beowulf-第9章

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If　ever　on　earth　I　am　able　to　win　me

more　of　thy　love；　O　lord　of　men；

aught　anew；　than　I　now　have　done；

for　work　of　war　I　am　willing　still！

If　it　come　to　me　ever　across　the　seas

that　neighbor　foemen　annoy　and　fright　thee；　

as　they　that　hate　thee　erewhile　have　used；　

thousands　then　of　thanes　I　shall　bring；

heroes　to　help　thee。　Of　Hygelac　I　know；

ward　of　his　folk；　that；　though　few　his　years；

the　lord　of　the　Geats　will　give　me　aid

by　word　and　by　work；　that　well　I　may　serve　thee；

wielding　the　war…wood　to　win　thy　triumph

and　lending　thee　might　when　thou　lackest　men。

If　thy　Hrethric　should　come　to　court　of　Geats；

a　sovran's　son；　he　will　surely　there

find　his　friends。　A　far…off　land

each　man　should　visit　who　vaunts　him　brave。〃

Him　then　answering；　Hrothgar　spake：　

〃These　words　of　thine　the　wisest　God

sent　to　thy　soul！　No　sager　counsel

from　so　young　in　years　e'er　yet　have　I　heard。

Thou　art　strong　of　main　and　in　mind　art　wary；

art　wise　in　words！　I　ween　indeed

if　ever　it　hap　that　Hrethel's　heir

by　spear　be　seized；　by　sword…grim　battle；

by　illness　or　iron；　thine　elder　and　lord；

people's　leader；　　and　life　be　thine；　

no　seemlier　man　will　the　Sea…Geats　find

at　all　to　choose　for　their　chief　and　king；

for　hoard…guard　of　heroes；　if　hold　thou　wilt

thy　kinsman's　kingdom！　Thy　keen　mind　pleases　me

the　longer　the　better；　Beowulf　loved！



Thou　hast　brought　it　about　that　both　our　peoples；

sons　of　the　Geat　and　Spear…Dane　folk；

shall　have　mutual　peace；　and　from　murderous　strife；

such　as　once　they　waged；　from　war　refrain。

Long　as　I　rule　this　realm　so　wide；

let　our　hoards　be　common；　let　heroes　with　gold

each　other　greet　o'er　the　gannet's…bath；

and　the　ringed…prow　bear　o'er　rolling　waves

tokens　of　love。　I　trow　my　landfolk

towards　friend　and　foe　are　firmly　joined；

and　honor　they　keep　in　the　olden　way。〃

To　him　in　the　hall；　then；　Healfdene's　son

gave　treasures　twelve；　and　the　trust…of…earls

bade　him　fare　with　the　gifts　to　his　folk　beloved；

hale　to　his　home；　and　in　haste　return。

Then　kissed　the　king　of　kin　renowned；

Scyldings'　chieftain；　that　choicest　thane；

and　fell　on　his　neck。　Fast　flowed　the　tears

of　the　hoary…headed。　Heavy　with　winters；

he　had　chances　twain；　but　he　clung　to　this；＇1＇　

that　each　should　look　on　the　other　again；

and　hear　him　in　hall。　Was　this　hero　so　dear　to　him。

his　breast's　wild　billows　he　banned　in　vain；

safe　in　his　soul　a　secret　longing；

locked　in　his　mind；　for　that　loved　man

burned　in　his　blood。　Then　Beowulf　strode；

glad　of　his　gold…gifts；　the　grass…plot　o'er；

warrior　blithe。　The　wave…roamer　bode

riding　at　anchor；　its　owner　awaiting。

As　they　hastened　onward；　Hrothgar's　gift

they　lauded　at　length。　　'Twas　a　lord　unpeered；

every　way　blameless；　till　age　had　broken

　it　spareth　no　mortal　　his　splendid　might。



＇1＇　That　is；　he　might　or　might　not　see　Beowulf　again。　Old　as　he

was；　the　latter　chance　was　likely；　but　he　clung　to　the　former；

hoping　to　see　his　young　friend　again　〃and　exchange　brave　words　in

the　hall。〃







XXVII



CAME　now　to　ocean　the　ever…courageous

hardy　henchmen；　their　harness　bearing；

woven　war…sarks。　The　warden　marked；

trusty　as　ever；　the　earl's　return。

From　the　height　of　the　hill　no　hostile　words

reached　the　guests　as　he　rode　to　greet　them；

but　〃Welcome！〃　he　called　to　that　Weder　clan

as　the　sheen…mailed　spoilers　to　ship　marched　on。

Then　on　the　strand；　with　steeds　and　treasure

and　armor　their　roomy　and　ring…dight　ship

was　heavily　laden：　high　its　mast

rose　over　Hrothgar's　hoarded　gems。

A　sword　to　the　boat…guard　Beowulf　gave；

