The Project Gutenberg eBook ofBeowulfThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: BeowulfTranslator: Francis Barton GummereRelease date: July 1, 1997 [eBook #981]Most recently updated: January 14, 2013Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Robin Katsuya-Corbet, and David Widger*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: BeowulfTranslator: Francis Barton GummereRelease date: July 1, 1997 [eBook #981]Most recently updated: January 14, 2013Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Robin Katsuya-Corbet, and David Widger
Title: Beowulf
Translator: Francis Barton Gummere
Translator: Francis Barton Gummere
Release date: July 1, 1997 [eBook #981]Most recently updated: January 14, 2013
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Robin Katsuya-Corbet, and David Widger
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEOWULF ***
LO, praise of the prowess of people-kingsof spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,awing the earls. Since erst he layfriendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,till before him the folk, both far and near,who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,gave him gifts: a good king he!To him an heir was afterward born,a son in his halls, whom heaven sentto favor the folk, feeling their woethat erst they had lacked an earl for leaderso long a while; the Lord endowed him,the Wielder of Wonder, with world’s renown.Famed was this Beowulf:{0a}far flew the boast of him,son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.So becomes it a youth to quit him wellwith his father’s friends, by fee and gift,that to aid him, aged, in after days,come warriors willing, should war draw nigh,liegemen loyal: by lauded deedsshall an earl have honor in every clan.
Forth he fared at the fated moment,sturdy Scyld to the shelter of God.Then they bore him over to ocean’s billow,loving clansmen, as late he charged them,while wielded words the winsome Scyld,the leader beloved who long had ruled....In the roadstead rocked a ring-dight vessel,ice-flecked, outbound, atheling’s barge:there laid they down their darling lordon the breast of the boat, the breaker-of-rings,{0b}by the mast the mighty one. Many a treasurefetched from far was freighted with him.No ship have I known so nobly dightwith weapons of war and weeds of battle,with breastplate and blade: on his bosom laya heaped hoard that hence should gofar o’er the flood with him floating away.No less these loaded the lordly gifts,thanes’ huge treasure, than those had donewho in former time forth had sent himsole on the seas, a suckling child.High o’er his head they hoist the standard,a gold-wove banner; let billows take him,gave him to ocean. Grave were their spirits,mournful their mood. No man is ableto say in sooth, no son of the halls,no hero ’neath heaven, -- who harbored that freight!
I
Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scyldings,leader beloved, and long he ruledin fame with all folk, since his father had goneaway from the world, till awoke an heir,haughty Healfdene, who held through life,sage and sturdy, the Scyldings glad.Then, one after one, there woke to him,to the chieftain of clansmen, children four:Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;and I heard that -- was -- ’s queen,the Heathoscylfing’s helpmate dear.To Hrothgar was given such glory of war,such honor of combat, that all his kinobeyed him gladly till great grew his bandof youthful comrades. It came in his mindto bid his henchmen a hall uprear,a master mead-house, mightier farthan ever was seen by the sons of earth,and within it, then, to old and younghe would all allot that the Lord had sent him,save only the land and the lives of his men.Wide, I heard, was the work commanded,for many a tribe this mid-earth round,to fashion the folkstead. It fell, as he ordered,in rapid achievement that ready it stood there,of halls the noblest: Heorot{1a}he named itwhose message had might in many a land.Not reckless of promise, the rings he dealt,treasure at banquet: there towered the hall,high, gabled wide, the hot surge waitingof furious flame.{1b}Nor far was that daywhen father and son-in-law stood in feudfor warfare and hatred that woke again.{1c}With envy and anger an evil spiritendured the dole in his dark abode,that he heard each day the din of revelhigh in the hall: there harps rang out,clear song of the singer. He sang who knew{1d}tales of the early time of man,how the Almighty made the earth,fairest fields enfolded by water,set, triumphant, sun and moonfor a light to lighten the land-dwellers,and braided bright the breast of earthwith limbs and leaves, made life for allof mortal beings that breathe and move.So lived the clansmen in cheer and revela winsome life, till one beganto fashion evils, that field of hell.Grendel this monster grim was called,march-riever{1e}mighty, in moorland living,in fen and fastness; fief of the giantsthe hapless wight a while had keptsince the Creator his exile doomed.On kin of Cain was the killing avengedby sovran God for slaughtered Abel.Ill fared his feud,{1f}and far was he driven,for the slaughter’s sake, from sight of men.Of Cain awoke all that woful breed,Etins{1g}and elves and evil-spirits,as well as the giants that warred with Godweary while: but their wage was paid them!
