s: With his cabbage-tree hat on the back of his head,


s: Poor bullocky Bill!  In the circles select


s: But he walks like a _man_, with his forehead erect,


s: For, rough as he seems, he would shudder to wrong


s: And the angels of shine and superlative song


s: Few know him, indeed; but the beauty that glows


s: And Providence helping the life of the rose


s: Years fifty, and seven to boot, have smitten the children of men


s: No fall of the hoof or the paw, no whirr of the wing of the bird;


s: Whenever an elder is asked--a white-headed man of the woods--


s: A furlong of fetid, black fen, with gelid, green patches of pond,


s: But, wan as the sorrowful foam, a grey mother waits by the sea


s: High heaven's dome with different eyes--


s: In days full-flowered with hours of grace,


s: And fills thy strong, strange rhyme by fits


s: That left it blasted, blind, and stript--


s: Through sufferings fierce, in fine relief,


s: The language of the high-throned lords--


s: Who'd give that grand old theme of thine


s: Where sighs the sedge and sobs the marsh,


s: She is strange to this wonderful sphere;


s: Strange is the song, and the soul that is singing


s: Voice that is not of the living is ringing


s: Down in the depths where the darkness is clinging,


s: Fast, like a curse, to the ghosts of the trees!


s: Here in a mist that is parted in sunder,


s: Half with the darkness and half with the day;


s: Vivid and wild as a flame of the thunder,


s: Flashes and fades, and the wail of the grey


s: Water is loud on the straits of the bay!


s: Father, whose years have been many and weary--


s: Shining in ways that are sterile and dreary--


s: Tell me the name of this beautiful peri,


s: Star, at the meeting of morning and night.


s: Look to thy Saviour, and down on thy knee, man,


s: Lean on the Lord, as the Zebedee leaned;


s: Daughter of hell is the neighbour of thee, man--


s: Turn to the Christ to be succoured and screened,


s: Saved from the eyes of a marvellous fiend!


s: Shelter thyself from the splendour, and sue, man;


s: Lives in the face of this sinister snare,


s: Longing to strangle thy soul with her hair!


s: Lilith, who came to the father and bound him


s: Fast with her eyes in the first of the springs;


s: Lilith she is, but remember she drowned him,


s: Shedding her flood of gold tresses around him--


s: Lulled him to sleep with the lyric she sings:


s: Low is her voice, but beware of it ever,


s: Swift bitter death is the fruit of delay;


s: Never was song of its beauty--ah! never--


s: Heard on the mountain, or meadow, or river,


s: Not of the night is it, not of the day--


s: Back on the hills are the blossom and feather,


s: Here is the grace of magnificent weather,


s: Where is the woman from gulfs of the nether?


s: Where is the fiend with the face of desire?


s: Sound that was not of this world, or the spacious


s: Splendid blue heaven, has passed from the lea;


s: Dead is the voice of the devil audacious:


s: Here, in the song and the shadow of tree,


s: Down by the green and the gold of the sea.


s: But bard whose weight is fourteen stone,


s: This mite whose length was just a yard--


s: "This babe"--I spoke in Wordsworth's tone--


s: From the rainy hill-heads, where, in starts and in spasms,


s: Leaps wild the white torrent from chasms to chasms--


s: From the home of bold echoes, whose voices of wonder


s: Fly out of blind caverns struck black by high thunder--


s: Through gorges august, in whose nether recesses


s: Is heard the far psalm of unseen wildernesses--


s: Like a dominant spirit, a strong-handed sharer


s: Of spoil with the tempest, comes down the Narrara.


s: Yea, where the great sword of the hurricane cleaveth


s: The forested fells that the dark never leaveth--


s: By fierce-featured crags, in whose evil abysses


s: The clammy snake coils, and the flat adder hisses--


s: Past lordly rock temples, where Silence is riven


s: By the anthems supreme of the four winds of heaven--


s: It speeds, with the cry of the streams of the fountains


s: It chained to its sides, and dragged down from the mountains!


s: But when it goes forth from the slopes with a sally--


s: Being strengthened with tribute from many a valley--


s: It broadens and brightens, and thereupon marches


s: Above the stream sapphires and under green arches,


s: With the rhythm of majesty--careless of cumber--


s: Its might in repose and its fierceness in slumber--


s: Till it beams on the plains, where the wind is a bearer


s: Of words from the sea to the stately Narrara!


s: Narrara! grand son of the haughty hill torrent,


s: Too late in my day have I looked at thy current--


s: Too late in my life to discern and inherit


s: The soul of thy beauty, the joy of thy spirit!


s: With the years of the youth and the hairs of the hoary,


s: I sit like a shadow outside of thy glory;


s: Nor look with the morning-like feelings, O river,


s: That illumined the boy in the days gone for ever!


s: Ah! sad are the sounds of old ballads which borrow


s: One-half of their grief from the listener's sorrow;


s: And sad are the eyes of the pilgrim who traces


s: But sadder than all is the sense of his losses


s: That cometh to one when a sudden age crosses


s: And cripples his manhood.  So, stricken by fate, I


s: Felt older at thirty than some do at eighty.


s: Because I believe in the beautiful story,


s: The poem of Greece in the days of her glory--


s: That the high-seated Lord of the woods and the waters


s: Has peopled His world with His deified daughters--


s: That flowerful forests and waterways streaming


s: Are gracious with goddesses glowing and gleaming--


s: I pray that thy singing divinity, fairer


s: Than wonderful women, may listen, Narrara!


s: O spirit of sea-going currents!--thou, being


s: The child of immortals, all-knowing, all-seeing--


s: Thou hast at thy heart the dark truth that I borrow


s: For the song that I sing thee, no fanciful sorrow;


s: In the sight of thine eyes is the history written


s: Of Love smitten down as the strong leaf is smitten;


s: And before thee there goeth a phantom beseeching


s: For faculties forfeited--hopes beyond reaching.


s: Thou knowest, O sister of deities blazing


s: With splendour ineffable, beauty amazing,


s: What life the gods gave me--what largess I tasted--


s: The youth thrown away, and the faculties wasted.


s: I might, as thou seest, have stood in high places,


s: Instead of in pits where the brand of disgrace is,


s: A byword for scoffers--a butt and a caution,


s: With the grave of poor Burns and Maginn for my portion.


s: But the heart of the Father Supreme is offended,


s: And my life in the light of His favour is ended;


s: And, whipped by inflexible devils, I shiver,


s: With a hollow "_Too late_" in my hearing for ever;


s: But thou--being sinless, exalted, supernal,


s: The daughter of diademed gods, the eternal--


s: Shalt shine in thy waters when time and existence


s: Have dwindled, like stars, in unspeakable distance.


s: But the face of thy river--the torrented power


s: That smites at the rock while it fosters the flower--


s: Shall gleam in my dreams with the summer-look splendid,


s: And the beauty of woodlands and waterfalls blended;


s: And often I'll think of far-forested noises,


s: And the emphasis deep of grand sea-going voices,


s: And turn to Narrara the eyes of a lover,


s: When the sorrowful days of my singing are over.


s: With lures of fair, false flowerage deep,


s: That wintering winds through waste-lands sweep!


s: With evil shapes of dreams distressed,--


s: Our lives, sets flowers on wayside weeds--


s: Our thoughts were sweetened with a sense


s: Were his; but, rather, all those bright,


s: With reverent hands and prayerful breath,


s: * Araluen:  The poet's daughter, who died in infancy.


s: Take this rose, and very gently place it on the tender, deep


s: Mosses where our little darling, Araluen, lies asleep.


s: Put the blossom close to baby--kneel with me, my love, and pray;


s: We must leave the bird we've buried--say good-bye to her to-day.


s: In the shadow of our trouble we must go to other lands,


s: And the flowers we have fostered will be left to other hands:


s: Other eyes will watch them growing--other feet will softly tread


s: Ah! the saddest thought in leaving baby in this bush alone


s: Is that we have not been able on her grave to place a stone:


s: We have been too poor to do it; but, my darling, never mind--


s: God is in the gracious heavens, and His sun and rain are kind:


s: But beyond the wild, wide waters, we will tread another shore--


s: We will never watch this blossom, never see it any more.


s: Other children may be given; but this rose beyond recall,


s: But this garland of your girlhood, will be dearest of them all.


s: None will ever, Araluen, nestle where you used to be,


s: In my heart of hearts, you darling, when the world was new to me;


s: You that sit and sob beside me--you, upon whose golden head


s: Many rains of many sorrows have from day to day been shed;


s: Who because your love was noble, faced with me the lot austere


s: Ever pressing with its hardship on the man of letters here--


s: Let me feel that you are near me, lay your hand within mine own;


s: You are all I have to live for, now that we are left alone.


s: (The poem which won the prize offered by the proprietors


s: Now, while Orion, flaming south, doth set


s: A shining foot on hills of wind and wet--


s: Far haughty hills beyond the fountains cold


s: And dells of glimmering greenness manifold--


s: While August sings the advent of the Spring,


s: And in the calm is heard September's wing,


s: High, deathless radiance--crowned Calliope!


s: What though we never hear the great god's lays


s: Which made all music the Hellenic days--


s: What though the face of thy fair heaven beams


s: Still only on the crystal Grecian streams--


s: What though a sky of new, strange beauty shines


s: Where no white Dryad sings within the pines:


s: Here is a land whose large, imperial grace


s: Must tempt thee, goddess, in thine holy place!


s: Here are the dells of peace and plenilune,


s: The hills of morning and the slopes of noon;


s: Here are the waters dear to days of blue,


s: And dark-green hollows of the noontide dew;


s: Here lies the harp, by fragrant wood-winds fanned,


s: That waits the coming of thy quickening hand!


s: And shall Australia, framed and set in sea,


s: August with glory, wait in vain for thee?


s: Shall more than Tempe's beauty be unsung


s: Because its shine is strange--its colours young?


s: No! by the full, live light which puts to shame


s: The far, fair splendours of Thessalian flame--


s: By yonder forest psalm which sinks and swells


s: Like that of Phocis, grave with oracles--


s: By deep prophetic winds that come and go


s: Where whispering springs of pondering mountains flow--


s: By lute-like leaves and many-languaged caves,


s: Where sounds the strong hosanna of the waves,


s: Soon, soon, the music of the southern lyre


s: Shall start and blossom with a speech like fire!


s: Soon, soon, shall flower and flow in flame divine


s: Strong, shining sons of Delphicus shall rise


s: With all their father's glory in their eyes;


s: And then shall beam on yonder slopes and springs


s: The light that swims upon the light of things.


s: And therefore, lingering in a land of lawn,


s: With gaze upturned to where wan summits lie


s: Against the morning flowing up the sky--


s: Whose eyes in dreams of many colours see


s: A glittering vision of the years to be--


s: That I may leave a song whose lonely rays


s: May shine hereafter from these songless days.


s: For now there breaks across the faint grey range


s: The rose-red dawning of a radiant change.


s: A soft, sweet voice is in the valleys deep,


s: Where darkness droops and sings itself to sleep.


s: The grave, mute woods, that yet the silence hold


s: Of dim, dead ages, gleam with hints of gold.


s: Yon eastern cape that meets the straitened wave--


s: A twofold tower above the whistling cave--


s: Whose strength in thunder shields the gentle lea,


s: And makes a white wrath of a league of sea,


s: Now wears the face of peace; and in the bay


s: The weak, spent voice of Winter dies away.


s: In every dell there is a whispering wing,


s: By every hill are growths of tender green--


s: On every slope a fair, new life is seen;


s: And lo! beneath the morning's blossoming fires,


s: In mists of gold, by countless havens furled,


s: And glad with all the flags of all the world!


s: These are the shores, where, in a dream of fear,


s: Cathay saw darkness dwelling half the year!*1*


s: These are the coasts that old fallacious tales


s: Chained down with ice and ringed with sleepless gales!


s: This is the land that, in the hour of awe,


s: From Indian peaks the rapt Venetian saw!*2*


s: Here is the long grey line of strange sea wall


s: That checked the prow of the audacious Gaul,


s: What time he steered towards the southern snow,


s: From zone to zone, four hundred years ago!*3*


s: By yonder gulf, whose marching waters meet


s: The wine-dark currents from the isles of heat,


s: Strong sons of Europe, in a far dim year,


s: Faced ghastly foes, and felt the alien spear!


s: There, in a later dawn, by shipless waves,


s: The tender grasses found forgotten graves.*4*


s: Far in the west, beyond those hills sublime,


s: There, by a wild-faced bay, and in a cleft,


s: His shining name the fair-haired Northman left;*5*


s: And, on those broad imperial waters, far


s: Sailed Tasman down a great and glowing space


s: Whose softer lights were like his lady's face.


s: In dreams of her he roved from zone to zone,


s: And gave her lovely name to coasts unknown*6*


s: And saw, in streaming sunset everywhere,


s: Where in low heavens hangs a fourfold moon.


s: Here, on the tides of a resplendent year,


s: By capes of jasper, came the buccaneer.*7*


s: Then, then, the wild men, flying from the beach,


s: First heard the clear, bold sounds of English speech;


s: And then first fell across a Southern plain


s: The broad, strong shadows of a Saxon train.


s: Near yonder wall of stately cliff, that braves


s: The daring son of grey old Yorkshire stood


s: What time a gentle April shed its showers,


s: Aflame with sunset, on the Bay of Flowers.*8*


s: And spared the Hector of his native land--


s: The dark, strange curses of barbaric speech.


s: Shines full of beauty in these latter days;


s: With great, divine compassion in his eyes;


s: That death august--the radiant martyr's death;


s: Who in the last hour showed the Christian face


s: Whose crumbling beauty shamed the alien race.


s: In peace he sleeps where deep eternal calms


s: Lie round the land of heavy-fruited palms.


s: Where deep, pure pools of glittering waters are,


s: The blue-eyed Saxon from the hills of snow


s: In flowerful shades, where gold and green are rife,


s: Still rests the shell of his forgotten life.


s: Far, far away, beneath some northern sky


s: The fathers of his humble household lie;


s: But by his lonely grave are sapphire streams,


s: And gracious woodlands, where the fire-fly gleams;


s: *2* Marco Polo mentions a large land called by the Malays Lochac.


s: *3* Mr. R. H. Major discovered a map of Terra Australis


s: dated A.D. 1555 and bearing the name of Le Testu, a French pilot.


s: *4* The sailors of the _Duyfken_, a Dutch vessel which entered


s: unlucky adventurers were the first Europeans buried in Australia.


s: Governor of Batavia, who had no children.--Ed.


s: On that bold hill, against a broad blue stream,


s: What time the mists of morning westward rolled,


s: Here, in the hour that shines and sounds afar,


s: Flamed first old England's banner like a star;


s: Here, in a time august with prayer and praise,


s: Was born the nation of these splendid days;


s: Where are the woods that, ninety summers back,


s: Stood hoar with ages by the water-track?


s: Where are the valleys of the flashing wing,


s: The dim green margins and the glimmering spring?


s: Where now the warrior of the forest race,


s: His glaring war-paint and his fearless face?


s: The banks of April and the groves of bird,


s: The glades of silence and the pools unstirred,


s: The gleaming savage and the whistling spear,


s: Passed with the passing of a wild old year!


s: The whittled tree by folded wayside rills,


s: The call of bird that hides in hollows far,


s: Where feet of thunder, wings of winter are--


s: Of all that Past, these wrecks of wind and rain,


s: These touching memories--these alone remain!


s: What sun is this that beams and broadens west?


s: What wonder this, in deathless glory dressed?


s: What strange, sweet harp of highest god took flame


s: And gave this Troy its life, its light, its name?


s: What awful lyre of marvellous power and range


s: Upraised this Ilion--wrought this dazzling change?


s: Set yonder splendour by the morning streams!


s: No god who glimmers in a doubtful sphere


s: This is the city that our fathers framed--


s: These are the crescents by the elders named!


s: Broke down the mountain, filled the gaping glen,


s: Ran streets through swamp, built banks against the foam,


s: And bent the arch and raised the lordly dome!


s: Here are the towers that the founders made!


s: Here are the temples where these Romans prayed!


s: Here stand the courts in which their leaders met!


s: Here are their homes, and here their altars yet!


s: Here sleep the grand old men whose lives sublime


s: Of thought and action shine and sound through time!


s: Who worked in darkness--onward fought their ways


s: To bring about these large majestic days--


s: Who left their sons the hearts and high desires


s: Which built this city of the hundred spires!


s: The hills take colour, and the valleys sing.


s: A strong September flames beyond the lea--


s: Comes crowned with lustre, zoned and shod with gold!


s: What great mute majesty is this that takes


s: The first of morning ere the song-bird wakes?


s: Lo, this was built to honour gathering lands


s: These are the halls where all the flags unfurled


s: Break into speech that welcomes all the world.


s: And lo, our friends are here from every zone--


s: From isles we dream of and from tracts unknown!


s: Here are the fathers from the stately space


s: Where Ireland is and England's sacred face!


s: Here are the Norsemen from their strong sea-wall,


s: The grave, grand Teuton and the brilliant Gaul!


s: From green, sweet groves the dark-eyed Lusians sail,


s: And proud Iberia leaves the grape-flushed vale.


s: Here are the lords whose starry banner shines


s: From fierce Magellan to the Arctic pines.


s: Here come the strangers from the gates of day--


s: From hills of sunrise and from white Cathay.


s: The spicy islands send their swarthy sons,


s: The lofty North its mailed and mighty ones.


s: Yea, North and South, and glowing West and East,


s: Are gathering here to grace our splendid feast!


s: The chiefs from peaks august with Asian snow,


s: Come hither, with the flower of that fair land


s: That blooms beyond the fiery tracts of sand


s: Where Syrian suns their angry lustres fling


s: Across blind channels of the bygone spring.


s: And on this great, auspicious day, the flowers


s: The singing angel from the starry sphere


s: Of dazzling Science shows his wonders here;


s: And Art, the dream-clad spirit, starts, and brings


s: From Fairyland her strange, sweet, glittering things.


s: Here are the works man did, what time his face


s: Was touched by God in some exalted place;


s: Here glows the splendour--here the marvel wrought


s: When Heaven flashed upon the maker's thought!


s: Yea, here are all the miracles sublime--


s: The lights of Genius and the stars of Time!


s: Her white, pure lustre beams across the zones;


s: The nations greet her from their awful thrones.


s: From hence the morning beauty of her name


s: Will shine afar, like an exceeding flame.


s: Her place will be with mighty lords, whose sway


s: Controls the thunder and the marching day.


s: Her crown will shine beside the crowns of kings


s: Who shape the seasons, rule the course of things,


s: Will spread like light on a surpassing sea;


s: And graced with glory, girt with power august,


s: Her life will last till all things turn to dust.


s: O Lord! to whom the awful mountains bow;


s: Whose hands, unseen, the tenfold storms control;


s: Whose thunders shake the spheres from pole to pole;


s: Who from Thy highest heaven lookest down,


s: The sea Thy footstool, and the sun Thy crown;


s: Around whose throne the deathless planets sing


s: To Thee the soul of prayer this morning turns,


s: With faith that glitters, and with hope that burns!


s: That fill the heart in pauses of the psalm,


s: She asks Thy blessing for this fair young land


s: That flowers within the hollow of Thine hand!


s: She seeks of Thee that boon, that gift sublime,


s: The Christian radiance, for this hope of Time!


s: And Thou wilt listen! and Thy face will bend


s: To smile upon us--Master, Father, Friend!


s: The Christ to whom pure pleading heart hath crept


s: Was human once, and in the darkness wept;


s: The gracious love that helped us long ago


s: And be a light to guide the nation's feet


s: On holy paths--on sacred ways and sweet.


s: Ah, the bitter, hopeless desert!  Here these broken human wrecks


s: Trod the wilds where sand of fire is with the spiteful spinifex,


s: One man yielded--then another--then a lad of nineteen years


s: Reeled and fell, with English rivers singing softly in his ears,


s: English grasses started round him--then the grace of Sussex lea


s: Came and touched him with the beauty of a green land by the sea!


s: In a dream of golden evening, beaming on a quiet strand,


s: Lay the stranger till a bright One came and took him by the hand.


s: And an angel that we know not led him to the lands unknown!


s: But beyond the northern skyline, past a wall of steep austere,


s: Lay the land of light and coolness in an April-coloured year!


s: haled their beasts through brake and briar,


s: Out behind them was the desert, glaring like a sea of brass!


s: Touching was the cool, soft lustre over laps of lawn and lea;


s: And majestic was the great road Morning made across the sea.


s: On the sacred day of Christmas, after seven months of grief,


s: Rested three of six who started, on a bank of moss and leaf--


s: Rested by a running river, in a hushed, a holy week;


s: And they named the stream that saved them--


s: * Orara:  A tributary of the river Clarence.


s: And scarred the slope, and broke the spire,


s: Wizened the wood is, and wan is the way through it;


s: White as a corpse is the face of the fen;


s: Only blue adders abide in and stray through it--


s: Here is the "ghost of a garden" whose minister


s: Fosters strange blossoms that startle and scare.


s: Red as man's blood is the sun that, with sinister


s: Wrinkled and haggard the hills are--the jags of them


s: Storm and dry thunder cry out in the crags of them--


s: Fire, and the wind with a woe in its wings.


s: Never a moon without clammy-cold shroud on it


s: Hitherward comes, or a flower-like star!


s: Only the hiss of the tempest is loud on it--


s: Here on this waste, and to left and to right of it,


s: Fierce is the daytime and wild is the night of it,


s: Flame without limit and frost without wane!


s: Trees half alive, with the sense of a curse on them,


s: Shudder and shrink from the black heavy gale;


s: Ghastly, with boughs like the plumes of a hearse on them:


s: Barren of blossom and blasted with bale.


s: Under the cliff that stares down to the south of it--


s: Still, as a corpse in a coffin is still.


s: Never there hovers a hope of the Spring by it--


s: Only the bat with a whisper of wing by it


s: Flits like a life out of flesh and unseen.


s: Here are the growths that are livid and glutinous,


s: Speckled, and bloated with poisonous blood:


s: This is the haunt of the viper-breed mutinous:


s: Cursed with the curse of weird Catherine Flood.


s: He that hath looked on it--hurried aghast from it,


s: Hair of him frozen with horror straightway,


s: Chased by a sudden strange pestilent blast from it--


s: Where is the speech of him--what can he say?


s: Hath he not seen the fierce ghost of a hag in it?


s: Heard maledictions that startle the stars?


s: Just the one glimpse of that grey, shrieking woman there


s: Ringed by a circle of furnace and fiend!


s: He that went happy and healthy and human there--


s: Where shall the white leper fly to be cleaned?


s: Here, in a pit with indefinite doom on it,


s: Under an alp with inscrutable gloom on it,


s: Squats the wild witch with a ghoul at her throat!


s: Black execration that cannot be spoken of--


s: Speech of red hell that would suffocate Song,


s: Starts from this terror with never a token of


s: Day and its loveliness all the year long.


s: Sin without name to it--man never heard of it--


s: Crime that would startle a fiend from his lair,


s: Blasted this Glen, and the leaf and the bird of it--


s: _Where is there hope for it, Father, O where?_


s: Far in the days of our fathers, the life in it


s: Blossomed and beamed in the sight of the sun:


s: Yellow and green and the purple were rife in it,


s: Storm of the equinox shed no distress on it,


s: Thunder spoke softly, and summer-time left


s: Sunset's forsaken bright beautiful dress on it--


s: Blessing that shone half the night in the cleft.


s: Hymns of the highlands--hosannas from hills by it,


s: Psalms of great forests made holy the spot:


s: Cool were the mosses and clear were the rills by it--


s: Far in the days when the Horror was not.


s: Twenty miles south is the strong, shining Hawkesbury--


s: Spacious and splendid, and lordly with blooms.


s: There, between mountains magnificent, walks bury


s: Miles of their beauty in green myrtle glooms.


s: There, in the dell, is the fountain with falls by it--


s: Falls, and a torrent of summering stream:


s: There is the cave with the hyaline halls by it--


s: Haunt of the echo and home of the dream.


s: Over the hill, by the marvellous base of it,


s: Wanders the wind with a song in its breath


s: Out to the sea with the gold on the face of it--


s: Twenty miles south of the Valley of Death.


s: * Every happy expression in these stanzas may fairly be claimed


s: by the Hon. W. B. Dalley (_Author's note_).


s: At the steps of the altar august--a vision of angels in stone--


s: For Rome and its temples to be--in a temple by Deity made.


s: They saw, in some wonderful hour, the marvel of centuries rise!


s: the dream that their fathers had dreamed,


s: By the glory of Italy moved--the majesty shining in Rome--


s: They turned to the land that they loved,


s: And a soul of unspeakable fire descended on them, and they fought


s: Just think of these men--of their time--


s: of the days of their deed, and the scene!


s: their suppression of self must have been!


s: And lo! by these altars august, the life that is highest we live,


s: and the peace that the world cannot give.


s: They have passed, have the elders of time--


s: they have gone; but the work of their hands,


s: Pre-eminent, peerless, sublime, like a type of eternity stands!


s: Don't wonder, friend; I've seen the time


s: For, though he's lightly touched by Fate,


s: And dashed through flood and fierce defile--


s: Dressed is the beautiful city--the spires of it


s: Burn in the firmament stately and still;


s: Forest has vanished--the wood and the lyres of it,


s: Lutes of the sea-wind and harps of the hill.


s: This is the region, and here is the bay by it,


s: Collins, the deathless, beheld in a dream:


s: Flinders and Fawkner, our forefathers grey, by it


s: Here, on the waters of majesty near to us,


s: Lingered the leaders by towers of flame:


s: Elders who turn from the lordly old year to us


s: Crowned with the lights of ineffable fame.


s: But while their children's children last,


s: On streams of splendour--bays impearled--


s: To Thee be the glory, All-Bountiful Giver!


s: The song that we sing is an anthem to Thee,


s: Whose blessing is shed on Thy people for ever,


s: Whose love is like beautiful light on the sea.


s: Behold, with high sense of Thy mercy unsleeping,


s: We come to Thee, kneel to Thee, praise Thee, and pray,


s: O Lord, in whose hand is the strength that is keeping


s: The storm from the wave and the night from the day!


s: The years have been hard that have pressed


s: When the lips of the scorner were curled,


s: Through the worst of his days and the best.


s: A silver slope, a fall of firs, a league of gleaming grasses,


s: And fiery cones, and sultry spurs, and swarthy pits and passes!


s: Across a tract of furnaced flints there came a wind of water,


s: She sat amongst wild singing weeds, by beds of myrrh and moly;


s: And Acis made a flute of reeds, and drew its accents slowly;


s: Then he who shaped the cunning tune, by keen desire made bolder,


s: Sicilian suns had laid a dower of light and life about her:


s: "Ah, Galate," said Polypheme, "I would that I could find thee


s: But golden Galatea laughed, and Thosa's son, like thunder,


s: Broke through a rifty runnel shaft, and dashed its rocks asunder,


s: Here Galatea used to come, and rest beside the river;


s: There's worse than wormwood in your speech,


s: Her bright green nooks and channels cool


s: That spanned the straitened stream across,


s: Lordly harp, by lordly master wakened from majestic sleep,


s: Yet shall tell the tale of hero, in exalted years to be!


s: In the ranges, by the rivers, on the uplands, down the dells,


s: Name of him who faced for science thirsty tracts of bitter glow,


s: Lurid lands that no one knows of--two-and-thirty years ago.


s: Born by hills of hard grey weather, far beyond the northern seas,


s: With the song of stormy crescents where the mighty waters roll.


s: Thus he came to be a brother of the river and the wood--


s: Thus the leaf, the bird, the blossom, grew a gracious sisterhood;


s: Kneeling down, he said--"My mother, let me be as one of thine!"


s: For her sake he crossed the waters--loving her, he left the place


s: On the slopes of many flowers, down the gold-green dells of dew.


s: In the great august cathedral of his holy lady, he


s: Daily worshipped at her altars, nightly bent the reverent knee--


s: But the starry angel, Science, from the home of glittering wings,


s: And the lady, Nature, listened; and she took her loyal son


s: From the banks of moss and myrtle--led him to the Shining One!


s: Filled his lordly soul with gladness--told him of a spacious zone


s: Of the cool green German valley and the singing German stream?


s: When the sun was as a menace, glaring from a sky of brass,


s: Did he ever rest, in visions, on a lap of German grass?


s: Past the waste of thorny terrors, did he reach a sphere of rills,


s: Was the spot where last he rested pleasant as an old-world lea?


s: Did the sweet winds come and lull him with the music of the sea?


s: Let us dream so--let us hope so!  Haply in a cool green glade,


s: In the sound of mountain water, the heroic traveller lies!


s: Down a dell of dewy myrtle, where the light is soft and green,


s: And a month like English April sits, an immemorial queen,


s: Let us think that he is resting--think that by a radiant grave


s: Ever come the songs of forest, and the voices of the wave!


s: The falls of flower, and flower-like floss--


s: That gleamed between the wet, green walls,


s: LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings


s: of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,


s: we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!


s: Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,


s: friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:


s: for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,


s: till before him the folk, both far and near,


s: who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,


s: that erst they had lacked an earl for leader


s: the Wielder of Wonder, with world's renown.


s: Famed was this Beowulf:  {0a} far flew the boast of him,


s: with his father's friends, by fee and gift,


s: come warriors willing, should war draw nigh,


s: Then they bore him over to ocean's billow,


s: loving clansmen, as late he charged them,


s: the leader beloved who long had ruled....


s: In the roadstead rocked a ring-dight vessel,


s: ice-flecked, outbound, atheling's barge:


s: on the breast of the boat, the breaker-of-rings, {0b}


s: by the mast the mighty one. Many a treasure


s: fetched from far was freighted with him.


s: with weapons of war and weeds of battle,


s: with breastplate and blade:  on his bosom lay


s: far o'er the flood with him floating away.


s: thanes' huge treasure, than those had done


s: High o'er his head they hoist the standard,


s: a gold-wove banner; let billows take him,


s: gave him to ocean. Grave were their spirits,


s: no hero 'neath heaven, -- who harbored that freight!


s: Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scyldings,


s: in fame with all folk, since his father had gone


s: away from the world, till awoke an heir,


s: haughty Healfdene, who held through life,


s: to the chieftain of clansmen, children four:


s: Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;


s: To Hrothgar was given such glory of war,


s: obeyed him gladly till great grew his band


s: of youthful comrades. It came in his mind


s: than ever was seen by the sons of earth,


s: he would all allot that the Lord had sent him,


s: save only the land and the lives of his men.


s: to fashion the folkstead. It fell, as he ordered,


s: in rapid achievement that ready it stood there,


s: of halls the noblest:  Heorot {1a} he named it


s: Not reckless of promise, the rings he dealt,


s: treasure at banquet:  there towered the hall,


s: high, gabled wide, the hot surge waiting


s: of furious flame. {1b} Nor far was that day


s: when father and son-in-law stood in feud


s: for warfare and hatred that woke again. {1c}


s: high in the hall:  there harps rang out,


s: clear song of the singer. He sang who knew {1d}


s: for a light to lighten the land-dwellers,


s: with limbs and leaves, made life for all


s: So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel


s: march-riever {1e} mighty, in moorland living,


s: Ill fared his feud, {1f} and far was he driven,


s: for the slaughter's sake, from sight of men.


s: as well as the giants that warred with God


s: weary while:  but their wage was paid them!


s: the Ring-Danes, outrevelled, to rest had gone.


s: asleep after feasting and fearless of sorrow,


s: wrathful, reckless, from resting-places,


s: thirty of the thanes, and thence he rushed


s: fain of his fell spoil, faring homeward,


s: Then at the dawning, as day was breaking,


s: loud moan in the morn. The mighty chief,


s: labored in woe for the loss of his thanes,


s: when once had been traced the trail of the fiend,


s: too long, too loathsome. Not late the respite;


s: firm in his guilt, of the feud and crime.


s: They were easy to find who elsewhere sought


s: bed in the bowers, {2a} when that bale was shown,


s: was seen in sooth, with surest token, --


s: the hall-thane's {2b} hate. Such held themselves


s: Thus ruled unrighteous and raged his fill


s: that lordly building, and long it bode so.


s: in sorrowful songs, how ceaselessly Grendel


s: harassed Hrothgar, what hate he bore him,


s: make pact of peace, or compound for gold:


s: great fee for the feud from his fiendish hands.


s: death-shadow dark, and dogged them still,


s: where the haunts of these Hell-Runes {2c} be.


s: Such heaping of horrors the hater of men,


s: harassings heavy. O'er Heorot he lorded,


s: and ne'er could the prince {2d} approach his throne,


s: -- 'twas judgment of God, -- or have joy in his hall.


s: Sore was the sorrow to Scyldings'-friend,


s: against harassing terror to try their hand.


s: Whiles they vowed in their heathen fanes


s: that the slayer-of-souls would succor give them


s: for the pain of their people. Their practice this,


s: their heathen hope; 'twas Hell they thought of


s: in mood of their mind. Almighty they knew not,


s: to fiery embraces; -- nor favor nor change


s: that after death-day may draw to his Lord,


s: and friendship find in the Father's arms!


s: THUS seethed unceasing the son of Healfdene


s: with the woe of these days; not wisest men


s: assuaged his sorrow; too sore the anguish,


s: most baneful of burdens and bales of the night.


s: stalwart and stately. A stout wave-walker


s: he bade make ready. Yon battle-king, said he,


s: far o'er the swan-road he fain would seek,


s: was little blamed, though they loved him dear;


s: they whetted the hero, and hailed good omens.


s: And now the bold one from bands of Geats


s: the sea-wood {3a} he sought, and, sailor proved,


s: Time had now flown; {3b} afloat was the ship,


s: boat under bluff. On board they climbed,


s: on the breast of the bark their bright array,


s: their mail and weapons:  the men pushed off,


s: on its willing way, the well-braced craft.


s: Then moved o'er the waters by might of the wind


s: that bark like a bird with breast of foam,


s: the Weders' {3c} clansmen climbed ashore,


s: anchored their sea-wood, with armor clashing


s: or passing in peace o'er the paths of the sea.


s: Now saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman,


s: how they bore o'er the gangway glittering shields,


s: war-gear in readiness; wonder seized him


s: Straight to the strand his steed he rode,


s: he shook his spear, and spake in parley.


s: with harrying fleet should harm the land.


