BEOWULF
AN ANGLO-SAXON POEM
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH VERSE
Uns ist in alien Maeren Wunders vil geseit, Von Helden lobebaeren, von grozer Kuonheit, You Frb'uden hochgeziten, von Wefnen und von Klagen, Von kiiener Recken Strlten, muget ir nu Wunder hoeren sagen
Nibelungen Not.
BEOWULF
AN EPIC POEM
TRANSLATED FROM THE ANGLO-SAXON INTO ENGLISH VERSE
BY
A. DIEDRICH WACKERBARTH, A.B.
PROFESSOR OF ANGLO-SAXON AT THE COLLEGE OF OCR LADYE OF OSCOTT,
HON. COR. MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS,
MEMBER OF THE COPENHAGEN ROYAL ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY AND OF
THE LONDON ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
1
LONDON WILLIAM PICKERING
1849
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND
NICOLAS WISEMAN, D. D.
LORD BISHOP OF MELIPOTAMUS VICAR APOSTOLIC
THIS WORK IS BY PERMISSION REVERENTIALLY AND GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED
PREFACE.
OF the Drudges who do the lowlier Work in the Tillage of Learning's Vineyard, few per haps will be met with who have a more thankless Task than the -Translator: for not only has he to bear the just Lash of enlightened Criticism from the Scholar, (whereof of course he can have no Right to complain,) but those to whom his Original must, but for his Toil, have remained for ever a sealed Book, and who are utterly incapable either of testing his Accuracy or appreciating his Diffi culties, lay Load upon him without Mercy, and make him answerable not only for his own Errors, but for any Obscurities which may exist in his Original, as well as for their own blundering Misconceptions of his or his Author's Meaning. — In short he is called to account not only for his own Faults but ^likewise for the Ignorance of many of his Readers. It is true the Qualifications necessary for a Trans lator into the Vernacular are but of a humble Cha racter ; a fair Knowledge of his Original's and his Country's Languages, sufficient common Sense to understand his Author, sufficient Taste to choose his
viii PREFACE.
Expressions wisely, and a conscientious Regard to Faithfulness from the Consideration that with the Many he is the Trustee of his Author's Reputation, are all that is required of him. Still a Translator has serious Difficulties to encounter, which they only can appreciate who know them from actual Trial.
With respect to the Work now presented to the Public, shortly after the putting forth of Mr. Kem- ble's Edition of the Anglo-Saxon Text in 1833 I formed the Design of translating it, and early in 1837 I commenced the Work. Mr. Kemble's second Volume had not then appeared, and 1 pro ceeded but slowly, on account of the Difficulty of the Work, and the utter Inadequacy of any then existing Dictionary. I still however wrought my Way onward, under the Notion that even if I should not think my Book, when finished, fit for Publication, yet that the MS. would form an amusing Tale for my little Nephews and Nieces, and so 1 went through about a Quarter of the Poem, when Illness put an entire stop to my Progress. Afterwards, though the Appearance of Mr. Kemble's additional Volume, containing the Prose Version, Glossary, &c. had rendered the remainder of my Task comparatively easy, other Matters required my Attention, and the MS. lay untouched till 1842, between which Time and the present it has been from Time to Time added to and at length completed, and the whole carefully revised, much being cancelled and retranslated. In my Version I have scrupulously adhered to the Text of Mr. Kemble, adopting in almost every Instance
PREFACE. ix
his Emendations. I have throughout endeavoured to render the Sense and Words of my Author as closely as the English Language and the Restraints of Metre would allow, and for this Purpose I have not shrunken either from sacrificing Elegance to Faithfulness1 (for no Translator is at Liberty to misrepresent his Author and make an old Saxon Bard speak the Language of a modern Petit Maitre) or from uniting English Words to express import ant Anglo-Saxon Compounds. In some Cases where I have done this I have added the Anglo-Saxon Word in a Note to j.ustify my rendering; for though it is true that such Words as J}ilbe-beoja, (War- beast,) OjietMnasg (Son-of-battle,) &c. mean " a Warriour" or " Soldier," yet in my Opinion these would be very inadequate Renderings of the Anglo- Saxon Expressions, and I therefore preferred to ex hibit corresponding English Compounds.
Some may ask why I have not preserved the Anglo-Saxon alliterative Metre. My Reason is that I do not think the Taste of the English Peo ple would at present bear it. I wish to get my book read, that my Countrymen may become generally ac quainted with the Epic of our Ancestors wherewith hitherto they have been most generally unacquainted, and for this purpose it was necessary to adopt a Metre suited to the Language, whereas the alliterative Metre, heavy even in German, a Language much
1 Quia praesens opus non uugacem sermonis luculentiam, sed fidelem vetustatis notitiam pollicetur. Saxo-Gramma- ticus.
b
x PREFACE.
more fitted for it than ours, would in English be so heavy that few would be found to labour through a Poem of even half the length of the Beowulf s-lay when presented in so unattractive a Garb. Still, if the literary Bent of this Country should continue for some few Years longer the Course it has of late Years pursued, it will be time to give this Poem to the English People in English alliterative Metre, and I shall be thankful to see it done.
To facilitate Reference I have at the Beginning of each Canto marked the Line of the Original ac cording to Mr. Kemble's Edition.
It remains to give some Account of those who have gone before me in the Illustration of this Poem. The only MS. at present known to exist is that in the Cottonian Library, (Vitellius. A. xv.) which however was seriously injured in the Fire of 1731. It is in two Parts differing greatly in the Style both of Hand-writing and Language. This MS. Mr. Conybeare, following Astle's Opinion, considers as belonging to the early part of the 10th Century. It was examined by Wanley, and is men tioned in his Catalogue of Saxon MSS. and from Wanley's Time (1705) appears to have remained unnoticed till Mr. Sharon Turner in the present Century published extensive Extracts from it in his History of the Anglo-Saxons. The first complete Edition of the Work however was that of Dr. Thor- kclin. This learned Danish Antiquary, while visiting this Country at the latter End of the last Century, took a Transcripi^oTthe whole Poem? which together with a Translation and Commentary that had cost
PREFACE. xi
him much Labour and Expense was ready for Publication in ^180 7, when the inexplicable Poli cy of the Danish Government gave Rise to a War with England, and in the ever to be re gretted Bombardment of Copenhagen that fol lowed, the Antiquarian's House and the literary Property he had been for thirty Years diligently col lecting perished in the Flames. The venerable Sep tuagenarian did not however relinquish his Task. Encouraged by the Exhortations and assisted by the Liberality of the Count de Sanderumgaard, he re turned to England, made a new Transcript of the Poem, which with a Latin Version and three copious Indices he published at Copenhagen in 1816 under the Title of " De Danorum Rebus gestis Secul. iii. et iv. Poema Danicum Dialecto Anglo-Saxonica, Ex Bibl. Cotton. Musasi Britan. edidit, Versione Lat. et Indicibus auxit Grim. Johnson Thorkelin. Dr. I. V. &c." 4to. This doubtless was a spirited and honourable Work, but unhappily not very satis factorily performed, the Text being so faulty that, without the Assistance of the large Table of Errata to it published by Prof. Conybeare, it is unintelli gible, and the Latin Version being certainly worse than useless.
In Professor Conybeare's " Illustrations of Anglo- Saxon Poetry," edited by his Brother the Rev. W. D. Conybeare, besides the valuable Corrections to Thorkelin's Text just referred to, an Analysis of the Poem is given, with copious Extracts translated in blank Verse.
xii PREFACE.
In Denmark a complete Translation appeared in 1820, intitled « Bjowulf 's Drape. Et Gothisk Helte- Digt fra forrige Aar-Tusinde af Angel-Saxisk paa Danske Riim ved Nik. Fred. Sev. Grundtvig, Prasst. Kj^benhavn." 8vo. This is a spirited and brilliant Version, but by no means a close or even faithful Translation. It is accompanied by a useful Introduction, and some Notes justificative of the Phrases used in translating. But the Version being very free, and the divisions of the Original not being preserved, it is often difficult to say what Part of the one corresponds to a given Passage of the other.
But the best and most important Work is that of Mr. Kemble, intitled, " The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the Traveller's Song, and the Battle of Finnes-burh, edited together with a Glossary of the most difficult Words, and an historical Preface, by John M. Kemble, Esq. M. A. of Trinity College, Cambridge. London, William Pickering 1833." fcap. 8vo. This work contains a correct and critically castigated Text of the Poems above mentioned, with the long Vowels accented throughout; and Mr. Kemble followed this up in 1837 with a second Volume, containing a larger Preface, (giving his more matured Judgment on the Poem, which he now considers rather mythological than historical,) a literal Prose Translation of Beowulf, Notes there on, and a complete Glossary. This accurate and beautiful Edition cannot be too highly valued,2 for
3 It is however painful to see such a Book disfigured too frequently by References made in a sneering and irreverent
PREFACE. xiii
it the Thanks of every student of Teutonic Antiquity are largely due to Mr. Kemble, and I sincerely sym pathise in Mr. Thorpe's Hope that he " will be in duced to complete his already ample Collections, and give to the World that great Desideratum, an Anglo-Saxon Dictionary suited to the present state of Scholarship both here and abroad."
The next Work that I shall mention bears the fol lowing Title. " Beowulf, dasz alteste deutsche, in Angelsachsischer mundart erhaltene, heldengedicht, nach seinem inhalte, und nach seinen historischen und mythologischen beziehungen betrachtet. Ein beitrag zur geschichte alter teutscher geisteszust- ande von H. Leo." Halle 8vo. 1839. A copious Analysis of the Poem preceded by a mythological a historical, a geographical, and a genealogical In troduction.
Shortly after this appeared the German Transla tion of Mr. Ettmiiller, intitled " Beowulf, Helden gedicht des achten lahrhunderts. Zum ersten Male aus dem Angelsachsischen in das Neuhochteutsche stabreimend iibersetzt und mit Einleitung und An- merkungen versehen von Ludwig Ettmiiller, Mit einem Kartchen." 8vo. Zurich, 1840. A clever and generally faithful Version, but disfigured by wholesale alterations of the Text, which, however ingenious, I cannot think justifiable. It is preced-
Style to the Holy Scriptures ; and, as such a Style neither helps to illustrate the Text of the Author, nor to throw Light upon the historical or mythological Questions involved, good Taste at least, if no higher Feeling, would suggest its Alteration in all future Copies of the Work.
xiv PREFACE.
ed by an Introduction apparently in most Parts taken from Leo, and is accompanied by Notes.
Since these another Danish Version has appear ed, intitled ; " Beo-wulf og Scopes Wid-srS, to an- gelsaxiske Digte, med Overssettelse og oplysende Anmaerkninger udgivne af Frederik Schaldemose." 8vo. Copenhagen 1847. This Work contains the Anglo-Saxon Text of Beo-wulf and the Traveller's Song, with an alliterative Danish Translation in pa rallel Columns, and Notes. The Writer pretends not to be aware of the second Volume of Mr. Kemble's Beowulf, to which however he is evidently indebted for every Word of his Work, except what he has taken from Leo and Ettmuller : for strange to say, the Emendations of the Anglo-Saxon Text which he has adopted, are those of Mr. K. and the Pas sages which he has found unintelligible are precisely those which baffle Mr. K.'s Efforts at Translation. His Translation however is not a bad one, for as he has pretty faithfully rendered Mr. Kemble's Eng lish, he could not well fail of giving a fair Version of the Original. The Manner in which he treats his really learned Countryman Dr. Grundtvig is indecorous and vulgar, and his Discovery of the Cottonian Library in Oxford is at least original.
My thanks are due to Mr. Kemble, the learned Editor of Beowulf, to the Rev. Dr. Bosworth the Anglo-Saxon Lexicographer, and to the Rev. J. W. Donaldson, A.M. of Bury St. Edmunds, who have all kindly answered my Inquiries relative to various Matters connected with the Poem.
INTRODUCTION.
BEFORE entering- on the Poem now laid before him, the Reader will probably expect from me some account of the Heroes, Princes, and Tribes therein mentioned. I fear I can do but little to wards satisfying his Curiosity, and that little I shall compress into as small a Compass as I can. Those who seek for further Information will find both large Materials collected and copious Directions for Re search in the Works of Mr. Kemble, the Brothers Grimm, Von der Hagen, Miiller, Ettmiiller, Leo, Zeuss, and Finn Magnusen. Doubtless much Light will be thrown on the Subject Matter of the Poem by Mr. Kemble's forthcoming Work on the Mythology of the North, whereof however Teutonic Students are yet in Expectation.
The Characters that are here brought before us seem to be of a mixed Nature, made up of a purely Mythological Personage united with one or more of the Heroes of traditional History : but so confused and contradictory and anachronous are the Accounts, or rather Legends, that any Attempt to separate the Mythological Portion so as to extract a sober His tory from such Materials must, I think, prove only a futile Speculation and a W^aste of Ingenuity. Such a mixed Personage I conceive is Beowulf himself the Hero of our Tale. His Achievements are all of a supernatural Character, such as slaying De-
xvi INTRODUCTION.
mons, Nickers, and Dragons, swimming five Days in the Sea, and the like. This alone would lead us to suspect him as a Mythological Being. But more of him presently.
The Poem introduces us to Hrothgar, King of Denmark, a Prince of the Royal Line of the Skjol- dungar or Scyldings, whose Genealogy it thus
gives :
1. Scef.
2. Scyld
3. Be6wulf
|
Fr6 lag 7.F |
da |
4. Healfdene 1 |
|
|
eld 5. Heorogar |
1 6. Hr6thgar ro. Wal- theow |
Halga the Good, m. Yrsa, Queen of Sweden Hr6thwulf (Rolf Kraki) |
1 Elan, m. Ongen- theow the Scylfing |
|
1 I [rethric Hr6th- mund |
Freaware m. Froda's Son |
Scef, or Sceaf who stands at the Head of this List is said to have been exposed as a Child in an Ark or little Boat, with a Sheaf (A. S. j-ceap) of Corn at his Head, and Arms and Treasures, whence his Name, and so to have drifted ashore on the Coast of Slesvig, where being received as a Prodigy, he was carefully brought up, and finally became Sovereign of the Land.1 This Exposure is alluded
1 Ipse Scef cum uno dromone advectus est in insulam Oceani quae dicitur Scani, armis circumdatus, eratque valde recens puer, et ab incolis illius terrae ignotus; attamen ab eis suscipitur, et ut familiarem diligent! animo eum custodi-
INTRODUCTION. xvii
to in the introductory Canto, but the Tale of Scef is told of his Son Scyld. In some genealogical Lists Scef only and not Scyld appears, in others Scyld only and not Scef, and again in others both are found. Mr. Kemble's Conjecture that they are identical appears to me well founded, and per haps both are identical with Woden himself, as they appear amongst his Ancestors. The Hrothgar and Halga here introduced are the Roe2 and Helge of the Danish Historians, and in introducing them here this Account differs widely from all other Tra ditions, which place them not among the Ancestors of Odin, but far down among his Descendants. The List of early Danish Kings usually given is the following.3
erunt et post in regem eligunt. Ethelwerdi Chron. Lib. iii. ad fin. inter Savilii Scriptores.
Iste (Sceaf) ut fertur, in quandam insulam Germanise Scandzam, de qua Jordanes, historiographus Gothorum lo quitur, appulsus navi sine remige puerulus, posito ad caput frumenti manipulo, ideoque Sceaf nuncupatus, ab homiuibus regionis illius pro miraculo exceptus, et sedulo nutritus, adul- ta setate regnavit in oppido quod tune Slasvic, nunc vero Haitheby appellatur : est autem regio ilia Anglia vetus dicta, unde Angli venerunt in Britanniam inter Saxones et Gothos constituta. Sceaf fuit filius Heremodii, Heremodius Stermonii, Stermonius Hadrae, Hadra Gualae, Guala Bedwe- gii, Bedwegius Strefii: Hie, ut dicitur, fuit filius Noe in archa natus. Simeon Dunhelm. Introductory Genealogical and Geo graphical Chapter, inter X. Scriptores, and Gul. Meld. M. S. Bibl. Publ. Cantabrig. I. i. 2, 3, fol. 63, and F. f. 1, 27, 128. Another M. S. Chronicle in the Cambridge University Li brary (Bibl. Publ. G. g. 4, 25,) cited by Mr. Kemble, giving the royal Line of England from Adam to Sc£f, and thence to Hengest and so on to Edward IV. gives the same story.
2 Roe is the Builder of Roskilde, no doubt the Heorot of the Poem.
3 Crighton and Wheaton's Scandinavia, vol. 1, p. 112. Petersen's Danmarks Historie i Hedenold, Kap. 2, p. 1 26.
c
xviii INTRODUCTION.
1. Odin ( arrived in the
North) B. C. 70
2. Skjold, died 40
3. Lev, or Fridlev, I. 23
4. Frode, I. A.C. 35
5. Fridlev, II. 47
6. Havard (kin haandram- me) 59
7. Frode, II. 87
8. Vermund (hin vitre) 140
9. Olaf (litillate) 190
10. Dan (mikillate) 270
11. Frode,III.(mikillate)310
12. Halfdan, I. 324
13. Fridlev, III. 348
14. Frode, IV. (frskne) 407
15. Ingild 456
16. Halfdan, II. 447
17. Frode, V. 460
18. Roe and Helge 494
This List places a Distance of 564 Years between Odin's Arrival in the North and the Age of Hroth- gar and Halga, whereas the first three Names on the former List are in general found among the Ancestors of Odin. I shall now select three more genealogical Lines of Odin's Pedigree, in two whereof these Names appear. The first I take from Langhorne,4 though whence he had it I know not : the second is from the Saxon Chronicle ad. An. 854. They are as follows.
KINGS OF THE SAXONS.
Stresaeus
I Bed wig
I Gualas
I Haclras
Itterraon Heremod Skeph (reigned in Sleswick)
Skeld
I Bevin
I
4 Introduction to the Hist, of Engl. Tables at End, 8vo. London 1676.
INTRODUCTION. xix
Tetuas
I
In Asgard Geta (went to Asgard) In Germany I "
Godulph (son to Geta) Henry
Finne Sifrid
Fridulph
Frelaph
Fridwald
Woden (returned to Germany)
Weldeg and his Brethren with Sirick and his Sons, Hunding and Gelder
N. N.5 (Contemporary with Wermund, K. of the Danes)
Gelder (contemporary with Tordo, King of Sweden, and Dan the third, K. of Denmark)
Artrick Anserick
Wilkin, I.
I
I I
Swerting and Hanef
Swerting, II.
5 Called Hundingus by Alb. Krantz. Saxonia, Lib. 1. c. 2, 3, 4, and called Son of Sifrid, whose name occurs in the right hand Column.
xx INTRODUCTION.
Wilkin, II.
I Witikind
I Wilkin, III. Sigar
Marbod
Vecta Vita Witigils Hengist.
In this List two Genealogies are palpably con founded ; Bodo the last Name but four on the List is a Name of Odin. The Names that 'precede it are, with little Variation, those which are given as the Ancestors of Odin in a List we shall presently see, and those which succeed it are the Names or dinarily inserted between Odin and Hengest in the Genealogy of the latter Hero. Odin thus twice occurs in this List, a Privilege which must be per mitted to his Godship ; Indeed he and his Son Bo reappear long after in Saxo,6 and occupy for a Time the Throne of Denmark, and are then finally ex pelled by the Christian Hero-King. We must not then in Mythological Matters be frightened at any Chronological Discrepancies. They are Things to be expected.
6 Saxo, Lib. iii. near the Beginning, Fol. xxv. Edit. Paris, 1514. The Name Bodo seems to point out Odin as identi cal with Buddha, who is fabled to have been incarnate on Earth some hundreds of Times.
INTRODUCTION. xxi
The second and third Lists run thus. The latter is taken from Betham's " Genealogical Tables of the Sovereigns of the World," Tab. DXCIII. Whence Betham had it I know not.
|
Noah B.C Sceaf(born in the Ark) 7 Bedwig Hwala Hathra Itermoa Herem6d Sceldwa Beaw Taetwa Geat |
. 90. Harderic, K. of the Saxons A. |
D. 1 8 |
|
Wilke |
30 |
|
|
Svarticke, Prince of Saxons |
. 76 80 |
|
|
100 |
||
|
Witekind, K |
||
|
Wilke, II. P |
190 , 256 . 300 |
|
|
Marbod, K |
||
|
Bodo or Woden, K. . . m. Frea, Fria, or Frigga |
||
|
Godwulf |
||
|
Finn |
||
|
Frithuwulf 1 |
||
|
Freawine |
||
|
Frithuwald |
||
|
W6den. |
• |
|
|
Now it would |
be easy to exhibit very many Tables |
7 The Saxon Chronicler appears to have mixed up the Tale of SceT s Exposure with the Noachic Flood.
xxii INTRODUCTION.
agreeing more or less with those above given, where in the Name of the Scylding Beowulf appears vari ously written as Beo, Beu, Beau, Beawa, Beowius, Beowinus, Boerinus, Beowulf, Bedwius, Beaf, Beir, Bevin, Bo. Moreover, in two of the MSS. ex amined by Mr. Kemble, this Person appears as the Father of the following Sons. Cinrincius, Gothus, luthus, Swethedus, Dacus, Wandalus, Gethus, Fre- sus, Geatte. And in both MSS. is the following marginal Note.
" Ab istis novem filiis Boerini descenderunt no- vem gentes Septentrionalem habitantes, qui quon dam regnum Britannia invaserunt et obtinuerunt, viz. Saxones, Angli, Juti, Daci, Norwagenses, Go- thi, Wandali, Geati, et Frisi.''
This Beowulf the Scylding is then no less a Per son than the Father of the Eponymi of all the great Northern Tribes. Is he not then in all probability identical with the Eddie God, Baeldaeg, Ballar, or Bo, the Son of Odin ? probably even with Bodo or Wo den, i. e. Odin, himself, as again with Bedwig Odin's Son, with whom the Variation Bedwius of his Name seems to connect him. For these are all most like ly one and the same mythical Fiction.
This brings us to the other Beowulf, the Hero of the Poem, wherein he certainly appears as an other Person, a Waegmunding, son of Ecgtheow, and Nephew to Hrethel the Geatic King, living full two generations later than his Namesake. Never theless I believe, with Mr. Kemble, that he is really the same mythological Personage. Nowhere but in this Poem is he mentioned, and though he is there stated to have holden the Geatic Sceptre half-a- Cen tury, yet in no List of their Kings does his Name occur. The Difference in the Genealogy needs not stand in the Way of this Supposition. The Tables are full of such Discrepancies, witness the different Genealogies of Odin given above, which are all con tradicted by the Edda of Snorri and the Heim-
INTRODUCTION. xxiii
skringla, where Skjold8 is called the Son of Odin, who thus becomes not a Descendant but the An cestor of the Skjb'ldungar, or Scyldings of our Poem. The very Nature of Beowulf's Achievements, as I observed above, seems to mark him as a superhuman Being, and if therefore we consider him as the Son of Odin, we may see in his Contest with Grendel the Demon and his Fiend-Mother that Contest and Victory of the Divine Principle over the Evil Power, the Notion whereof the Heathen seem universally to have preserved in dark, varied and disfigured Traditions indeed, but originating no Doubt in the same divine and prophetic Source. Nor should the Fact of a God appearing here as only a Hero sur prize us. Such is the usual Course where one Re ligion supersedes another. The Gods of the aban doned System sink down to the Rank of Demi-Gods or supernatural Heroes, and lastly to ordinary He roes, in which state they are frequently mixed up with a historical Character. And thus Beowulf the God sinks first to the State of Beowulf the Scyld- ing, Father to the Eponyni of the Northerns, and lastly subsides into Beowulf the Wasgmunding, Ne phew to Hrethel, and Friend of Hrothgar. Other Instances of this Reduction of a heathen God's Rank I shall have to mention in the Course of this Intro duction : but that the Reader may comprehend the Tendency of the human Mind to lower the Rank of, instead of entirely discarding, the Gods of a system it has abandoned, I will refer to one In stance where it is evidenced in a Manner too pain ful and appalling to dwell upon, but too important and apposite here to be passed over in total Silence. Wherever the holy Faith of the Gospel has been sup-
8 Snorri's Edda, by G. W. Dasent. Foreword, p. 110. § 11. Heimskringla. Kap. v. Vol. 1. p. 5. Edit. Peringskiold. p. 12. of the German Translation by Mohnike. Vol. 1. p. 9 of the Danish Version by Grundtvig.
xxiv INTRODUCTION.
planted either by Areianism or Mohammedanism, (and fearfully often, even when by the more re spectable Forms of Protestantism), our divine Sa viour is forthwith degraded from His Godhead, and looked upon as a mere Man, or at best as Issa the Prophet.
Beowulf's divine Character derives some Confir mation from his Name, the integral Portion whereof is Beo ; the termination " -wulf " being, like other Terminations in Northern Names, often changeable or omissible. " Now the Old Saxons, and most likely other conterminal Tribes called their Har vest-Month, (probably part of August and Septem ber) by this very Name of Beo or Bewod: thus 'beuuo,' segetum. Helj. 79. 14. Kilian. ' bouw,' arvum. messis. In Bavaria, ' bau,' seges ; 'bauen,' seminar e ; ' bewod,' messis. Helj. 78. 16. Teu- tonista. * bouwt.' messis. l wijnbouwt,' vindemia. Beo or Beow is therefore in all Probability a God of Agriculture and Fertility, and gives his Name to a Month as the Goddesses Eostre and Hredhe did to April and March. It strengthens this View of the Case that he is the Grandson of Sceaf, ma- nipulus frumenti ( sheaf of corn ), with whom he is perhaps identical." Nor does his heroic Charac ter take from the Probability of this Notion, for Woden and Thor are not only Gods of Battle and Victory but also Rulers of the Weather and Givers of Fertility and Increase. I had once indeed thought of connecting the Name with the Word Buan. A. S. "Buan," to dwell; Gothic, " bauan ;" Icel. " bua ;" Dan. " boe ;" Swed. " bo," to dwell, a house ; and thus to have made Beowulf a God of Architecture, which his Protection of Hrothgar's great Buildings seems to warrant, but the above Account, which is Mr. Kemble's, is I think more probable.
Beowulf is a Geat or Weder, and that these
INTRODUCTION. xxv
Names are synonymous with Angle is powerfully maintained by Mr. Kemble, though Ettmiiller ve hemently asserts the contrary, and would, with Prof. Leo, make the Wa^gmundings synonymous with the Scylfings, a Tribe of Swedish Gothland. But Beowulf was at seven years old (i.e. before his Marriage with Hrethel's daughter), a near Relation to King Hrethel, the Father of Higelac. Yet it must be owned that while St. Gregory of Tours,9 and the author of the Gesta Reg. Franc.,10 call Chlo- chilaicus (Higelac) a Dane, the Heimskringla n
9 His ita gestis, Dani cum rege suo, nomine Chlochilaico [Colb. Hrodolaico. Beccens. Chochilaico], evectu navali per mare Gallias appetunt, Egressique ad terras, pagum unum de reg-no Theuderici devastant atque captivant; one- ratisque navibus tarn de captivis quam de reliquis spoliis, reverti ad patriam cupiunt. Sed rex eorum in litus reside- bat, donee naves altum mare comprehenderent, ipse dein- ceps secuturus. Quod cum Theuderico nuntiatum fuisset, quod scilicet regio ejus fuerit ab extraneis devastata, Theu- debertum filium suum in illas partes cum magno exercitu ac magno armorum apparatu direxit. Qui interfecto rege, hostes navali praelio superatos opprimit, omnemque rapinam terrze restituit. — Hist, i'rancorum. iii. 3. Inter Opera. Ed. Ruinart. col. 106.
10 InillotemporeDani cum rege suo, nomine, Chochilago, cum navali hoste per altum mari Gallias appetunt, Theude rico pagum Attoarios et alios devastantes atque captivantes, plenas naves de captivis habentes, alto mare intrantes, rex eorum ad litus maris resedit : Quod cum Theuderico nuntia tum fuisset, Theudebertum filium suum cum magno exercitu in illis partibus dirigens; qui consequens eos, pugnavit cum eis caede maxima, atque ipsis prostratis regem eorum in- terfecit, praedarn tulit et in terram suam restituit. Gesta reg. Francorum. cap. 19, cited by Leo.
11 Heimskringla, Kap. 25, torn. i. p. 27, Edit. Peringskib'ld. Grundtvig Danish Edit. Kap. 14, p. 29. Mohnike's Germ. Trans, p. 29. But this Hugleikr, who appears regularly in the list of Swedish Kings, is said, in the places cited, to have been killed at Tyrravold by King Hake, who had with him twelve Champions and Starkathar (Staerk-Odder)
d
xxvi INTRODUCTION.
places the Dominions of its Hugleikr (if he be the same Person) in Sweden. Under the name of Hugletus, Saxo (Lib. iv.) places him 26th on the List of Danish Kings. The matter may I think be set at Rest by comparing the Saxon Chron.12 with Alfred's Bede.13 In the latter the People of Kent and the Isle of Wight are stated to be descended from the Geats, in the former from the Jutes, and Anglia is said to be between the Jutes and Saxons. I should therefore place the Geatas north of the Angles in the Peninsula of Denmark, and look on them and the Angles as neighbouring and intimately connected Tribes, and totally distinct from the Scyl- fings in Sweden.
The Geatic royal Family appears to run accord ing to the following scheme : — (? Swerta)
|
! 1 Swerting Hrethel |
|
|
Herebeald |
i 1 ! Hsethcyn Higelac N N. a d: |
TO. Hygd (a m. Ecgtheow Walcyrie) |
| Be6wulf
I |
N N. a daughter Heardrede m, Kofer
amongst them. This was in 302, whereas the incident in S. Gregory must have been between 511 and 562. Mezeray places it about 517. Abr. Chron. Tom. iii. p. 100. But the Higelae of B6owulf is a mythical Character mixed up with an historical one.
12 Of 16tum comon Hantpajie. -j tOihtpajre. (f ir reo
maejS &e nu eafit>a& on CDiht.) Op Xnjle comon.
pe a pifcSan f tot) pepti;$ betpix lutum ant> Seaxum.
13 Op Eeata prxuman pynt>on Cantpajie ant) UJihtpaetan. •£ ip reo $e6t> j?e CDiht $aet ealont» oneafit>af>. In the Orosius Alfred mentions the Saxons and Angles, but not the Geats, whom he probably includes with the latter.
INTRODUCTION. xxvii
Won red Hoereth
I I
Wulf Eofer Hereric H
m. a daughter m. 1.
of Higelac 2. Offa
In Florence of Worcester, and in a Table in Langhorne, we find Swerta among the Ancestors of the De'iran Kings. If this is the Father of the Swerting of our Poem, the Line will run down from Odin thus : —
W6den
Waegd%
Sfgegar
Suebdaeg
Sigegeat
Ssebald
Ssefugel
Swerta
It may however be remarked that the name of Swerting twice occurs in the List of the Ancestors of Hengest in p. xix. And the Ancestors of Hen- gest would be Geats. If this is the Line whereto the Family of Higelac is to be affiliated, the Reader must make Swerting and Hrethel the Children either of Wilkin I. or of Swerting II. Alb. Krantz makes Slesvig at that Time in Possession of the Saxons.
The Wife of Higelac is a strange Character, and bears the Name (Hygd) of one of the Waelcyrian,14
14 On the Waelcyrian see J. Grimm Teutsche Mythologie, p. 235—243. The third Book of Saxo opens with the Reign of a King Hotherus, who is described as meeting these Beings in a Wood.
xxviii INTRODUCTION.
who attend upon Woden, and with this mythical Personage she appears to be intimately mixed up. After the Death of Higelac, she marries15 Offa, King of the Angles, to do which, the Poet, looking for the Angles in England, tells us " she crossed the fallow Flood by her Father's Advice." Who her Father Haereth was, or who Wonrede the Fa ther of her son-in-law was I do not know. Should we suppose the Poet, who was unquestionably a Christian,16 to be aware of the Lady's Rank as a heathen Goddess it may well account for the ma lignant Character he assigns to her, the Christian Faith having taught us to assign to the heathen Gods their true Character as Devils. (St. Paul, i. ad Cor. x. 20. and elsewhere.)
Offa is called the Nephew of Garmund and Son of Hemming (nejza I/afimunbej- & maej fremmmgej-) so that his Line in Beowulf stands thus : —
W6den
Wihtlaeg I
I ~~|
Hemming Garmund
Offa Ancestors of the Mercian Kings.
15 On her Marriage, see Vita Ojfee, II. printed at the End of Watts' Mathew of Paris: the Biographer having attributed this incident to Offa of Mercia. She is called by the Eng lish Writers Drida or Cynedrida (O. Norse, pru&r, or Kuena-Jjrufcr), i. e. Thrythr or Woman-Thrythr. Thrythr, though it signifies Virgin, being, like Hygd, the Name of a Walcyrie.
16 The Poet's Acquaintance with and Belief in the Holy Scripture and the Christian Religion, Dr. Thorkelin, who is determined to make out the Poem to have been written in Denmark in the Third or Fourth Century, stoutly denies,
INTRODUCTION. xxix
We now come to the Race of the Scylfings, cer tainly a Swedish Tribe. Their Princes are Ongen- theow, slain in Battle against Higelac by Wulf and Eofer, in Revenge for which his Sons invade the Geatic Territory, and slay Heardrede, and in their Turn are routed and killed by Beowulf and Wih- stan a Scylfmg Prince in the Geatic service. The Scheme will stand thus : —
Ongenthe6w Winston (a Scylfing) m. l.Elan
| 2. NN. taken in Battle agt. Geats
I |
Wiglaf Qnela Ohthere
I
Eanmund Eadgils
Eadgils may be the Adils of the Ynglinga-Saga and Athislus of Saxo. If so then Ohthere is also the Ottar of the Heimskringla, and possibly Ongen- theow may be Aun or (Dn hin Gamle.17 But it must be confessed that the Characters do not seem to correspond. This would identify the Scylfings of our Poem with the Ynglingas of Snorri.
and asserts his Author's Theology to he but that of Homer or Cicero. I cannot understand this Assertion. The Re ferences to the Scripture and to Christian Doctrine, with evident Assent on the Part of the Poet, appear to me so palpable, that to deny them seems little better than obsti nate Wrong-headedness.
17 In an old Norse and Latin " Catalogus Regum Sueciae a primordiis regni ad Magnum Erici an. 1333." Fant. Script, rer. Suec. I. p. 2, 3, 5. this name is written Haquon and Aukun, which is an Approach to the first part of Ongen- thedw or Angantyr. Again Ougenthe6w is called in Be6- wulf jomela, i. e. hin Gamle, the old. But still the Cha racters are widely different : One being a Warriour, and dying in Battle, the other a superstitious Driveller dying bed-ridden at the Age of 200 years.
xxx INTRODUCTION.
