Beowulf
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in letting me know the land you came from.”
The ablest among them answered him clearly
lifted up his spear unlocked his wordhoard:
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“We are mindful of manners men of the Geats
Lord Hygelac’s hearth-companions.
My father wandered far through this world
earned his way there Ecgtheow by name
survived many winters wartime and peace
till age wearied him. He won many battles
named by Northmen in nations abroad.
Now we have come here with kind intentions
to seek out your lord son of Healfdene
victor of men. Advise us well!
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We bear to your lord leader of the Danes
a helpful message—but we hold no secrets
now that we’re here. You know if it’s true
stories told to us sorrowful tales
evil in Denmark some demon or giant
a devilish creature who in darkness of night
roams the moorpaths murder in his heart
hell’s messenger. To Hrothgar I offer
words to consider serious counsel
how this wise ruler may win over deathdays
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if an end to sorrows ever will come forth
a taming of torment time for revenge
healing of heartbreak in this helpless land.
Unless this happens as long as he rules
darkness and bloodgrief will doom his people
banished forever from that best of halls.”
The coastguard replied proud horse-soldier
no fear in his words: “One way or another
a sharp warden can weigh carefully
words and intentions if he’s worthy in thought.
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I’ve heard in your speech heartstrong fealty
to the lord of the Danes. I’ll lead you now
with your spears and helmets to the hall above—
I’ll tell my companions to tend to your ship
guard carefully against all comers
this newly tarred vessel nestled in sand
to hold it in trust till the time comes round
when homeward it bears the best among you
brings back alive beloved warriors
on this ring-prowed ship riding foamwaves
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back to the Weather-Geats wondering for news.”
They marched forward then mounted the headland
left their keel-ship lashed to beach-anchor
roped to the sand. Around their mask-helmets
golden boar-heads beamed to the sun
flashed a war-gleam on fire-hardened steel
signaled their weapons. They strode together
crested the sea-wall till they saw glinting
that timber-strong hall trimmed bright with gold
tall horn-gables towering in the sun
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high to the heavens Hrothgar’s gift-hall.
Its light shone forth over land and sea.
The coastguard paused pulled his horse round
stopped by the roadside studied them well
hefted his spear hailed them again
paused for a moment with these parting words:
“Fare you well now—may the Father almighty
hold you from harm help from this moment
teach you the way. I turn to the sea
back to the beaches bastions of Denmark.”
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The stone-cobbled road ran on before them
as they marched together. Their mailcoats glistened
laced by smith-hands—linked steel-jackets
clinked an armor-song as they came to the hall
strode in their war-gear straight to the door.
They settled broadshields bright by the wall
rounded and hardened by ringing forge-hammers.
They bent to the benches breast-coats in rows
life-guarding corselets. They leaned ash-spears
ranked by the door reaching above them
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gray-tipped treelimbs. Geats rested there
wealthy in weapons. A warrior came forth
eager for news-words asked who they were:
“From where have you brought those broad-rimmed shields
gray-gleaming mailcoats good mask-helmets
such a heap of armor? I am Hrothgar’s
counselor and friend. How far have you traveled
crossed the wave-rolls to come to this door?
My wits tell me you are welcome callers
in full friendship no fugitives with you.”
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The chief of the Geats gave him an answer
tall and helmeted taught him with words
the meaning of his men: “We are mighty Hygelac’s
board-companions—Beowulf is my name.
I have come to greet your great people-king
to tell your Dane-lord tidings of hope
explain to your king if he plans to receive us
why we sailed westward to this splendid meadhall.”
Wulfgar replied watchful Northman
son of the Wendels wearing their strength
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no hurry in his mind: “I will hail my chief,
mindful of murder, mix words with him
greet the gift-throne give him your name
since you’ve come to greet him with grand helpwords.
I will step to the high-seat stand before him
bear his answer back to you here.”
He entered the hall where Hrothgar sorrowed,
gray in his mindthoughts grief cloaking him,
strode to the gift-throne stepped before him
skilled in the customs of kings of the North.
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Wulfgar spoke then words mixed with light:
“Here we have strangers hailing from far
sailing the gulfstreams from Geatish country.
The greatest among them as I gauge the man
is known as Beowulf. They bring hope-tidings
wish to share words wait peacefully
to greet you, my lord. Do not leave them there
but give them welcome gladman Hrothgar!
