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！
breast； and fain was the rover； the guest； to depart； though more gladly he
pondered on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep； and how to
hasten the hot encounter where sons of the Frisians were sure to be。 So he
escaped not the common doom； when Hun with 〃Lafing；〃 the light…of…
battle； best of blades； his bosom pierced： its edge was famed with the
Frisian earls。 On fierce…heart Finn there fell likewise； on himself at home；
the horrid sword…death； for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack had
sorrowing told； from sea…ways landed； mourning their woes。＇1＇ Finn's
wavering spirit bode not in breast。 The burg was reddened with blood of
foemen； and Finn was slain； king amid clansmen； the queen was taken。 To
their ship the Scylding warriors bore all the chattels the chieftain owned；
whatever they found in Finn's domain of gems and jewels。 The gentle wife
o'er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore； led to her land。 The lay was
finished； the gleeman's song。 Then glad rose the revel； bench…joy
brightened。 Bearers draw from their 〃wonder…vats〃 wine。 Comes
Wealhtheow forth； under gold…crown goes where the good pair sit； uncle
and nephew； true each to the other one； kindred in amity。 Unferth the
spokesman at the Scylding lord's feet sat： men had faith in his spirit； his
keenness of courage； though kinsmen had found him unsure at the sword…
play。 The Scylding queen spoke： 〃Quaff of this cup； my king and lord；
breaker of rings； and blithe be thou； gold…friend of men； to the Geats here
speak such words of mildness as man should use。 Be glad with thy Geats；
of those gifts be mindful； or near or far； which now thou hast。
Men say to me； as son thou wishest yon hero to hold。 Thy Heorot
purged； jewel…hall brightest； enjoy while thou canst； with many a largess；
32
… Page 33…
Beowulf Anonymous
and leave to thy kin folk and realm when forth thou goest to greet thy
doom。 For gracious I deem my Hrothulf；＇2＇ willing to hold and rule nobly
our youths； if thou yield up first； prince of Scyldings； thy part in the world。
I ween with good he will well requite offspring of ours； when all he minds
that for him we did in his helpless days of gift and grace to gain him
honor！〃 Then she turned to the seat where her sons wereplaced； Hrethric
and Hrothmund； with heroes' bairns； young men together： the Geat； too；
sat there； Beowulf brave； the brothers between。
＇1＇ That is； these two Danes； escaping home； had told the story of the
attack on Hnaef； the slaying of Hengest； and all the Danish woes。
Collecting a force； they return to Frisia and kill Finn in his home。 ＇2＇
Nephew to Hrothgar； with whom he subsequently quarrels； and elder
cousin to the two young sons of Hrothgar and Wealhtheow； their natural
guardian in the event of the king's death。 There is something finely
feminine in this speech of Wealhtheow's； apart from its somewhat irregular
and irrelevant sequence of topics。 Both she and her lord probably distrust
Hrothulf； but she bids the king to be of good cheer； and； turning to the
suspect； heaps affectionate assurances on his probity。 〃My own Hrothulf〃
will surely not forget these favors and benefits of the past； but will repay
them to the orphaned boy。
33
… Page 34…
Beowulf Anonymous
XVIII
A CUP she gave him； with kindly greeting and winsome words。 Of
wounden gold； she offered； to honor him； arm…jewels twain； corselet and
rings； and of collars the noblest that ever I knew the earth around。 Ne'er
heard I so mighty； 'neath heaven's dome； a hoard…gem of heroes； since
Hama bore to his bright…built burg the Brisings' necklace； jewel and gem
casket。 Jealousy fled he； Eormenric's hate： chose help eternal。 Hygelac
Geat； grandson of Swerting； on the last of his raids this ring bore with him；
under his banner the booty defending； the war…spoil warding； but Wyrd
o'erwhelmed him what time； in his daring； dangers he sought； feud with
Frisians。 Fairest of gems he bore with him over the beaker…of…waves；
sovran strong： under shield he died。 Fell the corpse of the king into
keeping of Franks； gear of the breast； and that gorgeous ring； weaker
warriors won the spoil； after gripe of battle； from Geatland's lord； and held
the death…field。 Din rose in hall。 Wealhtheow spake amid warriors； and
said： 〃This jewel enjoy in thy jocund youth； Beowulf lov'd； these battle…
weeds wear； a royal treasure； and richly thrive！ Preserve thy strength； and
these striplings here counsel in kindness： requital be mine。 Hast done such
deeds； that for days to come thou art famed among folk both far and near；
so wide as washeth the wave of Ocean his windy walls。 Through the ways
of life prosper； O prince！ I pray for thee rich possessions。 To son of mine
be helpful in deed and uphold his joys！ Here every earl to the other is true；
mild of mood； to the master loyal！ Thanes are friendly； the throng obedient；
liegemen are revelling： list and obey！〃 Went then to her place。 That was
proudest of feasts； flowed wine for the warriors。 Wyrd they knew not；
destiny dire； and the doom to be seen by many an earl when eve should
come； and Hrothgar homeward hasten away； royal； to rest。 The room was
guarded by an army of earls； as erst was done。 They bared the bench…
boards； abroad they spread beds and bolsters。 One beer…carouser in
danger of doom lay down in the hall。
At their heads they set their shields of war； bucklers bright； on the
bench were there over each atheling； easy to see； the high battle…helmet；
the haughty spear； the corselet of rings。 'Twas their custom so ever to be
34
… Page 35…
Beowulf Anonymous
for battle prepared； at home； or harrying； which it were； even as oft as evil
threatened their sovran king。 They were clansmen good。
35
… Page 36…
Beowulf Anonymous
XIX
THEN sank they to sleep。 With sorrow one bought his rest of the
evening； as ofttime had happened when Grendel guarded that golden
hall； evil wrought； till his end drew nigh； slaughter for sins。 'Twas seen and
told how an avenger survived the fiend； as was learned afar。 The livelong
time after that grim fight； Grendel's mother； monster of women； mourned
her woe。 She was doomed to dwell in the dreary waters； cold sea…courses；
since Cain cut down with edge of the sword his only brother； his father's
offspring： outlawed he fled； marked with murder； from men's delights
warded the wilds。 There woke from him such fate…sent ghosts as
Grendel； who； war…wolf horrid； at Heorot found a warrior watching and
waiting the fray； with whom the grisly one grappled amain。 But the man
remembered his mighty power； the glorious gift that God had sent him； in
his Maker's mercy put his trust for comfort and help： so he conquered the
foe； felled the fiend； who fled abject； reft of joy； to the realms of death；
mankind's foe。 And his mother now； gloomy and grim； would go that quest
of sorrow； the death of her son to avenge。 To Heorot came she； where
helmeted Danes slept in the hall。 Too soon came back old ills of the earls；
when in she burst； the mother of Grendel。 Less grim； though； that terror；
e'en as terror of woman in war is less； might of maid； than of men in arms
when； hammer…forged； the falchion hard； sword gore…stained； through
swine of the helm； crested； with keen blade carves amain。 Then was in hall
the hard…edge drawn； the swords on the settles；＇1＇ and shields a…many firm
held in hand： nor helmet minded nor harness of mail； whom that horror
seized。 Haste was hers； she would hie afar and save her life when the
liegemen saw her。 Yet a single atheling up she seized fast and fir