| from "BEOWULF" - lines 320-370 | BEOWULF COMES TO HROTHGAR'S COURT | ||||||||
| trans. Louis J. Rodrigues (from Anglo-Saxon) | |||||||||
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Stræt wæs stanfah, stig wisode | gumum ætgædere. Guðbyrnescan heard hondlocen, hringiren scir song in searwum, þa hie to sele furðum in hyra gryregeatwum gangan cwomon. Setton sæme þe side scyldas, rondas regnhearde wið þæs recedes weal; bugon þa to bence,- byrnan hringdon, guðsearo gumena; garas stodon, sæmanna searo, samod ætgædere, æscholt ufan græg; wæs se irenþreat wæpnum gewurþad. Þa ðær wlonc hæleð oretmecgas æfter æþelum frægn: `Hwanon ferigeað ge fætte scyldas, græge syrcan ond grimhelmas, heresceafta heap? Ic eom Hroðgares ar ond ombiht. Ne seah ic elþeodige þus manige men modiglicran. Wen' ic þæt ge for wlenco, nalles for wræcsiðum, ac for higeþrymmum Hroðgar sohton.' Himþa ellenrof andswarode, wlanc Wedera leod, word æfter spræc heard under helme: `We synt Higelaces beodgeneatas; Beowulf is min nama. Wille ic asecgan sunu Healfdenes, mærum þeodne, min ærende, aldre þinum, gif he us geunnan wile, þæt we hine swa godne gretan moton.' Wulfgar maþelode - þæt wæs Wendla leod, wæs his modsefa manegumgecyðed, wig ond wisdom-: `Ic þæs wineDeniga, frean Scildinga frinan wille, beaga bryttan, swa þu bena eart, þeoden mærne, ymb þinne sið, ond þe þa andsware ædre gecyðan, ðe me se goda agifan þenceð.' Hwearf þa hrædlice þær Hroðgar sæt eald ond anhar mid his eorla gedriht; eode ellenrof, þæt he for eaxlum gestod Deniga frean; cuþe he duguðe þeaw. Wulfgar maðelode to his winedrihtne: `Her syndon geferede, feorran cumene ofer geofenes begang Geata leode; þone yldestan oretmecgas Beowulf nemnað. Hy benan synt, þæt hie, þeoden min,wið þe moton wordum wrixlan; no ðu him wearne geteoh ðinra gegncwida, glædman Hroðar! Hy on wiggetawum wyrðe þinceað eorla geæhtlan; huru se aldor deah, se þæm heaðorincum hider wisade.'
The way was paved, the path led | the men together. War-mail shone, hard hand-linked, bright iron rings clinked in their armour, when they first came striding up to the hall in their grim gear. Sea-weary, they laid broad shields, wondrous shield-bosses, against the building wall; then they sank on the bench - byrnies rang out, war-shirts of men. Spears stood, stacked together, seamen's arms, grey-topped ash-wood; the armed troop was worthy of its weapons. Then a proud hero there questioned the warriors about their lineage: 'Whence bring ye these gold-plated shields, grey mail-shirts and visored helms, this heap of battle-shafts? I am Hrothgar's herald and officer. I have never seen so many foreigners braver in appearance. I imagine it is from daring, not from exile, but greatness of heart, that ye sought Hrothgar.' Then the proud prince of the Weders renowned for courage, answered him, stern beneath his helm, spoke these words in reply: 'We are Hygelac's table-companions; Beowulf is my name. I will declare my mission to the son of Healfdene, the famous prince, thy lord, if he will grant us that we might address his gracious self.' Wulfgar spoke - he was a man of the Wendels; his spirit known to many, his prowess in war and his wisdom -: 'I will ask the friend of the Danes, the lord of the Scyldings, bestower of rings, renowned prince, concerning thy venture, as thou desirest, and speedily make known to thee the answer which the gracious one thinks fit to give me.' Then he turned swiftly to where Hrothgar sat, old and quite grey, with his retinue of eorls; the brave one went forward till he stood squarely before the lord of the Danes; he knew the custom of the company. Wulfgar spoke to his friend and lord: 'Men of the Geats, come from afar, have travelled here over the sea's expanse; the warriors call the chief Beowulf. They request that they, my prince, may bc permitted to exchange words with thee; refuse them not thy answer, gracious Hrothgar. In their war-gear they appear worthy Of the esteem of eorls; valiant indeed is the chief Who has led these warriors hither.' .................... | ....................
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Trans. copyright © Louis J. Rodrigues 2002 - publ. Runetree Press
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