Ringler, Dick / Beowulf: A New Translation for Oral Delivery (May 2005)
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VI
Listen to this section 2e1a Hrothgar replied,
1a*1a(i) ruler of Denmark:
3b1c "I recollect him well,
2b2d though he was a lad when I once
+2a1a(i) befriended Ecgtheow
+1a*1b his father, to whom Hrethel,
3b1a the Geatish king,
+1a*1a(i) had given his daughter.
+1d1 Their son Beowulf
750 3b1a has sought us now,
1a*1b looking for a loyal
3b2b and reliable friend.
3e*1 Voyagers of ours,
3e*1 visiting the Geats,
3e1 taking them gifts
3b*1a and tokens of love,
+2a1a(i) have told us often,
3b1c after returning home,
3b1b that the hero's hard
760 1a*1a(i) hand-grip has in it
3e1 thirty men's strength.
+2a1a(i) I think it likely
+1a1a(i) that God almighty
+2a1a(iii) has graciously sent him
1a1a(i) here to Denmark
+1a*1b to help us in our struggle
3b*1b against Grendel's attacks.
2b1b I will give this youth
1a1b(i) wealth in abundance
770 ++1a1a(i) to reward his daring.
+3e*1 Return to them at once
+1a*1a(i) and tell them to enter
2b2a and look on my court
+2a1a(i) of loyal kinsmen.
2c1b Let your words warrant
3b*1a how welcome they are
1a1a(i) here in Heorot!"
3b*1a The herald returned
2c1a and said loudly
780 ++1a1a(i) from inside the doorway:
+3e1 "My sapient lord
3b1a has sent me back
2b2b to announce that he knows
+2a1a(ii) your noble lineage
2b1b and to give such great
+2a1a(iii) and glorious heroes
+2a1a(i) a loving welcome
2b2b in the land of the Danes.
2c1b You may now enter
790 2c1b his renowned presence
1a*1a(i) wearing your mailcoats
d1a and war-helmets;
+1a1a(i) but leave your lances
+3e1 and lindenwood shields
+2e1b outside here to await
2b2b the success of your words."
3e*1 Beowulf stood up,
3b*1a about him a throng
+1a1a(i) of tried retainers.
800 +1d1 He told some of them
+2a1a(i) to wait there, guarding
d1a their weaponry;
2c1a the rest hurried
2b2c under the roof of the hall,
1a*1a(i) guided by Wulfgar.
+2a1a(iii) Their great-hearted leader
1a1b(i) strode to the high-seat,
1d1 stood facing it
+1a1a(ii) and spoke, conspicuous
810 3b1b in his splendid mail,
+1d*1(ii) the wonderful workmanship
3b*1a of Wayland the smith:
1a1a(i) "Hail, great Hrothgar!
3b2b I am Hygelac's thane
3b*1a and kinsman. Though young,
2c1c I have acquired honor
3b1a through gallant deeds.
2a1a(ii) Grendel's outrages
+1d1 are known everywhere
820 3b1b in my native land:
2a1a(ii) many visiting
1a*1a(i) merchants have told us
d1a that nowadays
3b2b this magnificent hall
+1a*1a(i) stands idle and useless,
2e1a empty of men,
2b2a as soon as the sun
2b2a has set in the west.
2c1b I was urged, therefore,
830 2c1b by my own people,
d1b by the worthiest
+1a*1a(i) and wisest among them,
2b2a to come to the court
2c1a of King Hrothgar.
+1a1a(i) They knew my nearly
3b2b preternatural strength;
2b2b they had watched when I strode,
1a1a(ii) washed in battle-blood,
++1a1b(i) from a fight where I fettered
840 1d1 five enemies,
1a*1a(i) butchered some giants
++1a1a(i) who were bent on mischief,
2c1a and slew monsters
2b1b in the sea at night;
3b*1a I slaughtered those foes
3b*1e because they had assaulted the Geats;
+1a*1a(i) I ground them to gruel.
3b1c Now it is Grendel's turn
+1a1a(i) to feel the fury
850 3f1b of my fierce grip,
3b1a my lethal wrath.
