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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow XVIII.: THE ENDING OF THE TALE OF FINN. - The Tale of Beowulf, sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats

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Subject Area: Literature
Topic: Epic Literature

XVIII.: THE ENDING OF THE TALE OF FINN. - Beowulf, The Tale of Beowulf, sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats [750 AD]

Edition used:

The Tale of Beowulf, sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats, trans. William Morris and A.J. Wyatt (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1910).

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XVIII.

THE ENDING OF THE TALE OF FINN.

  • DEPARTED the warriors their wicks to visit
  • All forlorn of their friends now, Friesland to look on,
  • Their homes and their high burg. Hengest a while yet
  • Through the slaughter-dyed winter bode dwelling with Finn
  • And all without strife: he remember’d his homeland,
  • Though never he might o’er the mere be a-driving
  • The high prow be-ringed: with storm the holm welter’d,
  • Won war ’gainst the winds; winter locked the waves
  • With bondage of ice, till again came another
  • Of years into the garth, as yet it is ever,
  • And the days which the season to watch never cease,
  • The glory-bright weather; then gone was the winter,
  • And fair was the earth’s barm. Now hasten’d the exile,
  • The guest from the garths; he on getting of vengeance
  • Of harms thought more greatly than of the sea’s highway,
  • If he but a wrath-mote might yet be a-wending
  • Where the bairns of the Eotens might he still remember.
  • The ways of the world forwent he in nowise
  • Then, whenas Hunlafing the light of the battle,
  • The best of all bills, did into his breast,
  • Whereof mid the Eotens were the edges well knowen.
  • Withal to the bold-hearted Finn befell after
  • Sword-bales the deadly at his very own dwelling,
  • When the grim grip of war Guthlaf and Oslaf
  • After the sea-fare lamented with sorrow
  • And wyted him deal of their woes; nor then might he
  • In his breast hold his wavering heart. Was the hall dight
  • With the lives of slain foemen, and slain eke was Finn
  • The King ’midst of his court-men; and there the Queen, taken,
  • The shooters of the Scyldings ferry’d down to the sea-ships,
  • And the house-wares and chattels the earth-king had had,
  • E’en such as at Finn’s home there might they find,
  • Of collars and cunning gems. They on the seapath
  • The all-lordly wife to the Danes straightly wended,
  • Led her home to their people. So sung was the lay,
  • The song of the gleeman; then again arose game,
  • The bench-voice wax’d brighter, gave forth the birlers
  • Wine of the wonder-vats. Then came forth Wealhtheow
  • Under gold ring a-going to where sat the two good ones,
  • The uncle and nephew, yet of kindred unsunder’d,
  • Each true to the other. Eke Unferth the spokesman
  • Sat at feet of the Scyldings’ lord; each of his heart trow’d
  • That of mickle mood was he, though he to his kinsmen
  • Were un-upright in edge-play. Spake the dame of the Scyldings:
  • Now take thou this cup, my lord of the kingly,
  • Bestower of treasures! Be thou in thy joyance,
  • Thou gold-friend of men! and speak to these Geat-folk
  • In mild words, as duly behoveth to do;
  • Be glad toward the Geat-folk, and mindful of gifts;
  • From anigh and from far peace hast thou as now.
  • To me one hath said it, that thou for a son wouldst
  • This warrior be holding. Lo! Hart now is cleansed,
  • The ring-hall bright-beaming. Have joy while thou mayest
  • In many a meed, and unto thy kinsmen
  • Leave folk and dominion, when forth thou must fare
  • To look on the Maker’s own making. I know now
  • My Hrothulf the gladsome, that he this young man
  • Will hold in all honour if thou now before him,
  • O friend of the Scyldings, shall fare from the world;
  • I ween that good-will yet this man will be yielding
  • To our offspring that after us be, if he mind him
  • Of all that which we two, for good-will and for worship,
  • Unto him erst a child yet have framed of kindness.
  • Then along by the bench did she turn, where her boys were,
  • Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the bairns of high warriors,
  • The young ones together; and there sat the good one,
  • Beowulf the Geat, betwixt the two brethren.