worshipped at the holy places, prayed in
words for help from the Ghost-slayer.

A thane of Hygelac's, one who was a
good man among the Goths, and of his
day the strongest, heard of Grendel's deeds.
He bade a ship be prepared, and said that
he would seek over the Swan-road the
great prince who had need of men. The
good thane had with him chosen champions
of the Goths, the mightiest he could find;
with some fifteen he sought the swimming
wood. A water-crafty warrior showed him
the land-marks. When the wrought stem,
foamy-necked had sped like a bird, for about
another day, the seamen saw land, the shore-
cliffs shone, the steep hills, the wide
headlands. Quickly the Weder's folk stept up
on the field, tied the sea-wood, shook their
war-shirts, thanked God who had made to
them the wave-paths easy.

When the Scyldings' warder who had to
keep the sea shores saw from the wall bright
shields borne over the bulwark of the ship,
he asked in his mind what men those were.
Then went to the shore Hrothgar's thane;
the mighty spear quaked in his hand; and
he asked, "What weapon bearers are ye,
protected with war-shirts, who thus come
hither leading over the water-street a foamy
keel? I hold ward that to the Dane's land
no foe may bring war by sea. Never have I
seen a greater earl on earth than is one of
you; he is a man worthy with his weapons,
if his face tell true. Now ye far-dwellers,
—quickly tell me whence ye come?"

The leader of the band unlocked his word-
hoard: "We are of the Goths' kind,
Hygelac's hearth-sharers; my father was
known widely, a high-born lord hight
Eegtheow; he abode in his house many
winters ere he went on his way, almost all
the wise throughout the wide earth keep
him in mind. We have come through kindness
to help thy lord. We have heard say
that a wretch, I know not who, does to the
Scyldings hurt in the dark nights. I may
teach Hrothgar how to overcome the foe.

The fearless warder seated on his horse
then said: "A sharp shield warrior knows
words from works. I hear that this is a band
friendly to the Scyldings. Bear weapons
forth, I show the way, I will bid also my
fellow thanes, to hold against every foe, your
new-tarred ship until it bear back to the
Weder marches, those to whom it shall be
given to come whole out of the rush of war."

They went therefore; the wide-bosomed
ship stood fast at anchor, heavy in the mud.
They bore over their cheeks the golden likeness
of a boar, fire-hardened it held life in
ward. Fierce men, they went down together
till they could see what was the foremost of
earth's houses under heaven, all timbered,
gaudy, worked with gold, wherein the rich
King lived. The light of it shone over many
lands. Of the warriors one turned his horse
and said, "Now is my time to go; may the
all-wielding Father hold you safe in your
undertaking, I will back to the sea to hold
ward against foemen."

The street was made handsome with stones,
it showed the path to the men. The war-
shirt shone, hard, hand-locked, the bright
ringed-iron sang as they came walking to the
hall in gruesome gear. Sea-weary they set
broad shields, round and stone hard, against
the house-wall. Then stooping to a bench
placed in a ring their war-shirts, garb of
men; the darts, the seamen's weapons, stood
together, with the ash-wood grey above.
Then Wulfgar a proud warrior asked the sons
of strife: "Whence bear ye your stout
shields, grey shirts, fierce helms and heap of
war-shafts?"

The proud lord of the Weders, answered
him from beneath his helmet: "We are
Hygelac's board-sharers, BEOWULF is my
name. I will make known my errand to
the lord, thy master, if he grant us that we
give good greeting to him." Wulfgar said.
"I then, the Danes' friend, will speak to the
lord of the Scyldings, the sharer of rings,
and I will soon make known the answer he
thinks fit to give." He then turned to where
Hrothgar, old and hairless, sat among his
earls. He went so that he stood before the
shoulders of the Danes' lord, for he knew the
ways of a king's house. Wulfgar spake to
his friendly lord: "Hither are come Goths
from afar, the leader these sons of strife name
Beowulf; they beg, my lord, to talk with
you; do not deny them. They seem worthy
to be gladdened with your speech and mix
with earls; at least he seems so who has led
hither the men of war." Hrothgar, helm of
the Scyldings, said: "I knew him when a
boy. His old father was named Eegtheow,
to whom Hrethel lord of the Goths gave his
only daughter. The seamen who brought
gifts for the Goths said, that he has in his
hand-gripe the might of thirty men. Him,
holy God hath in His kindness sent to us
West Danes; therefore I have hope against
Grendel. I shall bestow gifts on my good
friend for his daring. Speed thou to bid him
in, see the band gathered together as our
kindred, say to them that they are welcome
to the Danes." Wulfgar bore the bidding.
"My doughty lord, King of the East Danes,
bids me say, that he knows your worth;
that ye come, welcome guests, over the sea.
Now go in your war-dress to see Hrothgar,
but let the war-boards and the deadly shafts
abide here the bargain of words."

Then arose the mighty lord and his brave
band of thanes, they hastened together, hard
under helm, until they stood at the king's
hearth; then Beowulf spake, on him the
war-shirt shone, the war-net sewed by the
smith's cunning:—"Be thou, Hrothgar,
hail! I am Hygelac's kinsman and fellow-
warrior. I have undertaken many great deeds
in my youth. The thing done by Grendel
became known to me on my own turf;