2b2- Lord of the Danes!
1a1b(i) Prince of the Scyldings!
3b1b I implore you now,
2b1c when I have come so far
3b*1b from my country to ask
+1a1a(i) your dear indulgence:
1a*1a(i) do not refuse me
2b1- one request,
860 +2a1a(i) O worthy Hrothgar,
a1b but allow me,
+1a1a(i) alone with only
3b1a my comrades here,
2c1a to cleanse Heorot.
1a1a(i) Men have told me
3b2b that our murderous friend
1a1a(i) scoffs at weapons,
1a*1a(i) scornful and reckless,
++1d1 so I swear solemnly
870 2b2c that as I seek to deserve
3b1a the heartfelt love
+3e*1 of Hygelac my lord,
2c1b I will not carry
3b1a my noble sword
3b*1b into battle, but fight
3f1b with my bare hands,
1a*2a(ii) fiercely and fearlessly,
2e1a fully prepared
2b2a to win or to lose;
880 d1a for one of us
+1a1a(i) must die, submitting
2b1b to the doom of God.
+2a1a(i) The terror master
2b2a will try, if he can,
2b2a to dine on us Geats
2c1b in the dark meadhall
d1a as easily
3b*1c as he has always enjoyed
++1a1a(i) having Danes for dinner.
890 +1a1a(i) If death should take me,
2a1a(i) noble Hrothgar,
+2a1a(i) you need not give me
+1d1 a big funeral
3b*1a or bury my corpse,
+1a1a(i) for he will have it:
++1a1a(i) he will haul my bloody
2e1a carcass away
2b2- crushed in his jaws.
2c1b You will not even
900 1a1b(i) need to provide me
2b2a with meals or a bed
+2a1a(i) a moment longer.
a1c If he should slay me,
1d1 send Hygelac
2c1a the grey mailcoat
2b1a that guards my breast,
+1a1a(i) the work of Wayland;
++1a1a(i) it was once King Hrethel's.
+1a1a(i) Well, fate is certain
910 2b2b to unfold as it must."
1a*1a(i) ruler of Denmark:
3b1c "I recollect him well,
2b2d though he was a lad when I once
+2a1a(i) befriended Ecgtheow
+1a*1b his father, to whom Hrethel,
3b1a the Geatish king,
+1a*1a(i) had given his daughter.
+1d1 Their son Beowulf
750 3b1a has sought us now,
1a*1b looking for a loyal
3b2b and reliable friend.
3e*1 Voyagers of ours,
3e*1 visiting the Geats,
3e1 taking them gifts
3b*1a and tokens of love,
+2a1a(i) have told us often,
3b1c after returning home,
3b1b that the hero's hard
760 1a*1a(i) hand-grip has in it
3e1 thirty men's strength.
+2a1a(i) I think it likely
+1a1a(i) that God almighty
+2a1a(iii) has graciously sent him
1a1a(i) here to Denmark
+1a*1b to help us in our struggle
3b*1b against Grendel's attacks.
2b1b I will give this youth
1a1b(i) wealth in abundance
770 ++1a1a(i) to reward his daring.
+3e*1 Return to them at once
+1a*1a(i) and tell them to enter
2b2a and look on my court
+2a1a(i) of loyal kinsmen.
2c1b Let your words warrant
3b*1a how welcome they are
1a1a(i) here in Heorot!"
3b*1a The herald returned
2c1a and said loudly
780 ++1a1a(i) from inside the doorway:
+3e1 "My sapient lord
3b1a has sent me back
2b2b to announce that he knows
+2a1a(ii) your noble lineage
2b1b and to give such great
+2a1a(iii) and glorious heroes
+2a1a(i) a loving welcome
2b2b in the land of the Danes.
2c1b You may now enter
790 2c1b his renowned presence
1a*1a(i) wearing your mailcoats
d1a and war-helmets;
+1a1a(i) but leave your lances
+3e1 and lindenwood shields
+2e1b outside here to await
2b2b the success of your words."