mounted　with　gold；　on　the　mead…bench　since

he　was　better　esteemed；　that　blade　possessing；

heirloom　old。　　Their　ocean…keel　boarding；

they　drove　through　the　deep；　and　Daneland　left。

A　sea…cloth　was　set；　a　sail　with　ropes；

firm　to　the　mast；　the　flood…timbers　moaned；＇1＇

nor　did　wind　over　billows　that　wave…swimmer　blow

across　from　her　course。　The　craft　sped　on；

foam…necked　it　floated　forth　o'er　the　waves；

keel　firm…bound　over　briny　currents；

till　they　got　them　sight　of　the　Geatish　cliffs；

home…known　headlands。　High　the　boat；

stirred　by　winds；　on　the　strand　updrove。

Helpful　at　haven　the　harbor…guard　stood；

who　long　already　for　loved　companions

by　the　water　had　waited　and　watched　afar。

He　bound　to　the　beach　the　broad…bosomed　ship

with　anchor…bands；　lest　ocean…billows

that　trusty　timber　should　tear　away。

Then　Beowulf　bade　them　bear　the　treasure；

gold　and　jewels；　no　journey　far

was　it　thence　to　go　to　the　giver　of　rings；

Hygelac　Hrethling：　at　home　he　dwelt

by　the　sea…wall　close；　himself　and　clan。

Haughty　that　house；　a　hero　the　king；

high　the　hall；　and　Hygd＇2＇　right　young；

wise　and　wary；　though　winters　few

in　those　fortress　walls　she　had　found　a　home；

Haereth's　daughter。　Nor　humble　her　ways；

nor　grudged　she　gifts　to　the　Geatish　men；

of　precious　treasure。　Not　Thryth's　pride　showed　she；

folk…queen　famed；　or　that　fell　deceit。

Was　none　so　daring　that　durst　make　bold

（save　her　lord　alone）　of　the　liegemen　dear

that　lady　full　in　the　face　to　look；

but　forged　fetters　he　found　his　lot；

bonds　of　death！　And　brief　the　respite；

soon　as　they　seized　him；　his　sword…doom　was　spoken；

and　the　burnished　blade　a　baleful　murder

proclaimed　and　closed。　No　queenly　way

for　woman　to　practise；　though　peerless　she；

that　the　weaver…of…peace＇3＇　from　warrior　dear

by　wrath　and　lying　his　life　should　reave！

But　Hemming's　kinsman　hindered　this。　

For　over　their　ale　men　also　told

that　of　these　folk…horrors　fewer　she　wrought；

onslaughts　of　evil；　after　she　went；

gold…decked　bride；　to　the　brave　young　prince；

atheling　haughty；　and　Offa's　hall

o'er　the　fallow　flood　at　her　father's　bidding

safely　sought；　where　since　she　prospered；

royal；　throned；　rich　in　goods；

fain　of　the　fair　life　fate　had　sent　her；

and　leal　in　love　to　the　lord　of　warriors。

He；　of　all　heroes　I　heard　of　ever

from　sea　to　sea；　of　the　sons　of　earth；

most　excellent　seemed。　Hence　Offa　was　praised

for　his　fighting　and　feeing　by　far…off　men；

the　spear…bold　warrior；　wisely　he　ruled

over　his　empire。　Eomer　woke　to　him；

help　of　heroes；　Hemming's　kinsman；

Grandson　of　Garmund；　grim　in　war。



＇1＇　With　the　speed　of　the　boat。　＇2＇　Queen　to　Hygelac。　She　is

praised　by　contrast　with　the　antitype；　Thryth；　just　as　Beowulf

was　praised　by　contrast　with　Heremod。　＇3＇　Kenning　for　〃wife。〃







XXVIII



HASTENED　the　hardy　one；　henchmen　with　him；

sandy　strand　of　the　sea　to　tread

and　widespread　ways。　The　world's　great　candle；

sun　shone　from　south。　They　strode　along

with　sturdy　steps　to　the　spot　they　knew

where　the　battle…king　young；　his　burg　within；

slayer　of　Ongentheow；　shared　the　rings；

shelter…of…heroes。　To　Hygelac

Beowulf's　coming　was　quickly　told；　

that　there　in　the　court　the　clansmen's　refuge；

the　shield…companion　sound　and　alive；

hale　from　the　hero…play　homeward　strode。

With　haste　in　the　hall；　by　highest　order；

room　for　the　rovers　was　readily　made。

By　his　sovran　he　sat；　come　safe　from　battle；

kinsman　by　kinsman。　His　kindly　lord

he　first　had　greeted　in　gracious　form；

with　manly　words。　The　mead　dispensing；

came　through　the　high　hall　Haereth's　daughter；

winsome　to　warriors；　wine…cup　bore

