Ragozin - Beowulf the Hero of the Anglo-Saxons (1900)

8/14/2019 Ragozin - Beowulf the Hero of the Anglo-Saxons (1900)

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BEOWULF AND THE OLD WIFE OF THE Rf.

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XTales ot tbe Iberoic HoesSiegfried, Hero of the North

Beowulf, Hero of the Anglo-SaxonsFrithjof, Viking of NorwayRoland, Paladin of France

i2mo, boards

WILLIAM BEVERLEY HARISONNew York


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XTales ot tbe Iberoic Uqcs

BEOWULFTHE HERO OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS

BYZEN A IDE A. RAGOZIN

Member of the Societe Ethnologique and Athenee Oriental, Paris ; of theAmerican Oriental Society ; of the Royal Asiatic Society of GreatBritain and Ireland ; of the Anglo-Russian Literary Society,London ; of the Historical Society of the University of Texas.Author of "History of the World," "Story of Chaldea," "Story ofAssyria," " Story of Media, Babylon and Persia," " Story of Vedic

India," "Tales of Heroic Ages," "Siegfried, Hero of theNorth and Kriemhilde's Great Revenge," " Frithjof,Viking of Norway," "Roland, Paladin of France."

ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE T. TOBIN

NEW YORKWILLIAM BEVERLEY HARISON

1900


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Copyright, 1898BY

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONSEntered at Stationers' Hall, London

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Ube 'ftnictterboci;er press, "new j^orf:


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PROLOGUE

AMONG the nations of the far North,there was none braver, more hardy,nobler, than the Danesnone whose deedsin war were sung of more proudly at thefeasts of earl and thane. Many were thekings whose names came from the in-spired lips of Skalds, as their hands struckthe stringed harp, in warlike or in mourn-ful chords ; but of these names none weretreasured more reverently than those ofthe Skyldings, the oldest royal houseknown to Danish tradition. It is a verylong timeover a thousand yearssincethe Danes ruled in England. Yet eventhen the deeds of the Skyldings weretales of long ago. So long ago that theyhad become mixed up with much fable ;and especially the beginnings of the fa-

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214 Beowulfmous race were so Intertwined with thewonders of heathen Scandinavian anti-quity that it has never been possible tadecide exactly how much was history andhow much myth.The father of the race, Skyld of theSheaf, was great in the memory of hispeople. With his nobleshis ethelingshe had wrested lands and glory from manya neighbouring tribeaye, and many adistant one, too ; the dread of him fell oathe bravest warriors ; he waxed great un-der the sun, he flourished in peace, tillthat every one of the neighbouring peo-ples over the sea was constrained to obey^him and pay tribute ; and the world saidof him when he died, '' That was a goodking!"Yet Skyld was not born to the crown.In fact no one knew anything of his birthand parentage. He was sent, it was said,

just when the country had need of a de-liverer and leader. He had come oneday,so the story ran,over the sea, in abeautiful ship, a new-born infant, beddedon sheaves of wheat, when the Danish


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Prologue 215people were in sore distress because ofthe wickedness of the man who was, atthe time, king over them.

This man's name, Heremod, went down,,unforgotten, but unhonoured, through:many a generation, a by-word for badlmonarchs. He was, in everything, the di-rect contrary of what a good ruler oughtto be. He used his power, not for hisnobles' benefit or pleasure, but to dealthem wanton harm and even death. Forhis ungovernable temper grew on him,,until, in his furious fits, he would strikeand kill, though it were his closest follow-ers, his companions at the board and inthe battle. In his soul there grew abloodthirsty passion, and he suffered thepenalty of his evil doings in the estrange-ment of his friends, the settled dislike ofhis people, until at last they would standhis presence no longer, and he wanderedforth alone, away from all human society,and was never heard of more. It wasthen that Skyld, the mysterious found-ling, the Heaven-sent, seized on the gov-ernment, brought order and plenty into


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2i6 Beowulfthe land, and won love from his people^respect from his foes.A son was born to King Skyld inhis prime, a beautiful child, whom Godsent for the people's comfort and solaceBeowulf, sole heir to the throne. Fromhis earliest years he was full of promise,a model of what a young chief shouldbe while still in his father's carealways ready with gracious words andopen hand, so that in his riper age will-ing comrades in return were ready tostand by him in war, and men gladlydid his bidding. Then, surrounded andassisted by devoted friends who grewup with him, he was enabled to performdeeds which filled the world with praiseof him.As for Skyld, he departed, in the ful-

ness of time, ripe in honours and years,to go into the Master's keeping. Hisfaithful comrades then carried him forthto the shore of the sea, as he himself hadordered. The black, heavy earth shouldhave no part in him ; the sea had broughthim, the ever-moving, many-hued ; the


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Prologue 217sea should bear him hence, after his longyears of power.There at anchor rode the ship, glisten-ing fresh, outward bound, fit for a prince.Down they laid their illustrious dead, thedear chief of the land, dispenser of boun-ties, on the lap of the ship, by the mast.There was great store of precious things ;ornaments from remote parts, weapons ofrare worth, mail armour finely wrought,and harness glittering in silver and ingold ; a multitude of treasures, which wereto pass with him far away into the wateryrealm. Furthermore they set by him theroyal banner, gold-broidered, high over hishead. As its folds unfurled and glitteredin the breeze, it told the skies, and thesun, and the stars of night, that a Kingwent forth into the world, on his last voy-age. They set the helm, and gave himover to the ocean, sad at heart, with tear-dimmed eyes, and silent in their mourn-ing. And Who received that burthenno man under heaven, be it priest or chief-tain or wise seer, can ever tell or know.Thus Skyld of the Sheaf was honoured


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2l8 Beowulfin death after the manner of the mightydead of oldest times among the strong-hearted sons of the North. From theUnknown he came and into the Unknownwas borne away.


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LAY IGRENDEL

HEORof

THEN Beowulf of the Skyldings sat inthe seat of his father, loved of hispeople, for a long time famous among thenations, and was succeeded in turn by hisson. The royal race of the Skyldingsprospered greatly, and when the crowncame to his grandson Hrothgar, its great-ness seemed assured for all time. Hroth-gar was a youth of goodly parts ; braveand ambitious in war, yet delighting inthe gentle works of peace, a born com-mander always. So that his brothers andcousins gladly took him for their leader,

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2 20 Beowulfand a young brood of devoted clansmengrew up around him, valiant in battle,merry companions at the board. Withthese he did some mighty deeds, winningrenown and riches, when they were youngtogether, and as together they grew old,he loved to sit with them at the feast, en-joying well-earned rest, rehearsing thetoils and joys of the brave old days, andlistening to sweet minstrelsy from the lipsof God-inspired bards.Now Hrothgar was very wealthy andhis comrades were too many for an ordi-nary hall, even that of a king's palace.So he bethought him of having men buildfor him a great banqueting-hall, greaterthan the children of men had ever heardtell of, that he might spend there happy,careless days, dealing out freely to oldand young the goods that God had blessedhim with.The fame of the work spread rapidlyand widely, and more than one tribe curi-

ously watched its progress. It came toan end with a quickness which surprisedall men, and there the fair structure stood.


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Heorot 221towering aloft into the blue air, the great-est of all hall buildings, a gathering placefor happy men, defying destruction exceptfrom the irresistible might of fire. It wascalled HeorotHart-hallbecause of thenoble crown of antlers which ran roundthe eaves of the building,and the open-ing banquet was an event long remem-bered in the land, from the bountifulhospitality dispensed by the King and thewealth of gifts, in rings and other preciousthings, which he gave away with almostreckless lavishness on this occasion.


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II

GRENDEL

BUT there was one apart from all thisjoy who was consumed with maliceand with hatred, who vowed to turn thejoy into direst grief, the shouts of glad-ness into moans and wails, ere many dayshad come and gone. True, no humanwight was he, but one of the unholy broodof monsters, accursed of God, who dwellin moors, fens, and swamps, remote fromGod-fearing men, ever bent on doing hell'swork of harm and destructionthe unblestposterity (so wise men tell) of Cain, thefirst shedder of innocent blood.To this Grendel, this outcast creature,

dwelling in darkness, it was torture un-bearable to hear the sounds of rejoicingday by day, as they came, borne by the

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Grendel 223wind to him, across the moorthe tendersighing of the harp, the ringing song ofthe minstrel.

Once, one skilled in holy song told ofthe creation of the world : how the Al-mighty made the earth, radiant withbeauty, and the waters that encompass it,delighting ia His work ; and how He or^dained the sun and the moon, for light tothe dwellers on the earth, and made thewoods beautiful with boughs and leaves ;and how He put life into all the thingsthat breathe and move.

