All kept so long still seems too small; his heart is full of greed; For valour's prize he deals no ring; forgets or will not heed The coming fate, for glory's Lord hath ever round him cast Full measure of all earthly bliss. And so it haps at last Death-doomed the shattered body lies; the realm another takes Who freely deals the gifts of earls, and whom no terrors shakes. O dear Beowulf, best of men! of that fell crime beware! Choose the eternal, better rede; for pride take thou no care, Great warrior! Now a little while thy fortune shineth bright Eftsoons shall sickness or the sword asunder part thy might, Or licking fire, or whelming flood, mace-blow, or arrow's flight, Or dire old age, or flash of eye, stop thee and hide the light; And soon shalt thou, O lord of men! in death o'erwhelmed lie! Thus o'er the Ring-Danes fifty years I ruled beneath the sky, And guarded them from many a tribe all o'er this middle-earth With spear and sword, until no foe had I round heaven's girth. Lo! then on me and on my land came change,—joy turned to woe, When Grendel, man's old enemy, became my deadly foe; And for that bane sore grief of heart I've borne continually. Yet thanks be to eternal God that still the light I see, And fix my eyes-old troubles past-on yonder gory head! Now sit thee down, thou famed in war! Let banquet joys be spread, And wealth of gifts when morning dawns shall pass between us two!" Glad was the Goth at heart, and soon he to his seat withdrew As Hrothgar bade. Then as before fair was the banquet dight For valiant men who sat in hall. Dark lowered the helm of night Upon the band. The nobles rose; the grey-haired Scylding old Would seek his bed; sore longed for rest the Gothic warrior bold. To him toil-weary, travelled far-the hall-thane showed the way, Who to the sailors of the sea his service day by day, In every want that they could have, with seemly rev'rence gave. High rose the house, all golden wrought, where laid him down the brave : There slept the guest until the swarthy raven, blithe of heart, Foretold the coming light, heav'n's joy, when shadows all depart. III. THE PARTING OF BEOWULF AND HROTHGAR. The knights made haste, for journey boune, to see their folk once more; The valiant guest would seek again his keel far at the shore. He bade them Hrunting bring, and bade the son of Ecglaf take His sword, the goodly steel; and thanked him for the loan; and spake No word of blame of that edged blade, but said that good in fight And trusty friend he counted it; for he was courteous knight. Now when on journey boune to go were warriors armed complete, Then went the chief beloved of Danes where on the lofty seat Sat Hrothgar, hero old in war, and greeting thus spake he Beowulf, Ecgtheow's son:-"We now, the rovers of the sea Come from afar, to Higelac again desire to go. Here nobly didst thou welcome us, and mickle kindness show. If, for thy greater love, I can on earth in any way aye! If tidings come beyond the sea that neighbours make thee fear, As those who hate thee somewhile did, then for thy help and cheer A thousand fighting men I'll bring! For Higelac I know, The lord of Goths, (though young he be, the people's ruler) so With word and deed will urge me on right well to honour thee, And bear the spear-shaft to thine aid, if thou in need shouldst be Of men to help thy strength. And if the king's son Hrethic e'er In the Goth's halls shall plead to him, friends many he'll find there; Far countries best are sought by him who is himself the best!" "The Lord All-knowing," Hrothgar said, "has put within thy breast These ordered words. More seemly speech from youth I never heard Strong is thy might, thy spirit just, and wise thy spoken word! And well I ween if so it be that Hrethel's heir, thy lord, The people's guard, shall die by spear, or battle's cruel sword, Or steel, or sickness, while thou liv'st, the Sea-Goths could not choose A better king for treasure-ward, if thou wilt not refuse The kingship of thy folk. Beloved Beowulf! more and more Thy spirit pleaseth me! The strifes and bitter thoughts of yore Between Gar-Danes and Gothic men thy deeds have laid to sleep, And peace between them aye shall be while I this wide realm keep; Their treasures common be, and each shall speak the other fair; Across the sea, the gannets' bath, the ring-stemmed ships shall bear Gifts and love-tokens; every way unblamed the folk I know As in old wise, close knit shall be alike to friend and foe." Then Halfdene's son, the shield of earls, twelve gifts gave to his hand, And bade him with these treasures seek his people dear and land, |