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Speaker 1: Francis Barton Gummere, Section four. There was hurry and hest
Speaker 1: in hurraut, now for hands to bedeck it and dense
Speaker 1: was the throng of men and women, the wine haul
Speaker 1: to cleanse the guest room, to garnish gold, gaze on
Speaker 1: the hangings that were wove on the wall, and wonders many,
Speaker 1: to delight each mortal the looks upon them. Though braced
Speaker 1: within by iron bands, that building bright was broken, sorely
Speaker 1: rent were its hinges, the roof alone held safe and
Speaker 1: sound when seared with crime, the fiendish foe, his flight
Speaker 1: essayed of life, despairing no light thing that the flight
Speaker 1: for safety, say it, who will force of fate? He
Speaker 1: shall find his way to the refuge, ready for race
Speaker 1: of man, for soul, possessors and sons of earth. And
Speaker 1: there his body, on bed of death shall rest. After
Speaker 1: revel arrived was the hour when to hall proceeded. Half
Speaker 1: Dean's son, the king himself would sit to banquet, ne'er
Speaker 1: heard eye of host in haughtier Throng more graciously gathered round,
Speaker 1: giver of rings, bowed then to bench those bearers of
Speaker 1: glory fain of the feasting, fatally received many a mead
Speaker 1: cup the mighty in spirit kinsman who sat in the
Speaker 1: sumptuous hall Trothgar and Hrothulf Herrath now was filled with
Speaker 1: friends the folk of Skildings. Ne'er yet had tried the
Speaker 1: traitor's deed to Beowulf gave the bane of half Dean,
Speaker 1: a gold wove banner, gerdon of triumph, broidered battle flag,
Speaker 1: breastplate and helmet, and a splendid sword was seen of
Speaker 1: many born to the brave one Berewulf took cup in
Speaker 1: hall for such costly gifts. He suffered no shame in
Speaker 1: that soldier Throng, for I heard a few heroes in
Speaker 1: heartier mood, with four such gifts so fashioned with gold
Speaker 1: on the ale bench honoring others. Thus or the roof
Speaker 1: of the helmet high, a ridge wound with wires kept
Speaker 1: ward o'er the head, lest the relict of files should
Speaker 1: fierce invaded sharp in the strife, when that shielded hero
Speaker 1: should go to grapple against his foes. Then the earl's
Speaker 1: defense on the floor bade lead coursers eight with carven
Speaker 1: head gear adown the hall. One horse was decked with
Speaker 1: a saddle all shining and set in jewels, twas the
Speaker 1: battle seat of the best of kings. When to play
Speaker 1: of swords, the son of half Dean was fain to fare,
Speaker 1: near failed his valor in the crush of combat, when
Speaker 1: corpses fell to Berewulf over them. Both then gave the
Speaker 1: refuge of Ingwine's right and power o'er war, steeds and weapons,
Speaker 1: wished him joy of them manfully. Thus the mighty Prince
Speaker 1: hoard guard for heroes that hard fight, repaid with steeds
Speaker 1: and treasures contemned by none who is willing to say
Speaker 1: the sooth aright. And the Lord of earls to each
Speaker 1: that came with Berewulf over the briny ways an heirloom
Speaker 1: there at the ell bench gave precious gift, and the
Speaker 1: price bade pay in gold for him whom grendel Est murdered,
Speaker 1: and fain of them more had killed, had not wisest
Speaker 1: God their word averted, and the man's brave mood. The
Speaker 1: maker then ruled human kind as here and now. Therefore
Speaker 1: is in sight always best and forethought of mind, how
Speaker 1: much awaits him of leaf and of loath, who long
Speaker 1: time here through days of warfare, this world endures. Then
Speaker 1: song and music, mingled sounds, and the presence of half
Speaker 1: Dean's head of armies, and harping was heard with the
Speaker 1: hero lay as throftghast singer the hall Joy woke along
Speaker 1: the mead seats, making his song of that sudden raid
Speaker 1: on the sons of Finn, half Dean's hero. Naf the
Speaker 1: Skilding was fated to fall in the Frizzyan slaughter. Hilbert
Speaker 1: needed not hold in value her enemy's honor. Innocent both
Speaker 1: were the loved one she lost at the Linden Play.