Grimly the wicked one hearkened to thestrain, which fed his unholy fury until itcraved for slaughter, fell, immediate.He set out that very night, as soon asdarkness descended, made straight forthe lofty hall. He did not much fear de-tection, for he knew that after such acarousal the warriors would be overcomewith sleep. And truly, there they lay, inthe hall itself, with their weapons by theirside, yet helpless as unarmed women. Hewent, and, in their sleep, seized and killedthirty of the thanes ; then hied him back


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224 Beowulfto his moor with the war spoils, yellingwith fierce joy.Then was there a great cry in the greymorning. The voice of weeping wasraised where but now the song of gladnesshad filled the air. Dazed and woe-begone,the King sat in his high place, and weptfor his thanes. But when, the very nextnight, Grendel returned and committedeven greater murder, and again andagain after that, terror seized on them all.Men kept in close hiding from nightfallto break of day, then gradually left theirown well-appointed homes, sleeping inbarns or in the open, away from dwell-ings, wherever they thought they couldbest bestow themselves for safety ; butnaught availed

to save. For twelve win-ters' space the baleful fiend warred single-handed against the Skyldings and theirfriends, till all the best houses stood de-serted. Unbounded were the sorrows ofthat dreadful time, unspeakable the dis-tress, and the fame thereof was carried toforeign lands in ballads and moving tales.Men dared not go within miles of thefated moor ; so travel was stopped, trib-


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Grendel 225ute remained unpaid ; for the foul ruffian,a dark shadow of death prowled aboutand lay in wait. Of night he continuallyheld the misty moors ; and no one knewwhat way the hellish birth moved in hisrounds, for never was the monster seen ofman. As to Heorot, the richly decoratedhall, Grendel made that his headquarters,and occupied it every dark night. Onlyhe was never able to come near the throne,because it stood on a consecrated spot,and was hallowed by priestly benison.A great affliction, heart-breaking, wasthis that had come on the Skyldings and

their friends. Many a time and oft didthe best and wisest sit in council, seekingwhat were best be done in these awfulstraits. So sorely were they bested, thatthey forgot at times that they were Christ-ians, and more than once craved helpagainst the goblin visitant from the oldheathen gods, vowing sacrifices at theirsecret shrines.Thus was King Hrothgar perpetuallytossed with the trouble of that time, and

not all his wisdom availed to ward off theevil.


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Ill

A FRIEND IN NEEDTHERE lived at that time among theGoths, at the right hand of their King,Hygelac, a young thane, his cousin, of thename of Beowulf. He was, as his name be-tokened, one of the Skylding race, but onlyin the female line. Young as he was, hehad won for himself a name of wide re-nown as a hero of high achievement andthe mightiest among all the men of his time.

Now, this brave thane, in his distanthome, heard of the misdeeds of Grendel,and his heart ached for the aged King, theevening of whose days was clouded overby such unheard-of tribulation. He madeup his mind to help, and sued to KingHygelac for permission to undertake theventure with a few picked comrades. Hisfriends of the King's council and board

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A Friend in Need 227praised the gallant youth to the skies.They egged on his daring spirit, they tookomens and consulted signs on his behalf;but they did not begrudge him the advent-ure, wise men that they were, even thoughhe was dear to them.

Beowulf ordered a good ship to be madeready for him, to take him over the roadthat swans travel.^ He selected fourteenchampions among the Goths, the keenesthe could find, and went to sea with them^having made sure of a skilful, experiencedpilot, who knew the shallows and thedeeps. Like a bird the good ship, tight-timbered, slender-necked, sped before thewind, and made such way that on the nextday already the eager voyagers saw land,gleaming cliffs, hills towering, headlandsstretching out to sea : the passage wasended. Lightly the ethelings sprangashore, made fast the ship, shook out theirgarments, saw to their arms, and gavethanks to God for that their seafaring hadbeen easy.

' Literally true : the North Sea is the " path of the swans"and to this day wild swans abound on the coast of Norway.


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IVTHE WARDEN

WHILE Beowulf and his friends werebusy with their landing, thinkingonly of the work before them, the Skyl-dings warden, he whose duty it was toguard the sea-cliffs and report any stran-gers that hove in sight, espied them fromhis high watch-place. Moved by curiosityas much as by duty, he rode down to thebeach in great excitement, brandishing apowerful, huge lance, and demanded, in nogentle terms, to know the strangers' errandand nationality, before they could be al-lowed to proceed any farther into the landof the Danes.

Beowulf at once stepped forth and spokeup for all, with a dignity and courtesy whichshamed the rude officer into more manly228


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The Warden 229behaviour. He gave a full account of him-self, then concluded :" We have come with friendly intent tovisit thy lord. We have a great messageto him ; nor is there, to my mind, any needto keep it dark. For it is no secret thatthe Skyldings are in great tribulation be-cause of a mysterious fiend, who has beenvexing them for years with his nightly de-predations. Now I can teach Hrothgar theremedy, and bring back better times. ThisI say in all sincerity of heart."To this speech the warden replied in

greatly altered tones :*' I gather from what I hear that this is

a friendly band come to visit the lord ofthe Skyldings. But it is a faithful ser-vant's part to question sharply and to gaincertainty on all points before he commitshis k)rd. Keep your arms and march on :I will guide you. Likewise will I com-mand my kinsmen thanes honourably tokeep against every foe your vessel hereon the beach."Upon this invitation the troop gaily lefttheir ship riding safely at her anchor, and


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230 Beowulfeagerly pressed forward, until their eyesbeheld the far-famed hall, Heorot the gold-roofed, most renowned of all mansions un-der the sky. Then the warden pointedwith his hand to the road which led straightto it, wheeled round his horse, and spokea parting word :" It is time for me to go. May the all-wielding Father graciously keep you safein adventures ! As for me, I must hie meback to the shore, to keep my watch againstfoes from the sea."


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THE ARRIVAL

THE road was stone-paven, and sostraight, there was no need of a guide.Beowulf and his band marched up to theHall in grim, warlike guise, their burnishedcorslets shining, the iron rings of theirmail shirts clanging loud. When theyreached the mansion, the weary men setdown their broad shields, leaning themagainst the wall, and seated themselves insilence on the bench before the entrance,after stacking their spears together, readyto their hand. Thus they waited in dig-nified silence for somebody to come fromKing Hrothgar and challenge them.Very soon an officer appeared and putthe customary questions, to which headded some respectful compliments :

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232 Beowulf'' I am," he said, " Hrothgar's heraldand esquire. Never saw I foreigners of

loftier mien. I think that ye have cometo visit Hrothgar, not from desperate fort-unes, but bound on some high undertak-

To which the proud leader replied withgallant bearing :'' We are Hygelac's own table-fellows.My name is Beowulf. I will myself ex-

pound mine errand to thy lord, if so hedeign to admit us to his presence."The officer, Wulfgar by name, hastened

forthwith to where Hrothgar sat, old andhoary, and bent with grief, amid his de-spondent warriors, and not only told ofthe valiant guests from the land of theGoths and their petition, but advised himto give them a friendly reception. In thedeep distress of these sorry times, itseemed as though any change must be forthe better, and every stranger must bringhope.The sad old King brightened at mentionof Beowulf's name, whose father he hadknown in the dear departed days of golden


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The Arrival 233youth, and whose own renown he pleasur-ably recalled. .

'' This son," he said, " I mind him well.I knew him when he was a page. He hasgrown into a valiant campaigner. It issaid that he has thirty men's strength inhis handgrip. Surely God of His gracehath sent him to us in our great need.Bid him and his men, one and all, into mypresence straight, with every martial hon-our. Say to them, moreover, in words,that they are welcome."


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VITHE RECEPTION AND THE PLEDGE

WULFGAR, nothing loth, took theroyal message to the waitingguests and ushered them into the royalpresence in full warlike equipment, helmon head, sword on hip. Beowulf, tall andcommanding, his corslet of cunningly link-ed mail shining as a network of lights,took his stand before the King, and, withfirm eye and becoming assurance, spokethus at length of what was nearest to hisand the Danes' hearts :

''To Hrothgar hail ! I am King Hyge-lac's cousin-thane. Many a deed of daringwas mine in youngsterhood. All that yesuffer here from Grendel became knownto us in Gothland. Seafaring men told ushow that this hall, this most princely fabric,

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The Reception and the Pledge 235stands useless and empty each night, assoon as the star of day is hidden fromview. Then did my people, the wisestand best among them, urge me that Ishould visit thee, O royal Hrothgar. Be-cause they knew the strength of my armof their own knowledge : time and againthey had seen me return from the fieldbattered by foes, but never beaten ; fivemonsters I bound on land, and in thewaves I slew many a nicor^ in the night-time. And now I am bound to championthy quarrel, O King, single-handed,against Grendel, the evil giant. But onepetition I have, which thou, O Shelter ofthe Danes, wilt not refuse to one who iscome from far to serve thee : it is that Imay have the task alone I and my bandof earlsto purge Heorot. And as Ihave learnt that the terrible one, out ofsheer boastfulness, despises the use ofweapons, so I too will forego them, andbear not sword, nor spear, nor broad

*" Nicors " are mischievous water-sprites, who delight inmaking trouble for ships and sailors. The feminine in Ger-man is " Nixe," the beautiful water-maiden who lures mortalsdown into her watery abode.


