Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, together with Sellic Spell
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round from many a neighbour over all this earth below, with
swords and spears, so that I counted no man beneath the
compass of the sky my likely foe. Lo! a change of this for-
1490 tune in my very home befell me, grief after gladness, when
Grendel, ancient enemy, became the invader of my house,
and I for that trespass unceasingly endured deep sorrow in
my heart. For this be to the Creator thanks, to the everlasting
Lord, that I have lived in my life, that long strife over, to gaze
1495 on this head dyed with cruel gore! Go now to thy seat, use
the gladness of the feast, war’s honour with thee! Between us
shall many a host of treasures pass when morn shall come.’
Glad was the heart of the Geat; swift went he to his place,
seeking his seat as the wise king bade. Then was again once
1500 more for the bold and valiant sitting in that hall fair feasting
made anew. The hood of night fell darkling black upon the
proud men there. All the fair host arose. The aged Scylding
with grey-sprinkled hair desired to seek his bed. Longing
immeasurably sweet for rest there took the Geatish knight,
1505 bold bearer of the shield. Straightway there led him forth,
that man of distant folk now weary of his quest, a chamber-
lain who in courtesy to the knight’s need ministered, in such
things as in that day were due for men on warlike errantry
to have.
1510 Now rested that mighty heart. The hall loomed high,
wide-vaulted, gold-adorned. The stranger slept within, until
the raven black announced with merry heart the heaven’s
gladness. Then came speeding bright a radiance above the
gloom. The warriors were in haste; eager were those noble
1515 men to journey back unto their people; far from thence that
guest proud-hearted now wished to seek his ship.
Then the bold son of Ecglaf bade men Hrunting bring,
bade him take the sword, dear thing of iron. For that offered
gift he spake his thanks, saying that a good friend in war he
1520 deemed it, a power in battle, nor uttered any words belittling
the edges of that sword – a gallant knight was he! And now
those warriors were in their armour dight for journey longing.
Honoured among the Danes their prince to the high seat
went where the other sat, a mighty man of valour Hrothgar
1525 greeted. Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: ‘Now we who
came from far away voyaging over the sea desire to say that
we are eager to be gone to seek King Hygelac. Here have we
right well been cherished in delight; good hast thou been to
us. Wherefore if I may in any matter upon this earth deserve
1530 thy greater love beyond what I yet have done in way of
valiant works, swift will I be at hand. If news be brought to
me over the encompassing seas that thy neighbours threaten
thee with war’s alarm, as on a time those did that hated thee,
a thousand knights will I bring to thee, mighty men unto thy
1535 aid. This do I know of Hygelac, lord of Geats, though young
he be, the shepherd of his folk, that in word and deed he will
further me, that I may meetly honour thee, and to thy sup-
port lead throng of spears, the succour of thy might, when
thou hast need of men. If Hrethric, king’s son, moreover, do
1540 purpose to seek the Geatish courts, there may he find many
friends. To profit are far countries visited by him that in
himself hath worth.’
Hrothgar then spake thus answering him: ‘These words
that thou hast spoken the all-knowing Lord hath set within
1545 thy heart. Never heard I of years so young a man discourse
more wise. Thou art in valour strong and in thy mind prudent,
knowledge is in thy uttered words. Likely it is, methinks, if it
should come to pass that the spear in battle grim and deadly
take Hrethel’s son, thy prince, the shepherd of his folk, sick-
1550 ness or the sword, and thou dost keep thy life, that then the
sea-loving Geats would have no better one to choose for king
and keeper of the wealth of mighty men, if thou wilt rule the
kingdom of thy kin. The temper of thy mind pleaseth me
the better the longer known, Beowulf beloved! Thou hast
1555 accomplished that between these peoples, the Geatish folk
and spearmen of the Danes, a mutual peace shall be, and
strife and hateful enmities shall sleep which erewhile they
used, and long as I my wide realm rule, shall precious things
between us pass, and many a man shall send over the water
1560 where the gannet dives greeting to another with goodly gifts,
and vessels ring-adorned over the high seas shall bring offerings
and tokens of our love. That people do I know to be
formed in steadfast mould, be it toward foe or friend, in all
things without reproach after the good ways of old.’
1565 Then the son of Healfdene, protector of good men, in
that hall again twelve costly things gave unto him, bade him
with those gifts in safety seek now his own dear people, and
swiftly again return. Then the prince of the Scyldings, that
king of noble line, kissed there the best of knights, clasping
1570 him about the neck. Tears ran down his face beneath his
grey-strewn hair. Two thoughts were in his heart old with
the wisdom of years, but this thought more, that never might
they meet again proudly in high discourse. To him the other
was so dear that he might not restrain that upwelling of the
1575 heart, but twined in the heartstrings in his breast longing
profound for that beloved one now burned within his blood.
