Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem
~Hondscio~.--One of Beowulf's companions. Killed by Grendel just before
Beowulf grappled with that monster.--30_43.
~Hoce~.--Father of Hildeburg and probably of Hnæf.--17_26.
~Hrethel~.--King of the Geats, father of Higelac, and grandfather of
Beowulf.--7_4; 34_39.
~Hrethla~.--Once used for Hrethel.--7_82.
~Hrethmen~.--Another name for the Danes.--7_73.
~Hrethric~.--Son of Hrothgar.--18_65; 27_19.
[xvi]
~Hreosna-beorh~.--A promontory in Geat-land, near which Ohthere's sons
made plundering raids.--35_18.
~Hrothgar~.--The Danish king who built the hall Heort, but was long unable
to enjoy it on account of Grendel's persecutions. Marries Wealhtheow, a
Helming lady. Has two sons and a daughter. Is a typical Teutonic king,
lavish of gifts. A devoted liegelord, as his lamentations over slain
liegemen prove. Also very appreciative of kindness, as is shown by his
loving gratitude to Beowulf.--2_9; 2_12; 4_1; 8_10; 15_1; etc., etc.
~Hrothmund~.--Son of Hrothgar.--18_65.
~Hrothulf~.--Probably a son of Halga, younger brother of Hrothgar.
Certainly on terms of close intimacy in Hrothgar's palace.--16_26; 18_57.
~Hrunting~.--Unferth's sword, lent to Beowulf.--22_71; 25_9.
~Hugs~.--A race in alliance with the Franks and Frisians at the time of
Higelac's fall.--35_41.
~Hun~.--A Frisian warrior, probably general of the Hetwars. Gives Hengest
a beautiful sword.--18_19.
~Hunferth~.--Sometimes used for Unferth.
~Hygelac~, ~Higelac~.--King of the Geats, uncle and liegelord of Beowulf,
the hero of the poem.--His second wife is the lovely Hygd, daughter of
Hæreth. The son of their union is Heardred. Is slain in a war with the
Hugs, Franks, and Frisians combined. Beowulf is regent, and afterwards
king of the Geats.--4_6; 5_4; 28_34; 29_9; 29_21; 31_56.
~Hygd~.--Wife of Higelac, and daughter of Hæreth. There are some
indications that she married Beowulf after she became a widow.--28_37.
~Ingeld~.--Son of the Heathobard king, Froda. Marries Hrothgar's daughter,
Freaware, in order to reconcile the two peoples.--29_62; 30_32.
~Ingwins~.--Another name for the Danes.--16_52; 20_69.
~Jutes~.--Name sometimes applied to Finn's people.--17_22; 17_38; 18_17.
~Lafing~.--Name of a famous sword presented to Hengest by Hun.--18_19.
~Merewing~.--A Frankish king, probably engaged in the war in which Higelac
was slain.--40_29.
~Nægling~.--Beowulf's sword.--36_76.
~Offa~.--King of the Angles, and son of Garmund. Marries the terrible
Thrytho who is so strongly contrasted with Hygd.--28_59; 28_66.
~Ohthere~.--Son of Ongentheow, king of the Swedes. He is father of Eanmund
and Eadgils.--40_35; 40_39.
~Onela~.--Brother of Ohthere.--36_15; 40_39.
~Ongentheow~.--King of Sweden, of the Scylfing dynasty. Married, perhaps,
Elan, daughter of Healfdene.--35_26; 41_16.
~Oslaf~.--A Dane of Hnæf's party.--18_24.
~Ravenswood~.--The forest near which Hæthcyn was slain.--40_31; 40_41.
~Scefing~.--Applied (1_4) to Scyld, and meaning 'son of Scef.'
[xvii]
~Scyld~.--Founder of the dynasty to which Hrothgar, his father, and
grandfather belonged. He dies, and his body is put on a vessel, and set
adrift. He goes from Daneland just as he had come to it--in a bark.--1_4;
1_19; 1_27.
