Beowulf - Chapter 05

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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. Recording by Peter Yeersley. Beowulf by Anonymous,
translated by Francis Barton Camere Section five. Rothgar spake helmet

(00:30):
of skildings, ask not of pleasure. Pain is renewed to
Danish folk. Dead is ischerire of irmen Laf the elder brother,
my sage adviser, and stay in council, shoulder comrade, in
stress of fight, when warriors clashed and we warded our

(00:50):
heads hewed the helm of boors hero famed should be
every earl as I care was, but here in hirot
a hand hath slain him of wandering death sprite. I
WoT not whither proud of the prey her path she took,
fain of her fill the feud she avenged that yester night,

(01:15):
unyieldingly grendle in grimmest grasp thou killedst seeing how long
these liegemen mine, He ruined and ravaged, reft of life
in arms he fell. Now another comes keen and cruel
her kin to avenge faring far in feud of blood,

(01:37):
so that many a thane shall think who e'er sorrows
in soul for that sharer of rings. This is hardest
of heart bales. The hand lies low that once was willing.
Each wish to please land dwellers here and liegemen mine
who house by those parts I have heard relate that

(02:01):
such a pair they have sometimes seen march Stalker's mighty,
the moorland haunting wandering spirits. One of them seem'd so
far as my folk could fairly judge of womankind, and
one accursed in man's guise, trod the misery track of exile,

(02:23):
though huger than human bulk Grendel in days long gone,
they named him folk of the land. His father. They
knew not, nor any brood that was borne to him,
of treacherous spirits. Untrod is their home, by wolf cliffs
haunt they and windy headlands fenways fearful where flows the

(02:48):
stream from mountains, gliding to gloom of the rocks underground
flood not far is it, Hence in measure of miles
that the mere expand and o'er it the frost bound
forest hanging sturdily rooted shadows. The wave by night is

(03:09):
a wonder weird to see fire on the waters. So
wise liv'd none of the sons of men to search
those depths. Nay, though the heathrove harried by dogs, the
horn proud heart, this halt should seek long distance, driv'n

(03:30):
his dear life. First on the brink he yields. Ere
he brathe the plunge to hide his head tis no
happy place. Thence the welter of waters washes up wan
to welkin when winds bestir evil storms and air grows
dusk and the heavens weep. Now is help once more

(03:55):
with thee alone the land thou know'st not place of fear,
where thou findest out that sinflect being seek. If thou dare,
I will reward thee for waging this fight with ancient treasure,
as Erst I did with winding gold. If thou winnest

(04:18):
back Beowulf spake bairn of egthial sorrow not sage. It
beseems us better friends to avenge than fruitlessly mourn them.
Each of us all must his end abide in the
ways of the world. So win who may glory ere

(04:39):
death When his days are told. That is the warrior's
worthiest doom. Rise o realm warder, ride we anon and
mark the trail of the mother of Grendel. No harbor
shall hide her. Heed my promise, enfolding of field or
forested mountain, or floor of the flood. Let flee whence

(05:01):
ye will but thou this day endure in patience as
I ween thou wilt thy woes. Each one leapt up
the graybeard God. He thanked Mighty Lord for the man's
brave words for Frothgar. Soon a horse was saddled wave
maine steed. The sovereign wise stately rode on his shield.

(05:23):
Armed men followed in force. The footprints led along the woodland,
widely seen a path o'er the plain where she pass'd
and trod the murky moor of men at arms. She
bore the bravest and best one dead, him who with
Throthgar the homestead ruled on. Then went the atheling born

(05:47):
o'er stone cliffs, steep and straight defiles, narrow passes and
unknown ways, headlands sheer, and the haunts of the nichoors. Foremost,
he fared a few at his side of the wisest
men the ways to scan till he found in a
flash the forested hill hanging o'er the hoary rock, a

(06:09):
woefull wood. The waves below had died in blood. The
danish Men had sorrow of soul and for skildings, all
for many a hero twas hard to bear ill for
earls when I scare his head. They found by the
flood on the fall, and there waves were welling. The

(06:32):
warriors saw hot with blood, but the horns sang oft
battle song bold. The band sat down and watch'd on
the water, worm like things, sea dragons, strange that sounded
the deep, and niccoors that lay on the ledge of
the nests, such as oft essay at hour of morn,

