beowulf-第11部分

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by　devilish　craft；　of　dragon…skins。

Me　therein；　an　innocent　man；

the　fiendish　foe　was　fain　to　thrust

with　many　another。　He　might　not　so；

when　I　all　angrily　upright　stood。

'Twere　long　to　relate　how　that　land…destroyer

I　paid　in　kind　for　his　cruel　deeds；

yet　there；　my　prince；　this　people　of　thine

got　fame　by　my　fighting。　He　fled　away；

and　a　little　space　his　life　preserved；

but　there　staid　behind　him　his　stronger　hand

left　in　Heorot；　heartsick　thence

on　the　floor　of　the　ocean　that　outcast　fell。

Me　for　this　struggle　the　Scyldings'…friend

paid　in　plenty　with　plates　of　gold；

with　many　a　treasure；　when　morn　had　come

and　we　all　at　the　banquet…board　sat　down。

Then　was　song　and　glee。　The　gray…haired　Scylding；

much　tested；　told　of　the　times　of　yore。

Whiles　the　hero　his　harp　bestirred；

wood…of…delight；　now　lays　he　chanted

of　sooth　and　sadness；　or　said　aright

legends　of　wonder；　the　wide…hearted　king；

or　for　years　of　his　youth　he　would　yearn　at　times；

for　strength　of　old　struggles；　now　stricken　with　age；

hoary　hero：　his　heart　surged　full

when；　wise　with　winters；　he　wailed　their　flight。

Thus　in　the　hall　the　whole　of　that　day

at　ease　we　feasted；　till　fell　o'er　earth

another　night。　Anon　full　ready

in　greed　of　vengeance；　Grendel's　mother

set　forth　all　doleful。　Dead　was　her　son

through　war…hate　of　Weders；　now；　woman　monstrous

with　fury　fell　a　foeman　she　slew；

avenged　her　offspring。　From　Aeschere　old；

loyal　councillor；　life　was　gone；

nor　might　they　e'en；　when　morning　broke；

those　Danish　people；　their　death…done　comrade

burn　with　brands；　on　balefire　lay

the　man　they　mourned。　Under　mountain　stream

she　had　carried　the　corpse　with　cruel　hands。

For　Hrothgar　that　was　the　heaviest　sorrow

of　all　that　had　laden　the　lord　of　his　folk。

The　leader　then；　by　thy　life；　besought　me

（sad　was　his　soul）　in　the　sea…waves'　coil

to　play　the　hero　and　hazard　my　being

for　glory　of　prowess：　my　guerdon　he　pledged。

I　then　in　the　waters　　'tis　widely　known　

that　sea…floor…guardian　savage　found。

Hand…to…hand　there　a　while　we　struggled；

billows　welled　blood；　in　the　briny　hall

her　head　I　hewed　with　a　hardy　blade

from　Grendel's　mother；　　and　gained　my　life；

though　not　without　danger。　My　doom　was　not　yet。

Then　the　haven…of…heroes；　Healfdene's　son；

gave　me　in　guerdon　great　gifts　of　price。



Note：　＇1＇　Beowulf　gives　his　uncle　the　king　not　mere　gossip　of　his

journey；　but　a　statesmanlike　forecast　of　the　outcome　of　certain

policies　at　the　Danish　court。　Talk　of　interpolation　here　is

absurd。　As　both　Beowulf　and　Hygelac　know；　　and　the　folk　for

whom　the　Beowulf　was　put　together　also　knew；　　Froda　was　king　of

the　Heathobards　（probably　the　Langobards；　once　near　neighbors　of

Angle　and　Saxon　tribes　on　the　continent）；　and　had　fallen

in　fight　with　the　Danes。　Hrothgar　will　set　aside　this　feud　by

giving　his　daughter　as　〃peace…weaver〃　and　wife　to　the　young　king

Ingeld；　son　of　the　slain　Froda。　But　Beowulf；　on　general

principles　and　from　his　observation　of　the　particular　case；

foretells　trouble。　Note：　＇2＇　Play　of　shields；　battle。　A　Danish

warrior　cuts　down　Froda　in　the　fight；　and　takes　his　sword　and

armor；　leaving　them　to　a　son。　This　son　is　selected　to　accompany

his　mistress；　the　young　princess　Freawaru；　to　her　new　home　when

