Beowulf Part 31

Briefly discoursing: "Beowulf dear, Perform thou all fully, as thou formerly saidst, 60 In thy youthful years, that while yet thou livedst [90] Thou wouldst let thine honor not ever be lessened.

Thy life thou shalt save, mighty in actions, Atheling undaunted, with all of thy vigor;

{The monster advances on them.}

I'll give thee a.s.sistance." The dragon came raging, 65 Wild-mooded stranger, when these words had been uttered ('Twas the second occasion), seeking his enemies, Men that were hated, with hot-gleaming fire-waves; With blaze-billows burned the board to its edges: The fight-armor failed then to furnish a.s.sistance 70 To the youthful spear-hero: but the young-aged stripling Quickly advanced 'neath his kinsman's war-target, Since his own had been ground in the grip of the fire.

{Beowulf strikes at the dragon.}

Then the warrior-king was careful of glory, He soundly smote with sword-for-the-battle, 75 That it stood in the head by hatred driven; Naegling was shivered, the old and iron-made

{His sword fails him.}

Brand of Beowulf in battle deceived him.

'Twas denied him that edges of irons were able To help in the battle; the hand was too mighty 80 [2]Which every weapon, as I heard on inquiry, Outstruck in its stroke, when to struggle he carried The wonderful war-sword: it waxed him no better.

{The dragon advances on Beowulf again.}

Then the people-despoiler--third of his onsets-- Fierce-raging fire-drake, of feud-hate was mindful, 85 Charged on the strong one, when chance was afforded, Heated and war-grim, seized on his neck With teeth that were bitter; he b.l.o.o.d.y did wax with Soul-gore seething; sword-blood in waves boiled.

[1] The pa.s.sage '_Brand ... burnie_,' is much disputed. In the first place, some eminent critics a.s.sume a gap of at least two half-verses.--'urum' (2660), being a peculiar form, has been much discussed. 'Byrdu-scrud' is also a crux. B. suggests 'bywdu-scrud' = _splendid vestments_. Nor is 'bam' accepted by all, 'beon' being suggested. Whatever the individual words, the pa.s.sage must mean, "_I intend to share with him my equipments of defence_."

[2] B. would render: _Which, as I heard, excelled in stroke every sword that he carried to the strife, even the strongest (sword)._ For 'ponne' he reads 'pone,' rel. pr.

[91]

x.x.xVII.

THE FATAL STRUGGLE.--BEOWULF'S LAST MOMENTS.

{Wiglaf defends Beowulf.}

Then I heard that at need of the king of the people The upstanding earlman exhibited prowess, Vigor and courage, as suited his nature; [1]He his head did not guard, but the high-minded liegeman's 5 Hand was consumed, when he succored his kinsman, So he struck the strife-bringing strange-comer lower, Earl-thane in armor, that _in_ went the weapon Gleaming and plated, that 'gan then the fire[2]

{Beowulf draws his knife,}

Later to lessen. The liegelord himself then 10 Retained his consciousness, brandished his war-knife, Battle-sharp, bitter, that he bare on his armor:

{and cuts the dragon.}

The Weder-lord cut the worm in the middle.

They had felled the enemy (life drove out then[3]

Puissant prowess), the pair had destroyed him, 15 Land-chiefs related: so a liegeman should prove him, A thaneman when needed. To the prince 'twas the last of His era of conquest by his own great achievements,

[92]

{Beowulf's wound swells and burns.}

The latest of world-deeds. The wound then began Which the earth-dwelling dragon erstwhile had wrought him 20 To burn and to swell. He soon then discovered That bitterest bale-woe in his bosom was raging, Poison within. The atheling advanced then,

{He sits down exhausted.}

That along by the wall, he prudent of spirit Might sit on a settle; he saw the giant-work, 25 How arches of stone strengthened with pillars The earth-hall eternal inward supported.

Then the long-worthy liegeman laved with his hand the

{Wiglaf bathes his lord's head.}

Far-famous chieftain, gory from sword-edge, Refreshing the face of his friend-lord and ruler, 30 Sated with battle, unbinding his helmet.

Beowulf answered, of his injury spake he, His wound that was fatal (he was fully aware He had lived his allotted life-days enjoying The pleasures of earth; then past was entirely 35 His measure of days, death very near):

{Beowulf regrets that he has no son.}

"My son I would give now my battle-equipments, Had any of heirs been after me granted, Along of my body. This people I governed Fifty of winters: no king 'mong my neighbors 40 Dared to encounter me with comrades-in-battle, Try me with terror. The time to me ordered I bided at home, mine own kept fitly, Sought me no snares, swore me not many

{I can rejoice in a well-spent life.}

Oaths in injustice. Joy over all this 45 I'm able to have, though ill with my death-wounds; Hence the Ruler of Earthmen need not charge me With the killing of kinsmen, when cometh my life out Forth from my body. Fare thou with haste now

{Bring me the h.o.a.rd, Wiglaf, that my dying eyes may be refreshed by a sight of it.}

To behold the h.o.a.rd 'neath the h.o.a.r-grayish stone, 50 Well-loved Wiglaf, now the worm is a-lying, Sore-wounded sleepeth, disseized of his treasure.

Go thou in haste that treasures of old I, Gold-wealth may gaze on, together see lying [93] The ether-bright jewels, be easier able, 55 Having the heap of h.o.a.rd-gems, to yield my Life and the land-folk whom long I have governed."

[1] B. renders: _He_ (_W_.) did not regard his (_the dragon's_) _head_ (since Beowulf had struck it without effect), _but struck the dragon a little lower down.--_One crux is to find out _whose head_ is meant; another is to bring out the ant.i.thesis between 'head' and 'hand.'

[2] 'paet aet fyr' (2702), S. emends to 'a aet fyr' = _when the fire began to grow less intense afterward_. This emendation relieves the pa.s.sage of a plethora of conjunctive _aet_'s.

[3] For 'gefyldan' (2707), S. proposes 'gefylde.' The pa.s.sage would read: _He felled the foe (life drove out strength), and they then both had destroyed him, chieftains related_. This gives Beowulf the credit of having felled the dragon; then they combine to annihilate him.--For 'ellen' (2707), Kl. suggests 'e(a)llne.'--The reading '_life drove out strength_' is very unsatisfactory and very peculiar. I would suggest as follows: Adopt S.'s emendation, remove H.'s parenthesis, read 'ferh-ellen wraec,' and translate: _He felled the foe, drove out his life-strength_ (that is, made him _hors de combat_), _and then they both, etc_.

x.x.xVIII.

WIGLAF PLUNDERS THE DRAGON'S DEN.--BEOWULF'S DEATH.

{Wiglaf fulfils his lord's behest.}

Then heard I that Wihstan's son very quickly, These words being uttered, heeded his liegelord Wounded and war-sick, went in his armor, His well-woven ring-mail, 'neath the roof of the barrow.

5 Then the trusty retainer treasure-gems many

{The dragon's den.}

Victorious saw, when the seat he came near to, Gold-treasure sparkling spread on the bottom, Wonder on the wall, and the worm-creature's cavern, The ancient dawn-flier's, vessels a-standing, 10 Cups of the ancients of cleansers bereaved, Robbed of their ornaments: there were helmets in numbers, Old and rust-eaten, arm-bracelets many, Artfully woven. Wealth can easily, Gold on the sea-bottom, turn into vanity[1]