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Title: Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem

Translator: J. Lesslie Hall

Release date: July 19, 2005 [eBook #16328]
Most recently updated: September 19, 2025

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK
BEOWULF: AN ANGLO-SAXON EPIC POEM ***

Transcriber’s Notes

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granted to the public domain.

BEOWULF

AN ANGLO-
SAXON EPIC
POEM

TRANSLATED
FROM THE HEYNE-SOCIN TEXT

BY

JNO: LESSLIE HALL, Ph.
D. (J.H.U.)

Professor of English and History in The
College of William and Mary

D.C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS
BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by
JNO: LESSLIE HALL,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

TO
My Wife

CONTENTS.
page

Preface vii
Bibliography of Translations xi
Glossary of Proper Names xiii
List of Words and Phrases not in General Use xviii
The Life and Death of Scyld (I.)1
Scyld’s Successors (II.)3
Hrothgar’s Great Mead-Hall
Grendel, the Murderer (III.)5
Beowulf Goes to Hrothgar’s Assistance (IV.)8
The Geats Reach Heorot (V.)10
Beowulf Introduces Himself at the Palace (VI.)12
Hrothgar and Beowulf (VII.)14
Hrothgar and Beowulf (continued) (VIII.)17
Unferth Taunts Beowulf (IX.)19
Beowulf Silences Unferth (X.)21
Glee is High
All Sleep save One (XI.)24
Grendel and Beowulf (XII.)26
Grendel is Vanquished (XIII.)28
Rejoicing of the Danes (XIV.)30
Hrothgar’s Gratitude (XV.)33
Hrothgar Lavishes Gifts upon his Deliverer
B(XVI.)35
anquet (continued) (XVII.)37

The Scop’s Song of Finn and Hnæf

The Finn Episode (continued) (XVIII.)39
The Banquet Continues
Beowulf Receives Further Honor (XIX.)41
The Mother of Grendel (XX.)44
Hrothgar’s Account of the Monsters (XXI.)46
Beowulf Seeks Grendel’s Mother (XXII.)48
Beowulf’s Fight with Grendel’s Mother (XXIII.)51
Beowulf is Double-Conqueror (XXIV.)53
Beowulf Brings his Trophies (XXV.)57
Hrothgar’s Gratitude
Hrothgar Moralizes (XXVI.)60
Rest after Labor
Sorrow at Parting (XXVII.)62
The Homeward Journey (XXVIII.)64
The Two Queens
Beowulf and Higelac (XXIX.)67
Beowulf Narrates his Adventures to Higelac
G(XXX.)69
ift-Giving is Mutual (XXXI.)73

The Hoard and the Dragon (XXXII.)75
Brave Though Aged (XXXIII.)78
Reminiscences
Beowulf Seeks the Dragon (XXXIV.)81
Beowulf’s Reminiscences
Reminiscences (continued) (XXXV.)83
Beowulf’s Last Battle
Wiglaf the Trusty (XXXVI.)88
Beowulf is Deserted by Friends and by Sword

The Fatal Struggle (XXXVII.)91
Beowulf’s Last Moments
Wiglaf Plunders the Dragon’s Den (XXXVIII.)93
Beowulf’s Death
The Dead Foes (XXXIX.)95
Wiglaf’s Bitter Taunts
The Messenger of Death (XL.)97
The Messenger’s Retrospect (XLI.)99
Wiglaf’s Sad Story (XLII.)103
The Hoard Carried Off
The Burning of Beowulf (XLIII.)106
Addenda 109

PREFACE.

The present work is a modest effort to reproduce
approximately, in modern measures, the venerable epic,
Beowulf. Approximately, I repeat; for a very close
reproduction of Anglo-Saxon verse would, to a large extent,
be prose to a modern ear.
The Heyne-Socin text and glossary have been closely
followed. Occasionally a deviation has been made, but
always for what seemed good and sufficient reason. The
translator does not aim to be an editor. Once in a while,
however, he has added a conjecture of his own to the
emendations quoted from the criticisms of other students of
the poem.
This work is addressed to two classes of readers. From
both of these alike the translator begs sympathy and co-
operation. The Anglo-Saxon scholar he hopes to please by
adhering faithfully to the original. The student of English
literature he aims to interest by giving him, in modern garb,
the most ancient epic of our race. This is a bold and
venturesome undertaking; and yet there must be some
students of the Teutonic past willing to follow even a daring
guide, if they may read in modern phrases of the sorrows of
Hrothgar, of the prowess of Beowulf, and of the feelings
that stirred the hearts of our forefathers in their primeval
homes.
In order to please the larger class of readers, a regular
cadence has been used, a measure which, while retaining the
essential characteristics of the original, permits the reader to
see ahead of him in reading.

Perhaps every Anglo-Saxon scholar has his own theory
as to how Beowulf should be translated. Some have given
us prose versions of what we believe to be a great poem. Is
it any reflection on our honored Kemble and Arnold to say
that their translations fail to show a layman that Beowulf is
justly called our first epic? Of those translators who have
used verse, several have written from what would seem a
mistaken point of view. Is it proper, for instance, that the
grave and solemn speeches of Beowulf and Hrothgar be put
in ballad measures, tripping lightly and airily along? Or,
again, is it fitting that the rough martial music of Anglo-
Saxon verse be interpreted to us in the smooth measures of
modern blank verse? Do we hear what has been beautifully
called “the clanging tread of a warrior in mail”?
Of all English translations of Beowulf, that of Professor
Garnett alone gives any adequate idea of the chief
characteristics of this great Teutonic epic.
The measure used in the present translation is believed
to be as near a reproduction of the original as modern
English affords. The cadences closely resemble those used
by Browning in some of his most striking poems. The four
stresses of the Anglo-Saxon verse are retained, and as much
thesis and anacrusis is allowed as is consistent with a
regular cadence. Alliteration has been used to a large extent;
but it was thought that modern ears would hardly tolerate it
on every line. End-rhyme has been used occasionally;
internal rhyme, sporadically. Both have some warrant in
Anglo-Saxon poetry. (For end-rhyme, see 1 53, 1 54; for
internal rhyme, 2 21, 6 40.)
What Gummere1 calls the “rime-giver” has been
studiously kept; viz., the first accented syllable in the second
half-verse always carries the alliteration; and the last
accented syllable alliterates only sporadically. Alternate
alliteration is occasionally used as in the original. (See 7 61,
8 5.)

No two accented syllables have been brought together,
except occasionally after a cæsural pause. (See 2 19 and
12 1.) Or, scientifically speaking, Sievers’s C type has been
avoided as not consonant with the plan of translation.
Several of his types, however, constantly occur; e.g. A and a
variant (/ x | / x) (/ x x | / x); B and a variant (x / | x / ) (x x / |
x / ); a variant of D (/ x | / x x); E (/ x x | / ). Anacrusis gives
further variety to the types used in the translation.
The parallelisms of the original have been faithfully
preserved. (E.g., 1 16 and 1 17: “Lord” and “Wielder of
Glory”; 1 30, 1 31, 1 32; 2 12 and 2 13; 2 27 and 2 28; 3 5 and
3 6.) Occasionally, some loss has been sustained; but, on the
other hand, a gain has here and there been made.
The effort has been made to give a decided flavor of
archaism to the translation. All words not in keeping with
the spirit of the poem have been avoided. Again, though
many archaic words have been used, there are none, it is
believed, which are not found in standard modern poetry.
With these preliminary remarks, it will not be amiss to
give an outline of the story of the poem.

THE STORY.

Hrothgar, king of the Danes, or Scyldings, builds a great
mead-hall, or palace, in which he hopes to feast his
liegemen and to give them presents. The joy of king and
retainers is, however, of short duration. Grendel, the
monster, is seized with hateful jealousy. He cannot brook the
sounds of joyance that reach him down in his fen-dwelling
near the hall. Oft and anon he goes to the joyous building,
bent on direful mischief. Thane after thane is ruthlessly
carried off and devoured, while no one is found strong
enough and bold enough to cope with the monster. For
twelve years he persecutes Hrothgar and his vassals.
Over sea, a day’s voyage off, Beowulf, of the Geats,
nephew of Higelac, king of the Geats, hears of Grendel’s
doings and of Hrothgar’s misery. He resolves to crush the
fell monster and relieve the aged king. With fourteen chosen
companions, he sets sail for Dane-land. Reaching that
country, he soon persuades Hrothgar of his ability to help
him. The hours that elapse before night are spent in beer-
drinking and conversation. When Hrothgar’s bedtime comes
he leaves the hall in charge of Beowulf, telling him that
never before has he given to another the absolute wardship
of his palace. All retire to rest, Beowulf, as it were, sleeping
upon his arms.
Grendel comes, the great march-stepper, bearing God’s
anger. He seizes and kills one of the sleeping warriors. Then
he advances towards Beowulf. A fierce and desperate hand-
to-hand struggle ensues. No arms are used, both combatants
trusting to strength and hand-grip. Beowulf tears Grendel’s
shoulder from its socket, and the monster retreats to his den,

howling and yelling with agony and fury. The wound is
fatal.
The next morning, at early dawn, warriors in numbers
flock to the hall Heorot, to hear the news. Joy is boundless.
Glee runs high. Hrothgar and his retainers are lavish of
gratitude and of gifts.
Grendel’s mother, however, comes the next night to
avenge his death. She is furious and raging. While Beowulf
is sleeping in a room somewhat apart from the quarters of
the other warriors, she seizes one of Hrothgar’s favorite
counsellors, and carries him off and devours him. Beowulf
is called. Determined to leave Heorot entirely purified, he
arms himself, and goes down to look for the female monster.
After traveling through the waters many hours, he meets her
near the sea-bottom. She drags him to her den. There he
sees Grendel lying dead. After a desperate and almost fatal
struggle with the woman, he slays her, and swims upward in
triumph, taking with him Grendel’s head.
Joy is renewed at Heorot. Congratulations crowd upon
the victor. Hrothgar literally pours treasures into the lap of
Beowulf; and it is agreed among the vassals of the king that
Beowulf will be their next liegelord.
Beowulf leaves Dane-land. Hrothgar weeps and laments
at his departure.
When the hero arrives in his own land, Higelac treats
him as a distinguished guest. He is the hero of the hour.
Beowulf subsequently becomes king of his own people,
the Geats. After he has been ruling for fifty years, his own
neighborhood is wofully harried by a fire-spewing dragon.
Beowulf determines to kill him. In the ensuing struggle both
Beowulf and the dragon are slain. The grief of the Geats is
inexpressible. They determine, however, to leave nothing
undone to honor the memory of their lord. A great funeral-
pyre is built, and his body is burnt. Then a memorial-barrow
is made, visible from a great distance, that sailors afar may

be constantly reminded of the prowess of the national hero
of Geatland.
The poem closes with a glowing tribute to his bravery,
his gentleness, his goodness of heart, and his generosity.

It is the devout desire of this translator to hasten the day
when the story of Beowulf shall be as familiar to English-
speaking peoples as that of the Iliad. Beowulf is our first
great epic. It is an epitomized history of the life of the
Teutonic races. It brings vividly before us our forefathers of
pre-Alfredian eras, in their love of war, of sea, and of
adventure.
My special thanks are due to Professors Francis A.
March and James A. Harrison, for advice, sympathy, and
assistance.
J.L. HALL.

[1] Handbook of Poetics, page 175, 1st edition.

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE
NOTES.

B. = Bugge. C. = Cosijn. Gr. = Grein. Grdvtg. =
Grundtvig. H. = Heyne. H. and S. = Harrison and Sharp. H.-
So. = Heyne-Socin. K.= Kemble. Kl. = Kluge. M.=
Müllenhoff. R. = Rieger. S. = Sievers. Sw. = Sweet. t.B. =
ten Brink. Th. = Thorpe. W. = Wülcker.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF
TRANSLATIONS.

Arnold, Thomas.—Beowulf. A heroic poem of the
eighth century. London, 1876. With English translation.
Prose.
Botkine, L.—Beowulf. Epopée Anglo-Saxonne. Havre,
1877. First French translation. Passages occasionally
omitted.
Conybeare, J.J.—Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry.
London, 1826. Full Latin translation, and some passages
translated into English blank-verse.
Ettmuller, L.—Beowulf, stabreimend übersetzt. Zürich,
1840.
Garnett, J.M.—Beowulf: an Anglo-Saxon Poem, and
the Fight at Finnsburg. Boston, 1882. An accurate line-for-
line translation, using alliteration occasionally, and
sometimes assuming a metrical cadence.
Grein, C.W.M.—Dichtungen der Angelsachsen,
stabreimend übersetzt. 2 Bde. Göttingen, 1857-59.
Grion, Giusto.—Beovulf, poema epico anglo-sassone
del VII. secolo, tradotto e illustrato. Lucca, 1883. First
Italian translation.
Grundtvig, N.F.S.—Bjowulfs Drape. Copenhagen,
1820.
Heyne, M.—A translation in iambic measures.
Paderborn, 1863.

Kemble, J.M.—The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf,
the Traveller’s Song, and the Battle of Finnsburg. London,
1833. The second edition contains a prose translation of
Beowulf.
Leo, H.—Ueber Beowulf. Halle, 1839. Translations of
extracts.
Lumsden, H.W.—Beowulf, translated into modern
rhymes. London, 1881. Ballad measures. Passages
occasionally omitted.
Sandras, G.S.—De carminibus Cædmoni adjudicatis.
Paris, 1859. An extract from Beowulf, with Latin
translation.
Schaldmose, F.—Beowulf og Scopes Widsith, to
Angelsaxiske Digte. Copenhagen, 1847.
Simrock, K.—Beowulf. Uebersetzt und erläutert.
Stuttgart und Augsburg, 1859. Alliterative measures.
Thorkelin, G.J.—De Danorum rebus gestis secul. III. et
IV. poema Danicum dialecto Anglosaxonica. Havniæ, 1815.
Latin translation.
Thorpe, B.—The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the
Scôp or Gleeman’s Tale, and the Fight at Finnsburg. Oxford,
1855. English translation in short lines, generally containing
two stresses.
Wackerbarth, A.D.—Beowulf, translated into English
verse. London, 1849.
Wickberg, R.—Beowulf, en fornengelsk hjeltedikt,
öfersatt. Westervik. First Swedish translation.
von Wolzogen, H.—Beowulf, in alliterative measures.
Leipzig.
Zinsser, G.—Der Kampf Beowulfs mit Grendel.
Jahresbericht of the Realschule at Forbach, 1881.

GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES.

[The figures refer to the divisions of the poem in which the
respective names occur. The large figures refer to
fitts, the small, to lines in the fitts.]

Ælfhere.—A kinsman of Wiglaf.—36 3.
Æschere.—Confidential friend of King Hrothgar. Elder
brother of Yrmenlaf. Killed by Grendel.—21 3;
30 89.
Beanstan.—Father of Breca.—9 26.
Beowulf.—Son of Scyld, the founder of the dynasty of
Scyldings. Father of Healfdene, and grandfather of
Hrothgar.—1 18; 2 1.
Beowulf.—The hero of the poem. Sprung from the stock of
Geats, son of Ecgtheow. Brought up by his maternal
grandfather Hrethel, and figuring in manhood as a
devoted liegeman of his uncle Higelac. A hero from
his youth. Has the strength of thirty men. Engages in
a swimming-match with Breca. Goes to the help of
Hrothgar against the monster Grendel. Vanquishes
Grendel and his mother. Afterwards becomes king of
the Geats. Late in life attempts to kill a fire-spewing
dragon, and is slain. Is buried with great honors. His
memorial mound.—6 26; 7 2; 7 9; 9 3; 9 8; 12 28;
12 43; 23 1, etc.

Breca.—Beowulf’s opponent in the famous swimming-
match.—9 8; 9 19; 9 21; 9 22.
Brondings.—A people ruled by Breca.—9 23.
Brosinga mene.—A famous collar once owned by the
Brosings.—19 7.
Cain.—Progenitor of Grendel and other monsters.—2 56;
20 11.
Dæghrefn.—A warrior of the Hugs, killed by Beowulf.—
35 40.
Danes.—Subjects of Scyld and his descendants, and hence
often called Scyldings. Other names for them are
Victory-Scyldings, Honor-Scyldings, Armor-Danes,
Bright-Danes, East-Danes, West-Danes, North-
Danes, South-Danes, Ingwins, Hrethmen.—1 1; 2 1;
3 2; 5 14; 7 1, etc.
Ecglaf.—Father of Unferth, who taunts Beowulf.—9 1.
Ecgtheow.—Father of Beowulf, the hero of the poem. A
widely-known Wægmunding warrior. Marries
Hrethel’s daughter. After slaying Heatholaf, a
Wylfing, he flees his country.—7 3; 5 6; 8 4.
Ecgwela.—A king of the Danes before Scyld.—25 60.
Elan.—Sister of Hrothgar, and probably wife of
Ongentheow, king of the Swedes.—2 10.
Eagle Cape.—A promontory in Geat-land, under which
took place Beowulf’s last encounter.—41 87.
Eadgils.—Son of Ohthere and brother of Eanmund.—34 2.
Eanmund.—Son of Ohthere and brother of Eadgils. The
reference to these brothers is vague, and variously
understood. Heyne supposes as follows: Raising a
revolt against their father, they are obliged to leave
Sweden. They go to the land of the Geats; with what
intention, is not known, but probably to conquer and

plunder. The Geatish king, Heardred, is slain by one
of the brothers, probably Eanmund.—36 10; 31 54 to
31 60; 33 66 to 34 6.
Eofor.—A Geatish hero who slays Ongentheow in war, and
is rewarded by Hygelac with the hand of his only
daughter.—41 18; 41 48.
Eormenric.—A Gothic king, from whom Hama took away
the famous Brosinga mene.—19 9.
Eomær.—Son of Offa and Thrytho, king and queen of the
Angles.—28 69.
Finn.—King of the North-Frisians and the Jutes. Marries
Hildeburg. At his court takes place the horrible
slaughter in which the Danish general, Hnæf, fell.
Later on, Finn himself is slain by Danish warriors.—
17 18; 17 30; 17 44; 18 4; 18 23.
Fin-land.—The country to which Beowulf was driven by
the currents in his swimming-match.—10 22.
Fitela.—Son and nephew of King Sigemund, whose praises
are sung in XIV.—14 42; 14 53.
Folcwalda.—Father of Finn.—17 38.
Franks.—Introduced occasionally in referring to the death
of Higelac.—19 19; 40 21; 40 24.
Frisians.—A part of them are ruled by Finn. Some of them
were engaged in the struggle in which Higelac was
slain.—17 20; 17 42; 17 52; 40 21.
Freaware.—Daughter of King Hrothgar. Married to Ingeld,
a Heathobard prince.—29 60; 30 32.
Froda.—King of the Heathobards, and father of Ingeld.—
29 62.
Garmund.—Father of Offa.—28 71.
Geats, Geatmen.—The race to which the hero of the poem
belongs. Also called Weder-Geats, or Weders, War-

Geats, Sea-Geats. They are ruled by Hrethel,
Hæthcyn, Higelac, and Beowulf.—4 7; 7 4; 10 45;
11 8; 27 14; 28 8.
Gepids.—Named in connection with the Danes and
Swedes.—35 34.
Grendel.—A monster of the race of Cain. Dwells in the
fens and moors. Is furiously envious when he hears
sounds of joy in Hrothgar’s palace. Causes the king
untold agony for years. Is finally conquered by
Beowulf, and dies of his wound. His hand and arm
are hung up in Hrothgar’s hall Heorot. His head is
cut off by Beowulf when he goes down to fight with
Grendel’s mother.—2 50; 3 1; 3 13; 8 19; 11 17; 12 2;
13 27; 15 3.
Guthlaf.—A Dane of Hnæf’s party.—18 24.
Half-Danes.—Branch of the Danes to which Hnæf
belonged.—17 19.
Halga.—Surnamed the Good. Younger brother of Hrothgar.
—2 9.
Hama.—Takes the Brosinga mene from Eormenric.—19 7.
Hæreth.—Father of Higelac’s queen, Hygd.—28 39; 29 18.
Hæthcyn.—Son of Hrethel and brother of Higelac. Kills his
brother Herebeald accidentally. Is slain at
Ravenswood, fighting against Ongentheow.—34 43;
35 23; 40 32.
Helmings.—The race to which Queen Wealhtheow
belonged.—10 63.
Heming.—A kinsman of Garmund, perhaps nephew.—
28 54; 28 70.
Hengest.—A Danish leader. Takes command on the fall of
Hnæf.—17 33; 17 41.

Herebeald.—Eldest son of Hrethel, the Geatish king, and
brother of Higelac. Killed by his younger brother
Hæthcyn.—34 43; 34 47.
Heremod.—A Danish king of a dynasty before the Scylding
line. Was a source of great sorrow to his people.—
14 64; 25 59.
Hereric.—Referred to as uncle of Heardred, but otherwise
unknown.—31 60.
Hetwars.—Another name for the Franks.—33 51.
Healfdene.—Grandson of Scyld and father of Hrothgar.
Ruled the Danes long and well.—2 5; 4 1; 8 14.
Heardred.—Son of Higelac and Hygd, king and queen of
the Geats. Succeeds his father, with Beowulf as
regent. Is slain by the sons of Ohthere.—31 56; 33 63;
33 75.
Heathobards.—Race of Lombards, of which Froda is king.
After Froda falls in battle with the Danes, Ingeld, his
son, marries Hrothgar’s daughter, Freaware, in order
to heal the feud.—30 1; 30 6.
Heatholaf.—A Wylfing warrior slain by Beowulf’s father.
—8 5.
Heathoremes.—The people on whose shores Breca is cast
by the waves during his contest with Beowulf.—
9 21.
Heorogar.—Elder brother of Hrothgar, and surnamed
‘Weoroda Ræswa,’ Prince of the Troopers.—2 9;
8 12.
Hereward.—Son of the above.—31 17.
Heort, Heorot.—The great mead-hall which King Hrothgar
builds. It is invaded by Grendel for twelve years.
Finally cleansed by Beowulf, the Geat. It is called
Heort on account of the hart-antlers which decorate
it.—2 25; 3 32; 3 52.

Hildeburg.—Wife of Finn, daughter of Hoce, and related to
Hnæf,—probably his sister.—17 21; 18 34.
Hnæf.—Leader of a branch of the Danes called Half-Danes.
Killed in the struggle at Finn’s castle.—17 19; 17 61.
Hondscio.—One of Beowulf’s companions. Killed by
Grendel just before Beowulf grappled with that
monster.—30 43.
Hoce.—Father of Hildeburg and probably of Hnæf.—17 26.
Hrethel.—King of the Geats, father of Higelac, and
grandfather of Beowulf.—7 4; 34 39.
Hrethla.—Once used for Hrethel.—7 82.
Hrethmen.—Another name for the Danes.—7 73.
Hrethric.—Son of Hrothgar.—18 65; 27 19.
Hreosna-beorh.—A promontory in Geat-land, near which
Ohthere’s sons made plundering raids.—35 18.
Hrothgar.—The Danish king who built the hall Heort, but
was long unable to enjoy it on account of Grendel’s
persecutions. Marries Wealhtheow, a Helming lady.
Has two sons and a daughter. Is a typical Teutonic
king, lavish of gifts. A devoted liegelord, as his
lamentations over slain liegemen prove. Also very
appreciative of kindness, as is shown by his loving
gratitude to Beowulf.—2 9; 2 12; 4 1; 8 10; 15 1; etc.,
etc.
Hrothmund.—Son of Hrothgar.—18 65.
Hrothulf.—Probably a son of Halga, younger brother of
Hrothgar. Certainly on terms of close intimacy in
Hrothgar’s palace.—16 26; 18 57.
Hrunting.—Unferth’s sword, lent to Beowulf.—22 71; 25 9.
Hugs.—A race in alliance with the Franks and Frisians at
the time of Higelac’s fall.—35 41.

Hun.—A Frisian warrior, probably general of the Hetwars.
Gives Hengest a beautiful sword.—18 19.
Hunferth.—Sometimes used for Unferth.
Hygelac, Higelac.—King of the Geats, uncle and liegelord
of Beowulf, the hero of the poem.—His second wife
is the lovely Hygd, daughter of Hæreth. The son of
their union is Heardred. Is slain in a war with the
Hugs, Franks, and Frisians combined. Beowulf is
regent, and afterwards king of the Geats.—4 6; 5 4;
28 34; 29 9; 29 21; 31 56.
Hygd.—Wife of Higelac, and daughter of Hæreth. There are
some indications that she married Beowulf after she
became a widow.—28 37.
Ingeld.—Son of the Heathobard king, Froda. Marries
Hrothgar’s daughter, Freaware, in order to reconcile
the two peoples.—29 62; 30 32.
Ingwins.—Another name for the Danes.—16 52; 20 69.
Jutes.—Name sometimes applied to Finn’s people.—17 22;
17 38; 18 17.
Lafing.—Name of a famous sword presented to Hengest by
Hun.—18 19.
Merewing.—A Frankish king, probably engaged in the war
in which Higelac was slain.—40 29.
Nægling.—Beowulf’s sword.—36 76.
Offa.—King of the Angles, and son of Garmund. Marries
the terrible Thrytho who is so strongly contrasted
with Hygd.—28 59; 28 66.
Ohthere.—Son of Ongentheow, king of the Swedes. He is
father of Eanmund and Eadgils.—40 35; 40 39.
Onela.—Brother of Ohthere.—36 15; 40 39.
Ongentheow.—King of Sweden, of the Scylfing dynasty.
Married, perhaps, Elan, daughter of Healfdene.—

35 26; 41 16.
Oslaf.—A Dane of Hnæf’s party.—18 24.
Ravenswood.—The forest near which Hæthcyn was slain.
—40 31; 40 41.
Scefing.—Applied (1 4) to Scyld, and meaning ‘son of
Scef.’
Scyld.—Founder of the dynasty to which Hrothgar, his
father, and grandfather belonged. He dies, and his
body is put on a vessel, and set adrift. He goes from
Daneland just as he had come to it—in a bark.—1 4;
1 19; 1 27.
Scyldings.—The descendants of Scyld. They are also called
Honor-Scyldings, Victory-Scyldings, War-Scyldings,
etc. (See ‘Danes,’ above.)—2 1; 7 1; 8 1.
Scylfings.—A Swedish royal line to which Wiglaf
belonged.—36 2.
Sigemund.—Son of Wæls, and uncle and father of Fitela.
His struggle with a dragon is related in connection
with Beowulf’s deeds of prowess.—14 38; 14 47.
Swerting.—Grandfather of Higelac, and father of Hrethel.
—19 11.
Swedes.—People of Sweden, ruled by the Scylfings.—
35 13.
Thrytho.—Wife of Offa, king of the Angles. Known for her
fierce and unwomanly disposition. She is introduced
as a contrast to the gentle Hygd, queen of Higelac.—
28 42; 28 56.
Unferth.—Son of Ecglaf, and seemingly a confidential
courtier of Hrothgar. Taunts Beowulf for having
taken part in the swimming-match. Lends Beowulf
his sword when he goes to look for Grendel’s
mother. In the MS. sometimes written Hunferth. 9 1;
18 41.

Wæls.—Father of Sigemund.—14 60.
Wægmunding.—A name occasionally applied to Wiglaf
and Beowulf, and perhaps derived from a common
ancestor, Wægmund.—36 6; 38 61.
Weders.—Another name for Geats or Wedergeats.
Wayland.—A fabulous smith mentioned in this poem and
in other old Teutonic literature.—7 83.
Wendels.—The people of Wulfgar, Hrothgar’s messenger
and retainer. (Perhaps = Vandals.)—6 30.
Wealhtheow.—Wife of Hrothgar. Her queenly courtesy is
well shown in the poem.—10 55.
Weohstan, or Wihstan.—A Wægmunding, and father of
Wiglaf.—36 1.
Whale’s Ness.—A prominent promontory, on which
Beowulf’s mound was built.—38 52; 42 76.
Wiglaf.—Son of Wihstan, and related to Beowulf. He
remains faithful to Beowulf in the fatal struggle with
the fire-drake. Would rather die than leave his lord in
his dire emergency.—36 1; 36 3; 36 28.
Wonred.—Father of Wulf and Eofor.—41 20; 41 26.
Wulf.—Son of Wonred. Engaged in the battle between
Higelac’s and Ongentheow’s forces, and had a hand-
to-hand fight with Ongentheow himself.
Ongentheow disables him, and is thereupon slain by
Eofor.—41 19; 41 29.
Wulfgar.—Lord of the Wendels, and retainer of Hrothgar.
—6 18; 6 30.
Wylfings.—A people to whom belonged Heatholaf, who
was slain by Ecgtheow.—8 6; 8 16.
Yrmenlaf.—Younger brother of Æschere, the hero whose
death grieved Hrothgar so deeply.—21 4.

LIST OF WORDS AND PHRASES
NOT IN GENERAL USE.

