Kabanata Kabanata 36 · WIGLAF THE TRUSTY.--BEOWULF IS DESERTED BY FRIENDS AND BY SWORD.

. WIGLAF THE TRUSTY.--BEOWULF IS DESERTED BY FRIENDS AND BY SWORD.

{Wiglaf remains true--the ideal Teutonic liegeman.}

The son of Weohstan was Wiglaf entitled,

Shield-warrior precious, prince of the Scylfings,

Ælfhere's kinsman: he saw his dear liegelord

Enduring the heat 'neath helmet and visor.

5 Then he minded the holding that erst he had given him,

{Wiglaf recalls Beowulf's generosity.}

The Wægmunding warriors' wealth-blessèd homestead,

Each of the folk-rights his father had wielded;

He was hot for the battle, his hand seized the target,

The yellow-bark shield, he unsheathed his old weapon,

10 Which was known among earthmen as the relic of Eanmund,

Ohthere's offspring, whom, exiled and friendless,

Weohstan did slay with sword-edge in battle,

And carried his kinsman the clear-shining helmet,

The ring-made burnie, the old giant-weapon

15 That Onela gave him, his boon-fellow's armor,

Ready war-trappings: he the feud did not mention,

Though he'd fatally smitten the son of his brother.

Many a half-year held he the treasures,

The bill and the burnie, till his bairn became able,

20 Like his father before him, fame-deeds to 'complish;

Then he gave him 'mong Geatmen a goodly array of

Weeds for his warfare; he went from life then

Old on his journey. 'Twas the earliest time then

{This is Wiglaf's first battle as liegeman of Beowulf.}

That the youthful champion might charge in the battle

25 Aiding his liegelord; his spirit was dauntless.

Nor did kinsman's bequest quail at the battle:

This the dragon discovered on their coming together.

Wiglaf uttered many a right-saying,

Said to his fellows, sad was his spirit:

{Wiglaf appeals to the pride of the cowards.}

30 "I remember the time when, tasting the mead-cup,

We promised in the hall the lord of us all

[89] Who gave us these ring-treasures, that this battle-equipment,

Swords and helmets, we'd certainly quite him,

Should need of such aid ever befall him:

{How we have forfeited our liegelord's confidence!}

35 In the war-band he chose us for this journey spontaneously,

Stirred us to glory and gave me these jewels,

Since he held and esteemed us trust-worthy spearmen,

Hardy helm-bearers, though this hero-achievement

Our lord intended alone to accomplish,

40 Ward of his people, for most of achievements,

Doings audacious, he did among earth-folk.

{Our lord is in sore need of us.}

The day is now come when the ruler of earthmen

Needeth the vigor of valiant heroes:

Let us wend us towards him, the war-prince to succor,

45 While the heat yet rageth, horrible fire-fight.

{I would rather die than go home with out my suzerain.}

God wot in me, 'tis mickle the liefer

The blaze should embrace my body and eat it

With my treasure-bestower. Meseemeth not proper

To bear our battle-shields back to our country,

50 'Less first we are able to fell and destroy the

Long-hating foeman, to defend the life of

{Surely he does not deserve to die alone.}

The prince of the Weders. Well do I know 'tisn't

Earned by his exploits, he only of Geatmen

Sorrow should suffer, sink in the battle:

55 Brand and helmet to us both shall be common,

[1]Shield-cover, burnie." Through the bale-smoke he stalked then,

Went under helmet to the help of his chieftain,

{Wiglaf reminds Beowulf of his youthful boasts.}

Briefly discoursing: "Beowulf dear,

Perform thou all fully, as thou formerly saidst,

60 In thy youthful years, that while yet thou livedst

[90] Thou wouldst let thine honor not ever be lessened.

Thy life thou shalt save, mighty in actions,

Atheling undaunted, with all of thy vigor;

{The monster advances on them.}

I'll give thee assistance." The dragon came raging,

65 Wild-mooded stranger, when these words had been uttered

('Twas the second occasion), seeking his enemies,

Men that were hated, with hot-gleaming fire-waves;

With blaze-billows burned the board to its edges:

The fight-armor failed then to furnish assistance

70 To the youthful spear-hero: but the young-agèd stripling

Quickly advanced 'neath his kinsman's war-target,

Since his own had been ground in the grip of the fire.

{Beowulf strikes at the dragon.}

Then the warrior-king was careful of glory,

He soundly smote with sword-for-the-battle,

75 That it stood in the head by hatred driven;

Nægling was shivered, the old and iron-made

{His sword fails him.}

Brand of Beowulf in battle deceived him.

'Twas denied him that edges of irons were able

To help in the battle; the hand was too mighty

80 [2]Which every weapon, as I heard on inquiry,

Outstruck in its stroke, when to struggle he carried

The wonderful war-sword: it waxed him no better.

{The dragon advances on Beowulf again.}

Then the people-despoiler--third of his onsets--

Fierce-raging fire-drake, of feud-hate was mindful,

85 Charged on the strong one, when chance was afforded,

Heated and war-grim, seized on his neck

With teeth that were bitter; he bloody did wax with

Soul-gore seething; sword-blood in waves boiled.

[1] The passage '_Brand ... burnie_,' is much disputed. In the first

place, some eminent critics assume a gap of at least two

half-verses.--'Úrum' (2660), being a peculiar form, has been much

discussed. 'Byrdu-scrúd' is also a crux. B. suggests 'býwdu-scrúd' =

_splendid vestments_. Nor is 'bám' accepted by all, 'béon' being

suggested. Whatever the individual words, the passage must mean, "_I

intend to share with him my equipments of defence_."

[2] B. would render: _Which, as I heard, excelled in stroke every

sword that he carried to the strife, even the strongest (sword)._ For

'Þonne' he reads 'Þone,' rel. pr.

[91]