s: linden-wielders:  {3d} yet word-of-leave


s: my folk's agreement. -- A greater ne'er saw I


s: of warriors in world than is one of you, --


s: worthied by weapons, if witness his features,


s: his peerless presence! I pray you, though, tell


s: the warriors' leader his word-hoard unlocked:  --


s: through width of the world by wise men all.


s: people-protector:  be pleased to advise us!


s: To that mighty-one come we on mickle errand,


s: to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I right


s: that aught be hidden. We hear -- thou knowest


s: that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster,


s: in greatness of soul would succor bring,


s: so the Wise-and-Brave {4a} may worst his foes, --


s: he shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place


s: Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered,


s: clansman unquailing:  "The keen-souled thane


s: must be skilled to sever and sunder duly


s: to the Scyldings' master. March, then, bearing


s: it waft o'er the waters those well-loved thanes,


s: -- winding-neck'd wood, -- to Weders' bounds,


s: shall succor and save from the shock of war."


s: They bent them to march, -- the boat lay still,


s: broad-bosomed ship. -- Then shone the boars {4b}


s: heroes in haste, till the hall they saw,


s: that was the fairest, 'mid folk of earth,


s: of houses 'neath heaven, where Hrothgar lived,


s: and the gleam of it lightened o'er lands afar.


s: The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright


s: straightway thither; his steed then turned,


s: "'Tis time that I fare from you. Father Almighty


s: 'gainst hostile warriors hold my watch."


s: STONE-BRIGHT the street:  {5a} it showed the way


s: to the crowd of clansmen. Corselets glistened


s: hand-forged, hard; on their harness bright


s: the steel ring sang, as they strode along


s: in mail of battle, and marched to the hall.


s: they set their bucklers, their broad shields, down,


s: and bowed them to bench:  the breastplates clanged,


s: was worthily weaponed! -- A warrior proud


s: "Whence, now, bear ye burnished shields,


s: ne'er met I as strangers of mood so strong.


s: 'Tis plain that for prowess, not plunged into exile,


s: for high-hearted valor, Hrothgar ye seek!"


s: Him the sturdy-in-war bespake with words,


s: hardy 'neath helmet:  -- "Hygelac's, we,


s: I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene


s: this mission of mine, to thy master-lord,


s: grace that we greet him, the good one, now."


s: his courage and counsel:  "The king of Danes,


s: the Scyldings' friend, I fain will tell,


s: the Breaker-of-Rings, as the boon thou askest,


s: as the doughty monarch may deign to give."


s: Hied then in haste to where Hrothgar sat


s: white-haired and old, his earls about him,


s: till the stout thane stood at the shoulder there


s: o'er the paths of ocean, people of Geatland;


s: and the stateliest there by his sturdy band


s: have speech at will:  nor spurn their prayer


s: to give them hearing, gracious Hrothgar!


s: methinks, of our liking; their leader most surely,


s: a hero that hither his henchmen has led."


s: HROTHGAR answered, helmet of Scyldings:  --


s: "I knew him of yore in his youthful days;


s: fares hither to seek the steadfast friend.


s: who carried my gifts to the Geatish court,


s: thither for thanks, -- he has thirty men's


s: against horror of Grendel. I hope to give


s: the good youth gold for his gallant thought.


s: and add this word, -- they are welcome guests


s: Wulfgar went] and the word declared:  --


s: East-Danes' king, that your kin he knows,


s: but let here the battle-shields bide your parley,


s: Uprose the mighty one, ringed with his men,


s: brave band of thanes:  some bode without,


s: battle-gear guarding, as bade the chief.


s: Then hied that troop where the herald led them,


s: under Heorot's roof:  [the hero strode,]


s: hardy 'neath helm, till the hearth he neared.


s: Beowulf spake, -- his breastplate gleamed,


s: have I gained in youth! These Grendel-deeds


s: of buildings best, for your band of thanes


s: for my nerve and my might they knew full well.


s: Themselves had seen me from slaughter come


s: blood-flecked from foes, where five I bound,


s: and that wild brood worsted. I' the waves I slew


s: avenging the Weders, {6b} whose woe they sought, --


s: O Warriors'-shield, now I've wandered far, --


s: in his wanton mood, of weapons recks not;


s: gold-colored targe:  but with gripe alone


s: must I front the fiend and fight for life,


s: in the doom of the Lord whom death shall take.


s: will he fearless eat, -- as oft before, --


s: my noblest thanes. Nor need'st thou then


s: to hide my head; {6c} for his shall I be,


s: and my blood-covered body he'll bear as prey,


s: with my life-blood redden his lair in the fen:


s: To Hygelac send, if Hild {6d} should take me,


s: and work of Wayland. {6e} Fares Wyrd {6f} as she must."


s: HROTHGAR spake, the Scyldings'-helmet:  --


s: "For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf,


s: to succor and save, thou hast sought us here.


s: Thy father's combat {7a} a feud enkindled


s: for horror of fighting feared to hold him.


s: over surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings,


s: when first I was ruling the folk of Danes,


s: wielded, youthful, this widespread realm,


s: this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead,


s: my elder brother, had breathed his last,


s: Healfdene's bairn:  he was better than I!


s: Straightway the feud with fee {7b} I settled,


s: to the Wylfings sent, o'er watery ridges,


s: treasures olden:  oaths he {7c} swore me.


s: in Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought,


s: what sudden harryings. Hall-folk fail me,


s: my warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept them


s: Boasted full oft, as my beer they drank,


s: that they would bide in the beer-hall here,


s: Then was this mead-house at morning tide


s: dyed with gore, when the daylight broke,


s: all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled,


s: -- But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words,


s: hardy hero, as heart shall prompt thee."


s: served the clear mead. Oft minstrels sang


s: who sat at the feet of the Scyldings' lord,


s: unbound the battle-runes. {8a} -- Beowulf's quest,


s: of fame under heaven than he himself. --


s: when for pride the pair of you proved the floods,


s: could you dissuade, from swimming the main.


s: with strenuous hands the sea-streets measured,


s: a sennight strove ye. In swimming he topped thee,


s: beloved of his liegemen, to land of Brondings,


s: Beanstan's bairn {8b} his boast achieved.


s: -- though in buffet of battle thou brave hast been,


s: in struggle grim, -- if Grendel's approach


s: thou darst await through the watch of night!"


s: "What a deal hast uttered, dear my Unferth,


s: than any man else, more ocean-endurance.


s: and made our boast, -- we were merely boys,


s: could he float afar o'er the flood of waves,


s: haste o'er the billows; nor him I abandoned.


s: five nights full till the flood divided us,


s: ruthless rushed on us:  rough was the surge.


s: Now the wrath of the sea-fish rose apace;


s: yet me 'gainst the monsters my mailed coat,


s: garnished with gold. There grasped me firm


s: with grimmest gripe. 'Twas granted me, though,


s: to pierce the monster with point of sword,


s: with blade of battle:  huge beast of the sea


s: was whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine.


s: thronging threatened. With thrust of my sword,


s: Nowise had they bliss from their booty then


s: to devour their victim, vengeful creatures,


s: but at break of day, by my brand sore hurt,


s: put to sleep by the sword. And since, by them


s: came bright God's beacon; the billows sank,


s: And so it came that I killed with my sword


s: nine of the nicors. Of night-fought battles


s: ne'er heard I a harder 'neath heaven's dome,


s: nor adrift on the deep a more desolate man!


s: Yet I came unharmed from that hostile clutch,


s: though spent with swimming. The sea upbore me,


s: have I heard men tell such terror of falchions,


s: with bloody brand, -- I boast not of it! --


s: though thou wast the bane {9a} of thy brethren dear,


s: never had Grendel these grim deeds wrought,


s: were as battle-bold as thy boast is loud!


s: from sword-clash dread of your Danish clan


s: he vaunts him safe, from the Victor-Scyldings.


s: of the land of Danes, but lustily murders,


s: shall I prove him the prowess and pride of the Geats,


s: ether-robed sun from the south shall beam!"


s: the Bright-Danes' prince, from Beowulf hearing,


s: folk's good shepherd, such firm resolve.


s: Then was laughter of liegemen loud resounding


s: with winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth,


s: gold-decked, greeting the guests in hall;


s: first to the East-Danes' heir and warden,


s: Through the hall then went the Helmings' Lady,


s: when the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,


s: She greeted the Geats' lord, God she thanked,


s: in wisdom's words, that her will was granted,


s: that at last on a hero her hope could lean


s: for comfort in terrors. The cup he took,


s: and answer uttered the eager-for-combat.


s: "This was my thought, when my thanes and I


s: that I would work the will of your people


s: of this life of mine in the mead-hall here."


s: Beowulf's battle-boast. -- Bright with gold


s: the stately dame by her spouse sat down.


s: rest for the night; he knew there waited


s: fight for the fiend in that festal hall,


s: when the sheen of the sun they saw no more,


s: let him wield the wine hall:  a word he added:  --


s: watch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee


s: if thou bidest the battle with bold-won life."


s: fain would the war-lord Wealhtheow seek,


s: who warded the monarch and watched for the monster.


s: In truth, the Geats' prince gladly trusted


s: his mettle, his might, the mercy of God!


s: helmet from head; to his henchman gave, --


s: choicest of weapons, -- the well-chased sword,


s: Beowulf Geat, ere the bed be sought:  --


s: "Of force in fight no feebler I count me,


s: in grim war-deeds, than Grendel deems him.


s: Not with the sword, then, to sleep of death


s: his life will I give, though it lie in my power.


s: shall spurn the sword, if he seek me here,


s: Reclined then the chieftain, and cheek-pillows held


s: the head of the earl, while all about him


s: None of them thought that thence their steps


s: to the folk and fastness that fostered them,


s: to the land they loved, would lead them back!


s: Full well they wist that on warriors many


s: battle-death seized, in the banquet-hall,


s: hath wielded ever! -- Thro' wan night striding,


s: came the walker-in-shadow. Warriors slept


s: whose hest was to guard the gabled hall, --


s: that against God's will the ghostly ravager


s: him {10a} could not hurl to haunts of darkness;


s: Under welkin he walked, till the wine-palace there,


s: flashing with fretwork. Not first time, this,


s: yet ne'er in his life-day, late or early,


s: such hardy heroes, such hall-thanes, found!


s: parted from peace; {11a} the portal opended,


s: though with forged bolts fast, when his fists had


s: and baleful he burst in his blatant rage,


s: o'er fair-paved floor the fiend trod on,


s: ireful he strode; there streamed from his eyes


s: for the monster was minded, ere morn should dawn,


s: Not that the monster was minded to pause!


s: Straightway he seized a sleeping warrior


s: for the first, and tore him fiercely asunder,


s: the bone-frame bit, drank blood in streams,


s: e'en feet and hands. Then farther he hied;


s: for the hardy hero with hand he grasped,


s: for the hero reclining, -- who clutched it boldly,


s: with heavier hand-gripe; at heart he feared,


s: sorrowed in soul, -- none the sooner escaped!


s: Then bethought him the hardy Hygelac-thane


s: of his boast at evening:  up he bounded,


s: grasped firm his foe, whose fingers cracked.


s: The fiend made off, but the earl close followed.


s: The monster meant -- if he might at all --


s: fly to the fens, -- knew his fingers' power


s: in the gripe of the grim one. Gruesome march


s: to Heorot this monster of harm had made!


s: Din filled the room; the Danes were bereft,


s: those savage hall-guards:  the house resounded.


s: in the strain of their struggle stood, to earth


s: the fair house fell not; too fast it was


s: craftily clamped; though there crashed from sill


s: many a mead-bench -- men have told me --


s: gay with gold, where the grim foes wrestled.


