XXXIII. The Dragon Attacks. Beowulf Prepares.

We begin the fitt with the destruction the dragon brings to the country on the night after its cup was stolen. Beowulf's own hall was burned to the ground. He makes plans to end the threat. First, he ordered a fireproof shield be made of iron. Second, he decided that he could kill the dragon himself, without involving a war party in the attack.
A short discussion follows on Beowulf's situation and state of mind. After that, we have a reprisal of the events that were sketched out before. We learn that Beowulf had refused the crown when he was offered it by the queen, Hygd, after Hygelac died. Instead, he supported Heardred, the legitimate heir. Once Heardred was grown, he gave sanctuary to some men who had rebelled against the Swedish king. Consequently, the Swedes attacked the Geats and killed Heardred. Beowulf was allowed by the Swedes to become Heardred's successor.

People have different opinions about Beowulf's decision to face the dragon alone. To some, it seems irresponsible. His people need him, so he should not risk his death, but kill the beast with overwhelming strength. We would certainly do that now: use bombs and Predator drones rather than have national leaders engage in single combat. On the other hand, Beowulf felt that the dragon's attack was God's punishment for some sin that he, personally, had committed.

The wise man thought it was from his breach   
of ancient law and the Lord above
was bitterly angered.

(lines 2329-31).

In addition, depending on how you read them, these lines indicate that Beowulf, again, was quite willing to live or die.

                                        His time at sea   
and life on land, along with the worm,   
would come to a close he could accept,   
though he had held hoard-treasure long.

(lines 2341-44)

Finally, he felt that his death was by no means certain. He had a history of getting into dangerous situations and getting out again that had continued well after he had defeated Grendel and his mother. The example of this given in the fitt is the battle in which Heardred died. Beowulf not only survived, he had killed many enemies and, when he had to make his escape, he swam away carrying thirty sets of armour and weapons. Such a history gives one confidence:

                            He felt no concern,   
nor did he dread the dragon's fire,   
its power and courage because often,   
in desperate straits, he still survived
clashes of arms that came after he   
had cleansed Heorot for Hrothgar's sake   
with a killing grip for Grendel's clan,   
the loathed family line.

(lines 2347-54)

Possibly he would take on the dragon alone because he was responsible for its attack, possibly because others would get in his way and die unnecessarily. Either way, he would also be considering his reputation. This would substantially refresh the glory he had won in his youth.

The last line of this fitt brings us to a full 75% of the length of the poem. It's taken one year and four months to do it, so I anticipate two or three months more of translation.

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XXXIII. THE DRAGON ATTACKS. BEOWULF PREPARES.
Then the vile creature vomited flame.   
Bright houses burned. The blaze lifted   
and filled men with horror. The hateful flier   
wanted to leave no living thing.
The worm's power was apparent,   
its cunning malice, from miles away,   
how the destroyer hated and shamed   
the Geat people. He plunged back to his hoard,   
his hidden hall ahead of the day.            2320
The land's people were locked in the grip   
of twisting flame. He trusted his barrow,   
his war-skill and walls. They would betray him.

Then Beowulf was brought the bad tidings   
that waves of flame had washed over his home,
the most beautiful of buildings melted,   
the gift-throne of Geats. To the good man, this was   
the greatest regret, a grief in the heart.   
The wise man thought it was from his breach   
of ancient law and the Lord above            2330
was bitterly angered. His breast flooded   
with distressing thoughts strange to his nature.
   
