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！
Onela。 Then he followed his foes； who fled before him sore beset and stole
their way； bereft of a ruler； to Ravenswood。
With his host he besieged there what swords had left； the weary and
wounded； woes he threatened the whole night through to that hard…pressed
throng： some with the morrow his sword should kill； some should go to
the gallows…tree for rapture of ravens。 But rescue came with dawn of day
for those desperate men when they heard the horn of Hygelac sound； tones
of his trumpet； the trusty king had followed their trail with faithful band。
＇1＇ Nothing。 ＇2＇ Dead。 ＇3＇ Death…watch； guard of honor； 〃lyke…wake。〃
77
… Page 78…
Beowulf Anonymous
＇4＇ A name for the Franks。 ＇5＇ Ongentheow。 ＇6＇ Haethcyn。
78
… Page 79…
Beowulf Anonymous
XLI
〃THE bloody swath of Swedes and Geats and the storm of their strife；
were seen afar； how folk against folk the fight had wakened。 The ancient
king with his atheling band sought his citadel； sorrowing much：
Ongentheow earl went up to his burg。 He had tested Hygelac's hardihood；
the proud one's prowess； would prove it no longer； defied no more those
fighting…wanderers nor hoped from the seamen to save his hoard； his bairn
and his bride： so he bent him again； old； to his earth…walls。 Yet after him
came with slaughter for Swedes the standards of Hygelac o'er peaceful
plains in pride advancing； till Hrethelings fought in the fenced town。＇1＇
Then Ongentheow with edge of sword； the hoary…bearded； was held at bay；
and the folk…king there was forced to suffer Eofor's anger。 In ire； at the
king Wulf Wonreding with weapon struck； and the chieftain's blood； for
that blow； in streams flowed 'neath his hair。 No fear felt he； stout old
Scylfing； but straightway repaid in better bargain that bitter stroke and
faced his foe with fell intent。 Nor swift enough was the son of Wonred
answer to render the aged chief； too soon on his head the helm was cloven；
blood…bedecked he bowed to earth； and fell adown； not doomed was he yet；
and well he waxed； though the wound was sore。 Then the hardy Hygelac…
thane；＇2＇ when his brother fell； with broad brand smote； giants' sword
crashing through giants'…helm across the shield…wall： sank the king； his
folk's old herdsman； fatally hurt。 There were many to bind the brother's
wounds and lift him； fast as fate allowed his people to wield the place…of…
war。 But Eofor took from Ongentheow； earl from other； the iron…
breastplate； hard sword hilted； and helmet too； and the hoar…chief's harness
to Hygelac carried； who took the trappings； and truly promised rich fee
'mid folk； and fulfilled it so。 For that grim strife gave the Geatish lord；
Hrethel's offspring； when home he came； to Eofor and Wulf a wealth of
treasure； Each of them had a hundred thousand＇3＇ in land and linked rings；
nor at less price reckoned mid…earth men such mighty deeds！ And to Eofor
he gave his only daughter in pledge of grace； the pride of his home。
〃Such is the feud； the foeman's rage； death…hate of men： so I deem it
sure that the Swedish folk will seek us home for this fall of their friends；
79
… Page 80…
Beowulf Anonymous
the fighting…Scylfings； when once they learn that our warrior leader
lifeless lies； who land and hoard ever defended from all his foes； furthered
his folk's weal； finished his course a hardy hero。 Now haste is best； that
we go to gaze on our Geatish lord； and bear the bountiful breaker…of…rings
to the funeral pyre。 No fragments merely shall burn with the warrior。
Wealth of jewels； gold untold and gained in terror； treasure at last with his
life obtained； all of that booty the brands shall take； fire shall eat it。 No
earl must carry memorial jewel。 No maiden fair shall wreathe her neck
with noble ring： nay； sad in spirit and shorn of her gold； oft shall she pass
o'er paths of exile now our lord all laughter has laid aside； all mirth and
revel。 Many a spear morning…cold shall be clasped amain； lifted aloft； nor
shall lilt of harp those warriors wake； but the wan…hued raven； fain o'er the
fallen； his feast shall praise and boast to the eagle how bravely he ate
when he and the wolf were wasting the slain。〃
So he told his sorrowful tidings； and little＇4＇ he lied； the loyal man of
word or of work。 The warriors rose； sad； they climbed to the Cliff…of…
Eagles； went； welling with tears； the wonder to view。 Found on the sand
there； stretched at rest； their lifeless lord； who had lavished rings of old
upon them。 Ending…day had dawned on the doughty…one； death had seized
in woful slaughter the Weders' king。 There saw they； besides； the strangest
being； loathsome； lying their leader near； prone on the field。 The fiery
dragon； fearful fiend； with flame was scorched。 Reckoned by feet； it was
fifty measures in length as it lay。 Aloft erewhile it had revelled by night；
and anon come back； seeking its den； now in death's sure clutch it had
come to the end of its earth…hall joys。 By it there stood the stoups and jars；
dishes lay there； and dear…decked swords eaten with rust； as； on earth's lap
resting； a thousand winters they waited there。 For all that heritage huge；
that gold of bygone men； was bound by a spell；＇5＇ so the treasure…hall
could be touched by none of human kind； save that Heaven's King； God
himself； might give whom he would； Helper of Heroes； the hoard to open；
even such a man as seemed to him meet。
＇1＇ The line may mean： till Hrethelings stormed on the hedged shields；
i。e。 the shield…wall or hedge of defensive war Hrethelings； of course；
are Geats。 ＇2＇ Eofor； brother to Wulf Wonreding。 ＇3＇ Sc。 〃value in〃 hides
80
… Page 81…
Beowulf Anonymous
and the weight of the gold。 ＇4＇ Not at all。 ＇5＇ Laid on it when it was put in
the barrow。 This spell； or in our days the 〃curse；〃 either prevented
discovery or brought dire ills on the finder and taker。
81
… Page 82…
Beowulf Anonymous
XLII
A PERILOUS path； it proved； he＇1＇ trod who heinously hid； that hall
within； wealth under wall！ Its watcher had killed one of a few；＇2＇ and the
feud was avenged in woful fashion。 Wondrous seems it； what manner a
man of might and valor oft ends his life； when the earl no longer in mead…
hall may live with loving friends。 So Beowulf； when that barrow's warden
he sought； and the struggle； himself knew not in what wise he should
wend from the world at last。 For＇3＇ princes potent； who placed the gold；
with a curse to doomsday covered it deep； so that marked with sin the man
should be； hedged with horrors； in hell…bonds fast； racked with plagues；
who should rob their hoard。 Yet no greed for gold； but the grace of heaven；
ever the king had kept in view。＇4＇ Wiglaf spake； the son of Weohstan：
〃At the mandate of one； oft warriors many sorrow must suffer； and so
must we。 The people's…shepherd showed not aught of care for our counsel；
king beloved！ That guardian of gold he should grapple not； urged we； but
let him lie where he long had been in his earth…hall waiting the end of the
world； the hest of heaven。 This hoard is ours but grievously gotten； too
grim the fate which thither carried our king and lord。 I was within there；
and all I viewed； the chambered treasure； when chance allowed me （and
my path was made in no pleasant wise） under the earth…wall。 Eager； I
seized such heap from the hoard as hands could bear and hurriedly carried
it hither back to my liege and lord。 Alive was he still； still wielding his
wits。 The wise old man spake much in his sorrow； and sent you greetings
and bade that ye build； when he breathed no more； on the place of his
balefire a barrow high； memorial mighty。 Of men was he worthiest warrior
wide earth