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 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Treasure %^om 
 
 1 
 
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 "Ovcf 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 
 
 First printed at the Kelmscott Press, January 
 
 1895 
 Netv Edition, August 1898 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 SOMETIME KING OF THE 
 FOLK OF THE WEDER 
 GEATS TRANSLATED BY 
 WILLIAM MORRIS AND 
 A. J. WYATT 
 
 LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 
 
 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON 
 
 NEW YORK AND BOMBAY 
 
 MDCCCXCVIII 
 
Printed by Ballantvne, Hanson &" Co. 
 At the Ballantyne Press 
 

 ARGUMENT 
 
 HROTHGAR, king of the Danes, lives 
 happily and peacefully, and bethinks him 
 to build a glorious hall called Hart. 
 But a little after, one Grendel, of the kindred of 
 the evil wights that are come of Cain, hears the 
 merry noise of Hart and cannot abide it ; so he 
 enters thereinto by night, and slays and carries 
 off and devours thirty of Hrothgar's thanes. 
 Thereby he makes Hart waste for twelve years, 
 and the tidings of this mishap are borne wide 
 about lands. Then comes to the helping of 
 Hrothgar Beowulf, the son of Ecgtheow, a thane 
 of King Hygelac of the Geats, with fourteen 
 fellows. They are met on the shore by the 
 land-warder, and by him shown to Hart and the 
 stead of Hrothgar, who receives them gladly, 
 and to whom Beowulf tells his errand, that he 
 will help him against Grendel. They feast in 
 the hall, and one Unferth, son of Ecglaf, taunts 
 Beowulf through jealousy that he was outdone 
 
VI ARGUMENT 
 
 by Breca in swimming. Beowulf tells the true 
 tale thereof. And a little after, at nightfall, 
 Hrothgar and his folk leave the hall Hart, and 
 it is given in charge to Beowulf, who with his 
 Geats abides there the coming of Grendel. 
 
 Soon comes Grendel to the hall, and slays a 
 man of the Geats, hight Handshoe, and then 
 grapples with Beowulf, who will use no weapon 
 against him : Grendel feels himself over-mastered 
 and makes for the door, and gets out, but leaves 
 his hand and arm behind him with Beowulf : men 
 on the wall hear the great noise of this battle 
 and the wailing of Grendel. In the morning 
 the Danes rejoice, and follow the bloody slot of 
 Grendel, and return to Hart racing and telling 
 old tales, as of Sigemund and the Worm. Then 
 come the king and his thanes to look on the 
 token of victory, Grendel's hand and arm, which 
 Beowulf has let fasten to the hall-gable. 
 
 The king praises Beowulf and rewards him, 
 and they feast in Hart, and the tale of Finn and 
 Hengest is told. Then Hrothgar leaves Hart, 
 and so does Beowulf also with his Geats, but the 
 Danes keep guard there. 
 
 In the night comes in Grendel's Mother, and 
 catches up Aeschere, a thane of Hrothgar, and 
 carries him off to her lair. In the morning is 
 
ARGUMENT vii 
 
 Beowulf fetched to Hrothgar, who tells him of 
 this new grief and craves his help. 
 
 Then they follow up the slot and come to 
 a great water-side, and find thereby Aeschere's 
 head, and the place is known for the lair of 
 those two : monsters are playing in the deep, 
 and Beowulf shoots one of them to death. Then 
 Beowulf dights him and leaps into the water, 
 and is a day's while reaching the bottom. There 
 he is straightway caught hold of by Grendel's 
 Mother, who bears him into her hall. When he 
 gets free he falls on her, but the edge of the 
 sword Hrunting (lent to him by Unferth) fails 
 him, and she casts him to the ground and draws 
 her sax to slay him ; but he rises up, and sees an 
 old sword of the giants hanging on the wall ; he 
 takes it and smites off her head therewith. He 
 sees Grendel lying dead, and his head also he 
 strikes off; but the blade of the sword is molten 
 in his venomous blood. Then Beowulf strikes 
 upward, taking with him the head of Grendel and 
 the hilts of the sword. When he comes to the 
 shore he finds his Geats there alone ; for the Danes 
 fled when they saw the blood floating in the water. 
 
 They go up to Hrothgar's stead, and four 
 men must needs bear the head. They come to 
 Hrothgar, and Beowulf gives him the hilts and 
 
viii ARGUMENT 
 
 tells him what he has done. Much praise is 
 given to Beowulf; and they feast together. 
 
 On the morrow Beowulf bids farewell to 
 Hrothgar, more gifts are given, and messages 
 are sent to Hygelac : Beowulf departs with the 
 full love of Hrothgar. The Geats come to their 
 ship and reward the ship-warder, and put ofF 
 and sail to their own land. Beowulf comes to 
 Hygelac's house. Hygelac is told of, and his 
 wife Hygd, and her good conditions, against 
 whom is set as a warning the evil Queen Thrytho. 
 
 Beowulf tells all the tale of his doings in full 
 to Hygelac, and gives him his gifts, and the 
 precious-gemmed collar to Hygd. Here is told 
 of Beowulf, and how he was contemned in his 
 youth, and is now grown so renowned. 
 
 Time wears ; Hygelac is slain in battle ; Hear- 
 dred, his son, reigns in his stead, he is slain by 
 the Swedes, and Beowulf is made king. When 
 he is grown old, and has been king for fifty years, 
 come new tidings. A great dragon finds on the 
 sea-shore a mound wherein is stored the treasure 
 of ancient folk departed. The said dragon abides 
 there, and broods the gold for 300 years. 
 
 Now a certain thrall, who had misdone against 
 his lord and was fleeing from his wrath, haps on 
 the said treasure and takes a cup thence, which 
 
ARGUMENT ix 
 
 he brings to his lord to appease his wrath. The 
 Worm waketh, and findeth his treasure lessened, 
 but can find no man who hath done the deed. 
 Therefore he turns on the folk, and wars on 
 them, and burns Beowulf *s house. 
 
 Now Beowulf will go and meet the Worm. 
 He has an iron shield made, and sets forth with 
 eleven men and the thrall the thirteenth. He 
 comes to the ness, and speaks to his men, telling 
 them of his past days, and gives them his last 
 greeting : then he cries out a challenge to the 
 Worm, who comes forth, and the battle begins : 
 Beowulf's sword will not bite on the Worm. 
 Wiglaf eggs on the others to come to Beowulf's 
 help, and goes himself straightway, and offers 
 himself to Beowulf; the Worm comes on again, 
 and Beowulf breaks his sword Nasgling on him, 
 and the Worm wounds Beowulf. Wiglaf smites 
 the Worm in the belly ; Beowulf draws his sax, 
 and between them they slay the Worm. 
 
 Beowulf now feels his wounds, and knows that 
 he is hurt deadly ; he sits down by the wall, and 
 Wiglaf bathes his wounds. Beowulf speaks, tells 
 how he would give his armour to his son if he had 
 one ; thanks God that he has not sworn falsely 
 or done guilefully ; and prays Wiglaf to bear out 
 the treasure that he may see it before he dies. 
 
X ARGUMENT 
 
 Wiglaf fetches out the treasure, and again 
 bathes Beowulf's wounds; Beowulf speaks Tgain, 
 rejoices over the sight of the treasure ; gi es to 
 Wiglaf his ring and his armour, and bids the 
 manner of his bale-fire. With that he passes 
 away. Now the dastards come thereto and find 
 Wiglaf vainly bathing his dead lord. He casteth 
 shame upon them with great wrath. Thence he 
 sends a messenger to the barriers of the town, 
 who comes to the host, and tells them of the 
 death of Beowulf. He tells withal of the old 
 feud betwixt the Geats and the Swedes, and how 
 these, when they hear of the death of the king, 
 will be upon them. The warriors go to look on 
 Beowulf, and find him and the Worm lying de?' 
 together. Wiglaf chooses out seven of them to 
 go void the treasure-house, after having bidden 
 them gather wood for the bale-fire. They shove 
 the Worm over the cliff into the sea, and bear 
 off^ the treasure in wains. Then they bring 
 Beowulf's corpse to bale, and they kindle it; a 
 woman called the wife of aforetime, it may be 
 Hygd, widow of Hygelac, bemoans him : and 
 twelve children of the athelings ride round the 
 bale, and bemoan Beowulf and praise him : and 
 thus ends the poem. 
 
THE STORY OF BEOWULF 
 
 I. AND FIRST OF THE KINDRED OF 
 HROTHGAR. 
 
 WHAT ! we of the Spear-Danes of yore 
 days, so was it 
 That we learn'd of the fair fame of 
 kings of the folks 
 \nd the athelings a -faring in framing of 
 
 valour. 
 Oft then Scyld the Sheaf-son from the hosts of 
 
 the scathers, 
 From kindreds a many the mead-settles tore ; 
 It was then the earl fear'd them, sithence was he 
 
 first 
 Found bare and all-lacking ; so solace he bided, 
 Wax'd under the welkin in worship to thrive, 
 Until it was so that the round-about sitters 
 All over the whale-road must hearken his will lo 
 And yield him the tribute. A good king was 
 that. 
 
2 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 By whom then thereafter a son was begotten, 
 A youngling in garth, whom the great God sent 
 
 thither 
 To foster the folk ; and their crime-need he felt 
 The load that lay on them while lordless they 
 
 lived 
 For a long while and long. He therefore, the 
 
 Life-lord, 
 The Wielder of glory, world's worship he gave him : 
 Brim Beowulf waxed, and wide the weal upsprang 
 Of the offspring of Scyld in the parts of the 
 
 Scede-lands. 
 Such wise shall a youngling with wealth be 
 
 a-working 20 
 
 With goodly fee-gifts toward the friends of his 
 
 father, 
 That after in eld-days shall ever bide with him. 
 Fair fellows well-willing when wendeth the war- 
 tide, 
 Their lief lord a-serving. By praise-deeds it 
 
 shall be 
 That in each and all kindreds a man shall have 
 
 thriving. 
 Then went his ways Scyld when the shapen 
 
 while was, 
 All hardy to wend him to the lord and his 
 
 warding : 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 3 
 
 Out then did they bear him to the side of the sea- 
 flood, 
 
 The dear fellows of him, as he himself pray'd them 
 
 While yet his word wielded the friend of the 
 Scyldings, 30 
 
 The dear lord of the land ; a long while had he 
 own'd it. 
 
 With stem all be-ringed at the hythe stood the ship, 
 
 All icy and out-fain, the Atheling's ferry. 
 
 There then did they lay him, the lord well be- 
 loved, 
 
 The gold-rings* bestower, within the ship's barm. 
 
 The mighty by mast. Much there was the 
 treasure. 
 
 From far ways forsooth had the fret-work been led : 
 
 Never heard I of keel that was comelier dighted 
 
 With weapons of war, and with weed of the 
 battle. 
 
 With bills and with byrnies. There lay in his 
 barm 40 
 
 Much wealth of the treasure that with him 
 should be. 
 
 And he into the flood's might afar to depart. 
 
 No lesser a whit were the wealth-goods they dight 
 him 
 
 Of the goods of the folk, than did they who 
 aforetime, 
 
4 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 When was the beginning, first sent him away 
 Alone o'er the billows, and he but a youngling. 
 
 Moreover they set him up there a sign golden 
 High up overhead, and let the holm bear him, 
 Gave all to the Spearman. Sad mind they had in 
 
 them. 
 And mourning their mood was. Now never knew 
 
 men, 50 
 
 For sooth how to say it, rede-masters in hall. 
 Or heroes 'neath heaven, to whose hands came 
 
 the lading. 
 
 II. CONCERNING HROTHGAR, AND 
 HOW HE BtJILT THE HOUSE CALLED 
 HART. ALSO GRENDEL IS TOLD OF. 
 
 IN the burgs then was biding Beowulf the 
 Scylding, 
 Dear King of the people, for long was he 
 dwelling 
 Far-famed of folks (his father turn'd elsewhere, 
 From his stead the Chief wended) till awoke to 
 
 him after 
 Healfdene the high, and long while he held it. 
 Ancient and war-eager, o'er the glad Scyldings : 
 Of his body four bairns are forth to him rimed ; 
 Into the world woke the leader of war-hosts eo 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 5 
 
 Heorogar ; eke Hrothgar, and Halga the good ; 
 Heard I that Elan queen was she of Ongentheow, 
 That Scylding of battle, the bed-mate behaJsed. 
 
 Then was unto Hrothgar the war-speed given, 
 Such worship of war that his kin and well-willers 
 Well hearkened his will till the younglings were 
 
 waxen, 
 A kin-host a many. Then into his mind ran 
 That he would be building for him now a hall- 
 house. 
 That men should be making a mead-hall more 
 
 mighty 
 Than the children of ages had ever heard tell of: 70 
 And there within eke should he be out-dealing 
 To young and to old all things God had given. 
 Save the share of the folk and the life-days of men. 
 Then heard I that widely the work was a-banning 
 To kindreds a many the Middle-garth over 
 To fret o'er that folk-stead. So befell to him timely 
 Right soon among men that made was it yarely 
 The most of hall-houses, and Hart its name shap'd 
 
 he, 
 Who wielded his word full widely around. 
 His behest he belied not ; it was he dealt the 
 rings, 80 
 
 The wealth at the high-tide. Then up rose the 
 hall-house» 
 
6 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 High up and horn-gabled. Hot surges it bided 
 Of fire-flame the loathly, nor long was it thence- 
 forth 
 Ere sorely the edge-hate 'twixt Son and Wife's 
 
 Father 
 After the slaughter-strife there should awaken. 
 
 Then the ghost heavy-strong bore with it hardly 
 E'en for a while of time, bider in darkness, 
 That there on each day of days heard he the 
 
 mirth-tide 
 Loud in the hall-house. There was the harp's voice. 
 And clear song of shaper. Said he who could it 9o 
 To tell the first fashion of men from aforetime ; 
 Quoth how the Almighty One made the Earth's 
 
 fashion, 
 The fair field and bright midst the bow of the 
 
 Waters, 
 And with victory beglory'd set Sun and Moon, 
 Bright beams to enlighten the biders on land : 
 And how he adorned all parts of the earth 
 With limbs and with leaves ; and life withal shaped 
 For the kindred of each thing that quick on earth 
 wendeth. 
 So liv'd on all happy the host of the kinsmen 
 In game and in glee, until one wight began, loo 
 A fiend out of hell-pit, the framing of evil, 
 And Grendel forsooth the grim guest was hight, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 7 
 
 The mighty mark-strider, the holder of moorland, 
 The fen and the fastness. The stead of the fifel 
 That wight all unhappy a while of time warded, 
 Sithence that the Shaper him had for-written. 
 
 On the kindred of Cain the Lord living ever 
 Awreaked the murder of the slaying of Abel. 
 In that feud he rejoiced not, but afar him He 
 
 banish'd. 
 The Maker, from mankind for the crime he had 
 
 wrought. 110 
 
 But offspring uncouth thence were they awoken 
 Eotens and elf-wights, and ogres of ocean. 
 And therewith the Giants, who won war against 
 
 God 
 A long while ; but He gave them their wages 
 
 therefor. 
 
 III. HOW GRENDEL FELL UPON HART 
 AND WASTED IT. 
 
 NOW went he a-spying, when come was the 
 night-tide. 
 The house on high builded, and how there 
 the Ring-Danes 
 Their beer-drinking over had boune them to bed; 
 And therein he found them, the atheling fellows. 
 Asleep after feasting. Then sorrow they knew not 
 
8 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Nor the woe of mankind : but the wight of 
 
 wealth's waning, 120 
 
 The grim and the greedy, soon yare was he gotten, 
 
 All furious and fierce, and he raught up from 
 
 resting 
 A thirty of thanes, and thence aback got him 
 Right fain of his gettings, and homeward to fare, 
 Fulfilled of slaughter his stead to go Jook on. 
 
 Thereafter at dawning, when day was yet early, 
 The war-craft of Grendel to men grew unhidden. 
 And after his meal was the weeping uphoven, 
 Mickle voice of the morning-tide : there the 
 
 Prince mighty, 
 The Atheling exceeding good, unblithe he sat, i3o 
 Tholing the heavy woe ; thane-sorrow dreed he 
 Since the slot of the loathly wight there they had 
 
 look'd on, 
 The ghost all accursed. O'er grisly the strife was, 
 So loathly and longsome. No longer the frist was 
 But after the wearing of one night ; then fram'd he 
 Murder-bales more yet, and nowise he mourned 
 The feud and the crime ; over fast therein was he. 
 Then easy to find was the man who would else- 
 where 
 Seek out for himself a rest was more roomsome, 
 Beds end-long the bowers, when beacon'd to him 
 was, 140 
 
THli TALE OF BEOWULF 9 
 
 And soothly out told by manifest token, 
 
 The hate of the hell-thane. He held himself 
 
 sithence 
 Further and faster who from the fiend gat him. 
 In such wise he ruFd it and wrought against 
 
 right, 
 But one against all, until idle was standing 
 The best of hall-houses; and mickle the while was, 
 Twelve winter-tides' wearing ; and trouble he 
 
 tholed, 
 That friend of the Scyldings, of woes every one 
 And wide-spreading sorrows : for sithence it fell 
 That unto men's children unbidden 'twas known 
 Full sadly in singing, that Grendel won war 151 
 'Gainst Hrothgar a while of time, hate -envy 
 
 waging. 
 And crime-guilts and feud for seasons no few. 
 And strife without stinting. For the sake of no 
 
 kindness 
 Unto any of men of the main-host of Dane-folk 
 Would he thrust off the life-bale, or by fee-gild 
 
 allay it. 
 Nor was there a wise man that needed to ween 
 The bright boot to have at the hand of the slayer. 
 The monster the fell one afflicted them sorely. 
 That death-shadow darksome the doughty and 
 
 youthful 160 
 
lO THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Enfetter'd, ensnared ; night by night was he 
 
 faring 
 The moorlands the misty. But never know men 
 Of spell-workers of Hell to and fro where they 
 
 wander. 
 So crime-guilts a many the foeman of mankind, 
 The fell alone-farer, fram'd oft and full often, 
 Cruel hard shames and wrongful, and Hart he 
 
 abode in, 
 The treasure-stain'd hall, in the dark of the night- 
 tide ; 
 But never the gift-stool therein might he greet, 
 The treasure before the Creator he trow'd not. 
 Mickle wrack was it soothly for the friend of 
 
 the Scyldings, i7o 
 
 Yea heart and mood breaking. Now sat there a 
 
 many 
 Of the mighty in rune, and won them the rede 
 Of what thing for the strong-soul'd were best of 
 
 all things 
 Which yet they might frame 'gainst the fear and 
 
 the horror. 
 And whiles they behight them at the shrines of 
 
 the heathen 
 To worship the idols ; and pray'd they in words, 
 That he, the ghost-slayer, would frame for them 
 
 helping 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF II 
 
 'Gainst the folk-threats and evil. So far'd they 
 
 their wont, 
 The hope of the heathen ; nor hell they remembered 
 In mood and in mind. And the Maker they 
 
 knew not, 180 
 
 The Doomer of deeds : nor of God the Lord 
 
 wist they, 
 Nor the Helm of the Heavens knew aught how 
 
 to hery, 
 The Wielder of Glory. Woe worth unto that man 
 Who through hatred the baneful his soul shall 
 
 shove into 
 The fire's embrace ; nought of fostering weens he. 
 Nor of changing one whit. But well is he soothly 
 That after the death-day shall seek to the Lord, 
 In the breast of the Father all peace ever craving. 
 
 IV. NOW COMES BEOWULF ECG- 
 THEOW'S SON TO THE LAND OF THE 
 DANES, AND THE WALL -WARDEN 
 SPEAKFZTH WITH HIM. 
 
 SO care that was time-long the kinsman of 
 Healfdene 
 Still seeth'd without ceasing, nor might the 
 wise warrior 190 
 
 Wend otherwhere woe, for o'er strong was the strife 
 
12 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 All loathly so longsome late laid on the people, 
 Need-wrack and grim nithing, of night-bales the 
 
 greatest. 
 Now that from his home heard the Hygelac*s 
 
 thane, 
 Good midst of the Geat-folk ; of Grendel's deeds 
 
 heard he. 
 But he was of mankind of might and main 
 
 mightiest 
 In the day that we tell of, the day of this life, 
 All noble, strong-waxen. He bade a wave- 
 wearer 
 Right good to be geared him, and quoth he that 
 
 the war- king 
 Over the swan-road he would be seeking, 200 
 
 The folk-lord far-famed, since lack of men had he. 
 Forsooth of that faring the carles wiser-fashion'd 
 Laid little blame on him, though lief to them 
 
 was he ; 
 The heart-hardy whetted they, heeded the omen. 
 There had the good one, e'en he of the Geat-folk, 
 Champions out-chosen of them that he keenest 
 Might find for his needs ; and he then the 
 
 fifteenth 
 Sought to the sound-wood. A swain thereon 
 
 show'd him, 
 A sea-crafty man, all the make of the land-marks. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 13 
 
 Wore then a while, on the waves was the 
 
 floater, 210 
 
 The boat under the berg, and yare then the 
 
 warriors 
 Strode up on the stem ; the streams were a-winding 
 The sea 'gainst the sands. Upbore the swains then 
 Up into the bark's barm the bright -fretted 
 
 weapons, 
 The war-array stately; then out the lads shov'd her. 
 The folk on the welcome way shov'd out the 
 
 wood-bound. 
 Then by the wind driven out o'er the wave-holm 
 Far'd the foamy-neck'd floater most like to a fowl. 
 Till when was the same tide of the second day's 
 
 wearing 
 The wound-about-stemm'd one had waded her way, 
 So that then they that sail'd her had sight of the 
 
 land, 221 
 
 Bleak shine of the sea-cliff^s, bergs steep up above, 
 Sea-nesses wide reaching ; the sound was won over. 
 The sea-way was ended : then up ashore swiftly 
 The band of the Weder-folk up on earth wended ; 
 They bound up the sea-wood, their sarks on them 
 
 rattled, 
 Their weed of the battle, and God there they 
 
 thanked 
 For that easy the wave-ways were waxen unto them. 
 
14 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 But now from the wall saw the Scylding-folks* 
 
 warder, 
 
 E'en he who the holm-cliffs should ever be holding, 
 
 Men bear o'er the gangway the bright shields 
 
 a-shining, 231 
 
 Folk-host gear all ready. Then mind-longing 
 
 wore him. 
 And stirr'd up his mood to wot who were the 
 
 men-folk. 
 So shoreward down far'd he his fair steed a-riding, 
 Hrothgar's Thane, and full strongly then set he 
 
 a-quaking 
 The stark wood in his hands, and in council- 
 speech speer'd he : 
 What men be ye then of them that have war- 
 gear. 
 With byrnies bewarded, who the keel high up- 
 
 builded 
 Over the Lake-street thus have come leading. 
 Hither o'er holm-ways hieing in ring-stem ? 240 
 End-sitter was I, a-holding the sea-ward, 
 That the land of the Dane-folk none of the 
 
 loathly 
 Faring with ship-horde ever might scathe it. 
 None yet have been seeking more openly hither 
 Of shield-havers than ye, and ye of the leave-word 
 Of the framers of war naught at all wotting, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 15 
 
 Or the manners of kinsmen. But no man of earls 
 
 greater 
 Saw I ever on earth than one of you yonder, 
 The warrior in war-gear : no hall-man, so ween I, 
 Is that weapon-beworthyM, but his visage belie 
 
 him, 250 
 
 The sight seen once only. Now I must be 
 
 wotting 
 The spring of your kindred ere further ye cast ye, 
 And let loose your false spies in the Dane-land 
 
 a-faring 
 Yet further afield. So now, ye far-dwellers, 
 Ye wenders o'er sea-flood, this word do ye hearken 
 Of my one-folded thought : and haste is the 
 
 handiest 
 To do me to wit of whence is your coming. 
 
 V. HERE BEOWULF MAKES ANSWER 
 TO THE LAND-WARDEN, WHO SHOW- 
 ETH HIM THE WAY TO 1 HE KING'S 
 ABODE. 
 
 HE then that was chiefest in thus wise he 
 answered. 
 The war-fellows' leader unlocked he the 
 word-hoard : 
 We be a people of the Weder-Geats' man-kin 260 
 
l6 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 And of Hygelac be we the hearth-fellows soothly. 
 My father before me of folks was well-famed 
 Van-leader and atheling, Ecgtheow he hight. 
 Many winters abode he, and on the way wended 
 An old man from the garths, and him well re- 
 members 
 Every wise man well nigh wide yond o'er the 
 
 earth. 
 Through our lief mood and friendly the lord 
 
 that is thine, 
 Even Healfdene's son, are we now come a-seeking, 
 Thy warder of folk. Learn us well with thy 
 
 leading. 
 For we have to the mighty an errand full mickle. 
 To the lord of the Dane-folk : naught dark 
 shall it be, 271 
 
 That ween I full surely. If it be so thou wottest, 
 As soothly for our parts we now have heard say. 
 That one midst of the Scyldings, who of scathers 
 
 I wot not, 
 A deed-hater secret, in the dark of the night-tide 
 Setteth forth through the terror the malice un- 
 told of. 
 The shame-wrong and slaughter. I therefore to 
 
 Hrothgar 
 Through my mind fashion'd roomsome the rede 
 may now learn him, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 17 
 
 How he, old-wise and good, may get the fiend 
 
 under, 
 If once more from him awayward may turn 280 
 The business of bales, and the boot come again. 
 And the weltering of care wax cooler once more ; 
 Or for ever sithence time of stress he shall thole, 
 The need and the wronging, the while yet there 
 
 abideth 
 On the high stead aloft the best of all houses. 
 Then spake out the warden on steed there 
 
 a-sitting. 
 The servant all un-fear'd : It shall be of either 
 That the shield -warrior sharp the sundering 
 
 wotteth. 
 Of words and of works, if he think thereof well. 
 I hear it thus said that this host here is friendly 290 
 To the lord of the Scyldings ; forth fare ye then, 
 
 bearing 
 Your weed and your weapons, of the way will I 
 
 wise you ; 
 Likewise mine own kinsmen I will now be bidding 
 Against every foeman your floater before us, 
 Your craft but new-tarred, the keel on the sand, 
 With honour to hold, until back shall be bearing 
 Over the lake-streams this one, the lief man, 
 The wood of the wounden-neck back unto 
 
 Wedermark. 
 