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236 Beowulfshield to my battle with him ; but withhandgrip alone will I meet him, foe tofoe, and him of the two whom the Lorddoometh, let grim Death take for his own.

*' Should the doom fall upon me," Be-owulf went on, " thou wilt not, O King, beput to the trouble of building a moundover my head. For if all tales of Grendelbe true, he will bear away the gory corpse,to feast on it in his lonely moor. But thisdo thou for love of me ; send to Hygelacthe matchless armour that protects mybreastit is a work of Weland, cunning-est of smiths, and such are not made now-adays ; meet gift from a departing friend."


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VIITHE FEAST

TO this speech, manly and heroic, H roth-gar made reply in many wordsforage is not sparing of its breath in words.He gave thanks to the God-sent youngchampion ; he went back to the deeds ofhis youth, in company with his brothersand many brave comrades long dead ; hedwelt on the horrors of these latter years.Then, at length bethinking himself thatthe wayfarers must be a-weary and a-hungered, he said to the chief :

'' But now sit thee down to the banquetwith thy fellows, and merrily share thefeast as the spirit moves thee."A table was promptly cleared for theGoths. Thither they went, and sat in the

pride of their strength. A thane at-237


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238 Beowulftended to their wants, going from one tothe other with a mighty ale-can of hand-some workmanship. Again and again hepoured out the golden ale. At times aminstrel's voice rose in Heorot, ringingand clear, and there was right brave merri-ment and good-will in this mixed companyof Goths and Danes.

Yet was there one eye that gleamednot with merriment and good-will, one headthat hatched no friendly thoughts, becausethe heart swelled with malice and envy.Unferth it was, the King's own story-teller,who sat at his feet, to be ready at all timesto amuse him. He broached a quarrel-some themean adventure in Beowulf'searly youth, the only contest in his recordthe issue of which, though hard fought,might be called doubtful. For this Un-ferth was an envious wight, whose soulgrudged that any man should achievegreater things than himself." Art thou not," he began tauntingly," that same Beowulf who strove with Brecaon open sea in a swimming match, in whichye both wantonly exposed your lives, and


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The Feast ' 239no man, either friend or foe, could turnyou from the fooHsh venture ? A se'n-night ye twain toiled .in the realm of thewaters, and, if I err not, he outdid theein swimming, for he had greater strength.Wherefore I fear me much thou mayestmeet with sorry luck if thou darest tobide here for Grendel for the space of awhole night."

Beowulf, though angered, controlled histemper and replied with great coolness :

'' Big things are these, friend Unferth,which thou hast spoken ; evidently, goodale has loosened thy wits. Yes,Brecaand I used to talk between ourselves whenwe were pages, and brag each of his prow-ess, being but youngsters, and so we madeup the foolish match between us, and hav-ing made it, we stuck to it. Drawn swordin hand we went into the water : we meantto guard ourselves against sea-monstersand water-sprites. Five nights we keptclose together, then the flood parted us.It was a dark night, freezing cold, and afierce wind from the north came deadagainst us, the waves running rough and


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240 * Beowulfhigh. One spotty monster dragged meto the bottom ; but I did not lose my gripon my sword and despatched the mightysea-brute. I know not how many more Ifought and killed : it was a grewsomenight. At last, light broke in the east,and the waves grew calmer, so I could seethe headlands, and the sea cast me up onthe shore. I escaped with my life, thoughworn and spent, and never heard I ofharder fight, or of man sorer distressed.Anyhow, it was my good luck that I slewwith the sword nine nicors. So manyless were left to play havoc with seafaringships. Therefore, methinks I may rightlyclaim that I have proved more sea-prow-ess, endured more buffetings from waves^than any other man."Thus Beowulf told of his youthful prank.Then turning upon Unferth with flashingeye and clouded brow

** Of a sooth," he cried, " I say to thee,Unferth, that never had Grendel, the foulruffian, made up such a tale of horrors,wrought such disgrace in Heorot, if thyspirit were as high as thou wouldst claim


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The Feast 241for thyself. But he has found out thathe has not much to fear from the mightyDanes ; so he takes blackmail, and slaugh-ters and feasts at his ease. But now theGoth shall ere long show him another kindof spirit, and when the light of anotherday rises over the world, then shall allwho choose walk proudly into the hall^with head erect."

This speech, so brave and cheery, glad-dened the old King's heart, and even theDanes applauded it, although it held abitter sting : they took it as a well-de-served hit at the unmannerly Unferth.So laughter greeted Beowulf's words,music sounded again, jolly drinking-songsfilled the hall ; and none seemed to re-memberalthough at heart none forgotitthat night was coming on, and whatit was to bring.And now, behold ! Hrothgar's royalconsort. Queen Wealhtheow, well versedin ceremonies and courtly lore, enteredthe hall, resplendent in cloth of gold, tohonour her husband's guests with agracious word and a draught of sweet


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242 Beowulfmead from her own royal hands. Herstately greeting took in all the men in thehall ; then she presented the beaker withgraceful obeisance to her lord, wishinghim blithe at the banquet, and happy inhis liegemen's love. Then she went theround of the hall, to elder and younger,and to each she handed the jewelled cup,until she came to where Beowulf wassitting among the young ethelings. Withbefitting dignity she greeted the leader ofthe Goths, as he stood before her, thank-ing God with wise choice of words that herheart's desire had come to pass. He,the hero of many battles, took the beakerfrom her hand, and, ere he drained it,repeated his solemn pledge :

'' When I went on board and sat in myship, as she sped over the waters, withthis my chosen band, I vowed I wouldwork out the deliverance of your people.I am bound as an earl to fulfil my vow, orin this hall to meet my death to-night."He quaffed the mead, and she, thenoble lady, inclined her diademed head

as she took from him the cup, for his


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is^*** I lljh


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The Feast 243words were well to her liking. Thenslowly, with trailing robes, she walked tothe head of the hall, to sit by her lord.For some time yet the banqueting wenton as merrily as ever,until the daylightbegan to wane, when suddenly song andlaughter died on the revellers' lips, andKing Hrothgar bethought himself that itwas time to retire, for he knew that themonster came forth when shrouding nightdecends and the creatures of darkness gostalking abroad. In silence all the com-pany arose.

Hrothgar greeted Beowulf and spokesolemn words :

'' Never before, since my hand liftedshield, did I entrust the Guard-house ofthe Danes to any man,

never but nowto thee. Have and hold the sacred houseagainst the foe. Be watchful, valiant, andmay victory wait on thee ! No wish ofthine shall go unfulfilled if thou dost per-form the great work and livest to tell it."Thus spoke Hrothgar the Skylding,and gravely departed from the hall, with

his Queen, followed by his men.


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VIIITHE COMBAT

SILENTLY Beowulf looked after theDanes ; silently he began to divesthimself of his armour, mindful of his vowto fight the goblin bare-handed. Helaid off his shining mail, his helmet andhis sword of choicest steel, and gave themin charge to his esquire ; then he stretchedhimself on the floor and laid his cheek ona

pillow.For the hall had meanwhile

been promptly cleared of tables andbenches, which were pushed against thewalls, and couches of soft pelts and rugswere spread on the floor. His comradesdid likewise. Not that rest came to anyof them at first ; for not one thought inhis heart he should ever again see hisown folk, his native land, the castle where

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The Combat 245he was nurtured. But even as they keptturning these things over in their minds^their Hmbs relaxed, their Hds grew heavywith very weariness, andthey slept. Allslept, but one,and he lay quite still,,straining his ear to listen and his eye topeer through the dim nightAnd hark ! tramp, tramp, he camemarching from the moor,Grendel, theGod-sent scourge. Straight for the hallhe made through the gloom : it was notthe first time he visited Hrothgar's home-stead ; but never had he met such awelcome as now awaited him there.He came carelessly along, as one assuredof his entertainment. The door, thoughfastened with bars of wrought iron, sprangopen at his touch. Quickly he steppedacross the flagged floor, big with rage,with eyes ablaze. Suddenly he perceivedthe troop of strange warriors, lying closetogether, asleep. He laughed aloud. Hegloated as he stood over them, and thoughtthat, ere day came, the life of each of themshould have been wrenched from the body,since luck had sent him such a treat.


