safe　thou　canst　sleep　with　thy　soldier　band；
  and　every　thane　of　all　thy　folk
  both　old　and　young；　no　evil　fear；
  Scyldings'　lord；　from　that　side　again；
  aught　ill　for　thy　earls；　as　erst　thou　must！〃
  Then　the　golden　hilt；　for　that　gray…haired　leader；
  hoary　hero；　in　hand　was　laid；
  giant…wrought；　old。　So　owned　and　enjoyed　it
  after　downfall　of　devils；　the　Danish　lord；
  wonder…smiths'　work；　since　the　world　was　rid
  of　that　grim…souled　fiend；　the　foe　of　God；
  murder…marked；　and　his　mother　as　well。
  Now　it　passed　into　power　of　the　people's　king；
  best　of　all　that　the　oceans　bound
  who　have　scattered　their　gold　o'er　Scandia's　isle。
  Hrothgar　spake　　the　hilt　he　viewed；
  heirloom　old；　where　was　etched　the　rise
  of　that　far…off　fight　when　the　floods　o'erwhelmed；
  raging　waves；　the　race　of　giants
  （fearful　their　fate！）；　a　folk　estranged
  from　God　Eternal：　whence　guerdon　due
  in　that　waste　of　waters　the　Wielder　paid　them。
  So　on　the　guard　of　shining　gold
  in　runic　staves　it　was　rightly　said
  for　whom　the　serpent…traced　sword　was　wrought；
  best　of　blades；　in　bygone　days；
  and　the　hilt　well　wound。　　The　wise…one　spake；
  son　of　Healfdene；　silent　were　all：
  〃Lo；　so　may　he　say　who　sooth　and　right
  follows　'mid　folk；　of　far　times　mindful；
  a　land…warden　old；＇1＇　that　this　earl　belongs
  to　the　better　breed！　So；　borne　aloft；
  thy　fame　must　fly；　O　friend　my　Beowulf；
  far　and　wide　o'er　folksteads　many。　Firmly　thou
  shalt　all　maintain；
  mighty　strength　with　mood　of　wisdom。　Love　of
  mine　will　I　assure　thee；
  as；　awhile　ago；　I　promised；　thou　shalt　prove　a　stay
  in　future；
  in　far…off　years；　to　folk　of　thine；
  to　the　heroes　a　help。　Was　not　Heremod　thus
  to　offspring　of　Ecgwela；　Honor…Scyldings；
  nor　grew　for　their　grace；　but　for　grisly　slaughter；
  for　doom　of　death　to　the　Danishmen。
  He　slew；　wrath…swollen；　his　shoulder…comrades；
  companions　at　board！　So　he　passed　alone；
  chieftain　haughty；　from　human　cheer。
  Though　him　the　Maker　with　might　endowed；
  delights　of　power；　and　uplifted　high
  above　all　men；　yet　blood…fierce　his　mind；
  his　breast…hoard；　grew；　no　bracelets　gave　he
  to　Danes　as　was　due；　he　endured　all　joyless
  strain　of　struggle　and　stress　of　woe；
  long　feud　with　his　folk。　Here　find　thy　lesson！
  Of　virtue　advise　thee！　This　verse　I　have　said　for　thee；
  wise　from　lapsed　winters。　Wondrous　seems
  how　to　sons　of　men　Almighty　God
  in　the　strength　of　His　spirit　sendeth　wisdom；
  estate；　high　station：　He　swayeth　all　things。
  Whiles　He　letteth　right　lustily　fare
  the　heart　of　the　hero　of　high…born　race；
  in　seat　ancestral　assigns　him　bliss；
  his　folk's　sure　fortress　in　fee　to　hold；
  puts　in　his　power　great　parts　of　the　earth；
  empire　so　ample；　that　end　of　it
  this　wanter…of…wisdom　weeneth　none。
  So　he　waxes　in　wealth；　nowise　can　harm　him
  illness　or　age；　no　evil　cares
  shadow　his　spirit；　no　sword…hate　threatens
  from　ever　an　enemy：　all　the　world
  wends　at　his　will；　no　worse　he　knoweth；
  till　all　within　him　obstinate　pride
  waxes　and　wakes　while　the　warden　slumbers；
  the　spirit's　sentry；　sleep　is　too　fast
  which　masters　his　might；　and　the　murderer　nears；
  stealthily　shooting　the　shafts　from　his　bow！
  ＇1＇　That　is；　〃whoever　has　as　wide　authority　as　I　have　and　can
  remember　so　far　back　so　many　instances　of　heroism；　may　well　say；
  as　I　say；　that　no　better　hero　ever　lived　than　Beowulf。〃
  XXV
  〃UNDER　harness　his　heart　then　is　hit　indeed
  by　sharpest　shafts；　and　no　shelter　avails
  from　foul　behest　of　the　hellish　fiend。＇1＇
  Him　seems　too　little　what　long　he　possessed。
  Greedy　and　grim；　no　golden　rings
  he　gives　for　his　pride；　the　promised　future
  forgets　he　and　spurns；　with　all　God　has　sent　him；
  Wonder…Wielder；　of　wealth　and　fame。
  Yet　in　the　end　it　ever　comes
  that　the　frame　of　the　body　fragile　yields；
  fated　falls；　and　there　follows　another
  who　joyously　the　jewels　divides；
  the　royal　riches；　nor　recks　of　his　forebear。
  Ban；　then；　such　baleful　thoughts；　Beowulf　dearest；
  best　of　men；　and　the　better　part　choose；
  profit　eternal；　and　temper　thy　pride；
  warrior　famous！　The　flower　of　thy　might
  lasts　now　a　while：　but　erelong　it　shall　be