The fire dragon reduced a fortress   
close to the coastline and cast it to earth,    
fractured by flame. The fighting king,   
the Weders' prince, planned his revenge,   
then ordered made a mighty shield   
all of iron, the earls' leader,   
a wonderful war-board. He was certain   
that wood from a tree would not help him,        2340
fire against timber.
                                         His time at sea   
and life on land, along with the worm,   
would come to a close he could accept,   
though he had held hoard-treasure long.   
He felt it below him, the lord of rings,   
to take along troops to track the wide flier,   
a fighting force. He felt no concern,   
nor did he dread the dragon's fire,   
its power and courage because often,   
in desperate straits, he still survived            2350
clashes of arms that came after he   
had cleansed Heorot for Hrothgar's sake   
with a killing grip for Grendel's clan,   
the loathed family line.
                                                 Not least of these struggles   
was the hand-to-hand fight when Hygelac was killed,   
since the Geats' king, in a quick attack,   
the folks' lord and friend, in Frisian country,   
king after Hrethel, quenched a sword's thirst,   
was beaten with blades. Then Beowulf came,   
too strong to be stopped. He started for water,        2360
and thirty sets of soldiers' gear   
were in his arms. When he surfaced   
the Hetwares hardly had any pleasure   
in fighting on foot. Most faring to battle    
covered with shields could not return   
from facing that soldier to see home again.
   
Then Ecgtheow's son swam through the currents   
abased and alone, back to the people.   
Hygd offered him hoard and nation,   
treasure and gift-throne, not trusting her son        2370
to defend the throne from foreign peoples   
and hold it as his, with Hygelac gone.   
The afflicted people found out at once   
that the noble would not at all   
have himself hailed as Heardred's lord   
nor wished to take control of the kingdom,   
but favoured the folk with friendly council,   
a gracious hand till Heardred grew   
to rule the Weders.
                                         Refugees sought him,   
Othere's sons, from over the seas.            2380
They had defied the helm of Scyfings,   
the finest king who fared to sea   
and gave in Sweden golden treasure,   
the famous lord. A fatal decision.   
A death-wound for Heardred, Hygelac's son,   
from a swinging sword for accepting guests.   
And Ongentheow's son stood off and left   
for harbour and home, once Heardred lay dead.   
He placed no bar to Beowulf's rule   
to govern the Geats. A good king indeed!        2390

Longfellow's Beowulf

Can you believe it? Henry Wadsworth Longfellow had a crack at translating Beowulf, taught himself Old English to prepare, and translated the lines quite literally, though not alliteratively. I found this odd fact in the article "Beowulf in the Yard," by Daniel G. Donoghue. It was a more a curiosity at the time than part of the literary canon, so the translation comes across as pretty literal and crude. Longfellow did much better translating the Inferno.

Here are some lines (210-223) from Longfellow's translation:

----------------------------------------------------------------

…And first went forth.
The ship was on the waves,
boat under the cliffs.
The barons ready
To the prow mounted
The streams they whirled
The sea against the sands
The chieftans bore
On the naked breast
Bright ornaments,
War-gear, Goth-like
The men shoved off,
Men on their willing way,
The bounden wood.
Then went over the sea-waves,
Hurried by the wind,
The ship with a foamy neck,
Most like a sea-fowl,
Till about one hour
Of the second day
The curved prow
Had passed onward
So that the sailors
The land saw,
The shore-cliffs shining,
Mountains steep,
And broad sea-noses.

Beowulf Translation Project (Lesson Plan)

Some teachers are bolder than others! Despite my interest in translating Beowulf, I wouldn't have dared try a Beowulf Translation Project, for high school students, at least. I found the lesson plan in Microsoft Word (doc) format here: http://users.bergen.org/rautor/Translation%20Project.doc. However, internet resources being as transitory as they are, I hope that no-one minds me putting the lesson plan here, too. No author is attributed.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Overview:

In this project you will work with a group of 3-4 peers to “translate” and edit a short excerpt of Beowulf. You are to consider the excerpts provided to your group and assess them for their accuracy, poetic beauty, and literary merit.

Assignment:

Compare & Contrast of two passages

In a 2 page response compare and contrast two of the passages provided and give an account of their major differences and similarities. You should focus on a critical read of the text.

Avoid simplistic comparisons like “good” and “bad” and make more specific judgments about the translations. Focus on particular words or phrases and consider their implications in the text.

Create a third “original” Hypertext Edition & 2 page “Introduction”

Create an original translated edition of your assigned lines. You may use the other translations as references. Your original translation should demonstrate reflection on the text and some consideration of your audience. Essentially, you will be creating a Beowulf  ”book”. Your edition should include a one page introduction to your edition explaining your choices and giving appropriate background on the passage of the selected text.

