halig God
for arstafum us onsende,
to West-Denum, þæs ic wen hæbbe,
wið Grendles gryre. Ic þæm godan sceal
for his modþræce madmas beodan. 385
Beo ðu on ofeste, hat in gân
seon sibbegedriht samod ætgædere;
gesaga him eac wordum, þæt hie sint wilcuman
Of the lord of the Danes; he knew the retainers’ custom.
Wulfgar spoke to his friendly lord: 360
“Here are brought, coming from afar
Over the expanse of the sea, the people of Geatland;
The men-at-arms call their chieftain
Beowulf. They are in earnest petition
That they might with you, my Prince, 365
Exchange words. Do not refuse to grant their wish
In your answer, gracious Hrothgar;
Judged from their battle-gear, they appear worthy
Of the esteem of warriors; indeed, their leader is strong,
He, who has led the fighting men here.” 370
(VI) Hrothgar spoke, the protector of the Scyldings:
“I knew him when he was a youngster;
His deceased father’s name was Ecgtheow,
To whom Hrethel of the Geats gave for home
His only daughter;* his son is now 375
Pressingly come here, has sought a glad friend.
Then I have heard that the seafarers say—
Those who carried gifts of the Geats
There for their pleasure—that he has
Strength of thirty men in his hand-grip, 380
Brave in battle. Him God the Holy
Has sent to bestow His grace upon us,
To the West-Danes, as I do hope,
Against the terror of Grendel. I must
Offer him treasures for his brave daring. 385
Be you in haste, bid them to come in
To see my band of kinsmen together;
Tell them also clearly that they are welcome
Deniga leodum.”
[Þa to dura eode
widcuð hæleð,]* word inne abead: 390
“Eow het secgan sigedrihten min,
aldor East-Dena, þæt he eower æþelu can,
ond ge him syndon ofer sæwylmas
heardhicgende hider wilcuman.
Nu ge moton gangan in eowrum guðgeatawum, 395
under heregriman Hroðgar geseon;
lætað hildebord her onbidan,
wudu, wælsceaftas, worda geþinges.”
Aras þa se rica, ymb hine rinc manig,
þryðlic þegna heap; sume þær bidon, 400
heaðoreaf heoldon, swa him se hearda bebead.
Snyredon ætsomne, þa secg wisode,
under Heorotes hrof; [heaþorinc eode,]*
heard under helme, þæt he on heo[r]ðe gestod.
Beowulf maðelode —on him byrne scan, 405
searonet seowed smiþes orþancum—:
“Wæs þu, Hroðgar, hal! Ic eom Higelaces
mæg ond magoðegn; hæbbe ic mærða fela
ongunnen on geogoþe. Me wearð Grendles þing
on minre eþeltyrf undyrne cuð; 410
secgað sæliðend, þæt þæs sele stande,
reced selesta, rinca gehwylcum
idel ond unnyt, siððan æfenleoht
under heofenes hador beholen weorþeð.
Þa me þæt gelærdon leode mine, 415
þa selestan, snotere ceorlas,
þeoden Hroðgar, þæt ic þe sohte,
To the Danish people.”
[Then to the door went
The well-known man,]* told the message from within: 390
“My dread lord, victorious ever, Chieftain of the East-Danes,
Has commanded me to tell you that he knows your lineage,
And you are welcome here to him,
Having bravely sailed over the surging waves.
Now you may go in your battle-shirts, 395
Wearing your helmets, to meet Hrothgar;
Let your battle-shields wait out here,
The wooden lances also, for the outcome of the talk.”
Then rose up the strong man, many a warrior around him,
The band of mighty thanes; some remained there, 400
Kept guard over the battle-gear, as their chief bade them to.
They hastened together as the man led
Under the roof of Heorot; [the warrior went,]*
Resolute under his helmet, so that he reached the hearth.
Beowulf spoke—on him shone his armor, 405
The mail-coat a smith wrought with all his skills—:
“All hail, Hrothgar! I am Hygelac’s
Kinsman
