{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/beo/beo04.htm","path":"neu/beo/beo04.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/beo/beo04.htm","text":"THUS seethed unceasing the son of Healfdene\nwith the woe of these days; not wisest men\nassuaged his sorrow; too sore the anguish,\nloathly and long, that lay on his folk,\nmost baneful of burdens and bales of the night.\nThis heard in his home Hygelac's thane,\ngreat among Geats, of Grendel's doings.\nHe was the mightiest man of valor\nin that same day of this our life,\nstalwart and stately. A stout wave-walker\nhe bade make ready. Yon battle-king, said he,\nfar o'er the swan-road he fain would seek,\nthe noble monarch who needed men!\nThe prince's journey by prudent folk\nwas little blamed, though they loved him dear;\nthey whetted the hero, and hailed good omens.\nAnd now the bold one from bands of Geats\ncomrades chose, the keenest of warriors\ne'er he could find; with fourteen men\nthe sea-wood[1] he sought, and, sailor proved,\nled them on to the land's confines.\nTime had now flown;[2] afloat was the ship,\nboat under bluff. On board they climbed,\nwarriors ready; waves were churning\nsea with sand; the sailors bore\non the breast of the bark their bright array,\ntheir mail and weapons: the men pushed off,\non its willing way, the well-braced craft.\nThen moved o'er the waters by might of the wind\nthat bark like a bird with breast of foam,\ntill in season due, on the second day,\nthe curved prow such course had run\nthat sailors now could see the land,\nsea-cliffs shining, steep high hills,\nheadlands broad. Their haven was found,\ntheir journey ended. Up then quickly\nthe Weders'[3] clansmen climbed ashore,\nanchored their sea-wood, with armor clashing\nand gear of battle: God they thanked\nfor passing in peace o'er the paths of the sea.\nNow saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman,\na warden that watched the water-side,\nhow they bore o'er the gangway glittering shields,\nwar-gear in readiness; wonder seized him\nto know what manner of men they were.\nStraight to the strand his steed he rode,\nHrothgar's henchman; with hand of might\nhe shook his spear, and spake in parley.\n\"Who are ye, then, ye armed men,\nmailed folk, that yon mighty vessel\nhave urged thus over the ocean ways,\nhere o'er the waters? A warden I,\nsentinel set o'er the sea-march here,\nlest any foe to the folk of Danes\nwith harrying fleet should harm the land.\nNo aliens ever at ease thus bore them,\nlinden-wielders:[4] yet word-of-leave\nclearly ye lack from clansmen here,\nmy folk's agreement. -- A greater ne'er saw I\nof warriors in world than is one of you, --\nyon hero in harness! No henchman he\nworthied by weapons, if witness his features,\nhis peerless presence! I pray you, though, tell\nyour folk and home, lest hence ye fare\nsuspect to wander your way as spies\nin Danish land. Now, dwellers afar,\nocean-travellers, take from me\nsimple advice: the sooner the better\nI hear of the country whence ye came.\"\n[1] Ship.\n[2] That is, since Beowulf selected his ship and led his men to the harbor.\n[3] One of the auxiliary names of the Geats.\n[4] Or: Not thus openly ever came warriors hither; yet...","title":"Beowulf: Part III","type":"page"}