s: that bone-decked, brave house break asunder,


s: with fear and frenzy were filled, each one,


s: from captive of hell. Too closely held him


s: NOT in any wise would the earls'-defence {12a}


s: suffer that slaughterous stranger to live,


s: their praised prince, if power were theirs;


s: never they knew, -- as they neared the foe,


s: the accursed to kill, -- no keenest blade,


s: no farest of falchions fashioned on earth,


s: He was safe, by his spells, from sword of battle,


s: from edge of iron. Yet his end and parting


s: that the frame of his body failed him now.


s: For him the keen-souled kinsman of Hygelac


s: showed on his shoulder, and sinews cracked,


s: and the bone-frame burst. To Beowulf now


s: death-sick his den in the dark moor sought,


s: of his days on earth. -- To all the Danes


s: by that bloody battle the boon had come.


s: From ravage had rescued the roving stranger


s: had purged it anew. His night-work pleased him,


s: his deed and its honor. To Eastern Danes


s: had the valiant Geat his vaunt made good,


s: when the hardy-in-fight a hand laid down,


s: of Grendel's gripe, -- 'neath the gabled roof.


s: o'er wide-stretched ways, the wonder to view,


s: trace of the traitor. Not troublous seemed


s: who saw by the gait of the graceless foe


s: how the weary-hearted, away from thence,


s: death-marked dragged to the devils' mere.


s: horribly seething, with sword-blood hot,


s: by that doomed one dyed, who in den of the moor


s: from that merry journey, and many a youth,


s: back from the mere. Then Beowulf's glory


s: that from sea to sea, or south or north,


s: under vault of heaven, more valiant found,


s: (On their lord beloved they laid no slight,


s: and ran a race when the road seemed fair.


s: who had made many vaunts, and was mindful of verses,


s: in well-ranged words, of the warlike deeds


s: the Waelsing's wanderings wide, his struggles,


s: the feuds and the frauds, save to Fitela only,


s: when of these doings he deigned to speak,


s: they had felled with their swords. Of Sigemund grew,


s: when he passed from life, no little praise;


s: for the doughty-in-combat a dragon killed


s: that herded the hoard:  {13a} under hoary rock


s: that wondrous worm, -- on the wall it struck,


s: best blade; the dragon died in its blood.


s: Thus had the dread-one by daring achieved


s: himself to pleasure; a sea-boat he loaded,


s: among races of men, this refuge-of-warriors,


s: for deeds of daring that decked his name


s: grew slack in battle. He, swiftly banished


s: to mingle with monsters at mercy of foes,


s: to death was betrayed; for torrents of sorrow


s: for the warrior's wayfaring wise men mourned,


s: who had hoped of him help from harm and bale,


s: and had thought their sovran's son would thrive,


s: the hoard and the stronghold, heroes' land,


s: home of Scyldings. -- But here, thanes said,


s: to all:  the other {13b} was urged to crime!


s: And afresh to the race, {13c} the fallow roads


s: by swift steeds measured! The morning sun


s: to the high-built hall, those hardy-minded,


s: the wonder to witness. Warden of treasure,


s: with stately band from the bride-bower strode;


s: and with him the queen and her crowd of maidens


s: measured the path to the mead-house fair.


s: garnished with gold, and Grendel's hand:  --


s: "For the sight I see to the Sovran Ruler


s: I have borne from Grendel; but God still works


s: stood sword-gore-stained this stateliest house, --


s: by wile and wisdom. Lo, well can she say


s: that the God of the ages was good to her


s: in the birth of her bairn. Now, Beowulf, thee,


s: this kinship new:  thou shalt never lack


s: wealth of the world that I wield as mine!


s: Full oft for less have I largess showered,


s: less stout in struggle. Thyself hast now


s: fulfilled such deeds, that thy fame shall endure


s: well may the Wielder reward thee still!"


s: we have fought, this fight, and fearlessly dared


s: the fiend in his trappings tottered to fall!


s: that he in the hent of this hand of mine


s: should breathe his last:  but he broke away.


s: Him I might not -- the Maker willed not --


s: hinder from flight, and firm enough hold


s: the ruthless, in running! For rescue, however,


s: could the cursed one thus procure at all.


s: None the longer liveth he, loathsome fiend,


s: as the Mighty Maker shall mete him out."


s: More silent seemed the son of Ecglaf {14a}


s: since athelings all, through the earl's great prowess,


s: beheld that hand, on the high roof gazing,


s: foeman's fingers, -- the forepart of each


s: of the sturdy nails to steel was likest, --


s: heathen's "hand-spear," hostile warrior's


s: that him no blade of the brave could touch,


s: that battle-hand bloody from baneful foe.


s: for hands to bedeck it, and dense was the throng


s: of men and women the wine-hall to cleanse,


s: the guest-room to garnish. Gold-gay shone the hangings


s: that were wove on the wall, and wonders many


s: to delight each mortal that looks upon them.


s: that building bright was broken sorely; {15a}


s: held safe and sound, when, seared with crime,


s: of life despairing. -- No light thing that,


s: the flight for safety, -- essay it who will!


s: Ne'er heard I of host in haughtier throng


s: more graciously gathered round giver-of-rings!


s: Bowed then to bench those bearers-of-glory,


s: was filled with friends; the folk of Scyldings


s: broidered battle-flag, breastplate and helmet;


s: cup in hall:  {15b} for such costly gifts


s: he suffered no shame in that soldier throng.


s: For I heard of few heroes, in heartier mood,


s: with four such gifts, so fashioned with gold,


s: O'er the roof of the helmet high, a ridge,


s: wound with wires, kept ward o'er the head,


s: lest the relict-of-files {15c} should fierce invade,


s: sharp in the strife, when that shielded hero


s: Then the earls'-defence {15d} on the floor {15e} bade lead


s: 'twas the battle-seat of the best of kings,


s: when to play of swords the son of Healfdene


s: was fain to fare. Ne'er failed his valor


s: in the crush of combat when corpses fell.


s: o'er war-steeds and weapons:  wished him joy of them.


s: hoard-guard for heroes, that hard fight repaid


s: with steeds and treasures contemned by none


s: AND the lord of earls, to each that came


s: an heirloom there at the ale-bench gave,


s: precious gift; and the price {16a} bade pay


s: murdered, -- and fain of them more had killed,


s: and the man's {16b} brave mood. The Maker then


s: and forethought of mind. How much awaits him


s: of lief and of loath, who long time here,


s: through days of warfare this world endures!


s: in the presence of Healfdene's head-of-armies {16c}


s: of that sudden raid on the sons of Finn. {16d}


s: was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter. {16e}


s: were the loved ones she lost at the linden-play,


s: stricken by spears; 'twas a sorrowful woman!


s: kinsmen murdered, where most she had kenned


s: of the sweets of the world! By war were swept, too,


s: in the parleying-place {16g} he could ply no longer


s: weapon, nor war could he wage on Hengest,


s: from the prince's thane. A pact he offered:


s: that woful remnant, with wise-men's aid,


s: by word or work should warp the treaty, {16h}


s: or with malice of mind bemoan themselves


s: as forced to follow their fee-giver's slayer,


s: Should Frisian, moreover, with foeman's taunt,


s: then edge of the sword must seal his doom.


s: heaped from hoard. -- The hardy Scylding,


s: battle-thane best, {16i} on his balefire lay.


s: slain by the sword:  at the slaughter they fell.


s: It was Hildeburh's hest, at Hnaef's own pyre


s: his bones to burn, on the balefire placed,


s: at his uncle's side. In sorrowful dirges


s: bewept them the woman:  great wailing ascended.


s: Then wound up to welkin the wildest of death-fires,


s: roared o'er the hillock:  {16j} heads all were melted,


s: from bites {16k} of the body. Balefire devoured,


s: greediest spirit, those spared not by war


s: out of either folk:  their flower was gone.


s: THEN hastened those heroes their home to see,


s: through the death-dyed winter dwelt with Finn,


s: though powerless his ring-decked prow to drive


s: over the waters, now waves rolled fierce


s: lashed by the winds, or winter locked them


s: year to men's dwellings, as yet they do,


s: the sunbright skies, that their season ever


s: fair lay earth's breast; and fain was the rover,


s: the guest, to depart, though more gladly he pondered


s: on wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep,


s: where sons of the Frisians were sure to be.


s: when Hun with "Lafing," the light-of-battle,


s: its edge was famed with the Frisian earls.


s: On fierce-heart Finn there fell likewise,


s: on himself at home, the horrid sword-death;


s: had sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed,


s: mourning their woes. {17a} Finn's wavering spirit


s: bode not in breast. The burg was reddened


s: with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain,


s: king amid clansmen; the queen was taken.


s: To their ship the Scylding warriors bore


s: o'er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore,


s: the gleeman's song. Then glad rose the revel;


s: from their "wonder-vats" wine. Comes Wealhtheow forth,


s: under gold-crown goes where the good pair sit,


s: uncle and nephew, true each to the other one,


s: at the Scylding lord's feet sat:  men had faith in his spirit,


s: his keenness of courage, though kinsmen had found him


s: unsure at the sword-play. The Scylding queen spoke:


s: gold-friend of men; to the Geats here speak


s: such words of mildness as man should use.


s: Be glad with thy Geats; of those gifts be mindful,


s: with many a largess; and leave to thy kin


s: my Hrothulf, {17b} willing to hold and rule


s: nobly our youths, if thou yield up first,


s: prince of Scyldings, thy part in the world.


s: that for him we did in his helpless days


s: Then she turned to the seat where her sons wereplaced,


s: Hrethric and Hrothmund, with heroes' bairns,


s: young men together:  the Geat, too, sat there,


s: A CUP she gave him, with kindly greeting


s: corselet and rings, and of collars the noblest


s: Ne'er heard I so mighty, 'neath heaven's dome,


s: to his bright-built burg the Brisings' necklace,


s: on the last of his raids this ring bore with him,


s: the war-spoil warding; but Wyrd o'erwhelmed him


s: what time, in his daring, dangers he sought,


s: he bore with him over the beaker-of-waves,


s: Fell the corpse of the king into keeping of Franks,


s: gear of the breast, and that gorgeous ring;


s: after gripe of battle, from Geatland's lord,


s: Wealhtheow spake amid warriors, and said:  --


s: Preserve thy strength, and these striplings here


s: Hast done such deeds, that for days to come


s: thou art famed among folk both far and near,


s: his windy walls. Through the ways of life


s: Thanes are friendly, the throng obedient,


s: liegemen are revelling:  list and obey!"


s: Went then to her place. -- That was proudest of feasts;


s: flowed wine for the warriors. Wyrd they knew not,


s: They bared the bench-boards; abroad they spread


s: in danger of doom lay down in the hall. --


s: At their heads they set their shields of war,


s: bucklers bright; on the bench were there


s: the high battle-helmet, the haughty spear,


s: the corselet of rings. 'Twas their custom so


s: their sovran king. -- They were clansmen good.


s: THEN sank they to sleep. With sorrow one bought


s: his rest of the evening, -- as ofttime had happened


s: after that grim fight, Grendel's mother,


s: She was doomed to dwell in the dreary waters,


s: with edge of the sword his only brother,


s: his father's offspring:  outlawed he fled,


s: warded the wilds. -- There woke from him


s: a warrior watching and waiting the fray,


s: with whom the grisly one grappled amain.


s: But the man remembered his mighty power,


s: the glorious gift that God had sent him,


s: for comfort and help:  so he conquered the foe,


s: of sorrow, the death of her son to avenge.


