Beowulf: Translations by John Josias Conybeare (1826)
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Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. Harding and Lepard, Pall Mall, East., 1826. ISBN: none....translations of selected passages into English and into Latin.
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[lines 194-224a in section III and 8th line from the bottom of folio 134r to 4th line from the bottom of folio 134v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
{Beowulf hears about Grendel and decides to travel from his home in Geatland (southern Sweden) to Heorot (in northeast Denmark) to see if he can help out.
}
The Goths' high chief, the thane of Higelac, learnt;
He that was strongest of the sons of men.
And soon that noble soldier bad array
A goodly ship of strength. The hero spoke
His brave intent, far o'er the sea-bird's path
To seek the monarch at his hour of need.
Full swift address'd them to that enterprise
His loved associates. Of the Gothic race
Thrice five bold champions chose the dauntless chief,
Keenest in fight beyond their fellows known.
They sought the bark; a wary pilot first,
Well in his seacraft skill'd, each landmark taught.
And now the chief delay'd not, for their vessel
Was on the waters; by the sea-girt cliffs
She floated, while the ready warriors plied
Near the tide-beaten sands the well poised oar. --
Deep in her hold all the bright gear of war,
Armour and arms, were stow'd, as fitted best
The willing purpose of their way. -- And now
By favouring winds propell'd, e'en as a bird
She cut the waves that foam'd around her prow.
Thus ere the second day had closed upon them --
So swift they swept the deep -- the eager host
Saw the bright cliffs and lengthen'd headlands rise,
And knew in that steep shore their destined port.
[lines 791-819a in section XII and 8th line from the top of folio 147r to 13th line from the top of folio 147v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
{At this moment Beowulf and Grendel are fighting and Grendel is howling and screaming and wishing to escape but Beowulf has grabbed Grendel's arm and is using his incredible hand-strength to hold on to him.
}
Canto XXI.
The hero, resolutely bent on destroying his fiendish antagonist, "whose life (adds the poet with a remarkable simplicity of phrase) he though of no use to anyone," continued to press his advantage, and, although unarmed, (for he had not forgotten that the Grendel's flesh was invulnerable by earthly weapons) proved ere long that his bodily strength alone was sufficient for his purpose.
Soon the dark wanderer's ample shoulder bore
A gaping wound, each starting sinew crack'd
And from its socket loosed the strong-knit joint. --
The victory was with Beowulf, and the foe
Howling and sick at heart fled as he might,
To seek beneath the mountain shroud of mist
His joyless home; for well he knew the day
Of death was on him, and his doom was seal'd.
Thus were the injuries of Hrothgar avenged, and the arm and hand of the aggressor remained with the conqueror as evidence of his triumph.
[lines 1537-1569 in sections XXII and XXIII and 5th line from the bottom of folio 163v, through folio 164r to 4th line from the top of folio 164v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here. Note: there is a discussion of the word eaxle in line 1537a on my page on Shoulder Grabbing vs. Hair Pulling
{At this moment Beowulf has just failed to hurt Grendel's mother with the sword Hrunting and he tries to wrestle her as he had done with Grendel.
}
He was now in the regions
where the fire-flood shed
Its deep and livid light.
Here he attempted to make a stand, but found that even his good sword Hrunting, which had never yet deceived him in battle, availed no more against the mother than it would have done against the son. He threw the weapon from him in anger, and, relying on the strength of his arm alone, grappled with his unnatural adversary. The contest was long and doubtful; but at length the Grendel [sic], extricating herself from his grasp, aimed at his heart so powerful a blow of her falchion, as must inevitably have terminated his existence, had it not been resisted by the temper of his breast-plate, and the protecting arm of that power which had hitherto befriended his efforts in the cause of justice.
Canto XXIII.
Then spied he mid the treasures of that realm
A wondrous brand and vast; keen was the blade,
For Jutes had forged it in the days of old.
He saw and mark'd its power; -- no feebler hand
In the stern play of battle had sufficed
To wield its giant fabric, -- but the Goth
Full lightly seized the hilt.
His opponent quickly discovered that the chances were no longer in her favour: despairing of success and even of life, she made one more ferocious effort; but Beowulf was now in possession of no ordinary weapon, and he used it with no ordinary power. At a single stroke he cut through the "ringed bones" of her neck, and
Through the frail mantle of the quivering flesh
Drove with continuous wound. She to the dust
Fell headlong, -- and, its work of slaughter done,
The gallant sword dropp'd fast a gory dew.
[lines 1584b-1590 in section XXIII and 7th line from the bottom of folio 164v to first half of the last line of folio 164v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
{At this moment Beowulf has just discovered Grendel's lifeless body lying in the cave.
}
His object was the destruction of the miscreant himself. He found him, however (as might have been anticipated), already lifeless. Desirous of presenting Hrothgar with some memorial of his victory, he proceeded to sever the monster's head from his body, which was readily accomplished by a second blow of the Jutish weapon. The effusion of blood caused by this double slaughter soon copiously tinged the waters of the torrent;
[lines 2672b-2708a in sections XXXVI and XXXVII and 8th line from the bottom of folio 189A197r, through folio 189A197v to 3rd line from the top of folio 189r on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
{At this moment, Wiglaf has just run into the flames to be by Beowulf's side and the dragon has charged at them both, incinerating Wiglaf's shield.
}
He donn'd
The warrior helm, and thro' the deadly steam
Press'd to his master's aid and shortly spoke.
"Now, much loved lord, think of thine early youth,
How thou didst pledge thyself, while life was thine,
To work the doom of justice. Now great Beowulf,
Now fearless chief, thy faithful thane is nigh."
The accession of so formidable an opponent, naturally provoked a yet fiercer attack on the part of the dragon. The contest which followed is but obscurely and confusedly described, the poet evidently wanting the power, or perhaps rather the means, of conveying a clear and intelligible picture of a struggle in which three several combatants were engaged at once. We learn, however, that after both this and the succeeding onset, the event was still doubtful.
Canto XXXVII.
Having gained both confidence and breathing time from the exertions of his youthful ally,
Once more the Goth,
Recall'd to sense and power, drew quickly forth
The shrewd and biting blade, untried as yet,
That o'er his corslet hung -- the Sea-Danes' seax.
The glorious Goth struck lustily: -- he hath smote
Full on the breast, and pierc'd his loathsome foe,
And work'd the vengeance of his kingly heart.
Thus the heroes were left victorious; but to the elder this triumph was destined speedily to prove fatal.
