Beowulf: Lines 229 to 606

To him the eldest answered, sthe leader of the band unlocked the word-hoard: "We are men of the tribe of Geats and Higelac's hearth-companions.  My father was well known by the folk, a noble leader called Ecgtheow.  He lived many winters before he went away, an aged (man) from dwellings.  Every wise man remenbers him well, wide throughout the earth.  Through friendly mind , we come to visit thine lord, son of the Healfdanes, protector of the people; (Give us) good instruction.  We have a great (for) message the famous lord of the Danes.  I think there should not (be) some secrets. (You) know if it is truely thus.  I say I have heard, that amoung the Scyldings I know not one who does harm, doer of secret hatred deeds, unknown violence in a terrible mannor, in dark nights injury and slaughter.  In a roomy heart (give) advice to Hrothgar, who he, wise and good, over-power the fiend.  If turning back ever should come to him, relief of the evil affliction and seething of sorrows, come to pass to cool.  Or since they suffer distress, while the best of houses stay in a lofty place." 

The guard spoke (from) where he sat upon the horse, brave servant:  "A sharp shield-warrior, who thinks well shall understand each of two, word and works.  I hear that this is a friendly band to the land of the Scyldings. Go forth bearing weapons and war-gear.  I (will) show the way to you. 

Frithwulf 
 

  [301]Then he departed--the boat remained fixed, the roomy ship rested on  the rope, firm at anchor.  Boar figures shone on helmets decorated in  gold and fire-hardened--the warlike boar kept guard over the fierce  ones.  Men hastened, marched together until they saw the timbered hall  adorned with gold; that was the most famous of halls of men under heaven  in which the powerful dwell, the light shone over many lands.  Then he,  brave in battle, pointed out the bright house of the brave, that they  might go straight to it, the warrior turned his horse, then spoke  [these] words:  "It is suitable time for me to return; Lord Father keep  you kindly safe.  I will guard against hostile company at sea. 

  [320]The street was paved, the path guided men together.  War-corslet  shone, bright iron rings, hard locked by hand, rang forth on armor when  they first came to the hall in their war-equipment.  Sea-weary they sat  down large shields, wondrously strong, against the edge of the  building's wall.  Then they sat down on the bench, men's armor clanged;  spears stood together, seamen's weapons, grey at the top.  The armed  troop was exhaulted with weapons. 

  [332]Then there a proud warrior asked the warriors after their lineage.  Whence do you bear those ornamented shields, grey mail shirts and grim  helms, multitude of battle-shafts?  I am Hrothgar's messenger and  servant. I have not seen this many brave foreign men.  I think that it  is for pride, not at all for misery but for greatness of heart you seek  Hrothgar."  Brave one then answered, the pride of the Geats, strong  under cover, spoke words  "We are Higlac's table-companions; Beowulf is  my name.  I wish to tell my message to the son of Healfdene, the famous  prince, if he the good one would let us greet him.Wulfgar spoke--that  was a Wendel man, his bold mind known to many, [for] valor and wisdom, I  will ask King Scild, lord of the Danes, the ring-giver, as you ask,  [will ask] the glorious chief about thy journey and will early make  known what thought the good man gives me." 
  -- 
 

   I have also heard that the monster, because of his recklessness, discounts  weapons;  I that [weapons] then scorn, so that for me Higelac, my Lord, be of  joyful  spirit, that I bear sword or great shield, or yellow shield to war, I too  shall with grip grapple against the fiend and concerning life contend, loath  against foes;  there shall I resign myself to God's judgement, he who takes  death.  

    I expect that he [Grendel] shall, if he can manage it, eat fearlessly in  the battle-hall of the Geatish people, as he often did, strength of the Geats.  You will never need to hide my head [ie. perform funeral rites] but he will  hold me, dripping blood shining, if death takes me; bringing a bloody corpse,  he intends to eat, the lone-goer eats ruthlessly, stains the moor retreat; No  longer sorrow about the sustenance of my body.  Send to Higelac, if battle  takes me, the best of my war-garments of the best mail, that protects my  breast; that is Hrethel's heirloom, Wayland' work.  Fate always goes as she  shall!  

    Hrothgar made a speech:  "Because of deeds done and on account of favors you sought us out, thou, my  friend Beowulf. Your father brought about by fight the greatesr of feuds, he  became a man of the tribe as a hand-slayer among the Wylfings; then he might  not keep the Weder-Geats out of war-terror.  Thence he sought out the South-  Danish Folk, over the rolling sea, of the Ar-Scyldings.  When I first ['a  short time ago'] ruled the Danish Folk and in youth held a wide kingdom,  treasure-city of heroes; then was Heregar dead, my elder kinsman lifeless,  Halfdene's son; he was better than I!  

