Hoard-keeper of heroes, if thou wilt hold
Thy kinsmen's kingdom. Me thy bold

courage

Long pleases so well, Beowulf dear.

Thou hast now caused that to these nations shall,

1855

The band of attendants; their burnies they bore,

Their locked body-sarks. The land-guard perceived

1890

Then still to him the defence of earls gave, The son of Healfdene, twelve jewels besides, Bade him with these presents his own dear people

Seek in good health and quickly return.

Kissed him then the king noble in birth, 1870 The prince of the Scyldings kissed the best thane,

And round the neck clasped; tears from him fell,

The gray-haired one: he had hope of both,
The agèd man, more of the latter,

That they might again each other see, 1875
Courageous in council. The man was so dear
That he the breast-flood could not restrain,
But in his breast, fast in his mind's fetters,
For the dear man a secret longing
Burned through his blood.

thence,

Beowulf 1880

Until the Geats' cliffs they might descry, The well-known nesses. The keel pressed up, Urged by the wind it stood on the land. Quickly was at the sea the harbor-guard ready,

Who long time before for the dear men 1915 Longing had gazed afar on the ocean:

He to the shore fastened the wide-bosomed ship

With anchor-chains fast, lest the waves' force The winsome boat might carry away.

He bade then bear up the nobles' treas

Jewels and beaten gold; not for them far thence

Was it to seek the giver of rings:

Hygelac, Hrethel's son, there at home dwelt, Himself with his comrades near the sea-wall. The building was fine, the prince a good

king,

1925

High was the hall, Hygd very young,
Wise, well-instructed, although winters few
Under the city-locks she may have dwelt,
The daughter of Hæreth: she was not,
though, niggardly,

2000

For that I may see thee now safe and sound.'
Beowulf spoke, Ecgtheow's son:
"That is now plain, Hygelac lord,
Our great struggle, to many of men,
What a war-time of Grendel and me
Was in the place where he very many
Sorrows had wrought to the Victor-Scyldings,
Misery perpetual: all that I avenged, 2005
So no kinsman of Grendel need now rejoice
At the morning-sound over the earth,
He who shall live longest of that evil race,
By danger surrounded! At first I came there
To the ringed hall Hrothgar to greet:
Soon for me the great son of Healfdene,
After he knew of my intention,
Near his own son a seat provided.
The crowd was in joy; ne'er saw I my life
long

2010

Therefore it has happened to the friend of the Scyldings,

The kingdom's ruler, and he counts that a gain,

That he with the woman a part of fierce feuds,

Of quarrels appeased. Often the courtiers, After folk's fall, in a little while

2030

The deadly spear takes, though good be the bride.

It may therefore displease the prince of the Heathobards,

And each of the thanes of these peoples, When he with the woman goes into the hall, That a son of the Danes on her should attend: 2035 For on him there shines the bequest of the agèd,

Hard and ring-decked, the Heathobards' treasure,

While they with weapons were able to rule,
Until they misled to the shield-play
Their dear companions and their own
lives.

2040

Glided over the earth, the angry fiend came,
The terrible even-guest, to make us a visit,
Where we unharmed guarded the hall. 2075
There was Hondscio destined for fight,
Life-bale to the fated: he lay the first,
The belted warrior: to him was Grendel,
To the great war-thane, a mouth-destroyer,
The dear man's body all he swallowed. 2080
Not sooner out then yet empty-handed,
The bloody-toothed murderer mindful of

woes

From the gold-hall was willing to go,
But he, strong in might, made trial of me,
With ready hand grasped me. His glove

was hanging,

2085

Wide and wonderful, in cunning bands fast;
It was all wrought with curious skill
With devil's craft and dragon's skins;
He me therein, guiltless of crime,
The fierce, deed-doer, wished to destroy, 2090
One of many: it might not be so,
After in anger upright I stood.

Too long is to tell how I the folk's foe
For each of his ills a hand-reward paid,
Where I, my prince, thine own people 2095
Honored by deeds. Away he escaped,
A little while life's joys enjoyed:
Yet of him a trace remained behind,
His right hand in Heorot, and he humbled
thence,

Sorrowing in mind, to the sea-bottom sank.

2100

BEOWULF AND THE DRAGON

X

2200

Beowulf is king. The dragon's hoard robbed.
The fiery vengeance of the dragon.
That happened after in later days
By battle-contests, when Hygelac died,
And to Heardred swords of battle
Under the shields were as a murderer,
When him there sought 'mong his victor-
people

The warriors bold, the Battle-Scylfings, 2205
By war oppressed the nephew of Hereric.
After to Beowulf the kingdom broad
Came into hand: he held it well
Fifty winters (then was the king agèd
The home-keeper old) until one began 2210
On the dark nights, a dragon, to rule,
Who on the high heath a treasure protected,
A steep stony mountain: the path under lay,
To men unknown. There within went
Some one of men, who took his desire 2215
From the heathen hoard: a certain hand-
vessel,

Adorned with gold, he there then took,
Made of red gold, so that was robbed
By the fire sleeping the treasure's guardian
By a thief's craft: the prince after
learnt,

2220

The innocent warrior, that he was enraged. Not at all of free-will the dragon-hoard's heap Sought he of himself, who him sorely injured, But through necessity the thane of some one Of the children of men hateful blows fled, 2225 Through dire compulsion, and therein entered

The innocent man. Soon it was at that time That there to the stranger dread terror stood: Yet miserable he there within took,

The frightened soul who terror suffered, 2230 A costly-wrought vessel. There were many of such

In the earth-cave, of ancient treasures,
As them in old days some one of men,
The great bequest of a noble race,
With thoughtful mind there had con-
cealed,

2235

The precious treasures. Death them all took away

In former times, and the only one still

Of the people's nobles who there longest lived,

The friend-mourning guardian, wished that to delay,

So that he a short time longer the treas

To the miserable man: his lord beheld 2285
Men's ancient work for the first time.
When the dragon awoke, strife was renewed:
He went 'round o'er the stone, the brave-
minded found