1 8 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Unto such shall be granted amongst the good- 
 doers 299 
 To win the way out all whole from the war-race. 
 Then boun they to faring, the bark biding quiet ; 
 Hung upon hawser the wide-fathom'd ship 
 Fast at her anchor. Forth shone the boar-shapes 
 Over the check-guards golden adorned, 
 Fair-shifting, fire-hard ; ward held the farrow. 
 Snorted the war-moody, hastened the warriors 
 And trod down together until the hall timbered. 
 Stately and gold-bestain'd, gat they to look on. 
 That was the all-mightiest unto earth's dwellers 
 Of halls 'neath the heavens, wherein bode the 
 mighty ; 3io 
 Glisten'd the gleam thereof o'er lands a many. 
 Unto them then the war-deer the court of the 
 
 proud one 
 Full clearly betaught it, that they therewithal 
 Might wend their ways thither. Then he of the 
 
 warriors 
 Round wended his steed, and spake a word back- 
 ward : 
 Time now for my faring ; but the Father All- 
 
 wielder 
 May He with all helping henceforward so hold you 
 All whole in your wayfaring. Will I to sea-side 
 Against the wroth folk to hold warding ever. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 19 
 
 VI. BEOWULF AND THE GEATS COME 
 INTO HART. 
 
 STONE-DIVERSE the street was, straight 
 uplong the path led 320 
 
 The warriors together. There shone the war- 
 byrny 
 The hard and the hand-Iock'd ; the ring-iron sheer 
 Sang over their war-gear, when they t-:>' the hall 
 
 first 
 In their gear the all-fearful had gat them to 
 
 ganging. 
 So then the sea-weary their wide shields set down. 
 Their war-rounds the mighty, against the halTs 
 
 wall. 
 Then bow'd they to bench, and rang there the 
 
 byrnies. 
 The war-weed of warriors, and up-stood the spears, 
 The war-gear of the sea-folk all gathered together. 
 The ash-holt grey-headed ; that host of the 
 
 iron 330 
 
 With weapons was worshipful. There then a 
 
 proud chief 
 Of those lads of the battle speer'd after their line : 
 Whence ferry ye then the shields golden-faced, 
 The grey sarks therewith, and the helms all be- 
 
 visor'd, 
 
20 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 And a heap of the war-shafts ? Now am I of 
 
 Hrothgar 
 The man and the messenger : ne'er saw I of aliens 
 So many of men more might-like of mood. 
 I ween that for pride-sake, no wise for wrack- 
 wending 
 But for high might of mind, ye to Hrothgar have 
 
 sought. 
 Unto him then the heart-hardy answer'd and 
 
 spake, 340 
 
 The proud earl of the Weders the word gave 
 
 aback, 
 The hardy neath helm : Now of Hygelac are we 
 The board-fellows ; Beowulf e'en is my name. 
 And word will I say unto Healfdene's son. 
 To the mighty, the folk-lord, what errand is mine. 
 Yea unto thy lord, if to us he will grant it 
 That him, who so good is, anon we may greet. 
 Spake Wulfgar the word, a lord of the 
 
 Wendels, 
 And the mood of his heart of a many was kenned. 
 His war and his wisdom : I therefore the Danes' 
 
 friend 350 
 
 Will lightly be asking, of the lord of the 
 
 Scyldings, 
 The dealer of rings, since the boon thou art 
 
 bidding, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 21 
 
 The mighty folk-lord, concerning thine errand, 
 And swiftly the answer shall do thee to wit 
 Which the good one to give thee aback may 
 deem meetest. 
 Then turn'd he in haste to where Hrothgar 
 was sitting 
 Right old and all hoary mid the host of his carl- 
 folk : 
 Went the valour-stark ; stood he the shoulders 
 
 before 
 Of the Dane-Jord : well could he the doughty 
 
 ones' custom. 
 So Wulfgar spake forth to his lord the well- 
 friendly : 360 
 Hither are ferry'd now, come from afar off 
 O'er the field of the ocean, a folk of the Geats ; 
 These men of the battle e'en Beowulf name they 
 Their elder and chiefest, and to thee are they 
 
 bidding 
 That they, O dear lord, with thee may be dealing 
 In word against word. Now win them no naysay 
 Of thy speech again-given, O Hrothgar the glad- 
 man : 
 For they in their war-gear, methinketh, be worthy 
 Of good deeming of earls ; and forsooth naught 
 
 but doughty 
 Is he who hath led o'er the warriors hither. 370 
 
22 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 VII. BEOWULF SPEAKETH WITH 
 HROTHGAR, AND TELLETH HOW HE 
 WILL MEET GRENDEL. 
 
 WORD then gave out Hrothgar the helm 
 of the Scyldings : 
 I knew him in sooth when he was but a 
 youngling, 
 
 And his father, the old man, was Ecgtheow hight ; 
 
 Unto whom at his home gave Hrethel the Geat- 
 lord 
 
 His one only daughter ; and now hath his off- 
 spring 
 
 All hardy come hither a lief lord to seek him. 
 
 For that word they spake then, the sea-faring men, 
 
 E'en they who the gift-scat for the Geat-folk had 
 ferry'd, 
 
 Brought thither for thanks, that of thirty of men- 
 folk 
 
 The craft of might hath he within his own hand- 
 grip, 380 
 
 That war-strong of men. Now him holy God 
 
 For kind help hath sent off here even to us. 
 
 We men of the West Danes, as now I have 
 weening, 
 
 'Gainst the terror of Grendel. So I to that good 
 one 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 23 
 
 For his mighty mood-daring shall the dear trea- 
 sure bid. 
 Haste now and be speedy, and bid them in 
 
 straightway, 
 The kindred-band gathered together, to see us, 
 And in words say thou eke that they be well 
 
 CO men 
 To the folk of the Danes. To the door of the 
 
 hall then 
 Went Wulfgar, and words withinward he 
 
 flitted : 390 
 
 He bade me to say you, my lord of fair 
 
 battle, 
 The elder of East-Danes, that he your blood 
 
 knoweth. 
 And that unto him are ye the sea-surges over, 
 Ye lads hardy-hearted, well come to land hither ; 
 And now may ye wend you all in war-raiment 
 Under the battle-mask Hrothgar to see. 
 But here let your battle-boards yet be abiding, 
 With your war-weed and slaughter-shafts, issue 
 
 of words. 
 Then rose up the rich one, much warriors 
 
 around him. 
 Chosen heap of the thanes, but there some abided 
 The war-gear to hold, as the wight one was 
 
 bidding. 401 
 
24 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Swift went they together, as the warrior there 
 
 led them, 
 Under Hart's roof: went the stout-hearted, 
 The hardy neath helm, till he stood by the high- 
 seat. 
 Then Beowulf spake out, on him shone the byrny, 
 His war-net besown by the wiles of the smith : 
 
 Hail to thee, Hrothgar ! I am of Hygelac 
 Kinsman and folk-thane ; fair deeds have I many 
 Begun in my youth-tide, and this matter of Gren- 
 
 del 409 
 
 On the turf of mine own land undarkly I knew. 
 'Tis the seafarers' say that standeth this hall, 
 The best house forsooth, for each one of warriors 
 All idle and useless, after the even-liorht 
 Under the heaven-loft hidden becometh. 
 Then lightly they learn'd me, my people, this 
 
 lore, 
 E'en the best that there be of the wise of the 
 
 churls, 
 O Hrothgar the kingly, that thee should I seek to, 
 Whereas of the might of my craft were they 
 
 cunning ; 
 For they saw me when came I from out of my 
 
 wargear, 
 Blood-stain'd from the foe whenas five had I 
 
 bounden, 420 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 25 
 
 Queird the kin of the eotens, and in the wave 
 
 slain 
 The nicors by night-tide : strait need then I bore, 
 Wreak'd the grief of the Weders, the woe they 
 
 had gotten ; 
 I ground down the wrathful ; and now against 
 
 Grendel 
 I here with the dread one alone shall be dooming. 
 In Thing with the giant. I now then with thee, 
 O lord of the bright Danes, will fall to my 
 
 bidding, 
 O berg of Scyl dings, and bid thee one boon, 
 Which, O refuge of warriors, gainsay me not now. 
 Since, O free friend of folks, from afar have I 
 
 come, 430 
 
 That I alone, I and my band of the earls, 
 This hard heap of men, may cleanse Hart of ill. 
 This eke have I heard say, that he, the fell 
 
 monster. 
 In his wan-heed recks nothing of weapons of war ; 
 Forgo I this therefore (if so be that Hygelac 
 Will still be my man-lord, and he blithe of 
 
 mood) 
 To bear the sword with me, or bear the broad 
 
 shield. 
 Yellow-round to the battle ; but with naught save 
 
 the hand-grip 
 
26 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 With the foe shall I grapple, and grope for the 
 
 life 
 The loathly with loathly. There he shall believe 
 In the doom of the Lord whom death then shall 
 
 take. 441 
 
 Now ween I that he, if he may wield matters, 
 E'en there in the war-hall the folk of the Geats 
 Shall eat up unafearM, as oft he hath done it 
 With the might of the Hrethmen : no need for 
 
 thee therefore 
 My head to be hiding ; for me will he have 
 With gore all bestain'd, if the death of men get 
 
 me; 
 He will bear off my bloody corpse minded to 
 
 taste it ; 
 Unmournfully then will the Lone-goer eat it, 
 Will blood-mark the moor-ways ; for the meat 
 
 of my body 460 
 
 Naught needest thou henceforth in any wise 
 
 grieve thee. 
 But send thou to Hygelac, if the war have me. 
 The best of all war-shrouds that now my breast 
 
 wardeth, 
 The goodliest of railings, the good gift of 
 
 Hrethel, 
 The hand-work of Weland. Weird wends as she 
 
 willeth. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 27 
 
 VIII. HROTHGAR ANSWERETH BEO- 
 WULF AND BIDDETH HIM SIT TO 
 THE FEAST. 
 
 SPAKE out then Hrothgar the helm of the 
 Scyldings : 
 Thou Beowulf, friend mine, for battle that 
 wardeth 
 
 And for help that is kindly hast sought to us 
 hither. 
 
 Fought down thy father the most of all feuds ; 
 
 To Heatholaf was he forsooth for a hand-bane 46o 
 
 Amidst of the Wylfings. The folk of the 
 Weders 
 
 Him for the war-dread that while might not 
 hold. 
 
 So thence did he seek to the folk of the South- 
 Danes 
 
 O'er the waves' wallow, to the Scyldings be- 
 worshipp'd. 
 
 Then first was I wielding the weal of the Dane- 
 folk, 
 
 That time was I holding in youth-tide the gem- 
 rich 
 
 Hoard-burg of the heroes. Dead then was 
 Heorogar, 
 
 Mine elder of brethren ; unliving was he, 
 
2 8 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The Healfdene's bairn that was better than I. 
 That feud then thereafter with fee did I settle ; 470 
 I sent to the Wylfing folk over the waters' back 
 Treasures of old time ; he swore the oaths 
 
 to me. 
 Sorrow is in my mind that needs must I say it 
 To any of grooms, of Grendel what hath he 
 Of shaming in Hart, and he with his hate-wiles 
 Of sudden harms framed ; the host of my hall- 
 floor, 
 The war-heap, is waned ; Weird swept them away 
 Into horror of Grendel. It is God now that 
 
 may lightly 
 The scather the doltish from deeds thrust aside. 
 Full oft have they boasted with beer well be- 
 
 drunken, 480 
 
 My men of the battle all over the ale-stoup. 
 That they in the beer-hall would yet be abiding 
 The onset of Grendel with the terror of edges. 
 But then was this mead-hall in the tide of the 
 
 morning, 
 This warrior-hall, gore-stain'd when day at last 
 
 gleamed, 
 All the boards of the benches with blood be- 
 
 steam'd over. 
 The hall laid with sword-gore : of lieges less 
 
 had I 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 29 
 
 Of dear and of doughty, for them death had 
 
 gotten. 
 Now sit thou to feast and unbind thy mood 
 
 freely, 
 Thy war-fame unto men as the mind of thee 
 
 whetteth. 490 
 
 Then was for the Geat-folk and them all 
 
 together 
 There in the beer-hall a bench bedight roomsome, 
 There the stout-hearted hied them to sitting 
 Proud in their might : a thane minded the service, 
 Who in hand upbare an ale-stoup adorned, 
 Skinked the sheer mead ; whiles sang the shaper 
 Clear out in Hart-hall ; joy was of warriors. 
 Men doughty no little of Danes and of Weders. 
 
 IX. UNFERTH CONTENDETH IN WORDS 
 WITH BEOWULF. 
 
 SPAKE out then Unferth that bairn was of 
 Ecglaf, 
 And he sat at the feet of the lord of the 
 Scyldings, 500 
 
 He unbound the battle-rune ; was Beowulf *s 
 
 faring. 
 Of him the proud mere-farer, mickle unliking, 
 Whereas he begrudg'd it of any man other 
 
30 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 That he glories more mighty the middle-garth 
 
 over 
 Should hold under heaven than he himself held : 
 Art thou that Beowulf who won strife with 
 
 Breca 
 On the wide sea contending in swimming, 
 When ye two for pride's sake searched out the 
 
 floods 
 And for a dolt's cry into deep water 
 Thrust both your life-days ? No man the twain 
 
 of you, 510 
 
 Lief or loth were he, might lay wyte to stay you 
 Your sorrowful journey, when on the sea row'd ye ; 
 Then when the ocean-stream ye with your arms 
 
 deck'd. 
 Meted the mere-streets, there your hands bran- 
 dished ! 
 O'er the Spearman ye glided ; the sea with waves 
 
 welter'd, 
 The surge of the winter. Ye twain in the waves' 
 
 might 
 For a seven nights swink'd. He outdid thee in 
 
 swimming. 
 And the more was his might ; but him in the 
 
 morn-tide 
 To the Heatho-Remes' land the holm bore 
 
 ashore, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 31 
 
 And thence away sought he to his dear land and 
 
 lovely, 520 
 
 The lief to his people sought the land of the 
 
 Brondings, 
 The fair burg peace-warding, where he the folk 
 
 owned. 
 The burg and the gold rings. What to thee- 
 
 ward he boasted, 
 Beanstan's son, for thee soothly he brought it 
 
 about. 
 Now ween I for thee things worser than erewhile, 
 Though thou in the war-race wert everywhere 
 
 doughty, 
 In the grim war, if thou herein Grendel darest 
 Night-long for a while of time nigh to abide. 
 
 Then Beowulf spake out, the Ecgtheow's bairn : 
 What ! thou no few of things, O Unferth my 
 
 friend, 530 
 
 And thou drunken with beer, about Breca hast 
 
 spoken, 
 Saidest out of his journey; so the sooth now I tell : 
 To wit, that the more might ever I owned. 
 Hard wearing on wave more than any man else. 
 We twain then, we quoth it, while yet we were 
 
 younglings. 
 And we boasted between us, the twain of us being 
 
 yet 
 
32 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 In our youth-days, that we out onto the Spearman 
 Our lives would adventure ; and e*en so we 
 
 wrought it. 
 We had a sword naked, when on the sound row'd 
 
 we, 539 
 
 Hard in hand, as we twain against the whale-fishes 
 Had mind to be warding us. No whit from me 
 In the waves of the sea-flood afar might he float 
 The hastier in holm, nor would I from him hie me. 
 Then we two together, we were in the sea 
 For a five nights, till us twain the flood drave 
 
 asunder. 
 The weltering of waves. Then the coldest of 
 
 weathers 
 In the dusking of night and the wind from the 
 
 northward 
 Battle-grim turn'd against us, rough grown were 
 
 the billows. 
 Of the mere-fishes then was the mood all up- 
 stirred ; 
 There me 'gainst the loathly the body-sark mine, 
 The hard and the hand-lock'd, was framing me 
 
 help, 551 
 
 My battle-rail braided, it lay on my breast 
 Gear'd graithly with gold. But me to the ground 
 
 tuggM 
 A foe and fiend-scather ; fast he had me in hold 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 33 
 
 That grim one in grip : yet to me was it given, 
 That the wretch there, the monster, with point 
 
 might I reach. 
 With my bill of the battle, and the war-race off 
 
 bore 
 The mighty mere-beast through the hand that 
 
 was mine. 
 
 X. BEOWULF MAKES AN END OF HIS 
 TALE OF THE SWIMMING. WEALH- 
 THEOW, HROTHGAR'S QUEEN, GREETS 
 HIM; AND HROTHGAR DELIVERS TO 
 HIM THE WARDING OF THE HALL. 
 
 THUS oft and oft over the doers of evil 
 They threatened me hard ; thane-service I 
 did them 560 
 
 With the dear sword of mine, as forsooth it was 
 
 meet. 
 That nowise of their fill did they win them the joy 
 The evil fordoers in swallowing me down. 
 Sitting round at the feast nigh the ground of the 
 
 sea. 
 Yea rather, a morning-tide, mangled by sword-edge 
 Along the waves' leaving up there did they lie 
 Luird asleep with the sword, so that never 
 sithence 
 
 c 
 
34 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 About the deep floods for the farers o'er ocean 
 The way have they letted. Came the light from 
 
 the eastward, 569 
 
 The bright beacon of God, and grew the seas calm. 
 So that the sea-nesses now might I look on. 
 The windy walls. Thuswise Weird oft will be 
 
 saving 
 The earl that is unfey, when his valour availeth. 
 Whatever, it happ'd me that I with the sword slew 
 Nicors nine. Never heard I of fighting a night- 
 tide 
 'Neath the vault of the heavens was harder than 
 
 that, 
 Nor yet on the sea-streams of woefuller wight. 
 Whatever, forth won I with life from the foes' 
 
 clutch 
 All of wayfaring weary. But me the sea upbore, 
 The flood downlong the tide with the weltering 
 
 of waters, 580 
 
 All onto the Finnland. No whit of thee ever 
 Mid such strife of the battle-gear have I heard say. 
 Such terrors of bills. Nor never yet Breca 
 In the play of the battle, nor both you, nor either. 
 So dearly the deeds have framed forsooth 
 With the bright flashing swords ; though of this 
 
 naught I boast me. 
 But thou of thy brethren the banesman becamest, 
 
 J 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 35 
 
 Yea thine head-kin forsooth, for which in hell 
 
 shalt thou 
 Dree weird of damnation, though doughty thy 
 
 wit be ; 
 For unto thee say I forsooth, son of Fxglaf, rm 
 That so many deeds never Grendel had done, 
 That monster the loathly, against thine own lord. 
 The shaming in Hart-hall, if suchwise thy mind 
 
 were. 
 And thy soul e'en as battle-fierce, such as thou 
 
 sayest. 
 But he, he hath framed it that the feud he may 
 
 heed not, 
 The fearful edge-onset that is of thy folk. 
 Nor sore need be fearful of the Victory-Scyldings. 
 The need-pledges taketh he, no man he spareth 
 Of the folk of the Danes, driveth war as he lusteth, 
 Slayeth and feasteth un weening of strife 600 
 
 With them of the Spear-Danes. But I, I shall 
 
 show it. 
 The Geats' wightness and might ere the time 
 
 weareth old. 
 Shall bide him in war-tide. Then let him go who 
 
 may go 
 High-hearted to mead, sithence when the morn- 
 light 
 O'er the children of men of the second day hence, 
 
36 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The sun clad in heaven's air, shines from the 
 
 southward. 
 Then merry of heart was the meter of treasures, 
 The hoary-man'd war-renown'd, help now he 
 
 trow'd in ; 
 The lord of the Bright-Danes on Beowulf 
 
 hearkened, go9 
 
 The folk-shepherd knew him, his fast-ready mind. 
 There was laughter of heroes, and high the din rang 
 And winsome the words were. Went Wealhtheow 
 
 forth, 
 The Queen she of Hrothgar, of courtesies mindful. 
 The gold-array'd greeted the grooms in the hall. 
 The free and frank woman the beaker there wended, 
 And first to the East-Dane-folk*s fatherland's 
 
 warder. 
 And bade him be blithe at the drinking of beer. 
 To his people beloved, and lustily took he 
 The feast and the hall-cup, that victory-fam'd 
 
 King. 
 Then round about went she, the Dame of the 
 
 Helmings, 620 
 
 And to doughty and youngsome, each deal of the 
 
 folk there. 
 Gave cups of the treasure, till now it betid 
 That to Beowulf duly the Queen the ring-dighted. 
 Of mind high uplifted, the mead-beaker bare. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 37 
 
 Then she greeted the Geat-lord, and gave God 
 
 the thank, 
 She, the wisefast in words, that the will had wax'd 
 
 in her 
 In one man of the earls to have trusting and troth 
 For comfort from crimes. But the cup then he 
 
 took, 
 The slaughter-fierce warrior, from Wealhtheow 
 
 the Queen. 629 
 
 And then rim'd he the word, making ready for war. 
 
 And Beowulf spake forth, the Ecgtheow's bairn : 
 
 E'en that in mind had I when up on holm 
 
 strode I, 
 And in sea-boat sat down with a band of my 
 
 men. 
 That for once and for all the will of your people 
 Would I set me to work, or. on slaughter-field 
 
 cringe 
 Fast in grip of the fiend ; yea and now shall I 
 
 frame 
 The valour of earl-folk, or else be abiding 
 The day of mine end, here down in the mead-hall. 
 To the wife those his words well liking they 
 
 were. 
 The big word of the Geat ; and the gold-adorn'd 
 
 wended, 64o 
 
 The frank and free Queen to sit by her lord. 
 
38 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 And thereafter within the high hall was as erst 
 The proud word outspoken and bliss on the people, 
 Was the sound of the victory-folk, till on a sudden 
 The Healfdene's son would now be a-seeking 
 His rest of the even : wotted he for the Evil 
 Within the high hall was the Hild-play bedight, 
 Sithence that the sun-light no more should they see, 
 When night should be darkening, and down 
 
 over all 
 The shapes of the shadow-helms should be 
 
 a-striding G50 
 
 Wan under the welkin. Uprose then all war-folk ; 
 Then greeted the glad-minded one man the other, 
 Hrothgar to Beowulf, bidding him hail, 
 And the wine-hall to wield, and withal quoth the 
 
 word : 
 Never to any man erst have I given. 
 Since the hand and the shield's round aloft might 
 
 I heave, 
 This high hall of the Dane-folk, save now unto 
 
 thee. 
 Have now and hold the best of all houses. 
 Mind thee of fame, show the might of thy valour ! 
 Wake the wroth one : no lack shall there be to 
 
 thy willing 660 
 
 If that wight work thou win and life there- 
 withal. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 39 
 
 XI. NOW IS BEOWULF LEFT IN THE 
 HALL ALONE WITH HIS MEN. 
 
 THEN wended him Hrothgar with the 
 band of his warriors, 
 The high-ward of the Scyldings from out 
 of the hall, 
 For then would the war-lord go seek unto Wealh- 
 
 theow 
 The Queen for a bed-mate. The glory of king- 
 
 fblk 
 Against Grendel had set, as men have heard say, 
 A hall-ward who held him a service apart 
 In the house of the Dane-lord, for eoten-ward 
 
 held he. 
 Forsooth he, the Geat-lord, full gladly he trowed 
 In the might of his mood and the grace of the 
 
 Maker. 67o 
 
 Therewith he did ofF him his byrny of iron 
 And the helm from his head, and his dighted 
 
 sword gave. 
 The best of all irons, to the thane that abode 
 
 him, 
 And bade him to hold that harness of battle. 
 Bespake then the good one, a big word he gave 
 
 out, 
 Beowulf the Geat, ere on the bed strode he : 
 
40 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Nowise in war I deem me more lowly 
 In the works of the battle than Grendel, I ween ; 
 So not with the sword shall I lull him to 
 
 slumber, 
 Or take his life thuswise, though to me were it 
 
 easy ; 680 
 
 Of that good wise he wots not, to get the stroke 
 
 on me, 
 To hew on my shield, for as stark as he shall be 
 In the works of the foeman. So we twain a 
 
 night-tide 
 Shall forgo the sword, if he dare yet to seek 
 The war without weapons. Sithence the wise 
 
 God, 
 The Lord that is holy, on which hand soever 
 The glory may doom as due to him seemeth. 
 Bowed down then the war-deer, the cheek- 
 bolster took 
 The face of the earl ; and about him a many 
 Of sea-warriors bold to their hall-slumber bow'd 
 
 them ; 690 
 
 No one of them thought that thence away should 
 
 he 
 Seek ever again to his home the beloved. 
 His folk or his free burg, where erst he was fed ; 
 For of men had they learn 'd that o'er mickle a 
 
 many 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 41 
 
 In that wine-hall aforetime the fell death had 
 gotten 
 
 Of the folk of the Danes ; but the Lord to them 
 gave it, 
 
 To the folk of the Weders, the web of war- 
 speeding, 
 
 Help fair and good comfort, e*en so that their 
 foeman 
 
 Through the craft of one man all they over- 
 came, 
 
 By the self- might of one. So is manifest 
 truth 700 
 
 That God the Almighty the kindred of men 
 
 Hath wielded wide ever. Now by wan night 
 there came. 
 
 There strode in the shade-goer ; slept there the 
 shooters, 
 
 They who that horn-house should be a-holding. 
 
 All men but one man : to men was that 
 known. 
 
 That them indeed might not, since will'd not the 
 Maker, 
 
 The scather unceasing drag off 'neath the 
 shadow ; 
 
 But he ever watching in wrath 'gainst the wroth 
 one 
 
 Mood-swollen abided the battle-mote ever. 
 
42 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 XII. GRENDEL COMETH INTO HART: 
 OF THE STRIFE BETWIXT HIM AND 
 BEOWULF. 
 
 CAME then from the moor-land, all under 
 the mist-bents, 7io 
 
 Grendel a-going there, bearing God's anger. 
 
 The scather the ill one was minded of mankind 
 
 To have one in his toils from the high hall aloft. 
 
 'Neath the welkin he waded, to the place whence 
 the wine-house. 
 
 The gold-hall of men, most yarely he wist 
 
 With gold-plates fair coloured ; nor was it the 
 first time 
 
 That he unto Hrothgar's high home had betook 
 him. 
 
 Never he in his life-days, either erst or there- 
 after. 
 
 Of warriors more hardy or hall-thanes had found. 
 
 Came then to the house the wight on his ways, 720 
 
 Of all joys bereft ; and soon sprang the door 
 open, 
 
 With fire-bands made fast, when with hand he 
 had touch'd it ; 
 
 Brake the bale-heedy, he with wrath bollen. 
 
 The mouth of the house there, and early there- 
 after 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 43 
 
 On the shiny-fleck'd floor thereof trod forth the 
 
 fiend ; 
 On went he then mood-wroth, and out from his 
 
 eyes stood 
 Likest to fire-flame light full unfair. 
 In the high house beheld he a many of warriors, 
 A host of men sib all sleeping together, 
 Of man-warriors a heap ; then laugh'd out his 
 
 mood ; 730 
 
 In mind deem'd he to sunder, or ever came day, 
 The monster, the fell one, from each of the men 
 
 there 
 The life from the body ; for befell him a boding 
 Of fulfilment of feeding : but weird now it was 
 
 not 
 That he any more of mankind thenceforward 
 Should eat, that night over. Huge evil beheld 
 
 then 
 The Hygelac's kinsman, and how the foul scather 
 All with his fear-grips would fare there before 
 
 him ; 
 How never the monster was minded to tarry. 
 For speedily gat he, and at the first stour, 740 
 
 A warrior a-sleeping, and unaware slit him, 
 Bit his bone-coffer, drank blood a-streaming. 
 Great gobbets swallowed in ; thenceforth soon 
 
 had he 
 
44 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Of the unliving one every whit eaten 
 
 To hands and feet even : then forth strode he 
 
 nigher, 
 And took hold with his hand upon him the high- 
 hearted, 
 The warrior a-resting ; reached out to himwards 
 The fiend with his hand, gat fast on him rathely 
 With thought of all evil, and besat him his arm. 
 Then swiftly was finding the herdsman of foul 
 
 deeds 75o 
 
 That forsooth he had met not in Middle-garth 
 
 ever. 
 In the parts of the earth, in any man else 
 A hand-grip more mighty ; then wax'd he of 
 
 mood 
 Heart-fearful, but none the more outward might 
 
 he; 
 Hence-eager his heart was to the darkness to hie 
 
 him. 
 And the devil-dray seek : not there was his service 
 E'en such as he found in his life-days before. 
 Then to heart laid the good one, the Hygelac's 
 
 kinsman, 
 His speech of the even-tide ; uplong he stood 
 And fast with him grappled, till bursted his 
 
 fingers. 760 
 
 The eoten was out-fain, but on strode the earl. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 45 
 
 The mighty fiend minded was, whereso he might, 
 To wind him about more widely away thence. 
 And flee fenwards ; he found then the might of 
 
 his fingers 
 In the grip of the fierce one ; sorry faring was 
 
 that 
 Which he, the harm-scather, had taken to Hart. 
 The warrior-hall dinn'd now; unto all Danes 
 
 there waxed, 
 To the castle-abiders, to each of the keen ones, 
 To all earls, as an ale-dearth. Now angry were 
 
 both 
 Of the fierce mighty warriors, far rang out the 
 
 hall-house ; 770 
 
 Then mickle the wonder it was that the wine-hall 
 Withstood the two war-deer, nor welter'd to earth 
 The fair earthly dwelling ; but all fast was it 
 
 builded 
 Within and without with the banding of iron 
 By crafty thought smithy'd. But there from the 
 
 sill bow*d 
 Fell many a mead-bench, by hearsay of mine. 
 With gold well adorned, where strove they the 
 
 wrothful. 
 Hereof never weened they, the wise of the Scyld- 
 
 ings. 
 That ever with might should any of men 
 
46 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The excellent, bone-dight, break into pieces, 780 
 Or unlock with cunning, save the light fire's 
 
 embracing 
 In smoke should it swallow. So uprose the roar 
 New and enough ; now fell on the North-Danes 
 111 fear and the terror, on each and on all men. 
 Of them who from wall-top hearkened the weeping, 
 Even God's foeman singing the fear-lay. 
 The triumphless song, and the wound-bewailing 
 Of the thrall of the Hell ; for there now fast held 
 
 him 
 He who of men of main was the mightiest 
 In that day which is told of, the day of this life. 
 