s: To Heorot came she, where helmeted Danes


s: old ills of the earls, when in she burst,


s: the mother of Grendel. Less grim, though, that terror,


s: sword gore-stained, through swine of the helm,


s: the swords on the settles, {19a} and shields a-many


s: nor harness of mail, whom that horror seized.


s: and save her life when the liegemen saw her.


s: He was for Hrothgar of heroes the dearest,


s: whom she killed on his couch, a clansman famous,


s: in battle brave. -- Nor was Beowulf there;


s: after giving of gold, for the Geat renowned. --


s: Uproar filled Heorot; the hand all had viewed,


s: blood-flecked, she bore with her; bale was returned,


s: dole in the dwellings:  'twas dire exchange


s: the lives of loved ones. Long-tried king,


s: To his bower was Beowulf brought in haste,


s: with his clansmen, came where the king abode


s: would turn this tale of trouble and woe.


s: with his hand-companions, -- the hall resounded, --


s: had passed in peace to the prince's mind.


s: HROTHGAR spake, helmet-of-Scyldings:  --


s: when warriors clashed and we warded our heads,


s: But here in Heorot a hand hath slain him


s: of wandering death-sprite. I wot not whither, {20a}


s: Grendel in grimmest grasp thou killedst, --


s: so that many a thane shall think, who e'er


s: sorrows in soul for that sharer of rings,


s: this is hardest of heart-bales. The hand lies low


s: that once was willing each wish to please.


s: Land-dwellers here {20b} and liegemen mine,


s: who house by those parts, I have heard relate


s: that such a pair they have sometimes seen,


s: march-stalkers mighty the moorland haunting,


s: Grendel in days long gone they named him,


s: folk of the land; his father they knew not,


s: of treacherous spirits. Untrod is their home;


s: by wolf-cliffs haunt they and windy headlands,


s: from mountains gliding to gloom of the rocks,


s: in measure of miles that the mere expands,


s: and o'er it the frost-bound forest hanging,


s: of the sons of men, to search those depths!


s: Nay, though the heath-rover, harried by dogs,


s: the horn-proud hart, this holt should seek,


s: long distance driven, his dear life first


s: on the brink he yields ere he brave the plunge


s: and the heavens weep. Now is help once more


s: with thee alone! The land thou knowst not,


s: that sin-flecked being. Seek if thou dare!


s: I will reward thee, for waging this fight,


s: with winding gold, if thou winnest back."


s: friends to avenge than fruitlessly mourn them.


s: in the ways of the world; so win who may


s: glory ere death! When his days are told,


s: and mark the trail of the mother of Grendel.


s: No harbor shall hide her -- heed my promise! --


s: or floor of the flood, let her flee where she will!


s: as I ween thou wilt, thy woes each one."


s: Leaped up the graybeard:  God he thanked,


s: a path o'er the plain, where she passed, and trod


s: she bore the bravest and best one, dead,


s: him who with Hrothgar the homestead ruled.


s: o'er stone-cliffs steep and strait defiles,


s: headlands sheer, and the haunts of the Nicors.


s: Foremost he {21a} fared, a few at his side


s: till he found in a flash the forested hill


s: had sorrow of soul, and for Scyldings all,


s: they found by the flood on the foreland there.


s: and watched on the water worm-like things,


s: sea-dragons strange that sounded the deep,


s: and nicors that lay on the ledge of the ness --


s: on the road-of-sails their ruthless quest, --


s: and sea-snakes and monsters. These started away,


s: that war-horn's blast. The warden of Geats,


s: with bolt from bow, then balked of life,


s: of wave-work, one monster, amid its heart


s: went the keen war-shaft; in water it seemed


s: less doughty in swimming whom death had seized.


s: Swift on the billows, with boar-spears well


s: done to death and dragged on the headland,


s: in martial mail, nor mourned for his life.


s: His breastplate broad and bright of hues,


s: that battle should break on his breast in vain


s: nor harm his heart by the hand of a foe.


s: And the helmet white that his head protected


s: was destined to dare the deeps of the flood,


s: through wave-whirl win:  'twas wound with chains,


s: with swine-forms set it, that swords nowise,


s: brandished in battle, could bite that helm.


s: Nor was that the meanest of mighty helps


s: which Hrothgar's orator offered at need:


s: iron was its edge, all etched with poison,


s: with battle-blood hardened, nor blenched it at fight


s: to folkstead {21b} of foes. Not first time this


s: For he bore not in mind, the bairn of Ecglaf


s: sturdy and strong, that speech he had made,


s: drunk with wine, now this weapon he lent


s: to a stouter swordsman. Himself, though, durst not


s: as loyal liegeman. So lost he his glory,


s: who girded him now for the grim encounter.


s: "Have mind, thou honored offspring of Healfdene


s: gold-friend of men, now I go on this quest,


s: should lose my life, thou wouldst loyal bide


s: to me, though fallen, in father's place!


s: Be guardian, thou, to this group of my thanes,


s: my warrior-friends, if War should seize me;


s: Hrethel's son see, when he stares at the treasure,


s: that I got me a friend for goodness famed,


s: And let Unferth wield this wondrous sword,


s: earl far-honored, this heirloom precious,


s: seek doom of glory, or Death shall take me."


s: closed o'er the hero. Long while of the day


s: Soon found the fiend who the flood-domain


s: sword-hungry held these hundred winters,


s: greedy and grim, that some guest from above,


s: some man, was raiding her monster-realm.


s: She grasped out for him with grisly claws,


s: and the warrior seized; yet scathed she not


s: his body hale; the breastplate hindered,


s: as she strove to shatter the sark of war,


s: the linked harness, with loathsome hand.


s: Then bore this brine-wolf, when bottom she touched,


s: the lord of rings to the lair she haunted


s: whiles vainly he strove, though his valor held,


s: weapon to wield against wondrous monsters


s: tried with fierce tusks to tear his mail,


s: and swarmed on the stranger. But soon he marked


s: he was now in some hall, he knew not which,


s: nor through the roof could reach him ever


s: Then the warrior was ware of that wolf-of-the-deep,


s: he swung his blade, and the blow withheld not.


s: its war-song wild. But the warrior found


s: the light-of-battle {22a} was loath to bite,


s: to harm the heart:  its hard edge failed


s: strife hand to hand, and had helmets cloven,


s: doomed men's fighting-gear. First time, this,


s: for the gleaming blade that its glory fell.


s: heedful of high deeds, Hygelac's kinsman;


s: steel-edged and stiff. His strength he trusted,


s: Seized then by shoulder, shrank not from combat,


s: the Geatish war-prince Grendel's mother.


s: Flung then the fierce one, filled with wrath,


s: his deadly foe, that she fell to ground.


s: with grisly grasp, and grappled with him.


s: Spent with struggle, stumbled the warrior,


s: On the hall-guest she hurled herself, hent her short sword,


s: broad and brown-edged, {22b} the bairn to avenge,


s: the sole-born son. -- On his shoulder lay


s: Life would have ended for Ecgtheow's son,


s: under wide earth for that earl of Geats,


s: 'MID the battle-gear saw he a blade triumphant,


s: old-sword of Eotens, with edge of proof,


s: as the giants had wrought it, ready and keen.


s: Seized then its chain-hilt the Scyldings' chieftain,


s: bold and battle-grim, brandished the sword,


s: reckless of life, and so wrathfully smote


s: that it gripped her neck and grasped her hard,


s: her bone-rings breaking:  the blade pierced through


s: that fated-one's flesh:  to floor she sank.


s: Bloody the blade:  he was blithe of his deed.


s: Then blazed forth light. 'Twas bright within


s: as when from the sky there shines unclouded


s: By the wall then went he; his weapon raised


s: angry and eager. That edge was not useless


s: to the warrior now. He wished with speed


s: the wrathful prince! For now prone he saw


s: Grendel stretched there, spent with war,


s: spoiled of life, so scathed had left him


s: sword-stroke savage, that severed its head.


s: Soon, {23a} then, saw the sage companions


s: who waited with Hrothgar, watching the flood,


s: blood-stained the mere. Old men together,


s: the warrior would not, they weened, again,


s: The ninth hour came. The noble Scyldings


s: the gold-friend of men. {23b} But the guests sat on,


s: and wished, yet weened not, their winsome lord


s: from blood of the fight, in battle-droppings, {23c}


s: war-blade, to wane:  'twas a wondrous thing


s: Nor took from that dwelling the duke of the Geats


s: burned was the bright sword, her blood was so hot,


s: so poisoned the hell-sprite who perished within there.


s: Soon he was swimming who safe saw in combat


s: downfall of demons; up-dove through the flood.


s: waste of waves, where the wandering fiend


s: her life-days left and this lapsing world.


s: Swam then to strand the sailors'-refuge,


s: Went then to greet him, and God they thanked,


s: the thane-band choice of their chieftain blithe,


s: that safe and sound they could see him again.


s: Soon from the hardy one helmet and armor


s: deftly they doffed:  now drowsed the mere,


s: water 'neath welkin, with war-blood stained.


s: Forth they fared by the footpaths thence,


s: carried the head from the cliff by the sea,


s: the firm in fight, since four were needed


s: on the shaft-of-slaughter {23d} strenuously


s: to bear to the gold-hall Grendel's head.


s: And next by the hair into hall was borne


s: Grendel's head, where the henchmen were drinking,


s: a monster of marvel:  the men looked on.


s: "Lo, now, this sea-booty, son of Healfdene,


s: Lord of Scyldings, we've lustily brought thee,


s: my strength had been lost had the Lord not shielded me.


s: in work of war, though the weapon is good;


s: yet a sword the Sovran of Men vouchsafed me


s: to spy on the wall there, in splendor hanging,


s: the friendless wight! -- and I fought with that brand,


s: felling in fight, since fate was with me,


s: the house's wardens. That war-sword then


s: all burned, bright blade, when the blood gushed o'er it,


s: battle-sweat hot; but the hilt I brought back


s: from my foes. So avenged I their fiendish deeds


s: death-fall of Danes, as was due and right.


s: safe thou canst sleep with thy soldier band,


s: aught ill for thy earls, as erst thou must!"


s: Then the golden hilt, for that gray-haired leader,


s: giant-wrought, old. So owned and enjoyed it


s: after downfall of devils, the Danish lord,


s: wonder-smiths' work, since the world was rid


s: of that grim-souled fiend, the foe of God,


s: Now it passed into power of the people's king,


s: who have scattered their gold o'er Scandia's isle.


s: of that far-off fight when the floods o'erwhelmed,


s: in that waste of waters the Wielder paid them.


s: for whom the serpent-traced sword was wrought,


s: and the hilt well wound. -- The wise-one spake,


s: follows 'mid folk, of far times mindful,


s: a land-warden old, {24a} that this earl belongs


s: far and wide o'er folksteads many. Firmly thou


s: mighty strength with mood of wisdom. Love of


s: as, awhile ago, I promised; thou shalt prove a stay


s: to the heroes a help. Was not Heremod thus


s: to offspring of Ecgwela, Honor-Scyldings,


s: nor grew for their grace, but for grisly slaughter,


s: He slew, wrath-swollen, his shoulder-comrades,


s: companions at board! So he passed alone,


s: Though him the Maker with might endowed,


s: above all men, yet blood-fierce his mind,


s: his breast-hoard, grew, no bracelets gave he


s: to Danes as was due; he endured all joyless


s: long feud with his folk. Here find thy lesson!


s: Of virtue advise thee! This verse I have said for thee,


s: wise from lapsed winters. Wondrous seems


s: in the strength of His spirit sendeth wisdom,


s: estate, high station:  He swayeth all things.


