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Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Peter Yeersley. Beowulf by Anonymous,
Speaker 1: translated by Francis Barton Camere Section five. Rothgar spake helmet
Speaker 1: of skildings, ask not of pleasure. Pain is renewed to
Speaker 1: Danish folk. Dead is ischerire of irmen Laf the elder brother,
Speaker 1: my sage adviser, and stay in council, shoulder comrade, in
Speaker 1: stress of fight, when warriors clashed and we warded our
Speaker 1: heads hewed the helm of boors hero famed should be
Speaker 1: every earl as I care was, but here in hirot
Speaker 1: a hand hath slain him of wandering death sprite. I
Speaker 1: WoT not whither proud of the prey her path she took,
Speaker 1: fain of her fill the feud she avenged that yester night,
Speaker 1: unyieldingly grendle in grimmest grasp thou killedst seeing how long
Speaker 1: these liegemen mine, He ruined and ravaged, reft of life
Speaker 1: in arms he fell. Now another comes keen and cruel
Speaker 1: her kin to avenge faring far in feud of blood,
Speaker 1: so that many a thane shall think who e'er sorrows
Speaker 1: in soul for that sharer of rings. This is hardest
Speaker 1: of heart bales. The hand lies low that once was willing.
Speaker 1: Each wish to please land dwellers here and liegemen mine
Speaker 1: who house by those parts I have heard relate that
Speaker 1: such a pair they have sometimes seen march Stalker's mighty,
Speaker 1: the moorland haunting wandering spirits. One of them seem'd so
Speaker 1: far as my folk could fairly judge of womankind, and
Speaker 1: one accursed in man's guise, trod the misery track of exile,
Speaker 1: though huger than human bulk Grendel in days long gone,
Speaker 1: they named him folk of the land. His father. They
Speaker 1: knew not, nor any brood that was borne to him,
Speaker 1: of treacherous spirits. Untrod is their home, by wolf cliffs
Speaker 1: haunt they and windy headlands fenways fearful where flows the
Speaker 1: stream from mountains, gliding to gloom of the rocks underground
Speaker 1: flood not far is it, Hence in measure of miles
Speaker 1: that the mere expand and o'er it the frost bound
Speaker 1: forest hanging sturdily rooted shadows. The wave by night is
Speaker 1: a wonder weird to see fire on the waters. So
Speaker 1: wise liv'd none of the sons of men to search
Speaker 1: those depths. Nay, though the heathrove harried by dogs, the
Speaker 1: horn proud heart, this halt should seek long distance, driv'n
Speaker 1: his dear life. First on the brink he yields. Ere
Speaker 1: he brathe the plunge to hide his head tis no
Speaker 1: happy place. Thence the welter of waters washes up wan
Speaker 1: to welkin when winds bestir evil storms and air grows
Speaker 1: dusk and the heavens weep. Now is help once more
Speaker 1: with thee alone the land thou know'st not place of fear,
Speaker 1: where thou findest out that sinflect being seek. If thou dare,
Speaker 1: I will reward thee for waging this fight with ancient treasure,
Speaker 1: as Erst I did with winding gold. If thou winnest
Speaker 1: back Beowulf spake bairn of egthial sorrow not sage. It
Speaker 1: beseems us better friends to avenge than fruitlessly mourn them.
Speaker 1: Each of us all must his end abide in the
Speaker 1: ways of the world. So win who may glory ere
Speaker 1: death When his days are told. That is the warrior's
Speaker 1: worthiest doom. Rise o realm warder, ride we anon and
Speaker 1: mark the trail of the mother of Grendel. No harbor
Speaker 1: shall hide her. Heed my promise, enfolding of field or
Speaker 1: forested mountain, or floor of the flood. Let flee whence
Speaker 1: ye will but thou this day endure in patience as
Speaker 1: I ween thou wilt thy woes. Each one leapt up
Speaker 1: the graybeard God. He thanked Mighty Lord for the man's
Speaker 1: brave words for Frothgar. Soon a horse was saddled wave
Speaker 1: maine steed. The sovereign wise stately rode on his shield.
