beowulf-第7章

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was　filled　with　friends；　the　folk　of　Scyldings

ne'er　yet　had　tried　the　traitor's　deed。

To　Beowulf　gave　the　bairn　of　Healfdene

a　gold…wove　banner；　guerdon　of　triumph；

broidered　battle…flag；　breastplate　and　helmet；

and　a　splendid　sword　was　seen　of　many

borne　to　the　brave　one。　Beowulf　took

cup　in　hall：＇2＇　for　such　costly　gifts

he　suffered　no　shame　in　that　soldier　throng。

For　I　heard　of　few　heroes；　in　heartier　mood；

with　four　such　gifts；　so　fashioned　with　gold；

on　the　ale…bench　honoring　others　thus！

O'er　the　roof　of　the　helmet　high；　a　ridge；

wound　with　wires；　kept　ward　o'er　the　head；

lest　the　relict…of…files＇3＇　should　fierce　invade；

sharp　in　the　strife；　when　that　shielded　hero

should　go　to　grapple　against　his　foes。

Then　the　earls'…defence＇4＇　on　the　floor＇5＇　bade　lead

coursers　eight；　with　carven　head…gear；

adown　the　hall：　one　horse　was　decked

with　a　saddle　all　shining　and　set　in　jewels；

'twas　the　battle…seat　of　the　best　of　kings；

when　to　play　of　swords　the　son　of　Healfdene

was　fain　to　fare。　Ne'er　failed　his　valor

in　the　crush　of　combat　when　corpses　fell。

To　Beowulf　over　them　both　then　gave

the　refuge…of…Ingwines　right　and　power；

o'er　war…steeds　and　weapons：　wished　him　joy　of　them。

Manfully　thus　the　mighty　prince；

hoard…guard　for　heroes；　that　hard　fight　repaid

with　steeds　and　treasures　contemned　by　none

who　is　willing　to　say　the　sooth　aright。



＇1＇　There　is　no　horrible　inconsistency　here　such　as　the　critics

strive　and　cry　about。　In　spite　of　the　ruin　that　Grendel　and

Beowulf　had　made　within　the　hall；　the　framework　and　roof　held

firm；　and　swift　repairs　made　the　interior　habitable。　Tapestries

were　hung　on　the　walls；　and　willing　hands　prepared　the　banquet。

＇2＇　From　its　formal　use　in　other　places；　this　phrase；　to　take　cup

in　hall；　or　〃on　the　floor；〃　would　seem　to　mean　that　Beowulf

stood　up　to　receive　his　gifts；　drink　to　the　donor；　and　say

thanks。　＇3＇　Kenning　for　sword。　＇4＇　Hrothgar。　He　is　also　the

〃refuge　of　the　friends　of　Ing；〃　below。　Ing　belongs　to　myth。　＇5＇

Horses　are　frequently　led　or　ridden　into　the　hall　where　folk　sit

at　banquet：　so　in　Chaucer's　Squire's　tale；　in　the　ballad　of　King

Estmere；　and　in　the　romances。







XVI



AND　the　lord　of　earls；　to　each　that　came

with　Beowulf　over　the　briny　ways；

an　heirloom　there　at　the　ale…bench　gave；

precious　gift；　and　the　price＇1＇　bade　pay

in　gold　for　him　whom　Grendel　erst

murdered；　　and　fain　of　them　more　had　killed；

had　not　wisest　God　their　Wyrd　averted；

and　the　man's＇2＇　brave　mood。　The　Maker　then

ruled　human　kind；　as　here　and　now。

Therefore　is　insight　always　best；

and　forethought　of　mind。　How　much　awaits　him

of　lief　and　of　loath；　who　long　time　here；

through　days　of　warfare　this　world　endures！



Then　song　and　music　mingled　sounds

in　the　presence　of　Healfdene's　head…of…armies＇3＇

and　harping　was　heard　with　the　hero…lay

as　Hrothgar's　singer　the　hall…joy　woke

along　the　mead…seats；　making　his　song

of　that　sudden　raid　on　the　sons　of　Finn。＇4＇

Healfdene's　hero；　Hnaef　the　Scylding；

was　fated　to　fall　in　the　Frisian　slaughter。＇5＇

Hildeburh　needed　not　hold　in　value

her　enemies'　honor！＇6＇　Innocent　both

were　the　loved　ones　she　lost　at　the　linden…play；

bairn　and　brother；　they　bowed　to　fate；

stricken　by　spears；　'twas　a　sorrowful　woman！

None　doubted　why　the　daughter　of　Hoc

bewailed　her　doom　when　dawning　came；

and　under　the　sky　she　saw　them　lying；

kinsmen　murdered；　where　most　she　had　kenned

of　the　sweets　of　the　world！　By　war　were　swept；　too；

Finn's　own　liegemen；　and　few　were　left；

in　the　parleying…place＇7＇　he　could　ply　no　longer

weapon；　nor　war　could　he　wage　on　Hengest；

and　rescue　his　remnant　by　right　of　arms

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

another　dwelling　the　Danes　should　have；

hall　and　high…seat；　and　half　the　power

should　fall　to　them　in　Frisian　land；

and　at　the　fee…gifts；　Folcwald's　son

day　by　day　the　Danes　should　honor；

