Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, together with Sellic Spell, Page 4
J. R. R. Tolkien
410 any other man in this world below should ever accomplish
more honour under heaven than he himself: ‘Art thou that
Beowulf who strove with Breca in swimming upon the wide
sea, that time when ye two in pride made trial of the waters
and for a rash vaunt hazarded your lives upon the deep? No
415 man, friend nor foe, could dissuade you two from that venture
fraught with woe, when with limbs ye rowed the sea. There
ye embraced with your arms the streaming tide, measuring
out the streets of the sea with swift play of hands, gliding
over the ocean. The abyss was in tumult with the waves and
420 the surges of the winter. Seven nights ye two laboured in
the waters’ realm. He overmatched thee in swimming, he
had greater strength! Then on the morrow-tide the billows
bore him up away to the Heathoreamas’ land; whence he,
beloved of his people, sought his own dear soil, the land of
425 the Brandings and his fair stronghold, where a folk he ruled,
his strong town and his rings. All his vaunt truly did he, the
son of Beanstan, accomplish against thee. Wherefore I expect
for thee a yet worse encounter, though thou mayest in every
place have proved valiant in the rush of battle and grim war,
430 if thou darest all the nightlong hour nigh at hand to wait for
Grendel.’
Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: ‘Lo! my friend
Unferth, flushed with drink thou hast spent much speech,
telling of Breca and his feat! Truth I account it that greater
435 prowess in the sea had I, more labour in the waves than any
other man. We two agreed, being boys, and made our vaunt,
being yet both in the youth of life, that we would hazard our
lives out upon the ocean; and that we accomplished even so.
Naked we held our swords, hard in our hands, when we two
440 rowed the sea; we thought thus to defend us against monstrous
fish. Never at all could he swim away from me afar
upon the streaming waves, more swift than I upon the deep;
from him I would not go. Then we two were together in the
sea five nights’ space, until the tide drove us asunder, and
445 the boiling waters. The coldest of storms, glooming night,
a wind from the north came with cruel onslaught against
us; rough were the waves. The hearts of the fishes of the sea
were stirred, and there the corslet on my flesh, links stoutly
wrought by hand, gave me aid against my foes; my woven
450 raiment of battle lapped my breast adorned with gold. To the
abyss drew me a destroying foe accurséd, fast the grim thing
held me in its gripe. Nonetheless, it was granted to me to find
that fell slayer with point of warlike sword; the battle’s onset
destroyed that strong beast of the sea through this my hand.
455 Thus many a time deadly assailants menaced me grievously.
With my beloved sword I ministered to them, as it was meet.
In no wise had they joy in that banqueting, foul doers of ill
deeds, that they should devour me sitting round in feast nigh
to the bottoms of the sea; nay, upon the morrow they lay
460 upon the shore in the flotsam of the waves, wounded with
sword-thrusts, by blades done to death, so that never there-
after might they about the steep straits molest the passage
of seafaring men. Light came from the East, God’s beacon
bright; the waves were lulled, so that I could descry the
465 headlands out to sea and windy cliffs. Fate oft saveth a man
not doomed to die, when his valour fails not. Howbeit it was
my lot with sword to slay nine sea-demons. Never have I
heard beneath the vault of heaven of more bitter fighting by
night, nor of a man more unhappy in the torrents of the sea,
470 and nonetheless from the grappling of accurséd creatures my
life I saved weary of my venture. Then the sea, the tide upon
the flood, with boiling waters swept me away to the land of
the Finns. Never have I heard men tell of thee any such cruel
deeds of war and dreadful work of swords. Breca never yet
475 in the play of battle, nay, neither of you twain, hath accomplished
so daring a deed with blood-stained blades – yet little
do I glory in it – not though thou wert the slayer of thine own
brethren, thy nearest kin. For that thou shalt in Hell suffer
damnation, though thy wit be good. I tell thee for a truth, son
480 of Ecglaf, that never would Grendel have achieved so many
a deed of horror, fierce slayer and dire, in thy lord’s despite,
humbling him in Heorot, if they heart and soul were thus fell
in war as thou thyself accountest. Nay, he hath found that
he need not greatly dread avenging wrath nor dire pursuit
485 of swords from your people of the conquering Scyldings!
Forced toll he levies, none he spares of the folk of the Danes,
but followeth his lust, slays and ravishes, for no vengeance
looking from the Spear-Danes. But I shall now ere long in
battle oppose to him the might and valour of the Geats. He
490 will return who may, triumphant to the mead, when the light
of the morning on the following day, the sun in skiey robes,
shines from the south over the children of men!’
Then in joyful hour was the giver of rich gifts, greyhaired,
bold in battle; prince of the glorious Danes he believed that
495 succour was at hand. Shepherd of his people he had discerned
in Beowulf’s words the moveless purpose of his mind.
