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support among scholars。 Finn； a Frisian chieftain； who
nevertheless has a 〃castle〃 outside the Frisian border； marries
Hildeburh； a Danish princess； and her brother； Hnaef； with many
other Danes； pays Finn a visit。 Relations between the two peoples
have been strained before。 Something starts the old feud anew；
and the visitors are attacked in their quarters。 Hnaef is killed；
so is a son of Hildeburh。 Many fall on both sides。 Peace is
patched up； a stately funeral is held； and the surviving visitors
become in a way vassals or liegemen of Finn； going back with him
to Frisia。 So matters rest a while。 Hengest is now leader of the
Danes； but he is set upon revenge for his former lord； Hnaef。
Probably he is killed in feud； but his clansmen； Guthlaf and
Oslaf； gather at their home a force of sturdy Danes； come back to
Frisia； storm Finn's stronghold； kill him； and carry back their
kinswoman Hildeburh。 ＇6＇ The 〃enemies〃 must be the Frisians。 ＇7＇
Battlefield。 Hengest is the 〃prince's thane；〃 companion of
Hnaef。 〃Folcwald's son〃 is Finn。 ＇8＇ That is； Finn would govern
in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left； provided； of
course； that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge
Hnaef their fallen lord。 If； again； one of Finn's Frisians began
a quarrel； he should die by the sword。 ＇9＇ Hnaef。 ＇10＇ The high
place chosen for the funeral： see description of Beowulf's
funeral…pile at the end of the poem。 ＇11＇ Wounds。
XVII
THEN hastened those heroes their home to see；
friendless； to find the Frisian land；
houses and high burg。 Hengest still
through the death…dyed winter dwelt with Finn；
holding pact； yet of home he minded；
though powerless his ring…decked prow to drive
over the waters； now waves rolled fierce
lashed by the winds； or winter locked them
in icy fetters。 Then fared another
year to men's dwellings； as yet they do；
the sunbright skies； that their season ever
duly await。 Far off winter was driven；
fair lay earth's breast； and fain was the rover；
the guest； to depart； though more gladly he pondered
on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep；
and how to hasten the hot encounter
where sons of the Frisians were sure to be。
So he escaped not the common doom；
when Hun with 〃Lafing；〃 the light…of…battle；
best of blades； his bosom pierced：
its edge was famed with the Frisian earls。
On fierce…heart Finn there fell likewise；
on himself at home； the horrid sword…death；
for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack
had sorrowing told； from sea…ways landed；
mourning their woes。＇1＇ Finn's wavering spirit
bode not in breast。 The burg was reddened
with blood of foemen； and Finn was slain；
king amid clansmen； the queen was taken。
To their ship the Scylding warriors bore
all the chattels the chieftain owned；
whatever they found in Finn's domain
of gems and jewels。 The gentle wife
o'er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore；
led to her land。
The lay was finished；
the gleeman's song。 Then glad rose the revel；
bench…joy brightened。 Bearers draw
from their 〃wonder…vats〃 wine。 Comes Wealhtheow forth；
under gold…crown goes where the good pair sit；
uncle and nephew； true each to the other one；
kindred in amity。 Unferth the spokesman
at the Scylding lord's feet sat： men had faith in his spirit；
his keenness of courage； though kinsmen had found him
unsure at the sword…play。 The Scylding queen spoke：
〃Quaff of this cup； my king and lord；
breaker of rings； and blithe be thou；
gold…friend of men； to the Geats here speak
such words of mildness as man should use。
Be glad with thy Geats； of those gifts be mindful；
or near or far； which now thou hast。
Men say to me； as son thou wishest
yon hero to hold。 Thy Heorot purged；
jewel…hall brightest； enjoy while thou canst；
with many a largess； and leave to thy kin
folk and realm when forth thou goest
to greet thy doom。 For gracious I deem
my Hrothulf；＇2＇ willing to hold and rule
nobly our youths； if thou yield up first；
prince of Scyldings； thy part in the world。
I ween with good he will well requite
offspring of ours； when all he minds
that for him we did in his helpless days
of gift and grace to gain him honor！〃
Then she turned to the seat where her sons wereplaced；
Hrethric and Hrothmund； with heroes' bairns；
young men together： the Geat； too； sat there；
