Beowulf Part 29

35 "I survived in my youth-days many a conflict, Hours of onset: that all I remember.

I was seven-winters old when the jewel-prince took me, High-lord of heroes, at the hands of my father, Hrethel the hero-king had me in keeping,

{Hrethel took me when I was seven.}

40 Gave me treasure and feasting, our kinship remembered; Not ever was I _any_ less dear to him

{He treated me as a son.}

Knight in the boroughs, than the bairns of his household, Herebald and Haethcyn and Higelac mine.

To the eldest unjustly by acts of a kinsman 45 Was murder-bed strewn, since him Haethcyn from horn-bow

{One of the brothers accidentally kills another.}

His sheltering chieftain shot with an arrow, Erred in his aim and injured his kinsman, One brother the other, with blood-sprinkled spear:

{No fee could compound for such a calamity.}

'Twas a feeless fight, finished in malice, 50 Sad to his spirit; the folk-prince however Had to part from existence with vengeance untaken.

{[A parallel case is supposed.]}

So to h.o.a.r-headed hero 'tis heavily crushing[1]

[83] To live to see his son as he rideth Young on the gallows: then measures he chanteth, 55 A song of sorrow, when his son is hanging For the raven's delight, and aged and h.o.a.ry He is unable to offer any a.s.sistance.

Every morning his offspring's departure Is constant recalled: he cares not to wait for 60 The birth of an heir in his borough-enclosures, Since that one through death-pain the deeds hath experienced.

He heart-grieved beholds in the house of his son the Wine-building wasted, the wind-lodging places Reaved of their roaring; the riders are sleeping, 65 The knights in the grave; there's no sound of the harp-wood, Joy in the yards, as of yore were familiar.

[1] 'Gomelum ceorle' (2445).--H. takes these words as referring to Hrethel; but the translator here departs from his editor by understanding the poet to refer to a hypothetical old man, introduced as an ill.u.s.tration of a father's sorrow.

Hrethrel had certainly never seen a son of his ride on the gallows to feed the crows.

The pa.s.sage beginning 'swa bi geomorlic' seems to be an effort to reach a full simile, 'as ... so.' 'As it is mournful for an old man, etc. ... so the defence of the Weders (2463) bore heart-sorrow, etc.'

The verses 2451 to 2463-1/2 would be parenthetical, the poet's feelings being so strong as to interrupt the simile. The punctuation of the fourth edition would be better--a comma after 'galgan' (2447). The translation may be indicated as follows: _(Just) as it is sad for an old man to see his son ride young on the gallows when he himself is uttering mournful measures, a sorrowful song, while his son hangs for a comfort to the raven, and he, old and infirm, cannot render him any kelp--(he is constantly reminded, etc., 2451-2463)--so the defence of the Weders, etc._

x.x.xV.

REMINISCENCES (_continued_).--BEOWULF'S LAST BATTLE.

"He seeks then his chamber, singeth a woe-song One for the other; all too extensive Seemed homesteads and plains. So the helm of the Weders

{Hrethel grieves for Herebald.}

Mindful of Herebald heart-sorrow carried, 5 Stirred with emotion, nowise was able To wreak his ruin on the ruthless destroyer: He was unable to follow the warrior with hatred, With deeds that were direful, though dear he not held him.

[84] Then pressed by the pang this pain occasioned him, 10 He gave up glee, G.o.d-light elected; He left to his sons, as the man that is rich does, His land and fortress, when from life he departed.

{Strife between Swedes and Geats.}

Then was crime and hostility 'twixt Swedes and Geatmen, O'er wide-stretching water warring was mutual, 15 Burdensome hatred, when Hrethel had perished, And Ongentheow's offspring were active and valiant, Wished not to hold to peace oversea, but Round Hreosna-beorh often accomplished Cruelest ma.s.sacre. This my kinsman avenged, 20 The feud and fury, as 'tis found on inquiry, Though one of them paid it with forfeit of life-joys,

{Haethcyn's fall at Ravenswood.}

With price that was hard: the struggle became then Fatal to Haethcyn, lord of the Geatmen.

Then I heard that at morning one brother the other 25 With edges of irons egged on to murder, Where Ongentheow maketh onset on Eofor: The helmet crashed, the h.o.a.ry-haired Scylfing Sword-smitten fell, his hand then remembered Feud-hate sufficient, refused not the death-blow.

{I requited him for the jewels he gave me.}

30 The gems that he gave me, with jewel-bright sword I 'Quited in contest, as occasion was offered: Land he allowed me, life-joy at homestead, Manor to live on. Little he needed From Gepids or Danes or in Sweden to look for 35 Trooper less true, with treasure to buy him; 'Mong foot-soldiers ever in front I would hie me, Alone in the vanguard, and evermore gladly Warfare shall wage, while this weapon endureth That late and early often did serve me

{Beowulf refers to his having slain Daeghrefn.}

40 When I proved before heroes the slayer of Daeghrefn, Knight of the Hugmen: he by no means was suffered To the king of the Frisians to carry the jewels, The breast-decoration; but the banner-possessor Bowed in the battle, brave-mooded atheling.

[85] 45 No weapon was slayer, but war-grapple broke then The surge of his spirit, his body destroying.

Now shall weapon's edge make war for the treasure, And hand and firm-sword." Beowulf spake then, Boast-words uttered--the latest occasion:

{He boasts of his youthful prowess, and declares himself still fearless.}

50 "I braved in my youth-days battles unnumbered; Still am I willing the struggle to look for, Fame-deeds perform, folk-warden prudent, If the hateful despoiler forth from his cavern Seeketh me out!" Each of the heroes, 55 Helm-bearers st.u.r.dy, he thereupon greeted

{His last salutations.}

Beloved co-liegemen--his last salutation: "No brand would I bear, no blade for the dragon, Wist I a way my word-boast to 'complish[1]

Else with the monster, as with Grendel I did it; 60 But fire in the battle hot I expect there, Furious flame-burning: so I fixed on my body Target and war-mail. The ward of the barrow[2]

I'll not flee from a foot-length, the foeman uncanny.

At the wall 'twill befall us as Fate decreeth,

{Let Fate decide between us.}

65 Each one's Creator. I am eager in spirit, With the winged war-hero to away with all boasting.

Bide on the barrow with burnies protected,

{Wait ye here till the battle is over.}

Earls in armor, which of _us_ two may better Bear his disaster, when the battle is over.

70 'Tis no matter of yours, and man cannot do it, But me and me only, to measure his strength with The monster of malice, might-deeds to 'complish.

I with prowess shall gain the gold, or the battle, [86] Direful death-woe will drag off your ruler!"

75 The mighty champion rose by his shield then, Brave under helmet, in battle-mail went he 'Neath steep-rising stone-cliffs, the strength he relied on Of one man alone: no work for a coward.

Then he saw by the wall who a great many battles 80 Had lived through, most worthy, when foot-troops collided,

{The place of strife is described.}

Stone-arches standing, stout-hearted champion, Saw a brook from the barrow bubbling out thenceward: The flood of the fountain was fuming with war-flame: Not nigh to the h.o.a.rd, for season the briefest 85 Could he brave, without burning, the abyss that was yawning, The drake was so fiery. The prince of the Weders Caused then that words came from his bosom, So fierce was his fury; the firm-hearted shouted: His battle-clear voice came in resounding 90 'Neath the gray-colored stone. Stirred was his hatred,

{Beowulf calls out under the stone arches.}

The h.o.a.rd-ward distinguished the speech of a man; Time was no longer to look out for friendship.