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after the care…billows cooler grows。
〃So＇5＇ I hold not high the Heathobards' faith
due to the Danes； or their during love
and pact of peace。 But I pass from that；
turning to Grendel； O giver…of…treasure；
and saying in full how the fight resulted；
hand…fray of heroes。 When heaven's jewel
had fled o'er far fields； that fierce sprite came；
night…foe savage； to seek us out
where safe and sound we sentried the hall。
To Hondscio then was that harassing deadly；
his fall there was fated。 He first was slain；
girded warrior。 Grendel on him
turned murderous mouth； on our mighty kinsman；
and all of the brave man's body devoured。
Yet none the earlier； empty…handed；
would the bloody…toothed murderer； mindful of bale；
outward go from the gold…decked hall：
but me he attacked in his terror of might；
with greedy hand grasped me。 A glove hung by him＇6＇
wide and wondrous； wound with bands；
and in artful wise it all was wrought；
by devilish craft； of dragon…skins。
Me therein； an innocent man；
the fiendish foe was fain to thrust
with many another。 He might not so；
when I all angrily upright stood。
'Twere long to relate how that land…destroyer
I paid in kind for his cruel deeds；
yet there； my prince； this people of thine
got fame by my fighting。 He fled away；
and a little space his life preserved；
but there staid behind him his stronger hand
left in Heorot； heartsick thence
on the floor of the ocean that outcast fell。
Me for this struggle the Scyldings'…friend
paid in plenty with plates of gold；
with many a treasure； when morn had come
and we all at the banquet…board sat down。
Then was song and glee。 The gray…haired Scylding；
much tested； told of the times of yore。
Whiles the hero his harp bestirred；
wood…of…delight； now lays he chanted
of sooth and sadness； or said aright
legends of wonder； the wide…hearted king；
or for years of his youth he would yearn at times；
for strength of old struggles； now stricken with age；
hoary hero： his heart surged full
when； wise with winters； he wailed their flight。
Thus in the hall the whole of that day
at ease we feasted； till fell o'er earth
another night。 Anon full ready
in greed of vengeance； Grendel's mother
set forth all doleful。 Dead was her son
through war…hate of Weders； now； woman monstrous
with fury fell a foeman she slew；
avenged her offspring。 From Aeschere old；
loyal councillor； life was gone；
nor might they e'en； when morning broke；
those Danish people； their death…done comrade
burn with brands； on balefire lay
the man they mourned。 Under mountain stream
she had carried the corpse with cruel hands。
For Hrothgar that was the heaviest sorrow
of all that had laden the lord of his folk。
The leader then； by thy life； besought me
（sad was his soul） in the sea…waves' coil
to play the hero and hazard my being
for glory of prowess： my guerdon he pledged。
I then in the waters 'tis widely known
that sea…floor…guardian savage found。
Hand…to…hand there a while we struggled；
billows welled blood； in the briny hall
her head I hewed with a hardy blade
from Grendel's mother； and gained my life；
though not without danger。 My doom was not yet。
Then the haven…of…heroes； Healfdene's son；
gave me in guerdon great gifts of price。
Note： ＇1＇ Beowulf gives his uncle the king not mere gossip of his
journey； but a statesmanlike forecast of the outcome of certain
policies at the Danish court。 Talk of interpolation here is
absurd。 As both Beowulf and Hygelac know； and the folk for
whom the Beowulf was put together also knew； Froda was king of
the Heathobards （probably the Langobards； once near neighbors of
Angle and Saxon tribes on the continent）； and had fallen
in fight with the Danes。 Hrothgar will set aside this feud by
giving his daughter as 〃peace…weaver〃 and wife to the young king
Ingeld； son of the slain Froda。 But Beowulf； on general
principles and from his observation of the particular case；
foretells trouble。 Note： ＇2＇ Play of shields； battle。 A Danish
warrior cuts down Froda in the fight； and takes his sword and
armor； leaving them to a son。 This son is selected to accompany
his mistress； the young princess Freawaru； to her new home when
she is Ingeld's queen。 Heedlessly he wears the sword of Froda in
hall。 An old warrior points it out to Ingeld； and eggs him on to
vengeance。 At his instigation the Dane is killed； but the
murderer； afraid of results； and knowing the land； escapes。 So
the old feud must break out again。 ＇3＇ That is； their disastrous
battle and the slaying of their king。 ＇4＇ The sword。 ＇5＇ Beowulf
returns to his forecast。 Things might well go somewhat as
follows； he says； sketches a little tragic story； and with this
prophecy by illustration returns to the tale of his adventure。
＇6＇ Not an actual glove； but a sort of bag。
XXXI
〃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；
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；
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；
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；
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
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
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
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；
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；
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。
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
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；
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
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；
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；
by thievish wiles： for the warden's wrath
prince and people must pay betimes！
＇1＇ Hygelac。 ＇2＇ This is generally assumed to mean hides； though
the text simply says 〃seven thousand。〃 A hide in England meant
about 120 acres； though 〃the size of the acre varied。〃 ＇3＇ On the
historical raid into Frankish territory between 512 and 520 A。D。
The subsequent course of events； as gathered from hints of this
epic； is partly told in Scandinavian legend。 ＇4＇ The chronology
of this epic； as scholars have worked it out； would make Beowulf
well over ninety years of age when he fights the dragon。 But the
fifty years of his reign need not be taken as historical fact。
＇5＇ The text is here hopelessly illegible； and only the general
drift of the meaning can be rescued。 For one thing； we have the
old myth of a dragon who guards hidden treasure。 But with this
runs the story of some nob