 XIII. BEOWULF HATH THE VICTORY : 
 GRENDEL IS HURT DEADLY AND 
 LEAVETH HAND AND ARM IN THE 
 HALL. 
 
 NAUGHT would the earls' help for any- 
 thing thenceforth 79i 
 That murder-comer yet quick let loose of, 
 Nor his life-days forsooth to any of folk 
 Told he for useful. Out then drew full many 
 Of Beowult's earls the heir-loom of old days, 
 For their lord and their master's fair life would 
 they ward, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 47 
 
 That mighty of princes, if so might they do it. 
 For this did they know not when they the strife 
 
 dreed. 
 Those hardy-minded men of the battle, 
 And on every half there thought to be hewing, son 
 And search out his soul, that the ceaseless scather 
 Not any on earth of the choice of all irons. 
 Not one of the war-bills, would greet home tor 
 
 ever. 
 For he had forsworn him from victory-weapons, 
 And each one of edges. But his sundering of soul 
 In the days that we tell of, the day of this life, 
 Should be weary and woeful, the ghost wending 
 
 elsewhere 
 To the wielding of fiends to wend him afar. 
 Then found he out this, he who mickle erst made 
 Out of mirth of his mood unto children of men 810 
 And had fram'd many crimes, he the foeman of 
 
 God, 
 That the body of him would not bide to avail 
 
 him. 
 But the hardy of mood, even Hygelac's kinsman. 
 Had him fast by the hand : now was each to the 
 
 other 
 All loathly while living : his body-sore bided 
 The monster : was manifest now on his shoulder 
 The unceasing wound, sprang the sinews asunder, 
 
48 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The bone-lockers bursted. To Beowulf now 
 Was the battle-fame given ; should Grendel 
 
 thenceforth 819 
 
 Flee life-sick away ward and under the fen-bents 
 Seek his unmerry stead : now wist he more surely 
 That ended his life was, and gone over for ever, 
 His day-tale told out. But was for all Dane-folk 
 After that slaughter-race all their will done. 
 Then had he cleans'd for them, he the far-comer, 
 Wise and stout-hearted, the high hall of Hrothgar, 
 And sav'd it from war. So the night-work he 
 
 joy'd in 
 And his doughty deed done. Yea, but he for the 
 
 East-Danes 
 That lord of the Geat-folk his boast*s end had 
 
 gotten. 
 Withal their woes bygone all had he booted, 880 
 And the sorrow hate-fashion'd that afore they had 
 
 dreed, 
 And the hard need and bitter that erst they must 
 
 bear, 
 The sorrow unlittle. Sithence was clear token 
 When the deer of the battle laid down there the 
 
 hand 
 The arm and the shoulder, and all there together 
 Of the grip of that Grendel 'neath the great roof 
 
 upbuilded. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 49 
 
 XIV. THE DANES REJOICE; THEY GO 
 TO LOOK ON THE SLOT OF GRENDEL, 
 AND COME BACK TO HART, AND ON 
 THE WAY MAKE MERRY WITH RACING 
 AND THE TELLING OF TALES. 
 
 THERE was then on the morning, as I have 
 heard tell it, 
 Round the gift-hall a many of men of the 
 warriors : 
 Were faring folk-leaders from far and from near 
 O'er the wide-away roads the wonder to look on. 
 The track of the loathly : his life-sundering 
 
 nowise 84i 
 
 Was deem'd for a sorrow to any of men there 
 Who gaz'd on the track of the gloryless wight ; 
 How he all a-weary of mood thence away ward, 
 Brought to naught in the battle, to the mere of 
 
 the nicors. 
 Now fey and forth-fleeing, his life-steps had flitted. 
 There all in the blood was the sea-brim a-welling. 
 The dread swing of the waves was washing all 
 
 mingled 
 With hot blood ; with the gore of the sword was 
 
 it welling ; 
 The death-doom'd had dyed it, sithence he un- 
 
 merry 85 
 
 D 
 
so THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 In his fen-hold had laid down the last of his life, 
 
 His soul of the heathen, and hell gat hold on him. 
 
 Thence back again far'd they those fellows of old. 
 
 With many a young one, from their wayfaring 
 
 merry, 
 Full proud from the mere-side on mares there 
 
 a-riding 
 The warriors on white steeds. There then was 
 
 of Beowulf 
 Set forth the might mighty ; oft quoth it a many 
 That nor northward nor southward beside the 
 
 twin sea-floods. 
 Over all the huge earth's face now never another, 
 Never under the heaven's breadth, was there a 
 
 better, 86o 
 
 Nor of wielders of war-shields a worthier of king- 
 ship ; 
 But neither their friendly lord blam'd they one 
 
 whit, 
 Hrothgar the glad, for good of kings was he. 
 There whiles the warriors far-famed let leap 
 Their fair fallow horses and fare into fly ting 
 Where unto them the earth-ways for fair-fashion'd 
 
 seemed. 
 Through their choiceness well kenned ; and whiles 
 
 a king's thane, 
 A warrior vaunt-laden, of lays grown bemindful, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 5 1 
 
 E'en he who all many of tales of the old days 
 A multitude minded, found other words also 87o 
 Sooth-bounden, and boldly the man thus began 
 E'en Beowulf's wayfare well wisely to stir, 
 With good speed to set forth the spells well areded 
 And to shift about words. And well of all told he 
 That he of Sigemund erst had heard say, 
 Of the deeds of his might ; and many things 
 
 uncouth : 
 Of the strife of the Washing and his wide way- 
 farings. 
 Of those that men's children not well yet they 
 
 wist, 
 The feud and the crimes, save Fitela with him ; 
 Somewhat of such things yet would he say, 880 
 The erne to the nephew ; e'en as they aye were 
 In all strife soever fellows full needful ; 
 And full many had they of the kin of the eotens 
 Laid low with the sword. And to Sigemund up- 
 
 sprang 
 After his death-day fair doom unlittle 
 Sithence that the war-hard the Worm there had 
 
 quelled, 
 The herd of the hoard ; he under the hoar stone, 
 The bairn of the Atheling, all alone dar'd it, 
 That wight deed of deeds ; with him Fitela was 
 not. 
 
52 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 But howe'er, his hap was that the sword so through- 
 waded 890 
 The Worm the all-wondrous, that in the wall 
 
 stood 
 The iron dear-wrought : and the drake died the 
 
 murder. 
 There had the warrior so won by wightness, 
 That he of the ring-hoard the use might be 
 
 having 
 Ail at his own will. The sea-boat he loaded, 
 And into the ship's barm bore the bright fretwork 
 Wasls' son. In the hotness the Worm was to- 
 molten. 
 Now he of all wanderers was widely the greatest 
 Through the peoples of man-kind, the warder of 
 warriors, 899 
 
 By mighty deeds ; erst then and early he throve. 
 Now sithence the warfare of Heremod waned, 
 His might and his valour, amidst of the eotens 
 To the wielding of foemen straight was he be- 
 trayed, 
 And speedily sent forth : by the surges of sorrow 
 O'er-long was he lam'd, became he to his lieges. 
 To all of the athelings, a life-care thenceforward. 
 Withal oft bemoaned in times that were older 
 The ways of that stout heart many a carle of the 
 wisest. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 53 
 
 Who trow*d in him boldly for booting of bales, 
 
 And had look'd that the king's bairn should ever 
 be thriving, 910 
 
 His father's own lordship should take, hold the 
 folk, 
 
 The hoard and the ward-burg, and realm of the 
 heroes. 
 
 The own land of the Scyldings. To all men was 
 Beowulf, 
 
 The Hygelac's kinsman to the kindred of men- 
 folk, 
 
 More fair unto friends ; but on Heremod crime 
 fell. 
 So whiles the men flyting the fallow street 
 there 
 
 With their mares were they meting. There then 
 was the morn-light 
 
 Thrust forth and hastened ; went many a warrior 
 
 All hardy of heart to the high hall aloft 
 
 The rare wonder to see ; and the King's self 
 withal 920 
 
 From the bride-bower wended, the warder of ring- 
 hoards. 
 
 All glorious he trod and a mickle troop had he. 
 
 He for choice ways beknown ; and his Queen 
 therewithal 
 
 Meted the mead-path with a meyny of maidens. 
 
54 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 XV. KING HROTHGAR AND HIS 
 THANES LOOK ON THE ARM OF 
 GRENDEL. CONVERSE BETWIXT 
 HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF CON- 
 CERNING THE BATTLE. 
 
 OUT then spake Hrothgar ; for he to the 
 hall went, 
 By the staple a-standing the steep roof he 
 saw 
 Shining fair with the gold, and the hand there of 
 Grendel : 
 For this sight that I see to the All-wielder 
 thanks 
 Befall now forthwith, for foul evil I bided, 
 All griefs from this Grendel ; but God, glory's 
 Herder, 930 
 
 Wonder on wonder ever can work. 
 Unyore was it then when I for myself 
 Might ween never more, wide all through my 
 
 life-days. 
 Of the booting of woes ; when all blood-be- 
 sprinkled 
 The best of all houses stood sword-gory here ; 
 Wide then had the woe thrust off each of the 
 
 wise 
 Of them that were looking that never life-long 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF SS 
 
 That land-work of the folk they might ward 
 
 from the loathly, 
 From ill wights and devils. But now hath a 
 
 warrior 
 Through the might of the Lord a deed made 
 
 thereunto 940 
 
 Which we, and all we together, in nowise 
 By wisdom might work. What ! well might be 
 
 saying 
 That maid whosoever this son brought to birth 
 According to man's kind, if yet she be living, 
 That the Maker of old time to her was all- 
 gracious 
 In the bearing of bairns. O Beowulf, I now 
 Thee best of all men as a son unto me 
 Will love in my heart, and hold thou henceforward 
 Our kinship new-made now ; nor to thee shall be 
 
 lacking 
 As to longings of world-goods whereof I have 
 
 wielding ; 950 
 
 Full oft I for lesser things guerdon have given, 
 The worship of hoards, to a warrior was weaker, 
 A worser in strife. Now thyself for thyself 
 By deeds hast thou framed it that liveth thy fair 
 
 fame 
 For ever and ever. So may the All-wielder 
 With good pay thee ever, as erst he hath done it. 
 
S6 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Then Beowulf spake out, the Ecgtheow's bairn : 
 That work of much might with mickle of love 
 We framed with fighting, and frowardly ventur'd 
 The might of the uncouth ; now I would that 
 
 rather 96o 
 
 Thou mightest have look'd on the very man 
 
 there, 
 The foe in his fret-gear all worn unto falling. 
 There him in all haste with hard griping did I 
 On the slaughter-bed deem it to bind him indeed, 
 That he for my hand-grip should have to be lying 
 All busy for life : but his body fled off. 
 Him then I might not (since would not the 
 
 Maker) 
 From his wayfaring sunder, nor naught so well 
 
 sought I 
 The life-foe ; o'er-mickle of might was he yet, 
 The foeman afoot : but his hand has he left us, 970 
 A life-ward, a-warding the ways of his wending. 
 His arm and his shoulder therewith. Yet in nowise 
 That wretch of the grooms any solace hath got 
 
 him, 
 Nor longer will live the loathly deed-doer, 
 Beswinked with sins ; for the sore hath him now 
 In the grip of need grievous, in strait hold to- 
 
 gather'd 
 With bonds that be baleful : there shall he abide, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 57 
 
 That wight dyed with all evil-deeds, the doom 
 
 mickle, 
 For what wise to him the bright Maker will 
 
 write it. 979 
 
 Then a silenter man was the son there of Ecglaf 
 In the speech of the boasting of works of the battle, 
 After when every atheling by craft of the earl 
 Over the high roof had looked on the hand there, 
 Yea, the fiend's fingers before his own eyen. 
 Each one of the nail-steads most like unto steel. 
 Hand-spur of the heathen one ; yea, the own claw 
 Uncouth of the war-wight. But each one there 
 
 quoth it. 
 That no iron of the best, of the hardy of folk, 
 Would touch him at all, which e'er of the 
 
 monster 
 The battle-hand bloody might bear away thence. 
 
 XVI. HROTHGAR GIVETH GIFTS TO 
 BEOWULF. 
 
 THEN was speedily bidden that Hart be 
 withinward 991 
 
 By hand of man well adorn'd ; was there a 
 many 
 Of warriors and wives, who straightway that wine- 
 house, 
 
58 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The guest-house, bedight them : there gold-shotten 
 
 shone 
 The webs over the walls, many wonders to look on 
 For men every one who on such things will stare. 
 Was that building the bright all broken about 
 All withinward, though fast in the bands of the 
 
 iron; 
 Asunder the hinges rent, only the roof there 
 Was saved all sound, when the monster of evil looo 
 The guilty of crime-deeds had gat him to flight 
 Never hoping for life. Nay, lightly now may not 
 That matter be fled from, frame it whoso may 
 
 frame it. 
 But by strife man shall win of the bearers of souls, 
 Of the children of men, compelled by need. 
 The abiders on earth, the place made all ready. 
 The stead where his body laid fast on his death-bed 
 Shall sleep after feast. Now time and place was it 
 When unto the hall went that Healfdene's son, 
 And the King himself therein the feast should be 
 
 sharing ; loio 
 
 Never heard I of men-folk in fellowship more 
 About their wealth -giver so well themselves 
 
 bearing. 
 Then bow'd unto bench there the abounders in 
 
 riches 
 And were fain of their fill. Full fairly there took 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 59 
 
 A many of mead-cups the kin of those men, 
 The sturdy of heart in the hall high aloft, 
 Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Hart there withinward 
 Of friends was fulfilled ; naught there that was 
 
 guilesome 
 The folk of the Scyldings for yet awhile framed. 
 Gave then to Beowulf Healfdcnc's bairn 1020 
 A golden war-ensign, the victory's guerdon, 
 A stafF-banner fair-dight, a helm and a byrny : 
 The great jewel-sword a many men saw them 
 Bear forth to the hero. Then Beowulf took 
 The cup on the floor, and nowise of that fee-gift 
 Before the shaft-shooters the shame need he have. 
 Never heard I how friendlier four of the treasures. 
 All gear'd with the gold about, many men erewhile 
 On the ale-bench have given to others of men. 
 Round the roof of the helm, the burg of the head, 
 A wale wound with wires held ward from without- 
 ward, 1031 
 
 So that the file-leavings might not over fiercely. 
 Were they never so shower-hard, scathe the shield- 
 bold. 
 When he 'gainst the angry in anger should get him. 
 Therewith bade the earls' burg that eight of the 
 
 horses 
 With cheek-plates adorned be led down the floor 
 In under the fences ; on one thereof stood 
 
6o THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 A saddle all craft-bedeck'd, seemly with treasure. 
 That same was the war-seat of the high King full 
 
 surely 1039 
 
 Whenas that the sword-play that Healfdene's son 
 Would work ; never failed in front of the war 
 The wide-kenn'd one's war-might, whereas fell the 
 
 slain. 
 So to Beowulf thereon of either of both 
 The Ingwines' high warder gave wielding to have, 
 Both the war-steeds and weapons, and bade him 
 
 well brook them. 
 Thuswise and so manly the mighty of princes. 
 Hoard-warden of heroes, the battle-race paid 
 With mares and with gems, so as no man shall 
 
 blame them. 
 E'en he who will say sooth aright as it is. 
 
 XVII. THEY FEAST IN HART. THE 
 GLEEMAN SINGS OF FINN AND HEN- 
 GEST. 
 
 THEN the lord of the earl-folk to every 
 and each one 1050 
 
 Of them who with Beowulf the sea-ways 
 had worn 
 Then and there on the mead-bench did handsel 
 them treasure^ 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 6l 
 
 An heir-loom to wit ; for him also he bade it 
 That a were-gild be paid, whom Grendel aforetime 
 By wickedness quelFd, as far more of them would 
 
 he, 
 Save from them God all-witting the weird away 
 
 wended. 
 And that man's mood withal. But the Maker 
 
 all wielded 
 Of the kindred of mankind, as yet now he doeth. 
 Therefore through-witting will be the best every- 
 where 
 And the forethought of mind. Many things must 
 
 abide 106O 
 
 Of lief and of loth, he who here a long while 
 In these days of the strife with the world shall be 
 
 dealing. 
 There song was and sound all gathered together 
 Of that Healfdene's warrior and wielder of battle, 
 The wood of glee greeted, the lay wreaked often, 
 Whenas the hall-game the minstrel of Hrothgar 
 All down by the mead-bench tale must be making : 
 By Finn's sons aforetime, when the fear gat 
 
 them, 
 The hero of Half-Danes, Hnasf of the Scyldings, 
 On the slaughter-field Frisian needs must he fall. 
 Forsooth never Hildeburh needed to hery io7i 
 The troth of the Eotens ; she all unsmning 
 
62 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Was lorne of her lief ones in that play of the 
 
 linden, 
 Her bairns and her brethren, by fate there they fell 
 Spear-wounded. That was the all-woeful of 
 
 women. 
 Not unduly without cause the daughter of Hoc 
 Mourn'd the Maker's own shaping, sithence came 
 
 the morn 
 When she under the heavens that tide came to see, 
 Murder-bale of her kinsmen, where most had she 
 
 erewhile lo79 
 
 Of world's bliss. The war-tide took all men away 
 Of Finn's thanes that were, save only a few ; 
 E'en so that he might not on the field of the 
 
 meeting 
 Hold Hengest a war-tide, or fight any whit, 
 Nor yet snatch away thence by war the woe- 
 leavings 
 From the thane of the King ; but terms now they 
 
 bade him 
 That for them other stead all for all should make 
 
 room, 
 A hall and high settle, whereof the half-wielding 
 They with the Eotens' bairns henceforth might 
 
 hold. 
 And with fee-gifts moreover the son of Folkwalda 
 Each day of the days the Danes should beworthy ; 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 63 
 
 The war-heap of Hengest with rings should he 
 honour 1091 
 
 Even so greatly with treasure of treasures, 
 Of gold all beplated, as he the kin Frisian 
 Down in the beer-hall duly should dight. 
 Troth then they struck there each of the two 
 
 halves, 
 A peace-troth full fast. There Finn unto Hen- 
 gest 
 Strongly, unstrifeful, with oath-swearing swore, 
 That he the woe-leaving by the doom of the wise 
 
 ones 
 Should hold in all honour, that never man hence- 
 forth 
 With word or with work the troth should be 
 breaking, 1100 
 
 Nor through craft of the guileful should undo it 
 
 ever. 
 Though their ring-giver's bane they must follow 
 
 in rank 
 All lordless, e'en so need is it to be : 
 But if any of Frisians by over-bold speaking 
 The murderful hatred should call unto mind. 
 Then naught but the edge of the sword should 
 
 avenge it. 
 Then done was the oath there, and gold of the 
 golden 
 
64 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 HeavM up from the hoard. Of the bold Here- 
 
 Scyldings 
 All yare on the bale was the best battle-warrior ; 
 On the death-howe beholden was easily there 1110 
 The sark stain*d with war-sweat, the all-golden 
 
 swine, 
 The iron-hard boar ; there was many an atheling 
 With wounds all outworn ; some on slaughter- 
 field welter'd. 
 But Hildeburh therewith on Hnaef *s bale she bade 
 
 them 
 The own son of herself to set fast in the flame. 
 His bone-vats to burn up and lay on the bale there : 
 On his shoulder all woeful the woman lamented, 
 Sang songs of bewailing, as the warrior strode 
 
 upward, 
 Wound up to the welkin that most of death-fires. 
 Before the howe howled ; there molten the heads 
 were, 1120 
 
 The wound-gates burst open, there blood was out- 
 springing 
 From foe-bites of the body ; the flame swallowed 
 
 all. 
 The greediest of ghosts, of them that war gat 
 
 him 
 Of either of folks; shaken ofi^ was their life- 
 breath. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 65 
 
 XVIII. THE ENDING OF THE TALE OF 
 
 FINN. 
 
 DEPARTED the warriors their wicks to 
 visit 
 All forlorn of their friends now, Friesland 
 to look on, 
 Their homes and their high burg. Hengest a 
 
 while yet 
 Through the slaughter-dyed winter bode dwelling 
 
 with Finn 
 And all without strife : he remember'd his home- 
 land, 
 Though never he might o'er the mere be 
 
 a-driving 1130 
 
 The high prow be-ringed : with storm the holm 
 
 welter'd, 
 Won war 'gainst the winds ; winter locked the 
 
 waves 
 With bondage of ice, till again came another 
 Of years into the garth, as yet it is ever, 
 And the days which the season to watch never 
 
 cease, 
 The glory-bright weather ; then gone was the 
 
 winter. 
 And fair was the earth's barm. Now hasten'd 
 
 the exile, 
 
66 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The guest from the garths ; he on getting of 
 
 vengeance 
 Of harms thought more greatly than of the sea's 
 
 highway, 
 If he but a wrath-mote might yet be a-wending 
 Where the bairns of the Eotens might he still 
 
 remember. 1141 
 
 The ways of the world forwent he in nowise 
 Then, whenas Hunlafing the light of the battle. 
 The best of all bills, did into his breast, 
 Whereof mid the Eotens were the edges well 
 
 knowen. 
 Withal to the bold-hearted Finn befell after 
 Sword-bales the deadly at his very own dwell- 
 ing, 
 When the grim grip of war Guthlaf and Oslaf 
 After the sea-fare lamented with sorrow 
 And wyted him deal of their woes ; nor then 
 
 might he 1150 
 
 In his breast hold his wavering heart. Was the 
 
 hall dight 
 With the lives of slain foemen, and slain eke was 
 
 Finn 
 The King 'midst of his court-men ; and there 
 
 the Queen, taken, 
 The shooters of the Scyldings ferry'd down to 
 
 the sea-ships, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 67 
 
 And the house-wares and chattels the earth-knig 
 
 had had, 
 E'en such as at Finn's home there might they 
 
 find, 
 Of collars and cunning gems. They on the sea- 
 path 
 The all-lordly wife to the Danes straightly 
 
 wended, 
 Led her home to their people. So sung was the 
 
 lay. 
 The song of the gleeman ; then again arose 
 
 game, 1160 
 
 The bench-voice waxM brighter, gave forth the 
 
 birlers 
 Wine of the wonder-vats. Then came forth 
 
 Wealhtheow 
 Under gold ring a-going to where sat the two 
 
 good ones, 
 The uncle and nephew, yet of kindred unsunderM, 
 Each true to the other. Eke Unferth the spokes- 
 man 
 Sat at feet of the Scyldings' lord ; each of his heart 
 
 trow'd 
 That of mickle mood was he, though he to his 
 
 kinsmen 
 Were un-upright in edge-play. Spake the dame 
 
 of the Scyldings : 
 
68 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Now take thou this cup, my lord of the kingly, 
 Bestower of treasures ! Be thou in thy joyance, 
 Thou gold-friend of men ! and speak to these 
 
 Geat-folk 1171 
 
 In mild words, as duly behoveth to do ; 
 Be glad toward the Geat-folk, and mindful of 
 
 gifts ; 
 From anigh and from far peace hast thou as now. 
 To me one hath said it, that thou for a son 
 
 wouldst 
 This warrior be holding. Lo ! Hart now is 
 
 cleansed, 
 The ring-hall bright-beaming. Have joy while 
 
 thou mayest 
 In many a meed, and unto thy kinsmen 
 Leave folk and dominion, when forth thou must 
 
 fare 
 To look on the Maker's own making. I know 
 
 now 1180 
 
 My Hrothulf the gladsome, that he this young 
 
 man 
 Will hold in all honour if thou now before him, 
 
 friend of the Scyldings, shall fare from the 
 
 world ; 
 
 1 ween that good-will yet this man will be yield- 
 
 ing 
 To our offspring that after us be, if he mind him 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 69 
 
 Of all that which we two, for good-will and for 
 
 worship, 
 Unto him erst a child yet have framed of kindness. 
 Then along by the bench did she turn, where 
 
 her boys were, 
 Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the bairns of high 
 
 warriors. 
 The young ones together ; and there sat the good 
 
 one, 1190 
 
 Beowulf the Geat, betwixt the two brethren. 
 
 XIX. MORE GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO 
 BEOWULF. THE BRISING COLLAR 
 TOLD OF. 
 
 BORNE to him then the cup was, and there- 
 with friendly bidding 
 In words was put forth ; and gold about 
 wounden 
 All blithely they bade him bear ; arm-gearings 
 
 twain. 
 Rail and rings, the most greatest of fashion of 
 
 neck-rings 
 Of them that on earth I have ever heard tell of: 
 Not one under heaven wrought better was heard of 
 Midst the hoard-gems of heroes, since bore away 
 Hama 
 
yo THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 To the bright burg and brave the neck-gear of 
 
 the Brisings, 
 The gem and the gem-chest : from the foeman's 
 
 guile fled he 1200 
 
 Of Eormenric then, and chose rede everlasting. 
 That ring Hygelac had, e'en he of the Geat-folk, 
 The grandson of Swerting, the last time of all 
 
 times 
 When he under the war-sign his treasure defended. 
 The slaughter-prey warded. Him weird bore 
 
 away 
 Sithence he for pride-sake the war-woe abided. 
 The feud with the Frisians ; the fretwork he 
 
 flitted. 
 The gem-stones much worthy, all over the waves' 
 
 cup. 
 The King the full mighty cring'd under the shield; 
 Into grasp of the Franks the King's life was gotten 
 With the gear of the breast and the ring alto- 
 gether ; 1211 
 It was worser war-wolves then reft gear from the 
 
 slain 
 After the war-shearing ; there the Geats' war-folk 
 Held the house of the dead men. The Hall took 
 
 the voices ; 
 Spake out then Wealhtheow ; before the host 
 
 said she : 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 7 1 
 
 Brook thou this roundel, lief Beowulf, hence- 
 forth, 
 Dear youth, with all hail, and this rail be thou 
 
 using, 
 These gems of folk-treasures, and thrive thou 
 
 well ever ; 
 Thy might then make manifest ! Be to these 
 
 lads here 
 Kind of lore, and for that will I look to thy 
 
 guerdon. 1220 
 
 Thou hast won by thy faring, that far and near 
 
 henceforth. 
 Through wide time to come, men will give thee 
 
 the worship. 
 As widely as ever the sea winds about 
 The windy land-walls. Be the while thou art 
 
 living 
 An atheling wealthy, and well do I will thee 
 Of good of the treasures ; be thou to my son 
 In deed ever friendly, and uphold thy joyance ! 
 Lo ! each of the earls here to the other is trusty. 
 And mild of his mood and to man-lord full 
 
 faithful. 
 Kind friends all the thanes are, the folk ever 
 
 yare. 1230 
 
 Ye well drunk of folk-grooms, now do ye my 
 
 biddings. 
 
