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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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74 CHAPTER XXXI The Scop chants the conclusion of Beowulf’s speech. (I suspect the Scribe should have made XXXI begin with line after Beowulf’s speech.) Then the Scop tells how Beowulf, according to courtly etiquette of those days, bestowed upon his King and the Queen the presents he had received at Heorot; and how King Hygelac rewarded Beowulf, his admirable nephew and glorious retainer, with a province in the Kingdom and a royal castle. He tells, too, something we had not guessed before-that Beowulf, like many another man of power in this world, was as a lad accounted slow and stupid. And a lad today, accounted slow and stupid, may comfort himself that perhaps he will grow up to be as brave and useful as Beowulf-for there are still many monsters infesting our halls and our happiness or prowling about the swamps by night, and strong men are needed for getting rid of them. And now begins a new part of the story (which surely the Scribe should have made the beginning of the next fytte, XXXII). More than fifty years had passed since Beowulf, in his early twenties, had come back to Geatland in Scandinavia from slaying Grendel and his Mother in Daneland southward. He had now reigned fifty winters (the old Germanic tribes, like our Indians, reckoned years by ‘winters’), when a Dragon, furious at treasure stolen from his hoard, began to make grievous trouble for the dwellers in the Kingdom. Thus he kept, this Folk-King, the customs of yore. In naught was I the loser of reward therefor, Of meed for my prowess,- nay, he gave me treasure, He, the Kin of Halfdane, to do with at my pleasure. Now I will to bring them, King of men, to thee, To thee to proffer gladly. From now what comes to me Of good is all thy favor; grievous is my lack Of any closer kinsmen, save thee, O Hygelac.” Then he bade to bear in a banner with a boar, And a towering war- helm, and a byrnie hoar, And a sword of splendor; and spake with accents grave: “To me this battle-garment Hrothgar gave, The wise son of Halfdane, and added then his hest That first I should relate thee the tale of its bequest. He quoth the Prince of Scyldings, Heorogar, the King, A long while had owned it, this breast-garmenting; But yet he would not give it to son of his so lief, Heoroward, the daring. Enjoy it all, my chief.” I heard how as four horses, alike in swiftness all, Apple-fallow horses, followed next in hall. |
