Healfdene’s heir, for my own disposal.
Now to thee, my prince, I proffer them all,
gladly give them. Thy grace alone
2150can find me favor. Few[1] indeed
have I of kinsmen, save, Hygelac, thee!”
Then he bade them bear him the boar-head standard,[2]
the battle-helm high, and breastplate gray,
the splendid sword; then spake in form:—
2155“Me this war-gear the wise old prince,
Hrothgar, gave, and his best he added,
that its story be straightway said to thee.[3]—
A while it was held by Heorogar king,
for long time lord of the land of Scyldings;
2160yet not to his son the sovran left it,
to daring Heoroweard,—dear as he was to him,
his harness of battle.—Well hold thou it all!”
And I heard that soon passed o’er the path[4] of this treasure,
all apple-fallow, four good steeds,
2165each like the others; arms and horses
he gave to the king. So should kinsmen be,
not weave one another the net of wiles,
or with deep-hid treachery death contrive
- ↑ “None.” He forgets, or lets his compliment forget, Weohstan: see vv. 2813, 2602, below. But over fifty years pass between this date and the date of his speech to Wiglaf. Weohstan, moreover, was in service at the Swedish court (Gering suggests that he was a younger son and sought his fortune in foreign parts); and was actually fighting on the side of Geatland’s foes. See note to v. 2602, below.
- ↑ See v. 1021. Klaeber, Modern Philology, III, 462, compares the old “Raven” banners of the Northmen mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle; and Professor Hart refers to Asser’s Life of Alfred, trans. Giles, Bohn ed., p. 62.
- ↑ Or: That first to thee should his thanks be said.
- ↑ Followed it. The original figure is “guarded its tracks.”
