beowulf-第14部分

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and　rushed　on　the　hero；　where　room　allowed；

battle…grim；　burning；　its　bitter　teeth

closed　on　his　neck；　and　covered　him

with　waves　of　blood　from　his　breast　that　welled。



＇1＇　That　is；　although　Eanmund　was　brother's　son　to　Onela；　the

slaying　of　the　former　by　Weohstan　is　not　felt　as　cause　of　feud；

and　is　rewarded　by　gift　of　the　slain　man's　weapons。　＇2＇　Both

Wiglaf　and　the　sword　did　their　duty。　　The　following　is　one　of

the　classic　passages　for　illustrating　the　comitatus　as　the　most

conspicuous　Germanic　institution；　and　its　underlying　sense　of

duty；　based　partly　on　the　idea　of　loyalty　and　partly　on　the

practical　basis　of　benefits　received　and　repaid。　＇3＇　Sc。　〃than　to

bide　safely　here；〃　　a　common　figure　of　incomplete　comparison。

＇4＇　Wiglaf's　wooden　shield。　＇5＇　Gering　would　translate　〃kinsman

of　the　nail；〃　as　both　are　made　of　iron。







XXXVII



'TWAS　now；　men　say；　in　his　sovran's　need

that　the　earl　made　known　his　noble　strain；

craft　and　keenness　and　courage　enduring。

Heedless　of　harm；　though　his　hand　was　burned；

hardy…hearted；　he　helped　his　kinsman。

A　little　lower　the　loathsome　beast

he　smote　with　sword；　his　steel　drove　in

bright　and　burnished；　that　blaze　began

to　lose　and　lessen。　At　last　the　king

wielded　his　wits　again；　war…knife　drew；

a　biting　blade　by　his　breastplate　hanging；

and　the　Weders'…helm　smote　that　worm　asunder；

felled　the　foe；　flung　forth　its　life。

So　had　they　killed　it；　kinsmen　both；

athelings　twain：　thus　an　earl　should　be

in　danger's　day！　　Of　deeds　of　valor

this　conqueror's…hour　of　the　king　was　last；

of　his　work　in　the　world。　The　wound　began；

which　that　dragon…of…earth　had　erst　inflicted；

to　swell　and　smart；　and　soon　he　found

in　his　breast　was　boiling；　baleful　and　deep；

pain　of　poison。　The　prince　walked　on；

wise　in　his　thought；　to　the　wall　of　rock；

then　sat；　and　stared　at　the　structure　of　giants；

where　arch　of　stone　and　steadfast　column

upheld　forever　that　hall　in　earth。

Yet　here　must　the　hand　of　the　henchman　peerless

lave　with　water　his　winsome　lord；

the　king　and　conqueror　covered　with　blood；

with　struggle　spent；　and　unspan　his　helmet。

Beowulf　spake　in　spite　of　his　hurt；

his　mortal　wound；　full　well　he　knew

his　portion　now　was　past　and　gone

of　earthly　bliss；　and　all　had　fled

of　his　file　of　days；　and　death　was　near：

〃I　would　fain　bestow　on　son　of　mine

this　gear　of　war；　were　given　me　now

that　any　heir　should　after　me　come

of　my　proper　blood。　This　people　I　ruled

fifty　winters。　No　folk…king　was　there；

none　at　all；　of　the　neighboring　clans

who　war　would　wage　me　with　'warriors'…friends'＇1＇

and　threat　me　with　horrors。　At　home　I　bided

what　fate　might　come；　and　I　cared　for　mine　own；

feuds　I　sought　not；　nor　falsely　swore

ever　on　oath。　For　all　these　things；

though　fatally　wounded；　fain　am　I！

From　the　Ruler…of…Man　no　wrath　shall　seize　me；

when　life　from　my　frame　must　flee　away；

for　killing　of　kinsmen！　Now　quickly　go

and　gaze　on　that　hoard　'neath　the　hoary　rock；

Wiglaf　loved；　now　the　worm　lies　low；

sleeps；　heart…sore；　of　his　spoil　bereaved。

And　fare　in　haste。　I　would　fain　behold

the　gorgeous　heirlooms；　golden　store；

have　joy　in　the　jewels　and　gems；　lay　down

softlier　for　sight　of　this　splendid　hoard

