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VIII
UNFERTH spake； the son of Ecglaf； who sat at the feet of the
Scyldings' lord； unbound the battle…runes。＇1＇ Beowulf's quest； sturdy
seafarer's； sorely galled him； ever he envied that other men should more
achieve in middle…earth of fame under heaven than he himself。 〃Art thou
that Beowulf； Breca's rival； who emulous swam on the open sea； when for
pride the pair of you proved the floods； and wantonly dared in waters deep
to risk your lives？ No living man； or lief or loath； from your labor dire
could you dissuade； from swimming the main。 Ocean…tides with your arms
ye covered； with strenuous hands the sea…streets measured； swam o'er the
waters。 Winter's storm rolled the rough waves。 In realm of sea a sennight
strove ye。 In swimming he topped thee； had more of main！ Him at
morning…tide billows bore to the Battling Reamas； whence he hied to his
home so dear beloved of his liegemen； to land of Brondings； fastness fair；
where his folk he ruled； town and treasure。 In triumph o'er thee Beanstan's
bairn＇2＇ his boast achieved。 So ween I for thee a worse adventure
though in buffet of battle thou brave hast been； in struggle grim； if
Grendel's approach thou darst await through the watch of night！〃
Beowulf spake； bairn of Ecgtheow： 〃What a deal hast uttered； dear
my Unferth； drunken with beer； of Breca now； told of his triumph！ Truth I
claim it； that I had more of might in the sea than any man else； more
ocean…endurance。 We twain had talked； in time of youth； and made our
boast； we were merely boys； striplings still； to stake our lives far at
sea： and so we performed it。 Naked swords； as we swam along； we held in
hand； with hope to guard us against the whales。 Not a whit from me could
he float afar o'er the flood of waves； haste o'er the billows； nor him I
abandoned。 Together we twain on the tides abode five nights full till the
flood divided us； churning waves and chillest weather； darkling night； and
the northern wind ruthless rushed on us： rough was the surge。 Now the
wrath of the sea…fish rose apace； yet me 'gainst the monsters my mailed
coat； hard and hand…linked； help afforded； battle…sark braided my breast
to ward； garnished with gold。 There grasped me firm and haled me to
bottom the hated foe； with grimmest gripe。 'Twas granted me； though； to
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pierce the monster with point of sword； with blade of battle： huge beast of
the sea was whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine。
＇1＇ 〃Began the fight。〃 ＇2＇ Breca。
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IX
ME thus often the evil monsters thronging threatened。 With thrust of
my sword； the darling； I dealt them due return！ Nowise had they bliss from
their booty then to devour their victim； vengeful creatures； seated to
banquet at bottom of sea； but at break of day； by my brand sore hurt； on
the edge of ocean up they lay； put to sleep by the sword。 And since； by
them on the fathomless sea…ways sailor…folk are never molested。 Light
from east； came bright God's beacon； the billows sank； so that I saw the
sea…cliffs high； windy walls。 For Wyrd oft saveth earl undoomed if he
doughty be！ And so it came that I killed with my sword nine of the nicors。
Of night…fought battles ne'er heard I a harder 'neath heaven's dome； nor
adrift on the deep a more desolate man！ Yet I came unharmed from that
hostile clutch； though spent with swimming。 The sea upbore me； flood of
the tide； on Finnish land； the welling waters。 No wise of thee have I heard
men tell such terror of falchions； bitter battle。 Breca ne'er yet； not one of
you pair； in the play of war such daring deed has done at all with bloody
brand； I boast not of it！ though thou wast the bane＇1＇ of thy brethren
dear； thy closest kin； whence curse of hell awaits thee； well as thy wit may
serve！ For I say in sooth； thou son of Ecglaf； never had Grendel these grim
deeds wrought； monster dire； on thy master dear； in Heorot such havoc； if
heart of thine were as battle…bold as thy boast is loud！ But he has found no
feud will happen； from sword…clash dread of your Danish clan he vaunts
him safe； from the Victor…Scyldings。 He forces pledges； favors none of the
land of Danes； but lustily murders； fights and feasts； nor feud he dreads
from Spear…Dane men。 But speedily now shall I prove him the prowess
and pride of the Geats； shall bid him battle。 Blithe to mead go he that
listeth； when light of dawn this morrow morning o'er men of earth； ether…
robed sun from the south shall beam！〃 Joyous then was the Jewel…giver；
hoar…haired； war…brave； help awaited the Bright…Danes' prince； from
Beowulf hearing； folk's good shepherd； such firm resolve。 Then was
laughter of liegemen loud resounding with winsome words。 Came
Wealhtheow forth； queen of Hrothgar； heedful of courtesy； gold…decked；
greeting the guests in hall； and the high…born lady handed the cup first to
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the East…Danes' heir and warden； bade him be blithe at the beer…carouse；
the land's beloved one。 Lustily took he banquet and beaker； battle…famed
king。
Through the hall then went the Helmings' Lady； to younger and older
everywhere carried the cup； till come the moment when the ring…graced
queen； the royal…hearted； to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead。 She greeted
the Geats' lord； God she thanked； in wisdom's words； that her will was
granted； that at last on a hero her hope could lean for comfort in terrors。
The cup he took； hardy…in…war； from Wealhtheow's hand； and answer
uttered the eager…for…combat。 Beowulf spake； bairn of Ecgtheow： 〃This
was my thought； when my thanes and I bent to the ocean and entered our
boat； that I would work the will of your people fully； or fighting fall in
death； in fiend's gripe fast。 I am firm to do an earl's brave deed； or end the
days of this life of mine in the mead…hall here。〃 Well these words to the
woman seemed； Beowulf's battle…boast。 Bright with gold the stately
dame by her spouse sat down。 Again； as erst； began in hall warriors'
wassail and words of power； the proud…band's revel； till presently the son
of Healfdene hastened to seek rest for the night； he knew there waited
fight for the fiend in that festal hall； when the sheen of the sun they saw no
more； and dusk of night sank darkling nigh； and shadowy shapes came
striding on； wan under welkin。 The warriors rose。 Man to man； he made
harangue； Hrothgar to Beowulf； bade him hail； let him wield the wine hall：
a word he added： 〃Never to any man erst I trusted； since I could heave
up hand and shield； this noble Dane…Hall； till now to thee。 Have now and
hold this house unpeered； remember thy glory； thy might declare； watch
for the foe！ No wish shall fail thee if thou bidest the battle with bold…won
life。〃
＇1＇ Murder。
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X
THEN Hrothgar went with his hero…train； defence…of…Scyldings； forth
from hall； fain would the war…lord Wealhtheow seek； couch of his queen。
The King…of…Glory against this Grendel a guard had set； so heroes heard； a
hall…defender； who warded the monarch and watched for the monster。 In
truth； the Geats' prince gladly trusted his mettle； his might； the mercy of
God！ Cast off then his corselet of iron； helmet from head； to his henchman
gave； choicest of weapons； the well…chased sword； bidding him guard
the gear of battle。 Spake then his Vaunt the valiant man； Beowulf Geat； ere
the bed be sought： 〃Of force in fight no feebler I count me； in grim war…
deeds； than Grendel deems him。 Not with the sword； then； to sleep of
death his life will I give； though it lie in my power。 No skill is his to strike
against me； my shiel