The Beowulf Discussion: Section XXXVI

[Michael]

This discussion was originally posted to the Endor mailing list. It used the Project Gutenberg eText based on Leslie Hall's translation of the poem. The source can be found here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328/16328-8.txt

XXXVI.

WIGLAF THE TRUSTY.--BEOWULF IS DESERTED BY FRIENDS AND BY SWORD.


{Wiglaf remains true--the ideal Teutonic liegeman.}

The son of Weohstan was Wiglaf entitled,
Shield-warrior precious, prince of the Scylfings,
AElfhere's kinsman: he saw his dear liegelord
Enduring the heat 'neath helmet and visor.
5 Then he minded the holding that erst he had given him,

{Wiglaf recalls Beowulf's generosity.}

The Waegmunding warriors' wealth-blessed homestead,
Each of the folk-rights his father had wielded;
He was hot for the battle, his hand seized the target,
The yellow-bark shield, he unsheathed his old weapon,
10 Which was known among earthmen as the relic of Eanmund,
Ohthere's offspring, whom, exiled and friendless,
Weohstan did slay with sword-edge in battle,
And carried his kinsman the clear-shining helmet,
The ring-made burnie, the old giant-weapon
15 That Onela gave him, his boon-fellow's armor,
Ready war-trappings: he the feud did not mention,
Though he'd fatally smitten the son of his brother.
Many a half-year held he the treasures,
The bill and the burnie, till his bairn became able,
20 Like his father before him, fame-deeds to 'complish;
Then he gave him 'mong Geatmen a goodly array of
Weeds for his warfare; he went from life then
Old on his journey. 'Twas the earliest time then

{This is Wiglaf's first battle as liegeman of Beowulf.}

That the youthful champion might charge in the battle
25 Aiding his liegelord; his spirit was dauntless.
Nor did kinsman's bequest quail at the battle:
This the dragon discovered on their coming together.
Wiglaf uttered many a right-saying,
Said to his fellows, sad was his spirit:

{Wiglaf appeals to the pride of the cowards.}

30 "I remember the time when, tasting the mead-cup,
We promised in the hall the lord of us all
[89] Who gave us these ring-treasures, that this battle-equipment,
Swords and helmets, we'd certainly quite him,
Should need of such aid ever befall him:

{How we have forfeited our liegelord's confidence!}

35 In the war-band he chose us for this journey spontaneously,
Stirred us to glory and gave me these jewels,
Since he held and esteemed us trust-worthy spearmen,
Hardy helm-bearers, though this hero-achievement
Our lord intended alone to accomplish,
40 Ward of his people, for most of achievements,
Doings audacious, he did among earth-folk.

{Our lord is in sore need of us.}

The day is now come when the ruler of earthmen
Needeth the vigor of valiant heroes:
Let us wend us towards him, the war-prince to succor,
45 While the heat yet rageth, horrible fire-fight.

{I would rather die than go home with out my suzerain.}

God wot in me, 'tis mickle the liefer
The blaze should embrace my body and eat it
With my treasure-bestower. Meseemeth not proper
To bear our battle-shields back to our country,
50 'Less first we are able to fell and destroy the
Long-hating foeman, to defend the life of

{Surely he does not deserve to die alone.}

The prince of the Weders. Well do I know 'tisn't
Earned by his exploits, he only of Geatmen
Sorrow should suffer, sink in the battle:
55 Brand and helmet to us both shall be common,
[1]Shield-cover, burnie." Through the bale-smoke he stalked then,
Went under helmet to the help of his chieftain,

{Wiglaf reminds Beowulf of his youthful boasts.}

Briefly discoursing: "Beowulf dear,
Perform thou all fully, as thou formerly saidst,
60 In thy youthful years, that while yet thou livedst
[90] Thou wouldst let thine honor not ever be lessened.
Thy life thou shalt save, mighty in actions,
Atheling undaunted, with all of thy vigor;

{The monster advances on them.}

I'll give thee assistance." The dragon came raging,
65 Wild-mooded stranger, when these words had been uttered
('Twas the second occasion), seeking his enemies,
Men that were hated, with hot-gleaming fire-waves;
With blaze-billows burned the board to its edges:
The fight-armor failed then to furnish assistance
70 To the youthful spear-hero: but the young-aged stripling
Quickly advanced 'neath his kinsman's war-target,
Since his own had been ground in the grip of the fire.

