Part IX

ME thus often the evil monstersthronging threatened. With thrust of my sword,the darling, I dealt them due return!Nowise had they bliss from their booty thento devour their victim, vengeful creatures,seated to banquet at bottom of sea;but at break of day, by my brand sore hurt,on the edge of ocean up they lay,put to sleep by the sword. And since, by themon the fathomless sea-ways sailor-folkare never molested. -- Light from east,came bright God's beacon; the billows sank,so that I saw the sea-cliffs high,windy walls. For Wyrd oft savethearl undoomed if he doughty be!And so it came that I killed with my swordnine of the nicors. Of night-fought battlesne'er heard I a harder 'neath heaven's dome,nor adrift on the deep a more desolate man!Yet I came unharmed from that hostile clutch,though spent with swimming. The sea upbore me,flood of the tide, on Finnish land,the welling waters. No wise of theehave I heard men tell such terror of falchions,bitter battle. Breca ne'er yet,not one of you pair, in the play of warsuch daring deed has done at allwith bloody brand, -- I boast not of it! --though thou wast the bane of thy brethren dear,thy closest kin, whence curse of hellawaits thee, well as thy wit may serve!For I say in sooth, thou son of Ecglaf,never had Grendel these grim deeds wrought,monster dire, on thy master dear,in Heorot such havoc, if heart of thinewere as battle-bold as thy boast is loud!But he has found no feud will happen;from sword-clash dread of your Danish clanhe vaunts him safe, from the Victor-Scyldings.He forces pledges, favors noneof the land of Danes, but lustily murders,fights and feasts, nor feud he dreadsfrom Spear-Dane men. But speedily nowshall I prove him the prowess and pride of the Geats,shall bid him battle. Blithe to meadgo he that listeth, when light of dawnthis morrow morning o'er men of earth,ether-robed sun from the south shall beam!"Joyous then was the Jewel-giver,hoar-haired, war-brave; help awaitedthe Bright-Danes' prince, from Beowulf hearing,folk's good shepherd, such firm resolve.Then was laughter of liegemen loud resoundingwith winsome words. Came Wealhtheow forth,queen of Hrothgar, heedful of courtesy,gold-decked, greeting the guests in hall;and the high-born lady handed the cupfirst to the East-Danes' heir and warden,bade him be blithe at the beer-carouse,the land's beloved one. Lustily took hebanquet and beaker, battle-famed king.

Through the hall then went the Helmings' Lady,to younger and older everywherecarried the cup, till come the momentwhen the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted,to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead.She greeted the Geats' lord, God she thanked,in wisdom's words, that her will was granted,that at last on a hero her hope could leanfor comfort in terrors. The cup he took,hardy-in-war, from Wealhtheow's hand,and answer uttered the eager-for-combat.Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --"This was my thought, when my thanes and Ibent to the ocean and entered our boat,that I would work the will of your peoplefully, or fighting fall in death,in fiend's gripe fast. I am firm to doan earl's brave deed, or end the daysof this life of mine in the mead-hall here."Well these words to the woman seemed,Beowulf's battle-boast. -- Bright with goldthe stately dame by her spouse sat down.Again, as erst, began in hallwarriors' wassail and words of power,the proud-band's revel, till presentlythe son of Healfdene hastened to seekrest for the night; he knew there waitedfight for the fiend in that festal hall,when the sheen of the sun they saw no more,and dusk of night sank darkling nigh,and shadowy shapes came striding on,wan under welkin. The warriors rose.Man to man, he made harangue,Hrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail,let him wield the wine hall: a word he added: --"Never to any man erst I trusted,since I could heave up hand and shield,this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.Have now and hold this house unpeered;remember thy glory; thy might declare;watch for the foe! No wish shall fail theeif thou bidest the battle with bold-won life."