FACSIMILE OF THE FIRST PAGE OF "BEOWULF"

(Manuscript in the British Museum)

The third part of the poem takes up the story of Beowulf's last fight. The scene here is laid fifty years after the events related in part two. Beowulf is successful in overcoming a frightful fire-drake, but the monster's fiery breath enters his lungs. Ile dies, but not before he has obtained for his people the vast treasures found in the fire-drake's cave.

SUGGESTIONS TO STUDENTS

1. From the following extracts from "Beowulf" what information may be gained concerning the civilization of the Anglo-Saxons? See how much even these few lines reveal as to their attitude towards women; the virtues they most admired; what they had, did, knew, or believed. 2. What is the great struggle depicted? What are the most interesting episodes? 3. What points of comparison can you make between the life found here and that which you discovered in "The Iliad," "Odyssey," "Eneid," "Song of Roland," or "Nibelungenlied"? How far apart in time were they? 4. Which story interested you more? Why? 5. What familiar story are you reminded of in that of Scyld? Which is the older story?

1. THE DEATH OF SCYLD

Then Seyld departed at the hour of fate,
The warlike to go into his Lord's keeping:
They him then bore to the ocean's wave,

His trusty comrades, as he himself bade,

Whilst with words ruled the friend of the Scyldings,
Beloved land-prince; long wielded he power.
There stood at haven with curved prow,
Shining and ready, the prince's ship:

The people laid their dear war-lord,
Giver of rings, on the deck of the ship.

The mighty by th' mast. Many treasures were there,
From distant lands, ornaments brought;
Ne'er heard I of keel more comelily filled
With warlike weapons and weeds of battle,
With bills and burnies! On his bosom lay
A heap of jewels which with him should
Into the flood's keeping afar depart:

Then placed they yet a golden standard.
High over his head, let the waves bear
Their gift to the sea; sad was their soul,
Mourning their mood.1

1 Garnett's translation of "Beowulf," lines 26-42: 47-50. All these extracts used by special permission of Mrs. James Mercer Garnett, owner of the copyright.

2. HROTHGAR'S MEAD-HALL

It came into his mind
That he a great hall would then command,
A greater mead-hall his men to build
Than children of men ever had heard of,
And there within would he all deal out
To young and to old, as God him gave,
Except the folk-land and lives of men.

Then far and wide heard I the work was ordered
To many a tribe throughout this mid-earth
The folk-hall to deck. Him in time it befell
Quickly with men, that it was all ready,

The greatest of halls: Heorot as name gave he it,
He who with his word power far and wide had.
He belied not his promise, bracelets he dealt,
Treasure at banquet. The halls arose

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ΙΟ

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Asleep after feasting; sorrows they knew not,
Misfortunes of men. The demon of death,

Grim and greedy, soon was ready,

Fierce and furious, and in rest took

Thirty of thanes: thence back he departed,
Exulting in booty, homeward to go.

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With his fill of slaughter to seek out his dwelling.

That was great sorrow of the friend of the Scyldings,
Misery of mind! Many oft sat

Mighty in council; plans they devised,
What with bold mind then would be best
'Gainst the sudden attacks for them to do.

1 Lines 67-82.

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Sometimes they vowed at their temples of idols
To their gods worship, with words they prayed
The destroyer of spirits would render them help
Against their folk-sorrows. Such was their custom.1

4. SCENES IN HROTHGAR'S HALL AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF BEOWULF

Then was in joy the giver of treasure,

Gray-haired and war-fierce; help he expected,
The ruler of Bright-Danes; in Beowulf heard
The people's shepherd the firm-set purpose.

There was laughter of heroes, the harp merry sounded,
Winsome were words. Went Wealhtheow forth,

The queen of Hrothgar, mindful of courtesies,
Gold-adorned greeted the men in the halls,
And the high-born woman then gave the cup
First to the East-Danes' home-protector;
Bade him be blithe at the beer-drinking,
Him dear to his people. In joy he received
The food and the hall-cup, victorious king.
Then around went the Helmings' lady
To every division of old and of young.
Costly gifts gave, until the time came

That she to Beowulf, the ring-adorned queen,
Noble in mind, the mead-cup bore.2

5. BEOWULF'S FIGHT WITII GRENDEL

Then came from the moor 'neath the misty slopes
Grendel going, God's anger he bore.

The wicked foe thought of the race of man
Some one to entrap in that high hall:

He went 'neath the clouds whither he the wine-hall,

The gold-hall of men, most thoroughly knew,
Shining with gold-plates: that was not the first time
That he of Hrothgar the home had sought.

Ne'er in his life-time before nor after

Bolder warriors, hall-thanes, did he find!
Then came to the hall the being approaching,
Of joys deprived. The door soon sprang open

Fast in its fire-bands, when he with hands touched it.
Then burst the bale-bringer, since he was enraged,
The door of the hall. Soon after that

On the many-colored floor the fiendish one trod.

1 Lines 99-104; 115-125; 170-178.

2 Lines 607-624.

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Mad in mind he went: from his eyes stood

A loathsome light likest to flame.

He saw in the hall many of warriors,

A band in peace sleeping all together,

A heap of kin-warriors. Then laughed his mood:
He thought that he would, ere day came, divide,
The terrible monster, of every one

The life from the body, since to him was fallen

A hope of much food. That no longer was fated,
That he might more of the race of man
Devour by night.

Remembered he then, good kinsman of Hygelac,
His evening-speech; upright he stood

And him fast seized: his fingers cracked

The eoten would outwards: the earl further stepped;

The mighty one thought, whereso he might,

Afar to escape, and away thence

Flee to the marshes: he knew that his fingers

Were in his foe's grip:

That the harm-bringing

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That was a bad journey foe had taken to Heorot.

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For earls the ale spilt. Angry were both
Furious contestants: the hall cracked aloud:

Then was it great wonder that the wine-hall

Withstood the fierce fighters, that it to ground fell not,
The fair folk-hall: but it was too fast

Within and without in its

By cunning skill forged.

iron bands

There from the sill fell

Many a mead-bench, as I have heard say
Adorned with gold, where the foes fought.

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Pain of body endured

The terrible monster: there was on his shoulder
An evident wound; apart sprang the sinews,
The bone-frame burst. To Beowulf was
Battle-fame given.1

6. THE DEATH OF BEOWULF.

(Fifty years after his fight with Grendel.)

"Now I for the hoard of jewels have paid

Mine own aged life; do ye now supply

The needs of my people; I may not longer be here.

1 Garnett's translation, lines 710-736; 758-766; 769-777; 815-819.