Beowulf brave； the brothers between。
＇1＇ That is； these two Danes； escaping home； had told the story
of the attack on Hnaef； the slaying of Hengest； and all the
Danish woes。 Collecting a force； they return to Frisia and kill
Finn in his home。 ＇2＇ Nephew to Hrothgar； with whom he
subsequently quarrels； and elder cousin to the two young sons of
Hrothgar and Wealhtheow； their natural guardian in the event
of the king's death。 There is something finely feminine in this
speech of Wealhtheow's； apart from its somewhat irregular and
irrelevant sequence of topics。 Both she and her lord probably
distrust Hrothulf； but she bids the king to be of good cheer；
and； turning to the suspect； heaps affectionate assurances on his
probity。 〃My own Hrothulf〃 will surely not forget these favors
and benefits of the past； but will repay them to the orphaned
boy。
XVIII
A CUP she gave him； with kindly greeting
and winsome words。 Of wounden gold；
she offered； to honor him； arm…jewels twain；
corselet and rings； and of collars the noblest
that ever I knew the earth around。
Ne'er heard I so mighty； 'neath heaven's dome；
a hoard…gem of heroes； since Hama bore
to his bright…built burg the Brisings' necklace；
jewel and gem casket。 Jealousy fled he；
Eormenric's hate： chose help eternal。
Hygelac Geat； grandson of Swerting；
on the last of his raids this ring bore with him；
under his banner the booty defending；
the war…spoil warding； but Wyrd o'erwhelmed him
what time； in his daring； dangers he sought；
feud with Frisians。 Fairest of gems
he bore with him over the beaker…of…waves；
sovran strong： under shield he died。
Fell the corpse of the king into keeping of Franks；
gear of the breast； and that gorgeous ring；
weaker warriors won the spoil；
after gripe of battle； from Geatland's lord；
and held the death…field。
Din rose in hall。
Wealhtheow spake amid warriors； and said：
〃This jewel enjoy in thy jocund youth；
Beowulf lov'd； these battle…weeds wear；
a royal treasure； and richly thrive！
Preserve thy strength； and these striplings here
counsel in kindness： requital be mine。
Hast done such deeds； that for days to come
thou art famed among folk both far and near；
so wide as washeth the wave of Ocean
his windy walls。 Through the ways of life
prosper； O prince！ I pray for thee
rich possessions。 To son of mine
be helpful in deed and uphold his joys！
Here every earl to the other is true；
mild of mood； to the master loyal！
Thanes are friendly； the throng obedient；
liegemen are revelling： list and obey！〃
Went then to her place。 That was proudest of feasts；
flowed wine for the warriors。 Wyrd they knew not；
destiny dire； and the doom to be seen
by many an earl when eve should come；
and Hrothgar homeward hasten away；
royal； to rest。 The room was guarded
by an army of earls； as erst was done。
They bared the bench…boards； abroad they spread
beds and bolsters。 One beer…carouser
in danger of doom lay down in the hall。
At their heads they set their shields of war；
bucklers bright； on the bench were there
over each atheling； easy to see；
the high battle…helmet； the haughty spear；
the corselet of rings。 'Twas their custom so
ever to be for battle prepared；
at home； or harrying； which it were；
even as oft as evil threatened
their sovran king。 They were clansmen good。
XIX
THEN sank they to sleep。 With sorrow one bought
his rest of the evening； as ofttime had happened
when Grendel guarded that golden hall；
evil wrought； till his end drew nigh；
slaughter for sins。 'Twas seen and told
how an avenger survived the fiend；
as was learned afar。 The livelong time
after that grim fight； Grendel's mother；
monster of women； mourned her woe。
She was doomed to dwell in the dreary waters；
cold sea…courses； since Cain cut down
with edge of the sword his only brother；
his father's offspring： outlawed he fled；
marked with murder； from men's delights
warded the wilds。 There woke from him
such fate…sent ghosts as Grendel； who；
war…wolf horrid； at Heorot found
a warrior watching and waiting the fray；
with whom the grisly one grappled amain。
But the man remembered his mighty power；
the glorious gift that God had sent him；
in his Maker's mercy put his trust
for comfort and help： so he conquered the foe；
felled the fiend； who fled abject；
reft of joy； to the realms of death；
mankind's foe。 And his mother now；
gloomy and grim； would go that quest
of sorrow； the death of her son to avenge。
To Heorot came s