that battle-grip might not scathe his breast, the fierce one's wily grasp injure his life. But the flashing helm guarded his head, (which with the sea-bottom was to mingle, 1449 and seek the sea-surge) with jewels adorned, encircled with chains, as in days of yore the weapon-smith wrought it, wondrously framed, set with swine-figures, so that thereafter no brand nor war-sword ever could bite it. Nor then was that least of powerful aids which Hrothgar's orator1 lent him at need: Hrunting was named the hafted falchion. 'Twas among the foremost of olden treasures; its edge was iron, tainted with poison, harden'd with warrior-blood; ne'er in battle had it failed any of those that brandished it, who durst to travel the ways of terror, the perilous trysts. 'Twas not the first time that it a valorous deed should perform. 1459 to my near comrades, if war take me off. Also the treasures which thou hast given me, beloved Hrothgar, to Hygelac send. By that gold then may the lord of the Geats know, may Hrethel's son see, when he looks on that treasure, that I in man's virtue have found one preeminent, 1490 a giver of rings, and rejoiced while I might. And let Hunferth have the ancient relic, the wondrous war-sword, let the far-famed man the hard-of-edge have. I with Hrunting will work me renown, or death shall take me." After these words the Weder-Geats' lord with ardor hastened, nor any answer would he await. The sea-wave received the warrior-hero. It was a day's space ere he the bottom could perceive. Forthwith she found-she who the flood's Then at him she grasped, the warrior seized in her horrible claws. Nathless she crushed not his unhurt body; the ring-mail guarded him, so that she might not pierce that war-dress, the lock-linked sark, with her hostile fingers. 1511 Then when the sea-wolf reached the bottom, she bore to her dwelling the prince of rings so that he might not, brave as he was, his weapons wield; for many strange beings in the deep oppressed him, many a sea-beast with its battle tusks his war-sark broke; the wretches pursued him. Then the earl found he was in he knew not what dread hall, where him no water in aught could scathe, nor because of the roof could the sudden grip of the flood reach him; he saw a fire-light, a brilliant beam brightly shining. The hero perceived then the wolf of the deeps, the mighty mere-wife; a powerful onslaught he made with his falchion, the sword-blow withheld not, so on her head the ringed brand sang 1520 how that the battle-beam would not bite, a horrid war-song. The guest then discovered would not scathe life, but that the edge failed its lord at his need; erst had it endured hand-conflicts many, slashed often the helm, war-garb of the doomed; then was the first time for the precious gift that its power failed. Still was he resolute, slacked not his ardor, of great deeds mindful was Hygelac's kinsman. Flung he the twisted brand, curiously bound, 1534 with the angry champion, that stiff and steel-edged | angry and resolute. Nor was the edge it lay on the earth; in his strength he trusted, to the war-prince useless; for he would forthhis powerful hand-grip. So shall man do, when he in battle thinks of gaining lasting praise, nor cares for his life. Grendel requite for the many raids By the shoulder then seized he (recked not of and not on one occasion only, her malice), when he Hrothgar's hearth-companions 1580 for that, the fierce champion, that at rest he saw, weary of contest, Grendel lying deprived of his life, as he had been scathed by She pressed down the hall-guest, and drew her the conflict at Heorot; the corpse bounded far dagger, when after death he suffered the stroke, 1589 the broad gleaming blade,—would avenge her the hard sword-blow, and his head it severed. Then he saw 'mongst the arms a victorious falchion, an old jotun-sword, of edges doughty, Forthwith they saw, the sagacious men, those who with Hrothgar kept watch on the water, | that the surge of the waves was all commingled, Then that sword, the war-blade, the glory of warriors; of weapons 'twas choic- began to fade. A marvel it was, est, 1559 save it was greater than any man else fierce and deadly grim, the ringed sword swung; even as from heaven serenely shines 1570 the candle of the firmament. He looked down the chamber, then turned by the wall; his weapon upraised firm by the hilt Hygelac's thane, 1 vertebrae how it all melted, most like to ice 1603 1620 The ocean surges all were cleansed, the dwellings vast, when the stranger guest her life-days left and this fleeting existence. Then came to land the sailor's protector stoutly swimming, rejoiced in his sea-spoil, the mighty burden of what he brought with him. the Danes' death-plague, as it was fitting. 1670 "I promise thee now that thou in Heorot mayest sleep secure with thy warrior-band, and thy thanes, each one, thanes of thy people, the tried and the youthful; that thou needest not, oh prince of the Scyldings, fear from that side Then toward him they went, with thanks to life's bane to thy warriors as erst thou didst." God, the stout band of thanes, rejoiced in their lord, because they beheld him safe and sound. From the vigorous chief both helm and byrnie were then soon loosed. The sea subsidedthe cloud-shadowed water with death-gore dappled. 