Imatges de pàgina
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OLD ENGLISH POEMS

DONE INTO MODERN ENGLISH PROSE

FROM
BEOWULF

THE CLEANSING OF HEOROT

So then Healfdene's son seethed always over his time of care, nor might the wise warrior turn away his woe: the strife was too strong, loathsome and long-lasting, that came upon the people -dire wrack spitefully grim, greatest bale by night. This, Grendel's deeds, the thane of Hygelac found out from home, a good man among the Geats; he was in might the strongest of mankind in the day of this life, high-born and powerful. He bade gear him a good wave-crosser; he said he would seek this warking over the swan-road, this great prince, since he had need of men. Wise men blamed him little for the journey, though he was dear to them: they whetted his strong courage and saw lucky signs.

The good man had chosen champions of the Geat people, the keenest he could find; with fourteen others he sought the seawood. A man, sea-crafty, pointed out landmarks. Time went forward: the float was on the waves, the boat beneath the hill. Ready heroes mounted on the stem; streams whirled the sea against the sand; warriors bore to the lap of the bark bright trappings, war-armor gayly garnished; men on a willing journey shoved out the wooden ship. Then over the wavy sea, sped by the wind, went the float, foamy-necked, most like to a bird, until the bark with twisted stem had waded up to about the same hour of the next day, when the sailors saw land, sea-cliffs gleaming, steep hills, wide headlands; then the sound at the end of the sea was crossed. Then quickly the Weder-folk went up on the plain and fastened the sea-wood; shirts of mail, war-weeds, rattled; they thanked God because the wave-paths were made easy for them.

Then from the wall the guard of the Scyldings, he who must hold the sea-cliffs, saw them bearing over the gangway bright

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