II
WENT he forth to find at fall of nightthat haughty house, and heed whereverthe Ring-Danes, outrevelled, to rest had gone.Found within it the atheling bandasleep after feasting and fearless of sorrow,of human hardship. Unhallowed wight,grim and greedy, he grasped betimes,wrathful, reckless, from resting-places,thirty of the thanes, and thence he rushedfain of his fell spoil, faring homeward,laden with slaughter, his lair to seek.Then at the dawning, as day was breaking,the might of Grendel to men was known;then after wassail was wail uplifted,loud moan in the morn. The mighty chief,atheling excellent, unblithe sat,labored in woe for the loss of his thanes,when once had been traced the trail of the fiend,spirit accurst: too cruel that sorrow,too long, too loathsome. Not late the respite;with night returning, anew beganruthless murder; he recked no whit,firm in his guilt, of the feud and crime.They were easy to find who elsewhere soughtin room remote their rest at night,bed in the bowers,{2a}when that bale was shown,was seen in sooth, with surest token, --the hall-thane’s{2b}hate. Such held themselvesfar and fast who the fiend outran!Thus ruled unrighteous and raged his fillone against all; until empty stoodthat lordly building, and long it bode so.Twelve years’ tide the trouble he bore,sovran of Scyldings, sorrows in plenty,boundless cares. There came unhiddentidings true to the tribes of men,in sorrowful songs, how ceaselessly Grendelharassed Hrothgar, what hate he bore him,what murder and massacre, many a year,feud unfading, -- refused consentto deal with any of Daneland’s earls,make pact of peace, or compound for gold:still less did the wise men ween to getgreat fee for the feud from his fiendish hands.But the evil one ambushed old and youngdeath-shadow dark, and dogged them still,lured, or lurked in the livelong nightof misty moorlands: men may say notwhere the haunts of these Hell-Runes{2c}be.Such heaping of horrors the hater of men,lonely roamer, wrought unceasing,harassings heavy. O’er Heorot he lorded,gold-bright hall, in gloomy nights;and ne’er could the prince{2d}approach his throne,-- ’twas judgment of God, -- or have joy in his hall.Sore was the sorrow to Scyldings’-friend,heart-rending misery. Many noblessat assembled, and searched out counselhow it were best for bold-hearted menagainst harassing terror to try their hand.Whiles they vowed in their heathen fanesaltar-offerings, asked with words{2e}that the slayer-of-souls would succor give themfor the pain of their people. Their practice this,their heathen hope; ’twas Hell they thought ofin mood of their mind. Almighty they knew not,Doomsman of Deeds and dreadful Lord,nor Heaven’s-Helmet heeded they ever,Wielder-of-Wonder. -- Woe for that manwho in harm and hatred hales his soulto fiery embraces; -- nor favor nor changeawaits he ever. But well for himthat after death-day may draw to his Lord,and friendship find in the Father’s arms!
III
THUS seethed unceasing the son of Healfdenewith the woe of these days; not wisest menassuaged his sorrow; too sore the anguish,loathly and long, that lay on his folk,most baneful of burdens and bales of the night.
