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The ocean surges all were cleansed, the dwellings vast, when the stranger guest her life-days left and this fleeting existence. Then came to land the sailor's protector stoutly swimming, rejoiced in his sea-spoil, the mighty burden of what he brought with him.

the Danes' death-plague, as it was fitting. 1670 "I promise thee now that thou in Heorot mayest sleep secure with thy warrior-band, and thy thanes, each one, thanes of thy people, the tried and the youthful; that thou needest not,

oh prince of the Scyldings, fear from that side Then toward him they went, with thanks to life's bane to thy warriors as erst thou didst.'

God,

the stout band of thanes, rejoiced in their lord, because they beheld him safe and sound. From the vigorous chief both helm and byrnie were then soon loosed. The sea subsidedthe cloud-shadowed water with death-gore dappled. 1631

Thence forth they went retracing their steps happy at heart, the high-way measured, the well-known road. The nobly bold men up from the sea-shore bore the head, not without labor for each of them, the mightily daring. Four undertook with toil to bear on the battle-spear, up to the gold-hall, the head of Grendel; until straightway to the hall they came, resolute, warlike, four and ten of them, Geats all marching with their lord. Proud amid the throng, he trod the meadows Then entering came the prince of thapes, the deed-strong man with glory honed, the man bold in battle, Hrothgar, greet. And into the hall, where men re drinking, Grendel's head by the hair was borne, a thing of terror to nobles and lady. "Twas a wonderful sight men looked upon.

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1640 they had borne them boldly. That was a people
alien from God; them a final reward,
through the rage of the water, the All-wielder
gave.

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XXV. HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE AND COUNSEL Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's son: "Lo, these sea-offerings, son of Healfdene, lord of the Scyldings, we have joyfully brought, in token of glory: thou seest them here. Not easily did I escape with my life, ventured with pain on the war under water. Indeed the struggle would have been ended outright, had not God me shielded.

Not able was I, in the conflict, with Hrunting aught to accomplish, though that weapon was good; 1660

but the Ruler of men granted to me, that I saw on the wall, all beautiful hanging, an old heavy sword, (He has often directed the friendless man,) and that weapon I drew. Then I slew in that strife, as occasion afforded, the wards of the house. That war-falchion then, that drawn brand, was burnt, as the blood

burst forth,

of strife-blood the hottest. Thence I the hilt from the foes bore away, avenged the crimes,

On the mounting too, of shining gold, in runic letters, was rightly marked, was set and said, for whom first was wrought that choicest of swords, with hilt bound round and serpentine. Then spake the wise man, the son of Healfdene, (all were silent):

"Lo this may he say who practises truth and right 'mong the people, far back all remembers, 1701

a land-warder ld, that this earl was
nobly born.
fame is exalted,

through far and wide ways, Beowulf, my friend, over every nation. Thou wearest with patience thy might, and with prudence. I shall show

thee my love,

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had advanced him, yet there grew in his heart | shall fail and darken; sudden 'twill be, a bloodthirsty spirit; he gave no rings

to the Danes, as was custom; joyless continued he,

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so that of war he the misery suffered, long bale to the people. Learn thou from him; lay hold of man's virtue! For thee have I told this,

wise in winters. "Tis wondrous to say, how mighty God, to the race of men, through his ample mind, dispenses wisdom, lands and valor: He has power over all. Sometimes He lets wander at their own will the thoughts of a man of race renowned, in his country gives him the joy of earth, 1730 a shelter-city of men to possess;

thus makes to him subject parts of the world, ample kingdoms, that he himself may not, because of his folly, think of his end. He lives in plenty; no whit deters him disease or old age, no uneasy care darkens his soul, nor anywhere strife

breeds hostile hate; but for him the whole world

turns at his will; he the worse knows not,—

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that thee, noble warrior, death shall o'erpower. "Thus I the Ring-Danes half a hundred years had ruled 'neath the welkin, and saved them in 1776

war

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dark o'er the vassals; the courtiers all rose; the grizzly-haired prince would go to his bed, the aged Scylding; the Geat, exceedingly famed shield-warrior, desired to rest. Him, journey-weary, come from afar, a hall-thane promptly guided forth who in respect had all things provided for a thane's need, such as in that day farers over the sea should have.

The great-hearted rested. High rose the hall vaulted and gold-hued; therein slept the guest, until the black raven, blithe-hearted, announced the joy of heaven. Then came the bright sun o'er the fields gliding.

1803

[Beowulf returns the sword Hrunting to Hunferth, then goes to the king and announces his intention of returning to his fatherland. The king repeats his thanks and praises.]

