beowulf-第6节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



wealth　of　the　world　that　I　wield　as　mine！

Full　oft　for　less　have　I　largess　showered；

my　precious　hoard；　on　a　punier　man；

less　stout　in　struggle。　Thyself　hast　now

fulfilled　such　deeds；　that　thy　fame　shall　endure

through　all　the　ages。　As　ever　he　did；

well　may　the　Wielder　reward　thee　still！〃

Beowulf　spake；　bairn　of　Ecgtheow：　

〃This　work　of　war　most　willingly

we　have　fought；　this　fight；　and　fearlessly　dared

force　of　the　foe。　Fain；　too；　were　I

hadst　thou　but　seen　himself；　what　time

the　fiend　in　his　trappings　tottered　to　fall！

Swiftly；　I　thought；　in　strongest　gripe

on　his　bed　of　death　to　bind　him　down；

that　he　in　the　hent　of　this　hand　of　mine

should　breathe　his　last：　but　he　broke　away。


Him　I　might　not　　the　Maker　willed　not　

hinder　from　flight；　and　firm　enough　hold

the　life…destroyer：　too　sturdy　was　he；

the　ruthless；　in　running！　For　rescue；　however；

he　left　behind　him　his　hand　in　pledge；

arm　and　shoulder；　nor　aught　of　help

could　the　cursed　one　thus　procure　at　all。

None　the　longer　liveth　he；　loathsome　fiend；

sunk　in　his　sins；　but　sorrow　holds　him

tightly　grasped　in　gripe　of　anguish；

in　baleful　bonds；　where　bide　he　must；

evil　outlaw；　such　awful　doom

as　the　Mighty　Maker　shall　mete　him　out。〃



More　silent　seemed　the　son　of　Ecglaf＇1＇

in　boastful　speech　of　his　battle…deeds；

since　athelings　all；　through　the　earl's　great　prowess；

beheld　that　hand；　on　the　high　roof　gazing；

foeman's　fingers；　　the　forepart　of　each

of　the　sturdy　nails　to　steel　was　likest；　

heathen's　〃hand…spear；〃　hostile　warrior's

claw　uncanny。　'Twas　clear；　they　said；

that　him　no　blade　of　the　brave　could　touch；

how　keen　soever；　or　cut　away

that　battle…hand　bloody　from　baneful　foe。



＇1＇　Unferth；　Beowulf's　sometime　opponent　in　the　flyting。







XV



THERE　was　hurry　and　hest　in　Heorot　now

for　hands　to　bedeck　it；　and　dense　was　the　throng

of　men　and　women　the　wine…hall　to　cleanse；

the　guest…room　to　garnish。　Gold…gay　shone　the　hangings

that　were　wove　on　the　wall；　and　wonders　many

to　delight　each　mortal　that　looks　upon　them。

Though　braced　within　by　iron　bands；

that　building　bright　was　broken　sorely；＇1＇

rent　were　its　hinges；　the　roof　alone

held　safe　and　sound；　when；　seared　with　crime；

the　fiendish　foe　his　flight　essayed；

of　life　despairing。　　No　light　thing　that；

the　flight　for　safety；　　essay　it　who　will！

Forced　of　fate；　he　shall　find　his　way

to　the　refuge　ready　for　race　of　man；

for　soul…possessors；　and　sons　of　earth；

and　there　his　body　on　bed　of　death

shall　rest　after　revel。

Arrived　was　the　hour

when　to　hall　proceeded　Healfdene's　son：

the　king　himself　would　sit　to　banquet。

Ne'er　heard　I　of　host　in　haughtier　throng

more　graciously　gathered　round　giver…of…rings！

Bowed　then　to　bench　those　bearers…of…glory；

fain　of　the　feasting。　Featly　received

many　a　mead…cup　the　mighty…in…spirit；

kinsmen　who　sat　in　the　sumptuous　hall；

Hrothgar　and　Hrothulf。　Heorot　now

