Beowulf - Chapter 04

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
public domain. For more information. To find out how you
can volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Berewulf translated by
Francis Barton Gummere, Section four. There was hurry and hest
in hurraut, now for hands to bedeck it and dense

(00:23):
was the throng of men and women, the wine haul
to cleanse the guest room, to garnish gold, gaze on
the hangings that were wove on the wall, and wonders many,
to delight each mortal the looks upon them. Though braced
within by iron bands, that building bright was broken, sorely
rent were its hinges, the roof alone held safe and

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sound when seared with crime, the fiendish foe, his flight
essayed of life, despairing no light thing that the flight
for safety, say it, who will force of fate? He
shall find his way to the refuge, ready for race
of man, for soul, possessors and sons of earth. And

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there his body, on bed of death shall rest. After
revel arrived was the hour when to hall proceeded. Half
Dean's son, the king himself would sit to banquet, ne'er
heard eye of host in haughtier Throng more graciously gathered round,
giver of rings, bowed then to bench those bearers of

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glory fain of the feasting, fatally received many a mead
cup the mighty in spirit kinsman who sat in the
sumptuous hall Trothgar and Hrothulf Herrath now was filled with
friends the folk of Skildings. Ne'er yet had tried the
traitor's deed to Beowulf gave the bane of half Dean,

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a gold wove banner, gerdon of triumph, broidered battle flag,
breastplate and helmet, and a splendid sword was seen of
many born to the brave one Berewulf took cup in
hall for such costly gifts. He suffered no shame in
that soldier Throng, for I heard a few heroes in

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heartier mood, with four such gifts so fashioned with gold
on the ale bench honoring others. Thus or the roof
of the helmet high, a ridge wound with wires kept
ward o'er the head, lest the relict of files should
fierce invaded sharp in the strife, when that shielded hero

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should go to grapple against his foes. Then the earl's
defense on the floor bade lead coursers eight with carven
head gear adown the hall. One horse was decked with
a saddle all shining and set in jewels, twas the
battle seat of the best of kings. When to play

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of swords, the son of half Dean was fain to fare,
near failed his valor in the crush of combat, when
corpses fell to Berewulf over them. Both then gave the
refuge of Ingwine's right and power o'er war, steeds and weapons,
wished him joy of them manfully. Thus the mighty Prince

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hoard guard for heroes that hard fight, repaid with steeds
and treasures contemned by none who is willing to say
the sooth aright. And the Lord of earls to each
that came with Berewulf over the briny ways an heirloom
there at the ell bench gave precious gift, and the

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price bade pay in gold for him whom grendel Est murdered,
and fain of them more had killed, had not wisest
God their word averted, and the man's brave mood. The
maker then ruled human kind as here and now. Therefore
is in sight always best and forethought of mind, how

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much awaits him of leaf and of loath, who long
time here through days of warfare, this world endures. Then
song and music, mingled sounds, and the presence of half
Dean's head of armies, and harping was heard with the
hero lay as throftghast singer the hall Joy woke along

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the mead seats, making his song of that sudden raid
on the sons of Finn, half Dean's hero. Naf the
Skilding was fated to fall in the Frizzyan slaughter. Hilbert
needed not hold in value her enemy's honor. Innocent both
were the loved one she lost at the Linden Play.
Bairn and brother they bowed to fate, stricken by spears

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twas a sorrowful woman. None doubted why the daughter of
Hoc bewail'd her doom. When dawning came and under the
sky she saw them lying kinsmen murdered where most she
had kend of the sweets of the world by war
were swept. Two Finn's own liegemen, and few were left
in the parleying place he could ply no longer weapon

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nor war. Could he wage on Hengest and rescue his
remnants by right of arms from the princess than a
pact he offered another dwelling, The Danes should have hall
and high seat, and half the power should fall to
them in Frisian land, and at the fee gifts Folkwald's
sun day by day, the Danes should honor the folk

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of Hengest favor with rings, even as truly with treasure
and jewels, with fretted gold, as his Frisian kin he
meant to honor in Ale Hall. There pacts of peace
they plighted further on both sides, firmly Finn to Hengest
with oath upon honor, openly promised that woeful remnant with

