Beowulf - Chapter 06

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
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 Cynthia Lyons, Naperville, Illinois. Beowulf,

(00:22):
translated by Francis Barton Gomere, Section twenty five. Under harness,
his heart then is hit indeed by sharpest shafts, and
no shelter avails from foul behest of the hellish fiend

(00:47):
him seems too little, what long he possessed, greedy and grim,
No golden rings he gives for his pride. The promised
future forgets he and spurns with all God has sent him,
wonder wielder of wealth and fame. Yet in the end

(01:08):
it ever comes that the frame of the body, fragile, yields, faded, falls,
and there follows another who joyously the jewels divides the
royal riches nor wrecks of his forbear ban. Then such
baleful thoughts Beowulf, dearest best of men, and the better

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part choose profit, eternal and temper thy, pride, warrior famous.
The flower of thy might lasts now a while, but
ere long it shall be that sickness or sword, thy
strength shall minish, or fang of fire or flooding billow,

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or bite of blade, or brandish spear, or odious age,
or the eyes clear beam, wax, dull and darken death.
Even thee in haste shall overwhelm thou, hero of war.
So the ring Danes these half years a hundred I ruled,

(02:15):
wielded neath welkin, and warded them bravely from mighty ones
many o'er Middle Earth, from spear and sword, till it
seem'd for me no foe could be found under fold
of the sky. Lo sudden the shift to me seated secure,

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came grief for joy when Grendel began to harry my home,
the hellish foe for those ruthless raids unresting, I suffer'd
heart sorrow, heavy heaven be thanked, Lord Eternal, for life
extended that I on this head, all hewn and bloody,

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after long evil with eyes may gaze. Go to the bench.
Now be glad at banquet, warrior worthy, A wealth of
treasure at dawn of day be dealt between us. Glad
was the Geat's lord, going betimes to seek his seat,

(03:19):
as the Sage commanded afresh as before for the famed
in battle. For the band of the hall was a
banquet dight nobly anew the night helm darken'd dust o'er
the drinkers, the doughty ones rose for the hoary headed
would hasten to rest aged shilding and eager the geat

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shield fighter sturdy for sleeping yearn'd him wander weary warrior
guest from far a hall thane heralded forth, who by
custom courtly cared for all needs of a thane as
in those of old days. Warrior wanderers wont to have

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so slumbered. The stout heart stately the hall rose gabled
in gilt, where the guests slept on till a raven
black the rapture of heaven, blithe heart boded, bright came
flying shine after shadow. The swordsmen hastened athlings, all were

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eager homeward forth to fare, and far from thence the
great hearted guest would guide his keel. Bade then the
hardy ones hunting be brought to the sun of etchlaf
the sword bade him take excellent iron, and uttered his
thanks for it, quoth that he counted it keen in battle.

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War friend winsome with words, he slander'd not edge of
the blade twas a big hearted man, now eager for
parting and armed at point warriors waited while went to
his host that darling of Danes, the doughty atheling to
high seat hastened, and Hrothgar greeted. Be Wolf, spoke Bairn

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of eggg Thou lo we sea farers, say our will
far come men that we fain would seek Higelac. Now
we here have found hosts to our heart. Thou hast
harbored us. Well, if ever on earth I am able
to win me more of thy love, O, Lord of men,

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aught anew than I now have done for work of war,
I am willing still if it come to me ever
across the seas that neighbor foremen annoy and fright thee
as they that hate thee erewhile have used thousands, then
of Thanes I shall bring heroes to help thee of Higelac.

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I know ward of his folk, that though few his years,
the Lord of the Gates will give me aid by
word and by work, that well I may serve thee,
wielding the war wood to win thy triumph, and lending
thee might when thou lackest men. If thy Hrethric should

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come to court of Gates, a sovereign son, he will
surely there find his friends a far off land. Each
man should visit who vaunts him, brave him. Then, answering,
Hrothgar spake these words of thine, the wisest god sent

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to thy soul. No sajr counsel from so young in
years e'er yet have I heard that thou art strong
of main, and in mind art weary art wise in words?
I ween Indeed, if ever it hap that Hrethel's e'er

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by spear be seiz'd by sword, grim battle, by illness
or iron, Thine elder and lord, people's leader and life
be thine, no seemlier man will the sea Gates find
at all to choose for their chief and king for hoard,