~Scyldings~.--The descendants of Scyld. They are also called
Honor-Scyldings, Victory-Scyldings, War-Scyldings, etc. (See 'Danes,'
above.)--2_1; 7_1; 8_1.
~Scylfings~.--A Swedish royal line to which Wiglaf belonged.--36_2.
~Sigemund~.--Son of Wæls, and uncle and father of Fitela. His struggle
with a dragon is related in connection with Beowulf's deeds of
prowess.--14_38; 14_47.
~Swerting~.--Grandfather of Higelac, and father of Hrethel.--19_11.
~Swedes~.--People of Sweden, ruled by the Scylfings.--35_13.
~Thrytho~.--Wife of Offa, king of the Angles. Known for her fierce and
unwomanly disposition. She is introduced as a contrast to the gentle Hygd,
queen of Higelac.--28_42; 28_56.
~Unferth~.--Son of Ecglaf, and seemingly a confidential courtier of
Hrothgar. Taunts Beowulf for having taken part in the swimming-match.
Lends Beowulf his sword when he goes to look for Grendel's mother. In the
MS. sometimes written _Hunferth_. 9_1; 18_41.
~Wæls~.--Father of Sigemund.--14_60.
~Wægmunding~.--A name occasionally applied to Wiglaf and Beowulf, and
perhaps derived from a common ancestor, Wægmund.--36_6; 38_61.
~Weders~.--Another name for Geats or Wedergeats.
~Wayland~.--A fabulous smith mentioned in this poem and in other old
Teutonic literature.--7_83.
~Wendels~.--The people of Wulfgar, Hrothgar's messenger and retainer.
(Perhaps = Vandals.)--6_30.
~Wealhtheow~.--Wife of Hrothgar. Her queenly courtesy is well shown in the
poem.--10_55.
~Weohstan~, or ~Wihstan~.--A Wægmunding, and father of Wiglaf.--36_1.
~Whale's Ness~.--A prominent promontory, on which Beowulf's mound was
built.--38_52; 42_76.
~Wiglaf~.--Son of Wihstan, and related to Beowulf. He remains faithful to
Beowulf in the fatal struggle with the fire-drake. Would rather die than
leave his lord in his dire emergency.--36_1; 36_3; 36_28.
~Wonred~.--Father of Wulf and Eofor.--41_20; 41_26.
~Wulf~.--Son of Wonred. Engaged in the battle between Higelac's and
Ongentheow's forces, and had a hand-to-hand fight with Ongentheow himself.
Ongentheow disables him, and is thereupon slain by Eofor.--41_19; 41_29.
~Wulfgar~.--Lord of the Wendels, and retainer of Hrothgar.--6_18; 6_30.
~Wylfings~.--A people to whom belonged Heatholaf, who was slain by
Ecgtheow.--8_6; 8_16.
~Yrmenlaf~.--Younger brother of Æschere, the hero whose death grieved
Hrothgar so deeply.--21_4.
[xviii]
LIST OF WORDS AND PHRASES NOT IN GENERAL USE.
ATHELING.--Prince, nobleman.
BAIRN.--Son, child.
BARROW.--Mound, rounded hill, funeral-mound.
BATTLE-SARK.--Armor.
BEAKER.--Cup, drinking-vessel.
BEGEAR.--Prepare.
BIGHT.--Bay, sea.
BILL.--Sword.
BOSS.--Ornamental projection.
BRACTEATE.--A round ornament on a necklace.
BRAND.--Sword.
BURN.--Stream.
BURNIE.--Armor.
CARLE.--Man, hero.
EARL.--Nobleman, any brave man.
EKE.--Also.
EMPRISE.--Enterprise, undertaking.
ERST.--Formerly.
ERST-WORTHY.--Worthy for a long time past.
FAIN.--Glad.
FERRY.--Bear, carry.
FEY.--Fated, doomed.
FLOAT.--Vessel, ship.
FOIN.--To lunge (Shaks.).
GLORY OF KINGS.--God.
GREWSOME.--Cruel, fierce.
HEFT.--Handle, hilt; used by synecdoche for 'sword.'
HELM.--Helmet, protector.
HENCHMAN.--Retainer, vassal.
