XXI
Beowulf then spoke, Ecgtheow's son:"Sorrow not, wise man! It is better for each
1385That his friend he avenge than that he mourn much
Each of us shall the end await
Of worldly life: let him who may gain
Honor ere death. That is for a warrior,
When he is dead, afterwards best.
1390Arise, kingdom's guardian! Let us quickly go
To view the track of Grendel's kinsman.
I promise it thee: he will not escape,
Nor in earth's bosom, nor in mountain-wood,
Nor in ocean's depths, go where he will.
1395Throughout this day do thou patience have
Of each of thy woes, as I ween of thee !"
Up leaped the agéd one, thanked he then God,
The mighty Lord, for what the man spoke.
Then was for Hrothgar a horse provided,
1400A steed with curled mane: the ruler wise
Well-equipped went; the band stepped forth
Of bearers of shields. The foot-tracks were
On the forest-paths widely perceived,
The course o'er the plain: she went straight ahead
1405O'er the murky moor, of knightly thanes bore
The noblest one deprived of life,
Of those who with Hrothgar defended his home.
Went he then over, the offspring of princes,
The steep, stony slopes, the narrow ways,
1410The strait single paths, the unknown course,
The headlands steep, many houses of nickers.
He one of few went on before,
Of the wise men, the plain to view,
Until he all at once the mountain-trees
1415O'er the gray stone found bending down,
The joyless wood: the water stood under
Gory and restless. To all the Danes 'twas,
To the friends of the Scyldings, bitter in mood,
To many a thane sorrow to suffer,
1420To each one of earls, after of Aeschere
On the holm-cliff the head they found.
The flood boiled with blood (the people looked on),
With the hot gore. The horn at times sang
The ready war-song. All the warriors sat down;
1425They saw then in the water many of worm-kind,
Strange sea-dragons, seeking the sea,
Such nickers lying out on the ness-slopes,
As at mid-day often prepare
A sorrowful voyage on the sail-road,
1430Worms and wild beasts: rushed they away
Fierce and angry; the noise they perceived
The war-horn sound. The prince of the Geats
With his arrowed bow deprived one of life,
Of strife with the sea, so that stood in his vitals
1435The hard war-arrow: he was in the holm
The slower in swimming, whom death took away.
Quickly was in the waves with their boar-spears,
Their hooked swords, fiercely attacked,
Pressed after with struggles and to the ness drawn,
1440The wonderful monster: the men looked upon
The terrible stranger. Beowulf girded him
With noble armor, not for life did he care:
The war-burnie should, woven with hands,
Wide and well-wrought, seek out the sea,
1445That which his body could well protect,
So that him battle-grip might not in breast,
The mad one's assault, injure in life:
But the bright helmet protected his head,
Which was to mingle with the depths of the sea,
1450Adorned with treasure seek the sea-waves,
Encircled with diadem, as in days of old
The weapon-smith wrought it, wondrously framed it
Set with swine-bodies, so that it never after
The flaming war-swords might be able to bite.
1455That was not then the least of strong helps,
That to him in need Hrothgar's orator lent:
Of that hilted sword Hrunting was name;
That was a chief one of old-time treasures;
Its edge was of iron, with poison-twigs stained,
1460Hardened with battle-gore; ne'er failed it in fight
Any of men, who it wielded with hand,
He who durst tread the terrible paths,
The folk-place of foes: that was not the first time,
That deeds of valor it should perform.
1465The kinsman of Ecglaf remembered not now,
Mighty in strength, what he before spoke
Drunken with wine, when the weapon he lent
To a better sword-bearer; he himself durst not
Under waves' tumult venture his life,
1470Heroic deeds work; there he lost fame,
A name for valor; not so with the other,
When he for battle himself had prepared.
