| |
| CAME now to ocean the ever-courageous | |
| hardy henchmen, their harness bearing, | |
| woven war-sarks. The warden marked, | |
| trusty as ever, the earl’s return. | |
| From the height of the hill no hostile words | 5 |
| reached the guests as he rode to greet them; | |
| but “Welcome!” he called to that Weder clan | |
| as the sheen-mailed spoilers to ship marched on. | |
| Then on the strand, with steeds and treasure | |
| and armor their roomy and ring-dight ship | 10 |
| was heavily laden: high its mast | |
| rose over Hrothgar’s hoarded gems. | |
| A sword to the boat-guard Beowulf gave, | |
| mounted with gold; on the mead-bench since | |
| he was better esteemed, that blade possessing, | 15 |
| heirloom old.—Their ocean-keel boarding, | |
| they drove through the deep, and Daneland left. | |
| A sea-cloth was set, a sail with ropes, | |
| firm to the mast; the flood-timbers moaned; 1 | |
| nor did wind over billows that wave-swimmer blow | 20 |
| across from her course. The craft sped on, | |
| foam-necked it floated forth o’er the waves, | |
| keel firm-bound over briny currents, | |
| till they got them sight of the Geatish cliffs, | |
| home-known headlands. High the boat, | 25 |
| stirred by winds, on the strand updrove. | |
| Helpful at haven the harbor-guard stood, | |
| who long already for loved companions | |
| by the water had waited and watched afar. | |
| He bound to the beach the broad-bosomed ship | 30 |
| with anchor-bands, lest ocean-billows | |
| that trusty timber should tear away. | |
| Then Beowulf bade them bear the treasure, | |
| gold and jewels; no journey far | |
| was it thence to go to the giver of rings, | 35 |
| Hygelac Hrethling: at home he dwelt | |
| by the sea-wall close, himself and clan. | |
| Haughty that house, a hero the king, | |
| high the hall, and Hygd 2 right young, | |
| wise and wary, though winters few | 40 |
| in those fortress walls she had found a home, | |
| Hæreth’s daughter. Nor humble her ways, | |
| nor grudged she gifts to the Geatish men, | |
| of precious treasure. Not Thryth’s pride showed she, | |
| folk-queen famed, or that fell deceit. | 45 |
| Was none so daring that durst make bold | |
| (save her lord alone) of the liegemen dear | |
| that lady full in the face to look, | |
| but forgéd fetters he found his lot, | |
| bonds of death! And brief the respite; | 50 |
| soon as they seized him, his sword-doom was spoken, | |
| and the burnished blade a baleful murder | |
| proclaimed and closed. No queenly way | |
| for woman to practise, though peerless she, | |
| that the weaver-of-peace 3 from warrior dear | 55 |
| by wrath and lying his life should reave! | |
| But Hemming’s kinsman hindered this.— | |
| For over their ale men also told | |
| that of these folk-horrors fewer she wrought, | |
| onslaughts of evil, after she went, | 60 |
| gold-decked bride, to the brave young prince, | |
| atheling haughty, and Offa’s hall | |
| o’er the fallow flood at her father’s bidding | |
| safely sought, where since she prospered, | |
| royal, thronéd, rich in goods, | 65 |
| fain of the fair life fate had sent her, | |
| and leal in love to the lord of warriors. | |
| He, of all heroes I heard of ever | |
| from sea to sea, of the sons of earth, | |
| most excellent seemed. Hence Offa was praised | 70 |
| for his fighting and feeing by far-off men, | |
| the spear-bold warrior; wisely he ruled | |
| over his empire. Eomer woke to him, | |
| help of heroes, Hemming’s kinsman, | |
| grandson of Garmund, grim in war. | 75 |
