Beowulf (5 page)

 

teach you the way. I turn to the sea

 

back to the beaches bastions of Denmark.”

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The stone-cobbled road ran on before them

 

as they marched together. Their mailcoats glistened

 

laced by smith-hands—linked steel-jackets

 

clinked an armor-song as they came to the hall

 

strode in their war-gear straight to the door.

 

They settled broadshields bright by the wall

 

rounded and hardened by ringing forge-hammers.

 

They bent to the benches breast-coats in rows

 

life-guarding corselets. They leaned ash-spears

 

ranked by the door reaching above them

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gray-tipped treelimbs. Geats rested there

 

wealthy in weapons. A warrior came forth

 

eager for news-words asked who they were:

 

“From where have you brought those broad-rimmed shields

 

gray-gleaming mailcoats good mask-helmets

 

such a heap of armor? I am Hrothgar's

 

counselor and friend. How far have you traveled

 

crossed the wave-rolls to come to this door?

 

My wits tell me you are welcome callers

 

in full friendship no fugitives with you.”

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The chief of the Geats gave him an answer

 

tall and helmeted taught him with words

 

the meaning of his men: “We are mighty Hygelac's

 

board-companions—Beowulf is my name.

 

I have come to greet your great people-king

 

to tell your Dane-lord tidings of hope

 

explain to your king if he plans to receive us

 

why we sailed westward to this splendid meadhall.”

 

Wulfgar replied watchful Northman

 

son of the Wendels wearing their strength

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no hurry in his mind: “I will hail my chief,

 

mindful of murder, mix words with him

 

greet the gift-throne give him your name

 

since you've come to greet him with grand helpwords.

 

I will step to the high-seat stand before him

 

bear his answer back to you here.”

 

He entered the hall where Hrothgar sorrowed,

 

gray in his mindthoughts grief cloaking him,

 

strode to the gift-throne stepped before him

 

skilled in the customs of kings of the North.

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Wulfgar spoke then words mixed with light:

 

“Here we have strangers hailing from far

 

sailing the gulfstreams from Geatish country.

 

The greatest among them as I gauge the man

 

is known as Beowulf. They bring hope-tidings

 

wish to share words wait peacefully

 

to greet you, my lord. Do not leave them there

 

but give them welcome gladman Hrothgar!

 

Their weapons are stout steel boar-helmets

 

gleaming with gold. Their Geatish king

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is a prosperous man a mighty ruler.”

 

Hrothgar answered helm of the Danes:

 

“I knew their chieftain a child long ago.

 

His father was Ecgtheow who found his wife

 

in the hall of the Geats where Hrethel gave him

 

his only daughter. This day his son

 

has come to find me a friend of his youth.

 

Sailors have told me, sea-messengers

 

ferrying gifts from Götland to Denmark

 

with thankful tokens, that this tall grappler

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can grind as strongly in the grip of his hand

 

as thirty war-thanes. I think that the Measurer

 

Maker of us all has urged him here,

 

sent to the Danes, I dare to imagine,

 

relief from Grendel. For this great mercy

 

I promise him now priceless heirlooms.

 

Make haste, my friend, fetch them in here

 

all of them together to greet all of us,

 

tell them clearly that they come as lamplight

 

to darkness in Heorot.” To the door he turned

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Wulfgar the Wendel wove them a speech:

 

“My lord has told me my beloved hearth-king

 

chief of the East-Danes that he honors your kin.

 

You have come in time, the tide has brought you

 

like welling waves welcome to his heart.

 

Come forth with me in your corselets of steel

 

your hard mask-helmets where Hrothgar awaits you.

 

Leave your shield-boards your spears by the benches

 

until you have traded talk with my lord.”

 

Some remained there stayed by their weapons

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held them from harm. Their hero rose then,

 

around him his thanes ready for orders.

 

They walked together Wulfgar before them

 

under Heorot's roof helmets gleaming

 

stood at the hearth hard by the gift-throne.

 

Beowulf spoke then, burnished mailcoat

 

work of wonder-smiths winking in firelight:

 

“Hail to you, Hrothgar! I am Hygelac's thane

 

nephew and friend. I have known much peril

 

grim death-dangers. Grendel's ravages

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came to my ears in my own homeland.

 

Sailors have said that this strong meadhall

 

with high gold-gables this Hall of the Hart

 

stands empty and idle when evening-light fades

 

when the dark sky lowers and light thins to gray.

 

My people have urged me, elders and youth

 

best of Weather-Geats brothers of my heart,

 

to cross the gulfway come straight to you

 

offer you my strength stand by your side.

 

They saw for themselves as I surfaced from ambush

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broke through the waves to the winds of sunrise

 

how I crushed water-sprites cracked their blood-teeth

 

shoved them deathwards down by the sea-floor

 

fought them by night in narrow-dark waters

 

on the sandy ground. Grendel is next—

 

I will settle alone this sorrowful feud

 

this baleful business. I beg of you now,

 

lord of the Ring-Danes royal man-leader,

 

a small favor-gift from sovereign to friend—

 

do not refuse me now that I'm here

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come from afar to cancel your problem—

 

I and my men no more than this war-band

 

will cleanse your Heorot close out this evil.

 

I also have heard that this hellish monster

 

with careless strength carries no weapons.

 

I will therefore swear in honor of Hygelac—

 

to keep my protector proud in his heart—

 

I'll bear no swordblade no shield to that fight

 

no boar-head helmet—with my handgrip only

 

I will fight this fiend find his life-core

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man against monster. Tomorrow you will find

 

at rising of light the Ruler's judgment.

 

If this demon wins no doubt he will banquet

 

on bodies of Geats gorge with all of us

 

swill and swallow snatch our lives away

 

munch on our bones. Do not mourn for me

 

or shame your heart in shadows of defeat

 

if he cracks my bones bends me deathwards

 

hauls me away hoping to taste me

 

slash me to morsels with murder in his heart

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staining the moors. Do not sorrow for long

 

for my lifeless body lost and devoured.

 

But send to Hygelac if struggle takes me

 

this best of battle-shrouds breast-protector

 

greatest of corselets good Hrethel's gift

 

Weland's hand-smithing. Wyrd is determined!”

 

Hrothgar answered helm of the Danes:

 

“Beowulf my friend you have brought from home

 

a gesture of honor joining with us now.

 

Your father once caused the cruelest of feuds—

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his hands emptied Heatholaf's lifeblood

 

a man of the Wylfingas. The Weather-Geats then

 

dared not hold him for the harm he caused.

 

From there he sought the South-Danes' country—

 

over angry waves the winds delivered him.

 

I first ruled then the realm of my people

 

held in my youth a young kingdom

 

homeland of the Danes—Heorogar was dead

 

my older brother born of Healfdene

 

borne to the grave—he was better than me!

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I managed that feud fixed it with payment

 

sent to the Wylfingas sailors with gifts

 

saved your good father with fine peace-tokens.

 

It wounds me to say weary with mourning

 

aching with grief how Grendel comes calling