| from "BEOWULF" - lines 1866-1919 | BEOWULF RETURNS HOME |
| trans. Louis J. Rodrigues (from Anglo-Saxon) | |
| .................... .................... Ða git him eorla hleo inne gesealde, mago Healfdenes, maþmas twelfe, het hine mid þæm lacum leode swæse secean on gesyntum, snude eft cuman. Gecyste þa cyning æþelum god, þeoden Scyldinga, õegn betstan ond be healse genam; hruron him tearas blondenfeaxum. Him wæs bega wen ealdum, in frodum, oþres swiõor, þæt hie seoõõan no geseon moston, modige on meþle. Wæs him se man to þon leof, þæt hie þone breostwylm forberan ne mehte, ac him on hreþre hygebendum fæst æfter deorum men dyrne langaõ bearn wiõ blode. Him Beowulf þanan, guõrinc goldwlanc, græsmoldan træd since hremig; sægenga bad agendfrean, se þe on ancre rad. Þa wæs on gange gifu Hroõgares oft geæhted; þæt wæs an cyning æghwæs orleahtre, oþ þæt hine yldo benam mægenes wynnum, se þe oft manegum scod. Cwom þa to flode felamodigra hægstealdra heap; hringnet bæron, locene leoõosyrcan. Landweard onfand eftsiõ eorla, swa he ær dyde; no he mid hearme of hliões nosan gæstas grette, ac him togeanes rad, cwæõ þæt wilcuman Wedera leodum scaþan scirhame to scipe foron. Þa wæs on sande sægeap naca hladen herewædum, hringedstefna, mearum ond maõmum; mæst hlifade ofer Hroõgares hordgestreonum. He þæm batwearde bunden golde swurd gesealde, þæt he syõþan wæs on meodubence maþme þy weorþra, yrfelafe. Gewat him on naca drefan deop wæter, Dena land ofgeaf. Þa wæs be mæste merehrægla sum, segl sale fæst, sundwudu þunede; no þær wegflotan wind ofer yõum siões getwæfde; sægenga for, fleat famigheals forõ ofer yõe, bundenstefna ofer brimstreamas, þæt hie Geata clifu ongitan meahton, cuþe næssas; ceol up geþrang lyftgeswenced, on lande stod. Hraþe wæs æt holme hyõweard gearu, se þe ær lange tid leofra manna fus æt faroõe feor wlatode: sæIde to sande sidfæþme scip oncerbendum fæst, þy Iæs hym yþa õrym wudu wynsuman forwrecan meahte. .................... .................... |
.................... .................... Then Healfdene's son, protector of eorls, gave him in the hall twelve precious things, and bade him with these gifts in safety seek his own dear people, quickly return. Then the king, of noble lineage, the Scyldings' prince, kissed the best of thanes, and clasped him round the neck: tears fell from the grey-haired one. He had two thoughts of the future, the old wise man, one stronger than the other - that they would not see each other again, bold men at council. The man was so dear to him that he could not restrain his surging sorrow: but in his breast, fast in his heart's bonds, a secret longing after the beloved man burned in his blood. Then Beowulf, warrior glorious with gold, trod the greensward, proud of his treasure; the ship, which rode at anchor, awaited its owner. Then, as they went, Rrothgar's gift was oft praised; that was a king blameless in all things, until old age deprived him of the joys of strength, which has often harmed many. Thus to the water came the band of brave-hearted warriors; they wore coats of mail, locked limb-sarks. The land-guard perceived the eorls return, as he had done before; he did not greet the guests with taunts from the headland brow but rode to meet them, said the warriors in bright armour who went to their ship, would be welcome on their return by the people of the Geats. Then was the spacious sea-boat on the beach laden with battle-gear, the ring-prowed ship with horses and treasures; the mast towered over Hrothgar's hoarded wealth. Beowulf gave the boat-guard a sword bound with gold, so that thereafter he was held worthier on the mead-bench for that gift, that heirloom. Then the ship moved out, to furrow the deep water, left die Danish land. Then to the mast, a mighty sea-cloth, a sail, was fastened by a rope; the boat's beams creaked, there wind did not keep the sea-floater from its way across the waves. llie sea-goer moved; foamy-necked, with twisted prow, she floated forth over the swell, over the sea-streams, until they could descry the Geatish cliffs, the well-known headlands; the ship pressed on, driven by the wind; stood upon the land. Quickly the harbour-guard was ready on the shore, he who had looked for a long time eagerly, far out across the sea for the beloved men. He moored the steep ship to the sand, fast by its anchor-ropes, lest the waves' force should drive the joyous wooden craft from them. .................... .................... |
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