was　filled　with　friends；　the　folk　of　Scyldings

ne'er　yet　had　tried　the　traitor's　deed。

To　Beowulf　gave　the　bairn　of　Healfdene

a　gold…wove　banner；　guerdon　of　triumph；

broidered　battle…flag；　breastplate　and　helmet；

and　a　splendid　sword　was　seen　of　many

borne　to　the　brave　one。　Beowulf　took

cup　in　hall：＇2＇　for　such　costly　gifts

he　suffered　no　shame　in　that　soldier　throng。

For　I　heard　of　few　heroes；　in　heartier　mood；

with　four　such　gifts；　so　fashioned　with　gold；

on　the　ale…bench　honoring　others　thus！

O'er　the　roof　of　the　helmet　high；　a　ridge；

wound　with　wires；　kept　ward　o'er　the　head；

lest　the　relict…of…files＇3＇　should　fierce　invade；

sharp　in　the　strife；　when　that　shielded　hero

should　go　to　grapple　against　his　foes。

Then　the　earls'…defence＇4＇　on　the　floor＇5＇　bade　lead

coursers　eight；　with　carven　head…gear；

adown　the　hall：　one　horse　was　decked

with　a　saddle　all　shining　and　set　in　jewels；

'twas　the　battle…seat　of　the　best　of　kings；

when　to　play　of　swords　the　son　of　Healfdene

was　fain　to　fare。　Ne'er　failed　his　valor

in　the　crush　of　combat　when　corpses　fell。

To　Beowulf　over　them　both　then　gave

the　refuge…of…Ingwines　right　and　power；

o'er　war…steeds　and　weapons：　wished　him　joy　of　them。

Manfully　thus　the　mighty　prince；

hoard…guard　for　heroes；　that　hard　fight　repaid

with　steeds　and　treasures　contemned　by　none

who　is　willing　to　say　the　sooth　aright。



＇1＇　There　is　no　horrible　inconsistency　here　such　as　the　critics

strive　and　cry　about。　In　spite　of　the　ruin　that　Grendel　and

Beowulf　had　made　within　the　hall；　the　framework　and　roof　held

firm；　and　swift　repairs　made　the　interior　habitable。　Tapestries

were　hung　on　the　walls；　and　willing　hands　prepared　the　banquet。

＇2＇　From　its　formal　use　in　other　places；　this　phrase；　to　take　cup

in　hall；　or　〃on　the　floor；〃　would　seem　to　mean　that　Beowulf

stood　up　to　receive　his　gifts；　drink　to　the　donor；　and　say

thanks。　＇3＇　Kenning　for　sword。　＇4＇　Hrothgar。　He　is　also　the

〃refuge　of　the　friends　of　Ing；〃　below。　Ing　belongs　to　myth。　＇5＇

Horses　are　frequently　led　or　ridden　into　the　hall　where　folk　sit

at　banquet：　so　in　Chaucer's　Squire's　tale；　in　the　ballad　of　King

Estmere；　and　in　the　romances。







XVI



AND　the　lord　of　earls；　to　each　that　came

with　Beowulf　over　the　briny　ways；

an　heirloom　there　at　the　ale…bench　gave；

precious　gift；　and　the　price＇1＇　bade　pay

in　gold　for　him　whom　Grendel　erst

murdered；　　and　fain　of　them　more　had　killed；

had　not　wisest　God　their　Wyrd　averted；

and　the　man's＇2＇　brave　mood。　The　Maker　then

ruled　human　kind；　as　here　and　now。

Therefore　is　insight　always　best；

and　forethought　of　mind。　How　much　awaits　him

of　lief　and　of　loath；　who　long　time　here；

through　days　of　warfare　this　world　endures！



Then　song　and　music　mingled　sounds

in　the　presence　of　Healfdene's　head…of…armies＇3＇

and　harping　was　heard　with　the　hero…lay

as　Hrothgar's　singer　the　hall…joy　woke

along　the　mead…seats；　making　his　song

of　that　sudden　raid　on　the　sons　of　Finn。＇4＇

