The Epic. Hrothgar, King of Denmark, traces his origin to Skiold, son of Odin, who as an infant drifted to Denmark's shores. This child lay on a sheaf of ripe wheat, surrounded by priceless weapons, jewels, and a wonderful suit of armor, which proved he must be the scion4 of some princely race. The childless King and Queen of Denmark therefore gladly adopted him, and in due time he succeeded them and ruled over the whole country. When he died, his subjects, placing his body in the vessel5 in which he had come, set him adrift.
Men are not able
Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,
Heroes under heaven, to what haven6 he hied.[22]
Hrothgar, his descendant, constructed a magnificent hall, called Heorot, wherein to feast his retainers and entertain them with the songs of the northern skalds.
It burned in his spirit
To urge his folk to found a great building,
A mead-hall grander than men of the era
Ever had heard of, and in it to share
With young and old all of the blessings7
The Lord had allowed him, save life and retainers.
The night of the inauguration8 of this building, the royal body-guard lay down in the hall to sleep; and, when the servants entered the place on the morrow, they were horrified9 to find floor and walls spattered with blood, but no other trace of the thirty knights10 who had rested there the night before. Their cry of horror aroused Hrothgar, who, on investigating, discovered gigantic footsteps leading straight from the hall to the sluggish12 waters of a mountain tarn13, above which a phosphorescent light always hovered14. These footsteps were those of Grendel, a descendant of Cain, who dwelt in the marsh15, and who had evidently slain16 and devoured17 all the king's men.
Too old to wield18 a sword in person, Hrothgar offered a princely reward to whoever would rid his country of this terrible scourge19. But, although many warriors21 gladly undertook the task, the monster proved too strong for all, and none save a minstrel—who hid in one corner of the hall—ever succeeded in escaping from his clutches. This minstrel, after seeing Grendel feed upon his companions, was so impressed by the sight, that he composed a song about it, which he sang wherever he went, and once repeated for the entertainment of King Higelac and his nephew Beowulf. In answer to their eager questions, the bard averred22 the monster still existed and invariably invaded the hall when a feast was held there. This was enough to arouse in Beowulf a burning desire to visit Denmark and rid the world of this scourge. Knowing his nephew was very brave and having had proof of his endurance (for the young man had once in the course of a swimming match, stayed in the water five whole days and nights, killing23 many sea monsters who came to attack him), Higelac gladly allowed him to depart with fourteen chosen companions. Thus Beowulf set out "over the Swan-Road" for Denmark, to offer his services to the king.
The foamy-necked floater fanned by the breeze,
Likest a bird, glided24 the waters,
Till twenty and four hours thereafter
The twist-stemmed vessel had travelled such distance
That the sailing-men saw the sloping embankments,
The sea-cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains,
Nesses enormous: they were nearing the limits
At the end of the ocean.
On seeing a vessel with armed men approach their shores, the Danish coast guards challenged the new-comers, who rejoined their intentions were purely25 friendly, and begged to be led to the king. There Beowulf and his attendants—after paying their respects to Hrothgar—offered their services to rid him of the terrible scourge which had preyed26 so long upon his people. On hearing this, the king immediately ordered a feast prepared, and at its close allowed Beowulf, at his request, to remain alone in the hall with his men. Aware that no weapon could pierce the armed hide of the uncanny monster, Beowulf—who had the strength of thirty men—laid aside his armor and prepared to grapple with Grendel by main strength when he appeared.
Then the brave-mooded hero bent27 to his slumber28,
The pillow received the cheek of the noble;
And many a martial29 mere30-thane attending
Sank to his slumber.
Just as the chill of morning invades the hall, Beowulf hears stealthy steps approaching and the great door bursts open, admitting a monster, all enveloped31 in clammy mist, which—pouncing upon one of the men—crunches his bones and greedily drinks his blood. Beowulf, intently watching the fiend, seeing him stretch out a horny hand for another victim, suddenly grasps it with such force and determination that the monster, notwithstanding frantic32 efforts, cannot free himself. A terrible struggle now takes place, in the course of which Beowulf and Grendel, wrestling madly, overturn tables and couches, shaking the hall to its very foundations. Nevertheless, Beowulf clings so fast to the hand and arm he had grasped, that the monster, trying to free himself by a mighty33 jerk, tears his arm out of its socket34 and disappears, uttering a blood-curdling cry, and leaving this trophy35 in his foe's grasp. Mortally wounded, Grendel hastens back to his marsh, leaving a trail of blood behind him, while Beowulf, exhausted36 but triumphant37, proudly exhibits the huge hand and limb which he has wrenched38 from the monster, declaring it will henceforth serve to adorn40 Heorot.