   Thereupon I settled the feud with riches; I sent time-honored treasures to  the Wylfings from the water's ridge; they swore oaths to me.  It sorrows me to  say, in my heart of any man's, what humiliation Grendel has [caused] me in  Heorot with his hateful thoughts, accomplishment of sudden affliction;  My  hall-troop, band of warriors, is wasted; their fate swept away in Grendel's  terror.  God could easily hinder the deeds of the desperate foe!  Often  warriors boasted, beer drunk over the ale-cup, that they would wait for  Grendel's attack in the beer-hall with grim swords.  
 

        Then for the men of Geats all together
a bench was cleared in the beer-hall;
there the brave went to sit, proud in their might.
A thane did his duty, who in his hands bore the adorned
ale-cup,
poured out the bright, sweet drink.
At times a scop sang in Heorot.
There was rejoicing of warriors,
no little company of Danes and Weder-Geats.

        Unferth spoke, son of Ecglaf,
who sat at the feet of the Scylding's lord,
unbinding the battle-Rune -- the coming of Beowulf,
the brave seafarer, was to him a great vexation,
for he didn't wish that any other man should
ever achieve more glory in the middle-earth
under the heavens than himself  -- :

"Are you that Beowulf, the one who contended with Breca,
competed in swimming about in the broad sea,
where for pride you explored the water,
and for foolish boast ventured your lives in the deep?
Nor might any man, friend nor enemy, keep you
from the sorrowful venture of swimming in the sea;
There you covered the sea-streams with your arms,
measured the sea-paths, flung your hands forward,
glided over the ocean; the sea surged with waves,
with winter's swell.
You toiled in the water's power for seven nights;
He overcame you at swimming,
had more strength. Then in the morning
the sea bore him up among the Heatho-Raemes;
thence he sought his own native land,
dear to his people, the land of the Brondingas,
fair stronghold, where he had folk,
castle and treasures.  All his boasts against you
the son of Beanstan truly carried out.
Therefore I expect the worse results for you,
--though you have prevailed everywhere in the storm of battles, in grim
fight, -- if you dare wait near Grendel
a night-long space.

        Beowulf spoke, the son of Ecgtheow:
"Well, my friend Unferth, you, flushed with beer drinking,
have spoken a great many things concerning Breca,
told about his adventures! I claim the truth,
that I had more strength in the sea,
hardship in the waves, than any other man.
While still being boys, we had agreed
and boasted -- we were both then
in our youth -- that we would venture
our lives in the sea, and that carried out even so.
We had naked swords, strong in our hands,
when we went swimming; we thought  to protect
ourselves against the whales. He could not float far from me
in the flood-waves, be quicker in the water, nor would I
move away from him.
Thus we were together in the sea
for the time of five nights, until the flood drove us asunder,
the swelling sea, coldest of weathers,
darkening night, and the battle-grim
northwind turned against us; rough were the waves.

"The ocean monsters were aroused in anger; There against the enemies my hard handlinked body armor, woven mailshirt adorned with gold, laying upon my breast, provided me with help.  The hostile fiend who harms had me firmly and fiercely in hand and drew me to the bottom; However, it became granted me that I hit the terrible one with sword point; Through my hand, the battle's rush took off the mighty sea beast.

"Thus the evil doer frequently pressed me severely.  I served him the glorious sword as it was fitting.  By no means had they, wicked destroyers, their feast of joy, banquet round, that they partook from me close to the sea bottom; But in morning by swords wounds above the tide line (they) lie, put to sleep by swords, that afterwards no seafarer's passage through the waterway be hindered.

" Light from the East came, bright sign of God, water subsided, that I might see the headland, the windy high shore.  Fate often saves the undoomed man, when his courage is glorious!  However that may be, befell me, that I, with sword, slew nine watermonsters.

"I hear not at night under the vault of heaven, nor in the water stream, a harder pressed man.  Yet I escaped my life from the grasp of hostiles of weary undertaking.  Then the sea, surging waters, flood along current, bore me off to the land of the Finns.  I hear of nothing concerning to tell of such terror of the sword.  Neither Brecca nor you, though your intelligience be good, ever yet at battle accomplished deeds with shining swords -- I of this would not boast much-- although you, your brothers, near relatives, prove a source as slayer; for that you shall endure damnation in Hell.

"I say to thee truth, Son of Ecglaf, that Grendel, terrible monster never perform so much horror against your lord, harm against Herot, were your resolve yet so fierce in conflict as you yourself tells;  But he (Grendel) has found no need to very much dread the terrible swordstorm of the Danish army, people of yours(eower leode????);  He seizes the toll, spares no people of the Danes, thinks of no quarrel with the Bright-Danes, but carries pleasure as he kills and feasts.  But I, Beowulf of the Geats, shall before long now, offer strength and courage in war.  Before one more day goes, when morning light, sunclad in radiance, over the child of man shines from the south, we will be allowed to mead high-spirited."

AARRGHHH! I do believe the previous week's assignment was a bit nicer-- frustration level was high on those last 10 lines or so-- it really is a big jump from 37 to 57 lines!!