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  in letting me know the land you came from.”

  The ablest among them answered him clearly

  lifted up his spear unlocked his wordhoard:

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  “We are mindful of manners men of the Geats

  Lord Hygelac’s hearth-companions.

  My father wandered far through this world

  earned his way there Ecgtheow by name

  survived many winters wartime and peace

  till age wearied him. He won many battles

  named by Northmen in nations abroad.

  Now we have come here with kind intentions

  to seek out your lord son of Healfdene

  victor of men. Advise us well!

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  We bear to your lord leader of the Danes

  a helpful message—but we hold no secrets

  now that we’re here. You know if it’s true

  stories told to us sorrowful tales

  evil in Denmark some demon or giant

  a devilish creature who in darkness of night

  roams the moorpaths murder in his heart

  hell’s messenger. To Hrothgar I offer

  words to consider serious counsel

  how this wise ruler may win over deathdays

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  if an end to sorrows ever will come forth

  a taming of torment time for revenge

  healing of heartbreak in this helpless land.

  Unless this happens as long as he rules

  darkness and bloodgrief will doom his people

  banished forever from that best of halls.”

  The coastguard replied proud horse-soldier

  no fear in his words: “One way or another

  a sharp warden can weigh carefully

  words and intentions if he’s worthy in thought.

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  I’ve heard in your speech heartstrong fealty

  to the lord of the Danes. I’ll lead you now

  with your spears and helmets to the hall above—

  I’ll tell my companions to tend to your ship

  guard carefully against all comers

  this newly tarred vessel nestled in sand

  to hold it in trust till the time comes round

  when homeward it bears the best among you

  brings back alive beloved warriors

  on this ring-prowed ship riding foamwaves

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  back to the Weather-Geats wondering for news.”

  They marched forward then mounted the headland

  left their keel-ship lashed to beach-anchor

  roped to the sand. Around their mask-helmets

  golden boar-heads beamed to the sun

  flashed a war-gleam on fire-hardened steel

  signaled their weapons. They strode together

  crested the sea-wall till they saw glinting

  that timber-strong hall trimmed bright with gold

  tall horn-gables towering in the sun

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  high to the heavens Hrothgar’s gift-hall.

  Its light shone forth over land and sea.

  The coastguard paused pulled his horse round

  stopped by the roadside studied them well

  hefted his spear hailed them again

  paused for a moment with these parting words:

  “Fare you well now—may the Father almighty

  hold you from harm help from this moment

  teach you the way. I turn to the sea

  back to the beaches bastions of Denmark.”

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  The stone-cobbled road ran on before them

  as they marched together. Their mailcoats glistened

  laced by smith-hands—linked steel-jackets

  clinked an armor-song as they came to the hall

  strode in their war-gear straight to the door.

  They settled broadshields bright by the wall

  rounded and hardened by ringing forge-hammers.

  They bent to the benches breast-coats in rows

  life-guarding corselets. They leaned ash-spears

  ranked by the door reaching above them

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  gray-tipped treelimbs. Geats rested there

  wealthy in weapons. A warrior came forth

  eager for news-words asked who they were:

  “From where have you brought those broad-rimmed shields

  gray-gleaming mailcoats good mask-helmets

  such a heap of armor? I am Hrothgar’s

  counselor and friend. How far have you traveled

  crossed the wave-rolls to come to this door?

  My wits tell me you are welcome callers

  in full friendship no fugitives with you.”

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  The chief of the Geats gave him an answer

  tall and helmeted taught him with words

  the meaning of his men: “We are mighty Hygelac’s

  board-companions—Beowulf is my name.

  I have come to greet your great people-king

  to tell your Dane-lord tidings of hope

  explain to your king if he plans to receive us

  why we sailed westward to this splendid meadhall.”

  Wulfgar replied watchful Northman

  son of the Wendels wearing their strength

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  no hurry in his mind: “I will hail my chief,

  mindful of murder, mix words with him

  greet the gift-throne give him your name

  since you’ve come to greet him with grand helpwords.

  I will step to the high-seat stand before him

  bear his answer back to you here.”

  He entered the hall where Hrothgar sorrowed,

  gray in his mindthoughts grief cloaking him,

  strode to the gift-throne stepped before him

  skilled in the customs of kings of the North.

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  Wulfgar spoke then words mixed with light:

  “Here we have strangers hailing from far

  sailing the gulfstreams from Geatish country.

  The greatest among them as I gauge the man

  is known as Beowulf. They bring hope-tidings

  wish to share words wait peacefully

  to greet you, my lord. Do not leave them there

  but give them welcome gladman Hrothgar!

  Their weapons are stout steel boar-helmets

  gleaming with gold. Their Geatish king

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  is a prosperous man a mighty ruler.”

