| |
| “SO held this king to the customs old, | |
| that I wanted for nought in the wage I gained, | |
| the meed of my might; he made me gifts, | |
| Healfdene’s heir, for my own disposal. | |
| Now to thee, my prince, I proffer them all, | 5 |
| gladly give them. Thy grace alone | |
| can find me favor. Few indeed | |
| have I of kinsmen, save, Hygelac, thee!” | |
| Then he bade them bear him the boar-head standard, | |
| the battle-helm high, and breastplate gray, | 10 |
| the splendid sword; then spake in form:— | |
| “Me this war-gear the wise old prince, | |
| Hrothgar, gave, and his hest he added, | |
| that its story be straightway said to thee.— | |
| A while it was held by Heorogar king, | 15 |
| for long time lord of the land of Scyldings; | |
| yet not to his son the sovran left it, | |
| to daring Heoroweard,—dear as he was to him, | |
| his harness of battle.—Well hold thou it all!” | |
| And I heard that soon passed o’er the path of this treasure, | 20 |
| all apple-fallow, four good steeds, | |
| each like the others; arms and horses | |
| he gave to the king. So should kinsmen be, | |
| not weave one another the net of wiles, | |
| or with deep-hid treachery death contrive | 25 |
| for neighbor and comrade. His nephew was ever | |
| by hardy Hygelac held full dear, | |
| and each kept watch o’er the other’s weal. | |
| I heard, too, the necklace to Hygd he presented, | |
| wonder-wrought treasure, which Wealhtheow gave him, | 30 |
| sovran’s daughter: three steeds he added, | |
| slender and saddle-gay. Since such gift | |
| the gem gleamed bright on the breast of the queen. | |
| Thus showed his strain the son of Ecgtheow | |
| as a man remarked for mighty deeds | 35 |
| and acts of honor. At ale he slew not | |
| comrade or kin; nor cruel his mood, | |
| though of sons of earth his strength was greatest, | |
| a glorious gift that God had sent | |
| the splendid leader. Long was he spurned, | 40 |
| and worthless by Geatish warriors held; | |
| him at mead the master-of-clans | |
| failed full oft to favor at all. | |
| Slack and shiftless the strong men deemed him, | |
| profitless prince; but payment came, | 45 |
| to the warrior honored, for all his woes.— | |
| Then the bulwark-of-earls 1 bade bring within, | |
| hardy chieftain, Hrethel’s heirloom | |
| garnished with gold: no Geat e’er knew | |
| in shape of a sword a statelier prize. | 50 |
| The brand he laid in Beowulf’s lap; | |
| and of hides assigned him seven thousand, 2 | |
| with house and high-seat. They held in common | |
| land alike by their line of birth, | |
| inheritance, home: but higher the king | 55 |
| because of his rule o’er the realm itself. | |
| |
| Now further it fell with the flight of years, | |
| with harryings horrid, that Hygelac perished, 3 | |
| and Heardred, too, by hewing of swords | |
| under the shield-wall slaughtered lay, | 60 |
| when him at the van of his victor-folk | |
| sought hardy heroes, Heatho-Scilfings, | |
| in arms o’erwhelming Hereric’s nephew. | |
| Then Beowulf came as king this broad | |
| realm to wield; and he ruled it well | 65 |
| fifty winters, 4 a wise old prince, | |
| warding his land, until One began | |
| in the dark of night, a Dragon, to rage. | |
| In the grave on the hill a hoard it guarded, | |
| in the stone-barrow steep. A strait path reached it, | 70 |
| unknown to mortals. Some man, however, | |
| came by chance that cave within | |
| to the heathen hoard. 5 In hand he took | |
| a golden goblet, nor gave he it back, | |
| stole with it away, while the watcher slept, | 75 |
| by thievish wiles: for the warden’s wrath | |
| prince and people must pay betimes! | |
