beowulf-第5部分

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trace　of　the　traitor。　Not　troublous　seemed

the　enemy's　end　to　any　man

who　saw　by　the　gait　of　the　graceless　foe

how　the　weary…hearted；　away　from　thence；

baffled　in　battle　and　banned；　his　steps

death…marked　dragged　to　the　devils'　mere。

Bloody　the　billows　were　boiling　there；

turbid　the　tide　of　tumbling　waves

horribly　seething；　with　sword…blood　hot；

by　that　doomed　one　dyed；　who　in　den　of　the　moor

laid　forlorn　his　life　adown；

his　heathen　soul；　and　hell　received　it。

Home　then　rode　the　hoary　clansmen

from　that　merry　journey；　and　many　a　youth；

on　horses　white；　the　hardy　warriors；

back　from　the　mere。　Then　Beowulf's　glory

eager　they　echoed；　and　all　averred

that　from　sea　to　sea；　or　south　or　north；

there　was　no　other　in　earth's　domain；

under　vault　of　heaven；　more　valiant　found；

of　warriors　none　more　worthy　to　rule！

（On　their　lord　beloved　they　laid　no　slight；

gracious　Hrothgar：　a　good　king　he！）

From　time　to　time；　the　tried…in…battle

their　gray　steeds　set　to　gallop　amain；

and　ran　a　race　when　the　road　seemed　fair。

From　time　to　time；　a　thane　of　the　king；

who　had　made　many　vaunts；　and　was　mindful　of　verses；

stored　with　sagas　and　songs　of　old；

bound　word　to　word　in　well…knit　rime；

welded　his　lay；　this　warrior　soon

of　Beowulf's　quest　right　cleverly　sang；

and　artfully　added　an　excellent　tale；

in　well…ranged　words；　of　the　warlike　deeds

he　had　heard　in　saga　of　Sigemund。

Strange　the　story：　he　said　it　all；　

the　Waelsing's　wanderings　wide；　his　struggles；

which　never　were　told　to　tribes　of　men；

the　feuds　and　the　frauds；　save　to　Fitela　only；

when　of　these　doings　he　deigned　to　speak；

uncle　to　nephew；　as　ever　the　twain

stood　side　by　side　in　stress　of　war；

and　multitude　of　the　monster　kind

they　had　felled　with　their　swords。　Of　Sigemund　grew；

when　he　passed　from　life；　no　little　praise；

for　the　doughty…in…combat　a　dragon　killed

that　herded　the　hoard：＇1＇　under　hoary　rock

the　atheling　dared　the　deed　alone

fearful　quest；　nor　was　Fitela　there。

Yet　so　it　befell；　his　falchion　pierced

that　wondrous　worm；　　on　the　wall　it　struck；

best　blade；　the　dragon　died　in　its　blood。

Thus　had　the　dread…one　by　daring　achieved

over　the　ring…hoard　to　rule　at　will；

himself　to　pleasure；　a　sea…boat　he　loaded；

and　bore　on　its　bosom　the　beaming　gold；

son　of　Waels；　the　worm　was　consumed。

He　had　of　all　heroes　the　highest　renown

among　races　of　men；　this　refuge…of…warriors；

for　deeds　of　daring　that　decked　his　name

since　the　hand　and　heart　of　Heremod

grew　slack　in　battle。　He；　swiftly　banished

to　mingle　with　monsters　at　mercy　of　foes；

to　death　was　betrayed；　for　torrents　of　sorrow

had　lamed　him　too　long；　a　load　of　care

to　earls　and　athelings　all　he　proved。

Oft　indeed；　in　earlier　days；

for　the　warrior's　wayfaring　wise　men　mourned；

who　had　hoped　of　him　help　from　harm　and　bale；

and　had　thought　their　sovran's　son　would　thrive；

follow　his　father；　his　folk　protect；

the　hoard　and　the　stronghold；　heroes'　land；

home　of　Scyldings。　　But　here；　thanes　said；

the　kinsman　of　Hygelac　kinder　seemed

to　all：　the　other＇2＇　was　urged　to　crime！

And　afresh　to　the　race；＇3＇　the　fallow　roads

by　swift　steeds　measured！　The　morning　sun

was　climbing　higher。　Clansmen　hastened

to　the　high…built　hall；　those　hardy…minded；

