The Beowulf Discussion: Section VII

[Michael]

This discussion was originally posted to the Endor mailing list. It used the Project Gutenberg eText based on Frances Barton Gummere's translation of the poem. The source can be found here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext97/bwulf11.txt

It is necessary to use a public domain translation, so while more modern translations may be better or preferable, we cannot legally cite their texts here.

Eventually, I switched over to using this source text:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328/16328-8.txt

The section numbers differ by 1. I had to post a "null" section for Section XVI to make the transition between translations. Some of my comments address the translator's choices, and they are not relevant to other translations.


VII


HROTHGAR spake, the Scyldings'-helmet: --
"For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf,
to succor and save, thou hast sought us here.
Thy father's combat {7a} a feud enkindled
when Heatholaf with hand he slew
among the Wylfings; his Weder kin
for horror of fighting feared to hold him.
Fleeing, he sought our South-Dane folk,
over surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings,
when first I was ruling the folk of Danes,
wielded, youthful, this widespread realm,
this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead,
my elder brother, had breathed his last,
Healfdene's bairn: he was better than I!
Straightway the feud with fee {7b} I settled,
to the Wylfings sent, o'er watery ridges,
treasures olden: oaths he {7c} swore me.
Sore is my soul to say to any
of the race of man what ruth for me
in Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought,
what sudden harryings. Hall-folk fail me,
my warriors wane; for Wyrd hath swept them
into Grendel's grasp. But God is able
this deadly foe from his deeds to turn!
Boasted full oft, as my beer they drank,
earls o'er the ale-cup, armed men,
that they would bide in the beer-hall here,
Grendel's attack with terror of blades.
Then was this mead-house at morning tide
dyed with gore, when the daylight broke,
all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled,
gory the hall: I had heroes the less,
doughty dear-ones that death had reft.
-- But sit to the banquet, unbind thy words,
hardy hero, as heart shall prompt thee."


Gathered together, the Geatish men
in the banquet-hall on bench assigned,
sturdy-spirited, sat them down,
hardy-hearted. A henchman attended,
carried the carven cup in hand,
served the clear mead. Oft minstrels sang
blithe in Heorot. Heroes revelled,
no dearth of warriors, Weder and Dane.


INITIAL COMMENTARY:

Well, there isn't much to say about this passage. Hrothgar invokes a debt of servitude. He had fought on behalf of Beowulf's father years before, so now Beowulf has come to return the favor. But Hrothgar is pointing out that Beowulf has taken on a much greater challenge. It's not an even bargain by any means.

Oaths, honor, and indebtedness were important in the Germanic world, even as far back as Tacitus' time. We can easily develop a picture of ravenous hordes descending upon civilization, stealing and raping as they go, when we think of early barbarian Europe. But those raiders came from pretty stable social environments. Their laws and customs were ancient, and even if they treated foreigners differently, among their own kind, the Northmen were expected to behave according to ancient tradition:

The traveler was to be welcomed and protected
The king (and community) were to be served and protected
If a man gave his word, he was expected to abide by it

Hrothgar is making sure that Beowulf understands what he is getting into. At the very least, it is implied that Beowulf may have an option to decline fulfilling the obligation of servitude his father incurred because Grendel is a foe beyond any mortal king's power. It says a great deal about Beowulf's honor that, further on in the poem, he does not refuse the service.

The next section actually deals with the issue of Beowulf's honor through a challenge (and insult) from Unferth. But I'm getting ahead of myself here.