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that spear…death of men；＇3＇ he is stern of mood；
heavy at heart； in the hero young
tests the temper and tries the soul
and war…hate wakens； with words like these：
Canst thou not； comrade； ken 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 Withergild's fall；
after havoc of heroes； those hardy Scyldings？
Now； the son of a certain slaughtering Dane；
proud of his treasure； paces this hall；
joys in the killing； and carries the jewel＇4＇
that rightfully ought to be owned by thee！_
Thus he urges and eggs him all the time
with keenest words； till occasion offers
that Freawaru's thane； for his 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 with war…hate； and wife…love now
after the care…billows cooler grows。
〃So＇5＇ I hold not high the Heathobards' faith
due to the Danes； or their during love
and pact of peace。 But I pass from that；
turning to Grendel； O giver…of…treasure；
and saying in full how the fight resulted；
hand…fray 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 sentried the hall。
To Hondscio then was that harassing deadly；
his fall there was fated。 He first was slain；
girded warrior。 Grendel on him
turned murderous mouth； on our mighty kinsman；
and all of the brave man's body devoured。
Yet none the earlier； empty…handed；
would the bloody…toothed murderer； mindful of bale；
outward go from the gold…decked hall：
but me he attacked in his terror of might；
with greedy hand grasped me。 A glove hung by him＇6＇
wide and wondrous； wound with bands；
and in artful wise it all was wrought；
by devilish craft； of dragon…skins。
Me therein； an innocent man；
the fiendish foe was fain to thrust
with many another。 He might not so；
when I all angrily upright stood。
'Twere 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 preserved；
but there staid behind him his stronger hand
left in Heorot； heartsick thence
on the floor of the ocean that outcast fell。
Me for this struggle the Scyldings'…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。
Then was song and glee。 The gray…haired Scylding；
much tested； told of the times of yore。
Whiles the hero his harp bestirred；
wood…of…delight； now lays he chanted
of sooth and sadness； or said aright
legends of wonder； the 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 hall the whole of that day
at ease we feasted； till fell o'er 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 Weders； now； woman monstrous
with fury fell a foeman she slew；
avenged her offspring。 From Aeschere old；
loyal councillor； life was gone；
nor might they e'en； when morning broke；
those Danish people； their death…done comrade
burn with brands； on balefire lay
the man they mourned。 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…waves' coil
to play the hero and hazard my being
for glory of prowess： my guerdon he pledged。
I then in the waters 'tis widely known
that sea…floor…guardian savage found。
Hand…to…hand there a while we struggled；
billows welled blood； in the briny hall
her head 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； Healfdene's son；
gave me in guerdon great gifts of price。
Note： ＇1＇ Beowulf gives his uncle the king not mere gossip of his
journey； but a statesmanlike forecast of the outcome of certain
policies at the Danish court。 Talk of interpolation here is
absurd。 As both Beowulf and Hygelac know； and the folk for
whom the Beowulf was put together also knew； Froda was king of
the Heathobards （probably the Langobards； once near neighbors of
Angle and Saxon tribes on the continent）； and had fallen
in fight with the Danes。 Hrothgar will set aside this feud by
giving his daughter as 〃peace…weaver〃 and wife to the young king
Ingeld； son of the slain Froda。 But Beowulf； on general
principles and from his observation of the particular case；
foretells trouble。 Note： ＇2＇ Play of shields； battle。 A Danish
warrior cuts down Froda in the fight； and takes his sword and
armor； leaving them to a son。 This son is selected to accompany
his mistress； the young princess Freawaru； to her new home when
she is Ingeld's queen。 Heedlessly he wears the sword of Froda in
hall。 An old warrior points it out to Ingeld； and eggs him on to
vengeance。 At his instigation the Dane is killed； but the
murderer； afraid of results； and knowing the land； escapes。 So
the old feud must break out again。 ＇3＇ That is； their disastrous
battle and the slaying of their king。 ＇4＇ The sword。 ＇5＇ Beowulf
returns to his forecast。 Things might well go somewhat as
follows； he says； sketches a little tragic story； and with this
prophecy by illustration returns to the tale of his adventure。
＇6＇ Not an actual glove； but a sort of bag。
XXXI
〃So held this king to the customs old；
that I wanted for nought in the wage I gained；
the meed of my might； he made me gifts；
Healfdene's heir； for my own disposal。
Now to thee； my prince； I proffer them all；
gladly give them。 Thy grace alone
can find me favor。 Few indeed
have I of kinsmen； save； Hygelac； thee！〃
Then he bade them bear him the boar…head standard；
the battle…helm high； and breastplate gray；
the splendid sword； then spake in form：
〃Me this war…gear the wise old prince；
Hrothgar； gave； and his hest he added；
that its story be straightway said to thee。
A while it was held by Heorogar king；
for long time lord of the land of Scyldings；
yet not to his son the sovran left it；
to daring Heoroweard； dear as he was to him；
his harness of battle。 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 others； arms and horses
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