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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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21 CHAPTER VI The Scop strikes his harp again, recounting to us Hrothgar’s reply to the Herald,- how Hrothgar had known of Beowulf’s lineage, as son of Ecgtheow and grandson of Hrethel, the former King of the Geats (father of the present King, Hygelac), and known too of Beowulf’s mighty strength, equal to thirty thanes. Surely Beowulf, said Hrothgar, has come to save us from Grendel. So Wulfgar, the Herald, called from the door that Beowulf and his band should enter. And Beowulf stood before King Hrothgar in Heorot, and announced his errand, with honest pride in his past victories over Monsters and with brave readiness to face this new Monster, Cannibal Grendel. Though Grendel, as he had heard, bore charmed life against all weapons of mankind, he would trust in his own powerful grip of hand and arm. Hrothgar made his speech then, Helm of the Scylding-Breed: “I knew him as a child once; Ecgtheow his father old, To whom, at home, Geat Hrethel, his only daughter gave; And now is Ecgtheow’s offspring, hither come, the bold, And seeketh now the faithful friend across the wave. Of yore those seamen told me, who bore to Geatmen’s land Thither in thanks my royal gifts, that he in grip-of-hands, He, the keen-at- contest, had the clinch of thirty thanes. Him holy God in mercy sent, methinks, to us West-Danes Against the greed of Grendel. This goodly youth unto, I trust to proffer treasure for this his derring-do. Be speedy, bid them enter to see our banded thanes, Say eke to them in right words they’re welcome guests to Danes.” Then went to doorway Wulfgar, and spake he from within: “My high Lord, King of East-Danes, bids say he knows your kin; And that ye are to him all, from o’er the ocean crests, Ye hardy- hearted seamen, hither welcome guests. Now may ye under visors wend in warrior-gear To see our Hrothgar, leaving your battle-bucklers here, Your ash-woods, shafts-of-slaughter, to bide the parley’s close.” Uprose the mighty Geat then; ringed around him, rose His valiant throng of thanemen. Some remained without, Guarding their martial trappings, as bade their chieftain stout. They hied them in together, where the Herald led, Under roof of Heorot. The Hero strode ahead, The stout One under helmet, till at the hearth he stood. Beowulf made his speech then (shone his corslet good, A cunning net-work woven by olden wit of smith): |
