The MS. of the Battle of Maldon, recounting the defeat of the English by the Danes in 991, was destroyed by fire in 1731, but fortunately it had been copied and published not long before by the antiquary, Hearne. A few lines are missing at the beginning and end. The English conquest of Britain left no poetic record that consolation was left to the defeated Celts, one of whose leaders in a lost cause became the great Arthur of medieval romance. It is not until the English power is itself waning that what in its way is a great poem emerges. The shout of the valiant old Byrhtwold, Resolve must be sterner, hearts the stronger, Courage must mount as our might lessens, has found an echo in the present day. The cowardly sons of Odda serve as a foil for the heroism of the East Saxon alderman Byrhtnoth and his devoted followers. Here, as in the Battle of Brunanburh, may be noted occasional examples of rather grim understatement, which is characteristic of Old English poetry. Old English literature is throughout learned in its origin rather than popular. There are to be sure charms, riddles, and wise saws which may in some form have been on tongues of plain people. Old English prose is strongly under the influence of Continental, that is, Latin culture, and becomes with Aelfric an instrument of range and power. Old English verse displays a highly elaborated technique. Based on the principle of alliteration (the initial sound of a rhetorically important word or words in the first half line being repeated in a similar word in the second half of the line), the thought does not proceed straight ahead as in prose. Instead, one aspect of the thought is partly disclosed, then another, then something more about the first, and so on. The whole thought oscillates and balances by means of synonyms and appositional clauses and is sometimes held in suspense through many lines. It offers a view of life which earnestly strives to harmonize with newly accepted Christianity such part of the pagan inheritance as it could not easily get rid of. In its tendency to take a serious view of things, to moralize the song, and eagerly to set about assimilating, as it best could, the best that the world elsewhere had to offer, English literature is of a piece throughout its history. Hun the Hætweras, Holen the Wrosnas. Hewed down at Heorot the Heathobard line. So I fared through many a foreign realm Likewise with Elfwine in Italy was I: And I was with Eormanric all that while I made then Eadgils owner of this, me, THE FIGHT BETWEEN BEOWULF AND GRENDEL AT HEOROT IN the dark night came striding the walker in shadow. Those set to watch, that should guard the gabled hall, slept, all save one. It was known to men the fell spoiler might not, if the Lord willed not, swing them under the shadow. But that single one, watching in flush of wrath with swelling anger, bided the award of battle. Then from the moor, from under the misty fells, came Grendel striding; God's wrath he bare. The fell spoiler planned to trap one of the race of men in the high hall. First of the Myrgings, my father's home. Eadwine. My laud of her moved through many lands Whenever in song I was urged to say Where under heaven I'd heard of the best see without trouble the wine-hall, the treasure-house of men, brave with gold. It was not the first time he had sought the home of Hrothgar; never, though, before or since in the days of his life found he hall-thanes more doughty. Came then making his way to the hall the warring one severed from joy. The door, fastened with bands forged in the fire, soon gave way when he laid hold of it with his hands; bent on evil, puffed up with wrath as he was, he brake open the mouth of the hall. Quickly then the fiend trod in on the shining floor, strode on, fierce of mood. An unlovely light, likest to flame, stood in his eyes. He saw in the hall many warriors sleeping, a fellowship of one blood assembled together, the throng of kinsfolk. Then his heart laughed within He thought, the grisly monster, ere day came, to sunder life from body of each of them, for hope of a fill of feasting had come to him. But no longer was it fate's decree that he might, after that night, feed on more of the race of men. The kinsman of Hygelac, strong in might, watched how the fell spoiler was of mind to set about his sudden onslaughts. The monster thought not to be long about it, but for a first start seized quickly on a sleeping thane, tore him taken unawares, bit into his bone-frame, drank the blood from the veins, and swallowed him down piece by piece. Soon he had bolted all the lifeless body, hand and foot. He stepped forward nearer, took next in his hands the hero, bold of heart, on his bed. The fiend reached for him with his claw, but he grasped it with set purpose, and threw his weight on Grendel's arm. Soon found that herder of evils that never in any other man, in any corner of the earth, had he met with mightier hand-grip. He was affrighted mind and heart, yet might he make off none the sooner. His one thought was to get him gone; he was minded to flee into the darkness, to seek the drove of