READINGS IN LITERATURE 5 10 THE OLD ENGLISH EPIC Wealhtheow's Address to Beowulf. - The Warriors Retire (From Beowulf 1) Wealhtheow spake amid warriors, and said: This jewel enjoy in thy jocund youth, Beowulf lov'd, these battle-weeds wear, a royal treasure, and richly thrive! Preserve thy strength, and these striplings here so wide as washeth the wave of Ocean liegemen are revelling: list and obey! Went then to her place. That was proudest of feasts; by many an earl when eve should come, 1 From the translation by Professor F. B. Gummere. Used by special permission of the translator and of the publishers. Copyright, 1904, The Macmillan Company. 1 royal, to rest. The room was guarded They bared the bench-boards; abroad they spread in danger of doom lay down in the hall. the high battle-helmet, the haughty spear, the corselet of rings. "Twas their custom so at home, or harrying, which it were, even as oft as evil threatened their sovran king. — They were clansmen good. The Fight with Grendel's Mother (From Beowulf) After these words the Weder-Geat lord boldly hastened, biding never answer at all: and ocean floods closed o'er the hero. Long while of the day Soon found the fiend who the flood-domain as she strove to shatter the sark of war, the linked harness, with loathsome hand. On the hall-guest she hurled herself, hent her short sword, broad and brown-edged, the bairn to avenge, Life would have ended for Ecgtheow's son, under wide earth for that earl of Geats, had his armor of war not aided him, battle-net hard, and holy God wielded the victory, wisest Maker. The Lord of Heaven allowed his cause; and easily rose the earl erect. 'Mid the battle-gear saw he a blade triumphant, as the giants had wrought it, ready and keen. Seized then its chain-hilt the Scyldings' chieftain, bold and battle-grim, brandished the sword, reckless of life, and so wrathfully smote that it gripped her neck and grasped her hard, her bone-rings breaking: the blade pierced through that fated-one's flesh: to floor she sank. angry and eager. That edge was not useless when of Hrothgar's hearth-companions the wrathful prince! For now prone he saw |