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Beowulf Anonymous
Beowulf Anonymous
Translated by Gummere
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Beowulf Anonymous
I
Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scyldings； leader beloved； and
long he ruled in fame with all folk； since his father had gone away from
the world； till awoke an heir； haughty Healfdene； who held through life；
sage and sturdy； the Scyldings glad。 Then； one after one； there woke to
him； to the chieftain of clansmen； children four： Heorogar； then Hrothgar；
then Halga brave； and I heard that was 's queen； the Heathoscylfing's
helpmate dear。 To Hrothgar was given such glory of war； such honor of
combat； that all his kin obeyed him gladly till great grew his band of
youthful comrades。 It came in his mind to bid his henchmen a hall uprear；
ia master mead…house； mightier far than ever was seen by the sons of earth；
and within it； then； to old and young he would all allot that the Lord had
sent him； save only the land and the lives of his men。 Wide； I heard； was
the work commanded； for many a tribe this mid…earth round； to fashion the
folkstead。 It fell； as he ordered； in rapid achievement that ready it stood
there； of halls the noblest： Heorot＇1＇ he named it whose message had
might in many a land。 Not reckless of promise； the rings he dealt； treasure
at banquet： there towered the hall； high； gabled wide； the hot surge waiting
of furious flame。＇2＇ Nor far was that day when father and son…in…law stood
in feud for warfare and hatred that woke again。＇3＇ With envy and anger an
evil spirit endured the dole in his dark abode； that he heard each day the
din of revel high in the hall： there harps rang out； clear song of the singer。
He sang who knew＇4＇ tales of the early time of man； how the Almighty
made the earth； fairest fields enfolded by water； set； triumphant； sun and
moon for a light to lighten the land…dwellers； and braided bright the breast
of earth with limbs and leaves； made life for all of mortal beings that
breathe and move。 So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel a winsome life；
till one began to fashion evils； that field of hell。 Grendel this monster grim
was called； march…riever＇5＇ mighty； in moorland living； in fen and fastness；
fief of the giants the hapless wight a while had kept since the Creator his
exile doomed。 On kin of Cain was the killing avenged by sovran God for
slaughtered Abel。 Ill fared his feud；＇6＇ and far was he driven； for the
slaughter's sake； from sight of men。 Of Cain awoke all that woful breed；
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Beowulf Anonymous
Etins＇7＇ and elves and evil…spirits； as well as the giants that warred with
God weary while： but their wage was paid them！
＇1＇ That is； 〃The Hart；〃 or 〃Stag；〃 so called from decorations in the
gables that resembled the antlers of a deer。 This hall has been carefully
described in a pamphlet by Heyne。 The building was rectangular； with
opposite doors mainly west and east and a hearth in the middle of th
single room。 A row of pillars down each side； at some distance from the
walls； made a space which was raised a little above the main floor； and
was furnished with two rows of seats。 On one side； usually south； was the
high…seat midway between the doors。 Opposite this； on the other raised
space； was another seat of honor。 At the banquet soon to be described；
Hrothgar sat in the south or chief high…seat； and Beowulf opposite to him。
The scene for a flying （see below； v。499） was thus very effectively set。
Planks on trestles the 〃board〃 of later English literature formed the
tables just in front of the long rows of seats； and were taken away after
banquets； when the retainers were ready to stretch them… selves out for
sleep on the benches。 ＇2＇ Fire was the usual end of these halls。 See v。 781
below。 One thinks of the splendid scene at the end of the Nibelungen； of
the Nialssaga； of Saxo's story of Amlethus； and many a less famous
instance。 ＇3＇ It is to be supposed that all hearers of this poem knew how
Hrothgar's hall was burnt； perhaps in the unsuccessful attack made on
him by his son…in…law Ingeld。 ＇4＇ A skilled minstrel。 The Danes are
heathens； as one is told presently； but this lay of beginnings is taken from
Genesis。 ＇5＇ A disturber of the border； one who sallies from his haunt in
the fen and roams over the country near by。 This probably pagan nuisance
is now furnished with biblical credentials as a fiend or devil in good
standing； so that all Christian Englishmen might read about him。
〃Grendel〃 may mean one who grinds and crushes。 ＇6＇ Cain's。 ＇7＇ Giants。
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Beowulf Anonymous
II
WENT he forth to find at fall of night that haughty house； and heed
wherever the Ring…Danes； outrevelled； to rest had gone。 Found within it
the atheling band asleep after feasting and fearless of sorrow； of human
hardship。 Unhallowed wight； grim and greedy； he grasped betimes；
wrathful； reckless； from resting…places； thirty of the thanes； and thence he
rushed fain of his fell spoil； faring homeward； laden with slaughter； his lair
to seek。 Then at the dawning； as day was breaking； the might of Grendel to
men was known； then after wassail was wail uplifted； loud moan in the
morn。 The mighty chief； atheling excellent； unblithe sat； labored in woe
for the loss of his thanes； when once had been traced the trail of the fiend；
spirit accurst： too cruel that sorrow； too long； too loathsome。 Not late the
respite； with night returning； anew began ruthless murder； he recked no
whit； firm in his guilt； of the feud and crime。 They were easy to find who
elsewhere sought in room remote their rest at night； bed in the bowers；＇1＇
when that bale was shown； was seen in sooth； with surest token； the
hall…thane's＇2＇ hate。 Such held themselves far and fast who the fiend
outran！ Thus ruled unrighteous and raged his fill one against all； until
empty stood that lordly building； and long it bode so。 Twelve years' tide
the trouble he bore； sovran of Scyldings； sorrows in plenty； boundless
cares。 There came unhidden tidings true to the tribes of men； in sorrowful
songs； how ceaselessly Grendel harassed Hrothgar； what hate he bore him；
what murder and massacre； many a year； feud unfading； refused consent
to deal with any of Daneland's earls； make pact of peace； or compound for
gold： still less did the wise men ween to get great fee for the feud from his
fiendish hands。 But the evil one ambushed old and young death…shadow
dark； and dogged them still； lured； or lurked in the livelong night of misty
moorlands： men may say not where the haunts of these Hell…Runes＇3＇ be。
Such heaping of horrors the hater of men； lonely roamer； wrought
unceasing； harassings heavy。 O'er Heorot he lorded； gold…bright hall； in
gloomy nights； and ne'er could the prince＇4＇ approach his throne； 'twas
judgment of God； or have joy in his hall。 Sore was the sorrow to
Scyldings'…friend； heart…rending misery。 Many nobles sat assembled； and
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Beowulf Anonymous
searched out counsel how it were best for bold…hearted men against
harassing terror to try their hand。 Whiles they vowed in their heathen fanes
altar…offerings； asked with words＇5＇ that the slayer…of…souls would succor
give them for the pain of their people。 Their practice this； their heathen
hope； 'twas Hell they thought of in mood of their mind。 Almighty they
knew not； Doomsman of Deeds and dreadful Lord； nor Heaven's…Helmet
heeded they ever； Wielder…of…Wonder。 Woe for that man who in harm
and hatred hales his soul to fiery embraces； nor favor nor change awaits
he ever。 But well for him that after death…day may draw to his Lord；