Beowulf (version 2) — Sections 15-17

XV

THERE was hurry and hest in Heorot now for hands to bedeck it, and dense was the throng of men and women the wine-hall to cleanse, the guest-room to garnish.

Gold-gay shone the hangings that were wove on the wall, and wonders many to delight each mortal that looks upon them.

Though braced within by iron bands, that building bright was broken sorely; {15a} rent were its hinges; the roof alone held safe and sound, when, seared with crime, the fiendish foe his flight essayed, of life despairing.

-- No light thing that, the flight for safety, -- essay it who will!

Forced of fate, he shall find his way to the refuge ready for race of man, for soul-possessors, and sons of earth;

and there his body on bed of death shall rest after revel.

Arrived was the hour when to hall proceeded Healfdene's son: the king himself would sit to banquet.

Ne'er heard I of host in haughtier throng more graciously gathered round giver-of-rings!

Bowed then to bench those bearers-of-glory, fain of the feasting.

Featly received many a mead-cup the mighty-in-spirit, kinsmen who sat in the sumptuous hall, Hrothgar and Hrothulf.

Heorot now was filled with friends; the folk of Scyldings ne'er yet had tried the traitor's deed.

To Beowulf gave the bairn of Healfdene a gold-wove banner, guerdon of triumph, broidered battle-flag, breastplate and helmet;

and a splendid sword was seen of many borne to the brave one.

Beowulf took cup in hall: {15b} for such costly gifts he suffered no shame in that soldier throng.

For I heard of few heroes, in heartier mood, with four such gifts, so fashioned with gold, on the ale-bench honoring others thus!

O'er the roof of the helmet high, a ridge, wound with wires, kept ward o'er the head, lest the relict-of-files {15c} should fierce invade, sharp in the strife, when that shielded hero should go to grapple against his foes.

Then the earls'-defence {15d} on the floor {15e} bade lead coursers eight, with carven head-gear, adown the hall: one horse was decked with a saddle all shining and set in jewels;

'twas the battle-seat of the best of kings, when to play of swords the son of Healfdene was fain to fare.

Ne'er failed his valor in the crush of combat when corpses fell.

To Beowulf over them both then gave the refuge-of-Ingwines right and power, o'er war-steeds and weapons: wished him joy of them.

Manfully thus the mighty prince, hoard-guard for heroes, that hard fight repaid with steeds and treasures contemned by none who is willing to say the sooth aright.

XVI

AND the lord of earls, to each that came with Beowulf over the briny ways, an heirloom there at the ale-bench gave, precious gift; and the price {16a} bade pay in gold for him whom Grendel erst murdered, -- and fain of them more had killed, had not wisest God their Wyrd averted, and the man's {16b} brave mood.

The Maker then ruled human kind, as here and now.

Therefore is insight always best, and forethought of mind.

How much awaits him of lief and of loath, who long time here, through days of warfare this world endures!

Then song and music mingled sounds in the presence of Healfdene's head-of-armies {16c} and harping was heard with the hero-lay as Hrothgar's singer the hall-joy woke along the mead-seats, making his song of that sudden raid on the sons of Finn.

{16d} Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding, was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter.

{16e} Hildeburh needed not hold in value her enemies' honor!

{16f} Innocent both were the loved ones she lost at the linden-play, bairn and brother, they bowed to fate, stricken by spears; 'twas a sorrowful woman!

None doubted why the daughter of Hoc bewailed her doom when dawning came, and under the sky she saw them lying, kinsmen murdered, where most she had kenned of the sweets of the world!

By war were swept, too, Finn's own liegemen, and few were left;

in the parleying-place {16g} he could ply no longer weapon, nor war could he wage on Hengest, and rescue his remnant by right of arms from the prince's thane.

A pact he offered: another dwelling the Danes should have, hall and high-seat, and half the power should fall to them in Frisian land;

and at the fee-gifts, Folcwald's son day by day the Danes should honor, the folk of Hengest favor with rings, even as truly, with treasure and jewels, with fretted gold, as his Frisian kin he meant to honor in ale-hall there.

