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the Danish court。 Talk of interpolation here is absurd。 As both Beowulf
and Hygelac know； and the folk for whom the Beowulf was put together
also knew； Froda was king of the Heathobards （probably the Langobards；
once near neighbors of Angle and Saxon tribes on the continent）； and had
fallen in fight with the Danes。 Hrothgar will set aside this feud by giving
his daughter as 〃peace…weaver〃 and wife to the young king Ingeld； son of
the slain Froda。 But Beowulf； on general principles and from his
observation of the particular case； foretells trouble。 Note： ＇2＇ Play of
shields； battle。 A Danish warrior cuts down Froda in the fight； and takes
his sword and armor； leaving them to a son。 This son is selected to
accompany his mistress； the young princess Freawaru； to her new home
when she is Ingeld's queen。 Heedlessly he wears the sword of Froda in hall。
An old warrior points it out to Ingeld； and eggs him on to vengeance。 At
his instigation the Dane is killed； but the murderer； afraid of results； and
knowing the land； escapes。 So the old feud must break out again。 ＇3＇ That
is； their disastrous battle and the slaying of their king。 ＇4＇ The sword。 ＇5＇
Beowulf returns to his forecast。 Things might well go somewhat as
follows； he says； sketches a little tragic story； and with this prophecy by
illustration returns to the tale of his adventure。 ＇6＇ Not an actual glove； but
a sort of bag。
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XXXI
〃So held this king to the customs old； that I wanted for nought in the
wage I gained； the meed of my might； he made me gifts； Healfdene's heir；
for my own disposal。 Now to thee； my prince； I proffer them all； gladly
give them。 Thy grace alone can find me favor。 Few indeed have I of
kinsmen； save； Hygelac； thee！〃 Then he bade them bear him the boar…head
standard； the battle…helm high； and breastplate gray； the splendid sword；
then spake in form： 〃Me this war…gear the wise old prince； Hrothgar；
gave； and his hest he added； that its story be straightway said to thee。 A
while it was held by Heorogar king； for long time lord of the land of
Scyldings； yet not to his son the sovran left it； to daring Heoroweard；
dear as he was to him； his harness of battle。 Well hold thou it all！〃 And I
heard that soon passed o'er the path of this treasure； all apple…fallow； four
good steeds； each like the others； arms and horses he gave to the king。 So
should kinsmen be； not weave one another the net of wiles； or with deep…
hid treachery death contrive for neighbor and comrade。 His nephew was
ever by hardy Hygelac held full dear； and each kept watch o'er the other's
weal。 I heard； too； the necklace to Hygd he presented； wonder…wrought
treasure； which Wealhtheow gave him sovran's daughter： three steeds he
added； slender and saddle…gay。 Since such gift the gem gleamed bright on
the breast of the queen。 Thus showed his strain the son of Ecgtheow as a
man remarked for mighty deeds and acts of honor。 At ale he slew not
comrade or kin； nor cruel his mood； though of sons of earth his strength
was greatest； a glorious gift that God had sent the splendid leader。 Long
was he spurned； and worthless by Geatish warriors held； him at mead the
master…of…clans failed full oft to favor at all。 Slack and shiftless the strong
men deemed him； profitless prince； but payment came； to the warrior
honored； for all his woes。 Then the bulwark…of…earls＇1＇ bade bring
within； hardy chieftain； Hrethel's heirloom garnished with gold： no Geat
e'er knew in shape of a sword a statelier prize。 The brand he laid in
Beowulf's lap； and of hides assigned him seven thousand；＇2＇ with house
and high…seat。 They held in common land alike by their line of birth；
inheritance； home： but higher the king because of his rule o'er the realm
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itself。
Now further it fell with the flight of years； with harryings horrid； that
Hygelac perished；＇3＇ and Heardred； too； by hewing of swords under the
shield…wall slaughtered lay； when him at the van of his victor…folk sought
hardy heroes； Heatho…Scilfings； in arms o'erwhelming Hereric's nephew。
Then Beowulf came as king this broad realm to wield； and he ruled it well
fifty winters；＇4＇ a wise old prince； warding his land； until One began in the
dark of night； a Dragon； to rage。 In the grave on the hill a hoard it guarded；
in the stone…barrow steep。 A strait path reached it； unknown to mortals。
Some man； however； came by chance that cave within to the heathen
hoard。＇5＇ In hand he took a golden goblet； nor gave he it back； stole with it
away； while the watcher slept； by thievish wiles： for the warden's wrath
prince and people must pay betimes！
＇1＇ Hygelac。 ＇2＇ This is generally assumed to mean hides； though the
text simply says 〃seven thousand。〃 A hide in England meant about 120
acres； though 〃the size of the acre varied。〃 ＇3＇ On the historical raid into
Frankish territory between 512 and 520 A。D。 The subsequent course of
events； as gathered from hints of this epic； is partly told in Scandinavian
legend。 ＇4＇ The chronology of this epic； as scholars have worked it out；
would make Beowulf well over ninety years of age when he fights the
dragon。 But the fifty years of his reign need not be taken as historical fact。
＇5＇ The text is here hopelessly illegible； and only the general drift of the
meaning can be rescued。 For one thing； we have the old myth of a dragon
who guards hidden treasure。 But with this runs the story of some noble；
last of his race； who hides all his wealth within this barrow and there
chants his farewell to life's glories。 After his death the dragon takes
possession of the hoard and watches over it。 A condemned or banished
man； desperate； hides in the barrow； discovers the treasure； and while the
dragon sleeps； makes off with a golden beaker or the like； and carries it for
propitiation to his master。 The dragon discovers the loss and exacts fearful
penalty from the people round about。
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XXXII
THAT way he went with no will of his own； in danger of life； to the
dragon's hoard； but for pressure of peril； some prince's thane。 He fled in
fear the fatal scourge； seeking shelter； a sinful man； and entered in。 At the
awful sight tottered that guest； and terror seized him； yet the wretched
fugitive rallied anon from fright and fear ere he fled away； and took the
cup from that treasure…hoard。 Of such besides there was store enough；
heirlooms old； the earth below； which some earl forgotten； in ancient years；
left the last of his lofty race； heedfully there had hidden away； dearest
treasure。 For death of yore had hurried all hence； and he alone left to live；
the last of the clan； weeping his friends； yet wished to bide warding the
treasure； his one delight； though brief his respite。 The barrow； new…ready；
to strand and sea…waves stood anear； hard by the headland； hidden and
closed； there laid within it his lordly heirlooms and heaped hoard of heavy
gold that warden of rings。 Few words he spake： 〃Now hold thou； earth；
since heroes may not； what earls have owned！ Lo； erst from thee brave
men brought it！ But battle…death seized and cruel killing my clansmen all；
robbed them of life and a liegeman's joys。 None have I left to lift the
sword； or to cleanse the carven cup of price； beaker bright。 My brave are
gone。 And the helmet hard； all haughty with gold； shall part from its
plating。 Polishers sleep who could brighten and burnish the battle…mask；
and those weeds of war that were wont to brave over bicker of shields the
bite of steel rust with their bearer。 The ringed mail fares not far with
famous chieftain； at side of hero！ No harp's