| |
| TO him the stateliest spake in answer; | |
| the warriors’ leader his word-hoard unlocked:— | |
| “We are by kin of the clan of Geats, | |
| and Hygelac’s own hearth-fellows we. | |
| To folk afar was my father known, | 5 |
| noble atheling, Ecgtheow named. | |
| Full of winters, he fared away | |
| agéd from earth; he is honored still | |
| through width of the world by wise men all. | |
| To thy lord and liege in loyal mood | 10 |
| we hasten hither, to Healfdene’s son, | |
| people-protector: be pleased to advise us! | |
| To that mighty-one come we on mickle errand, | |
| to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I right | |
| that aught be hidden. We hear—thou knowest | 15 |
| if sooth it is—the saying of men, | |
| that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster, | |
| dark ill-doer, in dusky nights | |
| shows terrific his rage unmatched, | |
| hatred and murder. To Hrothgar I | 20 |
| in greatness of soul would succor bring, | |
| so the Wise-and-Brave 1 may worst his foes,— | |
| if ever the end of ills is fated, | |
| of cruel contest, if cure shall follow, | |
| and the boiling care-waves cooler grow; | 25 |
| else ever afterward anguish-days | |
| he shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place | |
| high on its hill that house unpeered!” | |
| Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered, | |
| clansman unquailing: “The keen-souled thane | 30 |
| must be skilled to sever and sunder duly | |
| words and works, if he well intends. | |
| I gather, this band is graciously bent | |
| to the Scyldings’ master. March, then, bearing | |
| weapons and weeds the way I show you. | 35 |
| I will bid my men your boat meanwhile | |
| to guard for fear lest foemen come,— | |
| your new-tarred ship by shore of ocean | |
| faithfully watching till once again | |
| it waft o’er the waters those well-loved thanes, | 40 |
| —winding-necks’d wood,—to Weders’ bounds, | |
| heroes such as the hest of fate | |
| shall succor and save from the shock of war.” | |
| They bent them to march,—the boat lay still, | |
| fettered by cable and fast at anchor, | 45 |
| broad-bosomed ship.—Then shone the boars 2 | |
| over the cheek-guard; chased with gold, | |
| keen and gleaming, guard it kept | |
| o’er the man of war, as marched along | |
| heroes in haste, till the hall they saw, | 50 |
| broad of gable and bright with gold: | |
| that was the fairest, ’mid folk of earth, | |
| of houses ’neath heaven, where Hrothgar lived, | |
| and the gleam of it lightened o’er lands afar. | |
| The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright | 55 |
| burg-of-the-boldest; bade them go | |
| straightway thither; his steed then turned, | |
| hardy hero, and hailed them thus:— | |
| “’Tis time that I fare from you. Father Almighty | |
| in grace and mercy guard you well, | 60 |
| safe in your seekings. Seaward I go, | |
| ’gainst hostile warriors hold my watch.” | |