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246 BeowulfBeowulf curbed his rage to watch the

fell ruffian and see how he meant to pro-ceed. The delay was not long : Grendelquickly, at one grab, seized a sleepingwarrior, tore him up, crunched the bonyframe, drank the blood from the veins,swallowed the flesh in huge morsels ; ina trice he had devoured the lifeless body,feet, hands, and all. Then he steppedforward to where the hero lay, and reachedout a hand to seize him on his bedbutsuddenly felt his arm held tight in sucha grip as he had never met with from anyman in all the world. He knew at oncethat he was in an evil plightin mortalfear he strove to wrench himself free andflee. This was not the entertainment hehad been wont to meet there in bygonedays.Now all were awake, and the hall wasin an uproar. And over at the castle, adeadly panic came over all the Danes,noble or simple, brave men as they were.Furious were both the maddened champ-ions ; the hall resounded with their wrest-ling. It was a great wonder the building


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The Combat 247did not fall to the ground ; only that itwas inwardly and outwardly made strongwith iron stanchions, with such masterlyskill. In this night of terror it made goodthe Danes' boast that no mortal force shortof fire would ever be able to wreck it.The noise rose high, with increasing

violence. The Danes outside were numbwith horror at the unearthly shrieks anddismal howlings of the God -forsakenfiend. Many an earl of Beowulf's un-sheathed and plunged into the fight ; theyknew not that they could not help theirleader, much as they desired it, for thatno choicest blade on earth could touchthat destroyer, because he had securedhimself by spells and incantations againstweapons of all kinds. But he was notproof against human heroic might, andfrom that he now got his death-wound,as Beowulf, with a desperate grip and tug,wrenched his arm off from the shoulder.With a terrific yell, which told the listen-ing Danes that the dire struggle wasended, and victory won by their champ-ion, Grendel fled to the coverts of the


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248 Beowulffen : v/ell he knew that the number ofhis days was full.Thus was the valiant champion's pledgeredeemed ; thus was Heorot purged. Theleader of the Goths had made good hisvaunt, and, in token thereof, he hung upGrendel's hand, arm, and shouldergrimtrophy !under the gabled roof.


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IXREJOICINGS AND THANKSGIVINGS

EARLY in the morning there was a greatgathering about the hall. Chieftainscame from far and near, to hear the mar-vellous tale, to gaze at the loathsome pro-digy. Then they took up the vanquishedmonster's bloody trail, and followed it tothe Nicors' Mere, whither, death-doomedand fugitive, he had betaken himself todie. There was the face of the lake

surg-ing with blood, the gruesome plash ofwaves all turbid with reeking gore. Therehe had yielded up his heathen soul, therepale-faced Hela, the dread queen andguardian of the heathen dead, received it.

After surveying the uncanny spot, theyrode home from the Mere in high glee, asfrom a pleasure-trip. Now and then one249


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250 Beowulfand the other loosened their nags for agallop, to run a match where the turflooked smooth and inviting. Then againa thane of the King's, his mind full ofballads, stored with old-world tales, beganto compose Beowulf's adventure into astory on the spot, to be sung later at thefeast, to the sweet-stringed harp. Or yetanother compared him to Siegfried, theDragon-slayer, the greatest hero of allNorth countries.

Thus, alternately racing and talking andsinging, they rode joyously back to thehall, and when they reached there, the sunwas already high in the sky, and crowdswere still flocking to Heorot ; and the Kinghimself, with the Queen and with a gor-geous following of lords and ladies, wascoming the short way from his palace toview his enemy's monstrous arm and handhanging from the gold-glittering roof.

Hrothgar was very different this sunnymorning from the bent and sorrow-stricken old man who greeted Beowulfthe night before as his last hope on earth.Right royal he looked now in his rich


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Rejoicings and Thanksgivings 251robes as he walked along with head erectand firm step, and clear, glad eye. Hestood awhile, gazing silently on the horri-ble hand, with fiendish fingers, and nailsstraight and sharp like steel spikes,thendevoutly raised his voice :

'' For this sight thanks be given theAlmighty ! It was but now that Ithought I should never see an end of allmy woesand now a lad, through themight of God, has achieved the deedwhich we, with all our wisdom, were un-able to accomplish. Now I will heartilylove thee, Beowulf, thou most excellentyouth ! From this day forth shalt thoube to me as my son ; thou shalt havenothing to wish for in the world so far asI have power. Full oft have I, for farless service, decreed great guerdons frommy treasury. May the Almighty rewardthee always, as He hath just done ! "Beowulf accepted these thanks andpraises with most becoming modesty.Indeed, he rather apologised for havinglet the enemy escape him ; '' for," he said,*' I would have liked vastly better to show


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252 Beowulfthee his very self, instead of only his armand hand."

Men, in those days, were not, as a rule,shy of boasting of their valorous deedsand making the most of them. Thereforethe young hero's quiet bearing won himstill heartier admiration and louder ap-plause. One man alone in all that joy-ous crowd kept silent and to himselfandthat was Unferth, the story-teller, who hadgiven vent so freely to his envious maliceat the feast. He dared not now eitherbrag of his own doings, or belittle Beo-wulf's exploit, and so held his peace.But in his heart, alone of all men, hegrudged him his triumph.


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XHEOROT RESTOREDFEASTING AND

GIFTS

AND now orders were given thatHeorot should be promptly swept,cleansed, and decorated ; men and womentrooped in in great numbers to do thework. No light work it was, for thewhole interior of the building was nearlydemolished ; in fact, the roof alone es-caped quite unhurt. Substantial repairs,of course, would take time ; but the hallmust, be garnished and made ready forthat day's banquet. So they hid thew^alls with brocaded tapestries which de-lighted the eye with their picturedstories.When the time came, King Hrothgarwalked to the Hall, for he intended to

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254 Beowulfshare the entire feast from beginning toend. And never did a braver throng ofrevellers muster more merrily around thefeast-giver.The first beaker of sweet mead theKing drank to Beowulf, and at the sametime presented him with a complete suitof preciously-wrought, gold-adorned, ar-mourhelmet, coat of mail, and heavybattle-sword, all from the royal treasury.Then, at a sign from the King, eight beauti-ful horses, with cheekplates of gold, wereled into the hall. One of them was gailycaparisoned and bore the King's own fa-vourite saddle, all decorated with silver.Horse and saddle were well known to allpresent, having been seen often and oftenboth at knightly games and in the field,where foemen fell before the royal riderboth in play and in deadly earnest. Armsand horses the King bade the young herohave for his own, and enjoy them well.

Moreover, each one of those who hadmade the voyage with Beowulf receivedsome precious gift, some old heirloom.As for the comrade whom Grendel had


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Heorot Restored 255so atrociously killed and devoured, King-Hrothgar gave order that gold should bebrought from his treasury, to make goodhis loss to his people.And now the King called aloud formusic and song. The harp was struckand Hrothgar's minstrel recited a ballad,often heard, but always a favourite, a layof an old feud and vengeance, which madethe revellers realise the more joyfully theirdeliverance from the tribute of bloodwhich, through so many years, they hadunwillingly paid.The merriment ran high, and high rosethe sounds of revelry as the attendantsserved the wine out of curious flagons.When suddenly there was a pause : QueenWealhtheow came forward, wearing rightnobly her golden diadem, and, as the daybefore, stood before her lord, and spoke :" Receive this beaker. King of theDanes ! Be merry thyself, and gladdenthose around thee with gifts and graciouswords. For now, far and near, thou hastpeace. Heorot is purged and is oncemore the most splendid of banqueting-


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256 Beowulfhalls. Dispense, then, thy bounties whilethou mayest, and to thy children peace-fully leave folk and realm when thy timecomes to pass into eternity."She turned then towards the benchwhere her young sons sat. And there,by the two brothers, Beowulf modestlysat among the youth of the land, separ-ate from the elders and mighty men.To him the Queen offered the beaker,with friendly words, inviting him to drink,then presented him with her own specialgifts : a rich mantle, armlets of twistedgold, and rings, andcrowning gift of alla jewelled carcanet, the most gorgeouspiece of jeweller's work ever seen underthe sun.

'' Wear this collar, Beowulf, belovedyouth," the Queen said, " and make useof this mantlestately possessions bothProsper well, win more and more fame bythy valour, and to these my boys be truefriend and kind adviser. Thou hast donethat which will make thee the theme ofminstrels' song, far and near, for alltime. Be then, whilst thou livest, a happy


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Heorot Restored 257prince, and loyal to my sons in word anddeed. For such is the manner of ourland : here is each warrior to other true,,loyal to their chief ; the thanes obedient,the people willing. And now, I bid yeallbe merry ! "With that she walked to her chair, andmusic once more filled the hall, and wineflowed freely. No thought was there ofevil to come, only of the evil from whichthey deemed that they were freed for-ever : for who ever hears the fiat of des-tiny as it goes forth ? . . . And so theevening came, and Hrothgar betook himto his rest.

Silence fell upon Heorot; the festivesounds died out. For the first time inmany years, the hall was not deserted forthe night ; the ethelings stayed to guardit as they had often done in earlier times.The benches were cleared away againstthe walls ; beds and bolsters were laid inrows upon the floor, and the revellers laidthemselves down to rest, happy and atpeace. Yet did one among them lie downthat night a doomed man, and knew it not.


