Beowulf Part 24

[3] As the pa.s.sage stands in H.-So., Unferth presents Beowulf with the sword Hrunting, and B. thanks him for the gift. If, however, the suggestions of Grdtvg. and M. be accepted, the pa.s.sage will read: _Then the brave one (_i.e._ Beowulf) commanded that Hrunting be borne to the son of Ecglaf (Unferth), bade him take his sword, his dear weapon; he (B.) thanked him (U.) for the loan, etc_.

XXVII.

SORROW AT PARTING.

{Beowulf's farewell.}

Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's offspring: "We men of the water wish to declare now Fared from far-lands, we're firmly determined To seek King Higelac. Here have we fitly 5 Been welcomed and feasted, as heart would desire it; Good was the greeting. If greater affection I am anywise able ever on earth to Gain at thy hands, ruler of heroes, Than yet I have done, I shall quickly be ready

{I shall be ever ready to aid thee.}

10 For combat and conflict. O'er the course of the waters Learn I that neighbors alarm thee with terror, As haters did whilom, I hither will bring thee For help unto heroes henchmen by thousands.

{My liegelord will encourage me in aiding thee.}

I know as to Higelac, the lord of the Geatmen, 15 Though young in years, he yet will permit me, By words and by works, ward of the people, Fully to furnish thee forces and bear thee My lance to relieve thee, if liegemen shall fail thee, And help of my hand-strength; if Hrethric be treating, [63] 20 Bairn of the king, at the court of the Geatmen, He thereat may find him friends in abundance: Faraway countries he were better to seek for Who trusts in himself." Hrothgar discoursed then, Making rejoinder: "These words thou hast uttered 25 All-knowing G.o.d hath given thy spirit!

{O Beowulf, thou art wise beyond thy years.}

Ne'er heard I an earlman thus early in life More clever in speaking: thou'rt cautious of spirit, Mighty of muscle, in mouth-answers prudent.

I count on the hope that, happen it ever 30 That missile shall rob thee of Hrethel's descendant, Edge-horrid battle, and illness or weapon Deprive thee of prince, of people's protector,

{Should Higelac die, the Geats could find no better successor than thou wouldst make.}

And life thou yet holdest, the Sea-Geats will never Find a more fitting folk-lord to choose them, 35 Gem-ward of heroes, than _thou_ mightest prove thee, If the kingdom of kinsmen thou carest to govern.

Thy mood-spirit likes me the longer the better, Beowulf dear: thou hast brought it to pa.s.s that To both these peoples peace shall be common,

{Thou hast healed the ancient breach between our races.}

40 To Geat-folk and Danemen, the strife be suspended, The secret a.s.sailings they suffered in yore-days; And also that jewels be shared while I govern The wide-stretching kingdom, and that many shall visit Others o'er the ocean with excellent gift-gems: 45 The ring-adorned bark shall bring o'er the currents Presents and love-gifts. This people I know Tow'rd foeman and friend firmly established,[1]

After ancient etiquette everywise blameless."

Then the warden of earlmen gave him still farther,

{Parting gifts}

50 Kinsman of Healfdene, a dozen of jewels, Bade him safely seek with the presents His well-beloved people, early returning.

[64]

{Hrothgar kisses Beowulf, and weeps.}

Then the n.o.ble-born king kissed the distinguished, Dear-loved liegeman, the Dane-prince saluted him, 55 And clasped his neck; tears from him fell, From the gray-headed man: he two things expected, Aged and reverend, but rather the second, [2]That bold in council they'd meet thereafter.

The man was so dear that he failed to suppress the 60 Emotions that moved him, but in mood-fetters fastened

{The old king is deeply grieved to part with his benefactor.}

The long-famous hero longeth in secret Deep in his spirit for the dear-beloved man Though not a blood-kinsman. Beowulf thenceward, Gold-splendid warrior, walked o'er the meadows 65 Exulting in treasure: the sea-going vessel Riding at anchor awaited its owner.

As they pressed on their way then, the present of Hrothgar

{Giving liberally is the true proof of kingship.}

Was frequently referred to: a folk-king indeed that Everyway blameless, till age did debar him 70 The joys of his might, which hath many oft injured.

[1] For 'geworhte,' the crux of this pa.s.sage, B. proposes 'geohte,'

rendering: _I know this people with firm thought every way blameless towards foe and friends_.

[2] S. and B. emend so as to negative the verb 'meet.' "Why should Hrothgar weep if he expects to meet Beowulf again?" both these scholars ask. But the weeping is mentioned before the 'expectations': the tears may have been due to many emotions, especially grat.i.tude, struggling for expression.

XXVIII.

THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY.--THE TWO QUEENS.

Then the band of very valiant retainers Came to the current; they were clad all in armor,

{The coast-guard again.}

In link-woven burnies. The land-warder noticed The return of the earlmen, as he erstwhile had seen them; 5 Nowise with insult he greeted the strangers From the naze of the cliff, but rode on to meet them; Said the bright-armored visitors[1] vesselward traveled [65] Welcome to Weders. The wide-bosomed craft then Lay on the sand, laden with armor, 10 With horses and jewels, the ring-stemmed sailer: The mast uptowered o'er the treasure of Hrothgar.

{Beowulf gives the guard a handsome sword.}

To the boat-ward a gold-bound brand he presented, That he was afterwards honored on the ale-bench more highly As the heirloom's owner. [2]Set he out on his vessel, 15 To drive on the deep, Dane-country left he.

Along by the mast then a sea-garment fluttered, A rope-fastened sail. The sea-boat resounded, The wind o'er the waters the wave-floater nowise Kept from its journey; the sea-goer traveled, 20 The foamy-necked floated forth o'er the currents, The well-fashioned vessel o'er the ways of the ocean,

{The Geats see their own land again.}

Till they came within sight of the cliffs of the Geatmen, The well-known headlands. The wave-goer hastened Driven by breezes, stood on the sh.o.r.e.

{The port-warden is anxiously looking for them.}

25 Prompt at the ocean, the port-ward was ready, Who long in the past outlooked in the distance,[3]

At water's-edge waiting well-loved heroes; He bound to the bank then the broad-bosomed vessel Fast in its fetters, lest the force of the waters 30 Should be able to injure the ocean-wood winsome.

Bade he up then take the treasure of princes, Plate-gold and fretwork; not far was it thence To go off in search of the giver of jewels: [66] Hrethel's son Higelac at home there remaineth,[4]

35 Himself with his comrades close to the sea-coast.

The building was splendid, the king heroic, Great in his hall, Hygd very young was,

{Hygd, the n.o.ble queen of Higelac, lavish of gifts.}

Fine-mooded, clever, though few were the winters That the daughter of Haereth had dwelt in the borough; 40 But she nowise was cringing nor n.i.g.g.ard of presents, Of ornaments rare, to the race of the Geatmen.

{Offa's consort, Thrytho, is contrasted with Hygd.}