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Then the hardy one himself, with his troop set forth to tread the seashore, going along the sands, the wide sea-beaches. The candle of the world shone, the sun that was shining from the South. And joyfully they journeyed, and with courage they marched along, to where they heard by inquiring, that the good Prince of earls, the banesman of Ongentheow⁴⁸ the young war-king, was giving out rings within the city. And quickly was made known to Hygelac the coming of Beowulf, that he the Prince of warriors, the comrade in arms, was returning alive and hale from the battle-play, was coming to the palace. And straightway was there room made for the foot-guests on the floor of the hall by command of the King. And he that had escaped scot-free from the contest sat with the King, kinsman with kinsman, and the lord with courteous speech saluted the brave man with high-swelling words. And the daughter of Hæreth⁴⁹ poured forth from the mead-cups throughout that great hall, for she loved well the people, and carried round the drinking-stoups to each of the warriors. And Hygelac began to question his comrade as curiosity prompted him as to the journey of the Sea-Geats. ‘How went it with thee, dear Beowulf, in thy faring, when thou didst bethink thee suddenly to be seeking a contest o’er the salt waters, in battle at Hart? And thou didst requite the widely known woe which Hrothgar was suffering, that famous lord. And I brooded o’er that mind-care with sorrow-whelmings, for I trusted not in the journey of the dear man. And for a long time I bade thee not a whit to be greeting the murderous stranger, but to let the South Danes themselves wage war against Grendel. And I now give God thanks that I see thee safe and sound.’

Then the brave man himself set out with his troop along the shore, walking across the wide, sandy beaches. The world’s candle shone, the sun shining from the south. They traveled joyfully and marched with courage toward the city. They had learned by asking that the noble prince, Ongentheow’s slayer⁴⁸, the young warrior-king, was giving out rings there. Hygelac soon heard that Beowulf was coming. The prince of warriors, his comrade in arms, was returning alive and well from battle and approaching the palace. At the king’s command, room was immediately made on the hall floor for the visitors who had come on foot. Beowulf, who had escaped the fight unharmed, sat with the king, one kinsman beside another. The lord welcomed the brave man courteously, speaking words of high praise. Hæreth’s daughter⁴⁹ poured mead from the cups throughout the great hall, for she dearly loved the people. She carried drinking vessels around to each warrior. Then Hygelac, eager to learn about the Sea-Geats’ journey, began questioning his comrade. ‘How did your journey go, dear Beowulf? You suddenly decided to cross the salt waters and seek a fight at Hart. And you put an end to the widely known misery that Hrothgar, that famous lord, was suffering. I brooded over that worry in deep sorrow, for I had no confidence in your journey, dear friend. For a long time I urged you not to confront the murderous stranger at all. Instead, I urged you to let the South Danes fight Grendel themselves. And now I thank God that I see you safe and sound.’

Beowulf answered, the son of Ecgtheow: ‘O Lord Hygelac, it is well known to many a man, our famous meeting, and the battle we fought, Grendel and I, on the wide plain, when he was working great sorrow to the Danes and misery for ever. All that I avenged, so that no kinsman of Grendel anywhere on earth needed to boast of that uproar by twilight, no not he of that kindred who liveth the longest, encircled by the fen. And first, to greet Hrothgar, I went to the Ring-hall. And straightway the famous kinsman of Healfdene, when he knew my intention, gave me a place with his own son; and the troop was all joyful. Nor ever have I seen greater joy amongst any hall-dwellers under the arch of heaven. Sometimes the famous Queen,⁵⁰ the peace-bringer of the folk, walked over the whole floor and encouraged the young sons. And often she gave to the man a twisted ring ere she went to the high seat. And sometimes for the noble band the daughter of Hrothgar carried the ale-cups to the earls at the end of the high table. And I heard those who sat in that hall calling her Freawaru as she gave the studded treasure to the heroes. And she, young and gold-decked, is betrothed to the glad son of Froda.⁵¹ The friend of the Danes and the guardian of the kingdom has brought this to pass, and taken that counsel, so as to set at rest by that betrothal many a slaughter-feud and ancient strife. And often it happens that a little while after the fall of a people, the deadly spear seldom lieth at rest though the bride be doughty. And this may displease the lord of the Heathobards and all of his thanes of the people, when he with his bride walketh over the floor, that his doughty warriors should attend on a noble scion of the Danes, and the heirloom of the ancients should glisten on him, all hard, and the ring-sword, the treasure of the Heathobards, whilst they might be wielding weapons.⁵²

Beowulf, the son of Ecgtheow, answered: ‘Lord Hygelac, many men know of my famous encounter with Grendel. We fought on the wide plain, while he was bringing great sorrow and lasting misery to the Danes. I avenged all that suffering. So no relative of Grendel anywhere on earth had reason to boast of that twilight clash. Not even the longest-lived of his kind, surrounded by the marshes, could boast. First, I went to the Ring-hall to greet Hrothgar. As soon as Healfdene’s famous kinsman learned my purpose, he gave me a place beside his own son. All the warriors were joyful. I have never seen greater joy among the people of any hall beneath heaven. Sometimes the famous Queen,⁵⁰ who brought peace to the people, walked across the whole hall and encouraged the young men. Often she gave a man a twisted ring before going to the high seat. Sometimes Hrothgar’s daughter carried cups of ale to the noble warriors at the end of the high table. I heard the people in the hall call her Freawaru as she gave the heroes treasure set with studs. Young and adorned with gold, she is betrothed to the joyful son of Froda.⁵¹ The Danes’ friend and the kingdom’s guardian arranged the match. He chose this course to end many a bloody feud and ancient quarrel through the marriage. Yet after a people’s downfall, the deadly spear seldom rests for long, though the bride may be valiant. The lord of the Heathobards and all his thanes may resent what they see when he enters with his bride. His brave warriors will be expected to attend a noble descendant of the Danes. An ancient heirloom will gleam on that Dane, hard steel and a ring-sword, a treasure of the Heathobards. Meanwhile, the Heathobards themselves might be wielding weapons.⁵²