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God of heroes. If hold thou wilt thy kinsman's kingdom,
thy keen mind pleases me, the longer the better be
wolf loved. Thou hast brought it about that both are peoples,
sons of the Geat and spear. Dane folk shall have

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mutual peace and from murderous strife, such as once they
waged from war refrain long as I rule this realm
so wide. Let our hoards be common. Let heroes with
gold each other greet o'er the gannet's bath, and the

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ring prowbear o'er rolling waves, tokens of love. I true.
My landfolk toward friend and foe, are firmly join'd and
honor They keep in the olden way to him in
the hall. Then half Dane's son gave treasures twelve, and
the trust of Earls bade him fair with the gifts

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to his folk. Beloved hailed to his home, and in
haste return Then kiss'd the King of Kin, renown'd the
Shulding's chieftain, that choicest Thane, and fell on his neck,
fast flow'd the tea of the hoary, headed heavy with winters.

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He had chances twain, but he clung to this, that
each should look on the other again, and hear him
in hall. Was this hero so dear to him his
breast's wild billows he banned in vain, safe in his soul,
a secret longing locked in his mind for that loved

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man burned in his blood. Then Beowulf strode glad of
his gold gifts. The Grass plot o'er warrior blithe the
wave roamer bode riding at anchor, its owner awaiting. As
they hastened onward Hrothgar's gift. They lauded at length twas

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a lord unpeered every way blameless till age had broken
it spareth no mortal, his splendid might came now to ocean.
The ever courageous, hardy henchmen their harness bearing woven war sacks.

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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 street

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steeds and treasure and armor. Their roomy and ringdite 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

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that blade possessing heirloom old their ocean. Keel boarding, they
drew through the deep, and Daneland left. A sea cloth
was set a sail with ropes firm to the mast.
The flood timbers moaned, nor did wind over billows. That

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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

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by winds on the strand up, drove 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

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lest ocean billows that trusty timber should hair away. Then
Beowulf bade them bear the treasure, gold and jewels. No
journey far was it, thence to go to the giver
of rings. Higelac Hrethling at home, he dwelt by the
sea wall, close himself and clan haughty that house a

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hero the king hide the hall, and higg'd right, young,
wise and wary. Though winter's few in those fortress walls,
she had found a home. Harreth's daughter, Nor humble her ways,
nor grudge she gifts to the geatish men of precious treasure.

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Not Thrith'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 liege, and dear that
lady full in the face to look. But forged fetters,
he found his lot bonds of death and brief the respite.

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Soon as they seized him his sword, doom was spoken,
and the burnished blade a baleful murder, proclaimed and closed
no queenly way for women to practice. Though peerless, she
that the weaver of peace from warrior deer by wrath

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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

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went gold decked bride to the brave young Prince Atheling
haughty and off a hall or 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

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had sent her and leel 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

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he ruled over his empire. Umer woke to him help
of heroes. Hemming's kinsman, grandson of garmand grim in war,
hastened the hardy one henchmen with him sandy strand of
the sea to tread and widespread ways. The the world's

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great candle sun shone from south. They strode along with
sturdy steps to the spot they knew where the battle
king Young his burg within slayer of ungan Thoe shared
the rings shelter of heroes to Higelac Beowulf's coming was

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quickly told that there in the court the clansman's refuge,
the shield companions sound and alive. Hail from the hero play.
Homeward strode with haste in the hall by highest order.
Room for the rovers was readily made by his sovereign.

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He sat, come safe from battle, kinsmen by kinsmen, his
kindly lord he first had greeted in gracious form with
manly words. The mead dispensing came through the high haul
Harrath's daughter Winsome to warriors, wine cup bore to the

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hands of the heroes. Higelac, then his comrade, fairly with question,
plied in the lofty hall, sore, longing to know what
manner of sojourn the sea gates made. What came of
thy quest, my kinsman, Beowulf, when thy yearning suddenly swept

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thee yonder battle to seek o'er the briny sea combat
in heroat Crossgar, couldst thou aid at all the honor'd
chief in his wide known woes with waves of care,
My sad heart seethed, I sore, mistrusted my loved one's venture.

