Beowulf Text and Contexts Beowulf Lines 1935 2796

Beowulf Text and Contexts

Beowulf, Lines 1935 -2796 • Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935– 1941)

Beowulf, Lines 1935 -2796 • Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935– 1941) • Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942 -ff)

Beowulf, Lines 1935 -2796 • Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935– 1941) • Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942 -ff) • Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045 -2394)

Beowulf, Lines 1935 -2796 • • Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935– 1941) Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942 -ff) Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045 -2394) Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff)

Beowulf, Lines 1935 -2796 • • • Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935– 1941) Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942 -ff) Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045 -2394) Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff) Wiglaf’s condemnation of the cowards (2517 -ff)

Beowulf, Lines 1935 -2796 • • • Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935– 1941) Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942 -ff) Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045 -2394) Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff) Wiglaf’s condemnation of the cowards (2517 -ff) The herald’s tidings and predictions (2548 -ff)

Beowulf, Lines 1935 -2796 • • Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935– 1941) Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942 -ff) Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045 -2394) Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff) Wiglaf’s condemnation of the cowards (2517 -ff) The herald’s tidings and predictions (2548 -ff) Wiglaf recounts Beowulf’s last wishes (2700 -2724)

Beowulf, Lines 1935 -2796 • • Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935– 1941) Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942 -ff) Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045 -2394) Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff) Wiglaf’s condemnation of the cowards (2517 -ff) The herald’s tidings and predictions (2548 -ff) Wiglaf recounts Beowulf’s last wishes (2700 -2724) Beowulf’s funeral (2725 -2796)

Beowulf is King 1935 1940 1945 1950 It happened long after, that war-swords slew when battle-Scylfings and hurtled headlong So Beowulf came For fifty winters then the old king, heard of a dragon He had long lain the steep stone-barrow, but a path pierced it, save him who found it That stranger seized he bore it in hand a finely worked flagon where the dragon dozed. with Hygelac dead, Heardred, his son, broke his shield-wall at Hrethel’s nephew. to rule the broad realm. he fostered it well; keeper of kinfolk, drawn from the darkness. in his lofty fastness, guarding his gold; known to no person and followed it forward. but a single treasure. from the heathen hoard: he filched from the lair

A Dragon is Awakened 1950 1955 1960 the sneaking thief the guardian woke as his nearest neighbors It was not by choice the wondrous worm-hoard. was stricken himself, the son of a warrior Escaping his bondage, and guiltily groped There the intruder hearing the dragon an ancient evil His fate was to find his fingers feeling Enraged at the robber, who struck while he slept, glowing with wrath, were soon to discern. that the wretch raided The one who offended sorely distressed, sold as a slave. He braved the barrens his way below ground. trembled with terror who drowsed in the dark, sleepily breathing. as fear unmanned him a filigreed cup.

Bad Tidings to Beowulf 2045 2050 2055 Then terrible tidings how swiftly his own that best of buildings and his throne melting. The wise man wondered and how he transgressed the Lord Everlasting, His grief was great, boiled in his breast The fiery foe had sacked and seared For that the bold war-king He ordered a fender better for breasting than the linden-wood were taken to Beowulf: stronghold was stricken, bursting with flames The hero was heart-sore; what wrong he had wrought against old law, Ruler of All. and grim thoughts as never before. had flown to his coastlands, his keep by the sea. required requital. be fashioned of iron, baleful blazes warding his warriors.

Beowulf’s Last Battle 2220 2225 Then he turned to his troop bidding farewell fast in friendship: no weapon at all If I knew how to fight As I grappled with Grendel But here I shall find and breath envenomed, this mail-coat and shield. from standing my ground follow what will I shall face the fiend Let every man’s Ruler words are worthless for the final time, to bold helmet-bearers, “I would wear no sword, to ward off the worm this fiendish foe one bygone night. fierce battle-fire therefore I bear I shall not shy when I greet the guardian, at the foot of his wall. with a firm heart. reckon my fate: against the war-flyer.

Wiglaf 2290 2295 2300 Enfolded in fire Ruled a whole realm hold off the heat, of princelings had fled, the foe with their lord. less than their lives, But one among them and balked at quitting This one was Wiglaf, beloved shield-bearer Seeing his liege-lord with war-mask scorched the thankful thane his kinsman bestowed: and folk-rights his father he who formerly had no one to help him for his hand-picked band fearing to face loving honor they hid in the holt. grieved for the Geats his kinsman, the king. son of Weostan, born in Scylf-land. suffering sorely by the searing onslaught, thought of the boons the splendid homestead formerly held.

Beowulf and Wiglaf Kill the Dragon 2375 2380 2385 The fearful fire-drake, Flung himself forward Wild with wounds In the heat of the fray, To fasten his fangs Beowulf’s life-blood On those terrible tusks. The second warrior a man born for battle Keen to strengthen He took no heed Scorching his hand The sword sank in, The flames of the foe scather of strongholds, a final time, yet wily and sly. he hurtled headlong in the foe’s throat. came bursting forth Just then, I am told sprang from his side, proving his mettle, his kinsman in combat. of the hideous head as he hit lower down. patterned and plated; faltered, faded.

Beowulf’s Last Words 2465 2470 2475 For these precious things I thank the Lord, Bright is this boon to lighten my death-day. for your shall be leader; Gather my guard housing my ashes reminding my kin after his pyre Seafarers passing ‘Beowulf’s Barrow’ drive over darkness, So the stern prince and keen spear-wielder his gold-plated helm I look upon last, eternal World-Ruler. my life’s loss has bought, Look to our people, I lead no longer. and raise me a grave-mound at Hronesnaesse, to recall their king has flared on the point. shall say when they see it as bright longboats daring the flood. bestowed on his sword-thane the kingly collar, and hammered hauberk.

Beowulf’s Last Words 2480 2486 He told him to bear them “Farewell, Wiglaf, I follow our fathers, Swept off by fate, These heartfelt words Before his body And his soul sought bravely in battle: last Waegmunding. foredestined to die, though strong and steadfast. ” were the warrior’s last burned in the bale-fire the doom of the truthful.

Beowulf’s Funeral 2755 2760 2765 over the sea-cliff the treasure’s keeper Then they filled a wain and untold treasures; their hoary-haired warlord, There the king’s kinsmen wide and well-made They hung it with helmets, then laid in its midst renowned among men. his warriors woke to flare on the bluff. woven with weeping, black over the blaze, They heaved the dragon where surges seized him: was caught by the tide. with filigreed gold and they carried the king, to Hronesnaesse. built him a bier, just as he willed it. shields and hauberks, their beloved lord, Lamenting their loss, the most woeful fire Fierce was the burning, and wood-smoke rose blown with a roar.

Beowulf’s Funeral 2770 2775 The fire-wind faltered hot at their heart Sunken in spirit the Geats gathered Her hair waving, sang and resang foretelling a future kinfolk sundered, even as Heaven High on the headland Which seafaring sailors And flames dwindled, the broken bone-house. at Beowulf’s slaying, grieving together. a woebegone woman her dirge of dread, fraught with warfare, slaughter and slavery swallowed the smoke. they heaped his grave-mound would spy from afar.