Your translated edition is to be posted online as a web page.

Consider the following questions to guide your work:

Who is your audience? Are you aiming your text at the casual reader? Are you aiming your text at the hardcore enthusiast or scholars?

How much of the original format and traits of Anglo-Saxon poetry do you keep?

Do you have extensive editorial and scholarly notes to aid the novice reader? Or do you let the text speak for itself?

Do you include supplemental information on history, armor, and the Anglo-Saxon period?

Do you include artwork? What would the cover look like?

XXXII: The Theft and the Last Survivor

In this fitt, we find out about the man who robbed a cup from the dragon's hoard. He had run away from an abusive master and needed something to appease him, which the cup, he hoped, would do. The fact that he had to walk close to the head of a sleeping dragon to get the cup testifies to his terror of his master.

The hoard itself has a history. It is the remains of the wealth of an extinct nation, placed in the tomb by its last surviving member. The emotions of that last survivor are given in a section often called "The Lay of the Last Survivor." The dragon moves in after the last survivor dies.

The "Lay of the Last Survivor" (lines 2247-2256) restates of one of Beowulf's major themes: sic transit gloria mundi. All power and all wealth passes. We were often told of the civil war, assassination, and invasion that would afflict Hrothgar's kingdom, even though it had a wise king, a strong army, and a new ally, the Geats. We will find later that the same is true of Geatland. The melancholy of the last survivor is the fate of both Hrothgar's and Beowulf's kingdoms. No human can avoid it.

This section could also be one of the funerals that structure to the poem. The first, of course, is Scyld's funeral at the beginning (lines 1 to 52). Another is the funeral in the Finn and Hengest song that is sung in Heorot (lines 1107 to 1124). The one at the end is Beowulf's own (lines 3137 to 3182). Seeing it that way disrupts the neat three-monster, three-funeral structure, so not everyone agrees.

The dragon wakes to find his cup missing and sets out to get revenge. This scene is familiar to anyone who has read J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit
 (which, by the way, is being turned into a two-part film by Peter Jackson, who also directed the Lord of the Ring movies).

The ellipses (...) show where lines or parts of lines cannot be read.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
XXXII. The Theft and the Last Survivor

It was not at all out of desire
he went in the wormhoard, the one who did harm,
but bitter distress. The stealer's kin
I have never heard of. He hurried from danger,
needing shelter, knowing anger,
a guilty man. He gazed inside,
and stark terror took hold of the stranger.
The criminal was not deterred
… (2229)
(…) he brought down fear  2230
but had looked for wealth, which was abundant,
ancient heirlooms in an earthen vault,
as a man had left them, many years past,
relics to tell of a titled race.
Thinking deeply, he thrust into hiding
the dear treasures. Death had taken
each man away, with one exception,
the last alive of the land's defenders.
The grieving warden wished to survive
so, for a little, the long-kept treasure     2240
would furnish pleasure. The finished grave
was on a heath, hard by the water,
new on the clifftops, carefully sealed.
He carried off from the earls' treasure
a hoard of rings, a hand-worked portion
of plated gold.
                                He gave these few words:
“Now Earth, you must hold what heroes cannot,
“what earls had owned. It was out of you, listen!
“that good men got it, gone now in battle,
awful killings of all of my kinsmen,   2250
“those I had loved. They left me this:
“The hall, once happy, has none to defend it
“nor give beauty to the golden cup,
“the drinking treasure. The troop dwindled
“and the hard helmet, enhanced with gold,
“its fittings fall. Furbishers sleep
“who could brighten the battle masks.
“Also the links that lasted through battle,
“the breaking of boards and bite of iron,
“rot with the men. The mail cannot   2260
“fare abroad far with fighting men, 
“at hand for heroes. No harp delights
“with glad music, no good hawk now
“soars through the hall, nor swift horses
“clatter in courtyards. Cruel destruction
“has killed what little was left of my kin.”

Grieving greatly, he groaned aloud.
The last of his kind lived in despair
by day and night, till Death covered him.

