BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow
Lo, we seafarers say our will
far-come men, that we fain would seek
Hygelac now. We here have found
hosts to our heart: thou hast harbored us well.
If ever on earth I am able to win me
more of thy love, O lord of men
aught anew, than I now have done
for work of war I am willing still
If it come to me ever across the seas
that neighbor foemen annoy and fright thee
as they that hate thee erewhile have used
thousands then of thanes I shall bring
heroes to help thee. Of Hygelac I know
ward of his folk, that, though few his years
the lord of the Geats will give me aid
by word and by work, that well I may serve thee
wielding the war-wood to win thy triumph
and lending thee might when thou lackest men.
If thy Hrethric should come to court of Geats
a sovran’s son, he will surely there
find his friends. A far-off land
each man should visit who vaunts him brave.
Him then answering, Hrothgar spake
These words of thine the wisest God
sent to thy soul! No sager counsel
from so young in years e’er yet have I heard.
Thou art strong of main and in mind art wary
art wise in words! I ween indeed
if ever it hap that Hrethel’s heir
by spear be seized, by sword-grim battle
by illness or iron, thine elder and lord
people’s leader, — and life be thine
no seemlier man will the Sea-Geats find
at all to choose for their chief and king
for hoard-guard of heroes, if hold thou wilt
thy kinsman’s kingdom! Thy keen mind pleases me
the longer the better, Beowulf loved
Thou hast brought it about that both our peoples
sons of the Geat and Spear-Dane folk
shall have mutual peace, and from murderous strife
such as once they waged, from war refrain.
Long as I rule this realm so wide
let our hoards be common, let heroes with gold
each other greet o’er the gannet’s-bath
and the ringed-prow bear o’er rolling waves
tokens of love. I trow my landfolk
towards friend and foe are firmly joined
and honor they keep in the olden way.
To him in the hall, then, Healfdene’s son
gave treasures twelve, and the trust-of-earls
bade him fare with the gifts to his folk beloved
hale to his home, and in haste return.
Then kissed the king of kin renowned
Scyldings’ chieftain, that choicest thane
and fell on his neck. Fast flowed the tears
of the hoary-headed. Heavy with winters
he had chances twain, but he clung to this
that each should look on the other again
and hear him in hall. Was this hero so dear to him.
his breast’s wild billows he banned in vain
safe in his soul a secret longing
locked in his mind, for that loved man
burned in his blood. Then Beowulf strode
glad of his gold-gifts, the grass-plot o’er
warrior blithe. The wave-roamer bode
riding at anchor, its owner awaiting.
As they hastened onward, Hrothgar’s gift
they lauded at length. — ’Twas a lord unpeered
every way blameless, till age had broken
it spareth no mortal — his splendid might.