(06:54):
on the road of sails, their ruthless quest. And sea
snake and monsters these started away, swollen and savage that
song to hear that war horn's blast. The warden of giats,
with bolt from bow, then balked of life of wave work.
One monster amid its heart went the keen war shaft

(07:19):
in water. It seem'd less doughty in swimming whom death
had seized, swift on the billows with boar spears well
hooked and barbed. It was hard, beset done to death,
and dragg'd on the headland wave roamer. Wondrous warriors view'd
the grisly quest, then girt him Beowulf in martial mail,

(07:42):
nor mourned for his life. His breastplate broad and bright
of hues, woven by hand. Should the waters dry, well
could it ward the warrior's body, that battle should break
on his breast in vain, nor harm his heart by
the hand of a foe. And the helmet white that

(08:03):
his head protected was destined to dare the deeps of
the flood, Though wave whirl wind twas wound with chains,
deck'd with gold, as in days of yore. The weapon
smith worked it wondrously with swine forms set it that
swords nowise brandished in battle could bite that helm. Nor

(08:26):
was that the meanest of mighty helps which Shrothgar's orator
offered at need runting. They named the hilted sword of
old time. Heir looms easily. First iron was its edge
all etched with poison, with battle blood hardened, nor blenched
it at fight in a hero's hand who held it

(08:47):
ever on paths of peril, prepared to go to folkstead
of foes. Not first time this it was destined to
do a daring task. For he bore not in mind
the bairon of Ecglaff, sturdy and strong, that speech he
had made drunk with wine. Now this weapon he lent

(09:10):
to a stouter swordsman himself, though Durst not under welter
of waters wager his life as loyal liegemen. So lost
he his glory, honor of earls with the other, not
so who girded him now for the grim encounter. Beowulf, spake,

(09:31):
Baaron of ECHTHIAU have mind, thou, honored offspring of half Dane, gold,
friend of men. Now I go on this quest sovereign
wise what once was said, if in thy cause it
came that I should lose my life, thou wouldst loyal

(09:52):
bide to me, though fallen in father's place. Be guardian
thou to this group of myines, my warrior friends. If
war should seize me and the goodly gifts thou gavest me.
Rothgar beloved to Higalac send Gaatlund's king may Ken by

(10:12):
the Goldrethel's son see when he stares at the treasure,
that I got, mere friend for goodness famed and joy'd
while I could in my duel bestower and let unfaith
wield this wondrous sword. Earl far honored this heirloom, precious,

(10:34):
hard of edge, with thrunting, I seek doom of glory,
or death shall take me. After these words, the wader
gayat lord boldly hastened, biding never answer at all. The
ocean floods clos'd o'er the hero long while of the
day fled ere he felt the floor of the sea,

(10:58):
soon found the field who the flood domain. Sword hungry
held these hundred winters, greedy and grim that some guest
from above, some man was raiding her monster realm. She
grasped out for him with grisly claws, and the warrior seized,
yet scathed. She not his body hail the breastplate hindered

(11:22):
as she strove to shatter the sark of war. The
linked harness with loathsome hand then bore this brine wolf.
When bottom she touched the Lord of rings to the
lair she haunted, whilst vainly he strove, though his valor
held weapon to wield against wondrous monsters that sore beset him.

(11:45):
Sea beasts, many tried with fierce tusks to tear his mail,
and swarmed on the stranger. But soon he marked He
was now in some hall he knew not which where
water never could work him harm, nor through the roof
could reach him. Ever, fangs of the flood firelight. He
saw beams of a blaze that brightly shone. Then the

(12:09):
warrior was ware of that wolf of the deep, mere
wife monstrous for mighty stroke. He swung his blade, and
the blow withheld not then sang on her head, that
seemly blade, its war song wild. But the warrior, found
the light of battle, was loath to bite, to harm

(12:31):
the heart. Its hard edge failed. The noble, at need,
yet had known of old strife hand to hand, and
had helmets cloven doomed men's fighting gear. First time this
for the gleaming blade, that its glory fell firm, still stood,
nor failed in valor. Heedful of high deeds, high glax

