Beowulf 27Touching Healfdene's leader; the joy-wood was fingered
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Literature · Religion
Beowulf 27
Touching Healfdene's leader; the joy-wood was fingered
HallEnglish
Measures recited, when the singer of Hrothgar
On mead-bench should mention the merry hall-joyance
Of the kinsmen of Finn, when onset surprised them:
{Hnæf, the Danish general, is treacherously attacked while staying at
Finn's castle.}
"The Half-Danish hero, Hnæf of the Scyldings,
20 On the field of the Frisians was fated to perish.
Sure Hildeburg needed not mention approving
The faith of the Jutemen: though blameless entirely,
{Queen Hildeburg is not only wife of Finn, but a kinswoman of the murdered
Hnæf.}
When shields were shivered she was shorn of her darlings,
Of bairns and brothers: they bent to their fate
25 With war-spear wounded; woe was that woman.
Not causeless lamented the daughter of Hoce
The decree of the Wielder when morning-light came and
She was able 'neath heaven to behold the destruction
Of brothers and bairns, where the brightest of earth-joys