1631 Thence forth they went retracing their steps happy at heart, the high-way measured, the well-known road. The nobly bold men up from the sea-shore bore the head, not without labor for each of them, the mightily daring. Four undertook with toil to bear on the battle-spear, up to the gold-hall, the head of Grendel; until straightway to the hall they came, resolute, warlike, four and ten of them, Geats all marching with their lord. 1640 they had borne them boldly. That was a people Proud amid the throng, he trod the meadows. Then entering came the prince of thanes, the deed-strong man with glory honored, the man bold in battle, Hrothgar to greet. And into the hall, where men were drinking, Grendel's head by the hair was borne, a thing of terror to nobles and lady. "Twas a wonderful sight men looked upon. a land-warden old, that this earl was nobly born. Thy fame is exalted, through far and wide ways, Beowulf, my friend, over every nation. Thou wearest with patience thy might, and with prudence. I shall show thee my love, e'en as we two have said: thou shalt be for a comfort a very long time to thine own people, a help unto warriors. Not so was Heremod1 to Ecgwela's children, the noble Scyldings; he throve not for their weal, but for their slaughter, 1711 and for a death-plague to the folk of the Danes. In angry mood slew he his table-sharers, his nearest friends, till he lonely departed, the very great prince, from the joys of men. Though him Mighty God, with delights of had advanced him, yet there grew in his heart | shall fail and darken; sudden 'twill be, a bloodthirsty spirit; he gave no rings to the Danes, as was custom; joyless continued he, 1720 so that of war he the misery suffered, long bale to the people. Learn thou from him; lay hold of man's virtue! For thee have I told this, wise in winters. 'Tis wondrous to say, how mighty God, to the race of men, through his ample mind, dispenses wisdom, lands and valor: He has power over all. Sometimes He lets wander at their own will the thoughts of a man of race renowned, in his country gives him the joy of earth, 1730 a shelter-city of men to possess; thus makes to him subject parts of the world, ample kingdoms, that he himself may not, because of his folly, think of his end. He lives in plenty; no whit deters him disease or old age, no uneasy care darkens his soul, nor anywhere strife breeds hostile hate; but for him the whole world turns at his will; he the worse knows not, that thee, noble warrior, death shall o'erpower. "Thus I the Ring-Danes half a hundred years had ruled 'neath the welkin, and saved them in dark o'er the vassals; the courtiers all rose; the grizzly-haired prince would go to his bed, the aged Scylding; the Geat, exceedingly famed shield-warrior, desired to rest. Him, journey-weary, come from afar, a hall-thane promptly guided forth who in respect had all things provided for a thane's need, such as in that day farers over the sea should have. The great-hearted rested. High rose the hall vaulted and gold-hued; therein slept the guest, until the black raven, blithe-hearted, announced the joy of heaven. Then came the bright sun o'er the fields gliding. 1803 that disease or the sword shall deprive thee of and round the neck clasped him; tears he shed, strength, or the clutch of fire, or rage of flood, or falchion's grip, or arrows' flight, or cruel age; or brightness of eyes the hoary headed; chances two there were to the aged, the second stronger, whether (or not) they should see each other again in conference. So dear was the man 1880 clearly divine how it might be. that his breast's heaving he could not restrain, | her maidhood departed, and yet could nowise but in his bosom, in heart-bands fast, for the man beloved his secret longing burned in his blood. Beowulf thence, a gold-proud warrior, trod the greensward, in treasure exulting. The sea-ganger awaited, at anchor riding, its owner and lord.* Is the poem of Beowulf in any sense mytholog. ical? Perhaps the latest and best opinion on the subject is that it is not. "Undoubtedly one is here on the borderland of myth. But in the actual poem the border is not crossed. Whatever the remote connection of Beowulf the hero with Beowa the god, hero is a man, and the monsters are such as folk then believed to haunt sea and lake and moor."-Francis B. Gummere: The Oldest English Epic. 12 That was o'erpassed; this may pass also. 18 That was o'erpassed; this may pass also. Theodoric kept for thirty winters in the burg of the Mærings; 'twas known of many. 24 That was o'erpassed; this may pass also. Heard have we likewise of Eormanric's mind, wolfishly tempered; widely enthralled he the folk of the Goth-realm; he was a grim king. Many a warrior sat locked in his sorrow, waiting on woe; wished, how earnestly! the reign of that king might come to an end. That was o'erpassed; this may pass also. Now of myself this will I say: Erewhile I was Scôp of the Heodenings, A many winters I knew good service; dear to my lord. Deor my name was. gracious was my lord. But now Heorrenda, by craft of his singing, succeeds to the landright to the poet of the epic its that "The poem loses nothing of its picturesqueness in being denied its mythology. The firedrake and Grendel and the she-demon are more terrible when conceived as uncanny and abominable beings whose activities in the world can only be dimly imagined by men than they are when made mere personifications of the forces of nature. Beowulf is no less heroic as a mortal facing with undaunted courage these grisly phantoms of the moor and mere, than as a god subduing the sea or the darkness. And the proud words that he utters in his dying hour are more impressive from the lips of a man than from those of a being who still retains some of the glory of a god about him.-In my home I awaited what time might bring me, held well my own, sought no treacherous feuds, swore no false oaths. In all this I can rejoice, though sick unto death with my wounds.'"-William W. Lawrence : Pub. Mod. Lang. Association, June, 1909. Deor's Lament is one of the poems that may written in strophes, and one motive, constant 35 Guardian of Men erst gave unto me. CAEDMON (A. 670) FROM THE PARAPHRASE OF THE THE GARDEN OF EDEN Then beheld our Creator the beauty of his works and the excellence of of the new creatures. Paradise stood These were parted, by the Lord's might, 210 These paraphrases of the Scriptures are commonly spoken of as Cædmon's, though ascribed to him on very uncertain grounds. Apart from their intrinsic worth they are interesting for their possible relation to Paradise Lost. See Eng. Lit., p. 23. The translation is the literal one of Benjamin Thorpe. |