A Race of Hunlafings is also mentioned in the Poem. Their Heroes seem to be —
Hunlaf
I
Guthlaf Oslaf,orOrdIaf
Ettmiiller makes Ordlaf an additional Brother, but he seems to be the same Person as Oslaf, one Form being used by the Author of Beowulf the other by the Bard of the Battle of Finnesburh. Ett miiller also makes the Garulf of the Battle of Fin nesburh the Son of Guthlaf : on what Authority I know not ; certainly the Verse he cites from the B. of Finnesb. does not call him so.
The Frisians and their King Finn next demand our attention. This Personage is considered by Mr. Kemble as another Instance of a Heathen God sinking to an Epic Hero. His Remarks upon the subject are perhaps hardly so satisfactory as could be wished, but as I have nothing more probable to bring forward I shall here present my Readers with the Substance of them. It will be observed that Finn in Beowulf and in the Traveller's Song is called Folcwalding and the Son of Folcwald. Now in the Lists of Odin's Progenitors given above (p. xix, xxi) his name occurs, but he was the son of God- wulf, in others of Godwin e, though in Nennius,18 and Henry of Huntingdon,19 his Father bears the name of Folcwald, as in our Poem, while Asser,20 and some others make him and his Father into one Person under the Name of Finngodwulf. Which ever of the three names of Finn's Father we take
18 Gunn's Nenniu8, p. 61. In Gale's Edit. Folcwald is called Folcpald evidently by mistaking the Old w (p) for a P.
19 Savile's Scriptores post Bedam, p. 178. London 1596.
20 Asser, p. 4. Oxford 1722.
INTRODUCTION. xxxi
for right, neither needs exclude the other. God- wulf and Godwine are little more than God, the first being Lupus divinas, the second Deus amicus, while Folcwalda is Rector populi, all names of Deity, and thus Odin in the Vb'lu-spa is called Folcvaldr Go'Sa (line 246 : Bergmann, vol. iii. p. 53. Finn Magnusen's Edda).
But the Name Finn is uncompounded, which is itself Evidence of a divine rather than a heroic Character : and his Position among Woden's An cestors leads one to suspect that the Fin of the Traveller's Song, Beowulf, and the Battle of Fin- nesburh, is really a mythical Personage who has grown out of some of the Legends concerning Woden. " Now," says Mr. Kemble, " though no Teutonic tongue furnishes a family of words from whose etymological relations the signification (of Fin) can with positive certainty be discovered, yet perhaps the following attempt may lead to some approximation towards a meaning. The Latin Penna (for Pinna), the English Fin of a fish stand in close etymological connection. Fin pre supposes a Teutonic verb of the xiith Conjugation, finnan, fan, funnon, funnen. The English fan andyfrz. denote light moveable shapes closely re sembling each other, the worAfun denotes boister ous merriment. The Old High Dutch fano, Ang. Sax. fana, pannus, probably waving cloth ; fon, (Schmellers Worterb.) the soft south wind : Goth. funs, ignis: Goth, funs, Ang. Sax. fus, paratus, active. Does not the conception of motion lie in the verb finnan? If so, he (Fin) is only another form of Woden, whose name, derived from the prae- terite wdd of wadan, (to go), denotes in like man ner the moving- acting godhead : and this view of the meaning of the name appears to me to be con firmed by the fact that even Woden's name appears to be only a further derivative from an equivalent
xxxii INTRODUCTION.
W6d, the actual praet. of Wadan : at least I find him in the Traveller's Song, 1. 60., called W6d not Woden, and in the Edda, Volu-spa. 23 (1. 125). Freya is called Ofts mey, not Oftinns. Finnr as the name of a God does not occur in the Old Norse My thology, but a Berserker Finnr is found. Fornald Sog. 2. 242, and one of the nine very mythic sons of Wikingr bears the same name Fornald. Sog. 2. 405. In the Volu-spa xxi [xiv] (1. 81 : Bergm.) a dwarf Finnr appears, as a descendant of Dwalin, but this name must be derived from the Old Norse, finna ; Ang. Sax.j#7icfaw, invenire {to find). It is, however, not unimportant that in the same Poem 12, another Dwarf Buri,21 of Modsogner's blood, is mentioned, for the Fornaldar Sog. 2. 13. 14. giving a Saxon genealogy compared with the Norse mythic descents mentions Finn han wer kollum Buri. But here it is quite clear that no dwarf is meant, for the Volu- spa accurately distinguishes between Buri, Modsog ner's descendant, and Finnr, Dwalin 's descendant, whose name is not found in some MSS. But what Buri is then meant ? Obviously the antient mythic Buri (pariens, generans) the father of Bur or Bors (natus, generatus) whose three sons in turn are Odin, Vile, and Ve. If Finn then is as Buri a progenitor of Woden, he may very safely be looked upon as a mere form of Woden himself."
Having thus glanced at the original Myth of Finn, it remains to notice the real or fabulous Fin, Hero and King of Friesland. He is represented in the
21 Mr. Kemble omits to remark that in the Names of the Dwarfs and in the Manner of writing them there is great Discrepancy among the MSS. The whole Line : " Billingr, Bruni, Biklr, Buri," where this Name occurs is in some In stances absent. Prof. Bergmanu.in whose Edit, of the Volu- spa it would form Line 68, omits it as spurious. Prof. Finn Magnusen and Dr. Dietrich (Altnordisches Lesebuch) in close it within Brackets as doubtful.
INTRODUCTION. xxxiii
Poem as at War with the Danes. The Danish General is Hnaef called a Scylding, whom the Traveller's Song calls King of the Hocings, and of whom we get the following Genealogy in our Poem : —
Hoc*
A Daughter NN. Hnsef
Hnaf is assisted by Hengist, Guthlaf and Oslaf (Ordlaf of the Batt. Finsb.) and other Heroes. Though himself killed in the Contest, he attacks and conquers Finn, who is deprived of half his Kingdom. Hengist who if, as supposed by Mr. Kemble, not22 I think with much Probability, the Founder of the Monarchy of Kent, is therefore a Geatic Wicing, remains in Friesland, to occupy the "annexed" Portion of Finn's Kingdom. Hilde- burh seems to be Finn's Wife. Hengist the next Year is murthered by Finn, but the Danes under Guthlaf and Oslaf avenge the Murther, Finn is routed and slain, and his Wife Hildeburh carried Captive to Denmark.
A Race of Brondings, and their King Brecca, son Beanstan, are also mentioned. We find Brand or Brond, for in the Saxon Chronicle23 it is written both Ways, in the Genealogy of the Kings of Wes- sex and Northumberland. The Sons of Brond are Freothogar and Beonoc. It is possible enough the Beonoc may be the Beanstan of Beowulf : and if so, the Line will stand thus : —
22 I am not aware that any Writer states Heugist the first King of Kent to have died in Friesland, whereas Matt, of Westminster (ad an. 489) declares that, being defeated and made Prisoner by Aurelius Ambrosius, he was, at the in stance of Eldad, Bishop of Gloucester, beheaded.
» Ad ann. 547. 552. 597. 854.
xxxiv INTRODUCTION.
W6den Ba?ldaeg
Brond
I
Fre6thogar Beonoc, or Beanstan
Ancestors of Kings Ancestors of Kings Brecca
of Wessex of Bernicia
Heatho-roemis, Brecca's Capital, is probably the Island of Rom (Romes<j> or Rom^) on theNorth- West Coast of Slesvig.
I proceed now to give a short account of the Sigmund and Fitela of Canto XIII. These are the Sigurdr Fafnisbani, and Sinfiotli of the Edda Saemundar and Volsunga Saga, and the former of them is the Sigurdr or Sigfrbdr of the Wilkina Saga, the Sifrid (or Siegfried) of the Nibelunge Not and the Seyfrit of the Heldenbuch. The Poet however has confused Sigurdr Fafnisbani and his Father Sigmundr. Sigmundr was a King in Frankland,24 a Son of Volsungr, who, not recog nizing his Sister Signi disguised by the Arts of a Witch,25 begat of her Sinfiotli, who is accordingly called here his Nephew, and is the Brother not Nephew of Sigurdr. But Sigurdr and Sigmundr are in Beowulf one Person, the Sigmund of the Poet. Sigmundr and Sinfiotli20 pass on their Ad ventures together, are changed for a While for their
24 Edd. Seem. Sinfibtla Lok. Frankland would at that time be both Banks of the Rhine. Sigmundr's Kingdom is said to be somewhere about the modern Dutchey of Juliers. The Nibelungen-lied calls it Niederland, the Wilkina, S. c. 131. Jarlunga-land.
25 Volsunga Saga, c. 11.
26 Volsunga Saga, e. 11. 12. 13. 14. &c.
INTRODUCTION. xxxv
Crimes into Werwolves, and burn Signy with her Husband Siggeir. Sigmundr married Borghildr, by whom he had Issue Helge and Hamundr, and afterward, by Hib'dis, Sigurdr. The following Ge nealogy is taken from the Tables given by Pe- ringskjold at the End of the Wilkina Saga, from the Nibelungen-lied, from the Edda Soemundar and Vblsunga Saga : —
Audi or Odinn I
Siggy or Sigvat Narfi
Rerer Wb'lsungr
I j I
Sigmundr Signy NN.
m. 1. Borghildr m.Siggier,K.of 2. Hibrdisjd. Gautland
|
ofN. naor lind. |
Elin- Sige- |
|
|
T wo Sons Two Sons slain in slain by Gautland. Sinfibtli |
iSinfiotli 2 Helge 3 Hamundr 4 Sigurdr begotten orHamdir m.l.Brynhildur
of his
Sister Signy
2.Guthrunor Crimhild I
1. Heiner Aslang m. Ragnar Lodbrog
I I
2. Sigmundr Swanhilldr
m.King.Tormun-
drik
I
Brodd Haurfi
Borghildr had a Brother named Hroar or Gun-
xxxvi INTRODUCTION.
narr ;27 but Guimarr and Sinfib'tli both falling in Love with the same Lady, the former was slain by the latter. On this Borghildr determined to drive him into Exile, but, Sigmundr insisting on his being quit on paying the Compensation -money, or "were," she poisoned him.
The Wilkina Saga28 calls the Mother of Sigurdr Sisile (Coecilia) daughter of Nidung King of Spain, and tells a Tale of his Birth too interesting to be omitted here. The Story is very similar to a most beautiful Legend relative to S. Genevieve, which may be seen in the second Vol. of the Deutsche Sagen of the Brethren Grimm, and was published in English during the Stewart Period in a duode cimo Volume called " Innocence asserted," and which I met with a few Years ago in the Library of J. Eyston, Esq. at Hendred House, Berks. The Saga informs us that during the Absence of Sig mundr, he committed his Queen to the Care of two Noblemen, Artvin and Hermann, who failing to induce her to betray her Husband, on his Return accused her in Malice. Sigmundr ordered them to lead her out into a neighbouring Wood to Execu tion. On the Way Hermann felt Compunction, and his savage Companion taking Offence at his Protestation of Penitence, they fell to Blows and Artvin was slain. In the mean Time the unhappy Queen was taken with premature Labour, and placed her Infant, Sigurdr, in a glass vessel, which Artvin in the Struggles of Death knocked into the River, at the Sight of which Accident the Queen expired with Grief. The Glass, however, floated
27 The Name is called Hroar in the Brethren Grimm's Lieder de alten Edda, but Gunnarr in the great Copenhagen Edit, of the Edda Saemundar, by Prof. Finn Magnusen, in 3 vols. 4to. 1787. 1818. 1828.
38 Wilk. Sag. c. 131—149. Grimm Heldensage. p. 73.
INTRODUCTION. xxxvii
with the Stream, till coming in Contact with the Bank, it broke asunder, and the Child screamed. Then came a Hind and took the Child in her Mouth, and bare him home to her Lair, where she had two young, together with which she suckled him, so that at the End of a Twelvemonth he was as strong as a Boy of four Years old. There was a Man named Mimer, a marvellously cunning Smith, who took him home and educated him in his Smithey. After a While the Strength of the Boy, displayed in a Quarrel with one of his fellow Handicraft-lads named Eckihard, and by splitting the Anvil with his Blows, and perhaps his Voracity, (for it seems he ate in one Day what was thought enough for nine), caused some Alarm to Mimer, who accordingly asked him to go into the Wood and burn the Charcoal, intending that he should there fall a Sacrifice to his Brother Reginn, who haunted the Wood, and for his Cruelties had been turned into a furious Dragon. Sigurdr assented, took with him a Hatchet, and having cut down a vast number of Trees, arranged them in a Pile for burning, and having lighted them, as it was now Day-time, set himself to his Meal, and ate up all the Meat and drank up all the Wine which Mimer expected would last him nine Days. Presently he saw the Dragon approach, and drawing a flaming Beam from the Fire, strake him on the Head there with with such Force that he felled him to the Earth, and repeated his Blows till the Dragon was dead, when with his Axe he cut off his Head. In the Evening having filled his Kettle with Water, he cut off with the Hatchet some of the Dragon's Flesh to boil for his Supper. On putting his Fin ger into the Liquor, and scalding it, he put it into his Mouth, and so bringing a Drop on his Tongue, he immediately understood the Language of Birds, and heard two Birds saying to one another, " If this
xxxviii INTRODUCTION.
Man knew what we know, he would certainly go home and slay Mimer his Foster-father, who has attempted to compass his Death, for this Serpent was Mimer's Brother, and Mimer will avenge his Blood and kill the Youth." Sigurdr then rubbed his Body with the Dragon's Blood, on which his Skin became as impenetrable as Horn, except be tween the Shoulders where he could not reach to apply it ; and having resumed his Clothes, went home carrying the Dragon's Head in his Hand. On his Return Mimer hypocritically bids him wel come, but he answers, " It shall be no Welcome for you, for you shall gnaw this Head like a Dog." " No, no," said Mimer, " you must not do that, I assure you I had rather make you Compensation for having done 111 to you. I'll give you the Hel met and a Shield and Byrnie, those Weapons I made for Hertnid King of Holmgardi, and they are the best of all Weapons. And a Horse will I give you named Grani, which is in the Stud of Brynhildr, and a Sword called Gramr, which is the best of all Swords." Sigurdr having accepted the Conditions, and put on the Armour, Mimer gave him the Sword, which swinging with his utmost Strength, he strake and killed Mimer. He then proceeds to the Borg or Castle of Brynhildr, bursts open the Gates and slays seven Thralls and seven Knights, who oppose him. Brynhildr, who was sitting in her Boudoir (situr i skemmu sinni), hearing of the Matter, went down and joyfully wel comed her Visitor, informed him of his Rank and Birth whereof he had hitherto been ignorant, and inquired the Object of his Visit. On learning that he had come for the Horse Grani, she gave him free Permission to take him, and sent some of her Attendants to catch him. They were unable to do so, but Grani delivered himself spontaneously to Sigurdr, who put a Bridle on him, mounted on
INTRODUCTION. xxxix
his Back, and having thanked Brynhildr for her Hospitality, departed. Thus far the Wilkina Saga.
The Edda, the Volsunga Saga, and the Nibel- ungen Lied tell the Tale somewhat differently. According to the last Sigelint is the Name of Sifrit's (Sigurdr's) Mother, according to the first two, Hiordys : and the Story of Sisile seems to have been unknown to the Authors of them all. In the Edda and Volsunga Saga Reginn or Reigin is the Name of the Smith, not of the Dragon, who is called Fafnir. Indeed the Author of the Vol sunga Saga, as Prof. Finn Magnusen observes, appears to have taken his Account from the Edda. Here the Tale is, however, thus told. Hreithmar a Person of the Race of the Dwarfs or Daemons had three Sons, Reigin, Fafnir, and Otur. The last had the Faculty of transforming himself into an Otter, and in this Form was killed by Loki who in company with Odin and Haener met and chased him. The same Evening the (Esir (Gods) walked out in human Form, and having accepted the Hospitality of Hreithmar, were by him with the Assistance of Reigin, who was marvellously cunning, cruel, and skilful in magic, made Prison ers. They ransomed themselves by filling the Otter's Skin with Gold. Reigin and Fafnir wished for a Share of this Treasure, and Hreithmar re fusing was murthered in his sleep by Fafnir, who appropriated the whole Treasure to himself, and left none for either Reigin or his two Sisters.29 Reginn asked for his Share of the Gold, but Fafnir refused, and being possessed of an .'Egis-helmet which strake Terrour into every living Thing, he
49 This Tale is found in the Edda. Quitha Sigurdar Faf- nisbana, part I. Compare Volsunga Sag. c. 23. and Skalda 1. c. p. 135—7.
xl INTRODUCTION.
constantly lay at Gnitaheithi, watching- his Trea sure, in the Form of a terrible Dragon.
Sigurdr having consulted his Uncle Gripir, who was a Seer, about his Fate, went to the Stable of Hjalprekr, (Germ. Hilferich, Fr. Chilperic), and thence chose for himself the Horse Grani, large of stature, and bred from Odin's Charger Sleipner.30 Reginn then joined him and became his Adviser and Companion. He told him the Tale we have just narrated, forged for him the Sword Gramr, and urged him to take Vengeance upon Fafnir. Si gurdr then sets out accompanied by Reginn in some Ships furnished by Hjalprekr, and after a Storm and singular Dialogue with a Nicker, van quishes and slays Lyngvi Hundings-son and his three Brethren. He then returns home to Hjal prekr, but being again incited by Reginn to the Slaughter of Fafnir, he and Reginn proceed to Gnitaheithi, and find the Path whereby Fafnir was wont to glide to the Water. Here Sigurdr dug a Pit and got into it. As Fafnir passed forth he blew out a Jet of Venom, which however passed over Sigurdr's Head, and as he glided over the Pit Sigurdr pierced him through the Heart with his Sword, and sprang out of the Pit. A curious Dia logue ensues. Fafnir assures Sigurdr that the Trea sure will prove his Ruin, and that Reginn will as readily betray him as he had himself.31
Sigmundr then took Fafnir's Heart and roasted it on a Wire, and when he thought it was done enough, and the Blood bubbled from the Heart, then he took it with his Fingers and tried whether it were fully roasted. It burnt him, and he put his Finger in his Mouth : but as soon as Fafnir's Heart's Blood had touched his Tongue he under-
30 VSls. Sag. c. 22.
31 Compare Vols. Sag. c. 27.
INTRODUCTION. xli
stood the Speech of Birds, and heard the Eagles talking on the Branches. They recommend him to eat Fafnir's Heart, assure him that unless he kills Reginn the latter will certainly by Treachery avenge his Brother, and bid him take undivided Possession of the Treasure. He accordingly takes off Reginn's Head, eats the Heart of Fafnir, and drinks both his Blood and that of Reginn.32 The Eagles continue their Conversation, and indicate to him the Spot incircled by Fire where the Walcyrie Sigrdrifr or Brynhildr lay, under her Helm, cast asleep by Odin, who had fastened her Veil with a Thorn. " Hero, thou shalt see the Maid under the Helm, who rode (the Horse) Ving-skornir out of the Battle ; a King's Son may not break Sigrdrifr's Slumber ere the Decree of the Nornir." Sigurdr then enters Fafnir's Dwelling, loads Grani with the Treasure, mounts and rides the Hindarfiall, the Place pointed out, where he finds the Virgin sleep ing in complete Armour. He removes the Helmet, but the Byrnie was so fast to the Body that he cut it through with his Sword Gramr and awoke her. She taught him Runes and many wonderful Things, and gave him valuable Advice.
We now come to where the Icelandic Accounts fall in with the Nibelungen Lied. Sigmundr or Sifrit, goes into the Land of King Gjuke, and mar ries his Daughter Godrun or Kriemhilte, and effects the Marriage of Brynhildr with Kriemhilte's Bro ther Gunnarr or Gunthere King of Burgundy, by Arts which I need not stop to explain.33 According to the Nibelungen Lied however the two Ladies quarrel for Precedence, and Hagene von Troneje, one of Gunthere's chief Knights, considering his Queen insulted, undertook to avenge her, and that
32 Compare Vols. Sag. c. 28.
33 Nibel. Adv. vii. Sigurdar Quitha Fafn. HI. in Edda.
xlii INTRODUCTION.
upon the innocent Sifrit, though the latter had " beaten his Wife black and blue " for her Imper tinence to the Queen of Burgundy. A great hunt ing Party is proposed, and Sifrit attends, but laying aside his Arms and stooping down to drink at a Well, Hagene thrust a Spear into the vulnerable Part of his Back, and so murthered him.34 His Wife Kriemhilte afterwards married Etzel (Attila) and the barbarous and treacherous Revenge she took for her Husband's Death occupies all the lat ter Part of the Nibelungen Lied.
The Edda and Volsunga Saga tell the Tale somewhat differently from this. Brynhildr, though married to Gunnarr is in Love with Sigurdr, and greatly distressed at his rejecting her for Gudrun, thinks at last of Revenge. By continued Impor tunities she at length prevails on Gunnarr to consent to the Murther of Sigurdr in his Bed. Gunnarr proposes to HBgni (Hagene) to murther Sigurdr and appropriate the Treasure. Hogni re fuses, and the Deed is assigned to a Youth called Guttormr to perpetrate.
Daelt var at eggia Facile erat instigare
Obilgiarnan. Animo ferocem.
StoJ? till hiarta Penetravit ad cor usque
Hior Sigurfi. Ensis Sigurdo.
Rep til hefnda Tentavit vindictam
Her-giarn i sal, Bellicosus in cubiculo,
Oc eptir varp Atque in discedentem misit
Obilgiornom. (Telum) animo ferocem.
Flo til Gottorms Volavit in corpus Guttormi
Grams ramliga Regis valide
Kyn-birt jam Mire politum ferrum
Or konimgs hendi. E regis manu.35
Gudrun awakes, for she is floating in her Hus-
34 Nib. Adv. xvi.
34 Sigurdar Quitha Fafn. xx. Vbls. Sag. c. 39.
INTRODUCTION. xliii
band's Gore, (flaut i dreyra) Sigurdr attributes the Murther to the Despair of Brynhildr, consoles his Wife, and expires.
Brynhildr then adorned herself magnificently, distributed Treasure to her Attendants, arrayed in a golden Byrnie and reclining on a Bolster, stabbed herself, gave directions as to the burning of her Body with that of Sigmundr and expired. Their Remains were burned on the same Pyre.
I here conclude this Sketch of the Legend of perhaps the most renowned of all Heroes of Anti quity. Lachmann has shown the Probability of his having been once a heathen God, by the subsequent Changes of Religion brought down at length to the Hero Sifrit of the Nibelungen Lied. And though his Name has almost perished from Memory in this Country, yet the Deed which obtained him the Surname of Fafnisbani, has not. In Christian Nurseries the slaying of the Dragon36 has been transferred to St. George of England, who, when suffering Martyrdom for the Gospel in Nicaea, probably little thought of ever having his Brows decorated with the Crown of an old Teutonic hea then God. With the Sifrit of the Nibelungen, Edda, and Volsunga Saga, there is I think probably some really historical Personage mixed, but I have been quite unable to identify him : but now that much
36 It frequently occurs that the slaying of a Dragon is attributed to a Character who may without Fear be con sidered as historical, as for instance, Ragnar Lodbrok, of whose historical Existence there would seem to be but little Doubt, however we may discredit his marvellous Achieve ments. In several Cases of this kind I am not sure that we may not find an historical Explanation for the Feat by trans ferring the Scene thereof from the Land to the Sea, and supposing the Slaughter of the Dragon to be merely the Destruction or Capture of one of those larger Vessels called by our Northern Ancestors " Dragons."
xliv INTRODUCTION.
Attention throughout Europe is turned to the Chronicles of the Middle Ages it is possible that others may be more fortunate.
With regard to the Geographical Notions of my Author, I have endeavoured to imbody them in a Map. In this it is probable I may have made sundry Errours, which I trust the Reader will par don, in Consideration of the Difficulty of identi fying Places at this Distance of Time. The prin cipal Authorities consulted have been Mr. Kemble, Ettmuller's Works, Leo, Thorpe's Notes to the Traveller's Song in his Codex Exoniensis, Zeuss, and the Orosius of King Alfred.
I shall probably be expected by my Readers, before closing this Introduction, to say a few Words on the Age of the Poem. Dr. Thorkelin places it very early, about the third or fourth Century, denies the Authour's being a Christian, and considers it as manufactured in Denmark. This Notion, I think, may be summarily discarded. Dr. Wheaton says it " is probably a Translation or Rifacciamento of some older Lay originally written in the antient Language of Denmark."37 That it is founded on National Legends there can be no Doubt, but why on that Account it should be considered as a Ri facciamento or Translation of an older Work, I am at a Loss to discover. That the Authour was a Christian is evident, and therefore the work must be subsequent to the Arrival of the Missionaries of the Holy See at the latter End of the Sixth Cen tury, (for the Language is pure Anglo-Saxon, and was certainly written in England or by an Anglo- Saxon of this Country), and the Traditions are of heathen Date. But the same Traditions, or at least many of them, were known to, and are given as History by the Christian Writers of the Anglo-
37 Northmen, p. 130.
INTRODUCTION. xlv
Saxon Chronicle, as well as by the Christian Latin Writers. The Be6wulf 's-Lay, then, appears to me to have as good a Claim to be considered an ori ginal Work in its Present State as the ^Eneid of Virgil or indeed any Epic Poem in Existence. I conceive then that the Author was a Christian of this Country, and from the little Bits of Preaching that one meets with every here and there, and his References to the Sacred Volumes, I think it pro bable that he may have been an Ecclesiastic. And for that the chief Hero of the Poem is Geatic, and the People and Royal family of Kent were Geatic, it is hardly to be thought improbable that he may have been attached to the Court of the Kentish Kings. And if so, I should be inclined to look for him among the good Monks of S. Augustine's Canterbury. Leo and Ettmiiller call our Poem an " Heroic-Poem of the Eighth Century." The historical Higelac whose Death is chronicled between the Years 515 and 520 and who was succeeded by his son Heard- red, and afterwards by Beowulf, who reigned fifty Years, a Period which the Poet would hardly have introduced, if, in his Time, the Death of Higelae were a recent Event, seem to mark the Work as certainly not earlier than the beginning of the seventh Century. And if as Leo, I think very improbably, supposes, the Legend of St. Gene- vieve is the Root of the Story of Sigmund in the Poem, then must it be much later, as Sigmund was gone to fight under the Banners of Charles Martel against the Saracens, when he left his Wife Gene- vieve (Sisile) in the Care of Golo (Artvin or Her mann). If this is so, it would bring it down to the Time of Charlemagne. The Language of the Poem, again, does not appear to me to differ so much from that of King Alfred, or of Ceadmon, as to warrant our placing a very long Interval be tween the Productions : but it appears to forbid our
xlvi INTRODUCTION.
considering- it as belonging to the later Danish Dynasty of Cnut.
All things then considered, I am inclined to be lieve, 1. That the Poem was originally written in this Country, perhaps in the Kingdom of Kent ; 2. That its Author was without Doubt a Christian, and probably an Ecclesiastic of some Kind; 3. That it was founded on legendary Tales brought hither by the Geatic Conquerors of Kent, or else by some of the Angle Races who colonized other Parts of the Island ; 4. That it belongs to the seventh, or eighth, or, at latest, to the early Part of the ninth Century.
I now conclude this Introduction, wherein I have endeavoured, as far as within reasonable Limits I might, to render the Perusal of the Poem easy and pleasant to the Reader, and if by awakening these Echos of the long lost Melody of Times gone by, I shall have induced any one to give a Moment's se rious Thought to the mighty Changes wrought by Time in its ever-rolling-onward Career, as con trasted with the changeless Perfection of Eternity, then have I done something towards elevating at least one Mind in the Scale of Being, and my Time and Labour have been well spent.
HA MM F.R SMITH,
Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle, 1847.
Jkotoulf.
INTRODUCTORY CANTO.
>O ! We have learn'd in lofty Lays [i] The Gar-Danes1 Deeds in antient Days
And Ages past away, The Glories of the Theod-Kings, And how the valiant ^Ethelings
Bare them in Battle's Day. Oft Scyld, the son of Scef, from Bands Of foemen, drawn from numerous Lands,
The Mead-thrones tare away ; For Dread he cast on all around Sith he was first an Out-cast found,2 Thus he abode in easy State, And 'neath the Welkin waxed great,
And in his Glories thrave, Till circling Nations far and wide Over the Path the Whale doth ride3
Obeyed and Tribute gave. This was a Monarch good : — and he Was after bless'd with Progeny, Young in his Palaces, by Heaven A Comfort to the People given : He knew the 111 they had sustain'd While chieftainless they long remain'd. Therefore to him the Lord, whose Sway
2 BEOWULF.
Life and Death themselves obey, Who Glory gives and takes away,
Vouchsafed a high Command ; Illustrious was Beowulf's Name, And widely spread the Scylding's Fame
Through all the scatter'd Land. Thus should a Warriour Chieftain bold Enhance by prudent Gifts of Gold
His Father's Dignity, That when age-stricken is his Hand, And War shall come upon his Land A voluntary warriour Band
May round him marshall'd be. He whom his People will sustain, In every Land shall Honour gain,
By Deeds of Chivalry. But Scyld, at fated Time, departs
Ripe, to the Lord's eternal Rest, His Comrades dear with aching Hearts, —
According to his last Behest While yet he own'd the Power of Speech, — Bare forth his C.orpse upon the Beach. A ring-prow'd Ship there ready stood Prepared to tempt the foaming Flood, The Car the noble love to ride It shone like Ice upon the Tide. Within the goodly Vessel's Hold
Their Monarch dear they cast. Distributer of Rings of Gold,4
The mighty by the Mast. And there were Gems and Treasure fair From distant Climes collected there. And never did I hear Man say
Of comelier Ship, bedight With WTeeds of War for Battle's Fray, With deadly Bills and Byrnies grey,
And Weapons of the Fight. Rich Treasure in abundant Heap
INTRODUCTORY CANTO.
Upon his Bosom lay, Into Possession of the Deep
With him to pass away. They would not send their Chief away With less Magnificence than they,
Who sent him forth of yore, To wander o'er the Ocean wild A lonely and deserted Child. They high above his Head unroll'd A fluttering Banner's Wings of Gold, And bear him let the Waters cold,
To Ocean gave him o'er. His gallant Band of cheer were low,
And sore dispirited, For, sooth to say, no Mortal, though He wise may be, can ever know, Nor answer how or whereunto
The pretious Cargo sped.5
CANTO I.
o'er the Scylding Cities gain'd [105] Beowulf Rule, and long he reign'd, — (His Sire, that antient Chief of W^orth Had pass'd elsewhere from off the Earth, — ) Till from him haughty Healf-dene rose,
And while he life retain'd Aged and dreadful to his foes,
Full joyously he reign'd. At length unto him numbered o'er Awoke on Earth1 his Children four, Leaders of Hosts, Heoro-gar, Hroth-gar and Halga good in war, And Ladye Elati, o'er the Tide Who pass'd, I heard,2 the Scylfing's3 Bride. Then was vouchsafed to Hroth -gar's Sway Success full high in Battle-fray
4 BEOWULF.
And martial Honours brave, So that his Kinsmen to his Sway
A free Obedience gave, And thus their noble Youth into A mighty kindred Nation grew. — It came into his princely Mind To raise a Palace fair-design'd
A Banquet-hall of State, Such as the Children of Mankind
Might ever celebrate, And there dispense to all his Band, Both young and old, his Bounty grand, Whatever the All-mighty 's Hand
Had unto him assign'd, Except the Right of Odel-land
And Lives of human Kind.4 Then, as I heard,5 both far and wide This mighty Work was notified Throughout the Earth the Tribes among, The adorning of this Castle strong. In time it came to pass6 at last That this of Palaces most vast
Was to Completion brought, And the great Monarch whose Behest Both far and wide high Power possess'd
Yclept it Heorot.7
Nor fail'd he of his Word, but gave The costly Rings and Treasures brave,
At Banquet as he sate : Lofty and vaulted rose his Towers, But loathly Flame's malignant Powers
His Palace did await. Nor was it longsome Season ere The Hero bade the Oaths to swear ; But afterwards through deadly Hate His Power was destined to abate.8 For dread the Enemy and fell, A Fiend that did in Darkness dwell,
CANTO I.
And ill he brook'd in that fair Hall The daily Voice of Festival : There was the Harp's melodious Swell To Song of Bard, well learn'd to tell Man^s first Original and Birth ; — Who said the' Almighty made the Earth The bright-fac'd wave-incircled Plain,9 — How, triumphing in Victory's Reign, He set the Sun and Moon so bright, The Dwellers on the Earth to light, — How He adorn'd the barren Ground With quick'ning Verdure all around, — And made all living Nature rife With the dark Energy of Life. Thus gallantly the Comrades fared,
Till one both stark and fell, Dark Deeds to perpetrate prepared, —
A ghastly Foe from Hell : And Grendel hight that demon gaunt ; The Marches were his lonely Haunt, The Moor and Fen and Fastness' Height He held subjected to his Might. The Dwellings of the Demon- kin10
Full long had he been doom'd to guard, Sith first of old condemn'd for Sin
By the Creatour's just Award. Th' eternal Lord on Race of Cain11 Avenged the Death of Abel slain, For little was he pleased to see That Deed of salvage Enmity, But for his Crime th' Creator's Ban Out-drave him from the Haunts of Man. Therefrom arose the Monster Crew, Eotens, Elves, Orks,12 and Gyants too ; And long 'gainst GOD a War they made, He therefore Vengeance due repaid.
6 BEOWULF.
CANTO II.
[229]
FORTH went the Fiend, when Night o'ercast, To visit Hroth -gar's Palace fair, And notice how, the Banquet past,
The Hring-Dane Youth maintain'd them there, There in the Hall the Chiefs around, The Banquet o'er, asleep he found ; Nor Woe nor Care their Hearts oppress'd, Nor evil Passions in the Breast
They knew not aught of Pains. The Monster, grim and greedy1 too, Soon ready, fell and furious, slew
While sleeping, thirty Thanes. Then homeward, glorying in his Prey, Dragging the slaughter'd Forms away,
His dismal Dwelling gains. Then in the Morn, when Day began Was Grendel's Deed revealed to man,2 And after Feast rose Wailing high, For bitter was the morning Cry, The Prince erst good, the mighty King, Sat woe-begone and sorrowing, The Thane was grieved when saw the Host The Steps of the malignant Ghost. That Struggle was, alas I too strong,3 Too loathsome and withall too long. Nor was there longer quietude,
But when one Night was past, His Course of Murder he renewed, For Naught he reck'd of Crime or Feud
In that he was too fast.4 And then was easy to be found5 A Bed among the Bowers round Far more commodiously to sleep Than there where bidden Watch to keep.
CANTO II.
Full truly said, by Token plain,
The hated Foe of Palace-thane,
Who scaped the Fiend would afterward
Keep wider Distance closer Guard.
Thus did he rule, and constant Fight
Maintain'd against the Cause of Right,
Alone 'gainst all, till the most great
Of Palaces stood desolate.
