by Beowulf
each other greet o’er the gannet’s-bath,
and the ringed-prow bear o’er rolling waves
tokens of love. I trow my landfolk
towards friend and foe are firmly joined,
1865 and honor they keep in the olden way.”
“ǣghwæs untǣle ealde wīsan.”
Þā gīt him eorla hlēo inne gesealde,
mago Healfdenes māðmas twelfe,
hēt hine mid þǣm lācum lēode swǣse
1870 sēcean on gesyntum, snūde eft cuman.
To him in the hall, then, Healfdene’s son
gave treasures twelve, and the trust-of-earls
bade him fare with the gifts to his folk beloved,
hale to his home, and in haste return.
1870 Then kissed the king of kin renowned,
Gecyste þā cyning æðelum gōd,
þēoden Scildinga, þegen betstan
and be healse genam; hruron him tēaras,
blonden-feaxum: him wæs bēga wēn,
1875 ealdum infrōdum, ōðres swīðor,
Scyldings’ chieftain, that choicest thane,
and fell on his neck. Fast flowed the tears
of the hoary-headed. Heavy with winters,
he had chances twain, but he clung to this, —
1875 that each should look on the other again,
þæt hī seoððan gesēon mōston
mōdige on meðle. Wæs him se man tō þon lēof,
þæt hē þone brēost-wylm forberan ne mehte,
ac him on hreðre hyge-bendum fæst
1880 æfter dēorum men dyrne langað
and hear him in hall. Was this hero so dear to him,
his breast’s wild billows he banned in vain;
safe in his soul a secret longing,
locked in his mind, for that lovéd man
1880 burned in his blood. Then Beowulf strode,
beorn wið blōde. Him Bēowulf þanan,
gūð-rinc gold-wlanc græs-moldan træd,
since hrēmig: sǣ-genga bād
āgend-frēan, sē þe on ancre rād.
1885 Þā wæs on gange gifu Hrōðgāres
glad of his gold-gifts, the grass-plot o’er,
warrior blithe. The wave-roamer bode
riding at anchor, its owner awaiting.
As they hastened onward, Hrothgar’s gift
1885 they lauded at length.— ’Twas a lord unpeered,
oft geæhted: þæt wæs ān cyning
ǣghwæs orleahtre, oð þæt hine yldo benam
mægenes wynnum, sē þe oft manegum scōd.
every way blameless, till age had broken
— it spareth no mortal — his splendid might.
XXVIII. BĒOWULF RETURNS TO GEATLAND. — THE QUEENS HYGD AND THRYTHO.
Cwōm þā tō flōde fela-mōdigra
1890 hæg-stealdra hēap; hring-net bǣron,
Came now to ocean the ever-courageous
hardy henchmen, their harness bearing,
1890 woven war-sarks. The warden marked,
locene leoðo-syrcan. Land-weard onfand
eft-sīð eorla, swā hē ǣr dyde;
nō hē mid hearme of hlīðes nosan
gæstas grētte, ac him tōgēanes rād;
1895 cwæð þæt wilcuman Wedera lēodum
trusty as ever, the earl’s return.
From the height of the hill no hostile words
reached the guests as he rode to greet them;
but “Welcome!” he called to that Weder clan
1895 as the sheen-mailed spoilers to ship marched on.
scawan scīr-hame tō scipe fōron.
Þā wæs on sande sǣ-gēap naca
hladen here-wǣdum, hringed-stefna
mēarum and māðmum: mæst hlīfade
1900 ofer Hrōðgāres hord-gestrēonum.
Then on the strand, with steeds and treasure
and armor their roomy and ring-dight ship
was heavily laden: high its mast
rose over Hrothgar’s hoarded gems.
1900 A sword to the boat-guard Beowulf gave,
Hē þǣm bāt-wearde bunden golde
swurd gesealde, þæt hē syððan wæs
on meodu-bence māðme þy¯ weorðra,
yrfe-lāfe. Gewāt him on y¯ð-nacan,
1905 drēfan dēop wæter, Dena land ofgeaf.
mounted with gold; on the mead-bench since
he was better esteemed, that blade possessing,
heirloom old. — Their ocean-keel boarding,
they drove through the deep, and Daneland left.
