III

　　THUS seethed¹ unceasing the son of Healfdene

　　with the woe² of these days； not wisest men

　　assuaged³ his sorrow； too sore the anguish⁴，

　　loathly and long， that lay on his folk，

　　most baneful⁵ of burdens and bales of the night.

　　This heard in his home Hygelac's thane，

　　great among Geats， of Grendel's doings.

　　He was the mightiest⁶ man of valor⁷

　　in that same day of this our life，

　　stalwart and stately. A stout⁸ wave-walker

　　he bade make ready. Yon battle-king， said he，

　　far o'er the swan-road he fain would seek，

　　the noble monarch⁹ who needed men！

　　The prince's journey by prudent¹⁰ folk

　　was little blamed， though they loved him dear；

　　they whetted¹¹ the hero， and hailed good omens¹².

　　And now the bold one from bands of Geats

　　comrades chose， the keenest of warriors¹³

　　e'er he could find； with fourteen men

　　the sea-wood1 he sought， and， sailor proved，

　　led them on to the land's confines.

　　Time had now flown；2 afloat was the ship，

　　boat under bluff¹⁴. On board they climbed，

　　warriors ready； waves were churning

　　sea with sand； the sailors bore

　　on the breast of the bark their bright array，

　　their mail and weapons： the men pushed off，

　　on its willing way， the well-braced craft.

　　Then moved o'er the waters by might of the wind

　　that bark like a bird with breast of foam¹⁵，

　　till in season due， on the second day，

　　the curved prow¹⁶ such course had run

　　that sailors now could see the land，

　　sea-cliffs shining， steep high hills，

　　headlands broad. Their haven¹⁷ was found，

　　their journey ended. Up then quickly

　　the Weders'3 clansmen climbed ashore¹⁸，

　　anchored their sea-wood， with armor clashing

　　and gear of battle： God they thanked

　　for passing in peace o'er the paths of the sea.

　　Now saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman，

　　a warden¹⁹ that watched the water-side，

　　how they bore o'er the gangway glittering shields，

　　war-gear in readiness； wonder seized him

　　to know what manner of men they were.

　　Straight to the strand²⁰ his steed he rode，

　　Hrothgar's henchman； with hand of might

　　he shook his spear， and spake in parley²¹.

　　“Who are ye， then， ye armed men，

　　mailed folk， that yon mighty²² vessel²³

　　have urged thus over the ocean ways，

　　here o'er the waters？ A warden I，

　　sentinel set o'er the sea-march here，

　　lest any foe²⁴ to the folk of Danes

　　with harrying²⁵ fleet should harm the land.

　　No aliens ever at ease thus bore them，

　　linden-wielders：4 yet word-of-leave

　　clearly ye lack from clansmen here，

　　my folk's agreement. —— A greater ne'er saw I

　　of warriors in world than is one of you， ——

　　yon hero in harness！ No henchman he

　　worthied by weapons， if witness his features，

　　his peerless presence！ I pray you， though， tell

　　your folk and home， lest hence ye fare

　　suspect to wander your way as spies

　　in Danish land. Now， dwellers²⁶ afar，

　　ocean-travellers， take from me

　　simple advice： the sooner the better

　　I hear of the country whence ye came.“

　　[1] Ship.

　　[2] That is， since Beowulf selected his ship and led his men to the harbor.

　　[3] One of the auxiliary²⁷ names of the Geats.

　　[4] Or： Not thus openly ever came warriors hither； yet……

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