  that　sickness　or　sword　thy　strength　shall　minish；
  or　fang　of　fire；　or　flooding　billow；
  or　bite　of　blade；　or　brandished　spear；
  or　odious　age；　or　the　eyes'　clear　beam
  wax　dull　and　darken：　Death　even　thee
  in　haste　shall　o'erwhelm；　thou　hero　of　war！
  So　the　Ring…Danes　these　half…years　a　hundred　I　ruled；
  wielded　'neath　welkin；　and　warded　them　bravely
  from　mighty…ones　many　o'er　middle…earth；
  from　spear　and　sword；　till　it　seemed　for　me
  no　foe　could　be　found　under　fold　of　the　sky。
  Lo；　sudden　the　shift！　To　me　seated　secure
  came　grief　for　joy　when　Grendel　began
  to　harry　my　home；　the　hellish　foe；
  for　those　ruthless　raids；　unresting　I　suffered
  heart…sorrow　heavy。　Heaven　be　thanked；
  Lord　Eternal；　for　life　extended
  that　I　on　this　head　all　hewn　and　bloody；
  after　long　evil；　with　eyes　may　gaze！
  Go　to　the　bench　now！　Be　glad　at　banquet；
  warrior　worthy！　A　wealth　of　treasure
  at　dawn　of　day；　be　dealt　between　us！〃
  Glad　was　the　Geats'　lord；　going　betimes
  to　seek　his　seat；　as　the　Sage　commanded。
  Afresh；　as　before；　for　the　famed…in…battle；
  for　the　band　of　the　hall；　was　a　banquet　dight
  nobly　anew。　The　Night…Helm　darkened
  dusk　o'er　the　drinkers。
  The　doughty　ones　rose：
  for　the　hoary…headed　would　hasten　to　rest；
  aged　Scylding；　and　eager　the　Geat；
  shield…fighter　sturdy；　for　sleeping　yearned。
  Him　wander…weary；　warrior…guest
  from　far；　a　hall…thane　heralded　forth；
  who　by　custom　courtly　cared　for　all
  needs　of　a　thane　as　in　those　old　days
  warrior…wanderers　wont　to　have。
  So　slumbered　the　stout…heart。　Stately　the　hall
  rose　gabled　and　gilt　where　the　guest　slept　on
  till　a　raven　black　the　rapture…of…heaven＇2＇
  blithe…heart　boded。　Bright　came　flying
  shine　after　shadow。　The　swordsmen　hastened；
  athelings　all　were　eager　homeward
  forth　to　fare；　and　far　from　thence
  the　great…hearted　guest　would　guide　his　keel。
  Bade　then　the　hardy…one　Hrunting　be　brought
  to　the　son　of　Ecglaf；　the　sword　bade　him　take；
  excellent　iron；　and　uttered　his　thanks　for　it；
  quoth　that　he　counted　it　keen　in　battle；
  〃war…friend〃　winsome：　with　words　he　slandered　not
  edge　of　the　blade：　'twas　a　big…hearted　man！
  Now　eager　for　parting　and　armed　at　point
  warriors　waited；　while　went　to　his　host
  that　Darling　of　Danes。　The　doughty　atheling
  to　high…seat　hastened　and　Hrothgar　greeted。
  ＇1＇　That　is；　he　is　now　undefended　by　conscience　from　the
  temptations　（shafts）　of　the　devil。　＇2＇　Kenning　for　the　sun。
  This　is　a　strange　role　for　the　raven。　He　is　the　warrior's　bird　of
  battle；　exults　in　slaughter　and　carnage；　his　joy　here　is　a
  compliment　to　the　sunrise。
  XXVI
  BEOWULF　spake；　bairn　of　Ecgtheow：
  〃Lo；　we　seafarers　say　our　will；
  far…come　men；　that　we　fain　would　seek
  Hygelac　now。　We　here　have　found
  hosts　to　our　heart：　thou　hast　harbored　us　well。
  If　ever　on　earth　I　am　able　to　win　me
  more　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　seas
  that　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　aid
  by　word　and　by　work；　that　well　I　may　serve　thee；
  wielding　the　war…wood　to　win　thy　triumph
  and　lending　thee　might　when　thou　lackest　men。
  If　thy　Hrethric　should　come　to　court　of　Geats；
  a　sovran's　son；　he　will　surely　there
  find　his　friends。　A　far…off　land
  each　man　should　visit　who　vaunts　him　brave。〃
  Him　then　answering；　Hrothgar　spake：
  〃These　words　of　thine　the　wisest　God
  sent　to　thy　soul！　No　sager　counsel
  from　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　indeed
  if　ever　it　hap　that　Hrethel's　heir
  by　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　find
  at　all　to　choose　for　their　chief　and　king；
  for　hoard…guard　of　heroes；　if　hold　thou　wilt
  thy　kinsman's　kingdom！　Thy　keen　mind　pleases　me
  the　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　gold
  each　other　greet　o'er　the　gannet's…bath；
  and　the　ringed…prow　bear　o'er　rolling　waves
  tokens　of　love。　I　trow　my　landfolk
  towards　friend　and　foe　are　firmly　joined；
  and　honor　they　keep　in　the　olden　way。〃
  To　him　in　the　hall；　then；　Healfdene's　son
  gave　treasures　twelve；　and　the　trust…of…earls
  bade　him　fare　with　the　gifts　to　his　folk　beloved；
  hale　to　his　home