Old English Text - Chapter XVII PREV | NEXT

1125
Gewiton him ða wigend         wica neosian,
freondum befeallen,         Frysland geseon,
hamas ond heaburh.         Hengest ða gyt
wælfagne winter         wunode mid Finne
eal unhlitme.         Eard gemunde,
1130
þeah þe he ne meahte         on mere drifan
hringedstefnan;         holm storme weol,
won wið winde,         winter yþe beleac
isgebinde,         oþðæt oþer com
gear in geardas,         swa nu gyt deð,
1135
þa ðe syngales         sele bewitiað,
wuldortorhtan weder.         ða wæs winter scacen,
fæger foldan bearm.         Fundode wrecca,
gist of geardum;         he to gyrnwræce
swiðor þohte         þonne to sælade,
1140
gif he torngemot         þurhteon mihte
þæt he Eotena bearn         inne gemunde.
Swa he ne forwyrnde         woroldrædenne,
þonne him Hunlafing         hildeleoman,
billa selest,         on bearm dyde,
1145
þæs wæron mid Eotenum         ecge cuðe.
Swylce ferhðfrecan         Fin eft begeat
sweordbealo sliðen         æt his selfes ham,
siþðan grimne gripe         Guðlaf ond Oslaf
æfter sæsiðe,         sorge, mændon,
1150
ætwiton weana dæl;         ne meahte wæfre mod
forhabban in hreþre.         ða wæs heal roden
feonda feorum,         swilce Fin slægen,
cyning on corþre,         ond seo cwen numen.
Sceotend Scyldinga         to scypon feredon
1155
eal ingesteald         eorðcyninges,
swylce hie æt Finnes ham         findan meahton
sigla, searogimma.         Hie on sælade
drihtlice wif         to Denum feredon,
læddon to leodum.         Leoð wæs asungen,
1160
gleomannes gyd.         Gamen eft astah,
beorhtode bencsweg;         byrelas sealdon
win of wunderfatum.         þa cwom Wealhþeo forð
gan under gyldnum beage,         þær þa godan twegen
sæton suhtergefæderan;         þa gyt wæs hiera sib ætgædere,
1165
æghwylc oðrum trywe.         Swylce þær Unferþ þyle
æt fotum sæt frean Scyldinga;         gehwylc hiora his ferhþe treowde,
þæt he hæfde mod micel,         þeah þe he his magum nære
arfæst æt ecga gelacum.         Spræc ða ides Scyldinga:
"Onfoh þissum fulle,         freodrihten min,
1170
sinces brytta!         þu on sælum wes,
goldwine gumena,         ond to Geatum spræc
mildum wordum,         swa sceal man don.
Beo wið Geatas glæd,         geofena gemyndig,
nean ond feorran         þu nu hafast.
1175
Me man sægde         þæt þu ðe for sunu wolde
hererinc habban.         Heorot is gefælsod,
beahsele beorhta;         bruc þenden þu mote
manigra medo,         ond þinum magum læf
folc ond rice,         þonne ðu forð scyle
1180
metodsceaft seon.         Ic minne can
glædne Hroþulf,         þæt he þa geogoðe wile
arum healdan,         gyf þu ær þonne he,
wine Scildinga,         worold oflætest;
wene ic þæt he mid gode         gyldan wille
1185
uncran eaferan,         gif he þæt eal gemon,
hwæt wit to willan         ond to worðmyndum
umborwesendum ær         arna gefremedon."
Hwearf þa bi bence         þær hyre byre wæron,
Hreðric ond Hroðmund,         ond hæleþa bearn,
1190
giogoð ætgædere;         þær se goda sæt,

Summary :
Winter came and *Hengest kept the pact with *Finn for the ice made it impossible for the Scyldings to go. By spring *Hengest once again sought vengeance for their ill fated journey. *Hun, brother of *Guthlaf and *Oslaf was killed with the sword ``Lafing'', a Frisian weapon, the feud began again. *Finn is killed, and *Hildeburh is taken back to *Danish land by *Hengest.

The story finished, the reveling recommences. *Wealhtheow steps forth to speak; *Unferth sits by the king's feet:

She invites her king to drink from the cup, and enjoy the company of the *Geats who have saved their kingdom. She knows that he would have *Beowulf for his son, but reminds him that his own sons, should have promise of the throne. *Hrothulf would recognise their inheritance when they come of age.

She turns to look at her sons *Hrethric and *Hrothmund with *Beowulf sitting beside them.


Select Bibliography :
Anonymous. Beowulf - Verse Intermediate Saxon. Transcribed by Altman, R.I. Public Domain etext obtained via the Online Book Initiative.

Anonymous. Beowulf Gummere, F.B. trans., Eliot, C.W. ed.. Harvard Classics, Vol. 49.: PF Collier & Sons, New York. 1910. Public Domain etext obtained via the Online Book Initiative.


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