1905 A sea-cloth was set, a sail with ropes,
Þā wæs be mæste mere-hrægla sum,
segl sāle fæst. Sund-wudu þunede,
nō þǣr wēg-flotan wind ofer y¯ðum
sīðes getwǣfde; sǣ-genga fōr,
1910 flēat fāmig-heals forð ofer y¯ðe,
firm to the mast; the flood-timbers moaned;
nor did wind over billows that wave-swimmer blow
across from her course. The craft sped on,
foam-necked it floated forth o’er the waves,
1910 keel firm-bound over briny currents,
bunden-stefna ofer brim-strēamas,
þæt hīe Gēata clifu ongitan meahton,
cūðe næssas. Cēol up geþrang,
lyft-geswenced on lande stōd.
1915 Hraðe wæs æt holme hy¯ð-weard gearo,
till they got them sight of the Geatish cliffs,
home-known headlands. High the boat,
stirred by winds, on the strand updrove.
Helpful at haven the harbor-guard stood,
1915 who long already for loved companions
sē þe ǣr lange tīd, lēofra manna
fūs, æt faroðe feor wlātode;
sǣlde tō sande sīd-fæðme scip
oncer-bendum fæst, þy¯ lǣs hym y¯ða þrym
1920 wudu wynsuman forwrecan meahte.
by the water had waited and watched afar.
He bound to the beach the broad-bosomed ship
with anchor-bands, lest ocean-billows
that trusty timber should tear away.
1920 Then Beowulf bade them bear the treasure,
Hēt þā up beran æðelinga gestrēon,
frætwe and fǣt-gold; næs him feor þanon
tō gesēcanne sinces bryttan:
Higelāc Hrēðling þǣr æt hām wunað,
1925 selfa mid gesīðum sǣ-wealle nēah;
gold and jewels; no journey far
was it thence to go to the giver of rings,
Hygelac Hrethling: at home he dwelt
by the sea-wall close, himself and clan.
1925 Haughty that house, a hero the king,
bold wæs betlīc, brego-rōf cyning,
hēa on healle, Hygd swīðe geong,
wīs, wēl-þungen, þēah þe wintra ly¯t
under burh-locan gebiden hæbbe
1930 Hæreðes dōhtor: næs hīo hnāh swā þēah,
high the hall, and Hygd right young,
wise and wary, though winters few
in those fortress walls she had found a home,
Hæreth’s daughter. Nor humble her ways,
1930 nor grudged she gifts to the Geatish men,
nē tō gnēað gifa Gēata lēodum,
māðm-gestrēona. Mod Þry¯ðo wæg,
fremu folces cwēn, firen ondrysne:
nǣnig þæt dorste dēor genēðan
1935 swǣsra gesīða, nefne sin-frēa,
of precious treasure. Not Thryth’s pride showed she,
folk-queen famed, or that fell deceit.
Was none so daring that durst make bold
(save her lord alone) of the liegemen dear
1935 that lady full in the face to look,
þæt hire an dæges ēagum starede;
ac him wæl-bende weotode tealde,
hand-gewriðene: hraðe seoððan wæs
æfter mund-gripe mēce geþinged,
1940 þæt hit sceaðen-mǣl scy¯ran mōste,
but forgéd fetters he found his lot,
bonds of death! And brief the respite;
soon as they seized him, his sword-doom was spoken,
and the burnished blade a baleful murder
1940 proclaimed and closed. No queenly way
cwealm-bealu cy¯ðan. Ne bið swylc cwēnlīc þēaw
idese tō efnanne, þēah þe hīo ǣnlīcu sy¯,
þætte freoðu-webbe fēores onsæce
æfter līge-torne lēofne mannan.
1945 Hūru þæt onhōhsnode Heminges mǣg;
for woman to practise, though peerless she,
that the weaver-of-peace from warrior dear
by wrath and lying his life should reave!
But Hemming’s kinsman hindered this. —
1945 For over their ale men also told
ealo drincende ōðer sǣdan,
þæt hīo lēod-bealewa lǣs gefremede,
inwit-nīða, syððan ǣrest wearð
gyfen gold-hroden geongum cempan,
1950 æðelum dīore, syððan hīo Offan flet
that of these folk-horrors fewer she wrought,
onslaughts of evil, after she went,
gold-decked bride, to the brave young prince,
atheling haughty, and Offa’s hall
1950 o’er the fallow flood at her father’s bidding
ofer fealone flōd be fæder lāre
sīðe gesōhte, þǣr hīo syððan wēl
in gum-stōle, gōde mǣre,
līf-gesceafta lifigende brēac,
1955 hīold hēah-lufan wið hæleða brego,
safely sought, where since she prospered,
royal, thronéd, rich in goods,
fain of the fair life fate had sent her,
and leal in love to the lord of warriors.
