Beowulf - Chapter 01

None

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. This reading by Kara Shallenberg Beowulf,
translated by Francis Barton Gomare. Section one lo praise of

(00:26):
the prowess of people, kings of spear armed Danes. In
days long sped we have heard, and what honor the
athelings won oft skilled, the skeeffing from squadroned foes from
many a tribe, the mead bench tour owing the earls.
Since Erst he lay friendless, a foundling, Fate repaid him,

(00:50):
for he waxed under welkin in wealth he throve till
before him the folk both far and near, who house
by the whale path heard his mandate him gifts a
good king he to him, and heir was afterward born
a son in his halls, whom Heaven sent to favor
the folk, feeling their woe that Erst they had lacked

(01:13):
an earl for leader so long a while, the Lord
endowed him with wielder of wonder, with world's renown. Famed
was this Beowulf far flew the boast of him, son
of skilled in the Scandian lands. So becomes it a
youth to quit him well with his father's friends by

(01:35):
fee and gift, that to aid him aged in after
days come warriors willing should war draw nigh liege men
loyal by lauded deeds, Shall an earl have honor in
every clan. Forth he fared at the fated moment, sturdy,
skilled to the shelter of God. Then they bore him

(01:56):
over the ocean's billow loving clansmen. As late he charged them,
while wielded words, the winsome skill'd the leader beloved, who
long had ruled in the roadstead rocked a ring dight
vessel ice flecked outbound etheling's barge. There laid they down
their darling lord on the breast of the boat, the

(02:17):
breaker of rings by the mast. The mighty one, many
a treasure fetched from far, was freighted with him. No
ship have I known so nobly dight, with weapons of
war and weeds of battle, with breast plate and blade
on his bosom, lay a heaped hoard, that hence should
go far o'er the flood with him floating away. No

(02:41):
less these loaded the lordly gifts Thanes huge treasure than
those had done who in former time forth had sent
him soul on the seas, a suckling child high o'er
his head. They hoist the standard a gold wove banner,
Let billows take him, gave him to ocean grave. Were

(03:03):
their spirits mournful their mood No man is able to
say in sooth, no son of the halls, no hero
neath heaven, who harbored that freight. Now Beowulf bode in
the burg of the Skildings, leader beloved and long. He
ruled in fame with all folk, since his father had

(03:25):
gone away from the world, till awoke an heir, haughty
health dane, who held through life sage and sturdy the
Skildings glad. Then one after one there woke to him
to the chieftain of clansmen children four hey o Agar,
then Hrothgar, then Halga brave, And I heard that Blank

(03:48):
was Blank's queen. The hartho Skilfings help mate, dear to
Rothsgar was given such glory of war, such honor of combat,
that all his kin o made him gladly. Till great
grew his band of youthful comrades. It came in his
mind to bid his henchmen a hall uprear, a master

(04:09):
mead house, mightier far than ever was seen by the
sons of earth, And within it then to old and young,
he would all a loot that the Lord had sent him,
save only the land and the lives of his men. Wide,
I heard was the work commanded for many a tribe
this mid earth, round to fashion the folkstead. It fell

(04:31):
as he ordered, in rapid achievement. That ready it stood
there of halls, the noblest herot he named it, whose
message had might in many a land, not reckless of promise,
the rings he dealt treasure at banquet. There towered the
hall high, gabled wide, the hot surge waiting of furious flame.

(04:55):
Nor far was that day when father and son in
law stood in feud for warfare and hatred. That woke
again with envy and anger. An evil spirit endured the
dole in his dark abode, that he heard each day
the din of revel. High in the hall. There harps
rang out clear song of the singer he sang, who

(05:17):
knew tales of the early time of man, how the
Almighty made the earth fairest fields enfolded by water, set
triumphant sun and moon for a light to lighten the
land dwellers, and braided bright the breast of earth with
limbs and leaves, made life for all of mortal beings
that breathe and move. So lived the clansmen in cheer

(05:40):
and revel, a winsome life till one began to fashion
evils that field of hell Grendell. This monster grim was
called march Reaver, mighty in Moorland, living in fen and fastness,
fief of the giants, the hapless white a while had
kept since the Creator his exile doomed on kin of

