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through width of the world by wise men all。
To thy lord and liege in loyal mood
we hasten hither； to Healfdene's son；
people…protector： be pleased to advise us！
To that mighty…one come we on mickle errand；
to the lord of the Danes； nor deem I right
that aught be hidden。 We hear thou knowest
if sooth it is the saying of men；
that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster；
dark ill…doer； in dusky nights
shows terrific his rage unmatched；
hatred and murder。 To Hrothgar I
in greatness of soul would succor bring；
so the Wise…and…Brave＇1＇ may worst his foes；
if ever the end of ills is fated；
of cruel contest； if cure shall follow；
and the boiling care…waves cooler grow；
else ever afterward anguish…days
he shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place
high on its hill that house unpeered！〃
Astride his steed； the strand…ward answered；
clansman unquailing： 〃The keen…souled thane
must be skilled to sever and sunder duly
words and works； if he well intends。
I gather； this band is graciously bent
to the Scyldings' master。 March； then； bearing
weapons and weeds the way I show you。
I will bid my men your boat meanwhile
to guard for fear lest foemen come；
your new…tarred ship by shore of ocean
faithfully watching till once again
it waft o'er the waters those well…loved thanes；
winding…neck'd wood； to Weders' bounds；
heroes such as the hest of fate
shall succor and save from the shock of war。〃
They bent them to march； the boat lay still；
fettered by cable and fast at anchor；
broad…bosomed ship。 Then shone the boars＇2＇
over the cheek…guard； chased with gold；
keen and gleaming； guard it kept
o'er the man of war； as marched along
heroes in haste； till the hall they saw；
broad of gable and bright with gold：
that was the fairest； 'mid folk of earth；
of houses 'neath heaven； where Hrothgar lived；
and the gleam of it lightened o'er lands afar。
The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright
burg…of…the…boldest； bade them go
straightway thither； his steed then turned；
hardy hero； and hailed them thus：
〃Tis time that I fare from you。 Father Almighty
in grace and mercy guard you well；
safe in your seekings。 Seaward I go；
'gainst hostile warriors hold my watch。〃
＇1＇ Hrothgar。 ＇2＇ Beowulf's helmet has several boar…images on it；
he is the 〃man of war〃； and the boar…helmet guards him as typical
representative of the marching party as a whole。 The boar was
sacred to Freyr； who was the favorite god of the Germanic tribes
about the North Sea and the Baltic。 Rude representations of
warriors show the boar on the helmet quite as large as the helmet
itself。
V
STONE…BRIGHT the street：＇1＇ it showed the way
to the crowd of clansmen。 Corselets glistened
hand…forged； hard； on their harness bright
the steel ring sang； as they strode along
in mail of battle； and marched to the hall。
There； weary of ocean； the wall along
they set their bucklers； their broad shields； down；
and bowed them to bench： the breastplates clanged；
war…gear of men； their weapons stacked；
spears of the seafarers stood together；
gray…tipped ash： that iron band
was worthily weaponed！ A warrior proud
asked of the heroes their home and kin。
〃Whence； now； bear ye burnished shields；
harness gray and helmets grim；
spears in multitude？ Messenger； I；
Hrothgar's herald！ Heroes so many
ne'er met I as strangers of mood so strong。
'Tis plain that for prowess； not plunged into exile；
for high…hearted valor； Hrothgar ye seek！〃
Him the sturdy…in…war bespake with words；
proud earl of the Weders answer made；
hardy 'neath helmet： 〃Hygelac's； we；
fellows at board； I am Beowulf named。
I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene
this mission of mine； to thy master…lord；
the doughty prince； if he deign at all
grace that we greet him； the good one； now。〃
Wulfgar spake； the Wendles' chieftain；
whose might of mind to many was known；
his courage and counsel： 〃The king of Danes；
the Scyldings' friend； I fain will tell；
the Breaker…of…Rings； as the boon thou askest；
the famed prince； of thy faring hither；
and； swiftly after； such answer bring
as the doughty monarch may deign to give。〃
Hied then in haste to where Hrothgar sat
white…haired and old； his earls about him；
till the stout thane stood at the shoulder there
of the Danish king： good courtier he！
Wulfgar spake to his winsome lord：
〃Hither have fared to thee far…come men
o'er the paths of ocean； people of Geatland；
and the stateliest there by his sturdy band
is Beowulf named。 This boon they seek；
that they； my master； may with thee
have speech at will： nor spurn their prayer
to give them hearing； gracious Hrothgar！
In weeds of the warrior worthy they；
methinks； of our liking； their leader most surely；
a hero that hither his henchmen has led。〃
＇1＇ Either merely paved； the strata via of the Romans； or else
thought of as a sort of mosaic； an extravagant touch like the
reckless waste of gold on the walls and roofs of a hall。
VI
HROTHGAR answered； helmet of Scyldings：
〃I knew him of yore in his youthful days；
his aged father was Ecgtheow named；
to whom； at home； gave Hrethel the Geat
his only daughter。 Their offspring bold
fares hither to seek the steadfast friend。
And seamen； too； have said me this；
who carried my gifts to the Geatish court；
thither for thanks； he has thirty men's
heft of grasp in the gripe of his hand；
the bold…in…battle。 Blessed God
out of his mercy this man hath sent
to Danes of the West； as I ween indeed；
against horror of Grendel。 I hope to give
the good youth gold for his gallant thought。
Be thou in haste； and bid them hither；
clan of kinsmen； to come before me；
and add this word； they are welcome guests
to folk of the Danes。〃
＇To the door of the hall
Wulfgar went＇ and the word declared：
〃To you this message my master sends；
East…Danes' king； that your kin he knows；
hardy heroes； and hails you all
welcome hither o'er waves of the sea！
Ye may wend your way in war…attire；
and under helmets Hrothgar greet；
but let here the battle…shields bide your parley；
and wooden war…shafts wait its end。〃
Uprose the mighty one； ringed with his men；
brave band of thanes： some bode without；
battle…gear guarding； as bade the chief。
Then hied that troop where the herald led them；
under Heorot's roof： ＇the hero strode；＇
hardy 'neath helm； till the hearth he neared。
Beowulf spake； his breastplate gleamed；
war…net woven by wit of the smith：
〃Thou Hrothgar； hail！ Hygelac's I；
kinsman and follower。 Fame a plenty
have I gained in youth！ These Grendel…deeds
I heard in my home…land heralded clear。
Seafarers say how stands this hall；
of buildings best； for your band of thanes
empty and idle； when evening sun
in the harbor of heaven is hidden away。
So my vassals advised me well；
brave and wise； the best of men；
O sovran Hrothgar； to seek thee here；
for