“THEN he goes to his chamber1, a grief-song chants
alone for his lost. Too large all seems,
homestead and house. So the helmet-of-Weders
hid in his heart for Herebeald
waves of woe2. No way could he take
to avenge3 on the slayer4 slaughter5 so foul6;
nor e’en could he harass7 that hero at all
with loathing8 deed, though he loved him not.
And so for the sorrow his soul endured,
men’s gladness he gave up and God’s light chose.
Lands and cities he left his sons
(as the wealthy do) when he went from earth.
There was strife9 and struggle ’twixt Swede and Geat
o’er the width of waters; war arose,
hard battle-horror, when Hrethel died,
and Ongentheow’s offspring grew
strife-keen, bold, nor brooked10 o’er the seas
pact11 of peace, but pushed their hosts
to harass in hatred12 by Hreosnabeorh.
Men of my folk for that feud13 had vengeance14,
for woful war (’tis widely known),
though one of them bought it with blood of his heart,
a bargain hard: for Haethcyn proved
fatal that fray15, for the first-of-Geats.
At morn, I heard, was the murderer killed
by kinsman16 for kinsman, 95 with clash of sword,
when Ongentheow met Eofor there.
Wide split the war-helm: wan17 he fell,
hoary18 Scylfing; the hand that smote19 him
of feud was mindful, nor flinched20 from the death-blow.
— “For all that he 96 gave me, my gleaming sword
repaid him at war, — such power I wielded21, —
for lordly treasure: with land he entrusted22 me,
homestead and house. He had no need
from Swedish realm, or from Spear-Dane folk,
or from men of the Gifths, to get him help, —
some warrior23 worse for wage to buy!
Ever I fought in the front of all,
sole to the fore24; and so shall I fight
while I bide25 in life and this blade shall last
that early and late hath loyal proved
since for my doughtiness26 Daeghrefn fell,
slain27 by my hand, the Hugas’ champion.
Nor fared he thence to the Frisian king
with the booty back, and breast-adornments;
but, slain in struggle, that standard-bearer
fell, atheling brave. Not with blade was he slain,
but his bones were broken by brawny28 gripe,
his heart-waves stilled. — The sword-edge now,
hard blade and my hand, for the hoard29 shall strive.”
Beowulf spake, and a battle-vow made
his last of all: “I have lived through many
wars in my youth; now once again,
old folk-defender, feud will I seek,
do doughty30 deeds, if the dark destroyer
forth31 from his cavern32 come to fight me!”
Then hailed he the helmeted heroes all,
for the last time greeting his liegemen dear,
comrades of war: “I should carry no weapon,
no sword to the serpent, if sure I knew
how, with such enemy, else my vows33
I could gain as I did in Grendel’s day.
But fire in this fight I must fear me now,
and poisonous breath; so I bring with me
breastplate and board. 97 From the barrow’s keeper
no footbreadth flee I. One fight shall end
our war by the wall, as Wyrd allots34,
all mankind’s master. My mood is bold
but forbears to boast o’er this battling-flyer.
— Now abide35 by the barrow, ye breastplate-mailed,
ye heroes in harness, which of us twain
better from battle-rush bear his wounds.
Wait ye the finish. The fight is not yours,
nor meet for any but me alone
to measure might with this monster here
and play the hero. Hardily36 I
shall win that wealth, or war shall seize,
cruel killing37, your king and lord!”
Up stood then with shield the sturdy champion,
stayed by the strength of his single manhood,
and hardy38 ’neath helmet his harness bore
under cleft39 of the cliffs: no coward’s path!
Soon spied by the wall that warrior chief,
survivor40 of many a victory-field
where foemen fought with furious clashings,
an arch of stone; and within, a stream
that broke from the barrow. The brooklet’s wave
was hot with fire. The hoard that way
he never could hope unharmed to near,
or endure those deeps, 98 for the dragon’s flame.
Then let from his breast, for he burst with rage,
the Weder-Geat prince a word outgo;
stormed the stark-heart; stern went ringing
and clear his cry ’neath the cliff-rocks gray.
The hoard-guard heard a human voice;
his rage was enkindled. No respite42 now
for pact of peace! The poison-breath
of that foul worm first came forth from the cave,
hot reek-of-fight: the rocks resounded43.
Stout44 by the stone-way his shield he raised,
lord of the Geats, against the loathed-one;
while with courage keen that coiled foe41
came seeking strife. The sturdy king
had drawn45 his sword, not dull of edge,
heirloom old; and each of the two
felt fear of his foe, though fierce their mood.
Stoutly46 stood with his shield high-raised
the warrior king, as the worm now coiled
together amain: the mailed-one waited.
Now, spire47 by spire, fast sped and glided48
that blazing serpent. The shield protected,
soul and body a shorter while
for the hero-king than his heart desired,
could his will have wielded the welcome respite
but once in his life! But Wyrd denied it,
and victory’s honors. — His arm he lifted
lord of the Geats, the grim foe smote
with atheling’s heirloom. Its edge was turned
brown blade, on the bone, and bit more feebly
than its noble master had need of then
in his baleful stress. — Then the barrow’s keeper
waxed full wild for that weighty blow,
cast deadly flames; wide drove and far
those vicious fires. No victor’s glory
the Geats’ lord boasted; his brand had failed,
naked in battle, as never it should,
excellent iron! — ’Twas no easy path
that Ecgtheow’s honored heir must tread
over the plain to the place of the foe;
for against his will he must win a home
elsewhere far, as must all men, leaving
this lapsing49 life! — Not long it was
ere those champions grimly closed again.
The hoard-guard was heartened; high heaved hisbreast
once more; and by peril50 was pressed again,
enfolded in flames, the folk-commander!
Nor yet about him his band of comrades,
sons of athelings, armed stood
with warlike front: to the woods they bent51 them,
their lives to save. But the soul of one
with care was cumbered. Kinship true
can never be marred52 in a noble mind!
收听单词发音 |
1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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slayer
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| n. 杀人者，凶手 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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6
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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harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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9
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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brooked
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| 容忍，忍受（brook的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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11
pact
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| n.合同，条约，公约，协定 | |
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12
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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13
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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14
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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15
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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18
hoary
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| adj.古老的；鬓发斑白的 | |
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19
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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20
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
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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22
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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24
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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25
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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26
doughtiness
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| n.傲慢；傲气 | |
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27
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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28
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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29
hoard
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| n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积 | |
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30
doughty
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| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
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31
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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32
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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33
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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34
allots
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的第三人称单数 ) | |
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35
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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36
hardily
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| 耐劳地，大胆地，蛮勇地 | |
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37
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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38
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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39
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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40
survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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41
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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42
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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43
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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45
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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46
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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47
spire
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| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
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48
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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49
lapsing
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| v.退步( lapse的现在分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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50
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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51
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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52
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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