The wealth was then found and warmed the heart  2270
of an old destroyer. It stood open
to the fiery one, who finds barrows,
the naked black-heart, night-flying dragon,
fulgent with fire. The folk of the earth
(…) He has to seek
harm under ground, where heathen gold
he watches, worse, though wiser with years.
So this threat to the people for three hundred winters
controlled a treasure trapped underground
in towering strength until affronted.  2280

A man proudly proffered his master
the gold-adorned beaker and begged forgiveness
from his master's hand. So the hoard was robbed
the ring-hoard plundered. His plea was granted
that wretched man. His ruler examined
that ancient form for the first time.

Then the worm awoke, and war returned.
He snuffed at the stone. The stern creature found
his foe's footprint, which fell too near,
in silent skill, the serpent's head.    2290
So undoomed men may then survive
grief and hardship, if granted the help
of God's protection. The treasure keeper
searched the grounds,  greedy to find
the one who had robbed him while he rested.
Searing and savage, he circled the cairns,
beating the bounds. It was bare of life,
that wild country, but war called him.
From time to time he returned to the barrow
to search for the cup. He quickly found   2300
that some human handled his gold
worthy of kings. The keeper waited,
restraining himself till sunset came,
then fury took the tomb's keeper
he wished to repay his pain with fire
for the drinking treasure.  Now day had gone
as the worm wanted. His wall he left,
unwilling to wait, but went in flames,
enfolded in fire: a fearful beginning
for the country's people because it soon   2310
ended in grief for their gold-sharer.

XXXI. Beowulf gives presents and rises to rule.

So far, Beowulf has received many presents, which is one half of the gift economy. At this point, we see him being equally generous, giving all of those gifts to his king, Hygelac. Beowulf not only honours Hygelac as his king and friend, but as family. He says, "There are few alive/I have as kin, Hygelac, but you." As a result of their family feeling, "neither forgot the needs of the other."

Hygelac shows his appreciation for Beowulf with more gifts: the best sword in his treasury and sizable land-holdings, described as "seven thousand hides." According to the Wikipedia article on the "hide" as an area of land, its actual extent varied greatly, especially in later times. However, it originally meant the land that was needed to support a single family. Clearly, Beowulf's land holdings became very substantial with this gift.

The gift-giving is followed by an unexpected comment on Beowulf's character. The Geat officers had thought little of him and, especially, had accused him of being a slacker. (The Old English word applied to him is, literally, sleac, slack). He now had earned the respect that he had been denied.

Surprisingly, we are only now, two-thirds of the way through the poem, introduced to Beowulf's motivation to go to Heorot. This explains why he "dreah aefter dome" (line 2179), which Ben Slade (at heorot.dk) translates as "he led his life for glory." This connects with the poem's last line that says that, of all men, he was "lof-geornost." Apparently "geornost" is related to our word "to yearn." "Lof," is praise, glory, or a song of praise. So, more than others, he longed for respect. While he was at Heorot, he was desperate to prove himself at last or die in the attempt.

We now have a sudden flash forward in time. Hygelac dies in battle, and his heir Heardred as well, either in the same battle or another. Beowulf inherits the kingdom: "it came into his hands." The Geat kingdom, unlike Denmark after Hrothgar dies, faces no regicide or usurpation, but an orderly transfer of the crown. This is part of the significance of the touching lines in 2150-2151, where Beowulf tells Hygelac that he is almost the only family that Beowulf has. By implication, Beowulf is Hygelac's rightful heir.

Beowulf ruled wisely for "fifty years." (This is the same as the length of Hrothgar's rule, and the same that Grendel's mother held control of her watery kingdom. We are not meant to take it literally, but as a way of saying "a long time"). The events of his reign are skipped over, and we go straight to introduction of the creature who would end it. A dragon was enraged by the theft of a cup from the hoard he guarded, rose from his stone barrow, and "ruled the dark." The story of the theft and its consequences will be told in the next fitt.

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“So the country's king kept the traditions.

“By no means gone were the gifts I had,

“rewards for my strength, but he bestowed more wealth,

“Healfdene's son, to suit my achievement.

