Beowulf | Page 6

good shepherd, such firm resolve.?Then was laughter of liegemen loud resounding?with winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth,?queen of Hrothgar, heedful of courtesy,?gold-decked, greeting the guests in hall;?and the high-born lady handed the cup?first to the East-Danes' heir and warden,?bade him be blithe at the beer-carouse,?the land's beloved one. Lustily took he?banquet and beaker, battle-famed king.
Through the hall then went the Helmings' Lady,?to younger and older everywhere?carried the cup, till come the moment?when the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,?to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead.?She greeted the Geats' lord, God she thanked,?in wisdom's words, that her will was granted,?that at last on a hero her hope could lean?for comfort in terrors. The cup he took,?hardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow's hand,?and answer uttered the eager-for-combat.?Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --?"This was my thought, when my thanes and I?bent to the ocean and entered our boat,?that I would work the will of your people?fully, or fighting fall in death,?in fiend's gripe fast. I am firm to do?an earl's brave deed, or end the days?of this life of mine in the mead-hall here."?Well these words to the woman seemed,?Beowulf's battle-boast. -- Bright with gold?the stately dame by her spouse sat down.?Again, as erst, began in hall?warriors' wassail and words of power,?the proud-band's revel, till presently?the son of Healfdene hastened to seek?rest for the night; he knew there waited?fight for the fiend in that festal hall,?when the sheen of the sun they saw no more,?and dusk of night sank darkling nigh,?and shadowy shapes came striding on,?wan under welkin. The warriors rose.?Man to man, he made harangue,?Hrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail,?let him wield the wine hall: a word he added: --?"Never to any man erst I trusted,?since I could heave up hand and shield,?this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.?Have now and hold this house unpeered;?remember thy glory; thy might declare;?watch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee?if thou bidest the battle with bold-won life."
X
THEN Hrothgar went with his hero-train,?defence-of-Scyldings, forth from hall;?fain would the war-lord Wealhtheow seek,?couch of his queen. The King-of-Glory?against this Grendel a guard had set,?so heroes heard, a hall-defender,?who warded the monarch and watched for the monster.?In truth, the Geats' prince gladly trusted?his mettle, his might, the mercy of God!?Cast off then his corselet of iron,?helmet from head; to his henchman gave, --?choicest of weapons, -- the well-chased sword,?bidding him guard the gear of battle.?Spake then his Vaunt the valiant man,?Beowulf Geat, ere the bed be sought: --?"Of force in fight no feebler I count me,?in grim war-deeds, than Grendel deems him.?Not with the sword, then, to sleep of death?his life will I give, though it lie in my power.?No skill is his to strike against me,?my shield to hew though he hardy be,?bold in battle; we both, this night,?shall spurn the sword, if he seek me here,?unweaponed, for war. Let wisest God,?sacred Lord, on which side soever?doom decree as he deemeth right."?Reclined then the chieftain, and cheek-pillows held?the head of the earl, while all about him?seamen hardy on hall-beds sank.?None of them thought that thence their steps?to the folk and fastness that fostered them,?to the land they loved, would lead them back!?Full well they wist that on warriors many?battle-death seized, in the banquet-hall,?of Danish clan. But comfort and help,?war-weal weaving, to Weder folk?the Master gave, that, by might of one,?over their enemy all prevailed,?by single strength. In sooth 'tis told?that highest God o'er human kind?hath wielded ever! -- Thro' wan night striding,?came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept?whose hest was to guard the gabled hall, --?all save one. 'Twas widely known?that against God's will the ghostly ravager?him {10a} could not hurl to haunts of darkness;?wakeful, ready, with warrior's wrath,?bold he bided the battle's issue.
XI
THEN from the moorland, by misty crags,?with God's wrath laden, Grendel came.?The monster was minded of mankind now?sundry to seize in the stately house.?Under welkin he walked, till the wine-palace there,?gold-hall of men, he gladly discerned,?flashing with fretwork. Not first time, this,?that he the home of Hrothgar sought, --?yet ne'er in his life-day, late or early,?such hardy heroes, such hall-thanes, found!?To the house the warrior walked apace,?parted from peace; {11a} the portal opended,?though with forged bolts fast, when his fists had?struck it,?and baleful he burst in his blatant rage,?the house's mouth. All hastily, then,?o'er fair-paved floor the fiend trod on,?ireful he strode; there streamed from his eyes?fearful flashes, like flame to see.
He spied in hall the hero-band,?kin and clansmen clustered asleep,?hardy liegemen. Then laughed his heart;?for the monster was minded, ere morn should dawn,?savage, to sever the soul of each,?life from body, since lusty banquet?waited his will! But Wyrd forbade him?to seize any more of men on earth?after that evening. Eagerly watched?Hygelac's kinsman his cursed foe,?how he would fare in fell attack.?Not that the monster was minded to pause!?Straightway he seized a sleeping warrior?for the first, and tore him fiercely asunder,?the bone-frame