Healfdene's　hero；　Hnaef　the　Scylding；

was　fated　to　fall　in　the　Frisian　slaughter。＇5＇

Hildeburh　needed　not　hold　in　value

her　enemies'　honor！＇6＇　Innocent　both

were　the　loved　ones　she　lost　at　the　linden…play；

bairn　and　brother；　they　bowed　to　fate；

stricken　by　spears；　'twas　a　sorrowful　woman！

None　doubted　why　the　daughter　of　Hoc

bewailed　her　doom　when　dawning　came；

and　under　the　sky　she　saw　them　lying；

kinsmen　murdered；　where　most　she　had　kenned

of　the　sweets　of　the　world！　By　war　were　swept；　too；

Finn's　own　liegemen；　and　few　were　left；

in　the　parleying…place＇7＇　he　could　ply　no　longer

weapon；　nor　war　could　he　wage　on　Hengest；

and　rescue　his　remnant　by　right　of　arms

from　the　prince's　thane。　A　pact　he　offered：

another　dwelling　the　Danes　should　have；

hall　and　high…seat；　and　half　the　power

should　fall　to　them　in　Frisian　land；

and　at　the　fee…gifts；　Folcwald's　son

day　by　day　the　Danes　should　honor；

the　folk　of　Hengest　favor　with　rings；

even　as　truly；　with　treasure　and　jewels；

with　fretted　gold；　as　his　Frisian　kin

he　meant　to　honor　in　ale…hall　there。

Pact　of　peace　they　plighted　further

on　both　sides　firmly。　Finn　to　Hengest

with　oath；　upon　honor；　openly　promised

that　woful　remnant；　with　wise…men's　aid；

nobly　to　govern；　so　none　of　the　guests

by　word　or　work　should　warp　the　treaty；＇8＇

or　with　malice　of　mind　bemoan　themselves

as　forced　to　follow　their　fee…giver's　slayer；

lordless　men；　as　their　lot　ordained。

Should　Frisian；　moreover；　with　foeman's　taunt；

that　murderous　hatred　to　mind　recall；

then　edge　of　the　sword　must　seal　his　doom。



Oaths　were　given；　and　ancient　gold

heaped　from　hoard。　　The　hardy　Scylding；

battle…thane　best；＇9＇　on　his　balefire　lay。

All　on　the　pyre　were　plain　to　see

the　gory　sark；　the　gilded　swine…crest；

boar　of　hard　iron；　and　athelings　many

slain　by　the　sword：　at　the　slaughter　they　fell。

It　was　Hildeburh's　hest；　at　Hnaef's　own　pyre

the　bairn　of　her　body　on　brands　to　lay；

his　bones　to　burn；　on　the　balefire　placed；

at　his　uncle's　side。　In　sorrowful　dirges

bewept　them　the　woman：　great　wailing　ascended。

Then　wound　up　to　welkin　the　wildest　of　death…fires；

roared　o'er　the　hillock：＇10＇　heads　all　were　melted；

gashes　burst；　and　blood　gushed　out

from　bites＇11＇　of　the　body。　Balefire　devoured；

greediest　spirit；　those　spared　not　by　war

out　of　either　folk：　their　flower　was　gone。



＇1＇　Man…price；　wergild。　＇2＇　Beowulf's。　＇3＇　Hrothgar。　＇4＇　There　is

no　need　to　assume　a　gap　in　the　Ms。　As　before　about　Sigemund　and

Heremod；　so　now；　though　at　greater　length；　about　Finn　and　his

feud；　a　lay　is　chanted　or　recited；　and　the　epic　poet；　counting　on

his　readers'　familiarity　with　the　story；　　a　fragment　of　it

still　exists；　　simply　gives　the　headings。　＇5＇　The　exact　story

to　which　this　episode　refers　in　summary　is　not　to　be　determined；

but　the　following　account　of　it　is　reasonable　and　has　good

support　among　scholars。　Finn；　a　Frisian　chieftain；　who

nevertheless　has　a　〃castle〃　outside　the　Frisian