1955 He, of all heroes I heard of ever
ealles mon-cynnes mīne gefrǣge
þone sēlestan bī sǣm twēonum
eormen-cynnes; forþām Offa wæs
geofum and gūðum gār-cēne man,
1960 wīde geweorðod; wīsdōme hēold
from sea to sea, of the sons of earth,
most excellent seemed. Hence Offa was praised
for his fighting and feeing by far-off men,
the spear-bold warrior; wisely he ruled
1960 over his empire. Eomer woke to him,
ēðel sīnne, þonon Ēomǣr wōc
hæleðum tō helpe, Heminges mǣg,
nefa Gārmundes, nīða cræftig.
help of heroes, Hemming’s kinsman,
grandson of Garmund, grim in war.
XXIX. HIS ARRIVAL. HYGELAC’S RECEPTION.
Gewāt him þā se hearda mid his hond-scole
1965 sylf æfter sande sǣ-wong tredan,
Hastened the hardy one, henchmen with him,
sandy strand of the sea to tread
1965 and widespread ways. The world’s great candle,
wīde waroðas. Woruld-candel scān,
sigel sūðan fūs: hī sīð drugon,
elne geēodon, tō þæs þe eorla hlēo,
bonan Ongenþēowes burgum on innan,
1970 geongne gūð-cyning gōdne gefrūnon
sun shone from south. They strode along
with sturdy steps to the spot they knew
where the battle-king young, his burg within,
slayer of Ongentheow, shared the rings,
1970 shelter-of-heroes. To Hygelac
hringas dǣlan. Higelāce wæs
sīð Bēowulfes snūde gecy¯ðed,
þæt þǣr on worðig wīgendra hlēo,
lind-gestealla lifigende cwōm,
1975 heaðo-lāces hāl tō hofe gongan.
Beowulf’s coming was quickly told, —
that there in the court the clansmen’s refuge,
the shield-companion sound and alive,
hale from the hero-play homeward strode.
1975 With haste in the hall, by highest order,
Hraðe wæs gery¯med, swā se rīca bebēad,
fēðe-gestum flet innan-weard.
Gesæt þā wið sylfne, sē þā sæcce genæs,
mǣg wið mǣge, syððan man-dryhten
1980 þurh hlēoðor-cwyde holdne gegrētte
room for the rovers was readily made.
By his sovran he sat, come safe from battle,
kinsman by kinsman. His kindly lord
he first had greeted in gracious form,
1980 with manly words. The mead dispensing,
mēaglum wordum. Meodu-scencum
hwearf geond þæt reced Hæreðes dōhtor:
lufode þā lēode, līð-wǣge bær
hǣlum tō handa. Higelāc ongan
1985 sīnne geseldan in sele þām hēan
came through the high hall Hæreth’s daughter,
winsome to warriors, wine-cup bore
to the hands of the heroes. Hygelac then
his comrade fairly with question plied
1985 in the lofty hall, sore longing to know
fægre fricgean, hyne fyrwet bræc,
hwylce Sǣ-Gēata sīðas wǣron:
“Hū lomp ēow on lāde, lēofa Bīowulf,
“þā þū fǣringa feorr gehogodest,
1990 “sæcce sēcean ofer sealt wæter,
what manner of sojourn the Sea-Geats made.
“What came of thy quest, my kinsman Beowulf,
when thy yearnings suddenly swept thee yonder
battle to seek o’er the briny sea,
1990 combat in Heorot? Hrothgar couldst thou
“hilde tō Hiorote? Ac þū Hrōðgāre
“wīd-cūðne wēan wihte gebēttest,
“mǣrum þēodne? Ic þæs mōd-ceare
“sorh-wylmum sēað, sīðe ne truwode
1995 “lēofes mannes; ic þē lange bæd,
aid at all, the honored chief,
in his wide-known woes? With waves of care
my sad heart seethed; I sore mistrusted
my loved one’s venture: long I begged thee
1995 by no means to seek that slaughtering monster,
“þæt þū þone wæl-gǣst wihte ne grētte,
“lēte Sūð-Dene sylfe geweorðan
“gūðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge,
“þæs þe ic þē gesundne gesēon mōste.”
