Beowulf | Page 9

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.
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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 to burn, on the balefire placed,?at his uncle's side. In sorrowful dirges?bewept them the woman: great wailing ascended.?Then wound up to welkin the wildest of death-fires,?roared o'er the hillock: {16j} heads all were melted,?gashes burst, and blood gushed out?from bites {16k} of the body. Balefire devoured,?greediest spirit,