Speaker 1: Armed men followed in force. The footprints led along the woodland,
Speaker 1: widely seen a path o'er the plain where she pass'd
Speaker 1: and trod the murky moor of men at arms. She
Speaker 1: bore the bravest and best one dead, him who with
Speaker 1: Throthgar the homestead ruled on. Then went the atheling born
Speaker 1: o'er stone cliffs, steep and straight defiles, narrow passes and
Speaker 1: unknown ways, headlands sheer, and the haunts of the nichoors. Foremost,
Speaker 1: he fared a few at his side of the wisest
Speaker 1: men the ways to scan till he found in a
Speaker 1: flash the forested hill hanging o'er the hoary rock, a
Speaker 1: woefull wood. The waves below had died in blood. The
Speaker 1: danish Men had sorrow of soul and for skildings, all
Speaker 1: for many a hero twas hard to bear ill for
Speaker 1: earls when I scare his head. They found by the
Speaker 1: flood on the fall, and there waves were welling. The
Speaker 1: warriors saw hot with blood, but the horns sang oft
Speaker 1: battle song bold. The band sat down and watch'd on
Speaker 1: the water, worm like things, sea dragons, strange that sounded
Speaker 1: the deep, and niccoors that lay on the ledge of
Speaker 1: the nests, such as oft essay at hour of morn,
Speaker 1: on the road of sails, their ruthless quest. And sea
Speaker 1: snake and monsters these started away, swollen and savage that
Speaker 1: song to hear that war horn's blast. The warden of giats,
Speaker 1: with bolt from bow, then balked of life of wave work.
Speaker 1: One monster amid its heart went the keen war shaft
Speaker 1: in water. It seem'd less doughty in swimming whom death
Speaker 1: had seized, swift on the billows with boar spears well
Speaker 1: hooked and barbed. It was hard, beset done to death,
Speaker 1: and dragg'd on the headland wave roamer. Wondrous warriors view'd
Speaker 1: the grisly quest, then girt him Beowulf in martial mail,
Speaker 1: nor mourned for his life. His breastplate broad and bright
Speaker 1: of hues, woven by hand. Should the waters dry, well
Speaker 1: could it ward the warrior's body, that battle should break
Speaker 1: on his breast in vain, nor harm his heart by
Speaker 1: the hand of a foe. And the helmet white that
Speaker 1: his head protected was destined to dare the deeps of
Speaker 1: the flood, Though wave whirl wind twas wound with chains,
Speaker 1: deck'd with gold, as in days of yore. The weapon
Speaker 1: smith worked it wondrously with swine forms set it that
Speaker 1: swords nowise brandished in battle could bite that helm. Nor
Speaker 1: was that the meanest of mighty helps which Shrothgar's orator
Speaker 1: offered at need runting. They named the hilted sword of
Speaker 1: old time. Heir looms easily. First iron was its edge
Speaker 1: all etched with poison, with battle blood hardened, nor blenched
Speaker 1: it at fight in a hero's hand who held it
Speaker 1: ever on paths of peril, prepared to go to folkstead
Speaker 1: of foes. Not first time this it was destined to
Speaker 1: do a daring task. For he bore not in mind
Speaker 1: the bairon of Ecglaff, sturdy and strong, that speech he
Speaker 1: had made drunk with wine. Now this weapon he lent
Speaker 1: to a stouter swordsman himself, though Durst not under welter
Speaker 1: of waters wager his life as loyal liegemen. So lost
Speaker 1: he his glory, honor of earls with the other, not
Speaker 1: so who girded him now for the grim encounter. Beowulf, spake,
Speaker 1: Baaron of ECHTHIAU have mind, thou, honored offspring of half Dane, gold,
Speaker 1: friend of men. Now I go on this quest sovereign
Speaker 1: wise what once was said, if in thy cause it
Speaker 1: came that I should lose my life, thou wouldst loyal
Speaker 1: bide to me, though fallen in father's place. Be guardian
Speaker 1: thou to this group of myines, my warrior friends. If
Speaker 1: war should seize me and the goodly gifts thou gavest me.