(12:54):
kinsmen flung away fretted sword featly jeweled, the angry earl
on earth. It lay steel edged and stiff. His strength
he trusted hand gripe of might. So man shall do
whenever in war he weens to earn him lasting fame
nor fears for his life, seized them by shoulder, shrank

(13:17):
not from combat. The Giatish war prince Grendel's mother flung
then the fierce one, filled with wrath his deadly foe,
that she fell to ground. Swift on her part, she
paid him back with grisly grasp and grappled with him.
Spent with struggle, stumbled the warrior, fiercest of fighting men,

(13:38):
fell adown on the hall guest. She hurled herself hent
her short sword broad and brown edged the bairn to
avenge the sole born's sun on his shoulder lay braided
breast mail, barring Deathwithstanding entrance of edge or blade, life
would have ended for ekg Yao's son under wide Earth.

(14:02):
For that Earl of Giats, had his armor of war
not aided him, battled net hard, and Holy God wielded
the victory. Wisest maker, the Lord of Heaven allowed his
cause and easily rose the earl erect mid the battle
gear saw he a blade triumphant, old sword of Ao,

(14:24):
tense with edge of proof, warrior's heirloom weapon unmatched save
only twas more than other men to bandy of battle
could bear at all as the giants had wrought it
ready and keen seized then its chain hilt. The Skilding's chieftain,
bold and battle grim brandished the sword, reckless of life,

(14:48):
and so wrathfully smote that it gripped her neck and
grasped her hard her bone rings, breaking the blade pierced
through that fated one's flesh to flow. She sank bloody
the blade. He was, blithe of his deed, then blazed
forth light twas bright within as when from the sky

(15:11):
there shines unclouded Heaven's candle the hall. He scann'd by
the wall. Then went he, his weapon raised high by
its hilts. The hygelac Thane, angry and eager, that edge
was not useless to the warrior. Now he wish'd with
speed Grendel to Gwerdon, for grim raids many for the

(15:34):
war he wag'd on western Danes, oftener far than an
only time, when of Hrothgar's half companions he slew in slumber,
in sleep, devour'd fifteen men of the folk of Danes,
and as many others outward bore his horrible prey well

(15:54):
paid for that. The wrathful prince, for now prone he
saw Grendel stretch'd there, spent with war, spoiled of life,
so scathed had left him Heorot's battle. The body sprang
far when after death it endured the blow swords stroked

(16:14):
savage that severed its head. Soon then saw the sage
companions who waited with throthgar, watching the flood, that the
tossing water's turbid grew blood stained. The mere old men, together,
hoary haired of the hero, spake the warrior. Would not
they weened again, proud of conquest, come to seek their

(16:38):
mighty master. To many, it seemed the Wolf of the
waves had won his life. The ninth hour came. The
noble skildings left the headland homeward went the gold friend
of men. But the guests sat on, stared at the surges,

(16:58):
sick in heart, and wish'd yet weened not their winsome
lord again. To see now that sword began from blood
of the fight in battle droppings war blade to wane,
twas a wondrous thing, that all of it melted as
ice is wont When frosty fetters, the Father loosens, unwines,

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the wave bonds, wielding all seasons and times, the true
God he nor took from that dwelling the Duke of
the Gaats, save only the head and that hilt withal
blazoned with duels. The blade had melted, burned was the
bright sword. Her blood was so hot, so poisoned the

(17:48):
hell sprite who perish'd within there Soon he was swimming,
who safe sow in combat downfall of demons, up dove
through the flood. The clas ushing waters were cleansed, now
waste of waves, where the wandering fiend her life days left,

(18:08):
and this lapsing world swam then to strand, the sailor's refuge.
Sturdy in spirit of sea, booty, glad of burden, brave
he bore with him, went then to greet him and God.
They thanked the thane band choice of their chieftain, blithe

(18:31):
that safe and sound, they could see him again soon
from the hardy one, helmet and armor deftly they doth'd
now drows'd the mere water neath welkin with war blood stain'd.
Forth they fared by the footpaths, thence merry at heart

(18:52):
the highway's measured, well known roads. Courageous men carried the
head from the cliff by the sea, and arduous task
for all the band the firm in fight, since four
were needed on the shaft of slaughter strenuously to bear
to the gold hall Grendel's head. So presently to the