ATHELING.—Prince, nobleman.
BAIRN.—Son, child.
BARROW.—Mound, rounded hill, funeral-mound.
BATTLE-SARK.—Armor.
BEAKER.—Cup, drinking-vessel.
BEGEAR.—Prepare.
BIGHT.—Bay, sea.
BILL.—Sword.
BOSS.—Ornamental projection.
BRACTEATE.—A round ornament on a necklace.
BRAND.—Sword.
BURN.—Stream.
BURNIE.—Armor.
CARLE.—Man, hero.
EARL.—Nobleman, any brave man.
EKE.—Also.
EMPRISE.—Enterprise, undertaking.
ERST.—Formerly.
ERST-WORTHY.—Worthy for a long time past.
FAIN.—Glad.

FERRY.—Bear, carry.
FEY.—Fated, doomed.
FLOAT.—Vessel, ship.
FOIN.—To lunge (Shaks.).
GLORY OF KINGS.—God.
GREWSOME.—Cruel, fierce.
HEFT.—Handle, hilt; used by synecdoche for ‘sword.’
HELM.—Helmet, protector.
HENCHMAN.—Retainer, vassal.
HIGHT.—Am (was) named.
HOLM.—Ocean, curved surface of the sea.
HIMSEEMED.—(It) seemed to him.
LIEF.—Dear, valued.
MERE.—Sea; in compounds, ‘mere-ways,’ ‘mere-currents,’
etc.
MICKLE.—Much.
NATHLESS.—Nevertheless.
NAZE.—Edge (nose).
NESS.—Edge.
NICKER.—Sea-beast.
QUIT, QUITE.—Requite.
RATHE.—Quickly.
REAVE.—Bereave, deprive.
SAIL-ROAD.—Sea.
SETTLE.—Seat, bench.
SKINKER.—One who pours.
SOOTHLY.—Truly.

SWINGE.—Stroke, blow.
TARGE, TARGET.—Shield.
THROUGHLY.—Thoroughly.
TOLD.—Counted.
UNCANNY.—Ill-featured, grizzly.
UNNETHE.—Difficult.
WAR-SPEED.—Success in war.
WEB.—Tapestry (that which is ‘woven’).
WEEDED.—Clad (cf. widow’s weeds).
WEEN.—Suppose, imagine.
WEIRD.—Fate, Providence.
WHILOM.—At times, formerly, often.
WIELDER.—Ruler. Often used of God; also in compounds,
as ‘Wielder of Glory,’ ‘Wielder of Worship.’
WIGHT.—Creature.
WOLD.—Plane, extended surface.
WOT.—Knows.
YOUNKER.—Youth.

BEOWULF.

I.

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF
SCYLD.

Lo! the Spear-Danes’ glory through The famous
splendid achievements race of Spear-
Danes.
The folk-kings’ former fame we have
heard of,
How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.
Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in Scyld, their
mighty king, in
numbers honor of whom
5 they are often
called
From many a people their mead- Scyldings. He
benches tore. is the great-
Since first he found him friendless and grandfather of
Hrothgar, so
wretched, prominent in
The earl had had terror: comfort he got the poem.
for it,
Waxed ’neath the welkin, world-honor gained,
Till all his neighbors o’er sea were compelled to
10
Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute:
An excellent atheling! After was borne him
A son and heir, young in his dwelling, A son is born
to him, who
Whom God-Father sent to solace the receives the
people. name of
Beowulf—a
He had marked the misery malice had name
caused them, afterwards
15 made so
famous by the
1
That reaved of their rulers they hero of the
poem.
wretched had erstwhile2
Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital,

Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him.
Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory
Of Scyld’s great son in the lands of the Danemen.
20 The ideal
Teutonic king
So the carle that is young, by lavishes gifts
kindnesses rendered on his vassals.
The friends of his father, with fees in
abundance
Must be able to earn that when age approacheth
Eager companions aid him requitingly,
When war assaults him serve him as liegemen:
25
By praise-worthy actions must honor be got
’Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated
Scyld then departed to the All-Father’s Scyld dies at
the hour
keeping appointed by
Warlike to wend him; away then they Fate.
bare him
To the flood of the current, his fond-loving
comrades,
30
As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the
Scyldings
Word-sway wielded, and the well-lovèd land-prince
Long did rule them.3 The ring-stemmèd vessel,
Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor,
Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing;
35 By his own
request, his
The belovèd leader laid they down body is laid on
there, a vessel and
wafted
Giver of rings, on the breast of the seaward.
vessel,
The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels,
Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over,

Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever
40
That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly
With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle,
Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled
Many a jewel that with him must travel
On the flush of the flood afar on the current.
45
And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly,
Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him
Who when first he was born outward He leaves
Daneland on
did send him the breast of a
Lone on the main, the merest of bark.
infants:
And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under
heaven
50
High o’er his head, let the holm-currents bear him,
Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit,
Their mood very mournful. Men are not able
Soothly to tell us, they in halls who No one knows
whither the
reside,4 boat drifted.
Heroes under heaven, to what haven he
hied.

[1] For the ‘Þæt’ of verse 15, Sievers suggests ‘Þá’ (= which). If this
be accepted, the sentence ‘He had … afflicted’ will read: He (i.e.
God) had perceived the malice-caused sorrow which they, lordless,
had formerly long endured.
[2] For ‘aldor-léase’ (15) Gr. suggested ‘aldor-ceare’: He perceived
their distress, that they formerly had suffered life-sorrow a long
while.
[3] A very difficult passage. ‘Áhte’ (31) has no object. H. supplies
‘geweald’ from the context; and our translation is based upon this
assumption, though it is far from satisfactory. Kl. suggests
‘lændagas’ for ‘lange’: And the beloved land-prince enjoyed (had)

his transitory days (i.e. lived). B. suggests a dislocation; but this is
a dangerous doctrine, pushed rather far by that eminent scholar.
[4] The reading of the H.-So. text has been quite closely followed; but
some eminent scholars read ‘séle-rædenne’ for ‘sele-rædende.’ If
that be adopted, the passage will read: Men cannot tell us, indeed,
the order of Fate, etc. ‘Sele-rædende’ has two things to support it:
(1) v. 1347; (2) it affords a parallel to ‘men’ in v. 50.

II.

SCYLD’S SUCCESSORS.—
HROTHGAR’S GREAT MEAD-
HALL.

In the boroughs then Beowulf, bairn of Beowulf
the Scyldings, succeeds his
father Scyld
Belovèd land-prince, for long-lasting
season
Was famed mid the folk (his father departed,
The prince from his dwelling), till afterward sprang
5
Great-minded Healfdene; the Danes in his lifetime
He graciously governed, grim-mooded, agèd.
Four bairns of his body born in Healfdene’s
birth.
succession
Woke in the world, war-troopers’ leader
Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga the good;
10
Heard I that Elan was Ongentheow’s consort,
The well-beloved bedmate of the War- He has three
sons—one of
Scylfing leader. them, Hrothgar
Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was —and a
daughter
given, named Elan.
Waxing of war-fame, that willingly Hrothgar
kinsmen becomes a
mighty king.
Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew
to manhood,
15
A numerous band. It burned in his spirit
To urge his folk to found a great building,
A mead-hall grander than men of the era

Ever had heard of, and in it to share He is eager to
build a great
With young and old all of the blessings hall in which
20 he may feast
his retainers
The Lord had allowed him, save life
and retainers.
Then the work I find afar was assigned
To many races in middle-earth’s regions,
To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened
Early ’mong men, that ’twas finished entirely,
25
The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it
Who wide-reaching word-sway The hall is
completed, and
wielded ’mong earlmen. is called Heort,
His promise he brake not, rings he or Heorot.
lavished,
Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up
High and horn-crested, huge between antlers:
30
It battle-waves bided, the blasting fire-demon;
Ere long then from hottest hatred must sword-wrath
Arise for a woman’s husband and father.
Then the mighty war-spirit1 endured for a season,
Bore it bitterly, he who bided in The Monster
Grendel is
darkness, madly envious
35 of the
Danemen’s joy.
That light-hearted laughter loud in the
building
Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music,
Clear song of the singer. He said that was able
To tell from of old earthmen’s beginnings,
That Father Almighty earth had created,
40
The winsome wold that the water encircleth,
Set exultingly the sun’s and the moon’s beams

To lavish their lustre on land-folk and [The course of
the story is
races, interrupted by
And earth He embellished in all her a short
regions reference to
some old
With limbs and leaves; life He account of the
bestowed too creation.]
45
On all the kindreds that live under heaven.
So blessed with abundance, brimming The glee of the
warriors is
with joyance, overcast by a
The warriors abided, till a certain one horrible dread.
gan to
Dog them with deeds of direfullest malice,
A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger2
50
Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous
Who3 dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the
fastness;
The wan-mooded being abode for a season
In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator
Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder,
55
The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father
The kindred of Cain crushed with His Cain is referred
to as a
vengeance; progenitor of
In the feud He rejoiced not, but far Grendel, and
of monsters in
away drove him general.
From kindred and kind, that crime to
atone for,
Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures,
60
Elves and giants, monsters of ocean,
Came into being, and the giants that longtime
Grappled with God; He gave them requital.

[1] R. and t. B. prefer ‘ellor-gæst’ to ‘ellen-gæst’ (86): Then the
stranger from afar endured, etc.
[2] Some authorities would translate ‘demon’ instead of ‘stranger.’
[3] Some authorities arrange differently, and render: Who dwelt in the
moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness, the land of the giant-race.

III.

GRENDEL THE MURDERER.

When the sun was sunken, he set out to Grendel
visit attacks the
sleeping heroes
The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-
Danes had used it
For beds and benches when the banquet was over.
Then he found there reposing many a noble
5
Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,1
Misery knew not. The monster of evil
Greedy and cruel tarried but little,
Fell and frantic, and forced from their He drags off
thirty of them,
slumbers and devours
Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed them
10
Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to,
With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward.
In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just
breaking,
Was Grendel’s prowess revealed to the warriors:
Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan A cry of agony
goes up, when
was uplifted, Grendel’s
15 horrible deed is
fully realized.
Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler
famous,
The long-worthy atheling, sat very woful,
Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen,
When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer,
The spirit accursèd: too crushing that sorrow,
20 The monster
returns the next

Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer night.
he tarried,
But one night after continued his slaughter
Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little
From malice and murder; they mastered him fully.
He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for
25
A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges,
A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice
Told him truly by token apparent
The hall-thane’s hatred: he held himself after
Further and faster who the foeman did baffle.
30
2
So ruled he and strongly strove against justice
Lone against all men, till empty uptowered
The choicest of houses. Long was the King
Hrothgar’s
season: agony and
Twelve-winters’ time torture suffered suspense last
twelve years.
The friend of the Scyldings, every
affliction,
35
Endless agony; hence it after3 became
Certainly known to the children of men
Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar
Grendel struggled:—his grudges he cherished,
Murderous malice, many a winter,
40
Strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he
4
Life-woe to lift from no liegeman at all of
The men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle,
No counsellor needed count for a moment
On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer;
45 Grendel is
unremitting in
The monster of evil fiercely did harass,

The ill-planning death-shade, both his
persecutions.
elder and younger,
Trapping and tricking them. He trod every night then
The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know
where
Witches and wizards wander and ramble.
50
So the foe of mankind many of evils
Grievous injuries, often accomplished,
Horrible hermit; Heort he frequented,
Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen
(Since God did oppose him, not the God is against
the monster.
throne could he touch,5
55
The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not).
’Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the
Scyldings
Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in The king and
his council
private deliberate in
Sat the king in his council; conference vain.
held they
What the braves should determine ’gainst terrors
unlooked for.
60 They invoke
the aid of their
At the shrines of their idols often they gods.
promised
Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they
The devil from hell would help them to lighten
Their people’s oppression. Such practice they used
then,
Hope of the heathen; hell they remembered
65
In innermost spirit, God they knew not,
Judge of their actions, All-wielding The true God
they do not
Ruler,

No praise could they give the Guardian know.
of Heaven,
The Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who
Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to
70
The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for,
Wax no wiser; well for the man who,
Living his life-days, his Lord may face
And find defence in his Father’s embrace!

[1] The translation is based on ‘weras,’ adopted by H.-So.—K. and Th.
read ‘wera’ and, arranging differently, render 119(2)-120: They
knew not sorrow, the wretchedness of man, aught of misfortune.—
For ‘unhælo’ (120) R. suggests ‘unfælo’: The uncanny creature,
greedy and cruel, etc.
[2] S. rearranges and translates: So he ruled and struggled unjustly,
one against all, till the noblest of buildings stood useless (it was a
long while) twelve years’ time: the friend of the Scyldings suffered
distress, every woe, great sorrows, etc.
[3] For ‘syððan,’ B. suggests ‘sárcwidum’: Hence in mournful words it
became well known, etc. Various other words beginning with ‘s’
have been conjectured.
[4] The H.-So. glossary is very inconsistent in referring to this
passage.—‘Sibbe’ (154), which H.-So. regards as an instr., B. takes
as accus., obj. of ‘wolde.’ Putting a comma after Deniga, he
renders: He did not desire peace with any of the Danes, nor did he
wish to remove their life-woe, nor to settle for money.
[5] Of this difficult passage the following interpretations among others
are given: (1) Though Grendel has frequented Heorot as a demon,
he could not become ruler of the Danes, on account of his hostility
to God. (2) Hrothgar was much grieved that Grendel had not
appeared before his throne to receive presents. (3) He was not
permitted to devastate the hall, on account of the Creator; i.e. God
wished to make his visit fatal to him.—Ne … wisse (169) W.
renders: Nor had he any desire to do so; ‘his’ being obj. gen. =
danach.

IV.

BEOWULF GOES TO
HROTHGAR’S ASSISTANCE.

So Healfdene’s kinsman constantly Hrothgar sees
mused on no way of
escape from
His long-lasting sorrow; the battle- the
thane clever persecutions of
Grendel.
Was not anywise able evils to ’scape
from:
Too crushing the sorrow that came to the people,
5
Loathsome and lasting the life-grinding torture,
Greatest of night-woes. So Higelac’s Beowulf, the
Geat, hero of
liegeman, the poem,
Good amid Geatmen, of Grendel’s hears of
Hrothgar’s
achievements sorrow, and
Heard in his home:1 of heroes then resolves to go
to his
living assistance.
He was stoutest and strongest, sturdy
and noble.
10
He bade them prepare him a bark that was trusty;
He said he the war-king would seek o’er the ocean,
The folk-leader noble, since he needed retainers.
For the perilous project prudent companions
Chided him little, though loving him dearly;
15
They egged the brave atheling, augured him glory.
The excellent knight from the folk of With fourteen
carefully
the Geatmen chosen
companions,

Had liegemen selected, likest to prove he sets out for
Dane-land.
them
Trustworthy warriors; with fourteen companions
The vessel he looked for; a liegeman then showed
them,
20
A sea-crafty man, the bounds of the country.
Fast the days fleeted; the float was a-water,
The craft by the cliff. Clomb to the prow then
Well-equipped warriors: the wave-currents twisted
The sea on the sand; soldiers then carried
25
On the breast of the vessel bright-shining jewels,
Handsome war-armor; heroes outshoved then,
Warmen the wood-ship, on its wished-for adventure.
The foamy-necked floater fanned by The vessel
sails like a bird
the breeze,
Likest a bird, glided the waters,
30 In twenty four
hours they
Till twenty and four hours thereafter reach the
The twist-stemmed vessel had traveled shores of
Hrothgar’s
such distance dominions
That the sailing-men saw the sloping
embankments,
The sea cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains,
Nesses enormous: they were nearing the limits
35
At the end of the ocean.2 Up thence quickly
The men of the Weders clomb to the mainland,
Fastened their vessel (battle weeds rattled,
War burnies clattered), the Wielder they thanked
That the ways o’er the waters had waxen so gentle.
40 They are hailed
by the Danish
coast guard

Then well from the cliff edge the guard of the
Scyldings
Who the sea-cliffs should see to, saw o’er the
gangway
Brave ones bearing beauteous targets,
Armor all ready, anxiously thought he,
Musing and wondering what men were approaching.
45
High on his horse then Hrothgar’s retainer
Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished
His lance in his hands, questioned with boldness.
“Who are ye men here, mail-covered His challenge
warriors
Clad in your corslets, come thus a-driving
50
A high riding ship o’er the shoals of the waters,
3
And hither ’neath helmets have hied o’er the ocean?
I have been strand-guard, standing as warden,
Lest enemies ever anywise ravage
Danish dominions with army of war-ships.
55
More boldly never have warriors ventured
Hither to come; of kinsmen’s approval,
Word-leave of warriors, I ween that ye surely
Nothing have known. Never a greater He is struck by
Beowulf’s
one appearance.
Of earls o’er the earth have I had a
sight of
60
Than is one of your number, a hero in armor;
No low-ranking fellow4 adorned with his weapons,
But launching them little, unless looks are deceiving,
And striking appearance. Ere ye pass on your
journey

As treacherous spies to the land of the Scyldings
65
And farther fare, I fully must know now
What race ye belong to. Ye far-away dwellers,
Sea-faring sailors, my simple opinion
Hear ye and hearken: haste is most fitting
Plainly to tell me what place ye are come from.”

[1] ‘From hám’ (194) is much disputed. One rendering is: Beowulf,
being away from home, heard of Hrothgar’s troubles, etc. Another,
that adopted by S. and endorsed in the H.-So. notes, is: B. heard
from his neighborhood (neighbors), i.e. in his home, etc. A third is:
B., being at home, heard this as occurring away from home. The
H.-So. glossary and notes conflict.
[2] ‘Eoletes’ (224) is marked with a (?) by H.-So.; our rendering
simply follows his conjecture.—Other conjectures as to ‘eolet’ are:
(1) voyage, (2) toil, labor, (3) hasty journey.
[3] The lacuna of the MS at this point has been supplied by various
conjectures. The reading adopted by H.-So. has been rendered in
the above translation. W., like H.-So., makes ‘ic’ the beginning of a
new sentence, but, for ‘helmas bæron,’ he reads ‘hringed stefnan.’
This has the advantage of giving a parallel to ‘brontne ceol’ instead
of a kenning for ‘go.’—B puts the (?) after ‘holmas’, and begins a
new sentence at the middle of the line. Translate: What warriors
are ye, clad in armor, who have thus come bringing the foaming
vessel over the water way, hither over the seas? For some time on
the wall I have been coast guard, etc. S. endorses most of what B.
says, but leaves out ‘on the wall’ in the last sentence. If W.’s
‘hringed stefnan’ be accepted, change line 51 above to, A ring-
stemmed vessel hither o’ersea.
[4] ‘Seld-guma’ (249) is variously rendered: (1) housecarle; (2) home-
stayer; (3) common man. Dr. H. Wood suggests a man-at-arms in
another’s house.

V.

THE GEATS REACH HEOROT.

The chief of the strangers rendered him Beowulf
answer, courteously
replies.
War-troopers’ leader, and word-
treasure opened:
“We are sprung from the lineage of the We are Geats.
people of Geatland,
And Higelac’s hearth-friends. To heroes unnumbered
5 My father
Ecgtheow was
My father was known, a noble head- well-known in
warrior his day.
Ecgtheow titled; many a winter
He lived with the people, ere he passed on his
journey,
Old from his dwelling; each of the counsellors
Widely mid world-folk well remembers him.
10 Our intentions
towards King
We, kindly of spirit, the lord of thy Hrothgar are of
people, the kindest.
The son of King Healfdene, have come
here to visit,
Folk-troop’s defender: be free in thy counsels!
To the noble one bear we a weighty commission,
The helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween,
15 Is it true that a
monster is
Naught of our message. Thou know’st slaying Danish
if it happen, heroes?
As we soothly heard say, that some
savage despoiler,
Some hidden pursuer, on nights that are murky

By deeds very direful ’mid the Danemen exhibits
Hatred unheard of, horrid destruction
20
And the falling of dead. From feelings least selfish
I am able to render counsel to I can help your
king to free
Hrothgar, himself from
How he, wise and worthy, may worst this horrible
creature.
the destroyer,
If the anguish of sorrow should ever be lessened,1
Comfort come to him, and care-waves grow cooler,
25
Or ever hereafter he agony suffer
And troublous distress, while towereth upward
The handsomest of houses high on the summit.”
Bestriding his stallion, the strand- The coast-
guard reminds
watchman answered, Beowulf that it
The doughty retainer: “The difference is easier to say
than to do.
surely
30
’Twixt words and works, the warlike shield-bearer
Who judgeth wisely well shall determine.
This band, I hear, beareth no malice
To the prince of the Scyldings. Pass ye I am satisfied
of your good
then onward intentions, and
With weapons and armor. I shall lead shall lead you
to the palace.
you in person;
35
To my war-trusty vassals command I shall issue
To keep from all injury your excellent vessel,
Your fresh-tarred craft, ’gainst every Your boat shall
be well cared
opposer for during your
Close by the sea-shore, till the curved- stay here.
neckèd bark shall
Waft back again the well-beloved hero

40
O’er the way of the water to Weder dominions.
To warrior so great ’twill be granted He again
compliments
sure Beowulf.
In the storm of strife to stand secure.”
Onward they fared then (the vessel lay quiet,
The broad-bosomed bark was bound by its cable,
45
Firmly at anchor); the boar-signs glistened2
Bright on the visors vivid with gilding,
Blaze-hardened, brilliant; the boar acted warden.
The heroes hastened, hurried the liegemen,
Descended together, till they saw the The land is
perhaps
great palace, rolling.
50
The well-fashioned wassail-hall wondrous and
gleaming:
’Mid world-folk and kindreds that was Heorot flashes
on their view.
widest reputed
Of halls under heaven which the hero abode in;
Its lustre enlightened lands without number.
Then the battle-brave hero showed them the
glittering
55
Court of the bold ones, that they easily thither
Might fare on their journey; the aforementioned
warrior
Turning his courser, quoth as he left them:
“’Tis time I were faring; Father The coast-
guard, having
Almighty discharged his
Grant you His grace, and give you to duty, bids them
God-speed.
journey
60
Safe on your mission! To the sea I will get me

’Gainst hostile warriors as warden to stand.”

[1] ‘Edwendan’ (280) B. takes to be the subs. ‘edwenden’ (cf. 1775);
and ‘bisigu’ he takes as gen. sing., limiting ‘edwenden’: If
reparation for sorrows is ever to come. This is supported by t.B.
[2] Combining the emendations of B. and t.B., we may read: The
boar-images glistened … brilliant, protected the life of the war-
mooded man. They read ‘ferh-wearde’ (305) and ‘gúðmódgum
men’ (306).

VI.

BEOWULF INTRODUCES
HIMSELF AT THE PALACE.

The highway glistened with many-hued pebble,
A by-path led the liegemen together.
1
Firm and hand-locked the war-burnie glistened,
The ring-sword radiant rang ’mid the armor
5
As the party was approaching the palace together
In warlike equipments. ’Gainst the wall They set their
arms and
of the building armor against
Their wide-fashioned war-shields they the wall.
weary did set then,
Battle-shields sturdy; benchward they turned then;
Their battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes;
10
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
Were decked with weapons. Then a A Danish hero
asks them
proud-mooded hero whence and
Asked of the champions questions of why they are
come.
lineage:
15
“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
20

Men so many of mien more He expresses
no little
courageous. admiration for
I ween that from valor, nowise as the strangers.
outlaws,
But from greatness of soul ye sought for King
Hrothgar.”
Then the strength-famous earlman Beowulf
replies.
answer rendered,
The proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his
question,
25 We are
Higelac’s
Hardy ’neath helmet: “Higelac’s mates table-
are we; companions,
and bear an
Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of important
Healfdene, commission to
The famous folk-leader, I freely will your prince.
tell
To thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing
He’ll grant we may greet him so gracious to all
men.”
30
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,
The friend-lord of Danemen, I will ask Wulfgar, the
thane, says that
of thy journey, he will go and
The giver of rings, as thou urgest me ask Hrothgar
whether he will
do it, see the
35 strangers.
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,
2
Old and hoary, his earlmen attending him;

The strength-famous went till he stood at the
shoulder
40
Of the lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen
The custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then
His friendly liegelord: “Folk of the Geatmen
O’er the way of the waters are wafted He thereupon
urges his
hither, liegelord to
Faring from far-lands: the foremost in receive the
visitors
rank courteously.
45
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!
In war-trappings weeded worthy they Hrothgar, too,
is struck with
seem Beowulf’s
50 appearance.
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.

VII.

HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.

Hrothgar answered, helm of the Hrothgar
Scyldings: remembers
Beowulf as a
“I remember this man as the merest of youth, and also
striplings. remembers his
father.
His father long dead now was
Ecgtheow titled,
Him Hrethel the Geatman granted at home his
5
One only daughter; his battle-brave son
Is come but now, sought a trustworthy friend.
Seafaring sailors asserted it then,
Who valuable gift-gems of the Beowulf is
reported to
Geatmen1 carried have the
As peace-offering thither, that he thirty strength of
thirty men.
men’s grapple
10
Has in his hand, the hero-in-battle.
The holy Creator usward sent him, God hath sent
him to our
To West-Dane warriors, I ween, for to rescue.
render
’Gainst Grendel’s grimness gracious assistance:
I shall give to the good one gift-gems for courage.
15
Hasten to bid them hither to speed them,2
To see assembled this circle of kinsmen;
Tell them expressly they’re welcome in sooth to
The men of the Danes.” To the door of the building
Wulfgar went then, this word-message Wulfgar invites
the strangers
shouted: in.

20
“My victorious liegelord bade me to tell you,
The East-Danes’ atheling, that your origin knows he,
And o’er wave-billows wafted ye welcome are
hither,
Valiant of spirit. Ye straightway may enter
Clad in corslets, cased in your helmets,
25
To see King Hrothgar. Here let your battle-boards,
Wood-spears and war-shafts, await your conferring.”
The mighty one rose then, with many a liegeman,
An excellent thane-group; some there did await
them,
And as bid of the brave one the battle-gear guarded.
30
Together they hied them, while the hero did guide
them,
’Neath Heorot’s roof; the high-minded went then
Sturdy ’neath helmet till he stood in the building.
Beowulf spake (his burnie did glisten,
His armor seamed over by the art of the craftsman):
35 Beowulf
salutes
“Hail thou, Hrothgar! I am Higelac’s Hrothgar, and
kinsman then proceeds
to boast of his
And vassal forsooth; many a wonder youthful
I dared as a stripling. The doings of achievements.
Grendel,
In far-off fatherland I fully did know of:
Sea-farers tell us, this hall-building standeth,
40
Excellent edifice, empty and useless
To all the earlmen after evenlight’s glimmer
’Neath heaven’s bright hues hath hidden its glory.

This my earls then urged me, the most excellent of
them,
Carles very clever, to come and assist thee,
45
Folk-leader Hrothgar; fully they knew of
The strength of my body. Themselves His fight with
the nickers.
they beheld me
When I came from the contest, when covered with
gore
Foes I escaped from, where five3 I had bound,
The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying
50
The nickers by night, bore numberless sorrows,
The Weders avenged (woes had they suffered)
Enemies ravaged; alone now with Grendel
I shall manage the matter, with the He intends to
fight Grendel
monster of evil, unaided.
The giant, decide it. Thee I would
therefore
55
Beg of thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain,
Lord of the Scyldings, this single petition:
Not to refuse me, defender of warriors,
Friend-lord of folks, so far have I sought thee,
That I may unaided, my earlmen assisting me,
60
This brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot.
I have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature
From veriest rashness recks not for Since the
monster uses
weapons; no weapons,
I this do scorn then, so be Higelac
gracious,
My liegelord belovèd, lenient of spirit,
65

To bear a blade or a broad-fashioned target,
A shield to the onset; only with hand-grip
The foe I must grapple, fight for my I, too, shall
disdain to use
life then, any.
Foeman with foeman; he fain must rely
on
The doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold of.
70 Should he
crush me, he
I ween he will wish, if he win in the will eat my
struggle, companions as
he has eaten
To eat in the war-hall earls of the Geat- thy thanes.
folk,
Boldly to swallow4 them, as of yore he did often
The best of the Hrethmen! Thou needest not trouble
A head-watch to give me;5 he will have me dripping
75 In case of my
defeat, thou
And dreary with gore, if death overtake wilt not have
me,6 the trouble of
burying me.
Will bear me off bleeding, biting and
mouthing me,
The hermit will eat me, heedless of pity,
Marking the moor-fens; no more wilt thou need then
Find me my food.7 If I fall in the battle, Should I fall,
send my armor
80 to my lord,
Send to Higelac the armor that serveth King Higelac.

To shield my bosom, the best of equipments,
Richest of ring-mails; ’tis the relic of Hrethla,
The work of Wayland. Goes Weird as Weird is
supreme
she must go!”