Speaker 1: Rothgar beloved to Higalac send Gaatlund's king may Ken by
Speaker 1: the Goldrethel's son see when he stares at the treasure,
Speaker 1: that I got, mere friend for goodness famed and joy'd
Speaker 1: while I could in my duel bestower and let unfaith
Speaker 1: wield this wondrous sword. Earl far honored this heirloom, precious,
Speaker 1: hard of edge, with thrunting, I seek doom of glory,
Speaker 1: or death shall take me. After these words, the wader
Speaker 1: gayat lord boldly hastened, biding never answer at all. The
Speaker 1: ocean floods clos'd o'er the hero long while of the
Speaker 1: day fled ere he felt the floor of the sea,
Speaker 1: soon found the field who the flood domain. Sword hungry
Speaker 1: held these hundred winters, greedy and grim that some guest
Speaker 1: from above, some man was raiding her monster realm. She
Speaker 1: grasped out for him with grisly claws, and the warrior seized,
Speaker 1: yet scathed. She not his body hail the breastplate hindered
Speaker 1: as she strove to shatter the sark of war. The
Speaker 1: linked harness with loathsome hand then bore this brine wolf.
Speaker 1: When bottom she touched the Lord of rings to the
Speaker 1: lair she haunted, whilst vainly he strove, though his valor
Speaker 1: held weapon to wield against wondrous monsters that sore beset him.
Speaker 1: Sea beasts, many tried with fierce tusks to tear his mail,
Speaker 1: and swarmed on the stranger. But soon he marked He
Speaker 1: was now in some hall he knew not which where
Speaker 1: water never could work him harm, nor through the roof
Speaker 1: could reach him. Ever, fangs of the flood firelight. He
Speaker 1: saw beams of a blaze that brightly shone. Then the
Speaker 1: warrior was ware of that wolf of the deep, mere
Speaker 1: wife monstrous for mighty stroke. He swung his blade, and
Speaker 1: the blow withheld not then sang on her head, that
Speaker 1: seemly blade, its war song wild. But the warrior, found
Speaker 1: the light of battle, was loath to bite, to harm
Speaker 1: the heart. Its hard edge failed. The noble, at need,
Speaker 1: yet had known of old strife hand to hand, and
Speaker 1: had helmets cloven doomed men's fighting gear. First time this
Speaker 1: for the gleaming blade, that its glory fell firm, still stood,
Speaker 1: nor failed in valor. Heedful of high deeds, high glax
Speaker 1: kinsmen flung away fretted sword featly jeweled, the angry earl
Speaker 1: on earth. It lay steel edged and stiff. His strength
Speaker 1: he trusted hand gripe of might. So man shall do
Speaker 1: whenever in war he weens to earn him lasting fame
Speaker 1: nor fears for his life, seized them by shoulder, shrank
Speaker 1: not from combat. The Giatish war prince Grendel's mother flung
Speaker 1: then the fierce one, filled with wrath his deadly foe,
Speaker 1: that she fell to ground. Swift on her part, she
Speaker 1: paid him back with grisly grasp and grappled with him.
Speaker 1: Spent with struggle, stumbled the warrior, fiercest of fighting men,
Speaker 1: fell adown on the hall guest. She hurled herself hent
Speaker 1: her short sword broad and brown edged the bairn to
Speaker 1: avenge the sole born's sun on his shoulder lay braided
Speaker 1: breast mail, barring Deathwithstanding entrance of edge or blade, life
Speaker 1: would have ended for ekg Yao's son under wide Earth.
