The sin-stained man the mickle doom,
How the glorious Creator to him will pre-
scribe.'

Then was more silent the son of Ecglaf 980
In his boasting-speech of warlike deeds,
After the princes, by the earl's might,
Upon the high roof the hand had viewed,
The foe-man's fingers, each one before him:
Each place of the nails was likest to steel, 985
The heathen's hand-spurs, the battle-mon-
ster's

Horrible claw: each one then said

That him would touch of warlike men

No excellent weapon, so that the demon's Bloody war-hand it would break off.

VI

990

men,

1005

For dwellers on earth, the place prepared,
Where his dead body, fast in his death-bed,
Shall sleep after feast. Then was the fit
time

That to the hall went Healfdene's son,
The king himself the feast would enjoy. 1010
Ne'er heard I that folk in greater crowd
Around their ring-giver better behaved.
Went then to the benches the heroes re-
nowned

Rejoiced at the plenty: courteously shared
Many a mead-cup the kinsmen of these, 1015
The bold-minded ones in the high hall,
Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot within
Was filled with friends: not at all deeds of
guile

Did the Folk-Scyldings at this time prepare.

A boss wound with wires was keeping without,

That him the battle-swords boldly might not, By file hardened, injure, when the shieldwarrior

Against his foes in battle should go.

1040

The earl's defence eight horses ordered, 1035
With golden trappings, to lead in the hall
In under the barriers: on one of these stood
A saddle art-decked, with treasure adorned;
That was the battle-seat of the high king,
When in sword-play Healfdene's son
Wished to engage; ne'er at the front failed
The famed one's valor when corpses fell.
And then to Beowulf of each of the two
The prince of the Ingwins power delivered,
Of horses and weapons: bade him well use
them.

So like a man the noble prince,

1045

1075

Not without reason did the daughter of Hoc Lament fate's decree, when morning came, When she under heaven might then behold The death-bale of kinsmen, where she before had

Most worldly joy. War took away all 1080 The thanes of Finn except a few only,

So that he could not, on that meeting-place,
In fight with Hengest at all contend,
Nor even the remnant rescue by war
From the chief's thane: but they offered
them terms,
1085

That they for them other hall would provide,
Hall and high seat, that they power of half
With the Jutes' sons were to possess,
And at treasure-givings the son of Folcwalda
On every day would honor the Danes, 1090
The band of Hengest with rings would enrich,
Even as much with costly jewels
Of plated gold, as he the Frisians
In the beer-hall would encourage.
Then they confirmed on either side
A firm peace-compact: Finn to Hengest,
In valor invincible, promised with oaths
That he the remnant, by the doom of his.

wise men,

1095

In honor would hold, that no man there By words nor works the compact should break,

1100

Deprived of their friends, Friesland to see, The homes and high city. Hengest then still The slaughter-stained winter dwelt there with Finn,

1130

In valor invincible; he remembered his land,
Though he might not on the sea drive
The ring-prowed ship: in storm rolled the
ocean,

Fought with the wind: winter the waves locked

In its icy bond, until came another
Year in the dwellings, as now still do
(For they ever observe suitable seasons) 1135
The clear-shining days. Then winter was

gone,

Fair was the earth's bosom: strove the exile to go,

The guest from the dwellings; he then on vengeance

More eagerly thought than on the sea-voyage,

1140

If he might effect a hostile meeting,
And in it remember the sons of the Jutes.
So he did not escape the fate of the world
When Hunlaf's son a battle-sword,
Best of weapons, thrust in his breast;
Well-known were its edges among the
Jutes.

1145

Also, bold-minded Finn afterwards befell Death-bringing sword-bale at his own home, When the fierce battle Guthlaf and Oslaf After their sea-journey in sorrow lamented, Blamed him for their woes: his flickering life might not

1150

Keep itself in his breast. Then was the hall covered

With bodies of foes; also was Finn slain,
The king 'mong his band, and the queen

taken.

1170

Honest in play of the swords. Spoke then
the queen of the Scyldings:
'Receive thou this cup, my dearest lord,
Giver of treasure. Be thou in health,
Gold-friend of men, and to the Geats speak
With mildest words, as a man shall do.
Be to the Geats kind, mindful of gifts;
Near and afar hast thou now peace.
One said to me thou for a son would
The warrior have. Heorot is cleansed,
The bright jewel-hall: use whilst thou
mayest

1175

1180

Many rewards, and leave to thy kinsmen
Folk and kingdom, when thou shalt forth
Fate's decree see. I know well indeed
My friendly Hrothulf, that he the youth will
In honor hold, if thou sooner than he,
Friend of the Scyldings, leavest the world:
I ween that he with good will repay
Our own children, if he all remember,
What we, through good-will and also through
honor,

1185

Of kindnesses showed to him when a child.' Turned she then to the bench where were her sons,

Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the warriors' children,

The youth together, where sat the good 1190
Beowulf the Geat by the two brothers.
To him was a cup borne, and friendly greet-
ing

Offered in words, and twisted gold
Gladly presented, arm-ornaments two,
A burnie and rings, the greatest of collars, 1195
Of those which on earth I ever have heard of.

away,

1205

1210

When he for pride suffered great woes,
Feud from the Frisians: the jewels he bore,
The precious stones, o'er the wave-holder,
The mighty prince: he fell under his shield,
The life of the king into th' Franks' keeping
went,
Breast-battle-weeds and the collar together:
Warriors inferior plundered the slain
After the overthrow of the Geats' people,
The battle-field held. — The hall resounded.
Wealhtheow then said, she before the crowd
spoke:

'Use this collar, Beowulf dear,

1215

Young man, with joy, and make use of this burnie,

People's treasures, and thrive thou well; Bear thee with might and be to these youths Friendly in counsel; thy reward I'll remem

1300

A hero renowned. Not there was Beowulf,
But other room before was assigned,
After the treasure-giving, to the great Geat.
Noise was in Heorot: she in its gore took
The well-known hand. Grief was renewed
Again in the dwellings; 't was not a good
trade,

That they on both sides payment should make

1305 With the lives of their friends. Then was the old king,

The hoary warrior, in sorrowful mood,
When he his chief thane, deprived of life,
The dearest one, knew to be dead.
Quickly was Beowulf brought to the hall, 1310
The victory-blest hero. At dawn of day
Went one of earls, the noble warrior,
Himself with his comrades, where the wise
one awaited,

Whether for him the Almighty will ever, After this woe-spell, a change of things work.

1315 Went then on the floor the man war-renowned

With his band of men (the hall-wood resounded),

Until he addressed the wise one in words, The lord of the Ingwins, asked if to him were, As he had wished, the night undisturbed. 1320 Hrothgar then spoke, the defence of the Scyldings:

'Ask not thou for health. Sorrow's renewed To the Danes' people: dead is Æschere, Of Yrmenlaf the elder brother,

My trusted counsellor and my adviser, 1325