Beowulf | Page 3

of foam,
till in season due, on the second day,
the curved prow
such course had run
that sailors now could see the land,
sea-cliffs shining, steep high
hills,
headlands broad. Their haven was found,
their journey ended. Up then quickly

the Weders' {3c} clansmen climbed ashore,
anchored their sea-wood, with armor
clashing
and gear of battle: God they thanked
or passing in peace o'er the paths of the
sea.
Now saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman,
a warden that watched the
water-side,
how they bore o'er the gangway glittering shields,
war-gear in readiness;
wonder seized him
to know what manner of men they were.
Straight to the strand his
steed he rode,
Hrothgar's henchman; with hand of might
he shook his spear, and
spake in parley.
"Who are ye, then, ye armed men,
mailed folk, that yon mighty
vessel
have urged thus over the ocean ways,
here o'er the waters? A warden I,

sentinel set o'er the sea-march here,
lest any foe to the folk of Danes
with harrying

fleet should harm the land.
No aliens ever at ease thus bore them,
linden-wielders:
{3d} yet word-of-leave
clearly ye lack from clansmen here,
my folk's agreement. -- A
greater ne'er saw I
of warriors in world than is one of you, --
yon hero in harness! No
henchman he
worthied by weapons, if witness his features,
his peerless presence! I
pray you, though, tell
your folk and home, lest hence ye fare
suspect to wander your
way as spies
in Danish land. Now, dwellers afar,
ocean-travellers, take from me

simple advice: the sooner the better
I hear of the country whence ye came."
IV
To him the stateliest spake in answer;
the warriors' leader his word-hoard unlocked: --

"We are by kin of the clan of Geats,
and Hygelac's own hearth-fellows we.
To folk
afar was my father known,
noble atheling, Ecgtheow named.
Full of winters, he fared
away
aged from earth; he is honored still
through width of the world by wise men all.

To thy lord and liege in loyal mood
we hasten hither, to Healfdene's son,

people-protector: be pleased to advise us!
To that mighty-one come we on mickle
errand,
to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I right
that aught be hidden. We hear --
thou knowest
if sooth it is -- the saying of men,
that amid the Scyldings a scathing
monster,
dark ill-doer, in dusky nights
shows terrific his rage unmatched,
hatred and
murder. To Hrothgar I
in greatness of soul would succor bring,
so the
Wise-and-Brave {4a} may worst his foes, --
if ever the end of ills is fated,
of cruel
contest, if cure shall follow,
and the boiling care-waves cooler grow;
else ever
afterward anguish-days
he shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place
high on its hill
that house unpeered!"

Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered,
clansman
unquailing: "The keen-souled thane
must be skilled to sever and sunder duly
words
and works, if he well intends.
I gather, this band is graciously bent
to the Scyldings'
master. March, then, bearing
weapons and weeds the way I show you.
I will bid my
men your boat meanwhile
to guard for fear lest foemen come, --
your new-tarred ship
by shore of ocean
faithfully watching till once again
it waft o'er the waters those
well-loved thanes,
-- winding-neck'd wood, -- to Weders' bounds,
heroes such as the
hest of fate
shall succor and save from the shock of war."
They bent them to march, --
the boat lay still,
fettered by cable and fast at anchor,
broad-bosomed ship. -- Then
shone the boars {4b}
over the cheek-guard; chased with gold,
keen and gleaming,
guard it kept
o'er the man of war, as marched along
heroes in haste, till the hall they
saw,
broad of gable and bright with gold:
that was the fairest, 'mid folk of earth,
of
houses 'neath heaven, where Hrothgar lived,
and the gleam of it lightened o'er lands
afar.
The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright
burg-of-the-boldest; bade them go

straightway thither; his steed then turned,
hardy hero, and hailed them thus: --
"'Tis
time that I fare from you. Father Almighty
in grace and mercy guard you well,
safe in
your seekings. Seaward I go,
'gainst hostile warriors hold my watch."
V

STONE-BRIGHT the street: {5a} it showed the way
to the crowd of clansmen.
Corselets glistened
hand-forged, hard; on their harness bright
the steel ring sang, as
they strode along
in mail of battle, and marched to the hall.
There, weary of ocean,
the wall along
they set their bucklers, their broad shields, down,
and bowed them to
bench: the breastplates clanged,
war-gear of men; their weapons stacked,
spears of the
seafarers stood together,
gray-tipped ash: that iron band
was worthily weaponed! -- A
warrior proud
asked of the heroes their home and kin.
"Whence, now, bear ye
burnished shields,
harness gray and helmets grim,
spears in multitude? Messenger, I,

Hrothgar's herald! Heroes so many
ne'er met I as strangers of mood so strong.
'Tis
plain that for prowess, not plunged into exile,
for high-hearted valor, Hrothgar ye
seek!"
Him the sturdy-in-war bespake with words,
proud earl of the Weders answer
made,
hardy 'neath helmet: -- "Hygelac's, we,
fellows at board; I am Beowulf named.

I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene
this mission of mine, to thy master-lord,

the doughty prince, if he deign at all
grace that we greet him, the good one, now."

Wulfgar spake, the Wendles' chieftain,
whose might of mind to many was known,
his
courage and counsel: "The