Beowulf 2: Beowulf goes to confront Grendel.

BEOWULF GOES TO HROTHGAR’S ASSISTANCE.

[Hrothgar sees no way of escape from the persecutions of Grendel.]

So Healfdene’s kinsman constantly mused on

His long-lasting sorrow; the battle-thane clever

Was not anywise able evils to ’scape from:

Too crushing the sorrow that came to the people,

Loathsome and lasting the life-grinding torture,

[Beowulf, the Geat, hero of the poem, hears of Hrothgar’s sorrow, and resolves to go to his assistance.]

Greatest of night-woes. So Higelac’s liegeman,

Good amid Geatmen, of Grendel’s atrocities

Heard in his home: of heroes then living

He was stoutest and strongest, sturdy and noble.

He bade them prepare him a bark that was trusty;

He said he the war-king would seek o’er the ocean,

The folk-leader noble, since he needed retainers.

For the perilous project prudent companions

Chided him little, though loving him dearly;

They egged the brave atheling, augured him glory.

[With fourteen carefully chosen companions, he sets out for Dane-land.]

The excellent knight from the folk of the Geatmen

Had liegemen selected, likest to prove them

Trustworthy warriors; with fourteen companions

The vessel he looked for; a liegeman then showed them,

A sea-crafty man, the bounds of the country.

Fast the days fleeted; the float was a-water,

The craft by the cliff. Clomb to the prow then

Well-equipped warriors: the wave-currents twisted

The sea on the sand; soldiers then carried

On the breast of the vessel bright-shining jewels,

Handsome war-armor; heroes outshoved then,

Warmen the wood-ship, on its wished-for adventure.

[The vessel sails like a bird]

The foamy-necked floater fanned by the breeze,

Likest a bird, glided the waters.

[In twenty four hours they reach the shores of Hrothgar’s dominions.]

Till twenty and four hours thereafter

The twist-stemmed vessel had traveled such distance

That the sailing-men saw the sloping embankments,

The sea cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains,

Nesses enormous: they were nearing the limits

At the end of the ocean. Up thence quickly

The men of the Weders clomb to the mainland,

Fastened their vessel (battle weeds rattled,

War burnies clattered), the Wielder they thanked

That the ways o’er the waters had waxen so gentle

[They are hailed by the Danish coast guard]

Then well from the cliff edge the guard of the Scyldings

Who the sea-cliffs should see to, saw o’er the gangway

Brave ones bearing beauteous targets,

Armor all ready, anxiously thought he,

Musing and wondering what men were approaching.

High on his horse then Hrothgar’s retainer

Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished

His lance in his hands, questioned with boldness.

“Who are ye men here, mail-covered warriors

Clad in your corslets, come thus a-driving

A high riding ship o’er the shoals of the waters,

And hither ’neath helmets have hied o’er the ocean?

I have been strand-guard, standing as warden,

Lest enemies ever anywise ravage

Danish dominions with army of war-ships.

More boldly never have warriors ventured

Hither to come; of kinsmen’s approval,

Word-leave of warriors, I ween that ye surely

Nothing have known. Never a greater one

Of earls o’er the earth have I had a sight of

Than is one of your number, a hero in armor;

No low-ranking fellow adorned with his weapons,

But launching them little, unless looks are deceiving,

And striking appearance. Ere ye pass on your journey

As treacherous spies to the land of the Scyldings

And farther fare, I fully must know now

What race ye belong to. Ye far-away dwellers,

Sea-faring sailors, my simple opinion

Hear ye and hearken: haste is most fitting

Plainly to tell me what place ye are come from.”

THE GEATS REACH HEOROT.

[Beowulf courteously replies.]

The chief of the strangers rendered him answer,

War-troopers’ leader, and word-treasure opened:

[We are Geats.]

“We are sprung from the lineage of the people of Geatland,

And Higelac’s hearth-friends, from heroes unnumbered . . .

[My father Ecgtheow was well-known in his day.]

