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！
from south。 They strode along with sturdy steps to the spot they knew
where the battle…king young； his burg within； slayer of Ongentheow；
shared the rings； shelter…of…heroes。 To Hygelac Beowulf's coming was
quickly told； that there in the court the clansmen's refuge； the shield…
companion sound and alive； hale from the hero…play homeward strode。
With haste in the hall； by highest order； room for the rovers was readily
made。 By his sovran he sat； come safe from battle； kinsman by kinsman。
His kindly lord he first had greeted in gracious form； with manly words。
The mead dispensing； came through the high hall Haereth's daughter；
winsome to warriors； wine…cup bore to the hands of the heroes。 Hygelac
then his comrade fairly with question plied in the lofty hall； sore longing
to know what manner of sojourn the Sea…Geats made。 〃What came of thy
quest； my kinsman Beowulf； when thy yearnings suddenly swept thee
yonder battle to seek o'er the briny sea； combat in Heorot？ Hrothgar
couldst thou aid at all； the honored chief； in his wide…known woes？ With
waves of care my sad heart seethed； I sore mistrusted my loved one's
venture： long I begged thee by no means to seek that slaughtering monster；
but suffer the South…Danes to settle their feud themselves with Grendel。
Now God be thanked that safe and sound I can see thee now！〃 Beowulf
spake； the bairn of Ecgtheow： 〃'Tis known and unhidden； Hygelac Lord；
to many men； that meeting of ours； struggle grim between Grendel and me；
which we fought on the field where full too many sorrows he wrought for
the Scylding…Victors； evils unending。 These all I avenged。 No boast can be
from breed of Grendel； any on earth； for that uproar at dawn； from the
longest…lived of the loathsome race in fleshly fold！ But first I went
Hrothgar to greet in the hall of gifts； where Healfdene's kinsman high…
renowned； soon as my purpose was plain to him； assigned me a seat by his
son and heir。 The liegemen were lusty； my life…days never such merry men
over mead in hall have I heard under heaven！ The high…born queen；
people's peace…bringer； passed through the hall； cheered the young
54
… Page 55…
Beowulf Anonymous
clansmen； clasps of gold； ere she sought her seat； to sundry gave。 Oft to
the heroes Hrothgar's daughter； to earls in turn； the ale…cup tendered； she
whom I heard these hall…companions Freawaru name； when fretted gold
she proffered the warriors。 Promised is she； gold…decked maid； to the glad
son of Froda。 Sage this seems to the Scylding's…friend； kingdom's…keeper：
he counts it wise the woman to wed so and ward off feud； store of
slaughter。 But seldom ever when men are slain； does the murder…spear sink
but briefest while； though the bride be fair！＇1＇ 〃Nor haply will like it the
Heathobard lord； and as little each of his liegemen all； when a thane of the
Danes； in that doughty throng； goes with the lady along their hall； and on
him the old…time heirlooms glisten hard and ring…decked； Heathobard's
treasure； weapons that once they wielded fair until they lost at the linden…
play＇2＇ liegeman leal and their lives as well。 Then； over the ale； on this
heirloom gazing； some ash…wielder old who has all in mind that spear…
death of men；＇3＇ he is stern of mood； heavy at heart； in the hero
young tests the temper and tries the soul and war…hate wakens； with words
like these： Canst thou not； comrade； ken that sword which to the fray thy
father carried in his final feud； 'neath the fighting…mask； dearest of blades；
when the Danish slew him and wielded the war…place on Withergild's fall；
after havoc of heroes； those hardy Scyldings？ Now； the son of a certain
slaughtering Dane； proud of his treasure； paces this hall； joys in the killing；
and carries the jewel＇4＇ that rightfully ought to be owned by thee！_ Thus
he urges and eggs him all the time with keenest words； till occasion offers
that Freawaru's thane； for his father's deed； after bite of brand in his blood
must slumber； losing his life； but that liegeman flies living away； for the
land he kens。 And thus be broken on both their sides oaths of the earls；
when Ingeld's breast wells with war…hate； and wife…love now after the
care…billows cooler grows。 〃So＇5＇ I hold not high the Heathobards' faith
due to the Danes； or their during love and pact of peace。 But I pass from
that； turning to Grendel； O giver…of…treasure； and saying in full how the
fight resulted； hand…fray of heroes。 When heaven's jewel had fled o'er far
fields； that fierce sprite came； night…foe savage； to seek us out where safe
and sound we sentried the hall。 To Hondscio then was that harassing
deadly； his fall there was fated。 He first was slain； girded warrior。 Grendel
55
… Page 56…
Beowulf Anonymous
on him turned murderous mouth； on our mighty kinsman； and all of the
brave man's body devoured。 Yet none the earlier； empty…handed； would the
bloody…toothed murderer； mindful of bale； outward go from the gold…
decked hall： but me he attacked in his terror of might； with greedy hand
grasped me。 A glove hung by him＇6＇ wide and wondrous； wound with
bands； and in artful wise it all was wrought； by devilish craft； of dragon…
skins。 Me therein； an innocent man； the fiendish foe was fain to thrust with
many another。 He might not so； when I all angrily upright stood。 'Twere
long to relate how that land…destroyer I paid in kind for his cruel deeds； yet
there； my prince； this people of thine got fame by my fighting。 He fled
away； and a little space his life preserved； but there staid behind him his
stronger hand left in Heorot； heartsick thence on the floor of the ocean that
outcast fell。 Me for this struggle the Scyldings'…friend paid in plenty with
plates of gold； with many a treasure； when morn had come and we all at
the banquet…board sat down。 Then was song and glee。 The gray…haired
Scylding； much tested； told of the times of yore。 Whiles the hero his harp
bestirred； wood…of…delight； now lays he chanted of sooth and sadness； or
said aright legends of wonder； the wide…hearted king； or for years of his
youth he would yearn at times； for strength of old struggles； now stricken
with age； hoary hero： his heart surged full when； wise with winters； he
wailed their flight。 Thus in the hall the whole of that day at ease we
feasted； till fell o'er earth another night。 Anon full ready in greed of
vengeance； Grendel's mother set forth all doleful。 Dead was her son
through war…hate of Weders； now； woman monstrous with fury fell a
foeman she slew； avenged her offspring。 From Aeschere old； loyal
councillor； life was gone； nor might they e'en； when morning broke； those
Danish people； their death…done comrade burn with brands； on balefire lay
the man they mourned。 Under mountain stream she had carried the corpse
with cruel hands。 For Hrothgar that was the heaviest sorrow of all that had
laden the lord of his folk。 The leader then； by thy life； besought me （sad
was his soul） in the sea…waves' coil to play the hero and hazard my being
for glory of prowess： my guerdon he pledged。 I then in the waters 'tis
widely known that sea…floor…guardian savage found。 Hand…to…hand there
a while we struggled； billows welled blood； in the briny hall her head I
56
… Page 57…
Beowulf Anonymous
hewed with a hardy blade from Grendel's mother； and gained my life；
though not without danger。 My doom was not yet。 Then the haven…of…
heroes； Healfdene's son； gave me in guerdon great gifts of price。
Note： ＇1＇ Beowulf gives his uncle the king not mere gossip of his
journey； but a statesmanlike forecast of the outcome of certain policies at
the Danish court。 Talk of interpolation here is absurd。 As both Beowulf
and Hygelac know； and the folk for whom the