The Time was long, twelve Winters' Space
The lov'd of all the Scylding Race
Indured his Rage, each woful Case,
And mighty Wretchedness, That 'mongst the Sons of Men 'twas known, And in sad Songs of Sorrow shewn, How Grendel, while he still renew'd Crime, vengeful Hate, and deadly Feud, For Years 'gainst Hrothgar War pursued
With ever fresh Success. Nor would the Life-pest6 ever take A golden Fee, and Treaty make
With Wight of Danish Land, But the Death-spirit dark and strong, Foul Monster persecuting long, Insnared and sore oppress'd the Young
And Noble of the Land. He held in everlasting Night The misty Moors ; — no living Wight Can e'er describe the penal Place Assign'd to Hell's dark wizard Race.7 Such Crimes this Foe of Man had done, Such cruel Deeds this Wanderer Lone, He dwelt throughout the darksome Night
In Heorot's fair Hall Yet not, for the Creator's Might, Could he the Gift-throne's Treasure bright Appreach nor could he bring to Light
His Counsels dark at all. Right piteous this. — The Scylding great,
8 BEOWULF.
Heart-broken and disconsolate, The mighty one in Council sate,
They urged their anxious Rede, How it were best 'gainst crafty Hate
For Heroes to proceed. At Times indeed they would ordain The solemn Service of the Fane,
And to the Spirit-slayer,8 Help in the public Woe to gain,
Would raise their earnest Prayer. Such was the heathen's Hope and Course,
Who Hell in Mind ador'd, Nor wist of Judge who gives the Meed Of every good and evil Deed,
They knew not God the Lord, Nor how the heavens' Protector high, The Glory-king, to magnify. Woe be to him whose Malice dire Would thrust into th' Imbrace of Fire The Soul, where Nought can Hope inspire
Of Comfort in its Woe ; But bless'd who after Death's dread Day To seek the Lord departs away And in the Father-bosom9 may
Heaven's Peace eternal know.
CANTO III.
THUS then did Healf-dene's valiant Heir [376] Seeth1 with continued Grief oppress'd, Nor could the prudent Hero's Care
Avoid the devastating Pest, For that the Struggle was too strong, Too loathly and withal too long, The People that so sore bested With Malice grim and Vengeance dread, Of nightly Woes most drear :
CANTO III. 9
Till, from his Home, did Higelac's
Thane,2 'mongst the Geats renown'd, th' Attacks
Of Grendel's Fury hear. Mightiest of all Mankind was he, Noble, and full of Dignity,
In this Life's Daylight3 fair, Forth- with a Traveller of the sea4
He bade his Men prepare : Athwart the Path of Swans profound
He said he would proceed, And seek the War-king, Prince renown'd
Sith he of Men had need. The prudent, though they loved him, deem'd Somewhat unwise the Journey seem'd, Sharpen'd their Minds with previous Thought And anxiously an Omen sought. The good Chief from the Geatic Land Had chosen out a valiant Band,
Whom he could find most keen, And to his Ocean-wood he went Escorted by an Armament
Of gallant Youths fifteen. Time pass'd, the Ship was on the Wave,
The Boat beneath the Mountain's Brow, And ready were the Warriours brave
And stepp'd upon the Prow. Anon they sent the Waters there
Sea whirling o'er the Sand,5 The Men their ready War-sears fair Into the Vessel's Bosom bear Shove off the Bound-wood, and repair On perilous Campain to fare
A willing warriour Band. Then foamy-neck'd across the Tides, Driv'n by the Wind, the Vessel glides,
As Water-fowl doth ride, And for an Hour, the second Day, The wreathed Prow had sail'd away,
10 BEOWULF.
When Land the Wanderers spied : They saw the Sea-cliffs glisten bright, And the steep Mountain's dizzy height,
And ocean Nesses wide, And now the Sea is safely past Their Toil is at an End at last. Without delay the Weder0 Band Debark'd, and stepp'd upon the Land,
And tied their Vessel sure,
Drew forth their Sarks, their War-weeds7 brave, And God they thank'd that o'er the Wave
Their Course had been secure, Soon from the Wall the Scylding Ward, Whose duty was the Cliffs to guard, Beheld them from the Vessel draw Bright Shields, and Instruments of War, His Curiosity brake8 through In ponderings of his Mind to view
What Men they e'en might be, Therefore on horseback rode he to
The Margin of the Sea. The Thane of Hroth-gar brandish'd in Strong Hands, his mighty Javelin
And thus in Words he spake : " Who are ye, that, in Armour dight, And guarded well with Byrnies bright, Your foaming Keel have hither led Athwart the Holm, and traversed
The Passage of the Lake?9 I, as the Border-warden, keep My Watch upon the Ocean deep,
Lest with a pirate Band Some of the Foemen to our State Should harry, rob, and depredate,
Upon the Danish Land. Yet ne'er did shielded Warriours here More openly before appear, The Pass-word of our warlike Crew
CANTO III. 11
Unknown, and Rites to Kindred due. Throughout the Earth I ne'er did see ' Mongst Earls, a Chief in Panoply
Of nobler Form to view ^ Than one of you appears, and he I In Arms must not unfrequently, Unless his Countenance's grace Belie him, and his matchless Face,10
High Deeds of Worship do. Now I, ere o'er the Danish Land
From hence you farther go, Like leasing Spies in traitor Band,
Your Origin must know. Now Dwellers of a far Countrey, Ye, Wanderers o'er the mighty Sea,
My simple Thought ye know, And Speed were wisest,11 whence may be
Your Coming here to shew.
CANTO IV.
Band's chief Captain in Reply [513] Unlock'd his Speech's Treasury,1 " Home-thanes of Higelac are we, Of Geatic Race and Pedigree, My Sire, whom Nations well did know As noble Prince, hight Ecg-theow, And many Winters o'er him fled Ere on his Way from Earth he sped, Through Earth the wise among Mankind Can well his Memory call to Mind. And we, with faithful Hearts, thy Lord, Healfdene's great Son, the People's Guard, To visit hither come, — do thou To us propitious Counsel show. We to the mighty Danish King An Errand of high Import bring,
12 BEOWULF.
Nor, if right Hope I entertain,
A Secret shall it long remain.
For, sooth, we have heard tell, (and thou
Canst say if true the Tale I trow,)
Some Fiend, I wot not who, The secret Foe of Valour bright, Doth, in the Darkness of the Night, In form of Terrour stark appear,2 And uncouth Malice, Death, and Dere,
Upon the Scyldings do. Now I, with Counsel great and bold,3 To Hroth-gar would my Rede unfold, How, wise and good, his demon Foe He may avail to overthrow, If e'er he scape, and of his pain The busy4 Retribution gain, And thus his whelming Woe shall fain
Relax its boiling powers, Or else the noble Chief must reign, A troublous Time, in harrowing Pain, While on High-stead there shall remain
The best of Royal Towers." To him the Warder quick replied, A Man of Heart unterrified,
As on his Horse he sate : " Full well the shielded Man of might, He who has learned to think aright,5 Twixt Words and Deeds by Judgement's Light
Had need discriminate. Now that I hear and understand Your Cohort is a faithful Band,
To Scylding Prince allied, Proceed, unhindered, forth to bear Your Arms and WTeeds-of-battle fair,
And I will be your guide. My Comrades too I will command To guard your Vessel on the Sand, Your new-pitch'd Bark, from foemen Band
CANTO IV. 13
Whoe'er they be, secure.
Till th' wreath-neck'd Wood,6 athwart the Mam, Loved men, shall bear you back again
Unto the Weder Shore. Such Heroes be it giv'n unto The Deeds of Battle's-rush to do,
Unscathed by Wound or Sore." WThen motionless at Anchor stood The hollow-bosom'd Vessel good, Secure beneath the Cable's hold, Proceeded forth the Warriours bold. Defences on their Cheeks they wore Wrought with the Image of the Boar, In twisted Gold, and Sheen, made hard In Fire, the Life's Defence to guard-7 With salvage Mind, and grim, in Haste The Men together downward pac'd, Till they the Mansion strange behold, Well furnished, and adorn'd with Gold, Of Palaces 'neath Heaven's Ray,
The Dwellers of the Earth before, Most famous, where the Monarch lay,
Whose Light shone many Countries o'er. The Beast-of-war8 the proud one's court
To them did plainly show, So that they might unto the Fort
Immediately go.
One of the Warriours turn'd his Steed,. And said : " 'Tis time I should recede : You may th' All-mighty Father keep
Safe in your dangerous Course, Neath His protection : — to the Deep I must away, my Guard to keep
'Gainst any hostile Force."
14 BEOWULF.
CANTO V.
E Street with shining Stone bespread [637] JL The men their Course together led. Hand-lock'd and hard1 shone Byrnies bright,
Sang3 iron Rings in Hawberk grey, As, in their Dress-of-terrour3 dight,
On to the Hall they made their Way. Their Bucklers broad with Margin strong The weary Seamen rang'd along
The Wall in Order bright, And bowed them on the Benches round, While their ringed Hawberks hoarsely sound,4
The Heroes' Weeds-of-fight. Their Lances piled together stood, The seamen's Arms, of ashen Wood Grey tipp'd above, the iron Threat5 Was bright upon the Weapons set. Soon ask'd the Sons-of-battle then A Hero proud, of th' valiant Men : 6 " WThence bring ye solid Shields away, And Helmets grim, and Hawberks grey, And Sheaf of spears ? I pray explain, — I Hroth-gar's Herald am and Thane : — And Strangers have I never seen So many of so noble Mien. For glory 't is, I undertake, Not Exile, but for Valour's sake,
Ye Hroth-gar's Dwelling seek." The Weder Chieftain proud and brave, Hard 'neath his Helm,7 this Answer gave
And thus his Word did speak.8 " My Name 's Beo-wulf : Board-thanes we Unto the Geatic Monarch be. And I would e'en my message bring Unto thy Lord, the mighty King, Healf-dene's illustrious Son, if he
CANTO V. 15
Permit, and think it meet To be allow'd to us, that we So good a Prince may greet." Then spake the Vandal Chief Wulf-gar, For War and Wisdom fam'd afar : " I therefore to the gratious Dane,
Giver of Rings, the Seylding King, The mighty Chieftain, will right fain As thou desirest me,9 explain
Thy journey and forthwith will bring What Answer the good Prince through me Shall deem it fit to send to thee." Then forth he sped where bald and old
The royal Hroth-gar sate Surrounded by his Barons bold
In venerable State.
Then forward stepp'd the Warriour good Until he at the Shoulder stood Of Denmark's Monarch ; — well knew he The Customs of Nobility. Wulf-gar address'd his Sovereign dear : " The People of the Geats are here, From far o'er Ocean's Road10 they came Their Chief the Sons-of-battle name Beo-wulf : — Suppliants are they, My Sovereign, that with thee they may
In Words hold Converse high, And thou, O ! Hroth-gar, say not nay,
But frame a kind Reply. For they, in warlike Harness dight,
Full worthy do appear Of Earl's possessions, and the Knight At least must be a Prince of Might,
Who leads his Warriours here.
16 BEOWULF.
CANTO VI.
Or]
H ROTH-GAR the Scylding Chief began, " Well as a Child I knew the Man, Ecg-theow his sire, to whom the brave Hrethel his only Daughter gave : And here hath come his Off-spring bold,
A faithful Friend hath sought ; For Geatic Mariners hath told,
Who hither Presents brought, His single Arm, renown'd in Fight,1 Doth wield full thirty Warriours' Might. And him for Honour's high Intent The holy God hath hither sent, To Western Danes : — I therefore hope With Grendel's Terrours well to cope, With Treasures fair the good Chief I Shall guerdon for his Gallantry, Haste bid them enter, see they be Received together joyously, And also tell the friendly Band They're welcome to the Danish land." £Wulfar returning]2 thus brought Word, " My royal and victorious Lord The East-Dane Chief hath bid'n me tell He knows your Race and Lineage well, And o'er the Ocean's whelming Wave3 As Men of Counsels high and brave4
He bids you welcome here. Then, Comrades, ye may forward now In Mail bedight, and Helm on Brow,
Before him to appear ; But leave your Shields and Lances too. And eke your Arrows deadly true, The ending of your Interview
To bide in Safety here."
CANTO VI. 17
Uprose the mighty Chieftain good And many a Thane around him stood
A gallant Band array'd, While some remain'd behind, and there The warlike Armour held in care
E'en as the Hero bade. Then on in Haste the Warriours sped, Which Way the gallant Wulf-gar led, 'Neath Heorot's extensive Arch, Till on the Dais was his March, Mighty 'neath polish'd Aventayle, And on him gleam'd his Sark of Mail, The cunning Work of Iron net By Craft of Smith together set, As thus yspoke the Geatic Thane : " To Hroth-gar hail ! the royal Dane, Of Higelac, that Monarch high, The Kinsman and the Thane am I, And in my earlier Youth have wrought Full many Deeds with Glory fraught, And I have learn'd in Father-land The Ravage wrought by Grendel's Hand. For Travelers say this Noble hall The stateliest of Dwellings all, Soon as the evening Light has been Concealed beneath the Heaven serene, Is left to Emptiness consigned A useless Thing to all Mankind, My Countrymen then calPd on me, Men prudent and of high Degree,
To thee, O King ! to go ; For they have often known my Might, Seen me returning from the Fight
Bestain'd with Blood of Foe : For five of them I bound full tight,
And quell'd the Eoten Clan, And on the Waves of Ocean bright I slew the Nickers of the Night, —
18 BEOWULF.
A narrow-risk5 I ran. The Weders Feud I did requite, — They sought their 111, — with dire Despite
I ground them in the Fray ; And now against foul Grendel's Might, Against that Monster vile, the Fight
Alone I would essay. High Prince of Scyldings, Lord of Danes,
One Boon have I to crave of thee, Free Lord of men, Defence of Thanes,
Deny not my Request to me,
Now I so far have got, Alone with these my Earls, that I, Amid this Hero-company,
May lustrate Heorot. I hear the Monster doth not feel On his wan Hide the Dint of Steel, I therefore, (so may my good Lord Be gentle-minded me toward,) Forego the Warriour's Sword to draw, And broad Shield yellow Orb of War, To grasp the Fiend in deadly Strife And Foe to Foe contend for Life.6 And thus in dire Suspense must he Await the Lord's supreme Decree,
Whichever Death shall take : If he prevail and I should fall, Of Geatic Blood within the Hall
A Feast I ween he'll make, As oft the Monster did withall
When th' Hrethmen's Power he brake. Thou needest not my Helm to hide, But he will have me blood-be-died. Bear forth my Corpse, if I should fall And grant a Warriour's Burial, And let the lonely Traveller i
Un mourning eat and see, And the Fen-barrow register,7 —
CANTO VI. 19
Ye need not make more lasting Stir
For Like-wake unto me. But send 1 pray you safely back, If War take me, to Higelac8 The Battle-shroud that guards my Breast, Of all Habergeons the best,
'Twas Hraedla's Legacy, And Weland's 9 Work that iron Vest.
What Fate decrees must be."
CANTO VII.
[906]
H ROTH-GAR replied, the Scylding Prince ; " My noble Friend, for our Defence
And Aid thou seek'st our Land. The mightiest of Feuds of old Was ended by thy Father bold,
Amongst the Wylfing Band When Heatho-laf, whom Javelin Race1 Might ne'er for Battle-terrours face,
Fell 'neath his slaughtering Hand. Then Envoy to the Scylding Court The South-Danes o'er the Waves he sought, When o'er the Danish Heritage
And Heroes' Treasure-town,2 (A mighty Sway in early Age,)
I first assum'd the Crown. My elder Brother had pass'd away,
Great Healf-dene's Son Heoro-gar No more enjoy 'd the Light of Day :
Better than I was he by far,
For I with Gold appeas'd the War, And sent unto the Wylfings, o'er
The Back of mighty Sea,3 My antient Treasu -es. — Then he swore
The Oaths of Peace to me. But woe is me, within my Mind,
20 BEOWULF.
To tell to any of Mankind
What sore Reproach and sudden Hurt
Grendel in Heorot hath wrought
By his Designs of Ire, My Castle's Guard, my War-array, Has wan'd, as swept by Fate away,
In Grendel's Horrors dire. (Yet God the raging Reprobate From all his Crimes could separate,4) The Sons-of-war, elate with Beer,5
Oft o'er the Ale-cup Vows have made, In Hall, with Terrours of the Sear,
To bide the Wrath of GrendePs Raid. Then when Day dawn'd at Morning-tide The Banquet-room was blood-be-died, And the whole Mead-hall, Bench and Floor, Reeking with Blood and sword-shed Gore.6 And my dear faithful Youths were left More few by those whom Death had reft. Now sit thee down, and eat, my Friend,
Among my Warriours true, And as thy Mind shall Counsel lend
With joyous Freedom do." Then for the valiant Band of Geats Were quickly clear'd the banquet Seats, And bold and friendly, gay and free Thev sat them down for Revelry. The Thane whose Office was to bear The twisted Horn performed his Care, Sweet Mead he pour'd that sparkled fair,
The while the Poet sung : Serene in Heorot's fair Hall Arose the Heroes Festival, And not a little Pomp withall,
The Geats and Danes among.
21
CANTO VIII.
BUT haughty Hunferth, Ecg-laf s Son [906] Who sat at royal Hroth-gar's Feet, To bind up Words of Strife * begun,
And to address the noble Geat. The proud Sea-farer's Enterprize Was a vast Grievance in his Eyes : For ill could bear that jealous Man
That any other gallant Thane On Earth, beneath the Heavens' Span,
Worship beyond his own should gain. " Art thou Beo-wulf," then he cry'd, " With Brecca on the Ocean wide
That didst in Swimming erst contend, Where ye explored the Fords for Pride, And risk'd your Lives upon tlie Tide
All for vain Glory's empty End ? And no Man, whether Foe or Friend, Your sorry Match can reprehend. O'er Seas ye rowed, your Arms o'erspread The Waves, and Sea-paths2 measured, The Spray ye with your Hands did urge, And glided o'er the Ocean's Surge. The Waves with Winter's Fury boil'd While on the watery Realm ye toil'd,
Thus seven Nights were told, Till thee at last he overcame, The stronger in the noble Game. Then him at Morn the billowy Streams In Triumph bare to Heatho-raemes, From whence he sought his Fatherland, And his own Brondings' faithful Band, Where o'er the Folk he held Command,
A City, Rings, and Gold. His Promise well and faithfully
±2 BEOWULF.
Did Beanstan's Son perform to thee, And ill I ween, though prov'd thy Might In Onslaught dire and deadly Fight, Twill go with thee, if thou this Night
Dar'st wait for Grendel bold." Beo-wulf spake ; " My Friend, I feel Good Ale hath made thy Brain to reel, So long thou dost of Brecca's tell, So long upon his Journey dwell ; — I tell thee sooth, no other Wight I Tfc •
Can be compar'd with me, *>>x/rtU> For Labours on the Waves, and Might
Upon the stormy Sea. But he and I in early Youth, Had each to other plighted Troth Our Lives to risk on Ocean's Flood, And thus we made our Promise good, Our naked Swords in hand had we, WThat time we rowed upon the Sea, Against the Whale3 Defence to bide. Away from me he could not glide More swiftly o'er the Ocean's Flow, And far from him I would not go :
Five Nights we thus were cast, Till chilling Storms and darkling Night, And Floods, and Wind from northern Site, Stirr'd up the boiling Torrent's Might,
And sunder'd us at last, Fiercely the Sea's mad Billows rav'd, The dark Sea-monster's Pride was chafd, Then, hard and hand-lock'd,4 did my mail For Help against my Foes avail, My interwoven battle Vest Lay wrought in Gold upon my Breast. The many-colour'd Foe did me Drag to the Bottom of the Sea Fast in his grim Embrace comprest, But there 'twas granted me the Pest
CANTO VIII. 23
To reach with Edge of Brand ; — The Mighty monster of the Main Fell, in the Rush-of-battle slain,
By my victorious Hand.
CANTO IX.
LL oft on me my hated Foes [HJ2]
With threatful Violence arose, With my dear Sword,1 I did oppose,
As fitting was to do, WThen near the Bottom of the Sea They all together set on me, The Workers of Iniquity
No Satisfaction drew ; For they at Morn, with Daggers bor'd, And put to sleep beneath the Sword,
On the Waves'-leavings2 lay; That never since that cursed Horde Have hinder'd on the boiling Ford
The Ocean Traveller's Way. At length, when eastward broke the Light, God's beauteous Beacon gleaming bright3
More calm the Ocean lay, I saw the rocky Nesses plain, The windy Walls that gird the Main.4 WThile yet his Courage lasteth good
Fate 5 oft preserves a Wrarriour true, Thus with my Sword in Onslaught rude
It fortun'd I nine^NickersVew. Ne'er 'neath the Arch of Heaven wide
Heard I of harder Battle sped, Nor e'er upon the Ocean's Tide
Of Champion more sore bested, I yet endured, and bare away My Life, though weary of the Fray : Then me the Sea to Finland bore,
L>4 BEOWULF.
Flood, boiling Fords, on sandy Shore, Such Deeds of Arms I ne'er have heard Of thine, or Terrours of the Sword,6
Nor e'er did Brecca's Might, Nor any one among you all So dearly Worship win withall
By bloody Sword in Fight, I speak not this in boastful Tone, Though thou thy brethren, yea thine own
Most near of Kin didst slay, For which in Hell's eternal Lair Damnation's Curses thou shalt bear,
Be thy Wit what it may,7 And here I tell thee, Ecg-laf's Son, The foul Wretch Grendel ne'er had done
Thy Lord the Scathe and Dere, That now in Heorot is seen, Had but thy craven Spirit been
What thou wouldst make appear. But he has learned to hold in slight Your people's Feud, and fearful Might,
The Scyldings' victor Bands, To force th' unwilling Pledge, and dare To war at Will, nor Dane to spare, To put to sleep in Death, and slay,8 Nor ever weens heroic Fray
To meet at Gar-Dane Hands. But I, a Geat, with him shall hold A Fight unlook'd for, stern, and bold, And when next Day in Morning's Light, The sun the Heaven's Guardian bright,
O'er Sons of men below, Comes shining forth with southern Ray, Then justly proud let him who may
Unto the Mead-bowl go." i < * «o
Hoary and bold, the treasure-Chief, With Joy anticipates Relief,
The bright Prince of the Danes,
CANTO IX. 25
The People's Shepherd with Delight Lists, while the valiant Geatic Knight
His high Resolve explains. ^^^
The Heroes' Laugh rose loud and clear ^^^ With winsome Words and fair to hear
And Mirth and Joy resound. While Wal-theow, great Hroth-gar's Queen Went forth adorn'd in golden Sheen, And greeted, mindful of their Kin,
The Chiefs the Hall around. But first the Lady free and fair Unto the East-Dane Monarch bare
The Goblet she had crown'd, And bade him joyously to fare
With the brave Warriours round. The conquering King in joyous Haste
Received th' o'erflowing Gold, And round the Helmings' Lady pac'd
Unto both young and old, In every Part as on she sped Rich Vessels she distributed. Until the Time arrived when she, A Queen, with Mind of Dignity, Bedecked with Rings and Jewels fair The Mead-cup to Beo-wulf bare, The noble Geat she greeted fair, And God she thank'd with Wisdom rare, Her wish He had vouchsaf'd, a Chief Whom she could trust to for Relief. The flowing Cup from Waltheow
The formidable Geat Receiveth, ever ready Foe
In Battle's Rage to meet. Beo-wulf Son of Ecg-theow, spake : " E'en this did I my Object make,
To do your People's call, When first I started o'er the Main
26 BEOWULF.
And enter'd with my hero Train
My Ocean-boat withall, Or, fast ygraspt in hostile Strain,
In murth'rous Struggle fall ; My Worship, as an Earl, I'll raise, Or bide the Ending of my Days
Within the banquet Hall." Well lik'd the Dame the boastful Word, As down she sat beside her Lord,9 Free-born, and deck'd with golden Sheen, A mighty Nation's honour'd Queen. Then fresh, as erst, within the Hall,
Proud Words and gay were echoed round, It was the People's Festival,
A Nation's high triumphant Sound ; 10 Till Heatf-dene's Son at length arose To seek his Evening Repose ; He knew in Hall what rancorous Hate His hapless Vassals did await,
When Sun-light was withdrawn, And night, in Darksomeness arrayed, Came forth the Form of whelming Shade11
Beneath the Welkin wan. Arose each Warriour from his Seat, And each did other kindly greet ; Hrothgar Beowulf did address, He wish'd him Fortune and Success, His Wine-hall to his Keeping gave, And thus address'd the Warriour brave. " To other Mortal ne'er did I Commit my Mead-hall's Custody, Sith first the Sword I learned to wield, And Strength acquired to lift the Shield, Now therefore have and hold possess'd This House, of Palaces the best ; Be mindful of thy martial Fame, Shew forth the Valour of thy Name,
'Gainst Foes keep wakeful Guard;
CANTO IX. 27
For, canst thou do the glorious Deed; Thy largest Wish shall not exceed Thy Honours and Reward."12
CANTO X.
FORTH from the Hall, with Hero-train, [1317] Departed then the royal Dane, The Scylding Chief, to seek Repose, The War-king to his gentle Spouse. Now had the King of Glory bright Appointed against Grendel's Might, (So men relate the Tale aright)
A Palace-warden great ; He to the Chieftain of the Danes His Duty wrought, and Amongst his Thanes
The Eoten did await. The Geat Prince trusted readily His proud Strength and his Courage high,
Which the Creator gave,1 And from his sinewey Form off-drew His iron Mail, his Helmet too He doffd, and gave his Sabre true, The costliest of Blades,2 into
The Keeping of his Slave. His Instruments of Fight he told
Him under Charge to take, Beowulf then, the Warriour bold,
The Geatic Chieftain spake, And e'er he stepp'd on Bed to rest His Daring high in Words express'd " It is not that myself I feel
Weaker in Strength for Deeds of Fray 3 Than he, that I forego with Steel
Grendel to put to sleep and slay. This might I do, (for God to know 4
His fiendish Soul hath never sought)
2A BEOWULF.
Though rude and roughly he might do And my good Shield in Pieces hew
With Pride by Works of Malice wrought, Yet shall we 'tend to War this Night, If he unarm' d will dare the Fight, And God, the wise and holy Lord, Shall Glory as he will award." The War-beast laid him down to rest, His Cheek the downy Cushion press'd, And round him many a Seaman gay Keclin'd upon the Benches lay. None thought his Country more to see, The People, and the City free,
W7here he had erst been bred : For, as they heard, so many a Dane A Death of Slaughter had o'erta'en
Within that Wine-hall dread. But Heaven's eternal Lord decreed The Woof of Victory,5 good speed Unto the Geats, and Help in Need, That all should through the Might of one
O'ercome their Demon Foe, Jri His own Strength — and thus 'tis shown The Lord All-mighty rules alone
The Race of Men below. But the bold Ghost, shade-stalking Sprite,6 Came in the Wanness of the Night ; The Warriours on the Couches slept, The pinnacled Hall that should have kept, Save one, — for the Creator's Will, (Twas known to men,) forbade The Sin- scathe foul their Blood to spill
Beneath the Evening Shade. The wakeful Chief, on Couch reclin'd,
In rage and fell Despite Against the Foe, with wrathful Mind,
Awaits the coming Fight.
29
CANTO XI.
CAME Grendel from his marshy Lair, [1413J When misty Shadows fall,1 God's Wrath upon his Brow he bare, And thought some Mortal to ensnare
Within the lofty Hall. He 'neath the Welkin went till he
The Banquet-palace wide, The Treasure-hall of Men, could see,
With Vessels beautified. Not for the first Time now his Road He bent to Hroth-gar's fair Abode, Nor in his Life in Castle- ward Before or since found starker Guard. Before the mourning House he halts, The iron-bound Gates he quick assaults Confin'd with strong fire-harden'd Bands, He seiz'd the Portals in his Hands, In rage the Hall's mouth2 open tore, And stalks along the marble Floor. In Wrath he mov'd and Flame-like bright, Stood in his eyes a horrid3 Light, - For many a Chief he there descries, A kindred Band in peaceful wise Of Warriours sleeping round him lies
Together in the Hall. Then laugh'd the Monster, as ere Day He thought each Hero there to slay,
And on him Hope did fall Of full Repast : — but never more, After that awful Night was o'er, Of Human-kind to taste the Gore
Was for his Fate decreed. The valiant Thane of Higelac Saw how in sudden-made Attack
30 BEOWULF.
The Man-scathe would proceed ; Recks no Delay the Demon curst, But quick one slumbering Thane at first
He seizes on his Seat, Rends, bites asunder Joints,4 drains The Life's Blood from the throbbing Veins,
And doth in Cursed-morsels5 draw
Adown his darksome hollow Maw, And soon from off the dead Remains
Devours the Hands and Feet. Then forth where, stretched in calm Repose,
The Chieftain of the Geatic Band Full wakeful lay, the Monster goes,
And laid on him his baleful Hand. The Chief stretched out his Arm, in Thought Of Vengeance, and the Demon caught With sudden Grasp, on Elbow set,
And soon the Monster found, That 'mongst the Sons of Men as yet So dread a Grasp he ne'er had met
The World's wide Regions round. His craven Soul with Terrours caught,
(Though 'Scape mote not be found,) Would fain in Flight have Safety sought, And hidd'n him in his lurking Place Midst Tumults of the Demon Race,6 For never in his Life as yet So stern Reception had he met But Higelac's courageous Knight
His Recollection cast On his Night's Boast, and stood upright,
And held the Demon fast. Till sudden from his Fingers burst And outward fled the Eoten curst. Forth stepp'd the Earl, for that foul Fiend
At large had meant to flee, Arid would his marshy Lair have gain'd :
His Fingers' Strength knew he
CANTO XI. 31
'Neath the fierce Warriour's Grasp of Might, And felt himself o'ermatch'd in Fight When the foul Wretch came back within
Fair Heorot's Domains, The Mead-hall thundered with the Din,
And for the valiant Danes, Their Ale was overturn'd, and rang The Palace with the salvage Clang, For both were strong, and both in Rage ; And while the Beasts-of-war7 engage, So fierce the Tumult in the Hall Great Marvel 'twas it did not fall,
The Castle to the Ground, But deftly had the Builder's Hands Secured it fast with iron Bands8
Inward and outward bound. But, as I heard, where fierce they fought, The Gold-chaced Benches bent athwart, Though Scylding Artificers thought
That none of human Race could e'er, Though Murther-stain'd and Fury-fraught,
Break down or loosen them from there, Save the resistless Flame's Embrace9 Should e'en devour them in their Place. Novel and strange a Sound doth swell,10 Base Terrour on the North-Danes fell,
Who from the Walls heard plain The godless Recreant shriek, and sing His song of Rout untriumphing,11 His Lay12 of sore discomfiting,
And howl for Wound and Pain. He who of all Mankind possess'd Most Strength in this Life's Day13 compressed
The Fiend in Death's14 stern Strain.
32 BEOWULF.
CANTO XII.
[1575]
THE Earl's Protector thought not meet The Murtherer should alive retreat, His caitiff Life to no one he Suppos'd could ever useful be.1 Then quick Beowulf's Liegeman true Great Weland's antient Relic drew For of his Lord, that princely Wight, The Life he sought, (as there they might,)2
From Danger to protect. Bold Sons of Battle little thought, While thus laboriously they wrought, His Life on all sides as they sought, And hew'd, no Steel of costly Sort, Nor Sword that e'er on Earth was wrought,3 Against the loathsome Sin-scathe brought
On him would take Effect. But the proud Warriour would forego
Victorious Brand and Sword, The hateful Spirit of the Foe, In this Life's Days,4 by Death of Woe, Was doom'd into the Power to go
Of the dread Demon Horde. The Foe of God, whose fell Despite
'Gainst Man had oft wrought sinful Deed, Then found that 'gainst the Hero's Might
His harden'd Hide was little speed. But Higelac's bold kindred Thane Doth him within his Grasp detain, — In Life was each to other Foe, — The foul Wretch waits the mortal Blow, His Shoulder wrench'd a Fissure shows, The Sinews crack, the Joints unclose,
Success attends the Geat : Grendel must flee the Scene of Strife
CANTO XII. 33
To his fen Fastness, sick of Life,
And seek his sad Retreat. He feels that now his earthly Race Is drawing to its End apace. The Battle o'er, the Danes perceived Their Object gain'd, their Will, achieved, The Chieftain come from distant Land, Prudent of Mind and bold of Hand, Had purified great Hroth-gar's Hall, And made it free from Evil's Thrall. In the Achievements of the Night, And in the Glory of his Might
He joys right gallantly, For to the Eastern Danes his Plight
Full well perform'd had he. The Woe they erst had rued forlorn
Throughout their Land he had appeas'd, And from the Wrath they must have borne
For long to come he them had eas'd. And this to all was clearly shown, When the victorious Chief laid down The Hand, and Arm, and Shoulder rent From the huge Fiend whom he had shent,
The Grasp [they all had feared,5] And 'neath the Arch's Soffitment
On high the Trophy reared,
CANTO XIII.
NOW, as I heard,1 at Morning Tide, [1667] Full many to the Gift Hall hied, And Leaders, far and near, In Winder went around the Place The Footsteps of the Foe to trace;
Nor yet did any there Think hardly of his Life's Divorce,2 Surveying his inglorious Course,
•34 BEOWULF.
How, weary and in Flight, away
His Life-steps3 faint he bare, O'ercome in Deeds of hostile Fray,
To the dark Nickers' lair. The Wave was bubbling hot with Blood, And Poison mantled in the Flood With Dye of Death discoloured o'er, And boiling up with hostile Gore,4 When in his silent Fen the Fiend,
Of every Joy bereaved, His Life, his heathen Soul resign'd,
And Hell5 him there received. Old Comrades thence depart again,
And many a one proceeds On Horseback in the pleasant Plain,
High Warriours on their Steeds ; And, as about the Lake they ride, Beowulf's Fame they magnified ; " From Sea to Sea, from South to North, Beneath the Sun, o'er all the Earth, They knew no Warriour bearing Shield A Kingdom's Fate more fit to wield '* And blameless held with one Accord Hroth-gar their dear and happy Lord, —
A Monarch good was he. — Sometimes the Chiefs their Coursers strong Would run in Race the Plains along,
Where fit the Ground might be. Sometimes the Monarch's Bard discreet, His Mind with lofty Themes replete, Who antient Tales unnumber'd knew And modern joined thereunto, Began in Song to harmonize Beowulf's Deeds of high Emprize And in due Order to relate
Successively the Story true, Then change his Theme and all narrate
That he of Sigmund's6 Valour knew,
CANTO XIII. 35
The Waelsing's Battles to record,
Feud, Crimes, and Wanderings too, Which Fitela, who with him warr'd
Alone of all Men knew, Uncle and Nephew ever true
Each Contest's Dangers share And passing many Eotens7 slew
With Swords ygleaming fair, Full glorious Sigmund's Name hath grown
Sith he in Death hath slept, For he, a Prince's Son, alone, Valiant, beneath the hoary Stone,8 Hath the gigantic Dragon slone,
The Treasure Hoarde that kept. Alone the Dread of Deeds he dar'd, Not Fitela the Danger shar'd : To him was giv'n with Weapon true To pierce the scaly Dragon through That midst the Boiling of the Blood9 The lordly Iron10 reeking stood,
The Dragon sank and died, The wretched Chieftain by his Sword, Injoyment gain'd of that Ring-hoard
E'en as his Will might guide. His Boat the Waelsing Prince did store, And Treasure to his Vessel bore,11 The Serpent melted at his Feet, Consum'd by its internal Heat. Throughout the World in every Place
Renown'd of Wanderers is his Name, The Refuge of the warriour Race,
Through valiant Deeds ; — such first his
Fame. —
But after, when the War and Might Of Here-mod became more light Unto his Foes he was betray'd, And Prisoner 'mongst the Eotens made,
Sent forth an Out-cast lorn,
:36 BEOWULF.
