Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Cynthia Lyons, Naperville, Illinois. Beowulf,
Speaker 1: translated by Francis Barton Gomere, Section twenty five. Under harness,
Speaker 1: his heart then is hit indeed by sharpest shafts, and
Speaker 1: no shelter avails from foul behest of the hellish fiend
Speaker 1: him seems too little, what long he possessed, greedy and grim,
Speaker 1: No golden rings he gives for his pride. The promised
Speaker 1: future forgets he and spurns with all God has sent him,
Speaker 1: wonder wielder of wealth and fame. Yet in the end
Speaker 1: it ever comes that the frame of the body, fragile, yields, faded, falls,
Speaker 1: and there follows another who joyously the jewels divides the
Speaker 1: royal riches nor wrecks of his forbear ban. Then such
Speaker 1: baleful thoughts Beowulf, dearest best of men, and the better
Speaker 1: part choose profit, eternal and temper thy, pride, warrior famous.
Speaker 1: The flower of thy might lasts now a while, but
Speaker 1: ere long it shall be that sickness or sword, thy
Speaker 1: strength shall minish, or fang of fire or flooding billow,
Speaker 1: or bite of blade, or brandish spear, or odious age,
Speaker 1: or the eyes clear beam, wax, dull and darken death.
Speaker 1: Even thee in haste shall overwhelm thou, hero of war.
Speaker 1: So the ring Danes these half years a hundred I ruled,
Speaker 1: wielded neath welkin, and warded them bravely from mighty ones
Speaker 1: many o'er Middle Earth, from spear and sword, till it
Speaker 1: seem'd for me no foe could be found under fold
Speaker 1: of the sky. Lo sudden the shift to me seated secure,
Speaker 1: came grief for joy when Grendel began to harry my home,
Speaker 1: the hellish foe for those ruthless raids unresting, I suffer'd
Speaker 1: heart sorrow, heavy heaven be thanked, Lord Eternal, for life
Speaker 1: extended that I on this head, all hewn and bloody,
Speaker 1: after long evil with eyes may gaze. Go to the bench.
Speaker 1: Now be glad at banquet, warrior worthy, A wealth of
Speaker 1: treasure at dawn of day be dealt between us. Glad
Speaker 1: was the Geat's lord, going betimes to seek his seat,
Speaker 1: as the Sage commanded afresh as before for the famed
Speaker 1: in battle. For the band of the hall was a
Speaker 1: banquet dight nobly anew the night helm darken'd dust o'er
Speaker 1: the drinkers, the doughty ones rose for the hoary headed
Speaker 1: would hasten to rest aged shilding and eager the geat
Speaker 1: shield fighter sturdy for sleeping yearn'd him wander weary warrior
Speaker 1: guest from far a hall thane heralded forth, who by
Speaker 1: custom courtly cared for all needs of a thane as
Speaker 1: in those of old days. Warrior wanderers wont to have
Speaker 1: so slumbered. The stout heart stately the hall rose gabled
Speaker 1: in gilt, where the guests slept on till a raven
Speaker 1: black the rapture of heaven, blithe heart boded, bright came
Speaker 1: flying shine after shadow. The swordsmen hastened athlings, all were
Speaker 1: eager homeward forth to fare, and far from thence the
Speaker 1: great hearted guest would guide his keel. Bade then the
Speaker 1: hardy ones hunting be brought to the sun of etchlaf
Speaker 1: the sword bade him take excellent iron, and uttered his
Speaker 1: thanks for it, quoth that he counted it keen in battle.
Speaker 1: War friend winsome with words, he slander'd not edge of
Speaker 1: the blade twas a big hearted man, now eager for
Speaker 1: parting and armed at point warriors waited while went to
Speaker 1: his host that darling of Danes, the doughty atheling to
Speaker 1: high seat hastened, and Hrothgar greeted. Be Wolf, spoke Bairn
Speaker 1: of eggg Thou lo we sea farers, say our will
Speaker 1: far come men that we fain would seek Higelac. Now
Speaker 1: we here have found hosts to our heart. Thou hast
Speaker 1: harbored us. Well, if ever on earth I am able
Speaker 1: to win me more of thy love, O, Lord of men,
Speaker 1: aught anew than I now have done for work of war,
Speaker 1: I am willing still if it come to me ever
Speaker 1: across the seas that neighbor foremen annoy and fright thee
Speaker 1: as they that hate thee erewhile have used thousands, then
Speaker 1: of Thanes I shall bring heroes to help thee of Higelac.