Speaker 1: For that Earl of Giats, had his armor of war
Speaker 1: not aided him, battled net hard, and Holy God wielded
Speaker 1: the victory. Wisest maker, the Lord of Heaven allowed his
Speaker 1: cause and easily rose the earl erect mid the battle
Speaker 1: gear saw he a blade triumphant, old sword of Ao,
Speaker 1: tense with edge of proof, warrior's heirloom weapon unmatched save
Speaker 1: only twas more than other men to bandy of battle
Speaker 1: could bear at all as the giants had wrought it
Speaker 1: ready and keen seized then its chain hilt. The Skilding's chieftain,
Speaker 1: bold and battle grim brandished the sword, reckless of life,
Speaker 1: and so wrathfully smote that it gripped her neck and
Speaker 1: grasped her hard her bone rings, breaking the blade pierced
Speaker 1: through that fated one's flesh to flow. She sank bloody
Speaker 1: the blade. He was, blithe of his deed, then blazed
Speaker 1: forth light twas bright within as when from the sky
Speaker 1: there shines unclouded Heaven's candle the hall. He scann'd by
Speaker 1: the wall. Then went he, his weapon raised high by
Speaker 1: its hilts. The hygelac Thane, angry and eager, that edge
Speaker 1: was not useless to the warrior. Now he wish'd with
Speaker 1: speed Grendel to Gwerdon, for grim raids many for the
Speaker 1: war he wag'd on western Danes, oftener far than an
Speaker 1: only time, when of Hrothgar's half companions he slew in slumber,
Speaker 1: in sleep, devour'd fifteen men of the folk of Danes,
Speaker 1: and as many others outward bore his horrible prey well
Speaker 1: paid for that. The wrathful prince, for now prone he
Speaker 1: saw Grendel stretch'd there, spent with war, spoiled of life,
Speaker 1: so scathed had left him Heorot's battle. The body sprang
Speaker 1: far when after death it endured the blow swords stroked
Speaker 1: savage that severed its head. Soon then saw the sage
Speaker 1: companions who waited with throthgar, watching the flood, that the
Speaker 1: tossing water's turbid grew blood stained. The mere old men, together,
Speaker 1: hoary haired of the hero, spake the warrior. Would not
Speaker 1: they weened again, proud of conquest, come to seek their
Speaker 1: mighty master. To many, it seemed the Wolf of the
Speaker 1: waves had won his life. The ninth hour came. The
Speaker 1: noble skildings left the headland homeward went the gold friend
Speaker 1: of men. But the guests sat on, stared at the surges,
Speaker 1: sick in heart, and wish'd yet weened not their winsome
Speaker 1: lord again. To see now that sword began from blood
Speaker 1: of the fight in battle droppings war blade to wane,
Speaker 1: twas a wondrous thing, that all of it melted as
Speaker 1: ice is wont When frosty fetters, the Father loosens, unwines,
Speaker 1: the wave bonds, wielding all seasons and times, the true
Speaker 1: God he nor took from that dwelling the Duke of
Speaker 1: the Gaats, save only the head and that hilt withal
Speaker 1: blazoned with duels. The blade had melted, burned was the
Speaker 1: bright sword. Her blood was so hot, so poisoned the
Speaker 1: hell sprite who perish'd within there Soon he was swimming,
Speaker 1: who safe sow in combat downfall of demons, up dove
Speaker 1: through the flood. The clas ushing waters were cleansed, now
Speaker 1: waste of waves, where the wandering fiend her life days left,
Speaker 1: and this lapsing world swam then to strand, the sailor's refuge.
Speaker 1: Sturdy in spirit of sea, booty, glad of burden, brave
Speaker 1: he bore with him, went then to greet him and God.
Speaker 1: They thanked the thane band choice of their chieftain, blithe
Speaker 1: that safe and sound, they could see him again soon
Speaker 1: from the hardy one, helmet and armor deftly they doth'd
Speaker 1: now drows'd the mere water neath welkin with war blood stain'd.
Speaker 1: Forth they fared by the footpaths, thence merry at heart
Speaker 1: the highway's measured, well known roads. Courageous men carried the
Speaker 1: head from the cliff by the sea, and arduous task
Speaker 1: for all the band the firm in fight, since four
Speaker 1: were needed on the shaft of slaughter strenuously to bear
Speaker 1: to the gold hall Grendel's head. So presently to the
Speaker 1: palace there foemen fearless, fourteen gaiats marching came their master
Speaker 1: of Clan Mighty amid them the meadow ways trod strode.
Speaker 1: Then within the sovereign Thane fearless in fight of fame,
Speaker 1: renowned hardy hero Hrothgar to greet, and next by the
Speaker 1: hair into hall was born Grendel's head, where the henchmen
Speaker 1: were drinking an awe to clan and queen alike, a
Speaker 1: monster of marvel. The men look'd on Beowulf, spake, Bairn
Speaker 1: of egthiow lo. Now this sea booty, son of half Dane,
Speaker 1: Lord of Skildings, we've mustily brought the sign of glory.
Speaker 1: Thou seest it here? Not lightly did I, with my
Speaker 1: life escape in war under water, this work, I essay'd,
Speaker 1: with endless effort, And even so my strength had been lost.
