With eyes in the daytime; but he knew that death-chains
Hand-wreathed were wrought him: early thereafter,
When the hand-strife was over, edges were ready,
That fierce-raging sword-point had to force a decision,
50 Murder-bale show. Such no womanly custom
For a lady to practise, though lovely her person,
That a weaver-of-peace, on pretence of anger
A belovèd liegeman of life should deprive.
Soothly this hindered Heming's kinsman;
55 Other ale-drinking earlmen asserted
That fearful folk-sorrows fewer she wrought them,
Treacherous doings, since first she was given
Adorned with gold to the war-hero youthful,
For her origin honored, when Offa's great palace
60 O'er the fallow flood by her father's instructions
She sought on her journey, where she afterwards fully,
Famed for her virtue, her fate on the king's-seat
Enjoyed in her lifetime, love did she hold with
The ruler of heroes, the best, it is told me,
65 Of all of the earthmen that oceans encompass,
Of earl-kindreds endless; hence Offa was famous
Far and widely, by gifts and by battles,
Spear-valiant hero; the home of his fathers
He governed with wisdom, whence Eomær did issue
70 For help unto heroes, Heming's kinsman,
Grandson of Garmund, great in encounters.
For 'scawan' (1896), 'scaðan' has been proposed. Accepting this,
we may render: _He said the bright-armored warriors were going to
their vessel, welcome, etc_. (Cf. 1804.)
R. suggests, 'Gewát him on naca,' and renders: _The vessel set
out, to drive on the sea, the Dane-country left_. 'On' bears the
alliteration; cf. 'on hafu' (2524). This has some advantages over the
H.-So. reading; viz. (1) It adds nothing to the text; (2) it makes
'naca' the subject, and thus brings the passage into keeping with the
context, where the poet has exhausted his vocabulary in detailing the
actions of the vessel.--B.'s emendation (cf. P. and B. XII. 97) is
violent.
B. translates: _Who for a long time, ready at the coast, had
looked out into the distance eagerly for the dear men_. This changes
the syntax of 'léofra manna.'
For 'wunað' (v. 1924) several eminent critics suggest 'wunade'
(=remained). This makes the passage much clearer.
Why should such a woman be described as an 'excellent' queen? C.
suggests 'frécnu' = dangerous, bold.
For 'an dæges' various readings have been offered. If 'and-éges'
be accepted, the sentence will read: _No hero ... dared look upon her,
eye to eye. If 'án-dæges' be adopted, translate: Dared look upon her
the whole day_.
XXIX.
BEOWULF AND HIGELAC.
Then the brave one departed, his band along with him,
{Beowulf and his party seek Higelac.}
Seeking the sea-shore, the sea-marches treading,
The wide-stretching shores. The world-candle glimmered,
The sun from the southward; they proceeded then onward,
5 Early arriving where they heard that the troop-lord,
Ongentheow's slayer, excellent, youthful
Folk-prince and warrior was distributing jewels,
Close in his castle. The coming of Beowulf
Was announced in a message quickly to Higelac,
10 That the folk-troop's defender forth to the palace
The linden-companion alive was advancing,
Secure from the combat courtward a-going.
The building was early inward made ready
For the foot-going guests as the good one had ordered.
