Beowulf - Chapter 02

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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 Gomere. Section two stone bright the street.

(00:25):
It showed the way to the crowd of clansmen, corselets glistened,
hand forged hard on their harness bright. The steel ring
sang as they strode along in mail of battle, and
marched to the hall there, weary of ocean the wall along.
They set their bucklers, their broad shields down, and bowed

(00:46):
them to bench. The breastplates clanged war gear of men,
their weapons stacked, spears of the seafarers stood together, gray
tipped that iron band was worthily weapon. A warrior proud
asked of the heroes their home and kin. Whence now
bear ye burnished shields, harness, gray and helmet's grim spears

(01:11):
in multitude, Messenger I Hrothgar's herald heroes, So many ne'er
met I as strangers of mood, so strong tis plain
for that prowess not plunged into exile for high hearted valor, Hrothgar,
Ye seek him. The sturdy in war bespake with words,

(01:32):
proud earl of the Wedd'er's answer, maid Hardy neath helmet,
heiglachs wee fellows at board. I am Beowulf named. I
am seeking to say to the son of half Dane,
this mission of mine to thy master lord, the doughty Prince,
if he deign at all grace, that we greet him

(01:53):
the good one. Now, Wolfgar spake the Wendell's chieftain, whose
might of mine to many was known his courage and counsel,
the King of Danes, the Skilding's friend. I fain will
tell the breaker of rings as the boon thou askest
the famed Prince of thy faring hither and swiftly after

(02:15):
such answer, bring as the doughty monarch may deign to
give hide. Then in haste to where Hrothgar sat, white haired,
and old his earls about him, till the stout fine
stood at the shoulder there of the Danish king good courtier.
He Wulfgar spake to his winsome lord, hither have fared

(02:38):
to thee far come men o'er the paths of ocean,
people of Geatland, and the stateliest there by his sturdy
band is Beowulf, named this boon. They seek that they
my master may with thee have speech at will, nor
spurn their prayer to give them hearing. Gracious Wrothgar in

(02:58):
weeds of the warrior were the They methinks of our
liking their leader most surely a hero, that hither his
henchman has led. Hrosgar answered, helmet of Skildings. I knew
him of yore in his youthful days. His aged father
was ec Thou, named to whom, at home gave Hrethel

(03:21):
the Geat, his only daughter their offspring Bold fares hither
to seek the steadfast friend. And seamen too have sed
me this who carried my gifts to the Geatish court.
Thither for thanks he has thirty men's heft of grasp
in the grip of his hand. The Bold in battle
blessed God out of his mercy. This man hath sent

(03:44):
to Danes of the west, as I ween, indeed, against
horror of Grendel, I hope to give the good youth
gold for his gallant thought. Be Thou in haste, and
bid them hither clan of kinsmen, to come before me
and add this word. They are welcome guests to folk
of the Danes. To the door of the hall, Wulfgar went,

(04:08):
and the word declared to you this message my master
sends East Danes, king that your kin he knows hardy heroes,
and hails you all. Welcome hither o'er waves of the sea.
Ye may wend your way in war attire and under
helmets Hrothgar greet. But let here the battle shields bide

(04:29):
your parley, and wooden war shafts wait its end. Up
rose the mighty one ringed with his men, brave band
of Thanes. Some bode without battle gear guarding, as bade
the chief. Then hide that troop where the herald led
them under Herod's roof. The hero strode hardy neaf helm

(04:52):
till the hearth he near'd Beowulf spake his breastplate, gleamed
war net woven by wit of the smith. Thou Hrothgar,
Hail haglax I kinsman and follower fame O plenty have
I gained in youth these grendel deeds I heard in
my homeland. Heralded clear sea farer, say, how stands this

(05:15):
hall of buildings best for your band of Thanes empty
and idle when evening sun in the harbor of heaven
is hidden away. So my vassals advised me, well, brave
and wise, the best of men, O Sovereign Hrothgar, to
seek thee here for my nerve and my might. They
knew full well themselves had seen me from slaughter, come,

(05:40):
blood flecked from foes where five I bound, and that
wild brew worsted I the waves. I slew nikors by night,
in need and peril, avenging the waiters whose woe they sought,
crushing the grim ones grendel. Now, monster cruel be mine
to quell in single battle. So from thee thou, Sovereign

(06:03):
of the Shining Danes, Skilding's bulwark a boon I seek,
and friend of the folk, refuse it, not O warrior's shield.
Now I've wandered far that I alone with my liegemen
here this hardy band may herot purge. More. I hear
that the monster dire in his wanton mood of weapons recks.

