Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, "BEOWULF, SELS.", by ANONYMOUS - NORTHUMBRIAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

"BEOWULF, SELS.", by                    
First Line: What! We of spear-danes in spent days
Last Line: Of their hero under heaven who that lading received
Subject(s): "legends, Norse;


What! We of Spear-Danes in spent days,
Of the Folk-Kings' force have heard,
How the Athelings excelled in fight.
Oft Shield of the Sheaf from scathing hordes,
From many meinies their mead-stools tore.
Affrighted them the Earl, since erst he was
Found, unwealthy; then friendship he awaited,
Waxed under the welkin, in worship throve,
Until each one of those out-dwelling
Over the whale-road, must hearken to him,
Gold must give him. That was a good King.
His offspring was afterwards known,
Young in the yards, whom God sent
The folk to befriend; the fierce dearth He knew
They had ere then endured, lacking elders
A long while. To him the Life-Lord
Glory's Wielder, world-honour gave.
Noble was Beowulf (bloomed wide his name)
Shielde's son in the Scede-lands.
So shall a young groom work his own good,
By full fees given to friends of his father,
That with him in his age they may ever abide,
Willing comrades, whenas war cometh,
To serve the people; by praised deeds shall
One man thrive among all man-kind.
Turned aside then Shield in the time shaped for him,
Full-ripe, to fare in Frea's keeping.
Him then out they bare to the brink of ocean,
His sweet companions, so himself had bidden,
While his words had weight, welcome friend of Shieldings;
A beloved land-chief, long had he reigned.
There in the roads ring-stemmed she stood,
Icy, out-faring, an atheling's craft:
Laid they down then the lovely Prince,
Bestower of bracelets, in the breast of the ship,
Their man by the mast. There was a mass of wealth,
Fretted gold ferried from far away.
Nor heard I of a keel more comely-wise garnished
With brave weapons and battle-weeds,
With bills and byrnies; on his breast lay
Many treasures that must with him
In the flood's keeping fare afar.
Nothing less of gifts they allowed him,
Of their possessions than had those
Who at his first faring forth had sent him
Alone over ocean, an infant indeed.
Still more, they stood up for him a golden standard
High over head; they let the holm bear him,
Sent him to the Spear-Man; sad was their soul,
Mournful their mood. For men knew not
How soothly to say, men seely in council,
Of their hero under heaven who that lading received.





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