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Long I begged thee by no means to seek that
slaughtering monster, But suffer the south Danes to settle their
feud themselves with Grendel. Now God be thanked that safe
and sound I can see thee. Now be Wulf spake
the bairn of Edge. Thou tis known and unhidden, Higelac, Lord,

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to many men that meeting of ours struggle grim between
Grendel and me, which we fought on the field, where
full too many sorrows he wrought for the shielding victors
evils unending. These all I avenged. No boast can be

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from breed of Grendel any on earth, For that uproar
at dawn from the longest lived of the Loathsome race
in fleshly fold. But first I went Hrothgar to greet
in the Hall of Gifts, where half Dane's kinsmen high renowned,

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stood as my purpose was pleas to him assign'd me
a seat by his son and heir. The liegemen were
lusty my life Day's never such merry men over mead
in hall have I heard under heaven. The high born
queen People's peace bringer passed through the hall, cheered the

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young clansmen clasps of gold ere. She sought her seat
to sundry, gave off to the heroes, Hrothgaw's daughter to earls.
In turn the ale cup tendered she whom I heard
these hall companions fray Owaru name. When fretted gold, she

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proffer'd the warriors promised, is she gold decked maid to
the glad son of Froda Sage, the seams to the
shilding's friends, Kingdom's keeper. He counts it wise, the co
in to wed So and ward off feud store of slaughter.

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But seldom ever, when men are slain does the murder
speak sink but briefest while, though the bride be fair,
nor haply will like it. The heathen bard lord, and
as little each of his liegemen all when a thane

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of the Danes, in that doughty throng, goes with the
lady along their hall, and on him the old time
heirlooms glisten, hard and ring decked Hythebard's treasure weapons that
once they wielded fair until they lost it at the
linden play. Liegemen leel and their lives as well, then

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over the ale on this heirloom, gazing some ash wielder
old who has all in mind that spear death of men.
He is stern of mood, heavy of heart. In the
hero young tests the temper and tries the soul, and
war hate wakens with words like these, canst thou not, comrade?

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Can that sword which to the fray thy father carried
in his final feud neath the fighting mask, dearest of blades,
when the Danish slew him and wielded the war place
on whither guild's fall. After havoc of heroes those hardy shildings.

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Now the son of a certain slaughtering Dane, proud of
his treasure, paces this hall, joys in the killing, and
carries the jewel that rightfully ought to be owned by thee.
Thus he urges and eggs him all the time with
keenest wordsords till occasion offers that Fraiowaru's thane for his

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father's deed, after bite of brand in his blood, must slumber,
losing his life. But that Liegeman flies, living away for
the land he kens, and thus be broken on both
their sides, oaths of the earls. When Ingeld's breast wells

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with war hate and wife love. Now after the care billows,
cooler grows. So I hold not high the Heathobard's faith
due to the Danes or their during love and pact
of peace. But I pass from that, turning to Grendel,

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o giver of treasure, and saying in full now how
the fight resulted, Handfrey of heroes. When Heaven's jewel had
fled o'er far fields, that fierce sprite came night foe
savage to seek us out where safe and sound we

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sentried the hall to Honshue then was that harassing deadly
His fall there was fated. He first was slain, girded
warrior grendel on him, turn'd murderous mouth on our mighty kinsmen,
and all of the braves man body devoured. Yet none

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the earlier, empty handed, would the bloody tooth murderer, mindful
of bail outward, go from the gold decked hall. But me,
he attack'd, in his terror of might, with greedy hand,
grasped me a glove hung by him, wide and wondrous,

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wound with bands and in artful. Wise it was all
wrought by devilish craft of dragon skins. Meitherin an innocent man,
the fiendish foe was fain to thrust with many another
he might not sow when I, all angrily upright, stood

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tware long to relate how that land destroyer I paid
in kind for his cruel deeds. Yet there, my prince,
this people of thine, got fame by my fighting. He
fled away, and a little space his life preserv'd, But
there stay'd behind him, his stronger hand left in harout. Heartsick.

