The shame and deadly scathe that Grendel's evil heart has done
To Heorot and to me! My thanes are minished, one by one;
By Grendel's horror fate has swept the warrior band away.

Yet that proud monster from his work God easily can stay!
Over their ale-cups many a time they boasted,—drunk with beer—
These mighty men, that they would bide, within the mead-hall here,
With sharp-edged swords for Grendel's raid, and at the morning tide
When daylight broke, this lordly house was seen with blood all dyed,
A dreadful slaughter in the hall and benches steeped with gore-
Fewer my faithful knights beloved, and death had taken more.
Sit now to meat; led mead unloose the heroes' joy in fight
Even to thy heart's content!"

Then in the hall a bench was dight,

And thither all together went and sat in all their pride

The Gothic warriors bold of heart. A thane their needs supplied Who bore a flagon goodly chased and poured the brewage clear; And sweet the while was minstrel's song, and joyous was the cheer Of Danes and Goths in Heorot there, a goodly company.

IV.

HUNFERD AND BEOWULF.

Hunferd the son of Ecglaf spoke-at Hrothgar's feet sat he— And thus let loose his secret grudge; (for much did him displease The coming of Beowulf now-bold sailor o'er the seas.

No man on earth would he allow to have a greater fame

'Neath heaven than his): "And art thou that Beowulf then, the same
Who in the wide sea once a swimming match with Breca tried,
When ye vainglorious searched the waves, and risked your lives for pride
In waters deep? Nor hinder you could any friend or foe

From that sad venture. Then ye twain did on the waters row;

Ye stretched your arms upon the flood; the sea ways ye did mete ;
O'er billows glided; tossed them with your hands; though fiercely beat
The rolling waves and wintry deep! Seven nights long toilèd ye
In waters' might; but Breca won-he stronger was than thee!
And 'mong the Heathoreams at morn washed shoreward by the tide
Thence his loved native land he sought-the Brondings' country wide
And stronghold fair, where he was lord of folk and burgh and rings.
Right well 'gainst thee his vaunt he kept. But yet I ween worse things
May now befall thee, (doughtily as thou in shocks of fight

Hast ever done), if thou dar'st bide near Grendel for a night!"

Beowulf spoke: "Lo! many things, friend Hunferd, drunk with

beer,

Thou tell'st of Breca and his deed! The truth now shalt thou hear,
That I was stronger 'mong the waves,—more steadfast in the flood,
Than any man. When we were boys, we spoke in boyish mood,
And in the deep to risk our lives did one another dare.
And so 'twas done.

bare

When out we swam our firm-grasped swords were

To guard ourselves from water-beasts; and nowise could he swim
Swifter than me, or float away; nor would I part from him.
Together thus for five nights long upon the deep were we,

Till coldest weather, northern wind, dark night, and stormy sea
Beat fiercely, and the surging flood us sundered. Rough the wave!
Wrathful the water-beasts! But help my hard-wov'n hauberk gave
Against the foe; the broidered war-shirt lay upon my breast

Bedecked with gold. A deadly foe,-bright hued,-in fast clutch

pressed

And dragged me down below; yet did the point of my war-brand,

(So was it granted me), the monster pierce, and by my hand

The battle-shock that mighty sea-beast slew.

Yet on me still

Crowded unceasingly and fierce the workers of all ill.
With my good sword I smote them hard as meet it was to do:
No joy of feast had they I trow though me for food they threw
To bottom of the sea; but all, smitten with sword, they lay,
Cast up in heaps upon the beach dead at the break of day,*
Never again to stop the path of sailors through the deep!

*See Note D.

Dawned in the east God's beacon bright,-the waves were lulled to

sleep,

And I beheld the windy walls-the headlands of the sea.

For weird oft helps the fearless earl who battles manfully.

Yet true it is that with my sword of Nicors I slew nine.
I never heard 'neath heaven's vault of harder fight than mine;
Nor of a man more sore beset amid the billows' strife.

A weary man from grip of foes yet did I save my life.
The flood-tide then and heaving sea cast me on Finnish land.
Nought did I ever hear of thee nor terrors of thy brand,

In such fierce fight. Not Breca-no! nor thou in battle play
With blood-stained swords e'er wrought a deed (nor great the boast I
say)

So doughtily, though by thy hand thy chiefs and brethren fell!

And spite of all thy wit, for them thou'lt dree the pains of hell!

For, Ecglaf's son! I tell thee truth, that Grendel ne'er had wrought
So many sorrows on thy lord, nor shame on Heorot brought,

If that thy mind and heart were stout as thou dost say they are.
But well he knows that never need he fear the clash of war,
Or hatred of thy folk and thee-' victorious Scyldings' hight!
He seizeth pledge, he spareth none, but as he lists to fight,
Or sleep, or scathe, he recketh not of all the Gar-Danes' wrath;
Soon shall he know the strength in war and valour of a Goth!
Then to the mead-feast afterward glad let him go who may,
When on the sons of men shall dawn the morrow of that day,
And from the south the sun shall shine the regent of the sky!"

Glad was the treasure-giver then, grey haired, of courage high;

The Bright-Danes' lord, assured of help, upon Beowulf leant

With steadfast mind. 'Mong warriors there was sound of merriment,

. And music; winsome words were said; and forth then Weltheow came,
The queen of Hrothgar, decked with gold. Mindful of kin and name
She greeted all the men in hall, and to the East-Danes' lord
Joyful she gave the beaker first, and pledged him at the board
Dear to his folk and blithe of heart. And glad the valiant king
Partook of feast and banquet-cup; the while around the ring
Of warriors young and old, the lady of the Helmings passed.
To each she gave a goblet rich till by good hap at last
The necklaced queen with courtly grace before Beowulf trod,
Gave him the cup of mead and greeted him, with thanks to God
In seemly words that He had given her heart's desire indeed
To find an earl whom she could trust to help them in their need.

From Waltheow's hands he took the cup, the warrior fierce in fight,

And stirred in spirit for the fray, ordered his words aright,

And thus the son of Ecgtheow spoke : "When with my warrior band

I trod my ship and put to sea, strong did my purpose stand
Throughly to work thy people's will or else a corse to lie

Fast in the foeman's gripe. And earl-like now that deed will I
Make perfect, or in this mead-hall my end of days abide!"

Well pleased the lady heard the speech, Beowulf's words of pride, And decked with gold, the people's queen sat down beside her lord. Then in the hall, as oft before, was spoken bravest word,

The noise of an exultant folk, and men were full of glee