  Hrothgar answered helm of the Danes:

  “I knew their chieftain a child long ago.

  His father was Ecgtheow who found his wife

  in the hall of the Geats where Hrethel gave him

  his only daughter. This day his son

  has come to find me a friend of his youth.

  Sailors have told me, sea-messengers

  ferrying gifts from Götland to Denmark

  with thankful tokens, that this tall grappler

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  can grind as strongly in the grip of his hand

  as thirty war-thanes. I think that the Measurer

  Maker of us all has urged him here,

  sent to the Danes, I dare to imagine,

  relief from Grendel. For this great mercy

  I promise him now priceless heirlooms.

  Make haste, my friend, fetch them in here

  all of them together to greet all of us,

  tell them clearly that they come as lamplight

  to darkness in Heorot.” To the door he turned

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  Wulfgar the Wendel wove them a speech:

  “My lord has told me my beloved hearth-king

  chief of the East-Danes that he honors your kin.

  You have come in time, the tide has brought you

  like welling waves welcome to his heart.

  Come forth with me in your corselets of steel

  your hard mask-helmets where Hrothgar awaits you.
r />   Leave your shield-boards your spears by the benches

  until you have traded talk with my lord.”

  Some remained there stayed by their weapons

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  held them from harm. Their hero rose then,

  around him his thanes ready for orders.

  They walked together Wulfgar before them

  under Heorot’s roof helmets gleaming

  stood at the hearth hard by the gift-throne.

  Beowulf spoke then, burnished mailcoat

  work of wonder-smiths winking in firelight:

  “Hail to you, Hrothgar! I am Hygelac’s thane

  nephew and friend. I have known much peril

  grim death-dangers. Grendel’s ravages

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  came to my ears in my own homeland.

  Sailors have said that this strong meadhall

  with high gold-gables this Hall of the Hart

  stands empty and idle when evening-light fades

  when the dark sky lowers and light thins to gray.

  My people have urged me, elders and youth

  best of Weather-Geats brothers of my heart,

  to cross the gulfway come straight to you

  offer you my strength stand by your side.

  They saw for themselves as I surfaced from ambush

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  broke through the waves to the winds of sunrise

  how I crushed water-sprites cracked their blood-teeth

  shoved them deathwards down by the sea-floor

  fought them by night in narrow-dark waters

  on the sandy ground. Grendel is next—

  I will settle alone this sorrowful feud

  this baleful business. I beg of you now,

  lord of the Ring-Danes royal man-leader,

  a small favor-gift from sovereign to friend—

  do not refuse me now that I’m here

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  come from afar to cancel your problem—

  I and my men no more than this war-band

  will cleanse your Heorot close out this evil.

  I also have heard that this hellish monster

  with careless strength carries no weapons.

  I will therefore swear in honor of Hygelac—

  to keep my protector proud in his heart—

  I’ll bear no swordblade no shield to that fight

  no boar-head helmet—with my handgrip only

  I will fight this fiend find his life-core

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  man against monster. Tomorrow you will find

  at rising of light the Ruler’s judgment.

  If this demon wins no doubt he will banquet

  on bodies of Geats gorge with all of us

  swill and swallow snatch our lives away

  munch on our bones. Do not mourn for me

  or shame your heart in shadows of defeat

  if he cracks my bones bends me deathwards

  hauls me away hoping to taste me

  slash me to morsels with murder in his heart

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  staining the moors. Do not sorrow for long

  for my lifeless body lost and devoured.

  But send to Hygelac if struggle takes me

  this best of battle-shrouds breast-protector

  greatest of corselets good Hrethel’s gift

  Weland’s hand-smithing. Wyrd is determined!”

  Hrothgar answered helm of the Danes:

  “Beowulf my friend you have brought from home

  a gesture of honor joining with us now.

  Your father once caused the cruelest of feuds—

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  his hands emptied Heatholaf’s lifeblood

  a man of the Wylfingas. The Weather-Geats then

  dared not hold him for the harm he caused.

  From there he sought the South-Danes’ country—

  over angry waves the winds delivered him.

  I first ruled then the realm of my people

  held in my youth a young kingdom

  homeland of the Danes—Heorogar was dead

  my older brother born of Healfdene

  borne to the grave—he was better than me!

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  I managed that feud fixed it with payment

  sent to the Wylfingas sailors with gifts

  saved your good father with fine peace-tokens.

  It wounds me to say weary with mourning

  aching with grief how Grendel comes calling

  each twilight in Heorot tortures us all

  with nightblack murders. My men are fewer

  some carried away—wyrd has swept them

  into Grendel’s grasp. God could easily