she　is　Ingeld's　queen。　Heedlessly　he　wears　the　sword　of　Froda　in

hall。　An　old　warrior　points　it　out　to　Ingeld；　and　eggs　him　on　to

vengeance。　At　his　instigation　the　Dane　is　killed；　but　the

murderer；　afraid　of　results；　and　knowing　the　land；　escapes。　So

the　old　feud　must　break　out　again。　＇3＇　That　is；　their　disastrous

battle　and　the　slaying　of　their　king。　＇4＇　The　sword。　＇5＇　Beowulf

returns　to　his　forecast。　Things　might　well　go　somewhat　as

follows；　he　says；　sketches　a　little　tragic　story；　and　with　this

prophecy　by　illustration　returns　to　the　tale　of　his　adventure。

＇6＇　Not　an　actual　glove；　but　a　sort　of　bag。







XXXI



〃So　held　this　king　to　the　customs　old；

that　I　wanted　for　nought　in　the　wage　I　gained；

the　meed　of　my　might；　he　made　me　gifts；

Healfdene's　heir；　for　my　own　disposal。

Now　to　thee；　my　prince；　I　proffer　them　all；

gladly　give　them。　Thy　grace　alone

can　find　me　favor。　Few　indeed

have　I　of　kinsmen；　save；　Hygelac；　thee！〃

Then　he　bade　them　bear　him　the　boar…head　standard；

the　battle…helm　high；　and　breastplate　gray；

the　splendid　sword；　then　spake　in　form：　

〃Me　this　war…gear　the　wise　old　prince；

Hrothgar；　gave；　and　his　hest　he　added；

that　its　story　be　straightway　said　to　thee。　

A　while　it　was　held　by　Heorogar　king；

for　long　time　lord　of　the　land　of　Scyldings；

yet　not　to　his　son　the　sovran　left　it；

to　daring　Heoroweard；　　dear　as　he　was　to　him；

his　harness　of　battle。　　Well　hold　thou　it　all！〃

And　I　heard　that　soon　passed　o'er　the　path　of　this　treasure；

all　apple…fallow；　four　good　steeds；

each　like　the　others；　arms　and　horses

he　gave　to　the　king。　So　should　kinsmen　be；

not　weave　one　another　the　net　of　wiles；

or　with　deep…hid　treachery　death　contrive

for　neighbor　and　comrade。　His　nephew　was　ever

by　hardy　Hygelac　held　full　dear；

and　each　kept　watch　o'er　the　other's　weal。

I　heard；　too；　the　necklace　to　Hygd　he　presented；

wonder…wrought　treasure；　which　Wealhtheow　gave　him

sovran's　daughter：　three　steeds　he　added；

slender　and　saddle…gay。　Since　such　gift

the　gem　gleamed　bright　on　the　breast　of　the　queen。

Thus　showed　his　strain　the　son　of　Ecgtheow

as　a　man　remarked　for　mighty　deeds

and　acts　of　honor。　At　ale　he　slew　not

comrade　or　kin；　nor　cruel　his　mood；

though　of　sons　of　earth　his　strength　was　greatest；

a　glorious　gift　that　God　had　sent

the　splendid　leader。　Long　was　he　spurned；

and　worthless　by　Geatish　warriors　held；

him　at　mead　the　master…of…clans

failed　full　oft　to　favor　at　all。

Slack　and　shiftless　the　strong　men　deemed　him；

profitless　prince；　but　payment　came；

to　the　warrior　honored；　for　all　his　woes。　

Then　the　bulwark…of…earls＇1＇　bade　bring　within；

hardy　chieftain；　Hrethel's　heirloom

garnished　with　gold：　no　Geat　e'er　knew

in　shape　of　a　sword　a　statelier　prize。

The　brand　he　laid　in　Beowulf's　lap；

and　of　hides　assigned　him　seven　thousand；＇2＇

with　house　and　high…seat。　They　held　in　common

land　alike　by　their　line　of　birth；

inheritance；　home：　but　higher　the　king

because　of　his　rule　o'er　the　realm　itself。



Now　further　it　fell　with　the　flight　of　years；

with　harryings　horrid；　that　Hygelac　perished；＇3＇

and　Heardred；　too；　by　hewing　of　swords

under　the　shield…wall　slaughtered　lay；

when　him　at　the　van　of　his　victor…folk

sought　hardy　heroes；　Heatho…Scilfings；

in　arms　o'erwhelming　Hereric's　nephew。