3e*1 Beowulf stood up,
3b*1a about him a throng
+1a1a(i) of tried retainers.
800 +1d1 He told some of them
+2a1a(i) to wait there, guarding
d1a their weaponry;
2c1a the rest hurried
2b2c under the roof of the hall,
1a*1a(i) guided by Wulfgar.
+2a1a(iii) Their great-hearted leader
1a1b(i) strode to the high-seat,
1d1 stood facing it
+1a1a(ii) and spoke, conspicuous
810 3b1b in his splendid mail,
+1d*1(ii) the wonderful workmanship
3b*1a of Wayland the smith:
1a1a(i) "Hail, great Hrothgar!
3b2b I am Hygelac's thane
3b*1a and kinsman. Though young,
2c1c I have acquired honor
3b1a through gallant deeds.
2a1a(ii) Grendel's outrages
+1d1 are known everywhere
820 3b1b in my native land:
2a1a(ii) many visiting
1a*1a(i) merchants have told us
d1a that nowadays
3b2b this magnificent hall
+1a*1a(i) stands idle and useless,
2e1a empty of men,
2b2a as soon as the sun
2b2a has set in the west.
2c1b I was urged, therefore,
830 2c1b by my own people,
d1b by the worthiest
+1a*1a(i) and wisest among them,
2b2a to come to the court
2c1a of King Hrothgar.
+1a1a(i) They knew my nearly
3b2b preternatural strength;
2b2b they had watched when I strode,
1a1a(ii) washed in battle-blood,
++1a1b(i) from a fight where I fettered
840 1d1 five enemies,
1a*1a(i) butchered some giants
++1a1a(i) who were bent on mischief,
2c1a and slew monsters
2b1b in the sea at night;
3b*1a I slaughtered those foes
3b*1e because they had assaulted the Geats;
+1a*1a(i) I ground them to gruel.
3b1c Now it is Grendel's turn
+1a1a(i) to feel the fury
850 3f1b of my fierce grip,
3b1a my lethal wrath.
2b2- Lord of the Danes!
1a1b(i) Prince of the Scyldings!
3b1b I implore you now,
2b1c when I have come so far
3b*1b from my country to ask
+1a1a(i) your dear indulgence:
1a*1a(i) do not refuse me
2b1- one request,
860 +2a1a(i) O worthy Hrothgar,
a1b but allow me,
+1a1a(i) alone with only
3b1a my comrades here,
2c1a to cleanse Heorot.
1a1a(i) Men have told me
3b2b that our murderous friend
1a1a(i) scoffs at weapons,
1a*1a(i) scornful and reckless,
++1d1 so I swear solemnly
870 2b2c that as I seek to deserve
3b1a the heartfelt love
+3e*1 of Hygelac my lord,
2c1b I will not carry
3b1a my noble sword
3b*1b into battle, but fight
3f1b with my bare hands,
1a*2a(ii) fiercely and fearlessly,
2e1a fully prepared
2b2a to win or to lose;
880 d1a for one of us
+1a1a(i) must die, submitting
2b1b to the doom of God.
+2a1a(i) The terror master
2b2a will try, if he can,
2b2a to dine on us Geats
2c1b in the dark meadhall
d1a as easily
3b*1c as he has always enjoyed
++1a1a(i) having Danes for dinner.
890 +1a1a(i) If death should take me,
2a1a(i) noble Hrothgar,
+2a1a(i) you need not give me
+1d1 a big funeral
3b*1a or bury my corpse,
+1a1a(i) for he will have it:
++1a1a(i) he will haul my bloody
2e1a carcass away
2b2- crushed in his jaws.
2c1b You will not even
900 1a1b(i) need to provide me
2b2a with meals or a bed
+2a1a(i) a moment longer.
a1c If he should slay me,
1d1 send Hygelac
2c1a the grey mailcoat
2b1a that guards my breast,
+1a1a(i) the work of Wayland;
++1a1a(i) it was once King Hrethel's.
+1a1a(i) Well, fate is certain
910 2b2b to unfold as it must."
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