Beowulf Part 34

{The warriors go sadly to look at Beowulf's lifeless body.}

Weirds and of words. All the war-troop arose then, 'Neath the Eagle's Cape sadly betook them, Weeping and woful, the wonder to look at.

They saw on the sand then soulless a-lying, 90 His slaughter-bed holding, him who rings had given them In days that were done; then the death-bringing moment Was come to the good one, that the king very warlike, Wielder of Weders, with wonder-death perished.

First they beheld there a creature more wondrous,

{They also see the dragon.}

95 The worm on the field, in front of them lying, The foeman before them: the fire-spewing dragon, Ghostly and grisly guest in his terrors, Was scorched in the fire; as he lay there he measured Fifty of feet; came forth in the night-time[5]

100 To rejoice in the air, thereafter departing To visit his den; he in death was then fastened, He would joy in no other earth-hollowed caverns.

There stood round about him beakers and vessels, Dishes were lying and dear-valued weapons, 105 With iron-rust eaten, as in earth's mighty bosom A thousand of winters there they had rested:

{The h.o.a.rd was under a magic spell.}

That mighty bequest then with magic was guarded, Gold of the ancients, that earlman not any The ring-hall could touch, save Ruling-G.o.d only, [103] 110 Sooth-king of Vict'ries gave whom He wished to

{G.o.d alone could give access to it.}

[6](He is earth-folk's protector) to open the treasure, E'en to such among mortals as seemed to Him proper.

[1] For 'G.o.da,' which seems a surprising epithet for a Geat to apply to the "terrible" Ongentheow, B. suggests 'gomela.' The pa.s.sage would then stand: '_The old one went then,' etc._

[2] For 'segn Higelace,' K., Th., and B. propose 'segn Higelaces,'

meaning: _Higelac's banner followed the Swedes (in pursuit)._--S.

suggests 'saecc Higelaces,' and renders: _Higelac's pursuit._--The H.-So. reading, as translated in our text, means that the banner of the enemy was captured and brought to Higelac as a trophy.

[3] The rendering given in this translation represents the king as being generous beyond the possibility of reproach; but some authorities construe 'him' (2996) as plu., and understand the pa.s.sage to mean that no one reproached the two brothers with having received more reward than they were ent.i.tled to.

[4] The name 'Scyldingas' here (3006) has caused much discussion, and given rise to several theories, the most important of which are as follows: (1) After the downfall of Hrothgar's family, Beowulf was king of the Danes, or Scyldings. (2) For 'Scyldingas' read 'Scylfingas'--that is, after killing Eadgils, the Scylfing prince, Beowulf conquered his land, and held it in subjection. (3) M.

considers 3006 a thoughtless repet.i.tion of 2053. (Cf. H.-So.)

[5] B. takes 'nihtes' and 'hwilum' (3045) as separate adverbial cases, and renders: _Joy in the air had he of yore by night, etc_. He thinks that the idea of vanished time ought to be expressed.

[6] The parenthesis is by some emended so as to read: (1) (_He_ (i.e.

_G.o.d_) _is the hope of men_); (2) (_he is the hope of heroes_). Gr.'s reading has no parenthesis, but says: ... _could touch, unless G.o.d himself, true king of victories, gave to whom he would to open the treasure, the secret place of enchanters, etc_. The last is rejected on many grounds.

XLII.

WIGLAF'S SAD STORY.--THE h.o.a.rD CARRIED OFF.

Then 'twas seen that the journey prospered him little Who wrongly within had the ornaments hidden[1]

Down 'neath the wall. The warden erst slaughtered Some few of the folk-troop: the feud then thereafter 5 Was hotly avenged. 'Tis a wonder where,[2]

When the strength-famous trooper has attained to the end of Life-days allotted, then no longer the man may Remain with his kinsmen where mead-cups are flowing.

So to Beowulf happened when the ward of the barrow, 10 a.s.saults, he sought for: himself had no knowledge How his leaving this life was likely to happen.

So to doomsday, famous folk-leaders down did Call it with curses--who 'complished it there-- [104] That that man should be ever of ill-deeds convicted, 15 Confined in foul-places, fastened in h.e.l.l-bonds, Punished with plagues, who this place should e'er ravage.[3]

He cared not for gold: rather the Wielder's Favor preferred he first to get sight of.[4]

{Wiglaf addresses his comrades.}

Wiglaf discoursed then, Wihstan his son: 20 "Oft many an earlman on one man's account must Sorrow endure, as to us it hath happened.