My father was known, a noble head-warrior

Ecgtheow titled; many a winter

He lived with the people, ere he passed on his journey,

Old from his dwelling; each of the counselors

Widely mid world-folk well remembers him.

[Our intentions towards King Hrothgar are of the kindest.]

We, kindly of spirit, the lord of thy people,

The son of King Healfdene, have come here to visit,

Folk-troop’s defender: be free in thy counsels!

To the noble one bear we a weighty commission,

The helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween

[Is it true that a monster is slaying Danish heroes?]

Naught of our message. Thou know’st if it happen,

As we soothly heard say, that some savage despoiler,

Some hidden pursuer, on nights that are murky

By deeds very direful ’mid the Danemen exhibits

Hatred unheard of, horrid destruction

And the falling of dead. From feelings least selfish

I can help your king to free himself from this horrible creature.

I am able to render counsel to Hrothgar,

How he, wise and worthy, may worst the destroyer,

If the anguish of sorrow should ever be lessened,

Comfort come to him, and care-waves grow cooler,

Or ever hereafter he agony suffer

And troubling distress, while towereth upward

The handsomest of houses high on the summit.”

[The coast-guard reminds Beowulf that it is easier to say than to do.]

Bestriding his stallion, the strand-watchman answered,

The doughty retainer: “The difference surely

’Twixt words and works, the warlike shield-bearer

Who judgeth wisely well shall determine.

This band, I hear, beareth no malice

[I am satisfied of your good intentions, and shall lead you to the palace.]

To the prince of the Scyldings. Pass ye then onward

With weapons and armor. I shall lead you in person;

To my war-trusty vassals command I shall issue

To keep from all injury your excellent vessal

[Your boat shall be well cared for during your stay here.]

Your fresh-tarred craft, ’gainst every opposer

Close by the sea-shore, till the curved-neckèd bark shall

Waft back again the well-beloved hero

O’er the way of the water to Weder dominions

[He again compliments Beowulf.]

To warrior so great ’twill be granted sure

In the storm of strife to stand secure.”

Onward they fared then (the vessel lay quiet,

The broad-bosomed bark was bound by its cable,

Firmly at anchor); the boar-signs glistened

Bright on the visors vivid with gilding,

Blaze-hardened, brilliant; the boar acted warden.

The heroes hastened, hurried the liegemen

Who descended together, till they saw the great palace,

Court of the bold ones, that they easily thither

Might fare on their journey; the aforementioned warrior

Turning his courser, quoth as he left them:

[The coast-guard, having discharged his duty, bids them God-speed.]

“’Tis time I were faring; Father Almighty

Grant you His grace, and give you to journey

Safe on your mission! To the sea I will get me

’Gainst hostile warriors as warden to stand.”

VI. BEOWULF INTRODUCES HIMSELF AT THE PALACE.

The highway glistened with many-hued pebble,

A by-path led the liegemen together.

Firm and hand-locked the war-burnie glistened,

The ring-sword radiant rang ’mid the armor

[As the party was approaching the palace together, they set their arms and armor against the wall.]

In warlike equipments. ’Gainst the wall of the building

Their wide-fashioned war-shields they weary did set then,

Battle-shields sturdy; benchward they turned then;

Their battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes;

The lances stood up then, all in a cluster,

The arms of the seamen, ashen-shafts mounted

With edges of iron: the armor-clad troopers

[A Danish hero asks them whence and why they are come.]

Were decked with weapons. Then a proud-mooded hero

Asked of the champions questions of lineage:

“From what borders bear ye your battle-shields plated,

Gilded and gleaming, your gray-colored burnies,

Helmets with visors and heap of war-lances?—

To Hrothgar the king I am servant and liegeman.

’Mong folk from far-lands found I have never

[He expresses admiration for the strangers.]

Men so many of mien more courageous.

I ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws,

But from greatness of soul ye sought for King Hrothgar.”

[Beowulf replies.]

Then the strength-famous earlman answer rendered,

The proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his question,

[We are Higelac’s table-companions, and bear an important commission to your prince.]

