Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. This reading by Kara Shallenberg Beowulf,
Speaker 1: translated by Francis Barton Gomare. Section one lo praise of
Speaker 1: the prowess of people, kings of spear armed Danes. In
Speaker 1: days long sped we have heard, and what honor the
Speaker 1: athelings won oft skilled, the skeeffing from squadroned foes from
Speaker 1: many a tribe, the mead bench tour owing the earls.
Speaker 1: Since Erst he lay friendless, a foundling, Fate repaid him,
Speaker 1: for he waxed under welkin in wealth he throve till
Speaker 1: before him the folk both far and near, who house
Speaker 1: by the whale path heard his mandate him gifts a
Speaker 1: good king he to him, and heir was afterward born
Speaker 1: a son in his halls, whom Heaven sent to favor
Speaker 1: the folk, feeling their woe that Erst they had lacked
Speaker 1: an earl for leader so long a while, the Lord
Speaker 1: endowed him with wielder of wonder, with world's renown. Famed
Speaker 1: was this Beowulf far flew the boast of him, son
Speaker 1: of skilled in the Scandian lands. So becomes it a
Speaker 1: youth to quit him well with his father's friends by
Speaker 1: fee and gift, that to aid him aged in after
Speaker 1: days come warriors willing should war draw nigh liege men
Speaker 1: loyal by lauded deeds, Shall an earl have honor in
Speaker 1: every clan. Forth he fared at the fated moment, sturdy,
Speaker 1: skilled to the shelter of God. Then they bore him
Speaker 1: over the ocean's billow loving clansmen. As late he charged them,
Speaker 1: while wielded words, the winsome skill'd the leader beloved, who
Speaker 1: long had ruled in the roadstead rocked a ring dight
Speaker 1: vessel ice flecked outbound etheling's barge. There laid they down
Speaker 1: their darling lord on the breast of the boat, the
Speaker 1: breaker of rings by the mast. The mighty one, many
Speaker 1: a treasure fetched from far, was freighted with him. No
Speaker 1: ship have I known so nobly dight, with weapons of
Speaker 1: war and weeds of battle, with breast plate and blade
Speaker 1: on his bosom, lay a heaped hoard, that hence should
Speaker 1: go far o'er the flood with him floating away. No
Speaker 1: less these loaded the lordly gifts Thanes huge treasure than
Speaker 1: those had done who in former time forth had sent
Speaker 1: him soul on the seas, a suckling child high o'er
Speaker 1: his head. They hoist the standard a gold wove banner,
Speaker 1: Let billows take him, gave him to ocean grave. Were
Speaker 1: their spirits mournful their mood No man is able to
Speaker 1: say in sooth, no son of the halls, no hero
Speaker 1: neath heaven, who harbored that freight. Now Beowulf bode in
Speaker 1: the burg of the Skildings, leader beloved and long. He
Speaker 1: ruled in fame with all folk, since his father had
Speaker 1: gone away from the world, till awoke an heir, haughty
Speaker 1: health dane, who held through life sage and sturdy the
Speaker 1: Skildings glad. Then one after one there woke to him
Speaker 1: to the chieftain of clansmen children four hey o Agar,
Speaker 1: then Hrothgar, then Halga brave, And I heard that Blank
Speaker 1: was Blank's queen. The hartho Skilfings help mate, dear to
Speaker 1: Rothsgar was given such glory of war, such honor of combat,
Speaker 1: that all his kin o made him gladly. Till great
Speaker 1: grew his band of youthful comrades. It came in his
Speaker 1: mind to bid his henchmen a hall uprear, a master
Speaker 1: mead house, mightier far than ever was seen by the
Speaker 1: sons of earth, And within it then to old and young,
Speaker 1: he would all a loot that the Lord had sent him,
Speaker 1: save only the land and the lives of his men. Wide,
Speaker 1: I heard was the work commanded for many a tribe
Speaker 1: this mid earth, round to fashion the folkstead. It fell
Speaker 1: as he ordered, in rapid achievement. That ready it stood
Speaker 1: there of halls, the noblest herot he named it, whose
Speaker 1: message had might in many a land, not reckless of promise,
Speaker 1: the rings he dealt treasure at banquet. There towered the
Speaker 1: hall high, gabled wide, the hot surge waiting of furious flame.