Long toss'd on Sorrow's Billows vast, Upon his People he at last And on his ^Ethelings was cast,
A deadly Care and Scorn.12 Thus many a prudent Man griev'd o'er13 The Chief's Exploit in Days of yore, Who deem'd him a secure Defence Against Misfortune's Influence, And thought the Prince's Off-spring bold His Father's Heritage should hold, —
That to the People he To Treasure, and to fenced Town, The Realm of Men of War's-Renown, The Heritage of Scylding Crown
A firm Defence should be. By all the Friends to Humankind
There was a more illustrious Fame To Hige-lac's good Thane assign'd ;
For Crime had sullied Sigmund's name.14 Sometimes upon their Horses fleet The Heroes rac'd the fallow Street, And many a Chief of sturdy Soul, When Morning's Rays o'erspread the Pole, Went forth the lofty Hall to see, The Wonder of Arts' Ministry. The King who own'd the Treasure Tower, Stept glorious from his nuptial Bower,15 Surrounded by his martial Power
For Splendour far renown'd ; And Waltheow, the lovely Queen, Upon the Mead-hall Stairs is seen,
Her Maidens following round.
37
CANTO XIV.
[1843]
MOUNTED the Prince the lofty Stairs, And to his Hall ascended, Where high 'neath gilded Roof appears
Foul Grendel's Hand suspended. " Thanks for this Sight ;" great Hrothgar cries " Forthwith to the All-mighty rise : Full dread the Scathe and Ravage sore That I from Grendel's Malice bore, (May God, the King of Glory high, Wonders on Wonders multiply,)
And little did I deem, WThile dreary thus my Palace stood, Oppress'd by War, and stain'd with Blood, That in my Life-time ever would
The Day of Vengeance beam. My Chiefs, o'erwhelm'd with Grief and Pain, Small Hope erewhile could entertain,
Though noble-spirited, The Nations' Land-work to maintain
'Gainst Fiends and Phantoms dread. Now, through God's might,1 one Chief hath wrought What overpass'd our deepest Thought. Throughout the Regions of the Earth,
Whatever be the Matron's name, Who gave this noble Hero birth,
(If yet alive to know his Fame,) WTell may she say that Heaven hath smil'd On her in granting such a Child. And, best of Men, my Heart on thee, As mine own Son, shall fixed be ; Preserve the Peace thou'st won for me ;
Thy earthly Wishes' end Shall ne'er be left a goad to thee,2
Far as my Pow'rs extend :
38 BEOWULF.
For Deeds of far less lofty Name My royal Bounty often claim. Unfading Honours and Renown
Thy conquering Sword hath gain'd. — May God thy Life with Blessings crown
As He as yet hath deign'd." Then spake Beowulf, Ecgtheow's Son ; " The Work of Valour we have done With Joy, and dar'd with stalworth Might The uncouth Monster's dangerous Fight, And would thou couldst the Fiend have seen Fainting amid thy Treasures sheen; I thought the Monster to have bound With Fetters on the Battle-ground
His Death-bed where he lay, Thus had he lain beneath my Arm, In caitiff Fear and stark Alarm,
Had he not slipp'd away, But since it was not Heaven's Will, My Object I could not fulfill,
I could not keep the Prey. I did not rashly on him fall,
The Life-destroyer, carelessly, For far too strong was he withal,
The Fiend in his Activity. Yet hath he here behind him left His Arm and Shoulder from him reft,
As bond of Life and Flight ; But nought of Comfort can he gain
Thus in his present Plight, Nor yet the longer shall remain For this on Earth, the loathsome Bane, O'erwhelm'd with Sin's infernal Stain, Whose Wound in Bonds of deadly Pain
Grasps him already tight,3 Awaiting, stain'd with Crimes and Ills The Doom the pure Creator wills." A silent Man was Ecglaf s Son,
CANTO XIV. 39
His boastfull Speeches all were done,
Now, through the Hero's might, That on the Roof the Nobles saw The Monster's Hand and sturdy Claw, Each Nail like Steel, erect and long, The Heathen's Hand-spur4 sharp and strong
The Terrour of the Bold. Each said the Demon's bloody Hand Not e'en the hardest mortal Brand Would Vail to touch or to withstand
Or Weapon good of old.
CANTO XV.
soon, as royal Hrothgar bade, [1975] The festal Hall was ready made, Wrought Man and Maiden to prepare The Hall of Guests the Wine-house fair, The richly pictur'd Web-work falls In gold Devices o'er the Walls, A wondrous Work to every Man, Who will its varied Beauties scan. But that fair Hall, though iron bound, Sore injur'd by the Fray they found, The Hinges were in Pieces torn,
The Roof alone was sound. As the foul sin-stain'd Wretch had gone, Hopeless of Life, in Flight forlorn ; No easy Task whoe'er he be Who tries from such a Hall to flee. But each one of the Sons of Sin,1
WTith Soul be-tenanted, Who lives the Earth's wide Bounds within, Perforce compell'd shall enter in
To seek the ready Stead, Where his huge Body lies reclin'd, The feasting o'er, to Sleep resign'd,
40 BEOWULF.
Upon his dying Bed. 'Tis Time and Season Healfdene's Son
Should to his Hall repair, The King himself his Will makes known
To join the Banquet there. More numerous Tribes were never found, I heard, their Chieftain gather'd round, And glorious on the Benches lie,
With plenteous Feast elate, Hrothgar and Hrothwulf,2 and they ply Full many a Mead-cup joyously, As Kinsman good, of Daring high,
In that high Hall of State. All throng'd with Friends was Heorot And 'mongst the Scyldings there was not
A Deed of treacherous Hate. But now the Prince's liberal Hand Presents Beowulf Healfdene's Brand, A golden Banner fair to see, The Guerdon of his Victory, On twisted Shaft so gaily streaming, A Helmet and a Byrnie gleaming. That pretious Weapon saw the Danes
Before the Warriour borne, While he with Joy receives and drains
In Hall the flowing Horn. Nor needs the aged Chieftain bold His royal Bounty small to hold
Before his Warriour Band For ne'er in friendlier wise, I'm told, At Feast, four Gifts adorn'd with Gold
Gave generous Monarch's Hand. The Helm, the Head's Defence, inlet, Contain'd, in wiry Chasing set, About the Crest, an Amulet, That ne'er old hard-scour'd3 Sword may wound The Brow that Spell is cast around,4 When 'gainst the Raging of his Foes,
CANTO XV. 41
With Shield bedight, the Warriour goes." Next bade the Earls' Defence prepare Eight noble Steeds, adorned fair On Cheek, within th' In closure there
Before the Hall to bring. On one a Saddle rich was dight, Gleaming with Gold and Treasures bright, Whene'er he entered in the Fight
The War Seat of the King. — In War the wide-renown'd one's Might 5, When fell the dead Men in the Fight,
Was never slumbering. The Chieftain of the Ingwins' Band Then gave into Beowulf's Hand The Horse and Armory's6 Command, And hop'd that long the Chieftain bold The honourable Post might hold. Thus manly did the Monarch true, The Treasure-guard of Heroes, do, With Horses thus and Treasures due
War's Onslaught guerdon well : And thus shall none e'er censure those, Who, as unerring Justice shews,
The Truth will ever tell.
CANTO XVI.
ON ev'ry Youth that o'er the Main [2093] Had wander'd with the Geatic Thane, While yet th' enlivening Mead-bowl flow'd, High Gifts the Lord of Earls bestow'd ; And bade with Gold to compensate1
The Warriour's deadly Bane, That in his Sin and savage Hate
The Monster Fiend had slain ; As many more the Reprobate, But for the wise Decrees of Fate3
42 BEOWULF.
And Courage of the valiant Geat,
To Slaughter was full fain. The great Creator of the Earth
Rul'd and still ruleth all Mankind, And His high Gift of boundless Worth
The Wisdom of a thoughtful Mind. Much both of Love and Loathing strong He bears, on Earth who struggles long. Now Healfdene's warriour Chiefs among Arose the gladsome Voice of Song. The Harp pour'd forth its Measure gay, And oft repeated was the Lay, And Hrothgar's Poet would relate The Wreck of Finn's unhappy State, And how on Friesland's Battle plain The Scylding Hero Hnsef was slain ; When Hildeburh, unhappy Fair,
Could ill applaud the Eotens'3 Troth, For she hath seen her Brethren dear And Children, wounded with the spear,
One after other fall in Youth : — That was a Dame of Fate full drear. Hoce's Daughter proud did not in vain4 Lament at Morn her Kinsman slain, When she beheld his deadly Foe Where most he joyed on Earth below. The Thanes that Finn's Command obey'd The Fate of War full few had made, That ne'er on Battle Plain he might With Hengest's Legions dare the Fight, Nor yet the Remnant of his Band Defend against the Warriour's Hand. To him they Terms of Peace assign, A Palace for him to resign,
A Hall and lofty Throne, That o'er the Frisian Chiefs Domains With Eotens' Sons conjoin'd, the Danes Should half the Power own.
CANTO XVI. 43
That Folcwald's Son, when high in State
At Treasure-gifts he daily sate,
Should honour Hengest's Danes with Rings,
And solid Gold and pretious Things,
As largely as to Frisian kin
He gave his Banquet-hall within
Thus was the Treaty ratified,
And Oaths were ta'en on either Side,
Finn unto Hengest swore to guide
The remnant of his Realm and State,
E'en as his Witan should decide
In Wisdom all deliberate : That none by Word or Deed should break The Peace, nor of the Quarrel speak. Though chieftainless and forc'd to bow Beneath their Prince's Slaughterer now, If Frisian e'er in Language rude Should make Allusion to the Feud, Th' uncourteous Words should be redress't And with the Sword be set at rest. The Oath is sworn, and Gold is poured From out the warlike Scyldings' Hoard ; The Chief is laid upon his Bier, And near him on the Pile appear, And Boar in harden'd iron stark ; The golden Swine,6 the blood-stain'd Sark And ^Ethelings a number great By wounds awarded unto Fate
Some fell the Corpse upon Then Hildeburh, that princely Dame, Bade them commit unto the Flame
The Body of her Son;7 To set it on the Death-pyre there And on the Shoulder sadly bear. The Lady mourn'd her noble Child In Songs of Lamentation wild. The Warriour mounted8 on the Pyre, Then quick arose the Sheet of Fire,
44 BEOWULF.
And thro' the Welkin wound, Death's blazing Beacon, dread and dire,
Crackling before the Mound : —
The Helmets melted round, And the Wounds' Portals9 burst afresh, The loathsome Sword-bites of the Flesh,
To give the Blood its Way : That all who fell in War's dread Game The greediest of Spirits, Flame,10
Devour 'd without delay. The Flower of either Nation's Name
Thus sadly pass'd away.
CANTO XVII.
I^HEN reft of many a cherish't Friend [2243] Again the Warriours homeward wend, And Friesland seek, their natal Halls, Their City's high embattled Walls. Hengest with Finn in Friendship true Abode the deadly Winter thro', And to his Land Attention gave, Altho' he might have dared the Wave. In boiling Fury rose the Main
And battled with the Wind, When Winter in an icy Chain
Its Billows fierce did bind, Until the circling Year once more
Rose o'er the Land in Light ; So yet doth He who ruleth o'er
The Weather glory-bright. When Winter now was past away And Earth had don'd her Mantle gay, Forth on his Way the Wand'rer speeds, His Spirit set on vengefull Deeds, No Dangers of the Sea he heeds, But W^ar he seeks and fell Despite
CANTO XVII. 45
For Memory of the Eoten Might. Nor did he thus avoid the Blow That lays all earthly Creatures low, The dark Hunlafing's lawless Hand Thrust thro' his Heart the warlike Brand r1 That thus the Eoten s keenly knew What Warriours Finn around him drew, And bale of the remorseless Sword, Which down upon his Dwelling pour'd. Guthlaf and Oslaf o'er the Sea In Sorrow mourn'd the Treachery,
And part avenged their Woes. Nor could the crafty Chief withal His Breast controul to see his Hall
Beleagur'd by his Foes. The Prince amongst his Troops were slain, His wretched Queen was captive ta'en. The Prince's Household, and whate'er Of Gold and Gems were founden there They quickly to their Vessels bare,
And o'er the Ocean's bed, Together with the lordly Fair,
Unto the Danes they led. So ceas'd the Gleemen's tuneful Sound And Mirth arose the Benches round, And Wine was round the Table sent In Cups of marvellous Ornament. Then forth proceeded Waltheow, A golden Crown upon her Brow, Where, true as yet and free from Hate, The two fair Cousins peaceful sate : There Hunferth also had his Seat At aged Hrothgar's royal Feet, And each one deem'd his Courage high, Albeit in the Days gone by In War's dread Game he false had been To those who were his nearest Kin. Thus spake the Queen : " Receive," said she,
46 BEOWULF.
" This cup, my Lord, and happy be, Gold-prince of Men,2 do thou address, Our Geatic Friend with Gentleness,
As fits thee well to do. Be joyous now, and far and near With Gifts their friendly Spirit cheer,
And Amity renew. ' Tis said this Hero will be styled Henceforth as Thine adopted Child, Now Heorot, the Heroes' hall,
Once more is free from Stain, Injoy then now the Festival While yet thou may'st, — thy People all
And this thy fair domain, Leave to thy Kin when Heav'n shall call
Thee hence to wend again. I know my winsome Hrothwulf will With honourable Zeal fulfill Tow'rd the young Scions of our Race, Shouldst thou first die, the Guardian's Place. I ween that to our Offspring he Will bear him passing tenderly, If he will on his memory press
What Favour we have shewn, What in the Day of his Distress3 To raise his Fame and Happiness
Our friendly Care hath done." She said, and turn'd where 'mongst the Throng Of Heroes' Children, fair and young,
Sat the Crown Princes twain, Hrothric and Hrothmund, and beside The royal Brethren in his Pride The gallant Geatic Thane.
47
CANTO XVIII.
OFT to the Warriour proud was borne [2384 With friendly Words the flowing Horn, Where Gold in strange Devices sheen Gleaming in twisted Art was seen ; Rings and a Robe he now receives All ruby red upon the Sleeves, The noblest Collar too that I Have ever known beneath the Sky, To Herebyrht sith Hama bare Away the Brosings' Collar1 fair,
The Gems and Treasure Chest, Then in Hermanaric's Meshes wound, The fatal Counsel took and found
Death's everlasting rest. That Ring had Swerting's Nephew good, When 'neath the Banners last he stood,
The Treasure to defend, Amidst the Din of Death and Blood,
And there he met his End. For Pride he had unjustly fought And feud against the Frisians sought. The pretious Freight the Victor bore The Waves' broad Chalice2 swiftly o'er ; The Chief beneath his Buckler sunk, The lance his royal Blood had drunk, And with his Life for aye resign'd The Ring and Mail he left behind : While Warriours of less lofty Grade The Treasures of the slain invade, And Geatic Heroes tenanted The darksome Dwellings of the Dead. Hark thro' the Hall what Accent breaks, Again the royal Lady speaks " Receive this Ring, Beowulf dear,
48 BEOWULF.
And long enjoy this Vestment fair,
And flourish gallantly ; Increase thy Might with skilfull Mind, And to these gentle Youths full kind
Let all thy Counsel be. And I thy Deeds of high Emprize Will recompense in lofty-wise, For loud thy noble Exploits call
On every generous Name, Both far and near, and great and small, Far as the Ocean Tide withall Surrounds its earthly windy Wall,3
To own thy Praise and Fame. Live thou a happy Chief, and I Grant thee a copious Treasury : A worthy Son to me be found,
Valiant in Arms, and gay in Hall, For every Youth thou see'st around
Is faithful to his Brethren all. Sound in his Duty, every Thane Is courteous, gentle, and humane,
The People all are true ; E'en with the lively Mead Cup flowing, The Warriours, tho' with Spirits glowing,4
As I command them do." She said and to her Seat she went. — The Feast was passing excellent, The generous Wine-cup flow'd uncheck'd ; None of that antient Creature reck'd Grim Fate,5 how it was on its Way, When, at the closing of the Day, His Couch great Hrothgar should have sought, Against full many of his Court. Within a Troop of gallant Thanes To ward the festal Hall remains, The tables clear'd, they strewed the Ground With Beds and Bolsters all around, And readily, with Labour spent,
CANTO XVIII. 49
In peaceful Rest the Menial bent.
Close at their Heads in Order stood
Their warlike Shields of polish'd. Wood,
And o'er the valiant .^Ethelings
Gleam'd their bright Helms, their Hawberk Rings,
And Spears of weary Weight withall : —
Such was the Custom of the Hall.
Whether at Home or on Campain,
Ready for War they aye remain,
Whene'er their Lord their Aid may need. —
A faithful People they indeed.
CANTO XIX.
nTTHEY sank to sleep. — One Hero there [2502] JL For that Night's Rest full sorely paid ;
As oft befell, when Grendel made ; His Visits to that Palace fair : Evil that Monster wrought, till Death Depriv'd him of his loathsome Breath, That all Mankind might recognize Th' Avenger of Impieties. But Grendel's Mother, Wretch impure, Broods o'er her Son's Discomfiture, A female Demon doomed to dwell In Terrours midst the Water's swell, Sith first the lawless Hand of Cain1 Became his only Brother's Bane, Then forth with Murder stain'd he sped, Of favour'd Man the Pleasures fled,
To seek the dreary Wold, And there he gave unhallow'd Birth To Creatures grim that haunt the Earth,
Goblins and Demons old. Of these was Grendel foul begot, The hateful Wolf2 of Heorot Whom yet a bold and wakeful Wight
50 BEOWULF.
Dar'd to embrace in deadly Fight ; For well he knew his Courage high
Th' All-mighty did bestow, And in His Favour ever nigh For Comfort would and Aid rely,
And thus subdued the Foe, Who thence in Shame and Misery
To Death's dark Realm did go* The mother Fiend, a Soul had she Blood-greedy like the Gallows-tree,3 And she for deadly Vengeance' Sake Will now the Battle undertake. Then quick to Hrothgar's princely Hall
She bent her baleful Way ; The Hring-Dane Youth in Slumbers all
Around the Benches lay. Quick woke the Earls the sudden Din When Grendel's Mother enter'd in. Less Terrour paralyz'd the Crew At the foul female Monster's View, As Woman's Battle-rage less fraught With Fear than Man's is ever thought, When hammer'd Sword all stain'd with Gore Hews with its doughty Edge the Boar That nods the Warriour's Helmet o'er. Throughout the Hall each hastes to wield His Sword, and lifts his ample Shield, Nor stays with Helm his Brow to brace, Nor Byrnie o'er his Breast to place,
When first arose th' Alarm : The hateful Fiend, discover'd, would In Flight have made her Safety good,
And left the Palace calm, But ere her fenny Lair she sought, One valiant Noble she had caught, (By the good Chief to all preferr'd Twixt the two Seas his Realm that gird, Sworn Comrade of the royal Dane,)
CANTO XXI. 55
By headlong Precipices lay,
By many a Nicker's Lair. The Chief proceeds before the Train, With few wise Men to view the Plain, Till soon he found the Mountain Bough O'erhang the dark Rock's hoary Brow,
A gloomy joyless Wood, While dreary and disturb'd below
Mysterious Water stood. The Sight, it was a Sight of Pain And Grief to every valiant Dane,
And wearisome to bear
To Thanes who loved the Scylding's Throne, For there to every Earl well known They saw upon the Sea-cliff lone
The Helmet of ^Eschere. Hot raged beneath the poisonous Flood, All boiling with invenom'd Blood, While sad at times the Trumpet rang, With dreary Note, and heavy Clang. The Youth, around the Lake reclin'd,
Cast o'er its Waves their Eye, Where Monsters of the Serpent Kind Their Ways with huge Sea-dragons wind
In Wonder they descry, While on the circling Cliffs they find
The savage Nickers lie; (WThich oft a Journey sad portend To those who dare attempt to wend At Morn across the Ocean dread, With Sail before the Breezes spread.) In Wrath the Warriours onward sped To where the Horn's loud Echo led ; But first the Chieftain with his Bow Had laid one savage Monster low, For, wetted in his Life's best Blood, The barbed Missile quivering stood, That slow he moves along the Main,
56 BEOWULF.
Nor e'er shall battle there again,
For Death has clos'd his Eyes : Of all his Power to injure shorn, Close press'd, his Flesh with Bear-sprits torn, Cruelly hook'd, hard press'd and worn, Upon the Nesses' Margin drawn,
The wondrous Monster lies. Beowulf now, his Armour dight Reckless of Life, prepares for Fight : His iron Vest of ample Size, In Colours wrought of fair Device, That well knew how from hostile Sword The Flesh that beds the Bones1 to ward, That War's dire Clutch nor Grasp of Wrath The Wearer's Life might ever scathe,
Beneath the Waves must wend ; — The Mail-hood the white Helm that strains, With Treasure rich, and wrought with Chains, Must go beneath the watery Plains,
Where the dark Billows blend. 'Twas marvellous Work of Days of Yore, Set with the Image of the Boar, That neither Brand nor warlike Knife Might bite2 to hurt the Hero's Life, Nor was the Aid of small Extent Which Hrothgar's Orator had lent ; A hiked Blade of ancient Fame, And Hrunting was that Treasure's Name, Harden'd with Blood, the Steel-edge keen With poison'd Twigs had stained been : — It ne'er deceiv'd, that goodly Brand, The Chief who wielded it in Hand, And dared to seek in bold Emprize The Station of his Enemies ; And this was not its first Essay At Deeds of Arms and Battle's Play. But Ecglaf 's crafty Son forgat What Boasts, when drunk'n in Hall he sat,
CANTO XXL
He made, and gave his trusty Brand Into a nobler Warriour's Hand. Himself he dared not Battle brave, Nor Worship win beneath the Wave, Risk Life, and lordly Deed achieve. To Honour thus and martial Fame For aye he forfeited his Claim : — Not so the other when bedight To dare the Dangers of the Fight.
CANTO XXII.
[2945.] HpHEN Ecgtheow's Son, the Geatie Thane,
i Addressed : ** Brave Kinsman of Healfdene. Gold Prince of Men, of Counsel deep, Bethink thee and thy Promise keep. As I, to aid thee in thy Need, Go forth to dare a venturous Deed ; And, if in thy Defence I die, Do thou a Father's Place supply,
Protect my Followers brave. But send I pray thee safely back Unto my Lord great Higelac
The Gifts thy Bounty gave. That Hrethel's Son thereby may see A liberal Chief I met in thee, Lavish of Rings and Treasure good, And used thy Bounty while I could. And see to Hunferth's Hand restored The Relic old his waved Sword
So hard of Edge withall ; l And by the Blade of Hrunting I Will Worship win and Honour high
Or else in Battle fall." He said, nor would an Answer bide, But fearless plung'd into the Tide, And for a Day's-While 2 struggled he,
58 BEOWULF.
Before the Bottom he mote see. The greedy Fiend beneath that dwelt The Stirring of the Waters felt, And knew that of the Sons of Man
Some daring Stranger sought to gain The Spot, that for a Century's Span
Had own'd her grim and greedy Reign. Quick towards the Chief the Monster draws, And grasps him in her loathsome Claws,
Yet can she not prevail The noble Warriour's Flesh to tear, For round him in his Hawberk fair In Iron lockt of charmed Ware,3
Nor can her loathsome Nail Avail to gain an Entrance there
Or penetrate the Mail. When to the lowest Depths they drew, The She-wolf bare the Warriour true
Unto her drear Abode : And, tho' full wrathfull was his Mood, He might not wield his Weapon good
Upon his wat'ry Road : For many a Monster him opprest And, as he swam, full sore distrest, The Ocean-fiends the Chief assail, And with their War-tusks brake his Mail, And press'd him sore ; — the Warriour good Perceiv'd at length that safe he stood I wot not in what Hall of Bale,4 WThere Water might not him assail, Nor, for the Covering of the Place, Involve him in the Flood's embrace With sudden Whelm : a Fire-light there Cast round a blank and paly Glare ; The mighty She-wolf5 of the Place He soon perceived, and rush'd apace,
His Weapon in his Hand, With stalworth Arm his Sword he swang,
CANTO XXII. 59
That round her Head the Mail-hood rang, And loud its greedy War-lay sang6 Beneath the Chieftain's Brand. 'Tis vain ; — his Weapon cannot bite To slaughter the accursed Sprite, The Sabre's Edge the Prince deceiv'd,
And fail'd him at his utmost Need, Tho oft erewhile it had achieved
Full many a good and gallant Deed, Oft shear'd the Helm and Hawberk grey Of those who fell beneath its Sway, And ne'er before did it betide Its Virtue to be vainly tried. The Prince's Rage now kindles high,
Yet slacks he not his Hand, But, mindful of his Dignity,
Flung forth the twisted Brand, On Earth to lie its steely Length, And trusted to his Sinews' Strength. Such Courage must a Man display, Who seeks to win in Battle's Day A lasting Name in dangerous Strife, Nor cares about the Risk of Life. Then, reckless of her savage Feud,
Fast by her Shoulder hent The Geatic Chief the Monster rude, And, sorely chaf d in wrathful Mood, With Wrench so stern the Strife renewed,
That on the Floor she bent. But soon full roughly she repaid The stout Attack that he had made, So grimly grappling and so well, That the strong Warriour reel'd and fell. Then sorely she beset his Life, And drew her broad and brown-edg'd 7 Knife
To avenge her hatefull Son, But o'er Beowulf's Shoulders lay The braided Net, the Hawberk grey,
<50 BEOWULF.
'Gainst Point and Edge to close the Way, And Life to guard in Battle's Day,
That Entrance found she none. And now the Geatic Champion brave Had perish'd 'neath the stormy Wave, But that his iron Corselet good His temper'd battle Net,8 withstood ; And holy GOD, who rules on high, Awards at will the Victory,
GOD infinitely wise. The King of Heav'n beheld the Fight, And gave Decision for the right ; — With easy Spring and Movement light
The thief doth therefore rise.9
CANTO XXIII.
[3113]
I^HEN saw he 'midst the treasure Hoard An old victorious Eoten Sword, Doughty of Edge, the Warriour's Pride, All other Weapons it outvied ; But weightier far than human Hand Of other Mortal might command ; By giant Forge of old 'twas wrought Good, and well fit for War's dread Sport. The Scylding Hero in Despair Seized by the Hilt that Weapon fair,
And brandish'd it around, And therewithall so angry strake, The Bones around her Neck it brake, And thro' the Flesh its Way did make ; —
She sank upon the Ground. The Soldier joy'd his Work to see, The bloody Sword gleam'd gallantly,
And round there shone a Light, As when serene upon the Sky
Shines Heaven's Candle1 bright.
CANTO XXIII. 61
Then round the House the Hero sought,
Along the wall in Fury pass'd, His Weapon in his Hand he caught,
And by the Hilt ygrasped fast ; Its Edge was true ; — O I could his Hate Foul Grendel meet, and compensate The Ills that he in rude Onslaught Against the Danish Youth had wrought,
In more than one Affray, When he of Hrothgar's Vassals true Fifteen in peaceful Slumber slew, And in their Sleep devoured too, And after him as Captives drew, (A loathly Deed and foul to do),
As many more away. For this the Chieftain, when he found The Monster lifeless on the Ground,
At rest for ever laid, His hatefull Carcase widely rent As when, his weary Powers spent, From Heorot disgrac'd he went,
A Vengeance full repaid ; — For this he smote the lifeless Foe, Swung round his Sword, and, with the Blow,
Sever'd the Monster's Head. Eftsoons those aged Men and grave, That watch'd with Hrothgar by the Wave, Perceived the Tumult of the Flood And the dark crimson Hue of Blood ; Then spake the hoary Troop their Pain, That they ne'er ween'd to see again Their Chief return from out the Main
Elate with Victory. For the sad Signs were all too plain That the grim Sea-wolf him had slain
Beneath the stormy Sea. At Noon-day from their cliffy Stand Retired the valiant Scylding Band,
(r2 BEOWULF.
And, sick at Heart, the King of Men Departed to his Guests again
And left them by the Meer; With Eyes intent upon the Main They wish'd but little hop'd again
To see their Chieftain dear. Now, passing marvellous to say, The gory Brand to wane away
In Battle-drops2 began, Like solving Ice, it melted, when The Father looseth Winter's Chain, The true Creator, who doth reign O'er Times and Seasons, doth again Unwind the Wave-ropes3 that the Main
Confine within their Span. The Chieftain of the Geats, tho' there Were many Treasures rich and fair, From out the salvage Monster's Hoarde
Nought save the Helmet bare away And Pommel of the mighty Sword
Bedecked with Gems and Treasures gay The Blade, of twisted Iron good,
Already had liquified ; So hot the poisonous Demon's Blood4
That 'neath its Edge had died. The Chief, the War-fall5 of his Foes, Now soon upon the Waters rose ; All purified the blending Wave,
'Neath whose wide-cavern'd Space Her Life the salvage Demon gave
That Creature foul and base. Then swimming strong, his Prize in Hand, The Seamen's Chieftain comes to Land, Abundantly rejoicing o'er The mighty Burthen that he bore. Quick ran the Thanes the Youth to meet, And joyously the Hero greet, Thankful to GOD that they him found
CANTO XXIII. 63
From Strife returning safe and sound, And haste to give the weary Chief From Helm and pondrous Mail Relief; While soon beneath the Welkin's Sphere Subsides the murther-stained Meer. Then forth the kingly Heroes went, Full light of Cheer their Steps they bent
Along the well known Way, And from the Cliffs that guard the Shore With Pain the pondrous Mail-hood6 bore
A Trophy of the Day, While raised upon a Halbert, four Fell Grendel's Head with Labour sore
Unto the Hall convey. Thus to the Hall the Chieftain hied, Fourteen brave Weders at his Side, And 'mongst them full of Joy and Pride He trod the Mead-plains' Way. The Beast of War, the Prince of Thanes, The Hero of renowned Plains, Soon came within the Palace where, The Scylding Chief he greeted fair, While o'er the Mead-hall Floor they bare Where Men caroused free from Care The Head of Grendel by the Hair,
A Sight of Fear and Dread To each bold Rev'ller there to view, And therewithall they also drew
The Mother-demon's Head ; A Visage strange and monstrous too
Men there contemplated.
64 BEOWULF.
CANTO XXIV.
spake the Son of Ecgtheow ; [3300] J_ " Healfdene's bold Son, the Scyldings' King, A Token of Rejoicing now
This Trophy of the Seas we bring. I scarce with Life beneath the Sea Achieved that Deed of Chivalry, Yet did I dare the arduous Fight, And made avail the Cause of Right,
For GOD my Shield has been, Yet not with Edge of Hrunting bright Prevail I in the Battle might,
Tho' good that Weapon keen. But Mankind's Ruler granted me Hanging upon the Wall to see
A vast and ancient Brand ; (Full oft when desperate, hath He
Lent me a guiding Hand,) And with that goodly Weapon I Have gain'd a happy Victory, And slain, as Time Occasion gave1 The Keepers of the deadly Cave. Then quick the twisted Blade up brent, So hot the Blood upon it sprent ; But from my slaughter'd Foes I've rent
This Hilt and bring to you Their Crimes have met their Punishment, The Death-plague of the Danes is shent,
As was both just and due. And now thou mayest, I promise thee,
Sleep scatheless in thy goodly Hall, With all thy Heroes' Company,
With young and old thy People all ; Nor need'st thou fear, as hitherto, O I Chieftain of the Scyldings true,
CANTO XXIV. 65
That from that Quarter deadly Pest Again will break thy Warriours' Rest." Then in the hoary Warriour's Hand Was plac'd that Hilt of antient Brand, Erewhile by Giants fashioned ; The Fiends who held it being dead, This Work by Wonder-smiths2 y-cast Unto the Danish Chieftain pass'd ; — When the grim-hearted Murther-fiend And his foul Dam their life resign'd, It came at length to be possess'd By him, of this World's Kings the best, Who liberal of his Wealth did reign In Sceden-ig twixt Oceans twain. The aged Warriour bent his Eye Upon that Work of Times gone by, Whereon of old were storied The Sources of that Contest dread, When the deep Ocean's whelming Flood Swept from the Earth the giant Brood.3
Boldly they warr'd — that salvage Horde
Of Aliens from th' eternal Lord,
WTho e'en repaid the Vengeance due,
And in the whelming Waters slew.
'Twas also on the Surface4 told,
Well chas'd upon the virgin Gold, In Runic Letters taught,
For whom this goodly Sword, array 'd
With wreathed Hilt and waving Blade, Had thus at first been wrought.
Then thus the Son of Healfdene spake,
While none around the Silence brake,
" Now may the Chief of many Years,
Who Truth and Right administers,
And well remembers Days gone by,
His Country's Guardian, testify,
That this good Earl was born to be5
The Flower of Worth and Chivalry. K
66 BEOWULF.
Thy Glory high, my noble Friend, Doth now thro' every Land extend ; In Wisdom grave and patient Might Thou bearest all thy Fame aright, And now shall well performed be The Promise that I plighted thee, And long propitious shalt thou reign, The Solace of thy People's Pain, Thy Warriours' Aid in Battles' Plain : Full other to Ecgwela's Kin6
Fierce Heremod became, Not as 'twas wish'd that he had been
An Honour to the Scyldings' Name : But on the Danes he sorely press'd, A slaughtering Plague, a Murther-pest, The ruthless Chief in salvage Mood, Shed e'en his Household Comrades' Blood, Until from human Joys at last Alone and friendless forth he pass'd, Though him had GOD all good and great
With Power's Blessings grac'd, And by Achieves of arduous Weight
On high 'mid Mortals plac'd, Yet grew there still his Breast within A savage Soul of Blood and Sin ; Nor did he Rings unto the Dane
In royal Bounty give, But, while grim Battle rag'd amain, His People's weary Curse and Bane,
Unmov'd and joyless live. From him do thou a Warning take ; — This Song of thee in Age I make ; — 7 'Tis passing wondrous to record, How mighty GOD in Counsel broad8 Doth to the Sons of Men assign Lordship, or Land, or Thought divine : Awhile he letteth wander free
A high-born Man's ambitious Powers,
CANTO XXIV. 67
And grants him Earth's best Ga'ity,
And eke to hold Men's Refuge-towers, And under his extensive Sway
Doth so the World's wide Regions bend, That ne'er in listlessness he may
Bethink him of his latter End. His Feasts he lengthens, nor his Joy Doth Age or Sickness e'er alloy ; No Sorrow o'er his Spirit throws
Sudden its darkling Curse, Nor Enmity its Malice shews, The World e'en as he wills it goes, —
He knoweth not the worse, —
CANTO XXV.