72 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 To her settle then far'd she ; was the feast of 
 
 the choicest, 
 The men drank the wine nothing wotting of weird, 
 The grim shaping of old, e'en as forth it had gone 
 To a many of earls ; sithence came the even. 
 And Hrothgar departed to his chamber on high. 
 The rich to his rest ; and aright the house warded 
 Earls untold of number, as oft did they erewhile. 
 The bench-boards they bar'd them, and there 
 
 they spread over 
 With beds and with bolsters. Of the beer- 
 
 skinkers one 1240 
 
 Who fain was and fey bow'd adown to his floor- 
 rest. 
 At their heads then they rested their rounds of 
 
 the battle. 
 Their board-woods bright-shining. There on the 
 
 bench was. 
 Over the atheling, easy to look on 
 The battle-steep war-helm, the byrny be-ringed. 
 The wood of the onset, all-glorious. Their wont 
 
 was 
 That oft and oft were they all yare for'the war-tide, 
 Both at home and in hosting, were it one were it 
 
 either. 
 And for every such tide as their liege lord unto 
 The need were befallen : right good was that folk. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 73 
 
 XX. GRENDEUS DAM BREAKS INTO 
 HART AND BEARS OFF AESCHERE. 
 
 SO sank they to slumber ; but one paid full 
 sorely 1251 
 
 For his rest of the even, as to them fell full 
 often 
 Sithence that the gold-hall Grendel had guarded, 
 And won deed of unright, until that the end 
 
 came 
 And death after sinning : but clear was it shown 
 
 now, 
 Wide wotted of men, that e'en yet was a wreaker 
 Living after the loathly, a long while of time 
 After the battle-care, Grendel's own mother ; 
 The woman, the monster-wife, minded her woe, 
 She who needs must in horror of waters be won- 
 
 ning, 1260 
 
 The streams all a-cold, sithence Cain was become 
 For an edge-bane forsooth to his very own brother. 
 The own son of his father. Forth bann'd then 
 
 he fared. 
 All marked by murder, from man's joy to flee, 
 And dwelt in the waste-land. Thence woke there 
 
 a many 
 Ghosts shapen of old time, of whom one was 
 
 Grendel, 
 
74 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The fierce wolf, the hateful, who found him at 
 
 Hart 
 A man there a-watching, abiding the war-tide ; 
 Where to him the fell ogre to hand-grips befell ; 
 Howe'er he him minded of the strength of his 
 might, 1270 
 
 The great gift set fast in him given of God, 
 And trowed in grace by the All-wielder given, 
 His fostering, his staying ; so the fiend he over- 
 came 
 And bow'd down the Hell's ghost, that all humble 
 
 he wended 
 Fordone of all mirth death's house to go look on. 
 That fiend of all mankind. But yet was his 
 
 mother, 
 The greedy, the glum-moody, fain to be going 
 A sorrowful journey her son's death to wreak. 
 So came she to Hart whereas now the Ring- 
 Danes 
 Were sleeping adown the hall ; soon there befell 
 Change of days to the earl-folk, when in she came 
 thrusting, i28i 
 
 Grendel's mother : and soothly was minish'd the 
 
 terror 
 By even so much as the craft-work of maidens. 
 The war -terror of wife, is beside the man 
 weapon'd, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 75 
 
 When the sword all hard bounden, by hammers 
 to-beaten, 
 
 The sword all sweat-stain'd, through the swine 
 o'er the war-helm 
 
 With edges full doughty down rightly sheareth. 
 But therewith in the hall was tugg'd out the 
 hard edge, 
 
 The sword o'er the settles, and wide shields a 
 many 
 
 Heaved fast in the hand : no one the helm heeded. 
 
 Nor the byrny wide-wrought, when the wild fear 
 fell on them. 1291 
 
 In haste was she then, and out would she thence- 
 forth 
 
 For the saving her life, whenas she should be 
 found there. 
 
 But one of the athelings she speedily handled 
 
 And caught up full fast, and fenward so fared. 
 
 But he was unto Hrothgar the liefest of heroes 
 
 Of the sort of the fellows ; betwixt the two sea- 
 floods 
 
 A mighty shield-warrior, whom she at rest brake 
 up, 
 
 A war-wight well famed. There Beowulf was not ; 
 
 Another house soothly had erewhile been dighted 
 
 After gift of that treasure to that great one of 
 Geats. 1301 
 
76 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Uprose cry then in Hart, all 'mid gore had she 
 
 taken 
 The hand, the well-known, and now care wrought 
 
 anew 
 In the wicks was arisen. Naught well was the 
 
 bargain 
 That on both halves they needs must be buying 
 
 that tide 
 With the life-days of friends. Then the lord 
 
 king, the wise. 
 The hoary of war-folk, was harmed of mood 
 When his elder of thanes and he now unliving. 
 The dearest of all, he knew to be dead. 
 
 To the bower full swiftly was Beowulf brought 
 
 now, 1310 
 
 The man victory-dower'd; together with day-dawn 
 Went he, one of the earls, that champion be- 
 
 worthyM, 
 Himself with his fellows, where the wise was 
 
 abiding 
 To wot if the All-wielder ever will to him 
 After the tale of woe happy change work. 
 Then went down the floor he the war-worthy 
 With the host of his hand, while high dinn'd the 
 
 hall-wood. 
 Till he there the wise one with words had well 
 
 greeted, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 77 
 
 The lord of the Ingwines, and ask*d had the 
 
 night been, 
 Since sore he was summoned, a night of sweet 
 
 easement. 1320 
 
 XXI. HROTHGAR LAMENTS THE SLAY- 
 ING OF AESCHERE, AND TELLS OF 
 GRENDEUS MOTHER AND HER DEN. 
 
 SPAKE out then Hrothgar the helm of the 
 Scyldings : 
 Ask no more after bliss ; for new-made now 
 is sorrow 
 For the folk of the Danes ; for Aeschere is 
 
 dead, 
 He who was Yrmenlaf 's elder of brethren. 
 My wise man of runes, my bearer of redes. 
 Mine own shoulder-fellow, when we in the war- 
 tide 
 Warded our heads and the host on the host fell. 
 And the boars were a-crashing ; e'en such should 
 
 an earl be. 
 
 An atheling exceeding good, e'en as was Aeschere. 
 
 Now in Hart hath befallen for a hand-bane unto 
 
 him 1330 
 
 A slaughter-ghost wandering ; naught wot I 
 
 whither 
 
78 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The fell one, the carrion-proud, far'd hath her 
 
 back-fare, 
 By her fill made all famous. That feud hath she 
 
 wreaked 
 Wherein yesternight gone by Grendel thou 
 
 quelledst 
 Through thy hardihood fierce with grips hard 
 
 enow, 
 For that he over-long the lief people of me 
 Made to wane and undid. In the war then he 
 
 cringed. 
 Being forfeit of life. But now came another. 
 An ill-scather mighty, her son to awreak ; 
 And further hath she now the feud set on foot, 
 As may well be deemed of many a thane, 1341 
 Who after the wealth-giver weepeth in mind, 
 A hard bale of heart. Now the hand lieth low 
 Which well-nigh for every joy once did avail you. 
 
 The dwellers in land here, my people indeed. 
 The wise-of-rede hall-folk, have I heard say e'en 
 
 this: 
 That they have set eyes on two such-like ere- 
 
 while. 
 Two mickle mark-striders the moorland a-holding. 
 Ghosts come from elsewhere, but of them one 
 
 there was. 
 As full certainly might they then know it to be. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 79 
 
 In the likeness of woman ; and the other shaped 
 
 loathly 1351 
 
 All after man's image trod the tracks of the exile, 
 Save that more was he shapen than any man other ; 
 And in days gone away now they named him 
 
 Grendel, 
 The dwellers in fold ; they wot not if a father 
 Unto him was born ever in the days of erewhile 
 Of dark ghosts. They dwell in a dim hidden 
 
 land, 
 The wolf-bents they bide in, on the nesses the 
 
 windy, 
 The perilous fen-paths where the stream of the 
 
 fell-side 
 Midst the mists of the nesses wends netherward 
 
 ever, 1360 
 
 The flood under earth. Naught far away hence. 
 But a mile-mark forsooth, there standeth the 
 
 mere. 
 And over it ever hang groves all berimed. 
 The wood fast by the roots over-helmeth the 
 
 water. 
 But each night may one a dread wonder there see, 
 A fire in the flood. But none liveth so wise 
 Of the bairns of mankind, that the bottom may 
 
 know. 
 Although the heath-stepper beswinked by hounds. 
 
8o THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The hart strong of horns, that holt-wood should 
 
 seek to 1369 
 
 Driven fleeing from far, he shall sooner leave life, 
 Leave life-breath on the bank, or ever will he 
 Therein hide his head. No hallow'd stead is it : 
 Thence the blending of water-waves ever upriseth 
 Wan up to the welkin, whenso the wind stirreth 
 Weather-storms loathly, until the lift darkens 
 And weepeth the heavens. Now along the rede 
 
 wendeth 
 Of thee again only. Of that earth yet thou 
 
 know'st not, 
 The fearful of steads, wherein thou mayst find 
 That much-sinning wight; seek then if thou dare. 
 And thee for that feud will I guerdon with fee. 
 The treasures of old time, as erst did I do, 1381 
 With the gold all-bewounden, if away thence 
 
 thou get thee. 
 
 XXII. THEY FOLLOW GRENDEL'S DAM 
 TO HER LAIR. 
 
 SPAKE out then Beowulf the Ecgtheow's 
 bairn : 
 O wise of men, mourn not ; for to each man 
 'tis better 
 That his friend he awreak than weep overmuch. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 8 1 
 
 Lo ! each of us soothly abideth the endhig 
 
 Of the life of the world. Then let him work 
 
 who work may 
 High deeds ere the death : to the doughty of 
 
 war-lads 
 When he is unliving shall it best be hereafter. 
 Rise up, warder of kingdom ! and swiftly now 
 
 wend we 1390 
 
 The Grendel Kinswoman's late goings to look on; 
 And this I behote thee, that to holm shall she 
 
 flee not. 
 Nor into earth's fathom, nor into the fell-holt. 
 Nor the grounds of the ocean, go whereas she 
 
 will go. 
 For this one of days patience dree thou a while 
 
 then 
 Of each one of thy woes, as I ween it of thee. 
 Then leapt up the old man, and lightly gave 
 
 God thank. 
 That mighty of Lords, for the word which the 
 
 man spake. 
 And for Hrothgar straightway then was bitted a 
 
 horse, 
 A wave - maned steed : and the wise of the 
 
 princes i4oo 
 
 Went stately his ways ; and stepp'd out the man- 
 troop, 
 
 F 
 
82 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The linden-board bearers. Now lightly the tracks 
 
 were 
 All through the woodland ways wide to be seen 
 
 there, 
 Her goings o'er ground ; she had gotten her 
 
 forthright 
 Over the mirk-moor : bore she of kindred thanes 
 The best that there was, all bare of his soul. 
 Of them that with Hrothgar heeded the home. 
 Overwent then that bairn of the athelings 
 Steep bents of the stones, and stridings full narrow, 
 Strait paths nothing passed over, ways all uncouth, 
 Sheer nesses to wit, many houses of nicors. I4ii 
 
 He one of the few was going before 
 Of the wise of the men the meadow to look on. 
 Until suddenly there the trees of the mountains 
 Over the hoar-stone found he a-leaning, 
 A wood without gladness : the water stood under 
 Dreary and troubled. Unto all the Danes was it, 
 To the friends of the Scyldings, most grievous in 
 
 mood 
 To many of thanes such a thing to be tholing. 
 Sore evil to each one of earls, for of Aeschere 1420 
 The head did they find e'en there on the holm- 
 cliff; 
 The flood with gore welled (the folk looking on 
 it), 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 83 
 
 With hot blood. But whiles then the horn fell 
 
 to singing 
 A song of war eager. There sat down the band; 
 They saw down the water a many of worm-kind, 
 Sea-drakes seldom seen a-kenning the sound ; 
 Likewise on the ness-bents nicors a-lying, 
 Who oft on the undern-tide wont are to hold 
 
 them 
 A course full of sorrow all over the sail-road. 
 Now the worms and the wild-deer away did they 
 
 speed 1430 
 
 Bitter and wrath-swollen all as they heard it, 
 The war-horn a-wailing : but one the Geats' 
 
 warden 
 With his bow of the shafts from his life-days 
 
 there sunder'd. 
 From his strife of the waves ; so that stood in his 
 
 life-parts 
 The hard arrow of war ; and he in the holm was 
 The slower in swimming as death away swept him. 
 So swiftly in sea-waves with boar-spears forsooth 
 Sharp-hook*d and hard-press'd was he thereupon, 
 Set on with fierce battle, and on to the ness tugg'd. 
 The wondrous wave-bearer ; and men were be- 
 holding 1440 
 The grisly guest. Beowulf therewith he gear'd 
 
 him 
 
84 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 With weed of the earls : nowise of life reck'd he: 
 Needs must his war-byrny, braided by hands, 
 Wide, many-colour'd by cunning, the sound seek. 
 E'en that which his bone-coffer knew how to ward. 
 So that the war-grip his heart ne'er a while. 
 The foe-snatch of the wrathful his life ne'er 
 
 should scathe ; 
 Therewith the white war-helm warded his head. 
 E'en that which should mingle with ground of 
 
 the mere. 
 And seek the sound-welter, with treasure be- 
 
 worthyM, 1450 
 
 All girt with the lordly chains, as in days gone by 
 The weapon-smith wrought it most wondrously 
 
 done, 
 Beset with the swine-shapes, so that sithence 
 The brand or the battle-blades never might bite it. 
 Nor forsooth was that littlest of all of his main- 
 stays. 
 Which to him in his need lent the spokesman of 
 
 Hrothgar, 
 E'en the battle-sword hafted that had to name 
 
 Hrunting, 
 That in fore days was one of the treasures of old. 
 The edges of iron with the poison twigs o'er-stain'd, 
 With battle-sweat harden'd ; in the brunt never 
 
 fail'd he 1460 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 85 
 
 Any one of the warriors whose hand wound about 
 
 him, 
 Who in grisly wayfarings durst ever to wend him 
 To the folk-stead of foemen. Not the first of 
 
 times was it 
 That battle-work doughty it had to be doing. 
 Forsooth naught remembered that son there of 
 
 Ecglaf, 
 The crafty in mighty deeds, what ere he quoth 
 All drunken with wine, when the weapon he lent 
 To a doughtier sword-wolf: himself naught he 
 
 durst it 
 Under war of the waves there his life to adventure 
 And warrior-ship work. So forwent he the glory. 
 The fair fame of valour. Naught far'd so the 
 
 other 1471 
 
 Syth he to the war-tide had gear'd him to wend. 
 
 XXIII. BEOWULF REACHETH THE 
 MERE-BOTTOM IN A DAY'S WHILE, 
 AND CONTENDS WITH GRENDEUS 
 DAM. 
 
 OUT then spake Beowulf, Ecgtheow's bairn : 
 Forsooth be thou mindful, O great son of 
 Healfdene, 
 O praise of the princes, now way-fain am I, 
 
86 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 O gold-friend of men, what we twain spake afore- 
 time : 
 If to me for thy need it might so befall 
 That I cease from my life-days, thou shouldest be 
 
 ever 
 To me, forth away wended, in the stead of a 
 
 father. 
 Do thou then bear in hand these thanes of my 
 
 kindred, 1480 
 
 My hand-fellows, if so be battle shall have me ; 
 Those same treasures withal, which thou gavest 
 
 me erst, 
 O Hrothgar the lief, unto Hygelac send thou ; 
 By that gold then shall wot the lord of the Geat- 
 
 folk. 
 Shall HretheFs son see, when he stares on the 
 
 treasure. 
 That I in fair man-deeds a good one have found me, 
 A ring-giver; while I might, joy made I thereof. 
 And let thou then Unferth the ancient loom have. 
 The wave-sword adorned, that man kenned widely. 
 The blade of hard edges ; for I now with 
 
 Hrunting 1490 
 
 Will work me the glory, or else shall death get me. 
 
 So after these words the Weder-Geats' chieftain 
 
 With might of heart hastened ; nor for answer 
 
 then would he 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 87 
 
 Aught tarry ; the sea-welter straightway took 
 
 hold on 
 The warrior of men : wore the while of a daytide 
 Or ever the ground-plain might he set eyes on. 
 
 Soon did she find, she who the flood-ring 
 Sword-ravening had held for an hundred of seasons, 
 Greedy and grim, that there one man of grooms 
 The abode of the alien-wights sought from above ; 
 Then toward him she grasp'd and gat hold on the 
 warrior 1501 
 
 With fell clutch, but no sooner she scathed wi thin- 
 ward 
 The hale body; rings from without-ward it warded, 
 That she could in no wise the war-skin clutch 
 
 through. 
 The fast locked limb-sark, with fingers all loathly. 
 So bare then that sea-wolf when she came unto 
 
 bottom 
 The king of the rings to the court-hall adown 
 In such wise that he might not, though hard- 
 moody was he. 
 Be wielding of weapons. But a many of wonders 
 In sea-swimming swink'd him, and many a sea-deer 
 With his war-tusks was breaking his sark of the 
 battle ; I5ii 
 
 The fell wights him followed. 'Twas then the 
 earl found it 
 
88 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 That in foe-hall there was he, 1 wot not of which, 
 Where never the water might scathe him a whit, 
 Nor because of the roof-hall might reach to him 
 
 there 
 The fear-grip of the flood. Now fire-light he saw, 
 The bleak beam forsooth all brightly a-shining. 
 Then the good one, he saw the wolf of the 
 
 ground, 
 The mere-wife the mighty, and main onset made he 
 With his battle-bill ; never his hand withheld 
 sword-swing, 1520 
 
 So that there on her head sang the ring-sword for- 
 sooth 
 The song of war greedy. But then found the guest 
 That the beam of the battle would bite not there- 
 with. 
 Or scathe life at all, but there failed the edge 
 The king in his need. It had ere thol'd a many 
 Of meetings of hand ; oft it sheared the helm. 
 The host-rail of the fey one ; and then was the 
 
 first time 
 For that treasure dear lov'dthat its might lay a-low. 
 But therewithal steadfast, naught sluggish of 
 
 valour. 
 All mindful of high deeds was Hygelac's kinsman. 
 Cast then the wounden blade bound with the 
 gem-stones I53i 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 89 
 
 The warrior all angry, that it lay on the earth 
 
 there, 
 StifF-wrought and steel-edged. In strength now 
 
 he trusted, 
 The hard hand-grip of might and main ; so shall 
 
 a man do 
 When he in the war-tide yet looketh to winning 
 The praise that is longsome, nor aught for life 
 
 careth. 
 Then fast by the shoulder, of the feud nothing 
 
 recking. 
 The lord of the War-Geats clutched Grendel's 
 
 mother. 
 Cast down the battle-hard, bollen with anger. 
 That foe of the life, till she bow'd to the floor ; 1540 
 But swiftly to him gave she back the hand-guerdon 
 With hand-graspings grim, and griped against 
 
 him ; 
 Then mood-weary stumbled the strongest of 
 
 warriors. 
 The foot-kemp, until that adown there he fell. 
 Then she sat on the hall-guest and tugg'd out 
 
 her sax. 
 The broad and brown-edged, to wreak her her 
 
 son. 
 Her ofl^spring her own. But lay yet on his shoulder 
 The breast-net well braided, the berg of his life. 
 
90 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 That 'gainst point and 'gainst edge the entrance 
 
 withstood. 
 Gone amiss then forsooth had been Ecgtheow's 
 
 son 1550 
 
 Underneath the wide ground there, the kemp of 
 
 the Geats, 
 Save to him his war-byrny had fram'd him a help, 
 The hard host-net ; and save that the Lord God 
 
 the Holy 
 Had wielded the war-gain, the Lord the All-wise ; 
 Save that the skies' Ruler had rightwisely doom'd it 
 All easily. Sithence he stood up again. 
 
 XXIV. BEOWULF SLAYETH GRENDEL'S 
 DAM, SMITETH OFF GRENDEL'S HEAD, 
 AND COiMETH BACK WITH HIS 
 THANES TO HART. 
 
 MIDST the war-gear he saw then a bill 
 victory-wealthy, 
 An old sword of eotens full doughty of 
 edges, 
 The worship of warriors. That was choice of all 
 weapons, 1659 
 
 Save that more was it made than any man other 
 In the battle-play ever might bear it afield, 
 So goodly, all glorious, the work of the giants. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 91 
 
 Then the girdled hilt seiz'd he, the Wolf of the 
 
 Scyldings, 
 The rough and the sword-grim, and drew forth 
 
 the ring-sword, 
 Naught weening of life, and wrathful he smote 
 
 then 
 So that there on her halse the hard edge begripped. 
 And brake through the bone-rings : the bill all 
 
 through-waded 
 Her flesh-sheathing fey ; cring'd she down on the 
 
 floor; 
 The sword was war-sweaty, the man in his work 
 
 joy'd. 
 The bright beam shone forth, the light stood 
 
 withinward, 1570 
 
 E'en as down from the heavens' clear high aloft 
 
 shineth 
 The sky's candle. He all along the house scanned; 
 Then turn'd by the wall along, heav'd up his 
 
 weapon 
 Hard by the hilts the Hygelac's thane there, 
 Ireful one-reded ; naught worthless the edge was 
 Unto the warrior ; but rathely now would he 
 To Grendel make payment of many war-onsets. 
 Of them that he wrought on the folk of the West 
 
 Danes 
 Oftener by mickle than one time alone, 
 
92 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Whenas he the hearthfellows of Hrothgar the 
 King 1580 
 
 Slew in their slumber and fretted them sleeping, 
 Men fifteen to wit of the folk of the Danes, 
 And e'en such another deal ferry'd off outward, 
 Loathly prey. Now he paid him his guerdon 
 
 therefor, 
 The fierce champion ; so well, that abed there he 
 
 saw 
 Where Grendel war-weary was lying adown 
 Forlorn of his life, as him ere had scathed 
 The battle at Hart ; sprang wide the body, 
 Sithence after death he suffered the stroke, 
 The hard swing of sword. Then he smote the 
 head off him. 1590 
 
 Now soon were they seeing, those sage of the 
 carles. 
 E'en they who with Hrothgar gaz'd down on the 
 
 holm. 
 That the surge of the billows was blended about. 
 The sea stain'd with blood. Therewith the hoar- 
 blended, 
 The old men, of the good one gat talking together 
 That they of the Atheling ween'd never eft-soon 
 That he, glad in his war-gain, should wend him 
 
 a-seeking 
 The mighty king, since unto many it seemed 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 93 
 
 That him the mere-she-wolf had sunder'd and 
 
 broken. 
 Came then nones of the day, and the ness there 
 
 they gave up, I600 
 
 The Scyldings the brisk ; and then busk'd him 
 
 home thence-ward 
 The gold-friend of men. But the guests, there 
 
 they sat 
 All sick of their mood, and star'd on the mere ; 
 They wist not, they ween'd not if him their own 
 
 friend-lord 
 Himself they should see. 
 
 Now that sword began 
 Because of the war-sweat into icicles war-made. 
 The war -bill, to wane: that was one of the 
 
 wonders 
 That it melted away most like unto ice 
 When the bond of the frost the Father lets loosen, 
 Unwindeth the wave-ropes, e'en he that hath 
 
 wielding I610 
 
 Of times and of seasons, who is the sooth Shaper. 
 
 In those wicks there he took not, the Weder- 
 
 Geats' champion, 
 Of treasure-wealth more, though he saw there a 
 
 many, 
 Than the off-smitten head and the sword-hilts 
 
 together 
 
94 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 With treasure made shifting ; for the sword-blade 
 
 was molten, 
 The sword broider'd was burn'd up, so hot was 
 
 that blood, 
 So poisonous the alien ghost there that had died. 
 Now soon was a-swimming he who erst in the 
 
 strife bode 
 The war-onset of wrath ones ; he divM up through 
 
 the water ; 
 And now were the wave-welters cleansed full well, 
 Yea the dwellings full wide, where the ghost of 
 
 elsewhither i62i 
 
 Let go of his life-days and the waning of living. 
 
 Came then unto land the helm of the ship-lads 
 Swimming stout-hearted, glad of his sea-spoil. 
 The burden so mighty of that which he bore there. 
 Yode then against him and gave thanks to God 
 That fair heap of thanes, and were fain of their 
 
 lord, 
 For that hale and sound now they might see him 
 
 with eyen ; 
 Then was from the bold one the helm and the 
 
 byrny 
 All speedily loosenM. The lake now was laid, 1630 
 The water 'neath welkin with war-gore bestained. 
 Forth then they far'd them alongst of the foot- 
 tracks, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 95 
 
 Men fain of heart all, as they meted the earth- 
 way, 
 The street the well known ; then those king-bold 
 
 of men 
 Away from the holm-cliff the head there they bore 
 Uneasily ever to each one that bore it, 
 The full stout-heart of men : it was four of them 
 
 needs must 
 On the stake of the slaughter with strong toil 
 
 there ferry 
 Unto the gold-hall the head of that Grendel ; 
 Until forthright in haste came into that hall, 1640 
 Fierce, keen in the hosting, a fourteen of men 
 Of the Geat-folk a-ganging ; and with them their 
 
 lord, 
 The moody amidst of the throng, trod the mead- 
 plains ; 
 Came then in a-wending the foreman of thanes. 
 The man keen of his deeds all beworshipp'd of 
 
 doom, 
 The hero, the battle-deer, Hrothgar to greet. 
 Then was by the fell borne in onto the floor 
 Grendel's head, whereas men were a-drinking in 
 
 hall, 
 Aweful before the earls, yea and the woman. 
 The sight wondrous to see the warriors there 
 look'd on. 1650 
 
96 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 XXV. CONVERSE OF HROTHGAR WITH 
 BEOWULF. 
 
