Beowulf (4 page)

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in dark death-shadow doomed young and old

 

trapped and snared them trailed in nightshade

 

cloud-misted moors—no man can follow

 

where God's enemies glide through the fog.

 

Dawn brought to them blood-signs of rage—

 

outcast from grace Grendel went prowling

 

the empty hall-benches. Heorot received him

 

in cold darkness damned to his rule.

 

Yet he never could greet the peaceful gift-throne

 

love and bounty life-joy and gold

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for the old betrayal outlawed him there.

 

It was long despair for the lord of the Danes

 

a breaking of mind. Many a counselor

 

gathered to whisper groped for messages

 

ways to escape those woeful night-visits.

 

Some made promises prayed to idols

 

swore to honor them asked them for help

 

safety from murder. Such was their custom

 

the hope of heathens hell-thoughts in mind.

 

They ignored the Measurer Maker of heaven

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Shaper of glory shamed by terror

 

unable to praise or pray to the Father

 

wish for his guidance. Woe unto those

 

with ill in their hearts hopeless and doomed

 

forcing their souls to the fire's welcome

 

praying to names that will never help them

 

praise without hope. Happier are they

 

who seek after deathday the Deemer of men

 

free their soul-bonds to the Father's embrace.

 

With sinking heart the son of Healfdene

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endlessly waited wept for an answer

 

no hope for relief. Too long and merciless

 

slaughter and greed seemed to his people

 

narrow and endless nightbale and tears.

 

In the home of the Geats Hygelac's thane

 

gathered the stories of Grendel's torment

 

a good man and strong strongest of all

 

in that broad kingdom born for deliverance

 

shaped for that hour. He ordered a boat,

 

lithe wave-cutter, loudly proclaimed

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he would seek the Battle-Danes sail the wave-swells

 

hail their king there kindle their hearts.

 

Though they loved him life-seasoned elders

 

answered his courage urged him onwards

 

gazed at the weather wished for the sun.

 

With care this champion chose his spearmen

 

culled from the Geats their keenest fighters

 

good men and faithful. Fifteen in all

 

they sought their seacraft strode to the cliffs

 

followed their chief to the fallow waves.

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Fast by the headland their hard-keeled boat

 

waited for westering. Winding in swirls

 

the sea met the sand. They stored their weapons

 

bright shields gleaming spears and helmets

 

strong war-weapons. Shoved through the breakers

 

the stout-bound wood slid from the land.

 

They flew on the water fast by the wind blown

 

sail flecked with foam skimmed the waverolls

 

through day and darkness. Dawn grayed the sky

 

and the hour grew near when over the wave-tops

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the coiled bowsprit brought them a sign.

 

A rising of land reached towards the sun

 

shining seacliffs steep rock-pillars

 

stood before them. The sail grew limp

 

shallows lapped at them shore-sand received them.

 

The Weather-Geats waded walked their ship up

 

lashed it to land. Linked steel-corselets

 

clinked and glistened. They gave thanks then

 

to the God of them all for guiding them safely.

 

Watching above them the warden of the shores

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glimpsed from the cliff-top a glinting of armor

 

as they bore from their boat bright shields and spears

 

rich with war-weapons. He wrenched his thoughts

 

groped within his mind who these men might be.

 

He roused his horse then rode to the seashore—

 

Hrothgar's cliff-guardian heaved up his spear

 

shook it to the sky shouted his challenge:

 

“Who might you be in your burnished mailcoats

 

strutting with weapons? Who steered this warboat

 

deep-running keel across the wave-swells

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here against this shore? I assure you now

 

I've held this guard-post hard against sailors

 

watched over Denmark down through the years

 

that no hateful shipband might harbor unfought.

 

Never have boatmen beached more openly

 

shield-bearing thanes unsure of your welcome

 

hoisting no signal to hail peace-tokens

 

friendship to the Danes. I doubt that I've challenged

 

a loftier shieldman than your leader there

 

hale in his war-gear—no hall-lounger that

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worthied with weapons—may his wit not belie

 

so handsome a swordman. I will hear quickly

 

first where you came from before you move on

 

you possible pirates pushing further

 

into Danish land. Now let me advise you

 

horseless sailors hear my counsel

 

my heartfelt words: Haste will be best

 

in letting me know the land you came from.”

 

The ablest among them answered him clearly

 

lifted up his spear unlocked his wordhoard:

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“We are mindful of manners men of the Geats

 

Lord Hygelac's hearth-companions.

 

My father wandered far through this world

 

earned his way there Ecgtheow by name

 

survived many winters wartime and peace

 

till age wearied him. He won many battles

 

named by Northmen in nations abroad.

 

Now we have come here with kind intentions

 

to seek out your lord son of Healfdene

 

victor of men. Advise us well!

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We bear to your lord leader of the Danes

 

a helpful message—but we hold no secrets

 

now that we're here. You know if it's true

 

stories told to us sorrowful tales

 

evil in Denmark some demon or giant

 

a devilish creature who in darkness of night

 

roams the moorpaths murder in his heart

 

hell's messenger. To Hrothgar I offer

 

words to consider serious counsel

 

how this wise ruler may win over deathdays

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if an end to sorrows ever will come forth

 

a taming of torment time for revenge

 

healing of heartbreak in this helpless land.

 

Unless this happens as long as he rules

 

darkness and bloodgrief will doom his people

 

banished forever from that best of halls.”

 

The coastguard replied proud horse-soldier

 

no fear in his words: “One way or another

 

a sharp warden can weigh carefully

 

words and intentions if he's worthy in thought.

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I've heard in your speech heartstrong fealty

 

to the lord of the Danes. I'll lead you now

 

with your spears and helmets to the hall above—

 

I'll tell my companions to tend to your ship

 

guard carefully against all comers

 

this newly tarred vessel nestled in sand

 

to hold it in trust till the time comes round

 

when homeward it bears the best among you

 

brings back alive beloved warriors

 

on this ring-prowed ship riding foamwaves

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back to the Weather-Geats wondering for news.”

 

They marched forward then mounted the headland

 

left their keel-ship lashed to beach-anchor

 

roped to the sand. Around their mask-helmets

 

golden boar-heads beamed to the sun

 

flashed a war-gleam on fire-hardened steel

 

signaled their weapons. They strode together

 

crested the sea-wall till they saw glinting

 

that timber-strong hall trimmed bright with gold

 

tall horn-gables towering in the sun

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high to the heavens Hrothgar's gift-hall.

 

Its light shone forth over land and sea.

 

The coastguard paused pulled his horse round

 

stopped by the roadside studied them well

 

hefted his spear hailed them again

 

paused for a moment with these parting words:

 

“Fare you well now—may the Father almighty

 

hold you from harm help from this moment