BEOWULF

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XVI

Ðá gýt aéghwylcum eorla drihten

Then, furthermore, to each one of the earl's company

þára þe mid Béowulfe brimléade teah

1051

those with Beowulf travelled the sea-path,

on þære medubence máþðum gesealde

on the mead-bench he gave treasures,

yrfeláfe ond þone aénne heht

inherited relics, and the one man decreed

golde forgyldan þone ðe Grendel aér

to requite in gold whom Grendel first

máne ácwealde swá hé hyra má wolde

in wickedness quelled, as he would have more of them

nefne him wítig god wyrd forstóde

1056

except for them wise God that fate had prevented,

ond ðæs mannes mód. Metod eallum wéold

and this man's courage. The Measure of Fate controlled all

gumena cynnes, swá hé nú gít déëð·

for mankind, as he now still does;

forþan bið andgit aéghwaér sélest

therefore understanding is best everywhere,

ferhðes foreþanc· fela sceal gebídan

the forethought of mind; he must abide much

léofes ond láþes sé þe longe hér

1061

love and much hate he who long here

on ðyssum windagum worolde brúceð.

in these days of strife would enjoy the world.

Þaér wæs sang ond swég samod ætgædere

There was song and sound at the same time all together

fore Healfdenes hildewísan,

before Half-Dane's battle-plotter,

gomenwudu gréted, gid oft wrecen

the glee-wood plucked, a lay often recited

ðonne healgamen Hróþgáres scop

1066

when a hall-performance Hrothgar's bard

**1066-1162**

æfter medobence maénan scolde:

before the mead-bench was obliged to utter:

Finnes eaferum ðá híe se faér begeat

concerning Finn's heirs, with whom, when disaster struck them,

hæleð Healfdena· Hnæf Scyldinga

the hero of Half-Danes, Hnaef the Scylding,

in Fréswæle feallan scolde.

on the Frisian battle-field was fated to fall.

Né húru Hildeburh herian þorfte

1071

Truly, Hildeburh did not have need to praise

eotena tréowe· unsynnum wearð

the good faith of the Eotens; she was guiltless,

beloren léofum æt þám hildplegan

bereft of her dear ones: --in the war-play--

bearnum ond bróðrum· híe on gebyrd hruron

her son and brother; they fell, in accorance with Fate,

gáre wunde· þæt wæs geómuru ides.

wounded by spear; that was a mournful woman.

Nalles hólinga Hóces dohtor

1076

Not without reason did Hoc's daughter

meotodsceaft bemearn syþðan morgen cóm

grieve over Fate's decree, when the morning came,

ðá héo under swegle geséon meahte

then she under the sky could see

morþorbealo mága þaér hé aér maéste héold

the baleful slaughter of kinsmen, where before he had held the most

worolde wynne· wíg ealle fornam

joy in the world, war took all

Finnes þegnas nemne féaum ánum

1081

of Finn's thanes, except a few alone,

þæt hé ne mehte on þaém meðelstede

so that he could not in that meeting-place

wíg Hengeste wiht gefeohtan

the clash with Hengest conclude at all,

né þá wéaláfe wíge forþringan

nor the woeful remnant by battle dislodge from their position,

þéodnes ðegne ac hig him geþingo budon:

the prince's thane, so they offered them settlement:

þæt híe him óðer flet eal gerýmdon

1086

that they for them the other dwelling would completely clear,

healle ond héahsetl þæt híe healfre geweald

hall and high seat, that they would half of it control

wið eotena bearn ágan móston

with the Eotens' sons might have,

ond æt feohgyftum Folcwaldan sunu

and at the giving of treasure Folcwalden's son

dógra gehwylce Dene weorþode·

each day the Danes would honour,

Hengestes héap hringum wenede

1091

Hengest's company would revere with rings,

efne swá swíðe sincgestréonum

with even as much precious possesions

faéttan goldes swá hé Frésena cyn

of ornate gold exactly as he the Frisian kind

on béorsele byldan wolde.

in the beer-hall would wish to embolden.

Ðá híe getruwedon on twá healfa

Then they pledged on both sides

fæste frioðuwaére· Fin Hengeste

1096

firm compact of peace; Finn to Hengest

elne unflitme áðum benemde

with incontestable earnestness proclaimed an oath

þæt hé þá wéaláfe weotena dóme

that he the woeful remnant, by sages' judgement,

árum héolde þæt ðaér aénig mon

would hold in honour, that there any man

wordum né worcum waére ne braéce

by word nor by deed would not break the treaty,

né þurh inwitsearo aéfre gemaénden

1101

nor in malicious artifice ever complain,

ðéah híe hira béaggyfan banan folgedon

though they their ring-giver's killer followed,

ðéodenléase, þá him swá geþearfod wæs·

leaderless, and were thus forced by necessity;

gyf þonne Frýsna hwylc frécnen spraéce

if then any Frisian by audacious speech

ðæs morþorhétes myndgiend waére

the murderous feud were to remind (them),

þonne hit sweordes ecg syððan scolde.

1106

then it by sword's edge must be thereafter.

Ád wæs geæfned ond incge gold

The funeral fire was prepared, and Ingui's gold

áhæfen of horde· Here-Scyldinga

raised from the hoard; the War-Scyldings'

betst beadorinca wæs on baél gearu·

best battle-man was ready on the bier;

æt þaém áde wæs éþgesýne

at the funeral-pyre was easily seen

swátfáh syrce swýn ealgylden

1111

the blood-stained mail-shirt, the swine all-golden,

eofer írenheard æþeling manig

the boar hard as iron, the prince had many

wundum áwyrded· sume on wæle crungon·

destroyed by wounds; great men had fallen in slaughter;

hét ðá Hildeburh æt Hnæfes áde

then Hildeburh ordered at Hnaef's pier

hire selfre sunu sweoloðe befæstan,

her own son committed to the fire,

bánfatu bærnan ond on baél dóön

1116

the body-vessel burned, and put on the bier,

earme on eaxle· ides gnornode·

the wretched woman at his shoulder, the lady lamented,

geómrode giddum· gúðrinc ástáh·

sorrowed with songs; the warrior was laid out,

wand tó wolcnum wælfýra maést

spiralled into the clouds the greatest fire of the slain

hlynode for hláwe· hafelan multon·

roared before the mound; heads melted,

bengeato burston ðonne blód ætspranc,

1121

the wound-gates burst open, then blood sprang out,

láðbite líces· líg ealle forswealg,

from the hate-bites of the body; the blaze swallowed all up,

gaésta gífrost, þára ðe þaér gúð fornam

--the greediest guest-- those who there were taken by battle

béga folces· wæs hira blaéd scacen.

from both peoples; their vigour was dispersed.