Beowulf 25Oft running and racing on roadsters they measured
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Literature · Poetry
Beowulf 25
Oft running and racing on roadsters they measured
HallEnglish
The dun-colored highways. Then the light of the morning
Was hurried and hastened. Went henchmen in numbers
To the beautiful building, bold ones in spirit,
To look at the wonder; the liegelord himself then
85 From his wife-bower wending, warden of treasures,
Glorious trod with troopers unnumbered,
Famed for his virtues, and with him the queen-wife
Measured the mead-ways, with maidens attending.
S. emends, suggesting 'déop' for 'déog,' and removing semicolon
after 'wéol.' The two half-lines 'welling ... hid him' would then
read: The bloody deep welled with sword-gore. B. accepts 'déop' for
'déog,' but reads 'déað-fæges': _The deep boiled with the sword-gore
of the death-doomed one_.
Another and quite different rendering of this passage is as
follows: _Oft a liegeman of the king, a fame-covered man mindful of
songs, who very many ancient traditions remembered (he found other
word-groups accurately bound together) began afterward to tell of
Beowulf's adventure, skilfully to narrate it, etc_.
Might 'guma gilp-hladen' mean 'a man laden with boasts of the
deeds of others'?
t.B. accepts B.'s 'hé þæs áron þáh' as given by H.-So., but puts a
comma after 'þáh,' and takes 'siððan' as introducing a dependent
clause: _He throve in honor since Heremod's strength ... had
decreased_.
XV.
HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE.
Hrothgar discoursed (to the hall-building went he,
He stood by the pillar, saw the steep-rising hall-roof
Gleaming with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand there):
{Hrothgar gives thanks for the overthrow of the monster.}
"For the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder
5 Early be offered! Much evil I bided,
Snaring from Grendel: God can e'er 'complish
Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory!
{I had given up all hope, when this brave liegeman came to our aid.}
But lately I reckoned ne'er under heaven
Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows,
10 While the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain
Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened
Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever
The folk-troop's defences 'gainst foes they should strengthen,
'Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of the Wielder
15 A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished
Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom
{If his mother yet liveth, well may she thank God for this son.}
Failed to perform. May affirm very truly
What woman soever in all of the nations
Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth,
20 That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward
In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear,
{Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shalt be my son.}
Most excellent hero, I'll love thee in spirit
As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward
The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee
25 Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee.
Full often for lesser service I've given
Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious,
{Thou hast won immortal distinction.}
To a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction
Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish
30 Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee
With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!"
{Beowulf replies: I was most happy to render thee this service.}
Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's offspring:
"That labor of glory most gladly achieved we,
The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured
35 The enemy's grapple; I would grant it much rather
Thou wert able to look at the creature in person,
Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings!
On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him,
With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple
40 Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle
'Less his body escape; I was wholly unable,
{I could not keep the monster from escaping, as God did not will that I
should.}
Since God did not will it, to keep him from going,
Not held him that firmly, hated opposer;
Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding
45 He suffered his hand behind him to linger,
His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher;
{He left his hand and arm behind.}
No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature
Found him there nathless: the hated destroyer
Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils,
50 But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him
Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing
In baleful bonds: there banished for evil
The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal,
{God will give him his deserts.}
How the God of glory shall give him his earnings."
55 Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf,
{Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf's actions speak louder than
words.}
From boasting and bragging of battle-achievements,
Since the princes beheld there the hand that depended
'Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman,
Each one before him, the enemy's fingers;
60 Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled,
The heathen one's hand-spur, the hero-in-battle's
Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing,
{No sword will harm the monster.}
That not any excellent edges of brave ones
Was willing to touch him, the terrible creature's
65 Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him.
B. and t.B. read 'staþole,' and translate stood on the floor.
For 'snaring from Grendel,' 'sorrows at Grendel's hands' has been
suggested. This gives a parallel to 'láðes.' 'Grynna' may well be gen.
pl. of 'gyrn,' by a scribal slip.
The H.-So punctuation has been followed; but B. has been followed
in understanding 'gehwylcne' as object of 'wíd-scofen (hæfde).' Gr.
construes 'wéa' as nom abs.
XVI.
HROTHGAR LAVISHES GIFTS UPON HIS DELIVERER.
