beowulf-第17章

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who　hath　got　him　glory　greater　than　all　men

for　daring　deeds！　Now　the　day　is　come

that　our　noble　master　has　need　of　the　might

of　warriors　stout。　Let　us　stride　along

the　hero　to　help　while　the　heat　is　about　him

glowing　and　grim！　For　God　is　my　witness

I　am　far　more　fain　the　fire　should　seize

along　with　my　lord　these　limbs　of　mine！＇3＇

Unsuiting　it　seems　our　shields　to　bear

homeward　hence；　save　here　we　essay

to　fell　the　foe　and　defend　the　life

of　the　Weders'　lord。　I　wot　'twere　shame

on　the　law　of　our　land　if　alone　the　king

out　of　Geatish　warriors　woe　endured

and　sank　in　the　struggle！　My　sword　and　helmet；

breastplate　and　board；　for　us　both　shall　serve！〃

Through　slaughter…reek　strode　he　to　succor　his　chieftain；

his　battle…helm　bore；　and　brief　words　spake：　

〃Beowulf　dearest；　do　all　bravely；

as　in　youthful　days　of　yore　thou　vowedst

that　while　life　should　last　thou　wouldst　let　no　wise

thy　glory　droop！　Now；　great　in　deeds；

atheling　steadfast；　with　all　thy　strength

shield　thy　life！　I　will　stand　to　help　thee。〃

At　the　words　the　worm　came　once　again；

murderous　monster　mad　with　rage；

with　fire…billows　flaming；　its　foes　to　seek；

the　hated　men。　In　heat…waves　burned

that　board＇4＇　to　the　boss；　and　the　breastplate　failed

to　shelter　at　all　the　spear…thane　young。

Yet　quickly　under　his　kinsman's　shield

went　eager　the　earl；　since　his　own　was　now

all　burned　by　the　blaze。　The　bold　king　again

had　mind　of　his　glory：　with　might　his　glaive

was　driven　into　the　dragon's　head；　

blow　nerved　by　hate。　But　Naegling＇5＇　was　shivered；

broken　in　battle　was　Beowulf's　sword；

old　and　gray。　'Twas　granted　him　not

that　ever　the　edge　of　iron　at　all

could　help　him　at　strife：　too　strong　was　his　hand；

so　the　tale　is　told；　and　he　tried　too　far

with　strength　of　stroke　all　swords　he　wielded；

though　sturdy　their　steel：　they　steaded　him　nought。

Then　for　the　third　time　thought　on　its　feud

that　folk…destroyer；　fire…dread　dragon；

and　rushed　on　the　hero；　where　room　allowed；

battle…grim；　burning；　its　bitter　teeth

closed　on　his　neck；　and　covered　him

with　waves　of　blood　from　his　breast　that　welled。



＇1＇　That　is；　although　Eanmund　was　brother's　son　to　Onela；　the

slaying　of　the　former　by　Weohstan　is　not　felt　as　cause　of　feud；

and　is　rewarded　by　gift　of　the　slain　man's　weapons。　＇2＇　Both

Wiglaf　and　the　sword　did　their　duty。　　The　following　is　one　of

the　classic　passages　for　illustrating　the　comitatus　as　the　most

conspicuous　Germanic　institution；　and　its　underlying　sense　of

duty；　based　partly　on　the　idea　of　loyalty　and　partly　on　the

practical　basis　of　benefits　received　and　repaid。　＇3＇　Sc。　〃than　to

bide　safely　here；〃　　a　common　figure　of　incomplete　comparison。

＇4＇　Wiglaf's　wooden　shield。　＇5＇　Gering　would　translate　〃kinsman

of　the　nail；〃　as　both　are　made　of　iron。







XXXVII



'TWAS　now；　men　say；　in　his　sovran's　need

that　the　earl　made　known　his　noble　strain；

craft　and　keenness　and　courage　enduring。

Heedless　of　harm；　though　his　hand　was　burned；

hardy…hearted；　he　helped　his　kinsman。

A　little　lower　the　loathsome　beast

he　smote　with　sword；　his　steel　drove　in

bright　and　burnished；　that　blaze　began

to　lose　and　lessen。　At　last　the　king

wielded　his　wits　again；　war…knife　drew；

a　biting　blade　by　his　breastplate　hanging；

and　the　Weders'…helm　smote　that　worm　asunder；

felled　the　foe；　flung　forth　its　life。

So　had　they　killed　it；　kinsmen　both；

athelings　twain：　thus　an　earl　should　be

in　danger's　day！　　Of　deeds　of　valor

this　conqueror's…hour　of　the　king　was　last；

of　his　work　in　the　world。　The　wound　began；

which　that　dragon…of…earth　had　erst　inflicted；

to　swell　and　smart；　and　soon　he　found

in　his　breast　was　boiling；　baleful　and　deep；

pain　of　poison。　The　prince　walked　on；

wise　in　his　thought；　to　the　wall　of　rock；

then　sat；　and　stared　at　the　structure　of　giants；

where　arch　of　stone　and　steadfast　column

upheld　forever　that　hall　in　earth。

