Chapter 31

So in good customs lived the King of the people. Nor had I lost the rewards, the meed of strength, for the son of Healfdene bestowed upon me treasures according to my choice, which I will bring to thee, O my warrior-King, and graciously will I proffer them. Again all favour depends on thee, for few chief kinsmen have I save thee, O Hygelac.’ He commanded them to bring in the boar, the head-sign, the battle-steep helmet, the hoary byrny, the splendid war-sword, and then he chanted this song: ‘It was Hrothgar, that proud prince, who bestowed upon me all this battle-gear. And a certain word he uttered to me, that I should first give thee his kindly greeting.⁵⁶ He said that Hrothgar the King of the Danes possessed it a long while. Nor formerly would he be giving the breast-weeds to his son the brave Heoroward, though dear he was to him. Do thou enjoy all well.’

So the King of the people lived according to good customs. Nor did I go without rewards for my strength. The son of Healfdene gave me treasures of my choice. I will bring them to you, my warrior-King, and gladly offer them. Once again, all favour depends on you, for I have few close relatives besides you, Hygelac.’ He ordered them to bring in the boar emblem for the head, the towering battle helmet, the grey coat of mail, and the splendid war-sword. Then he sang this song: ‘Hrothgar, that proud prince, gave me all this battle gear. And he told me first to give you his warm greeting.⁵⁶ He said that Hrothgar, King of the Danes, had owned it for a long time. Nor would he previously give the armour to his brave son Heoroward, though his son was dear to him. Enjoy all these gifts well.’

Then I heard that four horses, of reddish yellow hue, followed the armour. And thus he did him honour with horses and gifts. So should a kinsman do. By no means should they weave cunning nets for each other, or with secret craft devise death to a comrade. His nephew was very gracious to Hygelac, the brave in strife, and each was striving to bestow favours on the other. And I heard that he gave to Hygd the neck-ring so curiously and wondrously wrought, which Wealtheow a daughter of royal birth had given him, and three horses also slender and saddle-bright. And her breast was adorned with the ring she had received.

Then I heard that four reddish-yellow horses followed the armour. In this way, he honoured him with horses and gifts. This is how relatives should treat one another. They should never set cunning traps for each other or secretly plot a companion’s death. Hygelac’s nephew was very generous to him, and Hygelac was brave in battle. Each tried to show the other kindness. And I heard that he gave Hygd the neck-ring that Wealtheow, a king’s daughter, had given him. The ring was intricately and wonderfully made. He also gave Hygd three slender horses with gleaming saddles. And the ring she had received adorned her breast.

And Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, so famous in warfare and in good deeds, bore himself boldly and fulfilled his fate, nor did he slay the drunken hearth-comrades. He was not sad-minded, but he, the battle-dear one, by the greatest of craft known to man held fast the lasting and generous gift which God gave him. For long had he been despised, so that the warriors of the Geats looked not upon him as a good man, nor did the lord of troops esteem him as of much worth on the mead-bench. Besides, they thought him slack and by no means a warlike Atheling. Then came a change from all his distresses to this glorious man. Then the Prince of Earls, the battle-brave King, commanded that the heirloom of Hrethel all decked out in gold should be brought in. For of swords there was no more glorious treasure among the Geats. And he laid it on the bosom of Beowulf, and gave him seven thousand men and a building and a throne. And both of them held the land, the earth, the rights in the land as an hereditary possession; but the other who was the better man had more especially a wide kingdom.

Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, was famous for his warfare and good deeds. He acted boldly and fulfilled his fate, and he did not kill his drunken companions in the hall. He was not bitter in spirit. Instead, the warrior used the greatest skill known to man to preserve the lasting, generous gift God had given him. For a long time, Beowulf had been despised. The warriors of the Geats did not consider him a good man. Nor did their king think him worth much on the mead-bench. They also thought him lazy and not at all a warlike Atheling, or noble prince. Then this glorious man's fortunes changed, and his troubles ended. Then the Prince of Earls, the king brave in battle, ordered Hrethel's heirloom, richly decorated with gold, brought in. No sword among the Geats was a more glorious treasure. The king laid the sword on Beowulf's chest. He also gave Beowulf seven thousand men, a building, and a throne. Both men held land and the rights to it as their inheritance. But the other, who was the better man, held a particularly large kingdom.

And in after-days it happened that there were battle-crashings, and Hygelac lay dead,⁵⁷ and swords under shields became a death-bane to Heardred,⁵⁸ when the brave battle-wolves, the Swedes, sought him out among the victorious ones and assailed with strife the nephew of Hereric, and it was then that the broad kingdom came into the possession of Beowulf. And he held sway therein fifty winters (and a wise King was he, that old guardian of his country) until on dark nights a dragon began to make raids, he that watched over the hoard in the lofty cavern, the steep rocky cave. And the path thereto lay under the cliffs unknown to men. And what man it was who went therein I know not, but he took from the heathen hoard a hall-bowl decked with treasure. Nor did he give it back again, though he had beguiled the guardian of the hoard when he was sleeping, by the craft of a thief. And Beowulf found out that the dragon was angry.⁵⁹

In later days, battles broke out, and Hygelac lay dead.⁵⁷ Swords struck beneath shields and brought death to Heardred,⁵⁸ when the Swedes, those brave battle-wolves, sought him among the victors. They attacked Heardred, the nephew of Hereric, and then the vast kingdom passed to Beowulf. He ruled for fifty winters (and the old guardian of his country was a wise king). Then a dragon began raiding on dark nights. The dragon guarded a hoard in a high cavern, a steep, rocky cave. The path to the cave ran beneath the cliffs, unknown to anyone. I do not know who entered the cave, but he took a drinking bowl adorned with treasure from the heathen hoard. Nor did he return the bowl, though he had outwitted the sleeping guardian with a thief’s cunning. And Beowulf learned that the dragon was angry.⁵⁹