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Thence on the floor of the ocean that outcast fell
me for this struggle. The Shielding's friend paid in plenty,
with plates of gold, with many a treasure. When morn
had come and we all at the banquet board sat down,

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then was song and glee. The gray haired shoulding, much tested,
told of the times of yore, whiles the hero, his
harp bestirred, would of delight now lays he chanted of
sooth and sadness, or set aright legends of wonder the

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wide hearted king, Or for years of his youth he
would yearn at times for strength of old struggles. Now
stricken with age, hoary hero, his heart surged full, when
wise with winters he wailed their flight. Thus in the

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hall the whole of that day, at ease we feasted
till fell or earth another night anon full ready in
greed of vengeance. Grendel's mother set forth all doleful, dead
was her son through war, hate of wedders. Now woman monstrous,

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with fury fell a foeman. She slew, avenging her offspring
from asher old loyal counselor life was gone. Nor might
they even when morning broke Those Danish people their death done.
Comrade burn with brands on bale fire lay the man

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they mourn'd under mountain stream she had carried the corpse
with cruel hands for Hrothgar. That was the heaviest sorrow
of all that had laden the lord of his folk.
The leader then by thy life besought me sad was
his soul in the sea wave's coil, to play the

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hero and hazard my being for glory of prowess my garden.
He pledg'd I then in the waters tis widely known
that Seafloor guardian Savage found hand to hand there awhile
we struggled billows well blood in the briny hall her head,

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I hewed with a hardy blade from Grendel's mother and
gained my life, though not without danger. My doom was
not yet Then the haven of heroes. Half Dane's sun
gave me Ingerdon great gifts of price. So held this

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king to the customs old that I wanted for naught.
In the wage I gained the meed of my might.
He made me gifts d Afdane's heir for my own disposal.
Now to thee, my prince, I pro offfer them all gladly,
give them thy grace alone can find me favor. Few

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indeed have I of kinsmen, save Higelac thee then he
bade them bear him the bore head standard in battle
helm high and breastplate gray. The splendid sword. Then spake
in form me this war gear the wise old Prince

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Hrothgar gave, and his hest he added that its story
be straightway said to thee awhile it was held by
Heragar king for long time, lord of the land of Schildings,
yet not to his son. The sovereign left it to

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daring heroward dear as he was to him his harness
of well, hold thou it all, And I heard that
soon passed o'er the path of this treasure, all apple fallow.
Four good steeds, each like the other's arms and horses

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he gave to the king. So should kinsmen be not
weave one another the net of wiles, or with deep
hid treachery, death contrive for neighbor and comrade. His nephew
was ever by hardy Higelac held full dear, and each

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kept watch o'er the other's wheel. I heard too the
necklace to Higgott he presented wonder wrought treasure, which wial
Thou gave him Sovereign's daughter. Three steeds he added, slender
and saddle gay, Since such gift the gem gleamed bright

(29:01):
on the breast of the queen. Thus showed his strain.
The son of Edge, Thou as a man, remark'd for
mighty deeds and acts of honor. At ale. He slew
not comrade or kin, nor cruel his mood, though of
sons of earth, his strength was greatest, a glorious gift

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that God had sent the splendid leader. Long was he
spurn'd and worthless by Geatish warriors held him at meed.
The master of clans failed full oft to favor at all, slacken, shiftless.
The strong men deemed him profitless prince. But payment came

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to the warrior, honored for all his woes. Then the
bulwark of earls bade bring within Hardy chieftain Hrefel's heirloom,
garnish'd with gold no geat e'er new in shape of
a sword, a statelier prize. The brand he laid in

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Beowulf's lap and of hides assigned him seven thousand, with
house and high seat. They held in common Land alike
by their line of birth inheritance home. But hire the
king because of his rule over the realm itself. Now further,

(30:28):
it fell, with the flight of years, with Harrying's horrid
that Higelac perished, and herdred too by hewing of swords
under the shield wall, slaughtered lay. When him at the
van of his victor folk sought hardy heroes heatho schilfings
in arms o'erwhelming heroic's nephew. Then Beowulf came as king

(30:55):
this broad realm to wield, and he ruled it well
fifty winters, a wise old prince, warding his land, until
one began, in the dark of night a dragon to
rage in the grave on the hill. A hoard it

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guarded in the stone barrow steep a straight path reached it,
unknown to mortals. Some man, however, came by chance that
cave within to the heathen horde in hand. He took
a golden goblet, nor gave he it back, stole with

(31:35):
it away, while the watcher slept by thievish wiles for
the warden's wrath. Prince and people must pay betimes. End
of Section twenty nine