Speaker 1: Bairn and brother they bowed to fate, stricken by spears
Speaker 1: twas a sorrowful woman. None doubted why the daughter of
Speaker 1: Hoc bewail'd her doom. When dawning came and under the
Speaker 1: sky she saw them lying kinsmen murdered where most she
Speaker 1: had kend of the sweets of the world by war
Speaker 1: were swept. Two Finn's own liegemen, and few were left
Speaker 1: in the parleying place he could ply no longer weapon
Speaker 1: nor war. Could he wage on Hengest and rescue his
Speaker 1: remnants by right of arms from the princess than a
Speaker 1: pact he offered another dwelling, The Danes should have hall
Speaker 1: and high seat, and half the power should fall to
Speaker 1: them in Frisian land, and at the fee gifts Folkwald's
Speaker 1: sun day by day, the Danes should honor the folk
Speaker 1: of Hengest favor with rings, even as truly with treasure
Speaker 1: and jewels, with fretted gold, as his Frisian kin he
Speaker 1: meant to honor in Ale Hall. There pacts of peace
Speaker 1: they plighted further on both sides, firmly Finn to Hengest
Speaker 1: with oath upon honor, openly promised that woeful remnant with
Speaker 1: wise men's aid, nobly to govern. So none of the guests,
Speaker 1: by word or work should warp the treaty, or with
Speaker 1: malice of mind, bemoan themselves as forced to follow their
Speaker 1: fee giver's slayer laudless men as their lot ordain'd should
Speaker 1: Frisian moreover, with Foemen's taunt, that murderous hatred to mind recall,
Speaker 1: then edge of the sword must seal his doom. Oaths
Speaker 1: were given and ancient gold heap'd from Hord. The hardy
Speaker 1: skill'ding battle fane best on his bail fire, lay all
Speaker 1: on the bire, were plain to see the gory sark,
Speaker 1: the gilder'd swine crest boar of hard iron, and Atheling's
Speaker 1: many slain by the sword. At the slaughter they fell.
Speaker 1: It was hild Berth's hest at Neft's own pyre, the
Speaker 1: burn of her body on brands to lay his bones
Speaker 1: to burn on the bail fire placed at his uncle's side,
Speaker 1: and sorrowful dirgers bewept them. The woman great wailing ascended,
Speaker 1: then wound up to Bulkan. The wildest of death fires
Speaker 1: roared o'er the hillock heads all were melted, gashes burst,
Speaker 1: and blood gush'd out from bites of the body. Bale
Speaker 1: fire devoured greediest spirit, though spared not by war, out
Speaker 1: of either folk. Their flower was gone. Then hasten'd those
Speaker 1: heroes their home to see, friendless to find the Frisian
Speaker 1: land houses and high burg hangeth still through the death
Speaker 1: dyed winter dwelt with Finn holding pact. Yet of home
Speaker 1: he minded, though powerless, his ring decked prow to drive
Speaker 1: o'er the waters now waves roll'd fierce lash'd by the
Speaker 1: winds or winter long them in icy fetters, then fared
Speaker 1: another year to mene dwellings. As yet they do the
Speaker 1: sun bright skies that their season ever duly await far off.
Speaker 1: Winter was driv'n fair lay Earth's breast, and Fain was
Speaker 1: the rover the guest to depart, though more gladly he
Speaker 1: ponder'd on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep, and
Speaker 1: how to hasten the hot encounter where sons of the
Speaker 1: Frisians were sure to be so we escap'd not the
Speaker 1: common doom. When hung with laughing the light of battle,
Speaker 1: best of blades, his bosom piasts, its edge was fam'd
Speaker 1: with the Frisian earls on fierce heart. Thinn there fell
Speaker 1: likewise on himself at home. The horrid saw death for
Speaker 1: Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack had sorrowing told from
Speaker 1: seaways land'd mourning their woes. Finn's wavering spirit bode not imprest.