the　folk　of　Hengest　favor　with　rings；

even　as　truly；　with　treasure　and　jewels；

with　fretted　gold；　as　his　Frisian　kin

he　meant　to　honor　in　ale…hall　there。

Pact　of　peace　they　plighted　further

on　both　sides　firmly。　Finn　to　Hengest

with　oath；　upon　honor；　openly　promised

that　woful　remnant；　with　wise…men's　aid；

nobly　to　govern；　so　none　of　the　guests

by　word　or　work　should　warp　the　treaty；＇8＇

or　with　malice　of　mind　bemoan　themselves

as　forced　to　follow　their　fee…giver's　slayer；

lordless　men；　as　their　lot　ordained。

Should　Frisian；　moreover；　with　foeman's　taunt；

that　murderous　hatred　to　mind　recall；

then　edge　of　the　sword　must　seal　his　doom。



Oaths　were　given；　and　ancient　gold

heaped　from　hoard。　　The　hardy　Scylding；

battle…thane　best；＇9＇　on　his　balefire　lay。

All　on　the　pyre　were　plain　to　see

the　gory　sark；　the　gilded　swine…crest；

boar　of　hard　iron；　and　athelings　many

slain　by　the　sword：　at　the　slaughter　they　fell。

It　was　Hildeburh's　hest；　at　Hnaef's　own　pyre

the　bairn　of　her　body　on　brands　to　lay；

his　bones　to　burn；　on　the　balefire　placed；

at　his　uncle's　side。　In　sorrowful　dirges

bewept　them　the　woman：　great　wailing　ascended。

Then　wound　up　to　welkin　the　wildest　of　death…fires；

roared　o'er　the　hillock：＇10＇　heads　all　were　melted；

gashes　burst；　and　blood　gushed　out

from　bites＇11＇　of　the　body。　Balefire　devoured；

greediest　spirit；　those　spared　not　by　war

out　of　either　folk：　their　flower　was　gone。



＇1＇　Man…price；　wergild。　＇2＇　Beowulf's。　＇3＇　Hrothgar。　＇4＇　There　is

no　need　to　assume　a　gap　in　the　Ms。　As　before　about　Sigemund　and

Heremod；　so　now；　though　at　greater　length；　about　Finn　and　his

feud；　a　lay　is　chanted　or　recited；　and　the　epic　poet；　counting　on

his　readers'　familiarity　with　the　story；　　a　fragment　of　it

still　exists；　　simply　gives　the　headings。　＇5＇　The　exact　story

to　which　this　episode　refers　in　summary　is　not　to　be　determined；

but　the　following　account　of　it　is　reasonable　and　has　good

support　among　scholars。　Finn；　a　Frisian　chieftain；　who

nevertheless　has　a　〃castle〃　outside　the　Frisian　border；　marries

Hildeburh；　a　Danish　princess；　and　her　brother；　Hnaef；　with　many

other　Danes；　pays　Finn　a　visit。　Relations　between　the　two　peoples

have　been　strained　before。　Something　starts　the　old　feud　anew；

and　the　visitors　are　attacked　in　their　quarters。　Hnaef　is　killed；

so　is　a　son　of　Hildeburh。　Many　fall　on　both　sides。　Peace　is

patched　up；　a　stately　funeral　is　held；　and　the　surviving　visitors

become　in　a　way　vassals　or　liegemen　of　Finn；　going　back　with　him

to　Frisia。　So　matters　rest　a　while。　Hengest　is　now　leader　of　the

Danes；　but　he　is　set　upon　revenge　for　his　former　lord；　Hnaef。

Probably　he　is　killed　in　feud；　but　his　clansmen；　Guthlaf　and

Oslaf；　gather　at　their　home　a　force　of　sturdy　Danes；　come　back　to

Frisia；　storm　Finn's　stronghold；　kill　him；　and　carry　back　their

kinswoman　Hildeburh。　＇6＇　The　〃enemies〃　must　be　the　Frisians。　＇7＇

Battlefield。　　Hengest　is　the　〃prince's　thane；〃　companion　of

Hnaef。　〃Folcwald's　son〃　is　Finn。　＇8＇　That　is；　Finn　would　govern

in　all　honor　the　few　Danish　warriors　who　were　left；　provided；　of

course；　that　none　of　them　tried　to　renew　the　quarrel　or　avenge

Hnaef　their　fallen　lord。　If；　again；　one　of　Finn's　Frisians　began

a　quarrel；　he　should　die　by　the　sword。　＇9＇　Hnaef。　＇10＇　The　high

place　chosen　for　the　funeral：　see　description　of　Beowulf's

funeral…pile　at　the　end　of　the　poem。　＇11＇　Wounds。







XVII



THEN　hastened　those　heroes　their　home　to　see；

friendless；　to　find　the　Frisian　land；

houses　and　high　burg。　Hengest　still

through　the　death…dyed　winter　dwelt　with　Finn；

holding　pact；　yet　of　home　he　minded；

though　powerless　his　ring…decked　prow　to　drive

over　the　waters；　now　waves　rolled　fierce

lashed　by　the　winds；　or　winter　locked　them

in　icy　fetters。　Then　fared　another

year　to　men's　dwellings；　as　yet　they　do；

the　sunbright　skies；　that　their　season　ever

duly　await。　Far　off　winter　was　driven；

fair　lay　earth's　breast；　and　fain　was　the　rover；

the　guest；　to　depart；　though　more