the　wonder　to　witness。　Warden　of　treasure；

crowned　with　glory；　the　king　himself；

with　stately　band　from　the　bride…bower　strode；

and　with　him　the　queen　and　her　crowd　of　maidens

measured　the　path　to　the　mead…house　fair。



＇1＇　〃Guarded　the　treasure。〃　＇2＇　Sc。　Heremod。　＇3＇　The　singer　has

sung　his　lays；　and　the　epic　resumes　its　story。　The　time…relations

are　not　altogether　good　in　this　long　passage　which　describes　the

rejoicings　of　〃the　day　after〃；　but　the　present　shift　from　the

riders　on　the　road　to　the　folk　at　the　hall　is　not　very　violent；

and　is　of　a　piece　with　the　general　style。







XIV



HROTHGAR　spake；　　to　the　hall　he　went；

stood　by　the　steps；　the　steep　roof　saw；

garnished　with　gold；　and　Grendel's　hand：　

〃For　the　sight　I　see　to　the　Sovran　Ruler

be　speedy　thanks！　A　throng　of　sorrows

I　have　borne　from　Grendel；　but　God　still　works

wonder　on　wonder；　the　Warden…of…Glory。

It　was　but　now　that　I　never　more

for　woes　that　weighed　on　me　waited　help

long　as　I　lived；　when；　laved　in　blood；

stood　sword…gore…stained　this　stateliest　house；　

widespread　woe　for　wise　men　all；

who　had　no　hope　to　hinder　ever

foes　infernal　and　fiendish　sprites

from　havoc　in　hall。　This　hero　now；

by　the　Wielder's　might；　a　work　has　done

that　not　all　of　us　erst　could　ever　do

by　wile　and　wisdom。　Lo；　well　can　she　say

whoso　of　women　this　warrior　bore

among　sons　of　men；　if　still　she　liveth；

that　the　God　of　the　ages　was　good　to　her

in　the　birth　of　her　bairn。　Now；　Beowulf；　thee；

of　heroes　best；　I　shall　heartily　love

as　mine　own；　my　son；　preserve　thou　ever

this　kinship　new：　thou　shalt　never　lack

wealth　of　the　world　that　I　wield　as　mine！

Full　oft　for　less　have　I　largess　showered；

my　precious　hoard；　on　a　punier　man；

less　stout　in　struggle。　Thyself　hast　now

fulfilled　such　deeds；　that　thy　fame　shall　endure

through　all　the　ages。　As　ever　he　did；

well　may　the　Wielder　reward　thee　still！〃

Beowulf　spake；　bairn　of　Ecgtheow：　

〃This　work　of　war　most　willingly

we　have　fought；　this　fight；　and　fearlessly　dared

force　of　the　foe。　Fain；　too；　were　I

hadst　thou　but　seen　himself；　what　time

the　fiend　in　his　trappings　tottered　to　fall！

Swiftly；　I　thought；　in　strongest　gripe

on　his　bed　of　death　to　bind　him　down；

that　he　in　the　hent　of　this　hand　of　mine

should　breathe　his　last：　but　he　broke　away。


Him　I　might　not　　the　Maker　willed　not　

hinder　from　flight；　and　firm　enough　hold

the　life…destroyer：　too　sturdy　was　he；

the　ruthless；　in　running！　For　rescue；　however；

he　left　behind　him　his　hand　in　pledge；

arm　and　shoulder；　nor　aught　of　help

could　the　cursed　one　thus　procure　at　all。

None　the　longer　liveth　he；　loathsome　fiend；

sunk　in　his　sins；　but　sorrow　holds　him

tightly　grasped　in　gripe　of　anguish；

in　baleful　bonds；　where　bide　he　must；

evil　outlaw；　such　awful　doom

as　the　Mighty　Maker　shall　mete　him　out。〃



More　silent　seemed　the　son　of　Ecglaf＇1＇

in　boastful　speech　of　his　battle…deeds；

since　athelings　all；　through　the　earl's　great　prowess；

beheld　that　hand；　on　the　high　roof　gazing；

foeman's　fingers；　　the　forepart　of　each

of　the　sturdy　nails　to　steel　was　likest；　

heathen's　〃hand…spear；〃　hostile　warrior's

claw　uncanny。　'Twas　clear；　they　said；

that　him　no　blade　of　the　brave　could　touch；

how　keen　soever；　or　cut　away

that　battle…hand　bloody　from　baneful　foe。