[1] Some render ‘gif-sceattas’ by ‘tribute.’—‘Géata’ B. and Th.
emended to ‘Géatum.’ If this be accepted, change ‘of the Geatmen’
to ‘to the Geatmen.’
[2] If t.B.’s emendation of vv. 386, 387 be accepted, the two lines,
‘Hasten … kinsmen’ will read: Hasten thou, bid the throng of

kinsmen go into the hall together.
[3] For 420 (b) and 421 (a), B. suggests: Þær ic (on) fífelgeban ýðde
eotena cyn = where I in the ocean destroyed the eoten-race.—t.B.
accepts B.’s “brilliant” ‘fífelgeban,’ omits ‘on,’ emends ‘cyn’ to
‘hám,’ arranging: Þær ic fífelgeban ýðde, eotena hám = where I
desolated the ocean, the home of the eotens.—This would be better
but for changing ‘cyn’ to ‘hám.’—I suggest: Þær ic fífelgeband (cf.
nhd. Bande) ýðde, eotena cyn = where I conquered the monster
band, the race of the eotens. This makes no change except to read
‘fífel’ for ‘fífe.’
[4] ‘Unforhte’ (444) is much disputed.—H.-So. wavers between adj.
and adv. Gr. and B. take it as an adv. modifying etan: Will eat the
Geats fearlessly.—Kl. considers this reading absurd, and proposes
‘anforhte’ = timid.—Understanding ‘unforhte’ as an adj. has this
advantage, viz. that it gives a parallel to ‘Geátena leóde’: but to
take it as an adv. is more natural. Furthermore, to call the Geats
‘brave’ might, at this point, seem like an implied thrust at the
Danes, so long helpless; while to call his own men ‘timid’ would
be befouling his own nest.
[5] For ‘head-watch,’ cf. H.-So. notes and cf. v. 2910.—Th. translates:
Thou wilt not need my head to hide (i.e., thou wilt have no
occasion to bury me, as Grendel will devour me whole).—Simrock
imagines a kind of dead-watch.—Dr. H. Wood suggests: Thou wilt
not have to bury so much as my head (for Grendel will be a
thorough undertaker),—grim humor.
[6] S. proposes a colon after ‘nimeð’ (l. 447). This would make no
essential change in the translation.
[7] Owing to the vagueness of ‘feorme’ (451), this passage is variously
translated. In our translation, H.-So.’s glossary has been quite
closely followed. This agrees substantially with B.’s translation (P.
and B. XII. 87). R. translates: Thou needst not take care longer as
to the consumption of my dead body. ‘Líc’ is also a crux here, as it
may mean living body or dead body.

VIII.

HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF.—
Continued.

Hrothgar discoursed, helm of the Hrothgar
Scyldings: responds.

“To defend our folk and to furnish assistance,1
Thou soughtest us hither, good friend Beowulf.
The fiercest of feuds thy father Reminiscences
of Beowulf’s
engaged in, father,
5 Ecgtheow.
Heatholaf killed he in hand-to-hand
conflict
’Mid Wilfingish warriors; then the Wederish people
For fear of a feud were forced to disown him.
Thence flying he fled to the folk of the South-Danes,
The race of the Scyldings, o’er the roll of the waters;
10
I had lately begun then to govern the Danemen,
The hoard-seat of heroes held in my youth,
Rich in its jewels: dead was Heregar,
My kinsman and elder had earth-joys forsaken,
Healfdene his bairn. He was better than I am!
15
That feud thereafter for a fee I compounded;
O’er the weltering waters to the Wilfings I sent
Ornaments old; oaths did he swear me.
It pains me in spirit to any to tell it, Hrothgar
recounts to
What grief in Heorot Grendel hath Beowulf the
caused me, horrors of
Grendel’s
20
persecutions.

What horror unlooked-for, by hatred unceasing.
Waned is my war-band, wasted my hall-troop;
Weird hath offcast them to the clutches of Grendel.
God can easily hinder the scather
From deeds so direful. Oft drunken with beer
25 My thanes
have made
O’er the ale-vessel promised warriors many boasts,
in armor but have not
executed them.
They would willingly wait on the
wassailing-benches
A grapple with Grendel, with grimmest of edges.
Then this mead-hall at morning with murder was
reeking,
The building was bloody at breaking of daylight,
30
The bench-deals all flooded, dripping and bloodied,
The folk-hall was gory: I had fewer retainers,
Dear-beloved warriors, whom death had laid hold of.
Sit at the feast now, thy intents unto Sit down to the
feast, and give
heroes,2 us comfort.
Thy victor-fame show, as thy spirit
doth urge thee!”
35 A bench is
made ready for
For the men of the Geats then together Beowulf and
assembled, his party.
In the beer-hall blithesome a bench
was made ready;
There warlike in spirit they went to be seated,
Proud and exultant. A liegeman did service,
Who a beaker embellished bore with decorum,
40 The gleeman
sings
And gleaming-drink poured. The
gleeman sang whilom
The heroes all
rejoice

Hearty in Heorot; there was heroes’ together.
rejoicing,
A numerous war-band of Weders and Danemen.

[1] B. and S. reject the reading given in H.-So., and suggested by
Grtvg. B. suggests for 457-458:

wáere-ryhtum Þú, wine mín Béowulf,
and for ár-stafum úsic sóhtest.

This means: From the obligations of clientage, my friend
Beowulf, and for assistance thou hast sought us.—This gives
coherence to Hrothgar’s opening remarks in VIII., and also
introduces a new motive for Beowulf’s coming to Hrothgar’s aid.
[2] Sit now at the feast, and disclose thy purposes to the victorious
heroes, as thy spirit urges.—Kl. reaches the above translation by
erasing the comma after ‘meoto’ and reading ‘sige-hrèðsecgum.’—
There are other and bolder emendations and suggestions. Of these
the boldest is to regard ‘meoto’ as a verb (imperative), and read
‘on sæl’: Think upon gayety, etc.—All the renderings are
unsatisfactory, the one given in our translation involving a
zeugma.

IX.

UNFERTH TAUNTS BEOWULF.

Unferth spoke up, Ecglaf his son, Unferth, a
thane of
Who sat at the feet of the lord of the Hrothgar, is
Scyldings, jealous of
Beowulf, and
Opened the jousting (the journey1 of undertakes to
Beowulf, twit him.
Sea-farer doughty, gave sorrow to Unferth
5
And greatest chagrin, too, for granted he never
That any man else on earth should attain to,
Gain under heaven, more glory than he):
“Art thou that Beowulf with Breca did Did you take
part in a
struggle, swimming-
On the wide sea-currents at swimming match with
Breca?
contended,
10
Where to humor your pride the ocean ye tried,
From vainest vaunting adventured your ’Twas mere
folly that
bodies actuated you
In care of the waters? And no one was both to risk
your lives on
able the ocean.
Nor lief nor loth one, in the least to
dissuade you
Your difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming,
15
Where your arms outstretching the streams ye did
cover,
The mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them,
Glided the ocean; angry the waves were,

With the weltering of winter. In the water’s
possession,
Ye toiled for a seven-night; he at swimming outdid
thee,
20
In strength excelled thee. Then early at morning
On the Heathoremes’ shore the holm-currents tossed
him,
Sought he thenceward the home of his fathers,
Beloved of his liegemen, the land of the Brondings,
The peace-castle pleasant, where a people he
wielded,
25
Had borough and jewels. The pledge that he made
thee
The son of Beanstan hath soothly Breca outdid
you entirely.
accomplished.
Then I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue,
Though ever triumphant in onset of Much more
will Grendel
battle, outdo you, if
A grim grappling, if Grendel thou you vie with
him in
darest prowess.
30
For the space of a night near-by to wait for!”
Beowulf answered, offspring of Beowulf
retaliates.
Ecgtheow:
“My good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly,
Thou fuddled with beer of Breca hast O friend
Unferth, you
spoken, are fuddled
Hast told of his journey! A fact I allege with beer, and
cannot talk
it, coherently.
35
That greater strength in the waters I had then,
Ills in the ocean, than any man else had.
We made agreement as the merest of striplings

Promised each other (both of us then were
Younkers in years) that we yet would We simply
kept an
adventure engagement
40 made in early
life.
Out on the ocean; it all we
accomplished.
While swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade
unscabbarded
Boldly we brandished, our bodies expected
To shield from the sharks. He sure was unable
To swim on the waters further than I He could not
excel me, and I
could, would not
45 excel him.
More swift on the waves, nor would I
from him go.
Then we two companions stayed in the ocean
Five nights together, till the currents After five days
the currents
did part us, separated us.
The weltering waters, weathers the
bleakest,
And nethermost night, and the north-wind whistled
50
Fierce in our faces; fell were the billows.
The mere fishes’ mood was mightily ruffled:
And there against foemen my firm-knotted corslet,
Hand-jointed, hardy, help did afford me;
My battle-sark braided, brilliantly gilded,
55 A horrible sea-
beast attacked
Lay on my bosom. To the bottom then me, but I slew
dragged me, him.
A hateful fiend-scather, seized me and
held me,
Grim in his grapple: ’twas granted me, nathless,
To pierce the monster with the point of my weapon,
My obedient blade; battle offcarried

60
The mighty mere-creature by means of my hand-
blow.

[1] It has been plausibly suggested that ‘síð’ (in 501 and in 353) means
‘arrival.’ If so, translate the bracket: (the arrival of Beowulf, the
brave seafarer, was a source of great chagrin to Unferth, etc.).

X.

BEOWULF SILENCES
UNFERTH.—GLEE IS HIGH.

“So ill-meaning enemies often did cause me
Sorrow the sorest. I served them, in quittance,
With my dear-lovèd sword, as in sooth My dear sword
always served
it was fitting; me faithfully.
They missed the pleasure of feasting
abundantly,
5
Ill-doers evil, of eating my body,
Of surrounding the banquet deep in the ocean;
But wounded with edges early at morning
They were stretched a-high on the strand of the
ocean,
Put to sleep with the sword, that sea- I put a stop to
the outrages of
going travelers the sea-
10 monsters.
No longer thereafter were hindered
from sailing
The foam-dashing currents. Came a light from the
east,
God’s beautiful beacon; the billows subsided,
That well I could see the nesses projecting,
The blustering crags. Weird often Fortune helps
the brave earl.
saveth
15
The undoomed hero if doughty his valor!
But me did it fortune1 to fell with my weapon
Nine of the nickers. Of night-struggle harder
’Neath dome of the heaven heard I but rarely,

Nor of wight more woful in the waves of the ocean;
20
Yet I ’scaped with my life the grip of the monsters,
Weary from travel. Then the waters After that
escape I drifted
bare me to Finland.
To the land of the Finns, the flood with
the current,
The weltering waves. Not a word hath I have never
heard of your
been told me doing any such
Of deeds so daring done by thee, bold deeds.
Unferth,
25
And of sword-terror none; never hath Breca
At the play of the battle, nor either of you two,
Feat so fearless performèd with weapons
Glinting and gleaming . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . I utter no boasting;
30 You are a
slayer of
Though with cold-blooded cruelty thou brothers, and
killedst thy brothers, will suffer
damnation,
Thy nearest of kin; thou needs must in wise as you
hell get may be.
Direful damnation, though doughty thy
wisdom.
I tell thee in earnest, offspring of Ecglaf,
Never had Grendel such numberless horrors,
35
The direful demon, done to thy liegelord,
Harrying in Heorot, if thy heart were as sturdy,
Thy mood as ferocious as thou dost Had your acts
been as brave
describe them. as your words,
He hath found out fully that the fierce- Grendel had
not ravaged
burning hatred, your land so
The edge-battle eager, of all of your long.
kindred,

40
Of the Victory-Scyldings, need little dismay him:
Oaths he exacteth, not any he spares
Of the folk of the Danemen, but The monster is
not afraid of
fighteth with pleasure, the Danes,
Killeth and feasteth, no contest
expecteth
From Spear-Danish people. But the but he will
soon learn to
prowess and valor dread the
45 Geats.
Of the earls of the Geatmen early shall
venture
To give him a grapple. He shall go who is able
Bravely to banquet, when the bright-light of morning
Which the second day bringeth, the sun On the second
day, any
in its ether-robes, warrior may go
O’er children of men shines from the unmolested to
the mead-
southward!” banquet.
50
Then the gray-haired, war-famed giver of treasure
Was blithesome and joyous, the Bright- Hrothgar’s
spirits are
Danish ruler revived.
Expected assistance; the people’s
protector
Heard from Beowulf his bold The old king
trusts Beowulf.
resolution. The heroes are
There was laughter of heroes; loud was joyful.
the clatter,
55
The words were winsome. Wealhtheow advanced
then,
Consort of Hrothgar, of courtesy Queen
Wealhtheow
mindful, plays the
Gold-decked saluted the men in the hostess.
building,

And the freeborn woman the beaker presented
To the lord of the kingdom, first of the She offers the
cup to her
East-Danes, husband first.
60
Bade him be blithesome when beer was a-flowing,
Lief to his liegemen; he lustily tasted
Of banquet and beaker, battle-famed ruler.
The Helmingish lady then graciously circled
’Mid all the liegemen lesser and greater:
65 She gives
presents to the
Treasure-cups tendered, till time was heroes.
afforded
That the decorous-mooded, diademed folk-queen
Might bear to Beowulf the bumper Then she offers
the cup to
o’errunning; Beowulf,
She greeted the Geat-prince, God she thanking God
that aid has
did thank, come.
Most wise in her words, that her wish
was accomplished,
70
That in any of earlmen she ever should look for
Solace in sorrow. He accepted the beaker,
Battle-bold warrior, at Wealhtheow’s giving,
Then equipped for combat quoth he in Beowulf states
to the queen
measures, the object of
Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow: his visit.
75
“I purposed in spirit when I mounted the ocean,
When I boarded my boat with a band I determined to
do or die.
of my liegemen,
I would work to the fullest the will of your people
Or in foe’s-clutches fastened fall in the battle.
Deeds I shall do of daring and prowess,
80

Or the last of my life-days live in this mead-hall.”
These words to the lady were welcome and pleasing,
The boast of the Geatman; with gold trappings
broidered
Went the freeborn folk-queen her fond-lord to sit by.
Then again as of yore was heard in the Glee is high.
building
85
Courtly discussion, conquerors’ shouting,
Heroes were happy, till Healfdene’s son would
Go to his slumber to seek for refreshing;
For the horrid hell-monster in the hall-building knew
he
A fight was determined,2 since the light of the sun
they
90
No longer could see, and lowering darkness
O’er all had descended, and dark under heaven
Shadowy shapes came shying around them.
The liegemen all rose then. One saluted Hrothgar
retires, leaving
the other, Beowulf in
Hrothgar Beowulf, in rhythmical charge of the
hall.
measures,
95
Wishing him well, and, the wassail-hall giving
To his care and keeping, quoth he departing:
“Not to any one else have I ever entrusted,
But thee and thee only, the hall of the Danemen,
Since high I could heave my hand and my buckler.
100
Take thou in charge now the noblest of houses;
Be mindful of honor, exhibiting prowess,
Watch ’gainst the foeman! Thou shalt want no
enjoyments,

Survive thou safely adventure so glorious!”

[1] The repetition of ‘hwæðere’ (574 and 578) is regarded by some
scholars as a defect. B. suggests ‘swá Þær’ for the first: So there it
befell me, etc. Another suggestion is to change the second
‘hwæðere’ into ‘swá Þær’: So there I escaped with my life, etc.
[2] Kl. suggests a period after ‘determined.’ This would give the
passage as follows: Since they no longer could see the light of the
sun, and lowering darkness was down over all, dire under the
heavens shadowy beings came going around them.

XI.

ALL SLEEP SAVE ONE.

Then Hrothgar departed, his earl- Hrothgar
throng attending him, retires.

Folk-lord of Scyldings, forth from the building;
The war-chieftain wished then Wealhtheow to look
for,
The queen for a bedmate. To keep away Grendel
5 God has
provided a
The Glory of Kings had given a hall- watch for the
watch, hall.
As men heard recounted: for the king
of the Danemen
He did special service, gave the giant a watcher:
And the prince of the Geatmen implicitly trusted
His warlike strength and the Wielder’s Beowulf is
self-confident
protection.
10 He prepares for
rest.
His armor of iron off him he did then,
His helmet from his head, to his henchman
committed
His chased-handled chain-sword, choicest of
weapons,
And bade him bide with his battle-equipments.
The good one then uttered words of defiance,
15
Beowulf Geatman, ere his bed he upmounted:
“I hold me no meaner in matters of Beowulf boasts
of his ability to
prowess, cope with
In warlike achievements, than Grendel Grendel.
does himself;

Hence I seek not with sword-edge to sooth him to
slumber,
Of life to bereave him, though well I am able.
20 We will fight
with nature’s
No battle-skill1 has he, that blows he weapons only.
should strike me,
To shatter my shield, though sure he is mighty
In strife and destruction; but struggling by night we
Shall do without edges, dare he to look for
Weaponless warfare, and wise-mooded Father
25
The glory apportion, God ever-holy,
On which hand soever to him seemeth God may
decide who
proper.” shall conquer
Then the brave-mooded hero bent to
his slumber,
The pillow received the cheek of the noble;
And many a martial mere-thane The Geatish
warriors lie
attending down.
30
Sank to his slumber. Seemed it unlikely
That ever thereafter any should hope to They thought it
very unlikely
Be happy at home, hero-friends visit that they
Or the lordly troop-castle where he should ever see
their homes
lived from his childhood; again.
They had heard how slaughter had
snatched from the wine-hall,
35
Had recently ravished, of the race of the Scyldings
Too many by far. But the Lord to them But God raised
up a deliverer.
granted
The weaving of war-speed, to Wederish heroes
Aid and comfort, that every opponent

By one man’s war-might they worsted and
vanquished,
40 God rules the
world.
By the might of himself; the truth is
established
That God Almighty hath governed for ages
Kindreds and nations. A night very lurid
The trav’ler-at-twilight came tramping Grendel comes
to Heorot.
and striding.
The warriors were sleeping who should watch the
horned-building,
45 Only one
warrior is
One only excepted. ’Mid earthmen awake.
’twas ’stablished,
Th’ implacable foeman was powerless to hurl them
To the land of shadows, if the Lord were unwilling;
But serving as warder, in terror to foemen,
He angrily bided the issue of battle.2

[1] Gr. understood ‘gódra’ as meaning ‘advantages in battle.’ This
rendering H.-So. rejects. The latter takes the passage as meaning
that Grendel, though mighty and formidable, has no skill in the art
of war.
[2] B. in his masterly articles on Beowulf (P. and B. XII.) rejects the
division usually made at this point, ‘Þá.’ (711), usually rendered
‘then,’ he translates ‘when,’ and connects its clause with the
foregoing sentence. These changes he makes to reduce the number
of ‘cóm’s’ as principal verbs. (Cf. 703, 711, 721.) With all
deference to this acute scholar, I must say that it seems to me that
the poet is exhausting his resources to bring out clearly the
supreme event on which the whole subsequent action turns. First,
he (Grendel) came in the wan night; second, he came from the
moor; third, he came to the hall. Time, place from which, place to
which, are all given.

XII.

GRENDEL AND BEOWULF.

’Neath the cloudy cliffs came from the Grendel comes
moor then from the fens.

Grendel going, God’s anger bare he.
The monster intended some one of earthmen
In the hall-building grand to entrap and make way
with:
5 He goes
towards the
He went under welkin where well he joyous
knew of building.
The wine-joyous building, brilliant
with plating,
Gold-hall of earthmen. Not the earliest occasion
He the home and manor of Hrothgar This was not
his first visit
had sought: there.
Ne’er found he in life-days later nor
earlier
10
Hardier hero, hall-thanes1 more sturdy!
Then came to the building the warrior marching,
Bereft of his joyance. The door quickly His horrid
fingers tear the
opened door open.
On fire-hinges fastened, when his
fingers had touched it;
The fell one had flung then—his fury so bitter—
15
Open the entrance. Early thereafter
The foeman trod the shining hall-pavement,
Strode he angrily; from the eyes of him He strides
furiously into
glimmered the hall.

A lustre unlovely likest to fire.
He beheld in the hall the heroes in numbers,
20
A circle of kinsmen sleeping together,
A throng of thanemen: then his He exults over
his supposed
thoughts were exultant, prey.
He minded to sunder from each of the
thanemen
The life from his body, horrible demon,
Ere morning came, since fate had allowed him
25 Fate has
decreed that he
The prospect of plenty. Providence shall devour no
willed not more heroes.
Beowulf
To permit him any more of men under suffers from
heaven suspense.
To eat in the night-time. Higelac’s
kinsman
Great sorrow endured how the dire-mooded creature
In unlooked-for assaults were likely to bear him.
30
No thought had the monster of deferring the matter,
But on earliest occasion he quickly laid Grendel
immediately
hold of seizes a
A soldier asleep, suddenly tore him, sleeping
warrior, and
Bit his bone-prison, the blood drank in devours him.
currents,
Swallowed in mouthfuls: he soon had the dead
man’s
35
Feet and hands, too, eaten entirely.
Nearer he strode then, the stout-hearted warrior
Snatched as he slumbered, seizing with Beowulf and
Grendel
hand-grip, grapple.
Forward the foeman foined with his
hand;

Caught he quickly the cunning deviser,
40
On his elbow he rested. This early discovered
The master of malice, that in middle-earth’s regions,
’Neath the whole of the heavens, no hand-grapple
greater
In any man else had he ever The monster is
amazed at
encountered: Beowulf’s
Fearful in spirit, faint-mooded waxed strength.
he,
45
Not off could betake him; death he was pondering,
Would fly to his covert, seek the devils’ He is anxious
to flee.
assembly:
His calling no more was the same he had followed
Long in his lifetime. The liege-kinsman worthy
Of Higelac minded his speech of the Beowulf
recalls his
evening, boast of the
50 evening, and
determines to
Stood he up straight and stoutly did fulfil it.
seize him.
His fingers crackled; the giant was outward,
The earl stepped farther. The famous one minded
To flee away farther, if he found an occasion,
And off and away, avoiding delay,
55
To fly to the fen-moors; he fully was ware of
The strength of his grapple in the grip of the foeman.
’Twas an ill-taken journey that the ’Twas a
luckless day
injury-bringing, for Grendel.
Harrying harmer to Heorot wandered:
The palace re-echoed; to all of the The hall
groans.
Danemen,
60
Dwellers in castles, to each of the bold ones,

Earlmen, was terror. Angry they both were,
Archwarders raging.2 Rattled the building;
’Twas a marvellous wonder that the wine-hall
withstood then
The bold-in-battle, bent not to earthward,
65
Excellent earth-hall; but within and without it
Was fastened so firmly in fetters of iron,
By the art of the armorer. Off from the sill there
Bent mead-benches many, as men have informed
me,
Adorned with gold-work, where the grim ones did
struggle.
70
The Scylding wise men weened ne’er before
That by might and main-strength a man under
heaven
Might break it in pieces, bone-decked, resplendent,
Crush it by cunning, unless clutch of the fire
In smoke should consume it. The sound mounted
upward
75 Grendel’s cries
terrify the
Novel enough; on the North Danes Danes.
fastened
A terror of anguish, on all of the men there
Who heard from the wall the weeping and plaining,
The song of defeat from the foeman of heaven,
Heard him hymns of horror howl, and his sorrow
80
Hell-bound bewailing. He held him too firmly
Who was strongest of main-strength of men of that
era.

[1] B. and t.B. emend so as to make lines 9 and 10 read: Never in his
life, earlier or later, had he, the hell-thane, found a braver hero.—

They argue that Beowulf’s companions had done nothing to merit
such encomiums as the usual readings allow them.
[2] For ‘réðe rén-weardas’ (771), t.B. suggests ‘réðe, rénhearde.’
Translate: They were both angry, raging and mighty.

XIII.

GRENDEL IS VANQUISHED.

For no cause whatever would the Beowulf has
earlmen’s defender no idea of
letting Grendel
Leave in life-joys the loathsome live.
newcomer,
He deemed his existence utterly useless
To men under heaven. Many a noble
5
Of Beowulf brandished his battle-sword old,
Would guard the life of his lord and protector,
The far-famous chieftain, if able to do so;
While waging the warfare, this wist they but little,
Brave battle-thanes, while his body intending
10 No weapon
would harm
To slit into slivers, and seeking his Grendel; he
spirit: bore a charmed
life.
That the relentless foeman nor finest of
weapons
Of all on the earth, nor any of war-bills
Was willing to injure; but weapons of victory
Swords and suchlike he had sworn to dispense with.
15
His death at that time must prove to be wretched,
And the far-away spirit widely should journey
Into enemies’ power. This plainly he saw then
Who with mirth1 of mood malice no little
Had wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen
20
(To God he was hostile), that his body would fail
him,

But Higelac’s hardy henchman and kinsman
Held him by the hand; hateful to other
Was each one if living. A body-wound Grendel is
sorely
suffered wounded.
The direful demon, damage incurable
25 His body
bursts.
Was seen on his shoulder, his sinews
were shivered,
His body did burst. To Beowulf was given
Glory in battle; Grendel from thenceward
Must flee and hide him in the fen-cliffs and marshes,
Sick unto death, his dwelling must look for
30
Unwinsome and woful; he wist the more fully
The end of his earthly existence was The monster
flees away to
nearing, hide in the
His life-days’ limits. At last for the moors.
Danemen,
When the slaughter was over, their wish was
accomplished.
The comer-from-far-land had cleansed then of evil,
35
Wise and valiant, the war-hall of Hrothgar,
Saved it from violence. He joyed in the night-work,
In repute for prowess; the prince of the Geatmen
For the East-Danish people his boast had
accomplished,
Bettered their burdensome bale-sorrows fully,
40
The craft-begot evil they erstwhile had suffered
And were forced to endure from crushing
oppression,
Their manifold misery. ’Twas a manifest token,
Beowulf
suspends

When the hero-in-battle the hand Grendel’s hand
and arm in
suspended, Heorot.
The arm and the shoulder (there was all
of the claw
45
Of Grendel together) ’neath great-stretching hall-
roof.

[1] It has been proposed to translate ‘myrðe’ by with sorrow; but there
seems no authority for such a rendering. To the present translator,
the phrase ‘módes myrðe’ seems a mere padding for gladly; i.e., he
who gladly harassed mankind.

XIV.

REJOICING OF THE DANES.

In the mist of the morning many a At early dawn,
warrior warriors from
far and near
Stood round the gift-hall, as the story is come together
told me: to hear of the
night’s
Folk-princes fared then from far and adventures.
from near
Through long-stretching journeys to look at the
wonder,
5
The footprints of the foeman. Few of the warriors
Who gazed on the foot-tracks of the Few warriors
lamented
inglorious creature Grendel’s
His parting from life pained very destruction.
deeply,
How, weary in spirit, off from those regions
In combats conquered he carried his traces,
10
Fated and flying, to the flood of the nickers.
There in bloody billows bubbled the Grendel’s
blood dyes the
currents, waters.
The angry eddy was everywhere
mingled
And seething with gore, welling with sword-blood;1
He death-doomed had hid him, when reaved of his
joyance
15
He laid down his life in the lair he had fled to,
His heathenish spirit, where hell did receive him.
Thence the friends from of old backward turned
them,

And many a younker from merry adventure,
Striding their stallions, stout from the seaward,
20
Heroes on horses. There were heard very often
Beowulf’s praises; many often asserted Beowulf is the
hero of the
That neither south nor north, in the hour.
circuit of waters,
O’er outstretching earth-plain, none He is regarded
as a probable
other was better successor to
’Mid bearers of war-shields, more Hrothgar.
worthy to govern,
25
’Neath the arch of the ether. Not any, however,
’Gainst the friend-lord muttered, mocking-words
uttered
Of Hrothgar the gracious (a good king But no word is
uttered to
he). derogate from
Oft the famed ones permitted their the old king
fallow-skinned horses
To run in rivalry, racing and chasing,
30
Where the fieldways appeared to them fair and
inviting,
Known for their excellence; oft a thane of the folk-
lord,2
3 The gleeman
A man of celebrity, mindful of
sings the deeds
rhythms, of heroes.
Who ancient traditions treasured in
memory,
New word-groups found properly bound:
35
The bard after ’gan then Beowulf’s venture
Wisely to tell of, and words that were He sings in
alliterative
clever measures of
To utter skilfully, earnestly speaking,

Everything told he that he heard as to Beowulf’s
prowess.
Sigmund’s
Mighty achievements, many things Also of
Sigemund,
hidden, who has slain a
40 great fire-
dragon.
The strife of the Wælsing, the wide-
going ventures
The children of men knew of but little,
The feud and the fury, but Fitela with him,
When suchlike matters he minded to speak of,
Uncle to nephew, as in every contention
45
Each to other was ever devoted:
A numerous host of the race of the scathers
They had slain with the sword-edge. To Sigmund
accrued then
No little of glory, when his life-days were over,
Since he sturdy in struggle had destroyed the great
dragon,
50
The hoard-treasure’s keeper; ’neath the hoar-grayish
stone he,
The son of the atheling, unaided adventured
The perilous project; not present was Fitela,
Yet the fortune befell him of forcing his weapon
Through the marvellous dragon, that it stood in the
wall,
55
Well-honored weapon; the worm was slaughtered.
The great one had gained then by his glorious
achievement
To reap from the ring-hoard richest enjoyment,
As best it did please him: his vessel he loaded,
Shining ornaments on the ship’s bosom carried,
60

Kinsman of Wæls: the drake in heat melted.
He was farthest famed of fugitive Sigemund was
widely famed.
pilgrims,
Mid wide-scattered world-folk, for works of great
prowess,
War-troopers’ shelter: hence waxed he in honor.4
Afterward Heremod’s hero-strength Heremod, an
unfortunate
failed him, Danish king, is
65 introduced by
way of
His vigor and valor. ’Mid venomous contrast.
haters
To the hands of foemen he was foully delivered,
Offdriven early. Agony-billows
Oppressed him too long, to his people Unlike
Sigemund and
he became then, Beowulf,
To all the athelings, an ever-great Heremod was a
burden to his
burden; people.
70
And the daring one’s journey in days of yore
Many wise men were wont to deplore,
Such as hoped he would bring them help in their
sorrow,
That the son of their ruler should rise into power,
Holding the headship held by his fathers,
75
Should govern the people, the gold-hoard and
borough,
The kingdom of heroes, the realm of the Scyldings.
He to all men became then far more Beowulf is an
honor to his
beloved, race.
Higelac’s kinsman, to kindreds and
races,
To his friends much dearer; him malice assaulted.—
80 The story is
resumed.

