Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: 'Lo, son of Healfdene, lord of
the Danes, we have brought thee this booty of the sea all joyfully,
this which thou seest as a token of glory. And I hardly escaped with
my life, and hazarded an arduous task of war under water. And nearly
was the battle ended for me, but that God shielded me. Nor could
I in that conflict do aught with Hrunting, though the weapon was
doughty. But the Ruler of men granted me to see hanging on the wall
a beauteous sword mighty and ancient (often He guides those who are
bereft of their comrades), and I drew the weapon. And I struck in that
striving the guardian of the house when I saw my chance. Then that
battle-sword that was all decked out, burned up so that blood gushed
forth, the hottest of battle-sweat. But I bore off that hilt thence
from the enemy, and wrought vengeance for the crimes, the deaths of
the Danes, as it was fitting. And here I bid thee to take thy rest all
sorrowless in Hart, with the troop of thy men and each of the thanes
of thy people, the youth and the doughty ones. O Lord of the Danes,
no longer need'st thou fear for them, because of earls' life-bale as
before thou didst.' Then was the golden hilt, the work of the giants,
given into the hand of the old warrior, the hoary battle-chief. This
work of the wonder-smiths went into the possession of the Lord of the
Danes after the destruction of devils; and when the man of the fierce
heart, the adversary of God guilty of murder, forsook this world,
it passed to the best of world-kings by the two seas, of these who
in Sceden Isle dealt out treasures.
Hrothgar spake and looked upon the hilt, the old heirloom on which
was written the beginning of the ancient feud since the flood, the
all-embracing ocean slew the giant race, when they bore themselves
presumptuously. They were a folk strangers to the eternal God, to whom
the ruler gave their deserts through whelming of waters. Thus was
there truly marked on the sword guards of shining gold, by means of
rune-staves, set down and stated by whom that sword was wrought at the
first, that choicest of weapons, with its twisted hilt, adorned with
a dragon. Then spake the wise man the son of Healfdene, and all kept
silence: 'He who doeth truth and right among the folk, and he who can
recall the far-off days, he the old protector of his country may say
that this earl was well born. Thy fair fame is spread throughout the
wide ways, among all peoples, O my friend Beowulf. Thou dost hold all
with patience, and might, with the proud of mind. I will perform the
compact as we two agreed. Thou shalt be a lasting aid to thy people,
a help to the heroes. Not so was Heremod [45] to the sons of Egwela,
the honour-full Danish folk. [46] For he did not become a joy to
them, but slaughter and death to the Danish people. But in a fury he
killed the table-companions his boon comrades; until he alone, the
famous chieftain, turned away from human joys. And though the mighty
God greatly exalted him by the joys of strength over all people and
rendered him help, yet a fierce hoard of hate grew up in his soul;
no rings did he give to the Danes, as the custom was; and joyless he
waited, so that he suffered troublesome striving and to his people a
long time was baleful. Do thou be learning by that example and seek
out manly virtues. I who am old in winters sing thee this song. And
a wonder is it to say how the mighty God giveth wisdom to mankind
through wideness of mind, lands, and earlship. He hath power over
all. Sometimes he letteth the thought of man of famous kith and kin
be turning to love, and giveth him earth-joys in his own country,
so that he holdeth the city of refuge among men, and giveth him to
rule over parts of the world, and very wide kingdoms, so that he
himself foolishly never thinketh of his end. He dwelleth in weal;
and neither disease nor old age doth deceive him a whit, nor doth
hostile sorrow darken his mind, nor anywhere do strife or sword-hate
show themselves; but all the world doth go as he willeth.