Beowulf - 3a

Episode 3a: Beowulf Comes to Herot

The paved road guided the men.
Their war-coats shone,
the hard locks ringing
as they came toward the hall.
The sea-weary ones set
their broad, strong shields
against the building's wall,
then sat down on benches,
their armor resounding.
They stood their spears together,
ash wood tipped with gray,
an iron troop.

Then a proud Danish warrior asked them:
"From where have you carried
these gold-inlaid shields,
these shirts of mail,
masked helmets, and battle shafts?
I am Hrothgar's messenger and officer.
Never have I seen braver strangers.
I expect you're here
to find adventure, not asylum."

The brave one answered him,
he of the proud Geats tribe,
hard under his helmet:
"We are Hygelac's table companions.
Beowulf is my name.
I will declare to the great lord,
Healfdene's son, my errand,
if your prince will greet us."

Wulfgar spoke--he was
of the Wendla tribe
and known to many
for fighting and wisdom--
"I will ask the lord of the Danes,
the giver of rings,
if he will reward your journey
and speedily make his wishes known."

Wulfgar went quickly to where Hrothgar sat,
old and gray, with his most trusted men.

He went before the face
of the Dane's lord, knowing the customs of warriors.
Wulfgar spoke to his friendly lord:
"From far over the sea's expanse
has come a man of the Geats,
a chief of warriors named Beowulf.
He and his men have, my lord,
asked to exchange words with you.
Do not refuse the request,
Hrothgar! These men look worthy
of a warrior's esteem. Indeed,
the chief among them,
he who guides them, is strong."

Hrothgar, guard of the Danes, spoke:
"I knew him when he was a boy.
His father is called Edgtheow.
To that man Hrethel of the Geats
gave his only daughter.
Now his offspring has come
in bravery seeking a loyal friend.
Seafarers who took gifts
to the Geats say that he
has the strength of thirty men
in his hand grip.
Holy God, out of kindness,
has sent this man to us
to save us from Grendel's terror.
I shall give treasures
to that brave man
for his impetuous courage.
Be you in haste: go,
call in this band of kinsmen.
Say to them that they are welcome
to the Danish people."

Wulfgar, famous warrior,
went to the door:
"My victorious lord,
prince of the Danes,
bids me say he knows
your noble descent and
that brave men who
come over the sea swells are welcome to him.
Come with your war dress, under your helmets,
to see Hrothgar, but
let your war shields
and wooden spears await
the outcome of your talk."

The mighty one arose,
surrounded by warriors,
a mighty band of men.
Some remained with the weapons,
as the brave one ordered.
The rest hastened,
as the man guided,
under Herot's roof.

The great warrior went,
hard under his helmet,
until he stood within
in his shining coat of mail,
his armor-net sewn by smiths.

Beowulf spoke:
"I am Hygelac's kinsman and warrior.
I have undertaken many
glorious deeds. I learned
of Grendel in my native land.
Seafarers say this place,
the best of halls,
stands idle and useless
after sundown. Hrothgar,
the wise men among my people
advised that I seek you because they know my strength

— they saw me come from battles
stained in the blood of my enemies,
when I destroyed a family of giants,
when I endured pain all night,
killing water monsters,
grinding them to bits,
to avenge for the Geats
those who asked for misery.
And now I shall, alone,
fight Grendel. I ask you,
lord of the Danes,
protector of this people,
for only one favor:
that you refuse me not,
fair friend of the people,
do not refuse those who
have come so far the chance
to cleanse Herot.
I have heard that the monster
in his recklessness uses no weapons.
I, therefore, to amuse Hygelac my lord,
scorn to carry sword or shield,
but I shall seize my enemy
in my hand grip and fight,
enemy against enemy,
and let God decide
who shall be taken by death.
I expect, if he wins, that
he will eat fearlessly of
the Geat people in this hall
as he often has of yours.
Nor will you need,
if death takes me,
worry about a burial--
that solitary one
will carry my corpse,
dripping with blood,
to a ruthless feast.
If battle takes me,
send this best of war garments,
this shirt of mail,
to Hygelac--it is
an inheritance from Hrethel
and the work of Weland.
Fate always goes as it will!"

Hrothgar, protector of the Danes, spoke:
"Because of past kindness
and deeds done, you have come,
my friend Beowulf. By a killing
your father brought about
the greatest of feuds.
He was the killer of Heatholaf
among the Wylfings. The Geats,
for fear of war, would not have him,
so he sought us Danes
over the rolling waves. . .
back when I first ruled,
as a youth, this wide kingdom
of the Danish people,
this treasure city of heroes.
Heorogar was dead then,
my older brother,
the son of Healfdene.
(He was better than I!)
I paid money to settle your father's feud, sent
treasure over the water's back to the Wylfings. “

Beowulf continued: “Your father
swore oaths to me.
It is a sorrow for me
to say to any man
what Grendel has done--
humiliations in Herot--
hostile attacks on my hall warriors
until they are diminished,
swept away in Grendel's horror.
God may easily put an end
to that mad ravager's deeds.
Quite often have men boasted,
over their ale-cups,
drunk on beer,
that they would meet
Grendel's attack in the hall
with grim swords. But
in the morning when the daylight
shone, the mead hall was stained
in gore, the hall wet with
the blood of battle. And I had
a few less loyal men.
Sit now and feast, glory of warriors, and speak your thoughts
as your heart tells you."

So a bench was cleared for
the Geats and the brave men
sat down proud in their strength.

A warrior did his duty,
bearing an etched cup
and pouring sweet drink.
The poet sang in a clear voice,
and in Herot there was the joy
of brave men, Danes and Geats.