Hardy ’neath helmet: “Higelac’s mates are we;

Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene,

The famous folk-leader, I freely will tell

To thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing

He’ll grant we may greet him so gracious to all men.”

Wulfgar replied then (he was prince of the Wendels,

His boldness of spirit was known unto many,

His prowess and prudence): “The prince of the Scyldings,

[Wulfgar, the thane, says that he will go and ask Hrothgar whether he will see the strangers.]

The friend-lord of Danemen, I will ask of thy journey,

The giver of rings, as thou urgest me do it,

The folk-chief famous, and inform thee early

What answer the good one mindeth to render me.”

He turned then hurriedly where Hrothgar was sitting,

Old and hoary, his earlmen attending him;

The strength-famous went till he stood at the shoulder

Of the lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen

The custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then

His friendly liegelord: “Folk of the Geatmen

[]He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive the visitors courteously.]

O’er the way of the waters are wafted hither,

Faring from far-lands: the foremost in rank

The battle-champions Beowulf title.

They make this petition: with thee, O my chieftain,

To be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar,

Friendly answer refuse not to give them!

[Hrothgar, too, is struck with Beowulf’s appearance.]

In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem

Of earls to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty

Who headed the heroes hitherward coming.”

VII. HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.

[Hrothgar remembers Beowulf as a youth, and also remembers his father.]

Hrothgar answered, helm of the Scyldings:

“I remember this man as the merest of striplings.

His father long dead now was Ecgtheow titled,

Him Hrethel the Geatman granted at home his

One only daughter; his battle-brave son

Is come but now, sought a trustworthy friend.

Seafaring sailors asserted it then,

[Beowulf is reported to have the strength of thirty men.]

Who valuable gift-gems of the Geatmen carried

As peace-offering thither, that he thirty men’s grapple

Has in his hand, the hero-in-battle.

[God hath sent him to our rescue.]

The holy Creator usward sent him,

To West-Dane warriors, I ween, for to render

’Gainst Grendel’s grimness gracious assistance:

I shall give to the good one gift-gems for courage.

Hasten to bid them hither to speed them,

To see assembled this circle of kinsmen;

Tell them expressly they’re welcome in sooth to

The men of the Danes.” To the door of the building

[Wulfgar invites the strangers in.]

Wulfgar went then, this word-message shouted:

“My victorious liegelord bade me to tell you,

The East-Danes’ atheling, that your origin knows he,

And o’er wave-billows wafted ye welcome are hither,

Valiant of spirit. Ye straightway may enter

Clad in corslets, cased in your helmets,

To see King Hrothgar. Here let your battle-boards,

Wood-spears and war-shafts, await your conferring.”

The mighty one rose then, with many a liegeman,

An excellent thane-group; some there did await them,

And as bid of the brave one the battle-gear guarded.

Together they hied them, while the hero did guide them,

’Neath Heorot’s roof; the high-minded went then

Sturdy ’neath helmet till he stood in the building.

Beowulf spake (his burnie did glisten,

His armor seamed over by the art of the craftsman):

[Beowulf salutes Hrothgar, and then proceeds to boast of his youthful achievements.]

“Hail thou, Hrothgar! I am Higelac’s kinsman

And vassal forsooth; many a wonder

I dared as a stripling. The doings of Grendel,

In far-off fatherland I fully did know of:

Sea-farers tell us, this hall-building standeth,

Excellent edifice, empty and useless

To all the earlmen after evenlight’s glimmer

’Neath heaven’s bright hues hath hidden its glory.

This my earls then urged me, the most excellent of them,

Carles very clever, to come and assist thee,

Folk-leader Hrothgar; fully they knew of

[His fight with the nickers, sea monsters.]

The strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me

When I came from the contest, when covered with gore

Foes I escaped from, where five I had bound,

The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying

The nickers by night, bore numberless sorrows,

The Weders avenged (woes had they suffered)

Enemies ravaged; alone now with Grendel

[He intends to fight Grendel unaided.]

I shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil,

The giant, decide it. Thee I would therefore

Beg of thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain,

Lord of the Scyldings, this single petition:

Not to refuse me, defender of warriors,

Friend-lord of folks, so far have I sought thee,

That I may unaided, my earlmen assisting me,

This brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot.

I have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature

Since the monster uses no weapons,

From veriest rashness recks not for weapons;

I this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious,

My liegelord belovèd, lenient of spirit,

To bear a blade or a broad-fashioned target,

A shield to the onset; only with hand-grip

[I, too, shall disdain to use any.]

The foe I must grapple, fight for my life then,

Foeman with foeman; he fain must rely on

The doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold of.

[Should he crush me, he will eat my companions as he has eaten thy thanes.]

I ween he will wish, if he win in the struggle,

To eat in the war-hall earls of the Geat-folk,

Boldly to swallow them, as of yore he did often

The best of the Hrethmen! Thou needest not trouble

A head-watch to give me; he will have me dripping

[In case of my defeat, thou wilt not have the trouble of burying me.]

And dreary with gore, if death overtake me,

Will bear me off bleeding, biting and mouthing me,

The hermit will eat me, heedless of pity,

Marking the moor-fens; no more wilt thou need then

[Should I fall, send my armor to my lord, King Higelac.]

Find me my food. If I fall in the battle,

Send to Higelac the armor that serveth

To shield my bosom, the best of equipments,

Richest of ring-mails . . .

[Weird is supreme]

VIII. HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.—Continued.

[Hrothgar responds.]

Hrothgar discoursed, helm of the Scyldings:

“To defend our folk and to furnish assistance,

Thou soughtest us hither, good friend Beowulf.

[Reminiscences of Beowulf’s father, Ecgtheow, omitted]

[Hrothgar recounts to Beowulf the horrors of Grendel’s persecutions.]

It pains me in spirit to any to tell it,

What grief in Heorot Grendel hath caused me,

What horror unlooked-for, by hatred unceasing.

Waned is my war-band, wasted my hall-troop;

Weird hath offcast them to the clutches of Grendel.

God can easily hinder the scather

From deeds so direful. Oft drunken with beer

[My thanes have made many boasts, but have not executed them.]

O’er the ale-vessel promised warriors in armor

They would willingly wait on the wassailing-benches

A grapple with Grendel, with grimmest of edges.

Then this mead-hall at morning with murder was reeking,

The building was bloody at breaking of daylight,

The bench-deals all flooded, dripping and bloodied,

The folk-hall was gory: I had fewer retainers,

Dear-beloved warriors, whom death had laid hold of.

[Sit down to the feast, and give us comfort.]

Sit at the feast now, thy intents unto heroes,

Thy victor-fame show, as thy spirit doth urge thee!”

[A bench is made ready for Beowulf and his party.]

For the men of the Geats then together assembled,

In the beer-hall blithesome a bench was made ready;

There warlike in spirit they went to be seated,

Proud and exultant. A liegeman did service,

Who a beaker embellished bore with decorum,

[The gleeman sings.]

And gleaming-drink poured. The gleeman sang whilom

[The heroes all rejoice together.]

Hearty in Heorot; there was heroes’ rejoicing,

A numerous war-band of Weders and Danemen.

IX. UNFERTH TAUNTS BEOWULF.

[Unferth, a thane of Hrothgar, is jealous of Beowulf, and undertakes to provoke him.]

Unferth spoke up . . . the journey of Beowulf,

Sea-farer doughty, gave sorrow to Unferth

And greatest chagrin, too, for granted he never

That any man else on earth should attain to,

Gain under heaven, more glory than he:

[Did you take part in a swimming-match with Breca?]

“Art thou that Beowulf with Breca did struggle,

On the wide sea-currents at swimming contended,

[Where to humor your pride the ocean you tried. You foolishly risked your lives on the ocean.]

