Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, together with Sellic Spell, Page 3

  140 tabernacles, in prayers implored the slayer of souls to afford

  them help against the sufferings of the people. Such was their

  wont, the hope of heathens; they were mindful in their hearts

  of hell, (nor knew they the Creator, the Judge of deeds, nor

  had heard of the Lord God, nor verily had learned to praise

  145 the Guardian of the heavens and the King of glory. Woe shall

  be to him that through fiendish malice shall thrust down his

  soul into the fire’s embrace, to look for no comfort, in no

  wise to change his lot! Blessed shall be he that may after his

  death-day go unto the lord and seek peace in the bosom of

  150 the Father!)

  Even thus over the sorrows of that time did the son of

  Healfdene brood unceasingly, nor could that wise prince put

  aside his grief; too strong was that strife, too dire and weary

  to endure, that had come upon that folk, torment fierce and

  155 cruel that they needs must bear, the greatest of miseries that

  came by night.

  Of this, of Grendel’s deeds, the knight of Hygelac,

  esteemed among the Geats, heard in his home afar; in that

  day of man’s life here in might the strongest of mankind was

  160 he, noble and of stature beyond man’s measure. He bade men

  prepare for him a good craft upon the waves, saying that over

  the waters where the swan rides he would seek the warriorking,

  that prince renowned, since he had need of men. With

  that voyage little fault did wise men find, dear though he

  165 were to them; they encouraged his valiant heart, and they

  observed the omens.

  Champions of the people of the Geats that good man had

  chosen from the boldest that he could find, and fifteen in

  ail they sought now their timbered ship, while that warrior,

  170 skilled in the ways of the sea, led them to the margins of the

  land. Time passed on. Afloat upon the waves was the boat

  beneath the cliffs. Eagerly the warriors mounted the prow,

  and the streaming seas swirled upon the sand. Men-at-arms

  bore to the bosom of the ship their bright harness, their cunning

  175 gear of war; they then, men on a glad voyage, thrust her

  forth with her well-joined timbers. Over the waves of the

  deep she went sped by the wind, sailing with foam at throat

  most like unto a bird, until in due hour upon the second day

  her curving beak had made such way that those sailors saw

  180 the land, the cliffs beside the ocean gleaming, and sheer

  headlands and capes thrust far to sea. Then for that sailing ship the

  journey was at an end. Thence the men of the Windloving

  folk climbed swiftly up upon the beach, and made fast the

  sea-borne timbers of their ship; their mail-shirts they shook,

  185 their raiment of war. They gave thanks to God that the

  passage of the waves had been made easy for them.

  Then from the high shore the watchman of the Scyldings,

  who of duty guarded the cliffs by the sea, saw them bearing

  over the gangway bright shields and gallant harness; anxiety

  190 smote him in his heart to learn what these men might be.

  He went then to the strand riding on his horse, Hrothgar’s

  knight, and mightily he brandished in his hands his stout

  spear-shaft, and in words of parley he asked: ‘What warriors

  are ye, clad in corslets, that have come thus steering your

  195 tall ship over the streets of the sea, hither over deep waters?

  Lo! I long while have dwelt at the ends of the land, keeping

  watch over the water, that in the land of the Danes no foeman

  might come harrying with raiding fleet. Never have armed

  men more openly here essayed to land, knowing not at all

  200 the pass-word of men in array of war, nor having the consent

  of kinsmen. Never have I seen on earth a greater among men

  than is one of you, a warrior in arms; no hall-servant is he in

  brave show of weapons, if his fair countenance lie not and

  his peerless mien. Now must I learn of what people you are

  205 sprung, rather than ye should pass on hence, false spies, into

  the land of the Danes. Come now, ye dwellers afar, voyagers

  of the sea, hear my thought plainly spoken: in haste it is best

  that ye declare whence your ways have led!’

  To him then the chief made answer, the leader of the

  210 company, opened his store of words: ‘We are by race men

  of the Geats and hearth-comrades of Hygelac. Famed among

  peoples was my father, a noble warrior in the forefront of

  battle; Ecgtheow was he called. Many a winter he endured

  ere in age he departed from his courts; full well doth every

  215 wise man remember him far and wide over the earth. With

  friendly purpose are we now come seeking thy master, the

  son of Healfdene, defender of his people. Be thou kindly in

  counsel to us! A mighty errand have we to him renowned,

  the lord of the Danes; and there a certain matter shall not be

  220 kept secret, as I think. Thou knowest if so it be, as in truth

  we have heard tell, that among the Scyldings I know not what

  deadly thing, a doer of deeds of secret hatred, on dark nights

  in dreadful wise makes plain his monstrous malice, shame of

  men, and felling of the dead. Concerning that with ungrudging

  225 heart I can give counsel to Hrothgar how he, wise and

  good, will overcome his enemy - should there ever come

  change or betterment in the torment of his woes - how those

  burning griefs will be assuaged; or else for ever after he will

  endure a time of tribulation and dire need, while there in its

  230 high place abides the best of houses.’

