Chapter 36

I HAVE heard that swiftly the son of Weohstan

at wish and word of his wounded king, —

war-sick warrior¹, — woven mail-coat,

battle-sark, bore ’neath the barrow’s roof.

Then the clansman keen, of conquest proud,

passing the seat, 105 saw store of jewels

and glistening² gold the ground along;

by the wall were marvels³, and many a vessel⁴

in the den⁵ of the dragon, the dawn-flier old:

unburnished bowls of bygone men

reft of richness; rusty⁶ helms

of the olden age; and arm-rings many

wondrously⁷ 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 hoard⁸, of handiwork noblest,

brilliantly broidered; so bright its gleam,

all the earth-floor he easily saw

and viewed all these vessels⁹. No vestige¹⁰ 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 bosom¹¹ with beakers and plate

at his own good will, and the ensign took,

brightest of beacons¹². — 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 doom¹³.

Hasted the herald¹⁴, the hoard so spurred him

his track to retrace¹⁵; 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 lapse¹⁶ of life. The liegeman again

plashed him with water, till point of word

broke through the breast-hoard. Beowulf spake,

sage¹⁷ 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 behold¹⁸, 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 bartered¹⁹ 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 vassal²⁰ 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 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

2 glistening   

adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼里闪着晶莹的泪花。
• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼睛中的泪水闪着柔和的光。 来自《用法词典》

3 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

4 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

5 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。

6 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

7 wondrously   

adv.惊奇地，非常，极其

参考例句：

• She grow wondrously fond of stealing off to corners by herself. 她变得出奇地喜欢独自躲在角落里。 来自辞典例句
• If you but smile, spring zephyrs blow through my spirits, wondrously. 假使你只是仅仅对我微笑，春天的和风就会惊奇的吹过我的心灵间。 来自互联网

8 hoard   

n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积

参考例句：

• They have a hoard of food in the basement.地下室里有他们贮藏的食物。
• How many curios do you hoard in your study?你在你书房里聚藏了多少古玩？

9 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 vestige   

n.痕迹，遗迹，残余

参考例句：

• Some upright stones in wild places are the vestige of ancient religions.荒原上一些直立的石块是古老宗教的遗迹。
• Every vestige has been swept away.一切痕迹都被一扫而光。

11 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

12 beacons   

灯塔( beacon的名词复数 )； 烽火； 指路明灯； 无线电台或发射台

参考例句：

• A chain of beacons was lit across the region. 整个地区点起了一系列灯塔。
• Lighthouse and beacons flash at night. 晚上灯塔与信号台闪着光。

13 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

14 herald   

vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎

参考例句：

• In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
• Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。

15 retrace   

v.折回；追溯，探源

参考例句：

• He retraced his steps to the spot where he'd left the case.他折回到他丢下箱子的地方。
• You must retrace your steps.你必须折回原来走过的路。

16 lapse   

n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效

参考例句：

• The incident was being seen as a serious security lapse.这一事故被看作是一次严重的安全疏忽。
• I had a lapse of memory.我记错了。

17 sage   

n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的

参考例句：

• I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
• The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。

18 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

19 bartered   

v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The local people bartered wheat for tools. 当地人用小麦换取工具。
• They bartered farm products for machinery. 他们用农产品交换机器。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 vassal   

n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的

参考例句：

• Wales was a vassal kingdom at that time.那时威尔士是个附庸国。
• The vassal swore that he would be loyal to the king forever.这位封臣宣誓他将永远忠诚于国王。