Speaker 1: The burg was reddened with blood of foemen, and Finn
Speaker 1: was slain king amid clansmen. The queen was taken to
Speaker 1: their ship. The Skilding warriors bore all the chattels. The
Speaker 1: chieftain owned whatever they found in Finn's domain of gems
Speaker 1: and jewels. The gentle wife o'er paths of the deep
Speaker 1: to the Danes, they bore led to her land. The
Speaker 1: lay was finish'd the Gleamin's song. Then glad rose the
Speaker 1: revel bench boy brighten'd bearers draw from their wonder bats
Speaker 1: wine comes weel thow forth under gold crown goes where
Speaker 1: the good pair sit Uncle and nephew, two each to
Speaker 1: the other, one kindred in amity unfirth. The spokesman at
Speaker 1: the Skilding Lord's feet sat men had faith in his
Speaker 1: spirit weeness of courage, though kinsmen had found him unsure.
Speaker 1: At the sword play, the Skilding Queen spoke, quoth of
Speaker 1: this cup, my king and lord, breaker of rings, and
Speaker 1: blithe be thou gold friend of men to the geats.
Speaker 1: Here speak such words of mildness as men should use.
Speaker 1: Be glad with thy geats of those gifts, be mindful
Speaker 1: or near or far which now thou hast. Men say
Speaker 1: to me, a son, thou wishest yon hero to hold
Speaker 1: thy haraths perjured jewel hall, brightest enjoy thou canst with
Speaker 1: many a largis, and leave to thy kin folk and realm.
Speaker 1: When forth thou goest to greet thy doom for gracious,
Speaker 1: I deem my Wrothulf, willing to hold and rule nobly
Speaker 1: our youths. If thou yield up first prince of skildings,
Speaker 1: thy part in the world, I ween with good, he
Speaker 1: will well requite offspring of hours, when all he minds
Speaker 1: that for him we did in his helpless days of
Speaker 1: gift and grace to gain him honor. Then she turned
Speaker 1: to the seat where her sons were placed, Thretrick and Rothmund,
Speaker 1: with heroes, bairds, young men. Together the Geat too sat
Speaker 1: there Berewulf brave the brothers. Between a cup she gave
Speaker 1: him with kindly greeting and winsome words of wound and gold.
Speaker 1: She offered to honor him armed jewels, twain, corselet and rings,
Speaker 1: and of collars. The noblest that ever I knew the
Speaker 1: earth around ne'er heard I so mighty neath Heaven's dome
Speaker 1: a hoard gem of heroes, since Hammer bore to his
Speaker 1: bright built berg, the brisings, necklace, jewel and gem casket.
Speaker 1: Jealousy fled he or Menroc's hate chose help eternal. He
Speaker 1: gallach Geat, grandson of Swerting, on the last of his raids.
Speaker 1: This ring bore with him under his manner the booty
Speaker 1: defending the war spoil warding. But word o'erwhelm'd him. What
Speaker 1: time in his daring dangers he sought feud with Frisians.
Speaker 1: Fairest of gems. He bore with him of the beaker
Speaker 1: of waves, sovereign, strong under shield, he died, fell the
Speaker 1: corpse of the king into keeping of Franks, gear of
Speaker 1: the breast, and that gorgeous ring. Weaker warriors won the
Speaker 1: spoil after gripe of battle from Gekland's lord, and held
Speaker 1: the death field. Din rose in hall buildthol, spake amid warriors,
Speaker 1: and said, this jewel enjoy in thy jockund youth, berewulf
Speaker 1: lov'd these battle weeds, where a royal treasure and richly thrive,
Speaker 1: preserve thy strength. And these striplings here counsel in kindness
Speaker 1: requital be mine, has done such deeds that for days
Speaker 1: to come Thou art fam'd among folk both far and near,
Speaker 1: so wide as washeth the wave of ocean, his windy
Speaker 1: walls through the ways of life. Prosper o Prince, I
Speaker 1: pray for the rich possessions to son of mine, be
Speaker 1: helpful indeed, and uphold his joys. Here every earl to
Speaker 1: the other is true, mild of mood to the master.
Speaker 1: Loyal thines are friendly, the throng obedient liegemen are reveling.
Speaker 1: List and obey went then to her place that was
Speaker 1: proudest of feasts, flow'd wine for the warriors. Word they
Speaker 1: knew not destiny, dire, and the doom to be seen
Speaker 1: by many an earl when eve should come and throth
Speaker 1: our homeward, hasten away royal to rest. The room was
Speaker 1: guarded by an army of earls. As erste was done,
Speaker 1: they bared the bench balls abroad, they spread beds and bolsters.