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258 BeowulfAt their heads they set up their brightbucklers

;on the benches, plain in sight,lay each etheling's helmet and mail-shirt,and against them stood the strong-shafted

lances. For such was their customtobe at all times ready for war, whether athome or in the field, wherever their liegelord might have need of their services.Truly a brave and noble people !


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LAY IIGRENDEL'S MOTHER

I

THE AVENGER

SO they sank down to sleep. One therewas who sorely paid for that night'srest. For ere morning it was found thatGrendel had left an avengerhis mother,the Mere-wife, loathsome beldame, a creat-ure that had to dwell in the dreariness ofmarshes and cold streams, like all the restof Cain's murderous, outlawed brood.That very night the hag, on bloody ven-geance bent, betook herself to Heorot,where the Danes slept careless, all un-conscious. Who shall paint their horrorand dismay when the goblin-wife suddenlyburst into their midst? Swords were

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26o Beowulfdrawn and bucklers raised, but there wasno time to think of helmet or mail-shirt.The hag was in a hurry ; finding herselfdiscovered, all she thought of was toget away with her life. So she quicklysnatched up one of the ethelings at ran-dom, and gripping him tight, made forthe fen. That man was Hrothgar s dear-est comrade, most constant companionsad end for an illustrious warrior ! Buthurried as she was, the hag managed tocarry away with her Grendel's arm andhand. A great cry went up from Heorot,and reached the aged King, who wasstartled out of his sleep by the news thatthe old horror was revived, and that theman dearest to his heart was dead.

Beowulf was not there. No one thoughtthat his prowess should be needed again ;so, as he was in want of rest after his lastnight's exertions, he and his companionshad been assigned a lodging at some dis-tance, and they knew nothing of what hadhappened. Bright and early, he and hislittle band, rested, cheery, marched to thepalace, straight to the King's apartment,


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The Avenger 261the floor-timbers resounding under theirtread, and, courteously accosting him, en-quired if, according to their sincere wish,he had had a restful night.

Great was their astonishment to find theKing more deeply dejected than ever, thetears coursing down his withered cheeks,and to hear his heart-broken answer :

** Speak not of rest to me ! New griefhas come over the Danes, ^schere isdead, my friend and counsellor, my trustybody-squire, who has stood with me,shoulder to shoulder, in battle, a hundredtimes. In Heorot has he met his deathat the hands of another raging fiend.Yesternight didst thou overcome Grendelin deadly fight, and now his mother comesto avenge her kin ! I know not in whatdirection she took her way, but her trackswill show. I will be bound they lead usno farther than the Mere, a few milesfrom herean uncanny waterwolf-crags,windy bluffs, woods with gnarled, inter-twined roots overhang it. A precipitousmountain waterfall vanishes into the earth,and flows on, an underground river. And


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262 Beowulfon the Mere itself, every night, a fearfulportent may be seen : fire playing on thewater. The man liveth not who knowsthe depth of that mere. The antleredhart, as he makes for the wood coverts,harried by hounds, will sooner give uplife on the bank, than plunge his headinto the unhallowed flood. Now it isonce more to thee alone that we lookfor counsel ! Thou knowest not yet thedreadful hauntgo seek it if thou dare !I will reward thee with treasure to thyheart's content, if so thou comest awayalive."

Beowulf answered straightway, and hisbrave words fell like balm on Hrothgar'sdejected spirits :

'' Cease sorrowing, wise sire ! Aveng-ing a friend is better than mourning forhim. Arouse thee ! let us promptly setout to find the trail of this new terror. Ivow to thee she shall not escape ; neitherin the bowels of the earth, nor in thehaunted woods, nor in ocean's depthgowhere she will ! Have patience but thisone day, and all thy woes shall end."


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II

THE MERE

UP sprang then the aged King, thank-ing God for the hero's words, whichfilled him with new vigour. He mountedhis charger, a stately high-stepper withwavy, flowing mane, and rode forth withBeowulf and the mixed band of Danes andGoths, the foot-force of shield-bearing menmarching behind. The track lay broadand plain over the ground, down theslopestraight across the murky moor.

Lightly did Beowulf step over steepstone-banks, narrow gullies, lonesome,untravelled paths, sheer bluffs, under manyof which were deep caverns, the dwelling-place of nicors. With a few tried menhe went forward, exploring the ground,until all of a sudden he perceived the

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264 Beowulfgloomy trees overhanging the grisly rockof which Hrothgar had spokena cheer-less wood ; beneath it a standing water,dreary and troubled. The whole scenewas so desolate and eerie that it madethe Danes shudder ; horror seized themas they looked, for on that cliff they cameon the head of ^schere in a pool ofblood.The horn sounded from time to time

a spirited blast to keep them together.But they had little wish to stray. Theyall sat down on the ground, terrified, yetcurious for the weird sights of the Mere :they saw gliding along the water manyshapes of serpent kind, monstrous sea-snakes at their swimming gambols ; like-wise nicors lying lazily on the juttingslopes,the water-goblins which often, ofan early morning, churn up the waves tomake disastrous sailing for voyagers,dragons, and other strange beasts tumbledabout, then hurried away with eye of spiteand body swelling with rage at being dis-turbed by the clarion's clang and theintrusion of men. Beowulf, with an arrow


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The Mere 265from his bow, picked off one of the mon-sters, which was swiftly pulled out onland ; his swimming days were over, histricks ended.

But this was play. The business of theday was now to come, and Beowulf be-gan to prepare for it. Piece by piece hedonned his princely armour, which wasto stand the novel test of deadly battlein the waters of the unholy lake. Mostanxiously did his friends, both Danes andGoths, watch and assist him as he silentlyarmed, with brow and mouth firmly setunder the helmet, for well they knew thatthe contest he was now going to engagein was far more dangerous than that inwhich he had but lately ventured life andlimb. Even Unferth, the unmannerly,forgot what he had recently uttered whenflushed with aleor perchance he wishedto atone for past ill-will by present service.Enough, he pressed to Beowulf's side,and placed in his hand a wonderful sword,an old heirloom of his house, most highlyprized of all his possessions. That preciousblade, like other famed swords belong-


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266 Beowulfing to mighty heroes, had a name of itsown, Hke a human friend : it was calledHrunting. The edge of the blade wasiron, welded onto the brass, mottled withpoison, and hardened in the gore of manybattles. Never had it proved false to himwho wielded it ; this was not the first timethat heroic work had been required of it.


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Ill

UNDER THE WATERS

AND now Beowulf stood armed, andready for the fray. But before hewent whence he might not come back, heturned to King Hrothgar and once againrepeated the request he had made beforehe remained in Heorot to await the com-ing of Grendel :

*' See now, O wise King, I am ready tostart. Bethink thee of what we latelytalked of : that, should I lose my life inthy service, thou shouldst, after my death,fulfil my wishes even as my own fatherwould. They are but few and easily re-membered : be thou friend and protectorto my thanes when I am gone, and sendthe presents thou hast given me to Hyge-lac ; so will he see for himself that I had

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268 Beowulffound a bountiful friend. And let Unferthkeep my own heirloom, my curiouslydamaskeened sword, Hardedge. WithHrunting I will either achieve renown orfind my death."He said, and, waiting for no answer,leaped from the bluffthe eddying floodengulfed him. So deep was the mere,that it took some time before, sinking, hereached the bottom.Soon the grim creature that for a hund-

red seasons had kept house in the wateryrealm perceived that one of the childrenof men was coming from above, exploringthe goblins' home. She made a grab athim and clutched him in her grisly talons,but could not pierce the well-knit ringmail which fenced him around. But shebore him to her mansion at the bottom ofthe lake, so swiftly that, although hisheart did not fail, he was powerless to usehis weapons, the more that countlesswater-beasts harassed him in swimming,battering at him with tusk and claw.At length the earl felt the grip loosenedon him, and as he hurriedly cast his eye


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\//#

^/^


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Under the Waters 269around, he perceived that he was in a vasthall, high-roofed, and protected from thewater on all sides ; it was light, too, withan eerie, bright lustre, something like fire-light. But the hero had no time for won-der or exploring ; for before him stoodthe grim she-wolf of the abyss, and it be-hoved him to be quick in attack. Grasp-ing Hrunting, he whirled it around herhead ; but when it descended to strike,he found, to his dismay, that the edge didnot bite ; for the first time the costlyblade failed the master at his need. Withprompt decision he angrily flung it away,and once again trusting wholly to hisown strength, seized the hag by theshoulder, and swayed her so violently inhis rage that she sank to the pavement.She swiftly repaid him and closed in uponhim, crushing the wind out of his body,so that he, fearless as he was, staggeredfrom sheer breathlessness and fell pro-strate. Then the hag sat upon his backand drew her broad knife, and her goblinson would have been avenged then andthere, but that Beowulf's mail-shirt was


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270 Beowulfproof against point and edge, which gavehim time for a last mighty effort to throwoff the hindering weight,and presentlyhe stood once more erect on his feet.

