Kabanata Kabanata 15 · HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE.

. HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE.

Hrothgar discoursed (to the hall-building went he,

He stood by the pillar,[1] saw the steep-rising hall-roof

Gleaming with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand there):

{Hrothgar gives thanks for the overthrow of the monster.}

"For the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder

5 Early be offered! Much evil I bided,

Snaring from Grendel:[2] God can e'er 'complish

Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory!

{I had given up all hope, when this brave liegeman came to our aid.}

But lately I reckoned ne'er under heaven

Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows,

10 While the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain

Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened[3]

Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever

The folk-troop's defences 'gainst foes they should strengthen,

'Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of the Wielder

15 A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished

Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom

{If his mother yet liveth, well may she thank God for this son.}

Failed to perform. May affirm very truly

What woman soever in all of the nations

Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth,

20 That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward

In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear,

{Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shalt be my son.}

Most excellent hero, I'll love thee in spirit

As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward

The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee

25 Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee.

Full often for lesser service I've given

[34] Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious,

{Thou hast won immortal distinction.}

To a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction

Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish

30 Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee

With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!"

{Beowulf replies: I was most happy to render thee this service.}

Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's offspring:

"That labor of glory most gladly achieved we,

The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured

35 The enemy's grapple; I would grant it much rather

Thou wert able to look at the creature in person,

Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings!

On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him,

With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple

40 Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle

'Less his body escape; I was wholly unable,

{I could not keep the monster from escaping, as God did not will that I

should.}

Since God did not will it, to keep him from going,

Not held him that firmly, hated opposer;

Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding

45 He suffered his hand behind him to linger,

His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher;

{He left his hand and arm behind.}

No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature

Found him there nathless: the hated destroyer

Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils,

50 But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him

Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing

In baleful bonds: there banished for evil

The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal,

{God will give him his deserts.}

How the God of glory shall give him his earnings."

55 Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf,

{Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf's actions speak louder than

words.}

From boasting and bragging of battle-achievements,

Since the princes beheld there the hand that depended

'Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman,

Each one before him, the enemy's fingers;

60 Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled,

The heathen one's hand-spur, the hero-in-battle's

Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing,

[35]

{No sword will harm the monster.}

That not any excellent edges of brave ones

Was willing to touch him, the terrible creature's

65 Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him.

[1] B. and t.B. read 'staþole,' and translate _stood on the floor_.

[2] For 'snaring from Grendel,' 'sorrows at Grendel's hands' has been

suggested. This gives a parallel to 'láðes.' 'Grynna' may well be gen.

pl. of 'gyrn,' by a scribal slip.

[3] The H.-So punctuation has been followed; but B. has been followed

in understanding 'gehwylcne' as object of 'wíd-scofen (hæfde).' Gr.

construes 'wéa' as nom abs.