Legends of the Middle Ages - Narrated with Special Reference to Literature and Art. H. A. Guerber

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СКАЧАТЬ of his sword, flung him down, and finally tried to pierce his armor with her trenchant knife. Fortunately, however, the hero’s armor was weapon-proof, and his muscles were so strong that before she could do him any harm he had freed himself from her grasp. Seizing a large sword hanging upon a projection of rock near by, he dealt her a mighty blow, severing her head from the trunk at a single stroke. The blood pouring out of the cave mingled with the waters without, and turned them to such a lurid hue that Hrothgar and his men sorrowfully departed, leaving the Geates alone to watch for the return of the hero, whom they feared they would never see again.

      Beowulf, in the mean while, had rushed to the rear of the cave, where, finding Grendel in the last throes, he cut off his head also. He seized this ghastly trophy and rapidly made his way up through the tainted waters, which the fiery blood of the two monsters had so overheated that his sword melted in its scabbard and naught but the hilt remained.

      “That stout sword of proof,

       Its warrior task fulfill’d, dropp’d to the ground

       (So work’d the venom of the felon’s blood)

       A molten mass.”

       Beowulf (Conybeare’s tr.).

      The Geates were about to depart in sorrow, notwithstanding the orders they had received, when they suddenly beheld their beloved chief safe and sound, and bearing the evidences of his success. Then their cries of joy echoed and reechoed from the neighboring hills, and Beowulf was escorted back to Heorot, where he was almost overwhelmed with gifts by the grateful Danes. A few days later Beowulf and his companions returned home, where the story of their adventures, and an exhibition of all the treasures they had won, formed the principal topics of conversation.

      [Sidenote: Death of Hygelac.] Several years of comparative peace ensued, ere the land was invaded by the Friesians, who raided the coast, burning and plundering all in their way, and retreated into their ships before Hygelac or Beowulf could overtake and punish them. The immediate result of this invasion was a counter-movement on Hygelac’s part. But although he successfully harried Friesland, he fell into an ambush just as he was about to leave the country, and was cruelly slain, his nephew Beowulf barely escaping a similar untoward fate.

      When the little army of the Geates reached home once more, they either buried or consumed Hygelac’s remains, with his weapons and battle steed, as was customary in the North. This ceremony ended, Queen Hygd, overwhelmed with grief, and fearing the almost inevitable dissensions arising during the long minority of an infant king, convened the popular assembly known as the Thing, and bade the people set her own child’s claims aside in favor of Beowulf. This proposal was hailed with enthusiasm; but Beowulf refused to usurp his kinsman’s throne, and raising Hardred, Hygelac’s infant son, upon his shield, he declared that he would protect and uphold him as long as he lived. The people, following his example, swore fealty to the new king, and faithfully kept this oath until he died.

      Hardred, having attained his majority, ruled wisely and well; but his career was cut short by the sons of Othere, the discoverer of the North Cape. These youths had rebelled against their father’s authority and taken refuge at Hardred’s court; but when the latter advised a reconciliation, the eldest youth angrily drew his sword and slew him.

      [Sidenote: Beowulf made king.] This crime was avenged, with true northern promptitude, by Wiglaf, one of the king’s followers; and while the second youth effected an escape, Beowulf was summoned by the Thing to accept the now vacant throne. As there were none to dispute his claims, the hero no longer refused to rule, and he bravely defended his kingdom against Eadgils, Othere’s second son. Eadgils was now king of Sweden, and came with an armed host to avenge his brother’s death; but he only succeeded in losing his own life.

      A reign of forty years of comparative peace brought Beowulf to extreme old age. He had naturally lost much of his former vigor, and was therefore somewhat dismayed when a terrible, fire-breathing dragon took up its abode in the mountains near by, where it gloated over a hoard of glittering gold.

      “The ranger of the darksome night,

       The Firedrake, came.”

       Beowulf (Conybeare’s tr.)

      [Sidenote: The Firedrake.] A fugitive slave, having made his way unseen into the monster’s den during one of its temporary absences, bore away a small portion of this gold. On its return the Firedrake discovered the theft, and became so furious that its howling and writhing shook the mountain like an earthquake. When night came on its rage was still unappeased, and it flew all over the land, vomiting venom and flames, setting houses and crops afire, and causing so much damage that the people were almost beside themselves with terror. Seeing that all their attempts to appease the dragon were utterly fruitless, and being afraid to attack it in its lair, they finally implored Beowulf to deliver them as he had delivered the Danes, and to slay this oppressor, which was even worse than the terrible Grendel.

      Such an appeal could not be disregarded, and in spite of his advanced years Beowulf donned his armor once more. Accompanied by Wiglaf and eleven of his bravest men, he then went out to seek the monster in its lair. At the entrance of the mountain gorge Beowulf bade his followers pause, and advancing alone to the monster’s den, he boldly challenged it to come forth and begin the fray. A moment later the mountain shook as the monster rushed out breathing fire and flame, and Beowulf felt the first gust of its hot breath, even through his massive shield.

      “First from his lair

       Shaking firm earth, and vomiting as he strode

       A foul and fiery blast, the monster came.”

       Beowulf (Conybeare’s tr.).

      A desperate struggle followed, in the course of which Beowulf’s sword and strength both failed him. The Firedrake coiled its long, scaly folds about the aged hero, and was about to crush him to death when the faithful Wiglaf, perceiving his master’s imminent danger, sprang forward and attacked the monster so fiercely as to cause a diversion and make it drop Beowulf to concentrate its attention upon him.

      Beowulf, recovering, then drew his dagger and soon put an end to the dragon’s life; but even as it breathed its last the hero sank fainting to the ground. Feeling that his end was near, he warmly thanked Wiglaf for his timely aid, rejoiced in the death of the monster, and bade his faithful follower bring out the concealed treasure and lay it at his feet, that he might feast his eyes upon the glittering gold he had won for his people’s use.

      “Saw then the bold thane

       Treasure jewels many,

       Glittering gold

       Heavy on the ground,

       Wonders in the mound

       And the worm’s den,

       The old twilight flier’s,

       Bowls standing;

       Vessels of men of yore,

       With the mountings fall’n off.

       There was many a helm

       Old and rusty,

       Armlets many

       Cunningly fastened.

       He also saw hang heavily

       An ensign all golden

       High o’er the hoard,

       Of hand СКАЧАТЬ