Still, even then his life might have beenforfeit in the unequal combat, had he notchanced to espy among the armour lyingscattered about the hall, an old cutlass ofhuge size and strength of blade, largerthan an ordinary man could have carried,let alone used in battle,the handiwork ofgiants. On this Beowulf blindly seizedbeside himself, despairing of his life

andstruck in his fury ; the blow caught thebeldame in the neck, severed the bone,she dropped on the pavement,the workwas done.He was alone. He now had leisure toscan the apartment with his eye ; he slowlywalked all round * it, along by the wall,the magic weapon swung aloft by the hilt,for fear of surprises. Suddenly, he cameupon a hideous objectGrendel, bereftof life, lying where he fell, as he reachedhis lake home on that fatal night. Thehero's blood boiled at the sight; he at


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Under the Waters 271once decided he would bring back to theupper world a better trophy than a handand arm : so, raising high the cutlass, hestruck off the head.

Then, before his eyes, there came topass a thing whereat he marvelled much ;no sooner had the blade touched the mon-ster's black gore, than it began to meltaway, even as ice when the springbreathes upon it, dissolving the fetters ofthe torrent ; and even as he looked, itmelted all to naught, down to the hilt inhis handso venomous and consuminghad been the goblin's life-blood !There were many rare arms and trinketsin that wondrous water hall ; but Beowulfonly glanced at them and would not bur-den himself with aught save the head, andthe hilt of the burned-up cutlass, which hewanted to show and keep as a curiosity.Nor would he leave Hrunting below, sincethe good sword did not belong to him.


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IVTHE RETURN

MEANWHILE the hours waxed longto the watchers above. Hrothgarand his men sat in the same spot still, in-tently gazing on the water. The old menwith grizzled locks spoke together in lowtones about the brave etheling, how theydid not expect that he should ever comeback to them ; and when they saw thewaves splashing turbid and tinged withblood, most of them decided that the she-wolf of the Mere had torn him to pieces.

It was the ninth hour of the day. Theimpetuous Danes gave him up for lost andquitted the bluff ; King Hrothgar followedthem with heavy heart. They did notdoubt but that they had lost their hero-friend, and the nightly ravages would

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The Return 273commence again. But the Goths wouldnot go. Sick at heart they sat on, andgazed upon the dreadful pool. They didnot expect to ever again get sight of theirlord and captain in the body, yet theykept on wishing, and secretly hoping : forwas he not grreater and braver than allother men ? No other would have evendreamed of plunging into such an ad-venture.And lo ! what was that ? something in

the distance, moving on the water ! Water-beast it could not be, for they had allslunk away when man and goblin-wife met,and kept in hiding, waiting for the end.It wasyes, it was the leader ! Soon theycould see him plainly, as he came swim-ming bravely along. He shouted to them.They answered with a cry which must havebeen heard half-way to Heorot. Thenhe came to land, exulting in his lakespoils. His faithful thanes ran to meethim, thanking God that they had himback, whole and sound. They pressedaround, vieing who should relieve him ofhis helmet, his mail-shirt. From the mo-


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2 74 Beowulfment he stepped on land, the Mere sul-lenly subsided, grey and heavy, leadenwater under leaden sky.And now Beowulf and his band pre-pared to retrace their steps, for they hadquite a long way to march across countryand along the public highways. So theyformed into a triumphal procession, tobear away Grendel's head from the Mere-cliff : it took four of the lusty and stal-wart fellows to carry it on a pole, and theburden taxed their strength to the ut-most ; so that, when they reached thegreat hall, gold-glittering in the sunshine,they were glad to lay it down on theground. Then others of their comradestook it up and carried it by the hair intothe midst of the assembled Danes. Theircaptain was just greeting the King, butall sprang to their feet ; even to Hrothgarand the Queen, startled out of ceremonyby the unexpected sight of the horribleobject.


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LAST WORDS

WHEN some sort of order had beenrestored, Beowulf, with his wontedmodest dignity, gave the King a briefaccount of his last and most deadly en-counter :

" Lo and behold! to thee, O Lord ofthe Skyldings, we have joyfully broughtthese Mere-spoils that thou lookest on,in token that what we came to do is done.Not easily did I come out of it with life.In the battle under water well-nigh hadthe struggle gone against me, only thatGod shielded me. I could not, in thefinal test, accomplish aught with Hrunt-ing, though it be a good weapon, too.But the Ruler of men directed my eye.to the wall, where it was caught by the

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276 Beowulf

gleam of an old sword of huge size,whereat I grasped, blindly. Thus oftenesthath He guided men when they have noother friend. With that swordoccasionfavouring me, I smote the keepers of theMere-house, the living and the dead. Sohot and poisonous was that accursedblood, that it consumed the blade, as thoucanst see. I brought away the hilt as atrophy. And now that I have avengedthe long agonies of the Danes as wasmeet, I promise thee that thou mayestsleep henceforth in Heorot free from care ;and so may every one of the thanes, oldand young, and thou needest not fear forthem any kind of danger, as thou didst solong."The oldest and wisest among the war-riors marvelled much to hear so wise a

speech from lips so young. That in theheat of victory, hard-won, single-handed^the noble champion should remember togive thanks where alone man's thanksare due, and should generously share thecredit with his comrades, pleased KingHrothgar greatly. With kindly smile he


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Last Words 277took the gilded, bladeless hilt into hishand and examined it intently. It waswell worth the study, this relic of heathentimes immemorial, the workmanship ofgiants. The mystic smiths had gravenmuch ancient lore on it in quaint oldcharacters, looking like small staves oddlythrown together, and long held sacred bylearned men, who called them " Runes."Hrothgar, who, though himself a ferventChristian, was well versed in the ancientheathen lore of his people, easily read thestoried gold of the hilt. Upon it waswritten the history of the primeval quar-rel between the bright, beneficent godsand the perverse race of giants, and ofthe war between them, in which the wickedgiants did their worst, by force and wile,to destroy the beautiful world, the creationof the gods, until the latter sent a greatflood, and the giant's brood perished.Likewise was it set down in runes on apart of the mounting, for whom that swordhad first been worked with its dragonornament.When he had examined the curious relic


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278 Beowulfat his leisure, King Hrothgar returned itto the youth, and bending on him hiskindest glance, he spoke to him,whileall around respectfully held their peace,out of the fulness of his heart and of hislong-hoarded wisdom, such words as onlya father speaks to a well-beloved son, whenhe sends him forth to fare for himself inthe wide and dangerous world. For wellhe knew that the hero, his mission done,would leave him very soon, to continuehis adventurous career, wherever it mightcall him, and his heart ached to let himgo ; he would fain have warned him of allthat might befall him on his way, andgiven him his own treasure of experienceto guide and to shield him,above allagainst the dangers and snares of his ownuntamed nature.

** Thy fame, friend Beowulf," the Kingbegan, ''will spread after this to everyland, over every nation. Thou dost withalcarry thy prowess modestly, with discre-tion of mind. Thou art fated to provea comfort sure and lasting to thy men, ahelp to mankind."


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Last Words 279Here the King recalled, as a warning

example, the fate of Heremod, the badking, who had lost the people's heartsthrough his arrogance and cruelty, andwhom his (Hrothgar's), own ancestor,Skyld of the Sheaf, had displaced.

*' Do thou take warning by that !" he

continued. ** It is for thy benefit that I,being old in years and experience, havetold this tale. For, how many a time dowe not see a man of noble race whodwelleth in prosperity, with nothing toannoy him, no care nor quarrel on anyside, but all the world seems to move tohis mind. Until, at length, within theman himself something of arrogancy growsand develops. Then sleepeth the heavenlyguardian, the soul's keeper ; the foe isvery near, and the man yields to thecrooked counsels of the accursed spirit ;he fancies that all is too little that he hasso long enjoyed ; he grows covetous andmalignant, and grudges to share his wealthwith his friends. He too lightly considershow that it was God the Dispenser whoplaced him in his post of dignity. And


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28o Beowulfthen the end comes ; another fills his roomwho makes better use of his wealthheis forgotten. Beware of such a fall, Beo-wulf, beloved youth, and choose for thyselfthe better course. Now is thy strengthin full bloom for a while. Soon it maybetide that sickness or the sword will be-reave thee of it; fire or flood, stab ofknife, or flight of spearanything at anytime may mar and darken all, and Deathsubdue thee, leader of men though thouart ! Look at me : did I not for fiftyyears reign prosperously over the Danes,and by valour make them secure againstmany a nation, insomuch that I dreadedno rival under the circuit of the sky ?Yet how suddenly a change came over allthat ; here in my own hall, the abominableGrendel bearded and despoiled me, andfor years my heart carried its load of grief.Thanks, therefore, be to the Eternal Rulerfor what I have lived to seethat I, theold tribulation past, with mine own eyesshould gaze upon yon severed head !Andnow go, sit thee down, share the festivejoy, crowned with the honours of war.