This heard in his home Hygelac’s thane,great among Geats, of Grendel’s doings.He was the mightiest man of valorin that same day of this our life,stalwart and stately. A stout wave-walkerhe bade make ready. Yon battle-king, said he,far o’er the swan-road he fain would seek,the noble monarch who needed men!The prince’s journey by prudent folkwas little blamed, though they loved him dear;they whetted the hero, and hailed good omens.And now the bold one from bands of Geatscomrades chose, the keenest of warriorse’er he could find; with fourteen menthe sea-wood{3a}he sought, and, sailor proved,led them on to the land’s confines.Time had now flown;{3b}afloat was the ship,boat under bluff. On board they climbed,warriors ready; waves were churningsea with sand; the sailors boreon the breast of the bark their bright array,their mail and weapons: the men pushed off,on its willing way, the well-braced craft.Then moved o’er the waters by might of the windthat bark like a bird with breast of foam,till in season due, on the second day,the curved prow such course had runthat sailors now could see the land,sea-cliffs shining, steep high hills,headlands broad. Their haven was found,their journey ended. Up then quicklythe Weders’{3c}clansmen climbed ashore,anchored their sea-wood, with armor clashingand gear of battle: God they thankedor passing in peace o’er the paths of the sea.Now saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman,a warden that watched the water-side,how they bore o’er the gangway glittering shields,war-gear in readiness; wonder seized himto know what manner of men they were.Straight to the strand his steed he rode,Hrothgar’s henchman; with hand of mighthe shook his spear, and spake in parley.“Who are ye, then, ye armed men,mailed folk, that yon mighty vesselhave urged thus over the ocean ways,here o’er the waters? A warden I,sentinel set o’er the sea-march here,lest any foe to the folk of Daneswith harrying fleet should harm the land.No aliens ever at ease thus bore them,linden-wielders:{3d}yet word-of-leaveclearly ye lack from clansmen here,my folk’s agreement. -- A greater ne’er saw Iof warriors in world than is one of you, --yon hero in harness! No henchman heworthied by weapons, if witness his features,his peerless presence! I pray you, though, tellyour folk and home, lest hence ye faresuspect to wander your way as spiesin Danish land. Now, dwellers afar,ocean-travellers, take from mesimple advice: the sooner the betterI hear of the country whence ye came.”
IV
To him the stateliest spake in answer;the warriors’ leader his word-hoard unlocked: --“We are by kin of the clan of Geats,and Hygelac’s own hearth-fellows we.To folk afar was my father known,noble atheling, Ecgtheow named.Full of winters, he fared awayaged from earth; he is honored stillthrough width of the world by wise men all.To thy lord and liege in loyal moodwe hasten hither, to Healfdene’s son,people-protector: be pleased to advise us!To that mighty-one come we on mickle errand,to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I rightthat aught be hidden. We hear -- thou knowestif sooth it is -- the saying of men,that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster,dark ill-doer, in dusky nightsshows terrific his rage unmatched,hatred and murder. To Hrothgar Iin greatness of soul would succor bring,so the Wise-and-Brave{4a}may worst his foes, --if ever the end of ills is fated,of cruel contest, if cure shall follow,and the boiling care-waves cooler grow;else ever afterward anguish-dayshe shall suffer in sorrow while stands in placehigh on its hill that house unpeered!”Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered,clansman unquailing: “The keen-souled thanemust be skilled to sever and sunder dulywords and works, if he well intends.I gather, this band is graciously bentto the Scyldings’ master. March, then, bearingweapons and weeds the way I show you.I will bid my men your boat meanwhileto guard for fear lest foemen come, --your new-tarred ship by shore of oceanfaithfully watching till once againit waft o’er the waters those well-loved thanes,-- winding-neck’d wood, -- to Weders’ bounds,heroes such as the hest of fateshall succor and save from the shock of war.”They bent them to march, -- the boat lay still,fettered by cable and fast at anchor,broad-bosomed ship. -- Then shone the boars{4b}over the cheek-guard; chased with gold,keen and gleaming, guard it kepto’er the man of war, as marched alongheroes in haste, till the hall they saw,broad of gable and bright with gold:that was the fairest, ’mid folk of earth,of houses ’neath heaven, where Hrothgar lived,and the gleam of it lightened o’er lands afar.The sturdy shieldsman showed that brightburg-of-the-boldest; bade them gostraightway thither; his steed then turned,hardy hero, and hailed them thus: --“’Tis time that I fare from you. Father Almightyin grace and mercy guard you well,safe in your seekings. Seaward I go,’gainst hostile warriors hold my watch.”