Speaker 1: I know ward of his folk, that though few his years,
Speaker 1: the Lord of the Gates will give me aid by
Speaker 1: word and by work, that well I may serve thee,
Speaker 1: wielding the war wood to win thy triumph, and lending
Speaker 1: thee might when thou lackest men. If thy Hrethric should
Speaker 1: come to court of Gates, a sovereign son, he will
Speaker 1: surely there find his friends a far off land. Each
Speaker 1: man should visit who vaunts him, brave him. Then, answering,
Speaker 1: Hrothgar spake these words of thine, the wisest god sent
Speaker 1: to thy soul. No sajr counsel from so young in
Speaker 1: years e'er yet have I heard that thou art strong
Speaker 1: of main, and in mind art weary art wise in words?
Speaker 1: I ween Indeed, if ever it hap that Hrethel's e'er
Speaker 1: by spear be seiz'd by sword, grim battle, by illness
Speaker 1: or iron, Thine elder and lord, people's leader and life
Speaker 1: be thine, no seemlier man will the sea Gates find
Speaker 1: at all to choose for their chief and king for hoard,
Speaker 1: God of heroes. If hold thou wilt thy kinsman's kingdom,
Speaker 1: thy keen mind pleases me, the longer the better be
Speaker 1: wolf loved. Thou hast brought it about that both are peoples,
Speaker 1: sons of the Geat and spear. Dane folk shall have
Speaker 1: mutual peace and from murderous strife, such as once they
Speaker 1: waged from war refrain long as I rule this realm
Speaker 1: so wide. Let our hoards be common. Let heroes with
Speaker 1: gold each other greet o'er the gannet's bath, and the
Speaker 1: ring prowbear o'er rolling waves, tokens of love. I true.
Speaker 1: My landfolk toward friend and foe, are firmly join'd and
Speaker 1: honor They keep in the olden way to him in
Speaker 1: the hall. Then half Dane's son gave treasures twelve, and
Speaker 1: the trust of Earls bade him fair with the gifts
Speaker 1: to his folk. Beloved hailed to his home, and in
Speaker 1: haste return Then kiss'd the King of Kin, renown'd the
Speaker 1: Shulding's chieftain, that choicest Thane, and fell on his neck,
Speaker 1: fast flow'd the tea of the hoary, headed heavy with winters.
Speaker 1: He had chances twain, but he clung to this, that
Speaker 1: each should look on the other again, and hear him
Speaker 1: in hall. Was this hero so dear to him his
Speaker 1: breast's wild billows he banned in vain, safe in his soul,
Speaker 1: a secret longing locked in his mind for that loved
Speaker 1: man burned in his blood. Then Beowulf strode glad of
Speaker 1: his gold gifts. The Grass plot o'er warrior blithe the
Speaker 1: wave roamer bode riding at anchor, its owner awaiting. As
Speaker 1: they hastened onward Hrothgar's gift. They lauded at length twas
Speaker 1: a lord unpeered every way blameless till age had broken
Speaker 1: it spareth no mortal, his splendid might came now to ocean.
Speaker 1: The ever courageous, hardy henchmen their harness bearing woven war sacks.
Speaker 1: The warden marked trusty as ever the earl's return from
Speaker 1: the height of the hill. No hostile words reached the
Speaker 1: guests as he rode to greet them. But welcome, he
Speaker 1: called to that weder clan. As the sheen mailed spoilers
Speaker 1: to ship marched on then on the strand, with street
Speaker 1: steeds and treasure and armor. Their roomy and ringdite ship
Speaker 1: was heavily laden high. Its mast rose over Hrothgar's hoarded gems.