my　life　and　the　lordship　I　long　have　held。〃



＇1＇　That　is；　swords。







XXXVIII



I　HAVE　heard　that　swiftly　the　son　of　Weohstan

at　wish　and　word　of　his　wounded　king；　

war…sick　warrior；　　woven　mail…coat；

battle…sark；　bore　'neath　the　barrow's　roof。

Then　the　clansman　keen；　of　conquest　proud；

passing　the　seat；＇1＇　saw　store　of　jewels

and　glistening　gold　the　ground　along；

by　the　wall　were　marvels；　and　many　a　vessel

in　the　den　of　the　dragon；　the　dawn…flier　old：

unburnished　bowls　of　bygone　men

reft　of　richness；　rusty　helms

of　the　olden　age；　and　arm…rings　many

wondrously　woven。　　Such　wealth　of　gold；

booty　from　barrow；　can　burden　with　pride

each　human　wight：　let　him　hide　it　who　will！　

His　glance　too　fell　on　a　gold…wove　banner

high　o'er　the　hoard；　of　handiwork　noblest；

brilliantly　broidered；　so　bright　its　gleam；

all　the　earth…floor　he　easily　saw

and　viewed　all　these　vessels。　No　vestige　now

was　seen　of　the　serpent：　the　sword　had　ta'en　him。

Then；　I　heard；　the　hill　of　its　hoard　was　reft；

old　work　of　giants；　by　one　alone；

he　burdened　his　bosom　with　beakers　and　plate

at　his　own　good　will；　and　the　ensign　took；

brightest　of　beacons。　　The　blade　of　his　lord

　its　edge　was　iron　　had　injured　deep

one　that　guarded　the　golden　hoard

many　a　year　and　its　murder…fire

spread　hot　round　the　barrow　in　horror…billows

at　midnight　hour；　till　it　met　its　doom。

Hasted　the　herald；　the　hoard　so　spurred　him

his　track　to　retrace；　he　was　troubled　by　doubt；

high…souled　hero；　if　haply　he'd　find

alive；　where　he　left　him；　the　lord　of　Weders；

weakening　fast　by　the　wall　of　the　cave。

So　he　carried　the　load。　His　lord　and　king

he　found　all　bleeding；　famous　chief

at　the　lapse　of　life。　The　liegeman　again

plashed　him　with　water；　till　point　of　word

broke　through　the　breast…hoard。　Beowulf　spake；

sage　and　sad；　as　he　stared　at　the　gold。　

〃For　the　gold　and　treasure；　to　God　my　thanks；

to　the　Wielder…of…Wonders；　with　words　I　say；

for　what　I　behold；　to　Heaven's　Lord；

for　the　grace　that　I　give　such　gifts　to　my　folk

or　ever　the　day　of　my　death　be　run！

Now　I've　bartered　here　for　booty　of　treasure

the　last　of　my　life；　so　look　ye　well

to　the　needs　of　my　land！　No　longer　I　tarry。

A　barrow　bid　ye　the　battle…fanned　raise

for　my　ashes。　'Twill　shine　by　the　shore　of　the　flood；

to　folk　of　mine　memorial　fair

on　Hrones　Headland　high　uplifted；

that　ocean…wanderers　oft　may　hail

Beowulf's　Barrow；　as　back　from　far

they　drive　their　keels　o'er　the　darkling　wave。〃

From　his　neck　he　unclasped　the　collar　of　gold；

valorous　king；　to　his　vassal　gave　it

with　bright…gold　helmet；　breastplate；　and　ring；

to　the　youthful　thane：　bade　him　use　them　in　joy。

〃Thou　art　end　and　remnant　of　all　our　race

the　Waegmunding　name。　For　Wyrd　hath　swept　them；

all　my　line；　to　the　land　of　doom；

earls　in　their　glory：　I　after　them　go。〃

This　word　was　the　last　which　the　wise　old　man

harbored　in　heart　ere　hot　death…waves

of　balefire　he　chose。　From　his　bosom　fled

his　soul　to　seek　the　saints'　reward。



＇1＇　Where　Beowulf　lay。







XXXIX



IT　was　heavy　hap　for　that　hero　young

on　his　lord　beloved　to　look　and　find　him

lying　on　earth　with　life　at　end；

sorrowful　sight。　But　the　slayer　too；

awful　earth…dragon；　empty　of　breath；

lay　felled　in　fight；　nor；　fain　of　its　treasure；