V
STONE-BRIGHT the street:{5a}it showed the wayto the crowd of clansmen. Corselets glistenedhand-forged, hard; on their harness brightthe steel ring sang, as they strode alongin mail of battle, and marched to the hall.There, weary of ocean, the wall alongthey set their bucklers, their broad shields, down,and bowed them to bench: the breastplates clanged,war-gear of men; their weapons stacked,spears of the seafarers stood together,gray-tipped ash: that iron bandwas worthily weaponed! -- A warrior proudasked of the heroes their home and kin.“Whence, now, bear ye burnished shields,harness gray and helmets grim,spears in multitude? Messenger, I,Hrothgar’s herald! Heroes so manyne’er met I as strangers of mood so strong.’Tis plain that for prowess, not plunged into exile,for high-hearted valor, Hrothgar ye seek!”Him the sturdy-in-war bespake with words,proud earl of the Weders answer made,hardy ’neath helmet: -- “Hygelac’s, we,fellows at board; I am Beowulf named.I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdenethis mission of mine, to thy master-lord,the doughty prince, if he deign at allgrace that we greet him, the good one, now.”Wulfgar spake, the Wendles’ chieftain,whose might of mind to many was known,his courage and counsel: “The king of Danes,the Scyldings’ friend, I fain will tell,the Breaker-of-Rings, as the boon thou askest,the famed prince, of thy faring hither,and, swiftly after, such answer bringas the doughty monarch may deign to give.”Hied then in haste to where Hrothgar satwhite-haired and old, his earls about him,till the stout thane stood at the shoulder thereof the Danish king: good courtier he!Wulfgar spake to his winsome lord: --“Hither have fared to thee far-come meno’er the paths of ocean, people of Geatland;and the stateliest there by his sturdy bandis Beowulf named. This boon they seek,that they, my master, may with theehave speech at will: nor spurn their prayerto give them hearing, gracious Hrothgar!In weeds of the warrior worthy they,methinks, of our liking; their leader most surely,a hero that hither his henchmen has led.”
VI
HROTHGAR answered, helmet of Scyldings: --“I knew him of yore in his youthful days;his aged father was Ecgtheow named,to whom, at home, gave Hrethel the Geathis only daughter. Their offspring boldfares hither to seek the steadfast friend.And seamen, too, have said me this, --who carried my gifts to the Geatish court,thither for thanks, -- he has thirty men’sheft of grasp in the gripe of his hand,the bold-in-battle. Blessed Godout of his mercy this man hath sentto Danes of the West, as I ween indeed,against horror of Grendel. I hope to givethe good youth gold for his gallant thought.Be thou in haste, and bid them hither,clan of kinsmen, to come before me;and add this word, -- they are welcome gueststo folk of the Danes.”[To the door of the hallWulfgar went] and the word declared: --“To you this message my master sends,East-Danes’ king, that your kin he knows,hardy heroes, and hails you allwelcome hither o’er waves of the sea!Ye may wend your way in war-attire,and under helmets Hrothgar greet;but let here the battle-shields bide your parley,and wooden war-shafts wait its end.”Uprose the mighty one, ringed with his men,brave band of thanes: some bode without,battle-gear guarding, as bade the chief.Then hied that troop where the herald led them,under Heorot’s roof: [the hero strode,]hardy ’neath helm, till the hearth he neared.Beowulf spake, -- his breastplate gleamed,war-net woven by wit of the smith: --“Thou Hrothgar, hail! Hygelac’s I,kinsman and follower. Fame a plentyhave I gained in youth! These Grendel-deedsI heard in my home-land heralded clear.Seafarers say how stands this hall,of buildings best, for your band of thanesempty and idle, when evening sunin the harbor of heaven is hidden away.So my vassals advised me well, --brave and wise, the best of men, --O sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here,for my nerve and my might they knew full well.Themselves had seen me from slaughter comeblood-flecked from foes, where five I bound,and that wild brood worsted. I’ the waves I slewnicors{6a}by night, in need and perilavenging the Weders,{6b}whose woe they sought, --crushing the grim ones. Grendel now,monster