From vainest vaunting adventured your bodies

In care of the waters? And no one was able

. . . to dissuade you

Your difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming,

Where your arms outstretching the streams ye did cover,

The mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them,

Glided the ocean; angry the waves were,

With the weltering of winter. In the water’s possession,

Ye toiled for a seven-night; he at swimming outdid thee,

In strength excelled thee. Then early at morning

On the Heathoremes’ shore the holm-currents tossed him,

Sought he thenceward the home of his fathers . . .

[20]

[Breca outdid you entirely.]

[Much more will Grendel outdo you, if you vie with him in prowess.]

Though ever triumphant in onset of battle,

A grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest

For the space of a night near-by to wait for!”

[Beowulf retaliates.]

Beowulf answered, offspring of Ecgtheow:

“My good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly,

[Unferth, you are drunk and cannot talk coherently.]

Thou fuddled with beer of Breca hast spoken,

Hast told of his journey! A fact I allege it,

That greater strength in the waters I had then,

Ills in the ocean, than any man else had.

We made agreement as the merest of striplings

Promised each other (both of us then were

[We simply kept an engagement made in early life.]

Younkers in years) that we yet would adventure

Out on the ocean; it all we accomplished.

While swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade unscabbarded

Boldly we brandished, our bodies expected

To shield from the sharks. He sure was unable

[He could not excel me, and I would not excel him.]

To swim on the waters further than I could,

More swift on the waves, nor would I from him go.

Then we two companions stayed in the ocean

After five days the currents separated us.

Five nights together, till the currents did part us,

The weltering waters, weathers the bleakest,

And nethermost night, and the north-wind whistled

Fierce in our faces; fell were the billows.

The mere fishes’ mood was mightily ruffled:

And there against foemen my firm-knotted corslet,

Hand-jointed, hardy, help did afford me;

My battle-sark braided, brilliantly gilded,

A horrible sea-beast attacked me, but I slew him.

Lay on my bosom. To the bottom then dragged me,

A hateful fiend-scather, seized me and held me,

Grim in his grapple: ’twas granted me, nathless,

To pierce the monster with the point of my weapon,

My obedient blade; battle offcarried

The mighty mere-creature by means of my hand-blow.

X. BEOWULF SILENCES UNFERTH.—GLEE IS HIGH.

“So ill-meaning enemies often did cause me

Sorrow the sorest. I served them, in quittance,

[My dear sword always served me faithfully.]

With my dear-lovèd sword, as in sooth it was fitting;

They missed the pleasure of feasting abundantly,

Ill-doers evil, of eating my body,

Of surrounding the banquet deep in the ocean;

But wounded with edges early at morning

They were stretched a-high on the strand of the ocean,

[I put a stop to the outrages of the sea-monsters.]

Put to sleep with the sword, that sea-going travelers

No longer thereafter were hindered from sailing

The foam-dashing currents. Came a light from the east,

God’s beautiful beacon; the billows subsided,

That well I could see the nesses projecting,

[Fortune helps the brave earl.]

The blustering crags. Weird often saveth

The undoomed hero if doughty his valor!

But me did it fortune to fell with my weapon

Nine of the nickers. Of night-struggle harder

’Neath dome of the heaven heard I but rarely,

Nor of wight more woeful in the waves of the ocean;

Yet I ’scaped with my life the grip of the monsters,

[After that escape I drifted to Finland.]

Weary from travel. Then the waters bare me

To the land of the Finns, the flood with the current,

[I have never heard of your doing any such bold deeds.]

The weltering waves. Not a word hath been told me

Of deeds so daring done by thee, Unferth,

And of sword-terror none; never hath Breca

At the play of the battle, nor either of you two,

Feat so fearless performèd with weapons

Glinting and gleaming . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . I utter no boasting;

[You are a slayer of brothers, and will suffer damnation, wise as you may be.]

Though with cold-blooded cruelty thou killedst thy brothers,

Thy nearest of kin; thou needs must in hell get

Direful damnation, though doughty thy wisdom.