“I wish to bring these, warrior king,

“and offer you all, since everything still

“flows from your favour. There are few alive 2150

“I have as kin, Hygelac, but you.”

He bade them bring the boar-crest standard,

the high battle helmet, the hoar-silver byrnie,

and the beautiful sword. He said further:

“Hrothgar wished me this war harness,

“the clever ruler, and commanded

“that first I inform you of its former state.

“He said it came from King Heorogar

“who led the Scyldings so long a time,

“but he held it back from brave Heoroweard, 2160

“though he was loyal, and the lord's own son.

“This is the breast armour. Bear it all well.”

I heard four horses were held with the treasure;

well matched and fast, they followed behind,

fallow as apples. He offered the gifts,

horses and riches, as relatives should,

never weaving webs of malice,

with shadowy traps ensuring the death

of hand companions. For Hygelac

his nephew stayed steady in battle 2170

and neither forgot the needs of the other.

I heard, too, that Hygd was handed the necklace,

the wonderful work Wealhtheow gave,

the lord's daughter, along with three steeds,

bright-saddled and supple. And soon after

the gem was given, it gleamed on her breast.

So he acted boldly, Ecgtheow's son,

daring in battle, to do what is right.

He prized his honour. Companions were safe

from drunken murder. His mind was calm, 2180

but no man could match the might in him,

a goodly gift that God had sent him,

the battle brave. He had borne distain;

the sons of Geats regarded him poorly.

Not much of honour on mead-benches

was allowed him by warriors' lords.

They called him lazy and lax in his ways,

no bold noble. Now that all changed

for the man among men, each misery cancelled.

Now the earls' bulwark ordered brought in— 2190

the hardy war king—Hrethel's heirloom

embellished with gold. No Geat had a better

or so precious a sword as that.

He lay the blade in Beowulf's lap

and settled on him land, seven thousand hides,

as home and seat. They held in the nation

the fields and folds of family estates,

land that was left them, but the larger share

of the wide kingdom went to the higher.

In due order the days passed by 2200

till Higelac lay dead in hard fighting.

The same for Heardred: swords in battle

passed by his shield and shed his blood

when they advanced on the victory people

the hard fighters, Heathoscylfings.1

They struck in haste Hereric's nephew.

Then Beowulf became king of the nation;

it came into his hands. He kept it well

for fifty winters; full of wisdom,

the state's old warden, till one started 2210

to rule the dark. A dragon rose

from his house on high who hoarded treasure

in a stark barrow of stone standing over a path

that no-one knew. His name, who entered,

I never heard. He kneeled to grope

the heathen hoard. His hands enclosed

an elaborate jewel. Later, it cost him.

Though the sleeper suffered a trick

from the thief's cunning, the countryfolk learned,

the people around, the rage that filled him. 2220

1Meaning “Battle Scylfings.”

XXX. Beowulf Continues his Speech to Hygelac

With this fitt, we're coming very close to catching up with where I am in the translation. That will slow down the postings of new fitts, although I could keep up new postings with discussions of the time, culture, poetic form, and so on. I'm still continuing in the translation, though. At the moment, I'm writing about the dragon.

In this fitt, Beowulf continues speaking to his king, Hygelac, about the probable disaster when King Hrothgar attempts to make peace with his enemies the Bards (or Heathobards) by marrying his daughter to one of their princes. Grudges will be harboured, he says, and shared, until a Scylding in the wedding party is murdered.

Then, that point made, Beowulf switches abruptly to the story of Grendel's attack on Hrothgar's hall. For the first time, we learn the name of the Scylding warrior who was eaten by Grendel: Hondscio. He also describes a strange article of clothing on Grendel, a pouch, which Grendel tried to stuff him into. He recapitulates his fights with Grendel and Grendel's mother. After each struggle, he says, King Hrothgar rewarded him. He mentions this not only as a comment on Hrothgar's virtues but to introduce the subject of the next fitt, in which Beowulf gives these awards to his King.

There is much that I should comment on in this section, even though it is largely material that we know from earlier. For example, there is the meaning of Hondscio's name, why the name has been omitted from the story until now, and the nature and significance of Grendel's pouch. Enough for now, though. Here is the translation.