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that disease or the sword shall deprive thee of and round the neck clasped him; tears he shed,

strength,

or the clutch of fire, or rage of flood, or falchion's grip, or arrows' flight, or cruel age; or brightness of eyes

the hoary headed; chances two

there were to the aged, the second stronger, whether (or not) they should see each other again in conference. So dear was the man

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clearly divine how it might be.

that his breast's heaving he could not restrain, | her maidhood departed, and yet could nowise but in his bosom, in heart-bands fast, for the man beloved his secret longing burned in his blood. Beowulf thence, a gold-proud warrior, trod the greensward, in treasure exulting. The sea-ganger awaited, at anchor riding, its owner and lord.*

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* Is the poem of Beowulf in any sense mytholog. ical? Perhaps the latest and best opinion on the subject is that it is not.

"Undoubtedly one is here on the borderland of myth. But in the actual poem the border is not crossed. Whatever the remote connection of Beowulf the hero with Beowa the god, hero is a man, and the monsters are such as folk then believed to haunt sea and lake and moor."-Francis B. Gummere: The Oldest English Epic.

to the poet of the epic its

"The poem loses nothing of its picturesqueness in being denied its mythology. The firedrake and Grendel and the she-demon are more terrible when conceived as uncanny and abominable beings whose activities in the world can only be dimly imagined by men than they are when made mere personifications of the forces of nature. Beowulf is no less heroic as a mortal facing with undaunted courage these grisly phantoms of the moor and mere, than as a god subduing the sea or the darkness. And the proud words that he utters in his dying hour are more impres sive from the lips of a man than from those of a being who still retains some of the glory of a god about him. In my home I awaited what time might bring me, held well my own, sought no treacherous feuds, swore no false oaths. In all this I can rejoice, though sick unto death with my wounds.'"-William W. Lawrence: Pub. Mod. Lang. Association,

June, 1909.

Deor's Lament is one of the poems that may have been brought from the continent by the Angles in their early migrations. "Its form," says Stopford Brooke, "is remarkable. It has a refrain, and there is no other early Eng lish instance of this known to us. It is written in strophes, and one motive, constant throughout, is expressed in the refrain. This dominant cry of passion makes the poem a true lyric, the Father of all English lyrics Deor has been deprived of his rewards and lands, and has seen a rival set above his head. It is this whirling down of Fortune's wheel that he mourns in his song, and he compares his fate to that of others who have suffered, so that he may have some comfort. But the comfort is stern like that the Northmen take,"

.

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That was o'erpassed; this may pass also. Of Hild's fate we have heard from many. Land-bereaved were the Geatish chieftains, so that sorrow left them sleepless.

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That was o'erpassed; this may pass also. Theodoric kept for thirty winters in the burg of the Mærings; 'twas known of many.

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That was o'erpassed; this may pass also. Heard have we likewise of Eormanric's mind, wolfishly tempered; widely enthralled he the folk of the Goth-realm; he was a grim king. Many a warrior sat locked in his sorrow, waiting on woe; wished, how earnestly! the reign of that king might come to an end. That was o'erpassed; this may pass also. Now of myself this will I say: Erewhile I was Scôp of the Heodenings, dear to my lord. Deor my name was. A many winters I knew good service; gracious was my lord. But now Heorrenda, by craft of his singing, succeeds to the landright

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that Guardian of Men erst gave unto me. That was o'erpassed; this may pass also.

the

CAEDMON (f. 670)

FROM THE PARAPHRASE OF THE SCRIPTURES*

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

Then beheld our Creator

beauty of his works and the excellence of
his productions,

of the new creatures. Paradise stood
good and spiritual, filled with gifts,
with forward benefits. Fair washed
the genial land the running water,
the well-brook: no clouds as yet
over the ample ground bore rains
lowering with wind; yet with fruits stood
earth adorn'd. Held their onward course
river-streams, four noble ones,
from the new Paradise.

These were parted, by the Lord's might,
all from one (when he this earth created)

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*These paraphrases of the Scriptures are commonly spoken of as ('admon's, though ascribed to him on very uncertain grounds. Apart from their intrinsic worth they ar interesting for their possible relation to Para dise Lost. See Eng. Lit., p. 23. The transla tion is the literal one of Benjamin Thorpe.

water with beauty bright, and sent into the mast cede our realm; yet hath he not done

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so beauteous was his form in heaven, that came to him from the Lord of hosts. he was like to the light stars. It was his to work the praise of the Lord,

it was his to hold dear his joys in heaven, and to thank his Lord

for the reward that he had bestow'd on him in

that light; then had he let him long possess it;

but he turned it for himself to a worse thing, began to raise war upon him,

against the highest Ruler of heaven, who sitteth in the holy seat.

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The fiend with all his comrades fell then from heaven above,

through as long a three nights and days, the angels from aven into hell, and them all the Lord

transformed to devils, because they his deed and word

would not revere; therefore them in a worse light,

under the earth beneath, Almighty God had placed triumphless in the swart hell; there they have at even, immeasurably long, each of all the fiends, a renewal of fire; then cometh ere dawn the eastern wind, frost bitter-cold; ever fire or dart, some hard torment they must have;

it was wrought for them in punishment.