Oft running and racing on roadsters they measured
The dun-colored highways. Then the light of the
morning
Was hurried and hastened. Went henchmen in
numbers
To the beautiful building, bold ones in spirit,
To look at the wonder; the liegelord himself then
85
From his wife-bower wending, warden of treasures,
Glorious trod with troopers unnumbered,
Famed for his virtues, and with him the queen-wife
Measured the mead-ways, with maidens attending.

[1] S. emends, suggesting ‘déop’ for ‘déog,’ and removing semicolon
after ‘wéol.’ The two half-lines ‘welling … hid him’ would then
read: The bloody deep welled with sword-gore. B. accepts ‘déop’
for ‘déog,’ but reads ‘déað-fæges’: The deep boiled with the
sword-gore of the death-doomed one.
[2] Another and quite different rendering of this passage is as follows:
Oft a liegeman of the king, a fame-covered man mindful of songs,
who very many ancient traditions remembered (he found other
word-groups accurately bound together) began afterward to tell of
Beowulf’s adventure, skilfully to narrate it, etc.
[3] Might ‘guma gilp-hladen’ mean ‘a man laden with boasts of the
deeds of others’?
[4] t.B. accepts B.’s ‘hé þæs áron þáh’ as given by H.-So., but puts a
comma after ‘þáh,’ and takes ‘siððan’ as introducing a dependent
clause: He throve in honor since Heremod’s strength … had
decreased.

XV.

HROTHGAR’S GRATITUDE.

Hrothgar discoursed (to the hall-building went he,
He stood by the pillar,1 saw the steep-rising hall-roof
Gleaming with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand
there):
“For the sight we behold now, thanks Hrothgar gives
thanks for the
to the Wielder overthrow of
5 the monster.
Early be offered! Much evil I bided,
Snaring from Grendel:2 God can e’er ’complish
Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory!
But lately I reckoned ne’er under I had given up
all hope, when
heaven this brave
Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows, liegeman came
to our aid.
10
While the handsomest of houses horrid with
bloodstain
Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened3
Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever
The folk-troop’s defences ’gainst foes they should
strengthen,
’Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of
the Wielder
15
A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished
Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom
Failed to perform. May affirm very If his mother
yet liveth, well
truly may she thank
What woman soever in all of the God for this
son.
nations

Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth,
20
That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward
In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear,
Most excellent hero, I’ll love thee in Hereafter,
Beowulf, thou
spirit shalt be my
As bairn of my body; bear well son.
henceforward
The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee
25
Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee.
Full often for lesser service I’ve given
Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious,
To a weaker in war-strife. By works of Thou hast won
immortal
distinction distinction.
Thou hast gained for thyself now that
thy glory shall flourish
30
Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee
With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!”
Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow’s Beowulf
replies: I was
offspring: most happy to
“That labor of glory most gladly render thee this
service.
achieved we,
The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured
35
The enemy’s grapple; I would grant it much rather
Thou wert able to look at the creature in person,
Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings!
On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him,
With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple
40
Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle
’Less his body escape; I was wholly unable,

Since God did not will it, to keep him I could not
keep the
from going, monster from
Not held him that firmly, hated escaping, as
opposer; God did not
will that I
Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety should.
regarding
45
He suffered his hand behind him to linger,
His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher;
No shadow of solace the woe-begone He left his
hand and arm
creature behind.
Found him there nathless: the hated
destroyer
Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils,
50
But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath
him
Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing
In baleful bonds: there banished for evil
The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal,
How the God of glory shall give him God will give
him his
his earnings.” deserts.
55
Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf,
From boasting and bragging of battle- Unferth has
nothing more
achievements, to say, for
Since the princes beheld there the hand Beowulf’s
actions speak
that depended louder than
’Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the words.
might of the nobleman,
Each one before him, the enemy’s fingers;
60
Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled,
The heathen one’s hand-spur, the hero-in-battle’s
Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing,

That not any excellent edges of brave No sword will
harm the
ones monster.
Was willing to touch him, the terrible
creature’s
65
Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him.

[1] B. and t.B. read ‘staþole,’ and translate stood on the floor.
[2] For ‘snaring from Grendel,’ ‘sorrows at Grendel’s hands’ has been
suggested. This gives a parallel to ‘láðes.’ ‘Grynna’ may well be
gen. pl. of ‘gyrn,’ by a scribal slip.
[3] The H.-So punctuation has been followed; but B. has been
followed in understanding ‘gehwylcne’ as object of ‘wíd-scofen
(hæfde).’ Gr. construes ‘wéa’ as nom abs.

XVI.

HROTHGAR LAVISHES GIFTS
UPON HIS DELIVERER.

Then straight was ordered that Heorot Heorot is
adorned with
inside1 hands.
With hands be embellished: a host of
them gathered,
Of men and women, who the wassailing-building
The guest-hall begeared. Gold-flashing sparkled
5
Webs on the walls then, of wonders a many
To each of the heroes that look on such objects.
The beautiful building was broken to The hall is
defaced,
pieces however.
Which all within with irons was
fastened,
Its hinges torn off: only the roof was
10
Whole and uninjured when the horrible creature
Outlawed for evil off had betaken him,
Hopeless of living. ’Tis hard to avoid it
(Whoever will do it!); but he doubtless [A vague
passage of five
must come to2 verses.]
The place awaiting, as Wyrd hath
appointed,
15
Soul-bearers, earth-dwellers, earls under heaven,
Where bound on its bed his body shall slumber
When feasting is finished. Full was the Hrothgar goes
to the banquet.
time then
That the son of Healfdene went to the building;

The excellent atheling would eat of the banquet.
20
Ne’er heard I that people with hero-band larger
Bare them better tow’rds their bracelet-bestower.
The laden-with-glory stooped to the bench then
(Their kinsmen-companions in plenty were joyful,
Many a cupful quaffing complaisantly),
25
Doughty of spirit in the high-tow’ring palace,
Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot then Hrothgar’s
nephew,
inside Hrothulf, is
Was filled with friendly ones; present.
falsehood and treachery
The Folk-Scyldings now nowise did practise.
Then the offspring of Healfdene Hrothgar
lavishes gifts
offered to Beowulf upon Beowulf.
30
A golden standard, as reward for the victory,
A banner embossed, burnie and helmet;
Many men saw then a song-famous weapon
Borne ’fore the hero. Beowulf drank of
The cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing
35
He needed not blush for in battle-men’s presence.
Ne’er heard I that many men on the Four
handsomer
ale-bench gifts were
In friendlier fashion to their fellows never
presented.
presented
Four bright jewels with gold-work embellished.
’Round the roof of the helmet a head-guarder outside
40
Braided with wires, with bosses was furnished,
That swords-for-the-battle fight-hardened might fail
Boldly to harm him, when the hero proceeded

Forth against foemen. The defender of Hrothgar
commands that
earls then eight finely
Commanded that eight steeds with caparisoned
bridles steeds be
brought to
45 Beowulf.
Gold-plated, gleaming, be guided to
hallward,
Inside the building; on one of them stood then
An art-broidered saddle embellished with jewels;
’Twas the sovereign’s seat, when the son of King
Healfdene
Was pleased to take part in the play of the edges;
50
The famous one’s valor ne’er failed at the front
when
Slain ones were bowing. And to Beowulf granted
The prince of the Ingwins, power over both,
O’er war-steeds and weapons; bade him well to
enjoy them.
In so manly a manner the mighty-famed chieftain,
55
Hoard-ward of heroes, with horses and jewels
War-storms requited, that none e’er condemneth
Who willeth to tell truth with full justice.

[1] Kl. suggests ‘hroden’ for ‘háten,’ and renders: Then quickly was
Heorot adorned within, with hands bedecked.—B. suggests
‘gefrætwon’ instead of ‘gefrætwod,’ and renders: Then was it
commanded to adorn Heorot within quickly with hands.—The
former has the advantage of affording a parallel to ‘gefrætwod’:
both have the disadvantage of altering the text.
[2] The passage 1005-1009 seems to be hopeless. One difficult point is
to find a subject for ‘gesacan.’ Some say ‘he’; others supply ‘each,’
i.e., every soul-bearer … must gain the inevitable place. The
genitives in this case are partitive.—If ‘he’ be subj., the genitives
are dependent on ‘gearwe’ (= prepared).—The ‘he’ itself is
disputed, some referring it to Grendel; but B. takes it as involved
in the parenthesis.

XVII.

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

And the atheling of earlmen to each of Each of
the heroes Beowulf’s
companions
Who the ways of the waters went with receives a
Beowulf, costly gift.

A costly gift-token gave on the mead-bench,
Offered an heirloom, and ordered that that man
5 The warrior
killed by
With gold should be paid for, whom Grendel is to
Grendel had erstwhile be paid for in
gold.
Wickedly slaughtered, as he more of
them had done
Had far-seeing God and the mood of the hero
The fate not averted: the Father then governed
All of the earth-dwellers, as He ever is doing;
10
Hence insight for all men is everywhere fittest,
Forethought of spirit! much he shall suffer
Of lief and of loathsome who long in this present
Useth the world in this woful existence.
There was music and merriment mingling together
15 Hrothgar’s
scop recalls
Touching Healfdene’s leader; the joy- events in the
wood was fingered, reign of his
lord’s father.
Measures recited, when the singer of
Hrothgar
On mead-bench should mention the merry hall-
joyance

Of the kinsmen of Finn, when onset surprised them:
“The Half-Danish hero, Hnæf of the Hnæf, the
Danish
Scyldings, general, is
20 treacherously
attacked while
On the field of the Frisians was fated to staying at
perish. Finn’s castle.
Sure Hildeburg needed not mention
approving
The faith of the Jutemen: though blameless entirely,
When shields were shivered she was Queen
Hildeburg is
shorn of her darlings, not only wife
Of bairns and brothers: they bent to of Finn, but a
kinswoman of
their fate the murdered
25 Hnæf.
With war-spear wounded; woe was that
woman.
Not causeless lamented the daughter of Hoce
The decree of the Wielder when morning-light came
and
She was able ’neath heaven to behold the destruction
Of brothers and bairns, where the brightest of earth-
joys
30 Finn’s force is
almost
She had hitherto had: all the henchmen exterminated.
of Finn
War had offtaken, save a handful remaining,
That he nowise was able to offer resistance1
To the onset of Hengest in the parley of Hengest
succeeds Hnæf
battle, as Danish
Nor the wretched remnant to rescue in general.
war from
35
The earl of the atheling; but they offered conditions,
Another great building to fully make Compact
between the
ready,

A hall and a high-seat, that half they Frisians and
the Danes.
might rule with
The sons of the Jutemen, and that Folcwalda’s son
would
Day after day the Danemen honor
40
When gifts were giving, and grant of his ring-store
To Hengest’s earl-troop ever so freely,
Of his gold-plated jewels, as he encouraged the
Frisians
On the bench of the beer-hall. On both Equality of
gifts agreed on.
sides they swore then
A fast-binding compact; Finn unto Hengest
45
With no thought of revoking vowed then most
solemnly
The woe-begone remnant well to take charge of,
His Witan advising; the agreement should no one
By words or works weaken and shatter,
By artifice ever injure its value,
50
Though reaved of their ruler their ring-giver’s slayer
They followed as vassals, Fate so requiring:
Then if one of the Frisians the quarrel No one shall
refer to old
should speak of grudges.
In tones that were taunting, terrible
edges
Should cut in requital. Accomplished the oath was,
55
And treasure of gold from the hoard was uplifted.
The best of the Scylding braves was Danish
warriors are
then fully burned on a
Prepared for the pile; at the pyre was funeral-pyre.
seen clearly
The blood-gory burnie, the boar with his gilding,

The iron-hard swine, athelings many
60
Fatally wounded; no few had been slaughtered.
Hildeburg bade then, at the burning of Hnæf,
The bairn of her bosom to bear to the Queen
Hildeburg has
fire, her son burnt
That his body be burned and borne to along with
Hnæf.
the pyre.
The woe-stricken woman wept on his shoulder,2
65
In measures lamented; upmounted the hero.3
The greatest of dead-fires curled to the welkin,
On the hill’s-front crackled; heads were a-melting,
Wound-doors bursting, while the blood was a-
coursing
From body-bite fierce. The fire devoured them,
70
Greediest of spirits, whom war had offcarried
From both of the peoples; their bravest were fallen.

[1] For 1084, R. suggests ‘wiht Hengeste wið gefeohtan.’—K.
suggests ‘wið Hengeste wiht gefeohtan.’ Neither emendation
would make any essential change in the translation.
[2] The separation of adjective and noun by a phrase (cf. v. 1118)
being very unusual, some scholars have put ‘earme on eaxle’ with
the foregoing lines, inserting a semicolon after ‘eaxle.’ In this case
‘on eaxe’ (i.e., on the ashes, cinders) is sometimes read, and this
affords a parallel to ‘on bæl.’ Let us hope that a satisfactory
rendering shall yet be reached without resorting to any tampering
with the text, such as Lichtenheld proposed: ‘earme ides on eaxle
gnornode.’
[3] For ‘gúð-rinc,’ ‘gúð-réc,’ battle-smoke, has been suggested.

XVIII.

THE FINN EPISODE (continued).
—THE BANQUET CONTINUES.

“Then the warriors departed to go to The survivors
their dwellings, go to
Friesland, the
Reaved of their friends, Friesland to home of Finn.
visit,
Their homes and high-city. Hengest continued
Biding with Finn the blood-tainted Hengest
remains there
winter, all winter,
5 unable to get
away.
Wholly unsundered;1 of fatherland
thought he
Though unable to drive the ring-stemmèd vessel
O’er the ways of the waters; the wave-deeps were
tossing,
Fought with the wind; winter in ice-bonds
Closed up the currents, till there came to the
dwelling
10
A year in its course, as yet it revolveth,
If season propitious one alway regardeth,
World-cheering weathers. Then winter was gone,
Earth’s bosom was lovely; the exile would get him,
The guest from the palace; on He devises
schemes of
grewsomest vengeance vengeance.
15
He brooded more eager than on oversea journeys,
Whe’r onset-of-anger he were able to ’complish,
The bairns of the Jutemen therein to remember.
Nowise refused he the duties of liegeman

When Hun of the Frisians the battle-sword Láfing,
20
Fairest of falchions, friendly did give him:
Its edges were famous in folk-talk of Jutland.
And savage sword-fury seized in its clutches
Bold-mooded Finn where he bode in his palace,
When the grewsome grapple Guthlaf Guthlaf and
Oslaf revenge
and Oslaf Hnæf’s
25 slaughter.
Had mournfully mentioned, the mere-
journey over,
For sorrows half-blamed him; the flickering spirit
Could not bide in his bosom. Then the building was
covered2
With corpses of foemen, and Finn too Finn is slain.
was slaughtered,
The king with his comrades, and the queen made a
prisoner.
30 The jewels of
Finn, and his
The troops of the Scyldings bore to queen are
their vessels carried away
by the Danes.
All that the land-king had in his palace,
Such trinkets and treasures they took as, on
searching,
At Finn’s they could find. They ferried to Daneland
The excellent woman on oversea journey,
35 The lay is
concluded, and
Led her to their land-folk.” The lay the main story
was concluded, is resumed.
The gleeman’s recital. Shouts again
rose then,
Bench-glee resounded, bearers then offered
Wine from wonder-vats. Wealhtheo Skinkers carry
round the
advanced then beaker.

Going ’neath gold-crown, where the good ones were
seated
40 Queen
Wealhtheow
Uncle and nephew; their peace was yet greets
mutual, Hrothgar, as he
sits beside
True each to the other. And Unferth the Hrothulf, his
spokesman nephew.
Sat at the feet of the lord of the
Scyldings:
Each trusted his spirit that his mood was courageous,
Though at fight he had failed in faith to his kinsmen.
45
Said the queen of the Scyldings: “My lord and
protector,
Treasure-bestower, take thou this beaker;
Joyance attend thee, gold-friend of heroes,
And greet thou the Geatmen with Be generous to
the Geats.
gracious responses!
So ought one to do. Be kind to the Geatmen,
50
In gifts not niggardly; anear and afar now
Peace thou enjoyest. Report hath informed me
Thou’lt have for a bairn the battle-brave hero.
Now is Heorot cleansèd, ring-palace gleaming;
Give while thou mayest many rewards, Have as much
joy as possible
55 in thy hall,
And bequeath to thy kinsmen kingdom once more
purified.
and people,
On wending thy way to the Wielder’s splendor.
I know good Hrothulf, that the noble young troopers
He’ll care for and honor, lord of the I know that
Hrothulf will
Scyldings, prove faithful
If earth-joys thou endest earlier than he if he survive
thee.
doth;
60

I reckon that recompense he’ll render with kindness
Our offspring and issue, if that all he remember,
What favors of yore, when he yet was an infant,
We awarded to him for his worship and pleasure.”
Then she turned by the bench where her sons were
carousing,
65
Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the heroes’ offspring,
The war-youth together; there the good Beowulf is
sitting by the
one was sitting two royal sons.
’Twixt the brothers twain, Beowulf
Geatman.

[1] For 1130 (1) R. and Gr. suggest ‘elne unflitme’ as 1098 (1) reads.
The latter verse is undisputed; and, for the former, ‘elne’ would be
as possible as ‘ealles,’ and ‘unflitme’ is well supported. Accepting
‘elne unflitme’ for both, I would suggest ‘very peaceably’ for both
places: (1) Finn to Hengest very peaceably vowed with oaths, etc.
(2) Hengest then still the slaughter-stained winter remained there
with Finn very peaceably. The two passages become thus
correlatives, the second a sequel of the first. ‘Elne,’ in the sense of
very (swíðe), needs no argument; and ‘unflitme’ (from ‘flítan’)
can, it seems to me, be more plausibly rendered ‘peaceful,’
‘peaceable,’ than ‘contestable,’ or ‘conquerable.’
[2] Some scholars have proposed ‘roden’; the line would then read:
Then the building was reddened, etc., instead of ‘covered.’ The ‘h’
may have been carried over from the three alliterating ‘h’s.’

XIX.

BEOWULF RECEIVES
FURTHER HONOR.

A beaker was borne him, and bidding More gifts are
to quaff it offered
Beowulf.
Graciously given, and gold that was
twisted
Pleasantly proffered, a pair of arm-jewels,
Rings and corslet, of collars the greatest
5
I’ve heard of ’neath heaven. Of heroes not any
More splendid from jewels have I heard ’neath the
welkin,
Since Hama off bore the Brosingmen’s A famous
necklace is
necklace, referred to, in
The bracteates and jewels, from the comparison
with the gems
bright-shining city,1 presented to
Eormenric’s cunning craftiness fled Beowulf.
from,
10
Chose gain everlasting. Geatish Higelac,
Grandson of Swerting, last had this jewel
When tramping ’neath banner the treasure he
guarded,
The field-spoil defended; Fate offcarried him
When for deeds of daring he endured tribulation,
15
Hate from the Frisians; the ornaments bare he
O’er the cup of the currents, costly gem-treasures,
Mighty folk-leader, he fell ’neath his target;
The2 corpse of the king then came into charge of

The race of the Frankmen, the mail-shirt and collar:
20
Warmen less noble plundered the fallen,
When the fight was finished; the folk of the
Geatmen
The field of the dead held in possession.
The choicest of mead-halls with cheering resounded.
Wealhtheo discoursed, the war-troop addressed she:
25 Queen
Wealhtheow
“This collar enjoy thou, Beowulf magnifies
worthy, Beowulf’s
achievements.
Young man, in safety, and use thou this
armor,
Gems of the people, and prosper thou fully,
Show thyself sturdy and be to these liegemen
Mild with instruction! I’ll mind thy requital.
30
Thou hast brought it to pass that far and near
Forever and ever earthmen shall honor thee,
Even so widely as ocean surroundeth
The blustering bluffs. Be, while thou livest,
A wealth-blessèd atheling. I wish thee most truly
35 May gifts
never fail thee.
Jewels and treasure. Be kind to my son,
thou
Living in joyance! Here each of the nobles
Is true unto other, gentle in spirit,
Loyal to leader. The liegemen are peaceful,
The war-troops ready: well-drunken heroes,3
40
Do as I bid ye.” Then she went to the settle.
There was choicest of banquets, wine drank the
heroes:
Weird they knew not, destiny cruel, They little
know of the

As to many an earlman early it sorrow in store
for them.
happened,
When evening had come and Hrothgar had parted
45
Off to his manor, the mighty to slumber.
Warriors unnumbered warded the building
As erst they did often: the ale-settle bared they,
’Twas covered all over with beds and pillows.
Doomed unto death, down to his A doomed
thane is there
slumber with them.
50
Bowed then a beer-thane. Their battle-shields placed
they,
Bright-shining targets, up by their heads then;
O’er the atheling on ale-bench ’twas easy to see
there
Battle-high helmet, burnie of ring-mail,
And mighty war-spear. ’Twas the wont They were
always ready
of that people for battle.
55
To constantly keep them equipped for the battle,4
At home or marching—in either condition—
At seasons just such as necessity ordered
As best for their ruler; that people was worthy.

[1] C. suggests a semicolon after ‘city,’ with ‘he’ as supplied subject of
‘fled’ and ‘chose.’
[2] For ‘feorh’ S. suggests ‘feoh’: ‘corpse’ in the translation would
then be changed to ‘possessions,’ ‘belongings.’ This is a better
reading than one joining, in such intimate syntactical relations,
things so unlike as ‘corpse’ and ‘jewels.’
[3] S. suggests ‘wine-joyous heroes,’ ‘warriors elated with wine.’
[4] I believe this translation brings out the meaning of the poet,
without departing seriously from the H.-So. text. ‘Oft’ frequently
means ‘constantly,’ ‘continually,’ not always ‘often.’—Why ‘an
(on) wíg gearwe’ should be written ‘ánwíg-gearwe’ (= ready for
single combat), I cannot see. ‘Gearwe’ occurs quite frequently with

‘on’; cf. B. 1110 (ready for the pyre), El. 222 (ready for the glad
journey). Moreover, what has the idea of single combat to do with
B. 1247 ff.? The poet is giving an inventory of the arms and armor
which they lay aside on retiring, and he closes his narration by
saying that they were always prepared for battle both at home and
on the march.

XX.

THE MOTHER OF GRENDEL.

They sank then to slumber. With sorrow one paid for
His evening repose, as often betid them
While Grendel was holding1 the gold-bedecked
palace,
Ill-deeds performing, till his end overtook him,
5
Death for his sins. ’Twas seen very clearly,
Known unto earth-folk, that still an Grendel’s
mother is
avenger known to be
Outlived the loathed one, long since thirsting for
revenge.
the sorrow
Caused by the struggle; the mother of Grendel,
Devil-shaped woman, her woe ever minded,
10
Who was held to inhabit the horrible waters,
The cold-flowing currents, after Cain [Grendel’s
progenitor,
had become a Cain, is again
Slayer-with-edges to his one only referred to.]
brother,
The son of his sire; he set out then banished,
Marked as a murderer, man-joys avoiding,
15
Lived in the desert. Thence demons unnumbered
Fate-sent awoke; one of them Grendel, The poet again
magnifies
Sword-cursèd, hateful, who at Heorot Beowulf’s
met with valor.
A man that was watching, waiting the struggle,
Where a horrid one held him with hand-grapple
sturdy;

20
Nathless he minded the might of his body,
The glorious gift God had allowed him,
And folk-ruling Father’s favor relied on,
His help and His comfort: so he conquered the
foeman,
The hell-spirit humbled: he unhappy departed then,
25
Reaved of his joyance, journeying to death-haunts,
Foeman of man. His mother moreover
Eager and gloomy was anxious to go Grendel’s
mother comes
on to avenge her
Her mournful mission, mindful of son.
vengeance
For the death of her son. She came then to Heorot
30
Where the Armor-Dane earlmen all through the
building
Were lying in slumber. Soon there became then
Return2 to the nobles, when the mother of Grendel
Entered the folk-hall; the fear was less grievous
By even so much as the vigor of maidens,
35
War-strength of women, by warrior is reckoned,
When well-carved weapon, worked with the
hammer,
Blade very bloody, brave with its edges,
Strikes down the boar-sign that stands on the helmet.
Then the hard-edgèd weapon was heaved in the
building,3
40
The brand o’er the benches, broad-lindens many
Hand-fast were lifted; for helmet he recked not,
For armor-net broad, whom terror laid hold of.

She went then hastily, outward would get her
Her life for to save, when some one did spy her;
45 She seizes a
favorite
Soon she had grappled one of the liegemen of
athelings Hrothgar’s.
Fast and firmly, when fenward she hied
her;
That one to Hrothgar was liefest of heroes
In rank of retainer where waters encircle,
A mighty shield-warrior, whom she murdered at
slumber,
50
A broadly-famed battle-knight. Beowulf was absent,
But another apartment was erstwhile Beowulf was
asleep in
devoted another part of
To the glory-decked Geatman when the palace.
gold was distributed.
There was hubbub in Heorot. The hand that was
famous
She grasped in its gore;4 grief was renewed then
55
In homes and houses: ’twas no happy arrangement
In both of the quarters to barter and purchase
With lives of their friends. Then the well-agèd ruler,
The gray-headed war-thane, was woful in spirit,
When his long-trusted liegeman lifeless he knew of,
60 Beowulf is sent
for.
His dearest one gone. Quick from a
room was
Beowulf brought, brave and triumphant.
As day was dawning in the dusk of the morning,
Went then that earlman, champion He comes at
Hrothgar’s
noble, summons.

Came with comrades, where the clever one bided
65
Whether God all gracious would grant him a respite
After the woe he had suffered. The war-worthy hero
With a troop of retainers trod then the pavement
(The hall-building groaned), till he greeted the wise
one,
The earl of the Ingwins;5 asked if the Beowulf
inquires how
night had Hrothgar had
70 enjoyed his
night’s rest.
Fully refreshed him, as fain he would
have it.

[1] Several eminent authorities either read or emend the MS. so as to
make this verse read, While Grendel was wasting the gold-
bedecked palace. So 20 15 below: ravaged the desert.
[2] For ‘sóna’ (1281), t.B. suggests ‘sára,’ limiting ‘edhwyrft.’ Read
then: Return of sorrows to the nobles, etc. This emendation
supplies the syntactical gap after ‘edhwyrft.’
[3] Some authorities follow Grein’s lexicon in treating ‘heard ecg’ as
an adj. limiting ‘sweord’: H.-So. renders it as a subst. (So v. 1491.)
The sense of the translation would be the same.
[4] B. suggests ‘under hróf genam’ (v. 1303). This emendation, as well
as an emendation with (?) to v. 739, he offers, because ‘under’
baffles him in both passages. All we need is to take ‘under’ in its
secondary meaning of ‘in,’ which, though not given by Grein,
occurs in the literature. Cf. Chron. 876 (March’s A.-S. Gram. §
355) and Oro. Amaz. I. 10, where ‘under’ = in the midst of. Cf.
modern Eng. ‘in such circumstances,’ which interchanges in good
usage with ‘under such circumstances.’
[5] For ‘néod-laðu’ (1321) C. suggests ‘néad-láðum,’ and translates:
asked whether the night had been pleasant to him after crushing-
hostility.

XXI.

HROTHGAR’S ACCOUNT OF
THE MONSTERS.