Speaker 1: A sword to the boat guard, Beowulf gave, mounted with
Speaker 1: gold on the mead bench, since he was better esteemed
Speaker 1: that blade possessing heirloom old their ocean. Keel boarding, they
Speaker 1: drew through the deep, and Daneland left. A sea cloth
Speaker 1: was set a sail with ropes firm to the mast.
Speaker 1: The flood timbers moaned, nor did wind over billows. That
Speaker 1: wave swimmer blow across from her course. The craft sped
Speaker 1: on foam necked. It floated forth o'er the waves keel firm,
Speaker 1: bound over briny currents, till they got them sight of
Speaker 1: the Geatish cliffs, home known Headlands High. The boat, stirred
Speaker 1: by winds on the strand up, drove helpful at haven.
Speaker 1: The harbor guard stood, who long already for loved companions
Speaker 1: by the water, had waited and watched afar. He bound
Speaker 1: to the beach, the broad bosomed ship with anchor bands
Speaker 1: lest ocean billows that trusty timber should hair away. Then
Speaker 1: Beowulf bade them bear the treasure, gold and jewels. No
Speaker 1: journey far was it, thence to go to the giver
Speaker 1: of rings. Higelac Hrethling at home, he dwelt by the
Speaker 1: sea wall, close himself and clan haughty that house a
Speaker 1: hero the king hide the hall, and higg'd right, young,
Speaker 1: wise and wary. Though winter's few in those fortress walls,
Speaker 1: she had found a home. Harreth's daughter, Nor humble her ways,
Speaker 1: nor grudge she gifts to the geatish men of precious treasure.
Speaker 1: Not Thrith's pride showed she folk queen famed, or that
Speaker 1: fell Deceit was none so daring that durst make bold,
Speaker 1: save her lord alone of the liege, and dear that
Speaker 1: lady full in the face to look. But forged fetters,
Speaker 1: he found his lot bonds of death and brief the respite.
Speaker 1: Soon as they seized him his sword, doom was spoken,
Speaker 1: and the burnished blade a baleful murder, proclaimed and closed
Speaker 1: no queenly way for women to practice. Though peerless, she
Speaker 1: that the weaver of peace from warrior deer by wrath
Speaker 1: and lying his life, should reave, but Hemming's kinsman hindered this,
Speaker 1: for over their ale men also told that of these
Speaker 1: folk horrors, fewer she wrought onslaughts of evil. After she
Speaker 1: went gold decked bride to the brave young Prince Atheling
Speaker 1: haughty and off a hall or the fallow flood at
Speaker 1: her father's bidding safely sought where since she prospered royal
Speaker 1: throned rich in goods, fain of the fair life, fate
Speaker 1: had sent her and leel in love to the Lord
Speaker 1: of warriors, He of all heroes, I heard of ever
Speaker 1: from sea to sea of the sons of Earth, most
Speaker 1: excellent seemed. Hence Offa was praised for his fighting and
Speaker 1: feeing by far off men. The spear bold warrior wisely
Speaker 1: he ruled over his empire. Umer woke to him help
Speaker 1: of heroes. Hemming's kinsman, grandson of garmand grim in war,
Speaker 1: hastened the hardy one henchmen with him sandy strand of
Speaker 1: the sea to tread and widespread ways. The the world's
Speaker 1: great candle sun shone from south. They strode along with
Speaker 1: sturdy steps to the spot they knew where the battle
Speaker 1: king Young his burg within slayer of ungan Thoe shared
Speaker 1: the rings shelter of heroes to Higelac Beowulf's coming was
Speaker 1: quickly told that there in the court the clansman's refuge,
Speaker 1: the shield companions sound and alive. Hail from the hero play.
Speaker 1: Homeward strode with haste in the hall by highest order.
Speaker 1: Room for the rovers was readily made by his sovereign.
