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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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39 CHAPTER XIV The Scop chants on, for he knows his harp and his story well, without sheet of music or page of books; and he chants now the speech of Hrothgar to Beowulf, before the Hall of Heorot where hung Grendel’s arm and paw for Queen Wealhtheow and Spokesman Unferth and all to see. And Hrothgar adopted Beowulf as his own son. Then the Scop chants Beowulf’s answer to Hrothgar. It was a manly answer; yet we are disappointed that Beowulf did not thank Hrothgar for praising and adopting him. Perhaps Beowulf was so full of the fight that he could think of nothing else. Hrothgar made a speech then; he walked unto the hall; Stood upon the fore-steps; looked at roof so tall, So garnished with gold-work; at Grendel’s paw looked he: “’Thanks to the All-Wielder at once for what I see! From Grendel have I suffered such gruesome plight and plunder: But ever God he worketh wonder upon wonderHe is the King-of- Glory! It was but now that I Weened no boot for sorrows for me until I die, When stood this best of houses battle-sprent with gore, A sorrow spread so widely for every councillor Who weened they might not ever save from Fiends-of-murk, From ogres and from demons, this great folk-work. Now hath a thane by Lord’s might a deed put through That we for all our cunning erewhile could never do. Well can she say, that woman (if yet she be on earth) Who gave, among the tribes of men, to such an off spring birth, That olden God was kindly to her in child-bearing. Now Beowulf, best of battlers, to my heart’s fostering For mine own son I’ll take thee. Guard it well from now, This our new-born kinship! Never lack shalt thou For aught of world’s desires whereover I have power. Full oft did I for less deed of old a largesse shower, Rewards from out my treasure, upon a punier swain, A slacker one at slaughter. By thine own might and main Thou hast thyself achieved that thy name shall live Forever unto ages. May the All-Wielder give Reward of good unto thee, as ever he hath done.” Beowulf made a speech then, who was of Ecgtheow son: “We wrought that work of warfare, that fight, with goodly will; Boldly we dared the might of that mystic Thing-of-ill. O I would the rather that thou his very self Hadst seen in his trappings, that weary, wavering Elf! Swift I thought to pin him with my clutches firm |
