“UNDER harness his heart then is hit indeed
by sharpest shafts1; and no shelter avails
from foul2 behest of the hellish fiend. 71
Him seems too little what long he possessed3.
Greedy and grim, no golden rings
he gives for his pride; the promised future
forgets he and spurns4, with all God has sent him,
Wonder-Wielder, of wealth and fame.
Yet in the end it ever comes
that the frame of the body fragile yields,
fated falls; and there follows another
who joyously5 the jewels divides,
the royal riches, nor recks of his forebear.
Ban, then, such baleful thoughts, Beowulf dearest,
best of men, and the better part choose,
profit eternal; and temper thy pride,
warrior6 famous! The flower of thy might
lasts now a while: but erelong it shall be
that sickness or sword thy strength shall minish,
or fang7 of fire, or flooding billow,
or bite of blade, or brandished8 spear,
or odious9 age; or the eyes’ clear beam
wax dull and darken: Death even thee
in haste shall o’erwhelm, thou hero of war!
So the Ring-Danes these half-years a hundred I ruled,
wielded10 ’neath welkin, and warded11 them bravely
from mighty-ones many o’er middle-earth,
from spear and sword, till it seemed for me
no foe12 could be found under fold of the sky.
Lo, sudden the shift! To me seated secure
came grief for joy when Grendel began
to harry13 my home, the hellish foe;
for those ruthless raids, unresting I suffered
heart-sorrow heavy. Heaven be thanked,
Lord Eternal, for life extended
that I on this head all hewn and bloody14,
after long evil, with eyes may gaze!
— Go to the bench now! Be glad at banquet,
warrior worthy15! A wealth of treasure
at dawn of day, be dealt between us!”
Glad was the Geats’ lord, going betimes
to seek his seat, as the Sage16 commanded.
Afresh, as before, for the famed-in-battle,
for the band of the hall, was a banquet dight
nobly anew. The Night-Helm darkened
dusk o’er the drinkers.
for the hoary-headed would hasten to rest,
aged18 Scylding; and eager the Geat,
shield-fighter sturdy, for sleeping yearned19.
Him wander-weary, warrior-guest
from far, a hall-thane heralded20 forth21,
who by custom courtly cared for all
needs of a thane as in those old days
warrior-wanderers wont22 to have.
So slumbered23 the stout-heart. Stately the hall
rose gabled and gilt24 where the guest slept on
till a raven25 black the rapture-of-heaven 72
blithe-heart boded26. Bright came flying
shine after shadow. The swordsmen hastened,
athelings all were eager homeward
forth to fare; and far from thence
the great-hearted guest would guide his keel.
Bade then the hardy-one Hrunting be brought
to the son of Ecglaf, the sword bade him take,
excellent iron, and uttered his thanks for it,
quoth that he counted it keen in battle,
“war-friend” winsome27: with words he slandered28 not
edge of the blade: ’twas a big-hearted man!
Now eager for parting and armed at point
warriors29 waited, while went to his host
that Darling of Danes. The doughty atheling
to high-seat hastened and Hrothgar greeted.
收听单词发音 |
1
shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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2
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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3
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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spurns
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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5
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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7
fang
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| n.尖牙，犬牙 | |
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8
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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9
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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10
wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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11
warded
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| 有锁孔的，有钥匙榫槽的 | |
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12
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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13
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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14
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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15
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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16
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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17
doughty
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| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
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18
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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19
yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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21
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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22
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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23
slumbered
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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24
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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25
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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26
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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27
winsome
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| n.迷人的，漂亮的 | |
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28
slandered
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| 造谣中伤( slander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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