There was laughter of mighty men, the din of singing;
sweet were the words. Wealhtheow went forth, Hrothgar’s
queen, mindful of courtesy; with gold adorned she greeted
500 the men in the hall, and then the cup she offered, noble lady,
first to the guardian of the East Danes’ realm, and wished
him joy at the ale-quaffing and his lieges’ love. He, king victorious,
in delight partook of feast and flowing bowl. Then
the lady of the Helmings went to and fro to every part of
505 that host, to tried men and young proffering the jewelled
vessels, until in due time it chanced that she, ring-laden queen
of courteous heart, to Beowulf bore the cup of mead, and
hailed the Geatish knight, and gave thanks to God in words
of wisdom that her desire was granted to her that she might
510 trust in any man for comfort in their miseries. That cup
he then received, grim warrior at Wealhtheow’s hand, and
thereupon, his heart being kindled with desire of battle, fair
words he said. Thus Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spake: ‘This
did I purpose when I went up upon the sea and sat me in my
515 sea-boat amid my company of knights, that I wholly would
accomplish the desire of your people or would fall among
the slain fast in the clutches of the foe. A deed of knightly
valour I shall achieve, or else in this mead-hall await my latest
day!’ These words well pleased that lady, the proud utterance
520 of the Geat; with gold adorned she went, fair queen of the
people, to her seat beside her lord.
Then again as before were valiant words spoken within
the hall, the host was in joyful hour, there was clamour of
525 desired to seek his nightly couch. He knew that onslaught
against that lofty hall had been purposed in the demon’s
heart from the hours when they could see the light of the sun
until darkling night and the shapes of mantling shadow came
gliding over the world, dark beneath the clouds. All the host
530 arose. Then man saluted man, Hrothgar and Beowulf; all hail
the king him wished, giving to him the keeping of his house
of wine, and this word he spake: ‘Never have I ere this, since
I could lift hand and shield, to any other man save thee here
and now entrusted the mighty dwelling of the Danes. Have
535 it now and hold it, fairest of houses! Remember thy renown,
show forth thy might and valour, keep watch against our
foes! No lack shall there be to thee of thy desires, if thou dost
achieve this deed of valour and yet live.’
Then Hrothgar departed, defender of the Scyldings, with
540 his company of knights forth from the hall ; their warrior
lord would follow Wealhtheow his queen as the companion
of his couch. The King of Glory, as men now heard, had
appointed one to guard the hall against Grendel; now a special
office he held in the service of the Danes, having taken on
545 himself a watch against monstrous things. Verily the Geatish
knight trusted confidently in his valiant strength, God’s
grace to him. Then his corslet of iron things he doffed, and
the helm from his head, and gave his jewelled sword, best of
iron-wrought things, to his esquire, and bade him have care
550 of his gear of battle. Then the brave man spake, Beowulf of
the Geats, a speech of proud words, ere he climbed upon his
bed: ‘No whit do I account myself in my warlike stature a
man more despicable in deeds of battle than Grendel doth
himself. Therefore I will not with sword give him the sleep
555 of death, although I well could. Nought doth he know of
gentle arms that he should wield weapon against me or hew
my shield, fierce though he be in savage deeds. Nay, we two
shall this night reject the blade, if he dare have recourse to
warfare without weapons, and then let the foreseeing God,
560 the Holy Lord, adjudge the glory to whichever side him
seemeth meet.’
Then he laid him down, that valiant man, and his face was
buried in the pillow at his cheek; and about him many a gallant
rover was stretched upon his couch within the hall. None
565 of them believed that he would ever return to the sweetness
of his home, to the strong places of the free people where he
was nurtured. Nay, they had learned that a bloody death had
ere now in that hall of wine swept away all too many of the
Danish folk. Yet God granted them a victorious fortune in
570 battle, even to those Geatish warriors, yea succour and aid,
that they, through the prowess of one and through his single
might, overcame their enemy. Manifest is this truth, that
mighty God hath ruled the race of men through all the ages.
There came, in darkling night passing, a shadow walking.
575 The spearmen slept whose duty was to guard the gabled
hall. All except one. Well-known it was to men that, if God
willed it not, the robber-fiend no power had to drag them to
the shades; but he there wakeful in his foe’s despite abode
grimhearted the debate of war.
580 He came now from the moor under misty fells, Grendel
walking. The wrath of God was on him. Foul thief, he purposed
of the race of men someone to snare within that lofty
hall. Under cloud he went to where he knew full well that
house of wine was, hall of men with gold bright-plated.
585 Not the first adventure that, that he had made, seeking for
Hrothgar’s home. Never in days of life before nor later with
harder fortune guards in hall he found.