Pact of peace they plighted further on both sides firmly.

Finn to Hengest with oath, upon honor, openly promised that woful remnant, with wise-men's aid, nobly to govern, so none of the guests by word or work should warp the treaty, {16h} or with malice of mind bemoan themselves as forced to follow their fee-giver's slayer, lordless men, as their lot ordained.

Should Frisian, moreover, with foeman's taunt, that murderous hatred to mind recall, then edge of the sword must seal his doom.

Oaths were given, and ancient gold heaped from hoard.

-- The hardy Scylding, battle-thane best, {16i} on his balefire lay.

All on the pyre were plain to see the gory sark, the gilded swine-crest, boar of hard iron, and athelings many slain by the sword: at the slaughter they fell.

It was Hildeburh's hest, at Hnaef's own pyre the bairn of her body on brands to lay, his bones to burn, on the balefire placed, at his uncle's side.

In sorrowful dirges bewept them the woman: great wailing ascended.

Then wound up to welkin the wildest of death-fires, roared o'er the hillock: {16j} heads all were melted, gashes burst, and blood gushed out from bites {16k} of the body.

Balefire devoured, greediest spirit, those spared not by war out of either folk: their flower was gone.

XVII

THEN hastened those heroes their home to see, friendless, to find the Frisian land, houses and high burg.

Hengest still through the death-dyed winter dwelt with Finn, holding pact, yet of home he minded, though powerless his ring-decked prow to drive over the waters, now waves rolled fierce lashed by the winds, or winter locked them in icy fetters.

Then fared another year to men's dwellings, as yet they do, the sunbright skies, that their season ever duly await.

Far off winter was driven;

fair lay earth's breast; and fain was the rover, the guest, to depart, though more gladly he pondered on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep, and how to hasten the hot encounter where sons of the Frisians were sure to be.

So he escaped not the common doom, when Hun with "Lafing," the light-of-battle, best of blades, his bosom pierced: its edge was famed with the Frisian earls.

On fierce-heart Finn there fell likewise, on himself at home, the horrid sword-death;

for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack had sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed, mourning their woes.

{17a} Finn's wavering spirit bode not in breast.

The burg was reddened with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain, king amid clansmen; the queen was taken.

To their ship the Scylding warriors bore all the chattels the chieftain owned, whatever they found in Finn's domain of gems and jewels.

The gentle wife o'er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore, led to her land.

The lay was finished, the gleeman's song.

Then glad rose the revel;

bench-joy brightened.

Bearers draw from their "wonder-vats" wine.

Comes Wealhtheow forth, under gold-crown goes where the good pair sit, uncle and nephew, true each to the other one, kindred in amity.

Unferth the spokesman at the Scylding lord's feet sat: men had faith in his spirit, his keenness of courage, though kinsmen had found him unsure at the sword-play.

The Scylding queen spoke: "Quaff of this cup, my king and lord, breaker of rings, and blithe be thou, gold-friend of men; to the Geats here speak such words of mildness as man should use.

Be glad with thy Geats; of those gifts be mindful, or near or far, which now thou hast.

Men say to me, as son thou wishest yon hero to hold.

Thy Heorot purged, jewel-hall brightest, enjoy while thou canst, with many a largess; and leave to thy kin folk and realm when forth thou goest to greet thy doom.

For gracious I deem my Hrothulf, {17b} willing to hold and rule nobly our youths, if thou yield up first, prince of Scyldings, thy part in the world.

I ween with good he will well requite offspring of ours, when all he minds that for him we did in his helpless days of gift and grace to gain him honor!"

Then she turned to the seat where her sons wereplaced, Hrethric and Hrothmund, with heroes' bairns, young men together: the Geat, too, sat there, Beowulf brave, the brothers between.