Beowulf by - (red queen ebook txt) 📖

the gangway glittering shields, war-gear in readiness; wonder seized him to know what manner of men they were.

Straight to the strand his steed he rode, Hrothgar’s henchman; with hand of might he shook his spear, and spake in parley.

“Who are ye, then, ye armed men,

mailed folk, that yon mighty vessel

have urged thus over the ocean ways,

here o’er the waters? A warden I,

sentinel set o’er the sea-march here, lest any foe to the folk of Danes

with harrying fleet should harm the land.

No aliens ever at ease thus bore them, linden-wielders: {3d} yet word-of-leave clearly ye lack from clansmen here,

my folk’s agreement. — A greater ne’er saw I of warriors in world than is one of you, —

yon hero in harness! No henchman he

worthied by weapons, if witness his features, his peerless presence! I pray you, though, tell your folk and home, lest hence ye fare suspect to wander your way as spies

in Danish land. Now, dwellers afar,

ocean-travellers, take from me

simple advice: the sooner the better I hear of the country whence ye came.”

IV

To him the stateliest spake in answer; the warriors’ leader his word-hoard unlocked: —

“We are by kin of the clan of Geats,

and Hygelac’s own hearth-fellows we.

To folk afar was my father known,

noble atheling, Ecgtheow named.

Full of winters, he fared away

aged from earth; he is honored still

through width of the world by wise men all.

To thy lord and liege in loyal mood

we hasten hither, to Healfdene’s son, people-protector: be pleased to advise us!

To that mighty-one come we on mickle errand, to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I right that aught be hidden. We hear — thou knowest if sooth it is — the saying of men,

that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster, dark ill-doer, in dusky nights

shows terrific his rage unmatched,

hatred and murder. To Hrothgar I

in greatness of soul would succor bring, so the Wise-and-Brave {4a} may worst his foes, —

if ever the end of ills is fated,

of cruel contest, if cure shall follow, and the boiling care-waves cooler grow; else ever afterward anguish-days

he shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place high on its hill that house unpeered!”

Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered, clansman unquailing: “The keen-souled thane must be skilled to sever and sunder duly words and works, if he well intends.

I gather, this band is graciously bent to the Scyldings’ master. March, then, bearing weapons and weeds the way I show you.

I will bid my men your boat meanwhile to guard for fear lest foemen come, —

your new-tarred ship by shore of ocean faithfully watching till once again

it waft o’er the waters those well-loved thanes, — winding-neck’d wood, — to Weders’ bounds, heroes such as the hest of fate

shall succor and save from the shock of war.”

They bent them to march, — the boat lay still, fettered by cable and fast at anchor, broad-bosomed ship. — Then shone the boars {4b}

over the cheek-guard; chased with gold, keen and gleaming, guard it kept

o’er the man of war, as marched along heroes in haste, till the hall they saw, broad of gable and bright with gold:

that was the fairest, ‘mid folk of earth, of houses ‘neath heaven, where Hrothgar lived, and the gleam of it lightened o’er lands afar.

The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright burg-of-the-boldest; bade them go

straightway thither; his steed then turned, hardy hero, and hailed them thus: —

“‘Tis time that I fare from you. Father Almighty in grace and mercy guard you well,

safe in your seekings. Seaward I go,

‘gainst hostile warriors hold my watch.”

V

STONE-BRIGHT the street: {5a} it showed the way to the crowd of clansmen. Corselets glistened hand-forged, hard; on their harness bright the steel ring sang, as they strode along in mail of battle, and marched to the hall.

There, weary of ocean, the wall along they set their bucklers, their broad shields, down, and bowed them to bench: the breastplates clanged, war-gear of men; their weapons stacked, spears of the seafarers stood together, gray-tipped ash: that iron band

was worthily weaponed! — A warrior proud asked of the heroes their home and kin.

“Whence, now, bear ye burnished shields, harness gray and helmets grim,

spears in multitude? Messenger, I,

Hrothgar’s herald! Heroes so many

ne’er met I as strangers of mood so strong.

‘Tis plain that for prowess, not plunged into exile, for high-hearted valor, Hrothgar ye seek!”

Him the sturdy-in-war bespake with words, proud earl of the Weders answer made, hardy ‘neath helmet: — “Hygelac’s, we, fellows at board; I am Beowulf named.

I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene this mission of mine, to thy master-lord, the doughty prince, if he deign at all grace that we greet him, the good one, now.”

Wulfgar spake, the Wendles’ chieftain, whose might of mind to many was known, his courage and counsel: “The king of Danes, the Scyldings’ friend, I fain will tell, the Breaker-of-Rings, as the boon thou askest, the famed prince, of thy faring hither, and, swiftly after, such answer bring as the doughty monarch may deign to give.”

Hied then in haste to where Hrothgar sat white-haired and old, his earls about him, till the stout thane stood at the shoulder there of the Danish king: good courtier he!

Wulfgar spake to his winsome lord: —

“Hither have fared to thee far-come men o’er the paths of ocean, people of Geatland; and the stateliest there by his sturdy band is Beowulf named. This boon they seek, that they, my master, may with thee

have speech at will: nor spurn their prayer to give them hearing, gracious Hrothgar!

In weeds of the warrior worthy they,

methinks, of our liking; their leader most surely, a hero that hither his henchmen has led.”