He came now to the house, a man-shape journeying of
men’s mirth shorn. The door at once sprang back, barred
590 with forgéd iron, when claws he laid on it. He wrenched then
wide, baleful with raging heart, the gaping entrance of the
house; then swift on the bright-patterned floor the demon
paced. In angry mood he went, and from his eyes stood forth
most like to flame unholy light. He in the house espied there
595 many a man asleep, a throng of kinsmen side by side, a band
of youthful knights. Then his heart laughed. He thought that
he would sever, ere daylight came, dread slayer, for each
one of these life from their flesh, since now such hope had
chanced of feasting full. It was no longer doomed that he yet
600 more might of the race of men devour beyond that night.
There stern and strong the kinsman of Hygelac watched
how that foul thief with his fell clutches would now play his
part. And that the slayer was not minded to delay, not he,
but swiftly at the first turn seized a sleeping man, rending
605 him unopposed, biting the bone-joints, drinking blood from
veins, great gobbets gorging down. Quickly he took all of
that lifeless thing to be his food, even feet and hands.
Onward and nearer he stepped, seized then with hand the
valiant-hearted man upon his bed. Against him the demon
610 stretched his claw; and swiftly he laid hold on it, and with hate
in heart he propped him on his arm. Straightway that master of
evil deeds perceived that never had he met within this world in
earth’s four corners on any other man a mightier gripe of hand.
In heart and soul he grew afraid, yet none the sooner could
615 escape. His desire would haste away, he would to hiding flee,
seeking the devils’ throng. Not now were his dealings there
such as he ever before in the days of his life had found.
Then the good knight, kinsman of Hygelac, remembered
his words at evening. Upright he stood and grappled fast
620 against him. Fingers cracked. Out would the ogre go. Forth
strode the knight. The accurséd thing would fain, could he
have done so, go free afar and thence flee away to hollows
in the fens. He felt the power of his fingers in his fierce foe’s
grasp. It was a woeful journey that the fell robber had to
625 Heorot made!
The royal hall rang. On all the Danes, dwellers in the town
about, on each bold heart there fell a ghastly fear. Wroth were
they both, fierce rivals in the keeping of the house. The hall
was full of noise. Great wonder was it then that that house of
630 wine endured their battling, so that it fell not to the ground,
fair dwelling upon earth; but stout was it smithied within
and without with bonds of iron cunningly contrived. There,
where they fought in wrath, was many a bench adorned with
gold for the drinking of mead cast from its place upon the
635 floor, so the tale tells. Never aforetime had the Scyldings’
counsellors foreseen that any among men could in any wise
shatter it its goodliness adorned with ivory, nor dismember
it with craft, unless the embrace of fire should engulf it in
swath
ing smoke. Clamour new arose ever and anon. Dread
640 fear came upon the northern Danes, upon each of those that
from the wall heard the cries, the adversary of God singing
his ghastly song, no chant of victory, the prisoner of hell
bewailing his grievous hurt. Fast was he held by that most
strong in body’s might in that day of men’s life here.
645 In no wise would that captain of men permit that deadly
guest to go forth alive, nor did he account the days of his life
of use to any man. There many a knight of Beowulf drew
swift his ancient blade, wishing to defend the life of his lord
and master and renownéd prince, if so he might. They knew
650 it not, young warriors brave-hearted, as they fought that
fight, and on each side sought to hew the foe and pierce his
vitals: that doer of evil none upon earth of swords of war
would touch, not the most excellent of things of iron; not
so, for he had laid a spell upon all victorious arms and upon
655 every blade. On that day of this life on earth unhappy was
fated to be the sending forth of his soul, and far was that
alien spirit to fare into the realm of fiends. Now did he perceive
who aforetime had wrought the race of men many a
grief of heart and wrong – he had a feud with God – that his
660 body’s might would not avail him, but the valiant kinsman
of Hygelac had him by the arm – hateful to each was the
other’s life. A grievous hurt of body that fierce slayer and
dire now endured; a mighty wound was seen upon his shoulder;
the sinews sprang apart, the joints of his bones burst. To
665 Beowulf was vouchsafed triumph in battle; thence now must
Grendel flee stricken to death to hide beneath the slopes of
the fens, seeking his joyless haunts. Thereby the more surely
did he know that the end of his life was come to pass and the
hours of his days were numbered. That deadly contest was
670 over and achieved was the desire of all the Danes; in that hour
had one come from afar, wise and stout of heart, purged the
hall of Hrothgar and redeemed it from the malice of Grendel.
He rejoiced in his deeds that night and in the glory of his
prowess. The chief of those Geatish men had accomplished
675 all his proud vaunt before the East Danes, and had healed,
moreover, all the woe and the tormenting sorrow that they
had erewhile suffered and must of necessity endure, no little