 SPAKE out then Beowulf, Ecgtheow's bairn : 
 What ! we the sea-spoils here to thee, son of 
 Healfdene, 
 High lord of the Scyldings, with lust have brought 
 
 hither 
 For a token of glory, e'en these thou beholdest. 
 Now I all unsoftly with life I escaped. 
 In war under the water dar'd I the work 
 Full hard to be worked, and well-nigh there was 
 The sundering of strife, save that me God had 
 
 shielded. 
 So it is that in battle naught might I with 
 
 Hrunting 
 One whit do the work, though the weapon be 
 
 doughty ; I660 
 
 But to me then he granted, the Wielder of men. 
 That on wall I beheld there all beauteous hanging 
 An ancient sword might-endow'd (often he leadeth 
 
 right 
 The friendless of men) ; so forth drew I that 
 
 weapon. 
 In that onset I slew there, as hap then appaid me, 
 The herd of the house ; then that bill of the 
 
 host, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 97 
 
 The broider'd sword, burn'd up, and that blood 
 
 sprang forth 
 The hottest of battle-sweats ; but the hilts thereof 
 
 thenceforth 
 From the foemen I ferry'd. I wreaked the foul 
 
 deeds. 
 The death-quelling of Danes, e'en as duly behoved. 
 Now this I behote thee, that here in Hart mayst 
 
 thou 1671 
 
 Sleep sorrowless henceforth with the host of thy men 
 And the thanes every one that are of thy people 
 Of doughty and young ; that for them need thou 
 
 dread not, 
 O high lord of Scyldings, on that behalf soothly 
 Life-bale for the earls as erst thou hast done. 
 Then was the hilt golden to the ancient of 
 
 warriors. 
 The hoary of host-leaders, into hand given, 
 The old work of giants ; it turn'd to the owning. 
 After fall of the Devils, of the lord of the Danes, 
 That work of the wonder-smith, syth gave up the 
 
 world 1681 
 
 The fierce-hearted groom, the foeman of God, 
 The murder-beguilted, and there eke his mother ; 
 Unto the wielding of world-kings it turned, 
 The best that there be betwixt of the sea-floods 
 Of them that in Scaney dealt out the scat. 
 
98 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Now spake out Hrothgar, as he look'd on the 
 
 hilts there, 
 The old heir-loom whereon was writ the be- 
 ginning 
 Of the strife of the old time, whenas the flood 
 
 slew, 
 The ocean a-gushing, that kin of the giants 1690 
 As fiercely they fared. That was a folk alien 
 To the Lord everlasting ; so to them a last guerdon 
 Through the welling of waters the Wielder did 
 
 give. 
 So was on the sword-guards all of the sheer gold 
 By dint of the rune-staves rightly bemarked, 
 Set down and said for whom first was that sword 
 
 wrought, 
 And the choice of all irons erst had been done, 
 Wreath-hilted and worm-adorn'd. Then spake 
 
 the wise one, 
 Healfdene's son, and all were gone silent : 
 
 Lo that may he say, who the right and the 
 
 soothfast 1700 
 
 Amid the folk frameth, and far back all remembers. 
 The old country's warden, that as for this earl 
 
 here 
 Born better was he. Uprear'd is the fame-blast 
 Through wide ways far yonder, O Beowulf, friend 
 
 mine, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 99 
 
 Of thee o'er all peoples. Thou hold'st all with 
 
 patience, 
 Thy might with mood-wisdom ; I shall make 
 
 thee my love good, 
 As we twain at first spake it. For a comfort thou 
 
 shalt be 
 Granted long while and long unto thy people. 
 For a help unto heroes. Naught such became 
 
 Here mod 
 To Ecgwela's offspring, the honourful Scyldings ; 
 For their welfare naught wax'd he, but for felling 
 
 in slaughter, 1711 
 
 For the quelling of death to the folk of the Danes. 
 Mood-swollen he brake there his board-fellows 
 
 soothly. 
 His shoulder-friends, until he sunder'd him lonely, 
 That mighty of princes, from the mirth of all 
 
 men-folk. 
 Though him God the mighty in the joyance of 
 
 might. 
 In main strength, exalted high over all men, 
 And framed him forth, yet fast in his heart grew 
 A breast-hoard blood-fierce ; none of fair rings 
 
 he gave 
 To the Danes as due doom would. Unmerry 
 
 he dured 1720 
 
 So that yet of that strife the trouble he sufFer'd, 
 
lOO THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 A folk-bale so longsome. By such do thou learn 
 
 thee, 
 Get thee hold of man-valour : this tale for thy 
 
 teaching 
 Old in winters I tell thee. 'Tis wonder to say it, 
 How the high God almighty to the kindred of 
 
 mankind 
 Through his mind the wide-fashion'd deals wis- 
 dom about, 
 Home and earlship; he owneth the wielding of all. 
 At whiles unto love he letteth to turn 
 The mood-thought of a man that is mighty of 
 
 kindred. 
 And in his land giveth him joyance of earth, 1730 
 And to have and to hold the high ward-burg of 
 
 men. 
 And sets so 'neath his wielding the deals of the 
 
 world, 
 Dominion wide reaching, that he himself may not 
 In all his unwisdom of the ending bethink him. 
 He wonneth well-faring, nothing him wasteth 
 Sickness nor eld, nor the foe-sorrow to him 
 Dark in mind waxeth, nor strife any where. 
 The edge-hate, appeareth ; but all the world for 
 
 him 
 Wends as he willeth, and the worse naught he 
 
 wotteth. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF lOl 
 
 XXVI. MORE CONVERSE OF HROTH- 
 GAR AND BEOWULF : THE GEATS 
 MAKE THEM READY FOR DEPAR- 
 TURE. 
 
 UNTIL that within him a deal of o'erthink- 
 ing 1740 
 
 Waxeth and groweth while sleepeth the 
 warder, 
 The soul's herdsman ; that slumber too fast is 
 
 forsooth, 
 Fast bounden by troubles, the banesman all nigh. 
 E'en he that from arrow-bow evilly shooteth. 
 Then he in his heart under helm is besmitten 
 With a bitter shaft ; not a whit then may he ward 
 
 him 
 From the wry wonder-biddings of the ghost the 
 
 all-wicked. 
 Too little he deems that which long he hath 
 
 holden. 
 Wrath-greedy he covets ; nor e'en for boast-sake 
 
 gives 
 The rings fair beplated ; and the forth-coming 
 
 doom 1750 
 
 Forgetteth, forheedeth, for that God gave him 
 
 erewhile, 
 The Wielder of glory, a deal of the worship. 
 
I02 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 At the ending-stave then it after befalleth 
 That the shell of his body sinks fleeting away, 
 And falleth all fey ; and another one fetcheth, 
 E'en one that undolefuUy dealeth the treasure, 
 The earl's gains of aforetime, and fear never 
 
 heedeth. 
 From the bale-envy ward thee, lief Beowulf, 
 
 therefore. 
 Thou best of all men, and choose thee the better, 
 The redes everlasting ; to o'erthinking turn not, 
 O mighty of champions ! for now thy might 
 
 breatheth i76i 
 
 For a short while of time ; but eft-soon it shall be 
 That sickness or edges from thy strength thee 
 
 shall sunder. 
 Or the hold of the fire, or the welling of floods. 
 Or the grip of the sword-blade, or flight of the 
 
 spear. 
 Or eld the all-evil : or the beaming of eyen 
 Shall fail and shall dim : then shall it be forth- 
 right 
 That thee, lordly man, the death over-masters. 
 E'en so I the Ring-Danes for an hundred of 
 
 seasons 
 Did wield under the welkin and lock'd them by 
 
 war 1770 
 
 From many a kindred the Middle-Garth over 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 103 
 
 With ash-spears and edges, in such wise that not 
 
 ever 
 Under the sky's run of my foemen I reckoned. 
 What ! to me in my land came a shifting of that, 
 Came grief after game, sithence Grendel befell, 
 My foeman of old, mine ingoer soothly. 
 I from that onfall bore ever unceasing 
 Mickle mood-care ; herefor be thanks to the 
 
 Maker, 
 To the Lord everlasting, that in life I abided. 
 Yea, that I on that head all sword-gory there, 1780 
 Now the old strife is over, with eyen should stare. 
 Go fare thou to settle, the feast-joyance dree thou, 
 O war-worshipp'd ! unto us twain yet there 
 
 will be 
 Mickle treasure in common when come is the 
 
 morning. 
 Glad of mood then the Geat was, and speedy 
 
 he gat him 
 To go see the settle, as the sage one commanded. 
 Then was after as erst, that they of the might- 
 fame. 
 The floor-sitters, fairly the feasting bedight them 
 All newly. The helm of the night loured over 
 Dark over the host-men. Uprose all the 
 
 doughty, 1790 
 
 For he, the hoar-blended, would wend to his bed, 
 
104 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 That old man of the Scyldings. The Geat with- 
 out measure, 
 The mighty shield-warrior, now willed him rest. 
 And soon now the hall-thane him of way-faring 
 
 weary, 
 From far away come, forth show'd him the road. 
 E'en he who for courtesy cared for all things 
 Of the needs of the thane, e'en such as on that 
 
 day 
 The farers o'er ocean would fainly have had. 
 Rested then the wide-hearted ; high up the 
 
 house tower'd 
 Wide-gaping all gold-dight ; within slept the 
 
 guest ; 1800 
 
 Until the black raven, the blithe-hearted, boded 
 The heavens' joy : then was come thither a- 
 
 hastening 
 The bright sun o'er the plains, and hasten'd the 
 
 scathers. 
 The athelings once more aback to their people 
 All fain to be faring ; and far away thence 
 Would the comer high-hearted go visit his keel. 
 Bade then the hard one Hrunting to bear, 
 The Ecglaf 's son bade to take him his sword. 
 The iron well-lov'd; gave him thanks for the 
 
 lending, 
 Quoth he that the war-friend for worthy he told, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 105 
 
 Full of craft in the war ; nor with word blam'd 
 
 he aught I811 
 
 The edge of the sword. Hah ! the high-hearted 
 
 warrior. 
 So whenas all way-forward, yare in their war-gear, 
 Were the warriors, the dear one then went to the 
 
 Danes, 
 To the high seat went the Atheling, whereas was 
 
 the other ; 
 The battle-bold warrior gave greeting to Hroth- 
 
 gar. 
 
 XXVII. BEOWULF BIDS HROTHGAR 
 FAREWELL: THE GEATS FARE TO 
 SHIP. 
 
 OUT then spake Beowulf, Ecgtheow's bairn : 
 As now we sea-farers have will to be say- 
 ing, 
 We from afar come, that now are we fainest 
 Of seeking to Hygelac. Here well erst were we 
 Served as our wills would, and well thine avail 
 
 was. 1821 
 
 If I on the earth then, be it e'en but a little. 
 
 Of the love of thy mood may yet more be an- 
 
 earning, 
 O lord of the men-folk, than heretofore might I, 
 
Io6 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Of the works of the battle yare then soon shall 
 
 I be. 
 If I should be learning, I over the flood's run, 
 That the sitters about thee beset thee with dread, 
 Even thee hating as otherwhile did they ; 
 Then thousands to theeward of thanes shall I 
 
 bring 
 For the helping of heroes. Of Hygelac wot I, 
 The lord of the Geat-folk, though he be but a 
 
 youngling, i83i 
 
 That shepherd of folk, that me will he further 
 By words and by works, that well may I ward 
 
 thee, 
 And unto thine helping the spear-holt may bear, 
 A main-staying mighty, whenas men thou art 
 
 needing. 
 And if therewith Hrethric in the courts of the 
 
 Geat-house, 
 The King's bairn, take hosting, then may he a 
 
 many 
 Of friends find him soothly : far countries shall be 
 Better sought to by him who for himself is 
 
 doughty. 1839 
 
 Out then spake Hrothgar in answer to himward: 
 
 Thy word-saying soothly the Lord of all wisdom 
 
 Hath sent into thy mind ; never heard I more 
 
 sagely 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 107 
 
 In a life that so young was a man word be laying ; 
 Strong of might and main art thou and sage of 
 
 thy mood, 
 Wise the words of thy framing. Tell I this for 
 
 a weening, 
 If it so come to pass that the spear yet shall 
 
 take, 
 Or the battle all sword-grim, the son of that 
 
 Hrethel, 
 Or sickness or iron thine Alderman have, 
 Thy shepherd of folk, and thou fast to life hold 
 
 thee. 
 Then no better than thee may the Sea-Geats be 
 
 having 1850 
 
 To choose for themselves, no one of the kings. 
 Hoard-warden of heroes, if then thou wilt hold 
 Thy kinsman's own kingdom. Me liketh thy 
 
 mood-heart. 
 The longer the better, O Beowulf the lief; 
 In such wise hast thou fared, that unto the folks 
 
 now. 
 The folk of the Geats and the Gar-Danes withal. 
 In common shall peace be, and strife rest appeased 
 And the hatreds the doleful which erst they have 
 
 dreed ; 
 Shall become, whiles I wield it, this wide realm 
 
 of ours. 
 
Io8 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Treasures common to either folk : many a one 
 
 other I860 
 
 With good things shall greet o'er the bath of the 
 
 gannet ; 
 And the ring'd bark withal over sea shall be 
 
 bringing 
 The gifts and love-tokens. The twain folks I 
 
 know 
 Toward foeman toward friend fast-fashion'd to- 
 gether, 
 In every way blameless as in the old wise. 
 
 Then the refuge of warriors, he gave him withal, 
 Gave Healfdene's son of treasures yet twelve ; 
 And he bade him with those gifts to go his own 
 
 people 
 To seek in all soundness, and swiftly come back. 
 Then kissed the king, he of noble kin gotten, 1870 
 The lord of the Scyldings, that best of the thanes. 
 By the halse then he took him ; from him fell 
 
 the tears 
 From the blended of hoar hair. Of both things 
 
 was there hoping 
 To the old, the old wise one ; yet most of the 
 
 other. 
 To wit, that they sithence each each might be 
 
 seeing. 
 The high-heart in council. To him so lief was he 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 109 
 
 That he his breast-welling might nowise forbear, 
 But there in his bosom, bound fast in his heart- 
 bonds, 
 After that dear man a longing dim-hidden 
 Burn'd against blood-tie. So Beowulf thence- 
 forth, 1880 
 The gold-proud of warriors, trod the mould 
 
 grassy. 
 Exulting in gold-store. The sea-ganger bided 
 Its owning-lord whereas at anchor it rode. 
 Then was there in going the gift of King Hrothgar 
 Oft highly accounted ; yea, that was a king 
 In every wise blameless, till eld took from him 
 
 eftsoon 
 The joyance of might, as it oft scathes a many. 
 
 XXVIII. BEOWULF COMES BACK TO HIS 
 LAND. OF THE TALE OF THRYTHO. 
 
 CAME a many to flood then all mighty of 
 mood. 
 Of the bachelors were they, and ring-nets 
 they bore. 
 The limb-sarks belocked. The land-warden 
 noted 1890 
 
 The earls' aback-faring, as erst he beheld them ; 
 Then nowise with harm from the nose of the cliff 
 
no THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The guests there he greeted, but rode unto them- 
 
 ward, 
 And quoth that full welcome to the folk of the 
 
 Weders 
 The bright-coated warriors were wending to ship. 
 Then was on the sand there the bark the wide- 
 sided 
 With war-weed beladen, the ring-stemm'd as she 
 
 lay there 
 With mares and with treasure ; uptower'd the 
 
 mast 
 High over Hrothgar's wealth of the hoards. 
 He then to the boat-warden handseled a gold- 
 bounden 1900 
 
 Sword, so that sithence was he on mead-bench 
 Worthy'd the more for that very same wealth, 
 The heirloom. Sithence in the ship he departed 
 To stir the deep water ; the Dane-land he left. 
 Then was by the mast there one of the sea-rails, 
 A sail, with rope made fast ; thunder'd the sound- 
 wood. 
 Not there the wave-floater did the wind o'er the 
 
 billows 
 Waft off from its ways ; the sea-wender fared. 
 Floated the foamy-neck'd forth o'er the waves. 
 The bounden-stemm'd over the streams of the 
 sea : i9io 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF ill 
 
 Till the cliffs of the Geats there they gat them to 
 
 wit, 
 The nesses well kenned. Throng'd up the keel 
 
 then 
 Driven hard by the lift, and stood on the land. 
 Then speedy ut holm was the hythe- warden 
 
 yare, 
 E'en he who a long while after the lief men 
 Eager at stream's side far off had looked. 
 To the sand thereon bound he the wide-fathom'd 
 
 ship 
 With anchor-bands fast, lest from them the waves' 
 
 might 
 The wood that was winsome should drive thence 
 
 awayward. 
 Thereon bade he upbear the athelings' treasures, 
 The fretwork and wrought gold. Not far from 
 
 them thenceforth 1921 
 
 To seek to the giver of treasures it was, 
 E'en Hygelac, Hrethel's son, where at home 
 
 wonneth 
 Himself and his fellows hard by the sea-wall. 
 Brave was the builded house, bold king the lord 
 
 was. 
 High were the walls, Hygd very young, 
 Wise and well-thriven, though few of winters 
 Under the burg-locks had she abided, 
 
112 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The daughter of Haereth ; naught was she das- 
 tard ; 
 Nowise niggard of gifts to the folk of the Geats, 
 Of wealth of the treasures. But wrath Thrytho 
 
 bore, 1931 
 
 The folk-queen the fierce, wrought the crime-deed 
 
 full fearful. 
 No one there durst it, the bold one, to dare, 
 Of the comrades beloved, save only her lord. 
 That on her by day with eyen he stare. 
 But if to him death-bonds predestin'd he count on, 
 Hand-wreathed ; thereafter all rathely it was 
 After the hand-grip the sword-blade appointed. 
 That the cunning-wrought sword should show 
 
 forth the deed. 
 Make known the murder-bale. Naught is such 
 
 queenlike 1940 
 
 For a woman to handle, though peerless she be. 
 That a weaver of peace the life should waylay. 
 For a shame that was lying, of a lief man of men ; 
 But the kinsman of Hemming, he hindered it 
 
 surely. 
 Yet the drinkers of ale otherwise said they ; 
 That folk-bales, which were lesser, she framed 
 
 forsooth, 
 Lesser enmity-malice, since thence erst she was 
 Given gold-deck'd to the young one of champions. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 13 
 
 She the dear of her lineage, since Offa's floor 
 Over the fallow flood by the lore of her father 1950 
 She sought in her wayfaring. Well was she 
 
 sithence 
 There on the man-throne mighty with good ; 
 Her shaping of life well brooked she living ; 
 High love she held toward the lord of the heroes ; 
 Of all kindred of men by the hearsay of me 
 The best of all was he the twain seas beside, 
 Of the measureless kindred ; thereof OfFa was 
 For gifts and for war, the spear-keen of men, 
 Full widely beworthy'd, with wisdom he held 
 The land of his heritage. Thence awoke 
 Eomasr i960 
 
 For a help unto heroes, the kinsman of Hemming, 
 The grandson of Garmund, the crafty in war- 
 strife. 
 
 XXIX. BEOWULF TELLS HYGELAC OF 
 HROTHGAR : ALSO OF FREAWARU HIS 
 DAUGHTER. 
 
 WENT his ways then the hard one, and 
 he with his hand-shoal, 
 Himself over the sand the sea-plain a- 
 treading. 
 The warths wide away ; shone the world's candle, 
 
 H 
 
114 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The sun slop'd from the southward ; so dreed 
 
 they their journey, 
 And went their ways stoutly unto where the earls' 
 
 refuge, 
 The banesman of Ongentheow all in his burgs 
 
 there. 
 The young king of war, the good, as they heard it. 
 Was dealing the rings. Aright unto Hygelac 1970 
 Was Beowulf's speeding made knowen full 
 
 swiftly. 
 That there into the house-place that hedge of 
 
 the warriors, 
 His mate of the linden-board, living was come, 
 Hale from the battle-play home to him house- 
 ward. 
 Then rathe was beroomed, as the rich one was 
 
 bidding. 
 For the guests a-foot going the floor all within- 
 
 ward. 
 Then sat in the face of him he from the fight 
 
 sav'd. 
 Kinsman by kinsman, whenas his man-lord 
 In fair-sounding speech had greeted the faithful 
 With mightyful words. With mead-skinking 
 
 turned 1980 
 
 Through the high house adown the daughter of 
 
 Haereth : 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF II5 
 
 The people she loved : the wine-bucket bare she 
 To the hands of the men. But now fell to 
 
 Hygelac 
 His very house-fellow in that hall the high 
 To question full fairly, for wit-lust to-brake him, 
 Of what like were the journeys the Sea-Geats had 
 
 wended : 
 How befell you the sea-lode, O Beowulf lief, 
 When thou on a sudden bethoughtst thee afar 
 Over the salt water the strife to be seeking, 
 The battle in Hart ? or for Hrothgar forsooth 1990 
 The wide-kenned woe some whit didst thou mend, 
 For that mighty of lords ? I therefore the mood- 
 care 
 In woe-wellings seethed ; trow'd not in the 
 
 wending 
 Of thee the lief man. A long while did I pray thee 
 That thou the death-guest there should greet not 
 
 a whit ; 
 Wouldst let those same South-Danes their own 
 
 selves to settle 
 The war-tide with Grendel. Now to God say I 
 
 thank 
 That thee, and thee sound, now may I see. 
 
 Out then spake Beowulf, Ecgtheow's bairn : 
 All undark it is, O Hygelac lord, 2000 
 
 That meeting the mighty, to a many of men ; 
 
Il6 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Of what like was the meeting of Grendel and me 
 On that field of the deed, where he many a deal 
 For the Victory-Scyldings of sorrow had framed, 
 And misery for ever ; but all that I awreaked. 
 So that needeth not boast any kinsman of Grendel 
 Any one upon earth of that uproar of dawn-dusk, 
 Nay not who lives longest of that kindred the 
 
 loathly 
 Encompassed of fenland. Thither first did I come 
 Unto that ring-hall Hrothgar to greet ; 2010 
 
 Soon unto me the great Healfdene's son, 
 So soon as my heart he was wotting forsooth. 
 Right against his own son a settle there showed. 
 All that throng was in joy, nor life-long saw I 
 
 ever 
 Under vault of the heavens amidst any hall-sitters 
 More mirth of the mead. There the mighty 
 
 Queen whiles, 
 Peace-sib of the folk, went all over the floor. 
 To the young sons bade heart up ; oft she there 
 
 the ring-wreath 
 Gave unto a man ere to settle she wended. 
 At whiles fore the doughty the daughter of 
 
 Hrothgar 2020 
 
 To the earls at the end the ale-bucket bore ; 
 E*en she whom Freawaru the floor-sitters thereat 
 Heard I to name ; where she the naiFd treasure 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF II7 
 
 Gave to the warriors. She was behight then 
 Youngling and gold-dight to the glad son of 
 
 Froda. 
 This hath seemed fair to the friend of the 
 
 Scyldings, 
 The herd of the realm, and good rede he ac- 
 counts it, 
 That he with that wife of death-feuds a deal 
 And of strifes should allay. Oft unseldom each- 
 
 where 
 After a lord's fall e'en but for a little 2030 
 
 Bows down the bane-spear, though doughty the 
 bride be. 
 
 XXX. BEOWULF FOREBODES ILL FROM 
 THE WEDDING OF FREAWARU : HE 
 TELLS OF GRENDEL AND HIS DAM. 
 
 ILL-LIKING this may be to the lord of the 
 Heathobards, 
 And to each of the thanes of that same people, 
 When he with fair bride on the floor of hall 
 
 wendeth. 
 That the Dane's noble bairn his doughty should 
 
 wait on, 
 As on him glisten there the heirlooms of the 
 aged. 
 
Il8 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Hard and with rings bedight, Heathobards' 
 
 treasure, 
 Whileas the weapons yet they might wield ; 
 Till astray did they lead there at the lind-play 
 Their own fellows belov'd and their very own 
 
 lives. 2040 
 
 For then saith at the beer, he who seeth the ring. 
 An ancient ash-warrior who mindeth of all 
 The spear-death of men ; grim is he of mind ; 
 Sad of mood he beginneth to tell the young 
 
 champion. 
 Through the thought of his heart his mind there 
 
 to try, 
 The war-bale to waken, and sayeth this word : 
 Mayest thou, friend mine, wot of the war-sword, 
 That which thy father bore in the fight 
 Under the war-mask e'en on the last time, 
 That the dear iron, whereas the Danes slew 
 
 him, 2050 
 
 Wielded the death-field, since Withergyld lay, 
 After fall of the heroes, the keen-hearted 
 
 Scyldings ? 
 Now here of those banesmen the son, whoseso 
 
 he be. 
 All merry in fretwork forth on floor fareth ; 
 Of the murder he boasteth, and that jewel he 
 
 beareth, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 19 
 
 E'en that which of right thou shouldest arede. 
 Thus he mindeth and maketh word every of 
 
 times, 
 With sore words he telleth, until the time cometh 
 That the thane of the fair bride for the deeds of 
 
 his father 
 After bite of the bill sleepeth all blood-stain d, 2060 
 All forfeit of life ; but thenceforth the other 
 Escapeth alive ; the land well he kenneth ; 
 Then will be broken on both sides forsooth 
 The oath-swearing of earls, whenas unto Ingeld 
 Well up the death-hatreds, and the wife-loves of him 
 Because of the care-wellings cooler become. 
 Therefore the Heathobards' faith I account not, 
 Their deal of the folk-peace, unguileful to Danes, 
 Their fast-bounden friendship. Henceforth must 
 
 I speak on 
 Again about Grendel, that thou get well to 
 
 know it, 2070 
 
 O treasure-out-dealer, how sithence betided 
 The hand-race of heroes : sithence heaven's gem 
 All over the grounds glided, came the wroth 
 
 guest. 
 The dire night-angry one us to go look on, 
 Whereas we all sound were warding the hall. 
 There then for Handshoe was battle abiding. 
 Life-bale to the fey ; he first lay alow, 
 
I20 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The war-champion girded ; unto him became 
 
 Grendel, 
 To the great thane of kindreds, a banesman of 
 mouth, 2079 
 
 Of the man well-beloved the body he swallow'd ; 
 Nor the sooner therefor out empty-handed 
 The bloody-tooth'd banesman, of bales all be- 
 
 mindful, 
 Out from that gold-hall yet would he get him ; 
 But he, mighty of main, made trial of me, 
 And gripp'd ready-handed. His glove hung aloft. 
 Wondrous and wide, in wily bands fast. 
 With cunning wiles was it begeared forsooth, 
 With crafts of the devils and fells of the dragons ; 
 He me withinwards there, me the unsinning. 
 The doer of big deeds would do me to be 2090 
 As one of the many ; but naught so it might be, 
 Sithence in mine anger upright I stood. 
 