" 'TWILL Pride within the Heart assumes [3477]
A. A Place, and waxeth there and blooms, When Wisdom, who her ward should keep Around the Soul, is drown'd in Sleep, Sleep bound too fast in Labours drear, When the Destroyer's Hand is near, Whose fiery Bow, with bitter Dart, Smites 'neath his Helm and wounds his Heart ; Nor can the wonder-working Charm Of cursed Fiend avert the Harm. But all too little deeming his
Already too long hoarded Store, Grim-sour d and greedy, practises
To gain for ever more and more ; Nor does his Pride distribute free The Rings of solid Jewell'ry, And, for that GOD, who Glory gives,
Hath mighty Worship granted him, Forgetful and neglectful lives
Of Death, that salvage Fiend and grim. Then oft at last the Body ails,
58 BEOWULF.
And wasted sinks, and dying fails,
Another then succeeds, And all unmourning deals abroad His Predecessor's ancient Hoard,
Nor Fear's Remonstrance heeds. O I dear Beowulf keep from thee That baleful Sin, Cupidity ; Great Chief, thy Choice in Wisdom make, And everlasting Counsel take : Care not for Pride : — tho' now thy Might
Awhile in Glory blows, Sickness or Sword in fell Despite,
Eftsoons thy Toils must close, Devouring Flame, or Dagger's smart, Or whelming Flood, or flying Dart, Or Age of Aspect foul to see, 1 Or the false Glance of Treachery > Shall darken and beleaguer thee : j Death in an unexpected Hour, Great Warriour, shall thy Might o'er-power. Thus had I rul'd 'neath Heav'ns broad Space For many Years the Hring-Dane Race, And, by my Wars with Sword and Spear, Caus'd them no Tribe on Earth to fear, That 'neath the Sun's broad Circuit I Reck'd not of any Enemy : So therefore on my Heritage Reverses came and Fortune's Rage, To Joy succeeded bitter Woe, When Grendel came, the ancient Foe,
My Country to invade ; And for this Visitation's Bane Full sore Distress and harrowing Pain
Upon my Spirit prey'd. Then Thanks to the Eternal Lord
That I have liv'd to see The Head with Battle-drops begor'd
Of my old Enemy.
CANTO XXV. 69
Now therefore to thy Seat depart, And Feast thee with a joyful Heart,
High dignified in War, And Wealth a Store full rich and vast Shall to our common Hoard be cast
When Morn shall o'er us draw." In gladsome Mood the valiant Geat Right soon resum'd his Banquet-seat, E'en as the wise Chief bade, and then Around was quickly heard again Among the Palace-guests renown'd The Voice of Friendship's gentle Sound. The Night-helm o'er them dusky grows ; — The goodly Company arose, The grey-hair 'd Chief, with Labour tired, To seek his Couch's Rest desired. The Geat his Wish for him expressed Of measurelessly happy Rest,1 And soon the Thane whose busy Care Provided all things fit and fair, That serve a gallant Sailor's Needs, Forth from the Hall respectful leads The far-come Angle Chief away Tir'd with the Labours of the Day. 'Neath high-arch'd Roof adorn'd with Gold
The noble Chief doth slumbering lie, Until the palid Raven told In boding Cry both blithe and bold
That Heaven's pride the Sun was high The salvage Warriours haste amain, The Chieftains seek their Bands again : The Geatic Chief of daring2 Mind Would far away his Vessel bind. Then Ecglaf's Son the Hero bade Hrunting receive, his lovely 3 Blade ; He thanked him for the Loan, quoth he, His Warrionr-friend he took to be Well skill' d in War and valiant too :
70 BEOWULF.
And, as a generous Thane would do, He spake not one complaining Word Against the Temper of the Sword. When ready arm'd for journeying The Warriours were, the /Etheling Unto the worthy Danes retreats,
Where royal Hrothgar sate, And thus the noble War-beast4 greets
The Danish Monarch great.
CANTO XXVI.
[3630]
BEOWULF spake : " At length would we, The far-come Wanderers of the Sea, Propose to make our Voyage back, And seek our Lord, great Higelac. Well hast thou Hostship's Laws observed, E'en as we would have we been serv'd ; And if while yet on Earth I may, Great Lord of Men, in any way, By Deeds of War thy sovereign Will, More than as yet I have, fulfill, And should I hear across the Sea That Neighbours threat and harass thee, As whilome have thy Haters dar'd, Then quickly will I be prepar'd, And bring of Thanes in Arms array 'd A thousand Heroes to thine Aid. Well wot I, Higelac, whose Sway The Geatic Clansmen all obey, Tho' young his People's Shepherd be, In Word and Deed will furnish me, That well I may thine Honour fair Maintain, and to thy Succour bear My Lance the Sceptre of my Might, When Men thou needest for the Fight. And Hrethrinc, if his Steps he e'er
CANTO XXVI. 71
To Geatic Halls should bend, The royal Youth may meet with there
Right many a trusty Friend. He who of Valour is possess'd May visit distant Strangers best." Thus did the Scylding Prince reply ;
" The all-wise Lord appears Thy Words to give, for ne'er did I Hear Man advise more prudently
At thy yet early Years. Strong is thy Arm, mature thy Mind, Thy Words in Wisdom are design'd,
And should it ever be, That the dread Lance, or bloody Fight, Or Sickness, or the Faulchion bright Should Hrethel's Son, that princely Wight, His People's Shepherd reave of Light,
And Death have yet spar'd thee, I deem the Sea-Geats ne'er will have A King to choose more good and brave,
Their Treasure's-Lord to be : If thou would'st e'en consent to hold The Kingdom of thy Kinsman bold. For still the more I see of thee, The more, dear Youth, thou pleasest me : For thou hast caused twixt Geat and Dane That War shall rest and Peace shall reign, The Enmity that erst they bore Shall now disturb their Rest no more, While I my wide Command shall bear, Our Treasures we in common share. Our ring'd Ships oft shall bend their Path For Greeting o'er the Ganet's Bath,1 From one to other Land o'er Sea To carry Signs of Amity. I know my People, that with Foe Or Friend to break they never know ; And in all other Things their Ways
72 BEOWULF.
Are spotless, as in ancient Days." The Prince of Earls yet furthermore,
The Kinsmen of Healfdene, Twelve Treasures on his Guest did pour, Then bade them speed them on their Way, In Peace their Friends a Visit pay
And quick return again. The Scylding Chief, the Monarch high, Good in his fair Nobility,
Then kiss'd the worthy Thane, His Neck in Warmth he did embrace, While on the grey-hair'd Hero's Face
The Tears of Grief are seen. Aught was more likely than, (since he
Was now infirm and old,) That they should more each other see,
And Conferences hold. So well he lov'd the gentle Thane That he in no wise might restrain
The tender Bosom-flood ;2 But long'd in secret for his Guest Fast in his Spirits-bonds3 possess'd
Who warr'd with Men of Blood.4 Beowulf thence with Gold full proud,
Glad with his Treasure- Hoard, Along the grassy Meadows trod To where his Sea-bound Ship abode, And safely still at Anchor rode,
As waiting for her Lord. And, as along their Course they fly, Great Hrothgar's Liberality
With Praises oft go o'er ; A King was he of blameless Reign, Till lengthen'd Age had from him ta'en The Joys of Power, to many a Thane
As it hath done before.
73
CANTO XXVII.
THEN came there to the ocean Shore [3772] Full many a valiant Bachelour, And ev'ry Hero onward pac'd In chain-lock'd iron Limb-sark1 cas'd; The Earls' Return the Land-ward spied,
As oft he had before, And from the Ness's Ridges wide With no uncourteous Greeting plied, But forth to meet the Guests did ride, And bade them welcome o'er the Tide,
Unto the Geatic Shore. Then on the Heroes bent their Way To where the sea-arch'd2 Vessel lay,
The ring'd Prow on the Strand, With goodly Weeds- of- war on Board, With Horses and a Treasure-hoard, Her lofty Mast in Glory soar'd
O'er Hrothgar's Bounty grand, Who to the Vessel's sturdy Lord Had giv'n a rich-gold-bounden Sword,
That ever after then, At the gay Mead-bench when he sat, A noble Relic such as that
Might Worship for him gain. Then homeward in his Vessel he Urg'd the deep Billows of the Sea,
And left the Danish Land, While the Sea-curtain,3 round the Mast, The Sail so gaily floated, fast
Upon its corded Band. The thundering Sea- wood4 onward goes, Nor do the Winds its Course oppose ; Onward the swift Sea-trv'ller goes
With foamy Neck and bounden Prow, L
74 BEOWULF.
Until the Cliffs in view arose The Nesses Geat-land that inclose
May well be recognized now, Urg'd by the Wind the Vessel good Sprang forward, and on Land it stood. Then quickly to the Shore drew near The Hythe-ward, his Companions dear Who long had watch'd, and on the Strand Awaited the returning Band. Then firmly by the Cable true The Vessel on the Sand he drew, Lest Might of Wave, with raging Flood Might chance to wreck the winsome Wood,5 Then bade of th' ^thelings up-bear The solid Gold and Trappings fair. Nor need their Way far distant wind, Their Treasure-giving Prince to find, For Hrethel's royal Progeny
Dwelt with his Hero court, Full nigh the Cliffs that wall the Sea, A princely noble King was he,
And goodly was the Fort. The youthful Hygd in lofty Hall
Wise and high dignified Remain'd, tho' Winters few in all, Within her City's Battl'd Wall,
As yet had o'er her hied. And she was Hsereth's haughty Child, No gentle Dame of Bearing mild, Nor one that Gifts too freely pour'd From out the Treasure's ample Hoard, Th' fierce Queen her salvage Soul within Indulg'd her Rage in awful Sin ; Not one of all the Heroes there That Monster to approach would dare,6 And e'en her Lord she scarce would brook Once in the Day on her to look, But wreathed Bonds of Death did she
CANTO XXVII. 75
Devise and to her Lord decree. Scarce had she pledg'd to him her Hand, Than with the Dagger's Edge she plann'd Full short to cut his destin'd Day, And Death's dread Message to convey ; Unqueenlike deek, unseemly too For Dame however fair to do, That she who 's wont to settle Strife
And Peace's Web to weave, Should seek a gentle Thane of Life
In Fury to bereave.
For this great Hemming's Kinsman's Breast Disgust in sooth full sore possess'd. Yet many drinking Ale would say
Her Deeds were less by Malice driven, Sith first she was in Gold-array
Unto the youthful Warriour given. But after, by her Father taught,
Across the fallow-Flood 7 she hied, And Offa's Halls in Journey sought,
And there the Throne she occupied, Where high in Glory un alloy 'd, She Life's-creations 8 well injoyed, And with a Prince held Love's Embrace Of all the Men of human Race, Of Heroes, as I ascertain,9 The best betwixt the Oceans twain : For far rever'd was Offa's Name For War and Bounty high in Fame. Serene in Wisdom did he hold
His goodly Heritage, And from his Lineage was told That sorrowing Help of Heroes bold
Mighty in Battle's Rage, The royal Garmund's Nephew good, Kinsman of Hemming's noble Blood.
76
CANTO XXVIII.
[3921]
FORTH march'd the Chieftain and his band, The Sea-plain wide,1 the Ocean's Sand He trod, while Gem-like shone on high The World's-lamp2 in the southern Sky. Onward they press'd their March amain,
Till they the youthful Warriour King, The Chief who Ongentheow had slain, The Earl's Protector, ascertain, Within his fortified Domain
Was jewel'd Rings distributing. Now soon to royal Higelac Was known Beowulf's Journey back,
That o'er the Way he came Unto his Court, the Warriours' Shield, His dear Companion in the Field,
Safe from the Battle's Game. In Hall then, as the Chieftain bade, Room for the Guests was quickly made : Upon the Seat his own that fac'd,
From Conflict's Terrours sav'd, Kinsman in Front of Kinsman plac'd,
Sat he who War had brav'd. And Haereth's beauteous Daughter, when With lofty Speech the King of Men His faithful Thane had greeted fair, With noble Words and brave to hear, Beneath the Hall-roofs wide Extent, Forth with the flowing Mead-skink went. The People to her Heart were dear
That own'd her Lord's Command, And she the brimming Cup would bear
To each proud Warriour's Hand. Now e'er the Hall they can forsake
Young Higelac is led
CANTO XXVIII. 77
Inquiry of his Friend to make, (His Curiosity out-brake)
Of how the Geats had sped. " I pray you, dear Beowulf, say How it befell you by the Way, When suddenly thou didst decide To cross the Ocean's foaming Tide, And seek beyond the briny Main The War that rag'd on Heorot's Plain ? Didst thou to noble Hrothgar 'vail To rid him of his well-known Bale ? My Soul, with bitter Anguish fraught,
In Sorrow seeth'd3 for thee Of my lov'd Thane's Attempt, I thought,
Full little Good would be. And pray'd thee not to dare in Fight The Murther-demon's4 salvage Might, But for himself to let the Dane In War with Grendel Worship gain. But Thanks to GOD, that now I see Thee safe and sound return to me." Beowulf, Ecgtheow's great Son, Replies : " My Liege, to many a one 'Tis known what Sort of Eventide Grendel and I together plied
Upon that fatal Plain, Where to the valiant Scyldings he Had often wrought sore Misery,
And to their Chieftain Pain. That I aveng'd, nor shall be found
One of his cursed Host, In all the World's wide Regions round, Unto the last that there is found 'Mid dismal Fens his Den that bound
Of that Night's Fray to boast. Then forth unto the high Ring-hall I went, the King to greet withal : Heafdene's great Son full soon did see
78 BEOWULF.
My Mind, and order'd straight for me
Beside his Son a Seat ; The Troop was joyous, ne'er did I Beneath the Vault of Heav'n on high Throughout my Life more Revelry
Among Carousers meet. Awhile the noble Queen would move, The Gage of Nations' Peace and Love, Around the spacious Hall, address Her youthful Sons with Tenderness, And e'er she sate her down, oft bring To Warriour's Hand the gold-wreath' d Ring, Awhile great Hrothgar's Daughter fair,
Whom Freaware the Guests did call, The foaming Cup of Ale would bear
To the bold Earls throughout the Hall. And often to the Heroes brave The red Gold gleed-like Treasure gave. And she, in Youth and Gold bedight, To Froda's happy Son is plight ; Thus hath the Scylding Chief serene Full well his People's Shepherd been,
For by that gentle Maid. He hath, (for so the Tale is told), Full many a murtherous Feud and old
At Peace for ever laid. But well-a-day, 'tis sorely rare Tho' noble be the Bride and fair, The Death-lance, when a People fall, Long rests5 in Peace upon the Wall. Well may the Heatho-beardan Chief And ev'ry Thane feel Wrath and Grief, When Hope of Heroes,6 with his Bride, The young Dane through their Hall shall stride, And glorying in the Relic, bear The tempered ring-mail Weapon fair, The Heathobeardan's Treasure good
While they their Arms might wield,
79
CANTO XXIX.1
UNTIL they lost in deadly Feud [4073]
Their Comrades dear and their own Blood
Upon the Shield-play-field. Then while they sit the Banquet o'er Some aged grim soul'd Warriour, The Ring who sees and fully all The Battle-pest to Mind can call, Will 'gin with deep and deadly Art
In Words like these to ascertain The youthful Champion's Mind and Heart,
And War's dread Bale to wake again. ' Know'st thou, my Friend, that goodly Sear, That in the Fight thy Father bare
In crested War-array, When last he wielded th' Iron dear,2
And him the Danes did slay ? And since the Fall of Withergyld, Tis wielded by the Sons of Scyld. And now behold the haughty Son
Of some one of his murtherous Foes, Exulting in the Booty won
Here through our Palace proudly goes. He boasts the Deed and dares to wear The Treasure thou of right should'st bear/ With Words of Malice thus he still Reminds the Youth and spurs to ill
Till the dark Hour arise, When the Queen's Thane3 in Sleep of Death, Besmear'd with Blood, deprived of Breath,
Beneath the Bill's- Bite4 lies. The other Chief full soon is gone, For well to him the Land is known, The Oaths of Earls on either Side Now broken are and nullified,
80 BEOWULF.
And Ingeld's Spirit bold
With Thoughts of Slaughterous -vengeance rife, The Love that erst he bare his Wife 'Mid whelming Care's unhallowed Strife
Now waxeth chilly cold. Thus Heathobeardan Amity
Full lowly I esteem Nor will their kingly Quiet be Firm Peace devoid of Treachery
Unto the Danes I deem. But now must I return, and shew
The Deeds that I 'gainst Grendel wrought, That thou, O ! Treasure-lord, may'st know
The Fate of Heroes' dire Onslaught. Heaven's Gem had glided to her 'Rest
Beneath the Ocean deep, When the foul Demon wrath-possess'd Sought us, the loathsome Even-pest,
As we our Watch did keep ; And his fell Gauntlet5 sway'd its Swoop, A Life-bale to the fated Troop. The girded Hero next that lay From Grendel's Teeth in that dread Fray
Met the sad Fate of War ; Soon the voracious Monster drew The lovely Youth's whole Body through
His darksome hollow Maw. Not still the Blood-tooth'd6 Wretch withall Would empty handed leave the Hall. Proud of his Might he me essay'd His ready Palm upon me laid, While huge and strange upon his Hand His Gauntlet hung from mystic Band, With dark Devices overwrought On Dragon's Hide, by Devils' Art, And me therewith he would have slain Guiltless and free from Evil's Stain, The evil Beast on Evil bent,7
CANTO XXIX. 81
As many he before had shent
Yet this to do o'erpass'd his Might,
When in my Wrath I stood upright,
CANTO XXX.
O long it were the Tale to spell, [4181] How I this Nation's-curse so fell
For all his Ills repay 'd, And how thy People's Name full well
I worshipful have made : He fled from the unequal Strife, And thus awhile preserv'd his Life : But yet did his right Hand remain On Heorot's insanguin'd Plain, Whence downcast and dispirited Beneath the Meer's dark Depths he fled, The Scylding Chief my Labours bold Rewarded well with solid Gold, And Treasure, when 'neath Morning's Ray We sat at Banquet Table gay. And there was Mirth and Song and Glee :
And th' aged Scylding Monarch bold, (A deeply-searching Man is he)
Related Tales of Days of old. And whilome would the Warriour gay Pour forth the Harp's enlivening Lay,
And greet the joyous Wood,1 Awhile select a mournful Muse, Awhile a Tale of Wonder choose,
After the Banquet good. At times the high-soul'd Monarch old,
Bound in the Chains of Age, Harang'd the youthful Heroes bold,
The Strength of Battle-rage. His Bosom's boiling Flood would rise, As, with right many Winters wise, M
82 BEOWULF.
He told the Deeds of Yore : E'en thus the livelong Day was pass'd In Mirthfulness, until at last
The second Night drew o'er, And Grendel's Dam, soon ready, cast
To wreak a Vengeance sore : For ill her sorrow brook'd, that Death And Weder Hate her Son of Breath Had e'en depriv'd : — she ruthless went, And in her Rage a Hero shent,
For him in vengeful Hate, And thus the aged Chief ^Eschere, Renown'd for Wisdom far and near,
Departed to his Fate. Nor could they bear, the Danish Band,
At the Return of Day, The death-spent2 Form to flaming Brand, Nor on the Pyre with friendly Hand
Their lov'd Champion lay. His Corse the fiendish Mother-hag Beneath the Mountain-stream did drag. This was to princely Hrothgar's Heart Of all his Griefs the keenest Smart. Then by thy Life he pray'd of me Beneath the Tumult of the Sea
My Prowess to essay, In Glory's Work to risk my Fall, And promis'd high Reward withal],
If e'er I came away. Then, as 'tis known, beneath the Wave, The Keepers of the Ocean-cave I found, right grim and dread in Might, And hard awhile twixt us the Fight. The Flood it boil'd with Poison's Strength, But with the Sabre's Edge at length, Down in the Ocean's lowest Stead, I shear'd3 the Monster of her Head, And thence her salvage Spirit fled;
CANTO XXX. 83
Death was not yet my Fate : But the good Earls' illustrious Lord, Healfdene's great Kinsman, high Reward
Gave me and Treasure great.
CANTO XXXI.
" rT^HUS liv'd the Monarch, nor did I [4283]
JL Lose the fair Meed of Chivalry, For Healfdene's Son did give to me
My Heart's Content of Treasures rare, Which I, O ! Warriours' King, to thee
To bring will willingly prepare ; And Higelac, to thee is due
My Heart's Affection all, For now, except thyself, but few
My Kinsmen can I call." Then in he bade the Menials bear The lofty War-helm crested fair With Boar-device, the Hawberk grey, The ready Sword, and thus did say : " This Robe of War the Prince sedate,
Great Hrothgar gave to me, And bade me first expatiate
Concerning it to thee. Heorogar the Scyldings' Lord
The Relic long possess'd, Yet ne'er to bold Heoroweard His well-loved Son would he accord
That goodly Bosom- vest : — Do thou enjoy these pretious Weeds." Forthwith four apple-fallow1 Steeds, Alike in beauty, as I'm told, Followed his Step ; — both Steeds and Gold An Offering to his Monarch due ; — Thus nobly should a Kinsman do, Nor for his Hand-work's-mate2 prepare With secret Craft the deadly Snare.
84 BEOWULF.
To Higelac in Vengeance bold
His Nephew's Heart did firmly hold,
Each was to other kind. The rich-chased Wonder Treasure3 too, The Collar fair, that Waltheow, Daughter of Princes, did bestow
He unto Hygd resign'd : And therewithal! three Steeds of slight And graceful Form, with Saddle bright, And Breast with Ring-work fair bedight,
This may be considered as the Conclusion of the first Portion of the Poem, as the Author, without even beginning a new Canto, or giving any other Notice to his Reader, passes immediately to the Events of his Hero's last Conflict and Death.
E'en thus did Ecgtheow's Offspring bold Famous in Deeds of Worth grow old, He ever rul'd with Judgment right, Nor drunken would his Comrades smite,
His Heart joyed not in Blood : Still held the noble Beast-of-fight4 Of all Mankind the greatest Might,
That Gift that GOD bestow'd. And long a Pity it should seem The Geats did not his Worth esteem, Nor, though so worthy of their Praise, Would to the royal Mead- seat raise
As Chieftain of their Band ; Full oft they said that he was slack, A Prince who Spirit high did lack, Until Reverses' dire Attack, With Wrath of all kinds came to rack
The glory'd of their Land.5 'Twas then the War-ennobl'd King.6 The Earls' Protector call'd to bring
Great Hrethel's Relic fair, For 'mongst the Geatic Treasure-hoard
CANTO XXXI. 85
No Relic than that goodly Sword
More glorious was there. The Chieftain of the Geatic Race This on Beowulf s Breast did place,
And gave into his Hand A royal Castle, kingly Throne And seven thousand Vills 7 to own
His Lordship and Command. Both Chiefs indeed had natal Right
Unto the Suit of Man, But in the Prince of lesser Might, In what concern 'd the landed Right,
The Line of Heirship ran. In after Days, that pass'd away, When Higelac all lifeless lay, On Heared when the Battle Sword Bale 'neath the Shield Defences pour'd, And him the Warriour-Scylfings sought With victor Troops, with Fury fraught, And Hereric's bold Nephew fam'd Of all his hostile Malice tam'd.8 Then the wide Kingdom's high Command Devolv'd upon Beowulf's Hand, And fifty Years the Monarch sage Preserv'd full well his Heritage, Till one began, a Dragon stark To tyrannize in Midnight dark, And Treasure watchfully to keep9 Disposed into a secret Heap Beneath a frowning Mound of Stone, Its nether Paths to Men unknown. Some daring Wight, I wot not who, Entered, 10* [and stealthily withdrew,] But took from out the heathen Lair [A golden Vase] in Colours fair, But soon the sinful Monster [found That, while in scaly Circles wound
He'd closed his] sleeping [Eyes,
86 BEOWULF.
His Treasure-hoard had rifled been] By thievish Craft, [and then 'twas seen How dread] his Wrath did rise.
CANTO XXXII.
TWAS not in Violence and Pride [4438]
Nor by a way-ward Will irapell'd The wandering Exile had defied The Might the Dragon's Hoard that held, A valiant Thane oppress'd by Fate, What Hero's Son I may not say, Who fled the vengeful Blow of Hate, But, urg'd by Need's resistless Sway, An unoffending Man he went Within th' Enclosure's dark Extent,1 [The Mound] the Stranger [dread possess'd.] Terror arose [within his Breast.]
However the unhappy Man
•.>
Obtained [the golden] Vessel [gay,]
The Treasure Vase, [and fled away.]*
Within the Cave were many more
Old Treasures, as, in Days of yore,
I know not who of human Kin
Hid the dear Wealth3 the Mound within,
Expecting Thankfulness and Grace,
Vast Legacy of a noble Race,
All whom dark Death in Ages past
Had swept away, till he at last
The People's Chief was likewise ta'en
Who longest did on Earth remain.
For mourning and bereav'd the Chief
Sought not to reach a lengthen'd Age, He could not long, 'twas his Belief,
Enjoy his precious Heritage. The Mound was ready on the Plain
CANTO XXXII. 87
Beside the Billows of the Main, Headlong above the Cliff it frown'd Fast by the Art of Craftsmen bound; The Lord of Rings then hither bore
And here deposited
His Wealth of many an Earl the Store, And solid Gold Fire-harden'd o'er :
And thus he briefly said : " Hold thou, O ! Earth, this princely Store, Now Heroes may it hold no more ; Lo ! it from thee good Men and true Erewhile laboriously drew, Whom now a cruel Death hath ta'en, A Life-bale savagely4 hath slain.
My People one and all, Who from this Life for aye have past And seen of festal Joys their last
Within the Banquet Hall. Not one remains to swing the Sword, Or Cup receive at festive Board, The drinking Vessel rich and grand — Death-sick are all my noble Band.5 The Warriour-helm with Gold array'd Shall now beside the Cup be laid For they now slumber all forlorn Who should the Warriour-helm adorn ; The Hawberk, that in Battle-fields, Amid the thundering Crash of Shields, Withstood in many a raging Fight The pondrous Iron's loathly Bite,
To moulder shall be laid, After the Warriour that it bore, And the ring'd Byrnie shall no more
Go forth, the Hero's Aid. No Harp's gay Voice is heard around, Nor Glee- wood6 echoing Music's Sound, No good Hawk swingeth from his String,7 Nor tramping Horse swift traversing
88 BEOWULF.
The City's Barrier-pale : For all my living-Race is shent, The Host of kindred Souls forth sent
By the Death-dealing Bale."8 Thus sad of Mind the Chief of old
By Day and Night his Mourning kept, Who, reft of all his Kinsmen bold,
Forlorn and solitary wept, Till the Death-flood's relentless Strength Reach 'd his distracted Heart at length. The joyous Hoard9 was open found
By the old twilight Pest,10 Who burning seeks each Barrow's Mound, Fell Dragon fire-encompass'd round,
His Night-flight as he press'd. The dwellers of the Land of old
Him [fearfully observ'd]11 Where, wise with many Winters told He the vast Hoard of Heathen Gold
Useless to him12 preserved. Three-hundred Years the mighty Pest In the Earth's Bosom there possess'd, Now great and mighty grown withall, A certain13 spacious Treasure-hall,
Till one his Anger nerv'd : For to his own liege Lord he brought
The solid Cup of golden Ware, And Covenant of Pardon sought ;
His Lord the wretched Exile's Prayer Granted, when marv'lling he beheld The wondrous Work of Men of Eld. Soon as the Dragon was awake His furious Wrath anew out-brake, Around the Rock the Scent he plied,14 And soon the Stranger's Steps descried, Who forth by secret Art had fled, Passing beside the Monster's Head. Thus then may one not doora'd to die
CANTO XXXII. 89
Scape Woe and Danger easily
If he GOD'S Grace obtain, Around the Land the Hoard-ward swept To find the Man who, while he slept,
Had wrought him grievous Bane. With raging Mind and fierce Intent, Around about his Heaps he went. The outward Space examin'd round, And no Man in the Desert found, But, loving War and Hours of Fight, Betook him to the Barrow's Height
His Wealth-cup to explore, But found that some one of Mankind His hidden Gold had chanc'd to find,
His lofty Treasure Store.10 Scarce would the Keeper of the Hoard
Await till Even came, High the Mound-watcher's16 Anger soar'd, His precious Vessel's Loss he scor'd
To pay with raging Flame. When Day, as he desired,17 was gone, Not long he stay'd the Mound upon, But, furnish'd with a Breath of Fire, He wended forth in flaming Ire. Full dread at first the Onslaught bore
Upon the People brave, Even as ere the War was o'er Upon their Prince it ended sore
Who Treasure to them gave.
CANTO XXXIII.
THEN soon the Demon foul began [4618] To spit forth raging Fire, To burn the Dwellings bright of Man, Forth stood the flaming Torch's Ban Abomination dire.
90 BEOWULF.
The loathsome Flyer of the Air1 Would e'en no living Creature spare ; The Dragon's War was seen full clear, His salvage Malice far and near, How the War-scathe2 the Geatic State Oppress'd with War and furious Hate. Back to his Hoard ere Dawn of Day And secret Hall he bent his Way, When he the People of the Land In Flame had wrapt with Fire and Brand ;
He trusted in his Mound, His battled Walls, his Might of Hand,—
Full false his Hopes he found. Anon to Beowulf was known )
What Deeds of Terrour had been done, > His home, the Weders' high Gift-Throne ) Of Palaces most fair array 'd 'Midst Waves of Flame in Ashes laid : And this the good Man's angry Breast Of all "War-Sorrows most oppress'd, E'en the wise Monarch ween'd that he His bitter Wrath indulg'd too free, Beyond what antient Laws accord, 'Gainst Providence,3 the Eternal Lord, With dark and murmuring Thoughts within His Bosom boil'd, — such Thoughts were sin. The fiery Dragon had o'erthrown And cast his People's Castle down, The Country's Fort with flaming Brand Had clean destroyed from out the Land. For this the Weders' warlike King Taught him what Woes Revenge can bring. The Lord of Earls' the Warriours' Aid Had then a Shield all Iron made
In Blazon beautified, For well he knew that wooden Shield No Help in such a Fight might yield,
Wood may not Flame abide.
CANTO XXXIII. 91
The ^Etheling aye good and great Must now his coming End await
His Life's few Days'4 career, And such is eke the Dragon's Fate
Who held the Treasures dear. Unworthy him the Ring-prince5 ween'd To seek the widely flying0 Fiend Girt with a gallant Host's Array ; He never fear'd the Battle's Day, He held at nought the Dragon's Fight Unwearied Diligence and Might ; For many a Deed of Daring dread He had erewhile accomplished In Fight, since Hrothgar's fair Domain Triumphantly he freed from Stain, And grappling slew in Wars' Embrace Foul Grendel's Kin of loathly Race : Nor was it his most light Campaign When Higelac his King was slain, When Hrethel's Son, on Friesland's Soil, Lov'd Prince of Men, in War's Turmoil, Amid the Flow of War's red Drink,7 Beaten to Earth with Bills did sink. Then came Beowulf in his Might,
For swimming Power had he,8 And on his nervous Arm were dight Full thirty 9 Instruments of Fight
When plunging in the Sea. Nor needed then the hostile Host, Though active in the War, to boast, That they before him to the Field Had gone, and borne the pondrous Shield ; Few from the angry Warriour fled And their dear Homes revisited. O'er the Seal's Passage10 homeward now Swam the bold Son of Ecgtheow, In Loneliness Distress and Pain, Unto his Countrymen again,
92 BEOWULF.
Where Hygd unto him did propone Rings, Treasures, Royalty, and Throne, She thought not 'gainst Outlanders bold Her Son his Father's Throne could hold. But now, though Higelac was gone,
The Remnant of his People could In no one Thing prevail upon
The Chieftain generous and good, Himself o'er Heardred Lord to make Or for his own the Kingdom take. But by his friendly Counsel he Maintain'd his Honour joyously, Till he maturer Age attained And o'er the Weder-Geats he reign'd. For him o'er Sea the Sons of Wrath The Children of Ohtere went forth, They had the Scylfing Prince oppress'd, Of all the Ocean-kings the best, Who in the Swio-land his Gold Divided, as a Chieftain bold : —
This was a Sign of Fear : And Higelac's bold Son receiv'd A Wound that him of Life bereav'd,
'Mid Swingings of the Sear.11 Then home the Son of Ongentheow Return 'd, now Heardred lay full low ;
The Throne and regal State He left Beowulf to maintain, And o'er the Geatic Realm to reign.
That was a Monarch great.
CANTO XXXIV.
HE of the People's Ruin fell [4777]
The sad Results remember'd well, And afterwards did Friendship show To Eadgills in Distress and Woe.
CANTO XXXIV. 93
O'er the wide Sea with Cohort fair
With War and Armament, Stept1 forth the Offspring of Ohtere, Forc'd him the Journey cold of Care,2
His royal Spirit spent, The Son of Ecgtheow at last Had every Evil safely past Of slippery Battle's valiant Deeds, Till 'gainst the Dragon he proceeds One luckless Day. In Anger dread, By twelve brave Youths accompanied The monster Dragon's Rage to meet Departed then the royal Geat. For he had heard how rose the Feud, The War-curse that his Heroes rued : Had come unto his Bosom bland
The Treasure Vessel sheen, Through that unhappy Traitor's Hand, Who form'd the thirteenth of the Band, And of the Turmoil in the Land
The Origin had been ; Who, Woe-begone in captive Chain, Must, downcast, lead them o'er the Plain. Against his Will he went, till he The lonely Hall-of-earth might see, Subterrain Barrow near the Shore, Which the wild Billows battle o'er, And which within was richly stored With wire-chas'd ornamental Hoard The salvage Warder, fierce and old, Held 'neath the Earth his treasur'd Gold, And no Man at an easy Fate That Treasure mote appropriate. The War-hard3 Prince, the Geatic Thane, Did seated on the Ness remain, And to his Hearth-companions4 true Full tenderly bade adieu, His Mind in sad and wandering State
94 BEOWULF.
And ready Death to meet ;5 Now raeasurelessly near was Fate6
That must the old Man greet, His Spirit-treasure 7 penetrate And Life from Body separate: The Prince not long his Life shall hold Inclosed within the Flesh's Fold.8 Thus spake Beowulf, Ecgtheow's Son : " I, in my Youth, full oft have known, In troublous Times, the Battle's Swell : — All this I can remember well. For seven Winters old was I
When the dear Chieftain of the Land, Lord of the Geatic Treasury,
Receiv'd me from my Father's Hand. King Hrethel me maintain'd, and gave Me Treasures rich and Banquets brave. For he respected Kindred's Tye, Nor less beloved of him was I, (A Warriour in his Castles fair,) Than even his own Children were, Than Haethcyn, Herebald, or e'en My own dear Higelac has been. For th' eldest was the Murther-bed By Kinsman's Deed unseemly spread, Since Haethcyn his beloved Lord With Arrow from the Bow-horn9 gor'd, Missing his Mark, one luckless Brother With bloody Arrow shot the other. A Feud thus criminally made With Money could not be allay'd. Right sad was Hrethel's weary Heart ; Still must the Prince from Life depart All unaveng'd, — so sad and dire A Sight it is to aged Sire To bear, his youthful Son to see Riding upon the Gallows-tree:10 And he must sing his Sorrows' Lay
CANTO XXXIV. 95
While hangs his noble Child, A Prize unto the Bird of prey, But aged and infirm he may
No Aid unto him yield : And Memory aye with Morning's Breath Reminds him of his Offspring's Death. Nor careth he within his Towers
For other Heir to stay, Sith one by Death's malignant Powers
Hath sadly past away, His Son's Abode he looks about
In Care and Grief11 to find The Wine-hall desolate, without Its once gay festive Wassail-rout
The resting Place of W^ind.12 The Hero lies in Darkness'13 Thrall,
The Knight he sleepeth sore, No Harp resoundeth in the Hall Nor Joy within the Castle-wall,
As ever heretofore.