(06:26):
Not hence shall I scorn, So hide luck stay, king
of my kindred kind to me brand or buckler to
bear in the fight, gold colored targe, But with grip alone.
Must I front the fiend and fight for life foe
against foe, then faith be his in the doom of
the lord whom death shall take. Fain I ween if

(06:49):
the fight he win in this hall of gold my
geatish band, will he fearless eat as oft before my
noblest Thanes. Nor needst thee then to hide my head
for his? Shall I be died in gore? If death
must take me and my blood covered body, he'll bear
as prey, ruthless, devour it the roamer lonely with my

(07:13):
life blood redden his lair in the fen. No further
for me needs food. Prepare to Hageloch's end. If hild
should take me best of war weeds, warding my breast
armor excellent heirloom of Hrethel and work of wheland Fair's
weird as she must Hrothgar spake the Skilding's helmet for fight.

(07:39):
Defensive friend, my Beowulf, to succor and save thou hast
sought us here thy father's combat. A feud enkindled when
Haathelof with hand he slew among the wilfings his waider
kin for horror of fighting, feared to hold him fleeing.
He sought our south Dane folk over surge of ocean,

(08:00):
the honor skildings. When first I was ruling, the folk
of Danes wielded youthful, this wide spread realm, this hoard
hold of heroes. Hey Oigar was dead. My elder brother
had breathed his last half danes Bairn. He was better
than I. Straightway the feud with Fee I settled to

(08:22):
the wilfing scent o'er watery ridges, treasures olden oath. He
swore me, sore is my soul to say to any
of the race of man, what ruth for me? And
Harot Grendel, with hate hath wrought what sudden harryings. Hal
folk fail me, my warriors wane, for weird hath swept

(08:43):
them into Grendel's grasp. But God is able this deadly
foe from his deeds to turn boasted full oft as
my beer. They drank earls o'er the ale cup, armed
men that they would bide in the beer hall. Here
Grendel's attack with terror of blae. Then was this mead
house At morning tide died with Gore. When the daylight broke,

(09:06):
all the boards of the benches, blood besprinkled gory. The
hall I had heroes, the less doughty, dear ones that
death had reft. But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words,
hardy hero as heart shall prompt. Thee gathered together the
gheetish men in the banquet hall on bench assigned, sturdy, spirited,

(09:28):
sat them down, hardy hearted. A henchman attended, carried the
carven cup in hand, served the clear mead oft minstrel
sang blithe in herod heroes reveled, no dearth of warriors,
waiter and dane. Unfairth spake the son of Ecglaff, who

(09:48):
sat at the feet of the Skilding's lord, unbound. The
battle rounds Beowulf's quest sturdy seafarers sorely galled him. Ever,
he envied that other men should more achieve in Middle
Earth of fame under heaven than he himself. Art thou
that Beowulf, Breca's rival, who Emulus swam on the open sea,

(10:11):
when for pride the pair of you prov'd the floods,
and wantonly dared in waters deep to risk your lives.
No living man, or leaf or loath from your labor
dire could you dissuade from swimming the main ocean tides
with your arms? Ye cover'd with strenuous hands the sea
streets measured swam o'er the waters. Winter's storm roll'd the

(10:34):
rough waves in realm of sea a senite strove. Ye
in swimming he topp'd thee had more of Maine him.
At morning tide, Billow's bore to the battling ramas. Whence
he hied to his home, So dear beloved of his liegemen,
to land of Brondings, fastness fair, where his folk he
ruled town and treasure. In triumph o'er thee Bayanstan's bairn,

(10:59):
his boast achieved, so Ween, I for thee a worse adventure.
Though in buffet of battle, Thou brave hast been in
struggle grim if Grendel's approach, Thou darest wait through the
watch of night. Berewolf spake, bairn of Eck. Thou what
a deal hast uttered, dear my unferth drunken with beer

(11:22):
of brecon, now told of his triumph. Truth, I claim
it that I had more of might in the sea
than any man else more ocean endurance we Twain had
talked in time of youth and made our boast. We
were merely boys, stripling still to stake our lives far
at sea, and so we performed it. Naked swords as

(11:43):
we swam along, we held in hand with hope to
guard us against the whales. Not a whit from me
could he float afar o'er the flood of waves, haste
o'er the billows, nor him I abandoned. Together we twain
on the tide's abode five nights full till the flood
divided us, churning waves and chillest weather, darkling night, and

