Beowulf Part 8

GRENDEL THE MURDERER.

{Grendel attacks the sleeping heroes}

When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it For beds and benches when the banquet was over.

Then he found there reposing many a n.o.ble 5 Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,[1]

Misery knew not. The monster of evil Greedy and cruel tarried but little,

{He drags off thirty of them, and devours them}

Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed 10 Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to, With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward.

In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking, Was Grendel's prowess revealed to the warriors:

{A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel's horrible deed is fully realized.}

Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted, 15 Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler famous, The long-worthy atheling, sat very woful, Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen, [6] When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer, The spirit accursed: too crus.h.i.+ng that sorrow,

{The monster returns the next night.}

20 Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer he tarried, But one night after continued his slaughter Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little From malice and murder; they mastered him fully.

He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for 25 A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges, A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice Told him truly by token apparent The hall-thane's hatred: he held himself after Further and faster who the foeman did baffle.

30 [2]So ruled he and strongly strove against justice Lone against all men, till empty uptowered

{King Hrothgar's agony and suspense last twelve years.}

The choicest of houses. Long was the season: Twelve-winters' time torture suffered The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction, 35 Endless agony; hence it after[3] became Certainly known to the children of men Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar Grendel struggled:--his grudges he cherished, Murderous malice, many a winter, 40 Strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he [4]Life-woe to lift from no liegeman at all of The men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle, No counsellor needed count for a moment [7] On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer;

{Grendel is unremitting in his persecutions.}

45 The monster of evil fiercely did hara.s.s, The ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger, Trapping and tricking them. He trod every night then The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where Witches and wizards wander and ramble.

50 So the foe of mankind many of evils Grievous injuries, often accomplished, Horrible hermit; Heort he frequented, Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen

{G.o.d is against the monster.}

(Since G.o.d did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,[5]

55 The light-flas.h.i.+ng jewel, love of Him knew not).

'Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings

{The king and his council deliberate in vain.}

Soul-crus.h.i.+ng sorrow. Not seldom in private Sat the king in his council; conference held they What the braves should determine 'gainst terrors unlooked for.

{They invoke the aid of their G.o.ds.}

60 At the shrines of their idols often they promised Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they The devil from h.e.l.l would help them to lighten Their people's oppression. Such practice they used then, Hope of the heathen; h.e.l.l they remembered 65 In innermost spirit, G.o.d they knew not,

{The true G.o.d they do not know.}

Judge of their actions, All-wielding Ruler, No praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven, The Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to 70 The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for, Wax no wiser; well for the man who, Living his life-days, his Lord may face And find defence in his Father's embrace!

[1] The translation is based on 'weras,' adopted by H.-So.--K. and Th.

read 'wera' and, arranging differently, render 119(2)-120: _They knew not sorrow, the wretchedness of man, aught of misfortune_.--For 'unhaelo' (120) R. suggests 'unfaelo': _The uncanny creature, greedy and cruel, etc_.

[2] S. rearranges and translates: _So he ruled and struggled unjustly, one against all, till the n.o.blest of buildings stood useless (it was a long while) twelve years' time: the friend of the Scyldings suffered distress, every woe, great sorrows, etc_.

[3] For 'syan,' B. suggests 'sarcwidum': _Hence in mournful words it became well known, etc_. Various other words beginning with 's' have been conjectured.

[4] The H.-So. glossary is very inconsistent in referring to this pa.s.sage.--'Sibbe' (154), which H.-So. regards as an instr., B. takes as accus., obj. of 'wolde.' Putting a comma after Deniga, he renders: _He did not desire peace with any of the Danes, nor did he wish to remove their life-woe, nor to settle for money_.

[5] Of this difficult pa.s.sage the following interpretations among others are given: (1) Though Grendel has frequented Heorot as a demon, he could not become ruler of the Danes, on account of his hostility to G.o.d. (2) Hrothgar was much grieved that Grendel had not appeared before his throne to receive presents. (3) He was not permitted to devastate the hall, on account of the Creator; _i.e._ G.o.d wished to make his visit fatal to him.--Ne ... wisse (169) W. renders: _Nor had he any desire to do so_; 'his' being obj. gen. = danach.

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IV.

BEOWULF GOES TO HROTHGAR'S a.s.sISTANCE.

{Hrothgar sees no way of escape from the persecutions of Grendel.}

So Healfdene's kinsman constantly mused on His long-lasting sorrow; the battle-thane clever Was not anywise able evils to 'scape from: Too crus.h.i.+ng the sorrow that came to the people, 5 Loathsome and lasting the life-grinding torture,

{Beowulf, the Geat, hero of the poem, hears of Hrothgar's sorrow, and resolves to go to his a.s.sistance.}

Greatest of night-woes. So Higelac's liegeman, Good amid Geatmen, of Grendel's achievements Heard in his home:[1] of heroes then living He was stoutest and strongest, st.u.r.dy and n.o.ble.

10 He bade them prepare him a bark that was trusty; He said he the war-king would seek o'er the ocean, The folk-leader n.o.ble, since he needed retainers.

For the perilous project prudent companions Chided him little, though loving him dearly; 15 They egged the brave atheling, augured him glory.

{With fourteen carefully chosen companions, he sets out for Dane-land.}

The excellent knight from the folk of the Geatmen Had liegemen selected, likest to prove them Trustworthy warriors; with fourteen companions The vessel he looked for; a liegeman then showed them, 20 A sea-crafty man, the bounds of the country.

Fast the days fleeted; the float was a-water, The craft by the cliff. Clomb to the prow then Well-equipped warriors: the wave-currents twisted The sea on the sand; soldiers then carried 25 On the breast of the vessel bright-s.h.i.+ning jewels, Handsome war-armor; heroes outshoved then, Warmen the wood-s.h.i.+p, on its wished-for adventure.

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{The vessel sails like a bird}

The foamy-necked floater fanned by the breeze, Likest a bird, glided the waters,

{In twenty four hours they reach the sh.o.r.es of Hrothgar's dominions}

30 Till twenty and four hours thereafter The twist-stemmed vessel had traveled such distance That the sailing-men saw the sloping embankments, The sea cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains, Nesses enormous: they were nearing the limits 35 At the end of the ocean.[2] Up thence quickly The men of the Weders clomb to the mainland, Fastened their vessel (battle weeds rattled, War burnies clattered), the Wielder they thanked That the ways o'er the waters had waxen so gentle.

{They are hailed by the Danish coast guard}

40 Then well from the cliff edge the guard of the Scyldings Who the sea-cliffs should see to, saw o'er the gangway Brave ones bearing beauteous targets, Armor all ready, anxiously thought he, Musing and wondering what men were approaching.