Hrothgar rejoined, helm of the Hrothgar
Scyldings: laments the
death of
“Ask not of joyance! Grief is renewed Æschere, his
to shoulder-
companion.
The folk of the Danemen. Dead is
Æschere,
Yrmenlaf’s brother, older than he,
5
My true-hearted counsellor, trusty adviser,
Shoulder-companion, when fighting in battle
Our heads we protected, when troopers were
clashing,
And heroes were dashing; such an earl He was my
ideal hero.
should be ever,
An erst-worthy atheling, as Æschere proved him.
10
The flickering death-spirit became in Heorot
His hand-to-hand murderer; I can not tell whither
The cruel one turned in the carcass exulting,
By cramming discovered.1 The quarrel This horrible
creature came
she wreaked then, to avenge
That last night igone Grendel thou Grendel’s
death.
killedst
15
In grewsomest manner, with grim-holding clutches,
Since too long he had lessened my liege-troop and
wasted
My folk-men so foully. He fell in the battle

With forfeit of life, and another has followed,
A mighty crime-worker, her kinsman avenging,
20
And henceforth hath ‘stablished her hatred
unyielding,2
As it well may appear to many a liegeman,
Who mourneth in spirit the treasure-bestower,
Her heavy heart-sorrow; the hand is now lifeless
Which3 availed you in every wish that you
cherished.
25 I have heard
my vassals
Land-people heard I, liegemen, this speak of these
saying, two uncanny
monsters who
Dwellers in halls, they had seen very lived in the
often moors.
A pair of such mighty march-striding
creatures,
Far-dwelling spirits, holding the moorlands:
One of them wore, as well they might notice,
30
The image of woman, the other one wretched
In guise of a man wandered in exile,
Except he was huger than any of earthmen;
Earth-dwelling people entitled him Grendel
In days of yore: they know not their father,
35
Whe’r ill-going spirits any were borne him
Ever before. They guard the wolf- The inhabit the
most desolate
coverts, and horrible
Lands inaccessible, wind-beaten places.
nesses,
Fearfullest fen-deeps, where a flood from the
mountains
’Neath mists of the nesses netherward rattles,

40
The stream under earth: not far is it henceward
Measured by mile-lengths that the mere-water
standeth,
Which forests hang over, with frost-whiting
covered,4
A firm-rooted forest, the floods overshadow.
There ever at night one an ill-meaning portent
45
A fire-flood may see; ’mong children of men
None liveth so wise that wot of the bottom;
Though harassed by hounds the heath-stepper seek
for,
Fly to the forest, firm-antlered he-deer, Even the
hounded deer
Spurred from afar, his spirit he will not seek
yieldeth, refuge in these
uncanny
50
regions.
His life on the shore, ere in he will
venture
To cover his head. Uncanny the place is:
Thence upward ascendeth the surging of waters,
Wan to the welkin, when the wind is stirring
The weathers unpleasing, till the air groweth
gloomy,
55 To thee only
can I look for
And the heavens lower. Now is help to assistance.
be gotten
From thee and thee only! The abode thou know’st
not,
The dangerous place where thou’rt able to meet with
The sin-laden hero: seek if thou darest!
For the feud I will fully fee thee with money,
60
With old-time treasure, as erstwhile I did thee,

With well-twisted jewels, if away thou shalt get
thee.”

[1] For ‘gefrægnod’ (1334), K. and t.B. suggest ‘gefægnod,’ rendering
‘rejoicing in her fill.’ This gives a parallel to ‘æse wlanc’ (1333).
[2] The line ‘And … yielding,’ B. renders: And she has performed a
deed of blood-vengeance whose effect is far-reaching.
[3] ‘Sé Þe’ (1345) is an instance of masc. rel. with fem. antecedent. So
v. 1888, where ‘sé Þe’ refers to ‘yldo.’
[4] For ‘hrímge’ in the H.-So. edition, Gr. and others read ‘hrínde’
(=hrínende), and translate: which rustling forests overhang.

XXII.

BEOWULF SEEKS GRENDEL’S
MOTHER.

Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow’s son:
“Grieve not, O wise one! for each it is Beowulf
exhorts the old
better, king to arouse
His friend to avenge than with himself for
action.
vehemence wail him;
Each of us must the end-day abide of
5
His earthly existence; who is able accomplish
Glory ere death! To battle-thane noble
Lifeless lying, ’tis at last most fitting.
Arise, O king, quick let us hasten
To look at the footprint of the kinsman of Grendel!
10
I promise thee this now: to his place he’ll escape not,
To embrace of the earth, nor to mountainous forest,
Nor to depths of the ocean, wherever he wanders.
Practice thou now patient endurance
Of each of thy sorrows, as I hope for thee soothly!”
15 Hrothgar
rouses himself.
Then up sprang the old one, the All- His horse is
Wielder thanked he, brought.
Ruler Almighty, that the man had
outspoken.
Then for Hrothgar a war-horse was decked with a
bridle,
Curly-maned courser. The clever folk-leader
Stately proceeded: stepped then an They start on
the track of the
earl-troop

20 female
monster.
Of linden-wood bearers. Her footprints
were seen then
Widely in wood-paths, her way o’er the bottoms,
Where she faraway fared o’er fen-country murky,
Bore away breathless the best of retainers
Who pondered with Hrothgar the welfare of country.
25
The son of the athelings then went o’er the stony,
Declivitous cliffs, the close-covered passes,
Narrow passages, paths unfrequented,
Nesses abrupt, nicker-haunts many;
One of a few of wise-mooded heroes,
30
He onward advanced to view the surroundings,
Till he found unawares woods of the mountain
O’er hoar-stones hanging, holt-wood unjoyful;
The water stood under, welling and gory.
’Twas irksome in spirit to all of the Danemen,
35
Friends of the Scyldings, to many a liegeman
Sad to be suffered, a sorrow unlittle The sight of
Æschere’s
To each of the earlmen, when to head causes
Æschere’s head they them great
sorrow.
Came on the cliff. The current was
seething
With blood and with gore (the troopers gazed on it).
40
The horn anon sang the battle-song ready.
The troop were all seated; they saw ’long the water
then
Many a serpent, mere-dragons The water is
filled with
wondrous serpents and
Trying the waters, nickers a-lying sea-dragons.

On the cliffs of the nesses, which at noonday full
often
45
Go on the sea-deeps their sorrowful journey,
Wild-beasts and wormkind; away then they hastened
Hot-mooded, hateful, they heard the One of them is
killed by
great clamor, Beowulf.
The war-trumpet winding. One did the
Geat-prince
Sunder from earth-joys, with arrow from bowstring,
50
From his sea-struggle tore him, that the trusty war-
missile
Pierced to his vitals; he proved in the The dead beast
is a poor
currents swimmer
Less doughty at swimming whom
death had offcarried.
Soon in the waters the wonderful swimmer
Was straitened most sorely with sword-pointed boar-
spears,
55
Pressed in the battle and pulled to the cliff-edge;
The liegemen then looked on the loath-fashioned
stranger.
Beowulf donned then his battle- Beowulf
prepares for a
equipments, struggle with
Cared little for life; inlaid and most the monster.
ample,
The hand-woven corslet which could cover his body,
60
Must the wave-deeps explore, that war might be
powerless
To harm the great hero, and the hating one’s grasp
might
Not peril his safety; his head was protected

By the light-flashing helmet that should mix with the
bottoms,
Trying the eddies, treasure-emblazoned,
65
Encircled with jewels, as in seasons long past
The weapon-smith worked it, wondrously made it,
With swine-bodies fashioned it, that thenceforward
no longer
Brand might bite it, and battle-sword hurt it.
And that was not least of helpers in prowess
70 He has
Unferth’s
That Hrothgar’s spokesman had lent sword in his
him when straitened; hand.
And the hilted hand-sword was
Hrunting entitled,
Old and most excellent ’mong all of the treasures;
Its blade was of iron, blotted with poison,
Hardened with gore; it failed not in battle
75
Any hero under heaven in hand who it brandished,
Who ventured to take the terrible journeys,
The battle-field sought; not the earliest occasion
That deeds of daring ’twas destined to ’complish.
Ecglaf’s kinsman minded not soothly, Unferth has
little use for
80 swords.
Exulting in strength, what erst he had
spoken
Drunken with wine, when the weapon he lent to
A sword-hero bolder; himself did not venture
’Neath the strife of the currents his life to endanger,
To fame-deeds perform; there he forfeited glory,
85
Repute for his strength. Not so with the other

When he clad in his corslet had equipped him for
battle.

XXIII.

BEOWULF’S FIGHT WITH
GRENDEL’S MOTHER.

Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow’s son: Beowulf
makes a
“Recall now, oh, famous kinsman of parting speech
Healfdene, to Hrothgar.
Prince very prudent, now to part I am
ready,
Gold-friend of earlmen, what erst we agreed on,
5 If I fail, act as
a kind
Should I lay down my life in lending liegelord to my
thee assistance, thanes,
When my earth-joys were over, thou
wouldst evermore serve me
In stead of a father; my faithful thanemen,
My trusty retainers, protect thou and care for,
Fall I in battle: and, Hrothgar belovèd,
10 and send
Higelac the
Send unto Higelac the high-valued jewels thou
jewels hast given me
Thou to me hast allotted. The lord of
the Geatmen
May perceive from the gold, the Hrethling may see it
When he looks on the jewels, that a I should like
my king to
gem-giver found I know how
Good over-measure, enjoyed him while generous a lord
I found thee to
able. be.
15
And the ancient heirloom Unferth permit thou,
The famed one to have, the heavy-sword splendid1
The hard-edgèd weapon; with Hrunting to aid me,

I shall gain me glory, or grim-death shall take me.”
The atheling of Geatmen uttered these Beowulf is
eager for the
words and fray.
20
Heroic did hasten, not any rejoinder
Was willing to wait for; the wave-current swallowed
The doughty-in-battle. Then a day’s- He is a whole
day reaching
length elapsed ere the bottom of
He was able to see the sea at its the sea.
bottom.
Early she found then who fifty of winters
25
The course of the currents kept in her fury,
Grisly and greedy, that the grim one’s dominion
Some one of men from above was Grendel’s
mother knows
exploring. that some one
Forth did she grab them, grappled the has reached her
domains.
warrior
With horrible clutches; yet no sooner she injured
30
His body unscathèd: the burnie out-guarded,
That she proved but powerless to pierce through the
armor,
The limb-mail locked, with loath-grabbing fingers.
The sea-wolf bare then, when bottomward came she,
The ring-prince homeward, that he She grabs him,
and bears him
after was powerless to her den.
35
(He had daring to do it) to deal with his weapons,
But many a mere-beast tormented him swimming,
Flood-beasts no few with fierce-biting Sea-monsters
bite and strike
tusks did him.
Break through his burnie, the brave one
pursued they.

The earl then discovered he was down in some
cavern
40
Where no water whatever anywise harmed him,
And the clutch of the current could come not anear
him,
Since the roofed-hall prevented; brightness a-
gleaming
Fire-light he saw, flashing resplendent.
The good one saw then the sea-bottom’s monster,
45 Beowulf
attacks the
The mighty mere-woman; he made a mother of
great onset Grendel.
With weapon-of-battle, his hand not
desisted
From striking, that war-blade struck on her head then
A battle-song greedy. The stranger perceived then
The sword would not bite, her life The sword will
not bite.
would not injure,
50
But the falchion failed the folk-prince when
straitened:
Erst had it often onsets encountered,
Oft cloven the helmet, the fated one’s armor:
’Twas the first time that ever the excellent jewel
Had failed of its fame. Firm-mooded after,
55
Not heedless of valor, but mindful of glory,
Was Higelac’s kinsman; the hero-chief angry
Cast then his carved-sword covered with jewels
That it lay on the earth, hard and steel-pointed;
He hoped in his strength, his hand- The hero
throws down
grapple sturdy. all weapons,
60 and again
So any must act whenever he thinketh

To gain him in battle glory unending, trusts to his
hand-grip.
And is reckless of living. The lord of
the War-Geats
(He shrank not from battle) seized by the shoulder2
The mother of Grendel; then mighty in struggle
65
Swung he his enemy, since his anger was kindled,
That she fell to the floor. With furious grapple
She gave him requital3 early thereafter, Beowulf falls.
And stretched out to grab him; the strongest of
warriors
Faint-mooded stumbled, till he fell in his traces,
70 The monster
sits on him
Foot-going champion. Then she sat on with drawn
the hall-guest sword.
And wielded her war-knife wide-
bladed, flashing,
For her son would take vengeance, her one only
bairn.
His breast-armor woven bode on his His armor
saves his life.
shoulder;
It guarded his life, the entrance defended
75
’Gainst sword-point and edges. Ecgtheow’s son
there
Had fatally journeyed, champion of Geatmen,
In the arms of the ocean, had the armor not given,
Close-woven corslet, comfort and succor,
And had God most holy not awarded God arranged
for his escape.
the victory,
80
All-knowing Lord; easily did heaven’s
Ruler most righteous arrange it with justice;4
Uprose he erect ready for battle.

[1] Kl. emends ‘wæl-sweord.’ The half-line would then read, ‘the
battle-sword splendid.’—For ‘heard-ecg’ in next half-verse, see
note to 20 39 above.
[2] Sw., R., and t.B. suggest ‘feaxe’ for ‘eaxle’ (1538) and render:
Seized by the hair.
[3] If ‘hand-léan’ be accepted (as the MS. has it), the line will read:
She hand-reward gave him early thereafter.
[4] Sw. and S. change H.-So.’s semicolon (v. 1557) to a comma, and
translate: The Ruler of Heaven arranged it in justice easily, after
he arose again.

XXIV.

BEOWULF IS DOUBLE-
CONQUEROR.

Then he saw mid the war-gems a Beowulf
weapon of victory, grasps a giant-
sword,
An ancient giant-sword, of edges a-
doughty,
Glory of warriors: of weapons ’twas choicest,
Only ’twas larger than any man else was
5
Able to bear to the battle-encounter,
The good and splendid work of the giants.
He grasped then the sword-hilt, knight of the
Scyldings,
Bold and battle-grim, brandished his ring-sword,
Hopeless of living, hotly he smote her,
10
That the fiend-woman’s neck firmly it grappled,
Broke through her bone-joints, the bill and fells the
female
fully pierced her monster.
Fate-cursèd body, she fell to the ground
then:
The hand-sword was bloody, the hero exulted.
The brand was brilliant, brightly it glimmered,
15
Just as from heaven gemlike shineth
The torch of the firmament. He glanced ’long the
building,
And turned by the wall then, Higelac’s vassal
Raging and wrathful raised his battle-sword
Strong by the handle. The edge was not useless

20
To the hero-in-battle, but he speedily wished to
Give Grendel requital for the many assaults he
Had worked on the West-Danes not once, but often,
When he slew in slumber the subjects of Hrothgar,
Swallowed down fifteen sleeping retainers
25
Of the folk of the Danemen, and fully as many
Carried away, a horrible prey.
He gave him requital, grim-raging champion,
When he saw on his rest-place weary Beowulf sees
the body of
of conflict Grendel, and
Grendel lying, of life-joys bereavèd, cuts off his
head.
30
As the battle at Heorot erstwhile had scathed him;
His body far bounded, a blow when he suffered,
Death having seized him, sword-smiting heavy,
And he cut off his head then. Early this noticed
The clever carles who as comrades of Hrothgar
35 The waters are
gory.
Gazed on the sea-deeps, that the
surging wave-currents
Were mightily mingled, the mere-flood was gory:
Of the good one the gray-haired together held
converse,
The hoary of head, that they hoped not Beowulf is
given up for
to see again dead.
The atheling ever, that exulting in
victory
40
He’d return there to visit the distinguished folk-
ruler:
Then many concluded the mere-wolf had killed
him.1

The ninth hour came then. From the ness-edge
departed
The bold-mooded Scyldings; the gold-friend of
heroes
Homeward betook him. The strangers sat down then
45
Soul-sick, sorrowful, the sea-waves regarding:
They wished and yet weened not their well-loved
friend-lord
To see any more. The sword-blade The giant-
sword melts.
began then,
The blood having touched it, contracting and
shriveling
With battle-icicles; ’twas a wonderful marvel
50
That it melted entirely, likest to ice when
The Father unbindeth the bond of the frost and
Unwindeth the wave-bands, He who wieldeth
dominion
Of times and of tides: a truth-firm Creator.
Nor took he of jewels more in the dwelling,
55
Lord of the Weders, though they lay all around him,
Than the head and the handle handsome with jewels;
The brand early melted, burnt was the weapon:2
So hot was the blood, the strange-spirit poisonous
That in it did perish. He early swam off The hero
swims back to
then the realms of
60 day.
Who had bided in combat the carnage
of haters,
Went up through the ocean; the eddies were
cleansèd,
The spacious expanses, when the spirit from farland

His life put aside and this short-lived existence.
The seamen’s defender came swimming to land then
65
Doughty of spirit, rejoiced in his sea-gift,
The bulky burden which he bore in his keeping.
The excellent vassals advanced then to meet him,
To God they were grateful, were glad in their
chieftain,
That to see him safe and sound was granted them.
70
From the high-minded hero, then, helmet and burnie
Were speedily loosened: the ocean was putrid,
The water ’neath welkin weltered with gore.
Forth did they fare, then, their footsteps retracing,
Merry and mirthful, measured the earth-way,
75
The highway familiar: men very daring3
Bare then the head from the sea-cliff, burdening
Each of the earlmen, excellent-valiant.
Four of them had to carry with labor It takes four
men to carry
The head of Grendel to the high Grendel’s head
towering gold-hall on a spear.
80
Upstuck on the spear, till fourteen most-valiant
And battle-brave Geatmen came there going
Straight to the palace: the prince of the people
Measured the mead-ways, their mood-brave
companion.
The atheling of earlmen entered the building,
85
Deed-valiant man, adorned with distinction,
Doughty shield-warrior, to address King Hrothgar:
Then hung by the hair, the head of Grendel

Was borne to the building, where beer-thanes were
drinking,
Loth before earlmen and eke ’fore the lady:
90
The warriors beheld then a wonderful sight.

[1] ‘Þæs monige gewearð’ (1599) and ‘hafað þæs geworden’ (2027).—
In a paper published some years ago in one of the Johns Hopkins
University circulars, I tried to throw upon these two long-doubtful
passages some light derived from a study of like passages in
Alfred’s prose.—The impersonal verb ‘geweorðan,’ with an accus.
of the person, and a þæt-clause is used several times with the
meaning ‘agree.’ See Orosius (Sweet’s ed.) 1787; 20434; 20828;
21015; 28020. In the two Beowulf passages, the þæt-clause is
anticipated by ‘þæs,’ which is clearly a gen. of the thing agreed on.
The first passage (v. 1599 (b)-1600) I translate literally: Then
many agreed upon this (namely), that the sea-wolf had killed him.
The second passage (v. 2025 (b)-2027): She is promised …; to
this the friend of the Scyldings has agreed, etc. By emending ‘is’
instead of ‘wæs’ (2025), the tenses will be brought into perfect
harmony.
In v. 1997 ff. this same idiom occurs, and was noticed in B.’s
great article on Beowulf, which appeared about the time I
published my reading of 1599 and 2027. Translate 1997 then:
Wouldst let the South-Danes themselves decide about their
struggle with Grendel. Here ‘Súð-Dene’ is accus. of person, and
‘gúðe’ is gen. of thing agreed on.
With such collateral support as that afforded by B. (P. and B.
XII. 97), I have no hesitation in departing from H.-So., my usual
guide.
The idiom above treated runs through A.-S., Old Saxon, and
other Teutonic languages, and should be noticed in the lexicons.
[2] ‘Bróden-mæl’ is regarded by most scholars as meaning a
damaskeened sword. Translate: The damaskeened sword burned
up. Cf. 25 16 and note.
[3] ‘Cyning-balde’ (1635) is the much-disputed reading of K. and Th.
To render this, “nobly bold,” “excellently bold,” have been
suggested. B. would read ‘cyning-holde’ (cf. 290), and render:
Men well-disposed towards the king carried the head, etc.
‘Cynebealde,’ says t.B., endorsing Gr.

XXV.

BEOWULF BRINGS HIS
TROPHIES.—HROTHGAR’S
GRATITUDE.

Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow: Beowulf
relates his last
“Lo! we blithely have brought thee, exploit.
bairn of Healfdene,
Prince of the Scyldings, these presents from ocean
Which thine eye looketh on, for an emblem of glory.
5
I came off alive from this, narrowly ’scaping:
In war ’neath the water the work with great pains I
Performed, and the fight had been finished quite
nearly,
Had God not defended me. I failed in the battle
Aught to accomplish, aided by Hrunting,
10
Though that weapon was worthy, but the Wielder of
earth-folk
Gave me willingly to see on the wall a God was
fighting with
Heavy old hand-sword hanging in me.
splendor
(He guided most often the lorn and the friendless),
That I swung as a weapon. The wards of the house
then
15
I killed in the conflict (when occasion was given
me).
Then the battle-sword burned, the brand that was
lifted,1
As the blood-current sprang, hottest of war-sweats;

Seizing the hilt, from my foes I offbore it;
I avenged as I ought to their acts of malignity,
20
The murder of Danemen. I then make thee this
promise,
Thou’lt be able in Heorot careless to Heorot is freed
from monsters.
slumber
With thy throng of heroes and the thanes of thy
people
Every and each, of greater and lesser,
And thou needest not fear for them from the
selfsame direction
25
As thou formerly fearedst, oh, folk-lord of
Scyldings,
End-day for earlmen.” To the age-hoary man then,
The gray-haired chieftain, the gold- The famous
sword is
fashioned sword-hilt, presented to
Old-work of giants, was thereupon Hrothgar.
given;
Since the fall of the fiends, it fell to the keeping
30
Of the wielder of Danemen, the wonder-smith’s
labor,
And the bad-mooded being abandoned this world
then,
Opponent of God, victim of murder,
And also his mother; it went to the keeping
Of the best of the world-kings, where waters
encircle,
35
Who the scot divided in Scylding dominion.
Hrothgar discoursed, the hilt he Hrothgar looks
closely at the
regarded, old sword.

The ancient heirloom where an old-time contention’s
Beginning was graven: the gurgling currents,
The flood slew thereafter the race of the giants,
40
They had proved themselves daring: that people was
loth to
The Lord everlasting, through lash of It had belonged
to a race
the billows hateful to God.
The Father gave them final requital.
So in letters of rune on the clasp of the handle
Gleaming and golden, ’twas graven exactly,
45
Set forth and said, whom that sword had been made
for,
Finest of irons, who first it was wrought for,
Wreathed at its handle and gleaming with serpents.
The wise one then said (silent they all were)
Son of old Healfdene: “He may say Hrothgar
praises
unrefuted Beowulf.
50
Who performs ’mid the folk-men fairness and truth
(The hoary old ruler remembers the past),
That better by birth is this bairn of the nobles!
Thy fame is extended through far-away countries,
Good friend Beowulf, o’er all of the races,
55
Thou holdest all firmly, hero-like strength with
Prudence of spirit. I’ll prove myself grateful
As before we agreed on; thou granted for long shalt
Become a great comfort to kinsmen and comrades,
A help unto heroes. Heremod became Heremod’s
career is again
not contrasted with
60 Beowulf’s.

Such to the Scyldings, successors of Ecgwela;
He grew not to please them, but grievous
destruction,
And diresome death-woes to Danemen attracted;
He slew in anger his table-companions,
Trustworthy counsellors, till he turned off lonely
65
From world-joys away, wide-famous ruler:
Though high-ruling heaven in hero-strength raised
him,
In might exalted him, o’er men of all nations
Made him supreme, yet a murderous spirit
Grew in his bosom: he gave then no ring-gems
70 A wretched
failure of a
To the Danes after custom; endured he king, to give
unjoyful no jewels to
his retainers.
Standing the straits from strife that was
raging,
Longsome folk-sorrow. Learn then from this,
Lay hold of virtue! Though laden with winters,
I have sung thee these measures. ’Tis a marvel to tell
it,
75 Hrothgar
moralizes.
How all-ruling God from greatness of
spirit
Giveth wisdom to children of men,
Manor and earlship: all things He ruleth.
He often permitteth the mood-thought of man of
The illustrious lineage to lean to possessions,
80
Allows him earthly delights at his manor,
A high-burg of heroes to hold in his keeping,
Maketh portions of earth-folk hear him,

And a wide-reaching kingdom so that, wisdom
failing him,
He himself is unable to reckon its boundaries;
85
He liveth in luxury, little debars him,
Nor sickness nor age, no treachery-sorrow
Becloudeth his spirit, conflict nowhere,
No sword-hate, appeareth, but all of the world doth
Wend as he wisheth; the worse he knoweth not,
90
Till arrant arrogance inward pervading,
Waxeth and springeth, when the warder is sleeping,
The guard of the soul: with sorrows encompassed,
Too sound is his slumber, the slayer is near him,
Who with bow and arrow aimeth in malice.

[1] Or rather, perhaps, ‘the inlaid, or damaskeened weapon.’ Cf. 24 57
and note.

XXVI.

HROTHGAR MORALIZES.—
REST AFTER LABOR.

“Then bruised in his bosom he with A wounded
bitter-toothed missile spirit.

Is hurt ’neath his helmet: from harmful pollution
He is powerless to shield him by the wonderful
mandates
Of the loath-cursèd spirit; what too long he hath
holden
5
Him seemeth too small, savage he hoardeth,
Nor boastfully giveth gold-plated rings,1
The fate of the future flouts and forgetteth
Since God had erst given him greatness no little,
Wielder of Glory. His end-day anear,
10
It afterward happens that the bodily-dwelling
Fleetingly fadeth, falls into ruins;
Another lays hold who doleth the ornaments,
The nobleman’s jewels, nothing lamenting,
Heedeth no terror. Oh, Beowulf dear,
15
Best of the heroes, from bale-strife defend thee,
And choose thee the better, counsels eternal;
Beware of arrogance, world-famous Be not over
proud: life is
champion! fleeting, and its
But a little-while lasts thy life-vigor’s strength soon
wasteth away.
fulness;
’Twill after hap early, that illness or sword-edge
20

Shall part thee from strength, or the grasp of the fire,
Or the wave of the current, or clutch of the edges,
Or flight of the war-spear, or age with its horrors,
Or thine eyes’ bright flashing shall fade into
darkness:
’Twill happen full early, excellent hero,
25 Hrothgar gives
an account of
That death shall subdue thee. So the his reign.
Danes a half-century
I held under heaven, helped them in struggles
’Gainst many a race in middle-earth’s regions,
With ash-wood and edges, that enemies none
On earth molested me. Lo! offsetting change, now,
30 Sorrow after
joy.
Came to my manor, grief after joyance,
When Grendel became my constant visitor,
Inveterate hater: I from that malice
Continually travailed with trouble no little.
Thanks be to God that I gained in my lifetime,
35
To the Lord everlasting, to look on the gory
Head with mine eyes, after long-lasting sorrow!
Go to the bench now, battle-adornèd
Joy in the feasting: of jewels in common
We’ll meet with many when morning appeareth.”
40
The Geatman was gladsome, ganged he immediately
To go to the bench, as the clever one bade him.
Then again as before were the famous-for-prowess,
Hall-inhabiters, handsomely banqueted,
Feasted anew. The night-veil fell then
45
Dark o’er the warriors. The courtiers rose then;
The gray-haired was anxious to go to his slumbers,

The hoary old Scylding. Hankered the Geatman,
The champion doughty, greatly, to rest Beowulf is
fagged, and
him: seeks rest.
An earlman early outward did lead
him,
50
Fagged from his faring, from far-country springing,
Who for etiquette’s sake all of a liegeman’s
Needs regarded, such as seamen at that time
Were bounden to feel. The big-hearted rested;
The building uptowered, spacious and gilded,
55
The guest within slumbered, till the sable-clad raven
Blithely foreboded the beacon of heaven.
Then the bright-shining sun o’er the bottoms came
going;2
The warriors hastened, the heads of the peoples
Were ready to go again to their peoples,
60 The Geats
prepare to
The high-mooded farer would faraway leave Dane-
thenceward land.
Look for his vessel. The valiant one
bade then,3
Offspring of Ecglaf, off to bear Unferth asks
Beowulf to
Hrunting, accept his
To take his weapon, his well-beloved sword as a gift.
Beowulf
iron; thanks him.
He him thanked for the gift, saying
good he accounted
65
The war-friend and mighty, nor chid he with words
then
The blade of the brand: ’twas a brave-mooded hero.

When the warriors were ready, arrayed in their
trappings,
The atheling dear to the Danemen advanced then
On to the dais, where the other was sitting,
70
Grim-mooded hero, greeted King Hrothgar.

[1] K. says ‘proudly giveth.’—Gr. says, ‘And gives no gold-plated
rings, in order to incite the recipient to boastfulness.’—B. suggests
‘gyld’ for ‘gylp,’ and renders: And gives no beaten rings for
reward.
[2] If S.’s emendation be accepted, v. 57 will read: Then came the
light, going bright after darkness: the warriors, etc.
[3] As the passage stands in H.-So., Unferth presents Beowulf with the
sword Hrunting, and B. thanks him for the gift. If, however, the
suggestions of Grdtvg. and M. be accepted, the passage will read:
Then the brave one (i.e. Beowulf) commanded that Hrunting be
borne to the son of Ecglaf (Unferth), bade him take his sword, his
dear weapon; he (B.) thanked him (U.) for the loan, etc.

XXVII.

SORROW AT PARTING.

Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow’s offspring: Beowulf’s
farewell.
“We men of the water wish to declare
now
Fared from far-lands, we’re firmly determined
To seek King Higelac. Here have we fitly
5
Been welcomed and feasted, as heart would desire it;
Good was the greeting. If greater affection
I am anywise able ever on earth to
Gain at thy hands, ruler of heroes,
Than yet I have done, I shall quickly be ready
10 I shall be ever
ready to aid
For combat and conflict. O’er the thee.
course of the waters
Learn I that neighbors alarm thee with terror,
As haters did whilom, I hither will bring thee
For help unto heroes henchmen by thousands.
I know as to Higelac, the lord of the My liegelord
will encourage
Geatmen, me in aiding
15 thee.
Though young in years, he yet will
permit me,
By words and by works, ward of the people,
Fully to furnish thee forces and bear thee
My lance to relieve thee, if liegemen shall fail thee,
And help of my hand-strength; if Hrethric be
treating,
20
Bairn of the king, at the court of the Geatmen,

He thereat may find him friends in abundance:
Faraway countries he were better to seek for
Who trusts in himself.” Hrothgar discoursed then,
Making rejoinder: “These words thou hast uttered
25
All-knowing God hath given thy spirit!
Ne’er heard I an earlman thus early in O Beowulf,
thou art wise
life beyond thy
More clever in speaking: thou’rt years.
cautious of spirit,
Mighty of muscle, in mouth-answers prudent.
I count on the hope that, happen it ever
30
That missile shall rob thee of Hrethel’s descendant,
Edge-horrid battle, and illness or weapon
Deprive thee of prince, of people’s protector,
And life thou yet holdest, the Sea- Should Higelac
die, the Geats
Geats will never could find no
Find a more fitting folk-lord to choose better
successor than
them, thou wouldst
35 make.
Gem-ward of heroes, than thou
mightest prove thee,
If the kingdom of kinsmen thou carest to govern.
Thy mood-spirit likes me the longer the better,
Beowulf dear: thou hast brought it to pass that
To both these peoples peace shall be common,
40 Thou hast
healed the
To Geat-folk and Danemen, the strife ancient breach
be suspended, between our
races.
The secret assailings they suffered in
yore-days;
And also that jewels be shared while I govern

The wide-stretching kingdom, and that many shall
visit
Others o’er the ocean with excellent gift-gems:
45
The ring-adorned bark shall bring o’er the currents
Presents and love-gifts. This people I know
Tow’rd foeman and friend firmly established,1
After ancient etiquette everywise blameless.”
Then the warden of earlmen gave him still farther,
50 Parting gifts
Kinsman of Healfdene, a dozen of jewels,
Bade him safely seek with the presents
His well-beloved people, early returning.
Then the noble-born king kissed the Hrothgar
kisses
distinguished, Beowulf, and
Dear-lovèd liegeman, the Dane-prince weeps.
saluted him,
55
And claspèd his neck; tears from him fell,
From the gray-headed man: he two things expected,
Agèd and reverend, but rather the second,
2
That bold in council they’d meet thereafter.
The man was so dear that he failed to suppress the
60
Emotions that moved him, but in mood-fetters
fastened
The long-famous hero longeth in secret The old king is
deeply grieved
Deep in his spirit for the dear-beloved to part with his
man benefactor.
Though not a blood-kinsman. Beowulf thenceward,
Gold-splendid warrior, walked o’er the meadows
65
Exulting in treasure: the sea-going vessel
Riding at anchor awaited its owner.

As they pressed on their way then, the present of
Hrothgar
Was frequently referred to: a folk-king Giving
liberally is the
indeed that true proof of
Everyway blameless, till age did debar kingship.
him
70
The joys of his might, which hath many oft injured.

[1] For ‘geworhte,’ the crux of this passage, B. proposes ‘geþóhte,’
rendering: I know this people with firm thought every way
blameless towards foe and friends.
[2] S. and B. emend so as to negative the verb ‘meet.’ “Why should
Hrothgar weep if he expects to meet Beowulf again?” both these
scholars ask. But the weeping is mentioned before the
‘expectations’: the tears may have been due to many emotions,
especially gratitude, struggling for expression.

XXVIII.

THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY.—
THE TWO QUEENS.

Then the band of very valiant retainers
Came to the current; they were clad all in armor,
In link-woven burnies. The land- The coast-
guard again.
warder noticed
The return of the earlmen, as he erstwhile had seen
them;
5
Nowise with insult he greeted the strangers
From the naze of the cliff, but rode on to meet them;
Said the bright-armored visitors1 vesselward traveled
Welcome to Weders. The wide-bosomed craft then
Lay on the sand, laden with armor,
10
With horses and jewels, the ring-stemmèd sailer:
The mast uptowered o’er the treasure of Hrothgar.
To the boat-ward a gold-bound brand Beowulf gives
the guard a
he presented, handsome
That he was afterwards honored on the sword.
ale-bench more highly
As the heirloom’s owner. 2Set he out on his vessel,
15
To drive on the deep, Dane-country left he.
Along by the mast then a sea-garment fluttered,
A rope-fastened sail. The sea-boat resounded,
The wind o’er the waters the wave-floater nowise
Kept from its journey; the sea-goer traveled,
20
The foamy-necked floated forth o’er the currents,

The well-fashioned vessel o’er the ways of the
ocean,
Till they came within sight of the cliffs The Geats see
their own land
of the Geatmen, again.
The well-known headlands. The wave-
goer hastened
Driven by breezes, stood on the shore.
25 The port-
warden is
Prompt at the ocean, the port-ward was anxiously
ready, looking for
them.
Who long in the past outlooked in the
distance,3
At water’s-edge waiting well-lovèd heroes;
He bound to the bank then the broad-bosomed vessel
Fast in its fetters, lest the force of the waters
30
Should be able to injure the ocean-wood winsome.
Bade he up then take the treasure of princes,
Plate-gold and fretwork; not far was it thence
To go off in search of the giver of jewels:
Hrethel’s son Higelac at home there remaineth,4
35
Himself with his comrades close to the sea-coast.
The building was splendid, the king heroic,
Great in his hall, Hygd very young was,
Fine-mooded, clever, though few were Hygd, the
noble queen of
the winters Higelac, lavish
That the daughter of Hæreth had dwelt of gifts.
in the borough;
40
But she nowise was cringing nor niggard of presents,
Of ornaments rare, to the race of the Geatmen.
Thrytho nursed anger, excellent5 folk- Offa’s consort,
Thrytho, is
queen,

Hot-burning hatred: no hero whatever contrasted with
Hygd.
’Mong household companions, her
husband excepted
45 She is a terror
to all save her
Dared to adventure to look at the husband.
woman
With eyes in the daytime;6 but he knew that death-
chains
Hand-wreathed were wrought him: early thereafter,
When the hand-strife was over, edges were ready,
That fierce-raging sword-point had to force a
decision,
50
Murder-bale show. Such no womanly custom
For a lady to practise, though lovely her person,
That a weaver-of-peace, on pretence of anger
A belovèd liegeman of life should deprive.
Soothly this hindered Heming’s kinsman;
55
Other ale-drinking earlmen asserted
That fearful folk-sorrows fewer she wrought them,
Treacherous doings, since first she was given
Adorned with gold to the war-hero youthful,
For her origin honored, when Offa’s great palace
60
O’er the fallow flood by her father’s instructions
She sought on her journey, where she afterwards
fully,
Famed for her virtue, her fate on the king’s-seat
Enjoyed in her lifetime, love did she hold with
The ruler of heroes, the best, it is told me,
65
Of all of the earthmen that oceans encompass,
Of earl-kindreds endless; hence Offa was famous

Far and widely, by gifts and by battles,
Spear-valiant hero; the home of his fathers
He governed with wisdom, whence Eomær did issue
70
For help unto heroes, Heming’s kinsman,
Grandson of Garmund, great in encounters.

[1] For ‘scawan’ (1896), ‘scaðan’ has been proposed. Accepting this,
we may render: He said the bright-armored warriors were going
to their vessel, welcome, etc. (Cf. 1804.)
[2] R. suggests, ‘Gewát him on naca,’ and renders: The vessel set out,
to drive on the sea, the Dane-country left. ‘On’ bears the
alliteration; cf. ‘on hafu’ (2524). This has some advantages over
the H.-So. reading; viz. (1) It adds nothing to the text; (2) it makes
‘naca’ the subject, and thus brings the passage into keeping with
the context, where the poet has exhausted his vocabulary in
detailing the actions of the vessel.—B.’s emendation (cf. P. and B.
XII. 97) is violent.
[3] B. translates: Who for a long time, ready at the coast, had looked
out into the distance eagerly for the dear men. This changes the
syntax of ‘léofra manna.’
[4] For ‘wunað’ (v. 1924) several eminent critics suggest ‘wunade’
(=remained). This makes the passage much clearer.
[5] Why should such a woman be described as an ‘excellent’ queen?
C. suggests ‘frécnu’ = dangerous, bold.
[6] For ‘an dæges’ various readings have been offered. If ‘and-éges’ be
accepted, the sentence will read: No hero … dared look upon her,
eye to eye. If ‘án-dæges’ be adopted, translate: Dared look upon
her the whole day.

XXIX.

BEOWULF AND HIGELAC.

Then the brave one departed, his band along with
him,
Seeking the sea-shore, the sea-marches Beowulf and
his party seek
treading, Higelac.
The wide-stretching shores. The world-
candle glimmered,
The sun from the southward; they proceeded then
onward,
5
Early arriving where they heard that the troop-lord,
Ongentheow’s slayer, excellent, youthful
Folk-prince and warrior was distributing jewels,
Close in his castle. The coming of Beowulf
Was announced in a message quickly to Higelac,
10
That the folk-troop’s defender forth to the palace
The linden-companion alive was advancing,
Secure from the combat courtward a-going.
The building was early inward made ready
For the foot-going guests as the good one had
ordered.
15 Beowulf sits
by his
He sat by the man then who had lived liegelord.
through the struggle,
Kinsman by kinsman, when the king of the people
Had in lordly language saluted the dear one,
In words that were formal. The Queen Hygd
receives the
daughter of Hæreth heroes.

Coursed through the building, carrying mead-cups:1
20
She loved the retainers, tendered the beakers
To the high-minded Geatmen. Higelac ’gan then
Pleasantly plying his companion with Higelac is
greatly
questions interested in
In the high-towering palace. A curious Beowulf’s
adventures.
interest
Tormented his spirit, what meaning to see in
25
The Sea-Geats’ adventures: “Beowulf worthy,
How throve your journeying, when Give an
account of thy
thou thoughtest suddenly adventures,
Far o’er the salt-streams to seek an Beowulf dear.
encounter,
A battle at Heorot? Hast bettered for Hrothgar,
The famous folk-leader, his far-published sorrows
30
Any at all? In agony-billows
I mused upon torture, distrusted the My suspense
has been great.
journey
Of the belovèd liegeman; I long time did pray thee
By no means to seek out the murderous spirit,
To suffer the South-Danes themselves to decide on2
35
Grappling with Grendel. To God I am thankful
To be suffered to see thee safe from thy journey.”
Beowulf answered, bairn of old Beowulf
narrates his
Ecgtheow: adventures.
“’Tis hidden by no means, Higelac
chieftain,
From many of men, the meeting so famous,
40
What mournful moments of me and of Grendel

Were passed in the place where he pressing affliction
On the Victory-Scyldings scathefully brought,
Anguish forever; that all I avengèd,
So that any under heaven of the kinsmen of Grendel
45 Grendel’s
kindred have
Needeth not boast of that cry-in-the- no cause to
morning, boast.
Who longest liveth of the loth-going
kindred,3
Encompassed by moorland. I came in my journey
To the royal ring-hall, Hrothgar to greet there:
Soon did the famous scion of Hrothgar
received me
Healfdene, very cordially.
50
When he understood fully the spirit that led me,
Assign me a seat with the son of his bosom.
The troop was in joyance; mead-glee greater
’Neath arch of the ether not ever beheld I
’Mid hall-building holders. The highly- The queen also
showed up no
famed queen, little honor.
55
Peace-tie of peoples, oft passed through the building,
Cheered the young troopers; she oft tendered a hero
A beautiful ring-band, ere she went to her sitting.
Oft the daughter of Hrothgar in view of Hrothgar’s
lovely
the courtiers daughter.
To the earls at the end the ale-vessel
carried,
60
Whom Freaware I heard then hall-sitters title,
When nail-adorned jewels she gave to the heroes:
Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad She is
betrothed to
son of Froda Ingeld, in order
to unite the

Her faith has been plighted; the friend Danes and
Heathobards.
of the Scyldings,
The guard of the kingdom, hath given his sanction,4
65
And counts it a vantage, for a part of the quarrels,
A portion of hatred, to pay with the woman.
5
Somewhere not rarely, when the ruler has fallen,
The life-taking lance relaxeth its fury
For a brief breathing-spell, though the bride be
charming!

[1] ‘Meodu-scencum’ (1981) some would render ‘with mead-pourers.’
Translate then: The daughter of Hæreth went through the building
accompanied by mead-pourers.
[2] See my note to 1599, supra, and B. in P. and B. XII. 97.
[3] For ‘fenne,’ supplied by Grdtvg., B. suggests ‘fácne’ (cf. Jul. 350).
Accepting this, translate: Who longest lives of the hated race,
steeped in treachery.
[4] See note to v. 1599 above.
[5] This is perhaps the least understood sentence in the poem, almost
every word being open to dispute. (1) The ‘nó’ of our text is an
emendation, and is rejected by many scholars. (2) ‘Seldan’ is by
some taken as an adv. (= seldom), and by others as a noun (= page,
companion). (3) ‘Léod-hryre,’ some render ‘fall of the people’;
others, ‘fall of the prince.’ (4) ‘Búgeð,’ most scholars regard as the
intrans. verb meaning ‘bend,’ ‘rest’; but one great scholar has
translated it ‘shall kill.’ (5) ‘Hwær,’ Very recently, has been
attacked, ‘wære’ being suggested. (6) As a corollary to the above,
the same critic proposes to drop ‘oft’ out of the text.—t.B.
suggests: Oft seldan wære after léodhryre: lýtle hwíle bongár
búgeð, þéah séo brýd duge = often has a treaty been (thus) struck,
after a prince had fallen: (but only) a short time is the spear (then)
wont to rest, however excellent the bride may be.

XXX.

BEOWULF NARRATES HIS
ADVENTURES TO HIGELAC.

“It well may discomfit the prince of the Heathobards
And each of the thanemen of earls that attend him,
When he goes to the building escorting the woman,
That a noble-born Daneman the knights should be
feasting:
5
There gleam on his person the leavings of elders
Hard and ring-bright, Heathobards’ treasure,
While they wielded their arms, till they misled to the
battle
Their own dear lives and belovèd companions.
He saith at the banquet who the collar beholdeth,
10
An ancient ash-warrior who earlmen’s destruction
Clearly recalleth (cruel his spirit),
Sadly beginneth sounding the youthful
Thane-champion’s spirit through the thoughts of his
bosom,
War-grief to waken, and this word-answer speaketh:
15 Ingeld is
stirred up to
‘Art thou able, my friend, to know break the truce.
when thou seest it
The brand which thy father bare to the conflict
In his latest adventure, ’neath visor of helmet,
The dearly-loved iron, where Danemen did slay him,
And brave-mooded Scyldings, on the fall of the
heroes,
20

(When vengeance was sleeping) the slaughter-place
wielded?
E’en now some man of the murderer’s progeny
Exulting in ornaments enters the building,
Boasts of his blood-shedding, offbeareth the jewel
Which thou shouldst wholly hold in possession!’
25
So he urgeth and mindeth on every occasion
With woe-bringing words, till waxeth the season
When the woman’s thane for the works of his father,
The bill having bitten, blood-gory sleepeth,
Fated to perish; the other one thenceward
30
’Scapeth alive, the land knoweth thoroughly.1
Then the oaths of the earlmen on each side are
broken,
When rancors unresting are raging in Ingeld
And his wife-love waxeth less warm after sorrow.
So the Heathobards’ favor not faithful I reckon,
35
Their part in the treaty not true to the Danemen,
Their friendship not fast. I further shall tell thee
More about Grendel, that thou fully Having made
these
mayst hear, preliminary
Ornament-giver, what afterward came statements, I
will now tell
from thee of
The hand-rush of heroes. When Grendel, the
heaven’s bright jewel monster.
40
O’er earthfields had glided, the stranger came
raging,
The horrible night-fiend, us for to visit,
Where wholly unharmed the hall we were guarding.
Hondscio fell
first

To Hondscio happened a hopeless contention,
Death to the doomed one, dead he fell foremost,
45
Girded war-champion; to him Grendel became then,
To the vassal distinguished, a tooth-weaponed
murderer,
The well-beloved henchman’s body all swallowed.
Not the earlier off empty of hand did
The bloody-toothed murderer, mindful of evils,
50
Wish to escape from the gold-giver’s palace,
But sturdy of strength he strove to outdo me,
Hand-ready grappled. A glove was suspended
Spacious and wondrous, in art-fetters fastened,
Which was fashioned entirely by touch of the
craftman
55
From the dragon’s skin by the devil’s devices:
He down in its depths would do me unsadly
One among many, deed-doer raging,
Though sinless he saw me; not so could it happen
When I in my anger upright did stand.
60
’Tis too long to recount how requital I furnished
For every evil to the earlmen’s destroyer;
’Twas there, my prince, that I proudly I reflected
honor upon my
distinguished people.
Thy land with my labors. He left and
retreated,
He lived his life a little while longer:
65
Yet his right-hand guarded his footstep in Heorot,
And sad-mooded thence to the sea-bottom fell he,
Mournful in mind. For the might-rush of battle

The friend of the Scyldings, with gold King Hrothgar
lavished gifts
that was plated, upon me.
With ornaments many, much requited
me,
70
When daylight had dawned, and down to the
banquet
We had sat us together. There was chanting and
joyance:
The age-stricken Scylding asked many questions
And of old-times related; oft light-ringing harp-
strings,
Joy-telling wood, were touched by the brave one;
75
Now he uttered measures, mourning and truthful,
Then the large-hearted land-king a legend of wonder
Truthfully told us. Now troubled with years
The age-hoary warrior afterward began The old king is
sad over the
to loss of his
Mourn for the might that marked him youthful vigor.
in youth-days;
80
His breast within boiled, when burdened with
winters
Much he remembered. From morning till night then
We joyed us therein as etiquette suffered,
Till the second night season came unto earth-folk.
Then early thereafter, the mother of Grendel
85 Grendel’s
mother.
Was ready for vengeance, wretched she
journeyed;
Her son had death ravished, the wrath of the
Geatmen.
The horrible woman avengèd her offspring,
And with mighty mainstrength murdered a hero.

There the spirit of Æschere, agèd Æschere falls a
prey to her
adviser, vengeance.
90
Was ready to vanish; nor when morn had lightened
Were they anywise suffered to consume him with
fire,
Folk of the Danemen, the death-weakened hero,
Nor the belovèd liegeman to lay on the pyre;
She the corpse had offcarried in the She suffered
not his body to
clutch of the foeman2 be burned, but
95 ate it.
’Neath mountain-brook’s flood. To Hrothgar ’twas
saddest
Of pains that ever had preyed on the chieftain;
By the life of thee the land-prince then me3
Besought very sadly, in sea-currents’ eddies
To display my prowess, to peril my safety,
100
Might-deeds accomplish; much did he promise.
I found then the famous flood-current’s I sought the
creature in her
cruel, den,
Horrible depth-warder. A while unto us
two
Hand was in common; the currents were seething
With gore that was clotted, and Grendel’s fierce
mother’s
105 and hewed her
head off.
Head I offhacked in the hall at the
bottom
With huge-reaching sword-edge, hardly I wrested
My life from her clutches; not doomed was I then,
But the warden of earlmen afterward Jewels were
freely
gave me bestowed upon
me.

Jewels in quantity, kinsman of Healfdene.

[1] For ‘lifigende’ (2063), a mere conjecture, ‘wígende’ has been
suggested. The line would then read: Escapeth by fighting, knows
the land thoroughly.
[2] For ‘fæðmum,’ Gr.’s conjecture, B. proposes ‘færunga.’ These
three half-verses would then read: She bore off the corpse of her
foe suddenly under the mountain-torrent.
[3] The phrase ‘þíne lýfe’ (2132) was long rendered ‘with thy
(presupposed) permission.’ The verse would read: The land-prince
then sadly besought me, with thy (presupposed) permission, etc.

XXXI.

GIFT-GIVING IS MUTUAL.

“So the belovèd land-prince lived in decorum;
I had missed no rewards, no meeds of my prowess,
But he gave me jewels, regarding my wishes,
Healfdene his bairn; I’ll bring them to thee, then,
5 All my gifts I
lay at thy feet.
Atheling of earlmen, offer them gladly.
And still unto thee is all my affection:1
But few of my folk-kin find I surviving
But thee, dear Higelac!” Bade he in then to carry2
The boar-image, banner, battle-high helmet,
10
Iron-gray armor, the excellent weapon,
In song-measures said: “This suit-for- This armor I
have belonged
the-battle of yore to
Hrothgar presented me, bade me Heregar.
expressly,
Wise-mooded atheling, thereafter to tell thee3
The whole of its history, said King Heregar owned it,
15
Dane-prince for long: yet he wished not to give then
The mail to his son, though dearly he loved him,
Hereward the hardy. Hold all in joyance!”
I heard that there followed hard on the jewels
Two braces of stallions of striking resemblance,
20
Dappled and yellow; he granted him usance
Of horses and treasures. So a kinsman should bear
him,
No web of treachery weave for another,

Nor by cunning craftiness cause the destruction
Of trusty companion. Most precious to Higelac loves
his nephew
Higelac, Beowulf.
25
The bold one in battle, was the bairn of his sister,
And each unto other mindful of favors.
I am told that to Hygd he proffered the Beowulf gives
Hygd the
necklace, necklace that
Wonder-gem rare that Wealhtheow Wealhtheow
had given him.
gave him,
The troop-leader’s daughter, a trio of horses
30
Slender and saddle-bright; soon did the jewel
Embellish her bosom, when the beer-feast was over.
So Ecgtheow’s bairn brave did prove him,
War-famous man, by deeds that were Beowulf is
famous.
valiant,
He lived in honor, belovèd companions
35
Slew not carousing; his mood was not cruel,
But by hand-strength hugest of heroes then living
The brave one retained the bountiful gift that
The Lord had allowed him. Long was he wretched,
So that sons of the Geatmen accounted him
worthless,
40
And the lord of the liegemen loth was to do him
Mickle of honor, when mead-cups were passing;
They fully believed him idle and sluggish,
An indolent atheling: to the honor-blest He is requited
for the slights
man there suffered in
Came requital for the cuts he had earlier days.
suffered.
45

The folk-troop’s defender bade fetch to the building
The heirloom of Hrethel, embellished with gold,
So the brave one enjoined it; there was Higelac
overwhelms
jewel no richer the conqueror
In the form of a weapon ’mong Geats with gifts.
of that era;
In Beowulf’s keeping he placed it and gave him
50
Seven of thousands, manor and lordship.
Common to both was land ’mong the people,
Estate and inherited rights and possessions,
To the second one specially spacious dominions,
To the one who was better. It afterward happened
55
In days that followed, befell the battle-thanes,
After Higelac’s death, and when After
Heardred’s
Heardred was murdered death, Beowulf
With weapons of warfare ’neath well- becomes king.
covered targets,
When valiant battlemen in victor-band sought him,
War-Scylfing heroes harassed the nephew
60
Of Hereric in battle. To Beowulf’s keeping
Turned there in time extensive dominions:
He fittingly ruled them a fifty of He rules the
Geats fifty
winters years.
(He a man-ruler wise was, manor-ward
old) till
A certain one ’gan, on gloom-darkening nights, a
65 The fire-drake.
Dragon, to govern, who guarded a treasure,
A high-rising stone-cliff, on heath that was grayish:
A path ’neath it lay, unknown unto mortals.
Some one of earthmen entered the mountain,

The heathenish hoard laid hold of with ardor;
70
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *

[1] This verse B. renders, ‘Now serve I again thee alone as my
gracious king.’
[2] For ‘eafor’ (2153), Kl. suggests ‘ealdor.’ Translate then: Bade the
prince then to bear in the banner, battle-high helmet, etc. On the
other hand, W. takes ‘eaforhéafodsegn’ as a compound, meaning
‘helmet’: He bade them bear in the helmet, battle-high helm, gray
armor, etc.
[3] The H.-So. rendering (ærest = history, origin; ‘eft’ for ‘est’),
though liable to objection, is perhaps the best offered. ‘That I
should very early tell thee of his favor, kindness’ sounds well; but
‘his’ is badly placed to limit ‘ést.’—Perhaps, ‘eft’ with verbs of
saying may have the force of Lat. prefix ‘re,’ and the H.-So.
reading mean, ‘that I should its origin rehearse to thee.’

XXXII.

THE HOARD AND THE
DRAGON.

* * * * * * *
He sought of himself who sorely did harm him,
But, for need very pressing, the servant of one of
The sons of the heroes hate-blows evaded,
5
Seeking for shelter and the sin-driven warrior
Took refuge within there. He early looked in it,
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * when the onset surprised him,
10 The hoard.
He a gem-vessel saw there: many of suchlike
Ancient ornaments in the earth-cave were lying,
As in days of yore some one of men of
Illustrious lineage, as a legacy monstrous,
There had secreted them, careful and thoughtful,
15
Dear-valued jewels. Death had offsnatched them,
In the days of the past, and the one man moreover
Of the flower of the folk who fared there the longest,
Was fain to defer it, friend-mourning warder,
A little longer to be left in enjoyment
20
Of long-lasting treasure.1 A barrow all-ready
Stood on the plain the stream-currents nigh to,
New by the ness-edge, unnethe of approaching:
The keeper of rings carried within a

2
Ponderous deal of the treasure of nobles,
25
Of gold that was beaten, briefly he spake then:3
“Hold thou, O Earth, now heroes no The ring-giver
bewails the
more may, loss of
The earnings of earlmen. Lo! erst in retainers.
thy bosom
Worthy men won them; war-death hath ravished,
Perilous life-bale, all my warriors,
30
Liegemen belovèd, who this life have forsaken,
Who hall-pleasures saw. No sword-bearer have I,
And no one to burnish the gold-plated vessel,
The high-valued beaker: my heroes are vanished.
The hardy helmet behung with gilding
35
Shall be reaved of its riches: the ring-cleansers
slumber
Who were charged to have ready visors-for-battle,
And the burnie that bided in battle-encounter
O’er breaking of war-shields the bite of the edges
Moulds with the hero. The ring-twisted armor,
40
Its lord being lifeless, no longer may journey
Hanging by heroes; harp-joy is vanished,
The rapture of glee-wood, no excellent falcon
Swoops through the building, no swift-footed
charger
Grindeth the gravel. A grievous destruction
45
No few of the world-folk widely hath scattered!”
So, woful of spirit one after all
Lamented mournfully, moaning in sadness
By day and by night, till death with its billows

Dashed on his spirit. Then the ancient The fire-
dragon
dusk-scather
50
Found the great treasure standing all open,
He who flaming and fiery flies to the barrows,
Naked war-dragon, nightly escapeth
Encompassed with fire; men under heaven
Widely beheld him. ’Tis said that he looks for4
55
The hoard in the earth, where old he is guarding
The heathenish treasure; he’ll be nowise the better.
So three-hundred winters the waster of The dragon
meets his
peoples match.
Held upon earth that excellent hoard-
hall,
Till the forementioned earlman angered him bitterly:
60
The beat-plated beaker he bare to his chieftain
And fullest remission for all his remissness
Begged of his liegelord. Then the hoard5 was
discovered,
The treasure was taken, his petition was granted
The lorn-mooded liegeman. His lord The hero
plunders the
regarded dragon’s den
65
The old-work of earth-folk—’twas the earliest
occasion.
When the dragon awoke, the strife was renewed
there;
He snuffed ’long the stone then, stout-hearted found
he
The footprint of foeman; too far had he gone
With cunning craftiness close to the head of
70

The fire-spewing dragon. So undoomed he may
’scape from
Anguish and exile with ease who possesseth
The favor of Heaven. The hoard-warden eagerly
Searched o’er the ground then, would meet with the
person
That caused him sorrow while in slumber reclining:
75
Gleaming and wild he oft went round the cavern,
All of it outward; not any of earthmen
Was seen in that desert.6 Yet he joyed in the battle,
Rejoiced in the conflict: oft he turned to the barrow,
Sought for the gem-cup;7 this he soon perceived then
80 The dragon
perceives that
That some man or other had discovered some one has
the gold, disturbed his
treasure.
The famous folk-treasure. Not fain did
the hoard-ward
Wait until evening; then the ward of the barrow
Was angry in spirit, the loathèd one wished to
Pay for the dear-valued drink-cup with fire.
85
Then the day was done as the dragon would have it,
He no longer would wait on the wall, but departed
Fire-impelled, flaming. Fearful the The dragon is
infuriated.
start was
To earls in the land, as it early thereafter
To their giver-of-gold was grievously ended.

