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| THERE was hurry and hest in Heorot now |
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| for hands to bedeck it, and dense was the throng |
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| of men and women the wine-hall to cleanse, |
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| the guest-room to garnish. Gold-gay shone the hangings |
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| that were wove on the wall, and wonders many |
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| to delight each mortal that looks upon them. |
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| Though braced within by iron bands, |
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| that building bright was broken sorely;[1] |
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| rent were its hinges; the roof alone |
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| held safe and sound, when, seared with crime, |
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| the fiendish foe his flight essayed, |
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| of life despairing.—No light thing that, |
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| the flight for safety,—essay it who will! |
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| Forced of fate, he shall find his way |
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| to the refuge ready for race of man, |
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| for soul-possessors, and sons of earth; |
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| and there his body on bed of death |
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| shall rest after revel. |
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| Arrived was the hour |
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| when to hall proceeded Healfdene's son: |
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| the king himself would sit to banquet. |
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| Ne'er heard I of host in haughtier throng |
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| more graciously gathered round giver-of-rings! |
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| Bowed then to bench those bearers-of-glory, |
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| fain of the feasting. Featly received |
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| many a mead-cup the mighty-in-spirit, |
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| kinsmen who sat in the sumptuous hall, |
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| Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot now |
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| was filled with friends; the folk of Scyldings |
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| ne'er yet had tried the traitor's deed. |
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| To Beowulf gave the bairn of Healfdene |
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| a gold-wove banner, guerdon of triumph, |
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| broidered battle-flag, breastplate and helmet; |
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| and a splendid sword was seen of many |
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| borne to the brave one. Beowulf took |
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| cup in hall:[2] for such costly gifts |
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| he suffered no shame in that soldier throng. |
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| For I heard of few heroes, in heartier mood, |
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| with four such gifts, so fashioned with gold, |
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| on the ale-bench honoring others thus! |
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| O'er the roof of the helmet high, a ridge, |
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| wound with wires, kept ward o'er the head, |
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| lest the relict-of-files[3] should fierce invade, |
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| sharp in the strife, when that shielded hero |
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| should go to grapple against his foes. |
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| Then the earls'-defence[4] on the floor[5] bade lead |
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| coursers eight, with carven head-gear, |
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| adown the hall: one horse was decked |
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| with a saddle all shining and set in jewels; |
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| 'twas the battle-seat of the best of kings, |
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| when to play of swords the son of Healfdene |
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| was fain to fare. Ne'er failed his valor |
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| in the crush of combat when corpses fell. |
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| To Beowulf over them both then gave |
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| the refuge-of-Ingwines right and power, |
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| o'er war-steeds and weapons: wished him joy of them. |
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| Manfully thus the mighty prince, |
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| hoard-guard for heroes, that hard fight repaid |
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| with steeds and treasures contemned by none |
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| who is willing to say the sooth aright. |
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| [1] There is no horrible inconsistency here such as the critics |
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| strive and cry about. In spite of the ruin that Grendel and |
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| Beowulf had made within the hall, the framework and roof held |
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| firm, and swift repairs made the interior habitable. Tapestries |
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| were hung on the walls, and willing hands prepared the banquet. |
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| [2] From its formal use in other places, this phrase, to take cup |
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| in hall, or "on the floor," would seem to mean that Beowulf |
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| stood up to receive his gifts, drink to the donor, and say |
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| thanks. [3] Kenning for sword. [4] Hrothgar. He is also the |
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| "refuge of the friends of Ing," below. Ing belongs to myth. [5] |
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| Horses are frequently led or ridden into the hall where folk sit |
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| at banquet: so in Chaucer's Squire's tale, in the ballad of King |
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| Estmere, and in the romances. |
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|
