Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem. Anonymous

warlike equipments. ’Gainst the wall of the building

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

      Battle-shields sturdy; benchward they turned then;

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

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      The lances stood up then, all in a cluster,

      The arms of the seamen, ashen-shafts mounted

      With edges of iron: the armor-clad troopers

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

      Were decked with weapons. Then a proud-mooded hero

      Asked of the champions questions of lineage:

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

      Gilded and gleaming, your gray-colored burnies,

      Helmets with visors and heap of war-lances?—

      To Hrothgar the king I am servant and liegeman.

      ’Mong folk from far-lands found I have never

      He expresses no little admiration for the strangers. 20

      Men so many of mien more courageous.

      I ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws,

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

      Beowulf replies.

      Then the strength-famous earlman answer rendered,

      The proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his question,

      We are Higelac’s table-companions, and bear an important commission to your prince. 25

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

      Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene,

      The famous folk-leader, I freely will tell

      To thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing

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

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      Wulfgar replied then (he was prince of the Wendels,

      His boldness of spirit was known unto many,

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

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

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

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

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      The folk-chief famous, and inform thee early

      What answer the good one mindeth to render me.”

      He turned then hurriedly where Hrothgar was sitting,

      ²Old and hoary, his earlmen attending him;

      The strength-famous went till he stood at the shoulder

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      Of the lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen

      The custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then

      His friendly liegelord: “Folk of the Geatmen

       He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive the visitors courteously.

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

      Faring from far-lands: the foremost in rank

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      The battle-champions Beowulf title.

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

      To be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar,

      Friendly answer refuse not to give them!

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

      In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem

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      Of earls to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty

      Who headed the heroes hitherward coming.”

      [1] Instead of the punctuation given by H.-So, S. proposed to insert a comma after ‘scír’ (322), and to take ‘hring-íren’ as meaning ‘ring-mail’ and as parallel with ‘gúð-byrne.’ The passage would then read: The firm and hand-locked war-burnie shone, bright ring-mail, rang ’mid the armor, etc.

      [2] Gr. and others translate ‘unhár’ by ‘bald’; old and bald.