Thence Beowulf went, a warrior bold in golden splendour,
treading the grassy sward, his heart uplifted with rich gifts.
The traverser of the sea awaited its lord and master there on
1580 the anchor riding; and as they went oft was the bounty of
Hrothgar praised: unrivalled king was he in all things with-
out reproach, until age robbed him of his joyous strength -
oft hath it stricken many a man.
Now to the flowing sea came that band of young men
1585 most proud wearing their netlike mail, their supple-linkéd
shirts. The watchman of the shore descried the warriors’
return, as he had before. Not with unfriendly words from
the cliff’s brow did he hail the guests, but rode to meet them,
and said to the men of the windloving Geats that welcome
1590 they came, warlike men in gleaming raiment, to their ship.
Then upon the beach was their deep-draughted vessel of the
sea with curving beak laden with gear of war, with horses and
with precious things. The mast stood tall above Hrothgar’s
hoarded wealth. To the keeper of his ship Beowulf gave a
1595 sword, bound with golden wire, so that thereafter sitting at
the mead he was the more honoured by reason of that rich
gift and heirloom old.
Forth sped the bark troubling the deep waters and forsook
the land of the Danes. Then upon the mast was the
1600 raiment of the sea, the sail, with rope made fast. The watery
timbers groaned. Nought did the wind upon the waves keep
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her from her course as she rode the billows. A traveller upon
the sea she fared, fleeting on with foam about her throat over
the waves, over the ocean-streams with wreathéd prow, until
1605 they might espy the Geatish cliffs and headlands that they
knew. Urged by the airs up drove the bark. It rested upon
the land.
Swiftly was the portreeve ready beside the sea, who long
while now had anxious upon the shore looked out afar for
1610 those men beloved. The deep-bosomed ship he moored unto
the beach, made fast with anchor-ropes, lest the might of the
waves should wrest from them their fair-builded craft. Then
he bade men bear to land the wealth of princes, the jewelled
work and plated gold. Not far thence must they go to find
1615 Hygelac Hrethel’s son giver of rich gifts, where he dwelleth
in his own house, chief amid his champions, nigh to the walls
of the sea.
Good was that mansion, a brave king was its lord, lofty
were his halls; very young was Hygd, wise and of virtue
1620 seemly, though winters few she had known within the castle
courts; Hæreth was her sire. Yet no niggard was she, nor too
sparing of gifts and precious treasures to the Geatish men.
The fierce mood of Thryth she did not show, good queen of
men, nor her dire wickedness. None was there of the dear
1625 companions of the court, save her lord alone, who dared in
his hardihood to gaze openly with eyes upon her. Nay, then
he might count on deadly bonds woven by hands in store for
him; then swift when he was seized and held the sword was
called upon that with its figured blade it might make an end
1630 and deal the agony of death. No course is this for queens,
for woman to pursue, peerless though she be, that she who
should weave men’s peace should compass the life of man
beloved with lying tales of wrong. Verily he of Hemming’s
race made light of that; yea, men at their ale-drinking have
1635 further told that less injuries to men, less cruel wickedness
she wrought, since first she was given a bride of noble line
adorned with gold to that young champion, since first at her
father’s bidding she had come unto Offa’s hall over the wan
waters journeying. There did she afterward use well her life’s
1640 estate upon the royal throne, renowned for goodness while
she lived; her loving duty she observed toward that prince
of mighty men, of all mankind, as I have learned, the one
most excellent the Two Seas between of wide earth’s race.
For Offa in his bounty and his wars was honoured far and
1645 wide, a man bold amid the spears who with wisdom ruled his
rightful land. Of him was begotten Eomer for the comfort of
men of might, valiant in fell deeds, of the race of Hemming,
Garmund’s grandson.
Now that valiant one, Beowulf himself, his retinue about
1650 him, went forth along the sand, treading the level beach and
the wide shores. The lamp of the world shone down, the sun
hasting from the south. Their journey to its end they brought
bravely marching to where, as they had learned, the protector
of good men, the young warrior-king, slayer of Ongentheow,
1655 within his fast dwelling dealt out the rings, a worthy lord.