Speaker 1: Nor far was that day when father and son in
Speaker 1: law stood in feud for warfare and hatred. That woke
Speaker 1: again with envy and anger. An evil spirit endured the
Speaker 1: dole in his dark abode, that he heard each day
Speaker 1: the din of revel. High in the hall. There harps
Speaker 1: rang out clear song of the singer he sang, who
Speaker 1: knew tales of the early time of man, how the
Speaker 1: Almighty made the earth fairest fields enfolded by water, set
Speaker 1: triumphant sun and moon for a light to lighten the
Speaker 1: land dwellers, and braided bright the breast of earth with
Speaker 1: limbs and leaves, made life for all of mortal beings
Speaker 1: that breathe and move. So lived the clansmen in cheer
Speaker 1: and revel, a winsome life till one began to fashion
Speaker 1: evils that field of hell Grendell. This monster grim was
Speaker 1: called march Reaver, mighty in Moorland, living in fen and fastness,
Speaker 1: fief of the giants, the hapless white a while had
Speaker 1: kept since the Creator his exile doomed on kin of
Speaker 1: Cain was the killing avenged by sovereign God for slaughtered
Speaker 1: able ill fared his feud, and far was he driven
Speaker 1: for the slaughter's sake. From sight of men of Cain
Speaker 1: awoke all that woeful breed etins and elves and evil spirits,
Speaker 1: as well as the giants that warred with God. Weary
Speaker 1: while but their wage was paid them, went he forth
Speaker 1: to find at fall of night that haughty house and heed,
Speaker 1: wherever the ring Danes out reveled to rest had gone.
Speaker 1: Found within it the atheling band asleep, after feasting and
Speaker 1: fearless of sorrow, of human hardship, unhallowed, white, grim and greedy,
Speaker 1: he grasped betimes, wrathful, reckless, from resting places, thrifty of
Speaker 1: the Thanes. And thence he rushed fain of his fell, spoil,
Speaker 1: faring homeward, laden with slaughter his lair to see seek. Then,
Speaker 1: at the dawning, as day was breaking, the might of
Speaker 1: Grendel to men was known. Then after wassail was wail,
Speaker 1: uplifted loud moan in the morn, the mighty chief, affeling excellent, unblithe,
Speaker 1: sat labored in woe for the loss of his Thanes.
Speaker 1: When once had been traced the trail of the fiend
Speaker 1: spirit accursed too cruel, that sorrow too long, too Loathsome
Speaker 1: not late the respite, with night returning, a new began
Speaker 1: ruthless murder. He wrecked no whit firm in his guilt
Speaker 1: of the feud and crime. They were easy to find,
Speaker 1: who elsewhere, sought in room remote their rest at night,
Speaker 1: bed in the bowers. When that bale was shown, was
Speaker 1: seen in sooth with shortest token the hall fane's hate.