Speaker 1: One beer, carousering danger of doom, lay down in the hall.
Speaker 1: At their heads they set their shields of war. Butler's
Speaker 1: brights on the bench were there over each eighthling easy
Speaker 1: to see the high battle helmet, the haughty spear, the
Speaker 1: corselet of rings. Twas their customs, so ever to be
Speaker 1: for battle, prepared at home or hurrying, which it were,
Speaker 1: even as oft as evil threatened their sovereign king. They
Speaker 1: were clansmen good. Then sank they to sleep with sorrow
Speaker 1: when bought his rest of the evening. As oft time
Speaker 1: had happened when Grendel guarded that golden hall, evil wrought
Speaker 1: till his end drew nigh slaughter for sins twas seen
Speaker 1: and told how an avenger survived the fiend, as was
Speaker 1: learnt afar the livelong time after that grim fight, Grendel's mother,
Speaker 1: monster of women, mourned her woe. She was doomed to
Speaker 1: dwell in the dreary waters cold sea coursers. Since Cain
Speaker 1: cut down with edge of the sword, his only brother,
Speaker 1: his father's offspring, outlawed, he fled, marked with murder from
Speaker 1: men's delights, warded the wilds there woke from him. Such
Speaker 1: fate sent ghosts as Grendel, who wore wolf horrid. At herot,
Speaker 1: found a warrior watching and waiting the fray, with whom
Speaker 1: the grisly one grappled a main. But the man remembered
Speaker 1: his mighty power, the glorious gift that God had sent
Speaker 1: him in his maker's mercy, put his trust for comfort
Speaker 1: and help. So he conquered the foe, felled the fiend,
Speaker 1: who fled abject, reft of joy, to the realms of
Speaker 1: death man kinds foe, and his mother, now gloomy and grin,
Speaker 1: would go that quest of sorrow the death of her son,
Speaker 1: to avenge to her aught. Came she where Helmut had
Speaker 1: Danes slept in the hall too soon came back old
Speaker 1: ills of the earls, whenin she burst the mother of
Speaker 1: Grendel less grim, though that terror e'n as terror of
Speaker 1: woman in war is less might have made than of
Speaker 1: men in arms. When hammer forged the falcon heart sword
Speaker 1: gore stained, though swine of the helm crested with keen
Speaker 1: blade carves. A man then was in the hall, the
Speaker 1: hard edge drawn, the swords on the settle, and shields
Speaker 1: AMENI firm held in hand, nor helmet minded, nor harness
Speaker 1: of mail, whom that horror seized. Haste was hers. She
Speaker 1: would hie far and save her life. When the liegeman
Speaker 1: saw her, yet a single athling up, she seized fast
Speaker 1: and firm, as she fled to the moor. He was
Speaker 1: forthrothgar of heroes, the dearest of trusty vassals betwixt the seas,
Speaker 1: whom she killed on his couch. A clansman famous in
Speaker 1: battle brave. Nor was Berewulf there another house had been
Speaker 1: held apart after giving of gold for the Geat renowned
Speaker 1: Uproar filled her roths. The hand all had view'd blood
Speaker 1: fleck she bore with her bale was returned dole in
Speaker 1: the dwellings twas dire exchange, where Dane and Geat were
Speaker 1: doomed to give the lives of loved ones. Long tried.
Speaker 1: King the hoary hero at heart was sad when he
Speaker 1: knew his noble no more lived and dead. Indeed was
Speaker 1: his dearest thane to his bow was Berewolf, brought in
Speaker 1: haste dauntless victor. As daylight broke along with his earl's
Speaker 1: the oathling Lord with his clownsmen came where the king abode,
Speaker 1: waiting to see if the wielder of all would turn
Speaker 1: this tale of trouble and woe. Strode overfloor the famed
Speaker 1: in strife with his hand companions. The hall resounded, wishing
Speaker 1: to greet the wise old king in Gwine's lord. He
Speaker 1: asked if the knight had passed in peace to the
Speaker 1: Prince's mind. End of Section four