Beowulf Part 25

Thrytho nursed anger, excellent[5] folk-queen, Hot-burning hatred: no hero whatever 'Mong household companions, her husband excepted

{She is a terror to all save her husband.}

45 Dared to adventure to look at the woman With eyes in the daytime;[6] but he knew that death-chains Hand-wreathed were wrought him: early thereafter, When the hand-strife was over, edges were ready, That fierce-raging sword-point had to force a decision, 50 Murder-bale show. Such no womanly custom For a lady to practise, though lovely her person, That a weaver-of-peace, on pretence of anger A beloved liegeman of life should deprive.

Soothly this hindered Heming's kinsman; 55 Other ale-drinking earlmen a.s.serted That fearful folk-sorrows fewer she wrought them, Treacherous doings, since first she was given Adorned with gold to the war-hero youthful, For her origin honored, when Offa's great palace 60 O'er the fallow flood by her father's instructions She sought on her journey, where she afterwards fully, Famed for her virtue, her fate on the king's-seat [67] Enjoyed in her lifetime, love did she hold with The ruler of heroes, the best, it is told me, 65 Of all of the earthmen that oceans encompa.s.s, Of earl-kindreds endless; hence Offa was famous Far and widely, by gifts and by battles, Spear-valiant hero; the home of his fathers He governed with wisdom, whence Eomaer did issue 70 For help unto heroes, Heming's kinsman, Grandson of Garmund, great in encounters.

[1] For 'scawan' (1896), 'scaan' has been proposed. Accepting this, we may render: _He said the bright-armored warriors were going to their vessel, welcome, etc_. (Cf. 1804.)

[2] R. suggests, 'Gewat him on naca,' and renders: _The vessel set out, to drive on the sea, the Dane-country left_. 'On' bears the alliteration; cf. 'on hafu' (2524). This has some advantages over the H.-So. reading; viz. (1) It adds nothing to the text; (2) it makes 'naca' the subject, and thus brings the pa.s.sage into keeping with the context, where the poet has exhausted his vocabulary in detailing the actions of the vessel.--B.'s emendation (cf. P. and B. XII. 97) is violent.

[3] B. translates: _Who for a long time, ready at the coast, had looked out into the distance eagerly for the dear men_. This changes the syntax of 'leofra manna.'

[4] For 'wuna' (v. 1924) several eminent critics suggest 'wunade'

(=remained). This makes the pa.s.sage much clearer.

[5] Why should such a woman be described as an 'excellent' queen? C.

suggests 'frecnu' = dangerous, bold.

[6] For 'an daeges' various readings have been offered. If 'and-eges'

be accepted, the sentence will read: _No hero ... dared look upon her, eye to eye_. If 'an-daeges' be adopted, translate: _Dared look upon her the whole day_.

XXIX.

BEOWULF AND HIGELAC.

Then the brave one departed, his band along with him,

{Beowulf and his party seek Higelac.}

Seeking the sea-sh.o.r.e, the sea-marches treading, The wide-stretching sh.o.r.es. The world-candle glimmered, The sun from the southward; they proceeded then onward, 5 Early arriving where they heard that the troop-lord, Ongentheow's slayer, excellent, youthful Folk-prince and warrior was distributing jewels, Close in his castle. The coming of Beowulf Was announced in a message quickly to Higelac, 10 That the folk-troop's defender forth to the palace The linden-companion alive was advancing, Secure from the combat courtward a-going.

The building was early inward made ready For the foot-going guests as the good one had ordered.

