Beowulf | Page 9

or cut away
that
battle-hand bloody from baneful foe.
XV
THERE was hurry and hest in Heorot now
for hands to bedeck it, and dense was the
throng
of men and women the wine-hall to cleanse,
the guest-room to garnish.
Gold-gay shone the hangings
that were wove on the wall, and wonders many
to
delight each mortal that looks upon them.
Though braced within by iron bands,
that
building bright was broken sorely; {15a}
rent were its hinges; the roof alone
held safe
and sound, when, seared with crime,
the fiendish foe his flight essayed,
of life
despairing. -- No light thing that,
the flight for safety, -- essay it who will!
Forced of
fate, he shall find his way
to the refuge ready for race of man,
for soul-possessors,
and sons of earth;
and there his body on bed of death
shall rest after revel.
Arrived
was the hour
when to hall proceeded Healfdene's son:
the king himself would sit to
banquet.
Ne'er heard I of host in haughtier throng
more graciously gathered round
giver-of-rings!
Bowed then to bench those bearers-of-glory,
fain of the feasting.
Featly received
many a mead-cup the mighty-in-spirit,
kinsmen who sat in the

sumptuous hall,
Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot now
was filled with friends; the folk
of Scyldings
ne'er yet had tried the traitor's deed.
To Beowulf gave the bairn of
Healfdene
a gold-wove banner, guerdon of triumph,
broidered battle-flag, breastplate
and helmet;
and a splendid sword was seen of many
borne to the brave one. Beowulf
took
cup in hall: {15b} for such costly gifts
he suffered no shame in that soldier
throng.
For I heard of few heroes, in heartier mood,
with four such gifts, so fashioned
with gold,
on the ale-bench honoring others thus!
O'er the roof of the helmet high, a
ridge,
wound with wires, kept ward o'er the head,
lest the relict-of-files {15c} should
fierce invade,
sharp in the strife, when that shielded hero
should go to grapple against
his foes.
Then the earls'-defence {15d} on the floor {15e} bade lead
coursers eight,
with carven head-gear,
adown the hall: one horse was decked
with a saddle all
shining and set in jewels;
'twas the battle-seat of the best of kings,
when to play of
swords the son of Healfdene
was fain to fare. Ne'er failed his valor
in the crush of
combat when corpses fell.
To Beowulf over them both then gave
the
refuge-of-Ingwines right and power,
o'er war-steeds and weapons: wished him joy of
them.
Manfully thus the mighty prince,
hoard-guard for heroes, that hard fight repaid

with steeds and treasures contemned by none
who is willing to say the sooth aright.
XVI
AND the lord of earls, to each that came
with Beowulf over the briny ways,
an
heirloom there at the ale-bench gave,
precious gift; and the price {16a} bade pay
in
gold for him whom Grendel erst
murdered, -- and fain of them more had killed,
had
not wisest God their Wyrd averted,
and the man's {16b} brave mood. The Maker then

ruled human kind, as here and now.
Therefore is insight always best,
and
forethought of mind. How much awaits him
of lief and of loath, who long time here,

through days of warfare this world endures!
Then song and music mingled sounds
in the presence of Healfdene's head-of-armies
{16c}
and harping was heard with the hero-lay
as Hrothgar's singer the hall-joy woke

along the mead-seats, making his song
of that sudden raid on the sons of Finn. {16d}

Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding,
was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter. {16e}

Hildeburh needed not hold in value
her enemies' honor! {16f} Innocent both
were
the loved ones she lost at the linden-play,
bairn and brother, they bowed to fate,

stricken by spears; 'twas a sorrowful woman!
None doubted why the daughter of Hoc

bewailed her doom when dawning came,
and under the sky she saw them lying,

kinsmen murdered, where most she had kenned
of the sweets of the world! By war
were swept, too,
Finn's own liegemen, and few were left;
in the parleying-place {16g}
he could ply no longer
weapon, nor war could he wage on Hengest,
and rescue his
remnant by right of arms
from the prince's thane. A pact he offered:
another dwelling
the Danes should have,
hall and high-seat, and half the power
should fall to them in
Frisian land;
and at the fee-gifts, Folcwald's son
day by day the Danes should honor,


the folk of Hengest favor with rings,
even as truly, with treasure and jewels,
with
fretted gold, as his Frisian kin
he meant to honor in ale-hall there.
Pact of peace they
plighted further
on both sides firmly. Finn to Hengest
with oath, upon honor, openly
promised
that woful remnant, with wise-men's aid,
nobly to govern, so none of the
guests
by word or work should warp the treaty, {16h}
or with malice of mind bemoan
themselves
as forced to follow their fee-giver's slayer,
lordless men, as their lot
ordained.
Should Frisian, moreover, with foeman's taunt,
that murderous hatred to
mind recall,
then edge of the sword must seal his doom.
Oaths were given, and ancient gold
heaped from hoard. -- The hardy Scylding,

battle-thane best, {16i} on his balefire lay.
All on the pyre were plain to see
the gory
sark, the gilded swine-crest,
boar of hard iron, and athelings many
slain by the sword:
at the slaughter they fell.
It was Hildeburh's hest, at Hnaef's own pyre
the bairn of her
body on brands to lay,
his bones