Speaker 1: He sat, come safe from battle, kinsmen by kinsmen, his
Speaker 1: kindly lord he first had greeted in gracious form with
Speaker 1: manly words. The mead dispensing came through the high haul
Speaker 1: Harrath's daughter Winsome to warriors, wine cup bore to the
Speaker 1: hands of the heroes. Higelac, then his comrade, fairly with question,
Speaker 1: plied in the lofty hall, sore, longing to know what
Speaker 1: manner of sojourn the sea gates made. What came of
Speaker 1: thy quest, my kinsman, Beowulf, when thy yearning suddenly swept
Speaker 1: thee yonder battle to seek o'er the briny sea combat
Speaker 1: in heroat Crossgar, couldst thou aid at all the honor'd
Speaker 1: chief in his wide known woes with waves of care,
Speaker 1: My sad heart seethed, I sore, mistrusted my loved one's venture.
Speaker 1: Long I begged thee by no means to seek that
Speaker 1: slaughtering monster, But suffer the south Danes to settle their
Speaker 1: feud themselves with Grendel. Now God be thanked that safe
Speaker 1: and sound I can see thee. Now be Wulf spake
Speaker 1: the bairn of Edge. Thou tis known and unhidden, Higelac, Lord,
Speaker 1: to many men that meeting of ours struggle grim between
Speaker 1: Grendel and me, which we fought on the field, where
Speaker 1: full too many sorrows he wrought for the shielding victors
Speaker 1: evils unending. These all I avenged. No boast can be
Speaker 1: from breed of Grendel any on earth, For that uproar
Speaker 1: at dawn from the longest lived of the Loathsome race
Speaker 1: in fleshly fold. But first I went Hrothgar to greet
Speaker 1: in the Hall of Gifts, where half Dane's kinsmen high renowned,
Speaker 1: stood as my purpose was pleas to him assign'd me
Speaker 1: a seat by his son and heir. The liegemen were
Speaker 1: lusty my life Day's never such merry men over mead
Speaker 1: in hall have I heard under heaven. The high born
Speaker 1: queen People's peace bringer passed through the hall, cheered the
Speaker 1: young clansmen clasps of gold ere. She sought her seat
Speaker 1: to sundry, gave off to the heroes, Hrothgaw's daughter to earls.
Speaker 1: In turn the ale cup tendered she whom I heard
Speaker 1: these hall companions fray Owaru name. When fretted gold, she
Speaker 1: proffer'd the warriors promised, is she gold decked maid to
Speaker 1: the glad son of Froda Sage, the seams to the
Speaker 1: shilding's friends, Kingdom's keeper. He counts it wise, the co
Speaker 1: in to wed So and ward off feud store of slaughter.
Speaker 1: But seldom ever, when men are slain does the murder
Speaker 1: speak sink but briefest while, though the bride be fair,
Speaker 1: nor haply will like it. The heathen bard lord, and
Speaker 1: as little each of his liegemen all when a thane
Speaker 1: of the Danes, in that doughty throng, goes with the
Speaker 1: lady along their hall, and on him the old time
Speaker 1: heirlooms glisten, hard and ring decked Hythebard's treasure weapons that
Speaker 1: once they wielded fair until they lost it at the
Speaker 1: linden play. Liegemen leel and their lives as well, then
Speaker 1: over the ale on this heirloom, gazing some ash wielder
Speaker 1: old who has all in mind that spear death of men.
Speaker 1: He is stern of mood, heavy of heart. In the
Speaker 1: hero young tests the temper and tries the soul, and
Speaker 1: war hate wakens with words like these, canst thou not, comrade?
Speaker 1: Can that sword which to the fray thy father carried
Speaker 1: in his final feud neath the fighting mask, dearest of blades,
Speaker 1: when the Danish slew him and wielded the war place
Speaker 1: on whither guild's fall. After havoc of heroes those hardy shildings.
Speaker 1: Now the son of a certain slaughtering Dane, proud of
Speaker 1: his treasure, paces this hall, joys in the killing, and
Speaker 1: carries the jewel that rightfully ought to be owned by thee.