[1] For ‘long-gestréona,’ B. suggests ‘láengestréona,’ and renders, Of
fleeting treasures. S. accepts H.’s ‘long-gestréona,’ but renders,
The treasure long in accumulating.
[2] For ‘hard-fyrdne’ (2246), B. first suggested ‘hard-fyndne,’
rendering: A heap of treasures … so great that its equal would be
hard to find. The same scholar suggests later ‘hord-wynne dæl’ = A
deal of treasure-joy.

[3] Some read ‘fec-word’ (2247), and render: Banning words uttered.
[4] An earlier reading of H.’s gave the following meaning to this
passage: He is said to inhabit a mound under the earth, where he,
etc. The translation in the text is more authentic.
[5] The repetition of ‘hord’ in this passage has led some scholars to
suggest new readings to avoid the second ‘hord.’ This, however, is
not under the main stress, and, it seems to me, might easily be
accepted.
[6] The reading of H.-So. is well defended in the notes to that volume.
B. emends and renders: Nor was there any man in that desert who
rejoiced in conflict, in battle-work. That is, the hoard-ward could
not find any one who had disturbed his slumbers, for no warrior
was there, t.B.’s emendation would give substantially the same
translation.
[7] ‘Sinc-fæt’ (2301): this word both here and in v. 2232, t.B. renders
‘treasure.’

XXXIII.

BRAVE THOUGH AGED.—
REMINISCENCES.

The stranger began then to vomit forth The dragon
fire, spits fire.

To burn the great manor; the blaze then glimmered
For anguish to earlmen, not anything living
Was the hateful air-goer willing to leave there.
5
The war of the worm widely was noticed,
The feud of the foeman afar and anear,
How the enemy injured the earls of the Geatmen,
Harried with hatred: back he hied to the treasure,
To the well-hidden cavern ere the coming of
daylight.
10
He had circled with fire the folk of those regions,
With brand and burning; in the barrow he trusted,
In the wall and his war-might: the weening deceived
him.
Then straight was the horror to Beowulf hears
of the havoc
Beowulf published, wrought by the
Early forsooth, that his own native dragon.
homestead,1
15
The best of buildings, was burning and melting,
Gift-seat of Geatmen. ’Twas a grief to the spirit
Of the good-mooded hero, the greatest of sorrows:
The wise one weened then that He fears that
Heaven is
wielding his kingdom punishing him

’Gainst the ancient commandments, he for some
crime.
had bitterly angered
20
The Lord everlasting: with lorn meditations
His bosom welled inward, as was nowise his custom.
The fire-spewing dragon fully had wasted
The fastness of warriors, the water-land outward,
The manor with fire. The folk-ruling hero,
25
Prince of the Weders, was planning to wreak him.
The warmen’s defender bade them to make him,
Earlmen’s atheling, an excellent war-shield
Wholly of iron: fully he knew then He orders an
iron shield to
That wood from the forest was helpless be made from
to aid him, him, wood is
useless.
30
Shield against fire. The long-worthy ruler
Must live the last of his limited earth-days,
Of life in the world and the worm along with him,
Though he long had been holding hoard-wealth in
plenty.
Then the ring-prince disdained to seek He determines
to fight alone.
with a war-band,
35
With army extensive, the air-going ranger;
He felt no fear of the foeman’s assaults and
He counted for little the might of the dragon,
His power and prowess: for previously dared he
A heap of hostility, hazarded dangers, Beowulf’s
early triumphs
40 referred to
War-thane, when Hrothgar’s palace he
cleansèd,
Conquering combatant, clutched in the battle
The kinsmen of Grendel, of kindred detested.2

’Twas of hand-fights not least where Higelac’s death
recalled.
Higelac was slaughtered,
When the king of the Geatmen with clashings of
battle,
45
Friend-lord of folks in Frisian dominions,
Offspring of Hrethrel perished through sword-drink,
With battle-swords beaten; thence Beowulf came
then
On self-help relying, swam through the waters;
He bare on his arm, lone-going, thirty
50
Outfits of armor, when the ocean he mounted.
The Hetwars by no means had need to be boastful
Of their fighting afoot, who forward to meet him
Carried their war-shields: not many returned from
The brave-mooded battle-knight back to their
homesteads.
55
Ecgtheow’s bairn o’er the bight-courses swam then,
Lone-goer lorn to his land-folk returning,
Where Hygd to him tendered treasure and kingdom,
Rings and dominion: her son she not Heardred’s
lack of
trusted, capacity to
To be able to keep the kingdom rule.
devised him
60
’Gainst alien races, on the death of King Higelac.
Yet the sad ones succeeded not in Beowulf’s tact
and delicacy
persuading the atheling recalled.
In any way ever, to act as a suzerain
To Heardred, or promise to govern the kingdom;
Yet with friendly counsel in the folk he sustained
him,
65

Gracious, with honor, till he grew to be older,
Wielded the Weders. Wide-fleeing Reference is
here made to a
outlaws, visit which
Ohthere’s sons, sought him o’er the Beowulf
receives from
waters: Eanmund and
They had stirred a revolt ’gainst the Eadgils, why
helm of the Scylfings, they come is
not known.
The best of the sea-kings, who in
Swedish dominions
70
Distributed treasure, distinguished folk-leader.
’Twas the end of his earth-days; injury fatal3
By swing of the sword he received as a greeting,
Offspring of Higelac; Ongentheow’s bairn
Later departed to visit his homestead,
75
When Heardred was dead; let Beowulf rule them,
Govern the Geatmen: good was that folk-king.

[1] ‘Hám’ (2326), the suggestion of B. is accepted by t.B. and other
scholars.
[2] For ‘láðan cynnes’ (2355), t.B. suggests ‘láðan cynne,’ apposition
to ‘mægum.’ From syntactical and other considerations, this is a
most excellent emendation.
[3] Gr. read ‘on feorme’ (2386), rendering: He there at the banquet a
fatal wound received by blows of the sword.

XXXIV.

BEOWULF SEEKS THE
DRAGON.—BEOWULF’S
REMINISCENCES.

He planned requital for the folk-leader’s ruin
In days thereafter, to Eadgils the wretched
Becoming an enemy. Ohthere’s son then
Went with a war-troop o’er the wide-stretching
currents
5
With warriors and weapons: with woe-journeys cold
he
After avenged him, the king’s life he took.
So he came off uninjured from all of Beowulf has
been preserved
his battles, through many
Perilous fights, offspring of Ecgtheow, perils.
From his deeds of daring, till that day most
momentous
10
When he fate-driven fared to fight with the dragon.
With eleven companions the prince of With eleven
comrades, he
the Geatmen seeks the
Went lowering with fury to look at the dragon.
fire-drake:
Inquiring he’d found how the feud had arisen,
Hate to his heroes; the highly-famed gem-vessel
15
Was brought to his keeping through the hand of th’
informer.
That in the throng was thirteenth of A guide leads
the way, but
heroes,

That caused the beginning of conflict so bitter,
Captive and wretched, must sad-mooded thenceward
Point out the place: he passed then very
reluctantly.
unwillingly
20
To the spot where he knew of the notable cavern,
The cave under earth, not far from the ocean,
The anger of eddies, which inward was full of
Jewels and wires: a warden uncanny,
Warrior weaponed, wardered the treasure,
25
Old under earth; no easy possession
For any of earth-folk access to get to.
Then the battle-brave atheling sat on the naze-edge,
While the gold-friend of Geatmen gracious saluted
His fireside-companions: woe was his spirit,
30
Death-boding, wav’ring; Weird very near him,
Who must seize the old hero, his soul-treasure look
for,
Dragging aloof his life from his body:
Not flesh-hidden long was the folk-leader’s spirit.
Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow’s son:
35 Beowulf’s
retrospect.
“I survived in my youth-days many a
conflict,
Hours of onset: that all I remember.
I was seven-winters old when the jewel-prince took
me,
High-lord of heroes, at the hands of my father,
Hrethel the hero-king had me in keeping,
40 Hrethel took
me when I was
Gave me treasure and feasting, our seven.
kinship remembered;

Not ever was I any less dear to him
Knight in the boroughs, than the bairns He treated me
as a son.
of his household,
Herebald and Hæthcyn and Higelac mine.
To the eldest unjustly by acts of a kinsman
45
Was murder-bed strewn, since him Hæthcyn from
horn-bow
His sheltering chieftain shot with an One of the
brothers
arrow, accidentally
Erred in his aim and injured his kills another.
kinsman,
One brother the other, with blood-sprinkled spear:
’Twas a feeless fight, finished in No fee could
compound for
malice, such a
50 calamity.
Sad to his spirit; the folk-prince
however
Had to part from existence with vengeance untaken.
So to hoar-headed hero ’tis heavily [A parallel case
is supposed.]
crushing1
To live to see his son as he rideth
Young on the gallows: then measures he chanteth,
55
A song of sorrow, when his son is hanging
For the raven’s delight, and aged and hoary
He is unable to offer any assistance.
Every morning his offspring’s departure
Is constant recalled: he cares not to wait for
60
The birth of an heir in his borough-enclosures,
Since that one through death-pain the deeds hath
experienced.
He heart-grieved beholds in the house of his son the

Wine-building wasted, the wind-lodging places
Reaved of their roaring; the riders are sleeping,
65
The knights in the grave; there’s no sound of the
harp-wood,
Joy in the yards, as of yore were familiar.

[1] ‘Gomelum ceorle’ (2445).—H. takes these words as referring to
Hrethel; but the translator here departs from his editor by
understanding the poet to refer to a hypothetical old man,
introduced as an illustration of a father’s sorrow.
Hrethrel had certainly never seen a son of his ride on the
gallows to feed the crows.
The passage beginning ‘swá bið géomorlic’ seems to be an
effort to reach a full simile, ‘as … so.’ ‘As it is mournful for an old
man, etc. … so the defence of the Weders (2463) bore heart-
sorrow, etc.’ The verses 2451 to 2463½ would be parenthetical, the
poet’s feelings being so strong as to interrupt the simile. The
punctuation of the fourth edition would be better—a comma after
‘galgan’ (2447). The translation may be indicated as follows:
(Just) as it is sad for an old man to see his son ride young on the
gallows when he himself is uttering mournful measures, a
sorrowful song, while his son hangs for a comfort to the raven,
and he, old and infirm, cannot render him any kelp—(he is
constantly reminded, etc., 2451-2463)—so the defence of the
Weders, etc.

XXXV.

REMINISCENCES (continued).—
BEOWULF’S LAST BATTLE.

“He seeks then his chamber, singeth a woe-song
One for the other; all too extensive
Seemed homesteads and plains. So the helm of the
Weders
Mindful of Herebald heart-sorrow Hrethel grieves
for Herebald.
carried,
5
Stirred with emotion, nowise was able
To wreak his ruin on the ruthless destroyer:
He was unable to follow the warrior with hatred,
With deeds that were direful, though dear he not held
him.
Then pressed by the pang this pain occasioned him,
10
He gave up glee, God-light elected;
He left to his sons, as the man that is rich does,
His land and fortress, when from life he departed.
Then was crime and hostility ’twixt Strife between
Swedes and
Swedes and Geatmen, Geats.
O’er wide-stretching water warring
was mutual,
15
Burdensome hatred, when Hrethel had perished,
And Ongentheow’s offspring were active and
valiant,
Wished not to hold to peace oversea, but
Round Hreosna-beorh often accomplished
Cruelest massacre. This my kinsman avengèd,

20
The feud and fury, as ’tis found on inquiry,
Though one of them paid it with forfeit of life-joys,
With price that was hard: the struggle Hæthcyn’s fall
at
became then Ravenswood.
Fatal to Hæthcyn, lord of the Geatmen.
Then I heard that at morning one brother the other
25
With edges of irons egged on to murder,
Where Ongentheow maketh onset on Eofor:
The helmet crashed, the hoary-haired Scylfing
Sword-smitten fell, his hand then remembered
Feud-hate sufficient, refused not the death-blow.
30 I requited him
for the jewels
The gems that he gave me, with jewel- he gave me.
bright sword I
’Quited in contest, as occasion was offered:
Land he allowed me, life-joy at homestead,
Manor to live on. Little he needed
From Gepids or Danes or in Sweden to look for
35
Trooper less true, with treasure to buy him;
’Mong foot-soldiers ever in front I would hie me,
Alone in the vanguard, and evermore gladly
Warfare shall wage, while this weapon endureth
That late and early often did serve me
40 Beowulf refers
to his having
When I proved before heroes the slayer slain
of Dæghrefn, Dæghrefn.
Knight of the Hugmen: he by no means
was suffered
To the king of the Frisians to carry the jewels,
The breast-decoration; but the banner-possessor
Bowed in the battle, brave-mooded atheling.

45
No weapon was slayer, but war-grapple broke then
The surge of his spirit, his body destroying.
Now shall weapon’s edge make war for the treasure,
And hand and firm-sword.” Beowulf spake then,
Boast-words uttered—the latest occasion:
50 He boasts of
his youthful
“I braved in my youth-days battles prowess, and
unnumbered; declares
himself still
Still am I willing the struggle to look fearless.
for,
Fame-deeds perform, folk-warden prudent,
If the hateful despoiler forth from his cavern
Seeketh me out!” Each of the heroes,
55
Helm-bearers sturdy, he thereupon greeted
Belovèd co-liegemen—his last His last
salutations.
salutation:
“No brand would I bear, no blade for the dragon,
Wist I a way my word-boast to ’complish1
Else with the monster, as with Grendel I did it;
60
But fire in the battle hot I expect there,
Furious flame-burning: so I fixed on my body
Target and war-mail. The ward of the barrow2
I’ll not flee from a foot-length, the foeman uncanny.
At the wall ’twill befall us as Fate decreeth,
65 Let Fate decide
between us.
Each one’s Creator. I am eager in spirit,
With the wingèd war-hero to away with all boasting.
Bide on the barrow with burnies protected,
Earls in armor, which of us two may Wait ye here
till the battle is
better over.

Bear his disaster, when the battle is over.
70
’Tis no matter of yours, and man cannot do it,
But me and me only, to measure his strength with
The monster of malice, might-deeds to ’complish.
I with prowess shall gain the gold, or the battle,
Direful death-woe will drag off your ruler!”
75
The mighty champion rose by his shield then,
Brave under helmet, in battle-mail went he
’Neath steep-rising stone-cliffs, the strength he relied
on
Of one man alone: no work for a coward.
Then he saw by the wall who a great many battles
80
Had lived through, most worthy, when foot-troops
collided,
Stone-arches standing, stout-hearted The place of
strife is
champion, described.
Saw a brook from the barrow bubbling
out thenceward:
The flood of the fountain was fuming with war-
flame:
Not nigh to the hoard, for season the briefest
85
Could he brave, without burning, the abyss that was
yawning,
The drake was so fiery. The prince of the Weders
Caused then that words came from his bosom,
So fierce was his fury; the firm-hearted shouted:
His battle-clear voice came in resounding
90
’Neath the gray-colored stone. Stirred was his
hatred,

The hoard-ward distinguished the Beowulf calls
out under the
speech of a man; stone arches.
Time was no longer to look out for
friendship.
The breath of the monster issued forth first,
Vapory war-sweat, out of the stone-cave:
95 The terrible
encounter.
The earth re-echoed. The earl ’neath
the barrow
Lifted his shield, lord of the Geatmen,
Tow’rd the terrible stranger: the ring-twisted
creature’s
Heart was then ready to seek for a struggle.
The excellent battle-king first Beowulf
brandishes his
brandished his weapon, sword,
100
The ancient heirloom, of edges unblunted,3
To the death-planners twain was terror from other.
The lord of the troopers intrepidly and stands
against his
stood then shield.
’Gainst his high-rising shield, when the
dragon coiled him
Quickly together: in corslet he bided. The dragon
coils himself.
105
He went then in blazes, bended and striding,
Hasting him forward. His life and body
The targe well protected, for time-period shorter
Than wish demanded for the well-renowned leader,
Where he then for the first day was forced to be
victor,
110
Famous in battle, as Fate had not willed it.
The lord of the Geatmen uplifted his hand then,
Smiting the fire-drake with sword that was precious,

That bright on the bone the blade-edge did weaken,
Bit more feebly than his folk-leader needed,
115
Burdened with bale-griefs. Then the barrow-
protector,
When the sword-blow had fallen, was The dragon
rages
fierce in his spirit,
Flinging his fires, flamings of battle
Gleamed then afar: the gold-friend of Weders
Boasted no conquests, his battle-sword Beowulf’s
sword fails
failed him him.
120
Naked in conflict, as by no means it ought to,
Long-trusty weapon. ’Twas no slight undertaking
That Ecgtheow’s famous offspring would leave
The drake-cavern’s bottom; he must live in some
region
Other than this, by the will of the dragon,
125
As each one of earthmen existence must forfeit.
’Twas early thereafter the excellent warriors
Met with each other. Anew and afresh The combat is
renewed.
The hoard-ward took heart (gasps
heaved then his bosom):
Sorrow he suffered encircled with fire The great hero
is reduced to
130 extremities.
Who the people erst governed. His
companions by no means
Were banded about him, bairns of the princes,
With valorous spirit, but they sped to His comrades
flee!
the forest,
Seeking for safety. The soul-deeps of one were
Ruffled by care: kin-love can never Blood is
thicker than
135 water.

Aught in him waver who well doth consider.

[1] The clause 2520(2)-2522(1), rendered by ‘Wist I … monster,’ Gr.,
followed by S., translates substantially as follows: If I knew how
else I might combat the boastful defiance of the monster.—The
translation turns upon ‘wiðgrípan,’ a word not understood.
[2] B. emends and translates: I will not flee the space of a foot from the
guard of the barrow, but there shall be to us a fight at the wall, as
fate decrees, each one’s Creator.
[3] The translation of this passage is based on ‘unsláw’ (2565),
accepted by H.-So., in lieu of the long-standing ‘ungléaw.’ The
former is taken as an adj. limiting ‘sweord’; the latter as an adj. c.
‘gúð-cyning’: The good war-king, rash with edges, brandished his
sword, his old relic. The latter gives a more rhetorical Anglo-
Saxon (poetical) sentence.

XXXVI.

WIGLAF THE TRUSTY.—
BEOWULF IS DESERTED BY
FRIENDS AND BY SWORD.

The son of Weohstan was Wiglaf Wiglaf remains
entitled, true—the ideal
Teutonic
Shield-warrior precious, prince of the liegeman.
Scylfings,
Ælfhere’s kinsman: he saw his dear liegelord
Enduring the heat ’neath helmet and visor.
5
Then he minded the holding that erst he had given
him,
The Wægmunding warriors’ wealth- Wiglaf recalls
Beowulf’s
blessèd homestead, generosity.
Each of the folk-rights his father had
wielded;
He was hot for the battle, his hand seized the target,
The yellow-bark shield, he unsheathed his old
weapon,
10
Which was known among earthmen as the relic of
Eanmund,
Ohthere’s offspring, whom, exiled and friendless,
Weohstan did slay with sword-edge in battle,
And carried his kinsman the clear-shining helmet,
The ring-made burnie, the old giant-weapon
15
That Onela gave him, his boon-fellow’s armor,
Ready war-trappings: he the feud did not mention,
Though he’d fatally smitten the son of his brother.

Many a half-year held he the treasures,
The bill and the burnie, till his bairn became able,
20
Like his father before him, fame-deeds to ’complish;
Then he gave him ’mong Geatmen a goodly array of
Weeds for his warfare; he went from life then
Old on his journey. ’Twas the earliest time then
That the youthful champion might This is
Wiglaf’s first
charge in the battle battle as
25 liegeman of
Beowulf.
Aiding his liegelord; his spirit was
dauntless.
Nor did kinsman’s bequest quail at the battle:
This the dragon discovered on their coming together.
Wiglaf uttered many a right-saying,
Said to his fellows, sad was his spirit:
30 Wiglaf appeals
to the pride of
“I remember the time when, tasting the the cowards.
mead-cup,
We promised in the hall the lord of us all
Who gave us these ring-treasures, that this battle-
equipment,
Swords and helmets, we’d certainly quite him,
Should need of such aid ever befall him:
35 How we have
forfeited our
In the war-band he chose us for this liegelord’s
journey spontaneously, confidence!
Stirred us to glory and gave me these
jewels,
Since he held and esteemed us trust-worthy
spearmen,
Hardy helm-bearers, though this hero-achievement
Our lord intended alone to accomplish,
40

Ward of his people, for most of achievements,
Doings audacious, he did among earth-folk.
The day is now come when the ruler of Our lord is in
sore need of
earthmen us.
Needeth the vigor of valiant heroes:
Let us wend us towards him, the war-prince to
succor,
45
While the heat yet rageth, horrible fire-fight.
God wot in me, ’tis mickle the liefer I would rather
die than go
The blaze should embrace my body home with out
and eat it my suzerain.
With my treasure-bestower. Meseemeth not proper
To bear our battle-shields back to our country,
50
’Less first we are able to fell and destroy the
Long-hating foeman, to defend the life of
The prince of the Weders. Well do I Surely he does
not deserve to
know ’tisn’t die alone.
Earned by his exploits, he only of
Geatmen
Sorrow should suffer, sink in the battle:
55
Brand and helmet to us both shall be common,
1
Shield-cover, burnie.” Through the bale-smoke he
stalked then,
Went under helmet to the help of his chieftain,
Briefly discoursing: “Beowulf dear, Wiglaf reminds
Beowulf of his
Perform thou all fully, as thou formerly youthful
saidst, boasts.
60
In thy youthful years, that while yet thou livedst
Thou wouldst let thine honor not ever be lessened.
Thy life thou shalt save, mighty in actions,

Atheling undaunted, with all of thy vigor;
I’ll give thee assistance.” The dragon The monster
advances on
came raging, them.
65
Wild-mooded stranger, when these words had been
uttered
(’Twas the second occasion), seeking his enemies,
Men that were hated, with hot-gleaming fire-waves;
With blaze-billows burned the board to its edges:
The fight-armor failed then to furnish assistance
70
To the youthful spear-hero: but the young-agèd
stripling
Quickly advanced ’neath his kinsman’s war-target,
Since his own had been ground in the grip of the
fire.
Then the warrior-king was careful of Beowulf
strikes at the
glory, dragon.
He soundly smote with sword-for-the-
battle,
75
That it stood in the head by hatred driven;
Nægling was shivered, the old and iron-made
Brand of Beowulf in battle deceived His sword fails
him.
him.
’Twas denied him that edges of irons were able
To help in the battle; the hand was too mighty
80
2
Which every weapon, as I heard on inquiry,
Outstruck in its stroke, when to struggle he carried
The wonderful war-sword: it waxed him no better.
Then the people-despoiler—third of his The dragon
advances on
onsets— Beowulf again.

Fierce-raging fire-drake, of feud-hate was mindful,
85
Charged on the strong one, when chance was
afforded,
Heated and war-grim, seized on his neck
With teeth that were bitter; he bloody did wax with
Soul-gore seething; sword-blood in waves boiled.

[1] The passage ‘Brand … burnie,’ is much disputed. In the first place,
some eminent critics assume a gap of at least two half-verses.
—‘Úrum’ (2660), being a peculiar form, has been much discussed.
‘Byrdu-scrúd’ is also a crux. B. suggests ‘býwdu-scrúd’ = splendid
vestments. Nor is ‘bám’ accepted by all, ‘béon’ being suggested.
Whatever the individual words, the passage must mean, “I intend
to share with him my equipments of defence.”
[2] B. would render: Which, as I heard, excelled in stroke every sword
that he carried to the strife, even the strongest (sword). For
‘Þonne’ he reads ‘Þone,’ rel. pr.

XXXVII.

THE FATAL STRUGGLE.—
BEOWULF’S LAST MOMENTS.

Then I heard that at need of the king of Wiglaf defends
the people Beowulf.

The upstanding earlman exhibited prowess,
Vigor and courage, as suited his nature;
1
He his head did not guard, but the high-minded
liegeman’s
5
Hand was consumed, when he succored his kinsman,
So he struck the strife-bringing strange-comer lower,
Earl-thane in armor, that in went the weapon
Gleaming and plated, that ’gan then the fire2
Later to lessen. The liegelord himself Beowulf draws
his knife,
then
10
Retained his consciousness, brandished his war-
knife,
Battle-sharp, bitter, that he bare on his armor:
The Weder-lord cut the worm in the and cuts the
dragon.
middle.
They had felled the enemy (life drove out then3
Puissant prowess), the pair had destroyed him,
15
Land-chiefs related: so a liegeman should prove him,
A thaneman when needed. To the prince ’twas the
last of
His era of conquest by his own great achievements,
The latest of world-deeds. The wound Beowulf’s
wound swells
then began

Which the earth-dwelling dragon and burns.
erstwhile had wrought him
20
To burn and to swell. He soon then discovered
That bitterest bale-woe in his bosom was raging,
Poison within. The atheling advanced then,
That along by the wall, he prudent of He sits down
exhausted.
spirit
Might sit on a settle; he saw the giant-work,
25
How arches of stone strengthened with pillars
The earth-hall eternal inward supported.
Then the long-worthy liegeman laved with his hand
the
Far-famous chieftain, gory from Wiglaf bathes
his lord’s head.
sword-edge,
Refreshing the face of his friend-lord and ruler,
30
Sated with battle, unbinding his helmet.
Beowulf answered, of his injury spake he,
His wound that was fatal (he was fully aware
He had lived his allotted life-days enjoying
The pleasures of earth; then past was entirely
35
His measure of days, death very near):
“My son I would give now my battle- Beowulf
regrets that he
equipments, has no son.
Had any of heirs been after me granted,
Along of my body. This people I governed
Fifty of winters: no king ’mong my neighbors
40
Dared to encounter me with comrades-in-battle,
Try me with terror. The time to me ordered
I bided at home, mine own kept fitly,

Sought me no snares, swore me not many
Oaths in injustice. Joy over all this I can rejoice in
a well-spent
45 life.
I’m able to have, though ill with my
death-wounds;
Hence the Ruler of Earthmen need not charge me
With the killing of kinsmen, when cometh my life
out
Forth from my body. Fare thou with haste now
To behold the hoard ’neath the hoar- Bring me the
hoard, Wiglaf,
grayish stone, that my dying
50 eyes may be
refreshed by a
Well-lovèd Wiglaf, now the worm is a- sight of it.
lying,
Sore-wounded sleepeth, disseized of his treasure.
Go thou in haste that treasures of old I,
Gold-wealth may gaze on, together see lying
The ether-bright jewels, be easier able,
55
Having the heap of hoard-gems, to yield my
Life and the land-folk whom long I have governed.”

[1] B. renders: He (W.) did not regard his (the dragon’s) head (since
Beowulf had struck it without effect), but struck the dragon a little
lower down.—One crux is to find out whose head is meant;
another is to bring out the antithesis between ‘head’ and ‘hand.’
[2] ‘Þæt þæt fýr’ (2702), S. emends to ‘þá þæt fýr’ = when the fire
began to grow less intense afterward. This emendation relieves the
passage of a plethora of conjunctive þæt’s.
[3] For ‘gefyldan’ (2707), S. proposes ‘gefylde.’ The passage would
read: He felled the foe (life drove out strength), and they then both
had destroyed him, chieftains related. This gives Beowulf the
credit of having felled the dragon; then they combine to annihilate
him.—For ‘ellen’ (2707), Kl. suggests ‘e(a)llne.’—The reading
‘life drove out strength’ is very unsatisfactory and very peculiar. I
would suggest as follows: Adopt S.’s emendation, remove H.’s
parenthesis, read ‘ferh-ellen wræc,’ and translate: He felled the foe,
drove out his life-strength (that is, made him hors de combat), and
then they both, etc.

XXXVIII.

WIGLAF PLUNDERS THE
DRAGON’S DEN.—BEOWULF’S
DEATH.

Then heard I that Wihstan’s son very Wiglaf fulfils
quickly, his lord’s
behest.
These words being uttered, heeded his
liegelord
Wounded and war-sick, went in his armor,
His well-woven ring-mail, ’neath the roof of the
barrow.
5
Then the trusty retainer treasure-gems many
Victorious saw, when the seat he came The dragon’s
den.
near to,
Gold-treasure sparkling spread on the bottom,
Wonder on the wall, and the worm-creature’s cavern,
The ancient dawn-flier’s, vessels a-standing,
10
Cups of the ancients of cleansers bereavèd,
Robbed of their ornaments: there were helmets in
numbers,
Old and rust-eaten, arm-bracelets many,
Artfully woven. Wealth can easily,
Gold on the sea-bottom, turn into vanity1
15
Each one of earthmen, arm him who pleaseth!
And he saw there lying an all-golden banner
High o’er the hoard, of hand-wonders greatest,
Linkèd with lacets: a light from it sparkled,

That the floor of the cavern he was able to look on,
20 The dragon is
not there.
To examine the jewels. Sight of the
dragon
Not any was offered, but edge offcarried him.
Then I heard that the hero the hoard- Wiglaf bears
the hoard
treasure plundered, away.
The giant-work ancient reaved in the
cavern,
Bare on his bosom the beakers and platters,
25
As himself would fain have it, and took off the
standard,
The brightest of beacons;2 the bill had erst injured
(Its edge was of iron), the old-ruler’s weapon,
Him who long had watched as ward of the jewels,
Who fire-terror carried hot for the treasure,
30
Rolling in battle, in middlemost darkness,
Till murdered he perished. The messenger hastened,
Not loth to return, hurried by jewels:
Curiosity urged him if, excellent-mooded,
Alive he should find the lord of the Weders
35
Mortally wounded, at the place where he left him.
’Mid the jewels he found then the famous old
chieftain,
His liegelord belovèd, at his life’s-end gory:
He thereupon ’gan to lave him with water,
Till the point of his word piercèd his breast-hoard.
40
Beowulf spake (the gold-gems he noticed),
The old one in sorrow: “For the jewels Beowulf is
rejoiced to see
I look on the jewels.