HIGHT.--Am (was) named.
HOLM.--Ocean, curved surface of the sea.
HIMSEEMED.--(It) seemed to him.
LIEF.--Dear, valued.
MERE.--Sea; in compounds, 'mere-ways,' 'mere-currents,' etc.
MICKLE.--Much.
NATHLESS.--Nevertheless.
NAZE.--Edge (nose).
NESS.--Edge.
NICKER.--Sea-beast.
QUIT, QUITE.--Requite.
RATHE.--Quickly.
REAVE.--Bereave, deprive.
SAIL-ROAD.--Sea.
SETTLE.--Seat, bench.
SKINKER.--One who pours.
SOOTHLY.--Truly.
SWINGE.--Stroke, blow.
TARGE, TARGET.--Shield.
THROUGHLY.--Thoroughly.
TOLD.--Counted.
UNCANNY.--Ill-featured, grizzly.
UNNETHE.--Difficult.
WAR-SPEED.--Success in war.
WEB.--Tapestry (that which is 'woven').
WEEDED.--Clad (cf. widow's weeds).
WEEN.--Suppose, imagine.
WEIRD.--Fate, Providence.
WHILOM.--At times, formerly, often.
WIELDER.--Ruler. Often used of God; also in compounds, as 'Wielder of
Glory,' 'Wielder of Worship.'
WIGHT.--Creature.
WOLD.--Plane, extended surface.
WOT.--Knows.
YOUNKER.--Youth.
[1]
BEOWULF.
I.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD.
{The famous race of Spear-Danes.}
Lo! the Spear-Danes' glory through splendid achievements
The folk-kings' former fame we have heard of,
How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.
{Scyld, their mighty king, in honor of whom they are often called
Scyldings. He is the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, so prominent in the
poem.}
Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers
5 From many a people their mead-benches tore.
Since first he found him friendless and wretched,
The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it,
Waxed 'neath the welkin, world-honor gained,
Till all his neighbors o'er sea were compelled to
10 Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute:
An excellent atheling! After was borne him
{A son is born to him, who receives the name of Beowulf--a name afterwards
made so famous by the hero of the poem.}
A son and heir, young in his dwelling,
Whom God-Father sent to solace the people.
He had marked the misery malice had caused them,
15 [1]That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2]
Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital,
Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him.
Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory
Of Scyld's great son in the lands of the Danemen.
[2]
{The ideal Teutonic king lavishes gifts on his vassals.}
20 So the carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered
The friends of his father, with fees in abundance
Must be able to earn that when age approacheth
Eager companions aid him requitingly,
When war assaults him serve him as liegemen:
25 By praise-worthy actions must honor be got
'Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated
{Scyld dies at the hour appointed by Fate.}
Scyld then departed to the All-Father's keeping
Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him
To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades,
30 As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings
Word-sway wielded, and the well-lovèd land-prince
Long did rule them.[3] The ring-stemmèd vessel,
Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor,
Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing;
{By his own request, his body is laid on a vessel and wafted seaward.}
35 The belovèd leader laid they down there,
Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel,
The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels,
Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over,
Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever
40 That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly
With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle,
Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled
Many a jewel that with him must travel
On the flush of the flood afar on the current.
45 And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly,
Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him
{He leaves Daneland on the breast of a bark.}
Who when first he was born outward did send him
Lone on the main, the merest of infants:
And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven
[3] 50 High o'er his head, let the holm-currents bear him,
Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit,
Their mood very mournful. Men are not able
{No one knows whither the boat drifted.}
Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,[4]
Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied.
[1] For the 'Þæt' of verse 15, Sievers suggests 'Þá' (= which). If
this be accepted, the sentence 'He had ... afflicted' will read: _He_
(_i.e._ God) _had perceived the malice-caused sorrow which they,
lordless, had formerly long endured_.
[2] For 'aldor-léase' (15) Gr. suggested 'aldor-ceare': _He perceived
their distress, that they formerly had suffered life-sorrow a long
while_.
[3] A very difficult passage. 'Áhte' (31) has no object. H. supplies