Then　Beowulf　came　as　king　this　broad

realm　to　wield；　and　he　ruled　it　well

fifty　winters；＇4＇　a　wise　old　prince；

warding　his　land；　until　One　began

in　the　dark　of　night；　a　Dragon；　to　rage。

In　the　grave　on　the　hill　a　hoard　it　guarded；

in　the　stone…barrow　steep。　A　strait　path　reached　it；

unknown　to　mortals。　Some　man；　however；

came　by　chance　that　cave　within

to　the　heathen　hoard。＇5＇　In　hand　he　took

a　golden　goblet；　nor　gave　he　it　back；

stole　with　it　away；　while　the　watcher　slept；

by　thievish　wiles：　for　the　warden's　wrath

prince　and　people　must　pay　betimes！



＇1＇　Hygelac。　＇2＇　This　is　generally　assumed　to　mean　hides；　though

the　text　simply　says　〃seven　thousand。〃　A　hide　in　England　meant

about　120　acres；　though　〃the　size　of　the　acre　varied。〃　＇3＇　On　the

historical　raid　into　Frankish　territory　between　512　and　520　A。D。

The　subsequent　course　of　events；　as　gathered　from　hints　of　this

epic；　is　partly　told　in　Scandinavian　legend。　＇4＇　The　chronology

of　this　epic；　as　scholars　have　worked　it　out；　would　make　Beowulf

well　over　ninety　years　of　age　when　he　fights　the　dragon。　But　the

fifty　years　of　his　reign　need　not　be　taken　as　historical　fact。

＇5＇　The　text　is　here　hopelessly　illegible；　and　only　the　general

drift　of　the　meaning　can　be　rescued。　For　one　thing；　we　have　the

old　myth　of　a　dragon　who　guards　hidden　treasure。　But　with　this

runs　the　story　of　some　noble；　last　of　his　race；　who　hides　all　his

wealth　within　this　barrow　and　there　chants　his　farewell　to　life's

glories。　After　his　death　the　dragon　takes　possession　of　the　hoard

and　watches　over　it。　A　condemned　or　banished　man；　desperate；

hides　in　the　barrow；　discovers　the　treasure；　and　while　the　dragon

sleeps；　makes　off　with　a　golden　beaker　or　the　like；　and　carries

it　for　propitiation　to　his　master。　The　dragon　discovers　the　loss

and　exacts　fearful　penalty　from　the　people　round　about。







XXXII



THAT　way　he　went　with　no　will　of　his　own；

in　danger　of　life；　to　the　dragon's　hoard；

but　for　pressure　of　peril；　some　prince's　thane。

He　fled　in　fear　the　fatal　scourge；

seeking　shelter；　a　sinful　man；

and　entered　in。　At　the　awful　sight

tottered　that　guest；　and　terror　seized　him；

yet　the　wretched　fugitive　rallied　anon

from　fright　and　fear　ere　he　fled　away；

and　took　the　cup　from　that　treasure…hoard。

Of　such　besides　there　was　store　enough；

heirlooms　old；　the　earth　below；

which　some　earl　forgotten；　in　ancient　years；

left　the　last　of　his　lofty　race；

heedfully　there　had　hidden　away；

dearest　treasure。　For　death　of　yore

had　hurried　all　hence；　and　he　alone

left　to　live；　the　last　of　the　clan；

weeping　his　friends；　yet　wished　to　bide

warding　the　treasure；　his　one　delight；

though　brief　his　respite。　The　barrow；　new…ready；

to　strand　and　sea…waves　stood　anear；

hard　by　the　headland；　hidden　and　closed；

there　laid　within　it　his　lordly　heirlooms

and　heaped　hoard　of　heavy　gold

that　warden　of　rings。　Few　words　he　spake：

〃Now　hold　thou；　earth；　since　heroes　may　not；

what　earls　have　owned！　Lo；　erst　from　thee

brave　men　brought　it！　But　battle…death　seized

and　cruel　killing　my　clansmen　all；

robbed　them　of　life　and　a　liegeman's　joys。

None　have　I　left　to　lift　the　sword；

or　to　cleanse　the　carven　cup　of　price；

beaker　bright。　My　brave　are　gone。

And　the　helmet　hard；　all　haughty　with　gold；

s