---------------------------------------------------------------

XXX. BEOWULF CONTINUES HIS SPEECH TO HYGELAC
“before they led headlong to ruin
“their lives and loved ones in linden play.        2040
“Then a drinker speaks who spies ring treasure
“an old fighting man, remembering all,
“men killed by spear. His spirit is fierce.
“Forced by his grief, he finds a youth
“to tell him his heart, to tempt the mind,
“to spur savage war; he speaks these words.

“‘Look there, my friend, is that the sword,
“‘the one your father wore to the fight
“‘below his mask on his last battle?
“‘That iron cost dear. The Danes slew him there.    2050
“‘and kept the shambles when the counterblow failed,
“‘and the heroes fell, the fierce Scyldings.
“‘Now the son of one who slew that day,
“‘proudly attired, treads on the floor, 
“‘boasts of murder and bears the treasure
“‘that is your own by all that's right.’

“So he enrages and raises the past
“with trenchant words till the moment
“Freawaru’s man, for his father’s deeds,
“sleeps from a sword’s bite, stained with his blood,    2060
“released from life. Lightly, the other
“leaves there alive for land he knows well.
“Then they are broken, by both parties,
“the earls’ sworn oaths. Then Ingeld will feel
“blood lust welling, and love for his wife
“become colder from cresting grief.
“So I have little faith that Heathobards
“will honour their treaty with the trusting Danes
“with a long friendship. But let me say
“more about Grendel to give you all,            2070
“giver of treasure, that happened that day
“in hand combat when heaven’s jewel
“glided to Earth. The angry guest,
“awful in evening, entered to visit
“where, safe and sound, on sentry duty,
“we held the hall where Hondscio sank
“fated to fall, the first to be killed,
“the girded hero. Grendel took him
“to murder by mouth, that much-praised thain.
“The dear man's body was bolted down,        2080
“and instantly, though empty-handed,
“life's blood on teeth, intent on evil,
“he hoped to go from the gold-hall,
“but with terrible strength, he tested mine,
“held me in hand. There hung a pouch,
“queer and capacious, cunningly fashioned.
“Every part was artfully worked
“with devilish skill of dragon skins
“and, into it, me, an innocent man
“the rash raider was ready to push            2090
“as he had others.  He had no success
“because I rose erect in anger.
“It would take too long to tell how that scourge
“I repaid in kind for his cruelties.
“In that place, my prince, your people gained
“glory from my action. He got away
“and enjoyed his life a little while,
“but part of his right side rested behind,
“his hand in Heort. From here, the wretch
“sad-hearted sank to the sea bottom."           2100
 
“The Scylding's friend, for this fierce struggle,
“repaid me with gifts of plated gold,
“many treasures, when morning came
“and we sat at table to sate ourselves;
“we had song and glee. The grey-haired Scylding
“told us a few of the tales he knew.
“At times, he was pleased to take up the harp,
“wrung tunes from old wood. At times, gave us songs
“true and tragic. At times, odd stories
“he related truly, the large-hearted king.        2110
“At times, age-bound, he turned again,
“the grey fighter, to grieve for his youth.
“his fighting strength. It filled his heart,
“wise from his winters, when he recalled it.
“Here we relaxed the whole day long,
“taking pleasure until the night
“returned to men.
                                      "Then the time had come;
“to avenge her grief, Grendel's mother
“set out sadly. Her son was dead
“from the Weders' hate. That horrible woman        2120
“avenged her child, vanquished a fighter,
“audaciously. Life departed
“from old and learned Aeshere there.
“They could not even, come the morning,
“the death-weary Danish people,
“burn his body or bed on his pyre
“the much-loved man. She moved with his corpse
“in the fiend's embrace, under beck water.
“That was, for Hrothgar, the hardest grief
“laid on that lord for the longest time.        2130
“Then the lord invoked me by your very life;
“worried, he wished, in the water's rage
“I perform a deed, face the danger,
“and win glory. He would give rewards.
“I met in the mere, as many know,
“the hate-filled horrid holder of the deep
“There, hand to hand, we held our grip.
“Currents ran crimson. I cut off the head
“of Grendel's dam, in that deep hall,
“with awful edges. No easy thing            2140
“to leave there alive. It lay with fate,
“but the heroes' ward once more gave me
“heaped-up treasures, Healfdene's kin.”

