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Herebeald and Haethcyn and Hygelac mine。 For the eldest of these； by
unmeet chance； by kinsman's deed； was the death…bed strewn； when
Haethcyn killed him with horny bow； his own dear liege laid low with an
arrow； missed the mark and his mate shot down； one brother the other；
with bloody shaft。 A feeless fight；＇2＇ and a fearful sin； horror to Hrethel；
yet； hard as it was； unavenged must the atheling die！ Too awful it is for an
aged man to bide and bear； that his bairn so young rides on the gallows。 A
rime he makes； sorrow…song for his son there hanging as rapture of ravens；
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no rescue now can come from the old； disabled man！ Still is he minded； as
morning breaks； of the heir gone elsewhere；＇3＇ another he hopes not he
will bide to see his burg within as ward for his wealth； now the one has
found doom of death that the deed incurred。 Forlorn he looks on the lodge
of his son； wine…hall waste and wind…swept chambers reft of revel。 The
rider sleepeth； the hero； far…hidden；＇4＇ no harp resounds； in the courts no
wassail； as once was heard。
＇1＇ That is； Beowulf supports Eadgils against Onela； who is slain by
Eadgils in revenge for the 〃care…paths〃 of exile into which Onela forced
him。 ＇2＇ That is； the king could claim no wergild； or man…price； from one
son for the killing of the other。 ＇3＇ Usual euphemism for death。 ＇4＇ Sc。 in
the grave。
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XXXV
〃THEN he goes to his chamber； a grief…song chants alone for his lost。
Too large all seems； homestead and house。 So the helmet…of…Weders hid in
his heart for Herebeald waves of woe。 No way could he take to avenge on
the slayer slaughter so foul； nor e'en could he harass that hero at all with
loathing deed； though he loved him not。 And so for the sorrow his soul
endured； men's gladness he gave up and God's light chose。 Lands and
cities he left his sons （as the wealthy do） when he went from earth。 There
was strife and struggle 'twixt Swede and Geat o'er the width of waters； war
arose； hard battle…horror； when Hrethel died； and Ongentheow's offspring
grew strife…keen； bold； nor brooked o'er the seas pact of peace； but pushed
their hosts to harass in hatred by Hreosnabeorh。 Men of my folk for that
feud had vengeance； for woful war （'tis widely known）； though one of
them bought it with blood of his heart； a bargain hard： for Haethcyn
proved fatal that fray； for the first…of…Geats。 At morn； I heard； was the
murderer killed by kinsman for kinsman；＇1＇ with clash of sword； when
Ongentheow met Eofor there。 Wide split the war…helm： wan he fell； hoary
Scylfing； the hand that smote him of feud was mindful； nor flinched from
the death…blow。 〃For all that he＇2＇ gave me； my gleaming sword repaid
him at war； such power I wielded； for lordly treasure： with land he
entrusted me； homestead and house。 He had no need from Swedish realm；
or from Spear…Dane folk； or from men of the Gifths； to get him help；
some warrior worse for wage to buy！ Ever I fought in the front of all； sole
to the fore； and so shall I fight while I bide in life and this blade shall last
that early and late hath loyal proved since for my doughtiness Daeghrefn
fell； slain by my hand； the Hugas' champion。 Nor fared he thence to the
Frisian king with the booty back； and breast…adornments； but； slain in
struggle； that standard…bearer fell； atheling brave。 Not with blade was he
slain； but his bones were broken by brawny gripe； his heart…waves stilled。 …
… The sword…edge now； hard blade and my hand； for the hoard shall strive。〃
Beowulf spake； and a battle…vow made his last of all： 〃I have lived through
many wars in my youth； now once again； old folk…defender； feud will I
seek； do doughty deeds； if the dark destroyer forth from his cavern come
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to fight me！〃 Then hailed he the helmeted heroes all； for the last time
greeting his liegemen dear； comrades of war： 〃I should carry no weapon；
no sword to the serpent； if sure I knew how； with such enemy； else my
vows I could gain as I did in Grendel's day。 But fire in this fight I must
fear me now； and poisonous breath； so I bring with me breastplate and
board。＇3＇ From the barrow's keeper no footbreadth flee I。 One fight shall
end our war by the wall； as Wyrd allots； all mankind's master。 My mood is
bold but forbears to boast o'er this battling…flyer。 Now abide by the
barrow； ye breastplate…mailed； ye heroes in harness； which of us twain
better from battle…rush bear his wounds。 Wait ye the finish。 The fight is not
yours； nor meet for any but me alone to measure might with this monster
here and play the hero。 Hardily I shall win that wealth； or war shall seize；
cruel killing； your king and lord！〃 Up stood then with shield the sturdy
champion； stayed by the strength of his single manhood； and hardy 'neath
helmet his harness bore under cleft of the cliffs： no coward's path！ Soon
spied by the wall that warrior chief； survivor of many a victory…field
where foemen fought with furious clashings； an arch of stone； and within；
a stream that broke from the barrow。 The brooklet's wave was hot with fire。
The hoard that way he never could hope unharmed to near； or endure those
deeps；＇4＇ for the dragon's flame。 Then let from his breast； for he burst with
rage； the Weder…Geat prince a word outgo； stormed the stark…heart； stern
went ringing and clear his cry 'neath the cliff…rocks gray。 The hoard…guard
heard a human voice； his rage was enkindled。 No respite now for pact of
peace！ The poison…breath of that foul worm first came forth from the cave；
hot reek…of…fight： the rocks resounded。 Stout by the stone…way his shield
he raised； lord of the Geats； against the loathed…one； while with courage
keen that coiled foe came seeking strife。 The sturdy king had drawn his
sword； not dull of edge； heirloom old； and each of the two felt fear of his
foe； though fierce their mood。 Stoutly stood with his shield high…raised the
warrior king； as the worm now coiled together amain： the mailed…one
waited。 Now； spire by spire； fast sped and glided that blazing serpent。 The
shield protected； soul and body a shorter while for the hero…king than his
heart desired； could his will have wielded the welcome respite but once in
his life！ But Wyrd denied it； and victory's honors。 His arm he lifted lord
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of the Geats； the grim foe smote with atheling's heirloom。 Its edge was
turned brown blade； on the bone； and bit more feebly than its noble master
had need of then in his baleful stress。 Then the barrow's keeper waxed
full wild for that weighty blow； cast deadly flames； wide drove and far
those vicious fires。 No victor's glory the Geats' lord boasted； his brand had
failed； naked in battle； as never it should； excellent iron！ 'Twas no easy
path that Ecgtheow's honored heir must tread over the plain to the place of
the foe； for against his will he must win a home elsewhere far； as must all
men； leaving this lapsing life！ Not long it was ere those champions
grimly closed again。 The hoard…guard was heartened； high heaved
hisbreast once more； and by peril was pressed again； enfolded in flames；
the folk…commander！ Nor yet about him his band of comrades； sons of
athelings； armed stood with warlike front： to the woods they bent them；
their lives to save。 But the soul of one with care was cumbered。 Kinship
true can never be marred in a noble mind！
＇1＇ Eofor for Wulf。 The immediate provocation for Eofor in killing
〃the hoary Scylfing；〃 Ongentheow； is that the latter has just struck Wulf
down； but the king； Haethcyn； is also avenged by the blow。 See the
detailed description below。 ＇2＇ Hygelac。 ＇3＇ Shield。 ＇4＇ The hollow
passage。
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