Yet　here　must　the　hand　of　the　henchman　peerless

lave　with　water　his　winsome　lord；

the　king　and　conqueror　covered　with　blood；

with　struggle　spent；　and　unspan　his　helmet。

Beowulf　spake　in　spite　of　his　hurt；

his　mortal　wound；　full　well　he　knew

his　portion　now　was　past　and　gone

of　earthly　bliss；　and　all　had　fled

of　his　file　of　days；　and　death　was　near：

〃I　would　fain　bestow　on　son　of　mine

this　gear　of　war；　were　given　me　now

that　any　heir　should　after　me　come

of　my　proper　blood。　This　people　I　ruled

fifty　winters。　No　folk…king　was　there；

none　at　all；　of　the　neighboring　clans

who　war　would　wage　me　with　'warriors'…friends'＇1＇

and　threat　me　with　horrors。　At　home　I　bided

what　fate　might　come；　and　I　cared　for　mine　own；

feuds　I　sought　not；　nor　falsely　swore

ever　on　oath。　For　all　these　things；

though　fatally　wounded；　fain　am　I！

From　the　Ruler…of…Man　no　wrath　shall　seize　me；

when　life　from　my　frame　must　flee　away；

for　killing　of　kinsmen！　Now　quickly　go

and　gaze　on　that　hoard　'neath　the　hoary　rock；

Wiglaf　loved；　now　the　worm　lies　low；

sleeps；　heart…sore；　of　his　spoil　bereaved。

And　fare　in　haste。　I　would　fain　behold

the　gorgeous　heirlooms；　golden　store；

have　joy　in　the　jewels　and　gems；　lay　down

softlier　for　sight　of　this　splendid　hoard

my　life　and　the　lordship　I　long　have　held。〃



＇1＇　That　is；　swords。







XXXVIII



I　HAVE　heard　that　swiftly　the　son　of　Weohstan

at　wish　and　word　of　his　wounded　king；　

war…sick　warrior；　　woven　mail…coat；

battle…sark；　bore　'neath　the　barrow's　roof。

Then　the　clansman　keen；　of　conquest　proud；

passing　the　seat；＇1＇　saw　store　of　jewels

and　glistening　gold　the　ground　along；

by　the　wall　were　marvels；　and　many　a　vessel

in　the　den　of　the　dragon；　the　dawn…flier　old：

unburnished　bowls　of　bygone　men

reft　of　richness；　rusty　helms

of　the　olden　age；　and　arm…rings　many

wondrously　woven。　　Such　wealth　of　gold；

booty　from　barrow；　can　burden　with　pride

each　human　wight：　let　him　hide　it　who　will！　

His　glance　too　fell　on　a　gold…wove　banner

high　o'er　the　hoard；　of　handiwork　noblest；

brilliantly　broidered；　so　bright　its　gleam；

all　the　earth…floor　he　easily　saw

and　viewed　all　these　vessels。　No　vestige　now

was　seen　of　the　serpent：　the　sword　had　ta'en　him。

Then；　I　heard；　the　hill　of　its　hoard　was　reft；

old　work　of　giants；　by　one　alone；

he　burdened　his　bosom　with　beakers　and　plate

at　his　own　good　will；　and　the　ensign　took；

brightest　of　beacons。　　The　blade　of　his　lord

　its　edge　was　iron　　had　injured　deep

one　that　guarded　the　golden　hoard

many　a　year　and　its　murder…fire

spread　hot　round　the　barrow　in　horror…billows

at　midnight　hour；　till　it　met　its　doom。

Hasted　the　herald；　the　hoard　so　spurred　him

his　track　to　retrace；　he　was　troubled　by　doubt；

high…souled　hero；　if　haply　he'd　find

alive；　where　he　left　him；　the　lord　of　Weders；

weakening　fast　by　the　wall　of　the　cave。

So　he　carried　the　load。　His　lord　and　king

he　found　all　bleeding；　famous　chief

at　the　lapse　of　life。　The　liegeman　again

plashed　him　with　water；　till　point　of　word

broke　through　the　breast…hoard。　Beowulf　spake；

sage　and　sad；　as　he　stared　at　the　gold。　

〃For　the　gold　and　treasure；　to　God　my　thanks；

to　the　Wielder…of…Wonders；　with　words　I　say；

for　what　I　behold；　to　Heaven's　Lord；

for　the　grace　that　I　give　such　gifts　to　my　folk

or　ever　the　day　of　my　death　be　run！

Now　I've　bartered　here　for　booty　of　treasure

the　last　of　my　life；　so　look　ye　well

to　the　needs　of　my　land！　No　longer　I　tarry。

A　barrow　bid　ye　the　battle…fanned　raise

for　my　ashes。　'Twill　shine　by　the　shore　of　the　flood；

to　folk　of　mine　memorial　fair

on　Hrones　Headland　high　uplifted；

that　ocean…wanderers　oft　may　hail

Beowulf's　Barrow；　as　back　from　far

they　drive　their　keels　o'er　the　darkling　wave。〃

From　his　neck　he　unclasped　the　collar　of　gold；

valorous　king；　to　his　vassal　gave　it

with　bright…gold　helmet；　breastplate；　and　ring；

to　the　youthful　thane：　bade　him　use　them　in　joy。

〃Thou　art　end　and　remnant　of　all　our　race

the　Waegmunding