XV

HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE.

      Hrothgar discoursed (to the hall-building went he,
      He stood by the pillar,[1] saw the steep-rising hall-roof
      Gleaming with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand there):

{Hrothgar gives thanks for the overthrow of the monster.}

      "For the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder
    5 Early be offered! Much evil I bided,
      Snaring from Grendel:[2] God can e'er 'complish
      Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory!

{I had given up all hope, when this brave liegeman came to our aid.}

      But lately I reckoned ne'er under heaven
      Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows,
   10 While the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain
      Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened[3]
      Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever
      The folk-troop's defences 'gainst foes they should strengthen,
      'Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of the Wielder
   15 A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished
      Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom

{If his mother yet liveth, well may she thank God for this son.}

      Failed to perform. May affirm very truly
      What woman soever in all of the nations
      Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth,
   20 That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward
      In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear,

{Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shalt be my son.}

      Most excellent hero, I'll love thee in spirit
      As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward
      The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee
   25 Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee.
      Full often for lesser service I've given

[34] Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious,

{Thou hast won immortal distinction.}

      To a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction
      Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish
   30 Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee
      With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!"

{Beowulf replies: I was most happy to render thee this service.}

      Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's offspring:
      "That labor of glory most gladly achieved we,
      The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured
   35 The enemy's grapple; I would grant it much rather
      Thou wert able to look at the creature in person,
      Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings!
      On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him,
      With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple
   40 Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle
      'Less his body escape; I was wholly unable,

{I could not keep the monster from escaping, as God did not will that I should.}

      Since God did not will it, to keep him from going,
      Not held him that firmly, hated opposer;
      Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding
   45 He suffered his hand behind him to linger,
      His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher;

{He left his hand and arm behind.}

      No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature
      Found him there nathless: the hated destroyer
      Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils,
   50 But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him
      Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing
      In baleful bonds: there banished for evil
      The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal,

{God will give him his deserts.}

      How the God of glory shall give him his earnings."
   55 Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf,

{Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf's actions speak louder than words.}

      From boasting and bragging of battle-achievements,
      Since the princes beheld there the hand that depended
      'Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman,
      Each one before him, the enemy's fingers;
   60 Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled,
      The heathen one's hand-spur, the hero-in-battle's
      Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing,

[35]

{No sword will harm the monster.}

      That not any excellent edges of brave ones
      Was willing to touch him, the terrible creature's
   65 Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him.

[1] B. and t.B. read 'staþole,' and translate _stood on the floor_.

[2] For 'snaring from Grendel,' 'sorrows at Grendel's hands' has been
suggested. This gives a parallel to 'láðes.' 'Grynna' may well be gen.
pl. of 'gyrn,' by a scribal slip.

[3] The H.-So punctuation has been followed; but B. has been followed
in understanding 'gehwylcne' as object of 'wíd-scofen (hæfde).' Gr.
construes 'wéa' as nom abs.