{Beowulf sits by his liegelord.}

15 He sat by the man then who had lived through the struggle, Kinsman by kinsman, when the king of the people Had in lordly language saluted the dear one,

{Queen Hygd receives the heroes.}

In words that were formal. The daughter of Haereth Coursed through the building, carrying mead-cups:[1]

[68] 20 She loved the retainers, tendered the beakers To the high-minded Geatmen. Higelac 'gan then

{Higelac is greatly interested in Beowulf's adventures.}

Pleasantly plying his companion with questions In the high-towering palace. A curious interest Tormented his spirit, what meaning to see in 25 The Sea-Geats' adventures: "Beowulf worthy,

{Give an account of thy adventures, Beowulf dear.}

How throve your journeying, when thou thoughtest suddenly Far o'er the salt-streams to seek an encounter, A battle at Heorot? Hast bettered for Hrothgar, The famous folk-leader, his far-published sorrows 30 Any at all? In agony-billows

{My suspense has been great.}

I mused upon torture, distrusted the journey Of the beloved liegeman; I long time did pray thee By no means to seek out the murderous spirit, To suffer the South-Danes themselves to decide on[2]

35 Grappling with Grendel. To G.o.d I am thankful To be suffered to see thee safe from thy journey."

{Beowulf narrates his adventures.}

Beowulf answered, bairn of old Ecgtheow: "'Tis hidden by no means, Higelac chieftain, From many of men, the meeting so famous, 40 What mournful moments of me and of Grendel Were pa.s.sed in the place where he pressing affliction On the Victory-Scyldings scathefully brought, Anguish forever; that all I avenged, So that any under heaven of the kinsmen of Grendel

{Grendel's kindred have no cause to boast.}

45 Needeth not boast of that cry-in-the-morning, Who longest liveth of the loth-going kindred,[3]

Encompa.s.sed by moorland. I came in my journey To the royal ring-hall, Hrothgar to greet there:

{Hrothgar received me very cordially.}

Soon did the famous scion of Healfdene, 50 When he understood fully the spirit that led me, a.s.sign me a seat with the son of his bosom.

[69] The troop was in joyance; mead-glee greater 'Neath arch of the ether not ever beheld I

{The queen also showed up no little honor.}

'Mid hall-building holders. The highly-famed queen, 55 Peace-tie of peoples, oft pa.s.sed through the building, Cheered the young troopers; she oft tendered a hero A beautiful ring-band, ere she went to her sitting.

{Hrothgar's lovely daughter.}

Oft the daughter of Hrothgar in view of the courtiers To the earls at the end the ale-vessel carried, 60 Whom Freaware I heard then hall-sitters t.i.tle, When nail-adorned jewels she gave to the heroes:

{She is betrothed to Ingeld, in order to unite the Danes and Heathobards.}

Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad son of Froda Her faith has been plighted; the friend of the Scyldings, The guard of the kingdom, hath given his sanction,[4]

65 And counts it a vantage, for a part of the quarrels, A portion of hatred, to pay with the woman.

[5]Somewhere not rarely, when the ruler has fallen, The life-taking lance relaxeth its fury For a brief breathing-spell, though the bride be charming!

[1] 'Meodu-scenc.u.m' (1981) some would render '_with mead-pourers_.'

Translate then: _The daughter of Haereth went through the building accompanied by mead-pourers_.

[2] See my note to 1599, supra, and B. in P. and B. XII. 97.

[3] For 'fenne,' supplied by Grdtvg., B. suggests 'facne' (cf. Jul.

350). Accepting this, translate: _Who longest lives of the hated race, steeped in treachery_.

[4] See note to v. 1599 above.

[5] This is perhaps the least understood sentence in the poem, almost every word being open to dispute. (1) The 'no' of our text is an emendation, and is rejected by many scholars. (2) 'Seldan' is by some taken as an adv. (= _seldom_), and by others as a noun (= _page_, _companion_). (3) 'Leod-hryre,' some render '_fall of the people_'; others, '_fall of the prince_.' (4) 'Buge,' most scholars regard as the intrans. verb meaning '_bend_,' '_rest_'; but one great scholar has translated it '_shall kill_.' (5) 'Hwaer,' Very recently, has been attacked, 'waere' being suggested. (6) As a corollary to the above, the same critic proposes to drop 'oft' out of the text.--t.B. suggests: Oft seldan waere after leodhryre: lytle hwile bongar buge, eah s...o...b..yd duge = _often has a treaty been (thus) struck, after a prince had fallen: (but only) a short time is the spear (then) wont to rest, however excellent the bride may be_.