Legends That Every Child Should Know | Page 5

saw him no more. He passed to the Isle of the
Blessed, inhabited by Owayneo [Footnote: A name for their Great
Spirit in the dialect of the Iroquois.] and his manitos.
And they said, "Farewell forever!" Said, "Farewell, O Hiawatha!" And
the forests, dark and lonely, Moved through all their depths of
darkness^ Sighed, "Farewell, O Hiawatha!" And the waves upon the
margin, Rising, rippling on the pebbles, Sobbed, "Farewell, O
Hiawatha!" And the heron, the shuh-shu-gah, From her haunts among
the fen-lands, Screamed, "Farewell, O Hiawatha!" Thus departed
Hiawatha, Hiawatha the Beloved, In the glory of the sunset, In the
purple mists of evening, To the regions of the home-wind, Of the
northwest wind, Keewaydin, To the Islands of the Blessed, To the
kingdom of Ponemah, To the land of the Hereafter.

[Footnote: "The Song of Hiawatha," by H. W. Longfellow.]

CHAPTER II
BEOWULF
Old King Hrothgar built for himself a great palace, covered with gold,
with benches all round outside, and a terrace leading up to it. It was
bigger than any hall men had ever heard of, and there Hrothgar sat on
his throne to share with men the good things God had given him. A
band of brave knights gathered round him, all living together in peace
and joy.
But there came a wicked monster, Grendel, out of the moors. He stole
across the fens in the thick darkness, and touched the great iron bars of
the door of the hall, which immediately sprang open. Then, with his
eyes shooting out flame, he spied the knights sleeping after battle. With
his steel finger nails the hideous fiend seized thirty of them in their
sleep. He gave yells of joy, and sped as quick as lightning across the
moors, to reach his home with his prey.
When the knights awoke, they raised a great cry of sorrow, whilst the
aged King himself sat speechless with grief. None could do battle with
the monster, he was too strong, too horrible for any one to conquer. For
twelve long years Grendel warred against Hrothgar; like a dark shadow
of death he prowled round about the hall, and lay in wait for his men on
the misty moors. One thing he could not touch, and that was the King's
sacred throne.
Now there lived in a far-off land a youngster called Beowulf, who had
the strength of thirty men. He heard of the wicked deeds of Grendel,
and the sorrow of the good King Hrothgar. So he had made ready a
strong ship, and with fourteen friends set sail to visit Hrothgar, as he
was in need of help. The good ship flew over the swelling ocean like a
bird, till in due time the voyagers saw shining white cliffs before them.
Then they knew their journey was at an end; they made fast their ship,

grasped their weapons, and thanked God that they had had an easy
voyage.
Now the coastguard spied them from a tower. He set off to the shore,
riding on horseback, and brandishing a huge lance.
"Who are you," he cried, "bearing arms and openly landing here? I am
bound to know from whence you come before you make a step forward.
Listen to my plain words, and hasten to answer me." Beowulf made
answer that they came as friends, to rid Hrothgar of his wicked enemy
Grendel, and at that the coastguard led them on to guide them to the
King's palace. Downhill they ran together, with a rushing sound of
voices and armed tread, until they saw the hall shining like gold against
the sky. The guard bade them go straight to it, then, wheeling round on
his horse, he said, "It is time for me to go. May the Father of All keep
you in safety. For myself, I must guard the coast."
The street was paved with stone, and Beowulf's men marched along,
following it to the hall, their armour shining in the sun and clanging as
they went. They reached the terrace, where they set down their broad
shields. Then they seated themselves on the bench, while they stacked
their spears together and made themselves known to the herald.
Hrothgar speedily bade them welcome. They entered the great hall with
measured tread, Beowulf leading the way. His armour shone like a
golden net-work, and his look was high and noble, as he said, "Hail, O
King! To fight against Grendel single-handed have I come. Grant me
this, that I may have this task alone, I and my little band of men. I
know that the terrible monster despises weapons, and therefore I shall
bear neither sword, nor shield, nor buckler. Hand to hand I will fight
the foe, and death shall come to whomsoever God wills. If death
overtakes me, then