CANTO XXXV.
forth departeth he in Lays, [4915] JL And sings his Song of Pain, One after other every Place Seems to him but an empty Space
Be it Abode or Plain. Thus boiling Sorrow of the Breast The Geats' Protector sore oppress'd For Herebald, nor could he ere
Upon the Murtherer wreak the Feud, He could not hate the Warriour fair
Though sore the loathsome Deed he rued. For Grief at this sad Hap he then Resign'd for aye the Joys of Men, He chose1 at length God's blessed Light,
96 BEOWULF.
And left, (like those who Fortune sway,) His Sons his Town and Kingdom's Might,
When from his Life he pass'd away. And then the Sweed's and Geats between Was Evil and Contention seen, And common Woe on Water wide, The Curse of War, when Hrethel died, Till Ogentheow's Offspring2 . . . bold, In Battle fierce, no Peace would hold Upon the Deep, but oft would pour The Ambush dread round Hreosna-burh. This may my Friend in sooth relate Of Feud and Crime, as Rumours state : For though the hostile Chieftain gain'd
His Life, a Bargain dear, Haethcyn, the Angle King, sustain' d Mischief and Scathe severe. With Bill, I heard at Break of Day Kinsman did Kinsman cast to slay, When Ongentheow met Eofer bold ;
But Helm gave way 'neath Buffet rude, Pale fell to Earth the Scylfing old,
But well enough the deadly Feud Remember'd his ferocious Hand Nor curb'd the Life-swing of the Brand. And I to him in full restor'd
In Battle's Day what Treasures he To me had giv'n, with my light Sword,
E'en as the Power was granted me ; And I receiv'd at Hrethel's Hand A joyous Heritage and Land. Nor had the valiant Monarch need Inferiour Warriours to gain, Either Gar-dan e of Gyfth or Sweed,
And at a higher Charge maintain. Before him thus I ever would In Fight with Edge of Weapon good
Alone maintain his Wars,
CANTO XXXV. 97
And thus till Death to do I cast,
As long as this good Sword shall last,
Which, time before and time since past,
Has often serv'd my Cause : Since I, 'fore Nobles of the Land, That foul Day-raven,3 with my Hand,
The Hugan's Champion shent, Nor could he to the Frisian King At all the fair wrought Treasure bring.
The Bosom's Ornament. But sank, his Banner's Guard, in Fight, A Prince succumbing in his Might. Nor was my Sword's keen Edge his Bane, I grasp'd him on the battle Plain, And crush'd and shatter'd in th' Embrace His Heart's Waves' bony Dwelling-place:4 But now must Edge of Bill, and Hand For Treasure war, and harden'd Brand." The Geatic Prince continued yet, These were his latest Words of Threat : " I, who in Days of youthful Might Full oft have dared the dangerous Fight, Now seek, my People's Guardian old, In Feud my Glory to uphold, If this foul Sin-scathe 5 dares withall To meet me from his earthy Hall. ' Then did the helm-clad Warriour fleet Each of his lov'd Companions greet For the last Time : — " Nor Brand nor Sear Against the Dragon would I bear, If with the Monster I descried How else to grapple in my Pride, As I with Grendel did of old ; But of this Battle-flame I hold 'Tis hot, and fierce, and poisoned,
I therefore Byrnie don and Shield, Nor to the Barrow's Guardian dread
A single Footstep will I yield ;
98 BEOWULF.
But it shall be unto us twain
As Fate, Man's Maker, shall ordain,
Beside these Walls. My Mind is set
Worship and high Renown to get
By this War-flying6 Pest. Do ye,
As Men at Arms in Panoply,
Abide upon the Hill, to see
Which of us two the War-rush o'er
Shall of his Wound recover more.
No Quarrel here have ye and none
Have other Men, 'tis mine alone
Hard fight with this foul Wretch to share,
Earlship achieve and Honours fair.
I'll make this golden -treasure Hoarde
My stalworth Valour's prey, Or War's Life-bale7 your aged Lord
Shall fiercely sweep away." Forthwith beside his Buckler fair Uprose the lofty Chief, and bare Beneath the towering Cliffs of Stone His Helm and his Habergeon. His single Strength he trusted to, As Coward ne'er would dare to do.8 Then by the Wall perceived the Prince, — (Who, good in his Munificence, Had oft o'ercome in Battle's Crash,9 When hostile Troops together dash,) — While standing on a freestone Bridge, — A Stream break from the Mountain's Ridge ; The wave with Battle-flame10 was hot, So that unburnt the Prince could not Attain the Depths where lay the Hoard, So high the Dragon's Fury soar'd. The Geatic Monarch then in Wrath Let from his Bosom Words go forth : Now storm'd the Chief of Spirit stark,
His Voice in loud and hostile Tone, That kindled Hatred deep and dark,
CANTO XXXV. 99
Enter'd beneath the hoary Stone. Full soon the Keeper of the Hoards Of human Tongue perceived the Words. The Warriour now may rest no more, His Season of Repose is o'er, Forth from the gloomy Rock at first
The Monster's fiery Breath, War's boiling Torrent,11 reeking burst, —
Earth thunder'd underneath. Fenc'd by his Shield-rim's Covering, Forthwith the Geatic Hero-king Swift glided onward o'er the Plain
The Stranger fell to meet ; The ring-bow'd12 Monster's Heart was fain
With Battle him to greet. His pondrous Sword, that Relic old Reckless of Edge13 the War-king bold
Already brandished, And either of the hostile twain, With Thoughts of Hate and deadly Bane,
Look'd on his Foe with Dread. Firm by his lofty Buckler stood The Ruler of Companions good, With Movement quick the Dragon wound His Length in tortuous Circles round, Together coil'd midst flaming Gleed He to the Conflict doth proceed. Less Time unto the Warriour brave His pondrous Shield Protection gave For Life and Body in the Fray Than his Design requir'd that Day, When he, the Day's first Part, must wield High Exultation in the Field
As Fate did not permit. Uprais'd the Geatic Lord his Hand And with his mighty Relic Brand
The colour' d Monster hit, That brown upon the Bone its Might
100 BEOWULF.
Of Edge relax'd and 't would not bite 80 sharply as the Theod-king Had Need, oppress'd and labouring. Then was the Mountain's-guardian wrath
After that Buffet dire, And in a Mood full salvage forth
He cast the murtherous Fire, And gleamed in Terrour wide and far The dreadful Meteour14 of War. The Gold-prince of the Geatic Host The Joy of Victory could not boast, For naked at the Strife, his Sword Had treacherously fail'd its Lord, As ne'er should Iron good of old :
For 't was no Deed of light Achieve, When Ecgtheow's Son, the Chieftain bold,
Was doom'd the earthly Plain to leave,
And his Desire to raise, For other Dwelling-place to cast, As each Man must resign at last
His few poor earthly Days. Ere long the Wretches met again,
The Hoarde's Guard fresh in Fury came, His stormy Bosom boil'd amain
With a new Voice, his Breath of Flame. Right sorely was he now bested,
Who erst did o'er the People reign, With raging Flame encompassed :
Nor did his Hand-companions'15 Train, Of Heroes' Sons a gallant- Band In Battle-splendour16 round him stand, But sped them to the Forest's lairs To save those dastard Lives of theirs. Yet boil'd one faithful Heart of them
With Grief's indignant Might,— The Force of Kindred nought can stem
In him who thinks aright.
10]
CANTO XXXVI.
[5200]
WIGLAF that lovely1 Youth was styl'd, A Scylfing Prince, and Wihstan's Child,
And Kinsman of ^Elfhere ; He saw his Lord beneath his Crest By fiery Heat full sore oppress'd,
And in Remembrance bare How Honour high he had bestow'd Upon him, and the rich Abode Of the Waegmundings, and moreo'er, The Rights his Father held before. He could not then refrain his Hand,
But seiz'd his yellow linden Shield, And forth out-drew his antient Brand,
The relic Ean-mund used to wield, Oht-ere's bold Son, all friendless slain
By Wihstan's Sword on Battle Plain, Who from his Kinsman bare away Brown Helm and ringed Hawberk grey, His antient Eoten Scimetar,
To him that Onela resign'd, His valiant Comrade's Weeds-of-war,
Harness for Battle's Fray design'd.2 About the Feud, tho' he the Child Of his own Brother had exil'd, He ne'er would speak, but Years laid by The ornamented Panoply,
Both Bill and Byrnie, till his Son Might Worship win and Honour high,
E'en as his Sire before had done. But 'mongst the Geats he handed o'er Of Arms to him unnumber'd Store, When old, infirm, and failing fast, At length away from Life he pass'd. This was the first Occasion for
102 BEOWULF.
The youthful Hero to assay, With his free Lord the Rush of War,
Nor did his Courage melt3 that day ; Nor did his Kinsman's Relic true
In Battle's Turmoil weaker grow, And this when they together drew
The Dragon soon had cause to know. Wig-laf his Comrades then address'd In righteous Words from grieving Breast. " Well has my Memory preserv'd What we, whene'er the Mead was serv'd,
Within the Banquet-hall, Did promise to our Lord ; — that we, In any such Necessity, Would Service do and Fealty yield For these rich Trappings of the Field,
For Helms and Swords withall ; And in this Fray, when freely he Chose us his Following to be, He bade us Glory mind, and gave Into my Hands these Treasures brave : Good Warriours he suppos'd we were And valiant Men the Helm to bear : And though our Lord did e'en believe Alone this Action to achieve, For he of all Men 'neath the Sun Most Deeds of Daring wild4 hath done, Yet now the Day is come at length When our great Monarch needs the Strength Of Warriours good. — Come let us speed To aid our Chieftain at his Need, God wot — to me 't were far more leif That with my gold-bestowing Chief My Flesh were bosom'd in the Gleed,5 — For base to me it seems indeed
With Bucklers home to go, Unless we first have in the Strife Preserv'd the Weder-Chieftain's Life,
CANTO XXXVI. 103
And fell'd to Earth the Foe. For well I know 't will not agree
With antient Right at all, Of all the Geatic Chiefs that he Alone should Toil and Hardship dree
And in the Battle fall. To us the Sword and Aventayle Byrnie and pondrous Shroud-of-mail
Shall be in common all." Then Helm on Brow he quickly sped
Unto the Slaughter-reek6 To aid his Lord so sore bested,
And thus did briefly speak. " Belov'd Beowulf now do thou
Full well perform that all, That thou in early Youth didst vow, — That while thou lived'st thou Id'st ne'er allow
Justice and Earth to fall. And now shalt thou, renown'd in Fight,
A single-minded ^theling, Defend thy Life with all thy Might
And I will aid unto thee bring." He said : the Dragon raging came,
The odious crafty-Fiend again,7 Illumin'd in his boiling Flame,
Upon his Foes, the hated Men. Soon the young Warriour's Shield of Wood In Flames around the Bordure stood, Nor did his pondrous Shirt of Mail To aid him in the Fight avail, And 'neath his Kinsman's Shield he came, When his was pulverized8 by Flame. The War-king call'd to Mind at length His Glory and his mighty Strength, And with his War-bill smote so rude, That driv'n into the Head it stood, Naegling9 old Sword and gray of Hue, False in the I 'ray, in Splinters flew.
104 BEOWULF.
It was not given him in that Raid That Edge of Steel should be his aid ; Too mighty, I have heard, that Hand, Too great it's Swing for any Brand, That when he bare to Battle Sword Wound-harden'd10 't would no Aid afford. Full fierce the fiery Pest again Rush'd on the war-renowned Thane, And soon repaid his Wrath amain,
For round his Neck he coil'd, All hot and grim, with Bane full sore, That he was cover'd with his Gore,
In Waves his Heart's Blood boil'd.
CANTO XXXVII.
THEN, in his Monarch's dire Distress, [5384] The youthful Thane, I wiss, Display'd a Courage wearyless And stalworth Might and Skilfulness :
(A Nature bold was his,1) Heedless of Helm, his Hand did glow 2
To give his Kinsman Aid, Downward he smote the Demon Foe Full stark in Stowre so sturdy Blow That blood-discolour'd deep and low
Div'd3 in the solid Blade, And the dread Flame, less fierce and slow,
With failing Fury play'd. Again the Monarch in that Hour Resum'd his Conciousness and Power, And quick his Slaughter-dagger true, His Byrnie's Belt that hung unto, Bitter and sharp, the Geat Prince hent, And therewith up the Middle rent4
The Monster-dragon's Hide : Thus fell'd the kindred Thanes the Foe,
CANTO XXXVII. 105
And both together laid him low
And quell'd his reckless Pride, (Thus good at Need should be a Thane,) So that the Prince did Vic'try gain By his earthly Deeds 5 of Might and Main,
When he the Danger tried. But now the Wound the Dragon fell Had wrought him, gan to burn and swell, And soon he found the baleful Pest Of Poison boiling in his Breast. Approach'd him then the ^Etheling, For by the Wall the wounded King
Sat musing on a Stone, On Gyants' Work he wond'ring gaz'd ; Stone Vaults on massy Columns rais'd The everlasting Cave embrac'd
Within its Circuit lone. The Thane immeasurably good6 His well-lov'd Lord bestain'd with Blood. The famous Chief, of Battle tir'd, Did wash, and of his Health inquired. Beowulf spake, and of his Wound,
The deadly-slaughterous Wound,7 he said, His Days'-while's Ending he had found,
His earthly Pleasures now were fled, The Number of his Days gone by, And Death immeasurably nigh.8 " And now would I to Son of mine These goodly Weeds of War resign, If to succeed me any Heir My Body's Offspring granted were. Tis now full fifty Winters long This People have I rul'd among, Nor has there any neighbour King
Dar'd me to greet in Fight, Surrounded by his Following,
Or Terrour to excite.9 In Patience have I waited for
106 BEOWULF.
Whatever Time has brought,10 And well mine own have holden, nor
Deceit have ever sought, Nor sworn unnumber'd Oaths have I In Leasing and in Perjury. For this I may expect to see,
Now sick with mortal Pain, Eternal Joy, nor needs to me Man's ruler Punishment decree, When Life shall forth of Body flee,
For Kinsman's Murther-bane. To see, dear Wig-laf quickly go
The hoarde the hoary Stone beneath, Now reft of all his Wealth, the Foe
Lies wounded in the Sleep of Death. Haste thou, that I the Treasure old May know, and the Amount of Gold, And that I speedylv may see The star-bespangled Jewell'ry11
And Gems of cunning Art, That with my Life and Nation bold, That I so long have joy'd to hold,
More softly I may part."
CANTO XXXVIII.
[5500]
RIGHT quickly at his Chieftain's Word, As I have heard, did Wihstan's Son Obey his wounded war-sick Lord,
And bare his ring'd Habergeon, His richly-broider'd Battle-sark Beneath the Cavern's Arches dark ; And as the Kindred-hero bold,
Exulting in his Victory, Went round the Rock, full plenteous Gold
And Gems he glittering there did see, All heavy strewn upon the Ground,
CANTO XXXVIII. 107
A Marvel all the Wall around,
The Den where did the Dragon rest,
That antient twy-light-flying Pest, —
Of antient Men the Goblets fair
Well chac'd, with none to own them there,
And many a rusty Helm and old,
With Bracelets deftly wrought in Gold,
Within the Cave doth bide ; (Full easily may Man despise The Wealth, in Earth that buried lies,
Let him who will it hide). And high among the Treasures brave He saw a golden Banner wave, Most wondrous of the Things he found, By magic Charms together bound,
That Light around it threw, That he might scan the Cave around
The Den of Exile view. The Dragon there was nowhere seen, He with the Sword had slaughter'd been. Then, as I heard, that Barrow dread,
By gyants wrought in Days of old, Was by one Hero plundered
Of all its mighty Hoarde of Gold, So that he loaded on his Breast, Dishes, and Cups, what lik'd him best, The Standard too away he bore All other Banners bright before, — A brass Bill edg'd with Iron keen,
Erewhile that long'd to antient Lord, To whom it had a long Time been
Protector of his Treasure Hoarde, Before his Store who bore full stark
The raging Flame's terrific breath, Hot boiling in the Midnight dark,
Until at length he died the Death. The Messenger with anxious Haste His Steps full speedyly retrac'd,
108 BEOWULF.
To give his yearning Soul Relief, And know if th' daring-hearted1 Chief,
Now sick and wounded sore, The Weder Prince upon the Plane He yet alive should find again,
As he had left before. Then quickly with his Treasure-store
His Lord he found hard by, The mighty Chieftain, bleeding sore,
The End of Life full nigh, And gan to sprinkle him about
With Water, as at first, Till Words, his Bosom's Hoarde2 from out
His failing Spirit burst. Beowulf spake, as from his Seat3 Look'd on the Gold the aged Geat " Most hearty Thanks in Words I bring The Lord of all, the Glory King, The eternal Lord for all the Gold And Treasure that I here behold, That for my well-lov'd People I Such Wealth have gain'd before I die, Now have I bought this Treasure Hoarde,
At my Life's Price right prudently, At the State's Need 'twill Aid afford,
And longer here I may not be. Command to raise the great in Fight A Mound upon the Cliffy Height, Bright after the funereal Fire, That high on Hronesnsess may aspire And to the People of my Land A lasting Monument may stand, That the vast Ocean's Sailors brave
May call Beowulf's Mound, When o'er the Darkness of the Wave
Afar the Brentings 4 bound." Then from his Neck the warriour King Forthwith unclasp'd the golden Ring
CANTO XXXVIII. 109
And to the youthful Thane, Resigned his Helm of golden Hue, His royal Ring and Byrnie too.
In Gladness to retain. " Thou art the last remaining Stay
Of our Wo3gmunding Stem, My Sons hath Fate swept all away, Earls in their Might, to Death's dark Sway ; —
And I must after them." This ere the Pyre the old Man chose,5 The Battle-wave that furious glows,
His Bosom's latest Word And from his Breast his Spirit goes, To seek the blessed Doom of those,
Who ne'er from Truth have err'd.
CANTO XXXIX.
to the youthful Hero's Grief, [5637] A He saw his most beloved Chief, As on the Earth destroyed he lay, With Life departing fast away. There also lay upon the Plain The Dragon dread that him had slain ;
Bereft of Life, and quell'd by Force, Th' ill-coiling1 Monster can maintain
No longer now his treasure Stores : But hard-wrought Shields and Sword-edge bright, The Trophies of the Hammers Might,2
Have swept him forth away, So that the widely-flying Pest Sank wounded to his deadly Rest
Near where the Treasures lay. Nor can he in exulting Power Flit through the Lyft at midnight Hour, Nor, proud of his Possessions, range Exhibiting Appearance strange,
110 BEOWULF.
But he is fall'n to Earth in Death The War-chief's Handy-work beneath.3 Scarce is the Man, as I am told,4 The Man of Might, in Action bold, Has prospered when he rushing came 'Gainst Poison -pest with Breath of Flame, If with rash Hand he sought to make
A Stir in that ring Hall, and found The Guardian of the Stores awake,
Abiding on his treasure Mound. Even the great Beowulf won
Only with Death that lordly Store ; For either mighty Champion
This poor Life's End was hanging o'er. Meanwhile that false5 and traitour Crew Of Laggard-warriours6 onward drew; Forth from the Forest's gloomy Shade
The dastard ten career, Who, when their Lord had Need of Aid
Dar'd not to wield the Spear. Asham'd their Shields and War-weeds 7 where The aged Chieftain lay they bare, On Wiglaf look'd in humbled State ; — The active Champion weary sate Beside the Shoulders of his Lord, And gently o'er him Water pour'd. Yet can he nought avail, (though all
He would have barter'd that to gain), His warriour Monarch to recall
And Life on Earth to him detain ; Nor would the Doom of GOD'S high Will Turn, but rule all, as it doth still. Ready on the young Hero's Part Was Answer grim to each whose Heart
Had fail'd him in the Fight ; And thus then Wiglaf, Wikstan's Son, Disconsolate of Heart begun,
And Look unloving8 dight.
CANTO XXXIX. Ill
" Lo ! well may he, whose constant Care It is to speak the Truth declare, Of our good Lord, whose Bounty gave Those Treasures and those Trappings brave
That on your Limbs ye bear, When at the Ale-bench as he sate, Byrnie and Helm the Monarch great
Unto his Thanes would share, Whome'er he found or near or far
Most valiant in the Fray, That he his goodly Weeds of War,
Cast hastily away.
For when War superven'd, our King Could little boast his Following ; But GOD, of Victory the Lord,
Did grant him to achieve in Fight High Vengeance with his single Sword
When he had Need of stalworth Might. But small Defence could I supply, To guard his Life, but still have I Attempt, beyond my Measure,9 made My Kinsman at his Need to aid. And when with my good Sword I strake
The Life-pest, I more weak became, But he on Purpose more out-brake,
And boil'd the more with raging Flame, Too few Defenders throng'd were found At Time of Need their Prince around. Now costly Service, gift of Sword, Delights that Heirship doth afford, And all support, must fail your Clan : — Stript of his Land-right every Man Of all your Family must go, When far the ^Ethelings shall know Of this your dastard Flight in War,
Deed with Dishonour rife : — Death to an Earl were better far
Than ignominious Life/' 10
112 BEOWULF.
CANTO XL.
E noble Work forthwith he bade [5779] Known to the warriour Band be made, Where on the Sea-cliff's beetling Height Distressed in Mind, with Bucklers dight,
The livelong Day from Morning sate The Company of Earls, and they The Close of that eventful Day
And their lov'd Lord's Return await. And he who rode along the Ness, Would not the novel Tale suppress, But detail'd all in Faithfulness. " The Chieftain of the Geatic Host, The Weder Nation's Joy and Boast, Dwells, by the Dragon's Prowess cast, In fatal Rest, on Death-bed fast. And opposite to him doth lye, With Sword-wounds sick1 th' old Enemy. His Sword of none Avail he found The scaly Monster's Hide to wound; And Wihstan's Son, brave Wig-laf, o'er Beowulf sits in Grief full sore, Earl over Earl that lifeless sleeps Head-ward of Love and Loathing keeps.2 Now may the Land expect, I ween, The Turmoil of the Battle-scene, When 'mongst the Franks 'tis widely spread And Frisians, that our King is dead. Full sternly with the Hugan erst The deadly Feud was form'd at first, When Higelac to Friesland went Girt with a naval Armament : And him his Foes3 in War o'erthrew,
For boldly to the Fight In overwhelming Force they drew,
CANTO XL. 113
So that the Warriour bold and true
Must bow beneath their Might. Thus fell he in the battle Feud,
And to his Heroes brave No longer Time the Chieftain good
The beauteous Treasure gave. Since then Hwixt Mere-Wioing Race And us no Peace has taken place, Nor from the S weeds a Whit can I Expect of Truth or Amity: For wide 'tis known of Ongentheow By Haethcyn Hrethel's Son laid low, At Hrefna-wood when in their Pride The Scylfings first to Geat-land hyed. To him the Father of Oht-here
Dread, wise, and aged gave Full soon a Blow of Hand,4 and tare From out his Troop of Virgins fair
The Ocean-captain brave. The antient Man the Mother old Of Onela and Oht-here bold, Robb'd of her Gold, with him did take, And for the Murtherers did make A hot Pursuit, untill that they, Reft of their Lord in that Affray, To Hrefnes-holt scarce made their Way. Then whom the Sword had left as yet, Weary with Wounds, he sore beset, And all Night long full oft did he Woe to the hapless Race decree ; He said that he at Break of Day Some with the Dagger's Edge would slay, And others, for his Sport,5 that he Would hang upon the Gallows-tree. But Comfort rose with early Day To the sore-hearted Troop, when they Heard swell the Trumpets' Echo bright
And Horn of Higelac ; Q
114 BEOWULF.
The good Chief, with his People's Might, Was coming on their Track.
CANTO XLI.
[5887]
THEN valiant Sweeds and Geats between The bloody Sward was widely seen, The Rush of men to Slaughter rude, And how the Folk did whet the Feud. Earl Ongen-theow, the good Chief, then Turn'd with his Comrades back again, Aged and sorrowful, to reach A Fastness on the Ocean's Beach : He'd heard of all the Hrethling's Might And the proud Chieftain's Skill in Fight, Nor trusted that he could withstand His Foeman's warlike Sailor Band, And 'gainst their desperate Onslaught hold His Child, his Bride, and Hoarde of Gold : So the old Chief retreated thence Beneath his Earth-incampment's Fence. Then did the Sweeds unto our King Possessions tender, and to bring
A Banner's Tribute due, Forth went they o'er the peaceful Plain ; — Then Hrethling Warriours thronged amain
Around the fated crew. The grey-hair'd Ongen-theow's Delay Was with the Sword aveng'd that day, So that the Theod-king must own The Sway of Eofer's will alone. And him did Wulf, great Wonred's Child, With Weapon reach in Anger wild, That for that Souse the Blood amain Sprang 'neath his Hair from out the Vein. Yet not a Whit of craven Fear
The Scylfing old betray'd,
CANTO XLI. 115
But with a Buffet more severe
The Battle-thrust repaid. For when the Theod-monarch round Did thither turn, no single Wound Could the swift Blade of Wonred's Son Inflict the aged Man upon, Who smote through th' Helm upon his Crown So that blood-stained he bowed him down. To Earth he fell, not yet in Death, Though scath'd by Wound, he 'scap'd with Breath. With broad Blade Higelac's bold Thane, Where lay his Brother on the Plain, Let the old Eoten Sword o'erwhelm O'er the Shield-wall the Entish Helm. To Earth the People's Shepherd bent, The aged King — his Life was shent. But many round his Kinsman wound l And raised him quickly from the Ground,
Sith all the Slaughter-plain Room to command was for them found,2
While Thane did plunder Thane. From Ongentheow they took away
His hard Hilt-sword and iron Vest, The Trappings of the Warriour grey
Were thence by Higelac possess'd, Who promis'd for them Guerdon high, And kept his Promise gallantly. The War-rush did the Geatic Lord, Great Hrethel's Offspring, from his Hoard, When home returned, right well reward
To WTulf and Eofer bold, For he, beside the Treasures brave, To each a hundred thousand gave,
Land and lock'd Rings of Gold. And no Man on the wide Earth may Reproach them with the Gifts, for they
Fought for their Honours high.3 To Eofer too he gave withall
116 BEOWULF.
His Daughter, Glory of his Hall,
Dear Gage of Amity. This is the Enmity and Feud, The Murtherous-hate4 of Men of Blood, The Reason which. I ween, will pour The Sweon Race upon our Shore, When they shall hear that our great Lord Lies lifeless, who both Realm and Hoard Of Scyldings brave 'gainst Foes did hold After the Fall of Heroes bold, The Rede his People had conceiv'd
Fulfilling gallantly,5 And even farther yet achiev'd
Exploits of Earlship high. The sooner now the better far
To look upon our Theod-king,
And him who gave us Rings to bring Aloft on the funereal Car. And at the noble Monarch's Pyre No Hero's Gold shall melt in Fire, For here are Treasures all untold, A grimly purchas'd Hoard of Gold And now with his own Life at last He bought the Rings, which shall be cast To greedy Fire-brand to devour And for the Flame to cover o'er. No Earl shall for Memorial bear
This Treasure fair to see, Nor Maiden on her Neck shall wear
The ringed Jewell'ry. But stript of Gold and sorrowing
Not once, but oft, shall all Tread foreign Lands, since now our King, Hath laid aside his Revelling,
His Wit, and Song withall. The Lance at Morn shall cold be found, Heav'd in the Hands, in Hands whirl'd round, Nor shall the Harp with Morning's gale
CANTO XLI. 117
The Warriour wake, but Raven pale 6 Soaring all greedy o'er the Dead Shall tell the Eagle how he sped When with the Wolf upon the Plain At even Meal he stript the Slain,"
Thus spake the active Wight, A Speech full dreary to be heard, But be it Weird or be it Word,
He was not far from right. Rose the whole Troop dispirited,
Whom boiling Tears bedew, And 'neath the Eagle's Nest they sped
The Wonder dread to view. There, lifeless on the sandy Ground, Stretch'd on the Bed of Death, they found The Chief who gave them Rings before ; — The good Man's ending Day was o'er. The warriour-King, the Weders' Pride A Death full marvellous had died.7 And, yet more wondrous to behold, They also saw the Dragon old, As opposite upon the Plain He lay, a loathly Object slain, Bescorch'd with Gleed, and grim to view, And fifty Feet in Measure too
As there outstretch'd at length he lay. He had maintain'd the Joys of Flight Through the dark Atmosphere And down had wended in his Might,
A Visit to his Den to pay. But he was now in Death-bonds fast, His Earth-cave's Joys for ever past. And near him Cups and Vases, Hoardes Of Dishes lay, and pretious Swords, Rusty and eaten through, as they
Beneath the Bosom of the Earth A thousand8 Winters dwelling lay,
Sith that Heir-loom of mighty Worth,
118 BEOWULF.
Of antient Men the Treasure sheen, By Spells incompass'd round had been, So that no Man might e'er approach That antient Hall of Rings to touch, Had not great GOD himself on high, The very King of Victory,
Giv'n it to whom He would, (Since Man He looks with favour on,) To ope the Hoarde, e'en such a one
As unto him seem'd good.
CANTO XLII.
Strife, it then was clearly seen, [GUI] To him had unpropitious been, Who in Unrighteousness and Sin Had hidden 111 his Mound within. The Keeper of the Hill had slain Some one among the Sons of Men, Then Vengeance sore the Feud did bring : — And where is Cause for Wondering? The Earl, of high Renown in Strife, Had fared unto the End of Life, For with his Children no Man may Long occupy the Mead-bench gay. So it befell Beowulf, when He sought the Mountain -warder's Den, The crafty Demon, nor wherethrough Should be his World's-ofF-cutting1 knew. Till Doomsday thus the Rulers' dread What's done have deeply treasured, So that the Man with Sin bestain'd May fast in Hell-bonds be detain'd, Punish'd for aye with Sights of Dread
Who wasted Earths' fair Plain, Better he ne'er had compassed
His sateless Greed of Gain.
CANTO XLII. 119
Wiglaf, the Son of Wihstan, spake :
" Oft many an Earl, I ween, Shall suffer for one Hero's sake,
As unto us hath been. The People's Shepherd, our lov'd King, We ne'er could to our Counsel bring, That he should not to Fight defy The Treasure-guard, but let him lye
Where he had lain before, Inhabiting his Dwelling steep, Holding his high imbattl'd Keep
Till the World's Days are o'er. The grim-gain'd Hoarde is giv'n to view, Too strong the Grant him thither drew :2 I therein made me Room to see
The House's Treasures all, Hard Journey was permitted me
Under the earthy Wall. A vast main Burthen quick I caught In- Hand, and to my Monarch brought. As yet he lived, and not a few
On me his last Commands he laid, Aged, and wise, and keen, — and you
Kindly to greet for him he bade : And o'er the Spot, whereon shall blaze His funeral Pile, he bids you raise, Lofty and vast the Mound of Fame,
According to his Deeds of Worth, E'en as most worshipful his Name
Of Warriours widely o'er the Earth, What Time he could enjoy in Health His City's Opulence and Wealth. Now let us haste and seek once more To see the insidious Treasure Store,
The Wonder 'neath the Wall, For scarce enough as I declare Can ye admire those Treasures fair
Rings and broad Gold withall.
120 BEOWULF.
Now let them haste, the Bier prepare,
'Gainst we come back again, And we will then our Monarch bear, The most belov'd of Men, to where In GOD'S bless'd Covenant3 and Care
Long time he shall remain" The War-beast,4 WTihstan's Son, then bade Both wide and far Command be made To Chiefs o'er Houses bearing Sway,
That Wood to build the funeral Pyre They should from far Estates convey,
To meet the good Prince at the Fire. " Now shall the wan Flame wax amain,
Now shall the Gleed devour The Heroes' King, who did sustain
Full oft the Iron Shower, When Storms of Darts propell'd with Might Over the Shield-wall took their Flight,
"Withstood the Arrow's Cast With Feathers wing'd, and onward right
With Arrows cover'd pass'd." Now Wiglaf's Care from out the Crew Of royal Thanes the noblest drew, And 'neath the treacherous Roof went he, Eight Heroes for his Company, While one bold Youth, a Torch in Hand Proceeded foremost5 of the Band. And no one then was present there 'Mongst them by lot that Hoarde to share, For keeperless some Part they view'd Uncar'd for in the Hall lye strew'd, And little any one did care Quick the dear Treasures 6 forth to bear. Then cast they from the Ness's Brow The Dragon to the Waves below, And let the Floods imbosom deep The Wretch who did the Treasure keep. Then was the Hoarde of twisted Gold,
CANTO XLII. 121
Of every Kind a Store untold,
Laden upon a Wain, And thus the valiant ./Etheling The hoary-headed warriour King,
Was unto Hrones-ness ta'en.
CANTO XLIII.
People of the Geats then made [6268] X A mighty1 Pile and broad With Helms bedeck'd and Shields array 'd And Byrnies bright, as he them bade, And in the Midst the Heroes layd, Weeping, their Prince of lofty Grade,
Their well beloved Lord. Then gan the Warriours on the Mound
The mightyest of funereal Fires To wake, black Wood-smoke circling round
From Matter' s-enemy2 aspires. Its Roar with Weeping mingled pass'd, And Wind urg'd blending, till at last, Hot on the Breast, it open rent The Bosom's bony Tenement.3 With grieving Mind the Chiefs deplor'd The Death of their beloved Lord, And such a Song of Mourning loud [They4 sang, the while] the winding Crowd [Of] Virgin [s all in weeping sore Grievous] enough their Sorrows pour, [That they their Prince, their Cities'] Head, [The Troop's Defence,] the Battle's Dread,
[Saw the] wan [Flame infold,] The Warriour-helm upon his Head,
While Smoke through Heaven [roll'd.] Then rais'd the Geatic People o'er The Billows of the Ocean's Shore A mighty Mound, both broad and high, R
122 BEOWULF.
That far the Sailors might espy.