Speaker 1: Had the Lord not shielded me. Not a wit could
Speaker 1: I with fronting do in work of war. Though the
Speaker 1: weapon is good, yet a sword the sovereign of men
Speaker 1: vouchsafed me to spy on the wall there in splendor,
Speaker 1: hanging old, gigantic, how oft he guides the friendless Wight,
Speaker 1: and I fought with that brand, felling in fight, since
Speaker 1: fate was with me. The house's wardens. That war sword
Speaker 1: then all burn'd bright blade when the blood gush'd o'er
Speaker 1: it battle sweat hot. But the hilt I brought back
Speaker 1: from my foes so avenged I their fiendish deeds death
Speaker 1: fall of Danes, as was due and right, And this
Speaker 1: is my hest that in heorot. Now safe thou canst
Speaker 1: sleep with thy soldier band and every thane of all
Speaker 1: thy folk, both old and young. No evil fear Skilding's
Speaker 1: lord from that side again aught ill for thy earls,
Speaker 1: as erst thou must. Then the golden hilt for that
Speaker 1: gray haired leader hoary hero in hand was laid giant
Speaker 1: wrought old so owned and enjoyed it. After downfall of
Speaker 1: devils the Danish lord wonder Smith's work, since the world
Speaker 1: was rid of that grim souled fiend, the foe of
Speaker 1: God murder mark'd and his mother as well. Now it
Speaker 1: pass'd into power of the people's king best of all,
Speaker 1: that the oceans bound, who have scattered the gold o'er
Speaker 1: Scandia's isle hrothcas spake the hilt he view'd he'r looom old,
Speaker 1: where was etch'd the rise of that far off fight,
Speaker 1: where the floods o'erwhelm'd raging waves. The race of giants,
Speaker 1: fearful their fate, a folk estranged from God eternal, whence
Speaker 1: guerden dieu in that waste of waters the wielder paid
Speaker 1: them so on the guard of shining gold. In runic staves,
Speaker 1: it was rightly said for whom the serpent traced sword
Speaker 1: was wrought best of blades in by gone days, and
Speaker 1: the hilt well wound. The wise one spake, sun of
Speaker 1: Hielfdane silent were all lo So may he say, who
Speaker 1: sooth and right follows mid folk of far time, mindful
Speaker 1: a land warden old that this earl belongs to the
Speaker 1: better breed, So borne aloft thy fame must fly, O friend,
Speaker 1: my beowulf, far and wide o'er folk Stead's many firmly
Speaker 1: thou shalt all maintain mighty strength with mood of wisdom.
Speaker 1: Love of mine, will I assure thee as awhile ago,
Speaker 1: I promis'd thou shalt prove a stay in future, in
Speaker 1: far off years to folk of thine, to the heroes,
Speaker 1: a help was not heremod Thus to offspring of ech Guala,
Speaker 1: honor s kildings nor grew for their grace, but for
Speaker 1: grisly slaughter, for doom of death. To the Danish man,
Speaker 1: he slew wrath, swollen his shoulder, comrades companions at board.
Speaker 1: So he passed alone, chieftain, haughty from human cheer. Though
Speaker 1: him the maker with might endow'd delights of power and
Speaker 1: uplifted high above all men, yet blood fierce his mind.
Speaker 1: His breast Horde grew no bracelets gave he to Danes
Speaker 1: as was due. He endur'd all joyless, strain of struggle
Speaker 1: and stress of woe, long feud with his folk. Here
Speaker 1: find thy lesson of virtue. Advise thee this verse I
Speaker 1: have said for thee wise from lapsed winters wondrous seems.
Speaker 1: How to sons of men, Almighty God, in the strength
Speaker 1: of his spirit, sendeth wisdom estate high station. He swayeth
Speaker 1: all things, whiles he letteth right lustily fare the heart
Speaker 1: of the hero of high born race in seat ancestral
Speaker 1: assigns him bliss his folks, sure fortress in fee to hold,
Speaker 1: puts in his power great parts of the earth, empire
Speaker 1: so ample that end of it this want of wisdom
Speaker 1: weeneth none. So he waxes in wealth. No wise can
Speaker 1: harm him, illness or age. No evil cares shadow his spirit,
Speaker 1: No sword hate threatens from ever an enemy. All the
Speaker 1: world wends at his will. No worse he knoweth, till
Speaker 1: all within him obstinate. Pride waxes and wakes, while the
Speaker 1: warden slumbers. The spirit's sentry sleep is too fast, which
Speaker 1: masters his might. And the murderer nears, stealthily shooting the
Speaker 1: shafts from his bow. End of Section four of Beowulf