Their weapons are stout steel boar-helmets
gleaming with gold. Their Geatish king
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is a prosperous man a mighty ruler.”
Hrothgar answered helm of the Danes:
“I knew their chieftain a child long ago.
His father was Ecgtheow who found his wife
in the hall of the Geats where Hrethel gave him
his only daughter. This day his son
has come to find me a friend of his youth.
Sailors have told me, sea-messengers
ferrying gifts from Götland to Denmark
with thankful tokens, that this tall grappler
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can grind as strongly in the grip of his hand
as thirty war-thanes. I think that the Measurer
Maker of us all has urged him here,
sent to the Danes, I dare to imagine,
relief from Grendel. For this great mercy
I promise him now priceless heirlooms.
Make haste, my friend, fetch them in here
all of them together to greet all of us,
tell them clearly that they come as lamplight
to darkness in Heorot.” To the door he turned
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Wulfgar the Wendel wove them a speech:
“My lord has told me my beloved hearth-king
chief of the East-Danes that he honors your kin.
You have come in time, the tide has brought you
like welling waves welcome to his heart.
Come forth with me in your corselets of steel
your hard mask-helmets where Hrothgar awaits you.
until you have traded talk with my lord.”
Some remained there stayed by their weapons
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held them from harm. Their hero rose then,
around him his thanes ready for orders.
They walked together Wulfgar before them
under Heorot’s roof helmets gleaming
stood at the hearth hard by the gift-throne.
Beowulf spoke then, burnished mailcoat
work of wonder-smiths winking in firelight:
“Hail to you, Hrothgar! I am Hygelac’s thane
nephew and friend. I have known much peril
grim death-dangers. Grendel’s ravages
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came to my ears in my own homeland.
Sailors have said that this strong meadhall
with high gold-gables this Hall of the Hart
stands empty and idle when evening-light fades
when the dark sky lowers and light thins to gray.
My people have urged me, elders and youth
best of Weather-Geats brothers of my heart,
to cross the gulfway come straight to you
offer you my strength stand by your side.
They saw for themselves as I surfaced from ambush
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broke through the waves to the winds of sunrise
how I crushed water-sprites cracked their blood-teeth
shoved them deathwards down by the sea-floor
fought them by night in narrow-dark waters
on the sandy ground. Grendel is next—
I will settle alone this sorrowful feud
this baleful business. I beg of you now,
lord of the Ring-Danes royal man-leader,
a small favor-gift from sovereign to friend—
do not refuse me now that I’m here
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come from afar to cancel your problem—
I and my men no more than this war-band
will cleanse your Heorot close out this evil.
I also have heard that this hellish monster
with careless strength carries no weapons.
I will therefore swear in honor of Hygelac—
to keep my protector proud in his heart—
I’ll bear no swordblade no shield to that fight
no boar-head helmet—with my handgrip only
I will fight this fiend find his life-core
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man against monster. Tomorrow you will find
at rising of light the Ruler’s judgment.
If this demon wins no doubt he will banquet
on bodies of Geats gorge with all of us
swill and swallow snatch our lives away
munch on our bones. Do not mourn for me
or shame your heart in shadows of defeat
if he cracks my bones bends me deathwards
hauls me away hoping to taste me
slash me to morsels with murder in his heart
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staining the moors. Do not sorrow for long
for my lifeless body lost and devoured.
But send to Hygelac if struggle takes me
this best of battle-shrouds breast-protector
greatest of corselets good Hrethel’s gift
Weland’s hand-smithing. Wyrd is determined!”
Hrothgar answered helm of the Danes:
“Beowulf my friend you have brought from home
a gesture of honor joining with us now.
Your father once caused the cruelest of feuds—
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his hands emptied Heatholaf’s lifeblood
a man of the Wylfingas. The Weather-Geats then
dared not hold him for the harm he caused.
From there he sought the South-Danes’ country—
over angry waves the winds delivered him.
I first ruled then the realm of my people
held in my youth a young kingdom
homeland of the Danes—Heorogar was dead
my older brother born of Healfdene
borne to the grave—he was better than me!
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I managed that feud fixed it with payment
sent to the Wylfingas sailors with gifts
saved your good father with fine peace-tokens.
It wounds me to say weary with mourning
aching with grief how Grendel comes calling
each twilight in Heorot tortures us all
with nightblack murders. My men are fewer
some carried away—wyrd has swept them
into Grendel’s grasp. God could easily