Beowulf An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem

Excerpt

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD.

The famous race of Spear-Danes.Lo! the Spear-Danes’ glory through splendid achievementsThe folk-kings’ former fame we have heard of,How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.Scyld, their mighty king, in honor of whom they are often called Scyldings. He is the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, so prominent in the poem.Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbersFrom many a people their mead-benches tore.Since first he found him friendless and wretched,The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it,Waxed ’neath the welkin, world-honor gained,Till all his neighbors o’er sea were compelled to10Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute:An excellent atheling! After was borne himA son is born to him, who receives the name of Beowulf—a name afterwards made so famous by the hero of the poem.A son and heir, young in his dwelling,Whom God-Father sent to solace the people.He had marked the misery malice had caused them,15That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhileLong been afflicted. The Lord, in requital,Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him.Famed was Beowulf, far spread the gloryOf Scyld’s great son in the lands of the Danemen.The ideal Teutonic king lavishes gifts on his vassals.So the carle that is young, by kindnesses renderedThe friends of his father, with fees in abundanceMust be able to earn that when age approachethEager companions aid him requitingly,When war assaults him serve him as liegemen:By praise-worthy actions must honor be got’Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fatedScyld dies at the hour appointed by Fate.Scyld then departed to the All-Father’s keepingWarlike to wend him; away then they bare himTo the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades,30As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the ScyldingsWord-sway wielded, and the well-lovèd land-princeLong did rule them.The ring-stemmèd vessel,Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor,Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing;By his own request, his body is laid on a vessel and wafted seaward.35The belovèd leader laid they down there,Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel,The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels,Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over,Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever40That a folk ever furnished a float more superblyWith weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle,Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkledMany a jewel that with him must travelOn the flush of the flood afar on the current.45And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly,Excellent folk-gems, than others had given himHe leaves Daneland on the breast of a bark.Who when first he was born outward did send himLone on the main, the merest of infants:And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heavenHigh o’er his head, let the holm-currents bear him,Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit,Their mood very mournful....