Beowulf. The Beowulf Poet

in buffet of battle thou brave hast been, in struggle grim, — if Grendel’s approach thou darst await through the watch of night!”

      Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: —

       “What a deal hast uttered, dear my Unferth,

       drunken with beer, of Breca now,

       told of his triumph! Truth I claim it,

       that I had more of might in the sea

       than any man else, more ocean-endurance.

       We twain had talked, in time of youth,

       and made our boast, — we were merely boys,

       striplings still, — to stake our lives

       far at sea: and so we performed it.

       Naked swords, as we swam along,

       we held in hand, with hope to guard us

       against the whales. Not a whit from me

       could he float afar o’er the flood of waves,

       haste o’er the billows; nor him I abandoned.

       Together we twain on the tides abode

       five nights full till the flood divided us,

       churning waves and chillest weather,

       darkling night, and the northern wind

       ruthless rushed on us: rough was the surge.

       Now the wrath of the sea-fish rose apace;

       yet me ’gainst the monsters my mailéd coat,

       hard and hand-linked, help afforded, —

       battle-sark braided my breast to ward,

       garnished with gold. There grasped me firm

       and haled me to bottom the hated foe,

       with grimmest gripe. ’Twas granted me, though,

       to pierce the monster with point of sword,

       with blade of battle: huge beast of the sea

       was whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine.

      9

      ME thus often the evil monsters

       thronging threatened. With thrust of my sword,

       the darling, I dealt them due return!

       Nowise had they bliss from their booty then

       to devour their victim, vengeful creatures,

       seated to banquet at bottom of sea;

       but at break of day, by my brand sore hurt,

       on the edge of ocean up they lay,

       put to sleep by the sword. And since, by them

       on the fathomless sea-ways sailor-folk

       are never molested. — Light from east,

       came bright God’s beacon; the billows sank,

       so that I saw the sea-cliffs high,

       windy walls. For Wyrd oft saveth

       earl undoomed if he doughty be!

       And so it came that I killed with my sword

       nine of the nicors. Of night-fought battles

       ne’er heard I a harder ’neath heaven’s dome,

       nor adrift on the deep a more desolate man!

       Yet I came unharmed from that hostile clutch,

       though spent with swimming. The sea upbore me,

       flood of the tide, on Finnish land,

       the welling waters. No wise of thee

       have I heard men tell such terror of falchions,

       bitter battle. Breca ne’er yet,

       not one of you pair, in the play of war

       such daring deed has done at all

       with bloody brand, — I boast not of it! —

       though thou wast the bane {9a} of thy brethren dear, thy closest kin, whence curse of hell awaits thee, well as thy wit may serve! For I say in sooth, thou son of Ecglaf, never had Grendel these grim deeds wrought, monster dire, on thy master dear, in Heorot such havoc, if heart of thine were as battle-bold as thy boast is loud! But he has found no feud will happen; from sword-clash dread of your Danish clan he vaunts him safe, from the Victor-Scyldings. He forces pledges, favors none of the land of Danes, but lustily murders, fights and feasts, nor feud he dreads from Spear-Dane men. But speedily now shall I prove him the prowess and pride of the Geats, shall bid him battle. Blithe to mead go he that listeth, when light of dawn this morrow morning o’er men of earth, ether-robed sun from the south shall beam!” Joyous then was the Jewel-giver, hoar-haired, war-brave; help awaited the Bright-Danes’ prince, from Beowulf hearing, folk’s good shepherd, such firm resolve. Then was laughter of liegemen loud resounding with winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth, queen of Hrothgar, heedful of courtesy, gold-decked, greeting the guests in hall; and the high-born lady handed the cup first to the East-Danes’ heir and warden, bade him be blithe at the beer-carouse, the land’s beloved one. Lustily took he banquet and beaker, battle-famed king.

      Through the hall then went the Helmings’ Lady,

       to younger and older everywhere

       carried the cup, till come the moment

       when the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,

       to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead.

       She greeted the Geats’ lord, God she thanked,

       in wisdom’s words, that her will was granted,

       that at last on a hero her hope could lean

       for comfort in terrors. The cup he took,

       hardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow’s hand,

       and answer uttered the eager-for-combat.

       Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: —

       “This was my thought, when my thanes and I

       bent to the ocean and entered our boat,

       that I would work the will of your people

       fully, or fighting fall in death,

       in fiend’s gripe fast. I am firm to do

       an earl’s brave deed, or end the days

       of this life of mine in the mead-hall here.”

       Well these words to the woman seemed,

       Beowulf’s battle-boast. — Bright with gold

       the stately dame by her spouse sat down.

       Again, as erst, began in hall

       warriors’ wassail and words of power,

       the proud-band’s revel, till presently

       the son of Healfdene hastened to seek

       rest for the night; he knew there waited

       fight for the fiend in that festal hall,

       when the sheen of the sun they saw no more,

       and dusk of night sank darkling nigh,

       and shadowy shapes came striding on,

       wan under welkin. The warriors rose.

       Man to man, he made harangue,

       Hrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail,

       let him wield the wine hall: a word he added: —

       “Never to any man erst I trusted,

       since I could heave up hand and shield,

       this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.

       Have now and hold this house unpeered;

       remember thy glory; thy might declare;