cruel, be mine to quellin single battle! So, from thee,thou sovran of the Shining-Danes,Scyldings’-bulwark, a boon I seek, --and, Friend-of-the-folk, refuse it not,O Warriors’-shield, now I’ve wandered far, --that I alone with my liegemen here,this hardy band, may Heorot purge!More I hear, that the monster dire,in his wanton mood, of weapons recks not;hence shall I scorn -- so Hygelac stay,king of my kindred, kind to me! --brand or buckler to bear in the fight,gold-colored targe: but with gripe alonemust I front the fiend and fight for life,foe against foe. Then faith be hisin the doom of the Lord whom death shall take.Fain, I ween, if the fight he win,in this hall of gold my Geatish bandwill he fearless eat, -- as oft before, --my noblest thanes. Nor need’st thou thento hide my head;{6c}for his shall I be,dyed in gore, if death must take me;and my blood-covered body he’ll bear as prey,ruthless devour it, the roamer-lonely,with my life-blood redden his lair in the fen:no further for me need’st food prepare!To Hygelac send, if Hild{6d}should take me,best of war-weeds, warding my breast,armor excellent, heirloom of Hretheland work of Wayland.{6e}Fares Wyrd{6f}as she must.”
VII
HROTHGAR spake, the Scyldings’-helmet: --“For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf,to succor and save, thou hast sought us here.Thy father’s combat{7a}a feud enkindledwhen Heatholaf with hand he slewamong the Wylfings; his Weder kinfor horror of fighting feared to hold him.Fleeing, he sought our South-Dane folk,over surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings,when first I was ruling the folk of Danes,wielded, youthful, this widespread realm,this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead,my elder brother, had breathed his last,Healfdene’s bairn: he was better than I!Straightway the feud with fee{7b}I settled,to the Wylfings sent, o’er watery ridges,treasures olden: oaths he{7c}swore me.Sore is my soul to say to anyof the race of man what ruth for mein Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought,what sudden harryings. Hall-folk fail me,my warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept theminto Grendel’s grasp. But God is ablethis deadly foe from his deeds to turn!Boasted full oft, as my beer they drank,earls o’er the ale-cup, armed men,that they would bide in the beer-hall here,Grendel’s attack with terror of blades.Then was this mead-house at morning tidedyed with gore, when the daylight broke,all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled,gory the hall: I had heroes the less,doughty dear-ones that death had reft.-- But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words,hardy hero, as heart shall prompt thee.”
Gathered together, the Geatish menin the banquet-hall on bench assigned,sturdy-spirited, sat them down,hardy-hearted. A henchman attended,carried the carven cup in hand,served the clear mead. Oft minstrels sangblithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled,no dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane.
VIII
UNFERTH spake, the son of Ecglaf,who sat at the feet of the Scyldings’ lord,unbound the battle-runes.{8a}-- Beowulf’s quest,sturdy seafarer’s, sorely galled him;ever he envied that other menshould more achieve in middle-earthof fame under heaven than he himself. --“Art thou that Beowulf, Breca’s rival,who emulous swam on the open sea,when for pride the pair of you proved the floods,and wantonly dared in waters deepto risk your lives? No living man,or lief or loath, from your labor direcould you dissuade, from swimming the main.Ocean-tides with your arms ye covered,with strenuous hands the sea-streets measured,swam o’er the waters. Winter’s stormrolled the rough waves. In realm of seaa sennight strove ye. In swimming he topped thee,had more of main! Him at morning-tidebillows bore to the Battling Reamas,whence he hied to his home so dearbeloved of his liegemen, to land of Brondings,fastness fair, where his folk he ruled,town and treasure. In triumph o’er theeBeanstan’s bairn{8b}his boast achieved.So ween I for thee a worse adventure-- though in buffet of battle thou brave hast been,in struggle grim, -- if Grendel’s approachthou darst await through the watch of night!”
Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --“What a deal hast uttered, dear my Unferth,drunken with beer, of Breca now,told of his triumph! Truth I claim it,that I had more of might in the seathan any man else, more ocean-endurance.We twain had talked, in time of youth,and made our boast, -- we were merely boys,striplings still, -- to stake our livesfar at sea: and so we performed it.Naked swords, as we swam along,we held in hand, with hope to guard usagainst the whales. Not a whit from mecould he float afar o’er the flood of waves,haste o’er the billows; nor him I abandoned.Together we twain on the tides abodefive nights full till the flood divided us,churning waves and chillest weather,darkling night, and the northern windruthless rushed on us: rough was the surge.Now the wrath of the sea-fish rose apace;yet me ’gainst the monsters my mailed coat,hard and hand-linked, help afforded, --battle-sark braided my breast to ward,garnished with gold. There grasped me firmand haled me to bottom the hated foe,with grimmest gripe. ’Twas granted me, though,to pierce the monster with point of sword,with blade of battle: huge beast of the seawas whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine.
IX
ME thus often the evil monstersthronging threatened. With thrust of my sword,the darling, I dealt them due return!Nowise had they bliss from their booty thento devour their victim, vengeful creatures,seated to banquet at bottom of sea;but at break of day, by my brand sore hurt,on the edge of ocean up they lay,put to sleep by the sword. And since, by themon the fathomless sea-ways sailor-folkare never molested. -- Light from east,came bright God’s beacon; the billows sank,so that I saw the sea-cliffs high,windy walls. For Wyrd oft savethearl undoomed if he doughty be!And so it came that I killed with my swordnine of the nicors. Of night-fought battlesne’er heard I a harder ’neath heaven’s dome,nor adrift on the deep a more desolate man!Yet I came unharmed from that hostile clutch,though spent with swimming. The sea upbore me,flood of the tide, on Finnish land,the welling waters. No wise of theehave I heard men tell such terror of falchions,bitter battle. Breca ne’er yet,not one of you pair, in the play of warsuch daring deed has done at allwith bloody brand, -- I boast not of it! --though thou wast the bane{9a}of thy brethren dear,thy closest kin, whence curse of hellawaits thee, well as thy wit may serve!For I say in sooth, thou son of Ecglaf,never had Grendel these grim deeds wrought,monster dire, on thy master dear,in Heorot such havoc, if heart of thinewere as battle-bold as thy boast is loud!But he has found no feud will happen;from sword-clash dread of your Danish clanhe vaunts him safe, from the Victor-Scyldings.He forces pledges, favors noneof the land of Danes, but lustily murders,fights and feasts, nor feud he dreadsfrom Spear-Dane men. But speedily nowshall I prove him the prowess and pride of the Geats,shall bid him battle. Blithe to meadgo he that listeth, when light of dawnthis morrow morning o’er men of earth,ether-robed sun from the south shall beam!”Joyous then was the Jewel-giver,hoar-haired, war-brave; help awaitedthe Bright-Danes’ prince, from Beowulf hearing,folk’s good shepherd, such firm resolve.Then was laughter of liegemen loud resoundingwith winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth,queen of Hrothgar, heedful of courtesy,gold-decked, greeting the guests in hall;and the high-born lady handed the cupfirst to the East-Danes’ heir and warden,bade him be blithe at the beer-carouse,the land’s beloved one. Lustily took hebanquet and beaker, battle-famed king.