devils. There was then for him no such doings as he before that, in earlier days, had fallen in with. Remembered then the good kinsman of Hygelac his evening's vaunt; he stood upright and laid fast hold upon him. The fingers of the giant one snapped. He was getting free and the hero stepped forward. The mighty one meant, if so he might, to get at large, and flee away to his fen-lairs. He knew his fingers' strength was in the foeman's close grip. That was an ill journey the doer of mischief had taken to Heorot. The lordly hall was clamorous with the din. Panic fell on all the Danes that dwelt in the city, on every bold warrior and earl. Maddened were the raging strugglers; the building reëchoed. It was great wonder, then, that the winehall held firm against them in their battlerage, that it did not fall, the fair dwelling of man's making, to the earth, save that shrewd care had bound it so fast with iron bands within and without. Then, as I have heard tell, when they strove in their fury, mead-benches many, decked with gold, fell over from the raised floor. The wise ones among the Scyldings had never thought that any man of men by his might should ever shatter that fabric, passing good and made brave with bones of beasts, or spoil it through cunning, save the fire's embrace might swallow it up in smoke. An uproar strange enough rose on high. Quaking terror lay upon the North-Danes, upon those who heard the outcry, hearkened God's foe yelling out his stave of terror, his song of defeat, the thrall of hell bewailing his hurt. Much too tightly that one held him, who had of men the strongest might in this life's day. The protector of earls would not in any wise let him that came with murder in his heart go from him alive; he counted not his life's day of price to any. Earls of his a plenty made play with their tried swords, handed down from their fathers, to save their lord's life, if in any wise they might; they knew not, those bold-hearted warsmen, when they went into the fight and thought to hew Grendel on every side. and find out his soul, that not any pick of blades on earth, none of battle-bills, could touch that fell spoiler, for he had laid his spell on weapons of victory, on every keen edge. Woeful was his last end to be in this life's day, and his outlawed ghost must fare far into the fiend's grip. Then found he, that before in mirth of mood had wrought mankind many evils The (he was under God's ban), that his body would avail him not, seeing that the brave kinsman of Hygelac had him by the hand; hateful to each was the other alive. grisly monster suffered hurt of body. In his shoulder a fearful wound began to show; the sinews sprang apart, the boneframe cracked asunder. Fame of the battle was given to Beowulf. Grendel must flee away beneath the fen-fells, sick unto death, go seek out his dwelling, reft of his comfort. He knew then the more surely that his life's end was come, his measure of days. The will of all the Danes was fulfilled by that deadly strife. He then, who had come from afar, the wise one and bold of heart, had cleansed Heorot, and saved it from peril. The prince of the Geatmen had made whole his boast to the East-Danes in that he had taken away all their trouble, the burden of spiteful hate they till then had suffered, and in stress of need must suffer, a sorrow by no means small. A manifest token of this it was, when the valorous one laid down the hand, the arm and shoulder the whole claw of Grendel was there together beneath the broad roof. THE FEASTING IN HEOROT THEN forthwith was Heorot bidden to be decked inwardly by the hand; many of them there were, of men and of women, that made ready the wine-hall, the guesthouse. Gleaming with gold shone the hangings on the wall, wondrous things many to see for any one that looketh at such things. The bright house was much broken, all fastened though it was within with iron bands. The hinges were wrenched away; the roof alone was left all whole, when the monster, guilty of deeds of outrage, hopeless of life, had turned to flee. Not easy is it to flee away, let him do it that will, for each that hath a soul of the children of men dwelling on earth must needs strive toward the place made ready for him, forced on him by fate, where his body shall sleep, fast in its bed of rest, after life's feasting. Then was it the time and hour that the son of Healfdene should go to the hall; the king himself desired to eat of the feast. Never heard I of a people with a greater host bear themselves more becomingly about their treasure-giver. In the pride of their renown they bowed them to the benches, rejoiced in the plenty. In fair wise their kinsmen, the valorous-hearted Hrothgar and Hrothulf, drank in the high hall many a mead-cup. Heorot was filled within with friends; in no wise at this time had the Folk-Scyldings wrought wickedness. Then, in reward for his victory, the son of Healfdene gave to Beowulf a golden standard, a broidered war-banner, a helmet and burnie; a mighty treasure-sword full many saw borne before the warrior. He needed not feel shame before the bowsmen for the gifts given him for