by brands down-beaten. Thence Beowulf fled
2360through strength of himself and his swimming power,
though alone, and his arms were laden with thirty
coats of mail, when he came to the sea![1]
Nor yet might Hetwaras[2] haughtily boast
their craft of contest, who carried against him
2365shields to the fight: but few escaped
from strife with the hero to seek their homes!
Then swam over ocean Ecgtheow’s son
lonely and sorrowful, seeking his land,
where Hygd made him offer of hoard and realm,
2370rings and royal-seat, reckoning naught
the strength of her son to save their kingdom
from hostile hordes, after Hygelac’s death.
No sooner for this could the stricken ones
in any wise move that atheling’s mind
2375over young Heardred’s head as lord
and ruler of all the realm to be:
yet the hero upheld him with helpful words,
aided in honor, till, older grown,
he wielded the Weder-Geats.—Wandering exiles
2380sought him o’er seas, the sons of Ohtere,
- ↑ It is like the additional touch which legend always gives to history, when Beowulf has this douceur of the thirty suits of armor, corresponding to his hand-gripe of thirty-man power.
- ↑ Chattuarii, a tribe that dwelt along the Rhine, and took part in repelling the raid of (Hygelac) Chocilaicus.
in the Exodus, when the engulfing waves which clash over the drowned Egyptians and toss their crests to heaven are thus compressed:—
mightest of sea-deaths
lashed the sky,—
