THE ARGUMENT. Hrothgar the Scylding, the son of Halfdene, King of the Danes, builds a great mead-hall and calls it Heorot. There he dwells at peace dealing gifts to his people, and every day at the feast is joyous noise of song. But the fiend Grendel, vexed at the happiness of the Danes, comes down from the misty moors, and nightly kills and devours the sleepers in the hall. Twelve years this trouble lasts, and Hrothgar and his thanes are helpless and full of grief. Beowulf the Scylfing, the son of Ecgtheow, and nephew of Higelac King of the Weder-Goths, makes ready a ship and sails to carry aid to Hrothgar in his need. The King bids him welcome, and gladly gives him leave to do battle with Grendel. At the feast Hunferd taunts Beowulf with having been beaten in a swimming match, and Beowulf tells the true story. Hrothgar and the Queen Waltheow are well pleased, and after the banquet the King gives the hall in charge to Beowulf and his comrades. Grendel comes, and kills one of the men, but is seized by Beowulf, and hardly escapes, wounded to death, and leaving his arm behind him in Beowulf's grasp. There is great joy in Heorot, and at night Hrothgar's thanes sleep in the hall as they did long ago. 75 BEOWULF. I. THE SCYLDING KINGS. Lo! we have heard of glory won by Gar-Dane Kings of old, And mighty deeds these princes wrought. Oft with Since first an outcast he was found, did Scyld the From their mead-benches many a folk, and frighted Therein he took his pleasure,-great he waxed beneath the sky, And throve in worship, till to him all folk who dwelt hard by, And o'er the whale-path, tribute paid, and did his word obey. Good king was he! To him was born an heir in after day, A child in hall; the gift of God to glad the people sent; The deadly wrongs and woes He knew they long while underwent ; And therefore did the Prince of life, the Lord of glory, shower All worldly praise on him, the famed Beowulf; and the power Of Scyld's great heir spread far and wide through all the Danish land. So must the young man gift and fee deal forth with open hand To all his father's friends; thereby, in age and time of fight, That comrades true may stand by him and help the folk aright.* In every people men shall thrive by worthy deeds alone! Then to God's hands went mighty Scyld, his fated hour made known, And to the shore his comrades dear him carried as he bade While yet as Scylding's chief beloved he long the people swayed. Ready at hithe the ringed-stem lay,-meet for a prince's bier Like ice it shone-and to her lap they bore their chieftain dear; ( Hard by the mast they laid him. down, their glorious lord of rings. Well laden was the bark with wealth and far-brought precious things; In comelier wise no keel I trow before did ever sail, fo Much treasure lay upon his breast, with him afar to go bestow A people's gifts-than they who sent him forth in days of old O'er seas, a little child, alone. A banner too of gold High o'er his head they raised aloft; and gave him to the flood To bear away to open sea, with grief and mourning mood. But not the wisest man in hall, nor bravest under heaven Can ever tell for sooth to whom that lordly freight was driven.* Then, when his father passed from earth Beowulf long while reigned, The Scylding people's king beloved, and fame 'mong nations gained; Till after him high Halfdene rose,-the fiery warrior old Ruled the glad Scyldings all his life. To him in order told *See Note A. 6 BEOWULF. [LINE 60-78. Were born four children-Heregar, Hrothgar, and Leaders of hosts-and Elan who, so say the folk, was As queen by Ongentheow and shared the warrior To Hrothgar fame in war was given, and well in So that his kinsmen willingly to him obedience gave, And all the youths grew up to be a band of fighters brave. II. HROTHGAR AND GRENDEL. To Hrothgar's mind it came to bid a lordly hall be framed, A mead-house greater than had e'er 'mong sons of men been famed, Wherein to deal to young and old the things that God had sent, Save freeman's land and lives of men; and far the mandate went To many a tribe on middle-earth to make the folkstead fair. So speedily it came to pass that high hall stateliest there *See Note B. |