s: the heart of the hero of high-born race, --


s: his folk's sure fortress in fee to hold,


s: puts in his power great parts of the earth,


s: So he waxes in wealth, nowise can harm him


s: shadow his spirit; no sword-hate threatens


s: waxes and wakes while the warden slumbers,


s: which masters his might, and the murderer nears,


s: stealthily shooting the shafts from his bow!


s: "UNDER harness his heart then is hit indeed


s: by sharpest shafts; and no shelter avails


s: from foul behest of the hellish fiend. {25a}


s: Him seems too little what long he possessed.


s: he gives for his pride; the promised future


s: forgets he and spurns, with all God has sent him,


s: that the frame of the body fragile yields,


s: the royal riches, nor recks of his forebear.


s: Ban, then, such baleful thoughts, Beowulf dearest,


s: best of men, and the better part choose,


s: lasts now a while:  but erelong it shall be


s: that sickness or sword thy strength shall minish,


s: in haste shall o'erwhelm, thou hero of war!


s: So the Ring-Danes these half-years a hundred I ruled,


s: wielded 'neath welkin, and warded them bravely


s: from mighty-ones many o'er middle-earth,


s: from spear and sword, till it seemed for me


s: no foe could be found under fold of the sky.


s: Lo, sudden the shift! To me seated secure


s: for those ruthless raids, unresting I suffered


s: that I on this head all hewn and bloody,


s: -- Go to the bench now! Be glad at banquet,


s: to seek his seat, as the Sage commanded.


s: Afresh, as before, for the famed-in-battle,


s: for the band of the hall, was a banquet dight


s: for the hoary-headed would hasten to rest,


s: shield-fighter sturdy, for sleeping yearned.


s: So slumbered the stout-heart. Stately the hall


s: rose gabled and gilt where the guest slept on


s: till a raven black the rapture-of-heaven {25b}


s: shine after shadow. The swordsmen hastened,


s: the great-hearted guest would guide his keel.


s: Bade then the hardy-one Hrunting be brought


s: to the son of Ecglaf, the sword bade him take,


s: excellent iron, and uttered his thanks for it,


s: quoth that he counted it keen in battle,


s: "war-friend" winsome:  with words he slandered not


s: edge of the blade:  'twas a big-hearted man!


s: Now eager for parting and armed at point


s: that Darling of Danes. The doughty atheling


s: to high-seat hastened and Hrothgar greeted.


s: hosts to our heart:  thou hast harbored us well.


s: that neighbor foemen annoy and fright thee, --


s: as they that hate thee erewhile have used, --


s: ward of his folk, that, though few his years,


s: by word and by work, that well I may serve thee,


s: wielding the war-wood to win thy triumph


s: and lending thee might when thou lackest men.


s: If thy Hrethric should come to court of Geats,


s: each man should visit who vaunts him brave."


s: from so young in years e'er yet have I heard.


s: Thou art strong of main and in mind art wary,


s: by spear be seized, by sword-grim battle,


s: by illness or iron, thine elder and lord,


s: people's leader, -- and life be thine, --


s: at all to choose for their chief and king,


s: for hoard-guard of heroes, if hold thou wilt


s: thy kinsman's kingdom! Thy keen mind pleases me


s: Thou hast brought it about that both our peoples,


s: shall have mutual peace, and from murderous strife,


s: such as once they waged, from war refrain.


s: let our hoards be common, let heroes with gold


s: each other greet o'er the gannet's-bath,


s: and the ringed-prow bear o'er rolling waves


s: towards friend and foe are firmly joined,


s: To him in the hall, then, Healfdene's son


s: gave treasures twelve, and the trust-of-earls


s: bade him fare with the gifts to his folk beloved,


s: Scyldings' chieftain, that choicest thane,


s: and fell on his neck. Fast flowed the tears


s: of the hoary-headed. Heavy with winters,


s: he had chances twain, but he clung to this, {26a} --


s: that each should look on the other again,


s: and hear him in hall. Was this hero so dear to him.


s: his breast's wild billows he banned in vain;


s: burned in his blood. Then Beowulf strode,


s: glad of his gold-gifts, the grass-plot o'er,


s: As they hastened onward, Hrothgar's gift


s: they lauded at length. -- 'Twas a lord unpeered,


s: every way blameless, till age had broken


s: -- it spareth no mortal -- his splendid might.


s: From the height of the hill no hostile words


s: reached the guests as he rode to greet them;


s: but "Welcome!" he called to that Weder clan


s: as the sheen-mailed spoilers to ship marched on.


s: Then on the strand, with steeds and treasure


s: and armor their roomy and ring-dight ship


s: mounted with gold; on the mead-bench since


s: he was better esteemed, that blade possessing,


s: heirloom old. -- Their ocean-keel boarding,


s: they drove through the deep, and Daneland left.


s: firm to the mast; the flood-timbers moaned; {27a}


s: nor did wind over billows that wave-swimmer blow


s: across from her course. The craft sped on,


s: foam-necked it floated forth o'er the waves,


s: till they got them sight of the Geatish cliffs,


s: stirred by winds, on the strand updrove.


s: Helpful at haven the harbor-guard stood,


s: by the water had waited and watched afar.


s: He bound to the beach the broad-bosomed ship


s: Then Beowulf bade them bear the treasure,


s: was it thence to go to the giver of rings,


s: by the sea-wall close, himself and clan.


s: high the hall, and Hygd {27b} right young,


s: in those fortress walls she had found a home,


s: Haereth's daughter. Nor humble her ways,


s: nor grudged she gifts to the Geatish men,


s: of precious treasure. Not Thryth's pride showed she,


s: (save her lord alone) of the liegemen dear


s: soon as they seized him, his sword-doom was spoken,


s: and the burnished blade a baleful murder


s: for woman to practise, though peerless she,


s: that the weaver-of-peace {27c} from warrior dear


s: by wrath and lying his life should reave!


s: that of these folk-horrors fewer she wrought,


s: gold-decked bride, to the brave young prince,


s: o'er the fallow flood at her father's bidding


s: safely sought, where since she prospered,


s: fain of the fair life fate had sent her,


s: and leal in love to the lord of warriors.


s: most excellent seemed. Hence Offa was praised


s: for his fighting and feeing by far-off men,


s: HASTENED the hardy one, henchmen with him,


s: and widespread ways. The world's great candle,


s: where the battle-king young, his burg within,


s: that there in the court the clansmen's refuge,


s: hale from the hero-play homeward strode.


s: With haste in the hall, by highest order,


s: By his sovran he sat, come safe from battle,


s: came through the high hall Haereth's daughter,


s: to the hands of the heroes. Hygelac then


s: what manner of sojourn the Sea-Geats made.


s: "What came of thy quest, my kinsman Beowulf,


s: when thy yearnings suddenly swept thee yonder


s: in his wide-known woes? With waves of care


s: my loved one's venture:  long I begged thee


s: by no means to seek that slaughtering monster,


s: but suffer the South-Danes to settle their feud


s: themselves with Grendel. Now God be thanked


s: that safe and sound I can see thee now!"


s: Beowulf spake, the bairn of Ecgtheow:  --


s: which we fought on the field where full too many


s: sorrows he wrought for the Scylding-Victors,


s: from the longest-lived of the loathsome race


s: where Healfdene's kinsman high-renowned,


s: The liegemen were lusty; my life-days never


s: have I heard under heaven! The high-born queen,


s: people's peace-bringer, passed through the hall,


s: cheered the young clansmen, clasps of gold,


s: ere she sought her seat, to sundry gave.


s: to earls in turn, the ale-cup tendered, --


s: she proffered the warriors. Promised is she,


s: gold-decked maid, to the glad son of Froda.


s: Sage this seems to the Scylding's-friend,


s: when men are slain, does the murder-spear sink


s: but briefest while, though the bride be fair! {28a}


s: "Nor haply will like it the Heathobard lord,


s: when a thane of the Danes, in that doughty throng,


s: and on him the old-time heirlooms glisten


s: hard and ring-decked, Heathobard's treasure,


s: until they lost at the linden-play {28b}


s: Then, over the ale, on this heirloom gazing,


s: some ash-wielder old who has all in mind


s: that spear-death of men, {28c} -- he is stern of mood,


s: and war-hate wakens, with words like these:  --


s: in his final feud, 'neath the fighting-mask,


s: dearest of blades, when the Danish slew him


s: and wielded the war-place on Withergild's fall,


s: after havoc of heroes, those hardy Scyldings?


s: Now, the son of a certain slaughtering Dane,


s: that rightfully ought to be owned by thee!_


s: with keenest words, till occasion offers


s: that Freawaru's thane, for his father's deed,


s: after bite of brand in his blood must slumber,


s: losing his life; but that liegeman flies


s: oaths of the earls, when Ingeld's breast


s: "So {28e} I hold not high the Heathobards' faith


s: and pact of peace. -- But I pass from that,


s: turning to Grendel, O giver-of-treasure,


s: and saying in full how the fight resulted,


s: had fled o'er far fields, that fierce sprite came,


s: where safe and sound we sentried the hall.


s: To Hondscio then was that harassing deadly,


s: his fall there was fated. He first was slain,


s: turned murderous mouth, on our mighty kinsman,


s: and all of the brave man's body devoured.


s: would the bloody-toothed murderer, mindful of bale,


s: but me he attacked in his terror of might,


s: with greedy hand grasped me. A glove hung by him {28f}


s: 'Twere long to relate how that land-destroyer


s: yet there, my prince, this people of thine


s: but there staid behind him his stronger hand


s: on the floor of the ocean that outcast fell.


s: Me for this struggle the Scyldings'-friend


s: with many a treasure, when morn had come


s: and we all at the banquet-board sat down.


s: Then was song and glee. The gray-haired Scylding,


s: legends of wonder, the wide-hearted king;


s: or for years of his youth he would yearn at times,


s: for strength of old struggles, now stricken with age,


s: when, wise with winters, he wailed their flight.


s: at ease we feasted, till fell o'er earth


s: through war-hate of Weders; now, woman monstrous


s: avenged her offspring. From Aeschere old,


s: nor might they e'en, when morning broke,


s: those Danish people, their death-done comrade


s: the man they mourned. Under mountain stream


s: she had carried the corpse with cruel hands.


s: For Hrothgar that was the heaviest sorrow


s: of all that had laden the lord of his folk.


s: The leader then, by thy life, besought me


s: (sad was his soul) in the sea-waves' coil


s: for glory of prowess:  my guerdon he pledged.


s: I then in the waters -- 'tis widely known --


s: Hand-to-hand there a while we struggled;


s: from Grendel's mother, -- and gained my life,


s: though not without danger. My doom was not yet.


s: Then the haven-of-heroes, Healfdene's son,


s: gave me in guerdon great gifts of price.


s: that I wanted for nought in the wage I gained,


s: Now to thee, my prince, I proffer them all,


s: have I of kinsmen, save, Hygelac, thee!"


s: Then he bade them bear him the boar-head standard,


s: the battle-helm high, and breastplate gray,


s: the splendid sword; then spake in form:  --


s: that its story be straightway said to thee. --


s: for long time lord of the land of Scyldings;


s: to daring Heoroweard, -- dear as he was to him,


s: his harness of battle. -- Well hold thou it all!"


s: And I heard that soon passed o'er the path of this treasure,


s: he gave to the king. So should kinsmen be,


s: or with deep-hid treachery death contrive


s: for neighbor and comrade. His nephew was ever


s: and each kept watch o'er the other's weal.


s: I heard, too, the necklace to Hygd he presented,


s: wonder-wrought treasure, which Wealhtheow gave him


s: sovran's daughter:  three steeds he added,


s: the gem gleamed bright on the breast of the queen.