The liegelord beloved we could little prevail on, Kingdom's keeper, counsel to follow, Not to go to the guardian of the gold-h.o.a.rd, but let him 25 Lie where he long was, live in his dwelling Till the end of the world. Met we a destiny Hard to endure: the h.o.a.rd has been looked at, Been gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that[5]

The prince of the people p.r.i.c.ked to come thither.

30 _I_ was therein and all of it looked at, The building's equipments, since access was given me, Not kindly at all entrance permitted

{He tells them of Beowulf's last moments.}

Within under earth-wall. Hastily seized I And held in my hands a huge-weighing burden 35 Of h.o.a.rd-treasures costly, hither out bare them To my liegelord beloved: life was yet in him, And consciousness also; the old one discoursed then Much and mournfully, commanded to greet you,

{Beowulf's dying request.}

Bade that remembering the deeds of your friend-lord 40 Ye build on the fire-hill of corpses a lofty Burial-barrow, broad and far-famous, As 'mid world-dwelling warriors he was widely most honored While he reveled in riches. Let us rouse us and hasten [105] Again to see and seek for the treasure, 45 The wonder 'neath wall. The way I will show you, That close ye may look at ring-gems sufficient And gold in abundance. Let the bier with promptness Fully be fas.h.i.+oned, when forth we shall come, And lift we our lord, then, where long he shall tarry, 50 Well-beloved warrior, 'neath the Wielder's protection."

{Wiglaf charges them to build a funeral-pyre.}

Then the son of Wihstan bade orders be given, Mood-valiant man, to many of heroes, Holders of homesteads, that they hither from far, [6]Leaders of liegemen, should look for the good one 55 With wood for his pyre: "The flame shall now swallow (The wan fire shall wax[7]) the warriors' leader Who the rain of the iron often abided, When, st.u.r.dily hurled, the storm of the arrows Leapt o'er linden-wall, the lance rendered service, 60 Furnished with feathers followed the arrow."

Now the wise-mooded son of Wihstan did summon The best of the braves from the band of the ruler

{He takes seven thanes, and enters the den.}

Seven together; 'neath the enemy's roof he Went with the seven; one of the heroes 65 Who fared at the front, a fire-blazing torch-light Bare in his hand. No lot then decided Who that h.o.a.rd should havoc, when hero-earls saw it Lying in the cavern uncared-for entirely, Rusting to ruin: they rued then but little 70 That they hastily hence hauled out the treasure,

{They push the dragon over the wall.}

The dear-valued jewels; the dragon eke pushed they, The worm o'er the wall, let the wave-currents take him, [106] The waters enwind the ward of the treasures.

{The h.o.a.rd is laid on a wain.}

There wounden gold on a wain was uploaded, 75 A ma.s.s unmeasured, the men-leader off then, The hero h.o.a.ry, to Whale's-Ness was carried.

[1] For 'gehydde,' B. suggests 'gehyde': the pa.s.sage would stand as above except the change of 'hidden' (v. 2) to 'plundered.' The reference, however, would be to the thief, not to the dragon.

[2] The pa.s.sage 'Wundur ... buan' (3063-3066), M. took to be a question asking whether it was strange that a man should die when his appointed time had come.--B. sees a corruption, and makes emendations introducing the idea that a brave man should not die from sickness or from old age, but should find death in the performance of some deed of daring.--S. sees an indirect question introduced by 'hwar' and dependent upon 'wundur': _A secret is it when the hero is to die, etc_.--Why may the two clauses not be parallel, and the whole pa.s.sage an Old English cry of '_How wonderful is death!'?_--S.'s is the best yet offered, if 'wundor' means 'mystery.'

[3] For 'strude' in H.-So., S. suggests 'stride.' This would require 'ravage' (v. 16) to be changed to 'tread.'

[4] 'He cared ... sight of' (17, 18), S. emends so as to read as follows: _He (Beowulf) had not before seen the favor of the avaricious possessor._

[5] B. renders: _That which drew the king thither_ (i.e. _the treasure_) _was granted us, but in such a way that it overcomes us._

[6] 'Folc-agende' (3114) B. takes as dat. sing. with 'G.o.dum,' and refers it to Beowulf; that is, _Should bring fire-wood to the place where the good folk-ruler lay_.

[7] C. proposes to take 'weaxan' = L. 'vescor,' and translate _devour_. This gives a parallel to 'fretan' above. The parenthesis would be discarded and the pa.s.sage read: _Now shall the fire consume, the wan-flame devour, the prince of warriors, etc_.