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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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19 CHAPTER V The Scop chants how Beowulf and his armed band marched up to the walls of far-shining Heorot; how Wulfgar, King Hrothgar’s Herald, challenged them in friendly wise; how Beowulf asked him for an audience with the King; and how Wulfgar, with eager speed, went into the hall and told Hrothgar. The street was laid with bright stones; the road led on the band; The battle-byrnies shimmered, the hard, the linked-by-hand; The iron-rings, the gleaming, amid their armor sang, Whilst thither, in dread war-gear, to hall they marched alang; The ocean-weary warriors set down their bucklers Their shields, so hard and hardy, against that House’s side; They stacked points up, these seamen, their ash-wood, gray-tipped spears; And bent to bench, as clanked their byrnies, battle-gears An iron-troop well-weaponed! Then proud a Dane forthwith Did of these men-at-arms there enquire the kin and kith: “Ye bear these plated bucklers hither from what realms; These piled shafts of onset, gray sarks, and visored helms? The Henchman and the Herald of Hrothgar, lo, am I! Never so many strangers I’ve seen of mood more high. I ween that ‘t is for prowess, and not for exile far, That ‘t is indeed for glory, that ye have sought Hrothgar.” The valor-famed, the proud Prince of Weders, made reply, As, hardy under helmet, he spake his words thereby: “We’re Hyglac’s board-fellows, Beowulf my name. I would to son of Halfdane my errand here proclaim, To the great King, thy Master, if he but thinketh meet To grant to us that we may one so goodly greet.” Wulfgar made a speech then (Prince of the Wendels, he, For soul of war and wisdom renowned exceedingly): “Fain will I ask the Danes’ Friend, the Lord of all Scyldings, As to the boon thou beggest,- will ask the Breaker-of-Rings, My ever- glorious Sovran, touching this thy quest, And quickly fetch such answer as he, the good, deems best.” In haste he hied him thither where King Hrothgar sate, The old man, the hoary, with his jarls in state. He strode, the valor-famed until he stood before The shoulders of his dear King-O he knew courtly lore! Wulfgar made a speech then to his chief, Hrothgar: “Hither have there ferried, coming from afar O’er the ocean stretches, Geatfolk to our hall; Him who is their eldest Beowulf they call. |