When Hrothgar beholds42 it on the morrow and hears an account of the night's adventures, he warmly congratulates Beowulf, upon whom he bestows43 rich gifts, and in whose honor he decrees a grand feast shall be held in this hall. While they are drinking there and listening to the music of the skalds (who sing of Sigmund the dragon-slayer and of a fight at Finnsburgh), Wealtheow, Queen of Denmark, appears in their midst, and bestows upon Beowulf a wonderful necklace and a ring of the finest gold, bidding him wear them in memory of his triumph.
The feast over, Hrothgar escorts his guest to the palace, where he is to rest that night, leaving his own men to guard Heorot, for all feel confident Grendel has been too sorely wounded ever to appear again. But, while the warriors sleep peacefully, the giant's mother—an equally hideous45 monster—comes into the hall, secures her son's gory46 arm which hangs there as a trophy, and bears away Aeschere, one of the king's friends.
On learning of this loss on the morrow, Hrothgar is overcome with grief, and Beowulf, hearing his lamentations, suddenly appears to inquire what has occurred. On learning the ghastly news, he volunteers to complete his work and avenge47 Aeschere by attacking Grendel's mother in her own retreat. But, knowing the perils48 he is facing, he makes his arrangements in case he should never return, before following the bloody49 traces left by the monsters. Then he hastens to the pool, where he finds Aeschere's head set aloft as a trophy! Gazing down into the depths, Beowulf now perceives the waters are darkly tinged50 with the monster's blood, but nevertheless plunges51 boldly into their depths, where he swims about a whole day seeking Grendel's retreat. Guided at last by a phosphorescent gleam, our hero finally reaches a cave, after slaying52 on the way a number of monsters sent to check his advance. On nearing the giants' den2, a strong eddy53 suddenly sweeps him within reach of Grendel's mother, who, clutching him fast, flings him on the floor, and is trying to find a joint54 in his armor, so as to kill him with her knife, when Beowulf, snatching a sword hanging from a rocky projection55, deals her so fierce a blow that he severs56 her head from its trunk.
Then he saw amid the war-gems a weapon of victory,
An ancient giant-sword, of edges a-doughty,
Glory of warriors: of weapons 'twas choicest,
Only 'twas larger than any man else was
Able to bear in the battle-encounter,
The good and splendid work of the giants.
He grasped then the sword-hilt, knight11 of Seyldings,
Bold and battle-grim, brandished57 his ring-sword,
Hopeless of living hotly he smote58 her,
That the fiend-woman's neck firmly it grappled,
Broke through her bone-joints, the bill fully44 pierced her
Fate-cursèd body, she fell to the ground then:
The hand sword was bloody, the hero exulted59.
The brand was brilliant, brightly it glimmered60,
Just as from heaven gem-like shineth
The torch of the firmament61.
The blood from this monster, pouring out of the cave, mingles62 with the waters without, which begin to seethe63 and bubble in so ominous64 a way that Hrothgar and his men, exclaiming Beowulf is dead, sadly depart. The hero's attendants, however, mindful of orders received, linger at the side of the mere, although they cherish small hope of ever beholding65 their master again.
Having disposed of Grendel's mother, Beowulf rushes to the rear of the cave, where, finding Grendel dead, he cuts off his head, and with this trophy makes his way up through the tainted66 waters, which melt his sword, so that he has nothing but the hilt left on reaching the shore.
The sword-blade began then,
The blood having touched it, contracting and shrivelling
With battle-icicles; 'twas a wonderful marvel67
That it melted entirely68, likest to ice when
The Father unbindeth the bond of the frost and
Unwindeth the wave-bands, He who wieldeth dominion69
Of times and of tides: a truth-firm Creator.
It is just as his followers70 are about to depart that Beowulf emerges from the waters, and, when they behold41 his trophy and hear his tale, they escort him back in triumph to Heorot, where the grateful Danes again load him with presents.
