Beowulf: A New Verse Translation

by Seamus Heaney

he was the Lord’s outcast.

That was their way, their heathenish hope; deep in their hearts 180 they remembered hell. The Almighty Judge of good deeds and bad, the Lord God, Head of the Heavens and High King of the World, was unknown to them. Oh, cursed is he who in time of trouble has to thrust his soul in the fire’s embrace, forfeiting help;

he has nowhere to turn. But blessed is he who after death can approach the Lord and find friendship in the Father’s embrace.

“Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what’s said and what’s done.

Beowulf is my name.

I am ready and willing to report my errand.”

relish 490 the triumph of heroes to your heart’s content.”

But it was mostly beer that was doing the talking.

You killed your own kith and kin, so for all your cleverness and quick tongue, you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell.

Be on your mettle now, keep in mind your fame, 660 beware of the enemy. There’s nothing you wish for that won’t be yours if you win through alive.”

And may the Divine Lord in His wisdom grant the glory of victory to whichever side He sees fit.”

One man, however, was in fighting mood, awake and on edge, spoiling for action.

The bane of the race of men roamed forth,

Like a man outlawed for wickedness, he must await the mighty judgement of God in majesty.”

Every nail, claw-scale and spur, every spike and welt on the hand of that heathen brute was like barbed steel.

life. But death is not easily escaped from by anyone: all of us with souls, earth-dwellers and children of men, must make our way to a destination already ordained where the body, after the banqueting, sleeps on its deathbed.

They are fatherless creatures, and their whole ancestry is hidden in a past of demons and ghosts.

It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning.

For every one of us, living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark.

booty

No life is immune to danger:

If there is any favour on earth I can perform beyond deeds of arms I have done already, anything that would merit your affections more, I shall act, my lord, with alacrity. If ever I hear from across the ocean that people on your borders are threatening battle as attackers have done from time to time, I shall land with a thousand thanes at my back 1830 to help your cause. Hygelac may be young to rule a nation, but this much I know about the king of the Geats: he will come to my aid and want to support me by word and action in your hour of need, when honour dictates that I raise a hedge of spears around you. Then if Hrethric should think about travelling as a king’s son to the court of the Geats, he will find many friends. Foreign places yield more to one who is himself worth meeting.”

A queen should weave peace, not punish the innocent with loss of life for imagined insults.

He was a good king.

worth. I shall win the gold by my courage, or else mortal combat, doom of battle, will bear your lord away.”

Hate was ignited.

“Now is the time when I would have wanted 2730 to bestow this armour on my own son, had it been my fortune to have fathered an heir and live on in his flesh. For fifty years I ruled this nation. No king of any neighbouring clan would dare face me with troops, none had the power to intimidate me. I took what came, cared for and stood by things in my keeping, never fomented quarrels, never swore to a lie. All this consoles me, 2740 doomed as I am and sickening for death; because of my right ways, the Ruler of mankind

need never blame me when the breath leaves my body for murder of kinsmen. Go now quickly, dearest Wiglaf, under the grey stone where the dragon is laid out, lost to his treasure; hurry to feast your eyes on the hoard.

Away you go: I want to examine that ancient gold, gaze my fill on those garnered jewels; my going will be easier 2750 for having seen the treasure, a less troubled letting-go of the life and lordship I have long maintained.”

“To the everlasting Lord of All, to the King of Glory, I give thanks that I behold this treasure here in front of me, that I have been allowed to leave my people so well endowed on the day I die. Now that I have bartered my last breath 2800 to own this fortune, it is up to you to look after their needs. I can hold out no longer.

Fate swept us away, sent my whole brave high-born clan to their final doom. Now I must follow them.”

bought and paid for by Beowulf’s death.

A warrior will sooner die than live a life of shame.”

he behaved like a hero.

Famous for his deeds a warrior may be, but it remains a mystery where his life will end, when he may no longer dwell in the mead-hall among his own.

“Often when one man follows his own will many are hurt. This happened to us. Nothing we advised could ever convince 3080 the prince we loved, our land’s guardian, not to vex the custodian of the gold, let him lie where he was long accustomed, lurk there under earth until the end of the world. He held to his high destiny. The hoard is laid bare, but at a grave cost; it was too cruel a fate that forced the king to that encounter. I have been inside and seen everything amassed in the vault. I managed to enter although no great welcome awaited me 3090 under the earthwall. I quickly gathered up a huge pile of the priceless treasures handpicked from the hoard and carried them here where the king could see them. He was still himself, alive, aware, and in spite of his weakness he had many requests. He wanted me to greet you

and order the building of a barrow that would crown the site of his pyre, serve as his memorial, in a commanding position, since of all men to have lived and thrived and lorded it on earth 3100 his worth and due as a warrior were the greatest.

Now let us again go quickly and feast our eyes on that amazing fortune heaped under the wall. I will show the way and take you close to those coffers packed with rings and bars of gold. Let a bier be made and got ready quickly when we come out and then let us bring the body of our lord, the man we loved, to where he will lodge for a long time in the care of the Almighty.”

“Now shall flame consume

our leader in battle, the blaze darken round him who stood his ground in the steel-hail, when the arrow-storm shot from bowstrings pelted the shield-wall. The shaft hit home. Feather-fledged, it finned the barb in flight.”

They extolled his heroic nature and exploits and gave thanks for his greatness; which was the proper thing, for a man should praise a prince whom he holds dear and cherish his memory when that moment comes when he has to be convoyed from his bodily home. So the Geat people, his hearth companions, sorrowed for the lord who had been laid low. 3180 They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.