| from "BEOWULF" - lines 612-660 | |||||||||
| trans. Peter H. Cole (from Anglo-Saxon) | |||||||||
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Ðær wæs hæleþa hleahtor, hlyn swynsode, | word wæron wynsume. Eode Wealhþeow forð, cwen Hroðgares, cynna gemyndig, grette goldhroden guman on healle, ond þa freolic wif ful gesealde ærest East-Dena eþelwearde, bæd hine bliðne æt þære beorþege, leodum leofne; he on lust geþeah symbel ond seleful, sigerof kyning. Ymbeode þa ides Helminga duguþe ond geogoþe dæl æghwylcne, sincfato sealde, oþ þæt sæl alamp þæt hio Beowulfe, beaghroden cwen mode geþungen medoful ætbær; grette Geata leod, Gode þancode wisfæst wordum þæs ðe hire se willa gelamp, þæt heo on ænigne eorl gelyfde fyrena frofre. He þæt ful geþeah, wælreow wiga, æt Wealhþeon, ond þa gyddode guþe gefysed, Beowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþeowes: `Ic þæt hogode, þa ic on holm gestah, sæbat gesæt mid minra secga gedriht, þæt ic anunga eowra leoda willan geworhte, oþðe on wæl crunge feondgrapum fæst. Ic gefremman sceal eorlic ellen, oþðe endedæg on þisse meoduhealle minne gebidan!' Ðam wife þa word wel licodon, gilpcwide Geates; eode goldhroden, freolicu folccwen to hire frean sittan. Þa wæs eft swa ær inne on healle þryðword sprecen, ðeod on sælum, sigefolca sweg, oþ þæt semninga sunu Healfdenes secean wolde æfenræste; wiste þæm ahlæcan to þæm heahsele hilde geþinged, siððan hie sunnan leoht geseon meahton, oð þe nipende niht ofer ealle, scaduhelma gesceapu scriðan cwoman wan under wolcnum. Werod eall aras. Gegrette þa guma oþerne, Hroðgar Beowulf, ond him hæl abead, winærnes geweald, ond þæt word acwæð: `Næfre ic ænegum men ær alyfde, siþðan ic hond ond rond hebban mihte, ðryþærn Dena buton þe nu ða. Hafa nu ond geheald husa selest, gemyne mærþo, mægenellen cyð, waca wiþ wraþum! Ne bið þe wilna gad, gif þu þæt ellenweorc aldre gedigest.'
She thanked then God for her delight, | wise words that she could trust redress from this bold Geatish warrior's might to aid her people in distress. The fierce-in-slaughter warrior drank the cup of mead Wealhtheow bore, commanded her with gracious thanks and said he was prepared for war. "So I resolved with firmest will when with my band of men I sailed, that by all means your people's will I swift should bring about or fail in death, fall slain by hand of foe. I shall perform these manly deeds or this will be my final woe in this bright hall of meat and mead." The woman thought these words seemed pleasing - Geatish boast in vaunting speech; her people's queen sat by her king with gold adorned at board to meat. Again within the hall were there loud words of joy and warriors' cheer, till presently Healfdene's heir sought sleep with fateful night so near. He knew that battle waited there - inside the fiend to lofty hall would come when faded sunlight fair and night spread darkness over all. Soon under cover of the night the shadow-beasts would softly creep in clouds' dark shadow stripped of light - -the company arose to sleep. And Hrothgar hailed the Geatish lord and wished him mastery of the hall as Fate decreed, if by his sword might foe be vanquished for them all. "For never have I yet allowed to any man, since shield I bore, this mighty Danish house, til now, to have and hold, so is my law. Have now and hold this bright house best, for swiftly known will be your honour - with deeds of mighty courage wrest your victory in strength and valour. Beware your foe - you shall not lack for any wish if you survive the battle with the fiend so black - escape with valiant hard-won life." .................... | ....................
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Transl. copyright © Peter H. Cole 2001