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he ever。 But well for him that after death…day may draw to his Lord； and
friendship find in the Father's arms！
＇1＇ The smaller buildings within the main enclosure but separate from
the hall。 ＇2＇ Grendel。 ＇3＇ 〃Sorcerers…of…hell。〃 ＇4＇ Hrothgar； who is the
〃Scyldings'…friend〃 of 170。 ＇5＇ That is； in formal or prescribed phrase。
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Beowulf Anonymous
III
THUS seethed unceasing the son of Healfdene with the woe of these
days； not wisest men assuaged his sorrow； too sore the anguish； loathly
and long； that lay on his folk； most baneful of burdens and bales of the
night。
This heard in his home Hygelac's thane； great among Geats； of
Grendel's doings。 He was the mightiest man of valor in that same day of
this our life； stalwart and stately。 A stout wave…walker he bade make ready。
Yon battle…king； said he； far o'er the swan…road he fain would seek； the
noble monarch who needed men！ The prince's journey by prudent folk was
little blamed； though they loved him dear； they whetted the hero； and
hailed good omens。 And now the bold one from bands of Geats comrades
chose； the keenest of warriors e'er he could find； with fourteen men the
sea…wood＇1＇ he sought； and； sailor proved； led them on to the land's
confines。 Time had now flown；＇2＇ afloat was the ship； boat under bluff。
On board they climbed； warriors ready； waves were churning sea with
sand； the sailors bore on the breast of the bark their bright array； their mail
and weapons： the men pushed off； on its willing way； the well…braced craft。
Then moved o'er the waters by might of the wind that bark like a bird with
breast of foam； till in season due； on the second day； the curved prow such
course had run that sailors now could see the land； sea…cliffs shining； steep
high hills； headlands broad。 Their haven was found； their journey ended。
Up then quickly the Weders'＇3＇ clansmen climbed ashore； anchored their
sea…wood； with armor clashing and gear of battle： God they thanked or
passing in peace o'er the paths of the sea。 Now saw from the cliff a
Scylding clansman； a warden that watched the water…side； how they bore
o'er the gangway glittering shields； war…gear in readiness； wonder seized
him to know what manner of men they were。 Straight to the strand his
steed he rode； Hrothgar's henchman； with hand of might he shook his
spear； and spake in parley。 〃Who are ye； then； ye armed men； mailed folk；
that yon mighty vessel have urged thus over the ocean ways； here o'er the
waters？ A warden I； sentinel set o'er the sea…march here； lest any foe to the
folk of Danes with harrying fleet should harm the land。 No aliens ever at
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ease thus bore them； linden…wielders：＇4＇ yet word…of…leave clearly ye lack
from clansmen here； my folk's agreement。 A greater ne'er saw I of
warriors in world than is one of you； yon hero in harness！ No henchman
he worthied by weapons； if witness his features； his peerless presence！ I
pray you； though； tell your folk and home； lest hence ye fare suspect to
wander your way as spies in Danish land。 Now； dwellers afar； ocean…
travellers； take from me simple advice： the sooner the better I hear of the
country whence ye came。〃
＇1＇ Ship。 ＇2＇ That is； since Beowulf selected his ship and led his men
to the harbor。 ＇3＇ One of the auxiliary names of the Geats。 ＇4＇ Or： Not thus
openly ever came warriors hither； yet。。。
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Beowulf Anonymous
IV
To him the stateliest spake in answer； the warriors' leader his word…
hoard unlocked： 〃We are by kin of the clan of Geats； and Hygelac's own
hearth…fellows we。 To folk afar was my father known； noble atheling；
Ecgtheow named。 Full of winters； he fared away aged from earth； he is
honored still through width of the world by wise men all。 To thy lord and
liege in loyal mood we hasten hither； to Healfdene's son； people…protector：
be pleased to advise us！ To that mighty…one come we on mickle errand； to
the lord of the Danes； nor deem I right that aught be hidden。 We hear
thou knowest if sooth it is the saying of men； that amid the Scyldings a
scathing monster； dark ill…doer； in dusky nights shows terrific his rage
unmatched； hatred and murder。 To Hrothgar I in greatness of soul would
succor bring； so the Wise…and…Brave＇1＇ may worst his foes； if ever the
end of ills is fated； of cruel contest； if cure shall follow； and the boiling
care…waves cooler grow； else ever afterward anguish…days he shall suffer
in sorrow while stands in place high on its hill that house unpeered！〃
Astride his steed； the strand…ward answered； clansman unquailing： 〃The
keen…souled thane must be skilled to sever and sunder duly words and
works； if he well intends。 I gather； this band is graciously bent to the
Scyldings' master。 March； then； bearing weapons and weeds the way I
show you。 I will bid my men your boat meanwhile to guard for fear lest
foemen come； your new…tarred ship by shore of ocean faithfully
watching till once again it waft o'er the waters those well…loved thanes；
winding…neck'd wood； to Weders' bounds； heroes such as the hest of fate
shall succor and save from the shock of war。〃 They bent them to march；
the boat lay still； fettered by cable and fast at anchor； broad…bosomed ship。
Then shone the boars＇2＇ over the cheek…guard； chased with gold； keen
and gleaming； guard it kept o'er the man of war； as marched along heroes
in haste； till the hall they saw； broad of gable and bright with gold： that
was the fairest； 'mid folk of earth； of houses 'neath heaven； where Hrothgar
lived； and the gleam of it lightened o'er lands afar。 The sturdy shieldsman
showed that bright burg…of…the…boldest； bade them go straightway thither；
his steed then turned； hardy hero； and hailed them thus： 〃Tis time that I
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fare from you。 Father Almighty in grace and mercy guard you well； safe in
your seekings。 Seaward I go； 'gainst hostile warriors hold my watch。〃
＇1＇ Hrothgar。 ＇2＇ Beowulf's helmet has several boar…images on it； he is
the 〃man of war〃； and the boar…helmet guards him as typical representative
of the marching party as a whole。 The boar was sacred to Freyr； who was
the favorite god of the Germanic tribes about the North Sea and the Baltic。
Rude representations of warriors show the boar on the helmet quite as
large as the helmet itself。
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V
STONE…BRIGHT the street：＇1＇ it showed the way to the crowd of
clansmen。 Corselets glistened hand…forged； hard； on their harness bright
the steel ring sang； as they strode along in mail of battle； and marched to
the hall。 There； weary of ocean； the wall along they set their bucklers； their
broad shields； down； and bowed them to bench： the breastplates clanged；
war…gear of men； their weapons stacked； spears of the seafarers stood
together； gray…tipped ash： that iron band was worthily weaponed！ A
warrior proud asked of the heroes their home and kin。 〃Whence； now； bear
ye burnished shields； harness gray and helmets grim； spears in multitude？
Messenger； I； Hrothgar's herald！ Heroes so many ne'er met I as strangers
of mood so strong。 'Tis plain that for prowess； not plunged into exile； for
high…hearted valor； Hrothgar ye seek！〃 Him the sturdy…in…war bespake
with words； proud earl of the Weders answer made； hardy 'neath helmet：
〃Hygelac's； we； fellows at board； I am Beowulf named。 I am seeking to
say to the son of Healfdene this mission of mine； to thy master…lord； the
doughty prince； if he deign at all grace that we greet him； the good one；