In happiness and soon come back. And then the high-born king,

The Scyldings' lord, the good knight kissed, and round his neck did cling;

He wept aloud-the grey-haired man; yet now in eld's decay

Of two things looked for most he hoped that they in after day

With joy might meet again in hall. So for the man he yearned

These heart-throes could he not forbear; but deep the longing burned

Within his heart for him beloved-in bonds of

thought held tight.

Then glad of gifts, of treasure proud, Beowulf the

good knight

Trod o'er the grassy mead. The ship at anchor still

abode

The coming of her lord. And oft was praised upon the road

The gift of Hrothgar; blameless king was he in every

way

Till robbed of glory's joy by eld that many doth

affray.

IV.

THE RETURN OF BEOWULF TO HIS

OWN LAND.

Then came the band of valiant youths together to

the shore;

All clad in mail and corselets linked. The warder as

before

Was watchful of the earl's return; but not with words

of pride

From sea-cliff greeted he the guests; to meet them did he ride,

And said that freely to the ship the knights of Weder

land

In corselets sheen might go.

The ring-stemmed bark upon the strand Sea-worthy loaded they with steeds, and gifts, and battle-gear;

And over Hrothgar's hoarded wealth did high the mast uprear.

Beowulf to the boat-ward gave a sword all wrought

with gold,

So that on mead-bench afterwards that gift and heirloom old

Made him more honoured be. On board the ship then did he leap

And pushed off from the Danish land to plough the waters deep.

Firm to the mast was lashed the sail; the vessel

groaned aloud;

Winds hindered not her course o'er seas to that wavefloater proud;

With foamy throat and wreathed stem the traveller of the main

O'er billows sped, and surging flood, till they could

see again

The Gothic cliffs and well-known shore. The keel

upon the land

Drave up, wind-thrust, and took the ground. Soon ready at the strand

The warder of the harbour stood, who had for many

a day

Waited the dear men's coming back, far looking o'er the bay.

The ship, wide-bosomed, fast he made with anchor on the beach,

That never raging breakers' might the goodly craft should reach ;

And bade them land the nobles' wealth, the gems and beaten gold,

Not far from thence where they might seek the treasuregiver's hold.

There Higelac the son of Hrethel, near the water wall,

Dwelt with his thanes at home; in goodly house and lofty hall

A mighty king; with Hygd for wife, well nurtured, wise, though young;

Not many winters had she dwelt the palace bowers

among,

Yet Hæreth's daughter was not mean, nor e'er to
Gothic folk

Niggard of gifts and precious things.

(Foul was the sin that woke In Thrytho's heart-the haughty queen. Never com

panion sweet

None save her lord alone so bold-her eyes dared full

to meet ;

But him she doomed to bonds of death, his hands in fetters laid,

And straightway then the sword was grasped, deep bit the deadly blade,

And baleful slaughter was revealed! A deed unwomanly,

For woman e'er to do, though fair beyond compare

she be―

Weaver of peace-with groundless wrath a husband dear to slay!

Rightly for that the son of Heming drove her far

away.

Yet o'er their ale men said less ill and people's-woe

she wrought

When, through the wisdom of her sire, by valiant Offa

sought,

High-born and decked with gold she went across the yellow seas,

And there, enthroned in Offa's hall, henceforth she spent at ease

Her days of life in wedded love with that great warrior

king;

The happiest he, of all mankind, as I have heard them

sing,

By both the seas, upon the earth; wide-famed through every land;

Sharp was his spear in battle-shock, and free his open

hand!

With wisdom did he hold his realm till for the warrior's

stay

Rose Garmund's nephew, Heming's son, Eomær the

bold in fray.) *

O'er sands and sea-paths and wide shore now had Beowulf gone

With all his men.

Forth from the south the sun,

earth's candle, shone.

Proudly they went until they heard that, young and brave, the king,

Ongentheow's slayer, shield of earls, in burg dealt gift and ring.

Beowulf's coming speedily was told to HigelacThat living still and safe from fight, his shield-mate had come back

The warrior's shelter-to the town, and now to court

drew near.

Swift for the guests, as bade the chief, the hall did

they make clear;

*See Note P.