Beowulf Part 10

The highway glistened with many-hued pebble, A by-path led the liegemen together.

[1]Firm and hand-locked the war-burnie glistened, The ring-sword radiant rang 'mid the armor 5 As the party was approaching the palace together

{They set their arms and armor against the wall.}

In warlike equipments. 'Gainst the wall of the building Their wide-fas.h.i.+oned war-s.h.i.+elds they weary did set then, [13] Battle-s.h.i.+elds st.u.r.dy; benchward they turned then; Their battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes; 10 The lances stood up then, all in a cl.u.s.ter, The arms of the seamen, ashen-shafts mounted With edges of iron: the armor-clad troopers

{A Danish hero asks them whence and why they are come.}

Were decked with weapons. Then a proud-mooded hero Asked of the champions questions of lineage: 15 "From what borders bear ye your battle-s.h.i.+elds plated, Gilded and gleaming, your gray-colored burnies, Helmets with visors and heap of war-lances?-- To Hrothgar the king I am servant and liegeman.

'Mong folk from far-lands found I have never

{He expresses no little admiration for the strangers.}

20 Men so many of mien more courageous.

I ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws, But from greatness of soul ye sought for King Hrothgar."

{Beowulf replies.}

Then the strength-famous earlman answer rendered, The proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his question,

{We are Higelac's table-companions, and bear an important commission to your prince.}

25 Hardy 'neath helmet: "Higelac's mates are we; Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene, The famous folk-leader, I freely will tell To thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing He'll grant we may greet him so gracious to all men."

30 Wulfgar replied then (he was prince of the Wendels, His boldness of spirit was known unto many, His prowess and prudence): "The prince of the Scyldings,

{Wulfgar, the thane, says that he will go and ask Hrothgar whether he will see the strangers.}

The friend-lord of Danemen, I will ask of thy journey, The giver of rings, as thou urgest me do it, 35 The folk-chief famous, and inform thee early What answer the good one mindeth to render me."

He turned then hurriedly where Hrothgar was sitting, [2]Old and h.o.a.ry, his earlmen attending him; The strength-famous went till he stood at the shoulder 40 Of the lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen The custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then His friendly liegelord: "Folk of the Geatmen

[14]

{He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive the visitors courteously.}

O'er the way of the waters are wafted hither, Faring from far-lands: the foremost in rank 45 The battle-champions Beowulf t.i.tle.

They make this pet.i.tion: with thee, O my chieftain, To be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar, Friendly answer refuse not to give them!

{Hrothgar, too, is struck with Beowulf's appearance.}

In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem 50 Of earls to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty Who headed the heroes. .h.i.therward coming."

[1] Instead of the punctuation given by H.-So, S. proposed to insert a comma after 'scir' (322), and to take 'hring-iren' as meaning 'ring-mail' and as parallel with 'gu-byrne.' The pa.s.sage would then read: _The firm and hand-locked war-burnie shone, bright ring-mail, rang 'mid the armor, etc_.

[2] Gr. and others translate 'unhar' by 'bald'; _old and bald_.

VII.

HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.

{Hrothgar remembers Beowulf as a youth, and also remembers his father.}

Hrothgar answered, helm of the Scyldings: "I remember this man as the merest of striplings.

His father long dead now was Ecgtheow t.i.tled, Him Hrethel the Geatman granted at home his 5 One only daughter; his battle-brave son Is come but now, sought a trustworthy friend.

Seafaring sailors a.s.serted it then,

{Beowulf is reported to have the strength of thirty men.}

Who valuable gift-gems of the Geatmen[1] carried As peace-offering thither, that he thirty men's grapple 10 Has in his hand, the hero-in-battle.

{G.o.d hath sent him to our rescue.}

The holy Creator usward sent him, To West-Dane warriors, I ween, for to render 'Gainst Grendel's grimness gracious a.s.sistance: I shall give to the good one gift-gems for courage.

15 Hasten to bid them hither to speed them,[2]

To see a.s.sembled this circle of kinsmen; Tell them expressly they're welcome in sooth to The men of the Danes." To the door of the building

[15]

{Wulfgar invites the strangers in.}

Wulfgar went then, this word-message shouted: 20 "My victorious liegelord bade me to tell you, The East-Danes' atheling, that your origin knows he, And o'er wave-billows wafted ye welcome are hither, Valiant of spirit. Ye straightway may enter Clad in corslets, cased in your helmets, 25 To see King Hrothgar. Here let your battle-boards, Wood-spears and war-shafts, await your conferring."

The mighty one rose then, with many a liegeman, An excellent thane-group; some there did await them, And as bid of the brave one the battle-gear guarded.

30 Together they hied them, while the hero did guide them, 'Neath Heorot's roof; the high-minded went then St.u.r.dy 'neath helmet till he stood in the building.

Beowulf spake (his burnie did glisten, His armor seamed over by the art of the craftsman):

{Beowulf salutes Hrothgar, and then proceeds to boast of his youthful achievements.}

35 "Hail thou, Hrothgar! I am Higelac's kinsman And va.s.sal forsooth; many a wonder I dared as a stripling. The doings of Grendel, In far-off fatherland I fully did know of: Sea-farers tell us, this hall-building standeth, 40 Excellent edifice, empty and useless To all the earlmen after evenlight's glimmer 'Neath heaven's bright hues hath hidden its glory.

This my earls then urged me, the most excellent of them, Carles very clever, to come and a.s.sist thee, 45 Folk-leader Hrothgar; fully they knew of

{His fight with the nickers.}

The strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me When I came from the contest, when covered with gore Foes I escaped from, where five[3] I had bound, [16] The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying 50 The nickers by night, bore numberless sorrows, The Weders avenged (woes had they suffered) Enemies ravaged; alone now with Grendel

{He intends to fight Grendel unaided.}

I shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil, The giant, decide it. Thee I would therefore 55 Beg of thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain, Lord of the Scyldings, this single pet.i.tion: Not to refuse me, defender of warriors, Friend-lord of folks, so far have I sought thee, That _I_ may unaided, my earlmen a.s.sisting me, 60 This brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot.

I have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature

{Since the monster uses no weapons,}

From veriest rashness recks not for weapons; I this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious, My liegelord beloved, lenient of spirit, 65 To bear a blade or a broad-fas.h.i.+oned target, A s.h.i.+eld to the onset; only with hand-grip

{I, too, shall disdain to use any.}

The foe I must grapple, fight for my life then, Foeman with foeman; he fain must rely on The doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold of.