could　the　writhing　monster　rule　it　more。

For　edges　of　iron　had　ended　its　days；

hard　and　battle…sharp；　hammers'　leaving；＇1＇

and　that　flier…afar　had　fallen　to　ground

hushed　by　its　hurt；　its　hoard　all　near；

no　longer　lusty　aloft　to　whirl

at　midnight；　making　its　merriment　seen；

proud　of　its　prizes：　prone　it　sank

by　the　handiwork　of　the　hero…king。

Forsooth　among　folk　but　few　achieve；

　though　sturdy　and　strong；　as　stories　tell　me；

and　never　so　daring　in　deed　of　valor；　

the　perilous　breath　of　a　poison…foe

to　brave；　and　to　rush　on　the　ring…board　hall；

whenever　his　watch　the　warden　keeps

bold　in　the　barrow。　Beowulf　paid

the　price　of　death　for　that　precious　hoard；

and　each　of　the　foes　had　found　the　end

of　this　fleeting　life。

Befell　erelong

that　the　laggards　in　war　the　wood　had　left；

trothbreakers；　cowards；　ten　together；

fearing　before　to　flourish　a　spear

in　the　sore　distress　of　their　sovran　lord。

Now　in　their　shame　their　shields　they　carried；

armor　of　fight；　where　the　old　man　lay；

and　they　gazed　on　Wiglaf。　Wearied　he　sat

at　his　sovran's　shoulder；　shieldsman　good；

to　wake　him　with　water。＇2＇　Nowise　it　availed。

Though　well　he　wished　it；　in　world　no　more

could　he　barrier　life　for　that　leader…of…battles

nor　baffle　the　will　of　all…wielding　God。

Doom　of　the　Lord　was　law　o'er　the　deeds

of　every　man；　as　it　is　to…day。

Grim　was　the　answer；　easy　to　get；

from　the　youth　for　those　that　had　yielded　to　fear！

Wiglaf　spake；　the　son　of　Weohstan；　

mournful　he　looked　on　those　men　unloved：　

〃Who　sooth　will　speak；　can　say　indeed

that　the　ruler　who　gave　you　golden　rings

and　the　harness　of　war　in　which　ye　stand

　for　he　at　ale…bench　often…times

bestowed　on　hall…folk　helm　and　breastplate；

lord　to　liegemen；　the　likeliest　gear

which　near　of　far　he　could　find　to　give；　

threw　away　and　wasted　these　weeds　of　battle；

on　men　who　failed　when　the　foemen　came！

Not　at　all　could　the　king　of　his　comrades…in…arms

venture　to　vaunt；　though　the　Victory…Wielder；

God；　gave　him　grace　that　he　got　revenge

sole　with　his　sword　in　stress　and　need。

To　rescue　his　life；　'twas　little　that　I

could　serve　him　in　struggle；　yet　shift　I　made

（hopeless　it　seemed）　to　help　my　kinsman。

Its　strength　ever　waned；　when　with　weapon　I　struck

that　fatal　foe；　and　the　fire　less　strongly

flowed　from　its　head。　　Too　few　the　heroes

in　throe　of　contest　that　thronged　to　our　king！

Now　gift　of　treasure　and　girding　of　sword；

joy　of　the　house　and　home…delight

shall　fail　your　folk；　his　freehold…land

every　clansman　within　your　kin

shall　lose　and　leave；　when　lords　highborn

hear　afar　of　that　flight　of　yours；

a　fameless　deed。　Yea；　death　is　better

for　liegemen　all　than　a　life　of　shame！〃



＇1＇　What　had　been　left　or　made　by　the　hammer；　well…forged。　＇2＇

Trying　to　revive　him。







XL



THAT　battle…toil　bade　he　at　burg　to　announce；

at　the　fort　on　the　cliff；　where；　full　of　sorrow；

all　the　morning　earls　had　sat；

daring　shieldsmen；　in　doubt　of　twain：

would　they　wail　as　dead；　or　welcome　home；

their　lord　beloved？　Little＇1＇　kept　back

of　the　tidings　new；　but　told　them　all；

the　herald　that　up　the　headland　rode。　

〃Now　the　willing…giver　to　Weder　folk

in　death…bed　lies；　the　Lord　of　Geats

on　the　slaughter…bed　sleeps　by　the　serpent's　deed！

And　beside　him　is　stretched　that　slayer…of…men

with　knife…w