The Tale of Beowulf/Chapter 19

by unknown author

XIX. MORE GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO BEOWULF. THE BRISING COLLAR TOLD OF.

BORNE to him then the cup was, and therewith friendly biddingIn words was put forth; and gold about woundenAll blithely they bade him bear; arm-gearings twain,Rail and rings, the most greatest of fashion of neck-ringsOf them that on earth I have ever heard tell of:Not one under heaven wrought better was heard ofMidst the hoard-gems of heroes, since bore away Hama To the bright burg and brave the neck-gear of the Brisings,The gem and the gem-chest: from the foeman's guile fled he1200Of Eormenric then, and chose rede everlasting.That ring Hygelac had, e'en he of the Geat-folk,The grandson of Swerting, the last time of all timesWhen he under the war-sign his treasure defended,The slaughter-prey warded. Him weird bore awaySithence he for pride-sake the war-woe abided,The feud with the Frisians; the fretwork he flitted,The gem-stones much worthy, all over the waves' cup.The King the full mighty cring'd under the shield;Into grasp of the Franks the King's life was gottenWith the gear of the breast and the ring altogether;1211It was worser war-wolves then reft gear from the slainAfter the war-shearing; there the Geats' war-folkHeld the house of the dead men. The Hall took the voices;Spake out then Wealhtheow; before the host said she: Brook thou this roundel, lief Beowulf, henceforth,Dear youth, with all hail, and this rail be thou using,These gems of folk-treasures, and thrive thou well ever;Thy might then make manifest! Be to these lads hereKind of lore, and for that will I look to thy guerdon.1220Thou hast won by thy faring, that far and near henceforth.Through wide time to come, men will give thee the worship,As widely as ever the sea winds aboutThe windy land-walls. Be the while thou art livingAn atheling wealthy, and well do I will theeOf good of the treasures; be thou to my sonIn deed ever friendly, and uphold thy joyance!Lo! each of the earls here to the other is trusty,And mild of his mood and to man-lord full faithful,Kind friends all the thanes are, the folk ever yare.1230Ye well drunk of folk-grooms, now do ye my biddings. To her settle then far'd she; was the feast of the choicest,The men drank the wine nothing wotting of weird,The grim shaping of old, e'en as forth it had goneTo a many of earls; sithence came the even,And Hrothgar departed to his chamber on high,The rich to his rest; and aright the house wardedEarls untold of number, as oft did they erewhile.The bench-boards they bar'd them, and there they spread overWith beds and with bolsters. Of the beer-skinkers one1240Who fain was and fey bow'd adown to his floor-rest.At their heads then they rested their rounds of the battle,Their board-woods bright-shining. There on the bench was,Over the atheling, easy to look onThe battle-steep war-helm, the byrny be-ringed,The wood of the onset, all-glorious. Their wont wasThat oft and oft were they all yare for the war-tide,Both at home and in hosting, were it one were it either,And for every such tide as their liege lord untoThe need were befallen: right good was that folk.