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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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45 CHAPTER XVII Our Scop brings the Harper’s story of “The Woe of Hildeburh” to an end. And he goes on to tell how Wealhtheow, Hrothgar’s Queen, addressed her Consort, making a hopeful allusion to Hrothulf in Hrothulf’s very presence. She could not know that in the future Hrothulf was going to slay her son Hrethric, though she may have felt some anxiety that sometime all might not be well. And Beowulf was seated between Hrethric and his brother Hrothmund, being now himself their brother by adoption. And Unferth, the quarrelsome and jealous, was happy too, seated, as was his wont, at the feet of the King; but perhaps it was none other than he who later stirred up the trouble between Hrothgar and Hrothulf that resulted in the slaying of Hrethric. Then wended the warriors, bereft of friends, away; Back unto their dwellings in Frisland wended they, To homes of theirs and high- burg. But Hengest made his inn, Still through winter grim and wan, peacefully with Finn. His thoughts were of his home-land, although he might not drive Over the sea his ringed prow. Waves with wind did strive; With storm rolled the ocean; with ice-fetters fast Winter locked the billows,- till there came at last Another year to homes of men, as still it doth today- The glory-gleaming weather that keeps its times alway. Then was gone the winter and fair was earth’s breast; Forth did fare the rover,- from Finn’s courts, the guest; But he was thinking rather of wreaking wrath for wrong, Than of ocean-voyage: how he might be strong To bring to pass a battle-parle, in the which he would O not all unmindful be of the Jutemen’s brood! Thus did he refuse not what is world’s behest, When the son of Hunlaf had laid upon his breast The blade hight Battle-Flame, of all bills the best Whose edges to the Jutemen were known too well. Likewise to the fierce-heart Finn in turn befell The sword-bale bitter at his very home, When Guthlaf and Oslaf o’er the sea did roam, Bemoaning the sorrow, the onslaught so grim, And for a deal of trouble blaming only him, Nor might they in their bold hearts restrain their restive mood. Then the hall was reddened with the foemen’s blood; And King Finn was slaughtered, ‘mid his body-corps, And the queen was taken. The Scylding bowmen bore All the wealth in household of the king of earth Whatsoe’er at Finn’s home they could find of worth, |