Thanks do I utter for all to the Ruler,
Wielder of Worship, with words of devotion,
The Lord everlasting, that He let me such treasures
45
Gain for my people ere death overtook me.
Since I’ve bartered the agèd life to me granted
For treasure of jewels, attend ye henceforward
The wants of the war-thanes; I can wait He desires to
be held in
here no longer. memory by his
The battle-famed bid ye to build them a people.
grave-hill,
50
Bright when I’m burned, at the brim-current’s limit;
As a memory-mark to the men I have governed,
Aloft it shall tower on Whale’s-Ness uprising,
That earls of the ocean hereafter may call it
Beowulf’s barrow, those who barks ever-dashing
55
From a distance shall drive o’er the darkness of
waters.”
The bold-mooded troop-lord took from The hero’s last
gift
his neck then
The ring that was golden, gave to his liegeman,
The youthful war-hero, his gold-flashing helmet,
His collar and war-mail, bade him well to enjoy
them:
60 and last words.
“Thou art latest left of the line of our kindred,
Of Wægmunding people: Weird hath offcarried
All of my kinsmen to the Creator’s glory,
Earls in their vigor: I shall after them fare.”
’Twas the aged liegelord’s last-spoken word in
65
His musings of spirit, ere he mounted the fire,

The battle-waves burning: from his bosom departed
His soul to seek the sainted ones’ glory.

[1] The word ‘oferhígian’ (2767) being vague and little understood,
two quite distinct translations of this passage have arisen. One
takes ‘oferhígian’ as meaning ‘to exceed,’ and, inserting ‘hord’
after ‘gehwone,’ renders: The treasure may easily, the gold in the
ground, exceed in value every hoard of man, hide it who will. The
other takes ‘oferhígian’ as meaning ‘to render arrogant,’ and,
giving the sentence a moralizing tone, renders substantially as in
the body of this work. (Cf. 28 13 et seq.)
[2] The passage beginning here is very much disputed. ‘The bill of the
old lord’ is by some regarded as Beowulf’s sword; by others, as
that of the ancient possessor of the hoard. ‘Ær gescód’ (2778),
translated in this work as verb and adverb, is by some regarded as
a compound participial adj. = sheathed in brass.

XXXIX.

THE DEAD FOES.—WIGLAF’S
BITTER TAUNTS.

It had wofully chanced then the Wiglaf is
youthful retainer sorely grieved
to see his lord
To behold on earth the most ardent- look so un-
belovèd warlike.

At his life-days’ limit, lying there helpless.
The slayer too lay there, of life all bereavèd,
5
Horrible earth-drake, harassed with sorrow:
The round-twisted monster was The dragon has
plundered his
permitted no longer last hoard.
To govern the ring-hoards, but edges of
war-swords
Mightily seized him, battle-sharp, sturdy
Leavings of hammers, that still from his wounds
10
The flier-from-farland fell to the earth
Hard by his hoard-house, hopped he at midnight
Not e’er through the air, nor exulting in jewels
Suffered them to see him: but he sank then to
earthward
Through the hero-chief’s handwork. I heard sure it
throve then
15 Few warriors
dared to face
But few in the land of liegemen of the monster.
valor,
Though of every achievement bold he had proved
him,
To run ’gainst the breath of the venomous scather,

Or the hall of the treasure to trouble with hand-
blows,
If he watching had found the ward of the hoard-hall
20
On the barrow abiding. Beowulf’s part of
The treasure of jewels was paid for with death;
Each of the twain had attained to the end of
Life so unlasting. Not long was the time till
The tardy-at-battle returned from the The cowardly
thanes come
thicket, out of the
25 thicket.
The timid truce-breakers ten all
together,
Who durst not before play with the lances
In the prince of the people’s pressing emergency;
But blushing with shame, with shields They are
ashamed of
they betook them, their desertion.
With arms and armor where the old
one was lying:
30
They gazed upon Wiglaf. He was sitting exhausted,
Foot-going fighter, not far from the shoulders
Of the lord of the people, would rouse him with
water;
No whit did it help him; though he hoped for it
keenly,
He was able on earth not at all in the leader
35
Life to retain, and nowise to alter
The will of the Wielder; the World-Ruler’s power1
Would govern the actions of each one of heroes,
As yet He is doing. From the young Wiglaf is ready
to excoriate
one forthwith then them.

Could grim-worded greeting be got for him quickly
40
Whose courage had failed him. Wiglaf discoursed
then,
Weohstan his son, sad-mooded hero,
Looked on the hated: “He who He begins to
taunt them.
soothness will utter
Can say that the liegelord who gave you the jewels,
The ornament-armor wherein ye are standing,
45
When on ale-bench often he offered to hall-men
Helmet and burnie, the prince to his liegemen,
As best upon earth he was able to find him,—
That he wildly wasted his war-gear Surely our lord
wasted his
undoubtedly armor on
2
When battle o’ertook him. The troop- poltroons.
king no need had
50
To glory in comrades; yet God permitted him,
Victory-Wielder, with weapon unaided He, however,
got along
Himself to avenge, when vigor was without you
needed.
I life-protection but little was able
To give him in battle, and I ’gan, notwithstanding,
55 With some aid,
I could have
Helping my kinsman (my strength saved our
overtaxing): liegelord
He waxed the weaker when with
weapon I smote on
My mortal opponent, the fire less strongly
Flamed from his bosom. Too few of protectors
Came round the king at the critical moment.
60 Gift-giving is
over with your
people: the

Now must ornament-taking and ring-lord is
dead.
weapon-bestowing,
Home-joyance all, cease for your kindred,
Food for the people; each of your warriors
Must needs be bereavèd of rights that he holdeth
In landed possessions, when faraway nobles
65
Shall learn of your leaving your lord so basely,
The dastardly deed. Death is more What is life
without honor?
pleasant
To every earlman than infamous life is!”

[1] For ‘dædum rædan’ (2859) B. suggests ‘déað árædan,’ and renders:
The might (or judgment) of God would determine death for every
man, as he still does.
[2] Some critics, H. himself in earlier editions, put the clause, ‘When
… him’ (A.-S. ‘þá … beget’) with the following sentence; that is,
they make it dependent upon ‘þorfte’ (2875) instead of upon
‘forwurpe’ (2873).

XL.

THE MESSENGER OF DEATH.

Then he charged that the battle be Wiglaf sends
announced at the hedge the news of
Beowulf’s
Up o’er the cliff-edge, where the earl- death to
troopers bided liegemen near
by.
The whole of the morning, mood-
wretched sat them,
Bearers of battle-shields, both things expecting,
5
The end of his lifetime and the coming again of
The liegelord belovèd. Little reserved he
Of news that was known, who the ness-cliff did
travel,
But he truly discoursed to all that could hear him:
“Now the free-giving friend-lord of the The messenger
speaks.
folk of the Weders,
10
The folk-prince of Geatmen, is fast in his death-bed,
By the deeds of the dragon in death-bed abideth;
Along with him lieth his life-taking foeman
Slain with knife-wounds: he was wholly unable
To injure at all the ill-planning monster
15 Wiglaf sits by
our dead lord.
With bite of his sword-edge. Wiglaf is
sitting,
Offspring of Wihstan, up over Beowulf,
Earl o’er another whose end-day hath reached him,
Head-watch holdeth o’er heroes unliving,1
For friend and for foeman. The folk Our lord’s
death will lead
now expecteth

20 to attacks from
our old foes.
A season of strife when the death of the
folk-king
To Frankmen and Frisians in far-lands is published.
The war-hatred waxed warm ’gainst the Hugmen,
When Higelac came with an army of Higelac’s death
recalled.
vessels
Faring to Friesland, where the Frankmen in battle
25
Humbled him and bravely with overmight
’complished
That the mail-clad warrior must sink in the battle,
Fell ’mid his folk-troop: no fret-gems presented
The atheling to earlmen; aye was denied us
Merewing’s mercy. The men of the Swedelands
30
For truce or for truth trust I but little;
But widely ’twas known that near Ravenswood
Ongentheow
Sundered Hæthcyn the Hrethling from Hæthcyn’s fall
referred to.
life-joys,
When for pride overweening the War-Scylfings first
did
Seek the Geatmen with savage intentions.
35
Early did Ohthere’s age-laden father,
Old and terrible, give blow in requital,
Killing the sea-king, the queen-mother rescued,
The old one his consort deprived of her gold,
Onela’s mother and Ohthere’s also,
40
And then followed the feud-nursing foemen till
hardly,
Reaved of their ruler, they Ravenswood entered.

Then with vast-numbered forces he assaulted the
remnant,
Weary with wounds, woe often promised
The livelong night to the sad-hearted war-troop:
45
Said he at morning would kill them with edges of
weapons,
Some on the gallows for glee to the fowls.
Aid came after to the anxious-in-spirit
At dawn of the day, after Higelac’s bugle
And trumpet-sound heard they, when the good one
proceeded
50
And faring followed the flower of the troopers.

[1] ‘Hige-méðum’ (2910) is glossed by H. as dat. plu. (= for the dead).
S. proposes ‘hige-méðe,’ nom. sing. limiting Wigláf; i.e. W., mood-
weary, holds head-watch o’er friend and foe.—B. suggests taking
the word as dat. inst. plu. of an abstract noun in -‘u.’ The
translation would be substantially the same as S.’s.

XLI.

THE MESSENGER’S
RETROSPECT.

“The blood-stainèd trace of Swedes The messenger
and Geatmen, continues, and
refers to the
The death-rush of warmen, widely was feuds of
noticed, Swedes and
Geats.
How the folks with each other feud did
awaken.
The worthy one went then1 with well-beloved
comrades,
5
Old and dejected to go to the fastness,
Ongentheo earl upward then turned him;
Of Higelac’s battle he’d heard on inquiry,
The exultant one’s prowess, despaired of resistance,
With earls of the ocean to be able to struggle,
10
’Gainst sea-going sailors to save the hoard-treasure,
His wife and his children; he fled after thenceward
Old ’neath the earth-wall. Then was offered
pursuance
To the braves of the Swedemen, the banner2 to
Higelac.
They fared then forth o’er the field-of-protection,
15
When the Hrethling heroes hedgeward had thronged
them.
Then with edges of irons was Ongentheow driven,
The gray-haired to tarry, that the troop-ruler had to
Suffer the power solely of Eofor:

Wulf then wildly with weapon Wulf wounds
Ongentheow.
assaulted him,
20
Wonred his son, that for swinge of the edges
The blood from his body burst out in currents,
Forth ’neath his hair. He feared not however,
Gray-headed Scylfing, but speedily quited
The wasting wound-stroke with worse Ongentheow
gives a stout
exchange, blow in return.
25
When the king of the thane-troop thither did turn
him:
The wise-mooded son of Wonred was powerless
To give a return-blow to the age-hoary man,
But his head-shielding helmet first hewed he to
pieces,
That flecked with gore perforce he did totter,
30
Fell to the earth; not fey was he yet then,
But up did he spring though an edge-wound had
reached him.
Then Higelac’s vassal, valiant and Eofor smites
Ongentheow
dauntless, fiercely.
When his brother lay dead, made his
broad-bladed weapon,
Giant-sword ancient, defence of the giants,
35
Bound o’er the shield-wall; the folk-prince
succumbed then,
Shepherd of people, was pierced to the Ongentheow is
slain.
vitals.
There were many attendants who bound up his
kinsman,
Carried him quickly when occasion was granted

That the place of the slain they were suffered to
manage.
40
This pending, one hero plundered the other,
His armor of iron from Ongentheow ravished,
His hard-sword hilted and helmet together;
The old one’s equipments he carried to Eofor takes the
old king’s war-
Higelac. gear to
He the jewels received, and rewards Higelac.
’mid the troopers
45
Graciously promised, and so did accomplish:
The king of the Weders requited the war-rush,
Hrethel’s descendant, when home he repaired him,
To Eofor and Wulf with wide-lavished Higelac
rewards the
treasures, brothers.
To each of them granted a hundred of
thousands
50
In land and rings wrought out of wire:
None upon mid-earth needed to twit His gifts were
beyond cavil.
him3
With the gifts he gave them, when glory they
conquered;
And to Eofor then gave he his one only To Eofor he
also gives his
daughter, only daughter
The honor of home, as an earnest of in marriage.
favor.
55
That’s the feud and hatred—as ween I ’twill happen
—
The anger of earthmen, that earls of the Swedemen
Will visit on us, when they hear that our leader
Lifeless is lying, he who longtime protected
His hoard and kingdom ’gainst hating assailers,

60
Who on the fall of the heroes defended of yore
The deed-mighty Scyldings,4 did for the troopers
What best did avail them, and further moreover
Hero-deeds ’complished. Now is haste It is time for us
to pay the last
most fitting, marks of
That the lord of liegemen we look upon respect to our
lord.
yonder,
65
And that one carry on journey to death-pyre
Who ring-presents gave us. Not aught of it all
Shall melt with the brave one—there’s a mass of
bright jewels,
Gold beyond measure, grewsomely purchased
And ending it all ornament-rings too
70
Bought with his life; these fire shall devour,
Flame shall cover, no earlman shall wear
A jewel-memento, nor beautiful virgin
Have on her neck rings to adorn her,
But wretched in spirit bereavèd of gold-gems
75
She shall oft with others be exiled and banished,
Since the leader of liegemen hath laughter forsaken,
Mirth and merriment. Hence many a war-spear
Cold from the morning shall be clutched in the
fingers,
Heaved in the hand, no harp-music’s sound shall
80
Waken the warriors, but the wan-coated raven
Fain over fey ones freely shall gabble,
Shall say to the eagle how he sped in the eating,
When, the wolf his companion, he plundered the
slain.”

So the high-minded hero was rehearsing these
stories
85
Loathsome to hear; he lied as to few of
Weirds and of words. All the war-troop The warriors
go sadly to
arose then, look at
’Neath the Eagle’s Cape sadly betook Beowulf’s
lifeless body.
them,
Weeping and woful, the wonder to look at.
They saw on the sand then soulless a-lying,
90
His slaughter-bed holding, him who rings had given
them
In days that were done; then the death-bringing
moment
Was come to the good one, that the king very
warlike,
Wielder of Weders, with wonder-death perished.
First they beheld there a creature more wondrous,
95 They also see
the dragon.
The worm on the field, in front of them
lying,
The foeman before them: the fire-spewing dragon,
Ghostly and grisly guest in his terrors,
Was scorched in the fire; as he lay there he measured
Fifty of feet; came forth in the night-time5
100
To rejoice in the air, thereafter departing
To visit his den; he in death was then fastened,
He would joy in no other earth-hollowed caverns.
There stood round about him beakers and vessels,
Dishes were lying and dear-valued weapons,
105
With iron-rust eaten, as in earth’s mighty bosom

A thousand of winters there they had rested:
That mighty bequest then with magic The hoard was
under a magic
was guarded, spell.
Gold of the ancients, that earlman not
any
The ring-hall could touch, save Ruling-God only,
110
Sooth-king of Vict’ries gave whom He wished to
6 God alone
(He is earth-folk’s protector) to open could give
the treasure, access to it.
E’en to such among mortals as seemed
to Him proper.

[1] For ‘góda,’ which seems a surprising epithet for a Geat to apply to
the “terrible” Ongentheow, B. suggests ‘gomela.’ The passage
would then stand: ‘The old one went then,’ etc.
[2] For ‘segn Higeláce,’ K., Th., and B. propose ‘segn Higeláces,’
meaning: Higelac’s banner followed the Swedes (in pursuit).—S.
suggests ‘sæcc Higeláces,’ and renders: Higelac’s pursuit.—The
H.-So. reading, as translated in our text, means that the banner of
the enemy was captured and brought to Higelac as a trophy.
[3] The rendering given in this translation represents the king as being
generous beyond the possibility of reproach; but some authorities
construe ‘him’ (2996) as plu., and understand the passage to mean
that no one reproached the two brothers with having received more
reward than they were entitled to.
[4] The name ‘Scyldingas’ here (3006) has caused much discussion,
and given rise to several theories, the most important of which are
as follows: (1) After the downfall of Hrothgar’s family, Beowulf
was king of the Danes, or Scyldings. (2) For ‘Scyldingas’ read
‘Scylfingas’—that is, after killing Eadgils, the Scylfing prince,
Beowulf conquered his land, and held it in subjection. (3) M.
considers 3006 a thoughtless repetition of 2053. (Cf. H.-So.)
[5] B. takes ‘nihtes’ and ‘hwílum’ (3045) as separate adverbial cases,
and renders: Joy in the air had he of yore by night, etc. He thinks
that the idea of vanished time ought to be expressed.
[6] The parenthesis is by some emended so as to read: (1) (He (i.e.
God) is the hope of men); (2) (he is the hope of heroes). Gr.’s
reading has no parenthesis, but says: … could touch, unless God
himself, true king of victories, gave to whom he would to open the
treasure, the secret place of enchanters, etc. The last is rejected on
many grounds.

XLII.

WIGLAF’S SAD STORY.—THE
HOARD CARRIED OFF.

Then ’twas seen that the journey prospered him little
Who wrongly within had the ornaments hidden1
Down ’neath the wall. The warden erst slaughtered
Some few of the folk-troop: the feud then thereafter
5
Was hotly avengèd. ’Tis a wonder where,2
When the strength-famous trooper has attained to the
end of
Life-days allotted, then no longer the man may
Remain with his kinsmen where mead-cups are
flowing.
So to Beowulf happened when the ward of the
barrow,
10
Assaults, he sought for: himself had no knowledge
How his leaving this life was likely to happen.
So to doomsday, famous folk-leaders down did
Call it with curses—who ’complished it there—
That that man should be ever of ill-deeds convicted,
15
Confined in foul-places, fastened in hell-bonds,
Punished with plagues, who this place should e’er
ravage.3
He cared not for gold: rather the Wielder’s
Favor preferred he first to get sight of.4
Wiglaf discoursed then, Wihstan his Wiglaf
addresses his
son: comrades.

20
“Oft many an earlman on one man’s account must
Sorrow endure, as to us it hath happened.
The liegelord belovèd we could little prevail on,
Kingdom’s keeper, counsel to follow,
Not to go to the guardian of the gold-hoard, but let
him
25
Lie where he long was, live in his dwelling
Till the end of the world. Met we a destiny
Hard to endure: the hoard has been looked at,
Been gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that5
The prince of the people pricked to come thither.
30
I was therein and all of it looked at,
The building’s equipments, since access was given
me,
Not kindly at all entrance permitted
Within under earth-wall. Hastily seized He tells them
of Beowulf’s
I last moments.
And held in my hands a huge-weighing
burden
35
Of hoard-treasures costly, hither out bare them
To my liegelord belovèd: life was yet in him,
And consciousness also; the old one discoursed then
Much and mournfully, commanded to greet you,
Bade that remembering the deeds of Beowulf’s
dying request.
your friend-lord
40
Ye build on the fire-hill of corpses a lofty
Burial-barrow, broad and far-famous,
As ’mid world-dwelling warriors he was widely
most honored

While he reveled in riches. Let us rouse us and
hasten
Again to see and seek for the treasure,
45
The wonder ’neath wall. The way I will show you,
That close ye may look at ring-gems sufficient
And gold in abundance. Let the bier with
promptness
Fully be fashioned, when forth we shall come,
And lift we our lord, then, where long he shall tarry,
50
Well-beloved warrior, ’neath the Wielder’s
protection.”
Then the son of Wihstan bade orders be Wiglaf charges
them to build a
given, funeral-pyre.
Mood-valiant man, to many of heroes,
Holders of homesteads, that they hither from far,
6
Leaders of liegemen, should look for the good one
55
With wood for his pyre: “The flame shall now
swallow
(The wan fire shall wax7) the warriors’ leader
Who the rain of the iron often abided,
When, sturdily hurled, the storm of the arrows
Leapt o’er linden-wall, the lance rendered service,
60
Furnished with feathers followed the arrow.”
Now the wise-mooded son of Wihstan did summon
The best of the braves from the band of the ruler
Seven together; ’neath the enemy’s He takes seven
thanes, and
roof he enters the den.
Went with the seven; one of the heroes
65
Who fared at the front, a fire-blazing torch-light

Bare in his hand. No lot then decided
Who that hoard should havoc, when hero-earls saw
it
Lying in the cavern uncared-for entirely,
Rusting to ruin: they rued then but little
70
That they hastily hence hauled out the treasure,
The dear-valued jewels; the dragon eke They push the
dragon over
pushed they, the wall.
The worm o’er the wall, let the wave-
currents take him,
The waters enwind the ward of the treasures.
There wounden gold on a wain was The hoard is
laid on a wain.
uploaded,
75
A mass unmeasured, the men-leader off then,
The hero hoary, to Whale’s-Ness was carried.

[1] For ‘gehýdde,’ B. suggests ‘gehýðde’: the passage would stand as
above except the change of ‘hidden’ (v. 2) to ‘plundered.’ The
reference, however, would be to the thief, not to the dragon.
[2] The passage ‘Wundur … búan’ (3063-3066), M. took to be a
question asking whether it was strange that a man should die when
his appointed time had come.—B. sees a corruption, and makes
emendations introducing the idea that a brave man should not die
from sickness or from old age, but should find death in the
performance of some deed of daring.—S. sees an indirect question
introduced by ‘hwár’ and dependent upon ‘wundur’: A secret is it
when the hero is to die, etc.—Why may the two clauses not be
parallel, and the whole passage an Old English cry of ‘How
wonderful is death!’?—S.’s is the best yet offered, if ‘wundor’
means ‘mystery.’
[3] For ‘strude’ in H.-So., S. suggests ‘stride.’ This would require
‘ravage’ (v. 16) to be changed to ‘tread.’
[4] ‘He cared … sight of’ (17, 18), S. emends so as to read as follows:
He (Beowulf) had not before seen the favor of the avaricious
possessor.
[5] B. renders: That which drew the king thither (i.e. the treasure) was
granted us, but in such a way that it overcomes us.

[6] ‘Folc-ágende’ (3114) B. takes as dat. sing. with ‘gódum,’ and refers
it to Beowulf; that is, Should bring fire-wood to the place where
the good folk-ruler lay.
[7] C. proposes to take ‘weaxan’ = L. ‘vescor,’ and translate devour.
This gives a parallel to ‘fretan’ above. The parenthesis would be
discarded and the passage read: Now shall the fire consume, the
wan-flame devour, the prince of warriors, etc.

XLIII.

THE BURNING OF BEOWULF.

The folk of the Geatmen got him then Beowulf’s
ready pyre.

A pile on the earth strong for the burning,
Behung with helmets, hero-knights’ targets,
And bright-shining burnies, as he begged they
should have them;
5
Then wailing war-heroes their world-famous
chieftain,
Their liegelord beloved, laid in the middle.
Soldiers began then to make on the The funeral-
flame.
barrow
The largest of dead-fires: dark o’er the vapor
The smoke-cloud ascended, the sad-roaring fire,
10
Mingled with weeping (the wind-roar subsided)
Till the building of bone it had broken to pieces,
Hot in the heart. Heavy in spirit
They mood-sad lamented the men-leader’s ruin;
And mournful measures the much-grieving widow
15
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
20
* * * * * * *
The Weders
carry out their

The men of the Weders made lord’s last
request.
accordingly
A hill on the height, high and extensive,
Of sea-going sailors to be seen from a distance,
And the brave one’s beacon built where the fire was,
25
In ten-days’ space, with a wall surrounded it,
As wisest of world-folk could most worthily plan it.
They placed in the barrow rings and jewels,
All such ornaments as erst in the Rings and
gems are laid
treasure in the barrow.
War-mooded men had won in
possession:
30
The earnings of earlmen to earth they entrusted,
The gold to the dust, where yet it remaineth
As useless to mortals as in foregoing eras.
’Round the dead-mound rode then the doughty-in-
battle,
Bairns of all twelve of the chiefs of the people,
35 They mourn
for their lord,
More would they mourn, lament for and sing his
their ruler, praises.
Speak in measure, mention him with
pleasure,
Weighed his worth, and his warlike achievements
Mightily commended, as ’tis meet one praise his
Liegelord in words and love him in spirit,
40
When forth from his body he fares to destruction.
So lamented mourning the men of the Geats,
Fond-loving vassals, the fall of their lord,
Said he was kindest of kings under An ideal king.
heaven,

Gentlest of men, most winning of manner,
45
Friendliest to folk-troops and fondest of honor.

ADDENDA.

Several discrepancies and other oversights have been
noticed in the H.-So. glossary. Of these a good part were
avoided by Harrison and Sharp, the American editors of
Beowulf, in their last edition, 1888. The rest will, I hope, be
noticed in their fourth edition. As, however, this book may
fall into the hands of some who have no copy of the
American edition, it seems best to notice all the principal
oversights of the German editors.
From hám (194).—Notes and glossary conflict; the
latter not having been altered to suit the conclusions
accepted in the former.
Þær gelýfan sceal dryhtnes dóme (440).—Under
‘dóm’ H. says ‘the might of the Lord’; while under ‘gelýfan’
he says ‘the judgment of the Lord.’
Eal bencþelu (486).—Under ‘benc-þelu’ H. says nom.
plu.; while under ‘eal’ he says nom. sing.
Heatho-ræmas (519).—Under ‘ætberan’ H. translates
‘to the Heathoremes’; while under ‘Heatho-ræmas’ he says
‘Heathoræmas reaches Breca in the swimming-match with
Beowulf.’ Harrison and Sharp (3d edition, 1888) avoid the
discrepancy.
Fáh féond-scaða (554).—Under ‘féond-scaða’ H. says
‘a gleaming sea-monster’; under ‘fáh’ he says ‘hostile.’
Onfeng hraðe inwit-þancum (749).—Under ‘onfón’ H.
says ‘he received the maliciously-disposed one’; under
‘inwit-þanc’ he says ‘he grasped,’ etc.

Níð-wundor séon (1366).—Under ‘níð-wundor’ H. calls
this word itself nom. sing.; under ‘séon’ he translates it as
accus. sing., understanding ‘man’ as subject of ‘séon.’ H.
and S. (3d edition) make the correction.
Forgeaf hilde-bille (1521).—H., under the second
word, calls it instr. dat.; while under ‘forgifan’ he makes it
the dat. of indir. obj. H. and S. (3d edition) make the change.
Brád and brún-ecg (1547).—Under ‘brád’ H. says ‘das
breite Hüftmesser mit bronzener Klinge’; under ‘brún-ecg’
he says ‘ihr breites Hüftmesser mit blitzender Klinge.’
Yðelíce (1557).—Under this word H. makes it modify
‘ástód.’ If this be right, the punctuation of the fifth edition is
wrong. See H. and S., appendix.
Sélran gesóhte (1840).—Under ‘sél’ and ‘gesécan’ H.
calls these two words accus. plu.; but this is clearly an error,
as both are nom. plu., pred. nom. H. and S. correct under
‘sél.’
Wið sylfne (1978).—Under ‘wið’ and ‘gesittan’ H. says
‘wið = near, by’; under ‘self’ he says ‘opposite.’
þéow (2225) is omitted from the glossary.
For duguðum (2502).—Under ‘duguð’ H. translates this
phrase, ‘in Tüchtigkeit’; under ‘for,’ by ‘vor der edlen
Kriegerschaar.’
þær (2574).—Under ‘wealdan’ H. translates þær by
‘wo’; under ‘mótan,’ by ‘da.’ H. and S. suggest ‘if’ in both
passages.
Wunde (2726).—Under ‘wund’ H. says ‘dative,’ and
under ‘wæl-bléate’ he says ‘accus.’ It is without doubt
accus., parallel with ‘benne.’
Strengum gebæded (3118).—Under ‘strengo’ H. says
‘Strengum’ = mit Macht; under ‘gebæded’ he translates ‘von
den Sehnen.’ H. and S. correct this discrepancy by rejecting
the second reading.

Bronda be láfe (3162).—A recent emendation. The
fourth edition had ‘bronda betost.’ In the fifth edition the
editor neglects to change the glossary to suit the new
emendation. See ‘bewyrcan.’

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