  The watchman spake, sitting there upon his steed, fearless

  servant of the king: ‘A man of keen wit who takes good

  heed will discern the truth in both words and deeds: my ears

  assure me that here is a company of friendly mind towards

  235 the Lord of the Scyldings. Go ye forward bearing your

  weapons and your armour! I will guide you! My young esquires,

  moreover, I will command honourably to guard your ship,

  your new-tarred vessel upon the sand, against every foe,

  until with its timbers and its wreathéd prow it bears back

  240 again over the streams of the sea its beloved master to the

  Weather-mark. To such a doer of good deeds it shall surely

  be granted that he will come sound and whole through this

  onset of war!’

  They went then marching forth. Their fleet vessel

  245 remained now still, deep-bosomed ship it rode upon its

  hawser fast to the anchor. Figures of the boar shone above

  cheek-guards, adorned with gold, glittering, fire-tempered;

  fierce and challenging war-mask kept guard over life. The

  men hastened striding together until they could descry the

  250 builded hall adorned bright with gold, foremost it was in

  fame of all houses under heaven among the dwellers upon

  earth, wherein the mighty one abode; the light of it shone

  over many a land. Then that warrior bold pointed out to

  them, clear to see, the court of proud men, that they might

  255 march straight thither.

  Then that warrior turned his horse,
and thereupon spake

  these words: ‘Time it is for me to go. May the Almighty

  Father in his grace keep you safe upon your quests! To the

  sea will I go, against unfriendly hosts my watch to keep.’

  260 The street was paved in stone patterns; the path guided

  those men together. There shone corslet of war, hard, handlinked,

  bright ring of iron rang in their harness, as in their

  dread gear they went striding straight unto the hall. Weary

  of the sea they set their tall shields, bucklers wondrous hard,

  265 against the wall of the house, and sat then on the bench.

  Corslets rang, war-harness of men. Their spears stood piled

  together, seamen’s gear, ash-hafted, grey-tipped with steel.

  Well furnished with weapons was the iron-mailed company.

  There then a knight in proud array asked those men of battle

  270 concerning their lineage: ‘Whence bear ye your plated shields,

  your grey shirts of mail, your masked helms and throng of

  warlike shafts? I am Hrothgar’s herald and servant. Never

  have I seen so many men of outland folk more proud of bearing!

  I deem that in pride, not in the ways of banished men,

  275 nay, in greatness of heart ye have come seeking Hrothgar!’

  To him then, strong and bold, the proud prince of the

  Windloving folk replied, words he spake in answer, stern

  beneath his helm: ‘We are companions of Hygelac’s table;

  Beowulf is my name. To the son of Healfdene, glorious king,

  280 I wish to tell mine errand, to thy lord, if he will vouchsafe

  to us that we may approach him in his excellence.’ Wulfgar

  spake – noble prince of the Wendels was he, his heart’s

  temper, his prowess and wisdom, were known to many a

  man: ‘This will I enquire of the Friend of the Danes, lord of

  285 the Scyldings, giver of rings, concerning thy quest, even as

  thou prayest, and such answer quickly declare to thee as he

  in his goodness is minded to give.’

  Then swiftly he returned to where Hrothgar sat, old and

  hoar-headed, amid his company of knights; valiant he strode

  290 until he stood by the shoulder of the lord of the Danes, well

  he knew the customs of courtly men. Wulfgar spake to his

  beloved lord: ‘Here are now landed, come from afar over the

  encircling sea, noble men of the Geats; the chiefest of them

  men of arms name Beowulf. They beg to exchange words with

  295 thee, my king. Do not make denial to them of thy fair answer,

  O gracious Hrothgar! In their harness of war they seem well

  to merit the esteem of men; assuredly a man of worth is the

  captain, who hath led these men of battle to this land.’

  Hrothgar spake, protector of the Scyldings: ‘I knew him

  300 while he was yet a boy. His sire of old was called Ecgtheow;

  to him Hrethel of the Geats gave as bride his only daughter;

  it is his son that has now here come dauntless seeking a friend

  and patron. Voyagers by sea, such as have borne gifts and

  treasures for the Geats thither in token of good will, have

  305 since reported that he hath in the grasp of his hand the might

  and power of thirty men, valiant in battle. Holy God hath

  sent him to us in his mercy, even to the West Danes, as is

  my hope, against the terror of Grendel. To this good knight

  I shall offer precious gifts to reward the valour of his heart.

  310 Make haste now! Bid them enter here and look upon the

  proud company of our kin here gathered together; tell them

  too in words of greeting that they are welcome to the people

  of the Danes!’

