Classic Poem

For never the pride of Thryth
Knew that splendid queen of the people, nor the crime she wrought therewith,
In whose eyes no brave of that meiny so dear, save her master and mate,
Might gaze by the day-light, since alway for such had she bonds of hate,
Hand-writhen and deadly, for guerdon: and swiftly by stroke of the brand
Came quittance unto the captive when he passed 'neath the clutch of her hand,
For aye by the fair-chased falchion was his last account decreed,
The torment that ended his life-days. In sooth 'tis no royal rede
For any woman to follow, though in beauty she hath no peer,
That she who of peace hath the weaving should cut short a man so dear
Of his life, on pretence of an insult. Yet one garred her will to fail,
The kinsman of Hreming: for always men told, as they birled at the ale,
That less wrong she wrought to the people, less ravin and spite uncouth
At the tide when, with gold all glorious, she was given to the valiant youth
Offa, the well-loved athling, and sought at the hest of her sire
His homestead across the wan water, and had there her life's desire,
A queen enthroned in glory, far-famed for her bounteous grace,
And holding high love for the monarch who of all the earthly race
Was the noblest that ever I heard of 'twixt the northern and southern shore.
Yea, afar flew the fame of Offa, the valiant in bounty and war;
With the spear was his prowess mighty, and wise o'er the realm was his sway,
And his offspring was Eomaer the warlike, of heroes the helper and stay,
That was sib unto Hreming, and grandson to Garmund.
Then over the strand,
The field that the ocean tilleth, and the mighty stretches of sand
The hero trod with his henchmen. From the south the keen sun shone,
The lamp that lighteth creation. All eager they hastened on
Till they learnt that within the fortress the war-king young and brave,
Ongentheow's lusty slayer, who with might doth his athlings save,
Was dealing rings of his bounty. To Hygelac swift was brought
The tiding of Beowulf's voyage, that alive that precinct sought
The helper and stay of the clansmen, and their comrade leal 'neath the targe
Unscathed by the bandy of battle. Then swiftly a hall-space large
Was made within for the warriors, as the monarch's will had declared,
And over against his sovereign sat he whom the fray had spared,
Kinsman facing to kinsman; yet erewhile his bounteous lord
With rede of grace had he greeted, and many a hearty word,
And then went the daughter of Hareth through the hall for her folk's delight
With vessels of mead, and the mazer, abrim with a brew of might,
She gave to the hands of the heroes. But Hygelac now 'gan ply
His comrade with courteous questions beneath those rafters high,
Since he longed to be sure how the Geats of the Sea on their voyage had fared:
‘Beowulf belovéd, what fortune did ye find on the voyage ye dared
When longing swept ye a-sudden to seek strife across the salt wave,
Warfare in Hart? Did ye lighten the monarch, mighty and brave
Hrothgar, of aught of his suffering that fame bruiteth everywhere?
—My brooding heart within me seethed up in billows of care,
And no trust had I in the journey of the man I loved so dear:
Yea, many a time I begged thee that thou wouldst not venture anear
The ghoul, but wouldst leave the South-Danes with Grendel to settle their war.
But now I give thanks to the Saviour that I see thee safe once more.’
Then Beowulf, the bairn of Ecgtheow, outspake: ‘Full many a wight
Hath heard of that wondrous meeting, Lord Hygelac, and the fight
That awhile I waged with Grendel, on the field where many a wrong
He wrought on the Victor-Scyldings, woe all their life-days long;
Yet for this I took such vengeance that no wight of the loathly race
Of Grendel, not he who longest liveth locked in the fen's embrace,
May boast of that shriek in the sundawn, wheresoever he fare on earth.
As soon as I greeted Hrothgar in the hall of the rings of worth,
The mighty son of Healfdene, when he knew what my heart did hide,
Bade that straightway a place be set me at the feast by his own son's side.
Right merry were all his liegemen, and ne'er in my life have I seen
More joy of the mead among revellers 'neath the heaven's wide demesne.
And whiles his noble consort, that was pledge of peace to the folk,
Went the round of the hall, and her greetings to the youthful servers spoke,
And whiles unto one of that meiny a circlet of writhen gold
She gave ere she sought her settle. Oft before the henchmen bold
Hrothgar's daughter bore to the nobles turn by turn the cup of ale:
Freawaru I heard that they named her, the revellers within that pale,
As she lifted the fair-wrought mazer to the warriors every one.