s: Thus showed his strain the son of Ecgtheow


s: though of sons of earth his strength was greatest,


s: the splendid leader. Long was he spurned,


s: Slack and shiftless the strong men deemed him,


s: to the warrior honored, for all his woes. --


s: Then the bulwark-of-earls {29a} bade bring within,


s: and of hides assigned him seven thousand, {29b}


s: with house and high-seat. They held in common


s: because of his rule o'er the realm itself.


s: Now further it fell with the flight of years,


s: with harryings horrid, that Hygelac perished, {29c}


s: in the dark of night, a Dragon, to rage.


s: In the grave on the hill a hoard it guarded,


s: in the stone-barrow steep. A strait path reached it,


s: to the heathen hoard. {29e} In hand he took


s: stole with it away, while the watcher slept,


s: by thievish wiles:  for the warden's wrath


s: THAT way he went with no will of his own,


s: in danger of life, to the dragon's hoard,


s: but for pressure of peril, some prince's thane.


s: tottered that guest, and terror seized him;


s: and took the cup from that treasure-hoard.


s: which some earl forgotten, in ancient years,


s: though brief his respite. The barrow, new-ready,


s: hard by the headland, hidden and closed;


s: there laid within it his lordly heirlooms


s: that warden of rings. Few words he spake:


s: "Now hold thou, earth, since heroes may not,


s: what earls have owned! Lo, erst from thee


s: brave men brought it! But battle-death seized


s: robbed them of life and a liegeman's joys.


s: And the helmet hard, all haughty with gold,


s: shall part from its plating. Polishers sleep


s: who could brighten and burnish the battle-mask;


s: and those weeds of war that were wont to brave


s: over bicker of shields the bite of steel


s: no glee-wood's gladness! No good hawk now


s: flies through the hall! Nor horses fleet


s: stamp in the burgstead! Battle and death


s: Mournful of mood, thus he moaned his woe,


s: by day and by night, till death's fell wave


s: o'erwhelmed his heart. His hoard-of-bliss


s: who, blazing at twilight the barrows haunteth,


s: to watch, many-wintered:  nor wins he thereby!


s: wrath in his breast, to the ruler bearing


s: for bond of peace. So the barrow was plundered,


s: borne off was booty. His boon was granted


s: first time what was fashioned in far-off days.


s: When the dragon awoke, new woe was kindled.


s: O'er the stone he snuffed. The stark-heart found


s: in his hidden craft by the creature's head. --


s: the grace of The Wielder! -- That warden of gold


s: o'er the ground went seeking, greedy to find


s: the man who wrought him such wrong in sleep.


s: Savage and burning, the barrow he circled


s: none in the waste.... Yet war he desired,


s: was eager for battle. The barrow he entered,


s: that some one of mortals had searched his treasure,


s: boiling with wrath was the barrow's keeper,


s: for the dear cup's loss. -- Now day was fled


s: as the worm had wished. By its wall no more


s: in the doom of their lord, to a dreadful end.


s: THEN the baleful fiend its fire belched out,


s: and bright homes burned. The blaze stood high


s: all landsfolk frighting. No living thing


s: would that loathly one leave as aloft it flew.


s: as the grim destroyer those Geatish people


s: to its hoard it hastened at hint of dawn.


s: Folk of the land it had lapped in flame,


s: with bale and brand. In its barrow it trusted,


s: its battling and bulwarks:  that boast was vain!


s: quickly and truly:  the king's own home,


s: of buildings the best, in brand-waves melted,


s: that gift-throne of Geats. To the good old man


s: and embittered the Lord. His breast within


s: with black thoughts welled, as his wont was never.


s: The folk's own fastness that fiery dragon


s: with flame had destroyed, and the stronghold all


s: prince of the Weders, plotted vengeance.


s: that forest-wood against fire were worthless,


s: linden could aid not. -- Atheling brave,


s: he was fated to finish this fleeting life, {31a}


s: his days on earth, and the dragon with him,


s: though long it had watched o'er the wealth of the hoard! --


s: a broad-flung band; nor the battle feared he,


s: nor deemed he dreadful the dragon's warring,


s: its vigor and valor:  ventures desperate


s: he had passed a-plenty, and perils of war,


s: and in grapple had killed the kin of Grendel,


s: of hand-to-hand fights where Hygelac fell,


s: when the ruler of Geats in rush of battle,


s: by brands down-beaten. Thence Beowulf fled


s: through strength of himself and his swimming power,


s: though alone, and his arms were laden with thirty


s: Nor yet might Hetwaras {31b} haughtily boast


s: their craft of contest, who carried against him


s: from strife with the hero to seek their homes!


s: where Hygd made him offer of hoard and realm,


s: the strength of her son to save their kingdom


s: from hostile hordes, after Hygelac's death.


s: No sooner for this could the stricken ones


s: yet the hero upheld him with helpful words,


s: he wielded the Weder-Geats. -- Wandering exiles


s: sought him o'er seas, the sons of Ohtere,


s: who had spurned the sway of the Scylfings'-helmet,


s: the bravest and best that broke the rings,


s: in Swedish land, of the sea-kings' line,


s: haughty hero. {31c} Hence Heardred's end.


s: For shelter he gave them, sword-death came,


s: the blade's fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac;


s: and gift-seat's master. -- A good king he!


s: THE fall of his lord he was fain to requite


s: friend to the friendless, and forces sent


s: those care-paths cold when the king he slew. {32a}


s: Thus safe through struggles the son of Ecgtheow


s: had passed a plenty, through perils dire,


s: with daring deeds, till this day was come


s: that doomed him now with the dragon to strive.


s: swollen in rage went seeking the dragon.


s: and the killing of clansmen; that cup of price


s: on the lap of the lord had been laid by the finder.


s: In the throng was this one thirteenth man,


s: till he came in ken of that cavern-hall,


s: spake words of hail to his hearth-companions,


s: gold-friend of Geats. All gloomy his soul,


s: stood ready to greet the gray-haired man,


s: the warrior's spirit enwound with flesh.


s: Beowulf spake, the bairn of Ecgtheow:  --


s: "Through store of struggles I strove in youth,


s: I was seven years old when the sovran of rings,


s: friend-of-his-folk, from my father took me,


s: Ne'er, while I lived there, he loathlier found me,


s: bairn in the burg, than his birthright sons,


s: Herebeald and Haethcyn and Hygelac mine.


s: For the eldest of these, by unmeet chance,


s: by kinsman's deed, was the death-bed strewn,


s: when Haethcyn killed him with horny bow,


s: his own dear liege laid low with an arrow,


s: one brother the other, with bloody shaft.


s: A feeless fight, {32b} and a fearful sin,


s: to bide and bear, that his bairn so young


s: of the heir gone elsewhere; {32c} another he hopes not


s: as ward for his wealth, now the one has found


s: Forlorn he looks on the lodge of his son,


s: the hero, far-hidden; {32d} no harp resounds,


s: in the courts no wassail, as once was heard.


s: "THEN he goes to his chamber, a grief-song chants


s: alone for his lost. Too large all seems,


s: homestead and house. So the helmet-of-Weders


s: to avenge on the slayer slaughter so foul;


s: nor e'en could he harass that hero at all


s: with loathing deed, though he loved him not.


s: men's gladness he gave up and God's light chose.


s: (as the wealthy do) when he went from earth.


s: There was strife and struggle 'twixt Swede and Geat


s: strife-keen, bold, nor brooked o'er the seas


s: Men of my folk for that feud had vengeance,


s: though one of them bought it with blood of his heart,


s: fatal that fray, for the first-of-Geats.


s: At morn, I heard, was the murderer killed


s: by kinsman for kinsman, {33a} with clash of sword,


s: of feud was mindful, nor flinched from the death-blow.


s: -- "For all that he {33b} gave me, my gleaming sword


s: repaid him at war, -- such power I wielded, --


s: for lordly treasure:  with land he entrusted me,


s: from Swedish realm, or from Spear-Dane folk,


s: or from men of the Gifths, to get him help, --


s: while I bide in life and this blade shall last


s: since for my doughtiness Daeghrefn fell,


s: with the booty back, and breast-adornments;


s: but, slain in struggle, that standard-bearer


s: fell, atheling brave. Not with blade was he slain,


s: but his bones were broken by brawny gripe,


s: his heart-waves stilled. -- The sword-edge now,


s: hard blade and my hand, for the hoard shall strive."


s: his last of all:  "I have lived through many


s: forth from his cavern come to fight me!"


s: for the last time greeting his liegemen dear,


s: comrades of war:  "I should carry no weapon,


s: But fire in this fight I must fear me now,


s: and poisonous breath; so I bring with me


s: breastplate and board. {33c} From the barrow's keeper


s: no footbreadth flee I. One fight shall end


s: but forbears to boast o'er this battling-flyer.


s: -- Now abide by the barrow, ye breastplate-mailed,


s: better from battle-rush bear his wounds.


s: Wait ye the finish. The fight is not yours,


s: shall win that wealth, or war shall seize,


s: Up stood then with shield the sturdy champion,


s: stayed by the strength of his single manhood,


s: and hardy 'neath helmet his harness bore


s: under cleft of the cliffs:  no coward's path!


s: Soon spied by the wall that warrior chief,


s: where foemen fought with furious clashings,


s: that broke from the barrow. The brooklet's wave


s: or endure those deeps, {33d} for the dragon's flame.


s: Then let from his breast, for he burst with rage,


s: stormed the stark-heart; stern went ringing


s: and clear his cry 'neath the cliff-rocks gray.


s: of that foul worm first came forth from the cave,


s: hot reek-of-fight:  the rocks resounded.


s: Stout by the stone-way his shield he raised,


s: lord of the Geats, against the loathed-one;


s: felt fear of his foe, though fierce their mood.


s: Stoutly stood with his shield high-raised


s: the warrior king, as the worm now coiled


s: Now, spire by spire, fast sped and glided


s: that blazing serpent. The shield protected,


s: for the hero-king than his heart desired,


s: could his will have wielded the welcome respite


s: but once in his life! But Wyrd denied it,


s: and victory's honors. -- His arm he lifted


s: with atheling's heirloom. Its edge was turned


s: brown blade, on the bone, and bit more feebly


s: in his baleful stress. -- Then the barrow's keeper


s: the Geats' lord boasted; his brand had failed,


s: ere those champions grimly closed again.


s: The hoard-guard was heartened; high heaved his breast


s: once more; and by peril was pressed again,


s: with warlike front:  to the woods they bent them,


s: their lives to save. But the soul of one


s: linden-thane loved, the lord of Scylfings,


s: He minded the prizes his prince had given him,


s: Not long he lingered. The linden yellow,


s: his shield, he seized; the old sword he drew:  --


s: as heirloom of Eanmund earth-dwellers knew it,


s: who was slain by the sword-edge, son of Ohtere,


s: brown-bright helmet, breastplate ringed,


s: battle-gear brave:  though a brother's child


s: had been felled, the feud was unfelt by Onela. {34a}


s: For winters this war-gear Weohstan kept,


s: breastplate and board, till his bairn had grown


s: then he gave him, mid Geats, the gear of battle,


s: fared aged forth. For the first time now


s: was bidden to share the shock of battle.


s: Neither softened his soul, nor the sire's bequest


s: weakened in war. {34b} So the worm found out


s: Wiglaf spake, -- and his words were sage;


s: sad in spirit, he said to his comrades:  --


s: "I remember the time, when mead we took,


s: what promise we made to this prince of ours


s: in the banquet-hall, to our breaker-of-rings,


s: for gear of combat to give him requital,