The Tale of Beowulf/Chapter 18
XVIII. THE ENDING OF THE TALE OF FINN.
DEPARTED the warriors their wicks to visitAll forlorn of their friends now, Friesland to look on,Their homes and their high burg. Hengest a while yetThrough the slaughter-dyed winter bode dwelling with FinnAnd all without strife: he remember'd his homeland,Though never he might o'er the mere be a-driving1130The high prow be-ringed: with storm the holm welter'd,Won war 'gainst the winds; winter locked the wavesWith bondage of ice, till again came anotherOf years into the garth, as yet it is ever,And the days which the season to watch never cease,The glory-bright weather; then gone was the winter,And fair was the earth's barm. Now hasten'd the exile, The guest from the garths; he on getting of vengeanceOf harms thought more greatly than of the sea's highway,If he but a wrath-mote might yet be a-wendingWhere the bairns of the Eotens might he still remember.1141The ways of the world forwent he in nowiseThen, whenas Hunlafing the light of the battle,The best of all bills, did into his breast,Whereof mid the Eotens were the edges well knowen.Withal to the bold-hearted Finn befell afterSword-bales the deadly at his very own dwelling,When the grim grip of war Guthlaf and OslafAfter the sea-fare lamented with sorrowAnd wyted him deal of their woes; nor then might he1150In his breast hold his wavering heart. Was the hall dightWith the lives of slain foemen, and slain eke was FinnThe King 'midst of his court-men; and there the Queen, taken,The shooters of the Scyldings ferry'd down to the sea-ships, And the house-wares and chattels the earth-king had had,E'en such as at Finn's home there might they find,Of collars and cunning gems. They on the sea-pathThe all-lordly wife to the Danes straightly wended,Led her home to their people. So sung was the lay,The song of the gleeman; then again arose game,1160The bench-voice wax'd brighter, gave forth the birlersWine of the wonder-vats. Then came forth WealhtheowUnder gold ring a-going to where sat the two good ones,The uncle and nephew, yet of kindred unsunder'd,Each true to the other. Eke Unferth the spokesmanSat at feet of the Scyldings' lord; each of his heart trow'dThat of mickle mood was he, though he to his kinsmenWere un-upright in edge-play. Spake the dame of the Scyldings: Now take thou this cup, my lord of the kingly,Bestower of treasures! Be thou in thy joyance,Thou gold-friend of men! and speak to these Geat-folk1171In mild words, as duly behoveth to do;Be glad toward the Geat-folk, and mindful of gifts;From anigh and from far peace hast thou as now.To me one hath said it, that thou for a son wouldstThis warrior be holding. Lo! Hart now is cleansed,The ring-hall bright-beaming. Have joy while thou mayestIn many a meed, and unto thy kinsmenLeave folk and dominion, when forth thou must fareTo look on the Maker's own making. I know now1180My Hrothulf the gladsome, that he this young manWill hold in all honour if thou now before him,O friend of the Scyldings, shall fare from the world;I ween that good-will yet this man will be yieldingTo our offspring that after us be, if he mind him Of all that which we two, for good-will and for worship,Unto him erst a child yet have framed of kindness.Then along by the bench did she turn, where her boys were,Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the bairns of high warriors,The young ones together; and there sat the good one,1190Beowulf the Geat, betwixt the two brethren.