 'Tis over-long telling how I to the folk- 
 scather 
 For each one of evils out paid the hand-gild. 
 There I, O my lord king, them thy leal people 
 Worthy'd with works : but away he gat loosed 
 Out thence for a little while, brooked yet life- 
 joys; 
 But his right hand held ward of his track howso- 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF I2I 
 
 High upon Hart-hall, and thence away humble 
 He sad of his mood to the mere-ground fell 
 
 downward. 2100 
 
 Me for that slaughter-race the friend of the 
 
 Scyldings 
 With gold that beplated was mickle deal paid, 
 With a many of treasures, sithence came the 
 
 morning. 
 And we to the feast-tide had sat us adown ; 
 Song was and glee there ; the elder of Scyldings, 
 Asking of many things, told of things o'erpast ; 
 Whiles hath the battle-deer there the harp's joy, 
 The wood of mirth greeted ; whiles the lay 
 
 said he 
 Soothfast and sorrowful ; whiles a spell seldom 
 
 told 
 Told he by right, the king roomy-hearted ; 2110 
 Whiles began afterward he by eld bounden, 
 The aged hoar warrior, of his youth to bewail 
 
 him, 
 Its might of the battle ; his breast well'd within 
 
 him. 
 When he, wont in winters, of many now minded. 
 So we there withinward the livelong day's wear- 
 ing 
 Took pleasure amongst us, till came upon men 
 Another of nights ; then eftsoons again 
 
122 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Was yare for the harm-wreak the mother of 
 
 Grendel : 
 All sorry she wended, for her son death had taken, 
 The war-hate of the Weders : that monster of 
 women 2120 
 
 Awreaked her bairn, and quelled a warrior 
 In manner all mighty. Then was there from 
 
 Aeschere, 
 The wise man of old, life waning away ; 
 Nor him might they even when come was the 
 
 morning. 
 That death-weary wight, the folk of the Danes 
 Burn up with the brand, nor lade on the bale 
 The man well-belov'd, for his body she bare off 
 In her fathom the fiendly all under the fell- 
 stream. 
 That was unto Hrothgar of sorrows the heaviest 
 Of them which the folk-chieftain long had be- 
 fallen. 2130 
 Then me did the lord king, and e'en by thy life. 
 Mood-heavy beseech me that I in the holm- 
 throng 
 Should do after earlship, my life to adventure, 
 And frame me main-greatness, and meed he 
 
 behight me. 
 Then I of the welling flood, which is well kenned, 
 The grim and the grisly ground-herder did find. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 123 
 
 There to us for a while was the blending of hands ; 
 The holm welled with gore, and the head I be- 
 
 carved 
 In that hall of the ground from the Mother of 
 
 Grendel 
 With the all-eked edges ; unsoftly out thence 2140 
 My life forth I ferry^d, for not yet was I fey. 
 But the earls' burg to me was giving thereafter 
 Much sort of the treasures, e'en Healfdene's son. 
 
 XXXI. BEOWULF GIVES HROTHGAR'S 
 GIFTS TO HYGELAC, AND BY HIM IS 
 REWARDED. OF THE DEATH OF 
 HYGELAC AND OF HEARDRED HIS 
 SON, AND HOW BEOWULF IS KING OF 
 THE GEATS : THE WORM IS FIRST 
 TOLD OF. 
 
 SO therewith the folk-king far'd, living full 
 seemly ; 
 By those wages forsooth ne'er a whit had I 
 lost. 
 By the meed of my main, but to me treasure gave 
 
 he, 
 The Healfdene's son, to the doom of myself; 
 Which to thee, king of bold ones, will I be 
 a-bringing, 
 
124 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 And gladly will give thee ; for of thee is all 
 
 gotten 
 Of favours along, and but little have I 2150 
 
 Of head-kinsmen forsooth, saving, Hygelac, thee. 
 Then he bade them bear in the boar-shape, the 
 
 head-sign. 
 The battle-steep war-helm, the byrny all hoary, 
 The sword stately-good, and spell after he said : 
 This raiment of war Hrothgar gave to my hand. 
 The wise of the kings, and therewithal bade me, 
 That I first of all of his favour should flit thee ; 
 He quoth that first had it King Heorogar of old. 
 The king of the Scyldings, a long while of time ; 
 But no sooner would he give it unto his son, 2160 
 Heoroward the well-whet, though kind to him 
 
 were he, 
 This weed of the breast. Do thou brook it full 
 
 well. 
 On these fretworks, so heard I, four horses 
 
 therewith. 
 All alike, close followed after the track, 
 Steeds apple-fallow. Fair grace he gave him 
 Of horses and treasures. E'en thus shall do 
 
 kinsman. 
 And nowise a wile-net shall weave for another 
 With craft of the darkness, or do unto death 
 His very hand-fellow. But now unto Hygelac 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 125 
 
 The bold in the battle was his nephew full faith- 
 ful, 2170 
 
 And either to other of good deeds was mindful. 
 
 I heard that the neck-ring to Hygd did he give, 
 
 E'en the wonder-gem well-wrought, that Wealh- 
 theow gave him, 
 
 The king's daughter ; gave he three steeds there- 
 withal 
 
 Slender, and saddle-bright ; sithence to her was. 
 
 After the ring-gift, the breast well beworthy'd. 
 Thus boldly he bore him, the Ecgtheow's bairn, 
 
 The groom kenned in battle, in good deeds a- 
 doing ; 
 
 After due doom he did, and ne'er slew he the 
 drunken 
 
 Hearth-fellows of him : naught rough was his 
 heart ; 2180 
 
 But of all men of mankind with the greatest of 
 might 
 
 The gift fully and fast set, which had God to 
 him given. 
 
 That war-deer did hold. Long was he con- 
 temned. 
 
 While the bairns of the Geats naught told him 
 for good, 
 
 Nor him on the mead-bench worthy of mickle 
 
 The lord of the war-hosts would be a-making. 
 
126 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Weened they strongly that he were but slack then, 
 An atheling unkeen ; then came about change 
 To the fame-happy man for every foul harm. 
 
 Bade then the earls' burg in to be brhiging, 2190 
 The king battle-famed, the leaving of Hrethel, 
 All geared with gold ; was not 'mid the Geats then 
 A treasure-gem better of them of the sword-kind, 
 That which then on Beowulf's barm there he laid; 
 And gave to him there seven thousand in gift, 
 A built house and king-stool ; to both them 
 
 together 
 Was in that folkship land that was kindly, 
 Father-right, home ; to the other one rather 
 A wide realm, to him who was there the better. 
 But thereafter it went so in days later worn 2200 
 Through the din of the battle, sithence Hygelac 
 
 lay low 
 And unto Heardred swords of the battle 
 Under the war-board were for a bane ; 
 When fell on him midst of this victory-folk 
 The hard battle-wolves, the Scyldings of war. 
 And by war overwhelmed the nephew of Hereric ; 
 That sithence unto Beowulf turned the broad 
 
 realm 
 All into his hand. Well then did he hold it 
 For a fifty of winters ; then was he an old king. 
 An old fatherland's warder ; until one began 2210 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 27 
 
 Through the dark of the night-tide, a drake, to 
 
 hold sway, 
 In a howe high aloft watched over an hoard, 
 A stone-burg full steep ; thereunder a path sty'd 
 Unknown unto men, and therewithin wended 
 Who of men do I know not ; for his lust there 
 
 took he. 
 From the hoard of the heathen his hand took away 
 A hall-bowl gem-flecked, nowise back did he 
 
 give it 
 Though the herd of the hoard him sleeping be- 
 guiled he 
 With thief-craft ; and this then found out the 
 
 king. 
 The best of folk-heroes, that wrath-boUen 
 was he. 2220 
 
 XXXII. HOW THE WORM CAME TO 
 THE HOWE, AND HOW HE WAS 
 ROBBED OF A CUP; AND HOW HE 
 FELL ON THE FOLK. 
 
 NOT at all with self-wielding the craft of 
 the worm-hoards 
 He sought of his own will, who sore him- 
 self harmed ; 
 But for threat of oppression a thrall, of I wot not 
 
128 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Which bairn of mankind, from blows wrathful 
 
 fled, 
 House-needy forsooth, and hied him therein, 
 A man by guilt troubled. Then soon it betided 
 That therein to the guest there stood grisly 
 
 terror ; 
 However the wretched, of every hope waning 
 
 The ill-shapen wight, whenas the fear gat him. 
 The treasure-vat saw ; of such there was a many 
 Up in that earth-house of treasures of old, 2231 
 As them in the yore-days, though what man I 
 
 know not. 
 The huge leavings and loom of a kindred of high 
 
 ones. 
 Well thinking of thoughts there had hidden away, 
 Dear treasures. But all them had death borne 
 
 away 
 In the times of erewhile ; and the one at the last 
 Of the doughty of that folk that there longest 
 
 lived. 
 There waxed he friend-sad, yet ween'd he to tarry. 
 That he for a little those treasures the longsome 
 Might brook for himself. But a burg now all 
 
 ready 2240 
 
 Wonn'd on the plain nigh the waves of the water, 
 New by a ness, by narrow-crafts fastened ; 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 129 
 
 Within there then bare of the treasures of earls 
 That herd of the rings a deal hard to carry, 
 Of gold fair beplated, and few words he quoth : 
 Hold thou, O earth, now, since heroes may 
 
 hold not, 
 The owning of earls. What ! it erst within thee 
 Good men did get to them ; now war-death hath 
 
 gotten. 
 Life-bale the fearful, each man and every 2249 
 Of my folk ; e'en of them who forwent the life : 
 The hall-joy had they seen. No man to wear 
 
 sword 
 I own, none to brighten the beaker beplated. 
 The dear drink-vat ; the doughty have sought to 
 
 else-whither. 
 Now shall the hard war-helm bedight with the 
 
 gold 
 Be bereft of its plating ; its polishers sleep. 
 They that the battle-mask erewhile should bur- 
 nish : 
 Likewise the war-byrny, which abode in the battle 
 O'er break of the war-boards the bite of the irons, 
 Crumbles after the warrior ; nor may the ring'd 
 
 byrny 
 After the war-leader fare wide afield 2260 
 
 On behalf of the heroes : nor joy of the harp is. 
 No game of the glee-wood ; no goodly hawk now 
 
 I 
 
130 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Through the hall swingeth ; no more the swift 
 
 horse 
 Beateth the burg-stead. Now hath bale-quelling 
 A many of life-kin forth away sent. 
 
 Suchwise sad-moody moaned in sorrow 
 One after all, unblithely bemoaning 
 By day and by night, till the welling of death 
 Touch'd at his heart. The old twilight-scather 
 Found the hoard's joyance standing all open, 2270 
 E'en he that, burning, seeketh to burgs. 
 The evil drake, naked, that flieth a night-tide. 
 With fire encompass'd ; of him the earth-dwellers 
 Are strongly adrad ; wont is he to seek to 
 The hoard in the earth, where he the gold heathen 
 Winter-old wardeth ; nor a whit him it betters. 
 So then the folk-scather for three hundred 
 
 winters 
 Held in the earth a one of hoard-houses 
 All-eked of craft, until him there anger'd 
 A man in his mood, who bare to his man-lord 228O 
 A beaker beplated, and bade him peace-warding 
 Of his lord : then was lightly the hoard searched 
 
 over, 
 And the ring-hoard off borne ; and the boon it 
 
 was granted 
 To that wretched-wrought man. There then the 
 
 lord saw 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 13 1 
 
 That work of men foregone the first time of 
 
 times. 
 Then awaken'd the Worm, and anew the strife 
 
 was ; 
 Along the stone stank he, the stout-hearted found 
 The foot-track of the foe ; he had stept forth 
 
 o*er-far 
 With dark craft, over-nigh to the head of the 
 
 drake. 
 So may the man unfey full easily outlive 2200 
 The woe and the wrack-journey, he whom the 
 
 Wielder's 
 Own grace is holding. Now sought the hoard- 
 warden 
 Eager over the ground ; for the groom he would 
 
 find 
 Who unto him sleeping had wrought out the 
 
 sore : 
 Hot and rough-moody oft he turn'd round the 
 
 howe 
 All on the outward ; but never was any man 
 On the waste ; but however in war he rejoiced. 
 In battle-work. Whiles he turn'd back to his 
 
 howe 
 And sought to his treasure-vat ; soon he found 
 
 this, 
 That one of the grooms had proven the gold, 2300 
 
132 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The high treasures ; then the hoard-warden abided, 
 But hardly forsooth, until come was the even. 
 And all anger-bollen was then the burg-warden, 
 And full much would the loath one with the fire- 
 flame pay back 
 For his drink-vat the dear. Then day was de- 
 parted 
 E'en at will to the Worm, and within wall no 
 
 longer 
 Would he bide, but awayward with burning he 
 
 fared. 
 All dight with the fire : it was fearful beginning 
 To the folk in the land, and all swiftly it fell 
 On their giver of treasure full grievously ended. 
 
 XXXIII. THE WORM BURNS BEOWULF'S 
 HOUSE, AND BEOWULF GETS READY 
 TO GO AGAINST HIM. BEOWULF'S 
 EARLY DEEDS IN BATTLE WITH THE 
 HETWARE TOLD OF. 
 
 BEGAN then the guest to spew forth of 
 gleeds, 2311 
 
 The bright dwellings to burn ; stood the 
 beam of the burning 
 For a mischief to menfolk ; now nothing that 
 quick was 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 133 
 
 The loathly lift-flier would leave there forsooth ; 
 The war of the Worm was wide to be seen there, 
 The narrowing foe's hatred anigh and afar, 
 How he, the fight-scather, the folk of the Geats 
 Hated and harm'd ; shot he back to the hoard, 
 His dark lordly hall, ere yet was the day's while ; 
 The land-dwellers had he in the light low en- 
 compassed 2320 
 With bale and with brand ; in his burg yet he 
 
 trusted, 
 His war-might and his wall : but his weening 
 
 bewray'd him. 
 Then Beowulf was done to wit of the terror 
 Full swiftly forsooth, that the house of himself, 
 Best of buildings, was molten in wellings of fire, 
 The gift-stool of the Geats. To the good one 
 
 was that 
 A grief unto heart ; of mind-sorrows the greatest. 
 Weened the wise one, that Him, e'en the Wielder, 
 The Lord everlasting, against the old rights 
 He had bitterly anger'd ; the breast boil'd within 
 
 him 2330 
 
 With dark thoughts, that to him were naught 
 
 duly wonted. 
 Now had the fire-drake the own fastness of 
 
 folk. 
 The water-land outward, that ward of the earth. 
 
134 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 With gleeds to ground wasted ; so therefore the 
 war-king, 
 
 The lord of the Weder-folk, learned him ven- 
 geance. 
 
 Then he bade be work'd for him, that fence of 
 the warriors. 
 
 And that all of iron, the lord of the earls, 
 
 A war-board all glorious, for wissed he yarely 
 
 That the holt-wood hereto might help him no 
 whit. 
 
 The linden 'gainst fire-flame. Of fleeting days 
 
 now 2340 
 
 The Atheling exceeding good end should abide, 
 The end of the world's life, and the Worm with 
 
 him also. 
 Though long he had holden the weal of the hoard. 
 Forsooth scorned then the lord of the rings 
 That he that wide-flier with war-band should seek, 
 With a wide host ; he fear'd not that war for 
 
 himself. 
 Nor for himself the Worm's war accounted one 
 
 whit, 
 His might and his valour, for that he erst a many 
 Strait-daring of battles had bided, and liv'd, 
 Clashings huge of the battle, sithence he of 
 
 Hrothgar, 2350 
 
 He, the man victory-happy, had cleansed the hall. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 35 
 
 And in war-tide had gripped the kindred of 
 
 Grendel, 
 The loathly of kindreds ; nor was that the least 
 Of hand-meetings, wherein erst was Hygelac slain, 
 Sithence the Geats' king in the onrush of battle. 
 The lord-friend of the folks, down away in the 
 
 Frieslands, 
 The offspring of Hrethel, died, drunken of sword- 
 drinks. 
 All beaten of bill. Thence Beowulf came forth 
 By his own craft forsooth, dreed the work of the 
 
 swimming ; 
 He had on his arm, he all alone, thirty 2360 
 
 Of war-gears, when he to the holm went adown. 
 Then nowise the Hetware needed to joy them 
 Over the foot-war, wherein forth against him 
 They bore the war-linden : few went back again 
 From that wolf of the battle to wend to their 
 
 homes. 
 O'erswam then the waters' round Ecgtheow's 
 
 son. 
 Came all wretched and byrd-alone back to his 
 
 people. 
 Whereas offered him Hygd then the kingdom and 
 
 hoard, 
 The rings and the king-stool : trowed naught in 
 
 the child. 
 
136 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 That he Against folks outland the fatherland- 
 seats 2370 
 
 Might can how to hold, now was Hygelac 
 dead : 
 
 Yet no sooner therefor might the poor folk pre- 
 vail 
 
 To gain from the Atheling in any of ways 
 
 That he unto Heardred would be for a lord, 
 
 Or eke that that kingdom henceforward should 
 choose ; 
 
 Yet him midst of the folk with friend-lore he 
 held, 
 
 All kindly with honour till older he waxed 
 
 And wielded the Weder-Geats. To him men- 
 waifs thereafter 
 
 Sought from over the sea, the sons they or 
 Ohthere, 
 
 For they erst had withstood the helm of the 
 Scylfings, 2380 
 
 E'en him that was best of the kings of the sea, 
 
 Of them that in Swede-realm dealt out the 
 treasure. 
 
 The mighty of princes. Unto him 'twas a life- 
 mark ; 
 
 To him without food there was fated the life- 
 wound, 
 
 That Hygelac's son, by the swinging of swords ; 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 37 
 
 And him back departed Ongentheow's bairn, 
 To go seek to his house, sithence Heardred lay 
 
 dead, 
 And let Beowulf hold the high seat of the king 
 And wield there the Geats. Yea, good was that 
 
 king. 
 
 XXXIV. BEOWULF GOES AGAINST THE 
 WORM. HE TELLS OF HEREBEALD 
 AND H.ETHCYN. 
 
 OF that fall of the folk-king he minded the 
 payment 2390 
 
 In days that came after : unto Eadgils he 
 was 
 A friend to him wretched ; with folk he upheld 
 
 him 
 Over the wide sea, that same son of Ohthere, 
 With warriors and weapons. Sithence had he 
 
 wreaking 
 With cold journeys of care : from the king took 
 he life. 
 Now each one of hates thus had he outlived, 
 And of perilous slaughters, that Ecgtheow's son, 
 All works that be doughty, until that one day 
 When he with the Worm should wend him to 
 deal. 
 
138 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 So twelvesome he set forth all swollen with 
 
 anger, 2400 
 
 The lord of the Geats, the drake to go look on. 
 Aright had he learnt then whence risen the feud 
 
 was, 
 The bale-hate against men-folk : to his barm then 
 
 had come 
 The treasure-vat famous by the hand of the finder ; 
 He was in that troop of men the thirteenth 
 Who the first of that battle had set upon foot, 
 The thrall, the sad-minded ; in shame must he 
 
 thenceforth 
 Wise the way to the plain ; and against his will 
 
 went he 
 Thereunto, where the earth-hall the one there he 
 
 wist, 2409 
 
 The howe under earth anigh the holm's welling. 
 The wave-strife : there was it now full all within 
 With gems and with wires ; the monster, the 
 
 warden. 
 The yare war-wolf, he held him therein the hoard 
 
 golden, 
 The old under the earth : it was no easy cheaping 
 To go and to gain for any of grooms. 
 
 Sat then on the ness there the strife-hardy 
 
 king 
 While farewell he bade to his fellows of hearth, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 39 
 
 The gold-friend of the Geats ; sad was gotten his 
 
 soul, 
 Wavering, death-minded ; weird nigh beyond 
 
 measure, 
 Which him old of years gotten now needs must 
 
 be greeting, 2420 
 
 Must seek his souFs hoard and asunder must deal 
 His life from his body : no long while now was 
 The life of the Atheling in flesh all bewounden. 
 
 Now spake out Beowulf, Ecgtheow's bairn : 
 Many a one in my youth of war-onsets I outliv'd. 
 And the whiles of the battle : all that I remember. 
 Seven winters had I when the wielder of treasures. 
 The lord-friend of folk, from my father me took. 
 Held me and had me Hrethel the king. 
 Gave me treasure and feast, and remembered the 
 
 friendship. 2430 
 
 For life thence I was not to him a whit loather, 
 A berne in his burgs than his bairns were, or each 
 
 one, 
 Herebeald, or Hasthcyn, or Hygelac mine. 
 For the eldest there was in unseemly wise 
 By the mere deed of kinsman a murder-bed 
 
 strawen, 
 Whenas him did Hasthcyn from out of his horn- 
 bow. 
 His lord and his friend, with shaft lay alow : 
 
140 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 His mark he miss'd shooting, and shot down his 
 
 kinsman, 
 One brother another with shaft all bebloody'd ; 
 That was fight feeless by fearful crime sinned, 2440 
 Soul-weary to heart, yet natheless then had 
 The atheling from life all unwreak'd to be 
 
 ceasing. 
 So sad-like it is for a carle that is aged 
 To be biding the while that his boy shall be 
 
 riding 
 Yet young on the gallows ; then a lay should he 
 
 utter, 
 A sorrowful song whenas hangeth his son 
 A gain unto ravens, and naught good of avail 
 May he, old and exceeding old, anywise frame. 
 Ever will he be minded on every each morning 
 Of his son's faring otherwhere ; nothing he 
 
 heedeth 2450 
 
 Of abiding another withinward his burgs. 
 An heritage-warder, then whenas the one 
 By the very death's need hath found out the ill. 
 Sorrow-careful he seeth within his son's bower 
 The waste wine-hall, the resting-place now of the 
 
 winds. 
 All bereft of the revel ; the riders are sleeping. 
 The heroes in grave, and no voice of the harp is. 
 No game in the garths such as erewhile was gotten. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 14I 
 
 XXXV. BEOWULF TELLS OF PAST 
 FEUDS, AND BIDS FAREWELL TO 
 HIS FELLOWS: HE FALLS ON THE 
 WORM, AND THE BATTLE OF THEM 
 BEGINS. 
 
 THEN to sleeping-stead wendeth he, singeth 
 he sorrow, 
 
 The one for the other; o'er-roomy all 
 
 seem'd him 2460 
 
 The meads and the wick-stead. So the helm of 
 
 the Weders 
 For Herebeald's sake the sorrow of heart 
 All welling yet bore, and in nowise might he 
 On the banesman of that life the feud be a- 
 
 booting ; 
 Nor ever the sooner that warrior might hate 
 With deeds loathly, though he to him nothing 
 
 was lief. 
 He then with the sorrow wherewith that sore 
 
 beset him 
 Man's joy-tide gave up, and chose him God's 
 
 light. 
 To his offspring he left, e'en as wealthy man 
 
 doeth, 
 His land and his folk-burgs when he from life 
 
 wended. 2470 
 
142 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Then sin was and striving of Swedes and of 
 
 Geats, 
 Over the wide water war-tide in common, 
 The hard horde-hate to wit sithence Hrethel 
 
 perish'd ; 
 And to them ever were the Ongentheow's sons 
 Doughty and host-whetting, nowise then would 
 
 friendship 
 Hold over the waters ; but round about Hreosna- 
 
 burgh 
 The fierce fray of foeman was oftentimes framed. 
 Kin of friends that mine were, there they awreaked 
 The feud and the evil deed, e'en as was famed ; 
 Although he, the other, with his own life he 
 
 bought it, 2480 
 
 A cheaping full hard : unto Haethcyn it was, 
 To the lord of the Geat-folk, a life-fateful war. 
 Learned I that the morrow one brother the other 
 With the bills' edges wreaked the death on the 
 
 banesman. 
 Whereas Ongentheow is a-seeking of Eofor : 
 Glode the war-helm asunder, the aged of Scylfings 
 Fell, sword-bleak ; e'en so remember'd the hand 
 Feud enough ; nor e'en then did the life-stroke 
 
 withhold. 
 I to him for the treasure which erewhile he 
 
 gave me 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 143 
 
 Repaid it in warring, as was to me granted, 249o 
 With my light-gleaming sword. To me gave he 
 
 land, 
 The hearth and the home-bliss : unto him was no 
 
 need 
 That unto the Gifthas or unto the Spear-Danes 
 Or into the Swede-realm he needs must go seeking 
 A worse wolf of war for a worth to be cheaping ; 
 For in the host ever would I be before him 
 Alone in the fore-front, and so life-long shall I 
 Be a-framing of strife, whileas tholeth the sword. 
 Which early and late hath bestead me full often, 
 Sithence was I by doughtiness unto Day-raven 2500 
 The hand-bane erst waxen, to the champion of 
 
 Hug-folk ; 
 He nowise the fretwork to the king of the 
 
 Frisians, 
 The breast-worship to wit, might bring any 
 
 more. 
 But cringed in battle that herd of the banner. 
 The Atheling in might : the edge naught was his 
 
 bane. 
 But for him did the war-grip the heart-wellings 
 
 of him 
 Break, the house of the bones. Now shall the 
 
 bill's edge, 
 The hand and hard sword, about the hoard battle. 
 
144 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 So word uttered Beowulf, spake out the boast- 
 word 
 For the last while as now : Many wars dared I 2510 
 In the days of my youth, and now will I yet, 
 The old warder of folk, seek to the feud, 
 Full gloriously frame, if the scather of foul-deed 
 From the hall of the earth me out shall be 
 
 seeking. 
 Greeted he then each one of the grooms, 
 The keen wearers of helms, for the last while of 
 
 whiles, 
 His own fellows the dear : No sword would I 
 
 fare with, 
 No weapon against the Worm, wist I but how 
 'Gainst the monster of evil in otherwise might I 
 Uphold me my boast, as erst did I with Grendel ; 
 But there fire of the war-tide full hot do I ween 
 
 me, 2521 
 
 And the breath, and the venom ; I shall bear on 
 
 me therefore 
 Both the board and the byrny; nor the burg's 
 
 warden shall I 
 Overflee for a foot's-breadth, but unto us twain 
 It shall be at the wall as to us twain Weird 
 
 willeth, 
 The Maker of each man. Of mood am I 
 
 eager ; 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 145 
 
 So that Vainst that war-flier from boast I with- 
 
 hold me. 
 Abide ye upon burg with your byrnies bewarded, 
 Ye men in your battle-gear, which may the better 
 After the slaughter-race save us from wounding 
 Of the twain of us. Naught is it yours to take over, 
 Nor the measure of any man save alone me, 2532 
 That he on the monster should mete out his 
 
 might. 
 Or work out the earlship : but I with my main 
 
 might 
 Shall gain me the gold, or else gets me the battle, 
 The perilous life-bale, e'en me your own lord. 
 