Speaker 1: Thus he urges and eggs him all the time with
Speaker 1: keenest wordsords till occasion offers that Fraiowaru's thane for his
Speaker 1: father's deed, after bite of brand in his blood, must slumber,
Speaker 1: losing his life. But that Liegeman flies, living away for
Speaker 1: the land he kens, and thus be broken on both
Speaker 1: their sides, oaths of the earls. When Ingeld's breast wells
Speaker 1: with war hate and wife love. Now after the care billows,
Speaker 1: cooler grows. So I hold not high the Heathobard's faith
Speaker 1: due to the Danes or their during love and pact
Speaker 1: of peace. But I pass from that, turning to Grendel,
Speaker 1: o giver of treasure, and saying in full now how
Speaker 1: the fight resulted, Handfrey of heroes. When Heaven's jewel had
Speaker 1: fled o'er far fields, that fierce sprite came night foe
Speaker 1: savage to seek us out where safe and sound we
Speaker 1: sentried the hall to Honshue then was that harassing deadly
Speaker 1: His fall there was fated. He first was slain, girded
Speaker 1: warrior grendel on him, turn'd murderous mouth on our mighty kinsmen,
Speaker 1: and all of the braves man body devoured. Yet none
Speaker 1: the earlier, empty handed, would the bloody tooth murderer, mindful
Speaker 1: of bail outward, go from the gold decked hall. But me,
Speaker 1: he attack'd, in his terror of might, with greedy hand,
Speaker 1: grasped me a glove hung by him, wide and wondrous,
Speaker 1: wound with bands and in artful. Wise it was all
Speaker 1: wrought by devilish craft of dragon skins. Meitherin an innocent man,
Speaker 1: the fiendish foe was fain to thrust with many another
Speaker 1: he might not sow when I, all angrily upright, stood
Speaker 1: tware long to relate how that land destroyer I paid
Speaker 1: in kind for his cruel deeds. Yet there, my prince,
Speaker 1: this people of thine, got fame by my fighting. He
Speaker 1: fled away, and a little space his life preserv'd, But
Speaker 1: there stay'd behind him, his stronger hand left in harout. Heartsick.
Speaker 1: Thence on the floor of the ocean that outcast fell
Speaker 1: me for this struggle. The Shielding's friend paid in plenty,
Speaker 1: with plates of gold, with many a treasure. When morn
Speaker 1: had come and we all at the banquet board sat down,
Speaker 1: then was song and glee. The gray haired shoulding, much tested,
Speaker 1: told of the times of yore, whiles the hero, his
Speaker 1: harp bestirred, would of delight now lays he chanted of
Speaker 1: sooth and sadness, or set aright legends of wonder the
Speaker 1: wide hearted king, Or for years of his youth he
Speaker 1: would yearn at times for strength of old struggles. Now
Speaker 1: stricken with age, hoary hero, his heart surged full, when
Speaker 1: wise with winters he wailed their flight. Thus in the
Speaker 1: hall the whole of that day, at ease we feasted
Speaker 1: till fell or earth another night anon full ready in
Speaker 1: greed of vengeance. Grendel's mother set forth all doleful, dead
Speaker 1: was her son through war, hate of wedders. Now woman monstrous,
Speaker 1: with fury fell a foeman. She slew, avenging her offspring
Speaker 1: from asher old loyal counselor life was gone. Nor might
Speaker 1: they even when morning broke Those Danish people their death done.
Speaker 1: Comrade burn with brands on bale fire lay the man
Speaker 1: they mourn'd under mountain stream she had carried the corpse
Speaker 1: with cruel hands for Hrothgar. That was the heaviest sorrow
Speaker 1: of all that had laden the lord of his folk.
Speaker 1: The leader then by thy life besought me sad was
Speaker 1: his soul in the sea wave's coil, to play the
Speaker 1: hero and hazard my being for glory of prowess my garden.
Speaker 1: He pledg'd I then in the waters tis widely known
Speaker 1: that Seafloor guardian Savage found hand to hand there awhile
Speaker 1: we struggled billows well blood in the briny hall her head,
Speaker 1: I hewed with a hardy blade from Grendel's mother and
Speaker 1: gained my life, though not without danger. My doom was
Speaker 1: not yet Then the haven of heroes. Half Dane's sun
Speaker 1: gave me Ingerdon great gifts of price. So held this
Speaker 1: king to the customs old that I wanted for naught.