(06:04):
Cain was the killing avenged by sovereign God for slaughtered
able ill fared his feud, and far was he driven
for the slaughter's sake. From sight of men of Cain
awoke all that woeful breed etins and elves and evil spirits,
as well as the giants that warred with God. Weary
while but their wage was paid them, went he forth

(06:29):
to find at fall of night that haughty house and heed,
wherever the ring Danes out reveled to rest had gone.
Found within it the atheling band asleep, after feasting and
fearless of sorrow, of human hardship, unhallowed, white, grim and greedy,
he grasped betimes, wrathful, reckless, from resting places, thrifty of

(06:53):
the Thanes. And thence he rushed fain of his fell, spoil,
faring homeward, laden with slaughter his lair to see seek. Then,
at the dawning, as day was breaking, the might of
Grendel to men was known. Then after wassail was wail,
uplifted loud moan in the morn, the mighty chief, affeling excellent, unblithe,

(07:16):
sat labored in woe for the loss of his Thanes.
When once had been traced the trail of the fiend
spirit accursed too cruel, that sorrow too long, too Loathsome
not late the respite, with night returning, a new began
ruthless murder. He wrecked no whit firm in his guilt

(07:37):
of the feud and crime. They were easy to find,
who elsewhere, sought in room remote their rest at night,
bed in the bowers. When that bale was shown, was
seen in sooth with shortest token the hall fane's hate.
Such held themselves far and fast, who the fiend out
ran Thus ruled unrighteous, and raged his fill one against all,

(08:01):
until empty stood that lordly building, And long it bodes
so twelve years tied the trouble he bore sovereign of skildings,
sorrows in plenty, boundless cares. There came unhidden tidings true
to the tribes of men, in sorrowful songs. How ceaselessly
Grendel harassed Hrothgar, What hate he bore him, what murder

(08:25):
and massacre? Many a year feud unfading, refused consent to
deal with any of Daneland's earls, make pact of peace,
or compound for gold. Still less did the wise men
ween to get great fee for the feud from his
fiendish hands. But the evil one ambushed ye old and young, death,

(08:47):
shadow dark, and dogged them, still blured or lurked in
the livelong night of misty. Morland's men may say not
where the haunts of these hell roons be. Such heaping
of horrors. The hater of men, lonely Roamer wrought unceasing harassings,
heavy er herot he lorded gold bright Hall in gloomy nights,

(09:10):
and ne'er could the prince approach his throne twas judgment
of God, or have joy in his hall. Sore was
the sorrow to Skilding's friend heartrending misery. Many nobles sat
assembled and searched out counsel. How it were best for
bold hearted men against harassing terror to try their hand

(09:32):
whilst they vowed in their heathen fanes alter offerings, asked
with words that the slayer of souls would succor give
them for the pain of their people their practice. This
their heathen hope. Twas hell they thought of in mood
of their mind. Almighty they knew, not doomsmen of deeds
and dreadful Lord, nor Heaven's helmet heeded they, ever, wielder

(09:56):
of wonder. Woe for that man who, in harm and
hatred hails his soul to fiery embraces, nor favor nor
change awaits he ever, but well for him, that after
death day may draw to his Lord and friendship find
in the Father's arms. Thus seethed unceasing, the son of
health Dane, with the woe of these days, not wisest

(10:19):
men assuaged his sorrow to soar the anguish, loathly and
long that lay on his folk, most baneful of burdens
and bales of the night. This heard in his home.
Hegelock's thane, great among geats of Grendel's doings. He was
the mightiest man of valor in that same day of
this our life. Stalwart and stately, a stout wave walker,

(10:42):
he bade make ready yon battle king, said he far
o'er the swan road. He fain would seek the noble monarch,
who needed men. The prince's journey, by prudent folk was
little blamed, though they loved him dear. They whetted the
hero and hailed good omens. And now the bold one
from bands of geats comrades chose the keenest of warriors

(11:05):
ere he could find. With fourteen men the sea wood
he sought and sailor proved led them on to the
land's confines. Time had now flown afloat was the ship
boat under bluff. On board they climbed warriors ready. Waves
were charning sea with sand. The sailors bore on the

