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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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30 CHAPTER X The Scop chants how Beowulf undid his armor in Heorot, and made his boast ere he laid himself down upon the mead-bench that stretched along the side wall. He again vaunted he would use no weapon except his own main strength, for in those days to speak out frankly one’s own good opinion of one’s self was not counted an unseemly thing. Then, while the other young Geatmen slumbered, Beowulf lay on his pillow, apparently slumbering too, but really very much awake. And Grendel was making toward Heorot. Then did Hrothgar hie him, the Scyldings’ Bulwark-Bar, Forth from the mead-hall with his band-of-war; Wished that Warrior-Chieftain Wealhtheow for to seek, His Queen for his bed-mate. The King-of-Glory there Over against Grendel (so men had heard him speak) Had set a chamber- warder; whose special task was care Of him, the Danemen’s Monarch, in keeping ogre-guard. Truly, the Geatish Leader trusted well the Lord, And his own proud mettle. His mail he then undid, From his head his helmet, gave his figured sword (That goodliest of iron-things) to his man and bid Watch and ward his war-gear. Then his boast he said, Beowulf, the brave Geat, ere he clomb to bed: “Not poorer in battle-prowess, do I reckon me, In the works of warfare, than is Grendel, he! So not with sword I purpose to spill his life tonight, To put to sleep the Monster, though indeed I might. Those goodly arts he knows not whereby to cut at me, To hew against my buckler, though so bold he be In the works of combat. But this eventide To both of us behooveth leave the blade aside, If he durst to seek out a lack-weapon fray, And holy Lord, the wise God, thereafter either way Let him decree the glory as him- thinketh best.” And then the Keen-in-contest laid him down to rest; And in the pillow sank, then, that Jarlman’s cheek and head; And many a brisk one round him bent to his hall-bed Many an ocean- warrior. Not any of the band Thought ‘t would e’er be his to seek from here his fatherland, The dear folk, or free-burg, that fostered him and bore; But they had heard that ere now more than many a man Slaughter-death had taken off of the Danish clan. But unto them the Lord gave the webs of weal-in-war, Gave unto the Weders aid and comfort so |
