Beowulf Part 7

{A son is born to him, who receives the name of Beowulf--a name afterwards made so famous by the hero of the poem.}

A son and heir, young in his dwelling, Whom G.o.d-Father sent to solace the people.

He had marked the misery malice had caused them, 15 [1]That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2]

Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital, Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him.

Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory Of Scyld's great son in the lands of the Danemen.

[2]

{The ideal Teutonic king lavishes gifts on his va.s.sals.}

20 So the carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered The friends of his father, with fees in abundance Must be able to earn that when age approacheth Eager companions aid him requitingly, When war a.s.saults him serve him as liegemen: 25 By praise-worthy actions must honor be got 'Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated

{Scyld dies at the hour appointed by Fate.}

Scyld then departed to the All-Father's keeping Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades, 30 As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings Word-sway wielded, and the well-loved land-prince Long did rule them.[3] The ring-stemmed vessel, Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor, Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing;

{By his own request, his body is laid on a vessel and wafted seaward.}

35 The beloved leader laid they down there, Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel, The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels, Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over, Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever 40 That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle, Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled Many a jewel that with him must travel On the flush of the flood afar on the current.

45 And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly, Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him

{He leaves Daneland on the breast of a bark.}

Who when first he was born outward did send him Lone on the main, the merest of infants: And a gold-fas.h.i.+oned standard they stretched under heaven [3] 50 High o'er his head, let the holm-currents bear him, Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit, Their mood very mournful. Men are not able

{No one knows whither the boat drifted.}

Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,[4]

Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied.

[1] For the 'paet' of verse 15, Sievers suggests 'pa' (= which). If this be accepted, the sentence 'He had ... afflicted' will read: _He_ (_i.e._ G.o.d) _had perceived the malice-caused sorrow which they, lordless, had formerly long endured_.

[2] For 'aldor-lease' (15) Gr. suggested 'aldor-ceare': _He perceived their distress, that they formerly had suffered life-sorrow a long while_.

[3] A very difficult pa.s.sage. 'ahte' (31) has no object. H. supplies 'geweald' from the context; and our translation is based upon this a.s.sumption, though it is far from satisfactory. Kl. suggests 'laendagas' for 'lange': _And the beloved land-prince enjoyed (had) his transitory days (i.e. lived)_. B. suggests a dislocation; but this is a dangerous doctrine, pushed rather far by that eminent scholar.

[4] The reading of the H.-So. text has been quite closely followed; but some eminent scholars read 'sele-raedenne' for 'sele-raedende.' If that be adopted, the pa.s.sage will read: _Men cannot tell us, indeed, the order of Fate, etc._ 'Sele-raedende' has two things to support it: (1) v. 1347; (2) it affords a parallel to 'men' in v. 50.

II.

SCYLD'S SUCCESSORS.--HROTHGAR'S GREAT MEAD-HALL.

{Beowulf succeeds his father Scyld}

In the boroughs then Beowulf, bairn of the Scyldings, Beloved land-prince, for long-lasting season Was famed mid the folk (his father departed, The prince from his dwelling), till afterward sprang 5 Great-minded Healfdene; the Danes in his lifetime He graciously governed, grim-mooded, aged.

{Healfdene's birth.}

Four bairns of his body born in succession Woke in the world, war-troopers' leader Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga the good; 10 Heard I that Elan was Ongentheow's consort,

{He has three sons--one of them, Hrothgar--and a daughter named Elan.

Hrothgar becomes a mighty king.}

The well-beloved bedmate of the War-Scylfing leader.

Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given, Waxing of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood, 15 A numerous band. It burned in his spirit To urge his folk to found a great building, A mead-hall grander than men of the era

{He is eager to build a great hall in which he may feast his retainers}

Ever had heard of, and in it to share With young and old all of the blessings 20 The Lord had allowed him, save life and retainers.

Then the work I find afar was a.s.signed [4] To many races in middle-earth's regions, To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened Early 'mong men, that 'twas finished entirely, 25 The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it

{The hall is completed, and is called Heort, or Heorot.}

Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded 'mong earlmen.

His promise he brake not, rings he lavished, Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up High and horn-crested, huge between antlers: 30 It battle-waves bided, the blasting fire-demon; Ere long then from hottest hatred must sword-wrath Arise for a woman's husband and father.

Then the mighty war-spirit[1] endured for a season,

{The Monster Grendel is madly envious of the Danemen's joy.}

Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness, 35 That light-hearted laughter loud in the building Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music, Clear song of the singer. He said that was able

{[The course of the story is interrupted by a short reference to some old account of the creation.]}

To tell from of old earthmen's beginnings, That Father Almighty earth had created, 40 The winsome wold that the water encircleth, Set exultingly the sun's and the moon's beams To lavish their l.u.s.tre on land-folk and races, And earth He embellished in all her regions With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too 45 On all the kindreds that live under heaven.

{The glee of the warriors is overcast by a horrible dread.}

So blessed with abundance, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with joyance, The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to Dog them with deeds of direfullest malice, A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger[2]

50 Was Grendel ent.i.tled, the march-stepper famous Who[3] dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness; The wan-mooded being abode for a season [5] In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder, 55 The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father

{Cain is referred to as a progenitor of Grendel, and of monsters in general.}

The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance; In the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him From kindred and kind, that crime to atone for, Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures, 60 Elves and giants, monsters of ocean, Came into being, and the giants that longtime Grappled with G.o.d; He gave them requital.

[1] R. and t. B. prefer 'ellor-gaest' to 'ellen-gaest' (86): _Then the stranger from afar endured, etc._

[2] Some authorities would translate '_demon_' instead of '_stranger_.'

[3] Some authorities arrange differently, and render: _Who dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness, the land of the giant-race._

III.