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wise men's aid, nobly to govern. So none of the guests,
by word or work should warp the treaty, or with
malice of mind, bemoan themselves as forced to follow their
fee giver's slayer laudless men as their lot ordain'd should
Frisian moreover, with Foemen's taunt, that murderous hatred to mind recall,

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then edge of the sword must seal his doom. Oaths
were given and ancient gold heap'd from Hord. The hardy
skill'ding battle fane best on his bail fire, lay all
on the bire, were plain to see the gory sark,
the gilder'd swine crest boar of hard iron, and Atheling's

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many slain by the sword. At the slaughter they fell.
It was hild Berth's hest at Neft's own pyre, the
burn of her body on brands to lay his bones
to burn on the bail fire placed at his uncle's side,
and sorrowful dirgers bewept them. The woman great wailing ascended,

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then wound up to Bulkan. The wildest of death fires
roared o'er the hillock heads all were melted, gashes burst,
and blood gush'd out from bites of the body. Bale
fire devoured greediest spirit, though spared not by war, out

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of either folk. Their flower was gone. Then hasten'd those
heroes their home to see, friendless to find the Frisian
land houses and high burg hangeth still through the death
dyed winter dwelt with Finn holding pact. Yet of home

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he minded, though powerless, his ring decked prow to drive
o'er the waters now waves roll'd fierce lash'd by the
winds or winter long them in icy fetters, then fared
another year to mene dwellings. As yet they do the
sun bright skies that their season ever duly await far off.

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Winter was driv'n fair lay Earth's breast, and Fain was
the rover the guest to depart, though more gladly he
ponder'd on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep, and
how to hasten the hot encounter where sons of the
Frisians were sure to be so we escap'd not the

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common doom. When hung with laughing the light of battle,
best of blades, his bosom piasts, its edge was fam'd
with the Frisian earls on fierce heart. Thinn there fell
likewise on himself at home. The horrid saw death for
Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack had sorrowing told from

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seaways land'd mourning their woes. Finn's wavering spirit bode not imprest.
The burg was reddened with blood of foemen, and Finn
was slain king amid clansmen. The queen was taken to
their ship. The Skilding warriors bore all the chattels. The

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chieftain owned whatever they found in Finn's domain of gems
and jewels. The gentle wife o'er paths of the deep
to the Danes, they bore led to her land. The
lay was finish'd the Gleamin's song. Then glad rose the
revel bench boy brighten'd bearers draw from their wonder bats

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wine comes weel thow forth under gold crown goes where
the good pair sit Uncle and nephew, two each to
the other, one kindred in amity unfirth. The spokesman at
the Skilding Lord's feet sat men had faith in his
spirit weeness of courage, though kinsmen had found him unsure.

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At the sword play, the Skilding Queen spoke, quoth of
this cup, my king and lord, breaker of rings, and
blithe be thou gold friend of men to the geats.
Here speak such words of mildness as men should use.
Be glad with thy geats of those gifts, be mindful

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or near or far which now thou hast. Men say
to me, a son, thou wishest yon hero to hold
thy haraths perjured jewel hall, brightest enjoy thou canst with
many a largis, and leave to thy kin folk and realm.
When forth thou goest to greet thy doom for gracious,

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I deem my Wrothulf, willing to hold and rule nobly
our youths. If thou yield up first prince of skildings,
thy part in the world, I ween with good, he
will well requite offspring of hours, when all he minds
that for him we did in his helpless days of
gift and grace to gain him honor. Then she turned

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to the seat where her sons were placed, Thretrick and Rothmund,
with heroes, bairds, young men. Together the Geat too sat
there Berewulf brave the brothers. Between a cup she gave
him with kindly greeting and winsome words of wound and gold.
She offered to honor him armed jewels, twain, corselet and rings,

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and of collars. The noblest that ever I knew the
earth around ne'er heard I so mighty neath Heaven's dome
a hoard gem of heroes, since Hammer bore to his
bright built berg, the brisings, necklace, jewel and gem casket.
Jealousy fled he or Menroc's hate chose help eternal. He

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gallach Geat, grandson of Swerting, on the last of his raids.
This ring bore with him under his manner the booty
defending the war spoil warding. But word o'erwhelm'd him. What
time in his daring dangers he sought feud with Frisians.
Fairest of gems. He bore with him of the beaker

