Page:Gummere (1909) The Oldest English Epic.djvu/51

to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I right
that aught be hidden. We hear—thou knowest
if sooth it is—the saying of men,
that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster,
275dark ill-doer, in dusky nights
shows terrific his rage unmatched,
hatred and murder. To Hrothgar I
in greatness of soul would succor bring,
so the Wise-and-Brave^[1] may worst his foes.—
280 if ever the end of ills is fated,
of cruel contest, if cure shall follow,
and the boiling care-waves^[2] cooler grow;
else ever afterward anguish-days
he shall suffer in sorrow while stands in place
285 high on its hill that house unpeered!”
Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered,
clansman unquailing: ”The keen-souled thane
must be skilled to sever and sunder duly
words and works, if he well intends.
290 I gather, this band is graciously bent
to the Scyldings’ master. March, then, bearing
weapons and weeds the way I show you.
I will bid my men your boat meanwhile
to guard for fear lest foemen come,—
295 your new-tarred ship by shore of ocean
faithfully watching till once again
it waft o’er the waters those well-loved thanes,
—winding-neck’d wood,—to Weders’ bounds,

heroes such as the hest of fate

1. Hrothgar.
2. This powerful metaphor is known also in Old-Norse (“sûsbreka,” Skirnismal, 29) and in Old-Irish (“tuind mbroin,” ‘a billow of cares’).—Bugge.