Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Maerdwyn" data-source="post: 2594579" data-attributes="member: 835">Two score and more have gathered before King Hygelac of the Göts in his hall, to hear Beowulf’s challenge.  Today, all will know their king’s metel, and whether the Scyld-Danes would still, in years to come, be troubled.  For although Hrothgar, the Danes' king, had implored the great Ring-Giver Hygelac for aid, but none had yet been given, to this day. The Name of the fiend that troubled the Danes was known in Götaland, but never spoken, lest it turn its evil face toward Halland.  Now when Hrothgar had first begged his cousin, Beowulf had been Hygelac’s thegn for but one year.   Yet still, the young hero asked to go to the Scyld-Danes.  In that year, though, the Göts and the Sveon still warred: Hygelac would not spare Beowulf, and no others dared to go.  In one more year, Beowulf again begged to be sent Daneland, to rid King Hrothgar of his troubles, but the Göts and the Sveon still warred: Hygelac would not spare Beowulf, and no others dared to go.  And so it was for ten years more, until at last the backs of the Sveon were broken over Beowulf’s knee.  Today, then, Beowulf stands before his king, with the best of the Göts behind him, for a twelfth time. He speaks with a loud voice that shakes the air and stirs hearts as thunder:  “A generous Ring-Giver is my king.  He has broken the Sveon, and their shields adorn his hall – but their helmets and rings adorn his own men.  So many treasures has he given me that I cannot carry them all.  And yet today I ask him for one more boon:  Oh King Hygelac, let me go to your cousin – let me lift the clouds that darken the fires of Heorot.  Let me slay the Grendel, and bring you the glory and the bright silver of the grateful Danes!"At this, King Hygelac frowns for a moment, for his thegn has trapped him by use of the beast’s Name: the old king knows the beast must now fall or he himself surely will.  But the Hygelac’s frown vanishes from his face, and is replaced by calm.  He speaks in a quiet  voice, one rasping with age and old wounds, but all men hear him.  “Very well, Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow:  As your neck is so stiff, I shall grant your boon--” The men behind Beowulf cheer at this pronouncement, but the ancient king’s hand silences them.   “But see that failure is as strange to you as good sense, Beowulf, or Götaland will soon become as desolate as Daneland!”  Beowulf pauses for a moment and speaks proudly, “My king is wise, and his thegn is strong.  I shall slay the Grendel, and bring you a trophy for your high hall, or die.”Hygelac nods then, and looks down from his throne to the gathered men.  Then, his eyes clear, he says “Who will go with this man to slay the beast that troubles my cousin?  Who shall add to the glory of this hall with deeds of renown? Declare yourselves, so that I will know your hearts!"</blockquote>

Verification