{Heorot is adorned with hands.}
Then straight was ordered that Heorot inside
With hands be embellished: a host of them gathered,
Of men and women, who the wassailing-building
The guest-hall begeared. Gold-flashing sparkled
5 Webs on the walls then, of wonders a many
To each of the heroes that look on such objects.
{The hall is defaced, however.}
The beautiful building was broken to pieces
Which all within with irons was fastened,
Its hinges torn off: only the roof was
10 Whole and uninjured when the horrible creature
Outlawed for evil off had betaken him,
Hopeless of living. 'Tis hard to avoid it
{[A vague passage of five verses.]}
(Whoever will do it!); but he doubtless must come to
The place awaiting, as Wyrd hath appointed,
15 Soul-bearers, earth-dwellers, earls under heaven,
Where bound on its bed his body shall slumber
{Hrothgar goes to the banquet.}
When feasting is finished. Full was the time then
That the son of Healfdene went to the building;
The excellent atheling would eat of the banquet.
20 Ne'er heard I that people with hero-band larger
Bare them better tow'rds their bracelet-bestower.
The laden-with-glory stooped to the bench then
(Their kinsmen-companions in plenty were joyful,
Many a cupful quaffing complaisantly),
25 Doughty of spirit in the high-tow'ring palace,
{Hrothgar's nephew, Hrothulf, is present.}
Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot then inside
Was filled with friendly ones; falsehood and treachery
The Folk-Scyldings now nowise did practise.
{Hrothgar lavishes gifts upon Beowulf.}
Then the offspring of Healfdene offered to Beowulf
30 A golden standard, as reward for the victory,
A banner embossed, burnie and helmet;
Many men saw then a song-famous weapon
Borne 'fore the hero. Beowulf drank of
The cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing
35 He needed not blush for in battle-men's presence.
{Four handsomer gifts were never presented.}
Ne'er heard I that many men on the ale-bench
In friendlier fashion to their fellows presented
Four bright jewels with gold-work embellished.
'Round the roof of the helmet a head-guarder outside
40 Braided with wires, with bosses was furnished,
That swords-for-the-battle fight-hardened might fail
Boldly to harm him, when the hero proceeded
{Hrothgar commands that eight finely caparisoned steeds be brought to
Beowulf.}
Forth against foemen. The defender of earls then
Commanded that eight steeds with bridles
45 Gold-plated, gleaming, be guided to hallward,
Inside the building; on one of them stood then
An art-broidered saddle embellished with jewels;
'Twas the sovereign's seat, when the son of King Healfdene
Was pleased to take part in the play of the edges;
50 The famous one's valor ne'er failed at the front when
Slain ones were bowing. And to Beowulf granted
The prince of the Ingwins, power over both,
O'er war-steeds and weapons; bade him well to enjoy them.
In so manly a manner the mighty-famed chieftain,
55 Hoard-ward of heroes, with horses and jewels
War-storms requited, that none e'er condemneth
Who willeth to tell truth with full justice.
Kl. suggests 'hroden' for 'háten,' and renders: _Then quickly was
Heorot adorned within, with hands bedecked_.--B. suggests 'gefrætwon'
instead of 'gefrætwod,' and renders: _Then was it commanded to adorn
Heorot within quickly with hands_.--The former has the advantage of
affording a parallel to 'gefrætwod': both have the disadvantage of
altering the text.
The passage 1005-1009 seems to be hopeless. One difficult point is
to find a subject for 'gesacan.' Some say 'he'; others supply 'each,'
i.e., every soul-bearer ... must gain the inevitable place. The
genitives in this case are partitive.--If 'he' be subj., the genitives
are dependent on 'gearwe' (= prepared).--The 'he' itself is disputed,
some referring it to Grendel; but B. takes it as involved in the
parenthesis.
XVII.
BANQUET (continued).--THE SCOP'S SONG OF FINN AND HNÆF.
{Each of Beowulf's companions receives a costly gift.}
And the atheling of earlmen to each of the heroes
Who the ways of the waters went with Beowulf,
A costly gift-token gave on the mead-bench,
Offered an heirloom, and ordered that that man
{The warrior killed by Grendel is to be paid for in gold.}