to　the　hands　of　the　heroes。　Hygelac　then

his　comrade　fairly　with　question　plied

in　the　lofty　hall；　sore　longing　to　know

what　manner　of　sojourn　the　Sea…Geats　made。

〃What　came　of　thy　quest；　my　kinsman　Beowulf；

when　thy　yearnings　suddenly　swept　thee　yonder

battle　to　seek　o'er　the　briny　sea；

combat　in　Heorot？　Hrothgar　couldst　thou

aid　at　all；　the　honored　chief；

in　his　wide…known　woes？　With　waves　of　care

my　sad　heart　seethed；　I　sore　mistrusted

my　loved　one's　venture：　long　I　begged　thee

by　no　means　to　seek　that　slaughtering　monster；

but　suffer　the　South…Danes　to　settle　their　feud

themselves　with　Grendel。　Now　God　be　thanked

that　safe　and　sound　I　can　see　thee　now！〃

Beowulf　spake；　the　bairn　of　Ecgtheow：　

〃'Tis　known　and　unhidden；　Hygelac　Lord；

to　many　men；　that　meeting　of　ours；

struggle　grim　between　Grendel　and　me；

which　we　fought　on　the　field　where　full　too　many

sorrows　he　wrought　for　the　Scylding…Victors；

evils　unending。　These　all　I　avenged。

No　boast　can　be　from　breed　of　Grendel；

any　on　earth；　for　that　uproar　at　dawn；

from　the　longest…lived　of　the　loathsome　race

in　fleshly　fold！　　But　first　I　went

Hrothgar　to　greet　in　the　hall　of　gifts；

where　Healfdene's　kinsman　high…renowned；

soon　as　my　purpose　was　plain　to　him；

assigned　me　a　seat　by　his　son　and　heir。

The　liegemen　were　lusty；　my　life…days　never

such　merry　men　over　mead　in　hall

have　I　heard　under　heaven！　The　high…born　queen；

people's　peace…bringer；　passed　through　the　hall；

cheered　the　young　clansmen；　clasps　of　gold；

ere　she　sought　her　seat；　to　sundry　gave。

Oft　to　the　heroes　Hrothgar's　daughter；

to　earls　in　turn；　the　ale…cup　tendered；　

she　whom　I　heard　these　hall…companions

Freawaru　name；　when　fretted　gold

she　proffered　the　warriors。　Promised　is　she；

gold…decked　maid；　to　the　glad　son　of　Froda。

Sage　this　seems　to　the　Scylding's…friend；

kingdom's…keeper：　he　counts　it　wise

the　woman　to　wed　so　and　ward　off　feud；

store　of　slaughter。　But　seldom　ever

when　men　are　slain；　does　the　murder…spear　sink

but　briefest　while；　though　the　bride　be　fair！＇1＇

〃Nor　haply　will　like　it　the　Heathobard　lord；

and　as　little　each　of　his　liegemen　all；

when　a　thane　of　the　Danes；　in　that　doughty　throng；

goes　with　the　lady　along　their　hall；

and　on　him　the　old…time　heirlooms　glisten

hard　and　ring…decked；　Heathobard's　treasure；

weapons　that　once　they　wielded　fair

until　they　lost　at　the　linden…play＇2＇

liegeman　leal　and　their　lives　as　well。

Then；　over　the　ale；　on　this　heirloom　gazing；

some　ash…wielder　old　who　has　all　in　mind

that　spear…death　of　men；＇3＇　　he　is　stern　of　mood；

heavy　at　heart；　　in　the　hero　young

tests　the　temper　and　tries　the　soul

and　war…hate　wakens；　with　words　like　these：　

Canst　thou　not；　comrade；　ken　that　sword

which　to　the　fray　thy　father　carried

in　his　final　feud；　'neath　the　fighting…mask；

dearest　of　blades；　when　the　Danish　slew　him

and　wielded　the　war…place　on　Withergild's　fall；

after　havoc　of　heroes；　those　hardy　Scyldings？

Now；　the　son　of　a　certain　slaughtering　Dane；

proud　of　his　treasure；　paces　this　hall；

joys　in　the　killing；　and　carries　the　jewel＇4＇

that　rightfully　ought　to　be　owned　by　thee！_

Thus　he　urges　and　eggs　him　all　the　time

with　keenest　words；　till　occasion　offers

that　Freawaru's　thane；　for　his　father's　deed；

after　bite　of　brand　in　his　blood　must　slumber；

losing　his　life；　but　that　liegeman　flies

living　away；　for　the　land　he　kens。

And　thus　be　broken　on　both　their　sides

oaths　of　the　earls；　when　Ingeld's　breast

wells　with　war…hate；　and　wife…love　now

after　the　care…billows　cooler　grows。

〃So＇5＇　I　hold　not　high　the　Heathobards'　faith

due　to　the　Danes；　or　t