Through the hall then went the Helmings’ Lady,to younger and older everywherecarried the cup, till come the momentwhen the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead.She greeted the Geats’ lord, God she thanked,in wisdom’s words, that her will was granted,that at last on a hero her hope could leanfor comfort in terrors. The cup he took,hardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow’s hand,and answer uttered the eager-for-combat.Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --“This was my thought, when my thanes and Ibent to the ocean and entered our boat,that I would work the will of your peoplefully, or fighting fall in death,in fiend’s gripe fast. I am firm to doan earl’s brave deed, or end the daysof this life of mine in the mead-hall here.”Well these words to the woman seemed,Beowulf’s battle-boast. -- Bright with goldthe stately dame by her spouse sat down.Again, as erst, began in hallwarriors’ wassail and words of power,the proud-band’s revel, till presentlythe son of Healfdene hastened to seekrest for the night; he knew there waitedfight for the fiend in that festal hall,when the sheen of the sun they saw no more,and dusk of night sank darkling nigh,and shadowy shapes came striding on,wan under welkin. The warriors rose.Man to man, he made harangue,Hrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail,let him wield the wine hall: a word he added: --“Never to any man erst I trusted,since I could heave up hand and shield,this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.Have now and hold this house unpeered;remember thy glory; thy might declare;watch for the foe! No wish shall fail theeif thou bidest the battle with bold-won life.”
X
THEN Hrothgar went with his hero-train,defence-of-Scyldings, forth from hall;fain would the war-lord Wealhtheow seek,couch of his queen. The King-of-Gloryagainst this Grendel a guard had set,so heroes heard, a hall-defender,who warded the monarch and watched for the monster.In truth, the Geats’ prince gladly trustedhis mettle, his might, the mercy of God!Cast off then his corselet of iron,helmet from head; to his henchman gave, --choicest of weapons, -- the well-chased sword,bidding him guard the gear of battle.Spake then his Vaunt the valiant man,Beowulf Geat, ere the bed be sought: --“Of force in fight no feebler I count me,in grim war-deeds, than Grendel deems him.Not with the sword, then, to sleep of deathhis life will I give, though it lie in my power.No skill is his to strike against me,my shield to hew though he hardy be,bold in battle; we both, this night,shall spurn the sword, if he seek me here,unweaponed, for war. Let wisest God,sacred Lord, on which side soeverdoom decree as he deemeth right.”Reclined then the chieftain, and cheek-pillows heldthe head of the earl, while all about himseamen hardy on hall-beds sank.None of them thought that thence their stepsto the folk and fastness that fostered them,to the land they loved, would lead them back!Full well they wist that on warriors manybattle-death seized, in the banquet-hall,of Danish clan. But comfort and help,war-weal weaving, to Weder folkthe Master gave, that, by might of one,over their enemy all prevailed,by single strength. In sooth ’tis toldthat highest God o’er human kindhath wielded ever! -- Thro’ wan night striding,came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors sleptwhose hest was to guard the gabled hall, --all save one. ’Twas widely knownthat against God’s will the ghostly ravagerhim{10a}could not hurl to haunts of darkness;wakeful, ready, with warrior’s wrath,bold he bided the battle’s issue.
XI
THEN from the moorland, by misty crags,with God’s wrath laden, Grendel came.The monster was minded of mankind nowsundry to seize in the stately house.Under welkin he walked, till the wine-palace there,gold-hall of men, he gladly discerned,flashing with fretwork. Not first time, this,that he the home of Hrothgar sought, --yet ne’er in his life-day, late or early,such hardy heroes, such hall-thanes, found!To the house the warrior walked apace,parted from peace;{11a}the portal opended,though with forged bolts fast, when his fists hadstruck it,and baleful he burst in his blatant rage,the house’s mouth. All hastily, then,o’er fair-paved floor the fiend trod on,ireful he strode; there streamed from his eyesfearful flashes, like flame to see.