his keeping; never heard I of many men that gave to others on the mead-bench four treasures in friendlier wise. About the helmet's crown, a raised ridge without, wound with small rods, maintained a guard for the head, that the file-furnished blades, hard of temper, might not harm it in their boldness, when the warrior with shield must go forth against his foes. Then the safeguard of earls bade eight steeds, their bridles heavy with gold, be led indoors on the floor of the hall; on one of them rested a saddle, fashioned with cunning art and well-dight with treasure, that had been the battle-seat of the high king when the son of Healfdene had will to wage the sword-play; never at the front failed the far-famed one's battle-might, when the slain were falling. And then the prince of the Ingwines gave Beowulf the right over both of these, the steeds and the weapons, bade him have good joy of them. In such wise, manfully, the mighty prince, treasure-warden of heroes, paid for shocks of battle with steeds and treasure, such as none might ever belie that hath will to speak the truth according to the right. Further, then, the lord of earls gave treasure on the mead-bench, swords handed down from old, to each of the earls that had drawn over the sea-way with Beowulf, and bade that payment be made with gold for the one that Grendel first wickedly slew, as he would have slain more of them had not the wise God and the hero's daring forestalled that fate for them. The Lord ruled all the children of men, as He now still doth; therefore is wise understanding and forethought of mind. best everywhere. He who for long in these days of strife maketh use of the world must undergo much of good and evil. Song and sound of playing were joined together there before the battle-leader of the Half-Danes. The play-wood was touched, the lay oft rehearsed, what time Hrothgar's gleeman must duly call forth the hall-joy along the mead-bench. THE UNCANNY MERE They "I HAVE heard the dwellers in the land, my people, they that hold sway in their halls, say they have seen such twain as these, mighty prowlers along the borders. of the homes of men, making the moors their own. One of these was, so far as they might most carefully judge, in form like a woman : the other misbegotten one trod in man's shape the path of exile, save that he was greater in size than any man. Him in days of old the earthdwellers named Grendel: they knew not his father, or whether any lurking demons were ever born to him. take as theirs a country hidden away, the wolf-fells and windy nesses, perilous fen-ways, where the flood of the mountainstream goeth downward under the earth beneath the mists of the forelands. It is not far hence, measured in miles, where the mere standeth. Rime-covered thickets hang over it; a wood fast-rooted shadoweth the waters. There may a fearful marvel be seen each night, a fire in the flood. None liveth ever so wise of the children of men that knoweth the bottom. Though the rover of the heath, the stag, strong with his antlers, may seek, hunted from afar, that thick wood, he will yield up his spirit first, his life on its brink, ere he will hide away his head within it. The place is not goodly. Thence riseth a coil of waters dark to the clouds, when the wind stirreth up foul weather till the air groweth thick and the heavens make outcry. "Now, again, is help in thee alone. That country thou know'st not yet, the fearsome place, where thou mayest find the much-sinning one. Seek it if thou darest. I shall requite thee for the strife with gifts for the keeping, with old-time treasures and twisted gold, as I did before, shouldst thou come thence away." Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: "Sorrow not, man of wise mind! It is better one should avenge his friend than mourn for him long. Each of us must abide life's end in this world. Let him that may, win fame ere death; that shall be best thereafter for a warrior, when life is no more. "Arise, warden of the realm, let us go quickly to look upon the track of Grendel's fellow. I promise thee he shall not flee to shelter, not in earth's bosom, or mountain forest, or ocean's bed, go where he will. For this day have patience in thine every woe, as I ween thou wilt." THE BURIED TREASURE THERE were many such olden treasures in the earth-house, just as some man, taking heedful care of the mighty heritage of his high kindred, had hid them there, his dear treasures, in days gone by. Death had taken his kinsfolk all away at an earlier time, and the one that of the warrior-host of that people still then longest held on his way, went sorrowing for his friends, yet trusted for such length of years that he might enjoy for a little while that wealth long-treasured. A barrow stood fully ready nigh the sea-waves on the moor, newly made on the foreland, closed fast by sure devices. The guardian of the rings bare within it there the lordly treasure, the heap hard to carry of plategold, and spake in few words: "Hold thou now, O earth, now that warriors may not, this wealth of earls. Behold, in thee at the first did good men find it. Death |