Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem

XXIX.
BEOWULF AND HIGELAC.
Then the brave one departed, his band along with him,
Seeking the sea-shore, the sea-marches
treading,
The wide-stretching shores. The world-candle
glimmered,
The sun from the southward; they proceeded then onward,
Early arriving where they heard that the troop-lord,
Ongentheow’s slayer, excellent, youthful
Folk-prince and warrior was distributing jewels,
Close in his castle. The coming of Beowulf
Was announced in a message quickly to Higelac,
That the folk-troop’s defender forth to the palace
The linden-companion alive was advancing,
Secure from the combat courtward a-going.
The building was early inward made ready
For the foot-going guests as the good one had ordered.
He sat by the man then who had lived through
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8/8/13 3:21 PM
Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem
Page 88 of 134
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328/16328-h/16328-h.htm
his liegelord.
Queen Hygd
receives the
heroes.
Higelac is
greatly
interested in
Beowulf’s
adventures.
Give an account
of thy
adventures,
Beowulf dear.
My suspense
has been great.
Beowulf
narrates his
adventures.
Grendel’s
kindred have no
cause to boast.
Hrothgar
received me
very cordially.
the struggle,
Kinsman by kinsman, when the king of the people
Had in lordly language saluted the dear one,
In words that were formal. The daughter of
Hæreth
Coursed through the building, carrying mead-
cups:
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She loved the retainers, tendered the beakers
To the high-minded Geatmen. Higelac ’gan then
Pleasantly plying his companion with questions
In the high-towering palace. A curious interest
Tormented his spirit, what meaning to see in
The Sea-Geats’ adventures: “Beowulf worthy,
How throve your journeying, when thou
thoughtest suddenly
Far o’er the salt-streams to seek an encounter,
A battle at Heorot? Hast bettered for Hrothgar,
The famous folk-leader, his far-published
sorrows
Any at all? In agony-billows
I mused upon torture, distrusted the journey
Of the belovèd liegeman; I long time did pray
thee
By no means to seek out the murderous spirit,
To suffer the South-Danes themselves to decide on
2
Grappling with Grendel. To God I am thankful
To be suffered to see thee safe from thy journey.”
Beowulf answered, bairn of old Ecgtheow:
“’Tis hidden by no means, Higelac chieftain,
From many of men, the meeting so famous,
What mournful moments of me and of Grendel
Were passed in the place where he pressing affliction
On the Victory-Scyldings scathefully brought,
Anguish forever; that all I avengèd,
So that any under heaven of the kinsmen of Grendel
Needeth not boast of that cry-in-the-morning,
Who longest liveth of the loth-going kindred,
3
Encompassed by moorland. I came in my
journey
To the royal ring-hall, Hrothgar to greet there:
Soon did the famous scion of Healfdene,
When he understood fully the spirit that led me,
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8/8/13 3:21 PM
Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem
Page 89 of 134
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328/16328-h/16328-h.htm
The queen also
showed up no
little honor.
Hrothgar’s
lovely daughter.
She is betrothed
to Ingeld, in
order to unite
the Danes and
Heathobards.
Assign me a seat with the son of his bosom.
The troop was in joyance; mead-glee greater
’Neath arch of the ether not ever beheld I
’Mid hall-building holders. The highly-famed
queen,
Peace-tie of peoples, oft passed through the
building,
Cheered the young troopers; she oft tendered a hero
A beautiful ring-band, ere she went to her sitting.
Oft the daughter of Hrothgar in view of the
courtiers
To the earls at the end the ale-vessel carried,
Whom Freaware I heard then hall-sitters title,
When nail-adorned jewels she gave to the heroes:
Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad son of
Froda
Her faith has been plighted; the friend of the
Scyldings,
The guard of the kingdom, hath given his
sanction,