Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem
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 gratitude,
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-stemmèd 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 shore.
{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-lovèd 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 noble queen of Higelac, lavish of gifts.}
Fine-mooded, clever, though few were the winters
That the daughter of Hæreth had dwelt in the borough;
40 But she nowise was cringing nor niggard of presents,
Of ornaments rare, to the race of the Geatmen.
{Offa's consort, Thrytho, is contrasted with Hygd.}
Thrytho nursed anger, excellent[5] folk-queen,
Hot-burning hatred: no hero whatever
'Mong household companions, her husband excepted
{She is a terror to all save her husband.}
45 Dared to adventure to look at the woman
With eyes in the daytime;[6] but he knew that death-chains
Hand-wreathed were wrought him: early thereafter,
When the hand-strife was over, edges were ready,
That fierce-raging sword-point had to force a decision,
50 Murder-bale show. Such no womanly custom
For a lady to practise, though lovely her person,
That a weaver-of-peace, on pretence of anger
A belovèd liegeman of life should deprive.
Soothly this hindered Heming's kinsman;
55 Other ale-drinking earlmen asserted
That fearful folk-sorrows fewer she wrought them,
Treacherous doings, since first she was given
Adorned with gold to the war-hero youthful,
For her origin honored, when Offa's great palace
60 O'er the fallow flood by her father's instructions
She sought on her journey, where she afterwards fully,
Famed for her virtue, her fate on the king's-seat
[67] Enjoyed in her lifetime, love did she hold with
The ruler of heroes, the best, it is told me,
65 Of all of the earthmen that oceans encompass,
Of earl-kindreds endless; hence Offa was famous
Far and widely, by gifts and by battles,
Spear-valiant hero; the home of his fathers
He governed with wisdom, whence Eomær did issue
70 For help unto heroes, Heming's kinsman,
Grandson of Garmund, great in encounters.
[1] For 'scawan' (1896), 'scaðan' has been proposed. Accepting this,
we may render: _He said the bright-armored warriors were going to
their vessel, welcome, etc_. (Cf. 1804.)
[2] R. suggests, 'Gewát him on naca,' and renders: _The vessel set
out, to drive on the sea, the Dane-country left_. 'On' bears the
alliteration; cf. 'on hafu' (2524). This has some advantages over the
H.-So. reading; viz. (1) It adds nothing to the text; (2) it makes
'naca' the subject, and thus brings the passage into keeping with the
context, where the poet has exhausted his vocabulary in detailing the
actions of the vessel.--B.'s emendation (cf. P. and B. XII. 97) is
violent.
[3] B. translates: _Who for a long time, ready at the coast, had
looked out into the distance eagerly for the dear men_. This changes
the syntax of 'léofra manna.'
[4] For 'wunað' (v. 1924) several eminent critics suggest 'wunade'
(=remained). This makes the passage much clearer.
[5] Why should such a woman be described as an 'excellent' queen? C.
suggests 'frécnu' = dangerous, bold.
[6] For 'an dæges' various readings have been offered. If 'and-éges'
be accepted, the sentence will read: _No hero ... dared look upon her,
eye to eye_. If 'án-dæges' be adopted, translate: _Dared look upon her
the whole day_.
XXIX.
BEOWULF AND HIGELAC.
Then the brave one departed, his band along with him,
{Beowulf and his party seek Higelac.}
Seeking the sea-shore, the sea-marches treading,
The wide-stretching shores. The world-candle glimmered,
The sun from the southward; they proceeded then onward,
5 Early arriving where they heard that the troop-lord,
Ongentheow's slayer, excellent, youthful
Folk-prince and warrior was distributing jewels,
Close in his castle. The coming of Beowulf
Was announced in a message quickly to Higelac,
10 That the folk-troop's defender forth to the palace
The linden-companion alive was advancing,
Secure from the combat courtward a-going.
The building was early inward made ready
For the foot-going guests as the good one had ordered.
