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But the evil one ambushed old and young
death…shadow dark； and dogged them still；
lured； or lurked in the livelong night
of misty moorlands： men may say not
where the haunts of these Hell…Runes＇3＇ be。
Such heaping of horrors the hater of men；
lonely roamer； wrought unceasing；
harassings heavy。 O'er Heorot he lorded；
gold…bright hall； in gloomy nights；
and ne'er could the prince＇4＇ approach his throne；
'twas judgment of God； or have joy in his hall。
Sore was the sorrow to Scyldings'…friend；
heart…rending misery。 Many nobles
sat assembled； and searched out counsel
how it were best for bold…hearted men
against harassing terror to try their hand。
Whiles they vowed in their heathen fanes
altar…offerings； asked with words＇5＇
that the slayer…of…souls would succor give them
for the pain of their people。 Their practice this；
their heathen hope； 'twas Hell they thought of
in mood of their mind。 Almighty they knew not；
Doomsman of Deeds and dreadful Lord；
nor Heaven's…Helmet heeded they ever；
Wielder…of…Wonder。 Woe for that man
who in harm and hatred hales his soul
to fiery embraces； nor favor nor change
awaits he ever。 But well for him
that after death…day may draw to his Lord；
and friendship find in the Father's arms！
＇1＇ The smaller buildings within the main enclosure but separate
from the hall。 ＇2＇ Grendel。 ＇3＇ 〃Sorcerers…of…hell。〃 ＇4＇
Hrothgar； who is the 〃Scyldings'…friend〃 of 170。 ＇5＇ That is； in
formal or prescribed phrase。
III
THUS seethed unceasing the son of Healfdene
with the woe of these days； not wisest men
assuaged his sorrow； too sore the anguish；
loathly and long； that lay on his folk；
most baneful of burdens and bales of the night。
This heard in his home Hygelac's thane；
great among Geats； of Grendel's doings。
He was the mightiest man of valor
in that same day of this our life；
stalwart and stately。 A stout wave…walker
he bade make ready。 Yon battle…king； said he；
far o'er the swan…road he fain would seek；
the noble monarch who needed men！
The prince's journey by prudent folk
was little blamed； though they loved him dear；
they whetted the hero； and hailed good omens。
And now the bold one from bands of Geats
comrades chose； the keenest of warriors
e'er he could find； with fourteen men
the sea…wood＇1＇ he sought； and； sailor proved；
led them on to the land's confines。
Time had now flown；＇2＇ afloat was the ship；
boat under bluff。 On board they climbed；
warriors ready； waves were churning
sea with sand； the sailors bore
on the breast of the bark their bright array；
their mail and weapons： the men pushed off；
on its willing way； the well…braced craft。
Then moved o'er the waters by might of the wind
that bark like a bird with breast of foam；
till in season due； on the second day；
the curved prow such course had run
that sailors now could see the land；
sea…cliffs shining； steep high hills；
headlands broad。 Their haven was found；
their journey ended。 Up then quickly
the Weders'＇3＇ clansmen climbed ashore；
anchored their sea…wood； with armor clashing
and gear of battle： God they thanked
or passing in peace o'er the paths of the sea。
Now saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman；
a warden that watched the water…side；
how they bore o'er the gangway glittering shields；
war…gear in readiness； wonder seized him
to know what manner of men they were。
Straight to the strand his steed he rode；
Hrothgar's henchman； with hand of might
he shook his spear； and spake in parley。
〃Who are ye； then； ye armed men；
mailed folk； that yon mighty vessel
have urged thus over the ocean ways；
here o'er the waters？ A warden I；
sentinel set o'er the sea…march here；
lest any foe to the folk of Danes
with harrying fleet should harm the land。
No aliens ever at ease thus bore them；
linden…wielders：＇4＇ yet word…of…leave
clearly ye lack from clansmen here；
my folk's agreement。 A greater ne'er saw I
of warriors in world than is one of you；
yon hero in harness！ No henchman he
worthied by weapons； if witness his features；
his peerless presence！ I pray you； though； tell
your folk and home； lest hence ye fare
suspect to wander your way as spies
in Danish land。 Now； dwellers afar；
ocean…travellers； take from me
simple advice： the sooner the better
I hear of the country whence ye came。〃
＇1＇ Ship。 ＇2＇ That is； since Beowulf selected his ship and led
his men to the harbor。 ＇3＇ One of the auxiliary names of the
Geats。 ＇4＇ Or： Not thus openly ever came warriors hither； yet。。。
IV
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；
noble atheling； Ecgtheow named。
Full of winters； he fared away
aged from earth； he is honored still
through width of the world by wise men all。
To thy lord and liege in loyal mood
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
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
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；
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
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。
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；
winding…neck'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；
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；
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
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；
safe in your seekings。 Seaward I go；
'gainst hostile warriors hold my watch。〃
＇1＇ Hrothgar。 ＇2＇ Beowulf's helmet has several boar…images on it；
he is the 〃man of war〃； and the boar…helmet guards him as typical
representative of the marching party as a whole。 The boar was
sacred to Freyr； who was the favorite god of the Germanic tribes
about the North Sea and the Baltic。 Rude representations of
warriors show the boar on the helmet quite as large as the helmet
itself。
V
STONE…BRIGHT the street：＇1＇ it showed the way
to the crowd of clansmen。 Corselets glistened
hand…forged； hard； on their harness bright
the steel ring sang； as they strode along
in mail of battle； and marched to the hall。
There； weary of ocean； the wall along
they set their bucklers； their broad shields； down；
and bowed them to bench： the breastplates clanged；
war…gear of men； their weapons stacked；
spears of the seafarers stood together；
gray…tipped ash： that iron band
was worthily weaponed！ A warrior proud
asked of the heroes their home and kin。
〃Whence； now； bear ye burnished shields；
harness gray and helmets grim；
spears in multitude？ Messenger； I；
Hrothgar's herald！ Heroes so many
ne'er met I as strangers of mood so strong。
'Tis plain that for prowess； not plunged into exile；
for high…hearted valor； Hrothgar ye seek！〃
Him the sturdy…in…war bespake with words；
proud earl of the Weders answer made；
hardy 'neath helmet： 〃Hygelac's； we；
fellows at board； I am Beowulf named。
I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene
this mission of mine； to thy master…lord；
the doughty prince； if he deign at all
grace that we greet him； the good one； now。〃
Wulfgar spake； the Wendles' chieftain；
whose might of mind to many was known；
his courage and counsel： 〃The king of Danes；
the Scyldings' friend； I fain will tell；
the Breaker…of…Ri