BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --"Lo, we seafarers say our will,far-come men, that we fain would seekHygelac now. We here have foundhosts to our heart: thou hast harbored us well.If ever on earth I am able to win memore of thy love, O lord of men,aught anew, than I now have done,for work of war I am willing still!If it come to me ever across the seasthat neighbor foemen annoy and fright thee, --as they that hate thee erewhile have used, --thousands then of thanes I shall bring,heroes to help thee. Of Hygelac I know,ward of his folk, that, though few his years,the lord of the Geats will give me aidby word and by work, that well I may serve thee,wielding the war-wood to win thy triumphand lending thee might when thou lackest men.If thy Hrethric should come to court of Geats,a sovran's son, he will surely therefind his friends. A far-off landeach man should visit who vaunts him brave."Him then answering, Hrothgar spake: --"These words of thine the wisest Godsent to thy soul! No sager counselfrom so young in years e'er yet have I heard.Thou art strong of main and in mind art wary,art wise in words! I ween indeedif ever it hap that Hrethel's heirby spear be seized, by sword-grim battle,by illness or iron, thine elder and lord,people's leader, -- and life be thine, --no seemlier man will the Sea-Geats findat all to choose for their chief and king,for hoard-guard of heroes, if hold thou wiltthy kinsman's kingdom! Thy keen mind pleases methe longer the better, Beowulf loved!
Thou hast brought it about that both our peoples,sons of the Geat and Spear-Dane folk,shall have mutual peace, and from murderous strife,such as once they waged, from war refrain.Long as I rule this realm so wide,let our hoards be common, let heroes with goldeach other greet o'er the gannet's-bath,and the ringed-prow bear o'er rolling wavestokens of love. I trow my landfolktowards friend and foe are firmly joined,and honor they keep in the olden way."To him in the hall, then, Healfdene's songave treasures twelve, and the trust-of-earlsbade him fare with the gifts to his folk beloved,hale to his home, and in haste return.Then kissed the king of kin renowned,Scyldings' chieftain, that choicest thane,and fell on his neck. Fast flowed the tearsof the hoary-headed. Heavy with winters,he had chances twain, but he clung to this, {26a} --that each should look on the other again,and hear him in hall. Was this hero so dear to him.his breast's wild billows he banned in vain;safe in his soul a secret longing,locked in his mind, for that loved manburned in his blood. Then Beowulf strode,glad of his gold-gifts, the grass-plot o'er,warrior blithe. The wave-roamer boderiding at anchor, its owner awaiting.As they hastened onward, Hrothgar's giftthey lauded at length. -- 'Twas a lord unpeered,every way blameless, till age had broken-- it spareth no mortal -- his splendid might.