached; o'er boulders grey 68 BEOWULF. [line 1416-1441. Hung mountain trees, and down below dark troubled waters lay. Then to the Danes, the Scyldings' friends, was sorrow hard to bear, A grievous thing to every earl, for on the headland there They found the head of ^schere ; and 'tis said that all the wave ^With hot blood seethed. A while the horns a war- like summons gave ; Then all sat down ; the serpent brood they watched upon the mere. Strange sea-drakes swimming, and on rocks the Nicors lying near ; The worms and creatures wild that oft at early noon foreshow Sad end to those who sail. But when they heard the war-horn blow Roused by the clang they rushed in rage and bitter- ness away. The prince of Goths with bended bow smote one, and sluggish lay, Sundered from life and watery toil, the creature on the flood. For deep the hardened arrow-head within the body stood. The sharp-hooked boarspear from the waves then lightly drew ashore The wondrous water-beast by force o'ercome and smitten sore : LINE 1441-1464.] GRENDEL*S MOTHER. 69 Men gazed upon the grisly thingJH jNN'ow was Beowulf drest In earl-beseeming weed ; — ^but not of life he recked : his breast AVas covered by his mail-shirt strong, hand-woven,- and diverse hued, Which now must try the deep, and guard his life in grapple rude And deadly clutch of foe. Upon his head theiielmet sheen Must see the bottom of. the mere, and search the f depths between. / ^^ ' J i ade rich it was with gold and'^la< laced with lordly chains, of yore By weapon-smith wrought cunningly, and crested with the boar, That it thereafter never brand nor battle-sword should bite. Nor now at need was Hrunting least of all the helps of might Which Hrothgar's speechman lent to him, the goodly hiked blade — None better among treasures old — the sword of iron made, With twigs of bitter poison steeped, in battle-blood annealed, Never it failed the hand of him who durst it rightly wield, And who dared tread the path of dread, the strong- hold of the foe ! * See Note L. 70 BEOWULF. [line 1464-1488. Not the first time it wrought high deedsJ Surely he did not know — ^ ^The son of Ecglaf* great in might — ^what in wine's merriment He spake, when he that weapon good to better swordsman lent ; For he himself 'neath troubled waves ne'er dared to risk his life Or work great deeds ; and thus he lost the glory of the strife. Not so the other when he was for battle full arrayed. " Remember now, great Halfdene's son ! " 'twas thus Beowulf said, ' " Wise chieftain ! kindly lord of men ! now for this work I'm dight, What erst we spake : That if I lose my life to do thee right. To me when dead in father's stead thou evermore wouldst be.