(12:06):
the northern wind, ruthless, rushed on us. Rough was the
surge now the wrath of the sea. Fish rose apace
yet me against the monsters. My mailed coat, hard and
hand linked help afforded battle. Sark braided my breast to ward,
garnished with gold, there grasped me firm and hailed me

(12:27):
to bottom the hated foe with grimmest grip. Twas granted
me though to pierce the monster with point of sword,
with blade of battle. Huge beast of the sea was
whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine me. Thus
often the evil monsters thronging threatened with thrust of my

(12:47):
sword the darling I dealt them due return. Nowise had
they bliss from their booty than to devour their victim.
Vengeful creatures seated to banquet at bottom of sea, But
at break of day my brand sore hurt on the
edge of ocean. Up they lay, put to sleep by
the sword, and since by them on the fathomless sea ways,

(13:11):
sailor folk are never molested. Light from east came bright
God's beacon. The billows sank so that I saw the
sea cliff's high, windy walls for weird oft saveth earl
undoomed if he doughty be, And so it came that
I kill'd with my sword. Nine of the nikors of
night fought battles. Ne'er heard I a harder neath Heaven's dome,

(13:34):
nor adrift on the deep a more desolate man. Yet
I came unharmed from that hostile clutch, though spent with
swimming the sea up bore me flood of the tide
on Finnish land the welling waters. No wise of thee
have I heard men tell such terror of falcians. Bitter
battle Breca ne'er. Yet not one of you pair in

(13:57):
the play of war such daring deed has done at
all with bloody brand. I boast not of it, though
thou wast the bane of thy brethren, Dear, thy closest kin.
Whence curse of hell awaits thee well as thy wit
may serve. For I say in sooth thou, son of Ecglaf,
never had Grendel these grim deeds wrought monster dire on

(14:21):
thy master, dear in Harot, such havoc if heart of
thine were as battle bold as thy boast is loud.
But he has found no feud will happen from sword clash,
dread of your Danish clan. He vaunts him safe from
the victor skildings, he forces, pledges, favors none of the
land of Danes, but lustily murders fights and feasts, nor

(14:44):
feud he dreads from speared ane men. But speedily now
shall I prove him the prowess and pride of the Geats,
shall bid him battle blithe to mead go he that listeth.
When light of dawn this morrow morning, o'er men of earth,
ether robed sun from the south shall beam joyous then

(15:06):
was the jewel giver, hoar haired war brave help awaited
the bright Danes Prince from Beowulf, hearing folk's good shepherd.
Such firm resolve, then was laughter of Liegemen. Loud, resounding
with winsome words, came wealthau Forth, Queen of Hrothgar, heedful

(15:26):
of courtesy, gold decked, greeting the guests in hall, and
the high born lady handed the cup first to the
East Danes Heir and warden bade him be blithe at
the beer carouse the land's beloved one lustily took he
banquet and beaker battle famed king through the hall. Then

(15:47):
went the Helmings Lady, too, younger and older, everywhere carried
the cup till come the moment when the ring graced
Queen the royal hearted to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead.
She greeted the Geat's Lord God. She thanked in Wisdom's
words that her will was granted, that at last on
a hero her hope could lean for comfort and terrors.

(16:10):
The cup he took hardy in war from whale Thow's hand,
and answer uttered the eager for combat. Berewulf spake, Baron
of eck thou. This was my thought, when my fanes
and I bent to the ocean and entered our boat,
that I would work the will of your people fully,
or fighting fall in death in fiend's grip fast, I

(16:33):
am firm to do an earl's brave deed, or end
the days of this life of mine. In the mead
hall here well these words to the woman seemed Beowulf's
battle boast bright with gold. The stately dame by her spouse,
sat down again as erst began in hall, warriors wassail
and words of power the proud band's revel till presently

(16:57):
the son of half Dane hastened to seek rest for
the night. He knew there waited fight for the fiend
in that festal hall. When the sheen of the sun
they saw no more, and dusk of night sank, darkling nigh,
and shadowy shapes came striding on Wan under welkin. The
warriors rose man to man. He made harangue hrothgar to Beowulf,

(17:22):
bade him hail, let him wield the wine hall. A
word he added, never to any man erst I trusted,
since I could heave up hand and shield this noble
Dane Hall till now to THEE have now and hold
this house unpeered. Remember thy glory, thy might declare, watch

(17:42):
for the foe. No wish shall fail THEE if thou
bidest the battle with bold won life. End of section
two read by Krish Allenberg w w W dot Kray
dot org on July twenty seventh to thousand and six
in Oceanside, California,