Ten Days they laboured at the Mound,
The Beacon of the War-renown'd,
Of Funeral Pyres the best, And with a Wall they fenced it round, As antient Men in Art profound
Most worthy did suggest. Then on the Pile the golden Rings,
And Jewels bright, and Gems they pour'd, WThate'er the valiant ^Ethelings
Had taken from the Dragon's Hoarde. The Prince's mighty Treasure then To Earth was left to hold again,
Upon the Sand a golden Store, Where still it lyeth, unto Men
As useless as it was before. The Troop of Princes rode around, The Beasts-of-war 5 about the Mound, In Number twelve, and they would sing, And call to Mind their valiant King, Themselves would speak, pour forth their Lays, His Earlship laud, his Valour praise, With Praise they judg'd him, as 'tis good A Man his well-lov'd Sovereign should Extol in Words and love in Heart, When from the Body he must part,
A useless Thing henceforth to be. Their Sorrow for their well-lov'd Lord The Geatic People thus out-poured,
His Comrades dear, and said that he,
Of Kings throughout the Earth, Was e'en the gentlest to Mankind, The Man of most benignant Mind The Prince most to his People kind,
Most earnest after Worth.6 (fc*3 '
NOTES.
INTRODUCTORY CANTO.
•
AR-DANES. The Anglo-Saxons often compounded even the Names of Nations with Words relative to War or some Attribute of the People, as e. g. Gar-Danes, from ^afi a dart, as indicative of warlike Greatness, Hring- Danes, i.e. rich, having many Rings, Heatho-Scylfings War- Scyljings.
2 Fe4-r"ceap^c pun'fcen. It was Scef and not Scyld who was so founden according to the Chroniclers. See Intro duction p. xvi.
3 Opep. hfion-jiabe.
4 Beaga bjiyttan. The Distributer of Rings. I imagine that Rings were the circulating Medium of the Time re ferred to, and used as Coin. Abundance of this Sort of Coin, and Scales for weighing it, as well as many Bracelets and other antient Ornaments may be seen in the Copen hagen Museum, which the extensive Learning and atten tive Diligence of Professor Thomson have rendered the most perfect and best arranged Collection of Northern Antiquities in the World. Still undoubtedly Rings and Bracelets of great Value and e'laborate Workmanship were worn by both Sexes, and were frequently presented to Victors and Heroes as the Guerdons of their Achievements.
5 This Method of disposing of the Dead, though not usual, was not unknown in the North. In the Edda of Saemund, vol. ii. p. 120, when Sigmundr's Son, Sinfib'tli is murther- ed by his Mother Borghildr, then " Sigmundr bar hann Ian- gar leidir i fangi ser. ok kom at fir}n einom mi6vom ok Ib'n- gom. ok var $ar skip eitt litij? ok mafcr einn a. Han bauj? Sigmundi far of fibrjnnn. En er Sigmundr bar likit tit 4 ski-
124 NOTES.
pit. ha var batrinn hlajjinn. Karl maellti at Sigmundr skyldi fara fur inn a fior<Sinn. Karl hratt ut skipino ok hvarf pegar." Sigmundr bare him, a long Way in his Bosom and came to a narrow and long Ford, and there was a little Vessel and one man in it. He promised Sigmundr to go over the Ford. Sigmundr put the Body into the Vessel, and then was the Boat laden. The Churl told Sigmundr that he would gojirst into the Ford. He thrust off the Ship and vanished.
CANTO I.
On poriulb pocon.
ic.
3 Ongenthe6w. The Words here supplied from Mr. Kemble's Conjecture, are " o'er the Tide who passed, opeji pae polite.
4 Buton polc-fcafve Tnb peojaum ^umena.
5 Da ic pit) e je-priaesn.
6 On pyrir-re ge-lomp.
7 Heorot is probably Roskilde, said to have been built by Roe, the Hr6thgar of our Poem. Old H. D. Hruod-ger, Ruedeger, Rudeger; Engl. Roger.
8 CDaecnan r*col*t)e. Was destined to grow weak. The meaning of this and the preceding Lines, 164-170, is rather obscure. In the Original they stand thus,
£eaj?o pylma bad It awaited the hostile Whelm
LaSan lij$ep. Of loathly Flame.
Ne paep hir len^e )?a ^en Nor was it long moreover be
fore Daer r-e pecs here That the hero bade [his Fol
lowers]
r-pefiian. Swear with Oaths [of Fealty].
pael-ni^e Afterwards through deadly
Malice tEaecnan f colbe. He should [i. e. was fated to]
become weak
This seems a difficult and unconnected Construction ; and whether Hrothgar's Palace ever were destroyed by Fire I know not. Perhaps we may suppose an Attempt on the Part of the Enemy to burn it during the Progress of the Work : then, by reading the last line pfiaecan pcylbe, the construc tion becomes simpler, and translates " Nor was it long more-
NOTES. 125
overafter the [Act of] deadly Malice that the Hero bade [his Followers] swear with Oaths to avenge the Guilt." This was too bold an Alteration to admit into the Text, but if the Reader prefer it he mayinstead of the two Lines "But after wards ...... abate " substitute the following :
The Hero bade his Followers swear For insult on his Palace fair
The Wrong to compensate.
9 IDhre-beofihtne pang Spa pasrep. be-bugefc.
10 Fipel-cynnef eajab.
11 The Notion of evil Monsters being bred from the Race of Cain seems to have arisen from Gen. vi. 4. The latter verse states :
oryp jtf'n jtfjg n'piyp np'tf nri^n nqn
TYiere were Abortive (or Monsfrous) Births ( Vulg. Gigantes) in the Earth in those days, and also after that the sons of Elo- him went in unto the daughters of Men and generated of them : There were the Heroes of old, men of name : and it was no doubt from the Traditions relative to the meaning of this obscure Verse, that Abulfarag (Edit. Kirsch and Le Brun. pp. 4, 5) took his account, which runs thus :
777
w^OTQlO O? JX^Z] fS .
<? O O 7
I Vn > V* I e>s^x«
126 NOTES.
•X 7 V -X
•X 7 7
In the Time of Shith (Seth) when his Sons remembered the good Lives that (they led} in Paradeise, they went up to the Mount of Chermon ( Herman), and lived in pure and holy Con versations, abstaining from Matrimony, and from this they were called Angels and Sons of Elohim ........ In the thousandth
Year of the World,the Sons of Elohim descended from the Moun tain of Chermon, about two hundred Souls, because they had cast away the Hope of a Return to Paradeise ; and when they asked Women in Marriage, their Brethren the Sons of Shith and Enosh despised them, and, as Transgressors against their Cove nant, agreed to withold from them their Daughters. On this they departed to the Sons of Cain, and took Wives, and begat Gyants of name, chiejiy celebmted for Murther and Plunder. They set tip for themselves thejirst King, a Man whose Name was Samiazus. The Arabic Chronicle published by Pococke p. 8, agrees almost Word for Word.
0 7
Without doubt the j^-^ii., of the Jacobite Primate are the QY^^l!) of Moses : whether Gyants or Heroes,
but certainly generally considered as Gyants, and this most likely gives the old Eastern Legend on the Subject, whence the Rest has grown. This Theory of the Origin of Orks,
NOTES. 127
Elves, Gyants, &c. appears to have been unknown to Caed- man, who gives the Progeny of Cain as it appears in Moses. See also Canto XXIV. note 3.*
CANTO II.
1 Crum an't)
2 Erumum un-*t>yjine.
3 UJaep -p se-pm ro La<5 *j lonj-pum.
4 COaer- t6 p<er-t; on Sam.
5 This and the following lines are to me very obscure, in the Original they stand thus,
Da paer- ea<5-pynt>e Then was easily found [by any
one]
De him ellep-hpaeri Who would himself elsewhere
Ere-rxumhcop. rxaep re More comfortably Rest,
Bet> aeptep. bujium A Bed in the Bowers (Chamb
ers) [than there] p4 him je-beacno't) fjaep. Where he was called [to keep
guard]
i. e. in the Hall. The substance of which is, that it was easy to find a safer Place to sleep than the Castle-hall. Mr. Kemble translates the Passage thus : " Since there was easily to be found, (that which elsewhere rested too much at large for him) beds throughout the bowers, there, whither he was beckoned : " which I do not understand. Dr. Ett- muller renders it :
" Leicht war auffindbar dem, der anderswo Geriiumlicher rastete, der Recken jedem Bett in dem Bauten, wenn ihm geboten ward."
and adds as a note, " Die Da'nen nahmen nur ungern ihr
* For farther Information on the subject of the Gyants and Semyaza, see the 0^fiYh<£:y 9*^1:^(1, or Book of Enoch the Prophet, capp. vii. viii. ix. and x. i. e. pp. 5 — 11, of the Ethiopic Text edited by Abp. Lawrence, and prefixed to the Abp.'s English Version of this Work, which he pub lished the same year (1838), there is an Introduction, in which the learned Editor and Translator expresses his Opinion that the Traditions of the Book of Enoch originated in the Jewish Zohar and other Cabbalistic Works. The Passages are however too long to extract.
128 NOTES.
Nachtlager in Heorot, wenn sie die Burgzu bewachen dahin enboten wurden, da sie an jedem anderen Orte mit grosserer Bequeralichkeit (geraumlicher) ruhten." Dr. Grundtvig appears not to notice the passage.
6 Feorih-bealo.
7 QDen ne cunnon ^py'beri hel-fiunan Ppyrxprum pcfiip-a<5.
8 Dapt-bona. i. e. Odin.
9 Fae^eri-paejjum. Surely the latter Portion of this Canto bears the stamp of Christian Authorship, too palpably to be mistaken.
CANTO III.
1 Sea<5. Similar is the Expression in the Lines quoted by Cicero at the Opening of the De Senectute.
O Tite, si quid ego adiuero curarnve levasso, Quae nunc te coquit et versat in pectore fixa.
2 Be6wulf the Hero of the Poem.
3 On paem 'baeje pyppep lipep.
4 Yb-liban, i. e. the Ship. The same is the meaning of Sun'b-pu'bu, IDudu-bunbenne and many other expressions that we shall meet with. Span-piabe. Swans-path, i. e. Sea.
5 Stjaeumap punbon Sun^o pif? panbe-
6 Weders are the same as Geats.
7 EmS-se-paebo.
8 ^ine pyp.-pyr bpaec. His Curiosity brake him down, i. e. overcame every other Feeling.
9 La^u-prriabre.
10 Nepne him hip plire leo^e ^n-lic an-pyn.
11 Opopt ip pelepr.
CANTO IV.
1 Ulopib-horxb on-leac.
2 6ape$ J?urih ejpan.
3 purxh rxumne pepan.
4 Bipiju.
NOTES. 129
5 Se pe pel <5ence<5.
e UJubu puu'cen half.
7 The Boar or Boar's-head was the Crest of the Helmet. This Animal was sacred to the G oddess Freya, and it's Image was considered as an Amulet in War and Defence to the Wearer's Life. See Kemble's Glossary in v.
CANTO V.
1 £eajVt>, honb-locen.
2 Song.
3 In hy'fia gfiyfie-seatpum.
4 Byjinan h run-on. Air. Kemble renders this : They placed in a ring their mail-coats: making a Word hjimgian, lu circulo disponere. I think we may render it : Their byrnies rang : from the Verb hjamjan.
5 Ijren-Sjaear.
6 Da Jjaep. plonc haeleS Then there a proud Warriour Orxet-mec;$ap The Sons-of-battle
Concerning the Heroes ask ed i. e. asked them concerning themselves.
7 £eap.t> unbeja helme.
8 COorib aeprerx r-pjiaec.
9 Spa $u bena eafir and again presently £y bena fynt.
, the vypd KsXtvQa of Ho-
CANTO VI.
1 Daet he
ODanna maesen-cjraepr On hip munb-jp.fpe ^eapo-jKjj: haebbe.
2 Two Lines something to this Effect seem here to be omit ted, the second whereof might perhaps be UDulp-jap. lofce.
3 Sce-pylmap. The Sea-boilings, Heats.
5 Neafio-peajipe
6 Tc ic mit> sfiape pceal F6n pi$ peon^e. 7£nl> ymb peofih paean La$ pi$ latSura.
130 NOTES.
7 CCearxcaS pen-hopu.
8 A warrior's Heriot, i. e. his Horse and Arms, were on his Death the Property of his Lord.
9 The Account of the celebrated Weland, or Vb'lundr, may be found in the Volundar Quida of the EddaSaemundar, and in the Wilkina Saga c. xxi. et seq. Weland and his two Brethren lived in Sweeden. One day beside a Lake they met three Ladies whom they took home and married. The Ladies, being Waglcyrian, flew away one Morning. The two Brethren set out in search of their Wives, but Weland staid at home and practised his Art. Nidung a King in Sweeden had him seized, the Sinews of his Legs cut (so as to render him unable to take active Revenge), and confined him on an Island there to labour for his Oppressor. He however murthered the King's Sons, and seduced his Daughter Bodvildr. There was at that Time a celebrated Smith, Aruilias, who challenged Weland to a Trial of Skill. Amilias forged a Suit of Mail, and Weland fabricated the Sword Miming, wherewith he cut a thread of Wool lying on the Water; but not satisfied with it, he reforged it, and it then cut through the whole Ball of floating Wool. Being still dissatisfied, he again committed it to the Flames, and at the End of seven Weeks produced so excellent a Weapon, that it cut through a whole Bundle of Wool floating in Water. Amilias, trusting to his Armour, sat down on a Stool, and bade Weland strike him. Weland did so, and there being no apparent Effect, asked Amilias what the Sensation was. Amilias said it was as though cold Water had passed through his Bowels, on which Weland bade him shake himself. On doing so the Effect of the blow was apparent ; he fell dead in two pieces. The Fame of Weland is not yet extinct, he yet lives in the Superstitions relative to Wayland Smith. See also Grimm. Heldensage, p. 14, 20. and Teut. Mythol. 221.
CANTO VII,
1 Da hine ^aria cyn Fop. hejie-bfio^an pabban ne mihtie.
3 £>ojib-bujih h«ele}?a.
•» Operi paeterxer- hfiyc^. This is exactly analogous to the Homeric Expression 'ETT' evpta vwra OaXaecrrjg.
4 Done 'ool-rcajjan t^a ^e-tp&pan, i. e. take his Life. * Oner-mec^ar- beojie brxunone. The Anglo Saxon
NOTES. 131
Word bjiuncen does not seem always to have the opprobri ous Meaning of the English Word Drunken, but merely implies the Notion of social Gaiety at Table. A parallel case is the Hebrew word "f. "Thus when in Gen. xliii. 33. it
is said concerning Joseph's brethren J
it can hardly mean that " they drank and were drunken with him," but simply drank and made merry with him. 6
CANTO VIII.
1 On-banb beabo-fiune.
2 ODaeron merie-prriaeta.
3 The Words £>p.6n-pix the Whale fah, OOerie-pix Sea- fish, or QDerie-'beori Sea-beaut, &c. are often used. " These Creatures in Beowulf are more like the Seals of our popular Superstitions. They are the Enemies of Man, and looked upon as possessing Intellect and Manners which bear a Re semblance to our own." Kemble Glos. in v. pifc.
4 £>earib hon^-locen.
CANTO IX.
1 Deujian fpeojabe.
2 Speofibum a-j-pepebe be ;£b-laj:e. On the wave- leaving, i. e. on the Shore where the Wave leaves what it casts up, as Seaweed. Sheels, &c.
3 In the Edda Srem. (Brynhildar-quida, 1. xv. In Grimm's Edit. 16.) the Sun is called the Shield that stendr fur skm- anda gobi, that stands before the shining God.
4 UJmbije peallap.
5 The Intervention of a personal Fate, UJyri^, was still evidently Matter of Belief. In a Note upon Saxo (p. 15) in Stephanius. Notae uberiores p. 52, Bishop Brynholm says : " Fatum universus Septentrio et Stoicam de necessitate opi- nionem, magno affirmavit consensu ; contra quam nee res, nee consilium, nee humana virtus ulla, quicquam posset. Hinc adeo omnium heroum in extremis vitae periculis, una- nimis vox erat, quae presentem statum solaretur. Ei ma
feigum forda, nie t>Jeiguin i hel /coma; i. e. nee qui morti
132 NOTES.
destinatus est fugere, nee non destinatus morti adduci po- test." See many Expressions of a like Tendency in O!af Tryggveson's Saga and other Places, and again Canto xxx. p. 83, and xxxii. p. 88, and other Passages of this Poem.
6 Billa bji63an.
7 Deah Sin pir bu^e.
8 SpepeS, onb-r-eu'oeiS.
9_These Lines, Mr. Kemble thinks, go to confirm the View we have taken of the Poem, as not of Saxon but Angle or Geatic Origin, as Ethelwulf was the first West Saxon King, (and the other Saxon Tribes he thinks would in all Probability have the same Custom) who allowed his Queen Judith, daughter of Charles the Bald, to sit beside him on the Throne, and that was in the ninth Century. Asser tells
the Tale thus. " Sed ille Juditham Karoli regis
filiam, quam a patre suo acceperat, juxta se in regali solio suo, sine aliqua suorum nobilium controversia et odio, usque ad obitum vitai suss, contra perversam illius gentis consue- tudinem, sedere imperavit." Asser. p. 9. 10. 11. But when we consider the Origin of the Custom alluded to, and that it dated no farther back than the Reign of Beohtric Ethel wulf 's Grandfather, who died A. D. 800, it will not seem probable that it was the Custom of all the Saxon Tribes. The Custom originated in the Hatred of the West Saxons to the wicked Queen Eadburh, wife of Beorhtric, as Asser states on the Authority of Alfred himself. The Crime which caused her to be driven out of England, was the Murther of her Husband. She had prepared Poison for a young Noble man, to whom the King was much attached, (and who in the Saxon Chronicle is called Worr) and against whom she could get no Grounds for an Accusation. The King, as well as the Youth, drinking of the poisoned Fluid, both fell Vic tims; the indignant People drave Eadbuhr from the Coun try, and determined that no one thenceforth should either bear the Name of Queen, or occupy a Royal Throne by the Side of their King. See Asser as cited above. Spelman's Alfred, p. 7. Turner's Anglo Saxons, ii. 241, 497. Add to this that Asser expressly says the Custom was contrary to that of the other Teutonic Nations, ultra morem omnium, id est, gentium Theotiscarum. Still, though Mr. K's View does not receive any Confirmation from this, yet I think, as I said in the introduction, there can be little doubt of its Accuracy.
10 Sije-polca rpes-
11 Scaou-helma je-r-ceapu, the form of Shadow coverings.
NOTES. 133
Form seems here to he used in its scholastic Sense, of, " that which constitutes anything what it is."
12 Ne bib fje pilna ^a^o. There shall be to thee no Goad of Desires, i. e. no Desire unsatisfied to give you Uneasiness.
CANTO X.
1 GDetobey* hylbo. The Creator's Grace, or Gift of Grace, rather the Greek ^a^ia^a than xa'|°l£'
2 Ijaena cyp t.
3 Dujj-je-peorica.
4 IS' at he jjajia ;$6ba. The Text appears here, as Mr. Kemble observes, very corrupt and unintelligible. I have therefore ventured to read J?one Dob. Ettmiiller renders it, " Nicht kennt er derGuten Brauch," the Custom of the Good ones, i. e. of Heroes. But there is no Word for " Custom" in the Text, and moreover, if there were, this would require the definite form of the Adjective J?ajaa 556- bena. Dr. Grundtvig omits the Clause entirely.
* Uli3-r-p6vba ^e-pi6pu. A singular Expression, and analogous to the Classical Notion of the Thread of Fate. It looks much as if the Weelcyrian were in the Writer's Mind. See Grimm. Teut. Mythol. p. 229 et seq.
CANTO XL
mift bleo'bum. Under Cover of Mist. 2 Recedef mu]?an.
4 Ban-locan. Compare the Manner of disposing of Hu man Prey employed by the Witch in St. Olaf's Saga, Chap ter 137.
* Syn-pnaebum.
6 Secan beopla ^e-'bfiaej.
7 J)ea}?o-be6jium. Deop. is a wild Beast, whence the Eng. Deer. £ea£>o-be6fi, ^ilbe-^eufi, and similar Ex pressions are constantly found in Anglo Saxon Poetry for " a Warriour." Similarly in Hebrew is used the Word
" a Lyon."
8 The Iron-bands may perhaps have been to secure the Vaulting, for the Building was horxn-^eap, Vaulted and
134 NOTES.
Pinnacled, whence we may see that the Poem is not anteri- our to the Introduction into this Country of the Knowledge of constructing the Arch and loading the Points of Thrust with Pinnacles. And again in Canto xxv. p. 69, it would seem the System of vaulting Chambers, and gilding the Bosses of the Ribs was in Vogue. 9 Nymf?e hjer- pa&$m Spulge on ypaj^ule.
10 Spes up a-ytajj Nipe ge-ne&hhe.
11 Dalan yige-leupne yang.
12
13 On jjaem basje
14 ^elle-haept on-heol^. Mr. Kemble considers that in a Poem of the Age of this one hel may be rendered Death, as the Icelandic " hel, helia." He also proposes to read helle-haeptum which undoubtedly construes more naturally, but perhaps the double Accusation " held him a Death-hold" is admissible.
CANTO XII.
1 Ne hiy
JS'yrte realt>e.
2 Dzeri hie meahton ppd.
3 The Gyants of Romance are often invulnerable by and seldom use the Sword. Grimm says (Teut. Mythol. 306.) Sfeiue und Felsen sind des Riesengeschlects Waffen ; es gebraucht nur Steinkeulen, Steinschilde, keine Schwerter. Hrungnis WafFe heisst Hein ; als sie geworfen in der Luft mit Thors Hammer zusammenfuhr, brach sie und ein Theil
JielzuEoden: davon kommen alle " Heinberg" (Schleifstein- felsen) her. Sn. 108, 109. Spatere Sagen legen den Riesen Stahlstangen, von 24 Ellen, zu. Roth. 687, 1662, hiirn. Sffr. 62, 2. 68, 2. Sigenot (Lassb.) 14. (Hag.) 69,75. Iwein 5022 (Ruote 5058. Kolbe 6682, 6726.) Trist. 15980, 16146 : Isenstang-e Nib. 460, i. dem Pandurus und Bitias (Aen. 9, 672) verleiht Veldek Riesennatur und iserni Kol- ven (En. 7089); Kolben Staheltn fuhrt das riesige Heer Konig Gorhands. Wh. 35, 21, 395, 24, 396, 13 : eine Staal- stang Riese Langben (danskeviser 1, 29.) Wahrscheinlich aber wird unter dem " eald sweord eotensic." Beow. 5953 ein steinernes verstanden; auch der " entisc helm" Beow.
NOTES. 135
5955 mag ein solcher sein. Vielleicht hangt damit zusam- men, dasz kein Eisenschwert auf die Riesen einscbneidet : bloss mit (lem Schwertknopf mogen sie erschlagen werden. (Ecke 178). The Gyant Slaves of Palmund however in Book ii. of the Heldenbuch had Swords as well as iron Poles : and Wolfdietrich generally employs his Sword against Gyants as well as other Opponents. Weapons were made of Stone in the very earliest Ages previous to the Discovery of work ing in Metal. A large Collection of Stone Weapons and Tools may be seen in the Museium at Christianborg Slot in Copenhagen. 4 On jjgem
3 Although in the Original Text the Alliteration is per fect, so that the Prosody betrays no Lacuna, yet the Sense being incomplete indicates the Loss of two or more Lines. I have merely filled up the Lacuna as the Tale seemed to warrant, without Regard to any critical Conjecture as to what may be the lost Words, which there is nothing to guide us in determining.
CANTO XIII.
GO me -x
2 Lip-se-bal.
3 Feorih-Iar-tap
4 £>eojio-brxe6rie peol.
* pel. Here again as at Note 14, Canto xi. Hell would seem to mean Death or the Condition of the Dead. Parallel are the Hebrew f and the Greek '
* I have used this Orthography, which is consonant with the Icelandic, in preference to the Anglo-Saxon Form Sige- mund, in order that People may not mispronounce the Name, as if it sounded Sigh-jel-mund. For the Legends relative to Sigmund see the Introduction.
7 It is possible that " Eotens" here may mean Frisians, but I think the ordinary meaning of the Word, as those fear ful fabulous Beings, in which sense we have it so frequently in this Poem, is more probable. " The dark and shadowy beings," says Mr. Kemble, " of the under-world, (Niflungar, contrasted so ably by Lachmann, in his remarks upon the NibeluOgen Lied, with the Vb'lsungar or race of Splendour), would be very well represented by the Name Eotenas.
136 NOTES.
8 Unt>ep. harme ftan. So the Nibelungen Lied, 842, 2.
Do er den lintdrachen an den berge sluoc.
9 On pealle. As this makes no sense, I have ventured to read peale.
10 Driihr-lic ifien.
11 According to the Edda and Vols. Sag. he carried away the Treasure on his Horse Grani.
12 I have no Idea to what Events Reference is here made by the Poet. According to every Account that I know of, Siegfried was murthered in the very fullest Bloom of Glory and Fortune. But possibly in the Poet's Mind Sigmund may have been identified with the unfortunate Sigmund King of Burgundy whose Death is related by S. Greg. Tur. iii. 6.
13 This is a very obscure Passage, I cannot explain it.
14 W. Grimm. (Heldensage, p. 16) considers the Crimes here referred to are those of Sigmundr and Sinfibtli in their Character as Werewolves, noticed in the Introduction. Be6- wulf 's Achievements being as great as those of Sigmund, and his Character as a true and gentle Knight quite unsullied, his Fame was of a higher grade than even Sigmund's.
15 Op bfiy\>-burie. It may perhaps be necessary to re mind some Readers, that Bower, in the Poetry and Romance of the Middle Ages, means a Chamber, so that a " Ladyes Bower/' is what we should call a " Boudoir."
CANTO XIV.
1 Dufih Druhrnep miht.
2 Ne bi<5 $e zenijfia gab CDojiulbe pilna. See Canto ix. n. 12.
3 This is a very singular Metaphor. TCc hyne pap. hapa<5
In mi'b-srupe Cearipe be-pon^en Bealp on benbum. * Style se-licoj-t
hono-fporiu.
CANTO XV.
TTc se-f 6cean j-ceal Sapl-berxenbria (rum)« Nybe je-nybeb NipSa [I read nipa] bearina.
NOTES. 137
I/eajape j~r6pe,
Dasfi hif Kc-homa.
Lejeji-beb&e
SpepeiS Eepreja j-ymle. " But each of the soul-bearers (i. e. each man) of the sons of Wickedness, inhabiting the Earth, shall, forced by neces sity, seek the ready Place (i. e. Hell), where his Body, on Death-hed fast, sleepeth after Banquet." This is so inco herent and unintelligible, that I believe the Passage to be very corrupt. Mr. Kemble considers it an Interpolation. Dr. Grundtvig renders it thus :
Maerke hver, at skjondt i Slag
Times let Ula^mpe, Det dog er en tvungen Sag,
For hver asrlig Keempe. Naar ban gaaer fra Mjb'd og Vun,
Krogen, trods al Fare, Hvor ban hviler Kroppen sin
Mandig at forsvare ! p. 93.
But can this by any possibility be extracted from the Anglo-Saxon Words ? And, if it could, is it much more intel ligible? Ettmuller's Version gives a close Translation of tbe Original, with all its Obscurity. He however states in his note that the Passage is evidently interpolated. Prof. Leo does not mention it in his Uebersicht. Schaldemose is not more intelligible.
2 Dr. Thorkelin supposes Hrothwulf to be Be6wulf. But this is quite inadmissible. In all Probability he is Rolf Kraki, Nephew to Hrothgar, and Son of Halga til (Halga or Helgi the good) mentioned in Canto I. (v. 122. K.) It is true Halga and Hruthwulf do not seem to correspond verv well with Helgi and Hrolfr except in the Names : but the Legends in Langbek are irreconcileably contradictory.
3 Fela-lap r-ciijvheaji1?).
4 See Canto IV. note 7.
5 tUfo-cuber- pij.
6 Ulic^a an'o pvepna.
CANTO XVI.
1 Paid the perie or sum at which the Hero's Life was reckoned. Among the old Teutonic Nations, (and still in some of the German States,) every man was valued at a T
138 NOTES.
certain Sum, according to his Rank, called in Anglo Saxon his Were (pejie), and whoever took his Life was punished by having to pay this Were. Hr6thgar orders the Were of the Hero who had been slain in his Service to be paid to his Companions.
2 UJitij Dob pyrft>. The wise God, Fate.
3 The E6tens here must I think mean the Frisians.
4 The Saxon Word ^olinga some Critics have manufac tured into a Lady, and joined to Hneef by the Sacrament of Marriage ; but it means in vain. Kem. p. 256.
6 See Canto IV. n. 7.
7 Every Commentator seems to consider this as the Sa crifice of a living Son of Hildeburh : but I cannot but think the youth was dead already, as Hildeburh's Brethren and Children fell in the Battle, and that it was only his dead Body that was burned on Hnaef 's funeral Pyre. Whether the ^thelings, mentioned a few lines before, had been, " awarded by wounds to Fate" in the Battle, or were so treated in honour of the Dead, is more than I can say, but the latter supposition seems best borne out by the Fact of their falling on the Corse.
8 Mounted, i. e. was carried, unless the Warriour men tioned be the Person who bare the Youth's Corse on his Shoulder.
9 Ben-geato, la$-bite licej*.
10 Eaj-ta
CANTO XVII.
jumena.
3 Umbori-per-enbum aSji. I am unable to inform the Reader to what Events the Poet alludes.
CANTO XVIII.
1 The Br6sings' Collar. This is the Brisinga-men of the Edda (Thryms-quida xiii, xv.) the famous Necklace of Freya, which was stolen by Loki and thrown into the Sea, but recovered by Heimdallr. Professor Finn Magnusen in the Lexicon Mythologicum, gives an Account of it whence I extract the following Particulars. See also Kroniugfsvard's Sago-Bibliothek, Vol. i. p. 67. No second Volume was
NOTES. 139
published. The yEser lived in the Asiatic Cities of Asgard, with Odin for their King. Freya the Daughter of Niordr followed Odin and was his Concubine. Four Dwarfs, who were very cunning Artificers in Metals resided not far from the Palace, and the Dwarfs then mixed much more with the human Race (to which Race the Author of the Saga Olafs Tryggv., whence this is taken, considered Odin and the JEsir as belonging) than latterly. Freya one Day entering their Cave saw them making a most splendid Necklace, and wished to purchase it. But at no other Price would they part with it than her Company to each of them for one Night. On these Terms she had it. The names of the four Dwarfs were Alfrikr (the Elberich of the Heldenbach and Nibelungen Lied), Grer, Berlingr, and Dvalinn. See the Explanation of the Fable in Lex. Mythol. See also Grimm. Teut. Mythol. p. 194-5. How it came into Hermanaric's Hands I do not know. The Kama of the Passage, is the Heime of the Middle Age German Poems, always associated with Wittich. (Wudgaor Vidga and Hama). The story of Hermanaric's Death is given by Jornandes, who says, " Ermanaricus rex Gothorum, licet multarum gentium exti- terit triumphator, Roxolanorum gens infida, qua? tune inter alias illi famulatum exhibebat, tali eum nanciscitur occasione decipere. Dum enim quandum mulierem Sanielh nomine ex gente memorata, pro mariti fraudulento discessu, rex fu rore commotus equis ferocibus illigatam, incitatisque cursi- bus, per diversa divelli praecepisset, fratres ejus Sarus et Ammius, germanae obitum vindicantes, Ermanarici latus ferro petierunt, &c. c. 24. (Muratori vol. i.) Gibbon, who in c. xxvi. gives the Tale from Ammianus, says the Gothic King languished a considerable Time after his Wound, while the Wilkina Saga c. ccclxxiv. represents him as dying from an unskilful Operation for what seems to have been a kind of Rupture.
2 Opeja yba Ful.
3 UJin'Dije earvb-peallaj*.
4 Dfiuncne. Vid. Canto vii. note 5.
5 Fate again personified.
CANTO XIX.
1 The MS. reads camp, but Mr. Kemble's Conjecture Dam is doubtless right. 2
3 Dippe and jalja-mob.
140 NOTES.
CANTO XX.
pseprie. I have not scrupled in several Instances to accent jaeft Guest stranger where Mr. Kemble has left it unaccented, and so to make it jaef t (
Ghost or Spirit, (this Orthography being used in the Codex Exon. and other Places,) as I think it renders a stronger and better sense than the unaccented Word.
2 In the Change of Gender here I have followed the Original.
3 The popular Superstitions relative to the Lake on Monte Pilato near Luzern will probably occur to the Reader's Mind. Vid. Beattie's Switzerland Illust. Another is described in Leibnitz Script. Br. i. 982. It is on a Mountain in Cata lonia, in cujus summitate lacus est, aquam continens subni- gram, et in fundo imperscrutabilem : lllic mansio fertur esse daemonum, ad modum palatii dilatata, et janua clausa : facies tamen ipsius mansionis, sicut ipsorum daemonum, vulgaribus est incognita et invisibilis. In lacum si quis aliquam lapi- deam, aut aliam solidam projecerit materiem, statim, tan- quam offensis daemonibus, tempestas, erumpit. Cited by Kemble.
4 OS fcaet lypr vz>riyr>ina<5.
CANTO XXL
1 Ban-c6pan.
2 Bitan. Vid. Canto iv. n. 7.
CANTO XXII.
1 Galbe lape Ulriaet-lic peej-f peoji
At what Period the waved or flaming-bladed Swords first came into use I am unable to say, but perhaps the Decision of that Question might somewhat help us in assigning a Date to this Poem. The earliest Weapon of the Sort that I have seen is in the Museum at Copenhagen, but its date is not earlier than the Age of Canute the Great.
2 £pfl-ba5ser-.
3 Le6<S-pyfican. A Hawberk forged to magical Chaunts.
4 pset he n
NOTES.
Nar hpilcum paej*.
;-m£el a-^ul
'13 jutS-lei ifo bp-un-ecj ^ejie-net heap YtSe-lice Sy<S<San he epr a-
CANTO XXIII.
canbel.
2
3 On-pint>efc ScEg-jia
4 tDagf j^aet bl6"& to ^aep hat
5 W
6 With, if seems, the Female-Daemon's Head in it.
CANTO XXIV.
1 Dame
2
3 Here the Poet seems in all probability to have confound ed some Heathen Myth about the Wars of the Gods and the Gyants with the Notice of the Qvi^l1^ in tlie Ho|y
Scriptures. The passage no doubt in his Mind is that in the Book of Wisdom, xiv. 6. Kai apx^f y«p?
cnrtXnrtv aiwvi (TTrgpjua yevsaewz ry ay KV- %£ipt. Probably the Bible was known to him only in the Vulgate, which, like the Greek, wherethrough alone unfortunately this Book is known to us, has " Gigantes," (though the Original probably was QV^^j) anc* tuus ne
came to consider the Heathen Myth as an historical Illustra tion of the inspired Text.
