BEOWULF (PART I)

Hey! We've heard of the glory

Of the good old days, how the worthy

Warriors of the warlike Danes

Wonders accomplished. You've heard

How Scyld Scefing, a destitute

Foundling, struck fear into enemies,

Ravaged and raided, plundered for

Prize. You must also have heard

How he thrived on that traffic,

Accumulating honour, waxing in wealth,

Till every last one of his neighbouring kings

To his power submitted, his tribute

Paid. Surely Scyld Scefing

Was the rarest of rulers! Later to him

A boy was born, a successor for Scyld,

A gift from God to console his kin

For the suffering they'd felt in their leaderless

Days. In exchange for those evils,

The God of Glory, the Lord of all life,

Granted abundance of honour to his heir:

So Beow, Scyld's son, became rich in renown

Among all those who dwelt

In the land of the Danes. Although still under

Paternal protection, a young man should always

Ensure by his actions, by the fair generosity

Of his freedom with gifts, that later he'll earn

The love and the loyalty of chosen

Companions, who'll hasten to help him

In the storm of strife. So everywhere men,

In all lands and all peoples, succeed and prosper

By praiseworthy deeds.

At the destined day, Scyld took ship,

Shaped his course, certain and sure,

And set his sail for the Lord's kingdom.

Faithful friends carried his corpse

To the ocean's edge, as he had asked them,

That loved and long-reigning lord of lands,

The shield of the Scyldings, while he himself

Could still wield words. Icy and eager,

The beaked boat bobbed on the white wave:

A hero's haulage heaved in the harbour.

There they laid down their cherished chief,

That generous giver, in the boat's bosom,

Mighty, though fallen, at the mast's foot.

Fortune afforded troves of treasure,

Travelled from afar, to embellish that bark:

I never heard of a vessel invested

With so many valuables, blades and byrnies

And weapons of war. The brightest and best

Of this warrior's wealth lay on his breast,

To pay for his passage on that vast voyage.