(11:28):
breast of the bark their bright array, their mail and weapons.
The men pushed off on its willing way. The well
braced craft then moved o'er the waters by might of
the wind that bark like a bird with breast of foam,
till in season dew. On the second day the curved
prow such course had run that sailors now could see

(11:48):
the land, sea cliffs shining, steep high hills, headlands broad
Their haven was found. Their journey ended up. Then quickly
the waiters clansmen climbed ashore, anchored their sea wood with
armor clashing and gear of battle. God they thanked for
passing in peace o'er the paths of the sea. Now

(12:11):
saw from the cliff a skilding clansman, a warden that
watched the water side, how they bore o'er the gangway,
glittering shields war gear. In readiness, wonder seized him to
know what manner of men they were. Straight to the
strand his steed, he rode Hrothgar's henchmen with hand of might.
He shook his spear and spake in parley, who are ye, then,

(12:36):
ye armed men, mailed folk, that yon mighty vessel have
urged thus over the ocean ways here o'er the waters.
A warden eye sentinel set o'er the sea march here
lest any foe to the folk of Danes. With harrying
fleet should harm the land. No aliens ever at ease.
Thus bore them linden wielders. Yet word of leave. Clearly

(12:59):
ye lack from clansmen. Here my folk's agreement. A greater
ne'er saw i of warriors in world than is one
of you, Yon hero in harness, no henchmen he worthied
by weapons. If witness his features, his peerless presence. I
pray you, though, tell your folk and home lest hands,
Ye fair suspect to wander your way as spies in

(13:22):
Danish land now dwellers Afar ocean travelers take from me
simple advice. The sooner the better I hear of the country.
Whence he came to him, the stateliest spake in answer,
the warrior's leader his word Horde unlocked. We are by

(13:42):
kin of the clan of Geats, and Hagilac's own hearth
fellows we to folk Afar was my father known noble
atheling eck thou named full of winters. He fared away
aged from earth. He is honored still through width of
the world. By why men all to thy lord and

(14:03):
liege in loyal mood. We hasten hither to half Dane's
son people protector, be pleased to advise us to that
mighty one. Come we on, Michael errand to the Lord
of the Danes, Nor dee my right that ought be hidden.
We hear thou knowest if sooth it is the saying
of men that amid the Skildings. A scathing monster, dark

(14:25):
ill doer in dusky knights shows terrific his rage, unmatched
hatred and murder to Hrothgar, I, in greatness of soul,
would succor bring so the wise and brave may worst
his foes. If ever the end of ills is fated
of cruel contest, if cure shall follow and the boiling
care waves cooler grow, else ever, afterward anguish days, he

(14:50):
shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place high on
its hill that house unpeered astride his steed, the strand
ward andnswered clansmen, unquailing. The keen souled thane must be
skilled to sever and sunder duly words and works. If
he well intends, I gather this band is graciously bent

(15:12):
to the Skilding's master. March then, bearing weapons and weeds
the way I show you, I will bid my men
your boat. Meanwhile, to guard for fear lest foemen come
your new tarred ship by shore of ocean, faithfully watching,
till once again it waft o'er the waters. These well
loved fanes, winding necked wood to waiders bounds heroes such

(15:37):
as the hest of fate shall succor and save from
the shock of war. They bent them to march. The
boat lay still fettered by cable and fast at anchor.
Broad bosomed ship then shown the bores over the cheek
guard chased with gold, keen and gleaming guard. It kept

(15:57):
o'er the man of war. As marched along heroes in
haste till the hall. They saw broad of gable and
bright with gold. That was the fairest mid folk of Earth,
of houses neath heaven where Hrothgar lived, and the gleam
of it lightened o'er lands Afar. The sturdy shieldsman showed
that bright burg of the boldest bade them go straightway hither.

(16:21):
His steed then turned hardy hero and hailed them. Thus
tis time that I fare from you, Father, Almighty and
grace and mercy, guard you well safe in your seekings
seaward I go gainst hostile warriors hold my watch. End

(16:41):
of section one, read by Kara Shallenberg w w W
dot k Ray dot org on September twenty fifth, two
thousand six, in Oceanside, California,