＇1＇　Unferth；　Beowulf's　sometime　opponent　in　the　flyting。







XV



THERE　was　hurry　and　hest　in　Heorot　now

for　hands　to　bedeck　it；　and　dense　was　the　throng

of　men　and　women　the　wine…hall　to　cleanse；

the　guest…room　to　garnish。　Gold…gay　shone　the　hangings

that　were　wove　on　the　wall；　and　wonders　many

to　delight　each　mortal　that　looks　upon　them。

Though　braced　within　by　iron　bands；

that　building　bright　was　broken　sorely；＇1＇

rent　were　its　hinges；　the　roof　alone

held　safe　and　sound；　when；　seared　with　crime；

the　fiendish　foe　his　flight　essayed；

of　life　despairing。　　No　light　thing　that；

the　flight　for　safety；　　essay　it　who　will！

Forced　of　fate；　he　shall　find　his　way

to　the　refuge　ready　for　race　of　man；

for　soul…possessors；　and　sons　of　earth；

and　there　his　body　on　bed　of　death

shall　rest　after　revel。

Arrived　was　the　hour

when　to　hall　proceeded　Healfdene's　son：

the　king　himself　would　sit　to　banquet。

Ne'er　heard　I　of　host　in　haughtier　throng

more　graciously　gathered　round　giver…of…rings！

Bowed　then　to　bench　those　bearers…of…glory；

fain　of　the　feasting。　Featly　received

many　a　mead…cup　the　mighty…in…spirit；

kinsmen　who　sat　in　the　sumptuous　hall；

Hrothgar　and　Hrothulf。　Heorot　now

was　filled　with　friends；　the　folk　of　Scyldings

ne'er　yet　had　tried　the　traitor's　deed。

To　Beowulf　gave　the　bairn　of　Healfdene

a　gold…wove　banner；　guerdon　of　triumph；

broidered　battle…flag；　breastplate　and　helmet；

and　a　splendid　sword　was　seen　of　many

borne　to　the　brave　one。　Beowulf　took

cup　in　hall：＇2＇　for　such　costly　gifts

he　suffered　no　shame　in　that　soldier　throng。

For　I　heard　of　few　heroes；　in　heartier　mood；

with　four　such　gifts；　so　fashioned　with　gold；

on　the　ale…bench　honoring　others　thus！

O'er　the　roof　of　the　helmet　high；　a　ridge；

wound　with　wires；　kept　ward　o'er　the　head；

lest　the　relict…of…files＇3＇　should　fierce　invade；

sharp　in　the　strife；　when　that　shielded　hero

should　go　to　grapple　against　his　foes。

Then　the　earls'…defence＇4＇　on　the　floor＇5＇　bade　lead

coursers　eight；　with　carven　head…gear；

adown　the　hall：　one　horse　was　decked

with　a　saddle　all　shining　and　set　in　jewels；

'twas　the　battle…seat　of　the　best　of　kings；

when　to　play　of　swords　the　son　of　Healfdene

was　fain　to　fare。　Ne'er　failed　his　valor

in　the　crush　of　combat　when　corpses　fell。

To　Beowulf　over　them　both　then　gave

the　refuge…of…Ingwines　right　and　power；

o'er　war…steeds　and　weapons：　wished　him　joy　of　them。

Manfully　thus　the　mighty　prince；

hoard…guard　for　heroes；　that　hard　fight　repaid

with　steeds　and　treasures　contemned　by　none

who　is　willing　to　say　the　sooth　aright。



＇1＇　There　is　no　horrible　inconsistency　here　such　as　the　critics

strive　and　cry　about。　In　spite　of　the　ruin　that　Grendel　and

Beowulf　had　made　within　the　hall；　the　framework　and　roof　held

firm；　and　swift　repairs　made　the　interior　habitable。　Tapestries

were　hung　on　the　walls；　and　willing　hands　prepared　the　banquet。

＇2＇　From　its　formal　use　in　other　places；　this　phrase；　to　take　cup

in　hall；　or　〃on　the　floor；〃　would　seem　to　mean　that　Beowulf

stood　up　to　receive　his　gifts；　drink　to　the　donor；　and　say

thanks。　＇3＇　Kenning　for　sword。　＇4＇　Hrothgar。　He　is　also　the

〃refuge　of　the　friends　of　Ing；〃　below。　Ing　belongs　to　myth。　＇5＇

Horses　are　frequently　led　or　ridden　into　the　hal