Speaker 1: In the wage I gained the meed of my might.
Speaker 1: He made me gifts d Afdane's heir for my own disposal.
Speaker 1: Now to thee, my prince, I pro offfer them all gladly,
Speaker 1: give them thy grace alone can find me favor. Few
Speaker 1: indeed have I of kinsmen, save Higelac thee then he
Speaker 1: bade them bear him the bore head standard in battle
Speaker 1: helm high and breastplate gray. The splendid sword. Then spake
Speaker 1: in form me this war gear the wise old Prince
Speaker 1: Hrothgar gave, and his hest he added that its story
Speaker 1: be straightway said to thee awhile it was held by
Speaker 1: Heragar king for long time, lord of the land of Schildings,
Speaker 1: yet not to his son. The sovereign left it to
Speaker 1: daring heroward dear as he was to him his harness
Speaker 1: of well, hold thou it all, And I heard that
Speaker 1: soon passed o'er the path of this treasure, all apple fallow.
Speaker 1: Four good steeds, each like the other's arms and horses
Speaker 1: he gave to the king. So should kinsmen be not
Speaker 1: weave one another the net of wiles, or with deep
Speaker 1: hid treachery, death contrive for neighbor and comrade. His nephew
Speaker 1: was ever by hardy Higelac held full dear, and each
Speaker 1: kept watch o'er the other's wheel. I heard too the
Speaker 1: necklace to Higgott he presented wonder wrought treasure, which wial
Speaker 1: Thou gave him Sovereign's daughter. Three steeds he added, slender
Speaker 1: and saddle gay, Since such gift the gem gleamed bright
Speaker 1: on the breast of the queen. Thus showed his strain.
Speaker 1: The son of Edge, Thou as a man, remark'd for
Speaker 1: mighty deeds and acts of honor. At ale. He slew
Speaker 1: not comrade or kin, nor cruel his mood, though of
Speaker 1: sons of earth, his strength was greatest, a glorious gift
Speaker 1: that God had sent the splendid leader. Long was he
Speaker 1: spurn'd and worthless by Geatish warriors held him at meed.
Speaker 1: The master of clans failed full oft to favor at all, slacken, shiftless.
Speaker 1: The strong men deemed him profitless prince. But payment came
Speaker 1: to the warrior, honored for all his woes. Then the
Speaker 1: bulwark of earls bade bring within Hardy chieftain Hrefel's heirloom,
Speaker 1: garnish'd with gold no geat e'er new in shape of
Speaker 1: a sword, a statelier prize. The brand he laid in
Speaker 1: Beowulf's lap and of hides assigned him seven thousand, with
Speaker 1: house and high seat. They held in common Land alike
Speaker 1: by their line of birth inheritance home. But hire the
Speaker 1: king because of his rule over the realm itself. Now further,
Speaker 1: it fell, with the flight of years, with Harrying's horrid
Speaker 1: that Higelac perished, and herdred too by hewing of swords
Speaker 1: under the shield wall, slaughtered lay. When him at the
Speaker 1: van of his victor folk sought hardy heroes heatho schilfings
Speaker 1: in arms o'erwhelming heroic's nephew. Then Beowulf came as king
Speaker 1: this broad realm to wield, and he ruled it well
Speaker 1: fifty winters, a wise old prince, warding his land, until
Speaker 1: one began, in the dark of night a dragon to
Speaker 1: rage in the grave on the hill. A hoard it
Speaker 1: guarded in the stone barrow steep a straight path reached it,
Speaker 1: unknown to mortals. Some man, however, came by chance that
Speaker 1: cave within to the heathen horde in hand. He took
Speaker 1: a golden goblet, nor gave he it back, stole with
Speaker 1: it away, while the watcher slept by thievish wiles for
Speaker 1: the warden's wrath. Prince and people must pay betimes. End
Speaker 1: of Section twenty nine