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Beowulf XXVII
CAME now to
ocean the ever-
courageous
hardy
henchmen, their harness bearing,
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woven war-sarks. The warden marked,
trusty as ever, the earl's return.
From the height of the hill no
hostile words
reached the guests as he rode to
greet them;
but "Welcome!" he called to that
Weder clan
as the sheen-mailed spoilers to ship marched on.
Then on the strand, with steeds and treasure
and
armor their roomy and ring-dight ship
was
heavily laden: high its mast
rose over
Hrothgar's
hoarded gems.
A sword to the boat-guard
Beowulf gave,
mounted with gold; on the mead-bench since
he was better esteemed, that blade possessing,
heirloom old. -- Their
ocean-
keel boarding,
they drove through the deep, and
Daneland left.
A
sea-
cloth was set, a sail with ropes,
firm to the mast; the flood-timbers moaned; (1)
nor did wind over billows that wave-swimmer blow
across from her course. The craft sped on,
foam-
necked it floated forth o'er the waves,
keel firm-bound over briny currents,
till they got them sight of the
Geatish cliffs,
home-known headlands. High the boat,
stirred by winds, on the strand
updrove.
Helpful at haven the
harbor-
guard stood,
who long already for loved companions
by the water had waited and watched afar.
He bound to the beach the
broad-
bosomed ship
with anchor-bands, lest ocean-billows
that trusty timber should tear away.
Then
Beowulf bade them bear the treasure,
gold and
jewels; no journey far
was it thence to go to the giver of rings,
Hygelac Hrethling: at home he dwelt
by the sea-wall close, himself and clan.
Haughty that house, a hero the king,
high the hall, and Hygd (2) right young,
wise and wary, though winters few
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in those fortress walls she had found a home,
Haereth's daughter. Nor humble her ways,
nor grudged she gifts to the
Geatish men,
of precious treasure. Not
Thryth's pride showed she,
folk-queen famed, or that fell deceit.
Was none so daring that durst make bold
(save her
lord alone) of the
liegemen dear
that lady full in the face to look,
but forged fetters he found his lot,
bonds of death! And brief the respite;
soon as they seized him, his sword-doom was spoken,
and the burnished blade a baleful murder
proclaimed and closed. No
queenly way
for woman to practise, though peerless she,
that the
weaver-of-
peace (3) from
warrior dear
by
wrath and lying his life should reave!
But
Hemming's kinsman hindered this. --
For over their ale men also told
that of these folk-horrors fewer she wrought,
onslaughts of evil, after she went,
gold-decked bride, to the
brave young
prince,
atheling haughty, and Offa's hall
o'er the fallow flood at her father's bidding
safely sought, where since she prospered,
royal, throned, rich in goods,
fain of the fair life fate had sent her,
and leal in love to the lord of warriors.
He, of all heroes I heard of ever
from sea to sea, of the sons of earth,
most excellent seemed.
Hence Offa was praised
for his fighting and feeing by far-off men,
the spear-bold warrior; wisely he ruled
over his empire.
Eomer woke to him,
help of heroes,
Hemming's
kinsman,
Grandson of
Garmund, grim in war.
(1) With the speed of the boat.
(2)
Queen to
Hygelac. She is praised by contrast with the
antitype,
Thryth, just as
Beowulf was praised by contrast with
Heremod.
(3)
Kenning for "
wife."
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