Ringler, Dick / Beowulf: A New Translation for Oral Delivery (May 2005)
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XV
Listen to this section 2e1a Hundreds of hands
3b1a were helping now,
1a1a(i) men's and women's,
+1a*1a(i) making the beer-hall
2e1a ready to host
+2a1a(i) a royal banquet.
1d1 Gold tapestries
2b2- gleamed on the walls,
1a1a(i) webs of beauty,
1990 2e1a wonders for men
2c1a who like looking
3b1b on such lovely things.
+1a*1b The building had been badly
2e1a battered within,
+1a1a(i) though braced with iron
1a1b(i) bands, and the hinges
1a1b(i) wrenched from the door-posts;
2b1a the roof alone
2e1a stood there intact
2000 2b1a when, stained with sin,
3b1b the defeated fiend
2c1- fled, hoping
2b1b to avoid his doom.
3b1b But evading death
3b1b is no easy task
+2a1a(iii) (let anyone try it!)
+2a1a(i) since every creature
2b1a the earth brings forth
+1a1a(i) with soul and senses
2010 3b2b necessarily comes
++1a1a(i) to the place appointed
d1b and prepared for it,
2c1b where it sleeps soundly
3b1b in its silent bed
2b1b and the feast of life
3b*1a is finished at last.
2b2a The hour was at hand
2c1a for old Hrothgar,
3e1 Healfdene's son,
2020 +1a1a(i) to host the banquet.
3b1b I have never known
3b1a the noble Danes
1a*1a(i) clamor so loudly
2c1b in their king's presence;
3e1 jubilant thanes
2b2a enjoyed their carouse,
2b2a while right in their midst
+2a1a(i) the royal kinsmen
1a*1a(i) Hrothgar and Hrothulf
2030 1a*1a(i) reveled together,
2a1a(i) draining many
2c1- deep bowlfuls
+1d1 in blithe fellowship.
+1a*1a(i) The benches of Heorot
2b1a were filled with friends;
3b1a the faithful Danes
3f1b had not learned, yet,
+1d1 to love treachery.
1a1a(i) Soon the famous
2040 1a1a(ii) sword of Healfdene
+1a1a(ii) was brought to Beowulf,
3b*1b and a banner of gold
+1a1a(i) to mark his triumph,
+1a*1a(i) a mailcoat and helmet;
2b1- men looked on
3b2b as that marvelous blade
+2e1b was given to the prince,
+1a*1a(i) who gladly accepted
+2a1a(i) a brimming mead-cup
2050 3b*1b without blushing for shame
++1a1a(i) at rewards unworthy
+3e1 of warriors' praise.
3b*1a I cannot recall
2c1a a king giving
1a1a(i) four such treasures
3e*1 filigreed with gold
3b1a to other men
d1b at the ale-drinking!
1a1b(i) Up on the helmet
2060 3b1b was an iron ridge
2b1b that would bear the brunt
2b2a of blows to the head,
2c1b so that hard showers
+2a1a(i) of hostile missiles
++1a1a(i) could not harm the hero
3b*1a when, holding his shield,
2c1a he strode forward
3b1a to strike down foes.
+1a*1a(i) On orders from Hrothgar
2070 1d1 eight war-horses
3b*1a with bridles of gold
2b1a were brought inside
2c1a the wide wine-hall;
3e1 one of them bore
+2a1a(i) a saddle, jeweled
d1a and sumptuous,
2c1a the rich war-seat
3b*1a of Hrothgar himself,
3e1 Healfdene's son,
2080 3b*1b when he headed his troops
3b*1b and prepared them for war;
+1a*1a(i) his prowess in battle
a1c had been unfailing
2b2b when he fought in the van.
2b2a The lord of the Danes
3e*1 lovingly bestowed
1a1a(i) both these treasures,
3e*1 battle-gear and steeds,
+3e*1 on Beowulf the Geat,
2090 1a*1a(i) bade him enjoy them.
1a1a(i) Thus did Hrothgar,
1a1a(i) there in Heorot,
+1a1a(ii) reward the warrior
+1a1a(i) with wealth and horses,
2c1a ornate treasures,
+2a1a(i) and no one wishing
3b1a to utter truth
+1a*1a(i) will ever reproach him.
3b1a were helping now,
1a1a(i) men's and women's,
+1a*1a(i) making the beer-hall
2e1a ready to host
+2a1a(i) a royal banquet.
1d1 Gold tapestries
2b2- gleamed on the walls,
1a1a(i) webs of beauty,
1990 2e1a wonders for men
2c1a who like looking
3b1b on such lovely things.
+1a*1b The building had been badly
2e1a battered within,
+1a1a(i) though braced with iron
1a1b(i) bands, and the hinges
1a1b(i) wrenched from the door-posts;
2b1a the roof alone
2e1a stood there intact
2000 2b1a when, stained with sin,
3b1b the defeated fiend
2c1- fled, hoping
2b1b to avoid his doom.
3b1b But evading death
3b1b is no easy task
+2a1a(iii) (let anyone try it!)
+2a1a(i) since every creature
2b1a the earth brings forth
+1a1a(i) with soul and senses
2010 3b2b necessarily comes
++1a1a(i) to the place appointed
d1b and prepared for it,
2c1b where it sleeps soundly
3b1b in its silent bed
2b1b and the feast of life
3b*1a is finished at last.
2b2a The hour was at hand
2c1a for old Hrothgar,
3e1 Healfdene's son,
2020 +1a1a(i) to host the banquet.
3b1b I have never known
3b1a the noble Danes
1a*1a(i) clamor so loudly
2c1b in their king's presence;
3e1 jubilant thanes
2b2a enjoyed their carouse,
2b2a while right in their midst
+2a1a(i) the royal kinsmen
1a*1a(i) Hrothgar and Hrothulf
2030 1a*1a(i) reveled together,
2a1a(i) draining many
2c1- deep bowlfuls
+1d1 in blithe fellowship.
+1a*1a(i) The benches of Heorot
2b1a were filled with friends;
3b1a the faithful Danes
3f1b had not learned, yet,
+1d1 to love treachery.
1a1a(i) Soon the famous
2040 1a1a(ii) sword of Healfdene
+1a1a(ii) was brought to Beowulf,
3b*1b and a banner of gold
+1a1a(i) to mark his triumph,
+1a*1a(i) a mailcoat and helmet;
2b1- men looked on
3b2b as that marvelous blade
+2e1b was given to the prince,
+1a*1a(i) who gladly accepted
+2a1a(i) a brimming mead-cup
2050 3b*1b without blushing for shame
++1a1a(i) at rewards unworthy
+3e1 of warriors' praise.
3b*1a I cannot recall
2c1a a king giving
1a1a(i) four such treasures
3e*1 filigreed with gold
3b1a to other men
d1b at the ale-drinking!
1a1b(i) Up on the helmet
2060 3b1b was an iron ridge
2b1b that would bear the brunt
2b2a of blows to the head,
2c1b so that hard showers
+2a1a(i) of hostile missiles
++1a1a(i) could not harm the hero
3b*1a when, holding his shield,
2c1a he strode forward
3b1a to strike down foes.
+1a*1a(i) On orders from Hrothgar
2070 1d1 eight war-horses
3b*1a with bridles of gold
2b1a were brought inside
2c1a the wide wine-hall;
3e1 one of them bore
+2a1a(i) a saddle, jeweled
d1a and sumptuous,
2c1a the rich war-seat
3b*1a of Hrothgar himself,
3e1 Healfdene's son,
2080 3b*1b when he headed his troops
3b*1b and prepared them for war;
+1a*1a(i) his prowess in battle
a1c had been unfailing
2b2b when he fought in the van.
2b2a The lord of the Danes
3e*1 lovingly bestowed
1a1a(i) both these treasures,
3e*1 battle-gear and steeds,
+3e*1 on Beowulf the Geat,
2090 1a*1a(i) bade him enjoy them.
1a1a(i) Thus did Hrothgar,
1a1a(i) there in Heorot,
+1a1a(ii) reward the warrior
+1a1a(i) with wealth and horses,
2c1a ornate treasures,
+2a1a(i) and no one wishing
3b1a to utter truth
+1a*1a(i) will ever reproach him.
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