"Beowulf" and Other Old English Poems

BEOWULF

BEOWULF Listen! We have heard of the Spear-Danes’ glory, Their storied power, their primal strength— The kings and princes whose craft was courage. Often Scyld Sceafing denied dinner To his arch-foes, wrecked meadhall benches, 5 Stealing joy so that all his enemies Drank terror instead. Their cups were cold. At first a foundling, he wrestled fate, Made that misery his own slave Till the whole world over the whale-road 10 Yielded power, lifting tribute, Offering gold. That was a good king. To him was born a boy of promise, A young prince for court and country, A gift from God, an heir and comfort, 15 For the Lord of life saw such suffering So often inherited in a kingless hall, Such great violence, such grim sin, Such deep need, that he brought Beow, Son of Scyld, to end the anguish 20 And establish honor—his name was known. So should a young prince make a friend of power, Learn the grace of giving in his father’s house, Gather courage and hearth-companions 38 | BEOW UL F Who will stand by him in savage battle 25 In later years. A warrior thrives Through glorious deeds and generous gifts. Great Scyld left life in God’s keep. His comrades bore his body down To the sea’s curl as he’d commanded, 30 The land-leader for many years. The ring-necked ship stood ready, Icy and eager to embrace the king. They laid their tall treasure down Next to the mast, the gift and the giver, 35 With gold and gems, swords and mail-shirts: No ship ever sailed in such grave beauty. On his breast lay a clutch of arms— What men crafted and the sea claimed, A tribe’s treasure for the king’s crossing, 40 His last gifts not less than the foundling’s first, When unknown parents put the baby boy Into a plain boat like a poor beggar And offered their gift, cold and friendless, To the endless sea. Who came with nothing 45 Left with gold. Who sailed alone Was mourned by many. His men set up A bright banner to proclaim his coming, Then let the long waves take their treasure— No sound but the ship’s sliding into water 50 And the heart’s keening. No man knows, Whether wise counselor or world-traveler, Who received that gift of cargo and king. Then the son of Scyld ruled wisely After his father went from the world— 55 Beow grew up, a beloved king, And also sired a warrior prince, Healfdene the great, brave and battle-fierce, Who ruled the Scyldings, siring sons, Princes of power—Heorogar, Hrothgar, 60 And Halga the good—and a daughter Yrse, BEOWULF | 39 Who stories say was Onela’s queen, Bed-gem of that battle-Swede. Then Hrothgar won great battle-glory, Found worth at war, till his young troops 65 Swelled with power and pride, obeyed orders, Supported their king. Hrothgar’s dream Was a meadhall built for his mighty band, The work of craftsmen, worth remembering, Where a king could share with the sons of men 70 His gifts from God in his hall of glory— Stories, treasures, everything except The common land and the lives of men. The word went out—the craftsmen came From all over middle-earth to shape beams 75 And raise up the glorious people’s hall. They quickly finished this finest of buildings, This show of strength, and King Hrothgar, Whose fame had spread, named it Heorot After the ancient Hart. The king kept promise, 80 Giving gold from the treasure-table, A feast of rings. The raftered hall, High, horn-gabled, was doomed to wait For battle-flames, the fierce sword-hate Of family feud, when oaths of in-laws 85 Might mean less than murderous rage. Then the monster who lived in shadows, The dark’s demon, suffered pain When he heard the harp’s sweet songs, The poet’s music in the hall of joy. 90 The shaper sang the world’s creation, The origin of men, God’s broad grandeur In sun-bright fields and surrounding waters. That greater Shaper set sun and moon As land-lights and adorned all earth 95 With leaves and limbs, created each Green gift, each living thing, Each walking wonder of this bright world. 40 | BE OW ULF The listening warriors lived in the...