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heartier mood； with four such gifts； so fashioned with gold； on the ale…
bench honoring others thus！ O'er the roof of the helmet high； a ridge；
wound with wires； kept ward o'er the head； lest the relict…of…files＇3＇ should
fierce invade； sharp in the strife； when that shielded hero should go to
grapple against his foes。 Then the earls'…defence＇4＇ on the floor＇5＇ bade
lead coursers eight； with carven head…gear； adown the hall： one horse was
decked with a saddle all shining and set in jewels； 'twas the battle…seat of
the best of kings； when to play of swords the son of Healfdene was fain to
fare。 Ne'er failed his valor in the crush of combat when corpses fell。 To
Beowulf over them both then gave the refuge…of…Ingwines right and power；
o'er war…steeds and weapons： wished him joy of them。 Manfully thus the
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mighty prince； hoard…guard for heroes； that hard fight repaid with steeds
and treasures contemned by none who is willing to say the sooth aright。
＇1＇ There is no horrible inconsistency here such as the critics strive and
cry about。 In spite of the ruin that Grendel and Beowulf had made within
the hall； the framework and roof held firm； and swift repairs made the
interior habitable。 Tapestries were hung on the walls； and willing hands
prepared the banquet。 ＇2＇ From its formal use in other places； this phrase；
to take cup in hall； or 〃on the floor；〃 would seem to mean that Beowulf
stood up to receive his gifts； drink to the donor； and say thanks。 ＇3＇
Kenning for sword。 ＇4＇ Hrothgar。 He is also the 〃refuge of the friends of
Ing；〃 below。 Ing belongs to myth。 ＇5＇ Horses are frequently led or ridden
into the hall where folk sit at banquet： so in Chaucer's Squire's tale； in the
ballad of King Estmere； and in the romances。
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XVI
AND the lord of earls； to each that came with Beowulf over the briny
ways； an heirloom there at the ale…bench gave； precious gift； and the
price＇1＇ bade pay in gold for him whom Grendel erst murdered； and fain
of them more had killed； had not wisest God their Wyrd averted； and the
man's＇2＇ brave mood。 The Maker then ruled human kind； as here and now。
Therefore is insight always best； and forethought of mind。 How much
awaits him of lief and of loath； who long time here； through days of
warfare this world endures！
Then song and music mingled sounds in the presence of Healfdene's
head…of…armies＇3＇ and harping was heard with the hero…lay as Hrothgar's
singer the hall…joy woke along the mead…seats； making his song of that
sudden raid on the sons of Finn。＇4＇ Healfdene's hero； Hnaef the Scylding；
was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter。＇5＇ Hildeburh needed not hold in
value her enemies' honor！＇6＇ Innocent both were the loved ones she lost at
the linden…play； bairn and brother； they bowed to fate； stricken by spears；
'twas a sorrowful woman！ None doubted why the daughter of Hoc
bewailed her doom when dawning came； and under the sky she saw them
lying； kinsmen murdered； where most she had kenned of the sweets of the
world！ By war were swept； too； Finn's own liegemen； and few were left； in
the parleying…place＇7＇ he could ply no longer weapon； nor war could he
wage on Hengest； and rescue his remnant by right of arms from the
prince's thane。 A pact he offered： another dwelling the Danes should have；
hall and high…seat； and half the power should fall to them in Frisian land；
and at the fee…gifts； Folcwald's son day by day the Danes should honor； the
folk of Hengest favor with rings； even as truly； with treasure and jewels；
with fretted gold； as his Frisian kin he meant to honor in ale…hall there。
Pact of peace they plighted further on both sides firmly。 Finn to Hengest
with oath； upon honor； openly promised that woful remnant； with wise…
men's aid； nobly to govern； so none of the guests by word or work should
warp the treaty；＇8＇ or with malice of mind bemoan themselves as forced to
follow their fee…giver's slayer； lordless men； as their lot ordained。 Should
Frisian； moreover； with foeman's taunt； that murderous hatred to mind
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recall； then edge of the sword must seal his doom。
Oaths were given； and ancient gold heaped from hoard。 The hardy
Scylding； battle…thane best；＇9＇ on his balefire lay。 All on the pyre were
plain to see the gory sark； the gilded swine…crest； boar of hard iron； and
athelings many slain by the sword： at the slaughter they fell。 It was
Hildeburh's hest； at Hnaef's own pyre the bairn of her body on brands to
lay； his bones to burn； on the balefire placed； at his uncle's side。 In
sorrowful dirges bewept them the woman： great wailing ascended。 Then
wound up to welkin the wildest of death…fires； roared o'er the hillock：＇10＇
heads all were melted； gashes burst； and blood gushed out from bites＇11＇
of the body。 Balefire devoured； greediest spirit； those spared not by war
out of either folk： their flower was gone。
＇1＇ Man…price； wergild。 ＇2＇ Beowulf's。 ＇3＇ Hrothgar。 ＇4＇ There is no
need to assume a gap in the Ms。 As before about Sigemund and Heremod；
so now； though at greater length； about Finn and his feud； a lay is chanted
or recited； and the epic poet； counting on his readers' familiarity with the
story； a fragment of it still exists； simply gives the headings。 ＇5＇ The
exact story to which this episode refers in summary is not to be
determined； but the following account of it is reasonable and has good
support among scholars。 Finn； a Frisian chieftain； who nevertheless has a
〃castle〃 outside the Frisian border； marries Hildeburh； a Danish princess；
and her brother； Hnaef； with many other Danes； pays Finn a visit。
Relations between the two peoples have been strained before。 Something
starts the old feud anew； and the visitors are attacked in their quarters。
Hnaef is killed； so is a son of Hildeburh。 Many fall on both sides。 Peace is
patched up； a stately funeral is held； and the surviving visitors become in a
way vassals or liegemen of Finn； going back with him to Frisia。 So matters
rest a while。 Hengest is now leader of the Danes； but he is set upon
revenge for his former lord； Hnaef。 Probably he is killed in feud； but his
clansmen； Guthlaf and Oslaf； gather at their home a force of sturdy Danes；
come back to Frisia； storm Finn's stronghold； kill him； and carry back their
kinswoman Hildeburh。 ＇6＇ The 〃enemies〃 must be the Frisians。 ＇7＇
Battlefield。 Hengest is the 〃prince's thane；〃 companion of Hnaef。
〃Folcwald's son〃 is Finn。 ＇8＇ That is； Finn would govern in all honor the
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few Danish warriors who were left； provided； of course； that none of them
tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord。 If； again； one
of Finn's Frisians began a quarrel； he should die by the sword。 ＇9＇ Hnaef。
＇10＇ The high place chosen for the funeral： see description of Beowulf's
funeral…pile at the end of the poem。 ＇11＇ Wounds。
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XVII
THEN hastened those heroes their home to see； friendless； to find the
Frisian land； houses and high burg。 Hengest still through the death…dyed
winter dwelt with Finn； holding pact； yet of home he minded； though
powerless his ring…decked prow to drive over the waters； now waves rolled
fierce lashed by the winds； or winter locked them in icy fetters。 Then fared
another year to men's dwellings； as yet they do； the sunbright skies； that
their season ever duly await。 Far off winter was driven； fair lay earth's
breast； and fain was the rover； the guest； to depart； though more gladly he
pondered on wreaking his v