Beowulf Part 27

{Higelac loves his nephew Beowulf.}

Of trusty companion. Most precious to Higelac, 25 The bold one in battle, was the bairn of his sister, And each unto other mindful of favors.

{Beowulf gives Hygd the necklace that Wealhtheow had given him.}

I am told that to Hygd he proffered the necklace, Wonder-gem rare that Wealhtheow gave him, The troop-leader's daughter, a trio of horses 30 Slender and saddle-bright; soon did the jewel Embellish her bosom, when the beer-feast was over.

So Ecgtheow's bairn brave did prove him,

{Beowulf is famous.}

War-famous man, by deeds that were valiant, He lived in honor, beloved companions 35 Slew not carousing; his mood was not cruel, But by hand-strength hugest of heroes then living The brave one retained the bountiful gift that The Lord had allowed him. Long was he wretched, So that sons of the Geatmen accounted him worthless, 40 And the lord of the liegemen loth was to do him Mickle of honor, when mead-cups were pa.s.sing; They fully believed him idle and sluggish,

{He is requited for the slights suffered in earlier days.}

An indolent atheling: to the honor-blest man there Came requital for the cuts he had suffered.

45 The folk-troop's defender bade fetch to the building The heirloom of Hrethel, embellished with gold,

{Higelac overwhelms the conqueror with gifts.}

So the brave one enjoined it; there was jewel no richer In the form of a weapon 'mong Geats of that era; In Beowulf's keeping he placed it and gave him 50 Seven of thousands, manor and lordship.

Common to both was land 'mong the people, [75] Estate and inherited rights and possessions, To the second one specially s.p.a.cious dominions, To the one who was better. It afterward happened 55 In days that followed, befell the battle-thanes,

{After Heardred's death, Beowulf becomes king.}

After Higelac's death, and when Heardred was murdered With weapons of warfare 'neath well-covered targets, When valiant battlemen in victor-band sought him, War-Scylfing heroes hara.s.sed the nephew 60 Of Hereric in battle. To Beowulf's keeping Turned there in time extensive dominions:

{He rules the Geats fifty years.}

He fittingly ruled them a fifty of winters (He a man-ruler wise was, manor-ward old) till A certain one 'gan, on gloom-darkening nights, a

{The fire-drake.}

65 Dragon, to govern, who guarded a treasure, A high-rising stone-cliff, on heath that was grayish: A path 'neath it lay, unknown unto mortals.

Some one of earthmen entered the mountain, The heathenish h.o.a.rd laid hold of with ardor; 70 * * * * * * *

[1] This verse B. renders, '_Now serve I again thee alone as my gracious king_.'

[2] For 'eafor' (2153), Kl. suggests 'ealdor.' Translate then: _Bade the prince then to bear in the banner, battle-high helmet, etc_. On the other hand, W. takes 'eaforheafodsegn' as a compound, meaning 'helmet': _He bade them bear in the helmet, battle-high helm, gray armor, etc_.

[3] The H.-So. rendering (aerest = _history, origin_; 'eft' for 'est'), though liable to objection, is perhaps the best offered. 'That I should very early tell thee of his favor, kindness' sounds well; but 'his' is badly placed to limit 'est.'--Perhaps, 'eft' with verbs of saying may have the force of Lat. prefix 're,' and the H.-So. reading mean, 'that I should its origin rehea.r.s.e to thee.'

x.x.xII.

THE h.o.a.rD AND THE DRAGON.

He sought of himself who sorely did harm him, But, for need very pressing, the servant of one of The sons of the heroes hate-blows evaded, 5 Seeking for shelter and the sin-driven warrior Took refuge within there. He early looked in it, * * * * * * *

[76] * * * * * * when the onset surprised him,

{The h.o.a.rd.}

10 He a gem-vessel saw there: many of suchlike Ancient ornaments in the earth-cave were lying, As in days of yore some one of men of Ill.u.s.trious lineage, as a legacy monstrous, There had secreted them, careful and thoughtful, 15 Dear-valued jewels. Death had offs.n.a.t.c.hed them, In the days of the past, and the one man moreover Of the flower of the folk who fared there the longest, Was fain to defer it, friend-mourning warder, A little longer to be left in enjoyment 20 Of long-lasting treasure.[1] A barrow all-ready Stood on the plain the stream-currents nigh to, New by the ness-edge, unnethe of approaching: The keeper of rings carried within a [2]Ponderous deal of the treasure of n.o.bles, 25 Of gold that was beaten, briefly he spake then:[3]