VI

HROTHGAR answered, helmet of Scyldings: —

“I knew him of yore in his youthful days; his aged father was Ecgtheow named,

to whom, at home, gave Hrethel the Geat his only daughter. Their offspring bold fares hither to seek the steadfast friend.

And seamen, too, have said me this, —

who carried my gifts to the Geatish court, thither for thanks, — he has thirty men’s heft of grasp in the gripe of his hand, the bold-in-battle. Blessed God

out of his mercy this man hath sent

to Danes of the West, as I ween indeed, against horror of Grendel. I hope to give the good youth gold for his gallant thought.

Be thou in haste, and bid them hither, clan of kinsmen, to come before me;

and add this word, — they are welcome guests to folk of the Danes.”

[To the door of the hall

Wulfgar went] and the word declared: —

“To you this message my master sends, East-Danes’ king, that your kin he knows, hardy heroes, and hails you all

welcome hither o’er waves of the sea!

Ye may wend your way in war-attire,

and under helmets Hrothgar greet;

but let here the battle-shields bide your parley, and wooden war-shafts wait its end.”

Uprose the mighty one, ringed with his men, brave band of thanes: some bode without, battle-gear guarding, as bade the chief.

Then hied that troop where the herald led them, under Heorot’s roof: [the hero strode,]

hardy ‘neath helm, till the hearth he neared.

Beowulf spake, — his breastplate gleamed, war-net woven by wit of the smith: —

“Thou Hrothgar, hail! Hygelac’s I,

kinsman and follower. Fame a plenty

have I gained in youth! These Grendel-deeds I heard in my home-land heralded clear.

Seafarers say how stands this hall,

of buildings best, for your band of thanes empty and idle, when evening sun

in the harbor of heaven is hidden away.

So my vassals advised me well, —

brave and wise, the best of men, —

O sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here, for my nerve and my might they knew full well.

Themselves had seen me from slaughter come blood-flecked from foes, where five I bound, and that wild brood worsted. I’ the waves I slew nicors {6a} by night, in need and peril avenging the Weders, {6b} whose woe they sought, —

crushing the grim ones. Grendel now,

monster cruel, be mine to quell

in single battle! So, from thee,

thou sovran of the Shining-Danes,

Scyldings’-bulwark, a boon I seek, —

and, Friend-of-the-folk, refuse it not, O Warriors’-shield, now I’ve wandered far, —

that I alone with my liegemen here,

this hardy band, may Heorot purge!

More I hear, that the monster dire,

in his wanton mood, of weapons recks not; hence shall I scorn — so Hygelac stay, king of my kindred, kind to me! —

brand or buckler to bear in the fight, gold-colored targe: but with gripe alone must I front the fiend and fight for life, foe against foe. Then faith be his

in the doom of the Lord whom death shall take.

Fain, I ween, if the fight he win,

in this hall of gold my Geatish band

will he fearless eat, — as oft before, —

my noblest thanes. Nor need’st thou then to hide my head; {6c} for his shall I be, dyed in gore, if death must take me;

and my blood-covered body he’ll bear as prey, ruthless devour it, the roamer-lonely, with my life-blood redden his lair in the fen: no further for me need’st food prepare!

To Hygelac send, if Hild {6d} should take me, best of war-weeds, warding my breast, armor excellent, heirloom of Hrethel

and work of Wayland. {6e} Fares Wyrd {6f} as she must.”

VII

HROTHGAR spake, the Scyldings’-helmet: —

“For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf, to succor and save, thou hast sought us here.

Thy father’s combat {7a} a feud enkindled when Heatholaf with hand he slew

among the Wylfings; his Weder kin

for horror of fighting feared to hold him.

Fleeing, he sought our South-Dane folk, over surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings, when first I was ruling the folk of Danes, wielded, youthful, this widespread realm, this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead, my elder brother, had breathed his last, Healfdene’s bairn: he was better than I!

Straightway the feud with fee {7b} I settled, to the Wylfings sent, o’er watery ridges, treasures olden: oaths he {7c} swore me.

Sore is my soul to say to any

of the race of man what ruth for me

in Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought, what sudden harryings. Hall-folk fail me, my warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept them into Grendel’s grasp. But God is able this deadly foe from his deeds to turn!

Boasted full oft, as my beer they drank, earls o’er the ale-cup, armed men,

that they would bide in the beer-hall here, Grendel’s attack with terror of blades.

Then was this mead-house at morning tide dyed with gore, when the daylight broke, all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled, gory the hall: I had heroes the less, doughty dear-ones that death had reft.

— But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words, hardy hero, as heart shall prompt thee.”

 

Gathered together, the Geatish men

in the banquet-hall on bench assigned, sturdy-spirited, sat them down,

hardy-hearted. A henchman attended,

carried the carven cup in hand,

served the clear mead. Oft minstrels sang blithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled,

no dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane.

VIII

UNFERTH spake, the son of Ecglaf,

who sat at the feet of the Scyldings’ lord, unbound the battle-runes. {8a} — Beowulf’s quest, sturdy seafarer’s, sorely galled him; ever he envied that other men

should more achieve in middle-earth

of fame under heaven than he himself. —

“Art thou that Beowulf, Breca’s rival, who emulous swam on the open sea,

when for pride the pair of you proved the floods, and wantonly dared in waters deep

to risk your lives?