XXIX. Beowulf's Homecoming

Now that Beowulf has returned to Geatland, he and his men head to King Hygelac's hall. The news of their coming precedes them, and all is made ready for a formal greeting. Hygelac is genuinely happy to see Beowulf, sits him down beside him, and questions him about the trip. We learn, for the first time, that Beowulf had gone to Heorot against his king's wishes. Beowulf describes Hrothgar's hall and discusses an affair of state, Hrothgar's intention to create peace with the Heathobards by marrying his daughter to Froda, a prince of that people. Beowulf reveals here, as he presumably did not to Hrothgar, that he believes this marriage will fail to bring peace. He will continue to discuss this in the next Fitt.

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XXIX. BEOWULF'S HOMECOMING
Hardy, he went with his hand-picked men;
himself, he strode the strip of sand,
the wide stretching shore. The world candle shone,
the sun from the south. They set off ahead,
walking quickly to where the defender,
Ongentheow's doom, dwelt in his fort,
the young war-leader. They learned that the good man
was handing out rings.
                                                 Hygelac was
quickly brought news of Beowulf's coming        1970       
that there in the walls, the warriors' refuge,
the lindenshield comrade, had come back alive,
healthy, unharmed, and homeward bound.
The court quickly, on the king's orders,
was cleared to make room for men to come in.
Then he sat himself beside the survivor,
kinsman by kinsman. Once the king himself
in gracious language, greeted his liege
with stirring speech, servings of mead
went round the hall. Hareth’s daughter—        1980
she loved the people—passed on the cups
to heroes’ hands. Hygelac started
in that lofty court to question politely
his best comrade. Questions burst out
to find how the Sea-Geats fared on their journey.

“Did it go well, dear Beowulf,
“when you, of a sudden, decided to fight
“in distant Heort? And did you, for Hrothgar,
“even slightly ease the sorrows
“of the honoured lord? Anxious at heart,        1990
“seething with sorrow, I sensed trouble
“for the best of friends. I begged at length:
“Stay well away from that wild spirit;
“let the Southern Danes deal by themselves
“with Grendel's aggression. I give thanks to the Lord
“that, safe and sound, I see you now.”

Beowulf said, the son of Ecgtheow,
“Little is hidden, Lord Hygelac;
“for many know of the mighty encounter—
“how great a struggle!—Grendel and I        2000
“passed in the place where he put onto many
“Triumph Scyldings terrible sorrows,
“endless anguish. All, I avenged.
“So Grendel’s kinsmen will give no boast—
“of that morning meeting—mortal devils!—
“even the last of that loathsome race,
“wrapped in rancour. I arrived there
“at the gift-hall to greet Hrothgar.
“After he found what feelings brought me
“he set me beside his sons at table.            2010
“The hall-troops were happy. I have not seen
“any hall-sitters under heaven's arch
“celebrate more. Sometimes the great queen,
“a promise of peace between peoples, went 
“to gladden the young. She gave veterans
“many fine rings before she sat down.
“It happened too that Hrothgar's daughter
“passed down the tables pouring out ale.
“The older heroes I heard call her
“‘Freawaru,’ as she furnished drink,            2020
“speaking her name when the studded cup
“was presented. She will marry,
“young and in gold, the great son of  Froda.
“The Scyldings’ friend ensured this match;
“the people’s herder heeded counsel
“that he, with her wedding, can heal old wounds
“and bloody feuds. But, most often,
“a little after a lord is killed
“the war-spear lowers, though the wife be good.1
“It has to hurt the Heathobard prince,        2030
“and every thane of that people,
“when he and the woman walk in the hall,
“that Dane-lords’ sons, a seasoned troop,
“are feted, outfitted in flashing heirlooms,
“hard and be-ringed—Heathobard treasures,
“while they wielded those weapons themselves—