{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/beo/beo28.htm","path":"neu/beo/beo28.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/beo/beo28.htm","text":"CAME now to ocean the ever-courageous\nhardy henchmen, their harness bearing,\nwoven war-sarks. The warden marked,\ntrusty as ever, the earl's return.\nFrom the height of the hill no hostile words\nreached the guests as he rode to greet them;\nbut \"Welcome!\" he called to that Weder clan\nas the sheen-mailed spoilers to ship marched on.\nThen on the strand, with steeds and treasure\nand armor their roomy and ring-dight ship\nwas heavily laden: high its mast\nrose over Hrothgar's hoarded gems.\nA sword to the boat-guard Beowulf gave,\nmounted with gold; on the mead-bench since\nhe was better esteemed, that blade possessing,\nheirloom old. -- Their ocean-keel boarding,\nthey drove through the deep, and Daneland left.\nA sea-cloth was set, a sail with ropes,\nfirm to the mast; the flood-timbers moaned;[1]\nnor did wind over billows that wave-swimmer blow\nacross from her course. The craft sped on,\nfoam-necked it floated forth o'er the waves,\nkeel firm-bound over briny currents,\ntill they got them sight of the Geatish cliffs,\nhome-known headlands. High the boat,\nstirred by winds, on the strand updrove.\nHelpful at haven the harbor-guard stood,\nwho long already for loved companions\nby the water had waited and watched afar.\nHe bound to the beach the broad-bosomed ship\nwith anchor-bands, lest ocean-billows\nthat trusty timber should tear away.\nThen Beowulf bade them bear the treasure,\ngold and jewels; no journey far\nwas it thence to go to the giver of rings,\nHygelac Hrethling: at home he dwelt\nby the sea-wall close, himself and clan.\nHaughty that house, a hero the king,\nhigh the hall, and Hygd[2] right young,\nwise and wary, though winters few\nin those fortress walls she had found a home,\nHaereth's daughter. Nor humble her ways,\nnor grudged she gifts to the Geatish men,\nof precious treasure. Not Thryth's pride showed she,\nfolk-queen famed, or that fell deceit.\nWas none so daring that durst make bold\n(save her lord alone) of the liegemen dear\nthat lady full in the face to look,\nbut forged fetters he found his lot,\nbonds of death! And brief the respite;\nsoon as they seized him, his sword-doom was spoken,\nand the burnished blade a baleful murder\nproclaimed and closed. No queenly way\nfor woman to practise, though peerless she,\nthat the weaver-of-peace[3] from warrior dear\nby wrath and lying his life should reave!\nBut Hemming's kinsman hindered this. --\nFor over their ale men also told\nthat of these folk-horrors fewer she wrought,\nonslaughts of evil, after she went,\ngold-decked bride, to the brave young prince,\natheling haughty, and Offa's hall\no'er the fallow flood at her father's bidding\nsafely sought, where since she prospered,\nroyal, throned, rich in goods,\nfain of the fair life fate had sent her,\nand leal in love to the lord of warriors.\nHe, of all heroes I heard of ever\nfrom sea to sea, of the sons of earth,\nmost excellent seemed. Hence Offa was praised\nfor his fighting and feeing by far-off men,\nthe spear-bold warrior; wisely he ruled\nover his empire. Eomer woke to him,\nhelp of heroes, Hemming's kinsman,\nGrandson of Garmund, grim in war.\n[1] With the speed of the boat.\n[2] Queen to Hygelac. She is praised by contrast with the antitype, Thryth,\njust as Beowulf was praised by contrast with Heremod.\n[3] Kenning for \"wife.\"","title":"Beowulf: Part XXVII","type":"page"}