Speaker 1: Such held themselves far and fast, who the fiend out
Speaker 1: ran Thus ruled unrighteous, and raged his fill one against all,
Speaker 1: until empty stood that lordly building, And long it bodes
Speaker 1: so twelve years tied the trouble he bore sovereign of skildings,
Speaker 1: sorrows in plenty, boundless cares. There came unhidden tidings true
Speaker 1: to the tribes of men, in sorrowful songs. How ceaselessly
Speaker 1: Grendel harassed Hrothgar, What hate he bore him, what murder
Speaker 1: and massacre? Many a year feud unfading, refused consent to
Speaker 1: deal with any of Daneland's earls, make pact of peace,
Speaker 1: or compound for gold. Still less did the wise men
Speaker 1: ween to get great fee for the feud from his
Speaker 1: fiendish hands. But the evil one ambushed ye old and young, death,
Speaker 1: shadow dark, and dogged them, still blured or lurked in
Speaker 1: the livelong night of misty. Morland's men may say not
Speaker 1: where the haunts of these hell roons be. Such heaping
Speaker 1: of horrors. The hater of men, lonely Roamer wrought unceasing harassings,
Speaker 1: heavy er herot he lorded gold bright Hall in gloomy nights,
Speaker 1: and ne'er could the prince approach his throne twas judgment
Speaker 1: of God, or have joy in his hall. Sore was
Speaker 1: the sorrow to Skilding's friend heartrending misery. Many nobles sat
Speaker 1: assembled and searched out counsel. How it were best for
Speaker 1: bold hearted men against harassing terror to try their hand
Speaker 1: whilst they vowed in their heathen fanes alter offerings, asked
Speaker 1: with words that the slayer of souls would succor give
Speaker 1: them for the pain of their people their practice. This
Speaker 1: their heathen hope. Twas hell they thought of in mood
Speaker 1: of their mind. Almighty they knew, not doomsmen of deeds
Speaker 1: and dreadful Lord, nor Heaven's helmet heeded they, ever, wielder
Speaker 1: of wonder. Woe for that man who, in harm and
Speaker 1: hatred hails his soul to fiery embraces, nor favor nor
Speaker 1: change awaits he ever, but well for him, that after
Speaker 1: death day may draw to his Lord and friendship find
Speaker 1: in the Father's arms. Thus seethed unceasing, the son of
Speaker 1: health Dane, with the woe of these days, not wisest
Speaker 1: men assuaged his sorrow to soar the anguish, loathly and
Speaker 1: long that lay on his folk, most baneful of burdens
Speaker 1: and bales of the night. This heard in his home.
Speaker 1: Hegelock's thane, great among geats of Grendel's doings. He was
Speaker 1: the mightiest man of valor in that same day of
Speaker 1: this our life. Stalwart and stately, a stout wave walker,
Speaker 1: he bade make ready yon battle king, said he far
Speaker 1: o'er the swan road. He fain would seek the noble monarch,
Speaker 1: who needed men. The prince's journey, by prudent folk was
Speaker 1: little blamed, though they loved him dear. They whetted the
Speaker 1: hero and hailed good omens. And now the bold one
Speaker 1: from bands of geats comrades chose the keenest of warriors
Speaker 1: ere he could find. With fourteen men the sea wood
Speaker 1: he sought and sailor proved led them on to the
Speaker 1: land's confines. Time had now flown afloat was the ship
Speaker 1: boat under bluff. On board they climbed warriors ready. Waves
Speaker 1: were charning sea with sand. The sailors bore on the
Speaker 1: breast of the bark their bright array, their mail and weapons.
Speaker 1: The men pushed off on its willing way. The well
Speaker 1: braced craft then moved o'er the waters by might of
Speaker 1: the wind that bark like a bird with breast of foam,
Speaker 1: till in season dew. On the second day the curved
Speaker 1: prow such course had run that sailors now could see
Speaker 1: the land, sea cliffs shining, steep high hills, headlands broad
Speaker 1: Their haven was found. Their journey ended up. Then quickly
Speaker 1: the waiters clansmen climbed ashore, anchored their sea wood with
Speaker 1: armor clashing and gear of battle. God they thanked for
Speaker 1: passing in peace o'er the paths of the sea. Now
Speaker 1: saw from the cliff a skilding clansman, a warden that
Speaker 1: watched the water side, how they bore o'er the gangway,
Speaker 1: glittering shields war gear. In readiness, wonder seized him to
Speaker 1: know what manner of men they were. Straight to the
Speaker 1: strand his steed, he rode Hrothgar's henchmen with hand of might.
Speaker 1: He shook his spear and spake in parley, who are ye, then,
Speaker 1: ye armed men, mailed folk, that yon mighty vessel have
Speaker 1: urged thus over the ocean ways here o'er the waters.