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Last Words 281To-morrow we must yet have many deal-ings together."Beowulf had listened, with beseemingearnestness and reverence, nor did theaged king's wise instruction fall on barrensoil. But he was very tired : so he movedbriskly off and sat down, nothing loth, onone of the benches. Then the tables werecleared and re-spread, and a fair, freshbanquet served.Not till the night's dim covering beganto descend over the light-hearted revellersdid the venerable Skylding arise and givethe signal for bed. After him the elders.Vastly well did the hero of the day likethe thought of reposehe had enough ofadventure for a while ! He was mar-shalled to his room with much ceremonyby a chamberlain, who supplied him withall things needful for a luxurious night'srest. And he slept ! slept till the black ra-ven announced heaven's glory with blitheheart, and the light drove the shadowsaway, and fiends that prowl of nightsscampered off and hid.When he came forth from his sleeping-


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282 Beowulfchamber, he found his comrades all readyfor the voyage. They were impatient totake ship for home.Beowulf bade courteous farewell to hisDanish friends, and when the turn of Un-ferth came, he returned Hrunting to himwith hearty thanks for the loan ; withnever a word did he blame the blade thathad played him false, but on the contrarypraised it for a good sword, a good friendin war. Thus are high-souled men evercourteous and mindful of other men'sfeelings.


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284 Beowulfalbeit young in years, will bear me out inthis, and send me over with a forest ofspears, shouldst thou have need of them."The old King was deeply moved as hemade answer :

" The All-wise Lord himself, puts suchthoughts into thy mind. Never have Iheard one so young in years discourse suchsweet and reasonable speech. I think itvery likely that^ should sickness or irontake thy chief from this life, the seafaringGoths will find no better man than thy-self to be their king. Thou hast my bestwishes, beloved Beowulf, for I like theemore and more. Thou hast done thatwhich will make the Danes and the Gothsfriends forevermore. While I rule thisrealm, the two nations shall have all thingsin common, and ships shall bring back andforward, not men armed for war, but pres-ents and tokens of love."

King Hrothgar rose from his chair ofstate and pressed on his young friendtwelve more

priceless jewels, biddinghim

go with God and visit his people, butcome back again soon. He clasped him


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Homeward Bound 285by the neck, tears coursing down hischeeks into his long grey beard. To himthe youth was so dear that he could notrestrain the passion of his sorrow at part-ing from him, for, in spite of his cheerywords, there was that in his breast whichwarned him that they two were not tomeet again.

Beowulf, being young, was not muchdisturbed by forebodings, and when he leftthe hall, his foot trod the grassy earthwith the firm step of conscious power.As he and his gallant troop neared thewater, where their well-guarded shipawaited them, the coast-warden markedtheir approach, as he had done at theircoming ; but there was no suspicion nowin his mind or manner, as he hailed themfrom his high peak and rode down swiftlytowards them. The beach was all alive asthe Goths proceeded, with right good will,to load the good ship with the war har-ness, the horses, and all the treasures fromHrothgar's hoard. Winds and wavesseemed to favour their impatience, andsail and oars carried them smoothly over


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286 Beowulfthe foamy swell, till they were able toespy the familiar cliffs and headlands ofthe Gothic shore. And now the keelgrated on the sand, the wind pushing frombehindshe was on land.The warden was ready to receive the

seafarers at the landing ; he had hardlyleft the water s edge, so anxiously had hebeen looking for the dear friends whohad left him on so perilous, uncertain aventure. And now he helped to bind theship fast with strong anchor cables, lest asudden storm might snatch her away, andhastened to give orders to carry ashorethe princely cargo.


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VIIAT HOME

THEY had not far to go, for King Hy-gelac, son of Hrethel, had his palace,where he held court with his peers, withinsight of the sea. There he dwelt happilywith his Queen, fair Hygd, who, thoughshe was very young, and had lived but fewwinters in her lord's castle, was wise andof excellent discretion, yet not mean-spir-ited, nor grudging of gifts to the thanesand ethelingsvery different in all herways from another young princess of theGoths, Thrytho, the moody and the proud,even to savagery ; so arrogant and fiercethat no man, not even her favouritesamong the courtiers, durst look in hereyes, but he w^as sure to be taken and

2S7


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288 Beowulfbound by her order, and the knife wasquick to follow arrest. Well did noblesand people murmur, and whisper amongthemselves that such manner was notqueenly, nor womanly, for any lady topractise, although peerless of form andfeature ; for woman should ever be a peace-maker, and not a taker of men's livesonfalse pretences too. But no one dared tospeak aloud what all thought in their se-cret hearts. So everybody was glad ex-ceedingly w^hen Thrytho was sent off toAngle-land, there to wed the great Offa,King of Mercia, the most powerful of theseven kingdoms. Soon after, however,those who drink at the ale-benches beganto tell a different tale, how that she hadleft off her evil ways from the momentthat she reached Offa's hall after her longsea-voyage and been given, gold-adorned,into the noble and brave king's keeping ;and ever since, as long as she lived in herroyal state, she was famed for her kindnessand

gentleness ;she w^on and kept the

love of that most excellent ruler betweenthe seasfor minstrels tell us that Offa


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At Home 289was as famous for his courtly grace andknightly accomplishments as for his featsof war/

Beowulf's arrival was promptly madeknown to Hygelac. Good news in truth,he thought, that his dear companion, hisplayfellow

ofyore,

was coming back tohim alive and unhurt. Quickly, at hiscommand, the interior of the hall wascleared for the home-coming travellers.

Beowulf sat by the King's side, whilehis comrades were greeted by their friends,and the gentle Queen moved about thehall with beakers of sweet mead ; for sheloved her folk and gladly ministered tothem.With eager, affectionate words Hygelac

questioned his kinsman about his voyage,his reception by Hrothgar, the battle forHeorot. Beowulf satisfied him fully on

' That these two queens with their contrasting characterswere introduced by the Christian writer of the poem to conveya moral lesson, is evident from the allegorical names he givesthem: " Hygd," in Anglo-Saxon, means " discretion," and"Thrytho," "haughtiness, superciliousness." At the sametime it is not improbable that the name of Thrytho may have

been suggested by the actual name of Offa's queen, which was" Cynethryth."19


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290 Beowulfall points, and gave him a most detailedaccount of all that had befallen him, goodand evil, during his brief but eventful ab-sencespeaking of his deeds, as was hiswont, with heroic simplicity, and dwellingmore on Hrothgar's loving-kindness andgenerosity than upon his own prowess.When he had told his tale, to which allwho were in the hall listened spell-bound,he ordered all Hrothgar's gifts, includingfour of the beautiful horses, matched toperfection, to be brought into the hall, andthen and there presented all to his kins-man and liege lord, bidding him use andenjoy the treasures. As to the carcanet, thecuriously wrought, wonderful jewel, whichHrothgar's queen had bestowed on him,he presented that to Queen Hygd, as alsothree palfreys, keeping only one of theeight horses for his own use, in memoryof 'Hrothgar's friendship. A shining ex-ample, truly, of a loyal kinsman's fealtyand love, which it were well if all royalkinsmen took to heart. But how many,alack, are there who will, instead, spreadthe deceitful snare for their trusting com-


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At Home 291rade's feet and secretly, with wicked guile,contrive his death !From this time on,. Beowulf steadily

grew in honours and in his sovereign'sconfidence. He conducted himself on alloccasions wisely and with discretion.Never did he smite his hearth-fellows intheir cups. For his was no ruffian soul ;but of all mankind he most wisely con-trolled the great talents which God hadgiven him. Men saw and wondered athim. For they had held him in little es-teem for a long time, because of his mod-est, reserved ways, which did not courtattention ; and when he was a lad, he hadoften been called slack and unpromising.Now, however, every rash judgment wasreversed, as the mature man stood radiantin his glory, the very next to the King,who girded him with his own father's gold-mounted battle-sword. King Hrethel's heir-loom, than which there was no morerenowned weapon among the Goths. Atthe same time he conferred on him seventhousand hides of land, a princely mansion,and a seat of authority in the Council.


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292 BeowulfNot many years passed thus peacefully.There was war once more and Hygelac

fell in battle in the distant land of thesea-going Frisians. Beowulf saved him-self by a feat of swimming which no manbut he could have performed, and reachedGothland unharmed. There he foundthe young widowed Queen, Hygd, besideherself with grief and alarm. She prof-fered him treasure and realm, jewels andthrone ; for she had no confidence in heryoung son Heardred, who was scarcelymore than a child, that he would be ableto hold the ancestral seats against theFrisians, whose invasion was expectedfrom day to day. But neither she northe bereaved people could prevail withthe

loyal kinsman and chieftain to breakfaith with his dead cousin ; he upheldyoung Heardred in the public assembly,respectfully and with friendly guidance,until the time that he was of full age, whenhe resigned to him the power which hehad wielded only so long as duty bade.But fortune soon after proved fatal toyoung Heardred. He, too, was killed in


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At Home 293war. Then ancient Hrothgar's prophecycame true, and Beowulf found himselfKing of the Goths. He had not soughtor coveted the dignity, giving the elderline always his whole-hearted, undividedservice. But when the broad realm cameto his hand, he took it as a trust placedin his charge by God, and governed itwell for fifty winters, a true ethel-wardennoble guardian of the people. But en-vious fate, which is ever on the lurk, wouldnot suffer the venerable King to end hisdays in undisturbed prosperity.