Then spake the haughty king

who of angels erst was brightest, fairest in heaven:

"This narrow place is most unlike that other that we ere knew,

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high in heaven's kingdom, which my master bestow'd on me,

though we it, for the All-powerful, may not

possess,

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misery in this hell. Oh had I power of my hands,

and might one season be without,

be one winter's space, then with this host I—37C

But around me lie iron bonds,

presseth this cord of chain: I am powerless! me have so hard the clasps of hell, so firmly grasped! Here is a vast fire above and underneath, never did I see a loathlier landskip; the flame abateth not, hot over hell. Me hath the clasping of these rings,

debarr'd me from my way; my feet are bound, this hard-polish'd band, impeded in my course, my hands manacled, of these hell-doors are 380 the ways obstructed, so that with aught I cannot from these limb-bonds escape."-From Genesis.

THE CLOUD BY DAY

Had the cloud, in its wide embrace, the earth and firmament above alike divided: it led the nation-host; quenched was the flamefire,

with heat heaven-bright. The people were amazed,

of multitudes most joyous, their day-shield's shade

rolled over the clouds. The wise God had 80 the sun's course with a sail shrouded; though the mast-ropes men knew not, nor the sail-cross might they see, the inhabitants of earth, all the enginery; how was fastened that greatest of field-houses.

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their vaunt grew sadder; against them as a cloud, rose

the fell rolling of the waves; there came not

any

their allies, and having delivered them from their cruel oppressors, advised them to build a wall between the two seas across the island, that it might secure them, and keep off the

of that host to home, but from behind inclosed enemy; and thus they returned home with great

them

fate with the wave.

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Where ways ere lay, sea raged. Their might was merged, the streams stood, the storm rose high to heaven; the loudest army-cry the hostile uttered; the air above was thickened with dying voices; blood pervaded the flood, the shield-walls were riven, shook the firmament that greatest of sea-deaths: the proud died, kings in a body; the return prevailed of the sea at length; their bucklers shone high over the soldiers; the sea-wall rose, the proud-ocean-stream, their might in death

was

fastly fettered.-From Exodus.

BEDE (673-735)

FROM THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.*

triumph. The islanders raising the wall, as they had been directed, not of stone, as having no artist capable of such a work, but of sods, made it of no use. However, they drew it for many miles between the two bays or inlets of the seas, which we have spoken of; to the end that where the defense of the water was wanting, they might use the rampart to defend their borders from the irruptions of the enemies. Of which work there erected, that is, of a rampart of extraordinary breadth and height, there are evident remains to be seen at this day. It begins at about two miles' distance from the monastery of Abercurnig,2 and running westward, ends near the city Alcluith.3

But the former enemies, when they perceived that the Roman soldiers were gone, immediately coming by sea, broke into the borders, trampled and overran all places, and like men mowing ripe corn, bore down all before them.

THE BRITONS SEEK SUCCOR FROM THE ROMANS Hereupon messengers are again sent to Rome,

THE ROMAN WALL

imploring aid, lest their wretched country From that time,1 the south part of Britain, the Roman province, so long renowned among should be utterly extirpated, and the name of destitute of armed soldiers, of martial stores, them, overthrown by the cruelties of barbarous and of all its active youth, which had been led away by the rashness of the tyrants, never to A legion is accordingly sent again, and, arriv foreigners, might become utterly contemptible. return, was wholly exposed to rapine, as being ing unexpectedly in autumn, made great slaughtotally ignorant of the use of weapons. Where-ter of the enemy, obliging all those that could upon they suffered many years under two very savage foreign nations, the Scots from the west, and the Picts from the north. We call these foreign nations, not on account of their being seated out of Britain, but because they were remote from that part of it which was possessed by the Britons; two inlets of the sea lying between them, one of which runs in far and broad into the land of Britain, from the Eastern Ocean, and the other from the Western, though they do not reach so as to touch

one another.

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On account of the irruption of these nations, the Britons sent messengers to Rome with letters in mournful manner, praying for succours, and promising perpetual subjection, provided that the impending enemy should be driven away. An armed legion was immediately sent them, which, arriving in the island, and engaging the enemy, slew a great multitude of them, drove the rest out of the territories of

1 About 400 onward. See Eng. Lit., p. 23.

escape, to flee beyond the sea; whereas before, they were wont yearly to carry off their booty without any opposition. Then the Romans declared to the Britons that they could not for the future undertake such troublesome expeditions for their sake, advising them rather to handle their weapons like men, and undertake themselves the charge of engaging their enemies, who would not prove too powerful for them, unless they were deterred by cowardice; and, thinking that it might be some help to the built a strong stone wall from sea to sea, in a allies, whom they were forced to abandon, they straight line between the towns that had been there built for fear of the enemy, and not far from the trench of Severus. This famous wall, which is still to be seen, was built at the public and private expense, the Britons also lending their assistance. It is eight feet in breadth, and twelve in height, in a straight line from

2 Abercorn, a village on the south bank of the Firth of Forth.

3 Dumbarton.

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