{Beowulf sits by his liegelord.}
15 He sat by the man then who had lived through the struggle,
Kinsman by kinsman, when the king of the people
Had in lordly language saluted the dear one,
{Queen Hygd receives the heroes.}
In words that were formal. The daughter of Hæreth
Coursed through the building, carrying mead-cups:[1]
[68] 20 She loved the retainers, tendered the beakers
To the high-minded Geatmen. Higelac 'gan then
{Higelac is greatly interested in Beowulf's adventures.}
Pleasantly plying his companion with questions
In the high-towering palace. A curious interest
Tormented his spirit, what meaning to see in
25 The Sea-Geats' adventures: "Beowulf worthy,
{Give an account of thy adventures, Beowulf dear.}
How throve your journeying, when thou thoughtest suddenly
Far o'er the salt-streams to seek an encounter,
A battle at Heorot? Hast bettered for Hrothgar,
The famous folk-leader, his far-published sorrows
30 Any at all? In agony-billows
{My suspense has been great.}
I mused upon torture, distrusted the journey
Of the belovèd liegeman; I long time did pray thee
By no means to seek out the murderous spirit,
To suffer the South-Danes themselves to decide on[2]
35 Grappling with Grendel. To God I am thankful
To be suffered to see thee safe from thy journey."
{Beowulf narrates his adventures.}
Beowulf answered, bairn of old Ecgtheow:
"'Tis hidden by no means, Higelac chieftain,
From many of men, the meeting so famous,
40 What mournful moments of me and of Grendel
Were passed in the place where he pressing affliction
On the Victory-Scyldings scathefully brought,
Anguish forever; that all I avengèd,
So that any under heaven of the kinsmen of Grendel
{Grendel's kindred have no cause to boast.}
45 Needeth not boast of that cry-in-the-morning,
Who longest liveth of the loth-going kindred,[3]
Encompassed by moorland. I came in my journey
To the royal ring-hall, Hrothgar to greet there:
{Hrothgar received me very cordially.}
Soon did the famous scion of Healfdene,
50 When he understood fully the spirit that led me,
Assign me a seat with the son of his bosom.
[69] The troop was in joyance; mead-glee greater
'Neath arch of the ether not ever beheld I
{The queen also showed up no little honor.}
'Mid hall-building holders. The highly-famed queen,
55 Peace-tie of peoples, oft passed through the building,
Cheered the young troopers; she oft tendered a hero
A beautiful ring-band, ere she went to her sitting.
{Hrothgar's lovely daughter.}
Oft the daughter of Hrothgar in view of the courtiers
To the earls at the end the ale-vessel carried,
60 Whom Freaware I heard then hall-sitters title,
When nail-adorned jewels she gave to the heroes:
{She is betrothed to Ingeld, in order to unite the Danes and Heathobards.}
Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad son of Froda
Her faith has been plighted; the friend of the Scyldings,
The guard of the kingdom, hath given his sanction,[4]
65 And counts it a vantage, for a part of the quarrels,
A portion of hatred, to pay with the woman.
[5]Somewhere not rarely, when the ruler has fallen,
The life-taking lance relaxeth its fury
For a brief breathing-spell, though the bride be charming!
[1] 'Meodu-scencum' (1981) some would render '_with mead-pourers_.'
Translate then: _The daughter of Hæreth went through the building
accompanied by mead-pourers_.
[2] See my note to 1599, supra, and B. in P. and B. XII. 97.
[3] For 'fenne,' supplied by Grdtvg., B. suggests 'fácne' (cf. Jul.
350). Accepting this, translate: _Who longest lives of the hated race,
steeped in treachery_.
[4] See note to v. 1599 above.
[5] This is perhaps the least understood sentence in the poem, almost
every word being open to dispute. (1) The 'nó' of our text is an
emendation, and is rejected by many scholars. (2) 'Seldan' is by some
taken as an adv. (= _seldom_), and by others as a noun (= _page_,
_companion_). (3) 'Léod-hryre,' some render '_fall of the people_';
others, '_fall of the prince_.' (4) 'Búgeð,' most scholars regard as
the intrans. verb meaning '_bend_,' '_rest_'; but one great scholar has
translated it '_shall kill_.' (5) 'Hwær,' Very recently, has been