 Arose then by war-round the warrior renowned 
 Hard under helm, and the sword-sark he bare 
 Under the stone-cliffs : in the strength then he 
 
 trowed 
 Of one man alone ; no dastard's way such is. 2540 
 Then he saw by the wall (e'en he, who so many, 
 The good of man-bounties, of battles had out-liv'd. 
 Of crashes of battle whenas hosts were blended) 
 A stone-bow a-standing, and from out thence a 
 
 stream 
 Breaking forth from the burg ; was that burn's 
 
 outwelling 
 All hot with the war-fire ; and none nigh to the 
 
 hoard then 
 
 K 
 
146 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Might ever unburning any whiJe bide, 
 
 Live out through the deep for the flame of the 
 
 drake. 
 Out then from his breast, for as bollen as was he, 
 Let the Weder-Geats' chief the words be out 
 
 faring ; 2550 
 
 The stout-hearted storm'd and the stave of him 
 
 enter'd 
 Battle-bright sounding in under the hoar stone. 
 Then uproused was hate, and the hoard-warden 
 
 wotted 
 The speech of man's word, and no more while 
 
 there was 
 Friendship to fetch. Then forth came there first 
 The breath of the evil beast out from the stone. 
 The hot sv/eat of battle, and dinn'd then the 
 
 earth. 
 The warrior beneath the burg swung up his 
 
 war-round 
 Against that grisly guest, the lord of the Geats ; 
 Then the heart of the ring-bow' d grew eager 
 
 therewith 2560 
 
 To seek to the strife. His sword ere had he 
 
 drawn, 
 That good lord of the battle, the leaving of old, 
 The undull of edges : there was unto either 
 Of the bale-minded ones the fear of the other. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 147 
 
 All steadfast of mind stood against his steep 
 
 shield 
 The lord of the friends, when the Worm was 
 
 a-b owing 
 Together all swiftly, in war-gear he bided; 
 Then boune was the burning one, bow'd in his 
 
 To the fate of him faring. The shield was well 
 
 warding 
 The life and the lyke of the mighty lord king 2570 
 For a lesser of whiles than his will would have 
 
 had it. 
 If he at that frist on the first of the day 
 Was to wield him, as weird for him never will'd it, 
 The high-day of battle. His hand he up braided. 
 The lord of the Geats, and the grisly-fleck'd 
 
 smote he 
 With the leaving of Ing, in such wise that the 
 
 edge fail'd, 
 The brown blade on the bone, and less mightily 
 
 bit 
 Than the king of the nation had need in that 
 
 stour, 
 With troubles beset. But then the burg-warden 
 After the war-swing all wood of his mood 2oso 
 Cast forth the slaughter-flame, sprung thereon 
 
 widely 
 
148 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The battle-gleams : nowise of victory he boasted, 
 The gold-friend of the Geats ; his war-bill had 
 
 faltered, 
 All naked in war, in such wise as it should not, 
 The iron exceeding good. Naught was it easy 
 For him there, the mighty-great offspring of 
 
 Ecgtheow, 
 That he now that earth-plain should give up for 
 
 ever; 
 But against his will needs must he dwell in the 
 
 wick 
 Of the otherwhere country ; as ever must each 
 
 man 
 Let go of his loan-days. Not long was it thence- 
 forth 2590 
 Ere the fell ones of fight fell together again. 
 The hoard-warden up-hearten'd him, welled his 
 
 breast 
 With breathing anew. Then narrow need bore he. 
 Encompassed with fire, who erst the folk wielded ; 
 Nowise in a heap his hand-fellows there, 
 The bairns of the athelings, stood all about him 
 In valour of battle ; but they to holt bow*d them ; 
 Their dear life they warded ; but in one of them 
 
 welled 2598 
 
 His soul with all sorrow. So sib-ship may never 
 Turn aside any whit to the one that well thinketh. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 149 
 
 XXXVI. WIGLAF SON OF WEOHSTAN 
 GOES TO THE HELP OF BEOWULF: 
 N^GLING, BEOWULF'S SWORD, IS 
 BROKEN ON THE WORM. 
 
 WIGLAF so hight he, the son of Weohstan, 
 Lief linden-warrior, and lord of Scyl- 
 fings. 
 
 The kinsman of Aelfhere : and he saw his man- 
 lord 
 
 Under his host-mask tholing the heat ; 
 
 He had mind of the honour that to him gave he 
 erewhile. 
 
 The wick-stead the wealthy of them, the Wasg- 
 mundings, 
 
 And the folk-rights each one which his father 
 had owned. 
 
 Then he might not withhold him, his hand gripp'd 
 the round. 
 
 Yellow linden; he tugg'd out withal the old sword. 
 
 That was known among men for the heirloom of 
 Eanmund, 2610 
 
 Ohthere's son, unto whom in the strife did be- 
 come, 
 
 To the exile unfriended, Weohstan for the bane 
 
 With the sword-edge, and unto his kinsmen bare 
 off 
 
150 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The helm the brown-brindled, the byrny beringed, 
 And the old eoten-sword that erst Onela gave 
 
 him ; 
 Were they his kinsman's weed of the war, 
 Host-fight-gear all ready. Of the feud nothing 
 
 spake he. 
 Though he of his brother the bairn had over- 
 thrown. 
 But the host-gear befretted he held many seasons. 
 The bill and the byrny, until his own boy might 
 Do him the earlship as did his ere-father. 2621 
 Amidst of the Geats then he gave him the war- 
 weed 
 Of all kinds unnumber'd, whenas he from life 
 
 wended 
 Old on the forth-way. Then was the first time 
 For that champion the young that he the war-race 
 With his high lord the famed e'er he should 
 
 frame : 
 Naught melted his mood, naught the loom of 
 
 his kinsman 
 Weakened in war-tide ; that found out the Worm 
 When they two together had gotten to come. 2629 
 Now spake out Wiglaf many words rightwise, 
 And said to his fellows : all sad was his soul : 
 I remember that while when we gat us the mead, 
 And whenas we behight to the high lord of us 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 151 
 
 In the beer-hall, e'en he who gave us these rings, 
 That we for the war-gear one while would pay, 
 If unto him thislike need e'er should befall, 
 For these helms and hard swords. So he chose 
 
 us from host 
 To this faring of war by his very own will. 
 Of glories he minded us, and gave me these gems 
 
 here. 
 Whereas us of gar-warriors he counted for good, 
 And bold bearers of helms. Though our lord 
 
 e'en for us 2641 
 
 This work of all might was of mind all alone 
 Himself to be framing, the herd of the folk. 
 Whereas most of all men he hath mightiness 
 
 framed. 
 Of deeds of all daring, yet now is the day come 
 Whereon to our man-lord behoveth the main 
 Of good battle-warriors ; so thereunto wend we. 
 And help we the host-chief, whiles that the heat be. 
 The gleed-terror grim. Now of me wotteth God 
 That to me is much liefer that that, my lyke- 
 
 body, 2G50 
 
 With my giver of gold the gleed should engrip. 
 Unmeet it methinketh that we shields should bear 
 Back unto our own home, unless we may erst 
 The foe fell adown and the life-days defend 
 Of the king of the Weders. Well wot I hereof 
 
152 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 That his old deserts naught such were, that he 
 
 only 
 Of all doughty of Geats the grief should be bearing, 
 Sink at strife. Unto us shall one sword be, one 
 
 helm. 
 One byrny and shield, to both of us common. 
 Through the slaughter-reek waded he then, 
 
 bare his war-helm 2660 
 
 To the finding his lord, and few words he quoth : 
 
 O Beowulf the dear, now do thee all well. 
 As thou in thy youthful life quothest of yore. 
 That naught wouldst thou let, while still thou 
 
 wert living. 
 Thy glory fade out. Now shalt thou of deeds 
 
 famed, 
 The atheling of single heart, with all thy main 
 
 deal 
 For the warding thy life, and to stay thee I will. 
 Then after these words all wroth came the 
 
 Worm, 
 The dire guest foesome, that second of whiles 
 With fire-wellings flecked, his foes to go look on, 
 The loath men. With flame was lightly then 
 
 burnt up 2671 
 
 The board to the boss, and might not the byrny 
 To the warrior the young frame any help yet. 
 But so the young man under shield of his kinsman 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 53 
 
 Went onward with valour, whenas his own was 
 All undone with gleeds ; then again the war-king 
 Remembered his glories, and smote with main 
 
 might 
 With his battle-bill, so that it stood in the head 
 Need-driven by war-hate. Then asunder burst 
 
 Nsgling, 
 Waxed weak in the war-tide, e'en Beowulf's 
 
 sword, 2680 
 
 The old and grey-marked ; to him was not given 
 That to him any whit might the edges of irons 
 Be helpful in battle ; over-strong was the hand 
 Which every of swords, by the hearsay of me. 
 With its swing over-wrought, when he bare unto 
 
 strife 
 A wondrous hard weapon ; naught it was to him 
 
 better. 
 Then v/as the folk-scather for the third of 
 
 times yet, 
 The fierce fire-drake, all mindful of feud ; 
 He rac'd on that strong one, when was room to 
 
 him given. 
 Hot and battle-grim ; he all the halse of him 
 
 gripped 2690 
 
 With bitter-keen bones ; all bebloody'd he waxed 
 With the gore of his soul. WelFd in waves then 
 
 the war-sweat. 
 
154 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 XXXVII. THEY TWO SLAY THE WORM. 
 BEOWULF IS WOUNDED DEADLY: HE 
 BIDDETH WIGLAF BEAR OUT THE 
 TREASURE. 
 
 THEN heard I that at need of the high 
 king of folk 
 The upright earl made well manifest might, 
 
 His craft and his keenness as kind was to him ; 
 
 The head there he heeded not (but the hand 
 burned 
 
 Of that man of high mood when he helped his 
 kinsman), 
 
 Whereas he now the hate-guest smote yet a deal 
 nether, 
 
 That warrior in war-gear, whereby the sword 
 dived, 
 
 The plated, of fair hue, and thereby fell the flame 
 
 To minish thereafter, and once more the king's 
 self 2701 
 
 Wielded his wit, and his slaying-sax drew out. 
 
 The bitter and battle-sharp, borne on his byrny ; 
 
 Asunder the Weder's helm smote the Worm mid- 
 most ; 
 
 They felled the fiend, and force drave the life out. 
 
 And they twain together had gotten him ending. 
 
 Those athelings sib. E'en such should a man be, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 155 
 
 A thane good at need. Now that to the king was 
 The last victory-while, by the deeds of himself, 
 Of his work of the world. Sithence fell the 
 
 wound, 2710 
 
 That the earth-drake to him had wrought but 
 
 erewhile, 
 To swell and to swcal ; and this soon he found 
 
 out, 
 That down in the breast of him bale-evil welled, 
 The venom withinward ; then the Atheling 
 
 wended, 
 So that he by the wall, bethinking him wisdom, 
 Sat on seat there and saw on the works of the 
 
 giants. 
 How that the stone-bows fast stood on pillars, 
 The earth-house everlasting upheld withinward. 
 
 Then with his hand him the sword-gory, 
 That great king his thane, the good beyond 
 
 measure, 2720 
 
 His friend-lord with water washed full well. 
 The sated of battle, and unspanned his war-helm. 
 Forth then spake Beowulf, and over his wound 
 
 said. 
 His wound piteous deadly ; wist he full well. 
 That now of his day-whiles all had he dreed. 
 Of the joy of the earth ; all was shaken asunder 
 The tale of his days; death without measure nigh : 
 
156 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Unto my son now should I be giving 
 My gear of the battle, if to me it were granted 
 Any ward of the heritage after my days 2730 
 
 To my body belonging. This folk have I holden 
 Fifty winters ; forsooth was never a folk-king 
 Of the sitters around, no one of them soothly, 
 Who me with the war-friends durst wend him to 
 
 greet. 
 And bear down with the terror. In home have 
 
 I abided 
 The shapings of whiles, and held mine own well. 
 No wily hates sought I; for myself swore not many 
 Of oaths in unright. For all this may I, 
 Sick with the life-wounds, soothly have joy. 
 Therefore naught need wyte me the Wielder of 
 
 men 2740 
 
 With kin murder-bale, when breaketh asunder 
 My life from my lyke. And now lightly go thou 
 To look on the hoard under the hoar stone, 
 Wiglaf mine lief, now that lieth the Worm 
 And sleepeth sore wounded, beshorn of his 
 
 treasure ; 
 And be hasty that I now the wealth of old time. 
 The gold-having may look on, and yarely behold 
 The bright cunning gems, that the softlier may I 
 After the treasure-weal let go away 
 My life, and the folk-ship that long I have held. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 57 
 
 XXXVIII. BEOWULF BEHOLDETH THE 
 TREASURE AND PASSETH AWAY. 
 
 THEN heard I that swiftly the son of that 
 Weohstan 2751 
 
 After this word-say his lord the sore 
 wounded, 
 BattJe-sick, there obeyed, and bare forth his ring- 
 net. 
 His battle-sark woven, in under the burg-roof; 
 Saw then victory-glad as by the seat went he, 
 The kindred-thane moody, sun-jewels a many. 
 Much glistering gold lying down on the ground. 
 Many wonders on wall, and the den of the Worm, 
 The old twilight-flier ; there were flagons a- 
 standing, 2759 
 
 The vats of men bygone, of brighteners bereft. 
 And maim'd of adornment ; was many an helm 
 Rusty and old, and of arm-rings a many 
 Full cunningly twined. All lightly may treasure. 
 The gold in the ground, every one of mankind 
 Befool with overweening, hide it who will. 
 Likewise he saw standing a sign there all-golden 
 High over the hoard, the most of hand-wonders. 
 With limb-craft belocked, whence light a ray 
 
 gleamed. 
 Whereby the den's ground-plain gat he to look on. 
 
158 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The fair works scan throughly. Not of the 
 Worm there 2770 
 
 Was aught to be seen now, but the edge had un- 
 done him. 
 Heard I then that in howe of the hoard was 
 
 bereaving, 
 The old work of the giants, but one man alone. 
 Into his barm laded beakers and dishes 
 At his Very own doom ; and the sign eke he took, 
 The brightest of beacons. But the bill of the old 
 
 lord 
 (The edge was of iron) erewhile it scathed 
 Him who of that treasure hand-bearer was 
 A long while, and fared a-bearing the flame-dread 
 Before the hoard hot, and welling of fierceness 2780 
 In the midnights, until that by murder he died. 
 
 In haste was the messenger, eager of back-fare. 
 Furthered with fretted gems. Him longing fordid 
 To wot whether the bold man he quick there shall 
 
 meet 
 In that mead-stead, e'en he the king of the 
 
 Weders, 
 All sick of his might, whereas he erst left him. 
 He fetching the treasure then found the king 
 mighty, 
 His own lord, yet there, and him ever all gory 
 At end of his life ; and he yet once again 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 159 
 
 Fell the water to warp o'er him, till the word's 
 
 point 2790 
 
 Brake through the breast-hoard, and Beowulf 
 
 spake out. 
 The aged, in grief as he gazM on the gold : 
 
 Now I for these fretworks to the Lord of all 
 thanking. 
 To the King of all glory, in words am yet saying. 
 To the Lord ever living, for that which I look on ; 
 Whereas such I might for the people of mine. 
 Ere ever my death-day, get me to own. 
 Now that for the treasure-hoard here have I sold 
 My life and laid down the same, frame still then 
 
 ever 
 The folk-need, for here never longer I maybe. 2800 
 So bid ye the war-mighty work me a howe 
 Bright after the bale-fire at the sea's nose, 
 Which for a remembrance to the people of me 
 Aloft shall uplift him at Whale-ness for ever. 
 That it the sea-goers sithence may bote 
 Beowulf's Howe, e'en they that the high-ships 
 Over the flood-mists drive from afar. 
 
 Did off from his halse then a ring was all 
 golden, 
 The king the great-hearted, and gave to his thane. 
 To the spear-warrior young his war-helm gold- 
 brindled, 2810 
 
l6o THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The ring and the byrny, and bade him well brook 
 them : 
 Thou art the end-leaving of all of our kindred, 
 The Waegmundings ; Weird now hath swept all 
 
 away 
 Of my kinsmen, and unto the doom of the Maker 
 The earls in their might ; now after them shall I. 
 
 That was to the aged lord youngest of words 
 Of his breast-thoughts, ere ever he chose him the 
 
 bale, 
 The hot battle-wellings ; from his heart now 
 
 departed 
 His soul, to seek out the doom of the soothfast. 
 
 XXXIX. WIGLAF CASTETH SHAME ON 
 THOSE FLEERS. 
 
 BUT gone was it then v/ith the unaged 
 man 2820 
 
 Full hard that there he beheld on the earth 
 The liefest of friends at the ending of life. 
 Of bearing most piteous. And likewise lay his bane 
 The Earth-drake, the loathly fear, reft of his life, 
 By bale laid undone : the ring-hoards no longer 
 The Worm, the crook-bowed, ever might wield ; 
 For soothly the edges of the irons him bare off. 
 The hard battle-sharded leavings of hammers, 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF l6l 
 
 So that the wide-flier stilled with wounding 
 Fell onto earth anigh to his hoard-hall, 2830 
 
 Nor along the lift ever more playing he turned 
 At middle-nights, proud of the owning of treasure, 
 Showed the face of him forth, but to earth there 
 
 he fell 
 Because of the host-leader*s work of the hand. 
 
 This forsooth on the land hath thriven to few, 
 Of men might and main bearing, by hearsay of 
 
 mine. 
 Though in each of all deeds full daring he were. 
 That against venom-scather's fell breathing he 
 
 set on. 
 Or the hall of his rings with hand be a-stirring, 
 If so be that he waking the warder had found 2840 
 Abiding in burg. By Beowulf was 
 His deal of the king-treasure paid for by death ; 
 There either had they fared on to the end 
 Of this loaned life. Long it was not until 
 Those laggards of battle the holt were a-leaving, 
 Unwarlike troth-liars, the ten there together. 
 Who durst not e'en now with darts to be playing 
 E'en in their man-lord's most mickle need. 
 But shamefully now their shields were they 
 
 bearing. 
 Their weed of the battle, there where lay the 
 
 aged ; 2850 
 
1 62 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 They gazed on Wiglaf where weary'd he sat, 
 The foot-champion, hard by his very lord's 
 
 shoulder, 
 And wak'd him with water : but no whit it sped 
 
 him ; 
 Never might he on earth howsoe'er well he 
 
 wiird it 
 In that leader of spears hold the life any more, 
 Nor the will of the Wielder change ever a whit ; 
 But still should God's doom of deeds rule the 
 
 rede 
 For each man of men, as yet ever it doth. 
 
 Then from out of the youngling an answer 
 
 full grim 2859 
 
 Easy got was for him who had lost heart erewhile. 
 And word gave out Wiglaf, Weohstan's son, 
 The sorrowful-soul'd man : on those unlief he 
 
 saw : 
 Lo that may he say who sooth would be saying, 
 That the man-lord who dealt you the gift of those 
 
 dear things. 
 The gear of the war-host wherein there ye stand. 
 Whereas he on the ale-bench full oft was a-giving 
 Unto the hall-sitters war-helm and byrny. 
 The king to his thanes, e'en such as he choicest 
 Anywhere, far or near, ever might find : 2869 
 
 That he utterly wrongsome those weeds of the war 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 63 
 
 Had cast away, then when the war overtook him. 
 Surely never the folk-king of his fellows in battle 
 Had need to be boastful ; howsoever God gave 
 
 him, 
 The Victory-wielder, that he himself wreak'd him 
 Alone with the edge, when to him need of might 
 
 was. 
 Unto him of life-warding but little might I 
 Give there in the war-tide ; and yet I began 
 Above measure of my might my kinsman to help ; 
 Ever worse was the Worm then when I with sword 
 Smote the life-foe, and ever the fire less strongly 
 Welled out from his wit. Of warders o'er little 
 Thronged about the king when him the battle 
 
 befell. 2882 
 
 Now shall taking of treasures and giving of 
 
 swords 
 And all joy of your country-home fail from your 
 
 kindred, 
 All hope wane away ; of the land-right moreover 
 May each of the men of that kinsman's burg ever 
 Roam lacking ; sithence that the athelings eft- 
 
 soons 
 From afar shall have heard of your faring in 
 
 flight, 
 
 Your gloryless deed. Yea, death shall be better 
 For each of the earls than a life ever ill-fam'd. 2890 
 
164 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 XL. WIGLAF SENDETH TIDING TO 
 THE HOST: THE WORDS OF THE 
 MESSENGER. 
 
 THEN he bade them that war-work give 
 out at the barriers 
 Up over the sea-cliff, whereas then the earl- 
 host 
 The morning-long day sat sad of their mood, 
 The bearers of war-boards, in weening of both 
 
 things, 
 Either the end-day, or else the back-coming 
 Of the lief man. Forsooth he little was silent 
 Of the new-fallen tidings who over the ness rode. 
 But soothly he said over all there a-sitting : 
 
 Now is the will-giver of the folk of the Weders, 
 The lord of the Geats, fast laid in the death-bed. 
 In the slaughter-rest wonneth he by the Worm's 
 doings. 2901 
 
 And beside him yet lieth his very life-winner 
 All sick with the sax-wounds ; with sword might 
 
 he never 
 On the monster, the fell one, in any of manners 
 Work wounding at all. There yet sitteth Wiglaf, 
 Weohstan's own boy, over Beowulf king. 
 One earl over the other, over him the unliving ; 
 With heart-honours holdeth he head-ward withal 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 165 
 
 Over lief, over loath. But to folk is a weening 
 Of war-tide as now, so soon as unhidden 291 
 
 To Franks and to Frisians the fall of the king 
 Is become over widely. Once was the strife shapen 
 Hard 'gainst the Hugs, sithence Hygelac came 
 Faring with float-host to Frisian land. 
 Whereas him the Hetware vanquish'd in war, 
 With might gat the gain, with o'er-mickle main ; 
 The warrior bebyrny'd he needs must bow down : 
 He fell in the host, and no fretted war-gear 
 Gave that lord to the doughty, but to us was aye 
 
 sithence 
 The mercy ungranted that was of the Merwing. 
 Nor do I from the Swede folk of peace or good 
 
 faith 2921 
 
 Ween ever a whit. For widely 'twas wotted 
 That Ongentheow erst had undone the life 
 Of Haethcyn the Hrethel's son hard by the 
 
 Raven-wood, 
 Then when in their pride the Scylfings of war 
 Erst gat them to seek to the folk of the Geats. 
 Unto him soon the old one, the father of Ohthere, 
 The ancient and fearful gave back the hand-stroke, 
 Brake up the sea-wise one, rescued his bride. 
 The aged his spouse erst, bereft of the gold, 2930 
 Mother of Onela, yea and of Ohthere ; 
 And followed up thereon his foemen the deadly, 
 
1 66 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Until they betook them and sorrowfully therewith 
 Unto the Raven-holt, reft of their lord. 
 With huge host then beset he the leaving of swords 
 All weary with wounds, and woe he behight them, 
 That lot of the wretched, the livelong night 
 
 through ; 
 Quoth he that the morrow's morn with the 
 
 swords' edges 
 He would do them to death, hang some on the 
 
 gallows 2939 
 
 For a game unto fowl. But again befell comfort 
 To the sorry of mood with the morrow-day early ; 
 Whereas they of Hygelac's war-horn and trumpet 
 The voice wotted, whenas the good king his ways 
 
 came 
 Faring on in the track of his folk's doughty men. 
 
 XLI. MORE WORDS OF THE MES- 
 SENGER. HOW HE FEARS THE SWEDES 
 WHEN THEY WOT OF BEOWULF DEAD. 
 
 WAS the track of the war-sweat of Swedes 
 and of Geats, 
 The men's slaughter-race, right wide to 
 be seen. 
 How those folks amongst them were waking the 
 feud. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 167 
 
 Departed that good one, and went with his fellows, 
 Old and exceeding sad, fastness to seek ; 
 The earl Ongentheow upward returned ; 2950 
 
 Of Hygelac's battle-might oft had he heard, 
 The war-craft of the proud one ; in withstanding 
 
 he trow'd not. 
 That he to the sea-folk in fight might debate. 
 Or against the sea-farers defend him his hoard, 
 His bairns and his bride. He bow'd him aback 
 
 thence, 
 The old under the earth-wall. Then was the 
 
 chase bidden 
 To the Swede-folk, and Hygelac's sign was up- 
 reared, 
 And the plain of the peace forth on o'er-pass'd they. 
 After the Hrethlings onto the hedge throng'd. 
 There then was Ongentheow by the swords' 
 
 edges, 2960 
 
 The blent-hair'd, the hoary one, driven to biding. 
 So that the folk-king fain must he take 
 Sole doom of Eofor. Him in his wrath then 
 Wulf the Wonreding reach'd with his weapon, 
 So that from the stroke sprang the war-sweat in 
 
 streams 
 Forth from under his hair ; yet naught fearsome 
 
 was he. 
 The aged, the Scylfing, but paid aback rathely 
 
1 68 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 With chaffer that worse was that war-crash of 
 
 slaughter, 
 Sithence the folk-knig turned him thither ; 
 And nowise might the brisk one that son was of 
 
 Wonred 2970 
 
 Unto the old carle give back the hand-slaying, 
 For that he on WulPs head the helm erst had 
 
 sheared, 
 So that all with the blood stained needs must he 
 
 bow. 
 And fell on the field ; but not yet was he fey. 
 But he warp'd himself up, though the wound 
 
 had touch'd nigh. 
 But thereon the hard Hygelac's thane there, 
 Whenas down lay his brother, let the broad blade, 
 The old sword of eotens, that helm giant-fashion'd 
 Break over the board-wall, and down the king 
 
 bowed. 
 The herd of the folk unto fair life was smitten. 
 There were many about there who bound up his 
 
 kinsman, 2981 
 
 Upraised him swiftly when room there was made 
 
 them. 
 That the slaughter-stead there at the stour they 
 
 might wield. 
 That while when was reaving one warrior the 
 
 other : 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 169 
 
 From Ongentheow took he the iron-wrought 
 
 byrny, 
 The hard-hilted sword, with his helm all together : 
 The hoary one's harness to Hygelac bare he ; 
 The fret war-gear then took he, and fairly be- 
 
 hight him 
 Before the folk due gifts, and even so did it ; 
 Gild he gave for that war-race, the lord of the 
 
 Geats, 2990 
 
 The own son of Hrethel, when home was he 
 
 come. 
 To Eofor and Wulf gave he over-much treasure. 
 To them either he gave an hundred of thousands. 
 Land and lock'd rings. Of the gift none needed 
 
 to wyte him 
 Of mid earth, since the glory they gained by 
 
 battle. 
 Then to Eofor he gave his one only daughter. 
 An home-worship soothly, for pledge of his good 
 
 will. 
 That is the feud and the foeship full soothly, 
 The dead-hate of men, e'en as I have a weening, 
 Wherefor the Swede people against us shall 
 
 seek, 3000 
 
 Sithence they have learned that lieth our lord 
 All lifeless ; e'en he that erewhile hath held 
 Against all the haters the hoard and the realm ; 
 
170 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Who after the heroes' fall held the fierce Scyl- 
 
 fings, 
 Framed the folk-rede, and further thereto 
 Did earlship-deeds. Now is haste best of all 
 That we now the folk-king should fare to be 
 
 seeing, 
 And then that we bring him who gave us the 
 
 rings 
 On his way to the bale : nor shall somewhat alone 
 V/ith the moody be molten ; but manifold hoard 
 
 is, 3010 
 
 Gold untold of by tale that grimly is cheapened, 
 
 And now at the last by this one's own life 
 
 Are rings bought, and all these the brand now 
 
 shall fret. 
 The flame thatch them over : no earl shall bear ojfF 
 One gem in remembrance ; nor any fair maiden 
 Shall have on her halse a ring-honour thereof. 
 But in grief of mood henceforth, bereaved of gold. 
 Shall oft, and not once alone, alien earth tread. 
 Now that the host-learn'd hath laid aside laughter. 
 The game and the glee-joy. Therefore shall the 
 
 spear, 3020 
 
 Full many a morn-cold, of hands be bewounden, 
 Uphoven in hand ; and no swough of the harp 
 Shall waken the warriors ; but the wan raven 
 
 rather 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 17 1 
 
 Fain over the fey many tales shall tell forth, 
 And say to the erne how it sped him at eating, 
 While he with the wolf was a-spoiling the slain. 
 