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LAY IIITHE DRAGON

I

THE TREASURE

IN the land of the Goths, high on arocky steep above the sea, there stooda lonely stronghold, built of stone. Anarrow path led to it from the beach be-neath, but it was unfrequented by people,because the castle was tenanted by aDragon, who had, for three hundred years,kept guard over a treasure of gold andsilverrings, bracelets, jewelled drinking-cups, daggers and swords, and armour ofall kinds. This treasure was the legacy ofan ancient band of men, war-companionslong forgotten. Death took them all off,

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The Treasure 295one after another, and left one solitarysurvivor, to mourn for lost friends andenjoy for a short while the accumulatedwealth.

There was a forsaken barrow on thedown near by, where a huge cliff hungsheer over the water. Thither the soli-tary man carried all the beaten gold andsilver, and having buried it all, spoke afew farewell words :

*' Hold thou now, O Earth, the wealthof mighty heroes, who cannot guard itany longer. Death in battle has carriedthem all away, my friends, my peers ; theyshare the bliss of Woden's heavenly hall,where only brave warriors slain in thefield are admitted. No one henceforthwill furbish the embossed tankard, the pre-cious sword, or the helmet damaskeenedwith gold ; the armour will moulder by theside of the warrior who wore it ! "Thus the sole survivor of a brave com-

pany lamented his unhappiness, by dayand by night, until the finger of Deathtouched his heart also, and it stood still.The dazzling hoard, now unguarded


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296 Beowulfwas found by the old pest of twilight,that haunteth barrows, the scaly spitefulDragon, that flieth by night, enwrapt infire, whom country-folk hold in awe anddread. His great delight is to sit on un-derground hoards and gloat there. Thusit happened that, having discovered thisenormous treasure-house, he held it forthree hundred years, until something oc-curred which angered him and let himloose on the unhappy land.Some unknown man was fleeing in afeud, houseless and pursued, and in hisflight he stumbled on the barrow and onthe Dragon asleep therein upon the glitter-ing hoard. Horror-struck, he was turningto escape while he might, but a jewelledtankard caught his eye and he justsnatched it before he ran, his heart mis-giving him at the time that he was bring-ing woe on many by the deed. Butsomething impelled him, stronger thanreasonso he snatched and ran, huggingthe precious bauble, which he carried tohis liege lord, who pursued him, as apledge of peace, and bought his lord's


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The Treasure 297friendship and his own safety therewith.He also revealed the hiding-place of thehoard ; the chieftain hastened thither with-out delay, the barrow was rifled of manyof its jewels, while the Dragon still slepthis long, heavy sleepand the mischiefwas done !When the Worm woke and found him-self despoiled, his fury was intense ; but hemastered it at first, to make his vengeancemore complete and sure. First of all hesniffed at the scent along the rock, and atonce came upon the track of the enemy,whose foot had stepped unawares by hisvery head as he lay asleep. He sought dili-gently for the man, going over the groundw^hither the scent took him ; in more andmore fiery and raging mood he kept swing-ing around and around the barrow. Therewas not any man there in all that desertwaste. All the while he matured in hisbreast his purpose of dire and bloodywork. Every now and then he woulddash back into the barrow, as though tosatisfy himself once more of what he knewalready : that there had been plunder


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298 Beowulfdone,then he would dash out again.He could hardly wait for the night tocome. But presently the day waned atlast, and the Worm had his will : no longerwould he bide in fenced walls, but issueforth, equipped with fire, to do havoc allover the land. Thus it was that theDragon's vengeance had a sore beginningfor the people ; soon it was to have asorer ending for their ruler and benefactor.


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II

THE ATTACK

ONCE the monster had begun his fieryraids, he did not stop them again.Far into each night blazed the farmsteads,late so cheerful. The flying pest would fainhave left nothing alive where his vast formhovered in the air on broad black pinions,like to a huge smoke-cloud, with live-coaleyes and flame squirting and snorting fromopen maw and distended nostrils. It wasonly just before the break of day that heshot back again to his dark mansion forprotection ; for he trusted his rocky keep ;only that trust deceived him in the end.Soon it was reported to Beowulf (forevil tidings travel swift and sure), that hisown mansion, noblest of buildings, evenhis own royal seat, the gift of the Goths,

299


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300 Beowulfwas melting away in fiery waves. Sosorely was the venerable King smitten tothe heart at this great outrage, that hewas tempted to break out into revilingsagainst Providence, much against his wont,for never was man gentler in his valour,more pious in his power.

Deeply did Beowulf revolve in histhoughts how he should deliver himselfand his people from this new pest, afterthe many, many years of peace and happi-ness. The memories of his youth, of thetime when he, a victorious boy, had purgedHrothgar s hall, single-handed, of Grendeland his loathsome brood, were still greenwith him, and the thought of going forthto seek the Dragon with a host, or evena band of men, was abhorrent to him. Hedecided to go and look about him withonly eleven companions, led by the finderof the first jewelled tankard, the cause ofthe baleful feud, who went as the thir-teenth of the party. Then the aged Kingsat him down on the headland, and beganto bid farewell to his hearth-fellows. Forhis heart was heavy within him and full of


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The Attack 301boding sadness, and his thoughts travelledback, as aged men's thoughts are apt todo when they feel the hour of the lastseparation drawing nighback across theentire field of life's achievements, dwellinglongest on what looms remotest. Thusnow the ancient warrior, while going overthe days of his youth in rather ramblingspeech, dwelt most lovingly on the timewhen, as a stripling, he did page's serviceat the court of Hygelac's father, Hrethel,to whom his own father gave him whenonly seven years old, and who had raisedand fostered him, and held him as dear ashis own sons. Then, turning back to thepresent and its stern necessities, he ad-dressed an affectionate word to each ofhis more familiar comrades, still harpingon his dislike to fight the monster withany but naked hands :" I would not willingly bear sword orweapon to meet this Worm, as I formerlydid not against Grendel. I expect to meetscorching fire, deadly venom ; thereforeshall I carry a strong shield and wear afine mail-shirt. As for you, my men-at-


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302 Beowulfarms, wait ye here on the mountain to seewhich of us twain falls, deadly strickenthere on the rock."As he spoke, the brave old warrior rose

by the brink of the down and sternlyscanned the place around, when, not farfrom where they stood, he beheld a rockyarch, and out of it a stream breaking fromthe barrow, steaming hot, so no manmight come nigh the hoard unscorchedand survive the Dragon's flame.Then did the Prince of the Goths letforth out of his breast a mighty battle-shout, which stirred the keeper of thehoard under his hoary rock. There wasnow no time for reflection or for parley-ing, for from out the rock there came thehot reeking breath of the monster, like acloud of steam ; and hardly had the heroswung his shield and taken his stand wellup by it, when the ringy Worm suddenlyrolled forth and buckled himself into abow, and thus, curved like an arch, emit-ting flame, advanced upon his human foein a rapid, gliding shuffle. The shield,indeed, protected awhile the glorious


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Ill

WIGLAF

NO, not all. One among them proveda faithful follower,Wiglaf, Weoh-stan's son, Beowulf's youngest comradeand his much-loved kinsman. When hebeheld his liege lord in such sore distress,his heart smote him, as he thought of thelands and honours the King had so latelybestowed on him, and of the justice hehad publicly rendered him and his fatherin a just feudand gratitude moved himdeeply.

This was the first adventure on whichthe young etheling had embarked withhis liege lord. When he saw his fellowsshamefully scurrying off, mindful only oftheir own safety, he turned on them andupbraided them with hottest words ofnoble anger.

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Wiglaf 305'* What ! " he cried, '' and shall we thus

forsake our lord, with whom we were fain torevel in the festive hall, drinking his mead,taking his golden rings and well-temperedswords ? He chose us out of all his hostfor this adventure because he counted usstout warriors and loyal friends. Nowthe day is come when he needs thestrength of his followers. No matter thathe intended to achieve this great deedsingle-handedlet us stand by him ! Godknows that I for one had liefer the flamewould swallow me up with him than standaway now ! I think it shame that weshould bear our shields safe home unlesswe rescue the life of our lord. Is thisacting according to our old customs, thatwe leave him, alone of noble Goths, tobear the brunt and fall in an unequalfight?"Thus speaking, young Wiglaf boldlyplunged into steam and smoke, with hishelmet on his head, shouting loud :

*' My liege Beowulf ! now make goodthe boast of thy

Ragozin - Beowulf the Hero of the Anglo-Saxons (1900)

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