Speaker 1: A warden eye sentinel set o'er the sea march here
Speaker 1: lest any foe to the folk of Danes. With harrying
Speaker 1: fleet should harm the land. No aliens ever at ease.
Speaker 1: Thus bore them linden wielders. Yet word of leave. Clearly
Speaker 1: ye lack from clansmen. Here my folk's agreement. A greater
Speaker 1: ne'er saw i of warriors in world than is one
Speaker 1: of you, Yon hero in harness, no henchmen he worthied
Speaker 1: by weapons. If witness his features, his peerless presence. I
Speaker 1: pray you, though, tell your folk and home lest hands,
Speaker 1: Ye fair suspect to wander your way as spies in
Speaker 1: Danish land now dwellers Afar ocean travelers take from me
Speaker 1: simple advice. The sooner the better I hear of the country.
Speaker 1: Whence he came to him, the stateliest spake in answer,
Speaker 1: the warrior's leader his word Horde unlocked. We are by
Speaker 1: kin of the clan of Geats, and Hagilac's own hearth
Speaker 1: fellows we to folk Afar was my father known noble
Speaker 1: atheling eck thou named full of winters. He fared away
Speaker 1: aged from earth. He is honored still through width of
Speaker 1: the world. By why men all to thy lord and
Speaker 1: liege in loyal mood. We hasten hither to half Dane's
Speaker 1: son people protector, be pleased to advise us to that
Speaker 1: mighty one. Come we on, Michael errand to the Lord
Speaker 1: of the Danes, Nor dee my right that ought be hidden.
Speaker 1: We hear thou knowest if sooth it is the saying
Speaker 1: of men that amid the Skildings. A scathing monster, dark
Speaker 1: ill doer in dusky knights shows terrific his rage, unmatched
Speaker 1: hatred and murder to Hrothgar, I, in greatness of soul,
Speaker 1: would succor bring so the wise and brave may worst
Speaker 1: his foes. If ever the end of ills is fated
Speaker 1: of cruel contest, if cure shall follow and the boiling
Speaker 1: care waves cooler grow, else ever, afterward anguish days, he
Speaker 1: shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place high on
Speaker 1: its hill that house unpeered astride his steed, the strand
Speaker 1: ward andnswered clansmen, unquailing. The keen souled thane must be
Speaker 1: skilled to sever and sunder duly words and works. If
Speaker 1: he well intends, I gather this band is graciously bent
Speaker 1: to the Skilding's master. March then, bearing weapons and weeds
Speaker 1: the way I show you, I will bid my men
Speaker 1: your boat. Meanwhile, to guard for fear lest foemen come
Speaker 1: your new tarred ship by shore of ocean, faithfully watching,
Speaker 1: till once again it waft o'er the waters. These well
Speaker 1: loved fanes, winding necked wood to waiders bounds heroes such
Speaker 1: as the hest of fate shall succor and save from
Speaker 1: the shock of war. They bent them to march. The
Speaker 1: boat lay still fettered by cable and fast at anchor.
Speaker 1: Broad bosomed ship then shown the bores over the cheek
Speaker 1: guard chased with gold, keen and gleaming guard. It kept
Speaker 1: o'er the man of war. As marched along heroes in
Speaker 1: haste till the hall. They saw broad of gable and
Speaker 1: bright with gold. That was the fairest mid folk of Earth,
Speaker 1: of houses neath heaven where Hrothgar lived, and the gleam
Speaker 1: of it lightened o'er lands Afar. The sturdy shieldsman showed
Speaker 1: that bright burg of the boldest bade them go straightway hither.
Speaker 1: His steed then turned hardy hero and hailed them. Thus
Speaker 1: tis time that I fare from you, Father, Almighty and
Speaker 1: grace and mercy, guard you well safe in your seekings
Speaker 1: seaward I go gainst hostile warriors hold my watch. End
Speaker 1: of section one, read by Kara Shallenberg w w W
Speaker 1: dot k Ray dot org on September twenty fifth, two
Speaker 1: thousand six, in Oceanside, California,