4 On Jjaem pcenne.
5 Daet <5ej* eojal psjie Ee-bofien betejia.
6 •« Dieser Heremod, Ecgwela's Sohn (Ich lese eaporia statt eapojian, weil sonst die Skildinge Ecgwela's Nachkom- men genannt waren) herrschte grausam iiber einen Theil der Diinen." Ettmiiller. In spite of this however I have
142 NOTES.
ventured to preserve the old Reading : for I think without Doubt the Descendants of Ecgwela are the Scyldings, and that Ecgwela is but the Hwala of the Genealogy given in the Introduction p. xxi, and is thus not Herem6d's Father, but Great-Grandfather.
7 Ic J3ir> jib be $e TC'-pfifec pmtfium pri6>&.
8 purih fftjne pepan.
CANTO XXV.
1 Hear un-je-metef pel R6pne rian
Rep tan lypte.
2 Collen-perihS.
3 Leop-hc ijaen.
CANTO XXVI.
1 Opeji janotef baep, i. e. the Sea.
2 Brie6rt-pylm.
3 - paepr.
4 Be6jin
CANTO XXVII.
1 Le6$o-pyrican.
2 SaV-^eap.
3 CDefie- bfiaejla pum.
4 8unt>-pubu and pae-senja, next line but one, both mean
3 fflutm-pinpuman. 6 Nzenij t>aet: 'cofipte
De6ji je-nepan. " Opept pealone plub.
8 Lip je-pceapca.
9 ODiue ?;
NOTES. 143
CANTO XXVIII.
Sae-pouj.
3 Sofih-pylmum pea}?.
4
5 Bon-<$ari
6 Du^u&a bi-pene&e. ? Read bi-J^ene'&e, and render : Girt with Heroes."
CANTO XXIX.
1 Cantos XXVIII, XXIX and XXX, are not separated in the MS. the Separation here is as in Mr. Kemble's Edition
2 Dyjie fjien.
3 Foemnan ^e^n, The Regent for the Time being with the Queen, as it seems, a Son of Hr6thgar. Ettmiiller in loco. I imagine however it is merely the Lady's Husband, a Youth no doubt of Hr6thgar's Family, probably a Son.
4 JE'pc billep bice.
5 J5onvfc-rtci6. Thorpe and Grundtvig look upon Hondscio as the Name of a Hero slain by G rend el : and Thorpe there fore reads on-fae^b sacrificed. 1 quite agree with Mr. Kem- ble in the Opinion that it is Grendel's Gauntlet and not any Person that is spoken of. Dr. Grundtvig renders the Pas sage thus :
Handske her den lede Trold
Noermest laae for Haanden ; I hans Klb'er den Kaempe bold
Faldt og opgav Aanden. P. 185-6.
Ettmiiller renders the Word rightly " die Gaufe."
6 k-
CANTO XXX.
1 n6men-pu>t>u jrierre.
3 ^Cn^ ic heap'se be-ceajip. And 1 abridged, shorten ed or cropped of her Head.
144 NOTES.
CANTO XXXI.
1 ^Eppel-pealupe, apple-grey. Motherw. Minstrelsy, 237, Dapple-grey.
Tojina je-hpylcef.
6 £eacSo-ri6p cyninj.
7 Seopon bur-en'fco. Seven Thousands. Among the Anglo-Saxons ten tunar- (Vills) made on teoSmjj (Tyth- ing), ten reocSm^e one hunts fie1*? (Hundred) and a certain Number of •hun"t>rievt>u a pcyjae (Shire). Probably the Thousands bupenbo here spoken of mean each ten such Hundreds hunbrxe^rm ; and I have therefore added the Word " Vilk" to make it intelligible to the ordinary Reader.
8
9 The old Teutonic Dragons were generally Treasure - keepers.
10 The two-dozen Lines from here to the other mark (*) cannot be called Translation. The Manuscript is there so ruined that only a few Words here and there can be deci phered. Putting together these few Words, and connecting them by means of Allusions occurring in the subsequent Part of the Poem, I have woven together the Fragments, so as to conceal, so far as the Thread of the Story is concerned, the Appearance of a Lacuna, though to attempt by critical Conjecture to supply what is lost of the Anglo-Saxon Text would of course he mere childish Vanity. But for the Con venience of those who wish to know, without consulting the Original, what is really legible in the Manuscript, and what is merely put in by me as " Ripieno," 1 have distinguished the latter by inclosing it in Brackets thus [ ].
CANTO XXXII.
<5aeri-mne peal ...... Perhaps Tnb baep. mne
pealle.
2 A Lacuna of three Verses, without a Letter to guide one.
3 Deurie ma}?mar.
4 Feorxh-bealo priecne.
NOTES. 145
Du^ucS bi& ellorx-j-eoc. Dornen 5le6-beamep. Harp. Seel. I have ventured to read Sal. Bealo-cpealm hapab Fela peojih-cynna FeoriS
10 Gal's uht-r-cea$a.
11 A Lacuna of two-and-a-half Verses. '- Ne bits him pihte be pel.
13 Sum.
14 Stone £& septeri ptane.
10 Beoriser --,,--- 17 UJyrime on pillan.
CANTO XXXIII.
1 Lypt-ploga. At the Beginning of the 2nd Book of Saxo, (fol. 11. b. Edit. Paris 1514) is the following Descrip tion of a Dragon, and Recipe for tackling him.
Insula non longe est praemollibus edita clivis, Collibus ffira tegens, et opimse conscia praedas, Hie tenet eximium montis possessor acervum, Implicitus gyris serpens, crebrisque reflexus Orbibus, et caudas sinuosa volumina ducens, Multiplicesque agitans spiras, virusque profundens. Quern superare volens, clypeo, quo convenit uti, Taurinas intende cutes, corpusque bovinis Tergoribus tegito, nee amaro nuda veneno Membra patere sinas ; sanies, quod conspuit, urit. Lingua trisulca micans patulo licet ore resultet, Tristiaque horrifico minitetur vulnera rictu, Intrepidum mentis habitum retinere memento, Nee te permoveat spinosi dentis acumen, Nee rigor aut rapida jactatum fauce venenum. Tela licet temnat vis squamea, ventre sub imo Esse locum scito, quo ferrum mergere fas est ; Hunc mucrone petens medium rimaberis anguem, Hinc montem securus adi, pressoque ligone, Perfossos scrutare cavos, mox aere crumenas Imbue, completamque reduc ad littora puppim.
By following this Recipe Frotho kills the Dragon, as also in Book vi. (fol. 54. b.) Fridlev does another Dragon by the U
146 NOTES.
same Process perfossa inguinis parte. The Dragon Scha- desan, slain by Wolfdietrich (Heldenbuch Book ii. pt. C2. Adv. viii. See Weber Illust. North. Antiq. p. 121), had a Head of a horny Consistence, his Shoulders were two Ells in Width, and he had also four-and-twenty Legs.
3 lEealt>ent>e.
4 Lien-baga. Mr. Kemble's Reading.
5 prun^a-pen^el.
6 ITi-D-plosan.
7 J>iorxo-*bruncum ppealt:.
8 Sunb-nyfce *ojieah.
9 There is a small Lacuna, and the Text is probably corrupt.
10 SioleSa bi-jons, i.e. the Sea.
11 Speoribep
CANTO XXXIV.
Srepte.
Cealbum ceaji-pijjum, i. e. Death. " Him" refers to Eai gils.
IDael-pup.
lEyrib un-^e-mere neah. Saple-hojiD. Plaej-ce be-punt>en. 9 ^orin-bojan.
10 Da^t; hip byrie pti^e H/ionj on jalgan.
The Death of a Relation, even if accidental, must be avenged or atoned for by a Compensation. Hence the Ang. Sax. legal Phrase ; Let him buy or bear the Spear, i. e. Let him indure or buy off the Feud. This was the Case through out the Teutonic Nations even in the Time of Tacitus, and the old Teutonic Law rests on it as a Principle. Hrethel as the Mundbora or legal Guardian of his Son was bounden to exact Satisfaction. Why a Satisfaction in Money could not be accepted I do not understand, since all that we know of the old Teutonic Law seems to indicate the Reverse. A bloody Satisfaction however Hrethel's fatherly Love for his Son would not allow him to take.
11 Sorih-ceapag.
NOTES. 147
12 tthnb-;$e-riepte.
13 InhoSman. Hades the Region of the Dead. Darkness. See the Address to Our Lord in the Codex. Exon. p. 3. 1.32.
CANTO XXXV.
1 The Anglo-Saxons used the verb ceopan in a singular Manner in Phrases denoting Death, thus ceop an ecne riaVfc to choose the everlasting Counsel, ce6pan bael to choose the Pyre &c. signify to die.
2 There seems to be here a Lacuna of some Extent, but as there is no Indication of it in the MS. nor does the Metre betray it, I have only marked it by a few dots.
3 Dsej-hrxaepne.
4 *Rc himhiroe SJiap J)eojit:an pylmap, Ban-hup ^e-briaec.
5 ODan-r-ceaiSa.
6 Eujj-plogan.
7 Feorih-bealu.
8 Striengo je-rjaupode
manner*,
9 I read £ilbe-hlemman.
10
13 Gc^um un-^leap. 14
CANTO XXXVI.
1 Leop-lic.
2 IjucS-je-pjefeu Fyptb-peafio pup-lie.
3 De-mealt.
4 Dae^a bol-licria.
5 Daet minne lic-hdman ODi*?) mmne jol^o-^ypan nie*t> psepmie.
6 IBael-piiec.
148 NOTES.
in-pit-jaer-t.
9 Naegling. I cannot helpjhinking that an r has dropped out of this Word, and that Najgling- is really no other than Naglhringr the celebrated Sword which the Dwarf Alpris obtained for Dietrich of Bern, as related in the Wilkina Saga. c. xvi.
CANTO XXXVII.
1 Spa him se-cyn'&e pa?p.
2 Hre-bajin.
3 De-beap.
4 Foji-pfiat on mivo'oan. 5
6 De;$n un--$e-mere till.
7 tMnbe prel-bleate.
8 Dea$ un-^e-mete nedh.
9 e^er-an ^eon MS. which is certainly corrupt. I have ventured to read e^ep an *o6n.
10 COael-se-r-ceapta.
11 Specie. Firmament of Jewellery.
CANTO XXXVIII.
1 Collen-perihtS.
2 Bjieoft-horib.
3 On ^lojojje, IMS. On ge-hSo, Kemb. I have read On phjje.
4 Brentings, Mr. Kemble suggests, may probably be a term for Ships in general. But there certainly was a People of that Name, as in Paulus Diaconus 2, 3, we read ; " Ha- buit Narses certamen adversus Sindvald, Brentorum regem, qui adhuc de Herulorum stirpe remanserat; quern secuni, in Italiam veniens, simul Odoacer adduxerat." Cited by Ettmiiller p. 35. However, in the Text of Paulus Diaconus printed in the "Gothicarum et Langobardicarum rernm Scriptores aliquot veteres," Lug. Bat. 1617, the Word is not Brentorum, but Brebtorum.
5 See Canto XXXV. note 1.
CANTO XXXIX.
NOTES. 149
Fop. iSffij- hilb-pfiuman
4 CCine je-pjiaeje.
5 Trieop-lojan.
7 GucS-ge-paibu.
8 Seah on un-le6pe.
9 Opep. mm ^e-mer.
10 I extract Mr. Kemble's Note on the ten latter Lines of this Canto. " It is not improbable that the whole of this denunciation of Wiglaf is a judicial formulary : such, we know, early existed, and in a regular rhythmical measure : the classical reader need not be reminded of Aristotle's vo/j.01. Chlodowicb seems to make use of a similar formu lary to his Kinsman Ragnachari, who had suffered himself to be taken and bound. Here is the passage from the Gesta Regum Francorum. (Script. Rer. Gall, and Francic. vol. ii.555.) Cuidixit Chlodovens, cur hnmiliastigentemnostram, ut te vinciri permitteres? Nonne melius tibifuerit mori? Et elevata bipenni in caput ejus defixit, et mortuus est. Conver- susque ad fratrem ejus, ait. Si tu solatium fratri tuo prsebu- isses, illi ligatus non fuisset. Similiter et ipsum in capite percussum interfecit, et mortuus est. Thus certainly by adhering to an old Teutonic custom, and acting upon an old Teutonic principle, Chlodowich got rid of two very danger ous rivals. Gens nostra is the majg-burh of our text and deaf) bij? sella is precisely metius tibi fuerit mori. The gentile bond was, as Tacitus assures us, the foundation of the military organization : the cowardice of one man dis graced his gens, family, or mjEg-burh. Tacitus says (Germ. vi.) nee sacris adesse aut concilium inire ignominioso fas, (ignominiosus war der feige, der in kampf sein schild wag- geworfen hatte. Grimm. Dent. Rechtsalterthumer, 731 :) multi superstites bellorum infamiam laqueo finierunt. The following apocryphal legend respecting Frothi confirms Ta citus; praeterea si quis in acie primus fugam capesceret, a communijure alienus existeret. Saxo. lib. 5. p. 85. Grimm reads line 5767" [in the passage before us] "leofen alicgan : he remarks, Ich iibersetze : jam opum largitio, ensium dona omnisque patrise laetitia, et victus generi vestro cessabunt ; quilibet vestrae cognationis alienus erit a jure communi, post- quam homines compererint fugam vestram, ignominiosam secessionem a domino vestro; (secessio for daeltS, which Thorkelin had given as the reading of the MS. The MS. however has da;ld, the 1 being expuncted.) Mors enim vero generoso praestantior est, quam vita probrosa. Lufen nehme
150 NOTES.
ich f iir leofen victus, und dann entspricht wyn and Infen ganz unserer rechts formel wonne undweide D. Rechtsalt, 46, 521. But we know from Tacitus, Germ. xii. in addition to what we have above cited, that death was sometimes inflicted upon cowards, and that, by burying alive in a marsh with symbolical ceremonies; ignavos et imbelles et corpore in- fames c&no ac palude, injecta insuper crate, mergunt. This punishment appears to have been chosen because it was in flicted upon female slaves; vid. Atla-mal. Upon it Grimm remarks, D. Rechts Alt. 695, that the tradition remained in the poems of the middle ages, and cites Bonac. 32, 27. and Fischart, Flohhatz. 36, a. he quotes also the following inter esting passage ; novo genere lethi, dejectus ad caput aquae Ferentinre, crate superne injecta, saxisque congestis, merge- retur. Tit. Livius i. 51. But it is my belief that the old tradition got into the poems from the proverbs : in those of many nations it still survives, a matter deserving of remark because many proverbs owe their origin to the customary law, as on the other hand, many spring from religious ob servances and the superstitions of a people. The Proverbs to which I allude will be found, Griiter Flor. p. 136. Ray. p. 21. Gartn. Diet. Prov. 68, b. Howel, p. 5, &c."
CANTO XL.
1 Seax-bennum peoc.
2 >ealbe$ .....
Leopep anb labep.
3 £et>pafie. Leo and Ettmiiller take this Word as a proper-name. The People called Het-ware or Chattuarii lay between the Franks and Frisians. I have preferred, with Mr. Kemble, to consider the Word simply as an ordinary Substantive, for it was the Franks who slew Higelac.
4 JJonVplyht.
5 T6 jamene. The savage Warriours of the North very generally put their Prisoners to Death, frequently sacrific ing them to Odin. (Procop. Bel. Van. 1, 2. Bel. Got. ii. 14, 15.) Indeed this was done by almost all Nations before the Influence of the Christian Church had succeeded to some Extent in softening the cruel Spirit of Man. Thus the Jews are often represented in Holy Scripture as executing their Prisoners. It were needless to quote Instances from Ori ental History. The Greeks more usually butchered only the
NOTES. 151
Chiefs, reducing the Rest to the terrible Condition of Slavery, while the bloody Scenes of a Roman Triumph are well known. In the Edda. Saem. Sigurdar-quida Fafn. 2. xxv. we find Sigurdr Fafnisbani putting his Prisoner Lyngui the Son of Hunding to the cruel Death called orn rista (to cut the Eagle)
Nu er blobugr orn Now is the bloody Eagle Bitrom hiorvi With tbe biting Sword
Bana Sigmundar On the slayer of Sigmundr's A baki ristinn. Back cut/
Edd. Saem. Vol. ii. p. 165.
and the same cruelty was perpetrated upon ^Ella of North umberland by the Sons of Ragnar. Even the Influence of Holy Church has been unable to restrain the Ferocity of many. Charlemagne butchered his Saxon Prisoners by Thou sands, but he took care to call them Rebels or Traitors first. Dagobert ruurthered all his Prisoners who were taller than his Sword. Mezeray, Abrege Chron. torn. iii. p. 222, but Mezeray does not believe the Tale, though why not he does not tell us, except that it sounds romantic. The Portuguese and English after the Battle of Aljubarota(Froissart B. iii. c. 13, Vol. ii. p. 122, Edit. London, 1844), and the English after the Battle of Agmcourt, (Monstrelet. B. 1. c. cxlvi, Vol. 1, p. 342, Edit. London, 1846-7) massacred their Prisoners : and even lately the French at Algiers suffocated eight Hun dred Arab Prisoners with Smoke.
CANTO XLI.
1 COjiicSon.
2 Dffit hie pael-ptupe IBeal^an mupton.
3 SybcSan hie tSti mreji&a ge-plogon.
4 CDfEl-nf*.
5 Foic-fueb pjieme'tje. Query. Does polc-fiaVfc, the People's Counsel, mean the Decision of any deliberative Body of the People 1
6 UJonna.
7 UJunbori-'fceacSe j* pealt.
8 A Thousand simply means many.
152 NOTES.
CANTO XLII.
1 GDoriulbe je-bal, Separation from the World, i. e. Death.
2 ttlaep -)5 jipep-e t6 ppij?
pe iSone iSy'&eri on-tyhce.
3 On jjaep IDzeltien^ep paerie. Menol. Ang. Sax. Fox. 432.
5 On
6 majjmar-.
CANTO XLIII.
1 Un-pac-lfcne.
2 Spic-J?61. T/ig Destroyer of Wood or Matter, i. e. Fire. Exactly synonymous is the Icelandic " Lindar-vajn." (Si- gurdar-quida Fafn. II. B. xliii) and " Muspill." The Word is compounded of 8 pic, Destructive, and Dul Wood or the Thole of a Rowlock. In these Compounds one must suppose the Ang. Sax. Word D61 and the Icelandic Words "Lindi" and " Mud or Mu" to mean like the Greek 'Y\?) Matter rather than exclusively Wood. Confer. Kemb. in loco. Grimm. Deut. Mythol. 467, 540, and the Glossary to Berg- mann's Poemes de 1'Edda.
3 O$ tSa^r he J?a ban-hup De-briocen haeptoe.
4 The eight Lines between the two Marks (*) cannot be called Translation, the MS. in that Part being too much in jured to be read. I have treated the few legible Words exactly as I did those in Cantos XXXI and XXXII, and so filled up so as not to inconvenience the Reader.
5 CpaVson J?a3t he paerie, Ulyjiolb-cynin^a, CDanna mil'ouf'c,
Le6t>um li
INDEX.
Abulfarag, 125.
Adam, Genealogy of Kings from, xxi.
Adils, vid. Eadgils.
^Elfred, xxvi.
^lla of Northumberland, 151.
vEschere, 52. 55.
Aljubarota, Massacre of Pri soners at, 151.
Amilias, 130.
Angles, and Geats, xxv.
Anseric,xix. xxi.
Arch, in Building, 4. 17. 33. 69. 105, 106. 133.
Architecture, xxiv.
Armour, Chain, 14. 22. 59. 87. 106.
Artric, or Harderic, xix. xxi.
Artvin, xxxvi.
Asser, xxx. 132.
Audi, v. Woden.
Aun, v. On.
Azincourt, English massacre their Prisoners at, 151.
B
Baeldaeg, xxxiv. Banquet, 24. 39-49. 76. Barrow made over a Tomb, 18.
108. 121.
Bedwig, xviii. xxi. Beouoc, Beanstan, xxxiv. 22.
Be6wulf, The Scylding, xvi. xxii. 3.
The Waegmunding, a My thological Being, xvi. xxii. xxiv.
Hears of the Ravage of Denmark, and prepares to aid the Danes, 9, et seq. 17. 77.
Arrives, and is introduced to the King, 10. 17.
Made Chief of the Palace- guard, 26.
Slays Grendel, 30. 34.
His Popularity, 33.
Adopted by Hr6thgar, 37.
Slays a Nicker, 55.
Attacks and slays Gren- del's Mother, 57. 60.
Returns home, 70-74.
Is long unappreciated by the Geats, 84.
Is enraged at the Devas tation made by the Dra gon, 90.
Refuses the Throne while the infant Heir lives, 92.
Accedes to the Throne, 92.
Goes to attack the Dra gon, 93.
Fights with the Dragon, 99. 104.
154
INDEX.
Beowulf, His Followers take
Flight, 100. Aided by Wiglaf, slays the
Dragon, 105. Is mortally wounded,
105. Gives Directions for his
Funeral, 108. Dies, 109.
His Body burned, 121. Bergmann, xxxii. 152. Bevin, v. Be6wulf. Birds, Language of, revealed to Sigurdr Fafnisbani, xxxvii. xli.
Boar, The Crest of the Hel met, 13. 43. 50. 56. 129. Bo, Boerinus, &c. v. Beowulf,
xxii.
Bodo, v. Woden, xx. xxi. xxii. Bbdvildr. 130. Borghildr, xxxv. Brecca, xxxiii. 21. Brentings, 108. 148. Brisinga-meu, v. Brosings. Brond, Brondings, xxxiii. 21. Brosings' Collar, 47. 84. 138. Brynhildr, xxxviii. xliii. Brynholm, 131. Buddha, xx.
Burning the Dead, 43. 121. 138.
Cain, Posterity of, 5. 49. 126.
Charlemagne, 151.
Chilperic, xl.
Chlodowick, 149.
Chochilaicus, v. Higelac.
CHRIST stripped of his God head by the new Religion, xxiii.
Christian, The Author of Beo wulf a, xxviii. xliv. 124.
Chronology violated in mytho logical Traditions, xx.
Copenhagen Museium, 123,
135, 140.
Crighton and Wheaton, xvii. Cup, Drinking, Borne round
by the Queen, 25. 46. 78. Custom of the Hall, Heroes to
keep Guard, 49.
D
Dan, xviii.
Danes, Oppressed by Grendel, 8. 20.
Conquer Friesland, 42-
45. Delivered by Beowulf,
33.
Date of Poem, xlv. Dead, The, how disposed of, 2. 43. 121. 123.
Rest in GOD'S Covenant,
2. 120.
Region of the, 135. 147. Death of a Relation must be avenged, or atoned for by Compensation, 146. Demons descended from Cain,
5. 49.
Dietrich, xxii. 148. Doom of the Good and Wicked,
8. 24.
Dragons, xxxvii. xl. xliii. 145. Dissolve at death, 35. Are Treasure-keepers, xl.
35. 85. 88. 144. The Dragon's Cave Rob bed, 85. Breathe Fire and live
long, 88. 99.
Dragon, The, attacks the Geats, 89.
Is killed by Be6wulf, 99.
104.
Is fifty Feet long, 117. Thrown into the Sea,
120. Drunken, 131.
INDEX.
155
Eadbuhr, 132.
Eadgils, 92.
Eanmund, 101.
Ecglaf, Father of Hunferth, 21.
38. 56. 69. Ecgtheow, Be6wulf's Father,
11.25.54.57. 84. Ecgwela, 66. 141. Elan marries Ongentheow, xvi.
3. Elves descended from Cain,
5.
Enoch, 127. Eofer, xxvi. 96. 114. Eormanric, xxxv. 47. 139. Eotens, 17. 27. 35. 60. 135.
Descended from Cain, 5. Ethelvverd, xvii. Ethelwulf, 132. Ettmiiller, xv. xxx. 143. 148.
Fafnir, xxxix. xl. xliii.
Dissolves spontaneously
by his own Heat, 35. Fant, xxix. Fate, 48. 98, 99. 131 Finn, King of Friesland, xix.
xxi. xxx. 42. Killed, 45. Finn Magnusen, Prof. xv. xxxi.
138.
Fitela, xxxiv. 35. 123. Flood, The Noachic, 65. Florence of Worcester, xxvii. Franks, xxv. 150. Freeware, xvi. 78. Freawine or Frelaph, xix. xxi. Freothogar, xxxiii. Fridlev. xviii. 145. Frithuwald.Fridwald, xix. xxi. Frithuwulf, Fridulph. xix.
xxi.
Froda, xvi. xviii. 78. Frotho, 145.
Gar-Danes, 1. 24. 96. 123.
Garmund, xxviii.
Geats, xxv. xxvi. 9. 14. 24. 32.
47. 96. 101. 121. G elder, xix.
Genevie"ve, St. xxxvi. xlv. George, St. xliii. Geta or Geat, xix. xxi. GOD'S Will and Fate, 1. 2. 28.
37,38. 60.116. 131. Gods, The heathen, are Devils, xxviii. 8.
The, of a Superseded Re- ligion, get looked upon as Heroes, xxiii. Godwulf, xix. xxi. xxx. Gramur, xxxviii. Grani, xxxviii. xli. Gregory, St. of Tours, xxv.
136.
Grendel, A Demon, 5. 24. 26, 77.
Attacks Heorot, 6. 29. 80. Lives in Deserts, 7. 77. Eats human Flesh, 30. 80. Attacks Be6wulf, and is
slain, 30. 80. Invulnerable by Wea pons, 32.
Grendel's Mother attacks He orot, slays Fischere, 49. 50. Her Abode, 53. Fights with Beowulf, and is slain, 59, 60. 82. Grimm, xv. xxvii. 130. 133,
134. 136. 149. Grundtvig, 137. Gualas, v. Hwala. Guard of the Coast, 10. Guthlaf, xxx. 45. Gyants, Rebellion of the, against GOD, 5. 65.141. Children of Cain, 5. 125.
156
INDEX.
Grants, Moses' Gibborim, 125.
141. Weapons of, and against,
134. Gyfths, 96.
H
Hfereth, Hygd's Father, xxvii.
74.
Hzethcyn, xxvi. 94, 113. Hagene, or Hb'gni, xli. xlii. Halga, or Helgi, xvi. 3. 137. Hama, 47. 139. Haquon, v. On. Harderic, v. Artric. Harp, 5. 87. 116. Hathra, or Hadras, xviii. xxi. Havard, xviii. Healfdene, Haldane, xvi. xviii.
3.77.
Heardred, xxvi. 92. Heatho-beardan, 73. Heatho-raemes, xxxiv. 21. Heatho-laf, slain by Ecgtheuw,
19.
Heimskringla, xxii. xxv. Hell, 8. 24. 34. 134. Helmings, 25. Hemming, xxviii. Hengest, xx. xxxiii. 43. Heorogar, xvi. 3. 65. Heorot, or Roeskilde, 4. 18.
124.
Attacked by Grendel,6. Streets paved with Stone,
14.
Injured by the Fight of Be6wulf and Greudel, 39.
Herebald, xxvi. 94. Hereric, xxvii. Heremod, xvii. xviii. 35. 66.
141.
Hermanaric, v. Eormanric. Hermann, xxxvi. Hetware, 150.
Hialprekr, xl.
Higelac, King of the Geats, xxv. xxvi. 9. 17. 32. 76. 84. 94. 113.
Death of, xxv. 85. 91.
112. 150. Hildebuhr, xxxiii. 42. 45.
138.
Hnagf. xxxiii. 42. Hoce, Hocings, xxxiii. 42. Hondscio, 143. Horn, Drinking, 20. 40. 47. Horse-races, 36. Hrsedla, 19. Hrefna-wood, 113. Hrethel, Higelac's Father,
xxvi. 74. Hrethmen, 18.
Hrones-ness, Beowulf's Bu rial-place, 121.
Hrothgar, King of Denmark, Genealogy, xvi. 3. Build's Heorot, 4. Oppressed by Grendel, 8.
20. 37. Buys Peace with Wyl-
fing-s, 19.
Confides the Custody of his Castle to Beowulf, 26.
Adopts Be6wulf, 37. Rewards Be6wulf and his Companions, 40. 72. 83. Appoints Be6wulf Master of the Cavalry and Ar moury, 41. His Speech, 65-69. His Attachment to Beo"-
wulf, 72. Hrothmund and Hrethric, xvi.
46.
Hr6thwulf or llolfr, xvi. 46. Hruntiug, 56. 69. Hugan, 97.
Hunferth, Hr6thgar's Orator, 21.45.57.
INDEX.
Wife, xxvi.
157
Hygd, Higelac' xxviii. 74.
Attempts to murther her
Husband, 75. Marries Offa, 75.
Ingeld, xvi. xviii. 80. Investiture of a King, 84. lormanrik, v. Eormanric. Itermon, xviii. xxi.
Judgement to come, 116.
Kemble, xv. His Work is con stantly used.
Krantz, Albert, xix. xxvii. Kriemhilte, or Godrun, xli.
Lachmann, xliii. 135. Lake, Mysterious, where the Demons reside, 53.
Subsides on their Death,
63.
Langhorne, xviii. xxvii. Leibnitz, 140. Leo, xv. xviii. Lindar-vathi, 152. Lyngvi, xl. 151.
M
Marbod, xx. xxi. Matter's-Enemy, 121. 152. Matthew of Westminster,
xxxiii.
Mead, 1. 20. Mere-wioings, 113. Monte Pilato, 140. Mundbora, 146. Museium at Copenhagen,
123.
Muspill, 152. Mythological Character of an
cient Heroes, xvi. xxii. xxiv. xliii.
N Nsegling, Beowulf's Sword,
103. 148. Nennius, xxx. Nibelungen, xli. 136. Nickers, 17. 23. 55. Nidung, xxxvi. 130. Noah, xxi.
0
Obsequies of a naval Hero, 2. Of a military Hero, 43.
138.
Odin, v. W6den. Offa, xxviii. 75. Ohtere, 101. Qlaf, xviii. 132, 133. On, xxix. Ongentheow, xxix. 96. 113.
115.
Orn rista, 151. Orosius, xxvi. Oslaf, or Ordlaf, xxx. 45.
Palmund, 135.
Paulus Diaconus, 148.
Petersen, Prof. xvii.
Pilato, Monte, 140.
Pinnacles, 134.
Poem, Authorship and Date of
the, xliv. xlvi. Poison boils in the Water
where the Demons are, 55.
82. Prisoners of War put to Death,
150. Procopius, 150.
Q
Queen, carries the Cup to the Guests in Banquet, 25. 46. 78.
158
INDEX.
Queen, not allowed in Wessex
to sit on a royal Throne,
132.
R
Racing, 36. Ragnar Lodbrok, xxxv. xliii.
151. Reginn, or Reigin, xxxvii.
xxxix.
Rerer, xxxv. Rings given by Kings to their
Followers, 2.21.57. 67. Used for Money, 123. Ro. Roeskilde, xvii. 124. Romans butchered Prisoners,
150.
S
Saebald, xxvii. Ssefugel, xxvii. Samiazus, 126, 127. Saxo Grammaticus, xx. xxvii.
145.
Saxon Chronicle, xxvi. Scef, Exposure of, and Family,
xvi. xviii. 1.
Scyldings, or Skjb'ldungar, xvi. Scyld, or Skjold, xvi. xxi.
Dies, 1. Scylfings,3. Sea-monsters, 22. Sfgegar, xxvii. Sigegeat, xxvii. Siggy, Sigvat, xxxv. Sigmund (Sigurdr Fafnisbani,
Sifrit, Siegfried), xxxiv. xliv.
34. 123. 135, 136. 151. Signy, xxxiv. xxxv. Simeon of Durham, xvii. Sinfiotli, v. Fitela. Sisile, Cecilia, xxxvi. Streseus, v. Sc6f. Suebdaeg, xxii. Sweeds, 96. Sworta, Swerting, Svartick,
xix. xxi. xxvi. xxvii.
Swic-thul, 152. Sword, Metallic, will not act * against Gyants and Demons, 32. 59. 112. 134. Poisoned, 56. Wave-bladed, 57. 61.
140.
Ancient magic, dissolved by the Blood of Gren- del's Dam, 62. 64. Naegling, 103. 148. Hrunting, 56. 69.
T
Taetwa, or Tetuas, xix. xxi. Thomsen, Prof., 123. Trophies, Grendel's Arm, ,'i3. 37. 39.
Grendel's, and his Dam's Heads, 63.
Vandals, 14.
Vaulting of Roofs, 133.
Vecta, xx.
Vermund, xviii.
Vita, xx.
Vb'lsungr, xxxiii. 135.
Vblsunga Saga, xxxix-xliii.
Von der Hagen, xv.
W
Wfegda?g, xxvii. Wajgmundings, xxv. 101. Waalcyrian, xxvii. Waelsings, or Vblsungar, 35. Waltheuw, xvi. 25. 47. 78. Wayland Smith, 130. Weders, xxv. 17. 102. 125. Weber, 146. Weland, 19. 32. 130. Weldeg, xix. Were, 137. Whale, 22. 131. Wiglaf, a Scylfing Prince, 101, 119.
INDEX.
159
Wiglaf Assists Beowulf, 103. Succeeds Beuwulf, 109. Rifles the Dragon's Cave,-
106.
Attends his dying Sove reign, 108. Upbraids the Runaways,
111. 150. Orders the Funeral of the
King, 112. Wihstan, Wiglaf 's Father,
101.
Wihtlseg, xxviii. Wilkin, xix. xxi. VVilkina Saga, xxxvi. 130. 139.
148.
Withergyld, 79. Witigils, xx.
Witikind, xx. xxi.
W6den, xviii. xix. xxi. xxiii.
xxvii. xxxv. 139. Wolfdietrich, 135. 146. Wonred, xxvii. 11.5. VVorr, 132.
Wudga, or Wittich, 139. Wulf, xxvii. 115. Wulfgar, a Vandal Prince, 14. Wylfings, 19.
Ynglingar, xxix.
Zohar, 127. Zeuss, xv. xliv.
ERRATA.
Page xviii, line 7, for kin, read hin.
Page xxvii, line I, for Hoereth, read Haereth.
Page xxxi.line 6, for Bergmann, vol. iii. read Bergmann. — Vol.
iii.
Page xl, line 1 8, for the Hindarfiall, read to Hindarfiall. Page 5, line 20, for Marshes, > Pa|e 52, line 30, for Marshes, J read Marches. Page 69, line 23, for Angle, read Geatic. Page 82, line 19, for Champion, read Companion. Page 87, line 14, Efface the Full-stop. Page 93, line 2 from foot, for tenderly bade, read tenderly he
bade.
Page 96, line 16, for Angle, read Geatic. Page 103, line I ft, for and, read to. Page 110, line 3 from foot, for Wikstan read Wihstan. Page 134, line 19,/or Accusation, read Accusative.
1MUNTKI) BY C. WHITTINGI1AM, CH1SWICK.
PR
1583
W33
Beowulf Beowulf
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY