Part 28 (1/2)

[5] The repet.i.tion of 'hord' in this pa.s.sage has led some scholars to suggest new readings to avoid the second 'hord.' This, however, is not under the main stress, and, it seems to me, might easily be accepted.

[6] The reading of H.-So. is well defended in the notes to that volume. B. emends and renders: _Nor was there any man in that desert who rejoiced in conflict, in battle-work._ That is, the h.o.a.rd-ward could not find any one who had disturbed his slumbers, for no warrior was there, t.B.'s emendation would give substantially the same translation.

[7] 'Sinc-faet' (2301): this word both here and in v. 2232, t.B.

renders 'treasure.'

x.x.xIII.

BRAVE THOUGH AGED.--REMINISCENCES.

{The dragon spits fire.}

The stranger began then to vomit forth fire, To burn the great manor; the blaze then glimmered For anguish to earlmen, not anything living [79] Was the hateful air-goer willing to leave there.

5 The war of the worm widely was noticed, The feud of the foeman afar and anear, How the enemy injured the earls of the Geatmen, Harried with hatred: back he hied to the treasure, To the well-hidden cavern ere the coming of daylight.

10 He had circled with fire the folk of those regions, With brand and burning; in the barrow he trusted, In the wall and his war-might: the weening deceived him.

{Beowulf hears of the havoc wrought by the dragon.}

Then straight was the horror to Beowulf published, Early forsooth, that his own native homestead,[1]

15 The best of buildings, was burning and melting, Gift-seat of Geatmen. 'Twas a grief to the spirit Of the good-mooded hero, the greatest of sorrows:

{He fears that Heaven is punis.h.i.+ng him for some crime.}

The wise one weened then that wielding his kingdom 'Gainst the ancient commandments, he had bitterly angered 20 The Lord everlasting: with lorn meditations His bosom welled inward, as was nowise his custom.

The fire-spewing dragon fully had wasted The fastness of warriors, the water-land outward, The manor with fire. The folk-ruling hero, 25 Prince of the Weders, was planning to wreak him.

The warmen's defender bade them to make him, Earlmen's atheling, an excellent war-s.h.i.+eld

{He orders an iron s.h.i.+eld to be made from him, wood is useless.}

Wholly of iron: fully he knew then That wood from the forest was helpless to aid him, 30 s.h.i.+eld against fire. The long-worthy ruler Must live the last of his limited earth-days, Of life in the world and the worm along with him, Though he long had been holding h.o.a.rd-wealth in plenty.

{He determines to fight alone.}

Then the ring-prince disdained to seek with a war-band, 35 With army extensive, the air-going ranger; He felt no fear of the foeman's a.s.saults and He counted for little the might of the dragon, [80] His power and prowess: for previously dared he

{Beowulf's early triumphs referred to}

A heap of hostility, hazarded dangers, 40 War-thane, when Hrothgar's palace he cleansed, Conquering combatant, clutched in the battle The kinsmen of Grendel, of kindred detested.[2]

{Higelac's death recalled.}

'Twas of hand-fights not least where Higelac was slaughtered, When the king of the Geatmen with clas.h.i.+ngs of battle, 45 Friend-lord of folks in Frisian dominions, Offspring of Hrethrel perished through sword-drink, With battle-swords beaten; thence Beowulf came then On self-help relying, swam through the waters; He bare on his arm, lone-going, thirty 50 Outfits of armor, when the ocean he mounted.

The Hetwars by no means had need to be boastful Of their fighting afoot, who forward to meet him Carried their war-s.h.i.+elds: not many returned from The brave-mooded battle-knight back to their homesteads.

55 Ecgtheow's bairn o'er the bight-courses swam then, Lone-goer lorn to his land-folk returning, Where Hygd to him tendered treasure and kingdom,