He spied in hall the hero-band,kin and clansmen clustered asleep,hardy liegemen. Then laughed his heart;for the monster was minded, ere morn should dawn,savage, to sever the soul of each,life from body, since lusty banquetwaited his will! But Wyrd forbade himto seize any more of men on earthafter that evening. Eagerly watchedHygelac’s kinsman his cursed foe,how he would fare in fell attack.Not that the monster was minded to pause!Straightway he seized a sleeping warriorfor the first, and tore him fiercely asunder,the bone-frame bit, drank blood in streams,swallowed him piecemeal: swiftly thusthe lifeless corse was clear devoured,e’en feet and hands. Then farther he hied;for the hardy hero with hand he grasped,felt for the foe with fiendish claw,for the hero reclining, -- who clutched it boldly,prompt to answer, propped on his arm.Soon then saw that shepherd-of-evilsthat never he met in this middle-world,in the ways of earth, another wightwith heavier hand-gripe; at heart he feared,sorrowed in soul, -- none the sooner escaped!Fain would he flee, his fastness seek,the den of devils: no doings nowsuch as oft he had done in days of old!Then bethought him the hardy Hygelac-thaneof his boast at evening: up he bounded,grasped firm his foe, whose fingers cracked.The fiend made off, but the earl close followed.The monster meant -- if he might at all --to fling himself free, and far awayfly to the fens, -- knew his fingers’ powerin the gripe of the grim one. Gruesome marchto Heorot this monster of harm had made!Din filled the room; the Danes were bereft,castle-dwellers and clansmen all,earls, of their ale. Angry were boththose savage hall-guards: the house resounded.Wonder it was the wine-hall firmin the strain of their struggle stood, to earththe fair house fell not; too fast it waswithin and without by its iron bandscraftily clamped; though there crashed from sillmany a mead-bench -- men have told me --gay with gold, where the grim foes wrestled.So well had weened the wisest Scyldingsthat not ever at all might any manthat bone-decked, brave house break asunder,crush by craft, -- unless clasp of firein smoke engulfed it. -- Again uprosedin redoubled. Danes of the Northwith fear and frenzy were filled, each one,who from the wall that wailing heard,God’s foe sounding his grisly song,cry of the conquered, clamorous painfrom captive of hell. Too closely held himhe who of men in might was strongestin that same day of this our life.
XII
NOT in any wise would the earls’-defence{12a}suffer that slaughterous stranger to live,useless deeming his days and yearsto men on earth. Now many an earlof Beowulf brandished blade ancestral,fain the life of their lord to shield,their praised prince, if power were theirs;never they knew, -- as they neared the foe,hardy-hearted heroes of war,aiming their swords on every sidethe accursed to kill, -- no keenest blade,no farest of falchions fashioned on earth,could harm or hurt that hideous fiend!He was safe, by his spells, from sword of battle,from edge of iron. Yet his end and partingon that same day of this our lifewoful should be, and his wandering soulfar off flit to the fiends’ domain.Soon he found, who in former days,harmful in heart and hated of God,on many a man such murder wrought,that the frame of his body failed him now.For him the keen-souled kinsman of Hygelacheld in hand; hateful alivewas each to other. The outlaw diretook mortal hurt; a mighty woundshowed on his shoulder, and sinews cracked,and the bone-frame burst. To Beowulf nowthe glory was given, and Grendel thencedeath-sick his den in the dark moor sought,noisome abode: he knew too wellthat here was the last of life, an endof his days on earth. -- To all the Danesby that bloody battle the boon had come.From ravage had rescued the roving strangerHrothgar’s hall; the hardy and wise onehad purged it anew. His night-work pleased him,his deed and its honor. To Eastern Daneshad the valiant Geat his vaunt made good,all their sorrow and ills assuaged,their bale of battle borne so long,and all the dole they erst enduredpain a-plenty. -- ’Twas proof of this,when the hardy-in-fight a hand laid down,arm and shoulder, -- all, indeed,of Grendel’s gripe, -- ’neath the gabled roof.