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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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65 CHAPTER XXVI THE Scop chants Beowulf’s courteous farewell to Hrothgar, and Hrothgar’s farewell to Beowulf in which Hrothgar prophesied that Beowulf would some day succeed Hygelac as King of the Geats. And the Geatmen marched off to their Ship on the coast. Beowulf made his speech then, son of Ecgtheow, he: “Lo, we far-comers, we farers on the sea, Have a will to say now we’d seek our Hygelac. Thou hast been a goodly host; in nothing did we lack. O Lord of men, if ever I may this earth upon Earn me of thy heart’s love more than yet I’ve done, By aught of work-of-battle, I’ll ready be anon. If across the long seas, ever I should hear That the dwellers round about burden thee with fear, As the haters of thy realm have done of yester-year, I’ll bring to thee a thousand thanes, braves for help to thee. I wot me of my Hygelac, though so young he be, This Sovran of us Geatmen, this Herdsman of our ledes, That he will well uphold me both by words and deeds, That I may do thee honor, and to thy succor bear Ashen spear and aid of might, if need of men be there. If, too, thy Hrethric, bairn of kingly birth, Betakes him to the Geatish court, he’ll find of friends no dearth: ‘T is good to see a far countree, for one who trusts his worth.” Hrothgar made his speech then, answering him anon: “The wise God these sayings sent into thy soul, my son. Ne’er heard I more sagely so young a man take part; Strong in might, and sound in thought, and wise in words thou art. Most likely do I count it, if haply spear take him, The offspring of Hrethel, in battle bloody-grim, If illness, aye, or iron, take him to whom ye vow, This Herdsman of your people,- and if alive art thou, That then the Sea-Geats cannot make seemlier choice for King, For Hoard-Ward of heroes, than thou, my Aetheling, If then thou ‘rt not unwilling thy kindred’s realm to hold. Me liketh thy brave spirit, beloved Friend and bold, The longer the better. Beowulf, ‘t was thine To bring to pass between us, between thy folk and mine, The Geat-clan, the Spear-Danes, that common peace shall be, And strife shall rest, the ugly feuds, which both erewhile did dree; That there shall be, as long as I rule this Kingdom wide, Treasures in common, and greetings either side, Gifts the one to other over the gannet’s bath; And that the ringed ship shall bring over the ocean path Offering and love-token. I wot our peoples hold, Knit as one, to friend and |
