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| HROTHGAR spake, the Scyldings'-helmet:— |
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| "For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf, |
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| to succor and save, thou hast sought us here. |
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| Thy father's combat[1] a feud enkindled |
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| when Heatholaf with hand he slew |
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| among the Wylfings; his Weder kin |
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| for horror of fighting feared to hold him. |
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| Fleeing, he sought our South-Dane folk, |
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| over surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings, |
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| when first I was ruling the folk of Danes, |
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| wielded, youthful, this widespread realm, |
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| this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead, |
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| my elder brother, had breathed his last, |
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| Healfdene's bairn: he was better than I! |
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| Straightway the feud with fee[2] I settled, |
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| to the Wylfings sent, o'er watery ridges, |
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| treasures olden: oaths he[3] swore me. |
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| Sore is my soul to say to any |
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| of the race of man what ruth for me |
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| in Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought, |
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| what sudden harryings. Hall-folk fail me, |
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| my warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept them |
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| into Grendel's grasp. But God is able |
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| this deadly foe from his deeds to turn! |
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| Boasted full oft, as my beer they drank, |
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| earls o'er the ale-cup, armed men, |
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| that they would bide in the beer-hall here, |
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| Grendel's attack with terror of blades. |
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| Then was this mead-house at morning tide |
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| dyed with gore, when the daylight broke, |
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| all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled, |
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| gory the hall: I had heroes the less, |
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| doughty dear-ones that death had reft. |
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| —But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words, |
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| hardy hero, as heart shall prompt thee." |
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| Gathered together, the Geatish men |
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| in the banquet-hall on bench assigned, |
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| sturdy-spirited, sat them down, |
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| hardy-hearted. A henchman attended, |
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| carried the carven cup in hand, |
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| served the clear mead. Oft minstrels sang |
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| blithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled, |
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| no dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane. |
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