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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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83 CHAPTER XXXV (I think the Scribe should have begun this division with the second paragraph. At least that is where I will begin here in my introduction and summary.) After the unhappy King Hrethel’s death-so continued Beowulf’s reminiscences-war broke out again between the Geats and the Swedes (whose territory was not exactly the Sweden of today, but a smaller region just north of the tribe of the Geats). Here Haethcyn fell. Here the Swedish King, Ongentheow, fell too, slain by Eofor. Here too Beowulf performed brave deeds, as he did likewise later on the raid into Frisia, when Beowulf slew a certain Daeghrefn, presumably the slayer of Hygelac. Beowulf, in this long speech of his, now at last bethought him of the Dragon. (I wonder what the Dragon had been doing meanwhile-had be begun to tremble at a foeman with such a warlike record?) And the Scop chants how Beowulf stood up and roared his challenge into the cavern, and how, apparently somewhat inside the entrance, the fight began; and how Beowulf’s sword crumpled under the blow be wielded, and how Beowulf in deadly peril was forced to back out, and how his chosen band of braves miserably fled into the woods, all except one. [To bed then he goeth; chanteth a sorrow- song, The lone one for the lost one. Seemeth all too wide His fields and his homestead.... So it did betide The Helmet of the Weders; his welling heart must long Ever after Herebeald, but yet the bloody wrong He might not venge on Haethcyn, by whom the brother died. Nor even might he hound him, the warrior he begot, By loathly deed of hatred, albeit he loved him not. And so then for the sorrow he suffered from these blows, The mirth of men he gave up and God’s light chose. He left unto his offspring (as doth a man of pelf) His land and his folk-burgs, when death had ta’en himself. Then rose there crime and conteck the Swedes and Geats between, Over the wide water,- a conflict close and keen, A war-hate of the hardy, after Hrethel died, And the sons of Ongentheow were forward in their pride, And would not hold the peace-pact with folk beyond the sea. But raided oft round Hreosnabeorh in forays fierce and free. That strife my friends and kinsmen repaid, as all men know, That unholy warring; albeit another, though, Bought with life the victory, a price not low To Haethcyn, Lord of Geatmen, was that fighting fell. |