I tell thee in earnest, offspring of Ecglaf,

Never had Grendel such numberless horrors,

The direful demon, done to thy liegelord,

Harrying in Heorot, if thy heart were as sturdy,

Had your acts been as brave as your words

Grendel had not ravaged your land so long

Thy mood as ferocious as thou dost describe them.

He hath found out fully that the fierce-burning hatred,

The edge-battle eager, of all of your kindred,

Of the Victory-Scyldings, need little dismay him:

Oaths he exacteth, not any he spares

[The monster is not afraid of the Danes,]

Of the folk of the Danemen, but fighteth with pleasure,

Killeth and feasteth, no contest expecteth

but he will soon learn to dread the Geats.

From Spear-Danish people. But the prowess and valor

Of the earls of the Geatmen early shall venture

To give him a grapple. He shall go who is able

Bravely to banquet, when the bright-light of morning

[On the second day, any warrior may go unmolested to the mead-banquet.]

Which the second day bringeth, the sun in its ether-robes,

O’er children of men shines from the southward!”

Then the gray-haired, war-famed giver of treasure

[Hrothgar’s spirits are revived.]

Was blithesome and joyous, the Bright-Danish ruler

Expected assistance; the people’s protector

[The old king trusts Beowulf. The heroes are joyful.]

Heard from Beowulf his bold resolution.

There was laughter of heroes; loud was the clatter,

The words were winsome. Wealhtheow advanced then,

[Queen Wealhtheow plays the hostess.]

Consort of Hrothgar, of courtesy mindful,

Gold-decked saluted the men in the building,

And the freeborn woman the beaker presented

[She offers the cup to her husband first.]

To the lord of the kingdom, first of the East-Danes,

Bade him be blithesome when beer was a-flowing,

Lief to his liegemen; he lustily tasted

Of banquet and beaker, battle-famed ruler.

The Helmingish lady then graciously circled

’Mid all the liegemen lesser and greater:

[She gives presents to the heroes.]

Treasure-cups tendered, till time was afforded

That the decorous-mooded, diademed folk-queen

[Then she offers the cup to Beowulf, thanking God that aid has come.]

Might bear to Beowulf the bumper o’errunning;

She greeted the Geat-prince, God she did thank,

Most wise in her words, that her wish was accomplished,

That in any of earlmen she ever should look for

Solace in sorrow. He accepted the beaker,

Battle-bold warrior, at Wealhtheow’s giving,

[Beowulf states to the queen the object of his visit.]

Then equipped for combat quoth he in measures,

Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow:

“I purposed in spirit when I mounted the ocean,

[I determined to do or die.]

When I boarded my boat with a band of my liegemen,

I would work to the fullest the will of your people

Or in foe’s-clutches fastened fall in the battle.

Deeds I shall do of daring and prowess,

Or the last of my life-days live in this mead-hall.”

These words to the lady were welcome and pleasing,

The boast of the Geatman; with gold trappings broidered

Went the freeborn folk-queen her fond-lord to sit by.

[Glee is high.]

Then again as of yore was heard in the building

Courtly discussion, conquerors’ shouting,

Heroes were happy, till Healfdene’s son would

Go to his slumber to seek for refreshing;

For the horrid hell-monster in the hall-building knew he

A fight was determined, since the light of the sun they

No longer could see, and lowering darkness

O’er all had descended, and dark under heaven

Shadowy shapes came shying around them.

[Hrothgar retires, leaving Beowulf in charge of the hall.]

The liegemen all rose then. One saluted the other,

Hrothgar Beowulf, in rhythmical measures,

Wishing him well, and, the wassail-hall giving

To his care and keeping, quoth he departing:

“Not to any one else have I ever entrusted,

But thee and thee only, the hall of the Danemen,

Since high I could heave my hand and my buckler.

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Take thou in charge now the noblest of houses;

Be mindful of honor, exhibiting prowess,

Watch ’gainst the foeman! Thou shalt want no enjoyments,

Survive thou safely adventure so glorious!”