I. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD.
I.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD.
The famous race of Spear-Danes.Lo! the Spear-Danes’ glory through splendid achievements
The folk-kings’ former fame we have heard of,
How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.
Scyld, their mighty
king, in honor of
whom they are
often called Scyldings.
He is the
great-grandfather
of Hrothgar, so
prominent in the
poem.
Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers
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From many a people their mead-benches tore.
Since first he found him friendless and wretched,
The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it,
Waxed ’neath the welkin, world-honor gained,
Till all his neighbors o’er sea were compelled to
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Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute:
An excellent atheling! After was borne him
A son is born to
him, who receives
the name of
Beowulf—a name
afterwards made so
famous by the hero
of the poem.
A son and heir, young in his dwelling,
Whom God-Father sent to solace the people.
He had marked the misery malice had caused them,
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1That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile2
Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital,
Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him.
Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory
Of Scyld’s great son in the lands of the Danemen.
The ideal Teutonic
king lavishes gifts
on his vassals.
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So the carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered
The friends of his father, with fees in abundance
Must be able to earn that when age approacheth
Eager companions aid him requitingly,
When war assaults him serve him as liegemen:
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By praise-worthy actions must honor be got
’Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated
Scyld dies at the
hour appointed by
Fate.
Scyld then departed to the All-Father’s keeping
Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him
To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades,
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As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings
Word-sway wielded, and the well-lovèd land-prince
Long did rule them.3 The ring-stemmèd vessel,
Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor,
Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing;
By his own request,
his body is
laid on a vessel
and wafted seaward.
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The belovèd leader laid they down there,
Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel,
The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels,
Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over,
Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever
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That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly
With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle,
Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled
Many a jewel that with him must travel
On the flush of the flood afar on the current.
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And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly,
Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him
He leaves Daneland
on the breast
of a bark.
Who when first he was born outward did send him
Lone on the main, the merest of infants:
And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven
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High o’er his head, let the holm-currents bear him,
Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit,
Their mood very mournful. Men are not able
No one knows
whither the boat
drifted.
Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,4
Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied.