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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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88 son; But these did Onela return to Weohstan anon, Nor spake of feud for slaughter Weohstan had done. These trappings Weohstan retained for many years his own, The bill and the byrnie, until his boy had grown Strong for deeds of jarlman like his father’s feats. He gave them to Wiglaf, now among the Geats, War-weeds unnumbered, as he fared from life, Old upon his forth- way. And now in battle-strife ‘T was Wiglaf’s for the first time to serve beside his Lord. Nor did his spirit soften, nor did his father’s sword Weaken in the war-fare-as soon he found, the Drake, When once they’d met together! Wiglaf he spake; Said to comrades sagely, as sorrow sore he dreed: “The time I well remember, as we took the mead, How we vowed in beer-hall to him who gave us rings, Vowed unto our Overlord, that we, his aethelings, Would requite for war-gear, for hard sword and helm, If need like this should haply ever overwhelm. For this it was he chose us, us for this his quest, Of his own will, and deemed us worth the glorious test. And gave to me these treasures, because he counted us Good spear-wielders, helmets valorous, Albeit our Lord was minded, as Fender of his folk, Himself alone to compass for us the victor- stroke, Since he of men hath compassed most of glory-fray, Most of deeds of daring. Now is come the day Our Master needs the prowess of war-men good. Let us hasten to him, to help his hardihood, Whilst the heat is round him, the grim horror-fire. Of me, at least, God wotteth it is my dear desire That flame embrace this body mine with his who gave me gold. Methinketh it unseemly our bucklers home to bring Before we fell the foe and save the Weders’ King. Well I wot it suits not with all his deeds of old That he, alone of Geatland’s tried men and bold, Should suffer this sorrow and sink in battle down. Sword, helm, byrnie, shield, between us shall be one.” Then strode he through the slaughter-reek with casque upon his head, To be the standby of his Lord. A few words he said: “Beowulf, beloved, hold here, hold, Even as in young days sworest thou of old Ne’er to let thy glory fall, so long as life should be. ‘T is thine, O steadfast Aetheling, famed in bravery, To guard thee now with all thy prow. I will succor thee.” At the words the Worm came a second time in ire, Shining in the surging flame, Stranger |