 So was the keen-whetted a-saying this while 
 Spells of speech loathly ; he lied not much 
 Of weirds or of words. Then uprose all the 
 war-band, 3029 
 
 And unblithe they wended under the Ernes-ness, 
 All welling of tears, the wonder to look on. 
 Found they then on the sand, now lacking of soul. 
 Holding his bed, him that gave them the rings 
 In time erewhile gone by. But then was the end- 
 day 
 Gone for the good one ; since the king of the 
 
 battle, 
 The lord of the Weders, in wonder-death died. 
 But erst there they saw a more seldom-seen sight. 
 The Worm on the lea-land over against him 
 Down lying there loathly ; there was the fire- 
 drake, 
 The grim of the terrors, with gleeds all beswealed. 
 He was of fifty feet of his measure 304i 
 
 Long of his lying. Lift-joyance held he 
 In the whiles of the night, but down again wended 
 To visit his den. Now fast was he in death, 
 He had of the earth-dens the last end enjoyed. 
 There by him now stood the beakers and bowls, 
 
172 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 There lay the dishes and dearly-wrought swords, 
 Rusty, through-eaten they, as in earth's bosom 
 A thousand of winters there they had wonned. 
 For that heritage there was, all craftily eked, 305o 
 Gold of the yore men, in wizardry wounden ; 
 So that that ring-hall might none reach thereto, 
 Not any of mankind but if God his own self, 
 Sooth king of victories, gave unto whom he would 
 (He is holder of men) to open that hoard. 
 E'en to whichso of mankind should seem to him 
 meet. 
 
 XLII. THEY GO TO LOOK ON THE 
 FIELD OF DEED. 
 
 THEN it was to be seen that throve not the 
 way 
 To him that unrightly had hidden within 
 there 
 The fair gear 'neath the wall. The warder erst 
 
 slew 
 Some few of folk, and the feud then became 3060 
 Wrothfully wreaked. A wonder whenas 
 A valour-strong earl may reach on the ending 
 Of the fashion of life, when he longer in nowise 
 One man with his kinsmen may dwell in the 
 mead-hall ! 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 173 
 
 So to Beowulf was it when the burg's ward he 
 
 sought, 
 For the hate of the weapons : he himself knew not 
 Wherethrough forsooth his world's sundering 
 
 should be. 
 So until Doomsday they cursed it deeply, 
 Those princes the dread, who erst there had 
 
 done it, 
 That that man should be of sins never sackless, 
 A-hoppled in shrines, in hell-bonds fast set, 3071 
 With plague-spots be punish'd, who that plain 
 
 should plunder. 
 But naught gold-greedy was he, more gladly had 
 
 he 
 The grace of the Owner erst gotten to see. 
 
 Now spake out Wiglaf, that son was of Weoh- 
 
 stan : 
 Oft shall many an earl for the will but of one 
 Dree the wrack, as to us even now is befallen : 
 Nowise might we learn the lief lord of us. 
 The herd of the realm, any of rede. 
 That he should not go greet that warder of 
 
 gold, 3080 
 
 But let him live yet, whereas long he was lying. 
 And wonne in his wicks until the world's ending ; 
 But he held to high weird and the hoard hath 
 been seen. 
 
174 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 Grimly gotten : o'er hard forsooth was that 
 
 giving, 
 That the king of the folk e'en thither enticed. 
 Lo ! I was therein, and I look'd it all over. 
 The gear of the house, when for me room was 
 
 gotten, 
 But I lightly in nowise had leave for the passage 
 In under the earth-wall ; in haste I gat hold 
 Forsooth with my hands of a mickle main bur- 
 den 3090 
 Of hoard-treasures, and hither then out did I 
 
 bear them. 
 Out unto my king, and then quick was he yet, 
 Wise, and wit-holding : a many things spake he, 
 That aged in grief-care, and bade me to greet you. 
 And pray'd ye would do e'en after your friend's 
 
 deeds 
 Aloft in the bale-stead a howe builded high. 
 Most mickle and mighty, as he amongst men was 
 The worthfullest warrior wide over the world, 
 While he the burg-weal erewhile might brook. 
 Then so let us hasten this second of whiles sioo 
 To see and to seek the throng of things strange. 
 The wonder 'neath wall ; I shall wise you the way, 
 So that ye from a-near may look on enough 
 Of rings and broad gold ; and be the bier swiftly 
 All yare thereunto, whenas out we shall fare. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 175 
 
 Then let us so ferry the lord that was ours, 
 
 The lief man of men, to where long shall he 
 
 In the All-Wielder's keeping full patiently wait. 
 Bade then to bid the bairn of that Weohstan, 
 
 The deer of the battle, to a many of warriors, 3110 
 
 The house-owning wights, that the wood of the 
 bale 
 
 They should ferry from far, e'en the folk-owning 
 men, 
 
 Toward the good one. And now shall the 
 gleed fret away. 
 
 The wan flame a-waxing, the strong one of 
 warriors. 
 
 Him who oft-times abided the shower of iron 
 
 When the storm of the shafts driven on by the 
 strings 
 
 Shook over the shield-wall, and the shaft held its 
 service, 
 
 And eager with feather-gear followed the barb. 
 Now then the wise one, that son was of Weoh- 
 stan, 
 
 Forth from the throng then calFd of the king's 
 thanes 3120 
 
 A seven together, the best to be gotten, 
 
 And himself went the eighth in under the foe- 
 roof; 
 
 One man of the battlers in hand there he bare 
 
176 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 A gleam of the fire, of the first went he inward. 
 It was nowise allotted who that hoard should 
 
 despoil, 
 Sithence without warden some deal that there 
 
 was 
 The men now beheld in the hall there a-wonning, 
 Lying there fleeting ; little mourn'd any, 
 That they in all haste outward should ferry 
 The dear treasures. But forthwith the drake 
 
 did they shove, 3130 
 
 The Worm, o'er the cliff-wall, and let the wave 
 
 take him, 
 The flood fathom about the fretted works' herd. 
 There then was wounden gold on the wain 
 
 laden 
 Untold of each khid, and the Atheling borne. 
 The hoary of warriors, out on to Whale-ness. 
 
 XLIII. OF THE BURIAL OF BEOWULF. 
 
 FOR him then they geared, the folk of the 
 Geats, 
 A pile on the earth all unweaklike that was. 
 With war-helms behung, and with boards of the 
 
 battle. 
 And bright byrnies, e'en after the boon that he 
 bade. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 177 
 
 Laid down then amidmost their king mighty- 
 famous 3140 
 The warriors lamenting, the lief lord of them. 
 Began on the burg of bale-fires the biggest 
 The warriors to waken : the wood-reek went up 
 Swart over the smoky glow, sound of the flame 
 Bewound with the weeping (the wind-blending 
 
 stilled), 
 Until it at last the bone-house had broken 
 Hot at the heart. All unglad of mind 
 With mood-care they mourned their own liege 
 
 lord's quelling. 
 Likewise a sad lay the wife of aforetime 
 For Beowulf the king, with her hair all up- 
 bounden, 3150 
 
 Sang sorrow-careful ; said oft and over 
 That harm-days for herself in hard wise she 
 
 dreaded. 
 The slaughter-falls many, much fear of the 
 
 warrior. 
 The shaming and bondage. Heaven swallowed 
 
 the reek. 
 Wrought there and fashion'd the folk of the 
 
 Weders 
 A howe on the lithe, that high was and broad, 
 Unto the wave-farers wide to be seen : 
 Then it they betimber'd in time of ten days, 
 
 M 
 
1 78 THE TALE OF BEOWULF 
 
 The battle-strong*s beacon ; the brands' very 
 
 leavings 
 They bewrought with a wall in the worthiest of 
 
 ways, 3160 
 
 That men of all wisdom might find how to work. 
 
 Into burg then they did the rings and bright 
 
 sun-gems, 
 And all such adornments as in the hoard there 
 The war-minded men had taken e'en now ; 
 The earls' treasures let they the earth to be hold- 
 ing, 
 Gold in the grit, wherein yet it liveth. 
 As useless to men-folk as ever it erst was. 
 
 Then round the howe rode the deer of the 
 
 battle, 
 The bairns of the athelings, twelve were they in all. 
 Their care would they mourn, and bemoan them 
 
 their king, 3170 
 
 The word-lay would they utter and over the man 
 
 speak : 
 They accounted his earlship and mighty deeds 
 
 done, 
 And doughtily deem'd them ; as due as it is 
 That each one his friend-lord with words should 
 
 belaud, 
 And love in his heart, whenas forth shall he 
 Away from the body be fleeting at last. 
 
THE TALE OF BEOWULF 1 79 
 
 In such wise they grieved, the folk of the Geats, 
 For the fall of their lord, e'en they his hearth- 
 fellows ; 
 Quoth they that he was a world-king forsooth. 
 The mildest of all men, unto men kindest, 31 so 
 To his folk the most gentlest, most yearning of 
 fame. 
 
PERSONS AND PLACES 
 
 {^Numbers refer to Pages) 
 
 Beanstan, father of Breca (31). 
 
 Beowulf the Dane (not Beowulf the Geat, the hero of the 
 poem) was the grandfather of Hrothgar (2, 4). 
 
 Beowulf the Geat. See the Argument. 
 
 Breca (30), who contended with Beowulf in swimming, was a 
 chief of the Brondings {31). 
 
 Brisings' neck-gear (70). "This necklace is the Brisinga- 
 men, the costly necklace of Freyja, which she won from 
 the dwarfs and which was stolen from her by Loki, as is 
 told in the Edda " (Kemble). In our poem, it is said 
 that Hama carried off this necklace when he fled from 
 Eormenric, king of the Ostrogoths. 
 
 Dayraven (143), a brave warrior of the Hugs, and probably 
 the slayer of Hygelac, whom, in that case, Beowulf 
 avenged. 
 
 Eadgils, Eanmund (136, 137), "sons of Ohthcre," and 
 nephews of the Swedish King Onela, by whom they were 
 banished from their native land for rebellion. They took 
 refuge at the court of the Geat King Heardred, and Onela, 
 " Ongentheow's bairn," enraged at their finding an asylum 
 with his hereditary foes, invaded Geatland, and slew 
 Heardred. At a later time Beowulf, when king of the 
 
 i8x 
 
1 82 PERSONS AND PLACES 
 
 Geats, balanced the feud by supporting Eadgils in an 
 invasion of Sweden, in which King Onela was slain. 
 
 Eanmund (149), while in exile at the court of the Geats, was 
 slain by Weohstan, father of Wiglaf, and stripped of the 
 armour given him by his uncle, the Swedish King Onela. 
 Weohstan " spake not about the feud, although he had 
 slain Onela's brother's son,'' probably because he was not 
 proud of having slain an " exile unfriended " in a private 
 quarrel. 
 
 Ecglaf, father of Unferth, Hrothgar's spokesman (29). 
 
 Ecgtheow (22), father of Beowulf the Geat, by the only 
 daughter of Hrethel, king of the Geats. Having slain 
 Heatholaf, a warrior, of the Wylfings, Ecgtheow sought 
 protection at the court of the Danish King Hrothgar, who 
 accepted his fealty and settled the feud by a money-payment 
 (27). Hence the heartiness of Beowulf's welcome at 
 Hrothgar's hands. 
 
 Ecgwela. The Scyldings or Danes are once called " Ecgwela's 
 offspring" (99). He may have been the founder of 
 the older dynasty of Danish kings which ended with 
 Heremod. 
 
 Eofor (142, 167-9), a Geat warrior, brother of Wulf. He 
 came to the aid of his brother in his single combat with 
 the Swedish King Ongentheow, and slew the king, being 
 rewarded by Hygelac with the hand of his only daughter. 
 
 Eotens (61, 62, 66) are the people of Finn, king of Friesland. 
 In other passages, it is merely a name for a race of 
 monsters. 
 
 Finn (61-7). The somewhat obscure Finn episode in 
 Beofwulf appears to be part of a Finn epic, of which 
 only the merest fragment, called the Fight at Finnshurg^ 
 is extant. The following conjectured outline of the whole 
 
PERSONS AND PLACES 183 
 
 story is based on this fragment and on the Beowulf episode ; 
 Finn, king of the Frisians, had carried off Hildeburh, 
 daughter of Hoc, probably with her consent. Her father, 
 Hoc, seems to have pursued the fugitives, and to have been 
 slain in the fight which ensued on his overtaking them. 
 After the lapse of some twenty years Hoe's sons, Hnaef 
 and Hengest, are old enough to undertake the duty of 
 avenging their father's death. They make an inroad into 
 Finn's country, and a battle takes place in which many 
 warriors, among them Hnaef and a son of Finn, are killed. 
 Peace is then solemnly concluded, and the slain warriors 
 are burnt. As the year is too far advanced for Hengest to 
 return home, he and those of his men who survive remain 
 for the winter in the Frisian country with Finn. But 
 Hengest's thoughts dwell constantly on the death of his 
 brother Hnasf, and he would gladly welcome any excuse 
 to break the peace which had been sworn by both parties. 
 His ill-conccaled desire for revenge is noticed by the 
 Frisians, who anticipate it by themselves attacking Hengest 
 and his men whilst they are sleeping in the hall. This 
 is the night attack described in the Fight at Finnsburg, 
 It would seem that after a brave and desperate resistance 
 Hengest himself falls in this fight at the hands of the son 
 of Hunlaf (66), but two of his retainers, Guthlaf and 
 Oslaf, succeed in cutting their way through their enemies 
 and in escaping to their own land. They return with 
 fresh troops, attack and slay Finn, and carry his queen 
 Hildeburh back to the Daneland. 
 
 Folkwalda (62), father of Finn. 
 
 Franks (70, 165). Hygelac, king of the Gcats, was de- 
 feated and slain early in the sixth century, in his historical 
 invasion of the Netherlands, by a combined army of Frisians, 
 Franks, and Hugs. 
 
184 PERSONS AND PLACES 
 
 Freawaru (116), daughter of Hrothgar and Wealhtheow. Beo- 
 wulf tells Hygelac that her father has betrothed her to 
 Ingeld, prince of the Heathobards, in the hope of settling 
 the feud between the two peoples. But he prophesies that 
 the hope will prove vain : for an old Heathobard warrior, 
 seeing a Danish chieftain accompany Freawaru to their 
 court laden with Heathobard spoils, will incite the son of 
 the former owner of the plundered treasure to revenge, 
 until blood is shed, and the feud is renewed. That this 
 was what afterwards befell, we learn from the Old English 
 poem JVidsith. See also 11. 83-5. 
 
 Friesland (65), the land of the North Frisians. 
 
 Frieslands (135), Frisian land (165), the home of the West 
 Frisians. 
 
 Frisians. Two tribes are to be distinguished: i. The North 
 Frisians (61, 63), the people of Finn. 2. The West 
 Frisians (143, 165), who combined with the Franks and 
 Hugs and defeated Hygelac, between 512 and 520 a.d. 
 
 Froda (117), father of Ingeld. See Freawaru. 
 
 GuTHLAF and Oslaf (66). See Finn. 
 
 H^RETH (112, 114), father of Hygd, wife of Hygelac. 
 
 Haethcyn (139, I42, 165), second son of Hrethel, king of the 
 Geats, and thus elder brother of Hygelac. He accidentally 
 killed his elder brother Herebeald with a bow-shot, to the 
 inconsolable grief of Hrethel. He succeeded to the throne 
 at his father's death, but fell in battle at Ravenwood (165) 
 by the hand of the Swedish King Ongentheow. 
 
 Half-Danes (61 ), the tribe to which Hngef belongs. See Finn. 
 
 Hama (69). See Brisings. 
 
 Healfdene (4), king of the Danes, son of Beowulf the Scylding, 
 and father of Hrothgar, " Healfdene's son'' (16). 
 
PERSONS AND PLACES 1 85 
 
 Heardrcd (126, 136-7), son of Hygelac and Hygd. While 
 still under age he succeeds his father as king of the Geats, 
 Beowulf, who has refused the throne himself, being his 
 counsellor and protector. He is slain by " Ongentheow's 
 bairn'' (^37)> Onela, king of the Swedes. 
 
 Heathobards, Lombards, the tribe of Ingeld, the betrothed of 
 Freawaru, Hrothgar's daughter (117)- 
 
 Heatholaf (27). See Ecgtheow. 
 
 Helmings. "The Dame of the Helmings " (36) is Hroth gar's 
 queen, Wealhiheow. 
 
 Hemming. " The Kinsman of Hemming " is a name for OfFa 
 (112) and for his son Eomoer (113). 
 
 Hengest (62-5). See Finn. 
 
 Heorogar (5), elder brother of Hrothgar (27), did not leave 
 his armour to his son Heoroward (124); but Hrothgar 
 gives it to Beowulf, and Beowulf gives it to Hygelac. 
 
 Herebeald (139, I41), eldest son of the Geat King Hrethel, 
 was accidentally shot dead with an arrow by his brother 
 Hasthcyn. 
 
 Heremod (53, 99) is twice spoken of as a bad and cruel Danish 
 king. In the end he is betrayed into the hands of his foes. 
 
 Hereric may have been brother of Hygd, Hygelac's queen, for 
 their son Hcardred is spoken of as "the nephew of 
 Hereric" (126). 
 
 Here-Scyldings (64), Army-Scyldings, a name of the Danes. 
 
 Hetware (135, 165), the Hattuarii of the Histor'ia Francorum 
 of Gregory of Tours and of the Gesta Regum Fran- 
 corum^ were the tribe against which Hygelac was raiding 
 when he was defeated and slain by an army of Frisians, 
 Franks, and Hugs. 
 
 Hildeburh (61, 64). .S'^^ Finn. 
 
 HnsEf (61, 64). See Finn. 
 
 Hoc (62). See Finn. 
 
1 86 PERSONS AND PLACES 
 
 Hrethel, a former king of the Geats ; son of Swerting (70), 
 father of Hygelac and grandfather of Beowulf (22), to 
 whom he left his coat of mail (26). He died of grief at 
 the loss of his eldest son Herebeald (139-41), who was 
 accidentally slain by his brother Haethcyn. 
 
 Hrethlings (167), the people of Hrethel, the Geats. 
 
 Hrethmen (26), Triumph-men, the Danes. 
 
 Hrethric (69, 106), elder son of Hrothgar and Wealhtheow. 
 
 Hrothgar. See the Argument. 
 
 Hrothulf (59, 68), probably the son of Hrothgar's younger 
 brother Halga (5). He lives at the Danish court. 
 Wealhtheow hopes that, if he survives Hrothgar, he will 
 be good to their children in return for their kindness to 
 him. It would seem that this hope was not to be fulfilled 
 ("yet of kindred unsunderM," 67). 
 
 Hygd, daughter of Haereth, wife of Hygelac, the king of the 
 Geats, and mother of Heardred. She may well be " the 
 wife of aforetime " (177). 
 
 Hygelac, third son of Hrethel (139) and uncle to Beowulf, is 
 the reigning king of the Geats during the greater part of 
 the action of the poem. When his brother Haethcyn was 
 defeated and slain by Ongentheow at Raven wood (165), 
 Hygelac quickly went in pursuit and put Ongentheow to 
 flight ; but although, as leader of the attack, he is called 
 "the banesman of Ongentheow" (114), the actual slayer 
 was Eofor (142, 167), whom Hygelac rewarded with the 
 hand of his only daughter (169). Hygelac came by his 
 death between 512 and 520 a.d., in his historical invasion 
 of the Netherlands, which is referred to in the poem four 
 times (70, 135, 143, 165). 
 
 Ing (147). See Ingwines. 
 Ingeld (119). iS'ff Freawaru. 
 
PERSONS AND PLACES 187 
 
 Ingwines (60, 77), "friends of Ing," the Danes. Ing, ac- 
 cording to the Old English Rune-Poeniy " was first seen 
 by men amid the East Danes " ; he has been identified 
 with Frea. 
 
 Merwing, The (165), the Merovingian king of the Franks. 
 
 Offa(ii3). iS"^^ Thrytho. 
 
 Ohthere (136-7, 165), son of the Swedish King Ongentheow, 
 and father of Eanmund and Eadgils (^q.v.). 
 
 Onela, " Ongentheow's bairn" (137) ^nd elder brother of 
 Ohthere, is king of Sweden ("the helm of the Scylfings," 
 136) at the time of the rebelHon of Eanmund and Eadgils. 
 He invades the land of the Geats, which has harboured the 
 rebels, slays Heardred, son of Hygelac, and then retreats 
 before Beowulf. At a later time Beowulf avenges the 
 death of Heardred by supporting Eadgils, "son of Ohthere " 
 (137), in an invasion of Sweden, in which Onela is slain. 
 See also Eadgils ; and compare the slaying of Ali by 
 Athils on the ice of Lake Wener in the Icelandic 
 " Heimskringla." 
 
 Ongentheow, father of Onela and Ohthere, was a former king 
 of the Swedes. The earlier strife between the Swedes and 
 the Geats, in which he is the chief figure, is fully related 
 by the messenger (164) who brings the tidings of Beowulf's 
 death. In retaliation for the marauding invasions of Onela 
 and Ohthere (142), Hasthcyn invaded Sweden, and took 
 Ongentheow's queen prisoner. Ongentheow in return 
 invaded the land of her captor, whom he slew, and rescued 
 his wife (165) ; but in his hour of triumph he was attacked 
 in his turn by Hygelac near Ravenwood, and fell by the 
 hand of Eofor (168). 
 
1 88 PERSONS AND PLACES 
 
 ScANEY (97), Scede-lands (2), the most southern portion of 
 the Scandinavian peninsula, belonging to the Danes ; used 
 in our poem for the whole Danish kingdom. 
 
 Scyld (i), son of Sheaf, was the mythical founder of the royal 
 Danish dynasty of Scyldings. 
 
 Scyldings, descendants of Scyld, properly the name of the 
 reigning Danish dynasty, is commonly extended to include 
 the Danish people (3). 
 
 Scylfing: "the Scylfing" (167), "the aged of Scylfings" 
 (142), is Ongentheow. 
 
 Scylfings (136), the name of the reigning Swedish dynasty, 
 was extended to the Swedish people in the same way as 
 ** Scyldings " to the Danes. Beowulf's kinsman Wiglaf 
 is called "lord of Scylfings" (149), and in another pas- 
 sage the name is apparently applied to the Geats (170) ; 
 this seems to point to a common ancestry of Swedes and 
 Geats, or it may be that Beowulf's father Ecgtheow was 
 a " Scylfing." 
 
 Thrytho (112), wife of the Angle King OfFa and mother of 
 Eomasr, is mentioned in contrast to Hygd, just as Hereraod 
 is a foil to Beowulf. She is at first the type of a cruel, 
 unwomanly queen. But by her marriage with OfFa, who 
 seems to be her second husband, she is subdued and changed 
 until her fame even adds glory to his. 
 
 Unferth, son of Ecglaf, is the spokesman of Hrothgar, at whose 
 feet he sits. He is of a jealous disposition, and is twice 
 spoken of as the murderer of his own brothers (34, 67). 
 Taunting Beowulf with defeat in his swimming-match 
 with Breca, he is silenced by the hero's reply, and more 
 effectually still by the issue of the struggle with Grendel 
 (57). Afterwards, however, he lends his sword Hrunting 
 for Beowulf's encounter with Grendel's mother (85, T04). 
 
PERSONS AND PLACES 189 
 
 W/EGMUNDiNGs ( 1 49, 160), the family to which both Beowulf 
 and Wiglaf belong. Their fathers, Ecgtheow and Wcoh- 
 stan, may have been sons of Waegmund. 
 
 Wedermark (17), the land of the Weder-Geats, i.e. the Geats. 
 
 Wcders, Weder-Geats (13, 86, 122), Geats. 
 
 Weland (26), the Volund of the Edda, the famous smith of 
 Teutonic legend, was the maker of Beowulf's coat of mail. 
 See the figured casket in the British Museum ; and com- 
 pare " Wayland Smith's Cave " near the White Horse, in 
 Berkshire. 
 
 Weohstan was the father of Beowulf's kinsman and faithful 
 henchman Wiglaf, and the slayer of Eanmund (149). 
 
 Wonred, father of "Wulf the Wonreding " (167), and of 
 Eofor. 
 
 Wulf (167). ^^^ Eofor. 
 
 Wulfgar, "a lord of the Wendels" (20), is an official of 
 Hrothgar's court, where he is the first to greet Beowulf 
 and his Geats, and introduces them to Hrothgar. 
 
 Wythergyld (118) is a warrior of the Hcathobards. 
 
THE MEANING OF SOME WORDS 
 NOT COMMONLY USED NOW 
 
 {^Numbers refer to Pages) 
 
 A'banning, the ivork ivas (5), 
 
 orders for the work were 
 
 given. 
 Arede (118), possess. 
 Atheling, prince, noble, noble 
 
 warrior. 
 Barm, lap, bosom. 
 Behalsed (5), embraced by the 
 
 neck. 
 Berne, man, warrior, hero. 
 Bestead (143), served. 
 Besnvealed, scorched, burnt. 
 Besivinked, sweated. 
 Birlers, cup-bearers. 
 Board, shield. 
 Bode, announce. 
 Bollen, swollen, angry. 
 Boot (9), compensation. 
 Bonn (18), made ready. 
 Braided (147), drew, lifted. 
 Brim, sea. 
 Brook, use, enjoy. 
 
 Burg, fortified place, strong- 
 hold, mount, barrow ; pro- 
 tection ; protector ; family 
 
 (>63)- 
 Byrny, coat of mail. 
 Devil-dray, nest of devils. Cf. 
 
 squirreV s-dray, common in 
 
 Berks ; used by Cowper. 
 Dreary, bloody. 
 Dree, do, accomplish, suffer, 
 
 enjoy, spend (155). 
 Ealdor, chief, lord. 
 Erne, uncle. 
 
 Eoten, giant, monster, enemy. 
 Fathom, embrace. 
 Feeless, not to be atoned for 
 
 with money. 
 Ferry, bring, carry. 
 Fifel, monster. 
 
 Flyting, contending, scolding. 
 Fold, the earth. 
 Forheed, disregard. 
 
WORDS NOT COMMONLY USED NOW 191 
 
 Forturittetij proscribed. 
 Frist, space of time, delay. 
 Gar, spear. 
 
 Graithly, readily, well. 
 Halse, neck. 
 
 Hand-shoal, band of warriors. 
 Hery, praise. 
 Hild-play, battle. 
 Holm, ocean, sea. 
 Holm-throng, eddy of the sea. 
 Holt, wood. 
 Hote, call. 
 
 Hoive, mound, burial-mound. 
 Hythe, ferry, haven. 
 Kemp, champion, fighter. 
 Lithe, slope. 
 Loom, heirloom. 
 Loiu (133), flame. 
 Lyke, body. 
 Moody, brave, proud. 
 Nicors, sea-monsters. 
 Nithing (12), spite, malice. 
 O^erthinking, overweening, ar- 
 rogance. 
 Rail, railings, coat, armour. 
 
 Rimed, counted, reckoned. 
 
 Sea-lode, sea-voyage. 
 
 Sin, malice, hatred, hostility. 
 
 Skinked, poured out. 
 
 Slot, track. 
 
 Staple, thresliold. 
 
 Stone-hoiv, arch of stone. 
 
 Sty, stride, ascend, descend. 
 
 Siveal, burn. 
 
 Through'ivitting, understanding. 
 
 Undern, from 9 o'clock till 12 
 
 o'clock ; " at undren and at 
 
 middai," O.E. Miscellany. 
 Warths, shores, still in use at 
 
 Wick St. Lawrence, in 
 
 Somerset. 
 Wich, dwelling. 
 Wich-stead, dwelling-place. 
 Wise, direct, show. 
 JVit-lust, curiosity. 
 Worth, shall be. 
 Wreak, utter. 
 
 Wyte, blame, charge with. 
 Tare, ready. 
 Tode, went. 
 
 Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson &• Co. 
 Edinburgh &> London