To Hygelac was word of Beowulf’s coming told in haste,
how there to the outer courts that lord of warriors, stout
beneath the shield, was come striding to the court alive and
whole from the play of war. Swift, as the mighty king them
1660 bade, was room in the hall within made for the new-come
warriors. He who that strife had safely passed now sat him
beside the very king, kinsman at kinsman’s side, when he
with solemn words and gracious utterance had greeted his
good liege-lord. Now Hæreth’s daughter down that high hall
1665 passed for the pouring of the mead, cherished the good men
there, bearing the cup of strong sweet drink to the hands of
mighty men. Then Hygelac began in that lofty house with
fair words to question the companion at his side; eagerness
pierced his heart to know of what sort the adventures of the
1670 sealoving Geats had been: ‘What fortune befell you on your
voyage, Beowulf beloved, since thou didst on a sudden take
the mind to seek strife far away over the salt waters, deeds of
arms in Heorot? And, come! didst thou for Hrothgar king
renowned in any wise amend his grief so widely noised? On
1675 this account did care about my heart well ever up in surging
sorrow; I feared the hazard of my man beloved. Thee long I
prayed that thou shouldst in no wise approach that deadly
creature, but shouldst suffer the South-Danes look them-
selves to their war with Grendel. To God I render thanks that
1680 I can now see thee safe returned.’
Beowulf made answer, the son of Ecgtheow: ‘Lord
Hygelac, no secret is it to many among mortal men in what
sort our warlike bout, the mighty duel of Grendel and of me,
fell out upon that field, where many a host of wrongs and
1685 agelong misery he wrought against the victorious Scyldings.
These did I all avenge, so that none upon earth of Grendel’s
kin hath cause to boast of that encounter at grey dawn,
who-so of that fell brood yet longest liveth in the encircling
fens. First then I came there to the hall of rings greeting
1690 Hrothgar. Straightway did the renownéd son of Healfdene,
as soon as he learned the temper of my mind, beside his own
son appoint my seat. The company was in mirth, nor saw I
ever in life beneath the vault of heaven greater revelry of men
that sit at mead within the hall. At whiles the glorious queen,
1695 peace and goodwill of peoples, did traverse all that floor
about, enheartening the young esquires; oft to some knight
she gave a twisted ring ere she went unto her seat. At whiles
before the host Hrothgar’s daughter bore the goblet of ale to
all goodmen in turn. Her did I hear men sitting in that hall
1700 name Freawaru, as the gem-studded vessel to mighty men
she gave. Betrothed is she, that young maid gold-adorned to
Froda’s gallant son. This hath the Scyldings’ lord, the shepherd
of his realm, determined, and accounts it policy that
through that woman he may set to rest long tale of deadly
1705 deeds of enmity and strife. Oft do we see that seldom in
any place, even for the briefest time, when a prince falleth,
doth the murderous spear relent, good though the bride
may be! This, maybe, will in that purposed time displease
the Heathobardish king and each knight of that folk, when
1710 one walks down their hall beside the lady, a noble scion of
the Danes amid their host. On him will gaily gleam things
prized by their sires of old, a stout sword ring-adorned once
treasure of the Heathobards, while yet their weapons they
could yield, until they led their comrades dear and their own
1715 lives to ruin in the clash of shields. Then will one speak at the
ale, seeing that costly thing, a soldier old who remembers all,
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recalling the slaying of men with spears – grim is the heart
of him, with gloomy thought he will begin to try the young
warrior’s temper searching the secrets of his breast, to wake
1720 again cruel war, and these words will he say: “Canst thou not,
my lord, the sword recall which thy father bore, his prizéd
blade, unto the fray wearing his vizored helm upon that latest
day whereon the Danes slew him, the eager Scyldings, and
were masters of the stricken field, after Withergyld was slain
1725 and the downfall of mighty men? Now here the son of one,
I know not who, among those slayers walks in this hall, his
heart uplifted with fair things, boasteth of the slaying and
weareth that treasure which thou shouldst by right possess.”
‘Thus at each occasion will he stir remembrance, prompting
1730 with wounding words, until the hour cometh when that
lady’s knight shall sleep, red with his blood from the bite
of sword, forfeiting his life for his father’s deeds. The other
fleeing thence will with his life escape, knowing the land
full well. Then will on either hand the sworn oaths of men
1735 be broken; thereafter will cruel thoughts of hate surge up
in Ingeld’s heart, and for this tide of woe cooler will wax
his love of wife. For this cause I count the good will of the
Heathobards, their part in this royal truce, filled with menace
for the Danes, their friendship insecure.
1740 T shall speak on once more concerning Grendel, that
thou mayst fully know, O giver of rich gifts, to what end
it came when we mighty ones did rush to grips. So soon as
the jewel of the sky had glided over the world, that creature
came in ire, bringing fierce horror in the dusk, to seek us
1745 out where yet unharmed that hall we guarded. There did
slaughter upon Handscioh fall, a cruel ending to his dooméd
life; sword-girt warrior he was the first to fall. Death came
to that young knight renowned by Grendel’s jaws, who all
the flesh devoured of him we loved. And yet none the more
1750 did he desire to go forth from that golden hall with empty
hand, that murderer with bloody tooth bethinking him of
evil deeds. Nay, he in his strength glorying of me made trial,
seized upon me with eager clutch. His pouch hung down;
deep was it and strange, made fast with curious thongs; with
1755 subtle skill it was all contrived by fiends’ craft wrought of