This year I've spent some time idly translating Beowulf (using a
couple of literal translations and a lexicon - I don't have Anglo
Saxon). I've done about a third. Anyway, I thought some of you might
be interested in the first fitt.

xA

I

Hear me! I will tell of the Spear-Danes,
how their clan-kings in the old days
earned glory through great deeds.

Scef's son Scyld harried his neighbours,
seizing the halls of hosts of foes.
If he arrived here empty-handed
he found balm in battle's booty,
waxing rich in the sky's dominion,
heavy with honours. Every tribe
along the whale road paid him tribute.
He was a good king and God sent him
a greater heir to heal the people
who languished leaderless, poor and fearful.
Beaw came then, famed in the north,
and the great Life-Giver granted Scyld's heir
honour on earth. So should a young man
work good deeds in his father's shadow,
open-handed gather the thanks
that in old age will earn him all
his loyal companions. His fiery deeds
will warm the people and when war comes
they'll then stand true.
When destiny called him,
still in his strength, Scyld departed
on his last voyage, shadowed and lonely,
to Frea's kingdom. His dearest friends
carried him then to the surf-webbed water
as he had told them when his tongue
wielded words, beloved ruler,
long friend of the Scyldings.
                    At harbour rode
a hero's vessel, icy and keen,
and there they rested under the mast
his mighty body, mourning the loss
of the loved ring-giver. Around him they laid
treasure to honour him: ornate armour
and precious trinkets from far-off lands.
The warlike keel was dressed with weapons,
two-edged swords and well-wrought mail,
and on his breast they set the brightest.
I have not heard that a richer deathship
ever drifted off into darkness.
His grateful nation sent him off rightly,
he who arrived alone on the waves,
a child with destiny in his hands
and nothing else. Last they set a golden banner
high above him, and loosed the ship
to the ocean's whims, watching it dwindle
with troubled hearts. Hero or wise man,
no one can say who found that cargo.

After his loved father left him,
Beaw the Scylding ruled his people
wisely and long, and bore the Half-Dane,
who in his turn was king of his people
into his battle-scarred old age.
And from the Half-Dane sprang four children,
Heorogar, Hrothgar and good Halga,
and Yrse, whom I heard was queen
of the War-Scylfings, Onela's bedmate.
After him Hrothgar, skilled in warcraft,
won men's hearts so his young band grew
mighty and feared and honoured in war.
Then Hrothgar envisioned a mighty hall,
a high-eaved house where all would gather
at the gift-giving and music making,
a marvel to tell for men hereafter.
Many peoples of middle earth
were called and came to build this folk-hall
and at last it was fully finished,
the highest of houses. Hrothgar named it
Heorot, hall of the royal stag,
and royally dealt out rings at his feasts
as he had promised. Before cruel fire
ate its horned gables, before edged malice
broke the bloodbond, it stood high:
then the bold soul, weary of darkness,
sat at the table and fed his heart.
Revelry then rose loud in the mead-hall,
the harp's clear song and the poet's singing.
Those with word-craft told the folk
of the birth of man and the world's making,
of how the great one wrought the earth,
these shining plains ringed with water,
and set above them the sun and moon,
luminous lamps for land-dwellers,
and furnished every earthly region
with limbs and leaves. He made life too,
every creature that breathes and moves.

So the lord's men lived in gladness,
until a demon came upon them
with bloody crimes. His name was Grendel,
stalker of marshes, moors and fens
where the Maker had banished him
with all his line, the sons of Cain,
the first kin-killer, father of  monsters.
When Cain murdered his brother Abel
God drove him deep into dim reaches
far from his sight. And from him sprang
the monstrous races, ogres and elves,
underworld spirits and ugly giants,
who dared to strive with God. And God
rewarded them as was their due.


-- 
Editor, Masthead:  http://www.masthead.net.au
Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com