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doughty prince； if he deign at all grace that we greet him； the good one；
now。〃 Wulfgar spake； the Wendles' chieftain； whose might of mind to
many was known； his courage and counsel： 〃The king of Danes； the
Scyldings' friend； I fain will tell； the Breaker…of…Rings； as the boon thou
askest； the famed prince； of thy faring hither； and； swiftly after； such
answer bring as the doughty monarch may deign to give。〃 Hied then in
haste to where Hrothgar sat white…haired and old； his earls about him； till
the stout thane stood at the shoulder there of the Danish king： good
courtier he！ Wulfgar spake to his winsome lord： 〃Hither have fared to
thee far…come men o'er the paths of ocean； people of Geatland； and the
stateliest there by his sturdy band is Beowulf named。 This boon they seek；
that they； my master； may with thee have speech at will： nor spurn their
prayer to give them hearing； gracious Hrothgar！ In weeds of the warrior
worthy they； methinks； of our liking； their leader most surely； a hero that
hither his henchmen has led。〃
＇1＇ Either merely paved； the strata via of the Romans； or else thought
of as a sort of mosaic； an extravagant touch like the reckless waste of gold
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Beowulf Anonymous
on the walls and roofs of a hall。
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Beowulf Anonymous
VI
HROTHGAR answered； helmet of Scyldings： 〃I knew him of yore
in his youthful days； his aged father was Ecgtheow named； to whom； at
home； gave Hrethel the Geat his only daughter。 Their offspring bold fares
hither to seek the steadfast friend。 And seamen； too； have said me this；
who carried my gifts to the Geatish court； thither for thanks； he has
thirty men's heft of grasp in the gripe of his hand； the bold…in…battle。
Blessed God out of his mercy this man hath sent to Danes of the West； as I
ween indeed； against horror of Grendel。 I hope to give the good youth gold
for his gallant thought。 Be thou in haste； and bid them hither； clan of
kinsmen； to come before me； and add this word； they are welcome
guests to folk of the Danes。〃 ＇To the door of the hall Wulfgar went＇ and
the word declared： 〃To you this message my master sends； East…Danes'
king； that your kin he knows； hardy heroes； and hails you all welcome
hither o'er waves of the sea！ Ye may wend your way in war…attire； and
under helmets Hrothgar greet； but let here the battle…shields bide your
parley； and wooden war…shafts wait its end。〃 Uprose the mighty one；
ringed with his men； brave band of thanes： some bode without； battle…gear
guarding； as bade the chief。 Then hied that troop where the herald led them；
under Heorot's roof： ＇the hero strode；＇ hardy 'neath helm； till the hearth he
neared。 Beowulf spake； his breastplate gleamed； war…net woven by wit
of the smith： 〃Thou Hrothgar； hail！ Hygelac's I； kinsman and follower。
Fame a plenty have I gained in youth！ These Grendel…deeds I heard in my
home…land heralded clear。 Seafarers say how stands this hall； of buildings
best； for your band of thanes empty and idle； when evening sun in the
harbor of heaven is hidden away。 So my vassals advised me well； brave
and wise； the best of men； O sovran Hrothgar； to seek thee here； for my
nerve and my might they knew full well。 Themselves had seen me from
slaughter come blood…flecked from foes； where five I bound； and that wild
brood worsted。 I' the waves I slew nicors＇1＇ by night； in need and peril
avenging the Weders；＇2＇ whose woe they sought； crushing the grim ones。
Grendel now； monster cruel； be mine to quell in single battle！ So； from
thee； thou sovran of the Shining…Danes； Scyldings'…bulwark； a boon I seek；
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Beowulf Anonymous
and； Friend…of…the…folk； refuse it not； O Warriors'…shield； now I've
wandered far； that I alone with my liegemen here； this hardy band； may
Heorot purge！ More I hear； that the monster dire； in his wanton mood； of
weapons recks not； hence shall I scorn so Hygelac stay； king of my
kindred； kind to me！ brand or buckler to bear in the fight； gold…colored
targe： but with gripe alone must I front the fiend and fight for life； foe
against foe。 Then faith be his in the doom of the Lord whom death shall
take。 Fain； I ween； if the fight he win； in this hall of gold my Geatish band
will he fearless eat； as oft before； my noblest thanes。 Nor need'st thou
then to hide my head；＇3＇ for his shall I be； dyed in gore； if death must take
me； and my blood…covered body he'll bear as prey； ruthless devour it； the
roamer…lonely； with my life…blood redden his lair in the fen： no further for
me need'st food prepare！ To Hygelac send； if Hild＇4＇ should take me； best
of war…weeds； warding my breast； armor excellent； heirloom of Hrethel
and work of Wayland。＇5＇ Fares Wyrd＇6＇ as she must。〃
＇1＇ The nicor； says Bugge； is a hippopotamus； a walrus； says ten Brink。
But that water…goblin who covers the space from Old Nick of jest to the
Neckan and Nix of poetry and tale； is all one needs； and Nicor is a good
name for him。 ＇2＇ His own people； the Geats。 ＇3＇ That is； cover it as with a
face…cloth。 〃There will be no need of funeral rites。〃 ＇4＇ Personification of
Battle。 ＇5＇ The Germanic Vulcan。 ＇6＇ This mighty power； whom the
Christian poet can still revere； has here the general force of 〃Destiny。〃
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VII
HROTHGAR spake； the Scyldings'…helmet： 〃For fight defensive；
Friend my Beowulf； to succor and save； thou hast sought us here。 Thy
father's combat＇1＇ a feud enkindled when Heatholaf with hand he slew
among the Wylfings； his Weder kin for horror of fighting feared to hold
him。 Fleeing； he sought our South…Dane folk； over surge of ocean the
Honor…Scyldings； when first I was ruling the folk of Danes； wielded；
youthful； this widespread realm； this hoard…hold of heroes。 Heorogar was
dead； my elder brother； had breathed his last； Healfdene's bairn： he was
better than I！ Straightway the feud with fee＇2＇ I settled； to the Wylfings
sent； o'er watery ridges； treasures olden： oaths he＇3＇ swore me。 Sore is my
soul to say to any of the race of man what ruth for me in Heorot Grendel
with hate hath wrought； what sudden harryings。 Hall…folk fail me； my
warriors wane； for Wyrd hath swept them into Grendel's grasp。 But God is
able this deadly foe from his deeds to turn！ Boasted full oft； as my beer
they drank； earls o'er the ale…cup； armed men； that they would bide in the
beer…hall here； Grendel's attack with terror of blades。 Then was this mead…
house at morning tide dyed with gore； when the daylight broke； all the
boards of the benches blood…besprinkled； gory the hall： I had heroes the
less； doughty dear…ones that death had reft。 But sit to the banquet；
unbind thy words； hardy hero； as heart shall prompt thee。〃
Gathered together； the Geatish men in the banquet…hall on bench
assigned； sturdy…spirited； sat them down； hardy…hearted。 A henchman
attended； carried the carven cup in hand； served the clear mead。 Oft
minstrels sang blithe in Heorot。 Heroes revelled； no dearth of warriors；
Weder and Dane。
＇1＇ There is no irrelevance here。 Hrothgar sees in Beowulf's mission a
heritage of duty； a return of the good offices which the Danish king
rendered to Beowulf's father in time of dire need。 ＇2＇ Money； for wergild；
or man…price。 ＇3＇ Ecgtheow； Beowulf's sire。
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VIII
UNFERTH spake； the son of Ecglaf； w