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of waves, sovereign, strong under shield, he died, fell the
corpse of the king into keeping of Franks, gear of
the breast, and that gorgeous ring. Weaker warriors won the
spoil after gripe of battle from Gekland's lord, and held
the death field. Din rose in hall buildthol, spake amid warriors,

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and said, this jewel enjoy in thy jockund youth, berewulf
lov'd these battle weeds, where a royal treasure and richly thrive,
preserve thy strength. And these striplings here counsel in kindness
requital be mine, has done such deeds that for days

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to come Thou art fam'd among folk both far and near,
so wide as washeth the wave of ocean, his windy
walls through the ways of life. Prosper o Prince, I
pray for the rich possessions to son of mine, be
helpful indeed, and uphold his joys. Here every earl to

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the other is true, mild of mood to the master.
Loyal thines are friendly, the throng obedient liegemen are reveling.
List and obey went then to her place that was
proudest of feasts, flow'd wine for the warriors. Word they
knew not destiny, dire, and the doom to be seen

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by many an earl when eve should come and throth
our homeward, hasten away royal to rest. The room was
guarded by an army of earls. As erste was done,
they bared the bench balls abroad, they spread beds and bolsters.
One beer, carousering danger of doom, lay down in the hall.

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At their heads they set their shields of war. Butler's
brights on the bench were there over each eighthling easy
to see the high battle helmet, the haughty spear, the
corselet of rings. Twas their customs, so ever to be
for battle, prepared at home or hurrying, which it were,
even as oft as evil threatened their sovereign king. They

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were clansmen good. Then sank they to sleep with sorrow
when bought his rest of the evening. As oft time
had happened when Grendel guarded that golden hall, evil wrought
till his end drew nigh slaughter for sins twas seen
and told how an avenger survived the fiend, as was

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learnt afar the livelong time after that grim fight, Grendel's mother,
monster of women, mourned her woe. She was doomed to
dwell in the dreary waters cold sea coursers. Since Cain
cut down with edge of the sword, his only brother,
his father's offspring, outlawed, he fled, marked with murder from

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men's delights, warded the wilds there woke from him. Such
fate sent ghosts as Grendel, who wore wolf horrid. At herot,
found a warrior watching and waiting the fray, with whom
the grisly one grappled a main. But the man remembered

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his mighty power, the glorious gift that God had sent
him in his maker's mercy, put his trust for comfort
and help. So he conquered the foe, felled the fiend,
who fled abject, reft of joy, to the realms of
death man kinds foe, and his mother, now gloomy and grin,
would go that quest of sorrow the death of her son,

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to avenge to her aught. Came she where Helmut had
Danes slept in the hall too soon came back old
ills of the earls, whenin she burst the mother of
Grendel less grim, though that terror e'n as terror of
woman in war is less might have made than of

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men in arms. When hammer forged the falcon heart sword
gore stained, though swine of the helm crested with keen
blade carves. A man then was in the hall, the
hard edge drawn, the swords on the settle, and shields
AMENI firm held in hand, nor helmet minded, nor harness

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of mail, whom that horror seized. Haste was hers. She
would hie far and save her life. When the liegeman
saw her, yet a single athling up, she seized fast
and firm, as she fled to the moor. He was
forthrothgar of heroes, the dearest of trusty vassals betwixt the seas,

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whom she killed on his couch. A clansman famous in
battle brave. Nor was Berewulf there another house had been
held apart after giving of gold for the Geat renowned
Uproar filled her roths. The hand all had view'd blood
fleck she bore with her bale was returned dole in

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the dwellings twas dire exchange, where Dane and Geat were
doomed to give the lives of loved ones. Long tried.
King the hoary hero at heart was sad when he
knew his noble no more lived and dead. Indeed was
his dearest thane to his bow was Berewolf, brought in

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haste dauntless victor. As daylight broke along with his earl's
the oathling Lord with his clownsmen came where the king abode,
waiting to see if the wielder of all would turn
this tale of trouble and woe. Strode overfloor the famed
in strife with his hand companions. The hall resounded, wishing

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to greet the wise old king in Gwine's lord. He
asked if the knight had passed in peace to the
Prince's mind. End of Section four