His Arrival. Hygelac'S Reception
Gewât him þâ se hearda mid his hond-scolesylf äfter sande sæ-wong tredan,wîde waroðas. Woruld-candel scân,sigel sûðan fûs: hî sîð drugon,elne geeodon, tô þäs þe eorla hleó,bonan Ongenþeówes burgum on innan,geongne gûð-cyning gôdne gefrunonhringas dælan. Higelâce wässîð Beówulfes snûde gecýðed,þät þær on worðig wîgendra hleó,lind-gestealla lifigende cwom,heaðo-lâces hâl tô hofe gongan.Hraðe wäs gerýmed, swâ se rîca bebeád,fêðe-gestum flet innan-weard.
Then the brave one set out with his chosen troop,himself, along the sand, to tread the sea-plain,the wide shores. The world-candle shone,the sun eager from the south; they went on their way,went boldly, to where they had heard the earls’ protector,the slayer of Ongentheow, that young and worthy war-king,was giving out rings within his stronghold.Beowulf’s return was quickly made known to Hygelac —that there, within the enclosure, the protector of warriors,his own shield-companion, had come back alive,unhurt from the battle-play, walking to the court.Quickly the floor was cleared, as the mighty one ordered,space made in the hall for the foot-guests.He sat then facing the man who had lived through the fight,
Gesät þâ wið sylfne, se þâ säcce genäs,mæg wið mæge, syððan man-dryhtenþurh hleóðor-cwyde holdne gegrêttemeaglum wordum. Meodu-scencumhwearf geond þät reced Häreðes dôhtor:lufode þâ leóde, lîð-wæge bärhælum tô handa. Higelâc ongansînne geseldan in sele þam heánfägre fricgean, hyne fyrwet bräc,hwylce Sæ-Geáta sîðas wæron:"Hû lomp eów on lâde, leófa Biówulf,"þâ þu færinga feorr gehogodest,"säcce sêcean ofer sealt wäter,"hilde tô Hiorote? Ac þu Hrôðgâre
kinsman facing kinsman. The lord had greetedhis faithful thane with formal speech,with words that were meant. Haereth’s daughtermoved through that hall with the mead-cups;she cared for the people;she carried the drink-vesselto the warriors’ hands, one by one. Hygelac beganto question his companion, there in the high hall,with courteous curiosity, eager to knowwhat kind of venture the Sea-Geats had had:“How did your journey go, dear Beowulf,when you suddenly resolved to seek a fight so far away,over the salt sea,battle at Heorot?
"wîd-cûðne weán wihte gebêttest,"mærum þeódne? Ic þäs môd-ceare"sorh-wylmum seáð, sîðe ne trûwode"leófes mannes; ic þe lange bäd,"þät þu þone wäl-gæst wihte ne grêtte,"lête Sûð-Dene sylfe geweorðan"gûðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge,"þäs þe ic þe gesundne geseón môste."Biówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþiówes:"Þät is undyrne, dryhten Higelâc,"mære gemêting monegum fira,"hwylc orleg-hwîl uncer Grendles"wearð on þam wange, þær he worna fela"Sige-Scildingum sorge gefremede,
Did you help Hrothgar at all with his well-known trouble,that famous prince? I brooded over thatwith surging sorrow in my heart, mistrusted your venture,my own beloved man; I begged you longnot to go anywhere near that murderous spirit,to let the South-Danes settle their own fight with Grendel.I thank God that I am allowed to see yousafe and sound.” Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow:“It is no secret, lord Hygelac, that famous meeting,to many men — what a struggle I and Grendel had,there in that place where he had brought so much sorrowon the Victory-Scyldings, misery beyond measure;I avenged all of that, so that no kin of Grendel’s,none of that hateful race, need boast anywhere on earth
"yrmðe tô aldre; ic þät eal gewräc,"swâ ne gylpan þearf Grendeles mâga"ænig ofer eorðan uht-hlem þone,"se þe lengest leofað lâðan cynnes,"fenne bifongen. Ic þær furðum cwom,"tô þam hring-sele Hrôðgâr grêtan:"sôna me se mæra mago Healfdenes,"syððan he môd-sefan mînne cûðe,"wið his sylfes sunu setl getæhte."Weorod wäs on wynne; ne seah ic wîdan feorh"under heofenes hwealf heal-sittendra"medu-dreám mâran. Hwîlum mæru cwên,"friðu-sibb folca flet eall geond-hwearf,"bædde byre geonge; oft hió beáh-wriðan
of that dawn-attack, whoever of those loathsome creatureslives longest, wrapped in the fen. I came firstto that ring-hall to greet Hrothgar; soonthe famous kinsman of Healfdene,once he knew my intent,gave me a seat beside his own son.The company was full of joy; never in my lifehave I seen greater mead-hall gladnessamong hall-dwellers under the sweep of heaven.At times the famous queen, that bond of peace between nations,passed through the whole hall, cheered on the young warriors;often she gave a ring-band to a soldierbefore she went back to her seat.At times, before the gathered men,
"secge sealde, ær hió tô setle geóng."Hwîlum for duguðe dôhtor Hrôðgâres"eorlum on ende ealu-wæge bär,"þâ ic Freáware flet-sittende"nemnan hýrde, þær hió nägled sinc"häleðum sealde: sió gehâten wäs,"geong gold-hroden, gladum suna Frôdan;"hafað þäs geworden wine Scyldinga"rîces hyrde and þät ræd talað,"þät he mid þý wîfe wäl-fæhða dæl,"säcca gesette. Oft nô seldan hwær"äfter leód-hryre lytle hwîle"bon-gâr bûgeð, þeáh seó brýd duge!
Hrothgar’s daughter carried the ale-cupto the earls down the hall —I heard them call her Freawaru —where she offered the studded cup to the heroes.She is promised, young and gold-adorned,to the glad son of Froda;the friend of the Scyldings has arranged it,the guardian of that kingdom, and he counts it good policy,that with that woman he might settle his shareof deadly feuds, of old quarrels between them.Yet rarely anywhere, after a prince has fallen,does the death-spear rest for even a little while,however good the bride may be!