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the highways measured； well…known roads。 Courageous men carried the
head from the cliff by the sea； an arduous task for all the band； the firm in
fight； since four were needed on the shaft…of…slaughter＇4＇ strenuously to
bear to the gold…hall Grendel's head。 So presently to the palace there
foemen fearless； fourteen Geats； marching came。 Their master…of…clan
mighty amid them the meadow…ways trod。 Strode then within the sovran
thane fearless in fight； of fame renowned； hardy hero； Hrothgar to greet。
And next by the hair into hall was borne Grendel's head； where the
henchmen were drinking； an awe to clan and queen alike； a monster of
marvel： the men looked on。
＇1＇ After the killing of the monster and Grendel's decapitation。 ＇2＇
Hrothgar。 ＇3＇ The blade slowly dissolves in blood…stained drops like
icicles。 ＇4＇ Spear。
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XXIV
BEOWULF spake； bairn of Ecgtheow： 〃Lo； now； this sea…booty； son
of Healfdene； Lord of Scyldings； we've lustily brought thee； sign of glory；
thou seest it here。 Not lightly did I with my life escape！ In war under water
this work I essayed with endless effort； and even so my strength had been
lost had the Lord not shielded me。 Not a whit could I with Hrunting do in
work of war； though the weapon is good； yet a sword the Sovran of Men
vouchsafed me to spy on the wall there； in splendor hanging； old； gigantic；
how oft He guides the friendless wight！ and I fought with that brand；
felling in fight； since fate was with me； the house's wardens。 That war…
sword then all burned； bright blade； when the blood gushed o'er it； battle…
sweat hot； but the hilt I brought back from my foes。 So avenged I their
fiendish deeds death…fall of Danes； as was due and right。 And this is my
hest； that in Heorot now safe thou canst sleep with thy soldier band； and
every thane of all thy folk both old and young； no evil fear； Scyldings' lord；
from that side again； aught ill for thy earls； as erst thou must！〃 Then the
golden hilt； for that gray…haired leader； hoary hero； in hand was laid； giant…
wrought； old。 So owned and enjoyed it after downfall of devils； the Danish
lord； wonder…smiths' work； since the world was rid of that grim…souled
fiend； the foe of God； murder…marked； and his mother as well。 Now it
passed into power of the people's king； best of all that the oceans bound
who have scattered their gold o'er Scandia's isle。 Hrothgar spake the hilt
he viewed； heirloom old； where was etched the rise of that far…off fight
when the floods o'erwhelmed； raging waves； the race of giants （fearful
their fate！）； a folk estranged from God Eternal： whence guerdon due in
that waste of waters the Wielder paid them。 So on the guard of shining
gold in runic staves it was rightly said for whom the serpent…traced sword
was wrought； best of blades； in bygone days； and the hilt well wound。
The wise…one spake； son of Healfdene； silent were all： 〃Lo； so may he
say who sooth and right follows 'mid folk； of far times mindful； a land…
warden old；＇1＇ that this earl belongs to the better breed！ So； borne aloft；
thy fame must fly； O friend my Beowulf； far and wide o'er folksteads
many。 Firmly thou shalt all maintain； mighty strength with mood of
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wisdom。 Love of mine will I assure thee； as； awhile ago； I promised； thou
shalt prove a stay in future； in far…off years； to folk of thine； to the heroes a
help。 Was not Heremod thus to offspring of Ecgwela； Honor…Scyldings；
nor grew for their grace； but for grisly slaughter； for doom of death to the
Danishmen。
He slew； wrath…swollen； his shoulder…comrades； companions at board！
So he passed alone； chieftain haughty； from human cheer。 Though him the
Maker with might endowed； delights of power； and uplifted high above all
men； yet blood…fierce his mind； his breast…hoard； grew； no bracelets gave
he to Danes as was due； he endured all joyless strain of struggle and stress
of woe； long feud with his folk。 Here find thy lesson！ Of virtue advise thee！
This verse I have said for thee； wise from lapsed winters。 Wondrous seems
how to sons of men Almighty God in the strength of His spirit sendeth
wisdom； estate； high station： He swayeth all things。 Whiles He letteth right
lustily fare the heart of the hero of high…born race； in seat ancestral
assigns him bliss； his folk's sure fortress in fee to hold； puts in his power
great parts of the earth； empire so ample； that end of it this wanter…of…
wisdom weeneth none。 So he waxes in wealth； nowise can harm him
illness or age； no evil cares shadow his spirit； no sword…hate threatens
from ever an enemy： all the world wends at his will； no worse he knoweth；
till all within him obstinate pride waxes and wakes while the warden
slumbers； the spirit's sentry； sleep is too fast which masters his might； and
the murderer nears； stealthily shooting the shafts from his bow！
＇1＇ That is； 〃whoever has as wide authority as I have and can
remember so far back so many instances of heroism； may well say； as I say；
that no better hero ever lived than Beowulf。〃
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XXV
〃UNDER harness his heart then is hit indeed by sharpest shafts； and no
shelter avails from foul behest of the hellish fiend。＇1＇ Him seems too little
what long he possessed。 Greedy and grim； no golden rings he gives for his
pride； the promised future forgets he and spurns； with all God has sent him；
Wonder…Wielder； of wealth and fame。 Yet in the end it ever comes that the
frame of the body fragile yields； fated falls； and there follows another who
joyously the jewels divides； the royal riches； nor recks of his forebear。 Ban；
then； such baleful thoughts； Beowulf dearest； best of men； and the better
part choose； profit eternal； and temper thy pride； warrior famous！ The
flower of thy might lasts now a while： but erelong it shall be that sickness
or sword thy strength shall minish； or fang of fire； or flooding billow； or
bite of blade； or brandished spear； or odious age； or the eyes' clear beam
wax dull and darken： Death even thee in haste shall o'erwhelm； thou hero
of war！ So the Ring…Danes these half…years a hundred I ruled； wielded
'neath welkin； and warded them bravely from mighty…ones many o'er
middle…earth； from spear and sword； till it seemed for me no foe could be
found under fold of the sky。 Lo； sudden the shift！ To me seated secure
came grief for joy when Grendel began to harry my home； the hellish foe；
for those ruthless raids； unresting I suffered heart…sorrow heavy。 Heaven
be thanked； Lord Eternal； for life extended that I on this head all hewn and
bloody； after long evil； with eyes may gaze！ Go to the bench now！ Be
glad at banquet； warrior worthy！ A wealth of treasure at dawn of day； be
dealt between us！〃 Glad was the Geats' lord； going betimes to seek his seat；
as the Sage commanded。 Afresh； as before； for the famed…in…battle； for the
band of the hall； was a banquet dight nobly anew。 The Night…Helm
darkened dusk o'er the drinkers。 The doughty ones rose： for the hoary…
headed would hasten to rest； aged Scylding； and eager the Geat； shield…
fighter sturdy； for sleeping yearned。 Him wander…weary； warrior…guest
from far； a hall…thane heralded forth； who by custom courtly cared for all
needs of a thane as in those old days warrior…wanderers wont to have。 So
slumbered the stout…heart。 Stately the hall rose gabled and gilt where the
guest slept on till a raven black the rapture…of…heaven＇2＇ blithe…heart
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boded。 Bright came flying shine after shadow。 The swordsmen hastened；
athelings all were eager ho