2000 Bīowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþīowes:
but suffer the South-Danes to settle their feud
themselves with Grendel. Now God be thanked
that safe and sound I can see thee now!”
Beowulf spake, the bairn of Ecgtheow: —
2000 “ ’Tis known and unhidden, Hygelac Lord,
“Þæt is undyrne, dryhten Higelāc,
“mǣre gemēting monegum fīra,
“hwylc orleg-hwīl uncer Grendles
“wearð on þām wange, þǣr hē worna fela
2005 “Sige-Scildingum sorge gefremede,
to many men, that meeting of ours,
struggle grim between Grendel and me,
which we fought on the field where full too many
sorrows he wrought for the Scylding-Victors,
2005 evils unending. These all I avenged.
“yrmðe tō aldre; ic þæt eal gewræc,
“swā ne gylpan þearf Grendeles māga
“ǣnig ofer eorðan ūht-hlem þone,
“sē þe lengest leofað lāðan cynnes,
2010 “fenne bifongen. Ic þǣr furðum cwōm,
No boast can be from breed of Grendel,
any on earth, for that uproar at dawn,
from the longest-lived of the loathsome race
in fleshly fold! — But first I went
2010 Hrothgar to greet in the hall of gifts,
“tō þām hring-sele Hrōðgār grētan:
“sōna mē se mǣra mago Healfdenes,
“syððan hē mōd-sef
an mīnne cūðe,
“wið his sylfes sunu setl getǣhte.
2015 “Weorod wæs on wynne; ne seah ic wīdan feorh
where Healfdene’s kinsman high-renowned,
soon as my purpose was plain to him,
assigned me a seat by his son and heir.
The liegemen were lusty; my life-days never
2015 such merry men over mead in hall
“under heofenes hwealf heal-sittendra
“medu-drēam māran. Hwīlum mǣru cwēn,
“friðu-sibb folca flet eall geond-hwearf,
“bǣdde byre geonge; oft hīo bēah-wriðan
2020 “secge sealde, ǣr hīo tō setle gēong.
have I heard under heaven! The high-born queen,
people’s peace-bringer, passed through the hall,
cheered the young clansmen, clasps of gold,
ere she sought her seat, to sundry gave.
2020 Oft to the heroes Hrothgar’s daughter,
“Hwīlum for duguðe dōhtor Hrōðgāres
“eorlum on ende ealu-wǣge bær,
“þā ic Frēaware flet-sittende
“nemnan hy¯rde, þǣr hīo nægled sinc
2025 “hæleðum sealde: sīo gehāten wæs,
to earls in turn, the ale-cup tendered, —
she whom I heard these hall-companions
Freawaru name, when fretted gold
she proffered the warriors. Promised is she,
2025 gold-decked maid, to the glad son of Froda.
“geong gold-hroden, gladum suna Frōdan;
“hafað þæs geworden wine Scyldinga
“rīces hyrde and þæt rǣd talað,
“þæt hē mid þy¯ wīfe wæl-fǣhða dǣl,
2030 “sæcca gesette. Oft nō seldan hwǣr
Sage this seems to the Scyldings’-friend,
kingdom’s-keeper: he counts it wise
the woman to wed so and ward off feud,
store of slaughter. But seldom ever
2030 when men are slain, does the murder-spear sink
“æfter lēod-hryre ly¯tle hwīle
“bon-gār būgeð, þēah sēo bry¯d duge!
but briefest while, though the bride be fair!
XXX. BĒOWULF’S STORY OF THE SLAYINGS.
“Mæg þæs þonne ofþyncan þēoden Heaðobeardna
“and þegna gehwām þāra lēoda,
2035 “þonne hē mid fǣmnan on flett gǣð,
“Nor haply will like it the Heathobard lord,
and as little each of his liegemen all,
when a thane of the Danes, in that doughty throng,
2035 goes with the lady along their hall,
“dryht-bearn Dena duguða biwenede:
“on him gladiað gomelra lāfe
“heard and hring-mǣl, Heaðobeardna gestrēon,
“þenden hīe þām wǣpnum wealdan mōston,
2040 “oð þæt hīe forlǣddan tō þām lind-plegan