{Beowulf strikes at the dragon.}

Then the warrior-king was careful of glory,
He soundly smote with sword-for-the-battle,
75 That it stood in the head by hatred driven;
Naegling was shivered, the old and iron-made

{His sword fails him.}

Brand of Beowulf in battle deceived him.
'Twas denied him that edges of irons were able
To help in the battle; the hand was too mighty
80 [2]Which every weapon, as I heard on inquiry,
Outstruck in its stroke, when to struggle he carried
The wonderful war-sword: it waxed him no better.

{The dragon advances on Beowulf again.}

Then the people-despoiler--third of his onsets--
Fierce-raging fire-drake, of feud-hate was mindful,
85 Charged on the strong one, when chance was afforded,
Heated and war-grim, seized on his neck
With teeth that were bitter; he bloody did wax with
Soul-gore seething; sword-blood in waves boiled.

[1] The passage '_Brand ... burnie_,' is much disputed. In the first
place, some eminent critics assume a gap of at least two
half-verses.--'Urum' (2660), being a peculiar form, has been much
discussed. 'Byrdu-scrud' is also a crux. B. suggests 'bywdu-scrud' =
_splendid vestments_. Nor is 'bam' accepted by all, 'beon' being
suggested. Whatever the individual words, the passage must mean, "_I
intend to share with him my equipments of defence_."

[2] B. would render: _Which, as I heard, excelled in stroke every
sword that he carried to the strife, even the strongest (sword)._ For
'Þonne' he reads 'Þone,' rel. pr.

INITIAL COMMENTARY:

I could have sworn I posted this section to the Endor list, but I cannot find it in the archive.

To be honest, I can't think of anything to say, although it's obviously a very dramatic passage -- a bit more dramatic than Bard versus Smaug, maybe even more intense than Turin versus Glaurung.

[Michael]

Okay, I found my original post to the Endor list. Here is the commentary I provided.

INITIAL COMMENTARY:

The complicated politics of Beowulf's world arise again in this section. Wiglaf is thought to be a Swedish prince who sought refuge with Beowulf because of their kinship. Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, was himself a Swedish prince who slew a rival prince and sought refuge among the Geats. He married the daughter of Hrethel, King of the Geats. The family of Ecgtheow and Wiglaf are called the Waegmundings. The rival Swedish family are called the Wulfings or Wilfings, but both families are part of the Scylfing clan (the royal house of the Swedes).

The Geats are the Weders (Weder-folk). They are also called Hrethmen. If "Hrethmen" is a reference to their former king Hrethel, then the Hugmen (mentioned in the previous section) might be the men of Hug (or Hyg- as in Hygelac, the Geatish king whose son Heardred Beowulf succeeded). Beowulf's rival Daeghrefn may therefore be another Geatish prince, although he is called a Frisian by some commentators because he served the Frisian king.

The Frisians and the Geats were often at war. The Frisians lived in what is now the Netherlands and nearby lands. They were quite close to Denmark, and it makes more sense for the Geats to be at war with the Frisians if the Geats are in fact Jutes living in Jutland, rather than "Goths" living in southern Sweden.

Confusing enough for you?

Tolkien loved these kinds of twisted family tales. They were very similar to the convoluted Greek myths, which largely revolved around the many descendants of Zeus, who intermarried and conducted various feuds and wars against each other.

There are four royal families in the story of Beowulf:

The Swedish Royal Family (represented by Ongentheow and his sons and grandsons)
The Geatish Royal Family (represented by Hrethel and his sons and grandsons, as well as Ecgtheow and Beowulf)
The Danish Royal Family (represented by Hrothgar and Scyld Scefing's descendants)
The Frisian Royal Family

The Geats are centrally located, allied with the Danes, and often at war with the Swedes and the Frisians.

Wealtheow, Hrothgar's wife, is a Wilfing/Wulfing. She is actually called a Helminga in this poem, but Helm is said to be the ruler of the Wulfings in the poem "Widsith", so scholars identify the Helmingas of "Beowulf" with the Wulfings. So she is related to the Swedish royal clan.

Not all interpretations of these family names agree. Wealtheow is considered to be from another tribe altogether by some scholars.