His task accomplished72, Beowulf returns home, where he bestows the necklace he has won upon the Queen of the Geats, and continues faithfully to serve the royal couple, even placing their infant son upon the throne after their death, and defending his rights as long as he lives. Then the people elect Beowulf king, and during a reign73 of fifty years he rules them wisely and well. Old age has robbed Beowulf of part of his fabulous74 strength, when his subjects are suddenly dismayed by the ravages75 of a fire-breathing dragon, which has taken up its abode76 in some neighboring mountains, where he gloats over a hoard77 of glittering gold. A fugitive78 slave having made his way into the monster's den during one of its absences and abstracted a small portion of its treasure, the incensed79 firedrake, in revenge, flies all over the land, vomiting80 fire and smoke in every direction, and filling all hearts with such terror that the people implore81 Beowulf to deliver them from this monster too.
Although Beowulf realizes he no longer enjoys youthful vigor82, he, nevertheless, sets out bravely with eleven men to attack the monster. On reaching the mountain gorge83, he bids his small troop stand still, and, advancing alone, challenges the dragon to come forth39. A moment later the mountain shakes as a fire-breathing dragon rushes out to attack Beowulf, who feels his fiery84 breath even through shield and armor. With deadly fury the dragon attacks the warrior20, coiling his scaly85 folds around and around Beowulf, who vainly slashes86 at him with his sword, for scales made him invulnerable.
Seeing his master about to be crushed to death, Wiglaf—one of Beowulf's followers—now springs forward to aid him, thus causing sufficient diversion to enable Beowulf to creep beneath the dragon, and drive his sword deep into its undefended breast! Although the monster's coils now drop limply away from his body, poor Beowulf has been so sorely burned by its breath that he feels his end is near. Turning to his faithful follower71, he thanks, him for his aid, bidding him hasten into the cave and bring forth the treasure he has won for his people, so he can feast his eyes upon it before he dies.
"Fare thou with haste now
To behold the hoard 'neath the hoar-grayish stone,
Well-lovèd Wiglaf, now the worm is a-lying,
Sore-wounded sleepeth, disseized of his treasure
Go thou in haste that treasures of old I
Gold-wealth may gaze on, together see lying
The ether-bright jewels, be easier able,
Having the heap of hoard-gems, to yield my
Life and the land-folk whom long I have governed."
Sure that the monster can no longer molest87 them, the rest of the warriors press forward in their turn, and receive the farewells of their dying chief, who, after rehearsing the great deeds he has done, declares he is about to close honorably an eventful career. When he has breathed his last, his followers push the corpse88 of the dragon off a cliff into the sea, and erect89 on the headland a funeral barrow for Beowulf's ashes, placing within it part of the treasure he won, and erecting90 above it a memorial, or bauta stone, on which they carve the name and deeds of the great hero who saved them from Grendel and from the fiery dragon.
So lamented91 mourning the men of the Geats,
Fond-loving vassals92 the fall of their lord,
Said he was kindest of kings under heaven,
Gentlest of men, most winning of manner,
Friendliest to folk-troops and fondest of honor.
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1
epic
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| n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的 | |
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2
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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3
bard
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| n.吟游诗人 | |
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4
scion
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| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
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5
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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6
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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7
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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8
inauguration
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| n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
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9
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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10
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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11
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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12
sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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13
tarn
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| n.山中的小湖或小潭 | |
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14
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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15
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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16
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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17
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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18
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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19
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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20
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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21
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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22
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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23
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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24
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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25
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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26
preyed
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| v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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27
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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28
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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29
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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30
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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31
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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33
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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34
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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35
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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36
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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37
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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38
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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39
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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40
adorn
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| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
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41
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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42
beholds
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| v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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43
bestows
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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45
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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46
gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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47
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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48
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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49
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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50
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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52
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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53
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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54
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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55
projection
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| n.发射，计划，突出部分 | |
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56
severs
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的第三人称单数 )；断，裂 | |
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57
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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58
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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59
exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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62
mingles
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| 混合，混入( mingle的第三人称单数 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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63
seethe
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| vi.拥挤，云集；发怒，激动，骚动 | |
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64
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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65
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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66
tainted
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| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
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67
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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68
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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69
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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70
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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71
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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72
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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73
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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74
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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75
ravages
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| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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hoard
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| n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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80
vomiting
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| 吐 | |
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81
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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slashes
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| n.（用刀等）砍( slash的名词复数 )；（长而窄的）伤口；斜杠；撒尿v.挥砍( slash的第三人称单数 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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erecting
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| v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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