Beowulf 4: Hrothgar rewards Beowulf.

XIV. REJOICING OF THE DANES.

[At early dawn, warriors from far and near come together to hear of the night’s adventures.]

In the mist of the morning many a warrior

Stood round the gift-hall, as the story is told me:

Folk-princes fared then from far and from near

Through long-stretching journeys to look at the wonder,

The footprints of the foeman. Few of the warriors

[Few warriors lamented Grendel’s destruction.]

Who gazed on the foot-tracks of the inglorious creature

His parting from life pained very deeply,

How, weary in spirit, off from those regions

In combats conquered he carried his traces,

Fated and flying, to the flood of the nickers.

[Grendel’s blood dyes the waters.]

There in bloody billows bubbled the currents,

The angry eddy was everywhere mingled

And seething with gore, welling with sword-blood;

He death-doomed had hid him, when reaved of his joyance

He laid down his life in the lair he had fled to,

His heathenish spirit, where hell did receive him.

Thence the friends from of old backward turned them,

And many a younker from merry adventure,

Striding their stallions, stout from the seaward,

Heroes on horses. There were heard very often

[Beowulf is the hero of the hour.]

Beowulf’s praises; many often asserted

That neither south nor north, in the circuit of waters,

[He is regarded as a probable successor to Hrothgar.]

O’er outstretching earth-plain, none other was better

’Mid bearers of war-shields, more worthy to govern,

’Neath the arch of the ether. Not any, however,

’Gainst the friend-lord muttered, mocking-words uttered

[But no word is uttered to derogate from the old king]

Of Hrothgar the gracious (a good king he).

Oft the famed ones permitted their fallow-skinned horses

To run in rivalry, racing and chasing,

Where the fieldways appeared to them fair and inviting,

Known for their excellence; oft a thane of the folk-lord,

[The gleeman sings the deeds of heroes.]

A man of celebrity, mindful of rhythms,

Who ancient traditions treasured in memory,

New word-groups found properly bound:

[Beowulf is an honor to his race.]

He to all men became then far more beloved,

Higelac’s kinsman, to kindreds and races,

To his friends much dearer; him malice assaulted.—

[Hrothgar gives thanks for the overthrow of the monster.]

“For the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder

Early be offered! Much evil I bided,

Snaring from Grendel: God can e’er ’complish

Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory!

[I had given up all hope, when this brave liegeman came to our aid.]

But lately I reckoned ne’er under heaven

Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows,

While the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain

Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened

Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever

The folk-troop’s defences ’gainst foes they should strengthen,

’Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of the Wielder

A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished

Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom

[If his mother yet liveth, well may she thank God for this son.]

Failed to perform. May affirm very truly

What woman soever in all of the nations

Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth,

That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward

In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear,

[Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shalt be my son.]

Most excellent hero, I’ll love thee in spirit

As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward

The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee

Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee.

Full often for lesser service I’ve given

Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious,

[Thou hast won immortal distinction.]

To a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction

Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish

Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee

With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!”

[Beowulf replies: I was most happy to render thee this service.]

Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow’s offspring:

“That labor of glory most gladly achieved we,

The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured

The enemy’s grapple; I would grant it much rather

Thou wert able to look at the creature in person,

Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings!

On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him,

With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple

Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle

’Less his body escape; I was wholly unable,

[I could not keep the monster from escaping, as God did not will that I should.]

Since God did not will it, to keep him from going,

Not held him that firmly, hated opposer;

Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding

He suffered his hand behind him to linger,

His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher;

[He left his hand and arm behind.]

No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature

Found him there nathless: the hated destroyer

Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils,

But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him

Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing

In baleful bonds: there banished for evil

The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal,

[God will give him his deserts.]

How the God of glory shall give him his earnings.”

Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf,

[Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf’s actions speak louder than words.]

From boasting and bragging of battle-achievements,

Since the princes beheld there the hand that depended

’Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman,

Each one before him, the enemy’s fingers;

Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled,

The heathen one’s hand-spur, the hero-in-battle’s

Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing,

[No sword will harm the monster.]

That not any excellent edges of brave ones

Was willing to touch him, the terrible creature’s

Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him.

XVI. HROTHGAR LAVISHES GIFTS UPON HIS DELIVERER.

[Heorot is adorned with hands.]

Then straight was ordered that Heorot inside

With hands be embellished: a host of them gathered,

Of men and women, who the wassailing-building

The guest-hall begeared. Gold-flashing sparkled

Webs on the walls then, of wonders a many

To each of the heroes that look on such objects.

[The hall is defaced, however.]

The beautiful building was broken to pieces

Which all within with irons was fastened,

Its hinges torn off: only the roof was

Whole and uninjured when the horrible creature

Outlawed for evil off had betaken him,

Hopeless of living. ’Tis hard to avoid it

[A vague passage of five verses. . . omitted]

[Hrothgar lavishes gifts upon Beowulf.]

Then the offspring of Healfdene offered to Beowulf

A golden standard, as reward for the victory,

A banner embossed, burnie and helmet;

Many men saw then a song-famous weapon

Borne ’fore the hero. Beowulf drank of

The cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing

He needed not blush for in battle-men’s presence.

[Four handsomer gifts were never presented.]

Ne’er heard I that many men on the ale-bench

In friendlier fashion to their fellows presented

Four bright jewels with gold-work embellished.

’Round the roof of the helmet a head-guarder outside

Braided with wires, with bosses was furnished,

That swords-for-the-battle fight-hardened might fail

Boldly to harm him, when the hero proceeded

[Hrothgar commands that eight finely caparisoned steeds be brought to Beowulf.]

Forth against foemen. The defender of earls then

Commanded that eight steeds with bridles

Gold-plated, gleaming, be guided to hallward,

Inside the building; on one of them stood then

An art-broidered saddle embellished with jewels;

’Twas the sovereign’s seat, when the son of King Healfdene

Was pleased to take part in the play of the edges;

The famous one’s valor ne’er failed at the front when

Slain ones were bowing. And to Beowulf granted

The prince of the Ingwins, power over both,

O’er war-steeds and weapons; bade him well to enjoy them.

In so manly a manner the mighty-famed chieftain,

Hoard-ward of heroes, with horses and jewels

War-storms requited, that none e’er condemneth

Who willeth to tell truth with full justice.

XVII. BANQUET (continued).—THE SCOP’S SONG OF FINN AND HNÆF.

[Each of Beowulf’s companions receives a costly gift.]

And the atheling of earlmen to each of the heroes

Who the ways of the waters went with Beowulf,

A costly gift-token gave on the mead-bench,

Offered an heirloom, and ordered that that man

[The warrior killed by Grendel is to be paid for in gold, the wergild.]

With gold should be paid for, whom Grendel had erstwhile

Wickedly slaughtered, as he more of them had done

Had far-seeing God and the mood of the hero

The fate not averted: the Father then governed

All of the earth-dwellers, as He ever is doing;

Hence insight for all men is everywhere fittest,

Forethought of spirit! much he shall suffer

Of lief and of loathsome who long in this present

Useth the world in this woeful existence.

There was music and merriment mingling together

[Hrothgar’s scop recalls events in the reign of his lord’s father–omitted.]