  [Then Wulfgar went toward the door of the hall, and]

  315 standing within he pronounced these words: ‘My victorious

  lord, chieftain of the East Danes bade me say to you

  that he knows your lineage, and that with your dauntless

  hearts ye come as welcome guests to him over the surges of

  the sea. Now may ye go in your harness of battle beneath

  320 your masked helms to look upon Hrothgar. Leave here your

  warlike shields and deadly shafted spears to await the issue

  of your words.’ Then that lordly man arose, and about him

  many a warrior, a valiant company of knights. Some remained

  behind guarding their gear of war, even as the bold captain

  325 commanded. They went with speed together, the knight guiding

  them, beneath the roof of Heorot. Stern beneath his helm

  [strode Beowulf] until he stood beside the hearth. Words he

  spake – his mail gleamed upon him, woven like stuff in crafty

  web by the cunning of smiths: ‘Hail to thee, Hrothgar! I am

  330 Hygelac’s kinsman and vassal; on many a renowned deed I

  ventured in my youth. To me on my native soil the matter of

  Grendel became known and revealed; travellers upon the sea

  report that this hall, fairest of houses, stands empty and to

  all men useless, as soon as the light of evening is hid beneath

  335 heaven’s pale. Thereupon the worthiest of my people and

  wise men counselled me to come to thee, King Hrothgar; for

  they had learned the power of my body’s strength; they had

  themselves observed it, when I returned from the toils of my

  foes, earning their enmity, where five I bound, making desolate

  340 the race of monsters, and when I slew amid the waves by

  night the water-demons, enduring bitter need, avenging the

  afflictions of the windloving Geats, destroying those hostile

  things - woe they had asked for. And now I shall with

  Grendel, with that fierce slayer, hold debate alone with the

  345 ogre. Now therefore will I ask of thee, prince of the glorious

  Danes, defender of the Scyldings, this one boon, that thou

  deny not to me, O protector of warriors, fair lord of peoples,

  since I have come from so far away, that only I may, and

  my proud company of men, this dauntless company, make

  350 Heorot clean. I have learned, too, that this fierce slayer in his

  savagery to weapons gives no heed. I too then will disdain

  (so love me Hygelac, my liege lord!) to bear either sword,

  or wide shield, yellow-bossed, to battle, nay, with my gripe

  I shall seize upon the foe, and engage in mortal contest with

  355 hate against hate – there to the judgement of the Lord shall

  he resign himself whom death doth take. Methinks he will,

  if he is permitted to have the mastery, in this hall of battle

  devour without fear the Gothic knights, the strong band of

  Hrethmen, as he oft hath done. No need wilt thou have in

  360 burial to shroud my head, but he will hold me reddened with

  gore, if death takes me; a bloody corse will bear, will think

  to taste it, and departing alone will eat unpitying, staining the

  hollows of the moors. No need wilt thou have any longer to

  care for my body’s sustenance! Send back to Hygelac, should

  365 battle take me, the mail-shirt most excellent that defends my

  breast, fairest of raiment. Hrethel bequeathed it, the work of

  Wayland. Fate goeth ever as she must!’

  Hrothgar made answer, protector of the Scyldings: ‘My

  friend Beowulf, for my deserts and for the grace that once

  370 I showed thou hast now come to us. Thy father
with the

  sword ended one of the greatest feuds: Heatholaf with his

  own hands he slew among the Wylfings. Then the kindred

  of the Wederas could no longer keep him for the dread of

  war. Thence he sought the South-Danish folk over the surges

  375 of the sea, even the glorious Scyldings, when first I ruled

  the people of the Danes and in youth governed a spacious

  realm, treasury and stronghold of mighty men. Heorogar

  was then dead, mine elder brother, no longer lived the son of

  Healfdene; better was he than I! Thereafter that feud I settled

  380 with payment, sending [to the Wylfings] over the backs of

  the sea ancient treasures; oaths he swore to me. Grievous to

  my heart is it to recount to any among men what humiliations

  in Heorot, what dreadful deeds of malice Grendel hath

  wrought for me in the hatred of his heart. Diminished is the

  385 company of my hall, the ranks of my warriors; Fate hath

  swept them into the dire clutch of Grendel. God (alone)

  may easily hinder from his deeds that savage foe! Full often

  have champions of war flushed with drink over the goblets

  of ale made vaunt that in the drinking hall they would meet

  390 the warlike might of Grendel with the terror of their blades.

  Thereafter was this mead-hall, my royal house, on the

  morrow-tide red with dripping blood when day shone forth,

  all the bench-boards drenched with blood and the hall with

  dew of swords. The fewer loyal hearts and bold men tried

  395 in war had I, for death had taken them. Sit now at the feast,

  and when the time comes turn thy thought to victory for the

  Hrethmen, as thy heart may urge thee.’

  Then for the young Geatish knights together in company

  a bench was made free in the drinking hall; there to their seats

  400 went those stout of heart resplendent in their strength. An

  esquire his office heeded, he that bore in hand the jewelled

  ale-goblet and poured gleaming out the sweet drink. Ever

  and anon the minstrel sang clear in Heorot. There was mirth

  of mighty men, no little assembly of the tried valour of Danes

  405 and Wederas.

  Unferth spake, son of Ecglaf, who sat at the feet of the

  lord of the Scyldings, a spell to bring forth strife he loosed

  — the quest of Beowulf come thus boldly over the sea gave

  to him great displeasure, for it was not to his liking that