{The ring-giver bewails the loss of retainers.}

"Hold thou, O Earth, now heroes no more may, The earnings of earlmen. Lo! erst in thy bosom Worthy men won them; war-death hath ravished, Perilous life-bale, all my warriors, 30 Liegemen beloved, who this life have forsaken, Who hall-pleasures saw. No sword-bearer have I, And no one to burnish the gold-plated vessel, The high-valued beaker: my heroes are vanished.

The hardy helmet behung with gilding 35 Shall be reaved of its riches: the ring-cleansers slumber Who were charged to have ready visors-for-battle, And the burnie that bided in battle-encounter [77] O'er breaking of war-shields the bite of the edges Moulds with the hero. The ring-twisted armor, 40 Its lord being lifeless, no longer may journey Hanging by heroes; harp-joy is vanished, The rapture of glee-wood, no excellent falcon Swoops through the building, no swift-footed charger Grindeth the gravel. A grievous destruction 45 No few of the world-folk widely hath scattered!"

So, woful of spirit one after all Lamented mournfully, moaning in sadness By day and by night, till death with its billows

{The fire-dragon}

Dashed on his spirit. Then the ancient dusk-scather 50 Found the great treasure standing all open, He who flaming and fiery flies to the barrows, Naked war-dragon, nightly escapeth Encompa.s.sed with fire; men under heaven Widely beheld him. 'Tis said that he looks for[4]

55 The h.o.a.rd in the earth, where old he is guarding The heathenish treasure; he'll be nowise the better.

{The dragon meets his match.}

So three-hundred winters the waster of peoples Held upon earth that excellent h.o.a.rd-hall, Till the forementioned earlman angered him bitterly: 60 The beat-plated beaker he bare to his chieftain And fullest remission for all his remissness Begged of his liegelord. Then the h.o.a.rd[5] was discovered, The treasure was taken, his pet.i.tion was granted

{The hero plunders the dragon's den}

The lorn-mooded liegeman. His lord regarded 65 The old-work of earth-folk--'twas the earliest occasion.

When the dragon awoke, the strife was renewed there; He snuffed 'long the stone then, stout-hearted found he [78] The footprint of foeman; too far had he gone With cunning craftiness close to the head of 70 The fire-spewing dragon. So undoomed he may 'scape from Anguish and exile with ease who possesseth The favor of Heaven. The h.o.a.rd-warden eagerly Searched o'er the ground then, would meet with the person That caused him sorrow while in slumber reclining: 75 Gleaming and wild he oft went round the cavern, All of it outward; not any of earthmen Was seen in that desert.[6] Yet he joyed in the battle, Rejoiced in the conflict: oft he turned to the barrow, Sought for the gem-cup;[7] this he soon perceived then

{The dragon perceives that some one has disturbed his treasure.}

80 That some man or other had discovered the gold, The famous folk-treasure. Not fain did the h.o.a.rd-ward Wait until evening; then the ward of the barrow Was angry in spirit, the loathed one wished to Pay for the dear-valued drink-cup with fire.

85 Then the day was done as the dragon would have it, He no longer would wait on the wall, but departed

{The dragon is infuriated.}

Fire-impelled, flaming. Fearful the start was To earls in the land, as it early thereafter To their giver-of-gold was grievously ended.

[1] For 'long-gestreona,' B. suggests 'laengestreona,' and renders, _Of fleeting treasures_. S. accepts H.'s 'long-gestreona,' but renders, _The treasure long in acc.u.mulating_.

[2] For 'hard-fyrdne' (2246), B. first suggested 'hard-fyndne,'

rendering: _A heap of treasures ... so great that its equal would be hard to find_. The same scholar suggests later 'hord-wynne dael' = _A deal of treasure-joy_.

[3] Some read 'fec-word' (2247), and render: _Banning words uttered_.

[4] An earlier reading of H.'s gave the following meaning to this pa.s.sage: _He is said to inhabit a mound under the earth, where he, etc._ The translation in the text is more authentic.