THEN hastened those heroes their home to see
friendless, to find the Frisian land
houses and high burg. Hengest still
through the death-dyed winter dwelt with Finn
holding pact, yet of home he minded
though powerless his ring-decked prow to drive
over the waters, now waves rolled fierce
lashed by the winds, or winter locked them
in icy fetters. Then fared another
year to men’s dwellings, as yet they do
the sunbright skies, that their season ever
duly await. Far off winter was driven
fair lay earth’s breast; and fain was the rover
the guest, to depart, though more gladly he pondered
on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep
and how to hasten the hot encounter
where sons of the Frisians were sure to be.
So he escaped not the common doom
when Hun with “Lafing,” the light-of-battle
best of blades, his bosom pierced
its edge was famed with the Frisian earls.
On fierce-heart Finn there fell likewise
on himself at home, the horrid sword-death
for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack
had sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed
mourning their woes. 57 Finn’s wavering spirit
bode not in breast. The burg was reddened
with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain
king amid clansmen; the queen was taken.
To their ship the Scylding warriors bore
all the chattels the chieftain owned
whatever they found in Finn’s domain
of gems and jewels. The gentle wife
o’er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore
led to her land.
The lay was finished
the gleeman’s song. Then glad rose the revel
bench-joy brightened. Bearers draw
from their “wonder-vats” wine. Comes Wealhtheow forth
under gold-crown goes where the good pair sit
uncle and nephew, true each to the other one
kindred in amity. Unferth the spokesman
at the Scylding lord’s feet sat: men had faith in his spirit
his keenness of courage, though kinsmen had found him
unsure at the sword-play. The Scylding queen spoke
Quaff of this cup, my king and lord
breaker of rings, and blithe be thou
gold-friend of men; to the Geats here speak
such words of mildness as man should use.
Be glad with thy Geats; of those gifts be mindful
or near or far, which now thou hast.
Men say to me, as son thou wishest
yon hero to hold. Thy Heorot purged
jewel-hall brightest, enjoy while thou canst
with many a largess; and leave to thy kin
folk and realm when forth thou goest
to greet thy doom. For gracious I deem
my Hrothulf, 58 willing to hold and rule
nobly our youths, if thou yield up first
prince of Scyldings, thy part in the world.
I ween with good he will well requite
offspring of ours, when all he minds
that for him we did in his helpless days
of gift and grace to gain him honor
Then she turned to the seat where her sons wereplaced
Hrethric and Hrothmund, with heroes’ bairns
young men together: the Geat, too, sat there
Beowulf brave, the brothers between.