按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
boded。 Bright came flying shine after shadow。 The swordsmen hastened；
athelings all were eager homeward forth to fare； and far from thence the
great…hearted guest would guide his keel。 Bade then the hardy…one
Hrunting be brought to the son of Ecglaf； the sword bade him take；
excellent iron； and uttered his thanks for it； quoth that he counted it keen
in battle； 〃war…friend〃 winsome： with words he slandered not edge of the
blade： 'twas a big…hearted man！ Now eager for parting and armed at point
warriors waited； while went to his host that Darling of Danes。 The doughty
atheling to high…seat hastened and Hrothgar greeted。
＇1＇ That is； he is now undefended by conscience from the temptations
（shafts） of the devil。 ＇2＇ Kenning for the sun。 This is a strange role for
the raven。 He is the warrior's bird of battle； exults in slaughter and carnage；
his joy here is a compliment to the sunrise。
49
… Page 50…
Beowulf Anonymous
XXVI
BEOWULF spake； bairn of Ecgtheow： 〃Lo； we seafarers say our
will； far…come men； that we fain would seek Hygelac now。 We here have
found hosts to our heart： thou hast harbored us well。 If ever on earth I am
able to win me more of thy love； O lord of men； aught anew； than I now
have done； for work of war I am willing still！ If it come to me ever across
the seas that neighbor foemen annoy and fright thee； as they that hate
thee erewhile have used； thousands then of thanes I shall bring； heroes
to help thee。 Of Hygelac I know； ward of his folk； that； though few his
years； the lord of the Geats will give me aid by word and by work； that
well I may serve thee； wielding the war…wood to win thy triumph and
lending thee might when thou lackest men。 If thy Hrethric should come to
court of Geats； a sovran's son； he will surely there find his friends。 A far…
off land each man should visit who vaunts him brave。〃 Him then
answering； Hrothgar spake： 〃These words of thine the wisest God sent
to thy soul！ No sager counsel from so young in years e'er yet have I heard。
Thou art strong of main and in mind art wary； art wise in words！ I ween
indeed if ever it hap that Hrethel's heir by spear be seized； by sword…grim
battle； by illness or iron； thine elder and lord； people's leader； and life be
thine； no seemlier man will the Sea…Geats find at all to choose for their
chief and king； for hoard…guard of heroes； if hold thou wilt thy kinsman's
kingdom！ Thy keen mind pleases me the longer the better； Beowulf loved！
Thou hast brought it about that both our peoples； sons of the Geat and
Spear…Dane folk； shall have mutual peace； and from murderous strife； such
as once they waged； from war refrain。 Long as I rule this realm so wide；
let our hoards be common； let heroes with gold each other greet o'er the
gannet's…bath； and the ringed…prow bear o'er rolling waves tokens of love。 I
trow my landfolk towards friend and foe are firmly joined； and honor they
keep in the olden way。〃 To him in the hall； then； Healfdene's son gave
treasures twelve； and the trust…of…earls bade him fare with the gifts to his
folk beloved； hale to his home； and in haste return。 Then kissed the king of
kin renowned； Scyldings' chieftain； that choicest thane； and fell on his
neck。 Fast flowed the tears of the hoary…headed。 Heavy with winters； he
50
… Page 51…
Beowulf Anonymous
had chances twain； but he clung to this；＇1＇ that each should look on the
other again； and hear him in hall。 Was this hero so dear to him。 his breast's
wild billows he banned in vain； safe in his soul a secret longing； locked in
his mind； for that loved man burned in his blood。 Then Beowulf strode；
glad of his gold…gifts； the grass…plot o'er； warrior blithe。 The wave…roamer
bode riding at anchor； its owner awaiting。 As they hastened onward；
Hrothgar's gift they lauded at length。 'Twas a lord unpeered； every way
blameless； till age had broken it spareth no mortal his splendid might。
＇1＇ That is； he might or might not see Beowulf again。 Old as he was；
the latter chance was likely； but he clung to the former； hoping to see his
young friend again 〃and exchange brave words in the hall。〃
51
… Page 52…
Beowulf Anonymous
XXVII
CAME now to ocean the ever…courageous hardy henchmen； their
harness bearing； woven war…sarks。 The warden marked； trusty as ever； the
earl's return。 From the height of the hill no hostile words reached the
guests as he rode to greet them； but 〃Welcome！〃 he called to that Weder
clan as the sheen…mailed spoilers to ship marched on。 Then on the strand；
with steeds and treasure and armor their roomy and ring…dight ship was
heavily laden： high its mast rose over Hrothgar's hoarded gems。 A sword
to the boat…guard Beowulf gave； mounted with gold； on the mead…bench
since he was better esteemed； that blade possessing； heirloom old。 Their
ocean…keel boarding； they drove through the deep； and Daneland left。 A
sea…cloth was set； a sail with ropes； firm to the mast； the flood…timbers
moaned；＇1＇ nor did wind over billows that wave…swimmer blow across
from her course。 The craft sped on； foam…necked it floated forth o'er the
waves； keel firm…bound over briny currents； till they got them sight of the
Geatish cliffs； home…known headlands。 High the boat； stirred by winds； on
the strand updrove。 Helpful at haven the harbor…guard stood； who long
already for loved companions by the water had waited and watched afar。
He bound to the beach the broad…bosomed ship with anchor…bands； lest
ocean…billows that trusty timber should tear away。 Then Beowulf bade
them bear the treasure； gold and jewels； no journey far was it thence to go
to the giver of rings； Hygelac Hrethling： at home he dwelt by the sea…wall
close； himself and clan。 Haughty that house； a hero the king； high the hall；
and Hygd＇2＇ right young； wise and wary； though winters few in those
fortress walls she had found a home； Haereth's daughter。 Nor humble her
ways； nor grudged she gifts to the Geatish men； of precious treasure。 Not
Thryth's pride showed she； folk…queen famed； or that fell deceit。 Was none
so daring that durst make bold （save her lord alone） of the liegemen dear
that lady full in the face to look； but forged fetters he found his lot； bonds
of death！ And brief the respite； soon as they seized him； his sword…doom
was spoken； and the burnished blade a baleful murder proclaimed and
closed。 No queenly way for woman to practise； though peerless she； that
the weaver…of…peace＇3＇ from warrior dear by wrath and lying his life
52
… Page 53…
Beowulf Anonymous
should reave！ But Hemming's kinsman hindered this。 For over their ale
men also told that of these folk…horrors fewer she wrought； onslaughts of
evil； after she went； gold…decked bride； to the brave young prince； atheling
haughty； and Offa's hall o'er the fallow flood at her father's bidding safely
sought； where since she prospered； royal； throned； rich in goods； fain of
the fair life fate had sent her； and leal in love to the lord of warriors。 He； of
all heroes I heard of ever from sea to sea； of the sons of earth； most
excellent seemed。 Hence Offa was praised for his fighting and feeing by
far…off men； the spear…bold warrior； wisely he ruled over his empire。
Eomer woke to him； help of heroes； Hemming's kinsman； Grandson of
Garmund； grim in war。
＇1＇ With the speed of the boat。 ＇2＇ Queen to Hygelac。 She is praised by
contrast with the antitype； Thryth； just as Beowulf was praised by contrast
with Heremod。 ＇3＇ Kenning for 〃wife。〃
53
… Page 54…
Beowulf Anonymous
XXVIII
HASTENED the hardy one； henchmen with him； sandy strand of the
sea to tread and widespread ways。 The world's great candle； sun shone
from south。 They strode along with sturdy steps to the spot