(19:13):
palace there foemen fearless, fourteen gaiats marching came their master
of Clan Mighty amid them the meadow ways trod strode.
Then within the sovereign Thane fearless in fight of fame,
renowned hardy hero Hrothgar to greet, and next by the

(19:34):
hair into hall was born Grendel's head, where the henchmen
were drinking an awe to clan and queen alike, a
monster of marvel. The men look'd on Beowulf, spake, Bairn
of egthiow lo. Now this sea booty, son of half Dane,

(19:57):
Lord of Skildings, we've mustily brought the sign of glory.
Thou seest it here? Not lightly did I, with my
life escape in war under water, this work, I essay'd,
with endless effort, And even so my strength had been lost.
Had the Lord not shielded me. Not a wit could

(20:18):
I with fronting do in work of war. Though the
weapon is good, yet a sword the sovereign of men
vouchsafed me to spy on the wall there in splendor,
hanging old, gigantic, how oft he guides the friendless Wight,
and I fought with that brand, felling in fight, since

(20:39):
fate was with me. The house's wardens. That war sword
then all burn'd bright blade when the blood gush'd o'er
it battle sweat hot. But the hilt I brought back
from my foes so avenged I their fiendish deeds death
fall of Danes, as was due and right, And this

(21:03):
is my hest that in heorot. Now safe thou canst
sleep with thy soldier band and every thane of all
thy folk, both old and young. No evil fear Skilding's
lord from that side again aught ill for thy earls,
as erst thou must. Then the golden hilt for that

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gray haired leader hoary hero in hand was laid giant
wrought old so owned and enjoyed it. After downfall of
devils the Danish lord wonder Smith's work, since the world
was rid of that grim souled fiend, the foe of
God murder mark'd and his mother as well. Now it

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pass'd into power of the people's king best of all,
that the oceans bound, who have scattered the gold o'er
Scandia's isle hrothcas spake the hilt he view'd he'r looom old,
where was etch'd the rise of that far off fight,
where the floods o'erwhelm'd raging waves. The race of giants,

(22:18):
fearful their fate, a folk estranged from God eternal, whence
guerden dieu in that waste of waters the wielder paid
them so on the guard of shining gold. In runic staves,
it was rightly said for whom the serpent traced sword

(22:38):
was wrought best of blades in by gone days, and
the hilt well wound. The wise one spake, sun of
Hielfdane silent were all lo So may he say, who
sooth and right follows mid folk of far time, mindful

(23:01):
a land warden old that this earl belongs to the
better breed, So borne aloft thy fame must fly, O friend,
my beowulf, far and wide o'er folk Stead's many firmly
thou shalt all maintain mighty strength with mood of wisdom.

(23:23):
Love of mine, will I assure thee as awhile ago,
I promis'd thou shalt prove a stay in future, in
far off years to folk of thine, to the heroes,
a help was not heremod Thus to offspring of ech Guala,

(23:43):
honor s kildings nor grew for their grace, but for
grisly slaughter, for doom of death. To the Danish man,
he slew wrath, swollen his shoulder, comrades companions at board.
So he passed alone, chieftain, haughty from human cheer. Though

(24:05):
him the maker with might endow'd delights of power and
uplifted high above all men, yet blood fierce his mind.
His breast Horde grew no bracelets gave he to Danes
as was due. He endur'd all joyless, strain of struggle

(24:27):
and stress of woe, long feud with his folk. Here
find thy lesson of virtue. Advise thee this verse I
have said for thee wise from lapsed winters wondrous seems.
How to sons of men, Almighty God, in the strength

(24:47):
of his spirit, sendeth wisdom estate high station. He swayeth
all things, whiles he letteth right lustily fare the heart
of the hero of high born race in seat ancestral
assigns him bliss his folks, sure fortress in fee to hold,
puts in his power great parts of the earth, empire

(25:11):
so ample that end of it this want of wisdom
weeneth none. So he waxes in wealth. No wise can
harm him, illness or age. No evil cares shadow his spirit,
No sword hate threatens from ever an enemy. All the
world wends at his will. No worse he knoweth, till

(25:35):
all within him obstinate. Pride waxes and wakes, while the
warden slumbers. The spirit's sentry sleep is too fast, which
masters his might. And the murderer nears, stealthily shooting the
shafts from his bow. End of Section four of Beowulf