| Beowulf | |
| Part IV. Hygelac’s Thane | |
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(Old English text, British Library MS Cotton Vitellius A) (Modern English translation by Francis B. Gummere, Harvard Classics, 1910) Swa ða mælceare maga Healfdenes Thus seethed unceasing the son of Healfdene singala seað, ne mihte snotor hæleð with the woe of these days; not wisest men wean onwendan; wæs þæt gewin to swyð, assuaged his sorrow; too sore the anguish, laþ ond longsum, þe on ða leode becom, loathly and long, that lay on his folk, nydwracu niþgrim, nihtbealwa mæst. most baneful of burdens and bales of the night. þæt fram ham gefrægn Higelaces þegn, This heard in his home Hygelac’s thane, god mid Geatum, Grendles dæda; great among Geats, of Grendel’s doings. se wæs moncynnes mægenes strengest He was the mightiest man of valor on þæm dæge þysses lifes, in that same day of this our life, æþele ond eacen. Het him yðlidan stalwart and stately. A stout wave-walker godne gegyrwan, cwæð, hu guðcyning he bade make ready. Yon battle-king, said he, ofer swanrade secean wolde, far o’er the swan-road he fain would seek, mærne þeoden, þa him wæs manna þearf. the noble monarch who needed men! ðone siðfæt him snotere ceorlas The prince’s journey by prudent folk lythwon logon, þeah he him leof wære; was little blamed, though they loved him dear; hwetton higerofne, hæl sceawedon. they whetted the hero, and hailed good omens. Hæfde se goda Geata leoda And now the bold one from bands of Geats cempan gecorone þara þe he cenoste comrades chose, the keenest of warriors findan mihte; fiftyna sum e’er he could find; with fourteen men sundwudu sohte; secg wisade, the sea-wood he sought, and, sailor proved, lagucræftig mon, landgemyrcu. led them on to the land’s confines. Fyrst forð gewat. Flota wæs on yðum, Time had now flown; afloat was the ship, bat under beorge. Beornas gearwe boat under bluff. On board they climbed, on stefn stigon; streamas wundon, warriors ready; waves were churning sund wið sande; secgas bæron sea with sand; the sailors bore on bearm nacan beorhte frætwe, on the breast of the bark their bright array, guðsearo geatolic; guman ut scufon, their mail and weapons: the men pushed off, weras on wilsið, wudu bundenne. on its willing way, the well-braced craft. Gewat þa ofer wægholm, winde gefysed, Then moved o’er the waters by might of the wind flota famiheals fugle gelicost, that bark like a bird with breast of foam, oðþæt ymb antid oþres dogores till in season due, on the second day, wundenstefna gewaden hæfde the curved prow such course had run þæt ða liðende land gesawon, that sailors now could see the land, brimclifu blican, beorgas steape, sea-cliffs shining, steep high hills, side sænæssas; þa wæs sund liden, headlands broad. Their haven was found, eoletes æt ende. þanon up hraðe their journey ended. Up then quickly Wedera leode on wang stigon, the Weders’ clansmen climbed ashore, sæwudu sældon syrcan hrysedon, anchored their sea-wood, with armor clashing guðgewædo, gode þancedon and gear of battle: God they thanked þæs þe him yþlade eaðe wurdon. for passing in peace o’er the paths of the sea. þa of wealle geseah weard Scildinga, Now saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman, se þe holmclifu healdan scolde, a warden that watched the water-side, beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas, how they bore o’er the gangway glittering shields, fyrdsearu fuslicu; hine fyrwyt bræc war-gear in readiness; wonder seized him modgehygdum, hwæt þa men wæron. to know what manner of men they were. Gewat him þa to waroðe wicge ridan Straight to the strand his steed he rode, þegn Hroðgares, þrymmum cwehte Hrothgar’s henchman; with hand of might mægenwudu mundum, meþelwordum frægn: he shook his spear, and spake in parley. Hwæt syndon ge searohæbbendra, “Who are ye, then, ye armed men, byrnum werede, þe þus brontne ceol mailed folk, that yon mighty vessel ofer lagustræte lædan cwomon, have urged thus over the ocean ways, hider ofer holmas? le wæs here o’er the waters? A warden I, endesæta, ægwearde heold, sentinel set o’er the sea-march here, þe on land Dena laðra nænig lest any foe to the folk of Danes mid scipherge sceðþan ne meahte. with harrying fleet should harm the land. No her cuðlicor cuman ongunnon No aliens ever at ease thus bore them, lindhæbbende; ne ge leafnesword linden-wielders: yet word-of-leave guðfremmendra gearwe ne wisson, clearly ye lack from clansmen here, maga gemedu. Næfre ic maran geseah my folk’s agreement. — A greater ne’er saw I eorla ofer eorþan ðonne is eower sum, of warriors in world than is one of you, — secg on searwum; nis þæt seldguma, yon hero in harness! No henchman he wæpnum geweorðad, næfne him his wlite leoge, worthied by weapons, if witness his features, ænlic ansyn. Nu ic eower sceal his peerless presence! I pray you, though, tell frumcyn witan, ær ge fyr heonan , your folk and home, lest hence ye fare leassceaweras, on land Dena suspect to wander your way as spies furþur feran. Nu ge feorbuend, in Danish land. Now, dwellers afar, mereliðende, minne gehyrað ocean-travellers, take from me anfealdne geþoht: Ofost is selest simple advice: the sooner the better to gecyðanne hwanan eowre cyme syndon. I hear of the country whence ye came.” back to previous page > Part III. Grendel’s Visits continued on next page > Part V. The Errand 
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Guide to the Anglo-Saxon epic poem > Beowulf |
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